As usual House of the Dragon at the weekend was excellent. This last time jump has brought us to the final set of adult actors for the cast, and what a group they are. I'm really excited to delve more into Jace, Aemond and Helaena personally, but everybody has been brilliant. A special shout out to Paddy Considine for really showing me Viserys in a new light.

Back to this story though, and we're nearing the end of Season 5 with this chapter and next chapter being the final two set in that season. It's also drawing the Faith arc to a close, and I'm really excited for what's coming next in this story.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter. As always, I own nothing that is found on the TV shows or the books.

The new High Septon arrived in the Capital a couple of weeks after Luke's meeting with Septon Luceon, and the Targaryen King was getting sick of his dealings with the Faith. In fact, as Luke waited in his solar for the new head of the religion, Luke realised that he was getting sick of pretty much everything.

The tensions between Queen and Princess had grown after the destruction of Baelor, and now in the rare instances that the pair were in the same room the divide was clear. It was draining the energies of the King who had taken to locking himself in his solar away from council meetings and his time on Visenya's Hill just to avoid it all. That had served him well though, as the King had discovered a number of scrolls and documents from the time of King Jaehaerys I, the previous user of this particular room, as well as a number of old paintings and sketches of his ancestors, all of whom wielded a dragon bone hilt dagger that Luke had started searching for as his next item of heritage.

A knock at the door of the solar sounded as Luke was reading through one of the most important documents of the Old King's reign, and Ser Rolly popped his head through the door and stated. "The High Septon to see you, Your Grace."

"Allow him in." Luke nodded, rising out of his seat to pour a couple of glasses of wine. When he turned back around the brown robed man was inside the room, the ornate crystal crown of his office sitting firmly atop his head. "Your Holiness." He bowed his own head as a mark of respect."

"Your Grace." The man returned the favour, carefully keeping the crown in place.

"Please, sit." Luke gestured. "Perhaps I should have worn my own crown for such a meeting."

Thankfully, the High Septon smiled. "There is no need. This role is still new to me and it was recommended that I keep this on at all times to get used to the weight."

"I cannot help you there I'm afraid, the circlet of the Conqueror doesn't weigh much due to its Valyrian Steel and sits nicely around my head." Luke explained.

"I would much prefer to bear a crown like your ancestor Jaehaerys, Your Grace. The seven gems of the Gods on a simple circlet would be much preferable." The High Septon was still smiling as he looked behind Luke to the portrait behind him. "We too have portraits of him on the walls of the Starry Sept."

"Jaehaerys' crown is an impressive one, though I fear tradition is against your more humble desires, Your Holiness, and you are stuck with the gaudy crystals." Luke said.

"A pity." The High Septon grinned. "Though perhaps I could still see it one day."

Luke could suddenly feel the key hanging around his neck that opened his black oak chest more prominently on his bare skin. "Perhaps you shall, though for now I must simply welcome you to King's Landing and the Red Keep."

The High Septon nodded. "It is certainly different to Oldtown here. Quieter almost, which is something I wasn't expecting."

"The troubles of the Sparrows have harmed many of my citizens." Luke said solemnly. "Many are still recovering from their ordeals."

"I have been to King's Landing before." The High Septon stated. "The emptiness of Visenya's Hill on this journey was indeed a shock."

Luke steeled his face. "The Sparrows caused a lot of bloodshed. Many believe the fire to have purified the site."

"An Essosi belief, but one that may have merit." The High Septon stated. "I am not here to scold you, Your Grace. I have heard much about you since your return from the dead, including that you refused to sail from Dragonstone until a Sept had been rebuilt and you had managed to pray to the Gods."

"I hold the Seven in my heart, Your Holiness, though I do not find myself beholden to them." Luke stated honestly. "This life is mine own to navigate, I can only pray that the Seven bless my choices."

"Thus far they have it seems. An exiled Prince, brought up as a mere sellsword that rose up to become the King of the Andals." The High Septon explained. "Though many do still see you as a sellsword, with the sword being your preferred method of talking."

