2nd Month of 300 A.C. King's Landing

King Tommen I Baratheon

The note felt heavy within his hand, his heart hammers in his chest, he wonders who the person had come from, and what they might want from him. Still, he would want to go and see what this person wanted, and he would try and give it to them, should the need arise. He continued out of Maegor's holdfast, with Ser Balon Swann and the Kettleblack walking behind him, as the godswood comes into sight Tommen speaks. "Wait here, I shall call, should I need help." the two knights nod, and he walks into the godswood.

The sun is blocked by the trees within the wood, and as such, there is a darkness that engulfs him, for the time it is inviting but Tommen knows that it could be sinister should it so chose. A thought that is proven by the dead body before him, he shudders and then walks on, stopping near the heart tree, a terrifying thing with weeping red eyes. He stands there in silence for a moment and then calls out. "I have come, as asked. Show yourself."

There is a long silence, and then a man with long brown hair, a long face and grey eyes comes forward. The man bows and then stands. "Your Grace, very glad that you could make it. I was not sure whether or not Aemon would give the message to you in time."

Tommen looks at the man and then asks. "Who are you? And what do you want?"

The man smiles and replies. "I am Ser Theodan Wells, a member of the High Sparrow's knight and a servant to Robb Stark, the Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Lord of Winter."

Tommen feels something akin to surprise run through him then. "What?! Stark is dead, he was slain at his uncle's wedding. What nonsense are you speaking?"

Wells smiles then. "Ah but he was not. And I think a part of you always thought that. Was it not too convenient, that suddenly he died, and the riverlands suddenly gave into your brother's regime? If the man was truly dead, do you honestly think they would have given in so easily?"

Tommen looks at the man and then responds. "No. But then why has he allowed this to happen? Why has he allowed his kingdom to fall before the throne, and not stood firm and brought resistance to us?"

Wells' smile only gets wider then. "Because, he knows that the future rests easier with you on the throne than with some wider struggle that would only cost more lives. Lord Robb knows that more can be done to bring about justice to the realm through peace than through war."

Tommen looks at the man and wonders at this. "Why has he sent you? A man who is sworn to a fanatic of the faith, than come himself, or even sent someone who might have been more believable?"

Wells laughs then. "Come now Your Grace, you do not truly think the High Sparrow is truly some Andal zealot, determined to bring about the restoration of the Faith? Can you not see how his rise began following the fall of the Starks?"

Tommen thinks about this a moment and then says. "Stark had a hand in that? What other pies does he have his fingers in?"

Wells laughs once more. "Well consider this Your Grace, the issues with the Riverlands could have been a lot worse had things not gone the way they had. A nameday gift from Lord Robb."

Tommen grins then. "Oh so that is how he thinks to win himself into my good graces then is it? Through using the issues within the Riverlands as proof that he knows how to settle politics. And yet, the one thing I do wonder is why has he waited for this long, before coming toward me?"

Wells looks at him a moment and then says. "I believe it was because he needed to ensure that you were not like your brother. Forgive me for saying this, but King Joffrey was not within his right mind, and as such it would have looked odd had Lord Robb made these plans in order to make good with a king he had fought so long and hard against."

Tommen considers this a moment. "I note you refer to him as Lord Robb, and not as King. Why is that? Has the man finally realised that the best hope for the north is to fight alongside the throne, and last through winter with us. And I must ask, why did he not try to come and fight for me whilst my brother was still alive?"

There is a moment's silence, and then Wells asks. "And when your brother was alive, did you ever consider rebelling against him? Or were you more interested in learning how to play?"

Tommen snorts then. "Ah very good Ser Wells. Very good. Yes, I suppose you are right, my brother needed to be brought down before things could get interesting. So then tell me, what is it that your lord wants from the throne? I do not think he would have sent you here without wanting something in return."

The wind whips through the trees, and Tommen shivers a moment, Wells has a moment's look of pride then and then says. "He wants a promise that his family shall be pardoned of all and any wrongdoing that they might well have committed. In return for this he shall give his consent for you to marry his sister the Lady Sansa. Furthermore, he wishes for all of his titles to be confirmed to him, and he shall work with you in an alliance to remove the crown's enemies from power."

Tommen looks at the man a moment and then asks. "And what of his father? What does Stark done about Lord Eddard?"

A moment's silence and then. "He wants Lord Eddard pardoned, after all your brother was the bastard and you are not."

