Chapter 13: Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden
Stannis
I watch Jon Snow pick himself up off the gently sloping hill and hesitate before the clubs. "What do we need to win this?"
It's been a tougher round than I expected, Edmure really does have an impressive long game. Knowing where the water traps are is also a plus, I'm down six strokes because of them.
Jon eventually hands me a two iron with a nervous expression. "I'm pretty sure this is the one you want Lord Stannis."
"Thanks Jon." I accept the club with a grateful nod and line up my final shot.
The ball sails through the air and vanishes through the trees, hopefully landing near the flag. "If you keep this up, we might even be able to compete in the games."
It's not like I'm going to give Jon a choice in it, I need to take part in at least one event if I'm hosting.
I can tell Edmure has been trying to work up the nerve to say something all morning and I sigh in relief when he finally opens up. "I don't want to offend you in anyway Lord Stannis. But my sisters are very important to me and though they are concerned about your plans for Jon here..." The youngest Tully gives my new squire an apologetic look before shifting his eyes back to me. "They aren't going to press for answers."
"Lord Varys is excellent at his job."
It's true, just not how I know what I do. "He let me know that it would only make things easier for everyone, if Jon doesn't come back to Winterfell-"
"What!" Roars the betrayed Jon, the hurt in his voice pulling on my heartstrings.
"...Until he has a new name and land of his own in the South." I return the furious stare with a calm one of my own, only letting a single eyebrow raise for emphasis. "To ensure Lady Catelyn no longer sees Jon as a threat to her children."
"...Uh." Guilt fills Edmure's voice as he avoids looking me in the eye for a while. "Yeah."
"So we're making an agreement as men." I place a hand on Jon's shoulder and turn him back around to face me. "The faster Jon earns his knighthood, the faster Catelyn can finally relax."
Edmure nods in agreement and awkwardly calls for Bran to get him a club. "Jon's a nice lad and everything, it's just..."
"I'm always going to be an insult." Growls the shame filled teen.
"That's true," I agree easily, seeing no reason to lie about the obvious. "But no matter how much you love your family, bastards all throughout history have been used to usurp families."
Jon starts to defend himself again, his face puffy and red with tears waiting to fall. "I'd never do that!"
"And I believe you, or I wouldn't have taken you as my squire." I return his gaze with an understanding one of my own. "But the rest of the world doesn't know that."
The boy bows his head and nods in acceptance of that, letting me continue with the embarrassing talk that could very well get me killed if Edmure so chooses. "I'm the King's trueborn brother and I've had those thoughts myself. So all this means is that you're in denial of desires that everyone has, or you're a better man than I am."
"I'm not better than you!" Jon is quick to deny what he thinks is a trap.
"Well it would seem we only have a few years to change that." Shaking my head in mock disapointment, I wink at Edmure to let him in on the game. "If I'm trusting you to serve my family long after I'm dead, I expect you to try to surpass me in as many ways as you can."
When he doesn't look anymore convinced, I shrug and admit what he's going to learn soon enough. "Samwell is already smarter than I am and Gendry takes after his father in the looks department."
Robin and Bran start to squabble once again over which club Edmure needs next and I try hard to contain my laughter.
If the two would just stop trying to outdo each other, Edmure would have beaten me three holes ago.
"Why don't you care about us being bastards?" I can tell how hard it was for Jon to work up the nerve to ask and manage to avoid my normal flippant response.
"You should thank the Seaworths for that." I finally answer with a heavy sigh. "Ser Davos is the one who showed me it's not who you are born as that matters. It's the man you die as that the world will remember."
"But I don't even know who I was born as." The response is so pitiful, it nearly sounds like a whine.
"Well..." I trail off and watch Jon perk. "Lord Varys has a few theories about that. Would you like to hear them?"
He nods like a bobble head and I have to grab him before it rolls off. "If Ned Stark is your father, it's either by way of Ashara Dayne, the wet Nurse Wylla, or an unnamed woman from the Sisters."
"If?" Edmure notices that part, just like I had hoped he would.
"Samwell, take the boys and go find the balls." since I can't trust the two youngest to reveal the information in a way I want, I get them to clear out for the sensitive discussion. "We'll catch up in a moment!"
Once they're out of earshot, I turn back to Edmure and Jon with a blank face. "The Lannisters are already getting to take over once my brother's lifestyle ends in the obvious. What I'm about to say could end up with Houses Stark, Tully, and Baratheon, all in danger if revealed to anyone."
Lord Stark might not be your father..." Jon starts to panic when I speak, forcing me to squeeze his shoulder hard enough to get silence. "Even if you do share his blood."
"Brandon!" Gasps Edmure as he starts putting pieces together on his own. "... And Lady Ashara?"
"That's the preferable outcome." MY hard stare gets Edmure to think harder and his mouth forms an O when he finally does.
"No!" His eyes are glued to Jon now and I nod my head grimly. "If it's true, it's been kept secret for a very good reason."
Jon's not satisfied being the only one without a clue and he actually growls at me. "What are you talking about?"
"Who's the only other Stark who was in the South during the rebellion?" I snort back at the frustrated teen, waiting for him to connect the blatant clues. "And why is it a good idea, if we don't ever talk about this again?"
"... Oh." He finally understands and his entire face sinks with the weight of such an idea.
"Exactly." I watch Edmure's eyes soften as they lock onto Jon, but I'm forced to keep talking. "Your 'Father' had a good reason for the lie, if it really is one." I remind them neither Varys, nor myself has proof either way. "But if it is a lie, that would also make you my kin."
Distantly I admit.
"I'm trying to put off a civil war. The easiest way I could think of, was setting up a power block in preparation."
It worked against Aerys and I can only hope this will work against Cersei when it's required. "Your Father saw the sense in it once before and I hope you can convince him to again."
"How can you just let them kill your brother!" Jon is aghast when I admit why I've left the capital.
If that was the case, I'd be charging at Tywin with sword drawn. "Robert's killing himself with a life of excess and that's sadly every man's right."
I've already gotten word of Melisandre arriving on Dragonstone, with Joffrey quite eager to receive her as his servant. All I can do now is hope the lions and dragons tire themselves out before realizing I'm still alive.
I've gathered as many innocents as I dare and when winter comes, I'll just stick them on a ship with Davos. He'll make sure my family survives. If I can give everyone a fun time before I go, all the better.
