The God's Eye 298 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

He looked into the glass candles and saw nothing for some time before the images began to appear. Around him, his Kingsguard and Jaime watched on and while they saw it, he could feel it. The hatred, the disgust, Doran Martell thought him a disgrace, a dishonor to his house and his sister. Jae could fell his glee as he made his deal with the Darkstar, his eagerness as he so casually spoke about the potential death of his wife.

To Doran, Margaery was nothing, less than nothing. He felt no emotion from the man as he asked the Darkstar to kill her. That he then felt nothing about going back on his agreement with Ser Gerold wasn't a surprise, the prince was a snake, a true one. He needed to see more, to find out what else the man was planning. He would put an end to each and every one of his plots and schemes and then to the man himself. Jae could feel his anger rise, his temper on the verge of making him explode.

The images changed over and over again, showing him meaningless conversations as he realized he had lost focus. He'd let his anger cloud his mind and for this, he needed to be calm. When he saw her, he almost cried, this woman who had called him her son and been taken from him like so much of his family. Elia and his father liked each other, but there was no love there, he could feel that clearly now. When he'd seen her before he'd not understood, not felt it himself fully. Now though he knew what love felt like, how his father's heart beat that much faster when his mother was around, just as his own did when he was with Margaery.

"My brother is the true snake you should fear Rhaegar."

As he heard Elia speak of Doran it was with concern for his father in her voice, concern but not worry, not panic. That was the difference, he knew that now. When you loved someone, thought them in danger, or feared you may lose them, you panicked. Your worries intensified and your smallest fears became so much larger when the person you loved was involved. Elia warned his father about Doran but that fear and panic wasn't there in her voice.

He watched as the images changed again, Elia was now laying on a bed with a young man, a smile on her face as he stroked her hair and she, his chest. Both of them were fully clothed and it was innocent enough, but he felt it then, the love, the increased beatings of both their hearts. They were so young and for Jae, it reminded him so much of himself and Margaery that he feared he may lose the image. Trying to put Margaery out of his mind he concentrated as hard as he could to keep the other image in front of him.

"You would not die for me?" Elia asked with a smile.

Jae smiled as he listened to them, watched them, felt them. He knew now who this man was as he heard them speak, a man he'd read about but knew nothing of. This was the love she'd lost, the future she had wished for, and that had been denied to her. Even after that loss, she would not deny his father the same chance for happiness. Oberyn had said Elia was too good for this world and even had he not agreed at the time, seeing her now, feeling what she felt, it was clear that she had been.

The images changed once more, the same man sitting this time with Doran, and Jae felt it once more. Contempt, disgust, hatred, Doran felt for this man how he felt for Jae, he was an obstacle, something to be removed from the board and nothing more. Had this been a Greendream then Jae would have shouted at the man not to drink the offered wine. Alas it was not and shouting in a tent full of people at a candle would not only be pointless, but it may raise questions that his actions may have raised enough today.

Instead, he watched on as the man drank, and as the light went from his eyes. Jae's features were less controlled than they had been he knew as he could feel the snarl on his face. When the images stopped he fell back exhausted, though that was mainly from the sheer effort of holding in how he felt so he could see. The moment he felt able he jumped to his feet and went to leave. He'd burn Dorne to the ground to get to him, set the Water Gardens ablaze just to see Doran burn.

Jaime, Arthur, Barristan, and even Loras spoke, they tried to get him to steady himself, and yet they could not, Jae pushing past them, and only when Richard wouldn't let him pass did he pause. What was said he couldn't remember only that he fell and woke up with them all around him. Jae looking up at an apologetic Richard who at least seemed to have something to add to what he'd seen, and hadn't tried to stop him simply because of what he may do.

Listening on he began to see it more clearly, the army not having traveled, Quentyn trying to get the Dornish to meet up with the mummer dragon and the Golden Company. Good luck with that he thought with a smirk as he looked down on the map. The Reach was wide open, the Marcher Lord had ridden to battle and Tarly was here with him. An army would have free passage to, to, Highgarden, he thought as his fingers traced the map. Jae turned to walk from the tent, his rage simmering and his focus clear.

"Firstly I'm going to speak to my sister, then I intend to spear a snake, Ser Barristan." he said after giving his orders to Jaime and the others.

He walked to his sister, Arthur, and Loras walking behind him and when he found her she was resting. Though her eyes were wide open and it was physical rest and not sleep his sister needed. Leaning against her head he closed his eyes and opened their link, their conversation was for them and them alone.

"He's betrayed us worse than we think, Rhae. He tried to have Margaery killed, I believe he's going to try to do so again, but his betrayal runs deeper than that."

"I saw little brother, I felt as you felt. My mother, she was happy Jae, I've seen her that way before, with Egg, with me, sometimes with father, she was happy too but not like that."

"I want to burn him, Rhae, I want to fly and burn him, why? Why would that make me a monster? Is it not right I feel this way?"

"I want him dead Jae, he is my kin but ask it of me and I'll burn him for you."

"I'd never do it, " he said aloud, repeating Elia's words and feeling Rhaenix's approval as she moved against him.

He stayed with her for some time and then walked back to his tent, a plan now forming in his head. When he arrived back he found Richard had brought his glass candle and so he sat down, not really sure where to begin as he cut his hand and let the blood flow over the candle. He needed to speak to Margaery, to Garlan, to ready them for what may come, but more than that he needed to know where and when the Dornish army would march.

His mind was flittering between the two as he looked at the candle, whether that was the reason for what he saw, he couldn't be sure. But it wasn't Margaery he saw, nor was it the Dornish army that Doran intended to use to place her in danger. Instead, it was Doran himself, he was speaking to Quentyn and then to his large Norvosi guard, Areo Hotah the man was called, a man utterly loyal to Doran, Oberyn had told him once.

Next, he saw Doran sitting in a room, the malevolence that he felt coming from the man was palpable, the phrase he heard was like a dagger to his heart. A snake at his back and a knife to the throat of the woman he wished to name his queen. He felt the change as he gripped the table, the images in front of him flashing, and then he saw it. She was being held on a balcony, a man gripping her by the hair, a knife in his hand and as he looked on the knife moved across Margaery's throat.

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooo." he screamed at the top of his lungs.

He didn't see Jaime, or Arthur, Barristan, or Richard, none of them, nor did he feel Loras when he gripped his hands or Brienne as she tried to help him. Even Walder was not able to pull his grip from the table as he held on and then he saw nothing but a thousand doors opening at once as his eyes went white. A thousand eyes and one as a dragon roared from outside the tent and across Westeros animals as one made their own angered noises.

Dorne 298 AC.

Arianne.

Quentyn leaving had caught her by surprise, she'd not thought her father to be stupid enough to send her brother to carry out any true part of his plan. Her eyes had been on others, Ser Gascoyne, Ser Manfrey, Maester Myles and Ricasso, Alyse Ladybright, and Areo. Arianne had felt that her father would use smarter, cleverer people than her brother.

The simple truth was whatever role her father had asked Quentyn to play would be beyond him. He'd have been better off sending Trystane, her younger brother was a boy still and yet he outshone Quentyn both in wit and charm. Arianne believing in a year or so he'd outshine him with a spear also. So she had missed it and cursed herself for doing so. The letter from Ellaria scolding her for not listening to her not making her feel much better either.

Finding out later he was going to the Stormlands at least made her feel a little more at ease. Her brother could rarely match wits with anyone, against Oberyn it was as a big a mismatch as if he'd faced him in the yard. Speaking to Daemon it soon became clear what her father's plan was and she laughed at the stupidity of it, only for Daemon to gave her reason to pause.

"Yronwood, princess." Daemon said as they sat drinking some wine.

"What of the Bloodroyal?" she said dismissively.

"Remember what you said of him?"

"That he's Criston Cole Reborn, He whispers in my brother's ear that he should rule after my father, that it is not right for men to kneel to women ... that Arianne especially is unfit to rule, being the willful wanton that she is." she said the words rolling off her tongue easily as she had said them more than once.

"Perhaps this is his chance to see it done?" Daemon said and she laughed only to see the serious look on his face.

"You really think my father would replace me?"

"I think your father wishes you to be a queen, not a princess. What moves would make it so?"

She knew he had wished her and Jaehaerys to be together. That her heart was Tyrion's and Jae's, Margaery's, would have been an obstacle to that. Yet he had accepted Tyrion's offer and she had assumed that to be the end of it. Was it not? Did he still see her as a queen and not princess of Dorne? She sipped on her wine and let her mind wander. Using the Darkstar to kill Margaery would suggest he did, but that had been before he'd agreed to the match with Tyrion, hadn't it?

Had she messed up and mistaken the timing in her head? she began to think about things even more. No, Ser Gerold had met with her father before he'd agreed to the match before he had known the truth of Tyrion. Arianne breathed a sigh of relief, here worrying about a plot against her love had briefly clouded her mind and left everything else unclear. Still, though her mind wandered as she tried to see the moves her father was making.

