Who is he?
Daenerys Targaryen
Daenerys hummed to herself, idly pondering her fellow rulers. Aegon Targaryen had already alienated Robb Stark, Jon Connington was a loose cannon who had pissed off the Lords of the North.
Robb Stark was confident; he was a warrior king. In a way, he reminded her a little bit of Drogo. He was tall and broad-shouldered. Northmen had a reputation for savagery as well. Idly she traced the rim of her goblet. Tyrion stood next to her contemplatively.
"Speak." She knew he wanted to say something
"Robb Stark is rather handsome is he not?" and now she despised asking him that. Her goblet was in throwing in distance.
"Compared to you? Of course"
"Ah! You wound me, your grace! I am but a stunted dwarf! Robb Stark is King! Undefeated!" Tyrion threw out his arms and his goblet sloshed as some of the wine spilt staining his hands
"Tyrion." She reprimanded him, she did not wish to speak of marriage
"Your grace, must I remind you that he has four kingdoms? But I would encourage you to talk to him your grace if not to win his support but to have a friend. She raised an eyebrow and leaned back in her seat.
"A friend?"
"Yes, you and he have a lot in common actually."
"Are you saying your Queen is an upstart rebel?" She hummed with a smile, Tyrion was entertaining at the very least
"No. yes yes I know Robb Stark looks dreadfully dull. Gods know he was when I talked to him in Winterfell, the boy lacked a lord's courtesy! Speak to him, it's always fascinating to interact with people."
"If it will prevent you from nagging me, I might consider it." She huffed, Tyrion gave an overdramatic bow before his eyes flicked up and he burst out laughing, stumbling to a nearby seat as he laughed uproariously.
Turning to where he was looking, Jorah Mormont was standing with a welt growing around his eyes. Was his nose broken?
"It seems, a Queensguard has been injured" Ser Barristan spoke up from behind her
"My aunt… and then my cousin." Ser Jorah spoke as he took a seat, Missandei quickly moving to fetch some herbs and wine for the man.
"Ah She-bears, maybe we should have them replace you." Tyrion japed
"I saw a young lady next to Robb Stark?" Daenerys noted, she did find the woman of the north interesting, they seemed almost as savage as the men.
"My cousin, she is a part of his wolf guard. Dacey Mormont. My aunt, Maege Mormont is also one of his advisors. I… had hoped."
"To talk to them?" She said with mirth to which the Queen's guard nodded before thanking Missandei for her help, the woman bowed before returning her place by her queen's side.
"My brother may be illuminating on this matter. He did after all spend time in the young wolf's hospitality?" Tyrion hummed as he swirled the goblet his eyes flicking to the queen. Jaime Lannister was insufferable. But her hand had a point. Greyworm glanced at her with silence, she inched her head and within a moment he went to fetch the Kingslayer.
Arianne Martell
"Are you stupid?" the princess of Dorne barred her fangs as she narrowed her eyes at her betrothed and his lickspittle in the privacy of their chambers.
"How dare you!" Jon Connington spoke, the redheaded man blustering almost as badly as his own hair colour
"You shut your mouth Connington!" She hissed as she pointed at the redheaded man who seemed to recoil back. But both men are regarding her.
"I know you two lived across the sea and just invaded Westeros but Robb Stark is not some boy! Do you know what happened during the War of Five Kings?" She paused as she took a sip of her wine, the red liquid wetting her tongue and lips
"Lannister soldiers were practically shitting themselves! He never lost a battle! He captured Jaime Lannister, he destroyed three Lannister armies! He has a fucking direwolf that rips men's throats out! Tywin Lannister himself had to resort to a fucking deal to kill him! And still failed! He is not someone we want to fuck with, not without contingencies!"
"Do you want him to marry your aunt? May as well give her two pet wolves and a sword to our throats!" she huffed as Aegon sat back on his seat, eyebrows furrowed
"Connington was overzealous but our position is not... unrecoverable" Aegon hummed
"It is not no but we must now be extra careful." She corrected her husband, gosh he seemed like a dolt sometimes. Or maybe he was thinking ahead? She would not be surprised if he had something else in mind.
"Is that what you think of Robb Stark he's Aegon the Conqueror reborn?"
"No, Robb Stark had a wolf, not a dragon. The boy is also a fool, considering his last wife…"
"So he has a weakness for women?"
"Weakness for honour, when House Stark has none forsaking their oaths of loyalty to House Targaryen" Jon scoffed
"Yes, when my grandfather burnt Robb's grandfather and choked his uncle. No Honour at all." Aegon pondered which earned a look of slight shame from Jon. Gosh, that man was such a lickspittle!
"Arianne you are right; I want you to talk to Robb Stark. I will earn allies elsewhere." She paused, sucking in a mouthful of mine before putting down the goblet and staring into her husband's eyes. What was the catch? What was the plan?
"Me talking to him?" She breached softly
"Yes, who knows? Maybe he will succumb to your charms, my betrothed. Then you strike when the wolf bares his neck to you. Even a bit of venom can bring down a Direwolf."
