Bronn's POV

Well, some jobs were certainly more interesting than others, and this one is proving to be among them.

Bronn had been keeping watch over the hidden Targaryens for over a fortnight now and he was starting to feel impatient. Bronn could still remember when one of Varys' little birds found him at the ale house back in White Harbor, and to this day, he still wondered why the Spider chose him of all people for this job.

As a sellsword my kind are not uncommon, and I have never been stupid enough to develop a reputation like other dumb cunts who want all the people singing their praises. Damned fools the lot of 'em.

To a man like Bronn having a big reputation always seemed like you might as well paint a target on your own forehead. In his opinion, all other sellswords were fools for striving for reputation since, all someone has to do to get a bit of reputation of their own, is kill the man who already has it.

Bronn had always preferred to have a good fight along with a good fuck and a large size sack of gold to go with it, and that's all he ever needed. Sometimes not all fights were good, but as long as the gold followed, he could handle anything, even if the job was one he didn't like.

The job up in the North had been one of his least favorites, but he couldn't bring himself to past on the amount of gold they paid. Slavers. A bunch of men from Tyrosh had come looking for men to help them gather slaves to sell to the fighting pits from one of the most inhospitable places ever, beyond the Wall. Wildlings were considered to be something exotic to the peoples in Essos, so he signed on for helping keep their men alive while they trapped wildlings.

Every so often he had to give a good beating, or even put down the ones too dangerous to let themselves be taken alive. The work wasn't easy and the environment was colder than anything he had ever known in his life, but the gold made it worth the effort, until the day that boy came along.

Bronn had instinctively known the moment he met the lad, he felt something was off about him. The boy had come to deliver a message from Lord Varys, the King's own Master of Whispers. Bronn had always had good instincts, the fact that he was still alive was because he knew to trust them.

The second the strange boy came to him, Bronn instincts were practically screaming in his head. The kid was dangerous, not troublesome like most children but if he hadn't looked so young Bronn would have thought the kid was deadly. The Spider had picked Bronn personally to perform a job that involved the last of the Targaryens, but the job surprisingly wasn't to kill them. Even though he had seen the prices on those two silver blonde heads of theirs with his own eyes.

It seemed from the little bird's message that the Spider and the King didn't really care about killing the last two Targaryen children as much as people thought they did. In fact, the job had specifically forbid any harm to the Targaryen children, even going as far as to threaten a painful death to the one responsible. Again, Bronn's instincts found that very strange, but apparently, they were more interested in Targaryen supporters back in Westeros rather than the actual Targaryens themselves. So the job was to play a little scheme and keep them alive long enough for things to play out the way the Spider wanted to. The whole thing wasn't exactly Bronn's style but the price they were offering was even more absurd than the price to kill them. Bronn ultimately accepted the job even though it entailed things like patience, deception, and manipulation.

There must be something in the damned air at Kings Landing other than the shit smell, because it seems like those people can't help pulling some kind of scheme or plot to get something. The simple thing would be to just kill the kids like they had done during the Rebellion.

Bronn didn't particularly care for the job but for the price they promised not to mention a personal invite from Lord Varys, he had to admit his curiosity was piqued. He started by just arriving in Braavos to find them which didn't take as long as he thought with the limited information he had been given. The bits about the lemon tree and the red door did it, since there weren't many of those in Braavos. After locating them, he watched the house and got to know his targets.

Once word reached him of delivering those letters to the Targaryen kids, he felt curious enough to try to read them but decided otherwise and just stuck to the job. His instructions said they might try to leave so he had to keep a close eye if they did. Thankfully they didn't go anywhere so once their guardian chose for them to stay that was his signal to make the next move. He had managed to get to the servants that lived in the house and cared for the children as he was instructed prior to delivering the letters.

It was almost like the Spider knew that those servants would betray them, but when you might face the wrath of the king, that wasn't hard to accept. Once the servants were onboard the rest was easy. Bronn instructed the cook to slip a strong sleeping draught into the food of the knight protecting them. Once the old knight was no longer conscious the trusted servants could just calmly and kindly walk the children out the front door and take them to their final destination without a fuss.

Bronn had been waiting near the docks where the boat met them with his contact aboard, which to his surprise turned out to be that same boy that gave him the job. The boy was in a small boat with two more men all in black and they all kept their faces wrapped up in what looked like a mask of some kind but he could tell that it was the same boy from his height and those dark eyes of his.

