Overall Timeline
283 AC:
- Rhaegar survives the Trident but is wounded.
- Jaime kills Aerys and the pyromancers. Elia is attacked by the Mountain and Lannister men, but Jaime saves her and the children.
- Robert and Jon Arryn take King's Landing and hold it, leaving Elia and the children alive as hostages.
- Rhaegar goes to Dorne to meet Lyanna at the Tower of Joy and stops the fight between the Northmen and Kingsguard at her request, saving Ned, Howland Reed and Arthur Dayne. However, Lyanna dies due to complications after childbirth.
284 AC
- Rhaegar rallies the Ironborn to besiege King's Landing and take it from Robert and Jon Arryn.
- Jon Arryn dies in the siege.
- Robert and Stannis are executed by Rhaegar for high treason.
- Elia and Rhaegar meet at Dragonstone whereupon Elia confronts him, denounces him and takes Jaehaerys/Jon as her son.
- Tywin Lannister is allowed to live and goes back to Casterly Rock but Jaime stays on the kingsguard, a quiet hostage to ensure Tywin stays in line.
- Hoster Tully requests Catelyn and Ned's marriage be annulled after Ned is kept in King's Landing as a hostage. Rhaegar annuls it but takes Robb to ensure the behavior of the Riverlands and the North.
- Rhaella dies in childbirth.
- Elia summons Ashara Dayne back to King's Landing. She comes with Allyria, Ned's bastard daughter.
285 AC
- Catelyn remarries to Benjen Stark, Lord of Winterfell.
286 AC
- Viserys and Daenerys come to King's Landing.
- Jon grows up calling Elia "mother" and calling Rhaegar "Your Grace". He is not close to his father and Rhaegar mostly overlooks him. He and Rhaenys fight sometimes but just as normal brother and sister. He and Aegon are close. He likes his Uncle Ned and Aunt Ashara and is close to his cousins, especially Robb and Arya. He does not like the name Jaehaerys because Lyanna wanted to name him Jon after King Jon Stark.
Subsequent Years
- Cersei is brought to the capital as another Lannister hostage to be Elia's lady-in-waiting but charms Rhaegar and becomes Queen Consort. [287 AC]
- Elia begins an affair with Jaime. [289 AC]
- Cersei becomes pregnant. [289 AC]
- Elia becomes pregnant. [290 AC]
- Cersei has twin boys. [290 AC]
- Elia has a girl. Jaime is the father, but everyone thinks it's Rhaegar's. [290 AC]
Families of Relevance
HOUSE TARGARYEN
KING RHAEGAR TARGARYEN [259 AC] First of his name. King of the Seven Kingdoms. Eldest son of Rhaella and Aerys. Father of Rhaenys, Aegon, Jaehaerys, Aerion, and Daeron. Legal father of Visenya. Motivated by prophecies predicting the Long Night and the Prince That Was Promised.
QUEEN ELIA MARTELL OF SUNSPEAR [257 AC] Only daughter of Princess Loreza Martell. Rhaegar's first wife. Mother of Aegon, Rhaenys and, Visenya. Raises Jon as her son. Feels obligating to care for Daenerys due to her promise to Rhaella to protect her children. Motivated by love for her children.
QUEEN CONSORT CERSEI LANNISTER OF CASTERLY ROCK [266 AC] Only daughter of Tywin and Joanna Lannister. Rhaegar's second wife (or third for those who believe his marriage to Lyanna to have been legitimate). Mother of Aerion and Daeron. Hates Elia and Jaehaerys and wishes her son was king.
LADY LYANNA STARK OF WINTERFELL [267 AC] Only daughter of Lyarra and Rickard Stark. The first mistress Rhaegar took and his second wife according to him, though this is disputed. Mother of Jaehaerys whom she wished to name Jon. Died in childbirth.
PRINCESS RHAENYS TARGARYEN [280 AC] Rhaegar and Elia's eldest child. Takes from her mother and has the Dornish look. Intended to be betrothed to her brother, Aegon, but fled with Robb Stark, whom she had a secret affair with. The two elope and have a son together, Edrick. She rides the dragon, Sandfyre.
