Here's a little check in over what's going on across the Narrow Sea.

~!~

Chapter Nine – 299 AC, Riverrun

As the Targaryen's journeyed across the Narrow Sea, something was happening in Westeros that would change everything.

Arianne Martell stood beside her betrothed in the Great Hall of Riverrun as Robb Stark held court, his wife Talisa by his side. She had been in the Tully Keep for two years by now, having arrived shortly before Robb Stark had raised his banners to march to war. They were not yet wed, because Arianne had wanted to wait until Visenya Targaryen was present. After her arrival to Riverrun, she, Hoster and Edmure had sat down and the Lord Paramount of the Trident had told his heir the truth of the rebellion. While they may have sided with the North due to Catelyn's marriage to Eddard Stark, they were loyal to the Targaryen's and had done so on her orders.

Then the truth had come out that a few of the Great Houses, Tully, Arryn, Tyrell and Martell, had spoken of making Aerys and Rhaegar abdicate the throne and place Visenya as the Queen before the Great Tourney that changed everything. She had many allies and houses had sworn to her, over her brother when the rebellion had started. The only reason Arryn had turned his back, was because Aerys had demanded Ned and Robert's heads. They went to war but Hoster had only committed his men to the cause once Visenya told him too. No matter which side one, his house would be pardoned. The plan was always to sit Visenya on the throne after but Robert had ruined that.

Hoster told everyone how Robert had ordered his own men to take out both Targaryen's that day on the Trident. Everyone though he had succeeded when Visenya was nowhere to be found after the battle. Then news had come about the sacking of Kings Landing and Robert was named King. The Tully's were protected through marriage but the Tyrell's and Martell's were both punished because they fought for Aerys side in the war. No matter that Elia Martell and her children were prisoners in Kings Landing and Mace Tyrell's two sisters were enjoying the same accommodations, due to being Daella's Ladies-in-waiting. The two houses had no choice and with Visenya being watched, there was no chance for her to abandon her brother and join the other side.

Apparently, before the Tourney of Harrenhal, Visenya had been putting things into place in order to take the throne from Aerys without telling a soul. He was doing to much damage to the realm and she wanted to stop it before a rebellion happened and the Targaryen family was hunted down. When she had learned that Rhaegar was trying to gather a Great Council in order to force their father to abdicate the throne, Visenya had started moving her own pawns as well. Due to him being lost to prophecy, Visenya had thought Rhaegar would be a horrible King and hoped to force him to abdicate and leave the throne to his daughter or son.

Thus, during the Tourney of Harrenhal when Rhaegar was busy distracting their father, Visenya had gotten together with the heirs of all the Great Houses, except for House Targaryen and spoke about putting together a Great Council, to force her father and brother to abdicate the throne, leaving Elia's Martell's daughter Rhaenys as the heir once she came of age, given they hadn't known she was pregnant with a son at the time. Brandon Stark, Jaime Lannister, Hoster Tully, Oberyn Martell, Doran Martell, Denys Arryn and Mace Tyrell were all in attendance and everyone had agreed, but not for Elia's child to become heir afterward, no, they wanted her to take the throne.

Visenya had proven herself as a good person and she would be a good ruler, Hoster had said.

She had denied the request. Visenya had made it clear she didn't want to be Queen, not to mention that would insult Elia and House Martell, which was a bad idea. Oberyn had said Elia wouldn't care after everything but Visenya didn't want another Dance of Dragons if Rhaenys felt insulted about losing her place on the throne. Nothing had been solved as far as Visenya had been concerned but everyone else had different opinions.

Everything had changed after Rhaegar had run off with Lyanna Stark. According to Hoster, Visenya had spent most of her time after the news had spread ripping apart the realm looking for Lyanna, hoping to stop the war instead of going with her original plan. But Rhaegar had hid her well. According to a letter Hoster had held onto in order to give to Edmure when he was old enough to understand, she was being watched and wasn't able to get away to call her banners, not to mention, she refused to leave Elia alone in the capital with only Jaime Lannister for protection after Rhaegar had ordered Ser Gerald, Ser Oswell and Ser Arthur to go to Dorne. This had also led to her end, there was no way for her to fight until Aerys had ordered it and even then, there was no way for her to change sides, as Robert had made it known he wanted all Targaryen's dead.

