Fire And Blood

On The Right Path

Jon III

"Good news, my Prince!"

Jon looked up from his Valyrian studies to see Oberyn, followed by Ser Jorah, walk into the sitting room with exuberance. The Dornishmen had another letter in his hands, making his heart skip a beat. He may have said that it is good news, but the last major news he had received from Westeros had been anything but.

"Bran Stark has woken up," Oberyn said with a grin as he sat down and helped himself with some wine.

Jon had not realized how tense he must have been, but upon hearing this, he nearly collapsed. He covered his face in his hands and laughed. This was not simply good news. This – this – it was fantastic news.

"That's wonderful!" Rhaenys wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so glad for you, little brother!"

Another hand joined his sister, the familiar feeling of his aunt's fingers combing through his hair making him relax. "Finally some good news for you, Aegon. You deserve this."

"Does the letter say what happened?" he asked, looking at Oberyn.

"That is the one disappointment: it says that he doesn't remember a thing." He looked at Jon, then gave a small shrug. "Your cousin is alive and awake. That should be enough for now."

Disappointment indeed. But Oberyn was also right. Bran was alive and awake and while he would never be able to walk or run or climb again, it was enough for now. Still, he wanted to know who had done this and why they had done this. What had Bran seen?

"Cease your brooding, my Prince, and enjoy a good cup of cheap wine! Drink to Bran Stark's health!" Oberyn filled his cup and filled his aunt's, his sister's and Ser Jora's as well before they all raised them for a toast once everyone was back to their seats.

He took a couple of deep gulps of the sweet drink. Quite some time had passed since he had come to Essos, but he still hadn't gotten used to the sweetness of their wine.

"Does the letter say anything else, Ser Oberyn?" Jon asked.

Oberyn shook his head and slid the letter across the table to him. "No. Bran Stark woke up, doesn't remember anything and that's it."

Skimming over the letter, he confirmed what the Dornishmen told him. He nodded in thanks at Oberyn, who just raised his cup with a wink in return.

It was good to hear good things from Winterfell for once.

-

He needed a different perspective.

After difficult conversations about his claim for the Iron Throne, he was more conflicted than ever. Four and ten years of being nought but a bastard son of Eddard Stark's had taken their toll it seemed. Imagining himself on the throne, where, before him, had been the likes of King Jaehaerys The Wise, King Aegon The Conqueror himself or King Daeron The Good – it was laughable.

He wanted to be more than a bastard. He wanted to show that he could bring just as much honour to House Stark as Robb or his uncle himself could. He wanted everyone to see that he could make House Stark proud. Because of that, he had been set on joining the Night Watch – an honourable band of brothers protecting the Realm against the Wildling threat. He would have been out of Lady Stark's hair and he would have honoured his father.

But now, things were different. Things had changed. Suddenly, he was Prince Jon Aegon Targaryen instead of just Jon Snow. Suddenly he was the legitimate son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Lady Lyanna Stark. Suddenly he had a real claim to the Iron Throne. He had an aunt and a sister who wanted to see him take it.