THE TOURNEY

JON

"Are you nervous?"

The questioned is asked by Samwell Tarly as he helps Jon dawn his armor for the parade to start the tourney. Jon visited Horn Hill with his father and brother at the age of thirteen. He and Sam became good friends. While there Jon saw the way Randyl Tarly treated him and did not like it. Before he left he told Sam that if he ever needed anything to contact him. Jon also asked Julian Romyn to place a spy in Randyl's house because he feared for Sam. When Sam came of age Randyl Tarly gave Sam an ultimatum, either join the Night's Watch or die. Sam is overweight and not the son Randyl wanted to follow him as Lord of Horn Hill.

Sam and his escorts were intercepted and bought to West Point. The guards were paid to say that they escorted him to the wall. To sell the deception they had to wait at West Point for two months before returning home. "Why would I be nervous? I've fought in tournaments before…"

"At West Point…Never against people who weren't Westerners or Knights serving your father…"

"I am excited to test my skills…My father won the Tourney of Harrenhal and I will win this one…" The flap to Jon's tent opens and in walks Jordan.

"Aren't you ready yet?"

"I am…"

"Look…Um…my squire spotted Lord Tarly and Dickon…Sam you had best stay out of sight…"

"But who will Squire for you…"

"Mason will…"

Jon is about to leave with Jordan when Sam speaks up, "No!" They stop and look at him, "Look I appreciate everything you and your father have done for me, but I have to stop fearing my father…To seven hells if he sees me…"

Jon smiles and walks up to Sam, "Are you sure…"

"Your friendship has inspired me to stop being afraid of everything…Afraid to live…I am your Squire and I am coming with you…"

Jon takes him by the shoulders, "Alright then…" Jon follows Sam out of the tent proud of his friend. Jon mounts his horse as Jordan kisses his wife Arianne. "By the gods you're not going off to war…"

Jordan stops kissing Arianne and looks at Jon. "One day you will be married and I will enjoy hounding you about how much time you spend with your wife…"

They ride off with their horses being led by their Squires. Jon and Jordan ride side by side with Ceasar, Hector, and Theon following behind them. The people cheer as Knights, Lords, and young Nobles line up for the procession. Jon waves to the people as Sam leads his horse before the King's Pavilion. King Robert sits with his family, the Hand and his family, a few members of the small council, and a few Nobles of court. The first match is between Ser Willard Rykker of Duskendale and the heir of Bronzegate Lord Buckler.

"We got company…" Ceasar says to his family.

They all look as Lord Randyl Tarly crosses the field towards them, "Sam! What in seven hells are you doing here boy?"

"He is Squiring for me…" Jon says speaking up.

"I sent you to the wall boy!"

"And I decided not go…"

They are joined by Julian Romyn, "Is there a problem Lord Tarly?" He asks over the cheer of the crowd as the first point is made by Lord Buckler.

"Why is my son here? Squiring for your son no less…"

"We gave him sanctuary after you threatened his life…" Jon says speaking.

"This is no concern of yours…Sam come here now!"

"Lord Tarly…perhaps we can talk privately in my tent…"

Reluctantly he follows Julian to his tent. Jon goes to the archery field to observe Theon until he is summoned for his match. Then Jordan has to report to the arena for his sword match. He faces off against Lord Jerald Redfort and wins. Soon Jon must report to the list for his match. "Jon Romyn of West Point…will face Ser Archibald of House Cuy…"

Jon is riding a black stallion, wearing his silver and blue armor. He stares down the field at his opponent and when the flag goes down Jon kicks his horse sending it into a gallop. He aims for the Knight's chest determined to knock him off in one blow. Both lances break, Jon is struck on the left shoulder, but he hits Ser Cuy in the chest knocking him off his horse. The people cheer as Jon unhorses his opponent in one lance.

"Well done…" Sam yells.

Jon and Sam ride over to the archery field to see how Theon is doing and of course he is winning. Then they ride to the arena to see Jordan's next match. Jordan disarms the man in three moves and wins. When they return to their camp Julian is waiting. "How did it go with Lord Traly?" Jon asks.

"The man is not pleased…Says he will take this before the King…"

"What if he reveals our plans?" Jon asks.

"Randyl is angry…But not angry enough to betray us…"

"You hope…" Jon says.

"My father will not let this go…" Sam says.

