The Twins 299 AC.
Robb.
How had it come to this?
How had he misjudged things so completely?
He'd thought that he had done what was needed, the North hadn't fallen, he'd kept to the agreement he made with Walder Frey and though he had some regrets, those weren't among them. Or at least the latter had not been until now.
Was this always the plan?
Had Walder always intended to betray him?
Was he to die here?
The thoughts in his head were jumbled and as he heard the sound of the music for true now, he knew only two things for certain. He had led his men to their doom and Tywin Lannister was a more astute player of the game of thrones than he was.
Was it gold?
Position?
What had Walder sold him out for?
Again he asked himself questions that he could find no answers to, questions that he doubted he'd live to find those answers for. He was naked as the day he was born, not even allowed to use one of the sheets to cover himself and when he'd tried to take them he'd been knocked to the ground and they'd been removed. His captors laughed at him and they were perhaps right to, he'd come here expecting to lay with his new wife only to find that he'd more than likely die before seeing her again.
Was she in on it?
Olyvar, Perwyn where were they?
How had it come to this?
His mind was jumbled and he was now just repeating the same questions over and over. Olyvar he'd thought good and true, Perwyn too, and Roslin, gods Roslin, he'd found himself looking forward to his wedding night from the moment he met her. He couldn't believe she was that good a mummer, no one was, they couldn't be. Yet he didn't trust his own thoughts and again he felt it was a question he'd not live to see answered.
As he was coming to terms with his fate he began to think on those not here and thanked the gods that his mother had argued with him so. That he'd then allowed her to travel to speak to Jon and that the Blackfish was with her. His great-uncle would see her safely to Dragonstone and to his sisters and brother. For the truth of it was that Jon, Rhaegar, was and had always been his brother no matter the words he'd spoken petulantly to his mother. In that, she was right, as perhaps she was in the rest of it too, or at least more right than the fool he was.
He heard the hurried running outside the doors, the sounds of men and women panicking and he took some comfort in that as he finally got his bearings back. The pain in his head from where he'd been struck finally fading and Robb was able to look at the room he was in and to think somewhat clearly. There had been howling, Grey Wind calling out that there was trouble and he wished he'd brought the wolf with him. Though in another way he was very glad he had not. Then there had been a roar, hadn't there? A roar of a sort he'd never heard before.
An attack?
Horns?
A battle cry?
It made no sense to him and as he tried both to think of a way out of here and to try and identify all he'd heard, the door opened. Naked as he was he still attacked the two men and a woman who was there, though it was only with words he attacked Roslin. Perwyn held him at bay while Olyvar and Roslin tried to explain things to him and Robb named them all as liars and traitors.
"You were not the only one taken prisoner, my king. Not the only one locked in a room and kept away from the Great Hall." Olyvar said his words finally getting through to him, though not how he may have expected them to.
"My men, my lords." he asked worriedly.
"Are safe, my king, or safer now at least." Roslin said softly and it pained him to look at her and to doubt whether she was a part of things, as much as he dared to hope she was not.
"Safer?" he asked confusedly.
"Some fell, my king. Some are injured, but all are being moved outside, as are you." Perwyn said and Robb looked at him incredulously while pointing out his state of undress.
"My king." Olyvar said handing him his clothes and Robb only now truly saw that there was a woman, his wife, looking upon his nakedness and not how he had wished her to.
"Forgive me, my lady." he said, his courtesies even beating out his confused feelings about the woman.
As he dressed he asked what in the seven hells had happened, listening to a story that he couldn't believe, or parts of it at least. The attack in the Great Hall, crossbowmen and armed men against those who were not. A simultaneous attack on the camps outside as men drank and made merry. He'd led the North to its doom and owed someone else the fact it would not be its true end. Just as he had that the North hadn't fallen to Theon and to the Ironborn. That it was the same person was not what gave him pause, it was the other words that Olyvar spoke that did.
"Rhaegar Targaryen is outside on a dragon." he scoffed.
"I've seen it, my king, I've seen it and I tell you it's for true. What else could have stopped the attack? "Olyvar asked.
"An army, an attack on the keep." he said and Perwyn shook his head.
"Would be withstood, a dragon that has already burned one of the towers down, even my father is not fool enough to stand against such." Perwyn said and as Robb looked at Perwyn, Olyvar, and Roslin, he finally saw how truly afraid they were.
"Take me to this dragon." he said with more confidence than he truly felt, though it was the two-legged one he'd named a brother that he was more fearful of facing.
As they moved through the keep he saw it more clearly, men, women, and children running and carrying their things. Silver, gold, all their most precious possessions, and seeing a young girl carrying a small cloth doll and holding it tightly to her chest made even he feel some sympathy for her plight. He felt less sympathetic when they passed the Great Hall and he saw bodies of good men of the North that lay strewn across tables and the full extent of the Frey's betrayal became clear.
Robb was stopped from going inside, Perwyn shaking his head and telling him that time was of the essence and so despite his own feelings he continued past the Great Hall. When they reached the courtyard he saw Walder Frey being helped onto a litter, the weasel looking truly terrified for once and he welcomed the sight. As he did upon seeing the Greatjon, Maege, Ser Wylis, and others as they were led out through the gates.
As he was led out he looked to see the carnage in the camps and he wondered how many men of the North had lost their lives here tonight. Far less than the Frey's had intended he'd wager, though not because of any action he or they had taken. The reason for their rescue loomed large to one side and Robb exclaimed loudly upon seeing it.
