Braavos. Trastamara's manse. Two days after the assassination attempt on Jayce Stark.
To say that the Velaryons were surprised and shocked by what had happened would be an understatement, as right after Jayce and Baela were returned to the manse, Lucerys and Laenor had ordered that every single man in their entourage and among seamen be checked. As it turned out, the catspaw that attacked Jayce was a seaman of Velaryons, having been hired and trained some seven or eight months ago, and before that, none knew where he was from. What was also known of him is that he was either of Riverlands or from the Crownlands, as from those regions most often came migrants to Driftmark, and this one appeared to one of those, but this couldn't mean that he was alone.
The man of his station and position couldn't have known Jayce and Baela in the face and would need someone to guide him to the intended target, which meant that there very well could've been someone close to Velaryons who supplied that information. And this was the person whom Velaryons were searching for, and thankfully, they were not alone in this investigation, as both the Trastamara family and Sealord of Braavos himself pledged their support and help. The reasons for doing so were pretty simple: Jayce was Trastamara's guest and now a friend of Sealord's son, and if it to become known that their friend and guest respectively was nearly killed and murderers were to get away, it would cast shame upon them all. Their support came in complete closure of the ports for several days for anyone who tried to leave, and as well as searching all of the Westerosi who attempted to leave right after arriving.
And in the meantime this was happening, the older members of Velaryons and their closest friends were trying to determine what to do, though there were almost no doubt among them of the identity of the one who wished for Jayce's death.
"We cannot let this stand. When we return to Westeros, we should appeal to the King and order him to bring that woman to justice." Ashara demanded in a heated tone, as she felt motherly fury for nearly having her de-facto son killed. "Catelyn Tully had Jayce's brother locked up and die of frost, hunger and pox, and that was all out of spite for Jayce's successes. Do you honestly think that she would have stopped at that?"
"I agree with Ashara. A woman like her would never stop unless she had gotten what she wished." Beatrice Velaryon, a beautiful blonde matriarch of Velaryons with eyes the color of navy blue, stated in support of her daughter-in-law. "The King favors Jayce and Starks. Appeal to that pig, Lucerys, when we return, or now. Send him the letter."
"Robert may favor Jayce and Eddard, but Jon Arryn is married to Catelyn's sister and doesn't want another war in the Seven Kingdoms. He's been trying to either convince or strong-arm Lord Stark into reuniting with his wife ever since Stark sent her away." Laenor stated with a sigh. "Arryn may be Robert's Hand, but he'll not jeopardize the alliance between himself and the Riverlands, even if it means forsaking his former ward. He was never too pleased with the legitimization of Jayce and was the most ardent proponent to see it revoked ever since Robert made it official."
"That is not to mention what the Old Lion may do. Tywin was none too pleased with Jayce's performance in Lannisport, especially when he thrashed every blonde lion that was in the lists, and he might offer support to Hoster and Catelyn simply out of spite." Arthur Dayne added, with Ashara looking at him with scandalized look. "As much as I would love to take the head of that fish for myself, I do not see how we may be able to achieve it, especially when we have no strong evidence on hand, and none would believe Jayce's words, given the enmity between him and Catelyn."
"We'll have the evidence, when we have that traitor." Ashara promised aloud, until she and everyone heard a knock on the door. "Yes?"
"It is Ser Jason, I have news from the City Watch." They heard from the other side, and Arthur went to open it and let the sworn knight in. "Milords, milady, we've got the traitor." Jason suddenly responded, surprising them all.
"Well don't stop now, who is it?" Lucerys demanded impatiently.
"Ser Myles Redstrait, first mate on board of The Mermaid's Grace. As per your orders, we've checked everyone who was a part of this voyage, and he was the person who never turned up after the attempted murder. A few hours ago, he was spotted trying to book a passage out to Pentos on a Myrish trade cog." Jason reported. "They guards found on him an awful lot of coin for a first mate and a fresh knight, four hundred golden dragons, while there were a hundred of those on the catspaw. He's been sent to the jail as we speak."
"Redstrait… He served in our household guard, did he not?" Lucerys asked, turning to Jason and then to Laenor.
"He did, he distinguished himself at Ironholt during the Rebellion, and I knighted him myself." Laenor stated. "After the war he served as one of the instructors in High Tide under Ser Jason here, but I didn't know he was made the first mate of The Grace. How did that come to pass, Jason?"
"Apologies, milords, I've grated him his request for transfer, when he asked for it. I thought that he wished for a taste of the sea again, and he was a trained marine and seaman, so I've put the request to the captain, and he approved of it, since Myles served there before some years past." Jason explained. "It was three weeks ago, right before we set sail…"
"And that would explain how he had managed to get a catspaw onto The Grace and point him in the right direction." Lucerys stated. "But that doesn't explain why did captain Fabian didn't inform me of the sudden change in his ship's crew. He knows full well that I want to know who commands my ships and my crews, yet he told me nothing… Ser Jason, where is Ser Fabian now?"
"Last I saw him, he was in the harbor, near his ship." Ser Jason responded. "I'll have the men get him immediately, milord."
"Bring him to me personally, Ser Jason. He'll have a few things to answer for." Lucerys told him, and Jason departed immediately. "A former marine would not have any way of surely setting it all up, but one of my best captains, and one to whom I've trusted to see us delivered safely to Braavos… I'll have my answers, one way or the other."
"I do not understand, what could possibly connect Ser Fabian with Tullies, along with Redstrait?" Beatrice asked aloud.
"Nothing, but Fabian oft sails to King's Landing, and before that he did so to Gulltown, and there is one name that comes up in my mind when thinking of those two places and trade: Petyr Baelish." Laenor stated, getting the confused look from his mother. "The Crown's Master of Coin, a very minor lord from Fingers, unremarkable and completely forgettable, except for one interesting thing: in his youth, he was the ward of Hoster Tully, and knew all of Tully children."
"And who also tried to duel Brandon Stark for the hand of Catelyn, only to nearly die at his hand, so he has absolutely no love for the Starks." Ashara stated, as she recalled the event. "A man in his position could have the resources and means to organize the assassination."
"He would, but until we have any solid proof, it is all just the speculation." Arthur let out a tired sigh, as he wished to turn the discussion away from Tullies for at least a moment. "How is Jayce?" He asked.
"As fine as he could be, not even really fazed by what had happened." Ashara stated. "I would've expected a child to be shocked or scared but he… He just said that he was fine, but in his eyes, I could've sworn I saw fire… He wasn't scared, he was furious." Ashara told them all.
"Death is nothing new to him, as grim as it may sound, Ash." Laenor reminded her, as he shook his head at the memories of the war. "But Baela… She blames herself for what had happened, and thinks that Jayce blames her for it too. I tried to tell her that it was not her fault, but she wouldn't listen."
"She always was the one to sneak out and always had Jayce come along, and now because of it, he nearly died." Lucerys recalled, as he sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"I've tried to talk to her too, but she won't stop blaming herself. I'm starting to think that only Jayce can talk her out of that thought." Ashara stated, as her mind came towards the thought that had been plaguing her for a long time now. "And Jayce… I think… I think we need to tell him." Ashara said aloud for all.
"Tell him what, Ash?" Arthur asked of her, with Ashara giving him quite a glare, and he understood what it meant. "We've talked about this, Ashara. He is not ready, he is…"
"He nearly died out there, Arthur, and believe me, when I heard of it, I was terrified. More so than when I heard about the Tower, more so than I did with you. I am sorry, but it is true, Arthur…" Ashara said with passion, taking a second to get her thoughts in order. "But… The next thought that came to me, was the fact that the boy, who I love and cherish as my own, who calls me mother, nearly died, and… I've been lying to him, all this time, this thought it… It revolted me!"
"You did not lie to him, Ashara, you…" Arthur tried to speak up, but she interrupted him.
"I did what, held back the truth?! This is as bad lying to him, and you know how he takes to lying!" Ashara nearly screamed at him, before calming herself a bit. "I know that we've decided to protect Jayce, but… How are we better than Ned if we hold the truth from him?"
