"There are a lot of maybes you speak, Robb," Jon sighed heavily. "A lot of maybes."
"But not everything you said is true," he continued. "It is true that if you had taken the initiative, the relationship between us could have been better. Maybe we could have really grown up as iron brothers. Maybe we would have been as close as real brothers."
"But it would not have changed my decision to leave Winterfell," he said. "I was close to Arya. I loved her that day and I love her now. She is my little sister. But it did not change anything."
"The very day the incident with Theon transpired, I had decided to run away from Winterfell one day. I had decided to make a name for myself. I had decided that one day I would rule over the greatest and the most powerful empire this world had ever seen. I had decided to make myself stand at the top of the world. Or if I achieved none of it, I would have died trying."
"I do not hold you responsible for me running from Winterfell," he said. "In fact, I do not hold anyone responsible."
Though Jon did not name anyone, Robb had no problem understanding the name he was trying to imply. His mother, Catelyn.
"Every person has their own perspectives and opinions about a certain thing," Jon continued. "And there are times when every person is correct in their own way. Everyone has their own problems and things of discomfort."
"If there is one thing that I could hold responsible for the decision I made years ago, it is the circumstances," he remarked. "Circumstances and nothing else."
Robb nodded his head. A slight relief had appeared on his face. Hearing that Jon did not hold him responsible, Robb felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his heart. And hearing that Jon did not even blame Catelyn, but circumstances, and that he somewhat understood Catelyn's position, Robb was even more relieved. Even though he disagreed with his mother on various things, Robb could not say that he did not love his mother. Robb did not want that a thorn remained between Catelyn and Jon. Even if they were not on best of terms, they should at least not hate each other.
"And why all this worrying and anxiety about this?" Jon questioned with a laugh. "Was it ultimately not a good thing that I left Winterfell?"
"Look where I am standing right now," he continued. "I am Lord Aeos. I am Khal Aero. I am a powerful king in my own right."
"That you are," Robb responded. "That you are."
"And I believe that you did defeat more than a dozen Dothraki Khals all by yourself," he added.
"I told you," Jon said.
The duo remained in the Godswood for some more time. They talked about a few things. Robb was quite curious about the life Jon lived in Essos and the tales of how he had conquered city after city. He was especially interested in the great, miraculous deed Jon had pulled off in repelling the combined forces of the Golden Company and the Dothraki khalasar. Jon, too, enquired about the life Robb was living and how he had fared in Winterfell.
Though a strong brotherly bond did not magically develop between them in a matter of minutes, the ice between them surely broke. At the very least, when Robb faced Jon the next time, things would not be awkward. A sense of comfort had developed between the duo.
They continued talking until Robb was summoned back to the castle regarding the preparations for the feast that was to start in a couple of hours.
.
.
.
It had been a few days since Jon Arryn had died. King's Landing was in full preparatory mode for the upcoming journey to Winterfell. And because of the presence of Lord Aeos in Winterfell, there was an excitement and a chaotic current in the convoy which was preparing itself for the journey.
"Lord Varys," Petyr drawled in his sly voice.
They had been walking in the corridors of King's Landing when they crossed paths.
"Lord Baelish," Varys replied in a soft tone.
"I did not think that you too would be going to Winterfell," Petyr remarked. "I thought that you would remain here in King's Landing and help in governing the realm."
"I am not suited for the role," Varys responded. "I am a Master of Whisperers, not an administrator. And Lord Stannis and Grand Maester Pycelle would do a fine job governing the realm and the city."
"Oh!" Petyr remarked. "But you did not tell me about the reasons for visiting Winterfell."
"Lord Baelish," Varys drawled. "I am Master of Whisperers. I have all the reasons to visit Winterfell. Lord Aeos is at Winterfell. It is my job to have all the information on Lord Aeos, and His Grace Robert Baratheon might need that information."
"But I wonder why you, as Master of Coin, are visiting Winterfell?" Varys questioned.
"Haha!" Petyr laughed almost mockingly. "For a very long time, I have wanted to visit the North. They say that Winterfell is one of the most majestic castles in the world. I wish to see it."
"Oh!" Varys responded. "Then maybe I too will enjoy the view."
"Lord Baelish," he continued. "I heard that Lady Lysa Arryn has left King's Landing. Fled would be a better word, but you know we can only use 'left'. And they say that she is blaming the Lannisters for the death of Jon Arryn."
"Do you know anything about it?" He questioned.
The smile on Petyr's face faltered for the first time. A trace of agitation passed through his eyes, but he quickly composed himself.
"Are you not the Master of Whisperers?" Petyr questioned. "Should you not know all this?"
"I am only doing my job, Lord Baelish," Varys replied. "I am connecting the whispers and asking questions to collect information."
"See you later," Varys added.
He did not give Petyr any time to react and walked away. Petyr remained standing there with a clenched fist. But a moment later, a smirk flashed on his face.
"Chaos!" He mumbled. "Chaos is coming."
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