Hello all. Sorry for the long delay. My laptop finally gave up on me, and it's not as easy to type on a tablet or phone. Anyway, the updates are here.
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JAEHAERYS TARGARYEN
He directed Cannibal to fly around the city a few times before landing at the Red Keep. Rhaenys, who had been enjoying at first, had become terrified as Cannibal gained height. Failing to calm her down, he asked the Dragon to take them back. The large Dragon's amusement through the bond was evident as it turned around. With Lord Tarly escorting them and Drogon flying overhead, he had no worries about his baby brother and others. Carrying a babbling Rhaenys on his shoulders, he walked towards the courtyard to properly receive them. There was no doubt that he was breaking some sort of protocol, but he didn't care. He had to suffer through Rhaenys's sometimes intelligible over-explanations for a long time before Elia and others rode in. His sister immediately ran off towards Elia while his attention was drawn to the carriage accompanying them. No-one stopped him as he approached it.
Lyanna Stark was much more beautiful than the stories made out her to be. He had heard that she was just as Arya, but it was not the complete truth. Unlike Arya, Lyanna Stark face held a lot of feminine qualities, even in death. She thought she looked like what a woman Eddard Stark would look like rose many times in his mind. Sometime during his musings, Elia came to stand next to him.
"I am sorry, Jaehaerys. There was nothing either of us could do."
He tried to reply, but the emotions swirling inside him didn't allow any. Elia seemed to understand that as she grabbed his hand and started pulling him in, snapping out commands simultaneously. He heard her asking Oberyn to escort Rhaenys and other children to the nursery, but his mind was too chaotic to consider its implications. Somehow she escorted him to his recently acquired room and handed him a glass of wine. None of them said anything for some time. He had no idea when the tears broke out or when he drifted off to sleep in her embrace.
When he woke up again, the sun had nearly gone down. Calling a servant to bring him some clothes, he walked to the balcony where Drogon was waiting for him. It was now that he recognized something that he had missed earlier. Drogon wanted something, but he had no idea what. The Black Dragon kept on staring at his face and then flew off with a huff, leaving him a lot more confused. Deciding to face this particular problem later, he walked back inside to where the clothes had been brought in.
Outside his room, he was met by a Kingsgaurd, who he recognized by the bat-shaped helmet as Ser Oswell Whent. Both of them stared at each other before the Kinggaurd spoke up in a surly tone.
"The Queen asked me to guard your room, Your Grace."
Biting back a remark, he asked the question this time.
"Where is she?"
"In... your brother's solar your grace."
Nodding, he started walking towards the solar he had been using the past few days.
Elia was sitting on one of the chairs, discussing something with Oberyn, when he walked inside, leaving Whent with Ser Jaime outside. The Queen of the seven Kingdoms looked up at his entrance, concern evident on her face. Giving her a pained reassuring smile, he took his seat. Deciding to tackle the most important issue first, he looked at
"What did ... Lord Eddard do?"
Elia stared at him for a long time before answering. By the end of the explanation, his eyes had been closed as he internally cursed the man who was his uncle in the other world. While he was wondering what was going in Eddard Stark's mind a few days ago, it was not difficult to imagine how much things would have worsened if not for the presence of Drogon. Keeping in mind to consider things more clearly from now, he looked at Elia.
"What do you suggest?"
She gave a large teasing smile to Oberyn before turning towards him.
"We cannot do much. He is still the uncle of the crown prince, Aemon Targaryen."
"Aemon..."
Elia's face fell at that moment.
"I told you about her. She decided on the name, Aemon."
Oberyn was looking at their them with confusion and interest. Understanding what she meant, he tried to control his emotions. When his eyes opened again, he could see Elia shaking her head at Oberyn.
"Anything else that I should know?"
Elia seemed to hesitate a moment before replying.
"Ashara Dayne came back with me."
He was still not sure why it concerned him, but it became clear the next moment.
"She is pregnant with Brandon's child... not illegitimate."
He had to stop himself from laughing, although he had no idea whether it was due to amusement or additional tension. Both the Martell siblings were silent as he digested the news.
"Does she have any witness?"
"The septon..."
"Someone who is not close to House Dayne or House Targaryen."
She nodded.
"Ethan Glover."
He turned to look at Oberyn, who anticipated his question.
"Lord Glover is conscious and in normal spirits."
"Very well. I have an idea about what to do with the North if you don't have any problem?"
While his question was directed towards Elia, he knew Oberyn would want to say something, But a shake of Elia's head stopped it. After that, they started discussing what to do with other realms. It was nearly an hour after when they were about to leave when a knock sounded on the door. Ser Jaime entered soon after he called.
"Your Grace, Ser Jonothor is here."
It took him some moments to understand who Ser Jaime was talking about. Ser Jonothor Darry, a member of Kingsgaurd, had been stationed at Dragonstone. Asking to send him in, he looked towards Elia, who looked a little shaken. Once Ser Jonothor entered the room, he observed all-around before turning towards him. He had not missed the grimace on the man's face when he saw Elia and Oberyn.
"Your Grace, are you really who they say?"
Not knowing anything better to say, he decided to give the truth about the lie.
"If you mean Aerys and Rhaella Targaryen's son, Jaehaerys Targaryen, Yes I am him."
Ser Jonothor stared at him for a few moments before pulling out a rolled parchment and handing it to him.
"Queen Rhaella had commanded you to follow and announce her words, and then visit Dragonstone, as soon as it is viable."
