Robert had been all grins ever since they had boarded the ship for the wedding at Dragonstone, looking almost as proud as if it were one of his own children he would see wed. But then Jon Arryn supposed that did make sense. For as little political manoeuvring Robert could be bothered with, this was one thing he had been the sole instigator of. He must be excited to finally see it all play out. Still, it was probably more than a little inappropriate of him to catch a boy he had not seen since infancy up in what looked like a bone-crushing hug, laughing and congratulating the young lord, showering him with more affection and attention within the span of a few moments than he usually afforded his own sons over the course of a moon's turn.
Jon's young namesake looked startled and ruffled and more than a little embarrassed, even as he did his best to return Robert's enthusiastic greeting. He looked a strong lad. Not especially tall, but then Ned had never been large either. He had the look of the North, though his hair and eyes were darker and his skin fairer than Ned's, more like Brandon or Benjen in looks, but still very much a Stark.
Robert finally extricated himself, and then made for the boy's father. Ned endured a hug much like the one their young Lord of Dragonstone had just received, though he stood as still and unforgiving as Winterfell itself in Robert's arms. Jon felt a stab of disappointment that rather than heal old wounds, the time his wards had spent apart seemed to have only widened the rift between them, at least on Ned's side. Still, they would all be here for a further sennight. Perhaps proximity might soften what distance had not. Or perhaps the tension he could feel pressing down on him would come to a head.
It did, sooner than he had expected and not between any two people he might have predicted, though he supposed he should have. "Arthur, please." There was a pleading note to Jaime Lannister's voice, as if the past however many years had been stripped away and he was once more the young boy who had been so proud of his white cloak, and earlier yet, so proud to have been knighted by the very man he was now facing. "All I did was ask you to spar with me."
"And all I did was turn you down," Arthur Dayne responded. "I only spar with people I feel some measure of trust towards these days, Lannister. I prefer not to be stabbed in the back."
Ser Jaime gritted his jaw, and Jon could not help the sense of trepidation that came over him. He should step in, break this up somehow, but neither knight had so much as noticed him, and this verbal scuffle was really more private than he was comfortable with. Part of him wanted to leave them to it, but someone should be there to step in.
"You think you are less of an oathbreaker than I am?" Ser Jaime asked. "The Kingsguard is for life. You left it, and you left your brothers, and--"
"Maybe I would have stayed," Dayne said. "Had I thought there was any honour left in the Kingsguard at all. Instead you have Selmy, who bent the knee while his king and Prince Aegon still lived. And you, Kingslayer. You showed the world that no amount of oaths could make you less a Lion. The House I swore to was gone. The Order I was part of was as good
as dead." A bitter smile played about his handsome face. "I hope and pray that the next boy I knight will be worthy of it."
Ser Jaime scoffed, although Jon saw the flash of naked hurt in his eyes before he hid it away. "The Tyrell boy?" he asked. "I have known him for less than a day and even I am aware of the fact that he would take his sister's place in the marriage bed in a few days given half a chance."
"He would not," Dayne said. "Loras has enough honour to know that just because you wish for something, it does not give you the right to reach out and take it. I have known many grown men who might do well to learn the same."
Ser Jaime's face twisted. "You knew Aerys as well as I did," he said. "You know what kind of man he was, the kinds of things he did. You may not have been there for what he did to the Starks, but do not tell me you could have heard of that and still wished to serve him. You knew what he did to the Queen, for years and years and years. Well, I had ignored the knightly oath I swore long enough. I could not stand by and watch him burn down the entire city and every soul within it. If you think you could have, you are less than the man I believed you to be."
Dayne narrowed his eyes. "Aerys was not the only person you were meant to protect," he said. "Tell me, what did Rhaenys and Aegon do to deserve your negligence? Or did you not sit on the Throne, waiting for your father to arrive, while Lannister bannermen slaughtered the babes and their mother?"
Ser Jaime turned on his heel and walked away, his white cloak snapping out behind him. Jon decided, hopefully prudently, to make himself scarce as well.
--------------------
Patreon Advance Chapters: patreon . com / HPDreamer
20% off on patreon. 2 days left!