PRINCE AEGON TARGARYEN [282 AC] Rhaegar and Elia's second child. Heir to the Iron Throne. Takes from his father and has the Valyrian look. Intended to be betrothed to his sisters, Rhaenys and Visenya, due to a prophecy his father believes in. Carrying on a secret affair with Loras Tyrell. With his sisters gone, he marries Margaery Tyrell so he can keep Loras close and the Tyrells can have their queen as they've wanted. The two have a daughter together, Rhaenyra. He rides the dragon Darkwing.
PRINCE JAEHAERYS "JON" TARGARYEN [283 AC] Rhaegar and Lyanna's only child. Takes from his mother and has the Northern look. Not in the line of succession after abdicating his right to the throne. His legitimacy is disputed throughout the kingdom. Not close to his father but is close to his stepmother. He is in love with Talla Tarly, his best friend's sister. He rides the dragon, Ghost.
PRINCE AERION TARGARYEN [290 AC] Rhaegar and Cersei's son. Older twin brother of Daeron. Has the golden Lannister hair but the purple Targaryen eyes. Has the taint of madness and is mean and cruel to his siblings except for Daeron. He idolizes Viserys. Ends up being killed by his dragon, Widow's Wail, who he abused.
PRINCE DAERON TARGARYEN [290 AC] Rhaegar and Cersei's son. Younger twin brother of Aerion. Has the golden Lannister hair but the purple Targaryen eyes. A sweet and sane boy free of the taint. Rider of the dragon, Tyraxes.
PRINCESS VISENYA TARGARYEN [290 AC] The child of Elia and Jaime, though Rhaegar hadn't known. She has the Dornish look but Elia believes she has Jaime's cheekbones and jawline. She is very close to Rhaegar and is his favorite child. She is a warg and adopts Aerion's abused dragon after it goes on a rampage in King's Landing and Dorne. She renames it Rhaegal.
PRINCE VISERYS TARGARYEN [276 AC] The second son of Rhaella and Aerys. Has the taint. Is abusive towards his sister and others. He was betrothed to Arianne but insulted her frequently, leading to her breaking their betrothal by marrying another. He is jealous of his nephews, though he does idolize Rhaegar. He wishes to be his heir. He dies while trying to steal all of the dragons for himself, though he is successful in hatching the dragon eggs.
PRINCESS DAENERYS TARGARYEN [284 AC] The only living daughter of Rhaella and Aerys. Her mother dies giving birth to her. She is a shy and quiet girl. Elia arranges her betrothal to Quentyn Martell to save her from Viserys. She is the one to hatch hers and Jon's dragons. She rides the dragon, Quicksilver.
HOUSE STARK
STARKS OF KING'S LANDING:
LORD EDDARD STARK [263 AC] Second son of Lyarra and Rickard Stark, elder brother of Lyanna and Benjen. He is the first husband of Catelyn, with whom he had Robb, though the marriage was annulled by Rhaegar. He is a political hostage in King's Landing to ensure Benjen and the North behave. He has been carrying on an affair with Ashara Dayne since they met at the Tourney of Harrenhall. They have four daughters together but Rhaegar will not grant them permission to marry under the Seven. Ned claims they have married under the Old Gods. His direwolf is Frostfang.
LORD ROBB STARK [283 AC] The only child of Ned and Catelyn when they were briefly married and the heir to Winterfell. He has been kept as a political hostage in King's Landing since infancy to ensure the behavior of the Riverlands as well as the North. He is close to his cousin, paternal half-siblings in King's Landing and to Lady Ashara, though he exchanges letters with his mother and maternal half-siblings frequently. He has been having a secret affair with Princess Rhaenys since he was 15 years old. The two elope and marry at Riverrun before going on to Winterfell where they have a son, Edrick. His direwolf is Grey Wind.
LADY ASHARA DAYNE [262 AC] The sister of Ser Arthur Dayne, knight of the kingsguard. The longtime lover of Ned Stark and the mother of his daughters. She has raised Robb as her own. She is one of Elia's ladies and her closest friend.
ALLYRIA SAND [283 AC] The eldest child of Ned and Ashara. Born at Starfall, but when Elia called Ashara back to King's Landing, she brought her daughter in tow. She is a close friend to Rhaenys. Her direwolf is Twilight.
