Bear Island 298 AC.

Arya.

They moved through the trees, her bow held in her hands, to her left she could see Lyanna and she knew that Lyra was here somewhere also. Ahead of her Nymeria watched the stag and Arya only had to close her eyes to see it. If she wished to she could allow the wolf to take it, but Arya wanted this one for herself. Lyanna and she had wagered that it'd be one of them to take the prize this day, both of them fed up that it was either Nymeria or one of Lyanna's sisters who usually did so.

Arya reached the clearing first, yes it was somewhat cheating to use Nymeria's eyes but a girl needed to take every advantage when the price of failure was so high. She crept forward and lined up the shot, her breathing deep and steady as the arrow flew in the air. When she saw it hit home and the stag bolt she felt such a fool, only for the wounded animal to make it no more than a few feet before it fell over. Her shot had been true and Arya could feel her heart beat a little faster when she moved toward it.

She took out the knife Jon had gifted her, taking the blade to the stag's throat and cutting it. Cruel as she had thought this the first time she had seen Lady Maege do it, she knew now the real reason for it.

"We are not monsters Arya, we don't wish the animals to suffer more than is needed, so we end their suffering quickly, give them a far quicker death." Maege said.

As she saw the life go from the stag's eyes, Arya closed her own and offered a prayer to the old gods, thanking them for the bounty they'd given her and for not allowing the animal to suffer. She heard the cracking of twigs behind her and smirked when she saw the frown on Lyanna's face. Her best friend in the whole world was glowering at her and yet she saw the small look of pride that she'd won too.

"I hate you." Lyanna said shaking her head.

"It's only for a week." she said back trying not to snigger.

"It's the bloody stables, Arya, gods why did I agree to this." Lyanna said rolling her eyes.

"Because the thought of seeing me have to shovel horse shit made you laugh, remember." Arya said her own laughter ringing out now.

"Gods, he's a big one isn't he." Lyanna said after she had rolled her eyes once more before laughing too. Her friend then walking over to take a look at the stag they'd caught.

"Aye, think Alysanne will be pleased?" she asked slightly worried.

"I think so, we'll also be eating deer for days." Lyanna said chuckling when Lyra came through the clearing, Nymeria finally moving from where she had sat and walking over to her, Arya rubbing her wolf's head when she reached her.

"Which of you?" Lyra asked.

"Arya." Lyanna said annoyed.

"So you shovel the shit." Lyra said laughing.

"Idiots." Lyanna said walking away from her sisters.

They began the process of cleaning the deer out, Lyra directing them while she and Lyanna did the work. She gave Nymeria some of the stag's insides, some they'd bring back for Alysanne who liked the parts that both she and Lyanna really did not. After cleaning out the stag, they readied it to bring it back to the Bear's Den, she and Lyanna were then sent to the stream to wash, which inevitably turned into a water fight.

When they finally made it home Alysanne gave her one of her looks, both she and Lyanna in a way lived for them, to see the proud expression on any of the She Bear's faces when they'd done well in their lessons or tasks, made even the toughest of them seem worthwhile. After dinner and some reading, she finally went to her bed and as she had ever since he'd sent it to her, she read Jon's letter.

My wild little wolf,

There is so much I'd wish to say to you, things I need to speak to you about that I cannot put down on this parchment and that I can only tell you when we're face to face once more. I promise you when next we meet we'll speak of them and of anything you wish, we'll spar, laugh, I'll muss your hair and make up for all the time we've been apart.

I miss you so much that some days I reach out, I find a bird Arya. I seek one out and look down to see how you're doing and I watch as my wild little wolf, my sister, grows ever more fierce. As each day she grows into who she was always meant to be and I feel so proud of you Arya, it warms my heart to see that you're happy.

When I get the chance I'll come and visit you there, on this I give you my vow. I'll come and you can be my guide, show me everything you've learned and be my teacher and me, your student. Until then I wish you to know that I think of you always, I watch you when I can and I love you forever.

We are wolves, we are family, no matter where we are or what we're doing, there is nothing in this world that can ever change that, nothing that can ever stop us from being pack.

Your brother Jon.

She had stopped getting teary-eyed when she read it, the first time she had she'd almost cried in public. The words resonating deep inside her, knowing that he watched her, thought of her and missed her. But it was the fact that it was because of Jon that she was here that really hit home when she had read the letter. That despite missing her and her, him and the rest of her family, he had wanted what was best for her and to see her grow.

She woke early the next morning and broke her fast, chuckling later in the day when she saw Lyanna working in the stables. Though not so much when Alysanne caught her and then doubled her own chores. They then spent most of the early part of the afternoon training and at their studies, stopping only for lunch, and then it was back to work. Arya never slacked off here, or tried to get out of her lessons, Alysanne and the rest of them knew just how to make her wish to do them and she found she enjoyed them.

"We're riding to the new stores later, mother wished us to make our marks." Lyanna said when they finished their last lesson of the day.

"It's finished?" she asked.

"Aye.".

"Race you." she said and went to set off but Lyanna was already gone, her friend beating her to the horses.

"This is what I should have wagered on" Lyanna said when Arya arrived a few minutes later.

"Aye, stupid." she said and ducked the slap Lyanna aimed her way.

They were riding towards the stores when she felt it, Nymeria was tense and kept looking over the hills and so Arya closed her eyes and looked through the wolf's, seeing them in the distance. The ships were long and dirty looking, but it was the Krakens on the sails that were all she needed to see. Arya opened her eyes leaving Nymeria and turned to Alysanne and the others.

"Iron Born, Lady Alysanne, there are Iron Born ships headed this way." she said her voice almost panicked.

"Lyra take the girls back to the Bear Den, you two ride with me, it's time to give the squids a beating they'll never forget." Alysanne said.

She turned and she, Lyra, Lyanna, and the guards began to ride back, Nymeria running alongside them. They were close to the Bear Den when the arrows flew and Arya felt the horse go from under her. The fall was hard but she wasn't really hurt, just winded. Once she got her breath back she looked to the others, glad to see that no one had been hit, though most of the horses were down.

"Arya, Lyanna, behind the horse, grab your bows." Lyra shouted and she watched as some men came from the nearby trees, their grey clothes, and filthy appearance marking them as Iron Born.

Looking closer she swore she recognized one of them but things were far too hectic for her to be sure and so she did as Lyra said, grabbing her bow she knelt down behind her dead horse and loaded an arrow as she readied to fire.

The God's Eye 298 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

Jae looked at the body in front of him, then turned his eyes up to Arthur and nodded before looking to those who had come with Robert. He took a breath to calm himself before moving towards them, watching as they looked to him and then at Robert's body.

"Your king is dead, the war is over." he said firmly.

"He was not our king, nor who we fight for." he heard a voice say and looked up to see the tall thin man, a man he had found out was Harry Strickland, the Captain-General of the Golden Company.

"What?" he asked not sure he'd heard the man right.

"Baratheon's death doesn't change things." Strickland said moving to walk away.

"We had an agreement, you would break it?" he said almost stunned.

"Your agreement died with him, you wish for a new one then by all means negotiate. I'm sure our king would be more than willing to watch you bend the knee." the man said and Jae looked on as they all walked further away.

"Here, one hour." he said and Jon Connington turned to look over his shoulder, nodding to him.

He called for the others to take Robert's body, Barristan and Walder doing as he bid and he turned to ride back to their camp. His mind racing both at the thoughts of what he'd done, had almost done, and the fact that after it by the looks of things it had changed nothing. Jaime reached out to him as they mounted up and Jae shook his head, needing to think and so he rode on ahead. Allowing Winter to move swiftly and feeling the wind in his hair.

For years he had wanted Robert dead, wished for it, planned for it, and it was the main driving force in his life. To take back the throne and see the man responsible for his family to die at his hands. During the fight he had been so focussed on that, he could think of nothing else. To end the man who'd killed his father, the man who was as much responsible for Elia, Rhaenys, and Aegon's deaths as Tywin Lannister. Robert had killed Viserys and though his uncle and grandfather's deaths lay at other's hands, he had their blood on his also.

Yet when he had asked him to end him, he could not. Something held him back and he needed Arthur's help, why?. Why hadn't he been able to strike the final blow? He knew the wound he'd given him was mortal, if he waited long enough Robert would have died anyway. Was it that he couldn't bring himself to give Robert the mercy of a quick death? Or something else? he couldn't be sure, all he knew was the hadn't been able to swing the sword, even if he was the one to pass the sentence.

"Cursed is the kinslayer, little brother." Rhaenys said in his head.

"But he killed them Rhae, I should have been the one who ended him." he said back his eyes closed as he allowed Winter to slow as they reached the tent.

"But you were right not to, I wanted him dead Jae, by our hands, yours or mine. He was a monster who stole the life we should have lived from us. You're better than him, you have to be better than him. Cursed is the Kinslayer little brother and our family has been cursed enough." she said and he opened his eyes and dismounted before he walked into the tent.

He looked to Tommen who rushed over to him, the boy's eyes searching his own and he could see the question behind them.

"Robert is dead, Tommen, he's paid for what he did." he said and saw Tommen's lip quiver. So he moved towards him and knelt down to speak to him.

"I..I need to see him, Your Grace." Tommen said and Jae nodded.

"Let them see to him first, then I'll bring you."

He watched as the boy nodded and then Jaime arrived with Loras. Arthur, Barristan, and Walder arriving a few minutes later. Jae took a seat and bid them do likewise, though only Jaime did so.

"I couldn't, in the end, I couldn't become him, I couldn't be a kinslayer." he said and saw the nod from Barristan and Arthur and the look Jaime gave him.

"You shouldn't have fought him, my king, you can't risk yourself like that, not for revenge." Jaime said.

"You knew it would have to be that Jaime, after all he did you knew it." he said and saw him nod his agreement.

"Aye, I did but you still can't do things like that Jae." he said and Jae nodded, not disagreeing but making no commitment that he wouldn't do so in the future.

"It makes no difference, they won't live up to their end anyway, apparently they have a new king." he said.

