Casterly Rock 297 AC.
Genna.
She readied herself for the conversation to come, sitting in her room and wondering if there was any other way to do this. When Jon had told her that he wanted to be there with her when she did it, Genna had almost hugged the boy. He had so much to do, so many preparations to make and yet for this, he was willing to take as much time as needed. Tommen would welcome his presence she knew that, her nephew saw Jon as who he wished to be, ironic she thought since at one point the may have ended up as king himself.
For Genna, though she knew that this conversation wouldn't go like the last, that telling a boy he was no longer a prince, that his father wasn't his father, that was easy compared to telling him that his mother was dead. Tommen hadn't mourned Joffrey nor the life he'd had before or thought he was living now. In some ways, her nephew had welcomed it, but then she knew if she asked her boys if they wished to be a prince or a knight then Walder and Tion would say the same thing. She closed her eyes briefly when she heard the knock on the door and then got up and walked to it, opening it to find Jon and Tommen standing outside.
"Aunt Genna, Ser Jon says you wish to speak to me." Tommen said.
"King Jaehaerys, Tommen" she said and the boy blushed and stumbled over saying it, Jon reaching out to place a hand onto his shoulder.
"I'm Ser Tommen's knight and he my squire." Jon said and she smiled when Tommen did, though hers was nowhere near as true as his.
"Come in and take a seat, Tommen." she said and nodded while looking to Jon who walked in and sat down beside him, the young boy looking to her and Jon moving closer towards him.
"Tommen, we've sent the ship to bring Myrcella back, she'll be here within the week." Jon said and though she'd agreed that this would be how they did it, she wondered now if they should have saved that for last.
"She's not been hurt has she?" her nephew asked softly.
"No Tommen, she hasn't, but…Tommen…your mother.." she began and she couldn't, the tears came and she just couldn't.
"Aunt Genna?" Tommen said and bless the gods for making him do so but feeling his arms hold her as he tried to offer comfort to her, shamed her a little.
"Tommen, come sit with me." Jon said as she tried to compose herself.
"But…" Tommen said and she nodded to him while she walked to get a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, knowing that it was a pointless exercise as soon she'd be crying again.
"Tommen." Jon said a little more firmly.
Tommen did what he asked and as she was coming back from wiping her eyes, she saw how close Jon sat, the concern clear in his eyes as he spoke to her nephew.
"Tommen, we received some terrible news from King's Landing, news I wish I could keep from you, news about your mother." Jon said his voice barely above a whisper.
"Ser Jon, is she..did he hurt her?" Tommen asked worriedly.
"Tommen, your mother is…she is…Tommen…she's dead." Jon said and how he managed to make it through the sentence she didn't know, glad though that he had.
"No, she can't be, he wouldn't, Ser Jon..please Ser Jon…" Tommen said and then his voice was muffled as Jon grabbed him and pulled him to him, Genna watching as her nephew sobbed against Jon's chest.
How long they stayed that way she couldn't tell, Tommen cried himself out so much that he actually fell asleep in Jon's arms. She watched as Jon lifted him from the ground and moved to the door, her nephew cradled against him, Jon looking to her and whispering he'd be back later to speak to her, before walking from the room.
Once he'd gone she moved to her table and poured herself a glass of wine and drank it down in one swallow, refilling the glass and drinking that one a little slower. She'd resolved to get very drunk this night, to dull the pain and heartache she felt in her chest. She'd mourned her niece, mourned the girl Cersei had been, the girl she sometimes saw when she looked at Joy, though only in looks and not temperament.
Still, she mourned her, someone had to, they had to remember Joanna's daughter and not what she had become, not Tywin's child. Just thinking of her brother made her grip the glass tight in her anger, he'd turned Cersei into the woman she had been and she cursed him for it. She mourned the possibilities that had lain before her niece's feet, the roads not taken, and she tried not to think of the one she had. Kevan too mourned as did Jaime and Tyrion in their own way, with Gerion she couldn't tell.
All of them though mourned her for the children, for Myrcella and Tommen, her niece and nephew, grandniece and nephew by right but to her, they were her niece and nephew and that's how she thought of them. The same way she saw Martyn and Willem, Lance and Janei, the same way she thought of Joy. She was sitting there drinking when the door opened and as she turned to shout at Emmon to leave her alone, she heard Jon's voice.
"Lady Genna." he said softly and she wondered had he knocked, remembering now a sound she had thought was in her head.
"Tommen?" she asked worriedly.
"He's asleep, I left Ghost with him." Jon said.
"How is he Jon?".
"Tired, hurt, angry, he's as he should be Genna. I'll speak to him on the morrow, talk to him about my mother." Jon said.
"Jon, you don't have to.".
"No I do, Tyrion too, he needs to be around people who've gone through it, I…do you know if Daven is coming with him when Gerion returns?".
"I think so, Gerion said he wanted him here for when Myrcella arrives, that they need to know the truth." she said moving the glass from her hand, having no more wish to drink its contents.
"I think we need to tell him, Genna, Tommen we need to tell him that his father lives, that he's coming, he needs something, he needs to know he's not alone.".
"He's not alone." she said angrily.
"I know that, gods, I didn't mean...it's just I was older than he was when Jaime told me the truth of who I was. When he did the first thought I had wasn't that I was a prince, a king, or even that my uncle had lied to me, the first thought I had was that I was alone. My mother was gone, my father too, it's not the same Genna, knowing that you have a family and I knew I had one, all of you had made that clear." Jon said and she smiled when he looked at her.
"But you missed your parents?" she asked and he nodded "We'll tell him on the morrow." she said.
He walked over and gave her a hug and when he looked to the wine glass she saw him frown and had it been any other time she's have felt affronted, though now she kissed his cheek and bid him goodnight.
"Jon, don't bring him with you." she said softly.
"I'll leave it to him Genna, he needs to make the choice, he'll be as safe with us as he would here.".
"I meant his father Jon, don't bring Daven with you, no matter what he says.".
"Aye, I won't.".
King's Landing 297 AC.
Richard.
From the moment he'd set up this venture, this network, this had been what it had been leading to. Gathering information was important and he and his lips had spread wide and far and even the spider's web paled in comparison to the work he'd done. Now though it was time to spread information and not gather it and Richard found himself looking forward to this even more.
It started in Flea Bottom, the tale of the Hidden Prince, the Son of the Dragon who was coming back to take his father's throne from the usurping stag and duplicitous falcon. Of how he'd hidden at first and then how he'd come from the shadows because he saw how the people, his people, suffered. How he couldn't sit by and watch as children were left cold and hungry, as their mothers had to suffer to put food on their table.
Then it had developed into how he was coming now for the murdering stag, for the monster on the throne, that Robert's Rage could only be answered by A Dragon's justice. The bards and minstrels sang the songs, spoke the tale and Richard's lips were there behind each and every one of them.
"For years we suffered here while those on the throne feasted and wasted gold, they cared not whether there was food on my table, nor yours, nor our babes. The Hidden Dragon cared, the Hidden Dragon cared so much that he could hide no more. From the shadows and into the light Jon Snow came, the White Wolf, the Hidden Dragon, Rhaegar's son, the True King.". the woman shouted.
"The White Wolf.".
"The Hidden Dragon.".
Richard smiled as his lips did their work and melted back into the shadows himself, he had more to do and time was of the essence. He knew that in the Vale, the Stormlands, in the Reach and the North, the Riverlands, and the Crownlands, even in Dorne the tales were being spun, it was time to let more tales come into the light. The letters would be delivered to every keep in Westeros, the tale they'd tell were of a truth hidden for many years.
While the king had sent his own truth out, Richard's was different, the truth of a lying Stag and a Falcon who dared fly too high. The tales he spun were of rebellion not for just cause but for personal gain, not for a lost love but for jealousy and spite. Some would ignore them he knew, some would deny then and some would believe them wholeheartedly. But they along with the tales of Robert's Rage would spread and if even one house or one force refused to answer Robert's call, then all would have been worth it.
"Make sure, the townspeople hear this too, The Hidden Dragon is not the only song I'd have sung, make sure they sing of The Greedy Falcon and The Rutting Stag." Richard said and his man smiled as he took the letters and made his way from the house.
"My orders Ser?" the bard asked and Richard smiled, hoping they'd get the chance to carry this one out.
"I've set up a few of my lips near the fat man's Manse, go meet with them and see if there is a chance, don't risk yourself, but if it comes take it." he said and Marq nodded.
"I'll take my bow, you never know." Marq said.
He spoke to the king that night, Jae once again asking if he didn't feel it was time to come from the city and Richard saying no.
"I have more work to do here my king, I and my lips are safe, Lomas follows the crumbs I leave for him and those crumbs alone.".
"To the brothel?" Jae asked.
"Aye, he should be coming to that by weeks end." Richard said smiling as he looked at the Glass Candle.
"What will he find there?" Jae asked.
"The truth, the question is what will he do with it." Richard said and there was a pause for a few moments and he began to worry the connection had been severed.
"You think he may not tell him?".
"I think he will my king, but even if should not the song will be sung, The Mockingbird who fooled a Falcon." Richard laughed.
"Littelefinger?" Jae asked a moment later.
