The Purple Deception: Part Two of the Chronicles of Ice and Fire

by Alperez16

The Purple Wedding is gatecrashed by Dragon and House Lannister finds it's not the only who pays its debts.

4. The Princesss and the Bastard

A/N: For those who dislike such things there is Lemon in Tyene's pov, it's clearly marked where it starts and ends so it's easy to skip should you wish to do so.

Sunspear 299 AC.

Ser Barristan Selmy.

Being in charge of your own ship allowed for not only some creature comforts but the ability to decide when and where you sailed too. Something that had proved most fortunate on this particular voyage. From Qarth to Sunspear should have been done in half the time it took them, it would have were it not for the king's wish to spend time with the dragon along the way. So some nights had been spent at anchor close to land so that the white wolf could run free and the green dragon could bond even more with the man who would soon be its rider had both lengthened and made the voyage that much more interesting at the same time to Barristan's mind.

That it had allowed for truer spars between him and Aemon Targaryen was only another added bonus as far as Barristan was concerned. As were the talks they shared when they were alone together. He'd done similar with Rhaegar, though in truth it was always Arthur's company and advice that the prince had sought out more so than his own. So in a way, he had found that he enjoyed being with the son a little more than he had with the father. No, that wasn't the complete truth, for there was more than one way that he'd enjoyed being with the son more than the father. The adventure they were on was yet another one of them.

They had spoken much on the Martells and how they may greet Aemon. Neither he nor the king was unaware of how his birth and very existence may cause issues that may not be resolvable. Yet his king had felt the offer they brought with them to be one that was too good for them to turn down.

"They may hate me for my birth, Barristan, but they hate the Lannisters even more than me, and given all you say of Prince Doran, ambition may outweigh the slight he feels my father gave him, his sister, and his House."

"And if not, your grace?"

"Then we look elsewhere, Ser. There are other Houses who wish a queen too, are there not?"

"That there are, your grace."

Now seeing Sunspear finally come into view, Barristan was glad he'd had a good night's sleep and looking at the white wolf that stood by the king's side, glad too that he had another brother in white to guard his king's back. The ship would wait for them at the dock while they stayed in Sunspear. Meraxes as it had been named by the princess and while he'd not wished to tempt fate and sail on that one, both she and Aemon had overruled him on it. As he moved down the gangplank first and led the way, he offered a silent prayer to the Seven who are One that this dragon would have a better fate than the last one that had arrived in Dorne upon Meraxes' back.

The Shadow City was as he had remembered it from his one and only visit Sunspear before. Then he'd been acting as Rhaegar's guard along with Ser Arthur and as he led the way to the Old Palace, he was just as vigilant as he had been so many years before. Aemon wore Targaryen colors, though they were covered for now by a large black cloak. He'd refused to act what he was not and had said that he'd spent far too many years doing so, something which Barristan both admired him for and yet wished he'd not at the same time. Barristan wore his armor but not his white cloak. The subterfuge needed for now he felt. Though in truth it was neither he nor the king that drew the eyes of those they passed, instead it was Ghost who did so.

All the way to the Old Palace, through each of the somewhat narrow streets, people stopped what they were doing to stare at the large white wolf. Children stopped their games, merchants halted the selling of their wares, and men and women looked on with awe as Ghost strode majestically through their city. At some point, someone must have informed the Towns guard, for long before they reached the Old Palace they were stopped and questioned. Barristan was left with no other choice but to name himself as who he truly was, just so they were allowed to continue on their way. By the time they reached the large gates, they'd found out that neither prince was in the city and instead, it would be Princess Arianne that they'd be greeted by. Something that amused him greatly when he saw just how nervous his king was at the thought.

"The wolf will need to stay here and your arms will need to be handed up." a large captain of the guard said to them both when they reached the gate.

"We'll accept guest rights, however, we can neither give up our weapons nor be parted from our companion. Should your princess not wish to speak to me, then so be it, but those are our terms," Barristan said firmly.

"We'll not allow you inside while armed, Ser. Surely you understand this?" the guard said, his annoyance clear.

"Tell your princess that we come with the offer of justice for Princess Elia, Princess Rhaenys, and Prince Aegon. That the Bold himself is here to speak to her and that the offer we make is a one-time only one," Aemon said and Barristan smirked at how resolved he sounded while doing so. "See then if she wishes us to be unarmed or to leave without speaking to her."

The captain himself raced off to carry the message and Barristan moved to Ghost and Aemon. His king stroked the white wolf's fur as he looked to the sky above and Barristan wondered if the green dragon was flying over them presently. Given the look on Aemon's face, he'd wager that Rhaegal was and he took great comfort in that. He may not understand the bond between man and dragon, but he'd seen some of it being formed on the journey here. It was not a thing to be taken lightly.

"You think they'll agree to my terms, Ser?" Aemon asked.

"I think the mention of justice for the princess and your brother and sister will be enough to see it so, your grace," he whispered back.

"I mean to give it to them, but I seek it not for them," Aemon said and Barristan nodded.

In what seemed like no time at all, the captain of the guard arrived back accompanied by a young and very pretty golden-haired woman with deep blue eyes.

"Our princess will see you once you've partaken of salt and bread." the young woman said, her voice almost soft and gentle, and yet her blue eyes seemed anything but.

He, Aemon, and to their hosts' surprise and the young woman's delight, Ghost, all took a piece of both and ate it. Once they'd done so, it was with a decent-sized guard and the young woman that they walked into the Old Palace beside. Aemon seemed to have lost his earlier nervousness which Barristan was happy to see. His eyes traveled over every new sight that was presented to them as they walked, his king taking it all in as if it was a delicious meal and he a man with great hunger. Aemon had told him that before leaving for Essos and meeting up with the princess that he'd traveled little, so Barristan could understand why it all seemed so fascinating to him. Before they were done just in Dorne alone, there would be many more fascinating sights for his king to take in. None more so than the tower where he'd been born.

Entering the Tower of the Sun, Barristan caught how Aemon looked to the golden dome and leaded glass of the roof above their heads before then turning his attention to those who awaited their arrival. For Barristan the hall was far too full and there were far too many eyes of men and women he could not trust watching them. Something he tried to put across to his king with his expression and yet needed not to, as Aemon seemed just as aware of it as he was.

With both Aemon's and his own eyes now turned forward, Barristan looked to the woman who sat upon one of the two seats on the raised dais. Princess Arianne Nymeros Martell, Doran's oldest child, and heir, was a striking young woman. Though she was far more curvaceous than her aunt had been and much more scandalous in her dress, Barristan saw enough of Elia in her to bring a smile to his face.

In front of her stood a number of men and women, some looking towards Barristan and Aemon while others almost turned away from them in some show of something or other. As they neared the dais, Barristan wondered if the princess would expect them to bow or kneel and whether or not Aemon would do so. Looking at his king, he could see that if that was indeed the expectation then Princess Arianne would face a long wait. For the days of Aemon kneeling to anyone were long since past.

"You stand in front of Princess Arianne Nymeros Martell. The Heir to Dorne and acting princess in her father's stead, state your business before this royal court." an old blind man called out in a booming voice.

"I have words to speak to the Prince of Dorne that I would share with the princess. Words of justice and vengeance for fallen kin and an offer made on behalf of a House whose name I'll not speak in public." Aemon stated loudly and firmly.

"And who are you?" A sandy-haired man with sky blue eyes and a warrior's build asked as he moved forward, his hand on his sword.

Though the man's words were said in intimidation, they did not have the effect he may have wished them to have. For no matter how good the man may have been with the sword on his hip, Barristan and Aemon knew he was no match for the white wolf. Ghost moved forward as quickly as the man did, the wolf making no sound only baring its teeth in its own act of intimidation. His proving far more successful than the warrior's was as the man stepped back fearfully.

"Call back your wolf, Ser Barristan. Ser Daemon meant nothing with his words."

"'Tis not my wolf, Princess," Barristan said turning to Aemon who without a word or moving his head in Ghost's direction, soon had the white wolf by his side and being stroked by its master's hand.

It was a sight that raised more than one curious eyebrow in the hall as both women and men now looked at Aemon with keener eyes. None more so than the blond-haired woman from before and the princess who sat atop the speared seat.

"I would ask to speak privately, princess. To share the offer I bring with you before it's brought before your father and your uncle. To show my goodwill and true intent, I bid you to read this." Aemon said as he reached into his shirt to take out a letter.

Around the hall swords and spears were almost drawn before Princess Arianne raised her hand and stopped them from doing so.

"Tyene if you will." the Princess said as the blond-haired girl nodded and moved to take the letter from Aemon, looking at it with a flicker of surprise when she saw the three-headed dragon seal on its cover.

Barristan tried to search his mind for where he'd heard the girl's name before and it took him a few moments to realize that one of Prince Oberyn's bastard daughters had been named as such. Watching now as Tyene moved and offered the letter to Princess Arianne, who too showed a moment's surprise when she saw the sigil. Barristan waited for the letter to be read and for them to be dismissed or invited to a further meeting. To no great surprise, it was to be the latter.

"Ricasso, Ser Daemon. See to our guests. Ser Barristan, you, your companion, and his wolf may join us for a more private meeting. We look forward to discussing much with you both." Princess Arianne said, her eyes more on Aemon than on himself, and those eyes were as close to predatory as Barristan had seen in many a year.

He and Aemon were then escorted from the hall, down some corridors, and into a large open room. Ghost took up a place beside one of the seats while Aemon paced the room as they waited for their private audience. Barristan took the chance to tell his king that the woman who greeted them was one of the Sand Snakes and to be careful in what he revealed.

"I'll reveal all I must, Ser. The letter does some of it, though names me not. And Rhaegal is close by, should he be needed."

"He is?"

"He refuses to not be, Ser," Aemon said with a half smile on his face.

They were kept waiting for almost an hour and it irked him that they dared to do so to his king. Though Aemon seemed put out not and they'd yet to be informed of who he truly was. Something that at least allowed Barristan to just accept being irked and not to name it for any more than that. Eventually, the door opened and Princess Arianne, Tyene, and two guards entered, both men bearing crossbows and spears which annoyed him greatly.

