Chapter 24 4 страница

Moving off to the side, Nox watched dispassionately as the soon-to-be brothers of the Night's Watch and those guarding them detached themselves from the rest of the convoy and began following Yoren and most of the other Black brothers towards the Wall and Castle Black. Once they were well on their way, Ned turned around and faced the rest of them. " All of you get some rest, " he said loudly. " We wait two days. And then we head to Eastwatch and board the Sea Wolf to head North to Hardhome. "

Those that'd traveled with them quickly dispersed into Mole's Town looking for a place to lay their heads for the next few nights. 'Shouldn't be a difficult task, ' Nox thought as he watched the residents of the town quickly move to offer their homesteads in exchange for coin or anything else of value. 'This is probably the largest influx of people this town has seen in a long time. I would've been surprised if they didn't try to milk everything of value out of us during our stay. '

As Ned and the boys started heading into the town with Benjen, Nox felt the lightest of touches from the Force on his mind. Stopping in his tracks, Nox turned towards the massive structure as he pushed back, causing the light touch to flee instantly. 'Interesting, ' he thought as he noticed Jon's and Robb's steps falter for a moment as his young apprentice and acolyte turned their attention towards the Wall. 'That was a controlled probe. But with the Wall muddling just about any sensory capabilities from the Force…I cannot tell who it came from…But it definitely came from Castle Black. ' Smiling, Nox followed the Starks to try and find a place to lay his head for the night. 'Well, this little stop certainly became much more interesting, hasn't it? '

When Jon had been a boy before Master Nox had arrived, he had thought on more than one occasion that the Black would be his future. After all, what other future could one such as he have besides a guardsman or a Black Brother? And the fact that the North was full of tales saying that there was much honor in joining the Night's Watch, of being part of something bigger than yourself, had indeed been tempting. But now that he was standing in the famed Castle Black and now that he was watching those who called themselves the 'Black Brothers' mill around the yard? Well, he found himself more than a little underwhelmed.

For one, calling Castle Black a 'castle' was a bit of a misconception. A castle or keep implied a well-fortified series of buildings. The only defense Castle Black truly had was the Wall itself to the north as there were no actual Walls surrounding it to the east, west or south. Instead, Castle Black consisted of multiple stone towers and timber keeps that had paths both above and below ground joining them together. There was the Lord Commander's Tower, the King's Tower where most of the lords of the North and South were being put up for the night. Another tall tower that was nearly as tall as the Sorcerer's Tower in Winterfell, though even then the tallest tower in Castle Black only managed to reach a third of the way up the Wall at best. Then there was another tower that had a very poor excuse for a battlement that looked over the training yard, and two other towers that looked sturdy, but were starting to show signs of age. And nestled against the Wall was a strange contraption that was like a carriage attached to a winch that could carry people to the top of the Wall.

'And to think…for a very brief time I was certain that this was my future, ' Jon thought, looking around Castle Black with a critical eye. It wasn't that he now suddenly held the Watch with disdain. No, he was still a man of the North, and he knew the importance of the Night's Watch, even if almost all of those in the South had forgotten. But rather it was now that he had been out into the world, he knew that there was far more out there for one such as he.

'Enough sightseeing, Jon, ' he chided himself as he forced himself to keep moving slowly through Castle Black. 'You have a job to do. '

Shortly after they'd arrived in Mole's Town the day prior, Jon had felt something strange brush up against him. And it hadn't been just him, Robb had sensed it as well. It was something Force related, like one of the probes that he had begun feeling his Master send his way from time to time to test his defenses. But unlike his master's probes, this was incredibly…amateurish. And as soon as Jon had reacted to the probe by trying to find its source, it all but disappeared, leaving him in the dark. He'd tried to send out his own probe through the Force, but as soon as he did, he discovered something else incredibly strange. The Wall it…muddled the Force. He didn't know why, but whenever he tried to use the Force to survey his surroundings, the closer he got to the Wall the harder it was to be successful. His other Force abilities were still just as they were, he could levitate objects as easily as he could back in Winterfell. But for some reason his ability to sense his surroundings was lessened the closer he got to the Wall. Out of curiosity, he'd tried to sense beyond the Wall…and immediately regretted that decision. It was like physically running headfirst into the Wall. He'd learned his lesson quickly. So, without really being able to use the Force to sense anything more than a few feet around him, he was stuck walking through the entirety of Castle Black, trying to find just who it was that he'd felt the day before.

