Jacob III (ASOS)

Prince Jacob had a flamed torch, as he went into the cold, wet dungeons into the night. It was when some of the courtiers were in a nightfire, and were praying to whatever gods they believed in.

The dungeons coldness sent chills down the arms of the prince. He wanted answers, of how such important information of the Night's Watch plight never reached the ears of his father Stannis, and other important members of his court.

His booted feet were stood against the floors, which were quite hard. As the castle was entirely made of stone and connected to the magic of the old dragonlords from eons ago. Jacob held up his torch and made his way past the may cells.

His eyes wondered through each of the cells, meant to place traitors and criminals on the island. He knew this kind of place wasn't fit for a high lord, but this high lord committed the gravest of treason, almost communicating with the enemy.

Jacob knew the first rule of war, was to never talk or socialise with the enemy, and those allied with that enemy. That was the rule Lord Alester dishonoured with his scheming and lying.

Nevertheless, the prince saw a man who looked filthy and his clothes were turning brown, as he could see the blue, white and orange colours of House Florent on him. He had his hands on his eyes, as he wasn't used to getting visitors.

"Uncle Alester, show yourself." The prince said, in his most natural of tone.

The man began to show himself, pulling his hand away from his face and a gleeful smile appeared on his face, as if he had any shred of hope for freedom.

"Jacob….is it really you, my boy." Lord Alester said breathlessly, reaching out his hand towards his great nephew.

"I have returned, and brought the Lady Cassana and Ser Sorrell of House Grimm with me."

"Grimm, those Greyshield folk never liked my family. They always laughed at us about our complaints of our rights to Highgarden and the rest of the Reach."

"You know why I am here to see you, my lord."

"Jake…..I am your uncle, and you will address me as so."

"For the double treasons you have done, you don't have the right to be called an uncle." The prince gritted between his teeth.

"I know what I did, but I had no choice. I lost my lands to allies of the Lannister-Tyrell coalition, and a relative of mine is being held hostage in Highgarden."

"You were selfish, did you not care for the other Florents, who supported my father. Did you not care for your own brother, who calls you a traitor and what about my mother, your great niece and my father's queen and my sister? You don't care about family at all, only about yourself."

"I love my brother and Selyse a lot. It's why I joined your father's cause when the time was right."

"Only when my Uncle Renly was killed, you joined him."

"Please, Your Grace. I didn't mean to it, I was in a desperate situation and I know you would help me."

"Why should I help you, you are a traitor and the treason with Tywin Lannister was only the first."

"What do you mean?"

"You withheld information from my father, about the Night's Watch and the struggle to keep out the wildings."

"Your father has more important things to worry about than those insignificant men on the other side of the world."

"You were his Hand, and you were responsible for informing him about things in the realm. And you betrayed him, just to get your lands back and you are clouded by own southorn prejudice."

"We don't have enough men to help."

"So what, the Night's Watch has a small amount of men, and they manage fine daily. This wildling threat has to be addressed before things get worse."

"You have gone too soft, dear nephew. It seems spending time with Ned Stark has clouded your judgement and has made you weak."

Jacob grabbed the scruff of his uncle's shirt, and looked in his eyes with fury and anger. He wanted to kill him, even though he would be branded a kinslayer by all gods and men or spilling his uncle's blood. How dare he slander the dead Stark lord, while he will meet the same fate he did?

"Ned Stark has more honour than you have land now, great uncle. Speak slander again, and I will make your execution immediate." The prince growled, striking fear into the men in the cell.

"I won't…please get me out of here."

"You will die, Uncle. You have to pay for your treason, and as my father is concerned. He doesn't consider you family anymore."

The broken look on the face of Lord Alester was a sight to be seen, he has everything torn away from him, but he committed a crime against his king and queen, and those within the rightful king's court.

Jacob felt no sympathy for the man, as he tried to arrange a marriage between Shireen and Tommen, and tried to match him with Janei Lannister again. He shuddered at the idea the first time, but was disgusted the second time.

He was disgusted by the idea of having to marry any woman, who shared blood with those usurpers.

"You converted to the Lord of Light, I heard it from someone of the court. Is it true?" Jacob asked.

"Yes, I did." Lord Alester replied.

"You are a fool to do so, that Red Woman attached to my mother and your brother is a demon wearing a pretty woman's skin. She will ruin our cause in some swift blow, if she is allowed to spread her mad religion throughout the Seven Kingdoms. I mean to stop her in any kind of way."

