Chapter 4: Welcome to the Rock

They king's retinue moved slowly away from the castle, Jaime had placed his own entourage at the rear to allow Jon to say his farewells to his home, he watched as he slowly rode towards him, the expression on his face surprised him, he had thought the boy would be sad, sullen even but as he looked at him he could see excitement in his features, it was an altogether different Jon than the one he'd encountered earlier that day.

Earlier that day.

Jon and Robb had said their goodbyes, tears shared between them but both swore to write and Jon promised to return as soon as he was able, they hugged and Jon went to say goodbye to the rest of his siblings. He walked to the nursery where little Arya would hopefully be awake, he wanted to look into her eyes as he said goodbye rather than say the words to a sleeping baby, luckily for him Arya was an active baby, she'd grow to be a wild little wolf he thought as he approached the crib.

"Hello little one"

"it's your big brother Jon"

"I love you little sister, so much"

"Please don't forget me, I won't forget you"

He looked at the babe with tears in his eyes, young as he was he knew it was hopeless, the chance that she'd remember him was pretty much nought, he doubted even that his name would be spoken if Lady Catelyn got her way, he almost ran from the nursery, his emotions getting the better of him/

Sansa was as usual by her mother's side with Septa Mordane hovering in the background like she always did, Jon nervously approached, the scowl on Lady Catelyn's face easy to read as always, he didn't even need to look at her to know she wore that scowl, she always did when he was around.

"What do you want boy"

"I… ehmm"

"I came to say goodbye to my sister"

Catelyn glared at him, pulling Sansa tighter to her.

"Do it and Begone"

He approached as closely as he dared and looked down at the little red haired angel that was his sister, she smiled at him and then frowned, he noticed that her mother had almost yanked her back when she saw the smile on her face"

"Sansa, I came to say goodbye"

"No, you stay"

"I can't Sansa. I'm going to be a knight"

"I'm gonna miss you sister"

He watched as the little girl nodded before running over to give him a hug, tears filling his eyes as she gripped him tightly. Before he could even begin to let go though Lady Catelyn was pulling her daughter from his arms, her face a mixture of hate and disgust that Jon knew only too well.

"Very well boy, you've said your goodbyes, now go" she turned with Sansa in her arms and walked back to the Septa, both women looking satisfied that the bastard would no longer be around to corrupt her precious children. He left the room as quickly as he could without running from it, heading straight to the one place he could be alone and not be bothered, the crypts. It was there later that Jaime found him, crying as he sat in front of the statue of his aunt.

Jaime shook his head clearing the memory as he turned to see Jon looking back at the castle with a last look.

"Come Jon, the rock awaits and we have a long way ahead of us"

Jon Smiled at him before they began to ride away, he was excited for the adventure to come, for the new places he would see, he had never even left Winterfell and now not only was he travelling through the north but he'd actually be leaving it.

A few weeks later.

They weeks had flown in, he'd seen places he'd only ever heard about in conversations around Winterfell. They had followed the kings road and stopped for a night at castle Cerwyn, it was there they and the king's retinue had parted ways as Jaime said they moved to slow for him, although Jon got the feeling that he really just didn't like the king.

The Cerwyn's had thrown a feast to celebrate having the king in their castle and as usual the king had enjoyed himself to the fullest, Jon sat at the back surprised that Jaime sat with him rather than at the high table with the king, although given how the king behaved it shouldn't have been that surprising.

"You boy, the king wishes to speak to you" the stern Meryn Trant said as he tugged on his shoulder/

"What does he want" Jaime asked annoyed by the presence of his former brother.

"He wants to speak to the bastard, Kingslayer"

Jaime had looked ready to split the man open, but Jon just nodded and walked with him to the high table not wanting to cause anymore of a scene than the man had already, he looked around and could see the eyes of most in the hall were upon him, it made him uncomfortable but as he reached the table he stood as straight as he dared.

"Ah let me get a look at you boy"

"Aye, your Ned's bastard all right, off to be a knight are ya"

"Eh, hopefully your grace"

"Kingslayer, where are ya get up here"

Jaime left his seat and reluctantly walked to the front of the hall, a small part of him had worried that the king might recognize someone other than Stark in the boy, but the king saw what he wanted to and besides the way he was eyeing the bosom of the serving girl, probably had his mind on other thing.

"Yes, your grace"

"So gonna make a knight out of Ned's boy are you, Kingslayer"

"Undoubtedly, your grace, the boy is talented"

"Just like his father then"

"Indeed, your grace, very much so"

"Boy, did you know your father slew Ser Arthur Dayne, killed the damn sword of the morning in single combat, by the gods what I'd have given to see that fight"

Jaime grimaced at the kings words, there was no way in hell Stark could defeat Arthur, not in single combat, not with numbers on his side, how it had happened he didn't know but there had to be trickery or underhandedness involved, although given Ned Starks precious honor he wasn't sure how that could be.

"You'll be just as good. No doubt won't ya boy"

"I. hope so your grace"

"Humble just like your old man, a fine knight you'll be"

The rest of the night passed quickly and they had moved on the next morning, they had seen the might Moat Cailin and despite it being in disrepair Jon could see why no one had ever taken the fortress, they passed through the neck and Jon was delighted to see lizard lions swimming in the swamp, although he had made sure not to get to close, he liked his fingers too much.

Their travels had gone smoothly and Jaime had taken the time to speak to him and spar with him, he called him his page but most of his duties seemed to be those of a squire, although the armor was too heavy and hard to lift, he still did his best and kept it clean, enjoying the words of praise he received from Jaime for doing so, his favorite times though were the stories Jaime would tell after they'd finished sparring.