"That's a dragon." he said in disbelief and to no reply.
The closer he got to it, the larger it became and the sheer size of it was something he could barely comprehend. It was bigger than any ship he'd ever seen and he doubted it could land even in the main courtyard of Winterfell should it ever wish to. Black as the darkest sky and with eyes of a green so vibrant that they shone like two burning emeralds in the night. Eyes that looked at him with both contempt and anger, and what he felt was a little concern. Though perhaps that was wishful thinking on his part.
He was knocked to the ground by a grey blur as Grey Wind and he were reunited. The wolf's own eyes looking angrily at him even though it licked his face and allowed him to rub its fur. As he walked closer to the dragon with Grey Wind and the Frey's by his side, he saw him. Jon looking nothing like the brother he knew, both in appearance and standing. The Three-Headed Dragon on his black armor and the red cloak marking him for who he now truly was, Rhaegar Targaryen, and he looked every inch a king. Something that was only enhanced by the man in the white cloak who stood beside him, the man who bore a blade in his hands that every boy or man in Westeros knew. A man he'd thought a bastard just as he had thought Jon to be, and who was anything but, just as his brother was not.
"The Sword of the Morning." Olyvar said reverently and had he not then Robb or Perwyn no doubt would have.
Jon nodded and he saw a little girl run at him and he soon had tears in his eyes as he embraced his little sister.
"Gods, Arya, it's you, it's truly you." he said as she hugged him tightly.
"Who else would I be." Arya said making him chuckle just a little as he looked at Jon over her shoulder.
His brother looked relieved to see him unharmed, though that was as welcoming as the look he gave him was. There was anger there, perhaps some hurt too, yet they were but fleeting and in the blink of an eye, Jon looked at him no more. As he went to move he felt the punch to his stomach and the angry stomp on his foot. Before he could react to either he felt the kick to his shin and he looked to see Arya glaring at him.
"Arya?" he asked confusedly.
"That's for being a fucking fool and for not doing what you should have done." Arya said angrily.
"What I should have done." he asked still just as confused though as he looked from her to Jon, he began to get the picture.
"Aye, we're pack, we don't usurp our family, we're Starks not fucking Baratheons." Arya said moving away from him to go and stand by Jon's side.
He moved to them both and took them both in more clearly. Jon bore a sword that he dared not imagine could be what he thought it was while Arya too carried a sword and a dagger also. His little sister looking every inch the warrior she had always wished to be. That it was Jon who allowed her to be so was no true surprise, she had always been his favorite and he could never deny her anything. It was why he had known that he'd find her and save her. Robb knowing that if anyone would go to the end of the known world to do so, it would be the one who loved her truest of all.
"Robb." Jon said with no feeling, no emotion and a look on his face that he couldn't name.
"Jon." he said and saw the frown, the glare he got from Ser Arthur Dayne though was not as fierce as the one he got from his brother, Yet it was Arya and not either of them who spoke.
"Jon Snow is dead. You stand in the presence of King Rhaegar Targaryen, King of the Andals, Rhoynar and First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm and you will address him as such." Arya said firmly and leaving no room for argument.
"And his squire, Arya Stark of Winterfell. The She-Wolf, the Lady Warrior, the Sword of the North." Jon, no Rhaegar for that was who stood in front of him, said smiling as Arya puffed her chest out.
Lannisport 299 AC.
Dany.
She'd flown high over the city on Drogon's back and seen the defenses they'd put out against them. No doubt the ravens had already been sent and these people thought themselves well prepared for the army that came their way. Had that army just been coming by sea then they'd perhaps be right. Even the Unsullied would suffer tremendous losses to take the docks and then the city was that the only way the attack came.
These people though had no idea that the attack would not just come from the sea, they had no way to know what it was they truly faced and Dany felt her anger rise as she flew to where Rhaegal and Viserion waited for her. When she arrived at the small set of cliffs the two dragons had landed on, she climbed down off Drogon's back and brushed her hand against his snout before moving to the green and gold dragons to do the same to both of them. A part of her was fearful about what she was set to do, worried how it would be looked upon. While another part of her felt the need to do so, the desire not to burn them all, but to make the Old Lion pay for what he had tried to take from her.
On Dragonstone she, Rhaegar, Shiera, and Aemon had discussed each of their moves. Dany bringing up an attack on King's Landing since that was where Tywin, Joffrey, and the Lannisters were and then being told why they could not. While they had the dragons to take the city with, they didn't have the men, not yet. They needed to secure other victories first and to bring those to them that hadn't knelt simply by their words. She'd argued that if they'd not knelt already, then why would they accept them as true if they knelt later. Only for Aemon to explain the reasons why someone may not have declared for them openly.
"The Iron Islands will need to be brought to heel, the Lannisters defeated and removed. The Tyrell's have shown their true colors and so we now need to find out which of their bannermen are loyal to them and which to us. Dorne will keep the Stormlands in check, bring them to our side and see Stannis Baratheon removed from the board. Rhaegar will bring the Vale to heel and you the West, niece. More than that though you'll force the Lannisters, Tyrells, and others to make their own moves." Aemon said.
"Moves which we will then react to." Rhaegar added as Dany looked to her husband as they.
"You believe our actions will bring the Lannister's and Tyrells out of King's Landing?" she asked seeing both her uncle and husband shake their heads.
"No, but by the time we look to King's Landing that will be all they have left, and then we can take it how we choose." Aemon said.
"King's Landing is not the realm, Dany, first we take the one and then the other." Rhaegar said and she smiled when she saw his own.
