Game of Thrones: Winter's Fire

Dunk

They set out from Starfall one hot spring day in the 209th Year after Aegon's Landing, Ser Duncan from Fleebottom and his squire Prince Aegon Targaryen, otherwise known as Egg. They had spent the better part of the last year wandering around Dorne, serving various lords and knights, and on occasion competing in the regular competitions that the Dornish hosted. Their last two months of service had been with Lord Ullor Dayne, a man in his forties, whose brother Ser Ullrick Dayne was the famed Sword of the Morning. Dunk had served the time as Lord Ullor's sworn sword, travelling with him as the man went and visited the various holdings that made up his lordship, and even on one occasion to a visit to Sunspear to see the ruling Prince of Dorne Maron Martell and his wife the famous Princess Daenaerys Martell nee Targaryen. That had been a very intriguing experience for Dunk, he had served with Ser Arlan of Pennytree for many a year, and the man had fought during the Blackfyre rebellion, which if the rumour held true the pretender Daemon Blackfyre had fought to win the hand of his sister Daenaerys.

Whilst Daenaerys was certainly very beautiful, Dunk could not truly fathom why one would fight a war for her hand, when she seemed perfectly happy with her husband and their children. Dunk knew that Egg had simply been interested in speaking with his great aunt, because it meant that he would not have to spend a single more day living in the harsh conditions that they had been living in beforehand- not that Lord Ullor was neglectful of their upkeep, but the luxuries in Sunspear were much better than those provided in Starfall- . It was in Sunspear that they learnt of the disease that the maesters were now calling the Great Spring Sickness, and how it had claimed the lives of many thousands of people, including Egg's grandfather and cousins. Egg had of course been devastated by that news, and had been worried about his family both in King's Landing and in Summerhall. The boy had wanted to leave for King's Landing straight away in order to make sure that his family were fine, but Prince Maron had simply said that he had received orders from Lord Bloodraven- the new hand of the king- that should he come across Dunk and Egg they were not to be allowed to leave Dorne until the disease had been dealt with.

That had been a month ago, and when word had come to Lord Ullor at Starfall from his liege lord informing him that the Great Spring Sickness had passed, the old lord had told Dunk that it was safe for him to head north, and here they were riding through the Boneway Pass through the scorching heat of Dorne. He would be sad to leave Dorne, Dunk thought, their food may be too spicy for his liking and the heat maybe nigh insufferable, but the Dornish were good people, fiery and passionate, and their women, well their women were on a whole new level. Dunk had thought that perhaps in Dorne he would be able to find the puppeteer Tanselle, she had been a very lovely girl and he had much enjoyed her company at Ashford, but alas they had been in Dorn for five moons and still he had not found her, perhaps nothing was meant to become of it then.

Dunk's attention was brought back to the present when he heard the sound of a horse whickering nervously. "For peat's sake Egg, don't pull so hard on the reigns you will scare the horse and then we'll all be in trouble then." Dunk scolded his squire.

"I didn't mean to Ser, honest, it's just that you were riding so slowly I thought I'd ride faster and go slightly ahead." Egg replied, the boy's hair was starting to grow back again, Dunk could see the silver streaks appearing, and they'd need to shave his head once more.

"Well if you want me to ride faster, then you need only say Egg. Don't go riding off on your own now, we're nearly in the Reach and there is trouble brewing here." Dunk said.

"Yes Ser." Egg replied dejectedly.

Dunk sighed and dug his heels into the horse making it go slightly faster so that it could increase in speed and catch up with Egg's horse. They rode for three more days in a north westerly direction until they came to the foot of great hill, deciding that they would go and speak with the Lord of the castle that was situated at the top of the hill in the morning, Dunk stopped his horse and dismounted, helping Egg dismount as well, they tethered their horses to a nearby tree and began building a fire with which they could cook their food.

Once that was done, Dunk sat down on a patch of grass and looked around at the land and felt awed by what he saw. Growing up in Fleebottom he had heard stories of the lands beyond King's Landing, but not once in his life did he think he'd ever get to see them. Now he had seen Dorne with its deserts and humid weather, and here he was in the Reach, which was just as colourful and beautiful as Egg had claimed it would be. Even here at the foot of this great hill where they were camped, there were many a colourful flower and the sound of life and activity seemed to buzz through the forest where they were. It seemed rather peaceful to Dunk, completely different to the life he had lived growing up in the slums of King's Landing, much more relaxed.

"What's the banner on the top of that castle there Ser?" Dunk heard Egg ask.

Dunk titled his head up and squinted up at the banner flying tall and proud at the top of the hill. "A chequy lion, green and gold rampant on a field of white. Why lad?"

Dunk turned and found his squire's eyes narrowed. "What's wrong lad?"

"This castle belongs to House Osgrey, we're in their lands." Egg replied his voice quiet as a whisper.

Dunk was not sure what had gotten Egg so tense, but whatever it was it clearly had to do with House Osgrey, so he asked. "What's wrong with House Osgrey lad?"

"They sided with Daemon Blackfyre during the first Blackfyre rebellion and Ser Eustace Osgrey's son Addam escaped with Aemon Blackfyre to the north when the rebellion was crushed. The only reason why both their heads weren't taken off by my grandfather was because of a treaty that my grandfather sent Bloodraven and my father to negotiate with Daeron Stark in the north. House Osgrey are traitors." Egg snarled.

Dunk sighed. "That was thirteen years ago lad, times have changed since then. The rebels who were willing to bend the knee swore themselves back into the King's peace, and the Blackfyres rot across the narrow sea or in the north. And besides they won't know who we are other than a simple hedge knight and his squire. And you will not say anything to change that."

