King's Landing 298 AC.
Dany.
They had left Dragonstone that morning, Dany feeling nervous and excited. If all went well in a few hours she'd be meeting more of her family. As she flew on Ellagon she wondered what they would be like, would her brother be as happy to see her as she was him. Was her nephew who everyone said he was and what exactly did a prophesied prince look like.
She had learned a lot more from Aurane about both her brother and her nephew. Tyrion was smart, funny, and betrothed to the princess of Dorne, his dragon Lygaron was a bright bronze and he loved his family. Jaehaerys was her age, and Aurane seemed to almost worship him and the things he had done. The way he'd speak about him was as if he was some legend come to life.
Dany found it funny, her nephew had learned one lesson it seemed, their family needed to be seen as more than. Despite the many things she disagreed with Viserys about, that one thing had stuck with her. From the moment their family was considered the same as everyone else, people then had no qualms about replacing them. For almost three hundred years no one had dared, other than other members of their own family, but once they saw them as no better than any other then they had moved. True there were many other reasons behind the rebellion, as she'd come to find out, but that was one of them and it was one they need to be wary of in the future.
"Blackwater Bay." she heard Shiera call out as her aunt pointed down below them.
Seeing it in front of her a part of her wished to land and walk the halls of the Red Keep. To stand in the throne room, and to finally see the Iron Throne that Aegon had forged. Yet it was on and past the Red Keep, they flew. Shiera pointed ahead and Dany looked to see green flames in the sky, a chill going down her spine knowing what they were. She urged Ellagon to fly faster and as they flew over the gates she saw men entering and then the green flames still burning something some distance away.
Then she heard the excited sounds coming from Ellagon, Rhaegal, and Sandorix, looking ahead she could see why. The white dragon was huge, far bigger than any of her children. It was also different and Dany couldn't see why for a moment until she finally saw it when the dragon stood up. It had four legs and its wings seemed to come out from it's back. Was that how it was so much larger she wondered?.
A little way off she could see a group of men, one wearing golden armor and one in the most incredible black armor she'd ever seen. Was this her nephew? If so where was her brother? She flew past them and heard Ellagon's excitement once more, there ahead of them was another dragon, this one bronze and she smiled knowing now her brother was here also. Once again though she was surprised by how much larger the dragon was than her own, had they hatched earlier, or did her nephew know more about dragons than she did. She let the thoughts fade for now and turned to fly back to where her nephew was.
"Tegun Ellagon." (Land Ellagon) she said and her dragon did what she asked, landing a little distance away from the white dragon and much closer to the men.
She had barely had time to climb down when they were in front of her, the man in the golden armor she knew now had to be Jaime Lannister, his blond hair and green eyes making him a very handsome man. There were two men wearing White Cloaks standing behind the man she was sure now was her nephew, for surely these men could only be Kingsguard. As for her nephew, he was exactly how Kinvara had described him, his long dark almost black hair hung loose and his dark grey eyes stared at her.
Dany was surprised to see there were tears there and even more surprised a moment later when she was embraced. She'd not even seen him move and now she was being held in strong arms and was holding him back. When he'd let her go she looked into his eyes, seeing there were indeed tears there but there was something else too. He looked happy, joyful even to see her.
"Aunt.."
"Dany" she said with a soft smile.
"Dany, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." he said and she looked at him confused.
"Jaehaerys?"
"Viserys, I should have, you, I should, I wasted so much time…I'm sorry."
"Oh, my sweet nephew, I'm here now and we have all the time in the world." she said hugging him back and feeling his tears on her neck "Come your other aunt would no doubt wish to greet you also."
He looked at her and smiled and it was like he was a different person when he did so. Jaehaerys's reaction to her seemed a little off though and she wondered if it had anything to do with the green flames, resolving to ask him about it as soon as she could. Dany looked on as he greeted Shiera just as warmly before he then introduced her to the rest of those that were with him.
Jaime Lannister, Ser Walder Alyrs, and Ser Arthur Dayne the Sword of the Morning. Finding herself looking to the man who was her brother's best friend with excitement and thinking of the stories he could tell her. She took her nephew's offered arm and they walked to the camp, Dany looking to see the dragons seemed to be getting to moving to each other, and Jaehaerys catching her worried expression.
"Relax Dany, Rhaenix and they are dragons, they're family just as we are." Jaehaerys said.
"Is Tyrion nearby, Jaehaerys?" she asked at the mention of family.
"Jae." he said and she nodded "He is, eager to meet your brother, Dany?"
"My brother, not my uncle." she said with a smirk?"
"What?" he asked confused.
"In your letter, you said we had another uncle, Tyrion is your uncle, Jae, not mine." she said with a giggle.
He laughed loudly and then she did too, the look on his face one of both embarrassment and mirth.
"Gods I was so nervous when I wrote that, I'm surprised that's all I got wrong, it is isn't it?" he asked and she put her finger to her lip as if she was in deep thought "Dany?" he said and she laughed again happy to see him laugh with her once more.
Whatever sadness or emotion he was feeling when he met her seemed different now, it was more one she'd like him to have. As they walked he spoke to them both, telling them little of the war or what they'd flown into but more of their uncle at the Wall and of Tyrion and their dragons. He even told them he was to be married soon, that he had hoped they'd have arrived in time for the wedding and how glad he was they did so.
Reaching the largest tent he asked to be left alone with them and sent someone to find Tyrion, though in the end, he hadn't needed to, as almost as soon as they sat down her brother arrived. Dany stood up and looked at him, he was a dwarf as she'd been told and was dressed in similar armor to her nephews, the Three-headed dragon displayed clearly.
"Uncle, may I present our aunts, Daenerys Stormborn and Shiera Seastar of the House Targaryen." Jae said making it clear that Shiera was just as much family as she was.
"Princess...Daenerys." Tyrion stuttered.
"It's Dany or sister, it's good to finally meet you brother." she said kneeling down to hug him.
"You too, Dany...sister." Tyrion said hugging her back.
They sat and talked for some time, both Tyrion and Jae eager to ask her about her life in Essos and about Shiera and how she managed to actually be alive. She laughed at the easy way Jae and Tyrion spoke to each other and how they japed at each other's expense, each of them bringing both she and Shiera into the conversation to take sides. Through it all though she couldn't get rid of the sense that her nephew as putting on an act, though not one to deceive more to deflect and she felt the need to know why.
"What's going on Jae, truly, don't get me wrong I'm glad of the welcome and I wish nothing more than to get to know you both, but it feels as if I've interrupted something. Something you're glad I've interrupted?" she asked.
She looked to see her nephew sigh and look to Tyrion before he closed his eyes and opened them before looking to her.
"What know you of the war, Dany?" Jae asked.
Dany told him all that Aurane had told her, noticing the way her nephew tensed when she got to Illyrio and the mummer dragon.
"Before you arrived we parleyed with who I would have hoped was Renly Baratheon, though I knew coming here it was Illyrio and this boy who claims to be my brother." Jae's voice sounding bitter at the mention of both of them "It seems they've taken the city, though they don't have the forces to hold it."
"But they have wildfire don't they?" Shiera said and Jae nodded.
"They dragged a cage out, there was a family inside, the children, gods the children were so young…" Jae said taking a swallow before he continued "They burned them, right in front of me they burned them with wildfire and now they threaten to do the same to more each hour I don't surrender."
"You can't." Tyrion said and she saw the angry expression that appeared on Jae's face, one which at first took her aback until she realized that unlike with Viserys this anger wasn't aimed at anyone who didn't deserve it or underserved.
"Of course I bloody can't, but what am I supposed to do? He'll burn them in front of me and if I attack, the city Tyrion, Aerys wished to blow it all to the seven hells, if I attack I risk that. I can't, not just because of the people inside, but anyone I send in I risk losing also."
"What do you intend to do?" she asked.
"I have no idea." her nephew said his voice broken and the look on his face seeming lost.
"The tunnels, Jaehaerys, Brynden and I would explore them when we were children, Maegor had them built and the builders executed but Brynden was ever curious and before I left we'd mapped them out." Shiera said.
