Casterly Rock 296 AC.
Arianne.
She had worried that their time in Sunspear was something she had built up, had it been more in her mind than in reality? Had she had allowed their time apart to cloud her judgment and make her think more fondly of it than it really was? As she breathlessly reached over for the glass of wine, she was more than happy to realize that the reality far exceeded what her mind had made up.
Tyrion was insatiable, passionate, and most importantly giving. He sought to prolong her pleasure while he took his own, something that not everyone did. Since she'd arrived at the Rock they'd spent as much time together as they could, while still hiding though which annoyed her, thankfully at night though they didn't hide. Either she came to him or he to her, and they spent their time doing everything they could think of to each other.
"My lion finally rests." she said sipping her wine, the flush on her chest receding and her breath coming back to normal.
"My princess has worn me out." he said and she smiled, if she had then so had he with her she thought, as she took another sip.
"I am to speak to my cousin today, to meet with the dragons.".
"Aye, Jon's been busy since you got here." Tyrion said looking to the wine glass which she gave him while she poured herself another.
"With what?" she asked curiously.
"Something you should speak to him about, or would you have me spill all his secrets?" he japed and she laughed.
"I think you've spilled enough for one night." she said looking down between her legs and hearing him choke a little on his wine.
"Do you wish me to come with you?" he asked a little later as he was dressing.
"No, perhaps it's for the best if I meet them alone, we'll speak later?" she asked and hated the small note of desperation in her voice.
"Amongst other things, I hope." he said kissing her and she smirked as he left.
She was glad now she'd taken her uncle's advice. Oberyn knew Tyrion and she had seen it for herself the night she'd arrived. The way he'd looked over the men who were with her, how he'd studied them, and seemed almost relieved that certain ones weren't there. How she felt about him confused her, worried her even, what if he felt different? What if she meant less to him than he to her?.
These were things she'd never dealt with before, she prided herself on being in control, she was the one who decided how her relationships did or did not develop. Yet with Tyrion, she felt a loss of control, an almost trepidation when she had met him again. Even planning for the visit to Casterly Rock had made her nervous in a way she never usually was. So she had resorted to what she knew, and she could see now that it would have been a terrible mistake.
"Princess, you sent for me?" her handmaiden asked as Arianne sat in front of the mirror a little while later.
"I did, can you take this to Jon Snow. Give it to one of his guards, I believe they stay in the vaults." she said handing her a note.
"I believe Jon Snow has left for the day princess, he and some others were planning a ride. Though I may be able to catch him." the girl said and she nodded before calling her back when she moved to the door "If you do, ask him would it be acceptable for me to join them." she said and the girl nodded.
A few minutes later she was surprised when Jon Snow himself knocked on her door, she'd seen the boy a couple of times but apart from at the dock it had only been briefly. He was a handsome young lad, his dark grey eyes looked almost black in the light, and his hair was tied up annoyingly. She found she wished to pull the tie from it, just to see how it looked. As he stood there smiling she realized that she'd been staring at him for some time, and so she smiled back and invited him in.
"Princess Arianne." he said with a small bow.
"Jon Snow, or is it Jaehaerys Targaryen?" she said with a smirk.
"I think for now Jon Snow will do princess, your lady said you wished to come riding with us?" he asked and she nodded "We'll await you in the courtyard. I look forward to speaking to you later but perhaps on this ride, we could keep things more circumspect?" he said.
"Of course, I heard you're an excellent horseman Jon Snow, I look forward to seeing you in action." she said and he smirked as he left.
She was slightly disappointed to see so many people in the courtyard. Jon was talking and laughing with a little blond girl and she saw the Tyrell and the giant guard who followed Jon around, along with the blond girl who squired for him. There were also some other younger boys and girls, numerous guards, and along with her own she felt this would be a ride she'd not have fun on, she was soon proved very much mistaken.
No sooner were they out of the Rock's gates than the fun began, firstly the white wolf raced ahead and she saw her guards look at it in awe, the wolf moving far faster than any horse could. Then the girl looked to Jon and they moved forward, she turned to Tyene who seemed eager for some reason, and so she asked what was going on.
"They're getting ready to race, Ari." her cousin said.
"Oh a race, I'd like that." she said and moved towards them before Tyene could say anymore.
"To the stream Jon, no backsies." the little blond girl said.
"No backsies Joy, ready." Jon said just as she arrived.
"Princess, we were just about to race." Jon said and she caught the annoyed look the girl, Joy, was giving her.
"I know, I wished to join you, myself and Tyene race all the time back in Dorne." she said with a smirk.
"This isn't Dorne Princess." Joy said and the girl's smirk was even bigger than her own.
"Very well, up over the hill there you'll see a stream in the distance. Ghost is probably there already, we race to there." Jon said and she nodded "Ready Joy, princess, Loras if you will."
"One, two, three, Go." Loras said, saying each of the numbers slowly and then shouting the order to race.
She felt the wind in her hair and the horse under her tensed before it set off, it's speed was impressive she felt, though compared to the two in front of her not so much. From an early age, she and Tyene would race sand steeds through the desert, so she knew her way around a horse. Looking on as the two in front of her raced off, she felt like a novice, a first-time rider.
They were dismounted and leading the horses to drink from the stream by the time she arrived, both of them laughing and joking, and she found it endearing. The way he acted with the young girl reminded her of Oberyn, of how he'd play with Elia, or Obella and the image made her smile.
"Who won?" she asked as she dismounted and led her own horse to the stream.
"A draw I think, was it a draw Joy?" Jon asked.
"No I won, you cheated." Joy said giggling.
"There you have it, princess, apparently I cheated, we should have raced backsies." he said and Joy laughed louder now as Jon moved in to tickle her.
They ended up having a picnic by the stream, sitting under the shade of the tree and while it was not Dorne, she found the place peaceful. Placing the horses back in the stables when they got back, Jon said his farewells to Joy and to who she learned where the girls who were fostering with her. Once they'd left he walked over to her and whispered in her ear.
"I believe it's time you met my sister." he said.
"I'd like that very much.".
"Your guards, princess, I need them to stay here, they won't be allowed in the vaults.".
She walked over and spoke to the guards, telling them to go back to their rooms and she'd be up later, and despite their reluctance, they agreed. Then walking with Jon she found herself being led down into the vaults of Casterly Rock, her excitement building as she was about to meet a dragon. Jon led her out onto the beach and she was surprised to see the white wolf there waiting for them, looking to her cousin she sought permission to touch the wolf.
"Go ahead, Ghost won't bite Princess." he said and she rubbed her hand in the wolf's soft white fur.
"Ghost, is that because he's so quiet?" she asked and Jon nodded "He's so soft." she said and saw Jon smile.
"He's a big furball, aren't you?" Jon said and she swore the wolf shook it's head "When you see them don't be scared, they'll not harm family.".
"You consider me family?" she asked surprised, even though Oberyn had told her so.
"Elia was my mother, Oberyn and your father my uncles, so aye, cousin I consider you family." he said looking to her and she saw the brief doubt in his eyes.
