The Kingsroad 298 AC.
Tyrion.
He'd arrived back to find the battle done. The Vale knights and lords had surrendered and Jon Arryn was now their prisoner, it left him feeling incredibly proud. They had done what they'd been asked to do and done so without a huge loss of life. Their own side had suffered few casualties, less than 500 men injured and less than a hundred dead. The Vale's losses were much larger, almost 2,000 dead, less than half that to dragon fire and another 2,000 or so injured.
All in all, they'd accepted the surrender of almost 14,000 men, knights, lords, and plain soldiers all needing to be marshaled. That alone would provide a problem and was one he knew would require a lot of thought. So to say he was relieved when Gerion arrived would be an understatement. To see his uncle safe and well, removed that little bit of doubt and worry that had been growing in the pit of his stomach.
"Nephew." Gerion said as he rode towards him, Tyrion standing with Lygaron and stroking the dragon's neck.
"It's good to see you safe and well, uncle." he said with a smile.
"Aye, you too Tyrion, it's done?" Gerion asked and he nodded.
"We won, aye. Jon Arryn is our prisoner among many others, apparently, the honorable falcon tried to kill Ned Stark after surrendering." Tyrion said and saw Gerion scowl.
"That man's claims of honor were always lies" Gerion said and Tyrion nodded looking to Cregan and Dusk who were watching on.
"Tully was nowhere to be seen, uncle, I'm sorry."
"Tully is dead. His men have surrendered, the Vale and Riverlands army are beaten, as are the Stormlords. The rest is up to our king now." Gerion said.
"Dead? How?"
"The floppy fish couldn't swim, Tyrion." was all Gerion said and Tyrion thought he'd best leave it at that for now "Any word from Jon?"
"No, not yet, I'd not worry though, had something happened or where I needed then Lygaron would let me know. Come, I'm sure you could eat and the Northern lords will be happy to hear your news." he said turning to Lygaron and watching as the dragon took to the air, no doubt off to find some food of his own.
He spoke briefly to Cregan when they walked, the young man had seen little action which Tyrion felt thankful for. Let him keep his innocence a little longer he thought, behind them Ser Richard and Ser Jors walked and when they got near the camp itself, Satin came running over. His squire very happy to see one of his friends was unharmed and Tyrion allowed him and Cregan to go off and speak together. As they entered the large tent, he saw Gerion look to the bird in the cage behind Ned Stark, a guilty look on his face.
"Uncle?" he asked softly.
"Jaehaerys asked me to bring the damn bird with me, I was so keen to go after Tully I didn't." Gerion said Tyrion once again noticing the different way he'd said his nephew's name.
It took some getting used to, when it was just them most of them thought of him still as Jon. In public, they called him your grace, and when he wished it Jae or Jaehaerys and he knew his nephew had as much trouble with it as the rest of them did. He was about to say something when the Greatjon looked up to see him and Gerion, the man's booming voice soon announcing their arrival.
"A prince and a Lion, we are truly blessed this day." The Greatjon said only to quieten when Lya, Ned's wolf got up and ran from the room, Tyrion chuckling at the look on the man's face.
"One of her pups has returned." Tyrion said and heard the Greatjon mumble about wolves being the death of him.
"Lord Gerion, it's good to see you well." Ned Stark said.
"You too Lord Stark, my nephew was just telling me the extent of your victory here, it puts mine own to shade." Gerion said with a smirk.
"Well, we are of the North, Lord Gerion we're used to putting southerners in the shade." Maege said proudly.
"My Goodniece will be so happy, my lady, Lady Dacey is never slow in showing any who doubt it the fierceness of the North, and of those born on Bear Island in particular." Gerion said and they saw the little curl of the lip the She-Bear gave them both.
"Riverrun fell without incident, my lord?" Lord Domeric asked.
"It did, Lord Bolton, though its inhabitants had fled before then. One of whom I've been lucky enough to catch up with, well lucky for me that was, not so much for him." Gerion said to laughs.
Tyrion looked to see the worried look appear on Ned Stark's face. While he may have set Catelyn Tully aside and wished to deal with her no more, the woman was still the mother of his children and so Tyrion nudged Gerion who noticed it then also.
"Lord Edmure tried to run my lords, he wasn't quick enough and fell into the water and drowned." Gerion said to more laughs and a relived exhale of breath by Ned, Tyrion though knew his uncle far too well to believe this was the truth of the tale.
"His men?" Howland Reed asked his eyes keener than most and Tyrion felt he knew his uncle had not told the truth too.
"Have surrendered Lord Reed. The war in the Riverlands is over. I believe our king may send for us if we're needed elsewhere."
They ended up talking over themselves, some wishing to march to the king, others to King's Landing, some worrying about the prisoners they had and what to do with them. Nothing, in the end, was resolved and Tyrion felt more and more like getting on Lygaron's back and flying to where his nephew was, two dragons being better than one. It was the crannogman though who ended all thoughts of doing anything else but waiting for word.
"Our king knows where we are, given what we all know he's capable of, I believe as Lord Gerion said that If we're needed he'll send for us." Lord Reed said and despite the man's diminutive stature his words seemed to carry weight, Tyrion feeling a little envious of that.
They changed their armor and he now wore more comfortable clothing. While they didn't feast that night they ate and drank and he enjoyed himself. The Umbers were fun to be around, large, loud, and perhaps a touch mad but he enjoyed listening to them. Gerion seemed more himself also, his uncle laughing and japing with Lady Maege, the Manderly's and surprisingly Lord Bolton. The only man who didn't seem to be having fun was Ned Stark.
Tyrion learned from Satin that Robb Stark had taken a nasty fall and though not seriously hurt it had clearly worried his father. Though he believed it was the man's former wife who preyed mostly on his mind, as in a way she did his own. Where Catelyn Tully was he didn't know, that she was with Littlefinger he'd asked Gerion to keep to himself, no point worrying Ned even more than he already was.
He slept peacefully that night, though his dreams were anything but, her face, her smile, her body was all he could think of. When he woke the next morning he found himself ever more eager for this war to end, wondering how quickly they could be wed and what it would be like to live in Dorne. It was thoughts like this that distracted him most of the day. That and for then for the next few days he spent his time trying to figure out how to move the prisoners, or what force to leave guarding them. It was while trying to do this in his tent that he heard the news, Satin rushing in to tell him.
"My lord, riders from the king." Satin said to him excitedly.
"Fetch my uncle, Satin." he said and Satin nodded.
Walking with his Kingsguard he found the riders at Ned's tent, the rest of the Northern Lords soon rushing to join them and Tyrion looking to see the man in front ask for him, Ned quickly pointing him out.
"My Prince, I bring word from the king." the man said handing him the letter, Tyrion smiling to see it was in Jaime's writing and bore the seal of the Hand of the King on it.
He broke it open, read it, and then handed it to Ned, all of the gathered lords looking to their own liege for the news, though it would have to be Tyrion who explained it. Tyrion having forgotten just how close Ned had once been to Robert and what his death would mean to him, had expected him to do so.
"My lords, please let's go inside and I'll speak on what my nephew has written." he said and it was the large grey wolf and not his words or any to Ned that brought the man inside the tent.
Once they were all there and with Ned Stark still looking lost, Tyrion decided to get this over with as soon as he could.
"Robert Baratheon is dead my lords." he said to cheers and some gasps, Ned doing neither "Our king faced with the prospect of a battle, offered to allow it to be settled the old way. For them to face each other and for the gods to judge the right of it." he said adding the last part himself.
Looking around the tent he saw the nods and proud looks. Lord Reed, Lady Maege, the Manderly's, and the Umber's, even Lord Bolton all seemed happy this was how things had been settled.
"After beating Robert." he said as if there had been any doubt he would "Robert asked him to end him clean, but our king refused, having Ser Arthur kill him in his name instead." looking to see some nodding of heads.
"Cursed is the kinslayer." Howland said proudly to more nods.
"Aye, that's the truth of it, Lord Reed. It seems though that the Golden Company didn't live up to the terms, that Robert wasn't their king and it was a Blackfyre they truly supported." Tyrion said to angry shouts about dishonor and fucking Blackfryes.
Holding his hand up as he had seen his nephew do, he was surprised how quickly things grew quiet.
"Our king offered the Blackfyre the same challenge." he said to cheers "Though this was one was refused."
"Bloody Coward." Umber shouted.
"A smart one, only a fool would take on our king with a sword in his hand." Lord Domeric said to more cheers.
"The Blackfyre also broke parley and tried to assassinate our king, though on that he failed also." he said to angry shouts.
"We march, we'll gut these golden fuckers and put them to the sword." the Smalljon shouted.
"My mace has never tasted Bittersteel." Maege said to laughs.
"We have no need to march, my lords, my ladies. Our king and his army have already put the Golden Company to the sword. King Jaehaerys answered them with Fire and Blood and the Golden Company is no more. Those who survived are to take the black and the Night's Watch is to be better manned than ever before." he said to cheers and then a jape from the Greatjon.
"The king's just as greedy as those fucking wolves, I'd have loved to take out some Golden Company men. An Umber against an elephant, now that's a tale worthy of song." The Greatjon said laughing loudly.
"We march to King's Landing, my lords, to see our king Crowned, the King from the North." he said using their words rather than his own, his nephew was as much from the West now anyway.
He found him later that night, Ned Stark standing silently as he looked out on the emptiness of the Trident, his wolf beside him.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Ned." he said softly.
"He was my brother once, I'd not thought to find a truer one." Ned said his voice cracking.
"He was never made to be King, that throne needs someone stronger, truer." he said and saw the man nod.
"I'm glad Jaehaerys didn't do it himself. I love my nephew, truly, it's taken me a long time to realize how to show it, but despite it all had he, I fear I'd blame him, that I'd fall back where I once was. I almost picked Robert over him, no, I did I believe. I fear I'd have done so again." Ned said.