"I fight when I must." Luke said.

The High Septon sighed. "There is a time for fighting, and a time for talking. The Warrior is an important aspect of the Seven, but is still only one of them. It is my hope that together we can form a friendship that will allow for a rebuilding of trust and talk between our two institutions."

"I would like that too." Luke nodded. "Though there seems to be many things about me that the Faith hold in outright distain."

The High Septon didn't shy away from that, and nodded. "Your birth is a stain on what the Seven Pointed Star teaches, that is true. The rumours of blood magics and the Red Priest that used to follow you around is another issue my order has with you, Your Grace."

"And yet, your order accepted me." Luke shrugged, turning the parchment he had in front of him. "This was King Jaehaerys' solar, and it was here he got the agreement signed by the High Septon of the time that proclaimed me and mine different, unbound by the shackles of the Andals. We are Valyrian, High Septon."

The High Septon read the document. "Fascinating, to see the Doctrine of Exceptionalism as written by our forebears…" He trailed off. "This parchment has long been contentious in my order, yet we know we cannot disregard it, less we excommunicate one of my predecessors, which is a dangerous precedent to set." The High Septon continued to read the document. "The allowances of incest may be written into the Doctrine, Your Grace, but that is only one major part of the distrust in you."

Luke sighed. "I know what it says, and I know what the people fear. I am not taking a second wife; can my words on this matter not be enough?"

"No, not when the Princess is so active at court and seemingly raising your own child." The High Septon explained. "The best thing to do is to find the Princess Daenerys a husband."

Luke held in the swearing because of the company he was in, but his face told of his frustration. "She is my sister." He stated unhappily.

"And an unwed woman of 20." The High Septon countered. "It is past time that she be married and sent away, so that rumours cannot begin to spread."

Luke stood up and moved to the back of the room, where the large painting of Jaehaerys and Alysanne in their younger days was hanging on the wall, the baby Prince Aemon in his arms and Prince Baelon within the Queen's belly. Luke sighed as he looked up at his ancestors. "I was sent away when I was four years old. My Mother was pregnant, though not so far gone that it was noticeable. She told me she hoped for a girl before I was taken away, and for the next 17 years all the news I had of my remaining family came from gossips in taverns and ports. I found her finally, and I fought for her safety within only weeks of knowing her. She is the only thing I have left of my life before the Rebellion, and nobody seems to understand that!" He scowled as he looked at the happiness on his ancestors faces. "Daenerys is free to wed, but I refuse to send her away, High Septon. She is my blood, and my friend."

"And will remain being known as your secret lover for as long as she remains within the walls of the Red Keep." The High Septon explained. "It is a sad thought to send such a dear companion away for the benefit of oneself, a thought that I would not wish to impose on anyone as close family relationships are a blessing, but for your rule to go unmolested in the eyes of the Seven then your contact with Princess Daenerys must be limited."

Clenching his teeth in frustration, Luke turned back to his guest. "Thank you for the conversation, High Septon. I believe we will have many in the time you remain in the Red Keep. I shall have one of my Kingsguard show you to your new quarters, close to the castle Sept."

The High Septon nodded, standing up and bowing his head once again. "Think on my words, Your Grace, that is all I ask. I want your rule to remain peaceful after all."

It wasn't until the door shut once again and Luke was left alone that the King let out the frustrated sigh that he had been building up. The world was conspiring to separate him from his sister, and for the first time Luke was beginning to feel like maybe it was for the best in order to lower the stresses he was feeling.

Later that same day Luke found himself in the Tower of the Hand. He very rarely spent time there and took time to look around, noticing the room had been turned to look distinctly Connington, with Griffin decorations filling the room, along with a few silver dragon decorations.

He was there to discuss the future of Daenerys with his Hand, and each passing minute the frustration was growing. It seems that Jon had been working on a list of suitors ever since news had reached King's Landing of Prince Trystane's unfortunate end, and it was a pretty lengthy one. Some names had already been crossed out through their own marriages, but there were still a good number left unblemished, including that of Luke's former squire.