After Hoster had explained everything, Edmure had understood why Arianne had been offered to him, given even he, had heard the rumors surrounding Visenya and Oberyn Martell, which she had happily confirmed for the two Tully's. Oberyn had given Arianne permission to disclose that information to her betrothed and his father, in order for the Tully's to understand they were both on the same side. Not to mention, it tied the Tully's closer to the crown, given Arianne was like a niece to Visenya.

Now they were in the Great Hall of Riverrun as Robb listened to his lords give reports on how the war was going. Lord Karstark had just finished giving his report on how their Lannister prisoners were doing when Robb asked the question that was going to change everything. It was a question that Arianne had been waiting to be brought up for moons now.

"What news from across the Narrow Sea?" he asked seriously.

Every shifted uncomfortably, because the news coming from Essos had been anything but good. The North had risen in rebellion to avenge Lord Rickard Stark and his heir Brandon and to end Aerys Targaryen's reign but it was never supposed to be Robert Baratheon on the throne. Brandon Stark had made it clear during the last gathering before news had come of his sister's abductions, that he would only bend his knee if it was Daella Targaryen who took the Iron Throne. Rickard had agreed but when she had been attacked on the battlefield by Baratheon soldiers and they never found her body, they had accepted that she was dead.

Therefore, they had bent the knee to Robert.

But if the news they were hearing was true… it would change everything.

Lord Umber, who had stiffened the moment the question was asked, stepped forward gaining everyone attention, "Last I heard, ships from Dorne, the Reach, Kings Landing and the Iron Islands were seen crossing the Narrow Sea. Visenya Targaryen has taken Slaver's Bay as her own, they call her the Queen of Dragon's Bay. Her army stands at thirty-thousand strong, with the Dothraki and Unsullied, more now that Houses from Westeros have joined her," he said, repeating the news a letter had delivered to him only a few hours before from the Spider.

"Does anyone even know who Visenya Targaryen is?" Lord Bolton asked from his spot at the front of his room, his son Domeric at his side.

Arianne shared a look with Edmure before he nodded, giving her leave to speak, "I do," she said stepping forward.

A path was cleared, allowing her to move to stand in the middle of the room. "Princess Arianne," Robb greeted her politely. She bowed her head, "Your grace," she said before straightening. "Visenya Targaryen is Rhaegar Targaryen younger half-sister. The reason many don't know who she is because once upon a time she went by a different name," she said making a few of the smarter lords in the room straighten in shock as realization fell over them and some shift uncomfortably as they had already knew this.

"Who was she?" Lord Umber asked, though he was sure he already knew and he was reeling inside because he had thought her dead for a long time.

"She was once known as Daella Targaryen, the Princess of Summerhall," she said bluntly.

Robb's eyes widened, "I thought she died during the Battle of the Trident," he said remembering what his father had told him. The Stark children were very aware that their father, uncle and grandfather, had supported Daella Targaryen to become Queen before she vanished and was thought dead and Robb remembered how his father said they were friends before the rebellion had broken out.

However, he was shocked that she still lived because there had never been any mention of her.

Arianne shook her head, "I don't know how many of you are aware of this or not but Lyanna Stark was being held in Dorne, in a broken-down tower that Rhaegar Targaryen named the Tower of Joy. Visenya found out where she was just before the Battle of the Trident because Rhaegar told her that if he died, Lyanna was there with three members of the Kingsguard and she was with child," many inhaled with shocked breaths and mouths dropped at the news, "My Uncle Lewyn Martell gave his life helping her get away. She heard about the sacking of Kings Landing and felt it was best if everyone thought her dead," here there were nods of agreement from the Targaryen supporters. "She went to the Tower of Joy, where Lyanna Stark had birthed a son and was dying of birthing fever," here shouts erupted from the lords of the North and Arianne fell quiet, not wanting to speak over the shouting.

People argued that Ned Stark himself had said Lyanna had given birth to a stillborn daughter and died. Other argued that it made sense, given that according to rumor, there was an heir of Rhaegar's loins. Some argued that it didn't count because the child was a bastard but other said if Daella could have become Queen, even though she was a legitimized bastard, then so could her nephew. Robb Stark looked speechless because if that was true, than his cousin was the True King of Westeros. A cousin he had never met before or even knew about.

