Kings Landing 296AC
"I see your finally awake"
The man blinked a few times before finally coming to and his eyes went wide and he began to squirm in his restraints.
"Easy, you won't be getting out of those. I suggest you get comfortable while you still can, my lord." Says Jon.
"Jon, can we just get this over with? Why play all these games?"
Jon turned to his friend and smirked "Thats what he likes the most, Edd. Games." He replies. "Isn't that right, Lord Baelish?" Jon asks.
After getting enough provisions and supplies packed, Jon had gone to the stables and saddled his horse and made his way south. He knew by the time they realized he ran away, Lord Stark would send ravens to Lord Manderly letting him know, so Jon was sure to keep his identity a secret. He kept a hooded cloak on, and found a ship heading toward the Capital before anyone could stop him. With the luck of the gods, he ran in to none other then his old friend Eddison Tollett, who was on his way to Winterfell trying to figure out what in the fuck had happened.
The lord of Light promised he'd allow Jon to have seven people with their memories. The former King in the North had to be extremely careful on who to pick. Tormund, of course was an easy one. Next came Edd, one of this true friends who died far too soon, and didn't deserve to be a brother of the Nights Watch. The night before he left, R'hllor came to him in a dream showing him how to wake each of his chosen. "Simply write their names down on a parchment and toss it into the fire with a few drops of your blood, child. I'll do the rest" He had told Jon.
Tormund, Edd, and Ser Jorah Mormont were his first three chosen.
Ser Jorah was loyal to Dany to the very end, sacrificing his own life for hers. He knew the bear knight would be somewhere in Essos, and he had a specific job for him that he needed done. One that R'hllor assured him the red priestesses in Volantis would help Ser Jorah with.
Now, he was here in Kings Landing, making sure to eliminate the weasel who started the War of the Five Kings, and betrayed his parents.
The man was strapped down to a chair, shaking from fear. Jon could only laugh at that.
He had met the women who ran Littlefingers brothel while he was doing his Master of Coin duties. Kira, was her name. A women of thirty and six. After spending a few days in the city getting the lay of everything, Jon learned that Kira was a former Targaryen supporter. According to the baker down the road, she and her sister were attacked during the sack of Kings Landing. Her younger sister, who at the time was only ten and three had been raped and killed by the Lannister army. Kira had been working at the orphanage that his grandmother, Queen Rhaella started, one that his father, Prince Rhaegar often visited and donated too, but after the sack, the Lannister and Baratheon men had purged the place and Kira was forced onto the streets with only one way of making income, whoring.
So the former King in the North took a risk and told the women who he really was and made a deal with her. If she delivered Littlefinger to him, then she and the other whores could take all of the wealth inside the brothel.
Kira jumped at the opportunity not only to rid the world of Peter Baelish and take his coin, but to also help House Targaryen.
So here they were now.
"Oh right, you can't speak with the gag in your mouth" Jon says as he chuckles and then pulls the gag off.
Immediately Littlefinger begins to plead for his life "Please, I'll give you whatever you want, boy. Just let me go." The weasel cries.
Jon shakes his head "I can't do that Peter. You see, you can't actually give me what I want."
The Master of Coin begs some more "I can! I have gold, I'll give it all to you, please! I'm Master of Coin, I can give you anything!"
"Gold? You think any amount of gold will ever be enough for what you took from me?" Jon hissed at him.
The weasel whimpers "Please!"
"Fifteen years ago you started a war, Peter. You and that psychotic bitch, Lysa Tully betrayed House Targaryen and in doing so, sent Brandon Stark to his death." Jon says. He watches as Littlefingers eyes go wide "Yes, Peter. I know all about how you and the younger fish bitch burned Lady Lyanna's letters to her brother and father, how you made Lysa tell my uncle Brandon that the Prince of Dragonstone kidnapped and raped Lyanna." Jon said. R'hllor had shown him every truth that had been hidden all these years.
"Your.. your a Stark?" Littlefinger asked as he gulped.
Jon laughed "No, I'm not a Stark. Well, I do have Stark blood in my veins."
He seemed to finally figure it out "Ned Starks bastard.." Littlefinger said.
Jon nodded "Aye, many people call me that, but in truth I was born with another name." Jon says as he kneels down in front of the restrained Littlefinger. "My name, my real name, is Aegon Targaryen. True born son or Princess Lyanna Stark and her husband, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Ned Stark claimed me as his bastard to keep me from getting my head bashed in by the fat stag, like my older brother."
"I.. But thats.." Littlefinger tried to say but Jon cut him off.
"I know what you've been up to, Peter. How you've been planning on killing, Jon Arryn, to take Lysa as your bride to gain control of the Vale. I know you plan on pitting the wolves and the lions against one another, since you believe chaos is a ladder. Unfortunately I can't let you do that." Jon tells him. He watches as the weasel turns pale.
"PLEASE! I'll give you anything, don't kill me! PLEASE!" Littlefinger begs once more.
"As I said, you can't give me what I want. Your lies are one of the biggest reasons why my parents were taken from me. So, for the crimes you committed against House Targaryen, I.."
"NO! PLEASE!" The weasel begged.
Jon smirked "Don't worry, my lord, I won't be delivering Northern justice and taking your head."
Littlefinger breathed out, relieved at his reply.
"Edd." Jon said as he held out his right hand.
Edd walked over to the wall and pulled the torch off of it and handed it to him.
"Your actions were against House Targaryen, so I plan on giving you a death according to my families house words." The weasels eyes went wide and he began to cry.
"Fire." Jon said as he leaned over and lit Littlefingers right sleeve on fire. Jon watched as the mans clothes began to catch fire, burning his left arm and chest.
