SECERETS, TRUTH, AND BLOOD

SECRETS

EDDARD

After the Tourney and feast Ned and his family got ready to leave for the North. Before leaving he sends a message to Jon Arryn to meet him at the old Dragon Pit. Ned waits in the shadows for Jon's arrival. When he arrives and seems to be alone as requested Ned makes his presence known. "Jon…Thank you for coming."
"I came out of curiosity. Eddard Stark asking for a secret meeting."

"I must swear you to secrecy my friend."

"What is all this about Ned?"
"I need your word my friend."

"You have my word."

"Jon Stark is not my son. He is my nephew by Lyanna and Rhaegar." He blurts, but does give Jon to ask him any questions. "His real name is Aegon Targaryen…I named him Jon. Rhaegar did not kidnap her. They fell in love with Princess Elia's permission. Elia could not have any more children. So she asked Rhaegar to find a second wife. Lyanna and Elia were like sisters. Elia is still alive and so is her daughter Rhaenys. Daenarys is still alive as well."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"We need your help whether you wish to ally yourself with us or not."

"Why?"

"Cersei's children were fathered by her brother Ser Jaime. Aegon does not wish any harm upon them."

Jon shakes his head, "I had a feeling Joffrey and the others were not Robert's. But then he rode in the tourney and I doubted."

"The Queen paid all those Knights and Lords to throw their matches." Jon turns away, "She was trying to help Joffrey gain favor with the King and win to crown Sansa the Lady of Beauty."

Jon turns back to face Ned, "I will help protect the children when the time comes, but everything else I will have no part of."

Ned smiles, "He said you would say that."

"Who?"

"My nephew…He has powers from the bloodlines of his father and mother."

TRUTHS

STANNIS

Stannis Baratheon the Lord of Dragonstone had come to King's Landing in secret. He wished to speak with Lord Eddard Stark in private. Stannis hated his brother for seducing a noble woman and sleeping with her in his wedding bed on the day of his marriage to Lady Selyse Florent. Then Robert named their younger brother Renly Lord of Storm's End, which should have gone to him. But the time had come for the truth to be revealed. So Stannis arranges a secret meeting with Lord Stark. They meet in the cellar where the Dragon Skulls are kept.

Stannis arrives first and patiently waits for Eddard Stark. As he waits Stannis stairs at the Dragon Skulls of Balerion the Dread, Meraxes, Vhagar, Arhune, Quicksilver, Varro the Bright, Shryko, and Silver Wing. It was hard to imagine with their scales and bodies alive. Lord Stark arrives five minutes after Stannis. "Lord Stark thank you for meeting with me."

"Your message said that it was a matter of life and death."

"My brother calls you friend. The brother he chose. I was content to let my brother fall on his face, but with you I see another path. You are a man of honor. And you know my reputation. The Queen has been unfaithful to the King. All her children are bastards fathered by her own brother Ser Jaime…If something befell the King and it were known that Cersei's children are bastards…

Then the Iron throne falls to me."

"I know about the Queen and her children. My Question Lord Prince is what are your intentions to the children?" Stannis remains silent, as part of him sees them as a threat. "You do not answer. I will not be a part of anything that involves the killing of innocent children. Jon Arryn is working on a plan to see them to safety."

"Fine I will wait on his pleasure. The children will be spared. Do I have your support for the Iron Throne?"

"When the call comes, the North will answer."

After they part ways Stannis secrets his way to Jon Arryn's Solar. "Can I count on you Lord Arryn."

"House Arryn and all its banners will bend the knee, as for another war I will have none of it." Stannis is not pleased, but he leaves with the knowledge that Stark can bring House Tully as an ally.

BLOOD

OLENNA TYRELL

The Queen of Thorns, that is what Olenna Tyrell is known as to enemies and friends alike. Olenna is and always has been woman who knew what she wanted and went after it. She said what was on her mind and heart without hesitation. When the news came about Garlan Tyrell dying defending his brother in a duel with Lyn Cobray, she did not take the news well. Had she been there Olenna would have made him apologize and that would have been the end of it.

Olenna is dressed all in black standing beside her eldest Grandson and heir to High Garden, Willas Tyrell. He had remained in High Garden with his Grandmother to rule in his father's place and because of his injured leg he received long ago in a tourney match against Oberyn Martell. It was an accident as both Willas and Oberyn, remain good friends to this day.

Olenna watches as her son Mace enters on horseback. Her grandson Ser Garlan Tyrell is carried on a flower covered wagon. They take his body to the family crypts immediately. High Garden and the Reach was once ruled by House Gardener, during the age of Kings. It was Aegon the Conqueror who made the Tyrells the power they are today.

Garlan's body is laid to rest in the family crypt. A five, story marble building decorated in different flowers. Margaery sings a song on her brother's behalf. Randyl Tarly is present with his son Dickon. Later Olenna meets with Mace, Willas, Loras, Alerie and Margaery. "Alright, tell me what happened."
"Well…"

"Shut up Mace!" Alerie commands, "This is your story Loras…tell it!"

With his head down Loras tells his Grandmother how he won his match against Lyn Cobray. Cobray's challenge afterwards and how Garlan died. "I told you not to bring that horse!" Willas says in anger.

"Did any of you try to placate Lord Cobray?"

"I offered him gold mother, but he refused."

Olenna shakes her head and looks at Loras, "Loras look at me boy!" He does, "Your brother gave his life to save yours…As a brother should, but his death, his blood is on your hands as much a Cobrays. And no amount of I am sorry will make things better…You will honor your brother by doing better. Living better!"

"My son is dead!"

"And Lyn Cobray will pay dearly for his sense of honor." Olenna has one of her men travel to Old Town and watch the port for ships from Braavos. A month passes by before a ship arrives. The Captain of the ship is bought before Olenna.

"Captain Vane at your service M'Lady."

"And you are from Braavos Captain?"

"I am."

"I wish to hire the faceless men. How does one go about that?"

"Well the faceless men have eyes and ears, everywhere. One could be on my ship, but I am not sure of that…I leave for Btaavos when I return to my ship…I will let them know that you wish to hire their services…"

She takes out a bag of gold and gives it to the Captain. Two weeks later a woman is sitting beside Olenna's bed when she wakes up, "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

"A woman is no one, but Olenna Tyrell may refer to this one as Waif. The Waif serves the faceless men."

"Waif, I have need of your services."

"A woman needs a name."

"Lyn Cobray of Heart's Home…I want him to die painfully…I want his head and his sword Lady Forlorn. How much?"

Waif pulls a wooden, Braavosi coin from her belt, "Have your men give this to any ship Captain from Braavos and give the Captain one hundred thousand in gold…"

"I will make the arrangements…How long will it take to kill Lyn Cobray?"

She counts on her fingers and hands, "Two months, one week, three days."

"Leave now." After the Waif leaves Olenna gets out of her bed and walks to her door. The Waif is long gone. Two months, one week, and three days later, the Waif returns with the head and sword of Lyn Cobray.

"As Olenna Tyrell asked…The Waif has bought the head and sword of Lyn Cobray."

After the Waif leaves Olenna, Mace, Willas, Allerie, and Loras stand over the head and toast to the death of Lyn Cobray. "A Valyrian steel sword." Mace says looking at it.

"Don't touch it Mace…You are not worthy to wield it…One day when Willas has a son and heir…It will become his…The Sword Thorn."