"Ser Arthur faced down the smiling knight, their two swords moving faster and faster, and then with a loud crash the smiling knights sword broke, Arthur chivalrous as ever paused the fight and allowed him to pick up another sword"

"It's you sword I want Ser Arthur" the smiling knight said pointing ad dawn.

"Then you shall have it, Ser" Arthur replied.

"The two blades clashed again and again, the knight was skilled but Arthur, Arthur was an artist, the finest swordsman I've ever seen, perhaps the greatest ever. It was inevitable he would win and win he did, slaying the smiling knight and bringing to an end the Kingswood brotherhood"

"He knighted you didn't my lord"

"Aye, that he did Jon. Proudest day of my life was being knighted by the sword of the morning, the finest knight, the finest man I ever knew".

Jaime told Jon more stories as they traveled, he told him of Ser Barristan defeating Maelys the monstrous ending the Blackfyre line, he told him of the rogue prince jumping from his dragon Caraxes to slay Aemond above the God's eye, but it was the tales of Aemon the dragon knight that caught Jon's attention the most, a true knight and kings guard.

Things continued along in this vein as they passed through the twins, Jon shuddered as remembered Jaime dealing with Walder Frey and the toll they had to pay to pass, finally they reached Seagard where they would take a ship to Lannisport, The Mallister's were surprisingly welcome considering they were Tully banner men and he was the bane of their liege lord's daughter's life.

"My lord, why are we taking a ship" he asked as they waited in a tavern near the docks.

"I've been away too long and it'll be moons more if we travel overland, from here though a ship will have us in Lannisport within the moon and it's just a short ride to the rock from there"

"What's the rock light my lord"

"Ah, how to explain it, its unlike any castle in Westeros and I've missed it more than I thought I had, but as for the rest my boy, well your going to have to wait until we get there, wouldn't want to ruin the surprise now would I", he smirked as Jon frowned at him, he ruffled his hair forcing a smile and then nudged his shoulder nearly forcing him to fall to finally get a laugh from him.

The time spent on the ship was something he wished he could forget, he wasn't built for sea travel and Jaime took great pleasure in doing his best to rub it in, although given how sick he got he stopped after a while and became concerned for him. It was different for Jon to have someone look after him and worry as much as Jaime did, he brought the cold water and towels to place on Jon's head himself and even though Jon really didn't want to eat, Jaime made sure he got some food in his stomach every day.

When they eventually reached Lannisport he could almost have kissed the ground, he resolved to never set foot on a ship again if he could help it, but knew that it was likely to be necessary some time. Lannisport was incredible to see, especially for a boy who thought Wintertown was large, the streets were paved and the amount of people was mind blowing, as he walked with Jaime they were often forced to stop as people addressed the new shield of Lannisport, just one of the many titles Jaime now held.

"Good afternoon my Lord"

"Pleased to see you my Lord"

"Best of health to you Ser Jaime, I mean my Lord"

Jaime nodded and smiled where appropriate but just like he could see the frown on Jon's face he too was tired of the delays that these niceties caused, he was happy when they finally reached the escort that his uncle Kevan had sent, even more pleased to see Ser Addam was there but even more pleased to see his uncle Gerion leading it.

"Finally, the lion returns" his uncle said his usual sarcasm evident.

"Aye, looks like I came just in time uncle, why your looking positively dreadful"

"Little Joy has been unwell"

"I'm sorry to hear it uncle"

"Well never mind it's good to have you back, my lord"

He shook his head as his uncle grabbed him in an embrace, if even Gerion was being formal this was going to be a nightmare, he turned to Jon who was standing there quietly taking it all in, looking around at the strange city and stranger people, well Gerion was strange, Addam not so much, he looked overawed.

"Uncle, may I introduce my new page and soon to be squire"

"Ah so that's who the lad is, been wondering that since I got here, has the look of a northerner, what's your name lad" Gerion asked as Jon stepped forward.

"Jon Snow my lord."

"Well young master snow, don't let this one over work you" he bent down to whisper in his ear "He wasn't a very good page himself you know, don't let him fool ya" he laughed as he patted the boy on the shoulder.

"Well shall we, your brother is waiting as are your uncle and aunt, be aware though the new lord of Casterly Rock needs to be presented so it'll be a bit of palaver, never let it be said we Lannister's are subtle or unassuming" his uncle said before laughing loudly.

"Now where the hell did I leave my damn horse"

Jaime smiled, It was good to be back, good to see his uncle again, if there was one thing he knew with Gerion around things wouldn't be dull,. They walked to their horses and began the trek to Casterly Rock he was pleased to see Addam talking to Jon who looked enraptured listening to him, god knows what tales he'd tell the boy but still it was nice of his to take the time.

"That's Ned Stark's bastard isn't it"

"Aye, it is uncle"

"How in the hell did you get Ned Stark to let you take his bastard as a page, actually scratch that, why in the hell did you take him as a page, actually never mind, I don't want to know, just tell me this how are you going to explain it to Kevan and the lords that you have a bastard as a page"

"I'm the warden of the west uncle, my day's explaining are over"

Finally they crested the small hill where he knew they see the castle for the first time, he motioned to Addam to send Jon over, as the boy rode towards him he smiled, this is it, this is where it begins, this is where he fulfills his promise and god help anyone who tried to stop him., As Jon made it to his side he slowed his horse so they rode together over the hill, as they did he looked down and pointed in front of him to get Jon's attention.

"Welcome to the Rock" he said as the castle came into view.