"Aye, I know the tunnels, but I need to know the warnings he's put in place. If he can get the word out before we take him then being inside the Red Keep won't matter. The city and the people will burn anyway." Jae said.
She looked at her nephew who seemed to be thinking of something, and at her brother who she found looking at her.
"Maybe we should give you some time to think Jae. Tyrion can you introduce me to your dragon and maybe come and meet Ellagon." she asked and Tyrion smiled as he nodded.
"I'd like that Dany."
She stood up but Shiera stayed sitting, her aunt looking to her as if to say she'd be staying here a bit longer. Dany nodded to her and turned to leave, telling her nephew that she'd speak to him later and then walking from the tent with Tyrion. Soon enough they were standing in front of Lygaron and Dany noticed the saddle on the dragon's back looking at it eagerly.
"Did Jae have that made?" she asked.
"No, Rhaenix brought it back from Valyria." Tyrion said shocking her.
"Rhaenix brought it back herself?"
"How does a dragon know to do such a thing."
"Rhaenix is different, come we've much to speak on and I'd like to get to know my sister better." Tyrion said warmly.
"As I would my brother." she said following as he led her away.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
His mind was in turmoil, one part of him wanted to tear Illyrio and his false Aegon to pieces with his bare hands, another wanted to give up and surrender to them so no one else would be hurt. He'd almost jumped from his horse to get at them, the image of fear and hopelessness in the eyes of that poor family as they were dragged out, stuck now in his mind. As was the image and sounds of their terror as the green flames were set alight.
There were almost half a million people in King's Landing and Jae had no doubt that Illyrio and Aegon would see them all burn. Had he not seen the dragons in the sky then he had no idea what he would have done, but they and his aunts had arrived at exactly the right time. The resolve which he had already felt slackening was firm once more and as he hugged and then spoke to Dany and Shiera he knew what he had to do. Then though Shiera gave him an option he had not thought fully about, one he was now considering.
"What are you thinking, nephew?" Shiera asked as he sat there silently.
"I need to know where it is, the wildfire, what his plan is. But before that there is something I can do, I think so anyway, first though I need to do something else." he said as he got up and walked to the chest, reaching in and taking out the glass candles.
"You found them." Shiera said with a smile.
"Our uncle Aemon is the Maester at the Wall, actually he's not your uncle is he?" he asked shaking his head at the thought.
"He's my nephew, just like you are." Shiera said.
"I'd dearly love to know your story, aunt, I'm sure it's a tale worthy of the ages?"
"I'd be most pleased to tell you. You know how to work them?" she asked.
"Aye, blood is the key, I've seen the past, the present and used them to speak to people great distances away." he said thinking of Margaery and despite everything smiling a little "I've even seen the future, briefly."
"The future is fickle, Jaehaerys. Unwritten and unknown and ever-changing, what you see is not set in stone."
"I know, I saw my wife die, I was able to change it." he said looking at her and watching for her reaction.
"Good, should you see it again, don't let it define your actions Jaehaerys. I've seen what happens when you do." Shiera's voice almost cracking as she spoke and then looked to the ground.
"Bloodraven." he said and her head snapped up as she stared at him.
"My brother was a dangerous man, Jaehaerys, and what he saw changed him."
"I know all about Bloodraven, aunt."
"NO, Jaehaerys you do not." she said forebodingly, he was about to ask her to explain when Jaime and Oberyn walked into the tent with Richard, the men looking from him to his aunt.
"Lord Jaime, Prince Oberyn, Ser Richard, my aunt was telling me about the tunnels, can you ask Ser Arthur to join us." he said looking to Jaime who called Arthur inside.
"I'm aware of the tunnels, your grace, though I believe Varys may have been the only man who truly knew them." Richard said.
"Not the only one." Shiera said.
"Balerion knew them even better I believe than Varys did. For more than ten years he roamed them, he explored every nook and cranny and what he knows, I know." Jae said both Richard and Shiera looking at him, his aunt confusedly "My sister's cat, aunt, not the dragon." Jae said smiling.
"You're a warg?" she asked and he nodded.
"Aye, I am."
They were soon joined by Arthur and after they had taken their seats, Jae cut his hand once more, allowing some of the blood to pool before smearing it on the two candles. His aunt watched closely as he did it, Jae wondering if she and Bloodraven had done the same or did they know something he did not. Now though wasn't the time to find out and so holding the green candle he looked into the black one and went looking for the locations of the wildfire.
By the time he'd finished he was as shocked as everyone else, things were much worse than even they had feared. The wildfire under the city would only need one man to set it off, a single order and it would be done. That though could perhaps be taken care of. If he could sneak enough men into the city, they could kill or subdue those closest to each of the caches, or at least make it so that each would need to be set off individually.
The bigger problem was the men guarding the routes from the gates, unsullied and they'd not be easy to take. Not only could no army march until they'd been dealt with but to subdue even two or three unsullied would be incredibly difficult, nigh on impossible to do so before one of them completed their orders. Jae looked at the amount of wildfire the unsullied guarded. While nowhere near the size of the large caches, it would be devastating to the city if it was set off. If their forces marched he'd lose his army, countless men and women in the city would die too, not that they'd be marching now.
He picked up the other candle and looked at the Red Keep itself, there were Gold Cloaks, a couple of unsullied and sellswords, and a man who kept very close to Aegon. Illyrio walked with two guards and yet the keep was poorly defended, they could take it, all they needed to do was to get inside. Closing his eyes he let the images fade and turned to look at the others in the tent, Richard speaking first.
"The Red Keep is takeable your grace. It could be done so with less than half a dozen men if we can get them inside"
"Aye, but we need to secure the wildfire first." he said.
"Six separate areas spread out across the city, even with the tunnels it would take us hours to get there and to see it done. But they're poorly guarded and though the guards are close to the wildfire it can be done." Arthur said.
"Leaving the unsullied." Oberyn said and Jae nodded.
"We can't beat them, not quickly enough. Even were we able to smuggle archers inside, one of them would make it and set it off before we could beat them all." he said.
"There is another way, Jaehaerys. Where is my niece?" Shiera asked as he looked to her.
"She and Tyrion are with the dragons." Jaime said.
"Send for her, Dany will help with the unsullied." Shiera said and Jae looked at her before nodding, Arthur stepping outside to send Walder and Brienne to bring his aunt back.
"Aunt?" Jae asked after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, each of the men in the tent trying to come up with some plan to free the city.
"When we were in Essos, we met with a girl who had run from her master. He sent some unsullied to capture her and Dany turned them to our side. The leader of them Grey Worm was well respected amongst the others, he may have trained with them. Even if he had not he may be able to convince them to join us." Shiera said.
"You think this will work princess?" Richard asked as Jae was sitting there trying to imagine just exactly what his aunts had gone through while in exile in Essos.
"Dany has a way about her, she and Grey Worm will convince them." Shiera said.
"What, no. She can't go into the city, I'll not allow it." he said his voice almost panicked.
"Allow what nephew?" Dany said as she and Tyrion walked into the tent.
"Leave us all of you, Tyrion you and Dany stay." Shiera said and looked at him when he went to argue, Jae quickly nodding to Jaime and the others and then waiting for them to leave.
"I'm not sending my aunt into that city, it's bad enough I have to go. Should anything happen to me then she's the heir to the Iron Throne, the last hope of our family lives in this bloody tent. I'm not risking any more of it than I have to." Jae said firmly once they were alone.
"It's not your choice to make, nephew. Trust me I know my niece and she'll not accept anyone telling her what she can and cannot do, but please feel free to try." Shiera said smirking.
"Try? Send me into the city? Just what exactly have I missed? "Dany asked.
Shiera explained while he paced, Jae, more worried than angry. Looking at both his aunts he could already see what Shiera had said was true, there'd be no talking his aunt out of this now.
"I need to fly to Dragonstone, I should have had Grey Worm come with the others." Dany said standing up.
"Others?" he asked.
"Sandor, Strong Belwas and some men of the Company of the Rose are being brought here by Ser Davos. They should be landing close by." Dany said and Jae just looked at her confused.
