Highgarden 295/296 AC.
Olenna.
She lied to her, to her face she actually lied to her and not just to her but to her mother and best friend too, though perhaps her new husband was her best friend now she thought as she chuckled. For moons, she had kept it up to, oh she knew she'd eventually confided in Sansa but for moons, her granddaughter had actually kept up the mummery.
A few moons earlier.
She had been so worried that she'd practically slept in her granddaughter's room with her, she had her meals there, washed the girl herself. Olenna fed her by her own hand, only leaving her side when it was absolutely essential. Even going to the privy in Margaery's room rather than her own, and having clothing brought to her instead of going to her room to dress.
Alerie too had stayed as much as she could, both of them waiting and hoping the fever would break and Margaery would awake. Lomys was no help, not in helping Margaery recover nor in assuaging their worries. If anything it was Sansa and her wolf who kept them from losing their minds, the gir was convinced that Margaery would wake soon, and while at first, she put it down to hope, she wondered if it was more than that.
"Jon." Margaery sighed as she washed her face with the damp cloth, Olenna feeling a smile come to her face as she did so.
"Hush sweetling, rest." she said softly and felt Margaery relax and drift off to sleep.
Something she did herself after a while, the sound of Margaery's voice and her movements on the bed waking her.
"I take this man." Margaery said and when Olenna's eyes cleared she swore she saw a smile on her granddaughter's face "My love, my husband." Margaery said and Olenna gasped turning to see Sansa and Alerie who had just walked into the room.
"Did she, did I just hear that right?" Alerie asked and Olenna motioned to her to keep quiet, though Margaery spoke nothing further that night.
"I..., she's dreaming right, of the future, it must be." Sansa said and both she and Alerie nodded in agreement.
Thankfully with Willas, she wasn't needed as much as she would have been if it was just Mace running things, her grandson knowing what did and didn't need her attention and only speaking to her on pressing matters. Even going so far as to interrupt his own time with Margaery to do so, and she felt her pride rise at helping to raise such a boy.
Garlan and Leonette came to see her too and yet when they were there or when Willas was, Margaery remained silent, not speaking once. When they were gone though she spoke more and more, she called out for Jon, for her husband more than once. She had them chuckling one night when she had some argument with him in her head, and Sansa practically swooning another when she said how much she missed him.
One night as she was sitting with her alone the words she spoke were more garbled, Olenna needing to move in and place her ear close to her mouth to hear, and what she said stunned her. A tree, they had married in front of a tree, just her granddaughter, Jon, and his guards and she felt her anger rise, had he? Had they? No, he wouldn't? she wouldn't? would she?.
She called for Lomys and asked him to check, to see if that was what was wrong if that was something that could have been causing it. The Maester looked at her bemused and Olenna was incredibly annoyed that she had to actually spell it out. Once he'd checked she was relieved to find that they had not done anything, Margaery was a maid still and she had sworn the Maester to keep this to himself, warned him what would happen should he not.
"My sweet foolish child." she said kissing Margaery's forehead when the Maester had left.
She knew they wouldn't, Margaery wouldn't and Jon, no the boy was far too dutiful and respectful to do anything that could be considered dishonorable to her granddaughter. Had she not been running a fever and lain asleep for days she'd never have even considered it but she had, and so it meant that Olenna had to. Knowing full well that the first time could be painful and that other issues could arise from it too.
They all breathed huge sighs of relief when Margaery awoke the next day, her granddaughter unsure where or how long she'd been out for. Once Lomys had examined her and found her to be well and after Margaery reassured them herself, she had asked the question that had preyed on her mind. Finding herself annoyed and angry when her granddaughter lied to her face.
"It was a dream grandmother. I must have dreamt Jon and I were wed." Margaery said and Olenna stared at her granddaughter, surprised to see her stare back.
"I knew it, I told you so." Sansa said happy to be proved right "What was the wedding like was it beautiful I bet it was beautiful, your dress, what was your dress like?" Sansa asked excitedly.
"A tale for another time Sansa, despite just waking up you look tired sweetling. I'll have some food brought and then you can get your rest." Alerie said kissing her daughter on the cheek "And no more dreams, you'll be wed soon enough as it is." her gooddaughter said laughing as she turned to leave.
Olenna didn't leave however, she waited until the meal was brought. Until Sansa had also kissed Margaery's cheek before she left and then she turned to her granddaughter, Margaery looking at her nervously.
"The truth?" she asked simply and to the point.
"It is the truth grandmother, I had a dream about Jon that was all." Margaery said and even though she knew she was lying to her, she said it with such surety that Olenna doubted herself.
"So you have not run off and gotten married in secret, without your family, without the people who love you by your side?" she said trying to guilt Margaery into telling her the truth.
"I would never run off grandmother." Margaery said and she resisted the urge to just shout out that she knew the truth of things.
"And you would never marry a boy just so you could do more than just kiss?" she asked and saw her granddaughter sit up, her thorns on full display when she spoke.
"I would never, Jon would never, we're not children grandmother we can control ourselves." Margaery said annoyedly almost forcing Olenna to laugh.
"Indeed." she said raising her eyebrow.
"Of all the things, I've just woken up and this is how I'm treated." Margaery pouted.
"I'm sorry sweetling, my worry has robbed me of my senses." she said hugging her granddaughter and feeling her arms wrap around her "You know you can tell me anything, things you may wish to hide, you don't need to, not from me." she whispered.
"I know grandmother." her granddaughter whispered back and though she waited, she told her no more.
Now.
So for moons, it had gone on, she had hinted, cajoled, came right out and asked and nothing, her granddaughter had kept the pretense up. Olenna had even gone as far as taking her on a trip to the Godswood, speaking up on perhaps having a dual wedding since Jon was from the north. She had mentioned how she was sure that Lord Stark and Jon's family would no doubt appreciate the gesture and nothing, not a word.
Though in the end that did prove to be the catalyst for her granddaughter's confession, even if at first it was to Sansa and not to her. When she did finally come in and ask to speak to her, Olenna had sensed the worry and trepidation on her face. She knew it was time and allowed her granddaughter to set the pace.
"Grandmother, there's something I must speak to you on." Margaery said.
"Is there sweetling?" she replied as if she was in the dark.
"I. Ehmm, Jon and I…we…" Margaery stuttered before as Olenna looked at her, her granddaughter took a breath "We're married grandmother." she said a moment later looking to her pensively.
"Married, after all I said, after how many times I questioned you, you tell me now you're married?" she said her voice raised as she did her best to hold her smirk at bay.
"It wasn't planned grandmother, it just happened, I..we.. Jon..oh grandmother, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I wished to tell you truly, please don't be angry with me." Margaery said jumping from her seat and running to her, grabbing her tightly as she cried against her shoulder.
"Look at me sweetling, am I disappointed you didn't confide in me yes but I'm not angry with you." she said wiping Margaery's tears.
"Truly?" Margaery asked hopefully.
"Truly." she said smiling "Now have you and Jon done anything else I should be aware of?" she said smirking when Margaery shook her head before she blushed when she realized what she meant.
"We've kissed grandmother, that's all." Margaery said and she nodded kissing her cheek.
Margaery had explained then what and how it had happened and even on her most cynical of days Olenna had found the idea, if not the execution of that idea, romantic. When she knew that she wasn't angry or upset with her and when she had agreed to go and speak to her mother and tell her the truth, she had then tried to convince her to visit Casterly Rock, pouting when told no.
The time wasn't right for a visit, the reasons for one were not readily available and while Margaery understood this, it was clear she wasn't pleased. Olenna trying not to feel a little satisfaction at annoying her granddaughter as payback, even though it was not.
Despite everything the lies, the deceit , one overriding feeling was what Olenna kept feeling. Pride, pride in her granddaughter for keeping it up so long, for keeping up the mummery, for not wilting no matter the pressures she placed her under. She was proud and knew her granddaughter had just taken another step to becoming the queen she would be.
"My lady, a letter." Left said handing her the note.
"Who gave this to you?" she asked as she opened it.
"A maid, my lady." Left said nodding as he walked out of the room and Olenna read the note.
A dragon roars and lets their flames loose.
R.
She reached over and picked up the glass of wine, taking a sip she smiled and thought on grey rats running for their lives.
The Wall 296 AC.
Marwyn.
