Chapter 11: Man O'Tails

2nd Month of 298 A.C. Winterfell

Jon

The royal party had arrived the day before last, and if Jon was being honest with himself, he was somewhat disappointed with what he had seen. The king, the man his uncle had talked about a lot was not the man of war, Robert Baratheon was no longer the warrior king of old, and instead it seemed there was just a fat old man in his place. A man who seemed to ooze sadness, Jon had watched the king from his place behind the family-something he had not been happy with- and had seen the sadness and the longing when the king had gazed on Arya, it seemed as though he had seen a ghost. It unnerved him, slightly, seeing this grown man looking at his cousin like that, now that was something that unnerved him and seemed truly wrong. The Queen, well the queen seemed cold, very cold, nothing in her appearance suggested that there was any warmth within her, and Jon knew the reason why, the words of a long ago prophecy echoed in his head when he looked at her and he knew her heart. And then there was the crown prince. Joffrey Baratheon, black of hair, it seemed the prince was something that a Prince was supposed to be, handsome, tall, but there was something there, something that Jon did not like. Perhaps it was the way Sansa looked at the prince, and the way the prince looked at Sansa, but Jon did not like it. As for Princess Myrcella, she was very beautiful, without any of the coldness her mother possessed. Prince Tommen, well he was just there, an extra within the royal family nothing more nothing less.

The feast, the feast had been torture for him, having to sit through the platitudes that were exchanged the meaningless platitudes and the emptiness within the words. Watching Sansa fawn over the crown prince that had needled him as well. What did she see in him? Why was she being so different? What did this prince have that he did not? These thoughts had plagued him, they really had plagued him throughout the meal, his old fears had come crawling back then, and he had left the hall, he could not stand to spend another moment there, looking at the two of them. And so he had moved toward the practice yard, Ghost in tow, the practice yard was the one place where he could vent his anger and frustration out without risking offending anyone. He had hit the dummy that had been set up there for a long time, so long in fact, that the feast had begun winding down, at least that was how it sounded when Ser Jaime Lannister had come before him. Ser Jaime Lannister, otherwise known as the Kingslayer, looked like everything a king should be, strong, tall, handsome, witty, a warrior, nothing like the fat man who was his uncle's friend. He and the knight had spoken for a long time, many things had been discussed, the best fighting technique, the best fighters in the realm, wars, battles, Kingsguard histories. Ser Jaime had looked at the shadow who always accompanied Jon with some familiarity and Jon had worried then that the man knew something, knew who the great man in the shadow was. But then, the knight had looked at him and merely said. "Till next time my prince." Jon had not known what to say to that, had wanted to say he was not a prince, but there was something in him that could sense the truth in what the Kingslayer said. And then aunt Catelyn had come, and they had settled things.

The feast had passed in relative silence for Jon then, and he could not honestly remember the last part of it, he knew Sansa had danced with the prince, and there had been a lot of talking of betrothals and such, but he had not paid any real attention. And now, well now the feast was over, and the cold dawn had settled over the north and over Winterfell. Jon found himself with his friends, Robb was off playing host with the prince, and Jon had been tasked with ensuring their friends remained sane. He looks at them all and then asks. "What do you all make of the prince?"

Domeric responds then instantly. "He seems to be nice, but there is something about him that just screams he wants attention."

Jon laughs then. "Was it that obvious to you Dom?"

"It was obvious to all of us. The Prince is trying far too hard to be liked. The way he was talking during the feast, it was obvious he was grasping for things to say. It was somewhat endearing." Eddard Karstark says.

"I did not know princes could be endearing." Beron Mormont says. "I thought he seemed too southern. His father is a great warrior and yet he displays more interest in the finer things. I was surprised Robb agreed to take him on a tour of winter town."

"Well I'm not sure he had a choice in the matter really Beron." Jon responds. "After all if the crown prince asks for something, more than likely he will get it."

"And what did you make of him Jon?" Torrhen Karstark asks. "I saw you leaving the hall somewhat earlier than I thought you would during the feast."

Jon holds his tongue for a moment and then says. "Well, I think he is nice, but there is something there about him, something that might not make much sense to me now, but I think will do so later."

"What makes you say that Jon?" Smalljon Umber asks.

"Is it because of one of your dreams? Have you seen something?" his cousin Torrhen asks.

Jon sighs then and shakes his head. "Would that it were a vision, but there is something about him, something that seems as if there is more to come. I am not sure why, but I get the feeling that he is hiding something."

