King's Landing 298 AC.
Barristan.
The relief he felt at seeing the king awake was soon tempered when as he tried to rise to his feet, Jaehaerys instead crumbling to the ground. Both he and Arthur hurried over to him and when they got there they found the king to be actually laughing.
"It seems my legs are being most uncooperative, Sers." Jaehaerys said with a large smile on his face, one that Barristan was happy to see the queen seemed to be matching.
"Lean on me, your grace." Arthur said as he knelt down and took one of the king's arms before wrapping it around his neck, Barristan quickly doing the same with the other.
They helped him back to the carriage and placed him inside, the queen nodding to them both as she climbed in beside him. Giving the orders to the guards that were with them and looking to see that Arthur was just as relieved as he was, they quickly mounted up and set off back to the Red Keep. As they rode Barristan kept his eyes firmly on the carriage beside them but he was soon moving event closer to it. The Knight thinking something was wrong when the shutters were opened and both the king and queen's heads stuck out from inside
"Your grace, are you well?" he asked worriedly.
"Very much so, Ser Barristan, my wife informed me that it's been a number of weeks since the people saw either of us, I'd seek to rectify that immediately." the king said.
He found himself chuckling at that and then feeling some pride when he heard the cheering of people when they saw both the king and queen. Jaehaerys and Margaery simply waving and smiling at them all as the carriage passed by. Barristan knew though how much it would mean to a lot to them to see them both. The smallfolk too had begun to worry about their king's health and though steps had been taken to reassure them, no step they had taken would work as well as this one.
By the time they reached the Red Keep the word had spread, the crowds had grown larger as they moved through the city, and the cheers louder still, which had alerted those in the keep to what had occurred. Barristan saw the large party that awaited their arrival, the Lannisters, Starks, the Martells, and the Tyrell's all among many others that were represented. Moving to the carriage he leaned inside to see the king was shaking his arms vigorously while trying to rise to his feet and then he watched as he fell back to the seat. So he nodded to Arthur and they helped him out from the carriage, both of them supporting his weight as they walked him into the keep.
"I'll speak to you all presently, inside." the king said and Barristan could see that he would need to do so almost immediately such were the eager looks on each of the faces.
He also noticed that even the servants stopped to look and give both the king and queen warm smiles as he and Arthur helped him to his chambers. Once inside it was to the large seat behind the desk they moved the king at his behest rather than his bed or the more comfortable couches that were also in the room. It was something the queen wasn't best pleased about but the king was insistent upon and Barristan found himself smirking at the stand-off that was now going on between them.
"I need to speak to them, just to let them know I feel well and am unharmed, Margaery" Jaehaerys said.
"You need to rest and to be looked over by the Grandmaester and your uncle, Jae." Margaery replied.
"I've rested for weeks have I not? I have to this my love, just to let them know I'm well, it'll be brief and you can call for Gormon and Aemon before then if you wish." Jaehaerys said with a soft smile on his face.
"I only want to be sure you truly are unhurt, Jae." Margaery said softly and Barristan turned away to give them privacy as the king and queen began to kiss each other softly.
It took some time for both Prince Aemon and the Grandmaester to be brought to the room, both men quickly examining the king and finding there to be no lasting damage or further injury. Barristan listened intently as both the Prince and the Grandmaester explained that the reason the king couldn't rise or use his feet was nothing more than because he'd been abed for the last few weeks and that over the next few days he'd gain his strength back.
"Good, perhaps then I can put my own boots on and do so correctly." the king said rolling his eyes as he looked to the queen who Barristan was glad to see was grinning back at him.
He could see there was still some worry in the queen's features, still some concerns even after the Grandmaester and the prince had done their utmost to reassure her and the king that all was well. Barristan could tell that she wished to just spend the rest of the day alone with her husband but that circumstances didn't allow it.
"Send for the others, Sers, I care not what order, but perhaps it's best to keep the young ones together." the king said.
"And Joy last of all." Margaery said which had the king frowning until she nodded at him.
"And Joy last of all." Jaehaerys said and Barristan set about doing as he was bid.
The reunions were far briefer than either the king or those coming to see him wished for. Jaehaerys spending far more time with the children than with the adults and Barristan wondering if the queen had told him that they'd not been allowed to see him when he was ill. Perhaps though it was simply they wished for more contact, as his words didn't seem to be enough for some of them. His sisters both needing to be held and his young squire needing to have his hair mussed before any of them seemed to relax truly.
As for the adults, it was clear to any just how relieved and happy they were to see the king up and about, or as up and about as he could be for the next few days. Barristan watched as his uncles, his aunts, Lady Olenna and Ser Loras and the older Lannister's all made their feelings clear. Jaehaerys asking for a moment alone with Lord Jaime before giving word for the young Lannister girl, Joy to be brought in. The smile on the king's face when he saw the young girl run to him was beaming.
"I believe I have you to thank, Joy." Jaehaerys said as the girl sat on his lap before he could even bid her to.
"Me and Ballon, Jon, Margy too." Joy said looking to the queen.
"Aye, Margy too." the king said smiling at his wife.
"And don't forget Ghost and Rhaenix." the queen said.
"No, we must never forget them, mustn't we not, Joy?" the king said looking to the girl and nodding.
"No, we must not." Joy said determinedly.
Despite not being his blood as Daenerys, Sansa or Arya were or considered such by bonds of family as Prince Oberyn's daughters were. It was clear to any with eyes to see that there was no one who was more of a sister to his king than the girl he was presently speaking and laughing with. The girl had even managed to sneak into his chambers by herself, though she did have help from the black cat, he'd later found out. Barristan had wondered if it was that, the fact that his true sister's cat had taken sow well to the girl that made them so close, but Ser Jors had told him that it had ever been so.
"Back in the Rock, barely a day would go by and you'd not see them together, Lord Commander, inseparable the king and her." Ser Jors had said happily.
Arthur had suggested that it was the loss of family that drove Jaehaerys so, the idea of what had happened to Elia, Rhaenys, and Aegon that had made him welcome so many to replace them in his heart. Barristan though didn't truly agree with his brother on that, true it played its part but it wasn't the reason as far as he was concerned. Instead, he believed his king was good, true, that he was possessed of a heart that needed to be full, and so over time, he'd accepted people into it to make it so.
"You can take the night good Sers, I'll not leave my bed until the morrow." the king said as they helped him to it.
"Food, Jae?" Margaery asked.
"Well we'd best try not and make a mess, my love." the king said making it clear he was staying true to his word.
"We'll be outside, your grace." Arthur said before he could.
