King's Landing 298 AC.

Ned.

He rushed from the Throne Room and ran to his rooms, almost bursting through the doors at the sounds of the screams that greeted him. Thankfully both his guards and Lya stopped him from doing so and he instead paced nervously outside their bed chamber while inside Ella and the Grandmaester did their work. Time seemed to stretch on and on and yet it was no more than a few moments after he'd arrived that the screams stopped. Ned looking around the room nervously before he got up from his seat and walked to the door.

Grandmaester Gormon opened it before he did, Ned looking over his shoulder to see that Elle was awake though he could see no sign of their babe. He waited until the man left the room and was standing in front of him before he began to ask his questions, only for the Grandmaester to speak his answers first.

"Your wife and the babe are both well, Lord Stark." Grandmaester Gormon said.

"They are?" he asked needing to hear it twice.

"They are and if you give us a few moments then you can go and see them both." the man said and he nodded as Gormon turned to walk back into the room.

"The babe, Grandmaester?" he asked.

"A boy, my lord." the Grandmaester said with a smile as he walked back into the room and closed the door behind him.

Ned sat down with a smile on his face, a son, another son. He already had two sons and two daughters that any father would be proud of. All four had grown up well and were on their paths and he could only hope that his new son would follow in his brother's and sister's footsteps. Looking around the room he was annoyed to see there was no ale and so instead he toasted his boy with water as he waited to be allowed in to see him and his wife. The Grandmaester taking some time to return from the room which made him worry some more. Only to find his worry was for naught and the delay was just about cleaning the bed sheets and allowing his wife to ready herself.

"You can go inside, Lord Stark." Gormon said.

"Thank you Grandmaester, for everything." he said to the man as he did so, Gormon telling him that he'd be back to check on them both and would see that a wet nurse was sent for.

Ned wasn't sure if that was on the man's recommendation or if it was something Elle had suggested and so he resolved to speak to his wife on the matter. Entering the room he saw her sitting up against the raised pillows, their babe in her arms and a warm smile on her face. When she bid him forward he moved eagerly and took a seat beside her. Looking from the babe to her and seeing her almost look nervously back at him.

"Our son, Ned." she said holding the babe out for him to take.

"You are well my love, you, the babe?" he asked as he reached out to take the bundle from her.

"Very much so." she said as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek before turning his eyes to his son.

He almost dropped him when he saw the grey eyes that stared back at him and the brown hair already growing on his head, the boy looking every inch a Stark. That he was reminded of a different babe and a different time made him feel bad that he wasn't just appreciating his son for who he was. Soon though he was laughing aloud as the noises the boy made reverberated around the room.

"Oh by the gods, he's so loud." Elle said laughing.

"A not so quiet wolf then." Ned said as he joined in on her laughter.

"Have you thought of a name?" Elle asked when their son quietened down.

"I had thought to leave it to you." he said surprising her.

He handed her back their son and watched as she played with his fingers and looked deep into his small face almost as if she was searching for a sign of what name he was to be known by. Elle smiling a few moments later when she apparently reached her decision.

"Rickon, Rickon Stark." she said and he looked to the babe himself.

"Aye, Rickon it is then." he said reaching for his son's tiny hand.

Were it up to him then he'd have stayed that way forever or for a while longer anyway, but the servants arrived. One to them carrying a crib and the other clearly a wet nurse and he was practically shooed from the room. The woman telling him that his wife and babe needed their rest and Elle saying that she wished to try and feed the babe also. He kissed them both, his wife on the lips and Rickon on the forehead, and left the room as he'd been bid.

Once outside, he sent for some ale to wet the babe's head and as he waited for it, he stared out the window with what he knew was a wide grin on his face. He'd not thought of more children and truth be told he had been content with the four he had. Meeting and falling for Elle had changed that though and he was more than happy to be a father once more. Hearing the door open, he turned to take his ale only to find Benjen and his children entering, Ned's smile growing ever wider once he saw them.

"You have a new brother." he said to no real response, only then noticing the looks on Robb and Arya's faces and on Benjen's too "Sansa?" he asked his daughter since she was the one who looked the least upset.

"That's great news father, Elle, the babe both are well?" Sansa asked and Ned answered before he saw the glare Arya shot her sister.

"They are, Rickon, Rickon Stark." he said smiling as he finally noticed that something had happened which had caused their upset "What?" he asked before Sansa then told him of the trial.

He fell to his seat and looked at them all, Arya looked worried and Robb lost. Benjen seemed not sure what to say or do and Sansa was seemingly already resolved to what had happened. Ned found that he could barely believe it and wondered how it had come to this. What Sansa said Cat had said would have left even Jaehaerys with no choice and that he'd left it to others to make the decision was perhaps for the best. But what could be done now? His nephew had wished for Cat to be sent to the faith. That was now off the table and no matter how their brother may feel about his sibling's wishes, he'd not go against his wife's ones.

"What did Jaehaerys say?" he asked Benjen who shook his head before speaking.

"No one has spoken to him, Ned, we came straight back here." Benjen said.

"You'll speak to him, won't you father, Jon said he was sending mother to the faith, he doesn't want her dead, he'll not, father he won't would he?" Arya said as Ned got up and grabbed his daughter, holding her tight as she sobbed against him.

"A trial by combat, I'll ask for a trial by combat." Robb said moving to the door.

"She's already been found guilty Robb, she'll not be given one." Sansa said.