Little finger was screaming in pain now as the flames continued to spread over him.
"And blood." Jon added, and then pulled out his dagger and waved it in front of Littlefingers face, and then in one swift motion, cut Littlefingers throat, blood spurting out as he choked.
Jon watched as the man who had kick started two wars finally died, and all he could feel was satisfaction.
"Lets get this cleaned up, Edd."
"Are you sure he's gonna be here?" Edd asked.
They had cleaned up the mess inside the room in the brothel where he killed Littlefinger. Kira had suggested they leave his body and she and some of the girls would come up with a story to tell the gold cloaks. Peter Baelish was Master of Coin, and they couldn't very well just throw his body out into the gutters and call it a day. So Jon agreed. Though, he did have Kira look through Peters solar for one specific item. An item he now knew belonged to his family.
The conquerors dagger.
He stayed true to his word and the whores took all the coin, meanwhile he took the dagger and left with Edd to the docks.
"Aye. The sun has set, if he was as loyal as Dany said, and considering all the tales I've heard of him as a child from Lord Stark, he'll be trying to get on the first ship to Essos." Jon replied.
Edd nodded hesitantly. Jon could tell he was feeling uncomfortable with what he witnessed.
"What is it, Edd? I can tell something is on your mind. Speak it."
His friend looked over at him and sighed "What you did to him.. How you killed him. The Jon Snow I knew wouldn't have done something so.. so brutal." Edd told him.
Jon knew he was right. But then again, Edd had died. He didn't witness all that happened.
"Jon Snow died, Edd. I told you that when I told you what happened." Jon replied "If you don't wish to be apart of this, you can leave at any point. I won't be offended."
Edd shook his head "I trust you, Jon. I always have. I'm just.."
"Not use to it?" Jon asks cutting him off.
"Aye." Edd replies.
Jon looked out toward the Blackwater Bay and then says "The northern fool died. I told you I was betrayed. And as crazy as it is, the gods agreed. Thats why were here, Edd. And I don't plan on letting the same shit that happened last time, happen this time."
He had not told Edd everything. The part about Dany burning Kings Landing and him killing her, he kept out. He simply told him she was killed and he was exiled and betrayed. Jon knew Edd wanted to push him further on it, but he didn't. Jon could not risk letting that information get out. Tormund of course knew, since he had been alive, but as a man of the Free Folk, he didn't have any opinions on what went down South of the wall. Tormund also swore to keep that bit of info to himself. "The dragon queen killed her enemies, little crow. Whats all the fuss about? Those southerners chose the lion queen who was fucking her brother over the queen with a dragon. Bunch of fools if you ask me." Tormund had once said to him
"Well, I can't say I'll miss the wall or the dead" Edd added with a chuckle.
Jon laughed "Aye, me either."
Before they could continue their conversation, Jon noticed a man with a hood on walking toward the docks. He could see the sword at his hip and he knew it had to be who they were waiting for.
"Come on. I think thats him." Jon said and they both approached said man.
"Whats your plan?" Asks edd.
Jon shrugs "Wing it I guess."
Edd scoffs at that. They get closer to the man and Jon decides to be bold and stops directly in his path.
"Pardon me." The man says as he tries to go around them.
"Looking for a boat? To Essos perhaps?" Jon asks.
The man stiffens and then looks at him, directly in the eyes. At first Jon watches as his jaw clenches, then as he continues to look at Jon his eyes go wide and he hears his breathe hitch, but the man says nothing as he shakes his head.
"Out of the way, boy. I don't wanna harm you." The man says as his hand goes to the pummel of his sword.
"Easy, Lord Commander. You and I both serve the same Queen. The Dragon Queen." Jon says with a small smile on his face.
"How did you.."
"I'm the one who woke you up with all your memories, Ser Barristan Selmy." Jon says and sticks out his hand for the knight to shake "Jon Snow, though I suppose I should introduce myself with the name my mother gave me, considering your allegiance to my father."
"Jon Snow? Then that makes you the bastard of Winterfell I presume." Barristan said and then glares at him. "I owe no allegiance to Ned Stark. I never have."
Jon smiles "Of course you don't. I meant my real father, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen."
To say Barristan the bold was shocked, was an understatement. Jon asked him to accompany him toward the cliffs by the bay so none of the Spiders Little birds would over hear them. The knight agreed but was clearly on edge. The former King in the North handed all his weapons to Edd, trying to assure Ser Barristan he was no threat to him.
They finally made their way to the cliffs and Jon told him everything. Well, not everything, but everything he needed to know.
"So?"
The knight looked at him curiously and the answered "I'll admit, you look like him, like Rhaegar. The moment I first saw you, part of me thought I was looking at a ghost. But with all due respect, this all sounds.."
"Mad?" Jon asks with a smirk on his face.
The famous knight nodded. "But it also makes sense. My brothers at the tower... I always wondered what happened. The lies, I never believed them. Arthur, Oswell, and Gerald were good and true. Rhaegar was good. He would have never kidnapped, let alone raped a women. But the rest of it? It can't be possible. I could have been dreaming all of this."
"You once told Dany that my father liked to leave the Red Keep and go into the streets of Kings Landing. That he liked to walk among the people, liked to sing to them. And you made sure no one killed him, while also collecting the money he earned on the Hook. Money he'd give to other minstrels, Orphanages in Flee Bottom, and once you even got horribly drunk. You told her he never liked killing, he liked singing." Jon said.
Ser Barristans breathe hitched.
"How?" The knight asked. "How do you know what I told her grace?"
Jon smiled sadly "Do you believe in gods, Ser Barristan.?"
