A/N: In the Benjen pov Jae will at times be referred to as Jon or Jaehaerys, this is deliberate and should become clear why it's done as you read it.

The Wall 295 AC.

Jae

The wall really was in a terrible state, the coin would help as would the supplies but after speaking with the Lord Commander it was made clear to Jae that he wouldn't use the coin on refurbishing the buildings of Castle Black. He may spend some on materials but the idea of hiring men to help with the building work seemed beyond him, it was incredibly frustrating to speak to the man at times. But he was the Lord Commander and this was his domain so reluctantly Jae accepted his decisions.

Besides he had bigger worries to think about, finding his uncle Benjen here had not been part of the plan at all, he had received no vision of that and he was annoyed about it. Which had only seemed to amuse Bloodraven when he met him in his vision the previous night, Jae though had not been happy to see the man smirk.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't see everything young king."

"You're saying you didn't know?"

"I'm saying it wasn't important for me to know." Bloodraven said with a smirk.

"Just like it wasn't important for me to know half the things I did, where did that stuff come from? I didn't see it, I don't remember it. Yet talking to my uncle I was speaking as if I had lived it."

"You did young king." Bloodraven said and bid him to follow.

Jae found himself in the courtyard of Castle Black, beside him stood a tall strong looking lad and a smaller thinner one as well as a very fat boy. They were surrounded by others and were looking up to a walkway where the Lord Commander, Aemon and a grumpy looking man stood.

"I need to be a ranger, I need to find my uncle." Jae heard himself say.

When the Lord Commander motioned they all knelt and then after a few moments he began to read the names.

"Pyp to the stewards, Grenn to the rangers, Samwell to the stewards, Jon to the stewards." the Lord Commander read out and Jae looked to the walkway to see the grumpy looking man now was wearing a smile on his face.

He watched on as he knelt before a large white tree with blood red leaves while speaking some words. He saw himself standing over two bodies and helping bring them back and watched on as they attacked and killed some of the black brothers before he set one alight with a lamp.

Before Jae could see what happened next he and Bloodraven found themselves walking alongside as a large group of Nights Watch brothers marched from the castle, time seemed to move quickly then. One moment he was at a large open house and the next on top of a large hill watching as the brothers made camp. In the next he was with a man with brown greying hair looking over the bodies of a great number of horses but of the men who had ridden them there was no sign.

They were then back at the open house and Jae watched on as black brother killed black brother and the Lord Commander fell, he looked around but he was nowhere to be seen, though he could see Samwell and Grenn running away.

He found himself back at the tree and Bloodraven began to speak.

"This was your life young king, but it's not anymore, there is more you need to know and it will be revealed when it's time, but for now you've done what you're supposed to."

"What more? why not just tell me?" Jae said annoyed.

"Time young king, all in time, should you change too much then the others will notice, as it is all you have done has been hidden from them and this is how it must remain."

"What of the wildings?" Jae asked.

"Why do you ask?"

"I remember something about them, something I said with my uncle about the wall not being built to keep them out."

"Indeed it wasn't young king. In time you'll see the free folk?"

"Free folk?" Jae asked confused.

"Wildings."

"My uncle Benjen, what happened with him?"

"I do not understand?" Bloodraven said honestly as far as Jae could tell.

"Why is he here?"

"A question for him perhaps."

"I'll ask him then. What happened with him in the other life?"

"He fell young king, he fell beyond the wall not long after you arrived there."

"Can I change this?"

Bloodraven closed his eyes and there was silence for a few moments, when he opened them he smiled.

"You can."

So Jae had spoken with Arthur and Aemon and after much discussion it had been decided that he would speak to his uncle and tell him the truth, but he would need his oath first. So after failing to get the Lord Commander to heed him on rebuilding the structures, Jae asked him if he would allow Benjen accompany him beyond the wall. It had taken some convincing and he had been worried not only would his request be denied but that the Umbers or someone else would accompany them. In the end though he'd been glad to find that it was only Benjen and his own men who would do so.

As they were readying their horses the man who Jae had saw smile in his vision appeared and he saw Arthur flinch before placing his helm on his head. Before they departed Astapor they had discussed the possibility of Arthur being recognized and he had dyed his hair and allowed a beard to grow on his usually clean shaven face. But even with that they worried, he looked to him and was glad to see he couldn't recognize him now, never mind anyone else.

"Are you ready?" Benjen said leading a black garron towards them.