Try as he might he had not been able to fully gain the prince's trust, Loamara assumed it had to do with his reluctance to fully come on board with what was to happen to the conspirators. Yet when Marwyn pointed out that he too had yet to be fully trusted soon realized that not to be the case. For Marwyn it was clear, it was more to do with being a Maester, than with not being fully committed to seeing men he had once called brothers killed.
Despite that though just in seeing the dragons, watching as they flew and as the prince became the first Dragonrider in over a hundred years was enough. Seeing how the glass candles worked, finding out that blood was the key, and being unsurprised that his own didn't work was enlightening. The prince showing him warging at a level he couldn't understand was simply mind-blowing, as were the boy's own insights.
"Magic knows magic Marwyn, it seeks it out, feels it's presence. Melisandre will tell you there is power in King's Blood, what she won't tell you is that the more magic in yours the more power there is." Jae said to him as they spoke on the beach one night.
"You believe that being a Targaryen allows you to use magic easier?." He asked.
"Not just a Targaryen, do you know the history of my family, my mother's family?." Jae asked looking at him.
"I know some." he replied and told him the parts he knew.
"Myths and Legends are far more based in truth than we ever imagined, in the North, they say Bran the Builder built the Wall, Winterfell, Storm's End. They say my family defeated the Warg King, killed his sons, and then married his daughters. For 8,000 years the Starks have ruled the North based on blood Maester, but is it based on blood right or because they carry the magic in their blood?.".
He had pondered on it all the way to the Wall, eager for the journey both to see Aemon once again and because the prince had told him there were books and scrolls there he should read. He and Loamara had both been asked to undertake the journey to the wall. To go there and read about the Myths and Legends and to see which were the most prevalent ones, and to also speak to Aemon.
Loamara had been like an excited child, he'd known of but not met Aemon Targaryen, he knew that Rhaegar had corresponded with the man and they'd discussed prophecy. He too had written and spoken to Aemon on such things, but never in the flesh. While a small part of him wondered if Jae was having them both leave so they rose no objection to how the Maester's were dealt with. But they would not, had not, and even should they the fate of those men had been sealed once he'd given Jae the names.
"How much further?" Loamara asked the man shivering on the horse beside him.
"Not far, a day, two at most." one of their guards, a Manderly man said.
"Thank the gods for that." his old friend said making Marwyn chuckle.
Seeing the wall once again he thought more on Jae's words, magic knows magic the king had said and the Wall was magical of that there was no doubt. How it was built? how did it stand? why it was built? all of these questions ran through his mind as they rode alongside it. The one he came back to most though was whether the magic in the Wall was a tangible thing? if so could it be harnessed or weakened? and what amount of power it may contain?.
They rested up at a small stream that night, eating well and drinking better, Lannister gold spending well even at the Wall. He found his sleep disturbed by strange dreams, fields of ice, and a giant Weirwood tree, its blood-red leaves still despite the winds howls. Upon the branches stood hundreds of ravens, all cawing at him and he ran as the biggest of them, the one with three eyes flew towards him.
"Marwyn, Marwyn, wake up." he heard the voice as he was roughly shaken.
"Huh, what." he said sleepily as he sat up.
"That must have been a seriously bad dream you were having, you shouted the whole camp awake old friend." Loamara said looking at him with concern.
"What? Oh, it was nothing, strange though." he said trying to remember what it was about the birds which had scared him so.
He ended up sitting awake by the fire for the rest of the night, not keen to go back to sleep and tired though he was when they set off the next morning, he felt the better for it. They reached Castle Black that evening, the Lord Commander welcoming the supplies and them, and having his steward show them to rooms before they were taken to see Aemon himself.
The Maester was blind, aged, and yet there was a spark of life he'd not seen in him in many a year. Something more vital about the man and when he heard them enter his head turned to look in their direction. Marwyn watched as he nodded to his steward before asking for ale to be brought and as the man left Aemon bid them sit by the fire.
"Aemon, it's good to see you old friend." he said warmly.
"Would that I could say the same Marwyn but alas my eyes see nothing these days." Aemon chuckled and Marwyn couldn't help but smile.
"Aemon this is Loamara, the former Maester of Dragonstone. We've been sent to speak to you by Ja..Jon Snow." he said changing the words at the last minute as the steward walked back in.
"That'll be all for the night Chett, go get some food and off to bed with you, I can hear your yawning from here." Aemon said his voice full of mirth.
"Aye, thank you Maester." the steward said glad to be sent away it seemed.
He waited until the man was long gone, even nodding to Loamara to check the door which he did. Once they were sure they were alone and wouldn't be disturbed, he turned to Aemon and leaned in close.
"We've been sent by your nephew, Aemon, he wishes us to help you look into some of the books and scrolls, asks us to read up on the Myths and Legends, and to see what we can find. To seek what is being written of most there amongst the tales." he whispered.
"The Long Night." Aemon said simply catching him and Loamara by surprise.
"The Long Night Maester Aemon?" Loamara asked.
"When I first came here many years ago I brought some of mine own books, gifts from my brother and other family, but Castle Black and the Night's Watch had its own library. There were accounts of former Maesters, Lord Commanders, and treatise on many subjects, more and more referring to The Long Night." Aemon said as Marwyn looked to Loamara.
"We will need to read them Aemon, we may be here some time, just to find them all." Marwyn said and heard Aemon laugh "Aemon?."
"I allowed my nephew to take some of mine own books with him, some he found himself drawn to also. After he left, over time I'd find myself drawn to a particular scroll or tome, find myself picking up a book here and there. Over the years I'd ignored it mainly when I felt this way but after speaking to Jae I no longer did." Aemon said getting up and asking them to follow.
They walked from the room, down some stairs and into a cavern of ice and he and Loamara looked at each other in stunned silence as the Maester lit the candles and the sheer volume of books, scrolls, and tomes was revealed.
"Whatever it is my nephew sent you for is in there. I shall be glad of your company, it seems we'll be spending quite some time together old friend." Aemon said and Marwyn couldn't do anything other than nod.
Casterly Rock 296 AC.
Tyrion.
He was scared, he thought he was nervous, he was sure of it but the truth of the matter was he scared. When the raven came from Oberyn saying that Arianne had set off he'd felt excited, he couldn't wait to see her again nor stop himself from smiling at just the thoughts of it. But when the news came that the sails had been seen, that the ship would be arriving on the next tide, his nerves and worries took over.
Despite reassurance from Jon, he hadn't been able to let go of the idea that time apart was not as his nephew had called it, a path to true feelings, instead it would simply prove those feelings false. Still he dressed in his best and organized the welcome committee, Jaime giving him the honor of doing so along with Kevan, and now as he went down in the lift he steadied himself.
"I thought you'd never make it." Jon japed as he walked from the lift.
"I couldn't let you all have all the fun, Sarella will you be joining me in the carriage?" he asked hoping that she would and he'd not have to ride alone to Lannisport.
"I'm afraid not my lord, I feel the need to ride today." Sarella said smiling at him which he returned.
As he walked to the carriage he felt Jon's footsteps behind him and he stopped before he got in, waiting to hear what his nephew would say.
"You are Tyrion of House Lannister, of House Targaryen, a prince, a Hand and a soon to be Dragonrider, and you are more than enough for any woman, even a princess." Jon whispered in his ear and he smiled at his nephew as he climbed into the carriage.
Ever since their talk, he had taken more and more of a role in things, his duties to both houses keeping him occupied and surprising him. He and Jaime had discussed what would happen if a conflict arose and if House Lannister's needs and the king's clashed, his brother turning to him had laughed. They, he, were the crown, as Hand to the King that's what was most important, and so it would be the crown they looked to first.
"What if they clash though, what if what's beneficial to the crown is not to our house?" he asked.
"I think our house has benefited enough with Jon, not on the throne, do you really think we'll suffer when he takes it, or in putting him there?".
As the carriage traveled at speed to Lannisport he wondered though, Jon had told him he was a wolf and a dragon, and Tyrion wondered it that made him a lion and one. If it ever came to it who was his loyalty to, his brother who he loved from the moment he was born, or his nephew who had fulfilled his lifelong dream?. Today it seemed he'd have no time to answer that question, as far too soon the carriage pulled into Lannisport and he was at the docks before he knew it.
"Come, we've got a princes to greet." Jon japed as he opened the door, Sarella and Ser Arthur standing close by.
"Very well if I must." he said rolling his eyes forcing Jon to laugh loudly as they walked to the dockside.
