Kingsgrave Dorne 298 .Ac.
Jae.
He stood beside Brandkardix, his hand rubbing under his chin as his son purred, he closed his eyes and asked permission for what he was about to do. When his son allowed he took the knife and nicked his tongue allowing the blood to be drawn, holding the jar under the tongue he collected more than enough and thanked him.
"We shall fly soon my son, I promise." Jae said as he turned to walk back to the others.
Arya could barely contain her excitement and he could see her practically bouncing as he got closer while Sansa and Jeyne looked on in almost silence, looking from him to the dragon who lounged on the small hill behind him. His uncle's expression was more fearful but he kept silent as Jae walked to Arya, and then knelt to talk to her.
"Want to come for a dragon ride cousin?"
"Really, you mean it I can?" Arya said smiling broadly.
"I said we'd go see your mother and brother today didn't I?"
"Aye, on the dragon, we're going on the dragon?" she said and he nodded.
"We need to get ready, Kalors, take my cousin to get some warm clothes and find some food to pack."
"At once my king."
"Arthur I'll need to wear my armor."
"It's ready for you."
He walked over and Arthur helped put him in the armor, Barristan looking at it as if it had been made by the gods themselves,. Once done he walked to the cart opened the chest and took out the jar, holding it up he poured a couple of drops of the Dragonblood inside and watched the liquid turn red. He placed the other jar with the Dragonblood among the rest of the jars closed the chest and then walked to the other chest, taking the sword out he tied it to his back before turning to his knights.
"I will return within two weeks. The hill outside Highgarden at sunrise look for me there in twelve days. Arthur make sure you get to Highgarden safely take no chances." he said and Arthur nodded.
"My king should you not take one of us with you?" Barristan asked.
"I shall be safe Ser Barristan, protect my family until I see you again." Jae said and turned to go to his mother.
"Be safe my son."
"You too mother." he said kissing her cheek.
"I shall speak to your betrothed before you" his mother said with a small laugh.
"Perhaps it's for the better should she not be worthy I've no doubt my mother would tell her so." he chuckled.
"Uncle, I promise to do everything to ensure our family is safe."
"Aye my king, I'm sure you will." his uncle said with a nod.
"Before you sleep tonight uncle I need you to drink this, for your leg?" Jae said handing him the jar he'd just mixed.
"What is it?"
"It'll help uncle I promise."
"Thank you my...Thank you nephew." his uncle said and Jae smiled.
After saying goodbye to Sansa and Jeyne, he and Arya walked to Brankardix, his cousin almost giddy as they got closer before becoming more wary when the dragon turned to look at her.
"Have no fear cousin he's just seeing what a wolf looks like." Jae joked "Here touch him." he said taking her hand.
"He's so warm." she said smiling
"He is, are you ready?"
"I am. I can't believe I'm going to fly on a dragon, just like Visenya." Arya said and Jae smiled.
"You should see my aunt." Jae said and Arya looked at him.
"You aunt has a dragon?"
"Dany, yes and she wields a sword too." Jae said and Arya looked at her own sword dreamily as he helped her up on the dragon.
Once they were settled he looked to his mother and Arthur and nodded, Arya was sitting in front of him so he could see she was in no danger.
"Sōvegon." he said loudly and Brankardix began to move, within a few flaps of his wings he was off and Jae could hear the loud laughter coming from his cousin.
"We're flying." she said happily.
As they flew over the Prince's pass Jae looked to see if there were any remnants of the Tower of Joy, even though he didn't find any he felt something as he flew over a particular piece of land, closing his eyes he urged Brankardix on. Flight it seemed somewhat lost it's appeal for Arya after being in the air for a few hours, she began to move uncomfortably and so Jae directed Brankardix to land by a small stream.
They would eat and have some cool fresh water and then be on their way again, he knew from his own experiences also that stretching your legs after a flight was a good thing. So upon looking around and seeing the stream come closer, Jae told Brankardix to land.
"Tegun." he said and his dragon responded immediately landing by the stream.
After helping Arya off and seeing her grateful look when her feet hit the ground Jae looked around, the area they were in was lush, green fields as far as the eye could see and what he had thought was a stream was far larger. Was it the Mander? Could they be in the Reach so soon? He tried to think upon the maps he'd studied for so long, they were certainly in the Reach, though where exactly he couldn't say.
As he patted Brankardix's snout and thanked him he wondered just how close to Highgarden they were, it would be almost two weeks before he made it there and he was probably closer now than he'd be for that whole time. He tried not to think of his betrothed, Varys had made it clear Lady Margaery was considered a beauty and that she was kind and clever, Jae just hoped she'd like him and then worried he'd look foolish as he had no real experience with wooing a lady.
"What are you thinking of?" Arya asked her stretching seeming to have made her more comfortable.
"My betrothed," Jae said feeling no need to lie to his cousin.
"Oh god's not you too, I thought you were different." she said wrinkling her nose.
"You're really going to love my aunt, cousin." he said and reached out to muss her hair, she dodged back though and laughed.
"Swift as a deer." she said
"Oh really cousin." Jae said moving to her.
"Quiet as a shadow." she said moving so softly that he couldn't hear her feet on the grass.
"Quick as a snake." Jae said grabbing her and she looked at him teary eyed "Arya, what's wrong?"
"Where did you hear that?"
"What?"
"Quick as a snake?" she said looking to him.
"Bravos, its what the Bravosi say when they're learning to water dance." Jae said and Arya began to cry.
He grabbed her in his arms and held her as she sobbed against him, not saying a word he waited until she stilled.
"Syrio, he was my friend and they killed him, Meryn Trant killed him."
"He's dead Arya, Ser Barristan killed him."
"I wanted it to be me, it should have been me, he was my friend."
"I know cousin." he said as he held her.
"Will you make them pay?"
"They'll all pay, I promise." Jae said and she looked at him and nodded.
They sat down then and ate and Arya was back to her old self almost immediately, until he mentioned they'd be getting back on the dragon.
"What's wrong?"
"It hurts."
"What does?" Jae asked worriedly.
"Sitting on the dragon, it hurts." she said moving her bottom.
