So a bit of an update… This is my last buffer chapter. I've gone through them pretty quickly because I've just been struggling to write this story for a couple of weeks with a tricky scene next chapter giving me trouble mixed with an easier story in my Harry Potter one picking up some speed (I'm 23 chapters into that as I write this, none having been uploaded). I'll try and get the next one out in time for next Friday but it may be a case of another little break, I'm not sure yet.

I guess it's a bit fortunate that I managed to get to this one in that case as it marks the end of Season 3 in the world timeline! It's a little shorter than normal, as is the case with those that are bridging the gap between major plots. I hope you all enjoy it.

I own nothing but my OC's, everyone else is the property of George R R Martin and HBO.

Lucerys Targaryen awoke startled, with sweat dripping off of his forehead and his night shirt drenched in it. It took him a moment to gather his surroundings, working out that he was sleeping in a tent in the North having just received the crown of winter. Groaning, he quickly got himself up, washed and changed, his mind still on his dream from the night before.

Despite his delight in hearing the story of Stannis Baratheon's demise, there hadn't been as much of a party atmosphere as Luke had hoped for the previous night given the clear tension between both Targaryen and Stark/Tully forces, although the next morning Luke was grateful for that as both parties were obviously not hungover and packed up their camps early in the morning to move northwards into Moat Cailin. The Targaryen King had barely moved into his given room in the fortress when he asked a guard of House Dustin to take him to the Kingslayer, and Luke was led to one of the highest rooms in the Gatehouse Tower, where a number of guards lined the corridors and stairwells. As Luke entered the room alone, he kept his right hand at his side ready to unsheathe a weapon at any given moment. He needn't have bothered however, as despite his entrance Jaime Lannister had barely moved from his position on the bed staring up at the moss-covered ceiling.

"For so long I've been angry at you." Luke began speaking, pulling out a chair to sit down on and stare at the Lannister. "The sworn Kingsguard knight that murdered his King. The man that made it impossible for my family to stay in Westeros. My sister was told stories of the knight of our nightmares, stories that if she didn't behave you would come across the Narrow Sea and finish what you started. Looking at you now I don't know why I was ever so angry at you, I'm almost conflicted. You killed my Father, and yet I despised him." That gained Jaime's attention, but only in the form of a glance. "You are there in my earliest memories, Kingslayer. The silent shadow that followed him around whilst Rhaegar was off doing whatever he wanted with the Stark girl. I always felt like a nuisance to you whereas Lewyn, Barristan and Jonothor would at least humour me and interact with me." He looked towards the door where Ser Barristan was waiting with Valaxes. Sighing, he shook his head. "It will do no good to dwell on the past. You killed my Father and I killed yours, I'd say that makes us even."

"Even?" Jaime croaked, his voice having gone unused in months. "Cersei… Joffrey…"

"Elia, Rhaenys, Aegon." Luke's voice grew harsher. "They were under your protection too."

Jaime at least winced at the reminder, Luke appreciated that at least. "I couldn't do anything…"

"Aerys was dead as soon as the gates were breached." Luke countered, not letting the excuses come forward. "If you were going to abandon your oaths, why not run to the innocent and protect them?"

Jaime chuckled darkly. "You were a child, you don't understand…"

"Then help me to." Luke insisted. "Your brother seems to believe that I should spare you despite what you did. As of right now I'm not quite so inclined too."

"Then you're smarter than the last time I saw you." Jaime taunted unhappily. He then sighed. "What's the point." He whispered to himself. "We all mourned you, myself included but your Mother most of all. She was heartbroken, and not long afterwards she found herself pregnant with your sister. Your disappearance likely killed her through that ordeal."

Luke knew he was being goaded, but that thought of his Mother dying because of his disappearance stung him. "It was not my choice to leave." He insisted. "Rhaegar…"

"Rhaegar was plotting on three different levels all at once." Jaime countered, sitting upright. "He ferried you away to grow up as a warrior King to return with a vengeance if things went badly, but he had also worked up a plan for Viserys with Ser Willem Darry as he was outside of Aerys' sphere of influence, and then he was looking at overthrowing your Father himself after putting down Robert Baratheon. He told me before he left for the Trident as much, almost gave away that Harrenhal was his own little power grab." Jaime sighed. "And yet he died, and I was left alone with the Mad King and his lackeys."

