AUTHORS NOTE: This is a new AU story i'm working on. It has some similarities with my other story, but many more differences. One OC is the same.-Rhaena Targaryen, another is mentioned- Elaena Targaryen (daughter of King Aerys and Queen Rhaella), and our main character and OC- Daeron Stark-Targaryen. The description following below is an abridged lead-up of the events to the start of the story beginning in up-coming chapter one.
Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING
PROLOUGE
Rhaena Targaryen is the eldest child of Jaehaerys II and the wife of Rickard Stark and hence the mother of the Stark children, but she still dies after the birth of Benjen Stark. Another point of divergence is that Jaehaerys II managed to live for a further 7 years after assuming the throne in 259 after the Tragedy at Summerhall, dying in 269. After thinking that Aerys and Rhaella may not have many more living children other than Rhaegar and Elaena Targaryen (born in 260), he determines that they will not wed each other as had been previously assumed. He names Elaena, Princess of Summerhall in her own right. Afterwards, King Jaehaerys betroths her to his half-Targaryen grandson who was not in line to inherit his own lands, Eddard of House Stark. He also declares in the Succession Law of 267 that any male descendants of the Princess of Summerhall and Eddard Stark of Winterfell are to come directly after male descendants of Prince Rhaegar in the line of succession. This law is signed and approved by all of the major lords of the kingdoms. This was done because after Summerhall, the family was almost wiped out and needed the numbers. Better the blood be diluted a small amount than the future of the family resting on a single couple. By his death in 269, the Castle of Summerhall is almost completely repaired in all its former glory as well as truly fortified for the first time. After their marriage in 277, Ned and Elaena have Daeron Stark-Targaryen in 278. Elaena dies of a fever one year later in 279 leaving her son as the new Prince of Summerhall and under the care of his grandmother Queen Rhaella and the new Princess of Dragonstone, Elia Martell. In his grief, Ned goes back to his foster father Jon Arryn at the Eyrie to resume his studies under the man. He does however, make sure to visit his son as often as possible. However cold he may appear, he is a very dutiful and loving father. After the birth of the Princess Rhaenys in 280, King Aerys betroths Rhaenys to Prince Daeron despite the protests of Prince Rhaegar, (who is obsessed with the Prophecy of the Prince that was Promised.) The betrothal does however have the support of Eddard Stark, the Queen, and Princess Elia. The Queen especially is in favour of the match as it cements Targaryen blood without the close inbreeding between siblings.
The infamous Tourney of Harrenhal happens in 281. Many events have their foundations at the Tourney. It is during this event that Ned Stark meets Lady Ashara Dayne, close friend and lady-in-waiting to Princess Elia, and one of the most beautiful women in all of Westeros. He falls in love with her almost instantly and she is charmed by the quiet and solemn young widower. Ned Stark courts Ashara Dayne assiduously during the year between the Tourney and the "abduction" of Lyanna Stark. In early 282, Ned proposes to Ashara and she accepts. However, everything falls apart when Prince Rhaegar absconds with the Lady Lyanna. Ned has a very hard time believing Rhaegar actually kidnapped Lyanna, or that anyone even could kidnap her, as he is very aware that Lyanna is more than capable of defending herself. There is some doubt though, as Ned is also aware of just how obsessed Rhaegar is with his prophecy. He has also been told by Ashara that after Elia gives birth to the child she is carrying, she will no longer be able to bear children. He believes it to be quite probable that Rhaegar intends to use Lyanna as a brood mare to produce the third head of the dragon. It is his belief that Rhaegar has also picked Lyanna so a child of his will be the product of Ice and Fire. Queen Rhaella has pointed out to Rhaegar many times that his nephew Daeron is just as likely to be the "Prince" as any son of his would be, especially since Prince Daeron is the product of two generations of the mixing of fire and ice. Also, the woods witch that Jenny of Oldstones had brought to court stated only that the prophesied prince would come from the line of Aerys and Rhaella. She in no way excluded the chosen one to only come from their eldest son.
Brandon Stark, heir of Lord Rickard Stark, rushes for the capitol intent on gaining satisfaction from Prince Rhaegar. However his hot-tempered threats result in him being assigned a place in the Black Cells under the Red Keep. Aerys, in his madness, sees this as a plot against his crown and summons his good-brother Lord Rickard to answer for his son's treasons. It is well known in the kingdoms that King Aerys has always detested his good-brother, thinking him not good enough for his elder sister and later blaming him for her early death in childbed. Lord Rickard goes to Kings Landing to save his eldest son and find out the whereabouts of his daughter. He is later burned alive in his armour while his son Brandon strangles himself to death trying to free his father. This act of supreme madness against the Lord and Heir of the largest of the Seven Kingdoms unleashes a firestorm consequences.