ARYA WATERS [287 AC] The second daughter of Ned and Ashara. She is wild and willful and close to her brother Robb and cousin, Jon. Her direwolf is Nymeria.
ALYSANE WATERS [289 AC] The eldest of Ned and Ashara's twins. She is a companion of Visenya's. Her direwolf is Dawn.
ALANNA WATERS [289 AC] The younger of Ned and Ashara's twins. She is a companion of Visenya's. Elia describes the twins as mischievous and likely to get into all kinds of trouble. Her direwolf is Dusk.
STARKS OF WINTERFELL
LORD BENJEN STARK [268 AC] The youngest child of Lyarra and Rickard. He was appointed Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North by Rhaegar following the war. After Ned was kept as a hostage, Benjen was made to marry Catelyn after Hoster Tully requested her marriage to Ned be annulled. He writes Rhaegar every year asking that Ned and Robb be allowed to leave King's Landing and visit Winterfell, but every year his request is denied. His direwolf is Oak.
LADY CATELYN TULLY [264 AC] The eldest child of Hoster and Minisa Tully. Formerly betrothed to Brandon Stark, formerly married to Eddard Stark with whom she had Robb and presently married to Benjen Stark at the insistence of her father. They have five children together and are happily married, despite the circumstances in which their marriage arose.
LADY SANSA STARK [286 AC] The eldest child of Benjen and Catelyn. She has the Tully look. Her direwolf is Lady.
LORD EDWYN STARK [288 AC] The eldest son of Benjen and Catelyn. He has the Tully look. His direwolf is Shadow.
LADY MINISA STARK [290 AC] The youngest daughter of Benjen and Catelyn. She has the Stark look. Her direwolf is Knight.
LORD BRANDON STARK [291 AC] The fourth child of Benjen and Catelyn. He has mixed features of the Tullys and Starks. He is a warg. His direwolf is Summer.
LORD RICKON STARK [294 AC] The last child of Benjen and Catelyn. He has mixed features of the Tullys and Starks. His direwolf is Shaggydog.
HOUSE MARTELL
PRINCE DORAN MARTELL [248 AC] Ruler of Dorne. Eldest son of Princess Loreza. Unable to walk due to his gout.
PRINCE OBERYN MARTELL [258 AC] Youngest child of Princess Loreza. Known as the Red Viper. Enjoys annoying Rhaegar in various ways. Very close to Elia.
MELLARIO OF NORVOS [250 AC] The estranged wife of Doran. Mother of Arianne, Quentyn and Trystane.
ELLARIA SAND OF HELLHOLT [263 AC] Beloved paramour of Prince Oberyn Martell and mother to his four youngest daughters.
PRINCESS ARIANNE MARTELL [278 AC] Eldest child of Prince Doran and heir to Dorne. Previously betrothed to Viserys but she plots with her cousin, Tyene, to break her betrothal once she meets him so she can marry her uncle's friend, Willas Tyrell. She befriends Daenerys in order to push her towards Quentyn so another Targaryen-Martell marriage goes forth.
PRINCE QUENTYN MARTELL [281 AC] Eldest son of Prince Doran and Mellario. Husband of Daenerys Targaryen. He becomes fast friends with Aegon, teaching him Volantanese. He also becomes close to Jon and Dany through shared personality traits. His aunt and sister arrange his marriage to Dany. Both are happy with the betrothal.
PRINCE TRYSTANE MARTELL [287 AC] Youngest child of Prince Doran and Mellario. Aegon becomes fast friends with him when he visits King's Landing. Trystane teaches him how to play cyvasse.
OBARA SAND [271 AC] Eldest bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn through his affair with a whore from Oldtown.
NYMERIA SAND [274 AC] Second bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn through his affair with a Volantene noblewoman.
TYENE SAND [279 AC] Third bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn through his affair with a septa. She tries to seduce Jon when she visits King's Landing but fails. She aids Arianne to run away from King's Landing to Highgarden so she can court and marry Willas Tyrell.
SARELLA SAND [280 AC] Fourth bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn through his affair with a sea trader from the Summer Isles. She grows close to Samwell during her visit to King's Landing.
ELIA SAND [285 AC] Eldest bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn and Ellaria Sand. She befriends Arya Waters.
