Chapter 2
Dragonstone, the Crownlands
303 AC
Daenerys said nothing for several minutes; the silence was almost deafening. She had been stunned into shock by the revelation of being reunited with two long-lost family members. Jae didn't know if her silence was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Do you have any proof that Jaehaerys is my nephew? I don't mean to sound heartless or bitchy. I want to know if there is any proof to back up his claim to be my nephew." Daenerys spoke for the first time in several minutes.
"I have some proof. A letter from Lord Howland Reed saying he was there the day I was born at the Tower of Joy in the Prince's Pass in Dorne. He, along with my uncle Eddard Stark and several other men, went to Dorne at the end of the Rebellion to bring my mother home.
My father Rhaegar had left the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Gerold 'White Bull' Hightower, Ser Oswell 'the Bat' Whent, and the Sword of the Morning himself, Ser Arthur Dayne, to protect my mother and me. The Kingsguards are sworn to protect members of the Royal Family. It would make sense that I am Rhaegar's son. But I do have some other proof. I found this in my mother's tomb in Winterfell. It's a marriage certificate of sorts. Signed and witnessed by the Septon who married them.
My father Rhaegar, mother Lyanna, and Elia Martell. Along with the three kingguardsmen. That's all the proof I have. Daenerys" Jae handed the piece of parchment to his aunt to read.
"There is someone else who may be able to corroborate this. And see if this is indeed my brother's handwriting, along with that of my good sister Elia." Daenerys was tiny compared to him as she almost glided along the stone floor to the large double doors of the throne room.
His aunt spoke in a tongue Jae didn't understand. Dothraki or Valyrian, perhaps? Aemon had begun to teach him some Valyarian who knows it may come in handy for him one day; you never know.
Ghost left Jae and Aemon's side, trotting over to Daenerys, burrowing his massive white head under her tiny hand, whining for pets.
"Oh, hello there." His aunt's face lit up with a smile and laughter as Ghost acted like a puppy rather than a fully grown direwolf the size of a war horse.
"He's the largest wolf I've ever seen."
"He's a Direwolf. He's possibly the last of his litter. My uncle, cousins, and I found them on our way back to Winterfell. He was the runt of his litter. Now he's the last of them. I know some of what happened to his littermates.
Greywind, my cousin Robb's Direwolf, died alongside him at the Red Wedding. I have no clue what happened to Lady. My cousin Sansa's direwolf or Nymiera, my cousin Arya's direwolf. They were the only girl pups in the litter.
Shaggydog was my cousin Rickon's direwolf. He and his wolf died not long after each other. He was killed when we took Winterfell back from the Boltons. As for Summer, my cousin Bran's direwolf. He could still be alive with him beyond the wall," Jae explained.
"Does he have a name?"
"Ghost, not just for his white fur; he's quiet as a ghost; he barely made a sound as a pup." Ghost yipped happily as Dany scratched the massive wolf behind the ears.
"It suits him well. I've asked my hand, Ser Barristan, to come read the letter. He knew Rhaegar and could tell if that was my brother and Elia Martell's handwriting."
"Do you not believe me in what I'm telling you?" Jae asked. He understood her apprehension to believe the wild tale that Jae was her long-lost nephew.
"I want to believe you, Jaeherys. I do. But there is little proof of the fact save for what you have told me plus this letter."Dany wanted to believe that what her uncle and the man who was possibly her nephew said was true. If Jaehaerys was indeed her nephew. Then House Targaryen could continue through the bloodline of her nephew and not die with her and Aemon.
"My Queen, you sent for me." Ser Barristan Semly, also known as the Bold, entered the Throne Room.
"Ser Barristan, it seems that my great-uncle Aemon is not the only long-lost family I have found. Jon Stark may turn out to be my nephew by the blood of my brothers Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark.
