King's Landing 298 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
As he struggled into his armor he could feel his wife's eyes on his and he had no need to turn around to know how angry she was. Jae wished he could say the words to calm that anger but for now, he could not. Rhaenix had already begun to fly and would be landing in the Dragonpit and Jae would be going to her as soon as he was finished dressing, nothing, not even his wife's anger would stop him. Soon enough he'd be flying to deal with Euron Greyjoy, the Iron Born, and this so-called Dragonbinder horn but now he needed to fly and calm his mind.
Normally he'd spar, him and Jaime, him and Loras or Arthur, he'd spar and speak the thoughts that filled his head and a sense of calm would prevail. Since that was still not something he could do right now or at least not with any semblance of strength or skill, he needed to fly. To add to how desperate he was to be in the air, Rhaenix's anger at the audacity of any man to dare claim that he would take her from him was fuelling his own need to be with her. Jae finding that not even speaking to her through their bond was having an effect. She wished to be with him and he with her and nothing or no one would stop him from doing so.
"You can't leave." Margaery said as Jae almost finished with his armor.
"I have to." he said not turning around.
"So what, you're just going to fly off and try to find the Iron Fleet, you can't, Jae, you need to think about what you're doing. We need to speak to the council and come up with a plan of attack." Margaery said and Jae stopped dressing and turned, realizing that in his eagerness t be with Rhaenix he'd not explained what he was about to do.
He put the helm down on the chair nearest him and limped over, the cane sitting long abandoned in the other room. The closer he got to her the more he could see that as angry as she was with him, the worry for him was what was truly driving her. When he reached her, he placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes, seeing the concern and also the determination that lay within them. Was it another time he'd perhaps have smiled but he felt that wouldn't help things right now.
"I'm not going after Euron, Marge. I need to fly, to be with Rhaenix and she needs to be with me. She felt it, heard it, what Victarion said about Euron's plans, I need to be with her." he said hoping his words made it through to his wife.
"You swear to me that's all you're doing, Jae, swear to me that you're not flying off to attack the Iron Born with no plan." she said looking deep into his eyes.
"I swear it, I'm going to fly and I'll be back as soon as I can. We'll meet with the council and come up with a plan. I won't do anything before then, I promise." he said as she moved in closer to him.
After holding his wife for a few moments and getting the decidedly uncomfortable feeling that he in fact hadn't really resolved anything, he turned, grabbed his helm and his sword, and walked from the room. Outside, Jaime, Arthur, and Barristan waited and when he told them he was heading to the Dragonpit the arguments began once more. Jae stopping them in their tracks and ordering Jaime to arrange a small council meeting to be held on his return. Arthur and Barristan followed him from his room and he looked back to see his wife and Jaime were locked in an intense discussion.
As he walked through the Red Keep he felt Ghost running his way and he told him to go to Margaery, the wolf doing so reluctantly. While he knew it was out of concern for him and what he'd gone through and that he wasn't back to himself physically yet, he was frustrated by their concerns too. They knew him or should know him well enough to know he wasn't reckless for the sake of it. There were things he didn't understand, he doubted anyone did but they needed to give him the freedom to see them done and to trust that he would do so. It seemed they allowed their worries to become doubts and so he resolved to speak on things upon his return. For now, he walked from the Red Keep and was happy to see that Tommen had already saddled Winter.
"Good work, Tommen." he said mussing the boy's hair as he leaned in and closed his eyes to feel the bond with his mare.
"Do you wish me to ride with you, your grace?" Tommen asked.
"Not right now, I'll be flying on the dragon but we'll speak later you and I." he said to a nod as he mounted up and rode from the courtyard.
It didn't take them too long to ride to the Dragonpit even with the people stopping what they were doing to look at him, Arthur and Barristan as they rode by. She was already waiting for them when they reached it and Jae felt the twinge that went up his leg when he jumped from Winter's back. The stiffness had not fully gone as of yet and he knew this was partly why they were so concerned about him. Turning to the two knights he prepared for the next argument of the day and was surprised when he didn't receive as much of one as he'd expected.
"I'll be flying alone, Sers." he said looking to the two knights.
"To where your grace?" Barristan asked.
"I don't know, I need to comfort my sister and her, me I suppose. I won't be going after Greyjoy or further than perhaps Dragonstone I'd imagine." he said and saw the look Barristan shot Arthur.
"Your word, your grace?" Arthur asked.
"My word, Ser Arthur." he said as he began to move from the two knights "Thank you." he said simply before he covered the last few feet to his sister.
He stood with her for what felt like the longest time, Jae leaning against her with his head touching her own. They didn't speak either in words or through their bond, both of them just content to feel the other's touch and to know they were together. Eventually, he climbed up on Rhaenix's back, and without words still, she took to the air. Jae almost feeling the calm come over him as they flew from the Dragonpit and over the city. Rhaenix was soon flying over Blackwater Bay and Jae was looking through her eyes at the ships below. A smile appearing on his face when he saw The Western Wolf sailing into the bay. Soon enough Rhaenix was bored with flying so slow and so carefully and so after checking that he was up for it, she began to have some fun.
Jae laughed as the water splashed up as Rhaenix flew no more than a few feet above it and then he felt the rise of his stomach as she pulled up and flew straight up into the air. He had to hold tightly to the ties of the saddle as she began to twist and spin. Rhaenix most keen to show off some new tricks that she'd picked up and Jae more than happy to share in her joy at doing so. After perhaps an hour or so of her doing dives and at one point almost feeling to glide without a beat of her wings as he felt some sort of wind push them forward, Rhaenix turned and headed for Dragonstone. The island soon coming into view and his sister taking him to a clearly uninhabited part that she'd taken as her lair.
When he climbed down from her back, she took to the air once more and he looked on as she flew down into the bay beneath them. His sister flying back some time later having eaten and deciding that so should he. Jae almost laughing as she looked from the burned fish to him and back again. His sister was in a playful mood it seemed and wasn't going to use her words to tell him to eat. He sat down beside her and ate some of the fish, Jae feeling her eyes on him all the while, and only when he had eaten what she considered enough did they turn away.
"I want to fly there, Jae, I want to burn each and every one of their ships. I want to show them what happens when you threaten a dragon." Rhaenix said.
