Sundered
Chapter Two
Daeron stared down at Jon. Was that look disapproving? He couldn't tell.
"You're hurt."
Jon looked away, shrugged. "Not worse than the other guy."
At that, Daeron sighed, ignoring the mud around them to sit down on the log next to Jon. "What happened, Jon? I thought you were getting along with those squires." When he couldn't understand Jon's mumbled reply, he placed his fingers under Jon's chin and made him meet his eyes. "Well?"
"It's nothing..."
"Clearly it's not. I have a boy half-dead in the maester's care and you don't look much better off."
Jon's shoulders slumped. "It was just...he was saying stuff about you and Dany..."
"Treason should be dealt with by the guards, Jon, not nine year olds. Especially not with boys four years your senior."
"I beat him, though, didn't I?"
Sighing, Daeron relented with a slight smile. "You did. I have half a mind to knight you, but I don't want to upset Daemon."
Jon laughed, imagining Daemon's face if Jon was knighted a whole two years earlier than he had been. "Brynden would like that."
"And Aegor would probably try to stab me in my sleep." Satisfied that Jon was in a better mood, Daeron started inspecting his wounds. "I know sometimes you feel like you're alone, but you're not. We're all family, we all love you."
He nodded. "I know, Ron, it's just...why does everyone either like you or like Daemon?"
Daeron rocked back, grimacing. "It's all politics. There are a lot of people who don't like Myriah and Baelor."
"But why? Baelor's the best! He's going to be a great king!"
"Oh? Better than me?"
Jon flushed. "I didn't mean that ."
Laughing, Daeron stood, carefully lifting Jon with him. "Can I let you in on a secret? Brother to brother?"
With wide eyes, Jon nodded.
"I think Baelor is going to be better than me. I think he's going to be the best king Westeros has ever known."
Jon grinned, half in agreement and half because of the pride in Daeron's voice. He knew his brother was nothing like his father was, but sometimes he liked to pretend, if his father had lived, he might have talked about him that way.