Tywin Lannister, Casterly Rock, 288 AC
The quiet of the Lannister Lords solar was broken by his brother opening the door, and his boots striding across the ground
"Lord Tywin, two letters have arrived from King's Landing. One the sigil of the Crowned Stag, the other unmarked," his brother Kevin said, setting it upon his desk.
Tywin looked up at his brother, set the quill in the ink pot, picked up the letter with the King's seal, broke it, unfurled the parchment, and began to read.
"Lord Tywin Lannister, Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. Queen Lyanna Stark has shown difficulty in bearing the King's heirs. Grandmaester Pycelle has determined she is barren. We, the Small Council, and of course King Robert know heirs of the main line are needed. Their marriage will be annulled upon those grounds. With that in mind, we invite you and your daughter, Lady Cersei Lannister, to King's Landing. Talks of tying these two Great houses closer can continue at the realms Capital.
Signed, Jon Arryn, Lord of the Vale and Hand of the King."
He placed the letter down, his face betraying nothing. He passed the letter to Kevin who read it in before opening the other.
"My Lord, your orders have been completed, though that is not why I have sent this. The Wolf was complicit."
It was left unsigned, though Tywin knew it was Pycelle. Pycelle being in charge of the ravens at the Red Keep meant he got important information with none the wiser. The wolf was complicit… that could only mean one thing. It referred to Tywin's orders to… take care of any possible offspring, but only if the opportunity arose.
Lyanna Stark wanted to help kill any Baratheon offspring by her? That was surprising. Moon tea was the obvious solution, much easier than any poison which would cause miscarriages, and miscarriages would obviously be more… visible.
Her son would have been King, her daughters princesses. So why did she not want Robert Baratheon's children? Why did she go so far as to actively do the opposite? It made no sense. Ned Stark was too honorable and loyal to plot anything, and though Lyanna Stark proved herself a somewhat competent ruler, the Stark's were simply not made for the South. Not like a lion.
So was there a scheme he couldn't see, did she just despise being a mother and Robert Baratheon, or was it something else? Stark's weren't liars, that he knew like the color of the sky.
Nothing about the situation made much sense. He would have to think about it. Heavily. Tywin didn't like not knowing.
He stood and brought it to the candle burning on his desk. The corner was dipped to the flame, and soon, there was nothing left but ash.
"Brother?" Kevan said.
"Lannister blood will sit atop the Iron Throne," Tywin decided. It would be the fruition of his legacy. His blood would rule the Seven Kingdoms for a thousand years. No. Longer. Any who stood in his way would be ripped out, root and stem, unless they bowed to the lion.
"Will the North and Riverlands remain loyal?" Kevin said, cautious.
"The Riverlands matter little. If war broke out, they would be the first Kingdom to burn. Regardless, they are tied to the North… Eddard Stark will remain loyal. He keeps his oaths. Lyanna Stark may be humiliated, but it won't be by us or the Baratheons. It's common knowledge that King Robert only loves Ned Stark more than her. No doubt this was done with reluctance."
Kevan nodded.
"Go. Get Cersei."
Kevan nodded again and left the solar.
Alone again, Tywin clasped his hands on top of the desk and closed his eyes.
What are you hiding, Lyanna Stark?
/-/
288 BC
Jon Snow
He stood in the Godswood, alone. His sister was shunted into lessons on how to be a lady with Septa Mordane, which she hated more than anything. Not because of the lessons, but because of Mordane.
The Septa did not like bastards at all, and with no reprimand coming from Lord and Lady Stark, her veiled insults and open disdain continued. Locked in a room with his little sister, alone, Mordane was a right bastard and not because of her birth.
Jon hated her for obvious reasons.
Robb was off doing something or the other—Jon didn't know, and Lord and Lady Stark were equally occupied.
But that wasn't why he sought comfort in his own presence today. No. There was a twofold reason.
His mother was coming to Winterfell. Either by plotting or some side-effect of his birth, her marriage with Robert Baratheon was annulled on account of being barren, and the once-Queen was taking a ship to White Harbor, and after that, she was coming to Winterfell.
