He who controls the past controls the future, he who controls the present controls the past.
Kings landing ?
Morning.
Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He woke up, climbed out of bed, and stretched his tiredness away, feeling the twinge where the small bruise had formed. The strike had been hard but it was not enough to unhorse him, Ser Barristan falling to his lace for the first time ever. It gave him the chance to win, to crown her, and see that smile he enjoyed seeing so much. The one she kept for him and him alone. Walking away from the bed he called for the servant to ready the bath and when it was prepared he lowered himself into it and felt the warmth of the water as it soothed his small aches and pains. Jae bathed but he used it more for that relief it brought him than out of any need to wash.
Dressing quickly, he walked from the room, Ser Jaime smiling at him upon seeing that his hair was down and not tied up as it usually was. His sworn shield knew him far too well and he knew that Margaery preferred him to wear his hair this way. Jae knowing by the smirk on Jaime's face that he was in for a torrid time when they sparred after he broke his fast. Nameday or not, the White Lion would not care and Jae would be at the receiving end of both his blade and his tongue before they headed to the tourney grounds. Still, there was no one he'd rather have as his Kingsguard than Ser Jaime, no man he trusted more than the famed Lannister Knight.
Reaching the room he saw the Bold and Prince Lewyn were on guard this morn, Ser Arthur obviously getting his final practices in and Jae shuddered at that. He knew that he'd more than likely have to face the Sword of the Morning before the day was done. The Bold gave him a warm smile while Prince Lewyn looked at his hair and smirked. Jae turned around to see if Ser Jaime wore a smile that would prove he'd told the Dornishman of the reasons why he wore it so. Though he found Ser Jaime to be far too good of a mummer to be certain if he had or had not.
"My prince." Prince Lewyn said with a nod.
"Ser Arthur?" he asked seeing Lewyn now smile even more.
"Practicing to put a prince on his arse, my prince." Lewyn said with a chuckle and Jae sighed as he walked into the room.
Elia sat speaking to his grandmother and aunt while Rhae, Egg, and Viserys were speaking together, only his father noticed his arrival, and as always greeted him with a warm smile. Though soon enough Rhae saw him too, his sister beckoning him over to sit in the seat she'd saved beside her. Jae greeted Elia and his grandmother with a kiss to their cheeks and laughed as Dany put her face forward expecting a kiss too.
"I'd not have my brother jealous, aunt." he said looking to see Egg roll his eyes, his brother knowing that just like him, Jae had also given his heart to the woman he loved.
"Egg needs to be jealous once or twice a day at least as far as I'm concerned." Dany said, Egg looking to her and nodding that he agreed.
They had an odd relationship, teasing each other, almost provoking each other into showing their true feelings. Jae could only put it down to how long it had taken them to realize that they were in love and not just accepting of their betrothal. He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, hearing his brother gasp loudly, the mocking tone of it not lost on Dany or on Rhae as he sat down beside his sister and kissed hers too.
"Not even close to good enough, Aegon Targaryen." Dany said as if she was put out and this time it was Rhae who rolled her eyes.
"Ready for your gift, Jae?" his sister said and Jae looked around at the table, seeing his father and Elia look his way.
"I had thought, tonight, at the feast?" he said confused.
"There will be more then son, but this one your sister made for you herself." his father said and he saw Rhae look nervously at him.
"Rhae, you didn't need to." he began and then saw that she looked upset "But I thank you, truly." he added quickly seeing her smile as she handed him the package.
"It's your six and tenth nameday, Jae, your majority." she said as he opened it up.
The coat had a white dragon and a white wolf on each collar, both standing out against the black material and looking striking to his eye. That she'd incorporated his personal sigil into the design only made it that much more special to him and when he stood up and removed the one he was wearing to put it on, Jae saw Rhae smile beamingly at him. Even more so when he hugged her and told her how much he loved both it and her.
"The rest you'll get tonight young man and don't expect them all to be as thoughtful as your sister's." his grandmother said and Jae nodded, seeing the sparkle in her eyes as she spoke.
"I heard Ser Arthur went out early this morn, he must fear you nephew." Viserys said his uncle both jesting and not.
"I doubt there is a thing in this world that Ser Arthur fears, uncle. More likely he's getting himself loosened up before he knocks my dear brother on his arse." Egg said, his brother definitely jesting and needling him a little.
"Just like Jae did to you, yesterday Egg." Rhae said to laughs from Elia and his father.
"He got lucky, tell them you got lucky, Jae?" Egg said and Jae looked at him before putting on his most serious expression.
"Of course I got lucky, how else could I have beaten my dearest brother, unless…."
"Unless?" Dany said joining in with their fun.
"Unless as usual my brother was distracted by his betrothed and just happened to glance to her rather than to my lance." he said and Egg looked abashed as the laughs rang about.
"Don't worry too much about it son, we all do it, no doubt Jaehaerys may find his own distractions later on." his father said and this time the laughs were at his expense rather than his brother's. Jae having gone a shade of red as he knew his father spoke the truth.
It had happened yesterday when he'd rode against the Bold, Jae thinking of only having two more matches to win after this one and then glancing up to see her looking down at him. Margaery smiling broadly and Jae almost losing the match because of it.
"He's thinking of her again." Rhae said with a giggle.
"I wonder what gift Lady Margaery has gotten for our dear brother?" Egg said and Jae listened as for the next few moments his relationship with Margaery became the talk of the table.
Through it all, he looked to his father and found him staring back at him and seeming to be lost at times. Jae knew exactly why that was. Try as they might to think fondly on his mother, something they managed far more often than not, there were certain days when an air of sadness would come over his father and him when they did so. For Jae is was always on the day of her death and her own nameday, for his father it was the former and though Jae knew he fought to make it not so, it was always on Jae's nameday too.
So he finished his meal quickly and stood up ready to go and spar with Ser Jaime. Removing his presence when his father got that look in his eye always brought him back to himself far easier than if he stayed around he'd found. It was something he'd learned while fostering in Highgarden, the ability to see what it was that people wished for or needed had come to him while spending time with Margaery and her grandmother.
"Wait up, both Viserys and I want to test our blades against you today, brother." Egg said as he quickly ate what was left on his plate.
"Now that is a present, getting to beat you both before I need to ride in the tourney." he japed.
"Not today nephew, today we'll give you no such gifts." Viserys said with a determined look on his face.
"Then I shall have to try that much harder, uncle."
He walked from the room and out to the sparring yard with Ser Jaime, unsurprised to see that Loras wasn't there. His closest friend was no doubt just like Ser Arthur getting in some last-minute practice for the joust. Moving to the spot where they usually sparred, he removed Dark Sister and took up his stance, Ser Jaime smiling as he did likewise.
The two swords crashed together, Jaime forcing him back while Jae tried to lay a trap for his mentor, almost smiling when he saw him step into it only for Jaime to quickly back away. Trying something different he moved forward and then jumped into the air, bringing the sword down hard as he spun. The strike was parried easily though and soon Jaime began to take control. It took some time but Jae yielded just as Egg and Viserys arrived.
"Your first loss today, brother, though not your last." Egg said with a chuckle.