The way he said that last word with such venom peaked Luke's interest. "I remember Lord Chelsted." He explained. "My first full memory is of him taking Mother away after his death."

Jaime frowned. "That was a torrid evening." He whispered. "Your Mother…" He trailed away, shaking his head. "I should have done more."

"You did enough, in the end." Luke stated bluntly, a glare in his eyes. "Killing her husband."

"I would have been thanked by your Mother." Jaime snapped. "Her cries haunt me now as he clawed at her."

"Is that why you killed him then?" Luke asked, trying to get the reasoning out. "Some sense of justice for my Mother?"

Jaime chuckled. "No, no that's not the reason."

"Tell me." Luke insisted.

"What's done is done." Jaime shook his head. "He's dead, she's dead, I'll soon be dead. What difference does it make?"

Luke rose to his feet and took a step towards the Kingslayer. "The answer could mean your life being spared."

"And what will I do with that life?" Jaime asked angrily as he pushed himself more upright. "Shall I serve you as a Knight of the Kingsguard, you who killed my Father, my sister and my nephew in one fell swoop?"

"No." Luke said bluntly, finding the insistence to keep the long-forgotten lie of parentage up amusing. "Your time in a white cloak is over no matter what happens."

"Then shall I return to Casterly Rock, to rot away in some golden privy for the rest of my life?" Jaime asked. "I'd rather die."

Luke shrugged. "Very well." He then whistled loudly, and through the door came Valaxes, who had grown large enough that he had been forced to walk through the door rather than fly. "This is Valaxes, born from the pyre than sent my brother and first wife to the afterlife."

Jaime was transfixed as he stared at the creature. "Did you use the dragon to murder my sister?" He asked.

"I did." Luke didn't bother arguing that it was an execution and not murder. "Publicly, in the Dragonpit."

Jaime's face turned a shade of green. Unrestrained fire in King's Landing is dangerous." He whispered, barely audibly.

Once more, Luke's full attention had been grabbed. "How so?"

"Just…" He shook his head. "No, it doesn't matter. Burn as many people there as you wish, your Father did. I just hope you don't get off on it like he did."

Luke felt ill. "The only thing in common I have with Aerys is that his blood is my blood." The Targaryen muttered darkly. "He was cruel, I am trying to be much better." He thought back to an earlier comment. "You mentioned his lackeys. You mean the Small Council?"

Jaime sighed once more. "His hand. The first man I killed that day. Rossart." Luke didn't know the name and the confusion on his face told. "A pyromancer, he was the one that prepared the Wildfire."

And suddenly things started making sense to Luke. "He had a pyromancer as a Hand…" He trailed. "And you're worried about setting off fires in the city? What did he do?" Jaime shrugged, not giving anything to him. "My daughter is in that city… as is your family. Tyrion, Myrcella, Tommen. Both legitimised and recognised as your children." Jaime's eyes widened in fear for a split second, though it was long enough for Luke to recognise it. "Tell me!" The Targaryen roared, his fear for his family getting the better of him.

"Wildfire!" Jaime exclaimed, shutting his eyes as the memory hit once again. "All throughout the city tunnels. Aerys had barrels of it planted everywhere, under the Sept of Baelor, under the Dragonpit, under Fleabottom, under the Red Keep… if Robert were to reach the gates, then Aerys would have blown the city."

Luke remembered the flash of Wildfire out on Blackwater Bay that had claimed so many of his men's lives, and the thought of it being under the city terrified him. "Gods…" He whispered. "If this is true…"

"The traitors want my city, but I'll give them naught but ashes. Let Robert be King over charred bones and cooked meat." Jaime interrupted angrily. "Those are the exact words he said to Rossart before asking me to bring him my Father's head." He sighed once more, bringing his hand to rub his temples. "I killed Rossart first, and then I killed Aerys once he kept repeating the phrase 'burn them all'."

