King's Landing 298 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He looked at her as they lay in their bed, Jae smiling as he brushed her hair from her face and Margaery then closing her eyes as he rubbed his hand against her cheek. They'd spoken and it had been as if a huge weight had been lifted off his chest. Even knowing they still had things to resolve and that they'd covered most but not everything couldn't make this feel any lesser to him. She was with him, she understood and they were together, beyond that nothing else truly mattered, they were together and that was everything.
"What has my husband smiling so?" she asked, her own lopsided grin on her face as she opened her eyes and looked into his.
"That my wife is here and she's with me." he said before leaning in to kiss her softly.
"I am always with you, Jae. But I need you to be with me too." she said and he nodded.
"I will be, Marge. I swear I'll not keep anything from you, not even things that may cause us to argue or fight." he said with a chuckle.
"Well I'd prefer if we don't argue or fight at all." she said rolling her eyes.
"Really, even when making up is so much fun?" he said as she slapped his arm.
"You are incorrigible Jaehaerys Targaryen." Margaery said as she laughed.
"My wife makes me so, I am but a man who is unable to resist her charms." he said meaning every word.
He moved his arm under her as she rolled over to lean on his chest, Jae welcoming the feel of her head as it rested there. Her fingers played with his nipple almost absentmindedly as she spoke on things while Jae listened without listening. The sound of her voice was almost melodic as she told him all that she'd done while he was away, Margaery speaking of projects and ruling and Jae finding that he barely heard what she said. It was only when she mentioned Joy that he truly paid attention, Jae now listening keenly as she told him of what had happened with his clothes and how it had been Joy's idea.
"She knew I was upset and angry with you, so she and Balerion decided I need to be comforted. You know that thing she does when she's with him, the way she talks to him." Margaery said with a giggle.
"The conversations?" he asked and she giggled some more as she nodded.
"Aye, that. They sat there and she told me that you should be punished and how we should move your clothing."
"So that's why you did it?" he asked with a smile as his hand brushed through his wife's hair.
"I told her we couldn't, I may have been angry with you but I know what it would look like, Jae. We've shared a room since we were wed, the servants and those closest to us, mayhap even the whole realm knows that we keep to the same bed chambers. So I know how it would look to suddenly have us in separate ones."
"Yet you sent me away anyway." he said Margaery snapping her head towards him only to see the smile on his face and giggle some more before she hid her head on his chest as she laughed more fully.
"You angered me so much that I did it without thinking." she said after she calmed down.
"My clothing?" he asked.
"When Joy suggested it I told her we could not but then it struck me, we could pretend. We could make a game out of it and so we did. That was all it was supposed to be Jae, a jape, a game." Margaery said her voice tight and slightly worried.
"Then it seems I owe Joy a game of my own." he said as he kissed her softly.
"Jae, don't" she said when she saw the look in his eye.
"Very well, spoilsport." he said sticking his tongue out at her.
"I am not, you take that back right now Jaehaerys Targaryen." Margaery said as she sat up in the bed and began to push him towards the edge of it, her laughter ringing out around the room as she did so.
"Spoilsport." he said a little louder before he grabbed her and started to tickle her as she yelped out and tried to push him away.
"JAE." she cried out as they rolled on the bed, Jae tickling her and Margaery doing her very best to get away from him.
The two of them rolled around on the bed for a few more moments, Jae finally stopping and Margaery looking up at him as she got her breath back. He leaned down to kiss her before then getting up from the bed, Margaery joining him so they could fix the covers before they got back underneath them. As soon as they did he felt her snuggle up beside him again, his arm underneath her as she once again rested her head on his chest.
"I missed you." she said softly.
"I missed you too." he said kissing her forehead.
"You'll speak to the others tomorrow?" she asked.
"I need to, aye. It's not working Marge, I want people to be free to question me and to raise doubts if they think I'm doing something wrong but on this, on this, I'm the only one who knows what's right. I'll not leave like that again and I swear it I'll tell you everything but when I need to do what I need to do, I'll not accept being second-guessed, I can't." he said as he felt her moving even closer against him."
"Don't do so alone, Jae, I'd ask that of you, if you can please don't do so alone." she said looking at him her concern clear in her eyes.
"If I can." he said seeing her nod before this time she kissed him.
Having her in his arms should have led to a good night's sleep and yet it did not. Jae finding the dreams coming to him almost as soon as he closed his eyes.
The woman was sitting in the cell and crying as outside the sounds of footsteps could be heard moving closer. He saw it through her eyes, the walls of the cell, the steel of the door, and he could hear both the sounds of the footsteps and the beating of her heart as it pounded in her chest.
The next moment he was standing in front of her and looking down on her as she sat on the bed. Her red hair looked ragged and her blue eyes far dimmer than they usually were and then he felt it, the hate that poured out of her as she finally saw him. Catelyn rose to her feet and moved to attack him, her hands open as she grabbed at him. She fell to the ground though as she moved right through him, Jae hearing the sound of his own laughter as she looked up at him before he heard the sound of his voice as he spoke to her.
"Did you really think this was your only punishment?"
"That all I would take from you was your head?"
"Do you know so little of me?"
"You treated me as if I was nothing, less than nothing. Even when I left your sight you couldn't accept that I was more than you thought of me. It festered inside you and lay deep in your rotten heart, a good woman, a pious woman, a mother, yet not to me. To me you were none of those things, so deep did your hatred run that even to your own children you became none of those things."
"Begone, Begone, you are not here, begone." Catelyn called out.
"Oh I'm here, did you really think I'd miss this, did you really think that I'd leave you alone?"
"A bastard, a hateful bastard that's all you are." Catelyn said as she began to cry.
"Is it? When you get to the seven hells Catelyn Baelish, when you stand face to face with your gods, tell them that. Tell them it was the bastard who sent you to them, tell them it was he who took your family from you."
"They will save me, they will strike you down in all your wickedness." Catelyn shouted.
"Will they? Let me let you in on a little secret, trout. My gods are good and true and soon enough you'll know your own are not. Kneel, pray to them, ask them to save you and to come to your aid, but do so quickly for the guards will soon come knocking and when they do it'll be time to take your head." he said laughing as she lunged at him again.
