Disclaimer – It has come to my attention recently that I unfortunately do not own any part of the Game of Thrones universe or the characters mentioned below. Who knew.
Meanwhile,
At the edge of the haunted forest just north of the wall a solitary figure stood and looked south towards the gate leading to Castle Black before turning around to rejoin his companions knowing they would have to spend the night without a fire, this close to the wall.
Making his way into the forest, the man was greeted by his companions who were huddled together for warmth awaiting the first rays of sunlight in the morning.
As he sat down he was greeted and asked what their plans were.
Looking solemnly at his companions the man replied that they were heading home to continue preparations for what was coming. After a moment of silence, he looked back in the direction of the Wall but focused beyond it, remembering a letter he had received south of the Wall.
Mance smiled, "But first I believe we stop and visit a friend's Keep. I believe it is time we start taking action…"
Flashback
Jon stood at the edge of the courtyard looking out as everyone seemed to be running around attempting to finish with the final preparations before they were set to leave Winterfell for King's Landing.
He knew that right now Ned was with Catelyn and their children having their morning meal. Ned had invited Jon to join them however, Jon realized that he did not need to ruin this moment for Catelyn Stark and her children, lest she find some way to blame him for Ned and her children leaving. While their relationship was not perhaps as cold as it had been previously, Jon desired to not tempt fate.
Besides, Jon had realized he had already said his goodbyes to both Robb and Theon at first light, knowing that Robb would be able to convey his message of farewell to Rickon.
When they had greeted each other in the morning, Robb had been in decent condition after the banquet the previous night, however, Theon looked as if a slight breeze could push him over. To Theon's great displeasure Jon and Robb said their goodbyes in quite loud voices and continued on for longer than they needed, promising to continuing bettering themselves and each wagering on a future bout between them the next time they met.
After eliciting a promise from Jon to look after , Robb had headed off to break fast with his family while Theon looked to have headed off in search of any cure for the throbbing that he complained about behind his eyes or to drown himself again in ale.
After their goodbyes, Jon had made his way back to his room to grab his few meager supplies and carry them out to his horse and prep him for the day's ride, knowing that he would be among the first to be fully prepared and unfortunately he would likely have to wait a significant while before everyone was ready and they were officially underway. However, Jon was pleased that he would not be running around when everyone was leaving.
As Jon, leaned back on the wall he was startled by a voice coming from behind him.
"Excited for your ride, Jon Snow?"
"Ah, Lord Tyrion! Good morning! I am surprised to see you up after last night, it appeared you were making quite a dent in Winterfell's ale supply."
Tyrion threw his head back and laughed, "Oh if you were impressed by my performance last night, just wait until we meet up again in King's Landing. I will show you how to celebrate."
Jon smiled at Tyrion, "I believe I have mentioned before that I value my life much more than to try and drink with you."
"Aye you have said you value your life and yet you cross blades with my brother and you shall travel south with my sister."
"Well safer to travel south with The Queen than to stay here with Lady Stark."
Tyrion laughed once more before becoming serious, "Aye it was no apparent secret that Lady Stark has no love for the bastard, born to the most honorable Ned Stark, however Lady Stark while not pleasant would do you no harm. I would be wary of my sister, others may choose to underestimate her based on her looks or her sex but of any of my father's children, she is the most dangerous."
Jon looked down to the dwarf, "Thank you for the advice. I will make sure to attempt to stay well away from her and give her no cause to seek me out, after all the last thing I want is for you to need to come to my defense."
Tyrion smiled at Jon, "Oh would that I could, but I have a feeling that anyone I could pay to fight a fight for me or you would prefer to take the payment from her."
It was Jon's turn to laugh as he remembered the dwarfs companion and shrugged, "I am sure you will find someone to fight your battles for you, after all, gold is gold."
"Aye gold is gold."
Jon looked around not seeing Tyrion carrying any bags or having horses near by. "Where are your supplies, surely you do not to intend to walk to the Wall, if that is still your plan, with nothing but the clothes on your back."
"We shall be leaving today; we will wait until after the King has left Winterfell before we are to leave. I believe your uncle is still meeting with your father and it is expected of me as a Lannister to see off the King and my siblings. Would not want to make my father upset." Jon noticed he finished off his statement with only a hint of bitterness.