"Ned has his eyes set on a different match." Luke shook his head.

"One that Magister Malaquo has outright refused." Jon countered.

Luke scoffed. "Malaquo also isn't here. They both like one another, and are free to do as they wish so long as I know nothing about any elopements." Luke shook his head again and scratched Edric Dayne off of the list.

"You cannot keep rejecting everybody, Luke." Jon sighed. "The entire point of this is to come up with a solution."

"A sensible solution, one that is befitting of Dany's rank and station. Not…" He looked down the sheet and immediately a name jumped out at him. "Seven Hell's Jon, Tommen Waters?"

"Tommen Lannister, the heir to Casterly Rock, as decreed by yourself when you took the Throne and executed his mother and brother." Jon stated. "A fine match for the Princess and one that would tie any remaining Lannister loyalists to yourself."

Luke shook his head. "I will not grant the bastard further legitimacy. If I marry him to Dany and then their children will end up being used as claimants for the Throne. No, he can wed a Westerlander, I care not who, but someone to sure up the boy's own claims in the West, not one that further ties him to my Throne."

Jon grimaced and then crossed out the name. "Then what about Robin Arryn? He is the Lord of the Vale, the Warden of the East. Houses Arryn and Targaryen have wed before many times."

"A sickly boy who refused to bend to us until there was no other option." Luke scoffed, somewhat offended at the suggestion.

Jon rolled his eyes. "His Mother was regent; she made the decisions."

"Then why would I subject my sister to birthing children related to that mad woman." Luke shook his head. "No."

Jon scowled. "Lord Edmure?"

"Also related to her." Luke dismissed quickly.

"Prince Oberyn?"

Luke dramatically hit his head on the table in exasperation. "He would sooner fuck Tywin Lannister's corpse than be forced to wed, be serious Jon."

"It is you who should be serious." Jon countered. "These are perfectly good matches and you've refused every one of them for petty reasons. The only one I agree with you on is Ser Loras, another match with the Tyrell's is unwise, but as for the others…" He shook his head. "You may be a dragon rider now Luke, but alliances made against your House brought it to its knees, if we are to remain strong then we need more."

"We have one with the Baratheon's through you, do we not?" Luke raised an eyebrow. "How is the Lady Shireen? Is she pregnant yet?"

"Careful." Jon said quietly. "You know my feelings on the matter."

"She is 15 now, of an age to give you a much needed child to solidify our hold on the Stormlands." Luke insisted. "And her last visit to the Capital clearly wasn't fruitful. She's Rhaegar's second cousin if that thought helps you…"

Jon stood up roughly, his seat flying backwards after scraping along the stone floor. "Forgive me, Your Grace. I fear I am tired; we should continue this another day when we are less irritable." Jon said through clenched teeth.

Luke shook his head. "Daenerys is my family, you of all people know that I sorely missed that growing up. I will marry her off to someone I feel is deserving of her, and nobody else."

"I pray that somebody is deemed worthy sooner than later then, Your Grace." Jon nodded. "If you'll excuse me." He bowed his head and then stormed off to his private quarters, leaving Luke alone with the list of eligible nobles, the Targaryen King staring at all of the names with a grim taste on his tongue.

"RIDER APPROACHING!"

The single horn blast had immediately worried Jon as he anticipated the two more that would indicate the arrival of the White Walkers. Thankfully no more followed, and the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch left his quarters to see that the gates had already opened and Mance Rayder rode in, surrounded by a pair of the Free Folk.

Descending the steps, he could already hear the aggressive whispering from some of his brothers, but the Bastard of Winterfell ignored them, focusing instead on the visit from Mance. As he got to the courtyard the Free Folk had already dismounted, and Mance was walking towards him.

"You have horses now?" Jon asked, an eyebrow raised.

Mance smirked. "Aye, Lord Stark encouraged one of your houses to trade us for the crops we've been making."

