The Last Wolf and the Northern Dragon

by Alperez16

Two lives are taken and two not, changing the game forever. Jon Snow is raised by his uncle Benjen to be Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North while Rhaella Targaryen escapes to Essos to raise her children and plot her revenge.

9. After the War, Comes the Peace

Highgarden 289 AC.

Ashara Dayne.

She was glad she had kept some of the garments she had worn before going North. Highgarden's weather was definitely hotter and not suited for the furs and woolen dresses she'd worn for the last six years. Although she had had to alter some of them, most still fitted her after all these years and part of Ashara was glad she had been able to maintain her figure.

Which was probably part of why she had been put in trouble in the first place.

Benjen and Barbrey had been outraged on her behalf and had never left her side until the departure of the Usurper. Something which had made Ashara both grateful and wary of any reprisals from Robert Baratheon.

"I told him I would not tolerate any disrespect for my nephew's mother even if we do not see eye to eye and he seemed to be chastened," Benjen said, still looking angered.

"Do you believe him?"

"Seeing all I have seen with the Ironborn campaign and his behavior, I think he is more shamed by the fact that he got caught than by what he tried to do. I swear, Ash, had he done something to you, I…"

"Aye, I know. And I thank you for your support." she had said truthfully. "Now you know the true side of Robert Baratheon."

"I've known him to be shameless for some time," Benjen admitted somberly. "When he asked for a betrothal with Lyanna while impregnating half of the Vale with his seed. Ned never went into details when we heard about his friend having a bastard, but Lyanna knew. She knew she would be unhappy with him and… It seemed that being king and married hasn't curbed his impulses."

"Does that mean -"

"No. I will not risk his life. Had he been the only one to decide their fate, Greyjoys' children… They… No, I cannot risk him like this, not with the West looking at my every move and the Old Lion waiting for me to falter."

"What happened with Tywin?" she asked curiously.

"I may have pulled on his tail somewhat by taking Asha Greyjoy as a prisoner." he had said smirking, and Ashara had been glad to feel a shift in him when he had told her what had transpired at Pyke.

Benjen hadn't realized it yet, but he had started playing the game in a much more intricate way the moment he had shown the extent of his fleet. Ashara had been proud of the way the Regent had reacted to everything thrown his way. Now that Westeros knew how capable the North was, she knew the Lannisters would not take kindly to their inability to surpass them. Howland's spies had been more than helpful and she was grateful to see his unwavering support for Aemon shown in the most unlikely of ways. The people from the Crannog looked like children and blended into their surroundings thanks to their way of living, so they made the perfect spies. Though it had taken some time for Benjen to accept their involvement in such a manner. The Greyjoy girl's fate or what Tywin had wished it to be had opened his eyes to the utility of having his own network.

Ashara now had to play her part for Aemon's sake, and part of her wasn't too sure about what she had been ordered to do. She needed to bring the Reach back to the fold. To ensure the Targaryens of the Tyrells' loyalty. Yet something held her back and so she had spent the last three days looking at their family dynamics. She'd always known that Olenna Tyrell was the mind behind the Warden of the South, and Mace Tyrell's boisterous displays at her welcoming party proved that she couldn't trust him with Aemon's secret.

A small feast had been organized for her. Something she had been both annoyed and grateful for. Mace couldn't stop complimenting The North and Jon's Regent for the victories they'd won against the Greyjoy fleet. While also managing to insult them in the same breath.

"Good thing the Starks welcomed the Manderlys when the Gardners exiled them, else we would have been the one saving the day, not the North." Mace blustered.

"And how pray tell, would things be different, my Lord?" she asked, frowning.

"Well, we would be the one with the fleet, and -"

"Would you have funded the Manderlys' fleet, my lord? Because that is what my son's Regent did. The Manderlys captain them, truly and admirably well, should I say, but the Mormonts are also formidable captains on their own, as are the Glovers. Had the Manderlys stayed in the Reach, then the North would have found another Admiral and another Great House to do the deeds that saved the day." Ashara declared, all eyes looking her way as she did so.

"But -" Mace began, but Ashara was already done speaking to him, instead offering a bone to the Reach as she interrupted him.

"I heard that the Lord of the Arbor also brought the rest of the Ironborn fleet to their knees. They're truly a credit to your family, Lady Olenna, Lord Mace." She deflected and was happy to see Mace take the bait and find a way to bring some glory to the Reach's forces.

"Does your son keep to the Seven, Lady Dayne?" Olenna asked during dessert, much to Ashara's surprise.

"He follows both the Old Gods of the North and the Seven Who Are One."

"Why?" Olenna asked, surprised.

"He is of the North, Lady Olenna, and most of the Lords and Ladies of the North that he will rule over follow the same gods. However I taught him the Seven-Pointed Star and he also converses with Lord Manderly, who is the Shield of the Faith. As well as the Septon from the Snowy Sept when he visits at his Lord's behest."

"There is one and only faith, Lady Dayne." Olenna challenged.

"There's only faith when politics are absent, Lady Olenna. For the Targaryens wouldn't have been able to marry brother to sister, we wouldn't have a kinslayer on the throne as we speak, and my son would have remained a bastard instead of the more powerful Lord of the North. Begging your pardon."

She knew her declarations could bring her trouble, but she needed to see their reactions and they didn't disappoint. While Mace and Alerie seemed at a loss for words, Olenna's smirk said it all. So when the meal was finished, Ashara hadn't been surprised to receive an invitation to break her fast on the morrow, alone with the Queen of Thorns.

Ashara made the conscious decision to bring Richard with her. While he had made himself scarce and hadn't trained so as not to bring attention, she knew his presence by her side would determine the rest of the events that were soon to unfold.

"Are you sure this is needed, Ash?" he had asked her before they left.

"I do not trust them nor their ambition. They already tried to make a move to get closer to Jon a few years ago."

"It is a good thing, is it not?"

"So many things can go wrong, Richard. Benjen told me that Mace Tyrell looked desperate while trying to get the Usurper's attention. What if he decides that selling out our secret is better than allying himself with us?"

"You think they would betray us? After everything?" Richard said aghast at the notion.

"I don't want my son's head to be the reward for them to get on Robert Baratheon's good graces," Ashara replied simply.

"But Queen Rhaella -"

"Is in Essos, Richard. She may have her network of spies, and she may understand the Game, but she still lives as an outsider. A wanted one, may I say. I will not go against her request, but I will do it on my terms only. 'Tis better to be too cautious than not."

Richard had agreed with her point and his support had been all she needed to endure the stares and whispers about her these last few days. To think she had felt more at home in the North made her scoff at the irony. At least they made it clear who to trust or not as they were not fully aware of the great game nor at times truly playing part in it.

For now at least.

As she walked into Olenna's room and saw the morning feast that was set for only the two of them, Ashara was acutely aware that the display of wealth was part of the plot to intimidate her.

"I didn't know what you would like to break your fast; so I asked for a little bit of everything," Olenna said dismissively as Ashara moved to take a seat.

"I appreciate the gesture, my Lady."

"I'm sure you do. The North is a dreadful place when you're used to the luxury of the South." Olenna said, her nose twitching slightly as she spoke.

" 'Tis not so bad, Lady Olenna, once you get used to the cold. The North is practical and thanks to your Goodson we were never short on good Arbor Gold at dinner."

"At least they can appreciate some of the delicacies of the South then."

"They still prefer ale, but it helped us greatly when the King and his retinue came to visit my son after the quelling of the Greyjoy Rebellion."

"I bet the King was over the moon to finally meet Ned Stark's offspring, seeing he could not stop raging over his absence at each and every tourney," Olenna said and Ashara noticed the bite in her voice.

"He was. He even asked him to become his squire." Ashara said in a false nonchalant tone and smiled internally as she saw her host perk up.

"Hm. You must have been glad to see that despite your… Former loyalties… Robert Baratheon still wants to honor your son."

So, it begins…

"My pleasure at his request didn't match the pride I felt when my son wholeheartedly refused him."

"You refused the king?" Olenna said, almost choking on the tea she was sipping.

"Jon did. I had no say in it."

"Surely you did, for -"

"Jon is the one who decided he'd rather stay with his family and learn to rule his lands than be knighted by Robert Baratheon, and I will not lie and say I was not glad of it. I know others would have jumped at the opportunity of getting close to the King, but the farther away my son is from that man, the better it is."

"For your head or for your son? It is no secret that King Robert despises you. More especially after the stunt, your brother had pulled with the prisoners he had stolen from the Watch." Olenna quipped.

"As it is no secret that in the last six years you are still not in his good books, no matter how hard your son has tried." Ashara countered bluntly before sighing loudly, aggravated by Olenna's condescending tone. "Let us not beat around the bush here this morn, shall we?"

"Yes, let us get straight to the point." Olenna nodded.

"Sending a proposal to Winterfell for young Loras to squire for a heathen knight? And then making the same proposal to the Kingslayer, truly? Are you really that desperate to get close to those people that you would use my son to do so?"

"Those people, as you say, hold the Seven Kingdoms. What other choice do we have if we want our House to stop being punished for our previous allegiances?" Olenna retorted harshly.

"Previous allegiance? As far as I know, you did not follow through with those either Certainly not, given your son's actions during the Rebellion."

"What are you here for, exactly, Lady Dayne? To remind us of our past failures or to speak of our future?" Olenna said annoyed.

"As I said, I am here for certain affairs. Matters on behalf of my son… And others who bid me send a message to you."

She gestured to Richard to lift his helm and give the lady the missive from Rhaella they had been set to present to House Tyrell. The gasp Olenna didn't manage to suppress put a smile on Ashara's face.

"You -"

"Indeed," she answered for Richard.

"But your son is -"

"A Stark of Winterfell, I know. Soon to be ruling the North and at the service of the Crown. The True one." she said her eyes on Olenna's all the while and she saw the surprised and dare she say almost wistful look in them, fleeting though it was.

"Why would the North fight for the Targaryens? After all, they went to war for…"

"Their Liege Lord and his heir being killed by Aerys, Aye, I know."

"You even speak like them now." Olenna scoffed before looking back at Richard. "What is he doing here?"

"He is my son's sworn shield."

"Why is he not at Winterfell then?"