"Then we are family cousin." she said happy to see him relax.
The cave was dark until it was not, and she gasped at seeing them, the smaller one was a bright bronze and though smaller than the white dragon, it wasn't small by any means.
"This is my son, Lygaron." Jon said and she looked at him as he nodded for her to touch the dragon.
"Lygaron?" she asked her breath hitching in her throat as she felt the warmth of the scales beneath her.
"For the family, I lost. My mother, father, and brother. This is Rhaenix my sister." he said and she found herself face to face with eyes of a color she remembered from a time long ago.
Reaching out she touched the dragon's face, feeling the vibrations as it trilled before looking behind her when Jon laughed as the dragon chirped.
"She says you've grown up cousin, and that so has she. So much so that you'll never be able to hold her in your arms like you once did." Jon said and she felt the tears fall from her eyes.
"Rhaenys." she said leaning into the dragon's head, the eyes more familiar now "Rhaenys." she said softly as the dragon chirped again.
Volantis 295/296 AC.
The Hound.
Looking at the things crawling over her, listening to the noises they made he could barely believe it. Dragons, real-life dragons, she had walked into a fire and came out with dragons. He had been as terrified and scared as he had when Gregor had held him to the flames, and yet he had been ready to follow her into them, had they not stopped him then he would have.
But she had come out the other side and she had done what they had come here to do, Dany had woken dragons from stone. As Shiera covered her up and the priests finally let him up from the ground, almost ten of them it had taken to keep him there. He moved to her and looked her over to make sure she was unharmed, trying not to think of the irony of a woman walking into flames and coming out with barely a mark. Apart from her hair and her brows though, Dany was not just unharmed, she was unburnt too.
"Are you well?" he asked worriedly.
"I am, look, Sandor, Dragons." Dany said smiling.
"I can see that." he said and he rubbed her head making her laugh.
Over the next few days, he watched as both she and Shiera attempted to get the dragons to eat, the little things turning their noses up at every attempt. Finally bored one day he threw a piece of his own meat at them and they ate it ravenously, Dany running over and grabbing the rest of the meat from his plate.
"What the fuck are you doing you bald fucker?" he said angrily.
"You can get more, they're hungry you miserable fucker." she said and she ignored Shiera's glare.
The dragons ate the meat just as ravenously as they had the first piece, and it was then they knew they needed it cooked. However when next they tried it was the same as before, the dragons turning up their noses at the meat.
"Maybe we need to cook it for them, let them see the flames themselves?" Dany said and Shiera nodded.
"How you going to do that?" he asked and shivered involuntarily when Dany waked to the fire, the stick she took out flaming as Shiera held some meat to it.
Once again they ate that day but not the next. Though this time they figured it out pretty quickly, with a piece of meat on a knife Dany held it in front of the dragons looking into their eyes.
"Dracarys." she said and the green one blew some smoke, the gold one too, but it was the black and red one who managed to produce flames.
Each day they grew and then the flames came from each of them. They were breaking their fast one morning when names were brought up. Try as he might he couldn't help but take the piss out of Dany as she sat there, bald, her forehead creased where her brows would be, as she sat in deep thought.
"You look fucking ridiculous." he said smirking as he ate an egg from the plate.
"What?" she said turning to him.
"This, it makes me want to just slap it over and over again." he said rubbing her head.
"Get off you mad fucker." she said giggling as he pulled her towards him.
"Can't, maybe it's lucky, if I rub it maybe I'll have good luck?" he chuckled.
"Get away, Shiera, make him stop." Dany said and he stopped, turning to see where Shiera was only to find she wasn't there, turning back he saw Dany standing in the corner laughing loudly.
"Made you look you silly fucker." she said and he moved as if he was going to grab her, laughing as she squealed when she ran from the room.
After sparring that day and then Dany taking her lesson with Shiera, the three of them sat while she fed the dragons. The green one had taken a shine to Shiera, the black and red to Dany, while the other alternated between the two and going after it's brothers or sisters. He wasn't sure what they were and neither was anyone else.
"I've figured it out." Dany said holding the black and the gold dragons in her hands.
"Aye, figured what out slappy." he said and she scowled at him before smirking, she hated the name, so every time he could he said it and he knew it annoyed her.
"Their names, this one is Ellagon." she said pointing to the black one, that one is Rhaegal she said pointing to the green and this is Sandorix." she said looking to him.
"Excellent choices Dany, Rhaegal what do you think?" Shiera said and the green dragon chirped.
He was staring at Dany who was, in turn, staring at him, the first he figured was for her mother, and the second her brother, the third, he felt himself choke up and saw her smile. His own was on his face before he knew it, and so he nodded and got up from the chair, turning to leave the room.
"Those are stupid fucking names slappy." he said as he walked away and he heard the laughter as he left the room.
Standing out on the balcony later that night he heard the footsteps behind him, saw her hands as she leaned against the wall, her hood pulled up against the cold.
"You shouldn't have named it after me Dany." he said softly.
"I didn't, I named it after a completely different Sandor, big tall fucker he was, loved chicken, always grumpy though, annoying fucker as well." she said as she giggled.
"Thank you." he said almost under his breath.
"Thank you Sandor." she said and as he felt her arms go around him, he hugged her, something he'd done very little, even with as close as they'd become.
"Now fuck off to bed." he said a moment later and she laughed as she walked away.
"See you in the morning." she said and he nodded.
"Aye, see you in the morning little sister." he whispered when she left, moving quickly to wipe the tear from his eye.
He was amazed by how quickly they grew over the next few weeks. In days they were as big as small birds, and now as big as some of the large eagles they'd seen as they'd traveled here. Their flames seemed to get bigger as they grew, not to mention their personalities began to come more to the fore. Ellagon was quiet and reserved until she wasn't or he wasn't, he still wasn't sure what the dragon was.
Rhaegal was happy, and playful, while Sandorix was the grumpy one, easy to annoy and keen to bite if you did so. Dany would spend hours talking to them, Shiera too, and the dragons would chirp their annoyance if left alone for too long. They had decided to wait until they could fly and feed themselves before leaving, the idea of them being in cages, or having to carry them around just too hard to contemplate.
"Sandor we must talk?" Shiera said coming to his room one night.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"A boy came looking for Dany today, with some men. I followed him to a small ship but he saw me, he thought I was her." she said and he laughed.
Never mind the age difference alone, the image of both women was vastly different, Dany's hair was just starting to grow back, little more than fuzz on the top of her head. While Shiera's was longer than Dany's had been when he first met her, what she told him next though had him wary.
"Kinvara called him a false dragon and told him to leave. I'm worried Sandor, I saw it in a dream once, a cloth dragon swaying on a pole amidst a cheering crowd." Shiera said.
"Where's this boat?".
"Down by the river, close to the crab stall. The boy has dyed blue hair, he's with a man who wears his hair pulled back and long robes, and another orange-haired man with a beard." she said.
