Title: Darkest Before The Dawn

Author: theothertudorgirl

Rating: M (for later on)

Summary: Two Years Since The Dragons Landed In Westeros, The Seven Kingdoms Are At Peace But What Is The Cost To Keep It That Way?

Author Note: This is purely a work of fan-fiction that I have conjured up in my mind. It is placed post-A Dance With Dragons. That is just a friendly warning because certain events or pairings have come from the latter books that some people may not have reached yet.

Chapter One: Prince of Dragonstone

303AL

It had been little over a year since Jon had last stepped in King's Landing and a little over two since the dragons landed in Westeros and his true parentage had been discovered. It had stunned him in the least to know that those he had thought were his half-siblings were actually his cousins and that he had the blood of the dragon in him. It seemed beyond imaginable.

For over two years now, Westeros had peace, well as much peace as it was ever going to have. Whilst his duty to the Night's Watch had stopped when his men mutinied against him and stabbed him many times, he had still been there to help fight against the Others, knowing the great threat they posed to the realm and he had an extra incentive when the dragons did come to help – Val was great with his child.

Val was his wife now, in all the ways that counted, and his aunt, Daenerys, the first of her name, accepted her as such. Daenerys had claimed the Iron Throne through her birthright and right of conquest. He had come to King's Landing with her, bringing Val and their newborn daughter suckling at her breast. His aunt then claimed him legitimate, though he would be second-in-line to the throne after his half-brother Aegon, who had been slightly livid at letting Daenerys take the crown and when she would not marry him. She told him it was pointless. She was barren she said after her first failed pregnancy to her first husband and the Targaryen line needed to continue through both of her nephews. She promised no heirs of her own body and this appeased Aegon though he had done nothing since to prolong the Targaryen line.

His half-brother was still unmarried while Jon ruled as Prince of Dragonstone, given to him by Daenerys who simply told him "Aegon will be King one day, you will not. You need a Seat somewhere".

Val grew accustomed to King's Landing and then Dragonstone quite rapidly though she was still Wildling to the core, something which their elder daughter had inherited. He thought it funny though at times, for all the times that Val said she was not a Princess up at the Wall, it had involuntarily made her one through his unknown birth.

Daella was their eldest and has two years old she was already a handful. She was always getting into trouble in Dragonstone and she was too good of a climber for one her age. She always seemed to be getting on to the top of the stone Dragon's at were filtered throughout the castle and while he would become very nervous for her safety and would climb up to get her down himself, Val simply laughed.

Sam had finished his training and had become a Maester, though instead of serving the Night's Watch, Jon had gotten him placed with him over at Dragonstone. He had of course brought Gilly with him and Val's nephew, Aemon, and another surprise, their own daughter who was a little older than Daella. Talla, who was named after Sam's sister, was much calmer than Daella and was frightened with heights and jumped at shadows. There was no doubt to who was her father. Gilly's son also resided with them, beinging brought South with Val on their initial trip. Val still affectionately called the four-year-old 'monster' but Gilly had named him Mance, in honour of the fallen King-beyond-the-wall.

The boys had become the best of friends as had the girls. It was common sight to see the girl's running around the Great Hall of the Stone Drum and throughout Aegon's gardens. The four children had another added to them when Val birthed their second daughter. They had not given her a name yet, she had only just had her first birthday and Val refused to do anything that wasn't Wildling when concerning this, much with Gilly's fervent encouragement.

That didn't mean though that hadn't discussed possibilities but nothing was decided yet.

Daella was very protective of her sister, especially for one her age. Thankfully, his second daughter was much calmer than the first and he hoped that she wouldn't be prone to climbing on top of everything though he was sure Daella was show her how.

He sometimes laughed when she saw his wife and daughters together for the three of them looked strikingly different. Daella was much more his side than hers, with thick curly black that knotted easily and she had the Stark look as well besides one thing, her violet eyes. When he noticed that her eyes were that colour he had been thankful to know his parentage otherwise he would have had many questions, even more so on their second. She was much more like Val in looks, she had her features and her blue eyes but she had the Targaryen trait of silver hair.

Both of his daughters would be very pretty when older, especially if their mother was anything to go by, and he was sure that he was going to hold off much male attention from them, not only for their beauty but for their title as Princesses as well.

But now his family of four were back in King's Landing. He had a seat on the Small Council ever since Daenerys had taken the Iron Throne but he had not exercised it fully. Daenerys had understood and she still did but she had requested that he come for a time and while he had come across a couple of times during the last year, he decided this time Val and the girls should come as well and stay a bit more permanently. Daenerys would be pleased; his Aunt had only seen the younger once since she was born when Daenerys came to visit but she had seen Daella many times, he had brought her over on one trip soon after her younger sister was born to give Val a break, and Daella had caused as much havoc in the Red Keep as she did on Dragonstone.

