Dorne…

Wyl...

After a long journey of sailing, Jon could finally spot the sandy lands of Dorne. And as he was standing on the decks of the ship that was slowly approaching the harbor town, taking some fresh air to prevent the seasickness, he could feel the significant difference with the North. Ghost, his new companion was always quiet; he lives to his namesake; not a sound comes from him, but his fur is soft. As the ship reached the harbor, Jon glanced down at Ghost, caressing him behind the ears and looking amazed by how growing fast he was.

When the ship arrived at the harbour of the city that the captain called Wyl, Jon climbed down. After taking his horse and Ghost, he went to find a tavern where he can eat and maybe find some rest before continuing his journey to Starfall by ship or by horse through the dangerous Dornish Marches.

Entering the tavern, Jon saw it full of men and women, from Dorne and the other region of Westeros, as the bards were singing and playing the dornishman's wife.

Jon sat at one of the tables, asking for meat and wine, which part of it he will give to Ghost, and enjoying the song for a moment.

'The Dornishman's wife was as fair as the sun,

and her kisses were warmer than spring.

But the Dornishman's blade was made of black steel,

and its kiss was a terrible thing.'

'The Dornishman's wife would sing as she bathed,

in a voice that was sweet as a peach,

But the Dornishman's blade had a song of its own,

and a bite sharp and cold as a leech.'

As he ate, Jon could feel the eyes and the murmurs of those who were there, and especially their interest in Ghost, which made him place the hand on his dagger. The bards kept singing as Jon was finishing his meal.

As he lay on the ground with the darkness around,

and the taste of his blood on his tongue,

His brothers knelt by him and prayed him a prayer,

and he smiled and he laughed and he sung,

"Brothers, oh brothers, my days here are done,

the Dornishman's taken my life,

But what does it matter, for all men must die,

and I've tasted the Dornishman's wife!"

Now, with a full belly, and before retiring for the night, he decided to go and see if there is a captain for tomorrow that is heading to Starfall. So taking Ghost in hand, he left the tavern, heading through the streets back to the harbour.

On his way, Jon saw a drunken knight being taunted and humiliated by a group of cocky young boys, who were for sure some kind of knights or squire.

At seeing that, his blood started to boil, and so he decided to intervene. Jon thought it was better if they didn't notice him approaching. But first, he needs to put Ghost down on the ground and away from the danger. He knew Ghost was not big enough to help in this fight.

So, drawing out his sword in one hand and the dagger in another, Jon started to approach the fight. As he came from behind them, Jon slit the first man's throat, giving a glance to the drunk man, who was lying on the ground and seemed to be unconscious. However, Jon heard him mumbling, "End me now and be done with it, you cunts. I have no time for your childish taunts."

Jon cared not what he was muttering and focused on catching the second man by surprise, who had turned his back at him, to witness what was going on, and as soon as the shock ended when he saw his dead companion. The man quickly tried to pull his sword out, but Jon had none of it and cut his head before throwing his dagger at the third assailant, jamming straight in his throat.

Jon ran to the drunken knight's corner and yelled at him to wake up and get up. The knight's eyes opened, and he staggered up. The last assailant, on finding himself outnumbered, managed to run away, either to get help or to flee, but Jon knew that they needed to run away too.

Jon turned at the drunk man again, to see how he was, and saw the knight now eye him, and at the same time, look at the dead bodies that were around them.

He knew that he can't savor the victory right now, and turning to the drunk man, Jon quickly said, "We need to run right now and live for another day, Ser. One of your attackers ran away and will come back with more men for sure! " The drunken knight looked at him for a moment, confused, before nodding and starting to follow him as quickly as possible.

Picking up Ghost and jumping on his horse, Shadow, that was near, while the knight stole another one from the dead bodies, rode away, leaving the harbour town, as the city watch chased after them.

After a long and hard ride, they stopped at one of the inns near the Dornish Marches, and miles away from Wyl. Entering inside, Jon asked for a meal and two rooms for him and his friend, as the drunken knight asked for a drink, again. Jon still could not believe this man could have died, yet here he was asking for a drink, and as the near death was nothing.

In the meantime, as the knight drinks a few cups one after the other, Jon asks himself why in the hell did he help him? Was it because he would have wanted someone to help him when he was about to be ambushed in the North while on his journey to White Harbour.

"What's your name, boy?" the knight asked.

"Jon Snow, my lord," Jon replied, seeing the man's eyes widened at hearing his name.

"Snow? What does a bastard from the north do so down in the south? Who's your father, boy?" the men asked, and Jon hesitated on saying his father's name. After what he did to the warden of the North, his father for sure sent men looking after him all over Westeros, and this same knight may be one of his men that may have lured Jon in helping him before handing him over to his father.