"Enough," the Greatjon roared after the yelling reached new levels.

Everyone fell silent and eyes turned towards the Lord, "Lord Reed was trying to speak," he said gesturing to the crannogmen who had arrived only hours ago.

The man was tall and thin with messy dark hair and brown eyes, dressed in green. He had a quiet voice but a presence that made people pay attention to him when he announced himself. All eyes were on him now as he moved to stand beside Arianne, "Thank you Lord Umber," he said with a slightly bow to the man. Greatjon nodded and then shifted his weight, making his son Smalljon give him a strange look. His father was rarely every uncomfortable and he wondered why this conversation was making him nervous.

"It's good to see you again Lord Reed," Robb greeted the Lord of Greywater Watch and one of his father's closest friends.

Howland nodded to the Stark King, "I was there at the Tower of Joy when Ned discovered his sisters' body. The Lady Lyanna was still alive. She told him the truth on her death bed. She was never kidnapped, she willingly left with Rhaegar," here he paused as some of the lords expressed their outrage. They had gone to war for a lie and many were feeling guilty over choice that had been made so many years before.

Once silence fell, he continued "However, none thought to employ a Maester and she caught the birthing fever after hours of labour. According to the midwife we found in the Tower, Lyanna gave birth to a son only moments after Daella, now known as Visenya, arrived at the tower. Visenya was quick to take him and they left, to where, no one knew for sure. When we looked over the tower after she died, we found documents. Rhaegar had annulled his marriage to Princess Elia and wed Lyanna on the Isle of Faces on their way South. Jacaerys Targaryen is the true born child of Rhaegar and Lyanna and heir to the Iron Throne. According to the maid, who was found with the body of the late Queen Rhaella on Dragonstone, Daella was given the name her mother chose for her that night and Jacaerys was named heir, with Visenya as his regent until he comes of age," he explained, making a shocked silence linger in the air.

It changed a lot of things, this news. The Stark and Targaryen bloodline had never been mixed, though a Princess had been promised to the Stark's years before. For that child to be heir to the Iron Throne and part of the North, especially the Stark's, changed a lot of things.

"Why didn't my father ever say anything?" Robb demanded; white knuckled on the arm of his chair.

Lord Reed shook his head, "Lyanna begged for Lord Stark to protect him. Everyone is aware that Visenya and Jacaerys vanished soon after arriving in Essos and no one knew anything about them until recently. When Princess Daenerys husband was killed, Visenya and Jacaerys started their plan to return to Westeros. It wasn't known until recently just who Prince Jacaerys mother was as that knowledge was hidden in order to protect the Stark family. If Robert had ever learned the truth, he would have seen your father as a traitor and executed him, Lady Stark and you," the man said with a pointed look at the King in the North.

"What does that mean for us? We choose Robb as our King, however, Jacaerys is also part Stark and Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne. Their cousins, will you fight against your own blood?" Lady Mormont asked from her spot beside Lord Umber.

Robb's eyes swung to face her and he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, "Peace. I don't know what I'll do if we come to a confrontation with them. but I have to say this, with everything my father ever told me about the Rebellion, the Targaryen's are probably going to be too busy going after the Lannister's and anyone whose an enemy of them can be a friend to us. I will need to speak with them first before we make any choice," Robb assured the lords or the North and the Riverlands.

He then looked to Arianne, "The Martell's and Targaryen's were close. Do you know who Visenya's mother is?" he asked, the question having been floating around his mind since the start of the conversation.

Arianne knew she would get no better opportunity then right now, making her eyes quickly glance over to Lord Umber before going back to Robb, "No one actually knows for sure. According to our sources, the late Queen Rhaella confessed on her death bed but everyone present was sworn to secrecy. The only one who would know for sure is Visenya herself, one of the Queensguard or Lord Varys," she confessed softly.

It was the best kept secret in Westeros at the moment.

Greatjon Umber shifted uncomfortably and took a deep breath because he was finally going to tell everyone the truth about what had happened to her. He cleared his throat making all eyes go towards him, "I know who her mother is your grace," he said, making murmurs break out across the hall. Many of his fellow lords' eyes were narrowed on him suspiciously and he wondered just what this information would bring to the war. It wasn't well known that Princess Daella's mother was from the North. All together, Greatjon thought that number was maybe ten people in all Westeros.

