Aegon

"Are you having doubts now, nephew?" Viserys asked, stealthily hiding his smirk behind his goblet. "I told you beforehand that challenging a foe that you don't know of will be a bad plan." He rested his arms on the armrest of the chair and sighed. "It's like fighting a shadow."

He and his uncle sat in one of the guest rooms that Lady Whent had so graciously organized for them. Rhaenys, Margaery, Cersei, and their cousins were right down the hall and they were possibly gossiping what had happened like so many other folks right now.

Aegon tapped the side of his goblet, making a ticking sound. "You have ever had experienced fighting a shadow, uncle?"

Viserys let his arms sink until his eyes were over his goblet, eyes holding annoyance. "Don't be silly. I'm only making a comparison on what it could be like."

"You think I would've lost," Aegon drained his goblet and eyed his reflection from its shiny gold surface, having purple eyes staring back at him.

Viserys set down his goblet on the table and took his two hands and rubbed both of his thighs up and down. "Let me say this, if you would've to fight Snow, you would be on the floor shaking like Darkstar."

"That's not happening," Aegon replied, drifting his eyes to his uncles. "I would not let myself to be beaten down like that. I am trained by the best."

Arthur and Barristan would be livid if my training was for nothing and rendered a shaking mess like Gerold.

"You do have that under your name," Viserys agreed. "Gerold is or was labeled as the best swordsman in dorne. Oberyn surely is being named such now. The people of dorne is embarrassed."

Aegon can tell they were embarrassed. As the hall was being emptied, the northerners and everyone else had mocked the dornish for their inflated egos. He is ashamed too because of him being tied to dorne through his mother's blood. But not Rhaenys and Aegon was taken back. His sister took after her dornish blood more than he and yet, he could even see his sister's small smirk as they left the hall.

What could that mean?

"Gerold is talented," Aegon said. "He is also too impatient and rash into trying to break Snow's defense."

"Yes," Viserys said. "And you think that you can best the bastard?"

I don't know.

Aegon didn't know and that didn't happen often. If it were any other person, he would immediately say yes. Not doing so now did not sit well with him. The melee is not too far and therefore he has to be confident.

"I don't know."

Viserys smiled, pleased with something that only he knows. "Good. You should be afraid. Facing someone who wields two swords is not the best thing that can happen to you."

"I'm not afraid."

Viserys stared at him. A long moment passed then he nodded. "Ok, I'm going to believe you." He then held up his index finger. "But…don't assume that I'm placing my gold on you in the melee."

Aegon resisted rolling his eyes, and he sunk in his chair. Typical uncle.

They sat in easy silence, each in their own thoughts. "How is Margaery?"

Aegon snapped out of his thoughts only to dive back deeper into it. For the truth, the Tyrell is not as dreadful as he has foreseen. Margaery is a little smug at times, but other than that she is an ordinary girl at heart with a sharp mind and a quick tongue. For all of her positivity's, she is still not the woman he craved and thus is distant from her. Aegon can see how she is craving for his attention and is hurt when she doesn't obtain it and didn't know the reason why. They didn't ever sleep together since that one time to seal their wedding night. That was it.

"Fuck," Aegon murmured, putting his head in his palms.

"What did you say?"

"Margaery is fine."

"Ok," Viserys said, by the sound of his voice he isn't sure of it.

Aegon lifted his head and leaned into his seat. "How are things with Cersei?" He asked with a smirk, knowing how his uncle is going to react.

He was right as Viserys ranted about his loving wife. "She is still a miserable bitch. That fucking lioness does nothing but complain. She spends every day talking about how we shouldn't be living at dragon stone. Even during sex, she has something to complain about. 'Why is it so dark in here? It smells. Why the sheets are not warm enough. Why aren't you warm enough? Why can't you be more like Rhaegar?'"

Aegon couldn't stop himself from chuckling, and he almost spilled the wine from his mouth as he took a sip. He made sure that he swallowed correctly and smiled. "A very loveable couple you two make."

Viserys scowled, his handsome face turning and twisting in scorn. "No. Rhaegar should have never made a betrothal with me and that bitch."