"You can use them, nephew, Ser Davos knows how to sneak into a city by sea better than any man out there. He singlehandedly saved Stannis Baratheon and Storm's End. He can get you into the city, all of you." Tyrion said.
"Gods, this is what it's come to. Very well, do it, I'll speak to the others. Tyrion have men sent to bring Ser Davos and the rest of my aunt's men here. Dany you should go now, we'll want to do this as soon as it's dark." he said and Dany nodded before turning to walk from the tent.
Once she had gone the others quickly walked in, Oberyn and Jaime noticing he was distressed but Jae waving off any concerns for now. After they sat he began to lay out the plan, leading of course to more and more arguments.
"We should land near the cliffs, I believe there's an entrance there." Oberyn said.
"We?" Jae asked.
"You think I'm letting you do this alone your grace? I'll not try to talk you out of going into the city but you won't stop me or my girls going with you."
"Oberyn." he said angrily.
"No, nephew, we end this together. No one will do a better job one on one than your cousins and my spear will guard your back along with Ser Arthur's blade."
"He's right your grace, I'll lead the men into the tunnels while you move to the Red Keep with Arthur and Oberyn." Jaime said.
"By the god's I'm surrounded by the most stubborn…" he sighed "I don't want more people I care about at risk, I'd go in alone rather than that, I'd.." he stopped and stood silently for a moment.
"Jae?" Tyrion asked.
"There is another way, I can, I think…." he sat down and closed his eyes, finding the rat and making it run through the gaps in the wall.
"Jae?" he heard a voice but he was moving through the Tower of the Hand and finally he found him, Illyrio walking from the Tower and heading to the Red Keep his guards beside him.
"Jae."
"Jae."
He couldn't find a door though, none. it was like looking at an unbroken wall. Moving down touching the stone, and finding that no matter how far you went there was no door. There was no way in and so he moved from trying to enter and back to the rat. When he went looking for Aegon he felt himself almost collapse against the desk, his eyes opening and the blood coming from his nose.
"Water and a cloth." he said seeing the relief on the faces of those around him when he drank the water and wiped his nose.
"What did you do?" Shiera asked curiously though not reproachfully, there was enough of the latter in both Oberyn and Jaime's eyes, Richard, Arthur, and Tyrion looking more worried than upset.
"I tried to warg him." he said to gasps.
"You can do that?" Shiera asked.
"I've done it before, twice." he said leaving out Doran as it was not something anyone needed to know.
"How? Who?" she asked.
"The Mountain when I fought him, I'm guessing the Darkstar was the other?" Oberyn asked.
"Aye, he was. I wasn't going to make it in time so it was just like with the Mountain. I must have tapped into something." Jae said though it was true for them and not so for Doran.
"You also told my aunt you'd never do it deliberately." Jaime said his anger clear though Jae wasn't sure if it was because of what he'd tried to do or what it had done to him.
"I also said I'd change my mind if it came to those I care about if their lives were at risk. You all wish me to risk your lives to take this city, you don't think if there was a way to stop that I'd take it?" he asked his voice raised.
"But you could not?" Oberyn asked.
"No, maybe I need to feel it more or the risk to be immediate, I don't know, but I couldn't." he said, not telling them that for the first time ever he had found no door to enter.
"Pity, would have been nice not to have to walk into a city that may explode at any moment." Arthur said catching them all out, Jae laughing as he looked to them all.
"We should eat and make plans, it's going to be a long night." he said and Jaime looked to him before sending a servant to ready some food.
All through it though Shiera sat with an odd look on her face and were it not for the people in the tent then he'd have spoken to her about it, as it was he found he couldn't find the opportunity to bring it up.
Kings Landing 298 AC.
Sandor.
Listening to Strong Belwas snore was preferable to some of the other sounds that usually came from the man's body. Sandor had never met a man who made so much noise voluntarily or involuntarily. Belches, farts, licking his lips and fingers when he ate, and now fucking snoring as they sat in the boat and rowed to shore. Around him, the men of the Company of the Rose seemed eager to land and meet the white wolf. Sandor trying to remember what he could about Jon Snow or Jaehaerys Targaryen as he was now and finding there wasn't much.
He had thought when next he set foot in Westeros it would be to finally face off with his brother once and for all. Though that vengeance had been denied to him and he still didn't know how he felt about it. When Melisandre had told him he'd been furious, that it was a Martell who killed him didn't make it feel better either. True they deserved Gregor's head as much as he did, but his brother was supposed to be his, not theirs.
Over time he'd come to accept it, cursed is the kinslayer people would say, and yet for years he'd watched as Gregor was anything but cursed. Whenever he met Oberyn Martell he'd ask him for the details, knowing the Red Viper's reputation he expected that his brother had suffered and Gregor deserved to suffer for all he'd done. Looking at the shore he stiffened when he saw the men on horses, even more, when he saw how many free horses there were. On the boat, there were less than ten men, onshore given the number of horses, thrice that.
"Make ready." he heard Rodrik Snow say and then the fat fucker woke up.
"Liver and onions." Belwas said to chuckles.
"Ask those men there if they have liver and onions for you, I'm sure they'll be more than happy to give you some, you sleepy fucker." Sandor said to laughs.
"The Three-Headed Dragon" Ser Davos said drawing their attention to the sigils the men wore and the banner they held "It seems the princess has met up with her nephew."
"Aye, let's hope it was a friendly reunion." Sandor said warily.
It took them almost an hour to reach the shore and when they did Sandor looked to the men, seeing one of them wearing a White Cloak and finding to his surprise it was a man he'd recognized. Though this both confused and worried him as Ser Richard Horpe had been serving a different king when Sandor had left to go to Essos. Something he mentioned to Davos and was glad of the relief the man's response brought him.
"Ser Richard disappeared with the Princess Myrcella, Sandor, I reckon he found his way to the king." Davos said and Sandor nodded.
Still, when the boat hit the shore his hand went to his sword just in case, if they intended to take him, prisoner, he'd prove it a costly endeavor. He chuckled when Belwas's hand went to his Arakh too, the man winking at him and letting him know he had his back. Belwas may have been a fat smelly fucker, he was a loyal one though and the man could fight.
"Ser Davos, his grace sent me to escort you to our camp, Princess Daenerys informed us where you may be landing." Ser Richard Horpe said.
"The princess is she safe?" Sandor asked.
"Aye, Clegane she is. We've brought extra horses for you all. Ser Davos his grace request you join us, he's in need of the services only you can provide."
"Aye, very well, lead on Ser Richard." Davos said and soon enough they were riding from the beach, the boat pulled in and dragged onto the sand.
Seeing the sheer size of the army ahead of them was mind-blowing, how Robert and Jon Arryn had ever thought they'd have a chance to beat them showed just how lost and foolish they truly were. Sandor looked to see the sigils of Northmen, Riverlanders, and men of the West. The Three-Headed Dragon and the Lords of the Narrow Sea and finally the sun and spear of House Martell. He wondered if Oberyn would be here himself and if he was how it would feel upon seeing him. Though quickly he shook it off when he saw the Princess's dragon take off and fly, Dany sitting unharmed on it's back.
"Where's the princess going?" he asked and Ser Richard shook his head.
"His grace doesn't tell me everything Clegane."
They were brought to the largest tent and he, Belwas, Rodrik, and Ser Davos were led inside, Sandor happy to see Shiera sitting and looking unworried. Looking around the tent he saw Jaime and Tyrion Lannister, Ser Richard Lonmouth, and Ser Arthur Dayne, even he finding himself looking in awe at the famed knight. Beside Ser Arthur stood a giant of a man, he was wearing a white cloak too and Sandor wondered who he was. Given his height, they could very well be related he thought as he smirked.
"Ser Davos, Sandor, I'm afraid I don't know you, Ser?" the king said to Rodrik.
"Rodrik Snow, your grace from the Company of the Rose, sent by Torrhen Snow to protect the princess as per your request."
"You have my gratitude, Rodrik, as does the Company." the king said with a nod before looking to Belwas.
"Strong Belwas protects princess also, king." Belwas said smiling.
"Then I'm sure she's been most protected, and you too have my gratitude."