Jae nodded before reaching into his bag, he took out the cloak his mother had made him take after saying that it was far colder where he was going than he was used to, Jae hadn't noticed as his blood ran warm. But his mother had made it for him and so he took it, the cloak was black and had both Dragons and Direwolves sewn into it, along with a fur lined collar. As he helped Arya to the dragon he draped the cloak underneath him the fur lined top creating a soft seat for Arya to sit on. Once she did she smiled seemingly much more comfortable now and they were off again.
He saw the lights beneath him as they flew over a large castle, closing his eyes he looked through Brankardix's to see the rows of tents and the Lion banners, he looked to the castle and saw the Trout flying high. Riverrun was already under siege. Brankardix flew on and the night sky began to lighten, Arya looking on in awe as the sun rose in front of them. He saw it then, covered in swamps and bogs, this was the Neck he was close.
"We're almost there Arya, you'll see your mother and brother soon." Jae said as Arya smiled broadly.
Ned.
When he had been a prisoner in the Black Cells he had plenty of time to think, plenty of times to ponder mistakes made, opportunities lost, he had thought of his father, his brother and of course his sister. Now sitting there in the cart it was both her and her son he was thinking most of, a small part of him still hated them both, not for the lie, but for the time that had been wasted, though he understood their reasoning for not revealing themselves sooner.
The boy had rescued him from certain death, he'd rescued his daughters, even Jeyne who Ned was ashamed to say he had not even thought of while in that cell. He had gotten them out of that damn city and was taking them home and yet Ned's first instinct was to deny him, For what? For who? Stannis, he barely knew the man and he was certainly no friend of his. Yet out of some loyalty to Robert he had been ready to abandon his kin for him, he really was a fool.
"Are you feeling well father?" Sansa asked and Ned smiled at her.
"Aye I'm good my love, you?"
"I'm…father I…" she stuttered.
"What is it?"
"It was me father, I told the queen, I didn't want to leave father, I was…I'm sorry."
"It was you, you did this." Jeyne's voice said loudly from behind them before Ned could speak.
"Jeyne I."
"My father is dead because of you, that man, that man, do you know what he wanted to do with me? Do you?" Jeyne said loudly before running away.
Sansa began to cry and Ned looked to see Lyanna run to the other girl, he held his daughter close to him as she sobbed, he wanted to both comfort and chastise her, to tell her everything would be all right and to shout at her for her stupidity. In the end he just held her and then laid her down to sleep, she had cried herself out and now was not the time to make things worse. He looked to see Lyanna holding Jeyne and he smiled, his little sister was alive, he thanked the gods and took the jar his nephew gave him and drank it down.
Waking the next morning he felt it immediately, the pain in his leg was gone and he could think straight for perhaps the first time in days, he looked to see that Sansa had already risen and when he looked to the small fire he saw that she and Jeyne sat apart. He moved to get up and as he put his legs on the ground he was surprised there was no stiffness, what was more surprising was there seemed to be no injury at all. He moved his leg and even at one point hopped on it much to his sisters's surprise.
"Ned what are you doing?" she asked her voice full or mirth.
"I, Lya my leg, it's, what was in that jar" he asked.
"It worked, Jae said it would once he had the Dragonblood." Lyanna said.
"Dragonblood?"
"When he was in Valyria he found the library there, apparently there were books on healing, one even cured Greyscale." Arthur said walking towards him and Ned looked at him.
"Valyria? Greyscale? That's impossible." he said shaking his head.
"So are dragons and wasn't your leg broken yesterday." Oswell said laughing.
Ned couldn't argue further, he sat beside his daughter who was incredibly quiet and looked to Jeyne who was staring daggers at her, the girls friendship may not recover from this and as he looked again to his daughter , he felt the need to speak to her. So he took her hand and led her to a small tree off to the left, Kalors following to keep them safe on Jae's orders or Arthur's no doubt.
"Sansa, what you did you know how wrong it was?"
"I'm sorry father, I'm a stupid girl, I know that, I just wanted to be queen, I didn't think."
"Sansa you're not stupid, what you did was but you're not." he said and she shook her head.
"I am father, Arya always said so and she was right and now everyone hates me, Jeyne won't even speak to me." she said as the tears began to fall.
"I don't hate you, no one does." Ned said taking her in his arms.
"Jeyne does." She sobbed.
"Jeyne is hurt, she may not forgive you Sansa." He felt her shudder against him. "But you can try and maybe one day she will."
Once he felt her calm some he began to bring her back to the camp but she held his hand to stay.
"Do you..do you forgive me father?" she said her lip quivering.
Ned closed his eyes, Vayon Poole, Fat Tom and the rest of his men even Septa Mordane's face came to him unbidden, a part of him wanted to scream at her that no of course he didn't forgive her, but he fought it down and calmed himself.
"I love you and forgive you Sansa." he said and she threw her arms around him in relief.
Once back at the camp he sighed as Jeyne got up to leave not even bothering to turn to look at Sansa, he felt her shoulders drop as she sat down and as Lyanna got up to go after the girl he looked to her.
"Lya can we talk?"
"Of course Ned, Barristan can you sit with Sansa, Arthur perhaps you could go after Jeyne?"
"At once my queen." Barristan said as he sat down beside his daughter.
Ned walked with Lya to the small stream, he was going over and over things in his head, What to say? What could you say? For ten and five years he had mourned her and now she was there right in front of him. All the things he wished he could have said to her, all the things he should have said to her they all flashed through his head.
"Lya I missed you." he said as they reached the stream and he felt his sister's arms around him for the first time since they were children.
"I missed you too big brother."
Jae.
He landed in an open space, well as open as the swamps could be, it was just outside the Neck itself and he'd need to walk some to get to the castle which would no doubt mean he'd run into the northern army. As he took his things off he heard Arya gasp beside him and turned to see a group of men ride towards him all bearing the Stark banner and colors. He hoped they'd keep their distance, Brankardix burning the men he'd come to help was not the best first impression. Thankfully they realized it too as they dismounted a little away from them before the one in charge began to speak.
"Who are you?" the man said, how original he thought something Arya clearly agreed with as she snorted beside him.
"Are you stupid?" she asked, "Or can you not see the damn dragon hmm, now who is the only family to be dragonriders, oh yes that's right He's a bloody Targaryen you idiot."
"Arya." he said scoldingly.
"Jaehaerys." she said back in the same tone and he couldn't help but laugh.
"I've come to treat with Lord Stark, can you show me the way or do I need to fly to him?"
"Who's the brat." the man said and Jae smirked at the pose his cousin took.