"We will worry about it later…"

After the first rounds are done and the sun starts to set everyone retires to their tents. Jon is alone in his tent when he gets a visit from Eddard Stark. "Lord Stark…Please come in…" He is not alone his wife and daughters are with him. "I wanted you to meet my wife Lady Catelyn Stark…"

He nods, "Lady Stark a pleasure…"

"And these are my daughters…This is Sansa…"

"Lady Sansa…"

"And this is Arya…"

Jon kneels down before Arya, "Lady Arya…I am pleased to meet you…"

"Just Arya please…" Cat pinches her shoulder, "Ouch!"

Jon smiles, "Lord Stark tells me you favor your Aunt Lyanna…"

"I guess so…"

He removes the chain with the ring from around his neck, "Well I would like you to have this…My mother gave it to me…"

Arya takes the ring, "Wow…its beautiful…Thank you…" She looks at the blue diamond with a black wolf's head carved on the top. "It's a wolf…" Arya shows it to her parents, "A wolf…" Then she frowns and looks at Jon, "Why is there a wolf on this ring…I thought the sigil of House Romyn was a tiger…"

He smiles, "It is, but my mother likes wolves…" Jon stands up, "I also have a gift for Lady Sansa…" He removes a black box of the table and hands it to Sansa.

"Thank you…"

She gasps because inside is a diamond necklace with a gold wolf crested on a locket. The locket is surrounded by diamonds as well. "Go with your mother I must speak with Jon alone…"

"They are beautiful young ladies…"

"Arya is a handful…"

"I can imagine…"

They walk to Julian Romyn's tent, "I will try to convince Robert to step down…If he refuses I will resign as Hand of the King…Then you can strike, just promise me that Robert will live…"

"We shall not take his life…"

"First I must deal with Baelish…and Joffrey…"

"What do you have planned?" Jon asks. Both Julian and Jon like Eddard's plan. The next morning the tourney starts again. Jon faces off against Ser Meryn Trant of the King's Guard. They start galloping towards each other. Anyone with a trained eyed can see the way that Trant is holding his lance, that he is aiming for Jon's neck, a death blow. The kings stands up and so do a few other seasoned soldiers, knights, and Lords.

Jon sees this and at the last minute he leans to the side, raises his arm and blocks the lance. His own lance strikes Trant in the shoulder. "Are you alright?" Sam asks.

"That son of bitch tried to kill me…" Jon says throwing down his broken lance. "Lance!" As soon as the lance is in his hand he gallops off towards Ser Meryn without waiting for the flag to drop. Jon aims for his neck as he is aiming for his. Jon's aim is true and strikes Meryn Trant in the neck, breaking his lance. As blood spatters a few women scream in horror.

With Trant dead, Jon trots over to the King, "Your Grace…Apologies for shedding blood at your tourney…I will withdraw if you command it…"

"The fault lies with Ser Meryn he dishonored himself…"

Jon glances at the Queen, "I wonder what could have prompted a Knight of the King's Guard to enact such violence?"

Robert looks a Cersei, "So do I…"

JORDAN

So far Jordan is doing well in the sword and jousting competitions. He had defeated all his opponents in the sword and unhorsed five of the nine people he has faced so far. The sword arena is packed with spectators who wish to see the match between the Young Tiger and Ser Jaime Lannister the Sword of the West. Even the King and Queen are present. Tyrion Lannister is there making bets that his brother will win.

"Ser Jaime Lannister…The sword of the West…" Jordan says.

"The Young Tiger they call you…"

Jordan's squire gives him two practice swords. "Begin!"

The people cheer as the two stalk each other walking around sizing each other up. Jordan initiates the first attack with his left. He spins into Jaime bringing his right around. Jaime blocks both swords and tries to counter, he is immediately blocked by the right sword and attacked with the left. Both men have superb technical skills, but Jordan is faster than Jaime. Jordan makes the first point by striking Jaime on the shoulder. Then a second with a strike to the thigh.

"Are my two swords too much for you?"

Jaime attacks with everything he has, but is unable to get pass Jordan's two sword technique. Eventually Jordan disarms Jaime and places his sword to his neck. "I yield…" He yells. Jaime walks over to Tyrion who comforts him with words. "Ser Jaime!" He turns to face Jordan who is offering his hand, "Well fought…Good match…" Jaime stairs at him, but eventually he takes his hand and shakes it.

