Chapter 7
Highgarden-the Reach
286 AC: Five Years After the Rebellion
The Dowager of Highgarden, Lady Olenna Tyrell, more commonly known as the 'Queen of Thorns', sat in her solar. Olenna was known for her razor-sharp tongue, earning her the nickname Queen of Thorns.
Something had been perplexing her this past year. She and her fat-headed son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren had made the trip to King's Landing the year before for the tournament to celebrate the birth of the future king, Prince Joffrey Baratheon.
It wasn't something, but someone who perplexed her. Jaspar, the adoptive son of King's Hand Jon Arryn, was a pleasant enough boy. Olenna and her family had met the young lord in passing a few times during their time in King's Landing.
Something about the boy got underneath her skin. He took very much after his birth father, Eddard Stark. The boy's birth mother was said to be Ashara Dayne. That may have been true, as the young lord's sworn shield was the lady in question, brother. The former Kingsguard also known as the infamous Sword of the Morning, Ser Arthur Dayne
Olenna had sworn she had seen a hint of purple in those brown-gray eyes of his. Ashara Dayne had purple eyes. But still, something didn't quite fit. Olenna was determined to find out what it was.
She had sent spies to the Eyrie and the Red Keep to flush out the rat she smelt.
One of her spies had returned the one sent to the Red Keep. "My lady, Eyva Flowers, has returned."
"Send her in."
"Of course, my lady." The servant came back out of the room, bowing as he did so.
"My Lady Eyva Flowers"
"Good, now leave us." Once again, the servant bowed and left the room.
"Tell me, dear, what did you discover during your time in the Red Keep?"
"There are many things that would be of interest to you, my lady. But you wish to hear about what I have learned about Lord Jaspar?" Eyva began.
"Well, don't leave us in suspense."
"Lord Jaspar is not Lord Stark's bastard son. The boy is a Stark, but not Eddard Stark's son. Nor is he Brandon Stark's son; we can definitely rule out Benjen Stark." That only left one Stark sibling.
"Lyanna Stark is his mother. You and I both have a good inclination as to who the boy's father is."
"Yes, Rhaegar Targaryen." Eyva had worked in the Red Keep for almost thirty years before the Rebellion happened. She had known Prince Rhaegar since he was a babe.
"What else did you discover?"
"That the boy is true born. There were letters between the Stark brothers, Lord Arryn, and the Martells. No one pays attention to an old woman." There was a reason Eyva was one of her best spies.
"You've outdone yourself, my dear." The Falcons, Wolves, and Vipers were playing the Game. Perhaps it was time that Falcon was told that there was another player in the Game. If the boy was to survive and become king, he would need to learn to play the game. He would need a good queen to stand beside him.
Yes, the boy was promised to the Baratheon girl. But engagements can be broken; both her and her husband's engagements had been broken before they were wed to one another.
The Eyrie, the Vale
286 AC: Five years after the Rebellion.
It was the first time Jon had time to return to the Eyrie in a few years. For half the year Lysa ruled in his stead, and the other half of the year, the ruling of the Eyrie fell on Lord Yohn Royce's shoulders, also known as Brozen Yohn.
When Jaspar was old enough, he would rule the Eyrie and the Vale in his stead till Jon died, and his son became Lord and Lord Paramount/Warden of the Vale. Jon watched his son train with Ser Arthur.
At just five-name days old he was quite tall for his age. His father, Rhaegar, had been a tall man of six feet four inches. Lyanna was not an overly tall woman herself. Her brothers had all been over six feet tall.
Brandon being the tallest at the same height as Rhaegar, perhaps a little taller (6'4 and a half inches).
"My Lord, a raven has come from Highgarden for you." Maester Colemon knocked at his door.
"Highgarden"
"Yes, my Lord. It's from House Tyrell." Coleman clarified, handing the scroll to Jon Arryn.
Colemon bowed before leaving Jon Arryn's study.
Ripping open the seal, Jon wondered why Mace Tyrell had sent him a raven.
To Lord Jon Arryn:
I must commend you, the Stark Brothers, and the Martells for pulling the wool over our eyes. I have learned the secret you have kept these last five years. Fear not; I will not go to the oaf of a king and tell him the truth about the boy you adopted.
The boy you claim to be your adoptive son is not the bastard son of Ned Stark and the late Ashara Dayne. He is the true-born son of Lord Stark's sister. Lyanna Stark and the last dragon, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen
Prepaps, we can discuss this more in detail at Highgarden. A visit to Highgarden would be the best course of action in this dilemma we find ourselves in. For if the boy is to be king, he must be taught to play the game.
