Surprise! Bet ya weren't expecting another chapter so soon! Go on, admit it, I surprised ya!

Hahahahahaha

I thought long and hard whether to post this as two separate chapters rather than post it as it's written but it was starting to get ridiculously long so the second part will be up within the next couple of days or sooner I hope. I've almost finished the second part…I hope lol.

Enjoy all and as always, reviews are appreciated.

Chapter 30 – Plans in the East pt 1

Pentos

Jon sat in the warm sunlight and breathed the sea air and for the first time since he woke up in the past, he was completely relaxed.

The mission to Valyria had been a successful one. They had spent almost three weeks scouring the ruins for Valyrian steel, while another group had gone to the base of the Fourteen Flames to collect as much useful size dragonglass as they could. While the others were loading the ships, Tyrion, Jon, Davos and a few trusted men went exploring and collected the most valuable Valyrian artefacts, weapons and as much gold as they could find. Tyrion and Jon knew they were going to need the money the artefacts would bring in once sold and the gold that would be melted down into ingots, to fund and feed their people during the coming Long Night.

It would also help rebuild after the Long Night was over.

Jon truly hated the place but in the Time Before, it had been the only place left in the known world that was still warm, thanks to the Fourteen Flames, which even the Night Kings power couldn't put out. What had been left of humanity from all over the known world had fled there, not as a matter of choice but one of survival. There was simply no place left outside of Valyria that was fit for human habitation.

It wasn't even the dead that were driving them there but the bitter, deadly cold that had overcome the world.

Jon determinedly shifted his thoughts away from those dark thoughts and instead concentrated on what would happen next.

The small fleet had left Valyria and had retraced their route back toward the North. In what had been a pleasant surprise, none of the men who had gone to Valyria had said a word about being there while in port. The men, knowing what would happen if the wrong people found out about the priceless cargo they carried, knew they would quickly find themselves in a fight for their lives while they tried to protect what they had.

If anything, the trip back to the Narrow Sea seemed faster than their journey south, because before they knew it, they were back in more familiar waters and headed home.

Well, the Northern fleet would be heading home the Fair Justice however, had business elsewhere.

At this very moment, the Fair Justice and its priceless cargo were docked in the harbour in Pentos. They would be here for a short while to resupply then they would set sail towards Bravos as they had business there with the Iron Bank. But, they also had business in Pentos.

Secret business.

While Davos and his crew were securing the supplies, Tyrion and Jon were waiting in a nearby tavern that had been recommended by Davos, while a contact that Davos had met on their behalf would deliver a message to a certain person to come and meet them. They were sitting in a private outdoor balcony, sipping wine and snacking on the local delicacies while casually reminiscing about the past when there was someone knocking on the door. Tyrion and Jon looked at each other and nodded their heads.

"Come in" Tyrion called. The door opened to reveal the man they had come here to speak to.

"Greetings Ser Jorah. Please, have a seat. Would you like some wine?" Tyrion asked their surprised and wary guest. Jon was quietly laughing as he watched Tyrion have his fun.

Meeting with Ser Jorah Mormont, was actually Tyrion's idea. Getting Ned Stark to agree to Tyrion's plans for Ser Jorah had been another matter. Ned had been dead against it at first. He despised Jorah for what had done and had told Tyrion he (Jorah) would die in exile for his crimes, but Tyrion had disagreed. He had pointed out to Ned that at this point in time, Jorah was in Pentos because the Targaryen siblings were there. He told Ned that at this time, Jorah was reporting to King Robert through Varys about the sibling's movement and that he would be inserted into Dany's and Viserys lives when Dany married Khal Drogo.

What Tyrion wanted to do was to turn the man to their side instead.

Tyrion proposed that in return for a full pardon for his crimes and given a chance to redeem himself and regain his honour, Jorah would work as Ned Stark's agent instead of Robert's. Jorah would be instructed to work as a double agent and his sole focus would be protecting Daenerys Targaryen, the future Mother of Dragons.