"I grew up with the Seven." The knight replied.
"The Lord of Light, more known in Essos, was the one who gave me this chance. To right the wrongs that happened to my family. The Old Gods also played a part, as did the gods of Old Valyria. I'd try to explain it to you, but truth be told, I'd be here for days if I did and I'm still not sure I know myself. Instead, I need your help, Ser. I need help keeping the realm from a ridiculous war, but most importantly I need your help in bringing home, Dany." Jon said.
"Are you going to take the throne?" Ser Barristan asks.
"Fuck the Iron Throne. Its a cursed chair that is bathed in the blood of my parents, my step mother, and my siblings." Jon gritted out.
"My Prince, I don't understand. If you won't take the throne then what is it that you want?"
"Whats the ancestral seat of House Targaryen, Ser Barristan?" Jon asks.
"Dragonstone." The knight replies.
Jon smiles "Aye, Dragonstone. And I need your help getting it back in the hands of House Targaryen, Ser."
Barristans eyes widen "My Prince, you don't have an army. Stannis Baratheon holds, Dragonstone. I mean no disrespect, my Prince, but you are a young man. How do you plan on taking a castle?"
"You misunderstand me, Ser. I won't need to take it, Robert Baratheon is going to simply give it to me." Jon answers.
The next hour he spends explaining to the knight his plan in getting Dragonstone back. He could see the surprise but also the respect in the knights eyes at his plan.
"So, will you help me?" Jon asks.
The knight pulls out his sword and shoves it into the ground and kneels in front of him "I failed your father, I failed Queen Daenerys. I won't let you or her down again, my Prince. I swear my allegiance to House Targaryen once more. I swear it by the old gods and the new that I won't let you down."
"Rise, Ser Barristan Selmy. I accept your pledge." Jon says. He waves Edd over. "Ser Barristan, this is my friend, Edd Tollet. I trust him with my life. He's going to accompany me to Rosby to enact the first part of the plan. When we return, I'll send word to you from Littlefingers brothel. So be ready, Ser."
The knight nods.
"What of the Queen?" He asks.
Jon smiles sadly "As soon as were done here, I have to head back to Winterfell to make sure my uncle doesn't screw anything up. After that, I'll head to Pentos for Dany, and then we will both return."
The knights eyes widen "My Prince, the dragons.."
"Aye, I know. In due time Ser. Worry not, I will protect Daenerys with my life. No harm will come to her this time. I assure you, I have a plan for the dragons as well. But for now, we must do this."
Barristan nodded and the three of them began to walk from the cliffs back to the docks.
"If you can, Ser. Get rid of any books in Jon Arryn's solar about the Westerosi Great Houses. Anything we can do to push back his discovery of Cersei's bastards, the better." Jon says.
"It will be done, my Prince." The knight replies.
"You should know, Lord Stark sent ravens out about your disappearance, he even sent one to the King." Barristan adds.
Jon clenches his jaw "Aye, I figured he would. But that matters not, its been long enough since I left, I'll confront my uncle when I get back to Winterfell."
They made their way to the inn that Jon and Edd were staying at.
"Send word to the brothel when you are ready, Ser. Speak only to Kira. She'll relay it back to me." Jon says to the knight.
"It will be done, my Prince. Good luck and please, be safe." He replies.
Jon sighs in relief as he watches the knight walk back toward the Red Keep. If Ser Barristan can pull this off, then the first part of his plan will finally be in motion.
They had returned back from their trip to Rosby. Jon had met two red priestesses and one red priest there. Melisandre being one. Part of Jon wanted to cut her head off for what she had done to an innocent Shireen Baratheon, but he didn't. He needed her. They were gone for a little over a moon turn by the time they arrived back to the Capital. He made his way to the brothel, Edd in tow and found Kira at the front desk.
"My Prince." Kira said as she bowed her head.
Jon sighed "I told you my lady, call me Jon. We can't risk any ears hearing you say that."
The dark haired women smirked at him "Fine, fine. The girls have rooted out any little birds. After news of lord Baelish came, the hand of the king arrived to let us a know a new owner had bought the place. The new owner runs a rather tight ship."
Jon couldn't help but chuckle. He knew she spoke truthfully. The red temple had provided him with enough gold to buy the brothel, and in turn he gave the place to Kira. So despite the fact that a man named Benerro owned the place on parchment, it was Kira who truly did. Jon made sure to let Benerro know that the temple would be paid back in full within the year. Not that the man cared too much about that. "We are doing our lords work, for his chosen one, my prince." He had said to Jon. Benerro had came with Melisandre to Rosby and helped him orchestrate this. Having someone loyal to him inside the Capital was turning out to be rather helpful. Jon had sent for a scholar to teach Kira how to read and write so that the women could send him ravens when need be for information. She spoke rather well for a whore, he had learned his grandmother had a women teaching her when she was working at the Orphanage, but of course that was cut short.
"The solar clear? We need to speak." Jon said.
The women nodded and led him and and Edd in that direction.
The were all three finally inside and Jon spoke "Any news from Barristan?"
Kira nodded and reached into her pocket and handed him a note. Jon smiled at the words the knight left him "Perfect. This will work."
The former king in the north looked up at her "What other news?"
"Well the city deeply mourns the unfortunate death of Lord Stands Baratheon, of course. The King sent word to have his brothers remains be sent to Storms End. No word on a funeral, his grace said a few words about Lord Stannis in front of the court and then had a feast where I heard he got terribly drunk from the loss of his beloved brother." Kira replied mockingly. Jon knew not a single soul in the city cared for Stannis.
Jon snorted. "Aye, I'm sure he was heart broken."
