King's Landing 297 AC.
Margaery.
She like the rest of the crowd cheered when Jon took the day, the king probably the loudest of them all. But unlike the others, she cheered almost as much out of relief he hadn't been harmed as she had for the win itself, though soon she found herself frowning and looking worriedly as Jon took the plaudits. The cut over his eye looked deep to her, the blood on his face almost making her cry out.
Had her grandmother and Sansa not grabbed her hands she was sure she would have, instead she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before looking back at her husband. Jon she found was looking up to her, a smile on his face and she hoped that meant the injury wasn't too serious. As the king stood up Margaery looked around at the others, Lord Jaime and the Lannister's seemed unconcerned as did her grandmother. Joy like her and Sansa seemed the most worried of them all.
"Congratulations lad, well done and well worth the wait." the King said with a large smile on his face.
"Thank you, your grace." Jon said and as the crowd cheered once more he looked back up to her, and then nodded as he turned to leave.
She was glad the day was over with and as the crowd began to disperse she grabbed Sansa's hand, and with her grandmother and their guards, they made their way to the tents. A little in front of her she could see the Lannister's doing the same thing, Joy almost dragging her father to get there even more quickly. Margaery couldn't help but smile at that, knowing that the girl would give Jon a piece or her mind just as much as she and Sansa would.
Arriving at the tent she saw Lord Jaime walk back out of it and heading off to where his wife was changing. Nervously she stepped inside to see Joy sitting watching closely as the Maester checked the wound and Sansa looked to her and nodded before she rushed over. She was happy to see Loras come directly to her and her grandmother, her brother not looking worried at all, which made her even more relieved.
"He is well sister, a small cut, nothing to worry about." Loras said and she looked to see if he was just telling her what she wished to hear.
"You're sure Loras?" she asked, having not been able to judge if that was what he was doing.
"I'm positive, it won't even leave a bigger scar Marge, it's the old one just reopening." he said and she looked on as Jon was making Joy laugh at something he said.
It took sometime before she got the chance to even get close to him, Joy, Sansa, Gerion, Genna, and Prince Tommen all crowding him and leaving her a little out of the circle. Soon though people began to move, Jon looking to Ser Barristan who took Prince Tommen from the tent, the Maester leaving, and then once it was only people who knew the truth Jon got up and walked over to her.
Feeling his arms around her she felt herself relax into them before she moved him back so she could see the cut for herself. It looked far too deep for her liking and the stitches the Maester had used to close it made it look even worse. She saw Jon try to smile reassuringly at her but felt her anger rise, he'd been stupid, he had removed his helm and taken a serious risk of being badly harmed.
"Why, why did you take your helm off, you know better than that Jon, what were you thinking?" she said the anger in her voice far more pronounced than she had expected.
"I… didn't mean to, I mean I meant to but I thought I'd have time to put it back on." he said apologetically.
"But you didn't Jon, you risked far too much, even after promising me you would not." she said and even though it hurt to see him look at her that way, she felt he deserved her rebuke.
"I'm sorry Marge, truly, I had a plan, I saw an opening and I'm sorry.".
"What if it had been worse Jon, what if you'd been hurt worse, how do you think I'd feel?" she said, and had she looked around her she'd have laughed, as in the overcrowded tent people tried to give them some privacy.
"I know, I am sorry Marge, I didn't think." Jon said his eyes looking into hers for forgiveness or at least acceptance of what he did and she found she wasn't ready to do either just yet.
"No Jon, you did not." she said as she looked at him and then turned to walk away, his hand reaching for hers which she ignored.
She knew she was overreacting, he'd not been hurt seriously, and deep down she knew he had a reason for taking his helm off and she wondered what that reason was. Her heart was beating fast though at the thoughts of what could have happened to him, of how badly he could have been hurt. As she walked back with her grandmother and her guards, Sansa staying with her brother, for now, she felt she'd at least made her displeasure and worry clear.
"You did very well in there Margaery." her grandmother said.
"Did I?" she asked not sure if she was doing the right thing or if she had overreacted.
"You did, he needs to learn that it's not just himself he risks so, it's you too. Where he goes you follow even if you can't take the field beside him, he carries you with him does he not?".
"He does grandmother, always." she said looking to her grandmother who smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Then he needs to be aware of this and your rebuke will work far better than any of the others he'll get this day.".
"Others?" she asked.
"Oh there will be others, he's not faced mine yet." her grandmother said and Margaery smirked at that, having been on the end of one or two from her grandmother herself.
They arrived back at their Manse to find her father, mother, and Willas had all arrived a good deal before them. Willas coming over to see how she was and Margaery not really in the mood to explain her feelings to anyone else just now. Instead, she looked to her grandmother who sent her on her way, and then she left and went to her room.
Laying down on her bed and finding the tears coming soon afterward, though whether she cried over fighting with Jon or out of relief he wasn't seriously harmed she wasn't sure. By the time Sansa came back to the manse she was far more composed and when her friend came to see her, Margaery was eager to find out if Jon had said anything after she left.
"How was he after I'd gone Sansa?" she asked biting her lip.
"Upset I think, he was quiet, only really speaking to Joy and to Ser Arthur." Sansa said.
"Did he not speak to you?" she asked.
"No, he did, he was apologetic, but he was quiet, I think what you said…" Sansa said before she interrupted.
"I'm sorry Sansa, I didn't mean..".
"No, you were right, someone needed to say it to him, he needed to hear it and I'm glad he heard it from you." Sansa said determinedly.
"You are?" she asked.
"Aye, it had to be you Marge, you out of all of us.".
They spoke a little more then, Sansa telling her no one else was harmed and asking her if she'd be going to the feast that night, Margaery confirming they would. She asked Sansa had she been to see her mother yet, her friend shaking her head and she knew better than to push it just then. Sansa had confided in her about her feelings for her mother and how she'd still not forgiven her over what she had said, though Margaery knew she wished to.
When the knock came to the door she thought for the briefest moment that it would be Jon she'd see when she opened it. Finding her grandmother there instead and trying not to laugh at the putout look on her face when her expression had obviously changed.
"Grandmother?".
