King's Landing 299 AC.
Sansa.
Her brother had grown so much since she'd seen him last Sansa thought as she saw him. Bran had filled out and gotten taller and though he was a boy still, you could begin to see the man he would become one day. As for her granduncle, he was tall and imposing and looked every inch the warrior he was. After Jae and Margaery had given her the day to spend with them, she'd hurried to find them both. Sansa had looked through the Red Keep and after she could not find them anywhere, she had then warged into Fang. The wolf quickly leading her to them both and Sansa could feel Fang's excitement about her own brother very clearly.
"Bran, Granduncle." she said moving to greet them.
"Sansa?" gods it is you." Bran said and she smiled when just as he was about to rush to her, her granduncle gave him a nod and Bran remembered his manners "My lady, I am truly honored to see you again" Bran said stiffly and Sansa looked to see the smirk on her granduncle's face.
"Brandon Stark, come over here and greet me properly." she said and she heard her granduncle's chuckle when Bran realized that he'd just had a jape at his expense.
The next thing she knew she was being held in her brother's arms, both she and Bran saying how much they had missed each other. Her granduncle greeted her just as warmly, though Sansa noticed that he spent a long time just looking at her and it took her a moment to realize that he was recognizing her mother in her appearance.
"How long are you both staying for?" she asked eagerly.
"I'm to swear to the king and then we're to head to Riverrun." Bran said as Sansa looked at her granduncle.
"Have you been given rooms?" she asked.
"We were going to find a tavern." her granduncle said and Sansa shook her head.
"Nonsense, you're family, come." she said moving though neither of them followed "Come." she said more determinedly.
She had them brought to the Maidenvault, Jae and Margaery may not have assigned them rooms there yet but she knew they would and so she took it upon herself to do so. Her granduncle was a little resistant but eventually, he gave in and once she had their things brought to the rooms, Sansa then sent out for some refreshments. Juice for her and Bran and an iced ale for her granduncle along with some bread, cheese, and some cold meats.
They sat eating the food or more precisely her granduncle who had told her to call him Uncle Brynden and Bran did while Sansa instead drank her juice. Sansa telling them all about the Red Keep and where to go in the city while they were here. Bran she found was eager to go to a smith and she suggested that Jae would no doubt wish to bring him himself, something that caused a frown to appear on her uncle's face. When Bran asked if it would be allowed for him to keep Summer in his rooms Sansa laughed.
"Ghost, Fang, and even Frost usually share either mine, Jae, or Joy's rooms." she said and saw Bran look confused.
"Joy?" her brother asked.
"Lady Joy Lannister, Jae's foster sister." Sansa said though she knew the words didn't do the nature of her brother and Joy's relationship justice. Joy was his sister just as truly as she or Arya were but it was not something that Bran would easily understand she felt.
"I had expected to be brought to the King on our arrival?" her granduncle said.
"Jae has been away for some time uncle, he has only just returned to the city and was forced to deal with a matter that demanded his attention. I'm sure he'll send for you once you've both settled in." Sansa said smiling.
"Do you think he'll take me to see the dragons?" Bran asked, her brother looking more the boy than the man he would be at that moment.
"I'm sure if you ask him, he'd be delighted to." she said seeing his eyes light up.
Her brother proceeded to tell her that they'd stopped off in Casterly Rock and he'd spent time with his betrothed, Sansa doing her best not to chuckle when she saw the blush on his face. It pleased her that he seemed to have gotten along with both the Lannisters and Myrcella. The girl was sweet, smart, and kind Sansa believed and her brother could do much worse, as could Riverrun, with her as his wife and its lady.
When she saw her brother yawn, she realized that they'd been talking for most of the afternoon and so she got up from her seat and walked over to embrace him once more. She told him how happy she was he was here and that if he needed anything to just send for her before she kissed both his and then her uncle's cheeks and then made ready to leave. She was just about to when the dragon roared, all three of them rushing to the nearest window to see what had caused it.
"What's going on, is that thing attacking?" her granduncle asked as she looked out to see Rhaenix landing on the ground.
"No Rhaenix would never, I must go, I don't believe it to be anything dangerous but I must go and see." she said before hurrying from the room.
Whatever had happened was clearly over by the time she got there, Sansa finding Jae's aunt Shiera to be in a state of distress and yet the woman sought or accepted no comfort from her. Eventually, Willas found her and said it was nothing to be worried about and that Jae and Margaery would explain it to them all later. Sansa looked to him for reassurance and was glad to find it both in his eyes and his arms. Once she was certain there wasn't any true danger facing them all, she made her way back to Bran and Byrnden's rooms and found her brother to be sleeping. After explaining to her granduncle that there was nothing to worry about, she was surprised that he asked her if she could speak to him privately.
"Of course uncle Brynden." she said as he led her into his room.
He didn't speak for a few moments and Sansa could see just how nervous he was which in turn made her own nerves rise just a little. Eventually, though he turned to her and when he asked her about her mother, she felt she should have expected it.
"Your mother, Sansa, what happened?" her granduncle asked.
"She was executed, uncle, rightly so." she said to a shocked look from him "Despite all she did, she was my mother and I loved her, but she not only felt no shame or remorse for her actions uncle, she regretted only that they did not succeed." Sansa said feeling her disgust at her mother's actions rise as she spoke.
"She was…"
"A jealous spiteful woman who tried to take my brother from me." she said cutting him off before he could defend her.
"He's not your brother." her granduncle said and she glared at him.
"Jae is as true a brother to me as Robb, Bran, or Rickon, truer even. It was Jae who wrote to me, who sent me gifts on my namedays, who protected me and stood up for me when Robb would not. Fang, my fostering, my betrothed, the life I lead, without Jae I'd not have had most of it. It's because of Jae that Robb is now married to a woman he loves, that Arya is as happy as she's ever been, and that Bran has the life he wished for." Sansa said her voice rising.