Quentyn, Yronwood, maybe others, could they wrest control of the army from Oberyn? If so why? To what end? Dorne couldn't dare take on the might of the dragons nor the army that Jae had at his back. Her father would never treat with the Falcon and the Stag, would he? She briefly shuddered as she thought of Robert's Rage, the horror of it something that disgusted her as much as the man himself did.

Soon tough an even more horrible thought occurred to her, one which forced her to drain her glass and quickly refill it. Robert was unwed, his heirs were not his heirs any longer. Would her father see her wed to the man who'd laughed over her cousin's bodies, her aunts? Would Dorne allow him to?.

"Princess?" Daemon asked worriedly when he saw her expression.

"If my father wed me to Robert, how would Dorne react?" she asked and saw Daemon laugh "Please Daemon, I need to know?"

"Your father would be dragged through the streets, Oberyn would probably do it himself. Dorne would never accept it princess." Daemon said and Arianne nodded.

He was right, they would not, Oberyn would not, unless, unless. No, Oberyn would see betrayal like this coming, wouldn't he?

"Oberyn, does he trust Anders Yronwood?"

"Of course not, they are perhaps on friendlier terms but he'd never trust the man." Daemon said.

She began to drum her fingers on the table, Daemon was right, even if they managed to take her uncle out of the equation, something she had no doubt they'd fail at, it still didn't lead them anywhere near putting her on a throne. Her father would be better waiting until she and Tyrion were married, at least then they'd have a claim. If he wished his blood on the throne all he'd have to do was wait. Perhaps one day Arianne and Tyrion's child may well be wed to the king of the seven kingdoms she thought, a small smile on her face as she did so before she shook her head trying to concentrate on the matter at hand.

"How ready are we to take my father?" she asked.

"We're ready, give the word, Princess and it shall be done." Daemon said and she nodded, now wasn't the time, she needed to know more.

The next few nights were restless, her dreams were disturbed as her mind tried to fathom her father's plans. Robert was out, he simply wouldn't win, Dornish spears added to his own forces would be burned under a dragon's flames and Dorne itself would burn if her father tried to go against Jae. The dragons, dragons were key, how to stop them would be her father's first objective, Cyvasse it was a game of Cyvasse she realized as she sat up in her bed.

She looked down to the empty space beside her, her lion's place or was he a dragon now she thought with a warm smile as she brushed her fingers over the sheet. Standing up she walked to the window, the cool air feeling refreshing against her nude body. It allowed her to shake the last vestiges of sleep from her mind and after arranging for a warm bath, she readied for the day. Cyvasse, she needed the board and she needed a player to play against.

"You have other pieces besides the dragon princess, try moving them some time" Daemon said mockingly as he beat her once again.

"How do you negate my dragon so easily?" she asked.

"A dragon is strong and most new to the game think that grants them victory, so they ignore the other pieces. But these." he picked up the rabble "and these." he picked up the spearmen "These can win as long as the King is not who you focus on killing at first."

She looked down at the table as Daemon set it up once more, the game she played now was a much different one, the dragon fell quickly, the trebuchet and the catapult falling soon after, and when she was on the verge of winning she saw it.

"We need to take my father, now. Send a raven to Hellholt and make sure Ellaria and the children are safe, we need to make our move now before we have none left open to us." she said as Daemon looked to her "Now Daemon." she shouted.

The knight ran from the room and Arianne looked down at the board, a king boxed in couldn't give orders, dragons, or no. Spears at his back would pierce him but the knife to his heart would be more literal. Her father didn't wish to kill Jae, he wished to have him do it himself.

Kings landing 298 AC.

Renly.

When news came from the Stormlands he'd been stunned, he held no love for Stannis, he was his brother by blood and not choice. It hadn't always been that way, he knew he'd loved him once but when Robert put him in charge of Storm's End his brother had never forgiven him. Even though it was Robert who chose to slight him, Renly had been the one to face his scorn.

But knowing he'd been beaten, was captured, and perhaps even dead, Renly had found himself upset and more than just at the loss of their men. While Robert marched with the Golden Company, Jon Arryn with the Knights of the Vale, Renly felt it was not enough. The numbers didn't add up and Robert was not the man he had once been nor was Jon Arryn truth be told.

The Lord Hand had left him with a problem and one he'd moved too late to fix, word coming to him of Lysa Tully and her son's imprisonment days after he took his place. The lady herself hadn't taken to the black cells well, her death though was not something he felt any remorse for, why she'd bitten through her tongue he dared not guess. It was the boy who troubled him, Gormon tried his best but he'd been in the cells too long and in the end, they'd had no choice. The milk of the poppy ending his suffering and only reinforcing Renly's own.

"My love, you seem troubled?" Michael asked.

"Just thinking on Robert." he said softly as he walked back to the bed.

"I'm sure his grace will be victorious."

"Not my brother, Lysa Tully's boy." he said shaking his head and readying to dress.

"It was not your fault Renly, you tried to save him, his death is not on your hands." Michael said and Renly nodded, welcoming the kiss he got and wishing he had time for more.

"We need to check our stores, just in case." he said pushing Michael away.

"You're no fun." Michael pouted and Renly kissed him hard before whispering that they'd have fun later.

He had confiscated the food in the city, Tyrell's stores being the first place he'd sent the gold cloaks too. That it would lead to problems was something he couldn't do anything about. They couldn't risk running out in a siege and their own stocks were far lower than he had hoped. In hindsight, he'd not have done it, the resulting fights and near-riots that had broken out forcing him to divert more and more men to Flea Bottom.

They'd lost a half dozen gold cloaks and had killed more than four times that amount of people while trying to keep order. Even now there were places in the city that he knew men wearing the colors of the crown feared to tread. The city had to hold though, the Red Keep had to hold, and it was his duty to hold it. It had become clear to him from early on that he wasn't cut out for this part of ruling, something which had opened his eyes and changed his mind more times than he could count.

"You could be king, my love?".

"Robert is king."

"But he has no heirs."

"Stannis."

He had dismissed it at the time as just pillow talk, but with Stannis falling, be he dead or captured, and Robert outnumbered on the battlefield, he could very soon be the last of his house. The thought of that causing a shiver to run down his spine as he walked through the Red Keep. Robert had left Ser Preston with him and the Kingsguard kept close to him at all times. But the man's presence brought him no feeling of safety or allayed any of his fears. Should Robert fall, yes he'd be king, but did he wish to be and what good was a crown if you've no head to put it on.

No, if Robert fell he'd surrender the city, he'd not taken up arms against the dragon and maybe he'd keep his lordship. After breaking his fast he spoke to Aron Santagar, the Red Keep's master of arms telling him they were in a strong position should the worst come to pass. The rest of the day he spent listening to petitions, doing his best with limited supplies, and fewer men to see to the needs of those he could. Renly knew he could risk alienating the wretches in Flea Bottom far easier than he could the Lords and Knights of the realm.

"I'm so glad that's over." Michael said to him and Renly couldn't agree more as they saw the final lord, he was just about to rise from the throne when the commotion at the door caught his eye.

"Magister?" he said seeing Illyrio and some of his men trying to come in, his guards stopping them until he bid them stand down.

"Lord Renly, we must speak in private." Illyrio said the man's worried features made him fear the worst, little knowing just how bad the worst would be.

He had him directed to the royal apartments, Illyrio and a young man wearing a silver mask, he, Michael, and Ser Preston all hurrying to get there. Which given Illyrio's girth was a sight to see. Still, the man kept pace and out of breath though he was when they got to sit, he didn't wait long to tell him the terrible truth. Robert was dead, their army beaten and soon the Lion and Dragon would be on their door, literally in the second case.

"A dragon?" he said shocked.

"A dragon, he burned the Golden Company to dust, we barely made it away from him." Illyrio said while the boy just looked at them both, his silver hair catching his eye though it was the thoughts of what to do next which filled his mind.

"We must offer terms, surrender, perhaps it's time for you to leave Magister? If what you say is true which I have no doubt it is, then perhaps you should be in Essos rather than here."

"Surrender, leave, we will not, we'll fight until the last man if need be?" the boy said angrily.

"Who are you to tell me what to do?" he asked.

"I am your king." the boy said standing up.

"Aegon, sit, Ser Preston if you will." Illyrio said and Renly looked on in horror as the Kingsguard smacked Michael hard in the back of the head knocking him to the ground before drawing his sword and placing it at Michael's neck.

"Ser Preston, Magister?" he asked his voice shocked and yet relieved when he saw Michael move.

"Think yourself lucky I still need a stag, Lord Renly, you will do as I tell you or I'll make you watch as your companion here suffers for your refusal, is that understood?" Illyrio asked and Renly nodded.

"Good, now bow to your king." the silver-haired boy said.

"King?"

