King's Landing 297 AC.

Illyrio.

The princess had been so excited to travel with him to Lorath and the closer they got to their destination, the harder it was to stop her from standing on deck and looking to the shore. Daenerys had come on in leaps and bounds since he'd brought in Septa Lemore to handle her tutelage and she was finally showing not just her intelligence, but her spirit too. Something that had brought a smile to his face when she'd stormed into his solar and demanded that he take her with him on his trip to Westeros.

It had been hard to tell her that she couldn't come, but she'd been understanding when he explained the reasons why and when he'd told her that he'd instead take her to Lorath, where she could spend time with her brother, it had more than made up for it. He'd not stayed long in Lorath himself, merely speaking briefly to Viserys and finding him to be like the princess on a far better path and then speaking to Jon Connington and Ser Richard Lonmouth before saying his goodbyes to the princess and the prince. They and both Jon and Richard had asked him to deliver letters to the king and the princess had come to him the morning he was to depart with a request. One that had brought a smile to his face then and still did now.

"I wish you safe travel, Magister, and thank you for allowing me to spend time with my brother." Daenerys said softly.

"I thank you for your kind wishes, princess, and am sure that not even the gods would seek to deny me my safety now that they've heard you speak them." he said making her smile.

"I would beg a favor of you Magister." Daenerys said nervously.

"Ask of me anything, princess."

"For my nephew, could you give him this and tell him it's from me?" she asked as she held a small box in her hand.

"I'm certain that King Daeron will welcome this gift and the thought behind it most favorably, princess, most favorably indeed and I would be delighted to act as your messenger in this regard." he said to a beaming smile.

He looked to his desk and the small box that sat upon it and then picked it up and placed it in his pocket. As of yet, he'd only seen the boy he'd named as his king the once and it had been like looking at a window into the past. Despite the difference in coloring, to Illyrio's eyes, Daeron was Rhaegar come again and he was finally ready to meet the boy himself. Rising to his feet, he made his way from the rooms he'd taken in the large manse, and with a nod to his guards, they readied to travel to the Red Keep and to greet Ned Stark once more.

The journey took no time at all and as he was helped from the carriage, he was surprised and almost shocked to see the two wolves move his way. With a wave to his hands, he bid his guards stand down and then looked on as Daeron, or Ser Jon Snow as he was pretending to be, along with Ser Arthur Dayne, Sandor Clegane, and some of the cousins that he named as brothers and sisters by choice, all moved his way.

"Forgive me, Magister, the wolves don't usually run so free." Ser Jon said and Illyrio could tell it was a white lie and that this meeting was far more arranged than it may at first seem.

"There's nothing to forgive, Ser?" he said trying to play the role of a man who knew far less than he truly did.

"Ser Jon Snow, Magister Illyrio."

"Ah, the man of the hour. My congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Ser Jon." he said effusively.

"I thank you Magister. Have you come to visit the king?"

"Your uncle, actually, Ser Jon." he said as the other children caught up with the wolves and looked their way.

"Then mayhap I can escort you?"

"I'd like that very much, Ser Jon, very much indeed." he said with a large and true smile on his face.

He looked on as Ser Jon spoke to his brothers, sister, and the other children, and then as he bid them farewell for now. Then he, Ser Arthur and Sandor, along with Ser Jon and the wolves made their way through the grounds of the Red Keep. The two wolves walking close by and keeping prying ears from getting too close to them.

"I've long wished to speak to you, Magister Illyrio, long wanted to thank you for all you've done for my House." Ser Jon said and Illyrio welcomed the double meaning of the words.

"There is no need to thank me, Ser Jon, your House is one I believe deserves to rise high and our alliance has served me as well as it has you."

"Mayhap in the future, we can see that alliance grow even closer, Magister, see some way that your help can be rewarded?" Ser Jon asked curiously.

The look in the boy's eyes was searching and in time he'd name it as formidable. He very much enjoyed the way he phrased things as it showed a cleverness that he had hoped he'd have and as they walked, he wondered how much he could speak on of what he wished for himself. While it was true that most of what he did was for the reasons he had told Ned Stark, he'd be a liar if he said that he didn't wish for some reward for his patronage too. Though it was not coin or wealth that he sought and so he wondered if the position he wanted was something that his king would think he deserved. Looking to the boy beside him, he for some reason felt the need to actually speak more plainly and so feigning being out of breath and smiling when not only did they stop walking, but Ser Jon moved concernedly to him, he readied to speak.

"Forgive me, Ser Jon, I find I'm not as fit as I once was."

"There is naught to forgive, Magister."

"You spoke of the future, Ser Jon, and our alliance becoming a closer one, did you mean those words?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"For all you've done, Aye, I meant them." Ser Jon said firmly.

"Then Mayhap a role on a council would not be too much to wish for?" he asked still whispering.

"Is there one you have in mind, Magister?" Ser Jon said moving closer and for all intents and purposes looking as if he was helping him get his breath back.

"The current Master of Coin is not a man you'd seek to keep in his role was it up to you, is he?" he asked to a shake of Ser Jon's head and then a look of realization.

"No, I can think of a much better and more suited man, Magister, was that what he wished for."

"Then I think our alliances can only grow from here, Ser Jon. Your House and mine own can only benefit from such." he said and was pleased by the smile and the nod of Ser Jon's head.

With the mummery over, they walked with firmer steps and talked for most of them of less dangerous things. He was pleased to hear the way Ser Jon spoke of his betrothed and he noticed the way his features brightened when he did so. It reminded him so much of what he had wished for his sister all those years earlier and by the time they reached the sparring yard and he caught sight of Ned Stark, standing with the King of all people, he found that he liked the boy as much as he had his father.

