Chapter Text
“We should try to invent some things to bring this world to the modern age, like gunpowder!” Percy says.
“I don’t know how to do that! Do you?”
“Well no but it can’t be too hard,” says Percy.
Nico rolls his eyes, “if Will were here we’d already have the cures for greyscale and all the other illnesses.”
“Well unluckily for this world they are unfortunately saddled with us two seaweed brains.”
Nico laughs.
~~
They set off for Winterfell. Nico and Percy ride on the horses while Cersei and Myrcella stay in the wheelhouse. Percy thinks this world is so sexist, Cersei and Myrcella are strong enough to ride on the horses if they want to, and he and Nico wouldn’t be weak if they wanted to stay in the wheelhouse either.
Their uncle, Tyrion, joins them. Percy and Nico talk with him fondly, much to their mother’s displeasure. Their uncle Jaime also joins them in talking to Tyrion, which is strange as he normally avoids them, at least Percy thinks he seems to. He notices how his mother doesn’t like it whenever Jaime interacts with them, he doesn’t know why, Percy and Nico theorise it’s because she doesn’t want them to get influenced negatively from their uncles, even though she prefers Jaime to Tyrion. Percy loves his mother, though he knows she wants to be the centre of her children’s lives, so she pushes Jaime and Tyrion away from them.
Robert talks to them more than he normally does, Percy supposes it’s because he has less people to talk to. It’s either them, the kingsguard, Jaime or Tyrion. The more Percy is around him, the less he likes him. He mocks and ridicules the people around him, Percy is reminded of some of the more arrogant gods.
~~
Jaime and Tyrion watch Percy and Nico spar. They hold back a little, but even when they hold back their talent is evident.
Percy notices Jaime looking longingly at them for a while. Eventually, Jaime gives in and joins them. He’s very knowledgable and teaches them skills they didn’t even know in the before, after all, the Westerosi style of sword fighting is slightly different than the Greek style.
Jaime, like Ser Barristan, is one of the few people who are genuinely better than them at swordplay. Percy finds it refreshing to learn from someone of his skill.
After they finish, Tyrion remarks, “They have your skill with a sword.”
Percy smiles at the praise. He’s happy to be compared to such a good swordsman. It’s also a good thing that Jaime is related to them, as he provides a non suspicious excuse as to why they’re so good with their swords, not that anyone would jump and yell “you’re from a different world!” if they were talented anyway.
Percy knows his uncle is famous, or more infamous, for his skill with his sword. He’s known as the kingslayer for killing the crazy mad king, everyone views him as dishonourable for this. Percy doesn’t. He thinks it’s a good thing his uncle killed the evil tyrant. Imagine if the gods were judged for kinslaying by killing Kronos. It’s sometimes the right thing to kill an evil person, Percy thinks that if Jaime hadn’t stepped in then the mad king might have created wildfire cannons to use on his grandfathers army or some other crazy, dangerous thing.
The four of them sit and talk for a while, then mother comes looking worried, she pulls them away.
“You shouldn’t spend so much time with your uncles!” She says.
“They aren’t bad influences!” Says Percy. “You can’t tell us what to do!”
“If anything they are good for us, we learn lots of knowledge from Tyrion’s ramblings and Jaime can teach us lots about swords,” says Nico.
“Jaime’s been training you in public?”
“Yes,” snaps Percy. He knows his mother loves him though he’s really fucking annoyed that she always has to be the number one, the star adult in his and Nico’s world. Jaime and Tyrion and anyone else aren’t allowed anywhere near them.
Cersei goes pale, “no, you must not continue this!”
“Or what?”
“Mother, we love you, nobody will replace you for us,” says Nico softly. “You don’t need to worry about uncle Jaime and uncle Tyrion.”
Cersei sighs, “you don’t understand. Please cease this, it’s for your own sakes.”
“We can decide what we want to do for ourselves,” says Percy. “Our uncles aren’t dangerous.”
Cersei purses her lips, “if you must, interact in private, you mustn’t be with your uncles in front of anyone else. You know you must only train with Jaime at night, nobody can see you.”
“That makes no sense,” says Nico.
“Fine,” snaps Percy. “We’ll comply with your madness!”