"As do I, but we cannot, Marge, Jaime, and Aemon, they're all right and I need to find out more about this Dragonbinder." he said.
"He will not take me from you, not him and not that kinslayer beyond the wall, not even the one spoken of in the Journal and the drawings in Winterfell. None of them, we are bonded, where you go, I go." Rhaenix said.
"Where you go, I go." he said reaching his hand out and placing it against her head.
"Did it feel, real?" Rhaenix asked her voice soft as she spoke of the dreams.
"Some of it, but it was wrong too, you were wrong. Egg, father and Elia and grandmother and Viserys, you were all wrong but then you were right." he said.
"Right?" she asked confused.
"In King's Landing, what he showed me, that was wrong. In Valyria, seeing you all in Valyria, that was right." he said.
Rhaenix said nothing for a few moments, Jae was now lying in front of her on his stomach, his head facing her own which rested on the ground in front of him. The two of them just looking in each other's eyes, her deep purple meeting his own dark grey.
"Do you believe it can be done, truly?" she asked her voice doubtful but there was some hope in it too.
"I believe that together we can do anything, three heads Rhae, there is a reason why it had to be that and why you and I could be the only way that it could be done."
"We can see them again?" she asked her voice rising ever so slightly.
"We will see them again." he said reaching out and rubbing his hand against her head.
How long he slept for he didn't know but when he woke he looked up to see she was still awake and as he got up to stretch his legs he looked around before he saw it. The cave opening was hidden and yet not if one knew where to look. He turned to Rhaenix and found her eyes were watching his every move and when he started to walk towards the cave he felt her approval. Jae soon enough entering into the darkness and being stunned at what he saw when the light finally shone through.
The flight back to King's Landing was far faster than the one to Dragonstone had been, or perhaps it was the excitement he felt at the discovery he'd made. Jae barely noticing when they landed in the Dragonpit so distracted was he by what he'd seen and only when Rhaenix almost pushed him from her back did he realize where he was. He climbed down and spoke to her once more, telling her that soon they would fly and deal with Euron, with Bloodraven and with the other, and then they'd fly home once more.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Ser Richard Lonmouth.
Speaking to the man they held prisoner was an exercise in futility, his denials, claims of being Leal, and what he assumed to be subtle attempts at both bribery and manipulation all falling on deaf ears. That his men were loyal to him even above coin meant he had no need to worry about Littlefinger turning any of them. As for his sailing companions, the man himself had put paid to either of them coming to his aid.
Wyman had a dislike of Littlefinger that had taken Richard aback due to its ferocity. The Lord of White Harbor explaining to him when he'd asked him about it why that was and Richard feeling somewhat shamed that he'd not thought of it before he'd asked.
"He tried to kill my king, Richard, paid a man to see him dead. That said man happened to be in your employ and the plot doomed before it begun matters not, he tried to kill my king." Wyman said.
"Aye, but that's not all is it?" he asked curiously.
"No, were Jaehaerys just my king then I'd feel this way, were he just the son of my liege lord, I'd feel it too. But look at me Richard, look at me and tell me what you see…not what you know mind, what you see."
"What they all see, Wyman." he said softly.
"Aye, true enough. Same as what they saw when they looked at a bastard son of the Lord of the North. He never saw that in me and while it's true I saw more in him than others, no man saw the truth of me as well as Jaehaerys did. Master of Trade, Pinnacle ships, my granddaughter soon to be the wife of the heir to the North, I could never have risen so high under any other king. So no, it's not just that he's my king, it's that he's who he is and that…that sparrow of a man tried to kill him."
"Mockingbird." Richard said to a laugh.
"Whatever, he's soon enough to have his wings clipped." Wyman said laughing still.
As for Willas, well Littlefinger pulled on the wrong thread there, and were it not for Rylen's quick action then his king wouldn't be getting a live prisoner to try. Richard having found himself called to ensure that the Master of Coin didn't impale Littlefinger with the sword he carried in his cane when a mention of Sansa Stark had been made. The Mockingbird getting away with a cut on his cheek rather than a cut throat, had Rylen not moved quicker that would have been what he'd got.
"What did he say?" he asked Rylen.
"The Lord came to him and Littlefinger offered him coin for the crown, said he had access to almost a million gold dragons and he'd give it all to the crown if Lord Willas would intervene on his behalf and see him keep his head."
"And he stabbed him from that?" he asked shaking his head.
"No, he began to speak of Lady Catelyn and then made mention that he wagered the daughter tasted even sweeter than the mother had. How Willas was a lucky man to be betrothed to such a beauty and that having knowledge himself of how sweet a Tully could taste as it was ripening, that he knew how Willas would feel as he took her maidenhead. Just as he himself had felt as he had taken her mother's and her aunts." Rylen said.
"You should have moved a little slower." Richard said before shaking his head at the confused look on Rylen's face.
He'd gone to speak to Lord Willas and found the man stewing in his anger as he paced the deck. Richard waiting until he noticed him before moving closer. Willas had been still gripping the handle of the cane tightly and the last thing he wished for was to be accidentally stabbed. The idea of dying after being mistaken for a Mockingbird was not the end he had envisioned for himself.
"It was for the best you were stopped." he said as Willas's head snapped toward him.
"You're lucky I've not more men with me, Ser Richard, else I and they would be taking his head and none would stand in my way." Willas said his lips tight as he tried to keep a lid on his emotions.
"It's for the best you were stopped Lord Willas, especially after what he said to you." he said and Willas stopped moving across the deck and looked to him.
"Why?" the man asked curiously.
"You know how much the king loves his sister, what do you think he'd do to him knowing what he said?"
"He'll kill him anyway, how is that more punishment than what I wish to do?" Willas asked.
"Because unlike how you wished to do so, the king won't be as merciful." he said turning to walk away.
"You think he'll not just take his head?" Willas called out after him.
"I think that'll be the last of it if the man is lucky and trust me Lord Willas, that man's luck has all run out."
The days stretched on and they passed by Claw Isle and then Dragonstone and finally were sailing into Blackwater Bay, Richard standing on the deck as they did so. He looked up to the mast and smiled to see the eagle resting there, it had joined them a day or so out of Braavos and made itself a nest among the sails. As he looked up he saw an even more pleasing sight and soon enough he was not the only one watching as Rhaenix flew with the king on her back. Both Wyman and Willas joining him as they watched the dragon drop to the water and fly low across its surface. Richard almost hearing the laughter that he knew was coming from his king.