"I'll go take a look, you and Dany talk to Kinvara, find out what she knows." he said grabbing his sword.
"Sandor be careful." Shiera said kissing his unburnt cheek.
"Aye I will, should anything happen." he said and she nodded.
He found the ship easy enough, The Shy Maid was nothing special, and as he sat looking at it he thought about just going on board and killing all who were on it. If these were more of the fat Magister's men then they deserved it, did they not?. As he was debating whether or not to do just that, he saw two women come on deck, one a dark-skinned older woman and the other younger, though not by much.
The presence of the women gave him pause, men he had no problem killing but women he'd not if it could be helped. He saw the boy come to the deck, his hair now more silver than blue and then he saw a ghost from the past, which made him wonder. Lonmouth had sent him here to find Dany, to protect her, and he'd not known who it was he served. As he looked at Jon Connington he thought that perhaps he was closer to finding out, smirking he turned back and headed towards the Red Temple.
Casterly Rock 296 AC.
Jaime.
Seeing Jon climb on a dragon's back was both exhilarating and awe-inspiring and yet for Jaime, it was the fear he felt. In the air he couldn't protect him, but if he fell what was he to do, what could he do?. Despite Jon's reassurances, Dacey's and even Genna's much to his surprise, he stood and looked on nervously as Rhaenix took to the sky. They saw very little of the flight itself, the night was dark and the moon though illuminating didn't show enough.
When the dragon landed though Jaime felt a sense of relief, as he did each time Jon flew on it again. For others, it was the majesty of seeing a dragon with a man on it's back, for Jaime it was watching the boy he most cared for and ensuring he was safe. While Arthur would smile fondly and think of Rhaegar, or Walder of his grandmother, Jaime thought of Jon, only of Jon.
As the time came to deal with the Maester's his worries were of a different sort. The princess arrived and she and Tyrion seemed very friendly, Dacey and Joanna were healthy and well, and yet Jaime was pacing like a madman as he waited outside the cave.
"We should be in there." he said to Arthur.
"All is well Jaime." Arthur said.
"How do we know, he could be hurt, he could need us." he said agitatedly.
"He'll call if he does, we must have faith brother." Arthur said placing his hand on his shoulder.
Time seemed to stretch out forever, how long they actually waited for he didn't know, but when Jon came from the cave it didn't matter. Seeing the blood had them all running, Arthur, Loras, Jors, Brienne, none of them moving as fast as he. When he reached him he saw though that Jon was smiling, he seemed unharmed, and yet the blood was everywhere.
"What happened, Jon, the blood what happened?" he asked.
"Its nothing, the magic, it's not my blood." Jon said and he was confused.
"I don't, Jon, I don't.".
"Come we'll talk more inside, there's something I need to do. I'm fine Jaime, truly." Jon said and he nodded.
Once he'd told everyone else he was fine, he, Arthur, and Jon walked to his room, Jon talking off his shirt once he got there. He looked and he knew that Arthur did too, both of them then looking to each other relieved that there were no wounds on their king.
"The blood, it's the cost of using so much magic, so much power, but it's not like a wound, not truly." Jon said and he shook his head "I know it's hard to explain and I'm not even certain how I know it, but I do. It's useful though." Jon said as he took out the glass candles.
Placing them on the table, Jon held the shirt in his hand and wrapped it around the green one, calling them close he told them to watch. Jaime was amazed by what he saw, The Reach, Riverlands, Vale, North, and King's Landing, Sunspear, and Oldtown. One after the other he saw them, drowned, stabbed, arrows, poison, all of them dead, fourteen men in total, Pycelle and Theobald included.
"All of them?" Arthur asked.
"Aye." Jon said.
"So public Jon?" he asked and Jon nodded.
"There was no other way, the realm will talk but we have proof of some of their misdeeds. Richard can make it known if need be but who are they going to blame, who are they going to suspect?".
"He's right Jaime, he doesn't exist, let them talk, let them search, they'll not find anything to lead them to Jon. Is that not right? Arthur said and Jon nodded.
"Not me, not Richard, not anyone, the only person who'd have suspected more would be Marwyn and he's with us." Jon said and Arthur smiled "Arthur can you give me a moment.".
He sat on the seat and waited until Arthur left the room before Jon walked over to him and put his hand on his shoulder.
"I am well, truly, this, Rhaenix, I know it's worrying, I worry too, but up there on her back Jaime, it's like being on Winter, I know you said it wasn't but it is. This, this magic, it's like practicing with a sword, it's dangerous I know that but the more I do it the better and easier it is.".
"I..".
"I know, I'll not take any unnecessary risks and we'll not have to do anything like tonight again for a long time, perhaps we'll never need to." Jon said and he nodded glad to see his concern wasn't unappreciated, and that it was shared.
The reports came in over the next few days, the ravens arriving with tales of missing Maesters and bodies being found. When the note arrived from Richard though he breathed even easier, no one suspected any conspiracy, the deaths were being accepted as coincidences, and he wondered if truly the gods were on their side. Something that Dacey seemed to believe when she saw Jon flying on Rhaenix's back.
"Only the gods could bless someone so." she said smiling.
"Which gods?" he said with a chuckle.
"Jon believes in the same ones as I do, so my gods, not your soft southern gods." she said her eyebrow raised.
"Ah, the heathen tree gods, well once I know." he said and she laughed.
"Is it true he's taking Arthur up soon?" she asked and he looked at her wondering where she'd heard it "Walder told me." she said a moment later.
"Aye it's true, he also says Tyrion will be flying soon as well.".
"You're worried about him?".
"I'm worried about both of them, Jon may think he's unable to be hurt but we know better, and Tyrion, aye, I worry.".
"Come, let's go put Joanna to bed, then maybe we can start working on a little brother or sister for her." Dacey said and he looked at her and saw her nod.
Since Joanna was born she'd been taking moon tea, neither of them was truly ready for another babe and they weren't really sure how they'd manage one. Over time though it became easier, that Joanna was the quietest babe you could ever hope for helped also. They had talked about another, never seriously, but they had spoken of it and he smiled as he walked back with her, apparently, a decision had been made.
Citadel 296 AC.
Sam.
He had known, deep down inside he had known this was the plan. Why it was the plan or what they hoped to gain from it he didn't know, but he knew that Theobald was to die and that he'd play a role. He didn't know that Walgrave was to die also, though when they examined the man and he heard the witnesses speak, Sam breathed a huge sigh of relief, an accident, it was simply an accident.
He'd continued to believe that until the rest of the news came in, had he heard nothing else then he'd have been certain it was an accident only. But when Vaellyn and Gallard never returned, when their bodies were found with their throats slit, he began to grow concerned. When news came of others too he grew even more concerned, what had happened?.
Maester's disappeared, bodies were found, the Grandmaester was dead, and Sam felt like he had played a role in something terrible. He tried to think, to figure it out, and he came back to the ravens, to the witnesses of the death of Maester Walgrave. Making his way to the hall to break his fast he saw Pate sitting with Mollander and Armen, and made his way over to him.
