Jacaera

The red comet blazed high above Dragonstone.

Jacaera stood outside in the great citadel of Dragonstone looking out on the sea.

In the distance, she could see her brother's ship, Pride of Driftmark, was sailing in. Monford had succeeded their father as lord near two and ten years past, yet still she had trouble imagining her brother as a lord.

Much had been changing of late in Westeros. King Robert was dead, and the false prince Joffrey, and Lord Renly had both seen it fit to crown themselves, leaving the realm with two kings. Three it will soon be, she thought.

Renly had crowned himself King at Highgarden, and demanded Stannis bend the knee like everyone else, as though he had the right to demand fealty from his elder brother.

Worse still was that Renly now commanded the full might of Storm's End and Highgarden. Ser Davos had been sent to the Lords of the Stormlands along the coast of the Narrow Sea, but few had even given him an audience. They had hoped Ronnal's betrothal Lord Tarly's eldest daughter might have won them Horn Hill, and once more after they had the two wed, yet he had declared for Renly all the same. Ormund was wed to one of Lord Swann's granddaughters, yet he had only given Ser Davos an audience and apologies, while House Penrose had not even seen it fit to hear Alaric's words even though he was wed to their lord's only granddaughter and heir.

Still, the worst had been how they had failed to secure House Arryn. After Stannis had learned the truth of Queen Cersei's children, he had gone to Lord Arryn with his tale. Lord Arryn's eldest son, Edric, had been betrothed to Cersei's daughter Marla, and before he had died, Stannis and Jon Arryn had arranged that once the truth was revealed Edric would marry Shireen instead of Marla, as well as the younger son, Robert would be fostered at Dragonstone. Only instead Jon Arryn had died, and though they had gotten the boy as a ward, the agreement to marry Edric to Shireen had not come to pass.

Instead, according to the news they had heard, Lady Lysa had made the two of them marry, not long after the King's death.

The only family of those who her sons had wed or were to wed that had answered their call was House Celtigar, with Lyonel having wed one of Old Lord Celtigar's granddaughters. The girl had died a little over a year past, birthing their daughter that Lyonel had named Mariah, and since then she and Stannis had not seen fit to find another marriage for him. At least not yet. One day he'll need to take a new bride, some highborn lady to father sons on if he is to one day be king.

But each of the lords had in turn given some letter or another in response, Florent, Oakheart, Rowan, Costayne, Caron, Crane, and Estermont had some reason they put forward, and each had sworn their swords to Renly that should rightfully have been theirs.

Lord Eddard Stark had been arrested and beheaded for treason while his heir, the boy who they called the Young Wolf, had won two victories near Riverrun against the Kingslayer, while Lord Tywin had been beaten along the Green Fork as well and was retreating back to Harrenhal licking his wounds.

Some whispers had it that the Dornish were stirring as well, and the gods only knew what the Ironborn were doing.

The Lords of the Narrow Sea were behind them and some choice knights that they already had on Dragonstone like Ser Axell Florent, Ser Richard Horpe, and Ser Bryon Swann were behind them, yet all her son's marriages she had helped Stannis arrange had proved to be worthless.

All they had against the realm were some ships, a few thousand men, and their claim… Yet even now their claim had scare done them any good. And why should they believe us? Jacaera thought to herself. All they had was what seemed was a self-serving tale only evidenced by their own children, a book few could read, and a few scattered bastard children, only one of which was in their custody.

It should be plain for all to see, Jacaera thought. Her good-brother had three and ten babes by his mistresses, and another acknowledged girl in the Vale, each black of hair, yet of the queen's own children, not one of them had black hair.

All her children had black hair too, and all Robert needed to do was look on the tapestries that decorated his walls to see the black haired Durrandons depicted on them.

They needed to strike, yet they did not have the strength to take King's Landing, even with the full power of Dragonstone. They would not find aid at Stokeworth, Rosby or Duskendale either, and that left them without many options.