"Mayhap we can meet again, Ser Jon and I can tell you tales of Essos and of my wards?" he asked and the eager look that appeared in the boy's eyes showed he knew of who he spoke.

"I'd like that very much, Magister. I hope they are well?"

"Very. And though both had wished to join me, I felt it better they stay on safer ground. Travel can be so dangerous after all."

"A wise choice, Magister."

"Oh, that reminds me. I bear you a wedding gift, Ser Jon. One my ward demanded that I present to you and one she picked out herself when she heard of the wedding I was attending."

"She did?" Ser Jon asked almost breathlessly as Illyrio took out the box and held it in his hand.

"I hope it finds favor and is accepted in the spirit it was given." he said handing him the box and he could see the water in the eyes that somehow was held back by Ser Jon's will alone.

"It very much does, Magister. I would ask you to give me profound thanks to your ward and to tell her that her gift is one I shall cherish."

"I will let her know, Ser Jon. I bid you farewell for now, and look forward to celebrating the wedding itself."

"I thank you, Magister, truly."

He watched as the boy struggled with opening or not the gift and then moving away to do so elsewhere, a wise choice he felt since the king and his uncle were now both looking down on both he and the Mountain Wolf. With a nod to his guards, he made his way up the steps and bid his hello's to Ned Stark, who then introduced him to the king. Robert was not a man worthy of his throne from all that Varys had told him and the way he looked at him, the more he was sure that was the case. There was disdain for him given his size and probably his origin and yet the king himself was not much smaller than he and he wagered that Robert had less of a reason for his girth than he did.

When he made it back to the manse later that day it was to his meal and his comfort he looked and he was enjoying both when his old friend made his appearance.

"You were pleased with what you saw, old friend?" Varys asked as he took a seat in front of him and reached out for some of the grapes on the table.

"More than pleased, old friend. He is his father's son and I feel even more comforted that he is the right and only choice for the throne."

"As do I, Illyrio, as do I."

King's Landing 297 AC.

Sansa.

The city was not as she had expected it to be. True it was grand and some of the buildings took her breath away. Places like the Red Keep and the Great Sept had been places that she'd longed to visit once. Yet she'd never imagined that in amongst those places, the city itself would be far more disappointing. Not to mention far less pleasant smelling. It had taken her aback and once she'd smelt it, she'd found it very hard not to wretch and gag each time she opened a window.

So when she'd been told about the garden at the Red Keep, she'd wished very much to visit it, only to find she had little time to do so. Not that she was upset that she was so busy, since helping her soon-to-be Goodsister with the preparation for the wedding was a dream come true for her. As not only did it fuel her excitement and tug at her heartstrings, but it allowed her at times to daydream about her own wedding. Something she was doing more and more often.

Mayhap that was why Elaena had suggested that she take a break from the preparations and seek to enjoy herself for once. Her Goodsister had not listened to her when Sansa told her that she enjoyed what she was doing very much and instead had almost forced her from the room. Was she younger, then she'd have worried mayhap that she was not wanted there, doubted that the reason she was being asked to leave was for true. The girl she'd once been would have felt put out and upset and thought less of Elaena and the others for sending her away. Yet as she and Jeyne and their guards walked through the Red Keep, she felt anything but put out and was in no doubt that Elaena had sent her away because she wished her to see more of what she'd come here for.

"Where should we go, Sansa?" Jeyne asked, her friend slightly more put out and more worried than she was, something Sansa would do her best to reassure her and make clear the why of their brief exile.

"I heard tell from Jon of a garden, Jeyne, somewhere he suggested maybe more pleasant smelling than the rest of this city.

"Is there truly such a place?" Jeyne asked hopefully, her friend like her not enamored with the smells the city had thus brought to them.

"I believe so. Now where did he say it was." she said stopping to think, "Oh it's this way I believe."

As they walked they gossiped like the two young girls that they were. Jeyne spoke of knights and of Waymar Royce in particular and Sansa was happy for her friend as it seemed that her affections were still being returned. Despite thinking of Jeyne as no lesser than she did Elaena or Ysilla, Sansa was no fool and far less naïve than she had once been. Much of that was due to the aforementioned ladies. So she knew the truth of things. Jeyne being a stewards daughter was less of an enviable match than she or Ysilla, and so her options were far more limited when it came to who she would, or could, be matched with.

There would be no first son or heir of a major house in Jeyne's future, so she'd been happy for her friend that her affections had not lain in that direction. The last thing she wished for was for Jeyne to be hurt and by finding something with Waymar, there was far less of a chance of that. True, no one could tell the nature of someone's heart and though you may wish to be matched with a certain person, that may not always be in your power to see done. Politics, your family's needs, the needs of the family of the man you sought a match with, all of this needed to be taken into account. Waymar being the fourth son, his being best friends with Jon and so less likely to turn out to be a cad or a man who only sought one thing from Jeyne, and his own return of Jeyne's affections, all boded far better for her friend and Sansa welcomed it truly.

"Is that?" she heard Jeyne call out and she shook her head of the thoughts that were about to fill it, thoughts of her own match and just how happy it made her "It is, Sansa, look it's the princess."

She did as she was bid and looked to see that it was indeed, the Princess Myrcella, there not more than a few feet from them. The young girl was on her knees and seemed to be planting something in the ground and as Sansa looked around, she realized that they'd found the garden and so she breathed in deeply.

"Can you smell that, Jeyne?" she asked and looked on as Jeyne did as she'd just done, the smile on her friend's face showing that she could "Come we had best greet the princess." she said smiling.