"We care, protect and raise him, Ashara, and not simply out of duty." Lucerys reminded to her. "I know how you've always felt about this lie, but what do you think will happen if he were to learn of it now?"
"He would be shocked, devastated, may even feel betrayed… But it would be nothing compared to what he may feel if he were to learn the truth when he realizes what he feels for our granddaughter is more than mere sibling affection." Beatrice said suddenly, drawing the attention of all to her. "Jayce is a smart boy, smarter than most men, and though rash and hot-blooded, he is still very smart. He will understand, and accept it, and if he feels angry and betrayed, it will be his right."
"You support her in this?" Lucerys asked his wife again.
"I always supported Ashara in this, Lucerys. Forgive me, but lies and deceit are what began that war in my opinion in the start. Lies of a Mad Prince and Stark Lady, deceit on Lyanna's part, and everything else, with Jayce's brother being dead, along with his parents, and the Iron Throne belonging to a lustful boar." Beatrice stated bluntly her opinion, with Ser Arthur giving a bit a glare to Beatrice, with her responding to it. "Shall you dispute me on this, Ser Arthur, if only to save your dead Prince's good name?"
"You did not know Rhaegar. He was nothing like his father." Arthur stated with heat.
"No, but he did abandon his wife, who nearly died in childbed bring his wanted son, and then began a war that nearly ended all of the Targaryens." Beatrice reminded him. "But at least he did not burn men alive, simply made the Realms bleed, because he decided to emulate his ancestors, or because that girl caught his fancy, or for any other reason. And when he made that mess, where was he all that time, hm?"
"You know nothing of what you speak. Rhaegar loved Lady Stark and she…" Arthur spoke with heated tone, until Laenor spoke up again.
"No, Arthur, he didn't." Laenor suddenly stated, as he closed his eyes at the memories of the past. "Rhaegar may've said he did, but if there's one thing I learned of him, is that he was always good at masking his true feelings, and Lyanna… There was no love in him for her, no. There was only his obsession, obsession with the prophecies and Dragon Dreams and the Prince Who Was Promised, and Lyanna… She was not the love of his life, but a means to an end, after he learned that Elia would never have children again!" Laenor rose up, as he nearly spat that out of his mouth walking towards the window, breathing in the air.
"What are you talking about, Laenor?" Arthur asked of him.
"Back then, at Harrenhall, I… I knew what he wished to do, with Lyanna, and how he meant to divorce Elia right after Aegon came to life." Laenor bowed his head in shame from the memory. "I knew it all, as he talked all about it to me, and I, the fucking idiot I was, listened and believed it all, and did absolutely fucking nothing!" He said with anger for himself.
"Laenor…" Ashara was shocked to hear her husband speak like that, as was his mother.
"I knew, I fucking knew what he wished to do was wrong! Wrong towards Elia, the kids, the Realm, everyone, and yet I…" Laenor turned, as he let out a ragged breath. "I did nothing, and in the end the Rebellion happened. Elia, Rhaenys, Aegon, even that fool Lyanna and Jon- everyone would've been alive if only I had done something, tried to stop him! But did I do it? No…"
"You couldn't have known, Laenor. None of us could've predicted what could've happened." Ashara walked to him, putting her hands into his comfortingly. "It was not your fault."
"No, I know, and yet… Yet I feel as part of what had happened is on me, for not doing anything to protect them from Rhaegar and his damned madness." Laenor said with a tired sigh, as he returned with Ashara to his seat. "When I saw Jayce, when I realized who he was, I thought that with him, I… I could at least do something right, if not by Elia, than at least by Jayce. Teach him to be a better man than Rhaegar, to save him from his father's shadow, but now… Now I'm starting to think that I'm no better than Rhaegar, when he lied to Lyanna and used her."
"You are nothing like that man, my son." Beatrice stated to him firmly. "You are many things, but another Mad Prince you are not, and you would sooner hurt yourself than use Jayce, I know it."
"Maybe, and yet I am hurting him, by telling him a lie." Laenor said, finally making up his mind, as he rose up and moved towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Arthur asked of him, before understanding what he meant to do. "Laenor, you can't mean to do it! He is not ready for his role and…" Laenor at that point turned and then punched Arthur in the face.
"I don't give a fuck about that damned Throne or his rights, but if you are here only to see him one day try and claim that Throne, then get out." Laenor told the man with fury in his eyes, with Arthur glaring at him, while holding his broken nose.
"The Throne is his by right, and I swore myself to him, as my one and rightful King. It is his duty and fate to sit on it, to avenge his parents' deaths and…" Arthur meant to continue, but Ashara stopped him.
"If that's what you think, Arthur, then get out! Get out, and never show your face before me or Jayce again." Ashara told him with fury in her eyes, shocking him, as she rose up. "I know of your vows and oaths, brother, but your loyalty to Rhaegar… It has blinded you, charmed you even. Have you forgotten what Laenor said, of what Rhaegar did to the Realm and all us? And now… You've always wished for Jayce this path, didn't you? You don't care for him, like Rhaegar didn't care for Aegon, do you?"
"Of course I care for him!" Arthur shouted in defense. "But Rhaegar must…"
"Rhaegar is dead! And he took with him thousands of lives, including Elia and her children! I will not have him claim another one, I will not!" Ashara promised to him with fury. "You best think, Arthur, to whom you are loyal more: to your dead mad Prince, or to the boy who thinks a world of you and sees you as his closest uncle." Ashara told Arthur, with Laenor deciding to finally depart for Jayce's room.
It did not take him long to reach the chambers allocated to his ward, before knocking and entering inside. Unsurprisingly, he found Jayce staring out into the distance from the balcony, dressed lightly, with his sword on his belt. Once he heard that the door was opened and someone stepped in, Jayce turned and saw Laenor, immediately stepping inside and speaking to him.
"Laenor, is something the matter?" Jayce asked of him in a seemingly casual way, as the boy noticed the troubled look on his mentor and friend's face.
"No… There is something I wanted to talk to you about. Rather… Rather I wish to tell you something." Laenor said, as he was progressively gathering his courage for the difficult talk. "There is something that you need to know. Something that you should've known for a long time."
"If this is about what happened, then…" Jayce wanted to speak up, but Laenor did not let him as he put his hand on his shoulder.
"No, it's not about that catspaw, no…" Laenor told him, making it clear not to interrupt him. "Back when we first met, I was not entirely truthful with you, for I already knew who your father was." Jayce cocked a brow at that one.
"Um, so? I'm pretty sure quite a few people, even back then, have heard of the first Stark, whose hair is blonder than Lannisters." Jayce said in a semi-joking manner.
"No, I didn't mean it like that, Jayce." Laenor told him in fully serious tone. "I knew who you were, because I once squired for your father." Now that caught Jayce off guard.
"Squired for him? I'm sorry, but aren't you and Lord Stark around the same age, and didn't you tell me you squired for Prince Rhaegar?" Jayce asked confused, with Laenor nodded to him.
"I did, and I did not mean Lord Stark, Jayce." Laenor told with full seriousness to his ward and friend, with Jayce's face morphing into one of confusion, and then misunderstanding and rejection. "I knew him well, better than I did your mother, but I knew her as well." Jayce stepped aside from him, his mind racing to understand what this was all about.
"I-is this some s-strange joke?" He asked of him, as he tried to grasp it all. "My mother is Ashara Dayne, and my father… No, you are trying to make some joke, probably 'cause of what had happened and…"
"Jayce, I wish… I wish I was making a joke, but…" Laenor let out a defeated sigh, as Jayce shook his head in rejection of the idea that Laenor was giving him. "I may not have been there when you were born, but I was there when your parents first met, and when they chose to be with each other, and when they married on the Isle of Faces."
"This joke has gone on for long enough, Laenor." Jayce told him with a shaky tone, as he did not like what he was hearing. "Tell me that there is an end to it, please…"
"Jayce, I truly wish it were so, but…" Laenor told him with a pained sigh, closing the eyes, and finally speaking the truth. "Your father and mother… You were born in the Tower of Joy, to Lady Lyanna Stark and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne and the man for whom I squired." And with this revelation, the world of the young boy began to crumble.