"I am." Jae said and he followed as he, Arthur, Kalors and a dozen more of his men were led through the gates.

Benjen.

Ever since the boy had arrived he'd been unnerved by him, something about him seemed so familiar and yet he couldn't quite figure it out. When he had asked him to accompany him beyond the wall Benjen had been wary of the reason behind it. Though he and his companions had been nothing but pleasant since they'd arrived he noticed that all of them seemed to defer to the boy even more than he'd expect from a lord. Given how much coin he'd been able to give to the watch and the number of men he had with him the boy was obviously rich, but how did a bastard earn that amount of coin? Was his father simply incredibly wealthy, was that it?. He needed answers and no matter what he'd be getting them once they made their way to the Weirwood tree.

That the boy wished to go there at all was another surprise to him, even given his mother being of the north as he claimed, how did a boy who grew up in Essos know of Weirwoods and more importantly that there was one near enough to ride to. He watched as Daeron sent a couple of men to ride forward to check the place when the glade that the Weirwood was in came into sight, he heard the mans instructions as he told them to make sure the area was clear.

It took them another few minutes to catch up and when they did Daeron had the men hold and wait up until the riders returned, once he was satisfied he nodded to the boy and he, Kalors and Jon Snow dismounted. Benjen did likewise and led them towards the tree, it had been over ten and two years since he'd come here to swear his vows, since then he'd come to pray no more than once a year, since they were here now he knelt and spoke to the old gods once more.

"It's a remarkable thing to see." Jon said pointing to the tree as he looked at him.

"Aye that it is."

"My mother told me that an oath sworn in front of such a tree is sacred, that those of the north would rather die than break their vow, is that true Benjen?"

"Aye."

"You have questions for me do you not?" Jon asked.

"I do."

"I shall answer them all, on your oath that what I tell you stays between us and goes no further."

"I'll not give you my oath boy, not without knowing who you are."

He watched as the boy sighed and looked at him.

"I am your nephew uncle."

Benjen looked more carefully at the boy, he could see some similarities, but there wasn't a lot of Stark in him, his nephew, could it be true? Brandon was a known cad, he wouldn't put it past his brother to have left a bastard or two. But how come he had never heard of the boy? Why had he waited so long to come to the north? Was he going to see Ned? Did this boy intend to claim Winterfell? All these thoughts were going through his head and he couldn't think straight.

"I promise uncle, I'm not here to harm you or my family, I Swear it here on the old gods. Can you do the same uncle, please?" he heard a note of pleading in the boy's voice.

"What do you want me to swear?" Benjen asked.

"That you shall not speak to anyone about what I tell you, unless I give you leave to do so."

Benjen nodded and knelt down facing the tree, he swore the words and when he stood up he saw that the boy, no his nephew, was smiling.

"Tell me." he said.

"My name is Jaehaerys Targaryen uncle, trueborn son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Targaryen, the man behind you is Ser Arthur Dayne the sword of the morning, my Kingsguard and the father I chose." Jae said.

"But that's, how, that's... My sister, what happened to my sister?" Benjen said his voice shaky.

"My mother is alive and well, uncle, your sister lives." Jae said and Benjen felt the world around him fade into darkness.

When he came to he was laying on his cloak resting against the Weirwood tree, it took him a few moments to realize who the men were in front of him and why the boy was looking at him with concern. His nephew, this was his nephew, his sister's boy, Lyanna lived, he couldn't believe it, but it explained a lot, what his nephew had said, how he'd phrased things, Lyanna was alive.

"Is it true?" he said looking at Jon, no not Jon, Jaehaerys."

"I swear it uncle, I do not know how to prove it to you other than to say, I know about the ducklings." Jae said.

Benjen grabbed his nephew into a hug, tears falling from his eyes. It was true, she lived, his nephew, this was his nephew.

"She told you that?" Benjen laughed.

"She did, that and some other stories, of uncle's Brandon and Ned and of your mother and father, she told me of Winterfell and the Wolfswood, tales of the north." Jae said.

"How though? What happened? When Ned arrived at the Tower it was burned out, there were bodies." Benjen asked.

"That was my work." Ser Arthur said "I needed to protect the king."

"The king?"

"Jaehaerys Targaryen the third of his name, the rightful King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." Arthur said proudly.

"Robert." Benjen said before Jae interrupted..

