King's Landing 298 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

He spent most of the night sitting on a chair by the bed, almost as if he was forcing himself not to actually get into it. Part of that he knew was that he didn't or couldn't actually believe she'd sent him from their room. Jae had thought it while not a jape, as her anger was true, it was to be a temporary thing, a lesson he was to be taught that would quickly be learned and they could then kiss and make up. So at first, he had refused to get into his bed as he waited for Margaery to come to her senses. Then as it got darker outside and it began to look as if she wasn't going to, he had refused out of principle.

Now hours later, he was tired and still hadn't given in, only the closing of his eyes and the fact that it had been more than a week since he'd slept in a bed forcing him to do so. He undressed so angrily that he actually ripped his shirt, he then climbed into the bed and was immediately faced with just how large and empty it truly was. Be it because of this or that he was still fuming about the fact he'd been sent here, sleep was fitful, and less than a couple of hours later he was up and about. He walked to the window and looked out, the night sky was clear and the moon shone down and he knew that he really needed to get out of this room. Moving back to pick up his clothes, he saw the torn shirt and sighed. Jae wondering how he could get back into his room to dress, before he remembered that his clothes weren't there.

When he saw them all neatly put away he felt his anger rise once more. Hearing that they'd been moved and seeing them were two different things and as he dressed he was grinding his teeth and shaking his head. Once done he walked from the bed chamber and headed to the door, finding Loras and Ser Richard Horpe to be on guard and wondering where Arthur had gone. His eyes were immediately drawn down the corridor towards his room and such was his anger that he almost turned and walked to it. Only that he was afraid of what he may say to his wife stopping him from doing so. Instead, he turned and walked the other way, walking through the Red Keep and out the doors and onto the balcony that overlooked the sparring yard. Jae stopping and leaning against the wall to calm himself before he walked down the stairs and moved over to one of the straw dummies when he could not.

"How long has he been here?" he heard a voice ask from behind him, Jae had already moved to another dummy after he and Dark Sister had almost completely destroyed the first one.

"Since just before dawn." Loras replied and Jae found he had no desire to see who he was speaking to.

Instead, he just went through the motions, all sense of skill or technique was forgotten as the sword was basically used as a club and the straw flew in all directions. Were it not for Tommen and Martyn arriving then Jae was sure he'd have moved on to a third dummy. The sound of the two boys as they walked over to the tourney swords finally forcing him to turn away and lower his sword. Jae looked at the two boys who he could see had heard or seen he was in the sparring yard for the first time in more than a moon and had come down hoping for a lesson.

"Which of you is first?" he asked smiling at them, happy when they both relaxed and Tommen moved forward.

"Me, your grace." Tommen said and Jae motioned for him to grab him the thin tourney sword, Martyn handing it to him and Jae tried not to laugh when Tommen practically ran over to give him it.

He spent more than two hours with the boys, going over stances, sparring, pitting them against each other, and telling Martyn to teach rather than beat the younger boy. After that, he sparred with Ser Richard Horpe, Loras and as he was doing so the sparring yard grew ever more crowded. More and more people either coming down for their own morning spars or they had heard the king was out here and so had come to see him fight. Jae was glad to see Oberyn and his girls arrive a little while later. His uncle smiling at him as did his cousins and soon enough he was facing off against Obara while Oberyn awaited his turn.

"Has my nephew not exhausted himself yet?" Oberyn asked when Jae beat Obara, Jae laughing as he shook his head and saw Benjen and Val arrive together, the two of them walking almost side by side.

"Not even close, uncle." he said as Oberyn spun his spear.

He knew Oberyn wouldn't go easy on him and so he moved to grab the small tourney dagger, seeing his uncle's smirk when he did so. The two of them took up their positions and he looked around the yard, the crowd full now, and yet he was disappointed by who was not there. Margaery was nowhere in sight and Jae realized that as much as he'd come out to fight through his anger, he'd mainly come out here hoping that his wife would come and watch. As Oberyn thrust his spear, Jae was sure he could see that disappointment on his face. His uncle doing his best to give him something else to concentrate on.

Jae parried the spear and moved back when Oberyn jumped his way. Soon enough the two of them were spinning and jumping both towards and back from each other. Jae more than once being inches away from being taken to the ground as Oberyn swung low trying to take his feet from under him. As for himself, the thin sword felt heavy in his hands compared to Dark Sister, his swings were slower and the fatigue was finally kicking in. In the end, it was that and the fact that even on his best day Oberyn was a challenge, and then the sight of his wife finally arriving that cost him the match and almost an eye. Jae glancing up at the balcony instead of at the spear in front of him and only that it was blunted and he moved his head at the last moment saved him from worse injury.

"Nephew?" Oberyn said his worry clear as he threw down his spear and moved towards him.

"I'm well." he replied as he knelt on the ground and held his hand to his side of his head were the blow had caught him, the blood spilling out from the wound and soaking into the handkerchief he held to it.

"Get the Grandmaester." Oberyn said kneeling beside him before moving Jae's hand from the wound so he could see it.

"It's only a scratch, uncle." he said and Oberyn nodded though he looked worried still.

When he helped him to his feet, Jae turned to tell all those there that he was barely hurt and that it was nothing for any of them to worry about. Looking up to the balcony he expected to see his wife's worried expression, actually, he'd expected to hear her worried shout or to have her rush down to him to check on him. To his annoyance, she was nowhere to be seen and when the Grandmaester arrived, Jae almost knocked the man to the ground with how heavily he brushed his hands away.

"Your grace, we should treat the wound, perhaps it needs to be stitched." Gormon said.

"It's just a scratch, Grandmaester. Ser Richard, inform her grace and the rest of the small council that I wish to call a meeting." he said looking to the Kingsguard and seeing Loras frown as he looked his way.

"At once your grace." Ser Richard Horpe said and Jae looked to Loras.

"You mad at me too?" he asked annoyedly and Loras shook his head "Good, for I'm in no mood for it this day." he said as he walked with the Grandmaester, Oberyn, and Loras back into the Red Keep.

King's Landing 298 AC.

Margaery.

