Chapter 36 - The Dragon Flies for the First Time (II)
"I looked into the abyss and, as expected, there was nothing there. Perhaps my mind is the real Abyss, how many have gone mad just looking at it?" Aenar Targaryen, questioning his own humanity for the thousandth time.
----------
Westeros Continent, North - Winterfell Castle.
"Uncle, I'm going away for a few months." Eddard heard his nephew's words and looked in surprise at the tall, broad-shouldered young man before him. He looked nothing like the eleven, almost twelve year old young adult he was at the moment. If you had said Jon was sixteen or seventeen, he would have easily believed you.
Sometimes Eddard wondered if someone was feeding Jon Giant Wolf milk to make his nephew grow up so much in such a short time. Next to him, Robb looked like a little boy, and his son wasn't little, he was big for his age.
"Where are you going?" Eddard asked curiously. After nearly two years of preparing for war, he and his nephew had become much closer. He was beginning to get to know the real Jon, not the boy he showed off to everyone.
His nephew was terribly brilliant, his strategies, his courage, his daring, and his calm made the Lord of the North sigh that there really were people who were born to rule and command armies. Jon was just such a talented and brilliant person.
"I'm going to Essos." Jon replied in a calm tone, much more regal than a year ago. "My grandmother and aunts are in danger. A horde of Dothraki is ready to invade Volantis."
Eddard's face changed dramatically at his nephew's words. Though Jon spoke in a calm tone, how could he not see that this was a truly dangerous situation.
"Will you ride your dragon?" Eddard frowned and asked, finally letting out a sigh. Though he knew this day would come, it came too soon. He had hoped to spend a few more years growing stronger, but it looked like war was just around the corner.
"Don't worry Uncle, the plan will happen as planned, in the year 296." Jon certainly knew of his uncle's concern and spoke up, calming the turbulent feelings in the chest of the most powerful man in the North.