JULIAN

The Tiger of the West; Julian Romyn earned this name during the Tournament of Harrenhal. He had unseated every opponent he faced in the Joust and with the sword. The only reason he didn't emerge as champion is because he withdrew from his match with Prince Rhaegar. Many whispered that he would have lost against the Dragon Prince. There are those who said Julian Romyn would have won. Julian's father praised him for what he did.

Julian rides at the head of his army numbering two thousand men all on horseback. To move quickly they had bought packhorses with them and whenever they passed by a village food was bought. As they rode southeast towards King's Landing Julian considers what to do about Jaime Lannister. Ser Jaime had been unhorsed by Ser Author Dayne and Dayne in turn was beaten by Julian's cousin Ceasar. Jaime Lannister has a reputation with the sword that runs from the Arbor to the Wall. After much thought Julian makes his decision about Jaime Lannister.

The journey to King's Landing takes a week and after a lot of words the City Watch Commander allow them to enter the city. Julian makes his way towards the Red Keep. As they ride through the main gate Julian swings his word killing the captain of the house guard. They slaughter the men in the courtyard and all the walls. Julian leads his men into the Keep impaling a man on his sword, "You men find the Queen and the Princess…Captain Baer find the Pyromancers and kill them all…The rest of you with me…"

"Burn them all!" The Mad King yells from the Iron Throne. Julian had seen the King at the tourney of Harrenhal and witnessed his madness first hand. One minute he would pleasant and the next he would say something crazy. Inside the throne room Jaime Lannister leads fifty men in defense of the King. "Ser Jaime! Your King commands you to kill these traitors…Kill them all…Kill them now!"

"You men need not die!" Julian quickly says, "This mad man wants to burn the city…I know about the Wild Fire! Prince Rhaegar sent us to arrest his father…"

"He lies! Rhaegar would never betray me! He is blood and I am the blood of the Dragon!"

"Ser Jaime! Our Houses have been at odds for generations, but I swear on my honor and the honor of House Romyn…Surrender and you along with all your men will be spared…"

Jaime looks at the men with him, "Throw down your weapons…"

"No! No! I am the King! I will have your heads for this!"

"Take him to a room and make sure he can't hurt himself…Guard the door…"

Julian walks up to Jaime and takes his sword, "A Romyn who keeps his word…"

"Unlike your father who gave his word to Lord Tarbeck and slaughtered him and his family afterwards…"

"I am not my father…"

"Nor am I…" He looks at a soldier, "Take Ser Jaime to a room and guard the door…"

He pauses, "Wait! Did Rhaegar really send you?"

Julian smiles and signals with his head for his men to take Jaime away. He had no wish to lie to the young Knight. After securing the castle and gathering Rhaegar's supporters Julian makes his way to the Queen's chambers, "Forgive my intrusion your Grace…"

She is heavy pregnant, her son Prince Viserys sits by her bed, "Who are you?"

Julian Romyn Your Grace of West Point…"

"Ah the Tiger of the West…Are you here to kill me?"

"No Your Grace…My House fights for your son Prince Rhaegar…"

"And where is Rhaegar?"

"Fighting in the Riverlands alongside my father…I have placed your husband under house arrest…"

"The Mad King…That is good…My daughter by law…Princess Elia is she well?"

"I will go and check on her now…"

"I wish to see her…"

Julian bows and leaves the room, his mind on his betrothed Bethany Tarbeck, the last of House Tarbeck thanks to the Lannisters. Perhaps he should have killed Jaime Lannister in the name of his beloved. His father was a traditionalist, but he is also a realist. Or he calls himself a realist, as Caster Romyn had insisted that Bethany Tarbeck ward at West Point. Growing up Julian and Bethany became friends and then they fell in love. A kiss had been shared between the two every now and then. Julian's father had always taught and lectured him about romance, love, sex, and fatherhood.