"A note from the queen, you're invited to tea on the morrow." her grandmother said and Margery nodded, something she would have to endure unfortunately she thought as she looked at the note.
King's Landing 297 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
Joy had been angry with him, Jaime, Gerion, Genna too, but from Joy, it was so rare that it had taken him aback. To hear her tell him off so simply and directly and to see the expression of worry in her face had cut him deeply. More so than any words he could have heard ever from Jaime, he found to his surprise. So when Margaery arrived he had been glad of it and had needed her more than ever right then.
That she had been as angry at him as Joy was didn't surprise him, if anything he'd expected it. What he hadn't expected was that he'd not be able to remove that anger, to calm her down and reassure her. Nor that she would express it so clearly, that she then just walked away had hurt and he knew then just how much he'd fucked up. That it hadn't been deliberate was no excuse, he had taken his helm off thinking he'd get the chance to put it back on, he didn't and things could have gone much worse.
"I know, don't." he said to Arthur as they walked from the tent.
"Jon.".
"I know Daemon, nothing you can say to me right now will make me feel better, or make me feel worse, I know." he said and thankfully Arthur nodded.
As they walked through the streets to the tavern he felt him coming toward him and turned to see Ghost racing ahead of Jors who was trying in vain to keep up. He was glad the white wolf slowed down before he got to him, had he not then he'd have knocked him some distance, such was his momentum.
Reaching down to rub his fur Jae felt a sense of peace come over him, an easing of his troubled heart and he knelt down to look into the wolf's eyes.
"Thank you Ghost." he whispered and then chuckled when Ghost licked his face, even Arthur laughing a little.
The rest of the walk to the tavern was far more pleasant, Jae feeling in a much lighter mood and more and more people looking to him and Ghost and pointing him out to others. He could hear the voices and the hushed whispers as they passed.
"The White Wolf".
"Ser Jon.".
"He won the melee, do you think he'll give up that prize also?".
By the time they entered the tavern he had heard them all and even were it not already his plan for the coin, it would have been then. They took a seat and waited, Richard's man seeing them and getting up to go fetch him while they waited. Jae, Jors, and Arthur having a drink while Ghost was given some meat to eat. He never saw Richard enter only the same man from before who spoke to the serving girl and sent her over.
"Perhaps you'd prefer to drink in private Ser Jon?" the girl asked with a smile and Jon nodded.
Once upstairs he found Richard already waiting and leaving Ghost at the door, he, Arthur, and Jors took a seat and Jae began to get ready to tell them about Tarly and why he'd removed his helm.
"Your injury, it's not serious?" Richard asked.
"No Richard, just a flesh wound." he said with a soft smile.
"You were incredibly out there Jon, the crowd, the things they said about you." Richard said proudly.
"I, my helm Richard, I took it off for a reason, one I've not told Arthur or Jaime about just yet." he said and Arthur looked to him.
"Jon?" Arthur asked.
"Tarly, Richard, I wish you to meet with him." he said and saw Arthur look to Richard and then both of them to him.
"You told him?" Arthur asked.
"Not exactly, I gave him enough clues to work it out and then I told him of Richard and that I was my father's son." he said and waited for the inevitable argument.
"How?" Arthur asked.
"What?" he said confusedly.
"How did you give him clues, the helm I get, but that wouldn't have been enough." Richard asked.
"I sang." he said and Richard laughed loudly while Arthur just looked at him.
"Aye, that'd it do it, gods I wish I could have seen Randyl's face." Richard said still laughing.
"Richard." Arthur said shaking his head.
"Aye I know Arthur, it was reckless and the melee was no place for it, but it doesn't change that it's done now and we've to deal with it does it?" Richard said.
"I had to tell him, beating him wouldn't have done me any good, losing to a bastard, no this needed to be done." Jae said and Arthur just looked at him.
"I'll speak to Randyl, once he knows the truth he'll be on your side Jon, you'll need to tell Olenna though." Richard said.
"Aye, I will. Richard the loyalist houses, who can we trust?".
"Other than who we have already, I think Celtigar and Sunglass though I'd speak to them after the tourney and have made plans to. I'd not risk the Grafton's in the Vale nor the Riverlands houses just yet." Richard said.
"How much of the Riverlands do you think Richard?" Jae asked.
"I think Mallister, Blackwood, Bracken, Whent, and maybe Mooton." Richard said and Arthur looked at him incredulously.
"You think them all?" Arthur asked.
"Aye, we've done a decent job with them as for Edmure, well after today." Richard laughed.
"I wish to speak to some of the others Richard, is Raymun here, Monford?" Jae asked and Richard nodded "I'll speak to Olenna about the Reach and I think I need to tell the Greatjon." he said and both men looked to him.
"Is that wise Jon?" Arthur asked.
"It's needed Arthur, I'll leave it until we're ready to leave, it'll be the last thing I do but I need to tell him.".
"As you say Jon." Arthur said though he didn't seem convinced.
"Dorne, can we get a message to Oberyn quickly?" Jae asked looking to Richard who nodded before replying.
"Aye, just Oberyn or Tyrion too?".
"Both."
"I'll see it done. Your uncle, Jon, he's to marry, the letters are to arrive in the next day or so." Richard said.
"Tyrion?" he asked with a smile on his face.
"Eddard." Richard said and the smile got bigger.
"The letters, for Sansa and Robb?".
"You and Bran too, I think he wishes to marry as soon as you can all get North." Richard said.
"I can't go, Richard, much though I want to, I cannot. Can you get a letter to him before they arrive?".
"Aye, I'll see it done.".
They made their way back to the Manse after speaking some more, Jae heading straight to talk to Jaime and the others while Arthur and Jors followed, Walder soon relieving Jors as his guard. He knew they'd be heading to the feast very soon and he hoped he'd see and be able to speak to Margaery there. Trying to keep busy for most of the day so he'd forget how he'd hurt her was not being something he was entirely successful with.
King's Landing 297 AC.
Catelyn.