"I am Aegon Targaryen, the sixth of my name, King of the Andals, Rhoynar and First Men, kneel before me or I'll have Ser Preston remove one of your lover's eyes and make you eat it." the boy, Aegon said, Renly looking to Michael with terror in his eyes.

"Your Grace, I am at your command." Renly said as he took a knee.

"Good, Lord Hand, tell the stag what it is we wish of him." the boy said with a smile.

He listened on as Illyrio gave him orders, shut down the city, have the Gold Cloaks man the walls, ready the Red Keep for a siege, and send men to the docks to stop all ships from docking. Looking from Illyrio to Aegon to Michael, he knew he had no choice and so he did s they told him, and as he lay in the black cells that night he only hoped that his love was safe and unharmed. He prayed they'd need him for longer and that when it came the dragon would burn them all.

Oldtown 298 AC.

Samwell.

The Citadel had come back to some order after the deaths and disappearance of the magisters. Sam had watched as men had been made Archmaesters though they weren't quite ready, as links had been formed a little sooner and as moves had been made to make the place more secure. They had no true guards but had hired men to act as them, one of them a man Sam had become friendly with.

The man was older than most, slightly overweight and Sam had found him to be funny, even if he spoke oddly. He'd been wary about who he befriended after what had happened with the man that Jon Snow and Marwyn had sent to him. No, not Jon Snow, Jaehaerys Targaryen according to the ravens the Citadel had received. To say that had thrown the Citadel into a furious state of whispers and arguments would be an understatement.

Some Archmaesters saying it was clearly a lie, that there was no proof of such a thing and what evidence did the boy have. Others speaking of the things he'd been able to do and using that as proof enough that he was a dragon. Telling tales he'd listened to eagerly of about how the Targaryen blood was magical and how it explained it all. Whether that was true or not Sam knew Jon Snow had magic in his blood, he'd seen it first hand after all, isn't that what warging was.

As for the boy himself, at first, he'd feared Jon Snow, it had obviously been him behind the deaths and disappearances, and given what he could do, Sam knew he couldn't hide. But then the letter had arrived and while it hadn't cleared up everything it had given a reason for it, one he knew now to be ever more true.

"A letter from a friend." young Sam, the young woman said.

"I have no friends other than here?" he replied.

"Yet a letter has arrived all the same."

He opened it and read through it quickly, the words not clear but yet he understood them all the same.

Sam,

No doubt you have misgivings about a role you played. While I cannot remove them, allow me to try and alleviate them and any concern you may have about whether your role puts you at risk. Life is about choice, Sam, and some people make terrible choices. Choices that others have to pay for and which may cause them pain. The choices certain men made caused my family and me great pain, more than you can ever imagine. So my choice was clear and I live with it knowing it was the right one, one day you may find out the truth about why I made that choice, I hope if you do that you understand. Until that day, I wish you all the best Sam, study hard, and be what you wish to be, and do so free of any fear. For you have no need to fear me making the same choice with you.

He had read the letter and wasn't surprised it wasn't signed, some things were better left that way he felt. When he found out the truth about Jon he had begun to wonder if the family he spoke of was the Targaryens and not the Starks as he had imagined at first. Over time he had come to believe that to be the truth, little comments he'd hear whispered in the library at night further proof of that.

"Just as well Theobald didn't live to see the dragon's return."

"Vaellyn used to rant about them when he was in his cups".

"As did Gallard."

He began to wonder just what they had done to anger the dragon so, how little he knew of what truly went on here still a surprise to him after his almost four years of being here. Sam had gone from novice to acolyte, had forged a half dozen links already, and to some was considered a prodigy. While some treated him how he'd been treated for most of his life, people like Leo Tyrell, though that had perhaps been because they had known each other before he got here. Others like Pate, Armen, Mollendar, and Roone had become his friends.

A few nights later Sam made his way to the Quill and Tankard to meet up with his friends, no doubt he have to listen to Pate speak on Rosey though he knew the others would prefer to speak on dragons. For the novices and acolytes, the truth about Jon Snow had led to many discussions on whether or not he was the only hidden dragon, and would they soon see them over the skies once more, Sam smiling at the thought. He hurried down the wynds and alleys finally making it to the tavern, laughing when he saw them already drinking as he walked inside.

"Here he is now, Sam will tell the truth of things." Mollander said hushing the others.

"Aye, Sam will call you a liar to your face, Leo." Pate said while Roone and Armen laughed.

"I will?" he asked.

"Aye, tell him, Sam, you've met Jaehaerys Targaryen, tell him he's not silver-haired and purple-eyed like Leo claims he is." Pate said.

"Aye, I've met him, he's dark-haired and grey-eyed." he said taking his seat.

"When have you met him, fat boy?" Leo said.

"I met him here in Oldtown when he came for Lady Lynesse's wedding to Lord Mormont and then again during the tourney at Highgarden, I traveled back here with his cousin's the Starks." he said and watched as Leo gulped.

"Pay up." Pate said and Sam watched as Leo gave over some coins before he got up and walked from the table angrily.

"The drinks are on me lads." Pate said to loud laughs.

He spent the night japing and jesting with his friends, the drinks flowing and all of them singing along with the rest of the tavern as The Hidden Dragon and The Greedy Falcon and The Rutting Stag were played. Sam feeling unsteady on his feet when they rose and began to sing along with The Mockingbird who fooled a Falcon. While the others stayed for longer, Sam felt he had enough and made his way back to the Citadel, seeing his friend on duty as he arrived.

"A man looks unsteady on his feet." Barlos said

"I may have." Sam hiccupped "Had too much to drink." he said hiccupping once more.

"A man will help you inside." Barlos said and Sam leaned against him as they moved in through the halls and past the gates to their cells, Sam trying not to laugh at the idea of how much he'd wanted one here in this part of the living quarters.

Four years it had taken him to be given a cell beside the Maester's and Archmaesters, that he was a favorite of Ebrose perhaps being the real reason he'd been gifted one and not someone else. As Barlos helped him through he heard the man being questioned on what he was doing here, though given he was basically stopping Sam from falling over, it should have been clear he thought as he chuckled.

Before he knew it he was been laid down on his bed, Barlos moving his feet onto to mattress and Sam feeling grateful for the help as he wasn't sure he'd have been able to manage it himself.

"A man should rest." Barlos said.

"Thank you, my friend."

"Valar Morghulis."

"Vale Dohaeris." he said as he drifted off to sleep.

Highgarden 298 AC.

Olenna.

War was a terribly dull thing, especially how Mace fought it she thought as she sighed at yet another feast. Garlan had set up patrols, drills, he had a cavalry force ready to ride out at the first call from Jae. Meanwhile, Mace held court, feasted, spoke of great victories, and the faith his future Goodson had placed in him. She swore if she heard the Battle of Ashford being spoken of once more she'd go as mad as Aerys had been.

Olenna had done her best to keep Margaery and Sansa busy, she and Alerie had spoken over and over to her granddaughter about plans for when she was queen. Sansa had helped the seamstress add designs to Margaery's wedding dress when needed, the thing was a work of art and Olenna had to wipe a tear from her eye every time she thought of it. The idea of Margaery wearing that dress and standing beside Jae as they married in the Sept of Baelor was one which she could barely believe was so close to being true.

Garlan had spoken to her of Jae's plans, while she understood the basic's of war, she was no expert and her grandson had reassured her of their soundness. Willas had spoken of the politics of the situation and this was a ground she was far more comfortable covering. Robert and Jon Arryn had backed themselves into a corner, so much so that her grandson couldn't see where anything other than a complete military victory would end up with them still in power.

Something that she briefly worried could happen when she heard about the Golden Company, though Jae had assured Margaery that it was no issue and she felt if anyone would feel the dragon's flames it would be Bittersteel's men. She made her excuses and headed to her room, Mace was about to launch into yet another story of beating Robert and she could feel the headache come on immediately.

"Grandmother, are you well?" her sweet rose asked her after she ran after her, the white wolf keeping pace precisely by her side.

"I am sweetling, just tired, I'll see you on the morrow." she said kissing her on the cheek and looking down at the silent wolf, words were not needed as the wolf understood her well enough.

That Jae had left Ghost with them was something that comforted her, she'd prefer a Kingsguard of course but the white wolf was perhaps more dangerous than even Ser Arthur. He never left her side either, the wolf always seeming to be awake when she was, Olenna not even sure if the fierce thing ever slept. As she lay down she hoped to soon hear some news, the not knowing was something that bothered her more than anything.

She was woken that night by howling and in her worried state didn't even bother to properly dress, the dressing gown she threw over her shift all she wore as she raced to the door.

"What's happened, Margaery, has something happened to my granddaughter?" she asked Left who shook his head.

"Erryk has gone to her room my lady, do you wish to go see her?" Left asked and she nodded.

When they got to Margaery's room, they found Sansa, Willas, Garlan, Mace, and Alerie all there too, Margaery though was unharmed and she breathed a huge relieved sigh before immediately worrying that something had happened to Jae.