"The usurper is a whoremonger who cares not about the people or the kingdom, he is a man who laughed when my brother, sister and their mother's bodies were presented to him and rewarded the man who did so and the man who ordered it by making his daughter queen. He is a man who sent assassins after a young girl and her brother and forced them to flee just to stay alive."

"You're claiming the throne?"

"I am retaking what was stolen from my family." Jae said.

"So that's why you're here to try and get the north on your side." Benjen said dismissively.

"I came here to see family, to help my family. Though I was unaware you were here too."

"Too?"

"Aemon, my grand uncle." Jae said softly.

Benjen realized it then, he and the old Maester were kin now, tied by blood, the thoughts of it made him smile.

"Uncle the tale I'm going to tell you will seem even more strange than anything you've ever heard before, I swear it to you though it's the truth, the crown is secondary to everything else, but without it the realm will fall and with it all men."

He listened as his nephew told him a tale of another life, of being raised as a bastard and coming to the wall, of being named Lord Commander, he told him of fighting against a king of ice and falling, of being given another chance and a different life. Benjen listened on and though it was hard to believe he found some of it ringing true, Ned raising him as a bastard to protect him from the king, Jeor ordering a great ranging to find proof of what lay beyond the wall.

Other parts seemed too incredible for him to believe, the other's returning and fantastical creatures made of ice but his nephew seemed certain and though in some way he wished it, he could see no lie being spoken. When he was done Jaehaerys told him that he would return in three years and that the next time he saw him he'd be king. He asked him to not range beyond the wall the year of his return, to instead prepare and help Aemon, he told him about the corpses that would rise though he knew not exactly when.

"We should speak to Ned, he can help us, he can help the watch."

"No uncle we cannot."

"Why, he's my brother should he know that Lyanna lived, that her son lived." Benjen said.

"So He'd do what, abandon his oath to the king, fight by my side?" Jae asked.

"He'd stick by family."

"Like he did before, did my mother not tell him she wished not to marry Robert, did he listen then uncle?. In my other life when he raised me as bastard and allowed me to come here without telling me the truth, who was he protecting then uncle, Robert not I. For it was in the grounds of Castle Black itself that my life blood was spilled." Jae said.

"If he knew the truth, about the others." Benjen said."

"Would he believe you? Or think you mad uncle."

"Jaehaerys, he's your blood."

"He is and there is nothing I want more than to protect it, protect all my kin, but should I fail in this, it's not just me who falls, its you uncle, its my mother, my aunt, it's everyone. I've been told things must happen a certain way, I believe that. I ask that you believe it too." Jae said.

He looked at his nephew and closed his eyes, opening them he nodded and was pleased to see the relief on Jaehaery's face. It was then his nephew hugged him and this time it was his nephew who had tears in his eyes. They soon parted and spoke some more, Jaehaerys told him that he'd see his sister upon their return and that once they departed to expect more aid for the watch. He made him promise once again not to speak to Ned about what he knew and though it was hard for him to do so, he did it anyway.

"We should get back before it gets dark, when do you leave?" Benjen asked.

"On the morrow uncle, we must return and prepare." Jae said.

"So soon, we've only just met."

"I know, but it'll be almost six moons I've been gone by the time I've returned to Astapor, as much as I've enjoyed my time here I worry about my mother and aunt, even though both are capable and I know my worry is baseless." Jae said smiling.

"My sister is still the same then." Benjen said smiling.

"If you mean fierce, determined, strong willed and generally right then yes." Jae said and Arthur and Benjen both laughed.

Riding back to the wall seemed much quicker on their return, whether it was, or just that Benjen felt lighter with the knowledge he'd been given he did not know, but they arrived quickly and the sky hadn't darkened at all. After stabling his horse Benjen watched as Jaehaerys and Arthur spoke to some of the other knights and went off about their business, he then headed to the Maester's rooms to speak to Aemon.

After sending Chett away and making sure they were alone he walked into the room and took a seat beside the Maester at the fire.

"It seems we have much to discuss Aemon."

"Aye that it does Benjen."

Aemon.

Ever since his nephew's revelations Aemon had been full of energy, finding out he still had kin, that Daenerys was safe and well with his nephew, that they'd soon be taking back the throne had been more than he'd hoped for. Finding out that dragons once more roamed the sky had been something he'd dreamt about since he was a young boy. While the idea of the others returning and the long night were terrifying, for Aemon it was hope he felt more than fear, a hope for the future of his house, one which he'd long thought to be a forlorn one.