"No… No, that… This can't be!" Jayce said defiantly, almost screaming at him. "Me, a Targaryen?! I am a Snow, a bastard born of Stark and Dayne, but I am not a Targaryen!"
"No, Jayce, you are not a bastard, nor were Jon. You were born as legitimate sons of Rhaegar and Lyanna, his lawful wife, married after he divorced his first wife, Elia Martell. When Rhaegar fell at Trident and Aerys died to Kingslayer, Lord Stark ventured south to Tower of Joy for his sister, from where he returned with her dead body and two boys, whom he claimed as his own." Laenor continued, with Jayce stepping back, as morbid realization stated to set in. "At the time, like near all of the Realm, I did not think anything of it, believed that Lady Lyanna died and that was it, but then, when the Greyjoys rose up, and I saw you… Then I realized that I was wrong, because when I saw you first, I saw not Stark. I saw Rhaegar Targaryen." Jayce stepped nearly back to the balcony, as he turned away from Laenor, leaning against the door, trying to comprehend everything, keeping silent, until he spoke again in a dead voice.
"You… Lord Stark… Mother… Lady Ashara… You all knew it?" He asked of Laenor. "My life, no, our whole with Jon life, we… Why?" He asked, though the answer came to him immediately.
"Because of Robert Baratheon, and Lannisters, is that it?" Jayce turned to Laenor, not letting him answer, as he looked at him with tears in his eyes. "Because they had Princess and Prince slaughtered worse than pigs, right? Yet the King… He saw me, and didn't see me like them them, didn't see Dragonspawn like he called them… Yet I'm the most Valyrian of them all, am I not?" He asked of Laenor with the defeated tone.
"Robert has always been blind when it came to your father, and Ned's affections for Ashara were known. Daynes too have features similar to Targaryens and Valyrians, so it helped too, but… But those who knew your father, if they had taken a good look at you now, they would see him in you." Laenor told Jayce, who lowered his head. "Your hair and eyes, as well as jaw and lips are close to his, while cheek bones and shape of eyes are Lyanna's. You… You have the best of your parents in you, Jayce."
"The best of them? The best of whom, Laenor?" Jayce asked with sudden poison. "I fucking don't know a thing about them, yet you make it sound like I should! I…" Jayce was about to unleash a tirade, before a thought flashed through his mind, and his face turned furious, as he locked eyes with Laenor.
"Jayce?" Laenor spoke in concern, as he saw anger in the eyes of his ward.
"So, is that why you took me as a ward, huh?" Jayce asked with a raised tone, as he seemed to barely contain his anger. "Velaryons are the closest of vassals and bannermen of Targaryens and practically family, while Daynes share blood with them too, and you, along with a whole lot of others, would want blood and return of the good old days. Is this what you need me for, to be a fucking banner for you to bring together all those who would like a chance to gut Baratheons and put me on that fucking Throne, as your fucking puppet?!" Jayce shouted at Laenor.
"No, Jayce, we would never…" Laenor tried to tell him, but Jayce did not want to hear him.
"Of fucking course you wouldn't! I mean it would be utterly crazy, except that it all makes too much sense from where I'm standing!" Jayce stated with rage to Laenor. "Not only do you Velaryons get to avenge your precious Prince, but also put your own puppet in his place! You probably have even set up a nice little marriage for me with someone who can keep me in check or get you an army to fight for the Throne. So who is it then? Margeary Tyrell?! Arianne Martell, or some other noble lady with a bloody big army and smart enough to pull the strings on me?!"
"We would never do such a thing to you, Jayce. All this time, our sole concern was to protect you…" Laenor tried to tell him.
"Yeah, protect me, for long enough until you can put me on that Throne, or until I give you children through which to rule after you are through with me!" Jayce didn't let up. "You… You are worse than Lady Stark! At least she didn't know who I really am, and told me directly how she hated me, but you… You made me believe in you all! Believe you, believe that I was important to you, that I… I was your family…" Jayce said the last thing as the tears finally broke, with Laenor trying to move to him.
"Jayce, you are…"
"No! Don't touch me!" Jayce screamed at him with such anger and fury that it scared Laenor for a moment.
There was a thousand things that young lad wished to say to the man, but none of them could fully relay to the man what he felt right now, what raced through his mind and just how much hurt he was. Jayce couldn't even say a word at that moment, for the pain of the revelations was so strong, that the last thing he wished right now was to be here, and so without any other words he stormed out of his chambers, eyes clouded and fogged. He did not see Ashara, Baelon, Alyn and many others as he ran away from the manse, before being lost from sight by others in the crowds of Braavos. Right now, all that Jayce wished was to be lost, away from all, away from everything…
Hours later.
Jayce didn't know how long he had been running and walking, or where he was even heading, all he just needed was to get out, get as far away from everyone as he could. He didn't hear his supposed mother call out to him, nor did he notice guards trying to move to stop him, he just ran past them all and drowned in the tens of thousands of citizens of the Bastard Daughter of Valyria. He ran and ran, until his feet felt sore and he slowed down, yet not stopped walking, moving through the streets and allies, blind and deaf to the world around him, as his world inside him was anything but deaf and blind.
Laenor's words and revelations… He begged the world and the Gods for all of it to be lies and a bad joke, to make this another one of those stupid dreams, but as was always case with Jayce, no matter how much he wished, he could not stop to think. And when he started to think, when the rage abated in face of embers of aftershock, came the contemplation and thinking, and the more of those Jayce did, the more things began to make sense about everything. He was not blind or stupid, and he knew that out of all Stark children and probably Starks alive in the last century or so, he was the sole one who didn't look like a Northman. Hell, he knew that he looked fairer and blonder than nearly everyone he met, and made it a point of pride of his own, saying that he either stuck out better, or that he had more beauty in him than all of Lady Catelyn's children in a joking manner. Now, however, the last thing he wished was to joke of it all, as the morbid realization had set in of the precarious and dangerous situation he was in.
The unknown son of fallen Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Lady Lyanna Stark, scion of the dragon and wolf, two Houses that near ended one another… All because of his parents, because they decided to be together. Like most of the North, Jayce believed what was accepted: Rhaegar-rapist, Lyanna-victim, end of story, but now… Now he bloody didn't know what to believe in. Was he and Jon children of the rape, or did they love each other, but who could love each other to start a war like that? That and great many questions began to appear in his mind, and he tried to find answers to all of them, and as much as he wished to answer them with what he knew already, he was already calm enough to know that he couldn't do so.
And the only ones who could give him answers were the very people who lied to him: Velaryons, Daynes, his father-turned-uncle. For as much as Jayce wished to know the truth, he feared what truths could be revealed, but even more he feared that his worst thoughts would prove to be correct: that he was only a pawn in the hands of Velaryons. That for them, he was only a tool to get revenge, to get more power, and not… Not Jayce, not the boy that they've taken in, gave him home and real family, helped him heal after loss of Jon, and Jon… His brother died without even knowing any of this, and morbidly Jayce couldn't believe himself, but in this he, for the first time, envied Jon.
Hours upon hours of walking have had an exhausting effect, and for the first time, Jayce stopped and looked around, seeing a mostly deserted square with some benches near him. Choosing one, Jayce simply walked to it, and sat on it, letting out one tired sigh, his indigo eyes spying the setting sun, shining from behind the Titan. For the first time in hours, Jayce's mind finally turned away from today's revelations, and simply focused on the beauty of the place, finding a calming effect in it all. Distracted from all of it, he did not notice how someone closed the distance with him and stopped but a blade's distance away from him, before speaking up.
"You certainly have quite a way of keeping things entertaining around yourself, my friend." Jayce blinked, as he slowly turned and saw Chesare Antaryon looking at him, dressed much the same as he was in their first meeting. "Half of Braavos is out there searching for you, and yet here you, sitting where soon all of Bravo will come for partners and dance."
"If you wish for a rematch, I'm afraid I'll make for a poor partner right now." Jayce told him with a tired tone.
