Lannisport 299 AC.

The Blackfish.

He had welcomed the boy as if he was his grandnephew though he was not, yet Brynden had not held that against him. Nor had he held Ned Stark's happiness about his son against him, that it had come with news of Cat's death though was a bitter pill to take. Even now weeks later as they sailed into the bay at Lannisport he wasn't fully over it or the argument he'd had with Ned Stark that had almost come to blows.

Brynden remembered the moment he'd been told she'd been executed as if he'd just heard the words a moment ago and not as if he'd had the time to absorb them. He'd argued, threatened and shouted, had almost committed treason, and had suggested he'd not follow orders from the man who'd kill his niece. Only for Ned Stark to show a resolve and anger, he'd always known the man had within him. That it was his king, his nephew he was threatening had not gone down well and Brynden now laughed a bitter laugh at his memories of dealing with the quiet wolf.

Winterfell one moon earlier.

He was asked to join Ned in the Godswood, Bran was spending time getting to know his new cousin, and Brynden was not sure which of the two revelations had taken him more aback. That Brandon Stark had married another woman when betrothed to his niece was one thing, that the union had given him a son was bitter to swallow. Cat had lost her mind over the fear of a bastard usurping her son when in truth they had usurped this boy. He'd been surprised that the boy, just like the boy she'd thought a bastard, had not wished for Winterfell. Though that he'd been named Lord of Sea Dragon Point did raise some doubts in him. Something he had assumed that Ned Stark now wished to speak to him about in the Godswood, only to find it was very much not that which was the reason for their meeting.

"I have some news Brynden, terrible news, perhaps you should sit." Ned said as he himself took a seat on a small rock.

"I'll stand, Ned, I find when I sit it takes me a long time to rise again." he said with a chuckle that Ned joined in with, though his was far less humorous than his own.

"Cat, Brynden, she lost her head." Ned said softly.

"Aye a long time ago more's the pity. I tried Ned, I just wasn't the man for the job." he said his regret clear in his voice.

"No Brynden, she's been executed." Ned said as Brynden's head almost spun towards him.

"What's this you say?" he said his voice rising.

"She was tried, Brynden, for her crimes, and not only did she admit them, but she also reveled in them, she gave them no choice."

"So your bastard nephew killed her?" he said moving towards him.

"My nephew is no bastard, he is your king and you'd do well to remember it." Ned said angrily while rising to his feet.

"He's no king of mine, I've not knelt to him, nor will I." Brynden said his temper rising.

"Careful Brynden, I'll not tolerate treasonous speak, even if it's your upset that is the cause of it." Ned said warningly.

"Upset, you think I'm upset, I'm fucking furious, you, you, what did you do? You were her husband, the father of her children, and you let...you let this bastard king take her head."

"ENOUGH. Once more and I'll see you thrown to the cells. Jaehaerys wasn't even present, it was her grace that made the call, and had my nephew been there then he would have been left with no choice. Speak to Robb, ask him what she said, ask him what he told her to do. She was to be granted mercy, had she just admitted her crimes and begged forgiveness for them she would have, but she did not, she would not. So if you seek someone to blame, blame her, or your own damn brother for raising her wrong." Ned said his voice raised almost to a shout.

"How dare you." he said moving towards him.

The wolf came from nowhere, moving between them and forcing Brynden to back down, giving time for calmer heads to prevail or to at least allow the chance for it. He moved back and Ned walked from the Godswood, Brynden falling to his knees and allowing the tears to fall from his eyes. He was alone, Hoster, Lysa, Edmure, and now Cat, all of them were now gone and he the last remaining Tully.

"By the gods, Cat, my poor sweet Cat." he shouted as his tears fell.

Now.

As they docked he wiped the stray tear from his eye, tears that had kept falling for far too long since he'd heard the news. He'd did as Ned had asked and spoken to Robb and to Elle who told him she'd given the king his letter, he'd heard tale of what had happened to Cat spread in Wintertown when he'd gone to get drunk in a tavern. How his niece had ranted and raved against the queen and belittled the king, something that was not appreciated in a town that was half-filled with people the king and queen had helped personally.

Bran had taken it badly, though not as bad as he had expected and when he'd suggested they leave before Robb's wedding the boy had been more than eager to do so. It had led to another argument with Ned though this one at least was one that he had won and had done so with words. They'd ridden hard to Deepwood Motte and from there caught the ship to Lannisport, Bran like he eager to begin to be a lord and to concentrate on other things. The first of them would be spending time with his betrothed and her family and as he looked to the docks, Brynden could see the guards that waited for them.

"Come nephew, it's time to meet the Lannisters." he said turning to face Bran who was looking nervously to the dockside.

"She's not here?" Bran asked as they walked down the gangplank, Summer racing on ahead of them and no one paying the wolf a moment's notice much to Brynden's surprise.

"No, she'll be at the Rock no doubt." Brynden said and Bran nodded.

They were approached by a tall fair-haired man and some guards, the man quickly introducing himself Ser Lyonel Frey and the more Brynden looked at him the more the weasel features shone true. After briefly confirming that Bran was who he should be, they were led to some horses and were soon riding to the Rock. His grandnephew looked impressed by both the city of Lannisport and the Rock itself. Brynden finding himself turning a deaf ear to the conversation when Bran asked if Ser Lyonel had known his brother from his time here.

The Rock itself was just as impressive as he'd remembered. Though he'd only visited a few times it still stood and loomed over the landscape around it and he thought as he had done the last time he saw it, that only the dragons could take this keep. A thought that soon had him frowning as it brought up just how much the dragons had taken from him. They were brought in through the Lion's Maw and were soon riding the lift to the main levels of the Rock, Bran looking even more excited and nervous as they did so. Once they reached their destination it was Summer who ran from the lift before they'd left it, Bran chasing after him and forcing Brynden to do likewise.

He quickly caught up with the wolf and his grandnephew, Bran was standing and speaking to a young blond-haired girl who was kneeling and rubbing Summer's back. That the wolf was allowing this was a good sign and he could see that Bran thought so too. Brynden decided to take the time to look the girl over more clearly. She was certainly a Lannister and watching her and Bran who'd now started talking excitedly to her, bore well for their future.

