I don't own A Song of Fire and Ice.
Prologue
Years ago, the House of Arryn received such honor.
The House of Targaryen had offered a bride for Jon Arryn.
She was Princess Rhaelys Targaryen, daughter of Jaehaerys II Targaryen and Shaera Targaryen. The princess was called the "burnt princess" because of the Summerhall incident by fire.
Rhaelys looked more Blackwood caused of her grandmother Betha Blackwood known as Black Betha. Though many commented that she has the purple eyes of Targaryen hence why she was the odd one.
After the tragedy, she had burn scars on her half body and her cheek. Tywin Lannister saved her life when she was a child.
Betha Blackwood, who was a widow at that time was in despair that she lost her husband, most of her courtiers' friends, and knights that night.
Betha kept Rhaelys by her side to keep her company as her children Jaehaerys and Shaera were crowned the new king and queen of the seven kingdoms.
Betha and Rhaelys were very close in fact, she probably saw her grandmother more of a mother as she idolized her and wanted to follow her role.
Her older siblings Aerys and Rhaelle were close bond, but since they are married and have a son. They started to fill their role to help their parents rule a kingdom someday.
So Rhaelys is more alone but still has her grandmother to spend time with her.
Betha looked solemn and wore black as dowager queen and widow, yet she seemed to smile at Rhaelys.
"My dear girl, the fire took away the dragons. I must ensure that you won't be burned again." Betha softly told her granddaughter as if she would die by fire any day.
'I must save the last blood of my beloved husband.' So Betha scouted throughout the kingdom to see if there was a husband to protect and cherish her little black dragon.
Betha thought back at her husband's words.
He claimed that he was a dreamer and spoke, "I saw a darling little black dragon who laid with a blue falcon and hatched a beautiful red/orange bird that can burn bright and reborn again."
Blue Falcon?
Betha then got an idea.
She recalled that Jon Arryn had recently lost a wife and her granddaughter could marry into a powerful lord of the East. Her poor granddaughter is scared, and no lord wants to care for or marry her despite her being a princess.
If none of these men is worthy of her then perhaps Lord Arryn will be her husband since it has been centuries since the house of Targaryen had wedded Arryn.
The last one they had was Aemma Arryn, wife to King Viserys I.
Betha then sent herself to work as she managed to convince her son and daughter that Jon Arryn was a powerful lord and that fresh air could do their daughter some good.
"I believed that to spread dragon's blood is returning one to a good house for we too inherited their blood. Why not let any potential child who could very well be Rhaegar's bride someday."
It convinced them enough.
Ever since the Tragedy of Summerhall, they feared that their family would die out sooner than later.
So, Jon Arryn has been a widow for over a year. He was surprised that they wished to renew old blood and bond by marrying Princess Rhaelys Targaryen as his wife.
Jon knew his bannermen were weary and worried that he would leave behind no successor.
Despite this, he had his nephew Elbert as his heir in case Jon failed.
On the other hand, he could see this as an honor since the Dowager Queen Betha Blackwood specially commanded that her granddaughter be wedded to the Falcon.
'I have heard that Betha wished to give her favorite granddaughter a bit of happiness in comfort and honor.' Jon thought to himself. He recalled that Princess Rhaelys mastered her reading books, and writings and became involved in helping the King with paperwork since that fire.
Many even jokingly said that she is the Hand of the king despite Tywin Lannister having recently become one.
Jon sighed and nodded to himself.
'Perhaps the gods will grant me a child.'
Years later…
Jon Arryn looked and observed his two wards.
Robert Baratheon heir to Stormlands and the house of Baratheon and Eddard Stark second of the House of Starks.
"My lord," a kind voice made Jon turn to see his wife who grew from a young girl into a woman of twenty years of age.
Despite her burn scar, she smiled beautifully which made his heart flutter a bit.
She was a child then and Queen Betha ordered that they marry, but not bedded until she deemed her body fully capable of bearing children.
The Dowager Queen was a fierce woman to reckon with.
Princess Rhaelys may not have the beauty of her siblings, but she held the Blackwood beauty like her grandmother. Holding in her arms is a daughter, they dubbed her Margaret the Light of the East by her father King Jaehaerys II Targaryen.
Jon Arryn insisted that they named their beautiful daughter after one of his ancestors.
During the Dance of the Dragon, Margaret Arryn was the declared heir by Jeyne Arryn who was her aunt at that time before her untimely death. Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen rejected Maragret's position as heir and declared that a male kin Arryn to rule Vale.
When she told what crimes Rhaenyra had done. She had surprised and shocked the court by spilling all of her sins. Margaret spoke: "The Gods had shown me many of your past mistakes called it if you will. I believed that even they saw that you are an adulteress, murderer, vain, cruel, and promiscuous who dares to wear a crown over sons!"