"Renly?" Barristan asked.

"Perhaps, but Richard said Renly is in King's Landing, Strickland suggested their new king is here, on this field." Jae said and asked for some water, as he drank it he found his mind drifting "I need a moment." he said but bid them stay while he closed his eyes.

He went looking for the door and found the sparrow as it nested, taking it into the air and over the Golden Company's camp. Bringing it down he saw Illyrio, Harry Strickland, other men of the Golden Company, and Jon Connington. All of them standing around a table listening as a boy in a mask spoke. Looking through the sparrow's eyes he saw the boy was only covered on one side and he thought he recognized him from somewhere. Whatever was being said he couldn't hear but as they all began to walk from the tent he saw Jon Connington speak to the boy and he knew then what he was, who he was, and which sword the boy wore on his hip.

"Blackfyre." he said opening his eyes.

"Your Grace?" Barristan said.

"They have Blackfyre." he said again.

"Aegon's sword?" Loras asked.

"Aye." he said.

He got up and began to pace around the tent and could only imagine what he looked like. No matter though how agitated he looked to them, it didn't even come close to showing the turmoil that was happening inside his head at that moment. Things he'd missed now becoming clear and he cursed himself for losing clarity, for being so focussed on Robert that he'd not seen it.

Kinvara had told him of the pretender, the boy claiming to be his dead brother and how he had stolen Dany's dragon. That she wasn't worried about the dragon himself or the boy truly, had been Jae's only comfort in what she'd told him. How he had convinced Jon Connington of who he was Jae didn't know but he had sworn to himself that he'd deal with him once he took his throne, if Dany didn't before then.

"He was in Essos, I thought he was in Essos." he said as he stopped walking "We need to ready the men, there is going to be a battle here, Barristan, Jaime."

"Jae, what's going on?" Jaime asked.

"Their new king is pretending to be my brother, a mummer dragon claiming to be Aegon." he said and saw the looks on Arthur and Jaime's face.

"Aegon is dead." Jaime said leaving no room for doubt.

"I know, I've seen him, I..Rhae, oh gods." he said closing his eyes.

He felt her anger, her rage as she flew towards them, Jae glad she was so far back. The desire to burn them all, every single man who believed this lie. Though what she wished to do to Illyrio, the leaders of the Golden Company, Jon Connington and the mummer dragon himself was very much worse.

"I'll tear them apart limb by limb, all of them, all of them." he heard her basically scream in his head.

"Rhae, please."

"No, we fly Jae, either we fly together or I fly alone." she shouted, her voice so loud that he felt the blood begin to drip from his nose, having to both try to get her to stop and those around him to calm down, was no easy task.

"Rhae, land, I'll come to you, please big sister, for me."

"You come, now Jae, promise me."

"I promise, I'll come now." he said.

He opened his eyes and looked to those in the tent, wiping his nose and glad it wasn't more than a few droplets. He'd enough of his blood in the jar in his chest and couldn't really risk losing more.

"Rhaenix, wasn't happy, I need to go to her to calm her down, we'll treat with them when I return." he said.

"I'll see to the men and speak to the lords, Tarly?" Jaime asked.

"If you send outriders behind us you'll find him, I'd say he's a few hours away." he said and Jaime nodded "Arthur, Loras."

He didn't need to say anymore, the two knights walking outside with him and mounting up when he did. The ride to where Rhaenix had landed didn't take them long nor did the argument he had with his sister. Though when she felt his own anger and when he promised her that mummer dragon would suffer for what he'd done, it appeased her somewhat.

When they arrived back at the camp, he spoke to Jaime and Barristan, their plans for the battle hadn't changed, so there was no need to go over them again. Once done they readied to ride out once more, another parley and another king to treat with and Jae was more than ready for this one, his anger close to the surface bubbling ready to erupt.

Riverlands 298 AC.

Catelyn.

It couldn't be true, it had to be a lie, another of the bastard's tricks to make her life even worse than he had already made it. Yet seeing the boy standing there, his smile, his build, those eyes, he was Brandon's son, his bastard, he had to be a bastard, didn't he?. She wondered about that, as she ran through the keep and to her father's solar she wondered if what he had said was true.

Brandon married, his son trueborn, oh gods please let it be a lie, please let him be a bastard, just like the other one. When she reached her father's solar she began pulling books and papers out, searching for anything to prove the truth to be a lie or the lie to be the truth. She didn't even hear Petyr come in and whatever words he said to her were lost as she looked over journals and papers and made no sense of them.

Her mind went back to those days many years ago, trying to remember if there was any sign that she may have missed. She remembered Harrenhal and seeing Brandon dance with the Dayne slut, but she also remembered seeing his brother dance with her a little later and Brandon telling her that he'd only done so because Ned was too shy. It had actually made her love him a little more, that he would do such a thing for his brother proving the goodness in his heart. She did however point out that it shamed her somewhat, though soon he had her dancing on the floor and she found she cared not.

Brandon had been very busy at the tourney, he'd been distant when they got back to Riverrun too but she'd put that down to what happened with the prince and his sister. He'd not stayed long in Riverrun and her father had locked himself away for a few days after he'd left. Did he know? Had he told him? Pulling more and more books from the shelves she had to find out.

"Cat." a voice called that to Cat was way off in the distance somewhere.

"Cat, my love we must speak, Cat." the voice called, and yet she could barely hear it.

"CAT." Petyr said more loudly and she turned to see him standing there.

Looking at him, she found the other part of what she'd just been told coming to the front of her mind. Petyr had put a bastard in her sister, he'd cuckolded Jon Arryn. Lysa and their babe were locked in the black cells and Jon Arryn now seeking his head. She felt her anger rise, at the bastard, at Brandon's son, at the Lion at her door, and at the man in front of her.

"Get out." she shouted.

"Cat, my love." Petyr said moving towards her.

"Get out of my sight." she almost screamed.

"Cat, it's lies, can't you see that? It's all lies." he said and she shook her head and felt his hands on her, felt him pull her towards him and though she struggled, she allowed him to hold her.

"Petyr, I…I don't know what is true anymore, what to believe." she said and felt his hand on her back.

"Look at me, Cat, my love look at me." he said and she did as he bid "I love you Cat, you, it's always been you, only ever you."

She could see it clearly, he was telling her the truth and that gave her something to cling to, to hope for.

"Lysa?" she asked.

"I don't know, Cat, when I was riding here I heard some terrible songs being sung but I put them from my mind, I don't know what happened to Lysa." he said and again she could see he was telling her the truth and she felt the relief begin to wash over her.

"Robin is not yours?" she asked.

"Cat, I love you, you're the only woman I've ever wished a child with." he said and she allowed him to kiss her softly.

"Petyr, what are we to do?" she asked and he rubbed her back once more as he looked in her eyes.

"Trust me, my love, they'll not take us, I swear it." he said and she nodded, he sounded so sure that she wished to believe him.

After having pearl organize a little dreamwine for her, Petyr left to see to the defenses and to make their plans. Cat heading to her room and her bed and welcoming it, feeling the softness of the pillow as she lay her head on it. She was asleep mere moments later and yet her dreams were once again troubled.

She sat as he danced with the violet-eyed dark-skinned woman, Brandon having asked her to dance before coming anywhere near her. Cat feeling her anger and annoyance grow as she saw them laugh together. The tent was empty and his things were gone, his brothers not knowing where he was and she almost stormed back to her own.

He was silent and distant and nothing she said got anything more than a polite smile and she saw him stiffen when the walls of Riverrun came into view. The horse rode off and their goodbye had been unsatisfying, the kiss she expected not forthcoming. Walking to the room she found it locked as it had been for the past few days, her father behind those doors busier than usual.

Cat was a girl again and together they played, she, Lysa, and Petyr and she remembered her first kiss, it had done nothing for her but she saw Lysa's smile when she got her own. Her sister was angry at her and she didn't know why, Lysa's moods sometimes changing almost in an instant. Petyr rode away and looked back at her tearfully, his last words not making any sense yet they preyed in her mind.

"One day, I'll rise so high that no one will be able to deny me anything." he said and then he was gone.

The men stormed through the halls she knew them all too well, their crimson and gold marking them out as the lions they were. In the front, the boy moved with his wolf and she knew they'd find them, the hiding spot had been enough to fool her brother, sister, and Petyr years ago but it wouldn't fool the wolf or the boy.

"I want the fish found, Jon Snow is on his way and he'll want to take her head himself." the blond-haired Lannister said.

"Does it really matter, he's going to burn Riverrun to the ground, if she's in here then we'll soon see roasted trout anyway." the boy said with a chuckle.

"He wants to look in her eyes, to see her dead by his own hands, who are we to deny the king." the Lannister said.

She heard the scratching at the door, the claws trying to get to her, and then she saw the bright yellow eyes as they came out of the darkness. Her hair was grabbed and she felt herself being dragged along the floor, the boy and man laughing as they did so.

"Did you really think you could hide from a wolf? Come trout, it's time to pay for your crimes, you've woken the dragon and the dragon wishes you dead."

She woke up screaming and heard the wolf's howls, quickly moving to the window she looked out to see the army that was stretched out in front of her. The torches and fires stretching further than she could see, the wolf howling all the while and she felt the fear settle deep in her bones. Running through the keep she found him in her father's solar, Petyr, jumping up when he saw her.

"Cat, Cat, what's wrong?" he asked as he moved from behind the table.

"We can't stay here, we need to leave, Petyr, we need to leave before he gets here." she said her voice panicked.

"Before who gets here?" he asked.

"The dragon, he's coming for me." she said as she began to cry.

The next night she walked down the stairs, the small sack carrying her belongings, Petyr with her along with his men. She'd cleaned out the strong room, her mother's jewelry, and the coin she'd saved and put aside along with Riverrun's own, now in the chest Petyr carried. Cat watched as they raised the gate and Petyr helped her into the boat, the men rowing slowly so as to not make much noise.