Ghost's presence did little to calm her or allow her to sleep with any comfort, instead, it only reminded her that her husband had returned and was sleeping elsewhere. That she'd not meant for that to be the night they shared upon his return was no comfort and while she wished to curse herself for losing her temper, she felt justified in it. After all that he'd put her through and all the worries she'd faced over the last few weeks, for him to be so unrepentant and unworried about her feelings, was too much for her to accept.

When she'd seen Rhaenix she'd been so relieved, as knowing he was unhurt was all she'd hoped for over the days that he had been gone. She was angry too though and she knew she needed to address that before she could relax and welcome the fact her husband had returned. How he'd acted in the Dragonpit and then that he'd not told her he was sorry or not apologized to her at all until she'd brought it up to him, left her furious with him. Though it was how casually he told her that he would simply do something like this again that truly annoyed her. Not that he may need to or not explaining why that may be, just simply and with no regard for her feelings saying that he would do this again, had made her see red. The words out of her mouth before she knew what she was saying and even though she wished to call him back as he left, she knew she would and could not.

So rather than having her husband's warm body beside her, rather than a night spent showing him how relieved she was that he was back home. Instead of a night spent in each other's arms and showing each other just how missed they were, it was another night alone in a cold empty bed and a night where she once again barely slept at all. Margaery hugging her pillow instead of her husband as Ghost looked up at her as if to say that Jae should be here. She didn't need the white wolf to tell her that, she knew he should be, and were he just to show her that he knew how wrong he had been, then she'd welcome him back most enthusiastically.

"Your grace." she heard a voice call "Your grace." it said a little louder, Margaery opening her eyes to see Mira standing at the end of her bed.

"Jae, has something happened?" she asked worriedly as her eyes focused on the girl.

"No, your grace, it's just, his grace is in the sparring yard and has been there for some time, I felt you'd like to know." Mira said and Margaery nodded as she sat up.

She took her time getting ready, she had no wish to seem overly keen to go and see him, and more she wanted to make it look as if she'd only heard and was just passing by. It was a childish thing to do she knew, to make it seem as if she didn't really care that he was finally back sparring and yet she didn't wish him to think he'd been forgiven when he had not. When she was ready, Mira and Elinor joined her, Sansa was not on duty until later that day. The three of them along with Ser Barristan and Ser Walder made their way to the doors that led out to the balcony that overlooked the sparring yard. Margaery finding herself as excited to see her husband in action just as she always was.

That a large crowd had formed was no great surprise and she moved with the knights and the girls to stand at the wall, making it just in time to see Jae and Oberyn ready to face off. She tried not to think the thoughts she was having as she watched her husband move. Whether it was that she'd spent so much time alone in her bed or that he was sparring again, her thoughts went right to where she didn't wish them to. Margaery forgetting her anger for a few moments and instead just looking at her husband as he spun back and twisted forth. She almost smiled at him when he looked up at her and then she almost screamed when the spear caught his head. How she managed to not shout out loud or run to him was something she couldn't explain. Instead, she turned and walked away as soon as she heard the Grandmaester was being sent for.

When she was back in her rooms she began pacing up and down, her anger had returned in force and was now threatening to spill over once more. It was something that Elinor and Mira noticed as both girls gave her space, while Ghost did his best to calm her ire. The white wolf not having the effect they both wished for though as Margaery tried her best to think different thoughts. Seeing the blow, the blood, all she could think was that something could have happened to him while he was away. He'd gone to Valyria of all places, while still not fully recovered from what he had just gone through, he'd flown off and gone to Valyria. Here surrounded by Kingsguard, Maesters, and the Grandmaester, by family and by servants, he'd fallen and been asleep for nearly a moon. Now today he'd just been hurt sparring with his uncle. Yet only days ago he'd been in Valyria, he was alone and he could have been hurt, he could have...no she would not think of that.

"Your grace, Ser Richard Horpe wishes to see you." Mira said and Margaery nodded as the knight stepped into the room.

"My husband?" she asked.

"His grace is being seen to by the Grandmaester, your grace, I don't believe there's need for concern."

"Of course not. Why would we all be concerned when he is not." she said snippily.

"His Grace has requested a meeting of the Small Council, your grace, I've been sent to arrange it." Ser Richard said.

"Of course, Ser Richard, I'll send word to the other council members, you should go and retake your position at my husband's side."

"Your grace." the knight said with a bow before he turned and walked away.

She breathed in deeply when the knight left the room, his interruption having stopped her mind from going to where she feared it may. Margaery finding that her anger hadn't dissipated and if anything had only gotten worse after seeing Jae's spar. Calling for Elinor and Mira, she quickly sent them to fetch her grandmother and to inform the rest of the Small Council that there was a meeting they needed to attend. That her grandmother arrived long before Mira or Elinor could have gotten to her was no great surprise. Margaery knowing that she would have heard it all by now and more than happy she didn't need to speak on things.

"I believe we have a meeting to attend?" her grandmother said and Margaery nodded, the two of them walking from the room together with Ser Barristan and heading straight to the Small Council chambers.

They were the first to arrive, Margaery taking her seat at the top of the table and waiting for the others. Her grandmother sitting in the first seat at the left of the table while Ser Barristan stood. She was surprised that Jae hadn't placed his own seat beside hers, though she remembered then that she'd had it moved away while he was gone. Jaime and Lord Wyman arrived first followed by Ser Richard and her brother, Willas giving her a look to see if she was upset and Margaery smiling at him to cover up the fact she was. When Gormon arrived she looked at the Grandmaester and he gave her a smile and a nod. Margaery relaxing a little now she knew that Jae's injury truly had been minor.

Ser Barristan took his seat when the others arrived and they all sat silently waiting for Jae to do the same. Her husband taking his time and when he finally did arrive she could see the mark on his head, it made her grimace and turn from him as she felt her anger being to rise. Margaery looked to see Ser Arthur, Ser Jors, Loras, and Walder all walked with Jae and Oberyn, all but Jae carrying large sacks. She once again saw the cut on his eye and this time felt her concern and was about to show it when he took the seat at the other end of the table. Margaery now seeing the frown on her husband's face and how he pursed his lips and it annoyed her greatly. He was mad at her? After all he had done, he had the gall to be upset with her.

"Before we begin, I wish to make one thing very clear." Jae said looking at her for what felt like an age and then turning to the others "I'll brook no arguments or comments about the wrongness of what I did, not here, not now, I'm here simply to inform you of why I let and what I did when I was gone. Is that clear?" Jae said.

