Heir of Ice and Fire

by Ronin2106

Of the twin Bastards of Winterfell, Jayce has always been the wild one, always with a sharp wit and remark and no regard for rules, which saw him sent from Winterfell to White Harbor as ward. Yet when the Greyjoys rebel, Jayce Snow finds himself as a a sudden hero, and a ward to Laenor Velaryon, heir of Driftmark, and Rhaegar's once good friend, who vows to protect his only son.

10. Chapter 10

Three weeks after the Battle of Torrentine. King's Landing. The Red Keep. Small Council's chambers.

To say that Robert was bored would be an understatement, as he sat at yet another Council's meeting and watched as Tywin Lannister was basically doing the real work, while all he could do was stave off his growing headache. He did have to give credit to the Old Lion, as he was able to get the job done as Hand of the King, more so than Jon Arryn ever could, and it showed clearly, as it was clear to all that Tywin held the authority in the chambers over all, safe for Robert, naturally. There were still mountains of problems that needed solving, but at least now there was some kind of progress being made towards all of it, and at least the relations with the North were again stabilizing.

Ever since his foster father's decision to punish and exile Jayce, Ned Stark had all but cut off communications with the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, and even Robert had a hard time getting Ned to calm down, and as Robert was well aware of, Ned Stark in anger was as much a threat as was Robert Baratheon, at least it was true in their youth. Thankfully there was no war waged this time, but it didn't mean that things were stable and peaceful, as the amount of skirmishes and fights in the Neck increased between crannogmen and Freys, and then there were also the Sistermen. Their raid on the North last year was more than enough to call for war, and Ned was all for it, even though Jon Arryn wished to prevent it and did give his word that he would see to Three Sisters being pacified.

This was another word that Jon failed to keep, and so mere two months after Jayce's exile, Lord Stark had gathered a host of six thousand and, with Robert's permission, sent it with Manderly fleet on a punitive expedition to the Three Sisters. This expedition achieved all of its goals within a month, having paid the Sistermen with their own coin, so to speak, for what they had done to the Northmen and Woolfields. Jon Arryn pleaded to Tywin and Robert to stop Ned and his men, but they did nothing, as Robert and Tywin both saw that having North satiated with blood as more valuable than three measly barren isles.

After that was achieved, Eddard Stark went on to start the improvement of the North, and has recently even allowed for the first time, since the days of Kings of Winter, to open the North to the settlers from the South, and the migrations began to the North, though not without certain conditions. Chief among them being conversion to the Old Gods or, at the very least, no propaganda of the Faith of the Seven and forceful conversion of the people into it, and if any Septon or Septa were found practicing such acts, they would be banished, if not worse. This naturally angered the Faith and a number of Lords that were of a more religious disposition, but the common folk that did choose to migrate to the North mostly decided to convert to the Old Gods. For most, the main driving factor was the fact that they were free from the Faith's tithes, which the Septons and the Faith abused for quite some time, in order to line their own pockets with coin. While some were more than happy to "sacrifice" their hard-worked for coin for their souls' salvations, more reasonable and less willing preferred to keep their coin for more immediate and important matters.

This situation with the migrations from the Riverlands, Crownlands, the Vale and even the Reach, towards the North, has gotten so serious, that the High Septon himself has sent a written demand to the King, invoking him by the title of Protector of the Realm and Protector of the Faith, to see the North punished and natural order restored to things. And as the list of demands was finally done being read to Robert, he snorted and spoke up loudly.

"That fat pompous fuck wants me to go to war with Ned over the fact that now he has less idiots to scam of their coin?" Robert asked of Renly who read the letter. "Well you can tell him that he can go and fuck himself, 'cause it will be a cold day in Seven Hells, when I decide to fight the North."

"Robert, we cannot simply let this go on like it does. The Faith is already concerned with the actions of Lord Stark, and now this migration policy he introduced… They see this as a direct challenge to them." Jon Arryn decided to speak up. "There are also Lords who suffer from it, chief among them the Freys, Brackens…"

"Bah, don't tell me that you even give a damn about them, Jon. I know what this is all about, and I will not indulge either you or that pig who calls himself the High Septon." Robert angrily told him.

"His Holiness did also mention the debt that the Crown owns to the Faith, and how it would be… unwise for the Crown to forget of the power and importance of the Faith." Petyr Baelish decided to speak up. "He also mentioned that not even Maegor the Cruel was able to break the Faith, and how it nearly brought the Targaryens down, when they had their mightiest of dragons. He also, in less hidden way, stated, that against a House with no Dragons, the people and the Faith will be more than enough to punish them for their arrogance and pride."

"That man must have a death wish if he dares to so openly threaten the Crown." Stannis stated through his gritted teeth. "Has the Faith forgotten its place and what it was allowed and not?"

"Within the Faith for quite some time, I believe since the end of the Rebellion, has been growing in popularity a notion and belief, that with the downfall of Targaryen Dynasty, the limitations set by them upon the Faith have also been casted away." Varys reported. "Some of the more daring elements even speak of restoration of the Faith Militant, and their numbers appear to be on the rise, since the beginning of this crisis."

"Then Faith appears to be in the need of being reminded of its place and that it is the Crown and the Lords who control Westeros and it's people, and not them and their preaching clerics." Tywin stated. "We shall discuss this matter later. Now, what other news are there of the Realm, Lord Varys?"

"News from Dorne, milord Hand, Your Graces. As you all recall, I've reported to you the situation that has developed within the Torrentine Valley." Varys reminded all of that matter.

"The one where Blackmonts have all but captured that place and tore down the Daynes?" Renly asked in a careless tone. "So, has that stubborn goat Ulric surrendered, or has he died already?"

"Neither, Your Grace, for the most improbable of outcomes appears to have become reality- House Dayne stands victorious over the Blackmonts and Gerold Dayne, and has not only restored it's rule over the Torrentine Valley, but has also incorporated the lands of Blackmonts and the House itself, reestablishing the Daynes as the sole rulers of the Western Dorne and Torrentine River." Varys informed all, surprising everyone. "Larra Blackmont bent the knee to Ulric Dayne, and as for Gerold Dayne, for the crime of treason, kinslaying, raping, pillaging and so on, he was hanged, drawn and quartered."

"You personally reported to us, that there was no chance for House Dayne to win, that the heir of Starfall was in the hands of Blackmonts, and that their allies have abandoned them, along with Martells." Tywin spoke up, looking Varys in the eye. "Can you explain to us, how did this happen? Has Lord Laenor Velaryon somehow managed to get Ulric help without us knowing of it?"

"No, milord Hand, but while House Dayne's allies and friends, as well as their liege, have abandoned them, their relatives have not." Varys responded. "And for young Jayce Stark, it would appear that family matters more than his own life and fear for it, for it is to him that House Dayne owes its continued survival." The name of arguably the most infamous Stark immediately shocked all.

"Jayce? How in Seven Hells did Jayce get involved in all this?!" Robert immediately asked of Varys. "He's supposed to be in Essos, leading that sellsword company of his, the Dreadwolves. How the fuck did he find himself embroiled in all this?!"

"I do not know the particulars of it, Your Grace, but what do know, is that he appeared in Sunspear right about the time that his mother, Lady Ashara Dayne, was pleading the case of Daynes to Prince Doran, with no results." Varys answered. "From what my little birds tell me, after learning of the crisis in Torrentine Valley, Jayce had managed to hire close to seven hundred additional men, using his feat of avenging Princess Elia and her children, even managing to gain apperent support of the Red Viper of Dorne and his Sand Snakes. Then a week later he sailed to southern shores of the Elbow, and then destroyed the host of Blackmonts that were besieging the keep of The Lantern, while his mother persuaded the forces of Hermitage's Daynes that were besieging southern keeps to defect. In a few hours, Jayce Stark had managed to add to his forces over 15 hundred or so souls, and before the night was over, he fought another battle with Gerold Dayne, capturing the man and also incorporated his entire host into his army. Within a span of a single night, young Dreadwolf had completely liberated the Elbow, destroyed up to half of the enemy forces and increased his numbers to close to 4 thousand men, and all without the Blackmonts even learning it." Varys took some enjoyment from the shook that came to the faces of all present here, before Robert laughed.

"Ah ha! That lad's bloody incredible! Two battles in one night, and winning himself a whole army after them, and all that without those cunts even learning of it!" Robert laughed in an approving way. "Reminds me of my battles at Summerhall. Gods, that boy's living the life…"

"Robert, the boy was exiled and prohibited to come to Westeros under the threat of death." Jon Arryn reminded Robert of his last decree as Hand. "Prince Doran, Prince Oberyn, Lord Ulric and his vassals should've executed him for even settling foot there and breaking the King's Law, not allowing him to so blatantly flaunt his brazenness and belief in his own invincibility."

"The Law that you yourself imposed without any clear grounds to it, safe for your wounded pride and vanity." Stannis reminded Jon, who glared at him. "This decree should've long since been repealed, and if it had been, than mayhaps we would not have the North standing so hostile towards us."