Soon they were climbing from it, sending it down the river on its own and hoping that when it came to a stop it would be many miles from where they had gotten off. It took them to almost dawn to make it to the town and they only just managed to make it into the building before the sun rose. Cat followed the girl to a room upstairs, waiting alone until Petyr came in and sat down beside her.

"We need to travel further, we're not safe here Petyr." she said and he nodded and looked at her.

"I know my love, but this is best for now, we'll ride soon enough, for now let's rest."

She nodded and watched as he got up to walk to the door, asking her if she was hungry and telling her that he'd be back with some food soon enough. Cat walked to the window and looked out, the small town was remarkably untouched, something she'd not expected with a war going on. She felt the shame of it though, of where she was and hoped the Mother would forgive her. As she heard the footsteps coming towards the door she could only think that Petyr was right though, who'd ever think to look for her in a brothel.

The Twins 298 AC.

Tyrion.

His men arrived a day and a half after he did, the ships immediately turning back to ferry the rest of the army to him. They could have taken the full force, used all their ships and done the journey in one trip but they'd agreed not to take the risk, and besides they'd still move them in a third of the time it would take to march.

Still waiting for the ships to come back was boring and so after speaking to Satin and the Strongboar, Tyrion took to the skies once more. This time he flew over Riverrun itself and found his uncle's men had begun their siege, turning back he flew over the sea and was happy to see the Iron Born hadn't left yet. Lygaron wanting nothing more than to set their fleet ablaze.

He had to admit it was tempting, but he needed them to attack first. To attack them in such a way without them provoking it wouldn't bring comparisons he knew that Jae didn't wish for. It would be bad enough if his nephew did it for that reason alone, should he be the one to do it then it would be so much worse. Aerys son burning them all would be bound to stir up some memories that were best forgotten. So he told Lygaron not now and they flew back to Seagard, passing his ships on the way and seeing they were only a day or so from the town.

"My prince." Satin said as he ran to him carrying the water pouch Ser Jors and Ser Richard Horpe behind him along with his cousin Walder.

"I thank you Satin." he said smiling as he took a big swallow from the pouch "Gather the lords in Lord Jason's hall, the fleet is almost here.".

He watched as his squire ran back to the keep, looking back to see Lygaron take to the sky he smiled before turning to walk away. Ser Jors and Ser Richard in position at his back and even where he not wearing the colors of his house, the two men in white cloaks would prove him true. When he reached the hall he found the lords waiting for him, Lord Broom and Serret, Westerling, and Lefford, yet it was the Strongboar that Tyrion found the most capable of all his men.

"My lords, forgive me, I wished to ensure the rest of our forces were untroubled and to check on events in Riverrun." he said and it was Westerling who for today seemed to be the one chosen to speak.

"There is nothing to forgive my prince, how fares Riverrun?" Lord Gawen asked and Tyrion saw the other lords perk up, eager for news.

"My uncle's army surrounds it, the siege towers are moved into place and I imagine we'll hear tale of the fall or surrender before we join with our Northern friends." he said with a smile.

"How are we to do so my prince, join with the North I mean?" Lord Lefford said, Leo was a sour miserable man, his dark hair greying despite his young age, yet he was no coward or craven and for that, he was happy enough to listen to the man speak.

"We travel to the Twin's my lord." he said to nods and a frown from the Strongboar "We should enjoy our stay here my lords. We march as soon as the rest of the army arrives and this may be the last we see of a keep for some moons."

He turned to walk from the hall and asked Satin to bring the Strongboar to him. Tyrion had no sooner made himself comfortable in the solar that he'd been given as his own than Ser Lyle walked in. The giant dark-haired man only dwarfed by one or two in Westeros and Tyrion wished now that Jae had given him Walder instead of his own guards. Not that he didn't appreciate the two he had or that he felt intimidated by the large knight, just he'd like to have someone even bigger with him to wipe the smirk the Strongboar occasionally wore from his face.

"My prince." Lyle said as Tyrion bid him sit.

"You are still not pleased by our plans?" he asked and Lyle nodded.

"Walder Frey is a weasel, my prince, a man who can't be trusted, I'd rather deal with the squids than the fucking Freys." Lyle said his contempt clear.

"They are my kin, unfortunately." he said with a chuckle which the man returned "It's either there or at the Ruby Ford we cross and there's hard ground between us and there. I'd see the men's march to be as easy as I can make it."

"Aye, but that old fucker will bleed you, my prince, he'll extract a heavy price." Lyle said.

"He'll try, I'll pay, gold we have, anything else and well I've a dragon and weasels burn do they not?"

"Ay that they do." Lyle laughed "We'll meet the North when we cross?"

"With luck, lest they've moved faster than we."

"Forgive me, my prince, for my doubts." Lyle said standing up.

"I welcome them Ser Lyle, feel free to express them to me. I need leal men who know what they're doing and we have few of those with us."

"Hah, you have the truth of it my prince, I think I'll get drunk, it may be some time until we get the chance again." Lyle said laughing as he left.

The next two days seemed to move quickly, the ships arrived and after giving the men a day to rest, they began their march. It took them almost a week to reach the Twins and no sooner had they set up camp to rest than the party was sent out to meet them. Tyrion looking to see Ser Stevron lead the group from the castle. Ser Richard and Ser Jors, the Strongboar and his lords joined up with him and they rode to meet the Freys. The two groups coming together a short distance from the bridge itself. Tyrion looked over the group to see Ser Stevron, his son Ser Ryman along with Black Walder and a few others he knew not the names of, the weasels too many and too much alike to remember who was who.

"Lord Tyrion, it's good to see you." Ser Stevron said.

"Prince Tyrion." the Strongboar said as Stevron looked to Tyrion again finally seeing the colors he wore.

"Forgive me, my prince." Stevron blustered.

"There is nothing to forgive Ser." he said looking to the others who were watching them, Black Walder especially, the man's repatriation well known to him "We seek passage across your bridge."

"Of course my prince, my father will wish to speak to you." Stevron said and Tyrion nodded turning back to his lords and telling them to ride back.

He, the Strongboar, Satin and Walder along with Ser Jors and Ser Richard Horpe all followed the Frey's to the Twins themselves. His two knights watching the men carefully while Tyrion closed his eyes and hoped Lygaron was nearby, the dragon already knowing what he needed to do if required. As they dismounted at the gate Ser Ryman and Black Walder asked for their arms, Ser Jors and Ser Richard shaking their heads.

"My Kingsguard won't allow their arms taken from them Ser Ryman, we have this meeting with them armed or not at all." he said and saw Black Walder grimace as Ser Stevron nodded.

Inside the Twins, it was just as he remembered, even though it had been years since he'd been here they'd changed nothing. Even the smell was the same and in fact when he entered the great hall the only difference he found was there was even more Freys. On the highest seat looking down at them was the oldest Frey of them all, Walder looking ancient to Tyrion's eyes and still showing no signs of ever dying.

"Lord Tyron." Walder said looking at him through beady eyes, taking note of what he wore and smirking.

"Prince Tyrion, father." Stevron said.

"A prince in my halls, ha, not had one of those for many a year, even now it's not a full one I get." Walder said and Tyrion raised his hand when Ser Richard and Ser Jors moved forward.

"Yet get one you have, I've come to negotiate a crossing." he said firmly.

"You are my kin, you may cross at any time you like, my prince." Walder said the smirk still on his face "Your army though, why that would put me at odds with the king."

"There will be a new king soon enough my lord, best think about what would happen were you at odds with him." he said and Black Walder jumped up.

"You dare threaten our lord in his own hall." Black Walder said angrily.

"I made no threat, I merely stated a fact." he said looking to the Lord on the chair and not the idiot standing.

"You ask me to go against my king and liege lord, not something I'd do lightly." Walder said and Tyrion resisted the urge to laugh, the man went against the Tullys many times.

"No, name your price my lord."

"A prince you say, well I can work with that, a marriage my prince, and you and your army can cross as soon as you care to." Walder said his beady eyes staring at him now.

"I'm afraid I must refuse my lord, my betrothed wouldn't be best pleased." he said glad he was marrying Arianne even more now.

"Betrothed?"

"Princess Arianne Martell and I are to wed." he said.

"What of your king, he's unwed is he not?"

"Betrothed to Lady Margaery Tyrell."

"His cousin then the Stark boy." Walder said irritably.

"Betrothed, to Lady Wynafred Manderly."

"Is there any of you not fucking betrothed." Walder said to laughs.

"I'll not speak for men who aren't here and not force any to marry against their will, name another price my lord." he said his voice tight.

"I seek no other price, if you don't wish to pay it then so be it." Walder said to nods from his brood.

"You would seek to deny us?" the Strongboar said his own anger clear.

"Not much in it for me to give you what you wish now is there." Walder laughed.

"Very well my lord, when next we meet this war will be won. I'm sure my nephew won't be too annoyed that we were refused passage here, I doubt very much he'd seek to punish you as much as he would others, though he's a dragon and well…." he said with a chuckle.

"I could bloody seize you where you stand Lannister."

"You could, I'd not recommend it and my name is Prince Tyrion Targaryen, make sure you remember it and remember it well my lord. Remember this also, should anything happen to me then it won't just be my nephew who marches on the Twins, but my brother too. Remember Castamere my lord for the next decision you make could lead to you becoming naught more than a song also." Tyrion said angrily.

He moved to walk away and heard Walder shuffle in his seat, Jors and Richard reaching to their swords.

"20,000 gold dragons." Walder shouted and Tyrion nodded.

"A wise choice Lord Frey, I'll see the gold is delivered." he said as he walked out.

They didn't stay long at the side of the river after that, the army forming up and moving within an hour of him coming back. Ser Stevron rode to him as they crossed the bridge, apologizing for his father and offering his men. Tyrion not keen on accepting them but then telling the man to form up and follow them, knowing that just like their lord they'd be late to the fight too.

After crossing they reached the Kingsroad to find the Northern Army had already passed, turning south they followed and began the march towards wherever this battle would be fought. Tyrion waiting until they set up camp that night and walking to where Lygaron soon landed. He took to the air and searched up ahead finding the Northern army a day or so ahead of them and not much ahead of them were the Knights of the Vale.

