Chapter 3
Skane Island, the North
283 AC
The Lord of Sea Dragon Point looked over the 'haunted' island of Skane. His precious cargo was hidden in a cage. A baby dragon Benjen didn't know how or why a baby dragon hatched in the Crypts. Lyanna had come to him in a dream, telling him about the eggs laid by Jacaerys Velaryon's dragon when he visited Winterfell during the Dance of the Dragon.
Guided by Lyanna's dream, Benjen went down to the crypts, where he found this little fellow. He talked it over with Ned; they couldn't keep the dragon in Winterfell. They decided on Skane. The island hadn't been inhabited in years.
How or why the dragon had hatched was a mystery to both the Stark brothers. Lyanna said in a later dream that the gods had brought the dragon for Aemon. Something about the wars to come Benjen didn't understand what Lyanna spoke of.
They made sure the dragon was old enough to fly and look after itself before taking it to Skane. It would be some years before Aemon was old enough to bond fully. Could humans actually bond with dragons? Benjen had no clue.
By the time Aemon was old enough to fully bond with his dragon, the gods would only know how big it was and how tame or untamed it would be. The island was far enough away from the Eastern Coast of the North.
They dropped anchor and lowered a long boat into the water. Accompanying him was Davos Seaworth, the ship's captain and first-rate smuggler. Benjen had paid for his services to retrieve items from Dragonstone for Aemon when the lad was older.
They made it to shore within minutes. Benjen got out of the longboat, grabbing the cage with Aemon's dragon in it. He walked a good distance from the boat.
Setting the cage down, he opened the door. The dragon crawled, flapping his black wings, which were tipped green on the ends of his wings. He turned his black and red-tinged neck to look at Benjen.
"This is your new home, boy. Your rider is not ready for you yet. You both have some growing to do. You'll be safe here. I hope you understand me." The dragon screeched back as if he understood what Benjen had just said.
The dragon took a few steps. He looks back at Benjen once more before flapping his wings and taking to the sky of his new home for now.
Benjen closed up the cage, making his way back to the others waiting by the long boat. "No one is to know about this Davos."
"Yes, my Lord. Mums the word." Davos agreed to keep quiet about this and the trip he was to make to Dragonston after taking Lord Stark back to White Harbour.
Winterfell, the North
283 AC
The preparation for Lord Hoster Tully's visit was in full swing. Lady Stark's sister, Lady Lysa Tully-Arynn, and her son, Jaspar, were coming to Winterfell around the same time. Lord Arryn was unable to come; he'd been called back to the capital for Small Council Business.
Lord Tully would arrive in Winterfell in a few days. Lady Arryn and her son, Lord Jaspar Arryn, would arrive sometime before that.
"Preparations are being made; everything is in order, my lady." Winterfell's Steward, Vayon Poole
"Good, make sure we have a good supply of Arbor Gold."
"I'll have a few more crates brought up, my lady." Poole bowed, taking his leave.
"Arryn soldiers have been spotted on King's Road near Wintetown. They'll be here in twenty minutes or so." Benjen appeared behind his good sister.
"Where's Ned"
"I haven't got a clue where he is, Catelyn; I'll check the crypts if you want to check his solar," Benjen offered.
"Very well" Benjen headed for the Crypts while Catelyn went to check her husband's solar for said husband, who was nowhere to be seen.
Benjen headed down to the crypts to see if his older brother was there. Sure enough, Ned was standing in front of Lyanna's statue. He'd been acting like this more and more since learning Aemon was coming to Winterfell with Lysa Arryn.
"Though I'd find you here, the Arryn entourage is twenty minutes away." Benjen stood beside Ned at Lyanna's statue.
"What do you think he's like?"
"Aemon, you mean? Ned nodded.
"I'm sure he is a lot like Lya and Rhaegar as well. You haven't seen him since he was a mere babe, I've never seen him, Ned. He's only two name days old Ned; the lad's grown a lot from Jon Arryn's monthly letters."
"Aye, I suppose I can't help but wonder what sort of man he will be when he is grown," Ned wondered aloud.
"If he's anything like Lyanna, he'll be hardheaded, stubborn, brave, fearless, and perhaps a bit reckless, but no doubt he has a good head and heart. He'll make some lucky girl a fine husband." Benjen clapped his brother on the shoulder. "Come, let's go before Dacey and Catelyn send a search party."