I thought I'd have to storm the Red Keep to get her back, killing all who got in my way. But no, she did it herself.
Jon didn't care how. Being loved so much someone would die for him was a heady feeling—one he couldn't help but return in kind. He knew what death was. Even if she didn't, she would face it for him… That meant something.
The other reason he was in the Godswood was far more… strange. Hehe.
Strangers System, he thought, and it sprang into existence.
Stranger's System: (Press [Here] to expand information.)
Spell:Avert Death (Press [Here] to expand information.)
Passive Charm: Excellence (Press [Here] to expand information.)
Spell: Skinchangers Seed (Press [Here] to expand information.)
Message: You have received one new quest. Press [Here] to see details.
His first quest. He was almost scared to open it, and he didn't know why. Regardless, he pressed it, and the quest expanded.
First Blood: Kill your first person in this world, by any means. It must be you who kills them. A perk, spell, or charm will be rewarded based on the method used to both kill and the set up for the kill.
Time Limit: Until Lyanna Stark arrives in Winterfell. Failure results in losing a power you already have.
Do you accept this Quest? [Yes] or [No].
Well… Jon didn't quite know how to feel about that. There was a lot to go through, and thankfully he had time to think about it. He pressed yes, the quest folded in on itself, and the system display closed.
He would kill without question. Anything was better than death. This quest seemed to be the first step towards immortality. But how was the question?
How did a small child kill someone? He had little idea. Killing a random guard? Yeah, like that would go well. He didn't trust his child body to be capable, let alone if he didn't succeed and got caught. His Uncle would think him Aerys reborn, but with powers. Did he sneak into the cells with poison? But Jon doubted Luwin had any in his stock, and even if he did, stealing it would not go well. Were there even any prisoners?
Then… would honesty be the best option?
Ah… Now there was an idea. He chuckled, and from the mouth of a boy, it sounded chilling.
/-/
Ned Stark
They supped together in the Great Hall, all of his children at the table with him, even those not of his own seed. The guardsman and lowly nobles dined at the ground floor. He looked over his children fondly. Robb bumped shoulders with Jon, their little heads leaned close together, whispering some childish plot. A small smile graced his lips.
Joanna looked at them forlornly, wanting to be included, not noticing that little Sansa beside her was giving her the same look. Little Arya was being tended to by a nursemaid, the one name day old babe babbling happily and trying to escape the maids arms.
Beside him, his lovely wife cupped her heavily pregnant belly, glowing with a motherly air. Despite the way she looked, Ned knew she was exhausted.
His eyes traced back to Jon as he took a bite of his food. Jon was a special boy. He would never forget that brilliant golden light that saved his mothers life.
Lyanna, he thought.
Despite his harsh words to her about bearing Robert's children and finally doing her duty, time, and holding his own children in his arms left him with regret over his callous words. They were in an impossible situation, but now he understood so was the thought that her children would one day kill each other.
Sometimes, he woke with nightmares of Robb and Jon killing each other, and ice coursed through his veins each time. He knew her fears, then, felt them, like a blade hovering over his neck.
The annulment coming from King's Landing was a surprise, but he supposed it shouldn't have been. She was always a clever one, even if most of the south only saw her as a pretty upjumped northern flower.
"My Lord?" Catelyn questioned.
"My Lady," he acknowledged.
"I must retire. The food doesn't agree with me."
He clasped his hand in hers. "Go," he said kindly. She got up and left with as much grace as possible, considering she was likely about to expel the contents of her stomach.
He looked back to his children, and made eye contact with Jon in the process. Jon whispered something to Robb and walked towards him.
"Father," he quietly said once close.
"Jon."
"Can we talk after supper? Alone? I have—I have something important to ask you."
Ned nodded. "Very well. I'll walk you to my solar."
Jon nodded in return and smiled. It was Lyanna's smile writ small. Ned couldn't resist ruffling his hair. Jon scowled and batted his hand away and ran back to his seat.
His family finished eating, and Jon and Ned walked to his solar.