Things hadn't gone to plan since she'd arrived, they'd been welcomed well enough, though by Jon Arryn and not the king. Lysa had seemed at first to be happy to see them and then almost as quickly it seemed she really wasn't. Petyr had been far too busy to speak to properly and while she understood it, she was annoyed by it also. Then when she heard her children had arrived she looked forward to seeing them and waited for them to come to her.
That she was still waiting for one of them annoyed her greatly, Robb had come to see her briefly only, hugging her and promising they'd speak once the melee was over with. Bran had come with her uncle and while Brynden had made it clear he had no wish to be there, her son had almost run to her and she found herself almost weeping when she saw him.
" Look at you, look how much you've grown." she said kissing his cheek.
" I'm a squire now mother, I've need to grow." he said and even his voice made him seem much older to her.
" You like it though? Being a squire for my uncle, you enjoy it?" she asked and he nodded enthusiastically.
" Very much so mother, I'll be a knight one day, like Jon." he said, and though she frowned she held her tongue, for now, her uncle watching far too closely for her to tell Bran the truth about the bastard.
" You'll come eat with me won't you?" she asked hopefully.
" Of course mother." he said with a smile and she kissed his cheek once again.
Sansa had shown no sign of coming to see her and hadn't even acknowledged her when she saw her, instead rushing off to the bastard once the melee was over. Cat had known where she was going and that the Rose of Highgarden and the Queen of Thorns went with her only made her feel worse. Though that was nothing new whenever it came to the bastard and he more than anyone was ruining her visit here.
" He did what?" she said loudly when Lysa told her what had happened.
" He convinced the king to allow Prince Tommen to be his squire." Lysa said and both she and Edmure looked at their sister as if she'd lost her mind.
" How? he's a bastard, how could the king, how could Jon have allowed this?" Edmure asked.
" The prince has gotten it into his mind that Ser Jon is the greatest knight in the realm, that he's Duncan the Tall come again, always with tales of how he wishes to squire for the bastard, Petyr says." Lysa said looking to her.
" But the king would never allow him, surely he wouldn't?" she asked.
" Hah, the king cares only for what he cares for Cat, he's a savage, the bastard wagered he'd win both the melee and the joust with Prince Tommen as his squire." Lysa said.
" And the king allowed his son to squire over a wager?".
" Aye." Lysa said.
" Then we'll have to ensure he doesn't win won't we." Edmure said with a smirk.
Yet she had watched on in horror as the bastard had shamed her brother once again. That he had then gone on to beat Lord Tarly and others on his way to winning the thing, only making her day worse. Unlike Edmure she knew that out on the field was not where Jon Snow would be humbled, she'd tried that herself only to see her plans foiled. No to humble someone with no breeding you needed to show them up amongst their betters.
So as she dressed for the feast that night she began to try and see how she would do so, what way she could have him show his true colors in front of the king. While Lysa said that Prince Tommen was only to squire for him during the tourney, Cat feared she'd be wrong. If the prince was already enamored with the bastard then him winning would only strengthen the prince's resolve.
Her mind refused not to go to where she knew it would, the plan becoming far too clear in her mind and she wondered how he always seemed to know things, how he was always able to foil her own plans. She'd make a move and he'd counter and she had no idea how he managed it each time. He'd taken Robb and Sansa from her and ruined her plans for their matches. She'd with Petyr's help foiled is plans for Bran and in turn, had gotten a match with a princess for her son.
But just like with Robb and the Rose of Highgarden, the bastard was one step ahead once again. Countering Bran and Myrcella by getting close to the prince and she began to see the paths opening up ahead of her. Bran would stop him taking Winterfell from Robb, his marriage to the crown would see that route blocked to the bastard.
Would a prince who fell under a bastard's spell trump that in the same way the bastard's friendship with the Tyrell's son had? Would he use Prince Tommen to rise beyond his station? Would he kill one prince to see another one crowned?. Given the nature of bastards she was sure he would and so as she readied herself and made her way to the feast, she hoped to stop it before it was too late.
"Cat you look beautiful as always." Petyr said as Edmure led her into the Great Hall.
"Thank you Petyr, will you be sitting with us?" she asked with a smile.
"Would that I could Cat, unfortunately, I must sit with the Lord of the Vale, protocol." he said and she was glad to see he looked as upset by it as she.
"Perhaps we can speak later?" she asked and he smiled as he kissed her hand.
"It would be my pleasure, Cat.".
They made their way to the seats and she looked around at the other tables, they sat with the other houses of the Riverlands as did each region with their own, other than the North who sat with the West. She had hoped Robb would sit with her but he sat with the Manderly's and the Umbers and that they all sat at the Lannister table made her ire rise. That the Lannister's hadn't arrived yet gave her hope that they may not but she knew it was a vain one.
Sansa sat laughing with Lady Margaery and her daughter looked every inch the lady that she was, even the Rose of Highgarden not comparing in Cat's mind. Though the fact that she'd not even turned and acknowledged her presence was annoying, as was the fact that she sat in the hall with three of her children, separate but together.
"The Lannisters." Edmure whispered and she watched as they walked in.
Lord Jaime was holding his wife's hand and behind him, each of them was walking. When she saw the bastard she felt a moment's happiness upon seeing the wound on his eye and then it was gone. The thoughts of how easy it would have made her life if that wound was just a little deeper, more thoughts of regret than joy. She heard the whispers as people spoke of him, comparing him to far better men than he.
"Just like the bold.".
"Or Lord Jaime".
"No, The Sword of the Morning, I tell you now, we've not seen the likes of him since Ser Arthur.".
She felt her anger rise and was glad she wasn't holding a wine glass in her hand as she feared she'd crush it between her fingers. Plastering a smile on her face in case anyone was looking her way, she waited until they sat down, and then only a moment later they all had to rise when the king arrived. Sitting back down her fingers began to drum against the table and her mind raced a million miles a second. Cat struggling through thoughts of trying to come up with a way to show the bastard for who he truly was.
Kings Landing 297 AC.
Sansa.
She had to stifle her laugh when she saw Margery look to Jon, her friend had calmed since earlier that day and she knew that Margaery felt some embarrassment at how she'd acted. Though Sansa felt her entirely justified and she had probably beaten her to the punch. While she'd been proud he'd won and happy that no one had been seriously injured, she'd been furious with Jon also.