He couldn't tell if they'd parleyed yet, but they'd not fought and as he flew over the Trident he shook his head and chuckled. Of all the ironies that life threw your way, perhaps it was inevitable that this battle would be fought there. He flew back and told Lygaron to get some rest, both he and his dragon would be needed soon he felt.

Deepwood Motte 298 AC.

Asha.

The Black Wind led the rest of the ships around Sea Dragon Point and into the Bay of Ice. Asha had thirty longships behind her though some of them belonged to her brother and would sail on to Bear Island. Her target was Deepwood Motte and she thought the plan and the reward pitiful. Qarl stood beside her and looked eager for the battle ahead, as did the rest of her men. Asha though felt a sense of dread come over her for some reason.

Her uncle Victarion was sailing up the Fever River, the Cleftjaw had sailed with his own ships to take Torrhen's square. All in all, almost the entire fleet was sent North and Ash felt it a waste. If they had to reave then there were richer pickings elsewhere, while she'd not wish to go against the Lannsiters, tales of the ships Victarion lost, and the men who'd not returned were still spoken, she'd have at least gone for the Reach. There at least there was good coin to be had, gold, jewels, fancy wines and good food, a prize worth taking.

Her father though wished to avenge himself on the Starks, her brother wished to avenge himself on the Starks, Asha's life as usual blighted by men who couldn't see. Vengeance was good and true but it didn't put food in your belly or drink in your hand, the Northmen would make them pay a heavy price and they'd receive naught for it. She looked to the sky welcoming the night as it fell, darkness would be their friend and help them with what they had to do.

"Gather the men." she said to Qarl who did as she bid him.

Asha looked at some of her best men and wondering who if any of them would fall this night. Cromm, Hagen the Horn, Grimtongue, Lorren Long Axe, Six Toed Harl, Earl Harlaw, and Rolfe the Dwarf. These men were hers, she'd won their loyalty and earned their respect and she could not wish for better men to do what needed to be done.

"Tonight the Greenlanders learn that we are Iron Born and We Do Not Sow. Tonight we take from them as they've taken from us all our lives. Tonight we are reavers and the Greenlanders pay the Iron Price. What is dead may never die."

"But rises again harder and stronger" they shouted back.

Asha smiled as they moved away, they were ready. Soon enough they saw the land ahead of them and they quietly docked. From there they began to make ready to leave the ships and to make their way to the keep itself. They were maybe a little over half a mile from the ships when she began to feel it, a mile when they came and though she had over 1,000 men with her it was soon clear that was not enough.

"Move." she shouted as the arrows began to fly, men falling in front of and behind her.

Move they did and she wished they had not, the horses coming at them at speed and she looked on as a man she believed to be Rolfe the Dwarf lost his head. They rode through them like a knife through butter and she wondered both where had they come from and how had they known. The silver mailed fist of House Glover flying high among the many banners, as well as the grey wolf of House Stark and others she didn't know.

Asha along with most of her own crew began to move, she took out the nearest man to her with one of her axes and cursed the dirk and other axe she now had to rely on. Behind her was carnage, men on foot no match for the horses that rode through them, and if half her men made it back to the ships then she'd be thankful. Around her were Qarl, Earl, Hagen, and Lorren the only men she knew from her own ship, the others she barely recognized.

When they had gotten some distance from the fight they rested for a moment, men looking to each other with shocked looks on their faces. Asha almost despondent to see there were no more than 100 men with her of the 1,000 that had made their way to take a keep that was now out of their reach. She heard the panicked sounds of more men as they ran in her direction, their words making her own panic almost threaten to overwhelm her.

"RUN, they ride this way." a voice called out and it didn't need to say anything more than that.

Run they did and behind her, she could hear the horses as they closed in on them, but it was the sight ahead of her which showed just how fucked they truly were. Some of their ships were on fire, but those were the ones that had obviously tried to sail away. The others were still there ready to be taken but between them and the ships stood at least 500 Northmen and the looks they were giving them made it clear they didn't seek their surrender.

"Forward." she shouted as she heard the horses charge behind them and as she ran she found herself praying, hoping the drowned god welcomed her in his halls because she felt it was only a matter of time until she'd be meeting him.

She fought as hard as she could and when it came she welcomed the darkness, Qarl she had seen fall beside her, the others she knew not but they had been given no quarter. Asha herself was covered in blood and bits of bone and she'd taken a slash to her side, but her eyes closed and the end beckoned.

"Wake up Greyjoy, eat." a voice called out and she felt the bandage on her side and took the warm food gratefully, surprised at its quality as she ate it. Were it not a Northman handing it to her, she'd think she was in her god's halls.

"Where am I?" she asked the tall bearded man.

"Winterfell, you're lucky his grace wishes you alive." the man said and Asha could only wonder how she'd gotten here.

Soon though she found herself thinking on her men and whether any had been lucky enough to make it too, or was she the last of them, and as she lay down she cursed her father once more.

Moat Cailin 298 AC.

The Iron Victory.

Victarion Greyjoy.

The Fever River was a shithole and yet they sailed up it anyway, Moat Cailin was an even bigger shithole and yet he'd take it as was his duty. Balon commanded and Victarion did, that's how it had been since his brother took the Seastone Chair and he had no problem with that. He wasn't Euron, he was loyal to their king even when he came up with a dumb idea like this one.

Behind him the main might of the Iron Fleet sailed, over 50 ships, close to 4.000 men to take the Moat and reave out from there. He knew he didn't need that many but he'd been ordered to see it done and see it done he would. They were halfway up the river when the arrows came, some with flame and some with something much worse. What foul poisons they were coated in he knew not, nor where they came from, be it the trees or the shadows themselves it wasn't clear. He ordered men from one of the ships which could no longer sail to move out and find these men who harried their path.

Though they and the men who fired the arrows still weren't seen and more and more of his men and ships were lost before they saw the sight of the Moat in front of them. He'd lost almost ten ships to fire and at least 500 men to that or to poison, the true number he'd not know unless he'd stopped to count and Victarion had no time for that.

"It's time." he said simply as the Iron Victory pulled close to the bank, the darkness it's cover.

They began to move towards the keep and he saw it then, the work that had been done, the new walls and towers, and then the arrows came again. These though he could see who was firing them and he directed the men to where they were, his own arrows flying back and yet theirs were far more deadly than his. When he heard the rumble his head snapped around and Victarion looked on in horror.

Where had the Northmen gotten so many horses? So many men? Weren't they all supposed to have traveled south? It was clear they had not and though he had them beat in numbers, they had horse and him none and so his only chance was to get behind the walls of the Moat itself.

"Move, take the keep, quickly." he shouted and the men began to charge forward.

They never really made it to the walls, the arrows aimed before were only a distraction it seemed as waves of them flew at them now. Victarion watching as while arrows bounced off his heavy plate and Kraken helm, others weren't so lucky. Ahead of him lie death as it did behind him, men falling as arrows hit necks, chests, arms, and legs if they were lucky.

Behind him, horses broke through their line and as he caught more arrows with his shield and held his axe he knew that they had no choice.

"To the ships, to the ships." he shouted as a horse charged his way.

He moved out of the way and swung his axe, watching as the man flew from the horse. Victarion not waiting to see if the man lived or died, looking around he saw some of his own crew and called them to him. Longwater Pyke and Wulfe One Ear, Nute the Barber and Burton Humble. Where the others were he didn't know but the cavalry that attacked them would soon be forming back up for one more charge and he wasn't going to be here when they did.

"We need to go and go now, this attack is over, gather as many as you can and make for the ships, stop for nothing and pray the drowned god lets us see tomorrow." he said and Nute nodded.

A Northman came rushing at him as he ran, Victarion brushing him aside with a sweep of his shield while burying his axe in another. By the time he reached his ships, he had less than a fourth of his men and he breathed a relieved sigh that the ships were still there. Climbing up on the deck of the Iron Victory, they were soon moving down the Fever River, arrows flying at them again though these they were more ready for.

When he saw Blazewater Bay and the open sea he almost cried so happy was he, soon they were at sail and he turned to take stock of the damage they'd suffered. On The Iron Victory, he saw far fewer faces that he recognized. At least half his crew that he'd spent years building up were dead or missing. Of the fifty ships that had set sail up the river, he reckoned he'd half at most, maybe less than half that in men too if his own ship was his guide.

"Set sail for the Iron Islands." he shouted as he walked from the deck and took his seat in his cabin, the wine welcome as he swallowed it down.

He thought about Theon and Asha and hoped they'd had better luck than he, a part of him feeling a coward for not sailing to them. But the North was lost to them and far too many men had died today and he didn't have it in him to fight just yet. No home it was to be for him and if his brother wished for someone to blame he'd take it, though the man should find a looking glass for the real culprit.

Torrhen's Square 298 AC.

The Blackfish.

The ravens had come from Deepwood Motte, from Moat Cailin, and from Bear Island, the attacks had begun just as they'd been told they would. It left Brynden in a quandary as he tried to decide which way he should go. Who should he ride to help and in the end he chose to go to the one who'd not called, to House Tallhart and Torrhen's Square.

The Moat would hold, as would the Motte and Bear Island was beyond his help, but Torrhen's Square would give them a foothold should it fall and so they rode and rode fast. His scouts raced on ahead of him and soon brought the news that ships had landed and men were marching to the village and keep. Brynden ordered his men to ride harder and they arrived before the Iron Born made it too close.

He'd faced Iron Born before in their stupid rebellion and while fierce they were fools. As he now looked at those marching ahead of him form into a piss poor shield wall he couldn't help but feel disdain. Here they were marching to take a keep with not enough men, no siege equipment, and no horses. No wonder they stuck to piracy and attacked on the sea if this was what they did while on land.

"Form up, form up." he shouted and watched as the men did as they were bid, some doing so better than others.

"That's a shield wall?" he heard a voice say mockingly.