"I'd ask you to sit, but I'm afraid we don't have much time. Ser Davos, my uncle tells me you were a smuggler by trade, how well do you know King's Landing?"
"Well enough your grace, you intend to smuggle men into the city?" Davos asked.
"I have a need to Ser, as many as I can. There's a cove near the cliffs do you know it?" the king asked.
"I do, it's easy enough to navigate unless it's watched, if it is then it's a death-trap, your grace."
"It's not and I can ensure it won't be, but I need someone to deliver us to it can I count on you Ser Davos?"
"Aye, you can your grace."
"Why not just take the city, you have the men, dragons too if what I was told is true." he asked gruffly.
"We do, Sandor, but they have wildfire and any attack on the city will lead to them setting it off." the king said his voice soft when he spoke next "I'd not risk those inside, no this is the only way I'm sorry to say."
Wildfire, fuck, he thought as he looked at the king. Though he was glad at least that he had come up with a different plan. Soon though he began to glance nervously at the others as it dawned on him, the shiver running down his spine one he couldn't ignore as he looked to the king and found him staring at him.
"You want us to join you in there, don't you?" he said and the king smiled sadly.
"I'll not ask anyone to come who doesn't wish it so, but I need men who can fight and who won't back down, with luck we'll be able to secure each of the caches and hold them while we take the city."
"And if we're not lucky?" he asked staring at the boy.
"Then we're fucked." the king said and Sandor laughed looking at him and nodding his head.
"You have my sword, your grace."
"Mine too, where my good friend goes, I go." Belwas said and Sandor glared at the smiling face of the man beside him, friend, he wasn't his friend, was he?.
Shiera joined them as they were taken to get some food, Davos staying to speak with the king, and Belwas sticking by him as if leaving him would leave the man unfed. She told them Dany had flown to get Grey Worm and that she too would be heading into the city. That once there she'd try to sway the unsullied to their side, Sandor knowing it was pointless to try and talk any of them out of it.
"Strong Belwas will guard the princess." Belwas said and before he got to say anything to him the man smelt the food from the tent ahead of them and was gone so fast that Sandor felt the wind as he raced by him.
"This is fucking madness, heading into a city that could burn at any time. How could you let her agree to this?" he said his voice low so people couldn't hear them argue.
"When has anything I've ever said or done stopped Dany from doing what she wants, this will work Sandor, she'll turn them. Now come eat, it's going to be a long night and you won't get a chance to do so for some time.
The attack on King's Landing 298 AC.
Jaime.
He looked over the plans and shook his head, to say it was risky was to raise it to a level it didn't deserve. It was almost reckless but he knew it had to be done and that was why no matter what Jae said nothing would stop him from going on this mission. Standing now on the beach he looked around to the three groups of men who would be going and were it anything but the possibility of wildfire being set off, he'd have found himself feeling extremely confident.
Oberyn and his daughters, Ser Arthur, Ser Walder, Ser Jors, Ser Richard Horpe, and Ser Richard Lonmouth. Sandor Clegane, Strong Belwas, Rodrik Snow, and two more men of the Company of the Rose. The Greatjon and the Smalljon both refusing to be left behind and Ned Stark who despite Jae's arguments and Maege despite his, both refused also.
The Strongboar and his father were both far too keen to join in and Randyll Tarly refused to let the Reach not be represented. Lord Blackwood and Ser Patrek Mallister then both saying the same for the Riverlands. Ser Rolland Storm who'd arrived alone without his brother or his men stood there along with Lord Beric and Thoros of Myr, the only one of them with any knowledge of wildfire.
Jae spoke to his aunt who stood with two unsullied and who would along with Strong Belwas pretty much walk through the town. Then once he was finished speaking to her, he moved to him and gave him a nod. Ser Davos had sent for two more boats and even with three, it was too tight a squeeze. Jaime watching as Jae reached out and soon enough Rhaenix was landing beside him.
"I'll take my uncles and Ser Arthur on Rhaenix, we'll land unseen and I'll have Rhaenix fly over the city. It'll if anything distract them some more." Jae said and Jaime looked to him before moving over to wish him luck.
Despite the situation, he found himself smirking at the uneasy look on Ned Stark's face as he was helped up onto the dragon's back, Arthur seemed well used to flying by now and Oberyn just looking eager for the experience. The dragon was in the air well before they had set off and though it was only four men less going by boat, it did make it more comfortable. Jaime though not appreciating Thoros's jape that should the boat turn over then all the men wearing armor would drown.
Thankfully the boat didn't even come close to turning over and with as many strong men on it who were ready to row, they made quick time in arriving at the cove, finding Jae and the others waiting for them when they got there. They didn't bother to tie the boats off, instead sending them drifting in the water much to Davos's chagrin. They couldn't risk them being found though and as Dany, Belwas and the unsullied walked up the steps and headed into the city, Jaime and the others followed Jae. When they reached the edge of the entrance into the tunnels, Ser Patrek moved to light a torch, Jae quickly slapping it from his hands.
"There's wildfire ahead Ser, the last thing you wish is an open flame." Jae said softly though it was clear he was angered.
"Forgive me your grace, but how are we to find our way to the caches without light?" Lord Tytos asked.
"Follow them." Jae said and Jaime looked on as the cats came out from the tunnel, seven of them all looking hungry and the worse for wear.
"Your grace?" Randyll Tarly said looking confused.
"Trust me, my lord, follow them and they'll lead you where you need to be, if they stop then you stop." Jae said and then he leaned in to pet each of the cat's whispering words to each and making it look as if they were trained and not controlled. Though he didn't fool the Northerners or Lord Blackwood who stood smiling as he looked at the cats and the king.
"Of course your grace." Randyll said.
"My lords, My ladies, good Sers, what we're doing is most dangerous and I wish there was another way, truly I do, but if we stick to the plans we've agreed on then we will succeed in that I have no doubt. I thank each of you for playing your part in this, it both warms my heart to have you with me and adds to my worry to think of any of you in danger.
Be careful, take no unnecessary risks, and one day we'll all have an incredible story to tell. With luck, I'll see you all on the morrow and then we can finally begin to fix the wrongs in this realm, I wish you all good fortune." Jae said looking to him and seeming to want to say something but not being able to.
"For House Targaryen and King Jaehaerys." he said softly as each of them nodded, words not spoken aloud but each of them showing they'd have cheered if they could.
As he watched each of them split up he looked to his side Ser Walder had his axe ready and the Strongboar carried a mace, his Greatsword on his back as he felt it useless in the tunnels. Rodrik Snow carried a longsword but it was a bow he held in his arms and as Jaime looked he saw what he felt was a very impatient cat.
"Well we had better follow the damn cat then." the Strongboar said to chuckles as they moved through the tunnels.
The Greatjon.
He was following a cat, in the dark with no light through tunnels he was following a damn cat of all things. Beside him, his son, Tytos Blackwood, and Ser Richard Lonmouth seemed unperturbed that they were following a cat and for the first time, the Greatjon wished he had one of the wolves beside him. Even the silent one, gods especially the silent one he thought with a laugh.
"What are you laughing at, father?" his son asked.
"Just thinking son, what I wouldn't give to have Ghost with us right now." he said and even in the darkness, he could see his son's smirk.
"Aye, though with him here we wouldn't be needed, that fucker could clear all these tunnels on his own."
"That he could." Ser Richard said before suddenly he stopped placing his hand on both their shoulders as he moved them against the wall.
He heard it then the footsteps ahead of him walking his way and when Richard pointed to his knife he smiled. There was no better feeling than swinging your greatsword and taking an enemy down, well almost none he thought thinking of his wife. Though getting in close and taking a man out with a dagger, watching the life as it went from his eyes was close enough.
The Greatjon didn't revel in killing, it didn't excite him though he loved the thrill of battle. Killing a man who wished you dead, well there was something righteous in that. Looking to Richard they both moved quickly, the two Gold Cloaks not seeing them coming towards them in the darkened tunnel. Far too quickly it was over, his knife going straight through the man's eye and into his brain as Richard slit the other man's throat.
"Drag them over here, there's a gap." Smalljon whispered and they did as he said, the two bodies not quite fitting but enough to hide them for now.
