(Not in chronological order.)
Skagos 299 AC.
Arthur Dayne.
Seeing a dragon in the flesh had been what he'd come here for and yet he'd never truly been prepared for it. He like any who'd served the Targaryen's had heard tell of the dragons, he'd seen the skulls, and Rhaegar had been obsessed with them. His friend was convinced that his Song of Ice and Fire would birth dragons from stone and while his son hadn't exactly done that, he'd done the next best thing. Skagos was old tongue for stone and he'd almost laughed when his king had told him so. Though upon seeing the dragon itself he did anything but laugh. The Cannibal it had been named once, Ōñosmaghare, Lightbringer it was to be known as now.
He doubted that even Balerion was as large as it was and he wondered if it would be just as deadly. They spent time with the king getting used to riding on its back, his little sister eager for him to take her up with him, and Rhaegar refusing for now. Given what had happened a few days ago, he was sure that he was right to do so.
When he'd seen the fall he'd dropped everything, Arthur running as fast as he could, and yet it was the dragon who reached him before he did. It made him stop in his tracks, not Arya Stark though, the little girl brushed past him, past the Skagosi and Thoros of Myr, and even past the dragon itself to make sure her brother was well. He was but for a cut over the eye, he was lucky he'd not lost it or his life given the fall. Once he'd told the dragon that it was nothing much to worry about and they'd gotten him back to the village and had it treated, he'd then listened as Rhaegar said it was his fault and he was a fool. Something that Arthur agreed with completely.
"I tried to be clever, to do something I should not, it's a good lesson and one I'll have a reminder of." Rhaegar said touching his head.
"You're a bloody idiot, Jon, you can't do things like that." Sansa said and for once her sister didn't argue with her when she went against her brother.
"Aye, but I wager you never thought all those days sewing would have led to this." Rhaegar said touching the cut above his eye and despite the circumstances, Sansa giggled.
"An idiot." Sansa said still giggling as she got up to walk away.
"You see why I've not taken you up yet?" Rhaegar said turning to Arya.
"You're the idiot, not me, I wouldn't fall." Arya said before then following after her sister.
"Sisters." Rhaegar said with a fond smile on his face as he watched them both walk away.
Eventually, he took them both up and then him, Arthur not enjoying it as much as either of the two girls did. When Rhaegar told him he was ready to leave, Arthur felt his excitement grow, though soon enough that was replaced with yet more worries and concerns.
"What do you mean you're not coming with us?" he asked angrily.
"I have somewhere I must go, Arthur, something I need to do. I swear I'll be in no danger and I'll not land near anyone who is against us." Rhaegar said.
"You can't go to your brother, Rhaegar, you can't as much as you may wish to." he said looking to see the nod.
"It's not him, Arthur, please trust me on this, it's something I need to do." Rhaegar said.
"Give me your word, Rhaegar, give me your word or take me with you."
"My word, Arthur, you have it, I'll not be at risk, not even slightly." Rhaegar said and he nodded.
His own argument with his king paled into comparison with both his sister's arguments. Sansa finally coming around when she was told that she'd be on the ship with him and that Rhaegar would meet them before they reached their destination. Arya though wouldn't listen and stormed off, Rhaegar quickly following after her. They were gone for some time and when they came back it seemed they'd reached an accord. Little did he know at the time that the only way they'd done so was for Rhaegar to do exactly what Arya wished him to do.
The night before they left, Rhaegar called him to a meeting with The Magnar, The Stane, The Crowl, and Thoros of Myr. They sat and drank before Rhaegar asked for fifty of their best men to travel on the ship with their own, his sister and Arthur himself.
"I've to meet my aunt at Dragonstone, The Magnar. She and her men are being brought there by ships that belong to men sworn to me. Once I meet her then these ships will come to you and bring the rest of your forces to join us. A moon, two at most and then we'll march to war, you, my aunt and her men, my own men and our dragons. There will be spoils to share in, wealth to gather and when it's done there will be ships that will be yours to start your fleet." Rhaegar said.
"The Prophecy fulfilled." The Magnar said with a smile.
"The Prophecy fulfilled. I give you my oath, to you, The Magnar, to you The Stane, and to you the Crowl. Men will speak of Skagos as the place my dragon named its home. They'll speak of you as the Leal men that you are, men of the North, the True North."
"The True North." each of the men said.
"Thoros, you and your men will accompany Arthur, the men of Skagos, and my sister along with Ghost and Nymeria. I'll certainly meet you by Claw's Isle at the latest, though given how much faster a dragon travels, I think you'll see me before then, perhaps near Widow's Watch. If I make it there before you I'll light a fire on the cliffs and you'll see it when you're close by." Rhaegar said.
"Of course your grace." Thoros said with a nod.
"We'll sail into Dragonstone together, though Lightbringer and I will scout the island first. We may need to fight to take it and the realm may learn of a dragon far sooner than it expects, but we'll see when the time comes." Rhaegar said.
"You're sure your aunt will be on Dragonstone, your grace?" Arthur asked.
"She's already left, Arthur, she sails as we speak, she just has further to travel than we do." Rhaegar said with a smile.
They feasted that night, Rhaegar speaking more with the three lords of Skagos before spending time with his sister. Arthur watched as he spoke to Sansa and reassured her that he'd only be gone for the briefest amount of time that he could. The young girl seemed to accept his words and she even danced with him when he asked, Arthur, welcoming seeing the smiles on both their faces. He awoke early and sparred with both Rhaegar and with Arya, the young girl was already dressed and ready to go with her brother, and to say she was excited and eager to be on her way was an understatement. When they were done, Rhaegar nodded to the girl and she raced off, both to gather the rest of her things and to speak to her sister no doubt.
"I know you're concerned, Arthur, worried even. I'd not take my sister into danger without more protection than I can give her, I hope you know that at least?"
"I do, I'm a Kingsguard, your grace, I lost my charge once because I followed his order, I'd…"
"I will return, Arthur, I swear it, this is not a dangerous thing I do but it is a necessary one." Rhaegar said and Arthur nodded at him that he understood.
All too soon it was time for them to say goodbye, Rhaegar wiped the tears his sister shed and hugged her tightly. As did Arya when her own time came. He watched as he spoke to the lords of Skagos, to Thoros and their men and finally he was facing him. Arthur was a little surprised when he found himself embraced and when Rhaegar whispered what it was he was setting off to do in his ear. Moments later both he and his sister were up on Lightbringer's back and the dragon was in the air.
A day later Arthur stood on the deck of the ship as it sailed away from Skagos, south instead of North, and to an island he'd not visited since before his king was born. House Targaryen was almost as one once more and fire and blood was soon to come to Westeros, Lions, and Stags to be its targets. Though he wondered if that would be all they'd have to face. Would the Roses come to the Dragon's side, would the Wolves, it mattered not, as he looked to the girl beside him and gave her a warm smile to let her know she was safe, it mattered not. Westeros belonged to the dragons, and soon the skies and the realm would see them once more.
Astapor/Volantis 299 AC.
Dany.
The dinner went well and while pleasantries were exchanged as were stories of her family, her mother, brother, and none of her father she was pleased to say, it wasn't for once them that she wished to speak of. Her guests though were keen to speak of other things than what she most wanted and so she let them, Dany telling them a little about what her life had been like and what kind of a brother Viserys had been. She concentrated on the good though, not the bad, and spoke of him before he became who he was at the end of his life.
Talk soon turned to her dragons and how they came to be, why she'd named them how she did, and whether or not she'd flown on them or not. Dany seeing the pleased looks when she named Rhaegal and Viserion, the confused ones when she named Drogon, and the almost excited ones when she spoke of flying on Drogon's back. Barristan was asked how he'd ended up here, Jorah likewise and then talk turned to Astapor itself and the Unsullied. She let Barristan speak on how she'd taken the city, freed the Unsullied and the people of the city and of how many of them there were.
Lord Bar Emmon was young and so he soon sought his bed while Lord Celtigar was very much not and he too quickly retired for the night, as did Lord Sunglass. It left her alone with Lord Velaryon, his bastard brother Lord Waters and her brother's former squire Ser Richard Lonmouth, along with Jorah, Barristan, Belwas, and Missandei. With the meal over, they moved to one of the larger rooms and she readied to ask the questions she'd wished to since they'd arrived.