"Arya Stark of Winterfell," she said loudly and proudly, her hands on her hips.
There were whispers from the guards and one of them rode off back the way they came, another dismounted and held his horse's reins in his hands.
"Hand over your weapons and I'll take you to Lord Stark." the leader said.
"No, I think I'll hold onto my weapons, these are dangerous times in case you hadn't noticed." Jae said and heard Arya giggle.
"I cannot take you to my lord armed, what if you were an assassin who wished to harm him?"
"He's not a bloody assassin, he's my…"
"Arya." he said and she stopped speaking.
"You do see the dragon right, I mean it's not exactly small but you do see him don't you? So what, you think I have a dragon but rather than use that to harm your lord, I'll instead get off said dragon and walk in with just my swords, what was it you said about him Arya?"
"Stupid." she said and he saw the man grab his reins a little harder.
"Fine you can take Shadd's horse. The girl can ride with you."
"I can ride myself," Arya said and Jae knew that was true, she was much like his mother in that regard.
"Fine Quent, give the girl yours, if she really is Arya Stark it may earn you a reward."
"She's Underfoot all right." Quent said and Arya shrugged her shoulders when Jae looked at her questioningly.
They mounted up and Jae told Brankardix to fly north for food and that he'd see him later that night. The horses moved skittishly as the dragon took flight and Jae heard the exclamations from the guards as they set off. The ride itself didn't take long and upon arriving they saw some men and women rush towards them, the tall red haired woman from his vision along with the red haired stocky young man, his aunt and cousin were out in front.
"Arya." the woman shouted loudly. "Arya, my sweet child it is you oh thank the seven."
"Mother." he heard his cousin say as she jumped off the horse and ran to the woman.
He watched as they hugged happily and he thanked whatever gods it was who sent him the visions and Bloodraven himself for the chance to make this possible. He dismounted and the young man stepped forward, out of the corner of his eye he saw the Greatjon and his son looking towards him. As he took of his helm he heard it, Dragonrider, Dragonspawn followed by the booming voice of the Greatjon."
"SNOW?"
"I'm afraid not Lord Umber. Lord Stark if I may have a word in private, your lords may join if you wish."
"Aye, as you wish Targaryen." he said as he looked at him with disgust.
"Robb he's still armed." his aunt said.
"I'll gladly accept guest rights but won't give up my arms my lord, as your men have no doubt informed you by now should I be here to cause you harm I've a far easier way to do so."
"Aye we heard a dragon." one of the lords snorted.
"He has a dragon, he rode it here with me on it, or am I lying?" Arya said breaking from her mother's arms.
"Dragons are myths and tales told to children." the Lord said and Jae looked to see the sigil he wore a silver fist on scarlet, House Glover.
"If you look above you Lord Glover you'll find out that some myths are true." Jae said as Brankardix flew over the castle heading North,"
"Where is he going, have you sent him to attack the North?" his cousin asked.
"No just to hide from those in the south for now, they'll see him and his siblings soon enough."
"You have more than one?"
"There are more of them?"
Jae just nodded at whomever it was who had spoken and took piece of each when the plate of bread and salt was handed to him.
"How do we even know he'll even live up to guest rights?" Lord Glover said.
"You know because once I take this bread and salt I won't beat the shit out of your arrogant ass, or would you like me to forgo them and instead knock you to the ground?" Jae said stepping forward,
"Robett enough," a stockier man said taking the other man away as Jae ate the bread and salt.
"If you'd follow me." his cousin said and Jae nodded following him into the keep.
"I have one request my lord. Consider it goodwill for returning Arya to you."
"Very well what would you ask of me?"
"Theon Greyjoy is he here?"
"Aye he is." his cousin said looking at him strangely.
"I ask he be absent from our meeting my lord."
"Why?" he heard a woman's voice and turned to see a tall dark haired woman bearing the bear sigil.
"There are matters which are to be discussed that I would not trust to an Iron Born, Lady Mormont." Jae said and noticed the woman look to Robb and then to him with intrigue.
"Theon is my friend, I'll not have him spoken badly of." Robb said defensively.
"Then we have nothing to speak of my lord, I shall return and keep your father's letter to myself." Jae said turning to walk away.
"Robb, Robb, Ned, Sansa they're free Robb this man he freed them." he heard his aunt say as she and Arya ran towards him.
"Truly?" Robb said looking to him.
"Your father and sister are presently safe with my men, where they are I'd rather not say in such a public setting."
"Very well I'll accede to your request, Theon won't attend but I'd like my war council to do so?"
"As you wish." Jae said and they walked into the keep and up some stairs before being led into a room
It took a few moments for everyone to be assembled, his cousin and aunt sat talking with Arya, while the other lords came in. He saw the Greatjon look at him angrily while the Glover lord glared at him. In the corner a pale lord with a flayed man sigil watched him and his cold stare made even Jae shudder. There were also two large fat men wearing merman, Manderlys, and the tall Dark haired Mormont from earlier stood with a stocky woman, her mother Maege. Once everyone was assembled Jae noticed a small man wearing a bronze shirt looking at him intently.
"All right I've given in to your request, now we can start with your name?" his cousin said.
"My name is Jaehaerys Targaryen, the trueborn son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Targaryen and rightful king of the Andals, Rhoynar and the First Men."
"YOU LIE."
"HOW DARE YOU."
"Quiet." Robb said banging down on the table.
"My aunt was raped and murdered by the man you claim as a father Targaryen and you come here to sully her name so." Robb said angrily.
"My mother is very much alive Lord Stark, is that not so Arya?"
"It is, I've seen her Robb talked to her, her and Ser Arthur and Ser Barristan are with father and Sansa now."
"Ned is free truly" the Greatjon said turning to Arya.
"My Uncle is free and well, he asked me to give you this." Jae said handing Robb the letter.
There was silence as his cousin read it, some shaking of the head and staring at him by Robb when he got to certain parts of it, before he finished it and handed it to his mother.
"This can't be true, the things he says, they can't be, he would never, he's my brother."
"My lord what is it?" Lady Mormont said moving forward her frown covered slightly by her dark hair.
"My father he says Theon will betray us, that we're not to send him back to the Iron Islands."
"What, you were planning to do what?" the woman's mother said.
"I hoped to bring the Iron Fleet to bear on the Lannisters, to give them two fronts to worry about."