"I'd say it'll be Gormon." Armen said.
"Not Erreck?" Pate asked.
"What about Turquin?" Mollander said
"Sam you're closest to Ebrose, who's it going to be? "Pate asked.
"Who's what going to be?" he said cluelessly.
"The new Grandmaaester who is it going to be?" Armen asked.
"Oh, Gormon." he said and Armen nodded, a smirk on his face "Pate what did you see when Maester Walgrave died?" Sam asked.
"Oh gods, not this story again." Mollander said getting up from the seat and walking away.
"I like this story." Armen said.
Pate proceeded to tell them of walking through the corridors and seeing the Maester at the top of the stairs, seeing as the birds flew towards him, and then as he fell a few moments later. He told them how he'd run to Ebrose's room and when they returned Maester Walgrave had already passed. Sam listened eagerly, the birds interesting even more now, and he began to wonder could he be right.
Jon Snow had asked for a favor and then the man had come, the letter being delivered to Vaellyn and Gallard before allowing him into the Citadel. Then he'd pointed out Theobald to him and the ravens attacked Walgrave. He knew the Starks were wargs, and that Jon had his wolf first given its size, was he a warg too? Was he involved in the deaths? Why? What would a bastard from the North want with dead Maesters?.
It didn't make any sense to him and he knew no one would believe him anyway, the Maester's convincing themselves that despite all the evidence these were just coincidences. But for Sam it made no sense, all these men dying, disappearing, all at the same time, and right at the heart of it were Jon Snow and Marwyn. As he slept that night he began to worry, did he know too much? What did he really know? And one thought which he couldn't escape from, how do you hide from someone who can be in any animal they wish?.
Casterly Rock 296 AC.
Jon.
Knowing it was done made him relax somewhat, allowed him to concentrate on the other things he knew he needed to do. He spent time with Joy, with his friends, and almost every night he and Rhaenix took to the skies. When Jaime raised his concerns, Jon did his best to alleviate them, he told him that being on Rhaenix was the same as Winter.
That was far from the truth, being on Rhaenix was nothing like being on Winter. Riding a dragon was vastly different than riding a horse, even his connection to Winter paled in comparison. When they'd take to the sky he felt like this was where he belonged, this was where he was supposed to be, and Rhaenix agreed. What started out as simple flights became more and more, longer, more adventurous, full of more dangerous maneuvers.
Together they tested the limits of each other and he found there weren't any. Rhaenix said they were bonded, they were one, and up in the air, he felt it more keenly than anywhere else. When he took Sarella up with him she was amazed, laughing behind him as they flew out to sea.
"I can, this, I've never, thank you cousin, thank you both." Sarella said hugging him and then patting Rhaenix when they landed.
Knowing he was able to carry someone easily meant the time was growing closer, and both he and Rhaenix were excited by the possibilities. His sister longed to fly the skies properly, to go to the places they had both traveled in their visions. First though he needed to take Arthur up and so he arranged it for later that night. The famed knight looking for the first time to Jon's mind, nervous, though he showed no fear when the time came.
"Hold on tight Arthur." he said before leaning forward "SÅvegon Rhaenix." he said and they took off, Arthur's arms wrapped tightly around his waist.
He soon noticed the difference, Sarella was small and slight, Arthur anything but. He felt the weight as they flew and it forced him to readjust several times in the air, Rhaenix though sensed it. She knew when to slow or quicken and almost without any direction from him, verbally at least, she did so. Soon he felt more comfortable and they began to do some of the things they usually did when flying together, more to get Arthur used to them than anything else.
Arthur seemed more than happy to land and as he got reacquainted with the ground, Jon walked to Rhaenix and looked into her eyes, the smile large on his face.
"Are you tired?" he asked.
"No more than with you, his weight doesn't bother me, little brother. I think I could carry more people easily." she said chirping back and he was glad he was the only one who could hear it.
"One is enough." he said stroking her close to her eyes, a small spot near the tip of her snout being her favorite.
"When?" she asked.
"Within the week Rhae, we'll let Arthur get more used to things, and then we'll fly.".
"Where?" she asked excitedly.
"High Heart, I think we need to go there first, then to Summerhall."
"As you say little brother." she said as she went inside the cave.
He walked over to Arthur who seemed far more comfortable now, being on the ground definitely agreeing with him more.
"Well?" he asked with a smirk.
"I, that was different." Arthur said.
"Good, we'll fly again tomorrow." he said and saw the knight roll his eyes.
"As you command my king." Arthur said and he chuckled.
"We need to be ready Arthur, we've many places to visit." he said and Arthur nodded.
He asked Loras to come see him later that night and told him that he'd take him up on the morrow, his friend excited by the prospect, not so much by what he told him next though.
"I'm going to be gone for a moon or so Loras, I need to, Rhaenys needs, we have to see." he said and Loras looked at him and nodded reluctantly.
"Be careful Jon.".
"I will, besides Arthur will be with me and we'll be in the air for most of it." he said and Loras smiled, though there was no humor in it.
"I need you to look after Ghost for me Loras, he'll spend most of his time with the others, with Joy and Cregan, but he'll come to your room, can you watch him for me?".
"Of course Jon you don't need to ask "Loras said.
He spent more time with Joy and was glad when Cregan, Ashara, and Gerion arrived back from Castamere. Joy hadn't been ready to travel with them once they'd returned from Highgarden, the girl missed the Rock, her friends, and Balerion. So when they left she stayed and he was only too happy for the chance to be with her, knowing he'd be leaving soon.
"I need to go away for a little while Joy, I need to fly." he said to her softly as they sat in her room.
"Can I come?" she asked excitedly.
"Not this time, but soon Joy, soon I'll take you up with me" he said smiling.
"Promise?" she said making sure he wasn't jesting.
"I promise princess." he said kissing her forehead.
Speaking to Gerion he could see how happy he was, he and Ashara were together for true now and he wondered if there would be a wedding in the future. Ashara too seemed far happier, and Jon felt his heart swell for her, she had loved once and lost, and he was happy she'd found it again, knowing how difficult it must have been for her.
He spent the night before they left writing out letters, one for Richard and one for Margaery, he went over plans with Jaime and spoke to Arianne, before inviting Tyrion to the caves to speak to him. The two of them walked slowly across the sand and he could feel Tyrion's desire to both be here, and be elsewhere, the two sides of his heart calling out to him.
"You love her don't you?" he said and saw Tyrion look to him, the smile and small nod he gave him enough for now "I wish you nothing but the best uncle you know that right?".
"I know Jon, I..I.." Tyrion stuttered.
"Tell her uncle, tell her it all." he said his hand on his shoulder.
"What if..".
"She won't, but I know how hard it is to keep things from someone you care about, someone you love. It eats you up inside uncle, tears away at you, and this is not something you can hide, it's almost time." he said as they reached the cave.
"I can feel him, Jon, in my head, when I close my eyes, he wishes for it so badly, to fly, to fly with me." Tyrion said his excitement clear.