Nico nods, though Percy notices he’s analysing their mother with suspicion in his gaze.
~~
“I think our mother is crazy,” says Nico. “We just didn’t notice it before because well… we were kids.”
“Yeah, what she does has literally no logic behind it,” says Percy.
“I have no idea why father, Hades, said this would be a ‘normal happy mortal life’,” says Nico, causing Percy to snort.
“Yeah! His idea of normal is being born as fucking royalty to an absent father and a crazy mother,” Percy then feels guilty for talking about his mother that way, he loves Cersei, even though she can be crazy and controlling she still loves him and Nico fiercely, “I mean, I love our mother it’s just like how now she’s been acting strangely with our uncles and stuff.”
“I understand, obviously you don’t hate her,” says Nico. “But yeah our dads had no emotional nuance, I think they looked for who had the most money and privilege and picked our family.”
“But even without the family drama our lives aren’t normal! I mean, being a prince isn’t normal.”
“Yeah our dads are crazy too,” says Nico. “They don’t even know what normal is, their dad fucking ate them for gods’ sake.”
Percy cackles at this, “they wouldn’t know normal if it hit them in the face!”
~~
Jaime is eager to teach them sword fighting. They are in the forest in the middle of the night while everyone else is sleeping. It’s so crazy. If people found out about them all sneaking off that would be ten times more suspicious than just practicing sword fighting.
“We should invite mother too,” says Percy.
“What?” Jaime looks at him curiously.
“We should teach her sword fighting too! And Myrcella, they should learn if they want to, you should teach them,” says Percy.
“Yeah, mother told us that she did sword fighting when you were children. Why not teach her again?” Asks Nico.
“Your mother doesn’t want to anymore,” says Jaime. “I offered to teach her but she refused.”
“Myrcella then,” Percy presses.
“I’ll ask Cersei,” says Jaime.
“Thanks,” Nico grins at him.
“I felt the same growing up,” says Jaime. “About women and swordplay. I didn’t see why it was encouraged for me but banned for Cersei.”
“It’s stupid society,” says Percy. “Nothing is fair in this world.”
“No, when I’m king I will change things and make everything more equal and better,” says Nico with a determined look on his face. Percy notices Jaime smiling fondly at them, as though he thinks they’re right but naive boys, as though he thinks they won’t be able to change anything. Percy’s resolve increases, he’ll make this stupid world a better place.
~~
Cersei doesn’t allow Myrcella to join them, Percy goes behind her back to ask her anyway but she rejects him. Percy realises she genuinely doesn’t want to learn, he supposes that’s fine, he has to realise that not everyone enjoys sword fighting, it’s not necessary to everyone like it is for demigods.
~~
They finally reach Winterfell. Percy rides in next to Nico on horseback. He observes the Starks, at a glance, Ned Stark is not what he expected, he doesn’t look like someone who would be friends with Robert. The Stark family look like a normal high born Westerosi family. He notices the oldest girl staring at Nico, ew, firstly that’s a child, second Nico is gay, there is no chance in hell of that happening. Percy wonders why she even fancies him so much already when she’s literally only just seen him and never said a word for him, he decides she probably lusts for power or something like that.
Percy spaces out as Ned and Robert exchange greetings. Eventually, they disappear off somewhere and they are given to Lady Stark. She seems stiff, Percy is reminded of Hera. Percy daydreams through most of the introductions, though he gets the impression that the Stark kids don’t particularly like him, except for the eldest girl with the crush on Nico, she likes them too much.
He says this to Nico later. Nico surprisingly has an answer, “well they all seem rough and tough, like- not into fancy things. We look super fancy with what mother dresses us in. Maybe they think we’re snobby or something?”
“We’ll be nice and civil with them, they’ll probably come around. If not then it’s their loss.”
“To be honest I don’t care if they don’t like us, I’m just happy they aren’t the fake flatterers we are used to at court, at least they don’t pretend to like us.”
“That’s valid,” Percy agrees.
~~
Percy walks in with Arya for the feast while Nico walks in with Sansa. He sits next to her and is surprised to find a spirited young girl who makes great conversation. She actively rejects the norms of society, she talks with him about sword fighting and listens intently when Percy discusses techniques and battle strategy.
“Can you teach me?” She eventually asks him.
