Summerhall 299 AC.
Oberyn.
He had not intended to stop in these grounds and yet he had found himself here regardless. Walking around them he could still see evidence of the fire that had almost ended the dragons once and for all and he pondered on whether or not that would have been a good or a bad thing. Had their line died that day, had Rhaegar not have been born, would his sister still be in the world now? Would she have lived and the years he had spent mourning her instead have been years spent by her side?.
Was it Elia's fate to die that day in the Red Keep no matter what or was it simply that being tied to the House of the Dragon had led to her doom? Oberyn found that he couldn't be sure that it would have changed too much and perhaps the gods had always meant for Elia to be taken before her time. Had the dragons died that day then he'd never have held his nephew in his arms or played with his niece. As much as he would will it to be so, he'd never will for them not to exist and like it though he did not, Rhaenys and Aegon could only have been who they were because of their father.
With night falling he made his way back to their camp and found his daughters and Daemon speaking animatedly about the battles to come. He both welcomed and worried about their enthusiasm and for once he sat not with his girls but with Harman, Anders, and the others. Men who'd fought in true battles and who knew what it was they were soon to face. Oberyn welcomed the wine and the words that were spoken, as though they bragged about what they'd do to those they faced, it was tinged more with caution and respect than the words his girls and Daemon spoke.
"What of this king, Oberyn?" Anders asked as the others looked on.
"What of him?" he replied noncommittally.
"Dorne won't kneel to him." Harmen said and Oberyn nodded.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. You know my brother and how Doran thinks. I carry an offer for this king and should he accept and Doran wills it, then we'll kneel. Should he not, then who knows perhaps we'll kneel still." he said to shocked looks.
"You would kneel to a son of Lyanna Stark?" Ser Symon Santagar asked disbelievingly.
"My knees do not bend so easily." he said to laughs.
"Then what is your intent, my prince?" Anders asked.
"I wish to meet the man, to look him in the eye and see the truth of him. Ned Dayne names him good and true as did Lord Beric and while one is a boy and the other a Stormlander, they seemed good and true to me." he said to nods "Six and ten years I waited for the murderers of my sister and her children to face justice, six and ten. It wasn't my spear or Doran's will that saw it done and yet both men fell to blades of men with Dorne in their blood."
"My prince?" Harmen asked confusedly.
"It was Ser Arthur Dayne that removed the Enormity that no longer Rides from this world, Rhaegar Targaryen, son of Lyanna Stark that removed Amory Lorch." he said as he looked at each of the men around the fire, smiling when Daemon and his girls moved closer.
"A wolf in dragon's clothing." Ser Symon said derisively.
"Born in Dorne." he said to more shocked looks "The Tower of Joy is on our lands is it not? The boy may have been raised in the North but it's Dornish blood he has in his veins far more than it's Northern. I intend to look this boy in the eyes, then and only then will I decide what it is I shall do." he said to nods.
Sleep was easy enough to come by, though he could have done without the dreams. Dreams of a man he'd named a goodbrother once and who for eight and ten years he'd hated with every ounce of his being. It was to images of Rhaegar Targaryen that he woke up to and then to shouts of panic that he rose to his feet. Around him, men were rushing and gathering their arms and horses were threatening to do themselves harm such was their panic. Oberyn quickly grabbed his spear and looked for his girls and the enemies without.
"Father?" Obara asked worriedly as she, Nym, Tyene, and Daemon moved his way, all of them armed and ready for whatever trouble it was they were to face, which at least made him relax a little.
"Is it an attack, my prince?" Daemon asked as Oberyn looked around at men who didn't seem to be fighting or forming up.
"I do not know. HARMEN, ANDERS?" he shouted when he saw both men and it was then that he noticed that they were looking up and not around.
What he saw when he looked to the sky almost brought him to his knees there and then. It almost made him drop his spear so he could wipe his eyes such was his disbelief and had he been able to tear his eyes from the sight, then he'd have seen the same looks on his girl's faces. Above them flew a dragon and it was a sight to behold. Black as the night's sky, its sheer size cast almost their whole camp in shadow. Fifteen thousand men he had to call upon and yet were this dragon to turn its sights on them, Oberyn knew it wouldn't be enough.
He could barely make out the three figures on its back and was it not for the white cloak that one of them wore, he'd not have even begun to grasp who it was that was circling above them. Oh, he'd have known it was a Targaryen of some sort, but he'd have considered it to be the Princess and that the tales he and Doran had heard of Daenerys in Essos were indeed true. Seeing the white cloak though he knew that this wasn't a princess that was soon to be in their midst, this was a king. A king with a dragon that was larger than even the Black Dread had been.
Oberyn had seen Balerion's skull and as he looked at the head of the beast that was now flying low enough that he could see its true size, it was clear to him that its own was far larger. Were he not so focussed on trying to judge the sheer size of the dragon then he'd have seen the three people on its back more clearly, but it was hard to concentrate on men when a dragon was flying over your head. The sound it made when it landed was incredible and he felt the vibrations from the ground even though it was more than two hundred feet away.
"Is that…" he heard Tyene say.
"No my prince…" Daemon called out, but Oberyn had moved by then and was already walking towards the black dragon and those on its back.
The closer he got to it, the more impressive it looked and when it let out a roar he knew that those behind him had stopped in their tracks. Were he a lesser man or less enthralled by the sight in front of him then so would he. Yet he just kept moving and took in the beast that was in front of his eyes. The dragon was larger than the largest of ships, its head and back were higher off the ground than the spear he carried in his hand could be thrown and as he looked to the spear, the dragon roared again and Oberyn understood the warning clearly.
Dropping the spear to the ground, he continued to move and by now he was wearing a smile on his face. He was no more than twenty feet away from the dragon when it lowered its wing and he watched as the man in the white cloak, a young boy and an older one wearing armor that he'd seen before, began to climb down the wing to the ground. More than two hundred feet, from snout to tail he'd wager the dragon was, more than two hundred feet long and almost fifty wide, and looking at the wings he'd not dare to guess how wide they spanned. The people who climbed down it looked tiny in comparison and as he took a step closer to them he heard the dragon's roar once more.
"I'd stay where I was if I were you, my prince." the man in the white cloak said and Oberyn didn't need to see Dawn's hilt over his shoulder to know that it was Arthur Dayne who spoke.
"Good advice, Arthur." he said with a chuckle.
He looked on as the older boy spoke to the younger and then moved to the dragon's head. Then he watched as he spoke to the dragon softly, his words unheard to him but they didn't sound as if it was the common tongue he was hearing. The boy rested his forehead against the dragon's and then moved away, the dragon turning and moving across the ground before it was soon back in the sky and he got his best look yet at it. Again he was covered in shadow and the wings on each side of its body looked to his eyes to stretch as far as the body itself. Oberyn was left in awe that something so large could take to the sky so easily.
The older boy who he was now sure was Rhaegar Targaryen and the younger boy who he now believed was no boy at all, both moved to Arthur and as one they walked towards him. He watched as the boy took off his helm and was both surprised and not to see his hair was black, not silver, and that the girl's hair and features were similar. It explained how Ned Stark had managed to hide him in plain sight and gave him a clue to the identity of the girl as well.
"Prince Oberyn." Rhaegar said.
"Rhaegar Targaryen." he said back and saw the little girl glare at him.
"My brother is a king." the girl said angrily and Oberyn tried not to chuckle when the boy mussed her hair.
