Chapter 5
The Free Cities Bravos, 284 AC Three years after the rebellion.
Former Lord Commander Ser Gerold Hightower, known as the White Bull, made his way through the streets of Bravos. For three years, he'd been in the Essos, building an army for his king. To take back his birthright.
The numbers of their army had grown slowly over the last three years. He had the Wolf Pack, Windblown, Stormcrows, and Stormbreakers in his employ. The total number of men they had was 3,500. It was a start, but they would need many more men if they stood to take back the throne from the Stag who sat upon the throne.
He'd heard whispers that Ser Willem Darry was in Bravos with Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys. A house with a red door, they said. The White Bull had dealt with the assassin sent by Robert Baratheon or Tywin Lannister.
Ser Gerold found the house in question with the red door. He couldn't use the front door; it would be too obvious. That wasn't to say there weren't spies of Varys watching the house or another assassin laying in wait to kill Ser Darry, Prince Viserys, and Little Princess Daenerys.
Gerold bided his time, waiting until it was dark. He scoped out the building, Gods I'm too old for this, he thought as he scaled the walls surrounding the house. Gerold groaned as he leaned against the stone wall to catch his breath.
Maybe he was getting old, for there was suddenly a blade at his back.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't run you through." Ser Willem Darry hissed from the darkness; it was he with his sword tip pressed into the back of Ser Gerold Hightower.
"Is that any way to greet an old friend, Ser Willem?" Gerold remarked, not moving.
"Old Friend, hmm. Drop your sword belt real slow, like, no games," Gerold did as he was told he removed his sword belt slowly like he'd been ordered to.
"Who sent you? Robert Baratheon, the Spider, or Tywin Lannister" Ser Willem demanded taking Gerold's sword belt.
"No one sent me. There was an assassin sent to kill you and the children by any one of those men. I come in peace, Ser Willem. And with a warning."
"You came to warn me. Likely story come on, move," Gerold did as he was told, moving towards the house. "Alright, that's far enough."
Gerold stayed still as Ser Willem Darry moved to stand in front of him. Willem Darry did a double take as he looked at the man in front of him. "Lord Commander Hightower," Ser Darry lowered his sword.
"It's good to see you still have your wits about you. You managed to get the jump on me." Gerold smiled, lowering his hands.
"Why did the Prince order you to stay in Dorne, not to come with him to the Trident? You heard what happened to Princess Elia, Princess Rhaenys, and Prince Aegon."
"We did. The prince wanted us to remain in Dorne to protect his wife, Lyanna Stark-Targaryen; she was heavy with child at the time. Princess Lyanna went into labor at the news.
The babe survived; she sadly did not. She died of a loss of blood. The babe she named Aemon Targaryen is Prince Rhaegar's only surviving child; he is the rightful king," Gerold explained.
"Wait, wait, wait. Prince Rhaegar married Lyanna Stark. What of Princess Elia? Even if they were married, Prince Rhaegar was already married to Princess Elia, the boy Aemon is a royal bastard. He has no claim to the throne."
"King Aemon is no bastard. He is true born. Prince Rhaegar, Princess Elia, and Lyanna Stark were married before the Old Gods and New on the Isle of Faces. Myself, Ser Oswell Whent, and Ser Arthur Dayne were there that day." Gerold corrected him.
"Where is the King now?"
"With his Uncle Eddard Stark in the North, Ser Arthur has gone with him as his sworn shield. Ser Oswell took Princess Elia, Princess Rhaenys, and Prince Aegon's remains to Sunspear to be buried." Gerold explained more.
"What was this about a warning, Ser Gerold?"
"It seems the Spider may know where you, the young prince, and the princess are. I found out where you were after killing the assassin sent by them to kill the three of you," Hightower answered.
"What do you suggest we do then?"
"The three of you would be safer with me and my men." Hightower offered.
"How many men do you have?" Darry asked
"Three and a half thousand."
Sea Dragon Point, the North
284 AC Three years after the Rebellion.
After three years, the castle at Sea Dragon Point was finished. Benjen had said a tearful goodbye to his brother, good sister, and nephew. The day he, Dacey, their sons, and their men left for Seadragon Point
Benjen sat in his study, pouring over the paper and scrolls that lay in front of him. Oh, the joys of being a lord! Benjen thought as he looked at the mountains of papers in front of him.
"Enter," Benjen said as there was a knock at his study door.
"Sorry to interrupt, my lord. Raven from Sunspear for you" Seadragon Point's Maester Ronard came in with a scroll in hand bearing the seal of House Martell.
"Thank you, Maester; that will be all."
"Of course, My Lord," Maester Ronard said, taking his leave.
Benjen broke the seal on the scroll from Sunspear. Benjen had been communicating with the Martells for the better part of a year. He'd made a trade deal with Martells; there was a plentiful supply of wood to build ships in the Wolfswood near Seadragon Point.
Benjen supplied them with a steady stream of wood, and they paid handsomely for wood. And built him a small fleet of ships for both trade and as a 'navy'. With the gold stags paid to him for the wood for the Martells. Benjen used it to improve his holding. He hoped to build Seadragon Point up as a major trading hub and port for the Western Coast of the North.
But that brought the risk of the Iron Born attacking the merchant vessels coming north, hence the small fleet of naval vessels he was building to protect not just Seadragon Point but the Western Coast of the North.
Ned had no clue what he was doing. His older brother was busy with his own holdings and ruling the North as Warden.