Tyrion looked over to the corner of the courtyard where several horses were being looked after by two men in Lannister colors. "But aye I would certainly not walk there, I fear it is still quite distant and I worry that while I might not make much of a meal, I do not want to become a snack for any wandering wolves to snack upon and the cold … ugh it is so cold already this morning."
Jon laughed looking down at the dwarf and noticing that he was indeed bundled up, "If you think this is cold … just wait till you arrive at the Wall. I hear you are in for a treat!"
Tyrion groaned as he put his head in his hands.
"As for your concerns, if you are worried about wandering wolves finding you on your way south, I recommend you take a boat to King's Landing, possibly a little safer and certainly a lot quicker. Travel from Castle Black along the Wall to Eastwatch. While not luxurious, I am sure you can find a fishing boat that would accept your coin in exchange for travel to White Harbor and from there you could travel in comfort and with speed to King's Landing."
"That …" Tyrion paused and looked at Jon with renewed interest. "That is a wonderful suggestion. I would greatly appreciate the luxury of not suffering travel by horse from the Wall along the King's Road all the way back to King's Landing."
Jon tilted his head "I am glad to be of service. I look forward to seeing you in King's Landing that much sooner."
"Hmmm … at the rate you will be travelling, there is a chance that even with the extra distance I have to travel, depending on how long I stay to marvel at the Wall, I will reach King's Landing before you."
Jon paled, remembering just how far north the Wall was from Winterfell, "You must be jesting?"
Tyrion smiled an evil smile, "I jest not, a man could walk almost as fast as the wheelhouse moves, and he would surely pass the wheelhouse for the axle seemed to break every third day. There were several times that it appeared King Robert was on his way to burn the wheelhouse to the ground."
Jon shook his head trying and failing to get his head around the idea of travelling that slowly, "Well … I guess it will give me time to read in the saddle and practice my fighting."
Tyrion adopted a more pleasant smile, "Aye, time you will have. But I am glad you plan to continue your reading and not just your fighting. Keep training your mind as well as your sword arm. There are many individuals in our land who are dangerous with a sword, but your mind can be a weapon as well and just as dangerous as any sword. Do not forget to train your mind as well. For a man who can use his mind as well as his sword will find yourself at a distinct advantage no matter who your adversary is."
Jon nodded his head remembering similar advice from a previous life, sadly realizing he had not always taken heed of the advice, "Thank you Lord Tyrion, I wish you safe travels. Until we meet in King's Landing … Friend."
Tyrion looked up at Jon shocked, before looking down to the outstretched hand, offered in friendship.
After several seconds of silence between the two of them, he smiled and clasped Jon's forearm as the two shook. "And safe travels to you, may the roads treat you well."
With that, Jon watched as Tyrion headed over towards his men to await the time when he could begin his trip to the Wall.
Present – Ned's POV
"Ah now that was refreshing was it not, is there no better way to greet the morning?" Robert's voice boomed out.
Ned shook his head trying to clear the last of the sleepiness away, "I could think of several other things I would rather be doing this early in the morning."
Robert laughed, "Oh I can think of a couple other things I would rather be doing as well … but I suppose the honorable Ned would not join me in those pursuits."
Realizing what Robert was referring to, Ned shook his head, "Aye you are correct, I am a married man with children and I do not intend to break my vows."
His friend looked at him, "Well maybe no desire to break your vows again …"
Ned cut him off, hoping to distract him from the current line of discussion. "I am sure you did not bring me out here at this hour of the morning to talk about my past, how about let us get down to business and if we can address the concerns you have, perhaps we may still be able to get a little sleep before we spend the remainder of the day inching along the road."
Robert smiled at Ned, "You are no fun Ned, where has the boy I grew up with gone? Just froze away alone in the north."
"The boy grew up and had to become a man."
Robert's expression dropped a little, "Aye, we had to grow up quickly. We went through a lot. You lost your brother and father, I lost Lyanna …"
"We lost Lyanna. She was a Stark, she was my kin as much as my father and Brandon were."
"Aye that she was … the world is a worse place without her in it."
Robert paused for a second, likely remembering Lyanna before his face broke out into a smile, "I have called you out here to celebrate though."
Not expecting that reply, Ned looked at Robert with a questioning look on his face, "To celebrate?"
"Aye to celebrate," He replied as he pulled a wine skin out of his coat and took a long drink, "The gods have appeared to have been on our side and begun to grant our vengeance."
