Book of Thrones - A Song of Ice and Fire Fanfiction

Chapter 3

Bran had cried a lot when Father told him that he was not going to the hunt with the others. Jon had been observing him for days now. It was always climbing, climbing and more climbing. Some of the men in the castle had been joking at Jon, saying that he was looking for dragons because he always looked up, trying to locate Bran. If they only knew, he thought. But Daenerys will not hatch her eggs for a year to come. Thinking about the Targaryens still made me feel conflicted. The Mad King earned his name, but what about Rhaegar? Jon grew up listening to people saying the Dragon Prince kidnapped his aunt Lyanna and raped her. Nonetheless, it is written in the book that Ser Barristan, an honest and honorable knight, said that he didn't believe it.

Jon shook his head. He was doing this a lot lately. He continued to look at the stables but Bran wasn't there. Gods, today is the day, he thought, recalling the fact that on the morrow the trip to King's Landing would begin. He started running to the heart tree, praying that he was not late. He would never forgive himself if Bran is already fallen. No, pushed. He arrived at the heart tree to find Bran halfway to the window. "BRAN!" Jon screamed with all the force he had. Bran turned at him and smiled. "Oh! Hello, Jon," Bran said, continuing to climb. "GET DOWN, NOW!" Jon shouted. "I WILL NOT SAY IT AGAIN. DOWN! DO YOU HEAR ME?" The smile on Bran's face turned to a frown. "Aye, I hear you." He climbed down the tower, nimble as ever.

My breathing was returning to normal when I noticed the crowd gathered. Bran came to Jon and said, "Why did you shout at me?" He seemed to hold tears back. Jon looked up to see a flash of golden hair in the window of the tower. You will get your ends, Lannisters. Jon hugged Bran tightly and said, "Please, don't ever do such a thing again."

Lady Stark reached them just then. She broke them apart and said in a shrill voice, "What do you think you are doing shouting at my son, bastard?" The venom in her voice should have surprised Jon but it didn't. It didn't even scare him. The book gave him the exact amount of hatred she has for him, or rather, what he represents. "Answer me, bastard," she said, her voice growing shriller. Jon didn't feel like doing this. "Saving your son," he said. All the chatter stopped abruptly. Jon realized that he was shouting. He never shouted at Lady Stark. It took him seconds to realize that he had been slapped. Lady Stark was glaring at him murderously. "Wait till your father comes. You will get what you deserve, bastard." With that, she turned around and walked away holding Bran's hand, the crowd parting to her. Well, that was bad, Jon thought, massaging right cheek. At least, on the bright side, he was not going to stay in Winterfell when Father leaves with the King.

Jon was in his room reading the book again to make sure he didn't miss anything when someone knocked the door. He quickly hid the book and opened the door to find Theon Greyjoy smirking at him. He wanted to punch that same face but stoped, thought about Ramsay Bolton, and smiled. "Come, bastard. Lord Stark summons you. You are in so much trouble." Jon didn't reply. He simply told Theon to lead the way.

Jon knew that this would come sooner rather than later. He hoped that his plan worked. Theon brought him to the godswood. Lord Stark was standing in the middle of it, near the heart tree, Lady Stark beside him. She was giving Jon a look that could kill. What did she tell Father? "I heard that you were shouting at Bran," said Father, his face cold and impassive. People had been saying that Jon look more like Lord Stark than his trueborn children. Except Arya, that is. Making his face a mirror of Lord Stark's, Jon said bluntly, "Bran was slipping but he continued to climb. I feared that he would fall and be crippled, if not dead." He glanced quickly at Lady Stark to gauge her reaction. Fear was in her eyes; fear which disappeared when she noticed him looking at her. "And what do you say about shouting at me, boy?" She never says bastard in Lord Stark's presence. "I was shocked. I didn't have full control over myself," Jon said, though he doubted she heard a word. "Ned, when you go to King's Landing, I want him to leave," Lady Stark said, pointing at him. "Be it the Night's Watch or the seven hells. He will go." Father stared at her in shock but before he could reply, Jon interceded. "You are right, Lady Stark. I will go. But not to the Night's Watch and surely not to the seven hells. I will go to the capitol with you, Lord Stark." Father looked even more shocked while Lady Stark smiled like this was the first good news she had the entire day. "Jon, you don't understand," Father began but Jon cut him. "I do understand, Lord Stark. I will be shunned and mocked because I am a bastard. I accept that. But still, I will follow you to King's Landing. Maybe I could be one of your guards. Or squire for some lowly knight." Father got more shocked at my casual use of the word bastard. He asked, "Why do you want to go to King's Landing so bad?" Jon knew this question was coming. He hated what half-truth he was about to say, but it needs to be done. Jon drew a deep breath. "I had a dream, Lord Stark. I was in a desert. I think it was Dorne. There was a broken tower and in front of it, there were three figures, their white cloaks shining in the sun. Then seven other men came. I could see none of their faces. They exchanged words but I couldn't hear it above the blowing dry wind. Then they began fighting. Five of the shadows fell, the three white cloaked men along with them. Then the dream faded but I heard a woman's voice say Promise me, Ned. Then it changed. Promise me, Jon. Promise me to protect Ned." When he finished Lady Stark was gazing at Jon with confusion. But not Lord Stark. His face lost all the color it had, his whole body unsteady. Jon truly hated going into his father's deepest and darkest dreams, though he didn't understand them. With a shaky voice, Father said, "You will go with me to King's Landing as my squire." Lord Stark composed himself and walked away. After giving Jon one last look, she followed Father. Let the Game of Thrones begin, Jon thought. Let it begin for real.