"Yet he still openly met and helped the Targaryens, enemies of the Crown." Jon reminded all, with Robert's mood souring at it. "Robert, you must enforce the law. Sent word to Lord Ulric and Prince Doran: either Jayce Stark's head comes off his body, or they shall see war come to Dorne for harboring a traitor."

"I would not be so hasty with your demands, Lord Arryn, for you may yet see your wish of seeing Jayce Stark dead come to fruition without inciting another war." Varys spoke up before Robert, who then turned to him.

"What do you mean? Did something happen to the lad?" Robert asked with a concern in his tone, that none heard him possess towards any of his own children.

"I fear, Your Grace that young Jayce Stark is now on his deathbed, and that there is no hope for recovery." Varys stated, not missing the pleased look on Jon Arryn's face. "Jayce Stark had orchestrated a daring plan to rescue his cousin Edric Dayne and his mother from the clutches of Blackmonts. He rode with a party of men, disguised as Daynes of High Hermitage, and managed to elude the guards and free not only his cousin and aunt, but also his uncle Benjen Stark from captivity, and take prisoner Lady Larra Blackmont, while his army assaulted the camp from land, and Lord Ulric from sea. Unfortunately, on their way out of the camp, their luck had ran out, as Jayce and his party were ambushed… by Martells and Sand Snakes, Obara, Nymeria and Tyene Sand."

"Did you not say that the Martells have supported Jayce? What in Seven's name had happened there?" Stannis asked of Varys.

"It would appear, that despite his apperent indifference to the situation, Prince Doran actually supported the Blackmonts in their attack on Daynes, as he had provided them coin, men and ensued that none of the allies in Dorne would provide aid to Starfall. Chief among them being the Yronwoods." Varys began explaining.

"What could possibly Doran Martell want to achieve with this madness? House Dayne had for hundreds of years been one of their most loyal vassals and the main support against Yronwoods or some other House, whenever they decided to try their hand at seizing power." Stannis stated. "I've met Lord Ulric personally, and would wish him to be one of our vassals. The man is a match to his more famous brother, the Sword of the Morning, in both martial skill and in swords."

"Indeed, Your Grace, but Lord Ulric has also managed to incur the wroth of Prince of Dorne by openly criticizing his inaction during the Greyjoy Rebellion, and instead of following his orders not to support us, openly pledged himself and his forces to us." Varys reminded all. "He was also chief criticizer of Doran's lack of actions during the Rebellion, and has even been known to say, that Prince Doran more loves his own thoughts and schemes than his own sister and people. I suspect that Prince Doran had never forgotten or forgiven such words, and has plotted to deal with Daynes ever since, but now, it has backfired in worst fashion towards him."

"Enough about that impotent Martell, tell us about Jayce, you cockless woman!" Robert roared from impatience.

"As you wish, Your Grace. Like I said previously, the Sand Snakes have ambushed Jayce and his party with over fifty men at arms and crossbowmen, with the Snakes wishing to duel with Jayce, over some trifle or insult. Staying behind with one more companion of his to give his party chance to escape with Lady Larra Blackmont, Jayce had managed not only to kill the daughters of Red Viper, but has also managed fight off those Martells for long enough until the Daynes' combined army won the day." Varys stated. "However, this victory did not come without a cost, and Jayce Stark had suffered most severe injuries. By the time he and his companion were found, the street on which they fought was soaked in blood and bodies littered everything, while Jayce had taken four crossbow bolts, in shoulders, in his thigh and in chest, as well as blades into his side and arm. He held on until the battle was over and only lost conscience when Lord Ulric came to rescue him. I am told that his last words were of his relatives that he saved." The whole chamber was silent for some time, some at awe from sheer tenacity and bravery of Jayce, while others comprehended what had happened.

"And? Is the boy dead or not?" Renly asked in a flippant tone, with both Stannis and Robert shooting glares at him. "I imagine that such wounds are mortal, so if anything, I'd say that solves one issue."

"It would appear so at first that his death was imminent, yes, but, by either miracle or design of Gods, Jayce Stark is not yet dead." Varys continued. "Despite his wounds, he still managed to survive, though is incredibly weak and on the brink of death, appearing to be in a dreamless sleep, between the life and death. The Maesters attending him are still baffled at how he manages remain in this world, though he is incredibly weak and could perish at any moment."

"It would seem the gods saw fit to punish that vane boy for his brazen attitude with a long and hard death." Jon Arryn stated with malice, while Robert glared at him. "Three weeks without waking up… It would be merciful to put him down for good."

"You will shut your damned mouth, Jon, or else I will put your son out of mercy." Robert shocked all, and Jon Arryn most of all, with the sheer anger and malice of his threat, before Robert turned to Varys. "Does Ned know of it?"

"It is hard to say, Your Grace. I've not heard of any communication between Starfall and Winterfell, but it is possibly due to the fact that Lord Ulric does not have time for it." Varys answered. "As I've eluded before, the war for the Torrentine Valley turned into a disaster for House Martell, and for Prince Doran personally, for Lady Larra provided letters with his handwriting and seals, assurances of help and support, detailing Prince Doran's desire to see House Dayne removed for good from their seat of power, and the fact that House Yronwood has betrayed their closest ally, the Daynes, for the promise of marrying their daughter to Doran's son. Lord Dayne, infuriated by all this, has sent out word to all of Dorne of the treachery of his liege lord and closest ally, and has officially declared his intent to punish House Martell and House Yronwood for such treachery. He has taken up arms in open rebellion, with Houses Fowler, Manwoody, Qorgyle and Allyrion supporting them, along with several smaller ones, not to mention Lord Velaryon and his fleet and men. As you remember, he had mustered up to seven thousand men and gathered his fleet to assist the Daynes, and is now in Torrentine Valley, with Daynes, Fowlers and others, preparing for battle."

"Do they even stand a chance against Doran Martell? And doesn't Ulric have his brother imprisoned already?" Stannis asked of Varys.

"After the treachery of Martells was revealed, Prince Oberyn had conveniently disappeared with his paramour, evidently knowing what would happen to him. Now he is in command of the host that Prince Doran marshals against Lord Ulric and his allies at Sunspear." Varys answered. "Lord Ulric and his allies can muster up to 15 thousand men, mayhaps 16 even, while Prince Doran has called upon nigh all of eastern Dorne and Yronwoods, along with buying himself two large sellsword companies, Stormravens and Iron Shields, along with a thousand of the Unsullied bought from Tyrosh, with his forces numbering over 30 thousand in total. Though numbers do not favor Lord Ulric, he does sit at a highly defensible position, with the east of Elbow consisting of hills, which end at sea in the south and Red Mountains in the north. Even though Prince Oberyn is a renowned warrior, Lord Ulric is arguably his match in art of fighting, and better in command, considered to be equal to his ancestor, King Vorian Dayne, the Sword of the Evening, considered to be the greatest knight and Sword of the Morning of Dorne, before the coming of Ser Arthur Dayne."

"Not to mention that Arthur is also there, if Jayce was there." Barristan Selmy finally spoke up. "Ser Arthur has often spoke of his brother as best commander in Dorne, and had stated to men in confidence, that if he had command at the Trident of the Dornish men, the Vale knights would've perished that day. Even with the numbers against him, Ulric will make Oberyn pay for every step taken in his land, and for every man dead because of his brother. "

"Regardless of the past animosities, it is the Crown's duty to support the rightful rulers of Dorne. If we send official support to them, in men and coin, we would be able to fully bridge the gap between us…" Jon Arryn decided to add.

"An unwise choice of actions, Lord Arryn. As is evident from the words of Lord Varys, House Martell is not to be trusted and even if we assist them, we would only be giving the snake a chance to bite us later." Tywin Lannister spoke up, turning to Robert. "Your Grace, I recommend that the Crown adopts a neutral position, and let them resolve their problems on their own. Whoever wins in this war, they will inherit a weakened and bloodied land, and therefore seize to be a threat to us for years to come. Should Ulric Dayne win, then we will acknowledge him as the Prince of Dorne and charge him with caring and protecting it."

"But does he have a claim to that title?" Stannis asked, with Varys answering that question.

"I believe he does, through his mother, Princess Alyssa Martell, younger sister to Princess Dorea Martell, mother to Princes Doran and Oberyn." Varys revealed to all. "Though it was before I arrived at court, I do recall hearing stories of the animosity between Princess Dorea and Alyssa, which sprung from the two sisters having been in love with previous Sword of the Morning, and Princess Alyssa claiming his heart. It would appear that the malice of the sisters has manifested in their sons…"

"Robert, I strongly advise you to consider assisting the Martells. We would be able to finally bridge the gap between us for good and…" Jon tried once again, but Robert wouldn't have any of it.

"You will shut your mouth about it, Jon. If those two want to fight, let them do so. Whoever comes out a winner can have that wasteland they call home." Robert said with heat, before letting out a sigh. "Pycelle! You'll write to Martells, that regardless of their war with Daynes, Jayce Stark is not to be harmed, if he survives. But before that, you will prepare an official decree, that Jayce Stark is to be officially pardoned for all his transgressions, his status be restored fully to him, in light of his dedication to protecting his family and sacrificing himself to them." Robert ordered, with Stannis affording a rare smile at that.

