Kings Landing 298 AC.

Olenna.

She had been right, dinner that night ended up being her family, the king and his mother, Jon Connington and Ser Arthur, with the other Kingsguard on duty. Both the King's aunt and his uncle had chosen not to attend and yet it was his younger cousin's absence which she could tell preyed on Jae's mind. Still, she was glad to see her granddaughter was able to keep the king's spirits up, Margaery able to force him to smile and even laugh.

When dinner was finished he asked her to join him and Margaery in his solar and she wondered what it was he wished to discuss with her. She had her own things to speak to the king on but had decided to wait until he was in a more relaxed mood.

"Olenna, forgive me for earlier, the things I spoke of, it was not how I wished to bring them up." Jae began and she waved off his concern.

"That's quite alright, Jae, I'm sure when you're ready you'll speak on them." she said and he nodded.

"I will, I promise. I wished to speak to you about Jaime Lannister on my plans for him, he will be tried tomorrow after his father, who will no doubt call for a Trial by Combat. Ser Jaime will be refused leave to be his champion as he awaits his own trial and so Tywin will call for The Mountain." Jae said and she looked at him confused.

"Jae, I don't understand, on what grounds will you refuse to allow Jaime to be his champion." she said and Margaery looked to her almost angrily.

"On the grounds of his own trial."

"Yet you will allow Gregor Clegane to fight for his liege, is he not on trial too?"

She watched as the realization dawned on the king's face, as he looked to her then with a small smile on his face.

"Once again I thank you, Olenna, I was so wrapped up in what I wished to happen that I didn't see it. I will need to make some changes to the order of things, but yes, I can see it now."

"Grandmother, Jae wishes to speak to you about Loras." Margaery said changing the subject.

"I do, I've spoken to Arthur and Gerold and they both agree that Loras, Brienne, and Ser Robar are all worthy candidates for the Queensguard." Jae said surprising them both.

"QueensGuard?" she said as Margaery looked to Jae.

"I intend to for a Royal Guard, Olenna, Ser Gerold will oversee it all. It will be split into a Kingsguard, a Queensguard and the Royal Guard itself. Seven knights were symbolic, I understand Aegon intended to represent the seven kingdoms and while this was fine for that purpose, it was not fit for the purpose of actually guarding those it was sworn to protect. So I intend to do things differently, my queen will have her guard, as will my mother and my extended family."

She smiled at that, pleased he was thinking of Margaery's safety in the same way he was his own, though she wondered on Lady Brienne, a female warrior while known in the North was not really something done in the south.

"Lady Brienne?" she asked.

"Loras says she is most capable grandmother." Margaery said defending the woman.

"I have no doubt granddaughter, I was just speaking on the fact she is a lady."

"Who will soon be knighted, Olenna, her actions in trying to save Renly Baratheon though unsuccessful are still worthy of such. The details are to be confirmed as is the makeup of each of the guards, I was thinking however that perhaps Loras would rather guard his sister than her husband?".

"I'm sure my grandson will be grateful for either."

"The honor is the same, Kingsguard or Queensguard they are both equal." Jae said and she smirked when he looked to her granddaughter.

"What of Garlan?" Margaery asked.

"I do not know what it is he wishes if anything, but if it's in my power then I'd like to see him close by too." Jae said and she nodded "Willas too, when your father returns to Highgarden I'll need him to come and begin his work."

"I'm sure he'll look forward to it." she said.

After leaving them alone she made her way back to her rooms, left and right walking slowly behind her, a Queensgaurd, her grandson getting his white cloak, Willas on the small council and Garlan to be rewarded. Had she been a younger more spry woman she may have skipped, as it was she walked slowly enjoying the feeling of how far they'd come, how strong they'd grown.

She slept well that night, waking up the next morning she broke her fast with the rest of her family leaving her granddaughter time to spend alone with the king. Sitting down at the table she was glad to see both her grandsons take their seats and waited for Mace and Alerie to join them before she told them the news.

"Before we go to the trials I have something to share with you all. The king is changing how the Kingsguard works, last night he informed me that he intends to form a Royal Guard, comprising of both the Kingsguard and a newly formed Queensguard."

"Margaery is getting her own guards?" Mace asked his face flushed and smiling as he did so.

"She is, he also told me he wishes Loras to be a part of it, as well as Ser Robar and this Brienne woman."

"He's putting a woman on the Royal Guard?" Garlan asked though inquisitively, not dismissively.

"Brienne is worthy, brother." Loras and she could already see his own pride at being given a role.

"As you say brother, so will you accept?"

"Of course, I' be happy to guard my sister." Loras said smiling.

They finished eating, spoke a little more and then finally made their way to the Throne Room, ready for the Trials to begin. She found herself both excited and a little worried, she looked forward to seeing the lions humbled but wondered what it was Jae had in store for Jaime Lannister, and more importantly how it would be received.

Kings Landing 298 AC.

The Kingslayer.

He was surprised at the clothing Tyrion brought him, it was his own, he would be dressed in his house's colors, his finest outfit, and yet he found it hard to look at the colors themselves. The crimson and gold, reminding him of how she had looked when she was lain out, the stones on her eyes the only thing which showed she was no longer a part of this world.

He had wanted to die, had at first wanted to kill the king, to take his blade and shove it in his neck, he had lied to him, he had promised he'd not harm her and yet she had fallen. But it was seeing her, realizing she had done this to herself, hearing from Tyrion who confirmed it and seeing the sympathy in Jaehaerys's eyes as he told him, which stayed his anger.

Now as he dressed, as he readied himself to be tried, readied himself for the scorn, readied himself to face his former brothers, he felt nervous and felt his hands slip as he tied the laces, he fumbled as he fastened the buttons. Tyrion sat on the bed waiting and he was glad for his company, glad he'd gotten to see Tommen earlier and that Myrcella would be coming back soon and so he nodded he was ready to go.

