Lyanna's POV:

While she wore a face that betrayed nothing relying on the solemn wolfish face her family was known for to hide the fear she had for her son. The ravens had been sent to all the realm announcing her son's birth and his status as Rhaegar's last living trueborn son, while also calling for a Great Council at Harrenhal. Two ravens had been sent out a week before the rest had been, both written in her own hand. One had been to Dragonstone, for Queen Rhaella herself, explaining the events of her marriage to Rhaegar and announcing the birth of their son. The other was to Highgarden, again telling the tale of her marriage to Rhaegar and announcing the birth of their son, but also contained a proposal for a betrothal. As Lord Tyrell had announced the birth of a daughter just prior to her marriage to Rhaegar, she proposed that Lord Tyrell's infant daughter be betrothed to her son and would be wed once he reached his majority. Thus, making the girl a queen in exchange for the support of Highgarden in the Great Council.

Oh how she loathed the irony of her forcing a betrothal on her child without his input, as she had raged at her own Lord Father when he proposed she wed Robert Baratheon. Yet she had to do this, in order to protect her sweet babe. At least her son would not be like Robert, she would see to that. She also could not imagine the infant rose to be a Robert Baratheon in a skirt.

She walked towards the nursery of Starfall to check on her sleeping son and cousin. Ser Oswell was guarding the nursery this day.

She greeted him, "Ser Oswell, how are you and how is the king and my niece"?

Ser Oswell replied, "The King is well, thus I am well. The children awoke hungry though only Alyssa made much noise. Even when he cries, his grace is quiet. Ser Gerrold says Prince Rhaegar was the same as a babe, and not to fret. Lady Ashara heard Alyssa's crying and I allowed her entry. She is nursing both his grace and Alyssa as we speak if she has not finished".

Lya replied, "Thank you Ser Oswell".

She entered the door that he opened for her and saw Ashara nursery's lounge chair nursing both children. Ashara looked up and smiled at seeing her.

Ashara said, "How are you Lya, did the letters turn out well?"

Lya replied as she moved a chair to sit near her and the children, "As well as they could be. You have such a good Maester, Ashara. Without Ser Gerrold and him, I would have probably insulted the lords by accident. The North has always prefered plain and honest speech, which is something I took to heart as well". Lya paused and continued, "So how are you and the babes, and where is Wylla?"

Ashara replied, "Her babe was learning to walk last night so between him and our children, she was exhausted. So I gave her the day off. I know custom dictates that the children be given to wetnurses, but I always preferred to nurse Alyssa as much as I can when duty or time allows".

Lya chuckled and replied, "I understand and agree whole heartily, though I will admit Wylla is a godsend especially with having to write so many letters."

Ashara said, "Oh, before I forget. Lya I have wonderful news. I spoke to Ned earlier and he promised that Alyssa would want for nothing, and if she so wished, would be wed to his newborn son that his wife had given birth to".

Lya. "That is great that Ned will see to her needs, and take in account what your daughter might feel. If Ned's son is like him I think Alyssa will like him and he will be good for her".

Ashara replied, "Aye, you are right".

Ashara then asked, "Do you think Lord Tyrell will accept your betrothal proposal"?

Lya replied, "I do believe so given that Viserys is the only other real option currently and he would not fare as well in the Great Council since he can only count on the support of the lords of the Crowlands and Dorne. While Jon has the North, Riverlands, and Ned knows many of the Vale Lords personally. I am certain Lord Tyrell will consent to the match, and I left room for him and his good brother Lord Redwyne to take seats on the small council once we win the Great Council".

Ashara asked, "What of Lord Stannis? Ned tells me he seeks your hand and will put his own claim before the Great Council".

She had been doing her best to avoid thinking of that. Ned had told her that Stannis was nothing like Robert. Robert went as far as to dislike the stern and stubborn man. Claiming that there was no brothers more unalike.

Lya took a deep breath and replied, "Ned has told and given me assurances that Stannis is nothing like Robert, and that he spoke only of duty, but I can't say yes or no without meeting the new Storm Lord. Besides, I need time to grieve for Rhaegar". Lya paused and then continued, "I spoke with the Maester asking for his counsel and accounts of every Great Council and the regency of Jaehaerys the First. I know my son has his extreme youth is against in the Great Council, especially in comparison to Lord Stannis, and I know Queen Alyssa had married Lord Rogar to secure support for son's reign, but I do not know if I can do that. I must speak to Lord Baratheon myself, which is what I included in the proclamation to Storms' End".

Ashara said, "I can't offer any advice on how to handle Lord Stannis, but no matter what happens House Dayne will support you".

Lya said, "Thank you Ashara".

Ashara asked, "Have you considered any other lords for the small council"?