Making his way along what passed for a wooden pathway, Jon felt a quick spike from the Force, like the one he felt the day before. And just like last time, the moment he reacted to the presence, it quickly retreated. But unlike the day prior, this time Jon was ready for it, and much closer to the source so that the Wall, while still hindering his ability to sense anything beyond the immediate space around him, couldn't hide whoever it was completely from him. 'Got you, ' he thought victoriously as he turned towards a small squat tower that was situated near the outskirts of Castle Black. 'A rockery, ' Jon realized as he saw a raven fly into the upper part of the squat tower. 'A Maester? This should prove to be interesting. '

Glancing around to make sure that there were no prying eyes, Jon palmed his lightsaber that was hanging on his belt and reached out to open the door – only to have the door seemingly open on its own. " Egg…Is that you, Egg? "

Blinking, Jon slowly walked through the opened door, his eyes searching for the source of the raspy voice. What he found both surprised and confused Jon. The source of the Force presence he'd been feeling was coming from an old man, the oldest Jon had ever seen in his life. The man was bald save for a few wisps of snow-white hair still clinging to his head. And he wore a thick black cloak that he had tightly clutched in his fist, no doubt trying to stave off the cold. And around his neck he wore the chains of a Maester, but unlike any other Maester he'd seen, this man had more chain links than Jon ever thought possible.

" Egg? " The old man called out again, and only then did Jon realize the man was blind as his snow-white eyes passed right over Jon several times. " Egg…I–Is that you? "

Letting go of his lightsaber, Jon entered the room fully and shut the door behind him to keep the cold out. " I'm sorry, ser, " he said, drawing a sharp look from the man. " My name is not 'Egg'. My name is Jon Stark. "

" Stark? " the old man questioned, his head tilting to the side. " But that – Your voice sounds just – oh. That's right. So much time has passed. Forgive an old man. My mind is…not what it once was. And your voice and your…well, you just reminded me so much of my long-lost brother Egg that my mind wandered without thought. But a Stark you say? But that could – oh, I see. So, your father was indeed as foolish as I feared. "

Jon felt his anger flare and the Force responded to his anger. " My father is Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell. And he is no fool, old man. "

The old man seemed completely nonplussed as he calmly withstood the wave that was Jon's anger through the Force. " I see, " the old man sighed, shaking his head. " I didn't want to believe that your sire was as foolish as the tales say. But it appears that he succumbed to his own madness. But despite how you may have come to be, it warms my soul to know that our line has not ended. "

Jon was thrown completely on the back foot. 'He…He can't know. He's…He's just a Maester at the Wall. There is no way that…Wait…Just who is this man? ' " Who are you, maester? "

The old man smiled and waved his hand in a quick cut across his chest. In response, the lock on the door slid shut and the lone shutter that was open closed and locked. " I am merely a Maester and a member of the Night's Watch to those who would seek our family harm, " the old man answered cryptically before rising to his feet and walking towards Jon with the sure steps of a man half his age. " But to you, to a member of family which I will not hold secrets from, I am Aemon Targaryen. Your great-uncle on your sire's side. "

" A Targaryen? " Jon breathed. His thoughts so jumbled in his mind that he was having difficulty telling up from down.

" Aye, " his great-uncle nodded before reaching out with a hand and patting him on his shoulder. " I'm sure that this is not easy for you, son. Please, sit. Let us talk. But first, throw a log on the fire. These old bones of mine are not quite as sure as they once were. "

Jon hadn't even realized he'd moved to do as the old man asked until he could feel the heat of the fire against his knuckles as he placed a log onto the low burning fire in the room. Taking a seat across from the old maester, Jon found he still had no idea where to begin. " I – don't know what to say. "

" Then let us start with something easy, " Maester Aemon smiled toothlessly as he held out a hand and with a twitch of his finger, brought a thick blanket over to wrap around his legs.

