Chapter 5
Sunspear, Dorne
283 AC
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."
"And what praytell would intrigue me in this letter, Oberyn?" Doran argued
"Read it and find out." Oberyn handed the letter to his older brother. What could possibly intrigue him in a letter from Benjen Stark?
' 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 shock you.
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 Aemon Targaryen, your niece's younger half-brother. It was through Ser Arthur Dayne that we learned of Princess Rhaenys's survival of 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
Hmm, this letter was most interesting. "Fetch Ser Oswell Whent and my niece."
"Of course, my prince." The servant bowed, going to find Ser Oswell Whent and Rhaenys.
The former Kingsguardmen and now-sworn shield to Princess Rhaenys made their way to Prince Doran's solar with the Princess in question. The only surviving child of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell was now five-name days old.
"You called for us, Prince Doran." Oswell bowed his head, asking
"Yes, Ser Oswell, Niece, this is Captain Davos Seaworth. He brought some news that will be of interest to my niece and yourself." Doran answered coyly.
"News Uncle" Rhaenys was the spitting image of her mother, save for her eyes, which were purple like her father's Rhaegar.
"Yes, it seems your half-brother lives," Doran explained.
"Aemon, where is he, Uncle?" Rhaenys cut off her uncle before he could say where Aemon was.
"He's in the Vale. Your brother was adopted by Lord Arryn and his wife, Lady Arryn. According to this letter from Aemon's uncle, Benjen Stark, Lord Stark sent this as well for Rhaenys: "Doran picked up the sword in question."
"Dark Sister" The princess exclaimed a memory of her Kepa showing her the ancestral sword of House Targaryen locked in a vault on Dragonstone.
"Yes, Dark Sister Niece. It seems Lord Benjen plans to help us with our revenge on the stags and lions," Oberyn smiled. Revenge for Elia and Aegon would wait. Good things come to those who wait.
Winterfell, the North
283 AC
Jaspar was dreaming he was flying; he was a dragon. The vast ocean lay before him below as he flew through the sky. He landed on the sands of the island. He spat a flame black, green, and red in color on his catch seal.
The dragon he was tore a large piece of the seal, digging into his catch and kill. Once he was full, the dragon curled up in the sun and closed his eyes.
Jaspar opened his eyes. He and his mama had come to Winterfell; they had arrived a few days earlier. Father had gone back to King's Landing. Aemon missed the Red Castle; he missed Cella. She follows him around, smiling and babbling after him.
He'd made new friends since coming to Winterfell: his cousins Robb, Cregan, and William. He played more with Robb, as they were of a similar age. Cregan and William were younger the he and Robb by a good few moons.
"Jaspar, are you awake?"
"Yes, Mama," he answered, swinging his legs over the side of his bed.
"Come on, little one, let's go break our fast with the rest of the family," Lysa said as Jaspar was dressed for the day. Her father, Lord Hoster Tully, was due to arrive in Winterfell today. She and Catelyn had a long, overdue talk. Burying the hatchet between them.
They were no longer girls, but wives and mothers. They had to present an untied front to protect Aemon. Help him grow into the fine man they knew he would be. Lysa would cherish every moment with her son before he was set away to Foster.
It was a part of life to be the wife of a lord and the mother of a lord. Jaspar would go to foster at age ten and be a squire. Till he was knighted.
Jaspar had a budding friendship with Princess Myrcella, though the little princess was eleven moons younger than Jaspar. They were quite close. When they did spend time with one another, they were inseparable.
They made their way to the Great Hall to break their fast with the rest of the Stark families. Jaspar licked his lips as he looked at the food on the table. He was hungry enough to eat a horse, figuratively speaking.
"Raven for Lord Benjen." Jaspar watched as the servant handed the scroll to his uncle Benjen.
"Thank you"
"Who's the raven from Benjen?" his other uncle Ned asked.
"Just Davos," Davos, who was Davos Jaspar, wondered.
Adults were so confusing. Jaspar soon gave up trying to figure out who this Davos man was. He was some sort of acquaintance of his uncles.
"Jaspar Arryn, at least chew before swallowing; you don't have to inhale it," Lysa said, shaking her head.
"Sorry mama."
"It's alright, darling, but Lords have good table manners." Lysa turned her attention to her own meal.
With the morning meal finished, Robb and he ran off to play. Lysa called after him not to get too dirty, as Grandfather Hoster would arrive today with their Uncle Edmure and Great Uncle Byrden Tully.
The future Lords of Winterfell and the Eyrie raced about the courtyard playing. The older men were beginning to spare in the yard. Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Rodrik Cassel, the Master at Arms at Winterfell, were among them.
The two boys stopped and watched the older men in awe. Ser Arthur was quick and deadly, outclassing the other men sparring with him in the training yard. Jaspar hoped to be as good as his sworn shield one day.
The two future wardens of the North and Vale found a couple of sticks and played a mock fight, imitating the older men.
"Lord Jaspar, Lord Robb" Wyall called to them. "Come your grandfather is twenty minutes away; your mothers want you to change and be ready for when he arrives."