"Is it Jae? Has something happened?" she asked.

"No, I think my brother is unhurt, it's something else, a warning, he wants us to be wary I think." Sansa said and Olenna looked to Margaery who seemed not to be upset.

"How do you know?" Mace asked and for once it was the right question her son had come up with.

"When Fang howled I warged into her, it was strange, I felt…I don't know. But I felt one thing more than anything." Sansa said.

"Danger to the pack." Margaery answered for her and Sansa nodded.

Mace blustered while Garlan did not, immediately walking from the hallway they were in and she smiled to see him take control, glad he was here and not fighting elsewhere. When Mace and Alerie left for their bed, she watched on as Sansa spoke to Margaery and then as Willas escorted the girl to her room. Olenna walking into her granddaughter's with her.

"You're not worried about Jae?" she asked, worried her granddaughter may be holding it in.

"No, look grandmother." she said walking over to Ghost "Ghost is Jae hurt?" she asked and Olenna almost fell to the ground when the wolf shook its head.

"How does, how….oh, I give up, I'm going back to bed." she said, tonight was not the night to figure out how her granddaughter could speak to wolves now.

"He's safe grandmother, trust me." Margaery said and hugged her, Olenna hugging her back before she walked from the room.

"Right, stay here with her." she said and her giant guard nodded as she and Left walked back to her room.

It took them two days to find out what it was that they were being warned about, a Dornish army was marching through the Reach, Garlan's scouts had said. That they'd passed Horn Hill making it clear where their destination was. Mace smiled like the fool he was, though truth be told he didn't have the full details, yet even had he, she felt the reaction would be the same.

"This is good news, Dorne is allied with our king." Mace said.

"Yet they march to us and not to the king." Willas said.

"Obviously his grace sent them to us." her son said and she sighed once more.

"Why would he father? No this is something else and when they get here we'll be ready for them, I'll have the men form up, the defenses manned." Garlan said rising.

"I'm the Lord here son, I'll see to the men." Mace said and Garlan put his hand into his pocket to take the letter out, Olenna shaking her head.

"Allow Garlan to see to the details Mace, you need to be rested and ready should a battle commence." she said and saw him nod, Garlan giving her a relieved look as he left the room.

"Why would Dorne attack us grandmother?" Willas said as they walked down the hall a little later.

"Doran wishes to see his daughter on the throne Willas, it's not us he seeks to attack, it's Margaery." she said.

"What but? King's Landing, that was Doran?" he asked and she nodded "I'll see her guards are trebled, she needs to keep indoors, her and Sansa." he said hurrying off.

Olenna felt furious with herself, she'd allowed her mind to be swayed. Logic dictated that Doran wouldn't do anything until Jae was crowned, that they had time to deal with him once the war was done. Now she felt they should have done so before it, either through Jae or she should have sent someone after the Dornish prince herself. She only hoped that she'd live not to regret it.

Highgarden 298 AC.

Garlan.

His scouts told him that the Dornish army was just shy of 10,000 men. Half spears and half horse, his own force was a little less than 20,000 not including those his father had which would have brought it to 40,000. But unlike his own, his father's men weren't ready to fight, most weren't even here. While Garlan had assembled his men, his father had called the lords and he'd put them on standby. So rather than a true force of 40,000, he had a little over 25,000.

What he didn't know was the mettle of the Dornish army, he believed the men he had gathered would hold, but if the men against them were the best that Dorne had to offer, he couldn't be certain they would. Something which concerned him almost as much as the ground he'd be forced to do battle on. Were he to chose a field to face an enemy on, this would not be it. The ground was both too close to his home and not best suited for large charges and for heavy horses.

On foot, the Dornish spears would beat their infantry, if he couldn't use his cavalry as he wished then he could end up losing this battle. Given where they were he wasn't sure he would have time to rally if he did. As he looked out to see them in the distance, he readied for the parley. Sighing when he heard his father ride up and more when he looked to see the outfit he wore.

"We should go out and offer them terms." his father said and Garlan tried not to laugh as his helm snapped shut.

"I think it best if you stay here father." he said looking to Ser Jon Fossoway who nodded.

"I must be the one to negotiate with these lords, son." his father blustered as he pulled the helm off his head unable to keep the lid from shutting.

"Remember the young dragon, my lord." Lord Crane said and his father paled.

"Garlan?"

"I'll be well father, a knight isn't a lord." he said as he rode out to treat.

He, Lord Crane, Lord Caswell, and Ser Jon Fossoway made up his party, the lords with his father feeling the words spoken to him were enough to hold their own wishes to treat at bay for now. Looking at the sigils he could see Manwoody, Vaith, Allyrion, and Santagar, there were others back behind them but it was these four who came to meet them halfway.

"My lords, what brings Dorne to our doors?" he asked looking to the four men across from him.

Lord Dagos Manwoody, Lord Daeron Vaith, Ser Symon Santagar, and Ser Ryon Allryion, large enough houses but none he'd have been expected to launch an invasion onto their lands. There was silence for a few moments and finally Lord Dagos spoke.

"We're willing to offer you terms Ser Garlan, favorable ones." Lord Dagos said.

"Why would we accept, our men outnumber your own two to one and we can call on reinforcements, can you?" Ser Jon said to them with a chuckle.

"We could burn the Reach, Ser, before or after we beat your army here and many men will lose their lives, or you could give us what we wish and we'll march back to Dorne." Ser Ryon said.

"And what is it you wish?" he asked.

"We ask for the Ladies, Sansa, Olenna, Alerie, and Margaery to accompany us to Sunspear, they'll be treated fairly and their honor not besmirched on that you have my oath as a Dornishman." Lord Daeron said.

"It's true then what they say?" he said with a smirk.

"What?" Ser Symon asked.

"That the Dornish sun makes a man lose his mind. You ask me to give up my grandmother, my mother, my sister, and our ward. Do you serve a different king, my lords? Do you really believe I'd agree? I'll make you an offer in return, turn around and ride back and do so quickly. For now you've just raised my annoyance, you're close to raising my ire and I'm not even who you need to worry about." he said his smile now full.

"No?" a voice asked.

"No, you threaten the future Goodfamily of a king, his future bride, and his sister. Dorne barely survived a dragon the last time it attacked them, trust me my lords, good Sers, this time it won't." he said.

"Hah, a wolf in dragon's clothes is no true dragon and we in Dorne have faced and beaten a real one before." Lord Vaith said.

"You've been warmed, my lords. In the name of King Jaehaerys, I order you to desist and march back to Dorne."

"Dorne follows no king, only our prince." Ser Symon said.

"Very well, I'll see you soon without a flag of truce protecting, I wish you good fortune my lords, you'll need it." he said turning his horse and riding back fast.

Once he got there he spoke to his father, sending him back to tell his grandmother what was said.

"I need to be here son, to lead." his father said.

"No, they're coming for Margaery, father, you need to be there should I fall."

"Garlan.I...Son." his father said his concern for his safety clear in his eyes and Garlan despite not wishing him here on the field with him, couldn't help but respect him a little for that

"Go, ride." he said and his father nodded.

It was less than an hour later that he found himself riding out to face the Dornish cavalry, the lance in his hand was heavy, but it was not even close to the resolve in his heart.

"For King Jaehaerys and Queen Margaery." he shouted as his lance hit home.

King's Landing 298 AC.

Illyrio.

Aegon was beginning to worry him, no that was a lie he'd been worrying him for some time. The boy had always been arrogant but that was to be expected, he was a king after all. Ever since the dragon had burned him though it had been much worse, his temper, his sense of entitlement, all of it threatening everything that Illyrio had worked for.

After seeing him kill Jon Connington he'd thanked his son for saving his life. The knife that had fallen from Jon's hand clear evidence of what the man had intended. He'd have never hurt Aegon, him though he'd perhaps have killed. Illyrio though was surprised when it became clear that Aegon hadn't even seen the knife. Instead, he'd killed the man for perceived disloyalty. While it was true that Jon was showing signs of it, it made Illyrio think more as they rode to the city. Signs weren't proof and to so easily kill a man who'd acted as a father, he shuddered as they saw the city in the distance. Once they were in the city itself he made his way to his building, the men in there were ones he needed to see before they set foot in the Red Keep.

Aegon whined, the boy actually whined until Illyrio told Haldon to give him some of his concoction to calm the boy down. What he put in it he had no idea but it relaxed Aegon and he needed him relaxed so he could do what needed to be done. He sat at his table and Sewer Rat led the man in, the unsullied's name was apt considering what it was that he'd had him do. Pouring the wine, Illyrio looked at the old grey-haired man in front of him. A man who to look at you'd think no more dangerous than an old grandfather and a man he knew was anything but.

"I'd not expected you back so soon Magister." the Tattered Prince said as he sipped his wine.

"Nor I, but needs must my old friend, the men they are ready?" he asked.