"My Lord asked me to protect his mother on her journey home," Richard replied. "I am bound to go back to Winterfell after bringing Lady Ashara safely to Starfall."

"Did they kick you out?" Olenna asked, turning back to her.

"I'm sure you know that my goodsister is not faring well. My family needs me home and that is part of why I traveled South." Ashara answered.

"Does Lord Stark know where your loyalty stands?" Olenna insisted and Ashara knew her answer should be measured. She did not want to show her hand completely, not yet knowing what the Queen of Thorns would do with the information that she would get from her.

"My loyalty is to my son first, and then to my queen. I'm here to give you proposals on behalf of both. After you read her letter, of course." Ashara said, handing Olenna Rhaella's terms.

Ashara knew its content, for she had received the same before she'd left for Winterfell. It was time to bring the Roses to the fold, time for them to prove their loyalty towards the family that gave them the status they still enjoyed.

"What is expected from us?" Olenna asked after reading the letter.

"To join the North and the Reach in marriage. Through my son and your granddaughter."

"You're going to play Robert by pitting Ned Stark's son against him? Truly? And you are really sure that the Lords and Ladies of the North will follow through? That they will fight alongside the dragons?" Olenna insisted and Ashara nodded.

"There's a debt, a debt owed by House Targaryen to the Starks. A debt Queen Rhaella intends to pay, starting by making the North prosperous. It will not change the past, my lady, but it will provide the North with a bright future. A bright future that we intend the Reach to benefit from too."

"By marrying your son to one of my granddaughters?"

"Oh, not any granddaughter. My son is a Warden, and he deserves no more than a Warden's daughter by his side."

"Margaery? You can't be serious!" Olenna gasped.

"This is a request from Queen Rhaella, not me. I know full well of your ambitions, my Lady. It is the same as all Ladies who have a daughter of ages with the Crown Prince. But it is one you will never succeed in obtaining. We both know that Robert Baratheon would rather choose his own niece than give you what you want."

"Queen Rhaella wants to take back her throne, so her son -"

"Is already promised to the Martells, another debt to be paid by the Targaryens for what had happened to their Princess and her children." Ashara cut her off harshly.

She could see the displeasure on Olenna's face and so she decided to plant the final nail in the coffin.

"Even though a part of you may decide to betray the Queen's family once more. You know full well that you will gain nothing from it. They will call you a turncloak and name you untrustworthy. For what need of an enemy if your supposed ally betrays you whenever the wind changes?"

"Your point, my Lady." Olenna pressed, visibly annoyed.

"My offer for now is to make the Lord Regent agree to the fostering of your grandson Loras, as you have requested before. When the time is right, we will settle a betrothal between Jon and Margaery. She will become the Warden of the North's wife and your House will benefit greatly from this alliance."

"Mace will never agree to this. Your son may be the future Warden of the North, but nobody will forget where he comes from and the nature of his birth."

"Was that why you asked me if he kept to the Seven? Because you wanted to see if he was worthy of one of your granddaughters? Who did you want him to be betrothed to? Lady Desmera?" Ashara asked and smirked when Olenna's expression turned somber.

"Would it be that bad to have our families tied through her?" Olenna scoffed.

"What would the Arbor bring my son that the North doesn't have already? Wine? I told you they prefer ale." Ashara retorted with confidence.

"What does the North have that we don't either?" Olenna frowned.

"Rhaella Targaryen's support, for one. A better fleet than yours and a prospering land that soon will not need to trade with even the other regions of Westeros. I suggest you contact Lord Benjen Stark, Lady Olenna, to see how the North has changed in the last few years. Better yet, why don't you travel there and visit my son directly? That way you will see for yourself if you judge him worthy of Lady Margaery?"

"I will think about it, my Lady."

"Please, call me Ashara. After all, one day we may very well become kin."

"You're a tough one, I must admit, Ashara. I thought the North would have broken you, yet here you stand, stronger than ever." Olenna almost smiled at her as she spoke, almost but not quite.

"The North is a tough place, but each winter you survive there makes you stronger. My son will be the embodiment of his House. I intend for him to grow strong and to get the recognition he deserves, my Lady."

"Olenna. You may as well call me by my name if you plan to be my granddaughter's goodmother." the Queen of Thorns grumbled, looking at the missive once more. "You really think you can pull this off? That you will get the North to follow the dragons and fight for a restoration?"

"They will follow their Liege's order. And you know like I do, that behind a powerful liege always lies the shadow of an equally ambitious woman."

"That I do, Ashara… That I do…" Olenna smirked. "I will think about what you said and do my best for us to grow strong together, then."

"That is all I ask, Olenna."

The raven with the renewed request of fostering left the same day that Ashara did. She hoped that the written note given by the Queen of Thorns would be enough to quell Queen Rhaella's ambitions for now. That she would be forgiven for not following her orders to the letter. Ashara believed that Rhaella would understand that all she did here was not just for her queen, but for her son most of all. All she did was for Aemon's sake.

Highgarden 289 AC.

Olenna Tyrell.

Olenna had listened firstly to Mace as he'd told her how he'd had some positive talks with Tywin Lannister and how he'd made inroads with the true power behind the Iron Throne. Then secondly to those she'd sent with her idiot of a son to report back on the truth of his words. Mace had at best been tolerated and at worst belittled by the Old Lion. He'd been ignored by the king, who seemed to want to spend his time with the last of the Wolves most of all.

Her son had annoyed some of their Bannermen by praising the work of butchers and monsters and Olenna liked it not. There were enough of them who thought badly of Mace already. The last thing she needed was for him to add fuel to the fires that already were lit against them. For in time those fires could turn into infernos and few if any ever survived when that came to pass. So ignoring Mace's proclamations, Olenna had turned her attention to the reports on the others who'd fought in that damn silly war.

Those reports spoke most favorably about the Starks more than any other. Helping to turn the tide at Seagard and being the first ones through the breach at Pyke was somewhat worrisome, but understandable at least. Even during the Rebellion, it had been the North and its fierce fighting men that most should have truly feared. Robert Baratheon may have been named as the Demon of the Trident, yet without the Northmen leading his van he'd never have made it close enough to take Rhaegar Targaryen from the world. So while she may have bristled a little that the North earned glory while the Reach did not, she was not truly perturbed by it. Which was not something she could say about the things the Northern Fleet had done at sea.

"You're sure about this?" she asked as she tried to make sense of it all.

"I am, my lady. It was the Northern Fleet under its admiral, Lord Wendel Manderly, who broke the Iron Fleet, not Lord Stannis or Lord Paxter."

"They were that strong?" she asked no one in particular.

Each report she read only made an alliance with the North even more desirable. Long before the war, she'd thought so and now after it, she knew so. They needed better relations and more than that, they needed a true bond between them. So for days and close to a week, Olenna spent her time trying to come up with how best to see that so. To foster her grandson had been something she'd received no reply from the North about, other than it was much too early to think about such. A betrothal with her granddaughter had been brought up though by her and not the North, as Olenna still had work to do with Mina before she could truly broach that subject. She was at a loss right up until the answer to her questions came and presented themselves at her door.

"What do you mean Ashara Dayne is coming to visit?" she asked.

"We've received word that she travels our way mother. That she stopped off in Oldtown for some reason and spoke briefly to Ser Baelor before leaving to head here."

"For why?" she asked and as she looked upon her son, she shook her head at her own foolishness.

Even now she still chuckled thinking about it. Her asking Mace for a reason when she herself could see none, the sheer ridiculousness of it would shame her were Mace even clever enough to realize her mistake. Now, days after Ashara Dayne had left and continued on her merry way, Olenna's mind was busy at work once more. The words she'd said. Those she had not. Offers made and yet not, all of it was annoying and frustrating and yet not without its thrills either. For Olenna loved nothing more than where there was a game to be played.

"Especially this particular game," she said as she rose to her feet.

Putting aside her thoughts for now. Olenna walked to her door and with her giant guards behind her, she moved through the hallways and corridors of Highgarden. What her destination was she knew not, though when she reached it, she really shouldn't have been surprised. Her granddaughter sat with her cousins. Their lessons were over and yet Margaery read a book while Elinor and Megga still played some childish game.

Olenna stood and looked at Margaery for some time. Happy to see it was not a mummery she was performing and then happier still when after a while, Margaery put the book down and joined her cousins in their game. Studious she may have wished her to be, but there was more to life than learning and she wanted her to be happy and well-rounded too. It took some time for her presence to be noticed and the moment it was, Margaery rushed over to stand at her side.

"Grandmamma." her Golden Rose said happily.

"Sweetling. Have you been having fun?" she asked, her own smile matched by the one on Margaery's face.

"A little."

"Well we can't have that, it's meant to be a lot is it not?" she said to a nod of Margaery's head.

For the next hour, she joined in as best she could. Olenna led the games somewhat and only when she felt too tired to continue did she stop. Bidding Margaery to join her, they left Elinor and Megga to their own devices and spent the next hour or more just walking in the gardens. Soon enough it was time for luncheon and they were joined by the rest of the family. Willas looked like he'd spent time with his hawks and Garlan and Loras had no doubt spent their own time in the sparring yard. Both her youngest grandsons far preferred the sword over any other pursuit.

As she ate, her thoughts turned again to Ashara Dayne and the things she'd said about her son. Her eyes turned to her granddaughter more than once and the small voice at the back of her head told her that Margaery deserved more than to be a Warden's wife. Yet the words that Ashara had spoken to her. The presence of Ser Richard Lonmouth by her side and the letter she carried from Queen Rhaella, all bid her shout down that voice. As did the offer to travel North and see its lands and its Warden for herself.

"We received word from Lord Tywin, Mother. An invite to the tourney he's hosting to celebrate the king's victory over the Iron Born." Mace said far too loudly and far too publicly.

"And when is this tourney to be held?" She asked, annoyed that he'd not come to her and speak of it in private.

"In three moons, Mother. At Lannisport."

Olenna had no need to look to see how her grandchildren looked at her, nor how Mace and Alerie were. Even was she of a mind not to attend, she knew she had to. Yet she wished not to and for the first time she found herself thinking that a trip to the savage North would be more beneficial to them growing strong than a trip to a tourney attended by the king. Mayhap that was why she asked the question she did and even more so why she named her reason as plainly as she did once she'd gotten her reply.