She said, "I wanted Ned to be his Hand, though Ned said he wants to return home to get settled and see father and Brandon's bones interred within the crypts. I managed to convince him to be Hand of the King until after Tywin has been tried and executed for sack of King's Landing, the murder Prince Aegon, and attempted murder of Princess Elia. My son might be a Targaryen but the blood of the First Men runs through his veins, a man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. Jaehaerys won't be swinging the sword for a long time, but that doesn't mean his Hand shouldn't be swinging the sword in his name. Other than Ned, I don't know who else".

Ashara said, "Thank you for being so driven to get justice for Elia and Aegon".

Lya said, "Elia may have not been the keenest on Rhaegar taking me to wife, but she did give me her blessing for the sake of the realm and her children would have been mine as well. Aegon and Jaehaerys could have been as close as twins, if not for Tywin and the Mountain". She paused and continued, "The rest of the council is a bit harder. I want at least one Northman on the council. So, I was thinking of named Lord Wyman Manderly of White Harbor. His house is the richest in the North and White Harbor is the heart of Northern trade. For Master of Law and Ships I was hoping Lord Tyrell and Redwyne will take the positions respectfully should they accept the proposal. Ser Gerrold will have his seat per custom and the Grand Maester is selected by the Citadel. Once I get a better idea of the lords who will support us, I will make my final decisions".

Ashara finished nursing the babes and handed Jaehaerys back to her. They rose and proceeded to put the babes back in the cribs. When she laid her sweet boy in the crib near his egg, a beautiful dragon egg as white as fresh fallen Winter snow with whorls of molten silver and crimson.

Lyanna turned to Ashara and said, "Why don't we get some lunch".

Ashara agreed and they walked towards the door when it suddenly opened. It was Ser Oswell and behind him was the Maester of Starfall who held a letter.

Ser Oswell said, "Maester Steffon has had a raven from Dragonstone with a letter. It bears Queen Rhaella's personal seal".

Lyanna said, "I will take it now".

Ser Oswell took the letter from the Maester and handed it to her. She cracked the seal and read it. A smile broke out on her face as she finished the letter.

Ashara asked, "Lya, what does it say"?

She said, "Queen Rhaella said she was overjoyed to hear that she had a new grandson, she promised that Viserys will bend the knee to Jaehaerys and she will get the Lords of the Crownlands to support Jaehaerys. She has also invited us to Dragonstone so she could meet her grandson".

Ser Oswell said, "That is excellent news. Now the claims and voices of House Targaryen are now one. Stannis is now the only threat".

Ashara said, "I wouldn't be so sure Ser. Prince Doran and all of Dorne are still insulted by Rhaegar seemingly leaving Elia. I know that isn't the truth, but that is how the people feel. Doran can probably be appeased by offering Viserys as a consort to Arianne, but I am not so certain about Oberyn. Thank the gods that Oberyn has been exiled to Essos".

She said, "That is concerning, hopefully we can work something"...

A loud crack interrupted her, the three soon turned towards the origin of the sound. The noise was coming from Jaehaerys' crib. They quickly ran to the crib. She couldn't believe what she saw and by the gasps of Maester Steffon, Ashara and Ser Oswell, they couldn't as well. There in her babe's crib sat a dragon hatchling surrounded by the broken remains of his egg and moving protectively over her babe and letting out a soft reptilian growl that reminded her of the lizard lions that she had seen in the Neck.

Ser Oswell said, "By the Old Gods and The New".

Lya said, "Maester Steffon, bring the rest of the Kingsguard, my brother and his companions, and Lord Dayne. Other than that send no news of this to anywhere. This will be our trump card at the Great Council".

The Maester said, "Aye your grace, it will be done".

She barely heard the Maester run off to do as he was bid. She was in awe of the dragon who now cuddled itself next to her sweet son. It was such a beautiful creature, the majority of scales were as white as fresh fallen snow with whorls of molten silver and crimson. She moved her hand towards her babe and the dragon. The hatchling raised his head sniffing her finger and relented as if it knew who she was and her relation to its master. Jaehaerys reached for her finger and she let him hold it, the dragon soon moved its head against their joined hands and finger nudged them like a dog would nudge its master. She felt the rough scales rub against her skin, it felt as hot as a fire. Yet her babe seemed not to mind at all, and in fact enjoyed the heat. She thought to herself, he has Rhaegar's love of heat.

The world seemed to stop once stared into her babe's dark eyes. His eyes seemed to change on the light and seemed to change from the eyes he had when he was born. The dark purple was prominent when he was born but little by little a dark gray that reminded her of Ice their ancestral Valyrian steel greatsword seemed to creep in there. She wondered if he would lose the purple as he got older. Rhaegar was right, that their child would be destined for great things with Blood of the Kings of Winter and the Dragonlords flowing through his veins. She relented to Rhaegar to give their child a regnal of Valyrian origin, but she had to admit it was a mouthful to say Jaehaerys for a child. So she decided to call him Jon in private since Jae didn't seem to fit for him.