Yet despite everything it was what his nephew had said about dreams which really made his heart race, that he too dreamed of such things was something Aemon felt more excited and relieved about than anything else. All his life Aemon had dreams which were strange and wonderful, dreams of his family long since past, of moments in time where events would occur which had not happened yet and all his life he'd been terrified by these dreams. He had feared he in some way had fallen victim to the madness that his family was said to possess, that the dreams were nothing more than the delusions of another mad Targaryen.

But his nephew having the same dreams and being able to back them up with proof that they were more than just delusions had made him re-examine his own. Over the years his mind had played tricks on him he feared, or perhaps more true he had allowed his doubt to cloud his mind and in turn had tricked himself. He had dreamt of the fall of his house, but he had convinced himself it was after rather than before it occurred, he had dreamt of the wall of ice but had convinced himself it had been after he arrived rather than before it.

"Egg, Egg, I dreamt I was old."

"Well you're not brother now go back to sleep before father comes in."

"I dreamt I was laying in a bed on a boat Egg, I was cold and dying, an old man far away from family, I dreamt I was at the wall."

"Well you weren't Aemon, does this look like the wall to you, now come on lets go to sleep."

"I should not have left the Wall. Lord Snow could not have known, but I should have seen it. Fire consumes, but cold preserves. The Wall ... but it is too late to go running back. The Stranger waits outside my door and will not be denied" Aemon said aloud while sitting by the fire.

The dream he'd had as a boy and the words he'd spoken which his brother had denied were all now clearer in his head. He had written the dream off as something that hadn't happened when he was a boy, something instead which his mind had turned into a nightmare of an older man, his older self and younger self becoming mixed up in his brain. But now he knew that wasn't the case and the words he'd spoken aloud proved even more what his nephew had said. When he was a boy he'd known he'd end up at the wall and that he wouldn't die there, but more than that he'd known of Jon Snow.

Is this what his nephew had meant when he told him he'd helped him previously, that he had in some way helped him become Lord Commander, had his will acted unknown to him. He was certain now that it had, in a previous life he had known Jon Snow and though he hadn't know he was his kin, he had still taken a liking to the boy. Blood knows Blood he thought and Magic recognizes Magic, as he thanked the gods for the chance to set things right he heard the footsteps approach.

"Do you believe him?" Benjen said after he'd sat down.

"I do, he is who he says he is, you know this to be true?"

"Aye, he's our nephew, which makes you my kin too Aemon." Benjen said and Aemon couldn't help but smile.

"We must help him Benjen, what he needs done, we must help him."

"We will Aemon, but he leaves on the morrow, so for tonight lets just spend time with our nephew, Eh."

"Indeed lead the way." Aemon chuckled.

The two of them walked to the common hall and found Jaehaerys sitting with Ser Arthur and the other knights, making their way over to them some of the knights moved to make room for them. They sat down and spent the rest of the evening laughing and japing about adventures each of them had gotten up to in their youth.

Benjen told stories of his sister and Aemon laughed along with Jaehaerys at the things the two Starks had gotten up to, especially a story about ducklings which had even Arthur laughing loudly. Aemon told tales of his brother and sisters, of Egg and Rhae and Daella, he told tales of his mother Betha and of Duncan the Tall and his nephew listened attentively.

When the night came to an end it was his nephew who brought him back to his quarters, he led him inside and as he lay him down on his bed Aemon bid him to come closer. When he did he whispered in his ear what Rhaegar had told him in the dreams he'd had of Jaehaerys father, his nephew nodded and Aemon closed his eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Highgarden 295 AC.

Olenna.

Her granddaughter was arriving home today along with her oaf of a son and Olenna was excited to see her, she hoped her little rose had achieved her goals and that the prince would soon seek a betrothal with them. She nodded to her guards and made her way to Willas's solar, her grandson like her granddaughter had thankfully inherited her wit and not his fathers.

When she arrived she entered to find him dutifully going over his missives, while he enjoyed other things, his reputation as a breeder of animals for example was second to none. He always managed his time so his duties came first something that her son had far more difficulty doing, though perhaps it was just as well. She shuddered to think what things would be like if Mace actually spent time trying to run the Reach.

"Grandmother are you just going to hover or will you take a seat?" Willas said.

"Careful boy, I do carry a cane too you know." Olenna said taking a seat.

"You do but I'm quicker than I look." Willas said with a chuckle.