Having a trade deal with the Martells was hardly going to raise any eyebrows. The other venture they had would cause Ned to be concerned. The plan for revenge on the Baratheons and Lannisters for the deaths of Lyanna, Prince Aegon, Princess 'Rhaeyns' who still lived, and Princess Elia
Benjen would do all he could to help Aemon retake what is rightfully his by right. The Martells simply wanted revenge and justice for Elia and little Aegon. Benjen, too, wanted revenge on both the stags and lions. He blamed them for Lyanna's death, not Aemon.
Lyanna went into labor early after hearing the news of Elia, Aegon, and, at the time, Rhaenys's deaths on top of losing her husband. The grief caused her to go into labor. Their mother, Lyarra Stark, had died in a similar way that Lyanna had.
Benjen had been six, maybe seven-name days old at the time. Lyarra had gone into labor prematurely, but Gods Benjen could still hear his mother's screams. The labor was long and difficult.
Maester Walys did all he could for Lyarra and the babe. But it was all in vain; the babe had been turned the wrong way. Maester Walys tried to get the babe into the right position, but it did nothing.
The babe came. His sister was dead. Stillborn or had died during the delivery. Lyarra had died from blood loss. Benjen will never forget his father's harrowing sobs as he cried over the body of his dead wife.
Old Nan tended to the four of them during the days afterward. Their father was lost in his grief for a time. Lyanna stepped up to be a mother to him. Despite only being a few name days older than he was,
Lord Benjen Stark of Seadragon Point
We are making good progress on your ships. The shipment of wood is greatly welcomed. We have heard some whispers of the White Bull in Essos. He has a small army of men, numbering from three to three and a half thousand.
He was last seen in Bravos.
The Red Viper, Prince Oberyn of House Martell
Benjen rolled up the scroll as there was another knock on his study door. "Come in," Benjen smiled as his wife entered with another scroll in her hand, the scroll bearing the seal of the King's Hand.
"From Jon Arryn" Dacey handed the scroll to Benjen.
"His monthly update on Aemon. How are you and the little one doing?"Benjen placed his hand on Dacey's stomach. They were expecting their third child. Dacey was sure it was a girl this time. She had been right when Cregan and William had been born.
"She is her father's daughter, this babe. Kicking up a storm, she will be a wild one, and handful this one."
"Aye, just like her mother. We're in for a world of trouble if she's like her Aunt Lyanna." Benjen set the scroll aside on his cluttered desk.
"She is a Stark and a Mormont she is no wilting southern flower. She is of the North."
"Aye, she is," Benjen agreed.
"We need to think of names; this one will be here before long." Dacey placed her hand on top of Benjen's hand, already on her stomach.
"Aye, we do. I like the name Arya for some reason."
"Arya I like it. What about possible after your mother or sister?"Dacey offered
"Both are good names. But I think this one is an Arya."Benjen felt the babe kick as if to say she approved of her name.
King's Landing, the Crownlands
284 AC. Three Years Since the Rebellion: Princess Mrycella's Name Day Tournament
The realm turned out in all their finery for Princess Myrcella's Name Day Tournament. No expense had been spared. The King and Queen's only child so far. The Queen was again with child. They hoped it was a boy.
King Robert had no heir after Prince Steffon had died in his crib at fourteen days old. Robert had no interest in the matter of council. He was slowly bleeding the realm dry with endless tournaments and lavish spending.
The royal treasury had been overflowing with dragons at the time. Now they were running dangerously low on funds. They would have to take a loan from the Iron Bank or, worse, Tywin Lannister.
Jon Arryn and Lord Rosby, the Master of Coin, did their best to keep the Crown afloat financially.
Jon made his way through the crowds, Jaspar's hand grasped tightly in his own. He was meeting with the Red Viper, Prince Oberyn. He'd had a cryptic message left for him. Ser Arthur shadowed them as they went to meet with Oberyn.
Oberyn had left a sign outside where they were supposed to meet. "Jaspar, you stay with Ser Arthur; no wandering off."
"Yes, Father."
"Go on, be good for Ser Arthur." Jon handed him a small purse of gold stags.
Arthur kept a close eye on the future king as the boy went ahead of him to many stalls of traders who had come to make coin during the tournament.
Arthur's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of his former brother-in-arms. Jamie Lannister. He'd once had promise. He'd broken his vows by killing King Aerys. He'd gone unpunished for killing the king. No matter how mad or cruel the king had been, Jamie Lannister was still sworn to protect him.
"Well, if it isn't the famed Sword of the Morning. Nothing more than a glorified nanny for his bastard nephew." Jamie said it arrogantly.
"At least I can sleep at night, Lannister. How is your consciousness, or lack thereof?" Arthur challenged while keeping one eye on Aemon.
Jaspar had made a new friend, Reyna Sand; she had come with her father to King's Landing, where he was competing in the Melee.
They talked as if they had known each other for years. "Reyna, little Viper, let's go," Reyna's father called to her.
"It was nice to meet you, Jaspar."
"You as well, Reyna," Jaspar said after his new friend. Jaspar ran up to his father, who had been calling his name. They headed for the stands to watch the jousting.
Beyond the Wall
The Three-Eyed Raven Brynden Rivers
The dragonwolf and viper dragon meet for the first time. Brother and sister reunited, and the little Dragonwolf pup doesn't know the girl he speaks with is his sister. The Dragons in exile are safe now with the White Bull. Safe from the knives of spiders, stags, and lions. The plotting of Vipers and Wolves thickens now with a falcon in the midst of their plotting, though he may not know it.