Oberyn was fascinated with Jasper's story, an entire kingdom full of wizards! It was sad to think that when Jasper was last there it was under the heal of someone as insane as the mad king. "So, when you died, you woke up in Vale?"

He nodded, "I gained awareness while I was still inside the womb, I had no idea until I was being born."

"That must have been a surprise."

Jasper winced. "The birth wasn't so bad; it was the bloody feedings that I hated."

Oberyn laughed, clapping him on the back. "Yes, no one wants to see their mom's tits, never mind be forced to suck on 'em."

Jasper just glared at him.

Obara interrupted them with a slight cough. "I think that's enough Dad, don't you?" She paused before adding, "I'm grateful that you told us Jasper. You took a huge risk in telling us, but Dorne won't betray your trust."

Oberyn turned more serious and nodded. "Dorne will keep your secrets, but unless you can think of something that will ensure everyone's silence, I imagine your secret won't stay one for long. You exposed yourself to the entire castle. We've stopped any ravens from being sent for now, but that won't last forever."

Jasper nodded, reaching into his desk drawer and pulling out several scrolls. "I've had secrecy contracts made up since I started working on the canals. I'm impulsive but not stupid." He slid it over to them, "I'm telling your family because we're allies, and you've proven to be people that I can trust. But I still expect your family to sign this, along with everyone else here. Once that's done, no one will be able to say anything. I'll go over this all with Doran and Nymeria later, Mya too, I suppose."

Oberyn eyed the scrolls warily, "And what do these do exactly?"

Jasper scratched his head, "Anyone who attempts to talk about magic will be unable to form words until they stop trying. If you try to circumvent this, it will kill you. However, this doesn't stop you from talking about it to people already aware of magic, just those uninformed. So, as soon as I tell Doran you two can talk freely amongst yourselves… Feel free to read it first, of course, but I will make you forget what you learned if you don't sign it. I will make the same offer to everyone in the castle."

o-O-o

Jasper knew he had taken a risk, telling the Martells. He also knew that Dorne would have its own intentions, and doubtlessly try to take advantage of him. He was expecting all of that and it didn't bother him in the slightest. Having Vale as an ally was a major advantage to them over every other Kingdom, so he doubted they'd do anything too drastic. Merely try to eek out as much as they could without causing any irreparable damage diplomatically. He was just glad they hadn't fought him on the contracts.

He sighed, gods he hated politics.

In total, twelve houses had either aided our outright joined the rebels. He dissolved all of their holdings and folded their territory into neighboring lands. Anyone who was spared execution was to be barred from ever returning to Vale.

He did make one exception, however. As Obara was the first to come to their aid, she would be given Lord Waynwood's holdings. Not that she knew that yet. Ironoaks had a castle and a bustling city attached, not to mention the school and hospital there. It also had a moderate port, and access to the narrow sea. All in all, it was the largest and most influential of the rebel territories, and he thought it fitting to give to her. Her cousin was set to inherit Dorne, but none of Oberyn's children had any current land or titles. Besides, it would help honor Dorne's support and create somewhat of a dornish colony/embassy in Vale. The territory itself would still be considered part of Vale, but Obara wouldn't be declaring fealty to him, putting it in a political grey-zone. Something he'd have to sort out more later, he mused.

Dornish soldiers were already rounding up much of the rebels, and loyalty contracts were being issued to every noble house in Vale, at sword-point if necessary. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to join in on any of the raids. He was busy tracking down a rat before he could jump ship and flee Vale altogether. Petyr was a canny little bastard; he'd give him that. But Jasper was a wizard who had lost what little restraint he still had. No one attacked his family. It took a few hours, but he managed to track him to a sept in Old Anchor. It had been a major backer for the rebels, funneling in arms and supplies from all over the Crownlands and Westerlands.