"No, Ned you wouldn't," he said and saw the nod as he left the man alone, his words not enough to comfort him maybe no ones would be.
The Stormlands 298 AC.
Oberyn.
They had begun their march, heading towards King's Landing though Quentyn and most of the army assumed they were heading to the Riverlands. Oberyn asked his daughters to move amongst their men, their eyes and ears would be invaluable and even though his nephew believed him to be on his side, he was being remarkably tight-lipped about his plans. Were it anyone other then Jaehaerys he was moving against then Oberyn would have been proud of the boy.
But he'd tested his nephew more than once, asked questions, played along with them and even though he was doing his father's bidding there was more to his dislike of Jae than simply that. It took him a while to figure it out, more because he was concentrating on deciding who he could and couldn't trust than anything else. Doran wished Arianne on the throne and Quentyn would then become Prince of Dorne, both his nephew and Anders Yronwood finally getting their wishes.
Each night when they set up their tents he'd sit with men he didn't know if he could trust. Lords who he wasn't sure whether they followed him or Doran. Yronwood he already knew, Tyene said the Blackmonts could be trusted as there was no love between them and Anders or Quentyn. House Dayne he knew was Jae's as were the Stormlords. Looking out as they ate he saw Nymeria sitting with the Fowler men, his daughter was very close to Franklyn's girls and the Old Hawk was quite fond of her. Obara sat with the Qorgyle men, Oberyn laughing as she said something to Lord Quentyn.
"My prince doesn't seem as happy as he normally is, who is it that vexes the viper so?" Harmen asked Ellaria's father another he could trust completely.
"I fear not all our friends feel the same way about our king, Harmen." he said softly and saw his paramour's father's eyes quickly move over the tent, Ander's his first look and then surprisingly Wyl his second.
"I am aware of some, is there more than I think my prince?" Harmen asked.
"I do not know, not for certain. Keep your eyes open and ears pricked, I'd not expect any to come to you, but men are foolish." he said with a smile that never reached his eyes.
"They are indeed my prince. Ellaria and my granddaughters are aware of this possibility?" Harmen asked
"They are." he said.
"Then I'm sure they and Ulwyck have taken the necessary precautions. Come, drink, there are still friends amongst us." Harmen said with a chuckle "And those who aren't will soon realize the true recklessness of their mistake."
By the time they reached the Kingswood, he was almost certain. Fowler, Dayne, Uller, Blackmont, Qorgoyle, he had a little over half the men under him while Quentyn could call for the other half. With the Stormlords though he could add almost another almost 4,000. Numbers he had but he'd not wish to see Dornishmen fall because their lords and their prince were fools. Oberyn planned to take Quentyn, Wyl and Yronwood, take their lords, their knights, and their heirs, he just needed the perfect time to do so.
When they reached Haystack Hall, the castellan sent out men for a parley, fearing they'd come to sack it. Oberyn would have laughed if it were not for how his nephew responded. Quentyn threatening the man and not just upsetting the Stormlords who were with them, but some of their own men also.
"What were you thinking, we aren't here to sack castles, nor to threaten them. The war in the Stormlands is done, we ride on and leave those who've forsworn to raise their arms in peace." he shouted at him in their tent that night.
"These are conquered men, uncle, Dorne has put them to the sword and beaten them, they need to know their place." his nephew said with a sneer.
"Dorne hasn't beaten them, I've beaten them. I've offered terms and you'd make me a liar, do no do so again nephew, believe me, you don't want to incur my displeasure anymore than you already have."
"Forgive me uncle." Quentyn said though there was no sincerity in his words or tone.
In the end though it was fortuitous as it revealed another knife that could be held at his back. Nymeria stunned to see Franklyn speaking to Quentyn and Anders, his smiling face and words she heard enough to prove him false.
"Weddings, he'd sell us out for weddings." she said angrily in his tent that night.
"It is the way of the world, Cletus would rise high and Quentyn would be a huge match for Franklyn." he said.
"Hah, Jennelyn and Jeyne would eat those little boys up and spit them both out, also I thought uncle Doran wished a princess for his prince?" Nym said and Oberyn smirked, Arianne had told Tyene about Quentyn's failed trip east, and what one of his daughters knew, they all did.
"No doubt he still does. I'd not trust a word my brother says, his words and promises mean nothing." Oberyn said, the bitterness in his voice picked up on by his daughters, and Tyene sat down beside him and leaned in close.
"How many do you think father, how many would we need to subdue to have our men be trustworthy?" Obara asked.
He sighed as he began to work it out, Anders, Cletus, Archibald, Gerris, Quentyn himself, Franklyn, and half a dozen of his knights, Wyl and more than ten of his. All in all, perhaps fifty men would do it, though how to get them all together would be a problem.
"No more than fifty, though truth be told, we could perhaps do it with ten." he said and saw Obara smile.
"We should take them, tonight or tomorrow." his oldest daughter said and he shook his head.
"We're still unaware of their plans, march to the Golden Company and join them, but what else, what plans do they have for the dragons?" he asked his girls only for them to shake their head, the chirping of the bird though drew his attention "We keep working, I'll speak to Quentyn and see if he'll give me more if not we plan to take them. Be careful my children."
"We will father." Nym said and Oberyn smiled when Tyene kissed his cheek.
His youngest girls were still overly affectionate and while Nym and Obara, his oldest especially, were reticent in their affections, Tyene was at heart still a little girl. When he was sure they had left and were out of earshot, he moved to the cage, looking down to see the bird's head tilted his way.
"You are in their nephew?" he asked and smiled when the bird chirped.
"I almost have it all, we march to King's Landing as you wished, I'll see you there?" he asked and the bird cawed, shaking its head "I'll see you before?"
The chirp rang out and Oberyn smiled once more. He looked forward to seeing Jae again, that he was coming to him had to be good news, he hoped. It was a day and a half later when he arrived, they were marching through the Kingswood when suddenly they stopped, men and horse's panicking as if they were under attack. Beside him, Obara readied her spear and Beric and Lord Selwyn along with Harmen looked to him for guidance. Only Thoros didn't seem concerned, the priest pointing up to the sky.
"Our king arrives." Thoros said with a grin.
"By the gods, is that a dragon?" Selwyn asked though who the question was directed at was anyone's guess.
Oberyn and his girls all looked up, Rhaenix looked magnificent. When she flew over them the sheer size and majesty of her almost brought a tear to his eye. No, this was not the life he wished for his niece, she should have been dancing and fending off suitors. Rhaenys and his girls should have been closer than sisters, her smile allowed to brighten up a room while men and women alike gazed at her in appreciation and envy.
That life had been stolen from her, this one all that remained, and yet she would always be looked at with awe and wonder now. Her beauty was different but just as potent, just as true, and no one would ever be able to harm her again. He heard the riders coming towards him and it took him from his thoughts, Rhaenix had disappeared from their view no doubt having found somewhere to land and Oberyn looked to see Quentyn and his companion's with worried expressions on their faces. Cletus's one would be perfectly matched by his father wherever he was.
"Was that the king's dragon?" Quentyn asked and Obara broke into laughter.
"No, cousin, that's just another random dragon, they're everywhere now don't you know." Nymeria said as Quentyn glared at her.
"Why is he here uncle?" Quentyn asked his worry even more clear.
"Let's go ask him shall we, I'm sure you fine men would all like to meet a dragon, after all, what's the worst that could happen?" he said seeing both Gerris and Archibald gulp.
Beric, Ned Dayne, and Thoros asked to join him, while Selwyn and Triston shook their heads, Oberyn smiling at their nervousness. They were allies they had nothing to fear from his niece and nephew, which was more than could be said about the others riding with them. Quentyn and his men whimpered constantly as they rode and soon they reached the clearing. Rhaenix's head snapping around quickly to look at them, the look in her eyes one he knew all too well, tread carefully or you'll end up bitten.
Jae was with two of his Kingsguard, Ser Walder with axe in hand and Ser Arthur with Dawn out, both of them putting their weapons away when his nephew signaled for them to do so. Oberyn found himself studying his nephew, the armor he wore was incredible, the black plate reflecting the light and allowing the swirls to identify it as Valyrian Steel. On his hip he wore the thin sword, it's ruby hilt and flamed pommel letting every swordsman know which blade it was. Dismounting he moved towards him and as one they took a knee.
"Your grace." he said looking to his nephew.
"Rise, uncle." Jae said and as he did so he was caught in a hug, kingly it may not have been but he welcomed it all the same.
"Lord Beric, Lord Dayne, and Thoros I believe you know." Oberyn said and Jae nodded greeting each of them, Ned Dayne smiling at something he said softly to him "Lord Harmen Uller, Ellaria's father." he said warmly.
"Lord Uller an honor, I've been most fortunate to have met Lady Ellaria when she accompanied Prince Oberyn. As with the prince himself, she is someone I'm most grateful to call family and someone who honors me by doing likewise. She is a remarkable woman my lord, it is a pleasure to meet her father, truly" Jae said and Oberyn didn't need to look to see the smile on Harmen's face.
"You honor me greatly your grace." Harmen said.
"Cousins." Jae said his smile true as he greeted each of his girls, Tyene chuckling at something he whispered.
"Ser Gerris Drinkwater, Ser Cletus Yronwood, Ser Archibald Yronwood, Ser William Wells, your grace."
"Good Sers."
"Your grace."
"And finally your other cousin, my brother's son, Prince Quentyn Martell." he said and turned to see the false smile on Quentyn's face, Oberyn looking closely at Jae whose own seemed on the surface to be far more true.
"Cousin, it's so good to finally meet you."
"You too your grace." Quentyn said in reply.
"I've very much looked forward to meeting you and your brother, as well as your father for some time. I've been lucky enough to meet Princess Arianne, perhaps later once I've settled we can speak together?" Jae asked sounding eager but not angry.
"I'd like that, your grace."