"You would send Theon home, he's hostage to his father's behavior." his mother said.
"It won't matter." Jae said and everyone turned to him "The Iron Born intend to invade anyway.".
"What?" Robb said looking to him.
"Theon should be kept here my lord, that can't change, but the Iron Born don't care if you take his head or not, they won't behave they intend to attack, you need to send men to Torrhen's Square, Deepwood Motte and to reinforce here."
"I don't have the men for battle if I do that?" Robb said softly.
"What battle my lord? It seems our war is over." the pale lord said moving forward "If Lord Stark and Lady Sansa are safe and Lady Arya is here, then we have no need to march any further." the man said.
"Aye. It were Ned we came to free, Ned and the girls, now we have them we protect our shores." the Glover who'd spoken earlier said.
"Aye, we can return, there's no war to fight with Ned back." The Greatjon said.
"I beg to differ my lords, the war is already started and Riverrun is about to fall." Jae said to a gasp from his aunt.
Lyanna.
She sat with her brother by the stream just watching the water, both of them had hugged and cried and were yet to really talk to each other, happy just to sit in comfortable silence and probably both afraid to dredge up memories. But as with all peaceful moments it can only last so long and as she felt her brother move she knew he was getting ready to speak.
"What happened Lya?"
"What?"
"Harrenhal what happened?"
"I fell in love Ned, completely. I told you I never wanted to marry Robert, I saw how he was, that wasn't the life I wanted, the life I could lead. Jae was right with all he said, you know what he was like deep down though you never admitted it yourself."
"Aye, he was right." Ned said.
"You remember the Knight of the Laughing tree, remember the stir it caused?" she said and Ned nodded "Remember how Aerys reacted?"
"Aye he thought the knight a traitor sent men to find him though they never did."
"Rhaegar did."
"Rhaegar found him?" Ned asked confused.
"Her." she said and Ned looked at her in realization.
"It was you?"
"It was, they bullied Howland, you remember how small he was back then."
"He's not much bigger now." Ned said a soft smile on his face.
"Rhaegar found me and hid it from his father, we began to talk Ned and he…he… he knew me, understood me."
"So you fell for him?"
"No not then, but it was the star of it. I..it's….hard to talk of him Ned." she said and Ned nodded.
"You don't have to little sister."
"Little sister." she said giggling "Remember when we snuck down to the crypts you must have been what seven name days, it was just before you left for the Eyrie."
"Aye I remember I was terrified but you weren't, four name days old and ready to face the world." he said his voice full of fondness.
"I missed you when you were gone Ned, you were gone for so long." she said sadly.
"I didn't know what it was like for you until after that damn tower. The first few years were the hardest and then when Arya came along, I..I she was so like you and I couldn't." Ned said holding is head in his hands.
"It's all right big brother."
"No it isn't Lya, I almost did it, the same as father, I almost forced her away, I couldn't she..she reminded me of you and I couldn't. When I saw her ride or want to wield a sword I couldn't." he said shaking his head.
"She wields a sword now, she told me all about Needle." Lyanna said and she watched her brother smile a little.
"I..I realized in the end I was punishing her for looking like you, for being like you, I was punishing her when I should have been embracing her spirit, encouraging her."
"She seems happy Ned."
"I almost lost her, lost Sansa, them all."
"I know how that feels brother but we're a pack and we'll survive."
"When the cold winds blow. Lya are they blowing?"
"They are big brother, but we have a dragon to keep us warm us from the cold." she said and felt her brother's arm wrap around her.
Jae.
With the revelation that the Riverlands were on fire and that Riverrun was about to fall more and more voices were raised, Robb seemed a little lost so Jae stood up.
"My lords please," he said and then louder "My lords."
"What have you to say Dragonspawn," Lord Glover said and this time Jae didn't hold back.
"Dragonspawn, Dragonspawn, it's wolf's blood that runs in my veins too Lord Glover or have you already forgotten who my mother is. I'm a dragon yes, there's no doubt of that, but I'm a wolf too, I came here because the North was about to be invaded, because Riverrun is about to fall, I came here to help my kin."
"You came to have Northmen fight to bring you a crown." Lord Glover said and Jae laughed loudly.
"You think I need you to bring me a crown, Aegon conquered Westeros with 3,000 men and three dragons. I've over 20.000 sworn to me and the Reach about to join. I could conquer Westeros without the North in a damn heartbeat."
"Yet you want Northmen do you not?" Robb said looking at him.
"I do, I want the North to back my claim,." Jae said to more loud shouts.
"I'll not back a Dragonspawn son of a whore." Lord Glover said and this time Jae didn't answer with words, guest right or not.
The first punch caught the man across the nose, the second he added an elbow to it, he didn't need a third.
"The next man who insults my mother, will not be able to be carried out of here." Jae said looking to the man on the floor and then turning to see the Mormont ladies and the Greatjon look at him with a little respect.
"My lord, you need to send your forces to those places I've told you of, how many men do you have?"
"You're not my king yet, don't give me orders." Robb said.
"I carry your father's orders but that's irrelevant, I'm trying to help are you too damn proud to accept it?" Jae said and Robb nodded reluctantly.
"I have 18,000 men here, we can raise more in the North but it'll take time."
"You need to send 2,000 to both Torrhen's Square and Deepwood Motte."
"I'll send my brother when he wakes up." a man said entering the room Jae turned to say something "He deserved it bloody fool should know better." the man said to laughs.
"My lord." Jae said with a nod before turning to Robb "You need to leave two thousand here too my lord, should the Moat fall?"
"We'd be fucked" the Greatjon said stepping forward.
"I won't be able to give battle with just12,000 men." Robb said looking at him.
"You won't need to for long, my men will arrive by weeks end with your permission?"
"Where do you wish them to land?" Robb asked.
"White Harbor my lord, my aunt is leading them they'll march and join us within two weeks."
"Very well, I need to think on how to proceed, anything else you can tell me will be appreciated."
"Of course my lord."
"This doesn't mean we'll kneel you know." Robb said as he looked to the map.
"I know."
Jae walked from the room and was immediately joined by the Greatjon, who looked him up and down, before nodding.
"Aye you're her son all right."
"I'll take that as a compliment my lord."
"You should." the man said walking away from him.