"They sent him to the Reach my king, seeking a betrothal is our small winged friend." he laughed as he heard the scoff from Jae.
"I wish him good fortune, I'll let Lady Olenna know." Jae said "Be safe Ser Richard, be safe, keep your lips safe, for our work doesn't end when I take the throne and I'd have you with me.".
"You too my king, try not to risk too much." he said and though he welcomed the laugh he got in return, it didn't assuage his worry.
They were so close and it all rested on the shoulders of a young boy, should anything happen to him then all was lost. Comforting as it was that he had five men guarding his back, not to mention a rather large white wolf, it was the dragon that Richard hoped the king would spend most of his time with. The Martells may have managed to take out a dragon by luck, Robert and Jon Arryn wouldn't be so fortunate as Jae wasn't the only dragon that was hidden from them.
"Ser Richard, he's gone in." Davers said to him as he watched the brothel, Richard laying on the bed in the room they rented.
"How long ago?" he asked.
"Only a moment Ser, I called you as soon as I saw him, hungry?" Davers asked and Richard welcomed the hot soup, dipping the bread into it as he looked from the window.
"Just him?" he asked.
"Aye, the man thinks himself you Ser." Davers said with a chuckle as Richard rolled his eyes.
Richard actually quite liked Lomas, he was competent enough, a decent enough man who just happened to be serving a terrible king and hand. Something that many of his friends and he had also done, true he had told himself he had served Rhaegar, but Aerys had sat the throne. Shaking that thought from his mind, for now, he looked and ate the soup, smiling when after a couple of hours Lomas walked from the brothel ashen-faced.
"Let the games begin." he said as he stood up, he had more work to do and a king to see crowned.
Dorne 297 AC.
Oberyn Martell.
He had barely been able to let the raven scroll out of his hands since he got it, finding himself reading it over and over again.
To my family.
The time has come to finally retake that which was stolen from us, from my brother, my sister, from their mother. Our family should sit the throne by right and though I cannot ever hope to replace my brother or sister in your hearts. I can make them proud of me and take their place on their throne. I can do what Elia wished, what she hoped, and see the rest of those responsible pay for what they took from us. My brother and sister are with me, Rhaenys readies to fly and Aegon I carry deep in my heart, Elia is with me, the woman who called me her son and who they stole the chance for me to ever meet.
I ask you to be with them, to join me, to rise and see our family rise once again, soon we're to be even more closely tied, through Arianne and Tyrion, House Martell and House Targaryen are united once more. Though our shared blood though I feel untied with my kin. I am not just my father's house or my mother's, I am as Elia has named me, a son of Dorne. Let us be Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken, together, and let those who caused us so much pain know the true might of Dorne.
Jaehaerys Targaryen,
Son of Dorne.
When he had shown his family they'd been as pleased as he was, Ellaria even though worried about the war to come, had been proud to see Jae name himself as he did. It took time to call the banners and during that time Doran was more distant than he had ever been. That he stayed at the Water Gardens rather than come to Sunspear had forced Oberyn to decide to ride and speak to his brother. Though before he got the chance, Arianne and Ellaria asked to speak to him.
So he made his way to Arianne's private solar and found her and Ser Daemon inside, along with his paramour. His former squire had taken some time to get used to the fact that Arianne was marrying, that the man she was marrying was Tyrion Lannister and that his niece loved him, both taking a toll on Daemon. Though he had stuck up for Tyrion when other's had tried to run him down and had intervened when Tyrion's man had almost killed Drey Dalt.
"Niece, my love." he said kissing first Arianne and then Ellaria on the cheek.
"Uncle, please sit, I find myself in need of counsel." Arianne said and he noticed she looked upset.
"Ari?" he asked and she shook her head.
"The Darkstar my prince." Ser Daemon said when no one else spoke.
"Who cares about a dead man?" he said with a chuckle.
"But why is he dead Oberyn?." Ellaria asked.
"Because he messed with my nephew and met the white wolf." he said laughing a little more fully as he reached over to the bowl and grabbed some of the grapes.
"Uncle, this story, it makes no sense, you know it too." Arianne said.
He did and had it not been for the preparations he needed to make then he'd have probably looked into it more. The Darkstar was a cunt and a man who couldn't be trusted, he was also one who did things that at times made no sense. Yet attacking Margaery Tyrell had been perplexing even knowing that, the reasons behind it were not something he could make no sense of. What he'd found out was that the Darkstar had traveled to King's Landing to compete in the melee that Jae had won. The next day he'd tried to attack Margaery only to be met with Jae and Ghost, and that had been the end of Ser Gerold Dayne.
Arianne had come up with a wild conspiracy theory that he'd dismissed, only for Ellaria to not only agree but lay it out in a way that made some sense. In fact, had it been any man other than the Darkstar then even despite the ludicrous nature of it, Oberyn may have given it some thought. That it was Ser Gerold though was where it all broke down, Doran would never seek to use that man even was he complicit as they suggested.
"I'll not listen to another word against my brother, Ari." he said when he realized what was about to come.
"Uncle." Arianne said her voice pleading.
"No, you were not there when I handed him Elia's letter, you didn't see him react as a brother would. The questions he asked me, the reasons he gave me for why we'd support Jae, these were true and so no, I'll not listen to your wild speculations." he said as he moved to get up.
"Sit my love, there is more you must hear." Ellaria said.
He looked at Ellaria, at Daemon and finally at Arianne, his niece's expression one he had never seen before and one he wasn't sure about. Taking his seat he sat back and it took a few moments for anyone to speak, Ellaria finally deciding that it should be her.
"Did you know the Darkstar went to the Water Gardens?" Ellaria asked and he shook his head, his brother would never allow the man there.
"Jayne told me, she and the Darkstar had been fucking for a moon or so when he received an invitation to the Water Gardens, she said she saw it herself before he burned it." Arianne said.
"Ladybright is a fool, that she was fucking the Darkstar is evidence enough of that." he said and saw Arianne nod her head, though he hadn't meant it directed at his niece.
"She may be uncle, but she's not a liar." Arianne said "She told me this as we drank one night, she mourned him a little.".
"So he went to the Water Gardens, that doesn't mean anything." he said.
"No, on its own it doesn't, Arianne." Ellaria said looking to her niece.
"When I told father that I wished to visit Jae, to see him and Rhaenys, he welcomed it but he also suggested I seduce him, that I try to make him fall for me." Arianne said.
"He asked you this?".
"No uncle, not in so many words, you know what father is like, he made it clear though. I cared not as I wished to see Tyrion again, but..." Arianne said leaving the rest unsaid.
"So what, you think Doran did what? Tried to have Margaery Tyrell killed and used the Darkstar to do it?" Oberyn said laughing "Of all the ridiculous things.".
"Why isn't he here uncle? Why isn't my father here to speak to the bannermen, to call them to arms? Yes, I know you'll lead our armies and I'll rule here, but for this? You don't find it strange that father wouldn't wish to be here for this?" Arianne said.
"Enough, not everything is a conspiracy Ari, gods, you really think..enough I say." he said brushing off Ellaria's arm when he walked from the room.
He found no comfort in Ellaria's arms that night, no sleep either, not truly. Even when he closed his eyes they were filled with thoughts of his brother, of Elia and of Jae. He rode hard the next day to the Water Gardens, the banners had been called and soon the lords would make their choice, though he knew they'd follow him. Seeing the Water Gardens in front of him, he breathed deeply and rode in slowly, dismounting and finding his brother sitting by the pool.
"Oberyn?" Doran said surprised to see him.
"Brother." he said taking a seat.
"What brings you here Oberyn?".
"I've come for you brother, the lords are to arrive and they need to see their prince, our nephew has called for us and I'd have you send Dorne to war." he said smiling as he looked at his brother.
"I am unwell Oberyn, I cannot make the journey." Doran said.
"Surely for this brother, for Elia, for Aegon, for Rhaenys." he said his eyes on his brother all the time.
"Not even for them Oberyn, it pains me deeply that I cannot, truly, but no, not even for them." Doran said and Oberyn nodded and smiled.
"I understand brother, I'll ensure they leave knowing your heart." he said and Doran smiled as Oberyn patted him on his shoulder before turning and walking from the room.
The meeting that night was loud and boisterous and despite one or two lords asking about Doran's absence, the consensus was quick and easy to reach. They would ride and fight for a Son of Dorne, for the man who had helped avenge Elia, Rhaenys, and Aegon. They would see the stag brought low and as they left to call their men, Oberyn found his mind troubled once more.
He didn't drink or celebrate with the others, instead sitting and playing cyvasse with Nymeria, his daughter making moves which caught even him by surprise. Though truthfully Oberyn was barely concentrating on the game and just looking at the board instead. After losing for the second time Nymeria called him out for his distraction and Oberyn refused the third game. He called for Arianne and Ellaria to meet with him and walked to the solar.
"Uncle?" Arianne asked.
"I do not know if what you say is true, by the gods I hope it's not, but we must prepare as if it is." Oberyn said.
"Oberyn?" Ellaria asked.
"Our children are to be taken from the Water Gardens, I want a force loyal only to us close by should they need to be used.".
"You mean to remove my father?" Arianne asked worriedly.