"My nephew, Ser Richard, what can you tell me of him?" she asked trying not to sound too eager and she caught the man looking to Ser Barristan and then the other lords looking to him.
"It's a long story, my princess, but one I'll gladly share with you." Ser Richard said and she and Barristan both moved forward in their seats eagerly "As Ser Barristan may have told you, at one point I was your brother's squire."
"He has." she said eager to get to the part of the story she wished to.
"What know you of Harrenhal, my princess?" Richard asked and she told him the little she did, of Rhaegar winning the joust and crowing Lyanna Stark and how people reacted "Indeed, there were many reasons why your brother did so though none of us truly knew of them at the time. A year later your brother and Lady Lyanna both disappeared, there was talk of kidnap but those of us who knew Rhaegar knew this wasn't true. Then before anyone could take even a moment to breathe, the rebellion was begun and we were at war. The night before the Trident, your brother gave me what I thought was a letter and told me to hand it to Ser Arthur Dayne when next I saw him. Little did either of us know that it wouldn't be until a few moons ago that I would." Ser Richard said and both she and Barristan gasped.
"Arthur…Arthur lives?" Barristan asked.
"He does Ser and stands in his rightful place at his grace's shoulder." Ser Richard said and Dany felt such a sense of relief knowing that just like she had in Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah, her nephew too had his own protector "After the war, I took a knock to the head and lost myself. For three years I was no one, and by the time I realized who I truly was, I had no wish to be that man either. I've spent years just existing and not living. Until a few moons ago when me and those I traveled with came across a young man and an older one by chance, and I was then face to face with The Sword of the Morning and with Rhaegar's son and heir."
She listened as he told her that Ser Arthur had lived when the other Kingsguard had fallen, how her nephew had been taken to Winterfell by his uncle and raised there as a bastard, something that greatly annoyed Ser Barristan. Though what he said next left the old knight angrier than she had ever seen him.
"The Wall, he sent Rhaegar's son to the damn Wall?" Barristan asked "Damn him, Damn Ned Stark to the seven hells."
"From what Ser Arthur told me, Rhaegar was raised to think he had no other choice, Ser, that despite agreeing to tell his nephew the truth and allowing him to join Arthur at Greywater Watch when he came of age, Ned Stark allowed or sent, I'm not quite sure the details as I've not spoken to his grace on them, Rhaegar to the Wall. While there his grace had an accident and then found out the truth of himself from speaking to his Granduncle…." Ser Richard said and Dany interrupted.
"Granduncle?"
"The Maester at the Wall, my princess, Aemon Targaryen the son of Maeker and brother of Aegon the Unlikely." Ser Richard said with a smile and though Barristan said something about his age, all Dany could think of was that she had family, she had even more family, and that her nephew had met them and been helped by them.
"Is he still at the Wall?" she asked.
"As far as I know, my princess." Ser Richard said and she swore she'd see him when she returned, no matter what it took for her to go to him, she'd see her granduncle.
She listened as Ser Richard told her of Rhaegar leaving the Wall, of Ser Arthur's mad dash to it so he'd not swear his life away and of them finally meeting up and then heading south. How after he'd met them and found out the truth, he and those with him had sworn to the king and how he'd then set out to rescue his sisters. Cousins truly but Ser Richard said that Rhaegar saw them as sisters and Dany felt something stir in her at the idea that he had set out to rescue them.
"The youngest one was being held by a group of men led by The Mountain that Rides." Ser Richard said to gasps from both Barristan and Jorah "Don't worry, Ser Barristan, he no longer does so. His grace organized the attack himself, we rode in and cut down his men and his grace personally killed Amory Lorch." Ser Richard said with what to her seemed like pride "While Ser Arthur then did for the Mountain, Dawn more than a match for a monster such as he."
"He's dead, truly?" Barristan asked with a smile and to a nod from Ser Richard "Lorch?" Barristan then asked confused.
"While it was the Mountain who raped Princess Elia and killed Prince Aegon, it was Lorch who killed Princess Rhaenys." Ser Richard said and Dany felt her own pride flare-up, he'd avenged their family and had killed those who'd killed their kin.
"How did you end up here, Ser Richard, if you were with his grace, what brought you to Astapor?" Ser Jorah asked.
"After the Mountain and Lorch had fallen and with one of his sister's safe, his grace then set his sights on the other and began to make moves to ready to take his throne back. Lord Beric and Ser Arthur's nephew Ned Dayne were sent to Dorne with an offer of justice for House Martell, along with the heads of both Lorch and the Mountain. I was sent to speak to the Lords of the Narrow Sea, to bring them on side and to have them wait for their king's call. After I'd spoken to them and we'd waited, a raven was sent which told us that the king had been successful and now had both his sisters by his side and was now seeking his dragon. He bid us to come to Astapor and to bring the princess back home to Dragonstone."
"Lord Stannis?" Barristan asked worriedly.
"I believe his grace has a plan for him, Ser Barristan, if not then I believe that given our men, the princess's men, and her three dragons that even if he did not we'd be enough to see that Dragonstone once again belongs to House Targaryen." Ser Richard said and she smiled.
She paid little attention to the rest of the night's conversation and when she went to her bed it was with hopes that she'd see him in her dreams, though she did not. Over the next few days, she had Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah begin to make the arrangements to leave. Dany more than pleased to find out that she now had more than enough ships to take all her men and that it would be far more comfortable for the Unsullied. At times she took to the sky and showed the dragons off, herself too if she was being truthful, as she wished them to see her for what she was and not what they may have thought her as. She was a Dragonrider and she'd taken a city, she wasn't a meek little princess who'd bow and defer, and she knew that her nephew didn't see her as such.
When she had the chance she would speak to the lords though mainly to Ser Richard as he was the only one who knew her nephew and had met him. Dany found his words would feed her excitement about meeting Rhaegar and she counted down the days until she'd do so. Finally, it came, the day she'd been waiting for, all the preparations had been made and she was ready to say her goodbyes to the city. She'd done all she could to set it up for the future, to see that these people remained free and though they were sad to see her go, go she must. The dragons were ready, the Unsullied soon settled on the ships. She, Barristan, Jorah, Grey Worm, Belwas, Missandei, and Ser Richard stood on the deck of Balerion as it sailed out into the bay, the city was soon behind her and Dany only looked forward.
"If I look back, I'm lost." she said softly as the dragons flew over the fleet that now sailed to Westeros.
It took them a little over two weeks to reach Volantis, the ships docking so they could restock and ready for the next part of their journey. Dany was happy to be able to walk about on dry land as well and yet she spent far more time in the air than she did on the ground. She'd dreamt of him while they'd sailed, dreamt but not been with him. Instead, they'd been more traditional dreams, more normal ones and though she had enjoyed them, she found them a pale substitute for the ones where they were together and she would feel his lips on her own.
She came to her when they were ready to set off, the woman looking exactly as she had when she had met her in Qarth and Dany found herself eager for answers. Rhaegar had told her that he knew her, that she could trust her, that she was us, and Dany wished to know what that meant. So despite the protests of Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah, the warnings from Grey Worm and Missandei, Dany allowed Quaithe to join them when they left Volantis. After waiting until they were far enough from the city that should she prove untrue there would be nowhere for her to go, Dany then asked the woman to join her in her cabin.
"Who are you?" she asked as soon as Quaithe sat down and she found herself looking on with intrigue as Quaithe took off her mask.
"My name is Shiera Seastar, niece."
"That can't…you can't…"
"We have many miles to sail before we both reach our home, Daenerys Stormborn, many miles for me to tell you the tale of my life." Shiera said and Dany nodded.
He came to her that night and she found that she had no wish to speak, no desire for her questions to be answered. It was simply his arms around her and the feel of him as they kissed that she wished for and that he was more than happy to provide.
Winterfell 299 AC.
Dacey Mormont.
After she'd taken the fight to the squids and they'd celebrated, word came about the attack on Moat Cailin being rebuffed and for the next few days, they'd felt invincible. They soon found out they were not and she and the others couldn't believe the tale to be true. Winterfell had fallen, Bran and Rickon Stark were dead and gods knew who else the squids had put to the sword. She felt for her king, for his mother, they'd both lost so much already, their father, the girls held prisoner, and now to lose the two youngest boys, she couldn't imagine what it was they were going through.