They made their way over to where Princess Myrcella was kneeling and as they got closer, Sansa could see that she was indeed planting something in the ground. Around her, she could see countless flowers and the smell from them was positively divine. It was hard to reconcile you were still in the city, so pleasant was their fragrance, and as she looked around, she found herself reveling in the beauty around her too.

"My princess." she said with a curtsy when Myrcella noticed her and Jeyne, her friend doing the same as she.

"Lady Sansa, Lady Jeyne." Myrcella said frowning slightly as she rose to her feet to greet them, the reason for said frown not becoming clear to Sansa until later when the princess apologized for the state they'd found her in as she wiped some dirt from her dress.

They spoke at length and both she and Jeyne quickly made it clear that the princess had naught to apologize for and that they too would find themselves in such a state in order to keep a garden such as this maintained. It pleased the girl no end and when she asked them would they like a tour, both agreed without hesitation. All was going well and she was finding her time away from the preparations for the wedding to be one she much enjoyed, only for things to change suddenly.

The arrival of the Crown Prince seemed to affect Myrcella's mood greatly. The happy and exuberant girl she'd been mere moments earlier was quickly replaced by one who seemed fearful and nervous. Sansa was stunned by how quickly the girl wished to be anywhere but in a garden that seemed to bring her such joy only moments before. One moment she was speaking to them effusively about the garden and how she'd planted this or that flower and the next she was taking her leave and they were left alone with the Crown Prince.

"Lady Sansa, mayhap I can give you a true tour of these fine gardens." Joffrey said smiling and despite not wishing to join him, he was the Crown Prince and so she felt she'd no choice.

"I would be honored, my prince." she said feigning happiness at the prospect.

"You may send your lady away, Lady Sansa, for there is no need for her to join us." Joffrey said and despite the doubtful look on Jeyne's face and her own discomfort at why he'd ask such a thing, she did as he bid and Jeyne quickly hurried away.

Unlike the walk with Myrcella, the one with Joffrey was one she liked less and less. He was arrogant, cocky and the way he ran down his sister's achievements within the garden irked her greatly. Jon always spoke up about her and Arya's small successes, he took as much pride in one of her pieces of embroidery as she did and was oft heard to loudly proclaim that she was just as talented with a needle in her hand as Arya was in the sparring yard. Something which she knew made Arya just as happy as it did her. So to hear Joffrey run down Myrcella's garden as she'd begun to think of the place, was not something that endeared him to her.

Nor was how tightly he held her arm or how he spoke about her betrothed and how she was wasting herself on such a man. How she held her tongue, she knew not, but when they reached what she hoped was the end of the tour, she was relieved that she'd made it through it doing so. To her annoyance, she soon found that as far as Joffrey was concerned the tour was far from over and that he was not best pleased when she then tried to cry off spending more time with him. The look on his face darkened and she for the first time found herself a little fearful. Only for the sound of a welcome voice to soon chase those fears far away.

"Sansa, there, you are." Domeric called out "I've been looking for you everywhere."

"You were looking for me, Ser Domeric?" she asked happily.

"I was indeed…"

"Lady Sansa is in my company, and shall remain so until I decide otherwise." Joffrey said gripping her arm tightly.

"Prince or no, that's my betrothed you walk with, but we'll let the lady decide." Domeric said and Sansa felt Joffrey's glare as she moved from him.

"I thank you, my prince, for your gallantry. I most enjoyed our walk, but my betrothed and I have much to do." she said moving from him only for Joffrey to almost pull her back.

"Unhand my lady at once, or they'll name me Princeslayer before the day is done." Domeric said moving forward and Sansa felt her heart still as the knight in the white cloak moved his hand to his sword "I've seen you fight Ser Boros, I'd wager my skills against your own any day. Now I'll not speak it again, unhand my lady, my prince, or we'll find out just how badly served you are by your Kingsguard."

"You can have the bitch." Joffrey said pushing her forward "She and you deserve each other and the cold lands you come from."

"That we do, my prince. Though were I you I'd worry what it is that you deserve and worry more that you may one day find out." Domeric said as she reached him and he looked her over to make sure she was unharmed.

She didn't look back at the prince or his Kingsguard, she cared not what they thought or felt. Later she worried that Domeric may be blamed for something he'd not done and so she spoke to Jon and to her father and found that Domeric had done so too. Her brother actually went to the king to complain about how the prince had acted with her even before her father had a chance to do the same and she loved him all the more for it.

Still, for the next few days, each time she looked and caught the prince's eye it was to see him wear an expression that she liked not. Not even when he sat with the Rose of Highgarden did she not find him looking in her direction. It was Elaena who told her that the king had wished for a match between Joffrey and her and that her betrothal to Domeric had put those plans to rest. Sansa smiled at that as even without knowing it, Domeric had served as her truest knight. He'd protected her from a life with a prince who acted very much like the worst of men, saved her from a life full of unhappiness and mayhap even worse. That and the fact he filled her heart so complete was why the smiles she aimed in his direction while in King's Landing, were even truer and fuller than the ones she'd done before then.

Lorath 297 AC.

Daenerys Targaryen.

Her time on the ship had been both exciting and frustrating. She'd enjoyed being at sea and the knowledge of where she was going had only made that even more so. Yet the time it took to get there began to annoy her more and more and she had been quite short with Septa Lemore more than once. That the woman just laughed it off and that she'd apologized to her each time, had been all that had stopped her from feeling guilty for acting such a brat.

Other than the length of time it took her to arrive at Lorath, she had one other reason for her sense of frustration and annoyance. While she understood and even agreed with the Magister that it was not safe for her or Viserys to attend their nephew's wedding, it didn't stop her longing to be there. To see more of her family, to be a part of his, and to be there as he wed a woman who by all the words they'd shared, he loved with all his heart, was something she would have very much wished to be allowed to do. It was not to be and while seeing Viserys was no second prize or not something she wished for any lesser, it was tinged with the disappointment that the Magister was traveling where she could not follow.