Dunk could see that Egg was about to protest and so before he could; he spoke up again and said. "Your father would not appreciate nor would he thank you for getting yourself into danger, simply because of something that happened thirteen years ago. He would want you to learn how to be a good man and put it all behind you and move on, just as the kingdom and time has okay. You are not to say anything that will give House Osgrey any reason to suspect who you might be, we shall need to shave your head before we go and pledge ourselves to their service on the morrow."

Egg cast his eyes down then and said in a defeated voice. "Very well ser."

"Good," Dunk replied. "Now if you are done eating, put the fire out and go to bed, we shall rise early tomorrow." With that he made to go to their tent to sleep. As he got into the tent and pulled the furs around him, he sighed internally it was going to be a very long day tomorrow, he merely hoped Egg could keep his mouth shut, otherwise they may very well find themselves in a spot of bother.

The next day they broke their fast early, just as the sun was rising. A feast it was not- some bread and water- but it was enough to keep them going for that day's trek up the hill. Once they were done eating, Dunk got out his shears from his pack, and began clipping away the thin strands of silvery hair that had begun to appear on Egg's head. The first time they had had to do this had been just after the Ashford Tourney when they had left Ashford and were heading to Dorne, Egg's hair had been growing back slowly as they had left Ashford, to the point where you would have to have been a complete fool not to recognise Egg as either a Targaryen or a Blackfyre, and as such the need had arisen for his hair to go. Egg had grumbled and grumbled all the while, and eventually Dunk had had to tell him that either he stop grumbling or he would be clouted on the ear. Since that first time, they had only had to shear Egg's hair off twice more, once when they entered the Boneway Pass, and the other when they went to Skyreach.

With that done, they began the long climb up the hill, thankfully there was a path leading up the side of the hill, which made it easier for them to take their horses up the hill. After what seemed like an age, they reached the castle gates, and sure enough as Dunk looked up once more, there on the banner flying high and proud was a chequy lion green and gold, rampant on a field of white.

"Who goes there?" came a deep voice from the other side of the gate.

This was always the part that Dunk dreaded, how to get them into the castle without giving away Egg's identity. Swallowing deeply, he said in as confident a tone as he could muster. "Ser Duncan the Tall and my squire Egg. We come to pledge our swords in service to Ser Eustace Osgrey the knight of Standfast."

There was a long moment of silence in which Dunk feared that perhaps they had been found out, but then came the deep voice again. "Ser Eustace welcomes you Standfast, please do enter." And with that the gates entered and Dunk breathed a silent sigh of relief. As he spurred his horse on through the gates, he saw out the corner of his eye Egg looking up at the banner flying in air with a unreadable expression on his face, Dunk could only hope that the boy would not do anything stupid whilst they were here.

"If you wish Ser Duncan, I can have Harrold here take you and your squire's horses and have them fed and rested in the stables." A man with greying hair and brown eyes wearing the livery of House Osgrey said.

Dunk pondered this for a moment before saying. "That would be most useful, thank you kind sir." And with that he nodded to Egg and they both dismounted from their horses, and gave them to the stableboy Harrold, who seemed to be in his late teens.

The old man then spoke once more. "If you follow me, I will take you to the great hall. Ser Eustace is expecting you."

Dunk merely nodded and with Egg walking beside him, they followed the old man toward the great hall. As they walked toward the hall, Dunk took a moment to look around the castle- a towerhouse really- and he saw that most of the courtyard was made up of old and broken stone, that was badly in need of repair, it seemed just judging by the state of the courtyard that the Osgreys seemed to have suffered very badly for siding with the black dragon.

Eventually, they came to the Great Hall- if it could be called that- it was lined with tapestries depicting scenes from ages past- a little lion fighting off a golden lion, a chequy lion marrying a red lion and on and on- and there sat on a throne of branches and wood, sat Ser Eustace Osgrey. A broad shouldered and barrel chested man, Dunk estimated that Ser Eustace was in his late forties, the scars of battles past showed clearly on his face. Something he had once heard Ser Arlan say came back to him then "The Osgreys have more pride than sense, once a great house, they were felled by Maegor the Cruel during the Faith militant uprising and were stripped of one of their most valuable castles. Ser Eustace is the most prideful of the bunch."

"And who might you be?" Ser Eustace said loudly, his voice echoing in the empty hall.

Dunk walked forward along with Egg and stopped before the steps leading up to Ser Eustace's throne and bowed before it. Speaking softly Dunk said "I am Ser Duncan the Tall and this is my squire Egg, my lord."

"And what do you wish from me and mine Ser Duncan?" Ser Eustace asked.

"If you would have my squire and I my lord, we would pledge ourselves to your service for as long as you shall have us." Dunk replied as confident as he could be.

There was a moment of silence, and then Ser Eustace snorted and said. "It has been many a year since anyone has come to swear themselves to the service of House Osgrey. The last person who did ran away when the Blackfyre rebellion started. Are you a hedge knight of honour Ser Duncan, or will you flee at the next best opportunity?"

Dunk was silent for a moment as he considered what Ser Eustace had said, before he replied. "I am a knight of honour my lord. I will not flee, I will serve you as long as you will have me and my squire my lord and will do whatever it is that you ask of me."

"Spoken like a true hedge knight. Bah, very well then. Ser Duncan you and your squire may join my service. But know this, I do not accept betrayal." Ser Eustace said.

And on that ominous note, Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg entered into the service of Ser Eustace Osgrey.