He began his story, "Everyone is aware that the Umber's attended the Anniversary Tourney in 262 with the Stark's. – here he hesitated and had to choke back a breath as a dawning understanding started covering the older lords, who had been there, faces. – My younger sister Arrana had made friends with the late Queen Rhaella and accompanied her to the Tourney. The moment Aerys saw her, it was all over. We were escorted from the city that night and Arrana was locked up in the Red Keep, the new mistress to the King. The Lord Stark at the time, Rickard's father Edwin, wanted to rebel in order to get her back but then word came that Arrana was pregnant and we decided to wait, not wanting to risk the mother or child," he explained miserably. "Moons later, Ser Gerald Hightower arrived at Last Hearth with Arrana's body. She had died birthing her daughter, who Aerys had legitimised right away. We were sworn to secrecy, under the threat if we ever told anyone who her mother was, the babe would be killed instantly. My father swore it and we told everyone that Arrana was taken by wildlings beyond The Wall."

Silence reigned as his words registered.

Robb's eyes had darkened noticeably, "You're telling me that Queen Visenya is the daughter of the Mad King and your sister Arrana Umber?" he asked incredulously.

Greatjon nodded miserably, "According to Ser Gerald when he brought her back to us, Aerys had planned to wed her if she gave him a healthy child, however, she caught the birthing fever. Everyone is well aware that Aerys was furious with Queen Rhaella when she failed to birth him the daughter, he wanted from Rhaegar and with Visenya only being a few years younger, it would have been a perfect match. Except for one thing. She bore the blood of the First Men and Aerys didn't want a King with that bloodline to sit on the Iron Throne. It's besides the point now, because Rhaegar chose Lyanna and they had a son, who is the true heir to the Iron Throne," he said bluntly.

Lady Catelyn nodded from her spot at the high table, "What many of you are unaware of is, I was a Lady-in-waiting for Princess Daella. She never even knew her birth mothers name or house. All anyone was told was her mother was a Lady from a minor northern house and that was the end of it. It helped that Queen Rhaella treated her like a daughter. She was the one who chose Elia Martell to wed her eldest son and it took her moons to convince Aerys. Aerys made it clear, he didn't want to mix the blood of the First Men with the blood of Valyria, though he never said why. It wasn't until Elia fell ill after the birth of her son Aegon that Aerys changed his mind, planning to wed Rhaegar and Visenya. Everyone knows how that turned out," she said with a pointed look to most of the Riverland lords.

Everyone was well aware of what she was talking about. Visenya had been in Riverrun for a visit when she and her party were set upon by bandits and she was thrown from her horse, rendering her barren. Aerys had been furious that his only daughter could not bare children and had punished the captured bandit by burning them with Wilf Fire. Hoster Tully had received a dressing down by the King because he let bandits roam free and banished him from court. A little over a year later, the rebellion had risen when Lyanna Stark had gone missing and Rickard and Brandon Stark had been killed.

"What does that mean for us?" Domeric Bolton asked from his spot beside his father.

Eyes swung back to Robb, who was obviously contemplating something in his head, before releasing a heavy breath, "For right now, we continue with our plans. Until Visenya and Jacaerys step foot on Westeros soil, there's no threat and nothing to really talk about. When she arrives, we will set up a meet to speak with her," he said sharing a look with his mother, his eyes clearly demanding answers that he would demand later on that night.

Catelyn nodded softly before turning away. Everyone agreed with Robb's words, it made a lot of sense to wait until Visenya was actually back in Westeros but a lot of the lords were thinking the same thing. They had chosen Visenya to be the Queen of Westeros all the years ago, and even though Jacaerys was the true heir born of a northern mother, many still thought she would be the better choice. Greatjon was being stared at quite a bit over the information. The Targaryen Queen Regent, who many had loved when she was just a Princess, was actually his niece!

It was going to be a long couple of moons before Visenya arrived and many were happily waiting for her. Afterall, they didn't call her the Warrior Queen Visenya reborn for no reason. With her help, the war would be over before Autumn's end. Many admitted it would be better to have a Targaryen on the throne than a Lannister, so siding with the Dragon's would be the right choice this time.

~!~

A few hours later, Robb and Catelyn were along sitting in Hoster Tully's solar, staring at each other.