"You would, though I can see that it is not your sore feet that would make you a poor match now." Chesare noted, before motioning to the bench. "May I?" He asked, with Jayce simply nodding him with a sigh, with Chesare sitting near him and looking out in the distance.
"You'll find me a poor partner to converse today too." Jayce noted with dryness.
"Then it is good that I wish not to converse with you, but to hear you." Chesare stated to him, drawing the Jayce's attention with slight confusion in his eyes. "Too many thoughts and too many doubts are bottled up in you right now, and those are the worse poison than any blade or sore feet. Let them out." Chesare told him directly.
"I do not think you will want to hear it, nor do I think you will understand it all." Jayce told him.
"What I think and understand is for me to know, my friend, but what you think is what bothers me now." Chesare told him, as he made himself comfortable. "Talk, and then decide if I do or do not understand things."
"You… If you hear it, you may think different of me and you… You would be in danger because of it." Jayce told Chesare, who simply laughed at it.
"To be a Water Dancer is to look the truth in the eyes, no matter what it may hold." Chesare told Jayce, sharing with him some wisdom. "So, shall you finally speak of it, or do I need to prod you more?" And with this, Jayce finally opened up and told his new friend the truth, all of his thoughts, laying out in the open his soul, with Chesare simply listening to it all, quietly and with patience, and only once Jayce finished speaking, did Chesare speak.
"And why does it matter?" He suddenly asked of Jayce, surprising him. "Why does it matter to you?"
"What do you mean?" Jayce asked of Chesare. "You know who Rhaegar Targaryen was, who Targaryens were?"
"Who doesn't, but that's not the point. The point is, why should it matter to you now, that your father was Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark?" Chesare asked of him. "Does it immediately give them to you as parents? Does it give you the Iron Throne? Not the right to it, mind you, but the Throne itself. No, it does not, nor does it change really who you are." Chesare told Jayce as it were the clearest thing in the world.
"No, it does not, but this…" Jayce let out a groan of frustration. "I'm just… I just bloody can't figure out who or what I am now! Am a Stark, a Snow or goddamned Targaryen?! And if I am, should I bloody fight for that Throne, or do I run away, or am I a puppet of Velaryons?!" Jayce asked of Chesare.
"Tell me, my friend, who am I?" Chesare suddenly asked of him, with Jayce looking at him with surprise and confusion. "Who am I?"
"You are Chesare Antaryon, fourth son of the Sealord of Braavos." Jayce answered, with Chesare shaking his head.
"No. Who am I?" Chesare asked again.
"You are a noble of Braavos, and a Bravo." Chesare shook his head to it. "You are a swordsman?" Again, Chesare shook his head.
"No. Who am I, before all those things?" Chesare asked again, with Jayce contemplating it all, before answering.
"You are a man?" He answered unsurely, with Chesare smiling to him.
"Yes, I am a man and the first rule in the code of Braavos for all men and women: "In Braavos, you make your own choices, not have them made for you." Chesare recited it for Jayce. "You, my friend, are a man too, and so you too can make choices, and not have them made for you by others. You wish to be Snow, be Snow. Targaryen, by all means. Or you can be whoever or whatever you wish. The Gods have given us mind, will and body to make our own life, so use it to your content, and who cares what others think."
"It's… it's not as simple as you make it sound." Jayce noted, before he was flicked in the head by Chesare. "Ow, what was that for?"
"For you trying to make things too difficult for yourself." Chesare told him, as he let out a sigh. "Yes, there are people who may wish you to be what they want you to be, but only you decide who you want to be. Tell me, was it your choice to stand and fight in Oldtown and on Pyke? You could've ran, couldn't you?"
"Yes, I could, but I didn't." Jayce told him. "I… I did choose to stand and fight."
"The same is with this, my friend: you can choose to accept it and live with it, or dash it away and just be whoever you wish to be, or do neither, or all at once." Chesare told him. "Either way, all those things you told me, you were wrong about them, for they do not change you in my eyes."
"Really, and who am I in your eyes?" Jayce asked of him.
"You are Jayce the Dreadwolf, the man who doesn't run from a fight, and would sooner spit in the face of Death than run." Chesare smiled to him. "You are also a man who is not afraid to fight for his life even against a bigger, stronger, faster opponent. You are like a Water Dancer in this regard, for we too say to Death same thing as you do."
"And what would that be?" Jayce asked of him.
"Not today." To this Jayce smiled and laughed.
"Yeah, I guess you are right." Jayce told him, as the mood lightened up on him, but some thoughts remained a heavy burden on him. "But there is still the matter of Velaryons and Ashara, of Lord Stark and Arthur Dayne, and… Of my parents…"
"To this all I have to say is the same as I said before: you make the choice." Chesare told him, before adding up. "Do you know the core principal of the Water Dancing, my friend?"
"Being light your feet?" Jayce asked, with Chesare shaking his head.
"To see the truth, truth of your opponent and yourself. If you know all those, you will never lose in a dance, even if you wear plated armor and move like a drunken ox." Chesare told him. "Your dilemma is the same here: you are looking at it, but you are not seeing everything. Looking and seeing is not the same, and your mind is looking, not seeing. And looks are deceptive, and deceptions are deadly for the dancer, and a man." To this, Jayce could only nod, as he understood what his friend meant.
"I can see your point." Jayce told him, as he turned to him. "Thank you, Chesare. I… I honestly never expected you to be so wise or that you would help me like this after yesterday."
"I only offered you a path to your own wisdom, and it is in the dance that true friends are made." Chesare smiled to him as he patted him on the back, as both rose up. "And I hope you are up for making a few more friends, or at least partners for the dance." Chesare nodded towards the gathering Bravo, with a number already heading to them, with Jayce noticing the sun already being down and the darkness setting in.
"Is it just me, or are a lot of them practically grinning towards me?" Jayce asked of Chesare, who already drew out his steel. "Did I offend them or something?"
"Offend them? My friend, you've beaten me in a duel, the infamous Dreadwolf himself gave me a thrashing! You've announced yourself in the single most daring fashion to all Bravo, and to all of us, it is like an invitation, which they've obliged." Chesare explained with a smile, with Jayce thinking to it for a second, until smiling and then laughing to it, before taking out his sword.
"Well then, what a bad host would I be if I've left my guest bored to death?" He said with a wolfish smile, as he felt the rush in his blood and muscles, swinging his sword in a greeting fashion. "Who's first?" He asked, and so the dance began.
Several hours later. Trastamara manse.
"Any luck?" Ashara asked of Laenor, once he walked into their chambers, merely shaking his head in response. "It's all my fault, I shouldn't have raised this question now of all times…"
"No, Ash, it is not your fault. Sooner or later, we would've had to have this talk." Laenor moved closer and hugged his wife. "We just need to pray that nothing happens to Jayce and…" At that moment, the doors into their chambers opened, revealing to their shock Jayce, behind whom stood Lucerys, Beatrice and Arthur.
"Hey." He simply said to them, with Ashara letting out tears and sighs of relief. "I, um… Sorry, for the earlier." He simply told them, with Laenor moving to him with a smile.
"No, it is alright, Jayce." He told him. "I am sorry, for putting it all on you like this, and for not telling you sooner."
"Jayce, I… I am sorry, I…" Ashara tried to talk, but before she could say a word, Jayce put up his hand and stopped her.
"Before you say you are sorry about anything, there are things that I need to know, so first you will tell me about them." Jayce told them, as others entered, before closing the door. "Now, I don't really know what you all expect of me, or want me to do, now that I know who brought me to this world. And quite frankly, right now, I do not really care about any of it. What I do care about, is the truth. So, what you are going to do, is tell it to me, everything about every single thing I want to know. Rhaegar, Lyanna, Harrenhall, Tower of Joy and everything else- you will tell me everything, and I do not mean fairy tales, embellished songs or the other nonsense. I want only the truth, about everyone and everything, and if I do not get it from any of you, then I'll never be able to trust any of you again. Do we have a deal?" Jayce told them his terms, and everyone accepted.
