Isle of Faces 299 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

As Rhaenix flew he tried not to think that the trip Beyond the Wall had been a waste of time. He'd made peace with the Free Folk and was now taking the Children of the Forest to the Isle of Faces and yet it was Bloodraven he found himself concentrating on. Where was he? Who was he? How had he managed to do this? It was thoughts like this that were racing through his head as he flew over the Wall.

He knew he head to find him and soon, someone that powerful who had already caused the damage he had could not be allowed to live. Yet he found he had no idea where to start or how to do so. The Glass Candles had shown him nothing, not of him and not of Euron Greyjoy, another who needed to be dealt with sooner rather than later. When Rhaenix landed and made ready for the night, Jae knew he'd not get much sleep. It was something that he was proved right about and so as Walder, Arthur, Shiera and the Children rested, he took watch. Or to be more precise he stood by his sister and watched her sleep, Rhaenix's soft breathing relaxing him somewhat.

That his mind was so troubled did not go unnoticed and he felt her presence beside him rather than hear her walk his way. Leaf moving almost as silently as Ghost did as she came to his side and stood there looking at the dragon with him. She didn't say a word for the longest time, just standing there and looking and it was only when Jae looked at her that he realized that it was him she was watching and not Rhaenix.

"I had feared you would not come, my prince." Leaf said softly "Even though the gods told me you would, showed me you would, I had feared you would not."

"And had I not?" he asked curiously.

"Then I, my brothers and sisters, all would have perished." she said with little emotion.

"And this didn't scare you?" he asked.

"More than anything I've ever known, more even than finding out the Raven was not on our side." Leaf said.

"Where did he go?" he asked turning completely to her now.

"Beneath the sea, my prince." she said infuriatingly.

"I don't understand." he said his frustration clear.

"Most of his time the Raven would seek answers, my prince, to which questions I knew not. We believed he was looking for ways to help you, now I believe he was looking for ways to bring you down." Leaf said and Jae looked at her for more "Enemies become allies and allies, enemies." Leaf said finally before walking away and leaving him alone once more.

It brought him no comfort, nor did it soothe his troubled mind and when the others awoke the next morning it was to find Jae sitting by the fire. He'd not slept and though he was tired he had no desire to and so after breaking their fast they flew once more. They flew south and it was only when they were flying over the Neck that he began to relax, his mind calming and his body feeling almost invigorated. So much so that despite knowing that night was soon to fall and they were still some distance from the God's Eye, he flew onward rather than rest another night elsewhere.

It was dark when they reached the Isle of Faces, the moon was full though and the light that illuminated the island below them allowed them to land without difficulty. Leaf and the rest of the children climbed down from Rhaenix's back excitedly while Arthur and Walder looked exhausted. When Jae looked to Shiera he could see that while she was unhappy to be here, her expression was one that showed she would stay for only as long as necessary. How long that would be he had no idea but he knew they would be resting here for the night.

"Only use the branches and twigs that have already fallen." he said to Walder who had moved to gather what was needed to start a fire "Arthur, we eat only the fruits or what is in our supplies." he added turning to Arthur who nodded.

He saw Leaf look at him and smile and he nodded to her before making his way over to his aunt, the distress on Shiera's face, not something he was willing to ignore any longer.

"Are you well?" he asked reaching out to her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"How long must we stay here?" she asked her voice seeming fearful to him which both surprised and worried him.

"We will leave on the morrow." he said and she nodded.

"There is magic here, Jae, more so than even the Wall itself possesses." Shiera said looking at him.

"I know, I'm supposed to come here, whether it's now or later though I don't know." he said shaking his head.

"Brynden.."

"Will not escape, no matter where he runs to." he said determinedly.

They set up camp in a wide-open space, Arthur not wishing them to be too close to the trees without a full exploration of the island and they were all too tired for that. Well he and his Kingsguard and aunt were, the Children were behaving as if they were actual children. Jae found himself looking at them and almost feeling the excitement and joy that was coming off them in waves. Leaf and her brethren were walking the open space, some were laying in the grass and looking up at the stars, the sound of their laughter carrying in the stillness of the night.

Rhaenix had flown to find her own food and would not be back before the morrow anyway and so as they sat around the fire, they ate, drank water and soon enough they took to their beds. Sleep was thankfully much easier to come to him now and Jae welcomed it greatly, as he did the dreams of his wife and of being with her in their bed. It was not to last though and he felt himself being shaken awake and looked up to see Leaf standing there with a finger to her lips. Jae rising and putting his hand to Dark Sister's hilt only for her to shake her head.

"They wish to see you, my prince." Leaf said and Jae looked at her confusedly.

"Who?" she asked.

"The Green Men, the Old Gods are here." Leaf said almost reverently.

He looked from her to Arthur and Walder who both slept, Shiera too was asleep and close to the knights. Moving quietly away from the still-burning fire, he followed Leaf into the woods and they walked for some time.

"I cannot go further, it's you they wish to speak to my prince, not I." Leaf said and Jae nodded and followed the path she had set him on.

Seeing the opening in front of him, Jae knew he had reached his destination. There was a power here that resonated from the very trees themselves and as he stepped out into the opening, he found himself to be surrounded by Weirwoods. The faces carved into them were terrifying, pained, tortured, and Jae felt had the Andals but seen these faces on the trees they destroyed then they'd have never thought to do such a thing. There was however a sense of peace in this place, a sense of calm that Jae had felt before. The Godswood in Winterfell felt similar but lesser than this and as he allowed that sense of peace to come over him, he saw the figures move behind the trees.

They were only shadows at first, taller than any man and it took Jae some time to realize that there was something off about their heads. It took him until one actually stepped out from behind the trees to see what it was. At first, it looked like a helm of some sort but the closer he looked the clearer it became that these were antlers and the man wasn't wearing anything on his head, these grew from it. As for the man, he easily dwarfed Walder and must have been eight or nine feet tall. His skin was a shade of green that Jae had never seen before and his eyes were large as they studied Jae while he did likewise.