Against Jaime he always brought live steel to bear, the two of them having sparred so often that there was never any danger of a stray blow. It was not something he would do facing Viserys and Egg, so to the now gathered crowd's disappointment, there would be no battle between Dark Sister and Blackfyre today. Instead, it was to be tourney swords, Jae picking his out and facing off against Viserys while Egg warmed up against Ser Jaime.
By the time he'd beaten his uncle and was facing his brother, Dany and Rhae had arrived and Jae looked up to see both of them speaking to Margaery who he'd not noticed had been there for some time. He didn't need to look at his brother's face to see he was smirking at the looks he was giving her. Egg for once though seemed more concentrated on their match rather than his betrothed, Dany looking slightly put out that Egg wasn't looking her way.
As he brought his tourney sword against his brother's the strangest thing happened and Jae soon found himself fighting defensively rather than offensively, as he usually did against Egg. His eyes were more on what he thought he saw behind Egg instead of the sword in his brother's hand. His distraction would turn out to be a painful one as he was caught across the head by a blow which took him to his knees. Egg throwing his sword to the ground to check on how badly he'd hurt him.
"Jae, are you hurt, Jae?" he heard his brother's panicked voice.
"I'm well. You were right, it was only my first loss." he said trying to make a jape as he rose to his feet.
He wasn't looking at his brother though but behind him, Jae trying to see where the dark-haired woman and the large white wolf had gone to.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Ned Stark.
He looked down at his nephew as he lay in the bed, Jaehaerys looking to all the world as if he was simply sleeping. Ned too would have thought so too if not for the fact that it had been over a week since he'd last been awake. That his children were so worried about their brother was no surprise and he agreed with the queen that they shouldn't see him this way. They were already emotionally fraught as it was and better the thoughts of their brother ill then the actual image of it.
Besides Jaeherys's condition was not the only thing on his or his children's mind, all of them still reeling from what Jae had told them the last time they had spoken. Reeling even more now that she'd actually arrived in King's Landing. Ned had listened while his nephew had talked about what needed to be done with Cat, his teeth grinding and jaw working as his anger grew. She had brought this onto herself, her actions leaving Jaehaerys with no other choice and that she was keeping her head was far more than could be expected.
Jon Arryn had lost his own for conspiring to bring the Targaryen's down, Cat by all rights should have faced the same sentence. It was only the love a brother had for his siblings that had stopped that from happening and Ned cursed the woman for putting his nephew in such a position. A king needed to be fair and just and there would be those who looked at Cat and the sentence and thought it was neither, making Jaehaerys look weaker than he should.
For now, though that was a different problem for a different day and so he reached out and took his nephew's hand in his own and began to speak softly. On the other side of the bed, Margaery sat holding her husband's other hand and Ned could only hope that what Howland had said was true and that his words would be heard.
"Brandon was wild, Jon." he said noticing the queen look his way and nodding that he knew what he was doing, even if he wasn't sure he did.
He needed his nephew to remember, to be a wolf as much as he was a dragon and while he felt that was true, he'd noticed the dragon side come more to the fore also. The dropping of his name, the wearing of the clothing, that was down to him being a king and needing to look the part. Embracing his family's heritage, making choices that benefited House Targaryen as much, if not more than the realm itself, that was his nephew being a dragon. Howland had said he needed to remind him who he was, to speak to him about his mother. Well, his mother was a wolf and he had been Jon long before he knew who Jaehaerys was.
"He was wild and free, the Wild Wolf indeed, just as I was the quiet one. Benjen I've heard some refer to as the Forgotten Wolf and though it pains me to speak it true, it seems I must. Your mother though, gods, Jon, your mother. The She-Wolf, the Winter Rose, The Wolf Maid, Wolf Girl, she had many names but to me, she was simply Lya."
He looked over and saw that Margaery was showing perhaps the first hints of a smile that he'd seen her wear in days.
"When we were young, it was always Lya who choose our adventures. The games she could think up, I swear Jon, no one, not until Arya came along, no one even came close to being able to make such a simple thing as a broken twig into something that could give us hours of amusement."
Ned laughed softly as he remembered back to those days, to running through the Godswood and being chased by his sister brandishing a twig as if it were a sword.
"All of us, even Brandon would drop everything the moment she'd suggest or ask us to. My mother, your grandmother Lyarra, she would watch us from the bailey where I'd watch you all, father by her side. Gods Jon, to see my father laugh so, no one, no one else but she could make him do so."
He moved his hand to his eyes and closed them, using his fingers to try and stop the water which threatened to leak from them and finding he could not. So he wiped the tears away and looked to see the queen was looking at her husband and not him and he felt relieved for that.
"When your grandfather decided to send me to the Vale to foster, when I agreed to go, Lya didn't speak to me for a moon. Do you know how hard that is? To not speak to someone for that long, Jon? The sheer amount of willpower it must have taken her. I tried to do everything in mine own power to get her to talk to me. I joined in with her games or tried to, only for her to walk away with Benjen and leave me alone. I swear it to you, Jon, here and now, and may the old gods strike me down if I'm speaking a lie. I swear to you I'd cry myself to sleep at night after going another day without hearing her voice."
Margaery looked his way though he didn't see it, his eyes were focused on his nephew's face where he saw her there for the briefest moment of time. The water in his eyes, thoughts of the past, he couldn't tell which but for some reason he saw her lying there instead of his nephew. That the sheets weren't bloodstained was the only thing which didn't have him running from the room. Ned shook his head and looking back to see what he was now certain was a different expression on Jaehaerys's face.
"The night before I was due to leave, she came to my room and spoke to me finally. She cursed me for leaving her and begged me to stay. She wished me well and told me that I'd have a great time and would make new friends when I later spoke on my own fears. Your mother laughed with me, cried with me, we lay on my bed and spoke of when we'd see each other again.
Gods Jon, if I could go back to that day, if I could but see that girl once more, I…."
He stood up and walked to the nearby table and filled himself a glass of water, the words starting to stir up things that he'd not thought about in many a year. After composing himself, he moved back to the bed and nodded to Margaery before he took his seat and began speaking again.
"Looking back now, I can see that things were never the same between us from that day on. I loved her, she was my sister but something changed when I went away. Something broke between us that I never even knew was there and it never got fixed. When I saw her again or read her letters, it was like glimpsing at shadows, Jon. It was memories of my sister that felt almost like someone else's. I was sure she'd changed but I know now that it was me who had."
It was a realization that hit him suddenly and he wondered why he'd never had it before. He'd gone away and he had changed and when he met her again he'd been certain it was her. She was still the She-Wolf but he wasn't exactly the quiet one, oh he was still quiet alright but maybe he just hadn't been a wolf.
"When we met up in Harrenhal, I could see how people saw her. Mine own eyes may have been elsewhere but I wasn't blind and she was happy Jon, far happier than I'd ever known her to be. Fool that I was I thought it was because of Robert and because we were all together once more, I know now it was because she'd found her love, just as you found your own." he said looking to Margaery who was wiping her own eyes as she looked down on her husband.
Ned stopped for a moment, drinking down his water as he looked off to the side and allowed Margaery to wipe her eyes just as she had done for him.
"I should have known it was her, The Knight of the Laughing Tree, I should have known. To see her ride, how she was while on a horse. You get that from her, Jon, don't let any tell you different, I've seen you on Winter and that you got from your mother. She was unmatched, none of us even came close. I doubt there was a man or woman in the North and I've not heard of any in the South who could keep up with her.