She laughed at that. Before chewing her lower lip as she traced the rim of her cup. "You are asking me to seduce Robb Stark?" she teased flashing her teeth at that Aegon stiffened, there might be a dragon in him after all.
"Of!" Jon spoke but Aegon threw his hand up, shutting the redhead lickspittle
"Of course not my sweet betrothed but if the young wolf were to find temptation? That could improve our position?" He corrected softly
"He already has shown to be tempted by a woman." Jon Connington nodded in contemplation
"I will think about it. I am not some cheap floozy Aegon. I am the princess of Dorne" She huffed and grabbed her cup before tossing the small amount of wine at her betrothed pants.
"I never liked those pants anyway!" She laughed before turning on the spot, her dress flicking in the room before leaving the room. Maybe she should just bite and poison her betrothed, he was rather an ass.
Margaery Tyrell
"You did good my little Rose." Her grandmother complimented her as they returned to their quarters, her grandmother's cane tapping against the stone of the floor at a regular time.
"Setting the Young Wolf onto Baelish was good. We can't risk that man poisoning our position." She raised an eyebrow, odd choice of words grandmother
"You want me to marry him don't you?" She asked her grandmother, whose eyes glanced at her from the corner of her eyes.
"Maybe, maybe not. That man is the king of two kingdoms, lord protector of the Stormlands and while the Vale has not yet declared for him. Lord Royce would happily bend over but Baelish is keeping the Vale neutral in so much as possible. That's good. It makes us more valuable than ever."
"He is not ugly at least." She joked to which her grandmother snorted
"He's just an honourable fool."
"I am not so sure grandmother. I fear the wolf is changed, beneath that Warrior King he projects there may be a harsh man. His recent betrayals have probably made him wary." She corrected her grandmother, Robb Stark was pleasant to talk to that was what she could gauge from their brief conversation. Straightforward but something was nagging her, Robb Stark was most likely not a fool. If he was not a fool any longer, she would have to play differently.
She would have to change tactics just batting her eyelashes at him would not work. He would be on guard. "I trust you Rose; you have good instincts. Snare the Wolf if you think you will grow stronger. Let the wolf run free if it suits us better."
"I will grandmother, we shall grow stronger." Her grandmother nodded and gave a rare smile
"The Blackfish was also illuminating. Faithful to his nephew that man and not a fool either."
"Oh? Are you regretting marrying your grandfather? I doubt the Blackfish would ride off a cliff…" She could not resist the opportunity and her grandmother guffawed.
"That man is more likely to be doing something useful than hawking! But he still grieves for his niece, he is Warden of the Trident. Edmure Tully was slain at the Red Wedding as well."
"That means the Blackfish needs to get married. There are no other Tullys besides the sons of Eddard no? Lady Arryn as well?" She could see another opportunity for House Tyrell
"Yes but that means Sansa Stark is even more important and so is Robb Stark. If the Blackfish die with no heirs. Then Robb Stark will have a strong claim to Riverrun and he could probably give it to one of his siblings. House Stark will firmly control two of the Kingdoms, more directly."
"Lysa Arryn is a fool, and many men of the Riverlands and North will not follow a woman. Especially one who refused their call. The woman is also mad" Her grandmother harrumphed, rolling her eyes at Lysa Arryn.
Robb Stark the more they spoke about him. The more powerful the young wolf seemed to get, the more important. A part of her did wonder what would happen if her family allied with him from the start. Could she have convinced the honourable fool to take the throne? Or would she have been knifed like Jeyne Westerling at the cursed wedding?
"You could always marry the Blackfish, grandmother?" she smirked to which Olenna burst out laughing.
"I am done with marriage, my dear. But the Blackfish seems amenable to finding a wife. Losing most of your family will do that to a man. Maybe one of our cousins? We have to keep our options open." Her grandmother was clearly working over a plan in her head.
"Meanwhile, I shall task my little bees to see if we can find a she-wolf."
"Sounds like a plan. I will keep an eye on lord Baelish and of course… accidentally wander into a wolf's den?" She
A smile on her lips as she gave her grandmother a pointed look, her grandmother shook her head and smiled. "Just make sure you both stay away from cliffs."
A melodic laugh rang through the halls of Harrenhall.
Daenerys Targaryen
"Kingslayer" She spoke cooly but Jaime Lannister just stared at her like she was a ghost, but within moments the ever-present Lannister grin grew on his lips.
"Your Grace" he spoke back as he took a seat next to his brother.
"I am glad you seem to be better behaved than your sister." She prodded him and she saw Tyrion immediately glance at his brother who grimaced for a moment before speaking
"I appreciate your mercy. Now, I heard you want to learn about the young wolf?"
"Go on." She encouraged as she leaned back in her seat, a goblet in her hand
"He was a cold little shit, thought himself a conqueror after three victories. But he was, he set the Westerlands aflame. He kept me alive that's for sure if not for his mother I would still be captive."
"Catelyn Stark?" she inquired
"Yes, she released me with an oath to find her daughters. She had just lost her other children…. She was upset. She loved her children dearly. "
A part of her wondered what it would be like to have her own mother look after her. "I may have had a mother to love me if not for your actions Kingslayer." She barked to which Tyrion and Jaime shuffled nervously. Barristan himself almost grimaced while Greyworm stood stoically.