So when she gathered the men it was with that in mind, thoughts of vengeance for her king and of seeing his kins murderers pay. It took them two weeks to get to Winterfell, they'd ridden hard and the infantry was left far behind them. They met up with Ser Rodrik and the Winterfell men before they reached the keep, Dacey glad to see them as they now had the numbers for whatever it was they would find at the heart of the North. Ser Rodrik asked her if it was true about Bran and Rickon and she could only answer that she'd heard it too. The knight almost collapsing to the ground as he mourned their loss and blamed himself for it.
Soon enough he was thinking of those still living and worrying about his daughter Beth. The closer they got to the keep, the more stories they heard. Tales of those put to the sword behind Winterfell's gates, of the bodies of the two young lords, hung from the walls, burned and unrecognizable. When she heard that it was Theon Greyjoy who had taken the keep she felt even more angered as did Ser Rodrik. Though he soon channeled that anger and when she showed him her prisoner, it brought a cruel smile to his face.
"I'll take pleasure in gutting you Greyjoy, should my daughter be harmed, I'll take great pleasure in feeding your entrails to the Heart Tree." Ser Rodrik said as he looked at the girl.
Finding out that it was with but twenty men that Theon had taken Winterfell annoyed her greatly. When they were joined by Bolton men she felt her hackles raised, something about their arrival and their leader feeling off to her. She also didn't like how the men looked surprised to see her and the men she'd brought. It was Reek though, something about him didn't sit right with her and there was something familiar about him that she couldn't quite place. So as they went to set up their camp to ready to parley with Theon Greyjoy on the morrow, she called Ser Rodrik to her tent.
"This man Reek, who is he?" she asked.
"He was a servant of the Bastard of Bolton, I chased him down after word came of what the Bastard had done at Hornwood, what he'd done to Lady Donella." Rodrik said a look of disgust on his face.
"What did he do?" she asked and listened in horror as she was told a tale of a forced wedding and of Lady Donella being starved to death "I don't trust them, Ser Rodrik, the Boltons, this Reek, there's something about him, a servant you say?"
"Aye."
"That man is no servant, Ser Rodrik, I'd stake my mace on it. Double the guard and have them pay closer attention to the Bolton men." she said and Rodrik nodded.
It was during the night that it came to her, she knew it to be true and so she moved from her tent and made her way to some of her men, men she could trust and knew were true. Gathering as many as she could, she was soon ready to move and they crept through the Bolton camp. For a servant Reek was given a better tent, was drinking wine and not ale and men looked wary of him. With a nod, her men moved, and before they knew it, the guards and Reek himself were faced with swords, maces, and axes and were caught so by surprise that only one man lost his life and him to one of his own men's blades.
"What's the meaning of this, we're Lord Bolton's men." Reek said and she smiled as she saw it for true then, those pale eyes could only belong to one man.
"You Ramsay Snow have a debt to pay." she said as she caught him with her Mace and ordered her men to tie up the now unconscious man.
The rest of the Bolton men weren't even aware of anything as she had Ramsay taken to where Rodrik and the others were camped. Some of those with him soon gave him up as who he was and when Rodrik found out she felt he was going to take his head then and there. Patience prevailed and though the Bolton's departed, she cared not as it was better those men were far from them anyway. With Ramsay tied and under guard, she and Ser Rodrik then rode out to parley with Theon Greyjoy, the squid even cockier than he had always been.
"Kneel before me, accept me as the Prince of Winterfell and I'll see you safe to your keeps, who knows Lady Dacey, perhaps I'm looking for a princess." Theon said licking his lips.
"Keep speaking in such a way and you'll be looking for a cock." she said to laughs from those with her.
"I have Winterfell, should you attack then I'll see those inside are put to the sword, your daughter is inside Ser Rodrik. I've seen that Beth is unharmed, though some of my men are keen on someone young as a salt wife." Theon said to laughs from his men.
If he thought he'd provoke an angry reaction for Ser Rodrik then he was in for a surprise as the reaction he got was a most unexpected one. Theon looking on confused as Rodrik smiled at him and then as Dacey gave the nod.
"You're not the only one with hostages, squid, bring out the princess." she said to chuckles.
When Theon saw his sister she saw him pale and though he fronted up, she knew they had him. She worried though of the lives that would be lost both behind and in front of the large grey walls. They had the numbers to easily take the keep, but they would lose men that she had no wish to lose and innocents that she didn't wish on her conscience.
"Surrender and all of you will be escorted out of the North, you'll be given a ship and sent back to your pile of fucking rocks, all of you apart from this fucker. Don't and we'll begin to cut pieces of Asha Greyjoy and fling them against the walls, we'll take the keep, you may kill some before we do so but we'll take it and everything we do to her." she said looking to Asha Greyjoy "We'll do to you. You name women salt and rock wives, I'll see that each and every last one of you know what it feels like to take a cock up your arse before you die. I'll set the bears onto you and watch as they tear you apart limb by fucking limb." she said with a smirk.
She looked at the men and saw the worried looks on their faces, the pale drawn one that soon appeared on Theon's face as he again tried to front it out.
"Oh, fuck this." a large man said and the blow that caught Theon across the head knocked him to his knees "Safe passage?"
"Aye." she said and then the large man and the others knelt.
Ser Rodrik quickly had the men secure Theon and then set about finding his daughter while she Dacey led the men in through the gates and quickly gathered the rest of the Iron Born and readied to send them on their way. She'd see them to the shores, to their boats, and allow them to sail from the North. They'd never reach their islands though, at least not alive. They'd dared to attack the North, to take Winterfell and had played a part in the deaths of Brandon and Rickon Stark, they could leave the North with their lives, once they left then their lives were forfeit and she'd have held true to her promise to them.
She smiled when she saw Ser Rodrik embrace a young girl and that she seemed to be unharmed, was stunned to see Old Nan alive and well, and quickly ordered that the prisoners be taken to the dungeons and the bodies removed from the walls. Then she set her men to work and she was relieved to see not much damage had been done to the keep. Though there had been losses to the household and people had suffered, it was over with now. Out of the corner of her eye, she swore she saw someone look at her from the crypts and she was making her way to them when news came of riders from the south. Dacey soon finding out that it was those who'd taken the Moat and she was about to head out to speak to them when she saw the figures emerge from the crypts.
The giant carried a boy on his back, there were two what appeared to be crannogmen. a wilding woman and another boy who was looking around frantically. It was the wolves though, it was seeing the wolves that had her running to them, hope rising in her heart as she did so.
"Lord Brandon, Lord Rickon?" she asked and saw the older boy's nod.
"Hodor." The giant said.
"It's truly you, thank the gods. Rodrik, Rodrik." she shouted, and when the knight looked her way he soon came running.
"Oh by the gods, you're unhurt? You're well?" Rodrik asked.
"We are Ser Rodrik, is the keep secure?" the older boy said.
"Aye, it is Lord Brandon, it is. A raven, we need to send a raven." she said excitedly.
The Wall/Widow's Watch 299 AC.
Arya.
She knew she had behaved badly and had been an annoying little brat as Robb would say and yet Jon would not. When he'd told her and Sansa what he had intended to do she'd not even given him a chance to explain. All she'd heard was he was leaving her, after he'd said he'd not he was leaving her and she'd travel with Sansa and the others on the ship while he flew off on the dragon. So she'd run off and he'd come to her and they'd argued, made up, she'd called him stupid and he'd mussed her hair.
"If you wish you can come with me, but you do everything I say, Arya, everything, you stay by my side. Even when you need to go to privy, I'll be outside the fucking door, agreed?" Jon asked and though she wrinkled her nose at the thoughts of him close by when she made water or the other thing, she'd agree to anything if he took her with him.
That taking her with him meant a ride on a dragon only gave her even more of a reason to want to be by his side. Truth be told though even without the dragon it was what she wished for, as he let her be who she truly was and didn't force her to be someone she was not. Jon always had, out of all of them it was only him who did so. She said her goodbyes to Sansa and listened as Jon told her sister that they'd join them soon, and as Sansa then told them both to be safe and to return as quickly as they could. The embrace she shared with her sister was just as warm and true as the one Sansa shared with Jon. It was different, she was different and she found that she liked her sister far more now than she had ever thought she would.