"How can you be so….so unfeeling Sansa?." Robb said loudly to his sister.

"Do not confuse my acceptance for apathy, I feel plenty. This isn't down to me, or Jon or anyone of us, it's her, she did this and even here today she couldn't hide how she truly felt." Sansa said angrily looking at her brother "Or when you went to her did you not tell her to admit her guilt and beg forgiveness, brother?" she added when Robb didn't respond.

"Enough, Elle and your brother are resting. I'll speak to Jaehaerys but given what your mother said in court today, I'm afraid nothing can be done. Sansa is right on this, this is not down to any of us or to Jaehaerys, this is down to your mother and her actions." he said as Arya grabbed him tighter.

Sansa walked from the room saying she'd be back later to see the babe and Arya ended up curled against him on the couch while Robb, he, and Benjen each drank an ale. None of them speaking as the true extent of what had occurred today began to sink in. He should be sitting here as happy as he had ever been, welcoming his new son and celebrating his birth with his children and family. Instead, Cat had somehow managed to take that away from him and to once again cause hurt to his children. Ned hating the woman for it as well as feeling sympathy for her plight too and later that night only staring down at his son's face made him feel any sort of peace.

King's Landing 298 AC.

Margaery.

She held her hand up and walked past her mother and grandmother when they went to stop her, her anger threatening to boil over as she walked to her rooms. The sheer gall of that woman to speak of her husband in such a way. Were she a man she'd take her damn head herself. Her anger dissipated some the closer she got to her rooms, knowing that she'd now have to explain to her husband why she'd done as she had. Margaery hoping that Jae understood that yes while she thought it for the best the woman was executed for her crimes, she had been ready to defer to his wises, reluctantly though that would have been. When she reached the doors themselves she nodded to the two men of the hundred and walked into the room, calling out for her husband as she did so.

"Jae."

"Jae, we must speak." she said.

"Jae?" she called a little more loudly when there was no reply.

Upon receiving no answer she walked into their bed chambers and found no sign of her husband or of Ghost and so she moved to the doors. The two guards who'd been on duty had walked away and she wondered if Jae had just left them there to guard the room and gone somewhere else with some other guards. Thinking that was had happened, she was about to walk back into the room when she remembered that he'd sworn he'd not leave the rooms. That being the only reason why Ser Barristan had agreed to remove the Kingsguard from the doors themselves.

"The king, Ser Barristan, he's not in his chambers." she said as the knight looked worriedly at her.

She moved aside so he could search for himself while Ser Arthur called a servant and sent them after the two guards. Margaery waiting while Barristan searched and Arthur looked from her to the corridor the two men had walked down. It took but a moment for Barristan to come back looking even more worried and for the two men to return. Margaery listening as they confirmed that Jae had not left the room. Ready to sound the alarm she breathed a sigh of relief when Ghost appeared and yet she couldn't see Jae anywhere. The white wolf leading her to a note on the table that soon had her ire rising once more.

"I'll bloody kill him if he's done what I think he has." she said as she sat down and opened the note.

My love,

I know how angry you'll be at me and it's completely justified and so I won't tell you not to feel how you feel. I need to do this and it has to be now. Soon enough we'll be facing a war that we must win, Euron and Bloodraven will only be distractions to that war. Until I know more about this Dragonhorn that Euron supposedly has I can't face him and the dragons can't face him. We have more than enough to beat him without them but to do so we need to know what his plans may be. The Glass Candles aren't showing me, the warging isn't showing me and the only thing I can think is that Bloodraven is interfering with both somehow.

I don't truly understand the powers the man possesses but I know he fears me and if he fears me then he's right to do so. I intend to end him, Marge, to see him gone from this world before he does something that even I cannot stop. I believe once I've done so then I'll be able to get find out what Euron is doing and we can put a stop to him too. Speak to Shiera, yes I know how you feel but speak to her for me. She'll explain why I have to do what I'm doing and why it has to be now.

I'm sorry my love for doing this, truly I am, but it's what must be done,

I Love you always and I will return, I give you my oath on this.

Jae.

She crumpled up the note and threw it on the ground, not sure if she wished to scream out loud or to cry. Of all the stupid, idiotic, foolhardy things he could do, this is what he chose to do, on this day of all days. Were that all then she'd perhaps be more understanding but had he actually planned this and done so for some time? Was that why he didn't wish to face Catelyn Baelish at her trial? Was that the reason he picked her to sit in judgment? she believed it was and she feared her husband wasn't thinking clearly and was in no fit state to do as he intended. The worry soon rising inside of her and she needed to know just how fit he was.

"I wish to see Prince Aemon." she said only for Elinor to hesitate "Go, have him brought to me, now." she said a little loudly.

"Your grace?" Ser Barristan said moving to her after she'd not spoken for a few moments.

"My husband has decided now is a good time to fly North of the Wall, Ser Barristan, he's gone to deal with this Bloodraven." she said before stopping "That red priestess, the one who arrived with Benjen Stark and the Wilding woman?"

"Kinvara, your grace." Barristan said.

"Aye her, have her and the woman, Val, have them both brought to me." she said and Barristan nodded.

She got up from her chair and walked over to pick up the note, placing it back on the table and cursing her husband once more. Her anger had been replaced mainly by worry now though she knew that once she alleviated her concerns about his fitness that anger would return in spades. Margaery trying not to imagine him falling from Rhaenix's back or being too weak to fight, something she feared he very much was. Jae had recovered some but his strength had not yet returned and Loras had told her that he'd not even crossed swords with anyone since before he'd fallen.