Now though she wished to enjoy herself and so she sat at the table and found she was, even if it was at her friend's expense. Willas too seemed to be having fun as he noticed where she was looking. The table they'd been put at was almost on the opposite side of the room from Jon's, though there was nothing in between them but empty space. So from where they sat, they had an unobstructed view of where Jon sat and from her vantage point, she could see both Margaery and Jon making doe eyes at each other.
"You should speak to him." she whispered to Margaery.
"I'm still angry with him." Margaery said and Sansa resisted the urge to giggle.
"No you're not." she said.
"I should be." Margaery replied.
"Will you dance with him?" Sansa asked and she saw Margaery's eyes light up.
"I can't go to him Sansa, he has to come to me." Margaery said and Sansa nodded
"Could you not ask him, as the winner of the melee it would not be improper for a lady to ask him to dance, would it?." Sansa said but she could see that wasn't what Margaery was worried about.
"Will you speak to him for me, ask him to ask me?" Margaery said almost pleadingly.
"Aye, I will." she said with a smile which was returned.
She looked around the room and waved back when Bran waved to her, looking over to see him happy to be sitting with her granduncle. When she turned to see the Riverlands table she found her mother's eyes on her and though she wanted nothing more than just turn way, she instead gave a small smile. Her mother smiled back at her before Sansa turned around and then the king stood up and the room quietened.
"Ser Jon, come forward your king wishes to speak to you." the king said loudly and Sansa and the rest of their table looked as Jon got up from his seat and walked to stand in front of the king.
"Your grace, your grace?" Jon said with a bow as he looked first to the king and then the queen.
"A war wound, Ser Jon?" the king said pointing to her brother's eye.
"A reminder not to remove a helm, your grace." Jon said to laughs.
"You did a fine job out there Ser Jon, just as you said you would, entertained me and all in this room, is that not right?" the king said and she heard the sounds of people agreeing and some cheers.
"I owe it all to my squire, your grace. Prince Tommen told me who to watch out for, is that not true, my prince?" Jon said and she watched as Prince Tommen seemed to puff up and smile broadly at Jon.
"It is Ser Jon, I did as a squire is supposed to for his knight." the prince said and she heard as people cheered for the prince then, Sansa smiling as Jon gave the credit away.
"An excellent job son, a good knight needs a good squire and you've proved yourself true." the king said and Sansa wasn't sure what it was she heard in the king's voice, though she could see in his face that he was full of pride for the boy.s
"We'll do just as well in the joust, won't we Ser Jon?" Tommen said and she heard the chuckles around the room, people laughing with and not at the prince.
"With your help, aye, we will, my prince." Jon said and Robert laughed.
"My Lord's, My Ladies, I give you the winner of the melee Ser Jon and his squire, my son Prince Tommen Baratheon." the king said bidding the prince to rise.
She like everyone else cheered loudly and she laughed when she saw Jon look to Prince Tommen and shrug his shoulders, the prince laughing as he took his seat. Jon bowed to the king and queen and went back to take his own and then the feast began. Even through the meal, Margaery kept looking to Jon's table and Sansa was glad when it was over, getting up from her seat and immediately walking over to speak to her brothers.
Robb was being led to the floor by Wynafred and she knew had she moved but a little later then Jon would be dancing with Joy, instead though she made it to him first and practically dragged him out onto the dance floor. Joy just simply looking to Cregan who took her hand and soon even Wylla was dancing. She smiled when she saw Loras go to ask Margaery to dance and even more so when she saw how Jon's eyes followed his friend all the way.
"She wishes you to ask her to dance." she said as they began to move to the song.
"I don't know if we should, she's angry with me besides it was one thing to dance with her once, more than once and people may speak." he said and she pinched his shoulder.
"What was that for?" Jon asked looking to her.
"For being an idiot, don't think Margaery is the only one annoyed with you over today Jon.".
"Sansa." he said softly.
"No, we'll deal with my annoyance at a later time. Now you'll ask her to dance and no one here will think anything of the winner of the melee dancing with a lady, no one Jon, do you understand?" she said staring at him and as he began to laugh she was about to say something to him, only for him to kiss her cheek.
"It seems I'm surrounded by cleverer people than I." he said and she looked at him when he kissed her cheek again "Thanks little sister.".
They danced a little more and she found herself looking to her mother's table, the frown clear on her face and soon Jon noticed where she was looking.
"Have you spoken to her?" he asked.
"No.".
"Sansa?".
"I don't know what to say to her, Jon, I don't know what I feel about her." she said looking to him.
"She's your mother Sansa, trust me if I could speak to my own." he said sadly.
"Oh Jon." she leaned in and hugged him all thoughts of dancing gone for now.
"Go speak to her, see if you can clear up what it is between you.".
"And if we can't?" she asked worriedly.
"Then it won't be because you didn't try Sansa, it'll be because of your mother, or because what she's done is something she feels no shame for.".
"Aye, I'll talk to her, and Margaery?".
"Aye, I'll do the same little sister." he said and she smiled when the dance ended.
Nervously she made her way to her mother's table, her uncle sitting there looking at Jon as he moved to Margaery and she wondered if he'd stay anything to her about him. He didn't, instead, he just smiled at her and welcomed her to their table and then moved to leave her sitting with her mother.
"Mother.".
"Sansa, it's so good to see you, let me look at you, my sweet girl, look at you, look how you've grown.
"It's good to see you mother." she said though still a little stiffly.
"You too Sansa." her mother said smiling at her.
Kings Landing 297 AC.
Ser Gerold Dayne.
The Darkstar .
He'd arrived when the melee was already decided, the competition having taken place that day and he had missed out. That it was the Bastard of Winterfell that had won it was a surprise, the boy surely too young to beat that particular field. It annoyed him a little that they'd been delayed as he knew he could have taken that prize but for the weather. Them having to shelter an extra night depriving him of the chance to test his mettle against the boy.