When they came for her the next morning he stood waiting, Catelyn looking at him in a far different manner than she had the night before. He walked ahead of her and she looked at him all the way, Jae opening doors for her and smiling at her as he did so while she looked at him through broken eyes. He began to speak as they walked up the stairs, Catelyn staring at him and looking to the guards who were oblivious to his presence.
"Hoster."
"Lysa."
"Edmure."
"Catelyn."
"I told you I'd see your house fall, I'd see you stripped of the trappings that an unworthy house such as yours did not deserve. Riverrun will go to Bran but never again will a Tully rule the Riverlands, and your name will die with your uncle, Lady Baelish, just as you are soon to die. When you see them, your family when they come to you and trust me they will come, tell them what you did, what you caused."
She looked at him, though to all those around her she was barely moving her head at all, her eyes pleading with him for some measure of mercy, she was not to get any from him this or any other day.
"You brought this on yourself, had you but just pretended to be that woman you claim to be then you'd be Lady of Winterfell still. Your house would live still, your husband would lay in your bed still and the child his wife holds in her arms would have been your own. Had you anything but hate in your heart then your family name wouldn't be spoken of with such scorn, your own name not used as an example of what hatred and stupidity brings."
He hit her then with the images, the servants in Riverrun calling her names while others laughed, people spitting when they mentioned her, and around the realm her house sigils being fed to the flames. Shields, banners, armor, anything that bore a silver trout was soon aflame as Catelyn looked past it and into his eyes.
"Death is only the beginning, Lady Baelish, I leave you to the torments to come." he said as she was placed on the block and Jaime stood forward.
He ran to the privy, his stomach empty though it still managed to empty itself some more as Jae heaved into the dark hole. That he didn't even hear Margaery behind him was no great surprise, Jae almost collapsing on the ground as she took him in her arms, and then she turned to call for help. The shaking of his head stopping her from doing so for now as did the words he said over and over again.
"What have I become." he said, his voice cracking as she held him in her arms.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Ned Stark.
With Jaehaerys back and Cat having been sentenced and executed, Ned only needed the Grandmaester to give his go ahead, and then they could then return back to the North. He found he was looking forward to it with great eagerness. The South was no place for him, he'd at one time believed it was no place for the Starks but Sansa and Jaehaerys had proved him wrong on that. Arya and Robb too were both eager to head back home, though for different reasons. His daughter had missed Bear Island and was keen to get back to her fostering while Robb was keener to finally be wed.
Ned smiled as he thought of what his son had done at the feast. The young lad who'd become one of the very few knights the North had was most deserving and he was proud of his boy for bringing him to the king and queen. Lads like that would be the future of the North and help it grow stronger in that future and after he heard the lad was to be married himself, Ned then insisted that he both pay for it and that he and his family would wish to attend. He sat and waited for the Grandmaester to finishing looking Rickon over. Elle had said the babe was ready to travel and he knew she was right but still, it was for the best to make certain
The knock at the door was a surprise and Ned got up to answer it just as Grandmaester Gormon and Elle walked from the other room. Opening it to see Benjen standing there was something he'd become used to, he and his brother had spent more time together since he'd come South than they had for years while in the North. Ned invited him in and both brothers turned to see the Grandmaester was readying to leave.
"All is well Lord Stark, both the babe and his mother are fit to travel though I'd not recommend long nights out in the open." Gormon said.
"Of course Grandmaester. I thank you for all you've done." he said with a nod to the man as he watched him leave the room.
"So you're really heading home?" Benjen asked as he walked over to play with Rickon, his son's small hand soon held in his brother's larger one as Ned saw him smile down at the babe.
"Aye, it's time, we've been here long enough. With Jaehaerys back there's naught keeping us here either and I miss the North." he said honestly.
"Me too." Elle said as Ned smiled at her.
"On the morrow?" Benjen asked and Ned nodded.
"What brings you here, Benjen?" he asked as Elle took her seat and Benjen did likewise.
"You heard about the wildings?" Benjen asked.
"I know his grace has some plan to bring them south of the Wall." he said not hiding his displeasure.
"Aye, he does. He's arranging a parley with the King Beyond the Wall, Ned, and he asks me to join him in meeting with Mance Rayder once he receives a reply."
"I've seen the drawings he brought back from Dragonstone, Benjen. I've heard him speak of this Night King and this army that he supposedly has at his command."
"Val has spoken of it too." Benjen said a soft smile on his brother's face when he mentioned the wilding woman.
"You believe her?" he asked.
"I believe she believes, Ned. The other day she brought me to speak to the red priestess, Kinvara. While we were there they showed me things, in the fires, horrible things, I don't understand them but they say that's what's coming for us all." Benjen said, Ned, surprised to see the look on his brother's face.
"You'll go with him when he leaves?" he asked not needing to say who he was speaking of.
"He asked me, so aye." Benjen said and Ned relaxed somewhat.
Later that day he, Robb, Arya, and Elle along with Rickon made their way to the King's Chambers, he'd expected his nephew would have come to see him and when he didn't, Ned decided to do so for him. Ser Barristan and Ser Walder stood guard and when they saw them he saw Barristan knock at the door, Ned, his children, and his wife shown inside as soon as they arrived. Jaehaerys was sitting on a couch with Margaery, the two of them close together and his nephew was looking a little pale to his eyes.
"Uncle?" Jaehaerys said when he saw them, his nephew rising to his feet and bidding them all to take a seat.
"I came to say my goodbyes, your grace. We leave on the morrow." he said and saw Jaehaerys nod.
"I can't say I'm glad to see you go uncle, nor to say goodbye to my brothers and sister but I understand. All is well with yourself Lady Jonelle and with Rickon?"
"It is your grace." Elle said.
They spent an hour or so with Jaehaerys and Margery, Ned found himself laughing at the looks that Margaery gave his nephew when she held Rickon in her arms. His nephew spent time speaking to both Robb and Arya before he came over and sat down beside him, Ned glad to see the color back in his cheeks and that his expression was now a far happier one than the one on his face when they had first walked in.