"Robert, the boy is as good as dead, and he had conversed and helped Targaryens…" Jon tried to reason with him, but like before, Robert was deaf to his reasons.

"Even if he dies, I'll not see the lad die a condemned criminal because of your fucking pride, Jon! And as for Targaryens… Should Jayce survive through it all, then the Gods themselves would see him absolved of all sins, and if he doesn't…" Robert clearly didn't wish to voice his opinion on that matter, as he sighed and rose up from his seat. "Deal with the rest of the matter, Tywin. I'll go and write Ned. Hopefully… Hopefully, he'll be able to forgive me, if the lad passes away." Robert said with the sad tone, as he left the chambers.

Soon after the end of the meeting, Jon Arryn, along with Petyr Baelish, have found themselves with the Tully family in the chambers of Lord Arryn, discussing the situation with Jayce Stark.

"Finally, the Seven have heard our prayers, and now that bastard will die a slow and agonizing death." Hoster stated with smile and malice. "Let the Stranger be vindictive and cruel to that brat, for what he did to my son and my House."

"Yes, finally the stain on Catelyn's honor will be wiped away, as well as on all ours." Lysa stated with giddy smile, as she breastfed her infant son, before she noticed the grim look on Catelyn's face. "Why the long face, Cat? You should be celebrating, for the bastard will soon leave this world, and whatever spell he had over your husband shall be lifted. Mother wills, before the year is over, you shall be back in Winterfell, with your trueborn children."

"You do not know that boy… He has a Devil's luck to him, and complete denial to any and all commands and wills of the Gods." Catelyn stated with anger. "I shan't celebrate until I know for certain that he is dead. Dead and rotting in the ground."

"Varys assured me that the chances of him getting better are close to none at all, and that he shall expire within days." Jon assured her.

"That boy had survived battles where grown men died in hundreds, while in the thick of it. He killed the Mountain, Lyn Corbray and Lorch, and has all but won that war for Daynes. He may be bedridden now, but until he is gone, there is no assurance that he will not return." Catelyn stated with conviction, with Petyr finally deciding to speak.

"Then perhaps it would be prudent to ensure that the bastard finally leaves our world, whether naturally or not." Petyr spoke up, drawing the attention to him from all. "If it would interest you, I could… ensure that the runt of the litter never leaves Starfall." That had gotten the interest of Catelyn.

"Can you do this, Petyr?" She asked with hope in her eyes, with him smiling.

"For you and your family, Lady Catelyn, I can do all that you wish. And as for that boy, I happen to have a certain number of past associates of mine in Torrentine at the moment, which would be more than happy to assist us in our designs." Petyr assured them.

"Your last associate had failed to achieve the definitive result." Jon reminded him.

"I assure you, that this time shall be different, for my friends are far better in such business, and to ensure the success, I shall dispatch a... master in such affairs." Petyr assured them. "He is no Faceless Man, but none are better at this on this side of the world than him. And you need not worry about the expenses, I shall cover all of them."

"Thank you, Petyr. I can't comprehend what we would be doing without you." Catelyn thanked him with her best smile.

"I only live to serve you and your family, Catelyn." Petyr assured her with a smile.

---

A week later. Dorne. Torrentine Valley. Starfall.

The cool wind from the Summer Sea brushed one of Visenya's hair off its place, before she fixed it, all without even moving her eye away from the unconscious form of Jayce, who rested in the quarters that were gifted to him by Lord Ulric. At first he wasn't in any condition to be transported by boat to Starfall, so he had to be treated in the same town where he had sustained his injuries, and only two weeks later did the Maesters finally agree that Jayce could be transported to Starfall. The learned men, including Qyburn, were baffled at the fact, that despite the horrendous injuries and loss of blood, Jayce still continued to persist and fight for his life, even if he didn't give any notion of it through his body, simply breathing and living, yet extremely weak.

None but Visenya knew the struggle which Jayce was facing right now, as he indeed fought not just for his life, but also for his very own soul, as he still remained between the world of the living and the dead, and right now there was someone who quite clearly wished death to Jayce, pursuing his own plans and designs. At first Visenya didn't think that Jayce would stand much of a chance against such a powerful sorcerer as the Bloodraven, and yet for an entire month now, he was able to elude and deny him victory, despite him torturing and exhausting Jayce's soul with endless struggles, pain and suffering, all in order to weaken him and his resolve. And yet, Jayce's spirit clearly remained defiant and unbreakable, and his will still firm, and Visenya hoped and prayed that it would continue to remain so, for in her own Dreams, she could sense and see Jayce face the challenges Bloodraven put against him. Time and time again she tried to reach and help him through her Dreams, and every time she failed, being found out by Bloodraven and sent back into her own body.

She tried many times to get to Jayce, but all ended in failure, for Bloodraven is truly a terrifying force, one that some could even claim to be a god, but what Visenya hoped for, is that his endless struggle with Jayce's spirit and soul has weakened and exhausted him. If it were to be the case, then mayhaps a chance would appear for Jayce to break free from the endless cycle in which he was put in. But until then, all Visenya could do was sit and wait, silently praying in her mind for the deliverance for one of the last of the House of the Dragon.

So focused was she on her thoughts, that Visenya barely heard the door into chambers, and Lady Ashara stepping inside, not surprised to find Visenya at Jayce's side.

"Visenya." Ashara drew the girl's attention, with Lady of Driftmark walking to her and nodding to her. "We've missed you at the supper. You shouldn't be neglecting yourself, or else your wounds may not heal fully."

"My wounds are fine, and do not worry. I've eaten well before coming here to relieve Benjen Stark." Visenya responded to the mother of Jayce, before turning her eyes to Jayce. "Besides, I'm sure you and everyone else have more important things to worry about than me." Visenya told Ashara, who couldn't help but agree with her.

"You are right." Ashara told her, as she took a chair, moved it closer to Jayce and sat in it. "Any changes?" Ashara asked for an untold time now, and Visenya gave the same answer as she did before.

"If there were any, you would know of them the first." Visenya responded with a sigh. "He is still fighting, and fighting hard for his life and soul."

"I pray the Seven be merciful and awaken him soon." Ashara admitted with sadness in her tone. "Do you prey to any Gods, Visenya?"

"I hold true to the Gods who are older, wiser and stronger than your Seven, Lady Ashara." Visenya replied, before adding, realizing the sharpness of her tone. "Apologies, Lady Ashara. I am… devoted, you could say, to my own beliefs, and I've found your Faith to be… challenging to tolerate, in certain aspects."

"No offence was made, Visenya, and I understand. To be fair, many of my own House share your distaste for the Seven, and instead prefer the Old Gods to them, though we do not make it public showing of it." Ashara told Visenya. "We believe that faith and what people believe in are their own private affairs, ones that do not deserve being interfered in."

"A very wise and welcoming stance." Visenya commented with a nod. "To… To which Gods does Jayce hold true to?" Visenya awkwardly asked of Ashara.

"To be honest, I do not believe he worships any of them, neither the Old nor the Seven. While on Driftmark, he did visit the Godswood most often, but I never saw him praying, and he did visit the Sept in Spice Town a couple of times, to listen to its sermons. I even recall him reading an old copy of the Seven Pointed Star back in Braavos" Ashara said to a surprised Visenya. "Though he said he only wished to find out, if the Faith of the Seven really did state that bastards were so evil, and he later said that the only thing he found on that subject in the book, was that all children, true and natural, are born pure of soul and heart and in the eyes of the Seven are equal. I suspect that such a notion to the Westerosi Septons would be seen as blasphemy, even though it originated from the place of birth of the Faith."

"The words of Gods are not written by them, but by men, and it is they who decide what the word of Gods is." Visenya remarked, with Ashara agreeing with her. "But how can you be sure that he doesn't believe in the Old Gods or the Seven."

"I actually asked him of it, and he did say that he believed in them or that they may exist in some form, but he didn't acknowledge them as his own Gods." Ashara answered, with Visenya turning to her with a surprised eye. "He said that if they want his loyalty, then they have to first earn it, adding that even then he'll not be made into a puppet of theirs." Visenya smiled a little at that.

"Defiant and stubborn even in the face of death… I imagine he would be very surprised to find out, how much the Gods actually like him for it all." Visenya said with a chuckle, with Ashara turning with a confused eye to him. "Sometimes the true work of the Gods is done by those who do not hold true to them, while those that proclaim themselves their most loyal servants end up destroying their work and breaking their rules."

"I suppose that is true." Ashara had to agree with this idea, before deciding to change the subject. "This must be the first time you and I have spoken at such length, though we've known each other for over a month now."

"I believe you are right." Visenya agreed.