This time, Jorah Mormont would be inserted into Dany's life earlier than before. Jorah would be instructed to approach Illyrio Mopatis. His mission would be to attempt to get himself appointed as a bodyguard to Dany. He was to keep any and all threats away from her, including her own brother while gently re-educating Dany away from her brother's blinded and bigoted world view and once it was determined that Dany had a more balanced and realistic view of the world and her father, she would be told why Jorah was there and what his mission was.

Tyrion and Dany had spoken often of their past experiences and had commiserated with each other over how hard it was for them to trust others now. They had both been betrayed in horrible ways and it had shaken their confidence and trusts to the point that earning their trust was almost impossible. Jorah's betrayal had cut particularly deep as she had loved the old man as one would love a trusted and treasured uncle. He had never told her that he had been working for Robert and the way she had found out had broken her heart and her trust in him and while he had eventually earnt it back, she had never fully trusted him again.

This time he would tell her the truth at the earliest reasonable time. He would explain his past, the Stark's past with her family, what her father was truly like and that he was there at Lord Starks instructions to protect her at all costs for she would be important in the future and in that future, she would return to Westeros under Lord Stark's protection.

While Jon was remembering, Tyrion was trying very hard not to laugh at the expression on Jorah's face. The man definitely knew who Tyrion was and from the expression on Jorah's face, he was sure that the man didn't know if he should just walk out the door or sit down and accept the guest rights that Tyrion had just set down on the table.

Tyrion put on his most welcoming smile.

"Please sit Ser Jorah. I know that we are not currently in Westeros, but I thought that an offering of Guest Rights would ease your mind to the fact that we have no hostile intentions at least." Tyrion tried to reassure the man.

Jorah looked at both men and thought for a moment. Tyrion Lannister he knew by sight and reputation but the boy was confusing him somewhat. He knew that the boy was a Stark by his colouring and his grey eyes. But he knew that Ned Stark's heir had more red in his hair thanks to his mother.

Then it hit him, this was the Bastard of Winterfell.

Jorah was now intrigued. He wondered what would prompt this visit from a Lannister, whose house was often spoken of in tones of derision and disgust and the bastard child of Lord Stark. Given what he knew of the history of both houses, he couldn't for the life of him figure out what they would want to speak to him about. He decided to sit down and find out and if there was any hint of treasonous intentions towards the North, then he would report it to both Varys and Lord Stark. He may be in exile but he was still loyal to the North.

Jorah sat and took the offering of the salt, bread and wine of Guest Rights then just sat there, waiting.

Tyrion cleared his throat.

"Ser Jorah, I am Tyrion Lannister and this is my companion, Jon Stark" He said. He was about to continue when Jorah raised his eyebrows in surprise and with a faint look of doubt on his face, asked his question.

"Stark, not Snow? Because with all due respect to you Jon, last I heard you were named a bastard."

Jon smiled and nodded his head.

"Aye, you are correct, I am a bastard or rather I was. My Lord Father legitimized me and elevated me to a Stark of Winterfell, some months before we left Westeros. You have long been away from your homeland Jorah Mormont of Bear Island and therefore you don't have all the latest news. There is much that has happened and we have much to tell you." Jon explained to the now mildly stunned man.

Jorah was surprised to say the least. The Bastard of Winterfell's story was a well-known one in the North. All knew that at the end of Robert's Rebellion, Eddard Stark had returned from Dorne with his sister's bones and a child in his arms that he claimed as his bastard son. Everyone in the North also knew that Lady Catelyn Stark resented the hells out of the boy for daring to exist even though it wasn't his fault he had been born. Catelyn Stark's treatment of the boy was well known so it confused him as to why she would allow it, so he decided to ask.

"And Lady Catelyn was alright with you being legitimized?"

Jon's smile dimmed.

"Lady Catelyn and I have come to a…understanding. We have made peace. There will never be love there but perhaps as times moves on, friendship and respect between us will grow. Besides, Lord Stark ordered it so Lady Stark must obey." Jon smirked as he remembered his Aunt saying exactly that.

Jorah nodded slowly in understanding. It made sense and if the boy was now a legitimate Stark, it would also explain why he was here. Jorah assumed the he was here on orders from his father and wondered if Ned Stark had decided to have him executed for his crimes instead of leaving him in exile.