Once the Targaryen kids with their servants arrived to meet with him, he greeted them happily.

"Good evening to you all. If you will please, everyone onboard." he said to their group while gesturing to the boat with the men in black.

The servants looked nervous as did the Targaryen kids once they noticed the men in the boat and they all kept looking around like they weren't sure what to do.

The cook stepped forward and spoke his concerns.

"You said if we delivered the children quietly, you would pay us our weight in gold and pardon us of any involvement with them. What is this?" the cook whispered as he nodded to the boat.

Bronn put on his best smile as he replied. "Have no worries friend. You don't think these men walk around with that kind of coin do you? Your rewards are on their vessel, but we have to go there to get it, that is all." Bronn reassured him.

Why couldn't these fuckers show up not looking like bloody executioners?

"Where is our nephew? You said we were going to meet with him. Why isn't Ser Willem here with us? He wanted to meet him too." Daenerys asked her maid.

"Oh, enough pestering Dany." Viserys said at her. "Ser Willem will be along shortly I am sure. Just keep holding my hand and everything will be just fine."

Bronn almost wanted to laugh at the comment. The little idiot had no idea he was walking to his own death, well maybe just imprisonment. At least the girl seemed to have some since that something might be wrong. He had no idea what the nephew comment was about, but it was curious.

"Your right." said a voice from behind them. Bronn turned to see that dark eyed boy was standing right next to him, which almost made him draw is dagger. He hadn't even heard him getting out of the boat, let alone approaching them.

"You will soon be meeting your nephew and Ser Willem will be here shortly. Please." the boy implored motioning his hand toward the boat.

He's dressed like a damned shadow with a pair of eyes to match his attire, talks politely as some fancy lord, and he moves more quietly than a ghost. Yeah, it's definitely the same boy alright. The Spider sure knows how to pick his little birds.

The servants looked uneasy but they managed to guide the kids into the boat and they all started moving to a ship anchored out on the water. Bronn made a point to keep his eyes trained on the boy even though they drifted back to the other two men rowing the boat. Yet his focus just kept coming back to the strange boy.

He still didn't know what unnerved him so much about the kid other than those dark eyes, his cold demeanor, or how he moves to damned quietly. But he had seen all that before back in White Harbor, yet something else was still there even though he just couldn't see. After they arrived at their destination, they all began boarding the ship and as always Bronn kept his hands close to his blades and his eyes sharp.

Once onboard he was surprised to see more men clad all in black waiting on the deck, all with weapons at the ready and none of them speaking a word. Then Bronn's eyes caught sight of none other than the children's knight on his knees with his arms behind his back. The man barely looked conscious, but he was probably still feeling the effects of what they had given him.

"Ser Willem!" Shouted Daenerys as she tried to approach the knight. She was held back by her brother.

"Dany don't." Viserys warned, as he pulled his sister into his arms and firmly held her close.

The boy suddenly realized something was wrong but much too late.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Viserys shouted to no one in particular.

The squire and cook suddenly sprang on the children after nodding to each other pulling the two children apart. They held both of them firmly keeping them from moving.

"Let me go! Brother!" Daenerys cried out looking to Viserys for help.

"Unhand us this instant!" Viserys yelled at his former servants as they pulled his own arms behind his back mirroring their guardian knight.

Then, out of that commotion came a voice that silenced all the others with three simple words.

"They betrayed you." the dark-haired boy suddenly announced to all.

Bronn never liked these kinds of jobs, especially when they involved kids. But he knew if he wasn't the one doing this, someone else would so he kept his mouth shut. To make matters worse the little Targaryen prince and princess both went pale with fear. They both started looking around and when they didn't see anyone who looked to help them, they both started to break down in their own way.

The boy's face went red and he turned into a little wildling yelling curses and thrashing at those holding him down both mostly, he called them all traitors. Bronn found the whole thing quite annoying. It's like the little idiot still didn't fully grasp his situation. While the girl at least seem to understand somewhat better considering she just broke down into tears and didn't try to fight back at all. She probably knew deep down they were both already dead.


