The Green wolf 7. "Cloaks new and old"

(Pow Jon)

The fire crackled in the early morning dusk; Jon lay on a fur facing the campfire, enjoying the warmth it radiated. The smell of burning logs was al to familiar, however suddenly he felt the hangover hit him. But then he thought (where am I?). Jon forced himself to sit up, and he looked around and saw a man in his late forties. The man wore an old set of old battered amor, he had a well-kept dark beard that was beginning to grey. His hair was short and well taken care off, but what really caught Jons attention was the milky pale sword he was polishing.

"Good, you are finally awake." The man spoke kindly, even smiling at Jon. Jons mind was elsewhere however as he knew that blade, there was only one like it in the whole world, it was Dawn. The legendary blade of house Dayne, and its last owner had been slain by his own father. So, had the blade ben stolen or had another claimed the legendary blade?

"It is considered polite where I come from to great each other with a hello, or a good morning." The man joked still smiling.

"Who are you?" Jon asked.

"Oh, that's a strange greeting, but I think you know who I am, considering how you were staring at Dawn." He said in the same joking tone.

"No, my father killed you, my brother is named after you." Jon responded

"Named after me? I am charmed." Ser Arthur responded sarcastically, Jon chuckled slightly at the older man's joke, before he realized that he did not know how he ended up with ser Arthur.

"Ser, did you abduct me?" Jon asked.

"Yes, I did, it was surprisingly easy, you and that copy of Ned Stark were drunk, very drunk." He said smirking, then he added. "I have also been there a few times, its completely natural, just no bastard making." The knight smiled at his own joke until he saw Jon who was looking down to the ground. "Sorry, I forgot about that." He said apologetically.

"Its fine, I am just a bastard anyway."

"That is actually why we are talking." The knight said in a serious tone. "I know the truth of your parentage; you deserve to know the truth." Jons mouth fell open in surprise, and he was filled with curiosity and dread at the same time. What if he was just a son of a common whore, however on the other hand his mother could still be alive. But how did Ser Arthur now his mother, and why did he trouble himself with seeking him out?

"I take it you want to know the truth?"

"Aye" Jon said quickly.

The knight sighed heavily and spoke "You are the true born son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, your real name is Aegon Targaryen, sixth of his name, you are the true king of the seven kingdoms."

"What, no I can't be." Jon said in shock.

"You were born in the tower of joy, I was entrusted to keep the secret, the documents proving your birth, your uncle thought it better for them to disappear with me." Arthur said putting his hand on Jons shoulder. "I surrendered to your uncle to allow him to be with his sister, as we heard he scream in agony. Ass she died birthing you, and I couldn't keep her brother from comforting her in her last moments, if I did that, I couldn't call myself a knight. What is really important now is what are you going to do with this knowledge."

"What can I do, I'm the last of my house." Jon asked feeling strange to actually have his own name.

"You have two options, stay and live as you have but you remain a bastard or come with me and be what your parents intended you to bee. Also, you are not the last, I know that your aunt and uncle are alive in pentos."

"If I go with you there is no turning back?"

"None, while you might not want to reclaim the throne, then Robert will want you dead. We cannot be sure that he doesn't find out with the spider on his side and then he will want you dead."

"So, it's better for my own safety to go with you, it's that or join the nights watch, then ser I will become Aegon Targaryen."

"Good, my king, I only have one thing to ask of you your grace, may I serve in your Kings guard?" Arthur said formally.

"Of course, but you will teach me to fight like you." Jon said with a sly grin.

"By your command my king, but you will need a sword to match Dawn." Ser Arthur reached behind the log he sat on and pulled out a long bundle of cloth and gave it to his king. Jon took the bundle into his lap and, he unwrapped it carefully then he saw it Blackfyre.

"Where are we going my king?"

"To Pentos."

Nine months later (Pov Arthur Stark)

There were so many of them, his men, his soldiers, his vision, the green cloaks were lined up in the god's wood. They stood in complete silence their cloaks billowing slightly in the late summer wind. Arthur stood next to his company commanders by the Winterfell Weirwood tree, each man received their cloak and pin. Pins wearied on rank, iron for the common soldier bronze for squadron commanders, company commanders and higher ranks had silver, however the lord commander had a golden pin. These pins depicted a Stark direwolf holding an arrow in its jaws.

When it was done Arthur and his commanders mad their way into one of Winterfells drum towers, it had been made into the headquarters of the green cloaks. As such it had been renamed into the green tower, it contained Arthurs solar and war room there was also rooms for briefing lower ranks on the missions. It even had a few cells for retaining prisoners and interrogation. Arthur and his commanders stood around a map of the north al had removed their cloaks, now the wore their pins in their leather chest pieces. Arthur looked at his five company commanders, they had showed great aptitude for leadership early in their training, and as such they had been granted their high ranks.

"After many long months we have finished your and our men's training, and we can finally begin the work we have ahead of us." Arthur said getting everyone's attention. "Now, my father has given me a list of known areas with bandit activity, we are to hunt them down. Make friends with the locals, set up ambushes, and use what we have learnt these long moths."