Since she couldn't be at the wedding itself, she'd thought long and hard about some way to show Aemon that she was happy for him. They'd shared letters, had spoken of the future and her and Viserys place in it, and she'd even received letters from her granduncle at the Wall. Those ones always made her both smile and loose her tears in equal measure. Yet a letter didn't seem to be enough this time and so she'd sought something else, finding it at a small stall that sold trinkets near the Magister's manse. At Lemore's suggestion, she'd asked the owner of said stall if they could make something to a specific design and been delighted when he said that he could. Then she'd drawn out what she wished for and when she finally took delivery of it, it was even better than she had dared to hope. The thoughts that her nephew would have received it by now, and that he'd be wearing it, were ones that she welcomed greatly.

"I give you my vow that I'll hand it to your nephew myself, princess."

"I thank you Magister Illyrio, truly."

Handing Illyrio the gift had been the last thing she'd done before they arrived in Lorath. Dany had wished to hold onto it that little longer and felt the loss of it when it was gone. Though holding onto it until she had, had allowed for her excitement over where they were to soon envelop her. Not only because the city itself was a new place for her to explore but for who was in this city. That and the thoughts that as his letters and the Magister himself had stated many times, the brother she'd once known, was who Viserys was once again.

"Your hood princess, just until we reach the barracks." Illyrio said as she, he, Lemore, and their guards moved to the gangplank.

"Will I need to hide myself while I'm here?" she asked worriedly.

"Not at all, princess, just while you're in my presence." Illyrio replied.

"I don't understand?" she said raising her hood to cover her head and hair.

"I believe the Magister is certain of your safety amongst the men of the Company, princess. That even were someone to see you and know you were with them and word reached the Stag, it would matter little. No one can harm you here, you'll see the truth of that soon enough." Lemore said and Dany looked first to her and then to the Magister, when she went to ask why that meant her hood needed to be raised at all, Lemore continued "However, were they to find that you were in the presence of Magister Illyrio, then both he and you would be more at risk on our return to Pentos."

Dany looked to the Magister and saw that he agreed with the words that Lemore said, his own soon following to clarify them even more.

"Here and in Pentos, there is no man that can harm you, my princess. It would take an army to even dare try. However on the sea, we're but one ship and while we're well protected from pirates and the like, was there to be a concerted effort to attack us…"

"We'd not be protected enough." she said to a proud smile from Lemore.

"Indeed. But none have ever dared attack the Bountiful Harvest thus far and only your presence on it may make us a desirable target. Best no one other than our men know of your presence then is it not?" Illyrio said and Dany nodded, pulling her hood even more firmly over her head so it covered her hair.

It made the walk to the docks that little harder as in her haste she'd covered herself up far too much. Not even when they were in the carriage did she uncover herself. So it was not until they were in the barracks of the Company of the Seahorse and far from prying eyes that she dared to lower her hood. Once there, she felt safe enough to do so, and as she stepped out of the carriage and looked around, even more so.

There were more men than she could count, all were heavily armed and most were doing some training or other. As she looked around, she saw him almost running towards her and without even taking the chance to look at him properly, she was soon running to him just as quickly. She felt herself being picked up in stronger arms than she remembered her brother having, her laughter ringing out as he swung her in a circle, and then she was on the verge of crying happy tears when she heard his words.

"By the gods, my little sister is almost a woman grown. A true dragon I've no doubt. I missed you Dany, I missed you so much." Viserys said, his words at the end sounding like music to her ears as she could hear the emotion in them.

"And I missed you too, Vis, truly." she said as he placed her back on her feet and looked her over while she did the same to him.

He looked so very different to her eyes. His hair was shorter, cut tight, and it reminded her of a painting of the Conqueror that she'd once seen. Yet it was the difference in his build that was most remarkable. That and the look in his eyes, which was one she'd not seen in them for many a year. Her brother had gone through some extensive training, he'd worked hard in the sparring yards she'd wager and it had done him the world of good.

"You look happier, brother, are you happy here?" she asked slightly worriedly.

"Much happier now my little sister has come visit." he said and his smile was as true as she'd ever seen it "I'm well Dany, happy. I have a purpose, a role, I no longer feel the weight on my shoulders and…."

"Vis?"

"We're safe Dany, you and I…you've no idea how much just knowing that has opened my heart." he said embracing her and kissing her cheek "But enough about me, tell me, little sister, of all your adventures, leave naught out for my usual tales are only those spoken by fighting men and I long for fairer ones."

That night she ate with her brother, Illyrio, Lemore, Jon Connington, and Ser Richard Lonmouth. She found herself laughing, shaking her head, and looking at her brother with new eyes. This was how she'd always wished him to be. To hear men speak of his prowess in the yard and tell tales of him that showed both their fondness for him and that were the truth. For the first time, since she was a very young girl she was proud of the man her brother was and she told him so and saw how much her words affected him.

It was Viserys who led her to her room that night. Dany having said goodbye to Illyrio who'd be leaving on the morning tide and Lemore having already gone to her own rooms much earlier. As they walked, a small part of her feared that the other side of her brother may raise its ugly head. Something he noticed and did his best to assuage her fears about.

"I am sorry for all the times I failed you, Dany. I wish you to know it was always me and never you that woke the so-called dragon." he said sounding somewhat shamed "It will never be woken when it comes to you again, on that you have my vow. We are family, true dragons, you, me, Daeron, and our granduncle Aemon at the Wall and the only time my dragon will ever be reawakened is should anyone dare to threaten or harm or family."