His uncle's eyes were hard. Aegon's father and his uncle argued furiously as soon as the family was aware of it. It was heated and intense as it seemed it would continue for hours. Their relationship was never the same afterward, and it didn't get the chance to because Viserys- after marrying the Lannister- left for dragon stone and the two never saw each other since.

Aegon wanted to change the topic and so he did. "How is Tommen?"

Instantly his uncle's eyes brightened. While he didn't love Cersei, but no one can dare claim that he didn't have a love for his son. Tommen is a little boy with golden hair, green eyes with a bright smile and a knack for sweets.

"He is the son I've ever wanted," Viserys said, his smile not leaving his face. "He is learning his sums at an extraordinary rate, and his skill with a sword grows with every passing day."

"That is good," Aegon said. "What about Joffrey?"

The dark look that crossed his uncle's face was unmistakable. Viserys reached for his goblet and jugged it with one gulp. He breathed loudly and looked at him. "I should have never sent him to foster with Tywin Lannister. It's just…Cersei never stopped nagging me about him learning under his father, saying that he will never become a man unless her father took him under his wing." Viserys seethed, the air going through his teeth as he hissed. "I hate having to say this about my own flesh and blood, but Joffrey turned into a little shit."

Viserys face was mixed between disappointment and shame. Aegon cannot bring himself to say that he is wrong. From the lovable child that Joffrey used to be, he is now a pompous brat that thinks he is above everyone else, especially Tommen. Sooner or later, it's going to be that same attitude that is going to get him smacked in the mouth.

"If Tywin was present, I would kick the old lion in his fucking face." From the sheer anger on his uncle's face, his words were not said in jest. "I should've sent him to Ned Stark."

Aegon sits up in his chair with the quickness. "I don't think that would've been a good idea, uncle. The north still holds resentment for us."

"Ned Stark is honorable," Viserys replied. "He would not dare harm an innocent boy who had no part in the rebellion. Besides, it could've made a path to healing wounds with us and them."

My uncle has good sense.

"What do you think we should do to mend things then?" Aegon asked, pouring more wine in his goblet before silently offering his uncle the same.

Viserys held his goblet out as Aegon poured some in his. "Marriage."

"More?" Aegon asked. Unknown to him, his hands curled into fists. "What more can be done through that?"

Viserys sipped and licked his lips. "Your sister is unmarried and there are plenty of northern suitors walking about. Most notably, Domeric Bolton."

"Rhaenys is not going to like that," Aegon responded, knowing his older sister. "She wants to find a man that 'matches her'."

"How long is that going to take I wonder?" Viserys inquired. "Her time is running out."

"Her time is never going to run out, because she is not the crown prince," Aegon countered, a bit bitter. "Our father is giving her all the time she desires without actually saying anything, but I know."

Viserys nodded, not saying a word.

Perhaps the reason why he and his uncle were this close was because of the unwanted betrothal placed upon them. Perhaps they felt they were wronged and wanted to find a comrade that shared the pain and find a way to endure it with a cup of enjoyable wine.

Sometimes he and his uncle just sat with each other alone and talk about how much they missed out on happiness and what could have happened if they weren't royalty. Truly, Aegon finds himself being depressed at how hard he was thinking about this.

Within seconds, his goblet was empty so he poured another. When he drained that too he poured another and another…and another. His vision became hazy and from where he sat, his uncle separated into two people with more than one head. His breath came out uneven, and his arm wobbled as he tipped the goblet to his mouth to devour the sweet vintage. By doing so, his vision became even poorer than it already was.

Now comes the more intimate and more personal feelings. In this room…with his uncle as his only company, he can shred his personality of the crown prince…and simply be Aegon. Viserys nodded at his slurred words, not judging, his eyes glazed over from the drink just like his. Through the conversation, his uncle had the good grace to not mention a certain Targaryen.

Sometime later, Viserys stood up and his feet were shaky. "Good...Talk. I'll see you…you around…"

Then he left.

Aegon didn't move to get in his bed. He stayed in his chair and just gazed at his reflection from the goblet.