When they reached the docks themselves it was to Ser Walder and Ser Jors along with a large guard and Richard gave the nod to Rylen to bring their prisoner and ready him to be transported to the cells in the Red Keep. He walked down the gangplank and could sense something was wrong when he saw Ser Walder's face. The large man quickly telling him that a meeting of the small council had been called and that the Iron Born needed to be dealt with once more.
"Take him to the cells, only my men, men of the hundred or Kingsguard to watch him, not even a servant is to be allowed to see him, I'll join you later." he said to Rylen as he began to quickly move through the streets.
It took him some time to reach his building and they were all surprised to see him, Richard sparing no time for courtesies and instead asking to see every message they had for him. The pile of scrolls was soon in his pack as he left and hurried to the Red Keep. Again he spared no time for courtesies and didn't even head to his solar, moving straight to the Small Counsel chambers to ready for the meeting ahead. Once inside the room he asked for water to be brought and took his seat, it would seem that he had much reading to do before the king and the others arrived.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Olenna.
Hearing that Jae had just taken flight on his dragon had Olenna scrambling and trying to think what to do. Her first instinct the one she went with as she headed straight to her granddaughter knowing that she'd be upset. When she reached the rooms she found that while Margaery was clearly worried, it was anger and annoyance that she was letting show for now. Her granddaughter speaking things abut the king that would lose anyone else their head.
"Of all the stupid."
"Who does he think he is."
"I should have ordered to have him chained to the bed."
Margaery's words made her chuckle inside as she knew they were merely her frustration shining through and they stirred up memories of her own times with Luthor. Her granddaughter not realizing just hows lucky she was that her husband's own stupidity wasn't something that was beyond his control. She allowed her to keep speaking out, not correcting her or telling her she was wrong. Olenna finding that she agreed with her more than she disagreed with her anyway. While she had no true understanding of what it was that Jae had gone through, she knew he was not yet recovered and so he should be resting and not flying off on a dragon.
"Did his grace say when he'd return?" she asked after feeling that she'd allowed her granddaughter speak long enough.
"Of course he bloody didn't, why would he tell me that, I'm only his wife." Margaery said as she sat down on the couch a little too firmly.
"He will be back today though?" she asked and Margaery nodded.
"He's arranged a meeting of the Small Council, to discuss the Iron Born and Euron Greyjoy and what's to be done." Margaery said.
"Then perhaps we should discuss what it is we can do before then." she said and Margaery looked at her confused, Olenna glad it was her annoyance with her husband and not her being her father's child that was causing that confusion.
"We need to send ravens and prepare the realm for an attack. Oldtown, the Arbor and the Shields, the North, the West, and Dorne." Margaery said Olenna smiling at jjust how quickly she'd managed to change her focus.
"Dorne?" she asked confused a little herself.
"Prince Oberyn and Princess Arianne are here and Dorne suffered losses in the war in relation to some of their lords and best knights. I don't know how strong they may be without them but a weak target is always a tempting one." Margaery said and Olenna wondered how she came to that conclusion only for Margaery to answer her unasked question "Jae's been teaching me tactics."
She found herself smiling at that and even more so a few moments later when Jae's squire Tommen Waters arrived carrying news that the Western Wolf had docked and Willas, Lord Wyman, and Ser Richard had returned.
"We should speak to your brother, your grace." Olenna said when the boy left and Margaery nodded.
Willas took far longer to arrive than she'd thought he would and she wondered if he'd gone to speak to Sansa Stark first before putting that idea from her mind. Her grandson may care deeply if not actually be in love with the girl already but he was much too dutiful for that. Olenna listened as he told them they'd secured the gold in the Iron Bank and a trading deal that Lord Wyman would explain further. Then a moment later she was smiling broadly when he told them they'd also captured Littlefinger.
"Without incident?" Margaery asked.
"Not without incident no, but a story for another time. What's this I hear about the Iron Born, your grace."
Margaery explained it briefly before there was a flurry of activity, Olenna catching the glances that Sansa Stark and Willas shared when the girl arrived at Margaery's behest. Soon there were notes being written and sent and Olenna and Willas took their leave and allowed Margaery to do what needed to be done. By the time Jae arrived back the day was almost at an end and dusk was about to fall over King's Landing. Olenna though finding that was not to be a barrier to the meeting that was to be held.
After some brief refreshments, she made her way to the Small Council Chambers and was surprised by just how full it seemed to be. Prince Oberyn and Ser Richard who had some paper on the table in front of him. Lord Wyman, Grandmaester Gormon, Ser Barristan, Benjen Stark, Randyll Tarly, Lord Monford, Lord Jaime, herself, and Willas. Olenna took a seat before rising when Jae and Margaery walked in with Ser Arthur and Ghost alongside them. Ser Arthur carrying a chest and then placing it on the table in front of Jae's seat.
"Shall we begin." Jae said as he bid them all take their seats.
Olenna looked to see that he and Margaery both seemed to be in a far better mood and she smirked as she wondered had they settled their differences with words or actions. Shaking her head a moment later when she realized that was her granddaughter she was thinking of. Whatever form their reconciliation had taken she was relieved to see them both now show a united front.
"Ser Richard it's good to see you back, I take it all went well?" Jae said and Richard turned to look at the king before answering.
"It did your grace, Lord Baelish currently resides in the dungeons and awaits trial." Richard said.
"Excellent work, Ser. Lord Wyman, Lord Willas, I trust your own time in Braavos went just as well as Ser Richard's." Jae asked.
"It did your grace, the Iron bank now holds a little over three million two hundred and sixteen thousand gold dragons in the crown's name." Willas said and Olenna turned to see that Jae and Lord Jaime both seemed unsurprised by this.
"Lord Wyman?" Jae asked.
"I have concluded a deal with the Iron Bank that allows us access to their trading routes with Yi Ti, Qarth, and Slavers Bay." Wyman said.