Once they reached it they waited, Kevan, arriving a few moments after they did and when he saw the golden spear piercing the red sun on the sails he smiled, she was here. It seemed to take forever for the ship to pull into the dock, then longer for the Dornish party to appear on deck, and even longer for him to finally see her. As soon as he did though he couldn't see anything else, his smile was bigger than it had been in moons as she walked down the gangplank.
"Princess Arianne welcome to Lannisport." his uncle Kevan said.
"Lord Kevan, an honor to meet you." Arianne said with a curtsy.
"My nephew, Lord Tyrion I believe you've met." Kevan said and the next thing he knew she was standing in front of him.
"Lord Tyrion, a pleasure to see you again, truly." she said smiling at him and he was almost speechless, just standing there taking in the vision she presented in front of him.
The dress was Dornish and in the colors of her house, and while by the standards of some of the dresses he had seen her wore it was demure, compared to dresses in the West it was scandalous. Every inch of her figure was clearly outlined and since Tyrion had intimate knowledge of what the body beneath it looked like, she may as well have been naked.
"My lord." she said her smile still on her face though it had slipped some.
"Forgive me Princess, it's truly a pleasure to welcome you here and I shall do my utmost to ensure your stay is as enjoyable as mine own was when I visited your home." he said and saw her smile return to its former glory.
"I shall hold you to that my lord." she said her voice dipping as she moved to greet her cousin.
She and Sarella hugged and spoke for a few moments and while she greeted Jon politely and not as enthusiastically as she had Sarella, it was already clear to him that she knew the truth of him. Something which as he walked her back to the carriage made him wonder did she also know his own truth, had Oberyn and Ellaria spoken of it to her?.
Climbing into the carriage he was surprised when she got in alone, her ladies and even her cousin Tyene traveling in one of the others and so he nervously climbed in beside her. They had no sooner set off then he felt her hand on his thigh, her lips on his and all doubts he had that she wished to continue where they'd left off, were quickly forgotten.
"I've missed you my lion, have you missed me?" she asked when she finally stopped kissing him, her eyes looking directly into his.
"Every day." he said and the smile she gave him made him grab her face to kiss her even more deeply than she had him.
By the time they'd arrived back at Casterly Rock she was pouting, only his whispered promise that tonight he'd do whatever she wished was enough to remove it from her face. It wasn't that he was averse to the idea of coupling in the carriage, nor even that they'd not have the time to enjoy the experience. It was that he wished to savor it, he longed to explore every inch of her and to use his lips to kiss as much of her as he possibly could.
"Besides, my tongue is supposed to do the work that your poor fingers have had to do without it, is it not?" he whispered in her ear and felt himself rise at the shudder she gave when he did so.
At the Rock he allowed her the chance to settle in, Sarella and Tyene walking off with her in the direction of the guest wing. She had come with a large accompaniment, yet Tyrion found himself surprised by some of them. Her ladies were of houses he'd heard of, Sylvia Santagar, Tyene Sand her cousin, who Tyrion had barely greeted he remembered now to his great shame. There was also Jayne Ladybright and Jeyne Fowler along with Jynessa Blackmont.
Yet the knights and guards she brought were of lesser-known houses, and to Tyrion's surprise were not any of the men she had been surrounded with when he had met her. He resolved to ask her about it later, though he knew that in truth he may not. There were far more pleasurable things for them to discuss or do then speak on men who were not here.
"The princess is settled?" he asked his aunt when he walked to his brother's rooms.
"She is, I look forward to speaking to her." Genna said and he looked at hs aunt wondering if she knew of them.
"I think you'll like her, aunt." he said when he figured that she didn't and was instead speaking more generally.
"If she's anything like her uncle, I may indeed nephew." Genna said and he smiled as he thought about his family liking her and tried not to let his mind have the run of itself.
Tyrion loved feasts, usually, tonight though he did not, protocol demanded that Arianne sit beside his brother and so Tyrion was sitting with Jynessa Blackmont and not the woman he wished. He knew that this was the formal welcome feast and that next time they could sit wherever they liked, but still, the night seemed never-ending.
When the dancing came he was glad it was his brother who danced with her, his uncle too, he had asked Jon to dance with here knowing his nephew to be the best dancer among them, and been surprised when the boy refused. Though his nephew's reasons made him appreciate him even more, Jon telling him he disliked seeing Margaery dance with anyone else, so he'd not be the one to dance with Arianne.
"My lord, you don't dance?" Jynessa asked her voice a little disappointed.
"I find people make fun of my size enough my lady, to see me dance would be to invite it even more." he said and while she nodded it was more he felt that she accepted his answer than she agreed with it and so he leaned in closer to her "However my lady if you really wish to dance there is no better partner then Ser Jon." he said pointing to his nephew.
He resited the urge to laugh when he saw her walk towards Jon, seeing the blush on Jon's face when she asked and knowing he'd not be able to refuse. Jynessa smiling when his words proved true and Tyrion, Jaime, and even Arianne all laughing at the attempted hidden scowls when others asked Jon to dance later.
It was the hour of the wolf when he moved through the keep, the corridors deserted and the lights dimmer than they were just a few hours earlier. Arriving at the room the guards gave him a nod, his presence obviously expected, and he was bid to enter without the need to knock. He saw her as soon as he did so, laying on the bed, her silken small clothes were all she wore and the look on her face was as predatory as the snakes of her country.
"You made me wait." she said with a smirk.
"Then I shall endeavor to make the wait worthwile." he said quickly undressing.
"My eager lion." she said with a small laugh, her voice even more sultry than usual.
"Your hungry lion." he said and the laugh this time was bigger as he grabbed her legs and began kissing his way up between them.
Volantis 296 AC.
Young Griff.
Each day they traveled he worried that they'd be too late, that just like always they'd miss her and arrive in a place she'd just left. The longest they'd stopped was for two days in Ghoyan Drohe and apart from a day fixing the sails, they'd sailed non stop, and yet he worried still. Even seeing the city in front of him, a part of him feared it to be a wasted journey.
Jon seemed unperturbed by his worries, unconcerned, and it annoyed him and had led to more than one argument between them. His foster father not seeming to understand the necessity and droning on and on about the Tyrells and what marriage to Lady Margaery would bring. He loved the man, he truly did, but he had no sense of what it meant to be one of the last dragons, to have the future of his house resting on his shoulders.
It had to be his aunt, as only together could they restore the majesty of House Targaryen, a silver prince, and princess to bring about a golden age. Had his father lived then Aegon would have no doubt that he and Daenerys would have been married, even laughing when Septa Lemore suggested that perhaps it would have been he and Rhaenys.
"My father would have used my sister to form an alliance, to bring a Great House closer to the throne, maybe Willas Tyrell or perhaps Quentyn Martell but he'd have bought their loyalty with her hand." he said with a scoff.
"But not with yours? A prince who would be king would surely be a greater prize?" Duck said and he nodded.
"True, but I've no doubt my father would wish to see the Valyrian bloodline extended, my sister looked Dornish, my aunt looks like me. I've no doubt that just like our ancestors, my father would have wanted to see our line continue to show that which made us stand out from the others." he said and Duck seemed to agree though Jon and the Septa not so much.
Jon had tried to tell him that even should they arrive in Volantis and find his aunt still to be in the city, the city itself was far too large to be sure they could find her. But Aegon knew where she was, the Red Temple he would find her there of that he had no doubt. What connection his aunt had to the Red Priests or to this Quaithe woman he didn't know but he did know they were connected.
In Norvos he had been furious that they wouldn't allow him into the temple, that the priestess dismissed him so readily. He was Aegon Targaryen the sixth of his name, the rightful king of Westeros and these servants of a false god dared deny him. He would ensure that once he sat his rightful throne, once he had dealt with the traitorous lion's, wolves, falcons, and Stags that he'd then deal with those in Essos who'd denied him also.
"We should rest the night Aegon, go looking on the morrow." Jon said when they docked and he looked at the man incredulously.
"For moons, we've traveled Jon. I'll not wait any longer than necessary, we look tonight." he said his voice as full of determination as he could make it.
"Very Well." Jon said though Aegon could hear the reluctance in his voice and it annoyed him.
"You should stay here, Duck, and I will go." he said and when Jon protested he shot him a look which seemed to do the trick, though he disliked the way he stormed off down below deck.
Fixing his sword to his side and dressing in his best clothing, he, Duck, and Haldon left the Shy Maid and were soon walking the streets of Volantis. Haldon informing him of the cultures of the Volantenne and of their feelings on walking in the city, how they felt it beneath men and women of their substance to do so. While he thought that was a silly idea he found he agreed with it partly also, men and women of substance needed to be shown to be above those lesser than them, and kings he felt even more so.