"And it's because of him that your mother is dead." her uncle said accusingly.
"No uncle, it's because of her own hatred and paranoia over a boy that she couldn't see has the biggest heart of any of us. My brother didn't ask her to try and have him killed, he didn't ask her to send assassins after him. Nothing he did deserved that and even after she had done so, even after she had said hateful things for years about him, in mine own presence even. After all of that, it was my brother who would have still seen her live when any other man, any other king would not."
"Yet she isn't alive, is she Sansa." her uncle said infuriating her.
"Is it the curse of my mother's house that you are all bitter and stupid, by the seven I fear for you uncle and for Bran if it's you that he's to learn from." Sansa said angrily.
"Sansa…"
"No, listen and listen well, uncle. Robb spoke to our mother, he told her all she needed to do was show regret, remorse, and apologize for her actions. Jae wouldn't even have made her kneel or beg for mercy, that's not him. Yet she stood in the Throne Room and threatened the life of a king, in front of his queen she said that not only would she not apologize for what she did, but she wished she'd been successful."
"I.." her uncle said his voice breaking.
"Were unaware of this? It makes no difference. Were she not my mother then she'd have lost her head without question, yet my brother, Jae, my true brother, would forgo doing that because of how he felt about us all. Even at the cost that such mercy would have brought to his reign, for us he'd have seen her live. Yet my mother's hatred ran so deep that she could not bring herself to think of him as anything other than the bastard who shamed her." Sansa said, moving to the door.
"Sansa...Sansa." her uncle called out, his voice loud enough to make her stop.
"What?" she said and whether it was her tone or her expression, it took him aback for a moment.
"Tell me about the Mockingbird?" her uncle asked.
Later as she walked the halls and made her way to her rooms she felt a little less angry. While she'd not told him all they'd done to Littlefinger, only she, Arya, Robb, and Jae knew the full truth about that. She had told him enough, enough to make it clear that while her mother was at fault she wasn't alone in it. Littlefinger had played his part in driving her to the edge and was as responsible as she was for what she tried to do. Sansa wasn't sure if she agreed with her granduncle when he placed most of the blame on Littlefinger's shoulders or when he said that without him that her mother would never have been how she was.
She knew though that he needed that and so she allowed him a small piece of comfort. Perhaps he was right and had Littlefinger not existed then her mother's hatred and anger would have been lesser. Maybe it would have simply been that she would not have been unable to act on that hatred how she had and if so then maybe she'd still be alive today. Sansa doubted she'd feel less bitter or hate Jae any less even were that so, but she'd perhaps be alive. As she walked into her room, she thought back to the last thing her granduncle had said to her and the answer she had given him, the answer she knew to be true.
"Did he suffer, Sansa, Littlefinger did he suffer for what he did?" her granduncle asked.
"Very much so uncle, very much so." she said.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
After he had made sure that Bloodraven was dead and that this time he'd not been able to jump to another body, something he was still trying to wrap his head around. Jae then spoke briefly to Jaime, Malora, and Margaery before he, Arthur, and Walder climbed onto the dragon's back and flew to find the Silence. It didn't take them long to do so, Rhaenix had flown over it with Bloodraven on her back and it was still at anchor in Dragonstone's bay. Flying low over the ship, he directed it to the dock and had Rhaenix set loose her flames in front of them to make his meaning clear.
Then they flew to the shore and once they landed he was soon joined by his uncle Aemon. Jae noticed the worried look on his face and so he quickly told him what had happened. His uncle letting them know that he'd heard the Dragonhorn and had come to see what had happened but both Sandorix and Rhaegal had flown off somewhere. Rhaenix quickly told him that the dragons had gone to eat and were well and that when they returned they'd not be alone. Jae smiling as he knew then that Dany was on her way back from Dorne.
It took a couple of hours for the ship to dock, Arthur and Walder walking in front of him with their weapons at the ready as they boarded the ship. The men on board were as silent as the ship's name and after he'd almost lost his temper with one of them who had refused to answer his questions, Jae found himself shocked and disgusted when the man opened his mouth to show that he had no tongue. He was not alone in that he was soon to find out as each of the crew of the Silence had all suffered the same fate.
"What kind of a ship is this?" his uncle Aemon said as he walked behind him.
"A cursed one." Walder said and Jae found he couldn't but agree.
They made their way through the ship to make sure they were in no danger. The men though seemed docile and unwilling to attack and Jae wondered if that was because of the men with him or Rhaenix who flew close overhead. Not that it truly made a difference and as they walked below decks it was to a scene from the seven hells. There were prisoners locked in cells who he doubted would make it much longer, though one was a girl he thought could be saved and so he motioned for his uncle to help her.
"That's a warlock, Jae." his uncle said stopping at the cell and looking to a man who was tied to the wall of the ship.
"A warlock?" he asked confused.
"From Qarth, a dangerous man, I'd fear him living, especially if he found out about the dragons." Aemon said.
"Could he? A warlock could they block someone from seeing someone?" he asked and his uncle shook his head, not in denial but letting him know that he wasn't sure.
"What's your name?" he asked the warlock who looked at him through pain-filled eyes, Jae seeing the dark Dragonglass knives in his shoulders that seemed to be emitting some smoke of some sort and the nails in his hands and feet that pinned him to the wall.
"You came, I knew you would, He is dead?" the Warlock asked.
"He is." Jae said.
"End me, my prince." the warlock said as he looked to him pleadingly.
"I could help, we could…"
"End me." the warlock said and Jae moved forward with Dark Sister and as he drove it into the warlock's heart he saw a look that seemed to be peaceful come over the man's face.
He asked Walder to call for some men to help remove other prisoners and checked on Aemon and the girl, finding his uncle treating her wounds and wearing a look of complete anger that he'd never seen before on his face.
"How is she?" he asked.
"She'll live, what sort of monsters would do this?" Aemon asked and Jae found he had no answer to give him.