"I fear you not, Vis." she said and he chuckled as he kissed her cheek softly.

"Of course, you don't. Gods look at you, look how you've grown. Mother would be so proud of you, Dany, I speak no lie, she'd be so very proud of you."

The tears came then, as did the warmth of her brother's arms as they wrapped around her. At his worst, when she'd woken the dragon, the most hurtful thing he'd ever done to her was not his striking her with his hands. No, It was the words he hit her with. He'dname her as the killer of their mother, blame her for her death and the life they were forced to live without her. Even later when he would apologize for striking her, he'd not for that. To hear him tell her what he just had, was almost too much for her.

"I love you, little sister, with all I am I love you." he said and she mumbled back the words that told him the same and allowed him to almost carry her to her bed.

As she drifted off to sleep, the wetness of the kiss he'd placed on her forehead not having dried yet, she did so happy in the knowledge that she'd be here for some time. They'd spend true time together and it would be as it had once been many years ago in a house with a red door with an apple tree outside of it.

King's Landing 297 AC.

Littlefinger.

Seeing the king fuss over Eddard Stark had been a hard thing for him to take. Not only because he disliked the man intensely, but seeing Cat there with him showed him a glimpse of a life that should have been theirs. He'd done far more for Robert Baratheon's reign than Stark had, he should be who was feted, she should be his. They were feelings that transferred somewhat each and every time he then looked to Stark's bastard son.

He too was marrying far beyond who he should and he too was given far too much of the king's time and favor. Petyr was not sure which of them the king actually fawned over most, the bastard wolf or the quiet one. Were it not for the length of time that had passed since Robert last saw his brother by choice, then he'd have wagered it would be the bastard's company that Robert sought out more. The king had shown his disappointment the day earlier when Ser Jon begged off their hunting trip for some reason.

For him, it gave him the opportunity he had so longed for and so he sought her out. Finding to his dismay that he had to wait around for far too long just so he could appear as if he'd run into her casually. Cat was still the only woman who stirred his heart. She fuelled his dreams and it was her image that brought about his pleasure when he had to degrade himself and lay with her far lesser sister. Seeing her again for the first time in ten and five years only proved the truth of what he felt for her. Something that reassured him very much, as he had worried he'd simply built it up more in his mind than in his heart for true. As he stood in the corridor and looked to the door in the distance, he felt a green boy once more. His heart was racing and his hands were sweating and were it not for the piece of mint he chewed, then he'd wager his mouth would be dry when he saw her.

"Cat." he said over-enthusiastically "What a pleasant surprise." he added quickly when she looked at him with an odd look.

"Petyr, it's so good to see you." his love said a moment later and there was no lie in her words to his ear "I'm sorry I've not had a chance to speak to you much before now. The wedding and my children have taken up most of my time."

"There is naught to apologize for, Cat. Do you have time now? Could you join me for lunch?" he asked hating the desperation in his voice.

He was left on tenterhooks as she pondered his request. The fear quickly rose in him that she may refuse or make up some excuse as to why she could not and then he felt such a wave of relief that he almost gasped aloud when she agreed to join him.

"There are so many things we must catch up on, I'd be delighted to have luncheon with you, Petyr." she said, her smile as always sending a jolt straight to his heart and the touch of her hand sending a jolt somewhere else when she allowed him to take her by the arm.

Later that day.

It had been a disaster, an absolute disaster. Be it the fact that he usually used his charms on a far sillier woman or even on men who knew him not, or some other reason, but his words had not gone down as well as he'd hoped. Things had started off so well, he'd laid the groundwork regarding some fears about the Lannisters and their desire for even more power. Cat listened and then showed her worry for the king, just as she had wished her to do. Petyr had then switched to speaking to his love about the children that should have been theirs and found himself actually taking some pride in their achievements and how their mother spoke of them. It had been this and his words about the bastard that had set things on a terrible path though.

Cat had not gone along with his idea of a broken betrothal, not even when he laid it out far more simply than he normally would and told her how he was certain that Sansa would be queen if she but listened to him. Instead, it seemed it was to be the same fate as her mother for Sansa and a wedding to someone far beneath her. As for the bastard wolf. He'd tried to lay out the same fears he'd used so well with Lysa only to find, as if he knew it not, that Cat was not as foolish as her sister. Was it just that alone then things would not have gone to plan, but there was something else there and it took him far too long to realize what it was. Cat had to literally spell it out for him to do so.

"Jon is as much a part of my family as mine own children, Petyr. I may have only helped raise the boy for a few years, but in my heart, I feel for him as I do for Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, or Rickon. I celebrate his wedding to Lady Elaena as much as I will Robb's or Sansa's to their betrothed."

"I had no idea you were so close, Cat."

"Well we are, and those things you say of him are not things I would ever believe. I know what's in Jon's heart, Petyr, and it's not to take what's not his, on that, I have no doubt."

"Forgive me Cat, I had…"

"I should go, my children will be waiting. It was good to catch up with you Petyr." Cat said rising to her feet.

"And you, Cat." he said trying not to sound as defeated as he felt.

Even now days later he could still remember the turn their pleasant conversation had taken. The doubts and fears he'd wished to put into his love's mind about the bastard wolf had instead probably been put there in regards to himself instead. He hated the looks she'd throw his way when she did look at him. Her expression reminded him of a painful day many years earlier and not the far more enjoyable night he'd spent with her afterward.

Lysa picked up on the distance between them too, something that she enjoyed far too much. She thankfully was far more malleable and so he played upon her fears for her sickly son and told her more of what he wished her to believe. That he could now add her own sister's denial of the danger that Jon Snow posed to Sweetrobin, was only icing on a very sweet cake and he knew that Lysa was almost where he wished her to be.