He took a seat outside and sat alone for a bit, he closed his eyes and searched for Syrax, she was flying over the sea heading to the Iron Islands, just as he'd asked her to do, it would be a few more hours though until she landed. He opened his eyes to see a small man standing in front of him, his eyes focused on his own.
"Forgive me your grace, but I needed to be sure."
"Your grace?"
"You were my king from the day you were born Jaehaerys, nothing has ever changed that." the man said with a smile.
"My lord?"
"Howland Reed."
"My mother speaks of you often my lord, it's good to finally meet you." Jae said holding his hand out.
"She is well your mother?"
"She is my lord, you shall see her soon."
"I look forward to it as I have for many a year."
"You knew of us my lord?"
"No, I hoped my king." the man said walking away.
Jae didn't have time to think more on it as he was called inside to speak again to his aunt and cousin, he walked in and noticed some of the looks he received, the pale lord Roose Bolton he thought as he remembered the sigil, bowed slightly to him. While some others either glared or looked more friendly towards him, he walked up the stairs to find his cousin sitting there while his aunt re-read the letter.
"Cousin forgive me my earlier harshness, if they thought I was ready to kneel they'd."
"They wouldn't you know, oh they'd rant and rave about it, but my mother always told me Northmen liked to shout more than they liked to fight. So they'd stay I think."
"Aye you have the truth of it, but it's better not to take the risk."
"Of course my lord."
"Robb, call me Robb cousin."
"Jae."
"Not your grace?" he said with a smirk.
"Not here no, besides you haven't knelt remember." Jae said and Robb laughed. "Oh, I almost forgot, I have something for you." Jae said untying the sword from his back.
"What this?"
"I don't think it's fair just Arya having a Valyrian sword is it? Where is Arya anyway?" Jae said looking around the room.
"My sister was tired, she's gone to take a rest." Robb said and then unsheathed the sword eagerly.
The blade was silver and the hilt a plain black, the pommel a moonstone and just something basic, though there were jewels on the guard, red rubies and some emeralds.
"Are these real?" Robb said looking to the jewels.
"Maybe a little gaudy for your tastes, but you can always take them and use them to have the hilt and pommel done more to your liking." Jae said as Robb allowed the candlelight play off the steel.
"I thank you cousin." Robb said a genuine smile on his face.
"You wished to see me?"
"Aye, my father is well according to Arya, what are your plans for him and my sister?"
"They along with my mother are on the way to Highgarden they should arrive within the week."
"Are they safe?" His aunt asked.
"They are my lady, they have twenty of my men with them along with Ser's Arthur, Barristan, Oswell and Kalors four Kingsguard should be enough to protect them and they are traveling through lands that are peaceful."
"What about when they reach Highgarden?" Robb asked
"I don't understand?"
"What are your plans for them then?" his aunt asked and Jae looked confused before answering.
"For them to travel back to see the rest of their family as soon as possible, though I'd like them to stay for my wedding."
Wedding?" his aunt asked.
"Lady Margaery and I are to be wed." Jae said and his aunt looked to Robb.
"Congratulations cousin." Robb said though before he could finish there was a knock on the door and tall man wearing black came in.
"Uncle." his aunt said running to the man.
"Cat." the man said and smiled at her.
Jae stood by while the man who he found out was Brynden Tully the Blackfish spoke to both his aunt and cousin before tuning to him.
"So you're the Targaryen then?"
"I am." Jae said looking him in the eye.
"I fought against your family once, why shouldn't I fight against you too boy?"
"You could try Ser, but my family didn't have dragons last time."
"Uncle, we must talk privately, Jaehaerys if you'd excuse us." his aunt said and they both walked out from the room.
"I'm sorry cousin, your family is not well regarded by some."
"Would you rather the Lannisters cousin?" Jae said and Robb laughed.
"No I wouldn't please come sit with me."
Jae took a seat and Robb went to pour him a mug of ale which he refused much to Robb's surprise, his cousin looked at him almost as if insulted.
"I promised my mother I'd not drink." Jae said and Robb smiled.
"I wished to speak to you on my plans, with my mother's family in need we must march and relieve Riverrun, my men will support such a move, though after than I do not know if they'll fight or declare for you, even given my father's own declaration."
"I believe your father could convince them, but it'll need to be me to do so, so I ask to ride with you."
"Of course cousin I could use a dragon." Robb said with a chuckle.
"You won't need one for this." Jae said.
"How so?"
"I heard Ser Jaime is leading the siege, Ser Arthur told me much about him, one thing which stuck in my mind was he's not a man for sitting around, should you present him a decent enough target he'll bite cousin and he'll do so himself." Jae said and Robb looked to the map again.
"So we lure him out and then what?"
"That depends on the makeup of their forces, I know nothing more than what I saw at Riverrun."
Robb explained that Tywin was marching in from the other side that his men had wanted him to march to face them, before Jae could say what a terrible idea that was, Robb smiled and told him his alternative. It was brilliant and would work well, while it would lose them men, it would allow them to surprise the forces at Riverrun. If they could manage to take Jaime Lannister out of the battle too then it would be a much easier victory.
"I sense there's a problem you've not spoken about?" Jae asked.
"Aye, we need to cross the bridge which means the Twins and Walder Frey, my mother already told me he'd be difficult and with time being of the essence we'd have to accept whatever deal we could get. While my father and sister no longer being prisoners makes it less so, Riverrun could easily fall before we get to it."
"So you'll still have to negotiate with Walder Frey?"
"Aye my father's letter said we should not go into the twins, why?" Robb asked looking at him
"I believe whatever deal you strike there would be so bad and so hard to live up to that it'll end badly for you."
"Badly how?"
"With your death and the death of your mother." Jae said and Robb looked at him in shock.
"How could it, I don't understand?"
"I see things cousin, things before they happen, visions. I've seen this in one it's why I flew here with Arya rather than continued on with my mother to Highgarden." Jae said and watched as Robb looked at him strangely "You don't believe me, think this is another sign of those tales you've heard of Targaryen madness?"
"I don't know cousin, it's you have to admit it's not something you hear everyday." Robb said and Jae laughed.
"That's true, when she wakes you should speak to Arya?"
"Why?"
"I had a vision that told me I needed to be in Kings Landing on a certain day, everything I've done in the last three years was in preparation for that day cousin. But why it needed to be that day was beyond me until I arrived and found my uncle was a prisoner along with my cousin and that my other cousin was missing."