Luke was dumbfounded. He obviously had known of stories of his Father's insanity from Jon whilst growing up, but this was a new one and by far the worst of them all. "The entire city… Rhaenys and Aegon…"

"If I'd have saved them, we'd all have died along with the entire city." Jaime said monotonously.

Luke needed to sit down, and he stumbled back towards his chair and fell into it, his hand brushing Valaxes' back giving him comfort. His mind was racing as he took in all the new information. "Why did you never tell anyone? You let the Wildfire fester?"

"Nobody asked." Jaime scowled. "I was judged from the moment the honourable Ned Stark walked into the room."

Letting out a breath Luke didn't know he was holding, he knew that he had made his decisions. "You did the realm a service, though my family still suffered because of it."

"Your family was doomed no matter what." Jaime bit back. "Clegane was in the Red Keep, Rhaegar had been dead for days. All you had left was your Mother who would have died and taken you and your siblings to the afterlife with her rather than submit to Robert Baratheon."

"I'm aware." Luke lied, hoping that his Mother wouldn't have been so stubborn in the face of imminent defeat, though thinking on it he knew he should stop pretending that he knew what her thoughts were having barely any memories of before the war. He took a moment to scratch Valaxes' scales. "You won't die today, Lannister, though as already stated your White Cloak was forfeit as soon as I sat the Iron Throne. Nor will you set foot in the South again." He chuckled to himself. "I was so ready to have you killed, dreams be damned, but once more my dreams have guided me to a decision. You will go Northwards and swear new oaths at Castle Black. Try to keep them this time."

"No, kill me." Jaime whispered angrily, snapping his eyes shut. "Let me die."

"You have many crimes to atone for, despite having my forgiveness for your most famous one." Luke stated bluntly, standing up once again. "Your life is both your reward for services to the realm and your punishment for regicide and daring to place yourself within the Doctrine of Exceptionalism despite no Valyrian blood running through your veins. You will live out your days doing the same as you did that day in King's Landing, doing a service to the Realm."

He whistled quickly to push Valaxes out of the room and began to follow the dragon, but he turned one last time to look at Jaime Lannister, wondering exactly how the mess sat on the bed would turn back into the black garbed warrior he had dreamt that fought viciously atop the Wall.

Later on that day once the Northmen and Targaryen men had been resettled, Luke and Loras Tyrell had been invited to join Robb Stark, Edmure Tully and the rest of the commanders in the war room, where a circular stone table had a map of the entire realm atop it. So far only wolf and trout figures had been placed on the map, with thousands of men having gathered at Moat Cailin with more on the way to Riverrun and Seagard.

"Lord Mallister only has a handful of ships." Edmure explained. "Enough for maybe 5,000 men to be ferried across."

"Not enough for us all." Lord Blackwood nodded.

Robb picked up a smaller wolf figure. "Lord Manderly has been building ships since I called the banners. We have maybe half a dozen ready to sail now." He placed the figure at White Harbour. "It will take time to get the ships on the West Coast."

"Have them sail now." Luke instructed. "Ser Loras, how long will it take for Lord Redwyne to get to Seagard?"

Loras looked at the papers he had brought with him for this precise situation. "He told me he will mobilise his entire fleet, so a couple of months at the very least to repair all his ships and stock them."

"Then tell Lord Manderly that he has a couple of months to get to King's Landing at least." Luke instructed Robb. "With no more Ironborn on the mainland and the entire West coast on alert, we can afford to take our time to ensure we have the arsenal we need to break through the Iron Fleet." That had been a recent development, with the last Greyjoy resistance at Deepwood Motte being broken by Lord Glover. Luke watched as Robb Stark placed kraken figures around the Iron Islands before handing Luke wooden carvings of the Tyrell Rose. "20,000 men are being gathered in the Northern Reach along with the men that were beaten to Harrenhal." Luke explained, placing the larger figures at Bitterbridge whilst a smaller rose was placed on Antlers in the Crownlands along with a dragon figure. "I will send 5,000 Crownlanders with you, taking the total force too…" He checked. "52,000 with all of the Northmen."