"Would Lord Stark attend such a tourney? He and the boy he's regent for?" she asked, surprising everyone in the great hall, her son most of all given the look on Mace's face.

"I would imagine so, mother. Though I understand not why you'd ask such a thing."

"If Loras is to foster with them and earn his spurs in Winterfell then it would serve us well to meet them would it not?" she replied snippily.

Later that night she cursed herself for her annoyed response to Mace's questioning. She'd said too much and raised his curiosity. Which was never a good thing. Her fool of a son would question her and others and may even speak some words to Benjen Stark should he actually attend the Tourney in Lannisport. Words that were she to allow him to speak them could cause issues between them and House Stark. Issues that given Queen Rhaella's letter would not serve their own House well.

Margaery at least seemed keen to travel both to the tourney and to the North. Loras, though disappointed it was not to be a Southern House he was to squire for, had accepted he was to be a squire, more than questioned it any further. Alerie had actually been the one to raise the most questions. When Olenna had told her that she was considering a match between Margaery and Jon Stark, she'd expected far more pushback than she had received.

"The Warden of the North?" Alerie asked.

"A Stark, Alerie. They are by nature good and true men and the North is rising even more highly than the West or ourselves if what Mace said is true."

"Does the boy keep to the true gods at least?"

"His mother told me that he keeps to both. That as the future Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, he must keep to the Old Gods, but that as her son and given that his largest Bannerman keeps to the true gods, he's studied under a Septon too and has read the seven-pointed star."

"And it's not set in stone, this betrothal?"

"I feel it may be for the best but I'd like to take the measure of the boy and of the North itself before doing so. Loras fostering and earning his spurs there was always to be a means to that end."

"I would like to travel North with you when you go, but I take it you wish for Mace to remain here?"

"I do. Mayhap after Loras has fostered for some time we can suggest that he and Lord Jon come visit and should either of us still have doubts we could address them then."

"I'd welcome doing so."

It was a rare thing for Olenna to be so amenable to other people's feelings when it came to plans for her House. Had Jon Stark been a prince of the Realm and future king, then she'd not even have given Alerie a say in Margaery's future betrothal. If there was a true chance that she could garner a match with Robert Baratheon's son, then she would probably have rejected Ashara Dayne's proposal out of hand. Even given that it seemed that proposal had Queen Rhaella's support.

No, that wasn't quite true. Olenna wasn't fool enough to think that there was not to be a war on the horizon. At some point in the future, Rhaella Targaryen and Robert Baratheon would truly come to blows and Olenna had to be on the right side of things when that day dawned. Moving to her desk, opening the drawer, and taking out the letter, Olenna read it once more and shivered at the words it contained.

Lady Olenna,

There are some in my service who wish me to cast your House down and replace them with another. Some who speak of the folly your son engaged in at Storm's End while mine own was losing his life at the Trident. Yet my family raised your own for a reason and one mistake can be forgiven. One and one only, however.

The day will come when House Targaryen seeks to regain that which was stolen from us. Plans are in place to see, that on that day allies are brought to bear and enemies are dealt with. We name you as the former and not the latter, Lady Olenna. Your future actions will decide if that is to be so when that day arrives.

To that end. Look North and see the opportunities that lie there. Listen to the words spoken to you by the bearer of this letter and know they are words spoken as if they were from mine own lips. Actions have consequences, Lady Olenna, as does inaction. We are ever watchful for both and our forgiveness is not limitless. Remember the oaths you swore and who it was who helped you rise and remember them well. For we forget nothing and while we are most generous with our friends, we are without mercy to those we name our enemies.

Rhaella Targaryen,

Queen Regent.

Placing the letter back in her draw, Olenna reached out for the wine jug and poured herself a glass of it. Drinking it down far too quickly, she then poured another. A warning and an opportunity, she would heed one and grasp the other and if the gods were good and Jon Stark proved himself true, then they would still manage to grow strong.

Winterfell 289 AC.

Asha Greyjoy.

She had scoffed so many times at her mother when she'd been told that she would long for home one day.

"I am a Greyjoy. The sea is my home." she had said petulantly.

"Yet even your uncle Euron comes back from time to time. Why?"

"Because he's a cunt who loves boasting about his adventures to father?"

"A letter would be enough to annoy your father." her mother had japed. "No, Pyke is as much part of an Ironborn heart as the sea. You may become a famous reaver one day, sail with your brothers or even your husband, the Drowned God have mercy on that poor sod. But you'll always long to see the Iron Islands. You'll always want to go home one day."

"Once I'll sail with my own crew, I'll never come back."

"Even to see your old mother?" her mother had asked and she'd felt guilty thinking about abandoning her, only to growl when she saw her smirk. "See, I told you!"

"You can always come with me…"

"Balon would sink the Iron Islands if I don't watch him closely. I have to stay with my husband."

Asha knew there was no love lost between the two. Alannys was never shy to curse her husband when he wasn't looking, especially since he had named himself King of the Iron Islands. She had forbidden Asha and Theon to fight, despite their wish to stop the Greenlander's invasion of Pyke with their older brothers. Even now a part of Asha wished she would have paid the iron price and died with Rodrik and Maron.

It would have been better than her current fate.

Stuck in Winterfell, Confined in her rooms for two days after a little spat with the Lord of the keep. Who knew that the seven namedays old boy had such a fierce temper?

She had underestimated him and it had cost her greatly.

She had tried to escape, more than once since they arrived at this damned place. Asha had knocked some of her guards out, retrieved the keys to her cell, and ran as fast as she could, only to see more guards walking around the dungeon she was held in. After she had quickly assessed the situation, Asha had hidden behind huge doors, waiting for them to clear the yard so she could run to one of the gates.

"You shouldn't be here." a small voice made her jump and she swung the sword she had previously stolen from the guard. Though she'd found no purchase and struck only air with the blow.

Turning to face her foe while her eyes painfully adjusted to the dark, she was shocked to see Jon Stark in front of her.

"By the drowned god! I could have killed you!" Asha exclaimed.

"You would have to swing your sword correctly for that to happen." the boy replied casually.

"Does your uncle know where you are?"

"I do not think so. Does he know you're trying to escape?"

"I will gut you before you say anything!" she threatened.

"And then you will be hanged for killing the Warden of the North. Or my uncle will cut your head off. Which would be your choice?"

His confidence shook her and she hesitated on what to do. It was long enough for him to disarm her. Asha had no idea how he had managed it. She'd not even seen him move, just a blur before her eyes, and then she was swordless.

"I won't say anything about what happened here if you don't say you saw me today. What say you?" he offered, making her frown.

"You'll let me go?"

"Of course not, you'll go back to your cell."

"Is that how you Greenlanders treat your guests? Truly?"

"You're not a guest. You're a prisoner." Jon Stark pointed out

"I can't go back. The guard…"

"Did you kill him?"

"No. I'm not stupid."

"Then go back and say you had a change of heart. That you wanted to escape and then decided otherwise," he said simply.

"What's in it for me if I do so?"

"I promise that you won't be in a cell for much longer after that."

"But I'll still be a prisoner."

"Unfortunately," he sighed.

"I think I'll pass, then."

"Then your only other outcome will be death."

"I'm Ironborn. I'd rather die than live as a prisoner. What is dead may never Die." she retorted, holding her head high.

"Yet you're still breathing, which means that you still want to live," he said as he tilted his head, his grey eyes examining her closely, unnerving her a little.

"Are all children as annoying as you in the North?" she grumbled, irritated by the little lord having a point and even more by his smug look.

"My little cousin Bethany is not, but then she's only 3," he said and she had to chuckle.

"Girls are always more reasonable than boys. My brother…" she stopped, feeling her heart sink as she thought about Theon.

"I'm sorry," Stark said, smiling sadly. "Listen, I can imagine your life is not what you think it would be at the moment, but trust me, it can get better. My family is not bad -"

"Your uncle took me as a prisoner -"

"He saved your life. You would be dead if not for Uncle Ben. Robert Baratheon wanted to kill you." Jon Stark sneered, more at the last name than anything else he'd said, surprising Asha a little.

"Wouldn't it be better?"

"For who?"

She was about to reply when she heard the guards yelling about sounding the alarm.

"Shit! I have to -"

"Come out with me. I will cover for you this time. And I swear to you, on my honor, on the Old Gods and the New, that should you promise to stay in Winterfell and not try to escape, you will be treated as a guest and not as a prisoner." Jon Stark said resolvedly.

"Why would I believe you?"

"Because I swore to you?"

"You're a child. Your uncle has the power. There's nothing you can do about my fate."

"Well, you don't have much choice for now. Either you trust me or you don't."

The voices outside grew closer and she found herself cornered, stuck in an impossible choice. All her instincts told him not to trust a Greenlander, a Stark above all, but the boy looked so sure of himself that she could only nod in defeat.

"Aye." she sighed loudly. "I promise I'll behave. Though I'll ask for one thing more."

"Which is?"

"My mother. I want to write to my mother. And I want her to write to me." she said and swore she could see a flicker in the boy's eye.

"I understand. I'll try my best. You have my word." he insisted.

She had to give it to the boy, he had tried to keep his word and cover for her, lying as he told the guards that he invited her for a chat in the crypts so as to figure her out. He had however been unable to explain the knocked-out guard in the dungeons. His uncle had been extremely angry at both of them and had then locked her in a simple room with around five guards to watch over her. It was an upgrade from the cell she previously had, but it wasn't really an improvement to have a better bed in her eyes. Even though she would not complain about it.

Asha jumped as the door opened, revealing a heavily pregnant Lady Stark. She had been intimidated by the woman ever since she had set foot in Winterfell, as she told her that she would tolerate no nonsense from her or her kind.

"Am I to be brought back to my cell, now?" she asked resignedly.

"No. You're here to stay. It is your room now, and should you need anything, we will provide it for you." Lady Stark answered sternly.

"So, you've spoken with the little Warden?" Asha smirked, crossing her arms and feeling smug all of a sudden.

"Enough with that attitude right now, for it won't serve you here." the Lady said curtly. "Jon said that you will behave from now on?"

"I promised him I would. What of it?"

"If you don't, then not even Jon would be able to save your arse, nor would your Drowned God. I will personally watch over you and should you not respect the promise you made my nephew, then it will fall to me to take care of you."