"Even for I who has seen it all, I find myself impressed by you, young prince." the man, the thing, the god, said.

"Who are you?"

"My name is not for you to know, I am not R'hllor or the Father, Smith, or Warrior, you know who I am and of my brothers, what need you to know more than this?"

"What am I to call you?" he asked.

"Names are such trifling things, you have no need to call me anything, you are here to listen and to listen well."

"Bloodraven?" Jae asked to a laugh or what he thought was a laugh.

"Again with trifling petty things, we did not bring you here to speak about a raven with no wings."

"Then what use to me are you?" Jae said angrily "I brought your children here to you, I made peace with the Free Folk and I will kill the Night King, what use are you to me if you don't help me do what I must?"

He turned to walk away and felt the shadows move, the temperature began to drop and the sense of peace he had felt soon disappeared.

"That, that is why you were brought here, you feel it do you not? The power of the darkness grows and only the light can stand against it, you Jaehaerys Targaryen are that light."

"Then tell me what I need to know." Jae said turning to face the god.

"Bloodraven is inconsequential, you will not seek him out, you have no need to for he will come to you."

"He will?" Jae asked looking at the god.

"Soon, but not as he once was, think young prince, think and know that the man with one eye is your enemy."

"Why am I here?" he asked moving closer to the green man.

"Because it was our will. There is much you must know young prince, much you must learn, the magic within you is strong and the knowledge you possess is something that few have ever known and only one was allowed to use."

"Who?" he asked.

"Your kinsman, the Builder and it's time for you to build too, time for you to sing. Not your song, not yet, but sing you must for stone is required."

"Stone?" he asked confused.

"Go to the isle of dragons and sing the glass into stone, you must be ready." the man said moving away.

"I will be." he said determinedly.

"When the time comes you must forge Lightbringer no matter that cost, only you can do so and without it, the world will fall."

Jae looked as the man moved behind the tree and became a shadow once more. He made his way back to the camp and arrived just before morning, Arthur waking just as Rhaenix landed.

"My king, where were you?" Arthur asked looking at him.

"Meeting a god, Arthur." he said shaking his head "Meeting one of the Old Gods."

King's Landing 299 AC.

Margaery.

She was happy to see her grandmother waiting for her when they reached the docks. The journey back had been one that she felt had taken far too long and had left her hoping she'd not need to make another for quite some time. Lord Jaime was waiting alongside her grandmother as was Ser Richard and as she looked at their expressions she noticed that they didn't look best pleased. Thankfully though they did not look worried and as she looked down at Ghost and Fang she saw the wolves seemed to be relaxed too.

Margaery had hoped that Jae would have returned ahead of her, or that he'd have come to them while they sailed and she felt a little upset that she'd need to wait to see him again. Yet it was Joy who stood rubbing Ghost's neck that seemed most upset that Jae wasn't here, the little girl she'd found had missed him terribly since he'd left. As had she but she felt that he'd not be far behind her and it was to those thoughts that she allowed her mind to dwell on rather than the worried ones that may have otherwise filled her head.

"Come, Joy, we must get ready to say our hello's to everyone." Margaery said reaching out her hand and Joy took it as they walked down the gangplank.

"Your grace, welcome back." Lord Jaime said and Margaery nodded.

"I trust all is well, Lord Hand?" she asked and Jaime gave her a forced smile.

"Perhaps we can speak back at the Red Keep, your grace." Jaime said.

"Grandmother." she said as she moved past him and enveloped her grandmother in a warm embrace.

"It's good to see you back, your grace." her grandmother said softly.

She watched as Jamie welcomed Joy back and as Martyn and Tommen brought Apples and Winter from the ship. Sansa and Willas took a bit longer to depart and Margaery smiled having caught them kissing more than once on the journey from White Harbor. Her grandmother motioned to the carriage and Margaery joined her inside, Joy riding Apples beside Jaime while Tommen rode Winter since Martyn had ridden her in White Harbor.

"What happened?" she asked when the carriage started to move, her grandmother looking at her.

"The High Septon has passed." her grandmother said and yet there was something in how she said it that made her certain there was more to the story than that.

"Passed?" she asked.

"Was helped to pass." her grandmother said.

"Why?"

"He was stirring up trouble between the faith and the Red Priests and was also making statements about you and Jae." her grandmother said and Margaery almost smirked at how put out she sounded by the last part of what she'd said.

"Who decided this course of action?" she asked curiously.

"I believe Ser Richard suggested it and Lord Jaime gave the go-ahead. I've sent word to your grandfather and we shall soon be welcoming another High Septon, one more suitable and accomodating."

"Are we sure he'll be more accommodating, grandmother?" she asked and her grandmother smiled as she reached out to touch her hand.

"On that, you have my guarantee, your grace."

"Thank you." she said softly receiving a warm smile in return.

"How was the North?" her grandmother asked.

"It was good, I believe Willas and Sansa have grown closer and the wedding was most enjoyable." she said her smile true as she remembered her time there.

"And Dorne?"

"Just as enjoyable." she said truthfully.

"Where is his grace, Margaery?" her grandmother asked concernedly.

She told her that he'd gone Beyond the Wall to deal with Bloodraven and to parley with the Free Folk, her grandmother seeming to be relieved that Margaery herself didn't seem worried. By the time they reached the Red Keep, they were speaking of other things. Margaery was annoyed to find that Lord Hardyng had not departed with the other Lords and Ladies of the Vale and was behaving just as he had been when they'd left.

"Has he been watched?" she asked and saw her grandmother nod.

"He has, I believe Ser Richard could tell you more if you wished it, your grace." her grandmother said as they stepped from the carriage.

"I'll speak to him and Lord Jaime later, I'll not call a small council meeting for today though." she said.

"A wise choice, go settle in. We'll eat together tonight?" her grandmother asked eagerly.

"We will. It's good to see you grandmother, truly." she said kissing her cheek.