He couldn't help but be grateful for Melisandre now. He gave her a task and it was fulfilled correctly.
Go to Dragonstone and kill Stannis. He made sure she knew to make it look natural of course, so no one would think foul play was involved.
And the red women did just that.
"Get word back to Ser Barristan, tell him I'm ready." Jon said.
The women nodded and made her way out of the room.
"You sure about this, Jon? Its risky." Edd said, breaking the silence in the room
"Its what I have to do. I need Dragonstone." Jon replied.
"Aye." Edd said. "And Grenn and Pyp?" He asked.
Jon turned to his friend and smiled "We'll get em' on our way North. I told you I won't let em' take the black either. We'll bring em home with us."
Edd nodded "And Sam?"
Jon sighed.
"I know you have no love for him anymore, Jon, but.." Edd started to say
"I'll handle Sam. And before you ask again, no, I won't be killing him. He'll be sent where he should have been the whole time." Jon replied. "Now come, we have a prince to save." He said with a smirk and they left the room.
"You remember what to do?" Jon asked.
Edd was certainly nervous about this. Everything would need to be perfect or else they could really fuck shit up and get killed doing it.
"Aye.." Replied his friend.
Jon placed his hand on his shoulder and squeezed it "Just do exactly what we spoke about and Ser Barristan and I will handle the rest."
Edd nodded and then ran off toward the bakery.
Jon had come up with a plan that would need to be perfect to work. Ser Barristan had done his part, as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard he had full detail on what the royal family was doing and who was assigned to who. Barristan chose a day he knew the King would be indisposed with his whores and Trant guarding him. Ser Jamie would be with the Queen of course, but would likely demand to go with the prince and princess into the city, which he did.
Their was a puppet show going on in the city, one in which Tommen and Myrcella wanted to go to desperately. Barristan let it slip and the children begged their mother, to which she finally agreed. With a dozen Lannister red coats and three kings guard, what could possibly go wrong?
Jon was walking down the street toward where the play would be happening. It just so happened to be next door to the bakery. He looked up and saw Kira and two of her girls on the roof and he couldn't help but smirk. He spotted Barristan coming toward them. The knight was standing directly in front of the prince and princess, meanwhile Ser Jamie and Ser Oakhart were behind them. Jon spotted Edd waiting in the alley his sword in hand just waiting for the command.
Timing is everything.
He waited and waited and waited.
As Jon got closer to them he looked up and nodded to Kira.
A small child ran by the royal party, tripping one of the red coats who was walking on Tommen's left, leaving an opening.
She whistled and Edd pulled his mask down and jumped out of the alley and pulled Tommen by his arm and dragged him into the alley as they walked by it. Before Ser Jamie could react, huge bags of flour were dropped onto them and poured everywhere. The kings guard, including the red coats, vision was all blurred. Jon unsheathed his sword and slipped into the alley as Ser Jamie and the others tried to catch their footing and clear their vision. Ser Barristan grabbed the princess Myrcella and held her close.
The large stack of wood that was piled up strategically, Jon kicked over. Blocking off a path for any of the guards to get through.
Jon battled Edd for a few seconds and grabbed Tommen, pushing him to the ground behind him. Edd fell into some ruble and the body of Janos Slynt was laying their beside him.
"Go. Go now" Jon said. Edd stood, ripped off the mask and ran down the alley, disappearing through a side door.
Jon stabbed his sword through an already dead Slynt, coating it with his blood. He then turned to Tommen who was hunched over and covering his face into his knees. He didn't want to scare the boy, but this needed to be done.
"My prince, are you alright?" Jon asked as he kneeled down in front of him.
Tommen slowly lifted his head, his lip was quivering but he nodded.
"Can you stand? We need to get you to your uncle, Ser Jamie and the rest of the royal guards." Jon said.
The young Tommen had tears in his eyes but stood. Jon placed his hand on his shoulder and squeezed it and walked him toward the ruble. He began to remove the wood pieces until their was an opening. Ser Jamie was on the other side doing the same when they made eye contact. Before the Kingslayer could speak Jon did. "The Prince is safe, and the traitor is dead."
Jamie eyes went wide "Who are you? How do I know you didn't do this, boy?" He hissed.
"Uncle! He saved me. The bad man, he's over there." Tommen said as he pointed behind him to the body of Slynt.
Jon turned to the Prince and gestured for him to step through the small opening in the ruble. Ser Jamie grabbed him and then Jon followed.
"Clean this up and bring the body forward!" The Kingslayer shouted. "Keep him here until we know for sure" He said as he looked to Jon.
"And get someone up to the roof, find out who did this!" Ser Jamie shouted.
Suddenly Kira came running from inside the bakery "Good Sers! Please, hurry!" She said "We caught the traitor!"
The red coats followed her into the bakery meanwhile Jon turned to Barristan and nodded.
"Ser Jamie, your gonna wanna see this." The guard said as they dragged the body over and dropped him in front of the Kingslayers feet. Barristan covered the eyes of the little Myrcella to shield her.
"Slynt? Why the fuck would he attack the Prince?" The Kingslayer asked dumb founded.
Before the man could reply the red coats carried the second body out of the bakery and dropped it in front of them.
To be fair, this man wasn't well known. His name was Tanner. Kira told him he liked to hurt little girls. The younger the better. Jon had no problem killing the cunt the night before. They then placed his body on the stairs and made it look like he was the one who dumped all the flour onto the guards and Edd happened to kill him trying to get away.
Edd came out of the bakery next, bloody sword in hand.
"This man killed him, Ser Jamie. Saw him covered in flour trying to flee out the back." The guard said.
