287 AC

Viserys lied in his bed with open eyes for nearly an hour now. He actually did want to sleep longer, but it was just too warm. His body was already covered in sweat from the summer heat so the sheets he was under became uncomfortable to touch. His skin was itching and he was starting to become angry.

But then he remembered what lessons today had in store for him and he smiled. Perhaps it is indeed the perfect time to get up?

Unlike years before, there were no servants for him to order around or to do things for him. Initially, this proved difficult. Especially considering Daenerys and Daemon were given servants on the ground of them being infants. However, having to do things by himself worked out in the end. He has gained skills and habits he would not have otherwise. He avoided being a lazy and spoiled brat, or so he was told.

After getting up and taking a cold bath (there was no way he would start a fire in this summer heat), he got dressed in his favorite bright, deep red clothing. He initially wanted to always wear black, but Teacher Qyburn has warned him that darker fabrics become warm quicker than bright ones.

Not to mention, he always got looks of approval from Lady Melisandre whenever he wore red. She was as beautiful as she was wise and Viserys always strove to impress her. She and Moqorro guided him, Dany and Daemon in the ways of the faith.

Speaking of the young dragons, as he was leaving his room he heard them chasing each other through the intricate cave system of their hiding place. Their care-free, childish laughter brought a smile to his face. His family was safe here. Of course, he had his reservations at being forced to live in a glorified cave system in the Stepstones by their saviors. But, when he eventually arrived and looked it over, he discovered it wasn't so bad.

Their leader Saelyna told them it was built in secret by her father and his friends before the War of the Ninepenny Kings. It wasn't a mere collection of rocky tunnels. There were rooms with windows, some of which even had glass panes! The floor was made of smooth bricks instead of sharp rocks, same with walls. The furnishings were mostly Tyroshi in origin, but over the years some were replaced with items of Lyseni and Pentoshi make. He sometimes wondered how much all this cost, but decided that it didn't really matter in the end. This was their home now and it would remain so for the foreseeable future, at least until Dany and Daemon grew up.

Thinking of Saelyna brought conflicting thoughts to him, as it always did. He had a lot to be thankful for her. She saved him and Dany from an uncertain fate of wandering the Free Cities for year. She rescued Daemon from living a life on the Wall. Not only did she give them food, shelter and clothing but also teachers and fighting instructors.

However, her father's group fought against Viserys' grandfather, King Jaehaerys. The Band of Nine they were called and they sought to conquer the Seven Kingdoms for the Blackfyre Pretenders. They were defeated, true, but Saelyna's father managed to rule the Free City of Tyrosh for six more years after that. By all rights Viserys had a reason to hate Saelyna Adarys, but he couldn't bring himself to. Not after he learned what his own father has done to innocent people. He didn't believe it at first. He thought that these people were lying, that they were sent by the Usurper to deceive him.

But the facts remained what they are. His father was now remembered as the Mad King, who burned people alive for his own amusement. Who raped and abused Viserys' own mother, no doubt contributing to her early death. Who did not bathe or even cut his hair and fingernails, giving him the appearance of a savage beast.

It was quite a shock for Viserys to see it with his own eyes in one of Lady Melisandre's flames. His father in his ragged appearance sitting on the throne, screaming at the top of his lungs "Burn them all!" Viserys would never become like this. He refused to walk this path and instead chose another. A wiser path.

As he reached Qyburn's laboratory, he put his thoughts of the past to rest. Today was a good day, for today would be dedicated to learning about the science of necromancy.

He would walk a different path indeed.

290 AC

Seven years to the day it would soon be. Seven. What a cursed, cruel number. Nearly as cursed and cruel as the southron gods bearing the very number. Seven years since the worst days of Benjen's life. Seven years since the horrific Sack of King's Landing where the Lions have shown butchery which Eddard has denounced. Seven years since Eddard's son was born. Seven years since Eddard vanished along with Lyanna in Dorne.

Seven years of silence and mourning.

The northern lords all but bullied him into becoming Lord of Winterfell, at least until Eddard's son comes of age. He took no wife, however. Certainly not Catelyn Tully, Eddard's wife. She was a daily reminder of the South, of the tragedies which befell House Stark. Her son, Eddard's son, was also such a reminder. His hair and eyes all Tully, with only traces of his Northern heritage seen in his cheekbones and nose.

Benjen couldn't even bear to look at them. He dearly wished he could die and join his family, his real family. If not that, at least join the Night's Watch and never again see such painful reminders of what he had lost. He did his duty as Lord Paramount however, and managed the affairs of the North to the best of his ability. He decided that there has been too much suffering caused by the southern ambitions, and so he had met with his lords and ladies to state, in no uncertain terms, that too much fraternizing with the south would be frowned upon.

Trade, of course. Loyalty to the Iron Throne, definitely. But, betrothals, fosterings, friendships? Never again. The northern lords would sooner let Wildlings south of the Wall than southerners north of the Neck.

King Robert was sent a letter, informing him that while the North would continue to pay taxes and in times of war would raise armies, they shall no longer be interested in anything else. The King had not even deemed it important to write back.

Yesterday, Benjen sat in his solar with Rickard Karstark. Eddard's son would be betrothed to Karstark's daughter Alys. A bit early, the two were not even ten of age. But Benjen knew, that it would be better to be safe than sorry. Lady Catelyn mayhaps plotted to betroth her son to some southern girl. Never.

Today, Benjen stood before the empty graves of Eddard and Lyanna.

"Just a few more years, and I'll see you again. I promise," he vowed. Eventually Eddard's son would be old enough.

The dead, of course remained silent as they have for seven years.