"Good, we should head back to the others, no doubt they fear my dragon has eaten you all." Jae japed and then as if on cue Rhaenix roared before she took to the sky "Hungry though she is its different meat she craves."
Oberyn looked at him as the walked, Jae, nodding to him and he wondered if he had a plan and hadn't just come to see him, though he welcomed that also.
Dragonstone 298 AC.
Dany.
They had sailed past Tyrosh and onto Cape Wrath, Davos taking her in a small boat to land close to his home. The knight allowing her and Shiera to spend time with the dragons while he and his son went to speak to his family. Were it anyone else but Ser Davos she'd have refused, worried that word of her arrival would get out before she was on friendly ground. Davos though had given her, his word, and Shireen and Selyse had backed him up as honest and true.
That Sandor and then later Melisandre did likewise only reinforced how right she was to accept it. While Davos walked off and left them alone on the cliffs, Dany waited with Shiera for her children to come to her. She'd been with them briefly in Tyrosh, flown with them over the water and though she had loved it, it felt like an age and more than the few days it had truly been since she'd touched them and felt them lean against her.
Shireen had asked to come to see them and on Tyrosh she'd allowed it, but here in this place, she would not. Even Missy and Melisandre were left on the ships, Dany coming to the shore with Sandor, Belwas, and some of the company that she'd been given as her guards, Rodrik seeming happy to be in Westeros once more. Seeing the dragons she smiled, even Sandorix seemed happier than he had been, her wild son even more eager to fly west than Ellagon or Rhaegal were.
"Iksan olvie biare naejot ūndegon ao ñuha riñar" (I'm so happy to see you, my children) she said softly when she moved to Ellagon and Sandorix, hearing Shiera tell Rhaegal how much she'd missed him too.
Moving quickly she hurried up Ellagon's wing. She was excited to be in the air once more and to see some of the land she'd been born in.
"Sōvegon Ellagon." (Fly Ellagon."
The dragons took to the air and she flew into the Stormlands themselves. Below them, they passed two keeps, one larger which she assumed was Rain House based on what Davos had said about his own being more modest. Across Shipbreaker Bay and soon they were flying high over Storm's End, the keep that belonged to the usurper's family. Shiera had told her more about House Baratheon than she had ever known and it only made their betrayal hurt that much more.
Orys had been Aegon's closest friend, Shiera had told her that he was in truth his bastard brother, kin to the conqueror and the founder of the stag's house. They had then picked Aegon over Rhaenyra despite the fact that Rhaenys was their kin and she herself had picked the Blacks over the Greens. Lord Lyonel had fought for Duncan the Tall and though he'd rebelled when Prince Duncan married another rather than his daughter, their houses were soon joined once more. It made Robert's grandmother her twice great aunt and yet had in the end it had counted for nothing.
Ambition, desire, and the whispered words of their enemies had been enough to sway a house that should be their lealest. Though again it had been Shiera who told her the truth of that too.
"House Velaryon is the only house we can ever trust completely princess, The Old, The Brave, The True, no house is more Leal and worthy than they."
As Ellagon headed back for the shore she looked forward to meeting them. To know there was one house she'd never have to fear, that she and her nephew could always rely on was something she was most grateful for. They may have dragons once more and the idea of going against them now would not something that most would think of. Still, men were men and oaths were fickle in Westeros it seemed to her. Knowing one House would always stand next to theirs was a boon she'd see rewarded.
"Jikagon, ipradagon, nyke'll ūndegon ao aderī, īlon're bē lenton, ñuha riñar, aderī īlon'll sagon lēda tolī lentor, aōhon se ñuhon. (Go, eat, I'll see you soon, we're almost home, my children, soon we'll be with more family, yours and mine.) she said as Ellagon trilled as she looked at her, Sandorix letting out a noise to show he was happy too.
Ser Davos arrived back not long after the dragons had taken to the sky. The war in the Stormlands was over, the Dornish Army had been victorious and had since moved on. The knight seemed happy that his lord was still alive and being held as a prisoner rather than having been executed and Dany knew that would please Shireen when he told her. She wondered though if her nephew was planning to kill him after the war or was he being too soft to enemies of their house.
"Would it not be best to kill him?" she asked Sandor and Shiera that night.
"There are other ways Dany, he could sentence him to take the black, could hold a trial, he could even pardon him." Shiera said and Sandor snorted.
"He'll not pardon him, he may not kill him but he'll not fucking pardon him." Sandor said.
"Why not kill him?" she asked curiously.
"It serves no purpose. Stannis was stuck behind his walls in the rebellion, he never got the chance to raise arms against your father or brother, aye, he declared for his own but he never got the chance to march."
"He was still a traitor." she said angrily.
"Aye, but by that token so was any who marched, Dany. If you don't blame the ones that raised their blades, then you can't blame those who did not." Shiera said.
"Who says I don't blame them all." she said and Sandor smirked.
"I may hate most of the fuckers but you can't remove them all, your nephew is riding with Lannisters, Starks, do we blame Jaime Lannister for what Tywin did? What my brother did?" Sandor asked.
She knew he'd taken it badly when he's heard of his brother's death, not the loss of the man but he'd been wrought when Melisandre had told him. While he'd welcomed the man who'd killed him had reason, something Dany agreed completely with, thinking if anyone had the right then a Martell did. Sandor had been angered that it had not been him. As for the Lannisters, Dany was unsure what to think. Viserys had said that Jaime Lannister killed her father, no one denied it, yet he by all accounts was her nephew's lealest man.
Dany knew what her father was like, Sandor had told her many times during their earliest time together, yet he was her father still and she'd need to look Jaime Lannister in the eye to see if he was true. The more she thought about it the more she felt the need to speak to her nephew, her understanding of things was clouded by distance and lack of context, she only hoped he'd be able to offer her the reassurance she needed. Not just about this but about himself too, Melisandre said he was good and Sandor, Davos, Shireen, all spoke of him as being of sound mind. But was he truly? Viserys had seemed so once and even at his worst he could seem so to others, could Jaehaerys be the same?.
"Dany?"
"Dany?" Shiera said a little louder and Dany shook her head, once again lost in thoughts and worries.
"I'm sorry, I was thinking of our nephew. Worrying that we may be too late or he may not be what we wish." she said her voice full of concern.
"I believe we've arrived in time, Dany, Melisandre, the dragons, they don't seem concerned. As for the other, we'll know the truth soon and should he not be then we'll worry about that, together." Shiera said smiling at her and Dany nodded.
"We could always just send him after him." Sandor said pointing to Strong Belwas, the man sleeping while sitting up, an empty plate in front of him, and the sauce or gravy of whatever he'd eaten was still on his face.
Despite her concerns, she found herself laughing, Sandor smirking too as he looked to Shiera and when she went to bed that night it was with fewer worries than she had earlier. It took them another two days to arrive at Dragonstone, Dany standing up on deck and starting at the island from the moment it came into view. The Dragonmont was alive with the sounds of her children as they flew and circled the giant volcano.
It felt like an eternity until she saw the docks, the ships bearing the sigil of her house proudly along with others of the Lords of the Narrow Sea. The Seahorse of House Velaryon being the most prominent of the others, though there were some she didn't recognize amongst them also. That there was no place for them to dock was frustrating but soon Davos was beside them in the boats. All of them were quickly made ready to land and other than the sailors and some men to guard the payment she'd received in Myr, there'd be few staying on board.
Stepping off the boat and onto the sands was like nothing she'd imagined, true she'd pictured herself coming home many times, but she'd no true idea of what home would look like. No real image of it in her head and the books didn't do it justice. She moved across the sand and then knelt down, tears in her eyes as she took sand in her hands and let it slide through her fingers. When she heard the unsullied standing to attention and felt Sandor and Belwas by her side, she looked to see men approaching, one of them was silver-haired and dressed in black. Briefly, she thought he was her nephew and felt her heart race in her chest, only to remember that Jaehaerys was dark-haired and so she now wondered who this man was.
"Princes Daenerys, Princess Shiera, welcome to Dragonstone." the silver-haired man said seeming to know them both.
"Forgive me, my lord?" she said.
"No lord, Princess, Aurane Waters, brother to Lord Monford Velaryon, and a Leal supporter of our king and his family." Aurane said with a smile.
She offered him, her hand and he kissed it and then did the same to Shiera's, Dany catching the look he shot Sandor and then Ser Davos.
"My nephew?" she asked.
"Is busy winning this war princess, perhaps you'd prefer to have this discussion in the keep rather than on the beach, no doubt you'd wish to see your family home once more." Aurane said only for Sandor to move forward.
"The princess will move to the keep once we're assured of her safety."
Dany looked as Aurane got an angry look on his face, something which concerned her until she saw it more clearly, it was more than simply anger, it was as if the words Sandor had said were an insult. The man was affronted and she knew why that was.
"House Velaryon is and has always been our truest supporters, I'm sure we'll be safe under their protection."
"I personally guarantee it, princess, our loyalty to House Targaryen is beyond question." he said and she smiled at him seeing him relax.
As if to emphasize how little danger they were truly in, Ellagon, Rhaegal, and Sandorix landed and Dany looked to see Aurane smile and show no concern. Instead, he looked at the three dragons with a smile on his face and her children paid him no mind at all.
"You've seen dragons before?" she asked as they walked to the keep, the long winding pathway annoying her as it seemed she was no closer to her home than when she had begun to walk it.
"I have princess, his grace's dragons Lygaron and Rhaenix."
"Lygaron?" she asked the second name seeming an easier one for her to understand.
"For the family, he lost princess. His mother was Lyanna, your brother, his father, Rhaegar, and his brother Aegon." Aurane said and Dany nodded.
"I had thought Rhaenix was named for my brother, just as I had named Rhaegal for him." she said and Aurane shook his head.
"For his sister, Rhaenys."