"Father, please protect him." she said softly praying to the gods.

It took some time for Aemon to arrive and after speaking to him she found that he put some of her worst fears about her husband's condition at rest. Jae wouldn't be falling off Rhaenix anytime soon and while not physically where he should be, he wasn't as far off as she had feared. Speaking to Kinvara and then to Val though soon brought up other concerns.

"You wished to see us your grace?" Kinvara said as she and the blond wilding woman were brought into the room, Margaery noticing for the first time just how pretty the blond truly was.

"I did, the lands beyond the wall, describe them to me." Margaery asked.

"I don't understand your grace?" Kinvara asked.

"What are they like? How would someone like me fare there?" she asked and saw Val smirk yet hold her tongue.

"None from the South would fare well there." Val said not using her title which for now she let fly.

"Why not?" she asked curiously.

"The lands beyond the wall are cold and barren, there are not much of your southern comforts. Even for those of us born there, it's a hard life and we know the signs. What to watch out for, where to find shelter. You kneelers, you'd not be so lucky." Val said.

"Yet you survived there did you not Lady Kinvara?" she asked.

"I did your grace. I walked with my god's favor." Kinvara said with a smile.

"And my husband is his chosen, or so you say." she said pointedly.

"He is, your grace."

"So he would be safe there?" she asked trying to keep the extent of her concern from her voice.

"As safe as he would be anywhere, your grace." Kinvara said though Val seemed to be far more skeptical.

"You don't agree?" she asked looking to the blond who shook her head.

"No offense but from what I saw of the prince, he doesn't seem the type to do well beyond the wall." Val said and Margaery felt ready to snap to Jae's defense, only her own anger at him stopping her from doing so.

"My husband has not been himself lately, Val, perhaps you should speak to some of the people who know him best before making such judgments." she said glaring at the woman who surprisingly didn't falter.

"Perhaps."

"I think you both for your time." she said dismissing them.

She got up from her seat when they had gone and let the anger wash over her, the concerns fading a little for now. Instead, her annoyance at him leaving her to deal with an inevitable war and the aftermath of the trial now brought to the fore. True he had no idea that she'd sentence the woman to die and so that was partly on her, thought mainly on Catelyn herself, but the war he knew all about. She turned from the window and called for Elinor, tasking her with calling for a small council meeting.

Asking Ser Barristan to step into the room she spoke to him about the procedures for executions, finding out as much as she needed to and then taking a seat at her desk once more as she began to write out notes. Once she was done, she walked from the room, Ghost by her side and though he too was someone she was not best pleased with, she welcomed his presence all the same. As she did Ser Barristan's and Ser Arthur's, the two knights just as displeased with Jae as she was, and both were sure to give her husband pieces of their own minds when he returned.

Entering into the room, she was not surprised to find her grandmother and Willas to be already waiting, her grandmother looking concernedly at her which she hoped her small smile alleviated somewhat. Prince Oberyn, Ser Richard, Lord Wyman, and Gormon all arrived a few moments later, and then finally Jaime walked in. Lord Monford had been set to task already and so was unavailable and Margaery hoped that what they'd sent him do was the right thing.

"There is much we need to discuss, starting with my husband." she said as she started the meeting.

King's Landing 298 AC.

Val.

This place was one of the strangest she'd ever visited and she'd been to Ruddy Hall more than once. The size and scope of it was something she couldn't even begin to grasp. Nor the sheer amount of people that seemed to dwell in it. The so-called Red Keep itself had more people moving about than Hardhome. As for the city, she could barely believe there were so many people in the world let alone that this was just some of them.

Where the food came from to feed them all she couldn't understand, no one seemed to hunt, no one actually seemed to do anything to her eyes. They just drank, ate, and didn't even fuck, or at least she'd not yet heard or seen anyone do so. They'd put her in a room with a warm bed and blankets and a fire that had barely needed to be lit. The first night she'd stayed in her bed she'd almost found herself lost in the size of it. Then she had nearly gutted the girl who came into her room the next morning. Val thinking the girl had come to steal her when for some reason all she'd come for was to change her bedclothes. Why there was a need to change them after she'd only slept in them the once, she felt was odd. Or perhaps they were telling her she smelt and that she was unclean. If so gods only knew what they'd think were Tormund or The Lord of Bones who'd come here, she had thought with a chuckle.

The king and queen were odd, young and green both of them yet likable too and she'd smiled when the king had read the note from Mance and what he'd said about it. She had to admit though if Kinvara had thought this green boy was some prophesied prince then she was very much mistaken. At least she'd thought that right up until when the queen had asked her about him surviving beyond the wall. She'd thought it right until she'd saw them in the sky and then hearing that the king's was larger than all the others, she'd thought it no more.

"Bigger than that one?" she asked Benjen Stark, the man serving unofficially as her guide and the King's envoy.

"Those three." he said pointing to the three smaller ones "Were brought into the world by my nephew's aunt."

"Your sister." she said and he chuckled as he shook his head.

"A long story but no, goodsister though like you are to Mance." he said and she nodded.

"And that one?" she said pointing to the Bronze that was a good deal larger than the other three.

"Was brought by my nephew " Benjen said his pride clear in both his words and the look on his face.

