Kings Landing 298 AC.
Ned.
While he hadn't ignored or purposely avoided his nephew since the meeting, he had found he'd not spent much time in his company. It had given him a lot of time to think over what Jae had said, what he had done at the meeting itself and what it would mean if what he said was true. The pact of ice and fire was an incredible boon to the North, any single part of it alone would have been.
But to be able to make improvements to keeps, to be able to prepare for winter without having to dig into their own coffers was something he knew his bannermen much appreciated. To then also be given coin to use how they saw fit on top of that, had that been all that happened at the meeting then his nephew would be the most popular king the North had ever known.
The problem was that's not all that happened and since the meeting lords that he knew and respected had asked questions. The consensus was that if his nephew really did mean to bring the wildings through the wall, and he knew he did, then this proof of his had better be damn good. Which brought him to the next issue, the one he was about to resolve right now.
"My lord?" Galbart said as he walked into the room.
"Galbart, take a seat." he said as the Lord of Deepwood Motte did just that.
"His grace received some ravens from the North Galbart, the Iron Born did try and invade, they've been pushed back. But the men he had my son sent to Moat Cailin, to Torrhen's Square and to Deepwood Motte, had they not been sent each of the keeps would have fell."
"This is great news, Ned, please pass on my thanks to both to Robb and to his grace."
"I will Galbart, which brings me to the less good news, what the hell is wrong with Robett?"
"Ned, I. you know my brother, he's a fool."
"You need to get him in line Galbart, Robb and Cat both told me what happened at Moat Cailin, had I been there I'd have beaten him myself. Then he says that at the meeting, insults a queen in such a way, he's lucky he kept his head."
"I know Ned, I'm sorry."
"It's not you who should be, he needs to be at this meeting in Winterfell and Galbart he needs to shut his damn mouth, if he opens it once more wrongly, next time he will lose his head. The king will need to take it just to make an example out of him."
"I'll speak to him, find out what the hell is going on in his mind, can you speak to the king, offer my apologies and tell him what an idiot my brother is?"
"I will. I've been speaking to Wyman, apparently, the coin will be brought over and delivered to us, the coin we have to share out anyway. As for the rest, I intend to ask you all for a list of improvements that could be made, we'll start the work as soon as possible."
"I'd have never believed it, Ned, that we'd have access to that much coin, just the winter stocks alone is a huge weight off my mind."
"Aye, mine too."
After Galbart left he began to think on the request his nephew had made of him, Arya seemed friendly with Tommen Lannister or was it Waters now? She was also friendly with the princess. But seeing her with Jae, seeing the attention he gave her and that she returned, she had been furious with him for not allowing her to go to the dinner with the king they'd missed. Most mornings she could be found sparring with Jae, with his Kingsguard, sitting on the wall drinking water with him while their wolves played in front of them.
He had resolved to allow her to stay and though he knew Cat may have her own issues with it, he felt he was making the right decision. Getting up from his chair, he called out to Harwin and asked him to find his daughter for him. Cat was with her family and Robb with the Mormonts, something he was more than happy about. A northern wife and a military campaign, his son had proved himself a true son of the North and Ned had seen how his bannermen looked at him now.
"Father, you were looking for me?" Arya said when she arrived a while later.
"Aye, I wanted to talk to you about your fostering."
"I can stay? Are you letting me stay? Please, father, it's what I want so much, please, I'll be good, I promise." she said and he chuckled to see her excitement.
"Arya, you won't be allowed to just do all the things you like doing, there will be lessons and you at times will have to wear a dress." he said noticing her frown "Arya what did we say?"
"No playing while wearing a dress." she said and he laughed at the sullen way she said it.
"Aye, but you won't always need to wear one will you?" he said and she smiled at him "We'll be leaving after your aunt Lyanna's wedding, but you can stay." he said and she jumped up and ran to him hugging him tightly.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"You had better spend time with your mother and your brother, it'll be sometime before we see each other again once we leave." he said and she looked up at him sadly.
"Can you not stay too? I'm sure Jae would give you work to do, and then we could all be together, you could be Hand again, I wouldn't mind it if you were Hand, not under Jae and…."
He pulled her to him and hugged her again stopping her babbling, feeling her hug him back though it was a little more sadly when she realized he and the rest really would be leaving. She amazed him though with her resolve, while she was upset, she was excited and he was happy about that, all he needed now was for Sansa to arrive and for Lyanna's wedding and then he could go home. He found himself longing for it, longing to return to the North.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Tyrion.
He stood by the docks with his guards, men of the dragon they called themselves now though he was glad to have Bronn with him. He had been surprised when the king allowed him to take Bronn back into his service, had assumed that he'd at least for a while still be a little distrustful of him. But the opposite it seemed was true, he told him if the man made him feel safe if he felt he could be trusted then, by all means, hire him again.
With Shae, it had been an even sweeter reunion, without his father's derision or fear of his sister's retribution he could be with her openly. He'd even moved her into the Tower of the Hand, his nights being far more entertaining than they had been. It was freeing to not have to hide, to not have to worry, she'd even shared a meal with him and Jaime, his brother just simply asking did she make him happy.
"You're thinking of her again." Bronn said beside him.
"How would you know what I'm thinking?"
"Every time you think of her you get that little smirk on your face and your half man becomes a little fuller." Bronn said with a laugh as he pointed to his britches.
Without even thinking he looked down only to hear Bronn laugh loudly before the sellsword looked at him.
"Even though you knew it wasn't, you still had to look, like I said thinking of her again."
"Fuck off." Tyrion said and both of them chuckled.
"What time is this fucking ship getting here?"
"I don't know, maybe it's not able to pass the wreckage?" he said and almost just as he spoke he saw the sails.