"Shall we brother?" Tyrion said and they moved and he knocked on the door.

"We're ready." he said and the guard nodded leading the way.

Walking through the keep he felt each step harder and harder to take, Oswell and Gerold would look at him with scorn, with contempt. But Arthur, it was how he'd look at him, how he'd feel about him, how Jaime would feel seeing the man he had so wished to be that worried him most. When he reached the door, when they stopped so they could be announced, he almost felt his legs give way, but then the doors opened and he entered.

He saw the queen sitting on the throne her eyes on his, Margery was a beautiful woman he couldn't doubt that, but for the briefest moment her eyes were green, not brown, her hair was golden and he blinked. To her side stood the King the black and red clear, behind them they all stood and he was surprised to see Barristan there. It was the others he stared at though, Oswell, Gerold, and Arthur, he was alive, he was there and Jaime almost smiled upon seeing him

"Ser Jaime Lannister, you stand accused of attacking the former Hand of the King in Kings Landing, of then leading an army into the Riverlands, of…." Jon Connington said and before he could continue the king moved forward his hand raised.

"I shall speak on Ser Jaime's behalf Lord Connington." Jaime heard the gasps as the king walked from beside his queen and came down to stand beside him.

"Your grace?" Jon Connington said and the king just turned to him and nodded.

"My Lords, My ladies, I know this is most strange, I know there are those in this room who wish Ser Jaime to answer for these crimes, but I take issue with them and I shall explain my reasons. Before that, Ser Jaime do you deny any of those things Lord Connington said are true?" the king looked to him and nodded and Jaime despite himself placed his faith in the boy and answered.

"I do not, I attacked Lord Stark in Kings Landing, I then led my father's men into the Riverlands." he said and the voices of both the Riverlands's lords and the Northern ones were loud and angry.

"Which king did you serve when you led your men into the Riverlands Ser Jaime?" the king asked.

"King Joffrey, your grace."

"And who was the Hand of the King?"

"Lord Tywin Lannister, my father."

"And your role under the king was?"

"I was a Kingsguard your grace." he said and heard whispers around the room.

"Ser Gerold could you step forward?" the king said and the White Bull moved forward.

"Of course Your Grace."

"Ser Gerold, if a king or his Hand acting on his orders, sends the Kingsguard to lead men to battle, is this a valid legal order?"

"It is your grace."

"So if I ordered you to take men and attack the Stormlands, you would do so?"

"Immediately your grace."

"I thank you, Ser Gerold, you can step back now."

"A word your grace?" Ned Stark said stepping forward.

"Of course Lord Stark."

"King Joffrey was not the rightful king, neither by blood or by conquest, such an order is not legal." Ned Stark said and he heard the room rise up in agreement.

"As long as he sat that throne my lord, it was." the king said and he watched as the king and his uncle looked at each other.

"What of the other charges, your grace, his attack on me and my men."

"I am glad you brought that up my lord, what reason did Ser Jaime give you for this attack?" the king asked and he watched as Ned Stark glowered at them both.

"You know the reason, your grace."

"Indeed I do Lord Stark, but if you'd please tell these men and women."

"Because of my wife's capture of Lord Tyrion, your grace." Ned Stark said through gritted teeth.

"So after Lord Tyrion was taken by Lady Catelyn, for a crime that he had no part in, Ser Jaime confronted you and your men and asked for his brother's return before an attack occurred, am I right my lord?"

"You are your grace."

"Very Well my Lord. I cannot fault a man for doing his duty, even if it was to a false king, nor can I fault a man for trying to rescue his brother, even if he went about it badly, does anyone else have anything to say against Ser Jaime."

"He killed his king, my father, he stabbed him in the back, a Kingsguard who sullied his cloak." the princess looked so much like her mother, so much that he almost blinked, almost called her Rhaella.

"He has been pardoned by a king for that, we are not here to judge him for it." the King said.

"Then what is the point of us being here, he was pardoned by a man who had a vested interest in seeing our family dead, a man who laughed over the corpses of your brother, your sister, of their mother, a man who called them Dragonspawn. If you will not stand up for family, then you are no better than he." Daenerys said her voice loud and he saw some of the lords and ladies nod in agreement.

"Don't ever accuse me of not standing up for my family, or do you forget yourself aunt?" the King said and he watched as she lowered her head.

"Ser Jaime, would you care to tell them the truth of things, care to tell them why you killed my grandfather, or would you prefer for me to show them?"

He looked at the king, show them, what did he mean, show them? He found he couldn't speak, couldn't answer so he just nodded."

"Lord Varys." the king said and the eunuch walked in with a jar that was full with a green solid mass.

"Your Grace, as you requested." Lord Varys said handing the king the jar.

"This to those who don't know." the King held the jar high in the air "Is Wildfire." he heard the shuffling of feet as people moved nervously "This is safe, unable to be used, it will never ignite, nor will the rest of it."

"The rest?" he heard the queen ask and then watched as the king looked to his aunt, his face showing some concern and regret.

"My grandfather as those who remember him will no doubt know was not a good man, the Mad King earned his epithet well. In this very room, he killed my uncle, killed my grandfather, there are men who are here today who were forced to look on powerless, he was the king after all."

Jaime closed his eyes and he was back in the Throne Room, he could smell the flesh as it burned, could see the rope around Brandon Stark's neck, and he shuddered.

"In the end though, these and other crimes he committed would be merely anecdotes had he committed the one which he intended. Lord Varys who was my grandfather's last Hand?"

"Rossart, your grace."

"And who was Rossart?"

"He was the head of the Alchemist's guild."

"Lord Tyrion, could you step forward please." he watched as his brother stepped forward.

"The wildfire you used my lord, how much did you have made?"