"Any word from your father?"

"No only that they would arrive today, are you worried about something grandmother?"

"Just your sister, I do hope she and the prince got on well."

"Do you really think he's the best choice grandmother, our reports don't flatter him?"

"No that's true, though the boy is young still, but we must have royal protection Willas, you know why."

"I do but she is my sister, I'll not have her hurt." Willas said determinedly.

"And I would, do you really think I care so little about Margaery?"

"No grandmother I don't. I know how much you care, I just…"

"What?"

"I want her to be happy grandmother, she deserves a good man, she more than anyone."

"I know that Willas, but we must grow strong or else we'll find ourselves removed root and stem."

As they sat there talking there was a knock on the door, a servant entered handing Willas a note before leaving.

"They've just been spotted and should be here within the hour, shall we get ready."

"Very well, no doubt your father will want a feast tonight to celebrate his successful travel on the Roseroad." Olenna said with a snort.

In the end it took another two hours and Olenna was glad she'd decided to take her time going down to meet them, had she stood around waiting for her son she'd have really been annoyed, as it was she was only mildly so. Mace as usual made a grand entrance and she rolled her eyes, hail the conquering hero she thought and snorted. When he eventually waddled out of the wheelhouse he almost raced to her. She knew he would have begun to tell her the whole story of their trip had she not quietened him with a look.

But it was her granddaughter she longed to see and when Margaery and her mother stepped out and she saw how happy her rose was to be home, Olenna allowed herself a smile. After observing the courtesies she knew meant so much to her son, they made their way inside and she allowed Margaery to go to her rooms while she awaited them in her solar. Unfortunately it was Mace who arrived alone first and as he sat down she sighed as he began to tell her of his great success.

"Mother, I believe the king will offer us a betrothal between Margaery and the prince any day now." Mace said his chest puffed out.

"Oh and why is that Mace?"

"Why, what do you mean mother, Margaery is the only choice, who else would the king allow the prince marry?" Mace said his confusion both at her question and the kings motivation would have been funny if he were not her son.

"Very well, and you're sure the king was pleased with our offer?" she had no desire to argue without knowing the full facts.

"Indeed mother Lord Arryn seemed most pleased." Mace said happily.

"And the king Mace?"

"Oh I didn't see him mother, he was otherwise engaged, he's a busy man don't you know." Mace said and Olenna rolled her eyes.

"You didn't see him, not at all?"

"I saw him mother, we feasted, though he was quite busy otherwise." Mace said defensively.

"All right, All right Mace, you did very well son." Olenna said and cringed at how pleased he looked when he left her solar.

He really was an idiot, damn Luthor for being an attractive man, had she not been blinded and upset by her own broken betrothal then she'd have taken enough time to realize just what an oaf he was. Thankfully it seemed to have skipped a generation as while both Loras and Garlan were foolish in their own way neither of them were stupid and Margaery and Willas both made up for everything they lacked. She smiled when her granddaughter came in to see her, a servant walking behind her carrying a tray of soft cheeses and some warmed nettle tea.

"Grandmother." Margaery said taking her seat.

"Sweetling it'd good to see you back home." Olenna said her smile genuine.

Margaery poured the tea and handed her a cup while Olenna picked a small piece of cheese to sate her appetite, they waited until the servant left and began to speak.

"How did you find Kings Landing sweetling?"

"It smells even more than usual grandmother." Margery said her nose curling.

"And the prince?" Olenna said noticing the cringe of her granddaughters brow.

"He's horrible grandmother, a monster, but it doesn't matter he won't marry me anyway." Margaery said.

"What do you mean?" Olenna asked and watched as Margaery took a breath to steady herself."

After explaining what the prince had done with the young serving lad and that she had enlisted Lord Varys help to ensure the boy and his sister had joined them on their return to Highgarden. It was what Margaery said next that had Olenna thinking for the rest of the day.

"Lord Varys said that the king wishes a wolf for a princess, that given the princes' true nature it'd be far better to be second choice."

"Was that all?"

"No it was most strange grandmother, it was something he stopped to say before leaving, that perhaps there was someone far better out there for me." Margaery said with a soft smile.

She and her granddaughter spoke on a number of other topics for the rest of the day, how Mace had spoken a number of times to Renly Baratheon in private, something her son had not told her. How much time Renly and Loras spent together, Margaery told her of the Master of Coin and how he unnerved her and that Cersei looked down her nose at her when they met.

