Chapter 9
Harrenhal, 301 AC
Robb/Jon's Pov
Robb Stark's world had been turned upside down, and his family had broken apart. By a lie, their father had kept them for twenty years. Jon was not their brother; he was their cousin, Jacaerys Targaryen.
Why had Father stolen him? Mother had been sent to the Silent Sister. Robb knew she had never treated Jon/Jacaerys with much kindness, but never to the extent of what she had. That had only one shocking part of the day.
Their grandfather had been executed for high treason. Jon had been the one to take Hoster Tully's head. House Tully had been stripped of its lands and titles for their treason. They now belonged to Jacaerys.
Their uncle had been arrested for attempting to kill Jacaerys after the duel was finished between them. He and everyone had been shocked when the massive black dragon came from the sky, spitting black and green flames, protecting Jacaerys.
The great beast had only calmed down after Jacaerys had talked to him. Neither Robb nor any of them had seen their cousin after everything that had happened in the Great Hall.
Theon had won the archery and was boasting to anyone who'd listen. There was only the joust left before the tournament was over.
"Who'd have thought it? The bastard was never a bastard. A prince. How the fuck does someone like him end up with someone like her?" Theon pointed to where Jacaerys and Daenerys sat at the high table with their family.
"I don't know. Would you kindly fuck off Theon? I want to be alone."Robb stood up from the table. He needed to be alone with his thoughts.
The mood in the Great Hall was a somber one after the events that had happened earlier in the day. "Gods boy that's enough; we're not in a tavern." My good-sister grandmother, Lady Oleena Tyrell, more commonly known as the Queen of Thrones, barked at the servant filling her wine glass.
Her nickname seemed to suit her perfectly. She was never one to mince her words. That sharp tongue of hers kept you on your toes.
I noticed Robb leaving the Great Hall. I hadn't had the chance to talk with him and the rest of my cousins. After we returned from flying, Syndro. Father called us into his chambers. He and Jon Arryn were there.
Discussion: What would happen going forward now that I was Lord of Riverun and Warden of the Riverlands? My many responsibilities—law and order and taxation—were just the start.
"I'm going to speak with Robb and my cousins. I'll be back," I say, kissing Dany on the forehead, getting up from the table, and making my way down to the Northern Tables.
"Cousin, what exactly do I call you now?" Torrhen asked.
"Cousin, Jacaerys, or Jace will do fine."
"How are you feeling about all this? Finding out the truth about who you are," Torrhen says after a few minutes of silence.
Sansa and Arya were with Podrick and Gendry out on the floor.
"Bit surreal. To be honest, I never really felt like I belonged in Winterfell."
"Not only are you a prince, you are now Lord of Riverun and Warden of the Riverlands. There's no way Lord Tully could live after admitting what he did. Gods, Aunt Cat and Uncle Ned, why the fuck did he do it?" Torrhen asked as Robb came back inside.
"I don't know, Torrhen, if your guess is as good as mine. Would you excuse me for a minute? I'm going to talk to Robb and the other," I excused myself. Robb and my other cousins were all at the table.
I made my way over to the table.
"Jon," Rickon called out.
"You can't call him Jon Rickon," Bran chastised him.
"Bran, it's alright."
"What do we call you now? Jacaerys, my lord, cousin, or your grace," Robb cut in.
"Jacaerys or Jace will be fine." I answer.
"Why didn't you speak up for my father?" Robb demanded
"He committed treason, Robb. He had to be punished. He's lucky he didn't lose his head like Hoster Tully did."
"Wasn't he entitled to trial, as were my mother and grandfather? Your father sentenced them without a trial; how is that fair or just?" Robb questioned.
"Your grandfather and father admitted their guilt. As for your mother, being sent to the Silent Sisters was merciful and more than she deserved."
"I'm sorry, Jace. It's just that the whole situation is fucked."
"Aye, you can say that again, Robb. You may be my cousins. But you'll be my brothers and sisters to me." I didn't just have a brother and sister. I had three sisters and four brothers.
They would always be family to me, regardless of how we were related to each other.
Harrenhal, 301 AC
The morning of the Joust arrived. It had rained again last night, quite heavily. I had three squires helping me today. Bran, Rickon, and Arya. If she had her way, she'd be tilting like my mother did all those years ago.
Gendry and Taras helped saddle Balerion, putting on his surcoat and armor. Ayra, Bran, and Rickon were too short to reach Balerion, who was so tall at eighteen hands.
The crowds were gathering in the stands. The first two knights rode up the royal box, bowing their heads to my father before taking their places at opposite ends of the list. One was Ser Gregor Clegan, known as the Mountain.
The other was a knight from the Vale. On the first pass, both knights barely missed each other. They charged at one another again.
Clegan's lance broke against the very top of the Vale knight's breastplate. There was a scream from the stands. The Vale knight had been dehorsed. He was choking on his own blood, a piece of lance sticking out of his neck.
Accidents and deaths in jousting were quite common. The Vale's knight body was removed from the lists.
The next two knights tilted against each other. A knight from the Storm Lands and one of the Kingsguards, Ser Loras Tyrell The Stormlands knight's horses were acting up before they tilted against each other.
I smirked. Ser Loras's mare is in heat.
I was third up in the lists, tilting against a knight from House Falwell. Bran handed me my Lance. I pulled my visor down. Balerion snorted and tossed his head, eager to charge headlong into the fray.
The flag was dropped. I dug my spurs into his side. He reared up on his hind legs before charging down the lists towards our opponent.
Rhaegar, Elia, Rhaella, Rhaneys, and Dany watched on bated breath as Jace charged down the lists towards the knight from House Falwell. Jace's lane struck heavily and true against Knight from House Falwell's breastplate.