He has a document here that seems to be a wedding certificate of some sort. Perhaps signed by my brother and Elia Martell, as well as being witnessed by three Kingsguardsmen of my fathers. I believe Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, and the Lord Commander, Ser Gerold Hightower. Is there any truth to this?" Daenerys explained to her hand while trying not to notice how handsome her possible nephew was.
No one said anything as Ser Barristan read the document Jae had found in his mother's tomb. The former kingguard looked over the parchment paper several times.
"That is your brother Rhaegar and Princess Elia's handwriting, sure enough. That is the signature of the White Bull Ser Gerold Hightower, the Bat Ser Oswell Whent, and Ser Arthur Dayne. It's a good possibility that Jon Stark is your nephew.
There is proof, not only with this letter, that says he is true born. But he may take after his mother's side more than the Targaryen side, but there is much of your brother in him, my Queen. His nose and chin, for one. There would be one way to determine above all else if he is indeed a Targaryen.
Your dragons My Queen. They would be able to determine if he is indeed a Targaryen." Ser Barristan advised.
"It would, but the last person they didn't take a shine to was burned horribly and died three days later." Daenerys had not been in Meeren when Quentyn Martell had been burned, and he later died of his burns three days later after being burned badly by Rhaegal.
"They won't hurt anyone with the blood of a dragon niece. Jaehaerys will be fine. Has anyone else been close to them without being burned?" Aemon spoke.
"Only Lord Tyrion, Uncle," Dany answered.
The four of them left the castle, heading for the clifftops where the dragons Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion had their nests. Ghost trotted along happily with them. Nose to the ground, smelling everything along the way to the dragons.
"What are their names, and what do they look like?" Aemon asked, his arm securely locked with Dany's
"Drogon is the biggest of the three; his black scales are slashed with streaks of vivid scarlet red. His horns and wings are also scarlet red, and his eyes are as red as coals. They say he is the Black Dread. Come again.
Next is Rhaegal; he was named for Rhaegar. He is smaller than Drogon, but he and Viserion are around the same size. He is green and bronze in color. His dark scales and wings are jade-green, and his eyes are like molten gold.
Lastly, there is Viserion. He's the sweetest of the three. He's cream-colored, but his horns, wing bones, and spinal crest are gold-colored. Like Rhaegal, his eyes are like molten gold. His name is for my other brother, Viserys. Drogon was named after my husband, Drogo." Daenerys described her dragons to her great-uncle.
"I curse the gods for taking my eyesight. What I wouldn't give to see a dragon, if only for a moment."
Ghost trotted past them, sniffing around where the dragon's nest where. Rhaegal eyed the wolf with molten gold eyes. He showed no fear as he went right up to Rhaegal, placing his front paws on Rhaegal's snout.
"Ghost" Jae cautioned his direwolf. The last thing he needed was for Ghost to end up burned to a crisp. After pissing off Jae's aunt's dragons,
'Who are you?' Rhaegal asked
'They call me Ghost' Ghost replied with a whin.
'Ghost, I'm Rhaegal; that's Viserion over there, and mama boy over there is Drogon' Rhaegal nodded his massive head in Drogon's direction.
'Who are you calling mama's boy little brother' Drogon growled at his brother.
"What do you think they are saying?" Jae wondered aloud as the dragons and Ghost conversed in their own language.
"They're arguing like brothers do. I suppose Ghost will be like a brother to them, or they would have burned him by now."Dany merely shrugged her shoulders.
Jaehaerys felt a strong pull toward the dragon named in his father's memory. Drogon was so much bigger than Viserion and Rhaegal.
"Is there a reason Drogon is a lot bigger than his brothers?" Jae wondered aloud.
"When we were in Mereen, Drogon he killed a few people. I decided to lock Rhaegal and Viserion in the pyramid. I hated doing it, punishing them for something Drogon did. Tyrion was the one who set them free. That's why Drogon is the bigger of the three. But since they've been on Dragonstone, they've been growing a lot quicker than when we were in the Essos," Dany answered Jae's question.