Edd looked at Jon "So much for trying to get a few cakes for our Journey North." He joked.
Ser Jamie seemed to relax at this and believed what he was seeing "Thank you." The Kingslayer said to Edd. He then turned to Jon "You saved Prince Tommen's life."
Jon nodded to the knight "Just doing what was right, Ser."
Ser Barristan then stepped forward "Mayhaps we should bring them both to the Red Keep. Im sure the King and Queen will want to reward these young men for their bravery."
Jon bit his lip trying to hide his smirk.
The Kingslayer nodded "Your probably right, Lord Commander."
They arrived at the Red Keep. Jon and Edd were waiting in the throne room. Ser Barristan had arrived first and approached them.
"The Queen was upset, of course. The King was annoyed to be bothered, but was glad that his son was safe. Though, what he really loved more then the safety of the Prince, was that it was Ned Starks son who saved him." The old knight said with a smirk and then walked to stand next to the throne.
Jon wanted to laugh. He knew Robert Baratheon was a fool.
And he was glad for it.
Standing here now, back in the throne room.. it was eerie. He had finally decided that he hated this room. He hated it more then he hated anything else. He prayed to any gods that were listening that he'd never have to step foot in this room ever again.
Suddenly the doors opened and in strolled the King and who he assumed was Jon Arryn, his hand.
Jon didn't miss that Cersei wasn't with him, likely smothering her children.
Robert Baratheon walked up the steps to the throne and sat on it, the other man stood to his right.
"Ser Barristan and Ser Jamie tell me that you saved my sons life today, Jon Snow." The King said.
Jon cleared his throat "Truthfully, I was just doing what was right, your grace."
The whoremonger laughed "HA! You really are Ned's son!" He barked. "You have his honor, even if you are a bastard, Ned taught you well. House Baratheon owes you a great debt, lad."
Jon shook his head "Nonsense, your grace. You owe me nothing. Kidnapping children is an egregious offense, that man was a traitor to his King and as my lord father taught me, we always follow the kings word and law. I simply did what my father would have."
"You killed the traitor, Snow. You must be a great warrior like your father." The King said smiling.
"Lord Stark honored me with learning to wield a sword from our master of arms, your grace. All praise must go to him." Jon replied.
At this the whoremonger raised a brow "Did Ned let you learn along side his true borns?" The whoremonger asked.
Jon nodded "Aye, your grace. I received the same education as my elder brother, Robb."
Jon Arryn stepped in next "Ned Stark is a good and honorable man, it seems he did well with you despite the nature of your birth."
"And you, I heard you killed the other traitor" The whoremonger said as he looked to Edd.
"Truthfully, I happened to just be in the right place at the right time, your grace. Jon here saved the Prince. I merely stopped his accomplice." Edd replied.
"Bah!" The whoremonger said as he waved him off "You two saved a prince of the seven kingdoms. Its well in my right to reward you, tell me what is it that you'd like?"
"You honor us your grace, but no reward is necessary. Edd and I were thinking about taking the black. As a bastard and a son of an off branch house, theirs not much out their for us. We spent a few moons in Pentos exploring and returned to see the great Capital just a few days ago, but Castle Black was a consideration." Jon answered.
"Lord Stark sent ravens of your disappearance, he was worried about you." Jon Arryn says.
"Aye, lord hand. I regret leaving that way, but I had an urge to see somethin' other then just the walls of Winterfell. As a bastard I'm not set to inherit any lands or titles, I thought I'd see some more of the world before going to the watch. Pentos was much warmer." Jon said
The whoremonger laughed "To be young again! I bet it was freeing! I've heard the women are beautiful too."
"Aye, your grace, I met a lovely lass. Most beautiful girl I've seen, I'll admit I wished to make her my bride had I been able too." Jon replied with a shy smile.
"HA! THATS IT!" The king shouted.
"Your grace?" Jon Arryn asked.
"Tell me, boy. Whats your relation with Ned's eldest?" The whoremonger asked.
"Robb's my best friend, your grace. No one else I trust more in this world. He's my brother regardless of my birth status. He's never treated me less then. His lady mother of course does not like my presence, but Robb is my brother. I'd do anything for him." The former king in the north replied.
The whoremonger king laughed some more "Good! You would be wasted going to the watch. How would you feel about getting your own castle, boy?" The king asked.
Jon's eyes went wide.
"Your grace? What castle? The boy is a bastard, Robert." Jon Arryn said
Robert waved him off "He saved my son's life, Jon. He deserves a worthy reward. The boy was raised by Ned, raised the same way as the heir was. He clearly learned all the same things. Plus, Ned's wife wants to get rid of him. What better way then to reward my best friends son then to give him a castle here in the South!"
"Robert, what castle? He may have learned the same as Robb Stark, but the nature of his birth is still a problem. What houses would willingly follow a bastard?" The hand of the King asked.
The whoremonger glared at his hand "They will if their king demands it! Now, what castles are empty lord hand?"
Jon Arryn sighed "Well, castle Stokeworth is ran by an older women. Her younger sister is set to inherit after her, we could wed the boy to her. She's about ten and four years his senior though."
"Bah! Thats too old for the boy!" The King said as he furrowed his brows.
"If I may, your grace. Their is Dragonstone." Ser Barristan said "Jon Snow seems to be just like his father, I can't imagine a better young man to hold the island and be in command of the men of the Narrow Sea for you then a young man as skilled with a blade as he's shown. He's also related to House Stark, having Jon Snow as the Lord of Dragonstone allies them with the North who of course is strongly bonded to you, your grace."
"Your niece, the lady Shireen, is your brothers heir, Robert." Jon Arryn argued.
