Chapter 51 - The Truth. 

[Chapter Size: 2900 Words.] 

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Third Person POV 

Harrenhal, 101 AC. 

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"Looks like the boys are finally awake." An older man approached as he watched them, wearing a small smile but keeping a sharp, observant gaze. 

Kaio immediately turned to him. "Of course, Father. I took care of them! And I looked after their well-being! I didn't even sleep in my own tent—I gave it to them," he replied proudly, making Jon and Rickon glance at each other. 

The man nodded before turning his attention to the two boys. "I've already sent a messenger to the Stark camp so your father won't worry too much about you." 

The two boys exchanged another glance for a brief moment, and Rickon stepped forward. "Thank you for helping us, Lord Tarly." Rickon assumed correctly, seeing the young Tarly call the man father. 

The man nodded. "Of course. We couldn't just leave two children in that condition after last night." 

"We're very sorry if we did anything shameful, my lord," Jon murmured. 

Lord Tarly merely snorted. "Don't worry about it. Everyone has their moment. Who hasn't had too much to drink their first time?" 

The two let out a small sigh of relief. 

But the feeling of peace didn't last long. 

"Let me see them!" 

A young blonde woman, who looked very much like Kaio Tarly and his father, stepped away from the group of ladies surrounding Ghost and approached them, pointing at the two boys. 

"Just look at you two. You were the funniest and most entertaining part of last night!" she declared. 

"Elisa," Kaio scolded. "Don't make our guests' suffering any worse than it already is." 

The girl simply kept laughing. "Oh, come on, brother. It was hilarious. My fiancé said this little one here..." She pointed at Rickon. "...tried to beat Lord Redwyne in a drinking contest. Can you imagine? A ten-year-old child challenging that fat old man." She burst into laughter again. 

Rickon turned completely red with embarrassment. Jon had to look away to keep himself from laughing at his friend. Still, he preferred not to tease him. After all, he still had no idea what he himself had done the previous night. Maybe he'd done something even worse. 

As if she had read his thoughts, Elisa turned to him. 

"And you..." She smiled mischievously. "I have to admit, you have a lovely singing voice, young man. Even completely drunk." 

Jon felt a chill run down his spine. 

"It was hilarious watching you sing for half the camp and announce to everyone that you'd win the archery competition." She folded her arms. "In fact, a few lords are already seriously considering placing bets on you." 

Jon simply closed his eyes for a moment. "Please... don't tell me anything else." 

The girl and her brother burst into laughter. 

"That's enough teasing them. Let's get them something to eat before they pass out from their hangovers." Lord Tarly, the elder, at least put an end to the boys' torment. 

The Tarly siblings led Jon and Rickon toward the main tent. 

Ghost, on the other hand, seemed to be practically begging for someone to rescue him from the middle of that group of young ladies. 

The moment he saw Jon, the enormous white direwolf immediately lifted his head. Jon walked over and scratched behind his ear. 

"Can I... have him back...?" Jon asked timidly to the more than fifteen ladies who looked at him with pouts and giggles. "Sorry about this, buddy." Ghost let out a long, mournful whine before finally managing to stand up. 

The noble ladies still couldn't hide their disappointment. Some began asking Jon questions. One even asked if he would sell Ghost, assuring him that her father would pay any amount for the direwolf. 

Jon simply shook his head. Others wanted to know where they could find another direwolf just like him. 

"Unfortunately... I'd like to know where to find more of them myself..." Jon replied with a small, tired smile. Although he had already figured out where they were in the Wolfswood, he would deal with that once he returned to the North. 

Jon was fortunate that Lord Tarly knew Ghost's story very well. He understood that a direwolf was not something that could simply be bought. 

"If you truly want one like him, you'll have to cross the Wall and look beyond it," Lord Tarly answered the young ladies. 

His answer discouraged most of them, but it finally allowed Jon and Rickon to follow the Tarly siblings toward House Tarly's main tent. 

A short while later, another young man approached the group. 

He was Elisa's fiancé. As soon as he arrived, he began talking about the previous night once again, much to the dismay of the two boys. The young lord of House Ashford immediately took his place beside her. The two looked at each other like a couple hopelessly in love. 

Jon was certain that if her father hadn't been there, or if there hadn't been so many eyes watching them, they would probably already be kissing. He even began to doubt that Elisa was still a maiden, judging by the way the two exchanged looks and secretly touched each other whenever Lord Tarly wasn't looking. 

He decided it was best to ignore the couple and continue eating. 

Some time later, Lord Stark finally arrived accompanied by several men of the North. 

Lord Tarly went to greet him at the entrance of the tent. The moment Jon met Lord Stark's gaze, a chill ran down his spine. 

He was definitely not happy. Jon and Rickon exchanged a quick glance, already knowing what was coming. They both knew they were in trouble. 

And the real problem wasn't Lord Stark... It was Lyarra. Their grandmother was far crueler whenever she decided to punish them. 