"You would take us for oath breakers? For men who'd not live up to the sacred right of guests?" Barristan said and Princess Arianne shook her head.

"No. And yet we are but women, Ser. Two men and a wolf the size of a horse, would you deny us our security?" Princess Arianne asked, almost mockingly.

"I would ask only whether or not you trust these men with your secrets, Princess. Whether or not you believe their loyalty to your House and family is beyond reproach." Aemon said as he placed a hand on Barristan's arm, calming him in the process.

"I trust them with my life and my secrets. I would bid you to do the same with the latter at least."

"Then we would deny you not their presence, princess."

"Yet you still deny me your name and this letter makes no mention of it, other than the House you represent. Something I find surprising given the company you keep for last we heard you named the Stag your king, Ser Barristan." The way the last words were spoken showed the depth of the contempt that the Martells and especially the princess held Robert Baratheon in.

"I did to my shame, princess," Barristan said looking not at Arianne but at Aemon. "Now I serve the dragons once more."

"This answers my cousin's question not. I would ask your name, stranger, for you test our patience with your refusal to utter it."

Aemon moved forward as did the two guards, again, a simple raised hand by Princess Arianne enough to stop them in their tracks.

"My name is Aemon Targaryen, trueborn son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and his second wife, Lady Lyanna Stark. I am the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, the rightful heir to the House of the Dragon, and the rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms. The kin that was so brutally murdered in the Red Keep by the monsters that Tywin Lannister sent after them, were mine too, Princess Arianne. So I offer justice and vengeance for their spilled blood to your House and mine own."

Beside his king, Barristan stood tall and proud and cared not for what answer they were to receive to their offer. Should Dorne reject them, then they'd seek out other allies and in the end, it would matter not. For they had Dragons and Dragons trumped Lions and Stags. Dragons had forged the realm and side by side with his king, Barristan would see them reforge it too.

Sunspear 299 AC.

Arianne Martell.

Arianne had awoken expecting little from the day. The night before Tyene had shared her bed with a man who had not interestest Arianne in the slightest. A man who'd no doubt spent long before Tyene's pleasure had even begun to rise. So it had been in Arianne's arms that her cousin and she herself had found their release. It had become something of an oft-repeating pattern. So much so that Arianne could barely remember the last man she had lain with or any who'd captured her interest in quite some time.

After breaking their fast, it was to deal with the day-to-day running of Dorne that Arianne had turned her attention to and by luncheon she was bored. Then the visitors had arrived and when she heard that Barristan the Bold was at her gates bearing an offer of justice and vengeance for her aunt and cousins, she'd finally shaken off her lethargy. Bidding Tyene to go and speak to the men and then readying the court to challenge and deny them, Arianne had found her breath stilled by the sight of the white wolf and the young man it walked beside. One was larger than any wolf had a right to be and looked more than capable of cutting through her guard. While the other seemed just as capable given how confidently he walked. Though it was his looks that intrigued her.

His hair was dark brown and long on his shoulders, his eyes a grey that was almost black. He was long of face and yet as pretty a man as she'd ever seen, and Arianne could not deny the stirring that she felt looking upon him. A stirring helped no doubt by how long it had been since she'd shared her bed with an interesting and capable man. Still, she'd wished them tested and so Daemon had done as she'd bid him. Only to find himself no match for the white wolf nor the man who it answered to.

Then Arianne had been handed the letter and she'd seen the seal. The three-headed dragon standing proud and unbroken and begging her to break it and read its contents. Something she did far more quickly than she had expected to do.

To House Martell,

The bearer of this letter comes before you with my full support. He stands and speaks in the interest of House Targaryen and his words are as if from mine own lips. I bid you listen to the offer he presents and should you accept it, then together we can finally have justice for our fallen kin. Should you reject it, then know that justice is still what we shall seek and unlike your own House, we'll put aside our wait for that justice no longer.

The time has come for the Lions and Stags to pay for all they've taken from us both. For both our Houses to claim the debt in the blood that we're owed. I hope it is a debt we seek to collect together.

Daenerys Targaryen,

Princess of the House of the Dragon.

The letter and the request had gained its bearer a private audience. For the words that would be spoken were ones that could not be heard by one and all, not yet. So after granting it to them, she and Tyene hurried back to her solar where Tyene too read the letter and offered her own opinion on its contents.

"I would doubt this were it not for Ser Barristan's presence." Tyene began and Arianne bid her continue. "He was dismissed and though not even father knew where he'd gone, I believed were we to ask him he'd say it was to the princess."

"Mayhap. Yet who is this man with him and how has he got a Direwolf."

"A Stark mayhap? He has the look."

"The Starks reaching out, yes, it could be so." Arianne contemplated. "We must test them, Tyene, force them to reveal the game that's being played."

"Well, men are known to talk best when abed." her cousin said wickedly.

"And he is comely." Arianne chuckled. "Let's see if he's a savage beast like other Northmen are meant to be. It would at least name him as being sent by the Starks would it not?"

"Both of us?" Tyene asked only for Arianne to shake her head. For comely or not he'd have to earn his way into her bed first.

Aemon Targaryen had almost managed to do so with that reveal alone. Even as angered as she was by him naming Lyanna Stark his mother. Yet in another way, he'd forced himself further from her bed as Arianne knew full well what plans her father once had for her in regard to Prince Viserys. Though again given who was the mother of the man in front of her, she doubted that her father, and certainly not her uncle, would seek to follow through with them when it came to Aemon.

"You have proof of what you claim I expect?"

"I do. Yet I carry little of it with me. Other than my sword and a letter from my aunt that names me her nephew." Aemon said.

"Your sword."

The sword that Aemon took out was one of legend and myth. It was exquisite, Valyrian steel, its blade thin while both the pommel and cross guard were done in the shape of flames. In the center of the cross guard lay a red ruby that almost seemed flawless. It reminded Arianne of the reddest wine or even blood and was the only true decorative piece, it certainly added to its beauty.

"That's Dark Sister," Tyene stated.

"Aye, it is," Aemon replied, his northern brogue something that Arianne was starting to enjoy hearing while at the same time doing her best not to imagine it speaking wicked whispers into her ear at night.

"This second letter from your aunt, may I see it," Arianne asked and Aemon nodded, moving to her and handing her the letter.

Deliberately Arianne allowed their fingers to touch and welcomed the surprised and somewhat interested look that appeared but briefly on Aemon's face. Yet it came and went so quickly that even as she opened the letter to read it, Arianne wondered if she had seen it at all.

The letter just simply confirmed that Aemon was who he claimed to be and that Daenerys accepted him as the head of their House and rightful heir to the Iron Throne. There would need to be more for her father and uncle to accept Aemon, however, though it would at least allow the conversations to take place. Arianne was unsure how she wished those conversations to go and whether or not she'd like the outcome of them. While at the same time wanting keenly to be a part of them.

"My father and uncle are at our family's retreat, Aemon, and I'd not have you traveling across our lands without their leave. So I bid you, Ser Barristan, and your wolf to remain here as our guest while I send word to the Water Gardens."

"Ghost," Aemon said, almost whispering.

"What?"

"My wolf's name is Ghost, princess."

"And my charge is a king, princess, mayhap…."

Aemon shook his head at the knight and turned back to face her. His dark grey eyes almost seemed to stare far too deeply at her and it was Arianne who turned her gaze from a man rather than how most often it was the other way around.

"Ser Barristan is right, I am and refuse to be known as anything but a king. Princess, yet, I am at the moment a king without a throne. And it serves me well to be spoken only by name, for now. Though my true name only in private."

"For now, your grace," Barristan said and Arianne withheld the smile she was so close to showing. As she very much liked a man who took control and Aemon seemed to be one who was most willing to do so.

They arranged for rooms for their guests and Arianne wrote out the raven to her father as soon as she and Tyene were alone. She would wager that at the very least they'd be joined by Oberyn and her cousins on the morrow or the day after it and as she looked to Tyene, she felt a small bit of jealousy that she'd get to enjoy Aemon Targaryen before she herself did.

Though to her surprise, that night as they held a more formal dinner than they had planned, Aemon seemed immune to Tyene's flirting. He seemed not to care either when Arianne purposefully asked others to dance and not him and she wondered if maybe his interests lay in a different direction. Eager to find out, Arianne sent one of those in the hall that she now went that way, to offer himself to Aemon, watching eagerly as he did so. The blush, shocked look, and firm shaking of Aemon's head were enough to tell her that he at least favored ladies. For some reason, Arianne found she was more than happy to find out just how true that was.

"You should dance with him," Arianne said as Tyene sat down beside her.

"He won't ask me." her cousin pouted.

"And you wait for such now?" she chuckled.

"I believe he waits for a princess to ask first."

"He will find it a long wait," Arianne said unsurely.

Eventually, Aemon did dance with Tyene and while he didn't reject her outright and at least seemed affected by the way her cousin moved against him, he didn't allow it to be taken any further. It intrigued Arianne greatly and even more so when after she'd taken to her bed, alone for once, she was joined by her cousin no more than an hour or so later.

"Don't tell me he was as bad as that fool from last night." she sighed.

"Worse."

"Worse?" Arianne said, deflating somewhat.

"He bid me leave the room and handed me back my dress after it had accidentally fallen to the floor."

"He did not." Arianne giggled.

"I swear, Northmen."

"Indeed," Arianne said with a twinkle in her eye, one that she still had when she looked at Aemon the next morning as they broke their fast and later as she watched him and Barristan spar.

She wore it right up until Oberyn, her cousins, and Ellaria all arrived and then she needed to speak to her uncle and keep him from ruining their alliance before it had even begun.

"Where is the bastard?" Oberyn asked as Arianne greeted him, having left the sparring yard to do so.

"Uncle," she said reproachfully. "Play nice, for I've no doubt that Father didn't send you here to shame us and break guest right."

"Maybe you'll not be so keen to stand up for your father when you hear his plans, Ari."

"Plans?" she asked worriedly.

"A queen of House Martell and a long-ago deal now resurrected. Though one with a different match in mind."