"Is that a threat, Lady Stark? You know you're in no condition to -"

"I am of the North, Greyjoy, and I am a mother. Being with child will not prevent me from doing what was needed and tanning your arse or worse."

Asha shivered, as these words reminded her of the way her mother used to talk to her older brothers.

What is dead may never die, but I can send you to the Drowned Gods as quickly as I've brought you into this world.

Barbrey Stark had the same fire her mother had, before the Rebellion. Before she had to mourn two of her children and watch the two others being made prisoners. Asha turned around, not wanting to show the woman how much her words had affected her.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense as a heavy silence lingered between them. Finally, she heard the lady sigh loudly and then pull out a chair to sit down on.

"How old are you, Asha? Three and ten? Four and ten?"

"Aye, four and ten."

"How many girls do you know that are not betrothed or married at your age?" Lady Stark asked, making Asha turn around in panic. "Do not fret, lass. We have no intention of marrying you by force. That's a courtesy the Lannisters would not have extended and part of the reason why you're here in Winterfell."

"I suppose I should be grateful, then," Asha replied bitterly.

"Aye, you should." the lady said before extending a hand bearing a letter to her. "From your mother."

"How? I…"

"Someone will bring washed clothes for you to change into, then you will break your fast with us. You will help with the chores and will not be treated as a guest, or a ward, but as part of the household. This is the best we can do for you if you behave as you promised Jon you would. This, and the letters. Do you agree to our terms?"

Asha nodded vigorously, practically tearing the letter for the lady's hand, too busy reading Alannys's words to react to the other woman's chuckle.

Later as she drifted off to sleep, her tears now long since shed and almost forgotten, Asha found she looked somewhat forward to the morrow. She could make it here, with her mother's letters and her own soon-to-be written to her, she could make it and mayhap even thrive. Asha would use her time here as best she could and one day she'd see her home and her mother again.

King's Landing 289/290 AC.

Catelyn Baratheon.

She would lie if she said that she had missed the foul stench of this city. The mix of scents didn't go well with her current state and she had been grateful for Stannis' thoughtfulness in providing a pot for her to wretch inside of her carriage.

"Mother?" Cassana's worried voice forced Catelyn to smile reassuringly.

"All is well, sweetling. We are close to our destination. You will see your cousin soon."

Cassana gave her a bright smile and Catelyn hoped that everything would go well. The last time they had been to the Red Keep was so long ago that she was afraid life at court would have changed too much. News she'd received from Lysa about the Red Keep's dynamics were worrying, to say the least. The King was too busy boasting about his victory to rule, relying as usual on his Hand. Robert only truly cared about his upcoming tourney to celebrate the end of the Greyjoy Rebellion.

That he was bringing the whole court to Lannisport showed how grand he wanted this tourney to be. That he asked Stannis to rule in his stead while he was away had made Catelyn ridiculously happy. Her husband's confidence rose when he received the raven, signed not by the King for once, and Stannis even admitted to her once that he felt proud of the honor.

"And you are right to be, husband." she'd said. "The king knows how good a ruler you are and trusts you with all the Seven Kingdoms. 'Tis no small feat to stand next to the Iron Throne!"

"I know, and I am glad of the opportunity, but -"

"No buts, Stannis!"

"You're so close to having the babe, Catelyn. the idea of being away from you and missing the birth."

"What do you mean, being away from me? I'm coming with you!" she declared.

"This would not be wise to have you travel in your condition."

"I am well."

"Catelyn -"

"I understand your worries but I swear to you that I am well. You can ask the Maester if I will be able to make the journey. If he says I will, then I will come with you."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then I will stay and come as soon as he allows me to."

"This sounds… Fair to me…"

"You seem surprised by it," Catelyn said, frowning. "I would never put my child at risk, you know this."

"Well, I know how much you love to go to the Red Keep, even though I do not understand why myself. You can be unreasonable when it comes to visiting that place. Sometimes at least"

"My sister lives there, and I miss seeing her." She lied.

"Would that she display the same affection to you and our daughter…" Stannis spat bitterly.

"You know how difficult it is for her. After all that she went through, I cannot fault her for being a little sour when I was blessed with a babe and she was not."

"I understand, but… You're too kind, wife. Way too kind to deserve to be treated so scornfully."

"And you, dear husband, worry too much on my behalf. So, are we in agreement?"

"We are," Stannis said, giving her the slight smile she had grown to love during the years they'd been wed.

Her husband had still not truly gotten over the shock he received when he got back from war and found her with a large belly. Catelyn hadn't found out about her being with child until long after his leaving and the fear of losing another child while her husband was away had prevented her from saying anything. Thankfully, this babe grew strong and Stannis was no Ned Stark. The joy he had shown upon his return and when he had seen she was with child had almost put all of her fears of history repeating itself to rest.

After the Maester had given his consent and Catelyn had listened carefully to his recommendations, as she was certain Stannis did too, her husband had given Ser Davos all the instructions regarding their Ironborn prisoner and then prepared for their journey. Part of Cat was glad to leave behind the Greyjoy boy, as her new charge was a little too savage for and uncouth for her liking. At first, she thought that Robert had once again punished Stannis by giving him this charge to keep an eye on. Then Stannis had explained that he had been the one begging for his life, as Robert would have seen him dead and the realm would have all too soon been reminded of what had happened to Rhaegar's children. It had been a political move and she had been so very proud of Stannis for doing so to protect his brother's reputation. Even though Robert wasn't deserving of any of Stannis's, he had in the end, then been summoned to rule in the king's stead. Something which had proven that the risk he'd taken in regards to Theon Greyjoy, had been worth it.

They arrived in the courtyard of the Red Keep and she was pleased to be welcomed by her uncle and her goodbrother.

"Lord Stannis, Lady Catelyn, be welcome to King's Landing." Jon Arryn greeted them warmly.

"I would say it is good to be here, but the stench is still horrid," Stannis said almost as a jape that seemed to take the other men aback. "I am however pleased to see you, Lord Hand, as My wife undoubtedly is to see you, Ser Brynden."

"The pleasure is shared, my Lord. Niece." Her uncle said, smiling in turn.

"Where is Lysa? I had thought she would come…" The uneasy look shared between Jon and Bryden made her own worries grow. "Has something happened?"

"No, she is just supervising our departure for now. She said she would join us all for dinner tonight." Jon answered and Catelyn nodded, understanding the hidden meaning behind her Goodbrother's words before he changed the subject. "Is that Little Cassana that I see hiding behind you?"

Catelyn smiled encouragingly at her daughter and the girl curtsied adorably in front of the men of the family, eliciting awe around the courtyard for which her mother felt an enormous amount of pride.

"She is so well trained, a compliment to your House, truly Stannis, both your wife and your daughter."

"I thank you, Goodbrother. I heard that Renly is to attend the tourney with the King. Has he arrived yet?" Stannis inquired.

"Yes, he arrived two days ago. Robert has had him training with some of the Kingsguard since he wants to compete in the jousts." Jon answered, making her husband roll his eyes. "Let us get you settled. We will talk about the tourney and the affairs of the realm later."

Catelyn thanked her goodbrother, for she was starting to feel exhaustion and discomfort due to the babe moving inside her belly. She rested until dinner time when she finally met with her sister who seemed to ignore her completely. Lysa focused instead on her meal and annoying Stannis while reminding him of what was said at court;

That Jon Arryn seemingly felt proud of the way the Northern army had almost single-handedly saved the day for her father's bannermen didn't sit well with Catelyn. In truth, she would rather forget the savage's involvement in the Greyjoys' Rebellion. For their fleet and army would make her former husband's bastard a force to reckon with. As well as a good prospect for those grasping families who would look past a bastard's birth and see only his inheritance.

When her uncle told her about the King's offer of squiring Jon Snow, she couldn't help but scoff at the mere idea of it.

"He would make a knight out of a heathen who doesn't follow the true gods? Truly?"

"I think he would want to honor the son of the man he considered a brother, sister." Lysa quipped.

"And what about his own brothers? Renly could be his squire. To offer this to someone who isn't true family is… Is…"

"It could also be a political move, Catelyn." Stannis intervened, his tone making it clear that something was bothering him. "The Starks are the ones with the better fleet for now."

"A fleet they bought from our enemies." she retorted.

"But still an efficient one that could help our own to grow in time." he insisted. "So keeping him close to us is actually a good move politically." Stannis for once sounded impressed by something his brother had done.

"An ineffective one, alas, as the lad refused the offer himself." Her uncle said to her great surprise.

"That's… How can they refuse the King?" Catelyn gasped, shocked.

"The lad takes much after his father according to Robert. He has already the sense of duty at six nameday that Ned had when he was much older." Jon Arryn said fondly.

"Duty. Right." Catelyn sneered. "The last thing Ned Stark has been known for."

"Oh, forgive me, Cat, I didn't mean to upset you." Jon shook his head, sighing.

"I am well. Not upset. Why would I be?"

"I think we will retire for the night." Stannis declared stonily and Catelyn knew that she would soon have a heated discussion with her husband behind closed doors.

She could not help it. Every time she thought of the North, she was reminded of her sweet Robb and the life he had been robbed of. Instead, Eddard's bastard was living the life her son should have. All while openly spitting over offers that should be her family's to receive. Would Cassana be treated the same had she been born a boy? Would her babe, should he be a son and heir then be offered to squire for his uncle? Those were the thoughts that filled her head as they walked to their rooms. Thoughts that were soon pushed away by her husband's words.

"When will it stop?" Stannis suddenly asked when they reached their rooms.

"Stannis, I -"

"It has been years, Catelyn. I understand your hatred toward Ned Stark. He betrayed his vows to you and had a child with another woman."

"And that child is now Warden of the North in all but name. Do you fault me for disliking him too?"

"I thought that having another child and one on the way, that being married to me would… Soften your heart. Yet every time you hear about the North you're bitter and show a side of your personality I greatly dislike."

"I am sorry, Stannis. Truly I am. But I cannot forget the slight the Starks have shown me. I -"

"You would have been married to Brandon Stark if he hadn't ridden to the Red Keep, leaving you alone instead of swearing his vows to you. You would have been the Warden of the North's wife had Eddard Stark not gotten himself killed by rushing to get his sister instead of coming back to you. Would Robb be alive had he come back to you? Would you rather have Robb alive than Cassana and our babe?"