"Take the night, have some of Ser Bonifer's men take over door duty. Ghost is on his way and will be inside the room, rest up, we've work to do on the morrow and you may end up carrying me around for a few days." the king said both japing and seeming frustrated at the thought of it.
"By your leave, your grace." he said with a bow to both the king and queen, receiving a nod from them both as he and Arthur turned to leave.
Later that night he was sitting in White Sword Tower, he, Arthur, Jors, and Walder. Ser Loras and Ser Richard were on duty with other members of the royal family and so it was just the four of them in the tower. They had eaten their meals and were now sitting at the table just relaxing after the day. It was rare that any of them would drink, even off duty both he and Arthur didn't truly partake nor did Walder and Jors did so only occasionally. Tonight though he sat there and opened the bottle before filling out the four glasses with the finest Arbor that he'd been able to find.
He'd worried terribly, the thoughts of only just beginning his service with his king only to see it come to a premature end, were ones that he'd tried his damnedest not to entertain but ones that came all the same. Three years he'd gotten to serve a good king before he'd passed and then it had been followed with almost four decades of serving bad ones. So the fear that he'd spend even less time serving the namesake of the only other good king he'd served was a true and real one. Not even the calming words of Ser Walder had truly made his worries go away. His brother had told them all of the events in the Riverlands and of just how strong magically their king actually was. It had been comforting but not fully, only seeing the king's eyes open and hearing his voice had been able to do that.
"To the king." he said raising his glass.
"To the king." his brothers replied each of them feeling just as he was, relieved and eager for the days yet to come.
The Lion's Tail 298 AC.
Benjen Stark.
One thing became very clear not long after the two red priestesses arrived at the Wall and that was that one of them was anything but. Kinvara was most definitely what she said she was, her mannerisms and the way that both of the guards deferred to her made that most clear. Val, however, was not and it didn't take him too long to figure out that she was in fact a wilding. It made him wonder just why a wilding was coming with them to see his nephew and just exactly what type of mission Jae had sent the red priestess on in the first place.
He had found himself excited to be leaving though, to see his nephew once more and to spend time with his other nieces and nephew as well. Sansa, Arya, and Robb had been fostering for some time and it had been many years since he'd been lucky enough to see them all. How keen he was to see King's Landing or the Red Keep depended entirely on the thoughts which filled his head on which day. On some, he was lucky enough to just think about the family he had there now while on others his thoughts would go only to the family that he'd lost.
Saying goodbye to the Wall was not as hard as he'd envisioned it would be either, not for him and certainly not for Ser Alliser, Ser Jaremy and the other loyalists. Benjen was though happy enough that what it was gaining in experienced men far outweighed the loss of him and a few others. They'd also been lucky enough to be sent some men who would help out greatly. Some Dornish Lords and Knights who were most experienced and Lord Stannis Baratheon who he knew Jeor would make great use of. As he put the final of his belongings onto the cart and turned to call for Frost who seemed even keener than the red priestess to leave, he looked to see the Lord Commander walking his way.
"Well Stark, I can't say I'm happy to see you leave, though you along with your nephew will see us right, a voice Benjen, you have a voice at the table, use it so we're not forgotten." Jeor said as his annoying bird called out for corn.
"I will, Jeor, I'll see you again, one day." he said with a smile.
"Aye, one day, good fortune to you Benjen, I'm proud to have served with ya."
"Me too, Jeor." he said shaking the man's hand and then accepting the letters he gave him to deliver to his family, Frost finally coming to his side.
They mounted up and set off and began the long ride to Eastwach, Benjen finding that each mile he rode away from Castle Black made him feel less and less a black brother, even if he still wore the clothes. When he glanced at Kinvara and Val he could see one looked to be as comfortable as ever. Kinvara riding her horse as if she was simply strolling through a meadow on a fine summer's day, while Val looked as if she wished to be anywhere but here. It took him some time to realize it wasn't the horse that caused her such discomfort but the clothing. So as they camped that night and Frost went off to hunt, Benjen decided to rectify that at least.
"Here." he said walking over to both Kinvara and Val and carrying the bundle of clothing before dropping it in the blonde's lap.
"What's this?" Val asked almost angrily.
"It may serve you better than that dress you're so uncomfortable in." he said simply as he walked away and sat beside Ser Alliser on Ser Jaremy, both men laughing and japing as they told tales of Targaryen's that were long since dead.
The next morning when he looked and saw Val on the horse, Benjen felt his breath catch and his throat begin to dry. He took a quick swallow of his water to both fix the latter and give him the chance to hide the former. Val was a beautiful woman, even when compared to the woman that she rode with. Seeing her in the red dress he'd been like others awed by just how pretty she truly was, that compared to now though was like night and day. If before she had been beautiful then as she was right now she was otherworldly and he wasn't alone in noticing just how incredible she looked.
As they rode over the next few days, he and others found themselves glancing at Val more than once and by the time they finally reached Eastwatch, Benjen had reckoned he'd looked at her far more than the path they'd traveled. Frost had run ahead of them, the wolf off hunting in the distance, and only when the small village had come into view had he come back.
"Is that one of the King's Ships?" Ser Alliser asked awed by the sheer size of the ship that was docked and waiting for them.
"It is from the king's own design." Kinvara said and Benjen's head turned to her to see that she was speaking true.
If seeing it from the docks made it look impressive than boarding it and being shown to their rooms only made it even more so. Benjen soon finding his cabin to be on a pat with the rooms he was given when he would return to Winterfell. Ser Alliser and Ser Jaremy and the other loyalists also were suitably impressed but it was Val who was most so. Both in the quality of her room and in the way the ship glided through the waters as if the waves barely registered when they hit against its hull.
"I've never seen the likes of this." she said standing at the bow and looking out as they sailed south through the Bay of Seals and toward the Grey Cliffs.
"Not even in Essos?" he said softly.
"When the fuck was I in Essos?" she snapped before she caught herself.
"I knew you were a wilding." he said with a smirk as he looked at her.
"Free Folk crow, we're called Free Folk." she said her anger at him dampened slightly by her annoyance at herself for being caught out.
"Why are you traveling to speak to my nephew, Val?" he asked and whether it was his concern for Jae that came across in his voice or expression, her features softened and Benjen was almost lost in her eyes that for now looked bluer than the grey they sometimes appeared.
"For help." she said softly.
"Against the Watch?" he asked.
"Against the dead." she said catching him by surprise before she walked away.
Benjen looked at her as she did so, her breeches were a pair of his own that had grown too small for him as was her shirt, tunic, and cloak and yet she wore them far better than he or anyone else could ever have done. There was a grace in how she walked and it was impossible not to see and acknowledge it. Benjen finding himself drawn to that grace and having to quickly turn away when his thoughts went far beyond any that he'd had in years. Looking out on the water as it seemed to almost part before the ship, he began to think about what she said.