Rhaegal and Jae approached each other cautiously. The pull toward the green and bronze dragons was strong. Far stronger than the pull that Jae had to Ghost. Tentatively, Jaehaerys held out a hand.
Rhaegal pushed his massive snout into the hand of his rider. 'Kepa, I've been waiting for you.
Jae swore he heard Rhaegal's voice in his head. Was this the Targaryen madness taking hold, or had he really heard the dragon's voice in his mind?
"You spoke to me," Jae uttered in shock.
'Yes Kepa I can speak to you through our bond and the blood of your father, much the same Drogon can with Muna.'
"It's true, then. You are my nephew." Daenerys spoke in wonder at the sight before her as her long-lost nephew bonding with Rhaegal. There would now be two possible dragon riders in the world.
"Aye, it seems so. Is it normal to hear them in your mind?" Jae asked as his aunt joined him and Rhaegal.
"I don't know; I hear Drogon in my mind all the time. Uncle, what do you say?" Daenerys asked Aemon.
"I don't know; I would have to read up on it. It's possible that, with the strong bond you have with your dragons, you can hear them in your subconscious mind. Niece." Aemon answered. He knows a little about dragons, but not a lot. There would have to be books within the Library of Dragonstone that spoke more about dragons and the bond with their riders.
The bond Jae was forming with Rhaegal was vastly different from that of Ghost. It was wilder, fierier, and perhaps more powerful than Jae's bond with Ghost.
Barristan Semly was stunned into silence at the sight before him. Jaehaerys was really a Targaryen. This changed everything. As the sole surviving son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Jaehaery's claim to the Iron Throne was vastly stronger than Queen Daenery's claim to the Iron Throne is now.
The Lords of Westeros would back him to overthrow Cersei Lannister, then they would Daenerys. The best course of action was for both Targaryens to unite their claims. The best alliance was through marriage.
The former Kingsguardman didn't think that would be a problem given the not-so-subtle looks between the two young Targaryens.
"My Queen, now that we know that Jaehaerys is who he claimed to be, there is the matter of who would have the greater claim to the Iron Throne. As the sole surviving son of your brother Rhaegar, Jaehaerys would have the greater claim of the two of you for the Iron Throne." Ser Barristan began.
"Can we discuss this at a later time, Ser. Barristan? Tonight, perhaps I will be dining with my nephew and uncle. For now, I wish to spend some time with them both."
"Yes, my Queen, I will tell your guards you wish not to be disturbed." Ser Barristan bowed, leaving the last three members of House Targaryen together on the clifftops.
"He has a point, Aunt Daenerys."Jae started to say
"Aunt Daenerys makes me feel twenty-name days older than I am at twenty-two. Dany will do fine."
"Alright, Dany, then. But Ser Barrsitan has a point. We need to talk about succession, among other things," Jae finished.
"Is that why you came to press your claim for the Iron Throne?"
"No, that's not why I came. I came to find the only family I had left in this world besides Aemon. I may have been raised as a Stark, but I have never been a Stark. I am a Targaryen. Taking the Iron Throne and uniting the realm is necessary above all else if we are to survive the forthcoming winter. I will tell you more about that later. There was another reason I came to Dragonstone as well, besides finding you." Jaehaerys was interrupted by Rhaegal bumping his head against Jae and demanding attention.
Rhaegal purred like a cat rather than a fire-breathing dragon as Jae scratched him under the chin.
"Have you told anyone else that you are a Targaryen and not Jon Stark?"
"No, only Uncle Aemon. I have a hard time trusting people after my time at the Wall." Jae shook his head. He would have to tell her the truth sooner or later. About how he'd died and been brought back from the dead.
"Not even your hand, Ser Davos, wasn't it?"
"No, I only told Aemon. I will tell Ser Davos soon. Tonight perhaps." The man was the closest thing Jae had to a father. Tormund was like an annoying older brother to him, and Val was well. He and Val had fucked a few times, but they were friends, which was the equivalent of their relationship.