"I never did thank you for staying with Jayce in Torrentine." Ashara added with a quiet tone. "I… When I think of what those damned Snakes had done, I…"

"Best you do not linger on those thoughts. They are dead and their rotten flesh and bones are food of the vultures and the sands, and the only regret I have is not having their father join them." Visenya told Ashara, who agreed with her. "Was he ever going to be loyal to Jayce, or did he wait for a chance to strike him down?"

"Who knows? Oberyn Martell has always been unpredictable and half-mad, mercurial on the best of days, and capricious in the worst, but I think he only indulged Jayce for so long only because he thought he could be of use to him and Doran in their schemes." Ashara suggested. "Mayhaps seeing how well Jayce performed and nearly won the war, made Oberyn realize, that Jayce was beyond their control, and so he allowed his daughters to strike. I wouldn't put it beyond my cousins at this point."

"I can now see why your true relation is so seldom mentioned." Visenya noted.

"Yes. Despite our mothers being sisters, there was never much amity between the Daynes and Martells, though Elia was of a different kind than her brothers and mother. She was true to herself, not a poisonous viper or spider, but a beautiful fowl, or a flower. She never much cared for the feud of our mothers, and she managed to win us over." Ashara said with a sad smile. "What about your own family, Visenya? You mentioned that you were of Lys?"

"I was, born and raised, by my father and mother, before they were murdered." Visenya said.

"I am sorry to hear that." Ashara offered a consoling hand.

"Do not fret, it had happened when I was still a young child, and I was fortunate enough to have been taken in by a friend of the family, who raised me instead, and became my family." Visenya explained. "I guess in that regard, Jayce and I are quite alike."

"What do you mean by that?" Ashara asked of her in a confused tone.

"That we both lost our true parents, without ever really knowing them, yet found our true family in others." Visenya said, with Ashara growing concerned over what she just heard, with Visenya noticing it, and speaking up. "You have nothing to fear from me, Lady Ashara, for I harbor no ill feelings towards Jayce, and wish for him only the best, so his secret is safe with me."

"What secret are you talking about?" Ashara asked of her with a steel tone, with Visenya smiling a little.

"That he is one of the last Targaryens in this world, and that he is also one of the few who carry in them the gift of Dragon Dreams, same one that his ancestors once had in them." Visenya revealed to Ashara, shocking herm, before turning to her. "He is not the only one in whom the blood of Old Valyria runs strong." Visenya added with a suggestive smile, making Ashara ponder on her words.

"Who are you, really?" Ashara asked of her.

"Do you know the name of my family, Rogare, Lady Ashara?" Visenya asked of her.

"I know that it once was a family of traders and bankers in Lys, and that at one point, their bank was the wealthiest and strongest in the world, but after its fall, the family disappeared into obscurity." Ashara told Visenya.

"Yet before they did so, at the height of their power, one of their daughters, Larra Rogare, was married to Prince Viserys, youngest son of Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon Targaryen. It was from this union that future King Aegon the IV was born, most famously remembered for his Great Bastards and how they nearly tore the realm apart." Visenya told Ashara, who still didn't know to what Visenya was alluding to. "The greatest of those bastards, Daemon Blackfyre, almost took the crown, yet he and his two eldest sons died, and the rest fled to Essos, along with another of the Great Bastards, Aegor Rivers, from where they would continue their attempts to take back what they believed was stolen from them- the Iron Throne."

"The Blackfyres went extinct with Maelys the Monstrous, and with him died whatever claims they had." Ashara said with some coldness to her. "It was over thirty years ago." To her words, Visenya only chuckled humorlessly.

"To Westeros and the rest of the world, Maelys was the last Blackfyre, but there was one other, a younger brother to Daemon Blackfyre, whom Maelys slew, only unlike his siblings he did not share their obsessive desire for the Throne. Instead of continuing the legacy started by his great-grandfather, he instead chose a life of a merchant, claiming the name of one of his ancestors, and prospered in Lys, marrying a beautiful woman from Volantis, herself a descendant of Princess Saera Targaryen, and together, they had a child, a daughter." Visenya told Ashara the tale, and the pieces now started to fall into place for her. "For the longest time, things were wonderful and good for the family, until someone who desired to destroy any and all possible enemies to his own descendant of the Great Bastards. Father and mother died, and as for the girl… She survived, grew up, and now sits vigil before the last true Targaryen that she knows of." Visenya said with a sad smile, while Ashara's mouth opened a little from shock at realization.

"You… You are a Blackfyre." She said in a hushed tone, with Visenya nodding to her.

"The last true Blackfyre alive, despite so many known and unknown enemies wishing me dead." Visenya confirmed to Ashara. "And now… Now the Targaryens are in much the same position as my family was, brought down by another family that was spawned from its seed. I guess that is what some may call the divine irony."

"But if you know that Jayce is a Targaryen, then why are you here? Why did you put your own life at risk, in order to protect him in the town of Torrentine?" Ashara asked of her.

"Because, Lady Ashara, it is time, for the House of the Dragon to once again come together and claim its rightful place under the sun." Visenya stated to Ashara with confidence. "The only way for our House to again stand strong and fast, is to stand united as one, or else we all will died divided. The old and new feuds of our bloods, legitimacy, bastards and whatnot- it is long past time we've set it aside, and if for our House to stand strong again I would need to acknowledge Jayce as the only one worthy of the Iron Throne, then I'll gladly do so."

"You would so readily relinquish your claim to the Iron Throne, just for Jayce?" Ashara asked of her with disbelief in her voice. "Forgive me, but I can't find it in me to believe you."

"I shan't ask you to reconsider your beliefs, Lady Ashara. I only ask you, that if or when Jayce does wake up, I be allowed to tell him my story, and that it would be him who decides my fate." Visenya asked of Ashara, who considered the request. "You may tell it to others if you wish, but only ask that it would be up to Jayce to decide my fate."

"And if he doesn't wake up?" As much as she wished not to say those words, Ashara still forced herself to say them.

"Then my life will be worth nothing in the end, and you can just take it." Visenya stated to her with complete certainty, surprising Ashara. "You may not believe me and my words, Lady Ashara, but right now, Jayce is fighting for his life and soul, and it is that fight that determines the fate of the world, not the one that your brother and husband mean to have with Martells."

"And whom does Jayce stand against? The Stranger?" Ashara asked of her with a bit of a skeptical tone.

"No, he stands against a creature, that once was a man, who dabbled with forces most believe non-existent, and who delved so deep into them, that he lost his own humanity. Once, he was the most feared man in all of Seven Kingdoms, the Hand of iron will and merciless resolve, who ruled the Seven Kingdoms and safeguarded House Targaryen from its enemies, but in the end, for his ruthlessness, kinslaying and much more, he was exiled to the Wall." Visenya explained. "For some time, he pretended to loyally serve the Night's Watch, even leading them, until finding what he searched for beyond the Wall. And after he disappeared, he dedicated all of his knowledge, his unbound might and powers to realization of his plans, twisted by ambitions, wroth and humiliation he felt, believing that he was unjustly punished by those to whom he dedicated all of his life and power. It is to the downfall of House Targaryen that this man... No, this creature, dedicated himself, to destroy the House of the Dragon and all it's descendants once and for all, once their they've outlived their usefulness." Ashara listed to Visenya, and a feeling of dread crept up into her heart.

"Who… What is this thing?" Ashara dared to ask. "Did… Did he have anything to do with what happened to Jayce?"

"Yes, he did, for he prevented Jayce for seeing the betrayal of the Martells, and used the Sand Snakes for his own plan. He is the third of the Four Great Bastards, known by many names: The Three Eyed Crow, Lord Rivers, and Brynden Rivers." Visenya revealed to Ashara. "Now… Now he is just Bloodraven, a malicious and powerful sorcerer, who now wishes to attempt the very worst of crimes against nature and Gods, and all that stands between him and success is Jayce."

---

Between life and death.

"F-first the inferno, then the scorching desert, then the pitch darkness, th-then i-it was the bog, a-and now a f-fucking blizzard…" Jayce Stark said with through his teeth, as he threaded the frozen wasteland through endless and relentless snow storm. "I-if th-this is wh-what S-Seven H-hells a-are supposed to be… Th-then I'll h-have a few w-words t-to say to th-the S-Seven." Jayce said, as the frost bit at his face, as he trudged through the snowdrifts.

He had long since lost count of time, not knowing whether he was in here for days, months, years, decades or even millennia, and soon enough he had stopped to care about time, having come to the conclusion that wherever he was now, it mattered close to nothing. And as for where exactly Jayce was, he too did not know, but he knew he was not yet dead, or at least fully, for he could sense he was still alive in some way, but not in the real world. Initially, he suspected that he was trapped in an endless nightmare, assaulted by shifting lands and terrains, terrors in form of ghost wolves, bats, demons over kind that a mind could imagine, all hungry for him and his soul. Yet even in this hellhole, Jayce never lost one thing he always had in abundance: defiance. And so instead of simply laying down and dying, he chose to simply move forward, regardless of what awaited him, choosing to move simply because it was better than standing still.