"Are you ready for this? Jon asked as they walked to the dragon.
"A dragon, Jon, I'm riding on a dragon." she said excitedly seeing him smile.
He helped her up and then after speaking some words that she didn't understand the dragon was soon in the air and Skagos soon faded from view. It was morning and the sun beamed down on them and the dragon just kept rising higher in the sky. She sat in front of Jon who had his arms wrapped tightly around her and was gripping a large spike that she rested her belly against. He whispered in her ear but she could barely hear him over the sound of the dragon's wings as it flew higher and higher and of her own laughter as she took her first true dragon ride. They'd flown before but only briefly and certainly not as high as this. Jon had explained to her they'd need to fly high during the day but at night though they could fly much lower as Lightbringer was the color of shadows.
When she felt the cold air she shivered and Jon wrapped her up in his cloak, Arya snuggling up against him as they flew. Below them, the land was moving so fast that when she looked down it made her dizzy and so she looked ahead instead. Soon the first excited thrills had long past and she was getting bored and almost dosing off, something she eventually did. It was only when the dragon landed that she realized she'd slept through most of the ride and that night had fallen. Jon helped her down and she found that it took her some time to feel steady on her feet and that she felt stiff.
"Do your stances, it'll get the blood flowing again." Jon said as he turned to speak to the dragon.
Arya did as she was bid and very quickly Jon was proved right, the stiffness fading away and she was now wide awake and keen to explore. Something Jon noticed right away and as she watched the dragon take to the sky, she looked to her brother.
"We're here, just a little walk." Jon said and she shook her head.
"How can we, we only left this morning?"
"Dragon's are far faster than ships, Arya, and Lightbringer far faster than any dragon that's come before him."
"Is he the biggest too?" she asked.
"I don't know, him or Balerion I'd say but he's even older than The Black Dread was so perhaps." Jon said almost proudly.
"What's it like?" she asked as they began to walk.
"You'll see, stay by my side, Arya, promise." he said and she nodded.
When she saw Wall she gasped, it was amazing, and even before she asked him Jon said he'd try and take her to the top of it. The castle on the other hand, here, Jon had been allowed to come here to this place. Was her father still alive then she'd give him a piece of her mind and when next she saw her mother and Robb they'd be on the receiving end of her anger. How could they allow him to come here? To this place, they'd sent her brother to this place. She reached out and grabbed his hand, as much for her comfort as his, and she was happy when he squeezed it gently.
"Now you know why I had to come back." he said and she nodded vigorously.
One of the guards at the gate recognized Jon and seemed surprised to see him, though he opened the gate quickly enough. Arya then got a chance to look at Castle Black even more clearly and if she thought it looked bad from the outside, it looked so much worse once you came inside. She felt her anger rise once move and then her hair was being mussed and Jon was looking at her as the guard and some others walked towards her. Arya saw a large man, a sour-faced looking one, the guard, and then a fat man running through the yard towards them.
"Snow, don't tell me you've given up on the fucking world?" the large man said.
"Gods things must be fucking bad outside if you've decided to come back here." the sour-faced man said.
"Jon." the fat man called out as he ran.
"No, I'm only here for the night, I'll be gone on the morrow. It's good to see you all though." Jon said as the fat man finally made it to them.
"Jon." the fat man said breathlessly as he reached them.
"Aye, you too Sam." Jon said embracing the fat man, Sam as he'd called him "This is my sister, Arya Stark of Winterfell." Jon said winking at her as he did so.
"Lady.."
"Don't even think of it, Sam." Jon said and she chuckled "I need to speak with the Lord Commander and with Maester Aemon, can you get me in to see them, Sam?"
"Aye, Aemon is resting but the Lord Commander is awake, I'll…"
"Snow, what the fuck are you doing back here?" a gruff man said as he and another man walked towards them.
"Maybe he's been sentenced here like his traitor of a father should have been, though seeing him lose his head was the sentence he truly deserved." a fat piggy faced man said and though she went to move, Jon's hand on her chest and shake of his head was enough to stop her.
"I've business with the Lord Commander, Ser Alliser, as for your companion, the Night's Watch may take no part in the business in the realm but that doesn't mean that the realm won't take part in the business of the Night's Watch. Speak of Lord Stark that way again and you'll find yourself on your arse." Jon said and even she shivered at his tone, as did the gruff man, the piggy-faced one, however…
"Who do you think you are? The bastard son of a traitor I'll have your…"
The crack she could only imagine was the piggy-faced man's nose and she quickly drew Needle in case it was needed. Jon though held a dagger in his hand and pointed it at the gruff man, while on the ground the piggy-faced man held his nose and Arya soon found herself laughing. Her brother had done the man a favor as he'd be far better looking when his nose set than he was before it.
"I gave you fair warning, I've no quarrel with you Ser Alliser, but feel free to make one though."
"SNOW." a booming voice shouted out "Ser Alliser, pick Ser Janos up from the fucking ground and take him to see Chett about his injury, Snow, you come with me."
Arya looked to Jon who smiled at her and then she followed after him up the stairs and after the man who'd shouted. Jon telling her that he was Jeor Mormont the Lord Commander, the former Lord of Bear Island, the brother of Lady Maege, and uncle of the She Bears. Arya remembered them from when they'd come to visit Winterfell a few years earlier. When they reached the room, Jon looked at her and she nodded, she followed him into the room and then moved to the fire when she felt the warmth.
"What the fuck are you doing here, Snow? And why the fuck did you just break Slynt's nose?" Jeor Mormont asked.
"He insulted my father." Arya said and the man looked at her.
"And who be you?"
"My sister, Arya Stark." Jon said and she straightened up her shoulders "And my squire." he added and she smiled at him "Who could probably eat something warm if it was offered, Lord Commander."
Jeor nodded and sent for some food, which at the mention of she felt her stomach rumble and she watched as Jon and Jeor sat and the older man shooed away a raven that asked for corn and poured out two mugs of ale.
"Slynt's a fucking pain in my arse, though I like it not that you couldn't hold your temper lad. Now, why the fuck are you here?"
"I want you to release my uncle." Jon said and Jeor shook his head.
"Even if I wished to, we've not heard word of Benjen for some time."
"I was speaking of my other uncle." Jon said to a confused look from the older man "Maester Aemon."
"What's this you say?" Jeor asked.
"Ned Stark wasn't my father, Lord Commander, Rhaegar Targaryen was, he and my mother were married and when my uncle traveled to rescue her and found her dying, it was only part of the story. She was dying in the birthing bed, I'd just been born and to save me from the fate my brother and sister suffered, he named me as his own." Jon said and while she hated hearing him name someone else as his father, she knew why he had to do so.
"By the gods." Jeor said as a knock came to the door and Sam brought in some food for her, food which she quickly devoured as Sam was sent away and Jon and Jeor kept speaking.
"I wish my uncle with me, Lord Commander, his time is almost at an end and he needs to be with kin, you've got the power to grant me this favor and so I've come to ask it of you." Jon said.
"I've got the power, aye, why would I though?" Jero asked looking curiously at her brother.
"I will be king, Lord Commander, the first king in your reign who understands the conditions here and who cares about them, I'll be a good friend to have once I take my throne, a far better one than the boy who sits it now. I'll remember those who helped me and I'll owe you and it's not only Lannister's who always pay their debts."
"The Nights Watch takes no part in the business of the Realm, Snow, Targaryen, or whatever the fuck you name is." Jeor said frustratedly not angrily.
"Aye, yet I ask it of you still. Your son is with my aunt, Lord Commander, Jorah is serving by her side and he's redeemed himself somewhat. My aunt has freed an entire city of slaves and he now sails back to Westeros with her, I'll see him named true and his shame forgiven. In time you'll need to send for a new Maester anyway, the loss of one old man harms not the Watch."
"I could still say no." Jeor said and Jon nodded.
"You could, I'd ask you not to." Jon said with a soft smile on his face.
She finished her food and watched as Jeor drummed his fingers against the table, his eyes on Jon's all the while.
"You'll send me both men and coin and see that Jorah is forgiven publicly for his crimes?" Jeor asked.