"I know uncle, when I get back we can practice, and then you can take Lygaron up yourself.".
Both of them stood in the cave and for anyone outside looking in the only differences they'd see was size. How they stood with the dragons, leaned into them, the expression on their faces. While they shared no physical features, right now, at this time and in this place, it was clear they were kin. The first and soon to be the second Dragonlord in over a hundred years.
The next day he sparred with his friends and spoke to Walder and Jors, he went and visited Dacey and Joanna, even holding the little girl who was growing so fast. He took Joy for a ride, just the two of them, racing and playing in the stream before heading back to the Rock. Dinner that night had him sit and tell stories to Joy and her friends, speak to Genna and Gerion, and to Ashara and Cregan.
He knew he was fitting in a moon of activities into one night, trying to give everyone some of his time, with Tyrion they spoke only briefly. They'd said what was needed the night before, which of course left only Jaime and he put that off as long as he could. Standing at the edge of the vaults, his pack ready, the food in a sack, he waited until he heard him behind him.
"It's time." Jaime said and he nodded.
"It is." he said softly.
"I wish I was going with you." Jaime said and he smiled.
"I need you here, they need you here.".
"Be safe my king, take no risks and hurry home." Jaime said and Jon found he had no words, couldn't even begin to explain what it was he was feeling.
Turning he embraced his mentor, his Hand, the man who had done so much for him, he'd be gone just a moon or so, and yet it felt far harder than any other time he'd left. As he and Arthur climbed onto Rhaenix's back, he looked back to see Jaime standing on the beach watching them, and as they took to the air he knew. This was the first time he and Jaime had parted, the longest time he'd be away from the man he knew now was the father he chose.
"I'll be back soon father." he whispered so softly that it was lost in the breeze.
Kings Landing 296 AC.
Jon Arryn.
He laughed as he read the note, the first piece of good news he'd read in moons and he found he enjoyed it immensely. Pouring himself a glass of wine he sent the man back to Illyrio's manse, the Magister having purchased a large property for when he was in the capital. He had needed this given the other news that he had gotten, a Tyrell of all things, they were sending them a damn Tyrell.
When they had found the old fool dead he had been glad of it, happy that he was no longer to suffer the man's mummery. They had buried the body and done so with all the respect the office, if not the man himself, deserved, and he had thought no more of it. The acolytes had taken over the ravens and they'd sent for the replacement, he'd even sent a raven asking Colemon to come, which was when things took a strange turn.
"Lord Hand, some ravens for you." the young man said and he opened them shocked at their contents.
My love,
I find your request most strange, Maester Colemon left almost a moon ago to join you in King's Landing at your request. I'd have thought he'd arrived by now.
Lysa.
He shook his head before opening the next scroll.
Lord Hand.
I write to inform you that we have discovered the bodies of Maester's Arden and Kates on the Rose Road. Both men seeming to have been attacked by bandits, I've ordered my own men to scour the surrounding lands and you can be ensured that I'll see the men brought to justice.
Randly Tarly,
Lord of Horn Hill.
On and on the ravens had come, Maester's bodies found, Maesters disappeared, of Colemon, there was no sign and the Waynwood's Maester had also been found dead, though this one made sense to him at least. Whatever possessed the man to ride alone through the mountains was beyond him.
He asked Lomas to look into it, the new Master of Whisperers being far more competent than Rosby was, and thankfully someone who didn't cough all the time either. While he had wanted Lomas's brother Ser Aemon, even the man being kin to Robert didn't forgive him being named after a dragonspawn. So he had settled for his brother and surprising found Ser Lomas Estermount to be most competent.
Not that he knew anything of what had gone on here with the Maesters, the Citadel itself seeming to think it coincidental rather than anything suspicious. So he had left it at that, asked Ser Lomas to keep looking into it, and to bring anything he found to him, and then thought no more of it. Until he had received the raven telling him he was getting a damn Tyrell as Pycelle's replacement.
"Has Lord Baelish arrive back yet?" he asked his steward only to find he had not.
"No my lord.".
"Very well when he does inform him that I wish to speak to him." he said and the steward nodded.
It was after his meal that night that Petyr arrived, where he'd been he didn't know, but knowing his friend he'd have wagered he was working on something. When he came in and sat down he handed him the note, waiting until he read it to speak. Once he had and Jon saw the smile appear on his face, he reached over and poured them both a glass of wine.
"This is excellent news my lord, finally seeing the lions put in their place." Petyr said.
"Indeed, Illyrio has come through once again, hopefully, he can keep them even more occupied. I'd like to see them hurt." he said smirking.
"Well, this is a start is it not, though you still seem troubled my lord?".
"Aye, those fools at the Citadel are sending us a bloody Tyrell." he said angrily.
"The new Grandmaester?" Petyr asked.
"Aye, those grasping roses will have their man here, we need to limit him Petyr, see that our own people are around him.".
"Of course my lord, though we could use this also." Petyr said with a smirk.
"How?".
"Let Olenna know that it was our influence that saw it done." he said and Jon shook his head.
"She'll not buy that, how fares your talks with them?" he asked.
"Not good my lord, after what the prince did in Highgarden, what he said, I doubt even with Stannis's help we'll be able to rehabilitate his image." Petyr said.
"We must, skipping a crown prince is a tricky subject Petyr, it sets a precedent and can cause issue.".
"Joffrey would have no support, my lord. Perhaps it's time we started to look into raise Prince Tommen's profile." he asked.
"Perhaps, or maybe we can raise Joffrey's, give him some time on Dragonstone before we bring him back and hope the stink has gone off him. If so we can then present him in a new light?."
"As you say, my lord?" Petyr said taking a sip of the wine.
"I need you to go to the Vale Petyr, I wish I could go myself but I'm needed here, as are you of course." he said nodding to his friend "But with Colemon's disappearance, Jaspar's death, there is work to be done. Lysa could do with your help also and she'll be happy to see you no doubt.".
"Very well my lord, I'll finish up my duties here and leave the day after next if that's acceptable?."
"It is Petyr, thank you.".
"My lord." Petyr said as he rose and bowed his head a little.
He was more than happy with that, having no wish to go back to the Vale and deal with his wife's nagging, just reading the raven's scroll had put the women's voice in his head. As he went to bed he found himself looking forward to Illyrio's next visit, the man had come through again, the lions would bleed and he deserved a reward, Jon felt.
Volantis 296 AC.
Dany.
She listened as Shiera. Sandor and Kinvara spoke of the boy who'd come to find her, for the briefest moment she'd felt excited, her nephew had found her and she'd get to meet him. Soon though it was clear that this boy was not her nephew, a mummer's dragon Shiera called him, a false one Kinvara said. Sandor though explained more of how he had come to be in her service.
Rhaegar's former squire had paid him to find her, one of her brother's closest friends, and she felt her heart stir at that. That her brother had gained such loyalty that this man was trying to help her, made her miss not knowing him all the more. When Kinvara said it was at her nephew's behest, she felt it even more. Yet she, Shiera, and Sandor were all left frustrated when the priestess would tell them nothing more about her nephew.
