Reviewer: I appreciate your criticism. When I say hecklers, I mean the people who just write insults (saying things like 'brain dead f*cker'). Those are the people whose opinion I can do without. Honest, constructive criticism like what you said is always welcome to hear.
As for Tyrion, I haven't gotten to all that happened in the future yet. I thought that was clear, sorry. Trust me, Tyrion had a serious wake up call that led to him drinking himself to death. You'll learn what that was soon.
I admit, the name 'Jaeheron' may be unusual, but I wanted something unique rather than a recycled name. In 'Wrath of the North,' I gave Jon the old name Jaehaerys so I wanted something different for this one. Also, I am jumping between the names.
Kings Landing
Sansa looked out the window of her quarters. The sun had begun to set about fifteen minutes ago, bathing the city in a orange-gold glow. For the last few days, her husband Tyrion had kept her in her room for all reasons except relieving herself. She had her food brought by a maid, often a different one each time. Thus the city was all she could look at. Whats more, Tyrion had yet to come speak to her or even send word as to why this was happening. Honestly, while she tried to avoid all Lannisters, the isolation was starting to get to her.
A knock came on the door, gaining her attention. The door opened, and in walked a maid with her dinner. To her surprise, the maid was not alone. Tyrion came in after her.
"My dear wife" he said. "I apologize. For the last few days, I kept you here without any kind of explanation." Tyrion sat down at the table, which was being set by the maid once she had placed the food on it.
"Would you please be willing to tolerate my presence for dinner, despite how I treated you?"
Sansa was taken aback, but accepted. "Of course, my lord."
Sitting down across from Tyrion, Sansa began to put food on her plate. After a few minutes of silence, Tyrion spoke. "Sansa, I need to tell you what's happening. The reason I kept you in your room is because I feared you would be in danger if either Joffrey or my father Tywin came across you. Right now, things are so bleak for my clan I fear they might try to hurt you in retribution."
"Why would I be in danger" Sansa asked. "Is the war with my brother still ongoing?"
"Not for long, I can only guess. Your brother has a new ally: the 'bastard' of Winterfell."
Sansa was stunned. "Jon?! He joined the Night's Watch."
Tyrion had a mixed look: one of despair and amusement. "So you didn't know, either."
"Know what?"
"Sansa, I'm sorry to tell you this, but the young man you knew as your brother is not your brother. Your father lied to you, and all others."
Sansa was once more stunned. This time, she didn't know what to say.
"Sansa, he is not your brother. In fact, he's not Lord Stark's son. The man is actually your cousin. He is your aunt Lyanna's."
"My... wait, my aunt had no children."
"Apparently, your father was FAR better at tricking others than even I thought possible. Yes, your aunt did have a son. The man you know as your half-brother was born to her and Rhaegar Targaryen."
"Rhae... so she was raped." Sansa felt sad at the thought of what happened to the aunt she never met.
"No, she was not. As our agents have reported, your aunt married the late Targaryen heir. Her son, who is really named Jaeheron, is the true heir to the iron throne."
Once more, Sansa couldn't speak. As she thought more about it, the idea and timing fit. Her father had brought her... cousin home from the war with Lyanna Stark's body. When he claimed the boy as his, not a single person had thought more of it. Her father had sacrificed his name to keep the babe of his sister from King Robert and Tywin.
"But, he still joined the Night's Watch, did he not?"
"He did, I was there to see it. But no one will speak a word against it now. Your cousin has more than an heirship; he has a dragon."
"A WHAT?!"
"Yes" Tyrion chuckled. "Some people get all the luck. Your cousin has all I wanted when I was a child. All I asked for my nameday from my uncles was a dragon of my own. They told me they were extinct. Now your cousin shows up to rub it in my face. After all the advice I gave him, too."
Sansa finally managed to get more than a simple reply out. "But what does this have to do with why I was here for the last few days. I knew nothing of my... cousin. By the gods, I was horrible to him as we grew up."
"Well, you already know how Joffrey has redefined the term 'vicious idiot.' If he saw you, I fear he would hurt you again like he did when your brother declared war on him. As for my father, he is angry Jaeheron... basically kicked his plan to end the war to splinters. My father planned an ambush of your family's army. Your cousin and his dragon not only thwarted the plan, he has cost my house their only remaining allies. House Tyrell deserted when word of the dragon came to the council."
Sansa was surprised and a little sad hearing that Margarey and her grandmother were gone. They may have wanted to get more information, but she legitimately enjoyed their company.
"What's more" Tyrion continued. "My father is quickly following in the footsteps of the mad king, much like Joffrey. I have witnessed him arguing with someone who isn't really there, and he recently throttled Cersei almost to the point of doing lethal harm to her. If things like this continue I may need to usurp him to keep him from doing something catastrophic."
Once more, Sansa couldn't speak.
"So you see, I wanted you safe in the case your cousin sees fit to come see us here. I feel he would probably be happier with a healthy cousin rather than one on death's door."
"Well, as I already said, I was not a particularly good sister to him. For all I know, he may reward who hurt or killed me."