“Sure, though we’d need to-“
“Really!” She squeaks, bouncing with excitement before hugging him. This draws the attention of a lot of people, and a scowl from Robb Stark.
Robert laughs, “look Ned! I knew our children would get along! A Stark and a Baratheon!”
“Aye,” Ned Stark smiles at them fondly.
Percy notices Sansa glaring at Arya she scolds her quietly, “that was improper!”
Arya sticks out her tongue in response, making Percy laugh.
~~
Percy goes out to escape from the feast, he finds a boy sitting on the steps outside the hall with an albino wolf.
“Is this seat taken?” he asks.
The boy looks up quickly, then stands. “My prince.”
Percy makes a face. “That means yes?”
“No. I mean- no, my prince.”
“Your dog is cute,” he says.
“He’s a Direwolf, your grace.”
“I like him,” Percy says and he scratches the wolf’s head. Percy smiles at the boy and introduces himself, “I’m Percy.”
“I know, your grace.”
“Right, Prince thing. And you are?”
“Jon Snow.”
“Oh.” Percy glances toward the hall. “Robb’s brother?”
Jon’s face changes, he looks almost sad, “his bastard brother.”
Percy frowns, “that seems like a stupid distinction.”
Jon stares at him.
“What?” Percy says. “Either he’s your brother or he isn’t. People here make everything weird.”
Jon smiles at Percy, it’s small and reluctant but still a smile.
Inside, someone cheers. Percy hears Robert laugh loud enough to be heard in Dorne. Jon looks toward the sound and asks, “you don’t wish to be inside, your grace?”
“Not really. Too many titles. Too many people watching.”
Jon looks down at his cup, but he is still smiling.
“You can sit, you know. I’m not going to make you bow at me in the cold.”
Jon hesitates, then he sits. They sit in silence for a minute, not an awkward silence but a comfortable one. Percy likes it. The hall is too loud. Out here, there is only cold air, cold stone beneath him and a direwolf leaning heavily against his leg like Percy has somehow passed an important test.
“What’s his name?” Percy asks.
“Ghost, your grace.”
Percy looks at the white wolf. “That is either the coolest name I’ve ever heard or the most depressing.”
Jon huffs a quiet laugh, “he was the quiet one, the runt of the litter.”
After another pleasant silence of Percy stroking Ghost, Percy says, “you know, bastard or not, you’re better company than half the people in there.”
Jon looks down at his cup. “You barely know me, your grace.”
“Yeah,” Percy says. “And you’re already winning.”
Jon’s smile turns small and startled, like he does not quite know what to do with kindness when it is handed to him so plainly.
Percy stands at last and brushes off his clothes. “I’ll see you again, Jon Snow.”
Jon looks up. “Will you?”
Percy grins. “Obviously. Ghost likes me.”
Ghost headbuts Percy’s hand in agreement.
Jon laughs softly. “I suppose he does, your grace.”
~~
Percy meets with Arya that night, as they won’t be able to meet for the next day because Percy is to go hunting with Robert and the others. Sadly not even Jaime or Tyrion are coming with them so he and Nico will be alone and bored.
Arya is eager to learn, she has a great amount of talent.
~~
“I hate it here,” Nico says.
“You said that before we even got here.”
“And I was right before I even got here.”
Percy snorts. “You look dramatic.”
“I am dramatic. I’ve earned it.”
They make their way toward the training yard, the Hound trails behind them, looking bored and half asleep, though Percy knows better than to believe he isn’t paying attention.
The yard is already occupied.
Robb Stark is there with Theon Greyjoy. Robb has a practice sword in hand and a serious expression on his face. Theon, on the other hand, is leaning against a post with a smirk. Ned Stark and Ser Roderik stand to the side watching the boys. Percy noticed that Jon wasn’t there, likely barred from the yard for the royal visit.
Ser Rodrik Cassel watches the princes with the patient look of a man preparing to teach pampered boys which end of a sword is dangerous.
Percy sees it immediately. Nico does too, because his mouth curls like he has just been handed a gift.
After the introductions are over, Ser Rodrik clears his throat. “If it please my princes, I would see your guards first. Feet apart. Weight balanced. Never reach too far with the blade.”
Percy blinks. “Right.”