/-/
Ned watched his son in all but blood fidget in the chair in front of the desk. It was made of sturdy ironwood; and had lasted for at least three generations of Stark's.
"Tell me."
"There's— I don't know how to say it," Jon shrugged lamely, his eyes going to the ground.
"You know you can trust me," Ned reassured.
"I know I can. I just don't know how to say it," Jon deadpanned.
Ned almost smiled.
"From the beginning, then," Ned suggested.
"From the beginning? Well… I suppose my earliest memories are filled with some sort of golden light."
Ned froze, but his nephew continued unaware.
"I still feel that light inside me. It's… it's hard to explain, but I know I could use it again. If you were close to dying, I could save you," Jon explained. "I'm not mad, am I?"
Ned did not know what to do. Honor bound him to lie—to protect Jon's life—but he didn't want Jon to think he was mad for thinking he had powers he did have. Regardless of that, confirming Jon had those powers would open inquiry into how Ned knew, and in turn, his mother.
Ned already had a headache from the argument that would no doubt ensue once Lyanna returned home. He thought it best Jon and Joanna never knew of their parentage, and his sister likely thought the exact opposite. Secrecy would keep them safe now that the distance between them closed.
"I don't know," he said instead. "Tell me more."
"The power… if I'm not mad, it feels like it wants to grow?" Jon questioned more than said.
"Grow? What do you mean by that?"
"It's—it's hard to explain. Like describing a color I've never seen."
"Try."
Jon sighed and took a deep, steadying breath.
"It feels like something bad will happen. Like I need to do something, or the golden light will fight back? Like… like it's been used before and if I don't do something, whatever it's been used on will die… but if I do what it asks, it will grow. It's like the power is holding something hostage, but I don't know what."
Ice flooded Ned's veins.
However unknowingly, was Jon saying Lyanna would die if he didn't do what the power asked? Unacceptable. Lyanna's dying breath was carved into his mind like swords did to flesh.
His voice came out stonier, harder than he wanted at his next words. "What does this power want you to do?"
Jon struggled to find the right words, Ned could see, until he finally just said, "I need to kill someone. With my own hands."
He sounded shaken. Ned felt the same but stood from his chair, going around to the desk to gently hug Jon.
"What about your power growing makes you feel that way, Jon?" He said, concerned.
"The same way I know of the golden light," Jon smiled bitterly. "I just do, I suppose."
Ned sighed, running his hands against Jon's curly hairs.
If it was any other topic and any other boy, he would simply write it off as the whimsical nature of children. With Jon… Ned knew he was special, and not just for his powers. Even when playing, there was a… mature air around him, for lack of better words. He was a genius who took to letters like a fish to water. He was just… more.
This wasn't a joke Jon would make.
Ned wouldn't take a threat to Lyanna's life lightly, either.
"How long do you have? Until the power… does something bad?"
"Not long. A moon? Maybe less?"
That wasn't long at all. He hoped Lyanna would arrive before then so he could converse with her about it.
"Is there a murderer? Or a rapist? I don't want to hurt an innocent," Jon said bitterly.
"Let me think about it," Ned reluctantly conceded. He pressed a gentle kiss to Jon's head. "Are you alright?"
"No. I'll lose a piece of myself either way, but—but whatever is connected to the golden light feels… it feels like it would hurt to lose it more than taking a life."
"I know the feeling," Ned lamented. He was feeling that way now.
What was he supposed to do? Help his son lose his innocence or allow his sister to die?
Jon yawned.
"Off to bed," Ned gently said. "If you think you can sleep?"
Jon nodded. "I'll be fine, father. Telling you has already made me feel better."
Jon hugged him tightly, and left the room.
Ned was left alone with his thoughts.
What should I do?
/-/
A/N: I know some may not like Jon just running to daddy for help, but, well, it's what he's doing. Discreet help to kill someone from the Lord of the North is just about as foolproof as it gets. Plus, the way did it seemed pretty sneaky to me, *shrugs*.
And Tywin? He knows something is up…