Arthur then pointed to the map and looked to Alfyn Snow, the commander of first company, he was a tall man, a son of a whore, and he was a year older than Arthur. Alfyn had long red hair that he had let hang louse from his shoulders.

"Alfyn, you and your boys, will deal with the bands around the kings' road, they are supposed to be incamped around the moat." Arthur said in a commanding voice as he pointed to the map.

"It will be done my lord; I almost feel sorry for them." Alfyn joked.

Arthur ignored the jape from his subordinate and continued with the briefing.

"Then we have wildlings, some have managed to climb the wall in several places along the wall, second, third and fourth will go with me north to deal with the problem."

The commanders for the companies al nodded curtly.

"Any questions, from those that will go to the wall?" Arthur asked looking back and forth between the three men that were going with him to the wall.

"Yes commander, how many are we expecting to face?" Johan asked, he was short with long blonde hair and green eyes, his father was a hunter. Johan had joined the green cloaks due to him being the youngest son of many, and he had few prospects, he was the commander of second company.

"We, have no idea, the wildling bands in the past have been very small, therefore I think it won't be a problem." Arthur explained. "But if you are scared, I will hold your hand." Arthur joked, while Alfyn patted Johan on the back while the other officers laughed.

"Commander, how long will we be deployed?" The commander of third company asked, he was named Ringwar. His family consisted of rich merchants and he was the oldest son, he was bald long and thin man with brown eyes.

"Well, it will not be longer than two months." Ringwar only nodded in response. "Any more questions?"

"When are we leaving." A dark voice boomed, he was very tall bear of a man with long dark hair, he was named Boar. This was only a nickname as his real name was Bart.

"In two days, I want the men to celebrate, and to be sober when we leave." He responded with a small smile.

"What about the fifth?" A female voice asked.

"Well, Maddy you and the fifth will be clearing out the wolfs wood, there is a large gang of bandits preying on travelers."

"Very well." Maddy said curtly, she was a one of the few women in the Green-cloaks, she had short brown hair and she herself was rather short. Her parents had moved to winter town from bear island, as her father had gained a job as a bow maker for house Stark.

"Good, now I want all of you to enjoy, this free time, be with your families and your loved ones, you are dismissed."

(Pow Aegon, three months after leaving Winterfell.)

Aegon rode beside his one and only Kings guard, ser Arthur, they had travelled from white harbor two months earlier. They had taken the first best ship to Essos, now that ship took them to bravos. They had needed to leave white harbor quickly to avoid being caught by some stark men. They were now traveling with only each other as company, for two days they had been riding thru this godforsaken dessert, now they were headed to Pentos. Aegon looked around him and only sand and even more sand, the heat was unbearable, nothing like he was used to in the north. He stated to feel slightly light headed, Aegon took his water skin from his belt and drank before re attaching it to his belt.

"Your grace, how are you handling the heat." Arthur asked kindly.

"Just fine, its just new for me but I will get used to it, I'm sure." Aegon responded as he wiped his brow from sweat.

"It will be mid-day soon, we will need to find shade, and we can take some time to work on your swordplay."

Soon they had found an oasis, it was small with a few palm and olive trees around a small lake, that shimmered in the bright sun light. They had hitched their horses, now the small oasis was filled with the sound of clashing steel. Aegon was slashing at ser Arthur with great skill, but Arthur was making little effort as he blocked every strike. Until the knight steeped aside and slashed at Aegon's head, only stopping when his blade was a few inches from his head. "Dead" he said and stuck dawn into the ground and leaned on his sword, whilst Aegon held Blackfyre at his side.

"Your grace, sometimes you need to simply take a step back and let them make a mistake." Arthur explained patting Aegon on the shoulder.

"Ser Rodrik, taught me to always try take initiative in the fight."

"Well, I think I'm slightly better than ser Rodrik." Ser Arthur joked earning a slight chuckle from Aegon. "Being aggressive will work in most dules, considering your natural skill. But if you plan to push your claim you will need to face the greatest knights in the seven kingdoms."

"And why then do I have the sword of the morning as my kings guard?" Aegon said sarcastically.

"Good to know my king has humor, very much like your mother. A bit of both when you think about it both were great with sword and lance, even if I haven't seen you joust yet."

"My mother used a sword and lance?" Aegon asked surprised.

"Yes, she was the knight of the laughing tree, I first meet her when I was escorting your father to find the mystery knight. The rest is history, they fell in love and ran away, married, died but they left you."

"I wish I knew them."

"Yes, mee to just do your best and I'm sure they would have been proud of you."

"Thank you, Arthur."

(Pow Arthur Stark, just south of the wall)

The wall was Humongous it was amazing to think that house Starks founder had built it, with some help. It was said it was built to keep out the others, Arthur was not sure what to believe, he just hoped if it was true, the long night would come when he was dead and gone.

"Lord commander, the scouts are back." Ringwar said pulling Arthur out of his thoughts.

