7th Month of 282 A.C. King's Landing

King Aerys II Targaryen

Everything had become a blur, he could not remember clearly what had happened for the past six years let alone the past two days. It was as if a fog had been lifted from his mind, he no longer drank the potion Pycelle had given him. Pycelle, that mad man who had wanted him to do so many things that now he thought about it did not make sense, they did not sit well with him. He wondered at it all, wondered what had become of those things that were to be done, and whether or not the things he had wanted struck from the list had been removed. Aerys did not know what had happened to him, but there was something within him that made him feel as if he were drowning and coming back for air, as if he were clean and then suddenly he was filled with poison once more. It was a terrifying thought, and he wondered at it. He had summoned Brandon Stark to King's Landing he remembered that much and as such, as he looked at the man before him now, he wondered.

"Tell me Brandon, what is it that you are doing here?" Aerys asks.

If he is surprised by the question, Stark does not show it, instead he responds. "I am here to seek the truth and to find my sister Your Grace."

Aerys thinks on this, images flash before his mind and he is not sure what they are. "Your sister Rickard's Lyanna? What happened to her?"

Stark once more looks surprised and then he says. "She was taken by your son Prince Rhaegar. I do not know where she has gone."

"Why would my son take your sister? If he wanted her, he could have spoken to me." Aerys responds.

He sees something flash across Stark's face, but then it is gone within a moment. Stark seems to be hesitating over what to say and then eventually he speaks. "He took her to fulfil the prophecy Your Grace. From what I have gathered it seems Prince Rhaegar thinks he is doing something right by taking my sister."

Aerys looks at Brandon Stark, his mind whirring, the prophecy, and the thing that led to his father forcing he and Rhaella into marrying. He loves his sister, but he does not know if he loves her the way Lord Rickard loved his Lyarra, he wonders at that. He has only known Rhaella truly, and now he thinks on the reason behind their marriage and he sighs. "The prophecy of the Prince that Was Promised is that what you speak of?"

"Yes Your Grace. My queries have led me to believe that Prince Rhaegar has done many things to try and fulfil this prophecy. It would seem he has been planning to do this for a long time." Brandon Stark responds.

Aerys does not know whether he should cry or laugh, and so he decides to laugh then. "Ah, the prophecy my father and mother were so obsessed with. The desire to make things better for the family without using their brains. It is strange how they have always used that as the excuse for their marriage. I wonder, what madness has possessed my son?"

That last is not a question that demands an answer, but Stark speaks all the same. "I think, if I might say so Your Grace?" Stark pauses and Aerys gives the man a nod of assent. "I think that Prince Rhaegar is being led through some dark paths on his desire to achieve the prophecy. I think there are things that he is doing that might not make sense within the wider context of things. And there are things within his own circle of advisors that is deeply disturbing."

Aerys looks at Stark then interested. "What do you mean?"

Stark hesitates and then asks. "How much do you remember of the past few years Your Grace?"

Aerys laughs once more. "I remember things, and I do not know if I am dreaming them, or if they actually happened. I remember Duskendale and I remember what happened within Duskendale, I remember learning things within Duskendale that I did not want to know. I remember hearing things I did not want to hear."

"And after Duskendale?" Stark asks.

"After Duskendale there is darkness, and then there are memories. There is fear, and there is grief." the memory of a ship sinking into the ether hits him. "Steffon!" he cries out. "Steffon died, he died on a duty from me. He died doing what I had asked of him!"

"He died serving his king." Brandon Stark says.

Aerys looks at Stark and says. "He died because I wanted to prove to Tywin that I did not need him. That I could rely on Steffon, my own flesh and blood. Steffon died, and then there was only Tywin left. I remember meeting with your father about the order and discussing the search."

Stark's face changes then. "My father is dead Your Grace."

That hits Aerys like a hammer, he had always liked Rickard Stark. "How?" he asks.

Brandon Stark looks as if he himself is not sure about the how, and that worries him. "I do not know my king. All I know is that things were falling about within the riverlands, and my father might well have got caught up within this."

Aerys considers this and then says. "I am sorry for your loss. Lord Rickard was a good man. And a very capable Knight Major." He hesitates for a moment, memories that he is not sure are his or if they belong to someone else come forth then and he thinks of what this man has supposedly done for him and his family, and he speaks once more. "I would name you as Knight Major of Order of the Dragon my lord Stark."

"I am honoured Your Grace." Stark responds.

Aerys nods, looking at Stark who has kept his head bowed. "What happened to Pycelle and Merryweather? Why are they not attending me?"

Stark looks at him and then says grimly. "They were committing treason. Pycelle was acting on Tywin Lannister's orders and is responsible for the disparity in your memory Sire, whilst Merryweather, he was working for another faction."