"Well then my lords, may I ask why it is you have asked me to come and speak with you? Has old Ned decided to execute me after all?" He asked

Tyrion shook his head.

"No Ser Jorah. Your life is safe from us. Lord Stark has no intention of executing you. In fact, we are here with an offer from him. Should you choose to accept his offer, on the successful completion of the task he asks of you, you shall find that he is willing to offer you a full pardon for your crimes of selling men into slavery. I will not lie to you though. This task will be hard and life threatening. There is a good chance you will die trying to complete it but this is also a chance to redeem yourself and your reputation if you manage to succeed." Tyrion explained.

Jon slowly reached into a bag on the table and pulled out a sealed canvas pouch. It was sewn shut and had the wax seal of the Lord of Winterfell on it. He extended his arm across the table and set the pouch down in front of Jorah.

"It's a chance to regain your honour. A chance to return home." Jon said to him in a gentle tone.

Once again, Jorah was surprised but he was also suspicious. He didn't know what to think. He had done a great wrong against his fellow man thanks to being blinded by a foolish love for a woman who would never truly love him back and he deeply regrated what he had done. Ned Stark would have executed him if he hadn't run so he truly wondered why Ned had decided to give him a chance. He stared at the canvas pouch, not daring to hope. If what he was told was true, then he was given a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the North and his family. His family would always despise him for what he had done but if he could prove himself a true and worthy man of the North to both them and Lord Stark, then he would be forgiven. They would never forget, but they would forgive him.

He could go home.

"Before you open that, there is much we need to tell you about the current state of the North. Given what we have to say, it may affect your decision to accept Lord Stark's offer." Jon told him.

For the next couple of hours, Jorah's world was turned upside down and his brain spinning out of control with all the amazing and frankly unbelievable information that Tyrion and Jon imparted to him. They told him about the North/Free Folk alliance and why it came about. They told him what they were doing to prepare for what was to come and where they had just come from. They told him everything they currently knew but they said nothing of the Time Before. They were very careful to only tell him of everything that had happened since they had come back.

Jorah shook his head, trying to clear it a little.

"So then, what is the task Lord Stark asks of me?" He asked.

Tyrion told him what they wanted him to do and why. After he had finished, Jorah picked up his wine glass, took a sip and settled back into his chair with a thoughtful look on his face. That they knew that he was working for Varys was irrelevant. They probably had spies all over the known world that report to them.

It was dangerous, he mused to himself, to turn clock on King Robert and Lord Varys, they could have him killed for it, but, there was also the chance that they could deny him his pardon on a whim. A royal pardon was a fine thing but his crimes were committed in the North, against Northern men and a pardon from Lord Stark, Warden of the North, would carry more weight among his countrymen and family and was still accepted as valid in all seven kingdoms.

He made his decision.

"You know, even if Lord Stark didn't ask me to do this, I would do it anyway. I've been following those children, watching them in order to report to Varys on their location and doings and from what I have seen; the princess should have had a personal bodyguard years ago. I've seen the way Viserys treats her. I've seen the bruises and I've longed to step in and stop the boy from doing her more harm, but my orders from Varys and King Robert were to observe only." Jorah told them. He sighed. "What you may not know is a few months ago, shortly after they arrived here, Viserys beat Daenerys bloody. From what I heard, there was a black bruise in the shape of a hand around her throat. Rumour has it that old Mopatis is now doing what he can to divert the prince's attention away from his sister. He's got plans brewing I'm sure, that involve the princess in some way." He confided in them as to what he currently knew.

Tyrion and Jon hissed in shocked surprise. They knew that Viserys and Dany didn't have the best relationships and that he had been somewhat cruel but she had never told anyone as to the extent of the abuse Viserys had inflicted upon her in his madness before his death at the hands of Drogo. Tyrion and Jon now found Viserys fate more fitting than ever. That was one thing they hoped didn't change in this new future they were trying to create. Viserys was a threat to both Dany and Jon. Jon especially as he was the rightful heir to the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and Viserys would try to kill him as he would see him as a threat to his deluded dreams of ruling Westeros as their king.