"I pray I won't need to, but he lied to me today, lied about Elia and I find myself questioning just how supportive of Jae he truly is. There is a reason he didn't wish to be here, one I cannot see, games like this are not where my talents lie. We should prepare to remove him if needed, place him under house arrest, and cut off contact with the world if it comes to that and hope it does not. Oberyn said.
"You think he did it don't you?" Arianne asked.
"I hope for his sake he did not, I'm a viper and I would make any who dared try to harm my love suffer greatly, imagine what a dragon would do Ari?".
He boarded the ship to Wyl the next morning, he and his daughters, Ellaria taking their youngest to Hellholt while Arianne had Ser Daemon gather up men they could trust. Oberyn had asked the knight to stay and he had reluctantly agreed despite wishing to stand by his side in the war to come. Though he had felt it best if he stayed with Arianne, not that she would be in any danger but so she'd have men loyal to her and not Doran close by.
Watching Sunspear fade from view he walked to his cabin and began to look over battle plans, the Stormlands was Roberts's greatest strength along with the Vale. Yet they'd never expect Dorne to attack and Oberyn felt confident their spears would cause them big problems. Looking at the map he wondered who among the Marcher Lords would turn their cloaks if any. House Selmy perhaps, House Dondarrion if Jae was right, the fight itself may not come for some time.
As he lay down in bed he tried not to think on Doran and yet found his mind refusing to go anywhere else. If he was right then he needed to speak to Jae, to speak to him before the truth outed, but if he was wrong then he was creating a problem where there was none. What to do wasn't going to be resolved this night and so he tried to sleep, images of Elia telling him that he knew the truth, that he knew what needed to be done, disturbing his dreams once more.
Kings Landing 297 AC.
Jon Arryn.
The last two days had felt like years as the truth and what it meant began to hit home. They had gone from a decent position with a high chance of winning to a terrible one and victory fading, all in a single raven's scroll. He'd even sent riders off after Petyr, hoping to catch him on the road before he arrived in the Reach. Not only was that avenue closed off to them now but traveling there was dangerous and he needed Petyr back here.
Robert had ranted and raved, broken things, he'd reached for wine only to throw it against the wall and he'd cried and blubbered like a newborn babe, all in the space of one night. The next morning though had been a shock to him, seeing him in the yard, the hammer being swung with more power and force than he'd seen it in years and Jon had welcomed that, his rage was needed if they were to keep their heads.
He hadn't been able to meet with Illyrio, yet, the sheer complexities of trying to find out what they now faced had taken up all of his time. The past two nights he'd spent looking over maps and working out figures and it had taken him until this morning to actually use his brain. Calling Gormon in after writing out the raven's scrolls and telling the man to ensure it was sent to everyone.
"Everyone my lord?".
"Everyone." he said almost shouting.
Let the realm know the truth of this bastard and let Ned Stark's name be spoken for who he truly was, a usurping traitor who sought to place a bastard on the throne. A man with no honor who wished to use even the rape and murder of his sister to further his own ambitions. Lies all of it, he knew what had been said in the dragon's scroll to be true.
He knew it as he'd spent as much time searching it in his mind as he had trying to plan a way to keep his head. From the moment Ned had brought him into the Red Keep, how he'd not known then? Ned Stark fathering a bastard, gods what fools they'd all been. Why Jaime Lannister had taken him to squire and why he'd been able to do all he had? dragon supporters hidden in the shadows helping him no doubt. Even his animosity to Edmure and the words he spoke before their duel, all now making far more sense to Jon.
That he'd been played by a mere boy annoyed him until he saw it more clearly, it wasn't the boy who'd played him, it was those who held his strings. The Lannisters and the withered old cunt had found their own puppet king and he envied them their choice. Though soon they like he had would find out that puppets can be difficult to control. He sighed as he looked at the map once more and then he walked from the room, glad to be heading to a council meeting and wondering if Robert would attend.
"His grace?" he asked Ser Mandon when he saw him.
"Inside my lord." Mandon said and he walked in to find, Lomas and Robert sitting around the way too large table, Gormon no longer welcome in these meetings.
"Your grace." he said with a bow.
"Piss on that Jon, sit and tell me the worst." Robert asked.
"The Reach, Robert, we'll not bring them on board now." he said.
"I've offered to make the girl a fucking queen Jon." Robert shouted.
"A girl who already spends far too much time with.." he paused not knowing which name would cause Robert the least aggravation.
"The Fucking Dragonspawn, you're telling me they've been in on this together?" Robert said his face red.
"I believe so Robert, they were always close. It's the only thing that makes sense, that they'd promised her a throne before now.".
"I'll fucking grind them into the ground, every last fucking rose and then I'll piss all over their fucking bodies." Robert said.
"The North, Robert." he said and saw the look on Robert's face, that he knew was hard to take for his former foster son.
"I'll see him dead Jon, mark my words I'll see Ned Stark in the ground before I leave this world. I thought him a brother, fucking traitor, just as bad as his fucking whore of a sister." Robert said though his anger was quieter and lower now.
"Your grace, we have The North, the Reach and the West against us, if these reports from your brother are true, then the Lords of the Narrow Sea haven't answered his call and I'm hearing troubling whispers from the Riverlands." Lomas said.
"What about the Riverlands?" he asked worriedly.
"Some houses haven't risen my lord, some of the larger ones. I've even heard of houses displaying the dragon banner." Lomas said.
"I fucking told you we should have driven them into the ground, all of them, every fucking house which rose for those fuckers should have been removed, you preached leniency, see what it gets us, Jon, see what it fucking gets us. I'll be lenient no more, by the time I'm done the Rains of Castamere will be a fucking children's song." Robert said as he got up to leave.
"My lord there is one more thing, something most troubling." Lomas said and Robert stopped his rant and looked to the master of whisperers.
"Well out with it then." Robert said.
"I've been hearing whispers about the Master of Coin, disturbing whispers that at first, I put down to just malicious gossip, but, I..I can no longer. I've been looking into him, my lord."
"Petyr, Petyr is a good man and true, you have no right to look into him Lomas." he said angrily.
"My lord, my purview is anything that affects the crown and this affects the crown, it makes Lord Baelish untrustworthy my lord, it calls into question everything he may do." Lomas said.
"What the fuck did Littlefinger do?" Robert said half angry and half curious.
"He's been sleeping with Lady Lysa your grace, he claims the babe is his own." Lomas said.
"Lies, fucking lies, I'd have noticed if my wife was…." he said as Robert laughed.
"Aye, just like I did, face it Jon you never cared for her and how much time did you actually spend with her?" Robert said still smirking.
"This is a lie, there's no truth to this." he said shaking his head.
"There are letters my lord, and..ehmm there's a song being sung in taverns." Lomas said and Robert looked at the master of whisperers.
"A song?".
"The Mockingbird who fooled a Falcon." Lomas said.
"I'll fucking gut them both, both of them." he said storming from the room.
He found her sitting in their chambers breastfeeding Robert and he saw it clearly then, this was not his son, this could not be his son. That she never noticed his anger only proved what the king had said, not only did he not care for her but Lysa clearly didn't care for him either.
"Guards, arrest her." he shouted and his men came rushing in, grabbing Lysa and dragging Robert from her arms.
"Jon?".
"Petyr, I fucking know about you and Petyr." he shouted and her eyes told him the truth.
"Jon, please...Robin..".
"Throw the two of them in the fucking cells, make sure to put them in different ones." he said taking some satisfaction in hearing his wives screams as they were dragged from the room.
He walked over and poured himself a drink and hoped that the men he sent to bring Petyr back found him, he needed him found as he'd now discovered one man he wished to kill even more than Jon Snow.
Dragonstone 297 AC.
Stannis.
He had waited as long as he could and the bannermen had not come and then the ravens came, seeing the seal he knew he was fucked and Dragonstone was no longer safe for him and his family. So he called Davos in and they began to plan what he needed to do, organizing his guard and making the Fury ready. Walking around the keep and making sure that all the things he actually cared for were packed and ready to go.
He tried not to dwell on the fact he was leaving Dragonstone with his tail between his legs, that he was joining his brother in a fight that not only did he fear they would not win, but the reasons for starting weren't ones he agreed with. Instead, it was as always duty that came first, the fleet would sail to King's Landing ready to be used how the king wished, he and his family too would head there, though it was Storm's End he wished to send them to.
"You are sure my lord, I could take them to Storm's End if you wish?" Davos asked.
"No Ser Davos, I need to see them safe myself and I must go to King's Landing, the Fury will set out with the household and with mummers while Selyse, Shireen and I will travel on the Black Betha with you.".
"You really think the Lords of the Narrow Sea will try to take you?" Davos asked.
"A Dragon comes for us all Davos, those who follow will seek to fly too." he said and Davos nodded and turned to leave him alone with his thoughts.
Knowing they were coming and that Robert would need him, as much as he'd have needed the men he'd bring, Stannis vowed he wouldn't be besieged again. He was his brother's heir and there was no place for him to hide. Robert had seen to that and he knew that when this war was done, he'd be alive or he and all his family would be no more. Standing in the Chamber of the Painted Table he looked down at the map and began to see battles play out.