"I am sorry to see you go uncle. But I do look forward to seeing Bran again." Jaehaerys said with a smile.
"It won't be for some time, your grace. I agreed to let him go to Casterly Rock first so he could meet Lady Genna and spend some time with his betrothed and given what happened with his mother both he and Ser Brynden…" he said as his voice trailed off.
"I know, I read his letter, I'd like to say that had I been here then….but what she said, uncle, even were it not for what she did, what she said would have left me with no choice. Margaery was right in what she did and that it wasn't me who did so only shames me." Jaehaerys said his regret clear.
"It was for the best it was not, nephew, they've forgiven you and her grace and they understand though it hurts them still. Had it been you, while they'd have eventually come around I don't think they'd have done so as quickly." Ned said looking to his nephew and seeing him nod as he turned from him to look at his brother and sister.
"And you uncle?"
"There is nothing for me to forgive, your grace. Catelyn lost herself a long time ago and the love we shared was…" Ned said looking to Elle and shaking his head "But she gave me my children and for that, I'll always be grateful, after that she's responsible for all that happened and she's paid dearly for her mistakes."
"You know about the Free Folk?" Jae asked.
"Aye, Benjen spoke to me on it. You're sure there is no other way, your grace?"
"I am uncle. I'll house them on mine own lands and see they follow the laws of the North, but first."
He watched as his nephew got up and walked over to his desk, Jaehaerys soon returning with two pieces of parchment in his hand.
"The first of these is the acknowledgment that the New Gift other than Queenscrown is now under House Starks purview to do with as it wishes. The second is a line of credit totaling 100,000 gold dragons to see Sea Dragon Point is raised to a worthy seat for its new lord."
"You named Cregan a lord?" he asked.
"No, that I leave to you to do officially, this is just the crown helping the North and a king helping his cousin." Jaehaerys said.
"Thank you, your grace." he said with a nod.
"Thank you uncle, for everything. I'll see you at the wedding."
"Aye, Winterfell will be most happy to welcome its king's return."
They ate that night with Sansa, his daughter doing her best to not let her upset at their leaving show. That she was able to manage it so well was a testament to just how much she'd grown and it made Ned relax even knowing that she was to be here without them. She had family here still, Jaehaerys and Benjen and his daughter had thrived in the South. Something he told her after she'd spoken at length to Arya, Robb, and Elle and he'd escorted her back to her room.
"I am so very proud of you Sansa, so very proud." he said as they stood in her room.
"Father.." she said softly and Ned saw the tears in her eyes.
"I wanted you to know that. To know that each day when I wake I'll think of my girl and do so with pride in my heart and though I shall miss you so, I have no fear or regrets when it comes to you Sansa."
He hugged her tightly and wiped the tears from her eyes, Ned telling her that he'd see her soon enough at Robb's wedding and that he'd write often. Sansa promising to do the same and after hugging her tightly once more, he kissed her cheek and bid her goodnight.
The next morning seemed to arrive so very quickly and after breaking his fast and going to speak to Wyman, Ned made his way to the courtyard to meet up with his family for the short ride to the docks. He saw Cregan saying his own goodbyes to Ashara, Gerion, and Joy each of them telling him they'd see him at Robb's wedding too and he looked to see the wolves were also saying their own farewells. Maege and Lyanna were speaking to Dacey and Jaime, Ned chuckling when he saw the she-bear lift her granddaughter into the air before she hugged her.
"I'll see you soon, brother." Benjen said embracing him as Ned said the same before he moved to Jaehaerys and Margaery.
"Your graces." he said with a bow.
"Lord Stark, we wish you safe passage and a quick return home." Margaery said with a smile.
"I thank you your grace." he said moving to Jaehaerys who quickly abandoned all protocol to embrace him just as warmly as Benjen had, Ned, feeling if anything the hug to be a little firmer than his brother's had been.
"She'd be so proud of you, nephew, just as I am. Know this always." he said softly into his nephew's ear.
"I know uncle." Jaehaerys replied.
It took them little time to reach the docks and The Western Wolf awaited, Ned, looked on as Lya, Grey Wind, Nymeria, and Dusk all ran up the gangplank and onto the ship. Ned helped Elle to walk up it a moment later, his wife was holding their son in her arms and seemed more than happy to finally leave and return home. He heard it then as the ship moved from the docks, the howl of the four wolves and the answer back from two of the three that were staying. The wolves may be heading home but the pack would always be represented in the South from now on, the thoughts of that making Ned smile as he headed to his cabin.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Margaery.
She had listened as Jae told her of all he'd done, the true extent of what he was capable of finally sinking in to her as he spoke. Margaery telling him over and over that he wasn't a monster and that the woman had deserved everything he'd done to her. When he told her that he felt shame for what he did she tried to get him to let it go, to understand that after what Catelyn had tried to do to him it was her that should have felt shame, not Jae. That the woman had felt none and that he did only proving him to be far truer than Catelyn Tully ever was, she told him.
"You don't understand Marge, they told me, they knew and they told me." he said as she held him in her arms.
"Who Jae?" she asked rocking him gently against her as she spoke.
"Elia and my grandmother, they told me, justice not vengeance, I…what I did wasn't justice." he said as she held him tight and let him sob against her breast.
It had taken some time for him to come back to himself and so she'd canceled the small council meeting that they had intended to go to. Instead, she and Jae had spent their day together and though he was feeling it still, he over the course of the day began to let some of it go. More of it went when he spoke to his uncle and said goodbye to his cousins and by the time they lay together that night, it seemed he'd come to terms with it. His words to her before they fell to sleep showing that he'd made some peace with it at least.
"I was wrong, what I did I should not have done so. You were just where I was cruel, thank you, Marge, thank you."
She had said nothing and made no reply, instead allowing her husband to welcome his peace of mind. While he may not think her cruel over how she'd seen Catelyn Tully's end come about, she herself had wished to be just a little. The sentence was just and true and the woman deserved it more than any, but Margaery would be lying to herself if she didn't admit she took great satisfaction in seeing her dead. That woman had hurt her husband more than once, she'd tried to take him from her, tried to deny her the feelings she only ever had when she was with him. So seeing her pay for all of that, well so what if she felt a little cruelty to be deserved.
