A Joke
patreon
Game of Thrones: Reborn as a Frey
🕑 Added 2021-10-18 16:24:07 +0000 UTCChapter 76: Truth
***
-Oliver (XVI)-
You know, it took a certain kind of stupid to say that to my face what Catelyn just did. Suggesting that I killed my brother and took his place.
Now, she was right, I did kinda kill Gerold and take his place. But that wasn't something that anyone alive knew. Also, I could see that Ned had gotten uncomfortable here.
"My Lady," I addressed Catelyn softly as if I was trying to keep in my anger. But I wasn't really angry at her, these situations had to be treated carefully and anger would only cloud my eyes. "Sometimes words that are spoken can't be taken back. I loved my brother more than anything in the world. I would give my life for any of my siblings, bastards or otherwise. It's not the children's fault for their parents' actions."
With that said, I got up and politely nodded at them with a smile on my face. “Excuse me, I will be going to sleep.”
Just like that, I walked off, leaving the discussions. In reality, this was all to show that I won’t take bullshit like this. Staying and taking that kind of crap with a smile makes you a weak person, and the talks between me and Ned would have been ruined. The man would have tried to get more from me, he didn’t even have to do it consciously. He would unconsciously think of me as someone who could take it.
As I walked out I slightly slammed the door behind me to show that I wasn’t under the control of my emotions. I tried to play every part of the picture I was painting perfectly.
Now I see how stupid Catelyn was, no wonder she ended up killing her son. She essentially had killed Rob by letting Jaimie Lannister go. Tywin wouldn’t have dared to do something like the Red Wedding if his legacy was at stake, the one man who could inherit his House.
Essentially, her stupidity massacred her family, If Rob hadn’t died at the Red Wedding and hadn’t acted kinda dumb himself, he would have gone to King’s Landing and put Joffrey’s and Cersei’s heads on pikes and gone home. Leaving the empty iron throne for Stannis to take.
He could have played this so well, but sadly ended up confusing that doing the honorable thing was the right thing. Honorable people don’t manage the world, they just die, used by less honorable people.
As I walked out into the night, staring at the beautiful ski, many thoughts went through my mind and I yawned. Hearing steps behind me, I changed my view with my hawk and saw that it was Jon. He seemed unsure of something and opened his mouth to say something, but stopped.
“Jon, do you know what it means fighting for what is right?” I asked him, trying to change his mindset into something that would be more effective against the Night King. Or the Others, whatever was beyond the wall, Jon had to be a huge shield against it.
He had a good form for someone his age and his movements and instincts were good enough, it would be polished as he grew up. But in the end, Jon was born to be someone good at fighting and even Magic probably if he tried his hand at it. Though his mindset was terrible for Magic, probably the worst out there. Then again, there was no way I would be teaching anyone else Magic. Especially since someone could use it to destroy me.
Still though, no matter how gifted someone was born to be, he would always be used by someone else if they didn’t have the right mindset. It wasn't a matter of intelligent people, as even the smartest person in the world could be tricked by a relatively normal man intelligence-wise. Just like Tyrion would.
“Fighting for what is right means to fight honorably,” answered Jon, with a smile on his face. “No matter what you chose to fight for, then you need to do so with honor.”
What a disappointing answer. Though I thought that, I just smiled and nodded. “That’s correct Jon, as long as you think you are doing the right thing. Then it doesn't matter which side you stand on.”
That was such bullshit advice. Fighting for the right thing? Even the Mad King probably thought he was doing the right thing. No one sees themselves as the villain.
With those thoughts, I went to bed for the day. Tomorrow I would have to act like my feelings had calmed down. Though since I wasn’t angry, to begin with, I had to think of how to do that and how an angry person would act in my situation.
***
-Ned Stark (IV)-
I couldn't believe what my wife just said. Looking at her angrily, I clenched my teeth and whispered. “Stop acting like this. My deal with the Redhawk House could be something that saves the North. From now on, during our meetings, you won’t be there. Am I understood?”