"Don't jape until you break them, those men come to reave and rape, let's show them where they are and why they picked the wrong lands to try either in, Charge." he shouted and the horses began to ride.

In the war of the Ninepenny King's he'd charged with knights against the Golden Company, in Robert's Rebellion, he'd rode with his outriders and seen the Knights of the Vale charge. This was neither of those occasions, the charge not so disciplined and the shield wall far less impressive. Yet his cavalry was easily the better of the two and as they broke the shield wall easily, Brynden felt prouder of this than he had any of the other two.

They turned and readied to charge again, the Iron Born fleeing rather than trying to form back up. Brynden smirking as he looked at them and enjoying the laughter from the men around him.

"Ride them down, the North Remembers."

"The North Remembers." the shout came back.

Hubris is a funny thing and not something he'd ever have thought himself guilty of, yet as his horse was taken from under him and he crashed to the ground, he cursed himself for his. Winded and with an arm that pained him, he drew his sword as the first man came towards him, cutting him down far easier than he should. Anger at himself fuelling him as he moved to the next.

Three men, he killed before he faced the large scarred man, the grey hair and look in his eyes marking him out as a warrior who'd fought many battles. Brynden's sword dripping with blood as the scarred man and he faced each other. As they both looked at each other and then around them, it was clear the day was done.

"You can surrender, I'll see you're treated better than you deserve." Brynden said and he wondered why he'd offered such favorable terms to a squid.

"I think today is a fine day for it, what say you, shall we let the drowned god decide?" the man shouted back.

"If you wish to see your god so much then aye, we'll let the seven choose your fate." he said as he moved towards the man.

The two swords crashed together and Brynden dodged the punch thrown his way. He kicked out and caught the man hard on the leg, watching as he limped back away from him. Moving forward the swords clashed once more, Brynden the more skilled though the scarred man edged him in strength. He heard cheers as men turned to watch him fight, their own battles now over for the day.

As the man came forward again, Brynden moved and caught him on the arm, the cut deep and he heard the man groan but it didn't stop him as he was attacked once more. This time his strike was far more true though and he caught the man across the chest, watching as his sword fell to the ground followed by the man himself.

"It seems your god wins this day." the scarred man said.

"Aye, it does." Brynden said back.

"May I have the name of the man who ended me?" the scarred man asked as he coughed and spluttered.

"Ser Brynden Tully." he said.

"The Blackfish, ah, no shame in my death then. Dagmer Cleftjaw." the man said and Brynden nodded "Give me back to the sea Ser, to my god, now finish me clean"

"Aye." he said as he pushed sword in the man's shoulder and down through his chest, the coughs and gasp soon silent as he took his last breath.

He looked around the field, some men had surrendered but most had fought to the end, they'd lost some men but not many. Perhaps a handful at most and he couldn't help but sigh at the waste of life this day. After seeing to the dead and sending the prisoners onto the keep, he had his men mount up and they rode back north. Through the Wolfswood and beyond, on to Deepwood Motte to make sure the North was secure.

Brynden was soon smiling when he heard the men jape and laugh and before he knew it he was joining in. There were worst ways to spend a day he thought as they sat around and ate that night, eating hare and rabbit and laughing with men he'd spilled blood with.

"Aye, worse ways indeed." he said softly as he took a drink from his horn of ale.

Bear Island 298 AC.

Arya.

The arrows were almost running out and she'd lost count of how many had hit home, beside her Lyanna fired hers while the men kept coming. Nymeria was off in the woods somewhere and she had directed her to docks below, knowing they needed more help or they'd be in even more trouble than they already were. Her wolf had wanted nothing more than to attack, but the men had arrows too and she'd not risk her to them if she could help it.

Somewhere out there was a man she knew, though hadn't seen in some time and that he was here could not be good news. Theon Greyjoy and she had never gotten along, even before Jon had come home, after he had it had been even worse. Arya knew what the Iron Born did, while Maege or Alysanne or Jory wouldn't tell her, Lyra had explained it to both her and Lyanna.

They'd take women against their will and do things to them, things that Arya didn't need explaining and that Theon was here, made her worry that he wished to do them to her or Lyanna. She counted her arrows to find she'd four left, Lyanna had three and Lyra just two, their guards were all injured or dead barring one. Yet the men had never charged them as their arrows had kept them back.

"Where is she, Arya?" Lyanna asked and Arya closed her eyes.

"She's at the storehouse, they've fought them off." Arya said as he brought Nymeria to Alysanne, the wolf dragging the woman with her, Alysanne calling for men "They're coming." she said happily.

But it seemed they'd have another attack to face before then, the men trying to sneak towards them. Lining up her shot she took aim and watched as the arrow hit him, the man's pained yell like music to her ears. As night fell she heard the horses and looked up to see the men fade into the trees, running away like the cowards they were.

"Lyanna, Lyra, Arya, are any of you hurt?" she heard Alysanne shout as they rode close to them.

"No sister, we're fine, Artos, Edgar, and Old Tom are dead, but the rest of us are fine, just a scrape or two." Lyra said.

"Come, let's get you back to the Bear's Den, Lyanna ride with me, Arya you ride with Lyra." Alysanne said and she did as she was bid, looking around to see that Nymeria hadn't come back with them.

"Where's Nymeria?" she asked Lyra and the woman laughed.

"You're the damn warg Arya, not me."

She closed her eyes and found the wolf in the woods hunting, and she tried to get her to come back. But though the door was open she was not the one in charge, not today. Opening her eyes in frustration she was glad to see the Bear Den and see it and the docks hadn't suffered much damage. Once inside she, Lyanna, and Lyra practically devoured the meal they were given, Arya then looking on while Lyra explained what had happened.

"Come here you two." Alysanne said to her and Lyanna when they had finished eating.

"Lady Alysanne?".

"Sister?"

Both of them were grabbed and hugged and Arya felt herself almost about to cry with how comforting it felt, the tears falling a moment later when Alysanne spoke to them.

"What you both did, Lyra says you took down at least half a dozen squids each, my brave warrior women. Look at you a she-bear and a she-wolf, gods, I'm so proud of the both of you. Now go, get some sleep, life goes on and tomorrow you have work to do and lessons to attend." Alysanne said hugging them both once more.

As she lay in her bed she thought she'd never sleep, her heart still racing from the day and yet sleep she did.

She moved through the woods following the blood, the two foots were ahead of her and she began to smell their fear. Moving slowly towards them she saw them finally and then she was slow no more. The two foots and their steel hands no match for her quickness and not seeing her in the darkness of the night. Throats were ripped out and soon enough they were no more, these men who had dared come to hurt her two foot.

She looked at them and couldn't see him, the one whose scent she'd smelt before, closing off all other smells she turned and found his scent and began to hunt once more. Finding herself out of the woods and as she looked ahead she saw the cave where her two foot made her den. The beating of her heart began to quicken as the scent began to get stronger and she realized he was here, he was close, and she worried where he was going.

The howl woke her up and she looked up to see him leaning over her, his breath stinking and his eyes on hers as Arya felt him grab her.

"I got you, you little cunt, your mine now." Theon Greyjoy said.

The knife moved fast and she aimed it where Jon had shown her, the scream from Theon loud as she stabbed him again and again. He fell from the bed and she looked to see him holding his hand between his legs where she'd stabbed him, his cries both of pain and fear as she jumped up from the bed.

"Arya, Arya are you hurt?" Lyra shouted as she ran into her room, the guards, Alysanne, and Lyanna behind her.

"It's not my blood." Arya said as she pointed at the man still holding what was left of his balls in his hand "It's his, Nymeria warned me".

The God's Eye 298 AC.

Jon Connington.

He was his son, of that there was no doubt, yes he didn't have Rhaegar's coloring but everything else was his silver prince. How he spoke, carried himself, the things he said to the stag, all of it. When he asked to face him one on one Jon couldn't believe it, a part of him wanting to grab the boy and run from the field with him, another larger part so full of pride that he was fit to burst.

Were it not enough to see him dressed like his father, to see him then fight like him only made it even more apparent. It was clear that he had been trained by Jaime Lannister and by Arthur, gods Arthur lived, Jon smiled without even noticing. Watching as Jaehaerys moved around the stag as if he was inconsequential was incredible. To see him bring the man who killed Rhaegar down was something that would live with him for the rest of his life. To then not end him, himself, to have Arthur do it, Jon was ready to kneel right then and there, Rhaegar would never wish his son to be a kinslayer and it seemed that one of his sons knew this.

Which was more than could be said about the other. Aegon had ranted and raved when he heard that Robert was to face his brother, almost as much as he had when he heard them talk of what Jaehaerys wore and wielded. Dark Sister, the crown of the conqueror, Ser Arthur, and Ser Barristan at his back, one of the two looked a king and Aegon knew it was not him.

"They belong to me, all of them, my crown, my armor, my sword, even my Kingsguard, am I to lose my birthright to the bastard too." Aegon shouted.

"You are the rightful king Aegon and I have something for you." Illyrio said and Jon watched as a sword wrapped in cloth was handed to him.

"Is this, Blackfyre, it is." Aegon smiled as he unwrapped the sword.

"The sword of kings, Aegon, also the man who wields the sword has the Golden Company, it's time to step forward, Robert is soon to be dead." Illyrio said.

"I'll step forward and if the bastard doesn't kneel, I'll take his head myself." Aegon said and Jon gulped.

Aegon had indeed stepped forward and know Jon was torn between two kings, two brothers and he knew not what he was supposed to do. Jon had listened on stunned when Strickland had announced they'd not be living up to the agreement, though he had known it, he'd been surprised still. Now readying himself in the tent he had no idea what to do, they couldn't fight, surely Jaehaerys would see the light, once he knew of his brother he'd do the right thing, wouldn't he?.

As for Aegon, when Jon walked into his tent and found him with Illyrio, Harry Strickland and Black Balaq he felt as if he'd intruded on something. Taking his seat he listened on as Aegon ran down his brother and found he couldn't do so silently. Standing up so abruptly that he forced everyone in the tent to look to him, Jon took a breath and readied to make his case.