"You too, sweetling."

She made her way to her room and ordered for a bath to be readied, the water on the ship though cleansing had left her feeling in the need for a true and proper bath once she got back to her home. It was as she was laying in it the bath that she heard the door open. Margaery turning and expecting to see either Sansa or Elinor only to be surprised and delighted when she saw the smiling face of her husband instead.

"Jae, how." she asked happily almost spilling the water as she went to stand up.

"We landed outside the city as I wanted to surprise my wife." he said moving to the bath and kissing her as he picked up the cloth "Now sit up and I'll clean your back." he said with a smile, Margaery finding herself eager to do as he asked.

That the bath turned out to be not so much about making her clean but more about her husband wishing to touch her, was not something that she was surprised by and she welcomed it greatly. As she did when he was finished and she stood up and allowed him to dry her before he then lifted her into his arms and took her to their bed. The feel of him in her arms and the hurried way he undressed to be as naked as she, was something she was most happy for as well.

"I missed you so much, my love, so much." he said between kisses and she made it clear she felt the same, the kisses soon turning ever more passionate and the true welcome home for both of them suddenly beginning.

Later she lay in the bed with her head resting on his chest, Jae's fingers softly brushing her hair and while she wished to ask him how things had gone Beyond the Wall and to tell him about the High Septon, she found words lost to her. Instead, she just enjoyed the silence and the feel of him in her arms once more and soon she had drifted off to sleep. It was to the sound of her stomach rumbling that she awoke, Jae, looking at her and laughing as it rumbled once more.

"Perhaps we should eat." he said, his smile both pleasing and annoying her equally.

"Really, what makes you think I want food?" she asked with a giggle.

"Shall I send for something?" he asked moving to rise.

"I promised grandmother I'd eat with her and no doubt others wish to speak to us both."

"Very well if you insist, I'll forgo my own plans and acquiesce to yours." Jae said his smirk bigger now.

"And what were your plans, husband?" she asked her own amusement clear.

"I had planned on having food brought to us, of eating said food as we are now, and once my wife's hunger for food was sated, I'd intended to spend the rest of the night sating any other pangs of hunger that she may have." he said, Margaery feeling a warmth in her chest and a flush on her skin both for how he said it and how he was looking at her.

"We could still do that, other than the how we are now part." she said as she kissed him.

"Then let us dress most hurriedly for the sooner we're done with dinner the sooner we can get back to bed." he said and she couldn't resist the slap she gave his arse when he rose.

Dragonstone 299 AC.

Aemon.

It had turned out too hard for him to even look at Margaery after his nephew had left. The truth of what he'd found beneath the crypts one that he wished he'd never come across. He'd read the books he had brought with him, had sought more in Winterfell's library, and felt the need to go back to King's Landing to find even more when all the answers kept pointing the same way. Finally, he could take it no more and so he told Ser Barristan that he'd be flying to King's Landing and the knight had Ser Jors and some guards take him to Sandorix.

After telling the guards that he'd fly straight to King's Landing and so he didn't need them to accompany him, he'd climbed upon Sandorix's back and taken to the air. They'd not been flying for long when Rhaegal joined them and Aemon began to worry about his nephew and his aunt, though both the green dragon and his own seemed less concerned than he. He considered flying to the Wall to make sure there was no problem but both dragons made it clear they would not and so it was south rather than north he headed.

They landed on some empty ground near the Green Fork, Aemon feeling safe enough to do so as Sandorix stayed close to him while Rhaegal hunted for them both. The green dragon quickly bringing food back for his brother and Aemon eating his own supplies and resting between both dragons. Sleep was hard to come by and he welcomed morning, breaking his fast before they were flying once more. He was both relieved and yet felt some trepidation when he reached King's Landing. The two dragons landing in the Dragonpit and some of the Royal Guard coming his way, Aemon happy enough to see Ser Bonifer amongst the men.

"All is well, my prince?" Bonifer asked him.

"It is, Ser Bonifer, I felt the need to return, I'm afraid three wedding feasts is my limit." he said trying to jape and glad when the man laughed.

"It's good to see you so well." Bonifer said and he nodded, then he mounted the offered horse while Sandorix and Rhaegal took to the sky once more.

He stayed no more than a day in King's Landing, Aemon looking through the books and finding the same information in them that he already knew. Some he gathered and placed in a bag and after once again refusing guards he headed back to the Dragonpit and was soon enough flying to the island of his forefathers. Aemon hoped beyond hope that the peace of the island would calm the worries he was feeling and that once they had, he would then perhaps find a way to change his nephew's fate.

His niece's people welcomed him to the island, Dany was still in Dorne he was pleased to find as he wasn't sure if he was ready to speak to her or for her to see how concerned he truly was. He ate dinner with some of them that night, speaking to Grey Worm and Missandei and listening as they told of their time in Essos with his niece. Aemon had heard the stories from Dany and Shiera but hearing them again allowed for the differences to shine through. That they completely respected both his nieces was clear and he felt there was almost a sense of love there. When it came to Dany there was a sense of family between them and he was glad she'd had some of that before she met her trued family. A Targaryen alone in the world was a terrible thing and while Dany been alone for some time, it had not been for long.

"I shall go to my bed." he said rising after the meal was finished.

"This one will ensure you are well guarded, my prince." Grey Worm said and he nodded, not in the mood to argue.

Sleep once again was hard to come by, Aemon finding his thoughts troubled and the images of what he'd seen beneath the crypts came to him each time he closed his eyes. The sword that was clearly Dark Sister, the man that could only be his nephew, and the woman that he loved having her heart pierced, were all clear to him. Not even seeing the sword alight in the next image or seeing the Night King fall made the thoughts of what his nephew must do leave his head. Aemon knew that for Jaehaerys it would be the end of him, it would break him and he felt that it was a price too high they were asking of him.

"What use saving the world if you lose yourself in the process." he said climbing from his bed.