"Just like his own." she said.

"Aye, Rhaenix was hatched first, then Lygaron. Then Ellagon, Rhaegal, Sandorix." he said pointing each of them out to her.

"Those are stupid fucking names." she said to a laugh which she'd found she'd come to like.

"Targaryens." he said shrugging his shoulders.

"I thought your nephew was a Stark?" she asked.

"He is." Benjen said with a smile.

She looked up at the dragons as they flew closer, Val truly seeing the size of the green one when it came closest of all. The idea of just one of these on her people's side let alone all five filled her with more hope than seeing the king had. She followed after Benjen as the dragons flew by, the two of them walking down the hill and into the city itself. That there were guards behind them had at first made her question whether she was a prisoner or not. Only for Benjen to tell her, they were for him because of who his nephew was.

Moving through the city itself was a unique experience, seeing just how many people there truly were there as they moved past you, was something that took her breath away. As did the smells in the city itself, food being cooked, bread, meat, and fruits all fighting with the overbearing smell of shit that she'd smelt since she'd arrived. Val seeing the reason for that smell as they walked down streets as people just emptied buckets of waste from their windows. People did that and lived in those conditions and yet would dare to call her people savages. Even the worst of the Free Folk knew you didn't shit where you ate and lived, yet these people were the civilized ones she thought mockingly.

When Benjen stopped at a building she looked at him confused but he just bid her join him inside. Val doing so rather than stand outside alone. Inside there were people sitting in a hall of some sort, drinks being drunk and food eaten and they were shown to a table. Val looking on eagerly as a plate of food and some drinks were brought her way.

"I was told this is the best tavern in Westeros, it's owned by my nephew's Hand." Benjen said as he picked up some ice and dropped it into her mug before filling it with ale.

"His right or his left?" she asked as she picked up a piece of chicken from the plate, it's warmth and whatever it was covered in seeming enticing to her.

"No, Lord Jaime, the Hand of the King, not his actual hand." Benjen said with a chuckle.

"What the fuck is it with you people and your need for stupid fucking names?"

"It's the South Val, a much different world than the one you and I know." Benjen said his voice more serious and she nodded glad to have someone wh felt as she did close by .

She ate the chicken and then grabbed another piece, the taste just as good as it had looked, and when she took a swallow of the ale she found she enjoyed it greatly. The ice cooled it down and with the warm food, the contrast was most pleasing on her tongue. In time she had another and she and Benjen began talking of their families. Benjen speaking of his brother and his brother's children, his nephew, and finally his sister who had been the king's mother.

"She passed?" she asked as she saw just how sad the mention of his sister made him.

"When Jae was born." he said softly.

"I'm sorry." she said truthfully and he smiled and nodded at her.

"Your own family?" he asked.

"There's just me Dalla and the babe, Mance to I suppose. Me Da died on a hunt and me Ma got the fever." she said, her own sadness covered somewhat as she took another swallow of the ale.

"What do your people want, Val, truly?" he asked after they'd been silent too long.

"To be safe, Benjen, to live in a world free of crows trying to kill us, but mostly we want to live." she said.

They finished the meal and the drinks, Val watching as Benjen gave a girl some coins, and then they were walking from the tavern and through the city once more. He led her up a street where she saw some men making weapons that her people would give their right arms for. Leaving it they walked down another where women stood at doors and showed their skin as they bid men enter. On another, she saw children playing with smiles on their faces and she stood and watched them as they ran about without a care in the world.

The last street he took her to was filled with a huge crowd of people, Val looking nervously at him while Benjen just stared at the front of the crowd. On a raised platform men and women handed out packages to those from the crowd, each of them taking their package and moving on to allow the next person to get theirs. She watched for some time before she began to listen to the voices. Mothers speaking to children, husbands to wives, and all were saying the same thing.

"May the seven bless The White Wolf and The Golden Rose."

"Thank the seven for King Jaehaerys and Queen Margaery."

After watching for some time, Benjen finally nodded to her and they turned and walked back to the Red Keep. She listened as he explained to her along the way, that ever since he could his nephew and his wife had even before they were king and queen did all they could to feed the people. That he'd heard the tales of here and of in the North and had wished to see it for himself. Not because he doubted they were true but just so he could say he'd seen it with his own eyes.

It was that more even than the dragons that filled her with hope as they arrived back at the keep, that and then looking to see women fighting in the yard they walked by. Val finding out that these women were the daughters of a prince and her image of the ladies she'd seen walking in the Red Keep shattered just a little. She looked to Benjen Stark and found him to be blushing when she caught his eye. Val feeling a small stirring of her heart because of it. Thankfully two things happened that stopped her mind from having to go to a place that she feared it would. The first was an offer to join in the fights from the oldest of the girls, Val hearing her call out to ask her to join them.

"I've never fought a spearwife, what say you Val, feel like a spar?" the woman holding a spear said and Val looked to see Benjen looking eagerly at her almost as if he was daring her to do so.

"Aye, why not." she said stepping forward.

The second reason her mind didn't go to where she feared, was one that stopped her in her tracks. The pack of Direwolves's was something she'd seen already, the white one was something she had not. Looking at it as it walked beside the queen and stared down at her, Val felt she was looking at the face of the olds gods themselves. For surely if they were to take the form of an animal this would be the one they'd choose. It's snow-white fur and deep red eyes made it look like the Weirwood Trees and marked it as a true representation of the gods as any could be.