Dunk's duties in the service of Ser Eustace were nothing of note, they included helping to train some of the boys from the nearby villages in order to make sure that they were of an acceptable standard to either defend their village or to join the household guard, occasionally sparring with Ser Eustace himself- these were the times Dunk looked forward to, old he may be, but there was still some of the fine knight who had fought at Redgrass in Ser Eustace- and also making sure Egg did nothing to give them away.

One day during their stay at Standfast, Ser Eustace's son Lord Addam Osgrey and his wife Lady Rohanne Osgrey nee Webber visited Ser Eustace. Addam Osgrey had served as a squire for Aswell Peake during the Blackfyre rebellion, and had seen his master cut down before his very eyes and had fled with Aemon Blackfyre and several others to the north- or so Dunk was told by Egg- the man was tall and muscular like his father, and also had a mop of auburn hair and some light stubble, his wife Lady Rohanne was a fair lady, with red hair, a beauty if Dunk had ever seen one.

As Dunk watched father and son greet each other, it was if some part of Ser Eustace came alive again, gone was the dull and bitter old man, replaced by a man who seemed many years younger and fuller of life and joy than Dunk had ever seen in him.

"Ah Addam, Rohanne, it has been too long." Dunk heard Ser Eustace say. "Come, come. You must be tired from your journey, come rest for now we shall have a meal to celebrate your return."

Dunk watched as Ser Eustace led his son and his good daughter into the keep, and simply marvelled at the fact that in a few short minutes since his son's arrival the man's attitude had completely changed. Beside him Egg seemed to be grumbling. "What was that lad?" Dunk asked quietly.

"I do not like this Dunk, I don't like this at all." Egg replied,

Dunk sighed. "What don't you like lad?"

But Egg did not deign to reply and so Dunk let it go, for the time being.

Over the next few weeks Dunk had the chance to watch Addam Osgrey from a far, and from what he saw the man seemed to be a more than capable swordsman, he managed to beat several of the household knights and men at arms with relative ease, and Dunk found himself itching to fight him, though of course being a lowly hedge knight, he could not truly do so, nor would he likely be allowed to do so if he asked. There is certain cockiness to the man as well, that is something Dunk can see even from the distance with which he observes Lord Addam, a certain sureness of himself that seems to be lacking in other minor lordlings that Dunk has come across.

Lady Rohanne, is as beautiful and charming as Dunk first thought she would be, he has only spoken with her once, a rather mundane conversation about the weather, and even then Dunk felt tongue tied and undeserving of being in her presence. It did not help that afterward Egg mercilessly picked on him for it, the boy had got a good clouting afterward though.

Dunk is in the midst of these thoughts, when he hears a small cough. Turning round he is surprised to see Lady Rohanne standing behind him, her red hair tied up in a elaborate braid.

"He's a good swordsman isn't he?" Lady Rohanne says.

"My lady?" Dunk stammers in response.

"My husband, he's a good swordsman wouldn't you say Ser Duncan?" Lady Rohanne says once again.

"Yes my lady, one of the best that I've seen." Dunk replies.

Lady Rohanne moves closer toward him, so that their chests are nearly touching, and Dunk swallows nervously.

"Where's your squire Ser Duncan?" Lady Rohanne asks.

Dunk swallows nervously once more. "My lady?"

"Where's your squire Ser Duncan, the bald boy called Egg?"

"He's out playing with some of the village boys my lady. Why do you ask?" Dunk says beginning to grow more and more nervous, the closer Lady Rohanne gets, he can almost feel her breath on his skin.

"Because he left his ring on the ground near the great hall, and one of my servants picked up and gave it to me." She holds up a ring with a three headed dragon on it, and Dunk could swear out loud. "This is his ring is it not Ser Duncan?"

Dunk could merely nod, silently cursing himself and Egg for not being more careful.

Lady Rohanne smiles then. "My, my, what would my goodfather do if he found out he had a prince of the blood within his own castle? He'd likely hold the boy ransom until Aemon Blackfyre was strong enough to march south again."

"My lady…" Dunk begins

"However, if he does not know that there ever was a dragon in his midst, and that you and Egg needed to leave for some reason, then I suppose we could call it fair game. Of course I would like something in return for doing this little service for you." She says.

"My lady?" Dunk replies.

"A kiss good Ser, a kiss on the lips now, and you and the prince can leave without another word. And I shall whisper in my husband's ear about why you need to leave." Lady Rohanne says slyly.

Dunk swallows, and then acquiesces.

Lady Rohanne smiles, and stands on her tiptoes, and as quick as a flash her lips are on Dunk's and then they are gone. "You must leave by sunset tonight, otherwise my husband and his father will know the truth. They are already growing suspicious."

Dunk nods, and walks away his head spinning.

Three years later and Dunk can still remember the fear he felt when he spoke with Lady Rohanne Webber. The fact that the lady had figured out whom they were, who Egg actually was had terrified him. He had taken her advice to heart and the minute he had left the lady had gone to find Egg, had grabbed his squire and had told him to pack up straight away. Egg had been confused as to why they were suddenly upping and leaving, but Dunk did not have enough time to explain, with no indication of whether or not Lady Rohanne would stick to her promise. Ser Eustace had come to find him after they had had their afternoon meal and had told him that his services were no longer required and that he and Egg were free to depart, and breathing a sigh of relief Dunk had saddled Moondancer and the horse that Egg had been given and they had ridden off as if the stranger himself was chasing them.