“Keep your sword between you and your foe,” Ser Rodrik continues. “Do not turn your back. Do not watch the eyes. Watch the shoulders.”
Nico leans closer to Percy. “He thinks we’re going to stab ourselves.”
“He seems worried,” Percy whispers back. “It’s kind of sweet.”
Theon rolls his shoulders. “Perhaps the princes will surprise us.”
Percy brightens. “That sounded almost supportive.”
“It was not meant to.”
“Still counting it.”
Ser Rodrik gestures to the ring. “Lord Robb against Prince Nico first, perhaps.”
“Actually, let’s have a 2v2,” Percy says.
“What’s that, my prince?”
Oh right, he forgot they didn’t understand modern terminology, he clarifies, “two against two, me and Nico against Robb and Theon.”
“As your grace wishes,” says Robb, sounding icy and miserable for some reason.
“You make it sound like I asked you to eat the sword,” Percy says causing Nico to laugh.
“A fair bout,” Ned stark cuts in after stepping forwards from beside Ser Roderik. “No hard blows.”
“Of course, Lord Stark,” Nico says, sweet as honey.
Percy nods, “friendly violence only.”
Robb’s jaw tightens.
Ser Rodrik puts them in place. Percy and Nico on one side. Robb and Theon on the other. The Hound watches from the edge of the yard, arms folded, looking bored enough to be asleep standing up. Percy knows he is not.
“Begin,” Ser Rodrik says.
Robb moves first, quick and serious. Theon follows half a step behind, all sharp grin and sharper pride.
Percy and Nico move together without thinking.
It is over almost at once.
Percy turns Robb’s blade aside, taps his wrist, and sends the sword into the dirt. Nico ducks Theon’s swing, hooks his ankle, and gives him a small shove. Theon stumbles straight into Robb. Both boys go down in a tangle of mud, cloaks, and wounded dignity.
Percy blinks.
Nico looks down at them, then at Percy, “I think we skipped a few steps.”
Percy nods slowly. “Yeah. Usually there’s more… sword part.”
Nico winces, “that sounded bad.”
Percy looks at Robb and Theon who are glaring at him and says, “no offence.”
Nobody laughs or defuses the tension. Awkward.
Robb and Theon both get up and say, “again.”
They fight again. This time Robb is more careful and Theon is more angry, which somehow makes both of them worse.
Percy steps around Robb’s guard and taps him lightly on the chest. Nico catches Theon’s wrist, twists, and plucks the practice sword out of his hand like he is taking a cup from a servant. Theon stares at his empty hand.
Nico offers the sword back to him and jokes, “you dropped this before you got started.”
Theon snatches it from him while Robb looks at Percy like Percy has just personally insulted every Stark buried in the crypts. Percy feels heat crawl up his neck. He didn’t mean to make it look easy. It just is easy, that’s the problem.
“Again,” Robb says.
They do it again. And then again, each bout is shorter than the last.
Robb ends with Percy’s blade at his shoulder. Theon ends in the mud. Then Robb is disarmed. Then Theon swings too wide and nearly hits Robb. Then Percy and Nico switch places halfway through without speaking, and somehow both northern boys lose faster.
After the fifth bout, Percy says, “maybe we should switch things up.”
Nico, because apparently he has no survival instincts, adds, “To make it more fair.”
The yard goes very still. Percy feels the offence land, but honestly, Robb and Theon have spent the entire morning glaring, bristling, and acting like the princes personally invented southern arrogance. Percy is willing to be a little sorry, but not a lot sorry.
Theon’s smile goes sharp and ugly and Robb says, “we do not require charity, Your Grace.”
“Not fair like charity. Fair like you two should stop falling over as a matched set,” says Percy. Nico closes his eyes for a moment, as though praying for patience from gods who are not listening. Percy points between them. “Me and Theon. Nico and Robb. New teams. A new leaf.”
Theon’s jaw works, but he remembers Percy is a prince before he says whatever is on his face.
“As Your Grace wishes,” he says.
Robb’s voice is clipped, “if my lord father permits it.”
Then Ned gives Ser Rodrik a short nod and then Ser Rodrik moves them into place. Theon comes to Percy’s side like he has been sentenced there. Percy gives him an encouraging smile, mostly because it makes Theon look even more annoyed.