"She's a child. Make her Renly's heir since he keeps putting off getting married. Ser Barristan is correct though, who better then Ned's son to hold the seat that belonged to the dragons." The whoremonger began to laugh "Oh this is perfect. A bastard of House Stark taking the castle that was built by dragons! The gods have a sense of humor after all! Tell me boy, how would you like to be the next Lord of Dragonstone?" The king asked him
"Your grace you honor me, but I am not worthy." Jon replied.
"Nonsense! You earned it, boy. Saving a Prince is no small thing. And the old knight is correct, I need someone with skill to hold Dragonstone, not a little girl. So, what say you?" The whoremonger asked.
Jon could see the hand of the king looking frustrated at his king going rogue. He nodded "Aye, your grace I will. Though I do ask that you send word to Lord Stark first and ask his opinion. I do not wish to offend him or his lady wife."
"Of course, of course! Ned won't deny me, not when you've honored my house so much already, your a hero, boy! Now, we just need to find you a pretty bride. What of that Essosi girl you met?" The King asked with a smirk on his face.
Jon smiled "Her name is Dany, your grace."
"Robert! He cannot wed a whore! Not if he's going to become a lord!" Jon Arryn hissed
Jon looked up at the hand of the king and glared at him "She is no whore, lord hand. Her parents are both of noble blood and birth. Both families from the East. We met in Pentos at a festival. The lady had no issues with the nature of my brith since bastards do not exist in the Free Cities."
Robert Baratheon could only laugh "HA! You got the wolfs blood like your uncle Brandon, boy! See, Jon. Theirs nothing to worry about. The girls pretty and noble and marrying the boy will make her a lady of the seven kingdoms!"
The hand of the King could only sigh and Jon couldn't help but hold in his laugh. Technically he wasn't lying about, Dany. Her family was from the East, Old Valyria to be exact. He just didn't say that part.
The whoremonger looked to his hand "Send the raven to, Ned!" He said and then he turned to look at Edd "For your help, ten thousand gold dragons!"
Jon wanted to laugh once more, he knew Jon Arryn was likely pissed at Robert throwing away coin considering how in debt they were.
"You honor me, your grace." Edd replied as he looked at the whoremonger shocked.
"You boys did good, your king thanks you." The whoremonger said as he stood up from the throne "My hand will send word to Ned, if you need a boat for your journey North, inform Ser Barristan and he'll help you. My hand will let my niece know of the change." He said and then walked out of the throne room.
Jon and Edd were left alone in the throne room with Ser Barristan who tried to contain his smirk
"It worked well, my prince." The knight whispered as he grinned slightly.
Jon couldn't help but laugh "Aye. The drunken fool has no idea what he's just done."
The journey North wasn't long, the winds were kind and with the long summer still in affect, they didn't run into any issues.
Jon wondered what Lord Stark would say.
When they arrived at White Harbor, Lord Manderly told them how worried Lord Stark had been about him the last year. During their journey North, they made a stop to pick up Grenn and Pyp. Of course neither of them remembered anything, so instead Jon promised them places in his house hold since he was the new Lord of Dragonstone. He knew they were both set to head to Castle black around the same time as he was. Instead they picked them both up and both young men agreed to join them.
Now he was making his way toward the gates of Winterfell.
He had been gone a year already, and he decided the night before to place Lord Starks name in the fire and wake him up next.
"HALT! Who goes their?" The man on the ramparts shouts
"Jon Snow, Alyn." Jon replies.
"Lord Stark's been anxious for your return, Snow!" Alyn replies and opens the gates.
Jon and his three friends ride in and dismount their horses.
"JON!"
He knows who that voice belongs to instantly. He turns toward it and keeps his face neutral "Lord Stark."
"Gods, where have you been?!" Lord Stark demands as he finally stands before him, he can see the strange look on his face. He knows Lord Stark is clearly confused by all the recent memories he's had.
Jon shrugs "Wanted to go on a journey."
"You took off in the middle of the night, Jon! You ran away like a common criminal!" Lord Stark replies.
Jon squinted his eyes "Would you had let me go if I hadn't?"
"You were a boy of ten and four at the time, of course not!" Lord Stark grits out.
Jon sighs and turns to his friends "Lord Stark, these are my friends, Eddison Tollet, Grenn, and Pyp."
Lord Stark seems to lessen his anger and turns to the young men "Welcome to Winterfell." He says.
The three young men all nod.
"Jon, we need to speak. I received a raven from the king." Lord Stark says hesitantly.
"Aye, I believe we do. Can we go to the godswood?" Jon asks.
He can see the confusion on Ned's face but he agrees. The Lord of Winterfell turns to the head of his guard "Jory, get these three young men rooms and some food. They're guests of Jon's."
Edd looks to Jon who nods at him and the three young men follow Jory inside.
Jon turns and walks towards the godswood trying to control his anger as best as he can.
They finally make it to the heart tree and Jon looks right at the face. The red sap dripping from its eyes, he hadn't been here in years.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Lords Stark says.
Jon shrugs "I told you, I wanted to explore. I knew I'd likely have to go to the Nights Watch since I'm a bastard and Lady Catlyn won't put up with my presence for much longer, so I figured I'd see some of the world before then."
"You are my blood, and Lady Catlyn has no say in who stays in my house hold." Lord Stark replies "You ran away, Jon. And now I get a raven from the king saying he's given you Dragonstone? What in the old gods were you doing in Kings Landing? Starks don't do well in the South."
At this Jon can't help but laugh "Ya well, I'm not a Stark."
"You may not have my.." Lord Starks begins to say
"..name, but I have your blood. Is that what you were gonna say?" Jon asks.