"Should you know of him too soon then you risk us all, not just his life or your own, but everyone's." Kinvara said.
"How? How does me knowing where he is, me going to him, how does that risk everyone?" she asked with a sigh.
"Your path is not to cross with his, not yet princess, that is all I can tell you. I've seen you stand beside your nephew, seen the dragons fly together, but not yet." Kinvara said.
"You said Jon Connington was with this boy, was he not my brother's friend also?" she asked and Sandor nodded.
"I believe so, he was Hand to your father for some time, until he lost the Battle of the Bells, why he's with this boy if he's not your kin I don't know." Sandor said.
"And you're sure he's not my kin?" she asked Kinvara.
"He's a false dragon, princess, of that I'm certain." Kinvara said.
"I need to meet him. Judge for myself." she said and Kinvara shook her head.
"That would be a bad idea, trust me on this princess, that way only leads to pain and heartache.".
"How? How can you know this?" she asked her frustration with the woman clear.
"I just know, some things we are shown in the flames, but not all. I know if you and this false dragon meet that it will end in tears and blood." Kinvara said shaking her head.
"We can meet him here, have some of your warriors close by, and Sandor and I will be armed. If he is a false dragon then we need to know what he's up to, what his plans are." she said and Shiera nodded, Sandor shook his head but when she looked at him he nodded too.
"I am at your service princess, I can only give you the warning, what you do with it is up to you." Kinvara said and stood up "If it's your wish I'll send an acolyte to bring them here?."
"It is." she said and Kinvara walked from the room.
The meeting was set up for the next day and she felt eager to find out what she could, to help her nephew if she could. Whatever the truth of this mummer's dragon was she would get to the bottom of it, and if need be she'd see his plot ended when she did. They broke their fast the next morning, she played with the dragons, Ellagon and Rhaegal both eager to play, and Sandorix just sitting in the corner looking bored.
She and Sandor sparred and he asked her if she was sure about the meeting, and she said she was. When it came time to get ready she was surprised that Shiera didn't wear a disguise, her aunt instead telling her that the boy had already seen her, and so it would be pointless. Making her way to the room they were to meet in she felt her nerves at her, she knew this boy wasn't her nephew, and yet a part of her hoped they were all wrong.
"No hood?" Sandor asked and she chuckled.
"You don't like my hair." she said rubbing her hand through the small amount of fuzz on her head.
"What fucking hair?.".
She didn't have time to laugh, as they were brought into the room by some of the red priests just as Sandor finished speaking. The boy was tall and slim, handsome even, though the blue dye in his hair hadn't fully washed out, still, she smiled to see the silver beneath it. Though he wasn't even looking at her which she found strange, the man with him also had blue hair, Jon Connington her father's former Hand and her brother's friend, the other man was orange-haired, a guard of some sort she imagined.
"Aunt Daenerys, long have I wished to meet you." the boy said but not to her, instead it was to Shiera he was looking and she glanced at her aunt and nodded.
"You call me aunt, yet who are you? My nephew is long dead and you would dare try to pass yourself off as him, have you no shame, no compassion?." Shiera said her voice sounding as if she was full of hurt.
"Aunt Daenerys, please you've been misinformed, my name is Aegon Targaryen, I am your brother's son." the boy said looking to Jon Connington for help.
"It's true princess. My name is Jon Connington, I was Hand to your father and best friend to your brother. I too thought that all was lost, only to find out the truth." the man said.
"The truth, what truth?" Shiera asked.
"Princess Elia feared what would happen, princess, she arranged with Lord Varys to smuggle Aegon from the Red Keep and to be brought to safety. I was contacted to help protect and to teach him for his future role.".
"Which is?" Shiera asked.
"To regain my rightful throne aunt, to restore our family to where we belong, together you and I can bring our House the justice it deserves." Aegon said and she had to admit the idea sounded good.
"We will speak after we eat nephew, these priests will see to your rooms and we can talk later." Shiera said.
"I look forward to it aunt." Aegon said smiling.
They waited until they had left and before she or Shiera had a chance to say anything, Sandor did first in his own inimitable style.
"That boy is a fucking idiot." he said and she looked to him and then her aunt, seeing the smile on Shiera's face.
"Why?" she asked.
"If he thinks she is you then he's a fucking idiot." he said pointing at Shiera and then her "Don't get me wrong you look good for your age, but you don't look like a two and ten nameday old girl.".
"Sandor has the right of it Dany, how he could think it is beyond me." Shiera said.
"We can use it though, play out the mummery, you be me and Sandor be himself, and I can be a slave, a servant, we'll find out more about him that way.".
"I don't know, I think we should leave, I didn't like how Connington looked at you" Sandor said to Shiera.
"We came this far Sandor, they're here, we either take the chance to find out who they are or we run, Dany?". Shiera asked.
"We stay." she said and Shiera nodded, while Sandor did so more reluctantly.
Dinner that night was odd, it was hard for her to pretend to be a slave, and given how her so-called nephew behaved towards her it was clear he saw her as such. He was dismissive, arrogant, and he talked far too much like Viserys for her liking. The way he looked at Shiera too disturbed her, she had seen that look on men's faces before, some when they looked at her, the boy lusted after her aunt, after who he thought was her.
Over the next couple of days, she found out even more so that this was the case, this and that Jon Connington didn't approve for some reason, Sandor keeping so close to her aunt seeming to annoy the man. At first, she had put it down to the fact that Aegon wasn't allowed to be alone with her aunt, more and more though she was starting to think that wasn't the truth at all.
"You girl, how long have you been with my aunt?" Aegon said to her one morning when he was sparring against the orange-haired man, Dany ignoring him as she walked away "I spoke to you girl." Aegon said angrily.
Dany kept walking and felt his hand grab her from behind, his fingers digging into her skin, the knife was inside her dress and she could grab it easily but she played along.
"Forgive me, master, I did not hear." she said and he sneered at her contemptuously.
"You're lucky you're, not mine. Answer the question." he said.
"Almost a year master, she saved me from my last master, he was a cruel man." she said softly.
"Did you hear that Duck, my aunt saved her." he said and she felt her anger threaten to boil over, the look on his face and the way he spoke to her, annoying her immensely.
She moved to walk away and he grabbed her again, looking at her before smirking when he let her go, and she rushed off towards where Sandor and Shiera would be.
"Women, they're too soft Duck." she heard him say as she left and she laughed at it. If he touched her like that again then she'd so him how hard a woman could be.
She found Jon Connington sneaking around their rooms, saw him trying doors, and when she spoke to the others that night she had to tell Sandor to let it go. Her loyal protector threatening to gut the boy and his fucking friends. Over the next week they found out little, Aegon became louder and more annoying, and it was beginning to be clear they were wasting their time.