"That is still to be determined, my lady." he said with a smile and received another glare from the girl.
"My sister is my squire, Prince Oberyn, and as you can see, she's no lady." Rhaegar said and Oberyn caught the way the girl almost puffed up in pride at her brother's words.
"As a father to daughters who are much the same, I am most pleased to meet your squire then." he said to a nod from Rhaegar.
"I believe we have much to discuss, but I'd ask you to forewarn those with you. My dragon is most protective and as you can see Ōñosmaghare had not gone far." Rhaegar said as he looked to the sky, Oberyn doing likewise.
"Indeed, you and those with you have nothing to fear from my men or I." he said and Rhaegar chuckled as he looked at him.
"Do any of us here look afraid, my prince?" Rhaegar said and Oberyn saw the smirk on the girl's face.
Dragonstone 299 AC.
Sansa.
She had been so worried when Jon left, not about her safety, but that with him gone she'd find herself at a loss for what to do. Yet no sooner had he, Arya, and Ser Arthur left than she found herself not just busy, but having more fun than she had in moons. Her brother had asked her to help the princess become more accustomed to how ladies in Westeros were expected to behave and to also help prepare for their wedding, something she was most looking forward to. Sansa though had been sure that she'd be left alone to do so and that her lessons with the princess would create some distance between them. She soon found out she was wrong on both counts.
"Where did you learn to sew so well? "Daenerys asked as she picked up the piece of cloth that Sansa had been working on.
"My mother insisted that Arya and I took our lessons with the Septa each day and I've always enjoyed embroidery, my princess." she said almost embarrassingly.
"Dany." the princess said.
"Dany." she replied with a smile.
"Did you have other lessons too, Sansa?" the young girl, Missandei asked.
"We did, Missandei. A lady's lessons were very different than those the boys had. While Jon and Robb had lessons with the Maester and in the yard with Ser Rodrik, Arya and I took ours with the Septa and learned all that a lady should know." she said and then it hit her causing her expression to turn to sadness, Septa Mordane had been killed for doing little more than being with her when she arrived in King's Landing.
"Sansa, are you well?" Dany asked worriedly.
"What? Sorry, I was…"
"Sansa?" Dany asked moving closer to her.
"The Septa, she and those we brought with us to King's Landing, all of them…" she felt her tears ready to fall, and then she was enveloped in a hug, Dany's arms wrapped around her and she welcomed them gratefully.
"Rhaegar and I will make them pay, Sansa, all of them." Dany said determinedly and Sansa nodded against her shoulder.
"Do you think…is my brother safe?" she asked as she looked to the princess and the smile she got was a true one.
"Rhaegar has Ser Arthur and Lightbringer by his side and goes to meet an ally, I doubt he'd have brought your sister into danger." Dany said and Sansa felt herself relax.
She spent the rest of the morning speaking on other things that ladies needed to learn, their manners and courtesies, how people expected them to manage certain parts of their lord husband's home. Dany listened on eagerly and when Missandei said that as a queen would it not be different for her, it was the princess who answered and not Sansa.
"Rhaegar and I will rule together, we've spoken of it, and yet there will be those who expect certain things from me, and should I fall short they may use that to undermine us both. The lessons that Sansa will teach are worthy ones and while I may not be a typical lady of Westeros, I must know how to be one so that I can forge my own path." Dany said and Sansa found that to be a most strange and interesting thought, to be a lady and yet be your own kind of one too.
After lunch she would have still been thinking on that, wondering if her mother was that kind of a lady and if others were too. Lady Olenna seemed to be a lady who differed greatly from what most would expect as did Margaery too. Cersei though Sansa hated her so, also seemed to try to be her own kind of lady and while Sansa would never seek to emulate her, perhaps there was a role model nearer to her that she could. She thought so at least as she, Dany, and Missandei made their way to the sparring yards to watch the men train.
"What is a tourney like, Sansa?" Dany asked as they walked "Ser Barristan made his name partly from riding in one did he not?"
"He did, Dany. There are few more famed knights than the Bold. In the North we don't believe in such things, oh, I don't mean we think them false." she said to giggles from both Dany and Missandei that she quickly joined in on.
"Just frivolous." Dany said and Sansa nodded.
"Aye. But in the South, they are a way of life, a way for knights and squires to gain acclaim and for people to be entertained. Do you think you and Jon will have tourneys?" Sansa asked and she saw Dany nod.
"Is that young Ned Dayne?" Dany asked a moment later as they heard the clash of swords and saw Ser Barristan and a young boy spar a little ahead of them.
"I believe so, Dany." Missandei said and Sansa quickly found herself transfixed.
Ned was quick and agile and though clearly outmatched, he was very talented. Given who his uncle was that was perhaps no great surprise. The spar continued as she, Dany and Missandei took their seats and she found herself watching eagerly. She'd seen spars back in Winterfell of course and even some in the Red Keep but those she'd watched almost disinterestedly and thinking back on those in Winterfell, she now felt regret. In the Red Keep she'd had to endure Joffrey's bragging and she now she knew the truth of him, it tarnished the memory. As did the truth about Jon, and the ones in Winterfell. Sansa remembering how often she'd wished to see her brother humbled based on little but her mother and the Septa's words.
"Sansa?" Dany asked as she saw the look of shame she wore on her face, the spar over and forgotten but Sansa lost in memories that she wished she could forget.
"May I be excused?" she asked and Dany looked at her worriedly before nodding her head and motioning to her guards to follow.
She was glad of the wolves' company, both Nymeria, and Ghost coming to her as she made her way hurriedly to Aegon's Garden. Brushing her hand in their fur at least kept her tears at bay, though they fell freely as she knelt by the tree that served as the gardens Heart Tree. Sansa prayed to the old gods and begged them to forgive her for how she had thought of her brother for so very long. How she'd looked down on him when Jon was truer than even Robb had been. She begged their forgiveness and would have begged for Jon's too, only she knew she'd not have to, he'd simply smile at her and tell her there was nothing to forgive.
"My lady?" a voice said softly and Sansa turned to see Ned Dayne standing there with a worried look on his face that only grew when he saw her tears "My lady." he said moving to her with his handkerchief out.
Sansa nodded as she took it and wiped her eyes, Ned shaking his head when she went to hand it back to him. He reached out his hand to help her up and as she stumbled over a loose stone, he caught her before she fell. She found herself looking into his dark blue eyes, eyes that seemed almost purple in this light, and for some reason just staring into them made her feel safe and secure.
"May I escort you back to the keep, my lady?" Ned asked and she nodded, smiling when he offered her his arm.
"I thank you, Lord Dayne." she said a small smile on her face as she looked at him.
"Ned." he said looking at her.
"Ned." she said softly as they began to walk back to the keep.
King's Landing 299 AC.
Tywin Lannister.
He had intended to throw the most lavish wedding the realm had ever seen. A wedding to usher in a new age, an age of Lions. In his mind he'd already set the date for the following year. Three hundred years after Aegon's Conquest the memory of the dragons would just be that and it would the Lannister's and not the Targaryens that people spoke about for the next thousand years. Tywin had planned to end Robb Stark and the North once and for all and his plans were underway to do just that. Then he could have sat back and enjoyed the fruits of his labors as he watched his grandson marry a rose.