"So we're not allowed to question you or raise our objections?" she asked annoyedly.

"Not here and not now. I'll not be ganged up on by mine own council, each of you can speak your objections to me another time and in private. So again I ask you all, am I clear?" Jae said and though she wished to press further, she feared what she may say or what he may if she did and so for now she held her tongue.

"Of course, your grace." her grandmother said and Jae nodded.

"Rhaenix and I traveled to Valyria and while we were there I collected the items held in these sacks." Jae said nodding to the Kingsguard who began to remove some of the things.

"Are those Valyrian steel?" Ser Richard Lonmouth asked.

"They are. Weapons and armor, pieces of it anyway, these too." Jae said picking out what looked to her to be a plate of some sort and then what seemed to be a water or wine jug.

"Pots and pans, your grace?" Lord Wyman asked.

"Valyrian Steel, Lord Wyman, once melted it can be reforged into more weapons and armor, as can the rest of this." Jae said pointing to the sacks.

"So you went to Valyria to collect weapons?" Jaime asked.

"I had no intention of going to Valyria, Lord Hand. I had intended to fly North of the Wall and deal with Bloodraven, Rhaenix however had other ideas and brought me where I needed to go." Jae said looking at Jaime and then at her.

"Needed to go, your grace?" Willas asked.

"To see my family and to learn the truth." Jae said smiling for the first time.

"The truth, Your Grace?" Jaime asked.

"Aye, the truth, Jaime, the truth of how I can bring them back." Jae said and she along with the others gasped, the questions and objections that Jae had asked them not to raise, soon being spoken loudly.

Her voice was as loud as any, Margaery sensing the worry and concern each of them had over what Jae was saying, sharing it somewhat despite all she knew him capable of.

"ENOUGH." Jae said slamming his hand on the table as he stood up "I told you I'll not be ganged up on, think me mad all you wish, call me a fool, a liar or crazy but do so at another time, for I've no time or inclination to hear it now. Speak to me of the realm, of the things that happened in my absence and when we're done I'll speak to you more on what I learned.

King's Landing 298 AC.

Jaime.

The meeting had been a disaster, Jae storming out of it near the end and he like the others found himself questioning all they'd been told. That they sat and stayed and spoke on their king without him there and behind his back, felt wrong to him. Yet the things Jae said were worrisome and the attitude he was showing was one he'd not seen from him before. Jaime had thought that he'd have come and seen him this morning, that he'd come and speak to him or maybe invite him for a spar and he'd let him know he was well and why he'd left in such a way.

He had also expected him to have gone and spoken to the Starks and to meet his new cousin. Though given how he looked when they spoke of Catelyn and her execution. perhaps that was expecting too much. He'd been surprised, as was the queen, that there were no words spoken about the execution itself. Jae just nodding when he was told the reasons for it and then quickly moving on to Euron Greyjoy, the war, and to other events. It was when the questions had begun again after Jae had talked more about Valyria and his family. when he had spoken of them being brought back and peopled raised their doubts that Jae had stormed from the room.

"Lord Jaime, a word." Margaery said as the others left, Jaime staying in his seat and looking her way.

"Your grace?"

"Has my husband spoken to you?" she asked and he shook his head "Perhaps it's for the best if you go and speak to him then?"

"I had intended to, your grace." he said.

"I find myself troubled, Lord Jaime, most troubled indeed." she said her worry clear.

"As do I, your grace." he said and she gave him an almost forced smile.

"I don't wish to ask you to inform me of what you speak of, but if there is anything I should know?"

"Then I'll bring it to your attention, your grace." he said and she nodded before she turned to leave, Jaime seeing her grandmother and brother both waiting outside for her.

That Margaery was asking him to find out what was going on with Jae was not a good sign and as he went to look for him, he knew he needed to heal their growing divide. Fighting was something all husbands and wives did be it over something important, something stupid, or sometimes even over nothing at all. The longer that fight went on without being resolved the harder that resolution would be and for Margaery, this fight had been going on since Jae had left. Even if Jae wasn't actually around to take part in it.

He made his way to the King's Chambers only to find that Jae wasn't there, Jaime being directed to the Queen's and realizing the true extent of the fight was far worse than he had known.

"Is he inside?" he asked Loras as he and Ser Richard Horpe stood at the door.

"I bloody well hope so." Loras said shaking his head and Jaime nodded before knocking and then opening the door and entering the room.

Jae was standing at the window looking down on the courtyard below, Jaime immediately noticing how he held his hands clasped behind his back and how tightly they were gripped. Even had he not, the stiffness in how Jae stood would have clearly given away his mood, as did the tone of his voice when he spoke to him without turning around.

"So are you the designated one? The one who's come to tell me how wrong I am and why I can't do things the way I just did? To tell me that I'm acting just as my grandfather did?" Jae said his voice biting.

"You're nothing like your grandfather." he said and saw the hands unclasp, Jae, relaxing a little before he turned around to face him.

"Am I not? I've spoken to people who are long since dead and seen events that no one else alive has. I've learned things that scare even me and I'm going to have to explain all of that to people who will think me mad." Jae said walking to his seat and sitting down, bidding him do likewise.

"You should not have left how you did, Jae, you know this, you're not a fool." he said as he took his own.

"Am I not?" Jae said with a small laugh "I doubt my wife would agree."

"She's upset and worried and very angry, I know not what you said to her but I know what it was like while you were gone and while you were recovering."

"I hurt her." Jae said almost a whisper.

"Aye you did, now go and fix it."

"I don't know how, my mind it cannot see beyond what it needs to see, Jaime. I have things to do, places to go, a war to prepare for and my mind cannot see beyond that."

"And yet it must." he said reaching out and placing his hand on Jae's shoulder.

"And yet it must." Jae said with a truer laugh.

He got up from his seat and walked over to the table, pouring them both glasses of water and carrying them back to the seats. After handing Jae one he took his seat and took a swallow from his glass watching as Jae emptied his own. Jaime got back up and grabbed the jug so he could refill Jae's glass and he got another smile in return once he did so.

"You're not mad at me?" Jae asked.

"I'm fucking furious with you." he said and then laughed as Jae looked worriedly at him "But now is not the time to explain why or speak on that."