When Walder returned they made their way to the captain's cabin, Arthur walking in before he did and then telling him that he needed to see what was inside.
"Your grace, you need to see this." Arthur said his voice full of urgency and so Jae hurried into the cabin.
"Is that?" Walder said as Jae lifted up an ax, the Valyrian Steel glistening in the light.
"Looks like you may need to change your weapon, Walder." Jae said handing it to his Kingsguard.
"I…"
"Are the only one I know who wields an ax, it may as well be that one, my friend." he said as Walder smiled broadly.
Jae looked around the cabin, finding jars filled with what he was horrified to see where tongues and even eyes, there was also some other body parts that he had no desire to find the truth of. There were countless books, Jae opening some of them to see they were written in Valyrian and some other languages he didn't recognize and there were maps of seas and areas that he'd not even read about. The cabin was a veritable treasure trove of information and as he looked through more and more of the items stored there he found a treasure of a more material sort.
"This is worth a fortune." he said opening a chest to see it stuffed with jewelry and fine gems.
"It seems the treasury just got a great boon, your grace." Arthur said and as Jae turned to him he saw he was holding up a bar of gold that he didn't dare guess just how valuable it was.
"There's more, your grace." Walder said showing chest upon chest, all containing something incredibly valuable.
"What kind of man has all this wealth and still reaves?" he asked to no reply.
He wasn't truly sure if he was really looking for one, what he did know was that with the wealth in this cabin he could fund projects that he had thought would take years to pay for. In one swoop the royal treasury had gained almost as much as they had from defeating the Golden Company. Making his way from the cabin he was told that Aemon had taken the girl to Dragonstone itself and when he saw Grey Worm on the beach he asked for the help of the unsullied to remove all that was on the ship. The books and maps he'd leave on Dragonstone, for now, the treasures he'd take back to the royal vault on Rhaenix's back.
After speaking to his uncle, who he found to be almost unwilling to look at him for some reason, Jae, Arthur and Walder were soon back in the air and they arrived at the Red Keep not long after night fell. He organized the chests to be brought to the vault and after Walder and Arthur escorted him back to his room, he told them to go and get their meals. Both men only doing so when he said that he'd be eating his own alone with Margaery and wouldn't be leaving until the morrow. Entering the room, he found his wife sitting on the couch and he was relieved to see she didn't seem worried or concerned by all that had happened today.
"All went well?" she asked as he kissed her cheek and began to untie his armor, Margaery rising to help him.
"You'll not believe what we found, Marge." he said excitedly as his breastplate was removed, Jae hurrying through the rest of the armor impatiently.
"What?" she asked looking to him, her smirk no doubt because of his own excitement.
"Euron Greyjoy's ship, The Silence, the man had treasures Marge, incredible treasures." he said as he took his seat and she leaned back against him, Jae holding her in his arms as she held onto his hand.
"What kind of treasures?" she asked curiously.
"The kind that will help us build the realm, Marge." he said happily.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Dany.
It was Ellagon who felt them before she did, Dany hearing the trill of her dragon as she flew towards King's Landing. Her two other children joined her as they passed over the Kingswood and all three of them made their pleasure clear now that they were back together again. She saw that both Sandorix and Rhaegal were almost fighting for her attention, the two dragons spinning and doing turns in the sky as if to say 'mother look at me' and Dany felt her own pleasure rise at watching them at play.
Oberyn, Ellaria, and the girls had all set sail for King's Landing and while she'd thought about joining them, she found that she wished to be back sooner than it would take a ship to get there. She'd spent more than three moons in Dorne altogether and she'd enjoyed her time there immensely. Her brother was growing into his role and though he was sad to see her go and she sad to leave, she knew it was time. Dany had sent countless ravens to both Dragonstone and to King's Landing, most carrying more than one scroll, much to her embarrassment. For Jae, Shiera, Aemon, Grey Worm, Missy, and Sandor, and more than one for Aurane too.
She'd received less back than she had wished, Aemon, Shiera, and Missy being the ones who wrote most often. Jae she knew was heading North and then beyond the Wall and Aurane she had found out had sailed to the Iron Islands, yet at first she had worried when he'd not replied. It annoyed her greatly, Dany thinking that he was still worrying about the nature of their relationship and not at first being aware of his mission. When she had found out that it was that and not her that had been the reason for fewer replies than she hoped for she'd been relieved, though the replies he did send annoyed her somewhat. Tyrion was right, she knew that now and even if she did not then her talk with Ellaria had only confirmed to her what she must do.
"You look upset, princess." Ellaria said taking a seat when Dany nodded.
"I'm not." she said defensively.
"Of course your not, that pillow your holding so tightly, that's not proof of that upset either." Ellaria said with a smile that soon had Dany laughing as she looked at the crushed pillow in her hands.
"I was…I…Can I ask you something?" she said looking to the older woman.
"Ask of me anything, princess." Ellaria said.
"Dany." she said looking at her and seeing her smile.
"Dany."
"What's it like being a...your life, I..what's it like being what you are." she said unable to speak the word aloud.
"A bastard?" Ellaria said and Dany shook her head.
"I didn't...I don't.." she said stumbling over her words only for Ellaria to get up from her seat and move to sit beside her, the woman reaching down to touch her hand and shake her head.
"I have no shame in what I am, Dany. My nephew has named me true and I've born the name of my House and now bear my husbands, but I was born a bastard and I still have many brothers and sisters who remain so." Ellaria said.
"I, Jae, you...I cannot imagine what it was like for you." she said still not able to speak on what she really meant.
"For some like me, it was not as difficult as for others. I hurt at times, I cried at times but I held my head up and took the insults that were aimed my way, I was lucky though as I had Oberyn, my girls, Dorne." Ellaria said.
"And the rest of Westeros?" she asked.
"Some are good, some are bad, Dany, people are people. For everyone who thinks as Lady Catelyn did there are some like Jae who do not and now that he is king, it will be better for my brothers and sisters.." Ellaria said smiling.