When they'd were alone she'd then asked him if using the dragons was such a wise idea, Rhaegar sensing what it was that concerned her the most and understanding immediately.
"We're not him, Dany. We won't become him. When Aegon used the dragons at Harrenhal and the Field of Fire no one named him a monster. Nor will they name us so. We'll use them better, smarter and should we be forced to use them to their full extent, then so be it. I care not for Lannister soldiers or Tyrell guards, them or our own men is not a choice I need to consider, do you?" Rhaegar asked.
"No." she said firmly thinking of Grey Worm and her Unsullied and of Barristan and Jorah.
"Then we do what is necessary so they are safe, so we are safe." Rhaegar asked and she nodded, his arms going around her and his words that he then spoke telling her how much he loved her bringing her more than enough comfort to assuage her doubts.
After speaking to all three of the dragons, she moved to Drogon and climbed up on his back. With a look to Rhaegal and to Viserion, she bid them join her and all three dragons flew out to sea. She saw the ships bearing the Lannister sigils, twenty or more sailing out from the city to engage her own and she told her children to do as she and Drogon did.
"Dracarys." she said catching the first ship near the bow and watching it go up in flames, some men unavoidably hit by the flames though the vast majority were not, and simply jumped overboard.
Viserion and Rhaegal did the same to another ship each and in one pass the ships then changed direction. No longer did they seek to intercept or stop her own ships and she watched as two Lannister ships picked up the men who'd abandoned their own. Flying low over Balerion she looked to see Sansa, Missandei, Ser Barristan the two wolves, and Ned Dayne all on deck. Her flagship was further back from those that would dock first and was well protected and it made her feel secure enough about those on board that she then headed for the docks.
Beneath her Meraxes sailed with Grey Worm and his best men and Jorah on Vhagar sailed close by leading the rest of her ships. Dany saw the Unsullied ready with their spears and shields as she flew over them heading for the docks some distance away. She flew low and saw the defenses they'd set up. Some to stop her ships from docking and her men from landing and others to stop them from spreading out into the city should the first ones fail to do their job.
"Dracarys." she said as she flew over men who fired arrows up at her, Drogon's flames fiercer since they dared try to harm her.
After passing over the first set of defenses she soon reached the second and she looked on as Viserion and Rhaegal laid down their own flames. Both her sons showing more restraint than Drogon had and damaging only the defenses and harming only the men who hid behind them. The snort she heard from Drogon made her laugh as she turned her attention to the defenses that blocked the streets. These were more difficult and tricky to hit without doing damage to the buildings nearby and so she asked Drogon to show some restraint. Her son deciding to show off and so it was with accuracy and not intensity that the flames were loosed from his mouth.
"Kirimvose, Drōgon, kirimvose." (Thank you, Drogon, Thank you.) she said proudly as Drogon roared his approval at her words.
They headed back to the docks just in time to see Meraxes and Vhagar dock and Jorah, Grey Worm and his men disembark. Dany bidding Drogon offer them cover while they secured the docks to allow the other ships to do likewise. Once more she needed to tell Drogon to let loose his flames and other than that it was simply roars from him and his brothers that subdued those they faced. Grey Worm accepting surrenders from all who offered them and as night began to fall so did the city.
It wasn't even dark when she landed, Jorah and Grey Worm ready to greet her, and with a group of their men escorting her to a nearby manse. All three of her children were tired and hungry and yet it was not until the city was secure and Balerion too had landed that they flew off to eat and rest. Drogon looking down at her as she stood next to Ghost and with Ser Barristan now at her back as well.
She took the surrender from a knight of House Lannister, a Ser Tybold who was a distant cousin of the Lannisters of Casterly Rock and a buffoon. The man daring to say that once Tywin Lannister heard what had happened he'd see them all dead and that the Old Lion would march his entire army to free Lannisport of the dragons. Just as he had King's Landing all those years ago.
"I'm counting on it, Ser Tybold, and should your Lord of Lannister be so brave he'll find that it won't be a babe in a cradle or a girl of three namedays that he'll find. My husband has already seen to the ends of two of those responsible for the atrocities carried out at you lord's behest, trust me I'll be more than happy to play my own part and see the man behind them suffer." she said as she nodded to the Unsullied to take the man from her sight.
Once he was gone she listened as Grey Worm told her the city was locked down and in their control and that riders had ridden out to Casterly Rock and been allowed to do so. Then after Ser Barristan ensured her that their own manse was safe, she made her way to sit down for her meal for the night. Missandei, Sansa, and Ned Dayne had started without her and as Dany took her seat beside Missandei she looked to how Sansa and Ned Dayne spoke to each other. Her goodsister was enamored with the young Dornish lord and she was most pleased to see it returned.
Given what she'd faced in King's Landing and the life that Rhaegar had saved her from, it was good to see her smiling so freely when talking to a young man. Rhaegar she knew had worried that she'd lost the part of herself that believed in chivalrous knights and good men and while he welcomed her being smarter about the world, she knew he didn't wish her to be cynical about it. When her looks to her goodsister were noticed, Sansa blushed before turning to speak to her. Her worries were the same as Dany's own and she welcomed having someone share them with her.
"Has there been word of his grace?" Sansa asked, the girl still having difficulty naming him as Rhaegar and not thinking of him as Jon and Dany couldn't fault her for that.
"No, if all is well he'll be taking the Vale now." she answered with what she hoped was a comforting smile.