As much as she shivered and bristled that her father was once again trying to make her do his will and not her own, for some reason she did so in far less a fashion than she expected. Years earlier a found letter had created a rift with her father that only was healed when his true plans were explained. That only came about after news had reached them of Viserys Targaryen's death. Arianne had been wroth and had told herself she'd not go through with the match. Even had one still been possible. Now, she was angered and yet not repulsed by that thought. In fact, there was a part of her that was at the very least, intrigued.

Water Gardens/Sunspear 299 AC.

Oberyn Martell.

Oberyn had been enjoying watching his youngest children as they frolicked in the pools of the Water Gardens. The morning was thus far one that brought great respite to his troubled mind. Sitting in the sun, listening to his girl's laughter. Or being called both to join in with their fun and to watch as one or other of his girls did something they thought was incredibly daring, was almost enough to soothe the anger that bubbled up inside him. Almost.

It allowed Oberyn to put aside the arguments that he and his brother had been having almost each and every night. To not think about the fact that he believed he was wasting valuable time that could better be spent killing Lions than it was even with his precious daughters. Doran, as always preached caution where Oberyn sought and at times almost demanded action. In truth, it was why his brother was a far better Prince of Dorne than Oberyn could ever be. Not that he'd admit that to Doran's face at the moment.

"Look, Papa. Watch Me." Doreah shouted and Oberyn smiled as she ran and jumped as far into the pool as her little legs would allow her.

"I can go further, Papa!" Loreza shouted as she too ran and then jumped into the water. His youngest daughter earning scowls from both Elia and Obella as her jump caused water to splash both girls in the face.

"Well done, my little snakes," Oberyn shouted out, encouraging their mischief while Ellaria offered him a half-hearted frown.

"If they hurt themselves then you can soothe their pains, Oberyn." his paramour said admonishingly when both Dorea and Loreza climbed from the pool to go again and outdo the other in the process.

"My lips are yours and theirs, for that and other purposes, my love," Oberyn said as he moved to place a kiss on Ellaria's lips before then shouting out his words of encouragement.

The day's fun was not to last, however, as a servant came to bid Oberyn to join his brother in Doran's solar. A request that a part of him wished to deny and yet in the end did not. Making his way to the solar, little did Oberyn know of the events about to be revealed to him and which would one day, bring him the vengeance his heart so desired. Nor how his anger which had thus far been reserved mainly for his brother, would soon find a new target.

Entering the solar, he found Doran sitting at his desk and looking more agitated than he had been when they'd argued the previous night. Wishing not to start a fight so early and wanting some of the peace and contentment that the morning had brought to last a little longer at last, Oberyn held up his hands and took his seat. Doran looking at him in confusion as he did so.

"I seek no argument today, brother," Oberyn said, only for Doran to stun him with his reply.

"I fear that to be impossible, brother," Doran said and this time it was Oberyn's turn to look confused. "From my daughter." Doran then handed him a raven's scroll.

Shaking his head and wondering just what Arianne had done to earn her father's ire this time, Oberyn expected the scroll to contain some tale of his niece's disobedience. It very much did not. Instead, it told a tale that had Oberyn's blood boiling and anger rising with each word he read. A tale of a secret marriage, a son born from a union that should never have taken place, and further shame imposed on his sister's memory. Hands shaking with temper, Oberyn welcomed the wine when it was offered and drank it down in one swallow.

"This cannot be allowed to stand, brother. You believe this?"

"Arianne would not write it in such a way was it not true, brother."

"Then his very existence shames Dorne, Elia, and the children." Oberyn rose to his feet. "Give me leave to end him, brother. To remove this stain from our sister and her children's memory."

"No."

"No?" he questioned.

"Read the damn words, Oberyn," Doran said, his voice not raised but his anger clear.

Father,

I write to you with a strange yet true tale. The Bold himself has arrived at our gates and travels not alone. With him is a young man who claimed to represent the interests of House Targaryen and Daenerys Targaryen and who has requested a meeting with both yourself and Uncle Oberyn. With his promise of justice and vengeance for my aunt and cousins, I granted them a meeting with myself so as to judge the veracity of their promise and their words.

Father, at that meeting I was shocked to find that the young man was who both Barristan and Daenerys named as who they followed. That he was in truth, Aemon Targaryen, the trueborn son of Prince Rhaegar and who he claimed to be his second wife, Lyanna Stark. His words have been accepted by Princess Daenerys' father and she names him the head of House Targaryen. Though he was once known by another name and thought a member of another House.

Aemon Targaryen is Jon Snow, Father. Raised as the bastard son of Eddard Stark. Yet in truth the son of his sister. I await your further instructions as to where things go from here.

Your ever-loving daughter,

Arianne.

Looking at his brother, Oberyn knew exactly where things went from here. Or where he'd wish them to go. Doran though sat with that contemplative look on his face and Oberyn liked it not.

"Tell me you're not considering an alliance with the shame of our sister?" Oberyn demanded. "Look at me, brother. Tell me my thoughts are wrong."

Oberyn saw Doran sigh. His brother lifted up a glass of wine and took the smallest sip from it before placing the glass carefully back on the table.

"I had thought an alliance with House Targaryen to be a long-forgotten dream, Oberyn. When news reached us of Viserys' fall, it ended my hopes for Arianne to be queen. While I still held hope that mayhap through Quentyn and Daenerys…ah, but never mind."

"You cannot be suggesting what I believe you are," Oberyn said incredulously.

"What price justice and vengeance, brother? What price are you willing to pay to see Tywin Lannister and his monsters pay for what they took from us?"

"Any," Oberyn said without hesitation or thought.

"Indeed. Any." Doran said and Oberyn glared at his brother for a moment before nodding for Doran to continue. "Go, speak to this so-called dragon and find out the truth about him, brother. Find out what he brings to the table and what allies he can call upon."

"And if I find myself happy with those allies? With his strengths and with the man himself."

"Then you'd find me no longer needing this chair, brother," Doran said, a rare jape that brought a smile to the stoic face of Areo Hotah and a laugh from Oberyn. "Yet if we can live with the offer, then…."

"Bring him to you," he said and Doran nodded.

"Test him, Oberyn, but no more than that."

"You spoil all my fun, brother," Oberyn said as he rose to his feet.

"Fun I can live with, as long as it goes no further," Doran said and Oberyn chuckled as he walked out of the room.

Two hours later, he and Ellaria along with their guard were riding away from the Water Gardens and toward Sunspear. They left their girls there, their youngest anyway, as both Nym and Obara joined them on their journey. How he was to find out the truth about this Targaryen, Doran had left up to Oberyn, but he would find out that truth and do so quickly. As he would find out the character of the man that should he prove true, Doran would seek wed to Arianne.

Upon arriving at the Old Palace, Oberyn made his way to where he expected Arianne to be only to find no sign of his niece. Though soon enough he was joined by Arianne and they shared some words, both his own and Doran's. Later, after he'd escorted Ellaria to their rooms, Oberyn, Obara, and Nym were then led to the sparring yard where they bore witness to a fight between a dark-haired young man dressed in black and Ser Daemon Sand. A fight that Oberyn now looked at with eyes as keen as both Arianne's and Ser Barristan Selmy's.

The boy was lithe and quick of movement and seemed almost to be playing with Daemon. Something which surprised Oberyn greatly as his former squire was one of the very best swords in Dorne and seemed to be putting all his effort into the fight. One look at Arianne was all the reason he needed for why that was, his niece, as well as his daughter Tyene, were both looking more at the dark-haired man than at Daemon.

The end when it came was one that Daemon was led into. A trap that it took even Oberyn a few moments to see and when it was sprung, Daemon was beaten. While Arianne clapped and cheered loudly, Oberyn turned his attention to the victor of the spar and found it was Ser Barristan and not his niece that the man looked to. A small nod of the knight's head and a look that Oberyn had often seen on one of his girls' faces when he'd praised them, enough to tell him who the dark-haired man was.

"Bravo. Well done." Oberyn announced his presence, which garnered very different reactions.

Ser Barristan's posture was no longer relaxed and the man Oberyn would name as Aemon Targaryen or Jon Snow looked at him warily. Tyene ran to greet him and her sisters while Arianne tore herself from looking at the spar's victor and moving toward him. Yet it was none of that which Oberyn found himself truly interested in and certainly not awed by. That fell to the giant white wolf, the Direwolf, who now moved to stand by Aemon Targaryen's side and who looked at him through blood-red eyes. Oberyn saw clearly the warning that was there and as fierce and unafraid as he was in any fight, that was one he was certain that he wished no part of.

"Daughter, Niece," Oberyn said embracing one and then the other. Arianne whispered in his ear to accept that for now, it was Jon Snow and not Aemon Targaryen who was their guest. "As you wish, niece," Oberyn whispered back.

"Uncle, may I introduce you to our esteemed guests," Arianne said, taking his arm as Tyene spoke mayhap similar words to her sisters and to Ellaria who had now rejoined them.

"You may indeed, niece."

A polite bow of Ser Barristan's head as he shook his hand not. Though out of a wish to protect his charge, not unfriendliness, or so Oberyn would wager. As for Aemon Targaryen, Jon Snow, as he now named himself and called Oberyn by his title, while he was nervous, there was a determination there. A will that was impressive and which Oberyn sought to shatter a little as he now tested him with news that not even Arianne was aware of.

"I would have expected it to be the North rather than Dorne you'd travel to, Jon Snow."

"My business is here, my prince. I can travel to my family once we've concluded it."

"He's not heard?" Oberyn said looking at Arianne.

"Heard?" Arianne questioned.

"The North mourns for more than just its fallen Warden, Jon Snow. It mourns the deaths of Bran and Rickon Stark too."

Sunspear 299 AC.

Arianne Martell.

Oberyn's words had the desired effect, for Arianne was sure they were to test Aemon Targaryen more than simply shock him. First, the white wolf rose to its feet and growled silently at her uncle, and then Ser Barristan moved to place a hand on Aemon's shoulder. A hand that was shaken off as Aemon moved angrily to stand in front of her uncle and to look him deep in his eyes.

"What's that you say? Why lie to me about such a thing? They are boys, mere boys, who'd seek to harm them?" Aemon shouted, both a demand for Oberyn to take the words back and a plea for him to do so in equal measure.

