DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING

A/N:As always, thanks to Ramzes for the reviews, they keep my inspired

DUNCAN

"What in the name of the Gods were you THINKING?"

The King was furious and his usually fair features were flushed red in anger as he stood before his two middle children with a dangerous look in his eye. "You let your brother out of the city while we are in the middle of a war! How could the two of you be so foolish? Especially you Jaehaerys, how could you of all people do something like this?"

Even though they weren't directed at him Duncan still felt himself flinch at his father's words. He had gotten used to his father's raised voice better than any of his siblings yet he still found himself instinctively anxious by it. Rhaelle looked quite out of place as she stood with her hands by her sides and her gaze set firmly at the ground, one could easily forget that she was a parent herself and not a twelve-year-old again.

Jaehaerys was another matter though; he stood tall and meet Aegon's gaze with every word and showed absolutely no sense of fear whatsoever despite the fact that this was likely the first time their father had ever shouted at him. Most people thought Jaehaerys weak because of his bookish nature but Duncan knew that there was intelligence to his younger brother that was unmatched by even the brightest scholars and coupled with that was a tremendous amount of courage.

"I did what I thought was right father, if you feel the need to punish me for that then so be it." said Jaehaerys in an even voice.

The look Aegon gave his son was dark. "Do you not see the gravity of what you have done? Your brother is out there on his own right when we're at our most vulnerable, and that's ignoring the fact that a few days ago he was barely lucid!"

Duncan didn't know what to make of the situation, on the one hand his brother would never do something without considering every possible scenario and even then only act with absolute conviction, but on the other hand Aemon was hardly in any state to travel when Duncan had last laid eyes on him. He was unsure and decided so kept his mouth shut and let his brother explain himself.

"Despite the popular rumours floating about the Red Keep, Aemon is not a raving madman who thinks himself in a world of snarks and grumpkins. He came to me with a plan that would help you safeguard the northern half of the realm." Jaehaerys' big purple eyes were staring intently at his father's now.

"Jaehaerys….for all we know he could be taken hostage by some Blackfyre sympathiser or worse he could lost in the northern tundras!" huffed Aegon as he pinched the ridge of his nose in frustration. "I can only hope that my search parties will find them in time."

"Father you just have-"

"Enough. The two of you have my leave to go…..go see to your children." Said the king dismissively, his voice sounded weary and he didn't even spare his children a glance as he sat back into his chair and rubbed at his temples.

Jaehaerys looked as though he wanted to say something else but Rhaelle quickly grabbed his hand and led her brother from the room leaving Duncan alone with his exhausted father. The prince of dragonflies took a seat on the edge of his father's desk and watched as the elder man gave a miserable sigh of frustration.

"Does any of this make sense to you?" he asked despondently.

Duncan shrugged. "Jaehaerys is a damned sight smarter than most men, I can't think that he'd willingly put anyone in harm's way unless he was certain that it was necessary….and Aemon has been so sick lately, why would Jaehaerys indulge him like that?"

"Aemon has always looked up to Jaehaerys, even if he has been more outgoing in temperament…" a brief smile crossed over his face. "Do you remember when Aemon was little, how Jaehaerys used to chase after him pretending to be a dragon?"

Duncan laughed at that. "And mother would always tell him not to, that he'd just wear himself out and get sick, though he'd never listen."

The king nodded sadly. "He hated when we made a fuss about him, absolutely hated it….but we couldn't help but be protective, it was our duty as parents….and now Aemon has become a worry." He turned his tired gaze to Duncan. "What is a father to do?"

The question caught him off guard and he struggled to find the words at first, but then he thought of Jenny and he had his answer. "You just have to have faith in them. We're a lot stronger than you think; you made us strong, you and mother. Aemon is alive."

ADDAM

"Does it really snow in Kings Landing?"

"Yes princess."

"I would like to see that, it hardly ever snows in Tyrosh."

"No princess."

Addam tried his best to keep his face neutral as he spoke to the young girl sitting before him. Daenys Blackfyre was one of the best Cyvasse players he had ever met and currently had taken his elephant and moved to strike at his dragon, all the while keeping up her innocent questions.

The princess was a true Valyrian princess with her deep purple eyes and long silver gold hair. At four and ten years she was already prettier than half of the women Addam had ever known, though admittedly he had mostly known the Tyroshi noblewomen who walked about with their hair dyed in colours of purple and green.

The birth of Maelys had nearly killed Lady Daena and it was miracle that she even managed to conceive again let alone give birth to a second. The story was that when Lady Blackfyre had seen the disfigured babe being handed to her she had tried to choke the life out of the poor thing until her brother-husband had stepped in and saved his only son's life, it seemed that the princess Daenys was the lady's attempt at making up to her husband. Though the child had killed her in the birthing bed, and had been a girl to boot.

Yet contrary to what everyone thought Maelys had not wed his sister, instead he named her his heir and promised to wed her to someone of only the noblest blood in Westeros. Ever since Addam had been taken into Maelys service he was occasionally tasked with serving as the girl's protector from time to time. She was a sweet child and always had a smile for everyone; Addam found that his shifts looking after her were among the better parts of his duties.

He moved his dragon and took one of her knights, quietly proud of how long he had been able to hold off her victory. She paused to try and plan her next move but before she could make a move her chamber door opened up and in walked Ser Dafyd Flowers, an anxious look on his face. "His grace commands your presence."

In an instant Addam was on his feet and reattaching his cloak. "Very well, stay with the princess." He made a final move of his piece and walked from the room.