"I know I was wrong in how I left, but I had to go, Jaime, I had to go." Jae said looking to him.

"I know." he said with a nod.

Once again they sat silently, both of them drinking the water and neither of them feeling the need to speak. Jaime because he could sense that Jae was building up to tell him something and then he listened in stunned silence at what he said.

"My father, my mother, they asked me to thank you, Jaime. My mother she…she said I was to tell you that you looked after her pup. She told me to tell you that you took a wolf pup and turned him into a dragon cub and she wanted you to know how grateful she was for it. How much it meant to her to know that..that her boy had someone like you in his life." Jae said.

"I…" he said looking at him as Jae wiped away the tears that fell from his eyes.

"My father, he wanted me to tell you that it wasn't your fault, Jaime. That he places no blame on you for Elia, or Egg or Rhaenys, that he knows you tried to save King's Landing and that you believed you had saved them all. He asked me to tell you that there is no one that he could have placed his son with that could have done more for him, that could have seen him raised better than you raised him. He told me to tell you that you were good and true, Jaime and that I couldn't have had a better father than you."

"I… Jae…"

"I know, me too." Jae said as he rose and walked from the room and into his bed-chamber, Jaime breaking down and letting the tears come once he had left him alone.

He sat there alone for some time, Jae giving him the time to compose himself before he returned and Jaime looking at him when he did so.

"Come we have work to do, Lord Hand." Jae said and Jaime nodded as he rose to his feet.

"What is it you wish to do?" he asked.

"I believe there are some appointments to be made that I've put off for long enough and I've got a new cousin I wish meet."

"Her Grace?" he asked.

"Will not wish to speak to me for some time I fear." Jae said and Jaime shook his head.

"Perhaps you should go and resolve that first, your grace?"

"Much though I wish to, I don't think it's a good idea I'll speak to my wife later, come we've got a Kingsguard to appoint and an army to set up."

"As your grace, commands." he said pleased with the chuckle he got in return.

King's Landing 298 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

Walking with and talking to Jaime certainly had changed his mood and he had needed it after the small council meeting. He had known what he was going to tell them would make him sound like he'd lost his mind, he'd actually experienced it and were it not that Rhaenix had too and that he felt the difference inside of himself, then he'd have thought it as well. Seeing just how angry Margaery was with him and knowing that they needed to talk things through, he'd feared it would be in that room with all of them looking on and so had tried to lay down the rules before he spoke. Only to find it was the things he said and not their own argument that had caused the meeting to get out of hand.

When Jaime had arrived, he'd expected to be called out and spoken down to and that it would have come from Jaime, he'd probably have accepted it. Instead, he'd been able to tell him what his father and mother had asked him to and they'd put the other conversation to one side for now. Jae thankful for that opportunity and for the opportunity to do other things that would keep his mind from where it wished to go. To that end, he'd sent Tommen to ask Ser Robar to meet him at White Sword Tower and had sent Loras to find Ser Barristan.

"What do you think of Ser Robar?" he asked Jaime as they walked along the walkway that led to the Tower.

"I think he's a good choice, your grace. Both Arthur and Barristan believe him capable and even though I know you care not about the politics, it is good in that respect too."

"You think him true?" he asked and Jaime nodded.

"I think he like all the Royce's has a sense of honor about him and that once he wears the white cloak that honor will only grow." Jaime said.

"Ser Richard?" he asked turning to the Kingsguard.

"I agree with Lord Jaime, your grace." Ser Richard Horpe said and Jae nodded as they reached the door that led into the tower itself.

They walked into the building and entered the round room and Jae moved straight over to the stand. He spent some reading the White Book and was still doing so when Loras, Barristan, and Ser Robar arrived. Jae had been looking over the names of the knights who'd served. Men like Corlys Velaryon who served The Conqueror or Ryam Redwyne who served The Conciliator and Viserys I. He looked at the entries for the Dragonknight and for Duncan the Tall and the one for The White Bull. All of them good men and true and yet there were some names here that were very much not, Criston Cole being the very worst of them to Jae's mind. Turning from the White Book, he looked to the men who now stood with him inside the room, Ser Barristan the Bold, Loras, Ser Richard Horpe, and Jaime himself. It made him think about Ser Arthur, Ser Jors, and Ser Walder. Which side of history would Ser Robar be remembered on he wondered and how would he be remembered? He could only hope it would be as fondly as he thought of the six who served him now and the one who served him as his Hand.

"You know why you're here, Ser Robar?" he asked and the knight nodded.

"Her grace and Ser Barristan spoke to my father and me, your grace."

"And this is what you wish?"

"More than anything your grace." Robar said.

"There has never been a king who's owed more to the men who wear the white cloak than I, Ser Robar. From before I was born they have protected me, some even gave their lives so I could live. Ser Gerold Hightower and Ser Oswell Whent died while doing their duty and were it not for the Kingsguard and what it instills in men then I'd not be here today. Ser Barristan, Ser Arthur, Ser Walder, Ser Jors, Ser Richard, and Ser Loras, six men good and true and to be named as one amongst them is an honor that I don't grant lightly." he said looking to the man.

"Of course not, your grace." Ser Robar said.

"Ser Barristan." he said turning to the Bold who now held the White Cloak in his hand.

"Your grace." Ser Barristan said handing him the cloak and bidding Ser Robar kneel.

"Kneel a man alone, Ser Robar and rise as one of seven, I name you to the Kingsguard, Ser Robar, see that all you do makes you worthy of the cloak you wear and of the men you serve with."

"I will your grace." Robar said.

He said a few more words to the newest Kingsguard and then left him alone with Ser Barristan, while he, Ser Richard, Loras, and Jaime left White Sword Tower. Tommen was standing outside waiting for them and Jae soon had him rushing off once more, this time to fetch Ser Jaremy and Ser Alliser. They walked back into the Red Keep and were heading to the Queen's Chambers, though when they arrived it was to find that Margaery had taken up the room. Jae instead moving on to the King's Chambers and finding that his things had been moved there in the short time he'd been away from the room. It made him want to head down to her rooms and barge in through the doors, to have out what they needed to have out, and yet he knew he could not. The arrival of Ser Alliser and then Ser Jaremy a few moments later only reinforcing that now was not the time.

"Please take a seat, good Sers."