Daenerys' POV

Daenerys had never felt more afraid than she felt that day. Viserys and Ser Willem had always told her stories about the bad people like the Usurper who killed their brother Rhaegar, or the Kingslayer who murdered their father, and all the other traitors that were out there in the world hunting for them. She had always feared going out too much, because one of them might suddenly appear out of nowhere and try to kill her.

The one thing that always reassured her that the monsters would never get her was the people who she lived with. She had their brave knight Ser Willem who always assured them he would protect them both from anything. Then there was her big brother Viserys who told her the good stories of their family, their home across the sea, and how one day he would take them both home where they wouldn't have to be scared anymore.

Daenerys had always felt like where they lived now had been their home since it was all she had ever known. But Viserys always reminded her that one day when they were bigger, they would marry like their parents and return to their true home to claim all seven of the kingdoms that were rightfully theirs. Viserys was always so sure that they would succeed one day since he said the people know what kind of vile villain the Usurper and his dogs were. The people secretly toast to their safety and pray for the day that they will return to put the seven kingdoms to rights.

Daenerys always hoped to see such a day come true, but now she was certain that that day would never come now. The people she had lived with, who cared for her and her brother had brought them to their enemy. These people must be what her brother always called the Usurper's dogs, and they had them all now. She wanted to try to be strong, to do something to escape this nightmare, but she couldn't do anything but cry tears that felt like they would never stop.

Everywhere she looked Daenerys only saw more reasons for her tears. They were all trapped on a ship that would probably take them to the Usurper himself so he could kill them just like he did their brother. Their brave knight was on his knees and for the first time in her life Ser Willem looked truly helpless. Her brother was so angry, but she thought he was much braver than her since he at least isn't crying, and he was still trying to fight.

She turned to their betrayers who she still couldn't believe had given them over to their enemies. The three just stood to the side as the dark men took hold of them both. She didn't know the squire who helped take care of Ser Willem's horse and armor very well but he always seemed nice to her. Standing next to him was the cook who used to sneak her sweets from time to time because he said that those desserts would never be as sweet as she was. He always made her smile when he said that, but her favorite was her maid who always brushed her hair, helped her dress, and sometimes sang to her. Now they were all just standing there while these horrible people held them all prisoner.

She wasn't even sure the men around them were men at all, because they all looked more like demons. They were all dressed in black, some in hoods or cloaks, and they all had on mask that covered all of their face except their eyes. But even there she saw no sign of emotion from any of them except the man who had delivered the letters from her nephew, the one who called himself Bronn. He wasn't smiling but he certainly didn't seem like he would help them either. The only other one who spoke a word looked like he had to be a boy. Although he was not much taller than her, he also had dark eyes showing through his mask. Those eyes hadn't left her since he spoke the words that now felt like a sword through her heart.

They betrayed you.

How could they?

Suddenly a jolt shot through her as a terrible thought occurred to her.

"Where is our nephew? What have you done to him?!" she shouted while looking around at everyone.

Everyone looked at her, but they all remained silent which worried her all the more. If the man Bronn was here she worried that might mean they had caught Aegon too, she even wondered about their great uncle Aemon now.

"Why would you say that?" asked a voice near her. She looked around to see it came from the boy who was still looking at her.

Everyone else was silent and the ones whose faces she could see all looked just as confused by her question.

"He delivered the letters to us from our nephew and if he is with you then, does that mean you have our nephew too? What about our uncle?" Daenerys elaborated as she looked at Bronn.

"I was only told to deliver those letters. As to what was in them." replied Bronn while shrugging his shoulders at her.

That confused her more since she was certain they had to have known about Aegon somehow. Or maybe they didn't know, maybe they just stole the letters intended for them.

"Your nephew was responsible for all of this." announced the boy as he raised his arms up gesturing to the scene around them.

"What!? Why would he?" she asked shocked by the reply.

"I knew it!" Viserys suddenly shouted out. "The pretender is trying to get rid us so he can steal our throne."

Aegon betrayed us too? Or was he not even their nephew at all? He really was a pretender?

Ever since reading that letter, she hoped that he was real, but now she worried her brother had been right all along and she started to feel her tears begin to flow again.

"Enough of this!" the cook said. "I don't care what she is on about or what scheme you all are runnin' here but all we want is our pardons and our payments." he said to Bronn while gesturing to the other servants who both just nodded in agreement.