Both heirs to Winterfell and Eyrie were now clean and dressed in their best clothes. Jaspar was dressed in the colors of House Arryn, blue with a touch of black, in his winter cloak. Robb was dressed more like a Northern man.
Jaspar stood beside his mother as the soldiers of House Tully rode into Winterfell. Jaspar got his first look at his grandfather, Hoster Tully. He sat tall in the saddle of his dark bay stallion, draped in the house colors of House Tully on its surcoat.
Beside him sat a taller man, slightly younger; he rode a rose-gray-colored horse. Ser Brynden Tully is why people call him Blackfish. Jaspar couldn't work it out. A boy, maybe aged ten and three, rode alongside them.
His uncle, Lord Edmure Tully, his mother, and Aunt Catelyn's younger brother rode a light bay-colored horse.
"Welcome to Winterfell, Lord Tully, Ser Brynden, and Lord Edmure," his uncle Ned said to Jaspar's grandfather, uncle, and great-uncle.
"Thank you, Lord Stark; it has been a long ride." Hoster Tully dismounted, and a stable hand came forth to take his horse.
"Catelyn, my darling daughter, it's been too long." Hoster embraced his eldest daughter.
"You must be Robb. I haven't seen you since you were a babe. You'll be a heartbreaker when you're older," Hoster laughed.
"Hello, Father It's been some time" Lysa got her father's attention.
"Lysa, Jon is not with you."
"He's in Kings Landing on small council business. Father, this is your grandson, Jaspar. Jaspar, this is your grandfather, my father, Lord Hoster Tully." Lysa introduced
Hoster looked down at Jaspar with contempt, ignoring the young boy and turning his attention to his son and younger brother. Jaspar didn't understand what he did to his grandfather to look at him this way. Why did he love Robb and not him?
The Tully sisters shared a concerned look at their father's behavior and treatment of Jaspar. He was a boy of two name days old. It did not matter that he and most of the realm thought Jaspar was Ned's bastard son with Ashara Dayne. You don't ever treat anyone like that, no matter what—especially a young boy of Jaspar's age.
Edmure acted like a typical teenage boy, not wanting to be there. He said hello to his older sisters and nephews after his uncle cuffed him on the ear, reminding him to have some manners. He said a reluctant and almost flat hello.
Ser Brynden was the more warm and welcoming of the three. He embraced his nieces, hugging them tightly to him. He was warm and kind to both Jaspar and Robb.
"Father, you must be tired after your long journey; we'll show you to your room," Catelyn offered.
"Very well then," Hoster followed after his two daughters into the castle.
"These are your rooms, Father Catelyn showed him inside.
"Well, it's no Riverrun, but it will do. Gods, does it ever get warm here?" Hoster complained of the cold.
"This is the North Father. It's always cold here, no matter the time of year or season—winter, spring, summer, or autumn."
"You look well, daughter. Eddard is treating you well, then," Hoster questioned.
"I am happy father; Ned is a good husband and father," Catelyn answered that she was happy.
"Good. The only bad thing he did was shame you with that bastard of his." He shot a look at Lysa.
"That bastard boy, Father, is my son Jaspar. Blood or not, he is mine and Jon's son. You will show him the same respect you would his father." Lysa's claws were out.
"Why should I show him that respect? He's a bastard."
"Bastard or not, he is your grandson. What wrong has he done to you? He is a boy of two name days old father. Are you so heartless you cannot be kind and decent to a boy of two name days?"Lysa asked her father.
"Grandson, that's a laugh. Jon Arryn only adopted him because he couldn't have an heir of his own."
"And who's fault is that, Father? I cannot have children. After you made him drink that poison you called Moontea," Lysa glared at her father.
"It was you who shamed me and our house, spreading your legs like a common whore and getting with child to Baelish. It is your own fault; you cannot have children."
It was not Lysa who slapped Hoster, but Catelyn.
"You do not speak to my sister like that in my castle," Catelyn spoke seethingly with anger.
"Your castle, Catelyn; this is your husband's castle, not yours."
"Yes, it is my husband's castle father. You insult not only him but also his son Lysa and Jon Arryn's adoptive son, your adoptive grandson. You blame Lysa for not being able to bear children of her own.
It was your fault she could not, as you gave her that moon tea. You could have let her have the child and then given it to a childless couple, but no, you had to save face. If you cannot be civil to Jaspar and Lysa, then you are not welcome here, Father. Uncle Brynden and Edmure are more than welcome to stay but you, however, are not." Catelyn stuck up for her sister and nephew.
"That's your final word on the matter."
"It is," Catelyn answered firmly.
Beyond the Wall
The Three-Eyed Raven Brynden Rivers
283 AC.
Trouts turn to She wolves and falcons. Never try to come between a mother and her young. The scheming of wolves and vipers deepens. Dragonwolf Pup dreams of his dragon waiting for him when he is grown enough. For they will bring the dawn against the Long Night. Dragonwolf and his dragon