"You fear not?" Sansa asked and Dany reached out to touch her softly on the hand.
"I fear not, Sansa." she said and felt the girl relax and while it was true that she didn't, it wasn't completely true.
Kings Landing 299 AC.
Varys.
There had been few times since he'd come to this wretched place that he'd found himself scrambling to stay ahead of events. Usually, he was either the one directing them or had so much foreknowledge of them that the moves he needed to make were almost embarrassingly easy. It was other people who got caught by surprise, not him. Others who were in the dark while he walked in the light that his information network, his little birds, afforded him to.
For the last few moons, he was as in the dark as anyone else. Oh, there had been times over the years he'd been caught by surprise. Rhaegar naming the Lady Lyanna as the Queen of Love and Beauty had been one, Joffrey calling for Ned's Stark's head another. There had been times when he was unaware of certain things, where Rhaegar had spirited the Lady Lyanna away to and where he'd hidden her, who had killed Jon Arryn and Aerys's final plans for King's Landing being amongst those. This though, this was different and each revelation just made it worse and worse and his failure feel even more complete.
Had Ned Stark played the game that well?
Was the man more intelligent and cunning than he'd given him credit for?
Why didn't he name the boy before he died?
Those had been the first questions that stuck him when the raven came announcing Jon Snow as not being the bastard son of Ned Stark but the trueborn son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Targaryen. While the letter didn't name Jon Snow as Rhaegar, Varys had known by the words contained who it referred to and Tyrion Lannister had put it together just as quickly as he had. Which had led to those questions and to answers coming very quickly. Ned Stark hadn't played the game at all, which was why he'd gone unnoticed. The man was as dim-witted as he believed him to be and he hadn't named the boy because he'd no intention of seeing him wear a crown. Even going so far as to encourage the boy to sign his life away at the Wall to see that was so. These answers had led to other questions, more worrying ones.
Would the news be believed?
Would the loyalists' rally?
Would he be able to be stopped?
Varys knew the news would be believed, he and Illyrio had counted on the very same thing for when they were ready to make their own moves. Of course, the loyalists would rally, even if the Queen of Thorns would seek advantage and the Old Lion would move quickly to tie the roses up. The last question was a much harder one to answer and after weeks of pondering upon it, he still hadn't come up with one.
Hearing the North had not joined the boy had been a relief, to him and to Tywin Lannister. The Lords of the Narrow Sea had though and worse than even that so had Daenerys Targaryen. Rhaegar taking something that was not his to take and something that Varys had planned to use to further Aegon's own claim. Hearing they'd been wed and that she brought with her an army of Unsullied would have made him tear his hair out, had he hair to tear. It annoyed him so much that he actually hoped the Old Lion's plan for their ends would kill them both, only for it to fail completely.
His little birds had brought him whispers that Mathis Rowan and Randyll Tarly were looking far more to the Dragon on Dragonstone than the Roses in Highgarden and that there was a fracture in the Northern support. Some were willing to fight for a son of Lyanna Stark and others wanting to keep their king and not follow a dragon. It should have been good news and yet it was not. Varys believed that the North would come to Rhaegar's side, the boy had rescued both his cousins and so he believed they'd come. What he didn't believe, couldn't believe was that the Dornish may have done so too.
"What am I to do?" he said to himself as he rose and then made his way into the secret passages and down into the depths of the Red Keep.
With Daenerys off the table there were but two choices for Aegon, Margaery Tyrell, and Arianne Martell. Varys felt the former would or could be brought to Aegon's side. Even after all the issues the Tyrell's would have with their bannermen over them supporting lions over dragons. If he could paint this Rhaegar Targaryen as a lie, an impostor, and then present Aegon as Rhaegar's true son, it could work, couldn't it? Wouldn't it? To the Tyrell's he could sell them a prince of the blood, a true heir, and their own position would now demand them to accept his offer.
By all accounts, Jon Snow didn't bear any of the Valyrian looks and had none of the accompaniment to prove him true. Letters could be declared as false and with Jon Connington by Aegon's side, he perhaps had a better story to tell. There were but two issues that he had no answer to and which caused him sleepless nights. Two things that he'd not predicted and been caught unawares by, Daenerys and Dorne. They may be able to portray Jon Snow as false, but he was now married to Daenerys and if he managed to take the throne before they did, then could they really do anything to bring him down? Not without support from Dorne they could not and it looked as if Dorne was supporting someone he'd never have imagined in a million years that they would.
"It has to be Arianne." he sighed as he moved through the corridor and went about unnoticed, the door he reached he then opened with his own set of keys and moved inside.
Tyrion sat against the wall, his eyes focussed not on the door but on something in the distance and it took Varys a moment to realize that he wasn't looking at anything, he was simply daydreaming about something. He believed he knew what that was and so he prepared to make yet another move in the great game. One that was very much needed to counter those being made by a player that he hadn't even known existed.
"It's good to see you, my friend." he said as he took a seat, Tyrion turning to look at him and seeming surprised to see him "I thought you may be thirsty." Varys said reaching into his robe to grab the water pouch and throw it to him.
"You could have brought…" Tyrion said as he swallowed what was in the pouch "Thank the gods, it feared it was water." he added laughing.
"You are well, my friend?" he asked and the laughter grew louder.
"As well as a man facing death can be." Tyrion said, the laugh now more bitter.
"It may be the Wall." he suggested.
"Ah, a slower death then." Tyrion sighed.