Rhaenys

From the very first look at him, her world has been turned upside down. His lean body, flexed with muscle. Brown hair, almost black, curled in the most possible way how. His beard, neatly trimmed across his jaw. And lastly, his lilac eyes, darker than anyone's in her family, made her catch her breath when he holds her gaze when many others failed. When he holds her stare, Rhaenys had to stop her hand from going down below when the feast was still going on. Rhaenys couldn't keep her eyes off him.

She was at her tipping point when he stared down Gerold, his face cold and his eyes unreachable. Even when he is a bastard, he didn't let himself get oppressed by the people from Dorne and it was enjoyable to watch and she replayed the scene a dozen times in her head. All of her restraint nearly became undone when he donned the armor that was handed to him and obliterated 'dark star'. The skill he showed awed her and the rest of the lords in that hall. Her brother was amazed too even if he didn't want to admit it.

Egg is going to struggle against him, but he is too proud to say it.

She shouldn't be lusting over a bastard, one from the north at that. But she can't stop her heart from beating when she looks at him. It is insane. She has suitors waiting for her hand and none of them had her feeling like this.

A snap of fingers next to her ears jarred her from her thoughts. Arianne giggled at her dirty look and nodded her head at Margaery who looked at her in amusement. "I asked you a question, princess. You were in your own world."

The group of ladies in the room giggled. Rhaenys smiled back at her. "My apologies. What were you saying?"

"I asked about what you thought about the spar tonight, princess," Margaery asked.

Rhaenys wanted to say it was amazing, and that it made her more aroused than she had in a long time. Instead, she calmed herself and said, "It was a good spar."

"How could he learn to swing a sword like that?" Nymeria asked out loud. If anyone was bothered by her bastard cousin having a word, no one batted an eyelash. The sand snakes from dorne were also in the room, sitting close to her.

"Practice," Obara said, lazily. The eldest of the sand snakes had the most talent with the spear out of all her sisters. Being trained by the red viper himself makes her a person who shouldn't be underestimated. Nymeria, Obara, and Tyene had a short talk about the man's prowess of the sword and compared it to theirs.

The other ladies in the room didn't chide the bastards for joining the conversations, nor did they reply. Rhaenys could guess why, it was because she was here. No women in the room would take the gamble to insult her cousins in her presence. She could even say that the sand snakes were getting overconfident at the power she had over anyone else.

"Lady Dayne will not be pleased with what happens tonight," Margaery said, looking right at Rhaeyns.

"No, she won't," Rhaenys answered. That was entirely in the wrong. Ashara will be joyful when she gets informed about what had happened. Gerold was not loved in dorne, even his family didn't love him. The only reason their party backed him up was that they were bickering with the north. Their disdain for the north shadowed what they felt for Gerold. Rhaenys father's affair with Lyanna stark placed Dorne in a tight space with the king and the north.

"The poor Darkstar is not going to be the same. I expect him to have a further collision with Snow. His pride yearns for it," Arianne said. The buxom women had been taking Gerold in bed for a while now, and only the sand snakes and Rhaenys knew. And Rhaenys knew that it will end based on the slight scowl on her cousin's face. The beating that she saw must have persuaded her to cut ties.

"Let's talk about it and…some other good things about this Snow," Arianne said, smirking. It was obvious what good things she was talking about.

"For a bastard, he is very handsome," A lady said, from Margaery's left.

"Not just handsome, I would even call him beautiful," Another lady said, near the previous speaker.

Out of nowhere, a shot of jealousy burned into Rhaenys's chest. It was quick and unwanted. She is a princess, not a swooning girl in the tales.

"From what I heard about this Snow, his appearance is a complete surprise. Wouldn't you agree with me ladies?" Arianne asked the whole room.

The ladies nodded and Rhaenys nodded too. Before the feast, if someone said the name Jon Snow, a picture of a disheveled man with an ugly face and cruel eyes were in her head. She spotted him easily in the hall, his height helped that. All of her hunches were put to the rest as Snow looked at her for the first time. It blew her breath away as if he struck her himself instead of hitting Gerold.

"He is going nowhere," Cersei said with a sneer on her lips. "You are forgetting that he is a bastard." Her words were met with silence. She rolled her eyes and sipped her wine.