Jasper wrapped himself in a cloak and used a glamour to distort his features and quickly apparated inside. Before anyone could even react, he was flinging curses around the room, slicing two people in half with a ribbon curse before launching a pair blasting curses. Body parts littered the room, but he ignored the grisly sight and scanned the room for the mastermind for today's disaster. He was crawling on the floor, sliding between an arm and a torso while desperately trying to get away.

"I don't think so," Jasper growled. With a lazy jab of his wand, Petyr was dragged in front of him, ropes already wrapping around his body like a vice. Jasper didn't wait, a tore into his mind like a raging inferno. What he saw made him sick. All this over some petty jealously, lust, and an innate need for power. A quick piecing curse to the skull ended the man's suffering, and he quickly went about lighting the bodies and building on fire before apparating back to the Red Keep for his next target.

Surprisingly, the rebels seemed to have done a fair amount of damage here. He could see gold cloaks and Vale knights laying on the floor, streaks of blood all over the place. For a moment he considered killing Robert while he was here, but quickly decided against it. The next in line was Cersei and no one wanted a bloody Lannister on the throne. He cast a quick Homenum Revelio, eyeing the bright red dots the appeared all around him. Four people in the next room, six on the next floor up, and three in the hall behind him- Everyone else was too far away to register. He cast a point-me spell and a smile lit up his features. Jon must be on the floor above him, he didn't even have to do much searching.

He made his way to the room, avoiding all the roaming guards with the ease of knowing exactly where they were. He stopped just long enough to make note of where everyone was in the room before launching a bombarda at the door. The wood turned to splinters, exploding inward and slamming into the poor knight that was guarding it. A few more piercing curses and the room fell silent, except for the heavy breathing of his father. Apparently, Jon must have been wounded earlier as he was already covered in blood. Jasper didn't hesitate, shooting a quick cutting curse to his neck. Some part of him felt true sorrow for having to do this, for killing his own father. But he put that to the back of his mind, only mourning the man he knew as a child rather than the man he had become.

He could hear the sound of plate armor moving towards him, quickly. He wasted no time, activating a portkey that would bring him all the way back to Vale.

o-O-o

Mya was there, waiting in his office for him. She paled at the sight of all the blood covering his clothes, quickly checking him over for any wounds.

"It's not mine Mi, I'm okay." He squeezed her shoulder and she let out a little whimper and nodded. Pulling him into a hug and resting her head against his shoulder. "I got so scared, it felt like I was back in the main hall, Ser Belmore dying in my arms.

He shushed her, pulling her tighter to his chest. "You're safe now, I'm making sure of it."

They sat there in silence for a few moments before Mya spoke up again, her voice barely a whisper. "Were you ever going to tell me?"

He knew as soon as she said it that she was talking about his past. He didn't have time to go into much detail before he left to look for Petyr, but she knew enough. Certainly enough to be upset. He sighed, before nodding into her hair. "Eventually, I just wasn't sure how to do it. You were too young when you first came here, and then as you got older, it didn't seem like such a big deal. My life is here now, and while my first go at things gave me some fancy spells and cool inventions, I was happy with my life here. The past just didn't seem so important anymore."

She sniffled and nodded, "It doesn't matter, whatever, you told me now and that's what counts." She gave him a watery kiss on the cheek and added, "I'm still pretty shaken up over this whole thing. I never thought we'd ever see real fighting, nevermind in the Eyrie. I thought you were gonna die."

He let out a little chuckle, "Nothing would keep me from you Mya, I gotta smother you till your old and wrinkly… Now, because of that I need you to stay in Dorne for a while."

"But Jas-"

"But nothing. Dany will need someone to look out for her, and you know the Daynes have been trying to get a hold of her since the war ended. Nymeria will keep you both company until I get back, but I need to know that you're both safe there, so I can focus on sorting everything out back home."

She let out a shuttering sigh and nodded. "I hate this so much Jas," she whispered.

"I know, but it'll all be over soon. I promise."

o-O-o

"Nymeria through a fit, but she'll stay in Dorne for now. I heard your sister was the same," Obara said from beside him.