"Aye, come on, let's go." Ned gave one last look at Lyanna's statue before following Benjen out of the Crypts to the courtyard of Winterfell.
Ned took his place beside Catelyn; Robb stood between Benjen and Catelyn; and Dacey and their twin sons, Cregan and William, stood on the other side of Benjen.
The Arryn Entourage made its way into Winterfell, and the Arryn Guards rode in front of the wheelhouse. Ser Arthur Dayne rode in on his flaxen chestnut stallion. His armor was similar to that of the Kingsguard; instead of the three-headed dragon pressed into the breastplate, it was the falcon of House Arryn.
The wheelhouse rolled to a stop. Two servants brought steps to the door of the wheelhouse. His good sister, Lady Lysa Tully-Arryn, stepped out of the wheelhouse. Ned's eyes glistened with tears as he set eyes on his nephew for the first time in two years.
Gods the lad had grown. He was slightly taller than Robb, though Aemon was two to three moons younger than his eldest son. The unruly locks, dark in color, came from Aemon's prince, Father Rhaegar, while his dark hair was from Lyanna.
"Welcome to Winterfell Lady Arryn," Ned said as Lysa and Aem... Jaspar Ned reminded himself.
"Thank you, Lord Stark; it has been a long journey from the Eyrie. Sweetling, this is your uncles, Lord Eddard Stark and his brother, Lord Benjen Stark, and your aunts, Lady Catelyn Stark and Lady Dacey Stark. Go say hello."
"My Lords and Ladies, thank you for your" Jaspar looked to his mother; according to Jon Arryn's letters, even at two name days old, his nephew was smart as a whip and sharp as a tack. Just like his mother, he had a head for books; it was joked at the time that Queen Rhaella had swallowed a library before Prince Rheagar had been born. Such was his love for books and music.
"Gracious welcome", Lysa said for him; the lad was still very young. His vocabulary would get better as he grew older.
"You are most welcome Lord Jaspar." Ned felt someone tug on his pants leg. Ned looked down to see it was Robb tugging on his pants legs. "What is it, little wolf?"
"Father, is that Ser Artur Dayne?" Robb asked
"Aye, that is him. Would you like to meet him?"
'"Yes, please, father." Robb nodded eagerly.
"Ser Arthur, there is someone who would like to meet you." Ned approached the famed knight dubbed the 'Sword of the Morning'
"Oh, and who might that be, Lord Stark?" Arthur removed his helmet fully.
"Robb, this is Ser Arthur Dayne. Ser Arthur, this is my son, Robb. Say hello, Robb."
"Hello"
"Hello, Lord Robb. It's nice to meet you." Arthur kneeled down to Robb's height. He stretched out his hand. Robb shook Arthur's hand firmly. "That is a mighty firm handshake you have there, Lord Robb."
"Thank you"
"Robb, why don't you go with your mother, Aunt Dacey, and cousins? Get to know your cousin Jaspar a little better. It's his first trip to the North," Ned cut in.
"Ok, Father," Robb toddled off over to where Cat waited with Dacey, Lysa, Cregan, William, and Jaspar.
"We have much to discuss; if you would like to join us in my solar Ser Arthur,"
"Of course, Lord Stark," Arthur accepted, following both Stark brothers to Ned's Solar.
Once in Ned's Solar, they poured a few mugs of ale, or was it wine? It didn't taste like wine; it tasted more like stale piss. The North was not known for its wine.
"Have you heard from Ser Oswell or Lord Commander Hightower?" Ned asked once they were all seated.
"Nothing from Lord Commander Hightower; I received a letter from Ser Oswell a year ago. He's stayed in Dorne with the Martells. Princess Rhaeys, King Aegon's older half-sister, still lives.
Oswell did not elaborate on how she escaped from the Red Keep the day of the sacking, only that she survived, is hidden as one of Prince Oberyn's many bastard daughters, and that she is safe. He remains in Dorne, her sworn sheid, as I am King Aemon's." Arthur told them all he knew of his brothers-in-arms.
"We have had some interesting developments in the last year or more. It seems dragons have returned to the world. Benjen found one a baby in the crypts" Arthur choked on his drink.
"Dragons, where did it come from?" he questioned.
"None of us know how or why. Lyanna came to Benjen in a dream, saying the Gods had sent the dragon to Aemon for the wars to come. What wars they may be, she did not say. Once the dragon was old enough to fend for itself and fly,
Benjen took it and released it on Skane Island; hopefully, when Aemon is ready, he will bond with it. If dragons even bond with humans," Ned answered the famed knight, now his nephew's sworn shield.
