Disclaimer: I do not own Elder Scrolls or A Song of Ice and Fire. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 6
The Crownlands 297 AC
Night had already fallen in Westeros, and in a place near the banks of the unnamed river that flowed from the God's Eye, a small camp could be seen. Four tents surrounded a campfire, and in the center of the scene, four people were engaged in various activities. Three of them were training: two practiced the most basic sword fighting movements, while the third perfected more advanced techniques.
After a few movements, the one performing the more complex forms stopped training and approached the fourth person, who was critically observing the other two. Seeing that they had finished, he instructed them to start training with each other. One of them, the shorter one, moved with agility, while the other seemed anchored to the ground. After a few minutes, the fourth figure stood up. As he walked near the fire, the light revealed his identity: it was Jon.
"That's enough for today, guys." Jon said, approaching the two young men.
"Thank the Seven, Jon. I don't know how nobles get used to this." replied the taller of the two, a young man barely a year older than Jon but of the same height. He had brown hair, brown eyes, and wore a light brown linen tunic with black pants. His legs were clad in black leather boots.
"It's easier because they train from childhood, Grenn." Jon said, addressing the young man.
Jon had met Grenn while riding through a farm in the Riverlands. When he found him, the boy was fighting with some bandits. It turned out he had had a fight earlier with a farmer, the father of the girl Grenn wanted to marry. However, the father had given her to a merchant to marry, which caused the dispute between them. To make matters worse, the merchant's caravan was attacked by bandits, and the girl was killed after being raped. Desperate, Grenn considered joining the Night's Watch, as he had nothing left, being an orphan raised on a farm. On his way to the Wall, he was attacked by bandits who tried to kill him when they saw he had no money. Fortunately, Jon was nearby and managed to save him. Since then, Grenn insisted that Jon train him, fascinated by his combat skills. Jon refused at first, but after three days of persistence, he finally agreed.
After that, Jon bought him a horse and some clothes to travel faster. On the way, they encountered a caravan of mummers that had been attacked by bandits. At first, they thought there were no survivors, but soon they saw two people fleeing. Jon spurred his horse and easily eliminated the pursuers. The survivors introduced themselves: Eddison Tollet, a noble from the Vale of Arryn who had decided to join the Night's Watch, and Pypar, the only survivor of the group of mummers. Eddison, after his experience, decided to stay with Jon, and Pypar also asked to join them. Jon agreed, thinking he was close to having the crew needed to man his ship.
'Although I also accepted them because my instincts told me I should.' Jon thought as he watched Pyp, as Pypar preferred to be called, playfully punch Grenn in the arm.
"See? I told you Jon would say something like that." Pyp commented with a smile, recalling how he had mentioned that nobles trained from childhood, giving them an advantage in combat. Pyp was the same age as Jon, with black hair, dark brown eyes, and a short stature. His most distinctive feature was his large ears. He wore a dark green tunic with brown pants and leather shoes.
Grenn looked at the smaller one but decided not to respond. Then, he turned his gaze to Jon and asked:
"Jon, how did we do this time?"
"You've improved in your sword movements. They're no longer as rough; now they're more subtle. In a real fight, your cuts will be deeper." Jon said, seeing smiles form on the faces of Grenn and Pyp, who bumped fists.
"See, Grenn? I told you we had improved." Pyp said cheerfully.
"Heh, heh. Yes, Pyp, you did." Grenn replied, smiling.
Jon also smiled but decided to cut their euphoria short.
"You've done well, but you still fail in some aspects. For example, Grenn, you keep staying still, which makes you vulnerable in a battle. You need to move more to maintain a safe distance that protects you from enemy attacks. Pyp, on the other hand, you move too much. If you keep doing that, the enemy will only have to extend their weapon, and you'll impale yourself on it." Jon said, pointing to each as he spoke.
Jon's words made the joy of both young men fade.
"Relax, your mistakes are common errors, but with practice, you'll correct them. Despite having only trained for a little over a week, you've improved a lot. If you continue like this, in a few weeks, you'll fight like the men-at-arms of noble houses."
Jon's words lifted the spirits of both young men, who smiled again.