The Reach, The West, The North, the Lords of the Narrow Sea, loyalists houses and Robert's Rage, all of it combining to put them at a huge disadvantage. Stannis though knew one thing, men wouldn't win this war, commanders would, he'd faced greater odds and seen victory before. The Iron Fleet had ruled the seas and he'd beaten them, not because he had more ships but because he had the will to see it done.
"May my will not fail me in the days to come." he said as he tumbled the Stag over to its side, Dragonstone would belong to the dragons once more.
He ate that night and actually enjoyed his food, Shireen was excited to be leaving even though she loved Dragonstone, excited to be traveling to King's Landing and to do so on Davos's ship. It shamed him somewhat that it would be the first time he'd brought her there, the first time he'd brought her anywhere truth be told. Still, he enjoyed seeing her this way, even reaching out to touch her hand and trying to smile at her and his wife.
"We leave under cover of night, before the dawn." he said and Selyse and Shireen both nodded.
"To King's Landing father?" Shireen asked.
"Aye, to King's Landing." he said.
The Fury and the rest of their ships left early that night, Stannis, Shireen and Selyse being smuggled out into a small hut where they waited. Three knocks came to the door and he opened it to see Ser Davos standing there waiting and they hurried to the beach, the rowboat quickly taking them to the Black Betha. Quicker even than the Fury the Black Betha took sail and by the time they woke, Dragonstone was far behind them.
"My lord." Davos said handing him the Myrish Eye and he looked to see the ships on Driftmark and knew he'd managed to leave in time.
"A Lannister ship?" he said handing the far eye back to Davos.
"Aye, it seems you were right my lord." Davos said though Stannis took no comfort in it.
"Aye." he said walking away.
He spent the next few days looking over maps, writing down figures and wondering whether there was any point to anything he was doing. Best case they were down two to one and worst didn't bear thinking of. Their only hope would be to force the attack where they wished it to be and he didn't know if he could do that, or if that was even possible.
When they saw King's Landing in the distance he welcomed the sight though he didn't look forward to being berated by his brother, not that this one would go how Robert imagined, Stannis having his own words for his brother. Arriving at the Red Keep he made sure Selyse and Shireen were settled before heading to speak to his brother, finding him Jon Arryn, Lomas, and to his surprise Renly all waiting for him.
"Ran away did you brother, that's not like you." Robert said mockingly.
"I figured for the war to come it'd be better if I were by your side then stuck besieged in my keep." he said.
"They rose against you?" Jon asked not needing to say who.
"They were about to." he said before turning to Robert "Gods what were you thinking, all of them Robert, have you heard what people are calling it Robert's Rage, you've turned half the realm against us and that's not counting the ones the Dragon has on his side.".
"Fuck them all, they think that was rage, they'll soon see fucking rage." Robert said.
"What are our plans?".
"You're to go to Storms End, Renly has called the banners and they rally, Ser Eldon holds command for now but they need a Baratheon to lead them and lead them you will brother." Robert said.
"What of you?" he asked Renly, his tone sharp.
"I'm to rule brother, to hold King's Landing in our brother's name." Renly said with a smile.
"Robert?".
"I march, Jon and I march, Jon heads to meet the Knights of the Vale and I and the Crownland banners travel to Duskendale." Robert said confusing him.
"Duskendale?"
"The Golden Company are to land there, you think the Dragonspawn the only one with surprises up his sleeve." Robert said laughing.
"The Seas Robert?" he asked and was surprised when Robert didn't stop laughing "Jon?" he asked turning to the falcon lord.
"We've sent an offer to the Greyjoys, reave to your hearts content, for the royal fleet is stood down." Jon said and Stannis shook his head and looked at his brother in disgust.
They ate as a family that night, well as close to a family as they ever were, Robert was charming and had Shireen laughing while Renly sat with that annoying smirk of his on his face. He noticed that his brother didn't drink and ate sparingly and then looking more closely at him, he noticed that he'd lost some weight. He seemed firmer to him and it was something he saw more clearly at sparring the next day.
"He's been doing this a lot?" he asked Lomas.
"Each day my lord, each day." Lomas said.
He and most of the fleet set out for Storm's End the next day, Shireen and Selyse by his side. His daughter had hoped to see more of the city but Stannis wouldn't leave her in Renly's care. Storm's End had survived he dragons once before and Renly said the stores could last two years, surely it'd be done by then he thought. Though as they sailed and he looked at his daughter, he couldn't help but feel that once again he was on the wrong side and he worried if this time he'd pay for it.
King's Landing 297 AC.
Illyrio.
There had been rare moments of panic in Illyrio's life, when Serra fell ill he had panicked and though there was nothing he could have done to save her, he still blamed not being clear in what he wished done as being a factor in her death. When Varys's reports had stopped coming, he had panicked briefly only to be able to right himself quickly. The letter from Jon Connington about Aegon had perhaps been his worst ever, until now that was.
How had this happened? How had he not been aware of this? Had Varys kept it from him? How? The questions all fought each other in his head, no sooner had one popped up than another took its place. Each of them leaving with either no answer or with the lack of a decent one. He had met the boy and he was as far from a Targaryen as you could possibly be, in looks not in blood a voice in his head said and he tried to ignore it.
To say this fucked up his plans was an understatement and when the panic receded, it was soon replaced by anger. Though soon that too had gone and worry was in its place, he didn't know what to do, that much was clear, he had no idea what he could do. So he did what he usually did when he couldn't make his mind up, he ate and he ate a lot. Gorging himself on many dishes and then burying himself in as many of his slaves as he could, all trying to clear his troubled mind.
"Magister, another note form Lord Arryn." one of the servants said.
"Fine, tell Afoadar , I wish to see him." he said dressing and reading the note, another request for a meeting and he knew he'd have to answer that one soon.
"You wished to see me Magister." Afoadar said sitting down.
"I did, I have a job for you, I need you to take ship to Braavos, you're to pay a visit to the House of Black and White." he said and saw the men pale.
"Magister?".
"Hand them this note, two million you can go to two million if they'll see it done." he said and Afoadar nodded.
He wondered if the amount was enough, to kill a man, yes, to kill a dragon he didn't know. The House of Black and White was quite particular in which jobs they accepted and their costs reflected that. The Golden Company couldn't be turned back, he knew that, as much as he may have wished to stop them, they were coming and the war would happen. That it was a far different war than he imagined couldn't be helped, the outcome was all that mattered.
Later that day he met with Jon Arryn and the king and while it annoyed him, it did present an opportunity and so he went with it. Even accepting the lies they told him about the odds they'd face, the North would never rise against them Robert said, the Reach would come on board Jon added. Did they really think him this foolish he wondered? Had he not seen the boy with the rose, had he not crowned her queen once already.
As for the North, Illyrio had spent his whole life planning to make his son king, was spending his entire fortune to see Aegon crowned. Varys had been his best friend and yet Illyrio would have taken his knife and plunged it into the man's chest, if it needed to be done to see Aegon get his birthright. The North would rise for Jon Snow, for Jaehaerys Targaryen, he thought as he spat.
"Magister, are you sure about this?" his steward said and he nodded as the man readied his things.
"I am, we must travel with the king." he said.
"As you say Magister, all will be ready within a day."
"Good.".
He walked to the window and looked over the Manse's gardens once more, he had intended to make this his base until Aegon took the throne, to sit here and wait for his son to come. The world Aegon was arriving to had changed so dramatically though that he had no choice but to change his plans. The Golden Company's orders, the king wishing to see them, the truth of who the king actually had on his side. He needed to be there to do what needed to be done himself and he felt a little shudder down his spine at the thoughts.
Illyrio had planned this war out, planned to put his black dragon on the throne, and had thought he'd taken care of the red ones. Only to find that he wasn't the only one who had a hidden dragon ready to be revealed and as he looked out on the world beyond the window, he began to worry about that. Aegon's story was always going to be their biggest selling point, who he was, who they claimed him to be, a great story can move the world and they had the best of all.
Now though their story would seem like a poor imitation of another. That Jon Snow was known to the people of Westeros, that he'd made a name for himself already, only added to the problems. If he managed to tie up the houses that Illyrio feared he already had, then even more so. Who would come to their side? No one while the boy lived and so he had to die, be it on the field at Robert Baratheon's hands, which was doubtful enough. At Aegon's hands which would cause it's own problems unless the narrative was changed or at the hands of a faceless man, Jon Snow had to die.
"He will die." Illyrio said turning as he walked to his bedside table and picked up the box, Serra's hands inside it "He will die my love.".
The Reach 297 AC.
Littlefinger.
He hated riding on a horse, hated it, far preferred to travel in comfort in a carriage or wheelhouse. The way the king had looked at him when he'd asked his man to ready his though made it clear that it would not be appreciated for him to dally. So instead of traveling in comfort like the civilized man he was, Petyr had been forced to travel like a savage.
Each night he had climbed down off his horse and had felt the pains and aches in his body, sleeping in the open didn't help either. This was not the life he was to live, soft sheets, and a feather bed with his love beside him that was what he was owed by this world. Settling down for the night he began to dream of her once more, just like he did each and every night. Blue eyes looking down on his as her hair moved from side to side, feeling every inch of himself inside her as she rode him, hearing her voice as she called out his name.