He nodded, but kept reading the reports in front of him. Death lists, assets seized, documents discovered. It was grim, but it needed to be done. He finished as quickly as he could, jutting down a few notes to look into later before tucking it into his desk.

He tilted his head towards the door, and she followed him out, staying by his side until they made it to the main hall. The blood hod long since been cleaned from the floors but he still felt on edge whenever he entered the room. It will take time, he chided himself silently. "Obara, do you trust me?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Of course Jasper."

He nodded, signaling the guards to come to attention. Slowly, he drew Dawnbreaker from its scabbard on his waist and angled it to rest on her shoulder. Thankfully, she didn't flinch, although her muscles did visibly tighten.

"Do you swear to uphold the laws of Vale, and rule its people justly and without bias?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, her eyes widened dramatically and her shoulder visibly relaxed. "I do."

"And do you swear to never take up arms against the House of Arryn, nor elect agents to do this on your behalf?"

"I do."

"Obara Martell, you are hereby granted all titles, territories, and possessions associated with House Waynwood. As the new Lady of the Ironoaks, you may take possession of their castle at your leisure, and govern the city as you will it. Please keep in mind that this is still a territory of Vale, and their taxes are still owed to my House, and any local laws must still abide by Vale law." He lifted the sword from her shoulder, slipping it back into its sheath. "I would also like to remind you that as of the Declaration of Self, in 282 AC, each House has the right to set its own right of succession and governance. Should you choose to revise your new House to follow Dornish traditions, this would be perfectly within reason."

"Jasper, I don't know what to say, I-"

He waved his hand, silencing her. "You don't have to say anything. What you and your kinsmen did during this terrible time was something Vale will never forget. You aren't my vassal, obviously, I'm not making you swear fealty to my house. So that means this little territory is semi-independent for however long you rule. I wanted Ironoaks to be a place for Dornishmen and Valemen alike, to come together and hopefully, strengthen our alliance."

o-O-o

"Terror in the Eyire!

"Yesterday, several noble houses from around Vale attempted to carry out a coup in the capital! While this attack failed, and Lord Arryn ultimately remained unharmed, several of his allies were grievously wounded…"

Jasper waited until after the last of the contracts were signed before informing the kingdom what had happened. He wrote up a special issue of the Herald, explaining about what houses were involved and who the casualties were. He even mentioned that several radical elements of the Faith had helped fund the attack, although they were tragically killed in a fire before they could face any justice. He also mentioned about Obara's new addition to the Vale nobility, and Ironoaks status under her. News had yet to reach Vale from King's Landing, but he knew it wouldn't be long before it did.

From what he heard, riots had already started outside several septs, and most of the few remaining Faith in Vale were leaving in a mass exodus Southward. With all of these empty churches spread out over Vale, he quietly issued a new law, informing all of the nobles by letter rather than announce it in the paper- no need to draw attention from the very people he was trying to get rid of. It was a small thing really, but with it being illegal to damage any place of worship, he needed a way to repurpose.

"All Lords and Masters who have a sept, septry, or motherhouse on their lands may assume guardianship of them when there is no Septon or Septa in residence. Should they remain empty for a period of six months, they will no longer be considered a place of worship."

i {o,o}
i /) ')
i -"-"-

AN: So sorry for the wait! In regards to Dorne having control of Ironoaks, it's really very simple. Jasper doesn't loose any money, as he is still collecting the taxes for the territory, and it's a city, so they make enough for Dorne to still make a profit. Her not swearing fealty only means that she doesn't have to raise her levies and fight for Vale if he goes to war, but Dorne is an ally, so they should be called upon anyway.

Notes. For those that know one 'verse, but not the other:

[1] A sept is the Faith's equivalent of a church. A septry is their equivalent of a monastery and a motherhouse is a female version of a septry. (Mentioned in Ch 10, but some may find it useful here.)

[2] Homenum Revelio is the human-presence revealing spell.

[3] Bombarda is a type of exploding curse.