It took almost an hour for the ship to navigate in past the debris and when it docked he looked up eagerly, it had been only a couple of moons since she'd left but his niece had grown incredibly, the little girl was almost gone completely and in her place, a young woman now walked down the gangplank.
"My dearest niece." he said as she knelt down to hug him.
"Your only niece uncle." she giggled back.
"Still my dearest though."
"Uncle what happened, the ships, the city, I've heard such terrible things, Mother, is it true?"
"It is, Myrcella she took her own life, I'm sorry but I need you to know, It wasn't the king or his men, it was her, she did it. His Grace promised Jaime that he'd not punish or harm her."
"Fa..Uncle Jaime is he well?"
"He is, come, niece, we can talk on the way."
He led her to the carriage and they made their way back to the Red Keep, the king would give them the night together, he'd freed him from his duties and would do the same to Jaime once they arrived back. Tomorrow though she'd need to go speak to the king and queen, then and only then would her future be decided upon. As the carriage began to move, he looked to her as she looked out the window, the city a far different one than she'd left.
"The people, they look happy." Myrcella said a small smile on her face.
"Her grace has organized food shipments form the Reach and we've begun some works within the city, more of the small folk have jobs, access to coin, a future." he said proudly.
"What is he like uncle, the king?"
"He's a good man Myrcella, clever, driven and he cares, he and the queen, he actually cares for what people want." he said seeing her smile grow larger "What do you want niece?"
"To be married, uncle." she said and he nodded.
The ride to the Red Keep took longer than it should, Bronn coming to the window of the carriage and explaining about some carts arriving carrying food. When they did arrive it was just in time to see the dragons fly over the keep, all three of them flying low.
"Are those, are those real?" Myrcella said looking up her face full of wonder.
"Cella." he heard Tommen's excited cry before he could answer.
Dragons were forgotten, for now as he watched instead as his niece and nephew welcomed each other back, Tommen showing more of the happiness he'd come to expect from his nephew. The boy had struck up an odd friendship with Ned Stark's youngest daughter, he'd even began to show a little more skill in his sparring, something he knew that Cersei had given up on.
"Are you staying Cella? Please tell me your staying, we could play together, you, me, Arya, I could show you Ser Dragon." he heard Tommen say excitedly.
"You named him for the dragons?" she asked and he nodded happily.
Watching the two siblings speak to each other made him thankful the king wasn't like his own father, his niece and nephew would be given the chance at a life, maybe not the life they'd have had before, but perhaps that was a good thing. He smiled as they walked and even more so when he saw Jaime arrive, his brother wearing his Kingsguard armor and cloak..
"Myrcella." Jaime said relief more than anything else in his voice.
"Uncle." Myrcella said stiffly and when Jaime looked to him it was clear they both thought the same thing, she knows the truth.
They'd been lucky that while the king acknowledged the truth, he hadn't proclaimed it loudly, he hadn't sent out messages yet, giving them the time to speak to the children first. But Stannis had, people had no doubt spoken of it, he'd even heard one or two speak about how Jaime had not been punished for it, for what he did to a king. Though from what Tyrion knew of how a babe was made, wasn't it the queen he'd really done it to.
He looked at Jaime again, it seemed this was yet another conversation they needed to have tonight. They had all expected Myrcella to want to settle in her rooms, maybe take a bath and change, but when they got there she instead surprised them by asking Jaime to speak to her alone, Tyrion giving him his best encouraging look when he left them.
"So what is it she wants?" Bronn said as they walked to his office.
"To marry a Dornish prince." he said.
"I'm sorry Tyrion." Bronn said surprising him with the sympathy in his voice.
"Why?"
"The king's not going to allow it, not with what happened with the Dornish, he'd be risking too much."
"Which I've told him, it seems our king likes to take risks." he said surprising Bronn completely which he took great pleasure in.
He was sitting in his solar when Jaime came in, his brother smiling, far happier than he'd seen him in as long as he could remember.
"Jaime?"
"She knows Tyrion, she knows." he said and given the smile on his brother's face, it seemed that she was happy about it.
Kings Landing 298 AC.
Myrcella.
Dragons, there were actual dragons flying outside the Red Keep, had she not seen it for herself then she'd have never believed it, never imagined it so. Seeing her uncle, her brother, made her heart fill, she was happy, relieved, and it made the sting of knowing her mother had died here feel lessened, knowing they were alive and well meaning the wold to her.
Doran had called her to his solar before she left, he and Trystane there to speak to her, ostensibly to warn her about the king and what he may wish from her. He had told her to not believe anything, to question it all, and then later that evening she and Trystane had talked and she hoped it was not for the last time.
"Father says the king will not allow us to marry." Trystane said and she felt her eyes begin to water.
"Maybe I can convince him."
"He is a wolf Myrcella, his family hates your own, I wish it could be so, but it cannot, unless.."
"Unless?"
"We run, we go now, you and I, we run to where they will not find us." he said looking at her.
"I can't Trystane, my family, my uncles, my brothers, my grandfather, if I run then they'll suffer because of it and I'll not have them suffer because of me."
"Yet you would have me suffer because of you."
"Trystane." she said softly "You know my heart."
"I know." he said "You are mine and I am yours." he said before kissing her.
Arriving here and seeing the city do far better than it had when her father, no not her father, when Robert sat the throne, far better than when Joffrey did, she felt that perhaps this king would care what was in a girl's heart, if not him then maybe the queen. Speaking to her uncle gave her more hope and Tommen too seemed to think the king a good man.
All those thoughts left her though when she saw him, when she saw him walk towards her, her mind screaming out and all she could do was to barely speak to him. It took her almost the entire walk to the room to gather her thoughts and once there she knew what she must do.
"Uncle Jaime, may we speak?"
"Of course Myrcella, are you not tired though?.
