Game of Thrones Iron Stark

read my new story:

Game of Thrones Iron Stark

Naruto: Uchiha Shiroge Rebellion

read more inpatreon CaveLeather

Barristan Selmy climbed out of the mud, white hair streaked with dirt, eyes cold.

"I never expected that from you, Jaime Lannister."

Jaime pulled off his helm and met the old knight's stare. "I've never been one for rules, Ser. Not when I killed the Mad King. Not now."

"Perhaps Renly was right," Barristan said quietly. "You're old, Ser. This is the age of younger men. The tide rises."

Barristan raised his voice. "Sword!"

A squire ran forward and placed a blade in his hand.

Robert and Ned had been about to leave. They sat back down. Every lord and lady in the stands went still. Defeated knights leaned forward. The other Kingsguard rested hands on their hilts.

"Ser Barristan," Jaime said calmly. "You're sure about this?"

"Afraid, Kingslayer?"

Cersei shot to her feet. "Your Grace, stop them! The tourney is over!"

Robert laughed and shoved her back into her seat hard enough that she nearly fell. "Let the men settle it, woman. This is the field."

Cersei's face went white with rage. She gathered Myrcella and Tommen and walked out without another word. Joffrey followed, smirking.

Ned looked at Catelyn. She gave the smallest nod.

"Your Grace," Ned said quietly. "The tourney is finished. You already named the champion. This serves no one."

Robert didn't answer. He was enjoying the tension.

Barristan drew his sword fully. The crowd held its breath.

Jaime thought of Cersei. Of Joffrey, Myrcella, Tommen. Of Tyrion. Then he lowered his own blade.

"Ser Barristan," he said clearly. "The victory is yours. I broke the rules. I won't fight you for it."

He turned and walked off the field.

Most of the stands exhaled in relief.

Arya looked at Littlefinger, disappointed. "Why didn't they fight? Father said they're the two best knights alive."

Littlefinger spread his hands. "Perhaps Ser Jaime decided he didn't need to prove anything today."

Renly leaned forward from the row behind. "Or maybe the Kingslayer is finally learning there's more to life than family pride."

Sansa suddenly stood up. "Arya, I'm going to find Tony. Victor will know where he is. Come with me?"

"Obviously."

They ran down toward the lists.

Victor stood near the stables, still in his black armor, tiger helm under one arm. Other knights gave him a wide berth after the way he had gone toe-to-toe with the Mountain.

"Victor!" Sansa called. "Where's Tony? He came all this way and didn't even find us!"

Victor's deep voice rumbled. "Lord Tony went to speak with Lord Stannis. They had matters to discuss. I can take you to him."

---

Tony walked out of the quiet courtyard smiling. Stannis Baratheon walked with him to the gate.

"We are agreed," Stannis said. "I will speak to Robert. Whether he likes it or not, you will have permission to mine dragonglass on Dragonstone."

Tony nodded. "Who do I contact once I'm there? You'll be needed here in the capital."

"Davos Seaworth. The Onion Knight. He is my most trusted man." Stannis's mouth tightened. "And stay away from the red priestess. Melisandre. I allow her to preach on Dragonstone, but I do not trust her."

"Understood."

After Tony left, Stannis turned to a waiting maester. "Send a raven to Davos. Tell him to expect Lord Tony Stark."

---

Tony was halfway down the street when he heard the shout.

"Tony!"

He turned. Sansa and Arya were running toward him, Victor's huge frame behind them like a shadow. Sansa reached him first and threw her arms around his neck. Arya hit him a second later, nearly knocking them both over.

Tony laughed and hugged them back hard.

"How did you find me?"

"Victor brought us," Sansa said, pulling back just enough to look at him. "Why didn't you enter the tourney? It was glorious!"

"Glory's only worth something when you're protecting your home and the people in it," Tony said. "Everything else is just noise."

Sansa's eyes softened. "You're right."

Victor cleared his throat. "Lord Tony, I reached the final eight. Ser Barristan unhorsed me."

Tony clapped the big man on the shoulder. "Losing to Barristan Selmy isn't a shame. That old bastard has forgotten more about fighting than most knights will ever learn. Who took the crown in the end?"

"Jaime Lannister," Victor said. He described the final pass—the impossible mid-air leap, the way Jaime had used the momentum from the maneuvering rig training.

Tony grinned. "Still thinking about that rig, is he? Good. The Lannisters will never be able to copy it. Only these hands and this brain can do what I do." He laughed. "When I deliver their armor, I'm charging Tywin double. Maybe triple. I want that old lion shitting himself when he sees the bill."

Sansa tugged his sleeve. "Come see Father and Mother. They're in the Tower of the Hand. We're staying there too."

Tony nodded. "Yeah. It's time."

---

Far to the north, at Castle Black, the brothers of the Night's Watch were finally getting the hang of the maneuvering rigs. Men swung between the trees of the Haunted Forest like they had been born to it. They practiced launching from the ground and hooking onto the Wall itself, though everyone agreed they would only try that when the ice was solid.

Beyond the Wall the wildlings moved like ghosts. No one knew where they camped from one week to the next. And farther still lay the Lands of Always Winter—places no living man had returned from. Ice dragons. White spiders. The Others.

Winter was no longer coming.

It was already here.

---

In the Tower of the Hand, Catelyn pulled Tony into a fierce hug the moment he stepped through the door. She held his face between her hands the way she used to when he was a boy, searching for Brandon in his features.

"Tony," she said softly.

"Aunt Catelyn."

Ned stood behind her, face grave. "Benjen's letters. Corlin One-Hand bringing back dragonglass daggers. Is it as bad as it sounds?"

Tony met his uncle's eyes.

"It's worse," he said. "Stannis has given me permission to mine dragonglass on Dragonstone. We're going to need every piece we can get."

He looked at both of them.

"The long winter has already begun."