" You can use the Force, " Jon stated, his mind finally starting to right itself.

" The Force? Yes, I do believe that is the term that I have heard from those who've come to join the Watch in recent years. " Aemon nodded. " A term your Master Nox brought to this land. For me, it has always just been magic. Granted, it has only really shown itself in the past ten years or so. But magic was the best term I could use to define what I can do. "

Jon felt himself smirking. " 'Magic' is an oversimplification of the Force and it's capabilities. I doubt that mere magic like we once knew would allow you to see even though your eyes no longer see. Nor move as well as you do despite your age, Maester Aemon. "

The old Maester smiled and gave a sharp laugh. " Ha, you're the first to truly notice in years. Yes. I have been scrounging for every scrap of information I can get about your Master Nox ever since word reached the Watch of his arrival and the gifts he's brought to the North. Perhaps…you could entertain an old man and tell me? Is he a descendent from the Dragon Lords? Just as we are? "

Jon's mind immediately went to what he knew of his master's past and the fact that there was life beyond their own amongst the stars. " I'm sorry, Maester Aemon. My Master's past is his own to tell. Not mine. "

Aemon stared sightlessly at him. It was the same stare Jon was used to getting from his Master. " Your loyalty to him is indeed great. But now that we have asked the easy questions, perhaps it is time for you to ask that which you truly wish to know? While it might seem unlikely, I can perhaps provide you the answer that you've been seeking. "

There was only one question Jon truly wanted an answer to, now that he knew just who his mother and sire were. " Why? " Jon asked simply, feeling his stomach rise into his throat. " Why did he…? Why did he do that to my mother? Why did everything go wrong? "

Frowning, Aemon rearranged his blanket, so it was better covering his legs. " Have you heard the old saying about whenever a Targaryen is born? They say that every time a new Targaryen is born, the gods will toss a coin in the air; one side madness and the other greatness. And the world holds its breath to see how it will land. Your sire, there were many that thought that his coin landed on the side of greatness. I too thought thusly. Over the years he would write to me, the first in many, many years to do so. At first, I saw what everyone else saw. The next great King of Westeros. But as time went on, and especially after the fragility of his wife became known, I started to see that which others were denying was there. Madness, born of obsession. Your sire became obsessed with the tale of the 'Prince Who was Promised' and the return of the great enemy of man. At first, he believed himself to be the Promised Prince. But as time wore on and there was no sign of the great enemy the Prince was said to be destined to face, his obsession changed. He no longer believed himself to be the Prince-Who-was-Promised. But rather he believed that the Prince would come from him. And that the Prince would need to be Aegon the Conqueror Reborn, with his sister-wives fighting by his side. Sister-wives that he feared his current wife would never be able to provide him with. "

" So, he sought another wife, " Jon added, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees.

" Aye, he did, " Aemon nodded sadly. " And quickly enough, he decided on one, your mother. "

His statement took Jon aback. " But he never even met my mother until Harrenhal. "

" True. And it was after meeting her at Harrenhal that he decided that she was indeed the one that he needed. " Aemon sighed. " But he knew of your mother well before either stepped foot into that keep. The only daughter of House Stark, descendants from the Kings of Winter, the last known line to face against the great enemy of man. And he also reasoned in his mind that by marrying your mother, he would be satisfying the Pact of Ice and Fire and appease the gods both old and new. "

Furrowing his brow, Jon thought back on his history around the Dance of Dragons. " But the Pact of Ice and Fire was for a Targaryen Princess to marry into the line of Starks, not the other way around. "