To say that his path was not easy would be an understatement of an age, as it felt like the very world itself was out to get him, in a literal sense, as it changed and shifted in ways that defied common sense and logic, while creatures of nightmares and more assaulted him. He had with him only Dark Sister, which he did not dare to let go no matter what, feeling that if he let it fall, he would forever depart with it, and it was about the sole thing that brought a sliver of comfort into him. So he moved on and struggled, fought on and on, having been wounded, torn apart and more by those creatures, yet despite sustaining injuries that were beyond even Gods, Jayce recovered and moved on, literally refusing to die. It would take him some time before he came to the simple conclusion, that in this strange world, so long as he didn't relent or surrender, he would survive, that through sheer will and stubbornness, he could win, and so did not relent and moved on.

When whoever held reign in this malign realm realized that pure nightmare and endless battles will not be enough to break Jayce, young Dreadwolf started to find himself in the places of pure paradise and serenity. The wildest dreams and deepest desires seemed to come to pass, where he was everything he wished and desired to be, and though it did surprise Jayce, he remained resolute, realizing that this was no different from the nightmares before. Remembering the warning of that white hawk, he just continued on his path, ignoring the Iron Throne, Baela, Daenerys, Sansa and thousands more maidens ready and waiting for him. He didn't give into temptation of taming Balerion the Black Dread, or dancing with Rhaenyra Targaryen, he did not flinch at the prospect of being the King of Winter, or to seeing Catelyn Stark die at his hands.

After probably realizing that this was not going to work, this Bloodraven, as Jayce recalled, decided to try and alternate hell with paradise in order to chip away at the will of the defiant lad, and all it did was merely make Jayce hate this man even further. While was coming to terms that he was probably trapped for eternity in here, he has grown absolutely mighty tired and pissed with it, and he wondered who was going to break first, him or Bloodraven. And personally, Jayce believed that this Bloodraven was the one who would give up, because young Dreadwolf believed that not even gods would manage to torture him so endlessly and would run out of patience. If it were to happen and he was finally relieved of this place, he might actually let himself die in peace, but not until he managed to beat this Bloodraven.

As he was lost in his thoughts, the storm finally abated, and as usually it happened to him, Jayce now found himself not in the middle of endless wasteland, but in the center of the yard of Winterfell. Stopping for a moment and taking stock of his surroundings, Jayce dusted off the snow on him and spoke up openly.

"Winterfell again? I thought we were through the last five or so times, or do you have something new in mind with it? Drown in a sea of blood, or maybe rain down fire?" Jayce asked with sarcasm aloud. "Here's a suggestion: why not try raining down some cheese? Might not really tempt me, but at least you'll finally surprise me, plus I could go for some of it right now."

"Jayce, my son…" A new voice sounded, making Jayce turn and face whoever it was.

Before Jayce appeared a pair, a man and a woman, both of whom he had never seen in his life, yet immediately knew who they were the moment his eyes reached theirs, and for the first time in a long while, he was actually surprised at what this Bloodraven has managed to perform. He had expected him to use these two long ago, and yet he kept them out of it so far.

"So, this is your play now?" Jayce asked aloud. "Illusions of Rhaegar and Lyanna? You must be growing desperate." Rhaegar Targaryen, the fair Prince dressed in black and crimson armor, and Lyanna Stark, crowned with the Blue Roses of Winter, stood before Jayce.

"Jacaerys, my son, we are not shadows or tricks of mummery. My son, we are as real in this world as you are." Rhaegar told him, as he smiled to him, yet Jayce did not feel warmth or any affection.

"Come, my son, let us look at you." Lyanna offered him the same smile, but Jayce still didn't feel any warmth, as his gut told him, that they were even more dangerous than the monsters he faced before. "Do you not wish to embrace your parents at long last? You must have been so lonely, all these years…"

"Really? Hm, I never really noticed your absence, mayhaps because I never really even knew either of you. And as for my parents, if you were Eddard Stark and Ashara Dayne, mayhaps it would have a shadow of a chance of me falling, but this Bloodraven has already failed with it." Jayce said with a nigh flippant tone, clearly upsetting Rhaegar and Lyanna. "Oh, what's wrong? Did I suddenly say something bad?" Jayce asked of them in a mocking tone.

"You openly deny your true parentage and proclaim those two as your father and mother, before us." Rhaegar stated to him in a chastising tone. "You've always ignored your true parentage, preferring the mummery of being a Stark and a Dayne, instead of who you were meant to be. You disappoint me, my son." Rhaegar's tone bordered on disgust, and now Jayce felt like he was truthful with him.

"Oh my, how will I ever live with the shame?!" Jayce asked in a mummery fashion, before he returned to his more serious attitude. "Oh wait, I'm bloody dead, so who gives a fuck about that?"

"A child should have more love and respect for their parents. Your brother Daemon is a complete opposite to you, for he showed both love and respect to us the moment we met him in the afterlife." Lyanna spoke up, getting the attention of Jayce, as he face morphed into one of disgust at him. "But I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything more from you, the one who killed me, and who killed your own brother." Jon Snow has always remained the sore topic to discuss, and it didn't change in death for Jayce, as he nearly lost his temper.

"Excuse me… I killed him?!" Jayce asked with an incredulous look in his eyes. "Of all the people, Jon was the single one I would've gladly traded my life with! I was not the one who locked him up and starved him to death, or did he fail to mention the part where it was Catelyn Tully who all but left him out to die?!"

"Yet it was you who gave her the reason, Jayce." Jayce's eyes widened when he heard the voice of his long deceased brother, making him turn and face Jon, older and looking like he was of the same age as Jayce. "You were always the one in need of attention, in need to be recognized and acknowledged, as Stark or more. Never able to understand that it was never yours to be given, that it was never yours to be earned." Jon stated to Jayce with venom, with Jayce shaken by his words.

"Jon… No, I never…" Jayce tried to speak up, but Jon was not done.

"Do not lie to me, at least now, brother. You always craved what you could not have, claiming that you didn't wish to be a Stark, and yet now you flaunt that name so openly, so proudly." Jon spat it out with disgust. "Yet you are no Stark, no. You are a mummer, a false Direwolf, who betrayed his own kin just for his own ambition and desires."

"Betrayed my kin? I risked my life to save the Northmen, time and time again, at Pyke and in the Bite, and even in Torrentine!" Jayce defended himself. "I never asked to be a Stark, yet was made one by Robert Baratheon. I asked him to make you one as well, but…"

"To beg from that pig, you truly are pathetic." Rhaegar gloated, with Jayce turning to face him. "A true son would've tried and avenged his father…"

"And a true father would not have abandoned his wife and children, just because his fucking loins got on fire." Jayce spat back, recalling Elia and her children. "Or did you forget about Elia Martell, or how about Rhaenys and Aegon? What about them, I ask you, oh Perfect Prince? You stand here and judge me for my crimes, but what about yours, hm?"

"What I did I have done out of duty and for the greater good, and it is not to you to judge me. You… You are the bane of me, your mother and even your brother. You denied me the daughter I wished, and killed Lyanna as well, depriving Jon of the mother he deserved, and your brother… Had you been humble and loyal to Starks as your brother, he would've lived." Rhaegar stated to him with anger.

"Jon was to live, while you were never even meant to be born." Lyanna stated to Jayce, who looked at her, taking in her words.

"Yes, and what a shame that it was not for you to decide." Jayce stated with venom, until he heard a crow cry in the distance, and the voice he had heard right before his death.

The man that appeared before him was nigh as pale as milk, with a red mark on his face, with a sole red eye clearly looking at him, and though he appeared to be human, Jayce could feel it with his very soul, that this creature was no longer a man. And that he really was in command of in here, and yet it gave him no boost in respect or admiration in the eyes of Dreadwolf, as he gripped his Dark Sister tighter in his arm.

"So, you've finally decided to show yourself." Jayce commented, as he looked closer at the man. "Bloodraven… Or should I say Brynden Rivers, third of the Great Bastards?" Jayce asked of him, with him not even showing any form of emotion.

"I have long since chosen to abandon that name, when I sacrificed the most precious to me, for the sake of the greater good of the world." Bloodraven spoke, as he looked at Jayce, before noticing the blade in his hand. "And now, I stand here, seeing you here, holding my blade like you do… Even when as nigh to death as you, you continue to mock and defy me." Jayce looked at Dark Sister for a moment, before it clicked in him.

"So, Aegon has allowed you to take it with you, hasn't he?" Jayce asked of him. "I guess it explains how it ended up on the Wall, but how did it come to my uncle… I guess it is not really important. But what is of import, is what your problem with me? I'm quite certain I've never even said a word about you."

"Hm, no, you never did, but the very fact of your birth and life is the greatest insult to me, made by the very same Gods that I strive to save." Bloodraven spat out at Jayce. "For longer than any living man can remember, I've shaped the destiny of Westeros and its people, serving the greater good of all, no matter the cause. Through my will, House Targaryen flourished and prospered, and when they dared to forget to whom they owe everything, I've undone them in mere three generations. And yet, I've also orchestrated the very births of your parents, all for the purpose of gaining the one True Prince… but you… You've ruined everything. Decades of planning, greatest of efforts and mightiest of dynasties undone- and you've made it all meaningless."