"I see, you and that smuggler have grown too close for my liking. Just like your father, willing to listen to him rather than your own fellow lords."

"At least, Davos isn't a traitor. I trust him better than some lords, who have abandoned my father's cause. It doesn't matter, we will make new lords and find new ones, who will fight or us."

"Your father will never sit on the Iron Throne, Jacob. You know this is true, and afraid to admit it. You know the game of thrones better than most, you know your father is only a soldier, not a king meaning to rule seven fractured kingdoms."

"Another treasonous thing to say, uncle. While you rest in your cell, you don't have much to live for. Did you know by deciding to abandon the Night's Watch, you directly abandoned your own grandson to that fate?"

The mention of it shook the formally proud lord to crumble into pieces, Jacob didn't mean to be so harsh, but it had to be said and in his face, before he was to be executed in the coming fortnight.

"What would you do, save the Night's Watch, so you can be branded a hero. You will never be a hero, Jacob, as long as you are your father's son and carry his name."

Jacob began to crack inside, he felt himself crying within. All he wanted was some respect and decency towards him, even though he liked to pretend not to care. He wanted people to like him, for more than being his father's son.

It seems Lord Alester said his last words.

"I will prove everyone wrong, and you wrong. You may have betrayed your kin, but I will not do the same."

"Your father will not win the game of thrones; it's why he needs you. Without you and the smuggler, he will only listen to Melisandre and your mother, which isn't good. His Grace should have other men around him, not listen to emotional women."

"I have to leave, you have spoken enough, my lord."

"Please…..talk to your father and reconsider."

Jacob held onto his torch and began to leave the dungeons. The look on Lord Florent's face was of defeat and resentment. He was resigned to his fate, and Jacob didn't care a bit of his suffering.

The Prince leave the dungeons, hearing the cries of his former uncle, ignoring the waling and began to move on and shut the doors of the dark place behind him.

On the outskirts of Dragonstone, the prince began his isolation alone. He didn't want to pray, like the others, as he lost his ability to follow blindly. His thinking had begun to change on the voyage home from Oldtown.

Jacob still believed in the Seven, but wasn't as faithful as he was before. He knows he did bad things, and knew he wasn't going to be forgiven by the gods if he had abandoned them, in their hour of need against the god of Melisandre's religion.

"My father called the gods unjust beings, who took all good things away from people. Maybe it's what I am experiencing too, the idea of not being too blinded by faith, and questioning my own devoutness and the deaths that allowed one another."

The prince began to walk through the halls of the castle, as he was alone. His mind pondered to what he wanted to do, when the war was over. Jacob knew he would be trapped somehow, playing the game of thrones, until his time in the game ended.

From behind, he sees a familiar face of darkened blonde hair and brown eyes, alongside Ser Davos, a slew of other men with them. Jacob recognised them to be members of the King's Men, men who are loyal to his father, and they follow the Seven.

He wondered why Davos and Ser Andrew Estermont had assembled the King's Men, and he wanted to know what was the reason for it.

"Davos, what is the meaning of this." The prince said, in his iron, strong tone.

"Do you want to get us all in trouble, Davos? Involving the Prince, knowing he would tell his father." One of the men said angrily.

"He is your rightful prince, is he not Ser." Ser Andrew said, in defence of the prince.

"We should kill the Red Witch, to keep her from corrupting the king further and seeing our plans." A different man ranted.

"It will not work; I would be hopeful of escaping her notice with my life intact." Ser Davos grumbled.

"It doesn't matter what you do, I will never shrink my duty towards the men of the king."

The prince, Davos and Andrew walk through the halls of the castle, as some of the other members of the King's Men scattered away, leaving a few others following the three. The prince saw the same dragon carvings on the wall, as before.

Prince Jacob knew where he was going, to the Maester's Chambers. He didn't know what Davos and the other King's Men were planning, but he was reminded of his duty, as a worshipper of the Seven and a prince, to protect these men from the ones who worship the demon god.

The three men go to the Maester's Chambers, but the maester himself was surprised to see the prince among the King's Men, as he didn't expect it or was he also involved in this plot.

Maester Pylos turned towards Edric, as Jacob hasn't had a look at his bastard cousin, but saw a lot of Uncle Robert and his Florent mother in him. The sapphire blue eyes, the midnight black hair and the large ears he had.