She smiled at that, knowing for some reason that this was her nephew's own dragon, just as Ellagon's was hers. When she finally reached the great doors of the keep, she took a step forward and walked inside, looking to see banners bearing the Three-Headed Dragon and portraits of members of her family hanging on the wall. She heard Davos and Shireen saying that this place had changed from behind her. Aurane then left them to arrange rooms for them and Dany felt herself drawn forward, Shiera and Sandor quickly walking with her as she strolled the halls until she reached a door and walked inside.
The room was large and as she moved to the bed she began to cry, here, this was where she had been born, where her mother had lost her life. She felt herself being held and looked to see her aunt allowing her to cry against her chest, Sandor moving to the door to give them privacy while Shiera whispered words over and over again in her ear.
"She'd have wanted you to live Dany, more than her own life, your mother would have wished her daughter to live. Now seeing you here, seeing what you've become your mother would be proud of you, so very proud and I promise if someone asked her to make a choice, you'd still be the choice she made." Shiera said and she somehow felt her aunt was right.
Later that night they ate and after they had done so, Aurane brought them into the Chamber of the Painted Table. Dany looking down on the map that Aegon had made of the seven kingdoms he'd intended to conquer. She looked to Aurane eager to hear about how her nephew's own conquering was going on.
"As you are aware, the Dornish army led by Prince Oberyn defeated the Stormlords and captured Stannis Baratheon. The rest of the Stormlords took up the offer the prince made them and retreated to their keeps to sit out the war. In the Riverlands, an army led by Gerion Lannister and joined by loyal houses took Riverrun and defeated House Tully and those sworn to them.".
"The Tully's fought against the Starks?" Sandor asked.
"You've been away a long time, Clegane, Lord Stark set aside Catelyn Tully after she, Littlefinger, and her brother tried to have the king killed, twice." Aurane said, before turning to her reassuringly "They failed obviously princess and the king was unharmed."
She felt her anger once again, even here people still sent assassins after her family.
"Lord Stark and the North allied with Prince Tyrion and some Lords of the West faced and defeated Lord Arryn and the Knights of the Vale, Lord Arryn is their prisoner." Aurane said and Dany smiled, her half brother, no brother, he'd be her brother, if he wished it so. He'd too played his part in returning their family to their throne and she felt a sense of pride at that.
"My brother rode his dragon?" she asked and Aurane nodded, Dany smirking and feeling a little jealous too.
"Our nephew?" Shiera asked.
"The king and Lord Jaime marched to face Robert who had the Golden Company with him." Aurane said and Dany felt her nerves rise "His grace offered Robert single combat to decide the war, which he accepted, and after he beat him, he then had Ser Arthur take his head."
"The usurper is dead, the war is over?" she asked happily only for Aurane to shake his head.
"It seems that Robert wasn't the reason the Golden Company had come, they instead were backed by a magister from Pentos and a boy claiming to be Prince Aegon."
Illyrio, he was part of this, she knew he'd wished to place Viserys on the throne but it seems the fat man was running a different game. That he was involved with the mummer and with Jon Connington.
"Jon Connington is with this boy? Shiera asked as Dany was about to.
"He is. The king offered him the same terms, they were refused and during the parley, they tried to kill him. Again princess the king is safe, unharmed. As for the Golden Company, well they woke the dragon." Aurane said smirking.
"What happened?" she asked.
Aurane told her what her nephew had done, Fire and Blood had been brought to the Golden Company and this pretender, now all that remained was King's Landing. The war was almost over it seemed and she felt happy it was, though she was more than eager to see her nephew and her brother.
"Where is my nephew now? My brother?" she asked.
"They head for King's Landing, princess, all the armies are converging on the capital."
"Good then so shall we. Sandor, you, Belwas, and the Company of the Rose's men will sail with ser Davos to land as close to King's Landing as you can. On the morrow my aunt and I fly to meet with our family." she said standing up and walking from the room, eager for the night to be over and the dawn to break. Tomorrow she'd see her family for the first time and she felt her heart race at the thought.
The Kingswood 298 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He tried to rein in his temper as his cousin spoke, Quentyn offering platitudes and asking questions at the same time. Jae sensing his eagerness about the Golden Company and his plans to beat them and thanking the gods that his cousin's network seemed to be as lacking as his uncle's had been. After arranging to have a meeting in an hour, Jae first asked to speak to some of the other lords that had joined Oberyn. Soon he was speaking to Stormlords and Dornishmen and watching as Oberyn or his cousins subtly nodded or winked at who could or couldn't be trusted.
Speaking briefly to Oberyn and hating the mummery he was about to do, he entered the command tent and readied to make plans for a battle that had already been won. The map that lay in front of him was of the Crownlands and Riverlands and Jae was moving pieces around showing where armies were and were not. All in an effort to paint as big a target on his back as he could possibly show. Once it was ready he began to lay out the role he wished the Dornishmen to play.
"The Golden Company marches to face Lord Jaime's army, here." he pointed on the map "I had hoped my uncle Eddard would have finished with his own battle but I've received no word and fear he's bogged down. While I'd have liked to go to him, I needs must win this battle or we are lost." he said shaking his head worriedly.
"What is it you wish of us your grace?" Oberyn asked.
Jae laid out the plan, the Dornish army was to swoop in once Jaime and his men were engaged against the Golden Company, their arrival turning the course of the battle their way. He told them he couldn't use the dragons because of how it would be perceived and saw Quentyn smirk when he said that. He did promise to use them to force the army against them where they wished them and saw some nervous looks on Lord Wyl and Lord Yronwood's faces.
"So there you have it, my lords, we march on the morrow." he said and saw them nod. Lying to the Stormlords was not what he wished to do but he needed them all outed and the target he gave them would be one too tempting to resist.
He'd left his flanks open, if they arrived and came at him from the side instead of at the Golden Company it'd be a massacre. Of course, there being no actual battle to take part in would mean there would not. Still, for a chance to knife him in the back they'd never get a better one. So that night as Oberyn was called away, Jae had the Stormlords brought to him along with Blackmont, Qorgyle, Dayne, and Uller and his cousins.
"Forgive me my Lords and allow me to apologize for the mummery earlier on, it was required to root out some traitors." he said to loud groans which he hushed "What you're about to see may seem strange but bear with me."
He took out the Glass Candles seeing the excited look on Thoros's face. It had hurt to take Margaery's one away but he had no choice, he needed to see, to show. Placing the black one on the table, he took the green, and then with his knife cut his hand. The scar on his left hand rarely healed much now so often did he cut there. Letting the blood drip on the candle, he closed his eyes and heard the gasps as people saw the image. The tent where Quentyn was laying out his plans, finally informing them of Highgarden and of how they intended to use Margaery, the army that would take her long before they needed to act, his cousin insisted as they all looked on.
"Prince Oberyn, would never, your grace." Harmen Uller said once the images had stopped and the extent of the treason was clear.
"My uncle is not involved, Lord Uller, I'm well aware of his loyalty and his own plans to root these treasons out."
Things moved quickly after that, he arranged the men and then reached out to Rhaenix, the dragon flying quickly to where they were. Soon they surrounded Quentyn's tent and at a roar from his sister, the men came running outside.
"Drop your weapons or face a dragon, the choice is yours?" he said looking to each of the, most of them doing as he said.
One of them did not though, the man was large and bald and held a huge warhammer in his hand as he ran toward him shouting.
"FOR DORNE." the man shouted and those were the last words he'd ever speak, Arthur removing Dawn from is back was quick. Rhaenix was quicker.
She didn't burn him, no flames came from her mouth at all. Instead, she grabbed him with her talons and within a few flaps of her wings, she was in the air and the hammer fell to the ground with a loud thump. All of them watched as she threw him high and then caught him in her mouth, the explosion of blood and guts spreading and covering those unlucky enough to be directly below.
"Anyone else wish to try their luck?" he asked with a smirk "Lord Yronwood, Lord Wyl, Lord Fowler, tell your men to stand down and your treason and the consequences of it stays yours and yours alone. Refuse and when I leave here it'll be to your keeps I fly and I'll not return until they're destroyed and you are the last of your line. Then and only then will I take your heads." Jae said and within moments the men were speaking to each of their men.
"Thoros, see that my cousin is well guarded, Stormlanders only." he said as Thoros moved to grab Quentyn, Oberyn looking at him and Jae shaking his head.
"The rest of you will face sentence on the morrow." he said turning and walking away, Arthur and Walder behind him.
When he reached the tent he waited and Oberyn and his daughters soon arrived, Jae, bidding them sit while he readied to tell his tale.
"King Robert is dead, the Golden Company no more. My uncles Ned and Tyrion have defeated the Knights of the Vale, and Jon Arryn is their prisoner. Edmure Tully is dead, and yet one more enemy remains."
"You lied?" Nymeria said with a smirk.
"I had to, I needed them to show their hand. I know you've been working on rooting them out uncle, but I needed to do so more quickly. I must fly to King's Landing and make ready to deal with the mummer within. But before that, I have more troubling news that I need to share."
"Doran?" Oberyn asked and Jae nodded.
"He sent an army to take Highgarden where he intended to take Margaery prisoner to be used to bring me low. You know what he planned here and what deal he'd made. Arianne, she's safe and unharmed by the way." he said to stop the question that was coming "She tried to take him but he had prepared for it and when I arrived she was being chased through the desert by her father's men. Ser Daemon and Ser Andrey Dalt with her."
"What happened?" Oberyn asked.
"I played a mummery, uncle, just like here. I allowed him to think he had won before we took the Water Gardens. He confirmed it all and one more thing, Ser Garrison Fowler." he said softly.
"He killed him." Oberyn said realization dawning on his face.
"He did, Ser Garrison was who Elia spoke of in her letter, the love she'd lost and whom she had planned to spend her life with if…it...if.. things had not gone so wrong." he said closing his eyes for a moment and then continuing "I ordered him to be sent to Ghaston Grey uncle. it must be seen that he pays for his treason, in a few moons time he can be moved to more comfortable but still secure surroundings."
