Welcome one and all to the start of this story's equivalent of Season 7! It's probably well known for those who have read most of my works that I'm not the biggest fan of the last two seasons of the show, so thankfully the only thing relevant in this story is the timings for the White Walker's and their movements (minus the stupid Wight Hunt of course, none of that here thank you!). Incidentally, here we possibly have one of my personal favourite storylines in this 'season' of The Golden Dragon and I can't wait for the next few chapters to explore that.
The North has basically caught up with the rest of the timeline as of this chapter, with a hefty jump to get to the start of Season 7.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I own nothing but the OC's that are dotted around this story, all the actual characters and locations are the property of George R R Martin and/or HBO.
306 AC
"A toast! To Queen Margaery and her new child! May the Mother bless you with a healthy son!" Mace Tyrell called out to the gathered crowd in the Queen's Ballroom. Once the Queen's bump had started to show and word had begun to spread of the new Prince or Princess on its way, the Lord of Highgarden had been in an impeccable mood, with balls and parties aplenty being thrown in the Red Keep from the Reachman's purse. Luke would rather have not bothered by the time the celebration for the reaching the 5th month came around, but as a King and as the Father he needed to be there. Thankfully, the wine was flowing nicely and it wasn't long before the King had a healthy buzz from the Arbor Gold.
With Winter here Luke hadn't expected a great deal of guests from outside of the castle, but he had forgotten about the extravagance of the Reach, and he spent more time than he wanted greeting the Lords and Ladies from various parts of the Reach. Lord Caswell was there with his daughters, indelicately seeking betrothals for the pair of them. Lord Mullendore came seeking the King's influence on a disagreement with their liege lords in Oldtown, while the red-headed Lord Osgrey had simply come for the party. Luke was kind with all who he spoke to and generous with his time, but eventually the wine had caught up with him and the Targaryen felt the need to grab some air. Giving a kiss on the cheek to his wife, the King made his way to the balcony with Ser Barristan, instructing Ser Rolly to stand there and not allow anybody else on the balcony.
The night was a peaceful one, and Luke spent a moment just watching his breath turn to steam. He knew Ser Barristan was beside him, the elderly knight now being his only confidant in what was eating away at him over on Dragonstone. He hadn't heard any more since the letter he had received weeks earlier from Visenya, but he reckoned that Daenerys was only a matter of weeks away from childbirth.
"What do I do?" He asked the night sky, not expecting an answer.
Ser Barristan, however, responded. "What you should have done from the start, Your Grace. Been honest about the babe."
"It's a bit late now." Luke sighed.
Ser Barristan moved closer, joining Luke in leaning on the stone balustrade. "My opinion has not changed since the night the messenger ship went missing, Your Grace. That was ill planned and done rashly."
"And I have apologised numerous times for that, Ser." Luke groaned, sinking his head into his arms and feeling the cold stone on his forehead. "At the time it seemed necessary."
"It is never necessary for men to die doing their jobs." Ser Barristan schooled. "Especially ones who would never betray you to those you fear will raise their swords at this news."
It was perhaps the biggest lapse of judgement of his rule, and maybe even his life other than the Baratheon bastard, but Luke was forever thankful that the elderly knight didn't simply abandon him, but rather implored him to do better and gave the King an ear. It had greatly improved their relationship and the Stormlander was easily Luke's most trusted confidant at this point. "I just keep thinking that I need to be there, on Dragonstone with her rather than leaving her to go through this alone."
"You are needed here, Your Grace." Ser Barristan stated bluntly. "The Princess has capable hands around her. This will be a scandal no matter what when the news reaches the council, if your stance has not changed around claiming the bastard then you must be here to feign ignorance."
Luke scoffed. "If only everyone could be blind enough to not see the truth." He noted bluntly, but he had surrounded himself with exceptionally clever people, and even those in his court that weren't the brightest had bright people advising them.
"Your bed has been made, Your Grace." Ser Barristan stated. "The seed has stuck and soon you shall have four children, and questions will arise of Blackfyre's. Normally I feel like I would advise against distancing yourself from your own blood, but in this case it is necessary for the safety of all."