Edric looked fearful, as if he had done something wrong. The Maester was reassuring him, that the prince was good and honourable, unlike the men who worship Melisandre's religion and her god.

"You are to go with Ser Davos and His Grace. Davos speaks with the King's voice and the prince has his counsel and confidence." Maester Pylos said.

Prince Jacob admired the young maester, as he was risking a lot to help Davos and the King's Men, he knew what was going on between these men.

They were about to save Edric Storm from Melisandre's grip.

The prince spoke against having the boy sacrificed, because he was only a child and was of his blood.

It was when Jacob resigned of the idea of his father not being himself anymore, losing all the honour, duty and justice for a strike at power again, after his great loss at the Blackwater.

Edric was obedient, in standing up and following the prince, Davos and some of the King's Men out of the chambers, and through the darker hallways of the castle.

"Cousin Jacob, I see your mood isn't the only thing changed from your return." Edric said.

"I'm only helping you, because I'm sick of losing people for the wrong reasons." Jacob replied.

"You are going on a ship." Davos said, as the men were walking down the stairs of the castle.

The boy balks at first, as it was normal because he was bastard in a dangerous situation. Edric was unluckily to be in this role, but he was going to be free to live his life through the years without death following him.

"I insist on seeing Shireen and Uncle Stannis first." Edric complained, with his arms crossed.

Jacob got down to Edric's level, as he didn't like how the boy had a sense of entitlement in him, but it wasn't his fault. He blamed Uncle Renly and Ser Cortnay Penrose for it.

"Listen, Edric. This is the only chance you get in living a real life, outside this horrid game. If you don't go with us, then the Queen's Men will either hand you over to Melisandre or force you to worship the Lord of Light."

"I don't want to worship the Lord of Light; I hear he wants men burned alive."

Davos shows the boy his mutilated fingers, as it made Jacob feel sad every time he saw them. It was a reminder of the price he paid for being a smuggler, and the sort of iron justice his father Stannis will deliver if he got the throne.

"This is what happens if you anger your uncle."

The Prince and Davos bring Edric to an area where a boat awaits, they were followed by other King's Men, who wish to see this plan come to success.

"I guess this means goodbye, Storm." Jacob said, with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"I want to know cousin; why would you do this. Knowing your father will be furious with you for doing this." Edric asked.

"Only because I will rule after him, I will not make the same mistakes he made. I will protect my people, and you are a person, no matter what they tell you." Jacob replied.

The Prince and the King's Hand, alongside some of the King's Men saw Robert's bastard off on the boat, with Ser Andrew being his protector and the leader of his band of guardians.

"I wish you well on your adventure." Ser Davos said kindly, as the boy looked confused, but goes with the men on the boat.

"I don't know what you mean, Ser." Edric said, in a confused tone.

"You will be fine, Storm. You will be free and will see another part of the world, you might even see Dothraki on your journey." Jacob sniggered.

The boat was sailing off the coast, as a pang of guilt hit the prince's stomach. He had committed treason, against his father and his king. He knew he was no better than Uncle Alester, in terms of being crime free.

"Davos, what have I done?"

Jacob and Davos return to the keep, not sure if they will never leave it again. Not after seeing Edric Storm off and safe away from the clutches of the Red Woman.

The two of them arrived at the Chamber of the Painted Table, and wait for King Stannis. Jacob and Davos were listening to the voices behind the door, as the two of them were in the chambers, as the prince's father and the Red Woman arrive.

"Three is three, my king. All the usurpers are dead." The Lady Melisandre said, assuring the king, "I saw someone die and his mother wailing in grief."

"Joffrey is confirmed to be dead, Your Grace, possibly poisoned by the Imp." Davos said, in a cold tone.

"Good riddance to that incest born beast." Jacob replied, in a lighter tone of voice.

"I remember when Joffrey slit open the stomach of a pregnant cat, a disgusting crime that caused Robert to knock some of his teeth out." The King reminisces, "Whoever killed him served the kingdom well."

"He killed the pets of his own siblings. Murdering Tommen's foal and another of Myrcella's cats too." The prince added.

"I must wake the dragons from stone by sacrificing the boy." Melisandre urged.

"Swear that there is no other way."

