Eddard VIII
After the trial of Jaime Lannister-which, after along debate ended with aroyal pardon and Jaime's admittance into the Targaryen Kingsguard,- the Targaryen army moved towards Highgarden. He didn't like the Tyrells, but the force they commanded was massive and it would serve their cause well.
He was abit skeptical, of course, with the mess the Realm seemed to be in.
Renly Baratheon had proclaimed himself King in the Stormlands and the vassals of House Baratheon all flocked to him and now, he was heading to Highgarden as well, to get the Tyrells. Ned wasn't fond of the idea of aconfrontation, but it would have to be done sometime.
It seemed, that the Lords of the Narrow Sea had gotten wind of the living dragons and with the lead of Lord Velaryon, they had captured Stannis Baratheon and rumors said, that Dragonstone now flew the three-headed dragon. Tough, while Stannis had been captured, many knights and Lords loyal to him had fled the island and had instead joined Renly.
Balon Greyjoy had named himself the King of the Iron Isles as well, earlier, just like Renly. However, so far the Kraken had been idle on his island. Now though, he was attacking the North, which didn't bode well. Luckily, the fleet held them off, but Ned was worried still. The Greyjoys were masters of sea warfare and now, the greater part of the North's forces was here. (They could not allow this war to turn into multi-front fighting. If it did, it will cost more and it might last longer. The key for the Targaryens was speed. The faster this was, the safer it was.)
If they didn't do something fast, the Greyjoys will be aproblem very soon. Actually... they had let Theon go, to treat with his father, but Ned had asinking feeling about it. Despite his protests, tough, Jaehaerys had allowed Theon to go and given him aletter. Jaehaerys had said he'd deal with the Ironborn according to what Lord Greyjoy answered to his letter.
After what seemed like forever, they met the forces of the Reach camping out, waiting for them. Well, not exactly the complete force of the Reach- only Houe Tarly of Hornhill and afew smaller Houses under them. That eased Ned's mind. Randyll Tarly was aman of the military, he would not try hiding his intentions behind half-truths.
He rode next to his nephew on the right, as his Hand, while Rhaenys and Daenerys- who had officially been named his Queens- rode on his left. There was no time to celebrate weddings, but neither of them seemed to mind all that much. (It had been asurprise when Rhaenys chose to wed in front of the Heart Tree and the Old Gods. He would have thought, that she'd chose the Seven, as aDornish.)
„King Jaehaerys, an honor to meet you." greeted the Tarly Lord. „My name is Randyl Tarly and we've been asked by Lord Tyrell to escort you to Bitterbridge."
„The honor is mine, Lord Tarly."
„Please follow me, Iwould like to discuss something."
Ned blinked. That was unexpected. He shared alook with his nephew, before dismounting. Jaehaerys helped Daenerys down, while Ned himself helped Rhaenys. Once they were all dismounted, they hurriedly followed Lord Tarly to his tent.
Inside it was the bare minimum, that one needed on the road while fighting. Tarly offered them seats and they took it.
„What is that you would have liked to discuss, Lord Tarly?" Ned asked with slight interest.
The Tarly ord sat down and looked at them in the eyes. „If I'm correct, you are seeking an alliance with House Tyrell."
Jaehaerys raised an eyebrow. „You could say. But is it truly an alliance, when Iwish bastards removed from my Throne and Iam asking for the help of the Lords, for the general betterment of our Realm? House Tyrell owes everything to us and now, Iwould ask for them to pay my ancestors' generosity back in kind. However, I would also have a good offer for them, if they decide to join me."
Randyl nodded. „Of that, Iam aware and Iwill help, where Ican, Your Grace. But Imust warn you. Lord Mace is as grasping, as Tywin. Lady Olenna and Lord Wyllas wish for astrong, bright future for their House, but Lord Mace does not share the views, in which it can be reached. He's worried aboutoffendingTywin."
Ned hid asmile. The tone Lord Randyl used, made it clear he had no love for the Old Lion.
„So you are saying, he might back off?"
Tarly nodded slowly. „Possible. But if you show him strength, he will bend and support you. Lady Olenna is arealist. Seeing your current numbers and the three dragons, you have agreat chance of winning. And I've no doubt, that they know of how you dealt with Lord Frey and how the Lannister host had been held back at Riverrun."
Jaehaerys nodded. „Thank you for your words, Iwill keep them in mind. Anything else, that might be of importance?"
Tarly shook his head. „No... other than the rumors of Dorne moving. Some say they are headed for Highgarden and that seemed to unsettle Lord Tyrell."
Jaehaerys smiled. „The Dornish are riding under my sister's banner, My Lord. I've no doubt, if we make it there in time, any problems between Lord Tyrell and Prince Oberyn will be diffused before it even starts."
Tarly gave asmall nod. „I do hope, Your Grace."
Theon I
The sea air was cold and heavy with salt. He hadn't smelt the sea in years. Aboard theWillful Wolf –one of the fastest ships of the Stark fleet, or as called by the rest of the Kingdoms, the'Wolf Fleet'- he felt at home, more than ever. And now, he was amere hour away from Pyke. He'd been asked by the King to deliver the letter to his father.
'King.'he mused absently, still shooked and amused all the same after all these moons.
Jon Snow, the supposed bastard, had never been abastard. It had been ablow, but now, he could see the King in the so-called bastard. He was honorable, like Eddard Stark, but there was more to him too. At first, after finding out who he was, he'd taken Jon for amadman, for trying to rouse the northerners into helping him get the Throne.
For all he knew, the North had never cared. But after they rose for him, Theon had to stop, take afew steps back and re-evaluate everything he'd known about Jon. In the span of afew moons, the 'Bastard of Winterfell' was gone completely, replaced by aTargaryen. One who was brave (or mad) enough to ride those hellspawn he called his children.
After winning that skirmish with the Lannisters, Theon glimpsed some power beneath the sullen silence, he had not seen before and he started to truly respect Jon. Theon had thought that Jon had never liked him, yet now, the Targaryen was trusting him to bring the Ironborn to his side. That was agreat shook and somewhat endearing even.
(Not to mention, Jon had told him, once this mess with the Lannisters was over, he could go back to Pyke, for anything Robert had condemned him to, would be invalid.)
„Land!" the captain called- some northerner Theon didn't bother to remember. Looking ahead, he saw the desolate soils of Pyke. While life here was hard, it made him- and all the Ironborn- into what they were. Though sometimes, he wondered if he even belonged here, after such along absence.
He waited patiently, until the ship docked, enjoying the sea air and the smell of home. For it smelled of home. He was finally home.
The moment he set foot on the island, his uncle, Auron 'Damphair' greeted him. „Theon, welcome home."
He nodded in greeting. „Uncle."
The man eyed him as if he wasn't even aGreyjoy, but some greenlander. „Why aboard anorthern ship?"
He could sense the wariness of his uncle. Ah, for the ironborn, the Starks will always be half-frozen greenlanders.'Maybe they hadn't been properly informed of their fleet's size? But no... there had been raids...'
He matched the man's gaze. „I wish to speak with my father. Ibring aletter from the King." he said, showing the tiny scroll.
Auron raised an eyebrow. „The Targaryen bastard?"
„Trueborn." he said matter-of-factly. „With three dragons. Now, can Ispeak with my father?"
His uncle didn't say anything, only gestured for him to follow. With atiny sigh, Theon did. He hoped his father would agree to the Targaryens' terms. Their life would be quite hard if those three dragons burned all the ships docking nearby...