Jacaera walked down from the battlements. Her sons were practicing in the yard, and each was rather good with the sword. Lyonel and Ormund were even knights now, and Ronnal and Alaric were likely soon to follow. Ronnal was a boy of five and ten now, soon to be a man as well, while the rest had all exceeded their age of minority. Each had taken after their father in appearance, tall, with hair as black as coal, a strong jaw, deep blue eyes, save Ormund whose eyes were purple.

Some days she had come to resent Stannis for leaving her on Dragonstone to raise their children on her own. She had borne him four sons in their first four years of marriage when they had both lived at Storm's End, and no doubt could have given him more, yet he spent all his time from then on in the Capital, paying visit maybe half a dozen times a year to her chambers. She was only four and thirty, another son or two would not be an impossibility.

They had been betrothed when they were eight, with the arrangement being made by her uncle, Lucerys, and Stannis's father, Steffon, when they were in King's Landing together once. She had asked her father why she hadn't been betrothed to the eldest, Robert, to which her father said they were of a junior line, even if both of her uncle's marriages had proven barren to that point.

Both uncle Lucerys and her father were dead though now, Uncle Lucerys killed by the Mad King during the Rebellion, and her father having died not long after.

The Rebellion was hardly a fond memory for Jacaera. She had one son to nurse, and another growing in her, which meant she was allowed more than anyone else to eat during the siege, but it had drawn many looks. All the while there was the uncertainty of the news that they were able to receive through the siege lines, and how Stannis's brother, Robert, was faring.

In the end, it had come as a relief when Lord Eddard had finally arrived, and lifted the siege. But the memories still remained.

She tried not to think about that though and instead looked at her boys practicing, looking on with pride. Jacaera watched it with her youngest son, Steffon, and their young ward, Robert.

The boy perplexed Jacaera more than anything. She had not gotten to know him well from what little time she spent in the capital, save that he was sickly, but she had hardly expected what they had gotten. He was still nursing at his mother's teat at six, and was prone to shaking fits.

Robert had been most troubling for Pylos and Cressen, but so far they had at least managed to wean the boy off his mother's milk, though he still had shaking fits quite often.

She hoped that the boy would become good friends with her sons though, and had tried her best to care for the boy who always seemed to miss his mother. The two of them couldn't have looked any more different.

Steffon was a tall boy for his age, black of hair with blue eyes, and often she joked he was as strong as his brothers too. She knew that he would one day grow into a handsome man, just as her older sons had, and he would be a Prince too.

Robert though was a small boy, and sickly. He, like Steffon, had blue eyes, but the similarity stopped there.

They watched as Ormund fought with Alaric, using live swords that rang throughout the yard. Ormund was the best of her sons with a sword, while Alaric was the best with a Lance.

Her two sons went back and forth for some time until Ormund finally gained the upper hand and Alaric was forced to yield. They'll need those swords of theirs for more than training soon enough.

She couldn't see the Pride of Driftmark anymore when she looked, and she guessed that it must have docked finally. She remained waiting, while she watched, keeping the two boys firmly in hand.

Jacaera waited and waited, until finally she spotted her brother enter the yard. She felt Steffon's hand slip away as he rushed to go greet his uncle, who picked him up and spun around with him before putting him back down.

Monford had his son, Monterys with him too, and he seemed to be nervously clutching at his father's leg. She understood why, remembering how scared she had felt on Dragonstone her first few times she had come. It was an intimidating castle, and a grim place.

When Monford came to her, he gave her a huge, and took his hand to ruffle little Robert's brown hair, while Jacaera gave her nephew a hug. Monford had an older daughter too, Valaena, but she was at Winterfell, serving as a lady in waiting to Myrcella. Would that we had arranged for her to be recalled. It wasn't too late, but Jacaera didn't think it likely that as war broke out she would be allowed to leave.

Quickly enough her older sons came over to greet their guests. By the time they were done, Jacaera was surprised to see that Stannis was there.