"Ghost." she heard the queen say and the wolf stopped looking her way and Val knew then that the wolf belonged to the king.

As she moved and took an ax from the rack and walked over to face the woman with the spear, as her eyes almost of their own accord turned to see if Benjen was watching her, her mind focussed on the white wolf. The king had a dragon, he cared for the people and the old gods had gifted him with the living breathing symbol of their truth. Val felt she'd misjudged him greatly and that on this perhaps Kinvara had the truth of things. As she stood her ground and bid the other woman make a move, she was beginning to think he was indeed the Prince that was Promised and that maybe just maybe, her people would live after all.

The Iron Islands 298 AC.

Euron.

His brother had betrayed him, good, best to know that upfront he thought as he wiped his lips and drank another glass of the blue liquid. The visions soon coming to him once more as he leaned back in his seat in his cabin. He had always known that Victarion was weak. Any Iron Born who lost a battle to the Greenlanders at sea had to be and his brother had lost more than one. Euron had not and nor would he, he was a god and gods laughed in the face of men and laugh he would he thought as he closed his eyes and welcomed the visions.

The white dragon flew alone through the sky before landing in front of him, Euron walking to it as it bowed its head. He climbed up onto its back and was then in the air, the city soon in front of him, and only when it was did he allow the dragon to let loose its flames. Soon the sky was filled with four other dragons and they came at him as one. The white dragon was bigger though, stronger and it tore them apart one by one, bathing their torn bodies in its flames as they fell from the sky.

Accepting the surrender of the city from the golden rose herself was the best aphrodisiac a man could ask for. Euron feeling his hardness as real both in the vision and in the cabin he sat in. He looked on as the crown was placed on his head, as men knelt and women wept and the golden rose stood beside him. She was fearful and yet there was excitement in her eyes too and Euron longed to take her then and there. Perhaps he would have if the visions didn't change and these ones were far different.

Ships were destroyed and flames bathed the islands, the Silence sailing fast while being chased by dragons and men. He saw the armor that even put his own to shame, the thin sword in the man's hand as he moved towards him on the deck of his ship. The ax he held in his hand and his hand itself were both knocked to the deck as he fell to his knees. The man in the armor then moved toward him and raised the thin sword high, Euron laughing as the blow begin to come his way.

He saw it then, the time before the time, one of his tongueless freaks blowing the horn and the dragon not coming when it was bid. The sound ringing out hollow and untrue and the Dragonbinder binding nothing at all. The vision changed once more. In one he blew the horn and the White Dragon came, flew, and fought over the city and they named him the God-King. In another, someone else blew it and the Iron Fleet, Pyke, and eventually, he burned. The implication clear as was the voice he heard in his head.

"Only a god can control a god." the voice said as Euron began to laugh.

He woke up who knows how long later, covered in sweat and piss and he wondered had he pissed himself or did some other fuck come in and piss on him. Laughing at the thought as he changed from his sodden clothes. Walking from his cabin he headed down into the bowels of the ship. Passing by the salt wives, disloyal pirates, and traitors that the cells contained and into the last one where the warlocks were chained and bound.

"Can he see me?" he asked as the warlock shook his head. Even though he still held his tongue for now the man knowing better than to use it in his presence "You're sure?" he said taking his knife and sticking it in the man's shoulder.

The man nodded more vigorously now, the smoke that came from the blade showing it was having the desired effect. Euron smiled as he looked at the black glass dagger and wondered how such a simple thing could have the desired effect. Steel could kill warlocks but it couldn't hurt them, yet Dragonglass caused them incredible pain. How he knew this he couldn't tell but know it he did and it had gained him many things. The secrets he'd learned from these men were almost as important as the ones the voice told him when he slept. Euron was the master of both of them as only a god could be.

Leaving the warlocks he walked past the cages, the empty one making him frown. The Reader should be tied to the wall of that cage and had he more time to do what needed to be done, then he'd have gone to Harlaw to drag him to it himself. The voice though was adamant that the time had come to sail from the Iron Islands and so sail he would. When he reached the deck he looked around him at the fleet he'd assembled. Iron Born, Pirates from the Stepstones, former Sell Sails from Essos all eager for easy plunder. The largest fleet that any who wore the driftwood crown had ever had at their command and he'd need them all.

"Fire the arrow." he said to one of the tongueless freaks, the man doing as he bid immediately as he knew better than most what happened should you dally.

Euron looked on as the arrow flew through the air and the Iron Fleet began to sail, smiling to himself as he stood looking out over the bow. His arms wrapping around his brother's head as the waves made the Damphair even damper. Soon enough Pyke was left in their wake and the ships began to split off, each group of them had their own orders. Some would sail North and some West, more to harry and annoy than to actually take some land, though with luck Bear Island would fall. The rest would join him as they plundered the Reach, the insult and meaning clear and a dragon would soon be on its way to restore his wife's honor.

It took them a few days to pass Faircastle, Euron looking with his Myrish Eye to see the island was on full alert and smiling at the sight. He outright laughed when he saw Lannisport and watched the ships began to sail into their inevitable doom. Euron feeling no sympathy for the souls he'd sent to their deaths. Losses were inevitable in war and he would lose many in this one but in the end, he'd have a dragon to call his own and a golden rose as his queen and he cared not how many men it cost to see it done.