"Your mother was a kind woman. She knew my own mother, your grace. She… cared for me how and when she could but the Red Keep was dangerous." Her grandfather's madness… he meant.
"Enough I want you to tell me more about Robb Stark."
"He won the war on the battlefield and lost it in the bedchamber," Jaime spoke leaning back, his dirty hair framing his face as he used his only hand left to drink a small sip of wine
"He married a Westerling, a minor house. She was very sweet from what I was told. But… sweetness does not win a war. He broke an oath to House Frey, they took their men and marched home."
"He tried to make amends, offer his uncle as restitution but a paramount was an insult compared to a king. The Freys and Boltons thought the war was lost, they wanted to cut their losses."
"But how did he survive? From what Tyrion has told me your father was sure he would be killed." But the Kingslayer just shrugged
"I don't know, I do know his wife Jeyne was killed, she may have been with child. His mother's throat was slit to the bone and she died knowing I failed to keep my oath. I hear some of the Frey's are still hiding in the Riverlands as bandits, one of those Freys killed his mother. I am not sure which but we may as well get rid of them."
"Sounds like you took your oath seriously." She mocked slightly but the Kingslayer just blinked
"She was a fierce woman, she loved her children. Not in any way my father could have loved us. She just wanted them back, I may be the Kingslayer but I keep my oaths and a Lannister pays his debt." A part of her wanted to burst out into laughter at the irony of his words about keeping his oaths.
"Then you and Tyrion can try to find his sisters but you are still my prisoner so I will allow you to assist Tyrion from your cell. I also believe it would be best if you are kept hidden for now. I do not wish Robb Stark to behead my hand's brother even though I might be inclined to give it to him."
"How honourable of you, your grace," Jaime remarked sarcastically to which Tyrion punched him in the leg, earning a small laugh from the Kingslayer.
"She is being kind you dimwit. I do not want to see your head roll."
One Lannister was enough, but two would be a handful
Robb Stark
He hated this place, he could sense it already the politics. Margaery Tyrell approached him, she was pretty and she seemed amenable to helping him. But the Tyrells were his enemy, they sided with Joffrey and turned cloak to the Tarageryens they could just as easily do the same to him if he were allied. Yet she might know more about Sansa or Arya, he could not give up any source of information.
Daenerys seemed more reasonable already than Aegon. But he knew lords preferred men, the last time a woman tried to sit the iron throne rightful claim or not, Westeros burned for it.
He sat in the Godswood guarded by Dacey and his uncle… ever since then he never went anywhere without armour or sword. Guest Rights or not. He would never be caught lacking
He was a fool. He stared up at the Weirwood and he blinked. Clenching his fist, Greywind perked up. He turned to see the newcomers.
His instincts flared and a roses scent and words tickled at his memory "Don't Trust Baelish"
"Your Grace" he spoke and bowed while Bronze Royce bedecked in his houses bronze armour
"Lord Baelish and Lord Royce. How can I help the men of the Vale?"
"The men of the Vale are here to help you King Robb" Petyr spoke as he stepped closer but his Uncle stepped up
"Ah, Petyr been a while has it not?" His uncle spoke with his usual gruffness
"Brynden yes it has been quite some time. I… am so deeply sorry to hear about Catelyn and Lysa. They did not deserve their fates." Petyr glanced at his uncle, wearing a cocky smile. A smile that reminded him of a turn cloak.
"I heard my niece flung herself from the moon door," Blackfish spoke and his eyes met Lord Royces who gave him a grimace, he also hated Baelish… he could use this…
"It was tragic. I have been named lord protector of the Vale till Lord Robyn Arryn comes of age. Lord Royce and the other lords have stepped up admirably. Lord Robyn was too ill to attend so I have come to represent the Vale in these matters."
"Ah how high you have climbed Petyr." His uncle grunted
"Well fortunately for me Blackfish, Mockingbirds do well in the skies of the Vale." Lord Baelish gave a mocking smile and a small nod
Lord Royce then spoke up "I am sorry for your father, Robb. The men of the Vale wept and we would have ridden alongside the young wolf. With our men…" They could have prevented him from going back to the Frey's and that…
"I understand the men of the Vale had to keep their oaths. But I hope that we can present a united front against the Tarageryens to ensure the best outcome for our regions."
"Well said, your grace! I have heard your sister Sansa is missing. I have not heard of her but rest assured we in the Vale are on the lookout for her." Petyr continued, he wondered how a man could speak so smoothly yet spew such bile.
"I am glad for any information about my sisters." He corrected to which Petyr gave a smirk and nodded.
"Of course your grace, Princess Arya as well."
"We will speak more at the welcome feast Lord Baelish and Lord Royce but for now, I would like some time to myself."
Lord Royce bowed dutifully and Lord Baelish gave a small head tilt before smirking as he left.
That mockingbird knew something… he need to talk to the Tyrells…
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I don't wanna just vomit out all that happened in the plot so far but tease it out organically. As always I look forward to reading your reviews. Take care and until next time.