Hearing people speak of him only made Gerold keener to see him for himself and when they compared him to Arthur he felt his jealousy rise. He was to be the next Sword of the Morning, to be the one people spoke of in hushed whispers, not some bastard who got lucky. Making his way to the feast that night he looked forward to seeing his target and to planning her fall, though once there it was the bastard he found himself focussing on.
"Is he really that good?" he asked the marcher lords he sat with.
"Better than they say." Lord Beric said.
"You fought him my lord?" he asked and Beric smiled as he looked to Thoros who sat beside him.
"Aye, fought him when he was but a babe, you heard of the tourney of Lannisport, that lad won the squire's duels there and then the one in king's landing and Highgarden. Ser Jon is unmatched Ser Gerold, barring Lord Jaime and the Bold, I doubt there's anyone even close." Lord Beric said and Gerold felt his temper rise.
"Or maybe he's just not faced a worthy opponent yet." he said with an almost growl.
"You think yourself such a man?" Thoros asked.
"I know I'm such a man." he said with a smile.
Watching as the bastard was giving plaudits by the king only increased his annoyance but it was what happened a little later which really made him take notice. Ser Jon danced with a red-headed girl who he found out was his sister and then Gerold watched as he walked to the table and asked the Rose of Highgarden to dance. Looking at the two of them out on the dance floor he began to grin to himself, two birds with one stone he thought as he watched them move.
He had seen that look in Arianne's face when they danced, lustful, eager, either the bastard had already plucked the golden rose's maidenhead or she wished he would, either would suffice. For Gerold killing her was a means to an end, he would take only the pleasure he got from achieving that end, or at least that's what he thought. Now though knowing he was taking something away from Jon Snow that he cared about, well that was just a bonus.
"Does Ser Jon know the lady well?" he asked Lord Beric who looked at him oddly.
"Her brother squired for Lord Jaime with Ser Jon." Beric said a few moments later.
"Ah that explains them dancing." he said with a smile which seemed to put Beric at ease.
He had planned to do some recognizance first, to find the perfect time to put the rose in the ground. He wondered now if perhaps he could find them together, see them both at the same time, put her down and face Jon Snow, would he be that lucky?. Should he take that risk? Or should he let Jon Snow know after it was done, let him find out it was he who took his love from him? That would be best he felt, the boy would seek him out and challenge him and his victory would be more public then.
Today they'd celebrate the winner of the melee, soon they'd be speaking his name. If Ser Jon was as good as they said then the man who beat him would only rise by doing so. Build a legend on killing a legend, it would have been what he would have done had Arthur lived. To challenge him and see him fall and to take Dawn for his own, to beat the Sword of the Morning and then become the Sword, maybe this road would lead there too.
"What's your name?" he asked the dark-skinned girl as he sat in the brothel that night.
"Alayaya." the girl said smiling as she took the seat beside him "Yours?".
"You can call me The Darkstar." he said as he looked at her
"The Darkstar?".
"I am of the night." he said with a grin as he took out some coins.
Kings Landing 297 AC.
Willas.
He disliked feasts and much preferred to eat alone with his family, though his father rarely allowed them to do so. More than the crowds though it was the dancing he really hated, to have to sit there while others took to the floor was hard for him to face. Willas didn't begrudge those who danced and he enjoyed seeing the smiles on his sister's and Sansa's faces when they did so, more he wished he could join them or be the one to make them smile.
Still, he was happy to see his sister in a far better mood than she had been, Jon speaking softly in her ear as they danced. His grandmother he knew had told Margaery to be wary of appearances but he knew his sister and Jon needed this and looking to his grandmother it was clear that so did she. Looking around the room he couldn't see Sansa anywhere and he began to worry about her, standing up he nodded to his guards and was ready to move from the table when his grandmother spoke.
"Willas?" she asked.
"Sansa, grandmother." he said and she nodded at him as he walked away.
Glancing up at the high table he saw the prince was sitting there and he found himself glad of that at least and when he looked to the Riverlands table and saw that Lady Catelyn was speaking to her oldest son. He checked the room once more trying to see if there was anyone else Sansa would be with that was missing and he found he couldn't see anyone he could think of.
With another nod to his guards, they left the Great Hall and began to walk the corridors, and it was the sound of the voices that led him to where she was. Moving as fast as he could he walked in their direction and found the doors to the balcony open, and listened as he moved closer.
"Your mother is only looking out for your best interests Lady Sansa." the voice said.
"Is she Lord Baelish, truly, how?" Sansa asked.
"By warning you of your half brother's true intent my lady, warning you before it's too late." Littlefinger said.
"My brother Lord Baelish, my brother, not my half brother, my brother." Sansa said angrily.
"Of course my lady, I was just repeating what your mother calls him.".
"Were you my lord, were you indeed?".
"Lady Sansa I fear we've gotten off on the wrong foot, I have no issue with Ser Jon, however, your mother believes and the good book tells us so does it not, that bastards are covetous by nature, is that not so?".
"Is it my lord, I find I've no interest in my mother's view of the good book, and since you mean less to me than she does, why would I have any interest in yours?" Sansa said and Willas found himself almost chuckling.
"Lady Sansa I meant no offense." Littlefinger said.
"Yet I am offended all the same Lord Baelish, perhaps it's for the best if you leave me to my own devices." Sansa said and he could hear the sigh from the Master of Coin from here.
"As you wish my lady, forgive me for the interruption." Littlefinger said and walked away from her.
He saw the angered look on the man's face as he walked from the balcony and then the practiced smile appeared once he saw Willas.
"Lord Willas." Littlefinger said as he looked at him and then turned to look back at the balcony "I'm afraid Lady Sansa is most upset." the smile now even more pronounced.
"I'm sure she's feeling far better now my lord." he said and saw the little grimace before Littlefinger walked away.
Willas walked to the balcony to find Sansa leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, her arms wrapped around herself. At first, he thought she was crying and he moved instinctively towards her before he looked closer and saw what it was she was doing.
"Are we a wolf or a little bird today?" he asked and she opened her eyes and smiled when she saw him standing there.
"A wolf, today I'm a wolf." Sansa said.
"Do you want to speak about it?" he asked and she just shook her head.
"Very well." he said moving closer towards her.
