[In chapter 229: To Westeros, Jon Snow has not fotgotten or is not unaware about his true parents. He knows and remembers it. That he knows about his true parents has been very clearly established in the starting few chapters.
He is merely debating and wondering if Ned will reveal the reality to him this time. Both are different things. Do not confuse.]
It had been a long time since the entire small council of King Robert Baratheon had gathered for a meeting. Not only the king himself was present in the meeting but even the inexperienced and young Renly Baratheon, the master of Laws, was also in attendance. The Queen, Cersei Baratheon, too was present in the meeting.
And surprisingly, King Robert Baratheon was more sober than anyone would have expected him to be. And even more surprising was that he did not have a goblet of wine in his hand.
The meeting had been going for some time and the atmosphere inside the hall was tense and oppressive. Grand Maester Pycelle had brought up a very important issue for discussion. And not only had it left the council in a state of confusion and uncertainty but had also made the king agitated and irritated.
"Your grace," Pycelle said, his voice sharp. "I understand the emotions you carry for Eddard Stark. I also understand the great bond of friendship the two of you share. I also have not forgotten the immense contribution Eddard Stark played in usurping the mad king and the great part he and his northmen played in the grand campaign you undertook against the mad king."
"And to be honest I am neither doubting his loyalty nor his intentions," he continued. "But we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that he had committed a grave act and violated laws of the kingdom. Laws, the violation of which puts the stability of the kingdom at a grave risk."
"I understand that Lord Aeos or Jon Snow is Ned Stark's bastard son but it cannot be ignored that he is also a ruler of quite a large empire," Pycelle pressed. "He has one of the largest armies the world has to offer and neither does he have any shortage of any wealth."
"Whatever the reason for his visit, and I am obviously not aware of the reason, Eddard Stark should have written a letter to you, to King's Landing before making such arrangements. He should have sought permission from the crown. He should have explained in detail the purpose of this visit. He cannot invite or host the king of another territory without even informing the iron throne."
"Jon Snow might be his son but he is also the same Lord Aeos who has declared time and again of building the greatest empire the world has ever seen," he continued. "And I am not foolish enough to dismiss that his grand dream of the greatest empire would not include Westeros. He was born in Westeros. He spent the initial few years of his life in Westeros. Any sane mind would want to conquer Westeros."
"Your grace," he said. "My words might sting and hurt but as a loyal servant of the crown, I will be very frank."
"If it had been anyone else hosting Lord Aeos without the explicit permission from the iron throne, then I may have already called him a traitor," he said, plunging the small council in a state of shock. "I am merely holding myself because of the honour Eddard Stark commands. And because of the great trust you put in your friend."
"But," he continued. "While Lord Stark might prove to be as loyal as we believe him to be, we know nothing of the true purpose of Lord Aeos' visit. Why did he need to visit Westeros? What does he seek from Westeros? Is it merely a casual visit he is paying to his father? Or is he hiding darker designs and ambitions in his wake?"
"Do we know anything?" He questioned. "Do we have any idea what Lord Aeos seeks from Westeros?"
His eyes roamed on every member of the council before finally settling on Jon Arryn. He wanted to know his opinion.
"I agree with every word that Grand Maester Pycelle has said," Cersei remarked.
Robert clenched his fist and gritted his teeth in a display of his frustrated emotions. But he did not respond. He shifted his glance towards the man he trusted the most in his life. Well, apart from Ned Stark. Jon Arryn.
"What do you have to say, Jon?" He questioned. "Speak truth and speak honestly."
Jon did not respond immediately. He took a deep breath and organised his thoughts and framed his words before speaking.
"No matter how much I want to say the contrary," Jon replied, "the honour and sense of service that binds me to the crown is preventing me. I have to agree with Grand Maester Pycelle. I agree with his opinion. I know Ned will not even think about betraying you. I am certain that he is not even in his dreams going to weave any plot against you."
"But," he continued. "Ned should have informed and sought permission from you. There is a decorum and laws and rules that need to be followed."
"For example, I may be one of the closest people to you and probably even a father figure to you, but even then I will not cross boundaries that lower your dignity as a king."
A victorious smile appeared on Cersei's and Pycelle's faces. A smirk flashed across even on Petyr's face. But it was not because of what was going on in the small council but because of what he had been thinking inwardly. And what was he thinking? He was amusing himself over the fact that it was the last small council meeting that Jon Arryn would be attending. It would be the last advice that he would be giving to Robert Baratheon.
"But," Jon continued even further, "I will not think too much about it. I will consider it a single mistake committed by Ned in unawareness."
"I will not really be troubled by it," he concluded.
"Then what do you suggest?" Cersei questioned. "That we do nothing and keep sitting on our hands? That by our inaction we encourage such behaviour?"
"I did not say that," Jon Arryn replied. "I was merely saying not to worry ourselves a lot about this. And what I suggest as further action is that we write a letter to Ned demanding an explanation. As to why he did not seek permission from us."
Every eye moved towards Robert.
"Write the letter to him," Robert muttered before he got up from his seat and left the hall.
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