There is a long silence then, as they all consider this and then Beron speaks. "I overheard Martyn Cassel speaking with Maester Luwin earlier today. It seems that they were all surprised that the prince asked for a tour of Wintertown. From what they had learned, the prince had been complaining on the way here."

"Complaining? Complaining about what?" Jon asks.

"I am not sure but it would seem that there are things that are going on within the king's party that Lord Stark does not completely agree with." Beron says.

Jon looks at Beron and thinks on this, he remembers seeing a lady emerge from within the main hall and sit on the king's lap, and he remembers seeing one or two children running around the hall with Arya and Rickon. "Was it per chance to do with the king's mistress?"

Beron thinks for a moment and then says. "Yes, I think it was. I think they were talking about how the king's mistress was making demands that they were unsure how to deal with them. What with the Queen being there and all."

"I do not understand why the king had to bring his mistress here with him. Could he not spend a moment away from her?" his cousin asks.

"Most likely not, I mean, have you seen her, she looks very beautiful!" Smalljon responds.

"If I were the king, I'd get rid of the Queen and make my mistress my new wife. Could you imagine waking up with that beauty there?" Theon japes.

"So you'd remove a Lannister, only to replace her with another Lannister? I don't understand you Greyjoy, why would you want another lion sleeping in your bed?" Jon asks.

"Because lionesses are feisty in the bedroom so I have heard, and besides, it fires the blood does it not? Then again, I wouldn't expect you to know about firing one's blood Jon, considering your near abstention from anything fun." Theon retorts.

Jon looks at the Greyjoy heir and thinks on this for a moment, and then he replies. "Have you recovered from that pox Ros gave you Theon? I heard it was quite vile, and that Wylla didn't want to be anywhere near you, for a fair few days afterwards. Is that why you've been so nasty as of late?"

Their friends burst out laughing then, and Jon sees Theon pale significantly. Before he can respond though, Smalljon speaks once more. "What do you think the king will ask of Lord Stark, Jon? He's gotten Lord Stark to be named as hand, but what more could he want?"

Jon looks at his friend and hesitates for a moment. "I am not sure, I think there might be a marriage offering to be made soon enough. If the way they were talking during the feast is any indication, and it might well be made quite soon." The thought of this hurts him more than he is willing to admit, and yet he keeps his face straight for the time being.

"Whom do you think it would be that the king asks for? Sansa or Arya?" Torrhen Karstark asks.

Karstark's brother responds then. "I don't know, considering how the king was looking at Arya, he might go for her, to try and relive his own betrothal through his son. Though from the way the prince was acting with Sansa, it is very possible that that might be the betrothal that is announced."

Jon tries to keep his facial expression very neutral, he is not quite sure how he feels about Sansa, but he knows he would not be happy if she were to marry Joffrey. "Or maybe he is not going to ask for anyone for his sons. I mean, Robb cannot get married to Princess Myrcella now obviously, but perhaps there is another union he means to see." Jon says.

Domeric looks at him then his expression curious. "You think he means to see Princess Myrcella married to Brandon?"

"Why not?" Jon responds. "It would make sense, or he might mean to see one of Lord Stark's sons fostered in the south with his own sons. Whatever it is, I do not think we should merely limit to marriage."

"You would say that wouldn't you Jon." Theon says teasingly.

"What do you mean by that Greyjoy?" Jon asks warily.

"I do think that you have the feelings for Sansa, it seems quite obvious when you think about it, and as such you would do whatever it takes to prevent her from being married to anyone else, even if that made her happy." Theon responds.

Jon feels his stomach tighten then. "And how you do know what makes her happy? Does she tell you of such things?"

"I know how to read you both. You're both very easy to read. You're afraid that she might have grown bored with you, and so are desperately trying to think of ways to prevent the inevitable. She is beautiful, and she is charming and smart, everything one could hope for in a future Queen, and you, well you are nothing more than a landless bastard. How could one ever think to see you two married?" Theon replies.

Jon feels as if the ground beneath him is going to swallow him whole. Before he can respond, Smalljon is speaking. "Oh come off it Greyjoy. I am sure whatever Jon feels for Sansa, it is nothing more than brotherly affection. After all they were raised together. Is that not right Jon?"

Jon is not really paying attention to the conversation anymore, but merely says. "Yes, yes you are right Jon."

"You see, Theon, you are reading too much into a situation that is not really there." Smalljon responds.