"Apparently Robb Stark placed his faith in a Greyjoy. It was a foolish thing to do and it cost the North two more wolves." Oberyn said almost gleefully and Arianne felt her own anger rise at how much pleasure her uncle was having in saying the words.

"My sisters. Arya, Sansa…my brother….I…I must go to them. I must….." Aemon stuttered.

Arianne watched as Aemon and Ghost pushed past Oberyn and began to make their way to leave the Old Palace, Ser Barristan following after them both without a word to any of them. The knight did, however, glare at her uncle disdainfully as he walked by.

"I had expected more." Oberyn chuckled and Arianne would have slapped him were he any other man.

"You go too far, uncle. Too far and too public." Arianne said as she, Daemon, and Tyene hurried off in the same direction as Ser Barristan had.

She told herself she did so because her father would wish to learn more details about the alliance that was being offered. Even though Arianne already knew what her father's price for that alliance would be and was not best pleased about it. Arianne believed that she hurried after Aemon for that while accepting that a part of her did so because he intrigued her and she wished to bed him. Even if it was only to scratch and itch and prove that she could.

When she caught up with them at the stables, however, Arianne moved to Aemon, not for those reasons. It was clear to any with eyes to see that he was hurting. The loss of two boys he had named as brothers and the worry about his sisters being in the hands of Lions was more than enough of a reason for that in Arianne's mind. Though there seemed to be something else that was partly the reason too. Something that Arianne couldn't quite name as of yet. All she knew was that she wished to offer Aemon some comfort and cared not for why she did so.

"Jon, we cannot. Your plans, what you seek to achieve." Ser Barristan said, using not Aemon's real name given the number of people around them.

"We must, Ser. They are my family…my sisters, my brother…I…what am I if I don't…I…."

"Ser Barristan is right, Jon," Arianne said softly as she placed an arm on his own, the white wolf giving her leave to do so. "To race off without a plan is folly and will cost you and them their lives. You must be cleverer than that. If you wish to save them and beat the Lions and the Reavers, you must take the time to consider things. Else, they and you are already lost."

"I'm not a snake, Princess," Aemon said angrily. "What I am." he slapped his chest with his hand. "What blood I bear, it demands it of me. It demands it of me…." his words tailing off almost sadly.

"A night, Jon. One night to consider a plan of action. To allow calmer heads and clearer minds to prevail. I ask it of you as a favor to me and should you grant me that favor, I'll seek to help as much as I am able."

"The princess has the right of it, Jon. A night changes nothing." Ser Barristan added.

Aemon sighed and Arianne felt it through the arm that she still held onto. A nod of his head and a relieved look from Barristan were enough to tell her that her words had won out. It relieved her greatly and when Aemon looked at her and thanked her for her counsel, Arianne accepted the thanks as proudly as she did any she'd ever received from her uncle or her father. Something that Tyene, who at times knew her better than even she did herself, now spoke of as Ser Barristan and Aemon made their way back into the Old Palace.

"It's rare to see you like that, cousin," Tyene said as Arianne looked at the retreating form of Aemon Targaryen.

"To see me like that?" she asked while frowning at her cousin.

"To see you care for those you do not care about."

"I care for my father's plans, cousin. Nothing more." Arianne lied.

"Indeed," Tyene said, smirking as she walked away from her.

Arianne bid Tyene to send Oberyn to her solar and to make sure that neither Nym nor Obara added to the words that her uncle had used regarding the two Stark boys. Meanwhile, Aemon and Ser Barristan had made their way back to the sparring yard and so Arianne sent Daemon to keep an eye on them. She left her former lover with strict instructions that no one was to further provoke or enflame what was now a very delicate state of affairs.

Taking her seat in her solar, she did not have long to wait for Oberyn to join her and he seemed surprised to see that she was still displeased with him. Something that she made very clear with her very first words to him as he took his seat.

"Aemon Targaryen sees them as brothers, Oberyn. Brothers you've just told him were murdered and did so in such a callous and uncaring way. It was uncalled for and not something I agree with. Nor do I believe my father would."

"I was bid to test the boy, Ari. Something I've done and found him lacking."

"What would you have had him do? Attack you? Drive his sword deep into your chest for being the bearer of such news? Is that what you did when you were told of their deaths, uncle?" Arianne spat and Oberyn glared at her before composing himself. "You shamed us there, uncle. Gloating over the death of children, it's not who we are and makes us no better than the Stag or the Lion."

"I…" Oberyn sighed. "You're right, I should not have…they are easier ways."

"There are."

A nod of his head was enough to tell her that Oberyn would not use such tactics again. Though there was not and she expected no declaration that he'd not poke and prod Aemon further. Her father wished it after all and Oberyn would have his own reasons why he'd wish to do so.

"Is he truly who he claims to be?" Oberyn asked after a few moments of silence. Arianne nodded enough to confirm it. "The wolf would name him a Stark, regardless. As too does his coloring but…"

"Uncle?"

"He looks like him." Oberyn spat. "Like his father, his true father."

"He does?"

Oberyn didn't reply, instead, he began to speak on what it was her father wished to know, and then again he confirmed what price Dorne's spears would cost. As Arianne had expected, that price was to be her hand and while she liked it not, she was not as angered as she had been when it was Viserys her father had wished her to wed.

"We need to find out his strengths, Ari. As it is, one man and a wolf even as large as that one is…"

"Ghost." Arianne interrupted naming the wolf much to her uncle's surprise.

"And an old knight, no matter it being the Bold, is not enough to bring Tywin Lannister to his knees."

"No, it's not." she agreed. "He has his aunt's support, uncle, and you know what tales we've heard of Daenerys Targaryen and what she brought back into the world."

"Children's tales and nothing more, Ari. The dragons are long since gone from this world."

"Mayhap."

After speaking on how to go about learning more and getting a promise from her uncle that he'd not be so callous when speaking on the dead Stark children or their father, Arianne and Oberyn made their way to the sparring yard. They arrived there to find Aemon and Ser Barristan engaging in a much truer spar than they usually did, one where the old knight was having to use all his experience to keep Aemon at bay.

"He's skilled at least," Oberyn said and yet Arianne barely heard him, her attention fully focussed on Aemon as he moved as if he was dancing and though he lost the match, he won much more of her interest in doing so.

That night, they feasted her uncle and Aemon ate sparingly. Nym and Tyene tried to get Aemon to dance with them and he refused both her cousins graciously. When her aunt bid her to ask him to dance, Arianne shook her head. As a princess of Dorne, she could not be refused so publicly and a part of her believed that she may very well be. The thoughts being denied had turned her back into that pudgy and flat-chested young girl and she liked it not. Only for her aunt's words to give her the strength to rise to her feet.

"You promised him a night, Arianne. A night where plans could be made and yet you've spoken to him not. He will not refuse you for that alone."

Arianne didn't tell her aunt that she wished he'd not refuse her for other reasons. Nor that the itch she wished to scratch was turning almost into a need of sorts. Instead, she rose and moved to where Aemon, Ser Barristan, and Ghost sat alone. Nervously, she stood in front of him and asked him to dance. For a brief moment, her heart was in her mouth and then Aemon's words almost brought a true smile to her face. Only her wish to remain somewhat aloof stopped her from allowing it to do so.

"I would be honored and delighted, Princess," Aemon said as he rose to his feet and offered her his hand.

Moments later, Arianne found herself looking deep into his dark grey eyes as they glided across the floor effortlessly. She had wondered if maybe he was not skilled with dancing and that had been why he'd refused her cousins before remembering that he'd danced with Tyene. Aemon, however, proved himself just as skilled with dancing as he was in the sparring yard. While a part of her said that he'd accepted because she was a princess, another said he'd done so because it had been her that he wished to dance with. Arianne found that it was much more pleasing to listen to that part of herself.

"What my uncle said, about your brothers. He should not have spoken of it the way he did."

"No, he should not," Aemon said, a spark of something coming and going in those ever-expressive eyes of his. "Did you know?" he asked, his voice odd to her ear.

"I did not. Had I, I would have spoken of it to you sooner and far more delicately."

"I believe you would have," Aemon said and that brought a small smile to her face.

"My father will join you, Aemon. For the right incentive Dorne will rise," she said as Aemon nodded.

"Then I must give Dorne the right incentive, must I not," Aemon said, snarkily.

As the dance came to an end, Arianne expected to be led back to her seat only for Aemon to show no sign of doing so. The music began to play once more and Aemon led her through another dance where he thanked her for her counsel earlier that day.

"I cannot avenge them alone, Princess. Much though every part of me demands me to do so. While I could go to my brother, I bring him little without a powerful ally and…"

"And?"

"He wears a crown that is rightfully mine. A crown that neither he nor the North will give up without a reason for doing so."

"Your brother would not support you?" she asked, surprised given how much the news of his other two brothers' deaths had affected him.

"Robb would, Aye," Aemon said, a soft smile on his face as he reminisced over something she knew not. "The King in the North, may not. Not as I am."

Arianne wished to speak more and yet the music stopped and this time Aemon did lead her back to her seat. A soft kiss on her hand that sent a thrill to her chest and caused her to flush a little was the only contact she had him with for the rest of the night. Again, she sent Tyene to try and seduce him and once again her cousin came back to her room unsuccessful.

Laying in her bed, closing her eyes to go to sleep, Arianne resolved that the next time Tyene made her way to Aemon's room, she would not do so alone. It was time to scratch that itch before it became something she had no control over. For it was already getting dangerously close to that time as it was.

Sunspear 299 AC.

Aemon Targaryen.

A week. That's how long they'd been in Dorne and things had progressed little in that time. Oberyn continued to test him and had crossed the line more than once. Today he had almost gone too far. Aemon had been sparring with Ser Daemon Sand, a decent blade and though the man seemed to like him not, Daemon spoke little and was respectful. Even when Daemon lost or on the two occasions that Daemon had managed to earn a victory over him.

Both of those occasions came with the knight using a spear and so Aemon had taken to practicing against Ser Barristan while he wielded one. It was Oberyn seeing this that had led to his first and only spar against the Red Viper. A spar that had seen him defeated almost effortlessly. While Ser Daemon could wield a spear decently, Oberyn Martell wielded one as if he'd been born with it in his hands.