Gods Jon, to have seen you both, to have watched you both ride together. What I'd give to see that, to see you race, to see you lose." he said laughing and hearing the small laugh that Margaery made.
He saw a small twitch of his nephew's lips and he looked to Margaery thinking it something good only to see her sadly shake her head and let him know this wasn't something that she'd not seen.
"He's thirsty." she said softly and he watched her walk to a small jug on the other table.
Ned looked on as she dipped a cloth into the mug she'd just filled, the water dripping from the cloth as she put it to his nephew's lips. Margaery pushed it slightly inside Jaehaerys's mouth and then after a moment dipped it back into the mug and did so once again.
"Keep talking, please." she said looking to him.
"I never saw the arguments with your grandfather, Jon, but Nan said she made it clear and I can picture them and almost see her face. But what happened, happened, and there's no need to speak on that. So I'll speak on when we last spoke before….before…."
He gulped and grabbed his mug only to find it empty, he rose to his feet and moved over to the table and filled it, draining it just as quickly before he filled it once more and then made his way back to the seat.
"She stood in front of me, Jon, I was of the size and build I am now, bar a little around the middle." he chuckled "She stood in front of me and to my face told me that I was not a wolf and no brother of hers. That I'd lost my way and cared more for a drunken whoremonger than I did my own sister. I was young, Jon, never brash but always proud and by the gods, it shamed me to be spoken of in such a way.
But when I look back on it, when I think back upon it, it's not the shame I feel, although that's still there. Nor is it the regrets that I didn't listen, although they're there too. It's the memory of your mother, Jon, of Lya, her fierceness, god's there was no one even close. She was but a slip of a thing and yet I'd not dare take her on, she fought Jon, be it with words or deeds, she fought, that's who she was more than any, a fighter.
Right to the end, she was a fighter. She fought to bring you into this world, weak and tired though she was, she fought to see you born and to give you the chance to be the man you needed to be. She fought harder for you than I ever did and I swear it, Jon, she fights for you still."
He stood up and moved closer to the bed, bending down he brought his face close to Jaehaerys's own and kissed his cheek, Margaery moving closer to them both as well.
"You are the son of a She-Wolf, Jon, the son of a fighter, and it's time for you to fight. We need you here, I, Sansa, Arya, Robb, Elle, and the babe, we need you here. Jon. Your wife needs you more than any, you are your mother's son, fight Jon, please, fight.
Kings Landing ?
Afternoon.
Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen.
After being checked out by the Grandmaester at Elia's insistence and to his own embarrassment, Jae headed to the tourney grounds with Ser Jaime. He made his way to his horse to ready the stallion for the upcoming joust. Caraxes was half sand steed and half courser, his chestnut coloring always looked red in the sun and had led Jae to name it after the Blood Wyrm that was ridden by Prince Daemon. The horse had been gifted to him by Margaery's brother on his twelfth nameday and to Jae's mind, there was none that could match him.
He rubbed the horse down, fed him, before dressing him in the barding himself just as he always did much to his squire's annoyance. Martyn would help with the lance work today but he knew that Jaime's cousin wished to do this part too. It had become a routine for Jae though and he took comfort in it, finding it kept him and Caraxes close and it relaxed them both before the jousting began. Once he was done, he made his way to his tent to put on his armor finally seeing Loras for the first time that day.
"Jae." Loras called out.
"There you are, I thought you'd still be off practicing." he said with a small laugh.
"I'm facing Ser Arthur first and you should have been practicing with me." Loras said slightly annoyed.
"You know my routine, Loras, I like to keep Caraxes fresh, besides it's my nameday." he said getting a smile from his friend.
"I know, I wonder what my sweet sister has gotten you for your gift?"
"Perhaps nothing." he said though he knew that wouldn't be the case, he and Margaery had been exchanging gifts for years after all.
"Well, I came to wish you good fortune, Lord Royce will take some beating." Loras said reaching out and placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You too, I hope we meet in the final." he said seeing Loras smile "You'll be so much easier to beat than Ser Arthur." he japed before quickly ducking when Loras pretended to hit him.
He turned to Ser Jaime when Loras walked away and was sure he saw them again. So he moved past the knight and walked quickly to the back of the tent only to find no sign of them. Seeing the concerned look on Jaime's face he told him what he thought he'd seen, the knight though shook his head when he described the white wolf. Leaving it for now they entered the tent to find Martyn already waiting. Jae's armor already glistening as the young lad had cleaned it thoroughly.
Egg preferred bright silver armor, Jaime's own set was a set that was golden gilded. Jae's though was like his father's and as dark as a moonless night. Where his father's had rubies on the breastplate though, Jae's had none, he found the gems to be distracting and so he had ordered his to be kept plain. It took him some time to be helped into the suit, Jae feeling the increased weight almost as soon as it was on him. It felt restrictive as it always did but he knew it was needed, the bruise he bore on his chest was clear enough evidence of that. He sent Martyn to fetch Cartaxes and turned around to face Ser Jaime who looked both keenly interested and yet bored at the same time. It was a look that only he could pull off Jae had found.
"Regretting not competing, Ser?" he asked as they waited.
"No Jae, I'd not deny you the chance of victory on your nameday." Jaime said with that cocky grin of his.
"Feel so sure you could beat me, I seem to remember beating you the last time." he replied with a grin of his own.
"And I, you the time before that, and before that, and what about that other time?" Jaime said making them both laugh.
Among the many reasons he was happy to have Ser Jaime as his sworn shield, other than his martial prowess and the fact that he'd turned him into a better swordsman or jouster than even Ser Arthur had managed with Egg, was this. They had an easy camaraderie, the knight could be flippant, disrespectful, and downright annoying at times and Jae much preferred that than Ser Arthur's dutifulness. Not that he didn't completely respect the Sword of the Morning, but more he felt him far better suited to be the Crown Prince's sworn shield than his own.
Jaime cared not about how people saw him, some calling it the Lannister arrogance but Jae knew better, it was because he was comfortable in himself. He knew who he was and what he was and that despite his name, it was his talent that had brought him all he had. For a boy who was born a prince and whose own name meant so much, it gave him something to aspire to. He'd never be comfortable being what Egg needed to be, his brother was born to be a king, he was not. So he'd needed someone to show him, to teach him how to be what he needed to be and there was no one better than Ser Jaime to do so.
"My prince." Martyn said on his return, his squire still not ready to be informal.
"Shall we?" he said standing up and hearing Jamie's small chuckle.
"If we must." the knight said as they left the tent.
The crowd was even bigger than it had been the day before Jae thought as he rode Caraxes out to great cheers. The red three-headed dragon was clear on the horse's barding as Jae brought him close to where his father and his family sat. Looking up to them he offered them a bow and tried to find Margaery, taking some time to see her. When he did he could see that despite the warm smile she gave him, there was a sense of nervousness about her too. The way she was fidgeting with her hands and how she sat more to the edge of her seat than usual. He reached down and placed his hand on his side, his fingers pointing to the green and gold handkerchief he had tied there, and he saw her relax some before he turned to ride towards Martyn.