Olenna listened in eagerly as the thoughts of the crown being solvent for the first time in years along with the increased trading opportunities both bore well for her granddaughter's and future great grandchildren's futures. There was some more talk which she felt was unneeded but Jae seemed to be getting all the other business out of the way before moving on to the main issues. Something was said about wildings and red priests and some people named Val and Kinvara that she wasn't too fussed about.
"Is there anything else we need to discuss before we move to the pressing matters at hand?" Jae asked and she was relieved to hear no one bring anything else up.
She like the others looked on as Jae reached into the chest and took out the Glass Candles before placing two black ones on the table to either side so that all could see. He then reached into the chest again and took out a jar before spilling some of the blood on the green one, Olenna wrinkling her nose at the image. Each of them looked on eagerly and were then all just as confused as each other when Jae closed his eyes and the images appeared. Olenna soon saw what appeared to be piles of rocks and then watched as the images began to change. Docks, islands, the sea, all of it was practically empty bar a few small ships.
"That's Pyke." she heard Jaime Lannister say and she looked at the image to see a few small ships but nothing that resembled an Iron Fleet.
"Have they already left, are we already under attack?" Margaery asked as Olenna watched Jae stood and began to look confused at the candles and then the images changed rapidly.
It took some time and when he eventually sat down he wore a worried frown on his face, Jae looking perplexed as he stared at the Glass Candles without saying anything. She like the others were briefly worried when he closed his eyes and the images faded from the candles. Olenna relaxing only when she saw that Margaery wasn't concerned. Though soon enough that relaxation was gone when Jae opened his eyes and seemed to be even more confused.
"I can't find them." he said shaking his head "Why can't I find them?"
She was about to say something when Margaery beat her to it, Olenna sitting with a proud look on her face as her granddaughter put them to work on the plans she'd come up with earlier. She herself surprised by how well thought out they were. When she then saw Jae's smile replace his frown, she became ever more certain that they worked far better as a partnership than either did alone.
"Grandmaester, you've sent the ravens?" Margaery asked.
"I have your grace, to Lord Leyton, Lord Redwyne, and to the Lords of the Arbor. To Winterfell, White Harbor, and Bear Island and to Lannisport, Casterly Rock, and Faircastle. Also to Starfall, Salt Shore, Lemonwood, and Sunspear." Gormon said.
"You think he'd be stupid enough to attack Dorne?" Oberyn asked incredulously.
"I think Dorne's leaders are here and those his grace sent to the Wall have not been fully replaced yet, Prince Oberyn." Margaery said.
"Your grace." Oberyn said with a nod to Margaery.
The smile on Jae's face was almost beaming as Margaery spoke and she saw him look to Lord Jaime before he looked to Margaery and then joined in.
"Lord Monford, speak to Lord Kevan and begin organizing the fleet to set sail. Lord Kevan will ensure our own ships have a Pinnacle ship as an escort and before you both leave come and see me, no one sails without a bird, no one, is that understood?" Jae said and Monford nodded getting up to leave when he was bid.
"I could perhaps begin to organize the Reach's defenses, your grace." Randyll Tarly said and the man was lucky he was not in her line of sight.
"I'll speak to my Warden of the South once this meeting is finished, Lord Tarly, perhaps you can join us both then?." Jae said and Olenna looked over to see Willas smirk.
"Of course your grace." Randyll said as he moved from his seat and walked from the room.
"Uncle Benjen, Lord Wyman, I'd ask you both to speak to Lord Stark and ready the North even further, speak to Lady Maege too." Jae said and the two men nodded before rising "Uncle Benjen, perhaps we can speak later, Val and Kinvara also."
"Of course your grace." Benjen Stark said as he walked from the room.
It left, her, Margaery and Jae, Oberyn, Jaime, Gormon, Ser Barristan, Willas, and Ser Richard in the room, Jae turning to Ser Richard next.
"Your lips?" Jae asked.
"Speak no tales of where, Your Grace, nor when. Instead, it's tales of pirates in the Stepstones of Victarion Greyjoy, Euron's cruelty, and little else." Richard said.
"How bad exactly is this Euron, Ser Richard?" Margaery asked.
"The worst of the worst, your grace." Ser Richard said.
"Uncle, perhaps you can write some messages for those in Dorne that you trust best to make ready, I'll see them sent." Jae said and Oberyn nodded.
"At once, your grace." Oberyn said as he moved from the table.
"Jaime, the West?" Jae said and Jaime nodded.
She watched as Jae rose and put the Glass Candles into the chest and closed it up before he turned to look at them all.
"As much as the preparations we make are needed, I know all of you are thinking it and so I'll tell you why the dragons may or may not be of help here. According to Victarion, Euron possesses a Dragonbinder, now I've asked Aemon and Sarella to look into all mentions of it, and until they do I don't know how effective the dragons may be. So for now we act as if there are no dragons." Jae said.
"Your grace." she said as did the others.
"There are other things that need to be handled to do with Lady Kinvara and the Free Folk woman Val and to do with my visit to Dragonstone, however, you all have enough to concern yourselves with in relation to the Iron Born. So I'll ask you to forgive my secrecy on those matters for now and I will as soon as I am able to, share them with each of you." Jae said and Olenna watched as he placed his hand on Jaime Lannister's shoulder bidding him stay as the rest of them rose to leave.
She was in the process of doing so herself when Jae stopped them and caught them all by surprise bringing up something that she'd expected would have been the last of his concerns. Though given who it involved perhaps she shouldn't have been so surprised.
"I have no idea of what timeframe we'll be forced to adhere to, for all I know in a day or two I, my aunts, and my uncles may be taking to the skies and setting off somewhere in the realm to deal with the Iron Born and Euron Greyjoy. Or perhaps on this fight I and the dragons will be forced to sit it out. With that in mind, I've no choice but to see something done far more quickly than I would have wished and so I'd ask you to put forward your suggestions for judges on the morrow.
Before the week ends Lady Catelyn Baelish is to stand trial." Jae said turning to Margaery and nodding.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Kinvara.
She had to admit the work that Thoros and Melisandre had done already was incredible, the warehouse almost completely converted and done so enough that it was soon attracting worshippers. Kinvara knew that more priests and priestesses would soon be on their way, especially since R'hllor was finally getting a foothold in Westeros after years of trying. Thoros had been sent to convert the king and that had been a mistake, the man was not for converting, and even had they been successful, she shuddered to think.