The castle they currently took refuge in was a ruin left over from the time of the First Men when they had originally used the Step Stones as a means to crossover into Westeros, and the castle was littered with various carvings and symbols that none of them could read, though one of the older members claimed it was written in the Old Tongue.

He found Maelys Blackfyre in the very top room of the castle's only remaining tower, sitting behind the massive stone table that was littered with runes. To his left sat the Ebon Prince who for once sat with a scowl across his features. Beside him sat several foreigners that he did not recognise and sitting across from them on the right side of the table sat various members of the Gold Company; old Tom Farryn who had once served as lord Bittersteel's last squire, bald Stafford Hill who wore the worst comb over that Addam had ever seen, and Ser Hector Harrow. The seat to the king's right was empty.

An iron brazier sat behind them, its coals glowing a ruddy orange. There was only one window which sat to the west, beyond was the cloudy and overcast sky. Addam could see rainclouds approaching.

Addam gave a deep bow. "Your Grace, I have come as you asked."

"So you have." His purple eyes looked tired. "I am in need of your counsel Ser."

"It is yours your Grace." replied Addam with another bow.

Maelys pointed to the chair beside him. "Sit."

Addam did so and tried his best to ignore the various eyes of the foreigners who sat across from him. He gently traced one of the runes that had been carved into the table with his fingers, as if for reassurance. Maelys turned his gaze to a man sitting just beside the Ebon Prince, the only man at the table who had anything remotely resembling a smile. The Serpent.

"When I commanded you to treat with the Greyjoys I had thought that you, so called Lord of all the pirates, would go into Greyjoy's keep and speak with him man to man, to show him how much our alliance could benefit one another….and yet you sent in a motley fool in your stead and now I have yet another enemy. Give me a reason why I should not have you hanged from the mast of your own ship?"

The other man's smile did not cease and he leaned forwards on the table and held out his two hands. "I was wounded in my battle with Aemon Targaryen Your Grace; I still have the scars to prove it. By the time we arrived at Pyke I was bedridden and had to send one of my retainers, though I see now that had I gone on my own the only difference would be that my head would be adorning a spike over the battlements of Pyke."

"You say that you fought Aegon's mad son, yet you also say that he escaped. It seems that my use for you is growing smaller with each passing day." complained Maelys.

The pirate's smile only grew wider and his maroon eyes gleamed with amusement. "If you feel that I am no longer useful to your cause then you are welcome to take my head, though there is the small matter of the many hundreds of ships that fight for me."

You slippery bastard thought Addam bitterly as he watched the exchange. The king looked at the pirate with a murderous intent and Addam was entirely sure that if given the chance Maelys would open the man from balls to brains, however the Ebon Prince managed to stop things from escalating. "We're all very upset about what happened, but at least we struck at the Targaryen forces and put a dent in their defence. Aegon's son is missing and wounded, the man will be blinded by his grief…..he'll never see us coming."

"We could send a raid to the Dornish coast." suggested Ser Hector.

Tom Farryn scoffed at that. "An easy target yes, but what strategic value would it give us?"

"Aegon's own sister married a Dornishman, we could get at the man that way." The rat faced knight furrowed his brows. "Besides, the men grow lax from all of this watching and waiting. A battle is what we need."

Maelys seemed to consider it and rubbed at the stubble growing on his enormous jaw. "It could be done. The risk is small and the Dornish have little to no naval power and it would weaken Aegon's resolve if I had his nephew's head…how soon can you be ready?"

"My men can be mobilized in a day your grace." Ser Hector's voice was nearly shaking with excitement.

"Then make it so." He told the rodent of a man before addressing the rest of the table. "Go, inform your men about what is expected of them."

The room soon began to clear yet Addam noticed neither the king nor the pirate lord made to stand up, so the knight decided to remain seated. Maelys face was twisted into a mask of disgust as looked over at the smiling pirate who called himself the Serpent. Two men could never look so different; Maelys is wide and hard, twisted by birth and by battle while The Serpent looks like every maiden's dream, though I'd wager if they knew the truth of the man they'd choose Maelys…

"What's this I've been hearing about you…killing hostages." grunted the Blackfyre.

The other man's lips curled into a smile. "They weren't anyone of note I can assure you, just household knights."

Maelys narrowed his purple eyes on the pirate sitting before him, a storm cloud brewing within them. "You think your actions can go unanswered for? The rumours have already spread through my ranks and Gods know how much they've spread in Westeros. This…habit of yours has to stop, it is ungodly and it gives us all a bad name."

The Serpent was no longer smiling now, his mouth had gone into a straight line and his eyes were boring a hole into the King's own. His maroon eyes seemed to glow an eerie red in the glow of the fire and Addam found himself unconsciously moving his hand to the sword at his side.

"Do you know what my father told me, the first time he took me on a hunt? He said that when you take another creature's life you end all they were and all they could be." His red eyes found looked at Maelys unflinchingly. "I am honouring those I have killed by eating them, their souls."

The king leant forward, hands clenched tightly. There was not a trace of fear on his scarred, broad face, only fury. "You will be more discreet in your madness or I swear I will throw you into the sea." With that the king stood from his chair and Addam quickly followed suit, moving to his right hand side. They were just at the door when the Serpent called out.

"Remember our deal. You get my ships, and I…get Rhaelle Targaryen as a bride."

Maelys only paused briefly and gave the barest of nods before continuing into the darkness of his castle ruin.