"That's good. I already want to fight properly." Grenn said, looking across the fire at their other travel companion. "And how is the noble of our little group doing?"
Jon turned his head and looked at Eddison Tollet. The son of House Tollet was the oldest of the group, although his age did not exceed twenty years. His appearance, however, seemed more mature due to the gray hairs in his hair. He wore a simple doublet with his house's heraldry, gray pants, and black leather boots.
"Edd is doing well." Jon said, devising a way to motivate the other two. "In fact, he's the best of the three and is far ahead of you."
"Hooray… I'm the best…" Eddison murmured flatly, without true emotion. That was one of Eddison's peculiarities: he spoke with total indifference and dry humor, often reflecting his pessimism towards life.
Eddison's tone, combined with Jon's words, ignited the competitive spirit of Grenn and Pyp, who promised to surpass Eddison soon.
Jon watched his travel companions and let out an amused laugh. Then, he sat down again and began to stroke the head of his direwolf, Ghost, who had been resting quietly next to his owner while he supervised his companions.
King's Landing 297 AC
The bustling capital of Westeros was something none of the four young men had seen before, much less were accustomed to. The large city, almost rectangular, was protected by high walls that commanded respect. According to Pyp, who had been there before, the city was full of mansions, granaries, hundreds of docks in the port, and many other wonders.
'Those walls are imposing, but I don't think they would withstand Edzard's spells for long.' Jon thought as he passed through the gate that connected the road they had traveled with the city. The entrance was wide, and beside him were his companions, along with Ghost, who attracted the curious gazes of many. Fortunately, the wolf was still small and could go unnoticed, easily mistaken for a dog.
"This city stinks of shit." Eddison commented, bringing a hand to his nose to cover it.
"Edd is right." said Pyp, imitating his friend, followed by Grenn.
'Think of the smell of pines and freshly fallen rain…' Jon thought, who, with his sharper senses, endured torment, although he managed to stay calm thanks to the training he had received. He knew that without it, he would be vomiting non-stop.
After crossing the gate, the group headed to some stables, where Jon bought two more horses, one for Pyp and one for Edd.
'We were unlucky and didn't find anyone selling horses since I found them, so we had to travel on foot all the way here.' Jon thought as he paid the eight dragons the horses cost. "With this, we can move faster, and Grenn and Pyp can start learning to fight on horseback."
"Wow. This is the first time I've had my own horse, thanks, Jon." Pyp said cheerfully as he settled into his saddle.
"Yes, thanks, Jon. Now it's just a matter of counting the days until this horse throws me to the ground." added Edd as he mounted his horse.
Jon looked at them and smiled, shaking his head. He mounted his horse with an agile movement and began to ride south, followed by his companions.
Night had already fallen over King's Landing, bringing the city's nightlife to life. Hundreds of people walked the streets, enjoying the treats sold at night stalls, watching mimes and other street performances. Some, however, visited the Street of Silk in search of more carnal pleasures. But Jon was not one of them; he rested in a room at an inn, alone, while Grenn, Pyp, and Edd visited a nearby brothel.
"If I hadn't sold those gems, I would only have twenty gold dragons and some pieces of silver and copper. Luckily, the sale gave me quite a bit of money, and I didn't spend much on the chainmail armor, greaves, gauntlets, gorgets, pauldrons, and helmets I bought for Grenn, Pyp, and Edd. They only cost four gold dragons. They look simple, but whoever made them knew what they were doing." Jon reflected as he got up upon hearing footsteps approaching his door. From the sound, it was a child. He walked to the door and saw a small note being slid under it.
"A note?" Jon murmured, bending down to pick it up. Upon reading it, he knew someone had discovered him, as the note mentioned something only he knew.
Go to the inn near Flea Bottom.
When you arrive, rent the attic.
Do not try to escape, or all of King's Landing will know that the bastard of the Warden of the North is in the city.
A friend.
After reading the note, Jon was angry enough to destroy it with a fireball he created in his hand. Taking a black cloak from his enchanted bag, he left the place, not without first leaving Ghost there, guarding the room and waiting for his companions, although Jon doubted they would return before dawn.
Already on the street, Jon began to walk towards the place indicated in the note, asking occasional passersby for directions. After several minutes of walking, he finally arrived at the mentioned inn.