Jaehaerys was her god's chosen and even though he himself didn't pray to R'hllor he had already lived up to promises he'd made to Melisandre by allowing them to open their temple. The rest would come in time, people would see the works that R'hllor did and compare them to the works of the false gods and while not all would kneel, enough would. Kinvara knowing that the faithful would be needed in the war to come just as she and her fellow priests and priestesses would.
It was easy for her to be patient and wait for the prince to call, it had already taken her more than ten years to wait for her chance to serve R'hllor's chosen directly and a few more days were no problem after that. So she sat and waited and when the call came she readied herself to go to the Red Keep. Melisandre and Thoros had their parts to play, hers was to bring together his chosen and the men and women beyond the wall. It was something she'd almost done, the children, the Free Folk, bringing Val here and soon enough the prince would go there.
The ride to the Red Keep was quiet and she looked around as darkness fell, the night as always causing her a moment's concern. She had seen in the flames the visions of what faced them should the prince fall, the night without end that would cover the entire world in darkness. Kinvara trying her best not to remember the blue eyes the visions had shown her that lay waiting in the darkness. Instead, as they reached the Red Keep and she walked through the corridors towards the king's rooms, she found herself speaking aloud.
"For the night is dark and full of terrors."
She nodded to the two guards in their white cloaks and was allowed into a room, seeing Val, Benjen Stark, and another man who she felt was related to him. There was a silver-haired woman who wore a ruby much like her own alongside a man who wore a far more elaborate one. Kinvara taking her seat and seeing Prince Tyrion sitting and speaking to Lord Jaime and another silver-haired woman, this one younger than the other. Jaehaerys and his queen were nowhere to be seen and she sat silently while the others spoke. Smiling when she saw them both walk in after a few moments.
"Forgive the wait." the queen said as she held her hand out to bid them sit when they begin to rise.
"Has everyone here been introduced?" Jaehaerys asked and she found some eyes look to her while the others seemed to have at least been told who each person was.
The king and queen sat and she waited to see who was to speak first, noticing for the first time some papers in the king's hands which she looked curiously at.
"Lady Kinvara is a priestess of R'hllor and was recently beyond the wall at his behest or was it mine, I find I'm not quite certain?" Jaehaerys said with a smirk.
"Both my prince." she said with a nod and saw some frowns at her choice of words.
"Val, my uncle tells me you're goodsister to the King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder is this true?" Jaehaerys asked and Val nodded.
"It is."
"And you bring word from him regarding my offer?"
"I bring a letter from Mance Rayder, my prince." she said interrupting the conversation and handing him the letter.
She watched as he read the note and smiled before handing it to his wife who frowned a little and then handed it to Jaime Lannister and then onto the others.
"We do not kneel, indeed." Jaehaerys said as the note was read by his uncle and he looked directly at Val.
"It's our way, we're free and we wish to stay that way." Val said glaring at the king.
"He'll not ask you to kneel either, Val, though the price he'll ask of you will be far steeper than the one I will." the king said.
"Do all you fucking kneelers take so fucking long to get to the point." Val said and Kinvara heard the king's chuckle as he turned and said something to his wife who laughed a bit louder, Val glaring at both of them now.
"Forgive my husband, he was just saying how much he wished the rest of the Realm cared so little for niceties." Margaery said to laughs, Val now relaxing some.
She watched as Jaehaerys drummed his fingers on the table before opening up the papers and handed them out to each of them. Kinvara looking eagerly at the one she was given and then almost shrinking in her seat when she saw they all showed the same thing. Men, children, beasts all moving against the things with blue eyes and the one in the middle of them all was bearing a white sword facing off against another who held what looked to be a bright yellow one. Both wore crowns, one of ice and the other fire, and Kinvara looked to see the king was looking directly at her.
"What is that?" Tyrion asked.
"Jae?" the young silver-haired girl asked her voice strained.
"That's a song being sung, the Song of Ice and Fire and that's how I Bring the Dawn." Jaehaerys said.
She listened as she was told of images drawn on a wall in a cave on Dragonstone and of weapons that could defeat the dead,. Kinvara taking it all in without question while the others did not and soon the questions that came, flew from all directions.
How could he know this?
What does this mean?
Who was the figure he fought?
Why did it have to be him?
When was the fight to happen?
The answers didn't come close to quietening the voices and when the king stood up and slammed his hand down hard on the table even Kinvara was shocked by the action. It did at least have the effect of stopping people from talking over themselves. She saw Jaehaerys look to the silver-haired woman and man who wore the rubies, seeing both of them nod. He then looked to Jaime Lannister and to his wife before finally looking to Benjen and the man she knew now was Ned Stark.
"This fight is coming,. When I don't know and as for why it's to be me, it simply is. It is going to take every single one of us, all our dragons, all our men, all our knowledge, and so starting tomorrow I'm ordering work to begin on Dragonstone to mine Dragonglass and have it forged into any weapon we can make for it. Arrowheads, Spearpoints, knives, axes, anything we can make using it we need to see it done." Jaehaerys said.
"And my people?" Val asked looking to the king.
"Your king suggests a parley, then it's a parley I shall give him. If an agreement can be reached and since he's not already outright turned down my offer I feel one can, then after that parley I'll begin moving your people through the Wall." Jaehaerys said.
"Your grace, to where?" Benjen asked and Jaehaerys looked at him and his other uncle.
"It seems the future seat of Queenscrown is about to get an influx of people, uncle, a rather large influx of people."
Kinvara was asked to stay when the others took their leave, once they had Jaehaerys turned to her and asked her about her time beyond the wall and about her impressions of Mance Rayder. She told him that she believed the man to be true and that he wished the best for his people and it seemed to be what he wanted to hear. As she herself got up to leave she stopped and turned to him and spoke on the children of the forest and of the man they served.
"You met them?" Jaehaerys asked.
"One of them my prince, Leaf, she was sent by this man, this Three-Eyed Raven to stop me from making it to the Free Folk." she replied.
"She tried to kill you?" Margaery asked.
"She did your grace. R'hllor protected me and showed her the light. We were then brought to a Weirwood tree and made to eat the sap from inside of it, to blind the Raven to our intent." Kinvara said and saw how keenly Jaehaerys was looking at her.