Waking the next morning found Jae in a much happier mood, Marge japing with him as they broke their fast. She did expect his good humor to dim some when saying goodbye to the Starks but he surprised her by not being as upset as she had expected. Whether that was because of other things on his mind or because they'd be seeing them soon, she couldn't be certain but she welcomed it all the same. As they were heading to the Small Council chambers, the note was passed to her by Sansa, Marge looking at it before Jae asked her what it was.
"The High Septon wishes to speak to us." she said irritably.
"Is there an issue?" Jae asked as they walked.
"Between the faith and the red priests, I'd say so." she said still annoyed.
"Well after this meeting we can both go and deal with The Fat One." Jae said before making her laugh when he blew out both his cheeks and began speaking on the Seven who are One.
"My husband is a fool." she said laughing still as they reached the door.
"My wife's truest fool." he said making her shake her head and laugh some more as they entered the room.
Their small council barring Lord Monford who was still on his way back and Gormon who Jae refused to allow to attend this meeting were all inside, Margaery telling them to keep their seats as she and Jae took their own. She was happy to see they were to be sitting together once more, united and together, just as it was meant to be she thought as Jae held her chair for her.
"His grace and I wish to speak to you on a most important matter, Jae." she said looking to her husband who nodded.
"I've already spoken of this with my wife and with the Kingsguard, as for yourselves you've seen in the Glass Candles some of what's to come. As a king my duty is to the realm and as a husband, my duty is to my wife, but these are not the only duties that have been entrusted to me. My mother and my father named me as the Prince that was Promised, Lady Melisandre, Lady Kinvara, Mya Rivers who I knew as Nan, and her sister Gwenys named me as so too as did those I met while in Valyria." Jae said.
Margaery looked around the table, at Wyman and Willas, at Oberyn and Jaime, Ser Richard, and her grandmother, all of them staring intently at Jae as he spoke.
"There is a war coming that we need to make ready for, a war that can be kept as separate from the running of the realm for some time to come. Which makes it a war that only those who need to know of it will find themselves privy to for now. This war is unlike any that's come before it and to fight it requires actions that will seem strange or mayhap even mad. I cannot and will not accept questions on these actions, for the truth is that in this your counsel is not as valued as mine own." Jae said looking to each of them himself now.
"Your grace." her grandmother began but Margaery glared at her and she then quickly kept her tongue.
"I was wrong in how I left, I see that now and I've promised my wife that I'll not do so in the future. I'll explain my intent and take the actions I deem necessary and brook no argument or dissent when it comes to this. If there are any in this room who cannot abide by this then I ask you to ask your questions and I'll speak on what I can. Should that not be enough for you then I'll accept your resignations and no more will be spoken in your presence.
I ask you all to mark my words though and mark them well. I have a duty to perform, a task that is mine alone to see done. The enemy I face gives me pause enough and though I may require your help, if need be I'll do so without it. So when I leave this room it's on the understanding that on this matter my word is final, my orders are to be followed without question and while I'll accept help in adjusting my plans, I'll accept no denial of mine own."
"His grace and I will require each of your consent to this before we leave this room, so ask your questions now." she said as Jae reached under the table to take her hand in his.
The meeting ran an hour longer than she had expected, the questions coming thick and fast. Her brother, her grandmother, Wyman and Ser Richard, and Jaime most of all. Barristan and Arthur added some of their own, both men pleased and displeased by the answers Jae gave in equal measure. Yet at the end of the meeting, not one offered their pins of office and when she left the room with Jae she saw how differently he walked. He seemed more confident somehow and certainly far less tense than he had been when they were walking in. Margaery was happy about that as they walked to their rooms and readied for the meeting with the Fat One. Her smile soon garnering her husband's attention as they walked.
"What?" she asked as he stared at her when they entered their chambers.
"Something amuses you, my love?" he asked making her smile even more.
"Just thinking of the Fat One and wondering should we have food made available for him?" she asked with a giggle as Jae shook his head.
"Let him starve, the man can do with missing a meal." her husband said with a chuckle of his own.
He arrived not long after they had taken their seats, Margaery seeing Jae tense once more and noticing for the first time just how the High Septon looked at her husband. Her grandmother had told her that despite them marrying in the Great Sept the faith still distrusted her husband greatly. Both his adherence to his own faith and his embrace of R'hllor's servants had not gained him any love from the servants of the seven and Jae had done little to assuage their concerns about him.
"Your graces." The Fat One said after taking his seat, Margery catching Jae's smirk when the man realized he'd not be getting fed at this meeting.
"High Septon, how may we be of assistance?" she asked when Jae did not.
"I wish to speak to you of the heathens your grace." he said smiling at her.
"Heathens, High Septon?" Jae said with a bit too much bite, Margaery looking to her husband and seeing him look abashed.
"The followers of the false god, your grace." the High Septon said.
"I'm afraid you'll need to enlighten me more than that High Septon, for I remember many times listening to a Septa say such things about my fellow Northmen." Jae said, Margaery glad that he did so in a little friendlier tone.
"The followers of R'hllor, your grace." the man said his voice showing his annoyance.
"And what have they done to raise the concerns of the Faith, High Septon?" she asked.
"They preach openly your grace, of a heathen god and of the powers he possesses. They prey on the weak and the vulnerable and divert them from the true path." He replied, his voice rising as he did so.
"And who are you to tell people of their path?" Jae asked.
"I am the Seven's chosen representative, your grace, the conclave has named me as such." The High Septon said glaring at her husband and Margaery once again seeing Jae smirk.
"Very well, I accept that you have a right to speak on such matters." Jae said and she saw the High Septon relax "Though not what you say on them." Jae added and once again the man tensed.
"Your grace?"
"The faith has its followers High Septon and they are free to worship the Seven and to attend their Septs and listen to their Septons and Septas all they wish and under our rule, they'll receive all care and consideration for doing so. Lady Kinvara, Lady Melisandre, and Thoros of Myr however follow a different god and are free to speak on him as much as they wish. Should people choose to listen then so be it, they are as free to make that choice as you or I are, are they not?" Jae asked.