He stood beside her with his guards standing outside the door, unlike the other night with Joffrey tonight it seemed to have taken more out of her. Then she'd been glad to see him because she feared what the prince may do and she was alone, now something had clearly happened which had upset her. During their talks, Sansa had told him many things about her mother and what she thought of Jon.
She'd explained how it made her feel and looking at her now and given what Littlefinger had said, something along those lines had clearly happened again. As strong as she was, as clever as she was, Sansa was still a very young girl. He reached out and took her hand in his and watched as she looked at it, and as he held it and stood silently beside her, Sansa began to cry.
"Hush, hush." he said as he pulled her into his arms.
"Why does she hate him so? Why can't she see what I see, what everyone sees?".
"I don't know Sansa, but she's not you and you'll never be her." he said as she sobbed against his chest.
"I won't, I won't, I'll never be like her, never." she said and he stroked her hair and waited until she calmed down.
Once she had he took out his handkerchief and gave it to her so she could wipe her eyes. Sansa looking up to him and he nodding to tell her that she'd not made a mess. As they walked back to the Great Hall he felt her steps slow and he stopped and looked down at her.
"We don't have to go inside if you don't want, we could go back to the Manse if that's your wish?.".
"No, I want to sit with my brother, will you sit with me?" she asked.
"Of course." he said and was glad to see her smile.
He saw her mother glare at him when he passed her and even more so when they walked to Jon's table. It only took a few minutes of them sitting there for Sansa's mood to improve and it did so, even more, when Jon walked them back to their own, Margaery's too when Jon sat down beside Sansa so they could all speak together.
Willas admired her resilience as he looked at her, her growth since she'd come to them was immense. The naïve young girl had always had a sense of fierceness about her but in the years since she'd been with them she'd grown and each time he looked at her, it amazed him. Now he found himself smiling as she did, Willas picturing the woman she would become and hoping he'd still be in her life when she did so.
Kings Landing 297 AC.
Robb.
His mother was happy to see him and was most pleasant to Wynafred, though they couldn't speak to her much at the feast itself. Robb had enjoyed it and when not speaking to Wynafred had listened as people spoke of his brother's win. The king, not the only one who'd been impressed with it, though those closest to Jon had been incredibly annoyed about the risk he'd taken.
Lord Wyman had been a mixture of both and Robb wasn't sure what to make of how he reacted. Wynafred more concerned with his safety than anything else and that had made their dances that much more special. But it was Sansa he'd been most concerned with and so he'd gone to the Tyrell's Manse early that morning to speak to her, that and to have her join him when he spoke to their mother.
"Lord Robb, what brings you here?" Lord Willas said as he was brought into the Manse.
"I came to speak to my sister, Lord Willas, is she here?".
"She is Lord Robb, you'll find her in the garden with Margaery. Though it's s poor substitute for the rose garden, it does at least make the smell of this city fade, even if only for a time." Lord Willas said as he led him in the direction of the garden.
"Jon says you breed the best horses in Westeros my lord, Winter she was one of yours was she not?".
"Aye, she was, though as fine a horseman as your brother is I think he helps as much as the horse does." Willas said "Ah here we are.".
Sansa was sitting with Margaery and some other girls and when she saw him she seemed a little confused that he'd come to visit.
"Robb?".
"Sansa, Lady Margaery, ladies." he said hoping he'd got his courtesies right.
"Lord Robb." Margaery said while the other girls looked at him curiously.
"Sansa, I was hoping we could speak." he said and his sister got up and walked over to him, leading him to a different part of the garden while Willas took her place beside his sister.
After she had led him a certain distance his sister stopped to look at him, her expression a mixture of curiousness and intrigue as she looked to him to explain his visit.
"Robb?".
"Sansa, last night, what happened?" he asked and she looked to the ground.
"With what?" she asked her voice soft and far quieter than usual.
"I don't know, you seemed upset Sansa, what happened? Sid someone do something, or say something to you?" he asked and he was stunned to see her smile and then hug him which he returned "Sansa?".
"It's nothing Robb." she said smiling at him though he could tell she was lying.
"Please Sansa, tell me." he said and she looked to the ground and then nodded.
"I spoke to mother, to try and make things right between us. No sooner than a moment of sitting down with her she spoke ill of Jon once again, said he used some trick to beat uncle Edmure in the melee.".
"The only trick he used out there was skill. I only saw some of the fight, but Edmure went after him with two people and Jon beat them all." Robb said with a laugh.
"I know, I told her that, pointed out how she's so quick to disparage Jon and challenge his honor and yet had no issue with uncle Edmure using two of his friends to go after him, but that wasn't the worst of it Robb." she said.
"What else did she say Sansa?" he asked trying his best to keep his voice even.
"She told me again how he wished to take Winterfell from you and how he was now going to use Prince Tommen to do so." Sansa said and he reached out and put his hand on her chin when she looked down to the ground, raising her head so she was looking at him.
"I'm sorry Sansa, perhaps when next you speak with mother, I should go with you?".
"I don't want to speak to her Robb, each time I do it turns into the same thing. A crazy tale of how Jon is plotting against us, of how he's not to be trusted. I just want to scream at her and tell her the truth and I know I cannot, I know she can't be trusted with it.".
"No she can't, will you come and see her with me today, both of us, let her bring up Jon again if she wishes, we'll be there together. Maybe we should even play along?.".
"Robb?".
"Let her think we've begun to see things her way and then get the full truth of what she thinks out in the open. Last night Wynafred and I spoke with her and she was most pleasant Sansa. I realize now that it was after you spoke to her, she was putting on a mummery with me. What if we find out just exactly what she feels, find out once and for all?.".
"You would do that?" Sansa asked surprised.
"Jon is pack Sansa, I think we have to know for sure whether mother is." he said and she hugged him once again.
"Thank you brother, thank you for listening to me." she said softly in his ear.
"Always Sansa.".
They walked back to where Margaery and the others were and Sansa told Margaery and Willas that she'd be joining him in going to visit there mother. Margaery saying she'd go to visit the orphanage alone.
"I didn't realize you had plans, we could go later?" he said when she told him.