" Your sire's obsession made him blind to that point, even after I pointed the same to him, " Aemon sighed. " But last word I had from him said that your mother agreed with stipulations. I do not know what happened to alter what was between them though. But whatever it was brought about the downfall of House Targaryen. And I hope that you will humor an old blind man in helping him understand just what went wrong, and why his family was brought to the edge of extinction, and why the last remaining relative he has refuses half of his heritage. "

Jon wasn't sure what to tell the old man. Jon had learned the hard way that the truth only brought pain. He could lie and spare the old man some sorrow. But he knew that any lie he told him would immediately be recognized. So, he told the truth. Or as much as he knew of it. " My mother tried to send word explaining her actions before she left with…my sire. " Jon said, still refusing to consider Prince Rhaegar his father. " But that word either never reached her family or was misunderstood. Either way, my uncle and grandfather went before King Aerys and demanded Rhaegar show himself and explain his actions, and both were executed for treason against the crown. When word reached my mother about what happened, she wanted to return to her family and correct the wrong that her actions had brought. But Rhaegar…He refused to let her go. And he…he took her again and again by force until I was conceived. And then he rode off to put down the Rebellion. Leaving my mother alone with little to no aid in the middle of the desert with only the Kingsguard as company. My mother…She died bringing me into this world. And with her last breath, she begged my father, Eddard Stark, to raise me as one of his own and protect me from all those who would seek to either use me or bring harm to me. "

Aemon seemed to sag and age before his very eyes as his worst fears were confirmed. " I see…So, the coin did indeed land on the side of madness. I had held out hope for so long that it was not so… But now... "

" I'm sorry, " Jon said, lowering his eyes.

" You have nothing to apologize for, Jon. You were but a babe, not even born yet when all these troubles came to pass. " Maester Aemon replied. " And while we might wish things differently, we cannot change the past. We can only learn from the mistakes of the past and strive not to make them once more. "

Aemon's old frame began shuttering as the old man started coughing uncontrollably. Rising immediately to his feet, Jon placed a hand on the old man's shoulder to support him while using is off hand to wordlessly summon a cup of water through the Force to himself.

" Thank you, Jon. " Aemon coughed, taking the offered cup and taking a few sips before breathing deep. " This cold air…It can and has killed even the heartiest of men. And I am far from my prime. "

" You still have many a year left in you…uncle, " Jon said, testing the word on his lips and finding that calling the old man by the title did not bring him anger like he thought it might. " And with the aid of the Force, you might have more than you think. "

The old Maester gave him a toothless smile. " I am not your master, Jon Stark. But…mayhap I could still have a few years left in me. At least enough to see one more winter come to these lands. " Aemon quieted as Jon felt his old hand on his own. " I wonder, my boy…Might you grant an old man one more request? I can see you through the Force but…but it is not the same. Might I…know your face? "

Jon saw Aemon's hand twitch towards his face to emphasize his words. " Aye, Uncle Aemon, " Jon nodded while kneeling moving to guide the old man's hand to his jaw. " You have our family's jaw and eyes, " Aemon said, his fingers gently wandering around Jon's face. " I can see through this power you have, but I cannot tell much. Tell me, what is your coloring? "

" My mother's, " Jon answered without hesitation.

" Then it has served you well to hide you against those who seek our family harm, " Aemon sighed, letting his hands fall. " I sense…so much anger in you. So much anger, buried deep beneath the surface. Anger at your sire. Anger at your grandfather for the madness that consumed him. And anger at the world for the station you found yourself in. Time may have dulled your anger, but it is still there. Festering beneath the surface like an infected wound. I wonder, might you humor an old man and listen to my advice? "

" Of course, Maester, " Jon nodded. Was it any wonder as to why he harbored such anger towards the one who sired him and the one who killed his grandfather and uncle in such a brutal and unjust way?