The tourney lasts all week and on the last day Theon emerges as champion archer, Jordan wins the sword tournament, now all that remains are the final four contestants for the joust. Ceasar had beaten in the tourney by Ser Loras Tyrell and Hector was beaten five lances to four by Jon. Jordan is now matched with his brother Jon Romyn and Ser Loras must face Dickon Tarly.

The first match is Dickon Tarly and Ser Loras Tyrell. Ser Loras unhorses Dickon Tarly in two lances. Now it is brother against brother. When it comes to jousting Jordan and Jon are evenly matched. "Looks like all the champions are going to come from House Romyn…" Cersei says next to her husband, "How can you even allow them to participate I will never understand…"

Robert looks at her, "They paid the entry fee and their gold goes into our coffers…"

The two brothers salute each other with their lances. When the flag is lowered they charge each other aiming for the other's head. Jordan gets the first lance earning three flags. On the next pass Jon strikes Jordan in the chest, earning two flags. The next pass goes to Jon again tying up the lances. This time they both strike each other in the chest. On the next run the two aim for the head and both glance off missing.

"It is a draw!" The herald announces after the last lance.

The two ride to the center of the field and dismount their horses. The match must now be settled by sword. This time Jordan uses one sword surprising Jon. "Good luck…" Jon says.

"You too…"

The sound of steel practice swords echo and the people cheer as Jordan and Jon try to dominate each other. They fight on the side of the rail facing the King. Jordan gives the fight everything he has, but Jon has always been the better swordsman. They leap up onto the rail and stand sideways fighting in Braavosi style. The people cheer as they balance on the rail and fight.

People are standing on their feet, some are cheering Jon's name, some cheer for Jordan, and there are those too stunned by what they see to say anything. Jordan swings for Jon's foot, but he raises it and spins around swinging his leg and clips Jordan. He falls over the side with Jon following. His sword is knocked from his hand and he finds a sword at his throat. He smiles at Jon, "I yield!" The people cheer as Jon helps Jordan up.

"Show offs!" They hear their father yell.

EDDARD STARK

Jon Romyn is awarded champion of the Joust, Jordan Romyn champion swordsman, and Theon Greyjoy Champion archer. The Romyns immediately leave for West Point not wishing to stay for the feast. As the time wears on Eddard gets nervous. He had planned to send Sansa and Arya home with their mother; Sansa's departure would not sit well with the King.

"Do we have to tell them?" Catelyn asks in their tent on the tourney grounds.

"Yes Cat they must be told…Especially Sansa…She thinks she is in love, but perhaps if she is told the truth she will cooperate…"

"And what of you…Ned I don't think you should stay here…"

"We talked about this…Look if it will ease your mind I sent word to Lord Manderly…As we speak 2,000 Northern soldiers are on their way here by ship…"

"That is something…"

Sansa and Arya enter the tent, "We have something to tell the two of you…" First the two girls are sworn to secrecy, then Eddard reveals the real reason Bran fell from the tower. Who hired the assassin and why.

"It can't be…He's a Prince…He loves me…Joffrey would never…"

"I should have killed that little…"

"Arya!" Catelyn says looking at her daughter in horror.

Eddard grabs Arya into a hug, "Do you have proof?"

"Sansa…have I ever lied to you?"

"No, but…"

"Its true…and I'm afraid there is more…" She runs out of the tent when he tells her that he is not the true son of Robert Baratheon. Catelyn goes after her.

"How do you know all this?"

"That is not important…I just know that it's true…" They wait for an hour before Cat returns with her daughter. "I am so sorry Sansa…" he hugs her.

After a while she lets go of Eddard, "If what you say is true father…Then you are right I cannot marry Joffrey…"

"Good…Now one last thing…" He tells them about Jon and his relation to them.

Eddard attends the feast with Catelyn, but the girls are excused from the feast to prepare to leave. When most of the guests are good and drunk, both Eddard and Catelyn quietly leave the feast. When they get back to the Tower of the Hand Sansa and Arya are packed and ready to leave. They go to the royal pier and get into a long boat. Before boarding Eddard and Cat have a long and passionate kiss.

"Stay safe…And come back to me alive…"

"I will…" Eddard helps his wife into the boat and watches as it rows away to the ship waiting on the water. He waves to them and waits until the ship sails away.