He lit the candle and began to read through the books, the stories still all the same.

He labored for thirty days and thirty nights at the sacred fires of a temple until it was done. However, when he went to temper it in water, the sword broke. He was not one to give up easily and so he started over. Azor Ahai took fifty days and fifty nights to make another sword better than the first. To temper it this time, he captured a lion and drove the sword into its heart, but once more the steel shattered.

The third time, with a heavy heart, for he knew beforehand what he must do to finish the blade, Azor Ahai worked for a hundred days and nights until it was finished. This time, he called for his wife, Nissa Nissa, and asked her to bare her breast. He drove his sword into her living heart, her soul combining with the steel of the sword, creating Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes

Each book, each text, each treaty he read said the same thing and Aemon felt ready to weep once more. He walked to the balcony and looked out on the sea beneath him, watching as it crashed against the rocks and he beseeched the gods to find another way. Aemon begging them to seek another answer, to give him something, anything but this. As they had for all of his life they remained quiet and he heard no voice to comfort him.

He didn't bother breaking his fast the next morning, instead, he made his way to the caves and spent most of his day watching as men worked to gather Dragonglass. Waiting until they were done, he only entered the caves as they left, and once inside he walked to the drawings that Jae had shown them all. The images were much like the ones in Winterfell and as he moved to look at them, he found himself hoping they would provide him with answers that he'd not been able to find so far. Once again he was to be disappointed and when he left the caves and made his way back to the keep, his heart was just as heavy as it had been since he walked from the crypts more than a week earlier.

How long he stayed on Dragonstone he didn't know, his nights and days all seeming to mix together as he read through books, wrote and discarded notes, and barely spoke to anyone at all. Were it not for Rhaenix's arrival then he may not have left and gone back to King's Landing for some time. But he knew he was putting off the inevitable and so he readied himself to leave and go speak to his nephew and to tell him an awful truth.

Dorne 299 AC.

Arianne.

As much as he enjoyed laying in her bed with her husband, she was finding that ruling with him was something she welcomed just as much. Tyrion's ability to look at a situation and to see what she could not was something that was a great boon to her. Having someone she could speak to about her ideas, her plans, and who would be honest with her about them, was something that frustrated her at times and that she knew she needed. Arianne enjoyed the small arguments and fights they'd have when neither would give ground and though she won some, she lost others and she was starting to become equally pleased by either result.

Today though it was not with thoughts of Dorne, or her plans, or even her husband that she awoke. Her mother was due to arrive and the thoughts of seeing her again, and of spending time with her were ones that filled her head. That she was arriving to a very different world than she had left was something that caused her some concern. Arianne finding herself wondering how she'd react to the Dorne she was building. Perhaps though it was how she'd react to her husband that concerned her the most. Tyrion was the love of her life but she worried that her mother may not see him so or think him worthy of her for some reason.

"What is going on in that pretty little head of yours?" Tyrion said as he walked up behind her.

"What?" she asked confused for a moment.

"That is not a brush, my love." Tyrion said with a smirk and Arianne looked down at the silver looking glass she held in her hand, her face reddening as she realized she'd been brushing her hair with it.

"I was thinking on my mother." she said as she placed the looking glass down and picked up the brush.

"She'll see her daughter as the Princess of Dorne and be more than proud of the job she's doing." Tyrion said as she smiled at him.

"I…" she said and he moved to her and kissed her cheek.

"I shall charm her as I have her daughter, her son, and her goodbrother." Tyrion said making her laugh.

"Trystane dislikes you." she said though she was lying as her brother had surprisingly taken well to Tyrion in his time in Sunspear.

"For true? And I thought he loved me." Tyrion said and Arianne laughed at the mummer's look on his face as he pretended to be hurt.

"No, you know my brother likes you, though perhaps it's Lygaron he truly likes." she said with a giggle.

"It's no great shame to lose out to a dragon." Tyrion said making her laugh some more.

She leaned forward to kiss him and then finished brushing her hair. Tyrion sending in her ladies to help her dress when he left the room. Once she was dressed, she made her way to break her fast and spent the rest of the morning waiting for the news to come that her mother had arrived. Arianne finding that she didn't have too long to wait and once the ship was seen in the bay, they readied to greet it. She, Tyrion, Oberyn, Ellaria, and her cousins, Trystane, and their guards. It took them some time to be ready to leave and the longer it went on the more she worried that the ship would dock without them there.

It was something that Tyrion picked up on and she felt her breathing calm when he hurried them along. Tyrion then held her hand as they rode in the carriage, never once letting it go or allowing her nervousness to get the better of her. It was more than could be said of Areo, as for the first time in her life the giant guard looked nervous to her. She tried to imagine how it must feel for him, he not seen her mother for over ten years and though he was fiercely loyal to her father and now to her, her mother had always had his loyalty first and foremost.

Arriving at the docks she was relieved to see they were early, the ship was in their view but still some distance away and she found her eyes locked to it as it sailed closer. When she saw her mother on the deck she called to Trystane to let him know, her brother not having seen their mother since he was a babe. Seeing the excited look on his face only fuelled her own even more and when the ship finally docked and her mother walked towards them, Arianne found herself running to her along with Trystane. Both of them not welcoming her not as the prince and princess of Dorne but as her children, which her mother very much appreciated.

"Ari, Trys, it's so good to see you both, look at you, my son has grown into a man." her mother said and Arianne could feel Tyrstane's pride at her words.

"It's good to see you too mother, so very good." Trystane said, her brother sounding happier than she had ever remembered him to be.

"Quentyn, where is my other son?" her mother asked looking around when she was finished greeting them both.

"He's at.." Trystane began but Arianne interrupted him.

"We'll speak later on Quentyn mother, come there is someone I'd very much like you to meet." Arianne said taking her mother's arm as Trystane took the other.