"You will be found guilty, Tyrion, you know this. Should you ask for a trial by combat you know who they'd have suggested?" he asked and Tyrion nodded before laughing again.
"Then I thank the gods not just for the wine, Varys, but for the fact that the big ugly fucker is dead." Tyrion said and Varys knew it was now or never.
"Your sister wishes you dead, Tyrion. She is willing to go to any lengths to see that done. Knowing that what I have to say may not be as big a shock to you as it may have been."
"Who?" Tyrion asked.
"Lord Bronn." he said and saw Tyrion deflate.
There was silence for some time, Varys letting Tyrion contemplate his fate and let it all sink in, the truth of his situation and its likely outcome were both boons to Varys's cause. When he felt it had sat enough, he moved closer to the man and watched as Tyrion drank down the remaining wine in the pouch.
"You are a smart man, Tyrion, a player of the game just as I and this is no rightful end for you. I've come to offer you a different path, a way to see yourself rewarded as you deserve to be and to see yourself avenged on people who see you as disposable. Should you decide to accept my offer, then I shall see you and Shae away from this city before dawn tomorrow and I'll join you on a journey to a man who values good and clever men. What say you, my friend?" he asked trying not to sound so eager.
It took barely a moment for Tyron to respond, Bronn's betrayal part of the reason for his answer he knew, but it was the addition of Shae that had truly won him over. Love was a strange and complicated thing and was not all he did for love too, and so it was proved yet again as the chance of being with his love was too much for Tyrion to turn down.
"Where?" Tyrion asked.
"Essos." he replied and saw the small nod that Tyrion gave that served as his acceptance.
Walking from the cell he felt lighter, he had hoped to bring Tyrion to Aegon's side eventually. The man was smart and clever and he could serve Aegon well, but the circumstances of that service had to be right. He'd not expected them to fall into his lap so easily nor for Tyrion to bring a boon that he'd not counted upon. So far he'd been the only one who'd known what the truth about Jon Snow meant or known the boy at all and his impressions of him were far more knowledgeable than Varys's own.
To beat your enemy, you must first know your enemy and while Varys would love to stay and learn more about him, the time had come for he too to depart. Westeros would not be where the first skirmishes of Aegon's war would be fought, that would be Essos and there he, Tyrion, Jon Connington, and more would be needed. The great game was afoot and he intended to be on the winning side and still standing at the end of it.
The Twins 299 AC.
Rhaegar Targaryen.
He could feel Ghost and Nymeria's relief, or more through Arya, he could feel Nymeria's relief. His little sister had come on greatly since they'd been reunited, in her swordplay and in her warging and he'd done his best to teach her both. She was still Arya though, even if she was learning to hold her tongue a little better. So seeing her punch and kick Robb had brought a smile to his face as had hearing her correct his brother's use of his name. Seeing her stand proudly as he named her his squire and gave her an epithet, well that was worth the journey here alone.
Looking to Robb he felt the need to keep a lid on his emotions, the urge to scream and shout was fighting with the urge to knock him on his arse. Both urges were beaten out by the relief he felt that he was alive and unharmed. Still, he couldn't let emotion cloud his actions here or what he now needed to do. It may not have been his intent to come here, but here he was. So it was time to do what he had known he'd needed to from the moment he'd received Robb's reply. That he'd saved his brother and his men, as well as so many of his lords, that could only be helpful Rhaegar felt.
"Lord Frey, is every last person who resides at the Twins present?" he asked not truly looking at the man himself.
"How would I know boy?" Walder said angrily.
"Your grace." Arthur said moving forward, Dawn in hand and being slightly raised as he did so.
Rhaegar could see Robb, the Northern Lords, and the Northmen looking from him to Arthur and to Ōñosmaghare, more to him than the dragon which surprised him somewhat. The Greatjon, Maege Mormont, Galbart Glover, Rickard Karstark, and Ser Wylis Manderly amongst them, and Maege and Ser Wylis paying the most attention to him.
"Your grace." Walder almost spat.
"Ser Stevron?" he asked the other man, this one more willing to give an answer.
"They are, your grace." Stevron said.
"The coin has been removed?" he asked Alyn without turning to face him and heard him tell him it had been "Very well." he said turning away from the Frey's and walking to Ōñosmaghare.
"Jon, what do you intend to do." Robb called out "Jon." he shouted and Rhaegar just passed him by and moved to speak softly to the great dragon, his hands touching the black scales and feeling Ōñosmaghare as he leaned into his touch "Rhaegar." Robb said exasperatedly and as he turned to face him he knew the look on his face was one that took his brother aback.
"Fire and Blood, that's what they've earned here today, the blood I'll leave to the North. Fire, well that's my domain." he said as he climbed up on Ōñosmaghare's back and without further ado, they were in the air.
He could see Arya look annoyedly at him though she then turned to look eagerly at the keep, something in which she was very much not alone. The Northern soldiers who'd been attacked, some still bearing wounds and mourning friends, the lords, his brother, and the Frey's themselves all looked to the Black Dragon as he soared and then dropped down to face the one remaining tower. Ōñosmaghare hovered, his wings beating slowly to hold him in place, and then with the word from Rhaegar's lips he unleashed his flames on the keep.
"Dracarys." he said and his dragon responded eagerly.
Behind them, their audience looked on and he wondered what it looked like to them. How impressive a spectacle was it to see a dragon doing what only a dragon could do. To watch true power be displayed and to see a keep just melt away. He imagined it was an incredible sight and yet the one he had was wondrous. There was no better vantage point than the one he had and the flames didn't just hit the keep, they enveloped it. The tower was engulfed by them and he felt Ōñosmaghare in his head seeking his approval, he found it completely, and even through the release of the flames, the black dragon trilled.