"My lord?" one of his guards said waking him from the pleasant dream.
"What, why are you waking me?" he asked angrily as he looked to the darkness of the night.
"My Lord, you sounded disturbed, you were calling for someone." the guard said.
"Someone? Did you hear a name?" he asked worriedly.
"No my lord.".
"I'm well, just a bad dream, don't wake me again." he said both angrily and relieved that he'd not given away too much of himself.
That was one of his biggest fears, that somehow in some way he'd give away too much of his desires, his true dreams. Luckily he was surrounded by stupid men who thought themselves masters of the game like Jon Arryn or drunks who cared not, like the king. Yet what he desired the most had been so close and had almost cost him everything, so happy had he been to see her that his mask had slipped and Lysa had noticed.
It had forced him to be careful, more than that it had forced him to hurt her and for that, he'd make sure Lysa would pay dearly. How he had not just grabbed her and ran straight to the Sept when she had all but asked him to marry her, was beyond him. Only that his instinct for survival had kicked in and he though overjoyed, he knew he couldn't do what his heart so longed for, not yet.
"I've seen how you look at her, just like you did when we were children." Lysa said as she combed her hair.
"She is a friend and yes I'll admit when I was a boy I had a silly crush on her, but I'm a man now Lysa and I have a man's needs, it's you who I need, who I've always truly wanted." he said kissing her cheek and trying not to let the smile on her face annoy him more than it already did.
"Good, because I'll not share you Petyr, not with her, not with anyone." she said looking to him, though her look was one which took him aback.
"Nor I you my love." he said and was happy to see the smile return, though not the face it was on.
It had forced him to be careful, to think out each move, and to realize that he couldn't hide how he felt from Lysa, she watched him far too closely. So he'd tried not to be near Cat, he'd hidden from her like a scared little boy and it had taken a toll on his heart. To be denied that which was owed to you was nothing new to him but to have the chance of it, to be able to reach out and touch it but not, that had been hard. Only made harder by the offer she had made him and he hoped that soon he could do as his heart desired.
Breaking their fast they mounted up and he felt the pain in his arse as he moved on the saddle. Just riding for a few hours made him almost ready to collapse and so when he saw the village up ahead he cared not about the hurried nature of his mission, they would stop here and he'd sleep in a bed tonight. After having a warm bath which relieved his weary bones, he and his guards walked down to eat in the tavern, finding the place full and the meal to be a good one.
"You've very full this night?" one of his guards said to a serving girl.
"Aye, we're celebrating." the girl said as Petyr tuned her out.
"Celebrating, I like to celebrate." the guard said smiling at the girl who smiled back at him.
"Well, you'll enjoy the night here then, the dragons are back." the girl said walking away and Petyr shook his head thinking he'd misheard it.
When the bard came though he found out he hadn't as the songs began to play, The Hidden Dragon began to be sung and as the room cheered, Petyr listened in horror. More so when the next song started, hoping his ears deceived him as the bard called this one The Greedy Falcon and The Rutting Stag. The words of each made it clear what happened and yet Petyr had to be certain. So he invited the bard to sit with them and bought the man a drink.
"Interesting songs, I've not heard them before?" Petyr said and the man nodded.
"Aye, they're new to me too, a man cam in t'other night and began to sing them, then he told us all the tale. Word came soon after that the banners are rising for the hidden dragon." the bard said swallowing his ale.
"The tale?" he asked as he ordered the man another drink.
He rode hard that night though his direction had changed and even sore as he was, he rose early and rode hard the next day too. By the time he reached Tumbleton, it was clear he had been right to do so. The Dragon banner waved high above House Footly's seat and only for the fact that he wished to know more, he'd have ridden past. Instead, though they rode into the village and into the nearest tavern, his men enjoying the drink and food, and Petyr listening to the talk around him.
The songs were the same and he knew then how much trouble they were in, Jon Snow wasn't a bastard wolf, not a deep dark stain that had shamed his beloved. He was a dragon and this dragon was readying for war. As he sat there his mind raced as he worked it out, The West he had, the Reach too more than likely, the marriage he could offer far more attractive than the one Petyr had been bringing them. The North too would rise for Jon Snow, which left them with what?.
The Riverlands would split and he cursed himself for his part in that, the Vale would rise for Robert as would the Stormlord's. With the Golden Company, it gave them a chance but he cared not for the odds. He drummed his fingers on the table as he tried to figure out the best advantage for him here, he could turn his cloak but what did he have to offer? Nothing which was why he'd turned back, knowing that Olenna would have seen him lose his head if he brought nothing to the table. As he was thinking he heard it and it caused him to panic, to actually for the first time since he stood facing Brandon Stark, panic and almost wet himself.
"What's that song?" he said his voice almost screeching.
"Oh that, The Mockingbird who fooled a Falcon." the girl said laughing as she danced away.
He sat there and listened and knew just how fucked he was, he couldn't go West if he did Olenna would have his head. East now was out of the question too, Jon Arryn must know the truth by now if they were singing it so openly, what to do? Where to go? How to keep his head?. The thoughts were jumbled and he needed to be elsewhere. Paying the coin and telling his guards to mount up, he rode slowly from the town, the cool night breeze and the quiet giving him time to think.
"My lord?" one of his guards said after they'd gone a mile or two at walking pace.
"We head for Riverrun." he said as he turned his horse North, the plan clear in his head now and he only hoped she'd not heard the mockingbird tale yet, that he could frame it his way first.
Casterly Rock 297 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
Bringing the Western Lords on board had been easy and yet not, the initial excitement over declaring for him had soon developed into questions of what they would face, who their allies would be, and what their battle plans were. Speaking to Jaime and Tyrion he knew also that he had things to do that couldn't be put off any longer. With the addition of Loras and the wearing of the white cloaks, he now had a true Kingsguard, and as Jaime said it needed a Lord Commander.
At one point that would have been Jaime though he was far happier that he was in the role he was in now, he had needed his advice more and more the past few days. Tyrion too had become more involved and had brought up things that he'd not even thought of and Jae knew they too needed to be handled. This though would be his first official act as king and as he sat in his solar, Jaime having insisted he needed one, he waited for the man to come in.
"Ser Barristan, please sit." he said when Barristan walked in the door.
"Your grace." Barristan said and yet didn't take a seat making Jae smirk.
"Please Ser, humor me." he said and the Bold smiled as he took his seat.
"You wished to see me, your grace." Barristan said.
"I did Ser, I've had a Kingsguard by my side for almost nine years Ser, Lord Jaime, Jors, Walder, Arthur, yourself and now Loras. I even had one who paid the ultimate price, Ser Alyrs." he said his voice soft as he thought back on his first protector.
"Aye, Ser Jors speaks of him often your grace.".
"He was a good man Ser, good and true and I miss him greatly. As I said I've had a Kingsguard since the moment Lord Jaime took me from Winterfell. To some, I've been a king from that moment but there is a difference between then and now." he said looking to the knight.
"Now you must act a king." Barristan said and Jae nodded.
"Ser Barristan, I would name you Lord Commander of my Kingsguard." Jae said standing up which Barristan did almost almost immediately.
"Your Grace, Ser Arthur?" Barristan said.
"Even were it not your rightful place Ser Barristan based on your service, it's the place that Ser Arthur feels best suited to you, you are my choice Ser, do you accept?".
"With great honor and humility, my king." Barristan said.
"From now on I'll leave all matters regarding the Kingsguard to you Ser, there in time will be changes but they'll be discussed between us, go, I believe your brothers await you." he said and Barristan turned and looked back at him as if to say something before turning back and leaving the room.
Later that day he walked to his first war meeting and he could tell the Lords wondered why it was being held in the vaults. The room they'd cleared was large and it had needed to be as most of the Lords of the West had come and he intended to tell them many truths this day. Behind him, Ser Arthur and Ser Jors walked, Ser Barristan waiting inside the room along with Jaime and Tyrion.
"My lords, please sit we've much to discuss." he said as he walked into the room, looking around to see Lord Brax and then Lord Crakehall looking to him eagerly.
"Your grace." Jaime said and Jae tried not to chuckle, barely anyone called him his name in public anymore.
"My lords, before we begin to discuss direct battle plans, my Hand has an announcement to make about the makeup of our war council." he said and Jaime stood up.
"Lord Tytos Brax, Lord Roland Crakehall, Lord Damon Marbrand and myself, his grace and Ser Barristan Selmy the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard will make up the war council, others will be invited to learn of our plans also." Jaime said and he watched as the lords seemed relatively pleased by this, other than one or two who were a little put-out.
"My lords, my uncle has called his banners and the North has risen, House Tyrell has called its banners and the Reach has risen. The Lords of the Narrow Sea have called their banners and they too have risen and I've now received word from Prince Oberyn, Dorne has risen for us also. We have houses in the Riverlands who've risen to my banner my lords, now we rise to meet with our allies and to strike down our enemies." he said and he could see the surprise on some faces, Lord Marbrand the one to raise the question.
"Dorne your grace?".
"My brother and sister were of Dorne my lord and their mother named me as her son, Prince Oberyn, Prince Doran are my kin and I consider them my uncles and they likewise me their nephew. Dorne rises to see their kin on the throne." he said and the lord nodded.