They'd hear tale of the wildings moving, talk of them banding together under yet another King beyond the Wall. He, Jeor, and others all dismissed it given the nature of the wildings themselves, as they knew the wildings could never truly agree with each other on anything. But if what Val was suggesting was true, even if it was only believed so by the wildings alone, then it would give them a reason to choose another king and to join their clans with his.
He turned to Frost and hurriedly walked from the bow, down the stairs, and up to the room before knocking hard on the door and waiting for the reply. Some of the other men stuck their heads out of their doors upon hearing the loudness of the knocks but Benjen waved them away and then finally, the door opened. His eyes were quickly drawn to the eyes of the woman in front of him as were hers to his.
"I've been wondering when you'd come to see me, Lord Stark." Kinvara said as she opened the door further so that he could walk inside.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He'd done his best to reassure everyone that he was well and that he would recover, some accepting it far more than others. His sisters being some of the ones who'd not simply accepted his words and Jae had needed to hug, to speak softly, and to even laugh and jape with them before they did so. With some of the others, he knew there were more questions to be faced but he found he was not ready to offer answers just yet. No, that wasn't quite the truth, he wasn't sure he had the answers to those questions himself, just yet.
Joy though, gods, just listening to her speak so excitedly and tell him of how she'd managed to sneak into his room and how Ballon had helped her do so. Jae soon enough finding himself close to tears he'd laughed so much, listening as she spoke so annoyedly about them not letting her come to see him and how much she knew that he needed her to. He'd done his utmost to reassure her that he was back and that he wouldn't leave in such a way again. Joy making him promise her before she'd accept it. That along with a promise to go riding and to spend time with her was her price for her agreeing to leave that night and it was one he gladly paid.
"I thought they'd never go." his wife said as she brought the tray toward him, the two plates of food looking hot and appetizing though he wasn't sure if he was truly hungry.
He ate it all though, cleaned his plate thoroughly as he knew that his family and the others were not the only ones who needed to be reassured. Jae had seen her watch him as he spoke and when he was being helped to the bed. It was something she'd done even more keenly when he began to take food from the plate and so despite him being full less than a little way through, he'd finished it all and been rewarded with a full smile.
"Leave them until the morrow." he said when she made ready to leave the room, Margaery nodding and placing the tray on the table.
"Ghost may have been expecting leftovers." she said with a smirk as she moved to the bed.
"I'm sure he received great care and ate well when I was…" Jae stopping himself when he saw the beginnings of a worried frown appear on Margaery's face.
He held his hand out and she took it as she climbed into the bed, Jae putting his arm around her shoulder and Margaery leaning in close to him. After kissing her forehead he began to rub his arm on her back, feeling her lean in even closer to him. They lay there silently for a few moments, Margaery obviously had questions and Jae was trying to form the answers to whatever they could be in his mind. When he decided he was being stupid and that he should be the one to offer up answers before he was asked.
"I'm am well, Marge, I can't even begin to imagine how you felt but I am well. I needed this, as hard as that may be to hear, I needed this to happen and to happen here." he said.
"Why? I don't understand, tell me, Jae, please. I need to know, all of it, don't leave anything out." she said and he kissed her forehead once more before nodding at her.
He told her then about what he'd seen, what he'd experienced, and how some of it was real and some was not. Margaery adding in little things that had happened while he was asleep such as Joy coming to see him, her own conversations with him and finally bringing him to see Rhaenix. She told him about his uncle coming and spending time with him and speaking on his mother, how she'd sat and listened as Ned had told him stories from his childhood.
"I..that's why it had to be here. What he showed me, what I saw, it was as if he created a life for me inside my head, a dream that wasn't a dream and without it, without what you all did then I think I may have stayed there." he said and felt her stiffen against him.
"You'd have left me alone?" she said her voice sounding sadder than he could bear.
"Never." he said forcing her to look at him and seeing the dampness in her eyes as he kissed her hard and deep "Never." he said again even more firmly and saw her nod.
Jae then explained what the dream had been, of how his family had been alive and he'd grown up as a prince in the Red Keep alongside them. He noticed the small smile that appeared on her face when he spoke of crowning her his Queen of Love and Beauty and then of his joy when his father had announced they were to be man and wife.
"But it wasn't real, it wasn't the same was it?" she asked.
"No, I saw Ghost and my mother and I don't…something felt wrong and I didn't know now what it was, but now I do." he said.
"What?" she asked intrigued.
"He didn't have the others there, the people I care about, the rest of my family. He had Rhaenys and Egg, my father and Elia, he had Dany and Viserys and my grandmother. He had my family but not all of my family." he said and she nodded as she kissed his cheek.
"So you realized it wasn't true?"
"My mother and Ghost, I think that was my uncle's stories. After that it was...I saw Rhaenyra but it wasn't her, I mean it was but not only her."
"Rhaenyra from the Dance?"
"Aye. I saw her but she was a young girl, I think that was Joy." he said smiling as he told her then of the rest of what he saw.
She listened as he explained about Daenys and about the book, about the fact that he would need to deal with Bloodraven and that he wasn't the only one that he'd need to face. Jae hating that he was worrying her so but feeling that she needed to know the full truth. When it came to how he'd actually finally made it back, she looked on in shock as he told her that her bringing him to Rhaenix had been what had given him the strength to do so.
"Magic, Marge, it's all magic." he said with a smile.
They didn't lay together truly that night, Jae found himself tired and Margaery was far more content to just being held by him than to wish for anything more. He offered as much comfort as he could to her and spoke softly to her until she finally drifted off to sleep. A promise that he'd be awake on the morrow being asked for and given before she did so. When he did wake it was to her looking down at him, a smile on her face when she saw his eyes open.
He tried to rise and stand and found some feeling was coming back but there was no strength in his legs and he fell to the ground. Ser Arthur and Set Barristan both coming to his aide and Jae then being dressed by his wife and his Kingsguard, much to his embarrassment. Not so much with Margaery as he knew by then that she'd done this alone all the while he'd been lost in dreams, but having Ser Arthur and Ser Barristan present was not something he enjoyed. Once dressed they broke their fast and Jae called for Jaime and Oberyn to explain to him what was going on in the realm, the time long past when they needed to get back to work.
