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The Return of the Dragon King

Chapter 1

"Jon Arryn is dead."

Prince Viserys Targaryen surveyed the rest of his family as they sat in a well-furnished room in Magister Illyrio Mopatis' manse in Pentos, which had been their home in exile for the past fifteen years. The rest of House Targaryen's members stared at him. At length Crown Prince Aegon Targaryen the Prince of Dragonstone (Aegon found the title of 'king' as ill-omened without having claimed the throne first) nodded slowly.

"And…?" he prompted. "Lord Arryn was old, but not that old. He shouldn't have just died, and if it was a disease, we'd have heard of it long before now. This reeks of a scheme."

"I agree." Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Aegon's older sister, said with a nod. "And I don't like it. Our plans are quite delicate enough as they stand, and we don't need someone else rocking the boat along."

Viserys' face tightened at the reminder of the derailment of their plan during the previous year by Jon Arryn's foresighted arrangement of a marriage between Prince Renly Baratheon and Lady Margaery Tyrell, something that had infuriated the elder Targaryen prince. The plan had been for him to wed Princess Arianne Martell, Rhaenys to Lord Willas Tyrell, and Daenerys to Renly (and hopefully keep the Stormlands neutral considering Renly's – and Stannis' – less-than-warm relationship with their brother). Jon Arryn's diplomacy had left that plan dead in the water, and had raised questions about the reliability of the Tyrells.

A marriage between Rhaenys and Willas was still on the table, but not nearly as concrete as it would otherwise be as a result.

"Unless you were behind this, uncle…?"

"No…" Viserys answered Rhaenys with a shake of his head. "…as much as I'd love to have given the order to take Jon Arryn's head and thus depriving the Usurper of his Hand, I was not. Killing Jon Arryn now serves no purpose, and risks too much if it was discovered."

"Then who…?" Aegon pressed, and Viserys turned to a dwarf seated behind him.

"The ones who serve to benefit the most from this development is House Stark." Tyrion Lannister said, rising from his seat. "It is no secret that Lord Stark is the Usurper's most trusted friend, and the closest to him barring the late Lord Arryn. As a matter of fact our friend in King's Landing has also informed us that once the official mourning is over, the Usurper plans to take his family on a visit to the North, and to ask Lord Stark to take up the position of his Hand."

"Lord Stark…? Hand of the King…?" Princess Elia Martell gaped. "Lord Stark is a most principled man, worthy of respect but…he does not strike me as political enough to handle court affairs, much less matters pertaining to the realm as a whole. For the North his talents are sufficient, but the North has always been…different to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms."

"Quite…" Tyrion agreed. "…and Lord Stark would never even consider assassinating Lord Arryn. The Usurper is not the only one who was attached to the late lord."

Aegon narrowed his eyes. "No offense Tyrion…" he said politely, though it was unnecessary as it was no secret just what Tyrion thought of his family outside of his brother Jaime. "…but the only other ones who would stand to gain from Lord Arryn's death would be House Lannister."

"Normally I would agree but…" Tyrion paused and fumbled for a moment before shaking his head. "…I can see Cersei doing this, as part of some scheme to reduce her husband's already-tenuous grip over his court and increase her own, but she would never do something of this scale without father's approval. And much like us, Jon Arryn's death now is of no purpose to House Lannister. Perhaps if the Usurper is dead, and Cersei's spoiled brat Joffrey is king, then he might, no probably would engineer Lord Arryn's death to become Hand himself and strengthen Lannister influence over the throne. But right now it would make no sense for father to do something like this."

"A third party…" Viserys' sister Princess Daenerys 'Dany' Targaryen spoke up. "…we didn't do it, and neither the Starks nor the Lannisters would despite the obvious pointing to either of them."

"Our friend agrees." Viserys said with a nod. "He said he would look into the matter, and for us to keep our eyes open."

"I will speak with the magister then." Ser Barristan Selmy, the Lord Commander of the loyalist Kingsguard said.