"You didn't take his head?" Obara asked and Jae shook his own.
"I thank you nephew, I'd not see it done if it was anyone other than my brother, but I thank you for that." Oberyn said.
"Quentyn?" Tyene asked.
"Will take the black. Arianne already pled with me and will no doubt do so again but exile cannot be enough. Not just for the treason to me, he seeks and will continue to seek to usurp his sister and speak to Ser Gerris and Ser Cletus, ask them truly how far they were willing to go if your father had resisted."
"They would have killed him? "Obara said angrily.
"They would have tried." Jae said to smirks and a wink from Oberyn.
"The others?" Oberyn asked.
"Will lose their heads or take the black, they'll get no other choice."
"All of them?" Obara asked her voice shocked.
"The lords and knights directly involved, how many do you count, uncle?"
"Not more than fifty."
"The men just follow orders and I know how this leaves Dorne. I wish there was another way but maybe it's for the best, when Tyrion and Arianne are married they'll at least know those she rules over will be Leal."
He asked for a moment alone with his uncle and when his cousins left he turned to him, Oberyn looked tired, though whether it was physical or emotional he couldn't be certain.
"I am sorry, uncle, truly. I wanted them to be family, like you and Ellaria." he said and Oberyn smiled at him.
"You, Arianne, Trystane, my girls, my niece, and my future grandnieces and nephews are family, Jae. I'm comforted by that." Oberyn said.
"I need you with me in King's Landing uncle. When I take my throne, I need your counsel and advice. I'd name you to my counsel if you'd accept, any role your wish?" he asked nervously.
"I've always wanted to be in charge of Laws, nephew, let's bring ones to bear that better this realm."
"Aye, let's do that. Oberyn Martell, Master of Laws, it has a good ring to it." he said smiling.
"As does King Jaehaerys the third of his name. Now I intend to get very drunk, nephew, I hope you're willing to sing, I'm in need of good cheer this night and I've heard tell of many new songs." Oberyn said slapping him on the back as he left the tent.
Unsurprisingly none of the lords, knights, and closest of their men involved in the plot against him decided their heads to be worth more than their lives. He could only imagine what Jeor Mormont would think when he heard not just the number of men, but the quality of them that would soon be arriving. Jae smiling as he thought about the ones soon to join him, his uncles, the loyalists, a promise he was glad to be able to keep.
"I'll see you in a few days uncle." he said as Rhaenix said her goodbyes to his cousins.
"You will. Be safe, let's end this war and move forward, all of us."
"Aye, we will."
Rhaenix took to the air and before he knew it he was flying high over Kings Landing itself, a part of him wishing to just land and take the Red Keep. To see the Mummer's Dragon and fat cheesemonger brought low and yet he could not, something forcing him to fly past. Soon enough he saw the lion banners and flew low so they could see him, before flying further north and seeing the wolf ones too. He had only taken one pass when he heard his son call out and so he circled and waited and found himself laughing when Tyrion hurried to Lygaron's side. His son almost leaving him behind so eager was he to get into the air.
He flew beside them and Jae could see Tyrion's expression, relief, questioning, and a small amount of worry that he hoped he ended with a laugh. Directing him to follow they flew back to Jaime and the rest of their army, landing and listening as the dragons spoke to each other.
"We got your letter, it's done?" Tyrion asked.
"Not quite, one more fight to come, uncle, then it's done. Come I'm sure your brother will be happy to see you, just like Rhaenix's is to see her own." he said and Tyrion shook his head at the way the dragons were behaving, playful and friendly and yet to anyone watching that knew no better, terrifying.
Kings Landing one week later.
Jaime.
They hard marched and then waited for the northern army and Tyrion and Gerion's forces. Now they were less than a day away for King's Landing. For Jaime having Tyrion, Gerion, and Jae all safe and nearby had relieved him greatly. Even hearing of his brother and uncle's victories hadn't removed his worries for them and so seeing them, speaking to them, had been incredibly important. As for Jae after hearing about events in Dorne and with his cousin in the Stormlands he was just happy that his king was back amongst people he could trust completely.
When the Dornish army arrived today or tomorrow they would surround King's Landing and make it clear to those inside just how hopeless they're situation was. Jaime had been surprised when Jae had told him that the fat cheesemonger and the mummer pretending to be his brother had gone to King's Landing, surprised, even more, when he'd told him that they now somehow controlled the city.
"Renly?"
"A prisoner." Jae said.
"What forces do they have, surely not enough to hold the city?" he asked and Jae shook his head.
"No. They may have the Gold Cloaks though and I've seen men on the walls that look Essosi."
"Unsullied?" he asked and Jae shook his head.
"No, thank the gods, Sellswords I think. There's something, I feel something's off, I'm missing something." Jae said.
Whatever it was he hadn't been able to figure it out either, none of them had. It made no sense, at most they had 5.000 men, that's if they had landed Sellswords which Lord Monford and Richard both agreed they had not. So in truth, they had half that, between them all here alone Jae would have almost 60,000. Some had been left to guard prisoners and to begin to march them to the Wall. They could send almost 10,000 men to each of the seven gates to overwhelm the defenders and take the city quickly.
With Rhaenix and Lygaron they could take the gates themselves, burn them down with limited damage and make taking them even easier. The fat cheesemonger knew they had a dragon, though not that they had two. Surely he'd have seen there was no way he could win, if anything his retreat should have taken him to Essos. It made no sense and so just like Jae he was feeling there was something wrong, and just like Jae, he couldn't think what it was.
"His grace requests your presence." Tommen said to him, Jaime smiling at his nephew as he got up from his seat.
"Then we shouldn't keep him waiting, should we nephew." he said and Tommen nodded.
His nephew had taken to squiring well and though he and Jae hadn't had much time together, when they were he could see how Tommen's eyes would light up. His lessons always that much happier when they were given to him by Jae.
They walked to the King's Tent, something that he and Jae had disagreed on but was needed. The large tent was twice the size of his own, not that his was small either. He had told him that it needed to look the part, that it was where meetings with lords had to take place, and as the king from now on his world revolved around image as much as it did practicalities. As he entered the tent he saw he was the first one to arrive, Jae was sitting down in the corner with his eyes closed, opening them once he entered.
"Find anything out?" he asked
" than the Sellswords who are even less than we thought, 500 or so only. The Windblown led by someone called the Tattered Prince." Jae said
"Can he be turned, bought?"
"I don't know, but I doubt he knows about the dragons."
Soon enough the rest arrived, Tyrion and Gerion, Ned Stark and the Northern Lords, the Lords of the west and Riverlands, Lord Monford and Ser Richard, and the Reach lords Tarly, Rowan and Ashford. After having wine given to those who wished it and food to any of the others, Jae bid them look at the map of King's Landing.
"The forces inside the city I doubt have any true idea of the numbers assembled against them, my lords. I intend to show them those numbers. When we reach the city I wish our forces to split, Lord Tarly, Lord Rowan take your men to the Gate of the Gods, Lord Stark yours to the Dragon and the Old Gates. Lord Gerion, the Lion's gate is yours. Prince Tyrion will join Lord Jaime at the Mud Gate and I'll join with Prince Oberyn and his army at the Iron Gate.
The Red Keep is our main objective, my Lords, diverting their men to each of the gates will allow us to reach it easiest. Once the Mud Gate and Iron Gate have fallen, then diversion is no longer necessary and unless you can take the other gates without heavy loss, I'd ask you to divert to those two."
"The dragons your grace?" Lord Stark asked.
"To use them in the city is to invite disaster, my lord. Rhaenix and Lygaron under me and my uncle's direction can be made to direct their flames but in the city itself, the risk to innocents is far too high. I intend to use the dragons to take the two gates, the Mud Gate and Iron Gate give the shortest access to the Red Keep. Maegor's is formidable if correctly protected and there again the dragons will be used, a warning rather than a direct assault though." Jae said to nods.
"A sound plan your grace." Jaime said showing them all he agreed with it.
"Let's hope so Lord Hand." Jae said "Prince Oberyn should arrive later today and tomorrow we'll parley. Illyrio and the Mummer will be given one chance to leave, after that each of you knows what you must do."
"Parley your grace, after what happened at the God's Eye, is that wise?" Lord Crakehall asked, Roland not one to mince words.
"No, it may not be my lord, but it needs to be done all the same. I doubt they'd try the same thing twice after it failed and I won't be parleying alone, Rhaenix will be by my side and trust me, my lord, no one is more invested in my safety than she." Jae said looking to see Roland nod "My lords, you have your orders, I'd ask you to see to your men and make ready.
It was a dismissal in all but name and when Ned and Tyrion began to move, Jae held up his hand and bid them stay, Gerion, Ser Richard, and himself also along with Arthur and Walder also not allowed to leave. Jaime looked on as Jae sat down, his king looking tired and worried and it took him a few moments to speak.
"I've spoken to Lord Jaime about this and hope to consult the Glass Candles on the morrow when they're able to be used once more. There is something more going on here, something I've not been able to ascertain and it vexes me. Given the odds they face, Illyrio and this false Aegon of his should have run further. I'd have expected them to be on a ship to Essos by now, rather than here and that they are, worries me."
"You think they have some cunning plan, some trick or hidden ally?" Tyrion asked and Jae shook his head.
"They have something uncle, what it is though I do not know. Tomorrow when the order comes to attack I ask you to be even warier than you normally would be. Tyrion and I will be on our dragons, you'll be on the ground and I'd see you as well prepared as possible, even if I know not what it is you're preparing for."
"We'll take care of your grace, I'll speak to my lords and ladies and let them know." Ned said and Jae nodded.
"Aye, Dusk will be with me, my king, if there is anything to worry about then I'm sure the wolves will know." Gerion said.