Like every other thing in this entire damn war, it was not to be. Events, fools, upstarts, and his own damn family all conspired to see that what should be his finest achievement was far less secure than he'd have wished it to be. Taking Ned Stark's head was folly and forced him into a war that he'd not yet won. Losing Arya and then Sansa Stark was stupidity and incompetence of a level that he'd not accept. Not ending Stannis at the walls of King's Landing was a minor annoyance, but it was none of those things that were causing the headache he was feeling or was the reason for the meeting in the Tower of the Hand.
"He can't marry the bitch." Kevan said and Tywin almost glared at his brother and only that Kevan was his most competent man, he would have.
"I know." he said as he reached out and took a swallow from his glass of water.
"Do the Tyrell's know?" Kevan asked and Tywin barely shook his head, his answer clear "They can't find out until after the wedding."
"Pycelle will see they receive no news, but news will soon travel and we need them tied to us by then." he said and Tyrion looked to him, his son not saying a word which was something he was most grateful for.
"Does she really have dragons?" Kevan asked and Tywin saw how keen Tyrion was to hear the truth of it.
"Dragons haven't won a war in over three hundred years, armies win them all the time. According to Varys she has Unsullied to call upon." Tywin said and saw his son's frown.
"The Unsullied are formidable, father. The Three Thousand of Qohor held back fifty thousand Dothraki and broke the Khalasar against its walls." Tyrion said and Kevan scoffed.
"You compare our knights to savages? Heavy horse and armored men are not the save as the Horselords, Tyrion." Kevan said.
"We would be wise to remember that the Horselords thought much the same, uncle. Yet history tells us who the winners and losers were and I'd much rather be on the side of the former." Tyrion said and were it not his ugly imp of a son saying such words then Tywin would be impressed.
"It matter's not, an army is only as good as the man who leads it…"
"Jon Snow is no green boy, father, we'd do well.." Tywin glared at his son for both daring to interrupt him and daring to lecture him, once Tyrion was silent then and only then did Tywin speak.
"Take his head and he cannot lead, his and Daenerys Targaryen's." he said as Kevan smirked and Tyrion looked at him and seemed to disagree before he nodded.
He dismissed them both and went about his work, reading the letters and sending his replies. The one piece of luck he'd had was that Robb Stark was too keen to keep a crown that he didn't earn or deserve. Had he joined up with his bastard brother then it wouldn't be Dragonstone that Jon Snow would be residing on. It would be King's Landing for with the Northern Army, his aunt's Unsullied, and the Lords of the Narrow Sea, they'd be a match for their own forces and could take the city. Without them, the boy had to wait and gain more allies and that bought him time to bring about their ends.
Picking up the notes he'd just written he blew on the ink to dry it and sent for Pycelle to see the ravens were sent. One to the Twins, one to the Riverlands, and one to his men in Rosby. He spent the rest of his day writing out more missives and looking at the maps on his desk. Should his plans fail then he would need to make contingencies and the one thing he'd learned during this godforsaken war was that plans, even his own, failed. Dinner that night was a solemn affair, Tyrion was privy to more than the others and shared his worries. As for Cersei and Joffrey, it was hard to tell which of them wore the more put-out look on their faces. Both of them were annoyed that the wedding was to take place on the morrow and that it wouldn't be delayed until the new year.
That it was for very different reasons only showed him the trouble they caused was perhaps not over and done with. Cersei needed to be wed once more, and once he'd dealt with his enemies then he'd see that was done. Far away from power and influence he'd send her as she'd proved incapable of wielding either. As for Joffrey, as long as he did his duty to their house and brought forth heirs, Tywin would allow him to keep his crown, risky though that was.
"You're leaving us father?" Cersei asked surprised to see him rise to his feet before the meal was done.
"We have a busy day on the morrow, some rest is advisable." he said and he knew that it would not be long until the others took to their rooms.
The next morning, the wedding feast.
His grandson was a fool, an absolute fool. He'd gifted him a Valyrian Steel sword that the boy would never wield in anger, unless you were unarmed and weaker than he, and what had he done with it? He'd used it to humiliate his uncle. Not that Tywin was against the thoughts of such a thing. Privately though, not in public, a stunted lion Tyrion may be, but he was a lion all the same. Joffrey had taken such glee in making his uncle look the fool and only that it was so public, Tywin would have slapped the smirk from the boy's face for doing so.
As it was, the public nature of it prohibited him from doing that and Tyrion knew his place and allowed his nephew his fun. Not even his new wife could calm Joffrey down and make him behave like a king and it was only his thirst that stopped his humiliations of Tyrion. Though he still did make him carry his wine and act his cupbearer and Tywin glared when he poured a chalice full over his head. Were he not so focussed on some of the expressions around him, then he may have seen what happened next more clearly.
"Joff, JOFF." Cersei shouted rising to her feet.
"He's choking." Margaery cried out and Tywin's eyes immediately turned to the scene in front of him.
Joffrey stumbled as he held his hand to his throat, while Olenna shouted for them to help their king and Cersei ran to his side. His daughter arrived just as Joffrey fell to the ground and Tywin knew then he'd been poisoned. Despite the fact his grandson was dying in front of him, it was the thoughts of what that would mean rather than the loss of his Joffrey that he was concentrating on. Without the Tyrells being joined to them they were in a terrible position. Coin and men, not to mention the food that the Reach provided was at risk of being lost to them. Should Olenna learn of Daenerys being with her nephew then it was only a matter of time until they'd turn their cloaks.
A match between Margaery and Jon Snow or between Willas and Daenerys Targaryen would be very much on Olenna's mind. Not more than ten feet away from him as Joffrey drew his last breath, Tywin's eyes were focussed on someone other than his daughter and his dead grandson. Tommen, he would be the key now, the new king and the price of the Tyrell's support. It would need to be quick, far too quick for propriety but propriety be damned and he'd need to lie about the Targaryens once more. With luck, they'd be dead before the wedding took place, but even if they were not, the wedding must take place.
"He did this. He murdered my son, your king. Take Him, Take Him." Cersei said her anger and rage clear for all to hear and Tywin looked to see Tyrion being taken away "TAKE HIM, TAKE HIM."
As the guards took Tyrion away, Tywin moved towards Tommen and with a nod, the Kingsguard moved too.
"Tommen, come with me." he said far more softly than he normally would as his grandson sobbed.
"Joff…."
"You are the king now, your grace." he said with a small bow as they left the courtyard and he looked to Olenna and Mace Tyrell.
Summerhall 299 AC.
Rhaegar Targaryen.
Walking through the Dornish camp with Arthur at his back and Arya by his side, Rhaegar could see the way they looked upon him. He'd not expected to see welcoming smiles and had been proved true, they weren't welcoming him as a friend, not yet. They also weren't looking at him as an enemy either and whether that was because of the gifts he'd sent them or Lightbringer flying over his head, he couldn't be certain.
Oberyn looked at him more than once as they walked, his eyes searching out his features and finding whatever it was they sought in them. Arthur and others had told him more than once that he looked like his father, which surprised him greatly. All his life he'd been told he looked like a man he'd thought was his father, to then find out he bore the same looks as his true one was not something he'd expected. There was more of his mother in him in terms of coloring, both Arthur and Howland had said, but he was his father's son too. As they reached the fire and he took a seat, he hoped that wouldn't prove to be too much of a hindrance to the negotiations to come.