"You misunderstand." the boy replied, as he walked toward her. He was looking right at her without acknowledging anyone else around him, then he turned slightly to look at Viserys. He just seemed so cold and his dark eyes looked like they could see into their very souls.

"Your nephew arranged all that has happened here tonight, to show you something important. He was testing the people who were charged with your protection and care. Needless to say, they have all failed miserably." the boy explained then he turned back to her and slowly reached up to the man that had been holding her still. She felt the man's grip relax and slowly let her go.

As much as she felt like she should run Daenerys stayed where she was. The boy reached up toward her but she just froze in place feeling like she was trapped with his gaze on her. His hand gently touched her face as his thumb slowly wiped away the tears from her cheek. The small touch was gentle and surprised her but she still felt afraid.

"Oh, fuck me." she suddenly heard Bronn blurt out.

The boy turned from her and looked over to the others while the men behind her began to nudge her towards Viserys which she was all too happy to oblige. The men who had held her brother down also slowly let him get up as she was brought over to him and she latched right on to his arm tightly. Viserys returned the embrace and held on to her tight.

"Bronn, I'm sure you've realized that I am not the little bird I pretended to be, but your test was not one of loyalty. We knew your loyalties before we met. Your test was one of your abilities which you did not fail to impress. We truly didn't think you would be able to turn all of them as easily as you did. But now that they have failed their test it is time for your next task." The boy elaborated now holding Bronn's gaze who looked quite nervous.

The boy slowly walked closer and pointed to their former caretakers.

"Kill them." he said calmly as all three of those he pointed to instantly went pale or looked around confused and scared. Bronn had seemed tense a second ago, but now he had somewhat relaxed.

Bronn looked at their betrayers and he just shrugged before one of his arms whipped forward so fast she barely saw the metal gleam from the knife he threw. The blade was now sticking out of the chest of her former maid and she started to gasp as blood came out of her mouth. Daenerys quickly closed her eyes and clutched tighter onto her brother as she looked away. She only heard a few more sounds of something metal, followed by a gurgling sound and then a loud bang on the floor before she forced herself to open her eyes at the bloody scene.

She watched Bronn put his sword through the back of the cook who was now lying on his belly on the deck. The others were down too with blood coming from their mouths and their eyes looked empty. As Daenerys looked up to see the boy pull his hood and mask off, as he walked past the now dead bodies stopping in front of Bronn.

"Well done." he said looking up to the man who had just killed all three of their former servants in just a few seconds. She looked up to see even Viserys was nervous now at what he had just witnessed, but the boy with dark hair was still calm and relaxed, as if these deaths had meant nothing to him.

"Now I think it is time I explain a few things." the boy said looking at her and her brother.

"W-Who are you?" Viserys asked, frightened.

"For the time being. You can call me Jon Snow." he answered.

"Snow? That's a bastard name." Viserys stated. "You're just a child."

That made this Jon Snow chuckle at before he replied.

"I could not be further from a child." Snow said as he walked over to one of the other men who placed a large box down in front of him.

Snow opened the box and pulled out an object which she quickly realized was her mother's crown. The box she recognized now was where Ser Willem kept their valuables which mostly included some gold from Dragonstone along with, their mother's jewelry, and the crown Snow was now holding.

"Give that back! That belonged to our mother and it was her prized possession." Viserys spat.

Jon Snow arched a brow as he looked at her brother.

"I regret not knowing Queen Rhaella, but I can assure you that this trinket was not her prized possession." Jon Snow responded.

"Of course, it was. That was her crown, the symbol of her status as Queen. She was my mother and I knew her better than you, bastard." Viserys stated before turning to look around. "Why am I even speaking to some bastard child? Who is in charge here?! I demand to speak to your commander!" Viserys began to shout at everyone.

"I am the only one who will speak with you. The rest here have been instructed not to in order to prevent you from identifying any of them, which is also the reason their faces are covered." Snow explained to them.

"Why? Instructed by whom?" Viserys asked, getting more frustrated.

"Your nephew's orders." Jon Snow answered.

"Where is he? Is he here?" she asked as Viserys looked down at her. But he didn't seem mad by her interruption.

"Yes, where is this so called nephew of ours?" Viserys added.