"Just be careful, all of you." Jae said and it wasn't the king who spoke then, instead, it was the boy who cared and worried about them who had made that simple request.
"We will, your grace." He said and Jae nodded.
Richard said he'd see if he could find out anything from his lips and after everyone left Jae turned to him and Arthur.
"Tomorrow I want each of the Kingsguard to be with my family, Ser Arthur, you alongside Ser Jaime, Ser Walder with my uncle Ned, Ser Jors with Gerion and Ser Richard with Prince Oberyn.
"You'll be on the dragon, for all of it my king?" Arthur asked.
"Neither myself nor Tyrion will land unless it's beside a Kingsguard, I give you my word on this. Tomorrow we stay in the air until the fight is done."
"I'll see the others have their orders." Arthur said turning to move.
"Arthur, you be careful also." Jae said and Arthur smiled.
"You too, your grace."
Arthur left them both alone, Jae looking up to him with a small smile on his face which Jaime returned, the tiredness and weary look he'd had on his face seeming to be gone now.
"Cheer up Jae, soon you and Margaery will be married and then your real troubles will begin." he japed.
"Do you miss her Jaime, Dacey, here now, do you miss her?"
"Every day, her and Joanna, but I'll see them soon." he said and Jae nodded.
"Aye, I look forward to it, them, Joy, Genna, all of them. It feels like forever since I've seen them, gods I even find myself ready to move at storytime some nights." Jae chuckled.
"I'm sure my cousin will welcome its return. How many girls will be able to say in the future they had tales told to them each night by a king?" Jaime asked and Jae smiled broadly.
"Aye, go get some rest Jaime, I'll see if I can find anything else before I sleep myself, I'll see you on the morrow."
"Aye, make sure you sleep too, Jae, tomorrow will be a long day."
He bid him goodnight and found himself unable to rest, walking the camp before he finally went to his bed that night, his mind worried, and like Jae, he couldn't tell why.
King's Landing 298 AC
Illyrio.
Word came to him of the army that surrounded them and even though he knew it was coming, the sheer size of it rattled him. Watching as they spread around the city he wondered how he had ever thought he could beat them with just the Golden Company. Quickly though it hit him when he saw the white dragon, that had never been his plan, Aegon would have brought all these men together under his banner if it wasn't for Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He wondered had Varys known, had he tried to do something about it, and been found out. It seemed likely and was only another reason to hate the boy outside the gates even more. Walking from the walls he reached the bottom and sent the men out to organize the parley before he headed back to the Red Keep. Illyrio had only made it halfway before the Tattered Prince caught up with him, the sellsword obviously not happy with what he had seen.
"You never said anything about a dragon." the Tattered Prince said.
"I'll deal with the dragon and his rider." he said.
"And the huge fucking army, who's dealing with that?"
"The army won't be a problem, trust me, your ships are ready are they not?"
"They are, fine I'll wait for the parley, but that army attacks and my men aren't standing against it Illyrio, we're gone."
He nodded and then continued on his way, speaking to Sewer Rat when he saw him, the unsullied telling him he'd done as he'd asked and his men stood ready. When he reached the Red Keep he heard even better news, the Bountiful Harvest had docked in the bay and so he sent word to allow Afodar to land. The siege they'd soon find themselves in getting yet another way to resolve itself. He found Aegon in the Throne Room, his son wearing black armor that while it wasn't as impressive as the Targaryen's looked so much more regal on his son.
"Your bastard brother has come, your grace, he requests a parley." he said with a bow.
"Does he Lord Hand, the surprise is ready?" Aegon asked.
"It is. Also, my man has arrived back from Braavos, he brings word form the faceless men, forgive me for overstepping your grace but I gave permission for him to land." he said and Aegon nodded.
"That's quite alright Lord Hand, I leave such trivial matters for you to handle." Aegon said and though he smiled at him, inwardly he grimaced. If the boy had been entitled before then ever since he'd sat the throne it had become worse.
He cursed Jon Connington as they rode to meet the false king, bemoaned that he'd not curtailed these impulses in Aegon. Worse he'd kept them from him and so he'd been unaware of them. Had he not been then he could have asked Haldon, Duck, the Septa, or even sent someone more suitable to keep them in check, now it was too late.
As they rode out he looked to the group ahead of him. The dour-looking man with the wolf sigil had to be a Stark something which Aegon seemed to notice, the others were mainly lions giving their golden hair and green eyes. He recognized the striding huntsman of House Tarly and the golden tree of House Rowan. Though it was the bright red sun and golden spear of House Martell that grabbed his and Aegon's attention.
"My uncle is here?" Aegon asked a smile on his face.
"It seems so, your grace." Illyrio said, he'd received a reply from Doran accepting his offer but no word since and he smirked, the snake at the dragon's back was a welcome piece of good news.
Though seeing Prince Oberyn's face as he looked at Aegon he wasn't quite sure. Either Oberyn was the best mummer ever or there was hatred in his eyes. The latter seeming more likely when Aegon spoke to the Red Viper.
"Uncle, for so many years I've longed to see you, to explain the reasons why I could not would take more time than we have right now. Perhaps once this false king has knelt and been dealt with we could speak? "Aegon asked.
"Hah, you're right nephew, he really is a fool. My sister would never choose a son over a daughter, one child over another, there is nothing in this world that could make her do so." Oberyn said angrily.
"Princess Elia saved her heir, Aegon is…." Illyrio said only for the dragon to interrupt.
"Dead, my uncle speaks true. Any man who knew Princess Elia would know the truth of this, so enough of this mummery. Despite the advice of my counsel and my own feelings, I'm willing to make you one final offer. Go, leave, take your ships and sail back to Essos, I'll not follow, I'll not seek you out I give you my word on that. Stay here and that job someone did on his face." he said pointing to Aegon "I'll see it taken to its natural end, trust me, my dragon won't let him off so easily."
Illyrio heard the dragon roar and then it landed close to them, Aegon looking both fearfully and avariciously at it.
"No." he said and looked directly into the king's eyes smiling as he did so "You've developed quite a reputation in a short time Jaehaerys, but one of the problems with a reputation is it allows people to know what you love. What you care for and what you'll do to protect that you are attached to."
He watched as despite trying to school his face the king looked at him, a glimmer of doubt in his eyes being enough to make Illyrio smile.
"You, Varys told me why you killed the mad king, what he planned to do to the city and why people called you Kingslayer. For five and ten years it's lain there and no one ever bothered to look for it, remove it, and had they then I'd not be able to do this." he raised his hand and the cage was then dragged out.
"What the hell are you doing?" Jaehaerys asked.
"You have until tomorrow to surrender and accept Aegon as your king, after that every hour until you do, this will happen."
He raised his hand up and the green liquid was thrown over the man, woman, and children in the cage. The small family he'd had dragged from Flea Bottom, a mother, father, and their three children screamed and then the world went green. Jaehaerys almost jumped from his saddle to get to him, behind him dragon roared even louder. Illyrio welcomed the tears that were in the boy's eyes. He'd given them food, a better life, both in King's Landing and in the North.
Coin he'd won in tourney's, coin from the Tyrell's, both Jaehaerys and the golden rose had cared for these wretches and that was his biggest flaw. To care left you weak, honor left you weak, and looking at him now he could see that the boy was indeed as weak as the rest of the false dragon. Their line never had the true strength required to rule, his did.
"If you attack then my men already have orders to ignite the wildfire, tell me, Lord Jaime, do you truly know how much the mad king had of it? or where it is? Even if you did, do you believe you can get to it all? You have a day, your grace." he said with contempt as he turned to ride back.
"Excellent work Lord Hand." Aegon said slowing down as they rode by the cage, Illyrio almost gagging at the stench of burned flesh while Aegon looked fascinated by it.
They had just reached the gate when he heard the roars of the dragons, dragons, more than one, he looked up to see three dragons fly over his head. Two with riders on their back, their silver hair marking them clearly as the Targaryens they were. Hurrying back to the Red Keep, he then had to spend almost an hour trying to calm Aegon down, needing once again to have Haldon bring him some of his concoction. His son threatening to show them all what a true dragon can do, though what he threatened to do to Daenerys was much viler.
"Afodrar has arrived Magister, he awaits you in the Royal Apartments." Duck said.
"Very well, see that Aegon rests, Duck, with any luck, this will all be over on the morrow."
"You think they'll accept?" Duck asked.
"The boy will and if not, Afodar may provide us with a different solution." he said with a smile.
"Should they attack?
"Then they'll find surprises on their routes and before we leave this city it will burn." he said walking away.
Sewer Rat had moved some of the wildfire and lined the route from each of the gates to the Red Keep. If the army breached then they would set it alight and while it would destroy some of the city, the biggest casualties would be the armies that marched. As he walked to his room he felt on the verge, all his plans, all his schemes, all his gold had led him to this point. In one more day his son would be declared the one true king and Illyrio will have kept his promise to her. Entering the room he saw his servant and moved to the table eager to hear his news.
"Ah Afodar, I trust all went well?" he said sitting down and asking for food to be brought.
"It did, Magister, the faceless men were very accommodating." Afodar said and declined when the food was brought, not that he really cared, alone, or in company, Illyrio always ensured he'd enjoy his meal.
"So they will send someone?" he asked as he held the roast partridge in his hand, the juices rolling down his fingers.
"They already have Magister." Afodar said smiling.
He felt it then, the blade, at first like a pinprick and then quickly becoming more. The partridge quickly falling to the floor and Illyrio trying to scream through the hand that covered his mouth. The face that had once been Afodar's was gone and he looked to see a thin gaunt woman with large dark eyes looking at him. The real truth of what Faceless men were now finally becoming clear to him, not that he'd ever be able to tell anyone that truth. He felt her, him, whatever it was moving behind him, the knife now at his throat.
"Valar Morghulis." the Faceless Man said and as the knife slit his throat the unintelligible gurgle had it been more clear would have said but one word.