Upon entering, Jon observed that it was a typical inn, with several tables occupied by people drinking and laughing. Without paying them any attention, he walked towards the bar where the innkeeper was.
"Good evening, I would like to rent the attic." Jon said as he approached.
The innkeeper, a man of about fifty years, with simple clothes and a bald head, looked up, nodded, and began to guide him to the attic. Upon arrival, he left him alone and returned to the bar.
Jon looked at the attic door and, closing his eyes, used his sharpened senses to find out who was inside. He sensed that there was only one person. With that certainty, Jon entered.
The man waiting for him was elderly, with long, tangled hair and an equally unkempt beard. He emitted a slight stench, similar to that of the city's sewers, although Jon detected a subtle aroma of perfume and makeup powders used by some ladies.
'It's a disguise, and a very good one. If it weren't for my enhanced senses, I wouldn't be able to tell that this man is not who he appears to be.' Jon thought as he approached the table where the man was sitting.
"Well, if it isn't the bastard of Winterfell." the man said in a deep voice, emphasizing the word "bastard."
'Provoking me from the start… A typical attempt to gauge reactions.' Jon thought, taking the chair opposite the man and sitting down comfortably.
"I didn't tell you to sit." the man said, seeing Jon take a seat.
"I don't need your permission to do what I want." Jon replied mordantly, accompanying his words with a mocking smile. "Besides, why do you have a second chair if not for your guest to sit?"
The man observed him for a few moments before letting out a thunderous laugh.
"Ha, ha, ha!" he laughed, amused. "It's clear that your Dornish blood makes you different from your father."
Jon frowned slightly at the subtle insult towards his father. Deciding to cut the game short, he began to release his killing intent, an intimidation technique he had learned from Edzard. It was so effective that the man's mocking smile disappeared, and small drops of sweat began to form on his forehead.
The man brought a hand to the collar of his doublet, tugging at it uncomfortably.
"So, why have you summoned me here?" Jon asked, ceasing to emit his killing intent.
The man seemed to calm down and, letting out a sigh, responded.
"I was just curious to know why the legendary son of Lord Stark is so far south of his father's lands."
Jon frowned, noting that the man was not lying.
"I'm just fulfilling a promise I made to someone." Jon replied simply, seeking to keep the true purpose of his journey a secret.
"I see. I suppose that person must have been very important to you, for you not to have returned to your family's home in so many years." the man said, adopting a sad demeanor. "I imagine the good Warden of the North doesn't know that the son he believes dead is more alive than ever."
"It seems you're very interested in my life." Jon replied, not taking his eyes off him. "Why is that…?"
"I'm just a man who serves the realm and is concerned that His Grace's best friend, Robert Baratheon, might die of depression." the man said, placing special emphasis on the phrase die of depression.
Upon hearing that, Jon let out a wolfish smile. "Die of depression? Ha, ha, ha. I don't think my father is that weak. He is stronger than he appears."
"So, will you tell me what you plan to do with your life, Jon Snow?" the man asked.
"What every young man dreams of: traveling and gaining eternal glory." Jon replied with an enigmatic smile.
The man looked at him strangely but continued asking questions: Where had he been all this time? Who was the person he was fulfilling a promise to? And many more. Jon responded with half-truths or complete lies, always steering the conversation away from the truth. Finally, the man seemed to grow bored of the interrogation and stood up. After saying goodbye, he left.
When Jon was sure he was completely alone, he also stood up and left the place. As he returned to his inn, he passed through the infamous Street of Silk. Several women offered him entry into their establishments. Although he had no intention of doing so, the recent meeting had left him in a bad mood. He decided that a bit of fun might help relieve his frustration.
Stopping in front of one of the brothels, he noticed an ornate lamp of golden metal with scarlet glass above the entrance. He decided to enter. Upon entering, the first thing he noticed was the air filled with a strange mix of exotic spices. He looked at the floor and saw a mosaic depicting women making love. He continued through the common room, observing how wealthy-looking men took women to the rooms.
Without paying them much attention, Jon approached where he assumed the owner of the place would be.