"And the pouch?" Jorah asked.

"Letter of confirmation and a contract that you must sign to show you accept the task and all that comes with it, good and bad. The both the letter and the contract detail what is required of you and what you will be awarded on the successful completion. All of it is written in Lord Stark's personal hand and seal. Feel free to inspect it for yourself." Tyrion told him.

Jorah drew a dagger and cut the thread holding the pouch closed. The contents of the pouch were exactly as stated along with an unknown amount of gold in a small bag. There was note attached to the bag that stated that the gold within was to be used to purchase good quality arms and armour with enough left over for emergencies. He read both the letter and the contract then asked for a quill and ink. He quickly signed his name to both copies of the contract and gave one to Tyrion.

Tyrion quickly looked it over then rolled it up and put it in the bag on the table.

"Good," he said "From time to time, one of either Lord Stark's or my personal agents will approach you for your report and will supply you with more gold and whatever else you need. Let me just remind you, Daenerys Targaryen is your primary responsibility. Think of yourself as her sworn sword, appointed to her protection by Lord Stark. She MUST survive. Do not interfere with what she wants to do but do try to advise her away from doing anything foolish. I will admit that you will probably have more problems with that once she matures a bit and gets some confidence. Given how the females in her family tend to be, she's going to be one headstrong and stubborn woman once she finds herself." Tyrion laughed and both Jon and Jorah joined him.

"Aye that she will be. I remember her mother; Rhealla was a force to be reckoned with. She had such a calm, quiet dignity to her and she was strong. She had to be in order to survive Aerys." Jorah commented.

Jorah gave Jon and Tyrion a hard look.

"I understand what Lord Stark wants me to do and I'll do it gladly, but what I don't understand is why he wants me to do this? I mean, how does me protecting the daughter of his family's murderer benefit him? I won't kill her. Not for him; not for anyone" Jorah was adamant on this point.

It was then Jon made a snap decision. He knew that Jorah Mormont was a good man who made a bad choice that he truly regretted. Jon and Jorah had fought side by side in the Time Before and Jon respected the man. He also trusted his honour.

"Ser Jorah, please do not alarm yourself. There is no foul play at work here. Lord Stark has no intention of harming the princess. He is protecting her for two reasons. One, he believes that she will be a major player in the game in the future and one amazing asset in the war to come. Two, she is family and a Stark will always do anything to protect their family…Except for maybe Viserys. There's always one family member you wish would just die isn't there?" Jon laughed along with Tyrion.

Oh they both knew that Tyrion had more than one family member he wished would just fuck off and die already.

"Wait, what? Family? There had NEVER been any relation blood or marriage between House Stark and House Targaryen!" Jorah exclaimed in disbelief.

Jon and Tyrion's laugher trickled away. Jon looked at Jorah with a serious expression on his face.

"What I am about to tell you is a secret very few people know and all of those had sworn never to repeat to anyone without my expressed permission. Do you, Ser Jorah Mormont of Bear Island, swear never to repeat what I am bout to tell you without my expressed permission?"

Jorah was bemused and intrigued.

"I Ser Jorah Mormont do so swear" he stated.

Jon sighed and took a sip on wine.

"You know my history. What you don't know is it a lie. Eddard Stark is not my father. My mother was Princess Lyanna Stark; my father was Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. They were in love, they were married. The whole war was started on a lie." Jon stated bluntly.

Jorah reeled back in his seat. This was momentous new!

It was also very dangerous news.

"Why did he lie? Why did he claim you were his?" A shocked Jorah asked.

Jon sighed again.

"My mother made him promise to keep me safe. 'Protect him Ned. Robert will kill him, you know he will. Promise me you'll protect him' were my mother's last words to my uncle. What else could he do but claim me as his? He had lost his trust and respect that day in the Red Keep when Tywin Lannister presented the bodies of my sister and brother to him. He gloated, gloated! Over their violated bodies. What do you think he would have done to me? The child of his beloved Lyanna and the child of his most hated enemy?" Jon explained.

