I was done with this, but decided that an explanation is valid. One of the reviews- anyway, Jon, being a bastard, inheriting, all that. While I'm at it, running Cat from Winterfell.
Let's start with Catelyn. I make no bones about how much I dislike her. No, she didn't abuse Jon, but she still hurt him, as I said vaguely awhile back. My frame of reference for that is, as I said then, my half brother. He's my brother. If someone was hurting him and it was in my power to stop it, I would.
Now, as for 'running her out of Winterfell', it's not actually true. Yes, I did phrase it as that, to make the Tully viewpoint clear. However, Catelyn is not run out of Winterfell. She was requested to step aside as Lady of Winterfell or return to her family. Catelyn rode out for Riverrun because she was angry. Jon being Jon, he tried to repair because he knows what it's like to not have a mother and while touched, he doesn't think his sibs need to do without because they're offended on his behalf.
Jon inheriting, despite being a bastard? I thought saying that Tommen was in on the whole thing and that 'all debts were paid as promised or something' would be clear enough subtext. Basically, the Starks decided a pack is run by an alpha wolf, and as the eldest male to survive, Jon is the Alpha of their generation. Tommen, knowing what the Stark kids want, legitimized Jon and authorized Robb stepping down as Warden in the North. Because they all knew that Robb had been a genius military leader, Tommen had no issues with that as king.
Aegon, on the other hand, likes Jon and Dany, and when he steps up to the Iron Throne, makes sure the decision stands and eventually passes a law that makes it easier for Lords to choose their heirs.
Tommen Lannister likes his life on the Rock. After Tyrion sent a letter that he was staying with Tysha, he'd officially been granted Casterly Rock by Aegon. He hadn't seen Tyrion or Myrcella since Myrcella's wedding six moons ago, not long after which Cersei, Tywin and Joffrey had been assassinated.
Why does Tommen like being the Lord of Casterly Rock? Well, there was Joy Hill, the daughter of his Great-Uncle Gerion, who liked cats (not as much as he did, but oh well). There was his lion Tyja, who stalked around the halls of the Rock as he and the direwolves and Myrcella's lioness had prowled the corridors.
The dragons had stayed outside after they were too big for the doorway.
One of the things he would never admit about liking about living on the Rock was that he was closest to Gendry. Mya, who lived in the Vale, and Myrcella who lived in Dorne, weren't as close to Gendry as he was was. Edric was closer- had become a trusted man of the Reach- but of them all, it was Gendry Tommen was closest to. Gendry who hadn't cared they weren't related and taught him like a big brother. Like the one Joffrey had never been.
It had been Gendry and Arya who'd taught him to fight. Not with a sword or hammer, but a sleek flail. He'd learned to dip and duck and whirl the weapon around, had been given the honour of Gendry's beaming blue eyes and Arya's laughing praise. And when he proved he was ready for a real weapon? Gendry had presented him with armour of his own and a flail with an intricate chain.
He'd learned how to fight beside Tyja from Arya, who'd had Nymeria help her to demonstrate. And Tyja was the best friend he'd ever had. More than all the kittens Joff had killed, Tyja could protect himself, and that had relieved Tommen. Myrcella had shared his concern about their lions, but Tyja had only helped pair the lions already at the Rock with deserving Lannisters, so Tywin hadn't permitted Joffrey to try to hurt them anyway.
In another part of Westeros, another blond male considered how much he liked his life. Loras Tyrell was staring at the ceiling of his neatly appointed rooms at Storm's End. Gendry and Arya had declared that servants would be permitted to bring the laundry in the middle of the day and that was all, they, Loras and Renly, all in the family quarters, would keep their rooms themselves.
Loras was glad of it, despite the protests. He woke most mornings beneath a snoring Baratheon, one leg hitched over his hip, arms around his neck. Renly was affectionate even in sleep, smothering and snuggling and nuzzling, and Loras couldn't protest. Couldn't even muster up a grumble, not even for show. Because he'd lived a life without Renly, and fuck but it had hurt. Not again. Not ever again if he didn't have to.
So he dozes off again, under Renly's warm weight, only to come awake not long later when his lover trails kisses down to his cock, gently sucking it into his mouth, and Loras wants to cry. How long has been since he stared down hot blue eyes as their owner sucks his brains out through his manhood?
Reading the mood correctly, Renly slowly releases his cock, kisses the tip and snakes his way up Loras' smaller frame. Strong arms pull him to a deep chest and loving lips murmur into his ear
"It's alright, Loras, I'm here, I love you." Loras swallows his sobs and holds Renly close, sighing
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I love your nephew." Renly chuckles and admits
"Me too, Loras, me too."
The last man in Westeros to consider how much he liked his life on the day in question wasn't actually blond. Trystane Martell was sitting on his bed and marvelling at how the children had congregated there no matter where they were. Nymeros, his eldest, had baby Myrra on his chest as he snored beside his mother. Mellarion and Melia were similarly posed, Myrcella was sprawled out on her stomach, her head in his lap as he leaned against the headboard.
Trystane was awake, which is why he was able to gesture his baby brother Dorion over from where he hovered in the doorway, chuckling when the tyke tucked himself under his arm.
Ten minutes later, a worried Mellario was led to Trystane and Myrcella's room, heart melting when she saw her two youngest sons cuddling with the rest of Trystane's family. Smiling, the Princess Consort of Dorne leaned against the doorframe, carefully wrapping an arm around her husband as he made his way over, the lines of his face softening as he took in the sight of their sons, gooddaughter and grandchildren.