Sunspear, Dorne
283 AC
Captain Davos Seaworth swallowed thickly nervously and was on alert as he waited in the viper's pit, which was Sunspear, the ancestral seat of House Martell. He was here to deliver a letter and something else for Lord Benjen Stark.
Lord Stark had paid handsomely for him to take this letter and package to Sunspear; the letter was for the eyes of Prince Oberyn Martell only. The package in question was something he had retrieved from Dragonston at the behest of Lord Stark.
What Lord Stark wanted him to steal these items from Dragonston was anyone's guess. Ser Davos could not work out why he'd paid Davos to steal them from Dragstone. They needed the money, especially with another babe on the way.
"Prince Doran will see you now." Davos was escorted to see the Prince of Dorne, Prince Doran Martell, the elder brother of the late Princess Elia Martell. Uncle to Prince Aegon Targaryen and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
"Captain, why have you come? They say you have a letter and package for my brother's eyes only. May I ask what it is, Captain?"
"You may, my prince. But I was instructed to give them only to your brother, Prince Oberyn. The man who hired me was very strict about that." Davos remained quite certain of who it was that had paid him to come to Sunspear.
"Very well. Send for my brother."
"Yes, my prince." The servant bowed, scurrying off to find Oberyn, who was most likely at a brothel, fucking some woman or man, depending on what mood he was in.
"You called for me, brother." Oberyn casually made his way in.
"I did. Captain Seaworth here has a letter and package for your eyes only. He says"
"Well, who sent the letter and package, Captain?" Oberyn asked, leering at Davos as if he were a piece of meat.
"Lord Benjen Stark of Seadragon Point" Davos revealed who had paid him to come to Sunspsear in the first place.
"Stark. What has my brother got to do with Lord Stark?"
"All would be revealed in the letter, my prince, as would the package I was asked to deliver to you". Davos handed over the sack with the said item in it.
Oberyn sent aside the unopened letter, pulling the package Davos Seaworth had brought to him on behalf of Benjen Stark. The item in question was a sword. Looking closer at the hilt of the sword
Dark Sister. Why had Davos Seaworth brought one of the ancestral swords of House Targaryen to Sunspear? No one knew of Rhaenys's survival. How had Benjen Stark found out, and why did it concern him?
"As I said before my prince, Lord Stark said all would be explained in the letter."
Oberyn set aside the sword, picked up the letter, tearing the seal, and began to read.
' Dear Prince Oberyn
You will be surprised to hear from me at all. There is a good reason for so much secrecy. Like you, I am hiding a member of House Targaryen who is my kin by blood. What I am about to tell you will be a shock.
My sister, Lyanna Stark, was never kidnapped by your good brother, Rhaegar Targaryen. She married both he and your sister Elia on the Isle of Faces. They loved each other so deeply that it was unusual to find such love as the three of them had.
This union was blessed with a child, my nephew King Aegon Targaryen, your niece's younger half-brother. It was through Ser Arthur Dayne that we learned of Princess Rhaenys's survival as the massacre of her and Aemon's family that day in the Red Keep.
Your nephew, through the marriage of your sister to my sister, Aemon, is known to the world as Jaspar Arryn. Jon Arryn is one of the few people who knows the truth about our nephew's identity. The Stag who sits upon the throne, drenched in the blood of our shared kin.
Robert Baratheon may not have killed my sister, but he played a part. The news of the deaths of Elia, little Aegon, and Rhaenys sent my sister into early labor. She bled to death. That Stag cunt and Lion Lannister I blame for her death, as you do them for Prince Aegon and Princess Elia's deaths.
We must be patient and bide our time before striking, reminding both stags and lions that wolves and Vipers are not to be messed with.
Lord Benjen Stark of Seadragon Point
Oberyn smiled as he finished reading the letter from Benjen Stark. "Brother, perhaps you should read this letter from Benjen Stark; it will be of great interest to you."
Beyond the Wall
The Three-Eyed Raven Brynden Rivers
283 AC.
Dragons have returned to the world. A dragon that will be the stuff of legends, as will his rider, the Dragonwolf. The little dragonwolf pup grows stronger with each passing year. Wolves and Vipers join forces against Stags and Lions, waiting for the right time to strike.