"They seem at least not to be distant with each other." he heard a woman's voice say from behind him, Brynden turning to look and see Genna Lannister walking his way.

"Aye they do my lady." he said with a nod before looking to them once more "Is that Lady Myrcella?" he asked as the worrying thought she was not, suddenly came to mind.

"It is Ser, shall we leave them to get better acquainted and get you settled, or do you wish to settle young Brandon too?" she asked.

"I say we leave them, the wolf will know how to find me." he said with a smirk as he looked at Bran speaking to his betrothed and the two of them seemed to be getting along very well.

"I've no doubt of that." Genna said as she bid him to join her.

He followed her into the keep, taking one last chance to glance back at Myrcella and Bran who were walking off in another direction, Bran's guards and the lady's following. This was the future of his line, his blood and though his name would die with him, it would be through his grandnephew's and nieces that his line would live. It was a small comfort but it was a comfort all the same and seeing Bran laugh and jape with the girl who would one day be his wife, did at least bring a smile to his own face.

The Dragon's Breath 299 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

He stood on the deck of the Dragon's Breath, the ship cutting through the waters of the Sea of Dorne while behind them sailed a dozen more ships and on one The Lion's Roar was the rest of his family. Shiera sailed on their new flagship with him, Margaery, Sansa, and Joy while the other ship carried Dany, Aemon, Gerion, and Ashara. Margaery having insisted and he agreeing that they all couldn't travel on the same ship. Not that there wasn't enough room. as the Dragon's Breath was a wonder and it had come as a surprise when Jaime had sold it to him, even though he'd wished to gift it.

Thinking of his Hand, he regretted that he wasn't here with them but he knew that it had to be so. The realm wouldn't run itself in his or Margaery's absence and he'd at least made certain that he'd be at the ceremony in a fashion. Standing and looking out on the cool waters and the imposing dragon on the figurehead of the ship, he found himself wondering where Rhaenix and the other dragons were now. His sister had flown by two days ago heading towards Essos and Jae had almost had to warn her not to go back. Now was not the time and what he'd seen and done there was not something he wished to think on.

"You're doing it again." he heard his wife say from behind him, her arms wrapping around him and her chin resting on his shoulder.

"Am I?" he said his voice light and relaxed as only she could make him so.

"You are, you're brooding, so tell me what's going on in my husband's pretty little head?" she asked softly.

"I was thinking of Jaime, how he should be here, and of Rhaenix." he said turning to face her, his lips finding hers of their own accord.

"Rhaenix is no doubt with the other dragons. They've probably all met up with Lygaron by now and all five dragons are scaring the life out of our Dornish subjects." Margaery said with a laugh that he soon found himself joining in with

"And Jaime?" he asked softly.

"Is no doubt wishing that court would end and he can spend time with Joanna and Jon." she said kissing him as she reached for his hand.

"Aye, no doubt. I'll be down in a moment." he said as he tried to lead him back below deck.

She kissed him once more and then left him to his thinking. The night's sky was clear and the moon full and providing a light that illuminated the darkness. Even though he looked forward to the weddings and to seeing Tyrion and Oberyn as well as their brides and his cousins, there was some trepidation within him about this trip also. Each day it had gotten closer to leaving King's Landing had seen that feeling rise. The knowledge of what he had to do in Dorne, of where he would be going after, and of how long he and his wife would soon be parted, all combining to at times make him wish the day to leave would never come.

Taking one last look up at the night's sky, he turned and walked towards the door that led down to the cabins. Loras and Arthur were standing by it and Jae nodded to them as he passed them by. He made his way to the largest room and looked in to see Joy and Sansa were speaking with Shiera, Jae giving them a smile before he walked to his own cabin. Ghost stood at the door along with Ser Barristan, the white wolf looking miserable and Jae knelt down to rub his head in an effort to make him feel better.

"One more day my friend and then you can run free." he said as the wolf licked his face, Jae rising to his feet and looking to the three Kingsguard "I'll not be leaving my cabin for the night, Sers, so take to your beds." he said and Barristan nodded. Jae leaving it up to his Lord Commander to decide who drew the short straw and would be on guard this night.

In his cabin he found her already undressing, her shoulders bared and the dress folded neatly as she took a seat by a looking glass and began to brush her hair. That she knew he was watching was clear by the smirk on her face, his wife taking the time to slowly brush her hair and draw out the time until she was in their bed. It was an agonizing wait but a game she liked to play and one he very much enjoyed. Jae looked to her when she rose and walked toward him, her slip soon falling to the floor and his wife standing in front of him in all her naked glory.

"My husband is pleased to see me." she said her voice husky as she looked to his britches, where even though she couldn't really see the evidence of his arousal, he knew she was very much aware of it.

"As always wife." he said looking to her and beginning to take his own clothes off, slowly just how she wished him to.

It was a game they'd come to enjoy, teasing each other, denying without denying and seeing which one of them would break first. Usually, it was he who couldn't deny himself her body, tonight though the tables had turned and he smiled when she moved to him. He laughed when she slapped his hands away and almost tore the laces from his britches and he felt them fall to the floor.

"Jae." she said her voice full of need as she took his manhood in her hand and he kissed her hungrily.

"My love." he said lifting her up, Margaery for once not laughing at his awkwardness when he kicked his britches off and carried her to their bed.

Sleep came quickly after their passions were abated, Jae finding it to be a dreamless one at least at first but before he woke in the morning it was a tower and the fall of men he'd dreamed. When he did wake it was to find his wife drooling into her pillow, his laughter at the sight much louder than he had intended and in turn waking her up. She glared at him as she wiped his face and he looked to the small pool on the pillow where her head had rested. A look that soon had him laughing once more and earned him a slap to his head.

"It's not funny, Jae." Margaery said, her face flushed and embarrassed.

"I wasn't laughing to make fun of you, Marge, but it is funny." he said leaning into her so their foreheads touched, his wife laughing with him when he started to do so once more.

"My husband is a fool." she said after a moment.

"A fool for you my love and for you I shall always be your fool." he said as she kissed him and then got up from the bed.