"If you fail, the world will fail and fall into darkness." The Red Woman said sadly. "If you gave the boy, then I will give you your kingdom."

"Fat chance, of that happening." Prince Jacob mumbled between his words.

"You can't, Your Grace, because Edric Storm is gone." Davos cuts in.

From the expression on the face of Lady Melisandre, she didn't see it at all in her so called magical flames. She looked almost surprised to have not seen it coming, a win for the Hand of the King, in the mind of the prince.

"You meant Salladhor Saan kidnapped the boy for ransom." The king said.

"This was Davos's doing, and I'm sure my king, your own son facilitated the escape." The Red Woman interjected.

"Jaocb….is this true." His father Stannis asks, not in the tone of a king, but the tone of a father.

"It is true I helped him. Only because you were going to allow him to die, he's only a child and of our blood." Jacob answered.

"I hope for your loyalty, Davos, it seemed I don't."

"I kept my oath, to protect the king's people, in which Edric Storm was one." Davos replied.

"If I must sacrifice one child to the flames to save a million from the dark….then it will be worth the cause."

"Then, you are no better than the Lannisters who killed the Targaryen children, and laid their bodies at the feet of Uncle Robert." The prince gritted between his teeth, therefore angering his father.

"You have doomed Edric Storm, as you have doomed everyone else." Melisandre said, in a tone laced with malice.

"A king protects his people, or he is no king at all." Davos answered.

"Am I to learn a king's duty from an onion smuggler, it seems you influenced my son to commit this treason, but he will be punished later." The King said angrily, consumed with hateful feelings towards his loyal knight and his son.

Davos kneels on his knees, and bowed his head low. The prince knew what was going to happen, the man was volunteering to be executed, if that wasn't honour then what was honour.

"You can take my head, Your Grace, but I beg of you to hear me out first, before I go."

"Speak quickly."

Jacob saw Sorrell appear, as the knight entered the chambers. The taller man had his arm wrapped around the prince, to shield him from what he was about to see. His father killing a man, he considered his best friend.

The prince leaned on the Grimm man, the man who risked a lot to get him out of Oldtown, even if it meant him seeing the justice his father wields. A shed tear came from the prince's eye, as he was about to see the Onion Knight for one last time.

Davos fumbled through his cloak to draw out a wrinkled piece of parchment, but it was his only shield. The thin and flimsy thing, could mean the difference between life and death. "A King's Hand should be able to read and write, Maester Pylos has been teaching me, with the help of the prince and the children." He smoothed the message, and saw the words under the light of the magic sword.

"To those Five Kings in the realm. The King Beyond the Wall is heading south with a mustered army of wildlings, and Lord Commander Mormont is missing and feared to be dead. Sent for assistance to help combat the threat of wildlings from crossing the Wall." Ser Davos read out loud.

The king withdrew his sword from the Onion Knight, as the man began to stand on his feet. Davos dusted himself off, to look like a man who has seen forgiveness and will live again to serve his king.

"We should aid the Night's Watch, father. It might be the key for us to earn the respect of the North and it might be the chance we need to gain the throne again." The prince said, wiping the tear from his eye, and being let go by his sworn shield.

"Your Grace, the other usurpers refused to help them, but you are the only king capable of saving them." Ser Davos said.

"This message and your new ability to read has saved your life, and it has made me see why my heir trusts you more than any of these lords I'm surrounded with. My son may be a bit soft-hearted inside, but his mind is in the right place. He thinks with logic and realism, not the fanatical urges of the Lady Melisandre and the Queen's Men. You and my son are right; I must take my remaining forces to North to defend the Wall. I don't care what these southorns think of the Night's Watch, but they guard the realm from whatever is behind the Wall, if they fall, then the wildlings will pillage, rape and steal from the innocent, and I cannot have raiders and savages in my Seven Kingdoms." The king spoke.

The Prince was relieved, to see Davos able to keep his head and his life. And he was surprised to see his father forgive him, even though inside the king knew it was right for them to spirit Edric Storm away, as his father didn't like his presence much.

In the coming days, Jacob hoped he was able to mend the fragmented relationship he had with his father, when they got to Castle Black, as it wasn't as strong as it was during the War of the Five Kings, he wanted that relationship again.

The question is, will Jacob be given a chance to prove himself to be a capable leader, in being able to lead a host of men to save the Night's Watch and The Wall from the wildling forces.