"Good. Now, let's start with the man who ruined pretty much everyone's lives by heeding the call of his loins." Jayce said, as he turned to Laenor and Arthur. "Tell me of Rhaegar, the real one." And so they told him of Rhaegar, Lyanna, Harrenhall, all that they knew on every subject that he asked them, without hiding anything, until they were finally finished, and then it was time for Jayce to speak up.
"That about answers all of my questions, I think." Jayce said with a sigh. "Now then, tell me: what do you want me to do with it?" He asked of them, surprising them all.
"What do you mean, Jayce?" Lucerys asked of him.
"Well, I doubt you don't have some kind of an idea or plan in mind, when it comes to me." Jayce told them. "I just want to know what it is, pure and simple."
"We… We agreed, at least most of us here, agreed, that we would raise and protect you, and when the time came for you to learn the truth, we would support you in whatever decision you may want to make." Ashara told him. "That remains the same."
"So, if I were, for an example, deciding to just live out my life as I am now, a legitimized Stark, you would be alright with it?" Jayce asked of them, with most agreeing.
"But you are not a Stark, Your Grace." Arthur spoke up, getting the attention of Jayce. "You are Rhaegar's son and heir to the Iron Throne. You are Jacaerys Targaryen, First of His Name and…"
"First, if you start to count all those titles, Ser Arthur, I'll ask someone to slap you. Second, I am a Stark, at least half of it, so deal with it. Third, never again call me like you did just now." Jayce's tone turned ice cold when he mentioned that one. "Like it or not, Ser Arthur, but as I've told you, I'm the one who will make the decision about my own future, and I won't have anyone else make it for me."
"But the Iron Throne is yours by birthright, and your father needs to be avenged, not to mention your mother…" Ser Arthur tried to argue, but Jayce stopped him.
"My "father" abandoned his wife and children for a young foolish girl, who was engaged to a man and was daughter of Lord of the North, and because of his desires, the Realm was bathed in blood." Jayce stated critically. "And as for my "mother," because of her infatuation, passion or just stupidity, my uncle, grandfather and many thousands of Northmen died, while she was in the Tower of Joy, getting fucked by a half-mad Prince, only wanting a daughter out of her for a Conquerors' set of his. Add to all that the fact that I never even knew them or even cared about them, until now, and you can see why I choose to not even recognize them as my parents at this point." Arthur was stunned from what he heard.
"Even so, you are still Prince of House Targaryen, it's de-facto Head, and yours is the rightful claim to the Iron Throne." Arthur reminded him, with Jayce's eyes darkening from what he heard. "Robert Baratheon has usurped it, and he must answer for what he has done."
"In what way? By me starting a war later on, again bathing the Realm in blood, by proclaiming my right to the throne and so on and so forth? Well, let's say I win. What then?" Jayce asked of him. "Robert is dead, Lannisters dead, tens of thousands are dead, but the Throne is mine, my parents are avenged, but what then? Who is to say that I will not turn out to be like Rhaegar, or his father, or Robert? Because, right now, I do not want that Throne or that responsibility, what are the chances that I'll turn out to be like Jaehaerys the I?" Jayce asked them all that very question.
"You would be a rightful King." Arthur simply answered, with Jayce shaking his head at that.
"Maegor the Cruel, Rhaenyra, Aegon the II, Baelor the Blessed, Aegon the Unworthy, Aerys the Mad- all rightful rulers, and did they turn out to be good rulers?" Jayce asked of Arthur, who couldn't answer that, before the boy let out a sigh. "The point is, Ser Arthur, that I do not want that Throne, nor do I want another war, or to turn into another one of the bad rulers, because, let's be honest, I do not have the best qualities for it. Hell, I do not even know what I want from my life, but what I do know is this: I will decide what I want to do with my life, and you do not like it, you are free to leave and find Viserys Targaryen to join him." Jayce gave him the choice, with Arthur ultimately making his.
"I'll follow you wherever you wish to go, whether it leads you to the Throne or away from it." Arthur told him, with Ashara sighing from hearing it. "Not because you are Rhaegar's son, but because I choose to do so."
"That's what I like to hear." Jayce told him with a smile. "And as for the whole situation with my family… Let's just stick with what we have already. After all, I already have the best mother I could ask for, so why would I want to switch her for a dead woman?" Jayce smiled to her, with Ashara smiling back to her.
"I told you he would understand." Beatrice told her husband with a smile, before turning to Jayce. "Now then, Jayce, tell us: how many dances did you have?" She asked of him.
"Dances? Ah, you mean duels… Huh, I think about four or five. I lost count." Jayce simply told them. "How did you know? I'm pretty sure I wasn't cut or anything."
"You've made quite a spectacle of an entrance, and with your preceding reputation, you were bound to run into eager partners for a dance." Beatrice told him. "Good thing you came unharmed, too. Baela would be even more distraught than she is now if she had learned that you were hurt."
"Baela? Wait, I didn't see her in those two days, is she alright?" Jayce asked immediately.
"She is well in health, but she blames herself for what had happened, and thinks you blame her for it too." Ashara revealed to him, with Jayce hopping out of his chair and moving to the door. "Where are you going?"
"Beat some bloody sense into her, that's where." Jayce told them, before heading to Baela's chambers, finding them closed, and so he banged on the door.
"Go away!" Came the response from out there, clearly belonging to Baela.
"Baela, open up! It's me, Jayce." He called to her, before hearing the door open and then the girl in question.
"Jayce?" And at that moment, Jayce unceremoniously flicked Baela on the head. "Ow! What's that for?"
"That's for thinking stupid." He said, before flicking her again. "That's thinking doubly stupid. And that's just to make sure." And so he flicked her on the head the third time, with her rubbing to hit spot.
"Ow… You… You are not mad at me?" Baela asked of him, with Jayce shaking his head. "But if I didn't sneak out with you, that man wouldn't have attacked you…"
"That man would've attacked me sooner or later, he just sought the opportunity and found one. You've had nothing to do with it, and the only persons I'm mad at are those who wished me dead, and you are not one of them, are you?" Baela immediately shook her head at that. "See? Now, let's find us something to it, because I'm starving, and you've been shut in here for who knows how long." Jayce offered.
"Wait!" Baela suddenly stopped him, before running back to her room, and then coming back with a handkerchief, giving it to Jayce. "I… I wanted to make it a present for you and gift it when we got back, but I finished it earlier, s-so…" Jayce took the handkerchief, which showed a sort of coat of arms, depicting a pale golden wolf standing on its feet, holding a white sword, on the field of bright blue, enclosed by white rims, and in the top left corner was as purple quarter with the white star of Daynes on it.
"You did this all by yourself?" Jayce asked of her, surprised.
"I-I know it looks not as good as mom's, b-but you said once you wished to have your own sigil, s-so… I'm sorry if it looks funny or…" Baela said unsure of her work.
"Funny? Baela it looks absolutely fantastic!" Jayce told her with a big smile, before hugging her. "This is the best present I could ask for, thank you!" Baela stood in shock, before accepting the embrace.
"Really? W-wouldn't you prefer a grey wolf like Starks?" Baela asked of Jayce, before he laughed at the idea.
"Are you serious? Why would I want to change any of that, plus that wolf is perfect! Seven Hells, he even has my hair!" Jayce said with a laugh. "It is absolutely perfect, Baela. I'm actually surprised that you made it like that. I thought you hated needlework and all that other stuff that Septa Rena tries to teach you."
"Pft, I hate how she tries to make me be "a good and proper Lady" and all that, plus she is a nasty prude." Baela answered. "I like to work with needle, but when it's my own, and not another one of her Seven Pointed Stars."
"Yeah, like we've got a lack of those." Jayce added with Baela smiling to him, as they finally headed towards kitchen, while Jayce tucked the gift safely away.
A month later. Dragonstone.
The rest of the trip went as smoothly as it could, with the wedding and celebrations being held, with Velaryons and other attending, and it was clear for all, that Jayce and others truly enjoyed their time there. Yet, like all good things, it came to an end and so Velaryons departed for their home, sailing for Driftmark, but before they could reach their home, they were ordered to come to Dragonstone, by Prince Stannis Baratheon, who had sent a letter to Braavos about a week before Velaryons left Braavos.