Daenerys adored her though and at this rate, it seemed that his daughter might be Queen one day, though that was not something he wished for her.

If only Aegon married...

Their chambers in the Red Keep where spacious and looked out onto Blackwater Bay. There was plenty of room for the four of them in their chambers and once they were settled, Jon was thankful for the quiet though, well as much quiet as having Daella around would allow though it didn't last long when his half-brother came bursting through the door.

Jon had gotten to know Aegon over the last couple of years and while his half-brother could be pompous and arrogant at times, Jon was sure that he would be a good King when the time came as long as he listened and headed to advice which was not something Aegon was terribly fond of doing.

"Brother," Aegon said jovially as he walked into the chambers. Daella squealed with delight. Aegon had been to Dragonstone many times in the last year and his elder daughter had grown quite fond of her Uncle, who was prone to giving her treats when out of Jon's eye range. He didn't want his daughter to be spoilt but he had a tough time controlling it when Aegon was around.

"How is the little Princess today," asked Aegon as he lifted Daella into his arms.

Daella smiled. "Good."

Aegon smiled in return. "Well that is indeed good." With Daella still in his arms he turned to address Val who was sitting with the younger in her lap. "And I hope you are well my good-sister."

Val nodded but Jon noticed the smirk across Val's face. Val was not overly fond of Aegon, even though she tried to be for his sake. His own self-invested belief that he was the perfect Prince infuriated Val to no end and she had stated that if he had been raised behind the wall, no man would have paid heed to him and he would have never gotten to be King up there, instead they would have fed him to wolves.

Jon had rolled as his eyes at that and he rolled his eyes inwardly at her now which he knew she knew. He knew Aegon didn't have much love for either though he at least pretended differently to her face. Daenerys and Val though got along quite well. Val saw Daenerys as a proper Queen, having fought and gained respect in her own right, not only for her birth like Aegon. Daenerys liked Val too and had no qualms about the fact that Jon was married to a Wildling. Jon had mentioned if it bothered her once and his aunt had shrugged and replied, "I was married to a Khal of the Dothraki, I am in no place to complain."

Aegon was sufficiently happy with Val's silence though and Jon was too for once, as usually Val would have snide remark to say. Jon did not want to start their stay with hostility.

"Our aunt requires your presence at dinner tonight. It shall be a private on with family though she says that your... charming wife can come along as well," Aegon told Jon whilst still holding Daella.

Val huffed beside him. "Funny thing that since I am family," she said muttered under her breath, enough for Jon to hear and smile a little.

"We shall be there as soon as the girl's are down for the night is there anything else brother?" Jon asked in reply.

Aegon shook his head. "Daenerys says there are important matters to discuss over dinner so that means it should be dull but nevertheless, I should be off now," he replied placing Daella back on the ground. "I shall see you all soon I suppose," he said before smiling curtly and leaving the room.

Val laughed once he left. "I still cannot believe that that man is your brother."

Jon smiled. "Only half and besides, we were raised differently. He has been pretending to be something he isn't his whole life and now can rejoice in the fact that everyone is happy to see that Rhaegar's baby prince was indeed not dead. I was raised in the North, believing I was someone else's son. I learnt to be a lot more humble about things."

Val smiled prettily at that before coming over and kissing him surprisingly tender for someone who always seemed to kiss more passionately. "I am glad for that."

And at that moment, Jon was glad for it too.

Dinner with his aunt, wife and brother had been pleasant enough. The meals were always much richer at court and his aunt had also inflected tastes of the Free Cities in her meals thanks to her time over there. It took some time to gain accustomed to the spices that both Daenerys and Aegon were so used to and he couldn't help but smile a litter when he noticed Val taking a sip of her drink after every taste. She much preferred the lemon cakes that they served later than the meals that Daenerys had served.

After the finished dinner they treated to Daenerys' solar. It was there that Daenerys brought up the matter that was to be discussed – Aegon's marriage.

Aegon sputtered out his drink when she said it and Jon knew that it took all of his strength and Val's to not laugh at him.

Daenerys shook her head at her nephew. "You were so eager to marry me when you came here when I wouldn't have it, for the sake of the family; you haven't even shown any interest in the other women that have come your way."

Aegon smiled. "What can I say – I must be waiting for the right one."