"Oh, sorry my mind was elsewhere, what did you say?"

"The scouts are back."

"Then let's not keep them waiting." Arthur said casually

A few minutes later, three of his men came up to him and saluted him with a slight bow of the head.

"Men, what do you have to report?" Arthur asked his men, one was a squadron commander and the others were regulars.

"Well, we got good news and bad news." One of the soldiers said before earning a glare from his commander.

"Good and bad?" Arthur asked slightly annoyed.

"Well, we found the wildlings." The Squadron commander said.

"How many?"

"We don't know their exact number, but at least a thousand." Arthur froze, a thousand wildlings that was almost thrice his number. But Arthur pulled himself together, he needed to be brave for his men. The odds were against him but not insurmountable, he knew his duty and he wanted to show what he was capable of.

"Well, we will have to our duty then." Arthur said coldly. Arthur then looked to Ringwar "Get Johan and Boar." Arthur looked back to his scouts "Alright, you three will lead us to were you saw the wildlings."

Arthur crawled low to the ground up a steep incline, the wildlings had made camp just below ridge. To his right was Ringwar and the other company commanders, and to the left were his scouts with there leader closest to him. They al dragged their bows and quivers beside them. They also wore their cowls over the lower part of the face, and they had pulled up the hoods of their cloaks. When they looked down from the ridge they noticed the large Wildling encampment, that wildlings had also fortified. Those fortifications consisted of wooden spikes and ditches in front of those spikes, that would make storming the camp on horseback impossible when outnumbered. But the wildlings had chosen to make camp in a valley, most likely to avoid the cold winds. They must have expected a slower response, or not to be found.

Some hours later, Arthur stood around a model of the valley with his company commanders. The model was improvised with twigs and rocks, but it would still work just as if it was stone carved model.

"So, how are we doing this." Boar asked.

"Aye, how do we do this." Johan said.

"Well, I have a plan." Arthur said with a slight smirk.

"Let's hear it then." Ringwar said impatiently.

"Well, we can't storm their camp, therefore we will smoke them out." The others nodded slowly while Arthur continued explaining. "We will light two fires on both ridges, we will be burning pine branches, the smoke will find its way into their camp."

"It sound well and good, but how will we be fighting them." Johan asked earning agreeing nods from his two colleagues.

"We will be raining down arrows from the ridges." Arthur responded. "They will trickle out slowly from their camp, therefore their numbers will not matter." Arthur added.

"Then what are our orders?" Johan asked.

"Have the men prepare the fires, we will light them at dawn, any questions?"

Arthur once again lay on the ground right behind the ridge, this time however he had brought his green cloaks. His men were completely silent arrows already nocked, Arthur was nervous, what if he died, then he would never see Elly again. But he pushed those thoughts out of his mind as he noticed the sun would come up any minute. When the time was right, he gave the signal, and his men moved forwards, when al were in place the fire was lit on both sides of the small valley. The smoke flowed down into the camp; the wildlings hadn't even sounded the alarm as they had neglected to place centuries. They hadn't expected to be attacked, as they thought themselves well hidden. Then after a few minutes the wildlings rushed out of the camp, they were coughing and disoriented. This was not a battle nor a skirmish, this was a slaughter the arrows flew and they hit true. It took an hour and when the smoke cleared. All that was in the valley was arrows and dead or dying wildlings. The screams of pain were horrifying, men and young boys screaming for their mothers. It was not honorable to let them suffer, nor was it necessary, therefore Arthur hung his bow over his back and pulled out duty. Arthur walked slowly into the valley, his cloak billowing behind him. Arthur put the few still living wildlings out of their misery, with duty as his men watched.

(Pow Elyse 11, Kings landing, 10 months after return)

Elyse poured wine into her father's goblet (again), she had been made to be his cupbearer during small council meetings. This was for her own education as a princess of the seven kingdoms, even if she rarely attended the meetings. This was not her fault, it was her fathers, he had a rather spotty attendance record, in his own small council. But she did enjoy hearing about the different issues and feuds from around the kingdoms.

"Thank you." Her father said when she finished refilling his goblet, lord Aryn then gave her a small nod, also wanting a refill. She did as she was bid and refilled his goblet also.

"Anything from the north?" Her father asked gruffly, clearly wanting to be some were else.

"Yes, your grace, there has been a rather large wildling incursion, it was a thousand men large." Varys said.

"Ned will deal with them just fine." Her father said casually, taking a long drink from his goblet.

"No, he sent his son instead." Varys responded, but this got Elyse's attention. Had Arthur gone into battle, had he been hurt, she thought.

"Is Arthur alright?" She asked before she could stop herself.

"Oh yes princess, he led a force of around 300 men and wiped the wildlings out with not a single casualty of his own." Elyse felt a huge wave of relief flow thru her knowing he was fine, whilst her father roared with laughter and hit the table hard with his fist.

"That's man of my own spirit, when I meet that boy of yours again, I will want to hear his war story." He said to his daughter.