Now thoroughly confused, he looked at his friend who was passing over the wine skin, "Sorry your Grace, our vengeance? For my family? Rhaegar and the Mad-King were killed years ago. I hold no more hate towards the name Targaryen, we got our revenge. We won?"
Robert scowled, "I will hate the name Targaryen until my dying breath. They took her from me Ned." Robert paused and yelled out, "They took her from me!"
Ned put a hand on his friend's shoulder to calm the man, "Aye, we were victorious over Rhaegar and the Mad-King … but Targaryen blood still lives ... Well … less then there was at the beginning of the week ..."
Ned's hand jumped off his friend's shoulder as if burned, "What news do you have? What did you do Robert?"
Robert turned around, smiling at Ned, "I did not do anything, that is the best part. The gods indeed are truly favor us. A rider rode into camp last night with news from King's Landing. The Targaryen girl was bound to be married to some horse-rider and his horde across the sea. However, the news is she died at the wedding."
Ned looked at his friend in shock, "What did you do Robert? She was just a child, not much older than Robb and Jon, not much older than your son."
"Aye, she was just a child now but she would bear more Targaryens to the horse-lord and they in turn would carry on the Targaryen blood-line. But I speak truthfully Ned I had nothing to do with murder … Although, had I known in advance about the wedding perhaps I would have myself sent a knife as a gift. A knife with someone to wield it. But no, the report we received says it was one of her betrotheds own men who killed her."
Ned looked at Robert who had grabbed back the wine and drank heavily.
"What now Robert? Another soul has perished all related to the mistakes of men years ago. Are you at peace?"
Robert threw the wine skin on the ground in anger, as he roared out his reply, "Am I at peace? You ask whether I am at peace, they took your family from you Ned, they took my Lyanna from me. I will never be at peace. I could kill 100 Targaryens and I would never be at peace. How can you seriously not be mad at what happened."
Ned shook his head sadly and looked at Robert, "I have come to terms with what happened. I know what happened in the past affected my life … I never wanted to be Lord of Winterfell … I will never forget what happened. But I chose to honor their memories, everyday I chose to honor the memories of my father, my brother, … my sister with my decisions and actions going forward. That is how I deal with what happened, that is how I honor their memories."
Robert scoffed and looked at the ground, appearing to deflate slightly before answering in a voice still full of anger, "I will choose to honor their memories by killing all the dragonspawn. If I could I would kill everyone with Targaryen blood."
Ned pulled back shocked, "But your Grace, … Robert … this needs to end. You yourself have Targaryen blood, it helped secure your claim for the throne."
Ned stood still as he looked at Robert awaiting his response, however none was forthcoming as Robert continued looking at the ground. Ned took a step forward and put his hand on Roberts shoulder which caused his friend to raise his face and look at Ned.
Ned was shocked to see his friends eyes full of tears.
In a voice that was still strong, Robert finally answered, "Aye you don't think I know that Ned … I hate myself for it. Every morning I have to wake up and remember that I am related to the monsters who destroyed my world … why do you think I have become what you see before you. I do not know how to go on. There is no way I will ever be able to forgive or forget what the Targaryens did but yet at the end of the day I have the blood of Targaryens in my viens …"
He trailed off as he walked over to the edge of the hill that overlooked the valley below.
Ned looked at the back of his friend with pity and concern. Realizing just how much his friend was suffering and realizing, perhaps for the first time, to the extent of his hatred for the Targaryens. Ned paused and looked over at Robert wondering if he had made a grave mistake in agreeing to bring Jon to King's Landing and by putting in motion the plans he had, with respect to Jon's future.
'Perhaps sending him to the Wall would have been the better choice. At least he would have been out of sight. Even though as a bastard in King's Landing many will not pay him any attention, he will be about to be thrust into the light and people will start to take notice and ask questions that they had not before.'
Deciding that it was too late to take back his actions he walked over he his friend who had not moved and clasped his shoulder to let him know he was there.
"I am sorry Robert, I do not think I knew what you were dealing with. As your hand I will strive to help you rule the Seven Kingdom's, I hope to help you become the man you once were. But until then, what is the plan?"
Robert looked at Ned, his eyes clear again, "The plan Ned … the plan is to head back to camp. We have received wonderous news and tonight we will celebrate … oh we will celebrate until we cannot remember our own names."