"So your vision led you to rescue them?"
"It did, but Arya was missing, has she told you about how she was living on the streets? About how she was barefoot and hungry when I found her?"
"No." Robb said his face horrified.
"When I arrived she'd been missing for days, no one knew where she was or how to find her, the whole city was trying to capture her. That night I had another vision this one of a girl alone in an alley, I went to her but she saw Arthur and Barristan and it scared her so she ran and she was taken by the gold cloaks. So I knew I had to find her and that I must do so alone." Jae said.
"And you did?" Robb said looking at him in disbelief.
"Ask her if you don't believe me cousin."
"So you're saying we shouldn't negotiate with Walder Frey?"
"I'm saying you shouldn't, me on the other hand well I have a way of making people see reason." Jae said with a smile.
They talked some more and when the next knock came at the door it was Theon Greyjoy, Jae got up and bid his cousin good night and left, it was time he'd go find somewhere to sleep. As he waked the halls a he heard a voice call to him.
"Jae, ehmm could you stay here tonight." He turned to see Arya looking at him.
"Are you all right cousin?"
"I.. could you sleep in my room?"
"Bad dreams?" he said and she nodded.
Jae walked with her past the two guards, when Arya climbed into bed he took a seat in the most comfortable of the chairs and within moments she was fast asleep, he closed his eyes and told Brankardix to sleep well and he'd seem him in the morning and he too drifted off.
Robb.
If anyone had told him he'd be meeting his long lost cousin who also just happened to be a Targaryen prince or was it king? And who also happened to have a large dragon and army at his command Robb would have thought they were a fool. But that was just one of the many shocks he had faced today, his father and sisters were safe though a part of him was jealous that it hadn't been him to rescue them, that someone else had done it instead. But mostly Robb was relieved, he had feared he'd be too late, every raven, every messenger he feared would be the one to deliver the devastating news, instead they were safe and that was all that mattered.
As for his cousin, he still was unsure what to think, his father's letter said he was to follow his lead, that his father had knelt and he should do the same. But he'd heard the talk, an independent North, What would that mean? Could it still happen? Not if his father was already pledged to the Targaryens it couldn't. Some of his lords had come to him and asked him to tell his cousin to leave that they shouldn't accept his help, but these were foolish men and none were his most powerful lords, they had mostly held their counsel for now.
As for his mother, well he sighed, she had in some ways caused all this. Taking Tyrion Lannister prisoner was foolish, everyone knew how Tywin would react and he had told her so. Despite his own feelings he had allowed the dwarf to leave Winterfell unhindered, even when every fiber of his being had told him to kill the man. Yet his mother had not been able to do the same and now she had come up with an idiotic plan to make Sansa queen to another king.
"We should accept his help Robb."
"Some lords won't accept it mother."
"Arya said he traveled here on a ship unlike any she's ever seen, he has more of those swords like the one he gave her" she said wrinkling her nose at the idea of her daughter with a sword.
"Valyrian steel." Robb said with a smile.
"If what he's telling us is true about the army and more dragons, that boy will be king."
"Aye, he will." Robb said with a small smile, how the Lannisters would hate that.
"He will need a queen, Robb."
"Perhaps he already has one, he did say he would be bringing the Reach with him soon?"
"Soon, but not yet and he wishes the North now does he not?"
"Aye he does, what are you saying mother?"
"Sansa, your sister could be his queen, marriage is the best way to make alliances Robb."
"You want to offer him Sansa to make an alliance?"
"Why not?"
"He is our kin, he saved father, Sansa and Arya, he's come to help, we should be gifting him our alliance in gratitude."
"That's not how the world works Robb." his mother said shaking his head.
He had almost laughed when his cousin brought up his wedding, when his great uncle arrived he had watched as he tested his cousin, the mettle was clearly there as he was almost brushed aside without effort, he should be thankful he wasn't Lord Glover. The plans he had made were still sound he thought looking back down to the map, even his cousin had found no fault in them, plus the added information on the Kingslayer was useful. He was still looking at them when his mother and great uncle walked back in, both of them haven spoken far longer than he had with Theon.
He felt a little guilty over that, Theon was his brother by choice, his closest friend and confidante and yet the contents of his father's letter made it clear he would betray him. Even though he had not done so, Robb still felt it there at the back of his mind, still felt it in his heart and so he had been curt and Theon had left in a huff. Better that than the alternative he thought as his mother and great uncle took a seat.
"Where's the Targaryen?"
"I think he's gone to rest for the night uncle."
"What did he say?" his mother asked.
"About what?"
"Your sister."
"He betrothed mother to the Rose of Highgarden, I'll not insult him by offering my sister as a way to sway us to his side."
"It's how things are done."
"Enough mother, it's not how I'll do things, nor how father would."
"You mean to ally with the Targaeryens?" his great uncle said.
"Do you have a better plan uncle?" he said to silence "Riverrun is under siege the Riverlands are on fire, my father and sister are safe thanks to him, so I could take my men and leave." Robb said.
"Robb you can't." his mother said aghast.
"I know that mother, so does Jae, that's why he's here, we break the siege and free the Riverlands and then we help him take the throne."
"You would kneel?" his uncle said.
"My father already has uncle, whatever you may think he will be king, now you could off course deny him and then face his dragons, or you could join him and free your home, I leave the choice to you."
"We take back my home and then I'll decide." his great uncle said.
"On that I have an idea, the Kingslayer is leading the siege uncle, Jae said he's impetuous, not one to sit around and deal with the boredom of besieging well?"
"Aye, that he is, the man loves being in the thick of things rather than the daily grind that war can become."
"Jae also said that given the right incentive the Kingslayer may be willing to chase the right target."
"You want me to bait him?"
"Aye, do you think you can?"
"Where do you want him brought to?"
"I don't know uncle, I've been looking at this map, any suggestions."
"The Whispering Wood." his uncle said pointing to the spot on the map.
"We still need to deal with Walder Frey."
"I'll go negotiate with him son, though he'll extract a heavy price."
"No it'll be all right mother, Jae will speak to him.
"You can't send him Robb what if he dealt you away, or the girls?"
"He says he won't need to make any deal, that Walder will accept his offer."
"Why would the old goat do that?" the blackfish asked.
"He has a dragon uncle."