"Better and easier than raiding." Jon smirked.

"To some, not to others." Mance said. His face then dropped into one of warning. "I need to speak with you, Jon Snow."

"Aye, I gathered as much." Jon nodded. "Grenn, see to it that our two guests have a meal down them." He commanded, knowing that with Grenn beside them the Free Folk duo shouldn't get much hassle. "If you'll follow me." Jon added to Mance.

Once the pair were inside Jon's solar, the Lord Commander shut the door and moved to the fire to warm his hands. "What can I do for you, Mance?" Jon asked.

"Firstly, it's time we buried the hatchet." Mance explained. "I hated you for a traitor as you did me. Now we have come together as allies, we need to trust one another."

"I trust in your leadership and your love for your people." Jon explained, holding his hand out. "I never doubted that. Now our people need to be friends if we are to survive the coming Winter."

Mance nodded, taking Jon's hand and shaking it. "Aye." He agreed. "And I wouldn't come to any other crow but you with this news, for only you will believe it."

That intrigued Jon as he sat down in his chair. "Only me?"

"Aye." Mance repeated. "You knew Orell, you know what some of my people can do."

Jon's mind went straight to his wolf dreams. "Wargs." He stated. "You have more?"

"A few." Mance nodded. "And all of them were forced to leave their land animals behind. One of them came to me two days ago telling me of what they saw."

Jon's blood ran cold. "What did he see?"

"Those that wouldn't follow me went back to Hardhome. They fortified it and made it their own, 12,000 people crammed on that coastline." Mance explained. "Well, there used to be 12,000 people. Now it is a ghost town, with nought but the winds and the tides to occupy it."

Now Jon felt goosebumps. "I don't suppose they just migrated elsewhere." He said forebodingly.

Mance shook his head. "I wish. The dead came, and slaughtered them all." The man was angry, Jon noticed. "12,000 men, women and children, all of them gone because of pride."

Standing, Jon moved over to the map that he hung on his solar wall. "Hardhome isn't far at all…" He whispered.

"No, it isn't." Mance said. "So I've come to warn you, as the Commander of the Night's Watch, to prepare yourself."

"This isn't just my fight." Jon countered. "You swore to join us when the time came."

"We did." Mance nodded.

"Then stand by your oath." Jon insisted, finding a fresh map of just the Wall, with all of the castles along it named and marked. "We'll finally start filling up the rest of the castles between here and Eastwatch. Rimegate already has a garrison but there are 6 other castles that need filling." Jon frowned in thought. "Are you capable of restoring the forts to defensible standards?"

"We have hard workers." Mance nodded. "And a giant."

"Then use them." Jon said firmly. "I want all 6 of those castles manned and defended before the Walkers hit."

Mance nodded, standing up and shaking Jon's hand again. "I will do my part, Jon Snow. But will the Watch? This will be unpopular…"

"Leadership is about making unpopular decisions for the greater good." Jon told the former King-Beyond-the-Wall. "I will do my part here, Mance, but if we are to survive this coming storm then you must do yours too."

"We will, Jon Snow." Mance nodded. "I'll have those forts up and ready in no time at all."

If Luke wanted any respite from his court trying to get his sister out of the way, he would receive none at dinner. Margaery had joined him and the silence in the room as the meal was being consumed only served to further Luke's frustrations. As he carved into a chicken breast, he could see Margaery staring at him with a keen interest. Rolling his eyes, he simply told her. "Ask away, I know you want to."

Margaery looked surprised before she chuckled. "Am I so transparent?"

"It's all anybody has spoken about to me today; I would be surprised if rumour hadn't reached your ear." Luke shrugged. "No, I didn't come to any agreement. No, I will not consider your brother."

The Queen didn't show any emotion to that statement. "I did not consider Loras myself."

"You would not push your House forwards as such?" Luke raised an eyebrow.

Margaery sighed, putting her cutlery on her plate to show she was finished. "Not in this instance. You have an alliance with my House, Luke. The Princess would be best served elsewhere. Lord Edmure is the best option if my opinion is welcomed, being kin to both Lord Stark and Lord Arryn."