"I will, you have my word on it."
"Very well, I'll release Aemon from his duties and into your care, I can't release him from his oaths, only a king can do that and so I'll leave it up to you. I wish you good fortune in the wars to come, Jon Snow." Jeor said rising.
"Rhaegar Targaryen, named by my mother for my father." Jon said and Jeor then moved to a sword on the wall taking it down and handing it to Jon
"You say my son is true, that he's a better man than he once was?" Jeor asked doubtfully.
"He is." Jon replied very much not.
"Then he's finally worthy to bear this blade, give it to him and tell him that his father forgives him."
They were taken to a room where she slept in a warm enough bed and Jon stayed awake. The next morning he took her to the top of the Wall and she peeked out over the edge, Jon holding her all the while. She found it less impressive than she had thought, though this was perhaps because she'd now flew on a dragon. When they came back down on the lift she saw Jon smile and as she looked out from it she saw the old man he was looking at. Her brother almost rushed to the man when the lift stopped and she saw him embrace him and whisper something in the man's ear.
The smile she then saw on the man's face was so like Jon's that for a moment she thought she was looking at her brother and only his age showed him to be who he really was. After that things were far more rushed, Sam ran around gathering things and placing them into a sack and warm furs were being put on the older man. Aemon, Jon's uncle she'd found out, and soon he was saying goodbye to those around the yard. How old Aemon was she couldn't tell but the man who said goodbye to the Lord Commander looked far younger than the one she'd seen from the lift.
"Where are your horses, Snow?" Jeor asked confused.
"Just over the hill, we'll be well Lord Commander, the walk will do Maester Aemon good." Jon said with a smirk on his face that his uncle wore too.
"An adventure, Jeor, long have I wished for one." Aemon said with a chuckle.
"I wish you good fortune, Aemon, truly, you too, Jon."
She saw the confused looks on people's faces as they walked out through the gates. Jon had already said his goodbyes to Sam and the others, Grenn, Pyp, and Edd he'd called them. Aemon though old moved far more quickly than she had expected and when she saw the dragon waiting for them she looked to Jon to see him whisper in his uncle's ear. The smile once again appearing on the older man's face and a look of wonder soon joining it when Jon held his arm and moved him closer to the dragon.
"Ōñosmaghare, uncle." Jon said as Aemon touched the dragon.
"The Bringer of Light, Lightbringer." Aemon said smiling broadly.
Jon helped his uncle onto the dragon's back and she climbed up and sat in front of her brother while he tied a rope around himself and his uncle. When she heard the laughter as Lightbringer took to the sky she thought it was her own only to find it was Aemon's and that brought a smile to her face. They once again flew high, though this time she didn't sleep and she recognized Skagos when they flew over it. The ship had already left and they soon found it sailing by the Grey Cliffs, Jon taking them over it and then on to Widow's Watch.
That night she listened as Jon and his uncle talked of his aunt. Daenerys was coming with her own dragons and listening to how her brother spoke of her, she couldn't wait to meet her. Something that Aemon seemed even keener on than her. They had to stay one more night on the cliffs overlooking the bay and when it got dark then Jon took them back up into the sky on Lightbringer's back to see how far the ship was from them. Arya finding herself happy to learn that they'd be back on it by the next day at the latest.
She and Jon sparred while they waited, she spoke to Aemon and found out that he was Aegon the Unlikely's brother and was more than one hundred name days old. That he'd gone to the Wall by his own choice and had traveled to it with Duncan the Tall as his escort and with Bloodraven who'd been sentenced there. Arya was keen to find out all she could about the man with a thousand eyes and one. Jon spoke to him quietly and respectfully and while she slept they spoke even more, her brother doing the same to the black dragon too. When he lit the fire and the boat came to take them to the ship, Lightbringer flew ahead of them. The Black Dragon out of sight but not too far away from its rider as they headed to Dragonstone.
Riverrun 299 AC.
Robb.
He hacked away at the dummy, cutting it to pieces, and yet it did nothing to soothe his troubled mind. It was clear to him now why his mother had wished to speak to him in person and not shared what she knew in a raven or a letter. Clear to him and yet he knew not what to do with what she'd told him. Jon was not his brother, not his father's son, not the shame of his mother or a bastard to be feared as he'd once heard him called.
All these years he'd been lied to, his mother lied to, Arya, Sansa, Bran, and Rickon all lied to by a man he had thought could never lie. Was that all that he needed to come to terms with then it would be enough to leave him as confused as he was now. Except that wasn't all, not even close to all. Jon was his cousin, the son of his aunt, the son of Rhaegar Targaryen. He was his trueborn son, by right of blood King of the Seven Kingdoms and he intended to take back his throne.
What did this mean? What was he to do? Was he his brother still? The last of these questions the easiest to answer, he was and would always be his brother. He'd proved he was his brother, Sansa's, Arya's, Rickon's, and Bran's. Jon had shown more care for his sisters than he and his words had taken on a new meaning to Robb now.
"Why not? What the hell are you fighting for? Why did you come South, for a crown, and for men to kiss your arse and call you, your grace? Or to get our family back home where they belong?"
Jon had come south for both, to claim a crown that was rightfully his and to get their family back home where they belonged. He'd rescued both their sisters while he'd done what? Fought Tywin Lannister, to what end? Why was he here? Why was he, king? And could he give it up and hand his crown over to his brother? Could he not?.
"You can't kneel, your grace, we chose you as our king, not some bastard Targaryen." Edmure said angrily.
"He isn't a bastard, uncle, gods, enough of this." he said frustrated.
"The North won't accept it, your grace." Brynden said.
"So what I'm to fight my brother?" he asked.
"He's not your brother, your grace, he's your cousin." Edmure said.
"For fuck's sake, he's my fucking brother, he's always been, my brother. It was he who went for my sisters, not me, nor anyone fucking else." he shouted.
"Perhaps to use them against you, your grace." Edmure said and he glared at him only for his mother to speak.
"He'd not do so, it's not him." his mother said and he was surprised by her certainty, not that he doubted her words, just that she was so sure of Jon, given their past.
"I'm wearing his crown, usurping him just as true as Robert did or father tried to." he said.
"Robb." his mother said angrily.
"Did he not? By sending Jon to the Wall and agreeing to marry Sansa to Joffrey, was he not usurping his own kin?" Tell me I'm wrong mother? Tell me that I'm not doing the very same thing?"
"Perhaps there is another way, your grace, one where all sides are happy." Brynden said.
For almost a week he'd been thinking of that other way, thinking of what it meant and of how it may be accepted. He'd wished to speak to others instead of his family, to seek other opinions, and yet he could not, not when he still had no fucking clue what to do. The right thing? The right thing was easy, kneel and name his brother his king. Join Jon and seek to crown him, surely that was the right thing to do? Yet he didn't know if the North would accept or if the Riverlands would accept. What forces did Jon bring? How did he intend to take the throne? he didn't know, he knew nothing.
He was lost, paralyzed into inaction, he'd not marched, not moved, and had barely slept. The news of Bran and Rickon being safe and well and of Theon and Asha being held in the dungeons of Winterfell should have brought him joy and relief. It should have soothed his worried mind, yet it did not as he found himself a boy again, facing off against Jon as they played in the yard in Winterfell.
"I'm Aemon the Dragonknight."
"I'm Cregan the Wolf of the North"
I'm Daeron the Young Dragon."
"I'm the Theon the Hungry wolf."
"I'm the Lord of Winterfell."
"No you are not, a bastard can't be lord."
The sword felt heavy in his hands, the shame of naming his brother a bastard stinging even more now. He turned to see his mother looking at him, the worry clear in her expression.
"A raven, Robb." she said holding it up and he looked to see the Three-Headed Dragon on its seal.
He nodded at her and took the scroll from her hands, breaking the seal to look at it and the words stung a little as he read them.
"What does it say?" she asked and he shook his head.
"To the Lords and Ladies of Westeros.