The bout starts. Robb comes in hard, anger making his strikes harder and heavier. Nico meets him easily, turning each blow aside with that lazy, elegant confidence Percy knows looks too much like their uncle, though Percy supposes that’s now a good thing, as it explains why they’re so good at fighting without the dodgy demigod reason, as far as Percy’s concerned, the more they resemble Jaime the better.
Theon doesn’t cooperate well, he cuts in too close. Percy ducks. Theon overcorrects. Percy steps away. Robb stumbles toward them, sent there by Nico with one neat twist, and Percy moves on instinct.
One tap to Robb’s ribs, then a turn to catch Theon’s blade before it clips Percy’s shoulder. And one awkward heartbeat later, Percy is standing there with both practice swords in his hands.
He and Nico have obviously bested the Starks again.
Percy looks at Nico and Nico looks at Percy. Nobody says anything. The Hound makes a sound that might be a laugh, but when Percy glances over, his face is blank.
At the Red Keep, skill earns praise. Ser Barristan gives them praise and approval and Jaime gives smug little compliments that sound almost like insults. In the North, skill earns silence. Percy forces a smile, because that is easier than standing there and looking guilty. Well, that was a diplomatic disaster.
~~
Percy and Nico are dragged on a hunt with Robert and co. The hunt is as boring as Percy expected it to be. He is relived to arrive back in Winterfell.
His relief quickly turns into horror when he hears one of the Starks has fallen from climbing a tower or something.
Percy hopes little Bran is okay. Though he knows he most likely won’t be. He curses himself for his lack of knowledge in regard to healing, if he’d paid just a little attention to the subject then he might have been able to do something to help the poor boy.
“I’m sorry about your brother,” he says later to Arya during one of their secret training meetings.
“He’s strong! He’ll wake up! I know he will!” She says.
“I hope so too,” says Percy.
~~
“This world is fucking cruel,” says Nico, later on when they are discussing Bran’s fall privately.
“Yeah, I have no idea why our fathers thought this would be a normal life,” he laughs bitterly.
~~
They are eating breakfast with Cersei when she tells them. “Nico, your father wishes for you to marry Sansa Stark.”
“No,” he says.
“What the fuck! He hasn’t even asked Nico what he wants,” Percy protests.
“You won’t have to marry her for a long time, at least two years.”
Nico buries his face into his hands, “I don’t want to marry anyone.”
“You have to,” says Cersei. “I’m sorry Nico. You don’t have to love Sansa Stark, but you must be civil with her. You need a queen.”
“I’m four and ten, I don’t need a queen,” Nico scowls. Percy feels sorry for him, he and Nico certainly don’t want to get married in this new world, they are both in relationships with the loves of their lives in their old world.
“I know, when you are king you won’t even need to see her, everything will be exactly how you wish it to be,” she says. Nico smiles at her.
“I’m still not happy about this.”
“Me neither,” Percy frowns. He doesn’t know how their fathers thought this life was a normal, happy one. There were too many expectations.
~~
Tyrion tells him of his plans to go to the wall, Percy says, “I want to go too!”
Nico laughs, “you want to leave me to the wolves. Literally!”
Tyrion laughs at their antics before saying, “I doubt your mother will allow it.”
“I don’t care, I’m going with you,” says Percy. His mother needs to learn that he won’t be controlled anymore. “You should come too, Neeks.”
“You know I can’t.”
“You can, you’re just too much of a goody two shoes.”
“No I’m not! I’m just not reckless like you!” He says.
“Beloved nephews, if either or both of you wish to come to the wall, then I’m sure you will be welcome too.”
“See Tyrion supports us,” says Percy.
“Yeah and he’s the ‘bad influence’,” Nico adds, causing them all to laugh. “Maybe you’re right, maybe I should join the nights watch to get out of this marriage to this Sansa Stark.”
~~
Cersei isn’t happy about Percy joking Tyrion but surprisingly she allows it. Percy has no idea why she is lenient with some things but strict with others.
Though Cersei’s mood sours when Robert sends Jaime with them, declaring they need a kingsguard to protect Prince Percy, and he finds it funny, declaring that he’s sending Jaime where Ned Stark always wanted him to go.