Lord Stark would probably make them spend a week shoveling manure in the stables. Lyarra, on the other hand, would certainly come up with something much worse... much worse psychologically, like making them copy an entire book by hand or eat nothing but vegetable soup for an entire week, without any meat, or worse yet, liver, which was absolutely awful. 

With little choice, the two boys said their goodbyes to the Tarly family. Lady Tarly, who had joined them later, had been very kind to them throughout the morning, while Kaio remained just as friendly as he had been ever since they met by the stream. 

"Hey! Come back later!" Kaio shouted as he walked them to the exit. "I'm sure you two can still have fun even while sober... Though I have to admit, you'll be a lot less entertaining, I'm afraid..." 

Rickon gave a small smile. "We'll think about it, as long as it isn't as embarrassing as yesterday..." 

The two boys pulled a face. 

"Besides..." Kaio glanced at Lord Stark to make sure he wasn't listening and lowered his voice a little. "The Northern camp... that place seems kind of boring." The last words were almost a whisper. 

Kaio smiled again the next moment. "Anyway, the invitation stands. I hope Lord Stark will allow the Reach to host these children again." 

Lord Stark merely gave Rickon a light smack on the head before replying, "Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Tarly." 

Kaio's father nodded. "It was our pleasure, Lord Stark." 

"Now let's go." At the elder wolf's words, the two boys followed behind Lord Stark. 

The quickest way back would have been to cross the stream and cut through the small forest between the two camps, exactly as they had done the previous night. 

Lord Stark, however, would never choose that path. Instead, he led everyone around Harrenhal's great marketplace until they finally reached the Northern camp. 

"Did you have a good night?" Lyarra's voice greeted them as soon as they reached the entrance. She stood there with her arms crossed, staring at them with a deadly look. She was beside Alys and Lyra, waiting for them. 

The younger Lady Stark and Lyra glared angrily at them. Rickon's mother was clearly unhappy, and Lyra had her cheeks puffed out. But the real problem was Lyarra, who wore a calm, gentle smile. 

To anyone else, she looked like nothing more than a grandmother happy to see her grandsons return. But Jon and Rickon knew very well that something far more terrifying lay hidden behind that smile. 

In the end, the two were scolded inside the tent. Lord Stark was clearly furious. 

"How dare you drink and then run away from the camp?" His voice echoed through the tent as he pointed at Rickon. "You took that bottle without permission, brought it into the tent, and then convinced Jon it would be a good idea to drink. Gods, you're only ten name days old!" 

"We were all stressed yesterday. No one wanted to answer Jon about what was happening. I thought..." Rickon tried to justify himself. 

"Then it was an immature decision. And an extremely dangerous one," Lord Stark interrupted. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to the two of you?" 

"So that was your solution?" Lyarra spoke for the first time before they could answer Lord Stark. Her calm voice alone was enough to make Rickon shudder. "You wanted to drink because we wouldn't give you the answers you wanted?" She raised an eyebrow. 

"N-No, Grandma..." Rickon replied quietly. 

Lyarra merely sighed. "In any case, what's done is done. We'll decide on your punishment later." 

The two boys lowered their heads. That was a very bad sign. 

"Before that, we still need to get ready. Jon... you'll be meeting the king today." Lyarra said, making Jon immediately raise his head. 

"What?" 

"What happened at last night's feast wasn't enough. This morning, a royal messenger returned to the camp carrying an order. His Majesty wishes to see you this afternoon." 

Jon felt a chill run down his spine. "Why?" he asked immediately. "Why does the king seem so interested in me... or in Ghost?" 

His eyes shifted from Lyarra to Lord Stark. For the first time since the previous night, there was determination in his gaze. 

He wouldn't accept another vague answer. He wanted the truth. 

Lyarra thought for a moment before looking at her son. Lord Stark made the decision. 

"The king has been seeking information about you for quite some time, Jon." 

The boy frowned as he listened to Lord Stark. "About me?" 

"Yes. Your name has been mentioned more than once in the Small Council." The revelation surprised everyone who hadn't known. 

Even Alys turned to her husband. "Why?" she asked. "Why would the king be so interested in Jon?" 

"We actually have a guess, but it's still very strange, and we don't know for certain," Lyarra replied. "Or at least no one has ever explained it to us. It all began after Ghost started being mentioned in the reports sent by the Master of Whisperers." 

She paused briefly. "And that's why we believe his interest isn't only because of the wolf." 

Jon remained silent, waiting for them to continue. 

"Your grandmother, in Winter Town..." She looked directly at Jon. "...is King Jaehaerys's daughter. A bastard, but still the king's daughter..." 1

Silence filled the tent. 

Jon blinked several times. "W-What? Does that mean the king... is my great-grandfather?" 

Rickon's eyes widened as he looked back and forth between Jon and Lyarra. 

Alys looked just as stunned. 