"I'll leave it to you then, Ser Barristan." Aegon said, and the elderly knight bowed. There had been some…concern on Viserys' and Elia's parts about Barristan's loyalty as he had briefly bent knee to the Usurper, but Jaime had vouched for the man, and ultimately it was decided that given his experience and expertise he would remain as part of the Kingsguard.

As for Jaime himself, while Viserys and Daenerys would never forget that he was the one who had killed their father, his loyalty to the family had been proven to be absolute. As such he had been pardoned of regicide, and remained in the Kingsguard.

"What do we do now?" Rhaenys asked, and Viserys cleared his throat before continuing.

"For now we keep our eyes open." He said. "However my intuition tells me that things are starting to move to our advantage. I will consult with Prince Doran, but I've already sent word for Lord Connington to inform the Golden Company just in case. There's been no reply yet, but I have the utmost faith in Lord Connington."

Viserys smiled slightly at the strange nature of House Targaryen's allies. Ser Barristan and Ser Jaime, who under normal circumstances would have been sent to the Wall in lieu of execution for past actions but with their extenuating circumstances…the Golden Company which had traditionally fought under a black dragon would be fighting under the red dragon when the time came…and Lord Connington who had been exiled by Viserys' father for failure but whose loyalty could not be questioned: as one from the Stormlands and one who'd been exiled by King Aerys II he could have come back to Westeros with a good chance for pardon and restitution, but had chosen continued exile until House Targaryen had need of him.

There was Tyrion Lannister, who'd somehow managed to make his way to Pentos barely a year after their exile had begun, as a boy of eleven. Distrusted initially for his family name, given the lack of filial affection between him and his father Viserys and Elia had chosen to give him a chance, and he'd soon proven his worth as an intelligent adviser to House Targaryen.

And there was Dorne, which among the Seven Kingdoms had bitterly opposed Targaryen sovereignty the longest but was now their trusted ally.

Strange times…strange allies…

"Well that's all I really had to say for now…" Viserys said with a nod, and his family and their allies dispersed. Aegon and Rhaenys walked off, the former inviting the latter for a spar, while Tyrion went off to find his brother. Dany wandered off somewhere, and Barristan went to meet with their host. Viserys however made to intercept Elia.

"Sister…" he said. "…I'd appreciate it if you could help me pen my letter to your brother."

Elia considered for a moment, and then nodded before following Viserys to the prince's study.

"Really…that sounds…very interesting…"

Jaime didn't sound particularly interested, though it wasn't too surprising. The Kingslayer was busy watching a spar between fellow Kingsguard members Prince Quentyn Martell and Lady Nymeria Sand, while Kingsguard member Lady Obara Sand watched. Aegon and Rhaenys were also there watching, having arrived for a spar of their own even as Tyrion had found Jaime, only to find their Kingsguard's members already sparring away.

Tyrion rolled his eyes before taking an offered flagon of wine from a servant and filling a cup for himself. "And you sound so interested too, dear brother." He said, and Jaime nodded as the match ended in a draw, Quentyn knocking his cousin to the ground and holding his sword's point just a couple of inches from her throat…and with Nymeria holding a long-bladed (and no doubt poisoned) dagger about as close to her cousin's crotch.

"You'd both be dead." Jaime said neutrally as he approached, Quentyn helping Nymeria Sand. "Nymeria would be choking on her blood while Quentyn would die screaming like a girl…"

The Kingslayer smiled as Quentyn scowled at his words. "I've seen someone get his cock cut off before." He said. "Well not really…more of a bannerman pointing his spear too low and catching a charging bandit in the crotch. Not pretty…and very noisy…"

Jaime paused as he turned serious again. "With that said…" he continued. "…as far as I'm concerned this match is a good reminder for both of you. You are Kingsguard, the last line of defence for House Targaryen, and getting yourselves killed is not your duty. Quentyn, don't rush in too quickly, not unless you're sure the enemy is completely helpless, or finish them off cleanly. Nymeria…play to your strengths. Quentyn is stronger than you are, but you are faster. The same will be the case for most enemies you'll have to face in the future. Understand…?"

"Yes Ser Jaime."

"Good…my prince and princess, you were going to have a spar of your own…?"