"Then we will be here for another one hundred years I am sure before you find the right one," replied Daenerys before sighing. "What about the Tyrell girl? The family helped us gain the Iron Throne and she is pretty."

Aegon chuffed. "They say she is cursed, three husbands, two dead and another dissolved. And besides, Dorne would hate us if I married her."

Jon raised an eyebrow. "But you are Dornish, well at least half. They will stay loyal because of that, like I can guarantee that North and Beyond-the-Wall will stay loyal because of Val and I and the children. The Westerlands are controlled by Tyrion, he is our aunt's hand and he won't allow them to rebel and I highly doubt that the Riverlands, the Vale of the Crownlands will, they are either ruled by children or are still too depleted after the War. The Tyrell's are still the only ones that might have cause to rebel, more so when you eventually take the crown, and in any case, Margaery has experience being a Queen."

"You did not mention the Iron Islands," Aegon replied smugly.

"What?" asked Jon confused.

"What if the Iron Islands wish to rebel against the crown? What will happen then when I am married to the Tyrells?"

Jon shook his head. "The rest of the realm will fight against them. I doubt Asha will be as stupid as to think to rebel. She bent the knee along with everyone else."

Daenerys smiled, hoping to appease her nephew to the idea. "You won't be able to please everyone Aegon. I know how much you want to but you can't. You have to learn that the hard way sometimes."

That seemed to make Aegon perk up to the idea, or so it seemed. It seemed like something had gone off in his head. "What if I marry one of each?" he stated.

Jon looked between his wife and his aunt, both who were confused with where this was heading. It was Daenerys who spoke. "Aegon, I don't think we understand your meaning."

Aegon smiled and stood as if he had the brightest idea. "What if I marry one a girl from each of the great houses? I know that it has not been done for many years but it is my right as a Targaryen to take as many wives as I wish."

Jon and Daenerys both looked at each other shocked and Val knocked him with her elbow into his chest to remind him to not think of it as his own right. He had been raised differently, he only needed one wife and he was well pleased with the one he had.

Aegon laughed then. "It is an ingenious idea, isn't it?"

He looked at them for approval but all of them looked shocked. "Aegon," Daenerys started. "It isn't Westerosi custom anymore to do that and besides, surely it will cause more havoc than it will not."

Aegon shook his head, determined with his plan. "No, it will keep them all in check, I am sure of it."

Val was brushing her hair when he fell down onto the bed. The night had been exhausting. They had tried to talk his brother out of his foolish plan. It was a disaster waiting to happen, even Jon could see that. Val finished brushing her long, blonde hair and then walked over to the bed, She laid down beside him and then leant over and kissed him on the lips. "Can you see now that your brother is insufferable?" she asked.

He groaned. "He is older than both Daenerys and I."

"That doesn't make him any wiser," she stated firmly, settling herself perfectly against his body. Jon always had a hard time sleeping when she wasn't here with him. Truthfully, without her lying beside him, he can hardly sleep at all.

He moves his hand through her golden hair that he has come to love so much. "I didn't say he was wise. I think he has a lot to learn. He has never had to rule over anything. Daenerys and I both have. It comes with experience, even if we both have made mistakes along the way. I do think this current plan of his is incredibly stupid however."

Val smiled. "I am glad you agree."

Jon laughed. "But he does need an heir so hopefully he chooses one wife and is done with it. I don't want to see our daughters with a crown on their head if I can help it."

Val smiled at that. She agreed that Daella and the little one should not become Queen. She may not have grown up in the Seven Kingdoms but she had learned about its troubles quickly and how being a King or Queen meant for unhappiness. Jon knew that she wanted the girls to be happy.

She bit her lip then, something she didn't regularly do. Jon raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter?" he asked.

"There is going to be another one."

"Another what?"

"Another baby."

Jon's eyes widened. He looked down to Val's stomach. He could notice the slight swell in her stomach and wondered why he didn't notice it before. Probably dealing with his brother and his climbing daughter where the reasons. He tentatively placed a hand over it.

"Are you determined to give me a child every year?" he asked, a smile playing at his lips.

Val slapped him playfully on his chest. "Is it my fault that you keep spilling your seed inside me."

Jon laughed and then kissed her. When he was younger, he never would have dreamed of such happiness. To have a wife and a family. He didn't think he had enough words to express his gratitude to Val. She had to do a lot of convincing at first, his honour getting the best of him and while he was ever guilty when she was pregnant with Daella for having done that to her, Val had always waved it away though saying that if she didn't want the child she wouldn't be having the child. That hadn't stopped his guilt at the time but he couldn't feel guilty now, nor would he.

TBC.