"About fifty barrels your grace."

"I thank you my lord." he watched as Tyrion walked away "Lord Varys how many barrels of wildfire did our men make useless?"

"Four thousand your grace." Varys said and even Jaime gasped at that.

"Ser Jaime, could you please tell those in this room the last order my grandfather gave you?" the king looked at him and nodded.

"Bring me your father's head. If you are no Traitor." Jaime said.

"So he ordered you to kill your father, which you refused, was that the reason you killed my grandfather?"

"No your grace." he said determinedly.

"What was the last order my grandfather gave Lord Rossart, Ser Jaime?"

"To ignite the Wildfire, to Burn them All, your grace."

"Burn them all, who did he mean by that?" the king asked and Jaime saw Arthur look at him, his face much different than when he came in.

"The People your grace."

"Lord Varys, where were the barrels of wildfire found?" the king said turning to the master of whisperers.

"Everywhere, your grace, under every major area in Kings Landing." Varys said and the room gasped before hushing.

"So faced with an order from the king to bring him your father's head, knowing that the same king had just ordered wildfire to be set off which would have devastated this city and killed gods knows how many people, you raised your sword against a king, is this true Ser Jaime."

"Yes." he said his voice barely a whisper.

"Ser Jaime."

"Yes."

He looked on as the king walked to him, his eyes on his, a smile on his face, the rest of the room a blur.

"Kneel Ser Jaime." the king said and he knelt "My lords, my ladies, once a mad king sat that throne, a man driven by madness to do terrible things, a man who in his last act would have killed more men, women, and children, than countless wars. The man in front of me was the man who stopped that from happening, the man who sullied his name and his blade with the blood of a king, and for that act, he's been known forever as the Kingslayer, a knight without honor.

I say no more, I say the man in front of me is a true knight, a knight worthy of not only our respect but of the place he earned more than anyone.

Ser Jaime Lannister, I ask you to rise and accept the white cloak of a Kingsguard, for I am in need of true knights this day and for all the days to come."

Kings Landing 298 AC.

Oberyn.

Seeing the way the king fawned over Jaime Lannister disgusted him, while it was true he didn't know of the plans that Aerys had, while it was true that Jaime Lannister had saved the city. The man had failed his sister, he had failed his nephew, his niece, to see him rewarded instead of punished disgusted him. Thankfully he was not the only one, while the king had won most of the lords and ladies to his side, he had lost his aunt.

Daenerys had spoken up, and even with the king's speech she had not been swayed, when Jaime Lannister rose she stormed from the room. Ned Stark and the Riverlords too seemed angered, though they at least hid it some, the princess was young, impulsive, and she could not hide her feelings. Oberyn would wait to speak to her, give her time to stew in her anger, first though he would welcome the next trial eagerly.

"You are quiet my love."

"I am thinking my love, that sham we saw this morning, it vexes me that this boy would treat the Kingslayer so respectfully."

"He did save the city Oberyn, a noble act." Ellaria said.

"Yet where was he for Elia, for Rhaenys and Aegon, nobility isn't one act, it's more than one."

She nodded and they continued their lunch, surprised when the knock came to the door, Varys walking inside carrying a letter from the king. He looked to the eunuch and then to the letter, opening it up to read it and smiling when he did so.

Oberyn.

You may have the Mountain, I will name you champion, but you must kill him quick, should you dally, should you take your time, Dorne's vengeance, Dorne's justice ends there and then, Lorch, Tywin, neither of them will face trial, I'll free them rather than be denied.

Jae.

"You may tell his grace, I agree." he said and the eunuch nodded.

He handed the note to Ellaria, seeing her worried frown which he kissed from her face, they finished their lunch and returned to the Red Keep, taking up position and waiting from Tywin to be brought to face justice. He looked on as the Queen, Mace Tyrell and Ned Stark made up the jury and he was surprised to see the queen there. Though apparently the boy doted on her, which raised him somewhat in Oberyn's view.

"Lord Tywin Lannister." the old lion was brought in and he too seemed surprised to see the Queen sitting in the middle of the jury.

"Lord Tywin you are charged with ordering the murder of Rhaenys Targaryen, Aegon Targaryen and Elia Martell, how do you plead." Jon Connington said.

He looked on as the old lion glared at the king, as he then looked quickly to the jury before he smirked.

"I demand a trial by combat." Tywin said and Oberyn smirked.

"Do you have a champion my lord?" the queen asked.

"I name my son Ser Jaime Lannister as my champion."

"Your Grace, if I may." the king said stepping forward.

"Of course my king." the queen said with a smile.

"I'm afraid Lord Tywin cannot call on Ser Jaime." the king said and Tywin glared even more at him now.

"Not content with usurping a throne you do not deserve, you now deny me a fair trial. Is this is how you intend to start your reign boy."

"I think you'll find by right of blood and conquest the throne is rightfully mine, or am I mistaken my lord, did you win and this is all just a dream?" the king said to loud laughs.

"You still deny me my rights boy."

"I deny you nothing my lord, but as a serving Kingsguard Ser Jaime cannot take arms against the crown, not even in a trial by combat."

He watched as Tywin spluttered, as he looked around the room, as the realization dawned upon his face that he had once again lost his golden heir to a Targaryen king.

"In that case, I'm afraid I must deny you the right to name Ser Jaime as your champion my lord." the queen said

"Very Well I name Ser Gregor Clegane."

"Your grace do you have any objections to Ser Gregor?" the queen asked and the king shook his head.

"I do not your grace."

"Very well Lord Tywin, the crown accepts. As our own champion, we name…" the queen began.

"Your Grace, I offer mine own services in this matter." he said moving forward and standing in front of the jury.

"Very well Prince Oberyn, the crown accepts your offer. The matter will be decided on the morrow. Lord Tywin, Prince Oberyn. We shall move on with the next prisoner." the queen said.