He shared a greeting with Monford and Monterys before addressing the rest of them. "We'll be having a council soon," he told them.

It seemed right to Jacaera, to hold a council now that her brother had arrived. He was the last lord they could count on to come.

Soon proved to be almost right away, as Stannis began walking in the direction of the Chamber of the Painted Table, and their sons began to follow, save Steffon. Jacaera urged Monford to follow as well, while she led the boys into the yard, and gave them to the master at arms, her other brother, Daeron.

He had chosen to take up service with her on Dragonstone when he came of age, becoming the Master at Arms for them, and training all of her sons. "Today is the day your training to become knights begins," she told the three of them as she left them.

She started to make for the Chamber of the Painted Table, following where Stannis had gone.

Almost everyone was there already when she got there, but she took her place at Stannis's side.

Their four eldest sons were there, as was Monford, but the rest were a queer assortment. There was Ser Davos Seaworth, the Onion Knight, Maester Cressen and Maester Pylos, Ser Axell and Erren Florent, Lord Lucos Chyttering, Ser Byron Swann, Ser Gilbert Farring, Ser Richard Horpe, Ser Justin Massey, and old Lord Celtigar.

Stannis was the one to start the Council. "My brother is dead, and left no trueborn heirs," he said bluntly to all of them.

Most of them already had been told, but he still said it again anyways. It was Cressen who spoke up. "My lord… There was a letter… From Sunspear, perhaps you ought to read it."

Old Cressen was a shell of the man Jacaera had once known, old and not long for this world, but Stannis still valued his council more than almost everyone else in the room.

Hands trembling, the Maester took the letter from his pockets, and handed it to Stannis.

Stannis took the letter and broke the seal, opening the letter to see what was inside. Intentionally or not, he held the letter in a way that allowed Jacaera to read it.

It was from Princess Arianne, offering an alliance. An alliance to support her son Glendon.

Jacaera knew the boy was not a common bastard, born to the heiress to Sunspear and of a king's seed. After the boy had been born, Prince Doran Martell had asked the King to legitimize him, which had been granted so Glendon could one day be heir to Sunspear too.

The terms inside of it were what she paid most attention to. The Princess had offered a betrothal between Glendon and Mariah that would make her a queen one day, while Steffon would be betrothed to Princess Arianne's daughter, Coryanne and one day be consort to the Princess of Sunspear, as well as being confirmed as Lord of Dragonstone, and being given Storm's End..

"Princess Arianne of Dorne writes, offering terms in exchange for supporting her son as king," Stannis announced to them. "Storm's End, Dragonstone, a marriage and seats on her son's court is what she offers."

Lyonel took the letter from Stannis's hand, and examined it carefully. Jacaera saw that his eyes seemed to light up a little when he saw it would make his daughter a queen. "We should accept father," Lyonel said once he had finished. "The story of Cersei's infidelity would sound better if you were not crowning himself king."

Jacaera was glad that she had sons who had some wits to them. It was true she knew, just as it had been true when she had urged Stannis to go to Jon Arryn first. Their tale would seem too self-serving.

And aligning with Dorne might just give them the strength to be able to topple the Lannisters too. The logistics would perhaps not be so easy, but fifty thousand Dornish spears and their naval strength would certainly be enough to win the throne.

It was Ormund who spoke up. "Who wrote the letter? I don't recall there being word of Prince Doran's passing."

"There hasn't been word from Sunspear telling of it, though there ought to have been by now if he did," Cressen said.

"Are we certain that the Princess is acting with her father's blessing? If she isn't then the letter holds no weight," Ormund said. "She wants us to deliver the crown for her son."

Jacaera saw nods around the table, even from Stannis. It seemed Ormund did have the right of it now that she thought about it. Without Prince Doran's consent, there wouldn't be any Dornish allies for them.

"We don't have the strength to take King's Landing or face the Lannisters on our own," Lyonel said back. "Unless you have some way to win more houses for our cause, I don't see any other option than to support our cousin."