"They are, we'll man the walls and gates, see you protected, but we can't beat back an army. My ships are ready to ferry us away, if all seems lost then we leave."

"I know, trust me old friend, all is not lost yet."

The man nodded and they spoke some more, Illyrio hearing the men had done as he asked. Unarmed and unknown they'd acted as mummers, merchants, and store men they were not but they knew how to hide in plain sight. He'd bought the Windblown for very little gold, the price the Tattered Prince asked was far steeper but what cared he for Pentos when Westeros was to be theirs.

After the Tattered Prince left, Sewer Rat walked back in, the unsullied standing straight and to attention, and Illyrio once again admiring the man's discipline. He knew now that he'd made a mistake, it was these men he should have bought and not the Golden Company, Varys had been wrong on that one. Still, his oldest friend's information was what would give him victory, it would see the dragon brought low and allow Aegon to sit his rightful throne.

"You found it all?" he asked.

"This one found it all."

"It's as I told you?"

"It is." Sewer Rat said.

"Good, you brought me some?"

The man nodded and handed him the jar, Illyrio smiling as he looked at it. They made their way to the Red Keep later that day, Renly doing as he bid very quickly and now with the man in the Black Cells, he could do nothing but wait, so he allowed Aegon to indulge. Walking with Septa Lemore, Haldon, Duck, and his own guards, they entered the Throne Room, Illyrio feeling the excitement as Aegon stepped up to the throne and took his seat.

"Your Grace, King's Landing is yours." he said as he knelt.

"Excellent work my Lord Hand, how goes the rest of my realm?" Aegon asked.

"It will take a little longer to see it brought to its knees my king, but kneel before the true king they will, on that you have my word." he said seeing Aegon smile.

Serra, we're so close and our son will be the greatest king of all, I'll see you soon my love, once Aegon is settled I'll come to you, he thought at he looked to the Iron Throne and their boy sitting there.

The God's Eye 298 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

A thousand eyes and one, the images filled his head, Jae unable to stop them from bombarding him. He saw Lya as she took Jon Arryn's arm, Doran as he sat in his chair, Oberyn feasting with lords and looking at them with distrust. In a dark grey cell, he saw a woman seek comfort from the cold, her dark hair covering her face but her clothes letting him know she was a Kraken. Then he was in the air flying over an island and below him, he saw the grey wolf as it played with two young girls.

Before he knew it he was running along the ground as an old man slept by the fire, his uncle's eyes were closed and as he raised himself on his back feet he turned his head up to get a better view. Aemon looked peaceful, content, his dreams giving him joy if the smile on his face was any indicator. He continued on his journey and was soon in a large hall, his other uncle laughing alone with men dressed in black.

The forest was cool against his fur and he moved closer to the large camp, thousands of tents stretched as far as his eye could see and he swore he could see a giant. He was in Casterly Rock resting on a bed, the golden-haired girl asleep as he looked at her, he curled up beside her and felt content. He cawed loudly at other birds as he ate into the meat, the burned flesh soon filling his body, taking to the sky he looked down and saw the sheer amount of birds just like he that were feasting on the dead.

Flying over the camp, he saw her, Rhaenix looking to the bird and letting it fly by. The glass was faded, dirty, and the windowsill barely big enough for him to stand on but he looked in to see the red-haired woman as she began to undress, the man behind her kissing her neck and he cawed loudly and angrily at them both. Then he was there and he saw her and felt the warmth of her touch, the place he was in familiar to him, his old friend welcoming him gladly.

He looked at her through Ghost's eyes and saw her smile as she looked down on him, her words making the anger he felt recede just a little until the images came back and he was far away once more. The large man stood behind the chair, his axe ready to protect and yet all he saw was the axe and the man it protected and then the axe was in his hand and he looked down at it only to find himself sitting up in his bed.

"How Long?" he said as he sat up, the clothes he wore not being the ones he'd put on.

"Three days, Jae." Jaime said worriedly.

"I warged, I didn't mean to." he said and Jaime nodded.

"What did you see?"

"Many things."

"No, before your warged, what did you see?" Jaime asked.

"I saw a knife, Margaery, I saw.." he closed his eyes and found Ghost, the wolf sleeping on the end of the bed and just seeing her chest rise and fall brought him back to himself.

"Jae?".

"I'm sorry I needed to know she was safe, I saw her die, Jaime, a man held her on the balcony at Highgarden and cut her throat, I have to go there." he said getting up the headache coming as soon as he did.

Jaime handed him the water and Jae drank it down, looking up to see the worried look was still on his face.

"I'm well, Jaime, I know it's scary, trust me I know, it is what it is, no one can help me with this. I saw her die and I lost control, it wasn't me going mad or being like my grandfather." he said.

"I never thought that, god's Jae, did you…" he felt Jaime grab him and hold him tight, the comforting feeling something he welcomed.

"I worry, that you all, that I…I know what he did, I worry people see me, what I did out there on the field, what I do, I worry…".

"No one thinks that and if someone did then they're a bloody fool, Look at me, Jae." Jaime said letting him go "I was worried about you, you, Jaehaerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, the boy I..the boy I love like he's my own son. I was worried that he was going through something that I couldn't help him with, that he was hurt and I couldn't comfort him. Not that he'd gone mad, or that he's his grandfather's heir. You're nothing like him Jae, nothing, you understand me?"

He nodded and Jaime hugged him again, holding him before letting him go once more.

"I want to kill him, Jaime, Doran, I want to tear him apart limb from limb, I want to feed him to the dragons, burn him, kill him with my bare hands, does that not make me a monster?"

"He tried to kill the woman you love, he's the fucking monster, not you, never you. Listen, Jae, carefully, just listen." Jaime said and he nodded. "This power of yours it frightens me, not for the reason you think it, but because of what it does to you, no, not that." he said looking into his eyes "It frightens me because it makes you doubt the goodness in yourself. If anyone else had this power I'd be fucking terrified, on my oath, I'd be shitting myself."

He found himself chuckling and was glad to see that Jaime chuckled with him.

"But you having it, I have no fear of it, or you, I know you Jae, your heart, your head" Jaime said poking him in the forehead and making him smirk "I trust your judgment Jae, you should too."

They sat there for a few moments, and then Jae reached for his clothes, Jaime turning his back while he dressed.

"Thank you." he said and found himself laughing when Jaime mussed his hair.

Soon he met with all his Kingsguard and Jaime, along with the other lords in the main tent, Jae looking as some of them looked warily at him.

"Forgive me, my lords, riding a dragon in battle is far more taxing than I had expected, I had thought it just the same as a normal ride, it seems to be anything but." he said to some laughs.

"Your grace, your orders?" Lord Tarly asked.

"My Lord Hand will take command of the army, Lord Tarly, you are to march to King's Landing with great haste, I intend to fly on ahead and meet you there, with any luck Lord Renly will surrender and this war will be over."

"Lord Stark?" Mathis Rowan asked.

"Has won us a great victory and Lord Arryn is his prisoner, We'll send riders to inform him to march to King's Landing also. My lords we should send ravens to let the realm know of our own victory." he said and dismissed them.

"Lord Velaryon has arrived your grace, he found no sign of the magister and the mummer." Ser Richard said as soon as the other lords had lest.

"Can you have your lips seek them out, I'd use the candles once more but…."

"Understandable your grace, I'll see to it." Ser Richard said.

"Doran, your grace?" Arthur asked.

"He dies, be it by my hand or another's, his betrayal runs too deep Ser Arthur. I believe he intends to take Margaery hostage to force me to kneel, but that won't be all, he wishes me dead." he said to gasps.

"How do you know this, your grace?" Barristan asked.

"What you saw in the Glass Candles, I feel Ser, emotions, feelings, not quite thoughts but enough to ascertain them. The magic required, the blood to look into the past is far more than just using them in other ways. I don't know if it's my blood precisely that's the key, if it's the fact I can warg, I can greensee, but for me, it's more. I felt my father and mother at Harrenhal, what they felt as if it was me feeling it." he said to disbelieving looks.

He took a moment to reach out and pick up the mug, swallowing the water before he continued.

"My Lord Hand, told me something, something I didn't realize just how much I needed to know. I am not my grandfather Sers, if any of you have even the slightest doubt I am, then I'll accept your cloak. I'd not ask you to serve me if you don't believe in me. I don't ask you not to question, not to raise objections, but I'll not accept doubt, I have enough of that myself."

He looked at each of them and was relieved to see none of them raise any, none look as if they did and then he held his breath when Barristan spoke.

"I'll not deny what you can do is beyond me your grace, any doubt I have is on not understanding that and not on what I think about you, however, if you feel that is too much doubt then I'll accept your decision." Barristan said.

"I do not, Ser, that's just as much as I have myself." he said with a smirk "We travel for Highgarden Sers, all of us, Ser Barristan, Ser Walder, you're about to find out what it's like to fly on a dragon." he said as he walked from the tent.