Seeing as he was the de-facto liege lord of Velaryons, Lucerys obeyed and sailed his ships with his family towards the seat of Stannis, the dreary and somewhat dull island of Dragonstone. Jayce had already been to this isle several times, though it was nothing like the vibrant Braavos or fertile Driftmark, this volcanic rock too had it's charms, of a different kind. The mighty citadel that the Targaryens have built here was as imposing as it was incredible to watch, and the sight of it took a breath away the first time Jayce saw it. But along with that… There was something in here, that he couldn't explain, yet there was some sort of sense or a feeling that felt when he was here, something similar to the one he had back in Winterfell, whenever he visited the Weirwood trees that grew there. Like there was something unseen and unheard, yet present… After all that he had experienced, Jayce was pretty much ready to believe that this could very well be magic.
Turning away from the thoughts, Jayce entered the main hall of the Dragonstone with the rest of Velaryons, where they were announced and then received by Prince Stannis, his wife and their household. Kneeling before their liege lord, Velaryons showed respect to him, before Stannis commanded them to rise.
"Your Grace, we thank you for the hospitality and for having us." Lucerys spoke as was appropriate of him. "We have come as per your command, and are at your service."
"Yes, you are. There is much to discuss, Lucerys, but before that, I'll have words with your ward." Stannis suddenly said, his eyes moving to Jayce, who looked surprised, for he did not expect to be mention like this. "Jayce Stark, step forth, boy." Stannis commanded, and Jayce complied.
"Your Grace?" Jayce spoke up in a confused tone. "Is something a matter with me?"
"Not with you, but with a matter that has connection to you. A fortnight ago, your stepmother, Lady Catelyn Stark faced a trail for the alleged murder of your brother, Jon Snow." Stannis informed Jayce, surprising him.
"Seeing as you are saying "alleged," I'm guessing the Gods were not merciful on that day and she lived." Jayce said in his usual light hearted manner, something that got Lady Selyse Florent quite irate with him.
"The Gods showed mercy to the wrongly convicted Lady and saw her spared, having sent her the champion to defend her in the Trail by Combat." Selyse stated with anger in her voice for Jayce's tone. "Your mockery of the sacred laws of gods will not stand in the walls of my keep, bastard."
"Quiet, woman. This is my keep, and I shall say what will stand here or not." Stannis shut her up, before turning to Jayce. "Yes, she was found innocent in the Trial by Combat. She was represented by Lyn Corbray, while the Crown was represented by Ser Boros Blount and Ser Boros lost both the Trial and his life to Corbray."
"I'm certain he shall be remembered most fondly by the King and his brothers." Jayce stated with his usual cheek. "Still, Gods must really hate Lady Catelyn, if they've allowed her to live."
"And why is that?" Stannis asked of Jayce, who gave him quite a smirk.
"For if there is one thing that she can't stand having in this world, it is me, Your Grace. If she were to die than she would at last be free of me, but since she lives… Well, I'll guess I just have to continue haunting her to the best of my abilities." To this Jayce made a theatrical sigh, which got quite a few snickers, and even Stannis almost cracked a smile at that.
"He makes open mockery of sacred laws and customs, right before you, husband. I demand you remove this wretched filth out of our home. He has no place in here, spreading his… corruption." Selyse practically spat at Jayce, with Stannis turning towards her with a glare.
"Enough, woman! I'll not break the rite of hospitality just because you do not like him, and do not forget, for he is no bastard." Stannis reminded him.
"He was born a filthy bastard, stained at birth, after coming from the wretched womb of his mother." Selyse stated openly, with Laenor already rising to answer for it, but Jayce had him beat to it.
"Milady is most certainly right, for I was born filthy and stained from my mother, and I imagine that this was quite a messy business altogether." Jayce suddenly spoke up, seemingly agreeing with Selyse, before turning and motioning to Ashara and her children. "Mayhaps you right, and her womb is wretched and impure, only able to bring filthy and stained children, which she has in numbers for House Velaryons, of which sons and daughters number in two each. It truly is a shame that she could never be like you, whose body remains pure and unstained by sin of lust, with your bed dedicated only for sleep and duty, and your womb near as unspoiled as when you were a maiden." Jayce's hint and cheek at Selyse's ability to bear children was one thing that she could not forgive.
"You vile creature, guards, have this bastard whipped, now!" Selyse shouted openly, but Stannis stopped her.
"Stand down. Maester Cressen, take Lady Selyse out and see to her nerves." Stannis commanded, and Maester obeyed, leading near hysterical woman out, before he turned to face Jayce. "I see you still have your gall on you. Do you know the punishment for insulting a lady?" Stannis asked of Jayce, who had a look of seeming surprise.
"Insult your lady? Me? Your Grace, I merely offered my profuse agreement with your lady-wife's arguments, as well as praised her virtues. I would never dream to insult her in any capacity or form." Jayce said almost innocently, to which Stannis simply grunted in what appeared to be a bit of an approval. "But, Your Grace, would you allow me a chance to ask him a question?"
"Ask." Stannis gave him his permission.
"If someone like Queen Cersei were to openly disparage and disrespect your mother in manner similar to one seen here minutes ago, what would you do?" Jayce asked of Stannis, who knew what the boy meant.
"I would not be able to hold my tongue either, though my reply would not be as flowery as yours." Stannis noted, agreeing on the subject. "With that cheek and tongue of yours, you would fit right in with Varys, Baelish, Renly and all the other lickspitters." Stannis stated in a neutral tone.
"I'll take that as a praise, Your Grace, but I much too abhor the smell of the capitol and much too love the smell of seawater, so I shall stay on Driftmark, if you would permit." Jayce answered, to which Stannis again grunted, but more softly, before he turned to Lucerys.
"You and I will need to speak at length, Lucerys, along with Laenor. Your chambers have all been prepared, and your belongings are being taken there. Lucerys, Laenor, with me. Ser Davos, see to the other guests." Stannis commanded, and so all began to go where they were supposed to, with Jayce leaving with the rest of the Velaryons.
The pitch blackness seemed to go on for ages, and the two men who carried a rather hefty and large chest had to be extra careful to not fall, only having one torch to use as their means of lighting the area. Eventually, they've reached the ground floor and after walking for some time, they've finally put down the chest, and the man with the torch moved to the stony fireplace, putting the fire in and lighting it ablaze. In mere moments, the place was illuminated, showing a large open space of the cave, the most open and massive that there were on Dragonstone, as the two of them stood in the center of it. The walls of this cave were covered carvings and pictures, showing things that no longer were, all of which were gone with Valyria, but it was not for observing those that these two men were here.
"I've had no idea that there was such a place on the isle." The black haired, blue eyed strong man spoke in amazement. "This thing seems almost larger than dragon pit. Do Visenya and Rhaenys know of it?"
"No, nor shall they ever know of it, not from me, or from you, Orys." The strong voice of Aegon Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone was heard through in cave. "This cave, and what's in this chest must never become known to either of them, ever. Do I have your word that this secret shall remain unspoiled?" Aegon asked of him, with Orys looking at him surprised, but then turned to a more carefree look.
"Like they ever ask me anything. I'm not too fair for them to care." Orys joked, but saw that Aegon did not even laugh, and understood that this was no laughing matter. "Aye, Aegon. I shall take all this to the grave and not tell them, or even my own sons and daughters, should I have them. You have my word."
"And I thank you for it, brother." Aegon finally smiled to him, as he moved closer to him, before looking at the chest. "Almost all is in place, safe for a two things. Do you have what I asked you for?" Orys nodded and produced from out of his coat a white bundle, held by small ropes and containing what Aegon wished of Orys to procure.
"Aye, here it is. The tailor finished it only hours ago, but all is done as you've asked for." Orys told Aegon, giving him the bundle, with the Targaryen opening the covers a little to inspect the product. "I've paid him good coin, to make sure he talks to none of this, though he hinted he wouldn't. I'd wager he probably believed this was for me to wear, once I am a lord." Orys noted with smile.