Greyjoy snorts. "Of course Jon will deny it, he doesn't want to make things awkward within Winterfell."

Before Jon can respond, there is a knock on the door and Martyn Cassel, his father's trusted lieutenant opens the door and looking at him says. "Jon, would you come with me please? Lord Stark and Lord Benjen wish to speak with you."

Jon looks at the man, and then sighing stands up, and walks out with the man, his shadow follows him as well, as always. They walk in silence for a time, and then they come toward a room that Jon has only ever been in once, when he was a child, a young child, and being in this room now, it makes him nervous. "Sit down Jon." his uncle says. Jon sits down in the chair in front of his uncles, Martyn closes the door behind him.

Jon looks at his uncles, and senses something akin to tension filling the room he is not sure why, but he remains silent until Lord Eddard speaks. "You looked worried son, there is no need to be. You are not in trouble. I merely wished to speak with you."

Jon nods and then asks. "What about my lord?"

There is a long silence and then Lord Eddard asks. "Have you felt anything coming from your eggs in recent time? I know you did when you were a child, but have you felt any movement from them recently?"

Jon considers this question, it is an odd one, but he knows somewhat, or at least he thinks he knows why his uncle is asking him this question. "I have felt some movement yes. There was a sense of warmth in my room after we found the direwolves, and there was also a feeling of coldness when the royal party came."

"Coldness?" Uncle Benjen asks. "What sort of coldness?"

"I am not sure, but there was something that felt like ice on the egg, and it seemed as though there was something moving toward it. I saw something when I touched it and it frightened me." Jon says.

"What did you see?" his uncle Benjen asks.

"I am not sure, but there were men and women walking with deadness in their eyes, and a storm was brewing. They were walking towards a great bear with something akin to a crown on his shoulder, fighting off their resistance and crushing it beneath their weight." Jon says, the memory haunting him. Jon sees his uncles looking at one another, and he wonders at it.

Eventually Lord Eddard says. "Come with me Jon, there is something I must show you." His uncle stands, and walks out of the room, Jon looks at his uncle Benjen who merely nods, and walks after Lord Eddard, Jon stands then and walks out after them, Ghost and his shadow following. They walk in silence for some time, a silence that Jon feels is natural as well as it is forced, it does something to his nerves, it begins playing on them, old words begin forcing themselves into his head, and he is not sure he knows why, but then something else comes back to him, a bloody hand and a broken man wandering the world. It terrifies him, and then they come to the godswood, and Jon expects them to stop there, and yet they do not, they continue walking, on and on, until they come to a cave. Jon expects them to stop there, but they continue walking through the cave, Jon feels something grow within him, he knows this place, he has been here before, but he is not sure how. He is not sure why he has been here, or how he has been here but he has been here before. Eventually his uncle stops and turns to look at him. "You must be wondering why we are here." Jon nods and his uncle goes on. "When you were a babe, I came here with your uncle Benjen and I saw the egg that rested in your cradle and remains in your person to this day. It was here I learned something once ten years ago."

"What did you learn uncle?" Jon asks, he wonders if he knows just what is going on here, but he is not sure.

"I learned why the rebellion happened the way it did. I learned why Brandon and Lyanna had to die. And I learned the role my father had played in it long ago." Lord Eddard says.

"I am not sure I understand, what does this have to do with me?" Jon asks.

His uncle takes a deep breath and then says. "I know you spoke with Ser Jaime Jon that was not by mistake. I knew what would happen when the royal feast began, and I knew someone would need to find you, to make sure you did not do something you would regret."

"What do you mean do something I would regret? What does this have to do with the rebellion?" Jon asks.

"Look at the things before you Jon, tell me what you see." his uncle says.

Jon looks at the things before him, he sees snow, and ice, and then somewhere in the distance he sees it, the thing that had been haunting his dreams from the time he was old enough to dream. He moves toward it then as if in a trance, he moves toward and then he grasps its handle. He looks at his uncle and asks. "How is this here? I thought it was lost years ago."

"It is one of the many secrets of our family. See if you can lift it Jon." his uncle responds.

Jon puts both his hands on the hilt of the sword, and pulls, he sways backward but manages to righten himself, and holds the sword aloft, he feels something crackle through him then, it feels right, it feels right to hold this sword. "Why?" he asks looking at his uncle.

"Because you are old enough now to know the burden of adulthood and leadership. Welcome to the real world my prince, and welcome to the world of war." his uncle responds before getting down on one knee and bowing his head before Jon.