"You believe so?" Dany asked.
"I know so. Speak to this love of yours, smack his stupidity out of his head or get our nephew to do so." Ellaria said and Dany turned to look at her, her mouth almost agape that she knew about Aurane and what was truly bothering her.
"How?" she asked and Ellaria just shook her head, rising to her feet before placing a kiss on her cheek and leaving her sitting there alone.
When she saw the Dragonpit looming in front of her, Dany shook her head and wondered just how long she'd been daydreaming for. Smiling to herself, she looked to her children, and then all three dragons landed in the Dragonpit. Dany more than surprised to see Rhaenix already there almost as if she was waiting for them. After thanking Ellagon for bringing her back so swiftly and feeling her trill at her words of praise, she then spoke to both her other children and promised them that she'd fly with them both soon.
She looked to see it was the men of the hundred who had come to escort her. Dany noticing that Ser Bonifer was with them and after greeting the knight. she was quickly sitting on a horse and riding back to the Red Keep. It took them some time to get there, Dany waved to the people who cheered her and she felt incredibly proud that even now moons after they'd taken their throne back, her family was feted so. When she reached the Red Keep she looked for him among the few who had come to greet her. Jae and Margaery had not come, Shiera was there however but Dany quickly found herself to be annoyed and a little upset when she didn't see Aurane anywhere in sight.
"Aunt." she said kissing her aunt's cheek.
"Dany, I've missed you." Shiera said and Dany told her how much she'd missed her too.
Her aunt told her all that had happened while she was away. Dany listening on disbelievingly as she spoke of Bloodraven's death and of how it had been Rhaenix that had seen it done. She could sense that she wished to be comforted but just as she was about to do so Dany saw Aurane and everything else seemed to fade away. The guilt she felt when Shiera told her they would speak later though was soon replaced by annoyance when she and Aurane spoke. His words infuriating her and his welcome not one that she was best pleased about either.
"It's good to see you've returned Princess." Aurane said formally and Dany looked at him confused.
"It's good to be back, Aurane." she said bidding him follow her to her rooms.
"All went well in Dorne?" he asked and she nodded "The capital has not been the same without your presence, princess." he then added when she didn't speak further.
She stayed silent until they reached her rooms and when he went to walk away she almost pushed him inside, Dany turning to look at him and seeing a guilty look on his face, or what she assumed was guilt.
"What are you doing?" she asked angrily.
"Dany…"
"Three moons we've been apart and this is how you welcome me back, with platitudes and compliments as if I was a stranger to you?"
"I didn't mean it to be this way, Dany. It's just, us, you and I, it cannot be." Aurane said his voice though soft was most annoying to her or perhaps it was the words he spoke.
"And I get no say in this? What I feel doesn't matter?" she asked angrily.
"I'm a bastard Dany and you're a princess, a Dragonrider, it's a beautiful dream but that's all it can ever be." Aurane said moving to the door.
"A dream, that's all I am to you, a dream?" she said feeling ready to either rage or cry and not sure which it was to be.
"I'm sorry, Dany." Aurane said before he left the room.
It was both that came, her anger manifested itself almost as quickly as the tears did. Dany throwing a vase at the wall before curling up on a seat. He'd caught her so by surprise that it was that more than anything that was the reason for her tears. Not simply his arguments as she'd heard them and they'd spoken of them before but that he'd not welcomed her back, he'd not shown how much he'd missed her and that was truly the reason she cried for some time.
When she was done, she asked for water to clean her face, and then she changed her clothes before hurrying to speak to her nephew once she'd done so. She arrived just as Jae and Margaery were leaving to head to the Throne Room, something about an oath of fealty or something or other. The moment that she asked to speak to him alone though, Jae simply turned and asked Margaery to head there without him. Her nephew sensed her distress and was she not so upset then she'd have kissed him for the angry look that quickly appeared on his face.
"Who?" he asked catching her by surprise.
"Jae it's not.."
"Someone has upset you, tell me who?" he said, Dany then moved to him and this time she did kiss his cheek, Jae looking at her surprised.
"Dany?" he asked.
"Sit with me Jae, please?" she asked and he nodded, the two of them moving to the couch and taking a seat close to each other.
She took a breath before she began, not sure how to say what it was she needed to say and not wishing to say anything that may set him off after Aurane before she was finished. Sandor, Grey Worm, Belwas, her unsullied and even her dragons, she had many protectors and she needed few. Yet to have family who cared for her and would protect her should she ask it of them, that had been something she'd longed for all her life.
"You know of me and Aurane?" she asked and she could see him about to rise and so she put her hand on his and saw him nod "I wish to be with him, Jae." she said softly.
"Then you should be with him." he said raising his eyebrows to show he was confused as to why this was an issue and she smiled as she looked at him.
"He feels unworthy of me." she said her voice barely a whisper.
"He is." Jae said and she glared at him before he continued "No man is worthy of you."
She chuckled at that, her protective nephew, Dany then finding herself wondering if he was the same with Sansa and knowing that he was, or would be if he felt the need.
"He feels it because of his status, Jae." she said and heard him snort "Jae?"
"Does his status bother you? Does it concern you? Say the word and I'll name him true if it's what you wish? Though I'd rather not if you truly wish to be with him." Jae said and she looked at him confusedly.
"I don't understand?" she said shaking her head.
"Should I name him true then he'll be a Velaryon or a name he wishes to take, if he's who you wish to be with Dany, if he's someone you may wish to wed then I'd rather him take our name. I want the House on Dragonstone to be House Targaryen of Dragonstone, not House Velaryon or something else, but if it's what you wish of me then I'll name him true." he said and she shook her head.
"I don't think it's needed, Jae. Should we wed, it can be done that way can it not, his name would be true then?" she asked and Jae nodded.