"If only he isn't a bastard," Arianne wondered. Rhaenys can tell it was a fool's act. No status is going to stop her or the sand snakes from bedding the men they wanted. It's just who they were. Rhaenys herself bedded a couple of men in the past while in Dorne.

They proceeded to talk about Jon Snow and their opinions about the white wolf of Essos. Margaery mostly stayed out of the chat to no one's surprise. Then the topic shifted on who is going to emerge from the joust, the melee, the singing competition, and the archery.

Out of the men, the north was not mentioned in any way. Rhaeyns found it amusing. Regardless of what Jon Snow did, the north is still being underestimated. She joined the conversation a little bit to share her thoughts but mostly opted to sit in silence.

The gathering in this castle is turning out to be interesting.

When the talks begin to die, Rhaenys sat up and declared that the night was over. Everyone left the room except for her cousins who planned to share the night with her. When others find it weird to sleep with other grown women, they find it normal.

She slipped from her gown and into her sleep dress. Arianne and Tyene went in her bed while Obara and Nymeria shared the other bed. Rhaenys lay in her bed, not going to sleep yet, just listening to the silent snores of her cousins. Before long, she closed her eyes and fell to sleep like the rest, purple eyes still visible from behind her eyelids.

Aegon

His daze state was put to end by the soft opening of the door, not soft enough for him to miss but not loud enough to make him startle and for that he glanced at her. Margaery closed the door and looked at him with a small smile, almost expectant. Aegon didn't know if it was for attention or something else but she didn't get any. He turned back to stare at the goblet.

His ear picked up the sound of her sighing and her taking off her dress. Aegon gulped down another round of wine and continued to stare at his reflection.

"Please stop drinking," Margaery said, taking off her necklace and placing it on the small table next to her side of the bed.

"Go to bed, my lady," Aegon replied, still drinking. This was his night. This was the night where he cannot be the crown prince and simply be him. It might be a long time when he can do this again. Normally he doesn't drink this much but, he can make exceptions for this night

"Drinking this much is not like you," Margaery said.

"People can't be themselves all the time," Aegon said dryly. "The prince of the seven kingdoms can relax now and then."

Margaery didn't respond and when she did it was sterner. "Come to bed. A husband must sleep beside his wife."

Aegon took his time to answer and it came out in a jumbled mess. "Don't worry…I'll be there."

"No, you are not. When have you ever slept beside me? Was it our wedding night?"

Aegon kept his attention on the goblet, too much wine in his system to full reply to her or else he will make himself look like an idiot.

Margaery sighed again and went on to prepare for bed. Aegon couldn't tell if it was the drink but he could hear the sadness in her breath. He turned in his seat and watched her as she picked out a set of clothing, unaware of his prying eyes.

Aegon grimaced, pressing a hand against his forehead, as a whimper escaped his mouth before he can stop it. Margaery stopped what she was doing and glanced at him. "Are you ok?"

Aegon nodded and she continued with her task. The prince eyed her form, getting dizzier and dizzier with every passing glance he did over her womanly form.

For a moment, Margaery's hair turned silvery-blond. Aegon blinked and the illusion went away like smoke. Her hair changed back to brown. Aegon chuckled. Margaery gave him another quick glance then went back to what she was doing.

This time, when the imaged changed, it was the shape of a Targaryen.

Dany looked at him then, her plump lips moving as she spoke. "Aegon?" She was wearing the same dress that she wore when she left, and he wanted to remove it.

She was here, in the flesh. He could make everything right. And this time she would not leave him.

Aegon took one last sip from his goblet, and he slammed it on the table. He almost fell over, but he managed to walk over to where she was. He took her by the waist and smashed his lips against hers. Daenerys gasped in his mouth but soon she accepted his passion and returned the kiss. Aegon leads her to bed, and he left his clothes on the floor.

…

Aegon rolled back to his side of the bed, breathing hard as sweat fell upon his bare chest. Daenerys lay on his arm, breathing as loud as he. Aegon smiled, rubbing her back as she shivered at his touch. He placed his head on top of her and whispered, "Dany."