"Blow the Horn, Euron, Blow it yourself and he will come." the voice said in his ear as he laughed maniacally, his destination clear in his mind and the Realm about to find out what the Kraken could truly do.

King's Landing 298 AC.

Sansa.

Her little brother was so adorable, Sansa feeling like she was holding the most precious thing in the world and cooing at the babe as he nibbled on his fingers. Elle was finally up and about and Sansa marveled at just how active the woman was only two days after birthing a babe. Her father was quiet and had gone to speak to the queen about their mother, the answer he got being the one she'd expected. That Jae wasn't there and had flown off on Rhaenix would normally not have worried her so but seeing how it affected Margaery and how Arya and Robb were disappointed by it, she found it very much did.

She handed Rickon back to Elle when the babe made the noises that she'd come to realize meant he was hungry, and then she got up to walk from the room. Sans had made the mistake of staying once already and seeing Elle bear her breast so the babe could eat was not something she felt she shouldn't be present for. Finding herself blushing as Elle began to undo the ties on her dress and so quickly saying her goodbyes before leaving the room.

"Are they asleep?" her father asked when she walked from the room and Sansa shook her head.

"Feeding." she said.

"He truly is a hungry little wolf." her father said chuckling a little.

"Aye, he is. I'll speak to you later father, it's time for my duties." she said kissing his cheek, and then she heading from the room.

She walked down the corridors with Fang beside her, her wolf having waited for her outside the door as it had played with her mother and father. Robb, Arya, and Cregan were spending time with her uncle Benjen and she wished she could join them but she knew that Margaery needed her too. Sansa had already been given way more latitude than the other ladies in waiting already. Mira, Elinor, and Megga almost covering her duties while Margaery allowed her to spend time with her brother and to come to terms with what was soon to happen with her mother.

That it was to be so soon had been a surprise, Sansa like the others expecting it to be postponed until Jae arrived back. Margaery though was adamant that the sentence having been passed needed to be carried out in a certain amount of time and that since she had no idea when her errant husband would return it was left to her. Sansa tried her best not to chuckle at how angry and irritated Margaery was with her brother. Though it was something she found that she was as well.

Neither of them truly feared for his safety, even if both would much prefer he had Arthur, Barristan, Walder, or Ghost with him. Still, she had seen her brother fight and while it was true he was recovering, Prince Aemon and the Grandmaester had said it would be days and not weeks until he was back at full strength. No, it wasn't worry for his safety that made his absence irritate her so, it was not being able to speak to him. Not being able to hear him offer her words of comfort and let her know that the feelings she was having didn't make her a monster. That in believing her mother was receiving a just sentence, or didn't make her uncaring or lacking a heart. She tried her best to clear her troubled mind as she reached the queen's chambers, smiling upon noticing that Loras and Ser Walder were on duty this day.

"Lady Sansa." she heard Loras say as he opened the door and she walked into the room.

Margaery was sitting with Lord Jaime, her grandmother, and Prince Oberyn, the two men noticing her entrance and nodding to her while Olenna and Margaery looked at some maps that were spread out on the table in front of them. Sansa walked to them and took up her position, Margaery finally noticing her and giving her a warm smile, while Olenna simply nodded at her and motioned to the empty tray. Moving quickly she picked it up and called for a servant to see some more wine and refreshments brought. Having them placed on the table a few moments later when the servant returned and receiving a warm smile from Olenna as she ate some of the soft cheese.

"What if he attacked in multiple places?" Margaery said pointing to the map "Here, here and here." she heard her say.

"He doesn't have the men or the ships for such a thing your grace." Jaime said as she listened in.

"No, but Jae told me that sometimes you try to appear weak when you're strong." Margaery said as Oberyn smiled and nodded along "If he sent what looked to be a large force here, another here, and then his true intent was here, what would we do?"

She listened as both Jaime and Prince Oberyn began to make plans, Jaime telling her that the West was safe, as was the North in his estimation, and were it him leading the attack it would be to the Reach he would go. Oberyn speaking and sharing his own thoughts which mainly lined up with what Jaime had said.

"How many Pinnacle ships can we call on?" Margaery asked.

"Without bringing those back from Essos which would be pointless, in total five and ten. Lord Wyman has three of his own guarding the Eastern Shore and I'd keep three of ours here just in case." Jaime said.

"Where are they?" Olenna asked speaking of the Pinnacle ships Sansa was sure and hearing the answer Jaime gave, she found she was proved right.

"One is in Faircastle and there are four in Lannisport itself. My uncle has eight with him and two more are patrolling outside of Oldtown." Jaime said.

"The Shields, your grace." Oberyn said as they all looked to him "Were it me I'd start there before I headed for Oldtown and the Arbor." he added.

"Can we get word to Lord Kevan?" Olenna asked.

"They took the birds with them did they not?" Sansa said moving forward and the four of them turned to look at her as one.

"Jae is not here, Sansa." Margaery said her irritation at that fact and not her question clear for all to see.

"No, but he's not the only warg we have. But that's not even what I mean, Ghost, your grace." Sansa said and Margaery looked at her confusedly before smiling when she understood.

"Of course, of course." Margaery said smiling as she put her hands on her shoulders and pulled her in close to give her a warm hug.

It took some time for the others to realize what her intent was and when they did she felt a swell of pride at how they looked at her. The small approving nod Olenna gave her the equal of a thousand words of praise. After some more discussion, Jaime and Oberyn left leaving her alone with Margaery and Olenna. Sansa quickly sensing they both wished to speak to her and it didn't take her too long to guess what it would be about.