Smiling, Aemon patted his cheek. " This is the same counsel that I gave my brother Egg before we parted for the last time. The Great Council had just named him King and he was set to ascend the Iron Throne. He was a man grown with children, yet in many ways still just a boy. 'Kill the boy within you', I told him. 'It takes a man to rule. An Aegon, not an Egg. Kill the boy and let the man be born'. You may not rule from the Iron Throne, but I see that one day you will indeed rule in your own way. You are more than half the age that Egg was, but I can see that your life will not be an easy one. And it is not a life that a boy will be able to traverse. So, kill the boy, Jon Stark. End this boyish hatred you hold in your heart at your sire and his father. The past is the past and the ink is dry. We cannot change what happened. So do not let your anger at their actions hinder your future. Remember what they did so that you do not make the same mistake. But do not paint all your ancestors with the same brush. Remember not only the bad times of our family but remember the good as well. "

Jon was struck by the weight of the Maester's words. His Master and father had both told him something similar in the past, but for some reason hearing the words from his oldest living relative just seemed to give the words far more weight than they once held. " Thank you…Uncle Aemon. " Jon said lowly, rising to his feet. " If there is anything I can do…? "

" Live, " Aemon smiled, turning his sightless eyes towards Jon. " Live for our family, Jon Stark. "

Pausing near the exit, Jon debated on whether to tell the old Maester his true name. In the end, he decided that there wasn't any harm in a lone brother of the Night's Watch knowing his secret. Especially seeing as how the man was, as he said, family. " My name… The name my mother gave me. Is Jaehaerys Stark. And after we are done with the Wildlings…I would like to call upon you once more, uncle. "

Aemon grinned toothlessly as he leaned his head back and stared upwards. " A good name, Jaehaerys Stark. I look forward to talking to you again when you and your father finish with what needs to be done north of the Wall. "

Nodding, Jon quietly opened the door to the Maester's quarters and stepped out – and almost ran head long into Master Nox who was standing just slightly beyond the doorway, leaning on what passed for a banister. " Find what you need, Apprentice? "

Doing what he could to calm his racing heart and not show that his Master once again managed to surprise him, Jon nodded. " Aye, my Master. "

Nox nodded as Jon felt his master's eyes through the Force pass over him. " You're lighter than you were before you stepped foot in this place. "

" I feel lighter than I did before, Master, " Jon nodded, his head turning to look back at Maester Aemon's quarters once more. " It's time for me to kill the boy, Master. Move past what held me back before. And accept who I am. "

" And who are you? "

Swallowing, Jon cast a look around to make sure there were no unwanted ears nearby. " I am Jaehaerys Stark, Apprentice to Darth Nox of the North. And while it might not be safe for me to go by that name yet. It is who I am. And I will no longer hide from myself. "

" About time, apprentice, " his Master nodded, a smirk upon his face. " Though I do trust that you will take caution when trying to hatch the egg you procured from our little expedition. You might be able to hide your name until you are ready. But the creature you brought back will wait for no man once it is hatched. "

Ever since she and her brother had been forced to flee Braavos after the death of Ser Willem Darry, Dany had been to nearly every Free City in Essos with her brother Viserys as the two did their best to stay ahead of the assassins her brother said were being sent after them by the Usurper Robert Baratheon and his mad dogs. They'd been to Myr, Tyrosh, Qohor, Volantis and Lys. And now she could add Norvos to the list. 'Though I fear that our stay here will not be long. ' Dany thought with a tired sigh as she walked along the path that lined the small garden in the estate that her and her brother were currently residing at. 'Lady Mellario made it quite clear to us that while she will house us for a time, it will not be for long. If word were to reach the Usurper that she gave aid to my brother and I, then she fears that the Usurper would take it out on her children still living in Dorne. And now with our time here possibly running short…I have yet to ask the one question of her that is burning in my soul. The question that was raised by my only friend…Jon. Jon Stark…son of the Usurper's Dog. '

She wanted to hate him for who he was, for the deception he laid upon her by not telling her his name. But she just…couldn't. She couldn't hate him. No matter how hard she'd tried, no matter how many times she told herself that he was her enemy, she couldn't hate him. Every time she tried to force herself to hate him, she remembered the shy boy her age she ran into in Volantis. Of the care that shown in his eyes when he tried to help her before Viserys pulled her away from him. She remembered all the times that came after that when she would see him in her dreams, or sometimes when she was awake when she would spot him in the corner of her eye only to have him disappear the moment she tried to find him. Then she remembered when they started talking to one another. Of how he tried to explain what was happening to them and how he was trying to help her. Him. A Stark. The first person to try and help her outside of her brother since they were forced to flee the house with the red door.