By this point, King Aerys is so far gone in his madness that no one is able to temper him any longer. Throughout his descent into insanity, there were two people who possessed an remarkable ability to both calm the King down, as well as bring back a measure of his reason. His daughter Elaena was by far, the favorite of his three living children. His mood was always brightened and calmed when she was about. Later, her son was found to exhibit the same qualities as his mother. This time however, there was nothing to bring back even a semblance of reason to the King. Queen Rhaella and Princess Elia both did their best to keep the children out of the King's path. The Queen, sensing the growing tensions in the realm, had both Prince Daeron and his betrothed Princess Rhaenys sent to Summerhall and away from potential harm.
Back in the Eyrie, Lord Jon Arryn recieved a summons to bring the new Lord Stark, (his good-son Eddard) and Lyanna Stark's betrothed, (Robert Baratheon of Storm's End) to the capitol to swear their fealty. Lord Arryn feared, and rightly so, that this was merely a pretext to get them under the King's power and dispose of them before they could rebel. The fact that Ned's son is nominally in the King's power is very worrying to the new Lord Stark. Jon Arryn has suggested that this could also be the King's attempt to control the North through his grandson Daeron who is now the heir of Winterfell. Eventually they recieve a message from the Queen that she has sent both Ned's son Daeron and Princess Rhaenys to safety at Summerhall and thus out of Aerys' reach. Lord Arryn, Robert Baratheon, and Ned Stark finally decide to call their banners. Their goal is to remove Aerys and guarantee the safe return of Lyanna Stark. Before going north to gather his forces, Ned tells Jon Arryn when he is asked about the possibility, (considering his mother was the eldest child of King Jaehaerys II) that he has no wish to be king, nor would he thrust his son into such a dangerous position at such a young age. He advises Jon that they wait and discuss such eventualities as events develop. Jon Arryn however believes that for this rebellion to be successful, they must needs have a popular fugure to rally around and more allies.
While Ned Stark is in the North rallying his troops, Jon Arryn and Robert Baratheon reach an agreement. Jon proclaims Robert King, using his descent as the great-grandson of King Aegon V through his grandmother the Princess Rhaelle. Robert has developed a deep-seated hatred of all things Targaryen and refuses the possibility of Rhaegar's children or Prince Viserys becoming King. Jon reminded him that according to the Laws of Succession of 267, signed by all the Lord's Paramount, that if Rhaegar and his new-born son Aegon are ruled out; then the throne by rights belongs to Ned's son Prince Daeron as Prince of Summerhall. While Robert excuses the Stark's Targaryen blood because they don't look like them, the same as his family, he refuses to entertain the idea of a five year old king that does look Targaryen; Ned's son or not. Jon Arryn is very leery of this course of action because it truly usurps the rights of Prince Daeron, who is extremely beloved throughout the whole of Westeros. The young boy is someone who he thinks the realm would truly rally behind; especially with his betrothal to the Princess Rhaenys who is nearly as popular. However, Robert will have none of it. So, he reluctantly goes along with it. He will one day come to rue this mistake.
When Ned is returning after mustering his men, he is met south of the Neck by Jon Arryn and Hoster Tully. The lord paramount of the Riverlands will join with the rebellion if certain conditions are met. He is asked to uphold his brother's betrothal to Catelyn Tully. In return he shall have the full support of the Riverlands. At first, Lord Stark flat out refuses. He reveals that he is already betrothed to the Lady Ashara Dayne and cannot possibly dishonour her. Ned is informed that they have proclaimed Robert King and the reasons why, and that his son is still at Summerhall which is deep in the Stormlands. It is implied that if he wishes to be able to pass the Twins with his men, he must needs have the alliance of the Tully Lord. Internally, Ned is sickened with the idea that his little boy's safety is potentially being used as leverage by his own allies. He is forced to choose between his love for Ashara and his son's safety. Knowing he could never endanger his son, Lord Stark agrees the the terms. However he nearly comes to blows and flat-out refuses Hoster Tully's request that any sons of Ned's by Catelyn come before Daeron in the Northern succession. He states he will fight till his dying breath to preserve his son's right to his direct paternal inheiritance. Lord Stark also gets a written guarantee from Jon Arryn, whose own conscience was beginning to trouble him, that Daeron and his heirs will continue to hold title and possession of the Principality of Summerhall inperpetuity. This helps bring Jon Arryn and Ned back closer together, especially as Jon considers some of the demands of Lords Tully and Baratheon of being dishonourable. Jon Arryn himself, has also been coerced into marrying Lysa Tully.
The marriage of both Ned Stark to Catelyn Tully and Jon Arryn to Lysa Tully takes place one month later at Riverrun. While he finds Catelyn attractive, she's not his love and his heart is broken. His misery is only compounded when he recieves a raven two days after the wedding. Ashara Dayne is with child. His child. Ned is crushed. He writes a heartfealt letter to Ashara, pouring out his grief and longing for her and their baby. Ashara accepts his reasons with uncommon grace and cherishes her unborn child all the more as she leaves court to return to Starfall.
