Chapter 1: JON
"Why is the Targaryen bastard not dead yet?" the king asked.
It was left to Jon to give the king the answer he would not like to hear. It was not a convenient truth. A lie would have been a fitter choice.
"The boy has managed to escape, your Grace. Our soldiers say he has ridden off on the back of a winged beast."
"A beast?"
"A winged beast. They claim it was a dragon, but all the fires were flushed out by the buffets from its wings. None have seen for certain."
"And mermaids are all over Riverrun and dire wolves are tearing up our men. Seven hells, Jon, am I really hearing this from you?" Robert already had enough of rumors. He turned to the Master of Whisperers. "Lord Varys, what news do you have?"
The eunuch, dressed in his preferred attire of silken gown and ostentatious vest, leaned forward, his soft hands curled on his lap under the table. "They say it had six red eyes, your Grace."
"Enough!" demanded Robert as he slammed a gloved hand on the table. "I must be dreaming. A Targaryen shows up from out of nowhere and my small council spouts fantasies like they were little boys again, and I'm the one who strikes any sense into all this. If a dragon were around, the entire Seven Kingdoms would have known by now. Villages would be burning, people would be burning; we wouldn't be sitting on our asses talking. Is any of our men roasted or dead?"
"All the men have been accounted for, though Lord Vance of Wayfarer's Rest has suffered serious burns," said Ser Barristan Selmy, captain of the Kingsguard.
Robert dismissed the report. "He can dab it with some ice and live. A Targaryen with a real dragon would be razing King's Landing and taking the Iron Throne over my burned corpse, not running around in the Riverruns with dozens of largely uninjured men after him. Where is he now?"
"They lost track of him that night. But there are reports that he's been sighted passing by the blue fork, presumably en route to Seagard," reported Jon.
"Seagard? In a day? How did he get there in a day from Riverrun?"
"He flew on a dragon," said Lord Renly dryly, the king's younger brother, master of laws. Robert ignored him.
"Get the Freys moving. Have him launch his entire army for all I care. Just don't let the boy get any further north."
"Why not?" asked Lord Renly.
"No Targaryen deserves to live a day longer, not while I'm king," said Robert in deep contempt. "I want his head chopped from his shoulders and put on a stake for the crows. If they could take him alive, I'll do it myself."
Ser Selmy appeared troubled. "Your Grace, we don't know the true parentage of this child. Rhaeger was not the kind of man to to frequents brothels. I cannot imagine he would father any bastards,"
Ah, Ser Selmy, do not broach that topic. Rhaeger's honor was not as pristine in Robert's eyes.
But Robert couldn't care less of the whores Rhaeger may have or have not bedded with. Robert lived off carnal pleasure as much as a man needed to draw his breath. Rhaeger's only mistake was choosing the woman Robert had been betrothed to.
"He has silver hair and violet eyes. Are you telling me that's not a Targaryen?"
"It does seem unlikely," muttered Lord Baelish in agreement.
Robert tapped the table impatiently. "Fine. If he's some boy of unfortunate coincidence, then pay his family some gold when they come begging for justice. But Targaryen or not, I want his blood on my hands. Are we all settled, Jon?"
"A moment, your Grace," said Jon calmly. "Regarding the Targaryen boy, I believe he would be more useful alive than dead."
"Seven hells," groaned Robert. "Not this again. You asked me to leave the two Targaryens across the Narrow Sea alone, and now you're asking me to keep a third one alive? I have my limits, Jon."
"And yet we must persevere for the good of the realm." Jon's lackluster blue eyes stared contemplatively on the tapestry of Seven Kingdoms hanging on the wall behind Robert. "May I speak my suggestion, your Grace?"
"Might as well get it over with. What crazy idea do you have in mind?"
Jon had known Robert since he was a boy and practically raised him. He, alongside with Ned, the lord of Winterfell, was a son that he never found within his own flesh and blood, in his sickly boy Robert, the namesake of the king. Jon was aware of how deep his hatred for the Targaryens went. It was the rift that caused Robert and Ned to fall apart during the rebellion. But Jon must do what needed to be done to run the realm. Robert's grudges were not take priority. Robert would understand. Sometimes.
"To the knowledge of the smallfolk, the Targaryen boy is the last of his bloodline. One of our lords – perhaps Lord Tywin – can keep him as a ward and marry him to a highborn lady. We can grant him some lands and wealth that can be satisfactory to the noble family. Perhaps the Martell may even be eager to step in the fold and offer their heir."
"Marrying their own to the bastard of their son by law? I almost want to agree just to see that," laughed Robert. "But we're talking about a Targaryen here, Jon. It hasn't been more than fifteen years since they sat on the Iron Throne for centuries."
"I concur. A sad fate for the boy, but it must be done," said Lord Varys with a mournful frown.
"It must be done," repeated Maester Pycelle, nodding.
"It makes interesting plays," pondered Lord Baelish, looking at Jon curiously. "But risky. I never took the Lord of the Eyrie for a risk-taker."
"Lord Stannis?" inquired Jon at the quiet man.
"A living Targaryen would remind the word usurper to the people and make the king's rule weak. But even a bastard can help strengthen it. That is, if he were a true Targaryen." No one in the council had particularly expected an extensive comment from the Master of Ships. But Jon could see from the glimmer in their eyes that they had seen the best option a dead Targaryen would not allow them to have.