Aegon was as shocked as he could be, when he received a sharp slap on his cheek, jarring his head away from Dany. He softly touched his cheek, maybe thinking that mark on his face was not real. He looked down, not to see Dany, but Margaery. Even when her brown eyes were cold from anger, they were hurt as well. She sniffed and rolled to her side, back facing him. She pulled the blanket over her naked body as if to conceal it from his unfocused eyes and nothing else was said. The damage has been done.

Aegon closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on what just happened. Dany was just beside him…

The drunken state that held over him departed, only just a little for Aegon to understand what the problem was. Immediately he felt so much guilt and he started to get sick in the stomach. He sat up and placed a hand on Margaery's shoulder, shaking her.

"Margaery," Aegon called. His wife didn't respond. He didn't know if she was asleep or if she was tuning him out. Aegon couldn't blame her if she did either of those.

I am not good for her. Aegon decided quietly. How am I supposed to be a good king if I can't treat my wife with the proper respect that she deserves?

My father disrespected my mother when he ran with Lyanna and is still a good king…Aegon cut his traitorous thoughts in half like how a sword would do. His father kept reminding him that he wanted him to be a better king than he was, and Aegon was going to fulfill the king's dream. It the least he can do to ease his father's pain over his misfortune in the rebellion.

Aegon touched Margaery's shoulder one last time before laying his head on his pillow and letting the darkness of sleep consume him.

Jon

…

It was too early in the morning for Jon to be mindlessly walking through the castle. He woke up in his tent feeling hungry, so he wanted to find the kitchen to get something to eat. He avoided going to the great hall to break his fast because of what happened last night. Having everyone stare at him served him no good right now, or else he would send another person into a shaking fit.

The way his stomach growled only made him hungrier and more irked and that made him walked down the halls faster. Time passed, and more people arouse from their slumber and walked by as they gave him fleeting looks.

In his haste to find the kitchens, he almost bumped into a lady who was holding trays of food. The lady struggled to hold them all and Jon moved to help her by taking one from her left hand. Jon had the chance to look her over. She had short raven black hair and blue eyes like the lakes he seen near the castle. Her face was held in much seriousness, though she was pretty.

She smiled at him and said, "You have my thanks ser."

Jon put the tray on his dominant hand and started walking along with the lady. "I am no ser."

The lady didn't seem too offended with his bluntness and said, "My apologies, you have the look of one. I also didn't catch your name."

"My name is Jon Snow."

"Ned Stark's bastard?"

"Aye. I am." Even a bastard can be well known here it seems.

"My name is Mya stone, Robbert Baratheon's bastard," She said as if it had no effect on her. "I would've shaken your hand if I could."

"No harm was done," Jon responded. "What is the chance that you came here?"

"I am the handmaid of Rhaenys Targaryen," Mya said, not seeing how he tensed.

"Are these trays for her?" Jon had to ask, the trays feeling heavier in his hands. The way the princess' eyes looked at his was too livid to forget, so it was still on his mind. He turned slightly apprehensive at the chance to meet her again, and it made him angry at feeling so.

"No," Mya answered. "This is for Robb Stark and his group of friends around the god's eye."

"Let me take the trays for you. I was going to find him on the way," Jon said. It was a white lie because it was only a part of the full truth. If he couldn't eat from the kitchens, he will eat with his cousin. And it was only polite to carry the food for her.

Mya eyed him up and down, frowning. "I don't think you can car-"

Before she can finish her sentence, Jon took the two other trays and balanced it on his arms. He looked away from the trays to grin at the handmaid. "Don't worry. I'm stronger than I look, my lady."

Mya retrained her shocked look, but it went away just as fast as it appeared. "I did not doubt your strength. I have seen your spar with Gerold Dayne."

"This is the time we must part, my lady," Jon said, politely. He called her a lady not to mock her for being a bastard but to simply be polite. He calls everyone a lady. It's one of his only morals. "If you find yourself free from your duties, come and chat with me."

Mya looked at him for a time, her face serious just like his. Being raised as a bastard makes people mature quicker than their higher status counterparts and it showed. With how cautious they talk, more wary of other folks and simply being more humble.

She gave him a curt nod. "If I have the time I will look for you." She helped him by giving him some directions to find the gods eye and left.