"It's a pity we'd not more time." Richard said as they moved.
"Why?" he asked curiously.
"I changed the leader of the Gold Cloaks years ago, he's one of my men. In time I'd have been able to bring them all to the king's side."
"Just what exactly do you do for the king, Ser Richard?" Tytos asked.
"Whatever he asks me to, Lord Tytos, whatever he asks me to." Richard said and the Greatjon smirked.
They moved forward and soon came to a diverging path the cat moving to the left and as they followed him the Greatjon shook his head. Wargs he knew all about. he was from the North after all and it explained a lot about the wolves too, but this was something different. To warg more than one animal, to control it in such a way, only someone blessed by the old gods could do such a thing and he was glad to be on the same side of them once more.
"There." he heard Tytos say and he looked, two men, that's all they'd put here, two men.
"How good are you with that bow?" Richard asked his son, Greatjon looking on eagerly as the Smalljon lined up his shot.
"Watch." the Smalljon said quietly.
The arrow flew true and within the blink of an eye, the second one was hitting home also. The four of them quickly moving to the two men on the ground, the Greatjon looking to see just how clean the aim had been. The gap between the armor and the helms was small but his son had hit it perfectly, the men died before they hit the ground and the slap he hit him on the back was one filled with pride.
"So now what?" he said as he looked around the cavernous space, jar upon jar of green liquid surrounding them making him nervous.
"Now we secure this and wait until the king sends for us, I hope you brought some ale?" Richard said and the Greatjon handed over his skin, it wasn't a lot but it'd do as long as the wait wasn't too long.
Obara.
She, her sisters, and Ser Richard Horpe moved through the tunnels, following a cat was nothing new to her. When they were young her father would make them chase cats, why she had no idea at the time, and assumed he was just having fun at their expense. Later on, they went to Braavos and she found the young water dancers doing the same, her father explaining that it helped with their reflexes.
In her hand she held her spear, the round shield in her other while behind her Tyene carried a bow. The tips of the arrows were poisoned and she could see Nym's throwing knives whenever the little light that the tunnels allowed through caught the blades. Ser Richard Horpe wielded his longsword and carried a dagger in his other hand and whatever they would face they were more than ready for.
Soon though she became bored, the tunnels feeling never-ending and the light growing ever scarcer. Her mind drifting as she wondered what her father and the others were doing. Had they completed their own missions already? Had they faced worthy foes? So lost was she in this thought that when the cat stopped she did not and only the whoosh of the arrow saved her from giving their presence away.
"Pay attention sister." Tyene said gently as she stepped forward and moved to the man on the ground.
"Our cousin said we were to watch the damn Cat, Obara." Nym said her voice low but angry.
She was furious with herself when they continued onward and eager to prove herself better than she had been. When the cat next stopped she did also, when it moved she moved, at one point she thought it was playing with her and yet knowing now it was not. When they reached the cavern they found to their dismay no guards there at all. Obara glaring angrily around and finding just jar upon jar of wildfire.
Yet something didn't feel right and almost by instinct she turned, the cat's hiss low enough that only she heard it. The flaming arrow she blocked with her shield and then she threw her spear and heard the pained shout. Ser Richard staying behind while she and her sisters moved out. Tyene's arrow flew true and another man hit the ground before Nym threw her knives and Obara heard the last man run away.
Faster than either of her sisters she chased him, uncoiling the whip from her hip as she did so and seeing him turn the corner ahead of her. Moving even faster she drew the whip back and aimed it, missing the first but not the second time. The sound of the man as he hit the ground was loud and she worried that others would hear but she needed to deal with him first before she could deal with anyone else. Pulling the whip toward her she dragged the man along the ground and soon she was leaning over him, Nym and Tyene coming to her side.
"How many others are there here?" she asked and the man shook his head, Obara looked to Nym who picked out a small thin blade and moved it to the man's eye.
"My sister asked you a question, you'd best answer." Nym said.
"None, the nearest of the others are far off down the tunnel, there are some patrols but I'm the last of our group."
"That you are." she said as she drew her own blade across his throat.
"We better hide these bodies." Tyene said and soon enough Obara was sitting in the cavern with the jars feeling bored once again.
Thoros.
The group he was in was anything but talkative, Beric seemed focussed and Clegane was the same as he had always been, only Artos the Northman seemed willing to engage in conversation. Thoros found he needed it, the quiet bothered him, and walking in the darkened tunnels. The knowledge that the night was dark and full of terrors gave him plenty to ponder on.
Wildfire was a dangerous substance and the way he used it was much different from how he imagined they intended to use it here. He used his blood to control the flames though lately, he'd found he'd not needed to. Ever since he'd met the prince things had been different and he'd been training in Beric's yards when it had first happened. An accident which had made him even more of a believer than he had already been.
The cut was his fault and it was a foolish mistake, yet when his blood had caught the blade it had ignited it. For days he'd been sure he'd coated it and forgotten and yet he'd felt the excitement too. Even if it had been tempered with the idea that if he was wrong then he'd end up questioning his faith some more. Still, he hadn't been able to let it go and so he'd bought a new blade and rode out to the woods, cutting his hand and letting the blood flow the flames appearing as soon as he did so.
That combined with the visions and everything else was the final push he needed and the prince would forever have his full support. The prayers he sent to R'hllor to let him live to see his chosen rise now filled his days and nights. He'd felt young again, vibrant and eager for each day rather than waking up ready to get drunk.
"Wait." Beric said and they all stopped, the cat not moving in front of them "Move"
Four times on the way they'd stopped when the cat stopped and moved when it did and now he saw them in front of him. Six men and no way to get to them, not without being seen. Rodrik held a bow and could take some of them out but there were two near flames and they not reach them both. As he looked to the others he saw the cat move forward and hiss, three of the men moving towards it.
"What the fuck are you doing?" one of the others said.
"I'm fucking hungry, have you never eaten cat stew?" one of the men said laughing.
Thoros watched as the cat ran past them down the corridor and soon enough three men came running after it. His sword moved as fast as Beric's and Clegane's, finding the spot just under the man's chin and coming out the top of his head. Thoros grabbed the man before he hit the ground and laid him down gently. He saw both Beric and Clegane do the same and then he moved to look at where the other men were.
There was only one near a flame now and the other two were leaning against the wall far from it. Giving Artos the nod, he, Clegane, and Beric readied to move, Thoros raising his hand and counting down from three. When he reached one they were charging up the corridor and an arrow whistled by his head. Raising his sword he felt the blade catch his hand and looked down in horror as the flames took hold.
He tried to stop himself but felt himself falling forward and as he heard the two men fall, he looked to see his sword crash into a jar of the green liquid and readied for the explosion of color and flames to come. It didn't and though the wildfire spilled across the floor and onto his blade, the flame had gone out.
"You bloody fool, you could have killed us all." Clegane said while Thoros looked to the blade in his hands.
"I didn't set the fire, nor did I extinguish it." he said as he looked from Clegane back down to the blade.
"Keep that fucker away from the damn fire for fuck's sake." Sandor said moving away from him.
Thoros just couldn't look at or see anything but the blade in his hands, it had been alighted by accident but it was extinguished on purpose and only one had the power to do that. R'hllor granted him his favor this day, which meant he had a role for him to play in the events to come.
"Whatever you wish of me my lord." he said, his voice unheard in the darkened cavern.
Dany.
She, Grey Worm, Mossador, and Strong Belwas walked through the city unhindered, not one of the Gold Cloaks moving to stop them or ask them questions. People looked out from behind windows and stared at them as they walked by, Dany feeling their unhappiness at their presence but none did more than just stare. She looked down at the map in her hand and followed it as best she could, relieved when she finally saw the two unsullied standing outside the house.
"We wish to speak to your commander." Dany said and the unsullied didn't respond.
"Iōragon aside sīr se dārilaros kostagon enter" (Stand aside so the princess may enter.) Grey Worm said his voice one used to giving commands to his own men and the two unsullied did as he asked without question.
She was taken up the stairs and she found a room full of unsullied, more than ten men not including the two downstairs, and one sitting with his back to them by the fire.