"He is your brother, Aegon. Your father would not wish for you to fight, he obviously is unaware of you or your claim but just listening to him it's clear he cares for family. Meet with him, treat and offer him the role of your Hand, I'm sure he'd accept." Jon said.

"Illyrio is my Hand, Jon, you think I'd accept a bastard by my side." Aegon said contemptuously.

"I think you accept your blood by your side, there's not so much of it left that you cannot." he said almost pleadingly.

Aegon looked to Illyrio who nodded and then Jon watched as he took a breath, his hand going to the hilt of his sword. Fingers drumming on the ruby Aegon seemed to take an age and then finally he nodded too.

"Very well if he kneels and swears fealty to me, hands over the things which are mine by right then I'll accept him as my brother and he can act as my Hand." Aegon said and Jon breathed out in relief "If not though he'll die by my hand here today."

The party which rode out included Illyrio and Jon was stunned to see the man on a horse, wondering where they'd gotten one large enough for him to ride. Beside him, Aegon rode along with Harry Strickland, Laswell Peake, Duck, Ser Franklyn Flowers, and Lord Buckler. What had brought the lord and his men to Aegon's side Jon didn't know but Robert's forces had stayed rather than rode away and for that he was grateful.

The same party that had rode to Robert rode towards them now, Jaehaerys, his four white-cloaked Kingsguard, and Jaime Lannister. Jon noticed the scowl on Jaehaerys's face when he looked to Illyrio and the bigger one when he looked to Aegon, turning to see that Aegon also did not look best pleased to be here. Once they reached each other it took a few moments for anyone to speak and it was Aegon who did so, his voice firm and kingly, and Jon felt a momentary rush of pride.

"Brother, it's good to finally meet you." Aegon said and though it was not as warmly as he'd have liked, Jon at least felt it was friendly.

"Brother? I think you've gotten me mistaken with someone else, you're no brother of mine." Jaehaerys said back and if Aegon's voice wasn't warm, then Jaehaerys's was as cold as the Wall itself.

"My name is Aegon Targaryen, trueborn son of Rhaegar and Elia Targaryen and by right of blood, the rightful heir to my father's throne." Aegon said.

"By right of blood, you say? The only son of Rhaegar that lives is the one you face, impostor, as for you." Jaehaerys said to Illyrio "You dare insult my father's name by bringing this mummer here, when your end comes fat man, it'll be bloody on that you have my vow."

"Jaehaerys, please, Aegon is your brother, your father wouldn't wish you to fight each other." Jon pleaded.

"You should know better Jon, Ser Arthur and Ser Barristan tell me how you felt about my father. That you fell for this mummery I can put down to wishful thinking, that you still fall for it though." Jaehaerys said shaking his head.

"Aegon is your brother, Jaehaerys, Varys took him from the Red Keep, he rescued him…"

"Elia would never have allowed one of her children to leave Jon, not one over the other." Arthur said and Jon felt his head drop, it was one of the few things he'd not ever truly come to terms with.

"Princess Elia knew she could not save them both. Aegon was the future of her house, her husband's heir, so she allowed Varys to take him even though it pained her terribly." Illyrio said sadly, Aegon nodding along.

"Don't you dare speak of a woman you know nothing of, you don't have the right and as for you, claiming to be her son is as much a crime as claiming to be my father's is and both will be answered with blood." Jaehaerys said angrily, Jon seeing the hate in his eyes as he looked to Illyrio and Aegon.

"I am the son of the dragon." Aegon said loudly.

"Are you? take off your mask, mummer, let everyone here see the burns that I can smell even from here. Son of the dragon, lets test that out shall we? "Jaehaerys said turning and nodding as the youngest of the Kingsguard rode back to the camp. The knight coming back a few moments later carrying a torch.

"What is that for?" Harry Strickland asked curiously as he looked to the torch.

"A dragon can't be burned." Jaehaerys said taking off his gauntlet and grabbing the torch by the flaming end with his bare hand.

Jon almost screamed for him to stop before he looked on as Jaehaerys moved his hand down and pushed the torch in Aegon's direction, Aegon flinching from the fire.

"A mummer's dragon indeed. You dare come here and call yourself my brother, call yourself the son of the dragon and yet you flinch from the flames like a scared little child. A dragon fears no fire, a dragon brings the fire." Jaehaerys said.

"So you will not kneel to the rightful king?" Illyrio said.

"I'll not kneel to a mummer dragon, a black dragon, a man who comes here with the Golden Company bearing the sword they stole from my family, but I'll give you the same offer I made the usurper, stand and face me and let the gods decide who has the right of it. You win and those who support me will kneel and call you king." Jaehaerys said.

"Fight you, a bastard, I'd not deign to have your blood on my blade." Aegon said dismissively.

"So be it, I give you all but one final offer, leave these lands and never return and I'll grant you safe passage, stay and fight and when I'm done, the Golden Company will be no more than a tale told around a campfire at night." Jaehaerys said.

"Your men will fall here today, bastard." Aegon said.

"For Elia, for Rhaenys, For Aegon, for daring to besmirch their names with your lies. For what you tried to do to my aunt in Volantis and for what you did to my uncle Viserys. Before this day is done you'll kneel before me to offer your surrender or kneel when I take you heads, but either way, you end this day on your knees." Jaehaerys said as he looked at him and shook his head, his disgust clear as he and the others rode away, Aegon raising his hand.

Jon looked on in horror as the arrow flew through the sky and then relief when it glanced off Jaehaerys armor, Jaehaerys stopping and climbing down from his horse and nodding to his Kingsguard as he turned to face them.

"You've woken the dragon now, if I were you I'd run, run for your fuckling lives as they belong to her now" Jaehaerys said his voice loud and fierce as Jon heard a loud roar, and then he saw it as it flew towards them.

White scaled and with blue wings, larger than he ever thought possible, the dragon roared and as he looked behind him, he saw Aegon and the others ride fast towards the camp. Jon alone looking on as the dragon landed and Jaehaerys climbed up on its wing before he sat down facing him and the retreating men.

"Sōvegon Rhaenix, sōvegon se hēnkirī īlon'll maghagon zirȳ se Perzys Ānogār." (Fly Rhaenix, fly and together we'll bring them Fire and Blood.).

A/N: I've edited this to fix a mistake, it's Alysanne and Lyra at Bear Island not Jory and Maege.

Up Next Dany meets an obstacle to her return while Quentyn arrives to put his father's plan into action and we have the Battle of the God's Eye.

Vdwade: With Robert, his time was done, he'd have once Doran made his move been of no more use to Illyrio and so they'd have killed him anyway. Quentyn is headed to Oberyn not HG, We'll see Arianne and Ellaria in a little while. Jon C knows as you see he's still torn but less so and well, hmm foreshadowing we'll soon find out lol. Edmure will meet up with Jon A and face the North.

Ksveela: Glad you felt that with Robert, too often the bad guy dies and that's just it, Robert did bad things but he also had another side of him, here he got a suitable end I think. Illyrio is pulling the strings now, most of the war has been set into motion, so really for them beating Jae and his army could win them it, even say were the North or Jon A to win their fight, they could probably take it, especially with Dorne, of course they didn't plan for the dragon and yep, she's ready now. On the faceless men, we'll see them soon.

Celexys: Yep, beat Jae and win the throne, it's easy right lol.

Guest: the thing is that Robert lost his place as the true danger once he lost the Stormlands, here he controlled maybe less than a fifth of the men, the GC is the true threat and once Robert falls they can declare for Aegon, but Robert's death only ended him, not the war.

Zyrus: Well yep, Robert falls and it really means nothing, the war still goes on as he'd lost his power by then. The IB as you see weren't prepared for what they faced, on Roose, next chapter will explain it.

Xionmao: So glad you liked it.

The Sphinx: Awesome as always.

Vallavarayan: I think that's definitely Robert, I think he can do monstrous things but he's not a monster so to speak, he's not Tywin/LF but he's still not a good man, so here his end felt right to me.

Namenlios: Cursed is the kinslayer is even bigger in canon than that, especially since Jae wishes to portray Robert as such.

Jman: So glad you liked it, sometimes it's hard to pick where to stop, it could have been so much worse and just been the encounter and not the fight lol.

Wayward collision: I agree completely, he will be punished appropriately is all I'll say.

Vfsanke: Jon A may not find out, certainly not before the battle he'll face anyway. I think Doran is ambition trumps everything else, he reaches far too high. Jon C fully knows now.

Ace Venom: I agree, Robert would have loved this, to go out one on one was a boon to his ego, as you say Jae thinking it ends the war is so wrong and Renly, we'll see him soon. Doran's plans are so blinded by his ambition that he can't see the consequences, as you say Oberyn wouldn't be best pleased, plus he's not even really thought about what Tyrion may do.

Yohn has his own issue with the dragons and it's Jon A vs. Ned and he'd always lean Jon A's way, however Jon made an error in his talk and we'll see that soon enough. As you see LF/Cat are hiding in a brothel lol, Edmure thinking that the Knights of the Vale and him would beat the North and then march to Riverrun isn't the worst idea based on what they know, of course it's really a terrible one.

LadyOCtarina: If there is one thing clear in Westeros it's father doesn't know best lol. Seriously the amount of crap caused by fathers in it's entire history is remarkable. On the Glass Candles, barring Marge seeing herself in wedding dress they've not seen the future with them and it's kinda like having a 1,000 channels, you look at the ones you want and miss other stuff on the others.

Oberyn has put a contingency in place but he can't just take Doran out, just in case he's wrong, so we'll see if it works next. We'll see next with Dany, she has one more obstacle in her way.

On Robert, his humanity at the end in a way saved Jae's own too, something we'll see more of later but if anything he helped him.

With the slip up yes, we'll see the ramifications of it, I always wanted a northerner to remind someone of that, Robert was done, after the battle of the Trident the North was the biggest army the rebels had, it's why they marched and why it's suggested Ned could have taken the throne. Roose we'll find out next, it's not Bloodraven though. News won't travel quick enough to allow Jon A to stand down, as for the Baelishes, well they're hiding lol.