Jae dressed quickly, hurrying from the room and letting Sansa, Joy, and Elinor in to help his wife make ready for the day. Ser Robar stood guard this morning and with a nod to the knight, he looked to Ghost, and then both he and the white wolf made their way to the deck. He was soon joined by his two squire's, Martyn holding the three wooden swords in his hand while Tommen looked the worst for wear.

"You did not sleep well again?" he asked the boy who nodded." Go to my aunt and tell her." he said mussing the boy's hair and watching him as he ran off to drink some more of Shiera's tonic to help him with the sickness of the sea "And you?" he asked looking to Martyn.

"Like a babe, your grace." Martyn said with a smile, one that Jae returned, and soon enough they were sparring with the wooden swords.

It wasn't a true spar and was more going through motions, keeping up with their movements and stances rather than actually fighting. Though the seas were calm and the Dragon's Breath glided across them easily, all it would take was one rough wave and an injury could occur. It was why he looked forward to land even if some of what he needed to do caused him concern. Thankfully this would be the last day at sea as they'd passed the Stepstones and Ghost Hill and were almost at Sunspear itself.

"That'll be it, go break your fast, Martyn." he said after they'd spent almost an hour going through their moves.

"Your grace." Martyn said as he raced from the deck.

"He's getting better, your grace." Arthur said as Jae swallowed some water and took a seat.

"He's a fine swordsman, Arthur, the best of his age by far." he said proudly, knowing he'd helped shape him just as Jaime and then others had shaped his own abilities.

"A future Kingsguard perhaps?" Arthur said looking to him.

"The boy's betrothed Arthur and thankfully he sees his future elsewhere." he said softly thinking of Wylla and of having Martyn as the future Lord of White Harbor.

"He wishes it you know, to serve you, to be by your side." Arthur said.

"And he will be but not in a cloak of white." he said with a nod.

He spent the rest of the day going over papers and speaking to Joy and Sansa, his sisters were both eager for his attention, and Jae was happy to give it to them. Both of them were looking forward to heading North to see Robb wed and for Joy, the idea of seeing where he'd come from was one she was very keen on, that and seeing Cregan again he suspected. As for Sansa, it was the thoughts of going home and even though Willas hadn't joined them on this journey, the knowledge that he would on that one perhaps also played its part.

"Will we ride in the desert?" Joy asked him as they sat in his cabin.

"You wish to ride in the desert?" he asked pretending to be shocked.

"Apples wants to ride in the desert, Winter does too." she said without looking at him.

"They do?" he asked with a smirk on his face.

"They do." she said determinedly.

"Then we'd better not disappoint them, besides I'm sure my cousins will wish to race us both, we'll be on their lands after all." he said seeing the excited gleam she got in her eyes at the thought of a true race.

He chuckled when he saw her smile, Joy was now part of his wife's inner circle and it was something that he was more than happy about. The thoughts of her being away in Castamere and only being seen occasionally were not ones he wished to entertain. When she left him, her place was immediately taken by Sansa, his little sister keener than any to see what Dorne was like and to see a Dornish wedding. She sat down by him quietly, Jae placing his arm around her shoulder and whispering in her ear to make her laugh.

"I will not." she said as she giggled.

"Really, I think you'd like a true Dornishwoman in one of Arianne's silks." he said teasingly.

"Jae stop." she said laughing as he bumped her shoulder with his own, the two of them staring at each other before he stuck his tongue out to make her laugh some more.

They ate together as a family that night, Jae insisting the Kingsguard who were not on duty join with them and the conversation was light and friendly. He found himself looking at each of them as he ate his food, his sisters, his brother by choice, his aunt, and his Kingsguard. Looking to his wife he saw her eyes had been watching him as he did so. He smiled at her and the smile on his face was a true one as he enjoyed the simplicity of being away from court and of eating with his family.

Sunspear 299 AC.

Oberyn.

He stood on the side of the docks as the ships pulled in, Arianne, Tyrion and the rest of his family lined up to welcome the first king to visit Dorne in any of their lifetimes. That said king was family only made the smile on Oberyn's face a genuine one. He laughed when it was the white wolf who left the ship first, Ghost looking more than happy to be on dry land. Jae and Margaery were next, the king and queen walking hand in hand and Oberyn saw the smile on his nephew's face when he saw him and his cousins.

Behind them came the Kingsguard and Jae's squires and sisters, followed by the rest of their guard and their servants. Oberyn waited for Arianne to give the nod and when she did they as one took a knee, only Arianne left standing as Jae walked over to her.

"Sunspear is yours, your grace." Arianne said happily.

"I am honored to be welcomed so, Princess. Please all of you rise." Jae said and then just as was his won't, his nephew dispensed with protocol and each of them was welcomed by him far less properly.

By the time he'd reached him he'd already hugged, Arianne and Tyrion, he'd kissed Ellaria on the cheek, and had laughed with his girls. Oberyn soon finding himself embraced just as warmly as Jae told him how happy he was to be here. Around them people watched and judged he knew, Dorne had wondered what this new king was like and as first impressions went, this was the right one for Jae to make. Not that his nephew was even thinking that way, it was just who he was and that they were family.

"Your grace it's a pleasure to see you again.." he said to Margaery once Jae had let him go, Oberyn kissing Margaery's offered hand.

"You too Prince Oberyn, especially now that my husband has decided to leave you unencumbered by his arms." Margaery said, her smile threatening to turn into a full one which it did as soon as Jae next spoke.

"I missed my uncle and my aunt, and my cousins, Dorea, Loreza, I have gifts." Jae said moving from them and walking to his two youngest, Oberyn laughing at the look of pretend annoyance on Margaery's face.

"I fear my husband forgets himself." Margaery said, her smile even larger now.

"Let's hope he continues to do so for a very long time." Ellaria said as the three of them looked to see Jae on his knees whispering into Dorea's and Loreza's ears, his daughters laughing as much as the king himself was.

When the greetings were done they made their way to the Old Palace, the procession held up somewhat by Jae's reluctance to ride at the front of the line. Only the knowledge that it would be taken as a slight for him not to had him leaving his place with his cousins and sisters. Oberyn chuckling as the Queen and the Kingsguard chided him for making them wait. Once they arrived and they were settled, Jae came to their room, not waiting to speak to them later at the wedding itself.