"Sansa, join us we're about to have tea." Margaery said and she nodded as she took her seat, the servant arriving with it far too quickly for it to be something that had not been agreed upon before now.

She sat nervously as Margaery poured and when she took the cup from her friend's hands she almost dropped it. Her hands shaking as she placed it on the table and saw the worried look that Margaery gave her grandmother.

"I told you we should do this differently, grandmother." Margaery said as she reached her hand out to place it on her own "You know what I wish to speak to you of, don't you?" Margaery asked andSansa nodded that she did.

"I understand how you may feel, Sansa, god knows I have no desire to speak to that woman, but she's your mother still and though you may not wish it, you need to do it." Olenna said.

"I have nothing to say to her." she said shaking her head.

"I know, gods, Sansa, I can't even begin to imagine what you must think. I know how I do regards that woman and I know that Jae were he here would never tell you that it was something you must do. But I'm not my husband and so I will, you must do this Sansa, trust me you'll regret it should you not." Margaery said as she moved closer to her.

"I don't want to see her." she said shaking her head "I don't want to, I don't want to." she said as the tears began to fall.

How long she was held by the queen she couldn't tell but to her and to Margaery she knew it was her friend that comforted her and not her queen. She wasn't being ordered to go and see her mother, it was still her choice to do so but her friend knew how she felt and though she wasn't her brother, her advice was just as heartfelt. When she had calmed down and the tears had stopped falling, she nodded and Margaery told her to take the day. Offering that if she wished to speak to her, she was to come by at any time and Sansa thanked her for the offer.

The walk down the corridor and then down into the cells was a long one and were Fang not by her side then she didn't think she could have made it. She was barely able to put one foot in front of another and by the time she reached her mother's cell, she was on the verge of running back up the stairs. Fang sensed her discomfort and she felt the wolf lean against her, her fingers soon running through its fur as she calmed somewhat and nodded to the guard.

"I'm here to see my mother." she said and the man nodded as he opened the door, obviously already expecting her, and despite how she felt smiled at the knowledge that Margaery knew her better than she did herself.

She entered the cell and saw her mother sitting silently on the bed, her hair streaked with grey and Sansa thought she was looking even older than she had at the trial. Despite how she felt for her, the sight provoked some sympathy and so it was in a far softer tone she spoke than she had intended.

"Mother." she said as her mother's head turned towards her voice.

"Oh thank the gods, Sansa, my sweet Sansa, I knew you'd come." her mother said smiling at her and Sansa did her very best to smile back.

"How are you mother?" she said though this was a little more stiffly than she wished.

"I told you, Sansa, I told you what he would do, how he was. Please tell me you've finally seen the truth of the bastard for yourself. At least let what he's doing to me lead to that, if so then I'll gladly go and meet the Seven." her mother said.

"What he's doing to you? You did this mother, you, not Jon, not my brother." she said as her mother's expression changed.

"Bewitched, you're all bewitched, I've failed, by the seven I've failed you all." her mother said and Sansa found herself very much in agreement with that.

"You did. You were supposed to be our mother, to share our joy and seek what was best for us. Instead, you tried to take our brother away, a brother who only wished to see us happy. I'm to be married mother, married to the sweetest, kindest, most gentle man in Westeros. One day I'll be Lady Sansa Tyrell, the Lady of Highgarden. Jon did that, my brother who stood up for me, who sought to make all of my dreams come true, he did that. It was supposed to be you, mother, you were who was supposed to see me lead the life I dreamed off." she said her voice rising at the end.

"A cripple, he'd have you wed to a cripple and see you a lady. I'd have seen you made a queen and married to a true king. Instead, you're to marry a cripple and a bastard sit's the throne that should have been yours." her mother said, Sansa's hand moving of its own accord and the slap ringing out around the cell.

"You are truly a hateful woman, a cruel and spiteful woman and I curse the fact that you're my mother and I have to live with the shame of what you tried to do. A true king, Joffrey, you're deluded and blind and no mother of mine." she said turning to the door.

"All of you, he stole all of you from me." her mother shrieked and Sansa turned back to look at her.

"No mother, you tried to steal him from us and the gods saw fit to punish you for it. Goodbye mother, I'll mourn the woman you once wore and not this thing that now sits in front of me. When you get to your gods and look them in the eye, see how they treat you, and judge you for your crimes. You tried to kill my brother, a brother I love with all my heart, be thankful it was the queen and the gods who judged you and not I." she said as she banged on the door and stormed from the cell.

She was in a daze, not even Fang able to calm her anger or soothe her troubled heart. Sansa walking directionless and not even seeing the people as they passed her by. How long she walked for she didn't know and as she stood in front of the door and knocked against it she could only hope it would be answered. Sansa throwing herself into his arms when he did so and crying against his chest as he brought her inside.

"Sansa?" Willas said as he moved her to the couch.

"Hold me, please, just hold me." she said as she sobbed and he held her until she calmed and began to relax, Willas allowing her to speak and take her time to explain it all and then kissing her softly on her lips when she bid him to do so with her eyes.