I think the faceless men having their own plans is a good thing, it makes them more interesting. On the dragon I think with Robert he was always more focussed on Jae, the dragon wouldn't really have done anything for him, for fAegon well yep, scary times ahead lol, Jae really thought the end was coming, it's not close.

Daryl Dixon: He did and he was able to accept that, it kinda gave him some peach, they will, don't worry.

Remi: On the faceless men, they have their own agenda and without life there is no death. Quentyn's orders are to take Oberyn prisoner if he resists, not to kill him. Oh Rhaenix is certainly pissed, Robert had lost his power by this time, he really couldn't bring the war and so he at least got a decent end, but his death overall means nothing. With Jon A, it's about clinging to power and growing more and more bitter over time, he did mess up though in what he said, so we'll see. We'll see with LF and Cat over the next few chapters.

Murdough: Robert is a lot of things, he's not a coward though, so he'd face it full on. For me it keeps things interesting and allows for a different take, also for anyone who reads another of my stories they're not getting a basic rinse and repeat, it's fun when a character only needs a slight nudge one way or another and they become so different because of it. With the Knights of the Vale/North it's coming.

Jon C has seen the light so to speak, lets see where it leads him. On Cat/Lf it was kinda too easy for them to fall in Riverrun, LF wouldn't allow himself that and he'd think he can move around and do something, so him, Cat, Edmure live to fight another day.

: So glad you liked it, yes as you see fAegon wasn't best pleased with Jae. On Roose next chapter will explain it. Cat/LF hmm, won't say just yet as for Doran his plans become a lot clearer next chapter, Jon A is in the final stages of denial, he really at this point is scrambling with is lies.

Bella swan: He certainly isn't, Rhaenix wouldn't allow it either so yep, fAegon has crossed a huge line with Jae.

Naruto: So glad you liked it.

Adgedless: Robert found his humanity at the end and that it was Jae who he faced only made it sweeter for him. You're right though in terms of the war it makes little difference and the dragon is here. Jon C has seen the light, we'll see now what that means. Illyrio so has made the list lol. I like the idea of almost the gods banding together to face the NK in a way, it's something you see in Greek mythology a lot, them almost having a hero/chosen and helping him along the way. So the faceless men having their own agenda are like, yeah, not thanks. Jon A was so tense, so much so that he messed up. Cat's like a thirsty woman in a desert, LF looks like an oasis at this point.

Jessicanightmarewolf: Well he's certainly brought out the scare tactic lol.

WeBnege: Burntfyre lol It was a far better end for Robert, for him this may only have been better if it was Ned himself who did it. Oh the others are coming, retribution will find them.

Andromedeneaa: Robert's death is not the war, by this stage he was almost irrelevant, basically to Illyrio nothing more than a patsy, once the Stormlands were beaten then Illyrio would have had no use for him and they'd have taken him out anyway, their plan was always to turn on him once he was no longer of use. But the war continues, something's can't be stopped, the North/Vale would fight anyway, the news of Robert not reaching them to stop it and Jon A having no choice but to fight. In terms of him and Ned, he liked Ned well enough when he did what he was told, once he stopped, then he had no use for him.

Biohazard: So glad you liked it.

Flame: Really glad you enjoyed it.

Shaodowquark: So glad you liked it.

Cattyfan: So glad you liked that with Ned/Jon A, he really has and mostly that's down to the wolf, here they influence their human as much as the human influence them. Doran thinks he's play cyvasse and his moves are so far ahead of anyone else's that he can't be beat.

Dunk: That's the thing, Robert had tried to get back into shape but he didn't have the time and Jae, well I've been showing throughout just how good he is, so a long epic fight between them would have been a bit much. Jon C was torn, he still thinks Aegon is Rhaegar's too and as you see he tried to bring them together, now though he knows the full truth. On Doran he pretty much knows fAegon isn't who he claims to be, in truth he kinda doesn't care, it gives him more than Jae does and so that's what he wants, not so much that he thinks he's Elia's.

Now if it turned out he was then he'd be pleased but he really doesn't buy it, more it allows him the crown and that he wants more than anything. He also thinks he's get the perfect checkmate, the GC and his men take out Jae's army, he captures Marge and that negates the dragons (a large part of him believes also that no matter what Rhaenix would never attack Dorne) and so two moves wins the game and he gets what he wants. There are many problems with his plan but he thinks he's got the edge as they don't know he's coming sort of thing. On the Glass Candles, Jae needs a lot of blood to look into the past and see how attacked Marge, he's not actually looking at Doran at all at this point so he's blindsided, now he has the blood and the moment he has time, he's going to look, but Doran in a way is lucky as he's kinda busy.

On Robert and the dragon, I had thought about it but it really needed to be saved for here, he had that humanity at the end, the realization that while he couldn't accept Jae as Rhaegar's, he could as Lyanna's. Anyway, the war goes on as you see.

Bigdog: But not at the risk of becoming a Kinslayer, it's even more a Northern value than swinging the sword yourself, it's also something which is a key thing in the story.

Paulienep: I think though that's how Doran is, it stopped being about Elia and became his blood on the throne, he pretty much allowed Ari to think herself screwed over for years and even when Oberyn fell he pretty much did nothing in canon, so I think it's who he is. Who's behind Roose is up next. The HOBW, we'll find out soon enough, it's not far from Braavos to Westeros. Glad you like the Bran/BF parts, it's hard to show it as we don't see much of them. Jon A at this point may actually believe his own lies, he's kinda a little bit in the Walter White scramble where the world is crashing down and all your plots, lies are being revealed and so you get more and more desperate. Robert totally wanted that, I think it's one of the truest things he says in canon, here it just felt right to give him that end.

Mystiki Ned has grown with Lya by his side. So glad you felt that about Robert. On Doran it's thinking you're smarter and really being a little dumb, Faegon has so woken the dragon lol.

Sovietgod: Chaos abounds.

Canuck: He stopped being a true threat once the Stormlands fell, Jon A reaching desperately for any lie lol Doran is kinda yes.

Prince Loki: He tried to.

Shining anchor: With Quentyn we'll see next chapter, on the Arryn's I don't know how far to go but well House Arryn is in trouble. We will see more of Moat Cailin and Meera in a little while. I think sometimes the tendency with the bad guy is to have them just go out almost without anything, here with Robert, he found some humanity.

Whitedragon: Robert's end only ends him, the war itself has only just begun.

Anja: So glad you liked it.

Read or red: Thanks, fixed it now.

Guest: So glad you think so.

Hartelyskarsgard: So happy you thought so, it felt right to end him that way, we'll se Jaqen in a chapter or two as for Bloodraven, I think next week he'll pop back up.

Guest: As you see we got a Jon C pov. As pissed as Jae is about fAegon as you see here Rhaenix is even more so lol. Doran will get a suitable end.

Darkstar: As you see though, a war only thought to be ended, the world spins once more.

Mslady: I truly believe that's how he is, it stopped being about Elia many years ago for him, otherwise he'd have done something.

Anarchichmind: with the dragons Jae had a plan to show Rhaenix off and Robert gave him the chance to go a different way, it was never really about that for him either, now for fAegon it's totally that.

One of the things is news takes time to travel and Ned/Jon A are about to face themselves either way, the battle will happen before they receive news of Robert's fall. Oh when it comes to those he cares about, Marge and Sansa is there too, yep, he better hope it's Ari or Oberyn who get to him first.

Creativo: Gracias a los dioses por eso.

Scarilla: Exactly it's funny isn't it Jon A and Ned both face to face and almost their own honor duel lol, Ned/Jon A will be next week. On Robert he for all his faults has this side of him that Jon A just didn't, so he was able to find humanity in the end.

1 Obsessed fan: I think it's almost certain I'll do that now, it's as you say easier and a lot of the groundwork etc, takes place here, a sequel would almost spend as much time repeating stuff, so I think I will.

Penmastercole: So glad you think so, I think we can sometimes go over the top too much and less is more at times, plus it was to end Robert more so than the actual war.

Irish Hermit: As you see they're hiding in one of his brothels for now, when next we see them it'll be a LF pov and we'll learn a lot about what plans he had and now has. Jon A is in that place where the lies are unravelling and to keep them going you tell bigger and more unbelievable one, the one thing he has in his favor is news takes time to travel, so the battle is coming before the news.

Robert totally did, he was never really about Rheanix either, not like fAegon was and this here is also why it felt better not to bring her in yet. As you see Faegon is no longer silent, Robert wasn't really paying too much attention, to him he was just a Lyseni sellsword. Doran kinda doesn't care if fAegon is true or not, it's more about his blood. Think of it like this, he wished for Viserys, surely he had some idea of Viserys later on? Yet he was willing to marry him to his daughter, it's as I think it was in the books, all about the throne for him.

Guest: I had thought of that with the IB but they kinda aren't needed, for now anyway. On Dany and Drogo, I won't say anything for now because of spoilers, but all should be clear soon. One issue with the Vale is that House Arryn really needs to be punished so we'll see.

Ironlad: So glad you liked it.

Gajeelrocks: With fAegon he has no support, the West, Reach, North and most of the Riverlands are behind Jae, he has no proof either and even his biggest advantage over Jae, his looks don't help much now. The war has only just begun, we'll see Ned/Jon A next week as for Jon C he's seen the light.

Denoltdn: He did in his own way yes, his end was him looking at Jae and going while he can't accept him as Rhaegar's son he can as Lyanna's. The war with the stag is done, the war with the GC and fAegon just begun. Jon C knows the truth now, what he'll do with it we'll see. Doran intends to take her hostage, the knife to her throat meant that not kill her, originally he wanted her dead, now he's adapted, hold her and Jae is powerless. Doran thinks all the Reach forces have marched to Oberyn and so he has a smooth passage into the Reach, he doesn't know about Garlan. He's also way too sure that Rhaenix won't attack, far too cocky.