Without responding, Luke looked out over the city and took it all in. He saw the areas with large crowds, the taverns and the brothels. It was so full of life, yet all the King felt was dread. "It will come out, and if I claim the child or not then people will presume and whisper, namely those allied with my goodfather." He sighed, before a more heinous thought struck the Valyrian. "And some of those allies will have knives, and seek to gain the favour of him."
"Your Grace, that is drastic." Ser Barristan said quietly.
"It's exactly what I did to Ronnal Waters." Luke shook his head, the face of the Usurper's bastard haunting him more and more in recent weeks. He turned to Ser Barristan urgently. "You must go to Dragonstone."
"My place is here, at your side Your Grace." The white knight countered.
"Unless I order you elsewhere." Luke retorted. "The Princess has Ser Jorah as her sworn shield, but she is of royal blood and must have a Kingsguard knight. On the morrow, I want you to take Rolly to Dragonstone. He shall be there under the guise of Dany's protector while you report on the mining efforts."
"I dislike this subterfuge." Barristan admitted. "And I dislike leaving you here."
"I have other Kingsguard here in the castle." Luke noted. "But none I trust more than the pair of you."
Ser Barristan frowned. "It will be an odd message to send."
But Luke disagreed. "We haven't had a detailed report since Lord Karstark was here some months ago to see his daughter. With Winter here, the time for a more hands on approach is needed. And with the child soon to be born, I need my best swords protecting my sister from those who would harm her. This isn't a request, Barristan, this is an order."
The knight stood up rigidly, bowing his head to his King. "As you command, Your Grace." He said, though Luke could hear the unhappiness in his voice. "But may I request that we return inside? Suspicions will be raised tomorrow no matter what, best not to give the court more to chew on if we stay away from the celebrations for too long."
Nodding, Luke pushed himself upright. "Of course, Ser." He nodded, plastering his face with a courtly smile before he returned to the Ballroom, being sure to plant another kiss on Margaery's cheek before engaging in a conversation about babies as enthusiastically as he could muster, trying his hardest to push out the worry of knives reaching Dany on Dragonstone.
It had been a long time since the fields around Winterfell had been anything other than white with snow, but the heralding of Winter officially had changed the mood of all inside Winterfell. Everybody seemed more determined and driven, and none more so than Jon. The former Lord Commander made it his job to both ensure everybody that could hold a weapon knew exactly how to use it, while also visiting the forge twice a day to ensure that the creation of Dragonglass weapons was coming along at a good rate. That had been fine before, but the arrival of Tobho Mott from King's Landing had changed things, and now Jon was shooed from the smiths.
Spotting Robb on the ramparts, Jon made his way over towards him, greeting Malck as he passed the guardsman. His brother… or cousin as he was having to get used to thinking, was staring out at the Wintertown in the distance, and Jon noticed that it was as busy as he had ever known it with newcomers now putting up tents adding to the numerous stone buildings.
"This Winter will be as bad as any in recorded memory." Robb said, somehow sensing Jon's presence. "I remember standing here with Father for the last one, I must have only been around 5 or 6. He told me about the history of Wintertown and how important it is for the people of the North to have a shelter to avoid the storms and that it was our duty to protect them. Now Winter is here, and every face I see I wonder if I'm going to be the reason that they don't see Spring."
"It won't be on you, Robb." Jon told him. "This Winter is unique, the first in 8,000 years of its kind. You aren't the one responsible for the deaths that will follow." He didn't say it aloud, but Jon thought at that moment that he was the one that should be feeling the weight of the tragedy that he knew was to come.
"Perhaps you're right." Robb sighed. "But I am their Lord, from the Neck to the Gift all the people living in the North are all my responsibility. And if I can't even help my own wife…" He trailed off, turning so that Jon could only see the back of his head.
"That wasn't your fault either." Jon said softly.