But as she got ready for bed later that night after she had left the feast her idiot son threw for himself, it was Varys who was on her mind most. Initially she had been ready to reprimand her granddaughter for being in the eunuchs debt, but what he'd said soon preyed more on her mind than that lapse. It made sense that Robert wanted to join his son with Stark's girl, since he couldn't have his own wolf, he'd want one for his boy, but the other part.

She wondered was Varys just offering a comforting word to her granddaughter, a you'll find someone else so don't fret too much type of thing, but it seemed so unlike the man. Which made her think that perhaps Varys had someone specific in mind, which then had set her mind racing trying to figure out just who that could be.

Jae 295 AC.

It had been hard to say goodbye to his uncles, even the knowledge that he would see them again didn't lessen the regret he felt leaving them both behind. Neither man should be in this place and though the Night's Watch was important if not essential to the future of the realm, it was not a place for such men in Jae's opinion. The Umbers joined them on their ride back to Eastwatch, a camaraderie having been built up between them and Jae's men.

He knew from his uncle Aemon that the Greatjon had sent a message to his uncle Ned regarding their visit, thankfully it confirmed their intent which should alleviate his uncle's concerns. After a day or two's ride the Umbers too split off and Jae wished them well and hoped that when he met them again they'd understand and not blame him for the mummery.

"What's on you mind?" Arthur said riding beside him.

"Just wondering if what we did here is a good or bad thing Arthur?"

"It's a good thing Jae, you saw how badly off they were back there, they need all the help they can get."

"I know that Arthur, it's just lying to people, it…"

"Wears on you." Arthur said.

"It does."

"Good, it should, they day it doesn't is the day you worry." Arthur said and Jae nodded.

"What do you think of the Umbers?" Jae asked.

"They seem like good men, usual northerners distrustful at first, but once you earn their respect, there are none so loyal." Arthur said.

"We lied to them?"

"Actually that was just you." Arthur japed getting a laugh from him in return.

"You think they'll hold it against me?"

"Perhaps, or they'll see why you did so, I think it'll be the latter."

"I hope so Arthur."

It took them three more days to reach Eastwatch, without the carts and the supplies they traveled far quicker, they hadn't even needed to stop to replenish their food stocks. He was glad to see The Dragon's Lament was almost ready to go, Patrek welcomed him on board and they were ready to sail within the hour, he stood on deck as the ship pulled away from Eastwatch watching as the wall faded from his view.

Over the next few days he found himself going over things yet again, the plans they were making for the invasion would be key, he looked at the map and dismissed or took note of certain ideas. He found himself certain of a plan one day and the next he would look at the same plan contemptuously, so again he would be back where he started.

One night Arthur basically sent him to bed, telling him not only was he driving himself crazy but the rest of them too. Jae couldn't help but agree, he was making plans based on what ifs, and around the unlikeliest of scenarios, as he fell asleep that night he wondered why the gods just wouldn't give him the answer outright. If the war against the others was so damn important, why not just give him all the information required to win the war for the throne first, luckily he would get his answer.

"You look troubled young king?"

"I am, why am I only told or shown certain things, would it not be best if I was given all I need to know?"

"You are given all you need." Bloodraven said.

"No I'm not, I don't know who or how many I'll be facing when I return, I don't know the circumstances of that return, surely knowing this would help me?"

"So you wish to be given a fight that's impossible to lose, a fight where you know your opponents strategy and tactics in advance is that it?"

"Why not? Surely then I'd be guaranteed to win." Jae said.

"But how would that help you when you fight the real enemy young king, when even we don't know the moves he would make, if we tell you all, then you'll not have to think for yourself, plan for yourself."

"But as it is I'm going over battle plans, redoing them over and over, planning for every contingency even those that cannot occur."

"Good that's the job of a battle commander, that's what you must do, you must predict your enemies moves or respond to them. Put yourself in a winning position or remove yourself from a losing one. Only then will you be ready to fight them young king.

We gave you the tools, all the advantages possible, how you use them, how you manage them will decide the fate of the world Jaehaerys. In this we cannot help for only the prince the was promised can bring the dawn." Bloodraven said as he faded away.

They stopped off in Bravos for supplies and though they didn't stay long they heard some news which concerned Ser Clarence and Ser Marten, apparently some of their men had been attacked outside Myr. The men had fought off their attackers but they had lost over fifty men and yet that wasn't their main concern. More it was who had attacked, the Brave Companions weren't known for their bravery despite the name, it was their brutality and the depths they'd sink too they'd forged their reputation on.