To be a good king, he must know more about the game, the dirtiness of politics, and what must be done to keep the peace within the kingdoms. Sometimes bad things must be done for the greater good. You, Lord Hand, know this more than anyone.
I await your answer.
The Dowager of Highgarden, Lady Olenna Tyrell, 'The Queen of Thorns'
Fuck, Fuck, Fuck. How the fuck had she worked it out? If the Queen of Thorns could work out who Aemon really was, how long was it before Varys worked it out? He had to speak with Lysa.
Lysa was in the courtyard watching Jaspar train with Ser Arthur and the Men at Arms, Ser Orwen Hersey, the second son of the former Lord of Newkeep, Ser Toman Hersey, and brother of the current Lord of Hesey, Ser Toman Hesey, named for his late lord father.
"Lysa, we need to speak in private." Jon glanced at his lady wife briefly.
"Jon, whatever's the matter,"
"Come with me; we need to speak in private." Lysa followed Jon back to his rooms. He ordered them not to be disturbed and the guards to move to the far end of the corridor, where they couldn't hear what was said.
"Jon, my love, speak to me."
"This came before from Highgarden," Jon handed the scroll from Olenna Tyrell.
To Lord Jon Arryn:
I must commend you, the Stark Brothers, and the Martells for pulling the wool over our eyes. I have learned the secret you have kept these last five years. Fear not; I will not go to the oaf of a king and tell him the truth about the boy you adopted.
The boy you claim to be your adoptive son is not the bastard son of Ned Stark and the late Ashara Dayne. He is the true-born son of Lord Stark's sister. Lyanna Stark and the last dragon, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen
Prepaps, we can discuss this more in detail at Highgarden. A visit to Highgarden would be the best course of action in this dilemma we find ourselves in. For if the boy is to be king, he must be taught to play the game.
To be a good king, he must know more about the game, the dirtiness of politics, and what must be done to keep the peace within the kingdoms. Sometimes bad things must be done for the greater good. You, Lord Hand, know this more than anyone.
I await your answer.
The Dowager of Highgarden, Lady Olenna Tyrell, 'The Queen of Thorns'
"Jon, whatever are we to do?" Lysa asked, setting aside the letter from the Queen of Thorns.
"We have to go to Highgarden to see what it is she wants."
"You know what she will want. for her granddaughter to marry Aemon. He has been already promised to Myrcella. How well do you think Robert Baratheon will react if we break off the engagement and have Aemon marry Margaery Tyrell?" Lysa answered.
"There must be another way to rectify this thing with Olenna." They would have to go to Highgarden.
The Essos Targaryen Army Encampment
286 AC: Five years after the Rebellion.
Two years after finding Princess Daenerys, Prince Viserys, and Ser Willem Darry in Bravos, the Targaryen Army Gerold Hightower had been building had swelled to nearly twenty-six thousand men.
They had found Jon Connington alive and kicking in Essos, in charge of the Gold Company. Gerold hadn't taken long to work out Connington was plotting to put an imposter on the throne, someone masquerading as Prince Aegon.
Connington had been in league with some cheese monger in Pentos by the name of Illyrio Mopatis and the Spider Lord Varys. Connington was given a choice. Serve his rightful king or die with the imposter.
Connington seemed to know there were only two ways this would end for him. The White Bull taking his head or working with them. Feeding Varys false information about the plot. As for the cheesemonger and his imposter son, they met their end with the blade of the White Bull.
A threat had been eliminated to his king's throne. There was one more torn in Hightower's side. Prince Viserys. Gods, he was becoming a whiny little shit. The boy was only ten and two and was a cunt.
He had dared lay a hand on Princess Daenerys after the last time. Gerold had become quite attached to the girl in his charge. Viserys never put a toe out of line when Gerold was around. He'd put the fear of the gods into the boy. never one to raise a hand against a child. But when Gerold had seen the marks on the princess, he saw red.
He tanned Viserys hide. The boy couldn't sit down for a solid week or two. Willem Darry kept a close eye on the prince from then on.
The old White Bull hoped he lived long enough to see his king crowed. Gerold wondered what sort of man his king would become once he was grown.
Highgarden-the Reach
286 AC: Five Years After the Rebellion
They made the perilous journey from the Eyrie to Highgarden. Lysa rode in the wheelhouse while Jaspar, Jon Arryn, and Ser Arthur rode their respective horses into the main courtyard at Highgarden. Jaspar rode his mare Winter, a name-day present from his uncle. The mare had been his mother's, not that the lad knew that.