"Uncle, aunt." Jae said when Oberyn let him into the room, Oberyn seeing him look to Ellaria and nodding.

"It's good to see you nephew, I had feared you'd not make it for tonight." Oberyn said as he took a seat beside his paramour and soon to be wife.

"I'd have flown on Rhaenix had I thought I'd miss it uncle." Jae said looking at them both.

"My niece is here?" he asked.

"She and the other dragons are close I believe, I think she'll be here in time." Jae said.

"Your journey was uneventful nephew?" Ellaria asked.

"It was. I've come with a request aunt." Jae said looking to Ellaria and then to him.

"Ask of us anything, nephew." Ellaria said.

"I'd ask for Tyene to be named as a Lady of Waiting for Margaery." Jae said surprising them both "And in time for Dorea and Loreza to be named as ladies of waiting for any daughter that I may have."

"Even with their birth? Ellaria asked softly, her emotions clear for Oberyn to see.

"Their birth names them my kin, my family, aunt, let any man dare say otherwise." Jae said looking to them both.

"I'll speak to Tyene, as for Dorea and Loreza?" he said looking to Ellaria.

"My girls would be honored to serve their family, nephew." Ellaria said her voice cracking with emotion as Jae got up and walked over to kiss her cheek.

"I shall leave you both to make ready for the ceremony, you have my best hopes and wishes for the future, both of you." Jae said nodding to him and kissing Ellaria's cheek once more before he left the room.

He waited until he was gone before he turned to Ellaria, Oberyn wiping a tear from her eye as he took her in his arms.

"He did not have to do that." she said softly "Our girls, he honors them so."

"He is our kin, my love, as we are his." he said to a nod from her.

He left her after that, her friends, Arianne, their girls, Ashara, Margaery, and her ladies all coming in to help make her ready for the wedding. Oberyn went to his room and lay down on his bed, his nerves rising as he waited for the night to begin. From the moment he'd met her, he'd known she was the only one he could ever truly love. She was his heart and it only ever truly beat when he was with her and yet he'd never imagined the day would come when she would be his wife.

Doran had made it clear that he as a prince of Dorne could not wed a bastard, that to do so would cause too many difficulties for House Martell and for Dorne itself. So despite his own wishes, he'd agreed with his brother and now as he lay in his bed he began to wonder if it was Dorne or Doran that his brother had truly cared for. The thoughts plaguing him, Oberyn rose from the bed and walked to the balcony, the cool breeze that signaled night was falling soon blowing over his face. He welcomed it and closed his eyes before he felt her, his eyes opening and being drawn to the sky where his niece flew overhead.

"Rhaenys." he said smiling, happy that she had come just as Jae said she would, Oberyn turning to ready himself for his wedding once she flew by.

Ellaria.

The dress was the most beautiful thing she had ever worn, the silks from Myr and the sparkling stones catching the light as she walked towards the Great Hall. It was a dark crimson with yellow stones that looked like a thousand suns and her head was covered by a small veil that was in House Martell's colors. She smiled at her father as he took her arm and then she began the walk into the hall and saw her love standing at the front waiting for her.

She looked around the room and saw some tears on some of the ladies' faces, Jae's sisters Sansa and Joy, her own girls, even the older ones all doing their best not to cry openly. Ellaria knew that any tears spilled for her would be tears of joy and it was enough to keep her own at bay. Her father smiled at her when he let go of her arm and she dropped to her knees when the Septon bid her to. The feel of the cloak as Oberyn put it on her warming her both inside and out. She could barely hear the words the Septon said and were it not for Oberyn taking her hand then she may not have known to rise.

Her love turned her to face him as the cloth was wrapped around her hand. She looked into his eyes and could see something in them that she knew was in her own. He was happy, content, he loved her as she did him, and from this day forward they were to be joined as one. She smiled at him and he at her and when he nodded she recited the words.

"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger, I am his and he is mine from this day, until the end of my days." she said as Oberyn did also.

"With this kiss, I pledge my love and take you for my princess and wife." Oberyn said shocking her before his lips were on her own.

The kiss was deep and long, far more passionate than the Septon was expecting and one she wished would never end. Her heart and soul all pouring into a single touch of lips and she hoped that Oberyn was feeling just as she was. When she did move away it was to a cough from the Septon and a chuckle from her love, from her husband.

"Prince Oberyn and Princess Ellaria of House Martell are of one flesh, one heart and one soul, now and forever What the gods have brought together let no man dare try to come between." the Septon said as Oberyn kissed her once more and took her arm to lead her to their seats.

Her girls came to her first, each of them telling her how happy they were and she looked to see Oberyn being told likewise by Jae, Gerion, Tyron, and even Ser Arthur Dayne speaking to him while dressed as a guest and not a Kingsguard. As the food came she found herself being looked at by the ladies of Dorne, none of whom had ever thought her anything less than she was now. She turned to see the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms sitting no more than a couple of seats from her and she could see that Margaery didn't think that she belonged anywhere but the seat she now sat in.

As they ate she found herself laughing and japing, only stopping when the time came for the gifts to be handed out. Her girls gave her silks and dresses and Arianne and Tyrion gave her and Oberyn a matching pair of sand steeds. Other lords and ladies gave them other gifts, some good, some bad but all given with good grace. She was surprised when both Jae and Margaery stood in front of them, not that they were gifting them but more that they were doing so in such a way. The protocol would have demanded that they not stand in front of anyone as they were the king and queen, yet as she looked at her nephew and smiled she knew he cared not for such things.

"Aunt, uncle, I thought long and hard about what to gift you both and thankfully my wife talked me out of most of my ideas." Jae said to laughs "So I hope you welcome these small tokens of just how much you both mean to me and to Margaery."

She watched as Jae handed Oberyn a spear that was unlike any she'd ever seen before. It was a golden spear with the tip made from what looked to be Valyrian Steel, something that given the expression on Oberyn's face it certainly was. Margaery handed her a small box which she opened and inside she found a ruby on a chain, it was small and looked blood red and beside it, she saw another on a larger chain. Margaery nodding to her as she took them both out.