It took no more than a few moments, the stone melting away and it made him wonder just how thick the walls of Harrenhal truly were or were Ōñosmaghare's flames just that much more powerful than even Balerion's had been. While the results of Harrenhal had stood and could still be seen, the Twins were no more. The towers were replaced by piles of molten rock and even he was in awe.
"They should be awed, we are dragons, Rhaegar." Ōñosmaghare's voice rang out in his head and he couldn't disagree with the sentiment nor the words.
With the keep destroyed he bid Ōñosmaghare to fly and to roar, his dragon doing both as they flew back to where Arthur and Arya awaited. The look on his sister's face was one that basically pleaded to be allowed to be on the dragon with him should he do this again and the one on Arthur's was a far prouder one. Looking to the Frey's he could see their fear and worries, anger and hate and he cared not. As for the Northmen, it was again differing looks he found on their faces. Some seemed thankful, some fearful, and most looked at him questioningly wondering what was to come next.
"I leave the Frey's fates to the North, but we must speak, you, your lords and I must speak now." he said to Robb as he, Arthur, and Arya walked away and moved to a tent that had been set up for the King of the North and the Trident.
It took some time for Robb and the others to arrive and he'd spent it japing with Arya and telling her that Dany was probably doing as he had just done to Lannisport. Then shaking his head at Arthur when he looked at him worriedly as that was not the plan. Still, it made Arya chuckle and he knew she wished to see the lions brought low for what they'd done to her father and to those who'd gone to King's Landing along with them.
The arrival of Robb and the others soon took away Arya's good cheer. Rhaegar smirking though when he got up from her seat and stood with Arthur behind him, her hand on Needle as she glared at all who entered the tent. He looked at each of the faces, seeing some he didn't recognize but knew by their sigils, a Mallister, a Piper, a Vance, a Tully who could only be Lady Catelyn's brother. Along with the Lord of the North, Rickard Karstark, Galbart Glover, Maege Mormont, the Greatjon, and Ser Wylis Manderly.
"Arya, perhaps you should wait outside." Robb said and it was the wrong thing to say, Rhaegar ready to say she stayed only for Arya to speak and speak to the heart of the matter.
"Where my king goes, I go." Arya said determinedly and he saw Robb frown while Maege Mormont, The Greatjon, and Ser Wylis smiled, though it was Edmure Tully who spoke and almost cost himself his life.
"Your brother is your king, not this bastard."
Dawn was unsheathed in the blink of an eye, Needle surprisingly not far behind it and both blades were aimed at Edmure Tully. Rhaegar enjoying the gulp the man made and allowing Arthur to speak before he himself did.
"Name my king such again and it'll be the last words you speak, trout, test me on this and you'll find the truth of my words." Arthur said his voice calm and yet there was anger in his words.
"My Kingsguard and squire are most protective, Lord Tully, not just of my person but of my heritage, and my truth is known to you, to everyone now. Speak such words again and I'll take it not as the insult to me that you intend it to be, but as an insult to my mother, my father. Be in no doubt my lord, I'll not accept one to either, not from you, not from anybody." he said as Arthur removed the sword.
"Jon." Robb said with a sigh.
"You've been told by letter, by word, and by mine own sister what my name is Stark. So let me make it clear to you and to you all so there is no doubt. Jon Snow was a lie, a falsehood, and that falsehood has been laid out to rest. My name is Rhaegar Targaryen, son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Targaryen and I am here for one reason and one reason only." he said looking directly at his brother.
"Which is?" Maege Mormont asked.
"Your fealty as is owed to me by right of blood and law." he said as the voices began to rise.
"You dare."
"We have named our king."
"I'll not bow to a dragon."
"Silence." he said his voice loud and then reinforced by Ōñosmaghare's roar and he waited until they queitened before he spoke again "Then don't bow and see what it gets you." he said glaring at Edmure who again had spoken out of turn.
"The North is a free and independent land, J..Rhaegar." Robb said as some of the others nodded "The Trident has named their king." his brother added.
"What care I for what fools have done when they knew no better?" he said to gasps "Is your crown so important to you, brother. Not only were you willing to keep it at the expense of our sisters but you're now so willing to become the usurper your mother feared me to be. Does it mean so much to you to be named as king?" he asked as he stared at Robb.
"Does it mean so much to you?" Robb retorted.
"I am a king, I was born a king, what were you born, Robb? What is your birthright and what kind of a man are you to try and steal mine own? Bad enough your father was willing to usurp me twice, now you seek to do the same too?" he said and Robb rose to his feet and began to shout angrily at him.
"ENOUGH." Maege Mormont said loudly stopping the argument before it could truly begin "Explain yourself, your grace?" she asked looking at him.
"Robert Baratheon claimed the throne not just by right of conquest, but by right of blood. My claim, my wife's claim comes before his, and yet my uncle named him king and not I." he said and again the voices rose, and again it was Edmure Tully's voice which did so the loudest.
"Your aunt, you married your own aunt." Edmure said disdainfully and before Rhaegar could answer, The Greatjon did.
"As have men North and South for many a year. It's not like she's his fucking sister now is it." The Greatjon said to some laughs.
"Was it not enough to help usurp my claim the once, my uncle then allowed and encouraged me to sign my life away at the Wall while he sought to marry my sister to Joffrey Waters, usurping mine and any children I may have had, claims even further." Rhaegar said.