Queen Rhaenyra was so enraged she ordered Margaret to be eaten by Caraxes.
Caraxes swallowed her whole, but a miracle had proven for years to come. The Seven Faiths rosary around her neck had tickled Caraxes. It is said that the Star of the Sevenths she held in her hand so irritated his throat that he was forced to release her.
People in the court were surprised that Margaret Arryn had survived the dragon unharmed.
It was a sign that the Gods had rejected Rhaenyra and her dragons upon the throne.
Margaret was then beheaded from Daemon Targaryen the Rouge prince by the sword, but the followers of the Faiths then dub her a saint years later.
Jon Arryn figured that with a name like St. Margaret perhaps their daughter could survive a dragon.
Rhaelys smiled at such a story and commented, "I suppose in the end it will be the Arryn's who can outwit a dragon."
His daughter is so beautiful. Her blonde hair seemed to shine as if a yellow flower brightened under the sun and flowed through the gentle wind. Her eyes are truly Arryn's sky-blue eyes.
Tis a blessing in disguise as despite not having a son, he has a daughter seemed to make it worth it.
"Is she warm enough?" Jon fussed around his daughter since he deemed her a miracle child. The Light of the Vale indeed is a well earn name for his Maragret.
"Margaret is wrapped up tight, but she seemed to want to fight her nursemaids with her fist." She giggles at her daughter's fussiness.
Margaret indeed has dragon blood in her. However, Rhaelys liked to believe Margaret inherited more Blackwood stubbornness.
Rhaelys looked down at her husband's wards that he fostered. Robert Baratheon reminded her of her dear cousin Steffon Baratheon.
There were times she thought of marrying her cousin, but she knew that Cassana would be a better match since she lived close to him.
Eddard Stark, or rather Ned, is a quiet but good boy.
She is sure that his father would know what the future holds for him.
"Princess," Jon brought her mind back to him. He called her princess caused she held that title even after her marriage to Jon Arryn.
"I have heard that the King wished for us to attend the tourney at Harrenhal." He is cautious.
The years have not been good for her older siblings.
Rhaegar and Viserys are the only purebred Targaryen that survived. The Queen had a difficult time conceiving and producing living children.
Poor princess Elia Martell gave birth to their daughter Rhaenys Targaryen and carried another baby in her womb.
They prayed it would be a boy. The princess's health is frail and everyone is holding their breath for her son.
"Yes," Rhaelys wondered what happened to her big brother who always made her smile, cheered her up and even held her when she was upset.
He has been changed for the worse. She wrote her letters to her siblings and nephew Rhaegar in hopes that all was well between them.
Aerys seemed to snap out whatever he had in his mind when he was given a raven from his little sister, they said he cherished her letters and gave the order to take care of not defiling them. He treated them as if she sent him jewels or important books to share.
Rhaella seemed to feel comfort in receiving her letters and mentioned that she longed to see her little sister.
Rhaegar does hold his aunt in high regard and wishes to speak confidentially.
"I think it is time to let our daughter meet her royal uncle and aunt, don't you, my lord?"
Jon debated, but he supposed it wouldn't hurt to let her siblings see their daughter.
The day of the tourney at Harrenhal Jon had hoped to ease that awful feeling. He doesn't know why, but he felt something bad was going to happen.
Something that made him ill-prepared.
"Come closer," King Aerys ordered Jon Arryn and Princess Rhaelys to present themselves and their daughter Margaret.
"Oh,' Aerys cackled at Margaret's adorable face as her little hand wanted to reach for him. Probably curious who is this man?
"It seemed that Margaret recognized her king." Aerys took hold of his niece which surprised many guests. Thou, Jon felt tense as did his wife. They knew the king's short-fused temper, but they secretly sighed in relief that he returned their daughter to them. They bowed before the king and departed from his presence.
The next day, something horrified the kingdom forever.
Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen presented the crown of love and beauty to Lyanna Stark who was betrothed to Robert Baratheon.
Margaret gasped in surprise. For all the letters she received she never thought Rhaegar would do this to his wife.
His action had dishonored his wife forever in favor of another woman.
Rain came down that tourney the rest of the day.
Margaret talked with her husband that night.
"I don't know what to think. This is not like my nephew at all. He was good and dutiful. Sometimes a daydreamer, but never I have seen such folly before." Rhaelys is frustrated. Her nephew should know better. Elia is a king and a gentlewoman that she had greets her like a niece with a kiss on the cheek.
'Poor Elia.' Rhaelys mourned for her dear good niece. Rhaegar had ridden past her in humiliation and gave the crown of love and beauty to Lyanna Stark.
Jon nodded as he understood his wife.
Thou, he didn't like how chaotic it was going on in that family.
He hopes that Rhaegar doesn't have any ill intent on the House of Stark and Baratheon.
Though he is more concerned with Dorne as they heard an insult to their beloved princess would no doubt hate the Targaryen more.
