23 Chapter 23: Tournament Start

The first day of the tournament had finally arrived, it was only a two day tournment since only jousting was going to be done, the following day would be the finals.

The winner of the first day would face the champion Barristan Selmy, he was considered the best jouster in the realm.

Originally it would've been Jaime Lannister, but since he had left Westeros and not returned, Barristan was the best of the best when it came to the sword and lance.

Eight banners were hung on the wall all representing the knights who would be participating in the joust.

A silver eagle on an indigo field represented House Mallister of Seagard, Lord Jason Mallister was the participant.

Black iron studs on a bronze field bordered with runes represented House Royce of Runestone, Lord Yohn Royce was the participant.

Two blue towers unified by a bridge on a silver-grey field represented House Frey of The Twins, Ser Ryman Frey and Ser Holsteen Frey were participating.

Nine black bats on a yellow field represented House Whent of Harrenhal, Lord Walter Whent was the participant.

A brindled black and white boar on a brown field represented House Crakehall of Crakenhall, Ser Lyle Crakehall was the participant.

A red S written in latin style within a red diamond outline on a field of black represented Aiden, many thought the S represented his bastard last name Sand and mocked the banner. Many of whom did received slaps from women and a good scalding.

A black bear in a green wood represented House Mormont of Mormont Keep, Lord Jorah Mormont was the participant.

Lastly a golden crown surrounded by seven white swords on a white field, the standard of the Kingsguard, Ser Boros Blount and Ser Barristan Selmy were participating.

As the banners were placed for all to see Ned Stark, who was taking a swig of wine, had coughed up the wine violently upon seeing Aiden's crest. This had drawn the laughter of all the other Lords in attendance but one, Olenna Tyrell.

She had noticed that Ned had visibly paled at the sight of Aiden's crest, he immediately dismissed himself afterwards, using the excuse of needing to clean up.

"Margaery, be a dear and follow Lord Stark and Robb, take a guard and try not to be seen. If you can't get close enough to listen yourself send in one of our men, or use Robb as a means to overhear if need be. But try not to be seen, even knowing who he talks to would be helpful. There's something about that Aiden that scares the wolf."

"Of course men would fear him grandmother, he is strong and powerful. But as you wish." Margaery said with a dreamy smile.

"You forgot handsome too. Didn't you see all those women come to his defense after they put up his banner. I'm afraid he's like that Prince Oberyn or our gracious King Robert."

"Never. He is nothing like them." Margaery said sternly, which surprised Olenna.

"And what makes you say that?" Olenna questioned, genuinely curious as to what would have her daughter defend him so adamantly.

"His eyes. He doesn't look at women with lust. Even when we walked the streets and women threw themselves on him, he was respectful and polite. Not once did he sneak off, even when they told him it was free." Margaery said as the sparkles returned to her eyes. She then continued, "And I know what your going to say, that it could just be an act in front of me, but the eyes don't lie."

"Ah, turning my own words against me. Glad to know you are listening. Go on now, and dont get caught." Olenna responded with a chuckle.

'I think I need to meet the boy myself, he has grown mighty fast, if I didn't know how old he was I'd think he was in his twenties now.' Olenna thought to herself as the tournament was getting ready to start.

Ned Stark went straight to the tent for the participants, seeing this Margaery thought Lord Stark made it too easy on her.

So she used a visit to Lord Jason Mallister to get inside the tent, Jason was a honorable man and knight, he would take her visit as a girl wanting to hear knight tales.

Any of the other knights could've misinterpreted her visit for something else, which even though she was too young now, in a few years she would be of marriageable age. She didn't want some old knight lusting after her.

When she entered, she noticed Ned speaking with Jorah Mormont briefly, which she could tell Jorah didn't like what was said to him. She began talking with Lord Mallister and noticed Aiden watching Ned Stark.

As she pretended to listen to Jason tell his tale of when the Ironborn attacked during their rebellion, she watched Ned approach Aiden cautiously but curtiously.

She strained to listen in but couldn't hear due to the various other Lords talking. Jason had noticed Margaery looking at Aiden, he gave a knowing smile and stopped his story.

"I take it you like that man? Aiden Sand was it? Does he know?" Jason asked as he sat down in his fine indigo colored armor.

Margaery blushed at his words, and only noded.

"He looks like a fine lad. One thing I have learned is the last name doesn't make the man, I have known many bastard born that I would rather fight beside over true born men. It is something I find in common with the Northerners and Dornish. If you have your favor with you, I would suggest you put it on him now, you know there will be no shortage of those offering it when it starts."

Margaery's eyes widened at that realization, which Lord Mallister offered to introduce her if needed.

"I have met him a few times before this Lord Mallister, I thank you for the offer and suggestion. I shall do as you say once Lord Stark finishes his talk."

Aiden was surprised by Ned coming over, he also felt a change in the man that he couldn't place, he was different from the last time he saw him but he couldn't place the changes.

"So you must be Robb, I guess we could be said to family too. You can call me cousin or uncle if you want. I consider your Aunt like a mother, but if you don't want that I would understand. Not many would want to call a bastard family after all." Aiden said warmly as he tussled Robb's hair.

"I would like that. My mother wouldn't like it much but that's cause she worships the Seven. Do you really know my Aunt Lyanna? Will I be able to meet her? Father talks about her a lot."

"Of course. I actually planned to visit your home after the tournament if its okay with Lord Stark. She requested that I go there first to handle something, then she would be able to visit more often."

"Really! Great! Father you have to say yes. Please." Robb said looking at his father with pleading eyes.

"Aye. You will always be welcome at our table Aiden. You have done much for my family, you will always be a friend of the North. The North Remembers."

"The North Remembers." Robb also repeated.