In the end his mother wouldn't relent, she practically demanded to go with him, to ensure he didn't arrange betrothals for them with the Freys, her children were worth far more than a bridge she said and Robb agreed.
Jae.
Waking up the next morning he was stiff, he moved from the chair stretched and washed in the bowl of water someone had left, his cousin slept soundly and so Jae began to reattach his armor. He had made the mistake of falling asleep with it on and woke due to his discomfort, as he was redressing Arya awoke.
"Morning cousin." Jae said.
"You stayed." she said smiling.
"You asked me to." he said back.
Arya got up stretched and dressed and was out the door before he finished, once he had he made his way down through the halls and followed the loudest sounds, eventually coming to a room where people where breaking their fasts. He entered and found the room to be full seeing his cousins sitting together he grabbed a meal and walked towards them.
"Good morning cousin." Robb said and Jae nodded "Sleep well?"
"He slept with me." Arya said biting into a sausage and to loud gasps from her mother and brother.
"Arya had night terror's she asked me to stay in her room, so I slept in the chair." Jae said and Robb smiled though his aunt looked at him oddly.
"We'll be setting out for the Twins today, the army should reach it by tomorrow, though it may be best if you and my mother head out now." Robb said and Jae looked at him before looking to his aunt.
"Of course."
"I'll be sending some of my lords with you and my uncle too, I'll lead the army forward." Robb said and Jae just nodded.
"Can I come?" Arya asked.
"NO," his aunt said loudly "You'll travel with your brother."
He almost sniggered when he saw the pout on her face, but in the end he held his laugh and finished his meal, once done he was shown to his horse and awaited the rest of his party. It didn't take long, the Blackfish, Lady Maege, The Greatjon and one of the Manderly's along with his aunt and a dozen guards. Robb walking behind them with Arya looking sullen, he walked over to her and gave he a small smile, mussing her hair to gain a small laugh.
"I'll see you soon cousin, beside Brankardix wishes to give you another ride."
"Brankardix?" he heard Lady Maege say from behind him.
"My dragon."
"Odd name for a dragon." The Blackfish said.
"I named it for my grandfather and uncle." Jae said and noticed a small smile on the Greatjons's face.
They mounted and rode and within a few hours came to the Twins, it was just after midday and they were immediately greeted by a group of weasel faced men, Jae closed his eyes and looked for his dragon, he was flying towards him and Jae knew he'd be there in a little over an hour. He told his son what to do and once done turned to listen to his aunt speak to one of the weasels.
"Lady Catelyn, Ser Byrnden, it's good to see you."
"Ser Stevron why aren't your banners with my father?"
"It's taken us time to gather them all my lady and my father won't allow them march until they're properly arranged, I see you have the same issue, we had heard you traveled with an army?"
"My son is leading them as we speak, we seek passage across the bridge."
"Very well my lady, you'll need to speak to my father."
His aunt nodded and he moved forward, watching as the men looked at his armor, he kept the helm on and they rode to the castle as he looked around and saw more and more weasel faced men. By rights they should be at Riverrun with their liege, but he remembered then what his uncle had told him of the late Walder Frey. They were escorted into a large hall and it was full of them, weasels as far as the eye could see, even some of the women looked the same.
It had been agreed they'd not speak of his uncle being free, let the Frey's think them desperate, so he waited while his aunt exchanged what could only be described as non pleasantries. Little barbs at her father not attending the lord's last wedding and having always looked down on he and his, they were given guest right and on it continued.
"Why is he wearing a helm? Are you so ugly boy you don't wish us to see your face?" a weasel shouted and Jae had to bite his laugh, these people calling anyone ugly.
"No my lords, I just forgot that is all." he lied as he took it off.
He watched as the old lord looked closely at him before turning once again to throw some veiled insults at his aunt, her family, his uncle and his cousin. Jae had to give it to the woman she held her composure well. It was then the bargaining began and to say the lord tried to wring a terrible price would be an understatement, knighthoods, squire ships, fostering, and then the weddings. The greedy lord wanted both Robb and Arya an heir and a daughter for a bridge and 4,000 men, he looked to his aunt who was staring at him.
Whatever about Robb, though he found he was starting to like his cousin, Jae would burn this keep to the ground rather than allow Arya to be forced to marry a weasel. Arya may actually do it herself he thought as he looked at the lord, he wondered if this is what caused the rest of his vision to happen. Would they have been forced to take this deal had he not rescued his uncle and cousins, but even if so then how did that lead to them being killed here? It didn't matter since he wasn't going to allow either outcome.
"NO." he said moving forward.
"No. who are you to say no to me boy?" Walder Frey said.
"My name is Jaehaerys Targaryen and I am your king." Jae said.
"My king is in Kings Landing boy and he no doubt would like your head."
"You would break guest rights?" his aunt said shocked.
"What care I for such things. Although, perhaps we can come to another deal my king." Walder said gleefully "I quite fancy the idea of one of mine on the throne, what say you, a Frey for a queen." Walder said and the hall cheered.
It died out suddenly though as the roar was heard, some of the men running to the window to see Brankardix blow flames at the wall and force the assembled archers to run in fear for their lives while roaring again.
"What in the seven hells is that?" Walder asked.
"It's a dragon father." one of the weasels said as Walder looked to him.
"Would you like to hear my counter offer now my lord or would you prefer to speak to a different dragon?"
"Very well my king." the old lord said for once looking even older.
"I shall agree to take one of your men as my squire and ensure my cousin does likewise. Your grandsons will be fostered at one of the keeps in the north, but not Winterfell and there will be no weddings. As for the lady you wished for my cousins bride, is she here?" Jae asked.
"Roslyn step forward girl." Walder said and a very pretty girl stepped forward, looking to him shyly.
"Lady Roslyn will serve as lady in waiting to my queen and I promise a suitable match and lands for her dowry." Jae said and the girl looked at him with a large smile.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then we burn my lord, all of us and today will be known as the last of the dragons and Freys." Jae said and heard the mumbles around the room.
"Very well I accept." Walder grumbled.
They stayed only long enough to make the arrangements, his new squire was called Olyvar and he was Roslyn's brother which was a welcome surprise. They along with their other brother Ser Pewyn and some of their men would set off once Riverrun was no longer besieged and head to Highgarden to take up their duties. He found despite himself that all three seemed to be of a different sort than the weasels they called kin.