Finding out that Lady Catelyn had arrived and that Willas, Wyman, and Ser Richard had gone to Braavos amongst the many other things he'd missed left him with odd feelings. Excitement knowing that Littlefinger would soon be trapped along with his concern over how to handle Lady Catelyn and how it would be viewed by family and by others. He listened as Jaime told him of the few other events that had occurred, Harrold Hardyng's raven among them, and his jape that perhaps the realm didn't truly need him did not go down as well as he hoped. After that, he then met with the Grandmaester who told him to do as much as he could with his legs and that in a day or two he'd be up and about. Jae feeling frustrated that it would take a little longer for him to feel back to himself. Once Gorman had left Jae readied himself for the far more important thing he needed to do, the knowledge swirling around his head ever since he'd woke up.
"I need to speak to Aemon and the others, can you arrange for them to come to me, just the Targaryen's." he asked Ser Arthur and Margaery looked at him.
"Am I to be excluded?" she asked.
"No, my love, no, you'll need to be here for this also." he said as Arthur went to do what he requested.
Beyond the Wall 298 AC.
Leaf.
The sap had worked completely and hid her intentions and actions from the raven, Leaf knowing then she could do what needed to be done. Each time she would stand in his presence and see that he was only seeing what he wished it made her think about just ending him there and then. Just taking her knife and sticking it through his one good eye and if she believed that it would release her brother and sisters and protect her prince, then she would do it in the beat of a heart.
It wouldn't though and her brothers and sisters would turn on her and though her own life was a price she was willing to pay, theirs was not. So she instead came up with a different plan and one which would require her to stay close and to do some of the things the raven bid. Some but not all and should he ask her or any of her brothers and sisters to take a life then she would act against him without hesitation.
Acorn was first, then Twig, and then she moved onto the others, bringing them with her when she went to the tree and removed the sap. Always waiting until the raven was elsewhere before she did so. How she knew when he was looking at them and not at someone else was unknown to her but she found that she was always aware. The feeling of being watched was not one that she welcomed and yet one that she knew was very much needed, especially so that she could continue her work.
"What about the others." Twig asked her the day she'd turned him to their side.
"We must be careful, one and one only, even should it take us weeks or moons to bring them all." she replied.
"And once we're done?" Acorn asked.
"I don't know, for now, let's make sure we free every one of us." she said to a
The days turned to weeks and then moons, Twig turning others when she could not or Acorn doing so when Twig could not. Each of those she turned asked her questions that she had not the answer to and Leaf had begun to wonder if she ever would. As it came down to only two or three of them left to turn, the questions became too much to bear and so when she went to gather the sap, or when she made the paste for the raven to eat, Leaf put those questions to the gods.
It seemed as if she would receive no answers from them either and she began to despair, to worry that there was indeed no plan and if so then what was she to do? Was she to simply wait or to act? To stay to go? And if she was to leave then where would there be safety for her and the others?. Their prince would see them to safety, he would find them a home where they could live in peace but until he came, if he came, a voice at the back of her head which she tried to ignore said. Until he came they would find no peace in the world of men.
As much help as they may be able to offer to the Free Folk, what they were and who they were would soon see them turned upon just as they always had been. The word of men was not to be trusted and even the smallest, youngest of their people knew this to be true. Without their prince and now without the raven they were lost. Leaf wondered if perhaps it would have been better to have been left in blissful ignorance of the truth of the man they served. Still, she knelt at the tree when she could and she prayed often, hoping for an answer to come.
"You are our first, our chosen and we would never abandon you." the voice called out as she knelt today.
"You will not?" she asked hopefully.
"We've shown you the truth, why would we do so only to let your fall?"
"I do not know such things as the minds of gods." she said though her voice like the one that spoke to her went unheard to any other as to all who watched it seemed that she knelt silently in front of the tree.
"Mistakes were made, mistakes that even we could not foresee, but we've also foreseen the truth of things to come. We have sent out a Prince that was Promised and that promise is soon to be fulfilled."
"What do you wish from us?" she asked.
"Prepare for what's to come, gather your strength, and free your people, the Prince will do the rest."
"And the Raven?"
"Will soon face his own end."
"What is to come after?" she asked "When the Prince comes our way?"
"Freedom and a place to call your own." the voice called out.
Later that day as they sat around the cave and ignored the calls from the thing in the tree, Leaf looked to each and every one of her brothers and sisters. They were free of mind and of anyone's control, free to make their own choices just as it should be. As the fire burned she began to speak to them of the home they'd soon have, of the magic that existed there, and of how the gods had willed it so.
"To the holiest of all places we shall go, our prince to see us safely there." she said seeing the excitement rise on each and every face.
"The Island of the Gods." Acorn said.
"Where their eye sees all." Twig said.
"The Isle of Faces." Leaf said and she knew it was only a matter of time until their Prince's own eyes looked their way.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Ned Stark.
He knew that they'd be here now until the babe was born and so he'd given leave to his lords and sent them back North. The Great and Smalljon's having already left as had Lord Domeric Bolton, Ned finding to his surprise that the young lord was meeting his newly betrothed along the way. That she was a girl from the Vale and a Royce to boot only making him wonder whether Roose would have allowed him to wed and then raising questions over the Leech Lord's demise.
Questions that Elle soon put to rest and which allowed him to wish the young lord well in his future marriage. He'd sent ravens back to Winterfell to let them know what was going on and was now holding a dinner with Lady Genna and Lady Myrcella. Ostensibly it was to discuss her and Bran's betrothal and future seat but more so he could see how suitable the girl was for his son. The girl was soon showing just how nervous she was and Ned tried to do his very best to offer her any reassurance that he could. Once again finding Elle to be far better at it than he as she asked Mycella to join her, though it had then left him alone to deal with her far more imposing great aunt.
"My nephew will pay a dowry, of course, one which should cover the hiring of new guards and ensure the keep is more than adequately protected in the future." Genna said.
"I thank you, my lady, though it's not necessary, the wedding is at his grace's behest and so no dowry is required."
"No, perhaps not, but it will be provided all the same Lord Stark. Which brings me to Myrcella and young Brandon themselves. I had wished to meet him, Lord Stark, to judge your son just as you are doing with my great-niece." Genna said looking at him.
"I'm…"
"There's no need to be coy, Lord Stark, I'm well aware of why you asked us to join you, as I said I had wished to do so with young Brandon just the same. However recent events have made that unable to occur, so I've a request to ask of you, one I'm sure his grace would agree to." Genna said.
"And that is, my lady?" he asked curiously.
"That when you arrive back at Winterfell and young Brandon and Ser Brynden head here to swear their fealty, they do so by ship and with a stop off at Casterly Rock. It would kill two birds with one stone so to speak, Lord Stark. I could take the measure of the boy who's to marry Myrcella and they both could actually get to meet one another as well." Genna said.