"He will make himself known to you in time. But as to your earlier remark, you were right that you knew Queen Rhaella better than me but not better than your brother knew her. Rhaegar knew Rhaella greatest treasure was her children." Jon snow stated as he gestured to both of them.

"This crown was nothing to her when compared to you two, but I understand how important it is to you because it reminds you of her. Which is why we made sure to have it brought here with you. These men will show you to your rooms along with Ser Willem. The rest of your belongings will be arriving soon, our men entered your house after you left and began gathering your belongings." Jon Snow finished as he returned their mothers crown to the lock box and walked over to Ser Willem who was still being held on his knees.

"Your efforts to protect House Targaryen have been admirable Ser, but also quite foolish. You kept such valuables in a simple lock box with the key around your neck while taking residence in a city with a famous bank that could have better protected them. If those servants, you hired had been a little more clever they could have easily fed you a deadly poison and stolen all you had while throwing your prince and princess out into the streets." Snow, chastised Ser Willem which she didn't like, even if his words were true.

Jon Snow nodded and the others started moving them toward Ser Willem but her brother was having none of it.

"No, I am not going anywhere until I speak with your commander. I am the true king of the Seven Kingdoms and unless you all are traitors like the Usurper then your loyalty should be to me." Viserys exclaimed to everyone around him. But no one acknowledged his words.

"It will take much more than your claim to the throne to command the men of the Legion. Unlike some men who held their honor or personal gains above any loyalty to their liege, those before you are above reproach." Snow said as he walked closer to Viserys.

"We here were all thrown away until those who stole all from House Targaryen hoped we would simply fade from memory. But we did not and all other like us are slowly rising to the call your nephew has sent out. While their loyalty is to House Targaryen, there is only one master of the Legion, only one commander, and that is not you Viserys." Jon Snow stated.

"Ha, even if this Aegon is not some pretender, he would be a child no older than you are bastard. What has he accomplished to warrant anyone's loyalty?" Viserys challenged.

"Your nephew exposed the lies your enemies have been telling about Prince Rhaegar, killed a traitor who helped ruin your brother's plan to make peace before the rebellion could occur, and he recovered some of House Targaryen's most loyal men to form the Legion." Snow answered, much to both her and her brother's surprise.

Viserys looked positively stunned by those words, although she was too.

"Legion?" Viserys muttered. "You said that before, what is that?"

"The Legion of the Dark. Aegon's elite. After all it was the dark that the dragons were cast down into to die. So from the dark, the dragons shall rise again to burn all who thought them gone from this world." Jon Snow stated proudly.

Jon Snow then turned from her brother to walk away and the men around them began moving them to go below deck, only this time Viserys didn't refuse. She saw men scrambling to open the sails and raise the anchor. She grabbed her brother's hand again as they walked. Daenerys definitely wasn't sure about Aegon's intentions, after he sent to their home a lying murderer like the man Bronn and the cold blooded monster that was Jon Snow.

Daenerys just hoped when they arrived to wherever Aegon was, things would get better. The night had been quite horrible but at least herself, Ser Willem, and Viserys were okay and not in the hand of their enemies. At least she hoped not.


Aegon's POV

Aegon stood out on the railing of the ship as they sailed through the calm sea, the feel of the wind and the crashing sounds of waves against the hull of their ship calming his thoughts. He thought killing Benjen had been hard enough, but this part of the plan felt even worse. Dany looked absolutely terrified, and he could tell that no small part of that horror he saw in her eyes was because of him. Aegon hated having to scare her so. However, this was all important for them both, and they needed to learn these lessons now, rather than later when the damage from such lessons could mean their deaths. He only hoped Dany might forgive him one day, but now was not the time for forgiveness.

After Bronn dispatched their former servants in front of them both his aunt and uncle were so scared, they both said nothing as he explained that they were not in the hands of the Baratheons or Lannisters. They both barely spoke a few words after he had them shown to their cabins to rest along with Ser Willem. Bronn told him what he had the cook had given the knight should have been enough to knock out a man half his age.

His uncle, which he had never gotten the chance to meet in his former life was much like what Dany had described. But Aegon was glad to see that from the way he held on to his sister that the brother who took care of her was not gone completely, at least not yet. Of the many gifts he planned to give her, he hoped a life with a brother who cared for her rather than one who would sell her for his own ends, was among the top of the list. When Viserys had been told they were Targaryen loyalist he was angry enough to chastise us all with threats of punishments from him being that he thought he was the king.