After bidding Jaime farewell and speaking to Rhaenix for a few moments, Jae smirked as Barristan nervously climbed up on Rhaenix's back, Arthur, Loras, and unsurprisingly to him Walder, seeming far more comfortable. Within a heartbeat they were in the sky, Jae closing his eyes and seeing that Ghost was still laying by Margaery's side.

The Battle of the Reach 298 AC.

Garlan.

The lance was discarded and his sword was in his hand, the blade cutting down through man after man before the horse was taken out from under him. Garlan saw the spear though before it hit home, jumping and rolling rather than falling hard to the ground. He did lose his sword however and was forced to throw his knife before the man could get to him.

As his would-be attacker fell down, Garlan made it to the sword and was soon faced with another man, this one wielding a spear as he moved toward him. Moving back he checked behind him to be sure he wasn't in danger of a back attack and once he knew he was clear, he began to concentrate on the man in front of him. The first strike was easily blocked and Garlan waited for the second to come, when it did he forced the spear to the ground and moved inside the man's guard. The elbow he brought down on the Dornishman's arm causing him to drop the spear to the ground and then spinning away he brought his sword around in an arc, the man's head coming almost clean off his shoulders.

Turning to look back he saw cavalry riding toward him and for a moment her felt relief thinking them his. Only to look closer and see they bore Dornish sigils and knowing then he was done for. He closed his eyes and pictured Leonette, nodding as he opened them and readied his sword. Death was inevitable, the only thing you could do was face it and smile, which is what he did.

The wave of heat hit him before he even saw the flames hit the horses, then looking closer he saw the flames had just blocked them off. When the dragon landed beside him and let out a roar he heard weapons be dropped, the cheers soon going up when it roared once more. Garlan made his way to the dragon and found some of his men doing likewise.

"Your Grace, I thank you for the help, I did have it in hand though." he said and heard a snort from his brother behind the king.

"Loras, Walder, make sure Ser Garlan accepts the Dornish surrender." the king said and as his brother and the giant man carrying an axe joined him, he watched the dragon take off and head towards Highgarden.

Lord Daeron Vaith.

The Reach cavalry burst through their ranks as if they weren't there. Daeron looking on in horror at the ease in which they did so. His own line held but it would do them no good, if the Reachmen managed to reform then they day was theirs. Ordering his own cavalry to form up he led from the front and they moved out to the field. It was as he was deciding where to charge that he saw him and he couldn't believe his luck.

"There, we ride there." he shouted and pointed to Garlan Tyrell.

"It's one man my lord." his captain shouted back.

"It's the fucking Gallant, let him feel Dornish steel."

The charge began slow and by the time they reached full speed he felt his excitement travel down to his nether regions, he was actually stiff. Blood, war, it had always excited him but he'd not felt the rush in many a year. As they rode he was feeling it fully and then he felt something completely different. It was like a summer's day in Dorne, the warmth of the Reach suddenly feeling as if it had been enveloped by an even warmer sun.

Though when he looked he soon realized that this wasn't a Sun, this was fire and fire burns. The wall of flame grew ever closer and he tried to pull up his horse, beside him some men were lucky to do so. He was not and as he felt the steel of his armor burn, he looked up to see a dragon fly over his head, it was the last thing he ever saw.

Ser Jon Fossoway.

He had broken bread with Dornishmen, crossed swords with them in tourneys. Jon had even shared drinks with the Red Viper himself. These were a different sort, a poorer sort and he wondered had the true Dornish army ridden with Oberyn and these were what was left? Or was this the real truth of Dorne and they actually just weren't that good. Soon he found out he was wrong as he came face to face with Ser Ryon's men.

The first charge broke through but the second floundered, he looked to see his men, Casewells, Cranes, and Tyrells break against a shield wall that didn't give ground. When his horse pulled up lame he was no more than twenty feet from the shield wall and he and those around him knew they were done for. Yet the fear was in the Dornishmen's eyes and he didn't know why.

"Ser Jon, Ser Jon, look" Lord Lorent said from beside him.

"Lord Lorent? He said reluctant to turn his head and then he saw the wall of flames and heard the roar.

He'd not seen it in the air so he could only imagine what it looked like as it flew by, but seeing it on the ground was like nothing he could have ever believed. Had he not been here himself and instead been told this tale later, he'd have sworn people lied when they spoke of its size. The only thing he could compare it to was one of those Pinnacle Ships the Lannister's used.

It dwarfed everything around it and when it roared the earth beneath his feet shook. As he turned back to look at the shield wall in front of him he tried his best not to laugh when the spears and shields hit the ground. He tried his best not to laugh as Ser Ryon walked towards him, the man's face anything but how it had been as Ser Jon rode to face him, the proud knight quickly taking a knee.

"Ser Jon, I yield.".

"I accept your yield, your surrender you can make to the king, I do hope his dragon's not hungry ser." he said and he couldn't help but laugh at seeing some of the faces which looked back at him.

Sansa.

How they had gotten in she had no idea, but around the keep there were fights going on, guards fighting other men wearing the same armor. She, Willas, and Fang, along with their own guards moved through the keep, Willas holding her hand as his cane rattled along the ground. Where there destination was she didn't know, nor where Margaery and the others were.

It was Fang who had alerted them, the wolf growing at the men who'd met them in the garden. Sansa looking from the wolf to the men and when Fang jumped at the one closest Sansa knew they were not on their side. They had lost all but two of their guard in the ensuing fights as they headed through the keep. Now as they saw the men in front of them she wondered if they had enough men with them to fight them off.

"We need to turn back." Willas said.

"Where?" she asked.

He didn't get to answer as the two guards they had with them soon fell leaving them faced with three men. As Fang attacked two of them one of the men came towards them, his sword out and a smile on his face. Sansa took out the small knife she carried and saw the look the man gave her was almost dismissive, the look he gave Willas even more so.

"You should limp away from here cripple, we only want the girl, I've no quarrel with you." the man said his accent heavy.

"I beg to differ, you want her you're going to have to kill me." Willas said and while Sansa admired the sentiment, she didn't want to see him hurt.

"Willas." she said softly.

The man moved and just before he got to them she heard rather than saw him fall to the floor, her eyes had been on the sword in his hand and not his face. She looked up to the long thin blade that Willas pulled from the man's throat and watched as he slid it back and twisted the top so it locked back into place in his cane. Sansa wanting more than anything to hug him right there and then but she knew now wasn't the time.

"Come, we need to move." Willas said reaching out for her hand once more and as she looked to see Fang finishing the last man ahead of them, she did as he bid.

The room he brought her too was empty, the doors heavy and she watched as he locked them behind them. Sansa giving in to her desire to hug him then and feeling grateful for him when he held her for a very long time.

Olenna.

Left and Right were like a unit of men more so than they were simply two. She watched on as they cut down men as if they were nothing. Left backing Right up and neither man giving any quarter. No man was trusted unless they knew him personally and even then they were sent on their way. How they'd infiltrated her guards she didn't know but other than the two men in front of her, she for now would trust no other men to protect her.

They fought on and on and finally came to her granddaughter's room, Olenna horrified to find it empty and ransacked though relieved to see there was no blood. Moving on she found more and more dead guards, some hers, some men that had pretended to theirs. Turning a corner they came across some of her guards fighting some others wearing the same armor, whether her men were winning or losing she'd not find out as Left and Right turned her around and brought her in a different direction.

"We need to find my son and Gooddaughter, Margaery must be with them." she said and Left shuffled her down the hall unceremoniously.

Normally no guard would dare lay hands on her, even accidentally, and the urge to let her thorns free was almost overwhelming. Left though was doing what was right and Olenna was more than grateful for that right now. They reached more fighting and she knew the room the fighting was outside of was one of their safest rooms. Directing Left and Right to help, she watched as they went about their business with ruthless efficiency.

The fight which had been even-handed was now anything but, her guards not just providing an edge but completely turning the tables and the men in front of them had no chance. When it was done, Left was back by her side, Right sending the other guards to both ends of the hall, having them take up position to let them know if more came there way.

"My lady, Lord Mace is inside." Left said to her as Right knocked on the door.

It took some time for it to be opened and inside she found Mace, Alerie, Leonette, and Janna but there was no sign of her granddaughter. Worried though she was there was nothing she could do now except try to comfort Alerie and Leonette who were clearly distressed. Left and Right came into the room with her, both guards standing at the door in case they were needed and before Olenna went to her Gooddaughter and Goodgrandaugther, she stopped and looked at them.

"Erryk, Arryk, thank you." she said and as she moved towards her family she heard the roar of the dragon outside and she began to smile "The king is here and he's brought his dragon." she said to the women glad for the relief it brought to their faces and to her own heart.

Ser Symon Santagar.

This was a fool's errand, though Mace Tyrell was a fool so perhaps he shouldn't have expected anything less. Given the numbers, the rest of the army faced it was perhaps the only way they'd win this day. Still, Symon felt the stupidity of their actions was apparent when they had their parley. This was supposed to be easy, a stroll to the Reach and when they got here they'd face Mace Tyrell and some token force, not an army.