"That's not -"

"Would you have preferred a life watching your son live with his bastard brother? As given what Jon Arryn and others have said of Eddard Stark, he likely would have housed his baseborn child there too. Would you have endured the constant reminder of his betrayal by your side and still played the dutiful wife?"

Catelyn shook her head as her heart tightened in her chest. She could feel her husband's hurt over the idea of not being good enough for her and it pained her greatly.

"I do not regret our marriage, Stannis. Nor do I regret our life together. I'd rather be your wife than Ned Stark's."

"Then why -"

"Because it should have been Robb's! I would still have married you had Robb been alive and well, trust me, I would. But I can't help but feel that my son has been robbed of his life and his birthright, while that woman's illegitimate son deserved nothing he has now."

"You cannot fault a child for what happens to yours, Catelyn. This is not you. This is not the caring wife, loving mother, dutiful daughter, and sister I know and grew to care for." Stannis retorted, making her cry with guilt.

"Yet I am not sure I will ever grow out of my resentment. I can try but…"

"You may very well have to do so one day. Jon Stark is a future Warden, and as I gathered from the last war we fought, has a lot of things to offer to whoever is to be his potential bride."

"You… you're thinking of betrothing Cassana to him?" Catelyn said, dumbfounded.

"I am certain Robert would want to tie Jon Stark to our family."

"Not with my daughter, he won't. I will not agree to it, Stannis. He's a bastard."

"Not anymore."

"Cassana is the future king's cousin! She might… She might be a good prospect for King Joffrey one day! I will not sell my daughter to a bastard of the North when she could…" Catelyn frowned as her husband's chuckle caught her off guard. "Why are you laughing?"

"Is that why you insisted on coming to the Red Keep? To make our children bond with each other? Do you really think Robert, who hates everything related to the Targaryens, would truly wed his son to his cousin? For if you do then you are more delusional than I thought, dear wife."

"It is custom amongst nobles to wed cousin to cousin, or uncle to niece. Tywin Lannister wed his cousin and no one said anything about it." she clapped back, offended.

"If he wanted for it to happen, he would have already made the betrothal."

"So what are you saying? That Cassana is not good enough to be Queen?"

"I'm saying that it is not in Robert's nature to make her queen, no. And you won't manage to do what you want by pushing her toward his son. If anything, you will only annoy him and Cersei."

"What would you have me do, then?"

"Nothing. Cassana is but a child, and if the Gods are good, then her husband will be blessed to have her at his side someday. Joffrey… May look the best outcome for her for now, but I do not want my daughter to become a second Cersei Lannister."

Catelyn did not dare say anything else, knowing how on edge Stannis was at that moment. The lack of acknowledgment from Robert ever since his arrival at court, as well as her previous attitude, didn't play in her favor. While she knew he would not hold her opinion against her, she wouldn't push her luck any further. For that day at least.

Days passed and her annoyance at being at court grew. Neither Robert nor Cersei had deigned to invite them for a meal. Instead, the King spent all of his time with his youngest brother and clearly snubbed her husband by doing so.

"I wonder why he gave him leave to rule in his stead if he is to completely ignore him." she confided in her sister when Lysa finally accepted to break her fast with her.

"Oh, that. Jon is the one who actually suggested for Stannis to come." Lysa answered nonchalantly. "Not that he is too pleased to travel to Lannisport. Since we haven't been to the Eyrie ever since he accepted the role of Hand, but he desperately needed the respite."

"You mean that Robert didn't…" she said annoyed.

"Oh, my sweet sister… Do you not remember how your goodbrother is? Taking decisions is not what he's known for, and definitely not what he does when it is not related to the dragons. However, he did not dispute Jon's choice and wrote to Stannis himself, so you should take heart at that!"

"I suppose I shall…" Catelyn mumbled, slightly offended on her husband's behalf.

"We may need to thank you and your husband for the Queen's good fortune! I heard that Robert was so jealous upon hearing that you were with child that he spent every day with the queen until he was certain he had impregnated her. All so he could bet once more of having a boy while you would get a girl." Lysa gossiped and briefly, Cat remembered how close they could and should still be.

"Why would he bet about this?"

"Why, to rile up Stannis, of course! Anyway, Robert didn't leave her Grace's room for days… Would that old useless husband of mine get the same idea…" Lysa ended bitterly.

"I… I am sorry, sister. Truly I am. I pray to the Mother every day for your womb to quicken -"

"That is very kind of you, sister, but you should pray for my husband instead. I know for a fact that I am not the problem here."

"What do you mean?" Catelyn asked, confused.

"Nothing. Forget it. How are you finding your stay compared to the last time? Have you seen the changes the queen has made to the keep? The Myrish rugs alone have cost a small fortune!"

Catelyn didn't insist and let her sister happily gossip to change the subject. All that she heard about Cersei and Robert made her resent them for their lack of etiquette, and the points made by her husband a few days prior came to her mind. She had been raised to live by her House's words and was lucky to have found a husband from another House who yet embodied them truly. Through all the humiliations, Stannis never shirked his duty and respected his family even though they didn't return the favor. Joffrey was turning to be ignored by his father while being spoiled by his mother who rarely let him out of her sight. This given what Lysa had witnessed so far wasn't doing much good to the boy's interactions with others. Catelyn could help but to compare him with Cassana. Her daughter was polite and amicable though still a bit shy with people she didn't know, and she would not hesitate to play with other children her age.

Still, Catelyn couldn't shake the idea that her daughter was meant for more than what she herself had accomplished as a woman. Cassana was the daughter of a Lord Paramount and a member of the Small Council, Yet Stannis seemed to imply that the only person worthy of her would be Ashara Dayne's bastard son. That would not do, not for Catelyn. Even though by marrying them to each other she would get back what should have belonged to her family.

Her chaotic thoughts began to take a toll on her body and she had to lie down to calm the intense contractions that she was feeling. She was glad to see a glimpse of worry in Lysa's expression and attitude and she hoped that her sister would get over her resentment toward her fate soon enough. There was still love between them, she was certain of it. More than enough, judging by the fact that Lysa would not leave her side until Stannis got there.

"If something happens to me, sister… I would like you to take care of my children," she said, taking Lysa aback by her request.

"What do you mean? Nothing will happen, and they have a father to care for them."

"They will need a maternal figure if I… We both know how hard it is to live without a mother."

"Even should something happen, which will not, Catelyn. Stannis will remarry and they will get the motherly figure you -"

"It would not be the same, Lysa. I trust you. You are family. I want them to bond with you and you to do the same. I want to be sure to leave by their side someone who could be a true mother to them. Someone to remind them of me and of my love for them if I am gone."

"Sister, you… You honor me…"

"Promise me, Lysa. I beg of you. Love them both like you would your own."

"I… I promise." Lysa finally caved, pressing her hand as the two sisters exchanged a smile that warmed Cat's heart.

Their closeness was short-lived, for as soon as Stannis arrived with the Maester, Catelyn was forced back on focusing on her babe's delivery.

It was as difficult, painful, and exhausting as she remembered, and she doubted she would want to go through a birthing another time. The fact that she finally got a healthy boy, an heir for Storm's End that she prayed would grow strong and have a long life, made her happy beyond belief.

"Your brother owes you coin, this time." she chuckled as Stannis shook his head. "You better collect it, husband."

"Oh, believe me, I will." he sneered. "That's enough talking about my brother, now," Stannis said as he looked from her to their son.

"What should we name him, my Lord, my Lady?" Maester Cressen asked, prompting the husband and wife to look at each other and smile brightly.

'They may despise us, hurt our family and belittle us, but two can also play that game. I am Hoster Tully's daughter, I learned by his side. Family, Duty, Honor.' sleep claimed her and it was thoughts of the future that Cat's dreams were filled with.

Braavos 290 AC.

Jon Connington.

The queen was becoming more and more involved in the affairs of Essos, much to her husband's delight. Jon knew that the Sealord's reasons for marrying Queen Rhaella were many and complex. It wasn't just her beauty or name which had attracted the man to her but her fleet and army too. Not that they'd yet put that fleet or army to any work other than that which the queen had decided. Still, the Sealord hoped and expected that at some point it would not be just trade and the selling of their swords that they engaged in. That one day the queen would at the very least placate him somewhat in his true desire for a slave-free Essos.

For Jon, those with him, and the queen herself, Westeros was and would always be the true prize and so while he'd expanded his network in Essos at the queen's behest, his focus remained on events in the West and not the East. He'd been tempted to travel there himself. Sure that he could have hidden or disguised himself enough so that he could have taken a lay of the land from a different perspective. Reports and whispers were all well and good, but sometimes you needed more firsthand information, or so he'd told the queen. Yet it was not to be. He was too important and his place was here by the Queen's side. As was Arthur's and Barristan and the children.

Children, two princes, and a princess who were a delight to be around.

Prince Viserys had grown into a good and true young man. The early signs that he had some of his father's temperament were but fleeting memories now. The queen, Arthur's training, and the young prince's own sheer will to be as true a swordsman as he could all combined to make it so. That desire had shown great promise too and there were few who were a match for Prince Viserys. Even Jon himself fell to him in one of their latest spars.

"Well done my prince," he said, offering up a smile at his defeat.

"You fought for true, Jon?" Viserys asked suspiciously.

"I'd not hold my blade against you, my prince. Not when you bid me not to," he replied honestly.

"I thank you for it."

"Soon not even Ser Arthur or Ser Barristan can teach you more than you know, my prince," he said as they sat and drank their water.

"Yet each day I'll still need to spar and train with them, Jon. Reaching a certain standard means little should you then fail to keep to it." Viserys said, words that could have come straight from Arthur Dayne's mouth, as could the next ones that the prince spoke "My nephew will be in dire need of true swords to shield his back, Jon, and I've promised myself that mine would be among them."

The words had raised a question in his mind. One that he hadn't at first been sure if he should broach or not. Though he was not a Kingsguard or a sworn sword and therefore not required to keep the prince's secrets, a part of him felt he still should. Yet he was the Master of Whisperers to a Queen Regent and one day mayhap to a king, his loyalty lay with them first and foremost. So after some thought, Jon brought up what he believed Prince Viserys planned for his future. Only to find that the Queen was well aware of what her son wished for. Queen Rhaella had already taken steps to see that the prince lived only the future that she wished and planned for him.