"Well, look what we have here." said a woman with a soft voice, observing him. She was tall and slender, with skin a color Jon had never seen before. She spoke with an accent unfamiliar to him. "Are you lost, boy?"
Jon looked at her, puzzled by how she had addressed him.
"Why do you think I'm lost?" he asked.
"Because there's no other reason for someone so young to be here… or maybe you're looking for work?" The woman smiled softly.
Jon blinked, surprised, but then let out a soft laugh.
"Ha, ha, ha. No, my fair lady. I'm not here for work. I just want to have a good time."
The woman looked at him with amusement.
"It seems you've come to the wrong place. I don't think you have the money for one of my girls." she said, judging by his clothes that Jon couldn't afford it.
Jon smiled, aware of the impression he made. He reached into his magical bag and pulled out twenty gold dragons, placing them on the table. The woman's eyes widened in surprise.
"You shouldn't judge a man's wealth by his appearance alone, my fair lady."
The woman smiled and called a girl, who returned with two women. Both were beautiful and contrasted with each other: the first, tall, with the same skin color as the brothel owner; the second, with skin as white as porcelain, blonde hair, and green eyes.
"These are Alayaya and Marei, two of the best girls here. For the price you've paid, you can have one for a while."
Jon observed them, feeling his blood run stronger. With a wolfish smile under his hood, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a one-kilogram gold bar, astonishing the four women. 'Transmutation should be a more complicated spell.' he thought with amusement, 'it makes a man rich very easily.'
"Tell me, with this, can I have them both for the whole night?" Jon asked, placing the gold bar on the counter.
The owner just nodded awkwardly. Jon smiled and approached both women. When he looked into their eyes and slightly lowered his hood, they saw him, and upon noticing his smile, a shiver ran down their spines.
"Don't worry, I'm only going to devour you… in a way you'll love." Jon said as he took both their hands and gently guided them to a room, which was shown to them by the girl the owner had called.
Once Jon had retreated to his room, the brothel continued with its regular activities until two screams made several people jump. But no one but the owner knew that those were not screams of pain, but of pleasure.
While Jon was having fun with two women in the brothel on the Street of Silk, the man he had met at the inn was removing his clothes to put on loose, colorful silks. With a quick movement, the man shed his beard and hair, revealing that both were fake. His true appearance was that of a plump man, with a soft and effeminate build, and a completely shaved head. That man was Varys, a eunuch from Lys, one of the Free Cities. Varys was the master of whispers for King Robert Baratheon, and the man who had miserably failed to find clues about the whereabouts of the bastard son of the Warden of the North.
The eunuch had received the king's order to search for his friend's son after bringing whispers that the bastard had disappeared. He tried with all his might but failed, which cast doubt on the reputation of his famous spy network. However, now, after years of silence, his little birds had whispered that someone matching the description of Lord Stark's bastard son was in the city. Wishing to confirm the information in person, he decided to meet with him. And what he discovered made it clear that he had made a mistake: the young man was not like his father, nor did he behave like any bastard. He had an unsettling self-confidence and was truly terrifying, especially because of how easily he had managed to intimidate him.
"Power is like a shadow; many people cast shadows that can be large or small, but the shadow of that boy at that moment was as imposing as the descriptions of the Wall." Varys reflected as he walked towards his chambers. "This encounter has been uninformative; I have not been able to discern what kind of person he really is. But for now, it seems he does not pose an obstacle to my plans. So, I will not get involved with him… but if those changes… well, the roads are always dangerous."
Author's Note:
To those who have made it this far, thank you for reading. To be honest, my English writing skills are not strong, and I'm relying on Google Translate and the dictionaries that come with Office 2019.
And we continue, now with Jon's group meeting XD
It may be a bit strange, but I feel Jon should always have his friends with him, at least so he doesn't go alone. We also see that Jon has entered Chataya's brothel… and that he made a good impression, in the next chapter we will see how it all ended there XD
And poor Varys… it's not good to mess with someone who has literally been in the wildest and most primitive part of the world… and who has a master capable of destroying civilizations as easily as blowing out a candle XD
I apologize for any spelling errors. Please don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter, or if there's something that needs improvement, or if you have any questions about the story. Any constructive advice is welcome. With nothing more to say, see you in the next chapter.