My name is Rhaegar Targaryen, Trueborn son of Prince Rhaegar and Princess Lyanna Targaryen. I call upon all Leal Houses to renew the oaths you once swore to mine own. The time has come for my father's heir to take back what was stolen from our family, to put right the wrongs of the past, and to speak the truth on the lies once spoken. My mother was never kidnapped, my father never raped her, they were married in front of the gods of both my parents, they were married and I am their trueborn son. To those who name themselves Kings I have but one thing to say, the crowns you wear are rightly mine and I will take them from you. I give you but one chance, you can kneel, renew your oaths and we can put aside our animosities. To the usurper who sits my throne, I say but this, I am coming and I bring with me Fire and Blood. The dragons did not die, we did not go quietly into the night and you will cower when you hear our roar.
Rhaegar Targaryen, The First of his Name,
King of the Andals, The Rhoynar and the First Men,
Lord of the Seven Kingdoms,
Protector of the Realm."
She looked at him worriedly and yet his only thought was why hadn't Jon simply sent him a raven asking him to meet, to speak, and to discuss what to do from here. Why hadn't Jon come to him as a brother, rather than as a king and it took him a moment to realize that a king didn't ask, he told, and Jon was Jon no more. It wouldn't be Jon he'd be dealing with it would be Rhaegar Targaryen and though he still knew not what to do, he knew one thing for sure. Both of them couldn't come out of this with a crown.
"Call the lords." he said as he turned to walk back into the keep, the dummy cut into pieces, and Robb still not sure what it was he was supposed to do.
Dragonstone 299 AC.
Rhaegar Targaryen, The First of his Name.
Having him with him was everything he had imagined it to be. His uncle didn't deserve to die in that place, alone and without family and he needed his counsel, as well as wishing for his family by his side. Showing him Ōñosmaghare and then taking him up on his dragon's back, he could sense his joy. Not that he needed to as his uncle's laughter was even louder than Arya's. They'd spoken of Dany, of the men she was bringing with her and her own dragons. He'd told him of the Lords of the Narrow Sea and of his offer to Dorne and his uncle had given him advice. He'd told him it was time to kill the boy and to become the king he was born to be.
"Dorne could be problematic, nephew, though unneeded."
"Unneeded?" he asked.
"Balerion was not as big as Ōñosmaghare and you say Daenerys has three of her own, it was dragons that forged the Iron Throne, Rhaegar, dragons that allowed Aegon to conquer. Our ancestors started off with the smallest force in Westeros, yet it was we who ended up as kings because of Dragons. People have forgotten about them, this is good as by the time you make them remember it'll be too late." Aemon said.
"Will I need to conquer them all, to reforge the Seven Kingdoms?" he asked.
"You needs do what you must. Men will kneel only when you give them a reason to. Some will not choose to fight, the King in the North perhaps is one. Dorne may seek other considerations but they'll kneel too. Others you'll not accept their surrender regardless." Aemon said.
"Dany?" he asked.
"You love her?" Aemon asked with a smirk.
"I do, we're bonded." he said and Aemon smiled.
"Then you need not me to answer, for you already know what you both must and wish to do."
"Do I show mercy?" he asked worriedly.
"Where applicable." Aemon said and he nodded "Knowledge is a weapon, Rhaegar. Arm yourself well before you ride forth to battle."
Arthur had been relieved to see him and he'd taken to Aemon almost immediately. Sansa was more than happy to have them back with her and the hug she'd given him was one that neither wished to end. That she'd then given Arya one just as firmly made him smile, the two of them had come some distance from where they once were. While his sister's slept, he spoke to Arthur and to Aemon, the knight adding his own pieces to Aemon's advice.
It was night when he reached Claw Isle, the boat taking him to the land and Ōñosmaghare landing as soon as he made it to the cliffs. His dragon was even happier to see him than his sister had been and almost impatient for them to take to the air. In the dark of the night sky, the dragon was almost invisible, only his bright green eyes marking him out as anything more than a shadow. They flew to Dragonstone to judge what it was they'd face when they got there, both he and Ōñosmaghare stunned by the sight that lay beneath them. The ships were loading, the Baratheon's leaving, and as they flew over them he swore he saw a woman in red look his way. After spending as much time with the dragon as he could and sharing with him his thoughts, they then flew back to Claw Isle and he was sailing once again before morning broke.
"You say he's leaving?" Arthur asked as he explained what he'd seen.
"He is, they all are, I don't understand it."
"Storm's End." his uncle said.
"Uncle?"
"If he knows the Lords of the Narrow Sea have deserted him and his attack on King's Landing has failed, then it's to Storm's End he goes." Aemon said.
"How do we know his attack failed?" he asked and almost slapped his head a moment later when Aemon laughed at him.
"Had it not, he'd be in King's Landing now as king." his uncle said with a chuckle.
When they arrived at Dragonstone a few days later it was to find not a Baratheon in sight. They were looked at worriedly at first when they departed the ship. Thoros, Anguy, and their men, as well as the Skagosi who looked fierce and ready to take on thrice their number. He helped Aemon down the gangplank while Arthur and Arya followed at his back and Sansa looked around at the dock, then up at the Draognmont, and the keep. Walking through the small town, people stared and he heard whispers. Arthur was recognized and some seemed to see their family in Aemon and then finally in him too. An old man moved their way, his hair grey and his eyes a pale violet, reminding him of Dany and yet not.
"Are you, are you his son?" the man asked nervously.
"I am my father's son. Rhaegar named by my mother." he said and the man smiled as he turned to the others around him.
"The dragons, the dragons have returned." he said to loud cheers.
It stunned him and Arya, Arthur, and Aemon though seemed almost to have expected it and Sansa smiled beamingly as they were then helped up the long walkway and to the keep itself. How many stairs they walked he couldn't tell, only that he worried about his uncle even as he felt his own excitement rise. When they reached the keep they found the first of the Baratheon men. Some were older soldiers, some were men and women who'd made a home for themselves on the island and when they saw him and the men with him, it was clear they had no wish to fight.
"The keep is yours, my lord." the oldest of them said as he took a knee.
"Your Grace." Arthur said and the man stumbled over the words as he named him as Arthur had bid him to.
Dragonstone was a keep like no other, its stone had been sung into life and melted into shape by the stonesingers and Dragons of Valyria his uncle had told him, and looking at it he could see this to be true. It was a keep dedicated to Valyria, to dragons and sphinxes and various other creatures that he couldn't name. Each of them were carved into stone but clearly not by hand. He tore down the few Stag banners that still remained and Arthur sent men ahead of them to make sure there was no one waiting in the shadows or hidden in the dark. Beside him, his uncle breathed heavily and at first he thought his exertion had been too much. He found though it was the emotion of where he was and not the effort in getting there that had him seeking more air for his lungs.
Rhaegar could see the throne carved from Dragonglass and they walked past it and into the Chamber of the Painted Table. He stood there for a moment looking down at the Seven Kingdoms that were clearly marked out on it. Arya raced to the seat and took her place on it while she too looked down at the table and grinned almost manically. Sansa walked around almost open-mouthed, his sister looking at the statues and the carvings as if they were made of gold and jewels and not from stone and wood.
That night they ate food cooked by their own men and over the next few days they sorted out the keep's household. Arthur checking for spies and dangers and finding none of either. His uncle made the ravenry his own and told him that he needed to show him something. Arthur joining him as they were led through a secret door and down into the Dragonmont itself, past lakes of burning rock and straight to a sold wall. As they stood in front of it, Aemon told him to cut his hand and to place it on the stone.
"Uncle?"
"Trust me, Rhaegar." his uncle said and so he did as he was bid.
"How is that? How is that possible?" Arthur said as the wall moved away and they entered the rooms that lay beyond it.
"My family was always prepared, Ser Arthur, the end though came too sudden for them to take what was needed."
"This is?"
"Yours, nephew, as head of our House this is your birthright."
There was armor, swords, boxes of golden coins, and jewels of a sort he'd never seen before, there were books and clothing, and odd little things. A comb, a looking glass, a small doll, things that looked out of place, and as he spoke of them he found they were very much not.
"Over time we were asked to give the things we couldn't let go of, things we considered our own little treasures. Somewhere in here is a coin from Valyria, the first with three heads of a dragon upon it, it was minted by Daenys's father Aenar and gifted to me by mine own for my sixth nameday." Aemon said a sad smile on his face "I'm sure you'll find even stranger things here too."
"I don't understand, Rhaella, Viserys, Daenerys?" Arthur asked.