She noticed how her mother greeted Oberyn and wondered had they always had some distance between them. Her cousins and Ellaria were greeted far more friendly and yet it was when they reached Tyrion that Arianne felt her breath catch in her throat. Her eyes were on her mother's face when she named him as her husband and she was surprised to see no look that made it seem as if he was unwelcome to her mother's eyes.

"Prince Tyrion, I had hoped to meet you before you and my daughter had wed." her mother said as Arianne looked at them both.

"As had I you, Lady Mellario. I know how much my wife had wished you to be here and had I known of your troubles earlier then I'd have done all I could to see that done." Tyrion said and her mother looked at him confusedly.

"And how would you have achieved that Prince Tyrion, can you control the sea?" her mother asked and Tyrion smiled as he looked to the sky, Arianne and her mother looking up as he did so.

"No my lady, but perhaps we'd have bypassed it and taken to the air instead." Tyrion said and as Lygaron flew over their heads, Arianne hearing her mother's laugh and it was like music to her ears.

"Even in Norvos we had heard tales of dragons, though these belonged to other Targaryen's." her mother said.

"Each of my family has one of their own, my lady, perhaps it was my sister's dragons that you'd heard about?" Tyrion said.

"Perhaps." her mother said the smile still on her face as she looked to Tyrion "Arianne, perhaps you and I could ride alone together?"

"Of course mother." she said looking to Tyrion relieved to see him nod in understanding.

"Trystane, we'll talk later my son." her mother said hugging her brother and kissing his cheek.

She waited until her mother had spoken to Areo and then she moved to make sure that Tyrion wasn't upset. Her husband telling her to go and spend some time with her mother and they'd speak later, and Arianne kissing his cheek almost prudishly while her mother looked on. Climbing into the carriage she felt her nerves begin to rise again and she wondered if she was going to have to defend her husband to her mother this soon into her arrival.

"He's an interesting man, he makes my daughter happy?" her mother asked.

"Very much so, mother. No man has made me feel how he does, not in my heart or my head. Tyrion challenges me, he helps me and I know that he loves me as I do him." she said smiling.

"Then I love him too." her mother said and she found herself looking at her almost in disbelief.

"You're not just saying that?" she asked.

"I want my children happy, Arianne, happier than I was in mine own marriage. Any man that makes you happy is a man that I can respect."

She hugged her mother then, Arianne enjoying the feeling when she was hugged back and remembering what it had felt like to be hugged by her when she was but a girl.

"I missed you mother, I missed you so much, will you stay for some time?" she asked while still holding her tight.

"I will stay for as long as my daughter desires it." her mother said and Arianne allowed her tears to fall, they were tears that she was more than happy to shed.

They ate dinner as a family that night, Arianne not telling her mother about Quentyn until the others had left and she found her mother to be furious about it. She readied to defend herself and to defend Jae, only to find that it wasn't her cousin that her mother was furious with, but her father.

"Of all the idiot things that man did, of all the stupid plans that he would have, he went against dragons? Against a man, you called kin."

"Jae is our kin, mother. My aunt named him so, Oberyn does also and I'm now married to his uncle but father, he wished for me to be queen, for Quentyn to rule Dorne and…."

"And because of him my son now must spend his life at a Wall of Ice." her mother said her anger clear.

"I spoke in his favor mother, despite knowing he'd wish to usurp my place." she said and her mother moved to her and took her in her arms, Arianne once again welcoming the feel of them around her.

"I shall be here for you and Trystane, Ari, for as long as you need me, as long as you both need me." her mother said and she nodded, thankful for that more than anything.

King's Landing 299 AC.

Joy.

She'd enjoyed her travels, being on the ship with Jon and helping him when he went to feed Apples and Winter. Racing across the sand in Dorne, even though he cheated to beat her and the others. Joy had beaten those with her fair and square but Jon had cheated, racing off before they were ready. Traveling on the ship as it headed North had been something she was incredibly keen about. To see where Jon had grown up before he'd come to the Rock was something she'd wished for the longest time. The pictures he'd drawn her of Winterfell and White Harbor were ones that she'd wanted to see the truth of for the longest time.

As cold as it was when she'd arrived there she'd welcomed it, seeing Jon's reaction to being back in the North made her even happier that when he'd come to the Rock he'd not wished to leave. That he'd found a home there with her and with her family and while he may have missed his other family, he'd not wished to leave to go back to them. Riding over the ground in the North was a much different feeling too, the cold air hitting her face, her hair blowing in the wind and she'd loved each and every moment of it. When it had snowed and she'd seen it truly for the first time as Jon held her hand and she did as he did. Both of them standing face up to the sky with their mouths open and letting the snow land on their tongues.

They'd raced and she'd lost but he'd not cheated and so she'd accepted that loss, knowing that he'd wished Margaery to win and had played a game with her only making it even more fun as far as she was concerned. When she'd seen Winterfell, she'd been amazed by how big it was, the large grey walls, the open space of the godswood, the glass gardens, and the crypts. Joy closing her eyes and remembering what it felt like to be in the crypts with him, to feel the cold air and stand in front of the statue as he'd told her about his mother. It was there that he'd told her once again that she was his sister and that he loved her, that he had always loved her, and that was why she'd missed him so much more when he left this time.

The ride back to White Harbor felt much different to her without him with her and while Tommen and Martyn took turns riding Winter, neither were true completion when she raced against them. She found herself speaking to Ghost more and more, the white wolf spending its time with her, with Margaery, or with Fang. Joy happy enough to see him when he came her way and he allowed her to tell him how much she missed her brother. Were it not for Ghost and Margaery herself then she'd have spent most of her time in her cabin and as they arrived back in King's Landing she felt she'd spend most of her time in her room until Jon returned. Joy was happy to see Ballon waiting for her when she got back to her room though, as fun as Ghost was to speak to he wasn't hers, he was Jon's.

"I don't know when he'll come back Ballon." she said sitting on her bed speaking to the black cat.

"No, Margy doesn't know either."

"It's no fun riding with the others, they ride too slow, you know this."

"No, I won't try."