He looked at the woman and began to ponder her request, despite the denials that was exactly what he wished to do at this night's dinner and so he felt he really couldn't deny her the chance to do likewise. Besides it would be good for Bran to have some sort of relationship with the family of the girl he was to marry and it could perhaps even smooth over some of the doubts that Myrcella and his son would no doubt have.
"I can find no fault in your suggestion, my lady. I'll see it's done." he said as Elle and Myrcella came back into the room, the girl seeming now to be in much better spirits.
By the time they actually left he found himself almost won over by the girl herself. She was smart and witty despite her young age and though the wedding itself would be many years away, he could clearly see the benefits it would bring. Some of his bannermen had taken issue, not just with both Bran and Sansa now due to marry in the South but with Bran being married to a baseborn girl. Ned telling them to take it up with the king and to speak to him about Myrcella's status if they dared. He knew full well that they would not and if anything it was truly only Rickard Karstark who was upset. The man had seen both Domeric and now Bran taken from his reach, tough a betrothal with Lord Halys Hornwood's heir Daryn was now being suggested.
"You look tired, my love." he said to Elle as he tried not to think about politics and inconsequential matters and instead looked at his wife.
"I am and my feet hurt." she said as she took off her shoes.
"Give me." he said sitting on the bed and rubbing first one and then the other and hearing his wife's contented sigh as she lay back on the bed.
He woke early the next morning and found that he was not looking forward to what he needed to do. The time was fast approaching and he knew he could put it off no longer, less so now that Jaehaerys was awake. Though he'd only spoken to his nephew briefly and knew it would take him a few days to turn his mind to Cat, turn his mind to her he surely would. So after eating as much as he could manage and rubbing Lya's head before letting her out to go and spend time with her pack while wishing that he could do likewise, he readied himself for what he must do. Ned slowly made his way down to the cells and was soon enough at the corridor she was housed in. He felt the sweat begin to pool on his hands when the jailer opened the door and taking a deep breath he walked inside.
"Ned, oh thank the seven, I knew you'd not abandon me so." Cat said and he looked at her and shook his head.
"Abandon you so? Do you think I'm here to help you, after all, you did? You truly think I'm here to come to your aid?" he said disbelievingly.
"I did it for our children, only for our children." she said looking to him.
"For our children?" he said his voice raised "You did this for you, Cat, not for them. You think they wished it from you? That they'd have been happy if you'd managed to take their brother from them?" he said his anger forcing his voice to sound almost guttural.
"He's not their brother." she said spitefully.
"He is their brother, in each and every way he is their brother. He may not have come from you or from me but don't you ever doubt that Jaehaerys is as true a brother to our girls or boys as they are to each other and to him." he shouted.
"So you'll do nothing to help me? You'll let him take my head or worse feed me to his dragon? Do I mean so little to you now that you have your new wife?" she said her voice bitter and her face snarling and Ned noticing just how old she had begun to look.
"I was not alone in marrying another, now was I Cat? Where is your own husband? Why has he not come to your aid? As for Jaehaerys, he'll show you far more mercy than I would were it my choice to make."
"Mercy, you expect me to plead for mercy from that…from that…." she never finished as he moved close to her and saw her shrink back fearfully.
"Speak those words aloud, do so, and let them hear you say them and see then what fate you get. Perhaps you'll find it's the one you deserve for trying to have a child killed? For hating someone who'd done no more to you than being born."
"And what of what you've done to me?" she asked angrily as he stood and looked at her.
"I've made my peace with it." he said moving to the door.
"Ned please, the children, speak to him, to the…king, ask him to allow my children to visit me, to not keep them away from me in his spite." she said and he looked at her and found that she was truly no longer a person he recognized.
"You think they're being stopped from coming to see you? Are you truly that far gone? They're free to see you if they wish, perhaps you should reflect upon that. They could come to see you, Cat, they just don't wish to." he said as he walked from the cell.
He hurried away from the cell block and made his way up the stairs, seeing that Lya hadn't gone to her pack but had waited for him and he was more than happy to see her there. Ned kneeling down and rubbing the wolf's head and feeling the calm come over him almost immediately.
"Lord Stark?" he heard a voice call out and looked to see it was one of the men of the new Royal Guard.
"Aye." he said.
"From his grace." the man said handing him a note which Ned quickly opened.
Uncle,
Uncle Benjen has arrived with some other visitors, as much as I wish I could go welcome him myself, I find I cannot. I would ask you to join with Prince Oberyn and travel to the docks to welcome him and them and if you could explain my absence I'd most appreciate it. I'll speak to Uncle Benjen and to yourself later but for now, I'd ask you to stand in my stead.
Jae.
"Prince Oberyn?" he asked the guard.
"Awaits, if you'd like to follow me, Lord Stark." the guard said and he did so eagerly, finding he was most keen to see his brother again and as he looked at Lya he could see that he wasn't the only one who sought a reunion.
Braavos 298 AC.
Ser Richard Lonmouth.
While he was worried about the king and were it for anything but what he came here for he'd not have left, Richard knew how important this was to Jae. He also knew that despite him having very little actual power, the mere fact he lived and was free created potential problems for them. There was no telling what one man especially if he was determined enough could do. He was proof of that as was had been the Spider and he'd not allow Littlefinger to ever rise high enough so that he'd ever be in a position like that.
Finding the man had been easy enough, not only was Littlefinger a man who enjoyed his comforts and had the coin to provide for them. But like a moth to a flame, he too was attracted by something that he couldn't resist, power. So all Richard had needed to do was keep an eye on the Sealord's palace and an eye on the Keyholders of the Iron Bank and it was with one of the latter that he found him with. Littlefinger looking almost ridiculously thin and small next to the large fat form of Bessaro Reyaan.
Following the man back to his manse which though large wasn't as big as some of the others, Richard smiled when he saw the king's eagle nesting in a nearby tree. The large Westerosi bird standing out as most strange amongst the birds of Essos. Jae had told him that the eagle would lead him to Littlefinger, that he'd be waiting for him and would show him the way but given what had happened to his king it had not been so. Instead, it seemed the bird had just stayed close by and waited rather than seek him out. As he looked at it he began to chuckle, would he have found him through the bird had things been different. Would he have just sought the eagle out, who could tell, as it was he had no need to do so. He turned to Rylen and Dallar, the two bards both looking intently at the manse and the guards.
"Well?" he asked.
"A tough nut to crack, Richard." Dallar said.
"Better to take him in the open." Rylen added.
"We risk bringing the Braavosi down on us if we do that." Richard said to them.
"Not if we do it right, The Gate." Rylen said and Richard looked at him and then the manse.
"What gate?"