"Sansa, I admit I didn't know him long, but the Jaeheron I went to the Wall with would not hold that against you. I'm sure he wants you safe."
Sansa couldn't help but smile at Tyrion. While she had no desire to continue this farse of a marriage, she had to admit her husband was a good man. One of the few in clan Lannister.
Riverrun
Robb laid down on his bed completely exhausted. Even Talisa's massaging his chest and kissing his scars wasn't enough to banish the tiredness away. Today had been a massive headache. Many northern lords were not satisfied with his decision to scout out what was happening up North with the wildlings. Many wanted to simply return up north and attack the people they thought were invaders, despite the assurance from him they should give the wildlings a chance. The reason they were so vocal was Jaeheron was no longer present: he and his dragon had taken flight the day before to hunt down any remaining Lannister forces that could pose a threat to the Riverlands. Without the constant presence of Rhaegal, the northerners were quick to return to their stubborn and loud objections to what Robb and his brother were trying to do.
It also didn't make it any easier that the Karstark army had returned soon after his brother left on his 'hunting' trip (hearing the boy he grew up with equate any kind of battle with slaughtering creatures for food had sent a chill down his spine). Upon learning Jaeheron was not present, they made it quite clear they were not there by choice. Apparently the Karstark forces had reached the border of the Karstarks' territory when Jaeheron had confronted them. The story they told scared quite a few of the lords present (not to mention scared Robb himself).
A single young man stood at the boundry of the dense forest the Karstark army had gone through their home territory. Behind him was a large boulder, though it was a strangely shaped one at that. Granted, it may be the trees and foliage that was surrounding them all that was breaking the shape of the boulder up.
"Which one of you is Lord Karstark?" The stranger shouted out. Lord Karstark stepped forward along with the lords of some of his vassal houses.
"I am" Lord Karstark said. "Who are you?"
"You would know me as Jon Snow. I'm here to tell you this: you deserted the king your house was supposed to be loyal to. I will give you this one chance: turn back around and return to his army. If you have to, beg for his forgiveness. If you do not, than your daughter Alys is to be the lady of House Karstark by sundown, because you Lord Karstark will die for your desertion."
After a brief silence, Lord Karstark laughed, as did the lords by his side. Jon was not amused. "So, I take it you won't do it."
"Of course I won't" Lord Karstark responded. "Not only did your brother execute..."
"Your father was an honor-less fool who committed murder. Robb did right by the North."
Now Lord Karstark looked angry. Drawing his sword, he moved towards Jon. "You worthless..."
He stopped and stared behind Jon. Behind him, the enormous boulder... started to move. A single eye opened, and a huge mouth that was full of giant sharp teeth could now be seen. That wasn't a boulder at all.
Rhaegal lifted his head and turned until both of the giant eyes he had were staring down at the men who stoked ire from his rider. A low, threatening growl came from him.
As Lord Karstark and his men stared, they failed to notice Jon move towards them. It was not until Lord Karstark cried out that their attention turned, only to see their liege lord laying on the ground clutching at what used to be his left leg. Above him, Jon stood with his sword drawn. The severed limb lay a few feet away.
Jon gave no one time to recover. Quick as a flash, he grabbed Lord Karstark at the collar of his tunic and dragged the now crippled lord towards Rhaegal. Upon reaching his friend, he tossed the Lord at the dragon's feet. "Enjoy your snack, Rhaegal."
The Karstark men watched in horror as the leader of the house they served was slowly cooked alive by a weak, but continuous stream of dragonfire that was bathed over him. The screams were like something from one's nightmares. For those watching, it seemed to take hours for the screams to stop. Once Lord Karstark was dead, his roasted body was picked up in Rhaegal's mouth and swallowed whole.
Jon turned back to the Karstark men. "You all have the same choice" he shouted. "You can return to King Robb, or you can be my dragon's next course meal!"
Needless to say, not a single Karstark man was left to join their liege lord within a few minutes as they were now running back south as fast as they could.
The story the Karstark men brought terrified all. Well, not all: Bran and Rickon had been there to see it happen. According to Rickon, they had hidden in bushes while the Karstark men were getting scared into leaving a trail of human piss back south (Rickon had taken great pleasure in telling them that they no longer smelled like a privy; his mother nearly had a heart attack).
But what scared Robb was what Jaeheron did. Lord Karstark and his men deserted, so he didn't object to his death. It was how his brother had executed... well, that wasn't really the best word for it. His brother had fed Lord Karstark to Rhaegal. Robb had heard the rumors from the men: that the Targaryen madness taken hold of his brother like it had Aerys. As much as he hated to admit it, there was a small part of him that couldn't worry that his men might be right. What happened to his brother in the future that could have turned him into what he was like now? Did it involve Daenerys? Jaeheron always looked like he wanted to cry at the slightest mention of her. Whatever the case, Robb needed to confront him.
You will all learn what took place soon.
Next time, the dragons hunt down a mountain, and the return of Arya Underfoot.