"A man who can't control his sexual urges is no better than an animal…Don't be an animal my son…Don't go around making bastards…And don't do things to women that you wouldn't want done to your mother may the gods grant her peace…"

It was a hard lesson to hold onto, but Julian felt pride in the fact that when he wed his beloved Bethany she would be his first and he would be hers. Julian is announced to Princess Elia Targaryen nee' Martell by her handmaiden. "The Tiger of the West…I am honored…"

"I come to check on you your Grace…Do you need anything?"

"My children and I are fine…I would ask has there been any word on my husband Prince Rhaegar?"

"None yet Princess…The Queen is asking for you…" Later Julian meets with his captains, agents of House Romyn, and Rhaegar's allies. "Have you found that fat Eunuch?"

"No My Lord…" Ser Benson of Port Romyn responds.

"Lord Varys is a Master of disguise My Lord." Captain Keller of the City Watch says. Keller had killed his Lord Commander who was a loyalist to Aerys and aided the Pyromancers in hiding the Wild Fire in the city. "Have my father's ships arrived?"

"Yes My Lord…Blackwater Bay is secure…"

"Alright dismissed…"

Julian retires to a room and writes a letter to Bethany. The days turn into weeks and on the first day of the fifth week a rider comes to the Capitol. "The Lannisters are coming! The Lannisters are coming!"

Julian's father has scouts throughout the countryside watching for Lannister movements. "How soon will they be here?"

"Two weeks at the most…60,000 strong…"

"Captain prepare the men…We are leaving…Ser Darry come with me…" The two men head for the Queen's chamber.

"Why are we leaving? We have Ser Jaime Lannister…He will make a great hostage to hold the Lannisters at bay…"

He sighs, "If Tywin Lannister is marching on the city unchallenged then that means the battle in the Riverlands is not going well…" The two men are announced, "Your Grace it is time…The Lannisters are marching on the city Unchallenged…"

"Do you believe they can get into the city?"

"We are outnumbered Your Grace I would rather flee to Dorne than wait around with no word from the Riverlands…"

She nods, "Very well then…"

Maester Pycel is present, "Her Grace is heavy pregnant…a journey by sea will jeopardize her health…"

"The decision is yours my Queen…"

"We go…" She strongly says.

Julian has his men empty the vaults and take as much food as they can. The Queen, Princess, and their children are safely taken to a ship and settled on board. Then the servants, food, soldiers, and gold are loaded. "I am afraid Ser Jaime that I must insist you come with me..." He says as his men place chains on the young Lannister. By sunset they set sail from King's Landing. Because of her condition Queen Rhaella is taken to Dragonstone to rest. Jullian leaves five hundred men and twenty ships; then he sails on to Dorne with Princess Elia and her children.

During the voyage Prince Jaeharys falls ill. When they arrive in Sunspear bad news awaits them. "Elia thank the gods you are alive…" Doran says hugging his sister.

"I am glad to see you brother, but we must hurry…My son has fallen ill…"

After they are settled Prince Doran pulls Julian to the side, "I'm afraid I have bad news…The war has been decided and Robert Baratheon and his allies are victorious…Prince Rhaegar is dead…"

"NO!" The heart wrenching scream of Elia causes them to turn and look behind them, she is standing in the doorway with Ser Darry. As she falls to the floor Ser Darry catches her.

"My father?"

Julian asks as they Carry Elia to her room, "I have had no word on your father..."

Julian sighs, "I must return home…"

"I am indebted to you…and your House for my Sister…If ever there is anything I can do…"

Julian nods and prepares to leave by ship for the Western Expanse. Two days after reaching Dorne Prince Jaeharys dies. "Lord Julian…I would speak with you privately…"

She takes him to a sitting room, "My condolences on your losses Princess…"

She takes a deep breath, "Thank you…You have done so much for me, but I must ask another favor before you leave…"

He nods, "If it is within my power I shall grant it…"

"I need you and some of your men to ride with me to the Tower of Joy…"

He frowns, "The Tower of Joy?" Julian takes ten men to accompany them. As they travel Elia tells him why she is going to the Tower. When they arrive it is as she said, Ser Author Dayne and Ser Gerald Hightower are standing guard. "Princess!" They say in shock when she reveals herself. They are allowed to pass.