"The Raven, did you see him?" Jaehaerys asked.
"No my prince, Leaf went back to him and the rest of her people and we traveled on to meet with the Free Folk to continue our mission." she said.
"Do you have any idea where he is?" Jaehaerys asked.
"Leaf mentioned a large Weirwood in a grove, my prince." she said and saw him nod.
"Thank you, Kinvara, for all you've done."
"R'hllor tasked me with serving his chosen, my prince, I did only as was bid of me." she said.
"I thank you all the same." he said to her as he turned to his wife to speak to her and she walked from the room.
She felt a great sense of accomplishment as she was escorted back to the temple, she'd brought his chosen and the Free Folk together and they would take a large piece of the potential forces they faced away from the Great Other. Kinvara did not wish to imagine some of those people who while she'd not grown to love or care about, she did like and she had no desire to see them look upon her with blue eyes.
"For the night is dark and full of terrors, but I walk in the grace of his light." she said as she walked from the Red Keep.
Kings Landing 298 AC.
The Trial.
Jaime.
He, Oberyn, Genna, Gerion, Olenna all of them wished to be the ones to sit in judgment, and yet none of them had been chosen. Jae having thrown them all with who he'd decided to name as judges for the trial and with his reasons for doing so. That wasn't the only thing which he'd thrown them with this morning either Jaime thought as he dressed. It had been a surprise and yet it really shouldn't have been to him, Jae telling him what he intended while the sparred or to be more precise while they spoke instead of sparring, his strength still not fully back yet.
"You don't wish to be there?" Jaime asked as they moved with the swords, both of them moving as one but not clashing.
"The last place I wish to be is in a room with that woman." Jae said before stopping his movements "Is it not better that I'm not?"
"For who, Jae? For you or for the crown?" he asked as Jae began to move once more.
"Am I not the crown?" Jae asked with a smirk that brought a chuckle from his lips.
"There are some who may see it as you ducking your responsibility, others who will see it as you backing down from a difficult choice." Jaime said telling him the harsh truth of his decision.
"And those who know me?" Jae asked.
"Will understand." he said.
"I fear what I'd say, Jaime, what I may do. So let people think what they will, I know my reasons and my mind on this and that's more than some of the kings who sat the throne did when they made their decisions." Jae said his hands moving a little faster now as he focussed more on his sword than anything else.
Finishing dressing he placed the pin on his chest and walked into the other room to find Dacey and Joanna already waiting. His wife smirking at him as if to mock him for how long it took him to dress. Joanna looked as if she was going to a picnic and not to see a woman tried for attempting to have a child not much older than her killed. Jaime had allowed Dacey to decide if his daughter should go or not. He knew that other fathers and mothers would be making the same choices elsewhere in the keep and he was actually happy that in the end, she would be going with them.
"Shall we?" he said taking his wife's arm in his while Joanna reached her hand up and looked to him.
"Swing Papa?" she said and he smiled as Dacey nodded before he bent down and swung Joanna around in a circle, her laughter ringing around the room quickly making the day seem far less taxing than he knew it would be.
They walked to the Throne Room and found they were amongst the last to arrive. Jaime looking around to see Ned and Benjen Stark standing with Ned's children and Gerion standing with Ashara and Cregan. Oberyn was with his own children while Olenna stood with Willas and nodded at him when she caught his eye. The Targaryen's all stood off to one side and Jaime could see the lords who'd not yet headed back to their respective kingdoms were all present. The Riverlords, in particular, had been asked to attend as had the Vale lords. Both regions were the least likely to come under attack by the Iron Born and in the Rivelord's case, they more than any had a vested interest in the trial to come.
The hush when Lady Catelyn was brought into the Throne Room was one he'd only ever experienced a few times and he'd rather not dwell on any of them. Instead, he reached down and picked Joanna up and held her in his arms preferring to see her face than the face of the woman who stood in front of them. That she'd aged somewhat and her hair was starting to grey was no surprise as Genna had told him after she'd visited that she resembled Lysa Tully far more than ever now.
Jaime looked to see Ned Stark who was looking anywhere but at the woman, he had once been married to. Their children together though all stared at their mother with varying looks on their faces. Sansa's one that showed she'd already judged her and found her guilty while her other two children didn't look any more favorably upon her. Jaime felt some sympathy for them though it was the boy who was not present that he felt it for even more. He looked around the room as Ser Richard stood forward and he saw Ser Jors was standing beside a woman and two children. The Kingsguard not wearing his white cloak for once and it took him a moment to realize that the people he stood next to were Alyrs's family. Jaime wondering when Jae had sent for them and how he'd not known of it and then looking to Ser Richard and realizing he was probably the reason, and that the man was now ready to speak.
"We are here today to stand in judgment of Lady Catelyn Baelish and to ascertain her guilt or innocence in the crimes of conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, and murder itself. That these crimes were against his grace King Jaehaerys Targaryen, the Third of his Name, King of the Andals, Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm only further enhancing their vile nature.
To offer judgment today, Lord Wyman Manderly, Prince Tyrion Targaryen, and Lady Ellaria Uller." Ser Richard said.
He looked on as Wyman, Tyrion and Ellaria walked out and took up their seats, Tyrion dressed in black and red and looking every inch a dragon while Ellaria wore her own house colors tinged with a nod to House Martell. The bright yellow sun standing out on her crimson dress and making her look like she'd walked from the very flames themselves. It was the first time he'd ever seen her wear the colors and he wondered if she'd done so deliberately this day. Jaime smiling at the thought as Ser Richard spoke once more.
"To pass the just sentence of this court, Her Grace, Queen Margaery Targaryen." Ser Richard said and Margaery walked out with a Kingsguard escort. Barristan, Arthur, Walder, Loras, and Ser Richard Horpe all present and as she took her seat they took up their position around her.
Margaery.
She'd woken early to an empty bed, Jae having told her that he would be sparring in the morning, something she'd almost argued with him about until he told her that he'd not actually be crossing blades. After taking a bath and dressing, she called for food to be brought and smiled when Jae returned to eat with her. Both of them breaking their fast to more silence than she had hoped for. Given the day that was ahead of them, it was something she could understand and so she didn't press the issue.