"You wished to go to the Wall." Robb said accusingly.
"Did I? Or was that the only choice that was left open to me? What other option did your father give me, Robb? What option did your mother allow for me to have?" he said as Robb once again went to rise "By withholding the truth of who I was, my uncle left me with no other choice. Later I found out from Ser Arthur and Howland Reed that not only was this not the path I was supposed to walk, but it was not the path that my uncle agreed I would."
"What's that you say?"
"Ned would never."
"My father, take that back, Jon, take that back at once." Robb said angrily over the other voices.
"I told you once already, my name is not fucking Jon Snow and you continually naming me as such to belittle me will not be allowed to stand. Do so again and it'll be more than words we have here today, brother." he said to louder shouts.
"You dare threaten a king."
"Who do you think you are?"
"I'm the man who saved all your hairy arses, were it not for me where do you think you'd be now? Supping ale in the Frey's hall mayhap? Finding yourself next to a warm and welcoming body in a bed somewhere, I'd imagine. No, you'd be fucking dead, or at best a prisoner in Walder Frey's dungeons so remember that when next you speak to me and remember it well because it's not just the North that remembers." Rhaegar said quietening down the voices, some of those in the tent looking at him shamefacedly.
"You're here to ask our fealty, what are your terms, your grace?" Robb said bitingly.
"House Stark is to remain as Lords of Winterfell and Wardens of the North, under Brandon Stark." he said to more angry voices which this time Robb quietened "House Tully is to be stripped of the title and rank of Lord Paramount for going against the rightful king not once, but twice. In time I'll name a new Lord Paramount of the Trident. Robb Stark is to kneel and pledge fealty and is to be stripped of his crown and right to be Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. His further fate I leave in the hands of the new Warden, Brandon Stark." he said as he rose to his feet.
"That is all?" Robb asked glaring at him.
"The North and Riverlands are to join my wife and mine own armies and our allies and to help bring the Lannister's to account." he added.
"And if we refuse?" Robb asked.
"These are the best terms I'll offer, the only ones. Refuse them and well, we've seen what Ōñosmaghare is capable of, he's not the only dragon back in Westeros and if I leave here with no agreement then you'll all have named yourselves my enemies. I believe I've shown you what I do to those I see as such." he said as he walked from the tent and headed to where Ōñosmaghare was waiting.
As he stood by the dragon and felt his own calmness remove the anger he was feeling, he could see Arya move worriedly beside him.
"Say it?" he said softly.
"Say what?" she replied not looking at him.
"What's on your mind."
"Did you really need to remove Robb?" she asked softly, her eyes looking to the ground.
"I have no choice but to remove him, Arya. He knew the truth about me, he is my brother and yet he refused to come to my side not once, but twice. Had he knelt when I arrived here then perhaps I could have done things differently. Had he supported me as I would have him when I first sent the news, then I'd have seen him rewarded. He is my brother and I love and hate him both equally now. I no longer see him as I do you or Sansa. I cannot and because of that I cannot name him as Warden and I cannot have a Warden who is not Lord of Winterfell." he said and she nodded.
"Will you send him to the Wall?" she asked nervously and Rhaegar shook his head.
"I've no intent to. Bran can name him lord of a large keep, make him one of his most important bannermen. He has to kneel though, Arya, should he not then I'll be forced to fight and though I may not wish it, I will do it." he said and Arya nodded.
It wasn't Robb who came to him, but Ser Wylis and Lady Maege. Rhaegar was surprised to see them but then he hoped that it was them acting in Robb's stead. Only to quickly find out it was not.
"My father spoke to Lord Reed, Your grace, and bid me do this in his name." Ser Wylis said as he knelt "I had intended to take our men back North after that accursed wedding and my father's ravens would have named him true."
"I'm aware of your father's words, Ser Wylis, I was not sure if you had been informed."
"I have, your grace." Wylis said as he looked up at him "On behalf of White Harbor and its lord, I Ser Wylis Manderly it's heir, do hereby pledge our house and men to his grace, King Rhaegar Targaryen The First of his Name, King of the Andals, Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."
"I accept your fealty and I vow you shall always have a place by my hearth and meat and mead at my table, and pledge to ask no service that may bring you into dishonor. I swear it by the Old Gods and the New, arise Ser Wylis and be welcomed by your king." he said and Wylis rose and was embraced by him warmly.
He looked to Maege who seemed to be staring into his face, her eyes focussed on his own in particular.
"I knew your mother well, your grace. I never bought into that shite about her being kidnapped, the She-Wolf was much like your own squire there." Maege said looking fondly at Arya, whose smile matched his own.
"I've heard it said, my lady." he said looking at her.
"I'll not be kneeling, your grace, my fucking knees don't bend as easily as they used to." Maege said with a loud laugh which he joined in with "Will you accept my fealty, standing?" she asked and he nodded.
"I Lady Maege Mormont do hereby pledge our house and men to his grace, King Rhaegar Targaryen The First of his Name, King of the Andals, Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm."
"I accept your fealty, my lady, and I vow you shall always have a place by my hearth and meat and mead at my table, and pledge to ask no service that may bring you into dishonor. I swear it by the Old Gods and the New." he said and Maege looked to Arya who stood there with a proud smile on her face. More because they had knelt to her favorite brother than to a king he wagered.