"Very well, but if they ride slow then it's your fault."

She woke early the next morning and broke her fast with Tommen and Martyn, asking them both to come and ride with her that day and being annoyed when they refused. The lessons she was to attend didn't interest her and with no chance of riding, she didn't know how she was to spend her day. Joy just strolled through the Red Keep alone and bored and when she found herself heading to the sparring yard, she had no idea why she'd decided to go that way.

Sparring wasn't something she really enjoyed, she liked it when Jon took part and when Prince Oberyn's girls or Dacey's sisters fought but she rarely came otherwise. With Jon not back and with Oberyn still in Dorne, she had no real wish to be here and yet it was here she found herself and so she looked out on those below with a bored expression on her face. It wasn't until she saw someone she knew that her expression changed. Brienne was fighting against some man she didn't know and she knocked him to the ground which made her laugh.

"What are you laughing at bastard?" the man said and she heard the gasps from the people around her.

Joy found herself unable to respond, not even when Brienne said something to the man in her defense. Instead, she looked at him with her eyes wide open and felt tears begin to fall. She ran from the sparring yard, the tears falling from her eyes making everything around her blurry as she did so. It had been so long since anyone had spoken to her that way, so long since anyone had dared to, that it had caught her so by surprise that it silenced her.

Had she been thinking clearly then she'd have told him that she wasn't a bastard. She was Lady Joy Lannister of Castamere. She was the king's sister and were he here then Jon would never let her be spoken of that way. Joy knew that was the reason no one dared to, that no one was foolish enough to speak to her lest Jon finds out. But Jon wasn't here, she was alone, her papa was in Castemere with Ashara, Cregan was in the North and Jon was….Jon was gone away and she didn't know when he would return.

It was this as much as what the man had said to her that made the tears fall for longer than they would have and made her run as fast she could. The tears themselves made her not truly see where she was running to or those who looked her way. Past guards, knights, Ballon, and Ghost, she ran and ran and it was only when he grabbed her and held her in his arms that she stopped.

"Joy, Joy, what's wrong, what happened?" she heard Jon say and she looked through teary eyes to see he was there, he had come back and she sobbed as he held her in his arms.

"I'm not a bastard, I'm not, I'm your sister, I'm your sister." she cried over and over.

He didn't ask her who had called her it, didn't question her as to why she was crying, and instead, he just held her and told her that she was his sister, that he was here and she didn't need him to do or say anything else. Jon took her not to her room but to his, he lay her down in his and Margaery's bed and when he climbed in beside her and took her in his arms, she finally stopped crying.

King's Landing 299 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

Each time he moved from the bed she grabbed him and held him tight and so he lay with her even while she slept. He heard Margaery come in and he bid her come to the bed as he couldn't move, his words soft as he spoke over Joy's head.

"Find out who said it to her, find out exactly what was said." Jae said and Margaery looked at him.

"Is she alright?" she asked worriedly.

"Find them for me, Marge." he said and she nodded.

He lay in the bed, his hands softly rubbing her back as she slept and he felt how strongly her hands still gripped him. The anger he felt was threatening to make him explode and yet the longer he lay there with her, the more it simply simmered. Whoever had dared call her that would pay, they would pay in blood and he swore it over and over as he looked at her. Lord, Knight, Lady, Septon, Septa, Smallfolk, he cared not, their blood would be spilled over this.

It was Jaime that came to him and not Margaery, Jae looking at him and seeing the anger and concern on his face that he knew was reflected on his own. His Hand looking as much to Joy as he was to him and Jae just as he had with Margaery bidding him come closer so they could speak.

"What happened, Jae?" Jaime asked.

"Some fool called her a bastard, I want them found, and when they are I'll deal with them personally." he said his voice tight as he did all he could to hold his temper in.

"Who?" Jaime asked.

"I know not and I care not, their reasons, their stature, nothing will save them the punishment that comes their way."

"Jae.."

"No, Jaime, look at her, she….they hurt her, they hurt her and they'll pay for it, on this I swear." he said and Jaime looked from him to Joy and said no more.

He heard her mumble his name and he said he was here, that he wasn't going anywhere, and finally, he felt her hands begin to loosen their grip. Once they had he moved her a little more so that she was under the covers and he lay on top of them, his hands brushing her hair as he softly kissed her forehead. How long it took for Margaery to return he didn't know but it felt as if it took more than few hours. When she walked back into the room it was with Brienne and Jae looked to Joy to see she was a little more relaxed and then he moved quietly from the bed.

"I don't wish to leave the room, so I'd ask you to be quiet." he said to Brienne as he stood facing her but with his eyes more to the girl on the bed.

"Of course your grace." Brienne said.

"Tell his grace, what you told me, Brienne." Margaery said.

"I was sparring in the yard, your grace. Lord Hardyng challenged me and so I was sparring against him. I beat him and knocked him to the ground and Lady Joy saw it and laughed, Lord Hardyng wasn't best pleased and…." Brienne said nervously.

"And?" he asked.

"He said, What are you laughing at Bastard." Brienne said.

"How many people heard him call her that?" Jae asked his voice far calmer than he felt.

"The yard was busy, your grace." Brienne said.

"I thank you, Brienne." Jae said moving back to the bed.

He barely heard Margaery speak to Brienne or Brienne leave, Jae instead was looking down on the sleeping girl in his bed. His fingers brushed softly over her cheeks and he could see her sniffle and make little sobs as she slept, the upset was still something she was feeling even now and it angered him greatly. Breathing deeply to try and remain calm, he found it to be something that was hard to do. Ghost's arrival, Balerion's and Margaery's all not able to stop him thinking how he was. Were it not that he worried if he left and she awoke to find him gone that it would hurt her more, then he'd be seeking Harrold Hardyng out even now. The one saving grace the man had going for him being that the girl he'd dared to speak of that way was who Jae was focussed on and not him.

"What do you intend to do to him?" Margaery asked taking a seat on the other side of the bed.