'Serra'.
A/N: Up Next after fifteen years the dragons are finally reunited, Jae tries to deal with the threat behind the walls and an unknown ally provides the solution as another false dragons threatens to burn them all.
Daryl Dixon: No it was all in Doran's head, Jae warged him and bombarded him with images of Dorne's destruction.
Sylvester: I corrected it, in my original drafts for both these chapters I had Walder/Arthur with Jae when he arrives at Marge, I changed that as Barristan/Arthur had more impact but missed it on the second chapter and never changed it there, it's correct now, thanks for pointing it out.
The sphinx: Thanks so much for the poem again. On Doran, he was literally scared to death, in his mind at the end he saw every man, woman and child in Dorne die and his brother cry out over the death of his children. Jae had to kill him in a way that didn't get pushback, torturing him or taking his head would have felt lesser and caused more problems.
Vdwade: So glad you thought so, he died believing he'd doomed Dorne completely, poetic justice I felt. LF is the grass is greener guy, realizing now that what he wants is not what he needs, Cat may soon realize the same thing. Faegon is definitely entering Aerys territory and Illyrio may not be able to stop him.
Jumping manatee: Glad you liked Doran's end. There'll be no scorpions, they intend to use Jae against himself so to speak.
Bloodredshade: So glad you liked it.
Hartely Skarsgard: You're more than welcome, I felt right from the start that if someone is taking the time to read and review, the least you can do is reply, if they ask questions or have something they wish to bring up and they can be answered then for me taking the time to do so is a pleasure. Glad you liked the Doran end, I originally had a plan for an epic fight between Areo and Walder, but you'll see why I didn't do it in a little bit. The Cheesemonger and Faegon, are close to their end.
Jessicanightmarewolf: Fire, poison, misery a combination of it all really, every worst fear he had pretty much played out in his head before the end. Rhaenix likes showing off lol she's soon to be able to do so with three more dragons too.
Katee19: So glad you thought so, he after the argument with Olenna changed his mind on what he was going to do, originally he was going to take his head, but he realized the politics of it.
Biohazard: So glad you liked it.
Jman: A spin off with Dany as the lead is not the worst idea I've heard.
Remi: Yep good riddance indeed. On the wfyre, you see here their plans with it. The Mockingbird is coming soon.
Supremus: Cat in Essos would be an eye opener for her, I was just thinking of the Meereen bare breasted look and what she'd react to that.
Svenion: The nights watch is getting some very interesting recruits.
Zyrus: We'll see if he does, the problem with LF is he wants it all, he's not content with just rising in the ranks, he wants the big seat and he's willing to do anything to get it.
Tony Warrior: Realmente lo estaba, espero que te guste el plan de Illyrio, usar a Jae contra sí mismo, por así decirlo.
Celexys: So very glad you thought so, I wanted to show the adaptation of his plans, that while he got on the dragon to kill Doran, take his head and damn the consequences, the fight with Olenna, the flight after it opened his eyes in a way.
Lady Octarina: Lol, I know, I reckon it's been decades since someone actually had the gall to call her out, here she deserved it and she knew it and yet I wanted to show he was mad, but still he was forgiving to her, he'll call the others out too, but it'll be less in their face as he won't have the same anger of it being as immediate here, since he only found out he was far less in control in a way, it'll simmer until he speaks with Genna and the rest.
It was funny, someone said I should have done that, send him to jail and wait a while and then have him killed but it removed the ruthless of it and it would have looked like I responded to people who'd have been annoyed he didn't kill him, rather than it being Jae being ruthless. His intent was to go, take his head, damn the consequences, his argument with Olenna opened his eyes to the politics and how things look and the flight there allowed him refine the plan. But the ruthlessness of it, the lying, playing as if he would was a big part of it.
Yep, the Baelish's are running now. On Doran's plan, it was pretty basic in the end, take Marge and the dragons are out of the equation, hold a knife to he throat and Jae is paralyzed. Something similar to what Illyrio is doing with different stakes.
Huntsman: I did think of it, I will do something with the idea in a FB/vision, but I think it's best if he's dead.
Ksveela: Sandorix is with her yes, we'll see her and Jae/Tyrion next. Hope you like the plan for KL, we'll see how far it gets them. Doran I think is even more telegraphed than Cersei/Robert as you say, it's not a shocking death, more an inevitable one.
Dunk: She really is, whatever we can say about the show and the choices they made, on a lot of the casting choices they really nailed it, it's hard not to picture her as Olenna, or Charles Dance as Tywin or Sean Bean as Ned. On the airing of the dirty laundry, it was both to show Doran just how far he failed and to almost prepare Arianne for the death in a way, of course when she hears she'll be sad but she'll also not be as sad so to speak. For the death itself, the fight with Olenna opened his eyes and almost forced him to change his plans, I think this one worked so much better, allowing Doran to see all his fears come true and how much he'd failed, even if it was all in his mind.
Cat/Essos is one of those things, she'd be horrified, there is little hints in LF's pov that things aren't so sweet so we'll see if your right. Well their plan is out now and Dany is here so we'll see how it plays out.
Anja: So glad you liked it.
Zenjack: Really happy you enjoyed it.
Vwhcik: I don't think there was any way he could have let him live, you're right also there has to be consequences when you go that far. Oh don't get me wrong, I don't think Olenna and the others were actually wrong, now it turned out that in withholding it from him it could have been devastating but they did so because they cared about him and worried how he'd react to it, being on the verge of war too it could have been a terrible thing for him to bear. Jae has suffered betrayal, his family has, this would at the time have left a huge scar, it's actually only his worry and concern about Marge that meant it didn't. Faegon's mother Serra is suggested to be the last remaining Bfyre, a female descendant of the Blackfrye line.
Soviet god: In terms of this war, somewhat yes, position wise odds against him, these enemies are not as impressive as they could be, like logically Dany wins the war for the throne in a heartbeat, only Tyrion gives her the worst advice ever, which leads to force losses. So yes against there he's OP, but there are two enemies to come who are on a much more level playing field.
Naruto: One of the key things for me is the journey, he's been on this journey and almost along the way each little point is a lesson, he needs to learn them. LF is planning on running, we'll see how far he gets. Arianne almost like canon just underestimated her father and it cost her, Jae didn't and so it cost Doran. In the dreams Doran was literally scared to death, he used all his greatest fears against him in one swoop.
M: She'll be sorely missed.
Guest: I really wanted that, for Jae to pretty much lay it out and show how badly he'd messed up, you're right on the death, if it comes out it will e a problem, though Jae is the only one who knows, so there's that. Hope you liked the Illyrio bit here, and the Jae/Oberyn.
Galo: Really glad you liked it.
Ace Venom: She truly did. As you see you're half right about the waif. Renly is in a better situation than he could be, if he's still alive that is. That's it precisely, now obviously the NK is the real big bad, but we still have some others to deal with and Bloodraven/Jae is coming.
Leo: So very glad to hear you say that. With Cat I think there are so many polarising views, but there seems to be a very strong pro and anti camp. My think with her is simple, her actions have a detrimental effect emotionally on Jon, they pretty much define him, not only hers, but she's the main cause of it in his own mind, today we'd call anyone who acts like she did a monster, she's defended by most because in the world of Asoiaf, she's not the worst monster she can be, to me that's no defence. On Theon I just couldn't resist, Jaime I don't know if that will happen here. Jon A I kinda like the idea of him being evil, funny in another story I have him very much not so lol. LF to me is the grass is greener guy, he wants her for so long that it's bound not to live up to his expectations.
On Marge/Jon that was one of my things here, to allow them meet, rather than simply the war begins and they meet/marry/fall in love. Allow it to grow. Faegon we'll see and you too stay safe and well in this crazy world.
Xand007: Thank you my friend. She truly did, it's impossible to think of Olenna as anyone else, which is a testament to how good she was. With Doran it was and still is a mummery, he's being very political and knowing what it could look like, even now after it he's still playing the game so when it does come up, who'd suspect him. I hope this explained more of Illyrio's plans, as for the counter we'll see that next. Nope, he hasn't more it's deal with the biggest threat first, but he saw them when warged so yes he's not forgotten.
Scarila: So glad you liked it, I really wanted to get the Doran part right.
Silverglow; I'm halfway through my check and beginning to think I'd not put it in, I can't see a mention of any who's not covered and so I'm back over my notes to see who I'd picked and when to try and narrow it down, I'll give you a definitive answer on Tuesday.
Ghost really is, there's no doubt with him, my two foot or who my two foot left me to guard is in danger, hmm danger dealt with lol. I wanted the Jon/Marge to be a little amusing, him calling her that and she playing the joke on him the next morning pretending everyone had bee in the room (it was just Olenna lol).
Jas is learning a lit, the next few chapters will give him time to take a moment and then we'll see it even more truly. Thanks for pointing that out. I think she may think twice, unless it's something utterly Mace like lol. Solar is pretty much any room that you use as a study, mainly in a keep/castle, it's in essence another room for office. I thought I'd put Worst, need to check.
The small clothes line was a bit of levity, in canon Arianne pretty much plotted things out perfectly, the problem was Doran knew her too well, he moved and countered so fast it caught her. The Cyvasse reference is from the books, she plays the game with Daemon and keeps losing, she's too impulsive and uses her dragon and he chides her over it, it's pretty much the foreshadowing that he plan will fail. Doran in canon is almost unbeatable at the game, each move is so well planned out he's very hard to beat. Tyrion we see beating fAegon almost the same way as Arianne is beat, impulsiveness costing him the game. So I wanted to bring that element in and then for Jae to basically throw it up in the air, "I own the fucking board" is pretty much gave over. With Rhaenix it's the memory of the Dragon's wrought, after Rhaenys's death, Aegon and Visenya pretty much burn every keep to the ground, they bring fire to Dorne but they stop, Arianne knows that Rhaenix will do the same but not.