"They are damned if they do so, your grace"
"But not if they don't." Jae said with a chuckle which soon got a glare from her.
"What his grace is trying to say High Septon is that while the crown plays its role as does the faith, we don't now nor will we ever tell people who they must choose to place their faith in." she said.
"But you do." the High Septon said.
"How so?" she asked curiously.
"You tell them that you as king and queen are above them all, that your will is the law, your grace. Should they not accept that will or your right to it then they are guilty of treason and face punishment do they not?" The High Septon said smugly.
"And you would see those who don't follow the faith are made to suffer the same penalty?" she asked.
"I would simply remind your graces that the Faith would not look kindly on the crown should they not." The High Septon said, Margaery looked to Jae to see him glowering at the now smirking fat man.
"And what of how I look, High Septon?" Jae said his voice like steel as he glared at the man.
"Your grace?"
"I said what of how I look, High Septon? What of me not looking kindly upon the faith, what then?"
"I don't understand your grace."
"Then let me make it clear for you. In our kingdom, a man or woman's faith is their own to choose. In the North, they kneel to the Old Gods, and here in the South, your brethren preach the Seven who are One, in our kingdom both are as true as each other. The Red Priests wish to preach of their god and preach of R'hllor they will and any who seek to kneel before him are welcome to do so. Any who dare try to force their faith on another will need to think carefully before they do so." Jae said.
"The faith won't be happy with this, your grace." the High Septon said.
"And yet I find I can live with their unhappiness quite easily, be sure to do your best so that you don't have to live with mine own."
"Your grace, your grace." The High Septon said annoyedly as he rose to his feet and moved to the door.
"One more thing, High Septon." Jae said and the Fat One stopped.
"Your Grace?"
"I know far better than most the history of my family, High Septon, I've studied it, learned from it, and now am the living embodiment of it. My namesake the Conciliator brought the Faith and the Crown back together after ambitious men reached too high and tried to impose their wills upon kings. He agreed that the crown and the faith were united and that the Iron Throne would always protect and defend the faith and I shall live by his words. I will defend the faith against any who seek to bring it harm, even amongst those within the faith itself.
The faith and the crown are united High Septon but the crown is not subservient to it and never shall that be so. So remember these words and remember them well. Zaldrīzes buzdari iksos daor." Jae said firmly as the High Septon actually shook a little.
"I do not…"
"A Dragon is not a Slave, High Septon." she said as the man walked from the room far more quickly than he had entered it.
King's Landing 298 AC.
Tyrion.
Lygaron soared through the sky as Tyrion looked over to see the rest of his family beside him flying on their own dragons. It was Rhaenix that flew the closest to him and whether that was because of Jae wishing to say goodbye to Lygaron or Rhaenix herself he cared not. Just feeling Lygaron's joy at flying with his sister and father was enough for him. Each of the dragons was in a playful mood and yet he could feel an undercurrent of sadness too. They knew that this would be the last time they flew together for some time and that unlike the occasions before when one of them went on a journey, this time that journey would end with a dragon in a new home.
A part of him felt bad for doing that to them, for taking one of them away from the others and in some ways splitting up their family. Another part felt just as bad about splitting up his own also. He and Dany had grown very close over the few months they'd spent time together, Tyrion had reveled in being a big brother and in having a true sister. Aemon was as wise as any man he'd ever met and shared his own interest in learning things. As for Shiera, his aunt told him tales of their family that helped him find his own place in it and they were only scratching the surface of what type of relationship they would have between them.
Then there was of course his nephew, he more than anyone understood him and though recently they hadn't spent much time together, each time they did it was as if they'd not been parted. Was it for any other reason than the one he was leaving for then Tyrion doubted he'd have been able to. To leave his family behind, both sides of it, was not something he had ever contemplated and yet was now something he was faced with. That each of them only wished him the very best in his new life and only wanted him happy, only proved just how loved he truly was by them.
He sighed when Jae headed back towards King's Landing, Tyrion knowing that their time together was almost at an end. Beneath him Lygaron felt a little tenser, the dragon too understanding the nature of things he felt. When he saw the Dragonpit in front of him he felt it even more keenly, the thoughts of when and if they'd ever be together like this again soon beginning to overwhelm him. They landed and almost at once Jae was walking towards him, his nephew giving him a sad smile before he moved to speak to Lygaron. Tyrion waiting until he was done to speak to Jae himself.
"Can we take a moment, Jae?" he asked when Jae finished speaking to his dragon, his sister, aunt, and uncle all doing the same with their own.
"Of course, uncle." Jae said walking over to stand beside him.
"I…the wedding you'll come won't you?" he asked nervously.
"There's not a thing in this world that will keep me from it, uncle. A Prince of House Targaryen is marrying a Princess of House Martell, that alone would deem my presence necessary. But more importantly than that, my uncle is marrying the woman he loves, and that demands it of me. "Jae said and Tyrion smiled back at him relieved at that and keen to speak of the other thing on his mind.
"Loras, nephew."
"Satin has decided?" Jae asked.
"He has, it's simply too much for him to turn down, Jae. It's not the position I'm offering him or even the future, you could do that for him here, it's Dorne itself." he said looking to Jae.
"And how they see bastards." Jae said and he nodded before Jae continued "Loras will take it badly."
"He doesn't have to." he said as Jae looked at him curiously for a moment before he nodded again.
"I'll make him the offer." Jae said as he placed his hand on Tyrion's shoulder "Don't speak to Satin of it though."
"You think he won't accept?" Tyrion asked surprised.
"I think like Satin getting a new life in Dorne trumps is love, for Loras giving up his life here may do the same. Come let's go and eat and enjoy our lunch, you're supping with Jaime and the others later?"
"I am."
"Then let's enjoy our last time as a family until your wedding, uncle." Jae said with a chuckle.
"Gods you're going to make a speech at my wedding aren't you?" he said rolling his eyes.
"And sing." Jae said laughing as they walked over to the others.