"Do you wish to wed him?" Jae asked and Dany took a moment before she nodded slightly, Jae looking at her and seeing her smile before he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"You are not upset?" she asked.
"I wish my aunt to be happy, whoever makes her so has my blessing, not that my aunt needs it." he said making her laugh.
"She welcomes it though." she said and he kissed her forehead again.
"You wish me to speak to him? To let him know he has my blessing?" he asked and she nodded "Then if you'll forgive me it seems I've got a seahorse to locate." Jae said making her slap his shoulder as he rose to her feet.
"Jae please be nice." she said as he moved to the door, Dany then laughing loudly when he stuck his tongue out at her and shook his head before leaving the room.
"Thank you nephew." she said softly as she got up from her seat and made her way to the door.
Dragonstone 299 AC.
Aemon.
The girl had been raped, more than once he thought given her injuries. She'd been beaten and had been starved and if they'd not reached her when they had then Aemon wasn't certain she'd have recovered. As it was he found himself sure that she would and he thanked the gods for that. He had her placed in a room and had food and drink brought to her, Aemon made sure she didn't eat too much as it would only harm her more. After introducing her to the Unsullied guards and explaining to her that while men they were of a different sort and that they couldn't lay with her even if they wished it, he then gave the girl some milk of the poppy and she was soon resting.
The contents of the captain's cabin had been brought to his rooms and he spent a little time cataloging them. There were books from Valyria, Ghiscar, and Yi Ti, scrolls and papers from places he knew not and he longed to read through them all. He was tired though, tired and hungry and so he had his own food sent to his room and after eating, he took to his bed. Aemon soon asleep and yet his dreams were ones that made him wish he'd stayed awake.
The army marched, their blue eyes standing out in the dark of the night's sky. Above them the dragon's laid down wave after wave of fire, and yet there were so many, too many. He saw men fall, heard a dragon's pained cry, and looked on as men of ice cut through men of flesh and blood as if they were nothing.
He was in a tent listening as men argued, as they spoke of how they'd failed and were being overrun. At the table sat his nephew, his head bowed and he looked far older than his years. He heard men speak of what must be done and his nephew's angered voice telling them that he would not.
Two men fought in a field of white, one of ice and one of flesh, his nephew's Valyrian blade moving faster than the Ice one. When it struck home it was as if time stood still and yet nothing happened, his nephew moved out of the way of the blow that was aimed in his direction, and then he pulled the sword from the creature of ice's chest. They fought again longer, harder, the two blades moving together and once again his nephew's blade proved faster. The blow had no effect though and he watched in horror as his nephew was cut down, the ice blade digging deep. The creature raised its blade to finish the job and then there were flames raining down on them both. Aemon almost as shocked as the creature of ice was when the flames cleared and he stood alone in the field.
The army of dead men moved on, nothing able to stand in their way and he watched as his nephew stood in front of his wife, both of them with tears in their eyes as around them men looked on. It was so quick that he almost missed it, were it not for the loud pained cry that came from his nephew and the blade lighting up with a light that he could barely look at, then he'd not have realized what had happened. The blade though was soon on the ground and his nephew held her in his arms, the sounds he made were ones that Aemon swore the gods themselves would be moved to tears by.
He watched as the icy sword clashed against the one his nephew held, the light shining so brightly that even in the darkness the two men could be seen from miles around. Again his nephew's blade proved true and this time when it stuck home there was a loud sound. The ice exploded and the night turned to day, around the field men cheered as blue eyes closed and the dead fell. Aemon lookedto see faces so full of joy and he too felt as they did. Then he felt a pain like he'd never felt before as he looked to his nephew who knelt on the ground, his sword in his hand and the light fading as he pushed it deep into his own heart.
He woke up to find tears falling down his face, Aemon feeling both ready to weep and a need to be somewhere, elsewhere, anywhere so he could scream out his anger and despair. It took him no time at all to dress and before he had even spoken to anyone he was out of the keep and standing on the cliffs overlooking the bay. Around him, there was nothing, no sign of man or beast, the dragons were not in their usual resting places, and he felt their loss.
"Why?"
"Why must you be so cruel?"
"Has my house not given enough? Have we not lost enough to satisfy you? Must you take it all, even him? He has given you more than any man could? A mother, a father, is that not enough for you? Must you take his love and his life too?"
He screamed the words out and heard no reply, the only sound that of his own breathing and as he rose to his feet he cursed them all. Gods, men, everyone he could think of, he cursed them all, and yet he knew it mattered not. When he heard the sound of the dragons returning he looked up to see Shiera on Sandorix's back and he did his best to make himself look presentable. It made him feel a mummer, a liar, a lesser man than he wished to be, and yet he felt he could speak of what he knew to no one. Not his aunt, not his dragon, and certainly not his nephew. Yet no sooner had she reached him than the words came from his mouth.
Aemon told her it all, his dreams, the images in the crypts, the books, the prophecy. He told her how he'd tried to find another way, sought answers that he hoped would prove him a fool. Shiera listening to him all the while and saying nothing while he unburdened himself to her.
"What am I to do?" he asked her when he was done "How do I tell him this?" he said his voice as broken as he felt.
"I do not understand the power our nephew possesses, nor the role he's meant to play. I know he's the Prince that was Promised and that he will Bring the Dawn but what that means I do not know. I refuse to believe it means this, Aemon. Jae will refuse to believe that this is what his life is leading to, this is what he was born to do. There is another way, there has to be and our nephew needs to know it all Aemon, otherwise, he'll not have any choice but this." Shiera said.
"What other choice is there but this?" Aemon said looking at her.
"There is always a choice, Aemon, always." Shiera said looking to him and nodding, the two of them turning and walking back towards the keep.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Bran.
He had hoped to get to see Jae the night before but instead, they'd eaten dinner with Sansa and Lord Willas and his family. Bran though did get to speak to Ser Loras who told him that after he'd sworn his oath he'd see about getting him a spar with some of the Kingsguard. Willas and his sister were to marry just as he and Myrcella were and he found himself looking to the man more than once as they ate. Though older than Sansa, it seemed to him that it didn't bother his sister at all and they certainly looked as if they liked each other.