Seeing the Red Temple he was amazed by its size, he had thought the one in Volantis to be big but compared to this it was like looking at a home and then a castle. Large crowds surrounded it and they needed to jostle their way to the entrance, walking inside he was as impressed with it as he had been the exterior. Though not so much when he asked to speak to the high priest and was denied.
"I demand to speak to the high priest." he said angrily and the girl just shook her head.
"Only R'hllor makes demands of his priests, not men and certainly not boys." she said and as she turned to walk away he grabbed her shoulder spinning her towards him.
"Don't walk away from me." he said angrily and around him, people stopped and the large room he was in quietened.
"Griff we should go." Duck said and he glared at him angrily before turning back to the girl.
The woman who arrived was perhaps the most beautiful he'd ever seen, dark-haired and eyed and she exuded confidence which only made her more attractive he felt. Though the look she gave him and the way she and the guards with her shook their heads, soon had his anger rising. Who was she to look at a dragon that way, who were they he thought, and yet he knew should it come to it he was outnumbered.
"You are not welcome here false dragon, go now in peace or suffer a god's wrath." the woman said and he looked at her perplexed, false dragon what did she mean by that?.
"I've come to talk to the high priest, to ask him questions." he said standing his ground and trying not to gulp when the men around him moved quickly, the guards surrounding him, Duck, and Haldon very easily.
"We have no answers for you here, no desire to set you on a path to your destruction, go and go in peace." she said turning away.
"Daenerys Ta..." he said but never got to finish or ask the woman if his aunt was here, the guards removing them from the temple in the time it took him to realize she was gone.
As they were just about outside though he saw her, her silver hair was long and thick, her face more beautiful than even in his dreams. He felt his heart quicken, felt his breeches tighten as he looked at the beautiful dress, and imagined the body beneath it. He called to her but she ignored him and he cursed the dye in his hair, knowing that had she seen him for who he truly was that she'd have then spoken to him right away.
Walking back to the Shy Maid his anger was replaced by something different, hope, he had found her, she was here and soon they'd be together, soon they'd be wed. Then together they'd return and take their family's throne and make those who'd turned on his family pay. While Duck and Haldon looked at him in confusion, Aegon smiled as they walked and almost ran the last few steps up the gangplank when they arrived.
"We found her Jon, she's here." he said excitedly when he saw Jon walk up from below deck.
"You spoke to her?" Jon asked and he shook his head as Duck explained what had happened.
"How do you know it was her Aegon? If you saw her only for a moment?" Jon asked and another day it would have annoyed him but for now, he was happy to answer the question.
"I know Jon, I saw her, she's my aunt and she's here, we need to find a way to speak to her and this must go?" he said with his hands in his hair.
"Aegon you can't, the disguise keeps you safe." Jon said but he wasn't listening to his complaints anymore and just shook his head.
After they had eaten and he'd gone to bed he lay there, his eyes closed and his hand traveling down his body, feeling his stiffness he groaned as he tried to picture her in his mind. Her silver hair, her body, his soon to be wife, his hand began to move of its own accord and he felt himself getting closer to his release. He pictured her face as he did so and especially her eyes, gods her eyes, never before had he seen such eyes, one green, and one blue. He heard himself shout her name as he spent.
"Daenerys." Aegon said as he fell back against the bed.
The Citadel 296 AC.
Theobald.
He looked over the notes in front of him, his life's work and he smiled proud of his achievements. He had seen the dragons brought low, seen them finally humbled. Now apart from an old man who'd die alone at the wall and two orphans with no means who were stuck in faraway lands, they were done. The Targaryen's and their beliefs, their potential, were no more and magic was back where it belonged, locked away in their vaults.
They had a fool for a king now but fools were easy to control, and Robert's appetites were those of a man and not a family who thought themselves gods. The reports on the prince were troubling, though madmen too were easily controlled, still, perhaps it would be for the best if the younger son took over, something he'd discuss when next they met.
Reading of Vyman's disappearance had given him pause but it had also reassured him after Creylen's and Caelotte's deaths. Had he been another of their member he would've had no choice but to investigate, two deaths were suspicious enough as it was, three would have been too many. But Vyman was nothing to do with them and while Caelotte had caused distress, they had managed to replace him correctly. In Creylen they'd lost a valuable member and due to that fool Marwyn's interference, he still felt sure that the man had done something to make some of them ill, they'd not got their man in the Rock.
"Samwell is Archmaester Vaellyn busy?" he asked turning to the young boy.
"I believe he and Archmaester Gallard have gone to visit Lord Hightower, Archmaester." Samwell said and Theobald looked at him strangely finding it odd the man would do such a thing.
"Are you sure Samwell?" he asked and the fat boy nodded before explaining some more.
"I believe so Archmaester, I delivered the letters to them myself." he said.
"Could you bring me one of them Samwell, it's most odd for the Lord to ask for a visit.".
"Of course Archmaester." Samwell said and he was glad to see the boy hurry off.
He had been surprised when the boy had returned but he'd been glad of it too, he and the others had wagered that the boy would stay with his family and not come back. When he did though, Theobald decided to bring him close, the boy had worked closely with the Mage and in time he knew he'd get him to divulge some of Marwyn's secrets. He actually found that despite his clumsiness and size, Samwell was a bright young lad, eager to learn and a bit of an unpolished gem. One day he'd perhaps a suitable candidate to be brought into the order as his demeanor would make him a useful spy.
He drank some wine as he went over his latest treatise. A Definitive History of Westeros, a work that when finished would show the dragons for what they truly were, incestuous, madmen, who were cruel and dangerous. As he was rereading the last chapter that he'd finished, this one dealing with Aegon the Unworthy, he heard Samwell walk back in and saw the letter in his hand.
"Will there be anything else Archmaester?" the boy asked and he shook his head waiting until Samwell had left before reading the letter.
Archmaester Vaellyn,
I find myself in need of your counsel and that of Archmaester Gallard also. As a man expert in the field of the study of the heavens, a study close to my own heart, and as Archmaester Gallard is known for his work on the Summer Isles, I have great need of you both. We received a recent arrival in Oldtown, a prince from the Summer Isles a man who shares my own interest in the stars and with whom I've found my knowledge lacking, I'd like to discuss some things with you both before the man returns from a hunt he's on with my son. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated and should I be able to do anything in return, then you only need ask.
Lord Leyton Hightower,
Defender of the Citadel.
He reached over and poured himself another glass of wine, happy in the knowledge that the order was still making friends and wondering about the boon Vaellyn may ask of Lord Leyton. After finishing his reading and feeling hungry he went to join the others for the evening meal, surprised to see that Vaellyn and Gallard had yet to return and calling Samwell to find out why.
It was much later when the boy returned, Samwell having gone to the Hightower himself to speak to the Archmaesters much to Theobald's approval.
"Lord Leyton asked them to stay the night Archmaester, I believe the hunt finished early and the prince from the Summer Isles was pleased to speak to such learned men as Archmaester's Vaellyn and Gallard." Samwell said and he felt himself smile at that.
"Thank you Samwell you've been most helpful, we really must speak more on your future, I see only good things ahead of you." he said patting the boy on his back as he walked into his room.
The fall of the Maesters, 296 AC.
Casterly Rock.
Jon.
In the moons since he had returned from Highgarden, he had been busy, more on certain things than others, and had been glad that he'd approached Tyrion how he had. Having Tyrion make certain decisions, ones he at first ran by him but soon didn't, had shown him the benefits and given him the time to do the other things he needed to do.
He and Melisandre had talked more about the red god and he knew enough now he felt that should Beric be drawn that way, he'd be able to perhaps bring him on side, and if not he still felt sure he could make the man see things from his perspective. Marwyn and Loamara he had sent to his uncle, he needed them to do the research he had not been able to do.
With Tyrion helping he had finally gotten around to reading some of his father's letters for himself, some making him laugh and others bringing him to tears as he saw how much his parents loved each other. Over and over though was the sense that being the Prince that was Promised meant more and Melisandre had confirmed that, Loamara had too, but mainly it was Walder who made him see.
"Walder, did Nan speak to you on the Long Night?" he asked.
"Aye, she did, The Prince that was Promised will bring the Dawn and save us from the Long Night." Walder said and Jon shuddered.