The Tyrells meet them in the courtyard. Lord Mace Tyrell stood with his lady wife and their youngest two children. Both their eldest son and heir Willas and his twin Garlan were squiring for Ser Garth Hightower, commonly known as Greysteel. The formidable Queen of Thorns stood with her son, good daughter, and grandchildren.
"Welcome to Highgarden. Lord Arryn. I hope you had a pleasant journey."Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden, proclaimed
"Long but pleasant" The Lord Hand of King Robert answered as his Lady Wife Lysa Tully-Arryn stepped out of the wheelhouse.
"Good Stefon" Mace called for the steward of Highgarden, Stefon Roxton, a distant cousin of Lord Emersen Roxton, the current Lord of the Ring.
"Yes, my lord."
"See that Lord, Lady Arryn and their son's things are taken to their rooms," Mace ordered.
"At once, my lord," Stefon bowed.
"I will show Lady Arryn and Lord Jasper to their rooms," Mace's lady wife, Alerie Hightower-Tyrell, offered.
"Thank you, Lady Tyrell." Jaspar and Lysa went with Mace Tyrell's wife into the Keep of Highgarden.
"Come, let's go talk in my solar. I was surprised to receive your Raven saying you were coming for a visit. To what do we owe the pleasure, Lord Hand?" Mace made conversation as they made their way to his solar.
"It was I who invited him, Mace," Olenna cut in.
"You Mother"
"Yes, I am your mother. Last time I looked you, Fat Oaf, go do something. There are things I wish to talk about with Lord Arryn in private." Olenna dismissed Mace with a wave of her hand.
It was easy to see how really ruled Highgarden.
"How did you figure it out?"
"Your son is not who you claim him to be. Lord Arryn I may be fifty and eight name days but I am not senile yet. He has the looks of the Starks but very little of the Daynes. I had suspicions, so I had a few of my little birds as it were checked it out for me.
One of them confirmed what I suspected. That boy is a Targaryen. How is it that he's true-born? Prince Rhaegar was already married when he became involved with the Stark girl," Olenna questioned.
"Prince Rhaegar, Elia, and Lyanna were married before the Old Gods and New on the Isle of Faces," Jon answered the Queen of Thorns.
"I see, and what are your plans for the boy? Knowing little that I do know about Ned Stark I know he won't want to put the boy what is his name on the throne."
"Aemon Targaryen. It will be up to Aemon when he is told if he wishes to take back his birthright." Jon replied.
"That boy can't be any worse than the drunken whoremonger sitting his arse upon the throne now. I know the Sword of the Morning is his sworn shield. What happened to Ser. Gerold Hightower and Ser. Oswell Whent? They were missing for most of the war. In Dorne protecting Lyanna Stark, if I understand correctly."
"The White Bull is across the narrow seas in the Essos. Ser Oswell took the remains of Princess Elia and her children to Sunspear and remained there ever since."Jon Arryn answered coyly, keeping the information about Rhaenys Targaryen being alive to himself.
"And do you still plan for him to marry the Baratheon Girl?"
"Mycrella and Aemon are quite close for children of their age. What is it you want, Olenna? My son is already promised to Myrcealla Barathone. Robert would see it as a great insult if I were to break off the engagement." Jon answered.
"How do you think he will take it when the truth comes out or the boy presses his claim? There will be a war—a very bloody one. You are planning to send him to foster somewhere and perhaps squire."
"Yes, when he is ten-name days old, why?" Jon Arryn asked.
"Send him here to Foster and Squire. By that time, my grandson Garlan would be knighted and would need a squire. Here he could learn to plan the game. Politics is a dirty business, and if the boy is to succeed in taking back his throne, he will need all his gyle and wits. To play the game, there is no quarter given to those playing against you. It is the Game of Thrones."
"There is something else." Jon guessed the Queen of Thorns had one last trick up her sleeve.
"He takes my granddaughter as his second wife. Like his father did and his ancestor, Aegon the Conqueror."
Beyond the Wall
The Three-Eyed Raven Brynden Rivers
286 AC—Five years after the Rebellion.
The old Falcon makes plans and deals with the Queen of Thorns. The Dragon Wolf Pup has found his second bride, a Rose with Thorns. Across the Narrow Seas, the Old Bull builds his armies for the Dragonwolf pup, playing the Spider at his own game. The Game of Thrones will begin; it will be a long-blooded conflict. There can only be one winner.