"No, Orys, I fear this is not for you to wear. Your sigil shall be a different one, brother." Aegon told him, as he moved the covers back in place, satisfied with the work, and then opened the chest, placing the bundle in there, on top of what was already inside of it.
"Well, I hope mine will be something at least as good as this one." Orys noted with a bit of a joke, as he looked into the chest. "Forgive me, Aegon, but I need to ask you: why exactly are you doing all this? This is the treasure of your House, something for which all the Westerosi Kings and Queens would die to get their hands on, and you are just putting it here, without even letting your sisters know of it? You realize that if they catch even a whiff of what you did, they'll skin you alive, or at least Rhaenys would. Visenya would feed you to Vhagar, but first she'll feed him your balls."
"I imagine they would do so, hence why what is in here must not become knowledge to them." Aegon stated it again, as he produced out of his coat a scroll with his own seal and put it in the chest gently.
"So, is this some ancient Valyrian tradition?" Orys asked of him, still curious about all this. "Leaving a gift for your future sons, as well as some words of wisdom."
"This is not for my sons or my grandsons, no. This is for someone, who will come here where I now stand, after you and I are but words in the books and legends. It is for someone who will come here, after the Targaryens burn each other for power and the realm, after the Dragons are but myth and stories, and after my House is but a shade of a snake, after a Targaryen Prince ignites the war that will end our reign." Aegon spoke with such clear certainty and assurance, that Orys could not dismiss it as mere wishful thinking, while Aegon gently closed the chest. "He will come here, knowing the truth, yet not knowing what to do with it, and he will have questions on things he has seen and felt, but doesn't understand. He will stand here nigh three centuries later, with one of those, with whom he shall share this treasure."
"You are to embark on the conquest tomorrow, yet here you are, talking of the fall of your House already. If you already know all this, then why not warn your descendants of what is to come and prevent them for mucking everything up?" To this Orys heard Aegon chuckle with humor, something that he almost never heard him do. "First all this talk of future doom of Targaryens, and now you are actually laughing at one of my jokes… I'm either asleep or this is the end of the world."
"Believe me, Orys, this is neither, and yes, I did think of it, but even if I were to do as you say, it would not stop anything. All things that come to life must also end, even Valyria did not last eternally as it was predicted, and Doom comes for all things, one way or the other." Aegon let out a sigh, as he put his hand on the chest. "I can't prevent the Doom, for it will come for my House, one way or the other. All I can do, is to ensure, that the one who comes after us, will have at least something from us, aside from shame, disgrace and misfortunes."
"Well, if you are now predicting Dooms and ends of all things, tell me: how will my line end? Will I get me a beautiful princess, or will I die to a boar's tusks somewhere in kingswoods of Durrandons?" Orys asked in a half-hearted manner, with Aegon looking towards him, with his eyes seemingly looking straight into his eyes, before smiling to him.
"You'll have yourself a princess, Orys, and she'll give you your banner, and your seed will be strong in you, and in your successors." Aegon told him. "So I'm afraid you'll have to forget about the glorious death at boar's tusks." Aegon and Orys chuckled at that joke.
"Then I'll just settle on a princess. Hopefully it will be that feisty lass, Argella. I could spend hours just looking into her eyes." Orys said dreamily, as he and Aegon finally began to depart from the cave.
"Yes, though her real eyes are further up from where yours landed last you saw her." Aegon noted with dry humor, to which Orys merely laughed heartedly.
"Aye, they are, but you can't deny: she's got a bosom that would put to shame even Visenya's tits! And those shapely hips and bottom… To be perfectly blunt with you, brother: I still think you are an idiot for not snatching her from Argillac when you had the chance." Orys stated to him through chuckles, as they ascended back to the castle.
"Mayhaps, but she would've found me quite disappointing if I did, for I would be gelded on our first night." Aegon noted, to which Orys laughed again, as they finally exited the cave, and Aegon closed the hidden door to it.
"Well, then thank the gods that you've saved yourself from that." Orys patted his brother on the shoulder and walked off on his own, while Aegon stopped before a mirror nearby, looking straight into it, and then finally speaking.
"Remember: the dragons write their own Songs, not have them written for them, Jayce." Aegon said it so that only he would hear it, or rather he and someone who may also be hearing it through him…
To say that out of all the dreams that Jayce had experienced this was by far the weirdest and most frightening to him, would be an understatement, yet for all it's fright, it was so captivating, that it could not leave his mind no matter what. This time… he was the Aegon, the one after whom all other his namesakes were named after, the man who forged Westeros into a united nation, creator of the Iron Throne and the Conqueror… And that man knew of him nigh three hundred years before he was even born…
After Jayce had learned of his true lineage and of his parents, he also learned of the Dragon Dreams, or at least what they were in general detail from Laenor, and after all he had seen and experienced, Jayce was more than ready to believe that he was one of those mythical Dragon Dreamers. How else one could explain what he had seen and experienced, the dreams of the future and the past? And now, Jayce was going to see if this dream, the dream in which he was directly called by the one through whose eyes he saw, was true or not, and so he quietly snuck out of the chambers and headed to the part of the Dragonstone which he saw.
Yet not twenty steps away from his chambers, Jayce noticed that he was followed by someone, and another five steps later he understood that it was Baela who followed him as she nearly felled on the floor after she hit an uneven floor plate.
"What are you doing?" Jayce asked of her in a hushed tone, once they were clear out of the gallery. "You should be in bed."
"So should you be. What's your excuse?" Baela asked back. "And don't say privy." She added with deadpan expression.
"I just was out for a stroll, didn't feel like sleeping." Jayce answered, but Baela's eyes made it clear she did not believe a word.
"Yes, you were off on a stroll in the middle of the night." Baela said sarcastically, before her tone turned serious. "You were planning to sneak off to see the dragon pits, weren't you?"
"I… Ugh, you know what? Yeah, I was off to sneak somewhere, but it's not dragon pits." Jayce simply gave up trying to lie to Baela, with her surprised at such a quick answer, before he headed off to his destination. "Well, are you coming or not?" He asked, already knowing the answer to that.
"Looks like this wing hasn't been visited by anyone in years. I wonder if this where Lady Wight actually lives." Baela joked, recalling the local nickname for Lady Selyse, with Jayce chuckling at it. "Thanks, for sticking it to her for mom. I can't understand, what's her problem with her and you? The King and Prince Stannis like you, why can't she be more like them?"
"Believe me, I've wracked my mind trying to understand people like her my whole life, and you know what I realized?" Jayce asked of her rhetorically. "There is no point in trying to understand people like her, and best you can do is not bother with it. I don't, and believe me, I am all the happier after that."
"I'll take your advice into consideration." Baela said, as the pair reached what seemed to be dead end. "There's nothing in here. Jayce, what are you doing?" Baela saw him move closer to what appeared to be a carving of a fire, and start pushing it.
"Baela, can you get to that carving and push it too?" Jayce asked of her, and Baela looked at him with confusion. "Trust me, please. I'll explain it to you later, alright?" He promised to her, and Baela did as he asked, and soon both of the carvings moved into the wall, and all of a sudden for the girl, a stone plate moved and revealed the passage that led into the bowels of Dragonstone.
"Wow." Baela could only say, while Jayce fetched a torch and lit it up, before moving downwards with her. "How did you know that this was here?"
"Would you believe me if I told you that I've dreamt of it?" Jayce asked of her without a hint of humor in his tone, with Baela noticing it.
"Dreamt of it? What do you mean by that?" She asked of him, as they continued their descent. "How deep do you think we are going? Is this one of the escape tunnels, or a secret entrance to the dragon pits?" Baela asked, as they finally reached the bottom, and moved to the center of the cave.
"No, neither of those two." Jayce said as they finally reached the chest in his dream, and he stood right where Aegon stood. "This is it… Just like in the dream." Baela turned her eyes with concern and confusion to Jayce, when she heard him say it.