Only after his uncle learned that the men aboard this ship serve his nephew and not him did he notice that fear from earlier begin to return. Dany on the other hand didn't speak a word and instead she just clung to her brother's arm. The strong and amazing woman he had known was not this small, frightened girl he saw now. Aegon didn't think she would be so different in this time from the Dany he knew, and worse was the thought that the Daenerys Stormborn he'd known and loved may never come to be.

Would such a thing be so terrible? She might never have to suffer so much as to break down and finally fall into madness and despair.

Aegon quickly tore his thoughts away from such things and focused on the present. Viserys and Daenerys are still children now and it is the perfect time to begin preparing them for what was to come. He knew this world will have little mercy for any of them and they needed to begin learning that fact.

"So, what are you going to do now that you have them?" asked a voice he knew all too well breaking him from his thoughts. He turned around to face the former Lord Commander of the Watch. The man looked like he might be considering throwing Aegon overboard which amused him. The man had been allowed out of the brig after they explained his situation but he was probably just biding time to get the upper hand.

"They are not your concern." Aegon replied. "Right now, your main concern is our training." Aegon stated as one of the others brought them their wooden practice swords.

Jeor took up his position in the center of the deck. They had been using it to train here since the man was let out of the brig. He took his practice sword and squared off with the old bear. Jeor attacked with a high guard and struck down on top of Aegon, but he was quicker so he parried to strike easily.

"But now that they are here, I felt it was time for you to understand your role in all this Lord Jeor." Aegon began as he quickly moved to strike at Jeor's side.

Jeor blocked and turned repositioning himself. For such a big man he was surprisingly fast.

"I know well enough, I'm your prisoner or else you'll have my family killed." Jeor replied. "Although I can't imagine why since, you and your band of deserters here are all free to flee wherever you wish." Jeor finished.

"I'm telling you why you're here because you need to know, and by the way none of these men are deserters." Aegon began. "You see Lord Jeor, your role in all of this is to serve as my shadow. You will stay at my side and protect me from all harm with your life, for should anything happen to me your house will suffer my loss."

Jeor narrowed his eyes at Aegon. "So, I am nothing more than a bodyguard for you. Why? Anyone of these other turncoats here could suffice."

"Oh yes, they could, but they have other purposes far more important to fulfill and you are perfect for the role of my shadow because in doing so you will help me achieve three of my goals simultaneously." Aegon explained while Jeor listened intently.

"First, you will help me integrate myself into several important affairs of the realm. My cover is now to serve as your steward and as people will see you as the Lord Commander of the Nights Watch, no one will question me sitting in on your meetings, answering your letters, or any such things. I will know everything and be a part of everything but the rest of the world will only see me as some servant or scribe, which will allow me to hide right in plain sight." Aegon explained.

Aegon moved to strike Jeor who blocked two more blows and angrily slashed back. Aegon managed to completely dodge that and he could tell the man didn't like what he was hearing.

"The second, will be what we are doing now, because I require someone like you to train with me. I know that you would happily cave my skull in with your bare hands if you thought you could get away with it. Your anger will serve me well in my own training, for the battles to come will not be easy ones." Aegon paused before continuing.

"Finally, you will allow me to dismantle the Nights Watch from within and from the foundations of its ruin, I will build a new force dedicated to destroying my enemies." Aegon finished with a smile and Jeor growled through gritted teeth and lodged at him.

The old bear was fast, and he had no small amount of skill with a blade. Jeor might have been leading with his anger but the man was truly a frightening sight to behold. Jeor came at Aegon with full force with his blunt practice sword above him like a club, bringing it down with all his strength. Aegon wasn't stupid enough to try and block right now so he simply stuck to evading the man's blows one after the other.

The strength of Jeor's strikes was so great that every time he missed Aegon and hit the wooden deck Aegon was sure he heard the deck planks splintering. But he couldn't afford to check with a raging bear coming at him so he kept his focus where it needed to be. Jeor hit the deck again and then started swinging his sword wide at Aegon's side which he dodged by leaning back just enough to drop backwards onto his upper back. Jeor saw his moment and didn't hesitate to swing a lower swing again that would have broken Aegon's leg had it connected.