"No I'm well, please can you stay?"
She looked around the room when they entered, it was smaller than her old room and yet she found she liked it better. That room belonged to a princess, a lie, an impostor, she wasn't a princess, she wasn't even the king's daughter, she turned to look at her father and before she could speak the tears fell.
"Myrcella?" her father said taking her in his arms as she sobbed against him.
"Father." she said and felt his breath heavy against her head.
He held her for quite some time, even after she'd stopped sobbing, he just stood there holding her in his arms and she tried to think had Robert ever done so, she found she couldn't remember if he had.
"How did you know?"
"We received the letter from Stannis, Doran, Trystane they both tried to protect me from it, told me it was my uncle trying to claim the throne. That to justify it he was making untrue claims but I could tell they weren't telling me the truth."
"They were trying to protect you."
"People should stop trying to protect me." she said determinedly.
"I never will." her father said and she smiled up at him. "I'm sorry I've not been there for you, I will be from now on I will if you want me to?"
"I want you to be my father, I think I always have." she said and he kissed her forehead.
"I love you daughter." he said and she felt the tears threaten yet again.
"I love you too father."
They agreed not to tell Tommen, to wait until he was more ready to hear the truth and then her father told her about the king, each word he spoke of him filling her with more and more hope. Though when he got to the part about Oberyn's arrest she began to worry even more.
"Do you think he'll allow me to marry Trystane?"
"Is it what you want Myrcella? Is it what you truly want?."
"It is father, it truly is."
"Then it's my job to make sure you get what you want is it not daughter." he said kissing her forehead yet again.
They had dinner that night as a family, she had found out that her grandfather was to be executed and that Joffrey was being sent to the wall. She wasn't sure how she felt about that, her grandfather had never been friendly, never nice, always firm and strict, yet he was her blood. Joffrey was cruel, to her, to Tommen, to everyone, he had taken great pleasure in hurting them, be it with his hands or his words and deeds.
Her mother she had cried over, she loved her and she knew her mother loved her too, Joffrey may have gotten more attention but she had not ignored her completely, she had always made sure she knew she was loved. Knowing how her father felt about her made her sad for him too, she had heard the cruel japes in Dorne, but a Targaryen sat the throne now and if they could love their sisters so, then why could no one else.
After breaking her fast the next morning, she expected to be taken to the king, to have to plead her case, to have to beg for what it was she wanted. She would do so if necessary if needed, she'd stand, she'd kneel, she'd crawl if he allowed her to marry the man she loved. In the end, though she wasn't brought to the king, he came to her and as she looked at him she felt her trepidation rise.
"Lady Myrcella, it's good to see you well."
"Your grace."
"Forgive me, my lady, I had hoped to spend more time with you and I would like to while you're here, but I've some other pressing matters to attend to, so I'll be blunt if I may."
"Of course your grace."
"My lady, what is it you wish for?"
"Your grace?" she said him being that blunt having caught her by surprise.
"Prince Oberyn tells me you and his nephew have become close, that the match your uncle made is one that you both now want, I'd like to know if it's what you wish for?"
"It is your grace." she said her voice shaking as she spoke.
"My lady, forgive me but I need you to be completely truthful, is this what you wish because it's what's in your heart, or is it what you wish because you fear what I may do, fear for your future?."
"I am fearful your grace, but the fear is that you'll deny me what my heart longs for, that you'll refuse to allow me to marry Trystane."
"So it's what your heart truly desires?"
"It is your grace."
"I thank you for your honesty, my lady, there are some issues which need to be sorted out, your uncle and Prince Doran and myself will do so, but you have my blessing and best wishes my lady, I wish you every happiness." he said and she couldn't speak for a moment.
"Your grace, I…I thank you."
She looked around the room when he was gone, her uncle and father looking at her, her smile beaming, her heart racing, she had done it, she had gotten what she wished. She had stood up for her love, for her heart and won, she would marry Trystane, and never had she felt happier than she did right then.
Kings Landing 298 AC.
Shireen.
She had spent as much time on deck as she could, much to her mother's annoyance, though both Davos and Devan had joined her. Rhaegon seemed to fly closer to the ship when she was on deck, he even seemed to drop down into the water and dip his wings into it. She could feel him drift from her when he flew higher and feel him coming closer to her when he dropped low.
Each time a strange almost pressure in her head would tell her where he was. On other occasions she would see things, little images that she was sure were what the dragon saw. Ships sailing, land in the distance, a white and a blue dragon, it was as if the dragon was sharing things with her though she knew that was impossible. When he had flown by her room in Storm's End she had felt it most strongly though, he was Rhaegon, his brother was Brankardix and his sister Ellanys, how she knew she could only guess, but she knew she was right.
"Your friend not joining us today my lady?" Davos said as he walked towards her.
"He's with his siblings Ser Onion Knight." she said and caught the surprised look on his face.
"We'll be in King's Landing on the morrow won't we?"
"Aye, we will." he once again looked surprised.
She looked back out to the water seeing the open sea in front of her, an image of three dragons flying in the sky came to her suddenly, all three seemed to have riders on their backs. She sighed as she walked below deck, finding herself envious of them, of the King and his aunt and of the third dragon rider whomever they were.
The dreams she had that night were unsurprisingly of dragons, of flying, of looking down below on the world as you flew high above it. She dreamt of how the wind would feel against her face, of flying at speed, of flying slowly, she dreamt of a dragon's purr as her hand touched its skin.
Waking the next morning she felt herself excited for the day to come, they had entered Blackwater Bay by the time she was dressed and so she quickly broke her fast and made her way to the deck. Her mother and uncle looked worried when they saw the wrecks of the ships as they sailed by, she though tried not to look, tried not to think of the men who sailed, tried not to think of Davos's sons.