"Can we be sure of the Reach your grace?" Lord Banefort said.
"Lady Margaery is to be my wife my lord, House Tyrell has sworn to my side as has House Tarly, the Reach rises for us." he said and the lord and some others seemed pleased enough by that.
"My lords, my nephew, and I bid you join us, there is something you should see." Tyrion said and they moved towards the doors, the lords reluctantly following them and speaking to each other as they walked out onto the beach.
"My Lords of the West, by sea we have the advantage, by land we have the numbers and by air we have…." he paused as Rhaenix and Lygaron came into view the two dragons flying over the Lords, some of who ducked and hit the ground.
"Dragons." Tyrion added smiling.
They sat in the meeting that evening looking over the maps, Lord Brax, Lord Crakehall, Lord Marbrand, Arthur ostensibly as his guard though Jae wished him there and Barristan as a member of the council. Jaime, Tyrion, Kevan, and Gerion who'd arrived that day, all sat around the table and Jaime had told him that as king he had to be the one to lay out their plans.
"My lords, the Riverlands is where this war will be fought, just as it always is. The Lords of the Vale and the Riverlands forces that are loyal to House Tully and the usurper's own forces, will all try to march and join up and we must see it doesn't happen, just as they will try and do the same with us." he said.
Looking around the table he watched as Roland looked to the Golden Tooth and as Tytos did the same.
"We will rally our allies in the Riverlands and take the roads, here, here and here, he said pointing to the map."
"Walder Frey?" Damon asked.
"Will do what he always does, nothing, and then he'll try to wring the highest price he can for it." he said to laughs.
"The Reach will be joined by the Dornish army and move to the Stormlands, without them Robert is even worse off than he already is. If we can also stop the Knights of the Vale from joining then we have them where we wish.".
"Why not just fly the dragons, your grace, we all know what happened in the field of fire, a sitting army is no match for a dragon." Tytos said.
"The dragons are the Hammer my lord, but men are the Anvil that the armies will be broken on. I can use the dragons and I will but they won't win us this war, they'll just make sure we don't lose." he said to nods.
"You will use them though?" Damon asked.
"As sparingly as I can my lord, I don't wish to be remembered as a man who burned men to death, one of those in my family is enough for many lifetimes. If needs must though and I am forced to use them to their full strengths then I will, but I believe this works better. We'll break them together and fear of the dragons can perhaps be just as effective as their flames themselves." he said and saw Barristan look to Jaime and nod.
"I think we're done for now my lords, let's rest, we ride soon." Jaime said and the lords left, Loras and Jors walking into the room as Jae sat down.
"You did that well." Gerion said.
"That was easy my lord, the hard part comes next, now I have to go and tell Joy I'm leaving." he said to a laugh from Gerion.
"Jae, Riverrun, I want to lead our forces against it." Gerion said when they stopped.
"My lord?".
"I have my reasons, will you give me this command?" Gerion asked and Jae looked to Jaime who nodded.
"You have it, take Lord Crakehall and Ser Addam with you." he said and Gerion smiled as he stood up "Gerion, take no chances and take a damn bird." he said to more laughs.
"Now, what else have we to do here this night." Tyrion said and Jae took out the piece of paper and handed it to his uncle.
"Your legitimization papers uncle, Tyrion Targaryen, prince of the seven kingdoms. It has a nice ring to it don't you think." he said and saw the look Tyrion gave him, happy and yet a little sad that he was no longer a Lannister by name "Remember Tyrion, a dragon, and a lion." he said and saw his uncle relax as he took out the next piece of paper.
"My will." he said and heard Loras gasp "Don't worry, I've no intent of dying, I've far too much work to do for that." he said as Loras relaxed.
"Daenerys." Tyrion said and he nodded.
"I'd name you uncle, truly, I care not for what people would say, bastard or trueborn is just a load of horseshit. You are my uncle, my blood, and I'd name you, but what was done to Rhaenyra was wrong and done by men who thought a woman couldn't lead. All of us in this room know the strength of the women in our lives, Dany is heir by right of blood and that she's a woman makes no difference." he said and saw the nods.
After the meeting, he walked from the room and out onto the beach, Loras and Walder beside him. Jors would guard his uncle and would be joined by Ser Richard Horpe if he wished to keep his cloak. Barristan having come to speak to him about the man and Jae having no need of convincing, what he and Ser Arys had done was proof enough of his worth.
Tyrion had laughed when he suggested Bronn, saying not only was he not suited to the ideals of the Kingsguard but there was no way in the seven hells he'd stick to the chastity vow. He had known that and it hadn't been a true suggestion, more one based on him knowing how comfortable around Bronn his uncle was and how capable the man himself could be. Dorne having shown that in spades he thought as he watched his sister and son dip down into the water.
"They are in a playful mood tonight." Loras said from behind him.
"They know they'll be flying soon, as will I." he said.
"You're really taking to the sky?" Loras asked.
"I need to fly Loras, North, to the Reach and this." he said holding up the note.
"Can she take two, my king?" Loras asked and he turned to look at him.
"You wish to come?" he asked and his friend nodded "Satin?".
"We won't be going right away will we?" Loras asked and Jae chuckled.
He spent the night with his sister as he had most nights, Rhaenix worried and excited to be taking their throne back. Though it was the note he held in his hand that had her speaking animatedly to him that night.
"We would play on the cliffs, Jae, father, mother and I, they'd let me run and then they'd hold me as we looked out onto the sea." she said softly.
"I've seen it in our dreams Rhae, seen it from afar, to see it for true, gods." he said.
"It is our home, where we belong Jae, more so than King's Landing, or Winterfell or Casterly Rock. Dragonstone is our home and I wish to see our banner fly over it once more, to share it with my brother." she said and he leaned in against her.
"And him?" he said softly looking to Lygaron who slept beside them.
"He wants it too, though lesser, not the same as you or I." she said and he nodded at that.
The next couple of days were hard, letting Tommen know about his mother and then that he'd have to leave for a little while. Jae telling him that he needed to stay and see his sister and finally telling him the truth about his father, all of it taking a lot out of the boy. When he had come to him and they'd spoken about his own mother, when he had Tyrion speak about Joanna, it seemed to have some effect. Though it was telling him that he'd march with the army and they'd meet up soon which had the most.
All those conversations though paled into comparison with how nervous he felt about this one, walking into the room and seeing her sitting combing her hair and being almost in awe at how much she'd grown. In the last year, she'd grown taller and was now almost of a height with Sansa, and the little girl he remembered was almost a distant memory. Until she looked at him, or she smiled, and then she was his Joy once more.
"You're leaving." she said and he nodded as he sat down on the bed.
"Aye, I must." he said as she turned to look at him through the looking glass rather than directly.
"Must you." she said almost angrily.
"All my life has been leading to this Joy, my mother, my father, my sister and brother, their mother, this is for them. It's for my grandfather and uncles, my grandmother, for all they've taken from me." he said.
"I don't want you to go." she said softly.
"I know. Joy, sit with me, please." he said and it took a moment for her to get up and walk over to him, but soon she was sitting on the bed beside him.
He reached out and took her hand in his raising it to his lips and kissing it. Feeling her lean into him, he put his arm around her shoulder and sat there for a moment, trying to come up with the words to say.
"When I first came here, I was excited you know, a new place, a different start, training with Jaime, and meeting everyone. But I was alone, too, everyone made me welcome but I'd left my family behind and I was alone. Then one day, not long after arriving I met a little girl and I wasn't alone anymore, I've never been alone since that day Joy, since the day I met you." he said.
She wrapped her arms around him and he held her tightly, she didn't cry and that she was able to not, while he felt his own eyes well up, showed just how much she'd grown.
"You are my little sister, now and always, my princess, and I swear it on the old gods and the new, I'll return and you and I will ride Apples and Winter, we'll have many Yentures to come Joy, do you believe me?" he asked.
"I believe you." she said as he kissed her cheek.
"I love you Yoy." he said making her smile a little.
"Love you Yon." she said back as he hugged her once more.
The next morning he rode to Gendry and collected his armor, looking at it he had been overwhelmed at just how right he made it. It was his father's armor reborn, though the Valyrian steel was something he wished his father had been able to wear. Thanking the boy and riding back he found himself not looking forward to the dinner that night. Gerion had already set off and soon the rest of the army would be doing likewise, Tyrion leaving with Lygaron to ride with one half while Jaime left with the other.
He said his goodbyes that night as he intended to leave early the next morning, Dacey hugging him and he felt the bump in her stomach, the pregnancy far more pronounced now and he cursed the timing of this war. Genna almost had him in tears once more as did Ashara, Cregan having left with Gerion and Dusk. He looked to Brienne and Satin, he'd given Loras the last few nights off so he could spend time with his love and Brienne would be riding with Walder and Barristan at Jaime's side.
Others he'd see sooner rather than later, Willem was squired now to Ser Barristan and Walder to Ser Jors. Far too many people he cared about though would be marching to war and he tried not to think of it as he looked them over. His eyes going to his little sister and he smiled to see her keep a hold of her emotions, the not so little girl doing a far better job of it than he was once more. After a troubled night's sleep, he woke the next morning and readied to leave, only for Jaime to be waiting for him and dragging him to a spar.
