Small age and time changes, make the story more enjoyable. Instead of starting at 297 AC, we will start at 298 AC to better fix the ages and while some will follow the OG birth dates in the books, others will be aged just a tad more like in the show.
Most events of GOT take place within a year but for the sake of also ageing up some characters, I will most likely spread the story throughout 3 years to make it more realistic and give it better character development.
Note, I will follow mostly book details and add parts of the show. There will be times I will go off the OG script to fit my story better and after one point, the story will be mostly AU for a better ending.
Here are the ages at which the characters start after the time skip. It all started 15 years after Robert ascended to the throne:
Lannisters:
Trystan - 17 years old | Jaime & Cersei - 33 years old | Tyrion - 26 years old
Joffrey - 15 years old | Myrcella - 13 years old | Tommen - 12 years old
Starks:
Robb & Jon - 16 years old | Sansa – 13 years old | Arya - 11 years old
Brandon - 10 years old | Rickon - 6 years old
Targaryens:
Visenya - 48 years old | Viserys - 21 years old | Daenerys - 15 years old
It has been 16 years since the Targaryen line stopped sitting on the Iron Throne, as now the usurper Robert Baratheon had taken such honours. Throughout his reign, a lot of things took place some for better and some for worse.
One of the most earth-shocking events took place in 289 AC when the Greyjoys of the Iron Islands rebelled against the crown. They went as far as to attack Lannisport, burning a large amount of the fleet and making a forever enemy from the Lion and Dragoness that ruled from Casterly Rock.
In the end, the rebels were crushed by a combination of forces; Stannis Baratheon and his fleet from the sea, and Robert and Ned's forces from the land. That attack had left a mark on the Lannister history but the cunning Visenya used it as a stepping stone to upgrade their fleet and multiply it in numbers.
If she had her connections with the Alchemist Guilt, she knew she would have found a way to add wildfire as weapon on them but after Robert ascended the throne; the Dragoness had spent her resources and her spy network elsewhere...for now.
The latest Heir of Casterly Rock, Trystan Lannister, was quickly growing and becoming a man of both high intellect but also cunningness. When he became of the proper age, Tywin brought to Visenya the idea of sending their son to become a squire of Jaime in King's Landing; giving chance for the boy to ride his way through knighthood and start to get a real glimpse of how the Kingdom was rulled.
Of course, the Dragoness refused at first for she did not want to let her only son close to the man who killed her nephew; in fear, Robert would try to take revenge on her through Trystan. However, after much discussion, small arguments and two days of them not talking to one another; she realised her husband was right.
And so, the young heir was sent to be the squire of his older half-brother but always keeping in mind everything his parents had taught him. Thankfully for him, Jaime adored him and made sure to keep him close; teaching him everything he knew himself.
Cersei did not truly have the same fondness of her younger brother but she was pleased to have more of her family around. The boy was young and she could easily get her hands around him, keeping him in her nets or so she thought...for the young Lioness often forgot the Dragon heritage inside him and the genes of his parents that were slowly forming under the false image of an obedient and innocent boy.
Young Trystan kept contact with his parents often, who did not truly step into King's Landing out of their pettiness against Robert. Tywin had only shown up when Cersei gave birth three different times while Visenya had remained in Casterly Rock to handle everything.
Over the years, Trystan grew to be a handsome lad with an innate talent for handling a sword and even a bow. He remained close to his siblings, especially Jaime while also could be seen hanging out with Tyrion whenever he would visit. By his 16th name day, he was given the title of the knight by Ser Barristan after bravely helping defend his sister and Queen during a short travelling trip; where bandits thought they could get gold and were unaware of who truly was riding that carriage.
Now at the age of 16, his biggest adventure was about to begin.
298 AC – Casterly Rock, WesterLands – Seat of Power: Robert I Baratheon
Tywin was sitting on the chair behind his desk, elbows placed on the desk and his face leaning faintly against his interlocked hands. He had a slightly distant look in his green eyes, something that was common when he had the comfort of being alone with his thoughts.
Across from him sat Visenya, a letter held in one hand and a goblet of wine in the other.
Over time, both had changed due to age but remained strong and formidable. Visenya, being younger than her husband and having Valyrian Genes did not truly look her age while years of practising her sword and bow skills had kept her body in good shape.
Yet, those two remained to be the most powerful couple in Westeros; the blood trail behind them was still fresh in the minds of many. They made their presence known when they had to and kept doing everything under the noses of many. If things ever needed to be brought up, it was Tywin, who showed his face while she was moving the paws from his shadow.
"Well, that is interesting" Visenya commented, taking a sip of her wine.
In her hands, she held a report letter from one of her spies in King's Landing; a young boy working for Maester Pycelle as his latest student. On the desk separating the couple, another letter was laying there; informing them of the death of Jon Arryn, the latest Hand of the King.