He was about to ask about the others when he saw some men ride off, Edmure Tully amongst them and he knew then that there were some still foolish enough to stand against him. Seeing Maege sigh and look angrily at those who departed made him feel the need to offer the woman something to lessen that anger.
"Your nephew, Lady Maege, Ser Jorah." he said grabbing her attention "He serves as one of my wife's Queensguard. I know what you may think of him and your brother Jeor thought it too. He's helped my wife free slaves, my lady, thousands of them. It may not make up for the dishonor he brought your house to some minds, but to mine own and to my wife's it does. He's a good man, my lady, one I trust with my wife and sister and there are few that I'd trust with either. I felt you may like to know so as there may be a chance you'll see him again, should you wish it." he said and Maege nodded without saying a word.
The wait felt like an age and he was sure that Robb was dragging it out in some sort of power move. Eventually, he was asked to join his brother and found Robb to be sitting alone in his tent. After telling Arthur and Arya to leave them alone, he took a seat and looked to his brother, seeing him almost unable to look at him. Robb instead looked down on the mug of ale that he'd probably been sitting over for a while, given it was still almost full and he'd seen no one bring it to him.
"My men bid me kneel. None willing to face a dragon's wrath not that I'd ask them to. Lady Maege and Ser Wylis have probably knelt already." Robb said looking to him and Rhaegar nodded that they had "My uncle bids me fight, to not accept the loss of a crown and to name you as a bastard." Robb said holding up his hand to stop him from interrupting, not that he was about to "But my uncle is a fool and while I've been one too, I'd see it ends here and now."
He watched as Robb took a large swallow of his ale and then finally turned to face him.
"I accept your terms, your grace. Do you wish my kneeling to be public or will here suffice?" Robb asked.
"I seek not to shame you, Robb, it was never my intent. I wanted you to kneel because it was me, your brother, not because I had a dragon to call upon or armies to march alongside. Just as I never wished for Winterfell I had thought, hoped that…"
"I'm sorry, brother." Robb said and Rhaegar didn't answer and just rose.
"I accept your fealty, Lord Stark, and ask for your men to march to the Crossroads Inn and await me there." he said as he moved to the front of the tent.
"Can you….is there forgiveness in your heart, brother." Robb asked softly.
"Not today, brother, not today."
Climbing up on Ōñosmaghare he waited until Arya and Arthur were settled and with a last look back he saw the Northern Soldiers and Robb standing not looking at him but at the executions that were taking place. The Greatjon, Rickard Karstark, and Galbart Glover had all knelt as had Lucas Blackwood and Patrek Mallister in their father's stead. Edmure had ridden off but he was being petulant and angered at losing the Lord Paramount position and would soon kneel too. For now, the North cared not about that and it was the taking of heads rather than vows that they concerned themselves with. For him, it was to the Vale and to bring more errant lords to his side and then to his wife he would seek to go. Rhaegar missing her terribly and hoping to see her in his dreams tonight.
Runestone 299 AC.
Ōñosmaghare.
His rider had wished the first tower to be a message, a warning, and the second to be a symbol of the true power of dragons. So while he'd let his flames loose over the first one, he'd held back too. This was not something he did with the second. He felt him in his head, his rider feeling awed and pleased by the power he showed them all. The walls of the tower not burning but melting away. Ōñosmaghare felt his rider's pleasure and surprise, felt him be compared to a dragon long since passed, and heard his rider say that he surpassed even that magnificent dragon.
So he'd trilled, he'd shown his joy at both having his rider with him while he did what he was bid and at his rider's pride in him for doing so. He'd welcomed the touch and the words that his rider had bestowed upon him when he landed and when he'd been bid to roar as his rider dealt with lesser men than he, he'd done so with all his might. He knew his rider didn't wish for them to bring these people the flames, but he also knew he was willing to and would if it was needed. Ōñosmaghare would do what he could to ensure it was not and then would be there for his rider to tell him it was a good and just thing if they were then left with no other choice.
His brothers had left loose their own flames. They too showing restraint when it was needed and very much not if something more was called for. He could feel them, celebrating their victory, enjoying their meal, and resting and so as he flew and saw the Aurochs below him, he told his rider he wished to do as they were. Ōñosmaghare was happy when his rider told him to do so and that he deserved to celebrate just as much as they had. He'd been surprised when his rider told him to rest as his brothers were and he'd welcomed hearing and seeing them as he did so, wondering if his rider too was seeing who he wished to see.
When they flew the next morning it was with an eagerness and desire to prove himself once more. Seeing the men march and surround the keep and those behind the walls mount up and ready themselves to ride out, he knew they'd arrived just in time. His rider bidding him to fly and show himself and to let loose only his roar, for now. He felt their eyes as they looked up into the sky, on his rider's protector and the girl his rider loved so much. On his rider and on him, dragons both, and as he roared and then landed in front but not too close to the keep. He heard the cheers from the men who'd marched and felt his rider's pleasure once more.
A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. So I removed the Cat on Dragonstone part for editing reasons. I'll add the reviews next chapter since I'm running later.
Up Next we'll see Cat land on Dragonstone to find her daughters not there and to meet with Targaryens she'd not expected. We take a look into Roose Bolton's whereabouts and meet a Striding Bowman. In King's Landing Cersei has a run-in with a Golden Rose and puts the alliance between both houses at risk and Dany and Rhaegar share a dream before Rhaegar, Onusmaghare, and the men from Skagos face off against a Bronze Lord, hoping to avoid a battle. While Oberyn finds the Stormlands a confusing place and Northern Justice is dished out as secrets are revealed.