"Sounds to me like you and everyone are projecting blame on someone who doesn't really deserve it." Jayce noted with sarcasm. "So, what will you do now, then? Kill me?" Jayce asked in a challenging way, with Bloodraven smirking at him.

"Do you truly think that if I truly wished you to die, you would've survived?" Bloodraven asked of him. "I was being merciful with you up until now, offering you a chance to peacefully surrender, but now… Now you shall learn the true power." And with this, from the ground below Jayce shot up black chains piercing his body and dragging him to his knees.

"Argh! Wh-what is…" And that moment Jayce began to scream, as he felt like wildfire started coursing through his veins, and he nigh begged for it to stop.

"As much as I and all may wish death upon you, Jayce Stark, it would be a waste for you to die meaninglessly." Brynden told him, as Jayce roared from pain. "Instead, I found a way for you to at last serve a purpose to me, for much to my dismay, you were born with greater potential in magic than even I was, and it can't be wasted, not when so much is at stake. Right now, your soul is being absorbed into your brother's and once it is all done, he shall take your place in the world, and all will be as it should be." Jayce roared and struggled with the chains.

"Accept this punishment, Jayce, and the pain will abate." Lyanna urged him, as Jayce struggled through pain and rage

"It is your destiny, Jayce! You are nothing but a vessel for your brother. His is the destiny to save and rule, while yours…" Rhaegar tried to tell him, but Jayce finally managed to speak, his will and rage combined into one.

"MY DESTINY… IS MY OWN!" And with a world shaking cry, Jayce finally managed to swing Dark Sister, and the moment his steel touched the chains, they broke and disappeared, as he stopped the process, with both Jon and Brynden roaring from pain, while he recovered his breath.

"Argh! You… You've defied me for the last time!" Brynden announced to him, as in his own hand appeared the copy of Dark Sister, striding to the downed Jayce. "I'll not suffer you any longer! Die, you bastard!" Brynden was about to thrust his blade into Jayce's back, but then a white hawk suddenly hit him in his hands with it's claws, releasing the blade from his hands and from this reality, while he hissed from pain, before he turned to face the one who sent it, widening his eyes in fury.

"You have inflicted enough suffering already, Brynden." Said a beautiful woman with fairest of skins, wavy long hair of sunlight, with an emerald and sapphire seemingly serving for her eyes, dressed in the pale silver gown. "It ends today, once and for all." She stated to Bloodraven, as the hawk landed on her shoulder.

"Shiera…" Bloodraven spat out that name with venom, as his hand healed, while Jayce finally stood up right and walked to her. "I will not be denied my rightful due, not by you, or this brat! Flee, as you've done before, and I may yet spare you."

"I am done fleeing from you, Brynden." She said to him with a note of sadness in her tone, but steel still was heard in her voice. "I've not come to ask you to stop, for I know, that there is nothing left in you of the man that once I loved. You are now nothing more but an empty shell, full of malign envy and entitlement, who has destroyed all that we've loved, all over his own pride."

"My pride?! It was all my right, Shiera, and you know it!" Bloodraven cried out at her in wroth, as he looked around and Jon, Rhaegar and Lyanna summoned their own blades. "You were a fool to have come here, Shiera. You may have reached me and this bastard had exhausted me, but I still hold command here, and you stand here all alone."

"And who ever said that she came here alone?" A new confident voice asked of Brynden, and soon before him and others appeared the infamous Rogue Prince, Daemon Targaryen, bearing his Dark Sister with a challenging smile. "And who said that it is you who is in command here? I certainly did not." Daemon told him with a mocking smile, while Jayce smiled at the fact that he was no longer alone here.

"You were given ample warning to stop." Aegon the Conqueror, the founder of the Seven Kingdoms, revealed himself after Daemon, clad in his armor and bearing Blackfyre, taking his place at Jayce's side. "Yet instead, you chose to go down on this path of madness, and brought ruin to my House and bloodline. For this, and for your crimes, you shall find no respite when we are through with you." Aegon assured him, as the final figure revealed itself to Jayce, surprising him the most.

"You have incurred a terrible debt, Bloodraven, and it is time to finally pay." Queen Visenya Targaryen stated to him, Dark Sister in her hand and fire in her eyes, as she took place near her husband.

"You… You all are here?" Jayce said in disbelief, with the Targaryens turning to him.

"But of course. You were screaming so bloody loud, that we've decided to come and see what the fuss was all about." Daemon replied in his youthful flippant tone, but a sincere smile played on his lips. "And it was well about the damn time for us to finally meet. You've been rather enjoying seeing mine and Aegon's lives, or rather your past lives, so it was time we've finally all gathered in a good and proper way."

"Past lives?" Jayce asked aloud. "That… That might explain why I saw you two the most often and most clearly, though I can hardly understand how it works."

"Nor should you, Jayce, for such things are not for even us to know." Aegon told him, before turning towards Bloodraven. "What is important now is that we end this Greenseer for good. I shall take him on."

"His pet dog is mine." Visenya stated, as she readied herself for battle.

"Fine then, I'll deal with the pretty boy there. He does remind me of Aemond quite a bit." Daemon noted with smirk, as he twirled his blade. "I wonder, if I take out his eye, will that make him prettier, or turn him into actual Aemond?"

"Reckon it will be the latter, but only practice will tell." Jayce said as he readied himself, willing upon himself the Dragonscale armor, starting to realize, that he was not as helpless as he used to be. "Do keep them off of me. Me and my brother… We've got some things to discuss." And with this the Targaryens went on to their chosen enemies, as Visenya began showing Lyanna what a true Warrior Queen was about, Rhaegar faced off against the Rogue Prince, and Bloodraven tried to stand his ground against the Conqueror, while Jayce and Jon engaged in a dance of death and Valyrian Steel.

"You stole everything from me!" Jon cried at him, trying to slash Jayce in two from downward slash, only for Jayce to counter with upward one and deflecting his steel away. "Name, status, legitimacy, honor and even life- you took everything from me!" Jon shouted, as he and Jayce clashed with their blades, trying to push each other off.

"I never wished for any of it!" Jayce stated to him, as he pushed Jon off him and engaged him, unleashing a flurry of strikes. "All I wanted was a different lot for me, but never at the expense of you, Jon. My only wish was to become more than a damned bastard, more than what that fish bitch tried to make us into!" Jayce stated to him, as Jon deflected and tried to counter Jayce's side slash, but Jayce managed to evade and strike back, with Jon barely stepping back.

"And yet, every time when there was a chance to gain glory and recognition, you took it!" Jon reminded Jayce, as he charged him again, with Jayce going on the defensive. "Oldtown, Pyke, Braavos, the Bite and Torrentine- you always took your chance to shine, all for your own damned vanity and pride. To prove to all, that you were always better than Robb, and as the result, I had to suffer for it!" Jon cried out, as he tried to hit Jayce again, but wasn't able and Jayce kicked him back.

"Prove myself? I know not what you think, Jon, or what that Bloodraven made you think, but here is the truth- I've long stopped caring about proving myself over Robb." Jayce stated to him calmly, not attacking and looking straight into the eyes of his brother. "I am my own person, Jon, and Robb is his own… But you… You were better than both of us, and I am sorry, brother, for failing you." Jayce sincerely told him, with Jon exploding in anger, as he charged Jayce with roar, while Jayce simply raised his sword forward, and when Jon was about to strike, he gracefully sidestepped and slashed Jon's neck with Dark Sister, and in the next moment, the ghost of Jon Snow disappeared, finally laid to rest.

"I was to be the Queen! Our son would've been the King worthy, but this monster will be like your damned Maegor!" Lyanna cried out at Visenya, who easily caught Lyanna's hand, before putting her own blade to Lyanna's throat and slitting it without even letting her speak, sending her back to rest.

"Argh, I… I will not be laid down to rest like this. The Prophecy… I will see it fulfilled!" Rhaegar, missing his left eye, tried to beat Daemon, but the Rogue Prince showed his finesse and easily disarmed the Silver Prince and then pierced another one of Rhaegar's eyes, sending the restless spirit to where it belonged.

"Enough!" Bloodraven cried out and the world shook, as he saw his puppets laid to rest, sending Aegon reeling back a little. "You… I will not be defeated by the likes of you. You may have destroyed my puppets, but they are by far not the greatest of my arms against you." And at that moment, the world changed again, and the ashen clad wastelands appeared, and the tremendous roar was heard by all.

It first appeared as a cloud, before turning into a shadow that blocked the sun, and then into the most massive Dragon ever existing in the history of Westeros, one of the three that served to forge The Iron Throne and the Kingdoms it conquered. Balerion the Black Dread, the mightiest of the Targaryen dragons ever to live, has taken to the field and Bloodraven mounted it for his own, intending to finally put an end to this entire charade, once and for all. And as his enemies looked down from the ground, appearing no smaller than specks of dust before the giant beast, Daemon spoke up.