That made him very relieved, it had been something he'd worried about himself with Myrcella. He knew they would be wed regardless but he'd feared what it would be like if he didn't like her, or she, him. After spending time with her though he'd found his worries to be for naught and as he looked to Sansa it seemed that she too felt the same about Willas. His granduncle was quiet for most of the night, Bran noticing how even Ser Loras wasn't able to get him to speak very much. But he seemed in a better mood once the dinner was done and Bran wondered if he was just that he was uncomfortable eating with the Tyrells as he had been at first when they'd eaten with the Lannsiters.
After a really good night's sleep, Bran finding that he much preferred sleeping in a bed in a keep than in one on a ship for some reason, he awoke refreshed and eager for the day ahead. He and his uncle broke their fast together with some of the knights and guards and though he wished to go for a spar right away, he could not as he was dressed in his best clothing for the swearing of his oath. As they walked to the Throne Room, he looked to his granduncle who seemed as nervous as he felt and Bran did his best to help him relax.
"It'll go well, Uncle Brynden, I know what I must say, I practiced." he said and got a smile from his granduncle in return.
"Of course it will and soon enough you and I, nephew, will be in Riverrun." his granduncle said and Bran nodded, he was looking forward to that, to seeing the keep that Brynden spoke of so fondly.
Entering the Throne Room he was amazed by how many people there were there and he was glad when the guard came over to them and directed them to where they needed to go. He like the others all looked to a door in the corner when the queen was announced, Bran smiled at his brother's wife, and yet his eyes went to the men with her. Lord Jaime Lannister, the Hand of the King and the man who'd trained his brother. Ser Walder Alyrs who gave him a wink when he saw him, Ser Richard Horpe and Ser Robar Royce, he saw Ser Loras who gave him a nod, and then he gasped when he saw Ser Barristan Selmy, The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, the Bold.
He was disappointed to not see Ser Jors Whitewolf and Ser Arthur Dayne but then he realized they must be with Jae. No sooner had he thought that then he found himself even more disappointed that his brother wasn't here to accept his oath himself. Bran wondered if he'd done something to upset him or was it what his mother had done that Jae was blaming him for in some way. He tried not to show his upset, doing his best to hide it as he waited to be called forward.
The morning seemed never-ending to him, the number of people the queen had to speak to before he and his granduncle were called just making the day seem to go on and on. When he heard the guard tell them that they would be up in a moment, he felt somewhat relieved, and then he was smiling broadly when Jae, Ser Jors, and Ser Arthur all walked in. Bran chuckling when Jae kissed the queen's cheek and turned to apologize for his lateness.
"Lord Brandon Stark and Ser Brynden Tully." the herald said and Bran moved forward with his granduncle, the two of them standing in front of the throne.
"Brother, it does my heart good to see you so well, look at you, you're almost a man grown." Jae said and Bran smirked.
"I am most pleased to see you too, your grace." he said remembering his courtesies.
"Ser Brynden, I trust my brother has been keeping up with his training?" Jae said and Bran though he wished to look to his granduncle did not, instead keeping his eyes on the king as he was supposed to.
"Very much so, your grace." his granduncle said.
"Excellent, my Kingsguard, and I look forward to testing him in the yard, as do my squires." Jae said to laughs and Bran looked to his brother to see him wink at him, his smile now even larger on his face as he looked to Jae.
"Jae." he heard Margaery say and he caught the flush on Jae's face.
"Ah, forgive me, my lords and ladies were it not for my wife then I'd never get to the why that we're here." Jae said to laughs "Lord Brandon Stark, step forward and swear your oath of fealty." Jae said and though his voice was firm and serious, Bran noticed how he rolled his eyes, as did some others in the room based on the laughs that he heard.
"I swear my House, my sword, and my life to their graces, King Jaehaerys and Queen Margaery of the House Targaryen. I do willingly and without reservation in perpetuity." he said after stepping forward and taking a knee.
"Arise Lord Brandon Stark as the new Lord of Riverrun, on behalf of her grace, I accept your oath and I promise never to ask of you or your house any service that may bring you into dishonor. " Jae said and Bran rose.
No sooner had he risen than his brother was by his side, Jae speaking to him and almost pushing him towards the door. He spent the rest of the day sparring with Jae, Tommen, and Martyn his squires, and even against both Ser Arthur and Ser Barristan. Bran unable to keep the smile from his face even as he ate his dinner that night with Jae, Margaery, Joy, Sansa, and Lord Jaime's family. While he didn't get to see the dragons, he was promised he would be brought to them before he left, and as he went to sleep that night he felt it had been one of the very best days of his life.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Jaime.
Whether it was Jae's way of making up for him being left in charge alone while they had gone to Dorne and the North or simply that he wished him to spend time with his family, Jaime couldn't tell. He took full advantage of it though, not having to go and spend his day in his solar gave him more time to spend with Joanna, Jon, and Dacey and he was not fool enough to turn down such a pleasant opportunity. He went riding with his daughter and his wife while Jon was looked after by a wet nurse. Jaime then spent his day playing with his son while Dacey took full advantage of having him around and did some of the things she'd not been able to do while he'd been so busy.
That one of those things brought her to the sparring yard was not a true surprise and Jaime welcomed seeing her so relaxed when she returned. All good things must come to an end though and after what felt like no time at all but was actually almost a week, Jaime was now back at work. That the first order of business was to deal with the sheer amount of treasure taken from Euron Greyjoy's ship was at least something he enjoyed.
"All of this?" he said standing with Jae as they looked at the assorted chests.
"Aye, all of it." Jae said.
"That's got to be worth millions." he said seeing Jae smile.
"Millions I need."
"Really your grace, have plans for this coin do you?" he japed.