"I'm sorry Davos." she said softly when she walked to him, she reached her hand into his and looked up at him "I'm so sorry."
Davos smiled back at her, mussed her hair and she, he, and Devan stood there silently as they came into dock. Her mother gasped to see the king standing there himself waiting for them, while Davos just nodded, and soon the ship was docked and they were walking down to meet the king.
"Lady Selyse."
"Your grace."
"Ser Erren."
"Your Grace."
"Lady Shireen, it's good to see you cousin." the king said a warm smile on his face.
"Your grace." she curtsied and was about to speak when she heard a shriek from her mother and she turned to see a large white wolf walk towards them.
"My lady my apologies, you have no need to fear, Ghost will not harm you."
"Is he yours, your grace?" she said looking at the white wolf.
"Ghost belongs to himself my lady, just as the dragons do, Ghost come meet my cousin."
She saw her mother almost shrink with fear when Ghost walked towards her, even Ser Davos looked on worriedly, but she couldn't help it, she moved forward and found herself laughing a moment later when the wolf licked her face.
"He likes you." the king said leaning down to pet the wolf.
"He's so soft." she said giggling as she stroked the wolf's fur and he licked her face again.
"We should head inside, as much as I enjoy watching Ghost play, I'm sure you'd like to settle in and then go see your father?"
"I would thank you, your grace."
She was surprised a little later when the king himself came to her room with Ser Davos, both of them asking permission to enter which she found strange since he was the king and all, though she appreciated the courtesy.
"My lady."
"Your grace."
"Please call me Jae my lady, at least when we're in not in public."
"Only if you call me Shireen, Jae." she said and he nodded.
"Shireen, I don't know how much you know of what's going to happen, but I mean to name you Lady of Storm's End. I also mean to name you Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, however there are some issues there I need to sort out first. I need to appoint a regent, which will and won't be your mother, but we can discuss all this later if you wish."
"Could Ser Davos be my regent?" she said catching Davos by surprise.
"My lady, I could not, I'm not qualified."
"But I trust you Ser Onion Knight." she said and the king smiled.
"I'm afraid I have other duties for Ser Davos, but we can work something out. Are you ready to see your father?"
"I am."
As they walked she laughed all of a sudden and Jae turned to look at her, she almost hid her head in her embarrassment until she saw he too was smiling.
"He likes to do that, to splash his siblings, it's rare when my son is so playful."
"You saw it too, I just thought…I thought it was a funny image, not that it was real."
"Rhaegon sends me his thoughts, he shares them with me, it seems he wishes to share some with you too."
"He can do that?"
"Cousin, you'd be stunned if you knew half the things my children can do."
The cell her father in wasn't as bad as she expected, she'd seen those on Dragonstone more than once and had read about the Black Cells, but her father was in a comfortable room. He looked well and hadn't been beaten or to her eyes mistreated but when he saw her he looked almost angrily at the king before he noticed her face.
"Shireen, it's gone, how?"
"His grace sent Ser Davos with a potion, I was to drink it and when I awoke it was gone." she said and she almost fell to the floor when her father smiled a full smile at her, the first she could ever remember.
"Your Grace, I thank you." her father said and Jae just nodded.
"I shall leave you both alone, Margaery would like you to join us for dinner tonight." Jae said and she nodded enthusiastically as he bid her father farewell and left.
"Has he treated you well Shireen, you, your mother, has he threatened you?"
"No father, he wishes to name me Lady of Storm's End, Lady Paramount of the Stormlands, though he says I need a regent, I asked for Ser Davos but he has a role for him."
"Davos would have been a great choice." he said smiling at her once again "He won't let it be your mother, it may be Connington, you need to be careful Shireen, make sure it's only until your majority, that way you'll know he's not playing you false."
"You think him false, father?"
"No, but I'll not be there for you, I worry."
"I worry for you too father, the wall, it's not safe, the wildings, the savages." she said and for the second time, she was surprised when her father grabbed her holding her tight.
"I failed you Shireen, I see that now, I locked you away when it's clear now that you belonged in the sun."
"I love you father."
"I love you, remember that always, you are Shireen of the House Baratheon and you are my daughter."
Dinner that night was strange at first, her mother had insisted she wore her finest clothes and Ser Davos had come to see her off, the king sending Ser Barristan the Bold to collect her. She walked nervously through the castle, she had never been here, never been invited when her uncle sat the throne, not that her father would have brought her anyway.
But now a cousin sat it and he wished her to visit, to eat with him, eat with a king and queen and she felt nervous and excited by the prospect. When she reached the room she saw two more Kingsguard guarding it and they opened it to let her in. Her mother had told her of protocol and she had read many books on it, she'd be seated and was to wait and she must rise when the king and queen entered.
But no one had told her what to do when presented with the situation in front of her, the king, a beautiful woman who could only be the queen and a girl of her own age were laughing and joking with each other. The girl was dressed in breeches and a shirt was having her hair mussed and slapping the king's hand calling him stupid while the queen rolled her eyes.
"Jae." the queen said and he stopped before looking to her.
"Cousin, please come sit, I had intended to wait but this little terror skipped her lunch and her belly was making sounds that were scaring the dragons."
"Dragons can't be scared, why are you so stupid." the girl said before looking to her as she sat "How is she your cousin? Is she my cousin? She's better than my other cousin. What's your name, I'm Arya, Arya Stark."
"Let her catch her breath cousin." Jae said chuckling when he saw her grin.
"My name is Shireen Baratheon." she said and the girl, Arya, looked from her to Jae.
"Shireen will be staying with us for a while Arya, she likes dragons too." Jae said and Arya looked at her.
"Do you? I like Rhaegon, he's the best, he let me pet him, but I've only been on Ellanys and Brankardix, my stupid cousin won't let anyone near Rhaegon."