They rode back to the Red Keep together, Tyrion laughing and japing with Dany and Jae while Aemon and Shiera looked on disapprovingly, or tried their best to pretend to anyway. The lunch they had when they arrived it turned out was just for the five of them. Tyrion had expected Margaery to join them but in a way, he was happy when she did not. He spent the rest of his day making preparations, seeing that his things were packed, and speaking to Bronn about what he should expect upon his arrival in Dorne. Most of the things he did he handled himself as he'd given Satin the day to spend with Loras and these were things that he wished to do alone anyway.
As night fell he made his way to Jaime's rooms, arriving before anyone else had just as he had planned and immediately going to spend some time with his niece and goodsister. He had hoped that he'd be here when the babe arrived but it seemed that was not to be, Tyrion once again feeling that he was abandoning his family a little. That both Dacey and Jaime felt he was not, did at least give him some comfort and as Gerion, Ashara, and Joy arrived, Tyrion took his seat at the table for their dinner. They were soon joined by Genna and her two youngest along with Kevan's boy Martyn. Emmon was having an early night and Tyrion found Jaime smirking at him as his aunt explained that her husband was under the weather.
"To the Dornish Lion." Gerion said as Tyrion rolled his eyes, the dinner now in full swing and the questions had now turned to how he'd fare in the Dornish sun.
"Shouldn't that be the Dornish Dragon?" Genna said her own smile beaming as she winked at him.
"Dragonlion." Joy said to laughs, his own included.
"Speaking of dragons, where will Lygaron stay once you're in Dorne?" Jaime asked his brother seeming in good humor though Tyrion could see something was off with him.
"He's a dragon, brother, he'll stay where he wants to." he replied to laughs, Jaime's though was far more muted than the others.
He noticed it more and more as the dinner went on, Jaime seemed to put on a mummery of sorts and though he laughed and japed with them all, he didn't do so with as much good cheer as he normally did. It made him feel even guiltier for leaving how he was, Tyrion thinking that his brother blamed him or was unhappy with him for doing so. As with Jae, he'd not spent as much time with Jaime lately as he'd have liked. Unlike with Jae though Jaime was actually here to spend time with and be it his brother's own duties, Tyrion spending time with his other family or with Arianne, he was beginning to worry that Jaime was displeased with him.
It was why when the dinner was over and he had said his goodbyes and accepted the good wishes of his aunt, uncle, and cousins, he then held back from leaving. Tyrion looking on to see Jaime nod at Dacey and then before he knew it he was saying goodbye to his niece and promising to give her a present when he saw her next. He waited until they had both left the room and once they had he moved quickly to his brother, ready to apologize and make things right between them.
"Jaime, I'm.."
"You know?" Jaime asked sighing as he did so.
"I...I wished to spend more time with you, it's just you've been so busy and I…"
"Tyrion, are you apologizing to me? Why?" Jaime asked.
"I…you're not mad at me?" he asked confused.
"What? Of course not, why would you think…Tyrion, I'm not mad at you. I've just been trying to decide how to tell you something." Jaime said his brother's shoulders sagging as he took his seat.
"Jaime?"
"I can't come to your wedding Tyrion." Jaime said taking a seat and Tyrion feeling the pain in his heart at his brother's words.
"Why?"
"I'm Hand of the King, Tyrion. Both Jae and Margaery need to attend, they want to attend and someone needs to stay here and run the kingdom."
"Could someone else not?"
"No, it falls to me. I'm sorry." Jaime said as Tyrion walked over to him.
"You've nothing to be sorry about, brother. I wish you were coming but I understand, I know you'll be there even though you won't be." he said stumbling over his words.
"Well about that." Jaime said smiling before he began to speak to him.
That night he slept well and woke up early the next morning. Satin was soon at his door and after breaking his fast in his room, Tyrion turned around and said goodbye to it. He'd spent moons in these rooms, had found a life he'd not imagined and a family he loved with all his heart. Saying goodbye to them he knew was going to be much easier than saying goodbye to the family themselves. Once he was done he made his way down to the courtyard where he saw Jae and Margaery speaking to Arianne and her cousins while Ellaria said her own goodbyes to Oberyn.
He walked over to Jaime and quickly found himself face to face with his brother as Jaime knelt to embrace him, no words spoken as they'd said all they had wished to each other the night before. Aemon, Shiera, Genna, Gerion, and Oberyn all followed and Tyrion found that his soon to be new good uncle was at least able to bring a smile to his face. Saying goodbye to Jae was difficult and yet it was saying goodbye to Dany that almost brought tears to his eyes. His sister hugging him tightly and promising that she'd come and visit him often.
"I'll see you at my wedding, Dany." he said as she held him.
"After that, I'll come often, I swear it." Dany said her own tears not being held back.
"I look forward to it. I love you, sister." he said feeling her squeeze him even tighter.
"I love you too, brother, truly." Dany said and he felt the first of his own tears as they now began to flow.
As he climbed into the carriage beside Arianne, he looked to the only people who felt even sadder at their parting than he and his family did. Loras was standing stoically behind Jae while Satin sat his horse and the carriage then began to pull away. He felt Arianne hold him tightly against her, her fingers wiping the tears from his eyes, and despite his sadness and his sympathy with Satin and Loras he felt something else too. Their love may not have won out but his own would, Tyrion grabbing Arianne's hand in his as he swore it, their love would.
The Wall 298 AC.
Stannis.
This was a desolate unforgiving place and yet he felt right at home here, just as he had at Castle Black from the moment he'd arrived at it. There was a simplicity about the life he was now to lead and for some reason, it was something he welcomed. Jeor Mormont was a man who spoke straight and without any of the veiled words and empty promises that the lords he'd had to deal with ever did. The man called it as he saw it and treated every man on their merits and talents and not on their position or birth. Something that Quentyn Martell and the Lords of Dorne had found out to their dismay when they had demanded roles rather than accepted the ones they'd been assigned to.
Stannis had stepped in as had others, Benjen Stark and the men he'd found out where to be freed from their vows at the king's behest among those who did so. After that the Dornish were split up and sent to different castles, Jeor seeing the folly in keeping them together. He had feared that the men from the Golden Company would cause a problem and yet found them like him to be beaten and cowed and eager to settle into their new life. It made him respect them somewhat and soon enough he'd built a camaraderie with some of them and with his new black brothers.