"Your Grace." Ser Alliser said for both of them as they sat down.

"Forgive me for not speaking to you both sooner, I'll not make excuses other than to say that I'm sorry it's taken so long." he said.

"There is nothing to forgive, your grace." Ser Jaremy said.

"I wished for you and the other loyalists to stay and speak to me because I find myself in need of your services. There are many changes that I feel need to be made and one in particular that requires your help to see done."

"Ask of us anything, your grace." Ser Alliser said.

"I intend to form a standing army, Ser Alliser, an army loyal first and foremost to House Targaryen and one that can be deployed to protect or serve my house. I need good men to lead such an army, to form it up, to train the man and make them ready. But even more than that I need men who are loyal and true, men such as yourselves and the other loyalists."

"Your grace, you honor us." Ser Jaremy said with a bow.

"Men like you deserve to be honored, Ser Jaremy, Ser Alliser, will you accept your king's request?"

"I will, your grace, gladly and humbly." Ser Alliser said.

"As will I, your grace." Ser Jaremy added.

"I thank you both and ask you to speak to the rest of the loyalists on my behalf. Lord Jaime will see arrangements are made for a barracks and Lord Willas will provide coin to see the men outfitted and paid. I'd ask you and the other loyalists to see to the recruiting, Sers, offer the men a fair wage and a chance to serve and take all and any you deem fit and capable." he said.

"How many men in total, your grace?" Ser Alliser asked.

"As many as you can find, Ser, I'll see the coin for all. My family and house suffered when we relied on others and though we now have dragons to call upon, It'll not be for lack of men that we'll suffer again."

"No, your grace, it wont." Ser Alliser said determinedly.

"There is to be a feast at week's end to say goodbye to those leaving King's Landing, I ask you all to attend." He said smiling at the men.

"Her grace has already done so, your grace, but it will mean a lot to the men to know that you wish it too." Ser Jaremy said.

"Until then, good Sers." he said.

"Until then, your grace." they both said with a short bow.

After they left he felt he'd accomplished something today, even despite how the meeting earlier went. Jae thinking about what he wished to do next and then getting up from his seat and walking from the room. With Loras and Ser Richard behind him, he walked down the corridor. Almost stopping when he saw Ser Walder and Ser Arthur outside the Queen's Chambers and coming very close to walking inside. Instead, he walked past and soon enough found himself outside a very different door, Jae nodding to the guard who knocked, and then he stood waiting for the reply.

"Uncle." he said to his uncle Ned when he opened the door.

"Your grace." his uncle replied.

King's Landing 298 AC.

Dany.

Hearing the news from Ser Richard Lonmouth that not only had the Iron Born being defeated but that Aurane had been unharmed and was now heading back was a huge relief. Dany found herself surprised that she felt it far more keenly than she did Jae's return. She tried to tell herself that was because she knew her nephew was in no true danger but she knew that wasn't the truth. It was because of her growing feelings for Aurane and how the thoughts of something happening to him had made her worry so.

As she flew in the air over Blackwater Bay though it was with thoughts of her nephew in her head. Dany had quickly found the saddle she now sat on to completely change the nature of her flight. Not only was it more comfortable which allowed her to fly for longer but it was also more secure and so she was able to do more while in the air. It was something that Ellagon appreciated just as much as she did and Dany could see the Aemon and Shiera felt it too. That Jae and Tyrion weren't out here flying with them was the only thing she'd change. Eventually though even with the saddle and the comfort it provided, she felt the need to land and so she motioned to the others and then headed towards the Dragonpit.

After landing and wishing Ellagon well, Dany waited for Aemon and Shiera to do likewise and smiled when she saw Grey Worm, Sandor, Belwas, and the others come her way. Missandei rushed towards her, her friend looking as if she bore some news, and Dany for a moment worried that Ser Richard had told her a lie. Though it wasn't concern on Missandei's face she saw and so she relaxed and accepted the note the girl handed her.

"From his grace." Missandei said as Aemon and Shiera walked their way.

Dany opened the note and read it before handing it to Aemon who after he'd finished with it gave it to Shiera. Soon all three of them were mounting up on their horses and riding back to the Red Keep to the meeting their nephew had asked them to attend. That they didn't use carriages was something she enjoyed very much, Dany welcomed the waves and smiles the people greeted them with, and Aemon had told her that it was ever thus. That despite what the usurper would have wished the realm to believe, their house was loved. Even if her father and at times some other members of it had not been. Her mother was as Ser Bonifer had told her, her brother had been as Ser Arthur and Ser Barristan and others had spoken often on. Jae was as was his queen and so was she, Aemon, Shiera, and Tyrion too.

"What do you think he wishes to speak to us on?" she asked Shiera as they rode.

"I don't know, Dany. But if Tyrion was right then the only place the saddles can have come from was Valyria." Shiera replied.

"He is right, was it only just the saddles then it may not be true, but the other things our nephew brought back with him were from Valyria as well" Aemon said.

They spoke some more about it as they drew closer to the Red Keep and Dany was eager to find out if it was true. The thoughts that Jae had been to Valyria and had returned were soon making her wonder what it would be like to see it for herself. They dismounted the horses after they entered the courtyard and Dany saw Ser Loras and Jae's squire both waiting for them and that they would be taken to Jae right away. She would have rather gone to her room and changed, maybe even had a bath and something to eat before the meeting began. However, she followed after the Loras and Tommen and they were taking to the King's Chambers where Jae was waiting for them alone. Dany sighing as she knew then that the rumors of the king and queen fighting were true.

"Aunt." Jae said kissing her cheek.

"Nephew." she said as he moved to welcome Aemon and Shiera.

"Is Tyrion not joining us?" Aemon asked.

"He'll be here presently, I've arranged for some food." Jae said and Dany smiled, feeling the small rumble of her belly when she walked into the small dining room and saw the plates already laid out.

They had only just begun eating when Tyrion arrived, Jae looking most pleased to see him and Dany not hearing whatever it was they said to each other. For the rest of the meal, they talked about everything other than the thing she wished to. Jae telling them he'd gone to meet his new cousin and that he'd begun the process of creating a standing army that was loyal first to their house. Her nephew looking her way and then telling her that she would need to do the same.

"Why?" she asked as she ate her peach pie.