"No, I think we should do this now, besides I told Margaery that perhaps she should go to the Manse and have Jon accompany her." Sansa said with a smile as they walked from the Manse.
Kings Landing 297 AC.
Margaery.
She had meant to ask Jon to come with her the night before, but they'd been so swept up in making up for their argument and in trying to do so without attracting too much attention, that she'd not gotten the chance too. This morning when she woke Margaery felt that perhaps she should just go herself. As she was breaking her fast though Sansa asked if she could join her and so she arranged it with her cousins and with Mira that they'd all go.
As with so many things though, just because you make plans it doesn't mean you get to carry them out. So just as with the previous night these plans too ended up changing, Robb coming along and Sansa agreeing to go with him to see her mother. Margaery felt a little put out until Sansa sat down beside her and began to whisper excitedly in her ear.
"Why not have Jon go with you, both of you had the idea and are the ones who see the supplies sent are you not?".
"Aye, I just, what if he has plans?".
"I'm sure he'll cancel them for you." Sansa said and Margaery could see her little smirk.
"Sansa." she said with a giggle.
"We both know who'd you'd rather spend the day with anyway, also I don't think Elinor, Megga or even Mira, actually wanted to go to the orphanage. I had heard them speak of going to see the knights practice for the jousts." Sansa said and Margaery found herself nodding, knowing that Megga certainly wished to go and see the knights.
So after Sansa and Robb had left, she told her cousins and went to speak to her grandmother. Willas walking with her as she sought her out. She found her reading a note which had her most distracted, her brother looking to her and their grandmother with some concern.
"Grandmother?" she asked and it took a moment for her to reply.
"What, oh sorry sweetling, I was just… What is it?".
"Is something wrong grandmother?" she asked.
"What, no, you were looking for me for something?" her grandmother asked.
"I was, Sansa and Robb have gone to see their mother and I've allowed Elinor, Megga and Mira go to watch the knights. I ehmm, I was going to go and see if Jon wished to join me when I visited the orphanages." she said and half expected her grandmother to tell her why she could not.
"Very well, you should bring Jon back here with you when you return Margaery, I find I've need to speak to him." her grandmother said and she found herself looking at her with intrigue.
"Are you sure there's nothing wrong, grandmother?".
"No sweetling, we'll talk later.".
Knowing her grandmother's mind at times to be thinking far ahead of her own, Margaery just accepted it, for now, more eager to see Jon and spend some time with him than to find out what it was that was her grandmother was thinking on. With the girls gone it also meant she didn't need such a large accompaniment of guards with her and so it would be three rather than the six or seven, she'd normally bring.
While the children at the orphanage had enjoyed her visits, Margaery had always found them wary of how the guards would look at her and how close they would get. With Jon with her, he'd either be by her side or would allow Ghost to act as her guard. Margaery remembering how the children had found the wolf far more tolerable than the guards the last time she'd gone with him.
"I think we shall walk." she said to her guards who looked at her oddly "The Lannister Manse is just up the street and we can ride from there if need be." she said and they nodded.
She had only just reached the gate when she remembered Jon's present and so she had them wait for her and rushed back inside to grab it. The small box still at the bottom of her chest where she'd left it. Unlike Flea Bottom or the main streets of the city, the gold cloaks patrolled here and kept the streets mainly clear of any beggars or children who were hungry.
It didn't stop some getting as close as they could get to the wealthiest residents and as Margery walked towards the Lannister Manse she noticed a few had snuck in. She walked over and reached into her purse, the coppers already in her hand ready to be handed out and as she turned she was almost knocked to the ground, the man racing off with her purse in his hands.
"Stop Thief." two of her guards said as they chased after him.
"Are you hurt milady?" Sam asked as he helped her up.
"No Sam, I'm well." she said with a soft smile which soon turned to horror, the sword that came through Sam's face splattering her with blood.
King's Landing 297 AC.
The Darkstar.
One of the advantages with no one really knowing you was that it allowed you to go unnoticed, at the feast he had and had learned much of his target. That she and Jon Snow were either in a relationship of some sort or wished to be in one, he'd divined early enough. Some things he picked up in random conversations about the Rose of Highgarden and some through more direct means.
Doran had also given him some things to work on, that the lady cared for the poor and downtrodden, and that she regularly visited Flea Bottom being amongst them. After leaving the brothel he had gone back to his rooms and began to plan things out, Flea Bottom being the likeliest place he felt. Given the reputation of the place, it could be made to look random although he may stick out a little too much, so he decided to go and look at it that morning.
As he strolled through it, it soon became clear that it was ill-suited to his purpose, the streets were too narrow and the escape route far too difficult. There was also the problem that even was he to change his appearance he'd still raise too much attention to himself. No, it needed to be elsewhere and so he walked to where the Manses were and looked around there trying to find a much better place for an ambush.
"Which way is the Tyrell Manse?" he asked a Gold Cloak who patrolled the streets.
"What business do you have with the Tyrells?" the Gold Cloak asked.
"I need to speak to Lord Willas about horses." he said and the man nodded and pointed the way.
It was soon pretty clear to him that he'd not be sneaking into the Manse itself, the place far too heavily guarded and when he saw the people leave and how many guards followed each of them, he began to think this may be an impossible task. He'd not be able to rush the guards, even a swordsman of his repute would struggle against five or six men. It was when he saw the children that he got his idea and hurriedly made his way back to Flea Bottom.
The pickpocket was easy to find and Gerold walked over to him eager to recruit him to his cause, the man looking ready to bolt the closer he got.
"I'm not here to cause you trouble friend. I bring you a proposition, a way to earn some real coin." he said holding up his purse.
"Doing what?" the man asked as he looked at the purse greedily but at him far more warily.
"Doing what you do so well, I have use for a specialist such as yourself, what you take in the purse, and what's in this one are yours to keep." he said with a smile.
"Both of them?" the man asked and Gerold nodded, throwing the purse to the man and seeing his eyes light up when he saw what was inside.
"Is the other as heavy as this one?".
"Maybe heavier, but you have to do it as I say and only when I give the nod.".