Aemon had felt the blunted blade strike him more than once and knew he'd wear bruises over the next few days. He thanked the gods that they were not using live steel as he doubted he'd have come away from the spar without a cut or two. Oberyn seems to want to inflict both pain and some humiliation on Aemon's person for some reason. Still, he'd bowed, accepted his loss in good grace, and had turned to walk away from the Red Viper only for Oberyn to speak words that Aemon could and would not allow go unanswered.

Earlier that day.

"I can see not why anyone would have desired your mother, boy." Oberyn began "You have her look and it's not one that inflames desires. Maybe your father just wished to lay with a woman willing to whore herself to a married man."

Ghost was some distance away and yet Aemon could feel the white wolf make his way to the sparring yard. Further away, Rhaegal who had been feeding on large fish in the Summer Sea had left his hunger behind and now flew at pace as he felt Aemon's inner dragon awaken. Sword in hand, Aemon moved with purpose toward the Red Viper who seemed almost amused by his reaction.

How Ser Barristan missed it, Aemon knew not. The knight later apologized for allowing things to go so far. It mattered not, the fight that Aemon had with Oberyn now was a far truer one than their earlier spar. Though he again took the brunt of the blows, Aemon at least managed to strike Oberyn more than once in return. His desire to make the prince take back what he'd said about his mother fuelling the rage he used to fight against him.

A trip, a fall, Oberyn then wishing to give him a reminder of their fight that he'd wear permanently all almost led to the death of a prince of Dorne. Aemon didn't see the sword and Barristan cared not for all those that were raised in response to his own being unsheathed. Ghost had arrived and though men wished to come to their prince's aid, not a single one of them believed themselves a match for the white wolf and so it was enough to stay in their hands.

"One more inch, Prince Oberyn, one more and you'll not see the morrow." Ser Barristan said, his blade now piercing Oberyn's neck and drawing a drop of blood, proving his threat as true as his words did in the process.

"Peace, Ser Barristan," Oberyn said, smirking.

"No," Aemon said, rising to his feet, not allowing his knight to remove the sword and Barristan refused to do so until Aemon bid him to. "You owe my mother an apology, Prince Oberyn. I'll not have any man speak of her that way and no matter the reason I may have come here for, without it, my time here is ended."

Oberyn looked at him, a look in his eyes that showed he'd not grant him what Aemon demanded of him, his pride not allowing him to do so. Off to the left of the sparring yard, stood Princess Arianne and Oberyn's daughters who looked on worriedly. Aemon believed that all three of them would be attacking Barristan and him by now, was it not for their father's hand bidding them to stay where they were.

"Dorne is not the only place I can go, Prince Oberyn. Nor the only ally I can seek. I came here because of a shared desire for justice and vengeance. Not because I need Dorne as much as you may think I do. I've swallowed your insults and will do so no more. So speak your words and let this all be forgotten or let me leave this place never to return. But do so knowing that when next we meet, we meet as enemies and not allies. For I'll allow no man to speak such words about my mother and refuse to take them back. No man, not even a prince of Dorne."

A nod to Barristan was enough for his sword to be sheathed. Aemon waited a moment to hear if Oberyn would speak the words or not. He saw the pleading look that Princess Arianne gave her uncle and yet it was the small nod of Oberyn's paramour's head that gained him his apology.

"I spoke out of turn about a woman I did not know, Jon Snow. You have my apology to your mother and my oath to speak not of her in such a manner again."

"I accept both, Prince Oberyn," Aemon said with a nod of his head.

Now.

Aemon strolled to the princess' solar, Barristan and Ghost by his side. He'd been able to call off Rhaegal, though having the dragon so close once more was more than enough to give him the impetus to do what he needed to do. So far they'd beaten around the bushes in regard to what Aemon brought to the table other than his name. Now it was time to do more than that and to reveal the true strength that he and Dany carried with them.

The guards let them in and inside they were greeted by the princess, her uncle, Oberyn's paramour Ellaria Sand and three of his daughters. Obara glared at Aemon with eyes that clearly showed her wish to harm or even kill him for his fight with her father. Nymeria looked almost bored and yet there was what looked to be a quick mental undressing of Aemon as he took his seat with Barristan standing behind him.

Tyene was much more slow and deliberate in her own mental undressing of him. Four times she'd come to him when he was abed, each time wearing more and more revealing clothing and none at all the last time. He'd rejected her each time, hard though it was to do. Simply because he knew he was being tested and not because of any lack of desire on his part.

Oberyn still looked at him with disdain, though there was what Aemon believed to be a tinge of respect there. Ellaria was much harder to read than her lover, and Aemon was unsure what it was she saw when she looked at him. As for the princess, Arianne intrigued him, there was no other way he could put it. He was attracted to her, both her looks and what he'd gleamed of her wits too, which was at least a decent start if they were to be wed one day.

"The time has come to reveal all truths, I believe," Aemon said to keen looks from both Arianne and Oberyn. "My aunt and I seek Dornish spears, we intend to bring the Lions to their knees. Yet a full-scale war is not yet to our benefit." Aemon looked to Oberyn and then to Arianne, both of them doing their best to keep their expressions as neutral as they could "Yet."

"Yet?" Arianne asked.

"I wish to send word to my brother, riders if possible as I can't trust these words to ravens."

"What words?"

"That Dorne is open to an alliance and negotiations are taking place," Aemon said as Oberyn looked at him curiously.

"And were we to give you leave to send these words," Oberyn asked.

"Then tonight I'll show you the reason why we need to wait and what it truly is that my aunt and I bring to any alliance."

Arianne looked to her uncle who nodded, then said that she'd arrange for riders to set sail to Maidenpool and make their way to Riverrun. At her words, Aemon took out the unsealed letter and handed it to her, allowing first Arianne and then Oberyn to read it. In it, he simply said that he was in Dorne and that if the old gods were good, he'd bring Dornish Spears to bear with him when next they saw each other.

"I thought you said the King In the North may not support you, Aemon?" Arianne said, her words not surprising anyone in the solar and showing that she'd spoken them to those present already.

"Not was I to come and demand his fealty, no. For now, I speak to my brother, Princess. To give him hope where he may not have any. Like me, he no doubt mourns the loss of our other brothers and so, this is the least I can do for him, is it not?"

"It is," Arianne said, offering him a small welcome smile as she spoke.

"We need to ride from here, tonight, Prince Oberyn. You and I at least, though maybe the princess and your girls will wish to join us."

"Ride to where?"

"A place deserted would be best. One where the only people present would be us or those you trust implicitly. However many you require to guarantee your safety, Prince Oberyn. Yet, each man must be one that you can trust will speak not of what they see, for no one can know of him yet."

"Him?" Arianne asked.

"Rhaegal, my dragon." Aemon said simply to loud laughs that began to quieten when his own was not among them.

All eyes now turned to him and Aemon could see how Oberyn's mind was working as he did so, Arianne's too. It almost brought a smirk to his face that he'd caught them so by surprise and it would have if not for the fact that he was imagining their faces when they actually saw Rhaegal for the first time.

"You're truly claiming to have a dragon? "Oberyn asked when it seemed no one else could speak.

"No," Aemon said to confused looks. "I'm saying without question I have a dragon and that my aunt has two more. I look forward to you meeting him." Aemon said as he rose to his feet. "Though I'd ask you to be on your best behavior, as my dragon is far less forgiving than I am."

Later that night they rode out of Sunspear with close to fifty men. Oberyn took no chances that this was not some plan of his to lure them into the desert for some more nefarious reason. Not that the Red Viper truly believed it, Aemon would wager. This was Dorne and Aemon doubted there was anything that moved within it that went unknown to the Martells. Other than what moved through the sky unseen that was. Arianne and her cousins had all demanded to be amongst those who rode and so Oberyn was simply taking every precaution he needed to. Something that Aemon could respect the man for if he could not for little else.

Ser Daemon Sand and members of both the Princess' and Prince Oberyn's personal guards were the only non-family members in their party. While Aemon had Ser Barristan and Ghost as his only escort. After an hour, or two, it was hard to judge time under the almost starless sky, eventually, their ride came to an end at an old abandoned fort of some sort. Dismounting, bidding that everyone ensured their horses were well tied up, Aemon walked out into the desert alone with more than one hundred eyes watching him as Rhaegal neared.

He heard the gasps from behind him when they first saw the green dragon. Could almost see the princess hold her hand to her mouth in worry as Rhaegal landed and then Aemon cared not for who was behind him and only for the dragon in front of him. Moving to Rhaegal, he placed his hand on his snout and stroked the green dragon softly, welcoming his trills as he did so.

"Iksan sīr biare naejot ūndegon ao Rhaīgal. Sīr olvie biare." (I'm so happy to see you, Rhaegal. So very happy.) Aemon said to an even louder trill.

Behind him, every eye was on him and the green dragon and Aemon knew that it was time to give them a show of just how incredible Rhaegal truly was.

"Urnēptre zirȳ, Rhaīgal. Urnēptre zirȳ skoro syt iā zaldrīzes iksis naejot sagon zūgagon se jūndan rȳ isse pendagon." (Show them, Rhaegal. Show them why a dragon is to be feared and looked at in wonder.)

Aemon moved away as Rhaegal took to the sky once more and flew over where Oberyn, Arianne, and the others sheltered. The green dragon flew low and then roared loudly as it turned and flew back to where Aemon waited for him. As it flew over Aemon's head, Aemon closed his eyes and spoke the word.

"Dracarys."

It was answered with fire that melted the desert sand and turned it into glass. A much larger wave of it than Aemon had expected and even to him it was a wondrous and majestic sight. Though not the first time he'd commanded Rhaegal to let loose his flames, there was something different about it this time around. Rhaegal was showing off as Aemon had bid him, but not simply for those who watched from afar. He was showing off for Aemon too.

Rhaegal was sending him a message and when he landed and Aemon moved to praise him, that message resounded loudly and clearly in Aemon's head.

'Aderī.' (Soon).