"When we were sailing here he flew over us, he even flew beside us and dipped his wing in the water as he flew close by." she said giggling when Arya did.
She found she spent more of the night talking to Arya than to Jae of Margaery, both of who spent as much time talking to each other, almost seeming glad they could. At one point Jae kissed Margaery's cheek and Arya rolled her eyes making her laugh. Jae walked her back to her room that night, mussing her hair and kissing her cheek and promising to allow her to meet Rhaegon soon.
Sunspear 298 AC.
Doran.
He much preferred the Water Gardens, much preferred leaving Arianne to run the day to day while he looked after the long term interests of Dorne. But Oberyn's letter left him in no doubt that he couldn't hide away for much longer, he had no choice but to make plans just in case. So he arranged for his travel and together with Areo by his side as always, he had come back to Sunspear.
All the way he had planned and plotted, came up with ideas, discarded them and moved onto the next one. Arriving at the Old Palace it was clear that the king had already made his moves, well before Oberyn had sent his letter. They had agreed to his demands and had sent Myrcella back, the simple reason being they had no choice, he had thought that and Oberyn to be enough, but it seemed his presence was demanded also.
What concerned him, what worried him most was that for the king's ship to get here so quickly, for them to be ready to transport him back then it had to have left before Oberyn's arrival. Which meant he had known they would try something, was this just luck? Varys? Or was this king a more astute player of the game than he'd expected? Given the contents of Oberyn's letter, it would seem the latter.
"Father, these men arrived a day ago, they say they are to bring you to Kings Landing?" Arianne said annoyed and worried.
"They are, it seems the king wishes me to bend my knee, though he'll find I have far too much difficulty doing that even if I wished to."
"I thought uncle Oberyn, sending them Myrcella?"
"Not enough, this king seems far cleverer than that."
"What are we to do father?"
"I have no choice, this king moves too fast, far too fast. I cannot raise the banners or be seen to be disloyal, your uncle, your cousins, should I do anything they lose their heads and we are at war."
"Then we will fight father."
"To what gain?"
"We will not bow not to this king."
"Yet your uncle bids me do so, what possible reason could Oberyn have for suggesting it, remember who your uncle is Ari, do you think he could be forced to kneel?"
"No."
"Do you think he could be made lure me into a trap?"
"No."
"Neither do I, which means there is something going on I do not know and each time with this king I've found myself playing catch up, I need to meet the man, see him for myself. I must get his measure and for now, at least we have no choice."
"For now?"
"Reach out discreetly, make ready, should I not return avenge me, avenge your uncle. You were always supposed to be Princess of Dorne, should the need arise, be the Princess Dorne needs"
He went to his solar and began writing letters, signing them and making ready, he would leave on the morrow and so he enjoyed what he hoped wasn't the last meal he'd eat in Dorne. He found himself though increasingly annoyed, the king had sent men of no rank, of no status, to bring him to Kings Landing, he was showing him no respect, simply telling him he was in his power.
He was annoyed seeing the Darkstar here, though pleased when Ari sent the man from the hall, he was annoyed that Quentyn wasn't back yet and that Trystane was being a petulant child. The boy being far more concerned about Myrcella than he was of his father possibly heading to his death. Later that night he argued with Areo, his faithful companion not understanding his order to stay here.
"This is one journey you cannot join me on old friend."
"It is my sworn duty to guard your back, my prince."
"You cannot help me where I'm going Areo, should the king wish me dead then I will die, not even a trial of combat would be winnable for you. I'll not throw your life away needlessly. Stay here, guard Arianne, keep her safe and if the gods are good I'll return, if not, I thank you for everything."
"My prince." Areo said and he nodded when the man left the room.
Areo did insist on bringing him to the ship and he kissed Arianne's cheek as he bid her farewell.
"Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken." she said and he smiled.
"Always."
He had sat in the wheeled chair looking as Sunspear faded in the distance. His cabin was small and not that luxurious and the meal he ate that night basic though he ate it all the same. As they were coming close to Ghost Hill he took his leave, being helped to his room by his guards. He undressed and was about to climb into bed when he heard the noise, turning to see his door open he gulped at what he saw.
"My prince, we never got to say our farewells."
"What are you doing here Ser Gerold?"
"The Darkstar goes where he pleases my prince, as to why I'm here, I'd have thought it obvious."
"Who sent you?"
"Ha, you think your daughter wishes you dead, the little slut doesn't know what she wishes, you raised her well my prince, she's just as indecisive as you."
"What is it you wish for? Doran asked.
"War my prince, war and the fall of House Martell, it's time a Dayne was king once again." the Darkstar said and Doran closed his eyes when he saw the sword be raised.
The strangled gasp he heard forced him to open them, the sword which protruded from the Darkstar's face rippled even as the blood dripped to the floor. The Darkstar's legs still shaking some as he died, Doran watched the sword being pulled back, the hand on the Darkstar's head as the sword was removed. He watched as he fell to the floor, all life gone from him now.
"I thank you." he said before the man stepped into the room.
"Thank the king, he was the one who sent me." Ser Richard Lonmouth said.
Kings Landing 298 AC.
Arthur.
Arthur was always a man who dressed well, though unlike most he never actually cared for his appearance, it was more pure luck that what he wore looked good. When it came to having clothing made he simply picked the designs he liked, he didn't care for materials, or fancy things, just liked to be comfortable. Which was why he hated being fitted out for a wedding and was annoyed at Jae for not allowing him to wear his armor.
"You think I'd let you marry my mother wearing armor?"
"People wear armor when they get married all the time."
"Not people who marry my mother." Jae said and so he reluctantly agreed.