If only he could say that about more of those around him. Renly Baratheon cared not that his brother saw a wolf more of a true brother than a stag and Stannis would give him no time of day. So It was to the house of wounded pride that he looked then. The Lioness and her rabid cub were both far easier to move around the board and yet even in this, he found no success. Not only did Joffrey force Sansa Stark further from him, but the bastard wolf moved far more quickly than Petyr himself did and while he'd spilled words in the queen's ear, Ser Jon spoke them far more angrily into the king's. Joffrey finding no respite from his father over Ser Domeric's threats and the king far too happy to keep the tale private and to speak no more of it than to do as Petyr wished.

"He has to die!" he said far too loudly, Lysa turning to him.

"Who Petyr?" she asked eagerly.

"Snow, he has to die, I needs must see him dead for he poses far too much of a risk to Sweetrobin and his future." he lied, he cared not for the sickly boy and it was his own future he feared for.

"How?" Lysa asked.

"At the wedding, poison, and if done right…."

He said no more then, the plan taking root in his head and he'd see the bastard fall before he ever got a chance to bed his bride. For the next day or two, he almost walked with a smile on his face as he plotted out the chaos it would bring to the realm. The Lions would be blamed, a prince would be stripped of his rank, and would maybe even lose his head. Wolves and Lions would be at each other's throats and the rest of the realm would know not which way to turn. Oh, Petyr knew that the Vale would seek to avenge the Mountain Wolf and that Tywin would no doubt reach out to the Roses. Robert would be torn between his brother by choice and his wife and children, while he would sit back and revel in the chaos before making his true move.

As he stood and looked at the sparring yard beneath him, watched Ser Jon face off against Ser Loras Tyrell and beat him easily, he didn't hear them behind him. Nor did he expect the sight he faced when he turned and how he kept his bowels from emptying or didn't loose his bladder, only the gods knew. They were far bigger when you were close to them, far more deadly looking, and how they looked upon him brought him a fear he'd not known since he was but a boy in Riverrun. Then it had been another wolf that had almost brought about his end. Looking into the eyes of the two that snarled at him and bared their teeth, he feared it would be these two that truly would.

"Winter, Frost, to me." Lady Elaena called out and the two wolves moved from him to the lady and those with her, Petyr was relieved to see them go and so he missed the look that was aimed in his direction. A look from a man who was no longer sparring and who Petyr wished dead and Ser Jon's look, had he seen it, would have reminded him very much of the wolves themselves.

King's Landing 297 AC.

The Wedding.

Jon Snow.

Everything he'd done these past few days was now gone and forgotten as he stood in front of the looking glass. The meetings he'd had with men who wished to see him crowned, the talks he'd had about their future plans, and when was best to make their move. His time with his sisters and brothers, fun though they had been and even some of his time with Elaena, was now hard for him to recollect. Instead, it was the outfit he had put on and the nervous way that he'd fastened the buttons. It was thoughts of the day to come that swam through his mind and left room for little else.

He was to be wed, he and Elaena joined for true and the life he'd had up to now, would change dramatically from this point on. Staring at his reflection in the looking glass, he wondered if his father felt this way on the day he'd wed his mother.

Had he been nervous?

Excited?

Did he long for the day to be over with and yet wish it would last forever at the same time?

Had Rhaegar Targaryen felt as secure as he now did in the knowledge that this was what he wished for more than anything in the world?

Was his father as happy as he felt now? He believed he was, he hoped he was.

Reaching over to the table, he picked up the chain and held it in his hand. A gift from family. Looking at it almost brought a tear to his eye and it had done so when he'd opened the box that the Magister had given him. His aunt had this made for him and wished him to have it and as he looked at it, as he placed it around his neck, his smile came unbidden. Three heads, a wolf, a falcon, and a dragon, it was not quite their House's sigil, but it worked for him just as well. Once was sure he'd covered it up with his shirt, he moved to the door and readied for the ride to the Great Sept.

"You look like a fool." Sandor said, his words making Jon's laugh a full one and they were ones he needed this day.

"You're lucky I didn't make you dress up too, Sandor." he said to an angry grunt which made him laugh even more.

"I leave that to Dayne." Sandor said pointing to Arthur who was dressed just as well as Jon himself was.

"You're ready, Jon?" Arthur asked softly.

"For this day, I've been ready for years, Arthur." he said to a nod and caught the smirk on Sandor's face out of the corner of his eye.

Moving past the two men, he knelt down to rub the wolves. Winter and Frost had been easy enough for him to get leave to keep by his side while staying in the Red Keep. His uncle and his future Goodfather would have played their parts were he to be refused, but he knew how to play to Robert's weaknesses and when he'd seen how much control Jon had over them both, he'd accepted them happily. Others had not, yet the wolves never left his side while he'd stayed here, lest they were by Elaena's, and they'd not be leaving his side today either.

"We should go, I believe we've got a wedding to attend." he said to a snort from Sandor, and then he, Arthur, Sandor, and the wolves walked from his room and made their way to the waiting horses.

The ride to the Great Sept showed just how happy people were for this wedding. Varys had set his little birds and others to task to talk up the tale of he and Elaena's betrothal and Jon believed it was he who'd had the songs commissioned. Florian and Jonquil, they were not, but in the songs at least they shared the people's favor and in truth was he not walking the same path as Jonquil. For he too was a knight and a fool when it came to Elaena Arryn after all.

Jon Arryn.

Four times in his life he'd felt the joy he felt this day. The day that he and Elaena's mother were wed, the day his daughter had been born, the day his son had, and now on the day that she was to be wed. Looking at her brought a tear to his eye and made it hard for him to speak. Her concern for him only made that even more so.