"Thank you nephew." his aunt said as they left the keep.
"For what aunt?"
"For not given them the betrothals."
"I would never aunt, my cousins, it's not my place." he said and she smiled at him.
They rode back to see a beaming Greatjon and Lady Maege looking at him with a smaller though no less true smile, Even the Blackfish seemed happier especially when his aunt told them the deal they'd made and compared it to the deal Walder wanted.
"I'm not surprised, you should have seen it Cat, the dragon could have taken the whole keep out with no trouble at all." the Blackfish said.
"Aye, damn impressive if you ask me and you have two more of them Snow." The Greatjon said.
"His name's not Snow you idiot." Lady Maege said and the Greatjon mumbled an apology which he waved off.
"I do, my aunt is bringing them as we speak."
"I pity the damn Lannnisters." the Greatjon said.
"I don't" Jae replied with a smirk.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and especially those who've reviewed. This chapter ended up way more dialogue heavy than I thought it would, Up Next the Whispering Wood and Riverrun and Lyanna and Ned arrive at Highgarden.
Guest: For Arya she's been scared, hungry, on the streets and worried about her family and along comes Jae who rescues her, gives her food and then promises and delivers in rescuing her family. For Jae Arya is everything he was told about his mother when she was younger, she's the walking example of how his mother had been at her age, she's his family, the first other than Benjen he meets and because she's so skittish he initially has to be friendly to her, he then likes her, they click. They bond fast, just like in real life when you meet a friend or someone and for whatever reason you just hit it off.
Also, there are some remnants of the life he previously led at work too, some little bits in the background so the canon relationship is almost on a subconscious level happening also.
Biohazard: Thanks so much, hope you liked the meeting.
Xan-Merrick: Thanks, Ned would I think come around quickly given the circumstances and without Robert alive it allows it too. Glad you liked the rescues, we'll see more Olenna and Gerold soon.
gouravsilentreader: Thanks so much.
LordVillareal: Glad you like it.
Rebekah: Muito obrigado, muito feliz por você ter gostado. Adoraria fazer mais de um capítulo por semana, mas minhas outras histórias também precisam de atualizações regulares.
Foxy: Yeah, i agree there were a multitude of things he could have done and he picked that one, it makes you think he perhaps was not worried/cared about Jon at all and instead was ensuring his friends claim was being protected. In fact by agreeing to marry Sansa to his friend's son he was in essence usurping Jon's claim.
The Mormont's would have jumped at it, I think too. I also don't believe that Howland wouldn't have married him to Meera given the chance.
Dunk: Yeah, here it was a different situation for Ned, it could have been dragged out as you said, but it felt wrong, so it moved quicker. I think this chapter answered most of your Northern Questions, we'll see the second part of it next week with The Whispering Wood/Riverrun.
There will be more of the Lyanna/Ned reconnect as we go on. As for Cat we'll she's different here since she doesn't hate Jae, though she's also a little the same too.
creativo: Aquí la casa siempre gana siempre que sea la Casa encabezada por un lobo y un dragón.
Outcome: Thanks so much, we'll see more of the northern reaction and hear more next chapter.
VWchick: That's it exactly with Ned, everyone needs some grey, he's as inflexible as Stannis and what doesn't bend always breaks. We'll see Cat's reaction to Petyr in a while, it'll be fun. Here you're right Jae isn't a stain and the circumstances both find her needing his help and also thinking hmmm what can i get from this. Ned and Cat will have that convo for sure.
The Frey deal she makes in canon makes Lando's deal in Empire a great one lol
Thanks for saying that, i'm just glad people are enjoying them.
Hiko: Thank you, i really hoped that anyone who'd read TDC would think that here.
Wsbenje: This is just the first one, we'll need her to have some more.
Silentmayhem: Thank you. I thought that myself, here Robert being dead takes out a lot of Ned's fight, Stannis is not his friend.
As you cans see Cat set her sights on Jae, but well he's far too polical, the north/reach isn't a contest.
So many people try to defend the Frey deal, it was god awful, yet time wasn't on thier side and yes they needed it, but for a woman versed in politics, it was a damn stupid deal, it gets worse when you think of it, since there's no doubt she understands the value of her children. Not to mention, she also gives up Arya too, i mean two marriages.
Personally i also blame Ned here, once Sansa is betrothed Ned should have ensure Robb was, he should have immediately said, marry a northern girl Robb, my bannermen will be starting to be getting a bit pissed, at all these southern weddings. but no moron hat was on and he did nothing.
Now i know it's so GRRM can have his RW moment later on, but it really paints Ned/Cat in a terrible light and is just one of the many things which when you look at it makes you question just how good a lord/father Ned actually was.
I hope you liked the Sansa/Ned/Jeyne part, it should have addressed some of what you were wondering about, it's just the first part of it and we'll see more of it as we go.
Xand007: Thank so much my friend so glad you're liking it.
Princess: Thank you.
Llaurita: Muchas gracias, realmente me alegro de que lo hayas disfrutado.
TR: Thank you, It'll be posted weekly.
Valenna: Yet another thing we never got to see, though given how Robotic and anti Targ they made her in the end, maybe not a bad thing. LOL, we'll see Benjen in a little bit, once things clear up during the war, we'll be heading to the north.
MsLady: Ned gets blamed for his own mistakes, the thing is mostly he gets no blame whatsoever. While Lyanna/Rhaegar were partly to blame, one of the biggest problems is that we literally have no idea of either the context of their relationship or the truth of things from Harrenhal to Tower of Joy, all we have is the events and interpretation of them.
Which means we get everything from Lyanna/Rhaegar being romeo and juliet to Rhaegar being a kidnapper and everything in between. We have no idea for example if letters were sent and ignored, if people knew and lied, or if they were two fools in love who didn't think the consequences out.
In the end while them being together set the spark, it wasn't what caused the war, Brandon running in demanding Rhaegar's head was treason and punishable by death, Aerys being a crazy sod who enjoyed burning people and some ambitions of men, all of it was as much to blame as Rhaegar/Lyanna, as Rhaegar/Lyanna alone wouldn't have been enough for banners to be called. unless we actually see the full circumstances and they show differently.
While you can make the argument you made on women doing their duty, an equally strong argument can be made that everything that goes fubar is caused by men trying to force women to be what they want, rather than what they are.
Guest: I've covered this in my very first reply above.