memshare | Father's watching

[king_inthenorth]

[The memory being broadcast.

The memory is in the courtyard of a stone keep, still surrounded by green and not yet covered by the snow of the coming winter. Jon stands in the courtyard with two of his brothers, Robb and Bran. Bran is practicing his archery. "Father's watching. And your mother," Jon tells him.

Bran's shot goes wide, which prompts laughter from Robb and Jon.

"And which one of you was a marksman at ten?" This from their father.

Some advice from them this time -- not to think too hard from Jon, and to relax his bow arm from Robb -- and this time there's an arrow hitting the center of the target. Only it wasn't fired by Bran; it was their sister Arya who hit the target. This gets more laughter from Robb and Jon as Bran chases Arya.

As their father leaves to tend to some business, Robb collects stray arrows, and Jon returns the arrows to where they belong, the memory ends with Jon looking up to see his father's wife staring down at him.

Comments

[king_inthenorth]

It wasn't. Hopefully our alliance will only continue to grow.

[He recognizes that look, Sansa.]

Is this another case of the Starks doing whatever they want?

[toivory]

I wouldn't say whatever we want.

[king_inthenorth]

Almost whatever you want, then?

[toivory]

Precisely.

Shall we wait until your return to Winterfell?

[king_inthenorth]

What other options have we got?

[toivory]

If you’ve your sword I could knight you here and now. I’d have to adjust the words, but I see no reason why that should stop us.

[king_inthenorth]

I have my sword.

[He doesn't go anywhere without it. It's even within arm's reach when he sleeps.]

[toivory]

Alright.

Can you get it?

[king_inthenorth]

I'll be right back.

[Not even ten minutes later, he's back with Longclaw.]

Here we are. One sword.

[toivory]

Beautiful.

[She moved to him, holding her hand out for the pommel. Swords were not her strong suit. But she was sure she could manage one for knighting someone.]

Shall we?

[king_inthenorth]

Be careful with it. It's Valyrian steel.

[He holds it out to her so she can draw it, then kneels in front of her.]

[toivory]

Of course.

[She draws the sword from it's sheath. It's heavy, heavier than she expected, and the surprise registers on her face, and in her arm. Still, there is not much swinging she needs to do with it. Using both hands, she places it on Jon's right shoulder.]

Kneel, Jon Snow. In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father, I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother, I charge you to defend the innocent. [Now expecting the weight, she moves the sword from one shoulder to another, alternating with each sentence as she finishes out the rest of the oath.]

Arise, Ser Jon Snow, a Knight of the North, and Watcher on the Wall.

[king_inthenorth]

[He waits while she says the words, and he doesn't even care that he follows the old gods and not the Seven, because he'll keep the oath anyway. And of course this is all theoretical unless they return to Westeros.

He stands when she's finished.]

I'll serve the North well.

[toivory]

I do not doubt it, Ser Jon.

[She looks at him, smiling as wide as she can. He looks so handsome.]

You are a True Knight, in every sense of the word. [she leans forward, and presses a chaste kiss to his forehead.] I’m so proud of you.

[king_inthenorth]

And you. Will be the best queen the North could ask for.

[He has no doubt of that at all.]

[toivory]

I pray to the old gods and the new that that is the case.

[she can’t stop smiling at him]

[king_inthenorth]

You were raised by the most honorable man I've ever met. I don't see how you could be anything but.

[toivory]

And you, as well, big brother.

[king_inthenorth]

Let's just hope it doesn't get anyone else killed.

[toivory]

We've suffered too many losses for that. Westeros has exhausted itself.

[king_inthenorth]

It will be quite some time before anything is back to what it used to be.

[toivory]

No, it will never be what it used to be.

And that's for the better. We're in a new age, Jon.

[king_inthenorth]

Hopefully it will be a better one.

[toivory]

I believe it will be.

The North and South are closer than before, despite our independence. There is no threat from Beyond the Wall. There's only one dragon we need worry about and Bran has that in hand.

[king_inthenorth]

Only one dragon?

[There's obviously a story there too.]

How does Bran plan to deal with it if it's a problem?