Rivers of Fire and Blood

Jon XIV

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Ice and Fire Novels, Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon TV shows. However, I decided to have a little play around with the characters. I do not earn any money from writing these stories, it is for my entertainment and is something I like to share.

Jon had spent the last day playing with Sam's two boys and fetching food and water for Sansa and Brienne. He had to admit he wasn't overly happy about the situation, although he wasn't the most selfish of people, he had wanted just two days for him and Sansa to have some privacy and time alone, where they could be a normal couple before being transported into a whirlwind of discovery and subterfuge. For the latter, his best hope was Tyrion Lannister, which in itself seemed like the potential to be a huge mistake, however Tyrion had developed a soft spot for Ranny, who was completely loyal to Jon and that, Jon hoped would mean Tyrion would also stay loyal to him. If Tyrion stayed loyal, then Jon and Sansa had employed one of the best to help him wit whatever was to come, although he knew in his heart of hearts, he couldn't avoid the Iron Throne, he had simply been putting it off. The only two people who would have been better at deception than Tyrion were Littlefinger and Varys, the first being a hideous snake, the second was a person who often did bad things for the right reasons, so he somewhat understood him.

The man he had spent the last day with, who had helped to occupy the children was a man called Rodden. Jon wanted to know his backstory, but for a change, he wasn't prepared to pry until the babe was born and Brienne was present. She would know much of his story, or at least be able to corroborate some of it. The fact Brienne and Gilly were happy to allow the children to be looked after by him, suggested they had faith in him, but Jon wasn't a trusting person, not anymore. Once upon a time he would have taken Ser Rodden at face value, but he had since met some less savoury characters who hid behind a mask of charm and trustworthiness, Jon wasn't going to fall for any more mistakes. Therefore, he had kept the conversation light and tried to dedicate it towards keeping the children occupied. When the cry of a baby was heard next door, Jon felt a weight had been lifted, although he didn't know if Gilly was alright or not, which was the next worry.

"Can I see mummy?" Little Sam asked.

"We just need to wait a bit. The need to make sure your new brother or sister is alright." he reassured them. However he began to feel nervous himself as time began to tick by, or so it seemed. Then finally the door opened, Brienne and Sansa entered the solar and beckoned for the two boys to join their parents.

Once the two boys were inside the bedroom with their parents, Sansa closed the door behind her and turned towards Ser Rodden. "What is a Silverwing?" she demanded. "I want to know everything."

"A Silverwing?" Jon frowned.

"I'm assuming you know?" Sansa said to Ser Rodden, who nodded his head. Sansa turned to Brienne. "And you?" she asked.

"I know what I've been told, but Ser Rodden knows more." she said.

"Are you a Silverwing?" Jon asked.

"Was." Ser Rodden corrected him, Jon laughed.

"Once upon a time, I was a man of the Night's Watch. I joined a band of Wildlings, integrated myself, even told them secrets that only a man who had double crossed the Watch would have told them. I even broke my vow of chastity and fell in love with one of the women. But at the end of the day, I was still a man of the Night's Watch. I didn't betray my brothers, I double crossed the Freefolk instead. I was pretending to be one of them. Even my love for the wildling woman wasn't enough for me to truly make me one of theirs. I was always loyal to the Watch. I just had to do things against it for the greater good, or so I thought at the time. I can't ask you to prove you are no longer a Silverwing, or whatever that is, so I think you best explain what a Silverwing is. Just remember, I want the truth, if you betray us, I have two young dragons here and a large one outside." he threatened, although Jon hated using Drogon. However, as if on cue, Drogon circled around outside and breathed out a stream of fire, as if to remind Ser Rodden of his capabilities.