On Doran himself, the fight with Olenna allowed Jae to see the difference between anger, understanding and politics. He was furious with her and he could see if things had gone worse, he'd have gone further, but despite what she did, Olenna had his interests at hear and so it allowed him see. It also allowed him to see how punishing her would effect those around her, so on the flight to Dorne the plan changed, he had intended, trial, death, it turned into this but he couldn't let him live, remember he felt Doran not just saw him, he knows what's in his heart, and Doran alive is a threat.
The Elia thing was pretty much that Doran worried that Elia would be set aside and be happy for it, that Rhaegar would find another but that Aerys would remove Aegon, (Garrison died before Harrenhal) so he took him out before it could be an issue.
With the death, way back when Jae warged into the Mountain he found his greatest fear, Birds, now he didn't know that at the time, he just felt/saw birds, used them which caused Gregor to think he was been attacked by birds and since it was his fear, he dropped the sword and died. With Doran, when he warged and felt him, he connected so all those visions he saw of Doran, the bits where the others saw flickering images were little bits of both Glass Candle and Warging. In essence he found all of Doran's greatest fears and so when he sent him the vision at the end, that's what he sent him, literally scaring him to death.
I find with the show that I just can't, knowing where it's going even past episodes that were ones I love, I can't watch again. That to me takes some really terrible writing to not only mess up the end but to do so in such a way that you can't watch the beginning again. But for all the criticisms, the casting isn't one of them and we were blessed with some great performances, her Olenna is pretty much spot on, there is no one who could have done a better job.
Mrspotter: The Manipulator got manipulated lol.
Denoltdn: Well we're down to only a couple, of course some more soon to be introduced too, almost time for a one eyed kraken to appear. It was that which kinda inspired me here with Doran, to show it more clearly and adapt it so it could work here. Dany/Jae is next, I felt she'd not wait, she'd know where he was clearer than he would her. With Faegon it definitely would yes, but he's almost in Aerys territory anyway.
Kitkatthecat: I felt we needed a little look into how she was thinking, it's been hard to show a lot of her because a war is on and I'm honestly looking forward to her being in KL with Jae. But I wanted to give them a brief respite. I wanted to have him angry at Olenna, and because it's all so fresh he's more emotional too, but he will understand they did it for him, so he's not going to hold the grudge, just not forgive immediately.
I funny enough always felt that about LF, I've called him the grass is greener guy, but to me that's him, he wants something and when he gets it, it's never quite what he expected. Now Cat here is feeling similar, there is little hints in how he's thinking of her that she doesn't find it all sunshine and roses either.
Someone said to me I should have allowed Doran to go to Ghaston Grey and then kill him a few moons later, but the problem was that had I done that then that chapter would have ended with Doran alive. People would have been pissed he'd not been killed, then when I killed him it would have looked a reaction to people being annoyed, rather than a plot point. So instead I had him play it out, have everyone think he was going to let him live, but he really couldn't.
She truly will.
Don't worry it does, I think we're all facing a little of that, those of us lucky enough to be back working are kinda doubling up and working harder than those still waiting to come back, it's bloody tiring, hopefully normality will return.
Liza: Thank you my friend. Exactly, he sent him all his greatest fears, he'd funny enough have been content if Doran lived inside his own private hell in his head, kinda been alive but tortured, as long as he never posed a threat again. But he scared him to death, so yes he killed him but in reality Doran killed himself as his fears killed him. It really was about that yes, I also wanted to give Jon/Marge sometime, he needed it after the warging/glass candles, battle, and Marge allows him to be well Just Jon when he's with her. I think for me that's LF in a nutshell, he wants and wants and then he gets and goes, is that it, huh, I want more. Stay safe and happy my friend.
XanMerrick: Thank you my friend. Ghost is freaking lethal, like we hear more of Grey Wind on the battle field but Ghost is just as deadly. With Olenna she deserved it and it did raise her respect, that the key to it is Marge is huge for her as well. I think LF pretty much focussed on the idea of Cat, a little like Robert with Lyanna, it's why I think he feels drawn to Sansa too, but once he gets it he'd be like, nah, not like I remembered. With Doran tearing down his schemes in front of him hurt and Jon knew that, he knew exactly the way to go at him and so he did, then as you say he can't truly publicly do that, he needs it in private.
Irish hermit: On Doran, I think Oberyn/Arianne are the only ones you can feel sympathy for, Quentyn is tied in too much and well as you see he was never a problem, had Jae not arrived, Oberyn had him already pretty much.
LF, in a way suffers here from the not understanding the game, one of the key things for Jae, the biggest boon he got was Richard in a way (obviously Jaime, Dragons etc) but Richard helped keep Jae off the board and so LF never planned against him, his plans were always more against Robert etc. so it's caught him by surprise. He has a get out of jail plan ready to go in KL, but can't get to it, so he's scrambling for plan B. With cat it's exactly that be careful what you wish for.
I really wanted him to relax and Marge allows that for him, he needed it as for Olenna exactly, had he known then he'd have factored it in, the simple fact is without a dragon even with everything else, he'd have lost against Doran, or been damn close to, his army would never make it to Dorne or HG in time, meaning that Marge and Arianne could well have been prisoners and there goes you advantage.
Illyrio thought he had a final chance, he knew running leads to death, they'd come for him and Aegon would never run so he rolled the dice and lost.
YayforJae: 's been so hard to get any Marge time in, the war in way has sidelined her, but both for the Jae/Marge time to come and to show a little of her own growth and what she brings to the table this was very important. The attack by the Darkstar, was shocking, out of the blue and she never had the chance to really do anything where her it was more, as you say, regal, poised etc. Ghost of course helps, but it was a huge bit of her involved.
The getting Jae to stand down was both her asserting herself and Jae seeing that she needed reassurance as much as her getting through to him also.
was for me the most important part of the chapter, to show two fools in love so to speak but to show that yes, they're grown up, regal, soon to be king and queen but they're young, and this is something they may do. The parade of people was teasing (it was just Olenna) but I wanted to have that little bit, to have them tease each other.
Glad you liked the song and sometimes for me it's simple lines that can get overlooked in the grand scheme of things that mean so much, the You came/For you Always is pretty much a definition of how he feels and I worried it had been missed, glad to see it was not.
3. Olenna as I've said before is so fun to write, here being on the other end of things was funny for me. Glad you liked the 'be a dragon reference. Yes one of the hardest things with Willas/Sansa is the age, he's 23 she's 12, so ehwww. So I've been trying to show it, to develop it and straddle that line in canon Roslin Frey is 15 and Edmure about 26/28 when they marry so for Sansa/Willas you' be looking something around that time frame but I wanted to show it for longer. Sansa agres to marry him in KL in 298 (now this is to get away from the Lannisters) but here we're at that timeframe so their may be a betrothal agreement coming, we'll see.
The livery is easy, anyone can make it you only need one example an it doesn't need to be exact, just used at the right time, it wasn't an inside job, more a well timed attack, other than of course it not being lol That's one of the big things, you see it more here, news takes a long time to travel and events move quickly. We see this in the books a lot, think of it, Robb is in the Westerlings keep when he hears of he IB and WF's falls, so the attacks happen moons before he finds out.
Loras pov is coming, on the road to Kl.
of the key things, is and I've said this before, the learning as he goes, each step gives him a lesson. He sent the people from the room both out of respect for Olenna and knowing what he was about to do would look bad. But arguing with Olenna allowed him to change his plans with Doran, his first ones not going to work now.
Now on the warging, it's kinda the use of magic being a double edged sword, with the sparring he gets to train and so doesn't reach too far too soon, he has guides, Arthur, Jaime etc. with the magic he has none so occasionally he can outdo it. Sometimes he drains himself and needs a rest, now the Glass candles and the three days was a little of that, but also it was purely physical too, pushing himself and the body joined with the mind to shut him down.
Rhae just like Jae is magical, they have a bond and like with him if she's over emotional she uses more, hence the nosebleed, but it's a lot to show the effects of things.
On the warging and actually stripping the mind in way it's supposed to be terrifying, the key though is the consensual/non consensual nature of the warging. So if he knocks and the door is open he's welcomed as a guest, in some places (ghost/Winter) he's a family friend with his own room. He can never harm them, but if he forces his way in, Mountain, Darkstar, .Doran well it's a guy breaking into you house uninvited.
Now do we know anyone else who perhaps could do that, hmmm lets see.
5. With the Quentyn part I wanted to in a way show Ari as better than Doran/Quentyn, logically you're right and you see Jae pretty much making that point above, but Ari caring for her family while they basically risking it was supposed to be a theme.
I did think of just doing the Ari in real time, but I felt the before and after worked here.
6. With Doran, Jae's visions with the GC gave him insight, he felt Doran not just saw him and so he knew where to press and how to hurt. Firstly by tearing each of his schemes down one by one, showing them as the failures they were.
Then by going full on with the visions, every single one a guilt one of Doran's own mind.
7. On Arthur I wanted his personal view to be expressed just once, it's so rare to see it, in terms of things that he may think personally, rather than say how he may react to Jae more so. With Ari I think that's how certainly Oberyn feels and Ari always looked up to him most of all.
Areo is an interesting character, it's not quite that, but it will be shown in the next chapter.
8. I really think LF is someone who would never be happy with his slice of the pie, he wanted Cat, got her and now is like, I don't know it I want her.
On his way back plans, I think a lot of them were simple, in that they resolved around Cat and so it's in a way easy to imagine it. For me I went with the picture in your head line he gave Sansa about the throne, so it kinda started off as both a dream and a little bit of "I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too" kinda thing, a plan with no real certainty of success, get back at Hoster, Ned, everyone and then get Cat. Over time the steps became more elaborate.
Cat remembers their coupling now, ehwww, but she's not so enamoured with his plans and her new life.
