Comment fic meme #2
After the first round of got_exchange we had a surprisingly successful comment fic meme going for a while (here's a list of all the fics that were written last time), so I thought it might be fun to do this again. (Like last time, it's posted on the mod account journal because I don't want to enable anonymous comments on the exchange community.)
I changed the ( Read more... )
I changed the ( Read more... )
Note: The opening dialogue between Jon and Stannis is taken directly from A Dance with Dragons.
The king was unmoved. “I have knights and lords in my service, scions of noble Houses old in honor. They cannot be expected to serve under poachers, peasants, and murderers.”
Or bastards, Sire? “Your own Hand is a smuggler.”
“Was a smuggler. I shortened his fingers for that.”
It was only later that evening, when Ghost curled up on his bed before falling asleep, that Jon realized that the King had sounded the most offended when he had called the King’s Hand a smuggler. And in fact, it sounded like Stannis was very protective of his Hand because of that, even a bit possessive. I must meet this Lord Seaworth one day, then I might understand this new king better.
~
A few days later, Jon sought out the King’s squire. The boy was wistfully watching knights with bright colored cloaks and Black Brothers alike practicing swordplay in the castle yard from an outside staircase. Ghost padded silently on his heels. He sat down beside the boy.
“Devan Seaworth.”
“Y-y-yes, my Lord?” stammered the boy, all the while staring at Ghost with abject fear. His cloak was clasped with a black charm shaped like a ship. A flaming heart was embroidered on his outer tunic.
Jon reflected that the wolf should have stayed in his quarters. But Ghost wasn’t doing anything though, simply standing by his master’s side. Devan must learn not to be afraid of wolves, not if he wants to kill the boy and let the man be born someday soon.
“I hear your father is Hand of the King.”
“Yes, he is. I mean, yes he is, my Lord.”
“My father was the Hand of a King once, so we have something in common.” Hopefully we won’t soon have dead fathers in common.
“Your father?”
“Lord Eddard Stark, of Winterfell.”
“Stark? But your name is…”
“Snow. Yes, that is the bastard name of the North, but no matter.” Jon waved the comment aside. Robb will sooner be King in the North again before people will stop seeing me as a bastard. If only I could do without a surname all together.
Reply
“Oh no! My father is kind and nice and patient and proud of me learning to read like a highborn lord and is teaching me how to steer a big warship! He told lots of stories to me before I went to bed when I was younger, and the King never does that with Shireen! He’s the best father in the world, when he doesn’t have to spend time on errands for King Stannis!” Devan’s face was glowing.
Jon laughed. He hoped he would have said such things about his father when he was Devan’s age. Gods, that seems like a lifetime ago.
Devan suddenly looked stricken, and threw himself to his knees in front of him. “Please please forgive me my Lord for speaking ill of the King! I didn’t mean anything I said about him, and please don’t tell him I said anything!”
Jon laughed again, this time with a big smile on his face. “On my honor as a Man of the Night’s Watch, no one but Ghost will ever hear a word of what you said.”
Devan gave a sigh of relief. “As for your other question, my father survived the Battle of the Blackwater when most all the rest of the King’s fleet perished.” He looked sad. “And Dale and Allard and Matthos and Maric too. But the King must have seen how brave my father was, and he had always given him good advice, so that’s why he must have been made Hand. He was made a lord at the same time too, before that he was a knight.”
Jon was sure that there was more to the story than what Devan told, but for now that was enough. The boy’s words had told him more of worth about Lord Davos than any of the mutterings from the Queen’s Men had, and King Stannis didn’t strike him as the man who would want to talk of friends and past times. Smugglers can become good men on the Wall, and this one must have done something extraordinary to earn Stannis’ trust over so many years.
But nevertheless, he couldn’t help but have a bit more respect for the King for appointing Lord Davos Seaworth as Hand.
Final Notes: I really want to see Jon and Davos meet, for I’d be fascinated to know what each thinks of each other. ((And what each thinks of Stannis’ relationship with the other.)) I think they’d have lots in common, including not being afraid to tell Stannis the truth he needs to hear. Maybe later I’ll get the two to actually meet and continue the story from there.
Reply
I'd LOVE to see a meeting between Jon and Davos. In fact, I might have to prompt that right now. It'd be great if you wrote that. :D
Reply
Jon would definitely think more highly of Stannis for appointing a smuggler by his hand, if only because that might mean that Stannis could some day see something other than a bastard in him.
You totally hit the nail on the head with this comment, for that was exactly what was going through my head when I was writing this. Jon is always struggling with the bastard's name issue, even though those close to him have clearly gotten over it (i.e. Sam). If Jon makes it to the end of the series, I have a feeling that he'll keep the name Snow, for wouldn't that be the ultimate sign of being proud of who he is/being as peace with himself?
As well, one of the main reasons why I like Stannis as a character is because he is friends with Davos, the old "judge a man by the quality of his friends." And that's what Jon's doing here.
Reply
It's actually the main reason why I hate all those theories of Jon being secretly Rhaegar's son and heir to the throne and god knows what else. I like Jon being nothing but Ned Stark's bastard, because somehow it would invalidate all of his angst if it turns out that, lol, no, he was a secret prince all along. But as you said, it'd be great if he kept the name Snow even if he turns out to be something else.
I love that about Stannis. Somebody should tell Jon that Stannis left Dragonstone in the hands of a bastard just because he trusted the man more than his lords. ;)
Reply
Whoever Jon's parents turn out to be, he's still a Stark through and through. Even if he turns out to be on of the "three heads of the dragon" or whatever all those theories out there say. I'm pretty indifferent to the theories concerning his parentage and whether he's some prince of the legends; I really just want GRRM to keep him alive and have a satisfying conclusion to his story akin to his arcs in the Night's Watch.
Reply
Leave a comment