He needed to go back to Winterfell to look at those drawings once more, to see if the library there contained more, but before that he knew there would be some answers to be found at the wall. He and Rhaenix had flown more together, the bond growing ever stronger each time they took to the sky and they'd flown even further testing her range, seeing when and how soon she got tired. Jon had also gotten more comfortable flying on her back, the movements, twists, turns, and drops all allowing him to feel even more ready.
One night they'd flown until the early morn, arriving back at the beach as dawn rose. Just seeing the sun come up from the back of a dragon was more beautiful than he could have ever imagined. He had felt his son's excitement knowing it was almost time for his own rider and felt Rhaenix's also, as she now felt ready to take others on her back. As they had come closer to the shore he'd warged into a gull and had it fly over the Rock, holding tight to Rhaaenis's horn as he did so.
"Sōvegon lenton Rhaenix, emi jēda." (Fly home Rhaenix, we have time.) he said and she flew and landed near the cave. Soon he was falling asleep against her back as she rested.
He had written to Margaery, his wife, and it made him have to stop himself from calling her that in the letters, though never in his heart. He'd sent letters to Sansa and Robb, to Arya and Bran, spent time with Joy and sparred with Arthur and Jaime. He'd watched as Joanna had celebrated her nameday and as she began to grow, and found himself looking forward to seeing her walk and hearing her talk.
Mostly though he practiced the writing and made sure it matched. He studied the parchment making sure it was the same, and he warged into the ravens, making sure he could send then where they needed to go. Once he was certain he could do what was needed, he contacted Richard and made the preparations, his men were in position, his allies on board, and the time had come.
"Rhaneix it's time." he said as he sat beside her in the cave, Arthur, Jors, and Jaime waiting outside with Loras and Brienne.
"For our family." Rhaenix said.
"For our family." he said closing his eyes.
Oldtown 296 AC.
Ser Richard.
The cawing of the bird as it landed him made him smile, for almost three weeks he'd waited. He'd arrived early to make sure it was all in place and had first made his way to the Citadel, and spoken to Samwell Tarly the boy eager to help, though he knew not the extent of what that help would be. After that he had taken a room and waited, he had answered some of his lips' requests, sent out orders but in reality he was simply killing time.
Four and ten, in the end, that's what it came down to four and ten men who posed the biggest danger to the restoration out of any in Westeros. He wondered had it always been this small and then remembered that the two who had fallen were part of it but even with them, it was astounding. That so few carried out so much, that they were responsible for so much destruction and loss of life. That they so hated everything his king represented, felt abhorrent to him.
Four and ten located throughout Westeros and to take them down it would take many more. Dorne, the North, the Riverlands, the Reach, Crownlands, and the Vale, in almost every region his men were ready, and it would start now. Gathering his things he met with his man and made sure the ship was ready, he would sail North after this, the work that needed to be done there next on his agenda. Important work he knew but for his king what would happen here tonight, what would happen in Westeros over the next week was even more so.
"We're ready." his men said and he nodded before entering the small boat that was taking him to the citadel. His men waiting under the bridge for their own targets.
"Both and make it look good." he said simply as he walked into the Scribe's Hearth and met with Samwell, handing him the letter he waited.
It didn't take long, seeing the men walk out he almost laughed at the arrogance, to stroll around without guards, the sheer fucking hubris of it. That alone would be the downfall of these men and he took his seat and took out his food, listening to the men as those around him made their deals. Books being sold, letters being written, he even laughed when an acolyte came close to him to tout for business before he saw his clothing.
As night fell he made his way into the Seneschal's Court itself and saw Samwell beckon him to follow. The grey robe he wore and the Maester's chain were those of a newly linked Maester, one not many would know, and walking and talking with Samwell they spoke as if he knew what he was saying. Soon he was being shown the table where Theobald sat and from then it was just a matter of needing to wait for the right time.
Dorne 296 AC.
Sunspear.
Oberyn.
When the raven arrived carrying the note he had smiled, for moons he had walked on eggshells around the new Maester, had made sure all the others had too. He'd allowed the man to sit in on meetings that a Maester would be expected to and apart from not being allowed to look after Doran, which the Maester had objected to. The Maester for all intents and purposes was the senior Maester in Dorne.
However he was not, Myles did most of the true Maester's duties, he handled the more sensitive of correspondence, and managed Doran's treatments. Palron did not, was not under any circumstances allowed treat but the minor ailments of any of their family, and over time Oberyn knew he'd become suspicious.
Not that he'd ever get that time, as soon as the raven arrived Oberyn had Ser Daemon and Obara take up position and sent the raven to Yronwood. Once that was done, he gave the signal and his daughter and sworn shield grabbed the Maester and dragged him to the large empty room, where Oberyn was waiting for him.
"What is the meaning of this, should the Citadel find out you've treated me this way." the Maester said and Oberyn chuckled.
"You really think the Citadel or anyone will ever hear from you again Maester, I knew you people were stupid but surely not that stupid." Oberyn said.
"Why, I've done nothing, what?." Palron said his voice full of panic now.
"True you've not done anything to me or my family, simply because you've not had the opportunity, you should be grateful for that fact. It'll only be your life you lose today Maester and it will be quick, for others in your order they will not be so lucky."
"What? Please." the man said and Oberyn nodded as he was brought to the ground, picking up the sword he stepped to one side.
Oberyn looked to Daemon, to Obara and Nymeria as he moved forward. Doran sitting in the corner with Areo looking on from a distance.
"In the name of his grace Jaehaerys Targaryen the third of his name, I Prince Oberyn Nymeros Martell do hereby sentence you to die.".
The sword was quick and precise and Obara and Daemon let go of the man's arms as soon as the blade severed his head. Oberyn wiped the blade off and smiled before he closed his eyes. He thought of his nephew and his niece, of Elia and Aegon and of all the people these men would have wished to see dead. Opening his eyes he hoped the rest of Jae's plan went as smoothly as it did here.
Yronwood 296 AC.
Otar.
He didn't understand, what had happened? How had it happened? And what was to happen now? He was tied to the wall, the chains firm and unyielding, and standing in front of him Anders was picking through items he knew well. Items he was beginning to realize the man was going to use on him and he didn't know why.
He had brought him the scroll from Sunspear, prince Oberyn's sigil bound to get a rise out of the easily excitable young lord, especially given how he'd ranted and raved after the prince had left a few moons ago. Handing the lord the scroll he saw the smile and prepared to offer his advice though he never got the chance to. One minute he was standing looking at the lord as he walked towards him and the next he was being beaten into unconsciousness.
When he woke he was tied to the wall and he was baffled how he'd gotten there, they couldn't know, could they? He'd been so careful, for years he'd been careful and he'd only offered advice when the Lord was in the mood to listen. Speaking in his ear of how having Quentyn foster was a good opportunity, and how a man made a better ruler than a woman and enjoying seeing his ideas take route.
"When I was a boy my grandfather used to tell me stories, tales of my family and what we once were before the Rhoynar came." Anders said walking towards him, the object in his hand making Otar shake.
"Please my Lord." he said but Anders wasn't listening.
"You know my grandfather loved House Martell, he loved them. He instilled that love in me and my father and you took that, and him away from him." Ander's said and Otar gulped.
"Lies, it was the Viper, the Prince, he poisoned him." Otar said shaking his head.
"I will get the truth from you before this night is over Maester, I swear it on my grandfather." Anders said and Otar screamed as the man moved closer, the point digging deep into his shoulder and soon the pain became almost unbearable.
The desert was cool almost chilly, the moon high in the night's sky as he was dragged through it, how long they'd been riding for he didn't know, nor where he was now. The pain was numb now but he felt it still, or he thought he did. Anders was right, gods the things he'd done to him, any many would talk and he had done so quickly so eager was he for the pain to stop.
It didn't though, on it went for hours and hours, long after he had told the man everything he knew and had done. He had passed out and been woken back up, he'd been beaten, burned, cut, and still, it wasn't enough. He was actually relieved when they took him out to the horses. Ahead of him Anders had stopped and he saw him looking down into something and as he was dragged in front of him, Otar tried to get his eyes to focus.
"You took my grandfather from me, fuck you, fuck you to the seven hells." Anders said as he kicked him in the chest.
The fall wasn't as hard as he expected it to be, the hole not as deep as he had feared, and as he reached out and tried to rise to his feet, Otar felt he may actually have a chance to live. He could get out of here and maybe be able to make his way back to the Citadel, as long as they left him before morning he would have a chance, which was when he felt it and then he heard the hiss.
