Jon Arryn

The Hand of the King, the title weighed heavily on Jon's mind. The pin that came with the title felt just as heavy like it was made out of stone instead of thin pieces of gold. In another world Jon would never have accepted the position, the Hand required skills that Jon found revolting. In a just world, Jon would instead return to the Eyrie and be given proper time to mourn his dead. But this was not a just world, and Jon would only be given moments to mourn. Jon had duties he needed to attend to, duties given to him by King Robert Baratheon himself. If the realm is to know peace, Jon must put aside his feelings.

Robert's Rebellion had destroyed most of the Targaryen loyalists, Mace Tyrell had bent the knee and any Houses in the Crownlands still loyal to the former royal House had either bent the knee or had their bloodline wiped out. All except one, House Martell of Dorne. It wasn't surprising, Elia Martell was wed to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and had his children. And she was killed by the Lannisters for that. By now, word had reached Dorne of Elia's death and the brutal manner in which it was conducted. Jon himself was not there in Kings Landing when it happened, but he heard the rumors. Gregor Clegane had raped and murdered the Princess with his great sword while his companion, Amory Loch, killed her children. Though neither men confess exactly what happened, and their Lord Tywin was similarly tight-lipped, Jon had seen the bodies to know that the rumors were true. He could still see the bodies, wrapped in Lannister cloaks, Jon had seen many horrifying sights in the war but their bodies were truly something haunting. Jon suspected he would forever see the Princess and her children is his sleep.

King Robert had ordered him to bring Dorne into the fold, either through diplomacy or war. Jon preferred that no more blood be spilled, so he sent orders to Gulltown that a ship be prepared for the long voyage from the Vale to Dorne. He sent a raven to Prince Doran informing him that he would be transporting the bodies back to Sunspear for a proper burial, Doran had already replied that he would be waiting. Jon had already sent the bodies of Elia and her children ahead, the only thing stopping the voyage was Jon himself. Jon had his own bodies to attend to.

Laid out in front of him, in a small and private sept within the Eyrie, lay the bodies of his nephew, Elbert Arryn, and his wife, Lady Alla Tollett. Both had Silent Sisters working on them, painting stones to resemble their eyes. Elbert, his nephew, and heir, Jon had such high hopes for him. For years it seemed that the future of House Arryn lay with Elbert, all of Jon's marriages never resulted in children. Or at least, children that survived their first days in the world.

He was supposed to be the future of House Arryn, and how he lays in the ancestral home of his House being prepared for burial. Jon stood in his spot, allowing himself to cry as the Sisters prepared Elbert. He brought a hand up to his eyes and wiped away the tears, bringing his emotions back under control. He walked at a slow, deliberate pace until he arrived at the body of his late wife.

His marriage to Lady Alla Tollett was not a warm one, Jon had married her purely out of desperation to continue the Arryn line. There was no love between them, only duty. Still, Jon could not help but mourn her. In the short time that they were married, she became pregnant. And the birth of the child is why she lay dead.

Jon left the room, leaving the Silent Sisters to continue their work. He journeyed to his private chambers, desperate to see his child before he left for Dorne. Yohn Royce stood guard outside, nodding to Jon as he approached. Yohn gently opened the door, careful not to wake the infant inside. Jon stepped inside, he walked towards the crib that was placed next to Jon's bed. He looked into it and saw a sleeping baby boy, breathing quietly.

"My son, your mother should be here. She wanted you named Artys, our House's founder. I never loved your mother, but I will honor her. Artys shall be your name." Jon whispered, careful not to disturb his son's rest.

Jon silently walked out of the chamber and shut the door. He sighed, took a moment to breathe and turned to Yohn.

"If I don't come back from Dorne, I want you to raise my son. Foster him, teach him how to swing a sword, and how to rule." Jon said.

"As you command, my lord." Yohn responded with.

Jon soon left the Eyrie for Gulltown, uncertain of what his future was. However, Jon did survive his trip and Dorne bent the knee. Jon returned to the Eyrie, where he wedded Lysa Tully at the urging of Lord Hoster Tully. Jon then decided to bring his family with him to Kings Landing, to raise alongside the royal family.

283 A.C.

Cersei Lannister

The pain was unbearable, it felt like her insides were being torn apart. Cersei gave another push, and another wave of pain hit her. Unlike Joffrey, her current labor lasted only 12 hours. And now here she was pushing her latest child into the world. An army of midwives were present, holding Cersei down in the birthing process.

Grand Maester Pycelle examined her "One more push, your Grace."

"I can't, I can't." Cersei muttered, her voice sounding weak.

"Yes, you can. Now one more push sister." Jaime squeezed her hand, as if to give her more strength.

Cersei gave last push, letting out a terrible scream as she did. Then another voice joined hers, a baby's voice. Cersei collapsed onto her bed, taking deep and frequent breaths. Her baby continued to scream, Cersei gathered her remaining strength and stretched out her arms, to take her child into her embrace. Her child quieted immediately, smiling up to its mother. Cersei looked down at her child, and her drew in a sharp breath. Blue eyes stared up to her emerald eyes. Cersei undid the blanket covering her child's head and found black hair underneath.

"A boy, your Grace. The king has another son." Pycelle said.

'A son of Robert's, I've given Robert a son' Cersei thought in disbelief.

She looked down at her son, and smiled. Even though she had nothing but disgust and hatred for Robert, she could not bring herself to feel the same about her son. She turned head to Jaime and nodded, letting him know she was going to keep the child. Jaime bowed his head, and squeezed Cersei's hand one last time before leaving the room. Cersei could feel her eyes growing heavy, so she handed her son to a midwife and watched as the midwife placed her son into a crib. Cersei drifted off to a deep sleep.

Cersei awoke the next morning, light streaming into her room. She noticed the pelt of some wild stag laying at the feet of her bed. Robert has returned from his hunt. Cersei lifted herself up and sat in her bed. Cersei's eyes widen in surprise when saw Robert holding their son his arms and singing softly, it was the happiest Cersei had ever seen Robert. Not even Joffrey's birth got such a response from Robert. For a brief second, Cersei's feelings towards Robert thawed. Only to hardened again a moment later.

"What shall we name him?" Cersei asked softly, her voice still weak from the birth.

"Lyonel, after my ancestor." Robert replied, placing their son back into his crib.

'Lyonel, a name befitting the grandson of the mighty lion of House Lannister.' Cersei thought.

"A wonderful name, my husband." Cersei agreed.

'I love our son Robert, but he'll be OUR only son. From this day forth we will never have another child' Cersei vowed to herself.

And Cersei stayed true to her vow, all her subsequent children came from Jaime and not Robert. And if Robert ever managed to separate himself from his whores and wine, if ever managed to stumble into Cersei's bed. Then she would never allow him between her legs, she would take care of him other ways.

Although her marriage to Robert remained cold at best, Cersei did noticed subtle change in Robert. He slept with less whores and servants, drank less as well. He still drank and slept around a lot, he just did it less than before. He also spent more time with his family, not much more than he did before but it was enough to be noticeable. Cersei couldn't help but feel anger towards Robert, that it was the son who looked the most like him that changed Robert and not his supposed first born.

Cersei still loved Lyonel, and a mother's love can never go away.