He watched as men of the West were brought in and were offered the choice to bend the knee or be sent to the wall, most took the knee, though a proud few did not. It was mainly the lords and their heirs who given the option decided to stay and keep their lands and keeps, the king being most generous he felt even though some lost some of their lands. When Lord Kevan came forward he expected the man to be just as proud as his brother.

"Lord Kevan, I assume you'll not bend the knee." the king said.

"I will not."

"Then I am left with no choice my lord, you and your sons will take the black, your wife will be sent to the silent sisters, House Swift will have all its lands taken from them, their name forgotten…." the king was about to continue when Tyrion moved to speak to his uncle.

"If I bend the knee and give you my oath, then what?" Lord Kevan asked reluctantly.

"You were following your liege lord, your brother, I cannot condemn you for that, but your brother lost, your liege lost and now your fealty is owed to your king. Bend the knee and I'll accept it as such, I give you my word on it, will you give me yours?" the king said and Kevan nodded.

"I pledge Fealty to His Grace Jaehaerys Targaryen and Her Grace Margaery Targaryen, I shall offer my sword, my loyalty and my counsel to them, I do this in the name of my family, in perpetuity."

"I accept your pledge, my lord, you are free to stay with your nephew and may speak to him on any matters you deem necessary."

With the trials done for the day, he spent most of the evening's feast watching, the king and his aunt barely spoke to each other, though it seemed he and his uncle were on somewhat better terms. He ate and didn't drink, wanting to be clear of head for the morrow, to see the mountain fall, to see the Old Lion's face as he did so, just the thoughts of it were far better than any drink of wine could be.

Kings Landing 298 AC.

Varys.

He had been impressed with the king from the first moment he met him, to find that he was thinking even then on ways to better the realm, ways to make people's lives better had been heartwarming to him. To see him now put his queen in charge of that, to give her the coin to do things, all of it combined to make him even more certain that Jaehaerys was who the realm needed.

But it was watching his king play the game, watching him do the things that most kings did not which he found most comforting. While he didn't particularly care whether Jaime Lannister lived or died, he knew Tyrion did and so he was glad to hear his king's plans for the man. When the king had called him and asked him about the wildfire he had been surprised and shocked, both that the king knew something else he did not and that it was just there below them all.

"I need you to find it for me Lord Varys, just find it, don't touch it, but I need to know the truth of it."

"You believe it to be where your grace?"

"Everywhere, Lord Varys, I believe my grandfather planned to kill as many as he could."

He had found it all, the king sending the white wolf with him to lead them to some his little birds hadn't found, when he had gone back to the king and informed him, he had found the king with a small jar of Wildfire in his hands.

"Your grace?"

"There is too much of this beneath us to be moved safely Lord Varys, however, there is another way."

He watched as the king took another jar and picked out a small leaf, holding it in his hands before dropping it into the jar containing the wildfire, a moment later the king smiled and handed him the jar. Looking into it he could see it was solid, the liquid no longer moving inside, the jar suddenly far safer than it had been.

"I shall send some men with your little birds Lord Varys, the only thing which can make that burn now is a dragon." the king said and he nodded.

"As you command your grace."

The trials themselves were an effort in crowd manipulation that Varys enjoyed immensely, he had played the crowd to make them look differently at the Kingslayer. So differently that when he named him to the Kingsguard people didn't seem upset, in fact, Varys was sure some felt comforted by it. That it then took away the old lion's champion only made it better and allowed for the Dornish to take their revenge, it was masterful.

Dorne though concerned him as did the princess, it was clear that there was a rift developing between Daenerys and Jaehaerys, clear that they didn't see eye to eye. While both the North and the Riverlands had been upset at Jaime Lannister's lack of punishment, the king had somewhat won them over. Something that Varys was sad to say wasn't true of the princess, as his little birds had heard her grumble more than once.

What concerned him, even more, was the knowledge that he was not the only one paying attention to the princess's displeasure, more than once he had found someone from Dorne close by as she spoke badly of the king. He had tasked his little birds with watching even more closely, had listened himself as Oberyn had spoken to his paramour in the brothel.

The fact of the matter was now he had no choice but to bring it to the king's attention, especially as he was beginning to worry about his safety. While he did not believe that things were that bad between the king and his aunt for her to contemplate such a thing, she was technically heir, should the king fall, she would be queen. Which created an opportunity that perhaps Dorne may seek to take advantage of.

"Is his grace inside Ser Barristan?" he said as he walked to the royal apartments.

"He and the queen are inside my lord, but they may be ehhmm busy." the knight said with a smile and a small blush.

"I need to speak to him most urgently Ser." Barristan nodded and knocked on the door and after a much longer amount of time than he expected the king came and opened it, his hair disheveled and his clothing just thrown on him.

"Yes?" the king said grumpily.

"Apology's your grace, but Lord Varys wishes a word."

"It cannot wait until the morrow?" the king said glaring at him.

"Unfortunately not your grace."

"Very well, a moment my lord."

He stood waiting with Ser Barristan's whose grin was much larger now and after a few more moments the king walked out, the white wolf beside him as he walked down the corridor with him.

"Let us go somewhere more private." the king said and he led him up the stairs and out onto the parapets overlooking the sea.

For a moment he felt like chiding the king, felt like pointing out he should not walk without a Kingsguard, not even the short walk they took. But then he saw the sword on his hip, the white wolf looking at him, and then heard the roar of the dragon as it flew overhead.

"I know, I know, where's my guard." the king said seeing his face and Varys couldn't help but chuckle.

"I'm sorry your grace, both for the interruption and my concern."

"I welcome one of those things Lord Varys." the king said and laughed "Now to the other?".

"Your Grace, as your Master of Whisperers my job is to keep you informed of not just things that are going on, but on any potential problems that may be on the horizon."