"The mummer's playhouse, it's owned by a man named Izembaro, the self-styled King of the Mummers. Every Braavosi with coin ends up at one of their plays and on the night of a new one those with the most coin always show up. The Sealord and the fat banker will no doubt attend as I would expect will our slippery friend." Rylen said and Richard nodded.
Leaving one of the other bards to keep an eye on the manse and to make sure the mockingbird didn't fly off somewhere else, Richard walked with Rylen and Dallar to the Gate and began to make his plans. There seemed to be only one route to the Gate itself and after speaking with Rylen and Dallar they agreed on the best place to set their men for the ambush and now all he had to do was wait. Breaking his fast the next morning with Wyman he thought he'd found a potential flaw in his plans. The Lord of White Harbor telling him that the Blue Lantern and the Dome were actually were the great and good of Braavos preferred to watch their plays. Rylen though seemed to know far more about current events in Braavos than the large lord did.
"That's true, but a year ago someone tried to kill the Sealord as he sat in the Dome and the Blue Lantern has fallen out of favor ever since their leading lady mummer married a visiting magister from Lorath." Rylen said.
"I knew there was a reason I kept you with me other than your skills with a blade." he said with a small laugh as he patted Rylen on the back.
"What can I say, Ser, I like mummers." Rylen said as they walked to the small street they intended to use as their point of attack.
When the day came they were ready, Richard had set his men up at both ends of the street, the archers all bearing arrows that had been dipped in poison. It may not be needed but he would take no chances that he'd lose the mockingbird again. He'd arranged it with both Wyman and Willas to be ready to leave that day, nothing too hurried as he didn't want to leave even the slightest suspicion that it was they who'd done this. But once they had him there was no need to stay any longer than needed.
It felt like an age until the sun began to go down and the day turned to night, Richard standing on the rooftop and looking down the street at his men and at the entrance to it just as keenly. Rylen had set the archers up and Dallar would lead the men who'd handle anything on the ground. so there was no true need for him to be here and yet he wished to see it through personally. He knew how much Jae would appreciate this and how long he himself had been waiting to see the mockingbird pay, no, he had to be here.
"Ser." Braedon said handing him the pouch and pointing to the end of the street.
"And now it begins." Richard said taking a swallow of the cooled wine and placing his hand on his sword just as if he was down there with them.
For a man who had incurred the wrath of a king with dragons, Littlefinger seemed very assured of his safety. At his manse, he had perhaps forty or fifty paid swords in his employ but he walked into the street with less than six. Richard looked down to Rylen and saw the man and the other bards stand with their arrows ready to fire and then when Littlefinger passed the point of no return. and when he was a little more than halfway down the street, the signal was given.
Looking at the arrows fly through the night sky, Richard thanked the gods for a clear night with a full moon. It allowed him to see everything as clear as day and he watched as the guards all began to fall. As quiet as it was it also allowed him to hear the almost womanly sound that came from Littlefinger's lips, though he didn't hear the sound of the man's water as it dripped down his britches and onto the street below. Richard only finding out the man had soiled himself when Dallar and his men grabbed him and put the gag and sack over his head, and they then moved him to the ship.
He sent one of the men back to tell Wyman and Willas that he'd meet them on the ship itself later that day and the rest of them hurried through the city. The bright clear sky was now a hindrance rather than a help. They passed by more than one guard patrol though their presence wasn't detected and finally they reached the docks and the ship. Richard not truly feeling comfortable until he had the man stripped and searched thoroughly and then tied up in the room.
"No one but one of our men, you understand." he said to Dallar as he organized the guards.
"I understand Ser." Dallar said and Richard nodded knew the man would do as bid.
Wyman and Willas arrived just after noon and both men were just as eager to return to Westeros as he was. Wyman looking at him curiously as the ship readied to set off.
"Did you catch your slippery bird, Richard?" Wyman asked as the ship finally left the dock and was setting out to sea.
"Of course I did, I promised our king a present, and trust me Wyman, this is one he very much desires." he said before turning to go down and speak to the mockingbird and see what secrets he could learn and what offers the man would make should he release him.
The first would be most welcome, the second ignored, the man had nothing he could offer him to stop what was to come. Soon enough they'd be back in King's Landing and the mockingbird would face a judgment that was long overdo. Richard only hoped and prayed that his king had awakened by then to see it done personally.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Shiera.
She'd read as much as she could and had even done her very best to remember each and every moment she'd spent with Brynden. Shiera quickly finding that some rocks were best left untouched and not looked under. Aemon had helped out where he could, both with the reading and with the doubts and concerns she raised about her own part in things. Not that anything he'd said had made her feel less responsible for Jae's condition than she did.
It wasn't until news came of her nephew's recovery that she even began to move past blaming herself and yet she knew that it would be a long time until some of the others did likewise. The queen for one had blamed her and rightfully so, Margaery refusing to allow her anywhere near Jae's rooms let alone her nephew himself. Others had soon come around to that way of thinking and though none had spoken it aloud, they hadn't needed to. Shiera finding that unless she was on Rhaegal's back she couldn't truly get away from the pointed looks and glares that people threw her way.
To keep herself occupied when she couldn't get to fly on Rhaegal and was in no mood to be subjected to the scornful looks she received on her way to Aemon's room, Shiera worked on enchanting more of the gems. Finding one in particular which intrigued her and had taken most of her attention for the last few days. While not anywhere near as potent as her ruby and certainly not Aemon's. She'd found that the small ruby offered some possibilities and so she'd taken some blood from herself and from Rhaegal and had added it to it.
It was finally ready to be used and so removing her own ruby, she stood in front of the looking glass and placed this one around her neck,. She watched as small things began to change, her eye color, her hair, little things and she knew then it would work for what she wished it for and she hoped that Jae would allow her to gift it to the girl. It was as she was doing this that the knock came to the door. Shiera moving to find that it was one of the Kingsguard and not an ordinary guard or servant who'd come to speak to her.
"His grace wishes to speak to you." Ser Jors said and she nodded as she followed the man from the room.
They walked through the corridors and Shiera saw the looks directed at her once more, this time doing her utmost to ignore them. Soon enough they reached the King's Chambers and as she looked to Ser Richard and Ser Arthur she was shown through to the room. Inside she found that Dany, Tyrion, and Aemon awaited, and as they stood there she could see they knew as little about this meeting as she. Though Aemon did hold the Dreamer's Journal in his hand and so she imagined it was about that. After a few moments Ser Walder came out with Jae leaning against him, Margaery walking alongside the knight and glaring at her when she saw her.
"You'll have to forgive the spectacle." Jae said as Ser Walder helped him to a seat and Jae bid them all to take their own before sending the Kingsguard from the room.