His first few rangings had been tough, Stannis not used to the lands beyond the Wall, and were it not for the black brothers he rode with then he was sure he'd have fallen. After a while, he adapted and now he was the man Jeor tasked with leading the men on their first forays beyond the wall. A teacher, a guide, a black brother, and a confidante, roles that he'd never thought he'd play and roles he'd come to love somewhat. He'd made friends, had enjoyed a warm cider with the men he now called his brothers, the drink more for warmth than for the dullness that it brought, or so he told himself. It was a far cry from the life he had once lived and were it not for Shireen and her letters then he'd have thought that life to have been nothing but a dream.
That she was doing well and was now the Lady of Storm's End and had Ser Davos to guide her, gave him more comfort than the warm fire and the blankets of his room at Castle Black did. The thoughts of her filling his head as the snow blew against his face. He welcomed the letters from Ser Davos too, the Onion Knight proving himself once again the Lealest of all his men and Stannis smiling as he thought of his scrawling handwriting.
"There." he shouted when he saw the hill that led to the cave, his men barely hearing him over the wind "THERE." he shouted again before pointing with his hand outstretched as he brought them towards what would serve as their shelter from the storm.
The cave was not much but it was better than being out in the cold and after bringing the horses inside, he welcomed the lack of snow blowing in his face and the fact that he could now think clearly once more. He quickly set his men to remove the wood from the horses back, Stannis having had them gather it as they rode. It was one of the first lessons he had learned when ranging, a man without fire was a dead man and in times of storms, you had no time to do what you needed. The men looked to him with a new appreciation when they removed the wood and began to ready the fire, and he felt a small sense of accomplishment in the slow earning of their respect.
The food they ate was something else he had picked up on while he was being trained by the Halfhand, the man telling him that whenever the opportunity came to add to his supplies he should take it and Stannis had listened eagerly to every single crumb of advice. It had served him well and would serve his men even better, the warm meat of the rabbits and birds was far better fare than the hardtack and dried meat they carried in their packs. After laying out his bedroll, he made his way to the pot with his bowl in hand and was soon enough eating the warm stew that Lazello had made them all.
"It's good no?" Lazello said and Stannis nodded as he swallowed it down.
Lazello had been one of the Golden Company men and he was someone that always seemed to be in good humor. The man's easy smiles and japes and his ability to cook almost anything had made him many friends in the watch, Stannis included. This though was his first time out beyond the Wall and apart from the young ranger Arvin and Stannis himself, he was not alone in that. The other ten men in their party were yet to break their cherries as Bowen Marsh and Wick Wickerstick were more than keen to tell as they left through the gate. Stannis knew it was just japing and it had become a rite of passage for the men, their treatment once they returned from a ranging vastly different to that before it.
"Should we set up a watch, my lord?" Carth Upcliff asked the young lad having only arrived at the Wall a little over a moon earlier.
"Aye lad, you take the first and I'll do the second." Arvin said.
"Of course my lord." the lad said eagerly.
"He's your brother Carth, as am I, there are no Lords in the Watch other than the Lord Commander." Stannis said and the boy nodded as he quickly moved to the front of the cave.
"Green as summer grass that one." Arvin said.
"As were we all once, Arvin." he replied to a chuckle from the black brother.
"It's gonna be a long one, Stannis, two days or more."
"Aye, better have the lads look and see if they can find any more firewood in here just in case." he said and the man nodded before doing as he was bid.
Later that night and as the winds howled outside, Stannis took to his bed and wrapped himself up in his warm fur-lined cloak. It was something that Shireen had gifted him before he left, his daughter telling him that his own one wouldn't be much use to him where he was going and Stannis bowing to her superior wisdom. Many a night since he'd arrived here he'd thought much on his failures with his daughter, that he'd allowed and encouraged her education was one of the very few successes he had with her. Soon enough he was asleep and dreaming of better days, dreams of a different life where he was the husband and father he should have been. They were dreams he had all too often and dreams that always left him feeling worse for the having of them. Though this night they were dreams that were disturbed before they could take hold.
The screams were loud and he was up on his feet with his sword in hand ready to use it before he even knew who or what he would be using it against. The scene that greeted him was one that took him far too long to make any sense of. That they were under attack was all too clear, who or what was attacking them was very much not. His sword cut down the man that came his way and at first Stannis assumed it was a wilding, the furs, and crude knife in its hand painting it as such. It was only when it fell that he began to doubt himself though, as no wilding ever looked how the thing on the ground did. Its flesh was rotting from its face and it had bones pointing out from where they should not. Were it not for the fact there were more of them and they were still under attack, then Stannis would have knelt down to take a closer look.
Instead, he was up against another and then another and then another, his sword flashing around in arcs as he cut each of them down and then he watched as some of them rose again. Around him he could hear the screams of his men as they fall, Lazello, Carth, Arvin, each of them being enveloped by more and more of these things as he looked on helplessly. Very soon it became clear that he was the only one of his group still alive in this place and that he would not be staying that way for long. Stannis feeling the tiredness in his arms as he swung and swung again and yet the things kept coming at him.
He'd all but given up hope when help arrived, the flaming arrows catching hold and around him his attackers going up in flames. Looking to the front of the cave he saw the outline of figures and the arrows flying from their bows once more. Stannis moved quickly and when the opportunity presented itself he ran in their direction and almost fell past them out onto the snow. A strong pair of hands grabbing him and soon enough he was staring into the face of a man with a large white beard and a large belly, the man staring right back at him.
"Are you going to gut the crow or not Tormund." a redheaded woman said as she moved from the front of the cave.
"That depends, you take care of the dead?" the man he now knew was named Tormund asked.
"Of course I fucking did, the crow, Tormund?" the woman asked again.
"I'm thinking for fucks sake Ygritte, you know it don't come easy to me." Tormund said as they were joined by more and more of what he could now tell were in fact wildings.
"Tormund?" Ygritte said her voice annoyed.
"Let's take him to Mance, he's seen them for himself now Ygritte, he could be helpful later." Tormund said.
"If we must." the woman said moving close to him "But if he tries anything I'll fucking gut him meself." Ygritte said.