"Your graces, my lords, and ladies, I present to you the first semi-final of the joust. Representing the Vale Lord Yohn Royce and Representing the crown, The White Dragon, Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen." the herald said to loud cheers.
Caraxes raced down the tiltyard, Jae's lance held high and poised to strike. Ahead of him, he could see Lord Yohn was still suffering the effects of their last tilt and was favoring his left side. When the horses were no more than feet away from each other, Jae moved to the right and readied his strike, quickly shifting back once he saw Lord Yohn move to compensate and he knew then he had it won. Driving the lance forward he felt the connection of his own and the brief glance of Lord Yohn's off his shield and then as he passed the Lord he saw him fall.
Jae slowed Caraxes down to look back and see that Lord Yohn was rising to his feet and once he was sure he was unhurt he turned to the crowd and waved before he then rode slowly from the field. He dismounted and patted Caraxes's head, thanking the horse for a fine ride once more. Then handing him off to Martyn and telling him to make sure he was well watered. Jae then took off his helm and took up a position to watch the other semi-final. Bidding both Ser Arthur and Loras good fortune when they passed by.
"You rode well, Jae." Jaime said as Ser Arthur and Loras were announced by the herald.
"Caraxes rode well, I just did what you taught me." he said.
"Well holding on is the key to winning is it not?" Jaime said with a chuckle.
Loras rode well but watching Arthur was as always like watching poetry in motion. Each glance of Loras's lance just being brushed aside while Loras did his best to hold on and managed to do so for four tilts before he was unhorsed. Jae almost ran to the field when it took some time for Loras to rise to his feet, his friend finally getting to his feet and limping towards them after a few moments. Jae helping him back to his tent where the Maester examined him.
"You'll need to rest that foot for a few days, Ser Loras but there's no real damage, just bruising." the Maester said once he was done.
"It's just as well he's a terrible dancer then." Jae said trying to garner a smile from his friend.
"You wound me, my prince, truly you do. Of course, then I only need to remember the first time you danced with my sister." Loras said laughing.
"In my defense…." he began only to find he had none and so he shook his head, looked Loras in the eye to see he was truly unhurt, and then moved to ready for his own ride.
"Good luck, Jae." Loras called out as Jae walked from his tent.
Less than an hour later he was riding to the tiltyard beside Ser Arthur, the knight focussed completely on their upcoming joust and though he did wish Jae good fortune, they were the only words that Arthur spoke. Arthur being so determined did not bode well for him and Jae felt his chances of winning dwindling. Still, he would give it his all and as he rode out and looked to the crowd, he saw that Margaery was on her feet cheering him on.
"Your graces, My Lords and Ladies we come to the grand final of the joust. Representing the Kingsguard, The Sword of the Morning, Ser Arthur Dayne."
Jae listened as the crowd cheered, Ser Arthur as popular as ever.
"Representing the crown, The White Dragon, Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen."
The cheers were as loud if not louder and Jae felt Caraxes stir beneath him, reaching down to calm the horse before he rode to take the lance from Martyn's hands. At the signal he rode and rode fast, soon feeling the impact of the lance against his shield and the shiver it sent up his arm. His own had glanced off Ser Arthur's shield harmlessly, barely having hit it. The second and third tilts were the same, Jae feeling his hold on his shield weakening and knowing he'd not even caused Ser Arthur a moment's distress.
This changed in the fourth and whether it was a lucky strike or not, Jae felt Ser Arthur shift in his saddle when his lance caught the knight square in the chest. As he rode down for the fifth, Jae gave Caraxes a little kick and felt him quicken, he readied his lance and as he reached Ser Arthur he saw he was a fraction quicker than the Dornish knight. Giving everything he had to the strike, he almost fell over Caraxes's head so far forward did he thrust, but to his relief, he found it had been worth it. An almost hush came over the crowd as Ser Arthur fell, Jae then hearing the loudest cheers he'd ever heard in his life as it became clear that he'd won.
"Your graces, My Lords and Ladies, the victor of the Joust, The White Dragon, Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen." the herald said loudly over the cheers.
Jae looked up to see his father was smiling broadly, Egg, Rhae, Dany, Viserys were all cheering enthusiastically while Elia and his grandmother looked at him proudly. As he looked to Margaery he could see others in the crowd were looking her way and so he moved to where the garland was and picked it up with his lance before riding towards her. He could see she was breathing in deep breaths, her brown eyes were sparkling and slightly wet and her lips pursed the closer he got to her. Raising the lance he moved it in her direction and watched as the garland begin to slowly slide towards her.
"Lady Margaery, I would name you, The Queen of Love and Beauty." he said as she took the garland and placed the golden crown of roses on her head, Jae seeing the smile she wore and then having to blink when the colors of the flowers changed from gold to blue, opening his eyes to see they were gold once more.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Joy.
She was angry and had refused to eat, had called her father and uncle names which she didn't' mean, and had refused to go to her lessons. Genna had called her a child, told her that she was acting like a babe and not a grown lady and she had cared not. Cregan had looked at her disappointedly, as had her father and she had cared not. Only Balerion understood, only he knew and so it was only he that she listened to.
"You're right Ballon, they're wrong."
"So what if I'm acting spoiled, I am spoiled."
"Then they should let me see him, shouldn't they.
The one-sided conversations she had with the cat always made her feel better, he didn't judge or tell her to act a lady or to grow up and be who she needed to be. Balerion was just like Jon and he let her be herself even when she was wrong and others may be right. She'd understood why they'd not let her in to see him at first, he was ill, she'd heard, she wasn't a fool. The Grandmaester and the Prince had both gone to see Jon more than once, she knew he was ill and that they didn't wish her to see.
"But what about what I wish"
"What about that?"
"I need to see him."
"I need to know he's getting better."
"I need to kiss him and make him beller." she said holding Balerion tightly in her arms.
The days stretched on and on and that she wasn't the only one who didn't get to see him didn't make it feel any better to her. What cared she that Arya or Sans didn't get to see Jon, or that Martyn, Willem or Tommen did not either. She wanted to see him and she knew he'd want to see her, he always had, he always did. When she was ill or if she felt bad it was Jon who'd come to see her and try and make her feel better. Why wouldn't they allow her to do the same for him?
She ate because she knew it worried them when she did not, though she had no appetite and she found herself wondering if Jon could eat or not. At night she slept though it took her time to fall to sleep, her tears and worried thoughts keeping her awake for most of the night. As the days went on she still refused to go to her lessons and had been sent to her room more than once. When she was not being punished in some way then she and Balerion would go and stand as close to Jon's room as they were allowed to go.
Joy had tried to move closer but when she did they'd move her to one of the other rooms or send for her father or Ashara and she'd be taken back to their own. So now she moved close but not too close, to where she could see the room but where they'd not move her from. When she saw Loras go into the room she had followed him back from it sure he'd bring her inside.
"Can you take me with you next time?" she asked as he walked beside.
"I can't Joy, no one is to see him." Loras said shaking his head.
"You got to see him." she said accusingly.
"Aye, I did, but you'll see him soon." Loras said smiling a fake smile at her as he did so.
"Soon, that's all any of you say, soon, I want to see him now." she said loudly.