Jae though was looking at Joy and didn't truly hear what his wife had said, his eyes were focussed on her face and his ears attuned to the small little checked breaths she took that made her upset known to him.

"Jae."

"Jae." Marge said the second time garnering his attention.

"What? Sorry, I was…" he said seeing her worried look.

"Hardyng, Jae, what do you intend to do to him?" she asked and he found he had no answer to give.

He lay down on the bed, his hand reaching over for Margaery's as she lay down on the other side of Joy with him. His eye were drawn between them both, ae trying to show his wife that he was listening to her and yet watching Joy as she slept. At some point, he must have fallen asleep himself as he woke up and could see that it was dark outside. Joy still slept and Margaery was elsewhere. When he moved to get up it woke Joy up and she looked panicked for a moment until she saw him, the small smile that came to her face one that he welcomed.

"I'm sorry, Joy." he said softly while looking at her "That man had no right to speak to you that way and I'll make sure he knows that in the future, I'll make sure he and everyone else understands what happens to anyone who speaks to my sister that way." he said reaching out to touch her face.

"You stayed with me." she said looking at him.

"My sister needed me and so I stayed." he said leaning forward to kiss her cheek.

"Is this your bed?" she asked sitting up with an embarrassed look on her face.

"Aye, I brought you here." he said and saw the relief she felt that she'd not just come here herself "Hungry?" he asked and she nodded.

He looked at her as he rose and moved to the door, making sure she was ready for him to leave before he did so. Walking from the room he found Margaery to be in the solar writing and after finding out that she'd already eaten and wasn't hungry, he sent for food for him and Joy. The girl herself joining them before the food arrived. As he placed it on the small dining table, he heard Joy and Margaery speak though not what was said and though his wife wasn't hungry she joined them both while they ate. Jae spending as much time looking at Joy as he did eating and he was glad to see that she seemed far less upset than she had been.

"Will you take me back to my room?" Joy asked him when she was done and he nodded, Jae, looked to his bed chamber and saw Ghost walk his way.

Balerion soon joined them as they walked to Joy's room, the black cat walking slowly ahead of them while Ghost walked by their side. When they reached her room, he told her that he wished for Ghost to sleep there tonight, Joy protesting but Jae not allowing her to refuse.

"I want him with my sister. I'll not sleep otherwise, Joy." he said and she nodded.

"Don't hurt him too bad." Joy said and he nodded again, though he wasn't sure if it was something he would be able to do.

"I won't. Get some sleep, we'll speak on the morrow, maybe we could go for a ride." he said and she smiled.

"I'll make sure Apples is ready."

"Maybe we'll go on a different ride, me, you, and Rhaenix." he said to a big smile and one that he was most relieved to see.

"Ni Ni, Jon." she said softly.

"Ni Ni, Joy."

As he walked back to his room, he warged into Ghost and was happy to see there were no tears from Joy when she closed the door. Jae could feel that while she was still upset, she wasn't as badly hurt as she had been earlier and he hoped that by the morrow she'd have almost forgotten about what was said. Though he doubted that she would and felt it would be some time until she left it behind her and only when Harrold Hardyng had paid for what he said would she or he truly forget it.

"How is she?" Margaery asked when he walked into their room.

"Upset, worried about what I intend to do, embarrassed that she took our bed." he said as he sat down beside his wife.

"Hardyng has left, Jae." Margaery said and he turned to her angrily, calming down when he saw her flinch.

"Sorry." he said realizing that he'd startled her "When?"

"As soon as he realized what he'd said I'd imagine, or who he'd said it too."

"By road or by sea?" he asked.

"Road, why?"

"Just curious, I'll send a raven tomorrow to Lord Blackwood, tell him to intercept him before he reaches the Crossroads and have him escorted back here." Jae said.

"Is that wise, Jae?" Margaery asked.

"I care not, I intend to make an example of him, to teach him a lesson that he'll take to heart." Jae said smiling.

"Jae?" Margaery asked worriedly.

"He's lucky that I don't take his head or strip him of his lands and aye, I know that's far too harsh a punishment for some words. I know what the realm would think of me were I to do so and yet I find I care not because all I can see is her tears and the man who caused them."

"He's a fool, Jae, just a fool."

"He hurt her, Marge and so I'll hurt him, his pride and his body, I'll hurt him and I'll let the realm know why I did so. I'll make it clear that any who dare speak of her in such a way had best do so far from my hearing and even then they best hope I never find out."

"There will be those that question your actions, Jae, no matter how just you feel them or how restrained you think you're being." Margaery said.

"Let them, they may question me all they wish, but let them speak of her how she deserves to be spoken of, let them know I see her as my sister and that a brother's love is something to be feared."

Dragonstone 299 AC.

Bloodraven.

He had sailed until he was sick of the sea, sick of the silence of the men he sailed with and of the ship that bore that name. Onboard the ship he'd been surprised by just how much Euron had managed to gather, even if some of it was things he'd sent him to take. There were books, gems, treasures, both of the material and knowledgeable kind. The Valyrian Steel ax, the armor, the Warlocks, all of it to help him do what he needed to do. None of the treasures though even came close to the Dragonhorn and none would bring him what he desired more than it.

After sailing west and being sure they were not being followed, they had turned and sailed south. Heading back down past Oldtown and the Arbor and around Dorne as they sailed to their destination. When they had stopped near land it was in deserted areas as they did all they could to ensure their journey was unseen by any eyes, while all the time Bloodraven used the Warlock's blood to keep another's eyes from seeing them also. It was only when they reached the Stepstones that he relaxed. The work he needed to do to the Silence taking some time but now as they sailed into the bay at Dragonstone it was under different sails they did so.

Bloodraven looked up at the Three-Headed Dragon and smiled, the Kraken sails were long gone and even the dark wood and red-stained deck of the Silence was now no more. To all, they looked like something they very much were not, just as he did. When he looked in the looking glass it was not silver hair and one eye he saw, nor was there a mark on his face. Instead, the man who stared back at him was very different, the Crow's Eye instead of Bloodraven and yet some things remained the same. He may look like Euron and when he listened he could still hear Euron ranting and raving deep inside him, but he was Bloodraven, Brynden Rivers and it was now his time.