He turns to Ned whose face goes white.
"The king.. he said you saved the prince and thats why he was giving you a castle." Ned says.
Jon nods "I saved Tommen from some disgruntled knight and he thought it was a fitting reward."
Ned raises his brow "Thats not a small reward."
"I suppose thats what he values Tommen's life." Jon says.
Ned sighs "It was a kind gesture, but I'm afraid I will have to refuse him this once. I don't want you in the South. Its not safe for wolves."
Jon begins to laugh "Im sorry, your right. Most wolves belong in the North. But I'm afraid I won't let you refuse." Jon says. He watches Lord Stark look surprised at his reply but he continues "And considering I'm not a wolf, but a dragon, theirs really no harm in it, Lord Stark. Dragonstone belongs to me anyways, considering I'm the son of the former Prince of Dragonstone."
If Jon could freeze the look on his uncles face, he would.
Oh the shock was priceless!
"I.." Ned said but no words seemed to come out. His face was as pale as ghosts white fur.
"Let me guess, you're wondering how I figured out about the truth, uncle?" Jon asks.
Ned gulps but nods. "Who told you?"
Jon glares at him "Not you."
Ned takes a step toward him but Jon holds up his hand "You have your memory as of this morning, do you not?"
"How did you.." Ned says with a scared look on his face.
"Because I did that. The gods sent me back to fix the shit that you and your children and the rest of you fools made." Jon replies.
Lord Starks eyes go wide "My children? What are speaking of?"
"Do you wanna know what happened after you died, Lord Stark? The fucking mess everyone made for their own selfishness?"
Jon then pulled out his dagger and cut his palm. He placed his bleeding palm onto the heart tree and then turned to Lord Stark "Come uncle, let me show you. Look at it with your own eyes."
"THIS IS MADNESS!" Ned shouted.
"You have to protect him. Promise me, promise me, Ned." Jon said. He watched his uncles eyes go wide and he knew he had him.
"Put your hand on the tree, Lord Stark. Come see the truth." Jon said.
Ned finally agreed and approached him. He placed his palm onto the heart tree and his vision went white. Suddenly he felt as if he had been sucked into something.
When he finally opened his eyes he could see..
Littlefinger giving Lysa poison. The poison that killed, Jon Arryn.
Ser Jamie pushing Bran out of the tower
Littlefinger hiring the cutthroat
His wife arresting Lord Tyrion
Benjen going on a ranging mission
Sansa lying about Joffrey attacking Arya
Cersei having the squire poison Roberts wine
Sansa begging the Queen to not make them leave Kings Landing
Arya fleeing when he got arrested
His head being cut from his shoulders with Ice
Robb marching South and being crowned the King in the North
Cat making a deal with Walder Frey
Jon being taken prisoner by a wilding
Sansa being beaten by a kingsgaurd
Arya traveling as a boy
Bran and Rickon fleeing Winterfell because of Theon
Robb wedding some healer
Cat releasing Ser Jamie
Sansa wedding Lord Tyrion
Robb being betrayed by the Freys and Roose. His son, wife, and his banner men being slaughtered
Rooses bastard taking Winterfell
Arya fleeing East on a ship
Jon fighting Wildings at the watch
Bran and Rickon on the run
Cersei blowing up the Sept and being crowned Queen
Jon at some port with Wildings and then a bunch of creatures attacking them
Then it all started to blur until he was back at castle black. He could see Jon get called out to the courtyard, a sign that said traitor and then.. knives
Jon dead on a table and then waking up gasping for air
Sansa being beaten and raped by the Bolton bastard
Bran inside a cave
Jon and Sansa reunited
Rickons death
Jon taking back Winterfell and being crowned the King in the North
Arya killing all of House Frey with a face she put on
Jon at Dragonstone with a silver haired women
DRAGONS!
Sansa and Littlefinger plotting
Bran returning home
The silver haired girl saving Jon from the creatures but a dragon dying
A meeting at the dragon pit in Kings Landing
A massive army of dead marching South
Jon introducing the silver haired women to his children and their icy reception
A random plump boy telling Jon who his mother was..
A battle of those dead creatures at Winterfell
Jon swearing his children under the heart tree to not speak of his birth
Sansa breaking her oath and telling Lord Tyrion
The silver haired girls green dragon getting killed
A dark skinned women losing her head
The silver haired women laying dead on the ground
Lord Tyrion telling Jon, whose in a cell, that he'll be taking the black once more and being exiled from Westeros
Sansa as Queen in the North
Bran as King of the Six Kingdoms
An older Jon laying in the snow crying out in pain
Suddenly Ned was pulled back from the tree and Jon was staring right at him.
"Do you believe me now?" Jon asks.
Ned shook his head "I don't understand.. what sort of magic is this?"
"The gods gifted me this power." Jon replies.
"Why?" Ned asks
At this Jon smiles "Because the dragons were betrayed. Because the women I loved was killed for their games. Because my daughter was killed before she even had her first breathe because of their selfishness!"
Lord Stark's eyes go wide "You, you had a child?"
"Daenerys was pregnant when she was killed. My child died in her womb, just like Robb's died in Talisa's. All because your daughter didn't know how to keep her mouth shut." Jon hissed.
"Daenerys? You mean the Mad Kings daughter? You and her?" Ned asked confused and shocked
"Aye. We were together before I knew the truth about my parents. I loved her, and I should have listened to her. She knew what would happen if that truth got out. And she was right. Your daughter couldn't keep her mouth shut. Once it did get out, she was killed."
Jon had no intention of showing him what Dany did to the Capital nor who killed her.
"I don't.. Sansa made a mistake. She couldn't have known that would happen to the girl." Ned replied.