"Joy." Loras said moving towards her but she brushed his hand away and ran down the corridor, finding Balerion running into a room a little ahead of her.
Entering the room she saw Balerion in the corner, his head turned towards her, and then he moved to the wall and was gone. Panicked she ran over and saw his head come out from the wall, Balerion looking to her before he went back into it.
"You want me to come?" she asked though he was already gone and wasn't there to answer, not that he ever did.
She took a quick look around her and then followed after Balerion, feeling the wall close behind her and then realizing that it was a door and not a wall. It was dark but she could see Balerion's eye in the distance. Joy moved quickly after him, not wishing to be here alone in the dark,. She lost him when he turned his head away from her and began to worry that she'd not find him again only to feel him rub up against her legs.
Seeing the light in front of her she ran to it and found it was a torch, it took her some time to find something to climb onto so that she could reach it, and once she did she saw Balerion race on ahead. She followed after the black cat, the torch in her hand not letting him disappear again and after what felt like hours they came to another door. Balerion ducked inside and then back out just as quickly again and when Joy tried to walk though it the cat hissed loudly at her.
"Why? Why are you angry with me?" she said sadly and then felt Balerion rub against her once more, the cat showing that it wasn't anger that he felt but something else.
"You're warning me? It's not time yet, is it?" she asked feeling the cat's tongue lick her hand.
She sat down on the ground and Balerion snuggled up against her, Joy welcoming the feel of his soft fur on her face as she held him on her knees and leaned down against him. Her eyes opened and she found that it was to darkness, Joy sure she'd fallen asleep and looking to see that the torch had gone out. Balerion was nowhere to be seen or felt and she worried once again, only to hear a noise and look up and see the cat's eye in the darkness ahead of her.
Rising to her feet she moved toward him and was soon past the door and inside a room, the lights were low but at least she could see again. Balerion led the way and she followed quietly behind him, opening another door and then another, and then she almost ran to the bed when she saw him. He was sleeping, he didn't look ill or unwell and he was alone. Why had they left him alone? He shouldn't be alone, they wouldn't let her see him, and yet he was alone, she thought angrily as she moved to the bed.
"You're not alone, anymore, Jon, I'm here." she said as she climbed up on the bed and lay down beside him.
King's Landing ?
Evening.
Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He buttoned up his dark red shirt and reached over to grab his coat, putting it on and standing in front of the looking glass to make sure he was presentable. His father had asked to speak to him before they headed to the night's feasting and Jae wondered what it was to be about. Opening his door he saw that Ser Jaime had already changed and he wondered how he had managed to do and be back so quickly. Looking at him he shook his head and decided that it was yet another secret of the knight's he would need to figure out some other time.
Walking down the corridor, he was tempted to stop by Rhae's room to speak to her. He and his sister had not had much time together today and after the present she'd made for him, which he now wore, he felt bad about that. However, his father's wishes took precedence and so he continued on, finding Ser Barristan and Ser Jonathor to be on duty tonight.
"Is his grace inside?" he asked seeing Ser Jonathor nod and that he wore an odd smirk on his face.
Opening the door and walking inside he quickly found the reason for that smirk as he looked and saw that his father wasn't alone. Lady Olenna, Lord Mace and Margaery were all sitting alongside his father, Elia, and his grandmother, Jae looking at them all nervously as he moved to take a seat. He bid the Tyrell's to remain in their seats when they went to rise, protocol needed to be observed in front of his father but he'd long ago talked them out of where he was concerned.
"Ah, the man of the hour." his father said his voice light, and Jae could see there was both pride and mirth in his eyes.
"I got lucky, another day and it would have been Ser Arthur who won." he said trying to sound far more modest than he actually felt about his victory.
"But not today." Elia said and he smiled warmly at her.
"Jaehaerys, it's been clear to us all how you've felt for Lady Margaery, and she, you for some time. Political reasons though have delayed us agreeing to anything formal regarding a betrothal between you both as well you know." his father said and Jae felt his heart begin to beat a little faster.
"I'm aware of that, father." he said his voice barely a whisper.
"Now that you've reached your majority and the realm is far more stable, those political reasons are lessened. Your uncle Viserys and Princess Arianne are to be wed, which gives me leave to now make a match based both on politics and one which I believe will make my son happy. So later tonight we'll be announcing your betrothal to Lady Margaery." his father said smiling beamingly at him.
Jae looked around the room, he could see that Lady Olenna and Lord Mace were both incredibly happy by this news and that his grandmother and Elia both seemed to be just as pleased. Margaery looked nervously to him and Jae didn't understand why that was for a few moments. So wrapped up was he in how he was feeling that he didn't see that she perhaps thought he was having second thoughts, or may not now wish the match.
Nothing could be further from the truth, it was not just the match he had waited for years to be confirmed, it was the only match he had ever wanted. He'd understood with Egg marrying Daenerys that this created issues, two royal matches being denied to the realm undoubtedly would. That it left him, Rhae, and Viserys as the ones most would seek out only was only made truer because of it. He as second in line for the throne also made him a more valuable match than even his sister or uncle. So despite his feelings, despite the fact that he felt politically it was the best match available to him and his family, he'd waited and hoped that his father wouldn't decide that he needed to marry another. Jae wanting to be loyal but not sure if he'd been asked that he could have been able to take anyone other than Margaery for his wife.
"Jaehaerys?" his father said his voice a little concerned and Jae turned to see that Margaery looked to be on the verge of tears.
"Forgive me, father, I..my happiness knows no bounds, I've wished for this for so long that I.." he stumbled over his words and moved to Margaery seeing the tears that now fell were tears of joy and not those of worry or sadness that had been threatening to fall just moments before.
He took a knee and reached out and took her hands in his own, the rest of the people in the room fading away as he looked into her eyes.
"I love you Margaery more than anything in this world. I love you, I always have and I'm so very happy that you're to be my wife." he said smiling up at her as he knelt in front of her.
"And I, you, Jae." she said shakily "I love you, always." she added a little later when she composed herself.
After they had spoken for a few moments, Margaery was asked to join with him and his family as they walked to the Throne Room for the night's feast. Ostensibly the feast was in celebration of his nameday and partly his victory in the joust but now it had taken on a completely different meaning. His betrothal was to be announced and he was to be officially named as the Prince of Summerhall.
He quickly told Rhae, Egg, and Dany and then went to speak to Viserys, his own betrothal had somewhat paved the way for his after all. Thanking his uncle, he moved back and took Margaery's arm in his own as they were introduced and walked into the Throne Room together. Jae knew it was perfectly clear now to everyone that the betrothal was coming, just as for years his feelings for her had been well known to all. He looked out to see if any seemed surprised, annoyed, or upset by her placement at the High Table and was relieved to find there didn't seem to be anyone that was.
They ate and he sent dishes to tables and nods to those who received them. Once done he got gifts from his family, from friends, and from Margaery herself though he barely saw any of them and none could match the gift his father had given him earlier that night. When his father stood up and made the dual announcement, Jae was happy to hear those present clap and cheer and happier still a few moments later when the dancing began. He reached out to take her hand and led her out onto the floor. Finding himself keen both to hold her in his arms and to speak to her without anyone else listening in. Jae needing to find out how she was truly feeling about everything that had occurred.