"Of course it was." Robb scoffed bitterly. "I made the decision, Jon. You don't know what it was like there… seeing Roslin there in so much pain, hearing her screams as well as the Maester trying to explain whatever he was explaining… to be given the choice of both dying or maybe saving the baby…" He was still facing away from Jon but was clearly on the verge of tears, and so Jon didn't interrupt and allowed Robb to try and recompose himself. "I told the Maester to save the baby, I didn't think that meant them carving Roslin open like…" He trailed off again.
"You couldn't know what was to happen Robb." Jon said softly, gently placing his hand on Robb's shoulder for comfort. "Childbirth is never simple, there are all kinds of complications. Our Grandmother died in childbirth, my mother…" He took a deep breath himself. "The Gods were cruel, that much is certain, but the blame is not yours."
"I gave the order, Jon." Robb turned back. "Just like for the Green Fork. How many more will die at my command in the months to come? My Lords revere me as some kind of military genius, the Young Wolf they clamour and cry, named after that brave Targaryen King that got himself and 60,000 men killed in Dorne." Jon had never heard Robb speak of Daeron the Young Dragon like this before, the boy King having been a hero of the pair of them when they were children. "Perhaps that will be my legacy, the piles of bodies I leave in my wake that include my wife and son…"
"No." Jon insisted. "I've barely been back a year and I know exactly how the North thinks of you. The boy that became a man in the most trying of circumstances. The Stark that defeated Tywin Lannister at every turn. Young Wolf they may call you now, but one day you'll be Robb Lionslayer, or mayhaps even Robb the Great. You are beloved in the North, just as much as Father was."
It didn't help much, Jon saw, but at least there was a hint of an improvement of mood on Robb's face. "The name would be undeserved."
"You have always been your own harshest critic." Jon smiled. "But you are a good leader, Robb. A Lord that Father would be proud of."
"He'd be proud of you." Robb shook his head. "Lord Commander at a young age, managing to pull through everything you've been through." Robb chuckled. "Even now with how you are around the castle, you'd be a better Lord than I am."
Jon shook his head. "You're wrong." He said quietly. "I was in command and my own people murdered me for it. I'd fuck this up too."
"You saved people, Jon. You set aside thousands of years of animosity for the benefit of all." Robb chuckled. "We could all learn a lot from you." He went silent for a moment as his eyes widened. "Why, if you were King…"
"No." Jon snapped quickly.
"Think about it." Robb grinned. "You perhaps should be. The law of succession…"
"Doesn't include bastards." Jon interrupted again. "And I would never want that. My place is in the North, at your side. I don't want anything else. I'm happy being the Bastard of Winterfell, something I accepted and wrapped my head around years ago."
"But you're not, not really." Robb said, as if Jon needed reminding. "You're the bastard of…"
"A Prince that caused a war because he wasn't satisfied with his own wife and decided to abduct a Stark." Jon said coldly. "This is why I don't want anybody knowing, how does that look? How could I be trusted if people learned the truth."
"Through your deeds." Robb countered.
Jon scoffed. "The world doesn't work like that. The King has constantly had to face people and say that he isn't his Father, even now some whisper of the Mad King's line. History forges our reputation just as much as actions do." He shook his head. "No, I can take being the Bastard of Winterfell and only having one Great House treat me with suspicion with your Mother's family, if I claim the truth then many more will either treat me with suspicion, or perhaps think me a liar and try to have me killed or worse… use me in any plot against King Lucerys. I don't want that, Robb. I want this, us being brothers. I want to face the Long Night with you and come out the other side by your side."
Robb smiled again and wrapped his arm around Jon's shoulders. "A place that you shall always have a home." He nodded. "I could not have survived these past months without you, brother. Winterfell will always be your home, I swear it." Jon returned the hug, before the pair pulled apart and returned to watching the bustling Wintertown, their thoughts still firmly on the secret that Jon hoped would follow them to their graves.
Ser Barristan and Ser Rolly left quietly the next morning, which left Ser Franklyn, Ser Taron and Ser Symon as the only white cloaks left in the Red Keep. It was the former who had been appointed as the acting commander, and who followed the King and Queen as they took a stroll in the Red Keep gardens. There was a chill in the air, and Luke noticed Margaery shiver slightly, so he took off his thick cloak and placed it around her shoulders.
