Jacob I

Jacob Baratheon, the heir of Dragonstone and to Storm's End, unless Uncle Renly dies and fails to produce an heir.

He was riding through the Wolfswood, with a gold trim and black cloak around his shoulders, as they were the colours of House Baratheon. His black hair was blowing through the cool winds, riding Misty through the snowy grounds.

The young highborn was on the fields with his horse, he wanted to explore more outside of the high castle of Winterfell. Jacob had enjoyed his stay with the overlords of the North, as they were very hospitable to the prince and made him feel welcome.

Jacob was five and ten in terms of age, with long midnight black hair to his shoulders, his sapphire blue eyes reflected the sternness in his face. The young man quite tall with his slender, strong build.

He was constantly followed by his Florent cousins Erren and Colin, they were quite annoying and overbearing, but he didn't mind having them with him. Being in the North has been a welcome change for him, staying in Highgarden and Oldtown for a few moons.

Jacob's squire Devan Seaworth was riding through the fields with him, along with his father Ser Davos, his father's Onion Knight and most trusted advisor. The young Baratheon man bonded with the Onion Knight through their travels by the sea and him telling stories of pirates and smugglers, which incited Jacob, being highborn and constricted by rules of honour.

The young man's heart ached, missing his sister Shireen, who was stuck on Dragonstone with his mother and father. The idea of being away from home again frightened Jacob, but he had no choice in the matters because it was the king's command.

Sending him to Winterfell was a strange change for Jacob, being a southerner and being used to warm weather and the comforts of home waiting for him. He grew to be chummy with the Starks, as per Uncle Robert's wish.

"My lord, are you sure, you should ride Misty in this weather," Ser Davos said politely. "Your father warned you about the chills of the North."

Jacob smiled, riding on the ground. "Ser...you need to lighten up a little, honour and duty is not everything." He replied.

"What are we doing today, my lord?"

"Hunting, I must learn on my own to be a man."

"What are we hunting, my lord?"

"Whatever is out there?"

"Do you know how to use the weapons?" Devan piped out.

"I was hand trained by Lord Tarly, so I can use different weapons in battle and hunting."

"How was the fostering in Highgarden?" The Onion Knight asked.

"It was scary at first, but it was fun when I got used to the hot weather. More fields for me to ride and the fruits were delicious, you should try the peaches."

"I heard you learned cyvasse."

"It was the first game I learned to play...Lord Mace was not an accurate player than I hoped he would be."

"You have a bright future ahead of you, my lord. Lordship of Dragonstone and the Stormlands."

Jacob's eyebrow arched above his eyes, with his lips curling onto a snarl. "If Uncle Renly failed to marry and conceive a son...prancing fool."

"He is the Lord of Storm's End and your uncle."

"Ser Davos...my uncle is nothing but a fool, who likes to wear expensive cloths to court. I doubt he has ever killed a man."

"How was the wedding?"

"It was a splendid feast...Ser and the tourney to accompany it. Lord Garlan and Lady Leonette were great hosts, only because Willas insisted I was to attend the event. Also, It's important for me to attend, to establish good relations with House Tyrell."

"As it will gain you swords, fruits and fertile lands."

"Don't be absurd, Ser….Lord Mace would not allow me to marry his daughter…..he intends to make her a queen and marry her off to my cousin."

"Who will you marry, then my lord."

"I don't know...if a suitable match comes for me."

"I have heard many ladies of the Reach have taken a shine to you."

"No...it's my title their fathers are after...a king's nephew is the ultimate prize in the south, after the princes of course."

"Your father has expressed his grievance in sending you too far from home."

"He gets over things very quickly…..it's only to appease my uncle and establish good relations with House Stark" Jacob said, raising his hand.

Jacob was very fond of the Onion Knight, he thought of him as a second father figure in his life, as they always talked with each other.

The young man didn't like his Florent Uncles; they were ambitious and desperate to win his father Stannis's trust and allegiance, he always defended Ser Davos against their cruel words.

Hunting in the Wolfswood was dangerous, but for Jacob, the forest was home to a Baratheon, as he was a Baratheon of both Dragonstone and Storm's End, he learned from Uncle Robert that a careful eye will always catch the target.

Jacob unmounted Misty, as he had his bow and arrow with him, it was a gift from Uncle Alester of Brightwater Keep. He had been hunting many times with Uncle Robert, but all he saw was his favourite uncle get drunk and start pissing himself.

The forest was very cold, as the cloak and trim was enough to warm him up. Jacob knew he was used to warm weather, coming from the south of the kingdoms. He caught Ser Davos and Devan behind him, as he wanted to include them on his hunting expedition.

Jacob attempted to try and be more open, to show a little of his true self to the Starks. He noticed Ned Stark's heir Robb to have more of his Tully mother's features with the bright blue eyes and light auburn hair.

The same can be said for Robb's brothers Bran and Rickon, who also had the Tully features, along with his sister Sansa, but the only ones with the Stark appearance were Arya, the younger girl and Jon Snow, the bastard of Winterfell.

The tactic worked, as Jacob gained a budding friendship with Robb, with the two sparing each other with swords and riding through the fields of the North.

The only friendship Jacob valued in the world was Willas Tyrell, the crippled heir to Highgarden, he had pity for him because no woman wants to marry him, even though he was from a family that rivalled the Lannisters in terms of wealth and power.