"Your grandmother is one of the king's bastards," Lyarra summarized. "Your father and your uncle, the ones living on that farm, are Jaehaerys's grandchildren. You... just like your cousins and your brother... also carry Targaryen blood." 

Jon remained completely still. His mind seemed unable to process those words. 

"I don't think this is a conversation for a ten-year-old child," Alys murmured. 

"Perhaps not," Lord Stark replied. "But sooner or later... he would have found out anyway." 

"It's better that he knows now than later. In any case, there came a point when there were simply too many questions," Lyarra said. "When we came south, the king had already requested that Jon come to him in person... together with the wolf." 

Jon didn't like that information one bit. Why was the king so interested in him? Sure... his grandmother really was Jaehaerys's daughter. 

But why him? Why not simply his grandmother, who was actually the king's daughter...? After all, she hadn't come... She hadn't been summoned... 

"In any case, it's beyond our control now," Lyarra continued. "Once the king requested your presence at the castle, it meant that none of us would be part of that conversation. You'll be alone before him." 

"Wait... they can do that?" Rickon asked immediately. He was deeply worried now. He finally understood why his father had wanted to hide the truth, and he even regretted what had happened the day before a little. 

"No one can disobey the king, son," Lord Stark replied with a sigh. "There's nothing we can do about it." 

Then his gray eyes turned toward Jon. "But I believe you'll know how to handle this. You always have." 

Jon remained silent. There were still far too many questions racing through his mind. 

If Lord Stark and Lyarra had known about this for so long... 

Then his grandmother in Winter Town certainly knew as well. 

Did his father know? 

Did his uncle know? 

Did his mother know? 

And why had Ghost chosen him? 

His dreams... did they have anything to do with Targaryen blood? 

Or was it all just a coincidence? 

There were simply too many questions. 

And now, he was about to stand before a king who wanted to meet him personally. 

The thought made him nervous. Even the looks he had been receiving ever since the feast suddenly made much more sense. 

Had those lords already connected the dots as well? 

Probably. It couldn't have been that difficult. 

Jon had only wanted to come to the tourney as an ordinary child. He had never wanted to become a political piece for anyone. 

Even though Winterfell's maester had always said he had a talent for understanding politics, Jon had never imagined he would end up caught in it like this. 

"Well," Lord Stark said, breaking the silence. "You'll meet the king this afternoon." 

Jon pulled himself out of his thoughts and focused once more. "I'll also take the opportunity to accept Lord Velaryon's invitation. We'll talk while you're with His Majesty." 

"You'll travel to the castle together, but from that moment on, you'll be alone before the king," Lyarra reminded him. "Whatever he wants from you... just keep being who you've always been. Even a king can be charmed by a child like you. I don't believe he'll do you any harm, especially when His Majesty seems to have taken an interest in a distant relative." 

Though still cautious, Jon nodded. 

A little while later, he headed to his tent to get ready. When he arrived, he found someone waiting for him. 

It was a young woman wearing a servant's uniform. The moment she saw Ghost walking beside the boy, her eyes widened, and she took a small step back. She didn't seem afraid of Jon... but of the enormous white direwolf. 

"M-My lord..." she said, giving him a small curtsy. 

Jon nearly choked. "I'm not any lord, miss," he replied quickly. 

The young woman gave him an awkward smile. Although she tried to appear calm, her eyes kept drifting back to Ghost, clearly wary of the enormous direwolf. 

"I was sent by His Majesty. The king requested that I prepare you for your meeting today," the young woman said. 

Jon's eyes widened in surprise. "The king sent you?" Why hadn't Lord Stark mentioned anything about that? 

The young woman merely offered a faint smile. "I only just arrived. I informed your guards first, and then I came to prepare your clothes. They told me I should wait here in front of your tent." 

She continued to call Jon "my lord," which made him feel rather uncomfortable. 

As they spoke, she cast another cautious glance at Ghost. Jon noticed it immediately. "Don't worry. He won't hurt you. Not while I'm here." 

The young woman let out a relieved breath and nodded. She seemed to trust his words. 

"Thank you." 

"This is your tent, isn't it?" she asked, looking around. "May we go inside? I need to arrange a few things. I also brought an outfit tailored specifically for you, sent by the king himself." 

Jon was even more surprised by something like that. Even so, he had no choice but to follow her inside the tent. 

The young woman immediately began putting everything in order. First, she asked some of Lord Stark's servants to bring in a large tub filled with hot water. Jon then took a bath, and the maid herself made sure he washed properly. Much to his embarrassment, he allowed the older woman to scrub his naked body while she teased him for being only ten name days old. 

Afterward, she took the garments and began adjusting them on Jon so they would fit him perfectly, working with scissors and needle to make the outfit flawless for the occasion. 

Jon's own clothes had become badly wrinkled from the previous day's activities, so this was perfect, since he had no other outfit and borrowing Rickon's clothes would have been embarrassing. 

When Jon was finished, he looked perfect for the meeting, dressed according to the king's standards, clean and well-groomed. 

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