Not a force that dwarfed their own and not a force led by someone as capable as Ser Garlan. He had bid them retreat, to take the offer and go back to Dorne, whatever Doran was thinking had been clearly wrong. They could not win here today and to be bogged down in battle only gave the dragon the chance to come back and come back he would with them threatening his betrothed and her family, another omission by Doran.

They had thought they were putting the Reach out of the equation, yes the king's sister was here but she was just cover, they were her for the Tyrell and the wolf they'd have left here once they got her. It would have been bad enough to pull on the dragon's tail without doing so to the wolves too. Unlike their own liege, the Starks had gone to war for the deaths of their family.

"We can't find her Ser." one of his men said and he sighed, the man they'd beaten and threatened had taken them to the rose's room only to find she wasn't there.

"Keep looking, we leave with her or we don't leave." he said as they moved through the halls.

By the time they did find her, he was down to four men and himself and when he saw what she was with he cursed the fact he had no crossbowmen with him. Not even an archer or a man who could fire a bow had he at his disposal and as he looked at the rose and the white wolf he felt it would not be easy to get by one to get to the other. Two of his men tried and proved him right and as he watched the white wolf tear out their throats easily he felt true fear.

Why didn't it make a damn sound? How could it move so fucking fast? Why were those red eyes staring at him in such a way?

"You can make this easy on yourself, just come with us and the rest of your family will be safe." he said and then he heard it and the sound was unlike anything he'd ever imagined.

"I believe you should listen to your own words Ser, my husband has just arrived and you've just seen what his wolf can do. Do you really wish to see what his dragon can?" the rose said looking to him, a confident smirk on her face.

He was almost paralyzed and had no clue what to do, the wolf snarled and his men beside him didn't seem keen to move forward to face it. That it hadn't moved from the rose's side since it had taken down two of his men so easily was perhaps the only reason he or his men were still alive. When he saw the rose's smile appear and how full and beaming it was he knew he was fucked and as he turned around he saw just how true that was.

The king wore armor the likes of which he had never seen before, the sword in his hand was a thing of beauty. It's thin blade, flamed pommel, and flawless red ruby on its hilt and the steel itself easily identifying it as Dark Sister. Were the king there alone then he'd have felt outmatched, tales of his prowess were ones he'd heard from Oberyn himself. The two men on either side of him though were as legendary as the sword the king wielded. The Bold and the Sword of the Morning stood ready at each shoulder, Ser Arthur's own milky white blade in his hand as he looked at them.

"Will you accept my surrender, your grace?" he asked hopefully.

"My queen will." the King said firmly.

"Your Grace, I surrender." he said dropping his sword to the ground and watching as Ser Arthur and the Bold walked and stood over them.

The king walked passed them and left them there on the ground not even looking at them. His helm was now in his hand as he wrapped his arms around his queen and Symon wondering if he'd lose his head, as Doran had surely lost his.

A/N: Up Next Jae spends some time with Margaery before moving to take care of his Dornish problem. Littelfinger's plots and dwells on past mistakes as he and Cat run, news sweeps the realm of the battles and Jae finds out where Illyrio and Aegon have gone.

Daryl Dixon: One down, more to come.

Zyrus: I like the symbolism of a fish being drowned, I could have had him face Jae but given where the battles were it had to be Gerion. The Greatjon was a little nod to Gimli/Legolas.

Rw28: LOTR perhaps I know enough of that lore to not feel lost, not so much inheritance. We'll have a full Marge pov next and a longer Sansa one in a little bit, the other stories I had hoped for last week, I really am aiming for this one though so fingers crossed. We'll see Doran next and the Magister/Faegon after that.

Jman: That's what I though about Edmure, a drowned fish makes a better song. Jon A was pretty much blaming whoever was in front of him, be it Ned or Jae he wanted one to fall with him.

Cheryl Pollock: Love the name btw. We'll see Cat/LF next chapter, Jon A will face Jae in a couple of chapters. I love Shireen, it's nice to give her a better future. On Doran he's next. I've thought of some yes, I do have more ideas within ASOIAF I want to do, glad you liked the new story and no worries about spelling.

Mrspotter: Yes, he worried that Elia may give in to her love and it would ruin his blood being on the throne somehow.

Vdwader: Doran is in so much trouble, were Oberyn to know of this he'd probably kill him, himself. Jon A just wanted one of them to die with him, Ned or Jae he's not fussed. You may get your wishes with Cat lol. Davos actually brought Shireen to the precise place he should, of course he isn't sure of it but he will be. Edmure is Gerion's revenge but yes when Joy find out it'll be hard, it's why he made Cregan promise not to tell Jae, so when Joy finds out she can go to him and Jae won't have held it secret from her. Drogo knows more than he's letting on, we'll see more of that later but this is a much different Drogo than canon in relation to Dany and obviously a very different Dany than the one he met.

Biohazard: So glad you liked it.

Remi: I like symbolism and foreshadow, Jon A tried to take Jae's hand, so it cost him an arm. The fish who couldn't swim drowns. Yohn Royce really is honor bound and everything just didn't add up with Jon A's lies. On Renly you can see he tried but well circumstances, we'll see Cat/LF next.

VFSnake: It'll be a little while longer for Illyrio/Faegon as for Doran he's next.

Elovien: Thank you so much for your kind words and for putting me in such exalted company, much appreciated.

Kitkatthecat: With the bastards, one of the things Jae said was he'd give them a better life than Robert had, he knew of Mya/Mychel from Domeric and even though it helped him with House Redfort it was also for that reason too.

Drogo will be seen again, he's different than canon as is Dany but timing is everything. I really wanted to have some insight into how people feel about fighting in the war, Ned in canon seemed to be war weary, while I have many issues with him, one I don't is his not wanting to place Jon on the throne, not seeking another war, on that I think he deserves a lot of slack as his reasons are sound. So I wanted that to come, Howland is like the foreshadowing king lol, Glad you liked the Ned/Tyrion scene.

I feel exactly that way about Yohn, he's uptight but he has principles, the show did him a huge disservice imo and I wanted him to be shown differently here. Jon A's lies needed to be shown through and he to me is the best for that.

I went for a little Legolas/Gimli moment with the Greatjon, the wolves and him have a special relationship. Glad you liked Jacelyn, we'll see more of him as we go. With Ned I wanted him to have his own moment to shine and a single duel felt better than having him go off and kill ten men or something. Glad you liked Edmure's end I felt it fitting, Gerion did get some catharsis yes, he told Cregan not to tell Jae so that if, when, Joy finds out she can go to someone not holding a secret from her.

Doran is next, hope you liked this little insight into Jae's mind a bit more, FAegon/Illyrio have one final trick up their sleeve and we'll see Cat/LF next.

The Sphynx: He does indeed, top marks again my friend.

Celexys: That's been one of my key things with Dany, here she doesn't want to be a queen, she's just discovering what, who it is she wants to be, the Hound is one of those accidental by chance things that just ended up working better than I hoped, he here has allowed her to grow so differently. Doran is next, Jae won't hold back.

Dunk; So glad to hear you say that, it annoys me that it's usually the other way, now it's also in part that I'm not as in depth in my knowledge as some are too, but I feel often we see little thought. With Jon A, the fact it was Ned he was facing always gave him a better than even chance of living, Ned wouldn't kill him like someone else may, despite what he tried to do. Doran as you say, he's screwed and it's coming right soon. We'll see Oberyn next. Glad you liked the Elia bit, we see some more here from Jae's side and it really emphasises how screwed Doran is. We'll see with the faceless men, one was here another on her way.

LF/Cat are up next, the were hiding while the battles were going on, so we'll see what they're up to, I couldn't resist the symbolism with Edmure, the fish who couldn't swim and as you say Edmure sleeps with the fishes now. We'll post the war take a breather and allow some things to happen to make lives better before we hit the second phase and the war for the dawn.

Prince Loki: Did you feel the fire, did you lol.

Lady Octarina: Glad you liked the Vale part, Jae will see Mya/Mychel married, he would have done the same to Dom/Myranda if the need arose (though taking Roose out ends that) as king he can order and like he said, he plans better lives for the bastards than Robert ever did.

Bronze Yohn is too honor bound not to and Jon A's slip gave him the final push, when he hears what Jon A tried to do he'll only be even more sure he was right. Jon A had to be the one for me to truly realize he was screwed, Robert wouldn't have reacted the same seeing the dragon to my mind. Glad you liked the Ned/Corbray fight.

Glad you liked the Jacelyn bit, it's nice to have a little moment like that, a small ripple that works out. With Gerion he was kinda not so much broken, but emotionally compromised and having Cregan with him, knowing what he'd do if he caught up with Edmure, he felt obligated to tell him. His main reasoning on not telling anyone else is more for Joy, especially with Jae, he wants when Joy finds out and inevitable runs to Jae that he hasn't been keeping the secret from her.