Jon knew for sure that he did not imagine the small smile on her face as she walked away. The same smile was on his face too. Jon knew first hand that only a few people came out to talk to him and that made him lonely even if he refuses to believe that. Mya must have the same issue if not worse for being the baseborn daughter of the usurper and being the handmaid to the daughter of the king. There is no harm to talk to her, not to Jon anyway.

Jon traveled through the castle and out to the open, careful to not drop the trays and not be too slow to annoy Robb for the lateness. He had done this for the head of the company for a while also. Everyone was confused as he when he started carrying food for him and why he was ordered to eat with him too. Harry liked to blab to himself, liking the sound of his own voice. Jon had no clue why he spoke to him of all people but he just sat in his chair, patient to get the hell out of there most of the time.

It was the perfect time to be out. The air was warm, clouds white and puffy while the sun shooting rays of light down on him. The green plains were never short of grass and trees. Jon stopped to stare at nature before walking on.

Several lords and ladies walked about, talking and laughing as they sat in the grass. Jon searched for Robb but he couldn't see him anywhere. Faces he had never seen before was the only thing in sight.

"Jon!"

Jon turned to his right to see Robb with Theon, Domeric and some other young men under a large tree for shade. He walked over and set the trays in the middle of the group with ease.

"Damn, Jon," Robb said, grinning at the food as Jon sat next to him. "With your hair and the way you carry those trays some bloke would mistake you for a maid!"

The group sniggered. Jon let it die before replying, "And some bloke would mistake you for a baby in swaddling with that face of yours."

Without knowing, Robb touched his face in bafflement. The group laughed at the Stark for a few lingering minutes before letting up.

Robb stared at the group, one man at a time before smiling. "The time for laughter is over my lords. Let us eat!"

They whooped and started grabbing. When Jon grabbed a piece of bacon, Domeric said softly, "Snow, eat all the food you want."

The group nodded and Theon spoke next, "He should. What he gave to Darkstar last night must have left him hungry!"

They cheered, taking folks that were nearby by surprise. One or two men even got up to clap him on the back in congratulations. Jon stared at Theon, wondering why he would say that. Theon saw this and nodded at him before returning to his food.

Maybe Theon wants the grudge with me to stop.

Jon pondered on what it might be like if he and Theon would actually be friends when Theon said, "Alright, my lords. Let's talk about something interesting!"

"What might that be?" Domeric asked.

Theon had that kind of smile that Jon and Robb were very familiar with. The two glanced at the other and back to Theon.

"The gorgeous ladies that came to this tourney of course," Theon answered. "There are a lot of them."

Robb sighed. "What about them, Theon?" From the way he asked, the Stark had to deal with this before and he did.

Theon eyes were lit up from the passion he enjoyed talking about the most. "They are amazing!"

"If they are amazing why don't you try to talk to them," Domeric advised. A soft breeze of wind had the leaves on the tree above them wave.

Theon's face was unsure. Jon can count the number of times the Greyjoy wore that expression when it comes to women and that said much.

"I don't know how this southern girls act," Theon said after a pause.

"When has that stopped you, Theon?" Robb asked.

"Obviously now," Theon sarcastically said. "But I have a list in my head."

"What list?" Jon asked.

"The list of the most beautiful women," Theon replied, a big smile on his face as he looked around the plains.

They looked at Theon in shock and Domeric said, "A list? That is a tough thing to do with the ladies that we have here."

"And that's what makes it fun, my lord,"

"Call me Domeric."

"Who is on your list? And how many?" Jon asked.

"The maximum is three," Theon said and he looked around. "My chosen is Margaery Tyrell, Arianne Martell, and the princess."

"That's a good list," Jon had to agree. The three women have been getting stares from the men since the opening feast and it was most definitely not going to stop.

"What about you, Dom?" Robb said to the Bolton.

Domeric hummed and smiled at them. "I'm going to keep my opinion to myself until everyone else arrives. Daenarys Targaryen and Ashara Dayne are rumored to be beauties as well. Don't dismiss them yet."

"I see, Domeric. Playing the safe smart man," Theon said, biting into a fruit.