"There is another one," Alaric said. "Tell them Maester."

It was Pylos that her son was talking too, not Cressen. "There was a bird from Riverrun too. The Young Wolf didn't declare for Renly it seems, but instead chose to crown Prince Rhaegar's son."

Aegon Targaryen? Jacaera thought confused. She recalled seeing the boy once or twice when he was a babe, and his twin brother and sister. They had gone North with Lord Eddard she recalled, but she also recalled the boy's grandfather had killed the Young Wolf's Grandfather and Uncle.

"Truly?" Monford asked, and the two of them shared a look. It seemed like folly to them, after their uncle had died fighting the Targaryens.

"We should write to this dragon king," Ser Bryon Swann said. "The boy will no doubt want to have Dragonstone back, but he should be willing to give a seat on the Small Council and Storm's End I think."

Ormund seemed to approve. Ser Byron was his good-uncle, and the two got along well enough.

From the look on Lyonel's face, Jacaera judged her son was a little disappointed. She guessed that he still wanted his daughter to be queen, and she couldn't entirely fault him for it.

Looking around at the Council though, the reaction was much more mixed. She could see that Ser Davos and Maester Cressen both seemed to think it was a good idea, but she could tell Monford didn't.

She looking at the rest of the lords and knights there. The Swanns had fought for the Targaryens as had the Celtigars and Horpes, but Florent, Velaryon, Chyttering, Farring, and Massey were all rebel houses, and it seemed people agreed or disagreed mostly on those lines.

It was Ser Gilbert Farring who spoke up against it. "If we support him, we betray the Rebellion, and all that was fought for. We fought to end the Targaryens, not to place a crown on another one later."

"You fought to end the Mad King and Prince Rhaegar, and to end their tyranny," Ormund said. "And that is what we must do as well, to deal with Joffrey and Renly."

She knew her boys hadn't gotten along well with Joffrey. Jacaera and Stannis had even talked about remaining loyal to him after they had gotten Lord Tywin's letter, but Stannis would have none of it. 'I will not wed our daughter to an abomination,' he said firmly, and so regardless of whether it would make Shireen a queen, they wouldn't support the Lannisters.

Jacaera looked at Stannis, and saw a frustrated look on his face. She couldn't help but remember the handsome young man she had married so many years ago at Storm's End. Perhaps we were both children then, she thought to herself, wondering when things had changed for him.

Her husband turned towards Cressen and Pylos. "I'll need to send a raven to Riverrun," he said, and after that, it was only madness.

Author Notes:

I think it's been made clear here before, but the Velaryons were rebels. Not only because I already suspect they were in canon, but also because now with the Stannis/Jacaera marriage, they are literally bound to the Rebels.

So you don't need to check the appendix, here's Stannis and Jacaera's kids:

Lyonel (age 18) m. {Laena Celtigar}

Ormund (age 17) m. Betha Swann

Alaric (age 16) m. Myrielle Penrose

Ronnal (age 15) m. Talla Tarly

Shireen (age 9)

Steffon (age 6)

Oh, I also think I forgot Steffon on the appendix anyways, and while I added him to the AO3 one, I didn't on the FF one… Oh well...

Just a few more clarification notes I guess… Betha Swann is the oldest daughter of Ser Donnel Swann, and Ser Byron is Balon and Donnel's youngest brother.

Also, the Penrose family tree is not really specified in the books, but here Lord Penrose had two sons, Myrielle's father, and Ser Cortnay. Myrielle's father only had her, and then he died, while Ser Cortnay is unwed, so Myrielle is the Heir to Parchments.

I took the higher end estimate for the kiddos from House Tarly's age too. They have Sam of course who is born in 283 AC, then Talla who is born in 284 AC, Alicent born in 285 AC, Brenda born in 286 AC, and Dickon in 287 AC. We may or may not see the Tarlys pop up quite a bit more later on down the line.

Thanks for reading guys.