The Northern traditions and customs seemed out-dated to those in the South, but for Jacob, it established the North valued and honoured their traditions, as it was something the young man could take away and implement into his daily life.

At the corner of his eye, Jacob had seen a stag with huge antlers; he prepped his now and he looked carefully with his eye caught on his target.

The arrow was pointed at the right direction, as it was aimed at the stag. His eye was carefully monitoring his target, as he shot the arrow. It hit the bullseye correctly, right in the back of the deer, as it was dead.

The young man ran through the snows; he looked at the animal, as he tied it with ropes and put it in the wooden cart. Jacob was not an expert hunter, but he was getting there and improving his skills.

At least, Jacob had something to prove to Theon Greyjoy, the ward of Winterfell and Jacob's least favourite person. The boy was arrogant and judgemental, he thought Jacob was a good for nothing southerner, who cannot survive the cold.

As he was in the Wolfswood, Jacob wouldn't mind staying in Deepwood Motte, as the Glovers liked him well enough. Ser Davos and Devan brought the horses to assist Jacob on taking his fresh kill back to Winterfell.

Misty was Jacob's closest companion, being a horse because she had accompanied him to Highgarden and had been compatible with the other horses. Jacob had ridden other horses in the Reach, as they were faster and well-bred, but Misty will always be his horse.

The young man mounted his horse, along with the Onion Knight and his son to go back to the regional seat of North, to bring the fresh kill back for dinner.

On the journey, Jacob would see the high castle of Winterfell in his sights, as it was like a cold fortress to shield men from war. He was allowed to do what he wanted, as he was a guest of honour of the Starks.

The death of Jon Arryn was hard on the young man, as the Lord of the Eyrie saw Jacob was destined for greater things in the future.

Within the castle's Great Keep, the young man rode his horse in, along with the Onion Knight and his squire. Jacob was welcomed into the castle, as he saw Robb with Theon. He was confused why the Stark heir only had his father's long face, while his bastard brother had the whole Stark look.

Jacob unmounted his horse, as he commanded Devan to take Misty away, with the boy and his father walking towards the stables.

The young man hated Theon with a venom, as Jacob was proud of his father's achievements in crushing the Iron Fleet, during the Greyjoy Rebellion. There was bad relations between the two because of the history between their fathers.

"I see the stag has caught himself," The Greyjoy heir said arrogantly, with Jacob ignoring him. "Did the Wolfswood freeze your arse off?"

"No...and I would rather if you didn't have any of the fresh kill for dinner, Greyjoy," Jacob replied, looking at the other boy in the eye. "I can prove I can survive the cold."

"You are your father's only son after all."

"So are you."

"At least, I'm not a good for nothing southerner." Greyjoy sneered.

"You are the only heir to one region, which is barren of rocks and sea salt." Jacob said in a controlled tone. Remembering his courtiers, even though he wanted to get Theon riled up.

Jacob paid no attention to Theon Greyjoy and his foolishness, so he wanted to take a walk with Robb alone, away from the other arrogant nuisance.

"I'd rather marry some Reach lord than suffer the presence of Greyjoy for any longer than necessary." Jacob thought.

He was taught by his father Stannis the Greyjoys were traitors and thieves, and cannot be trusted, as he said, if he had the chance, then he would have ended the Greyjoy bloodline.

"Why must you hang around with him?" Jacob said, not understanding why Robb and Theon were friends.

"He can be arrogant, but he is a good friend." Robb replied.

"Some friend he will turn out to be."

"Well...Jacob, if you get to know, then you might like him."

"No...thanks. I'd rather stand my chances of fighting the Red Viper than be friends with the only son of the salt smelling craven."

"Would you actually fight him?"

"No...Robb. Dornishmen use tricks and cheap undercuts to win."

"Could you try and make an effort?"

"No...I don't socialise with traitors, especially their sons." Jacob whispered.

Jacob thought this visit was going to be a disaster, apart from having to tolerate Greyjoy's presence.

The young Baratheon established a budding friendship with Robb Stark, he would like to see last for a long time. He liked him, as he had potential to be a good lord, like his father Lord Eddard Stark.

The young man envied Robb because he was easy-going, likeable and a charm compared to Jacob, who in all accounts was a bore and a humourless git, as said by the ladies of the North.

However, Jacob didn't care what women and girls thought of him, accept for his mother Selyse and his sister Shireen, whom he loved and missed very much.

"I'd rather fight a spear wielding Dornishman, than suffer the presence of the Lannisters, my uncle has bound himself to by the laws of marriage." Jacob thought bitterly.

Jacob enjoyed his time with the Starks; he had a knack for climbing with Bran, since he did with some of the boys of the Reach, during his fostering. He didn't' mind having Arya around, not being a proper lady was something new, being a southerner and seeing women in constricted roles.

He may not be as golden as his cousin Joffrey, but he was quite a looker in his own way. Jacob was lesser than royal cousins, but he got attention from the girls of Winterfell, giving him wily looks and giggle when he came by.

Jacob didn't understand what girls saw in a humourless bore like him, but it was something Robb, Theon and Jon around funny and laughed at it.

"The idea of charming and wooing women are for prissily knights with nothing to show for it."

His Uncle Robert was bringing his court north, so he could get a new Hand of the King and a possible betrothal for his cousin Joffrey, who in all accounts was a spoiled little shit, destined to be the second coming of the Mad King.

The dual heir smiled at his surroundings, as it was quite peaceful. There was little time, until he was to see his Uncle and his cousins in Winterfell.