As for the other prince. Prince Maekar was a curious child who doted on his mother and sister. He'd started to read long before he should and though he'd been small and slight, he'd grown much in his three years in this world. He was now as tall as the princess, much to Daenerys' annoyance, and his violet eyes devoured each and every sight around him like a starving man devoured food. Though not yet having been given even a toy wooden sword to practice with, Maekar could often be seen trying to copy the stances and movements that Viserys did in the sparring yard and Jon had rarely seen such an apt student.

Daenerys, though, was a true delight. She was her mother's child in almost everything she did. The way she smiled, looked at you, and even how she spoke now that she'd somewhat left a child's way of speaking behind. Though when she spoke with Maekar it would return as at times it did when she spoke of the dreams she had. Dreams that would make Jon shiver and which the queen had insisted were written down and kept for posterity and more.

"More, my queen?"

"You know the tale of Daenys the Dreamer, Jon?"

"A little, my queen."

"Daenys dreamed and so we left our home and made a new one on Dragonstone. Within two and ten years Valyria was no more. Yet she was not the only member of my family to dream and would that someone had taken the time to interpret some of the others." Queen Rhaella said sadly.

So be it the princess herself who now kept her own journal ever since she'd been taught how to read and write. Or be it one of the scribes assigned to her and even the Queen Regent herself. When Daenerys dreamed, which she did often, those dreams were written down and stored away. Over time, little by little, some of them had been proven true while others were yet to be.

"The Walrus roared, mama. He roared loudly and the Kraken feared him and withered away."

"A baby stag plays with a doe while a lion cub roars loudly at a baby lioness."

"A girl who smells of the sea cries each night, only for a wolf to howl loudly and chase her fears away."

"A Bear roars loudest of all and around it, everyone cowers."

"I see three men all beg for the favor of a young girl who laughs at each of them before she and a dragon take to the sky."

"Chains fall away before being melted by a dragon's flames. Ships fight at sea and a Seahorse does as the Walrus and scares the Kraken away. Dragons fly in the snow and in the sun and beneath them, men burn to ash."

Jon would still shiver a little when he thought too much about what the princess would say at times. Though not as much as when some of those things were proved true and he'd then have to speak to the queen about them.

"Lord Manderly won a great victory at sea, my queen. More than seventy ships he and the North destroyed."

"Clearing the path for the Usurper and his army in the process." Queen Rhaella said annoyed.

"Indeed, but we never expected any different here, my queen."

"No, would that this foolish rebellion had taken place but a few years later."

"Would that it had."

The girl who smelt of the sea and cried only for a wolf to chase away her fears had turned out to be Asha Greyjoy who'd been taken to Winterfell as a hostage to her father's good behavior. When Jon had told the queen of that it had annoyed her greatly. He'd then told her that Benjen Stark had only made the offer to stop Tywin Lannister from taking the girl to Casterly Rock and using her in some way in the future. Something which pleased her greatly. As surprisingly so had the news of Stannis Baratheon and Catelyn Tully now having a son to go along with their daughter.

Jon understood it not. His queen hated Robert Baratheon with all she had and rightly so, yet she hated House Baratheon not. He knew that she'd been close with Lady Cassana and Lord Steffon, but for him and others, every member of House Baratheon deserved the same fate no matter who their parents had been. Stannis wouldn't sit idly by when the time came for them to take back the Iron Throne. He'd only done so during the Usurper's Rebellion because he'd been besieged behind his walls. It would be better if he had no children at all. For they too would more than likely need to suffer their father's fate.

Still, things like that were not for him to decide. His task was to gather information and bring it to the queen's attention. So gathering up all his notes, he left his room behind and with his guards, made his way to where the queen, her husband, and the children would break their fasts. He arrived just as Prince Viserys was finishing his meal and Princess Daenerys was speaking of yet another dragon dream.

"Aemon hates ships, Mama." Princess Daenerys said as both her brothers and her mother looked keenly at her.

"He does, sweetling?"

"He does. He'll not step on one again for some time."

"And why does he need to step on one, Sweetling?"

"He is being taken on a trip, Mama. Aemon and the wolves, they're on a trip to the Lion's Den." the princess said to a gasp from her mother and a look to first Arthur and then to him "He'll ride when he leaves. Aemon truly likes to ride, Mama. Just like me." the Princess said happily and Jon saw how her words had calmed the queen's fears a little.

It was then that she caught sight of him and the small nod of his head told her that he both had news to share and that it covered this particular topic. Prince Viserys looked both to him and to Arthur and then kissed his mother's cheek before making his way to the sparring yard alone. Jon then found Prince Maekar's violet eyes staring at him and the look in them was almost enough to send a shiver down his spine. There was an intensity at times in the young prince's eyes, one that Jon couldn't put a name to the reason as to why. Almost as soon as he saw it, it was gone and the young prince was being kissed by his mother as was the princess before both of them were then taken to their lessons.

"The Lion's Den?" the queen asked as soon as the children were no longer in the room.

"The Tourney of Lannisport, my queen. Benjen Stark has taken the king and his cousin to attend."

"For why? Why would he risk my grandson so?"

"To not go would be a larger risk, my queen. Especially after the king turned down the offer from the Usurper."

"As well he should have." the queen replied, her smile a true one as it had been on the day the letter from the king had arrived and told her so.

"Indeed. But they hosted the Usurper at Winterfell and given his attachment to Ned Stark and who he thinks his grace is…"

"To not attend would be considered a slight." the Queen said and Jon nodded.

"It would and the princess has seen him leave if we're to believe the dreams, my queen," he said, relaxing the queen some more.

"What brings you here so early, Jon? 'Tis not like you to join our morning meals."

"A letter my queen, from Lady Ashara," he said, moving to hand the letter to the queen.

He and Arthur both looked on with interest as the queen read the letter. Ashara had left Winterfell and traveled to Highgarden at the queen's behest and had no doubt handed Olenna Tyrell the letter she'd bid her to. From there it had been to Starfall that she and Ser Richard had traveled before they'd parted ways.

"It seems your sister shall soon be gracing us with her presence, Ser Arthur. We're to expect her within the moon." the Queen said happily.

"I look forward to seeing her again, your grace."

"As do I, Ser Arthur, as do I." the queen replied.

Jon too could be added to that list for there was only so much that words on a piece of parchment could convey. To speak to someone who not only spent the past six years by the king's and his kin's side as well as had dealings with the Usurper. Hearing the words spoken by a woman they would have great need of in the years to come, was a great boon to their cause. Yet for Jon to actually speak and hear about the king from the woman who probably knew him best, was priceless.

King's Landing/Robert's Hammer 289/290 AC.

Cersei Lannister.

His drunken breath had made her want to wretch. The weight of him on top of her had been unbearable and she truly hated Catelyn Baratheon for putting the damn idea into his head. Robert had been amorous when he returned from the battle, as he often was upon returning from a hunt, yet it had been easy for her to manage. Drunk, seeking only his own pleasure, she'd been able to finish him with her hand and not let him spend inside of her. Then he'd have simply gone and forgotten about her until the next time he wished to celebrate some minor achievement or other.

Not this time though. This time Catelyn Baratheon had arrived with a swollen belly and Robert's disdain for his brother had led him to refuse to be outshined. If his brother's wife was with child, then she needed to be with child too. So rather than once every couple of moons or more, it had been too many times to count, and yet in each of them, he'd been as drunk as ever. Not once did he spend inside of her, that honor reserved for the man she loved. The man she'd missed and worried about while giving her husband not even a second thought.

"Oh Gods, Jaime, fill me, fill me, put a babe in me."

Unlike her husband, she coupled with Jaime willingly and enthusiastically. From the first night that he'd returned to almost once a day every day since. Cersei supposed in one way Catelyn Baratheon being with child had aided her in that regard. For there was only so much moon tea a person could consume and doing so after laying with her brother was not something she welcomed. She actually wished for her womb to quicken with Jaime's child. Prayed for another perfect babe like the ones the gods had gifted her in Joffrey and she rejoiced when her moon blood didn't come.

"Truly she's with child?" Robert said proudly as she looked on and tried not to smirk at the horns she and her brother were giving him.

"Indeed, your grace. Congratulations."

"Did you hear that Jon? I'm to be a father once more." Robert laughed.

"'Tis great news, your grace."

Her own great news was shared with the true father of her babe as they lay together a day later. Robert had gone in search of his brother for once and it had allowed her and Jaime to grab some much-needed time alone.

"I'm with child," she said happily.

"And the king?" Jaime asked.

"The fool believes it to be his as if I'd ever…."

He'd silenced her with a kiss. Then he had taken her there and then. Even now weeks later, Cersei still smiled at just how excited the news had made him. As for Robert, well Robert did as Robert did. He drank, declared it loudly to anyone who even looked his way, and then made a damn wager of all things.

"Well, what say you, Stannis?"

"To what, your grace?"

"The damn wager, of course."

"Wager?"

"Oh by the gods. I say that it'll be yet another son that the gods grant me while you'll be left to do with another girl." Robert laughed.

"And what's wrong with a girl, pray tell," Stannis asked angrily.

"Nothing, nothing at all," Robert said, rolling his eyes.

"I'll take no part in this," Stannis said, rising to his feet.

"I knew it, I fucking knew it. Told you he was craven, did I not." Robert said loudly to the Blackfish who stood there stoically."

"You're damn lucky you wear a crown, your grace." Stannis said through ground teeth and Robert fool that he was, didn't even see just how angered his words had made him "Very well, I'll take your damn fool of a wager."

"Hah, see that's better. Ten Golden Dragons that I'll be welcoming another Prince of the Realm while Storm's End and my brother will have to wait even longer for their heir, Har." Robert laughed loudly at his jape while Stannis stormed from the room.

In truth, Cersei cared not for the workings of the two brothers. She much disliked the dour Stannis and couldn't stand his uppity fishwife. That it meant they spent more time in the company of Robert's other brother was the only downside as far as she was concerned, for she liked Renly not either. Though it did amuse her that she believed him to be a pillow biter and she wondered how Robert would react to that if it turned out to be true.

"You'll be competing in the joust then?" Robert asked as they ate their meal.

