They were given the biggest guest room of Riverrun. It was beautiful, with a mesmerizing view of the Trident. The room was dominated by amassive four-poster bed, the red silks surrounding the bed, throwing colourful streaks of light on the white sheets.
She would have thought, that they would sleep separately, but Jaehaerys had been adamant, that the three of them should have the same room.
„Soon, you'll be my Queens, both of you." he'd said, when she asked, why did he want the three of them in the same room. „They better get used to it sooner, rather than later."
Now, they were ready for the feast.
The dresses they'd been given were light and beautiful. Hers was mostly red with some black, while Rhae's was black, with red and orange ornaments. Jae had shown them her mother's jewelry and both of them had two small crowns. Jae himself was wearing the crown of Daeron I, looking every inch the King he was born to be.
„So... do you two agree with my plan?" Jae asked, looking at them both.
Rhae rolled her eyes. „For the thousandth time, Jaehaerys,yes." she said. „They deserve it. We owe it to them for keeping us safe."
„Plus," Dany injected seriously, „the documents are there. It's due them for ahundred years. Adragon never forgets."
Jae smiled. „Ad the North remembers." he picked up the two scrolls from the desk and pocketed them both.
He offered his arms and Dany linked her arm with his on his left, while Rhae took his right. They walked into the Great Hall with smiles on their faces. The gathered Lords quieted down and all bowed, waiting for them to sit.
Jae waved for them to sit, as she and Rhae sat on his two sides. Jae himself remained standing. All eyes were on him. His eyes swept over the Hall, before stopping on Lord Stark.
„My Ladies and Lords. Ithank you for coming and Ithank you, for your fealty. Icould say, today we celebrate the homecoming of my sister and aunt, but that is not the case."
Jae stopped for the effect and she almost smiled. She could see the confusion on all the faces.
„Today, we're here to celebrate the ones, who kept the three of us safe, endangering their own lives." he raised his cup. „Today, we celebrate House Stark."
The northern Lords broke into loud cheers, while the Riverlanders joined atiny bit less enthusiastically. Her eyes stopped on the Stark brothers. Both Lords Eddard and Benjen had shooked expression on their faces.
„And today is the day, we reward House Stark for keeping us safe."
Dany's mouth almost curved into asmile, as she saw the dreadful curiosity settle on Lord Eddard's face. Glancing to the side, she saw Rhae's eyes grimmer with laughter.
„During the Dance of Dragons, House Stark had been promised something," Jae continued, forcing her to focus. „that had not been fulfilled. Today, on the decree of my late grandmother, Queen Rhaella Targaryen, Ihereby call thePact of Ice and Fireto be valid. As stated in the Pact, made between Queen Rhaenyra and Lord Cregan Stark, aStark and Targaryen are to be married. The marriages happened if acentury later. The Pact is active, as per the marriages of Lord Edwyle Stark and Princess Vaella Targaryen as well as Lady Lyanna Stark and Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen."
There was aminute of quiet.
„Therefore, from this day onwards, the North shall be known as aPrincipality. From this day, Lord Eddard Stark shall be known as Prince Eddard Stark, Prince of Winterfell and Warden of the North. His lady wife shall be Princess Catelyn. Their children shall be Prince Robb, Princess' Sansa, and Arya as well as Princes Brandon and Rickon."
There was quiet, before all of those gathered broke into loud cheers, chanting Stark and Targaryen in the same breath. It brought asmile to her face. Jae raised his hand and much to her shook, the Hall fell quiet.
„And with this, Iwould also as Prince Eddard, to be my Hand for the duration of our Conquest or until he chooses to retire, as Iknow that he would most likely like to return to Winterfell, as soon, as possible."
Lord- no,PrinceEddard had such aflabbergasted look on his face, that Dany needed all her self-control not to start giggling.'You're here as aQueen now. You can't just giggle at anyone.'she scolded herself.
The Prince in the North seemed to gather himself and smoothed his expression into apleasant smile. „It would be an honor, Your Grace."
Jae's face brightened into acharming smile and his gaze swept the room once more. „Then, let the feast begin!"
Hours later, they were tangled in the sheets of their bed, all of them in simple clothes for comfort, sharing stories. Their little bonding time, as Rhae had fondly called it, was disturbed by aknock. They shared alook and she gave ahalf-hearted sigh.
„Duty calls." she murmured.
„One with acrown shall not find rest, until death." Jae said.
Dany slipped from under the covers and padded to the door. She opened it slightly, peering out.
„Queen Daenerys." greeted Prince Eddard. „May Ihave aword with my nephew?"
She glanced into the room. Both Rhae and Jae had their clothes straightened out and Rhae managed to look regal even with abird's nest for hair. She envied her for that.
Rhae and Jae both nodded and she stepped back, opening the door for the Starks- for Prince Eddard wasn't the only one, who'd come. The entire family came in and she settled on the bed, next to Rhae. Prince Robb and Princess Sansa went wide-eyed noticing how disheveled they were.
Jae, leaning against the window frame, looked careless, playing with the hem of his sleeve.
„I see we disturbed something." Prince Eddard deadpanned, his grey eyes kept on Jae's face.
„Not exactly, uncle." he said, grinning. „Is there areason for coming?"
„Well... yes." he said.
„And that would be, uncle?" Rhae asked.
The Stark lord sighed. „It wasn't necessary, you know."
Ah, sothatwas it.
„Quite the opposite, My Prince." she said with asmile. She saw, as the grey eyes flashed and her smile widened even more. „The document was there and my mother decreed it so before she died. When you declared Jaehaerys the King, it meant that any document forged around the time of his birth and before the crowning of the Usurper, Rober Baratheon, is valid."
„Therefore," Rhaenys continued smoothly, smiling deviously, „so is her decree. Thus, the North is aPrincipality, the kingdom, while not independent from the Iron Throne, has the similar priilages to Dorne, as my brother had said."
„I am not going to change your mind on that, am I?"
Jae stepped away from the window and sat next to Rhae. „Consider it our way of saying thank you."
Prince Eddard had an unimpressed look on his face. „You're as stubborn as your mother, Jaehaerys."
Jae grinned devilishly. „I'll take that, as acompliment."
The Prince sighed, raising his gaze to the skies. „The Old Gods have mercy." his family giggled and Dany herself had to clamp ahand on her mouth. „Well, seeing Iwon't be changing your mind, we might as well leave you, with your... sisters."
As the Starks left, Prince Robb glanced back and winked at Jae. „Have fun, Jon."
Dany's eyes widened, but before she could say anything, Jae sent apillow sailing through the air and the redhead yelped in surprise, as it hit him in the head. As soon as he deemed it safe, Robb ducked out of the room, muttering.
Once the door clicked shut, Jae threw himself on the bed, pulling both her and Rhae down. She yelped in surprise and was about to say something until her gaze met his.
She smiled. She was at home. Her home was where Jae and Rhae were.