"You are happy with this, with us?" he asked as they began to move, a slight note of worry in his voice.
"More than happy." she said to his relief.
"I, when father told us, I got so lost in the thoughts of what it would mean, that what I wished for more than anything in this world was to come true, that, that's why I hesitated, Marge." he said looking into her eyes.
"I know, for a moment I thought…" she said her voice trailing off "But I know how you feel about me, Jae, I feel it too for you. I love you, I have from the first moment I saw you." she said smiling at him.
"Really? That gangly boy who could barely speak to you?" he said with a chuckle.
"That boy who looked at me like no one ever has, who took the time to get to know me and share my interests. Who each day I've only fallen more and more in love with." she said.
He leaned in and kissed her, damn protocol, or what anyone may think, Jae, feeling her lips on his as he began to imagine the future they'd have together. The nudge in his ribs came from behind him and he turned to see Rhae and Egg dancing close to them, his sister having been the one to stop the kiss.
"Lord Mace and Lady Olenna are watching you brother and neither looks best pleased." Rhae whispered and Jae glanced at their table seeing that she was right.
"We're to be wed, Rhae, let them look." he said receiving a smile from Margaery in return.
They were big words he spoke and he knew that despite them he'd not kiss her again so publicly. He'd found favor with the Tyrell's because he'd acted honorably regardless of how he felt and he'd not act dishonorably now. So after a couple of more dances with Margaery and one each with Rhae and Dany, Jae walked from the room to get some fresh air only to see her once again. The woman walked ahead of him with the white wolf by her side and then she turned and looked at him before smiling and beckoning him forward.
"Jae, Jae." he thought he heard a voice call out from behind him as he moved to follow and when he looked back he saw Margaery standing with Rhae. Both of them were beckoning him towards them while ahead of him the woman was doing likewise.
Jae saw her face clearly then, her dark grey eyes and dark brown hair, there was a certain wildness about them that he felt to be familiar. He turned back to see Margaery was holding out her hand, her fingers moving as she bid him her way and then he turned to see the white wolf had turned its head also. Its deep red eyes were looking so intently at him that Jae felt it was looking deep into his very soul and so he began to move towards him and the woman and further away from those behind him.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Margaery.
Each day he didn't wake increased her worry and were it not for the fact that her family, Jae's family, and Ghost were there with her then she'd have probably lost her mind by now. She woke up each morning and immediately checked to see if there had been any change only to find herself disappointed each time. Margaery had felt something different when Ned Stark came to speak to him, listening in as he told tales of Jae's mother and though there was no movement or obvious change, she'd felt something had happened.
It had given her hope that he'd wake that first night, so much so that after kissing him goodnight and telling him that she loved him, she laid his clothes out for him to wear the next morning. Only to once again wake and find there was no change and Jae was still not waking. Her mother and grandmother would come and sit with her from time to time, both of them doing their best to comfort her and her grandmother would even sit by the bed and speak to Jae. Margaery listening as she would tell him what was going on in the realm.
Loras too would spend almost as much time with her and Jae as he did on duty. As soon as he was done he would come into the room and take a seat to speak to them both while Margaery lay in the bed holding her husband's hand. Her brother had a knack for being able to hold a conversation with Jae as if he was getting answers or responses to the things he said. So much so that at times Margaery looked and almost expected Jae to be sitting up and awake.
When she did leave the room, which was as little as possible it was to inform others of Jae's progress or lack of it. Margaery taking time to speak to Sansa and Arya, to Genna and Ashara, and to Oberyn, Ellaria, and his daughters. Other than Jaime it was perhaps Oberyn who offered her the most support both emotionally and practically. The two of them had taken to ensure the realm was not forgotten or the people neglected and Oberyn's own conversations with Jae actually brought her amusement or as much as she'd allow them to bring her.
"Many years ago nephew, when I was no older than you are now and my mother still lived, Elia and I took a trip to Hellholt. It was the first time I ever saw Ellaria and looking back upon it now, I find myself thinking what a fool I was. I'd not yet truly, how shall I put it, spread my seed." Oberyn said.
Margaery sat with a small grin on her face, whether it was the northerner in Jae or that he'd grown up surrounded by strong women, her husband always blushed when someone else spoke of sex. He was no prude, far from it and when they were alone his tongue could be wicked, both in its words and its deeds. But someone speaking of sex in front of him, especially in her presence and her husband would turn a shade of red that she found most becoming.
"Ellaria was as beautiful then as she is now, you know what I mean nephew, you've found your own beauty and once you have then none other will ever compare." Oberyn said looking over at her, causing her to blush a little "But I was a foolish boy, nephew, a foolish boy who thought he knew better and so while her beauty attracted me, I did nothing and it was many years later when we finally were joined together."
She looked on as Oberyn seemed to almost drift off for a moment, his eyes looking off somewhere n the distance and she wondered if he was remembering Ellaria then or the day he spoke of, only to find out it was only partly both.
"Elia though, Jae, your aunt, she knew it from the moment she looked at me. She knew it, she called me out on it, called me a fool to my face and I proved her right by not listening to her."
Margaery heard the chuckle that came from Oberyn and felt him move closer to the bed, his hand touching Jae's face so softly that she thought her husband would feel as if a soft breeze was blowing.
"I have lost too much of my family, nephew. I will lose no more. My niece and your uncle are to wed and both Arianne and Tyrion will wish you there, I wish you there. My daughters wish to grow up and become the desert roses that their cousin named them and for him to see them become so. And Ellaria and I, Jae, thanks to you we can wed, we can do something that was I more of a man I'd have done so many years ago, thanks to you I can finally call her my wife and no longer my paramour. I need you there, Ellaria needs you there, do not disappoint me, or your aunt, come back to us, come back to your wife, Jaehaerys Targaryen."
She had gone to speak to Ellaria to find it true, the woman both overjoyed and worried at the same time. Oberyn had apparently asked her not long after her one and only visit to see Jae, Ellaria not having reacted well to seeing him lying in the bed so. Why that was Margaery was unsure but it had convinced her that she was right not to allow the children to see him in such a state. It was hard enough seeing the looks of worry and concern in the eyes of those old enough to understand, she didn't think she could bear to see something similar in Sansa or Arya's eyes and she knew that she could not in Joy's.
Other than the children it was the dragons whose reaction worried her most, Rhaenix most of all, and were it not for Ghost than she'd have worried what Jae's sister would have done by now. The other four dragons, even Lygaron thanks to Tyrion, seemed to have calmed, Rhaenix without Jae had very much not. Her wings could be heard as she flew over the Red Keep each day, Margaery knowing that people looked to the sky and watched the white dragon as she circled Maegor's Holdfast.
At night the noises she made would resonate through the walls of the Red Keep itself, sounds of anger, of pain, and of sadness. Ghost would get up from the bed and Margaery would let him out, Jaime told her that the white wolf would head to the Dragonpit and Rhaenix would follow and meet him there. When morning arrived she'd find Ghost was back at her door and Rhaenix to be flying over the Red Keep once more. The routine never changing until tonight when instead of heading for the door, Ghost moved to the balcony and looked at her before grabbing onto her sleeve to drag her towards it.