The past three years since serving at Standfast had been peaceful, if not a little short of work, with peace ruling the lands under the strict guidance of Bloodraven, there was very little work for a hedge knight and his squire- even if said squire was a prince of the blood- though of course with Aemon Blackfyre still being an ever present threat in the north, there was still a feeling that tensions could run high in the kingdoms, and Dunk did not wish to risk his or Egg's neck. They had spent the past three years flitting between work, serving for one minor lord or the other, and had at one point served as the guardians for the township of the Stoney Sept which had been plagued by bandits and robbers, Dunk had fought a particularly vicious battle with some fool calling himself the High Sparrow, that had ended with the Sparrow dead, impaled on Dunk's sword, his followers fled to different corners of the Riverlands.

The sound of riders, disturbed Dunk's thoughts. "Move into the bush over there lad, we can't be too careful." Dunk said, especially after Standfast. Thankfully for once the lad was compliant and they managed to move into the bushes without too much incident before the riders came past.

The first riders galloped past within moments; two young lordlings mounted on a pair of coursers. The one on the bay wore an open-faced helm of gilded steel with three tall feathered plumes: one white, one red, one gold. Matching plumes adorned his horse's crinet. The black stallion beside him was barded in blue and gold. His trappings rippled with the wind of his passage as he thundered past. Side by side the riders streaked on by, whooping and laughing, their long cloaks streaming behind.

A third lord followed more sedately, at the head of a long column. There were two dozen in the party, grooms and cooks and serving men, all to attend three knights, plus men-at-arms and mounted crossbowmen, and a dozen drays heavy-laden with their armor, tents, and provisions. Slung from the lord's saddle was his shield, dark orange and charged with three black castles.

Dunk knew those arms, but from where? The lord who bore them was an older man, sour-mouthed and saturnine, with a close-cropped salt-and-pepper beard. He might have been at Ashford Meadow, Dunk thought. Or maybe we served at his castle when I was squiring for Ser Arlan. The old hedge knight had done service at so many different keeps and castles through the years that Dunk could not recall the half of them.

The lord reined up abruptly, scowling at the thornbush. "You. In the bush. Show yourself." Behind him, two crossbowmen slipped quarrels into the notch. The rest continued on their way.

Dunk stepped through the tall grass, his shield upon his arm, his right hand resting on the pommel of his longsword. His face was a red-brown mask from the dust the horses had kicked up, and he was naked from the waist up. He looked a scruffy sight, he knew, though it was like to be the size of him that gave the other pause. "We want no quarrel, m'lord. There's only the two of us, me and my squire." He beckoned Egg forward.

"Squire? Do you claim to be a knight?"

Dunk did not like the way the man was looking at him. Those eyes could flay a man. It seemed prudent to remove his hand from his sword. "I am a hedge knight, seeking service."

"Every robber knight I've ever hanged has said the same. Your device may be prophetic, ser… if ser you are. A gallows and a hanged man. These are your arms?"

"No, m'lord. I need to have the shield repainted."

"Why? Did you rob it off a corpse?"

"I bought it, for good coin." Three castles, black on orange… where have I seen those before? "I am no robber."

The lord's eyes were chips of flint. "How did you come by that scar upon your cheek? A cut from a whip?"

"A dagger. Though my face is none of your concern, milord."

"I'll be the judge of what is my concern."

By then two young knights had arrived trotting on their horses to see what had caused the delay to their party. "What has caused this delay Gormy?" One of the young knights asked. young man lean and lithe, with a comely, clean-shaven face and fine features. Black hair fell shining to his collar. His doublet was made of dark blue silk edged in gold satin. Across his chest an engrailed cross had been embroidered in gold thread, with a golden fiddle in the first and third quarters, a golden sword in the second and the fourth. "Alyn thought you had fallen by the wayside." The young man turned to look at Dunk and, Dunk could have sworn he saw a look of fear in the man's eyes, though just as quickly it disappeared.

"Who are these two brigands?" asked the rider on the bay.

Egg bristled at the insult: "You have no call to name us brigands, my lord. When we saw your dust, we thought you might be outlaws - that's the only reason that we hid. This is Ser Duncan the Tall, and I'm his squire."

The lordlings paid no more heed to that than they would have paid the croaking of a frog. "I believe that is the largest lout that I have ever seen," declared the knight of three feathers. He had a pudgy face beneath a head of curly hair the colour of dark honey. "Seven feet if he's an inch, I'd wager. What a mighty crash he'll make when he comes tumbling down."

Dunk felt colour rising to his face. You'd lose your wager, he thought. The last time he had been measured, Egg's brother Aemon pronounced him an inch shy of seven feet.

"Is that your war horse, Ser Giant?" said the feathered lordling. "I suppose we could butcher it for the meat."

"Lord Alyn oft forgets his courtesies," the black-haired knight said. "Please forgive his churlish words, ser. Alyn, you will ask Ser Duncan for his pardon."

"If I must. Will you forgive me, ser?" He did not wait for reply, but turned his bay about and trotted down the road.

The other lingered. "Are you bound for the wedding, ser?"

Something in his tone made Dunk want to tug his forelock. He resisted the impulse and said, "We're for the ferry, milord."

"As are we… but the only lords hereabouts are Gormy and that wastrel who just left us, Alyn Cockshaw. I am a vagabond hedge knight like yourself. Ser John the Fiddler, I am called."

That was the sort of name a hedge knight might choose, but Dunk had never seen any hedge knight garbed or armed or mounted in such splendour. The knight of the golden hedge, he thought. "You know my name. My squire is called Egg."