Arthur remained standing and Arya took a seat close to his side, his little sister looking at Oberyn's daughters with a keen eye. They all seemed to be armed, one carried a spear and the other wore two long daggers on her hips while the last carried a whip in her hand. He smirked when he saw Arya place her hand on Needle, his little sister showing them that she too was ready for a fight and giving them a silent warning lest they looked his way wrongly.
"The dragon, Rhaegar?" Oberyn said and he knew that it bothered his sister he'd not addressed him as king.
"Ōñosmaghare, Lightbringer in the common tongue." he said and Oberyn's brow creased "You thought him another?" he asked.
"He reminds me of a tale….never mind." Oberyn said shaking his head "What other forces do you bring to bear?" Oberyn asked.
"Do I need other forces?" he asked with a smirk and heard Arya's chuckle "I have the Lords of the Narrow Sea and three thousand men from Skagos." he said and when Arya looked to him curiously, Rhaegar shook his head.
"The North?" Oberyn asked.
"I've sent my brother a raven and ravens throughout the realm declaring my true name and calling Leal men to arms." he said and Oberyn looked at him curiously.
"Yet have received no reply?" Oberyn asked.
"I came here instead of waiting for one." he said and Oberyn nodded
"I take it you have proof of who you claim to be. Other than your word and the word of Ser Arthur?" Oberyn asked and Rhaegar needed to place his hand on Arya's leg to stop her from rising in anger.
"There is proof." Arthur said.
"What of our aunt?" the oldest of the prince's daughter asked.
"Princess Elia and my father were to separate once he and my mother were wed. Circumstances forced all their hands and we're here now in the wake of those circumstances. My brother was to keep his place in the line of succession and if you doubt I'd prefer him to be in my place then I name you a liar." he said and he saw the oldest girl's glaring look before the youngest whispered something in her ear.
"Your existence creates a problem for Dorne, Rhaegar." Oberyn said before adding "And an opportunity. My brother makes you this offer in return for Dorne's support. An alliance by marriage between you and my niece Princess Arianne." Oberyn said to loud gasps from his daughters.
"I'm afraid I must refuse." Rhaegar said to an angry look and a shout from the oldest of the girls who took a step forward.
Arya beat Arthur to the drawing of a sword, mainly because Arthur knew there was no true danger and Arya did not. She stood up with Needle in hand and her words were loud and firm.
"Take another step towards my brother and I'll end all of you." Arya said and Ōñosmaghare roared loudly as if to emphasize the point.
"Enough. Nym, Tyene take your sister for a walk to calm her ire. Rhaegar ask you own to sheathe her sword." Oberyn said and Rhaegar looked to Arya who only put her sword away when the three girls moved away "A wild wolf indeed." Oberyn said as Arya took her place beside him with a proud look on her face when Rhaegar smiled at her and gave her a wink.
"I am to be wed, Prince Oberyn. My aunt Daenerys and I are to be wed upon my return and not even for Dorne's spears would I seek another bride. I offer you the chance for justice that no one else has been able to give to you, I'll offer concessions to Dorne that take account of their support, and in time who knows perhaps our houses can be joined once more. But what your brother asks of me is not in my possession to give, for my heart belongs to another." he said and Oberyn looked at him carefully.
"Why didn't you bring up that your aunt was supporting your claim?" Oberyn asked and Rhaegar smiled.
"For the same reason, you've not used my title, my prince. You're not the only one who seeks to get the measure of someone." Rhaegar said and saw the smirk on the prince's face.
"It's almost time to eat, join us and tell the little wolf to accept any insults aimed your way, it wouldn't do for your squire to gut one of the Dornish lords that you seek to kneel." Oberyn said with a chuckle and Rhaegar heard Arya's snort.
There were only one or two insults and though Arthur bristled and Arya was clearly annoyed, they let them slide. When Oberyn suggested that Arya spar with his girls on the morrow, Rhaegar swore that his little sister almost willed the night to end. So eager was she to be rested and ready for the spar to come that she even took to her bed early. He, Arthur, and Arya refusing the offer of a tent or a place by the fire and instead spending the night by Ōñosmaghare's side.
"I mean no insult or slight, but my dragon will not rest easy without me by his side and where I go so goes my squire and Ser Arthur." he said and Oberyn made sure the lords weren't too put out by his choice.
Neither he nor Arthur slept and after speaking to Ōñosmaghare and making sure that the dragon knew that he was safe and well, he placed a kiss on Arya's forehead as she mumbled in her sleep and he and Arthur walked to the ruined keep. His father had been born here and on that day their house had almost come to an end. Prince Duncan, his wife Jenny of Oldstones and Aegon the Unlikely, along with the man he'd squired for as a boy and who'd risen to be Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall all breathing their last that fateful night.
"Did my father ever come here?" he asked as he and Arthur walked over broken ground and burned tiles.
"He did, your grace. He would spend time here alone and often played his harp during the night while we guarded him from a distance." Arthur said.
Rhaegar took a knee and closed his eyes before offering up a prayer for those who had died here and those who had lived only to then die in tragedies of a different sort. He was almost sure he could hear the sound of a harp playing Jenny's Song, but whether it was his mind or the ghosts of this place he couldn't be certain. They stayed until dawn broke and arrived back at Ōñosmaghare just as Arya woke up. Rhaegar telling the dragon to go and get his food and despite his reluctance, he did so.
After breaking their own fast, he watched as Arya faced off against Oberyn's daughters. Each of them older than her and yet his sister held her own even in defeat. She had been taking lessons with him morning and night and with Arthur at least once a day and there was no more dedicated student than Arya Stark. Which was a complete contrast to the girl she'd been at Winterfell. Though as she was not shy of telling both him and Arthur, these lessons she actually liked.
"Your sister should come and visit Dorne. She'd fit right in with my younger girls." Oberyn said with a warm smile on his face as Arya laughed with Nymeria who she had made friends with almost immediately once she'd told her about her Direwolf and its name.
"I hope to visit it one day. To see the land I was born in and where my mother lost her life. Perhaps I'll even be welcomed." Rhaegar said and Oberyn smirked.
"Perhaps." Oberyn said before he asked him his plans.
Once he'd made them clear, they'd then spoke on Doran's and by extension Dorne's price. It was a tough one for him to accept and he hoped that Dany felt it a worthwhile one. When Ōñosmaghare landed he saw how Oberyn looked at the dragon once more. His eyes focussing on the green of the dragon's and he felt he had better put the man out of his misery.
"He was once known by another name though like mine own it was untrue. The Cannibal is no more, my prince, only Lightbringer remains." he said to a shocked look and he knew that Oberyn had more questions.
"I look forward to seeing him in action, your grace." Oberyn said and Rhaegar saw Arya's beaming smile out of the corner of his eye.
"I doubt the Lannister's will." he said to a loud laugh.
"Arthur." Oberyn said with a nod before turning to Arya "My girls will wish to see you when you're knighted young wolf, Dorne is a place where a wolf such as you would be feted."
"My place is by my brother's side." Arya said firmly and Rhaegar smiled as they climbed onto the dragon's back and headed for Dragonstone.
Dragonstone 299 AC.
Aemon.
Speaking with his aunt was a unique experience and it had already brought dividends. Being able to see once more and to read and write without needing someone else to be your eyes was something he'd long given up on. Whatever magic's it was that Shiera possessed he cared not, only that he felt far more able to serve his niece and nephew than he had been. His time may still be limited, but now he could do so much more with that time. Just being able to go over things himself and not need someone to read the responses or to hope that they read them exactly how they were written, was a huge boon.