"Indeed my lord, you've found a potential problem?"

"I believe so your grace, Princess Daenerys."

"Careful my lord, I'll not have anyone speak ill of my family." the king said his voice slightly raised.

"I mean not to your grace, but it's clear to all that the princess isn't happy with your decision regarding Ser Jaime, and there some who will seek to take advantage of it."

"Dany and I may argue but my aunt is loyal."

"I have no doubt, your grace, however, this distance between you has been noticed by Prince Oberyn, Dorne may have sworn fealty but Doran wishes his blood on the throne as I've told you already."

"You think them likely to seek to replace me with Dany?"

"I think given the distance between you both, they may seek to do so yes."

"She'd never go for it." the king said.

"Not directly no."

"You think they'd seek me to fall first, then seek an alliance, or would they seek the alliance first and then seek me to fall?"

"I think they'd see if she was open to the alliance first your grace."

The king just stood there looking out at the sea, then in the distance, Varys saw all three of the dragons flying and playing together, dropping down into the water before flying closer to each other. He then watched as two of them seemed to chase something before the white dragon dropped down and all three laid their flames down at once. The whale was large and all three of the dragons feasted upon it and the king stood there smiling all the while.

"That's how dragons hunt Lord Varys, if they're together they just like wolves hunt in a pack, they drive their prey to them, force it to go in the direction they want and then they pounce, just like Ghost here." the king leaned down and rubbed the wolf's head.

"I don't understand your grace?"

"Mummery Lord Varys, you've fallen for a mummery, as has Dorne."

Kings Landing 298 AC.

Tyrion.

He sat nervously in his room and waited, the king wished to speak to him again and he wondered what it was about. Varys had come to him more than once, the king too, each time he'd hinted at things, asked him things, almost tested him and Tyrion still wasn't sure of the reason behind the visits. He had found though he enjoyed them, he liked talking to the boy, liked how he challenged him to think about things.

Hearing the knock on the door he stepped up and opened it, the king standing there with Ser Arthur and surprisingly his brother too. After they came in and sat down, a servant arrived carrying some refreshments, Tyrion pouring the wine, which the king once again turned down, he smiled at him and couldn't resist but to ask him why he never took a drink.

"Your Grace, this wine is a delicious vintage, it's not one which should be enjoyed alone, yet you never drink, is it my company?" he asked and the king laughed.

"No my lord, I promised my mother I'd not."

"Then that makes you far better than the Stag King, he never met a drink he could turn down."

"I've come to ask if you'd like a game my lord?" the king said placing a cyvasse set on the table.

"I would your grace, but should you not be elsewhere?"

"I should, but this won't take long." the king said and he laughed at that.

"You are either really good or really bad, which is it?"

"Let's find out my lord."

In the end, it turned out he was really good, far too good, how he'd learned was beyond him, but the moves he made he'd never seen before. That he kept speaking while making them also made him annoyed somewhat, while he was trying to concentrate on the game, the king was asking questions on the realm.

Questions about lords, about kingdoms, wants, needs, trade, forces, questions about which lords were trustworthy and which were not. Tyrion looked at him when he lost the third game, shaking his head when the king went to line up for another, only this time he only placed half his pieces on his side against him, leaving himself vastly outmatched.

"To give you a fair chance my lord?" the king said and for a moment he felt like speaking up, calling this boy out for thinking himself so smart.

He held his tongue though and once again they played, once again the questions came and once again he was beaten. A knock came to the door and the servant came in carrying a bottle of some sort and the king took it and poured all four of them a glass, drinking it himself too.

"I thought you didn't drink wine?"

"That's not wine my lord." the king said and he tasted it and though it was not wine, he found the taste to be one of the sweetest he'd ever had.

"Where did you get this?"

"Valyria." the king said and Tyrion almost choked on his drink.

"You were in Valyria?"

"I was, my dragons were born there."

He smiled at that, when he had been able to walk around again Varys had taken him to the battlements, he saw them in the sky, dragons, real-life dragons. He had thought himself dreaming, thought himself delusional when he saw one fly over him on the battlefield, but they actually existed and he knew then his family had never had a chance.

"What is it you wish of me, your grace?"

He watched as the king stood up and leaned over him, placing his hand on his shoulder he smiled.

"Tyrion Lannister, I would name you Hand of the King." the king said and he gasped, his eyes darting around the room.

"I…I…."

"Is that a yes?" the king said with a small chuckle.

"Why?" he said when he finally got his breath back when he could see clearly again "Why me?"

"Lord Varys said you did a good job in your brief tenure, I can see you're smart, capable and I find myself in need of smart and capable people around me, politically it works as well. The Reach is rewarded, I have my own plans for the North, the Stormland's have no one suitable, nor do Dorne or the Riverlands and the Vale is yet to respond to my request for fealty."

"But I am your enemy?"

"Are you?"

"I mean, my family, my father…"

"Will pay for his crimes, legally."

"I don't understand."

"Do you think you'll be a good Hand, Tyrion? Do you think you can help the realm?"

"I do."

"Then help me, help the realm."

"Your Grace, it is my honor to accept." he said taking a knee.

"I shall leave you and Ser Jaime to speak, your father's trial by combat is today as is your nephew's trial, I think it for the best if neither of you attends. Tommen is with my cousin and I've sent for Myrcella, I shall talk to you both soon."

"Your grace." he said and Jaime did likewise a moment later.

After the king left, he smiled when Jaime handed him the pin, looking at it in his hand he couldn't believe it. He had expected to be executed or to be sent to the wall, but Varys had told him the king had plans for him and the king had spoken to him saying the same thing. Never did he think it would be this and when Jaime sat down he was pleased to see the smile on his brother's face.

"I don't understand him?" Tyrion said and Jaime laughed.

