kings landing

The sleeping dragon inn was much bigger than any of the inns he had stayed in previously and it was packed full of people from lowborn to knights and even a few ladies/lords. Jon took a seat and ordered himself a hearty stew and a drink. His seat was in the corner of the room, able to overlook the entire tavern. He had been given the names and descriptions of the two other bastards he was meant to meet here. Greg Hill, bastard of a Payne lady in the Westerlands and Bob Stone, bastard of Lord Donniger in the vale. Greg was supposed to be tall, skinny and have an unshaven face, with long, black hair. He was ten and three and yet he had a scruffy half beard, patchy but more than enough to make him look a few years older. He was an excellent archer. Bob on the other hand was a chubby kid of ten and five with long, blonde hair and a distinctive scar under his right eye due to an accident whilst training. Despite being chubby, he was apparently a gifted swordsman, deceptively fast of his feet. He spotted Bob quite quickly, he was sitting a few tables over, stuffing his face with pigeon pies, a local specialty in king's landing. Walking over, he introduced himself, "greetings, I am Jon Snow, you must be Bob Stone, we were supposed to meet up here?"

Bob blinked, looking up, before breaking out into a big smile, "finally! We have been here for a week waiting on you. Had you come any later, we might've left without you"

"We?"

"Yeah, Greg arrived a day after me. He's out taking a piss. So, all the way from the north are ya? How are the women there?", Bob asked.

"They are certainly beautiful"

"Don't tell me you are still a maiden? Oh man, we have to change that!"

"I don't want to sleep with some whore", he declined before it could be offered.

"Who is talking about whores? I hear there are plenty of bastards who would love to sample foreign dick. The Dornish aren't as uptight as the rest of the seven kingdoms. I have been there before. Best sex I ever had and don't even have to worry about getting any of them pregnant, they drink moon tea there like it is water", Bob laughed heartily.

It didn't sound so bad. His main concern was getting some girl pregnant with his child. It wouldn't be wise to leave half frost giant bastards in the girls but if what he said was true… maybe he could have some fun still. He didn't want a whore, someone he paid to be with him but a girl who actually wanted him for him(and didn't force herself on him *cough cough*)? Well that was a different case. He wouldn't marry some bastard girl but it would be a nice adventure to have before shit hit the fan.

Greg entered the inn a few minutes later, sitting down next to Bob and drinking out of his mug, "you must be Snow then?"

"Indeed I am", he nodded, observing the boy. He was skinny, just as his description had said but nothing could prepare him for just how skinny he was. His face was almost skeletal, yet he didn't look weak, he clearly had muscles but they weren't very big, more lean and mean. His black hair was pulled back into a bun and his eyes analysed him with cold precision. As they talked, Jon got a feel for their personalities. Bob was jovial and loud, whilst Greg was reserved and distant. Greg was quiet but Bob talked enough for the both of them. They got along just fine. They didn't clash or anything, "so, you know how to use that spear on your back?"

"Indeed I do", Jon smiled, "it was a gift from my father"

"Ah, yes, Eddard Stark", Bob nodded, "honourable man, or so my family says. It was apparently quite the shock when he of all people had a bastard. Who is your mother? For someone like Lord Stark to stumble, she must've been quite the beauty! Hahaha!"

"He never liked talking about my mother", it was technically the truth. Ned Stark indeed did not like talking about his mother, "all he told me was that she died giving birth to me", another truth.

"Oh- I- I'm sorry… let me buy you another ale, wench, get our table another round!"

The bar wench, an old woman with a gaunt face brought over three mugs and took the empty ones from the table.

"I think we are more than ready to depart next morning, don't you think so? Get away from this place. I can't stand the stench of shit any more"

Greg gave a quiet grunt as he nodded and Jon gave a quick nod of approval. They retired to their rooms and went to sleep. This time, he made sure to lock his room. In his sleep, the nightmares still haunted him but was not all he dreamed about.

He was standing in the throne room, the iron throne, a monstrosity of a thousand swords, melted together, looming over him. The show version didn't capture the truth of it, not even in the slightest. It was bigger, way bigger and the blades were jagged. Sitting on it was a sure fire way to cut yourself. He was standing next to the throne. Looking up, he saw Daenerys sitting on it, a child at her chest, brilliant silver hair, no older than a year old. Outside, he could hear the roar of dragons. Was this the future or just a dream? Before he could think on it, he awoke to the knock on his door, "get up snow! We are leaving in an hour!" Bob's voice rang out from the door. With a sigh, he dressed himself and stepped out of his room, his spear at his back, "let's do this"