Ellaria felt it when she put it on and as she handed the other one to Oberyn she looked closer at it, and then caught Margaery reaching into the bodice of her dress and pulling out one that looked similar. The queen then nodded to her and smiled as Ellaria realized that the ruby was not simply for decoration and she felt her tears come to her eyes.

"Your graces, you honor us both so." she said softly.

"You are family, aunt." Jae said smiling as he took Margaery's hand and led her back to her seat.

Oberyn was torn between looking at the spear and the ruby she wore, his own was still in his hand but with a nod from her, he placed it around his neck. Soon enough it was time for the music and dancing, Ellaria finding herself first dancing with her new husband and then with her nephew. Jae's smiles at her as true as she'd ever seen them and his words only further showing her just how pleased and happy he was for her and for Oberyn.

"You are happy, aunt?" he asked as they moved.

"Very much so, nephew, this is what I always wished for but never dared dream it would come to pass." she said looking to him.

"You were born to be a princess of Dorne, aunt. My uncle and you are what I wish for Margaery and myself." Jae said looking to his wife who was now dancing with Oberyn.

"Yet I cannot see you allowing another into your bed, nephew." she said with a chuckle.

"Well, no, not that." Jae said with a laugh as his face colored "But to still love each other so fiercely after so many years, this I envy and wish for myself." he said as she kissed his cheek.

"You have the heart of a Dornishman, nephew." she said softly as she looked at him "Now does my nephew bring me a song, or is this the extent of his gifts to me." she said with a laugh as she took the ruby in her hands.

"I know better than to not bring you a song, aunt." Jae said making her smile as the music faded.

"Your grace, Princess, my lords, and ladies, it seems his grace wishes to sing for us." she said making him glower at her in jest, both of them soon smiling as Jae nodded and sent his squire to fetch his harp.

She was seated by the time the boy came back, the harp glistening in the light as Jae played with it for a few moments before he was happy that it was in tune.

"Uncle, I wrote this as if it were you, forgive me if it's not what you'd say." Jae said intriguing her as he held the harp, Oberyn laughing as he nodded for him to begin.

The sound was faster than she'd imagined and then all of a sudden it slowed, the room hushing even more as barely a sound came from the harp, and then it began for true in a soft melody as Jae began to sing just as softly.

Tell her I'll be waiting
In the usual place
With the tired and weary
And there's no escape

To need a woman
You've got to know
How the strong get weak
And the rich get poor

Slave to love
Oh

Slave to love

You're running with me
Don't touch the ground
We're the restless hearted
Not the chained and bound

The sky is burning
A sea of flame
Though your world is changing
I will be the same

Slave to love
Oh

Slave to love

Slave to love
Oh

Slave to love

And I can't escape
I'm a slave to love

The storm is breaking
Or so it seems
We're too young to reason
Too grown up to dream

And the spring is turning
Your face to mine
I can hear your laughter
I can see your smile

Slave to love
Oh

Slave to love

And I can't escape
I'm a slave to love

Slave to love

Oh

Slave to love

And I can't escape
I'm a slave to love

She reached out her hand and took Oberyn's, her love listening as she did to the song Jae played, she felt him squeeze her fingers and then he leaned forward to place a kiss on her lips just as Jae finished. The two of them nodding to their nephew who then sang some more. Their girls soon singing along with him when he sang their song and Ellaria thought to herself that this day was the best she'd ever had. Something Oberyn must have noticed in her eyes.

"We still have the night to come, wife." Oberyn whispered in her ear.

"We have forever, husband." she said as he nodded.

The Tower of Joy 299 AC.

Barristan Selmy.

Flying on a dragon was never something he would enjoy and yet the destination they were heading to made the concerns he had about it a far lesser thing. In front of him, Arthur was by now almost as used to flying on Rhaenix's back as the king was and he envied him his comfort. As for the king himself, Barristan had noticed his emotions were fraught and that he seemed far more nervous than he ever allowed himself to be. He could understand that completely, they were flying to where it had all begun for Jaehaerys. Heading to where his mother had lost her life and while Arthur had told them of their other visit, for some reason this felt different.

Given the shovels and sacks they carried on the dragon's back, he knew part of the reason for that difference and he wished to pay his own respects to his former Lord Commander and to Oswell also. He felt Arthur stiffen in front of him and knew then they were almost at the tower, Barristan finally seeing it for himself a few moments later. It was a nondescript almost insignificant place and yet it was in truth the birthplace of what he hoped would be a dynasty. Certainly, it was the start of one and he felt his heart beat faster when Rhaenix flew over it to ensure there was no one nearby before they landed.

He was surprised when the king didn't go straight to the tower, instead, he and Arthur waited while he spoke to the dragon and then began to take the sacks and shovels off himself. That he wished to do so had been made clear to him and while it was not said that the dragon wouldn't allow them to help, it was something that he had considered the reason, Arthur only now telling him the truth of it.

"He wishes it to be him, Barristan, given what we're here for, he wishes it to be him that does most of it." Arthur said as Jaehaerys untied the last of the chests.

"Including the digging?" he asked.

"Especially that, these men died for him Barristan, he wishes to honor them." Arthur said proudly.

"Our brothers?"

"Them most of all."

Once the shovels, sacks, and their own supplies of food and water were taken from the dragon's back, Barristan watched as she took to the air. The King walking over to them and wiping the sweat from his forehead as he did so.

"Rhaenix is gone to eat, she'll be back once she has, I'd like to take a moment with each of the dead before we disturb them, perhaps you'd both wish to do the same with Ser Gerold and Ser Oswell." the king said and Barristan nodded.

He followed after Arthur who led him to the two graves, both men were buried a little way from the five Northmen's graves where the king had gone to and was at present kneeling in front of the first of.

"Is he safe, Arthur?" he asked as he glanced around.

"He is, he and the dragon have looked for miles around Barristan, there is no one here but us and the dead." Arthur said as they walked.

"How can he be so sure?" he asked.

"I know not how his gifts work, only that they do and that he has my faith." Arthur said and he nodded.

The graves were marked but not clearly and he found he didn't know, nor did Arthur which was which and so they both knelt between them and offered prayers up for both men. Barristan remembering Oswell and his sarcastic way of speaking, his good humor, and his fierce loyalty. With Gerold there were even more memories, the man had named him to the Kingsguard and was who he had wished to be for all his life. That he now held his position only made him feel unworthy of it, especially compared to the man who had given his life for his king.