"Nor me, could he just be a good man, a good king, could we be that lucky brother?"

"I don't know, he does things I don't understand, I don't see the moves, it's as if he knows more than we do."

"He told me something the other day, he said in a few moons he'd show us all something which explains why he does what he does, that something is coming, something we need to be ready for." Jaime said and he looked at him.

"Are you ready brother?" he asked and Jaime nodded.

"I am if you are."

Kings Landing 298 AC.

Arya.

Jae and Dany were fighting and she didn't know whose fault it was, she agreed with Dany, the Kingslayer should be killed, he needed to be killed, didn't he?. Even if not that then sent to the wall like Stannis was, not given a white cloak, not kept so close to her cousin. He killed one king already, what was there to stop him from killing Jae, no on this she was with Dany.

So she had stayed with Dany more than Jae since she got here, not that Jae noticed, he was always busy, he and Margaery always together when he wasn't, he hadn't even spoken to her father about her yet. Though he had arranged spars for her and had sparred with her himself more than once, so she wasn't really too mad at him.

"Haven't you ever held a sword before." she said to Tommen as he dropped it again.

"No, mother wouldn't let me." the boy said sadly and while she thought he was stupid, she did feel bad for him over his mother, even if she had never liked the queen.

"Here, let me show you, you hold it like this." she said and Tommen held the sword the right way this time.

"Are you going to the trial later?" he asked softly.

"Of course I am, I'm going to see that horrible Joffrey get what he deserves." she said and then a moment later realized that Joffrey was Tommen's brother "Sorry." she said and the boy nodded.

"He used to hit me, and he killed Ser Sniffles."

"He killed a knight?" she said shocked.

"Ser Sniffles, my kitten." the boy said a tear falling from his eye.

"Have you seen Nymeria?" she asked trying to cheer him up.

"No, what's a Nymeria?"

"Come I'll show you, she'll be with Grey Wind."

She walked with him down past the kennels and back towards the rooms her family had been given, she found them both just playing outside in the corridor, both of them running up and down and chasing each other.

"The big one is Grey Wind but Nymeria is mine and she's stronger, aren't you girl" Arya said proudly as Nymeria took Grey Wind down to the ground.

"Are they wolves?" Tommen said his voice full of excitement.

"Direwolves." Arya said and Nymeria seeing her ran to her licking her face "Nymeria, Tommen, Tommen, Nymeria."

"Pleased to meet you, my lady." Tommen said with a giggle while Arya frowned at him.

"She's not a lady, she's a warrior, just like me." she said and the wolf nodded "See." she said and then Nymeria licked Tommen's hand making him laugh.

After playing for a while, Arya eventually found herself back in the Throne Room, Jae had walked over to her and mussed her hair and she'd told him to get away and stop being stupid, before seeing her mother frown and then explain to her that she couldn't talk to a king that way. But now as she watched Joffrey being led in, she felt her heart race, it was his fault Mycah was killed, the Hound may have killed him but it was Joffrey's fault.

"Joffrey Waters you are charged with murder how do you plead?" the red-headed lord called out.

"I am the king, I'll have all your heads, you have no right to judge me, none of you, I'll see you all dead." he said the spittle coming out of his mouth.

She was about to say something when Ghost darted from beside the king his teeth bared, and Joffrey fell to the floor crying like a babe.

"Get him off me, get him off me, please, please, mother, mother, help" he said and she joined in with others as they laughed.

Jae just looked to the white wolf who walked back to him, the guards helping Joffrey back to his feet, he shook for a few more moments before once again began calling for heads to fall.

"Lord Varys, could you tell the court about Larana?" Queen Margaery asked.

"The whore, who cares about the whore you stupid bitch." Joffrey said and Jae just looked to Ghost who moved a step forward and shut the poncey prince up.

"Larana was a whore that is true your grace, a gift from Lord Baelish to the accused."

"What happened to her Lord Varys?" Mace Tyrell asked.

"She was killed my lord, by the accused."

"Is this true Joffrey?" her father asked.

"She was a whore, who cares what happened to her."

"Did you kill her?" her father asked once again."

"She was a useless whore, she wished to be paid, paid by me, I am the king, so I paid her, I paid her all right." he said laughing.

"I believe the case proved, what is your verdict, your grace?" Jae asked and Margaery nodded.

"Guilty."

"Guilty." Lord Tyrell said.

"Guilty." her father said.

"Joffrey Waters you have been found guilty of murder, you are hereby sentenced…" the red-headed lord began to say.

"I am the king, you have no right to judge me, I demand trial by combat."

"Do you have a champion?" Jae asked.

"My uncle Ser Jaime Lannister, the greatest sword in Westeros shall defend me."

"I'm afraid since Ser Jaime is a Kingsguard he cannot, do you have anyone else in mind." Jae said and Joffrey glowered at her cousin.

"Ser Gregor Clegane."

"I'm afraid Ser Gregor is busy elsewhere, he is to defend your grandfather."

"Fine, fine then bring me my dog?" Joffrey said waving his hand.

"Your dog?" Jae asked.

"The Hound, the Hound will be my champion."

She along with the others waited a few moments until the Hound walked in, seeing him there she felt her anger rise, but she calmed when Jae began to speak.

"Sandor Clegane, the accused wishes you to act as his champion, do you accept."

"No." the Hound said to laughs.

"I demand you fight for me, dog." Joffrey said and she laughed when the Hound answered.

"Go fuck yourself you cunt."

"Dog, come back here at once, come back here now, I am your king." Joffrey shouted as the Hound walked out.

"After your grandfather's trial you may call on anyone in the crowd to defend you, should no one come to your aid, you can fight for yourself or accept the sentence of this court." Jae said and she laughed once again, no one would dare fight for Joffrey, no one.

Kings Landing 298 AC.

Daenerys.