"I win." Jaime said taking their match five to three.
"One day Jaime, one day." he said with a smile which Jaime returned.
"I'll see you when?" Jaime asked.
"I've to fly North and then to the Reach and then on to Dragonstone. A moon at most, I'll not stay away long." he said as Jaime handed him the water.
"See that you don't, the Golden Tooth?" Jaime asked.
"The Golden Tooth." he said before he put the mug down "Jaime, I…".
"Be safe my king, be safe.".
"You too Jaime." he said and was surprised by the embrace that Jaime caught him in, though he was glad of it.
"Remember the birds Jaime." he said and Jaime chuckled.
"Aye, now go, the sooner you leave, the sooner you'll be back.".
He turned to walk away, stopped, and went to turn back to tell him all he meant to him, to speak to him and let him know and he couldn't find the words, there was too many and yet he couldn't find them all. Deciding on the simplest in the end.
"Jaime, you're the father I choose, always." he said and saw the nod from Jaime, the words not needing to be spoken back as he turned and walked away.
Tyrion stood on the beach and he told him to use Lygaron only if he must, his uncle was ready for the war to come and even more so for the marriage to come after it. As he looked at Satin and Loras saying their goodbyes he turned to Barristan and whispered in his ear. Before watching as Arthur and then Loras climbed up on Rhaenix's back, the saddle allowing them both to sit a little more comfortably.
"Ghost to me." he said as he walked to where Lygaron was standing, telling his son he'd see him soon and then turning to climb onto Rhaenix's back.
He tried not to laugh as Ghost made all of them look like uncoordinated when the wolf ran and climbed up before sitting down on the fur in front of the saddle. Once he was sure everyone was comfortable, he closed his eyes and took a moment before opening them again.
"Sōvegon Rhaenix." he said as the dragon took to the sky, the war for the throne finally at hand.
A/N: Sorry for the dealy, internet played up. Up Next As the Northern Armies march, the Blackfish has a decision to make, In Riverrun Cat and Edmure try and make sense of the new world they've found themselves in and Jae's allies get a welcome surprise as their introduced to his secret weapon. The first skirmishes begin as the battle lines are drawn and we see if plans survive first contact with the enemy.
Daryl Dixon: It will be the start of it, the actual suffering a few chapters away.
Iridium: I won't be taking any time off from this story, if need be the others will be slower to update but this will have it's two chapters a week.
Jman: It is, we'll see more reactions and the moves being made next.
The Sphinx. Poetry by Poets too my friend.
Mrspotter: I think he never let that go, like in the speech about Lyanna in canon he says she was the one thing he wanted and I think if he knew she and Rhaegar were together by choice, then he'd really lose it over it.
Mrsfayewhitlock: So glad you liked it, the NW thing was one of the first things I thought of when doing this story, the little parallel to Jon Snow swearing an oath while not knowing who he was to him hear swearing an oath knowing the truth. We'll see more reactions as the truth sinks in.
Biohazard: So glad you liked it.
Supremus: No, now it ends, sorry couldn't resist lol.
Dirtycat: True though as you see he's now letting the realm know more about the rebellion or what Robert/Jon Arryn used it for.
Remi: I definitely think had he found out about Cersei he'd have had the reaction of a how dare she, even though he was doing the very same thing. On the lusting part, he is a man who gives into his lusts and I can really see him being like that, also in canon he was pretty indiscriminate with who he went to bed with, I really can't see him caring about age. Tommen as you see had a bad chapter, we'll give him more good soon. With Robert, that's coming but he's almost fronting here, so we'll see as more and more it comes clear to him that level of rant. Cat is difficult, on one hand I agree letting her see everything is karmic justice on the other her death would be interesting, so we'll see.
Early on before Varys was killed I had Varys basically make that point, one hidden prince is believable, two is stretching it and when one can offer proof and the other can't it kinda makes it hard, we'll see the GC and fAegon land next week, but Illyrio is making moves. LF well he's going to busy.
Jessicanightmarewolf: So glad you liked it, we'll see with Cat.
Liza: Thank you my friend. This in a way is partly why I felt comfortable taking so long to get here, I do intend to pay off on all the work I've done and this was the start of that. No it's not bad to enjoy that, they deserve all that's coming to them. On the Tully's that's it exactly, they're kinda all in, they really have no other chocie. Lol, did you know that was coming, if not well predicted, yes Richard and Jae had always intended the tales to spread and to speak up about Robert and what he did. One of the key things I've been trying to show is that Jae in some ways has acted more a king than RB and so yes his blood brings people to the fold, but so does he. The Vale and The Iron Islands, yes they've not really benefited, so it does make it hard, as for Yohn we'll see. On reactions as we move to the battles we'll see more reactions, a Vale lord and a Crownland lord are coming soon. Iron Born in a little bit and we get the first Dorne bit here.
It's not rude, you're completely right, I've been building to this for some time and to just get here and almost fly through the war would be almost a betrayal in a way, I mean I've spent so much time on while important character events, lesser events so to speak, so while I can't guarantee anything, I can say I intend to make the war feel like a war, it won't just be wham bam and over in a chapter or two, we'll see more than one battle and it will cover multiple chapters. On TDP, both a little because of work and a little that I really wanted to be sure about the reveal chapter and what's to come which meant me going back over things to see if I had the little details still clear in my head, left me with no time to devote to that. So I took a couple of weeks off, next chapter should all things being equal be up Saturday as I'm back in the groove I was in. Stay safe and be happy my friend.
Robert's death count was over a hundred, guards, servants, anyone connected with Cersei who worked for House Lannister, who may have known he saw dead. Along with Ser Arys, Captain Vylarr and others. The WF will be dealt with don't worry, as will who Jaime truly is.
Lady Octarina: With Malora I always wonder why no one went with the idea that instead of her being the mad maid, she was a greenseer, to me I get strong Cassandra vibes from her and felt it would be a nice little thing to do here, have her meet Marge, then Marge kinda understand it and then Jae almost put her mind at rest. I felt it best to have Maege say it a little nod to Lyanna, who was awesome btw. The Greatjon is like Maege one of those characters we never really got, yes they're in it but we never got them.
With Edmure/Cat as you say reality is dawning, Jon A and Robert too, part of the thing with Jae's letters and here with Richard and his lips, is he's trying to get into their heads as much as he is telling truths or venting, he wants the words to cause damage, hurt, concern and worry. I felt we needed more than just their reactions, we'll see some more, but it opens the world up seeing the other houses too.
On the IB well you see what Robert has done, with Cat we'll see. That's funny enough one of his first to do things, set things straight about Jaime.
Andrews: So glad you liked them, as you see LF has been diverted, self preservation is a big thing of his. Illyrio won't go down without a fight.
Wandless Wizard: The dragons may be almost ignored by the enemies in a way, news of them I mean. Apart from Illyrio, hearing that the Targ king has a dragon may be written off as propaganda and then you see them lol.
InCk: The last one was over 15k this a over 11, usually they're between 9 & 10, so maybe the last one being bigger made this one feel much shorter.
Prince Loki: Fish also fry as do Stags lol.
Goddess: So glad you liked it.
Murdough: Unfortunately there is no IT department for them to call on lol, glad you liked it.
WhiteDragonWarrior: I know, I in my head knew I'd take time to get here, never imagined it would take this long and I'm so glad I've been able to keep people interested enough to stuck with it even through the wait to get here. On the Edmure bit, I kinda wanted that to be the thing, you live by the grace of god, or in this case Jon Snow. Sorry the vow didn't work for you, for me it was one of the first things I thought of, originally I had planned to have it be almost symmetrical in that Jon swore it without knowing the truth in 298 and he'd do it here knowing the truth in 298 with the vow being different based on that. Year wise I couldn't stretch it to 298 before he made the reveal.
Vfsnake: They really are, that fear will only grow too.
Pauline: So glad you liked it, I don't think a general letter worked but technically the letter to the Mallister's was the one sent to most houses, with the personal ones being more the ones to obviously the main protagonists and the houses that meant a lot to him.
Gajeel: With Cat it was her almost projecting and justifying how she feels about Jon onto Cersei's children, he's a bastard and so are they and they're all the same. But if Jon didn't exist then she'd have been appalled and worried about the children, personally I don't think Cat gave a damn that Jon was a bastard, that he was Ned's bastard though, yes that bothered her. So instead of letting it be that, she made it about him being a bastard. In canon we see her with Mya Stone and while she thinks the girl wants something she can't have, she's actually sympathetic about it, so it's Jon and not the bastard thing. Oh the what to do now that their bannermen haven't come is a dilemma. We're seeing some of that here with Robert, but he's kinda fronting, his next pov will show his true feelings. Yep none of them know of the dragon.
Dscot: So glad you liked it, yeah it may be a bit much for this Jon to do, unless Robert does anything else, then I think Jon could go bloodthirsty.
Silentmayhem: Thanks so much for your kind words. One of my main issues with fAegon and what they did with him, in canon too, is that if Illyrio is his father than what he used him for is so much worse, the boy could have grown up knowing the truth, with a father's love and in a life of comfort. Hell they could have married him and Dany as Illrio's way to get the throne just by claiming him as his son, instead they screw him over and he's a tragic figure because of it. Now he's an arrogant, entitled son of a fat magister too, but it's tragic all the same. Jon C will arrive next week to this news so we'll see.