"He has the full features of a Targaryen. The details of his birth is irrelevant once the king recognizes him true-born," said Lord Baelish.
"A marriage with the princess? A clever move, brother," said Lord Renly, smiling in an appraising manner. "Princess Myrcella is a few years too early for marriage, but the real concern is the queen. Lord Tywin may not approve for a strictly political marriage that brings no wealth either."
Lord Renly was right. Jon had considered the possibility of uniting the Targaryen and Baratheon to make Robert's rule a continuity rather than that of usurping. If only the Targareyen boy had been a girl, then the marriage would have less precautions. His thoughts briefly wandered to Daenerys, the child carried by the last queen and born outside of Westeros.
Lord Stannis did not waver. "I wasn't talking of Robert's daughter. There is another Baratheon available. My daughter, Shireen."
Robert dismissed the thought immediately. "We didn't take Dragonstone from the Targaryen to return it."
Lord Stannis' jaw tightened. "I didn't take Dragonstone to rule it. You won't have to give him lands and the Baratheon's hold on the Iron Throne will undoubtedly be stronger. It's a small price to pay."
"On the contrary, it is quite the price to pay... for you, Lord Stannis," pointed Jon, concerned.
"Naturally, I expect a generous compensation," interjected the Master of Ships.
Jon nodded. The council seemed to be in agreement with the decision, save for Robert.
"The Targaryen boy's not leaving King's Landing. He's not staying in Dragonstone or Casterly Rock, whoever he is to be wed. He'll be staying here until I say he can leave, and let me warn you in advance, that may be never. If he takes a single step outside of King's Landing, I will have every men mobilized to haul him back and drag him by horses, and it will be there in my throne room where I finish off the Targaryens once and for all."
Jon nodded once more. "Thank you, your Grace." For Robert to not outright disagree was the standard of success he wanted. Even Robert could not deny the sense of the action. This meant that neither Lord Tywin nor Lord Stark were to be the Targaryen boy's guardians. It would have to be someone from within King's Landing. Lord Stannis seemed to not include taking the boy in before marriage as part of the bargain.
They are interrupted by the arrival of a messenger from Lord Edmure, who brought news from the Trident.
"And?" prompted Jon.
"They have seized the Targaryen in Oldstones. However, his three others companions had escaped. It appears he used himself as a bait."
"Companions?" repeated Robert.
"Yes, your Grace. Three youths were accompanying him according to the innkeeper near the Red Fork. They briefly stayed there after their escape in Riverrun."
"Continue the search for them, but the Targaryen takes priority. Escort him here. We will send knights to meet Lord Edmure's men halfway through. Ser Selmy, take twenty of the castle guards and see the Targaryen's safety for yourself," ordered Jon.
Ser Selmy rose from his seat and bowed deeply, and departed briskly. Ser Selmy was the oldest and noblest of the Kingsguard who had served during the Targaryen dynasty. It should give him some peace of mind to be with the closest kin of his former liege, bastard or not.
"Finally." Robert lifted himself from the chair.
"Ah, your Grace, Prince Joffrey's 12th nameday – " started Jon.
Robert waved his hand. "You already know the drill by now, Jon. Throw a tourney. Get the boy watching some action, prepare food and wine, and put out rewards."
He was hoping this year would be different. The reward and excessive wine made tourneys more expensive. But Robert wouldn't agree to throwing parties with the nobility.
"Your Grace, I ask that you – "
Robert looked at him firmly. "No, Jon. I let you convince me to let a Targaryen live. I'm not staying another minute getting a headache on your requests. The Targaryen boy's coming, there's going to be a tourney, and I'm going to go out hunting. Decide on the rest of the details among yourselves."
With that, King Robert left and the small council returned to normal. Catering to an absent king's wishes.
Lord Baelish was, of course, entrusted to find the gold they didn't have. Lord Varys excused himself, no doubt to hear the latest whispers of his little birds. Maester Pycelle bobbed his head and muttered incoherently the families that were to be invited. Lord Renly talked about participating – as he always had and lost – and Lord Stannis said no more besides his piece with the Targaryen boy. Jon adjourned the council when summer's heat was at its hottest and the curtains had to be pulled to properly see in the room.
By then, Jon knew that he was the man to ward the Targaryen. Robert would not trust anyone else to do it. In preparation, he spoke to Lord Stannis and made an agreement to dine when the Targaryen comes. They would hold back talks of marriage until the king and the queen were acquainted with him. He didn't know how soon Robert would want to meet the boy, or if he even wanted to his face, but the queen would want to introduce her children to a Targaryen. If she found him acceptable, there may be hope for a Targaryen to join the stags and the lions and connect three dynasties at once. The Martells remained distant in the far south, but Jon felt the progress was promising. They could not bring back Princess Elia Martell, but they could give them another Targaryen to wed in the future.
As he was about to bring the news to his wife, Jon realized that he had forgotten to ask for the Targaryen boy's name.
Author's Note: THIS WILL NEVER BE AS GOOD AS THE BOOKS. Have mercy I just want to write this crossover that RR Martin surely frowns upon.