Jon laughed "Are you that stupid? She knew exactly what she was doing. You saw how she welcomed Dany to Winterfell. She was a cold hearted bitch to a women who came to save her home! The entire North treated Dany and her people like that. Did you know after the Great War was over not one single Northerner said thank you to her? YOUR daughter wanted to be Queen, like she always wanted, and she betrayed me and the Queen I bent the knee to, to get it."
Ned sighed "She was in pain, Jon. The things she went through.."
"AND YOU THINK DANY WASNT?!" Jon demanded "You think her life running from assassins and knives in the dark because of your drunken whoremonger of a friend was easy? From the moment she was ripped out of Queen Rhaella's womb she was hunted! A child, Lord Stark. A little girl who lived in fear. Who lived on the streets begging for food and water. Who grew up to have an abusive older brother who sold her to a man who raped her repeatedly. I don't give two fucks what excuses you come up with for Sansa. None of them are reason enough to have betrayed her blood the way that she did."
"Jon.." Ned started but he was cut off.
"NO!" Jon shouted "Heres whats going to happen, Lord Stark. I am staying here for a sennight and then I'll be heading to Pentos to get Dany. After that we will go to Dragonstone." Ned was about to interrupt but Jon wouldn't let him "before you tell me its not safe, I have a plan. No one will know who Dany really is, for now.I will go to Dragonstone and get as far away from all the traitors who live in this castle as I can. I saved your foster father, Littlefinger is dead now. I also had a friend get rid of any books about the Baratheon traits in his office."
"Robert has a right to know they're not his children!" Ned argued
"And I'm sure Jon Arryn will figure it out eventually, but for now I'm preventing a war. And for the record, its not your place to tell him. Its clear to me you don't have the mind to play politics like the snakes in the South do. So you'll stay out of this, Lord Stark."
Ned clenched his jaw "You cannot tell me what to do, Jon. You are my son, I don't take orders from you."
"But I'm not your son." Jon hissed "And for the gratefulness that I have for you keeping me alive, I'm giving you this warning now. Stay out of the shit that goes down in the South. By saving Jon Arryn I've prevented or at least delayed Robert from coming here to make you his hand. A job we both know you hated. When the shit does kick off, stay out of that too, Lord Stark. The Lions, the Stags, and the Roses will fight it out amongst themselves. Let them." Jon says.
"Robert is king!" Ned said firmly "You don't have an army to take the throne, Jon"
"Who said I was taking the throne?" Jon asked "It seems you really don't know me at all. I don't give two fucks about the Iron Throne. The throne that belonged to my older brother before your friend rewarded the man who butchered him! No. I wanted Dragonstone, and now I have it. I will pick up Dany, and then she and I will return to our families ancestral seat with the dragons, and you'll not say a word about it. I have no plans of waging a war, but make no mistake, if anyone threatens my family, I will answer with Fire and Blood."
He watched Ned pale at that
"Also, don't be foolish. Cersei will end up killing Robert one way or another. Its just a matter of time. When she does, Renly will declare himself the true heir, and most likely wed Margary Tyrell again. Joffrey will claim himself King, but this time Stannis and Robb won't be apart of it as long as you refuse to join in their bullshit."
Ned scoffed "I can't promise that, Jon. As much as I wish to stay out of a war, I am sworn to House Baratheon, honor demands I support Renly. And what happened to Stannis? He was alive the last time."
"He's dead." Jon said and then shrugged "Not that I care much, he attacked the watch and then murder his daughter for his god to give him power."
Lord Stark's eyes widen
"Honor demands that you support your blood. You want to protect your family then stay out of it. Betroth Sansa and Robb so that the whoremonger doesn't try and get you to have Sansa wed a psychotic bastard. If I may, Prince Trysten of Dorne is a good option, and he's a prince that'll swoon her. Or Domeric Bolton."
"BOLTON?!" Ned shouted.
"Aye. He's a good lad. Wedding him to Sansa would help the rift between your houses. Ramsey killed Dom, but worry not, I have plans for Ramsey. As for Roose, I'll let you handle that. Though if you do betroth them, I'd at least kill Roose before Sansa goes back to the Dreadfort with Dommeric." Jon replies.
"You say that like its nothing to kill a man." Ned replies with disgust in his voice
Jon shrugs "I myself was killed. I suppose its different for me. But I don't kill innocents, Lord Stark."
"This is treason.." Lord Stark whispers.
"No. This is simply staying out of wars that don't concern us. The old gods are upset at your family, Lord Stark. If I were you I'd not do anything to further provoke them. So I'll say this once more, whenever war breaks out stay out of it. Also, you will reply back to Robert Baratheon giving your support. I'll leave here in a sennight." Jon says and then walks past him to leave.
"Jon! I cannot promise you anything, this is mad!" Lord Stark says.
Jon nods "Then I suppose you'll be a Northern fool again. But as I said, anyone who attacks my family will face Fire and Blood. You saw what the dragons can do. We won't attack, but do not provoke us."
"Jon, we are your family." Lord Stark says to him
"Yes, and you all have such a great way of showing it. My mother named me Aegon Targaryen, she trusted you to care for me, and you did, at least to some extent. Now I'm trusting you to handle your household, Lord Stark. Your daughters, your sons, and your wife. You failed last time with the shit that they all did. As head of House Stark that job falls on you. Do better, Lord Stark." Jon says to him.
Ned sighs "Jon, if something happens and honor and my oath to the king forces me to chose a side.."
"Fuck the king! Your people need the Warden of the North, in the North." Jon says and then leaves Ned alone in the godswood with his thoughts.