That he didn't wish to be there was something he'd explained to her as they'd lain in their bed together. Margaery understanding his reasons and in a way welcoming them. Her husband had been through far too much in his life and was barely over the last emotionally worrisome thing he'd faced, he did not need to face another right now. Certainly not one in the shape of Catelyn Stark, Tully, Baelish, or whatever name any wished to name her as.
He'd surprised her with his choice of judges but not with his reasoning for them. Wyman Manderly to represent the North, Tyrion to represent his family and Ellaria while family too to her husband and so to her also, was there more because she was a mother than for that reason. Jae telling her that perhaps a mother could see something in Catelyn's actions that someone else may not. She loved her husband truly she did, his heart was big enough to love many and it was fierce enough to bring down retribution against any who dared to harm those he cared about. When it came to himself though that fire was far more muted. Even now, even after all she'd done and with what he wished her sentence to be, he still was thinking more of his family than himself.
On this, though he was very wrong, Ellaria while being a mother would also have a mother's love for those she considered family and Catelyn would receive no easy hearing from her because of it. As for her own feelings regarding the woman who'd tried to kill the man she loved, Catelyn was very lucky her husband felt as he did. She looked over to Jae who seemed to be miles away and she was glad to see he'd eaten at least, his appetite coming and going since he'd awakened. When he caught her looking at him, he smiled and reached out his hand to take her own and bring it to his lips.
"You should go." he said as he kissed it softly.
"You…you'll be alright here alone?" she asked and he kissed her hand once more.
"I wish to think of other things, to spend the day on thoughts which matter. Ghost and I will sit and I'll reach out to the rest of my familiars. Maybe I'll even spend the day soaring the sky and looking down on the lands below, I'm sure one of the birds will be flying over some pleasant views." he said with a smile.
She got up from her seat and walked over to him, kissing him deeply before telling him how much she loved him and listening as he told her the same in return. Ser Bonifer had men of the hundred to stand by as his guard this day, Jae insisting that the Kingsguard all needed to be present. Dismissing her and Barristan's arguments that there needed to be at least one of them with him by saying he'd not be leaving the room and that Ghost was with him. Jae saying that with Ser Jors standing with Sela, Jason and Jenny they could not afford to be seen with another Kingsguard not present, and so while he faced their disagreements he refused to back down.
After kissing him once more and asking again if he was alright, Margaery left the room and walked with the Kingsguard to the Throne Room, doing her best not to look at the woman when she entered. She moved instead to take her seat and readied to play her role. She listened as Ser Richard finished explaining the procedure and found her eyes were now roaming over Catelyn as she stood there. The woman in front of her vastly changed from the one who'd come to Highgarden and gloated over the perceived death of her husband. Her red hair was tinged with grey, she had deep bags under her eyes, and her skin was pale and sallow. It didn't bring her the comfort it should have but it wasn't because she felt any sympathy for the woman, more that she felt she'd not suffered enough.
"How do you plead, Lady Catelyn?" Margaery asked when Ser Richard was done.
"Not guilty." the woman replied as arrogantly as ever.
"Bring in the first witness." Ser Richard said and the room hushed as Bronn was brought in.
She looked on as Bronn walked into the Throne Room. The former sellsword was now Tyrion's sworn sword and had spent most of the past few moons in Dorne on some task that Tyrion had set him to. He was far better dressed than he had been on most occasions that she'd seen him. His stock had risen much in the past few years and if Ser Richard was to be believed and he always was as Jae would say, then he'd soon be a lord of a keep in Dorne.
"Your name?" Richard asked.
"Bronn."
"Tell the court of your connections with the plot to kill Jaehaerys Targaryen."
"I was hired by Lord Petyr Baelish as a Catspaw and sent to Lannisport with orders to kill the boy who was then known to all as Jon Snow." Bronn said.
"Yet you did not, why?" Richard asked.
"My true employer wouldn't have appreciated it." Bronn said with a smile.
"And who did you work for, truly?" Richard asked.
"You Ser."
"What happened in Lannisport?" Richard asked.
She listened as he told of the mummery they performed and that it was Jae who'd come up with the idea, laughs ringing round the room when Bronn admitted pissing himself when Ghost got a little too close. After he was done, she and the rest of the court waited while Richard called the next witness. Catelyn nearly collapsing to the ground when Petyr Baelish walked in under guard and then stood ready to speak.
"Lord Baelish, we've just heard the evidence of a former cutthroat who names you as being part of a plot to kill the king, would you like to respond?" Richard asked.
"In my defense, I was unaware of his grace's true identity at the time." Littlefinger said.
"Is that your only defense?" Richard asked.
"It is Ser. I beg the court's time while I try to explain my part in things. The things I did I did for the love of a woman, for the love of my wife Catelyn. She first contacted me in relation to his grace a number of years ago and together with her brother Lord Edmure we organized an attack on his grace in the Riverlands. After that attack failed and her father Lord Hoster passed, Lady Catelyn traveled to King's Landing with her brother to see him named as the new Lord Paramount and during this time begged me to see the bastard dead.
Her words, not mine, your grace." Littlefinger said nodding to her and making her skin crawl in the process.
"This was when you hired a Catspaw?" Richard asked.
"It was Ser, the outcome of which I assume you've just been told?" Littlefinger said.
"We have. After the attempts failed, what other actions did you and Lady Catelyn take? Ser Richard asked.
She listened as Littlefinger almost but not quite laid out the case for treason against himself and Catelyn, stopping just short of admitting that they knew the truth of Jae's birth. Instead claiming they both believed it to be a lie right up until they ran. Her fingers gripped her dress tightly and she closed her eyes to remove them both from her sight, her anger rising all the time.
"And what have you been offered for your testimony here today, Lord Baelish?" Ser Richard asked.
"Consideration Ser, I was promised my motives would be taken under consideration and that if I gave a full and frank version of events that my head would not be on the block when my own sentence was pronounced."
"Your own trial is to come, Lord Baelish?" Wyman asked.
"I've admitted my guilt, my lord, I intend to plead so to his grace and beg his forgiveness and only ask that what I've said today is given its due weight." Littlefinger said as Richard bid the guards take him away.