Luke dropped his own cutlery and rubbed his temples with his hands. "I'm so tired of all this." He whispered. "Dany deserves better than Riverrun."

"Then perhaps listen to another option." Margaery said kindly. "You are clearly unwilling to marry her away right now, so don't. Send her to Dragonstone."

Luke was surprised. "I thought you wanted her away for good, married and subdued?"

"I want you to rule without controversy or threats." Margaery explained. "I want Aegon to grow up safely, the uncontested heir to the Throne. Your sister being here presents a threat, Lucerys. I get that you love her, mayhaps differently to how I love my own brother but I am not Valyrian so I do not understand that aspect… but her presence in the Capital and on your Council is a danger to you, and even the High Septon has warned you about this. You have shared with me the threat that we face. Send Daenerys to oversee the mining efforts on Dragonstone. Have her work with Lord Karstark, give her a purpose that fits her rank but also keeps her away from the whispers and the rumours." She rose out of her seat and moved closer to Luke, squatting down beside him and resting her hands on his thigh. "You may have thought of me as cold, trying to keep you two apart out of fear. That is true, but not why you think so. I cared not that she may become your paramour, but that you put an accident inside her that would trouble our son."

"There was no danger of that." Luke sighed exasperatedly.

Margaery frowned. "The closer you become the more likely you would stumble. Send her away, allow her to choose her own husband, I care not. But keep our son safe."

Her argument had its merits, and of all the options that had been bombarded at Luke recently it was the one that made him the happiest. "I shall think about it." He said quietly.

Margaery however was keen eyed and knew that she had persuaded him. "That is all I ask. We can be one family, the three of us, when things have calmed down. If we win this battle that the Conqueror foresaw then mayhaps opinions will differ, but for now things are still so raw with the Faith, this would go a long way to bringing them onside."

She stood up and kissed his cheek, before brazenly walking through to his own bedchambers. Luke chuckled aloud, knowing that she would end up using her body to persuade him even more. He was still a man led by his desires however, and the King rose up to join her almost immediately afterwards, anticipating the things that the Queen would do in order to bring him on side.

Margaery's persuasion tactics had worked, and though it took three days to completely think it through, Luke knew in his heart that having Dany on Dragonstone would ease his mind far more than wedding her off to some undeserving Lord simply after dragon blood. Daenerys was equally as accepting of it, and before the week was out the Dragonpit had a number of people stood inside the ruins saying goodbye.

The first person Daenerys went to, surprisingly, was the Queen, as she curtseyed. "Your Grace." She said politely. Aegon was in Margaery's arms, and Dany's eyes moved to the baby. "May I?" Margaery nodded and handed the one-year-old over to his aunt. "Goodbye, Aegon." Dany whispered kindly, kissing the heir to the throne on the head. "The next time I see you, you will have a dragon too." She handed the baby back to Margaery before kneeling down before Visenya. The girl was struggling and trying not to cry. "I won't be gone forever, Vis."

"Why do you have to go?" Visenya sniffed. "I want you to stay."

"Dragonstone isn't far, sweetling." Dany whispered, bringing the younger Princess in for a hug. "You can visit me soon, when I have settled in."

Visenya nodded, looking up at Luke with tearful purple eyes. "Can I, Father?"

Luke nodded. "Of course, my love. Every Targaryen should see Dragonstone at some point in their lives, I will take you one day soon and you can write to Aunt Dany whenever you want."

Visenya smiled and nodded, though a tear still rolled down her cheek. Dany wiped it away before pressing her hand to the young girl's heart. "You will still have Ser Caspor with you, and I promise that you will see me again."

Visenya nodded and didn't want to finish the hug. Daenerys had to push her away eventually however, and the young girl moved to stand beside her step-mother, leaving Dany and Luke to say their farewells. "I'm sorry that it's come to this." Luke whispered.