The first bite was bad, the second worse and as the clouds that covered the moon moved away, the light shone down. There were hundreds of them, they crawled over him, moved towards him, and as the moon's light faded he looked into one of the sets of eyes that were closest to him. His bladder emptied and it seemed to excite them and as the bites became too numerous to count, as the poison raced through his veins, his final thought was, where did they find some many red ones.
Riverlands 296 AC.
Stone Hedge.
Maester Lothar.
The man ran through the fields, feeling them close behind him, wondering who they were and what they wanted. He had thrown his pouch of gold at them, yet they had still chased him, and Lothar was beginning to think they weren't bandits after all. The raven had arrived with Theobald's message and he had hurried off to the meeting, never bothering to ask himself why he was being recalled.
He had instead bid Lord Jonos farewell, for now, said he'd be back within the moon and had set off from Stone Hedge to ride to Seagard. Traveling alone was a risk he knew but he couldn't allow the Lord to know where he was going and so he had taken the chance. As he tripped and fell over the broken branch and the men caught up with him, he felt a fool for doing so and hoped it would not cost him more than a beating.
"Please, I gave you my coin, I have nothing else to give." Lothar said and saw the clubs the men held in their hands.
"It's not your coin we want, we serve a higher calling." the man said as the first blow beat down upon him.
On and on they came and as each one did he wondered why? in the midst of his pain he wondered why and as he breathed his last breath, he found to his dismay that he would never know.
Raventree Hall.
Maester Martyn.
When the raven arrived he made his preparations, a meeting was something he'd not been a part of in many years and so something important must be going on. He found himself excited to be going back to the Citadel, to see his old friends once more would have been enough to cause it. Knowing that something must be getting decided though, that made him even more eager to travel.
It took a day or so to get Lord Tytos's permission and no matter how much he complained, it was only after agreeing to take guards with him that he was allowed to leave. Lord Tytos telling him that since he was in his service it was up to him to see to his safety. Had he not found the man to be a dullard then he may have appreciated it, as it was it simply inconvenienced him.
"Are you ready Maester?" Tom said and he nodded as they rode out the gate.
They made good time and as they camped that night Tom and Artos told tales, some which even made him chuckle, and after eating he slept comfortably. They were riding the next morning when the men arrived, wearing House Tully colors and carrying a letter from Lord Tytos.
"We need the Maester to come with us, the lady Catelyn has taken ill and needs his help, he may be needed for some time." the large man in the lead said.
"Very well we'll ride there first, Maester?".
"Aye." he said reluctantly knowing he had no choice.
"Lord Tytos requests you both to ride back to Raventree Hall, the Maester can send a raven when he's ready to leave and you have your own duties to see to." the large man said and Tom looked ready to argue.
"Go, Tom, Ser?" he looked to the man who introduced himself as Ser Robert Long "Ser Robert will ensure I arrive safely and if he's right then it could be some time until I can resume my travels." he said glad of the opportunity to get rid of his guards and hoping the detour wouldn't take too long.
"If you're sure Maester?" Tom asked.
"Aye, I am." he said with a smile, and Tom and Artos rode off.
He rode on with the men who told him of the woman's symptoms and so he asked to stop off to collect some herbs. He was worried in case they may not have them and he didn't wish to delay more than necessary. He was collecting them near the steam when it happened, the gauntlet gripping tight around his neck and pushing him forward, the water going into his mouth. He felt the constriction of his lungs as they filled and he thrashed to no avail, the man far too large and much too strong.
As his movements stilled, as his last breaths came he couldn't understand why House Tully would wish him dead.
The Reach 296 AC.
The Rose Road.
Maester Arden.
He had been lucky the raven arrived while Lord Tarly was on a hunt with his son, had he been there then nothing he'd have said would have made the man agree to let him return to the Citadel. As it was with him gone the lady was only too keen to see him go, even more so when he suggested that he could carry a letter to her fat son and that he'd bring one back upon his return.
The truth of the matter was he was glad for the opportunity of seeing Theobald and the others, his time in the Reach had been an absolute waste. Randyl Tarly cared little for his insights or suggestions, even when he gave them on military matters the man barely acknowledged him. Though as bad as it had been previously, it had gotten even worse since his son was sent to the Citadel, the man seeming to blame him for it somehow.
As if he had anything to do with sending the fat boy there, true he was clever and could perhaps make a good Maester but the boy was soft, and wouldn't have the heart to do what was needed to ensure the realm ran true. So he intended to make his points clear to the others once he arrived at the Citadel.
After bidding the lady farewell, he made his way as quickly as he could to the Rose Road, hoping to meet up with Kates so they could travel together. He couldn't believe his luck when not more than an hour after arriving he heard the horse behind him, and he smiled when he saw his old friend riding hard. Though he soon looked on in shock when he saw the arrow in his back, and he began to panic when he saw the look of fear on his face.
"Ride, they mean to kills us, ride." Kates shouted and as he turned to kick his horse he felt the thump of the arrow as it hit his chest, his fingers drawn to it almost instinctively.
As the second and the third arrows hit him he looked to Kates who was riding on ahead and watched on in horror as his friend's horse suddenly bucked throwing him from it. Kates though not the only one to hit the ground, as soon he fell too, his eyes fading as the blood flowed from his wounds.
Who the men were he didn't know, nor were they about to tell him, the last thing he heard as the sword entered his neck was one voice yelling to the other.
"Aye, he's dead, broke his neck, wonder what spooked the horse." the voice shouted as Arden was welcomed by the darkness.
White Harbor 296 AC.
Wyman.
When Marao arrived with the other man Wyman knew it was time, the fall of men who deserved it was upon them. He had voted for this, Jon had asked for their decisions and he had voted, and he felt relieved it was happening finally. Knowing who Theomore truly served he felt greatly relieved and so he waited until night fell, and then escorted the man to the Maester's rooms.
What happened inside them he didn't know, only that when he walked inside the Maester was dead and there were no marks or signs of a struggle. Theomore looked as if he died peacefully in his sleep and Wyman thanked Jon for that concession. It wasn't that he didn't wish the man to suffer or even that he couldn't have covered it up but more he didn't wish the girl who found his body to be more upset than need be.
"The others?" he said to Marao as they walked from the Maester's rooms.
"We'll know soon enough, have no fear my lord, they will fall, all of them." Marao said.
"And should they not?" he asked his voice and face showing his concern.
"There is always tomorrow or the day after, trust me, my lord, those men are not long for this world.
He was breaking his fast the next morning when the scream came, he and Wylis being informed and Wyman telling his granddaughters and Robb later on. While upset, they accepted that the man had died peacefully in his sleep and Wyman even gave the man a far better sendoff than he deserved. Saying words over his body and in front of his servants, and asking them to give a moment to the man.
"When do you think we'll know father?" Wylis asked a little later that night.
"Soon Wylis, soon.".
The Vale 296 AC.
Maester Coleman.
Gods the woman had been insufferable, he'd needed to wait until Nestor's own Maester had arrived and still, she'd complained. Accused him of abandoning her boy, of leaving him alone and he sighed as he listened to her. Even lying to her about the letter, saying it was from her husband ordering him to come to King's Landing and it almost hadn't been enough.
Eventually, though he'd gotten to leave and been escorted to Gulltown to the ship that would take him on the first part of his journey. He'd, unfortunately, need to change ships in King's Landing and should, and he had no doubt she would, Lysa complain to her husband then he'd need to make an explanation. But he had no choice other than to lie to the woman as she'd never have allowed him to leave otherwise, and he so wished to speak to his friends in person once more.
As he stood on the deck watching the moon set he smiled. How many years had it been since he had set foot in the Citadel? Twenty and two, twenty and three, he wasn't sure but he was very happy to be going back there once again.
"You look happy friend." the man said walking and standing beside him.
"Aye, I'm to meet up with some old friends." he said with a chuckle.
"Good when you do, bid them hello from me." the man said and he looked at him confused before he felt the blow to his head, and with no ceremony he was thrown overboard, the water covering him in moments.
He struggled against the current, tried to reach the top, the blood flowing from his head making him weak. As he reached the top he looked to see the ship far off to the distance, the whiteness of the sails all he could see in the dark of the night, and he felt himself sink once more. Try as he might he couldn't rise again, his body was too old and weak, his wound cut too deep, and he felt the coolness and calm of the water swallow him whole.
The Vale 296 AC.
Maester Jaspar.
