The King was deep in his cups. From what Jon could tell when he'd taken over from Tyrek on squire duties, the King had been drinking since the morning. There was food on the table, but the King simply ignored it in favour of having his drink topped up.
Jon didn't know whether to feel disgusted or sad for the man. Clearly there was something paining the man. Uncle Benjen had often said that men who drank as the King did only did so when they were in deep pain and had never healed from it.
What had caused the King's deep pain was not something that was hidden from Jon, for the King was being quite open with it. Perhaps too much so.
"That bastard Rhaegar took Lya from me. He raped her and he abused her. He couldn't bear the fact that I had something that he didn't. He who had always had everything he'd always wanted. He had to take her." The King slurred.
Jon glanced at Ser Barristan Selmy, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. The man had served under Prince Rhaegar at the Trident and had watched the man grow up. Surely, he would not be happy with the King insulting the Prince? But Ser Barristan remained stone-faced.
"I know he was a monster. I always thought something was wrong with him. From the first time I met him." The King continued.
"We were boys. Stannis and I had gone to court to see the King, he wanted to meet his cousin's children. We got to court, and we saw a man sitting on the throne, tall, silvery haired and strong. We thought that was the King. We only learned later that it was Lord Tywin." The King hiccupped then, before downing more of his wine. He held his cup out and Jon filled it.
The King continued. "The King had injured himself on the throne and was being seen to. By Pycelle. That fucker's been here for so long he's seen everything." The King downed more of his wine. Jon frowned. This couldn't be healthy.
"The Prince was there though. He was at court, and he met us after we were presented to Tywin. He sounded so proper and like a man. He sounded like he knew what he was about. He spoke to Stannis and I as if we were men as well. He spoke to Stannis a lot. I remember." Something changed in the King's demeanour then. As if he were remembering and reliving the moment there and then.
"I never knew what to make of him. This Prince who I had heard songs about. Stories. He looked every inch a Prince, and he sounded like one. But there was something wrong with him." The King thrust his cup out for more wine.
Jon poured, watched the King down his drink and then demand more. Jon filled up the cup again.
"He took everything and left me with something that was less." The King continued. "Cersei could never replace Lyanna. I didn't want to marry her; I didn't even want to be King after I learned Lya had died. But Jon made me. He told me that everything would fall apart if I didn't become King. He told me that it would be the way to repair things with Ned. So, I became King, and I married the bitch."
Jon frowned. The King must have gotten things wrong. He'd already become King before Aunt Lyanna had died. So, why would he think that this had made him King? He remained silent as the King continued.
"I knew things were never going to work between us, so I got drunk on our wedding night. Very, very drunk. But we had two children. Myrcella and Joffrey. The joy of my eyes is Myrcella. She reminds me of my mother. So strong and smart and capable." The King said.
"But Joffrey…" The King shuddered. "Joffrey is everything that is wrong with our marriage."
Jon frowned, the King had missed out on Prince Tommen, still he didn't say anything for the King had one last thing to say.
"After Joffrey was born, we agreed that we wouldn't bother being with one another anymore. We took lovers. And that was that. Things were much better."
Jon felt his jaw drop open. Was Prince Tommen not the King's son? Was that what this was?
Before he could say anything, he heard a clatter and looked down to see that the King had dropped his wine cup. Jon bent down and picked it up. He went to hand it to the King but found him slumped against his chair snoring.