"Well met, ser. Come, ride with us to Whitewalls and break a few lances to help Lord Butterwell celebrate his new marriage. I'll wager you could give a good account of yourself." The black haired knight seemed to be pleading with Dunk, at least his eyes seemed to be. It confused him deeply.

Dunk had not done any jousting since Ashford Meadow. If I could win a few ransoms, we'd eat well on the ride east, he thought, but the lord with the three castles on his shield said, "Ser Duncan needs to be about his journey, as do we."

As the young knight's companions rode on, Dunk noticed that the young knight who had introduced himself as John the Fiddler hung back, and was looking intently at Dunk. Curious Dunk walked up next to the man's horse and said "Milord?"

John the Fiddler seemed nervous as he looked around their nearby surroundings, as if he was making sure there was no one near to hear whatever it was that he wished to say. Once he seemed satisfied, he leaned down and whispered to Dunk. "Good Ser, you must come to Whitewalls, things will happen there that could affect Westeros for years to come. If you wish for peace in Westeros you must come to Whitewalls, you and your squire both."

Before Dunk could ask the man what he meant, John the Fiddler had ridden off to catch up with his companions. "What did he want to say Ser?" Egg asked.

Dunk was not sure what to make of what the man had said, so turning to look at Egg he merely said "We ride for Whitewalls lad, see if I can win a bit of coin to help pay for passage and food."

Egg nodded, and so they saddled their horses once more and rode hard and fast to catch up with John the Fiddler and his companions.

Whitewalls Castle loomed large on the horizon that evening, the seat of House Butterwell- whose Lord had served as King Daeron the good's hand during the initial stages of the Blackfyre rebellion- the castle seemed to hum and thrive with activity as the impending nuptials of its lord to a daughter of the Crossing drew nearer.

They are greeted by Ser John the Fiddler when they arrive, the man seems to more gaunt and afraid than last Dunk saw him, and his voice is shaky when he speaks. "Ah Ser Duncan, I am glad you came. Come join me for the wedding won't you?"

Dunk nods, and dismounts from his horse, giving the reins to a stable boy, Egg does the same and walks behind Dunk as he and Ser John walk toward the inner castle, largely in silence. Though occasionally they will pass a lord or two, who will merely nod their head in acknowledgement at Ser John. "You seem quite well known here ser." Dunk says casually.

Ser John turned to look at him then, and Dunk was once again surprised to see fear in the man's eyes. He would have thought that a hedge knight would have been proud and even boastful of the fact that so many lords knew of him. Instead this man only seemed scared and fearful. "Yes, they do know me, but whether they truly do is something I know not." The man replied, leaving Dunk even more confused.

"Enough of that for now though Ser. Come we have a feast to attend to." Ser John said next, and soon Dunk found himself seated next to Ser John on the second tier of the wedding rows, eating, drinking and laughing with the others on his bench, as the wedding got into full swing. There were dwarves that kept the guests entertained, eventually Dunk got very, very hot with all the wine and drink and needing a breath of fresh air excuses himself from the table, allowing Ser John to accompany him outside, as Egg is away with some of the other squires.

"I think I may have had a bit too much wine in there I'm afraid." Dunk says once they are outside, and he feels the wine begin to rush to his head.

"No matter, Ser. A little wine will not hurt your chances in the tourney I am sure." Ser John says, a faraway tone in his voice, that makes Dunk look up.

"You think so Ser?" Dunk asks.

"I am certain of it," Ser John replies. He then goes on. "I had a dream of you Ser. Dressed in white, with a dragon beside you. A red dragon."

Dunk feels something tense inside of him; could the man know of Egg? He says nothing and waits for the man to go on.

"I also dreamt that the red dragon that you shall stand beside will be born tonight, in this very castle. It will happen soon Ser, be ready. For all of us you must be ready for what happens tonight." Ser John says, a waver in his voice, that once again sounds like pure fear to Dunk, and he still cannot understand why this man is so afraid. Before he can ask though, the man says "We must go back inside now if you are well, the bedding shall be soon."

Dunk merely nods and follows the man back into the hall, where Lord Gormon Peake speaks up and says in a loud voice. "The meal has been served, the vows have been said, let's bed them!" This is met by a loud roar of approval and soon the hall is alight with the sound of chairs and benches being moved and Dunk sees Lord Butterwell and his new Frey bride being carried off to their respective places by the men and women in attendance.

Egg suddenly sits down next to the vacant seat to Dunk's left, a scowl on his face. "What's up lad?" Dunk asks.

"We've been set up Ser." Egg replies.

"What do you mean lad?" Dunk asks once more

"I've been doing some nosing around and the banners of those here at this wedding, were those who all fought for the black dragon during Redgrass. Peake, Costayne, and Shawney. The man whom calls himself Ser John must be a black dragon or else why would these men be here?"

Dunk sighs once more. "Redgrass was sixteen years ago lad. What is in the past is in the past, let it stay there. These lords all bent the knee to your grandsire at the end of the rebellion, why would they risk more for a failed cause?"

"Because they are traitors' ser!" Egg says.

Dunk is about to reply when he hears someone say his name. Turning round he sees Lord Alyn Cockshaw looking at him. "Ser Duncan if you would care to walk with me, I would be most grateful." Dunk can merely nod, and as he gets up to go walk with Lord Cockshaw, he turn round to hiss at Egg to not do anything stupid but finds his squire gone.

He follows Lord Alyn till they are out in the castle grounds, near the well where it is said that Whitewalls draws most of its water from. Lord Alyn stands in front of the well with a grim expression on his face. "You must be wondering why I wish to speak with you Ser Duncan." Dunk says nothing. "I admit that my conduct with regards to when we met earlier on was not very good, nor was it honourable. I have apologised for that already, though I feel I owe you another apology."