Ashajha: Illyrio won't give up without a fight, as for fAegon well Jae is going to find out about him very soon. Can't say who'll die or live, sorry.
Ginny: We'll see more of Robert in his pov, here he is putting on a show, but we'll see him face the truth of the betrayal even more. Illyrio knows it now but won't leave without a fight. As you see Oberyn and Ellaria, Ari are on the trail but well Jae is almost ready to look too. Dany we'll see more of next week I think.
Wololol: Proper fucked.
Anja: So glad you liked it.
Debator max: A lot of that should be answered above.
Carick: So glad you liked it, I really wanted the payoff to feel good, this is only the beginning too.
Ben Carty: I felt having Jon swear a true oath worked well here, in canon he swears not knowing who he is, here, he knows and the oath is different and more meaningful to him.
Emeradlduke: Striking down with great anger, hmm my money is on Rhaenix.
Ksveela: I agree, no way a targ knowing who he is can leave the Tullys, Arryns in charge, I think if they fight against you then you have to take them out, the only caveat is if they joined you to take your throne back. Jon C is by all accounts a sexist misogynst and so there was a little of that with Dany, finding out that Jae lives, that really will cause him problems. I agree, Dany though will meet Jae, when I won't say but she's getting family in this one. Canon has them coming around a year or two from now, so he may be ok.
Moonie: to quote the dude, Yeah well, you know, that's just like your opinion man lol. Have I amped up characters, most definitely, are they ooc, in some cases very much so. In terms of subtlety and making any of them a complex villain to face Jon, well none of them are, they're not supposed to be. I'll let you in on a little secret, none of these is the villain, yep that's right, none of them are this complex well rounded threat to Jon, none of them are supposed to be. As for Jon, well again, if you pay attention, I've kinda laid out who Jon is, what he is, it's there in the countless words I've written. There is a reason beyond me being a self confessed Jon fan why people follow him, why they take their cues from him, its there if you look for it.
In terms of complex villains btw, take out the plot armor from the source material and tell me that anyone of the villains, other than Varys, is complex, well rounded and a true rival to the protagonists.
Creativo: Lo que hace cualquier pez fuera del agua, asfixia.
Denoltdn: I felt it best to send a generic one (the one to the Mallisters) and that to others he'd be more personal. I have something I want to do with Rhaegar's body so I think I'll ignore the wiki for now. Dany should be seen next week, I think and fAegon will arrive in Westeros for sure next week.
Guest: That's pretty much what Illyrio is feeling too, how did this happen lol. The BF is next chapter plus more Tully reactions. We will see Dornish spears in action, Jae in a little way may look like he's not thinking of what happened with Marge but he really is. Rhaenix is in the air now and word will spread of her.
Aether: Thank for saying that, I really wanted this to be a while not culmination as we've so much more to see, a bit of a payoff. As for the duel, well Jae is wearing rubies, we'll get proper description of the armor next.
Bookangel: We'll see more reactions and of course battles to come.
Orion: So glad you're enjoying it.
Tony Warrior: Como puede ver ahora, algunos de los planes están ahí, por supuesto, la guerra hace un lío de planes y veremos si también lo hace aquí..
Dorea: So glad you liked it, we'll see more of Cat's reaction next.
Ace Venom: There is definite dissension, as you see with Stannis he wouldn't let himself be boxed in again. Blackfyre is in the GC's hands yes. Robert for all his faults does know war, so he's trying to keep them close, which on one hand is the right thing, on the other, maybe not. That's it with the dragons, they're both the final surprise and one that will be spoken of and perhaps not believed too. Walder will play his part, we have to have some Freys lol.
Scarila: So glad you liked it.
Guest: Bran won't be LP, he may get Riverrun and a reduced land base, but not LP. On Tyrion as you see he has his name now, we'll see if anyone deigns to use him. I always wondered that about Rhaenyra too, like I know it's tradition but as you say marrying Arianne makes you a consort and her house ends up being the children's name, you'd have thought with Rhaenyra that same would follow. On Jon/Marge, we'll see that discussed next as Jon is heading to the Reach.
Dunk: With Cat what I was going for was her basically using the news about Cersei's children to justify how she felt about Jon, so it's not so much she really cared about them, more it allowed her to compare them with Jon. So had Jon not existed then she'd feel more sympathetic kinda thing, glad you liked the letters. Had Jae known Marge was stopping there he probably would have sent something for her, though they do keep in touch with the GC, on Malora I always saw her as a Cassandra character and it allows me to use her later If need be. That's one of the things about Roose, had Robb followed his advice and had they pushed home their advantage, then Roose, yes would have done things to improve his position, but outright turning, no he's too self serving. So not knowing the odds, he may consider joining Robert, seeing them, he'd be like, nah, I'll stay here.
Zyrus: House Tully as a name and house will end. Edmure had his Bilbo moment lol. Hope you liked Stannis, we'll see more of him in a bit.
FasterGhost: Marge you're right, and that will come up, not that exactly but something along those lines. One of the biggest issues I have is the idea that politically if played right it would be a fair fight, like in canon, Robb had lesser numbers and yet Tywin on the run, take away the plot armor and the stupid choices and Tywin was screwed, so bigger numbers don't' necessarily make the difference, they do but they can be negated, still though, a logical well thought out North/Reach alliance probably wins, its just we never got on in canon. Here I think I've enough ways to make the war interesting.
Ulv: We'll see Jae find out about the GC next, see how that changes his plans if it does, but yes Blackfyre will finally be on Westeros shores once more.
Xand007: Thank you my friend. Well you have a couple of questions answered above. Knowing and stopping are two different things, but we'll see. We'll find out how close to right you are on the rest soon.
Spartan: So glad you liked it.
Xan Merrick: I always wanted to do something with Malora, so glad you liked it. The North is soon to meet Rhaenix. That's one of the thing about hypocrites, they find it easy to justify anything. Yep, some sleepless nights in Riverrun ahead lol. Jon A is actually riding to war lol.
Vwchick: So glad you enjoyed it.
Forgotten prince: So happy to hear that, really glad you liked it.
Gamedesigner So glad you're liking it, sorry for the delay today.
Vdwade: So glad you liked it, we'll see some reactions from Robert in terms of battle plans, he's down but not completely out just yet. Roose is on Jae's radar so we'll see if he tries anything.
Irish Hermit:
I think you're so right about Robert, I think he was in some ways a caged savage, he revelled in being able to wreak carnage and fight and take that away we got the fat drunk who whored, but deep inside him he in my mind was always hoping for another war.
That's actually going to be one of the thing's Jae has to deal with, in a way Cat has built him up to be this monster and will she become even more of a one to deal with him, if she does what will Jae do. We will see a Vale Lord and Crownlands lord next, I think he needed to make some of them personal. One of the things with LF is that in a way Richard is too damn good at his job lol.
With Robert, we've seen more of his external rage again and he's fronting it a little too, we'll see in his next pov how much this actually affects him and we'll be getting a look into the small folk's mindset and others as we go.
Silverglow: Varys gave him the insight and Illyrio's game plan was to start a war, that would hurt both sides enough so they could mop up the winner, so he pressed those buttons, the problem now is he can see one side been destroyed and that would leave him with a strong opponent, that and obviously Jon's story sells far better than fAegons.
With Ned It's been a progression, the Northern Lords almost basically laid the ground work so to speak, had it gone more they'd have brought up more, but they really are waiting for Jon himself to deliver the coup' de grace and the truth about Jon A and Robert is being spread now, but Jon is coming to speak to them too. Glad you liked that with Marge.
In a way Cat played to Edmure's vanity, again knowing him as she does, so asserting herself wouldn't work, yet. On the banners, there was a little bit of the delusional going on with Cat here too, in that she thinks having seen her father, uncle do it, that she while not understanding the military aspect, understands it too, so she has no real true idea of how banners are raised. So it's a slowly dawning thing for her and Edmure. By the end yes, they're kinda a little gone as the truth of what they've done is coming to them.
With JA your so right, he'll look back fondly on the hope that Ned wouldn't have marched.
Lord Blackwood was to show the dilemma, he had no interest of rising for Edmure, but he also has to protect himself, if Jonos rose that could be used against him given their rivalry.
That was it with the Mallisterss knowing that, the line between heart and head is a big one. with Robert it's exactly the fact that he's such a savage that makes him think he can't sit this out, otherwise it'd be he and his children facing Robert's Rage. So it wasn't mean as a moral thing or a doubt thing with him, more he's looking at heart vs. head and then Jae's raven arrives and allows his head align with his heart. Yep Raymun is busy.
It was one of the things I wanted to show, Beric we'll see and Selwyn will choose, but to show this little dilemma that's going on, over selfish reasons, before I show another over sides.
That's the thing with Robert, he does speak a lot of truths in canon, that line about the open road and selling his sword, that's who he should be. However he's also a greedy man and an angry one, even were it not Jon trying to take his crown, he'd not give it up, that it's Jon, he'll fight to the end.
Guest: Really glad you liked it.