"Se dārilaros ēza iā jiōragon syt ao se īlva vali." (The princess has an offer for you and our men.) Grey Worm said and the man turned around
"This one has not seen you in a long time."
"Black Ant?" Grey Worm said and the unsullied shook his head.
"Sewer Rat, you?"
"Grey Worm."
"Sewer Rat, the man you serve, your master, does he have the whip?" Dany asked and Sewer Rat nodded "Grey Worm, tell him what we did with the whips that bound you?"
"Princess burned whips, freed unsullied, freed Missandei of Naath." Grey Worm said looking to each of the men.
Dany noticed the eager looks they shot back at her and at Grey Worm before finally all eyes in the room looked to Sewer Rat.
"Not our whips." Sewer Rat said.
"No they were not but the offer is the same. You saw the army outside, the dragons, you know what they want you to do with that liquid, what it will do if you set it ablaze."
"Master orders, unsullied follow." Sewer Rat said.
"Maybe you need a new master, one you choose. Grey Worm who do you follow?" Dany said.
"Princess Daenerys Stormborn."
"Why? She asked.
"Because she gave us our freedom." Grey Worm said and Dany looked to see the eyes of everyone in the room looking to them now.
"I offer you and your unsullied the same. Magister Illyrio will fall, don't fall with him, stay your hands and I'll bring you the whip before the night falls on the morrow." Dany said.
"We stand, for now, no whip and then we follow orders." Sewer Rat said.
"You'll tell the others?" she asked and the man nodded.
Dany took a seat and breathed out a huge sigh of relief, she'd known it would be difficult. The men of the unsullied couldn't usually be reasoned with. They'd fight to the death if they were ordered too, so ingrained in them was the need to follow orders. It had been Grey Worm who brought up the whip, telling her they'd need the order from the one who carried it before they'd listen.
So she had figured out a compromise and hoped it would be acceptable, now she just needed to get her hands on that whip. She only hoped her nephew could see it done.
The Waif.
The killing was easy, getting rid of a body was hard, especially one as large as the fat man was. Thankfully the Red Keep seemed full of passages and secret entrances and after finding one she dragged the man to it before carefully removing his face. After saying her prayer to the God of Many Faces, she removed the servant's face and put on the Magister's.
Wearing someone's face was magic beyond her understanding, how she was able to become someone else so completely something only those much closer to her god than she, knew. But as she felt the largeness of her stomach and saw the roundness of her fingers, the waif closed the entrance and took her seat. When she heard the servant come to the door she quickly realized her mistake, grabbing the plates of food and rushing to throw what was on them down on top of the fat man's body.
She had just sat back down when the girl entered the room, that she never made eye contact with her, or said a word showed her for the slave she was. But it also proved that just like with any other face she had ever worn, she was once again both No One and someone else.
"Where is Aegon?" she asked, her voice not her own as the magister's words left her mouth.
"I believe he's sleeping magister." the girl said.
The waif said nothing and waited until the girl left before standing up and readying the second part of her mission. It would be so easy to just go to the boy's room and slit his throat but his life wasn't the Many-Faced God's to take and to take a life not owed or not in service of their god was to put your own at risk. Some rules were not worth breaking and what the Faceless Men did to those who hadn't learned that lesson, even she shuddered at the thoughts of it.
Instead, with her guards, she readied to meet the other man, it was time to remove another obstacle from the prince's path. The ride to the buildings the Magister owned was fraught with danger, especially wearing this face. She was glad she didn't need to ride in a palanquin and wouldn't be putting extra strain on the poor men and women who served him. Though sitting in the carriage she did feel sorry for the horses who had to pull the weight of the fat man.
Reaching the building she walked into the solar and found she didn't have to wait too long for the Tattered Prince to arrive. The look on the man's face enough to tell her that she wouldn't even need to send him away, no instead it looked as if he was coming to tell her that he was ready to leave.
"Burning people? my men are not monsters, we didn't sign up for that." the Tattered Prince said.
"How else did you think I'd keep the dragons at bay?"
"You may have but for how long and where the fuck did those other three come from?"
"The boy's aunt, I had thought she was still in Essos."
"Well she may not be, but I and my men soon will be, we're leaving, you can hold this damn city yourself."
"You would leave without payment?" she asked surprised, the magister's voice sounding shocked.
"We will leave tonight. When they come for you Magister you'd be wise to be elsewhere too, regardless of your plans."
She looked as the Tattered Prince walked from the solar, leaning back in the chair she waited until she was sure the man had gone and called for the carriage to take her back to the Red Keep. Once again feeling the eyes of the residents of the city upon her as the carriage passed them by. The Waif felt more in danger here in this carriage than she had in any single mission she had done for the Faceless Men. Sneaking into Manses surround by countless guards, moving among palace guardsmen had never made her feel nervous and yet until she reached the gates of the Red Keep she was on edge.
She didn't sleep that night, it was rare when she was on an assignment that she ever slept until the job was done and this was no different. After calling for food to be brought to her early the next morning she sat by the window and looked out on the city. The Kindly Man's words ringing in her ears as she sat facing the open window and felt the breeze on her true face.
"Do your mission, then wait, if the prince is as we hope then I'll see you again." the kindly man said.
"And if he's not?"
"Valar Morghulis."
When dawn broke she put the face back on and said her prayer to her god and then sighed when the food was brought. She was thankful she'd asked for it to be brought here, the thoughts of having to sit with people and actually having to eat it all turning her stomach, or the magister's one in this case she thought with a smirk. Once she'd thrown it on top of the body and tried not to look at the rats who weren't discriminating between the food or the man, she walked to meet with the false prince.
"Ah good, my Lord Hand is here, how soon can we expect to see my bastard brother kneel?" Aegon said as she looked at him.
"We'll ride out to him at noon your grace, give him another show if it's necessary.
"Good, I think I'd enjoy another show." Aegon said smiling and the waif nodded.
She looked around the room, there were very few guards and only one man who may cause a problem. She soon found herself wondering how long she'd have to wait and whether or not today was her day to die.
Ned.
Every so often as they walked through the tunnels, Jaehaerys would stop, Ned looking to the cat which led the way only to see it wasn't that which had grabbed his nephew's attention. Instead, he assumed it was the others and just the thoughts that seven cats were being controlled by his nephew at the same time boggled his mind.
He had slipped inside Lya's mind occasionally, certainly not as much as Robb had Grey Winds or as he imagined the rest of his children had with their wolves. For Jaehaerys it seemed to be second nature and he began to wonder about what Howland had told him when he'd explained some of the powers his nephew possessed.
"Jojen is a greenseer Ned as am I, but we're candles compared to the inferno that Jon is. Mere flickers to the flame such is his power compared to our own, as he grows and the more he uses it, the more he learns about it, what he'll be able to do with it will be unlike anything even I can imagine.
It must be learned though for the enemies he will have to face can only be defeated once Jon fully understands his own power."
"It scares me, terrifies me, Howland, even when I try it with Lya I feel I lose a part of myself."
"Each time we slip into an animal Ned we gain a part of them and them, us. For you, for your children, for Jojen, this is more than true but for Jon it's different. He's bonded to a wolf and a dragon Ned and as long as he is then there'll always be a balance. Fire and Ice."
"And what of us?" he asked.
"You are Starks and were born to be wolves, they are who you are bonded to and though you gain a part of them you'll never become them, and truly is being part wolf a bad thing?".
He had to admit it was not. They seemed to have stopped for good now, Jaehaerys leaning against the wall and Oberyn sitting down beside him. Arthur standing watching just in case and as he looked to him, Ned could see his nephew's eyes were closed once again. It took him some time to open them and the smile on Jaehaerys's face was blinding even in the dim light of the tunnel.
"They've done it, Jaime, Obara, Tarly, Sandor, Richard, and Maege, they've taken the Wildfire. Dany is sitting with the unsullied, they're not doing anything and seem friendly. She's not their prisoner so I assume she's brought them on side" Jaehaerys said.
"My daughters?" Oberyn asked.
"Are unharmed uncle, as if everyone else, Lord Tarly took a slight wound and Ser Davos a knock to the head but no one was hurt seriously and no one was lost." Jae said relieved.