"Ghost no." she said shaking her hand away from her and dislodging his grip on her only for the wolf to grab her once more, the look in his red eyes one she felt was almost begging her to follow.
Reluctantly she did so, walking with the wolf to the balcony and looking out on the early evening's fading light. She almost jumped back when Rhaenix flew so close to the balcony that the wind from her wings caused her to close her eyes. Margaery opening them when the dragon had passed only for Rhaenix to fly back a few moments later and do the same. This time she was more prepared though and she kept her eyes open, soon finding them looking into the deep purple of Rhaenix's own as she passed by.
On and on this went and for how long she knew not. At one point she reached out and with a little bit of stretching touched the dragon's scales. All the while Rhaenix would look at her and Ghost at them both, all three of them somehow sharing their concerns with each other. As the light faded away, Ghost turned and walked inside and Rhaenix flew by one last time before she headed off to what Margaery assumed was the Dragonpit. She stayed on the balcony for just a few moments longer, feeling a sense of sadness come over her as she thought about the white dragon. She could at least touch Jae, Rhaenix hadn't seen or felt her brother in almost two weeks and Margaery wondered if there was something that could be done to rectify that.
The voice startled her and she ran into the room and readied to call for the guards, only to see who it was who was speaking before she did so. How she'd gotten in here was beyond her and it was something that would need to be addressed, Margaery knowing that there was no way the Kingsguard had left the door unguarded with she and Jae inside. Just as she was about to make her presence felt though she heard the words that Joy spoke and it caused her to stop and listen, rather than make it clear that she was there.
"Apples misses you, Jon, Winter too, we were supposed to have our ride, remember."
"Ballon too, he led me to you, they wouldn't let me see you, but I knew you'd want me to come."
"They left you alone, I'd never leave you alone. They wouldn't let me see you Jon and when I did come I find you're alone."
"You want me to tell you a story?"
"Once upon a time in a castle far far away there lived a little girl named Joy, she was all alone until one day…."
Margaery listened as Joy told a story that she was certain was a different version of the one Jae had told the girl many times. A tale of a beautiful young girl who could ride like the wind and of the boy who was her brother. She felt the tears falling down her cheeks, both from the thoughts of how much it was apparent that Joy had truly needed to see Jae and that she'd kept her away from him. Wiping her eyes she moved into the room and lay down on the bed beside them both, Joy realizing that Jae hadn't been alone and giving her a small smile as she continued to tell her story.
Beyond the Wall 298 AC.
Bloodraven.
A mind was a wondrous thing and the boy's mind only proved this more than any. Brynden feeling the power that resonated within him and his own power almost feeling inconsequential next to it. That he'd only begun to tap into it both scared and excited him as he began to wonder just what he could do with this power when he added it to his knowledge. For now, though he couldn't access it and could only witness it instead.
He watched as the boy warged first without knowing what he was doing, then as he learned, and then when he unleashed the full extent of that power both unwillingly and then willingly. Brynden saw the dragons being born and a use of magic that he'd never been able to master. He'd seen it before of course, saw dragons born and had seen them die but never had he seen it so and never had he felt the magic required to make it so. When he saw how easily the boy lit the Glass Candles, how he in far less time than Brynden had mastered the present and the past with them, he felt relieved that he'd not yet mastered the future.
As he felt him warg into people, first the giant boy who was supposed to hold the door so he could escape, then the giant monster and then the two Dornishmen, each time using different forces as again he did so willingly and unwillingly he was amazed. Controlled and uncontrolled, the power of each staggered his mind though it was nothing compared to the controlled power the boy used on the woman. Even he had not yet mastered being able to manipulate dreams so. Brynden was almost using a blunt tourney sword while the boy used Dark Sister, his cuts running far deeper than Brynden's ever had.
For all, he could see though there were things that the boy blocked from him, hidden things which only made Brynden keener to get to them. The boy's dreams were of nameless faceless shadows much to Brynden's annoyance, no matter how hard he tried he was unable to see them. He did see the book, the one he'd always known where it was but the one he had never been able to get close to. Brynden saw it, saw the room at Dragonstone easily open to the boy where it would not to him, and as he tempered his jealousy over that. He found that his annoyance at not being able to see what was written within it only rose ever higher.
He felt it then, a tapping on the wall, a brick coming loose and then another and so he left this part of the boy's mind alone and moved quickly to the prison instead. It was odd, this sense of panic, this worry which threatened to overtake him. Four times in his life he'd felt it, the first time was in Redgrass Field when his brother had almost taken his life. Brynden had felt it again when he'd lost his love and finally realized that this time it was for true and then again but a few years ago when a white dragon had chased him from Winterfell and had forced him back beyond the wall.
It was an even more urgent feeling now and as he moved he soon found that the wall was crumbling, the prison he'd so painstakingly built was beginning to fall. He ran and knew he was going to be too late and then he began to hear the words before he got there.
"He who controls the past controls the future, he who controls the present controls the past, and you control neither. I'm coming for you uncle, I'm coming for you and I bring you only fire and blood." Jaehaerys said and Brynden turned to run away.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed I'm finally getting free time and so Chapter 132/133 Reviews will be here and the next chapters should let me catch up fully, thanks for your patience. I've also noticed the site issues played a role here in messing things up and not allowing people to see the updates. I post this story on AO3 under the same name and upload normally an hour or so between there and here, so for any issues again you can find it there also.
Up Next Jae leaves a prison behind and readies to tackle a problem head-on, Bloodraven makes a different move. The Starks deal with their worries over both Jae and their mother and the Targs discuss what Bloodraven did to the King and what it means while Braavos receives some visitors.
Chapter 132 Reviews.
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VDWade: I have plans for LF and so it's a temp situation. Glad you liked the Dunk part and don't worry LF will be getting his.
Daryldixon: She will.
Zenjack: So glad you liked it.
Jman: I needed LF away and it's so LF to in the end think of himself first.
Remi: It won't be a long escape and it's kinda to reinforce the point that he cares not about anyone other than himself.
Supremus: They do go very smoothly yes, there are a few reasons for that, one key one being that he holds all the cards. Theon could very well ask for it, he'd still lose and there's a chance it wouldn't be as quick.
Anarchichmind: I thought about it with Oberyn but it seemed to almost look that way so went the other way. The eagle will be watching him and he's not forgotten about, I think it emphasizes that he cares only about himself and no matter how well thought out a plan is, things don't always go right. Not yet no, we'll see it starting soon under Dany.
Creativo: Hay muchos más problemas por venir, pero Cat no será uno de ellos.
Naruto: So glad you liked it and things are calming thank god.
Lady Octarina: It's just a funny image for Val, One of my fave little titbits with Thoros is that he loses the tourney melee on Joffrey's nameday to Yohn Royce when the flames on his sword goes out, so now he has one that does not. Oberyn is just so much fun and the frustration from Jae is a little bit of what Robert went through. Don't worry LF is not forgotten.
Biohazard: So glad you liked it.
Guest: Glad you thought that about the lemon, didn't want it to be overbearing. I like Jon/Val and you're right they don't usually have her go South, it'll be interesting to see her here as for the Cat situation we'll see it brought to an end soon.
Foxyfloof: One down one to go.
Scarilla: Glad you liked that with Duncan we'll see them all speak together in an upcoming pov, LF really was, that was part of his plan, to hide and use Cat.
