Preface -Growing Up

Young Jacob Baratheon had become older brother to Shireen, who was a sweet little girl, who was cursed the greyscale; it didn't matter to him, because he loved his little sister no matter what the lords and ladies whispered about her.

Jacob was close to his father Stannis, as he had the Baratheon colouring of the midnight black hair and the sapphire blue eyes, with nothing of the features from House Florent.

His father would teach him all the lessons he needed, in order to learn how to be a competent lord and an honourable man.

The young man had sort out companionship from his grey stallion named Misty, as it was a gift from his Uncle Robert on his eighth nameday. The horse had always had been a friend in the young boy's life, as Shireen loved the horse also, it made Jacob feel happy to know he made his little sister smile.

When it had been time for young Jacob to foster with another highborn lord, to his father's misfortunate his King Uncle sent him away to Highgarden to foster with the Tyrells in order for his uncle to pacify relations with the Reach, much to the fury of his mother and father.

His mother's house; the Florents were livid at such a proclamation, due to the fact they thought they had more rights to the seat of Highgarden because of their ancient blood ties to House Gardener, and they didn't want the Tyrells to poison Jacob's young mind with their schemes and plots.

Jacob found his mother's side of the family to be strange people, who were always unhappy and something to gripe about, but he was close to his mother Selyse in terms of being able to comfort her through the sadness of the unfortunate stillborns and miscarriages.

The young man noticed his father Stannis's silent contempt for his Uncle Robert, but he was King and he had to do his duty and let his only son be fostered to earn his knighthood through doing his duties and bring honour to his house.

When Jacob had travelled to Highgarden, he was amazed by how fertile, luscious the lands of the Reach were, and how prosperous the region has been throughout the centuries and it was the heart of the South.

At first, the young man was frightened, at the prospect of being so far away from home and in the region, of a great house, whom his father called Lannisters with roses. Jacob knew this could be where he makes his own name, other than being his father's son.

The immediate members of House Tyrell made his fostering pleasant; as Jacob got to keep company with Willas, Garlan, Margaery and their extended cousins in Highgarden, having many other friends in the Reach, despite being his father's son.

Jacob had the opportunity to take his lessons with Maester Lomys along with the main Tyrell children, as he excelled in History, Geographics, and Numbers, trained in various songs and learned all his history of the Seven Kingdoms.

The young boy excelled in his swordplay, as he was deadly with a blade from his training at Horn Hill, he also learned how to sail from his visits to Oldtown.

In some moments, Jacob would always hide away in the Tyrell library with his nose stuck in a book, as he focused more on scholarly studies and learning about politics and war strategy from the old ages ago.

Jacob would studying alongside his comely friend Willas. Jacob developed closeness with the crippled heir to Highgarden, as Jacob strived to be knowledgeable and improve his mind, and not be like the fools of his mother's house.

Grown into Manhood:

Years later, Jacob had grown to be a gruff and unfriendly to some people of the Reach, but a few selected individuals, who were smart enough not to perpetrate their own stupidity and foolishness.

He had become a man of five and ten with longish, midnight black hair to his shoulders, tied in a simple ponytail, his sapphire blue eyes reflected the stillness in his gaze towards those whom look upon him. The young man quite tall with his slender, strong build, due to him being good with a sword and a fluid warrior.

Jacob had grown into a well-rounded young man, under the tutelage of the Tyrells; he had learned his courtesies and manners from Lady Alerie and had learned how to play cyvasse with Lord Mace, who was eager to please his Uncle Robert, as he made Jacob's stay in Highgarden very welcoming.

The young man knew of the great game, the game the highborn of great houses in the Seven Kingdoms play. The game of thrones was a play for alliances, power, wealth and the Iron Throne.

For Jacob, it was like cyvasse, but with more players, than the limited set of cyvasse pieces. And the stakes were higher.

The young man had learned the importance of the game, learning from Lady Olenna Tyrell, Lord Mace's mother during his stay in Highgarden and his revisits. The woman had given him wise council and taught him the real truths behind why the high lords play this game.

Jacob understood what it took to move up the game board, even if there was betrayal, bloodshed and family bonds to consider when playing the game.

At times, he was hesitant in being sent to court, as it was the cesspool of corruption and deceit in the Seven Kingdoms, but his uncle was king and his cousins were the royal children, so it was important for him to visit sometimes.

Jacob often clashed with his cousin Joffrey, who in all accounts was a spoiled, weak and pompous boy, who was going to be the future King of the Seven Kingdoms.

"Gods help us when that fool ascends the throne." Jacob had thought in his mind, "He is still young, but a young mind can be easily manipulated."

Jacob thought he was destined for more than just being a high lord; maybe there was something else in his future which could make him a powerful player in the game of thrones.