That alone would have been enough to bear, that for some reason Jae insisted Oswell of all people join him 'To ensure he didn't just buy something plain' was far too much. The Black Bat taking every single opportunity to bait him, tease him and generally make his day as uncomfortable as possible.
"What about this one, it's purple like your eyes."
"Do you have to be here." he said annoyed.
"No, but my king loves me so, I didn't even have to beg or anything he just gifted me this." Oswell said as he picked up a piece of silk which was bright pink "Pity you're not a Bolton."
In the end, he almost got his wish, Oswell allowed him more black, but he insisted there was lilac and white for the shirt and that the overcoat had elaborate patterns in its design, stars falling he said, they'd be wonderful he said and not for the first time he cursed both his brother and his king.
Compared to Lyanna though he had it easy, she had her gooddaugther, her goodsister, her niece who had arrived from Highgarden, all the queen's ladies, and even the Queen of Thorns pitching in. So like him, the preparations for the wedding made her miserable, she had wished to get married in front of the old gods, in front of a Weirwood, but the nearest suitable one was miles away.
"We should just run to it, just the two of us, get married in front of the Heart Tree and tell them all to leave us alone." she said frustrated one night."
"You think your son would allow us to get away with it?"
"I preferred him when he listened to what I told him."
"He rarely did that." he said and she laughed.
"He is right you know, I think it's also because he wasn't able to be married there, he wants it to be a spectacle, a show for the people, the realm."
"I know Arthur, I just want it to be over with, I just want to be your wife."
"It will be, only one more day Lya."
"One more day, I may just make it." she said as he kissed her.
When the day itself arrived he found himself far more nervous than he'd ever expected he could be, he'd fought battles, wars, fought for his life more than once, yet never had he felt this nervous. His younger sister would be arriving, he'd not seen her since she was a babe, his nephew was arriving who he'd never met, that was all his family apart from a cousin he cared not for.
He dressed and Oswell arrived, off duty for the day to serve as his second, he laughed at that, for all the man annoyed him, he was perhaps still his closest friend. They had been there through most of it, had witnessed the wedding and had spent the most time with Lyanna in the Tower of Joy. They had mourned a prince and helped to crown a king, traveled to other continents and seen dragons come back to life.
"Are you ready?"
"I was born ready." Arthur said and Oswell slapped him on the back.
"Arthur Dayne making japes, the world's gone mad."
Standing in front of the High Septon, Oswell having handed him the cloak, he waited and found his nerves departing, his mind clearing, his heart resting, he was happy, and as he heard the doors open he was eager for what came next.
Kings Landing 298 AC.
Lyanna.
Having thought those around her to be incredibly fussy and annoying up to now, nothing prepared her for the way they acted this morning, were it not for her youngest niece she would have run by now. Arya being the only one who it seemed was as put out as her, having to go through all of this just for a wedding. Margaery herself did her hair and not even the idea that a queen was preparing it could make up for how long it took
Catelyn and Sansa cooed over her dress, they refused to leave when she got dressed, each of them helping her into it and then standing there teary-eyed looking at her. Arya sitting in the corner feeling about as comfortable as she did in her own dress. Eventually, though she was ready, Margaery whispered in her ear comfortingly and Ned knocked at the door to help them to the carriage.
The ride to the Sept seemed to take an age, Margaery and the others having to leave ahead of them so they could take their seats, and she almost laughed when she saw the three wolves give her an escort. She arrived and saw the crowd and almost fainted, wondering why so many people had come to see a woman they barely knew marry a man most had thought dead.
"Hail Queen Lyanna."
"Seven blessings to the Queen of Love and Beauty."
"The Knight of the laughing tree."
She knew the last one had come on orders from her son, he had gotten Varys to use his little birds to share the story through the realm. Of how a lady knight defied a mad king, of how a woman had stood up for the honor of someone who could not, never naming Howland by name but having the story told all the same. She had argued with him that she hadn't done so for fame, for acclaim or recognition.
"Which is why it should be known mother." Jae said.
Making her way up the steps she turned and waved to the crowd, not because she wanted to but she knew it was important for Jae. He was there at the door waiting for her, her maiden cloak in his hand even though she was far from a maiden these days. But he had insisted, as had the High Septon and so she allowed him to cloak her in it and smiled when he kissed her cheek.
"Are you happy mother?."
"I am, I've wanted this for a long time Jae."
He led her inside and walked her down to where Arthur was waiting, her knight standing and looking even more handsome than she ever had thought he could be. She knelt as he took off her cloak, as he cloaked her in his own and looked forward as the High Septon began to speak.
His words meant nothing to her, his faith was not hers and she and Arthur had agreed that in the end, neither of them was really that religious anyway. They had their own faith, their own beliefs, this was just for the rest of the realm. He took her hand and they rose, and soon he was wrapping it with a silk ribbon, the Direwolf and the Falling Stars designed upon it.
"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger. I am his and he is mine, From this day, Until the end of my days." she said while he repeated his version.
She turned and they kissed and feeling his arms around her made the rest of the people in the Sept just fade away.
"Ser Arthur Dayne, Queen Dowager Lyanna Stark, you have been joined in the name of the gods, what they have put together let no one dare try to break, I name you husband and wife."
Arthur kissed her once again as the crowd cheered, and then they walked from the Sept. When they reached the top of the steps they looked down. The crowd had swollen, there were far more than had been there even before, the cheers starting again, the chants being raised once more. Though this time they were joined by chants for her son and for Margaery who had joined them.
"Good men and women of Kings Landing, today has seen the joining of my mother and Ser Arthur Dayne, the man who's protected and helped raise me all my life. I ask you to join in my joy, my good wishes for them both, later we will feast them, but you the good people have not been forgotten, my queen." Jae said as Margaery stepped forward.
"We have laid on food and drink for as many as we can, it is free and will be handed out to you by our men, we ask you all to join us in celebrating this happy occasion." Margaery said.