VFSnake: He will, he's only running for longer not actually got away. Glad you liked that with Aemon and Dunk.
Anja: So glad you liked it.
Bigwilly: Hmm slaps belly lol.
Dunk: LF is more that he's delayed the inevitable more so than he's going to be able to do anything, he's knda powerless in a way. Thanks so much for saying that, when I started writing the fight scenes I wasn't sure what I was doing and it's taken some time to feel my way into them. It will mean something yes, how important will depend on what people think but it will mean something. Having Val come south will be a bit of fun and allows for her to interact with people we rarely see her with. Events may delay Joy/Arya hanging out but they will as for Robb/Ned and Theon you're very right.
The Spynx: Thanks so much again, I love being entertained by the poems, so fun.
Jessicanightmarewolf: I don't mind the wait until it's right, when they're married but I agree they can't be blushing maidens once then. Exactly that's spot on with Aemon and Dunks's descendants and we'll see them interact a bit in a few chapters time. LF is only delaying not escaping his fate.
Xan Merrick: It won't be for a bit longer but it's coming, thanks, my friend.
Svenion: They did try and kill LF, they just didn't manage it, first object was capture second kill if you can't. Not all things work out and it's more important to show him for what he truly is than having him caught right away, also it could be part of a larger plan.
Sparrtan1007: It really is, stay safe, and sane is pretty much the best advice right now. Cat we'll see her fate in a few chapters as for Val her being south should be fun, glad you liked the Sandor/Belwas bit.
Silverglow: Thanks for your well wishes, my friend. It's funny some times people don't take advantage of the changes in the story to follow a logic, so here no mass ranging, no finding of the dragonglass. I had to give Jae/Marge some time alone together. Brienne has come a long way here. Obara yes that was a nod to Oberyn, she tries to imitate him and while he's learned she has not. I think with Walder as with any fighter halfway decent, you learn from your mistakes, and better you make them out on the sparring/tourney field than in a battle. Glad you liked the dunk parts. We'll see on the KG, events can change things. Lf is slippery and willing to leave anyone behind to get away. It is only temporary though.
Zanderh: Thanks so very very much for your kind words, it means a lot that you're enjoying this.
HKt29: Glad you liked it. Cat will meet someone, not sure if it'll be Elle but at least one woman in Kl will wish to see her.
Denoltdn: I'm not a Theon fan, I'll hold my hands up and admit that, changing because you've no choice is not a redemption in my book. He did right by Jeyne but up to that point they did very wrong and one right doesn't make up for them. LF won't be free for long.
Chapter 133 reviews.
Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.
Supremus: At Cat's behest, they may have planned the attempts it wasn't their idea, LF didn't' randomly decide nor did Edmure and neither would have done so if Cat wasn't pushing them to.
The Sphynx: And the Sphynx knocks it out of the park once more.
Biohazard: So glad you liked it.
Jman: Exactly, he can be devious and she's not getting away if anything he's hurting her far more.
Scarila: They've been building up to being together for so long that it's clear they'll be happy so you're spot on again. She totally would, if it was left to her then she'd see it done. I always think a character should be shown in their last moments if possible, we get told that life flashes in front of you and so it can seem, I don't know a waste not to see that when big characters die.
VFSnake: LF won't last long in Braavos you're so right.
Xand007: Thank you, my friend, damn if only I could have done that, perhaps I'll have to settle for the "We got him, we got us the Littlefinger " instead lol You stay safe and well my friend.
Anarchichmind: yep he gets to dance with Marge but never to show off in a tourney, ah well luckily there is a rather large war for him to think about lol.
Lady Octarina: So glad you liked that with Jae/Arya and the squire's duel it felt a little that way to me writing it too almost coming full circle a little. I can understand that I think we should feel sympathy for those he left behind but not for him. Oh that actually sounds fun, in a way one of my future fics may go a little that way, it's a Jae/Marge vs. Robb/Dany and both sides will be a bit darker so we'll see if that works for you. I had to have him speak to her about it as you say, they have that type of relationship and I felt he'd wish her to know.
Guest: It's not TER it is Jae and you're right it would ruin his relationships with people should they find out, there is a reasoning for why I have him doing it other than the revenge aspect though.
Creativo: Cada rosa tiene sus espinas..
Aussiekay: Thanks so much and I was the one who decided to do it this way so it's on me. It doesn't actually mess up my time as much normally, just we've been in lockdown and things went crazy at work for the start of it and have now calmed, so I'm catching up again lol, thanks though.
Anja: So glad you liked it.
Spartan1007: thanks for saying that I thought it fit and you're right it's nice for her to say her goodbyes.
AjGranger: if anyone knows the benefits of it then Jae really does. This is one of the bit things and what I was trying to hint at from early on, if you think of magic needing fuel, then Jae's blood is like Rocket fuel while others are using simply petrol.
Keb: Thanks so much for saying that, I've enjoyed reading your comments and I'm so very glad you're enjoying this.
Xand007: Thank you my friend, we'll see with LF I have more plans than taking his money. With Cat that's kind the plan but we'll see. Yep just them to come and we're in lockdown too, for the same damn reason, it's blood frustrating.
Denoltdn: Thanks so much, really glad you liked it.
Whitedragonwolf: Glad you liked it. To me it sounds more like that Ja sound than the Jay sound, so Ja Haerys more than Jay haerys if that makes rings true.
Silverglow: That's the plan yep. So glad you liked that having the two of them together is kinda hard given the changes to their growing up so it's nice to show some time between them. We will, events will begin to quicken as we deal with the other threats once more. Thanks for that with Gerion I missed that, the other thing is supposed to read as the Her shouldn't be there.
With LF there's a little more going on than at first seems regarding Jae and him, we'll see it soon enough, it won't be dragged out. Jae sending the dreams is to show another sided to both his powers and his deviousness.
Xan Merrick: Thank you, my friend.
Irishlove: Arya knows about Cat, yes, they all do, some know more than others. I do agree it's a dangerous thing he's doing, but I also think that when it comes to family we can be blinded. The best way I can describe it is like Michael and Fredo in the Godfather, Michael knew Fredo had to die but to kill him would hurt his mother, his sister etc and so he made it look like he forgave and then killed him when his mother died. Jae is in that kinda situation, Cat has to die, if she was anyone else she would, but it will hurt those he cares about and so what does he do? Can you be a king before you're a man? That's the question and I'm sorry for me it's too much to expect a 15/16-year-old boy to be that detached.
Mrspotter: So very glad you liked it.
The dark wolf: I still need the things up though, the site isn't telling me that the issue is fixed or that there was even one, so better I put them up and have them ready to go then sit here twiddling my thumbs waiting for the site to tell me that a problem is fixed when they won't. I post this story here and on AO3 within an hour or so of each other, so it's there too.
Bk Shadow; So very glad you liked it, at some point, I will be going back and redoing the early chapters, when I started this I had no idea what I was doing and this is the first story I ever tried to write. Some of the good people here and on another side gave me some pointers and over time I think I've improved from where I was. So yep at some point, I will be redoing them. LF won't be free for long either.
The philosopher: So very glad you liked it.
Starkiller: Thanks so much really glad you liked it.