Everyone packed their belongings and left after the tourney was over and done.
Peace is restored in the House of Arryn as Jon is content with his wife and daughter.
Nothing was going to happen.
That is until that day it turned out worse.
A few days later, Lyanna Stark went missing and Brandon was arrested.
The king did another cruel thing to the House of Arryn.
"BY ORDER OF KING AERYS II OF HOUSE OF TARGARYEN, PRINCESS RHAELYS TARGARYEN MUST RETURN TO KINGSLANDING WITH THE INFANT PRINCESS MARGARET!"
"Jon…!" His lady wife called out to her husband in fear as she held her daughter tightly. Margaret shrieks and cries as she doesn't like what is going on here.
The royal retainers took Princess Rhaelys from their household along with a crying infant in her arms.
Jon and a few of his banners like Yohn Royce try to reach for the princess. They went after them to plead not to take them away. Servants and maids were crying in fear for the princess and the daughter.
Jon tried to reach them but he was shoved away.
He hit the ground hard. "NGH!" He was helped up by Yohn as he cried out to his wife and child.
"Rhaelys! Margaret!"
Rhaelys was put in the carriage by force with her daughter. "Jon! Please!"
Her last words as they locked up the carriage. They rolled away as the retainers went back as ordered by the king taking the princess and her child.
Rumors spread from the East; the king had taken them away against Jon Arryn's will.
Many of the common folks from Vale are outraged. How dare that mad king take his wife and daughter.
There were even worse rumors that he was going to make her his second wife since he could not wait on the first queen. That he was going to kill Queen Rhaella to replace her with Lady Arryn.
It didn't sit well on Jon as he had written thousands of ravens to Kingslandings. Pleading the King to return his wife and daughter to him. He went as far as to negotiate with the king.
He received no ravens.
It went silent.
No news came over what happened to his wife and child. He feared what the mad king would do to them.
That is until they heard about the tragic death of Rickard Stark burned by wildfire and Brandon Stark choked by a rope for trying to reach his father.
It became a final straw as the King ordered Jon Arryn, in exchange for returning his wife and child, Jon Arryn to turn over Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon (who were still in the Eyrie) to await the king's justice.
His wife secretly sent a message to not do it. His wife knows that even if he did it, her brother wouldn't let them go.
Jon called the banners and rebelled against the Mad King.
'Hold on, I'm coming!'
Jon fervently thought as he focused on winning this rebellion war to free his wife and child.
It became one year of Robert's rebellion and all he could think of was his wife and daughter.
The Red Keep is guarded by Lannisters as they wish to declare by their new king oath Robert Baratheon.
Jon had his men search for his wife and child.
They searched and searched until one of his men found his wife.
"Oh, oh!" Jon collapsed as he kneeled to his dead wife. He let out a yell in grief over his dead wife.
"ARGHHHHH!" Jon wailed as his men cried in tears and some who to their shame were less brave as they looked away from the dead woman's appearance.
How could they?
It would appear that his wife had shared that same cruel fate as Queen Helaena Targaryen who was jumped from the Maegor's Holdfast and died on the spikes below.
Though back in his dark thoughts.
What if she didn't jump? What if this was ordered by Tywin Lannister to push her from Maegor's Holdfast?
His Yohn Royce came back and yelled for Jon.
"My lord! Come quick!"
Jon quickly followed Lord Royce as they went back to the chambers where the princess was imprisoned. Behind the mirror lay his daughter who seemed to grow as a one-year-old.
Margaret was wrapped tightly with a blanket and a toy that was her doll. She wears her mother's necklace that was gifted to her by Betha Blackwood.
It would appear that his wife put their daughter on a fake wall to hide her from the rebels.
"Margaret!" He crawled to her and held his daughter tight. She is heavy on sleep drought. She was asleep as she rubbed her eyes looking at the strange man who was not her mama.
She is alive. By God, she lives!
Jon cried tearfully as he held his daughter.
They returned to Red's Keep. Margaret seemed curious as she looked around when Jon held her not letting her go.
Despite her bearing the blood of a dragon, she is still part of Arryn, so she is safe for now.
Jon was horrified at what the Lannisters has done, killing and raping Princess Elia Martell and her children. Worse, Robert seemed to like that idea, which horrified him more.
Margaret needs to be kept safe. So, in order to do so, he sent his daughter to be fostered by Yohn Royce to guard and protect her.
Jon can only pray that she will live far longer and have a happier life.
Reviews are welcome.
Margaret Arryn was based on a live saint named Saint Margaret of Antioch It is said that while in prison, Margaret encountered the devil, who approached her in the form of a dragon. When the devil/dragon attempted to swallow Margaret, it is said that the cross she held in her hand so irritated his throat that he was forced to release her.
Next Chapter, Margaret fostered life in Runestones and ideas for the future.