The force of the lance breaking his breastplates sent the Falwell knight from his saddle. He landed heavily on the ground, and to everyone's horror, his foot became stuck in the stirrup.
There was thunderous applause as Jace rode back to his end of the lists.
A dozen more knights matched up against other knights. Aegon was to tilt against Brynden Blackwood, heir to Raventree Hall.
Aegon and the Blackwood heir traded several lances before Aegon unseated him. Moving on in the joust
Jace's next opponent was also from the Riverlands. A knight from House Charlton, one of House Freys's bannermen
The two charged down the lists. The knight from House Charlton's lance struck Jace's shield. He barely shifted in his seat. Hitting the breastplate once again The knight from House Charlton kept his seat, just barely.
They traded three more lances. The next time, they tilted against one another. Jace unseated him.
Aegon had been matched against the Mountain in his next match. This was going to be interesting.
The Mountain and Aegon traded a few lances. On the next pass, Aegon managed to unseat Ser Gregor. His horse crashed through the rail.
"Sword!" He yelled to his squire. What was he doing? The squire held the stallion's reins. With one swing, he almost decapitated his horse.
He turned his murderous eyes on Aegon. Who had his back to him? "Bran sword," I called to him. I had a feeling Clegan was going to try something.
Rhaegar watched in horror as Clegan charged at Aegon from behind, who was unarmed. "Aegon, look out."
Aegon looked behind too late to see Gregor Clegan. His horse reared in fear, dumping Aegon from the saddle. He landed heavily on the ground.
Arthur, Jamie, and Oswell moved forward to protect Aegon. A clatter of horse hooves caught Rhaegar's attention. Jace came charging out on his horse. Sword in hand.
Jace seemed to distract Clegan enough for Arthur, Jamie, and Oswell to get Aegon out of there. There were clashes of swords as Jace parried Clegan's strike from his massive Great Sword.
Jace slowed his horse at the other end of the lists. Turning around and going at a full gallop back at Clegan He blocked another swing from Clegan. Kicking him in the face as he raced past,
Jace dismounted. Arthur and Jamie moved in to help Jacaerys with Clegan. While Jace was deadly with two swords, he was just as good with one.
Jamie ducked out of the way as Clegan swung for his head. Arthur was forced back. Jace somehow matched swing for swing with their swords.
They traded blow for blow. Arthur blocked Clegan's sword swing. Jace drove his blade into Clegan's chest. His Valyrian steel sword cut through Clegan's armor like a hot knife through butter.
Jacaery's blade must have pierced Clegan's heart. He dropped to his knees as Jace removed his sword. He said nothing as blood trickled from his mouth as he dropped dead. The mountain that rides Was no more. He'd been killed by White Wolf, the Killer of Khals, the hidden prince—you get the picture.
No one said a word. The lists and stands were deafly quiet. You could hear a pin drop; it was so quiet. Rhaegar rose from his seat. Aegon limped out to the lists.
"Thank you, little brother. I would have been dead if not for you." Aegon embraced me.
"That's what brothers are for. To look out for one another. Are you alright to keep competing? That looked like a nasty fall, Aegon," I asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. Though the Maester might say differently."
"Aegon, Jacaerys, are you both alright? Father asked from behind us.
"Aye, I'm fine, Father."
"A little winded father," Aegon answered.
"We'll get you checked out by a Maester. Ser Jamie. Escort Prince Aegon to be checked out by a maester."
"Of course, your grace." Jamie bowed his head, going with Aegon to be checked over by the Maester for any injuries.
"That was incredibly fucking stupid but very fucking brave." My father pulled me into a hug.
"Aye, I know. I did what I needed to do to protect Aegon."
"How come Syndro didn't come and burn Clegan to a crisp?" Father asked.
"I told him to stay away."
"Knell." My father nodded for me to kneel.
I did as he asked. Ser Arthur came forward with Blackfrye. Father removed the ancestral sword of House Targaryen.
"I dub thee. Ser Jacaerys of House Targaryen: " Father knighted me.
"Arise, Ser Jacaerys of House Targaryen." I got to my feet, now newly knighted.
"Ao doru-borto fucking idiot. Skoros istan ao fucking otāpagon?"Daenerys yelled at me as she came down from the stands. (You stupid fucking idiot. What were you fucking thinking?) "I don't know whether to kiss you or smack you."
"The first of those two options would be best. Seeing as I'm wearing armor. You don't need to hurt your hand." I say cheekily, kissing her.
The Maesters had advised against Aegon riding or competing, as he had such a heavy fall. Just to be on the safe side. He had withdrawn, hurt.
I made it through to the finals, where I would be facing Ser Loras Tyrell. Balerion tossed his head and snorted a little. But that was normal when we were in the lists. The flag was dropped.
Ser Loras and I traded several lances between us. Bran handed me another lance as we went to tilt against each other again. Balerion kept his mind on the job, keeping us steady. I shifted slightly to my right in the saddle.
Ser Loras's lance glanced off my shield. The lance hadn't broken at all. Ser Loras was hit with the full force of my lance on his breastplate. The force of the blow sent him flying backward out of the saddle.
The crowd roared. Chanting Prince Jacaerys and White Wolf loudly I turned Balerion around at the end of the lists, going back to check on Ser Loras. To make sure he was alright, it had been quite a hard knock he'd taken.
"You alright, Ser Loras?" I asked, stopping Balerion.
"Yes, I'm quite alright. You hit like a fucking anvil."
"So I've been told." It seemed Ser Loras was alright. A herald handed me a crown of blue roses. I put them on the end of my broken lance. Riding up to the stands
"I crown you my Queen of love and beauty." I handed the crown of roses to Dany.
"Thank you, my husband." Going by the devious smile on Dany's face. We'll be doing a fair bit of celebrating later tonight. Perhaps we could just skip the feast altogether.