"I will, brother. I've long wished to test my lance."

"Not the melee?" Robert asked.

"It's not my forte. I can wield a sword well, but not good enough to challenge any of those who'd compete."

"And you think you will ahorse?"

"Some yes."

"Ah, good lad, you'll do us proud no doubt."

The dynamics of that family were odd, to say the least. Robert had two brothers and yet mourned a man who was not and thought of him as more than either of them. Her husband cared more for Eddard Stark and his bastard son than he did for his own blood. He'd even traveled to Winterfell rather than sail back to King's Landing, denying her Jaime's presence in her bed for far longer than he should. That he'd then asked for and been denied leave to take the bastard as his heir had left him wroth. Though even in his anger he had been proud of the young boy too.

Still, it could not be done and Cersei was relieved that the boy had turned her husband down. Yet angered a little by it as well. It was not to be the only thing that angered her before they finally set sail for Lannisport. Her sojourn in the gardens had been despoiled by the sight and then sound of the girl who was ostensibly her Goodniece, though she refused to think of her that way, coming to her and greeting her when she spotted her.

"Your grace." Cassana Baratheon said with a picture-perfect curtsy.

"Cassana, look how much you've grown, my dear girl," she replied, too many eyes and ears looking her way to allow her to say what she really felt.

"Thank you, your grace." the girl smiled and Cersei seethed as she looked at her.

Cassana was tall for her age. Her long black hair was as dark as a raven's feathers and perfectly straight. She had a round face and her bright blue eyes almost sparkled when they looked at you. One day she'd be a most striking young woman and as Cersei looked at her, her grimace came unbidden.

Younger and more beautiful.

Somehow she managed to say her goodbyes pleasantly, and the sound of the young girl swooning over her when she left, should have brought her some joy, yet did not. Mayhap she was the reason why even long after Robert had felt they should eat with his brother and his family, Cersei had refused to do so. Or mayhap it was her mother's company that Cersei wished for not. Whatever the true reason was, it mattered not. They dined alone or with Renly and never with Stannis, his wife, and his daughter. They barely spoke to them in all the time they stayed under the same roof and would not have done so were it not for protocol demanding it of them when they left King's Landing. Even then, they did so but briefly.

It took them almost three full weeks to reach the West and she hated every moment of it. Had it not been for her foresight in bringing more than one servant with her, then she'd have had to lay with her husband more than once on the journey. She'd had to suffer the company of Lysa Arryn every night and as comfortable as the ship was, it was confining too. She and Jaime had stolen only the odd kiss here and there as it was too risky to do more. Although Cersei would be a liar if she said the risk of being caught did not excite her and help bring her to climax when she fantasized about it as she used her fingers on herself. But it was one thing for it to be a fantasy and another to ever allow the chance of it to come true. Best it was left in her dreams so it didn't become a nightmare.

Today though, she woke up happy and refreshed. She washed, broke her fast, and stood on the deck of the ship as they sailed the Sunset Sea, and then she saw Casterly Rock once more.

"Home," she said softly, her voice lost in the wind as they passed the Rock and sailed on to Lannisport.

Winterfell 290 AC.

Benjen Stark.

His son was a gift from the very gods themselves. He was his mother's child, her eyes, her expression, and even her mannerisms, even though he was but a couple of moons old. Benjen had found that just holding Ben in his arms was a pleasure in of itself. However, it was a pleasure that was soon to come to an end thanks to the Stag who sat on the Iron Throne. He had no wish to go to a damn tourney of all things, not when there was so much to do in the North. Even if he was putting off some of that just so he could allow his wife some rest and spend his time looking into his son's eyes.

Seeing Ben's smile and hearing him laugh took some of his annoyance away and then he heard the door open behind him.

"Ah, there he is. The Regent of the North, hiding away from his duties once again." Barbrey said, her tone showing the good humor she was feeling.

"Were I to hide, I'd have picked a better place to do so, wife," he replied, as he turned around.

This birthing had been much easier on his wife than Brandon's or Beth's. Something they were both relieved about as it was the first one that Ashara wasn't present for. Benjen knew full well just how much his wife missed having Ashara around to help. Be it with the children, running the keep, or simply for an ear to listen to whatever complaints or worries she'd not share with him. They'd received a letter from her telling them she'd arrived in Starfall safely and that Ser Symon was soon to return to them. Though it would not be in time for the accursed tourney.

"Give him here, I can see that scowl on your face and I'd rather he not learn it too soon. Bad enough that Brandon and Beth use it." Barbrey said, japing still.

Benjen moved to his wife and handed him their son. Amazed as he always was by just how gently she took him in her arms and by the contented sound that came from Ben's lips as she did so. Watching them both as his wife moved to the bed to take a seat, he almost decided to have the same argument they'd been having since the raven had come. In the end, he thought better of it. His wife was a stubborn and spirited woman and he loved that about her, truly. Yet at times he'd not lie and say he wished she was a little more compliant.

"You must go, Benjen, you know this" Barbrey said, and were he not used to her knowing what was on his mind by now, then he'd wonder how she knew that was what he was thinking.

"Aye, I know. I don't have to like it though, do I?"

"You'll get to meet the Tyrell lad," Barbrey said and Benjen shook his head.

The raven had come from Highgarden once more and this time they truly couldn't turn it down. Their dealings with the Reach were beneficial to the North and he'd not risk them by refusing a request for fostering, much though he may wish to. Benjen liked it not and felt there was far more than a simple "strengthening of their mutually beneficial relationship" as Lady Olenna had put it. The Queen of Thorns, like most of those in the South, used far too many words that mean not what they seemed.

"I like it not," he said after he'd been silent for too long.

"We knew they'd ask again, Benjen. It was only a matter of time." Barbrey sighed as she gently rocked Ben in her arms, their son gurgling happily as she did so.

"Not just the fostering, the tourney."

"The Old Lion would take it as a personal snub, Benjen. You said he already has reason to dislike you, don't give him another."

"Me going will be reason enough for that, Barb." he sighed.

"They boys wish to, Benjen. They're both so excited by it and while I like it not either, it would do Jon good to see the South."

He almost glared at his wife for saying so. They'd had this particular argument with each other and with Ashara more than once. Jon himself had made it clear that at some point he'd be traveling to Dorne and there was nothing truly that anyone could do to stop him from doing so. At best they could only delay it. Yet traveling to the Lion's Den was different and Benjen worried about having his nephew too close to the man who'd ordered the deaths of his brother and sister.

"Aye, I know," he said reluctantly.

Moving to his wife, he placed a kiss on her lips and another on Ben's forehead before walking from their bed chamber. Though he meant to go to his solar or even to walk and carry out some of the other duties he'd put off, it was one of the walkways that he ended up at. The boys were sparring below, Jon showing just how fast he truly was and Brandon doing his best to keep up with his cousin. Beth was both annoying and very much not, Asha Greyjoy. The two of them were looking at the archery target and only one of them had the strength to fire the arrow at it. Something that Beth wasn't best pleased about.

Benjen stood and watched for far longer than he had intended to. Though since he'd not truly intended to come here, mayhap that wasn't quite true. Brandon took more lessons with Ser Rodrik than with Syrio now. His son was growing and would probably be stockier than his cousin when they were no longer boys. Speed was not going to be his main asset when it came to wielding a sword, unlike with Jon, so the Water Dancing that Syrio taught was not as beneficial as the Northern style that Rodrik did. Jon too took lessons with Rodrik, though only so he and his cousin could spend more time together.

"By the gods he's fast." Maester Luwin said as he handed him the raven's scrolls.

"Aye. He can have no better teacher than Syrio because of it," he said to a nod of the Maester's head.

Breaking open the seal that named the sender as Lord Wendel, Benjen read the contents of the raven's scroll. The ship would await them at Sea Dragon Point and some of the fleet stood ready to escort them to Lannisport. He broke open the next seal to find that the Greatjon and his son had left Last Hearth and would meet them on the road. The last was from Jorah on Bear Island saying he'd be sailing to Sea Dragon Point within the week. Handing them back to the Maester, who read them all quickly, he then waited for the question which never came. Benjen instead being the one to speak the words.

"We'll leave in three days, Maester. Once my Goodfather and Goodbrother arrive," he said and Luwin nodded before leaving him alone.

For the next day or more, Benjen fitted in as much work as he could. At their meals each night, he would look at Jon and Brandon and find them speaking to each other in hushed whispers. Their eagerness for the adventure to come knew no bounds and yet when he looked at his daughter, he could see her own lack of enthusiasm clearly. Beth understood not why she had to stay at home while her brother and cousin got to travel on an adventure. Not even his words that said that had she been older, had been enough to stop her from feeling the unjustness of it all.

She'd gained somewhat of a friend in Asha Greyjoy. The older girl liked having a younger one to follow after her. Yet he feared them becoming too close and only allowed it because Barbrey willed it so. It put the thought in his mind and though they'd planned it for much later, once he went to his bed that night and once Ben was sleeping soundly, he and his wife spoke more about their plans for fostering.

"With the Tyrell more than likely coming back with us, or soon after, mayhap we should move up the other fosterings too?" he said as they lay in their bed.

"I'd hoped for another year or more, but aye, you're in the right of it."

"Beth needs some girls her age too, or near enough to it that it makes no never mind," he said and Barbrey nodded.

"She and Asha get along."

"Aye, but what if I'm forced…"

Barbrey shook her head and so he didn't finish the words. In truth, he doubted he could take Asha's head even if her father was fool enough to rebel again. Yet the potential for it was there all the same and should it come to pass, he wished for the reason why he would or would not was to be his and his alone.

"She's a decent sort for an Iron Born and she may in the future be a good ally to have."

"That's Ashara talking, not my wife."

"No, husband, that's just the truth of things," Barbrey said.

Not wishing to argue this point, he looked at his wife and when he saw that twinkle in her eye, Benjen knew their time for talking was now at an end.

Two days later.

He hated this, saying goodbye, leaving to do something he had no wish to do. The North was not made for tourneys and just the thoughts of one were enough to make him long to stay behind. Looking at his wife, son, and daughter, he had other reasons he wished he was not leaving too. Beth hugged him and was so very brave that it was he who couldn't let her go. Both Jon and Brandon had promised to bring her many presents, so he now added that he would do so too.