He'd set things in motion with the ravens he'd sent out naming Rhaegar as who he was. That had been with his nephew's help and he'd known that the words that were written had been his own. While he trusted those on Dragonstone to do as he bid and to not play his family false, they were not his family and until he knew who they could truly trust, he'd not take any chances. It had been why he'd done things as he had, why his nephew had accepted his advice and why now he needed to speak to his niece.
"My niece?" he asked as he walked from the Maaester's rooms.
"In her rooms, my prince?" Black Dog said and Aemon nodded and his guard led the way.
When he reached them he nodded to Ser Jorah and was let inside, finding Dany, Shiera, Missandei, and Sansa Stark all looking at a dress that his niece seemed most keen to try on. It was a beautiful thing, white as Ghost's fur and embroidered with little beads that caught the light. Were it not for the importance of the messages he carried, then he'd have not disturbed them, but not even seeing the smile on Dany's face was enough to make him turn away.
"Forgive me for disturbing you, your grace, but there is news we must speak on." Aemon said and he saw Dany's worried look "Regarding those who may join our cause." he added so she knew it wasn't his nephew that he wished to talk about.
"Sansa, can you and Missandei…"
"Aye, we'll make the changes." Sansa said as she took the dress and soon enough it was just he, Dany, and Shiera in the room.
"Uncle?" Dany asked as he took a seat.
"We've received some replies from those that we sent ravens to upon Rhaegar's and mine own arrival. House Grafton has declared for us, but counsels that their position is a lone one in the Vale." he said and Dany bid him continue "We've received little word from the Reach but given what we know, it's because the lords are in King's Landing for the Tyrell's wedding."
"House Tyrell has not come to our side?" Dany asked surprised.
"Their daughter is to marry the Lannister king and I've no doubt that Lady Olenna worked out the odds as being in her favor." Aemon said without emotion.
"Perhaps they should have been informed of Rhaegar, myself, and the dragons at the same time?" Dany asked and Aemon shook his head.
"We can bring all houses to bear if we let them know the truth of our strength and of the fact that you and Rhaegar are joining your claims. The dragons, the Unsullied, Rhaegar's forces, all would be enough to make most kneel and bring them to our side." Aemon said as Shiera nodded.
"Would that not be for the best?" Dany asked curiously.
"In the short term, it would. But what's to happen once you take back the throne? How are we to know who's true and who's not? The Tyrell's have sought a throne over the oaths they swore to our house. Others look at Rhaegar's claim and see either a bastard's lie or a man with no army to call his own. They look and see what it is we wish them to, and the choice they make proves them true or not." Aemon said as Dany looked to Shiera who nodded her agreement with his words and then back to him.
"Who else is true?" his niece asked.
He told her that House Reed of the Neck had sent a raven saying not only would they stand by Rhaegar's side but that Lord Reed himself now sought to bring more allies to bear and had headed to White Harbor to speak to its lord. House Darry had renewed its oaths but had said it had little to offer as its lord had fallen and it had been weakened by the usurper after the rebellion had been ended. When it came to the Riverlords and the Northmen, he saw how angered his niece was by their lack of support.
"What did Rhaegar's brother's raven say?" Dany asked keeping her temper in check for now.
"That while an alliance is something they're willing to discuss, they know no king but the King in the North whose name is Stark." Aemon said and Dany rose to her feet.
"His own brother sent that. After all he's done for them, do they not hold true to blood?" Dany asked angrily.
"A crown is a hard thing to relinquish, niece. Torrhen Stark knelt only when he'd seen what our dragons could do." Shiera said.
"He wasn't kneeling to a man he'd named as his brother, aunt. The Riverlords, uncle, what of they?" Dany asked.
"None other than Darry have replied." he said his own anger now coming through in his voice.
"Rhaegar." Dany said softly as she sat back down "His brother, he'll see it a betrayal. Gods the girls, Sansa and Arya, did their brother ask of them?"
"No, though I'm sure he knows that Rhaegar would never see them harmed or use them to bring the North to heel." Aemon said.
"No, he would not. We shoul…." the knock on the door interrupted her words and so he told whoever it was to enter and was surprised when he saw it was Sansa and Missandei.
"Jon's returned." Sansa said happily and he knew then the conversation was done for now at least.
He didn't join his niece and the others as they went to greet his nephew, instead he made his way back to his room and began to write out more ravens and requests. It was time the realm now knew the truth of who exactly they faced and that it wasn't just a king seeking to take back his family's throne. Smiling when he had finished writing out the first of the notes, he tied it to the raven's leg and watched from the window as it flew towards King's Landing. He almost hoped that Pycelle fell down the stairs in his haste to bring it to the Old Lion's attention.
"Today a raven, tomorrow Fire and Blood." he said smiling still.
Dragonstone 299 AC.
Dany.
He greeted her with a deep kiss, almost running to her once he climbed down off the dragon's back. After he'd done so he hugged Sansa and rubbed Ghost's fur while Arya then did the same to Nymeria. When he reached out to take her hand she welcomed it and they walked back to the keep hand in hand. Dany leaning close to him and breathing in his scent as they walked.
"Dorne is with us." Rhaegar said happily as Sansa, Arya and Missandei spoke to each other excitedly behind them.
"They are?" She asked, happy at the news considering what her uncle had just finished telling her.
"They are. There are considerations to be made which we need to discuss, but we have their spears. 15,000 men led by Prince Oberyn himself." Rhaegar said excitedly.
"That's good news. And how were they with you?" She asked knowing that he'd worried about his own reception far more than hers.
"I'll perhaps never be loved by them, but they accept me and I'll settle for them loving you." he said kissing her cheek and making her giggle.
She laughed fully when he told Arthur and Arya to go and get some rest and that it was an order, not a request. After then telling Sansa that he'd speak to her later, they made their way to his rooms and he led her inside where he kissed her far more fully. Was it not for his armor then she'd have perhaps taken him straight to bed, but instead she helped him from it and though she wished not to discuss the ravens, it was Rhaegar himself who brought them up.
"What news from the realm?" he asked as he stretched in front of her, Dany hearing the cracking of his bones as she realized that he'd maybe not taken his armor off even once over the last few days.
"House Darry, Grafton, and House Reed have declared and Lord Reed has said that he travels to White Harbor to speak to Lord Manderly." Dany said and she immediately realized that she'd told him all he needed to know.
"Robb is still king." Rhaegar said almost sadly.
"He's proposed an alliance, Rhaegar, but he isn't willing to give up his crown." she said and she watched as his shoulders slumped.
She moved quickly, her arms wrapping around him and she felt him sag against her as she spoke softly into his ear. Her words promised him things that she wasn't sure she could deliver on, that his brother would come to his senses and that as soon as they met they'd resolve this distance between them. Dany telling him that the North would name him their king and so would his brother.
"When I was a boy, we would spar and as boys were often fond of doing, we'd name ourselves as champions from the past. I was Aemon the Dragonknight and Robb would be Cregan Stark, or I was the Young Dragon King Daeron and Robb would be Torrhen Stark the Hungry wolf." Rhaegar said as she held him in her arms, Dany noticing that even as a boy it was a dragon that he wished to be." One day I shouted out that I was the Lord of Winterfell and Robb said I could not be so, for a bastard couldn't be a lord."