"Well, he sure is brazen, I'll give him that." Daemon noted, as he looked at the approaching Balerion, before turning to Aegon, who was positively murderously glaring at Bloodraven.

"To destroy my family is one thing… But to dare to steel my dragon… I'll personally feed whatever remains of his soul to Balerion, once he is done for." Aegon promised through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, though before that we should first focus on first defeating the Black Death." Jayce reminded them all. "Dumb question, but I don't suppose you two have brought your own dragons for this battle? Last I remember, Caraxes and Vhagar could've given Balerion a good pause."

"I fear that with our deaths, our links with them have been extinguished, for both yet live." Jayce widened his eyes at Visenya's words, who turned to him. "Had Vhagar perished, she would've been at my side. Instead, she fell into slumber in the lake of God's Eye, sustained and rejuvenated by the powers that ruled that land." It took Jayce a moment to process what he heard from Visenya.

"As would've Caraxes been with me, but I knew it was not yet his time to perish." Daemon remarked, turning to Jayce. "We may not call them, but you can do so."

"Me?" Jayce asked of Daemon, with Shiera speaking up.

"You were born with the gifts of all True Old Gods, those of the North and those of Valyria. You are a Greenseer and a Dragon Dreamer, Jayce, and though you may have never met or seen them in life, you witnessed and felt them through lives and senses of others." Shiera revealed to him. "Brynden was right to fear you, for you are proving to be his bane, and you must finish this. Summon the mightiest of the Dragons and put an end to this."

"How am I supposed to even do that?" Jayce asked of Shiera, with Visenya answering to him.

"The answer is the same as how you've resisted him for so long- your will." Visenya told him. "Your blood is Ice and Fire made manifest, and this realm, your power is enough not only to rival him, but to surpass him. Do it, call them. They await your call. Forget the distance, time, place- just see them in your soul, and call their names." Visenya explained to Jayce, and he closed his eyes, letting out a soft exhale, as the Black Dread began to descend.

"Caraxes… Vhagar… Come, your riders summon you." Jayce said as quietly as one would pray, before opening his eyes, with Balerion unleashing fires of inferno upon them, turning the entire place into glass, ashes and fires

But then… Two distant roars were heard, and Bloodraven paused with his mount and turned, and widened his eyes, for in the skies he saw not one, but two of the mightiest and fiercest of Dragons in history of Targaryens were now flying towards him. First to close the distance and appear in clear sigh was the graceful and lean Blood Wyrm Caraxes, it's serpentine cry announcing its arrival, as Daemon once more mounted his Dragon, with Jayce behind him and a winning smile. Not far behind her flew Vhagar, the she-dragon and oldest of all Targaryen Dragons, bronze and green scales shining on the light of the sun, revealing it's healed wounds and renewed strength, as Visenya rode her oldest friend into battle once more, her husband at her side. Balerion turned and flew towards this pair, all three massive beasts of roughly same size blocked the sun and turned the day into the night.

And then, the Dance began, as Vhagar charged at Balerion, both spewing fire at one another, as Caraxes climbed up swiftly and then dove straight at Balerion with a cry, unleashing its own fire, with Balerion crying out in pain, as it struggled to evade, and was then cut by the claws of Caraxes in the spine, as it dived past him. Vhagar evaded the jaws of her brother, and the two beasts began to circle one another, before Bloodraven decided to go for Caraxes, still recovering from its dive, yet Vhagar was there to intercept, crushing into the Black Dread and nearly causing him to lose its balance, barely recovering after a short fall. Yet that opportunity was what Daemon needed, and with the nod to Jayce, he sent Caraxes again on a dive at Balerion, closing his massive wings for most speed, as Jayce readied himself, and the moment that Balerion the Black Dread again found its balance in the air, Jayce Stark leapt from Caraxes, blade drawn and ready.

Bloodraven was able to spy Caraxes descending upon him, but the moment he stopped Balerion from falling and returned it into flight, he saw the Blood Wyrm open its wings again, and then… He saw Jayce Stark with Dark Sister, falling straight towards him, and this time… This time the Bloodraven was unable to do a thing, for has indeed exhausted all his strength and power on his quest to break Jayce, and the last vestiges were spent on summoning the Black Dread from the afterlife here. No shifting of the world, no transformation or skinchanging, there were no more spells or powers to call upon, and in that very moment, his sole red eye widened as he recognized his death. In the very next moment, Jayce's blade reached its mark, imbedding itself deep in Brynden Rivers' sole eye and past it, with Balerion crying out as he himself was killed, and in the next moment, the body of the Bloodraven began to crumble and wither, turning into black dust and disappearing with the wind, with Balerion soon leaving as well.

The moment it was all over, Jayce found himself not in the air, but on the shores of Dorne, with Targaryens and Shiera Seastar, along with Caraxes and Vhagar on the ground looking at him with pride, as he let out an exhausted sigh.

"Is… Is it over?" He asked of them, and Shiera answered to him.

"It is, Jayce. You've… You have finally ended the Bloodraven's reign." Shiera confirmed it, as she let out a sigh of relief. "He has fully exhausted himself against you, Jayce, and this became his doom. Of all the Targaryens he had to deal with through dreams and visions, you are the one who never fell victim to him. The Gods have chosen wisely."

"I know not about the Gods, but… I felt relief… Relief, as if something that had clouded my mind has been lifted and… It's like I'm more than I was before." Jayce said, sensing the change in him.

"You are realizing who you are, and so you are gaining more power." Visenya told him with a smile. "No Dragon Dreamer or Greenseer would've been able to accomplish what you've done now. You are the best of us and Starks."

"Best of Targaryens and Starks…" Jayce said with a small smile. "Yeah… You are right. I may not acknowledge my parents or ever love them, or even respect them, but I'll not deny who I am. I am Jacaerys Targaryen and Jayce Stark, Scion of Fire and Ice, and none may take that away from me."

"The Dragon writes his own song, and doesn't have others write it for him." Aegon recalled his words to Jayce with a smile. "What shall you do now?"

"First, I'll get out of here, hopefully, and after… After I'll settle the business with the Martells." Jayce stated to Aegon, showing him quite a determined look. "It's long past time that they've paid properly for Rhaenys and Meraxes." Aegon and Visenya supported him.

"It is only because of knowing that they would one day pay the proper price that I've signed peace with them." Aegon told Jayce with a smile. "But I fear you may not have the chance to do so, for the Martells are well on their way now." Jayce looked to Shiera for explanations.

"You've been in here for nigh two months now, Jayce, and Doran Martell did not waste time. He and Oberyn have gathered an army of 40 thousand men, gathering nigh all of eastern Dorne, buying sellswords and even selling Doran's daughter to Tyrosh's archon as a wife to gain Tyrosh's fleet and army." Shiera revealed to Jayce. "Ulric and his allies, along with Laenor Velaryon, mean to give them battle on their own terms, but they are outnumbered nigh 3 to one, and none will help them. The battle is mere days away now, and you alone can't influence what may come to pass." Shiera told him, with Jayce taken into deep thoughts, until he once more looked at the Dragons, and then he knew what to do.

"I myself might not do much, but what I can do is show the world, that Dragons are back, and that our House has hope." Jayce stepped towards Caraxes and Vhagar, both lowering their heads closer to him.

"You can't bond with both of them here, Jayce. You need to be in the realm of the living to fully bond with one of them." Daemon reminded Jayce.

"I know, but here, my will decides all, and what I can do, is give them purpose and reason to wake up." Jayce raised both his hands and put them on the heads of Caraxes and Vhagar. "Caraxes, Vhagar, heed my call…"

---

Realm of the Living. Riverlands. God's Eye Lake.

At first it felt like a small wave on the water's surface, then as a small tremor through lake, and then waves began to rise and flood the area, until finally out of the depths of the lake flown out the massive beast it had harbored for over a hundred and fifty years now. It's bronze and green scales glistened and shined in all its glory and beauty, as the magic of the Old Gods have not only preserved, but healed and restored it's once battered and worn form, restoring the majesty that it once was. She opened up her wings and flew straight into the air, and her cry was heard for miles and miles away, while folk from Harrenhall to Trident fell silent and prayed to all Gods, or fled as far as they could, signaling for all of Westeros, that the Dragons were back, and that Vhagar, The Targaryen Glory, once more took flight, as it headed east, heeding the call of the one who had awakened her at last.

---

Essos. Remnants of Ancient Valyria.

Though the Doom still gripped what remained of Valyrian Freehold, and demons and monsters prowled it along with nightmares, one creature had yet managed to find its way into what once were caverns of ancient dragons. There it nestled and fell into deep slumber, sustained by powers that had once brought ruin to the prosperous civilization and empire, feeding and safeguarding the mighty Wyrm for when it was time for him to fly again. And now that hour has come, as its eyes opened, and caverns were filled with the chirping and roar of Caraxes, as it shaken off the last of its dream and turned its gaze to the exit, almost slithering to it like a giant red serpent. And once outside, it unleashed it's flame upon all that dared to come close, before it had spread its wings and flew west, guided by the one who awakened him, and soon all of Essos would know, that Dragons once again ruled the skies.