The three remaining members of House Targaryen retired to the keep after spending most of the day up on the cliffs with the dragons. A few of the Unsuilled escorted Jae and Aemon to their rooms.
Ser Davos was waiting for Jae when he returned to his own quarters. "How did it go with Queen Daenerys? You've been gone most of the day."
"As well as can be expected. There is something I have to tell you, Davos. My name is not Jon Snow, nor is Jon Stark. Jon Snow was the name my Uncle Eddard Stark gave me to protect me from Robert Baratheon.
I am not the bastard son of Eddard Stark and some unnamed woman. My real parents are Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. My real name is Jaehaerys Targaryen." Jaehaerys revealed the truth of who he was to Davos.
"How long have you known?" Davos finally spoke after roughly ten minutes of silence.
"Not long after, I was named King in the North. Only Aemon knew before today. Daenerys and her hand, Ser Barristan, know as well. Now you do as well," Jae answered.
"What of Sansa? You didn't tell her."
"I don't trust her, Davos. Not after the whole debacle with the Knights of the Vale, not to mention her trying to undermine me at every turn. She would only use it against me. She wants me out of the way so she can get what she wants—to be queen, most likely.
She was nothing but a spoilt brat when we were younger. I thought things had changed between us, but it seems they never did." Jae didn't trust his cousin as far as he could kick her.
"That is a good enough reason not to tell her. But Queen Daenerys, have you told of your scars or the Army of the Undead?" Davos asked.
"Soon. I will tell her soon. Tonight perhaps"
"You are having dinner with her tonight, then?" Davos questioned.
"Aye, we all are. Aemon, yourself, and I with my aunt and her hand."
In Daenerys rooms, Missandei was helping her get ready for dinner with her long-lost uncle and Nephew. She had asked Ser Barristan to join them as well. Jae had said he would ask Ser Davos Seaworth to join them. There was much they had to discuss.
"You spent a lot of time with the King in the North today. Did he bend the knee?" Missandei quiered as she did Daenery's hair.
"No, he did not, nor did I ask him. My great-uncle, it seemed, was not the only family I found upon my return to Westeros. Jon Stark, it seems, is my nephew Jaehaerys, the sole surviving son of my brother Rhaegar," Dany told her friend, who was like a sister to her.
"If he is your brother's son, would he not have a greater claim than you would?"
"In the eyes of the Lords of Westeros, yes. Jae didn't come here for that." Dany had been thinking about it. Uniting their claims would be the best course of action. That way, those who wished to tear them apart and turn them against each other would fail.
Daenerys hadn't failed to notice how handsome her nephew was. She became lost in her own head as she thought of Jae. She hadn't forgotten the way he had stared at her that morning when they met for the first time.
His gray, purple, with a tint of red eyes, stared straight through her into her very soul. She had never had another man look at her that way. Her nephew had already set her blood aflame, and they had barely known each other for a day.
"Will you need me for anything else tonight, Dany?"Missandei only called her Dany or Daenerys in private when it was just the two of them.
"No, I won't require you for anything else tonight. Go spend time with Grey Worm. I asked that he be off duty tonight for you to spend some time together."Missandei smiled at her friend, sister, and queen before leaving Dany's room.
Jae, Aemon, and Ser Davos were escorted to Daenerys chambers by three Unsullied. Ghost had made himself at home in front of the fireplace in Daenerys chambers. The Great White Wolf was sound asleep.
Ser Barristan arrived only a few moments after Jae, Aemon, and Ser Davos did. There was quite a spread of food. Jae had never seen so much food or variety as there was spread out for them to dine on.
"Ser Davos I take it that my nephew has told you the truth about who he really is." Dany began breaking the ice between the five of them.
"He has Your Grace."
"Speak of that. That was something I wanted to discuss with both of you. Now that the truth about Prince Jaehaerys has come to light, what will be done about succession and about your claim to take the Iron Thorne?