Aerys feels anger grow within him then, he had always suspected Pycelle of being Tywin's dog, but Merryweather, now that is a surprise. "Who was he serving? Who was that witless oath serving?" he demands.

Stark hesitates a moment and then says. "He claimed he was serving the Blackfyres Your Grace."

Aerys feels a stab of pain then, the old threat to his family. The thing Steffon had died for. He looks at Stark and sees something akin to disbelief on his face. "You do not believe him?"

"The Blackfyres died with Maelys the Monstrous, I think Merryweather was lying but saying something that would keep me from killing him." Stark responds.

"Something you did regardless." Aerys says with approval, he does not tolerate traitors. "And whom do you think Merryweather was actually serving if not the Blackfyres?"

Stark looks uncertain then. "That is the thing Sire. I am not sure."

Aerys thinks on all that happened before the blackness came and engulfed him. He thinks of discussions with Steffon, and with his wife, and the desire to end a threat once and for all. Sighing he looks at Stark and asks. "How much do you know of the Golden Company Stark?"

Brandon Stark looks surprised then but responds all the same. "I know it was founded by Bittersteel in an attempt to prevent support for the Blackfyres from disappearing, and I know that in time the Blackfyres came to control it. I know Maelys Blackfyre killed his cousin Daemon to take command."

Aerys holds up a hand then. "Maelys was never a Blackfyre. That was a lie that was told to make him seem more of a threat."

"What do you mean Sire?" Stark asks.

The secrets he has kept for so long hidden within his own mind come forth now, and he chooses to speak of the decision he is not so haunted by. "The Blackfyres were weakened after the third rebellion, Haegon Blackfyre was seen as the best hope the Blackfyres had had since his father. There was seventeen years between the third and fourth rebellions, and that was because the Blackfyres were fighting themselves. Aenys Blackfyre tried to claim the throne as a member of the Blackfyre dynasty, and tried to make good on his claims. He nearly succeeded and would have had it not been for Bloodraven. Daemon Blackfyre, Haegon's son fought something fierce and nearly broke through but suffered. Many thought the Blackfyres would end there, but they began looking elsewhere for their spoils not to Westeros. Maelys Blackfyre was not a Blackfyre by birth but by choice. I think he was a descendant of Bittersteel. Regardless, there were Blackfyres still alive, it suited them and us to make it seem they were dead."

The weight is lifting from his chest then. "Why though Sire?" Stark asks. "Was there not a risk they could come back?"

"After the fourth rebellion, my grandsire agreed to a peace. But he never had the chance to fully get on with it, for there were other things he needed to do. And so, when the time came, I meant to ensure it continued. I sent Steffon to find the Blackfyres, to ensure one was married to Rhaegar, the marrying of the two lines to ensure security. He did not find them, they had betrayed me. And now, well now I think Merryweather was right." Aerys says his heart heavy.

Stark looks stunned. "So there are Blackfyres out there, waiting to come back?"

Aerys nods slowly, pain returning to his head. "It would seem so Knight Major. And I am not sure whether this can be stopped."

"Then surely we should speak to the lords and make sure they know to prepare?" Stark asks.

Aerys shakes his head. "No, we do not know who to trust. What word has there been on Tywin? Have you found out where he is storing his treacherous self?" there is still hatred for the man there and what he did to Rhaella.

Stark looks uncertain for a moment and then says. "Pycelle is dead, that is the man's main eyes within the capital removed for the time being Sire. Whether or not it is enough I do not know."

Aerys remains seated on the chair, looking at Stark feeling the beard against him, his hair is ruffled and he sighs. "It is strange, for so long my son was my greatest hope, and then somewhere we broke off and became different people. He was not enough for me, and I was not enough for him. We became like my father and I. I thought that would never happen. Tell me Brandon, what happened at Harrenhal between my son and your sister, was there anything more?"

Stark seems to consider the question, and then he responds. "I do not know. Lyanna said she had not spoken with the prince, but that he had done something for her. I did not understand how that worked. But I think there must have been some form of contact before now."

Aerys nods then. "Very well, tell me what, of the other members of the order? Are they working hard to restore the kingdoms?"

"Yes Sire, very hard." Stark responds.

"Good." Aerys responds.

There is a knock on the door, and Aerys calls for whoever it is to come in, Ser Gerold the hulking monster Lord Commander walks and bows low before speaking in that deep voice of his. "An army has been spotted coming toward King's Landing Sire."

Aerys feels panic flying within him, he sees Stark look at him and then says. "Tell Connington to muster the men, it is time we dealt with this threat."