Once he'd spent some time with Rhaegal and told them that they would indeed fly together soon, the green dragon took off to fly back to the lair he'd made for himself. On the ride back to Sunspear, Aemon was asked many more questions, and the looks he received from Oberyn and his girls especially showed that he'd almost won them over. So much so, that as they retired for the night, Oberyn told him that on the morrow, he wished him to join him when he returned to the Water Gardens. Something that Barristan bid him to do and yet Arianne looked at him as if she wished he'd not.

Again that night as he readied for bed, Tyene entered his room and as Aemon once again sought to send her away, he was shocked and stunned to find that she had not come alone.

"Maybe it's more than one lady you seek to share your bed with, Aemon Targaryen. Dragons are known for their hunger after all." Arianne said as she moved toward him, her silk nightdress covering her poorly and showing far more of her than it really should.

"I…"

"Or are you a wolf, Aemon? Is it he who needs to come out and play?" Tyene asked mischievously, her tongue tracing his ear as she spoke and Aemon knew not how she'd gotten so close to him without him noticing.

Not that he truly wondered as it was Arianne he'd been focussing on and so he'd missed her cousin's approach.

"My father will seek us to be wed, Aemon." Arianne whispered in his other ear, as Tyrene's hand moved to undo the tie of his britches "Best we see if there would be pleasure in our marital bed, don't you think."

There were no words he could answer Arianne with, even if he wished to. Tyene's hand had found its way into his britches and her fingers softly stroked along the length of his rapidly hardening cock. On either side of him, Aemon had a beautiful woman who was either nibbling on his ears or speaking things into them that he very much longed to do. Then with a kiss to his lips and with Tyene's hand now fully closing around his cock, Arianne told him to be a dragon and to take what he wished for. She did not have to tell him twice.

Sunspear 299 AC.

Tyene Sand.

Just as Arianne was, Tyene had been intrigued by their guest. Jon Snow, Aemon Targaryen as she later found out was his true name, was a devilishly handsome man in more ways than one. So when her cousin suggested that Tyene bed him, she'd looked forward to it, only to be refused each and every time. It was only the fact that Tyene knew the beauty she possessed and saw it as more of a challenge than anything else, or she may have been angered by the rejection.

Tyene knew too that there was a reason other than her for the rejection as well. If things went well between Aemon Targaryen and her father and uncle, then it would be Arianne that Doran would seek to see him matched with. Her cousin wished to be Princess of Dorne, however, not Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and she would use the fact that Aemon had slept with Tyene to deny her father's will. Or so Tyene had believed at first. Now, she wasn't sure.

She'd not expected Arianne to join her so quickly in her attempts to get Aemon into bed. Even when her cousin had made the suggestion that maybe it would require more than one woman to make Aemon submit to their wiles. Tyene had simply expected that it would have been Nym she'd have sent her with when next she made her way to Aemon's rooms, not that Arianne would have joined her. Yet she did and as all three of them now moved to the bed, Tyene wasn't completely certain that it was the thoughts of being with two women that had won Aemon over. If she was to wager, then she'd say it had more to do with who one of those women was.

*Lemon Begins*

As she undid Aemon's britches, Tyene traced his ear with her tongue and whispered the naughtiest of suggestions in his ear. She bit his ear and tugged on it gently as she asked him if he was man enough to please two women. Enjoying it greatly when he stiffened, in more ways than one, at her words.

When Arianne's fingers joined hers and brushed against Aemon's hard cock, it sent a thrill right down between her legs. A small part of her had feared that Aemon would turn out to be lacking in that department for some reason. He very much was not and as Tyene felt the weight of his cock in her hand, she whispered in his ear again.

"Both of us, Aemon. This stays hard until we're both sated."

A small shudder and then to her delight a nod of Aemon's head. Followed by the feel of lips on hers as he kissed her for the first time before turning to kiss Arianne just as hungrily. Then as one they fell on the bed and her cousin removed Aemon's britches and boots while Arianne almost tore his shirt off in her desire to see him naked. Twice he'd denied her, and were it not for Arianne's presence she felt he would have done it a third time. Yet rather than feeling vexed, it fueled her desire for him more than she had imagined.

As Aemon lay on the bed, naked as he had come into the world. Tyene could see just how much he desired them both. Turning to Arianne, Tyene grabbed her cousin's head and kissed her deeply before looking back to see Aemon watching them wide-eyed. Trailing her hands on the top of Arianne's nightdress, Tyene pulled it slowly from her cousin's shoulders and allowed it to fall gently to the floor. While on the bed Aemon let out a sound that was between a gasp and a dragon's roar as he bore witness to the sight.

Arianne soon had Tyene just as naked as she was and with a wicked look at the man who lay on the bed, her cousin leaned her head forward and took Tyene's pink nipple into her mouth. Tyene moaned loudly and yet that wasn't the sound that either of them truly heard. Instead, it was Aemon almost jumping from the bed and grabbing them both before again all three of them collapsed onto the bed once more. A small glance at Arianne was enough to show Tyene just how excited her cousin was by Aemon's actions. As too was Tyene as she'd wondered if he would be timid or placid and was more than happy to find he was to be neither of those things.

"I hope you're not a maid, Aemon," Arianne said huskily as she reached out her hand to take hold of his now very impressively proportioned manhood.

"For if you are then I fear this will not last long enough to bring any of us any pleasure," Tyene added as her hand joined Arianne's on Aemon's cock and still left some flesh to spar.

"I'm no maid," Aemon said as he pulled Arianne toward him and kissed and softly bit her lip, his hand reaching out for Tyene's own and finding a soft and hungry breast instead.

Aemon alternated between kissing Arianne and then her, both of them differently Tyene noticed after a while. With Arianne, Aemon closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation. While with her, he simply kissed her however he could manage to do so. Readying to move to the next stage of what had thus far been nice but not truly satisfying foreplay, Aemon stunned both of them when he pushed them down onto the bed so they were laying side by side with him in between them.

Then he rose from the bed and looked down at them both while he stroked his cock with one hand. Rarely had Tyene seen such a hungry look on the face of any man or woman she'd shared her bed with. Beside her, Arianne sucked in the air as she breathed deeply. Her cousin was greatly affected by the sight and it proved to Tyene that she felt something more than simply a need to bed Aemon tonight.

"The Gods couldn't have crafted a more beautiful sight," Aemon said as he bent forward and began to crawl up the bed towards them.

Arianne's calf was the first to receive more of Aemon's attention. Tyene looked on while softly playing with her erect nipple as Aemon began to lavish kisses on both of their bodies. Her knee, the outside of Arianne's thigh, Tyene's hip followed by Arianne's stomach and belly button. Slowly, yet not painfully slow, Aemon moved up the bed and kissed and caressed both her and Arianne as he did so.

Tyene moaned as she felt warm air being blown over the damp curls that surrounded her sex. Arianne arched her back as Aemon teased her with his tongue and yet never brought it to where her cousin wished him to. His fingers moved between Tyene's thighs and rubbed circles as they drew ever closer to a goal he never allowed them to reach.

By the time he had made it as far as their breasts, both Tyene and Arianne were more than ready for him. Squeezing her thighs together, Tyene could feel just how wet her sex was and then before she knew it, she was moaning loudly as she felt her nipple being pulled on gently. Hers was not the only moan that resounded around the room either. As Aemon had by luck, skill, or with the gods' own help, found out that Arianne liked nothing more than having her neck kissed and softly bitten.

"More," Arianne called out as Aemon moved his hand down between her cousin's legs and parted the soft dark hairs at the junction of her thighs.

"Yes, more." Tyene cried as she felt the fingers of his other hand softly stroke her more than eager lips.

When Aemon began to kiss back down their bodies, Tyene and Arianne were both a little disappointed. He'd worked them up and they were primed to lay with him and yet it seemed he wished for more foreplay. While neither of them was averse to such, their needs were almost threatening to make them lose their senses. Tyene's for being denied and refusing his attention when she'd offered herself to him. Arianne's because her cousin, Tyene believed, felt something more than she did for the man whose tongue now trailed slowly down their bodies.

Raising her head, Tyene looked on as Aemon lifted one of Arianne's legs in the air and then moved it so it lay atop Tyene's own. He then repeated it with one of Tyene's and it took her a moment to realize that she was now spread wide open as too was her cousin. The cool air was welcome against her sex and yet it was nothing compared to the feel of Aemon's tongue and lips as he kissed up hers and then Arianne's thighs.

Tyene looked to her cousin whose nostrils were flared as Aemon neared his destination. She raised herself up on her arms as he then turned his attention back to her, kissing and biting on the inside of her thighs before then moving back between Arianne's.

"By the gods," Arianne called out and though Tyene couldn't actually see Aemon's tongue go about its work, she had no need to. Nor did she a moment later when that tongue began to lick and probe around her sex and proved itself more than talented in that regard.

From one to the other, Aemon kept their pleasure building by using his fingers on whichever one of them he wasn't worshipping with his tongue. He seemed to sense when they were close too, as with a soft kiss to Arianne's sex, he moved between Tyene's thighs more fully, held her open with the fingers of both his hands, and then devoured her like the wolf or dragon that he was.

Up and down, around and to the side. Paying as much attention to her nub as he did to the rest of her, Aemon brought her ever closer to the release that she most desperately needed. When she felt his tongue probing deep inside her sex, Tyene called out and welcomed Arianne's hand taking hold of her own. Then with a combination of his tongue and his fingers, Aemon took her to the edge and forced her over it. Before then easing her back to the ground. She felt his kiss on her lips and tasted herself on his own and then he was gone.

Soon Arianne was moaning just as loudly as she had just been. Her cousin bucked on the bed and squeezed her thighs tightly around Aemon's head. She pushed him away or tried to as Aemon wouldn't allow her any respite, then loudly, Arianne came and Aemon surprised them both once more. He seemed to know that her cousin needed a moment, that she was too sensitive to even be touched and so, he moved to Tyene and kissed her once more. This time sharing Arianne's taste with her. Though it was not the first time that Tyene had tasted her cousin on her lips.