"Lyanna!"

"El? El is that you?"

"I am hear my dear sweet sister…"

"Your Grace this is no place for a man…The child will come soon…" The Handmaiden says looking at Julian.

Julian paces outside the door which opens up. Elia exits the room holding a baby. Julian smiles, "What is his name?"

"She named him Aegon…Aegon the Seventh of his name…"

"Princess…I have a request…" Julian and Elia leave the tower after Lyanna uses the last of her strength to write a letter. She commands Ser Author and Gerald to remain at guard. When they return to Sunspear Prince Oberyne is waiting. Julian says his goodbyes and boards his ship with his adopted son Jon Romyn. Upon returning to West Point Julian hides the baby with a handmaiden who had accompanied him from Dorne.

"You are now the Lord of West Point…" His uncle Octavion Romyn says in the main hall of the castle.

"How did my father die?" Bethany is standing beside him holding his hand.

Octavion looks at a soldier who managed to flee the battle after it was lost. "Your father's plan to draw the enemy away from the Trident worked…They met us six miles Northeast of the Stone Mill…Robert Baratheon and his allies came at us with their entire army…Your father died trying to save Prince Rhaegar…He died fighting Robert Baratheon himself…"

"What shall we do?" Ellyn nervously asks.

Julian looks at Bethany, as the weight of Lordship now falls on his shoulders. Despite the fact that Julian had been preparing for this all his life he still feels fear. "Someone will become the King…Most likely Robert…"

"Why Robert Nephew?"

"He killed Rhaegar…Of all his allies he has gained the greatest reputation on the battlefield…"

"Then we are doomed…" Lord Axel says, "We have no allies…House Romyn stands alone…"

"I wouldn't say doomed…" Julian signals and his men bring Jaime Lannister into the hall in chains, "I am sure Tywin Lannister will do anything to get his son back…Take him to a room and treat him well…"

"Why not the dungeons?" Ellyn asks in anger.

"A healthy hostage will make a more valuable bargaining chip…Now we should prepare…" Julian shocks his people by preparing for a wedding. After two days of preparation he marries Bethany in the Great Sept of Sylus Romyn. The Sept is just as large as the one in King's Landing. Sylus was an ancestor who was a friend to Baelor the Blessed and tried to immolate him in many ways.

A three day feast is held and Ravens are sent to ring the bells in Port Romyn. After they make love Julian sneaks Bethany out of the castle. "Where are you taking me?"

"There is something I must show you…" The newlywed couple are wearing large hooded cloaks. They reach an inn and are taken to the third floor. Julian knocks on the door in a special way and they are greeted by a guard. Julian takes the baby away from the handmaiden, "Bethany meet Prince Aegon Targaryen the Seventh of his name…I named him Jon Romyn…"

She gently takes the baby from Julian, "By the gods he is so beautiful…But why?" And so Julian tells his new wife how Rhaegar and Lyanna fell in love at the Tourney and Rhaegar's plans that fell apart with the arrival of his father.

"Princess Elia or should I say Queen Elia now…" Word had been received that Queen Rhaella died in childbirth. "…agreed that I could take the young Prince and raise him as my son."

Bethany smiles holding the baby looking at Julian, "Promise me many babies…" She says tucking her lips and pretending to bite the baby's hand.

"As many as your body will allow…"

Julian spends as much time with his new wife as possible, but the majority of his time is spent preparing for the army that will come to the Great Wall of the Western Expanse. Eventually he is able to impregnate her after a week of trying. "My Lord..." Octavion says entering the Solar, "Our Scouts have spotted Robert Baratheon and his armies..."

"Be respectful uncle...It's King Robert..."