Jasper couldn't help but smile as he watched his little sister greet the dornish girls. It had been rough on them both since Rowena passed, and he hoped she'd finally be able to have some friends in her life. Gods, he knew she deserved it. He'd been so wrapped up with overseeing Vale that he didn't have much time to just be with her these days. She needed someone; he knew she was struggling with the fact that the Tully girl married Father. He was too to be honest, but that was more to do with Jon than the girl. Regardless of Father's feelings for Rowena, Lysa was still only a child, and it was disturbing that he bedded her at all. He had discreetly asked Mya about how Father had treated her in the past and thankfully nothing had come of it. He'd have killed the man if he had. Regardless, he knew he couldn't leave the poor girl with his father, and he promised himself he'd think of something to help her.
He pushed his wandering thoughts aside and focused on the conversation happening in front of him. Obara had been saying something and he only caught the tail end of it. "-Dayne wants to meet the girl, and Lady Allyria has been clamoring to raise her at Starfall. I promised them I'd speak with you on their behalf, she is their niece after all."
He bit back a groan and hoped he hadn't missed anything else important. "I promised Ser Darry that he and his companions could raise Daenerys here, and he was the one Ashara entrusted to watch over her. The Eyrie is always welcome to the Daynes should they wish to visit her, but I will not renege on my promise. You as well have every right to play a part in her rearing, the Gods know how few women we have here. I'm sure that would satisfy both your father and the Daynes' concerns."
She looked at him meaningfully and nodded. He wasn't sure if they were testing him and his position, but he was sure the Martells were skeptical over Dany's official parentage.
"House Martell will support your decision, but we had to at least inform you of their request. Dorne will always look out for our own, after all," Nymeria voiced from beside him.
He took a sip of his water and struggled to think of how to change the topic. Politics and double speak always gave him headaches and the only casual conversations he really had were with his sister. "What's your opinion on Vale's move to create a formal education system? I'm curious about your opinion as a foreigner on some of the more radical changes we've been going through. Would you say they're a mistake or a boon?"
Obara pulled herself a little closer to him and spoke softly, "Both, I imagine. Giving the smallfolk even a small amount of education means they will love you. It makes them feel more cared for and gives them pride in their homeland. But it will also anger your Lords immensely and may cause another civil war if not handled delicately. Many nobles will feel threatened, and you need to move to either ease their fears or crush them when they rebel. However, I do think that overall, you made a good decision, albeit an unconventional one."
Nymeria nodded and whispered, "You set yourself apart from your father in a pretty big way. That's good, but if you keep making these big changes you may lose the support of your lords."
He grimaced and nodded his head. He was pretty sure the only reason the nobles listened to him at all was because he dealt with the mountain clans and boosted the economy. He knew a lot of people were grumbling about following a child while Jon still lived, and his radical ideas didn't help matters either. "I know, but I had hoped they'd realize I wasn't giving the smallfolk that much support. The hospitals just reduce some of the needless deaths and the schools only give them a basic education." He sighed and a part of him wondered if he should just use more contracts, but he knew that wasn't an ideal solution.
Mya looked at him pointedly and whispered, "With the Seven leaving Vale, maybe the Old Gods will help you find a solution."
He shook his head, "They can't help me on this one. People are already weary of signing things around me, I don't need to add to that."
She just pouted at him, and he did his best to ignore the curious stares from Nymeria and Obara. "I suppose I'll have to figure something out with Ser Lynderly and Lord Royce. Maybe the Old Gods can help with a few problem cases, but I think overall, I should look towards a more diplomatic solution… Damn, and I still need to figure out what to do with that Tully girl."
Mya growled at him, and he just gave her a look. "What would you have me do Mi? You know there's no way she wanted to marry him, am I supposed to just leave her there? Like it or not she is family now, and I will not subject her to that life."
She deflated a bit and just nodded with tears in her eyes. "I know Jas, but that doesn't mean I have to like her. She will never be my mother, never!"
Jasper looked at her and couldn't help but sigh again. "She sent me her first letter the other day, she thinks she's pregnant. She may never be our mother, but she can be our sister, and I'll be damned if I leave her there defenseless.
i {o,o}
i /) ')
i -"-"-
AN: So, I changed the layout to be more noticeable through fanfiction app (I only use the android version and it was hard to notice line breaks before).
Also, as a small background note, I'm removing the unnamed Dayne (Edric's father) from existence. Allyria is now the head of House Dayne, she's already married. Edric is now her son, but he won't be born for another three years.
Notes. For those that know one 'verse, but not the other:
[1] Ashara Dayne, Daenerys' official mother, has surviving family in Dorne. With both Ashara and her brother Arthur dead, that only leaves Allyria as the head of House Dayne. As such, Daenerys is the current heir of House Dayne, until Allyria bears a child. Please note this is not due to gender, but rather because Ashara was the youngest of the siblings, as such Allyria's children have a higher claim then Ashara's. As noted above, I'm retconning Allyria's unnamed brother.
Edited 10-26-21