"Won't you be cold too?" Margaery asked. Shaking his head, Luke let her hold his hand. Hers were cold even through the gold gloves she was wearing, but he saw her gasp in surprise. "They're warm."
"Fire is in my blood." He stated. "I can feel the chill, but at this level I can manage it well enough. You are more important, you and the baby."
"I should never have insisted on a walk outside during Winter." She sighed. "But the fresh air is lovely, and Maester Myle recommended it." It was nice, and the gardens were almost empty other than the gardeners tending to the plants. Luke nodded, returning to silence but allowing his wife to keep a hold of his hand. "Why have Ser Rolly and Ser Barristan left?" She asked.
Luke knew that the question would come, and had his answer prepared already. "Winter has arrived, and as such the threat to the North grows closer. When men are left to their own devices without new supervision for too long standards start slipping, and so the presence of the Kingsguard will boost productivity."
He didn't look at her to see if his words had been swallowed or not, instead looking dead ahead to the bushel of Dragon's Breath flowers, running his bare hands gently over the red petals. "And the Princess is happy with this new interference?" Margaery asked.
"Daenerys is happy, yes." Luke said quickly. "The volcanic air is good for us Valyrian's, both she and Visenya thrive there."
"That's another thing I wanted to ask you." Margaery stated, moving around Luke so that she was in his eyeline. "Visenya, she should return to the Red Keep. Introducing her to Aegon was a delight to see when he was born, I wish to have her here for the birth of our second child." She grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly.
"Visenya has just travelled back from Lys, visiting her Maternal Uncle." Luke responded. "Her education is more important at the moment."
Margaery frowned. "Can she not learn here?"
"If her education was the same as most noble ladies, then perhaps." Luke nodded. "But where better than Dragonstone to learn the intricacies of dragon rearing? Our children will be no ordinary Princes or Princess', Margaery, they will be Dragon Riders, the scions of Old Valyria bringing about a new age of Dragons. Dragonstone is the best place for Visenya, and one day Aegon will hatch his own egg and will travel to Dragonstone to begin his own education."
That didn't please his wife, he could tell, but thankfully she simply nodded. Luke silently breathed a sigh of relief that he managed to dodge the Dragonstone issue this time around, though he knew that more and more questions would start to appear as time passed.
Daenerys Targaryen hated pregnancy. She hated not being able to walk down to the beach as easily as she used to, she hated the moods that often set in if things didn't go perfectly, but above all she hated how large she felt. Everything felt bigger, not just her belly but her legs and her feet especially had bloated, and as much as she was excited to be a mother, it was a situation that the Princess of Dragonstone never wanted to be placed in again.
The struggles to concentrate were also frustrating, and it led to the Targaryen checking over her latest set of papers thrice over just to make sure she hadn't made any mistakes, before passing them over to the ever-present Ser Jorah. Taking a loud sigh of relief Dany leant back in her cushioned chair, closing her eyes for a split second of peace before the gruff voice of the Northern knight sounded in her ears. "This is all accurate, Princess."
"Wonderful." She said, still keeping her eyes closed. "Is that everything for today?"
"The Princess wished for you to see her latest drawings." Ser Jorah stated. "Today I believe it is the view from the Rogare manor." Dany loved her niece dearly, but the thought of having to put on a smile and praise the drawing efforts of a 5-year-old made her groan audibly. "I'll ensure Ser Caspor knows that you are too tired.
"No, it's fine." Dany sighed. "She can bring her drawings to supper." She held her arm out for Ser Jorah to help her to her feet, managing to settle herself before waddling over to her solar balcony. The volcanic sea air helped her mood swings, and so she took a number of deep breaths to calm herself down, once again wanting the child inside of her to be removed. As she opened her eyes again she noticed a ship sailing into the castle port. "Are we expecting any arrivals today?" She asked.
"Not that I am aware of, Princess." Jorah responded.