Dany shook her head. "It's time, Luke. Thank you for choosing this over a marriage."

Luke sighed, gulping back his emotion as he brought his sister in for a hug. "Are you sure you don't want a Kingsguard? You can have any of them…"

"Ser Jorah is adequate protection." Dany smiled, before lowering her voice even more. "And you need all the protection here that you can get."

Luke didn't like the insinuation, but he nodded as he squeezed her tighter. "Stay in touch." He told her as he spotted the cream and gold dragon being brought out.

Dany nodded again, pulling away from the King. "You are a rider now, brother. If you need me, I'm only a quick flight away." She smiled, waving one last time to Visenya and Aegon before turning away and walking towards her dragon. Viserion bent down to allow her to climb the wing and sit in the saddle, and Dany strapped herself in carefully before looking back towards Luke and his family. With a single wave, Dany focused her vision on the dragon, saying out loud for all to hear. "Fly."

Viserion lifted his head up and let out a roar, before crawling forwards to gather enough momentum to lift itself in the air, causing a gush of wind at the flapping of its wings. Luke was the only one that didn't need to brace himself, and he watched the dragon soar into the air with a horrible sense of dread.

Honestly, Dany leaving the Red Keep is just what Luke needs for peace of mind. As Viserys has shown on House of the Dragon, having your loved ones at each other's throat is draining, and even Luke has taken to just hiding from it rather than dealing with it. Is it the best thing to do? No, of course it isn't, but dealing with loved ones is a lot different to dealing with your subjects.

He does still take a lot of convincing to send Dany away, refusing multiple good options for marriages for somewhat petty reasons and going through talks with both the High Septon and Jon Connington before the dinner with Margaery. And even though the idea of Dragonstone came from Margaery, there is no better option in his mind.

Elsewhere, Mance and Jon Snow are on good terms again. I felt that the Night's Watch wouldn't even dream of allowing dangerous animals South of the Wall and so the few Wargs left to Mance would have eyes on Hardhome, and to be it seems like the only reason they didn't hit the Wall in Season 6 was because of Bran. Of course, this decision won't be popular…

Thank you all for reading. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Next Time: The Tyrell's make further plots as Shireen Baratheon returns to the Capital, while the Night's Watch reacts to Jon Snow's decisions…

Reviews:

C.E.W: Margaery doesn't know that they were inevitable though, so she's rightfully pissed that the safety of her son was threatened. Their relationship will become worse before it gets better to the extent of any more children… I'm not focusing on too much outside of Westeros so no warlocks or Magisters (that I can think of from memory anyway).

Hail King Cerion: I really think that could happen in the books, but then that's yet another added plotline for George to sort unless he Red Wedding 2.0's them with Lady Stoneheart or something.

suppes1: Undecided, it depends on what images I have in the background when I come to introducing it in the story, but don't worry, it will be introduced.

Oddballzebra: Luke has done both.

Guest (leash): She has some extremely valid points and Luke knows that.

Guest (nitpick): Margaery had been blanking him so no missing scene there. Then even in the month's gap there was mainly official business between them.

CrowKrowQrow: She doesn't feel like she needs subtlety now she feels morally correct and also has birthed the heir, a bit like Olivia's Alicent in the show she feels emboldened as Queen, though Margaery is only really showing that in private here. This Dany is head over heels in love with Luke, but I will neither confirm nor deny any of your suggestions.

rudabenak789: They won't marry, I don't know how clearer I can be when it comes to that without spoiling the very exciting plot I have coming up for them both.

Guest (Alone Angry): He's the one in the wrong though.

Guest (greatest house): That's a nice idea in theory, but in practice Margaery has been trained since she could walk on how to benefit House Tyrell. That doesn't just get wiped out the second she gets married.

Xman123: Daemon would like his conviction and his loyalty to his heritage, though would likely slap him one for letting himself be drawn into a position between Daenerys and a Tyrell, stating that Dany is the Blood of Valyria and he should only care for her opinion rather than his wife's.