"Oh, Rhaegar." she said kissing his cheek softly.
"All my life his mother wished me gone and feared that I'd take Winterfell from her son. That I'd seek to usurp him when it would be the last thing I'd ever do. When I found out the truth about myself and Arthur and I rode to Riverrun, Arthur told me that this would happen. He said that Robb was usurping me and I laughed it off and said it was not true. That once he knew the truth of me….." Rhaegar said as he breathed deeply and she felt his breath against her ear "I called him out for wanting a crown more than the safety of my sisters, asked him was it that he'd marched for or did he march for blood."
She felt him kiss her neck before he moved away, Rhaegar walking to the window and looking out and she knew without joining him that Ōñosmaghare was flying by.
"I promised myself that those who didn't kneel willingly would be brought to their knees. My uncle knelt willingly to the fat stag that named himself king. He and the North knelt to a man who looked upon the bodies of my brother and sister and named them Dragonspawn. They were willing to name such a man as their king and now they seek to be a free and independent land. No, I'll not have it. My uncle usurped me with his friend and now his son seeks to usurp me with himself. His mother feared that I'd take Winterfell from him, well she was right to fear it, for just like his father he's proved that he's no kin of mine." Rhaegar said and though there was anger in his words, he spoke them calmly.
"Rhaegar." she said softly and he looked at her, his anger leaving him immediately as he moved to take her in his arms.
"He was my brother." he said sadly, and though she didn't see them, she felt the tears as they fell against her neck.
He didn't mention the North again in the next few days, instead, he spoke on different plans and she listened as he told her what it was he intended to do. Barristan, Arthur, Jorah, and Aemon all agreeing with him and when it was brought up about the girls and what they needed to be told, it was she who suggested they do so after their wedding. Receiving no arguments, it allowed her to think solely on that and soon enough the day was upon them.
Dany was not religious and had no true faith and though Jon Snow had knelt to the Old Gods, Rhaegar Targaryen could not. So it was decided they were to be wed in the light of the Seven. She was led into the small Sept by her uncle and saw Rhaegar standing in front of the Septon. Her husband-to-be was dressed in their family's colors and she saw Ser Arthur standing to one side holding the wedding cloak. Sansa had helped make her a maiden one which was almost the same as the one Rhaegar would cover her with, almost but not quite. She felt Rhaegar's eyes on her when Aemon took off her maiden cloak and when she looked to him. Rhaegar then wore a true smile as Arthur handed him the wedding cloak and as he tied it around her shoulder. A moment later she felt the red and black ribbon being wrapped around her hand and they turned to face the Septon once more.
"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger, I am hers and she is mine, from this day until my last day." Rhaegar said and she felt her heart swell as she said her own words and looked into his eyes.
"Let it be known that Queen Daenerys and King Rhaegar of House Targaryen are now one heart, one flesh, and one soul. Cursed by any who dare to tear them asunder." the Septon said and she smiled as Rhaegar leaned forward and kissed her softly.
It was so very different from her wedding with Drogo, how she felt, how happy she was. Even the thoughts of the wedding night to come making it so much more special to her. This was how she was supposed to feel and how she had always wished to. In time she'd felt she'd grown to love Drogo, but the more she thought about it the more she questioned whether or not it was a love she had felt. Perhaps it was simply that he'd allowed her to grow and despite the rough times they'd shared there were fond memories too.
Comparing that to this though was like comparing night to day or hot to cold. Even the feast was more to her liking and she enjoyed dancing with her husband and the little kisses he shared with her as they did so. She even laughed at the looks he gave Ned Dayne when the young man asked Sansa to dance. Rhaegar acting the protective older brother that she imagined had he lived, his father would have been to her.
"Will there be a bedding?" she asked softly as Rhaegar looked to see Sansa smiling at something Ned Dayne said.
"What? Gods no. My wife's beauty is for mine eyes only." Rhaegar said kissing her once more.
"Good." she said with a chuckle as she looked to Arya who was speaking to Missandei "He's lucky he didn't ask her to dance." she said as Sansa and Ned took to the floor once more.
"Aye, he is. Maybe I should.."
"No, you'll not speak to him, not tonight." she said firmly and he nodded.
"As my wife commands." he said and she smirked.
As much as she enjoyed the feast, she was glad when it ended and Rhaegar led her back to their rooms. He was in the midst of removing her dress when suddenly he stopped and moved to pick up his sword.
"Rhaegar?" she asked worriedly and he just shook his head, took her hand, and led her to the door "Rhaegar?
"There are people here who mean us harm. I need you to follow my lead." he said and she nodded as he opened the door.
"Ser Barristan, call out the guard, Arthur, and Jorah where are they?" Rhaegar asked.
"Ser Arthur escorted Lady Sansa back to her rooms and Ser Jorah had the night off, your grace."
"Get as many men as you can gather and bring all of my family here, Ser, all of them." Rhaegar said his voice composed which made her feel at least somewhat comforted.
"Your Grace, I cannot leave your or her grace's side." Barristan said worriedly.
"My family, Ser, fear not about us, our own protection is here." Rhaegar said and she heard the dragon's roar.
With a nod, Barristan was gone and Rhaegar brought her to the balcony where all four dragons were flying close by.
"We wait here until the others arrive, should anyone…" Rhaegar said looking to her before turning away.
Two men came out of the shadows and she looked on as they raised the crossbows in their direction. The flames coming almost as soon as they did so, and though she felt the heat of them, they never touched her or Rhaegar. In an instant, the two men were ash and Ōñosmaghare roared loudly. Rhaegar held her in his arms with Blackfyre out and ready to be used and still the four dragons flew close to the balcony. When Sansa arrived she looked worried and the blood that was on Ghost's snout showed that the wolf had been busy, Dany was so relieved that he'd been with her goodsister. Arya was brought in a little later and the girl had Needle gripped in her hand almost in a mirror image of how Rhaegar held Blackfyre.
It took some more time for Aemon, Shiera, and Missandei to be brought in and by that time she'd found out that they'd lost six of their guards and so far had found seven men who'd meant them harm.
"There are more. Ōñosmaghare will deal with the ones in the cove, Ghost with me." Rhaegar said and Dany shook her head and begged him to stay "I won't face them, I'll just lead Arthur to them, I promise." Rhaegar said and she nodded.
It was still dark when he returned and she ran to him to make sure he was unharmed. Twelve men in all had been sent to kill her, Rhaegar, and anyone else of value they could find. Barring the six guards, four of them Unsullied who'd been killed with crossbow bolts and two men who had been sworn to House Velaryon, they'd gotten off lucky. Which was more than could be said for the three assassins who'd survived. Their deaths would be quick as death by Dragonfire usually was, the time leading up to those deaths however would be anything but. Even though they knew who it was who had sent them, they still needed to be sure. So if Grey Worm and Kovarro didn't get the answers then Ghost and Nymeria would.
"I was so...gods if I lost you." Rhaegar said as he held her in his arms later as they lay in their bed.
"You were here, you were with me. I wasn't afraid, I wasn't scared." she said and though it was a lie it was only a half one.
"I'll see him suffer for this, far more than I had intended, I'll see him suffer for this." Rhaegar said and she kissed his cheek.
"I know you will, my love."
Dragonstone 299 AC.
Ōñosmaghare.