After some wine, which Aemon got for them, they wished to repay the favor, and yet to their delight, Aemon instead wished it to be them who enjoyed more pleasure. Softer, more sensuously, he began to kiss and touch them both as she and Arianne shared more than one kiss with each other too. Fingers between legs, his and theirs, each of their sexes being softly stroked. How long they refrained from more than simple touches, Tyene knew not. What brought it to an end, was unexpected however as rarely did Arianne ask for something and sound so desperate.

"I want you inside, Aemon. I need you inside me."

"As you command, princess," Aemon said, kissing Arianne deeply.

Tyene lay beside them as Aemon moved between Arianne's legs. Her fingers pulled on her nipple or moved between her own legs as she looked at them both. It surprised her to see Arianne look up so intently at the man now atop her, as it did to see how gently and carefully Aemon entered and the gasp that both of them made when he did so.

Slowly at first, his hips barely moving, Aemon's eyes focussed only on the woman beneath him, Aemon and Arianne seemed to make love, not have sex, and Tyene found it to be an almost beautiful sight. Soon they were both moving against each other, Aemon pushing down as Arianne pushed up. Her cousin's legs wrapped firmly around what Tyene would say was one of the very best arses she'd ever seen.

"More."

"More."

"There, right there."

Arianne encouraged Aemon, though he needed none, his movements almost seeming to come before her cousin uttered the words. Their breathing was heavy, both of them sweating and Arianne even licking up some of that swear from Aemon's shoulder as he now moved even more firmly against her.

Tyene's fingers were working just as diligently between her thighs, her eagerness to share in the act not something she'd experienced before. The bed creaked, and Aemon began to move even faster, and then as one, Tyene, Arianne and then Aemon all came at almost the same time. As she recovered her breath, Tyene missed Aemon kissing her cousin deeply and passionately. She missed it too when he moved between her legs and kissed Arianne there before then moving to do the same between Tyene's. She very much did not miss what came next.

Far more quickly than she'd have expected, Aemon was hard once more and when she felt his cock being rubbed against her lips, she nodded eagerly. As with Arianne, Aemon entered her slowly and gently. He moved inside her and allowed her to get used to his size before then moving more quickly. Soon she was breathing heavily and Aemon was moving faster and faster, his thrusts just hitting her deeply enough to be on the right side of pleasure and pain.

"I…I'm close….Gods I'm close…" Tyene gasped.

"On her, Aemon. Not in her." Arianne said commandingly and it was only later that her cousin told her that for some reason, that night, she couldn't accept that Aemon spending inside them both.

"I…Iiiiiiiiiiii"

The fall when it came was one of the very best she'd ever known. Aemon moved against her once and then twice more before he pulled his cock from her and spent over her stomach and thighs. Tyene didn't see the excited look on Arianne's face as he did so, her own eyes closed as she let the waves of pleasure wash over her.

It was the tongues that woke her from the aftermath of her orgasm. Both Aemon's and Arianne's tongues were working between her legs and on her stomach. Looking down through half-opened eyes, Tyene was graced with a sight that almost sent her over the edge once more. Aemon softly licked her sex while Arianne cleaned up the mess he'd made when he'd spent on her stomach. Her cousin would then hold out her tongue with some of Aemon's seed on the very tip of it before Aemon then kissed Arianne deeply and they both went back to their work.

Sleep when it came found all three of them locked in an embrace. Tyene heard words being spoken between Aemon and Arianne though not what they were. She welcomed the kisses they both shared with her, their tongues seeking and finding her own and then she welcomed the sleep and the dreams that came to her when she finally closed her eyes. As she did the thought that this would certainly not be the last time she shared a bed with her cousin and Aemon Targaryen.

*Lemon Ends*

Water Gardens 299 AC.

Doran Martell.

A dragon, an actual dragon. Doran almost couldn't believe it and it changed things completely. They'd heard word from Essos that Daenerys Targaryen had brought dragons back into the world and both he and Oberyn had dismissed it as idle talk. Tales told for a reason he knew not, or so he had said to his brother. Now, however, he held a raven's scroll written in Oberyn's own hand that named those tales as true.

So Doran had sent his reply and he now awaited to meet a man he would be supporting as his king. Something he'd thought he may do reservedly at first, and which he'd now do far more truly. As long as Aemon Targaryen agreed to his terms that was. It was a strange and oft-perplexing world that Doran found himself in. A world where he'd made an agreement many years ago to join his House to the House of the Dragon once more, only for fate to deny him ever seeing that agreement followed through on.

Though in some ways that had been a blessing too, as keeping that agreement secret had almost cost him his daughter. Still, Doran had somewhat mourned Viserys Targaryen's death for what it cost him, or what he'd believed it had cost him. Vengeance, Justice, and his blood on the Iron Throne. A Dragon King for his daughter and a Dragon Princess for his son. Doran would try for both once more, though he'd accept just the one if need be. For there was no way he could allow anyone else to take the opportunity that was now his once more.

"Have the guards inform me the moment Oberyn and his guests are spotted," he said to Areo.

"As my prince commands." his faithful sworn shield replied.

Doran once again looked down at the raven's scroll. Aemon Targaryen had requested a message be sent to the King in the North which had been agreed to by Arianne and Oberyn even before they'd seen the dragon. Something that Doran would not have allowed and yet there were benefits to that too. Especially with the Reach looking as if it was to join with the Lions so completely.

On his desk, he looked at the Cyvasse board and began to move the pieces around. Doran smiled to himself as he picked up the dragon before placing it right next to the king. Spears to one side, a rabble and cavalry to the other, Doran then looked to the other side of the board. While it gave him some pause given there were more figures there, again his eyes turned to the dragon once more.

"A Martell Queen for Dornish Spears," he said softly to himself as Areo walked back into the room and took his place behind him once more.

It was midday when they arrived. Doran had been wheeled out to his favorite place overlooking the pools and had far more guards than was necessary. He wished to make an impression and show off the might of Dorne while hoping it covered up his own physical limitations. Some men, would he knew, think him lesser because he was confined to his wheeled chair, and while Doran would take advantage of that often, today he wished not to.

"Brother," Oberyn said warmly as he moved to greet him, dropping almost to his knees so they could embrace and Oberyn could whisper in his ear. "All I've said is true, Brother. The Dragons have returned."

Doran welcomed the words. He'd doubted Oberyn's message not, yet he still wished to hear it from his brother's own lips so as there was no further doubt. Looking over his brother's shoulder, he caught sight of a giant white wolf that had his men's spears lowered to cover the threat it posed. Only for a young dark-haired boy to move forward and speak in a voice that belied his years.

"Ghost will harm you not, my prince. I give you my oath on that."

A quick glance to Oberyn who nodded his head and a raised hand was enough to get his men to stand down. Though they looked at the wolf warily still. Doran turned his attention to the man who stood at the shoulder of the king he truly served. Barristan the Bold finally went back where he belonged and now served the dragons once more. Older than he was the last time that Doran had seen the famed knight, the man looked as capable as ever. Even with Oberyn and Areo here to guard his back, Doran couldn't be certain that should it be so wished, Barristan wouldn't be able to cut him down regardless.

As for the man he served. Doran had never met any of the Starks, yet he'd name him as more their kin than he would the Targaryens. Or he would until he looked past the boy's coloring and saw the telltale signs of Old Valyria in his features. A handsome lad, one who he hoped Arianne may find attractive and interesting enough that she'd hate him not for what he must do.

"And you must be A.."

"Jon Snow, my prince." the boy answered, interrupting Doran before he could speak and causing him to look to Oberyn for answers. Doran was happy enough when they were whispered in his ears and what those answers were as well.

"The boy trusts not until it's spoken far more truly and openly, brother. Now is not yet the time for such," Oberyn whispered.

"Ser Barristan, it's a true pleasure to see you once more and in far better company."

"As it is to be in that company, my prince," Barristan replied.

"I'm sure you'd both like some refreshments. We were just about to have luncheon, you'll both join me?" Doran asked to nod. "I'll see your wolf fed too, Jon Snow."

"Ghost will thank you for it, my prince. As will I."

Food was brought in and most of the guards were sent away. Doran only kept some of his most capable ones around him as they ate. He spoke mainly to his brother about the most non-important things while all the while his eyes searched Jon Snow for anything he'd give away. Yet it was not until he mentioned the events at Winterfell and offered his sympathies for the death of the two young boys as well as the death of Eddard Stark, that he found anything. Though what he found pleased him greatly.

"My condolences, Jon Snow. Your brothers were innocent and deserved not their fate. As for your father…I may not have liked or known Eddard Stark but he at least spoke up against the murders of my sister and her children. For that, he deserves to be mourned, at least."

"I still have a brother, my prince. Sisters too. While I'll not rest until those who took my kin from me have paid for their crimes. I care more for the living than the dead." Aemon said, pausing. "I must."

"Indeed. Yet it's dead that we have in common is it not?" Doran asked, keen to know how Aemon felt about Elia, Rhaenys, and Aegon.

A dark look, one that was followed by what seemed to be both fire and ice in Aemon's expression was soon followed by a look of resolve that Doran had only ever seen on his own or Obeyrn's faces.

"These men here, my prince," Aemon asked, pointing to Doran's guards. "You trust them with your secrets as much as you do your protection? His guards all glared at Aemon as he spoke the words.

"I do. You may speak freely, Jon Snow."

"Aemon, Prince Doran. Aemon Targaryen. It is who I am and the only man I can be."

"Then I'm pleased to finally meet you, Aemon Targaryen." Doran nodded, half japing and yet intrigued to hear what the boy would say next.

"I know not what happened between my father and your sister. Only that he and my mother were wed in the eyes of my mother's gods and those of my father. He named her his second wife and had the world not been a cruel and unforgiving place, maybe we'd get to ask them now their intent and we'd have met under different circumstances."

"Yet it is these circumstances we meet under," Doran replied.

"It is. So we can speak of the past or talk of the future. You can blame me for sins you may name my parents guilty of and I can lose my temper and deny myself the reason for traveling here."

"We can."

"I could have sought out House Tyrell, Prince Doran. Showed them what I showed your brother and brought them to my side. Yet, I came here because unlike them, it was our Houses that bled during Robert's Rebellion. Unlike them, it was our kin that was butchered by Lions."

"Was it?" he asked.