"Thank the gods." he said and saw his nephew nod.
"Thank the gods indeed uncle."
"So we go?" Arthur asked as Jae pulled out his sword.
"We go."
The moved down a corridor and came to a ladder, Ser Arthur going first and Oberyn insisting that he guarded their nephew's back. Once they reached the top they entered a large room and he saw Jaehaerys and the others looking around, the Three-Headed Dragon was everywhere. On the walls, on the floor, it was painted, burned into the walls, there were small shiny stones making it out and a mosaic on the floor. In front of them, a flight of stairs seemed to lead up to the ceiling above them.
"The Chamber of the Dragon Mosaic, are we under the Tower of the Hand?" Arthur asked and Jae shook his head.
"Not the Tower no, we're under the Throne room itself." Jaehaerys said.
"How? I've never?" Arthur said dumbfounded.
"Balerion showed me." his nephew said smiling "I need to find Aegon."
Ned watched as he closed his eyes, the look on his face one of concentration and when he opened them he seemed even happier.
"He's above him, Illyrio, and four guards. Uncle, there's one near the door furthest away from the throne, can you reach him with your spear?"
"Easily nephew." Oberyn said.
"Arthur you and Uncle Ned take the other three, I'll deal with Illyrio and Aegon."
"As you command my king." Arthur said.
"With any luck, this will be over with soon, on three." Jaehaerys said as he moved up the stairs "One, two, three."
The light hitting them temporarily blinded him and he was still readjusting when the slash of the sword came at him. He blocked it instinctively and found himself being pushed back, a flash of orange passed by him and almost distracted him, and then his sword was on the ground and he was on his knees. The white blade was all he saw as the man fell and as he was helped up he looked around the room.
Oberyn was pulling his spear from a man's chest and on the ground, near him, two men lay dead. A small girl leaned over a man with her knees on his chest and Jaehaerys was in the middle of the room, his sword clashing with the one held in the mummer's hands. Were he not so worried about his nephew he'd have noticed the blade the other boy held. Dark Sister facing off against Blackfyre for the first time in who knew how many years.
The other boy was talented and had clearly spent hours training with the blade but his nephew was way beyond him. Just listening to the sound of the swords as they hit together was like nothing he'd ever heard before, Valyrian Steel on Valyrian steel here in the throne room of a keep built by on the orders of the first Valyrian king. The sound of Blackfyre falling to the ground and the smack of a hilt on metal took him from his admirations. Ned looking to see the silver-haired boy was on the ground his mask knocked from his face and the full nature of his burns was clear for all to see.
"It's over Aegon, it's done." Jaehaerys said.
"It's not done, I'll burn you, I'll burn you all." Aegon shouted and then the sound of the glass breaking and the spark as the dagger hit the ground had Ned screaming out loudly.
The green fire moved towards his nephew and he watched as it soon swept over him, Aegon laughing like a madman as he lay on the ground. Ned looked on in horror, the armor was burning under the fire and were it not for Arthur and Oberyn dragging him away then he'd be burning too. Was this how he felt? How Brandon had felt when he watched their father burn? Was this why he strangled himself trying to get to the sword? He looked to see Aegon laughing with a look of madness in his eyes, the image of a mad king looking on while his family burned one he'd only ever seen in his dreams before.
"Look." he heard Oberyn say and he turned to see the girl moving to Aegon only to find that's not what Oberyn wished him to see "No look."
Through the fire he saw his nephew's hand move and something fall to the ground, the dripping suggesting it was blood and then he watched as the fire began to go out, the green flames dying and a helm being thrown to the ground.
"A dragon doesn't fear the fire, a dragon is the fire." Jaehaerys said as he moved toward Aegon, the boot he gave him knocking the false king out.
A/N: Up Next was supposd to be a once more around the world, However I figure this feels like a cliffhangar which its not supposed to be so I'll instead carry on from her and put the around the world chapter back a bit.
Daryl Dixon: Aegon is just about done, we'll be moving to Cat/LF next.
Zyrus: Death is not all it's cracked up to be, and well some may be getting saved for later events.
VDWade: It's with Faegon that exactly, following that path way. You're so right about Illyrio, most people who are ruthless see compassion as a weakness, there needs to be a line. On Bloodraven, he's coming next. Quetnyn to me is a follower, he really just did as he father asked. Cat would hate Essos lol.
Mhwaleown; They are, no wall for Faegon.
Jman: Yes it was the waif, delusion is so fun to write.
Biohazard: So glad you liked it.
Ace Venom: Glad you liked it, I loved the idea of it, had he not sent for the faceless men they probably wouldn't have come but sending for them ended him. Jeor totally will, Jae is taking like twenty or so away and sending thousands, some Dornish lords and knights, Golden Company men, the watch is increasing by six/seven times it's amount. I think we could guess who you'd expect as GM though he won't, Gormon works for Jae anyway as he's a Tyrell. We'll see with Renly, in a way he being taken prisoner removes his beginning chip, but he also didn't' actually raise arms against Jae.
One of the biggest issues with the reunion is circumstances don't allow for it to be as emotional as it could be so when next we see them it'll be more so. Her suspicions will negate over time as she gets to know more but she may always be somewhat suspicious too. Doran kinda knew but was both going with the hope as an excuse and didn't care. I think anyone who knew Elia would go, one but not two, if anything it'd have been harder to get Aegon out. I read a Rhaenys lives fic which pretty much had this as it's idea, to Aerys Rhaenys smelt Dornish, certainly looked Dornish and was a girl, Aegon ticked all the Valyrian boxes, I could imagine he'd have demanded to see Aegon all the time, where he'd not care about Rhaenys, making her easier to get away.
Jessicanightmarewolf: Poor Waif had to wear the fat man face and suit lol. They didn't forget it so much more not being in charge of KL they couldn't remove it and in a way you'd not think anyone knew of it, I mean in canon Jaime knows and doesn't do anything about it at all. Jae knew here, but until you have the city, you could send people in the tunnels, but what if they're found?. We'll see a more emotional side of things with Dany/Jae next.
Jumpinmanatee: Richard in his defence did have a lot on his plate lol. On Aegon Sandorix's burns pushed him over the edge, had that not happened maybe he'd have not gone fully, a little lke Duskendale for Aerys. Dany and Jaime is coming.
Thesphynx: I'm trying to rejig my schedule a bit, work, the stories and life combining to force me to have to rethink the updates, so far all I've come up with is TDC remains stead and the others when I post new chapters will contain the new update dates for them all, DSSS won't be a for a couple of weeks at lease. Love the poem as always my friend.
VfSnake: It really was, thankfully they were the only ones he had time to get to and well I hope you were happy with his end.
Dscot: he could have kept those at the wall warm for years lol.
Ksveela: I had thought of that, him sitting back and watching them burn but in the end it wouldn't have done anything for him, Faegon may have loved it but it doesn't get him closer to the throne, not that this did either but it was an easier gamble. Plus it showed a knowledge of who he dealt with. I went back and forth on killing people, it felt wrong to me and would have been simply for the sake of it, and I reread the battles in ASOIAF, the Rebellion and WOTFK, surprising few big characters die in them, so with the NK coming, I'll keep them for that.
Dunk: The Waif/FM are allies yes, but I didn't want them to do it all, just set the stage so to speak, on the Wfire, for Illyrio it was more a deterrent/bargaining chip than an actual weapon, Faegon would have used it all if he could but for Illyrio Jae knowing was the thing, he didn't want the armies dead, unless he had no choice, he wanted them knelt. If Jae knelt and had Ned swear an oath to Aegon, then that's the North removed from the war, that kinda of thing. Oh the visits to the NW in the future will be fun, talk about bringing guards with you, there'll be no strolls on his own when there now. We'll see an almost truer reunion next with Dany and Jae/Tyrion, now that the threat is over.
Tony Warrior: Me alegro de que te haya gustado, son cobardes, sí, pero ahora tienen su merecido.
Puffsofpygmy: It is yes.