Moving to his wife, he kissed her as deeply as he could, before taking Ben from her and holding him gently in his arms. He listened as Barbrey told Jon and Brandon to behave as true sons of the North and that she'd miss them both so very much while they were gone. Soon enough they were all mounted and then riding out through the gate, Benjen and Jon being the two who looked behind them while Brandon for some reason found eyes only for the road ahead.

"Are you excited, Jon?" he asked, hoping that some of his nephew's excitement might rub off on him.

"Aye, uncle."

Unfortunately, Jon's excitement was not only not contagious, but it was a fleeting and passing thing. Not long after they had set sail, his nephew came down with terrible sickness of the sea and Benjen found much to his shock that Jon had brought along something he really should not have. Were it not for the fact that without Egg in his bed, Jon grew even more violently ill, Benjen may have been tempted to throw the damn thing overboard. As it was, he only hoped his warnings and Jon's own cleverness were enough so that only he and Jon would know what it was he carried with him in his dark wooden chest.

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up Next: As everyone arrives in Lannisport and the tourney takes place, the Queen of Thorns makes a surprising move. In King's Landing, Stannis' rule and Cat's time with her new son is interrupted by a lady, a babe, and a story. While In Essos, Rhaella meets with a Magister from Essos who has a proposal for her and her daughter.

For those following my other fics, My Honor Goes Only so High is up next.

Missed Reviews.

Thirdcabinboy: Howland's vision didn't stop him from stabbing Arthur, it only showed him a path to things once Ned had fallen. Here, Howland was too slow, he couldn't save Ned and afterward, he couldn't stab Arthur nor would he have tried to.

Myafroatemydog: Thanks so much for saying so. Jon has an egg yes. He was sleeping with it in his bed constantly.

Robbler: There is mention of a cousin yes, however, the way inheritance laws work would be that Barbrey wouldn't inherit if there was another strong claimant. Now while Ned may have felt guilty about William's death, he's still a stickler for law and honor, which would suggest there was no other claimant or no one came forward to claim the lands. Ned then allowed Barbrey to keep them as is his right as Lord of WF. But again I find it hard to accept that given all we're told about Ned, he'd have done so if there was another claimant with a decent claim and any blood relative has a stronger claim than Barbrey.

So with that in mind, here it would be somewhat the same situation. It falls to Benjen to decide and while yes it does strengthen the Ryswells considerably, unlike canon, they are tied to House Stark by bonds of marriage and so it's Benjen's Goodbrother who rules Barrowtown and becomes one of his staunchest allies rather than someone else.

Teta: Thanks so much, it was a hard choice, but it allows the story to go in a certain direction.

Aerys Blackfyre: If Jon looks south early, then Marge is the best choice given that through her you get the Tyrell coin and the Reach's armies. Who else works better than her as a match?

Knighthunter: We weren't even truly trying to garner sympathy for Cat and yet the situation does make you feel for her.

Yes, the Dragon Egg is very important to Jon's growth, and that's not even counting the fact it's a dragon inside. Benjen will somewhat replace Ned, but with a different wife and personality, which changes things dramatically. It's more shocked by the Western lords, they're not sure how to take this stronger north. It'll be a recurring theme.

Chapter 8 Reviews.

The Sphynx: Thanks for the poem, my friend.

Ravensflock: There is an old saying that everyone is the hero of their own story and another that history is written by the winners. This story is been shown almost completely through the eyes of Targaryen Loyalists, so their view on things will always accentuate the positives of House Targaryen and blame most things on others. As would a story coming from those most loyal to Robert Baratheon. To get grey you need it coming from an unbiased source and there are few of them in ASOIAF, as Tywin believes he's the hero of his own story and nothing he does is wrong while his enemies believe him to be the devil incarnate.

The Rebellion and the fall of the Targs may be grey, black or white, but it matters not as showing the aftermath through the eyes of them and their supporters would always paint them in the best possible light. As for the North being the only victims, that's debatable at best. True they were victims, but so were a lot of others too. Anyway, since this story is been shown through the lens of more pro Targ characters than anti targ characters, they will obviously see themselves as being in the right more often than not.

Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.

Syrius: Jon is being heavily influenced by his dragon egg in terms of maturity etc, so while he's young, he's in some ways not. Being in the crypt and being in contact with his grandmother helped him stand up to Robert too. So glad you liked the Greyjoy rebellion part.

Tsrought: You should drop all my stories, as every single post of yours contains not only the same complaints but the same lack of understanding of the premise or even the things you're reading. Woe betides a 6-year-old boy having emotions, no, he should be stoic and robotic instead. Not to mention well done to you for being able to ascertain my plans for Ashara based on some psychic sense of yours and without you know, resorting to logic.

As for canon paste dialogue, put a character in the same situation as canon and they more than likely will say or do things they did in canon. In canon Robert's first visit to the crypts was with Ned in 298, having him in this fic do so in 289, makes sense that the same things would come up on his part. In regards to how the Starks reacted to what Robert is doing, maybe you need to familiarise yourself with how a kingdom and a total monarchy work. They can complain all they want, even had they walked into the room and actually caught Robert in the act, there is little they can do about it.

Once again you show an astounding lack of knowledge about the lore of a story you complain about, something which shouldn't, but still manages to surprise me. Anyway, you know where the door is and you have seemingly predicted where I'm going with Ashara's character, NOT! So there is little left for you here but to stand up and walk out of said door and find a story more suited to your tastes.

Irish Hermit: Yeah I was looking for a way that would make Robert that much more, Robert so to speak. I think that's how he'd be, at the end of the day his lust overrules everything else. I do too with Benjen, he really never got his due and there is more to his story that we don't know in canon. The Key is if he knows about Jon and why he joined the NW. Originally here I was going to have it be Brandon, but Benjen just works better as he's more composed. Tywin has sort of been knocked out of his stride a little, but what's that old saying he who controls the purse strings. Benjen's actions have brought him Tywin's gaze, so we'll see if that makes any difference to things.

I agree about Mace. Well, Randyll will get some moments to shine here. As you see with Ashara, she sort of changed the message a little.

Celexys: Thanks so much for saying so, my friend.

Dunk: Even if it wasn't Balon, one of his brothers or both should have suffered more. Euron was the planner of the attack on Lannisport and Victarion led the attack and neither suffer any sentence at all, it makes no sense unless you have plans for both later on, aka a Georgism. I think when you look at certain plot points he did, in retrospect, they don't work based on character traits or re-established actions. I always use the Greyjoy Rebellion as one of those things, as it really can only be done so that later Balon can rebel again and attack the North, and Euron can well be Euron. Even Victarion is needed in Essos. But Edmure being unwed is another, given Hoster's nature and the fact he forces two weddings on Jon A and Ned and falls out with the Blackfish over his own refusal to wed. Oberyn is sort of another too, as while I can buy that Doran holds Dorne out of things, I still find it hard to accept that once the WOTFK is started, Oberyn wouldn't play a part in it. I mean you have Robb taking Jaime prisoner, and the Mountain running all over the RL, yet Oberyn isn't mentioned until a couple of books later.

Yeah with the Mountain I thought it best to save him for later and given those fighting it made some sense I think. If Jon had been a little older he probably would, if he knew about Ashara, he certainly would. But yes this is a turning point. We'll see Tarly be further reached out to, forgive the pun. As for Olenna, she was given just enough, without being told it all, and Ashara not trusting her completely as of yet. I do have plans for each of the Targs to play a significant if slightly different role here. Viserys, Dany, and Maekar all have their own mini-story arcs, while Rhaella has a huge role to play.

Orthankg: Thanks so much.

Jon 'fatjon' Umber: Thanks for saying so, Ned dying was a hard choice to make but a necessary one as it easily allows things to develop a certain way. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.

Lady Octarina: Jon is unaware of what happened between Ashara and Robert, so he thought she was crying based on the words said at the feast. The funny thing with Bobby B is that he wouldn't even see what he did as wrong, so full of himself, is he. I was also going for some of what Cersei said about him in her povs, where he basically forced himself on her and was quite rough, yet would then deny or forget about it the next day. When it comes to his lusts seemed to just give in to them and not even consider that he may hurt the person he was with because of his size and strength or that they would for any reason not want to sleep with him.

Nah we got one more B name lol. So glad you like Barb/Ash, we wanted them to have this growing friendship and as you see, Ash is missed. So we may get a FB from someone to WF or a reference to it in a mini FB, or maybe just a mention of it, but that's really all. I hope you liked the little glimpse of Asha here. Theon we'll see in a little while.

Fanfuckingtastic: At this point, they're simply trolling as they leave the same type of comment on each of my fics. Criticism I welcome, it is helpful and I know I can make mistakes and may not hit all the points I want, trolling is just dumb.

Naruto: As am I, and we were denied the true Jon at the end of the show.

Xan Merrick: Thanks, my friend.

Onedoctohearthemall: It was hard to kill them both off but necessary and I hope the other Starks make up for their loss.

Evilhound:

1. Yes he did, but he's also the king and well, the laws don't apply to him.

2. Jon is six years old and has literally just found out who he truly is, what's expected of him, and that the future he sought is not the future that everyone else seeks for him. Give the guy a chance to grow up and to process it at least.

3. My god, are you serious? You think we're bullying her because we've shown the travails she'd face given who she is, who she supported, and who her brother is and what he's done? Do you not understand human nature at all? Ashara would face pushback from the Northern Lords, of course, she would and the entire point of her story so far is to show her not just dealing with and rising above that pushback but those attitudes being changed over time. As for this with Robert, it was far more about him than her.

But feel free to think we're bullying her because it amuses us or for some other reason and that it's not, you know, a plot point that works logically.

Creativo: No, no lo hace. Robert es como un niño mimado, quiere lo que quiere y no le importa cómo lo consigue. Si Jon se entera, definitivamente lo querrá muerto. Ash también ha dejado de ser un poco mártir.

Knighthunter: In a way it is yes, the size and number of people in WF should make it almost impossible, yet Robert being king sort of makes people move out of his way. Ash left the feast early also allowed her to be more vulnerable. Jon would feel very guilty if he found out what Robert truly did, but it would drive him to want him dead, still, he may or may not find out the truth of it. We'll be seeing Margaery over the next few chapters, and Loras too.