Aegon lifted both legs avoiding Jeor's latest strike and used the momentum to kick himself back up landing both feet on the deck following through with the motion to land a blow right on top of Jeor skull, which proved to be a mistake. Aegon thought he caught Jeor with the blow but he realized too late that Jeor literally head butted his practice sword away and followed with a strike that knocked the wind right out of him.

Aegon barely managed to lift his own sword up to block but the effort proved useless against Jeor's strength barreling into him. Jeor hit Aegon as hard as he could and the boy's sword arm buckled under the pressure and the hit sent him off his feet and sliding across the deck.

Aegon took a second to catch his breath and look at Jeor who stopped a few steps from him, and then he noticed why. Two of his own men who had been observing the match jumped in with their weapons drawn, and from the look of things Jeor was a second from his own death.

"Stop!" Aegon yelled, as both of his rescuers froze.


Jeor's POV

At every turn this boy continued to confuse and infuriate him to no end. With himself going back and forth between the two, which was probably the only reason he hadn't snapped sooner. But when the incessant little bastard basically said he was going to use him a nothing more than a puppet to destroy the Night's Watch, all his anger boiled over. For a few moments he completely forgot about the two sentries nearby or the other forty traitors aboard who would cut him down if he killed their so-called king.

When Jeor struck Aegon across the torso and he watched him fly right across the deck Jeor had every intent on killing him right then and there. When the two guards approached he felt he could beat both of them, even with his blunted blade. Then suddenly Snow yelled out halting them.

"Stop!" he heard Snow bellow at them.

"Your Grace are you ...?" one of them began to ask, but they were quickly cut off.

"I said stop!" Aegon shouted, looking angrier than he was. "None of you were ordered to observe me while I train, so what were you two doing up here?"

"Your Grace, Ser Alliser told us not to let you out of our sight. We are here to keep you safe." the man replied but kept his gaze firmly fixed on Jeor.

"Lord Jeor is providing me all the protection I require." Aegon chastised his own men as he rose up using his practice sword like a cane.

"I do not doubt any of you, and Thorne's heart is in the right place, but your heads are all in the wrong. I don't need any of you to be my Kingsguard, because your purpose is to avenge house Targaryen, which, includes myself." Aegon's tone softened as he explained.

"Jeor Mormont is currently giving me the protection I truly need by beating my every weakness and mistake out of me. In the wars to come I will have to fight in many battles and I will have to lead others where the most danger lies. I will not order one person to go into battle or take a single life I am unwilling to do so myself." Aegon finished.

Snow paused to gage their reactions which he had to admit that the boy's attitude was not only a noble one but also a northern sentiment.

The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword.

"The Kingsguard didn't save either of my parents and they certainly didn't do my grandfather any good, so all of you stop trying to be my bodyguards and be where I truly need you." Aegon commanded glaring at both.

Both men looked back at each other with doubt all over their faces. He could tell they didn't want to leave this boy alone with him but he could also tell their loyalty compelled them to obey. As they left one of them whispered how they'd gut Jeor if anything happened to their king.

"That was foolish considering if I wanted, there is nothing to stop me from killing you right now." Jeor said, turning back to the boy.

Snow didn't seem phased by his words at all. He appeared more bothered by his own men defending him than being attacked.

"My father died fighting a man in battle that was his better. A man bigger, stronger, who loved fighting much more than my father did. My mother died birthing me and the great Kingsguard did them no good. Had he but left a decent maester with my mother, she might be alive now and had he taken a few archers to fight Robert rather than his own sword, he might have at least survived the battle of the Trident." Aegon stated but he was looking off as if he was talking to someone else.

Then Aegon turned to look at Jeor with his eyes narrowed. "Ser Alliser did not come because he is setting my plans into motion back at the Wall, including making arrangements for your house should any misfortune befall me. I know that no matter how much you may hate me, you care for them more, but I will remind you as many times as is needed. If you do any permanent damage to me, my followers will do worse to your family. Remember well Lord Jeor, I live they live, I die they die." Aegon, threatened.

Jeor took a breath to calm himself knowing if he had gone too far his family would be finished. Of all the doubts he had about this boy, the threat to his house was not among them. If Jeor hurt this boy or even if someone else did, House Mormont will pay for it. He had to be more careful not to let his anger get the best of him again unless he stupidly put his sister and her daughters all in an early grave. Jeor wasn't sure if they knew where his son was but he didn't want to push his luck.