"Milord?" Dunk says dreading where this seems to be going.

"You see I heard you speak with Ser John, and I believe that you will be a major threat to the plans we have made, a major threat." Lord Alyn says, his face grim, his eyes hardening.

"My lord? I don't understand." Dunk stammers.

Lord Alyn advances forward as he speaks. "You see if Ser John is to have what is his and his family's birthright you and your squire must die. That much is clear now. You cannot live. I am sorry Ser Duncan, but you must die." Alyn Cockshaw draws his sword then, and charges toward Dunk.

Dunk has barely anytime to react, let alone draw his sword when Alyn Cockshaw barrels into him with a swing of his sword, the sword strikes Dunk on the chest, winding him and as he is hunched over he sees Cockshaw move back and get himself ready to pounce again. Dunk pulls his sword from its scabbard and blocks Cockshaw's next blow, the impact jarring his shoulder.

Dunk swings at Cockshaw, and strikes his sword, steel rings out. Cockshaw swings at Dunk and strikes his sword. Dunk swings once more, and this time strikes true nicking the man and drawing blood. Cockshaw strikes and narrowly misses Dunk's shoulder. Dunk swings and manages to nick Cockshaw's shoulder drawing blood from the wound once more. Cockshaw swings and Dunk ducks, and then he thrust his sword through the man, burying his sword deep into the man. When he pulls his sword out, it is covered in blood.

"Well done Ser Duncan." Dunk startles at the voice, and turns round with his sword still raised, and he finds a man with pale blond hair and pale eyes. "You have stopped a traitor, and prevented another rebellion from happening within these walls."

"Milord?" Dunk asks unsure of whom this man is and why he is congratulating Dunk on killing a man within the halls of wedding.

"Forgive me, my manners are not what they used to be I am Ser Maynard Plumm, and work with the hand of the king. I have come to tell you where you can find your squire, the boy Egg." The man said sounding eerily calm.

"You know where Egg is?" Dunk asks hopefully.

"Aye that I do, you shall find him in the sept, with a certain black haired knight." The man replied.

Dunk sighed internally, that boy was going to get himself into much more trouble. He went to thank the man but found him gone, not having time to dwell on where the man could have gone, Dunk ran toward the Sept with his sword still drawn, praying against hope that Egg had not done anything to dangerous.

The sight that greeted him when he burst into the Sept, his sword still drawn surprised him. He finds Egg standing over a cowering and weeping Ser John Fiddler. "Egg, what's going on lad?" Dunk asks, trying to keep his voice calm.

"This man is a Blackfyre Ser. Daemon Blackfyre, he came here trying to take the Iron Throne and start another rebellion." Egg replies, sounding angry.

"No! No! You've got it all wrong, you've got it all wrong." Ser John Fiddler cries.

"So you are not Daemon Blackfyre then?" Dunk asks.

"No, I mean yes. I am Daemon Blackfyre but I did not come here to start a rebellion!" The man cries.

Dunk advances forward his sword raised, though he is not sure what to do. "Why are you here then?" he asks.

The man looks like he is about to start crying again, and as he takes a deep shuddering breath Dunk pulls Egg away from him. "I came here to join the citadel; I have always wished to become a maester."

"Lies!" Egg nearly shouts.

"It is not a lie. I have a brother in the north that is a warrior, and would make a better king than me. No I have always wished to become a maester, so I came to Westeros in disguise in the hope of going to Oldtown to earn my chain. But before I could begin to make my way to Oldtown, I was met by a man who said that he knew who I was and that unless I came to Whitewalls and tried to start another rebellion, he would kill me and send men after my brother and his wife in the north. So I met Lord Gormon and we came here. I swear I never wished to start another war!" The man, Daemon all but weeps.

"Who was the man who bribed you Daemon; did he give you a name?" Dunk asks.

The Blackfyre sniffles and says "He said his name was Maynard Plumm."

"Who?" Egg asks.

"Maynard Plumm, he works for Bloodraven Egg." Dunk says.

"Why would Bloodraven want to bribe this man then Ser? When Aemon Blackfyre still lives in the north?" Egg asks.

"Because, bribing Daemon to come here and brew rebellion would force the north and Aemon Blackfyre to come out and fight a war. Presenting a way for Bloodraven to kill Aemon Blackfyre and Daeron Stark and allow him to retake the north along the way. If thousands of innocents got killed during the fighting it would make no matter, so long as the main threat to the realm was dealt with." Dunk explains to his squire.

He sees the anger flash across Egg's face at the realisation of the injustice that has been done to this young man, so far from home. "We must help him Ser." Egg says fiercely.

"Aye, though we will be doing treason, are you willing to face the consequences Egg?" Dunk asks.

His squire nods fiercely and replies "Aye Ser I am, what has been done here is dishonourable and if it is possible, we should help Daemon escape to avoid another war that could cost thousands of lives."

Dunk nods in approval and says "So how shall we help this man escape?"

Egg is silent for a moment before he answers. "There is a secret passageway through the Sept that myself and a few other boys found when we were wandering around the other day. I know not where the passageway leads, but Daemon could use that."

Dunk nods, then turns to look at Daemon Blackfyre- and not truly believing that he is actually saying this- "Do you think you can make it through the passageway Daemon?"