"Our house almost fell Dany, we relied on others and it almost ended our line. The five of us here in this room are all that remains of House Targaryen because we thought who we were, protected us from any who'd seek our end. I'll not make the same mistake. While we may have dragons and are perhaps even closer to the rest of the realm now than we've ever been. Our house must survive, no matter the cost, I see that even more clearly now." Jae said.

"What do you mean, nephew? Why more clearly now?" Aemon asked.

"Let's finish our meal, first." Jae said.

When they were done he bid them join him in the other room, Dany taking a seat beside Shiera while Tyrion and Aemon sat closer to the fire and Jae stood for a little longer before taking his own seat.

"I had no intent to go to Valyria, it was beyond the Wall that I aimed to go, to Bloodraven and to see about his end."

"Alone?" Tyrion asked his annoyance clear.

"I thought it had to be that way, uncle."

"But you know now it's not?" Shiera asked.

"I feel it's not and I'm sure now that the reason I felt I needed to go alone was because of Rhaenix."

"She wished to take you to Valyria?" Tyrion asked.

"She did. Just like when she and Lygaron went for our saddles." Jae said and Tyrion nodded.

"But this time it wasn't only saddles, was it?" Aemon asked and Jae shook his head.

"The saddles, the things I brought back, helpful though they are they are not why I needed to go." Jae said before he looked at them "You may think me mad but I only ask you to wait and hear it all before you speak?"

She looked to see Tyrion nod and then Aemon too, Dany nodding her agreement while Shiera voiced her own and once they all had, Jae began to tell the most incredible tale she'd ever heard.

"The world is made up of two sides, two opposing forces. Call them whatever you will, night and day, fire and ice, good and evil, life and death, it matters not only that one side wants to end the other. It wishes to impose its will on the world and the other side has no choice but to fight it, to stop it, for if it wins then we are all doomed.

Like every fight, those who take part arm themselves, however, it's not armor or weapons, not skills or training, in this fight, it's magic that will decide who stands victorious at the end."

"The Night King and you, you're are both warriors of magic?" Aemon asked.

"In a way, but there is more that you need to understand. Magic is a resource, uncle, just like gold or iron, like wood or gems and just as the Westerlands has more gold than anywhere else or the North has the best trees, the world too has places where magic abounds. For the Night King, this place is called the Lands of Always Winter, for me, it's The Land's Eternal, one is far beyond the wall and the other is.."

"Valyria." she said and Jae nodded.

"Aye, Valyria." Jae said " Now think back to what I said about gold for a moment, who is the richest house in Westeros?"

"House Lannister." Tyrion said.

"Why?" Jae asked.

"Because they control the gold." Tyrion said and Dany looked to see Jae nod again.

"They do. Now what would happen should Lord Jaime wish to keep all that gold for himself, what if he refused to share it with others? He'd be rich while around him all those people who rely on him would be left with nothing would they not?"

"Jaime would never." Tyrion said.

"Aye I know, but for the moment let's say he would. If he only spent that gold on himself then the rest of the Westerlands would wither and die would they not?" While all the while Jaime would grow richer and richer."

"What does this have to do with magic, Jae?" she asked.

"In Valyria, magic was shared among the forty families, each possessed some but no one possessed it all, this was not the same in the Land of Almost Winter there one wished to control it all and so only one wielded power."

"The Night King." Aemon said.

"So you are to do the same?" Shiera asked.

"I was born to do the same, destined, prophesied, planned. In some ways I was a contingency, in others I was inevitable. Our house was chosen and whether it was by the gods themselves or not I can't be certain though they played their part. Daenys was given the visions and events were set in motion because they knew, once he got strong enough they knew what he would do." Jae said and Dany felt a shiver run down her spine at how he said it.

"What did he do?" she asked.

"The same thing he'll do if he's not stopped, he'll bring the doom upon us all." Jae said.

She looked at him as he walked from the room and she then turned to the others, all of them wearing what she assumed was the same expression as she was on their faces. When Jae arrived back he was carrying the glass candles and she wondered what it was that he was about to show them. Jae placing them down on the table and then walking from the room once more before returning a few moments later, this time with a handkerchief covered in blood.

"We have to wait for the others to arrive." Jae said.

"What are we about to see? "Shiera asked.

"The future." Jae said.

It didn't take too long, Oberyn, Margaery, Jaime, and Ser Arthur, and Ser Barristan all arriving. Dany noticing the tense way that Jae and Margaery looked at each other.

"I've just told my family the same thing that I told you all today and while I know that perhaps none of you believe me, I did promise that I'd show you later something to prove me true. While in Valyria I saw things that we've only ever read about and that most of us believe to be untrue. I saw stone being sung, saw magic being used to make Valyrian Steel, and magic being used to do things that I wish I could unsee. I met my family and spoke to them. I felt my mother's touch, was embraced by my father, and spent time with my brother and I learned of things that were centuries in the making.

The Doom was an attempt to end the magic of Valyria, an attempt to wipe out every last member of the forty and to steal their magic's for himself. It like Robert's Rebellion almost ended our line, almost brought about our end, and had it done so then Valyria wouldn't have been where it stopped." Jae said.

Dany and the others looked on as he took the handkerchief and placed it on the Glass Candle before picking it up and then he thrust it and his hand into the fire. The handkerchief was burning and still in flames as he brought his hand back out and placed the Glass Candle on the table.

"Look to the future." Jae said and she and the others moved closer as the other candle lit up.

King's Landing 298 AC.

Margaery.

She had arranged for her and Jae's things to be moved and then had decided not to. Only for the meeting with the Small Council to change her mind once more. After it had been done she'd second-guessed herself and had almost gone to his room to speak to him, before once again changing her mind and deciding that he needed to come to her. Something he didn't do and which infuriated her so much that when he sent for her, she almost refused to go. Only doing so because he had promised that he would prove to them all that what he said was true.

When she had arrived, she was surprised there were not more people there, Margaery expecting the entire Small Council to be present only to find that it was less than half. Though it was those who Jae was closest to and perhaps that should have been a sign. She stood and listened as he spoke some more on the things he'd said at the meeting, Margaery seeing that of those in the room, few if any believed his words to be true. Not that she didn't believe he saw such things, but more she felt he was misinterpreting them some way. That he was giving meaning to events that they did not have and looking for answers to questions that did not exist.