"You feel well, nephew?" she asked receiving another glare from Margaery and a smile from Jae.
"I do aunt, uncle the book if I may." Jae said and Aemon handed it to him, Jae closing his eyes before opening it and then handing it to Margaery and then to Aemon, Tyrion, Dany, and finally her.
Looking down at the page she could see the writing that was now there and she turned to see that each of the others were just as surprised as she was.
"This was empty, I mean other than that one page." Dany said as Shiera flicked through to see that only that and this one had any writing on them.
"Aye, I know, that part you've just read, it's a song that Daenys told me to read while I was dreaming." Jae said holding up his hand to stop any questions "The words themselves mean everything, but that's for another time. Aunt, you may need to read this." Jae said closing his eyes and opening the book once more.
She read through it quickly before dropping it to the floor, the shocked gasp she made causing Margaery to rise to her feet only for Jae to grab her hand and bid her sit.
"The book, aunt." Jae said and she bent down to pick it up and handed it back to him, watching as he opened up the page and showed it to Margaery before then handing it to the others to allow them to read it too.
"This, this makes no sense." Tyrion said and she was glad he had because she'd not been able to speak since she'd read the words that showed that her actions, that all of it was or had been known.
"How could she have known?" Margaery asked.
"Daenys saw the future, Marge, as clearly as any ever had. Some of it no doubt confused her completely which is why the words don't fully fit but you all read what it said. " Jae said as Shiera thought on the words themselves.
One eye of green and one of blue,
her aim may seem wrong but is true,
Though he thinks she does it for him,
In truth, she does so for you.
A Prince must see what a Raven cannot,
Travel where he can't follow,
Though he'll fall today, none should fret,
For he'll rise stronger and wiser on the morrow.
"Why nephew, why is this needed?" Aemon asked and Shiera looked as Jae closed his eyes and held the book before opening it once more.
"Read it aloud, uncle." Jae said handing Aemon the book.
She moved forward in her seat and noticed that both Dany and Tyrion did the same while Jae took Margaery's hand in his own and brought it to his lips before kissing it softly.
"The Prince that was Promised will Bring the Dawn and sing the Song of Ice and Fire. He'll wake Dragons from Stone and what was lost shall return once more. The House of the Dragon will rise and higher than it has ever done before and the Lands Eternal shall be renewed and open once again.
The Dragon must have three heads, One who lives, one who died, and one who is reborn. Life, Death, and Rebirth, three heads, but just one Prince to unite them all. He shall conquer life, death, and then he shall bring about the rebirth.
The fight will come but in the end, There can be only one." Aemon said finishing reading the words.
"There is much that we must do but first things first, it's time I paid a visit to a man with a thousand eyes and one." Jae said looking at each of them.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed and I'm up to 136/137. Up next Jae makes plans and Robb, Arya and Ashara go to speak to Cat as she readies for her trial. We take a look at Ser Bonifer and find out what he and Dany saw in the Glass Candles and Victarion Greyjoy arrives in King's Landing bringing news which causes a scramble and Margaery and Jae spend some time together as more truths from Daeny's journal are revealed.
Chapter 136 Reviews.
Daryl Dixon: So very glad you liked it.
VdWade: Someone described Bloodraven to me as Tom M. Riddle, which is one of those funny little coincidences as that wasn't really my intent but in a way he is. Basically, he's made numerous plans to ensure he would survive. His first here is pretty much canon, so the tv show would play out and he'd be Bran at the end so to speak, Jae messed that up at WF and so he moved to plan B, Jae himself, he's now onto C or D lol. Victarion we'll see next so we'll find out if you're right. In terms of plots within plots, the thing is that pretty much them getting rid of Varys so early allowed the world to be blind to Jae so to speak and so he didn't face the same type of threat until it was pretty over for those against him, here, Bloodraven had known of him for a very long time and so has been planning for a very long time.
Biohazard: So very glad you enjoyed it.
Trace: it certainly won't, I dislike doing them tbh but sometimes they're the only natural end to a chapter and so I try to keep them for the Tuesday chapters so they'll be resolved in the Thursday ones.
Jessicanightmarewolf: Euron will put a spanner in the works of Jae's plans here, forcing them to deal with him first.
Remi: We'll find out about the horn, that's a pretty apt way of describing them, politically they're non-entities but magically they're the first Jae has faced, so it's a different kind of fight.
Supremus: So glad you think so, I have some plans for him but he won't be going full-on torture cruel as he is in the books, but I hope far better than the show.
Celexys: I feel exactly as you do, Bran's plotline is just dull it unless something drastic happens with it feels pointless and if it's true he ends up as king at the end then it had better be a truly evil cunning plan because of how they show got him there made no damn sense. Bloodraven is just a far more interesting character and so him being evil and having a plan just works so much better.
The Sphynx: Bloodraven was trying to swap it yes.
Guest: Yep Bloodraven and Euron before we get to the main big bad, the COTR are only concerned with that fight, they'll only come when the fight against the dead is to be waged.
Emerald duke: As you command.
Creativo: No tanto, no, TER está en contra de NK pero le teme más a Jae y LF es solo un idiota. Como ve, los niños son buenos aquí. Hardyng se movió demasiado lento.
VFSnake: Well he's facing a man just if not more powerful.
Guest: We'll see about Dragonbinder as for Jae he kinda needed it, almost to unlock something, which we can see some hints of here with the book and we'll see more as we go. Val has arrived and we'll get her pov I think next week.
HKt29:On the Horn we'll find out soon enough, as for Bloodraven, he's in Jae's sights now.
Scarila: So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for your concern, it means a lot.
Lady Octarina: As you see here all things were foretold or perhaps events cannot be changed, so Shiera's actions were always going to happen and maybe Bloodraven isn't as much in control of them as he thought, mind blown yet? With Jae's recovery, there were a couple of keys, Ned's words on Lyanna broke him from Bloodraven's control, Ghost played his part as did Joy and Rheanix gave him that final magical jolt he needed. Harry went from sensible to maybe not very quickly, he'll be in Kl soon enough so we'll see if he thinks straight and Victarion really hates Euron lol.
Irish hermit: Pretty much spot on yes. As for Craster, we'll see, I've not fully decided how the Wall arc goes in terms of Jae going beyond it and so them hitting upon Craster's needs to be ironed out. We'll find out about Dragonbinder in a couple of chapters.
Xand 007: Thank you, my friend. With the horn we'll see as for BR he's in a way being left for Jae to handle, it's part of a larger whole. Richard as you see was indeed off to find LF. I'm sorry to hear that it's so damn frustrating, I mean the flip side of actually getting the virus or someone you love doing so makes it necessary but damn it's annoying lol. Stay safe, well, and sane if you can.