"Only the head of our house can access those walls, Arthur, Rhaella may have known of them but only my nephew could have opened the door." Aemon said and Rhaegar nodded as he looked at both men.
"What am I to do with this?" he asked.
"Use it to take back the throne, use it to flee, use it to restore our house, the choice is yours and yours alone to make." Aemon said.
He removed some of the armor, some of the coin, and some of the clothing, finding to his delight that there were things that fit him. When he told Arthur to take some of the armor for himself there was an argument between them, Rhaegar having to tell him that he wished him protected and for now this was the best he could do. After eating his meal that night he spent the rest of it in the air on his dragon's back, almost preparing himself for what it was he must do next.
"We are together, Rhaegar, and together we take back what is yours." Ōñosmaghare said.
"Have you found a place here?"
"I have the caves are as I remember."
"Soon we'll be at war." he said
"Soon our enemies will be no more." Ōñosmaghare replied.
He strolled back into the keep early that morning, finding Aemon, Arthur, and Arya breaking their fast. After bidding them good morning, he walked into the solar he'd taken for himself. The room used to be his father's according to Arthur. For the next few hours, he wrote, how many scrolls he knew not, all of them bearing the same message. He had thought of sending Robb something different, of speaking to him differently, and yet he could not. The boy was dead and the king was all who remained. When he was done he gathered them up and walked to the ravenry, finding his uncle almost waiting for him.
"For the Realm uncle." he said firmly.
"I shall send them at once, your grace." his uncle said.
Dragonstone 299 AC.
Dany.
Each day they sailed she spoke to the woman she now knew was her great aunt many times removed. Shiera Seastar, not Quaithe, and a woman who was over a hundred years old yet looked as if she was not much older than she. Her silver hair was as her own was, her Valyrian looks as her own were and other than her eyes which were mismatched and only added to the beauty she possessed, it was like she was staring into a looking glass.
She could be her twin, her sister, or her mother and was instead her aunt and once Dany was certain that's who she was, things between them were different. To be certain she'd called for her dragons after remembering something that Shiera had said to her as Quaithe and that Rhaegar had said to her in her dreams. The dragons know do you, both of them had uttered this phrase to her and so she sought their approval before she fully gave her aunt her trust.
It came without reservation and from that point on Dany reveled in having more family in the world. Shiera explained that she left Westeros many years earlier at the behest of the man she loved, Brynden Rivers. He told her that her path was in Essos and that she needed to be there so she could guide a dragon when the time came. Finding out that she was that dragon and that her guidance came in the form of linking her to Rhaegar through their dreams was both fascinating and worrying.
"You manipulated my dreams?" she asked, her thoughts going to the place she didn't wish, one that told her that what she'd seen and felt with Rhaegar hadn't been true.
"I facilitated them, I was the magical conduit for them, that is the extent of my part. What you saw, what you felt in them, that was all you and Rhaegar."
"How can I trust you? How can I know that what I felt is true? She asked worriedly.
"You'll know when you meet him, Daenerys, as will he when he meets you." Shiera said.
"Does he? Does he have a conduit? She asked.
"He does, as I was yours, Brynden was his." Shiera said.
"Can you make me dream of him again?" she asked eagerly.
"I cannot, leaving Essos has broken the link, the last night you dreamt of him and he of you, will be the last of such until it is reformed." Shiera said.
"Reformed?"
"When you meet." Shiera said.
The day of that meeting drew ever closer and she could feel her own and her children's excitement growing. They stayed close to the Essos coast before finally turning towards Westeros when they reached Pentos. She'd thought of flying into the city, of climbing up on Drogon's back and taking him to Illyrio's manse and had feared that Groleo would refuse to sail further than this point or Belwas would wish her to speak to the man. Shiera advised her to allow the other ships to dock and gather supplies and she'd agreed because of this. In truth, she had no need to worry, as neither the captain nor Belwas wished to leave her service and they were soon on the way once more.
When she saw the island come into view she almost wept, she had been born here, her mother lost her life here and she welcomed the hands when both Shiera and Missandei offered her their own. She took everything in, the Dragonmont, the keep on the hill, the small village, and her eyes searched both the docks and the sky only to find no sign of either of the dragons that she sought, at first anyway. Dany tried not to let her worry overwhelm her and then her aunt turned to her smiling.
"He waits, niece, he waits for you." Shiera said and Dany nodded back at her.
When Balerion docked and as she, Barristan, Grey Worm, and the rest of her guards made their way down the gangplank she saw a dark-haired man chasing after a white wolf in the distance. Another man was running after him wearing armor and at first she thought the man was being chased and in danger. She felt her heart in her chest as she willed him to run faster, to get away from the man before she saw more of him and two things became immediately clear. He wasn't been chased and the man running her way was her nephew, it was Rhaegar and he was smiling even as he breathed deeply as he ran.
"Dany." he called out as he reached the dock, the white wolf beating him and Barristan, Jorah, and Grey Worm all moving to ready their arms, Dany shook her head at them and moved down past them to find herself first being licked on the hand by the white wolf and then being lifted and embraced by her nephew "Dany." he said happily.
"Rhaegar." she said back, and as she looked into his eyes, she then felt his lips on hers.
He had told her that when they met it would be better, that it would feel even better than it did in their dreams and she was very happy to find out that he had not lied. It was like nothing she'd ever imagined before, the kiss almost sending shivers right down to her toes and when he moved from her, she was pleased to see her was similarly affected. Behind him, the man in armor had caught up and though he wore a reproachful look when he looked to Rhaegar, the look he wore when he looked to her was more one of happiness. The voices around her almost merged together as the man, her guards, and the Lords of the Narrow Sea all almost talked over each other.
"Your Grace, we should head to the keep."
"Arthur, by the gods it's truly you."
"Princess, perhaps we should."
She could barely hear them and couldn't tell who was speaking and had the white wolf not licked her hand at that precise time then nothing would have taken her attention from the face and the eyes of the man in front of her.
"I wished to be here when you arrived, to welcome you. I was advised it's not kingly but I cared not, you're here, you're truly here, this isn't a dream?" Rhaegar said, his fingers touching her face.
"I'm here." she said looking at him, her own fingers soon matching his.
After a few moments, she could see they'd drawn a crowd and when the white wolf grabbed Rhaegar by the hand, the spell was broken just a little. She was pleased when he reached his hand out to take hers and then he began to lead her from the docks. Neither of them was paying too much attention to those who followed with them and Dany instead found the way the people looked at them both to be most curious.
"These people, Rhaegar, why do they look at us so?" she asked.
"They know who you are, Dany, they can see it in you and they will no doubt wish to welcome you here themselves." Rhaegar said smiling.
"I have nothing to fear from them? From them knowing of me?" she asked.
"You've nothing to fear ever again, Dany. These are your people, our people. They are true and Leal to our House more than any. Dragonstone belongs to the Dragons once more." Rhaegar said and she looked to the sky to see Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion flying towards the Dragonmont."
"Your dragon, Rhaegar, where is he?"
"Ōñosmaghare waits for them, perhaps, tonight we can fly together if you wish?" Rhaegar asked and she nodded eagerly.
"I have someone with me, Quaithe of the Shadow, she's not who she seems, she's our aunt, Rhaegar, our great aunt many times removed, Shiera Seastar." she said expecting a much bigger reaction from him.
"I too have someone who wishes to meet you, Dany, someone who's wished to meet you all your life, our great great uncle, Aemon." he said and she smiled at that, he was here, she didn't need to go to him, he was here.
They walked hand in hand, both of them looking at each other and though she knew there were those behind them who had questions for Rhaegar, her nephew had no eyes or time for anyone but her. His attention was on her and her alone and as he held her hand she was sure that he had no desire to ever let it go. When they reached some stairs that led up to the keep, he stopped to turn to her, his eyes staring deeply into her own.
"It starts now, Dany, we take back all they stole from us, it starts here and now, with you and me. We are the only ones who can do it, and we are together in this, aren't we?" he asked and she nodded as she leaned in to kiss him.
"We were born to be together, Rhaegar." she said smiling when he moved to kiss her just as she had him.
Dragonstone 299 AC.