Where had they come from? he wondered as he rode hard. He was too close to Ironoaks for them to attack surely? though he also knew that he wasn't close enough and that he'd not outrun them. Their horses were faster than his own and like a fool, he had forsaken guards, too eager to travel quickly and not to be found out. He had wondered how many others would he meet, was it to be a full meeting? A conclave within a conclave? And he knew for it to be called something big must have happened.
What that was he feared he'd never find out, as the men chased him down he looked back, and to his horror saw that the leader was wearing ears around his neck. Though it could have been worse, at least they weren't burned men. He rode as fast as he could but in the end, it was useless, they rode him down and nothing he said would stop the Mountain Clansmen in their tracks.
He screamed as he was held down, as his ears were removed and as they beat him, but when it stopped he felt some relief, short-lived though it was. Feeling the blade in his stomach he looked at the man in shock, though the pain was something he felt even more when the blade was then twisted and his stomach opened.
"Why, you've taken my ears, you don't kill, Black Ears don't kill." he cried.
"Who said we were Black Ears." the man said and he knew by his voice that this was no clansman, though who he was he'd never live to find out.
Kings Landing 296 AC.
Barristan.
Murder without trial was not something he agreed with, usually. Sure there were exceptions, the Mountain and Lorch deserved no due process to his mind. When he'd first been told by Richard's man about Pycelle though he had thought the man needed to face a trial. It was only after speaking to Richard himself and finding the full extent of what he did, that he changed his mind.
"I know there is nothing more in this world that the king would wish for, than to see that man brought to trial, Barristan, nothing." Richard said.
"Then why?". he asked confused.
"What he did, what these men did must be dealt with, they must face a reckoning and we must do it before Jaehaerys sit's the throne. We cannot risk it Barristan, not one of them can be allowed to escape." Richard said reaching over and touching his shoulder.
"I…".
"I know old friend, it's why I do not ask you to do this yourself, much though I'm sure you'd wish to if you heard him confess. Instead, leave it to my man, we'll take care of it." Richard said and he nodded.
When he had found out how they had planned to do it, he had been concerned for the girl's safety. Only to be reassured that once he saw her from the Red Keep that she would be well taken care of. He had been given his king's word that the life she'd lead, would be far better than the one she'd had until now.
Standing outside the room he waited and when she came out, he hurried along with her. Meeting Richard's man Marius outside.
"Is it done?" Marius asked her.
"It is, he drank it all down and was gone before I left." Pycelle's serving girl said.
"Good girl, have you decided?" Marius asked.
"Castamere my lord." the girl said and Barristan watched as Marius smiled before handing her a pouch. The girl happy to hear the jingle of coins and for Barristan looking at her face when she looked inside, she was even happier now.
"Ser Barristan, I bid you farewell." Marius said as he and the girl walked off into the night, and Barristan as he turned to head back found himself thinking that he'd never even asked her name.
The next morning the Red Keep was in an uproar, though the king and queen seemed unperturbed. The king simply asking with no respect or concern for the dead Grandmaester, for Jon Arryn to make sure that a new one was sent quickly, Robert then continuing on his way. No one grieved for the man and Barristan found that apt, despite serving for forty years the man had served no king. He'd done no good and caused great harm to those he had sworn to keep healthy. Barristan had found he had slept with a clear conscience the night before, happy that a threat had been removed and knowing that his king was one step closer to the throne.
Oldtown 296 AC.
Maester's Vaellyn and Gallard.
Vaellyn had been surprised by the request and that it concerned Gallard even more so. However, an invite from the Lord was not one they could reject or turn down and could be a boon to their order. So he had made his way to Gallard and both men had left to walk to the Hightower.
They were walking over the bridge when the man came to them, he was very well dressed and in his hand, he was carrying a pouch of gold.
"Please, my child, I need a maester." the man said and they directed him back towards the Citadel "Please, a moment, just a moment, I'll pay you whatever you wish." the man said and Vaellyn looked to Gallard who nodded.
Coin didn't particularly interest him but the man looked important and when he nodded and the man handed him the pouch which he handed to Gallard, it was his friend's stunned reaction that sealed it for him.
"There are over fifty gold dragons in this pouch Vaellyn." Gallard said softly to him the amount catching him by surprise.
"What's your name?" he asked the man as they followed him.
"Lord Jorah Mormont, Maester, my wife and I were to visit her father though we decided to come to the Citadel first then our babe took sick, please this way." he said directing them towards a small boat.
A boon indeed, Vaellyn thought with a smirk, and yet as they walked towards the boat something felt wrong. Mormont's were from the North and this man sounded anything but, he paused and turned to ask the man.
"You don't sound Northern my lord." he said and Gallard looked at him confused before they were quickly surrounded by men who had seemingly come from nowhere.
"And you two are no true Maester's either, we'll be a good match on our trip then won't we?" the man said as he smirked and before he knew what was happening he and Gallard were bundled up with hoods over their heads. In no more than a few moments, they were in a boat that rowed quickly from the riverbank.
How long they rowed for he didn't know, only that the Honeywine's currents felt stronger. When the hood was removed he found Gallard was nowhere to be seen, Where his friend was he didn't know? What he did know was that he shivered when the man moved toward him and cut his binds.
"Your friend is dead, say hello to him for me will you." the man said and without so much as a blink, he felt his throat being cut, the blood pouring out as he was thrown overboard.
He didn't last long and as he choked on his own blood the last thing he saw was Gallard's body as it floated by.
The Citadel 296 AC.
Maester Walgrave.
The cage was open, why? Had he left it open again? He moved to close it and saw the others were open too. Strange he'd not have opened them all surely? Though his mind was not what it had once been, he loved his birds, and they loved him. He'd not risk them, harm them, and certainly, he'd never let them loose indoors, would he? Yet as he looked now at the cages he saw the ravens fly from them.
It was a beautiful sight, at least at first but soon he noticed something strange with their eyes. Ravens didn't have white eyes, they were blue, or grey, or brown depending on their age, never white. No one knew that better than he, for all his life he'd studied these birds and written about them. To see them now all looking at him with white eyes was disturbing, he felt his fear begin to rise and turned to walk from the room.
For the first time in his life, he was actually afraid of his own birds, the cawing soon began and he hurried, running to the stairs. Every step he took he looked over his shoulder and expected them to be there, to be following. Then as he reached the steps they flew as one, they enveloped him, and for the briefest moment, he flew.
The only thing louder than the cawing of the ravens was the flapping of their wings and the noise was deafening. It was so loud that no one heard his screams or the crack of his skull as he hit the bottom of the stairs, and no one cared about the rattle his throat made as he died.
Maester Theobald.
He had been in the midst of peaceful sleep, the dream he was having was one of the nicer ones and he'd enjoyed it until the noise woke him up. He tried to sit up but felt pressed down hard against the bed, the pillow pushing down against his face. He couldn't breathe, he felt the lack of air beginning to wear on him, and he struggled unsuccessfully to free himself.
Theobald was not a fighter and whoever was forcing him to the bed was strong, yet he fought hard for his life, or he thought he did. In reality, his blows hit the pillow and not the man, and even had they, they'd have been ineffectual. As he heard the sound which had woken him quieten, he wondered why he had thought he heard ravens, and soon felt his head become dizzy from the lack of air.
Falling back against the bed with all the fight gone out of him, and soon he knew the life would be too, he heard the voice, and were he not already certain to die then he'd have welcomed it if it had been offered.
"Jaehaerys Targaryen sends his regards." Ser Richard Lonmouth said just before Theobald breathed his last.
A.N: I just realised looking back over things, in my last few notes I've not thanked people. So I'd like take the chance to thank you all once again, to those who've read and reviewed and stuck with this story, thank you for taking the time to do. Up Next. Dany names real dragons before meeting a mummer's one, Arianne meets her cousins and she and Tyrion get even closer, reactions to the Maesters deaths and Jon, Rhaenix and Arthur take their first and second flight together as they begin to travel.
Daryldixon: Thanks so much, so glad you liked it.
Jacobgamble: Glad you liked it.
Jessicanighmarewolf: It's a ship I'd have thought we'd see more, anyway I hope you like them as we go on, Faegon/Dany is next.