Svenion: Of course it does, it's not simply that he's a potential villain, it's to do with the overreaching arc of the story. Where he simply a potential villain then no, but if he plays a role in other events that are being led up to then that role had to be played.
Silverglow: Yeah I only figured out the wrongness of the review not after posting.
Exactly, the Marge thing was the foreshadowing of this later on.
The thing with Harry is this, he fears the retribution, and then when it doesn't come he thinks it never will. So he goes down the rabbit hole of kinda thinking he's been hard done by, we'll see how far down he travels. Lady Anya basically used him to get what she wanted/needed and LF took advantage of it, here it's slightly reversed in that rather than helping her out, he's in some way made her position worse and so he needs to pay up so to speak.
On the Horn, we'll see but yes The Ghost of High Heart hints that in the books and here it's basically been him whispering in Euron's ears for the longest time. Pretty soon he may start to shout though.
With the Bond that's it precisely, Rhaenix's upset made the other dragons upset, the bond temporarily broken and so we'll see if it can be done so again. As for Shiera, the question became more complicated here as we now see she was always going to do this, which begs the question did Bloodraven actually influence her or just see it.
You're more than welcome my friend and thanks for taking the time to review so thoroughly.
Chapter 137 Reviews.
Jman: with the Targ scenes there's more going on than it seems and they hint at something.
The Sphynx: And the poem returns, awesome my friend.
Daryl Dixon: I can understand that, hopefully, the next couple cleared it up, they're all leading into each other, if not pm me and I'll answer what I can.
VfSnake: That's funny enough something I was wondering if someone would say, you would think he knows better but maybe it's hubris.
Lady Octarina: You're kinda spot on, the thing with the children was I was trying to show that adults make these choices and they may have the noblest of reasons for doing so but they're not always right. Joy felt called to Jae and so went to him, they should have let her and the others in earlier, yes. With Lyanna's absence again yes it was so the Stark side could give him a push but also it showed the Bloodraven didn't see as much as he thought with Jae, he missed key points and so the world he created wasn't as perfect as it could have been.
Mrs. Faye Whitlock: He really is.
Remi: The amount of power coming his way will surprise him, he's woken a sleeping dragon.
Adgedless: Glad you thought so, the glimpses mean a little more than you think. As for Bloodraven well he's not the only one with a thousand eyes and Jae's are firmly looking his way.
Foxyfloof: One of the biggest issues with Bloodraven is that while he may think he did it for his family, he went very far, the act he gets sent to the wall for is after offering safe passage to a Blackfyre he reneged and had him tortured and killed, it's a line they can't let slide. Parley means everything in that world and to break it, especially against kin, it's just too much. So he may feel hard done by but it's all in the eye of the beholder so to speak. Now what he's doing now will reap the whirlwind.
Biohazard: So glad you enjoyed it.
Creativo: Verdadera amiga y querida hermana.
Emerald Duke: or you find a guy called Doc Brown and ask if you can use his Delorean lol, glad you enjoyed it.
Jessicanightmarewolf: I'm so glad to hear that, I look forward to giving it a look over. Joy's relationship with Jae is perhaps other than Marge or Jaime's or Rhaenix's really his most important one.
Dunk: Thanks so much. I didn't want to drag it out too long and it was kind of a Matrix of the Mind thing, almost but not quite perfect. It also as you see here opens up a window sort of for Jae, like a tapping into the mind itself but more the magical side of things. We'll see more of that as we got. Glad you liked the emotional part, it's important but it can come across as too much and I hoped to get the balance just right. The Bloodraven/Jae fight is a different sort of fight, so I hope to show that well enough.
Mr2Legit: Don't worry he totally will.
Celexys: I'm glad it did, hopefully, the last few tied up some of it even more. I do hope the confrontation is worth the wait, it'll be an interesting one.
Zenjack: Sorry about that, I sometimes forget that myself when writing, I wanted to go straight to the Jae part of things and so if it came off confusing then I'm sorry.
Guest: Well I now have another Jon/Rhaenys idea I'm working on too so there will be more than one coming. This chapter and a song kinda inspired me for the new idea. But it had to Jon/Marge here and the idealized life thing was almost just exactly that, Bloodraven hit a lot of the marks but missed out on some key ones.
Keb: It was supposed to come across as jarring, in that the dreams and the life within them were supposed to feel just a little off as compared to the life we see him live if that makes sense. I didn't want it to be too blatant but the feel of it to be something where you look at and go, this doesn't work as well. So I kinda changed up the writing just a tad, I hope that's what you felt and not something else but if so that was my intent. The other side of things the emotions, the real world so to speak, that was supposed to resonate more.
Aj Granger: I really wanted it to be a combination of things, Ned's story broke him from Bloodraven's control, Joy, Ghost, Marge, Rhaenix brought him home.
Anarchicmind: I don't know what was going on with the site, but it was crazy for the last few weeks. Well, the question is how big an accident it was, here we see it was foretold and so it's a bit of the matrix breaking the vase vibe. It was supposed to be foolish with Joy and the kids, the parental/adults thinking they knew better so to speak, and also to lead to Joy finding a way too of course.
Xand007: Thank you, my friend. Bloodraven wanted him trapped so he could be him so to speak, or at least pretend to be but he made a mistake in the fact that he's not the only entity playing a game. As for his own fate, we'll see it soon enough. Glad to hear you're free once more, stay safe my friend.
Scarilla: Ballon was kinda set up for this so long ago, I really thought I'd be here much earlier lol. Glad you liked the look into the fake world and we're back now that god.
Silverglow: He almost got it spot on and just missed a few key elements. With Ned I wanted him to do this for the longest time, just needed it to be at the right one. Ballon knows the way and yep he led Joy to him, again the question is how did Ballon know he needed to do so.
Well, they didn't have enough time to decide if they should have let the others in, but glad you liked the bonding between them all. DS and Doran were both Dornishmen, Areo is Norvosi. As for Bloodraven, this is what he actually feared, that Jae being born and fulfilling his destiny would overpower him.
HKt29: Exactly, with a little more time and thought he could have made it perfect but he didn't see it all, only parts and so he created what he thought was the perfect prison, only to find it was very much not.
Irish Hermit: He in some ways kinda panicked, jumped to take a presented opportunity, and in doing so overestimated himself more than underestimated Jae. He spent time making the prison just right and almost succeeded, but why he didn't well we'll find out more of that over time. On Cat, Yes and Yes. LF will fall before Cat does.