Were it not done so quickly then she'd have grabbed him when he placed his hand in the fire. Margaery then finding herself looking on in disbelief as flames burned around his hand. She'd seen him near flames before, but as she looked at the handkerchief burn it seemed as if his entire hand was alight. As he placed the Glass Candle down and she saw his hand was unburnt she breathed a huge breath of relief and then she watched as the other Glass Candle lit up and Jae moved away.

"Look to the Future." he said and she like the others looked at the Glass Candle.

Rivers of red flaming rock ran down along the sides of a road that was paved in what looked to be dark glass. Shattered towers that stretched higher than even the Hightower and broken buildings even larger than the Red Keep stood on either side of the road. The place was deserted, abandoned and it seemed that no one had lived there for more years than she could count. Were it not for the lone figure walking down the road she'd have sworn there was no living thing here and there had not been in an age.

Looking closer to the figure she saw the dark hair, the grey eyes, and the black armor. On his head, Jae wore the conqueror's crown, and in his hand, he held Dark Sister. In the sky above him, Rhaenix flew, and as she looked on Jae bent down to one knee. Though no sound could be heard, she watched as his mouth opened closed and she recognized the look on his face as the same one he would have when he sang.

Around him, the rivers soon stopped flowing, and as she looked on the shattered towers seemed to fix themselves. Where there were flaming rocks suddenly there were plants and trees and by the time Jae rose to his feet again, he was walking down a much different road. Were it not for the lack of people then she'd have believed him to be in a thriving city and she looked on as the image changed to her husband's smiling face. The reason for that smile perhaps the people she saw in the distance though she couldn't make out their faces.

As suddenly as they appeared the images were gone again, Margaery looking to see that both Dany and Oberyn had tears in their eyes and that Jaime, Arthur, and Barristan all were looking at Jae with amazed looks on their own. Her husband was looking her way and she'd never seen such an expression as he now wore before.

"I don't understand, how is that the future, how is that possible?" Tyrion asked.

"Just as he can use magic to destroy, I can use it to create. Valyria can be reborn and they can live again, they will live again." Jae said.

Though she wished to speak to him, she could see that Dany and Oberyn both needed to even more than she. Margaery heading back to her room and half expecting that he'd join her later only for her to end up going to bed alone once more. They needed to speak, to clear the air but it would seem that it wasn't to be now and as she slept alone she hoped that it would be soon.

King's Landing 298 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

Dressing all in black he waited for the knock on the door to come, Walder and Arthur both standing outside and Jae almost chuckling when he saw them dressed in clothing rather than in armor and their white cloaks. They made their way through the keep and down the stairs, the horses already saddled and waiting. The ride through the streets was a much different one with them being almost empty and he and the Kingsguard basically unrecognizable. Apart from Walder being as large as he was.

Still, there were few if any who saw them and when they reached the gates of the city, the men of the hundred let them ride through. It took almost an hour for them to ride to the Kingswood. Jae smiling when he saw the cart and the man wearing the hood sitting inside of it. Climbing down from Winter, he walked over to Loras and Jors, the two men dressed just as he and the others were. Nodding to Jors he watched as the man was dragged down, the sound of his protests muffled by both the hood and the gag he wore. Jae reaching up and ripping the first from his head before then taking the second from his mouth.

"Your Grace, I don't understand." Littlefinger said.

"Really, you surprise me, my lord, I thought you were a smarter man than that." he said looking at him.

"But we had a deal, I did as you asked."

"You did, which is why I'll not kill you and why I'm here to set you free."

"But, I…"

"You what, Lord Baelish, expected it to be public, assumed I'd put you on a ship and send you on your merry way?"

"I…I had hoped."

"Well, that was a forlorn one, Lord Baelish. Go you are free to leave, I'd go that way though." he said pointing to the Kingswood itself "I've men on all of the roads, and should you be found wandering around well some may think you've escaped. It's a long way back to King's Landing and well they may not wish to drag all of you back there, especially when your head alone will suffice."

"Your grace, you promised me considerations." Littlefinger said panicked.

"I did and these are they. There is a ship awaiting you at Massey's Hook, Lord Baelish, if you follow that path there it'll take you right to it. Stay on the path and you should make it by mid-morning and there is not one of my men between here and there. The ship will take you anywhere you wish to go though once you set foot on it you're not welcome back in Westeros. Should you turn up anywhere I'll know and let's just say, I won't be forgiving." he said as Loras handed Littlefinger a sack with some food and water inside it.

"I…" Littlefinger began to say only to think better of it and quickly begin to move away along the path.

"Oh one more thing Lord Baelish," Jae said as the man stopped and looked back.

"Your grace?".

"I've heard tell of wolves in these parts and should it be true, should you encounter any, Well I'd run if I were you." Jae said as the howls rang out.

"Please, your grace." Littlefinger said moving towards him.

"I said run Lord Baelish, run for your fucking life." Jae said stepping forward quickly.

Littlefinger did just that and once he was out of sight, Jae walked to the cart and climbed up on it before he closed his eyes and found him waiting for him just as he expected. Ghost was a little further ahead on the path and through the wolf's superior senses he saw Littlefinger, smelt him, and then began to chase after him. Driving him forward when the man saw the white fur. Not that it was Ghost he needed to worry about as the howls grew louder still, the rest of the pack were close by and the Littlefinger'ss scent had already been picked up on.

As wolf and man grew closer, Jae shut himself off from all those around him. He welcomed the feel of the pack as they ran together, almost entirely united though Summer was a long way away. Even still Jae knew the wolf would feel what his brothers and sisters did. He'd welcome what they would do and that it was his mother and father who'd take his place in what was to come.

The two-foot moved slowly, his breathing heavy even though he'd barely gone any distance at all. This hunt, not a true one and not one worthy of the pack and yet he felt them all close in. His swift brother and fierce sister, his wild sister and wise mother. Even the strong father was here today as was their poised brother. Though just like with him, he'd not take part, both he and the poised brother there simply to drive the two-foot to those he'd harmed most.