"A moment, Sers." the king said after he and Arthur had prayed for some time.

"Of course your grace." he said rising to his feet and both he and Arthur stepped back and allowed the king to take their place.

He couldn't make out what the king said as he spoke, only that he did so for some time before he rose to his feet, both he and Arthur walking over to him and Barristan watching as Jaehaerys wiped his eyes.

"I find myself not worthy of their loss, Sers, so I've told them that I strive each day to make it so. I ask they forgive me for the days I fail." Jaehaerys said as he turned and walked past them and over to grab a sack and shovel.

If he had any doubts that he served a good and true king, which he did not, then hearing him speak in such a way would have relieved him of them. The idea that the king worried about failing to live up to the sacrifices of men like Oswell and Gerold marking him as a much better man than his grandfather had ever been. It filled him with an even greater resolve to serve him well and so he knelt once more to make his own oath to the fallen.

It took some time for the ground to be broken and the first body to be taken out. Barristan watching as it was placed in the sack, the silver fist on red of the shield marking him as Ethan Glover. The next grave was easier for the king to dig up, Barristan wondering if it was because he had experienced the ground because of the first one or was it that he knew now how deep the man was buried beneath it. He saw the king stop and look down into the grave when he reached the body, a tear fall down his face as he did so.

"Martyn Cassel." Arthur whispered to him and yet Barristan didn't understand the reason for the king's upset.

It was midday by the time all five men of the North had been dug and placed in sacks, the king not allowing either of them to even handle the bodies and even though he struggled, he did it himself for each of them. They took lunch once the king had washed the dirt from his hands and face. Jaehaerys eating alone while he and Arthur sat a few feet away.

"He is taking this badly, Arthur." he said softly.

"He is, but he needs to do this. Long have I wished to see Gerold and Oswell brought back to their families and his grace wishes for the Northmen to be back in the North just as much." Arthur said.

"Did you know he planned this?" he asked.

"When we came here we spoke of it, he never told me his plans but I suspected as much." Arthur said.

"It's a good thing he's doing." he said a little more loudly than he intended.

"It is a true good." Arthur said.

After they ate he'd expected the king to dig up Gerold and Oswell but instead he'd walked to the tower itself, he and Arthur following behind him as he entered and began to walk up the stairs. Barristan looked for signs of his prince, signs that he, Arthur, Gerold, Oswell, and the woman he now knew was his princess had been here. While there were signs that still remained that showed there had been someone here many years before, who that was or why they'd come was not as clear. It left him regretful both that he could not see it and that he had not been here himself with them.

"Why didn't he tell me Arthur, you, Gerold, Oswell, why not me?" he asked as they walked up the stairs, the king further ahead of them.

"You were loyal to your oaths, Barristan, and not to Rhaegar. You'd have seen it as treason and none of us wished to put you in such a position. I was loyal to Rhaegar first, as was Oswell, Gerold had seen by then just what Aerys truly was. Had it been you who'd been sent to us instead of Gerold then who knows how things would have played out." Arthur said.

"You think I'd not have joined you?" he asked horrified.

"I think then you would have, before then you'd have been torn but that's not what I mean, Barristan. Had you been with us then I believe Ned Stark and Howland Reed would rest outside with the others. Once I'd have thought that to be a good thing but now I'm sure it would not have been." Arthur said stopping him when they reached the top floor.

"Why?" he asked curiously.

"Because I believe in what his grace says, this is how it was supposed to be, this is the only way it could have been. We are the playthings of the gods, Barristan, and the game they're playing is far more important than you, I, or even that boy's mother and father." Arthur said as Barristan looked into the room and saw the king on his knees at a bed, tears falling from his eyes as he spoke softly.

Beyond the Wall 299 AC.

Mance Rayder.

The crow wouldn't break but then again even he'd heard of Stannis Baratheon and a man who'd almost let himself and his family starve to death was not a man who'd break under a beating. Still, he'd allowed it, his people would have demanded it of him and so he needed to see it done. He'd stopped it from going too far and the man had recovered since but it bothered him that he'd had to do it at all. That the information he sought from him was something he could get in another way, didn't make him feel any better for it.

He looked to his wife, Dalla was worried about Val he knew though he found he was not, instead seeing his wife with their babe he felt that his goodsister was safe and well. Though he wondered had she found an ally in this king that Kinvara had spoken of or an enemy and the longer it went without a message from her the more that worry grew. Mance had no doubt that Val would be returned to them, she was not a hostage, and even were she then he had one of his own. It was more the thoughts that she'd not found friends that caused his sleepless nights.

"Tormund has returned." Ygritte shouted as she barged into their tent, waking the babe in the process.

"Ygritte." Dalla scolded and Mance found himself smirking at the worried look on the redhead's face, only a mother could frighten her so he thought proudly as he looked to his wife who was now calming their babe.

"I'll go to him, perhaps he'll go back to sleep my love." he said as he kissed Dalla and then headed from the tent.

He walked with Ygritte and the Lord of Bones to where Tormund, his son, and the group of men he'd sent to scout the Wall were gathered. Tormund had stopped for an ale before telling him his news which did not bode well.

"Mance."

"Tornund." he said greeting the man with a hug, the two of them looking at each other and Mance seeing the worry on Tormund's face "How bad?" he asked.

"Bad." Tormund said as Mance led him somewhere more quiet, the large tree giving them cover and Mance telling Tormund to have his men keep any others away while they spoke.

It took him some time to feel he was ready to hear what his friend had to say, Mance noticing the longer it took the more nervous that Tormund and his men seemed to be.

"Well?" he asked.

"It's as the crow says Mance, the Wall is full of men, thousands of them. We looked to each of the castles and more and more seemed to have men inside.

"This is not good." he said while the Lord of Bones snorted.

"More crows to kill is always good." the man said when he glared at him.

"More crows means more of our men will die too, that's afore we even face the Northmen you fool." Mance said.

"The king the red witch spoke of?" Tormund asked.