Mrsfaywwhitlock: Unfortunately there will be some of that with Satin/Loras just because of the times/society they're in but Loras is friends with a king and he won't have anyone look down on him. With Richard and sometimes in covo's for me it's how it feels when writing and it just didn't feel the BF was ready, he'd still tell Cat/Edmure not to hurt Jon but in effort to save them and so Richard kinda felt that too and instead just put his toe in the water a little. With LF his next pov will be I think the chapter after next and it'll be in that, as will the Essos/Lannister thing. With fAegon it's next chapter I didn't want it to be a tease here but I wanted to set it up a little more rather than he just arrives and meets her. Ari only knows one way and she's feeling something different too, but Oberyn set her straight.
Guest: That's true, the problem is he has no reason to believe any different, the winners kinda make the story and Jon is stuck with that. He could tell him but I think Robb is kinda reeling from enough and if you were in his shoes and Jon told him or this suddenly came out to you after everything else you'd lose it imo. (not you specifically, but you know what I mean).
Prichan: Thank so much, really glad you enjoyed it.
Battlemage: That's a little of the point, it's not so much for them to see clearly, they saw Jon take off and fly off to sea and return sometime later and land not far from them, that's enough. They can't risk it in daylight the dragons are too big, they'd be seen and lighting the beach up kinda draws attention to it. But it's more here's the first flight kinda thing.
With Satin maybe I didn't make it clear, his thing was purely Loras focussed, that's why he said "I Don't want you to fight" it was more he has feelings for him and he's worried about him fighting any fight, not this specific fight. He wasn't really asking him not to, more trying to awkwardly let him know how he felt, it may not have come across as well as I'd hoped but that's what it was supposed to be. With Richards messages these are kinda like the after the filter lines, almost a cliff notes thing, not the actual specific messages and I want them to be clear enough that you could figure them out, you the reader, so maybe I need to show a more coded one or him using the code, someone else coming across one or something.
But it's a little like with the dreams or vision in that you don't want it to be basically, huh, what the hell was that. The TER below the sea part was vague and mysterious and I had more people go what the hell was that than anything else, it's the line between wanting to show it and keeping it real.
I agree completely, Oberyn cares for revenge and justice for Elia and Rhaenys/Aegon, Doran wants it to but along the way it became what can I get from this deal. Logically he should have joined Robb once he one some battles and had the Lions on the run, hell I still don't know why he didn't reach out.
Anja: So glad you liked it.
Remi: I agree it's something far more normal about two same age people, whatever their gender kissing than an older/younger when the younger is that young. It was time for them all to be brought in and it's now just Arya and Bran left, oh and the realm of course lol. Some of the places he can go to and visit easily, High heart, Summerhall and TOJ are pretty much empty spaces or abandoned ones. Others we'll see. Your right on the issues that Satin/Loras have to face and luckily for them they do have a friend who'll be king.
Midnightme: It started off as intentional or to be more precise it's supposed to be intentional where it works and not where it doesn't lol. I think it started off using it right and it kinda crept into the style and thanks to your review I've noticed it myself now, where before it was almost on automatic in some places, so I'll see if it works itself out or if I end up falling back into it.
I'm really glad you're enjoying the stories, at heart I'm a ready too and one of my goals starting this was both to improve as a writer and to regularly update to a schedule as I know how frustrating it can be waiting for updates.
Oonighteyes: Really glad you liked it.
Paulies: Ari like Tyrion is feeling something different, it's not a fling to her. That's how I felt too with the BF, it's just too early. Stannis and Joff are coming soon, lol I did too so you're not alone, blame it on the lockdown I say.
Biohazard: So glad you enjoyed it.
LadyOctarina: I figured between who he'd want there, who'd want to be there and those worried about him it'd be a big FOMO moment. With the BF it just couldn't be done yet, he'd reach out to Cat/Edmure and we'd be at war. On Richard he's the hardest working man in Westeros lol, Glad you liked the Brienne part and the Jon thing is a little way off.
Jman: The BF knows or would know that Richard doesn't believe it, I didn't think the need was there for him to say it and even had he the BF isn't going to listen to him on that, Ned now, him he may listen to. The lips are everywhere, just about, though not really in a great position on the Iron Islands. As for Mel we'll see.
Reikson. I run all the Valyrian through the translator and it always comes different so we must be using different sites, the one I use is /EnglishtoValyrianTranslator.
Atp: Not sure what you mean, Brynden and Brienne aren't anywhere near each other.
Mrspotter; Thanks so much, really glad you feel that way.
Dunk: With Richard, Essos is an issue, we'll see more of that as we go, on the BF it just didn't feel right, so I went with Richard testing the waters and sticking his toe in, feeling it was too hot he left it, for now. On the Bear island part what it is now is so not what Theon thinks it is. We'll see with the ingots very soon, I was going to put the explanation in this chapter but I held off for now. But I promise, a chapter or two max. On Dany/Faegon it'll be next chapter for certain, I felt it wrong to have him just arrive and immediately meet with her, it just seemed anticlimactic and as if he'd not worked for it. Really glad you liked the flights.
Afterbliss: I think its quite likely he's going to Valyria. We're getting close, we're really not many chapters away from the reveal of Jon so we'll see.
Princeloki: The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire.
Guest: Ari only knows one way and she's been talked out of it, she's feeling different about Tyrion too and is in a way just as nervous. On Faegon he and Dany meet next and hope you liked the Marge part. The flights is opening up even more of the bond with Jon and is kinda in a way like skipping getting a level up in a game, so Jon is going to learn and do more because of it.
Spartan: I think this whole lockdown and the invisible threat has us all a little off, hopefully soon it'll end and we get back to normal, hope you liked the Marge part, she'll be back in a chapter or two.
Zyrus: Really glad to hear that, I was a bit worried about getting the tone of the scene right.
Vfsnake: Fly, fly, you are the wind beneath my, no too soon, I do a hell of a Bette Midler lol. We'll see with the Essosi plans soon.
Creativo: Hermanos, tío / sobrino, hermanas, todos unidos y los dragones volarán juntos pronto.
Xand007: Thanks my friend. The biggest issues for the Lannisters is the fact of the attack being in Essos. Had he had Bronn then Richard would have sent him as it is, he's onto plan B. Same to you my friend, sanity and safety all the way.
Xanmerrick: Thank you my friend. The Arthur reveal to Brienne I kept for later, felt it needed to be done on it's own. Ned will still be a gentleman, he's Ned after all. We'll be seeing more of the flights soon, on Richard he's just so easy to send do everything lol, but yep he popped in and then out with the BF, he will pop back again. Ari does have serious feelings for Tyrion, the problem is she only knows one way of doing things and so would have done them here, now she won't.
Ashay: Thanks so very much for saying that and I'm really happy you're enjoying the story. I was so frustrated with what happened that it made me write, Just to get over the way they ruined such a great show and characters. There is so much scope within the world of ASOIAF, a little change here and there and the story can be so different, so I hope you continue to enjoy it.
Guest: So glad you liked it.
Vwchick: I wanted to give Loras a better more age appropriate relationship, I agree the age difference in canon is just wrong, he's not the only one btw, but it just always felt like Renly really took advantage, and it never felt right. Glad you liked the flight, it's the first of many.
Anrchichmind: Glad you liked that, it was basically a feeling out process from Richard, he will meet him again. We'll see but the problem he has is where is Dany? Essos is kinda large.
Orthang: Sorry my bad, Robert got the right of it this time, had Harry not face Jon as he did then perhaps he'd have tried to organise it more personally, but Mychel Redfort fought Jon in KL and so he figured they needed to take his friends out and use numbers against him.
The Cersei bit I'm embarrassed to say I cut and forgot to put back in, it's written though and I'll put it in the next chapter, sorry again.
Dany/Faegon couldn't happen on the first meeting, it's be too coincidental got to make the boy work a little harder to face her. With the hound playing his role of course, though he may look to Jon C, the man's part chicken after all lol.
The Maester's are done and it's off to pastures new.
Guest: That's the thing, even despite it all Tyrion feels unworthy to an extent, so Arianne parading people would have had the opposite effect, it'd have made him think there was nothing between them and Oberyn knew that. So yep star of the chapter indeed.
The only reason for Ned to not fully go is the children and they kinda don't care, so we'll see but there could be legal issues ahead. A bard is code, a jack of all trades, a spy and a killer, rather than just a spy, so Bronn is a bard, while the people in White Harbor are simply lips. Richard's organisation is the order of skulls and kisses, his lips do the kisses the bards usually break the skulls. it's a lot of setup and pushing to the next point, so in a way yes, but some of the things needed to be other there so you're not just going straight to events with no context. Like just arriving is good but here we see she's been given a little nod and wink by Oberyn so it adds to it.
Joff next week I promise.