The cheers were deafening, even more so when the food began to be given out, Jae directing them both to the awaiting carriage. She was happy to sit beside her new husband though, to be alone with him within the carriage, both of them giving in to their urge to kiss and hold each other.
Arriving back at the Red Keep she was surprised they weren't' allowed just go the grand ballroom, that they needed to wait until others had been seated, she knew the king and queen would need to wait but it seemed they would too. Finally, the time came and Jae and Margaery left them first despite protocol, her son wanting to be among those who welcomed them.
"My lords, my ladies, I gave you the happy couple, Ser Arthur and Lyanna Dayne." Jae said and she felt a lump in her throat.
Stark, Targaryen, Dayne each name she had worn at some point in her life and each had felt right, felt true.
"Shall we wife?"
"We shall husband." she said, Wife this name she wore even more proudly.
Kings Landing 298 AC.
Jae.
He danced with his mother, with his wife, with all three of his cousins, to Sansa and Shireen's delight and Arya's horror. He spent most of his night either watching his mother and Arthur or being chided by his wife for watching his mother and Arthur. There were no chants of bed them, though he had made it clear there would be no bedding so perhaps he should have expected there not to be.
When the time came for his own departure he was glad of it, Margaery too, both of them had a long day, both eager for the comfort of their bed. Once again neither were too tired for each other and they were kissing before they reached the room. Soon though he was asleep and very soon after he was transported to a place he had come to know well.
The tree stood tall and firm, its branches blowing in the wind, the ravens sitting on every branch. He walked to its base, to the cave which lay beneath it and entering he was joined by Leaf who seemed happy to see him, she took his hand in hers and lead him into the cavern with the roots of the tree.
Bloodraven was there, the roots part of him once more and Jae had to admit he preferred the version of him that he met at the other tree, the version which looked more like a man.
"You must come, young king, now, you must come now."
"I thought I had time?"
"Time is an illusion, our enemy moves, so you too must move, come to me, we must leave while we can."
"The freefolk?"
"Have more time but we do not come to me young king, come."
He woke up in a cold sweat, the light still dark outside, quickly and quietly he sent for Tyrion, Ser Gerold, and his uncle and aunt, before moving back to the bed to wake his wife.
"Marge, my love, you must wake."
"A few more moments." she said her eyes still closed.
"Marge, you must wake." he said kissing her cheek.
"Too tired, go away." she said almost petulantly.
"Margaery." he said and her eyes opened.
"Jae, Jae, what is it."
"I must leave, I need to go beyond the wall, the timing has changed."
"Now, why? What happened?"
"I do not know, only that it cannot wait any longer, I have to go and go now."
They both quickly dressed and she shuddered when he called for Olyvar to help him with his armor. When ready he grabbed his fur cloak and swords and sent the boy to grab some food from the kitchen, enough for a few days and to bring Jon to him. When she was ready they walked to his solar, a sleepy Tyrion and Dany already waiting, Ser Gerold and his uncle coming a few moments later.
"I need to go beyond the wall and I need to do so now, this isn't up for debate and I'll not be able to take anyone with me, Brankardix will be needed to bring some people back from where I'm going."
"You're bringing the Free Folk through now your grace?" his uncle asked.
"No, not them, the meeting uncle, the meeting at Winterfell it's canceled. I want you and your lords to await my return, what I intended to show you I'll bring back with me, I need to show the entire realm anyway."
"What are you bringing back your grace?" Tyrion asked.
"Proof of why we need to unite, proof of what's to come."
"Can you not bring one of us with you your grace, a guard, Barristan or myself?"
"I cannot Ser Gerold, I need Brankardix free, as it is I don't even know if I'll be able to take them all, I can only hope so."
"Jae, please." Margaery said.
"I will be safe, I will return, I swear it my queen." he said kissing her cheek "Her grace has full authority, her word is as mine is, Tyrion I need you to help coordinate with the rest of the council. Uncle, I need you to speak to the northern lords, I shan't be gone more than a week I hope."
"Of course your grace." Tyrion said before his uncle said likewise.
They heard the knock on the door and Olyvar entered with Jon Connington, the man even worse from wear than any of them, obviously, he'd been even more tired than they.
"If you all could excuse me, Jon."
Jon sat down and Jae gave him his instructions and he was glad that he never tried to talk him out of it, never tried to force him to bring guards or an escort, he simply nodded and then went to do as he was bid.
"I'm scared Jae." Margaery said and he reached out and took her hand as she sat on his lap, her arms around his neck.
"I can promise you I will be back my love, I cannot promise you I'll be safe, but I can promise you I will return." he said and she kissed him, long and deep.
"What is it you wish of me?"
"Look after Shireen and Arya and speak to my mother and Arthur before anyone else does, Jon will take care of the prisoners and of Dorne, but I need you to speak to Ser Davos."
"The offer you have for him?"
"He'll be working for you mainly but yes the offer."
"Come back to me my love." she said and he smiled brushing her hair from her face.
"I love you, I'm so grateful for you. To be this happy you think I'd risk it, I will return my love."
"I love you too."
Arriving at the Dragonpit he was glad it was just him, Ghost, Dany and her guards, Ghost had looked at him when he was leaving, almost demanding to go with him and they had argued, the white wolf winning this time. He would forgo the harness, the white wolf more comfortable without it, instead placing Ghost in front of him. If the wolf fell he would fall, while not perfect for some reason he knew it was enough for now.
"I wish I was coming with you." Dany said.
"I need you here, the dragons will need you."
"I wish to see our uncle, Jae."
"You will Dany when I return I intend to bring both my uncles with me."
"I don't understand? You said you would not have room for even one guard."