Tommen ponders this a moment and then responds. "Very well, tell him I accept. Go back to your master and tell him to put his plans into motion. I shall expect him soon enough."

Castle Black

Jon Snow

His mind plagued him with visions, visions of darkness and a never ending death. The Others were coming, and yet there was nothing he could do to change it, they were coming and he would have to flee. He knew he had to flee, otherwise the world would fall. He was not sure what made him so sure of this, but he knew, he just knew deep within himself, that unless he left the wall, something would end up breaking. Already they were getting ready for his death, why not make it easier for them? He stands before the council of elders and says. "I admit I have not always done what my vows entail, but I know I have not committed as many sins as some of those who sit before me."

"You would do well to watch your tongue Snow." Cotter Pyke barks.

"No, let the bastard speak. I am curious to see what excuses he comes up with." Ser Allister says.

Jon stares at the man, and Thorne meets his stare with one of his own. "I know that, there are many here who would wish to see me dead, for some crime or the other. My father's name did not do me any favours when I came here, but I have more than proven myself worthy of the Night's Watch. I will not apologise for what I have done, for I did it for the Watch. I think it shows that we are now struggling to maintain the hold over the wall, and with the wildlings coming, we need more men than ever."

"What exactly are you suggesting then Snow?" Denys Mallister asks. "That we pardon you of the offenses you have admitted to, and simply allow you to continue serving? You, who killed the Halfhand and lay with a wildling woman? You who gave the wildlings a way to bring about our downfall? Why should we do that?"

"Because you allow brothers of the watch to venture down to Mole's Town and break their vows with the whores there. Why should it be different for me?" Jon responds. "I am merely doing what I was asked to do by my superiors. I have not broken any vows, I have claimed no lands, and have claimed no titles. And have no children. I have done all that was asked and more. Why punish me for that?"

There is a long silence then, and as it stretches on, Jon begins wondering whether or not he will ever be given a response. Finally, it is Maester Aemon who speaks, though his voice is very soft. "You have done what was necessary for your survival, and the survival of the Watch. But the Watch has not done what was necessary to protect you."

"What do you mean?" Jon asks.

"What Maester Aemon means, is that, it is time for us to let you go. Not because you have done wrong, but because it is in our interests to let you go. There are those who would try to have you killed, and right now, we cannot afford that. The Watch cannot be divided, and you would only divide the Watch. And so, as of right now, you are no longer a sworn brother." Ser Allister says.

"You would let him go? Why, is he getting the special favour?" Mallister asks. "What is special about him, so special that requires him to be freed to prevent war?"

"I would ensure that he is out and away from here, before war is even necessary." Thorne replies. There is a moment's silence and then the man looks at him and says. "Go, leave Jon Snow, and never return. You have one hour."

Jon stands there for a long moment, speechless, not entirely sure what is happening, but then he turns and walks out of the room, and back toward his own room. That it was Thorne and not someone else fighting for him, is somewhat of a surprise. He opens the doors of his room, and then grabs what few belongings he has, packs them into a bag, and then walks out of the room, Ghost at his side. He walks toward the stables, but instead of finding a horse, he finds the mossy haired child there waiting for him. "What do you want?" Jon snaps.

The figure merely looks at him a moment and then they respond. "We cannot go by horseback Jon Snow. We must walk to where you must go."

"Walk? Why walk? Where are we going?" Jon asks.

"To a play where royalty once stayed, and to a place where your ancestor remains, haunting the woods and the river as if they are one of them." the figure says.

"Why must you persist in these damned riddles?" Jon snaps. "Why not simply tell me straight, what it is you mean?"

"The answers are in the riddles, Jon Snow. Know this, and you shall find the truth you seek. Now quickly, we must leave from here and be gone." the figure responds.

Jon sighs, but he ignores the figure's advice, and instead begins saddling his horse, once that is done, he leads the horse from the stables, and out into the open air. He mounts the horse and spurs the horse on toward the open gate, something no doubt arranged by Thorne, and not even stopping to check if the figure is following him, Jon rides out from Castle Black without a second thought. Well that is not quite true, he thinks of Sam, Grenn and Pyp, and of Ed, and he wonders if he is doing the right thing, but then he thinks of Sam's harsh last words, and how none of them ever came to see him whilst he was a prisoner and he decides good riddance. He rides out of the castle and keeps riding without ever looking back.

It is not until he is nearing the outskirts of Mole's Town that he realises that the figure has not said anything, and he looks around, and finds that he is alone. The figure is nowhere in sight.