"Has not reached out to us." he said as Tormund nodded, "Go eat and drink, I must think on this." Mance said Tormund looking to him and Mance nodding as he and the others walked away.

He took a seat by the tree, rubbing his tired eyes with his hands as he felt the beginning of a headache come on. More crows were terrible news despite what the Lord of Bones may think, their numbers were not as strong as they should be even with the gathering of the clans, and when it came to a straight fight, they were outmatched. Time was running out for him and it was almost at the point where he knew he'd have to make a terrible choice. But they couldn't wait much longer and so as he got up to his feet he readied to tell them that it was time to move.

Where it came from he had no idea, he'd not heard its wings flap and it had not been in the sky and as he looked at the eagle he wondered if it had been in the tree all the time. It was larger than Orell's and looked far more fierce and yet it was the message on its leg that drew his attention. Mance taking a moment to stare at it before he moved cautiously towards it. He was relieved when it allowed him to take the message without taking one of his fingers, something it could have done very easily. Though it was the smile on his face when he saw the Three-Headed Dragon that soon had him almost racing back to the camp, the eagle flying away as he did so.

Why he waited until he reached his tent before breaking the seal he couldn't tell but he did and once he was sitting with Dalla he began to read the letter, the smile on his face growing ever larger as he did so. He sent for the elders and the other chiefs and also for Stannis, he wished to ask the man more about the king before he took the meeting. Stannis was brought to him first and he looked the man over as he bid him sit. After he'd been beaten Mance had asked for and received his word that if he spared his life he'd not run. it was a hard thing for the man to do but he'd done it all the same and he'd held true to it in the moon of so that he'd been here.

"You know this king, this Jaehaerys Targaryen?" he asked as Stannis sat.

"Somewhat." Stannis said.

"Is he a man of his word?" he asked.

"I believe so." Stannis said looking curiously at him.

"You've seen what comes for us Stannis and why we need to be on the other side of the Wall. Do you know what happens should you fall here? Why the bodies of your men were burned?" he asked.

"Ygritte said they turn, that any who fall turn into those things." Stannis said shivering a little as he did so.

"Aye they do, any who fall to the dead rise again as one of them. There are men here who've had to kill their own sons because of it, seek them out, ask them should you doubt my word. I have more than 100,000 people relying on me Stannis, 100,000 who right now fight for the living, should they fall then they'll fight against the living." Mance said his own voice cracking.

"What would you have me do?" Stannis asked.

"Tell the king what you saw, what attacked you. I believe his words and the offer of a parley but tell him the truth of things, I ask no more than that." Mance said looking at the man.

"I'll speak of what I saw, you have my word." Stannis said with a nod which he returned.

"Then it seems we must move, for we've both got a king to speak to." Mance said his tiredness gone and excitement rising in his chest.

Tower of Joy 299 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

He knelt by the bed, his head bowed as the tears fell from his face, his eyes were closed and yet he could see the room as if they were not. The memory of it from the last time he'd visited and from his dreams had almost made it as familiar to him as were his own chambers in the Red Keep. There was a crack on the wall beside the bed, a broken floorboard in the corner, a drawing on the skirting board that his mother had drawn.

This room had been where he had been born and where she had lost her life. It was other than his dreams, visions, and Valyria itself the only place he'd seen her. She'd held him in her arms and if he stilled his thoughts he swore he could feel her arms around him still. She'd made his uncle promise her to keep him safe and though he had, he'd almost failed in that promise too. Opening his eyes he found his hand had reached out to touch the bed and his tears fell even fuller when he saw the stained mattress beneath his fingers.

"I miss you mother, but I will see you again, I swear it on the old gods and the new, I will see you again and I will be the man you wished me to be. Father, Egg, Elia, grandmother, Viserys, Rhaenys and you mother, I will bring you back and together we will walk The Land's Eternal, on this you have my vow, my promise." he said before he rose to his feet.

He nodded to Arthur and Barristan and they made their way back down the stairs. One day this tower would be the centerpiece of a keep. House Targaryen of Dorne would rule these lands and he would see it so, but for now, he had other things that needed to be taken care of. They walked to the last two graves, Jae looking at them and closing his eyes before he walked from them to grab a shovel. It took him almost an hour to dig both bodies up and almost the same time to place them in the sacks and ready them for their return to their families.

Long and hard had he thought about how to achieve this, he'd discarded idea after idea and in the end, he'd known it had needed to be him to see it done. He couldn't send Silent Sisters and men to dig the bodies up, to boil the bones clean and have them prepared for travel. It needed to be him to disturb the graves, him to dig them up himself, and to do so with his own hand. It couldn't even be done with the help of his Kingsguard though he knew that both Arthur and Barristan wished it so. The simple truth was these men were dead because of him, the least he could do was to honor them by being the one to see them returned where they belonged.

"I shall have a garden placed here, fruits, trees, flowers, there should be life where they fell, a celebration of all that is good in the world." he said as he looked at the disturbed ground.

"They would like that your grace." Arthur said.

"I wish them remembered Arthur, not just in the White Book, but throughout the realm. I want songs sung of their sacrifice, of their courage and loyalty. I am here only because of men like Ser Gerold Hightower and Ser Oswell Whent, that is something I do not take lightly."

"We will honor them, your grace, on that you have my word." Arthur said and he nodded to him and then to Barristan, the three of them walking over to Rhaenix, Jae carrying the last two sacks over his shoulders.

It took some time to tie them all firmly to Rhaenix's back, his sister waiting for him to do so before he then walked to her and spoke softly.

"I've made my peace with all that happened here, Rhae, I've made promises on the blood of my mother and I know what my destiny is, what it is I must do, and what I will do. It starts now, we will see our uncle wed and then it's North we go, it starts now and I am ready and am unafraid. It's time for the Night King to fall, for the Lands Eternal to rise once more, it's time for Fire and Blood." he said as Rhaenix roared loudly her agreement.

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up Next Tyrion gets married to a princess and Jae heads to deliver a fallen knight back to his kin while Margery and the others sail North for another wedding. In King's Landing Jaime balances time with his new son with being Hand and in the North Cregan finds himself the object of a lady's affections.

Jman: I had intended to make it so, I'll see if I can manage it but it's unfortunately not looking good.