As Rhaenys and Aegon took their places in the middle of the training room, Jaime retook his place beside his brother. "Any suspicions…?" he asked.

"So you were listening."

This time it was Jaime's turn to roll his eyes. "Yes Tyrion, I was listening." He said. "So do you have any suspicions as to who this third party might be?"

"A few…" Tyrion answered. "…there's the Iron Bank as a warning to the Usurper about the insanity that is his reign's finances and the rapidly-waning possibility of payment…our friend himself…House Tyrell as a means to open up a chance for Renly ascending to the throne…even Stannis as a means of getting back at his brother…"

Jaime grinned. "Sounds far-fetched…" he quipped, and laughed as Tyrion also gave a barking laugh.

"I won't deny that." Tyrion agreed. "In fact most of my suspects are far-fetched, so much so that I can safely disregard them. I daresay dragons – as in literal, fire-breathing dragons – returning would be more believable than most of my suspicions."

"You don't sound happy." Jaime said, watching as Aegon parried his sister's sword and dove in for the kill, only for the older girl to shoulder him away while his stance was ever-so-slightly off and buying time for her to recover. "I wouldn't expect you to be though."

"And you shouldn't." Tyrion said with another drink of wine. "Getting the dragons back where they belong will be hard enough, to say nothing of putting the Seven Kingdoms back together after the Usurper's disaster of a reign. We don't need someone else making things even harder than it already is."

"No, we certainly don't."

"You wanted to see me, my prince?" Tyrion said with a bow as he quietly entered Viserys' study later that evening.

The prince was standing by the window, a glass of wine held in one hand as he stared out over the city of Pentos in the Moonlight. "Dragons…" the prince said softly, and Tyrion blinked.

"I beg your pardon?"

"My sister dreams of dragons." Viserys said. "Fire and blood she says, that all she says the answer is. She dreams of a great-looking man burning in a pyre, and a hag burning with him as a funeral sacrifice…and…three dragons born from fire and blood…"

Tyrion's face stayed carefully neutral, and Viserys continued after a moment without looking at him. "I know better of course." He said. "It's not like my family hasn't tried to hatch dragons before. Aegon III had foreign mages try and fail to accomplish it for him, that fool Baelor prayed to his false gods of stone, and Prince Aerion drank Wildfire and died screaming."

Viserys drained his glass and set it down on a nearby table, finally looking at Tyrion. "And of course…" he said. "…I have not forgotten Summerhall, where Aegon V and his sons perished in fire and sorcery."

Tyrion stayed silent.

"Dragons…if we had them our task would be so much easier." Viserys said, pacing before his window. "But we don't have them. And we don't have the luxury to try and see whether or not my sister's dreams have any meaning behind them."

Tyrion blinked and drew himself at that, and Viserys' lips twitched into a faint smile. "You have something to say my lord?" he asked.

"You believe that your sister's dreams might have meaning behind them?" Tyrion asked, and Viserys chuckled.

"Come now, Tyrion…" Viserys said. "…you're an educated man. You know of my ancestor, Daenys the Dreamer."

"True…" Tyrion agreed with a series of nods. "…but as you say we have not the luxury to determine whether or not your sister possesses the gift of foresight."

"Indeed…" Viserys agreed. "…but one can hope. Perhaps…when we have the luxury…who knows? Now then, down to business and worry not it will be brief."

"Of course my prince…"

"There is a certain subject I have yet to discuss with you and your brother." Viserys began while pouring a glass of wine for Tyrion. "I have discussed them quite a few times with Elia, and discreetly with Prince Doran. They concern your family."

"I have no doubt that you intend to take my father's head, and while I believe that Jaime would ask for at least the justice of a trial, I would not oppose such a measure. And I do not believe many others would. My father had nothing to with the quarrel between your elder brother and the Usurper, and as such his actions – especially in light of my sister's current position – cannot be seen as anything but interested."

"My good-sister advocates for a trial and so does her brother." Viserys said, pacing once more. "What about you?"

Tyrion paused to think about it for a moment, and then he gave a slow nod. "We should at least give the impression of following the form of how things should be done…" he said. "…assuming of course my father does not fall on the battlefield."