Jorah made a disgusted face. King Robert's reaction to the children's bodies didn't say secret for long. Even though Ned Stark never said a word about what had happened when he confronted his friend over it, it had eventually gotten around and like everyone else he had been disgusted by the King's actions. It was wrong to kill children for the sins of their parents. The children had been so young, they could have been brought up to be loyal to Robert but Tywin Lannister had not left anything to chance. He had done everything he could to secure the throne for his family through Cersei's marriage to Robert.

Then it suddenly hit Jorah, Jon was the rightful heir to Westeros and Daenerys was his aunt! No wonder Lord Stark wanted the princess protected. Jorah stood up and moved towards Jon. Once he was in front of Jon, he drew his sword and went down on one knee.

"My King, my sword and my life are yours to command!" Jorah stated in an awe filled voice.

Jon on the other hand flinched.

"Please, don't. I have no desire to rule the seven kingdoms. I don't even want anything with the succession of Winterfell. I just want a small holdfast somewhere, marry a good woman that I love and have children and a quiet life, away from the pressure and responsibility that ruling Westeros would demand." Jon said quietly.

He really didn't want anything to do with the Iron Throne but had a feeling that he would never be completely free of it either.

They finished the meeting shortly after that and reassured Jorah that they would be in contact. Before Jorah left, Jon pulled him to one side.

"Ser Jorah, when you think Daenerys is ready to hear the truth about me, please give her this." Jon said as he passed over a small wooden box with a lock built into it. He handed the key on a fine chain to Jorah also.

"Please don't lose it. This box contains all the information she needs to know about me and certified copies of the marriage documents along with a copy the journal of the Septon who conducted the ceremony. He wrote about it. Another thing it contains is what we know about the Night king, his Walkers and the coming war. It's vital she knows this. It also contains a signed proclamation by my father, accepting me as his true-born son and my place in the succession as Aegon's heir until he married and had a son. The last thing it contains is a personal letter from my Uncle, whom I still call my father and another personal letter from me. So you can see why it's important you don't lose it." Jon explained the contents of the box.

Jorah's eyebrows once again shot towards his hairline.

"Is that wise my lord? The contents of this box could start another war, one we definitely don't need right now, if found by the wrong people." Jorah questioned him.

No, it wasn't wise, but Jon wasn't prepared to wait as long this time to meet Dany, or at least be known to her. This time, she would know that she wasn't alone in the world once Viserys died. Jon burned to see her but he knew he wasn't allowed to interfere with what she would be doing in Essos. Not yet anyway. He had plans in the works.

"Yes it's a risk, but it's a necessary one. She'll need the information in there so she's able to make a fully informed decision when it's time. She's got plenty of reasons to resent the Starks and the Baratheon's along with the rest of Westeros. Maybe if she understands better what issues she'll face if she decided to come home she won't raise the issue of the Iron Throne until the war is over." Jon gave his reasons.

Jorah nodded in agreement. Yes it was a risk but it was a justifiable one. Jorah shook both Tyrion's and Jon's hands if farewell.

"Good luck to you both and please thank Lord Stark on my behalf for this chance at redemption and assure him I will work hard to be worthy of it."

"Good luck Jorah Mormont. You're going to need it." Tyrion smirked. Jon shook his head in amusement.

"Until we meet again Ser Jorah. Good luck and please do your best to keep my aunt safe although I have a feeling she won't make it easy for you." Jon said as they parted at the door of the tavern. They made their way back to the docks and boarded the ship just in time to catch the turn of the tide.

"Well, that plan is in motion. I know you wanted to see her Jon, believe me I know but right now, she's not YOUR Dany. Right now, she is still Princess Daenerys "Stormborn" Targaryen. Our Mother of Dragons doesn't exist yet and she will not be the same women you loved when she becomes so. You will have to get to know her all over again and for that I am truly sorry. So many people that we know, while still alive are not the same people we knew." Tyrion mourned that fact deeply. In the Time Before, he and Sansa had become true friends and eventually lovers. He had loved her with everything he had and she had loved him back. Now, she was lost to him forever.

Tyrion looked ahead to at the open ocean while a solitary tear slid down his cheek.

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