---

Two months after battle of Torrentine. Dorne. Hills of the Elbow.

A small party of knights and riders, led by Lord Ulric and his brother Arthur, along with Benjen Stark and Laenor Velaryon and other notables, rode out to meet a similar party led by Oberyn Martell and other Lords who decided to stay loyal to Doran. All of Dorne knew of Doran's treachery and machinations, and none had dared to question Lord Ulric's word, not after given proof in form of Doran's words and seals to Blackmonts, assurances and more, yet not all were as eager to put the high-and-mighty Doran down. He held a great many captives at Water Gardens of noble birth, ensuring that many still joined him, and he has all but stripped eastern Dorne of all who were willing to take up a sword, a spear, a shield and a bow. He had also even opened up his treasury to buy sellswords and even offered Arianne to Tyrosh's archon for a wife, which he accepted, sending his fleet and army to aid Dorne. All of this effort paid off to Doran, as he had assembled a fantastical by Dorne's standards host of 40 thousand men, while Ulric with his allies was only able to put to the field 15 thousand.

Though he held higher ground and his men were drilled and experienced in battle, numbers were not in his favor and he knew it, but Ulric would be damned if didn't make Oberyn and Doran pay for what they did. Not only that, but he also knew that all of Torrentine and much of Dorne now wished vengeance for Jayce Stark, now hailed as the Sword of Twilight for his sacrificial heroism in Torrentine town and for avenging Elia Martell, and the Dreadwolves, led by Arthur, were particularly proud and eager to sink their fangs into the flesh of Martells. There was also the fact that despite their numbers, Ulric held the advantage in quality of men and commanders, and he himself was Dorne's best commander, something that Doran and Oberyn all too well, and partly because of it that they had gathered such a massive host.

The two groups have finally closed their distance, and Ulric saw at Oberyn's right hand none other than Lord Anders Yronwood, brother of his wife and the man he once respected and called a brother, but now cursed the very name.

"Lord Ulric, we meet once again." Oberyn spoke up in an almost casual tone. "I sincerely hope that you've not come to offer us your surrender, for I would surely not like to be denied the pleasure of ending your life."

"I'd sooner name a Tyrell Regent of Dorne than submit to you or your treacherous impotent brother." Ulric spat out. "However, if you wish to offer your surrender, I'll consider it." Oberyn chuckled at that.

"I am glad that you still retain your sense of humor, even when it is all but hopeless for you." Oberyn told him with a predatory smirk. "My brother in his benign mood wished for me to offer you the terms that would save you and your friends' lives: you and Ser Arthur shall take the Black and leave Dorne, while Lady Allyria and young Edric shall become guests of honor in Water Gardens, while a Martell with Dayne's lineage would take regency over Torrentine Valley and Starfall, until Edric is of age to rule… Or, in case he never reaches maturity, shall assume the duties and name of Daynes of Torrentine."

"You already know the answer to all of that." Ulric told Oberyn. "All I can say at this point is that for the first time, I am glad that Elia is no longer among the living, for if she saw, what you and Doran have become, she would've slit her own throat out of disgust." Oberyn's jovial expression changed to one of anger.

"You have no right to mention her name." Oberyn told him with a sharp tone.

"And you and Doran have no right to claim to have loved her, for what brother barely allows 10 thousand to leave Dorne to fight for her, and yet is ready to gather such a massive host against his own kin? What kind of brother allows his own daughters to strike the man who avenged his sister?" Ulric asked of Oberyn, not expecting answer, before turning to Anders. "I guess you do belong with them, Anders, though I wonder what your father and grandfather would say, if they saw you with the man who killed your own grandfather with a poison, over a paramour."

"What I do, I do for the benefit of all Dorne and my House." Anders simply answered to him. "Your defiance ends here, Ulric. Best you accept the terms and spare the Torrentine Valley another war."

"My Valley, its plains and hills, mountains and river, are all soaked in blood already, because of all of you, and it is long past time that those that shed it be avenged." Ulric told them and turned his steed away, he and his group leaving the Martells and returning back to their own host.

"In all honesty, do you think we stand a chance against such a force?" Benjen Stark asked of Ulric.

"We hold the good terrain and our warriors have the experience, while Oberyn's are wet and green, while sellswords fight for gold alone." Ulric said, as they've reached their host. "It will be bloody, and hard, but… I will not let them take the Valley, nor will I let go of what they did to my family, to Jayce."

"Aye, nor will I." Benjen told him, as they've dismounted. "Ned would not believe me to be a deserter, but for Jayce… It's about the damn time I did something right by him."

"Then you've picked the right time, Benjen…" Arthur was about to continue, when all heard a sound that hadn't been heard in Dorne in centuries. "What was that?"

"Sounded like…" And then another akin to it, only louder and more thunderous. "Like… A roar." Laenor said with a more hushed tone, as all quieted down and finally, the wind carried with itself the sounds of the massive wings.

None were able to understand what it was or realize to whom it all belonged, as from the Red Mountains to the east and from the skies appears the massive form of Vhagar, immediately announcing itself with a thunderous roar, sending chills down the spine of every mortal within leagues around. The Dayne's host froze in fear and many prepared to flee, and yet… The Dragon completely ignored them, flying above and then descending upon the host of Martells stationed in front of the hills, it's massive jaws opening, and fire unleashing from inside, and once again Dorne learned the heat of the Dragon fire. In a single strafing run, Vhagar claimed a hefty toll of dead, as the Martell host was literally split into two by fire, before she turned to begin encircling her victims in the ring of flame.

The discipline and order disappeared the moment Vhagar claimed it's first victim and the Martell host broke into a senseless mob of panic and fear, men and women fleeing for their lives, with Vhagar closing it's trap from east to north. And then, Ulric and others turned back, as a different, more serpentine cry was heard, and they saw massive pillars of smock rising with fire from where the Tyroshi fleet once was, and in the skies, diving down, they saw Caraxes, the Blood Wyrm, now near same size as Vhagar and yet as agile and fierce. The two Dragons joined in the dance, and so began the infernal slaughter, as the Martell forces were soon trapped in a semi-circle of fire, open to the west, and then Vhagar and Caraxes began to pick apart the trapped enemies.

It took them a little effort to find Oberyn Martell, and Vhagar dove down and captured him in her claws with his mount before flying as high as she could, and then letting him go, while Caraxes unleashed it's fires upon the Yronwoods. When Oberyn and his mount finally hit the ground and turned into a red stain, the whole affair was over, with less than an eight of the Martell surviving the dragons, and only because they dared to flee to Daynes and surrender to them. After this, the Daynes and others prepared to flee, yet instead of continuing on with their carnage, Caraxes and Vhagar took off to the east, not even sparing an eye to the Daynes. And so, within half an hour, House Dayne had gained their greatest victory, and men praised the gods, Old and New, for only they could've delivered them such a victory, and only some felt somehow, that all this was owed not to the gods, but to Jayce Stark.

---

Later. Water Gardens.

Doran Martell was already prepared to taste victory, having little to no doubts of his victory over Ulric, for as mighty, famous and clever he was, not even he could overcome such serious odds, for Doran had done everything to ensure that his victory was final. His certainty in it was so clear, that he had invited the families of all his allies to Water Garden, with even Tyrosh's Archon here, along with every Martell, including his sons and daughter and rest of Oberyn's daughters, already celebrating their victory. He will finally put down those who resisted him all these years or could prove to be troublesome in the future, and Dorne would fully be his, and as for Jayce Stark… There was always Viserys and Daenerys, and he will see his blood on the Iron Throne, one way or the other.

The songs and music sounded loud, loud enough to cover the sounds of the wings of Dragons approaching, and only until they were circling above the Water Gardens did they finally reveal themselves with roars, and spewed fire upon the palace and it's gardens. Vhagar and Caraxes' flames consumed the luxurious palace of Martells in but a minute, and the cries of all gathered there were silenced quickly, yet the flames continued to come. The two Dragons would not relent until every single speck of this place was turned into an ash covered burning wasteland, as the marble and wood burned and melted, with men, women and children burned and gone forever. Vhagar and Caraxes were most thorough, and within an hour, there was not a soul left in anywhere within a mile around Water Gardens, which from this day forth will be known as Fire Gardens, and the grave of House Martell in all of its entirety. And once their task was done, the two Dragons finally departed for the east, to await their riders, having fulfilled the request of the one who awoke them in the fullest.

---

Well, if the last chapter was good, then I hope this one will be a fiery one, because… Because it's DRAGONS! And what dragons, VHAGAR AND CARAXES ARE BACK, BITCHES! Okay, I will admit that I didn't plan to bring Vhagar back at all, but after I saw her putting Aemond through his paces, I was literally like this: Fuck it, I'm bringing her in, I wanna her in! And now I can finally go to sleep, and when I wake up, I'll watch the latest HOTD.

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter and will give it a review, a comment about the future events, possible romance options and so on, for your feedback helps me make it better.

Next time: Consequences, decisions, oaths and actions.

See ya!