The man nods weakly, and so Dunk helps him up and he and Egg help to the statue of the mother, where Dunk closes his eyes and prays briefly that what they are doing is the right thing, and then Egg moves the statue slightly- it being only a miniature one- and lo and behold they find a staircase descending down into the darkness, Daemon Blackfyre weeps with joy when he sees it and tearfully says "Thank you, oh thank you so much." Then he disappears down the staircase, and they place the statue of the mother over it and walk outside.

The whole castle it appears when they emerge from the sept is in disarray, asking a passing hedge knight they learn that Bloodraven is marching for Whitewalls with an army made up of loyal riverlords. Soon Dunk and Egg find themselves facing the hand of the king himself, the man looks gaunt and pale, but there is a fierce determination in his eye when he looks at them.

"No doubt Prince Maekar had some good reason for allowing his son to squire for a hedge knight, he said, "though I cannot imagine it included delivering him to a castle full of traitors plotting rebellion. How is that I come to find my nephew in this nest of adders, ser? Lord Butterbutt would have me believe that Prince Maekar sent you here, to sniff out this rebellion in the guise of a mystery knight. Is that the truth of it?" The Hand of the King says.

Dunk sees Egg scowl then, and he dreads the next words that come from the boy's mouth. "You set him up didn't you uncle? Daemon Blackfyre, you knew he was a harmless craven that didn't want any part in this godforsaken war that his father started, and yet you still set him up and blackmailed him to come here!"

The hand rests his one red eye on Egg, and Dunk swallows nervously. "Ser Roland, Ser Willem leave us." The two white knights leave the tent bowing before both Bloodraven and Egg. Bloodraven sighs. "So you have heard the truth of it then have you? Aye that I did. But with the fool having escaped war will come to Westeros once more anyway. Daeron Stark will not forget what happened at Redgrass so easily. Do you know how he escaped then Aegon?"

"YES!" Egg shouts. "We helped him escape! It is not fair that such a person as Daemon should pay for the sins of his father or his brother, or his uncle, uncle."

Bloodraven looked at Egg then and said "My my, what happened to the shy little boy who lived in King's Landing so long ago? A dragon has replaced him, very well then. You may think that you have saved him, but his brother will not allow the damage done to their name to go unpunished. He will head north, and so I must send men north."

Aemon Blackfyre

Winter had passed, and spring had come, with it had come the fruit of the hard work that his uncle Daeron had done over the past few years. Since the Bolton rebellion had been crushed and Domeric Bolton fled south, his uncle King Daeron Stark had put in place a port town in Stony Shore to allow for more trade to come into the north, had set up valid trading routes with Bravos, Pentos and Myr and had of course found those blasted direwolves, that were a terror of Winterfell. Aemon himself had played a part in helping end the Bolton rebellion, killing Jonothor Bolton, but other than that there was not much else he had done in the running of the north and it was beginning to grate on his nerves.

Whilst he sat here in the north, the pretender Aerys Targaryen sat on his throne, and ruled his kingdom! It was slowly driving him mad, he wanted to march south and avenge his father, his brother Aegon, he wanted his mother and his other brothers brought back to Westeros. He didn't want to keep feeling like a bloody exile in his own kingdom, he wanted the throne and he would have it back. Whenever he had brought up the topic of the throne and when they would march to his uncle Daeron, Daeron had simply stared at him for a long time before saying the same thing time and time again "We will march when we are ready." Aemon was beginning to wonder if the north would ever be ready, if his uncle was slowly losing his commitment to their cause.

Such thoughts were only made worse every time he saw his wife or children. Barbery had just given birth to their third son whom they had named Viserys and she grew more beautiful each and every day as far as Aemon was concerned, and she would make a very good queen, she was kind and caring, and Aemon wanted the whole of Westeros to see this, that a northerner could make just as good a queen as anyone from the south. His uncle's reluctance to march now was beginning to grate on Aemon's patience and nerves, it made him feel like he was a failure, or that his uncle was comparing him to his father and found him lacking in some department. Whenever he brought this up with Barbery she would merely say that "Daeron has things that he must think about before he can truly commit my love, he has his children to think about as well as the whole of the north and the Iron Islands." Whilst Aemon could understand that, surely all of those worries would go if he marched, there was no reason why they couldn't be successful, the rumours coming up from the neck were that Aerys Targaryen and that kinslayer Bloodraven were despised by the south, that they were blamed for the drought that had plagued the south for two years after the Great Spring Sickness. Surely now was the time to march and strike true.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door, calling for whoever it was to enter Aemon found himself looking at Asphell Wull of the Winter's Guard. The man was big and broad shouldered, he had been described as a bull by some of the men in the training yard Aemon knew, but he was loyal and dedicated as well. "His Grace King Daeron requests your presence in his solar Prince Aemon." Wull said.

Aemon nodded and then moved from the window and followed Wull to his uncle's solar, where he found his uncle Daeron and his uncle Theon and the High Steward of the North Edwyle Stark all sat down around the carved wolf headed table. "You asked for me, Your Grace." Aemon said.

His uncle looked up then, and Aemon saw the tiredness in his uncle's eyes, something was bothering him, what it was though Aemon knew not. "Ah Aemon, sit down, you must hear this." And so Aemon sat down in one of the free chairs. "We have had word from Lord Reed in the neck, it seems your brother Daemon and two others going by the names Ser Duncan and Egg has been found wandering the swamps."

To say he is shocked is an understatement; he has not seen his brother since that day long ago when he and Aegon left with their father to fight in the war. "Are you sure it is Daemon Lord Reed found uncle and not some vagabond simply called Daemon?" he asks hoping against hope that his voice his calm and not reflecting the nerves that he feels.

