Exile // Jory Cassel (1)

15. Watch and Burn

'Thank the gods you were here stark' Jaime said sitting alone in the throne room, 'it's about time we had some stern northern leader ship'

'Glad to see you are protecting throne,' Ned said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice

'Sturdy old thing. How many kings houses have posted it I wonder...' Jaime looked him over a smug look on his face. 'I heard there was trouble on the kings road.'

'Very handsome armor' Ned noted 'not a scratch on it.'

'well people have been swinging at me for years but they always seem to miss.' Jaime informed him.

'You've chosen your opponents wisely then.' ned remarked

'I have a knack for it,' Jaime assured him, the men stared each other down, assessing the other. 'it must be strange for you coming into this room...' Jaime noted 'standing right here where it went down, you're very brave your father too, he didn't deserve to die like that. Nobody deserves to die like that-'

'You just stood there and watched' Ned remembered.

"He picks his fights, weren't you listening brother?" Caro said coming up behind them. "He is a Lannister' they don't have bravery and courage like Stark's do." Jaime sneered back at the smug look on her face.

'500 men just stood there and watched' Jaime corrected 'all the great knights of the seven kingdoms and you think anyone said a word, lifted a finger? No one... 500 men and this room was silent as a crypt except for the screams of course. And the mad king laughing. And I watched the mad king die.' Jaime informed Ned. 'I remember him laughing as your father burned,' Jaime went on as Caro's jaw clenched. 'it felt like justice.'

'Is that what you tell yourself at night? You are a servant of justice, that you were avenging our father when you stabbed your sword in the Targaryen's back?'

'Tell me if I stab the mad king in the belly instead of the back would you like me more?' Jaime questioned with a smug grin.

'You served him well,' Ned told him 'when serving was safe.' Ned pushed past him, he had work to do. "Caro-'

"Girls are getting settled." Caro finished. "Sansa already adores it here-'

'And you hate every second of it." Ned finished for her.

"I would hate being at winterfell without you and Jory." Caro corrected. "And I love the girls-'

'But you miss the boys."

"You think Jon is alright?" Caro questioned.

"He has stark blood in him. He's a fighter." Ned assured as they got to the small council room but Caro grabbed his hand.

"Who is his mother?"

"One of these, I will tell you." Ned told her.

"Really?" Caro countered and Ned grinned kissing her cheek before heading inside.

++

'If that were a real sword you would be dead. Lord snow here grew up in the castles he looks down on the likes of you. Do you think Ned Starks bastard bleeds like the rest of us?' one of the Crows stepped forward to dual Jon but Jon got him down easily. He was surprised having only dueled against practice dummies in the courtyard never an actual person he was still quite good. He thought Carolina would be both proud and disappointed. Proud he was doing so well, disappointed that he was to be stuck with these types of people for the rest of his life.

'Next!' the commander shouted again and again Jon took down each man

'Next!' He said two men approached Jon knocked them both down. 'Well Lord snow it looks you are the least useless person here.'