Robert turned and headed to his horse before climbing on, "Now ride with me Ned, I have had enough talking. I want to feel the wind in my hair, I want to feel young again. I want to feel free."
Jon's POV
Jon sat around the table with Bran, Sansa, and Ayra as they all starred at Ned Stark and what he had just said, although he was pretty sure he was the only one who was feeling the emotions he was feeling right now.
'It can't be true, why are things different, what happened, …'
Jon stirred as he focused back to what his uncle was saying.
"… and after the wedding. Viserys and Ser Jorah rode off with the Khal. There is little doubt that Viserys is still trying to convince the Khal of marching on Westeros. Although I highly doubt he will succeed in this venture. Honestly, I do not think it was very likely they would have crossed in the first place even after marrying the Targaryen girl."
"Dany…erys…Daeneyrs" Jon croaked out, catching Arya starring at him out of the corner of his eye. "Sorry, father, how could this have happened? One of the Khal's own men killed the Khal's betrothed?"
Ned looked over to Jon and nodded, "Aye, Robert just got word this morning that the Khal was due to wed her, however at the wedding apparently things got out of hand and Daenerys ended up getting killed, a result of one of the Khal's own men."
Jon just kept looking at his uncle feeling the pit in his stomach forming as he felt as if he was going to be sick. Did perhaps his letter to Varys cause this. Had Varys decided that perhaps she was more of a problem then he suspected. Or did he try to intervene somehow and an accident happened …
Ned continued on, "King Robert, and indeed all of the Seven Kingdom', are lucky that events happened the way they did."
Bran decided to interject, "How so father, it sounds like Robert himself would have preferred to be responsible for it."
Ned looked to Bran before nodding, "Aye Bran, if Robert had heard of the news he likely would have tried something." Ned paused and Jon watched as he glanced towards him, "I perhaps had been unaware of just how much he hates all Targaryens."
However, he quickly turned his attention back to his son, "But you are right, he did have … Ser Jorah … there already. However, had an attempt from the King failed and had the Khal managed to find out that a foreigner had killed his betrothed … or worse had they waited until she was with child before attempting to kill her. From what I know of the Dothraki culture, there is nothing that could have saved Westeros from the full brunt of the Khal's revenge. So although it is nothing to celebrate, contrary to how the King will be acting today, perhaps it is best that events occurred this way. If not for the King, then certainly for the realm and the commonfolk."
Jon froze and starred at his uncle all other sound appearing to disappear … 'this will benefit the realm and the commonfolk'.
He looked up and interrupted, "Sorry, father, this will benefit the commonfolk?"
Ned nodded, "Aye, if a war had come out of this many commonfolk would have suffered and many of the farmers would have lost food and men to fight the war. Even if we won, the Seven Kingdoms would have suffered greatly."
Jon felt the beginnings of hope start to fill the pit of despair that had threatened to overtake him mere moments ago, "What had happened to her? How did she die?"
Ned raised an eyebrow at Jon before replying, "Apparently it was a rather large event as I imagine the marriage between one of the most well known Khals and a Targaryen would draw. Even the Dothraki must know of the Targaryens and the dragons and Valyria. There had been celebrations around a huge bonfire, and while the circumstances are not known, she ended up being thrown by one of the Khal's men into the bonfire, to the horror of the guests, by the time she was retrieved she was completely burned and all that remained of her was her jewelry and some pieces of the dress that were made with material that refused to burn."
Jon starred at his uncle again as he had when Ned Stark had first roused them from their sleep to tell them the news once he returned from his ride with the King. However, this time the emotion running through him was elation.
Varys had managed to liberate Daenerys and in such a way that would not result in Westeros suffering.
Jon lowered his head and tried to hide a smile that was threatening to form on his face.
Eventually managing to control his emotions he looked back up to his family as they continued talking about what this meant and what it would mean for them going forward.
Jon could only half heartedly listen to the conversation, as he kept replaying what he had heard.
'Daeneyrs had been in such a way that resulted in the Seven Kingdom's being safe from revenge from the Dothraki' and 'Daenerys was killed from falling into a bonfire resulting in her being impossible to identify'
Jon had no idea where she was now, but he was still struggling to contain his happiness at what Varys had managed to accomplish …
Afterall everyone should know … fire cannot harm a dragon …
Kind Regards,
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