"More than enough to bring the Isles to heel." The Greatjon grinned.

"Aye, but do we have the ships?" Edmure Tully asked.

Luke nodded. "Lord Velaryon is preparing the Royal Fleet too, we will have enough." He turned to Robb. "I have business at the Wall and in King's Landing whilst Lord Tyrion as my Warden of the West will be preoccupied with settling his lands. As my Warden of the North and the Lord of the lands most affected by the Ironborn incursions, command falls to you, though I would ask for Ser Loras to be your second."

Robb nodded. "As you say." He accepted, before turning to the rest of the Lords. "Those of the North have the choice to either follow me or return home. We have been away for too long, I will not think less of you for wanting to prepare your lands for Winter." Nobody said anything either way, and so Robb turned back to Luke. "I want Balon Greyjoy's head, though that leaves the succession of the Islands somewhat unsecure."

"Leave succession to me." Luke explained. "All I will ask for is some restraint in the case of the daughter, though from what I hear she's as ferocious as her people so will fight back. If you can capture her alive, that would be preferred but if she needs putting down, then so be it."

Robb nodded. "Then Lords of the North, go to your men and see how many wish to join us and how many will return home. Tomorrow we come back and start planning precisely how we take the Isles."

Robb's Lords bowed their heads and the room slowly began to filter out. "Lord Stark." Luke called, and eventually the only men left in the room were Luke, Barristan and Robb. "A word on the Karstarks."

Robb froze for a moment. "I will not have Alys killed." He stated firmly. "If that is your intention, then our budding friendship shall be short."

"She won't die." Luke waved that away. "But her babe does pose a threat."

"My Father once told me a story about the aftermath of the Rebellion." Robb began, leaning on the table. "It was after the Red Keep had fallen and your Father was dead. Robert Baratheon first sat the Iron Throne and was presented with three bodies." Luke's blood was boiling at the thought. "Two of the bodies were children, and my Father explained that he argued with Robert more fiercely than ever before because of his reaction. I've heard about Rosby, Your Grace, and I would rather fight you than hand you a babe to slaughter purely based on who sired it."

Luke could see the anger in the Stark's face at the thought. "I will not kill the babe, but if it's a boy, it will be a threat."

"Then allow him to be brought up as a Karstark." Robb said. "Or on the Wall, children have been brought up there before in order to swear vows when they are old enough to understand them."

"It's not that simple." Luke added, growing frustrated. "House Stark and House Arryn had good reason to rebel. I have forgiven House Tully for their ambition given the circumstances surrounding the Rebellion but House Baratheon…" He clenched his fist. "I cannot allow even one son the chance to claim the Iron Throne. Too many deaths have occurred over the bad blood between our houses."

"Then don't let one more happen at your command." Robb stated bluntly. "You want hostages, aye? I can only imagine you're about to command that Alys be one. I will only accept if you swear on all the Gods that the babe will not be killed. House Karstark are kin, and I will fight for them if I have to." He said warningly.

"You presume much." Luke countered coldly. "Yes, Alys Karstark will return with me to the Red Keep, that is non-negotiable." He then sighed. "But I will think on what to do with the babe once it is born and the severity of the future is clearer. Your Wall idea has merit."

"And one of Alys' brothers will join her." Robb insisted. "For her protection."

Luke shook his head almost amusedly. "Who was it that bent to who again?" He asked with a smirk. "Fine, so be it. The babe will live, and the Karstark girl can have her brother as her companion. But that's the last concession I will give you. You are still my vassal now, Lord Stark."

Robb nodded, pleased. "Thank you, Your Grace."

"Don't thank me yet, Lord Stark." Luke explained looking back at the map and tapping on Karhold. "If there's even a whisper of Baratheon rebellion, then you will be putting Karhold to the sword."

The next few days were spent making sure all the plans for the second invasion of the Iron Islands in less than 15 years were ready and that everybody knew their roles. Ravens were sent back and forth all over the western coast of the continent, and by the end of Luke's first week in Moat Cailin he felt happy that things could proceed without him being a direct influence. The final plans were based around which section of the invading force would go to each particular island to get the submission of the local Lords and Captains.