"Trust me, listen to the lords Dany take note of their minds, speak to Varys, and help Margaery and my cousins. Arya looks up to you, Shireen I think would too given the chance, spend time with them please, for me."
"I will nephew, be safe and hurry home."
"I will."
He climbed up on Brankardix, waited until Ghost was settled comfortably and then within the blink of an eye he was in the air, the sun rising as he left.
"We have far to go my son, far to go." he said and sent Brankardix the vision of the wall and the glade far behind it.
A/N: As always thanks to all who've read and especially those who've reviewed. Up Next Jae travels to the wall and beyond, Davos is giving a new role, Shireen and Arya get close to a curious dragon and a Northern lord stews in his hatred.
Greed96: Je suis tellement contente que tu aies aimé.
Clayvus, it's slightly more complicated than that.
Paulies: I don't think Roose would try and turn this time, he's an opportunist, I don't think he'd have actually turned in canon if Robb had listened to him more.
Qul: So glad you liked me.
Biohazard: Really glad you enjoyed it.
Guest: I think the thing with Ned is more the fact of the attack in KL, but he doesn't really have a leg to stand on here either imo.
On Glover we will see the reason, it's not just him being a dick, though it is part of it.
Victtoria: Thank you my friend. That's it exactly, he has a lot of pressure on his shoulders and so is trying to almost limit it too. The North at times needs to be bullied into doing what's right, for Jon it's simple, he does what he does or the North and then the rest falls, we'll see if it changes when he flies there. Glad you liked the Oberyn part.
Thanks for saying that about the female characters, there is a tendency that they need to be subservient or if they're strong then the male ones do, both can be strong and it adds to the characters' not diminishes them by showing it imo.
InCk: He could yes, but he's trying to be honest with them too, trying not to give them the ammunition to fire back that he's been playing them far longer than he has. If he waited until the meeting at WF then they could judge it that he lulled them into it, that he always knew and just wasn't telling them until he decided which opens up questions to what else he's not telling them.
As it is, he couldn't tell them before being king, but told as soon as he was crowned, so he's showing them he's not keeping it from them.
It does give them time to grumble and to plot, but he has to balance both risks.
Zyrus: He took Jaime out of the equation by naming him KG, they can't fight against the crown. In terms of strength, firstly this is more bookjon than showjon, so size wise he's bigger, secondly BookJOn has some major berserker strength moments.
Foxyfloof: This is kinda the culmination of many times around.
VfSnake: We'll see what's that saying those none so blind as those who won't see.
Webenge: Yep this part was a doddle lol.
Princess: Thanks so much, really glad you enjoyed it.
Infinity mask: It'll be another chapter or two until we see the proof.
They like a lot of people over blow their own trumpets, I think we saw this with the Northern lords in the show too, Like Jon/Dany should have just gone, ok fine, we'll leave, take our food, our supplies of Dragonglass, our dragons and our armies, here Sansa it's your's good, look, anyway is looking for us we'll be at the Neck waiting for the NK.
On Dorne specially, I think Oberyn only cared about Elia and the children, but Doran it became ok I'll get revenge, what else can I get out of this too.
Luck shaped a lot of Westeros, House Arryn survives because of the Eyrie, Lannister and Stark kneel and are needed, House Tully was the first who knelt and The Tyrell's get raised because it suited Aegon.
That's why I think, it's easy with House Tyrell, we have so much info on them, know the ages etc, trust me to try and research the lore, the simple facts, it's a nightmare.
VWChick: We'll be seeing Jae at the wall next, glad you liked the Dorne part, Shireen just deserved so much better.
Guest: really glad you liked it.
Aussie: So glad you enjoyed it.
TonyWarrior: Esa es una de las cosas clave, cada persona tiene sus propias motivaciones, por lo que aunque no estemos de acuerdo, tenemos que ver a dónde van con ellos.
Dscot: I would think here it would be perfectly clear why he would not, I mean I'd expect it to be clear from Show Jon too, BookJon maybe not so much, but to have Jon be a party to killing the children, no matter what way he did so would completely derail his character, it would make no sense character wise for Jon to do it. Now it may make more logical sense, but from a character sense this character doing so would be ooc. However to explain it away even better, you have to remember that Jon here is dealing with Bloodraven, so in some ways the future though unwritten is known, so the threat isn't as much of a threat, if one at all.
But again character wise for Jon to do what Tywin or Robert would do, just changes his character far too much.
Nagiten: I don't mind people disliking or critiquing, it's every one's prerogative what they do and don't agree with. Sometimes though people don't get to see what they wish, or see their faves treated a certain way, so their biases like the authors can clash.
I wanted him to be more family focussed, even to the point of almost at times being desperate for it, I think anyone who lost most of their family would be almost too eager to connect with new family.
With Jae one of the things I and I think we all hated in the show was how he really became almost nothing, he was so weak by the end, in terms of agency, he basically became a zombie, so I wanted to have it different.
On Dragons' I'm with you, there is a tendency I've noticed to almost fill the sky with dragons, give Dany her three and give Jon even more, it makes no sense, at the end of the day he can fly only one.
We'll see the effects of Jon's planning soon, and find out eventually why Tyrion, Jaime and others are so important to him.
Mrbogus: Really happy you're enjoying this.
Dorodrigo: So glad you liked it.
Prince Loki Stark: So happy your liking this.
Xan Merrick: Thank you my friend. Really glad you liked the Oberyn part, we'll see Doran and how he reacts to what happened next. On Wyman I'm such a fan of his, he really needs to be shown more in fics imo. Arthur and Jaime sparring was so important to their future relationship. With Dorne it really is carrot and a really large stick. We'll see what Jae has for the Lord once he'd dealt with Bloodraven, as for Davos and Shireen well Jae has a plan for Davos and we'll see Shireen and Arya some more soon.