"What does that boy tell you?" Tywin finally asked, green eyes moving to the graceful form of his wife.
She placed the letter on the desk. "Based on the symptoms he described, it does sound like Tears of Lys to me" she informed. "I am surprised Pycelle did not administrate any antidote, since he should be aware of the symptoms"
In the last 14 years, Visenya had obtained a new hobby, one she paid quite well to eventually master; poisons. She obtained books and hired Maesters to inform her of all kinds of plants and animals that could produce poisons, along with their side effects and uses.
Tywin never questioned truly why she had chosen such a peculiar hobby, although, at the back of his mind, he did have his suspicions. Yet, he did not stop her for poisons were always useful in the game they were part of.
At her words, he arched an eyebrow. "You think he let Arryn die on purpose?" he asked, quickly coming up with an answer himself. "Looks like the Hawk found something after all. Whatever he did, someone was threatened and they took matters into their own hands" he continued, leaning back on his chair.
Visenya, though, did not seem to fully agree. "No, this is too convenient. Perhaps what you said played a role but I doubt that was the only reason. There was another, perhaps another player" she said, mostly voicing out her thoughts as she swirled the red wine in her goblet. "Liking it or not, Jon Arryn was a descent Hand. With his gone and until a new one takes its place, chaos will start and many can benefit from it"
Silence existed between them, amber eyes locked with green ones in a silent conversation. Both thought carefully of what Visenya speculated, both seemed to agree that this was the most fitting explanation.
"Well then, I guess we better be ready for yet another inner turmoil; not that it was not going to happen with that fat stag ruling the kingdoms"
Robert was unfit to be King, being as bad as Aerys himself was in some aspects. He was a warrior and he could not handle peace, so he found ways to keep himself busy with parties, hunting and whores.
He dried up the Royal Coffers, resulting in the Crown having to borrow money from other big families; the Lannisters included. Of course, the Lions did not mind for that simply gave them an advantage and more inside control over the royal matters.
Visenya picked up the other piece of parchment, re-reading it once again. It was a letter from their son, Trystan. "Do you suspect Robert is heading to Winterfell to make Eddard Stark his hand?" she asked, pulling the paper down just enough to look at her husband.
"Jon Arryn was married to Lysa Tully, the sister of Eddard's Wife. However, I doubt he would drag the whole royal family if he did not have more in mind. As a fool, as he may be for a man, he is not blind enough to miss certain opportunities"
She placed the letter back on the desk. "Then I guess we wait and see what will come of it. It has been too long since Northerners had mingled with the South"
"If it were up to me, it should have remained for longer. Too much trouble might rise and the North is a wildcard that you do not handle carelessly"
She could not help but smirk. "So are we and for their misfortune, we have been in this game longer" she said with pride and drank her wine, watching as the twinkle of amusement became visible in his green eyes.
It was time such as those, that Tywin took pride in the woman he had by his side. It was such words that reminded him how much of a Lion she had become but also how dangerous she could truly be.
299 AC – Winterfell, The North – Seat of Power: Robert I Baratheon
The road to Winterfell had been dug and maintained over the years, allowing any traveller to easily stay on it without getting lost. It was fortunately enough for the Royal Family, whose extravagant choices did earn them questionable looks.
Most specifically, it was due to the huge windowless, double-decked carriage of oiled oak and gilded metal that was pulled by forty heavy draft horses. Such luxurious wheelhouse was occupied currently by the Queen Consort, Cersei Lannister and her two younger children.
Her eldest, Joffrey was riding a horse alongside his father and three uncles, who were slightly ahead of the carriage. The young prince was often commenting on the coldness of the land around them, forcing them all to have at least a cloak of fur around their bodies as they travelled.
Of the three Lannister sons, two seemed to be in the mood to talk; one being a bad influence to each other's company.
"You think his tongue will freeze if he keeps talking?" Trystan questioned, his voice a low whisper as he brought his white horse next to Jaime's.
The 17-year-old boy had grown to become a handsome young man and an eye-catcher for many ladies. He was as tall as his older half-brother Jaime, although with slightly less muscle than him.
His hair had a more sandy hue but the rays of the sun could give them a more golden-like option. They were cut short, the thin strands being kept in a tidy mess with the front not passing 1/3 of his forehead.
His eyes were the same emerald green every Lannister had, although he had specks of gold like his father. He had a prominent jawline and the basic outline of cheekbones, both characteristics of his mother; giving him a slightly more exotic and less Westerosi look.
"Well, if you do persuade him to keep his tongue out; we can find out" Jaime replied, sharing the joke.