Ōñosmaghare
They had practiced together time and time again and when he'd fallen from his back, he'd worried he'd lost him. Seeing him hurt worried him greatly and yet Rhaegar was quick to both alleviate those worries and to tell him that it was he that was at fault and not Ōñosmaghare. That he'd been careless and he'd not be so again. It relieved him to think that perhaps it was a lesson that was needed, a warning of what could happen if his rider was careless or if he was.
When Rhaegar asked him to allow others to join them, he at first had refused. The bond between rider and dragon was theirs and theirs alone. Rhaegar had then explained to him that he would never seek to dilute their bond, that what he and Rhaegar had would and could never be even understood by others unless they too were true dragon riders. That he only wished them to be comfortable enough so that should the need arise and they needed to take those Rhaegar cared about with them, they'd be comfortable in doing so.
It turned out in the end that he had enjoyed it, the girls that Rhaegar shared blood with, though a different type of blood than what mainly made his rider true, were both eager and he had felt how they felt about Rhaegar. The man who he knew would do whatever it took to guard Rhaegar's back and smite down his enemies, and who shared his own view about Rhaegar's safety was someone he felt a bond with too. A bond of understanding if not a bond of knowing as he did with Rhaegar. When he was asked to take Rhaegar to more of his blood, he'd done so happily, feeling the magic of the Wall of Ice and sensing the blood of the dragon that resided there.
Him, he'd felt different with when he'd taken him to the air, his blood more like Rhaegar's and though he was older, weaker, there was a different type of strength in him than he felt from the others. They'd flown away from the Wall, over lands he'd not traveled, and though he'd flown high and out of sight, he'd done so knowing the true reason for it. Now was not the time for him to be seen, but that time was drawing ever closer.
He'd been reluctant to allow Rhaegar to depart, wishing for him to stay with him and let those others leave but not he. Yet he'd done as his rider asked and he'd flown over him, ever watchful, ever alert. When they'd flown together again it was over lands he knew, a place he'd called home once and would again, and though he'd longed to leave this place at one time, now he longed to name it his home once more. It felt different, he felt different, the caves, the island, all of it called out to him in a way it never had. His connection with Rhaegar was ever-present here, always there, and never did he feel alone even for a moment. Even when he rested or his rider did, he felt as if he was beside him in his cave while Rhaegar slept in his own. Though sometimes he'd sleep beside him for true too and then he felt it even more.
When the other dragons were near he felt the tingle in his blood, the magic reaching out to theirs and he felt his worries grow once more. Would it be the same? Would he be an outcast still? Would the Cannibal return? No, the voice called out, no, it would not, he was not an outcast, he was the greatest of them all, the largest, most powerful of all the dragons, and these others would need his help, his guidance, and his strength so they too could be as he was. He listened to the voice, to his rider as he calmed his fears and gave him strength. He felt Rhaegar's own joy and happiness at the arrival of more of his blood, as he met the other life he was bonded too and then he heard them call out, felt them land, and for the first time in more than a hundred years he was with dragons once more.
"Welcome home." he called out, his roar loud and then he heard it answered by the largest of the three, the red and black one who too had a rider of his own.
"Brother. We are your Brothers." the roar then joined by two more and Ōñosmaghare knew that his rider had been right and his brothers would need his guidance and his help.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up Next, Dany and Rhaegar spend some time together, fly on their dragons, meet more of their family and a question is asked and answered before they make their plans. We find out why Stannis abandoned Dragonstone without a fight, as the realm reacts to the revelation that a son of Rhaegar's lives. We check in on Oberyn and the Dornish forces and Beric and Ned Dayne arrive on Dragonstone carrying news of their dealings with House Martell. While in King's Landing a stunted lion simmers and feels unappreciated.
Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.
Guest: Really glad you liked it.
Anbu: So happy you enjoyed it.
Bloodline: We'll see more of the targ family plans and reunions next chapter.
Celexys: So glad to hear you say that, we've seen Jon going south early stories before and so I wanted to do something a bit different here, to bring Dany in just as early and to have them together as the WOTFK takes place.
Tfranco: With Live as a Wolf, the first chapter was intended to be a one-shot, so it works almost as that alone. Robb/Cat both are in different places to how they were in canon, Robb as you see is conflicted and Cat we'll see next even more so. The kneeling to Jon/Dany won't be an easy decision for them. On Jon/Dany, we'll see them truly together next chapter, once the intros are done with and they can spend time together and they will. It's funny one of the reasons I started this was for the very reason you point out, so many characters are alive here, unlike Live as a wolf where the changes come after we've lost so many, here we'll see them come far earlier. I wanted to have Tywin, Joff, Olenna, Robb, Cat, Stannis, Oberyn around for that very reason.
Toroka: So very glad you're liking it.
Guest: Thanks so much, that's exactly how I felt, Live as a wolf, is almost a narrow road, so much has happened and we've lost so many that the road ahead is almost the only one you can travel. So I wanted to do something different and to add a twist to the Jon going south early stories, by bringing Dany in while so many people are still alive. From here the roads spread out, there are far more routes to take and so we'll see how that plays out over the next few chapters. One of the biggest issues with the Tyrell's here is they've almost made their bed, it's very hard to not sleep in it and so we'll be seeing them more antagonistic because of that.
Pourcopa: Thanks so much for your kind words.
Freakdogsflare: Glad you're enjoying it, you're right on at least one of them lol, sorry couldn't resist, we'll see how many your get right though.
Keb: I always feel the magic was so mishandled in the show that I like to use it as much as I can and I do have explanations for it, as we see a little here with Shiera, but there will be more.
Warchicken: Really glad you liked it.
Deoxeyes: So very glad you enjoyed it.
Xand007: Thank you, my friend. Robb is in a tricky position, there are both those around him, what he himself thinks is right, how Jon has sent word to him, and also the idea that Jon is in a higher position than him to consider. It won't be an easy transition and he'll not just kneel because he should. From Jon's side, there is no desire to fight with the North/Robb but also no desire to allow anyone else be king. Lol, do they even have fave beans or Chianti in Westeros. Stay safe and well my friend.
Xan Merrick: Thank you, my friend. I like playing with the prophecies, there are so many ways you can interpret them. Sansa is both more her canon self because she's not been broken down completely, so she still has this almost look at the world in a certain way thing going on, but she's also more realistic too, I think from here her growth will be interesting and she and Dany are going to be firm friends. Oh, we'll see reactions to that next, we'll be taking a look at king's landing and over time different povs on Jon and what he did, is.
Oo-night eyes: Really glad you liked it.
Lady Ocatarina: We'll see more reactions to Lightbringer, from Dany and others next and soon from those against him. I wanted to show the more realism side of Sansa which is why she brings up the prisoners thing, she, of course, knew Jon would never but as you say given what she went through. We're going to see a very different Sansa here, for me this is the perfect sweet spot with her character, she's not broken down by the world, but she also no longer has her head in the clouds either. How she develops from here is the main reason I kept her with Jon, I also wanted to have her and Dany together too. I'm so with you on that with Jon, it's a show thing that's crept into far too many stories.
Jon wants things, he's ambitious, he just thinks that because he's a bastard these things are out of his reach. Should he find out he's not, find out he's not Ned Starks son than for him to not want things seems OOC to me. The same with the non-embrace of being a Targ, yes he wants to be a Stark all his life, but that's because he thinks he's a bastard of Ned Starks, again finding out he's not, changes things, yet most don't take this into account. I don't think he'd ignore or think less of Robb or Arya, or Bran, Rickon, or even Sansa, they'd still be his brothers and sisters and he'd still care for them. However he'd think less of Ned IMO, he'd understand and welcome he saved his life but he'd think less of him for lying to him, for not telling him the truth, and for allowing him to swear his life away.
I also think he'd seek the throne, the only thing that would stop him is if it was impossible for him to do so. But Jon is a strategist and we see it with him giving Stannis the blueprint to the North, I think he would sit down and work out a plan to take the throne, especially given the circumstances of the war. For example, Jon knowing and say and heading south with Robb, I've seen stories that have him take a back seat and allow Robb basically be canon Robb, even though Jon knows the truth about himself. I think that's a misunderstanding of his character. As I said, Jon is a strategist and Robb can only go so far as KITN, Jon can go so much further as Rhaegar's son, there are allies he can call upon and so he'd use that, Robb had no way to bring allies into his army, Jon would.