"Father, you are well?" Elaena asked worriedly.

"I am well, my love, truly. It's just…"

"Father?"

"You look so much like her, Laeny, so much like your mother that it takes me back and that I see the same happiness in your expression that I saw that day…it..."

"I am happy, father, truly I am." Elaena said.

"And so am I, sweetling. For you, for Ser Jon, for myself even. For never has anything I've done felt as right as what I'm to do this day." he said and he felt her arms wrap around him as the knock came to the door.

"Laeny you look so…so beautiful." his son said when he walked into the room "Doesn't she father, doesn't she look beautiful."

"She does, son, very much she does."

He gave his daughter some time to compose herself, his words and Robert's having an effect on her, and then offering her his arm, all three of them walked from the room. Lysa had tried to keep Robert from being this close to his sister, not just on this day, but on others too. That she had failed, he put down to both his children. They shared a love for each other that warmed his heart and to see Robert was just as happy as he was for Elaena, was more than he could have hoped for.

"Has Jon…"

"Ser Jon has left already, Laeny, he, Ser Arthur, Sandor, and the wolves rode out some time ago." Robert said interrupting his sister's question and Jon felt her relax beside him at her brother's words.

He helped her into the carriage and bid Robert join them. The ride itself took no time at all and few words were spoken as they made their way to the Great Sept. Outside they could hear the cheers and despite him not wishing to have the wedding here, now that it was upon them, he felt it could be held nowhere better.

"Thank you father." Elaena said when he helped her out of the carriage and Jon placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead before Robert then placed one on her cheek and then moved to take up his place inside the Great Sept.

"You look so happy, sweetling, it fills my heart with joy to see you so." he said after Robert had left them alone.

"I am happy, father, truly." Elaena said smiling beamingly at him as if to prove her words.

"You're ready?" he asked and the nod of her head was vigorous and instant.

Taking her by the arm, he led her down the aisle and to the steps where Ser Jon waited for her. The look on his soon-to-be Goodson's face was one that he'd seen just moments earlier in his daughter's. It made him forget that this was the man who'd one day be king. Allowed him to ignore the fact that he and his former foster son's House would be joined for eternity and to instead concentrate on the two people to who this day truly meant the most. For Ser Jon, for his daughter, it wasn't who their families were or what that would mean for the future that made them so happy, it was that they were being wed to the person they loved. As he moved from Elaena, he thought on her mother and felt that she'd be happy with the choices he'd made and that he'd done right by their girl.

Cat.

Despite her best efforts, the tears that had threatened to flow when she saw Jon take his place and look eagerly to the doors for his bride to be, had now come. Seeing Elaena being led to the High Septon. How happy she looked, how beautiful, and how much her husband to be couldn't keep his eyes off her, had brought back memories of her own wedding all those years earlier. It had been different than this, rushed, nervous, and one that she hadn't been certain she'd have found happiness in. Yet all her fears had been for naught and she'd thanked the Seven every day since for the life that she and Ned shared together.

Watching as Jon wrapped the ribbon around Elaena's hand. Seeing that they both bore none of the nerves that she and Ned had on their own day, she prayed to the Seven who are One for them to know some of what she and her husband had in their marriage. They were well on the way to knowing such she felt looking at them. Still, she felt a sense of apprehension come over her when the High Septon began to speak. A brief wave of worry as she thought of the future that was inevitable after this moment, a war that would need to be fought and yet another happy couple parted by said war. As her hand began to shake a little, she felt a warmer, firmer hand, cover her own and turned to see Ned looking at her with concern.

Cat shook her head and tried to let the worries fade. Something made easier when her husband kissed her cheek and motioned with his head to their son and daughter. Robb and Sansa both sat and watched the ceremony with e keener eyes than even she. Thoughts no doubt of their own wedding days to come and of the things they'd change, and not when those days were upon them. She looked from them to her other sons and daughter. Rickon rested against her side, not truly aware of the importance of the day, while Bran looked more to the famed knights that were present than his brother and his soon-to-be wife. Though she did catch him smiling at Jon more than once. It was Arya who was truly the surprise and Cat looked away so as to not embarrass her youngest daughter when she saw her wipe a happy tear from her eye.

"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger, I am his and he is mine from this day to my last day." Elaena's voice rang out loudly and proudly and was matched in its sincerity by Jon's as he said his own lines too.

As the two shared their first kiss as husband and wife, Cat felt Ned's hand squeeze her own and she turned to see her own husband looking just as happy as the newer one some feet away. She knew that for Ned, he was standing in not just as a father as much as an uncle to Jon, but as Lyanna's representative somewhat too. In this, he was not alone as Ser Arthur wore a look that was very much similar to Ned's, as surprisingly did Sandor Clegane too. The scarred man looked far happier than Cat had ever noticed him be before now.

Jon Arryn bore the look of a proud father and his son who sat by his side, looked just as happy as any to see his sister wed. Around the Great Sept, Cat found many faces wearing similar expressions, though there were a few who were very much not. King Robert looked on with a beaming smile while beside him only two of his children did the same. Queen Cersei wore a frown that was a mirror image of the one on the face of the Crown Prince beside her.

Lady Olenna and the Tyrells looked happy enough, though Cat was sure that at least some of that was because of their own realization that Margery would now be queen and some to simply keep up appearances. Seeing Lysa glare at one if not both the newly wedded couple was something she knew not how to take. Her sister was much like Petyr and said things about both Jon and Elaena that didn't quite match up with what Cat herself knew of them both. Even were it not for the seat that Jon sought, she'd not have believed him or Elaena capable to see Lysa and her son usurped.