"Rhaenys was my sister and the chance to meet her, know her, yet not the chance to love her was stolen from me. Aegon was my brother, he would have been my king one day and he'd have had no more true man than me when that day came to pass. I knew them not, yet I love them just as truly as I do those I grew up with."

"The Starks," Doran said and Aemon nodded.

"I mourn my brothers from the North, Prince Doran, though they are cousins by blood. I mourn my sister and brother, however, because they are my true blood. As I mourn their mother."

"That's all good to know, Aemon, yet what are you intending to do about your mourning?"

"Fire and Blood, Prince Doran. The words of my father's House. My words. For I'm the last son of Old Valyria. The last son of the line of the Conqueror. I intend to show my enemies that they are words I live and am willing to die by."

"My words are Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken. Yet yours seem more apt to what it is we both wish to see done."

"Then name your price, Prince Doran. Name your price and let us together finally collect the debt that the Lannisters owe our fallen kin."

Doran looked to Oberyn who seemed eager for him to do just that. He looked at Aemon who, though he sat on the edge of his seat, seemed relaxed and composed. Finally, he looked to Ser Barristan who waited pensively.

"I take it you can prove who you claim to be?" Doran asked and Aemon nodded. "Then my price is a seat on the Small Council when the war is won. A seat to be taken up by my brother."

"Agreed."

"Some positions at court for men of Dorne and trading considerations."

"Agreed," Aemon said, before looking at him with eyes that seemed to stare far too deeply and carried far too much threat than a boy his age should manage. "Yet, I seek your true price. Prince Doran. Not the one you'll know I'll pay, but the one you wonder if I will."

Doran took a moment, reached down and lifted his glass, and took a small sip from it before placing it back on the table. He allowed the silence to hold for a little longer before speaking once more.

"Many years ago, an agreement was struck between Ser Willem Darry and House Martell. An agreement signed by Ser Willem, Oberyn, and by myself."

"You still have the signed agreement?" Ser Barristan asked and Doran nodded.

"And what terms were agreed, Prince Doran?"

"In return for Dornish support to retake the Iron Throne, two weddings were agreed to. Prince Viserys to my daughter Arianne and Princess Daenerys to my son Quentyn." Doran said and caught the frown that came and went from Aemon's face quickly. "I would seek that agreement honored."

"No!" Aemon stated firmly and Doran glared at him, as did Oberyn. Though Doran had expected a refusal all the same. "I will agree to marry Princess Arianne and name her my queen now and when the time comes that we've actually retaken the Iron Throne. My aunt's hand is not up for discussion."

"You would break a signed agreement, yet expect us to accept your word after doing so?" Oberyn said angrily, both because he actually felt that way and because he knew that Doran wished him to speak such words.

"Your agreement died the moment my uncle did, Prince Oberyn. When Ser Willem did. I am under no obligation to accept it as not only did I not sign it, but I wasn't even mentioned in it."

"You were unknown." Oberyn sneered.

"I still am, to some," Aemon replied, a half smirk on his face. "It matters not. My aunt's hand is not on the table, Prince Doran. Mine is. Accept it or do not, I leave it up to you."

If it was not for the dragon then simply on point of principle Doran may not accept it. Given who the boy's mother was and what Doran thought about his father, that alone bid him to reject the offer. The thoughts of Aemon leaving Dorne and taking his dragon to the Reach gave him pause. Even though he knew how close Olenna and Tywin Lannister were to an agreement of their own terms.

"I accept, though I seek the wedding to be held within the moon," Doran said, surprising both Aemon and Oberyn. The latter of whom looked at him curiously.

"I take no issue with that," Aemon said and then he rose to his feet and raised his glass, his eyes bidding both Doran and Oberyn to do likewise and a nod from Doran enough to get his brother to follow him when he did so. "To the fall of House Lannister and the end of the Lions."

"The End of the Lions," Doran said, smiling as too did Oberyn.

He'd need to speak to Arianne, convince her, and hope that she accepted. They'd need to try and stop the alliance between the Reach and the West too, as well as reach out even more truly to the Wolves. Yet as he drank his wine, Doran did so with as light a heart as he had known for six and ten years. A heart that would only grow lighter in the moons and years to come if the gods were good.

'For Elia, Rhaenys, Aegon. I swear once more that you will be avenged.'

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Sorry for the delay I can only apologize and say that the next update will be much quicker. Up Next: Trials are held, fates revealed, justice is served and regrets addressed before thoughts turn to others who owe blood debts to Aemon Targaryen as plans are made to visit the Twins and retake Winterfell from the Boltons.

For those following my other fics, Dragonwolf Danced is next to be updated, probably Saturday followed by a new chapter of Aemon the Dragonknight and Dragonverse next week.

Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.

Three Kerr: Thanks for saying so, hope you enjoyed this scene just as much.

Vulcran: At the moment not, but we will be seeing her looking to make a match, one that will be unusual.

The Spyhnx: No worries my friend, Arya will pop up in a chapter or two.

Sibeal: Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it.

Celexys: Thank you, my friend.

Dunk: Time, life, and just the nature of this being a collaboration more than a story that's 100 percent my own are what causes the delay, but it should be moving all much quicker now. With Arianne, I think her sexuality is such a big part of her and it's why I wanted to show it from both sides so to speak, before and after Jon, as there is a big change taking place. The baby thing I think would both be something that Jon and Doran would want as quickly as possible to happen and well, Jon and Arianne are young and sexual, so it really should. I always find it funny when you look at just how important heirs, spares, and daughters to marry, are among the Lords of Westeros, and other than Lysa/Selyse and their many miscarriages, so many of the timelines that children are born in doesn't quite add up. Like, with Ned, yes we know he and Cat had issues over Jon but we get Robb in 283. Sansa doesn't come along to 286. Arya is 289 and then Bran is 290 with Rickon in 295. It almost doesn't add up, if you get me. Same with Cersei/Robert, I mean Joff not being born until 286 when they're wed in 283, hell, Cersei would almost have been set aside by then if that was the case.

So here, I wanted it to be that Jon/Arianne are almost trying without trying.

In regard to Arianne and Dorne, we'll see a little of that come to a head over the next few chapters as Oberyn pushed and Jon pushes back. Jon is working on the assumption that Bran/Rickon truly are dead, but should one of them turn up, then they'd be Warden. You just can't really skirt the law that much. And well since we know what Bran is like, it'd be Rickon who's 5 here, so Sansa would still basically need to act as Regent anyway. As for Sansa's marriage/future, it will be addressed and with the idea that her children must be Starks. It's funny some people hate the dual timeline thing, but I'm glad you're liking it. It may only be one more chapter of the past, with the rest set in the here and now, but there will be at least one more chapter covering the wedding of Jon/Ari, Jon finding out about Robb's death, the planning of the attack at the wedding, Dany's arrival in Dorne and Jon/Barristan going to the TOJ. For me it's become a thing I've been trying to do more and more, add something different to stories, such as Marwyn's notes in Aemon the Conqueror or Ōñosmaghare's pov in Winter King, it keeps it fresh and interesting. I've got a new story I'm working on with a friend, that will have a big set of dual timelines going on, one where one of Rhaella's babies lives and Dany/Vis/Rhaegar have another brother. It'll be showing excerpts from that brother's travels, incorporating Yi TI, Sothoroys, and Valyria amongst other things while at the same time, having him and Jon take back the Iron Throne.

Sven: Yes it is, but then again, she was young and impressionable and hell, the show had her do it even more blatantly LOL. I actually wonder just how earnestly she'll play that card in the books, or will she instead lean even further into the "Jon is only a bastard" idea? I mean we see her pretending to be LF's Bastard and she gains a new understanding of what it means to be one, thinks of Jon far more than ever before, so she may relate or simply use it against him. I kind of hope that she arrives with the might of the Vale and plays the Bastard card and Jon tells her to go do one, but that may be more about Season 8 Sansa than anything else.

Vwchick: Thanks so much for saying so, it means a lot.

Xan Merrick: Thank you, my friend. We sort of see that with Jon as LC in the NW, he has this I must do things myself attitude and so I really wanted that to come across. That and despite it all, other than Barristan, Arianne and somewhat Tyene, Dany of course, he trusts few people still.

Victoria: Thank you, my friend, I hope all is well with you and things are happy in your life. I've wanted to do a Jon/Arianne story for a while, this is almost a prelude to that in this will be a shorter story than most and in time I'll do a more fully fleshed out one with them. I've two ideas, one is a Rhaegar wins AU where Jon is basically sold off to Dorne to keep the peace and he and Arianne don't get on well at first, the other is one where Arianne pretty much sets out to end up with Jon, against her father's wishes, he acting against Rhaegar's too. One of the best things I find with a character like Oberyn is that it's easy to push him a certain way with just a little nudge. So you can have him all behind Jon as in Dragon Cub, completely against him as in Dark Prince, or here where it's a reluctant partnership at best. There are a few characters in ASOIAF like that I find, Catelyn is another, where she can quite easily be Jon'a ally or enemy. Varys too. I do miss Arthur myself, as I've said many times he's my favorite What IF, character. But I can let you know I've got a few more stories with him front and center in them, such as Last Wolf and an upcoming fic of mine.

Remember to keep smiling and always do that one thing that makes you happy, my friend, even if it's only for a moment.

Lannister: Das freut mich sehr zu hören. Außerdem wird es Sie freuen zu hören, dass mein Jon ein Lannister/Targaryen-Roman ist und bald erscheint.

Keb: So glad you liked it.

Bella Swan: The children are coming, as for Jon/Dany while yes it could sort of work, the issue is that jealousy/emotions, plus anyone else wielding power would create too many issues. Arianne may not mind sharing their bed with Tyene, but that's still only because she knows Jon doesn't really have any feelings for Tyene. Sansa still needs to learn to be a Warden, even if Bran/Rickon are found.

Fluppy: Ghost is with them. You see him with Sansa/Arianne and mainly he's by Jon's side.

Guest: No, sorry for the delay though, too many reasons to say why that is, but it's not and won't be abandoned. It will be finished and updated much more quickly next time.

Danykraven: Thanks so much for saying so, hope you liked the update.