Remi: It did you're so right, knowing Jae also it gave him somewhat of an edge. On Jaime in canon it's pretty much to set things up for later, it makes no sense he doesn't tell anyone, hell he, his sister and children are living in the Red Keep and he never does anything about it, which just is ridiculous, here it's the fact they're not in control of Kl so can't really do anything until they are.
We'll see Faegon's fate very soon, hope you like it. I do agree with that especially when it comes to LF, he pretty much in every aspect wants more. Loras is coming next week, I was saving his pov for him brining Marge to KL. Both kinda know, Jon really knows but Tyrion pretty much does also.
Whitedragonwarrior: Exactly, they had really a night to do it, if they let it go longer then more people would have burned, we'll see a more relaxed Jae/Dany next.
Dragonfire1242: We'll see the final KG member coming soon, I have to say it won't be Brienne yet, she will get a role though but for now not a KG (it's because of where she's from not that she's a woman, he already has the Stormlands covered) Glad you like Doran/Illyrio's deaths, hope this added to it but we'll see Faegon's fate in a bit.
Foxy Floof: and now it's mate lol.
Darkstar163: Glad to hear it, you need to hold onto that hate for his fate.
Guest: So glad you liked it, we'll see trials soon too. On the dragons there is some dragon envy going on with Dany lol. On the offer from Illyrio, hope Jae's pov cleared up his mindset, the same about Doran, one of the things he's learned is there is a line between your wants, needs and the needs of you as a king. Doran to him was kin but what he did left him in no doubt that he had to die, the argument with Olenna in HG, the night after it and the flight to Dorne allowed him time to see what him killing Doran would do and basically become more devious about it.
Scarila: I did think of that, having him around and also having him come clean to Faegon, but well he had to go. The main tragedy with Faegon here and in the books is his father sets him on a path that more than likely will lead to an early end, given Illyrio could give him anything he want's, he instead of that gives him precisely the wrong things.
Faegon is in a way a mirror image of Jon, they're kinda on the same journey when you really see it, just flipped around.
He could yes, no matter what Robert became there was a point where he and Ned were closer than brothers so it really does hit home. I really hope you'll enjoy the plan I have for Aemon.
Naruto: So glad you liked it, having the traitors rooted out was so important and Oberyn and Dorne will be much different after it. We'll see more of the reunion under more pleasant terms next. Hope you enjoyed the resolution to the false dragon's arc.
Happyfox: Thanks so much, I think we're going to go right through to the NK and the war for the dawn.
Mrspotter: Madness knows no family bonds, it really is a parallel with the MK for Faegon.
Anarchic mind: Aemon won't be too long coming no, he'll be at the wedding/coronation. We'll see more Dany/Jae time under less pressing circumstances too.
Line: It would not have no, had they not gone in right away he'd have burned the city.
Anja: So glad you liked it.
Celexys: One of the only problems I had with Jae/Dany is the timing of the meeting it couldn't be as full on emotional as I liked, I actually wrote and rewrote it countless times because the tone felt off, so we'll see a much more relaxed/emotional encounter next. I agree about the FM, we never truly see much insight into them, so I wanted to show a little here.
Denoltdn: On Illyrio/Faegon, yes he had told him of the Wfyre so not moving fast would have led to the city burning, I didn't want the waif to do it all, just to help which is what she did. Bloodraven is hinted at here with Shiera, we'll see his pov next.
Irish Hermit; I wanted to try and strike that balance, as you say she knows from her own life even her own family how things could be, so she wants Jae/Tyrion to be what she hopes, but also she's going to be emotional and careful too. Oh Sandor and Belwas now too lol. I only had a little of them both here but we do have a feast coming up lol. Jae knows but is making it out he doesn't so when Oberyn finds out he won't suspect. The ally was the waif and no Faegon's death won't be as quick.
Someguythefuck: We'll see.
Guest: I agree but the want to surrender would be a thing, fleeting though it is.
Spartan1007: They do indeed, hope you liked this, damn we're in the middle of a bloody heat wave, the world is crazy.
LadyOctrarina: They are on his side to an extent yes, but I didn't want them to solve all his problems so as you see they kinda tested him too. Shiera really helped as did Dany he pretty much couldn't have done this without either of them. So glad you liked the letter and the dealing with traitors, we'll have some trials coming soon too.
Silverglow: Yeah, one of the things I do is I've most if not all of a few chapters ahead written in advance, some need to be polished, some are fully done, some are simply events, pieces of dialogue etc. So Originally I had it as Barristan going with Garlan to add some oomph to it, him being LC of the KG, but then I thought Jae walking in with Barristan/Arthur was a more impressive entrance and so changed one but not the other, once the mistake was pointed out I corrected it, but it was simply not changing things when I should have.
On the KG, I'm pretty sure now that I never put in Jaime's replacement so I think the only way to fix it is to make it an error on their part, I had Lothor Brune as the name in mind but never put it in.
Oberyn really rammed that home and that Quentyn dismissed it doesn't help him, glad you liked the threat. One of the things which I dislike and I'm glad that Dany isn't falling into that trap is when a character's experiences situations change but then for plot reasons the character reverts back to their original motivations. Dany originally didn't want to be a queen, but ended up having no other choice but to be one and it fuelled her into being someone who believed she had to be queen. So you give her another option for life, Jae as king, her not growing up thinking she must be queen and she should be different, but all too often people revert to the character being who they were and not who they are.
There's a passage in the art of war "Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him" pretty much it sums up some of Jae's approach. What Jae is doing in a way decimates a large section of Dorne's leadership so he has to be more controlled with it. It was supposed to be Marched Hard, thanks for pointing that out.
Faegon with Tyrion kinda shows some arrogance/temperament, his throwing over of the Cyvasse table shows impulsiveness and this is early on, something that perhaps will play later in the books. But here the close her got to being old enough, the more he acted against advice, Sandorix pushed him over the edge but his arrogance, entitlement was a problem that needed ironing out. The biggest mistake Illyrio made was also his biggest boon to Faegon, Jon C, someone devoted is always the last to see faults. As you see their plans were anything but foolproof.
Biggz: So glad you're enjoying it, hope you liked what comes next.
Xan Merrick: Thank you my friend. Tyrion is a very good storyteller so he really knew which things to tell them lol, the Greatjon is such a fun character, it was a shame we never got him in canon. Glad you like Harmen I wanted Oberyn to have one man he could trust completely. Quentyn is kinda the perfect example of a second son in Westeros, in that while they learn they don't learn enough and the idea they're not to rule kinda makes them unsuitable for it. We'll see a full on more emotional reunion next.
Puffgirl: Sorry about the sore head, I do guarantee that only death will stop me from finishing, which is tempting fate I know lol.
Cherylpollock: No worries my friend, hope she's well and life is far more important, I'm glad enough to know you're reading it. Blackdragon down, so now we move to trials which will take the Old falcon and finally onto the mocking bird and the catfish lol.
Ancientoak: Yep, since Black Dragons have no fire of their own, they needed some.
Xand007: Thank you my friend. Holiday, hope it was fun or relaxing or both or relaxing fun lol. Hope you liked the other side of the Cheesemonger's death and how it was resolved, Jeor will piss himself at what he's getting sent lol You too my friend, stay safe and well.
Liza: Thanks my friend. On Faegon yes I do wonder in canon if it'll be him going this route also, I know we got Cersei in the show but I don't know if she'll go fully this way, though I can see her trying to have Wfire set off and Jaime killing her to stop it, a way to do the prophecy that makes sense.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed how it was resolved. The Vale is pretty much done, Iron Islands we'll see in the next chapter so yep, Kl is the war at this point. No worries on the other story, I firmly think if something is not to your taste then why bother yourself in reading/watching it, it'd only annoy you and I'm glad at least that you knew from the get go it wouldn't be. For me there nothing worse and this is most true with parings when the author sneaks it up on you, you get invested in a story and then they hit you with the things that had you known they'd be there would have kept you away.
So, I'm glad you knew right away this wasn't for you, and besides you're here in one you do like which makes me happy. Stay safe, well and stay happy my friend, remember each day you wake up do something which puts a smile on you face, no matter how silly or stupid it may seem it really does make you days better.