"Oh, they're kissing." Arya said half disgustedly and yet Cat could see her daughter didn't truly think so.

It was enough to turn her attention to where it belonged and as she looked to see the kiss that was being shared, she felt her tears threaten to fall once more. Thankfully they did not and so she rose as the happy couple made their way from the Great Sept and found she looked very much forward to the night's feast to come. Mayhap if she was lucky, she'd even be able to get a dance with her reticent husband too before the night was done.

Elaena.

She felt as if the world had stopped around them. As if they were the only two people and not a sound, sight, nor smell of anyone else was she able to discern. The words she spoke went unheard too, her senses were far more attuned to the ones that Jon said as she listened to see if they were spoken with any doubt or reluctance. They were very much not and once he'd said them, once they were given leave to share their first kiss as man and wife, all her concentration poured into that.

Would it feel different?

Would it be the same?

What would it feel like to do so, so publicly?

Would this now be something they did often?

The thoughts swarmed her head and made her feel dizzy and then she realized that it wasn't the thoughts at all. Jon's lips were on her own, his arms had wrapped around her and in front of all those she knew and cared for, she was being kissed by her husband. It didn't feel different, or not truly so, nor did it feel the same. Soon though she found she cared not, other than she wished the kiss never to end and it felt as if it wouldn't.

Eventually, it did and her eyes were drawn to Jon's and found his own seeking hers just as keenly. She heard him take a deep breath, one that she herself took a moment later, and then his smile brought her own to her face. When he offered her his arm, she took it gladly. Elaena once again not seeing anyone truly as he led her from the Great Sept and was it not for how loud the cheers were once they'd walked from it, then nothing would have taken her from the almost dream she was now living.

"They're happy for us, my love, see how happy they are." Jon said almost breathlessly and then once again she felt her own breath being taken away when he turned her and kissed her once more.

It took her until they were in the carriage and halfway to the Red Keep and the upcoming wedding feast to gain some semblance of control over her heightened emotions. Elaena only then realized that Jon had been speaking for some time and that she'd not heard a word. Instead, she'd been leaning against him with her head resting on his shoulder and his arm holding her tight. The thoughts, that later that night they'd lay together for the first time and that when she fell to sleep it would not lead to him leaving her room, filling her mind.

"Jon, tonight." she said nervously.

"We can go as slow as we both want to, Laeny. Do only what it is we wish and are comfortable with."

"You'll…You'll stay with me after?" she asked almost shaking.

"I'll not leave you ever again, my love, not ever." he said and it relaxed her some.

Winter and Frost waited for them as they climbed from the carriage, the two wolves taking up a place on either of their sides, and with Arthur, Sandor, and the members of the Brotherhood they walked into the Red Keep and to the room, that they'd need to wait in. She felt the lack of her own friends as they did so. Jon was speaking to Waymar, Mychel, and Domeric while she wished for Ysilla, Mya, Myranda, Jeyne, and Sansa to be here and not at the same time. That he didn't speak to them for too long and was soon by her side once again was something she much appreciated.

"You feel as I do?" Jon asked and she wasn't sure what he meant, happy when he then cleared up her confusion "That you both long for this day to be over and wish it to go on forever at the same time."

"I…yes. I want to enjoy our day, Jon, but I want to be alone with my husband too." she said feeling wanton and welcoming the kiss and the whispered words that said he wished for nothing more than that too.

The feast was a blur, and she'd have hoped to remember it better, but it was not to be. She knew she danced with Jon, with her father and Robert. Then with the king and Jon's uncle before dancing with Jon once more. Elaena barely ate her food and when the calls came to bed them, she looked to Jon nervously only to see him rise to his feet and lift his glass to deny them the chance to do so and to honor their guests with a toast.

"I'm afraid I'd not allow the bedding, your graces, my lords and ladies. My wife's father, mine own, and the wolves wouldn't take too kindly to such a thing, so instead, I bid you all my thanks. You've done my wife and me proud this day, your grace. I thank you for helping to make it one neither of us will ever forget." Jon said lifting the glass to his lips.

No one looked happier or prouder than the king at the words that Jon spoke and he too raised his own glass as did the rest of those present. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the one person who wasn't smiling truly or to be more accurate a person who she'd never truly seen smile a real smile before, and whether it was that or where he was looking that filled her heart with dread, she knew not. Seeing Littlefinger look so eagerly to Jon and the glass he held in his hand did not feel right to her and so she moved to stop her husband, knowing not why she was truly doing so.

"Winter." Jon called out as the wolf pushed against him and the contents of the glass spilled all over the table, Elaena breathing a sigh of relief and turning her attention to the now frowning Littlefinger "It seems I've not fed the wolves well enough tonight, your grace." Jon said to loud laughs.

"See that you do so in future Ser Jon, I'd not have the wolves going hungry in my halls." the King said laughing even more boisterously.

Later as they walked from the hall and made their way to their room, she pondered over whether to tell Jon of what she'd feared she'd seen and was it not for her nerves and then what they did once they entered the room, she may very well have. Instead, she found it soon slipping from her mind and her thoughts and feelings being overwhelmed as she and her husband lay together for the first and not the last time.

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed, for some reason I couldn't access the site for the past few days and so this was updated elsewhere first. I'm also incredibly busy with work and so I beg forgiveness for not getting to the reviews as of yet. Up Next, Littlefinger plots, a tourney is held, Jon meets with more of his supporters, and Dany and Viserys share more time together before we say goodbye to King's Landing and Jon and Elaena undertake a journey to Essos.

For those who follow my other fics, My Brother's Keeper won't update today and will update next week. While Winter King and Aemon the Dragonknight will update this week, hopefully along with Purple Deception.