"Keeps to build and winter stocks to buy, an army to fund, aye, you could say I've plans for it." Jae said looking at him oddly "But first, you and I are going for a ride."
"I'm not Joy, your grace." he said with a chuckle.
"Or Joanna." Jae said forcing Jaime to scowl at him before they both began to laugh "But I wasn't talking about Winter and Loyalty."
"Oh gods no, why me, I thought Arthur was your preferred dragon-riding partner." he said shaking his head, his smirk not going unseen.
"Well my Hand is always so busy and since today he is less so, it's to Dragonstone we go." Jae said and he looked at him curiously.
"Jae?"
"You'll see when we get there, Jaime." Jae said and he nodded.
It turned out that Arthur was to fly with them anyway. Jae, he, and Arthur all climbing on Rhaenix's back not long after they reached the Dragonpit. Though he had no true desire to fly on the dragon's back he welcomed it all the same. It had been some time since he and Jae had gone on an adventure together and while this was just a simple visit to Dragonstone, or so he believed, it felt almost like it had when he had been the lord and Jae his squire.
He didn't much appreciate Jae having Rhaenix fly so close to the water and dipping her wing in so she could almost soak them to the skin. Arthur too not seeming to enjoy the laughter that came from their king when she did so. That they were dry by the time they reached the island he could only put down to the heat that came from Rhaenix's back and so by the time they landed he'd regained his good humor. Looking around he could see just how busy things were at the caves, the camp was set up and the mining had begun in earnest. Jae had even sent the first shipment of Dragonglass to Hardhome and he was amazed by just how much they had managed to gather.
"Why are we here?" he asked as they walked on the beach.
"I've a song to sing." Jae said and Jaime looked at him in confusion.
"You flew us here for a song?" he asked looking from Jae to Arthur who seemed to be equally as confused.
"This song is different, it's a song of stone." Jae said before walking a little ahead of them.
They walked through the camp and he soon saw box upon box of dragonglass ready to be shipped. Jae picked up one of the pieces that seemed shaped into a knife of some sort. He almost dropped it when it was thrown to him, Jaime still not sure why they were here or what Jae had in mind.
"Crash that against my blade." Jae said and when Jaime looked at him he held Dark Sister in his hand and was showing him the flat face of the sword.
"Jae?" he asked unsure what this was all about.
"Do, it, watch your hand though." Jae said and he did as he was bid, watching as the knife broke into half a dozen pieces.
"It's brittle." Arthur said.
"Very much so. Euron had a warlock that he kept prisoner on his ship, he used dragonglass on him, the warlock even had a knife embedded in his shoulder when we saw him. It pierces the flesh easily and for some reason it smoked though I think that was to do with the magic the warlock possessed. After he begged me to kill him, I removed Dark Sister from his heart and it struck the dragonglass, it broke just as it did a moment ago." Jae said.
"I thought this was needed in the battles to come?" he asked.
"It is, which is why I need to sing." Jae said.
He looked at him shaking his head and then he watched as bent down on one knee and took something from his pocket. It took Jaime a moment to realize that it was a jar filled with blood and then he looked on shocked when Jae poured it and then wiped it on his face, almost covering himself in it. Before he or Arthur could say anything, Jae began to sing a song with words he couldn't understand, and truth be told he wasn't even sure that they were actually words at all.
It went on for only a short time, Jae stopping after maybe a moment or two and Jaime looked at him as he walked to a barrel that was nearby and dipped a cloth into it. Jae wiped the blood from his face before he turned to walk over to one of the nearby boxes. When he walked back to where they were standing Jae was carrying yet another knife which he threw to him again, Jaime catching this one far more easily.
"Try again." Jae said as he unsheathed Dark Sister once more.
Jaime moved forward and crashed the knife against the flat of the blade, he looked at the still fully intact knife once he was done. Thinking he'd done so too softly, he did it once more, this time hitting the blade hard enough to hurt his hand a little. Once again the knife remained intact and so he moved to grab another, Arthur doing likewise. Each of them tried and found that the knives wouldn't break, and Jae simply stood there with a broad smile on his face when they were finished.
"How?" he asked.
"I sung stone." Jae said and he looked at him in disbelief.
"So you made the dragonglass less brittle?" Arthur asked.
"I did, but that's not even close to what can be done now that I know it works." Jae said excitedly.
"What else can be done?" he asked.
"Dragonstone was built by Stonesingers and Dragons, Storm's End, Winterfell, and the Hightower, they were built by Stonesingers without them." Jae said looking at him.
"You can't be suggesting?" he said shaking his head.
"It'll require lots of blood, but aye, in time I can shape a keep or even bring one down." Jae said and Jaime gulped.
The thoughts of anyone being able to do such a thing was beyond his comprehension and he only took comfort that if it had to be someone who could, then thank the gods that it was Jae who wielded such power.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Margaery.
She had almost told him when he'd come back from Euron Greyjoy's ship, her husband was finally in a truly good mood and one which she knew her news would only add to. Why she had not she didn't know but it felt as if the time was wrong somehow and so she had resolved to speak to him the next morning. Unfortunately, she didn't get a chance, Jae telling her that there was something he needed to do on Dragonstone and that he, Jaime, and Arthur would be going there and so Margaery held back once more.
When he returned from Dragonstone he was once again in what seemed to be a good mood and she felt that she could wait no longer. So after he had finished explaining to her about singing stone or whatever that meant, she hushed him and asked him to sit with her for a moment. She waited until he was sitting down and then she walked to the door to tell Ser Barristan that they were not to be disturbed for any reason. Margaery rolling her eyes when she walked back to Jae and saw the look on his face.
"If my wife wished me alone, she only needed to ask." he said and despite herself, she shook her head as she began to laugh.
"My husband's mind must be a fun place to visit." she said taking her seat and tapping his forehead with her finger.
