Untouched Gold / Tywin Lannister / Avalon Targaryen (1)

44. Bastard

Tywin was right and this was a bad idea. Avalon would spend the entire trip a nervous wreck that Ned was going to tell Robert and her and her children would be executed at winterfell, she would never see Tywin again. She should just leave now. Take the children and Sandor and ride home. It was enough of an adventure, they could go home. 

She came outside for a breath of fresh air when she saw Jon sparing with a straw dummy. 

"If you want some real competition Davina will gladly spar against you." Avalon remarked feeling at ease already. 

"I am not allowed to spar against my half siblings or the royal family." Jon countered. 

"You are very skilled for never having a human opponent then." Avalon remarked. 

"Thank you." Jon answered. 

"Why are you not inside? Enjoying the feast?" Avalon pondered. 

"Why are you hiding from my father?" Jon countered and Avalon's head tipped down. 

"You noticed that did you?" 

"Yeah." Jon agreed. 

"Its a long  story... I knew your father a long time ago, I didnt really know him but..." Avalon shook her head. "Long story." Jon stared back at her. Knew his father a long time ago, complicated history, now avoiding him, was Avalon his mother? Was that the complicated history? 

"Why arent you inside?"

"I'm a bastard, lady stark didnt think it was right to seat a bastard in the midst of royalty. Didnt want to offend them." Jon remarked and Avalon scoffed. 

"You know the number of bastards Robert has in kings landing, probably all around westeros? Not even Robert knows the number." Avalon remarked. "No one would mind." 

"Best not stir the pot." Jon countered and Avalon shrugged. 

"The world tastes better if you stir it every now and again." Avalon remarked. 

"MAMA!" Nora called from the door. 

"Excuse me, Jon." Avalon remarked as she pet Ghost's head he wanted to follow her in but Jon called Ghost back to himself. "Hey baby whats going on?" Avalon questioned. 

"You have to taste this!" nora declared and Avalon took a berry from her. "They call them winter berries, Bran was telling me."

"Bran is a cutie." Avalon remarked. 

"Yeah." Nora agreed dreamily. "So is Rickon. I can't decide." 

"Decide what?" Avalon mused. 

"Who I want to marry of course." 

"Neither! You are seven! You and Draco, Gods." Avalon shook her head. 

"I could be like Aegon and take them both-"

"Please my love not Targaryen history." Avalon whispered as she crouched beside her. "Not while we are here." Nora clamped her lips shut. 

"Sorry mama."

"Nothing to be sorry for just... new land..." Avalon offered. 

'Well you are always welcome at the wall,' Benjen assured Jon. 'no bastard has ever been turned away there.' an idea, not thought through at all sprung into jons head.

'So take me with you when you go back.' Jon suggested.

'Jon-'

'Father will let me if you ask him.' Jon negotiated

'The wall isn't going anywhere.' Benjen reminded him.

'I'm ready.' Jon assured him.

'you don't understand what you'd be giving up, we have no families none of us father any sons-' Benjen explained.

'I don't care about that.' Jon told him although Benjen saw his face shift.

'You might.' Benjen told him 'if you knew what it meant... I better get inside and rescue your father from his guests.' Benjen said 'we will talk later.' he said giving Jon a pat.

'Your uncle is in the nights watch?' Tyrion said walking up the path.

'what are you doing back there?' Jon questioned

''Preparing for a night with your family.' Tyrion told him, ''I've always wanted to see the wall,' he remarked taking a swig from his jug. "I'm going with mother after this, she wanted to see it too. Even better if we have a guide like your uncle." 

''You are Tyrion Lannister.' Jon remarked 'the Queen's brother.''

''My greatest accomplishment. And you... you are ned Starks bastard aren't you?' Jon turned away annoyed, that was not what defined him. 'Did I offend you? Sorry.' Tyrion said following him. 'But you are the bastard though.''

''Lord Eddard Stark is my father.' Jon told him

''And lady Stark is not your mother... making you the bastard...' Tyrion told him simply, 'let me give you some advice, bastard. Never forget who you are or what you are the rest of the world will not, wear it like armor, that way it can never be used to hurt you,' Tyrion told him turning away from Jon.

'What the hell would you know about being a bastard?' Jon called after him

'All dwarves are bastards in their father's eyes.' Tyrion told him heading inside. But luckily for him Avalon treated him like a real son, like her son, her baby. Avalon's smile lit up the room and Tyrion spotted her instantly when he opened the doors. She was dancing with Tyon and Davina rolled her eyes but accepted Robb's hand to dance. Draco asked arya to dance and she refused. Draco looked to Nora but she was already spinning around with Rickon and Bran. The both of them. Draco looked to Sansa, but she was staring back at Joffrey. 

"Kelsea, a dance sister dearest?" Draco offered his hand. 

"Thank you draco, I would love to." Kelsea agreed as she excused herself from sansas side. 

'Pardon me,' Ned said trying to get around Jaime.

'I hear we might be neighbors soon' Jaime said blocking his way. 'I hope it's true'

'Yes the king has honored me with the offer' Ned said still trying to get around him to Avalon.

'I'm sure we'll have a tournament to celebrate your new title if you accept. It would be good to have you in the field the competition has been stale,' Jaime told him

'I don't fight in tournaments' Ned informed him

'No? Getting a little old for it?' Jaime teased. Avalon caught them talking and suddenly she needed a drink. 

"Thank you for the dance baby." Avalon whispered kissing Tyon's temple. 

'I don't fight in tournaments when I fight a man for real, I don't want him to know what I can do.' Ned told Jaime still itching to get past him. 

''Well said.' Jaime told him grinning.

''Excuse me,' ned said again walking off.  "My lady." Ned remarked coming up to Avalon. She turned her face down. 

"lord stark, thank you for-'

"Princess." Ned rasped but a bow of his head Avalon met his gaze and she paled. "What are you doing here? I thought-"

"Please," Avalon whispered grabbing his hand. "Not here. Too many eyes." Ned nodded. "Sandor, can you keep an eye on-"

"I got em." Sandor assured she gave his shoulder a squeeze as she passed with Ned following behind her.