Trystan could be the perfect son, the noble young knight with his manners and charming looks. However, when he was in the presence of his older brothers, he could get carried away; as long as his parents were not present of course.
Over the few years he had spent in King's Landing, the two knights had become rather close. Jaime saw Trystan as the perfect little brother whom he could teach swords, horses and women since the first two were never something Tyrion showed any interest in while growing up.
Their smiles disappeared as Joffrey glanced their way, arching a golden eyebrow in curiosity of their good mood. He was freezing and in a bad mood, so what did they find so funny to enjoy? And why did they not share it with him?
Focusing forward, Jamie and Trystan led the group, in total having men of 300. At the far end of their vision, the first signs of Winterfell could be spotted, earning their attention.
Winterfell was a huge castle complex spanning several acres, defended by two massive walls of grey granite with a wide moat between them; the outer wall was said to be eighty feet high, while the inner was one hundred feet high. There were guard turrets on the outer wall and more than thirty watch turrets on the crenulated inner walls. The great main gates had a gatehouse made of two huge crenulated bulwarks which flanked the arched gate and a drawbridge that opened into the market square of the winter town.
It was an ominous building, as dark as the sky above it and was said to be a tough castle to take over. Combined with the rough climate, only those born in the North ever truly felt at home there.
"Are all castles in the North that gloomy?" Tyrion asked, moving his shorter horse close to his brothers as they all took a good look at it.
"Missing King's Landing already, brother?" Jaime asked, intending to make a joke.
"I do miss the whores of it, if that is what you mean" the dwarf commented, predicting his usual joke.
Surprisingly, Trystan did not join them. "According to legend, Winterfell was built by Brandon the Builder, who was aided by giants after the Long Night ended eight thousand years ago." He pointed out, his brilliant mind recovering important pieces of information he had learnt over the years. "Yet it has been managed to be burned by Kings Royce II and Royce IV Bolton of the Dreadfort before the coming of the Andals"
Jaime rolled his eyes. "Do you always have to become like the Maesters that taught us when you bring up a boring history fact?"
"I disagree, brother. History can teach us a lot and since we are to reside at Winterfell, what better than to know the story behind it?" Tyrion argued, glancing at his younger brother. "Don't you agree Trystan?"
"All I am saying is, it might be gloomy but it has been a primary stronghold point during many wars. Being as ancient as it is, you never know what secrets it might hide and how useful they can be if they fall into the wrong hands" the boy said, looking forward at the castle that was still at least 2 hours distance due to their low moving speed.
The brothers exchanged a look, a shiver going down their spines. It was not uncommon that sometimes, the jokester and innocent little brother of theirs became terrifyingly serious, talking about secrets and weak battle points as if in his mind; he was already preparing a battle to take over someone.
According to Tyrion, it was during those times he saw more of his father in him and that made him uneasy. He could not imagine young Trystan growing up to become a second Tywin, especially if he obtained his 'morals' when it came to what was right and what was wrong.
298 AC - Manse of Illyrio Mopatis, Pentos – Seat of Power: Robert I Baratheon
The teenage Daenerys was leaning on the balcony rail, enjoying the view of the gardens of their latest temporary home. She had been informed of the plan to be married to a Dothraki Khal and she was deep in thought.
For more than a year, she and her brother have been living with their latest Patron; Master Illyrio. Throughout her life, for almost as long as she can remember they had been on the run by Robert's assassin but each time; there was always someone willing to offer them housing and food.
All of them claimed to be supporters of the Targaryens and each one of them repeated the same sentence when Viserys made promises to pay them back when he took the crown.
"A Dragon Never Forgets"
Danny had also noticed how every single one of those hosts seemed to possess a single silver coin. One day, the Dragoness had stolen a look at it and noticed that it had the Targaryen three-headed dragon carved on both sides.
When Master Illyrio found them, he had repeated the same words. Danny thought it was just a coincidence but just yesterday, she spotted the same coin on top of his desk; the same silver Targaryen coin that every single patron seemed to possess.
It made her wonder if this was used between them to symbolize their alliance with the Targaryen family, although all those Eastern Cities are quite far from Westeros. She ended up just thinking they were lucky or at least not fully cursed, to have allies so far away in the world.
[A/N] - And here is the first chapter. I will slowly write more and try to at least let them gather up, so when I get too busy I can still give you a chapter and not make you wait too much. (Am simply too excited about this story, all fired up and do not want to let it go long without updates. Especially after reading all of your amazing comments)
Also, a lot of you voted for option 1 but I got the idea for the cameos. So, you will see mostly Trystan in most chapters (for now) but Visenya and Tywin will make cameos. After all, there is no way all those things went south in King's Landing and Tywin did not know what Cersei Or Jorrey were up to.
Don't forget to let me know what you think and most specifically, what you think of Trystan.