"Ned Stark is his name. My father is the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, Ser," Jon answered, seeing the man's expression immediately changed. The knight was furious. It seems Lord Stark's name aroused the man's ire, which means that he may have just gained a new ally.

The man just huffed and looked at him, for a moment, before asking, "You're far from home, snow. What brings you to Dorne?"

"Adventure, I would say. I need to go to Starfall."

"Starfall? What business do you have in Starfall?" the man asked, with a raised eyebrow and curiosity in his voice. Jon responded by telling the knight the truth. He is looking for his mother, Ashara Dayne. The man looked at him with curiosity but, at the same time resentment, and asked for another drink while telling Jon to sit next to him.

"Well, here is a drink, from a bastard to a bastard," said the man, taking a long sip of wine, before passing it to Jon. "I'm Oswell Rivers. Bastard from the Riverlands."

'A bastard meeting another bastard,' Jon thought to himself, smirking and accepting the drink, but at the same time thought to the land from where the knight comes. Riverlands. Catelyn Tully's home. Damn bitch.

They talked a little, as Jon showed him Ghost, attracting the man's curiosity. So they started to talk about him, and about the creatures and legend of the North until the conversation drifted somewhere else, and the knight started to ask him questions, to where he wanted to go after Starfall, and what he wanted to do with his life, and Jon replied to him truthfully. He didn't know. Starfall was the end of his journey, but now this arose different questions: What if his mother didn't want him? What will he do? Where will he go? And mostly, the knight asked him one of the most critical questions. What does he hope to achieve finding out this revelation? What purpose does it bring?

Moments passed in silence as he played with Ghost until the knight finally spoke again, "I'd like to thank you for what you did back there at Wyl. While I could have handled those fools, I appreciate that there are still young men like you who aren't indifferent before the injustice."

Jon smiled at the man and said in a gentle tone, " It was nothing, my lord. I saw you were getting ambushed; I had to intervene. It's in my nature. Besides, we bastards need to bond together against the world, don't we?"

Oswell laughed at that affirmation and got another sip of wine before passing it to Jon and said, "A toast to the bastards of this world, then snow. ''

Oswell finally said before they ended the night, "I shall be joining you in your journey to Starfall, then. And anyway, it has been so long that I have admired the falling star of the Morning. And I would also like to pay my respects to an old friend."

With that, Jon nodded, getting up with Ghost in head and heading to one of the rooms that he borrowed as the knight continued to drink. As he was climbing the stairs up, Jon felt a sudden excitement. Tomorrow their journey towards Starfall will start, and that means another step closer to finding his mother.

The North…

Winterfell...

Ned was sitting on the tree of a Weirwood tending to Ice and thinking about Jon. Since his son left to go in search of his mother, Ned has spent a lot of his time in the Godswood, praying to the Old Gods to protect his son.

"Are you still thinking about the bastard?" came the voice of his wife approaching him and sitting on one of the rocks.

"Why are you here, Catelyn?"

His wife sighed, glancing down, before saying, "A raven from Kings Landing came. Jon Arryn is dead. A fever took him. I know he was like a father to you."

Ned didn't know what to say. He was out of words. But regaining his composure, he asked, "Your sister. The boy."

"They both have their health. Gods be good," she replied, stopping for a moment to take a breath before continuing. "The raven brought more news. The king rides for Winterfell. With the queen and all the rest of them."

"If he comes so far North, it's only for a reason."

"You can always say no, Ned," his wife said, but Ned shouted everything out, drifting in the deepest of his thoughts. So, ruling in the south was the punishment that the old gods inflicted on him? Stark men don't fare well when they travel south. But maybe that was the right fate for someone like him.

Dorne…

A few Days later...

They were passing through the Red Mountains, following the Prince's Pass and down towards the King's road to Starfall.

"How much do you know about Dorne, Snow?" asked Oswell.

"Not much besides the fact that all they love to do is fuck and fight, fight and fuck."

Oswell burst out in laughter at hearing that, but Jon didn't because he didn't like this place. Enemies could be hidden in these mountains.

"Those Dornish cunts know how to use their tongues," Oswell replied once he was no longer laughing. "Stop being so worried and suspicious, Snow."

"I'm not worried or suspicious," replied Jon, glancing at the man, who now was drinking again. By now, Jon was wondering how in the Seven Hells, he could still stand on his horse and, at the same time, be vigilant.

Suddenly he heard, "Snow! Look out!" and Jon saw an arrow fly right a few inches from his head. He immediately draws out his swords, looking around, as Ghost was in the sack, sleeping.

Then he saw a group of men, maybe a dozen charge at them, and Oswell, laughing said, "How fast can you ride snow?" Hitting the horse and riding at full speed, knocking the ones who were on foot to the ground.