"And you, Jon?" Robb asked. "Wait, I shouldn't have asked. He has one woman on his list. And that is the one and only dragon princess, Rhaenys Targaryen."

What the hell, Robb?

Everyone laughed at him, even Domeric, though he did it more quietly while the others laughed in the air.

Robb knows that she is my half-sister!

Theon managed to stop his laughing to ask Robb, "Does that mean he is…"

"Aye, he is!" Robb finished, laughing as he fell into the grass.

Jon had enough. "Well," Jon started as he got to his feet and wiping himself for grass. "I'm done here."

Robb looked like he was about to say something until he fell into the grass and continued laughing. The laughs followed Jon as he left.

Jon fights the smile that wanted to be on his face. It was a lost battle and he walked through the plains with a small smile on his face.

The smile was gone as he saw another group who lazily sat on the grass that was not too far away from where he stayed. The crown prince, the princess, the man with the beard and Mya ate their breakfast as they chatted to themselves.

They don't see me. Jon reassured. He turned around and only took one step before a voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Where are you going, Snow?!" It was the crown prince, no doubt he had seen him walking. Jon closed his eyes and opened them.

Jon turned around and called out back. "Back to the castle, my prince!" If this calling out to each other kept going, it would actually be humorous.

The prince waved him over and Jon couldn't anything else but obey. Rhaenys slightly gasped at the sight of him, but Jon kept his legs moving until he stood in front of the group.

"Do you wish to eat with us?" Aegon asked.

"I have to refuse, my prince," Jon said. He couldn't be the only one to spot the princess narrow his eyes. "I shared my meal with my brother," Jon said, keeping his eyes securely on the prince and not to the woman next to him.

Aegon nodded, not put off by his refusal. "Ok then-"

"Surely you have more room in your stomach to eat, sit," Rhaenys said.

"Your, Highness," Jon started, trying to find an excuse to escape her eyes. The emotions that stirred up in him at her stare left him strange and uncomfortable.

"Sit," Her voice had the distinct that she was not having a refusal for an answer. Jon looked to the prince and the bearded man. They didn't speak but he did sit down.

Jon looked at the trays, his eyes looking. He settled for an apple and grabbed the fruit, taking a bite out of it.

"There is no reason for you to be hesitant into eating with us," Rhaeyns said, taking a sausage. "You can have more than an apple."

Jon met her eyes and said, "I am not hesitant about eating, your highness. I just like to savor the things I want." Immediately he swore in his mind as the princesses eyes widen in shock.

Did I just flirt? And I think the princess knew what I said.

Jon looked to the others to see if they heard the subtle meaning and to his relief, they heard none as they chatted to themselves, Mya only listening politely. The handmaid hadn't said a word to him yet and Jon understood well. Technically, she is still on duty and she kept to herself.

Rhaenys smiled a small stretch of her mouth that caught Jon's breath. "I like to savor my food as well. We have something in common then."

Jon looked into her eyes, very well understanding what she said. There were women that were blunt and there were others that were crafty with their words but he is not a fool.

"That's good to know," Jon said.

"Your spar with Gerold Dayne was most impressive," Rhaenys said. "Your sword charms my eye."

Her sentence was innocent enough, though Jon wasn't positive that she is talking about the sword around his waist or the other one.

"Thank you, my princess," Jon said. He and the princess stared at the other when the man with the beard spoke, cutting in between the staring.

"You have my congrats," Viserys said to him. "Though, you were a little too harsh on Gerold."

Before Jon could say what he thought about 'being too harsh', Rhaenys went to his defense. "There is no such thing as too harsh when you have armor on and a sword in your hands."

"It was only a spar."

"It was a spar in which Gerold wanted and he got it," Rhaenys snapped. Her quick wit makes Jon more wanting for her to speak again.

Viserys was more amused than angry, and he smiled a little. "As you wish, my niece. I was only pointing something out."

The princess was not finished. "And your pointing out was incorrect. As a man who spars as well, I expected you to know."

Aegon broke in, a grin on his face. "Get off him, sister. He had enough scolding. Isn't that right, Snow?"

"Aye, he had enough," Jon said. The princess looked at him, a slightly sheepish look in her eye.