The horn blew signaling the tournament about to start, Aiden then said, "If you told the Bear to back out if we meet in the tournament tell him to go all out. I don't want special treatment. Friend's don't ask friends to step down like that, they should encourage each other to do their best, win or lose." Aiden said that loud enough for Jorah to hear which Jorah gave a smile and a salute, which Aiden returned.

"Spoken like a true knight." Lord Mallister said as he stood up and gave a respectful salute to Aiden.

As Ned and everyone began to leave, Margaery ran over timidly and gave Aiden a green handkerchief with a golden rose embroidered on it.

"If it doesn't offend you my knight, I wish to give you my favor for good luck in the tournament." Margaery said with a red face, had Aiden not had super hearing he may have missed most of it.

"Of course it doesn't offend me, also I am no knight, but thank you for the added luck. Umm, I honestly don't know where its supposed to go, I have never received one before. Could you show me?" Aiden said while scratching the back of his head embarrassingly.

Margaery smiled widely and her heart fluttered at the thought hers was the first favor he ever received. She tied it to his right arm, but let out a small scream when she noticed Flamebird poke her head up and look at her.

Aiden thought 'Shit' but quickly pushed the dragon back down, "Flamebird you aren't supposed to show yourself, you promised. Please don't say anything, she won't hurt anyone I promise."

He quickly said as the Tyrell guard came rushing over and tried to push Aiden back and away from Margaery thinking he had done something to her. However when he shoved Aiden it was him that fell backwards.

"It's okay Tomas, Aiden didn't do anything, I thought I saw a big spider run across the ground, but it was a tumbleweed. You can go, I'll be right behind you." Margaery said with her eyes shinning.

Once he was a little distance away she whispered, "Is that what I think it is? She was so beautiful." As soon as she said that she heard a purr come from the hood.

She couldn't help but widen her eyes, "She understands me? She is.."

"Don't...She likes to be complimented. Yes she is a dragon. Don't tell anyone just yet ok? After the tournament is fine but not yet, if people found out now there will be a lot of unnecessary deaths. Please."

Margaery planned to fully take advantage, she had been trained by the Queen of Thorns herself, so she decided to make a very bold demand.

"If you promise to crown me the Queen of Love and Beauty if you win then I will not tell anyone until I reach home and I will even promise to tell one person only."

Aiden, having no idea what the crown truly signified, quickly agreed. To him that was an easy thing, and if she only would tell one other person and even wait till she got home to say anything, it was win-win for him.

If Aiden knew what it meant to bestow the crown of love and beauty to someone, he may have truly hesitated.

Bestowing the crown was tantamount to saying you planned on pursuing the woman for marriage, it was scandalous to grant it to a woman who was already married or if you bestowed it to someone you weren't either already married to or betrothed to. Aiden wasn't well informed in such practice that Westeros had. This was his first tournament and it had never came up.

Seeing Aiden quickly agree, Margaery couldn't stop blushing, she quickly ran out the tent.

That was when Aiden finally took notice of his ability, he was distracted by thoughts of Flamebird being found out at a really bad time, he realized he had just been tricked by a little girl.

'Fuck these southerners are tricky. Damn it, thanks a lot Flamebird. Had you not shown your big head this could've all been avoided, now I gave a promise and can't break it.'

Aiden thought as he too got red in the face at the embarrassment he felt.

He left the tent and got on his horse, making it just in time for the start of the tournament. Lining up alongside the other participants straws were drawn to see who would start.

The way they did the tournament was whoever drew the short straw picked who they went against. Whoever won would then choose the next opponent and this continued until none were left.

Once you lost that was it, you were out of the tournament. This was a little unfair to some knights, since it wasn't based on who had most wins overall, but it also was a disadvantage to the winner since the more they won the more energy they would consume.

The matches would be back to back, up until the final match which would be held the following day. It was to make the final match fair. If one knight went all the way thru the others, Barristan would have the full advantage since the opponent would be exhausted from all the other matches.

Lord Jorah Mormont won the first choice, before he chose his first opponent, Jorah rode to the section of the stands where House Hightower was sitting.

Lord Leyton Hightower along with some of his sons, as well as his youngest daughter Lynesse Hightower sat in attendance. Jorah had fell in love at first when he saw Lynesse Hightower. She was a beautiful woman with long golden hair, skin the color of cream, light sky blue eyes and a delicate figure.

"Before I choose my first opponent, I would ask the beautiful Lady Hightower if she would grant me her favor. With such a beautiful woman's favor I would have the strength to defeat any and all opponents who would stand before me, this day and everyday there after." Jorah stated confidently as he sat straight, allowing his voice to resound through the arena.

Cheers began to rise after he finished his speech. Lynesse looked to her father first, after getting a nod from him, she stood up with a smile, grabbing one of the favors that she had made, with a smile she placed it upon the tip of the lance Jorah had raised to allow her easy access to place it on the lance.

Cheers erupted even higher than before after her favor was given, Jorah lowered the spear after he gave a bow, as he rode his horse in front of the line of participants, taking their measure as he passed, he began to tie Lynesse's handkerchief on his lance arm.

After riding past all participants he then rode to the wall with all their banners. All held their breath in anticipation for who he would choose first.

To Aiden's surprise Jorah chose Lord Jason Mallister as his first opponent. After making his choice Aiden and the other knights who weren't chosen rode off the arena grounds, leaving just Jorah and his opponent alone within the arena.

As the announcer removed Lord Jason Mallister's banner from the wall, and began to move it down to the designated area next to Jorah's to show who was to compete, both men took their place at opposing ends of the arena.

They lined up in their lanes to prepare for the first charge, all that seperated them was a five foot tall wooden fence.

After the announcer finished introductions of both knights, a trumpet blast signalled the start of the first match.