Jon hit Shadow too and rode at full speed after Oswell, chased by the bandits at the same time.

Suddenly as he was riding, Jon saw a chain being pulled straight, and he ended up colliding with it before he could avoid it. Jon was lying on the ground, stunned for a moment, as he heard galloping, running, and shouts.

Shaking his head, Jon tried to get up and regain his balance but heard Oswell shout, "Snow! Get Down!" and with the sword drawn, the knight knocked two of the men from on the Horse.

At the same time, now that he cleared his head, Jon picked the sword from the ground and tried to fight the two who were fighting against him, managing to kill them since they weren't great swordsmen, but when he looked towards Oswell, he couldn't believe his eyes. The man was slicing through the enemy as if they were made of butter. Jon has never seen someone fight like Oswell. No, Rodrick, not his father. No one in the damn North fought like him.

In a mere minute, Oswell managed to kill almost all the bandits by himself. Yes, they didn't have great armour, but Oswell was on another level.

Approaching him, and once he cleaned the sword, Oswell said, "At least you could have joined me."

Jon opened and closed his mouth for a moment, still speechless by his sword skill, feeling his throat dry, but swallowing, Jon said, "I never saw someone fight like you. Who taught you how to fight?"

"It's a story for another day, Snow," laughed Oswell. "But we should go before someone else comes in search of the dead bandits."

And Jon nodded, cleaning his sword, pulling it away, and after having searched if they had coins, Jon and Oswell resumed their ride towards Starfall.

A few days later...

After the long and perilous journey through the red mountains, they finally managed to reach the castle of Starfall, the seat of House Dayne, where Dawn, the sword of the Morning lyes. 'So this is my mother's home,' he wondered, as he stopped to admire it for a moment.

"Oswell, before we get there, I want to ask you to take me as your squire and teach me your skills with the sword."

But Oswell burst in laughter, again, before saying, "We will see Snow," and they start to ride forwards.

When they reached the main gates of the Castle, Jon saw the guards at its entrance, who raised his hand and said, "Halt. What brings you to Starfall?"

"We are two knights seeking an audience with your liege Lord, Ser."

The two soldiers looked at each other for a moment before nodding and opening the gates, as Jon and Oswell got down from their horses and following the guards.

They were led to the main hall, and once in, Jon saw it full of guards bearing the emblem of House Dayne. A white sword and falling star crossed on lilac.

There was a great seat at the end of it, with what seemed a boy sat on it. He had pale blond hair and dark blue eyes, wearing a dress of his house's colors, it seems.

But what caught his eyes immediately was the woman sitting next to him, and her beauty immediately struck Jon. She was, for sure, one of the most beautiful women that he has ever laid his eyes on. She was tall and slender, with long dark hair and dark purple eyes. On her forehead, there was a diadem that looked like it was a star.

They started to approach slowly, and Jon wondered who she may be, but at the same time, he quickly ran his eyes over her body, stopping for a moment on her big bosom, and unhonorable thoughts started to form in his mind.

Shaking his head from the unhonorable thoughts that came, Jon wondered who she was. Was she the mother of the boy? Or the sister? For sure the latter since the boy was more than ten and she was too young.

"Welcome to Starfall, knights," said the boy with a tiny voice and trying to sound as confident and authoritative as possible. "My name is Lord Edric of House Dayne." And a servant brought bread and salt forward.

"Thank you, lord Dayne," he replied, bowing the head in thanks and accepting the guest rights. "My name is Jon Snow, and my friend here is Ser Oswell Rivers."

"May I ask what business brings you to Starfall, Ser Jon?" asked the woman, drawing the attention on her, and Jon could see the glimpse of a smirk on her face, even though it was small and well hidden behind the mask of the Lady. "Adventure. Curiosity.

"We have been traveling for many days, my lady. Overcome many misadventures in the Dornish Marches, and we would like to enjoy your hospitality for one night," replied Jon, trying to be as the most convincing as possible, and at the same time, trying to hide his true intentions.

"Well, then you will have it, Ser. I will inform the servant to prepare a room for you, and the maidens a hot bath," she replied, and Jon smiled, nodding in gratitude. "Please, join us for supper tonight. I'm eager to hear about your adventures."

With that said, They were escorted out of the Great Hall, through the hallways, and to their rooms.

"Do you think we are in danger?" asked Jon, and Oswell shook his head.

"House Dayne can be trusted for guests right," the knight replied as he entered his room; Jon was led to his.

Once inside, he saw it quite big, definitely more significant than the one he had in Winterfell. Warm, because of the hot weather of Dorne. And decorated with Dayne's emblems. The falling star carved.