"You… You really dreamt it, didn't you?" Baela asked of him, with Jayce turning to her and nodding, before she turned to the chest and looked at it. "This chest… It has the Targaryen sigil on it, but it looks like it has been here for years."
"It has been here for over 290 years." Jayce corrected Baela, as he looked at the chest, putting his hand on it. "It has been here all this time… Since Aegon and Orys put it here." He said quietly.
"Aegon and Orys? You mean… You mean Aegon the Conqueror and Orys Baratheon?" Baela asked. "That you too saw in your dream."
"Not just saw it, Baela. In that dream, I was Aegon." Jayce told her, surprising her. "And this… This is not the first time when I had dreams like that, and of different kind. When my first came, it was on Pyke, when that attack was about to begin, and I saw how it would've gone if I hadn't warned everyone. Another like it was before we set for Braavos… It was in that one that I saw that catspaw kill me, and everything, I mean every single thing from that dream, came to be before he struck." Jayce revealed to Baela, shocking her.
"That… That sounds like what grandfather used to tell me, the stories of Daenys the Dreamer, how Targaryens fled Valyria." Baela said to him. "But you are a Stark and a Dayne, and no Targaryen princess married either of the Houses, I know that well, and Daynes are not of Valyrian descent." Baela said to him, with Jayce nodding to her.
"Aye, you are right… But a Targaryen Prince did marry a Stark Lady twelve years ago, and a year later, two boys came out of that union, which returned with Lord Eddard Stark to Winterfell. And now, only one remains, and now he is standing here with you." Jayce told Baela, as she stepped back from what she heard. "Baela, I'm sorry, but…"
"You… You are a Targaryen Prince…" She said with shock.
"I'm no prince or Targaryen or even a Stark if one thinks of it." Jayce said with some force in his words, as he turned away from her and looked at the chest. "I'm just Jayce, the boy doesn't understand who he is and why is all this happening to me…" Jayce said with a sigh, lowering his head, leaving him and Baela standing in silence, before she stepped closer to him and hugged him.
"To me, you are more than that, and I don't care if you are dragon or wolf." Baela assured him, making him smile. "You are family, Jayce, and nothing will change that."
"Thank you." Jayce told her, before he handed her the torch and put both his hands on the chest's lid, lifting it open, showing that there was the letter Aegon left, as well as the bundle, and something else, covered by the banner of Targaryen three-headed dragon. "Everything is exactly like it was." Jayce took up the scroll, looking at it for a moment, not knowing whether to open it up or not.
"Maybe you should read it alone." Baela suggested, surprising Jayce. "Well, if you saw it as Aegon, mayhaps he left it for you."
"Heh, he did." Jayce admitted, putting the letter into his pocket, before going for the bundle and opening it, with its contents being just as much a surprise as was the dream. "A surcoat…"
"It has the sigil I made for you!" Baela said with astonishment, as she looked at it. "It's exactly the same, down to every detail! H-how could he have known of it?"
"Same as I did, I guess." Jayce said, as he put aside the surcoat, and moved for the banner, moving it away. "Huh? A Scalemail?" Jayce said with confusion, as he picked it up and brought it closer to the light, with both him and Baela widening their eyes in shock, when they realized what it really was.
"V-Valyrian Dragonscale armor… T-this u-used to be worn by Dragon Lords of Valyria, m-made to withstand any weapon, e-even Valyrian steel. Made of both scale and ring mails, i-it's said that not one of those e-ever was pierced or broken by any arm…" Baela said with shock in her voice, as she recalled from stories. "This armor… It's worth more than a dozen of Valyrian swords, a-and Aegon l-left it here for you..."
"He said that he was leaving it for the one who will come here after Targaryens are no longer in power… He knew before the Conquest, about the Dance and Rebellion…" Jayce said, recalling the dream. "He said that Doom would claim Targaryens as it did Valyria, in one way or the other, and all he could do was that those that come after have more than shame and disgrace left."
"Seems like he had a great deal of confidence in you, more so than in Aenys or Maegor even, if he left you this of all things." Baela noted, looking at it again. "Tywin Lannister could sell you the Rock and better half of the Westerlands and still have not even to pay for it. I doubt even Iron Bank would have enough coil to pay for it... And that's not all… Seven bloody fucking Hells!" Baela cursed out loud, as she finally removed the banner fully, opening up to the view the last of its contents to the view, with Jayce saying the same exact things.
"F-five… Five Dragon Eggs…" Jayce said, shock gripping his mind, as he moved his shaky hand to touch one of them, with Baela doing the same. "I-it's warm, a-almost hot…"
"Yeah, it is…" Baela admitted, as she touched the scaly surface of the egg. "B-but it's drafty and not as warm in here…" Baela noted, with Jayce nodding to her, before he took out the scroll, broke the seal, an finally read it.
Jayce,
If you are reading this, then my dreams did indeed come true, and my House has been undone by itself, and the Stag of Orys rules the Seven Kingdoms. Though the thought of this gives me pause every time I see future, I hold no grudge or regret over what is to come, for the actions of my descendants are their own, and it is for them I will leave Westeros. And it is for you that I leave what little I can preserve, should the future I foresaw come true.
You must've seen it all in your dream, and heard all that I said, so I shall not repeat myself, and share with you what I had learned from my father: we may see the future, but it is never set in stone. It is we who shape and forge it, through our actions and deeds, and it is the dragon who writes his own song, not has his song written for him, and it is not for me to make any demands of you, Jayce.
The blood of Fire and Ice flows in you, and in your hands I leave in your hands not just my last gifts, but also my hopes for your future, which you will build for yourself. Reclaim the Iron Throne, rebuild Valyria, expose the world's secrets- yours is the choice to make, all I can do is give you knowledge and some means for achieving whatever you wish. The surcoat bears the sigil you chose for yourself, unbound to my House as you wish, so make your own name known, outside of shadows of Dragon and Wolf. The Dragonscale is to protect your life, for yours will not be an easy life. The eggs came from two first clutches of Vhagar and Meraxes, but I'm sure you already know, that none of them are for you. Yours is the dragon long grown and hatched, now waking and waiting for you after long slumber.
Inside the chest are also journals and manuscripts, the true treasures that were preserved from the Doom of Valyria, knowledge that the Maesters would kill even Kings and Queens for. In them is the knowledge more valuable than nigh all of Citadel, so treasure and put it to good use.
And remember, dragons answer only to dragons, and you are a true dragon.
Fire and Blood, Jayce.
Aegon Targaryen.
What's this, a chapter so soon? Well, I guess inspiration kicked me right in the arse and told me to get to work, so I did just that. I think I'll skip most of my usual stuff, because I have something to address.
It would appear, that my story has been experiencing some strange issues, for it seems to appear and disappear for my readers, seemingly being taken down, yet I did not take it down, nor do I intend to. What I've also noticed is that my views count hasn't changed for a while now, ever since I posted my second chapter, remaining on the same number as before, while not registering any new ones. I do not really know what is this, maybe malfunction of site, or bug because of a change in the Game of Thrones section of Fanfiction, but please be aware that it seems my story is effected because of it. I very much hope that this is not something that is connected to current political situation in the world, given that I am a Russian. I do not give a damn about politics, and I certainly do not support what is going on in Ukraine, I just want everything to go back to the way things were beforehand, when Google and YouTube didn't block icons, pictures and sites, and when I could freely buy games on Steam…
Sorry about the rant. Just for your information, it would seem that viewing the story from app is a good idea for those who can't find it through site here, so just remember it for the future.
Anyway, enough of that. I hope that you've enjoyed the chapter (oh, and did you really think I would let Catelyn be done so easily? Heck no! She'll get what's coming for her, don't worry) and will leave a review, a suggestion for the future, a question about the story or a suggestion for a romance. I very much appreciate the feedback, for it helps me make my story better.
Oh, and I will change the icon of the story to represent the one that Jayce will now use. Made it on Armoria, lovely site, very easy to use and just the thing I've been looking for like ever!
Next time: Adventures in the Bite; Reunions in White Harbor; The Dreadwolf howls…
See ya soon!