Laying in bed with Lakoes was the most peaceful she felt in this place, it had been hard to see the room where her father had died, the room where her mother had spent most of her life. She and Lakoes had flown to Dragonstone, finding the place to be practically deserted and the people glad to see her. She had worn her armor, carried her sword, but had felt no fear in that place, no danger, these people had always been her family's lealest supporters.

Now with Stannis gone, they could once again freely show that support, she had cried when she walked into the room she had been born in. She had laid down on the bed, curled up into a ball and cried for longer than she could remember. Lakoes lay down beside her, her hand stroking her hair, calming her down somewhat, though it was not enough. So they had flown back to the Red Keep and there the feelings had quickly returned.

She hated this place, this city, this continent, she longed to go back to Essos as soon as she could, but she knew what was coming, she knew what needed to be done and so she would stay. With the trials now basically over she, Lakoes, Missandei and her unsullied made their way to the Dragonpit to watch the trial by combat. They were met on their journey by Prince Oberyn's daughter's and not for the first time.

"Princess, it's good to see you again." Nymeria said and she smirked as Lakoes looked angrily at the girl.

"You too Nym, Tyene, no Obara today?"

"She is helping father prepare." Tyene said and she nodded.

Two of Oberyn's daughters were the biggest flirts she had ever seen, Nym since noticing her and Lakoes had more than once offered to share their bed or to share hers alone. She'd be a liar if she said she didn't consider it, even if only for the briefest of moments, but that wasn't her and Lakoes had nothing to fear in that regard. Though she did like that it made her love jealous, like the way she would move closer to her, almost as if to say 'Mine'.

Reaching the Dragonpit she was surprised just how good a job had been done, this would be a spectacle, an event, and Jae was really pulling out all the stops. In all five men had chosen Trial By Combat, though only one really mattered, today she'd see a Mountain fall. That it would then lead to the fall of the Old Lion made her even more excited, more on edge, this man as much as any was responsible for the fall of her house.

"You are not going to wish your father good fortune?" she asked Tyene when they sat.

"Father doesn't need good fortune." Nym said smiling as she took the seat to her left, Lakoes looking to Missandei who shrugged.

"You don't fear for him, given the Mountain's size?" Missandei asked.

"His size won't help him, not against father." Tyene said and Nym nodded.

"When this is all over princess you must come to Dorne, I'm sure you'd find you'd love it as much as we do, there is so much to see there, so many sights to please the eye, so much waiting to be explored." Nym said and Dany tried not to chuckle when Lakoes rolled her eyes.

It took some time for Jae and Margaery to arrive and she chuckled at that too, her nephew was completely enamored with his new queen and she was happy for him. After the king and queen were announced, after they, Lyanna, the Tyrell's and Starks took their seats, things began. She sighed sitting so far away from Jae and Lyanna, but listening to Nym and Tyene's commentary soon took her mind off it.

"Why did he choose to fight, he wasn't going to be executed?" Nym asked.

"Would you like to go to the wall?" Tyene replied.

"Better than being dead." Nym said and she had to agree.

She watched as the man in question, yielded to Ser Oswell, as the next did so to Kalors and the others finally to Ser Barristan and Ser Arthur. She had asked Lord Stark why the Kingsguard fought in the Trial by Combat and he had explained that if the charge was made by the crown, the Kingsguard usually represented them. But she knew the real reason Jae had chosen the Kingsguard was both to show their prowess and so the men survived.

"Your Graces, My lord's and Ladies, we now come to the Trial by Combat of Lord Tywin Lannister." Jon Connington read out to boos and hisses "Lord Tywin will be championed in this Trial by Ser Gregor Clegane."

The boos were louder now and she noticed how even Nym and Tyene looked slightly more nervous when the Mountain That Rides walked in. The man was quite simply a monster, a giant, even Kalors looked small compared to him, his armor was dark grey, heavy plate, the greatsword he carried looked enormous and Dany felt a shiver run down her back at the sight.

"Representing the Crown, Prince Oberyn Martell." Jon said to loud cheers, with both Nym's and Tyene's among the loudest.

Looking at the prince, lightly armored and carrying a long spear it's blade glistening in the light, she felt concerned for the girls beside her, for the prince himself. She looked to the worried look on Ellaria's face, saw Oberyn drink a glass of wine and closed her eyes praying for the man's safety. As he moved towards the giant, as she saw him standing in the man's shadow, she felt herself grab Lakoe's hand.

"He is outmatched." she whispered low enough so that only Lakoes heard her.

"Yes he is, the giant will fall, my love, have no fear of that."

She looked on as the fight began, the greatsword barely missing the prince on the first swing, the spear moving fast in response. Oberyn never stood still, never was he in the same place and every so often the spear would lash out and return with its tip covered in blood. She looked closer, seeing the gaps in the armor the prince found and then watched as he spun away when the greatsword came close to catching him in return.

"That's it father." Nym said as he moved again.

"His left, his left father." Tyene said as the prince moved to the left his spear catching the giant once more.

She found herself engrossed in the fight then looked to her right to see Grey Worm nodding as the prince moved, and then as he spun behind the Mountain and with a glance of the spear, cut him on the back of the leg.

"It is over my queen." Grey Worm said.

Oberyn grabbed the spear as the Mountain fell to one leg, pushing forward at a gap he thrust the spear into the Mountain's belly and then broke it in half before taking the jagged edge and forcing it under the Mountain's helm. She like the rest of them heard it as the jagged shaft of the spear was pushed up into the Mountain's brain, she heard it clearly.

"For Elia, For Rhaenys, For Aegon." Prince Oberyn said and the Mountain fell dead.