OBELLA SAND [287 AC] Second bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn and Ellaria Sand. She befriends Arya Waters.
DOREA SAND [291 AC] Third bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn and Ellaria Sand. She grows close to Visenya during the visit to King's Landing.
LOREZA SAND [293 AC] Fourth bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn and Ellaria Sand. She grows close to Visenya during the visit to King's Landing.
SER LEWYN MARTELL [230 AC] Younger brother of Princess Loreza Martell and uncle of Doran, Oberyn and Elia Martell. A member of Aerys' kingsguard. He was killed during the Battle of the Trident.
HOUSE TYRELL
LADY OLENNA REDWYNE [228 AC] Mother of Mace Tyrell. Plotting to have Margaery be queen.
LORD MACE TYRELL [256 AC] Son of Olenna, and father of Willas, Garlan, Loras and Margaery.
LADY ALERIE HIGHTOWER [257 AC] Wife of Mace Tyrell and mother of Willas, Garlan, Loras and Margaery. Plotting to make Margaery queen. Passes information about the royal family to Olenna to further Tyrell interests.
LORD WILLAS TYRELL [273 AC] Eldest son of Mace and Alerie and heir to Highgarden. Formerly a knight but crippled in a tourney by Oberyn Martell, though the two are friends and exchange letters frequently. Arianne goes to Highgarden and courts him. The two end up getting married, making him Prince Consort of Dorne.
LORD GARLAN TYRELL [277 AC] Second son of Mace and Alerie and husband of Leonette.
SER LORAS TYRELL [282 AC] Third son of Mace and Alerie. Aspires to be a member of the kingsguard. Is having a secret affair with Prince Aegon Targaryen.
LADY MARGAERY TYRELL [283 AC] Youngest child of Mace and Alerie. Childhood friends with Daenerys. Marries Aegon per her mother and grandmother's maneuvering and becomes queen. She and Aegon have a daughter together, Rhaenyra. She knows about Aegon and Loras and lets them do what they do as long as she has her position.
LADY LEONETTE FOSSOWAY [277 AC] The wife of Garlan Tyrell.
HOUSE TARLY
LORD RANDYLL TARLY [252 AC] Lord of Horn Hill. Husband of Melessa Florent and father of Samwell, Dickon and Talla. He is Master of Laws on Rhaegar's small council.
LADY MELESSA FLORENT [257 AC] Lady of Horn Hill. Wife of Randyll Tarly and mother of Samwell, Dickon and Talla. She is one of Elia's ladies and loyal to her above anyone else.
LORD SAMWELL TARLY [282 AC] Eldest son of Randyll and Melessa and heir to Horn Hill. Favored son of Melessa due to his father's ill treatment of him. Best friend of Jon.
LORD DICKON TARLY [283 AC] Second son of Randyll and Melessa. Favored son of Randyll.
LADY TALLA TARLY [285 AC] Only daughter of Randyll and Melessa. Had childish affections for Aegon, Loras and Jon but grew to care deeply for Jon, returning his feelings for her. Not especially smart but sweet and shy.
LADY EMME AND ALICENT TARLY [287 AC] Youngest twin daughters of Randyll and Melessa. Not especially important to the story.
Elia's Ladies
- Ashara Dayne of Starfall (best friend to Elia)
- Melessa Florent of Brightwater Keep (loyal to Elia)
- Lysa Tully of Riverrun (spy for Petyr Baelish)
- Alerie Hightower of the Hightower (Tyrell spy)
- Darlyssa Marbrand of Ashemark (second cousin of the Lannisters and a spy for Cersei)
- Togaria Bar Emmon of Sharp Point (from a poor house in the Crownlands; will not betray Elia as long as she has a steady income)
- Petra Mallister of Seagard (youngest of the ladies; irrational and untrustworthy with secrets but means no ill will to Elia)
Rhaegar's Kingsguard
- Ser Arthur Dayne of Starfall
- Ser Barristan Selmy of Harvest Hill
- Ser Jaime Lannister of Casterly Rock
- Ser Addam Marbrand of Ashemark
- Ser Aurane Velaryon of Driftmark
- Ser Caspian Celtigar of Claw Isle
- Ser Adrian Redfort of Redfort