Xand007: Thank you my friend. That's the thing, even they know they need to win the war that comes, we'll see who their target is soon enough. LF has money, Cat cleaned the treasury in Riverrun out too, so far they've just ran a little, we'll see their next plan soon enough. Robert was able to accept Jae being Lyanna's, not so much Rhaegar's but her son he could live or die with. One of the things is Jon A has the same rep as Ned to the KOTV so they'll believe him over anyone, however he kinda messed up too. You too my friend.

Ficmaster: Oh we'll see it soon enough, it was noticed.

Dame Layla: Me alegro mucho de escuchar eso y bueno, Doran recibirá el suyo, aunque no dirá cómo.

Spartan: I wish you all he best, anything I can do to keep you sane, I'm more than happy to lol.

SolarxBlack: Yep, one king falls, another rises and Jae finds himself still fighting the same fight lol.

Nixie: I get that, I thought of doing this long drawn out epic thing and it just didn't fit, it would have been fun to read but this felt more right, plus it plays into what came next so that helped too. In the end with Bobby B, it was as it had always been, Lyanna, it was a nice little throwback to it being Rhaegar's last thought too kinda.

Mrspotter: Raise a glass for a fallen warrior.

Tony Warriror: Eres más que bienvenido, amigo mío. Exactamente, realmente no cambia nada, la guerra simplemente continúa en diferentes líderes y sí, Illyrio la habría terminado, aunque no ahora.

Xirawebber: Glad you thought so.

Emeralduke; It was a bit, mainly though because it looked for so long like he was the main enemy, when he lost that role as soon as the Stormlands fell.

Silverglow: I think some of my answers got a bit jumbled. So I need to look at them.

Myrcella we'll see some of her journey but not until the war is over perhaps, Edmure, Cat are all coming to a head.

Doran kinda knows the truth, it's not so much about that anymore, for him it's the throne. There's still a slight chance he could be right and fAegon true, but he really doesn't care and he hasn't fallen for Illyrio's tale, more it suits his purposes. On Edmure it's to me he's that kinda guy who just keeps making mistakes, but he's in a certain position where you have no choice but to follow him, here we're about to see what happens when you keep doing that.

Glad you liked it, I think sometimes we need to set it up so it's not just, how did they get there lol, So Eddard and Robert being shown does that, also introduces the fact that Eddard/Meera are to be Lord/Lady of the Moat. Here this part with the BF was an expansion on the last, allowing for him to have some peace of mind and happiness, even given what else is going on with his family. Robert so would have preferred that, had he thought or heard fAegon say what he was then he'd have tried to kill him, though he'd have failed here.

On Roose, next chapter will sort that out, Tyrion will fight with Ned. The faceless men have different targets than Jae or anyone with him. Richard had people inside so he wants them safe too but yes he gave Gerion the way in.

Rhaenix and Jae feel, see, it's hard to say exactly what the bond is but they feed of each other's emotions at times. The GC was never following Robert, they used him so what happened with him and Jae never mattered to them as you see here.

Yay for Jae. Updates are Tuesday/Thursday, Saturday's are occasional bonus chapters.

1. The Jae/Robert fight really was to be a false victory so to speak, by this stage Robert really isn't important, the pieces are already on the board and he kinda controlled none of them.

The actual fight was a realization for Robert of all those emotions playing into one, he can't accept Jae as Rhaegar's but as Lyanna's he can and so in the end knowing that her son is both not like him, a kinslayer and going to take the throne, he can die peacefully.

For Jae the momentary stop, allows him to not become the kinslayer, where had Robert just died he'd have accepted it, but he was given time to think and the adrenaline of the fight had time to die down.

The cursed is the Kinslayer is a thing in Westeros and here, we've seen it with Robert to an extent, and well there is someone even more cursed then he out there for Jae to deal with. I'd love to show so many different pov's it's hard to both find the time to write them all and to keep a pace with events too, so we may see some over time.

2. That's the thing, Renly really would claim it and well he has no forces, so it'll be fun to see him when we do. The rest is pretty much that, the LOTNS are behind the GC and in the Stormlands the Dornish have the Stormlanders contained.

3. I love the idea of gods while not joining up with each other, almost helping out at times, it's something we see in Greek Hero myths, where Perseus or Jason have a quest mission and over time the gods give their favors, help. So here with the HOBW there is some of that, the LF thing was a little nod to that, his Braavosi background knowing a little more of them than anyone else. He's obviously not one, as for Jaqen, we'll see him soon enough.

4. The Riverlands is always where the wars take place, or where they come too, here given the people involved it was always going to be the thing. Edmure won't be caught with his pant's down again, he may wish he was though and LF/Cat as you see are spending their honeymoosn in a brothel lol. The Stoney Sept was where Jae arranged the meeting with Jaime, but the God's Eye is basically in between it and where Robert and the GC came from in Duskendale, it just seemed a fitting place for the battle.

'll see with the Bloodroyal, Stannis is done for when it comes to the throne. We'll see Rolland Storm in a bit, I'm a big fan. On the movement, it was basically that some of the troops weren't beaten and captured by Oberyn's forces, so they kinda hope they were coming to them. Lord Selwyn will pop up very soon, next chapter I think.
Oberyn had seen it first hand with Ghost so he kinda knew it was Jae, or hoped it was.

7. One of the thing with the inventions, is that how shall I put this without spoiling, for everything there is a season, so to speak. Jae did what he needed to do, but not all he can do, because it was time to look elsewhere, soon it won't.

On the ships, Westeros seems just before Galleon's and sails really took over, it's in the spot where there is some but not all, mainly oar power still. Galleon's changed the world, and soon every nave relied on sails far more than oars. I went Pinnacle because I wanted something that showed simply and effectively these were so far ahead of anything else, the top of the food chain so to speak.

8. Ned having Lya by his side, even more so than having his eyes opened has allowed the wolf come to the fore. One of the things the books do is they show the Starks influencing the wolves, the mannerisms etc. Well to me it's a two way street, the connection is more than that, so Ned feeds off Lya's wolfishness and it brings his own out even more. Jon A slipped up, amongst his lies he told a truth and someone heard it. On the KOTV, it's funny I haven't delved much into them here for a couple of reasons.

A) them being antagonists in a way B) one of my other stories has Jon raised more in the Vale and I did it far more there.

This is Ser Vardis's brother.

On Maege laying the smack down, I always really wanted that shown, after the battle of the trident, the North really is the only force left on the rebel side, the others are almost done. Hell Robert had barely an army left.

9. One of the things with Jae and the BF, is that and I know this doesn't always come across but sometimes Jae isn't just thinking of what's in front of him, sometimes he is thinking politically. With the convo with the BF, it was public and Jae ended it, had it been private or had the BF said much more than he'd have been hit with far more, as it was there was no need. Jae is looking at it from the perspective of Bran and the future as much as what he thinks. It's why even in the song, the BF kinda gets an easier time of it then his kin.

But yes, him being there as you see is important too.

We will see Meera/Eddard, another thing here was to intro that so to speak but yes we'll see it, On Roose, next chapter will explain it.

10. Won't say much about the Reach, on the letter to Robert though that was part of it, the use of those vows reversed and the NW vows in particular play a part. Marge is relatively safe, as much as anyone ever is in war, but the pin is important.

11. Euron technically here at this point in canon is in exile banished from the Iron Islands, where he is and what he's up to, well hmm, are you right or wrong or was that just a throwaway line about pirates, really would I do such a thing lol. Bloodraven didn't send him the vision by his own choice however, once a connection has been opened, does it close?, hmm things to ponder.

12. Doran thinks he's smarter than the average bear, his main goal is to get his blood directly on to the throne and he'll do what it takes to get that. Plan A failed, plan B we're about to see.

The problem is he's using Quentyn, he's making assumptions and he thinks no one knows..

13. Cigarettes are dangerous for your health but may very well have saved Westeros from so much trouble lol.

Xan Merrick: Thank you my friend. He just thinks he's running the game so to speak, a bit like LF does at times, you think you're smarter than everyone around you and that's enough, sometimes it's really not. Those with Edmure really do and will think what the hell did we do soon enough. I know, it was whiplash for Eddard, though the future is bright for him. Roose we'll see next, Robert, Jon C seeing Arthur, so glad you liked that, the realm will react to Arthur being alive, his legend will grow. We'll see with Jaqen, but no way they were taking that contract. Gerion is chasing after Edmure so we'll see if he catches him. LF has a plan which we'll see soon enough, for now they'll hide in the brothel. Jon C as you say knows the truth, what he'll do with it we're about to find out. Glad you liked the Robert/Jae fight.

Victoria Terrors: Thank you my friend. Glad you liked the fight, a false king and a true one. Oberyn we'll see next, lets just say he is smart enough. On Ned, having Lya with him allows for the true wolf side of him to come out. So glad you liked the letter, it needed to be emotional as it was perhaps the only time Jae/Dany would speak. As you see the GC are ready to attack, Robert's death made no difference. We'll see more of the BF, hope you liked this bit here. Oh Jae finding out about Doran trying to hurt Marge we'll be interesting, it's coming, that's all I'll say.

Liza: No worries my friend. I had thought long and hard about it with Cat/LF and I really felt here it works, in a way she's forced herself into this corner and she sees LF as a solution and he is anything but. You're right yes, the main war just started, Robert's death is less important to that than it was to Jae.

One of the things is that having a big battle, Jae fighting his way to Robert or vice versa didn't feel right here, this Robert is not the Demon of the Trident, Jae would spend a lot of time on Rhaenix's back, so it'd be contrived to get them to face each other. But Jae calling him out, Robert would be all over that and having Jae think it ended the war, only to find out it really didn't works so much better imo. On the IB the North was more than ready for them, there is a reason why they didn't attack until the North left and this north has more people, more coin and a heads up, so the IB faced a very different scenario, is that the end of them, we'll see.

Doran's picked his side, he's against Jae, he thinks he's found a way to win, lets see if he's right. We'll see about the timeframe, may be a bit longer than that, but we'll see. You too my friend, stay safe and well and keep a smile on your face.