He wanted to use a lot of things to reply to those impetuous words but held his tongue, instead opting to open the parchment. It took his three readings to come to sense what was written there finally, and it wasn't something he had ever expected. He looked up at the waiting Kingsgaurd, his mind running through multiple things.
"Who all know about this?"
The old Kingsgaurd looked confused for a moment before a look of realization appeared on his face as he looked at Elia and Oberyn.
"Me, The Queen, Prince Viserys, Ser Oswell, Ser Jaime, and the maester at Dragonstone."
"Anybody else, are you sure?"
"I am sure, Your Grace. The Queen herself ensured that nobody else knows."
Nodding, he sent the Kingsgaurd out instruction for him and Whent to keep their mouth shut and send Ser Jaime in. Once the Kingsgaurd exited the room, he looked at Elia. The apprehension on the woman's face was evident.
"How secure is this room?"
"As much as it can be. Rhaegar chose this because there are no hidden spaces in it."
"How much you trust Jaime?" he had raised the parchment, hoping she would understand his unasked question.
Elia replied without hesitation this time.
"With my life."
Nodding, he looked at Ser Jaime, who had entered the room as Elia was replying. Once the door was closed, he looked at the youngest Kingsgaurd.
"Ser Jaime, did you or Ser Oswell share what you learned from Ser Jonothor with anybody?"
"No, Your Grace."
"Good. Ser Jaime, I am going to ask you something. I want you to answer only if you are totally sure about your answer."
The Kingsgaurd nodded with visible confusion.
"Read this and tell me who will Ser Oswell support?"
He was not sure about his decision to let Jaime Lannister read it but decided that there were ways to make sure the Lannister kept his mouth closed. Anger spread on Jaime Lannister's face before he composed himself and returned the parchment. After a few moments, he spoke up.
"Ser Oswell had always been closer to your brother. He was his closest confidante after Ser Arthur."
Asking him to bring Ser Oswell in, he turned towards Oberyn, who looked quite incensed.
"Who do you care about more? Your sister and her children or your elder brother?"
Oberyn looked confused for a moment but replied soon after, just as Ser Oswell and Ser Jaime entered in the solar.
"Swear it on your sister's head."
Oberyn did it while everyone else looked at him with amazement. He finally read aloud the proclamation sent by Rhaella Targaryen.
"By Royal Command of Queen Rhaella Targaryen
The children of my son Rhaegar Targaryen from Elia Martell of Sunspear are removed from the line of succession for the Iron Throne. My youngest son Prince Viserys Targaryen will be the second in line to the Throne and Prince of Dragonstone. Jaehaerys Targaryen, my eldest alive son, would be King of the Seven Kingdoms and the claimant to Iron Throne."
Jaehaerys, you are to arrive at Dragonstone along with your Dragon immediately. I will ascertain your claim and declare you the king.
Come soon, my son; your mother wants to see you."
A tense silence spread in the room after his words. He could see Ser Oswell's hand gripping the hilt of his sword. Oberyn blew up as he had expected.
"What the..."
Elia's hand shot out like a whip as it grabbed Oberyn's shoulder and pulled him back.
"Shut the fuck up, Oby."
She turned to look towards him, hope mixed with fear on her face.
"Your Grace?"
He didn't reply to her, instead, looking at the two Kingsgaurd.
"What do you both think? Honest answers, please? I swear that no harm will come to either of you due to it."
"Prince Aegon is the heir to the throne, Your Grace.", Ser Jaime replied.
Ser Oswell was silent as he looked between Ser Jaime and him.
"Would you pardon my words, your grace?"
"I will, Ser Oswell, as long as they are about this matter, I swear."
Ser Oswell was silent for a few moments before speaking up.
"Then, I did not help Rhaegar plan to usurp his father just to give a young Aerys the throne, your grace. Viserys Targaryen is not someone that should sit on the Iron throne. I have seen that boy since he was born. He is as mad and as cruel as they come. I have seen things that I cannot talk about..."
"That's all I wanted to know, Ser Oswell."
He leaned back in his seat, eyes closing, trying to decide whether his next decision was right or not. In the end, it didn't matter. He was not going to let anyone else take what his brother rightly deserved, no matter how legitimate it was. Opening his eyes, he looked at Whent.
"Ser Oswell, a few days ago, Ser Jaime did something that went against his oath, but he did what was right instead of what was easy. I have to ask you to do something like that. It might go against your oaths and even your personal preference, but it is right. Would you do it?"
"Depends on what it is, my prince."
He smiled at the title before taking a giant leap of trust.
"You and Prince Oberyn are going to ensure that Ser Jonothor does not see tomorrow morning or share this with anyone else."
A lot of times passed before Ser Oswell replied, his face sad and tired.
"As you command, your Grace."
The change of title relaxed him more than anything else. Turning to look at Oberyn, he spoke up.
"Ser Jonothor has been a loyal Kingsgaurd for House Targaryen. His last moments must not be painful."
Oberyn nodded immediately. Turning to look at Ser Jaime, he stood up from his seat.
"You are coming with me to Dragonstone."
As Jaime Lannister relaxed, he added.
"Right now."
"Right now, Your grace?"
"Yes, Ser Jaime. It's time I have a talk with my mother."
"But the ships won't be able to leave till morning, Your Grace."
He turned to look at Ser Jaime, a smile on his face. Elia was smiling too, apparently having guessed what he was planning.
"Well, then you are going to enjoy another trip on a dragon's back, Ser Jaime."
The groan from the Lannister brought a smile to everyone's face, despite the tense atmosphere.