Daryl Dixon: So glad you enjoyed it.

Jessicanigthmarewolf: As you see he named him Jon, we'll see his reasoning next chapter, on the letting him inside it's not how it was done back then, but yes you're right trying to keep Jae out will be interesting lol.

Fletcher Bamford: The same to you hope you had a very merry Christmas and a great new year and I thank you for your kind words. I go with Book ages for the characters so Jae/Marge are 16, on the having a kid thing, they both agreed to wait and so Marge has been taking precautions, how long that'll last we'll see. As for keeping this up, I give you my word this will go right to the end.

Biohazard: Really glad you liked it.

Vfsnake: In some ways by serving a dragon once more Jaime has achieved all Tywin ever wanted, Tyrion is to be prince consort of Dorne, Castamere is rebuild, Jaime is Hand of the king and now has a heir and the Lannister name is more respected than ever, Tywin would probably think it was his doing lol.

Svenion: We'll see, Harrold has not yet crossed that line.

Flame: really glad you enjoyed it.

Silverglow: Very much so, he's lucky in that he annoyed the ones who are best suited to look after themselves (We'll see in Sana's upcoming pov how he annoyed her) had he gone near Joy of if Jae found out he was near Sansa, he may be dead already. That's one of the key points I wanted to get across, Anya had her own plans that would have worked out well, unfortunately they relied on Harrold, Olenna making the deal with her has left Harrold very isolated. We're heading into the War for the Dawn arc of the story, as you see. I had a pleasant Christmas, the rest did me a lot of good, though we were under lockdown which almost drove me stir crazy, glad to hear that you and yours had a good time.

Guest: Your more than welcome, glad you like that with Dany/Aurane and you're spot on he's walking a very thin line with his behaviour. I'd not thought of that with Jaime's son but again that's a very interesting point, we've also not seen Jae interact with young boys really, I mean Martyn/Tommen a little, but it's been mainly girls.

Emeraldduke: Thank you and the same to you my friend.

Anarchicmind: One of the hardest things is to keep showing everyone in some fashion and thankfully events allow a more closer look at families, so Jaime being the worried father allows for a look at the Lannisters. With what he intends to do with Valyrian Steel there will soon be a lot more of it.

Anja: So glad you enjoyed it.

Celexys: Yeah the thing with the actor is he's not one that usually speaks out, it's the same with the actor who played Barristan Selmy, both men were pissed at the directors and went so far as to say they'd not work with them again. Were these two guys who were known for that type of behaviour you'd write it off, but because they're not it makes you understand it was the directors fault. The small changes early enough in the story allow for the larger ones to be more natural I find, for Canon Jaime to suddenly be like this would be too much but by changing something early enough it allows for a progression. It's one of the things I find fascinating with some of the character, Cat for example on the other side of thing, a small change early on sets them onto a different path and the further they travel that path the more different they become.

Remi: No worries and of course it does, hope you had a great Christmas and New Year, We'll see a Loras pov in the next couple of chapters, not sure when. As for proof, that's going to pop up, Stannis is part of it, as his word is known throughout Westeros, it won't be enough but it's a part.

Lady Octarina: I think you have the right of it, Jaime will almost be having some karmic reaction seeing Jae be the one who's nervous and needs to be calmed. The horse thing is something that I got from my niece, I gave her a present and it was misinterpreted because of how she said it making her mother and father worry until they realized it was not as dangerous as they thought, so I thought I'd use a version of that here. Anya pretty much has him as a ward so in a way you can say it's like Theon at WF, there's only so much you can do. Where she failed is that because she needed his influence she never fully sat him down and explained things to him, spoiled him and allowed him to get away with his behaviour, again very similar to Theon in a way.

I think Jae was trying to put Marge at ease more than actually believing what he was saying, but well he's about to learn the truth.

The Same to you, hope you and your family had a great holiday period.

HKt29: Another cub in the house.

AJGranger: I think with Dany and her time with Sandor she'd not let things like birth bother her, as for Jae he'd be too hypocritical to look down on someone because of it. That's one of the biggest thing, Jae has this large extended family, Starks, Martells, Targs and Lannister's and so this was a brother being born to him, or the equivalent. Glad you liked the Horse scene, it was funny distraction and Jae knew it, though he also just wished to gift Joanna a horse.

Irish Hermit: That's the issue with someone who's never really been told no, they don't understand the thin line they walk and Harrold really does not. On those not happy with Tyrion, we'll see, there was a reason Bronn was off screen for a long time. Jae knows all about the Fat Septon's entanglements or more precisely Ser Richard does, but you're probably right, the warning will only take for so long.

I think that's exactly what Jae wants another Joy lol, but I thought it was a nice little funny scene to relieve some tension and the idea of her getting a horse at her age was bound to worry Jaime lol On Stannis I agree completely with your assessment, take Mel and the fervor about him being Azor Ahai away and he's the very best of them. He's just not cut out to be King or even lord truly but yes, LC of the NW, he'd be perfect.

KingofWarhammer: Dunstonbury has fallen into disrepair and isn't presently run as a keep, so yes no house loses and the double whammy of it's history adds to things. It was the Manderly seat before they went North and was a prize in the Blackfyre Rebellions, so that adds to it. That's the biggest issue for Harrold, his cockiness sense of entitlement is making him think him in a much bigger position than he is in and given the rebellion's truth now outing, Jon A is not as popular as he once was. Yronwood's lands and some of the other lords who joined in Quentyn's attempt will be included in the Tower's holdings, the keep itself will incorporate the Tower for both sentimental and practical reasons. The Tower is in the Prince's pass, it's the route into the Reach and so Jae is also protecting his wife's and by definition his families' lands too, just in case but it's more strategic than giving them the best lands.

The Sphynx: No worries, the festive season was upon us.

Xan Merrick: Thank you my friend, I hope you did likewise, all my best wishes to you and your family.

Xand007: Thanks my friend. He's walking a line that could very well end with either isn't he. I think with Jae he was downplaying the threat for Marge's benefit, he is worried, not as much as he should be but he is worried. We'll see how he deals with them. You too, hope you and your family had a great holidays, stay safe and well my friend.