"Why didn't you ever say anything?" Robb asked, breaking the heavy silence around them.

Catelyn looked at her son with sadness, "The rebellion tore Westeros apart Robb. It ripped my friend's family apart and sent her into exile from the only home she had ever known," she paused looking down at her hands, "after the Lady Ashara and Princess Elia, I was the closest to Visenya. She spent a lot of time here in Riverrun over the years. talking about her, even now, makes my chest ache. I miss her very much Robb, she was to me what Theon is to you," she explained.

His breath caught in his chest at that comparison, "Father said that Daella was so different from the rest of the Targaryen's," he said softly.

His mother nodded, "She was. I think it was her mothers' blood that made her different. Visenya was every inch the Valyrian beauty of her ancestors except for one thing. She had the black hair of her northern mother instead of the white blonde of her father's family. I'm pretty sure that her looks were all she really inherited from Aerys, other than her deadly skill with a blade," she said with a slight chuckle at the end.

Robb's eyes turned to the fireplace, "Is that why you allowed Lyra and Arya to learn to wield a blade? Because you knew Visenya?" he asked, stumbling over the names of his twin and baby sister. His heart ached as he thought of Lyra. They were twins, but he was older, and he missed her more than he ever thought he would. She had been a hostage in Kings Landing for almost two years and he couldn't help but wonder how she was and is she was okay. He was no less concerned for Sansa and Arya but Lyra… they were twins and that bond was different from all other bonds.

A soft smile slid across Catelyn face as she thought of her oldest and youngest daughter, "Partly," she admitted. "The other half was I wanted them to be able to defend themselves just in case. I never cared for weapons if I'm honest but Visenya forced all her ladies to learn to wield a dagger just to be on the safe side."

Robb's face went slack with shock, "You know how to wield a dagger!?" he asked completely shocked. His mother, the prefect Lady, knew how to use a weapon? His mind was completely blown.

A flush covered Catelyn's cheeks, "Yes," she said softly, "though I was never as good as the others."

This made Robb sit up straight, "The others?" he questioned.

Catelyn nodded, "Visenya was supposed to have a Lady-in-waiting from each of the Great Houses in order to build alliances between our families. House Arryn and House Baratheon couldn't participate because neither had a daughter to send to Kings Landing. But Elia Martell and Ashara Dayne came from Dorne. She had me and my sister Lysa from the Riverlands. Mina and Janna of House Tyrell came from Highgarden and last was Maege Mormont from the North. It was supposed to be Lyanna but your grandfather thought her too wild to go to Kings Landing," she explained.

Robb's face fell, "That's a heavy alliance with three of the Great Houses," he said pointedly.

Catelyn sighed, "I know," she agreed. "House Tyrell will support House Targaryen in the coming war, especially with Lady Ryanne Tyrell engaged to Prince Trystan Martell. House Martell will support them because of the friendship between Prince Oberyn and Visenya, not to mention they want justice for what happened to Elia Martell and her two children. House Baratheon will support Stannis until either he dies or someone beats him in battle. Then it's only a matter of who the strongest contender for the throne is, that will gain their army. The Crownlands will automatically support House Targaryen after Visenya arrives in Westeros. The Lannister's will do anything to keep the throne. This leave House Tully and House Stark. Technically speaking, House Tully is still aligned behind House Targaryen, but is bound by alliance to House Stark, which is now a royal House once again. This leaves a slight problem in the coming conflict," she said, pointing out the alliances Robb had never been able to memorize.

He signed running a hand through his red hair, "What do you think I should do?" he asked, referring to the murmurs they had both heard in the Great Hall earlier. Some of the lords was to express their support to the Targaryen Queen while others, especially in the North, didn't want to give up their independence.

She smiled slightly, "I can't tell you that Robb. You need to so what you think is right. But I will tell you something, Visenya wasn't considered the reincarnation of Visenya sister-wife of King Aegon the First without cause. If you want to win this war Robb and get your sisters back, you need allies. She might be the right place to start," she said before rising to her feet as Robb acknowledged what she said. She kissed his cheek and left the room, heading up the stairs towards her father's chamber, where she would tell him that all his plans were finally coming to pass.

Visenya Targaryen was on her way home, with a large army and sixteen dragons.

Westeros would never be the same after she arrived.