The Baratheon bull

Chapter 16: The dragons survive

Finally he thought, he would reach Castle Black and the Wall at dawn. He was riding through the night. The stars were out, shining as if the heaven were watching at him, making sure he wasn't alone. That reminded him of his father. The King would have been so proud of him. "I will do you proud father." He whispered even though he was alone on the road. He was suddenly approached by a young man. "I sing a song from Varys. He has revealed that Danaerys and Aegon Targaryen are alive beyond the narrow sea." He whispered. "Thank you" Gendry said and then rode off as he was in a rush. He was stressed about the Targaryens but it was the Starks he had to take care of.

At dawn he saw one of the most beautiful sight that he had ever seen in his life; sunrise over the Wall. The red and orange sky provided a beautiful background to the glistening wall of ice. He rode up to the old stone castle, Castle Black. He found a man outside whom he knew had to be Jon Snow. He was tall and build with curly hair and with a white direwolf at his heels. Only the Stark children had direwolfs, though he was not a Stark, he had been treated as one. He dismounted horse and walk up to him. "Excuse me, Jon Snow?" He said with a new found confidence. "Yes" Jon said "Who are you?" He asked. Gendry kneeled. "I am Gendry, I am on a journey to reunite the Starks. May speak in private?" Jon was very excited and led Gendry up to the Library. He saw an old man putting books away. "Speak" Jon commanded. "It's a long story and I have been far. I am from Flea bottom and I knew Arya very well." He started. "Arya" Jon whispered with surprised, "she is alive?" He asked with intent. "Yes" replied Gendry "We traveled together and I protected her. We went through everything together but I let her down because I wanted to have a family. I am like a you, a bastard but I have been legitimized." Jon interrupted him "Who are you?" Gendry calmly said "I am a bastard of King Robert Baratheon. He legitimized me upon his death." He said with tears in his eyes. "Anyway" he continued, "Robb is dead but the others are not. Arya is in Braavos, Bran has gone north of the wall, and Rickon is on Skagos. I have already rescued from the Vale of Arryn and have returned he to her mother." He explained. "I thank you good man. I will help you. As a man of the Nights watch, I will get Bran. You must go and find Rickon. The hospitality of Castle Black is yours my lord." Gendry interrupted him "please don't call me my lord, call me Gendry. I am a bastard like you and I don't forget that." Gendry corrected. Jon smiled "I already like you. You are free to do what you wish. I must take care of a few things but we will meet again for supper. Stay here for a two days, and then we will both depart. I will make arrangements for a boat from Eastwatch by the sea." Jon decided. "Thank you Jon." Gendry said and Jon left.

Gendry decided to roam the Library and read some more about the North. "Some of the books here are older than the Wall itself." The old man said "the climate here takes some time to get used to. It took me a while but I never wanted to go home." He continued. Gendry was puzzled. "Who are you?" He asked the man. "I am the Maester of Castle Black." He said and Gendry bowed. "Thank you but no one has bowed since I was in the Red Keep in Kings landing." He chuckled. Gendry was confused. Why was he in the Keep? "Are you of noble descent?" He asked. "Well most people say that we weren't noble but I wanted no part in politics or ruling the seven kingdoms so I became a Maester. They never found me." He said. Gendry was even more confused. "Who are you?" He asked again. "I am the oldest man in Westeros. I am a man from the times of old from a slaughtered house. I am Aemon Targaryen." He finished. Gendry fell to his knee. "I have read about you." He said, star struck. "Rise my boy. I am no lord and alone. It's funny having a Baratheon show respect to a Targaryen, especially the son of Robert the usurper." Gendry was scarred. "The mad king was ruining the realm. He did what had to be done. He never killed King Aerys. That was the Lannisters. He didn't kill Elia Martell or," he stopped. "With all my respect Maester, you are not the last Targaryen." Aemon was gobsmacked. "What? The ravens, the letter.." He said but Gendry put his hand on him and said "What I'm about to say must stay between us. Rhaegar's son Aegon is alive as well as the honorable prince's little sister, Danaerys Stormborn. They are in Essos." As Gendry was saying these words, Aemon broke down. "Thanks the gods, I am not alone. They will come back to Westeros and rule." Gendry seem a bit awkward at this. "Maester I am entering the game of thrones but I am not like my father. I will not harm your family. You are the stuff of legend. I am to go to Skagos to get Rickon and Jon will get Bran. I will bein them to their mother. I will then go and find Arya in Braavos and then it is my wish to talk to the Targaryen children and come to an agreement. I will honor your family. I want to offer to help them retake Dragonstone." Gendry explained. "That is honorable of you my boy, you would make a good king. Ou must approach them careful as the Targaryens see your father as the reason for their massacre." He warned the boy. "I will try. As I said I would never hurt them." Gendry rexplained. A bell rung. "Dinner." Maester Aemon said. "Dine with me" he asked Gendry. Gendry nodded ad then they left the library together.