Essos 298 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

They flew over Storm's End and The Stepstones, Jae considering landing on the islands but seeing no true sign of life beneath them and very few ships. It made him worry about Euron Greyjoy and yet he knew that he was no nearer to understanding what this Dragonbinder did and so no nearer to being able to deal with the man. When he saw the Essosi coast beneath them he told Rhaenix to land, his sister finding a large hill that overlooked a wide-open plain and Jae feeling it to be perfect for them to rest up at.

Rhaenix came in slow and he looked around to see that they were truly all alone, Essos a bit out of his field of knowledge, and its people were almost completely unknown to him. Friendly or not it was for the best they didn't see him and Rhaenix. As friendly intent could soon turn to worried actions and he wasn't quite ready for a fight just yet. When she landed he told her to go and feed and after some back and forth she reluctantly agreed, or she did once he promised he'd not leave the hill. Jae starting a fire on his own once Rhaenix had taken to the sky.

He sat looking into the flames and eating the fruit and dried bread he brought with him, washing it down with water from his pouch and knowing he'd need to refill it before they reached their destination. Closing his eyes he reached out around him and soon found a small bird in a tree, Jae knocking on the door and the bird welcoming him as he took it into the sky. Soon enough he was looking down upon himself and it was clear he was days away from any other living thing. Jae relaxing and allowing the bird to go on its way as he reached out further and searched for Euron Greyjoy once more. Again he couldn't find him and so he reached out to Ghost, finding the white wolf curled up asleep beside his wife in their bed. Soon he was smelling the salt of the tears that had fallen from her eyes before she had slept.

Rhaenix arrived back before he could become too upset himself, his sister having eaten a full meal and she was keen for him to come and share with her. Jae doing so both because he needed to clear his mind and because he couldn't reach out and share with his wife.

"We have to go home, Jae." Rhaenix said.

"Why?" he asked.

"You know why." she replied.

"No, why now? I always intended to go back home with you, why now, Rhae?"

"We have to." she said not sharing anymore and Jae feeling annoyed with her for once, something that amused her greatly.

"Now you know how it feels like when you don't share." she said making him chuckle despite his annoyance.

"Fair enough" he said before leaning up closer against her.

He slept against her scales, her warmth was enough to make the cold night's chill feel like a summer's eve. When he woke up the next morning he broke his fast on the dried bread and began to stretch. Spending an hour just moving with his sword as the sun rose over the hill. His sister just sat and watched him, her eyes never leaving him and somehow it made him feel as if he was with Jaime or Arthur. Rhaenix's watchful eyes almost seeming to tell him to move faster or slower, to spin or not and by the end of the hour, he couldn't tell if he was directing his movements or if it was she that was doing so.

Once he was ready he climbed up on her back and they were quickly in the sky once more, this time heading south. That night they stopped by a stream and Rhaenix hunted and brought him fresh meat to eat. Jae packing some of it away and salting it before filling two pouches with water the next morning. as they readied to leave once more. It was as they were flying that day that he saw them below, a Dothraki Khalasar on the march. Jae marveling at the sheer mass of people that were moving and more so at the fact that they didn't seem too disturbed to see a Dragon flying over their heads.

As the day moved on they flew over a city and Rhaenix it seemed was in the mood to play. His sister spreading her flames in the air and flying low enough over the city that people could clearly see he was riding on her back. It took him a few passes to recognize the city itself, the large Red Temple, the Long Bridge, and the Black Walls of the old city letting him know it was Volantis they flew over. Something that Rhaenix had known long before he and he heard his sister's voice in his head as they then flew over the palaces behind the Black Walls.

"This was what we could do once Jae, our people could build such wonders and look how they still stand." she said.

"Before the doom, Rhae." he said.

"But why only then, Jae?" she asked.

He had no answer to give and soon enough she got tired of her game, the people below them waving up at his sister as she flew over their heads. Some of them cheering her on in awe while others covered and pointed at her out of fear. They were heading south once more and he felt it long before he saw it in the distance. The broken lands of his forefathers stretching out as far as the eye could see. His heart beating faster as did Rhaenix's when they flew ever closer to their destination.

They flew over the Smoking Sea and the ruined cities below them, Jae trying to remember the maps he'd looked at many years before, the names on the tip of his tongue before they then started to come to him. Tyria, Oros, and Valyria itself and it was to there that Rhaenix was bringing him, Jae feeling something stir in his blood when finally they flew over the ruins of the city below them. Unlike Volantis, Rhaenix had no urge to show off and no one to show off to. His sister landing in a large open space and Jae seeing the discarded saddles and what looked to be weapons and armor scattered around him.

He climbed down from his sister's back and walked to her head, eager to know if she felt it too, this power, this charge that now raced through his veins. Looking into her eyes he could see that she did and so he turned to look at the ruined city around him. The voices soon coming and though he couldn't make out what they said, he didn't need to hear that to know who they were. Rhaenix rubbing against his head and then letting out a sound he'd never heard her make before. It wasn't a roar or a trill and it most certainly wasn't pained, his sister sounding happier than he had ever thought anyone could.

"Home, Jae, We're home." he said as she made the sound once more.

A/N: Unfortunately I'm still behind so still no reviews, I will get to them though. Up Next, Harrold Hardyng arrives to kneel to a queen rather than a King and the Vale lords learn their fate. Benjen gets to know more of his family as he and Val get a little closer. Margaery and Shiera have a long overdue sit down as Euron attacks and Bloodraven watches. Cat faces her fate at last. While Jae connects with Ghost before exploring Valyria and finds out hidden truths and secrets that reveal his true destiny.