No matter what happens, she will do whatever it takes to protect him.

The Stubborn Stag:

He sat there in his solar reading over the letter from Starfall for the third time. His teeth grinded as he looked up at Maester Cressen, his uncle & Castellan Ser Harbert, and the former smuggler turned knight Ser Davos. He put the letter before them and said, "Read it, and Maester Cressen would explain to Ser Davos what it says".

The man read it and surprise was written plain on his still recovering gaunt face, while Cressen whispered to Ser Davos the contents of the letter.

Harbert said, "Is this truly Lady Lyanna's words?"

Cressen spoke up, "I have seen Lady Lyanna's handwriting, from the letters her lord father must have made her send Robert during their betrothal. She did write them herself. Along with her request to speak with you at the Great Council suggests that she wrote these without coercerin from the Kingsguard with her. I take it that her brother has likely sworn fealty to his nephew and Lord Dayne must have given that the raven flew from Starfall".

He said, "I had thought Lord Eddard would support me at the Great Council but it appears I was wrong and betrayed".

His uncle said, "No oaths were sworn, so there was not a betrayal truly. But this is certainly surprising. Lady Lyanna and Prince Rhaegar running away to be wed, is this even legal when the Prince was already wed"?

Cressen answered, "By technicality yes, as the pact between the Conciliator and Faith never outlawed polygamy, as his grace only sought to legalize and incorporate the Targaryen pratice of wedding brother to sister, that had been the only point of contention. Thus the Faith didn't see it necessary to ask for its ban due to it being associated with Maegor the cruel and irrelevant", Cressen paused before continuing, "Prince Rhaegar must have left the egg and crown to further prove the legitimacy of the child. I highly doubt he meant for the child to succeed him over Prince Aegon, but the crown and egg would be powerful symbols, especially if it hatched. But that is highly unlikely".

He listened, absorbing the counsel of his old Maester before turning to Ser Davos, "What would the smallfolk think of this"?

Ser Davos took a moment to compose himself before answering, "Most would adore the child and his lady mother. The people loved Prince Rhaegar. His grace regularly went down to the city with one of the Kingsguard in old cloaks and sang for the people. Whatever money people gave them, the Prince would give back whether it be to the other minstrels, the shop or inkeep whose place he sang at, or orphanages. The more pious of the smallfolk may condemn their actions as sinful, but I think most would support them".

Cressen spoke up, "Yes, that is something we can use. We can get the High Septon and the faith to denounce the marriage as invalid due to Rhaegar's marriage to Elia Martell. We could also promise Dorne justice for their murdered prince and savaged princess".

He said, "You know I have no faith in Septons and Dorne is more like to declare for Viserys than me, especially since Prince Doran could wed his daughter to Visery. How many lords will likely support me".

Cressen said, "Most of your bannermen should support your claim, as well the more pious lords of the realm due to the issue of polygamy and that Viserys is said to take more after his father, Aerys. House Lannister and their bannermen are all but guaranteed to support you since Lady Lyanna will likely want to punish for the death of Prince Aegon and the ruin of Princess Elia. You could also wed Lady Cersei to strengthen their support. The majority of the Vale lords may support you given it is rumored that Lord Arryn was the first to suggest you take the throne after Robert's death. Though I would be wary of Houses like Grafton who sided with the Targaryens and houses that have blood ties to the Starks like Royce. The North is likely to support Lady Lyanna's child due to his Stark blood, but it could be that some may be reluctant due to Aerys killing Lord Rickard and Brandon. The Riverlands are tied to Lord Stark and Arryn and were split during the rebellion. I suspect Houses that were loyal to the Targaryens like the Houses Whent, Moonton, Ryger, Goodbrook, Darry, and Lychester will side with any of the Targaryen claimants. House Tully and Blackwood would choose Lady Lyanna's son due to their ties to House Stark. House Bracken would support you solely to oppose the Blackwoods and Mallister may support you due to Aerys burning one them alongside the Starks. The Reach is not likely to support you excluding the more pious lords. The Crownlands will support a Targaryen, as will the lords of the Narrow Sea. Which lords would be unfavorable to an infant king and long regency is unknown".

He said, "So I must gamble that the fact that he is Aerys' infant grandson and that his parents' marriage may not be legal in the eyes of the faith despite no law saying it is forbidden for the Targaryens".

Cressen said, "Unfortunately, yes".

Stannis said through his teeth, " Then we must play the hand we were dealt".

Author's Note:

I didn't want to make a Stannis POV, but I got tired of the baseless accusations of writing a cliche story of Targaryens and Starks good and everyone is hunky dory with Rhaegar and Lyanna. Besides it helps balance the story as now my POVS aren't universally Targaryen loyalists and Starks.

Next chapter will dive into some of the court intrigue that comes with an infant king, and how the child will be raised.