The cheers reverberated around the Dragonpit, Tyene, Nym, Lakoes and herself on their feet cheering as loudly as any. She looked to see Oberyn spit on the body and walk over to be enveloped in a hug by Ellaria and she couldn't help but to do the same to Lakoes, so happy was she to see the monster fall. It took a few moments for Tywin to be brought out and she smiled to see the shocked look on his face.

"Lord Tywin you have been found guilty of your crimes, your sentence is death, do you have any last words." Jae said loudly when the crowd quietened.

"These people followed a mad dragon once and it almost doomed them, I've no doubt you'll complete what your grandfather failed to do."

"You forget Lord Tywin, I had two grandfathers." Jae said and Tywin looked at him as he was taken away.

She flew on Ellanys that night, felt the wind in her hair, smiling as her dragon flew over the rocks, when she landed she found Jae and Brankardix already there, the white dragon sticking out against the darkness of the night. She climbed off her dragon and walked towards her nephew, only noticing Rhaegon when she got closer, Jae hugged her tightly when she reached him.

"It's good to see you Dany."

"You too Jae."

"Oberyn?" Jae asked.

"I am to meet him on the morrow." she said and he nodded.

"Then let the game's begin." he said and smiled as he hugged her once again and climbed back on Brankardix's back.

A/N: As always thanks to those who've read and especially those who've reviewed. Up Next we see how Jae was kept one step ahead of things, Oberyn and Dany speak and Jae makes his intentions for Dorne clear. The Small council meets for the first time and in Storm's End Ser Davos speaks to a deposed queen.

Guest: I could simply say my story my rules, but I'm not that guy. Jon/Arya have a connection here, the story will explain it, this is a story about Mystical means, it's been pretty clear since the start. As for Shireen being a Dragon Rider, once again, the bloodline remains, the seed is strong was the BS excuse to explain the eyes and hair colour, it's never, never, never used in the story to completely wipe out the targ gene or say this is the case. It's never in the story used to suggest that the Baratheon Gene is so super-powerful, so strong that it removes all traces of any other gene. This is clear in the fact that Edric Storm and Shireen both take a trait from their mother's family, the ears, so if it's true there, then it's also true with the rest of the genes.

You can't have it both ways, you can't use it as evidence and then ignore evidence, if Shireen, if Edric don't have the Florent ears you can argue your case, but they do.

There is also evidence of dragon seeds, of people who's bloodline is even more diluted riding dragons, so again, we have a girl who's great grandmother was a targ who may be able to ride a dragon, this isn't lore breaking, it may not be to your taste, you may not like it, but it fits within confirmed lore and I also have my own explanation in store which I've been working on since the start, if it's too much for you, then you're free to write your story or read one which conforms with your own views.

Paulies: I wonder why that was, I don't think it was any shorter than others, but I'll need to recheck.

Daryldixon: So glad you liked it.

Goblin: Really glad you enjoyed it.

Qul: Thanks for pointing that out, I did it again, damn corona virus lol.

Xionsd: I agree to a point, and no doubt this chapter may have made it seem even worse in regards to Jaime. This is not simply a case of me liking the character, though I'll freely admit my bias here. But it does serve a storyline purpose, Jae is making decisions based on things to come, decisions he may not fully agree with, but they're part of things he's seen, knows, or feels.

So Just like sending Jon to Dany and telling him to follow the letter exactly, it's the same with some of the things he does, Jaime being one of them, he needs Jaime for the future and needs a Jaime who believes in him. If this was simply a case of a Jae who arrived back and conquered then things would be much different, but this Jae is more concerned with the future war than even the last one.

Biohazard: Thanks so much, glad you liked it.

Dunk: The timeline was me messing up, between writing this and TDP, I got mixed up with things being in the same place, so here it's 298 all the way and there it's 300 and I crossed my wires, fixed it now though I think. Hope you liked the trials here and sorry again for the mix up with the timeline.

Guest: Why because here I'm showing them as they are, plotters and schemers? How is that hate, or do all the stories showing the Lannisters as the bad guys mean those people hate the Lannisters?.

Vfsnake: Which is Jae's idea exactly, he also already knows/believes in what's to come so he is willing to do what's needed.

Zyrus: I think so too, this Stannis knows the threat, so he would be more willing to prepare them right for that threat.

Princess: so glad you liked it.

Hoguie: That's the thing with her she's a zealot and while he could have killed her, it's better to send her back to the temple as he may need their help in the future.

Vwchick: There will be an Oberyn/Arthur/Lyanna scene in a little bit, Glad you liked the Stannis bit, he's much better and more useful at the wall. We'll see how he deals with Dorne next chapter.

Xand007: Thanks so much my friend, really glad you liked it, and thank you for the kind words.

Illuvar: So glad you liked it.

Guest: Hope this chapter answered some of the Dany part. One of the problems with reparations for the Martell's especially from a Targ is the Martells really don't have a leg to stand on in terms of grievances from a Targ, they killed Rhaenys they killed Daeron, yes it was war, but so was what happened to Elia, Rhaenys, Aegon. The Starks have more to complain about in relation to the Targs as it was a Targ who killed their kin, it was a Lannister who killed or ordered the deaths of the Martells.

So what they're owed only goes as far as the guilt that Jae would feel for their loss and since the loss is also his loss, why should he feel guilty for them?.

Guest: Dany knows a lot of her father, as you can see in this chapter, not all of what you saw was what you thought you saw.

Aussie: really glad you enjoyed it.

Xan Merrick: Thanks my friend. We'll see Jae and Dorne next, glad you liked the trial, Jae has prepared for this for a long time, both the military and the what comes after, so he was well aware of the arguments some may make against him. We'll see Davos and Shireen next. On the Mountain, I figured hell you've got dragons, surely use them lol. Olenna was just so happy, almost everything she ever wanted right in front of her eyes.

Creativo: Es cierto, pero creo que cuando eres un conspirador, conspiras, así que Doran tramará y Jae responderá.