They thought nothing of it when the orange-haired man, Duck, started going back and forth to the boat. Glad as if anything it gave them one less to watch, and while Jon Connington had stopped trying to get into their rooms, he had started to look at her way too much, his gaze causing her some concern. Why and how things came to a head she wasn't sure. Aegon had been annoying as always and had tried to touch her aunt, though she wasn't sure it was that alone, only that she'd had enough and called for them to join her.
"You called for me Aunt?" Aegon said to Shiera, Jon Connington standing beside him.
"You really are a fool." Dany said and he glared at her angrily.
"Aunt I know this girl is your servant but I'll not be spoken to by a slave this way." he said moving forward only for Sandor to do likewise.
"A foolish boy. What's your excuse, Lord Connington? a boy may not know better but someone who claims to have been my brother's best friend should, or are you to as blind as this false dragon here?" she said and saw the confused look Aegon shot Jon Connington.
"No, I'm well aware of your games princess. I was wondering when you'd show yourself for who you are and why you'd play them when we came to you as friends?" Jon Connington said.
"Jon?" Aegon said his voice shaky.
"That's right Aegon if that's even your true name. Mine however is true, I am Princess Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen and you boy are no nephew of mine." she said and saw the angry look he gave her, smiling at him and shaking her head.
"A false dragon, a mummer's dragon, and this is who you serve Jon, this is how you honor Rhaegar." Shiera said.
"I am true, I'm a dragon, the last dragon." Aegon said spittle coming from his mouth.
"You are no dragon, and you are no longer welcome here, begone, and be glad I let you walk from here with your lives. When next we meet you'll not be so lucky." she said as she moved away.
The sound of the slap was heard around the room, as was the spears the Fiery Hand pointed at the man and boy. She turned back around to see Sandor standing in front of her and Aegon laying on the floor, blood coming from his lip where he'd been hit. Jon Connington looked at them with fury in his eyes, but he was outnumbered, outmatched and so he helped Aegon up, and practically dragged him from the room.
"Was that too much?" she asked and saw Sandor's smirk and Shiera's little nod, though her aunt seemed somewhat concerned also.
Kinvara arrived a few minutes later and she watched as she used a cloth to wipe the blood that had fallen on the floor. No more than a few drops, but enough it seemed for what she wanted to show them, and she bid them follow. Standing in front of the brazier she held the cloth in her hand and turned to them before she spoke.
"There is power in King's Blood." she said as she dropped the cloth into the flames.
Nothing happened, the cloth just burned normally, no extra flames or light, and Dany nodded as she welcomed the proof. She felt it then, the anger, the sorrow, the call, and she ran from the room, Sandor and Shiera running after her. Down the corridors and out into the courtyard, and when she got there she knew why Duck had gone back to the ship, and she felt such a fool.
"Dany, Dany what is it?" Shiera asked as Rhaegal and Ellagon flew towards them.
"Sandorix, they've taken Sandorix, they've stolen my son." she said as the tears fell from her eyes.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and especially those who've reviewed. Up next Dany searches for Aegon and her dragon, the Lannister's receive bad news from Essos, Sansa and Willas spend some time together and Richard and Ser Wylis meet a flayed lord. While Jon travels to High Heart and speaks to a Ghost.
Mr. Bogus: Yep it was intentional.
Daryldixon: Finally, we can now move on to some others who need to get what they deserve.
Anja: Really glad you liked it.
Ashay: Glad you liked the Maester's fall, this is part one of Dany/Aegon and leads into where she'll be for a bit. Jon is improving, he's just not there yet. On Jon C, it's hard people sometime only see what they want so we'll see if he comes around. In terms of the throne, we're almost there, I'd love to say when it's going to be but I can't for sure, only that we're in the final stages before the reveal, a few chapters and we'll be there.
Guest: I tried with the deaths to make each one a little different so at least one would be a little while not funny, amusing in a way.
Jman: It was certainly inspired by that, the main reason why is that a lot of the deaths were carried out by people who couldn't/shouldn't know of Jon and so saying the Targs did this may put them onto the case themselves, so Richard wouldn't wish his people to know too much if you get me.
Jessicanightmarewolf: With fAegon it's both he's a little clouded by lust and he's not seen a Valyrian before so once he sees Shiera he's sure. He never met Dany and Jon C never did either, but it's more the age he really should have figured out than the eyes. We saw some of the fallout from the Maester's here, we'll see a little more. I know right, this was so not supposed to be this long lol.
Biohazard: Thank so much.
Aussiekay: So glad you enjoyed it.
Vfsnake: Oh there will be songs alright, Jon may write one himself.
Wolololo: Really glad you liked it.
Jacobgamble: So happy you enjoyed it.
Ladyoctarina: really glad you liked the Olenna part, on the Maester's it raises questions but the issue is who do you look at, the Citadel will investigate and Sam as you see if on the trail, but the problem is that how do you find out and what do you do once you do.
Remi: it doesn't actually cause as much issue as you'd think, the houses who lose the Maester's just get replacements. It raises questions though.
Adgeless. We'll see some of Jon's own pining for Marge soon, and more reaction to the deaths. Hope you liked the Dany/faegon. With Ned it's still too soon for him, we may get a Rickon though.
Murdough: that and order 66 was my inspiration and the theme they play in goodfella's when all the bodies are found lol. Hope you liked Dany/fAegon it's not the last interaction they'll have.
Xionmao: So glad you enjoyed it.
Dirtycat: Chapter wise it's every tues and thurs. Not sure I know enough about the genre to give it a go tbh. On the Valyrian Steel, the ingots Mel and Jon spoke of will come back up and be important. As for Dany/Jon it's a while away before they meet, she'll be busy as will he. On the Maester's if he could have done it another way he would have but he needed them dead and couldn't take the risk of one escaping.
Wandless: We'll see more reactions over the next couple of chapters, glad you enjoyed it.
Supremus: Damn should have called it that.
Gajeel: I think in a way that's the whole justification for fAegon, he's to serve as an anti Jon, the bastard brought up as a prince kinda thing as opposed to the prince brought up as a bastard. Glad you liked the Maester's fall.
Jayrods: We're getting into the key setups to the war now.
Whitedragonwarrior: Yep, the conspiracy is done, now you just need to deal with the arrogance of the other maesters lol.
Dunk: Godfather and Order 66 were kinda my vibes going in. I though of having him explain it more, do more of a speech when killing him, a "Your friend's, your order is no more," in the end I went for the simple line. On Faegon he was raised to be a king so is arrogant and then you throw in that he's now at the age where he believes he's a king/dragon and so that's what he's at. On the flight I think it's best if he goes where he's supposed to, though don't count HG out. We'll see more reactions soon.
Atp: Indeed, Faegon isn't so poor now is he.
Matt631: thanks so much, Luwin is one of the good guys. FAegon will be more embittered from here, as for Tyrion he's getting there, once he flies on the dragon he'll feel a lot more worthy.
Paulies: Sorry the conclave in the conclave was the ones Jon had killed. So nope they're done. Tyrion is getting far closer to happiness, a princess and a dragon, that's like Christmas lol. You too stay safe.
Orthang: Mainly it's realism.