"I can think of other places on me that are so much more fun, care to visit them with me, my love." Jae said kissing her neck.
"Jae, stop, we must speak." she said and she came so very close to slapping him to get him to focus, her husband instead thinking that she was playing a game of some sort.
"Speaking is bad, I can think of so many things we could be doing that are so much more fun." he said and though she agreed, on this they needed to speak.
"Jae please." she said pushing him away and she was glad to see that he wasn't upset or that he didn't take it wrongly.
"Marge, is there smoothing wrong?" he asked worriedly and she shook her head, hoping that her news wouldn't be considered wrong or bad.
"I'm with child, Jae." she said nervously as she looked at him.
He said nothing for a moment, just looked into her eyes, and then the smile that appeared on his face was bigger and brighter than she'd ever seen before.
"This pleases you?" she asked feeling sure that it indeed did.
"For true, you and I, we're to be….you…For true?" he asked and she nodded.
Which came first his kisses to her face or his arms around her she couldn't tell but both were just as warmly welcomed by her. Jae moving away from her to look into her eyes once more and his smile still on his face and still as true.
"The Grandmaester, he's confirmed it?" he asked.
"He has, he says all is well and that I'm but a few moons along." she said looking at him "You're not upset with me?" she asked and he looked at her confusedly.
"Upset, why would I be upset with you?"
"I, we wished to wait, to have time just for us." she said and he nodded.
"It seems the gods don't wish us to wait any longer, my love. You, you are pleased?" he asked.
"Very much so." she said and he kissed her again.
"Come." he said taking her hand and helping her rise.
"Jae?"
"Come, I wish to lay with my wife and look into her beautiful eyes while we speak." he said and she nodded, letting him lead her into their bed-chamber.
They lay down on the bed face to face, Margaery looking into her husband's eyes as he brushed his hand over her face, his smile still present.
"I love you, Margaery, you and our babe, I am... never have I felt this way, this complete, my wife, our babe, our family." he said kissing her "And you, my little prince or princess, I will love you as fully and truly as I love your mother, from this day until my last day." he said touching her stomach.
"A prince or a princess." she said softly, her eyes looking deeply into her husband's and the rest of the worries of the world seemed to just fall away.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up next as her mother and father arrive Margaery and Jae share their news with the realm. Aemon speaks to Kinvara and Malora before delivering news which removes all of Jae's good cheer and as a ship arrives in Hardhome, Jae and Malora fly to the Isle of Faces where a god faces a dragon's rage.
Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.
Surpremus: You and some others, I'll do my best to get to it this weekend.
Biohazrad: So glad you enjoyed it.
Emerald Duke: Thursday it is.
The sphinx: Short and succinct and still so damn good.
Vfsnake: I wanted to show a couple of little things so I could refer to them later plus the Quentyn part really needed to be seen.
Celexys: We'll see more of the NK, this was just a glimpse but I intend to delve into his own motivations as much as Jae's.
Amarchichmind: It's nice to take a step away a little, seeing how the events are causing ripples around the realm. It's never gone into what actually caused it, I thought it was an interesting idea though that basically it was a genocide to kill almost one man so to speak.
Guest: Glad you liked Palla's pov, that was a fun one to write, and trying to show that this little girl who normally would have been worried for her food, was instead thinking of a pretty dress really was to show just how much better things are. Rhaenix was one I was so close to writing in the previous chapter as Bloodraven's end, but I think it adds to it here. It's an interesting concept, to get rid of a problem that the last solution didn't manage to do, let's do the same thing again. Hmmm, let's see if that works lol.
Jessicanightmarewolf: I think it shows the things Jae/Marge are doing a bit more clearly than having them speak of it themselves. I mean a small council meeting of them saying more coin for food for orphans is one thing, seeing one of those orphans life is another. You may be right on Quentyn on the others won't say which it is though lol.
Creativo: Nunca lo vemos y es una de esas cosas en las que sé que el misterio de quién, qué y por qué hace las cosas es divertido, pero también es agradable ver el otro lado.
Keb: I do have some more stories I've plotted out to come too, Jon/Rhaenys, Jon/Arianne, Jon/Val, and others so you'll be stuck with me for a long time lol. Here we got the first Stonesinging, there's a big one coming up in chapter or two.
Tfranco: I will see if that can be done, I hadn't thought of it that way with the Sparrow but having him appear could be fun.
Hkt29: And a smile, don't forget the smile. Thorne is far more content but in some ways, it's one of those things where you have one real skill, and without it what have you to offer. So at least this way he gets to serve the family he wishes. On Quentyn that is the issue more than anything, he was willing to usurp his sister and so he deserves all that's coming to him. We'll see more of the NK's thoughts.
Lady Octarina: We'll see where the Quentyn story is going. Showing the Smallfolk is I've found a much better way of really showing the differences Jae/Marge are making. Having them speak of them is fine, seeing it through someone like Palla's eyes is so much more enlightening. I almost did it, I think I actually wrote a draft of this where Leonette was pregnant to, in the end, it just felt too much and so I left at Myranda. With Garlan I wanted to show that pain a little, it's not that he's not smart or capable more that he really doesn't have an interest and so it's harder for him.
Remi: The NK is the true threat, up to now Jae has had it easy, he won't with the NK. As for Quentyn, we'll see.
Xan Merrick: Thank you, my friend, so very glad you liked them. It was a nice glimpse at life away for the main characters I think.
Irish Hermit: That's the thing, the mistakes they make are in some way at the higher end of things more than at the lower. Like here with Palla the objective was to show a girl who without Jae/Marge would be worrying where her next meal came from but because of them is able to basically be a girl and worry about something like a dress. It's a simple thing but when you think about it it's such a huge change. That's one of the things with Quentyn, desertion is one thing but killing his brothers that's another. We'll see what fate has in store for him. That I'm very much looking forward to, Jae has had some practice almost but he's going to get a few people looking forward to getting their own back at him for their kids lol.