I love symbolism, the fish drowning is just it called to me, the Hand losing a Hand was that but also a little payoff to the foreshadowing, Jon A tried to take a wolf's hand (Jon Snow) a wolf took his.

No, Oberyn just assumed Fowler died. In Doran's mind it's all the throne, Elia's relationship with Fowler put that at risk and he didn't matter to him, so bang he's gone.

Anja: So glad you liked it.

M: Ned never wielded Ice in battle, giving it's size he never really would be able to, hell he could barely lift in when he used it to take the deserter's head, but a lot of people used a Greatsword on Horseback, rode into battle wielding it instead of a lance. So here that's what Ned did, but on foot he used a longsword.

Ace Venom: Exactly, the fish who couldn't swing, the hand who lost a hand, not to mention tried to take a wolf's hand only to lose his own to a wolf. Balon won't escape no. We'll see with the Vale and Yohn to me was always the one who'd see through Jon A's lies, especially given how desperate they'd become. Tyrion is going to Dorne if all things work out, he's agreed to be Arianne's prince consort. As for Doran, he's next.

Shingamisama; Exactly, the can offer no death to the many faced god if there is no life, the balance is needed.

Creativo: No, era que deseaba su sangre en el trono y la aventura de Elia lo hubiera puesto en peligro.

Guest: Oh he's taken a step back, I hope you like his solution. Drogo will not be coming to Westeros, won't say more than that. Shiera will have an important role to play once she comes back. As for comeuppances, they're coming.

Andrews: We'll see soon enough, Jae does have plans for all those kingdoms.

Supremus: Glad to hear it, and I still owe you a review, I've not forgotten just been busy, but I will post one. Gerion kinda had to be the one imo, it was wrong but it had to be done.

Anarchichmind: He really does doesn't he. My biggest issue with Doran and I feel this with fAegon/Euron too is that they're clearly added in later, threats/plot threads that imo aren't a part of the plot until they're a part of the plot and because if that there's a disconnect. Some of their actions don't tally up with events for me, like Dorne not getting involved in the war after Robb has won two battles and taken Jaime prisoner. Hell swap Jaime for the Mountain and Oberyn would kiss you and give you Dornish spears. Instead they sit, wait and do nothing all based on a deal they did when Vis/Dany where children which is fine, except. They literally do nothing when Dany/Vis disappear, like why the hell don't they step in after Willem Darry falls, why aren't they scouring Essos trying to find them long before Doran send Quentyn.

It's like with fAegon/Illyrio/Varys, they're plot lines with Dany/Vis don't make sense, they're illogical, it's like they're done retroactively and are full of plot holes because of it. Illyrio giving Dany the dragon eggs while being tied into FAegon just doesn't make sense.

The wedding is not far, it's coming as is Doran facing Jae.

Xand007: Thank you my friend. A drowned fish and a hand without a hand lol With Joy, the reason Gerion doesn't want Jae to know is that, so when she goes to him, he's not holding a secret from her. Euron is coming. LF/Cat we'll see his plans next.

YayforJae, thanks for the reviews, will answer these on Ao3.

Bellaswan: His enemies are about to meet it indeed, one of the key things he'll see spread, the Hidden Dragon playing it's part is the truth.

Spartan1007: So glad you liked it, with Joy's mother she's a canon character and her fate is unknown so I felt it a nice way to tie things in. A fish who couldn't swim.

Naruto: For Gerion this is both cathartic and realisation that he was very very wrong. Dany will be arriving very soon. Ned really didn't want to fight another one, so I wanted that clear, glad you liked the battle tactics. This is the final fall from grace for Jon A, his honor and legacy forever tarnished.

Denoltdn: In a way both battles kinda have to be seen almost as mirror images, this was how Jae wished the God's Eye to go, so you get to see it reversed so to speak. Doran is going to get him. So glad you liked the Briony bit it was a long time coming. There is one or two obstacles left in their way, but yes the battles are mainly done for now. With luck I'll have both updated this week and be back on track, I'm over the more pressing time consuming part of this, the battles and bringing all this together took more thought than writing.

Silverglow: Math strikes again, it seems my teachers were right lol, thanks for pointing it out my friend. We will see the other side of Mya/Mychel House Redfort yet. Dany/Drogo is not set in stone, we'll see what happens once she arrives in Westeros as for Shireen, she'll charm a lot of people. Yohn hearing the last lie was the final straw.

Jon A's arc was pretty much his chickens coming home to roost, he let himself into this situation, lies, deceit and using people and in the end he got found out, his legacy, reputation are forever tarnished because of it. Seeing the dragon was the realisation pint for him. Yes, the Jacelyn part was a healer helping and then going north for a better life, then once the call comes to fight for Jae, he's among the first to volunteer. It's also a little ripple having a big effect, had Jae/Marge not done what he did, then Robb would have fallen here.

Jon a being underhanded lol, the Hand who lost a Hand, for me it was the foreshadowing paying off, he tried to take a wolf's hand in kl (Jae) and so he lost his hand to a wolf. Gerion will always feel the regret and knows that Joy may not forgive him, his reasoning for having Cregan swear not to tell Jon is so he doesn't keep it a secret from her, so that when she finds out, the one person who's always been there for her, will be.

Couldn't resist the symbolism with Edmure, the fish who drowned. Doran is so screwed and yes it's come to a head. Thanks so much for saying that, a year doesn't feel so long (though 2020 has perhaps been the longest one in memory thanks to all we've gone through).

Dragonfire: So glad you're enjoying it, I may at least give you an attempt at that scene though for Jae it's more about Dark Sister.

Bobby Pendragon: So happy you're liking it, hope you continue to do so.

Liza: Thank you my friend: I'm glad to hear that at least the error had some benefit. I like Yohn Royce he's done badly in the show but I always wanted it to be him that would see the truth, I know some people thought he was going full on with Jon A, but I'm glad it surprised you. Doran has woken the dragon. On Drogo, I do have a plan for him but I don't think he's coming to Westeros, he will though be seen again. On Armor for the dragons, I have something much more interesting planned. I really love Shireen, so I always wanted her to be offered a better life, here we'll see it, with Davos it's the I messed up worry, but he'll soon find out he did anything but.

Glad you liked the battles, Faegon killed Jon C, this chapter points it out too. Ned is capable, he's jut not incredible with a sword in hand, people point out the fact that Yohn Royce beats him in canon, he fights him in a spar and beats him, they kinda forget though that Yohn Royce is a badass, he wins the melee at the Tourney or Harrenhal in canon and then beats Thoros in a Joffrey's Nameday tourney just before they rode North to Ned. So people use that to explain Ned as not being capable, the thing is that's not it's reason for being used, the reason GRRM uses Yohn is to show that Ned couldn't have beaten Arthur, not that he's a poor swordsman.

Edmure's death you're right ends the line, I don't think you can really point out n canon why Edmure should be done much differently in fics, GRRM pretty much makes him incompetent. Stay safe my friend and stay happy.

Irish Hermit; I think she may have suspected it, not known. I've said before in my opinion Doran cared about the throne, not Elia. Oberyn sought revenge/justice and only that, Doran sought that yes but only because it also enhanced his position. Here just like amping Cat up to 11 I've done the same with Doran.

On Tyrion, he's like a plan B now C to Doran, if all else fails, Marry Arianne to Tyrion and they rule the seven Kingdoms and he gets what he wants, but only if all else fails. In terms of dealing with Rhaenix, he truly believes she would never attack so no secret weapon waiting.

One of the key things is distance, news unless you have a network in place doesn't travel fast, Jae knows of the victory by Ned before even Jaime and the others, so Doran, Oberyn, Quentyn, Arianne and as you see here the Tyrell's are much more in the dark than anyone else, just for the sheer time it takes for news to travel.

I wanted for Edmure to be drowned, the symbolism for it, I had thought of having Gerion beat him, but a little of it was Cregan watching and a little but was just to get it done. As you say, it's been a long time coming but it had to be Gerion and no one else imo. Oh the news about Robert is coming, Jae sent riders to tell Ned/Tyrion of their victory, so they're about to find out and We'll see if Ned/Tyrion or someone else tells him or if they wait for Jae to do so. No Selyse won't be as fanatical, mores she's someone searching for meaning, the Lord of Light will be a part of Westeros, they will get a temple but it won't be fanaticism. As you say, with Jae you can already tell that, this is one of the reason why I spent so much time with him and joy, him and Sansa so now you just know it. Davos thinks in a way he's failed, he's feeling more hopeful after meeting Shiera/Dany and he'll be even more when he meets Jae, far from failing he literally took her to the perfect place.

Dany will find love, will it be with Drogo, we'll see. He will return in the story late, he knows more than he's letting on, I don't mean that to sound nefarious or suspicious, more his story has more to it.