He shared with his brothers the memories of wars fought and wars won. Those he'd seen first hand and those that the other dragons who'd once called this island their home had taken part in. Ōñosmaghare just like Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion had never fought in a war, being a riderless dragon he had never been brought down to bear on the armies of men. He had used his flames against those foolish enough to try and take him for themselves but never had he flown in war like Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar had.
Whether it was him, his rider, or the magic of this island, Ōñosmaghare could see what those other dragons had done as if he had been there with them. He shared it with his brothers now before he, his rider, his rider's protector, and the young girl his rider cared so much for had to take their leave. This flight was much different from others as he knew that the wars he'd seen would soon be upon them again, only this time he'd not merely watch. When they reached the army of men he feared for his rider and wished to unleash his flames, but his rider comforted him and told him that these men were on their side.
Still, he was wary and so he let out his roar to let them know his rider's importance to him and what he would do should he be harmed. He felt his rider had no fear of these men and that only reinforced both that they were allies and that his rider was as fierce and strong as he. Later he felt his rider's sadness and offered his own comfort for the loss that he felt. When they returned to the island, his brothers were eager to find out had he fought and disappointed when they found he had not. Their eagerness down to their youth no doubt and so she warned them that while none were higher or more dangerous than dragons and those who rode them, dragons and their riders too could fall. Little did he realize that this would almost come to pass not more than a few days later.
"Our bonded are in danger." he said angrily as he and his brothers took to the sky.
"I'll burn them all." Drogon said just as angrily.
"Mother, I come." Rhaegal said while Viserion kept his counsel for now but despite the golden dragon's quieter nature compared to his siblings, Ōñosmaghare could feel that he was the angriest of all four of them.
Through his connection with his rider, he sent the warning, and then all four dragons flew. Their anger rising as they did so. Not only because someone dared to wish their riders harm, but that they'd dared to do so and the night they had been joined as one. Ōñosmaghare shared in his brother's relief when he saw them on the balcony and then he felt an anger unlike any he'd known. Not even when he had been the Cannibal was his fury as fierce as it was now as he unleashed his flames on those who meant his rider and his brother's rider harm.
When his rider told him to take the others he was torn, but he knew he was right and his anger had still not receded and needed to be quenched. The men and their boat were no match for the flames he unleashed on them. His brothers were jealous and annoyed that it was he who brought forth his flames and not they, but he knew what they did not. Not all had perished and the others were not long for this word. He told them this and that night he stood and held his own flames at bay while Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion brought their own to bear on the last of the men who had meant their rider's harm.
The last of those here that was, as he felt his rider's own anger rise, his fury was focussed and soon to be let run free. Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion felt their mother's too and each of them felt it as keenly as he. Though only he and Drogon were bonded to their riders, he had shown Rhaegal and Viserion that their riders would come from the union of their mother and his rider. These foolish men had tried to take that from them, from him and from Drogon and they would pay dearly for doing so.
"We bring the fire to them." Viserion said looking at him almost eagerly.
"Fire and Blood." he said and he knew then that the war had truly begun.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed: Up Next. Cat argues with her son at a wedding over a raven from Dragonstone and a betrayal changes the nature of the war. Howland meets with Wyman and Dany and Rhaegar are parted as one leaves with dragons and an army to pay back the Old Lion for his attack and the other makes a move to bring a land to its knees. We take a look into the Kingslayer's captivity his conversation with Cat. While in King's Landing Tywin outmaneuvers the Queen of Thorns and a new king and queen are crowned.
Calmness in the storm: Burn baby burn lol.
Oonighteyes: So glad you liked it.
Bigwilly. I know the canon reasons for why he doesn't give the Kingslayer over. The problem is that the thing he tries to avoid happens regardless and to even worse consequences than had he swapped his sisters, which is pretty much the point that Jon brings up with him in chapter 2. Basically, he marches to free his family, has a way to do so, and doesn't use it. Yes, there are reasons why, but that's the core issue. He doesn't do it because it can cause a problem with his bannermen and then, later on, makes a decision in marrying Jeyne Westerling that causes a problem with his bannermen. In one it's selfish and in the other, it's not. Which is the aspect of his character that I'm exploring here.
He refuses to give up his crown for a selfish reason, just as he married Jeyne for a selfish reason. He may claim he did it because honor demanded it, but that's BS. He was willing to go against his bannermen for her but not for his sisters. Jon already set this in motion where he called him out in chapter 2 and asked him what was more important than family, which is pretty much the entire point of the arc. Again yes there are canon, logical, and reasons that I can get behind for why he doesn't swap Jaime, but we see later on in the Jeyne situation, Robb ignoring that very same reasoning, for selfish reasons.
Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.
Jaimerey: Bloodraven lo tiene, ya que Jon no ha conocido a Bloodraven todavía, no ha tenido la oportunidad de conseguirlo.
Rhatch: So glad you enjoyed it.
WarChicken: We're literally on the cusp of war, the next chapter we see a dragon's flames for true.
Tfranco: So glad to hear you say that. We're starting to see that with Sansa and she won't be left behind when Dany marches. Arya will still be more on Jon's side than anything else since she'll go where he does. On Cat, she's trying and you'll see it more next chapter, but she's trying to be the voice of reason. Robb is young, he's confused and there is some jealousy going on too, the problem is that Jon won't be forgiving.
Here with Olenna it's that she's so damn close to what she wants, we'll see her scramble a lot when the truth comes out but she's so tied in that it's almost exactly where she doesn't want to be, and she's kinda cornered. Robb and Jon may be able to patch up some of their relationships but they'll never be what they once were and Jon will never trust him again.
Guest: I wanted to show with Cat the political side of her. Some people have accused me of hating Cat because of TDC, but while I don't' like her, I don't truly hate her either. I think she's ruled by her emotions and the more emotional she is, the worse choices she makes. With the girls safe and Bran/Rickon alive, she isn't as emotionally fraught and so she can see that while on the face of it Jon has small support, that won't last for long. We'll see the realization dawning next chapter with the Tyrells and others. On Oberyn he's not fully on Jon's side yet, but he's closer, and they have a deal now which we'll see in a while, can you guess what it is? So glad you liked the Dany/Rhaegar parts.
Celeyxs. Hope you liked the reactions here. Cat is more pragmatic and it's Robb/Edmure who are being emotional, I think that's a nice switch up of things. The dragons are about to take center stage.
Dunk: I know right, it's funny because that's a side effect I'd not thought about. Basically, my thing was a less emotional Cat and a more emotional Robb. So Cat without the loss of her boys or the fear for her girls can be less emotional and Robb because of Jealousy/Hurt over Jon and his father is more emotional. Cat then becomes the voice of reason and Robb ignores her counsel lol. There will be a bit of that with some of the Northern Lords when they consider it a bit more. They'll wonder why it's been presented how it has. Olenna here I wanted to use the way info is spread to keep her in the dark almost. She's out of the loop and had she been in HG then she'd make a different choice, as it is she's making a terrible one. Tyrion thinks himself clever, as you see he's very much not. Fire and Blood are coming next. One of the things I try to do is take a point in time and make a change and it's amazing how different things can play out so I'm glad you enjoyed this as being something out of the box.
Murdough: I try to change characters based on little moments or changes but some I find it's hard to change because you reach them at a certain time in canon. Like Edmure is a grown man by this time and all his worst impulses are there. Since he's also a lesser part of things, it's harder for events to change him. The funny this is in Live as a Wolf, he's very different because events change him lol. With Cat, I think a push here or there with her sends her down different paths. We have canon Cat and you can argue her character there, but with a push in another direction, she can be much nicer or much worse when it comes to Jon.