She waited until the man was gone before she looked to the woman who seemed to be in a daze, Margaery having expected outbursts or claims of innocence and being surprised to have heard neither.
"Lady Catelyn, do you have anything to say in your defense?" she asked to no reply "Lady Catelyn?" she asked again "Very well, Ser Richard, please sum up."
"Thank you, your grace. Members of the court, you've heard evidence of the actions taken on behalf of Lady Catelyn, I could present evidence of…." Ser Richard began only for Margaery to see someone hand a note to Ned Stark and for him to look worried upon reading it, holding up her hand she got Ser Richard to stop.
"Lord Stark, is something wrong?" she asked.
"Forgive me your grace, but my wife is with the Grandmaester, our babe is being born." Ned Stark said both happy and panicked at the same time.
"Go be with her, Lord Stark." she said with a smile as Jae's uncle turned to his brother and then raced from the room.
It took a few moments for the Throne Room to calm down and then for Ser Richard to begin to speak some more, this time the interruption was much louder, and the outburst she'd expected finally came.
"Lies, Lies, all of it is damn lies, he's a bastard, spawn of the seven hells and he's put you all under his spell. King, King, he's no king of mine, all he ever wished for was to take what wasn't his, to bring my family down so he could laugh at us all.
He's wicked and wanton as all bastards are and I curse the day he was spawned and the whore that gave birth to him. I curse the fact that I didn't smother him in his crib or throw him from the window of the nursery he had no right to be in. Each day he breathes is an affront to the Seven and I damn him and all of you for falling for his lies. Had I only truly known the depths that he would sink too then I'd have taken a knife and cut his filthy bastard throat myself.
My only mistake was letting others do what I should have done, as for this court, none of you have the right to judge me. I am true to my gods and can see what it is that none of you can. Mark my words if you don't rise up and slay this filthy bastard then he'll be the death of you all." Catelyn screamed.
Margaery rose from the throne and could see the shocked looks around the room, the woman standing in front of them had spittle coming from her mouth and so she turned from her and to the judges themselves.
"You've heard the evidence and the words from Lady Baelish's own lips, how do you find in this case?" she asked.
"Guilty." Lord Wyman said.
"Guilty." Tyrion said.
"Guilty." Ellaria said her eyes matching the fire of her dress as she did so.
Margaery sat back down on the throne, the ruling she was about to make needing the authority it provided.
"My husband despite what you tried to do to him Lady Baelish, despite the hurt you caused him over the years and the pain you caused him to feel, my husband would be merciful. Hearing the words you spoke here today my husband would be merciful still. Despite the fact that your actions robbed a family of a father and my husband of a Leal protector, my husband would be merciful." she said her voice firm and steady.
She waited for a moment before she spoke again, her voice now taking on a different tone.
"My husband would sentence you to live out your days out serving the faith, he'd send you to the Sept so those gods you claim to serve could see the benefits of your service. He would sentence you to the Silent Sisters so you could see the true pains of death and perhaps there reflect upon the life you stole and the one you tried to end. My husband has a true heart Lady Catelyn and he knows that despite you having none of your own, that your suffering would cause pain to those he cares for.
My husband, Lady Catelyn, would be merciful. I would not."
She looked at the woman and at her alone, the rest of the Throne Room fading away as Margaery stared into eyes that were still full of hate and showed no regret.
"Lady Catelyn Baelish, it is the sentence of this court that you are to executed for the crimes you've committed, may the seven have mercy on your soul." Margaery said to cheers as she rose and walked from the Throne Room.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He lay on the floor with his eyes closed and went traveling, over skies, over water, running through the fields, and then deep into a place that he cared not to be. Once he was done he opened his eyes and walked to the desk, reaching out and taking the paper out and began to write the letter. The words flowed though he wished they would not, Jae hating what he was about to do and yet knowing that he must do it anyway. When he was finished he walked to his room and began to put on his armor, standing in front of the looking glass to make sure he tied it just right.
While an impressive set it was nowhere near as impressive as his Valyrian suit was but it would be another moon or two until that was ready. Gendry had not been able to come when he sent for him and so the repairs were taking far longer than they would normally have. He'd thought about letting Tobho Mott work on it but in the end had decided that Gendry would be best, the smith having worked on it already once before. When he was done he picked up his sword and looked around the room before walking over to grab the journal and the bag of food that he wished to bring with him.
Ghost looked at him both in annoyance and judgment he felt, the wolf is not happy that he couldn't come with him and that he was leaving at all. Jae though knew he had to go and go now, Kinvara's words had only reinforced that. While Euron was a dangerous enemy and one they needed to deal with, there was one that needed dealing with first. Bloodraven couldn't be allowed to interfere again, either with events beyond the wall or with those on this side and while Jae felt he'd not be able to affect him as he had, he couldn't be certain. He knelt down in front of Ghost and told the wolf what he wished him to do before he moved towards the space in the wall.
"The cove." he said through his bond.
As he moved out into the tunnels and headed toward the one which would lead him out into the cove, he knew that upon his return he'd have much explaining to do. Jaime and the others would be angry with him and as for Margaery, it was best not to think about that for now at least. Jae knew that she'd be hurt, concerned, and angrier than she had ever been with him once she found the note, and yet he was willing to do what he must. It took him some time to walk through the tunnels and the darkness was welcome to him. The light when it finally did shine through pained his eyes and it took him some time to readjust.
Stepping out onto the cove he was happy to see Rhaenix there waiting for him and he almost ran the final few feet before he climbed up onto her back. He tied his pack to the saddle and almost as soon as he did so he was in the sky, Jae ready for the flight north and beyond the wall. The grove had been easy enough to find and the Weirwood that stood in it was incredible, Jae smiling at the thoughts of seeing it in person, if not at the thoughts of what else he'd see once he was there. To his surprise though it wasn't north that Rhaenix flew but to the south and when he asked her she answered with just one word.
"Home."
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed once again no reviews today, stupid work, I will get to them though. To all who celebrate it, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Up Next as Margaery fumes and the others worry, Euron makes a move. Val finds King's Landing to be a strange and confusing place and that she's not the only one who feels so. Ned welcomes a new addition to his family while Sansa goes to speak to her mother and Essos gets its first sight of a dragon as Jae flies closer to his destination.