"Make ready the boat." he shouted to one of the silent freaks as he moved to grab the Dragonhorn.

They rowed to the beach at night and he saw the men camped around the cave, the small little village that was just down further down the beach, and the camp itself both unaware of his landing. He moved silently past them and to the long walk to the cliff's above. His heart racing as he grew closer to the three dragons that rested there and just seeing the white one in all its glory, he found the smile on his face to be a large one. Bringing the Dragonhorn to his lips he readied to blow and the images of what he was about to bring down upon the land flew through his mind. Fire and Blood were coming, King's Landing would soon see the truth of it and the Red Keep would be what burned first.

"Ahoooogaaaaaaaaa" the horn blew once and then twice and as two dragons took to the air the third moved his way, it's deep purple eyes looking at him and Bloodraven reached out to touch it, feeling it's warmth under his fingertips.

He tied the Dragonhorn to his back and moved to the offered wing, climbing up and sitting in the saddle. The white dragon beneath him was ready for the flight and he felt as close to being a god as a man could be.

"Sōvegon." he said as the dragon took to the air.

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up next King's Landing is visited by a white dragon and Jae and Bloodraven face off. The Blackfish and Bran arrive to swear their fealty and a Falcon faces a reckoning and we take a look beyond the Wall.

Biohazard: Thanks so much, glad you liked it.

Mr2Legit2quit: Well the coward had a plan which we're about to see as for who messes with Joy, it was Harry the Arse of course.

Vfsnake: The man was warned and still decided to play with Dragons as for Bloodraven, he hadn't gone far.

Anja: So glad you liked it.

Anrachichmind: So very glad you enjoyed it.

Remi: I didn't want to spend too much time covering them when Jae in some way had more leeway here since he has the Lands of the Gift to settle them on and in essence as long as you're not telling them they need to kneel, you're giving them more than they want. I've seen it at times be a thing where people have had Mance demand, land and title but he's in no position to do so and Jae has kinda already reached out to him through Kinvara here also, helping to save Mance's child in the process. But we'll see more interaction with Jae and the Free Folk and some Benjen next chapter. I think sometimes with a song if it's one you know it does make it easier to imagine Jae singing it. We'll see more of the Nissa Nissa thing in a couple of chapters when Aemon brings it up but in some ways your right.

The Sphnyx: She did yes, Jae wanted to ensure there was no going back there for Bloodraven even after he killed the body and he when he rescued Hodor from there in the dream world/warg world did it also so it was in his head that he needed to. They had already reached out a little to the Free Folk so while this was a first meeting it wasn't a blank slate so to speak.

Jessicanightmarewolf: Sometimes it's religious people that make the dumbest decisions, the Fat One wasn't very smart, we'll see if the new High Septon is better.

Lady Octarina: We will yes, a lot more of Jae and the Free Folk to come. Val/Benjen have more than enough time now to get closer lol. That's exactly my own thoughts with Barbrey, here we had her and Jae speak earlier and come to some common ground, Roose, Ramsay are gone, Dom got the woman he loved, is happy and lord of the Dreadfort. So a lot of her grievances have been dealt with. I think sometimes people play up Barbrey as being incredibly unreasonable and almost a bitter woman who's hatred of the Starks is overpowering and wrong when she actually has some very good reasons to actually hate the Starks. Ned, Rickard, Cat, each of them in some way has wronged her and so she should have issue with them, but more times than not people portray her as almost being mad because she has them.

Creativo: Lo hizo y al ver cómo era Cat, lo que le hizo a sus hijos, Sansa educada especialmente para amar el sur y casi odiar al norte, solo lo empeora.

Hkt29: The conditions for the HS aren't the same here, the war was shorter and the people's lives are better and so he and his sparrows don't have the same reasons to grow. The new High Septon won't be him, he's what he was without power, a man with some followers somewhere in Westeros. I think there may be some amongst the small folk, the lords and ladies though are mainly Andal influenced. There will be some interaction with Ygritte in a few chapters yes lol.

Celexys: The Walder thing is something that came to me because of that, we never see him addressed in any other way other than the Hodor show/book arc and when I was looking at a change to Bran's fate it hit me about a change to his too, so I'm glad you've enjoyed it.

Silverglow: It was indeed yes, she's the only one of the dragons who in some way was connected to the magic of the Wall. So it allows for her to cross and not for the others to. Very much so, pretty much other then beneath her wings and some small dabs of blue on her scales, she's almost snow white, so against a snowy background or a white sky, she's practically indivisible to the eye.

Barbrey has had most of her concerns dealt with, Dom lives, Cat does not, Jae has told her how sorry he is for her husband's lost and now returned his bones to her, so she's far more on side than she was in canon. Cregan also allows her almost a piece of Brandon too which helps, plus she could be looking to the future when Dom has children too. The Fat One was really not suited for the role, whether he was always unsuited or he just became that way I don't know but he didn't have the smarts for it. As Ser Richard made it clear, blame the Red Priests all you want, but blaming a king and queen that the people love, not a good idea, especially when that King has already warned you. We'll see how Jae/Marge get on with the new HS. Bronn is Bronn, if he's not rubbing someone the wrong way then the world if wrong lol we'll see his first proper meeting with his betrothed in a little while and a look into his potential new keep. We should meet Stannis yes. I think with Walder he while over all that happened to him, really needed to see that place burn.

Irish Hermit: We'll see the answer to him jumping next chapter. Not so much to the LC, he's more a slacker who feels the work of the NW is beneath a prince such as him and they can deal with that easily, more he was directing anger Jae's way for sending him there than being a pain to the NW. Yes they will, next chapter in fact. Ah now on that one, I'll take the fifth lol.