The people of Westeros are shocked when two months in to the rebellion ravens go out across the Kingdoms: After hearing news of the rebellion breaking out, Prince Doran Martell, his wife Mellario, daughter Arianne, and baby son Quentyn took ship back to Dorne from Norvos, where they were visiting his wife's family. The ship goes down in a storm and all aboard are lost. Princess Elia, as the next eldest child of the late ruling Princess of Dorne succeeds to become the ruling Princess of Dorne. This also makes the Princess Rhaenys the heiress of Dorne. King Aerys is convinced to allow Princess Elia to return to Dorne to rally the Dornish forces for the Crown. However she is forbidden from taking her baby son Aegon, who is left in the care of his nurses, and is to be used as a hostage for herself and Dorne's good behaviour. Reluctantly, Elia agrees and departs for Dorne as the rebellion begins to take a darker turn for the Royalist cause. She takes ship from Kings Landing first to Dragonstone. There, she offers to bring the Queen and Prince Viserys with her so they may have the safety of the Dornish armies with them, as well as not being isolated on Dragonstone with the Queen being pregnant. Rhaella is quick to agree. While never having been especially close, Queen Rhaella and Princess Elia are brought closer together by their mutual love and worry for Prince Daeron and Princess Rhaenys. The Queen and the Princess then gain the allegience of the fleet stationed at Dragonstone. Before making for Sunspear, they take the fleet around Cape Wrath and land at Wyl. From there, Elia orders the Dornish soldiers that she'd had assembled to make there way up the Boneway to Summerhall and retrieve the Prince and Princess. Along the way, they are ordered to destroy any Baratheon troops they encounter.
It takes nearly a month for the Dornish to clear the region of Baratheon men and re-garrison Summerhall. The Stormlords Cafferen, Fell, and Grandison also make sure the castle remains in the possession of Prince Daeron. The children are then re-united with Queen Rhaella and Princess Elia. Afterwards, they continue on with the fleet to Sunspear. Once there, Princess Elia is officially installed as the ruling Princess of Dorne. She orders Prince Oberyn to call the banners and make certain the Dornish forces are made ready. Incidentally, Oberyn tries to persuade Elia to dissolve the betrothal between Princess Rhaenys and Prince Daeron and suggests Prince Viserys as a replacement as he doesen't wish for their family to have any connection to the "Stark Whore." He never makes that suggestion again after Elia gets through with him. She has raised Daeron along with the Queen and loves him as if he were her own child. He is also told not to mention the "Stark business" again as he does not have all of the facts and she does not feel the need to enlighten him.
Elia also sends for her best friend the Lady Ashara Dayne. After being shown the letters Lord Stark had written her and realizing the position her former good-brother was in, Elia promises Ashara that she will legitimize her child by Ned when it is born. She also writes Lord Stark telling him as much as well as telling him she has brought his first-born to safety in Sunspear. Both tidings bring Ned a tremendous amount of relief to his anxious heart. Then the Trident happens.
When word reaches Elia and Rhaella of the happenings on the Trident they are stunned and scared. With Rhaegar dead and the Royal Army in scattered disarray, Kings Landing is open to attack. She immediately orders the Dornish forces to march for the capitol, terrified of what may happen to her son. When the news arrives of the Lannister sack they are devastated. Jaime Lannister slew the Mad King and baby Aegon is killed by the Mountain That Rides. Elia vows vengeance upon the Lannisters. The news causes Queen Rhaella to go into early labor. As she is surrounded with professional help, the Queen and the newborn little Princess Daenerys live, barely. The only bright spot was when the Lady Ashara bore a healthy baby boy without any complications. Ashara names Prince Daeron's little half-brother Jon. He is immediately legitimized as both a Dayne and a Stark by Princess Elia, in Dorne at least.
Robert Baratheon now sat the Iron Throne. Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon have a huge row over the death of Prince Aegon and the Lannister Sack of the City. Robert is beginning to listen to Tywin Lannister who is insisting on the deaths of the rest of the Targaryens, including Prince Daeron of Summerhall and the Princess Rhaenys. Lord Stark vows death to anyone who dares to threaten the life of the heir to the North or his betrothed. That the Dornish would back him, there is no doubt, and quite possibly the Reach too. They are reminded that legally, Prince Daeron is now King by the law of 267, as he comes before Prince Viserys.
Jon Arryn has been sickened by the Lannister atrocities and by Robert's reaction to them. He is desperate for the fighting to end and for the realm to have peace again. He finally throws his own strength into the argument. Standing tall beside Eddard Stark, he informs them that if they do not swear to the safety and property of Prince Daeron, Princess Rhaenys, the Dowager Queen, and the Princess Daenerys, that the forces of the Vale in their full strengh would side with the North and Dorne and make war on Houses Baratheon and Lannister. Only if their demands were met would he accept the position of Hand of the King. Faced with no other option, Robert agrees. Ned then leaves to find his missing sister. An uneasy truce prevails. However, no one is satisfied and many vows of vengeance are made in the dark of the night. This is where our story truly begins, with the search for the missing Lady Lyanna and the shores of Dorne where the young Prince Daeron and the Princess Rhaenys wait to grow up and take back what is theirs, with fire and with blood.