He knew how his own two-foot felt about the one they hunted, he knew that was this another time and another place then he too would be hunting and would take part in taking down their prey. This two-foot they chased had tried to take his own two-foot from him, he'd tried to harm him, kill him and Ghost felt and shared his two-foots anger and rage. He and his two-foot had argued and been in conflict over this and other things recently but in the end, he accepted his two-foot's wishes, just as he always did. The two-foot they chased would suffer and he did not need to play his part in that, not when it was the pack that would see the two-foot suffer after all.

The wild sister was the first to move on the two-foot, the scream he made ringing out through the night as she bit down hard on his leg, the fierce sister going for an arm instead. Wise mother and strong father also went for a leg and arm. Soon the smell of blood in the air was almost strong enough that he and the poised brother could taste it themselves. It was not the only smell in the air though and he did not care for the other. He saw his swift brother move and heard the noise as he bit into the man's stomach, the smell of blood even stronger now, and yet the two-foot breathed still. Ghost looking on as five descended upon him as one and as the screams now rang out loudest of all as they began to tear the two-foot apart.

The pack would not feast on such rotten meat and instead, when they were done and it lay all around them, they left it for those far lower than they. The howls rang through the woods and Ghost felt his two-foot leave, his own hunt now to begin as he and the pack wished to assuage their hunger on far tastier fare.

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up Next, A feast brings Jae and Margaery back together as The Starks say goodbye to King's Landing and Tyrion joins Arianne and Ellaria as they head back to Dorne. Jae has a bad dream which shows us an event from a different perspective and Joy gives Jae a piece of her mind and the faith riles up a king and queen.

Chapter 145 Reviews.

Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.

Celexys: I'm trying not to go too overboard with it so I'm glad you feel it's working well. I wanted to do something different with Bloodraven and Euron for me is not a really interesting villain in that he kind of has no gamelan, we'll see how different that it with Bloodraven calling the shots.

AJ Granger: One of the main reason for having Jae go to Valyria now, I mean other than the obvious was for that, to allow her to shine so to speak. On the magic, that was one of my big motivations for this, we have this incredible lore and the show didn't go into it. Now I draw the line at lighting bolts and non lore stuff and while this may seem a bit far fetched it imo fits within the lore or will by when I'm done with it. The stone singers are actually lore too, it's said they created all the buildings I showed them at here or played their part in it. With the wall for example, it's hinted that it was Bran the Builder, the Children of the Forest, Giants and Stone singers. With Jae and Marge, I'm so glad you think her anger justified, Jae doing what he did was fine, how he did it was really not and he needs to understand that.

Flame: So glad you enjoyed it.

Guest: Why? What?.

Remi: It just sounded funny to me, glad you thought so too. The big difference between Satin and Joy is that being the bastard of a lord, even in the south is a different thing. It's like there is a hierarchy and Satin unfortunately is the lowest on that. Also with Joy the story of her and Jae is well known, only an idiot would speak ill of her, Satin doesn't have that luxury despite his position. We'll see some of the faith/Jae next.

Vfsnake: It won't be too long and in the end is more a newlywed almost growing pain kinda fight between them.

Emerald Duke: Thank you my friend.

The Sphinx: So very cool as always.

Guest: One of the things is that in his effort to not be considered his grandfather's grandson, he was very idealistic in the form of almost willing them to question him. Here he's seeing the realistic effects of being questioned all the time and it's chafing. So in some ways this was a really needed thing for him, an almost redrawing of the lines between him and them so to speak. With Marge it is of course much different and as his wife, she really is entitled to question him on pretty much anything. On the Land's Eternal and what he can and can't do with it, I do have an explanation and we'll see more of the realization from Jae of the way things work.

Creativo: La cueva de los dragones, eso es muy divertido, bien por mi amigo. Ella tiene razón aquí, sí.

Kemb92: A wife jumping on her husband for lying to her and leaving her to do all the work without a true explanation or conversation may be getting old, but it is the way of the world. King or not, a wife should have the right to question her husband and call him out for doing wrong.

Dunk: I do have an explanation for it, I know it seems out there and not makes much sense but I do have an explanation for it, a way I think works. Here I've shown more the what and not the how, but the how will be gotten into too. Without spoiling too much think NK. We'll see some more Harry next chapter at the feast.

Hkt29: We'll see more of the reactions next chapter and Jae finding out more about events while he was away. Yes there are weapons and armor inside, we'll see the full extent of them in a bit but there is one sword at least within the many knives, arrowheads and pieces of armor, kitchen stuff. Marge is very supportive and had he told her then she wouldn't be so pissed at him, so we'll see them have a long talk next chapter.

Biohazard: So glad you enjoyed it.

Jessicanightmarewolf: I get that, it's the actual lack of info that's the biggest problem that and how he went about it but it will be resolved next chapter. We'll see with Valyria, it'll be different that's all I can say.

Anja: So very glad you liked it.

Lilychan: I'm not a woman, But I'll take it as a compliment you thought that.

Lady Ocarina: That's exactly why I wanted him to see all that stuff so long ago in the Summerhall etc, he needed to see it there so he didn't blow his top here lol.

In a way he's also the most detached kinda, especially from that group you just named. I couldn't come up with anything to not make the Jaime/Marge carriage ride pop better than just the idea of them bitching about Jae. Like I think any words I wrote wouldn't have worked just as well as the image of them just there, going, I hate him lol. On Satin I've not shown as much of him as I intended which bugs me as I had more plans for him but well the rest of the story got in the way. The biggest thing for him is Dorne itself, they really don't care, Ellaria is treated as a lady there, Ser Daemon Sansa is a well respected knight, obviously the Sand Snakes are Obeyrn's daughters which helps but it's just a different world. The North funny enough other than Jon Snow and Ramsay treat bastards very well. It's pretty much the rest of the realm.

It bugs me that we have this incredible lore within the universe, this whole hint at the magic that's available to be brought in and most people just do the little that the show did.

Silverglow: Yes that was the image she had on her shield, I think it was most apt for him here. We'll see with Harry next chapter at the feast. Jae is opening the lid on the magic he saw now, we see some of it here with the Glass Candles but yes, he'll be able to do more. That's the thing, both his sexuality which no one cares about in Dorne and his status which no one cares about leave him with a very difficult choice, we'll see next chapter what he picks. Marge was, anger is often like that, what's that phrase let cooler heads prevail. Next chapter will see it resolved. I'll go back on CH 144 next chapter, so I'll answer you review there my friend.