She frowned. “Are you choosing some bastard over your wife? No, that was a stupid question. You will always choose bastards over your family. Can you comprehend just how I felt when you came with Jon here?”
As she said that she got up and walked out. I sighed, this was getting out of hand. I knew how Catelyn felt, and it hurt me seeing her like that. But what choice do I have here? It’s my duty as Lord of the North to look after my people.
“Father, is everything okay?” little Rob came and talked to me, seeming to have noticed me and Catelyn fighting. “Are you okay?”
I only smiled and nodded. “Yes, everything is alright, son. Your mother just wasn’t hungry. What about you? Are you excited to learn swordsmanship from Oliver?” deciding to change the conversation, I asked Rob something that made him smile.
“Yes! I can’t wait for tomorrow to come around!” he jumped in excitement and made some swishing sounds in the air as if he was using a sword. “Do you think I can be like the Undefeated Knight? They say he never lost a fight, though I have lost against Jon a couple of times and Rodric always defeats us when he teaches us.”
Smiling, I remembered once more the oddity that was my old friend. They still talk about how the first time he picked a sword, he defeated his swordmaster. That was something that even Rob, who was reasonably talented, couldn't replicate. But telling him that wouldn’t be good for young children like him. “Of course, as long as you train hard enough, then everything should be okay.”
Technically everything will be okay, I couldn’t like him or tell the harsh truth.
**
The next day came about and Oliver was there for breakfast. I could only guess how annoyed he must be. After all, the first time I didn’t pay attention to his suggestion and the second time we tried to negotiate my wife implied that he had killed his brother.
“Ned,” he talked to me casually. But I didn’t mind and shook his hand.
“Oliver, sorry about yesterday,” the first thing I did was try and apologize to him.
But he shook his head, the smile still consistent on his face. It didn’t move at all and somehow seemed fake, which was understandable. He can’t be happy so soon, and it was surprising the amount of patience he had. I doubted that he stayed for us, but most likely due to Arthur’s planning diary, he was just respecting his father’s wishes.
“Don’t worry Ned, I acted a bit recklessly and let my feelings get the best of me,” I could tell that he still hadn’t forgiven us for that. He was only saying this to be polite, which was the most I could hope for. “Anyway, did your Maester explain the details of the new port and how it will manage the trade routes?”
“Yes,” I nodded, remembering the details Luwin told me. This will be very beneficial for the North. Though I don’t see the exact details of what Oliver would get out of this as the cost of the building would be backed by him. Which would be crazily expensive as he will be building a whole new town, and who knows if people would even move there. So if this didn’t work, it would be the same as throwing money down the drain. “We accept.”
He smiled, again, forcefully this time too. That insult to him yesterday must have hurt him even more than I thought.
“Then I am glad we agree, we will continue communications,” he offered me a piece of paper with the details of the project written on it. “Keep this safe. Anyway, I will be setting off today. Send my apologies to Jon and Rob, but I won’t be able to teach them swordsmanship.”
As expected. He won’t stay around here, we insulted him to his face. This was as polite as he could be to us now, hopefully, this doesn't ruin the relationship between our Houses.
As Oliver was about to turn, suddenly stopped and turned around, whispering. “Also, look after Jon. The sins of his father don't mean that the child was born of sin.”
I nodded, understanding that he didn’t want Jon to be judged for “my” sins of making him out of wedlock. But why was he whispering this?
My heart dropped as I saw a small smirk come to his face. That was when I came to a realization and his next words confirmed my suspicion.
“And I don’t mean you. We both know you are too honorable to do something like this. So take care of your nephew. My father always said that you were too honorable, and only by spending time with Jon did I peace that together. By lineage, he should be a prince.”
With that, he walked off, and I was left there jaw agape and in shock. He had figured it out… Oliver knew about Jon’s true parentage.
____