"Aye, I can do that." the scruffy man said and Gerold knew he'd need him to be bathed and changed and so he brought him to a tavern to see that done.
They arrived back at the Manse early enough, though he worried that he may have already missed her or that she may not leave this day The idea of hanging around too much with Karl the pickpocket not something he relished, the man seemed to think of them now as friends and was far too talkative.
"Me and you Ser, we could go into business for ourselves, make a pretty decent score in places like this." Karl said.
"Perhaps, do this job well and I'll consider it." Gerold said, he had no intention to but felt it best to keep Karl on his side for now.
"As you say Ser, the guards, will they chase?" Karl asked.
"They will at first, but they'll not chase you for long." Gerold said with a smirk.
Watching as a red-headed girl and boy left with their guards and two wolves, Gerold was glad to see that Margaery wasn't with them. The idea of facing men was one thing, looking at the size of the two beasts that walked beside the Stark siblings, facing them was not something he had any interest in. He sighed when he saw the large group which left next, eight guards and a group of ladies was far too big to handle, though he was relieved to see that Margaery was not among them.
When she did leave he couldn't believe his look, three, that was all she brought with her, for three he didn't even need the pickpocket's help. Still, when he saw her speak to the children he gave Karl the nod and almost broke out laughing when two of them chased after the man. Fucking amateurs he thought as he made his move, the guard they'd left behind was almost begging to be killed.
"Who are you?" Why?" Margaery asked as he pulled the sword from the man's face.
"I am of the night." he said with a smile as he raised his sword.
King's Landing 297 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He moved quickly as he dodged the strike, spinning back away and moving in again. Jaime's blade was moving faster than he had seen before and yet Jae was finding himself blocking it more and more. He could see the openings and yet they were just beyond him, just out of reach and so he didn't go for them. Waiting instead for ones more suited and easier to take advantage of.
He got the first hit in and then the second and as he went for the third he almost laughed at the trap he'd fallen into. Jaime smiling as he disarmed him and both of them breathing heavily once they were done. Moving over to the mugs he nodded to Arthur who took a seat beside them.
"I didn't see it." he said and Jaime nodded.
"Sometimes you have to appear weak when you're strong, Jon, lure your opponent in.".
"Aye. About the melee." he began and Jaime looked at him.
"What about it?" Jaime asked and he breathed deeply.
"Did it look as reckless as I think it did?".
"Aye, it did." Jaime said.
"It wasn't, I mean it was, but it wasn't, I had a plan, Jaime, all of it, I did plan it out." he said.
"Explain it to us Jon." Jaime said.
"With the Smalljon, I riled him up, made him angry." he began.
"What about Edmure?" Arthur asked.
"The man's a fool, you don't plan to beat a fool, you just beat him." he said with a laugh which he was happy to see them both join in with.
"Tarly?" Jaime asked.
"I saw an opportunity, had I beat him then that alone would bring me no gain, sure he may when he found out the truth respect me a little more, but he'd still be shamed he was beat by a bastard." he said taking a swallow of the water.
"So you sang?" Jaime said with a smile on his face.
"I used it Jaime, used who I am, both to throw him off his game and to bring him into ours.".
"That's why you took the helm off?" Arthur asked.
"I had intended to put it back on, but he needed to see my face." he said and Arthur nodded.
"Tarly is a loyalist Jaime, knowing that a son of Rhaegar lives, him being brought in helps us." Arthur said and Jae saw Jaime nod reluctantly.
"Olenna?" Jaime asked.
"I had Richard send her a note, I'll speak to her later today and tell her the full story." he said as Arthur looked to him.
"The giant, Jon?" Arthur asked.
"I made an error there, should have been beat, my blows weren't as effective as I hoped." he said and Jaime nodded.
"Thoros?" Jaime asked.
"What did it look like?" he asked.
"Like the flames on his sword got out of control." Jaime said shaking his head as if he was remembering it.
"The blood, the blood from this." Jae said reaching up to touch the wound "It dripped in and the flames grew. Melisandre told me there is power in King's Blood, mine most of all. I've seen it with the flames, the Glass Candles, even with the eggs, Fire and Blood is more than just words Jaime, Arthur, the truth was there always and we forgot it." he said and then reached up to his head again.
"Jon?".
"Ghost, where's Ghost?" he said and began to run, Jaime and Arthur running after him.
He almost crashed into the gate he was running so fast, his eyes closed as he searched for Ghost, the white wolf on the outer fringes of his mind.
"Pack." he felt the wolf say and he ran even faster, down the streets with Arthur, Jaime, Jors, and Walder all now running behind him.
He didn't know which direction he was going, whether it was the right one or why he turned here instead of there. All he knew was he was running faster than he had ever run before and he was running out of time. Jae saw him then in front of him, the white wolf nothing more than a blur and he moved even faster, rounding the corner he stopped in horror at the sight he saw.
Who the man was he had no idea, the body on the ground was unknown to him also, the woman the man had his sword ready to strike though was all too clear to him. The world seemed to slow, Ghost was too far away and even with his speed, Jae could tell he'd not make it in time. The sword was drawn back and readying its downward swing and even from this distance, he could tell the blow it would strike would be fatal.
He closed his eyes and was soon looking into hers, Margaery staring at him terrified, her tears falling from her eyes and his name on her lips. Whether it was because she saw him in the distance, saw Ghost, or just she expected it to be the last thing she would say, Jae wasn't sure. But as he held the sword high he didn't care, he'd stopped the movement and the pain he now felt in his arm meant nothing compared to the sound of the sword as it fell to the ground.
Jae blinked and then moved once again, racing over to her as the man rolled around on the ground, Ghost tearing his arm from its socket, and Jae shouting to Margaery to look at him. By the time he reached her the man's arm had been fully removed, Ghost closing his jaws around his neck and Jae grabbed her in his arms as she cried against his chest.
"It's alright, it's alright, I'm here, I'm here." he said over and over again.
"I..I.." she cried as he moved her away from the body of the man, Jaime and Arthur, and the others now arriving.
"I've got you Margaery, look at me, I've got you." he said and she looked at him and he held her as the Gold Cloaks and the crowds began to arrive.