He was tied up and Ygritte was handed the rope, Stannis looking back to the cave to see the flames that told him all inside had been given to the fire. As he was dragged by the woman he looked at the group around him and knew there was no escape, he knew he should be afraid, and yet he was not, instead he found he was grateful. Compared to the things that attacked him in the cave these people were far less savage than he had expected. Also as he looked at their faces and as Ygritte looked back at him, he felt they had one other thing going for them that his attackers did not. These wildings weren't rotting away before his eyes and they didn't look as if they were dead men walking.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up next As the fleet arrives back Dany spends time getting closer to Aurane and Jae learns of Euron's escape. A dinner to say goodbye to the Lannisters is interrupted causing Jae and Jaime to scramble and Aemon and Shiera visit Dragosntone to see to the mining of the Dragonglass while Harrold Hardyng learns another painful lesson.
Chapter 147 Reviews.
Guest: Jae is apologizing for being in the wrong in how he left, yes I know he's the king and by rights, he has no need to and that's the culture. But that doesn't stop a husband from apologizing to his wife or to acknowledging his wrongs. Otherwise Ned Stark would have told Cat to shut up and accept his will, which he only did when angered.
Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.
Biohazard: Really glad you enjoyed it.
Jmaan, it's taken a long time to get to it lol, Jae/Marge were always going to make up.
VfSnake: They really had to didn't they, you were wrong about the dream, for now, but that really is an interesting idea.
Jessicanightmarewolf: Kissed and made up lol.
Emeralduke; It will yes.
Mr2legit: We'll see Jae look to Bloodraven in the next chapter.
Hkt29: Jace deserved it I felt, I agree I know that there are so many characters already but I think it's nice from time to time to show a different perspective and we will see Jace and some others again.
Zeon: Thank you so very much for your kind words and for putting the time in to read this story. It means a lot to me and I hope you continue to enjoy it.
Remi: I agree and disagree in that you're right he needs to realize he's not alone and this in some ways has been about that, these last few chapters especially but then on the flip side he is kinda alone in that he's the only one who can do what he does, which makes its own sort of loneliness. Yes, he could be too obsessed in relation to his family, but then again he in some ways always has been so does it become an obsession or a goal. In terms of bringing them back and Valyria, when it's done I hope people get where I'm going with it but until then I can't really say too much.
AjGranger: It was a hard choice, it's not even as simple as a better job as it's a better way of life, I agree Loras is kinda living the life he wants to live which is why he made his own choice. Oberyn won't be heading back to Dorne until the wedding, so he'll be around a bit and once he's married himself he'll be back in KL permanently as for the Starks, it's funny, we'll be saying goodbye to them and then seeing them almost as quickly for Robb's wedding and then well the final arc of this story will be a lot more northern focussed so it'll be as if they never left lol.
So glad you liked that with Jacelyn, given what he did he deserves to be knighted and he brings a different perspective, as for Joy well she's my own fave lol.
Alexguamenti: Sometimes when writing I put a song on or random music and when I heard Run recently it just seemed perfect for a Rhaegar last ever song. So glad you liked it.
Iprg77: I sometimes have the same fear that I'll miss out on a thread I started and that I won't get back to it or not so much resolve it but move past it and forget, I do try and tie them all up though, and hopefully I hit more than I miss.
Guest: With Jae/Marge I had a couple of intentions, one was to show that even people who love each other which they clearly do can get messed up by simple things, and secondly to play it into the narrative which is Jae learning what he can and cannot, should and should not do. On Joy I feel some missed her intent, it wasn't to take Marge's side over Jae, she never would, it was to help Jae by cheering Marge up, I don't know if the above makes that more clear or not but that was what I was going for. So glad you liked the song and the lemon, it more than anything makes me nervous as I hope I get the tone right more than anything. On Val/Benjen they have some big moments coming up over the next few chapters, she's seen Rhaenix and the other dragons in the sky and one of the things I really wanted for her was to see Jae one way and then to realize she's wrong, it's a big moment for her.
Anarchichmind: So glad you feel that way, that was the thing it was both sides and in a way, they really needed this so they could see it. I know right, I so have to have Alliser make that comment at some point lol.
Celeyxs: With Joy/Robb that's one of the things I was hoping that even with them dealing with the stuff around them it moves their characters a bit forward. Jae/Marge was that almost but not quite the first big fight thing where sometimes it's almost needed to clear the air.
Aussiekay: So very glad you liked it and I really hope you enjoy what's to come.
Ser Arthur: She's mad at him because he lied to her, he was planning on leaving, just not going to Valyria until Rhaenix decided it for him, up to that point he planned to go beyond the wall. She was also worried about him which given he was still recovering only made that worry grow. She overreacted and Jae could have handled how he left better but he was to blame for that overreaction because of how he explained things.
Silverglow: No worries my friend, glad you enjoyed it.
King of war hammer: No problem. Dany will incorporate a new sigil, what that sigil will be will depend but for argument's sake, as of now, it would be something incorporating Aurane's house as well as her own.
On Tyrion, any child of his will be a Martell, except if one of his children is to hold a satellite house of House Targaryen as per Jae's plans for there to be a Targ house in each of the seven kingdoms. So say Tyrion has a son, that son will be Prince of House Martell, then say he has a daughter and that daughter is needed to hold a satellite house of House Targaryen, then she'll be a Targaryen. It will be Tarbeck hall in the west yes. On the Stepstones at some point in the future maybe, but not for now. With the Blackwoods/Bracken, we'll be seeing in the Rl in a few chapters with Bran/The Blackfish and so we'll have more insight then.
Creativo: Lol, tía Joy.
Lady Ocarina: Didn't know you were a Jon/Val shipper, one of my upcoming stories is them as the main pairing. You're right, two idiots needed to communicate better lol. Glad you liked that with the Starks, as you see above Jae had a lot to be conflicted about. If ever a man deserved it then Jacelyn did here, this is not the last we'll see of Ser Jacelyn of the Trident.
Xan Merrick: No worries my friend. I understand where you're coming from, the world has done gone crazy lol You too my friend, merry Christmas, and have a happy new year.