Mid-afternoon on the seventh day however these plans were interrupted when a rider arrived from White Harbour to see Luke, and so leaving the plans to the commanders the Targaryen King left the war room to head down to the courtyard with his two Kingsguard knights close behind him, spotting the young man as he watched his horse being led over to the stables.

"You must be the messenger from Lord Manderly." Luke called, gaining the youngster's attention, ignoring the wide eyes before the boy got to one knee. "Stand up son, what do you have for me?"

"Your Grace." The boy said as he rose back to his feet. "Three ravens worth of letters from King's Landing." He explained, handing Luke the small stack of parchment.

Luke nodded, reaching into his pockets and grabbing one of the newly minted silver stags with his likeness on. "Don't spend it all at once." He told the amazed messenger before he turned and walked back inside the Gatehouse Tower and making his way up to his chamber. Once he was in private he flicked through the letters. One was explaining the latest on the Lord Baelish and Vale situation, stating that nothing of note had made its way to their ears. A second letter was from Dany talking of Visenya's nameday, and Luke was glad that she liked her present from him. Margaery had also written to him about things in King's Landing, though the important letters remained. The longest one from King's Landing came from Jon, explaining about the petition from the Wall about needing extra men and the threat that this Mance Rayder posed to the realm and the Hand's reaction to that.

Finally however, was a still sealed letter from the Wall. Breaking the black wax and unfurling the parchment Luke began to read, and by the end of the letter he had tears threatening to escape from his eyes. The letter was from kin, from the Maester at Castle Black that Luke hadn't even known was still alive. The letter was a simple introduction and invitation to visit Castle Black, and while Luke was already planning on seeing the Wall while in the North, this letter had accelerated his plans by a couple of weeks. Folding up the letter carefully he placed it in a pocket inside his thick cloak, before gathering his emotions and beginning the chain of orders that would see his men prepare to depart for the Wall.

With so few of them departing Moat Cailin the tents and supplies had been gathered in under a day, and by noon the next day half of Luke's men along with those travelling back to Winterfell with Robb and Sansa were mounting their horses and slowly making their way up the Kingsroad. Luke found himself sharing a moment with Loras while nearby Robb was leaving final instructions to Lord Umber, who had command of the Moat while Robb was away.

"You're my representative here now." Luke was telling his Goodbrother. "They may outnumber us but remember that you speak for my men with my voice."

"I will, Your Grace. You needn't worry about me." Loras replied, bowing his head. "All we are doing is planning and waiting, I'm almost jealous of your travels."

Luke scoffed. "Freezing to death at the Wall, you have it better." He replied jovially. "Take care, Loras." He offered his arm out to shake.

"And you, Your Grace." Loras stated, shaking Luke's hand. The King pulled away first, looking over at Robb still chatting to the large Umber. His own goodbyes finished, Luke made his way to his horse, taking note of the Kingslayer sat in a wheeled cage behind him and his Kingsguard. Mounting up, he took one final look around Moat Cailin, smirking at Valaxes perched atop the Drunkards Tower ready to take wing.

Robb was finally ready now, and after helping Sansa and Jeyne Poole onto their respective horses the Stark mounted his own next to the King, marked by the large greatsword strapped to its side. Luke cleared his throat and asked Robb. "Ready?"

"Aye." Robb nodded, turning around to Sansa behind him. "You ready for home?"

Sansa simply grinned. "More than you can imagine." She stated.

Luke felt warm at hearing that, thinking himself of the Red Keep and longing to be back. With everyone ready though, Luke made the final call for their party to advance. "To Winterfell!" Luke called out, leaning forwards and squeezing his legs into his mount's side to signal his wish to move forwards. As soon as the horse took a step Luke heard a screech and turned to see the black wings of Valaxes pass in front of the sun as he flew Northwards, and with a grin Luke faced forwards, his mind turning to happiness and excitement as he knew he was on his way to meet yet another Targaryen for the first time.