'Was it all a lie? ' She thought, only to immediately dismiss it. 'No. There was no lie in him. I don't know how I know…but I know that Jon wasn't lying to me when he told me his name and what he knew of the Usurper's rise to the Iron Throne. My family's throne. But what he said…It goes against everything Viserys has said. Could my brother have…Could he have lied to me? Is that…Is that why I'm so afraid of asking Lady Mellario such a simple question? Is it that…I don't want to know the truth? '

" Is there something you need of me, Daenerys Targaryen? "

Daenerys had been so focused on her own inner turmoil that the path she'd been walking had faded from her sight and she'd ended up mindlessly wandering into Lady Mellario's private gazebo in the middle of her estate. Lady Mellario was sitting in the shade, a cup of tea in her hand while her lone guard stood behind her. Dany had been stunned, to say the least, when she and her brother arrived in Norvos only for him to immediately bring them to the exact person Jon had told her to try and find. She wasn't sure just what type of reception her brother was hoping to have received when they arrived at the manor, but the frosty and almost hostile reaction from Lady Mellario to their presence was clearly not it. At first Dany was afraid that the Lady Mellario would turn them away immediately, but after exchanging a few words with her brother, Lady Mellario stated that she would give them shelter for a sennight before sending them on their way.

Viserys was not happy about the decision, and she was afraid Lady Mellario had 'awoken the dragon' within her brother. But, surprisingly to her, Viserys accepted the offer. Though he did so with the parting words that he would remember her actions when he claims what was promised to him. Dany wasn't sure just what he'd meant by that. But by the look on Lady Mellario's face, she clearly did. And Dany knew then and there that, just like many times before, her brother's temper had cost them a place to stay.

" Are you going to stand there with your head in the clouds all day, Daenerys? Or are you going to join me for tea? "

" I apologize, Lady Mellario, " Dany said, bowing her head. Honestly, she wanted to do nothing more than flee from the frosty glare of the woman. But as a guest she knew that she had no recourse to deny the request to join her. " I would…enjoy a cup of tea. "

Being careful to remember the proper etiquette that was expected of her, Dany gracefully took the seat across the table from Lady Mellario. Wordlessly, Lady Mellario picked up a porcelain tea kettle and poured her a cup of steaming tea. Having never really had much tea in her life, Dany was taken slightly aback by the rich smell coming from the kettle. " I take it by your expression that you have not had the pleasure of indulging in tea from Yi Ti? "

" No, Lady Mellario, " Dany answered, staring at the green colored tea in her cup as her host moved a few other dishes towards her that contained various herbs.

" Traditionally, one would not add anything to the tea. But if the taste is too bitter for you, feel free to add honey. Or, if you wish to add to the flavor, I have some mint, lemon, and basil if you desire. "

" Thank you, " Dany said, carefully picking up the offered cup and taking a sip. The tea wasn't nearly as hot as she'd expected it to be. But the taste, by the gods, she had to fight back the urge to down the entire cup immediately! She'd never tasted anything so wonderful in her entire life!

" Drink it slowly, girl, " Lady Mellario chided her. " That tea is not cheap. "

Swallowing what was in her mouth, Dany tried to drink the tea at a much slower pace. " Apologies, Lady Mallerio. "

Lady Mellario waved off her concern as she leaned back and sipped her own tea in silence. Holding her cup in her hand, Dany glanced around the garden, wondering if by chance her brother was anywhere nearby. 'He's…He's not around. Should…? No. I need to ask her now. Before Viserys comes back. If he finds out I'm asking about what happened during the Rebellion…I will awaken the dragon once more. '

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