So Jon hiding in the shadows hasn't got the same freedom as if he's on the throne and so he can't just have them brought to him with no worry, it has to be secret/clandestine and to do so requires a lot of things to go your way.
He needs them to die, that's the main thing, all of them, none escape and the easiest way is to kill them, rather than have them brought to him. There is also the men who are doing the deed, kill a guy and escape or kidnap a guy and transport him across Westeros, one way is far easier and safer for those guys.
There's the risk of discovery, the plan failing because a guy escapes or guards put their noses in and wonder why you're taking this guy all through the Reach and into wherever or Riverlands or Dorne. And also the fact that with some you just can't get them out, Pycelle is perhaps who he wants more than any, yet try and get him from the Red Keep, without being caught is a big thing and if you're caught then what?.
I could have had the guys doing the deed say more, but what would they know? Richard wouldn't have them know of Jon and so they just do a job, which is why only Oberyn and Richard himself mention the fact of Jae being involved.
Basically had he been allowed to wait, had he been on the throne then you make a different plan, here without that the end result is all that matters to Jon.
This in a way was a nod to the Godfather, Jon didn't take this personally, he just did what needed to be done.
Now I Get what you mean and I'm not disagreeing as such, just this was my mindset. We'll see Dragonstone very soon and yep Davos is coming, hope you liked the fAegon part.
Hunstman: Thanks so much, I tried to vary as much as I could.
Xivu: Faegon both hasn't seen a Valyrian before and his libido/lust took over so it's a little wishful thinking on his part. In terms of the eyes, he doesn't know the colour of Dany's eyes, Jon Connington either, just that she's Valyrian, what he does know is that his Valerian aunt is in the Red Temple, which is why he just jumps that way right off.
Oh there's some of the unworthy going on with him alright. Glad you liked the assassinations.
Puffs: Stannis is coming, not sure if it'll be the next or the chapter after it.
Canuck: so glad you liked it.
Godoftheseas: really glad you liked it, the maester's are no more, the corrupt ones anyway.
Sk21: That was my inspiration exactly, a little of both. With them gone the maester's will just be the arrogant dicks they usually are, but when Jae takes the throne there will be changes coming. The other povs are coming, I think the chapter after next is around the world and we'll see a lot of other Westeros povs including Dragonstone. Olenna is just too smart and too on the ball to miss it.
Guest: thanks so much, Shiera is an interesting character in that why she leaves/where she goes is so open ended. As you see Dany did not like Faegon. He was so in lust that he never even noticed the age difference.
Zyrus: They be dead.
Anarchichmind: If you're going to be inspired, then at least be inspired by a classic. LF and others have other things on their minds, but we'll see more reactions, one of the things is the question of why? Why would anyone want these Maester's dead, that's really where they should look, but before that they're kinda focussed on fixing the problem the deaths caused more so than on who caused the deaths.
Sansa is up next and we'll see her view on the wedding. That's one of the issues, right now we know where Dany is but she's not going to be there for long, you can see why, as for Jon he'll have his own things to see. That's another part of it, there are a lot of places he'd like to go, but you can be only gone for so long also. We'll hear of the dragons soon, Illyrio anyway.
Naruto: So glad you liked it. Did I say Volantis, or Norvos? I mean Norvos will need to re-read to see if it needs to be fixed.
Prince Loki: Some men need to be murdered.
Spartan: the ones who are involved in the conspiracy are no more, the others he can deal with when he takes the throne. I think the sooner this lockdown is over and we can relax going out the less stressful we'll all be, so until then stay safe.
Guest; Thanks so much.
Battlemage: That's my own thoughts on the Maester conspiracy too, we see it brought up and it's never dealt with, never concluded, I wanted to explore it and to bring it to an end. Glad you're liking fAegon he just got a boon, we'll see what he does from here. On the Long Night I'm right with you, it needs to be built up and shown for what it is, we were robbed of that and I wanted to do a few things in a story to lead to it, given that this started earlier in canon it allows for a longer build to it, having it and some other things in the background to play out over time, we'll see more insight over the next few chapters. On Syrio he'll be back soon, though he may not be with Arya, she's going to Bear Islands a different type of training.
Rocketmom: Today the Targaryen family takes care of all outstanding debts.
Xand007: Thanks my friend: Yeah should you wish a job please enquire at the citadel lol. With the Lannister's we'll see what happened in Essos and their reaction next as for Tyrion well he's soon to be much happier, the boy is about to fly. You too my friend stay safe.
Diego: It's hard to say, Dany has a lot of things to do in Essos and Jae in Westeros so not for some time.
Svenion: It does bug me too, they're far too passive compared to the antagonists and you're right it requires a lot of things to happen before they do anything, one of my hopes is that Bookjon looks south, because he's ruthless and driven enough o do some damage, so far he's looked further north, so when he wakes if he looks south I think we'll see some of that in the books. Here I think if Jon moves south early then the plans happen, it's one of my main annoyances with Jon going south later in stories, everything's occurred in a way and he's not much to do.
Mycookiemonster: Thanks so much, really glad you liked it.
VWCHick: Thanks so much, onto bigger and badder problems now for Jon.
XanMerrick: Thanks my friend. Faegon as you see has made a big enemy. We'll see Marwyn/Aemon in the next round the world, I think the chapter after next. That was the only downside to the Maester's fall, to pull it off quick and ensure everyone died Jon kinda had to give up true revenge, true justice.
Magnetic ducky: Thanks so very much, every tues and Thursday I update so you won't have long to wait.
Irish Hermit: On the Maester's question will be raised as you see here, will it lead to Jon and Richard we'll see but we're getting closer and closer to the truth about Jon coming out anyway, so maybe it won't matter. For Olenna the big wedding with the crowning will mean so much more, for Marge too having her family there, but also for her and Jon it'll be this one that means the most. As you see and you'll see more of how, but they knew about the dragons.
Liza: Thanks so much my friend. They got them all yes, it took them almost a year to find everyone and plan it out, but the conspiracy is dead, the only ones left are ones who unwittingly helped and those who may have been brought in later on, so none who know the truth of the conspiracy or share the beliefs.
It was supposed to be that bit of silliness with Marge, that childish I've done something wrong or something I know will be thought of as wrong kinda thing. One of the things I've tried to do with Jon/Marge is despite them being so mature for their age in so many ways, they are still kids and in some ways they behave as kids too.
Oh this isn't the end of Jon's reforms of the Citadel, the conspirators are gone, but he's still gonna change things around.
Doran will come up in a bit, kinda waiting on something for him to react to, so it won't be for a bit, but he is getting a pov which will show a lot more of his thought, a couple of chapters away I think. Tyrion/Ari kinda started as a fling, a lust which is developing into more, now both know the other is smart, but they'll learn more about each other as we go, here above was a another little bit of it.
Also Tyrion is going to tell her the truth soon also.
With fAegon that's true, he's not, until this chapter done anything bad yet, we'll see how long that stays a thing.
Stay safe and well.