My thing with Dany's character is that we're nowhere near the stage where her actions lead to her actions in the show. Not only does the show have her turn on a sixpence, but even where she is in the books doesn't lead to that turn, not yet. Could she get there, probably, will she get there, perhaps, but since Live as a Wolf is set right at the season 8 timeline, it makes no sense for her to get there given how they got her there, if that makes sense lol.
I used to be more pro-Stark. Fics changed my mind on Ned and season 8 changed my mind on Arya and Sansa.
That's precisely it with Robb, he's being jealous and he's hurt and so he presented the raven as a challenge, a threat, and well the Northern Lords won't react well to that. He knew what he was doing, had he gone a different way then things would be different. There will be questions asked by some of the Northern Lords and Howland is also aware of many things they are not, including Ned's actions here.
With Olenna it's the nature of info, how it flows, who controls it, and what you know when you know. I'm a big Olenna and Tyrell fan (TDC should be proof enough of that lol) but I wanted to put her in a position where she makes the right choices but for the wrong reason almost.
Keb, There will be a wedding at the Twins, what color it'll be, we'll see.
Anja: So glad you liked it.
Lady Octarina:
I've seen enough stories and have written some where the North just comes easy and so I wanted to do something different. Howland is one of my faves and we'll see him more next as we will that Jaime/cat convo. Cat once the emotions are removed is a very astute political player, her issue in canon was she lost/feared for her husband, sons, girls and so it was all too much, and she made a bad choice because of it.
I really with Olenna wanted to have that side of her, I don't think she's overly greedy in canon given it's the nature of them all lol, but this close and not knowing the full extent or about Dany, she'd dance with the one who brung her. With Edmure it's more he worries that they may lose their status and he enjoys the new status that he has. As for Robb he's jealous and hurt and so making bad choices, how many follow with him and where they lead, we'll see.
Xand: It's more that he's both hurt over the truth of Jon and his father's lies, jealous that Jon is now more important them him, and a little selfish and wanting to keep his crown. He's allowed arguments to convince him they won't yield because he's not ready to. So it's almost a case of bias in a way, he wants a certain answer so he sets it up to get that answer and it then allows him to say, I'm right. Stay safe and well.
Outcome: I think Robb was just not ready for the game he was playing. He's a tactician, not a strategist and while tacticians win battles, strategists win wars.
Nikki: Thank you so much, What I'll say is that the answer to those questions will be clear next chapter and I'm trying to update this every 3 weeks rather than every month so 3 weeks from today you'll know.
Arata: Thanks for saying that, if you respect her now you're going to love her next chapter lol. Robb is acting out almost, you have to remember he's still grieving for his father and almost for his brother too as he's thinking Jon is no longer that, also the Theon aspect as well. Aemon getting his sight back is something I really enjoy, we really need more Aemon in fics.
Xan Merrick: Thank you, my friend. We'll see about the dragons with Cat it's taking the emotion out which allows this side of her to come across, add in Jon saving her girls, and well, this is what you get. Howland to me is up to something in canon, it makes no sense we've not seen him yet and so I wanted to show a bit of that here. Olenna is so going to regret that lol.
Akira: Really glad you liked it.
Sageofchaos: Thanks so much.
Silverglow: It's much appreciated my friend, truly.
German: Ok this may be a long one lol. Firstly I welcome all criticism so thanks for taking the time to review, I mean it, even when it's to call me out on something it's just as appreciated as when it's to not.
What I try to do in all my stories, is to create a change that leads to further changes. Cat in TDC starts off on a path that each step down that path makes her into who she is. Do I go too far with her, of course I do, but the events that happen are in my mind logical to send her down that path, just as they are here to send her down another.
We have Canon Cat, who hates/fears, Jon Snow so much that even a year or more after he goes to the Wall she still argues about Robb naming him her heir. In TDC we have Cat who hates/fears Jon Snow and she wants him gone. Then when he's gone he's then in more of a position to make her hate/fear him more. So we have an irrational hatred/fear in canon, leading to a more irrational/hatred fear in TDC. She worries he'll usurp her children, so she wants him at the Wall in canon. She worries the same in TDC but then he goes South and each thing he does, only makes it more worrying that he'll be able to do what she fears he'll do.
It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, each move she makes to counter leads her further down a dark path. What I don't do with her is make her start out on that path without giving a reason for it. Here it's the reverse, she fears/hates him but each move makes that lesser, it's the opposite. With Edmure the issue is slightly different, without a catalyst for change, he'll be who he is and who he is, is prickly. Here he fears as Cat did in canon that Jon will take from him. That the events of the rebellion will come home to roost now there is a Targ back in the game, that's not an irrational fear.
In regards to people being as smart as Jon, that's questionable and debatable.
As I've said time and time again with Cat, she's smart but when her emotions are fraught she loses that smartness and makes bad choices. Here her emotions are not and she makes good ones.
I'm sorry though but Cersei is not as smart as Jon or anyone, even her father knows that, is she ruthless and dangerous, yes, but she's not smart.
Robb too is not as smart, he's a tactician who had some help but politically, strategically, he made some of the dumbest choices ever which led to him losing the war.
LF has barely been seen in this and in my other stories again it's explained why he fails. But LF's biggest strength is not that he's smart, it's that no one suspects him and so his lies don't get called out. People die before they can and so he just rolls along. Had Cat lived, then LF is screwed. If The Hound makes it to WF or Varys or Tyrion when LF is alive, again he's screwed. Hell had Sansa called him out for his lies in the Vale, guess what, screwed. Being smart is not being able to lie and get away with it, it's that you're smart.
Each story has an antagonist or antagonist relationship. These need to be established. In canon, we have what Jon is, how he's treated and you can argue on the nature of that or who does it all you like or I like. I feel what Cat does is abuse, is it physical abuse no, is it emotional abuse, yes it is. We see the scars from that in Jon's personality later on. You can argue it that makes him a victim if you wish, but again, I pick a moment, make a change and let the chips fall where they may because I'm not doing canon.
Jon here was lied to be Ned, Ned screwed him over, now he's found out about it. Robb is not his antagonist nor is Edmure, it's Tywin but they also have a somewhat antagonist relationship with him because of the scenario they're all in. As for dumbing down characters, I think you're mistaken having a character act against someone and dumbing them down. Here they're going against Jon because of their own take on things, not because he's smart and they're dumb. I've been at great pains to point out that Aemon is advising Jon here, and I think he's smarter than all of them, and that there is a difference in what is known and what Is not, so people are acting on the basis of what they think they know, not what they know.
Lastly, people bowing to Jon. He's a king, the people who bow to him bow to him because he's a king. The very same people that bow to Robb because he's a lord and then a king, or bow to Dany because she's a queen. Jon in the books has an odd charisma, it's the entire point of Davos's speech to Dany on Dragonstone in the show. The one where he says they all follow him not because of his birthright but because of who he is, he ha no birthright.
All of my stories, have him having that birthright. Simply being Rhaegar's son gives him the loyalty of certain people. There are those who would follow him because of that no matter what. Hell Jon being Rhaegar's son gets more to follow him than Robb being Ned Starks's IMO. As for enemies, they bow when they lose, as all enemies do.
Again thanks for your review and I hope my expansion explains things lol.