Confused, Dany racked her brains to see if she could recall the ship that was sailing in, but nothing came to mind. "Send someone down, I want to know who that is and what they are doing here."
Ser Jorah bowed and went to the door, allowing the Princess a rare moment of time alone. Her thoughts turned Westwards, to King's Landing where she knew Luke was right now dealing with another baby. Dany felt herself growing resentful, not only at the fact that Margaery Tyrell was also pregnant, but that the one person that the Targaryen woman wanted to talk to had been forced to distance himself completely from her. She understood of course, but she could not help her thoughts.
Her hands returned to their now normal place on her belly as she thought on the lies that were to follow. The father would never be named, and a big deal would be placed on the baby arriving early. Dany supposed she was grateful that Maester Pylos was loyal and had helped forge this fiction, but she felt bad nonetheless. "You shall know your Father, I swear it." She whispered to her unborn child.
The door opened once more and Ser Jorah returned. "A guard will bring the new arrivals up to see you." He explained.
Dany had no wish to see more people, but she nodded as she waddled around a bit more, trying to bring back some feeling into her swollen legs. She managed no more than six steps however when she felt a strange popping sensation from in her belly, before a wetness dribbled down between her legs. She had spent enough time with the Maester's to understand and her eyes widened as far as they could in horror. "It's starting… no it can't be starting." She whispered, getting into a panic.
"What is?" Jorah asked, concerned.
"It's too early…" Dany whispered again, before steeling her voice. "Help me to my chambers, Jorah." She commanded. "And fetch the Maester. The baby is on its way."
So while I figure Ser Barristan won't be happy at keeping these secrets, my idea is that he at least realises the potential in Luke and sees him still as young enough to guide him to a better path. He is a loyal man, even willing to serve Joffrey until Cersei fired him after all. Luke meanwhile is starting to get paranoid as the birth of Dany's child grows closer, something that is never a good sign in Targaryen's and a sign that others will surely take note of and worry about…
Robb is also in a bit of a state. Time has passed but he still mourns massively and feels tremendous amounts of guilt, and now with a terrible Winter ahead he is feeling the pressure of living up to his Father while at the same time trying to protect the North from a long unseen threat. It's a lot for the young man which is why it is important for him to have Jon at his side. Jon also has a lot of regrets in his head from his time as Lord Commander, but it's often the unwilling leaders that make the best ones after all.
The garden scene is there to show Luke's worry about his two worlds colliding. If Visenya comes back she's young enough to not understand that the new baby is an issue and within moments the news would spread and swords would be drawn. I also wanted to note that Visenya still has family in Lys, family that absolutely detest Luke, but will love Valarra's daughter.
And finally… For someone with no experience of pregnancy other than from afar, I did an awful lot of searching about how smaller women deal with late-stage pregnancy. I hope I did it justice to anybody out there who have experienced the darker side of it. It's not an enjoyable experience for Dany, though her unhappiness seems to have agitated the baby into arriving early… I'm not going to do another stillbirth so soon, so don't worry. This baby will be healthy, and so any guesses as to names and gender of our newest Waters are more than welcome down in the reviews.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!
Next Time: Visenya meets her new sibling, while Winterfell receives a guest.
Reviews:
DarylDixon'sLover: Thank you! Yeah Robb's story isn't going to be a happy one unfortunately.
Guest (Unrealistic): I'd honestly love to know what's unrealistic about childbirth, pregnancies and weddings in this chapter, so if you could let me know that would be brilliant, thanks.
Cleo9427: There are moments when the idea was to gain sympathy for Luke, and others when the idea was to know that what he's doing is wrong because he knows it was wrong, but at the time he just felt so backed into a corner that he couldn't help himself. Claiming Dany as a second wife though would simply just start a war, one which he can't afford to start. In an ideal world he would be rid of Margaery and just live with Daenerys as the only woman in his life, but it isn't an ideal world.
Lightningscar: It's good to see you pop up on another of my stories! Thank you for the review.
RHatch89: The worst is yet to come…