His uncle merely looks at him and says "Aye, Lord Reed asked him to prove whom he was and he simply said Thorns rest in the Snow, he said you'd understand that."

Aemon merely stares at his uncle in disbelief; his brother is here in the north. "Did Lord Reed write why Daemon is in the north and not in Essos with my other siblings and uncle Aegor?" he asks hating how much his voice shakes as he does so.

His uncle shakes his head. "No, he only said that his two companions helped him escape and that he needed to speak with you. They shall be in Winterfell in a few weeks time, I suggest you prepare yourself and Barbery for whatever it is that they have to say."

Aemon nods and leaves his uncle's solar, feeling as if his world has been turned upside down. The next two weeks pass by in a whirl, as preparations are made for Daemon and these two companions of his to come to Winterfell. Aemon simply buzzes with nervous energy, he has not seen his brother since he was twelve and Daemon was nine, he wonders what changes his brother has gone through since then, and sometimes he feels deep regret that he could not bring his brother or their other family with them to the north when they fled.

Eventually the day of his brother's arrival dawns bright and clear, and Aemon along with Barbery and their children- Aegon, Rhaenrya, Daeron and baby Viserys- along with his uncle Daeron and his wife Dacey and eldest son and heir Aegor stand waiting for them in the courtyard of Winterfell, a brisk wind blowing through the ground. Three horses come through the open gates, a bright red horse with a scrawny bald boy riding on it, a black horse with the tallest man that Aemon has ever seen rides on it and the third horse is a pale grey horse with a withered and gaunt looking man on it who has silver hair, the third man speeds his horse up when he sees Aemon, and Aemon tenses.

The man stops just before him and jumps down from his horse, and Aemon feels something within him jump. "Daemon?" he asks tentatively.

"Aemon?" His brother replies.

"DAEMON!" he shouts and then the two of them are embracing and laughing nervously. "It has been so long brother, you've gotten too skinny." Aemon says then jokingly, he regrets his words when he sees the look that passes over his brother's face then.

Aemon hears someone clear their throat, and he turns round to see his uncle Daeron standing there, his crown glittering in the sunlight. "Prince Daemon I trust? I am King Daeron Stark, King in the North and Iron Islands. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Aemon sees his brother bow. "Now who might your companions be?" his uncle asks indicating the two people who have now dismounted and are approaching them.

"The big man is Ser Duncan the Tall, the boy is his squire Egg." Daemon says.

Aemon sees his uncle nod, and then "See to it that Ser Duncan and his squire are led to their rooms to be refreshed Alyn. Daemon and Aemon shall come with me, we have much to discuss."

As they sit down in his uncle's solar once all has been said and done, Aemon sees just how tired and frail his brother looks, and thinks to ask his uncle to let their discussion wait for another day, but seeing the intent look on his uncle's face decides against speaking.

"So Prince Daemon, tell us what has led to you coming here to the north to seek refuge." His uncle Daeron says.

And so, Aemon and his uncle Daeron spend the next hour listening to Daemon as he tells them all about his life in Essos and how he came to Westeros in disguise to train to become a maester at the Citadel, about the bribery by Bloodraven and the Whitewalls Tourney, about how Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg, actually Prince Aegon Targaryen helped him escape and then helped him go north and avoid Bloodraven's men. By the end of his brother's tale, Aemon feels angry; he wants to hit the Targaryens back now, for their deceit in bribing his brother, who is innocent of whatever has gone on between their two families in the past.

His uncle Daeron however remains blank faced during the speech and remains so once it is done, not giving any indication of what he thinks. When Daemon finishes speaking, uncle Daeron speaks in a calm and controlled voice. "Thank you for telling us this Prince Daemon, it is important that we know what happened to you. You may go and rest now Theon can show you the way."

Once Daemon has left the room, Aemon turns to look at his uncle and says "We must march now uncle, they have insulted my family and yours by doing this to Daemon, we must march and we much teach them a lesson!"

Over the years, when it has come to the Targaryens, Aemon has come to expect many sort of reactions from his uncle, verging from anger to respect, but he does not expect his uncle to sigh despondently and run his hands through his hair. "We cannot march south Aemon. We have been over this; we cannot march now nor at anytime in the near future."

"WHY NOT!" Aemon shouts. "They have done something dishonourable by blackmailing Daemon into coming here and making him becomes part of their lies and dishonour. Bloodraven would start another war that would cost him thousands of lives, simply because he wishes for me to die. His actions brought dishonour up the family, my family uncle. The family you swore to help put on the Iron Thorne or you have forgotten your promise to my father?!"

His uncle looks at him coldly then, and when he speaks his voice is laced with ice. "I forget nothing Aemon. You would do well to remember that. Whilst what happened to Daemon was indeed shocking and dishonourable, we cannot march south, not now. That is what Bloodraven will expect us to do. And if I may quite frank with you Aemon, the minute we march south, is the minute that Barbery and your children will be put in danger. Bloodraven has spies everywhere, and I have not as of yet been able to kill all of them here in the north. No the minute we plan to march, the man will know and then your family and mine will be in danger. I cannot have that. But, just because we cannot march now, does not mean we will not march in the future, there are things happening in the north that will give us more power and strength, things that will allow us to be fully independent of the south once and for all. And also Bloodraven will be impatient for a fight now he knows that Daemon is here."

"So you say we do nothing?" Aemon asked incredulously. "At least hold Ser Duncan and Aegon!"

"No, we shall not hold them. They shall go, but they shall go with a letter, I shall not let this go unpunished. Let Bloodraven make the first move, then we shall crush him."