Pain was the main thing that Jon Snow felt. Pain in his face from the eagle scratch, pain in his back and his leg from the arrows, and pain in his heart… Ygritte's betrayed face was painted across Jon's blurring vision as she held the bow towards him, the sight of her both a comfort and a curse. He barely heard the calls from Castle Black ordering him to stop, and for a brief moment as he remembered he was in his free folk furs he hoped for a crossbow to just end all the suffering. That didn't happen however, and as the horse came to a stop Jon's already weak grip faltered, and he landed on the paved ground with a thud, snapping the shafts of the arrows that had been embedded in his back for hours.

The next thing Jon would remember was being dragged inside the gates, dropped, and then hauled onto his back. The pain was mixed with the cooling of the frozen ground on his wounds, but Jon was too weak to make much of a sound. He could see the blurred outlines of his brothers crowding around him, but two people in particular grabbed his attention as the muffled sound of their voices sounded in his ears.

"Pyp…" He whispered weakly, happy to see his friend, though his happiness grew at the sight of the other man crouched over him. "Sam…"

He didn't know how Sam had survived and in all honestly had figured his best friend for dead. Thankfully his fears were unfounded as Sam began to bark orders around, though Jon barely heard a thing as he was hoisted into the air and carried inside, Ygritte's voice ringing in his ears as he went.

And welcome to the story Jon Snow! A lot of you have been asking after him for months, and here he is finally in a bit of a retelling of the show scene at the end of Season 3.

Elsewhere though, the scene between Luke and Jaime is one I've looked forward to for a while. Luke hates Aerys with a passion so wouldn't hold the act against Jaime too much, but for him that's the pinnacle of him being forced to live as a sellsword for almost 20 years. I feel like they both make good points, and Jaime being sent to the Wall is the best place for him.

Plans are made for the Iron Islands, but that scene was mainly for the talk between Robb and Luke about Alys Karstark. Ultimately neither can know what the future may hold until the baby is born, so Luke wants precautions whilst Robb will rebel at her death, peaceful intentions or not.

Finally, the plan is accelerated as Maester Aemon calls. It saddened me that the old man didn't get to find out about Jon, nor see Dany return the continent in the show. This time however he'll have a chance to meet some of his kin for the first time in decades, which is a nice thought.

Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it.

Next Time: Bran has an important vision, as swords are drawn in the North.

Reviews:

Gtopia (Chapter 30): Queen Visenya literally arranged plenty of marriages between their Lords and Ladies including Lord Arryn to a Stark, so it's not as unheard of as you might think given that it happened in the first years of Targaryen rule. But you're right about the North not accepting that, Luke only suggested it as it worked for the Stormlands in Jon Connington/Shireen

Anaconda: They'll meet soon…

Tony McNucklz: At that point Luke wasn't his King and is trying not to fuck up the alliance. Manderly acted like that because the Northerners don't like Targaryens, they'd much rather just ignore them and be independent but they don't really have a choice unless they all want to burn. At that point he was acting on the orders of his King, and wasn't going to allow his mission to be compromised. They were in the Riverlands at that point, so not Luke's lands until Edmure bent the knee a while later. If you really think Luke is like Tytos then please go and read another story. He gives Sansa back as part of the peace treaty, she's been away from the North and emotionally abused, Robb wants her home before thinking of anything in the future.

RHatch89: There were moments in between the Conquest and Aerys of course (Lord Stark in Jaehaerys I's early reign really didn't like the King to give an extremely relevant example to this story).

Guest (dragons): The dragons will remain in trueborn Targaryen hands.

SashaAlexi: Most of the land force is coming from the North and the Riverlands and they're the ones with the main reason for attacking, so giving Robb command was logical for Luke, though he will have Loras there as well. There won't be the usual standing army that you get in uplift fics, but with the Golden Company basically splitting between men wanting to go back to Essos and men staying in King's Landing, there's enough of a force there that is loyal only to Luke and they'll be dressed in black armour/red cloaks eventually. Luke's offspring with Margaery is going to be similar to Viserys' with Alicent in terms of their colouring so don't worry there's not going to be any brown haired kids coming from that union.