"Tell me this Snow," Aegon said. "Who taught you to wield a sword in both hands?"

"I taught myself, my prince." The prince nodded.

"It is extraordinary," Rhaenys said. Jon looked at her for a second before turning to the eggs.

"Am I beautiful to you, Snow?" Rhaenys asked, still watching him.

"Yes, your highness," Jon replied. If anyone said she was unpleasant, they deserved to be thrown into Cannibals fire. The princess was a true beauty from Dorne with olive skin and brown hair. The prince took after his father with his pale skin and flowing white-blond hair.

"Why did you look away from me?"

Jon frowned at this. She wants me to stare. He glanced at the other three to see they engaged in a conversation, leaving him alone to talk with the princess.

"I am a bastard," Jon said. It was the easiest thing to say as he had been saying the words for all of his life. It was his free pass card. "It would be rude if I was caught staring."

"That didn't stop you before," Rhaenys said, brown eyes keen as she watched him.

Jon kept quiet. His uncle told him if he was uncertain it was best to stay silent. She is right. That hasn't stopped him from meeting her gaze last night as he stood victorious over Gerold. But that was different. Up close in her proximity, made his hair on his arm stand on end and it quickened his breathing. It felt more real.

"Well?" Rhaenys asked, more of a demand than anything.

Jon didn't have to answer as a group of three walked to them. It was two golden-haired boys and the golden-haired woman from last night that sat at the high table. The woman looked at them with a sneer as if she was dragged to be here.

"Hello father," The younger one of the boys greeted.

Viserys stood up and hugged him. "Hello, Tommen." He turned to the other boy and became more solemn. "Hello, Joffrey."

"Hello to you as well father," Joffrey said, not looking at his father or hugging him.

"Come and sit," Viserys said as he sat back down, not glancing at the haughty women.

"What is she doing here?" Cersei asked, looking at Mya with a glare. "A bastard shouldn't be among us." Mya didn't rise to her voice, merely staring at the princess as if she is waiting for a command to leave.

"That bastard you are talking to is my handmaid, my lady," Rhaenys said, "And she is staying."

Cersei huffed. Her eyes landed on Jon and she sneered. "Now, he isn't your handmaid, he is just an upstart bastard. Be gone."

Jon stood up, not showing anger as he stared at her. "Of course 'my lady', I am indeed an upstart bastard. I will leave. I am not worthy to be in your presence." His sarcasm was so evident that Viserys chuckled in his sleeve. His chuckle went unnoticed because everyone's eyes were on Jon as he turned to leave. Jon heard the princess stand and say something, but Jon is walking too quick.

Rhaenys protested for him to stay, but Jon walked off, not even asking to be dismissed. It was likely that he will get in trouble later on for his rudeness but the princess was getting too overwhelming. Jon was glad that the kingsguard wasn't with them. They would've forced him to stay for as long as the princess desired.

As Jon left the gods eye, he remembered about the gift that was supposed to be brought to his tent. I completely forgot about the gold.

He did not run nor did he jog, but he speed walked through the castle and to the northern camp. He saw a few markets and set it on his what to do list after he had time.

He walked deeper into the camp and saw his tent in the distance and the tall man next to it. The man's face was horribly burnt, and he wore a twisted smile and a suit of armor that would make a few stabs struggle to pierce through. He was big and dwarfed Jon with ease.

"You are Snow," The hound said, and his breath smelled like wine.

"Aye."

"Your payment is there." Sandor gestured to the four bags next to him. "The big fucking wolf in your tent started growling at me when I tried to bring them in."

Jon wanted to laugh at the frightened look in the man's eyes but chose not to. Out of thin air, a picture of this big man pissing his breeches as Ghost bark at him made him chuckle anyway.

Sandor heard him and growled, face twisting as if he was a demon from the deepest hell. "What?"

"Nothing," Jon said. "I don't want to mess with my wolf either."

"I'm done here," Sandor said as he strode past him, his armor jiggling. "Farewell, bastard."

Jon stared after him, taken back by the man's curt departure. Instead of mentioning the deal he made with Tyrion, he just left.

Chuckling, he picked up a coin from a bag and bit it. "I like him."

Have a good day!