"So..." Jeor relaxing and steadying himself. "If you truly intend me to train and protect you, then I would ask you not to vex me anymore than you already do." Jeor asked. Snow smiled at that.

"I am afraid that would make you less of a challenge. Which would be counterproductive to me. Besides you will need some way to deal with your anger over my actions, both current and future." Aegon replied raising his sword as he slowly began to circle him.

"You may have me and my house by the throat, but you're dreaming if you think I will be a part of any actions against the Nights Watch. The watch has stood for thousands of years and I will gladly die before I allow it to fall to some bastard boy who thinks himself the Conqueror come again." Jeor practically growled at Aegon.

Aegon smirked at him as he continued to circle like a wolf stalking its prey. Jeor didn't care what anyone said, the idea of this boy being a hidden Targaryen was ludicrous. He moved in to strike which was followed by a block and with a few placed strikes of his own. He wasn't going full strength anymore but if this foolish boy was willing to take a beating from him then he had no intention to pass it up.

"You will serve me as my shadow Lord Jeor." Aegon commanded. "You will continue to train with me and you will also help me throw what is left of the rotten corpse of the Nights Watch on to the pyre where it belongs."

"If the Nights Watch were to fall the whole realm would be placed in greater danger than they already are. Why would I help you do that?" Jeor countered.

"The biggest reason why is below our feet. I will destroy all the wights north of the Wall and their masters along with them. I will remove the free folk as a threat to your house and if things go the way I intend, the Mormonts will stand among the most prosperous in the realm." Aegon responded with a slight smile.

Jeor huffed slowly shaking his head.

This boy is too full of himself if he thinks I'll believe any of that. But he does sound confident.

"So how do you plan to do all that?" Jeor asked, while raising to strike from his high guard.

"As I said, Ser Alliser is already seeing to some of my efforts at the Wall. The rest I intend to gain from the Usurper in the south." Aegon replied.

"You think the king is going to help you?" Jeor chuckled.

"He will when I show him the wight on this ship. His entire council will give me anything I wish if it means never having to see one of these things up close. They will help me build up my resources, a network of influence, and even an army that I will use to destroy them. And they will think everything we do is to combat the monsters beyond the wall so they won't have to." Aegon explained smugly.

What disturbed him most was that the boy's words rang true. If they managed to convince the king that the White Walkers have returned to the world then they might be convinced to give them anything necessary to combat that threat. But the more Jeor thought about it, the more he realized there were some parts that still didn't make since.

"If you were planning to use the White Walkers to manipulate the king, then why make this move against me now? I was planning to get aide from the south anyway to combat the threat beyond the Wall. You could have just waited and pulled strings from the shadows without revealing yourself." Jeor questioned.

That made Snow smile bigger like this whole conversation was a big amusement to him. Like he just knew everything before Jeor could even ask.

"Because Lord Jeor, you were planning to ask for help from the usurper and his council in a very different way than I intend to. Plus, as I said, part of your role is to help me dismantle the Nights Watch so that a better force will rise in their place." Aegon answered.

Jeor swung his sword again and Aegon connected. The boy was nowhere near his strength but at least he was fast, otherwise he would stand no chance.

"I told you that's not gonna happen no matter what you threaten." Jeor declared.

"We shall see Lord Jeor. We shall see." Snow calmly replied as he thrust his sword at Jeor who returned with his own strike with his anger fueling his every move. They exchanged no more words that day and he held himself back plenty to keep himself from battering the boy to death. Jeor knew the so-called little king would have a nice collection of bruises come the morning.

The lad held his own better than he would admit for one so young. What bothered him most was the damned brat never screamed out, whined, or complained no matter how many hits he took.

By the end of the sparring match, Snow limped away, but he did so with his pride showing and he still held that same infuriating smile. It was like the boy knew something he didn't, and it irritated him greatly. Jeor understood that for the time being he had to hold his ground and play it smart. Whatever Jon Snow and his band were planning, Jeor figured he just had to settle in and bide his time waiting for the right moment to strike.

The bear goes into hibernation every winter but when the time comes it will always awaken with a roar.