"Easier said than done…" Viserys snorted. "…your father is a proven battle commander. I doubt even the Usurper could thwart him on the field, or indeed any other save perhaps Lord Tarly."

Viserys took a deep breath. "My nephew is also of the same opinion…" he revealed. "…which is unusual considering Rhaenys simply wishes him done away as a rabid dog."

"How vindictive…" Tyrion observed before taking a swallow of wine. "…and how unusual how she diverges from her brother's opinion: they usually mirror each other's opinions, nothing unusual seeing how…close they are…"

"Indeed…" Viserys said with a nod. "…I agree with Rhaenys on a personal note, but I cannot afford to be clouded by personal bias. And neither can Aegon, lest we be seen as no better than the Usurper. The man lets the sack of a city and the attempted murder of children go simply so he can spite my dear brother's memory – not that Rhaegar was entirely blameless – and calls us dragonspawn despite being kin through his Targaryen grandmother."

Tyrion stayed silent, drinking another mouthful of wine as Viserys brooded. The prince was undoubtedly Aerys' son, and Tyrion at times feared that the pressures of exile would bring forth the dreaded Targaryen madness much as Duskendale had done for his father. Thankfully between Elia's influence, his discreet correspondence with Arianne, and the fact that the burden of being king lay on his nephew's head as opposed to his, it meant that Viserys was able to think rationally even if he had to exert effort to keep his temper and impulses in check.

"Your sister will be sent north, to the Twins, in Genna Lannister's custody to spend the rest of her days in exile." Viserys finally said. "Joffrey will be made to take the Black, and Tommen may choose to do so as well or to take a maester's vows."

"A maester…?" Tyrion echoed, and Viserys an eyebrow.

"Is there a problem?"

"You distrust maesters and yet you intend to give them one of the biggest threats to your nephew's claim to the throne."

"Then I hope for their sake they would not give me an excuse not to take that senile traitor Pycelle's betrayal as anything but personal. There are rumours that I am sure you have heard about their…complicity in the destruction of my family's dragons. Rumours are dangerous things and I know better than to act on them, but they'd best pray to whatever false gods or goddesses they have that they remain false, or I shall see that they be delivered unto R'hllor's judgment for their treason."

"And Myrcella…?"

"A marriage to someone of my nephew's choice…" Viserys said. "…or if she so wishes she may become a Septa or become a Silent Sister. She's not a real threat, at least not when compared to her brothers."

"I see. Well my prince I don't see any difficulties with your plans, and I doubt Jaime would either. But first we must regain the Iron Throne, and before that we must deal with my father and before him the Usurper himself."

"Quite…" Viserys said with a nod. "…your loyalty, advice, and friendship over the years have been something of a comfort. I would not wish to lay the foundation for future distrust over the disposition of your sister and her children."

Tyrion sighed, and swirled his wine in its glass. "To be honest my prince…" he began. "…I wish Tommen and Myrcella would have different fates, as according to our friend they aren't spoiled as Joffrey is, but…we must do what we must. And you are showing them mercy, which is more than what my father would have and has done to your family. If not for my brother's loyalty…"

Tyrion trailed off, but Viserys didn't say anything. He didn't need to after all. He knew quite well what Tyrion meant. At length Tyrion sighed and raised his glass. "To your health my prince…" he said before draining his glass and with a nod from Viserys, took his leave.

A/N

It is 297 AC. Rhaenys is seventeen, Aegon is fifteen, Dany is thirteen, and Viserys is twenty-one. Yes, Viserys isn't insane. He's still driven though, but in a good way…sort-off…

Yes, the Targaryens don't follow the Faith of the Seven, and follow the Lord of Light instead which could cause trouble later on, but we'll see. Minor spoiler: Mel will be showing up eventually. BTW, are the priests and priestesses of the Lord of Light required to be unmarried like Septons and Septas? Obviously they've got nothing against warrior-priests like Thoros or sorceress-priestesses like Mel (who is hardly chaste), but marriage…? Help…please…?

Yes, it's a Tyrion POV again. I really like that guy.