"Vargo Hoat is a sick man your grace, we should be thankful the men died rather than were captured." Marten said.

"Why Ser?" Jae asked.

"They do terrible things to prisoners your grace, we've heard tales of disfigurement, tales of cruelty, even in some cases stories of bear fights" Clarence said.

"Bear fights?" Arthur asked.

"Hoat captured a bear somewhere and they bring it with them in a cage, at times he's been known to have a pit dug and to throw a man inside to fight the bear, while he and his men bet on how long he'll last." Clarence said while shaking his head.

"Has he attacked us before, or is this the fist time?"

"We've had some run ins over contracts your grace, but no he has never attacked, we're far larger than his group and he knows he'd lose."

"Then why now Marten?" Jae asked.

"Perhaps it's because he sees us moving out from Tyrosh and feels he can get away with it." Arthur said and Clarence nodded.

"Or maybe our men just got unlucky and passed him while he was taking a contract, he saw them as competition, Ser Richard will know more, Hoat is a personal thing with him." Marten said.

"Why?" Arthur asked.

"He just doesn't like the man, said he met him once a few years ago and ever since he's wanted to find himself against him in a contract, but he never has, so he just keeps him in mind should the day arise."

"Well he's in my mind now too. I've sent Syrax to look for him. We'll meet up with her when we're nearer Tyrosh." Jae said and left the room. Arthur quickly following behind him.

As it turned out they didn't find a trace of Hoat and so they stopped off in Lys as planned and Jae paid the men the reward he'd promised, while telling them to be on the ship to Astapor in a few weeks time. The Dragons Lament then continued on with it's journey. It took them another moon to react their destination and the sight which greeted them when they arrived was one that would soon shake Westeros to its core.

The three dragons had grown tremendously since he'd last seen them. Brankardix was slightly bigger than his brother and sister but the difference was barely noticeable. What was noticeable was the size of the flames the dragons spewed in the air when they flew overhead, the men on board looked on with amazement as the dragonflame lit up the night sky. Jae turned to Arthur who was shaking his head and moved closer to the edge, almost as one the dragons flew closer to the ship, Brankardix barely edging Rhaegon out of the way while Ellanys flew around them both.

"Fire and Blood." Marten said loudly only for Clarence to repeat it as they looked to the dragons and them to him. When Jae turned around it was to see his knights kneeling on the deck and so he smiled at them before repeating their words.

"FIre and Blood." he said as they sailed into Astapor's harbor.

A/N: Thanks as always to all who've read and especially those who've reviewed this story. I would also like to take the chance to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Up Next we get some an Astapor chapter and what will I think be the last one before we move to the canon timeline and the return of dragons to Westeros.

Biohazard: Thanks so much really glad you liked it.

Guest: Completely with you on Benjen, he as you can see from above was always going to be told, Jae hadn't expected him to be at the wall, but once he saw him he couldn't not tell him.

Princess: Thanks so very much, glad you enjoyed it.

Guest: Jae looks more like Rhaegar here, his eyes are purple like Rhaegar's rather than the Stark grey and so it's not as apparent he's a Stark, it's there and Benjen could see it some but not as much. Ghost will come but not until Jon gets to Westeros.

PanchoPisto. The problem with that line of thought is that no one expects Jon to go back and feel bad about the Stark dynasty and when you look at some of the things they did, well they make the Targs look like amateurs, the red Kings, the Andals, the Westerlands kings, the Gardners, The Hoares. Before the Targs arrived Westeros was in a lot worse shape than it has been since they did.

There are terrible targs, mad targs, bad targs, but at what point does a descendant stop apologizing, Does an american presidernt have to continually apologize for the atomic bomb, does the queen of england have to apologize for Colonization.

At some point you are only imo beholding to direct ancestors, so Jon can apologise for Aerys, but should he do so for Maeker or any of his other ancestors imo no.

Jon is well aware of the mistakes of the past, but his job here is to protect the future, so his deeds are really all he should care about imo.

Outcome: It's coming don't worry.

LordVillareal: He suspected but just couldn't be certain, it's kinda like seeing the face but it's not fully there for him, so had Jae here doesn't look as Stark but still does which threw Benjen off.

Aussie: Thanks so much, so glad you liked the Jae/Aemon bit and the Umbers.