My Queen, if I may be frank, when the truth comes to light, the Lord of Westeros will support Jaehaerys for the simple reason."
"He has a cock." Daenerys cut in
"When you put it as bluntly as that, then yes. A son will be favored more heavily than a sister."
"What if we united our claims together? That would stop any plotting by some who would wish for me to be King over you being Queen," Jae proposed.
"It would be the most logical way forward. Marriage between Nephews and Aunts is not unheard of. Prince Jaehaerys Stark's grandparents were cousins."
"There were a few other things that you both needed to know. I didn't leave my post as Lord Commander due to my cousin's will; there was something else. As you possibly already know, the Free Folks are South of the Wall and helped me take back Winterfell.
My decision to allow the Free Folks south of the Wall was not popular among my men of the Night's Watch. One night, a boy we had taken in Olly he lured me out to the Court Yard of Castle Black under the pretense that a Ranger had news of my missing Uncle Benjen Stark.
There was no man; only the word traitor was written in blood. It was then that I was set upon by my own men. Stabbed to death. The boy, Olly, dealt the killing blow. For almost three days, I was dead.
Only to be brought back from the dead by a Red Priestess, Melisandre. She was at the wall with Stannis Baratheon." Jae finished standing up.
Daenerys was not prepared for the sight of her nephew's scars or the tale of how he got them. "The men who attacked you are they dead Nephew."
"Aye, they're dead. I hung them myself," Jaehaerys answered as he redressed.
Ser Barrsitan had seen his fair share of scars; he himself had his own share of scars. But no man could survive with such scars as the Queen's nephew had. And he hadn't survived, but here he was, as large as life.
"And the other thing you needed to talk with us about?"
"Niece, what do you know of the Long Night?" Aemon cut in.
"The Long Night, what is it?"
"The reason why the Wall was built in the first place What of the prophecy that the dragon must have three heads? There was a prophecy passed down from generation to generation of our house until it was lost during the Dance. The son of Fire and Ice will bring the Dawn."Aemon explained more.
"The Prince that was promised"
"You have heard that saying, then, Niece," Aemon asked.
"Yes, a Red Priestess, Melisandre, was here until yesterday. She was the one who said I should summon you here. Tell you what he has seen beyond the Wall. What is it beyond the Wall Jae"
"An Army of Undead. Led by the Night King and his White Walker Lieutenants. I will not ask you to abandon your campaign here in the South to go north. Cersei Lannister needs to be dealt with first.
With the whole Seven Kingdoms standing together with the armies you brought, we will stand a chance of winning. Alongside having these three things, Fire, Valyrian Steel, and Dragonglass.
We can have fire with your dragons. Valyrian Steel and Dragonglass can be found on Dragonstone. According to Uncle Aemon, there are vaults with Valyrian Steel Weapons inside them. The dragonsglass is here in abundance according to Ser Davos," Jae finished.
"What will you tell your allies, my queen? About your nephew," said Ser Barrsitan.
"I will not ask Jae to hide who he is. The truth will come out sooner or later, Ser Barristan. As we agreed, uniting our claim would be the best course of action. Perhaps you and Ser Davos could hash out the details while I catch up with my nephew and uncle."
"Very well, my Queen." Ser Barristan bowed his head. Taking his leave with Ser Davos.
"Jae, there is something you should know before we even go forward with this marriage. While uniting our claims for the Iron Throne together is the obvious solution to our problem, I can't give you the one thing you will need as King. An heir. I cannot have children. The dragons are the only children I will ever have."
"Who told you that?" Jae asked.
"The witch who cursed me. She brought my husband, Drogo, back with blood magic. He, along with our son Rhaego, died. I burned her, Rhaego, and Drogo to bring the dragons into the world."
"Did you ever think that Witch wasn't the most reliable source of information? Anything can happen. I came back from the dead," Jae proclaimed. "Nothing is impossible, Dany."
"It's a matter of having more faith, dear girl." Aemon smiled as if he knew something Daenerys or Jae didn't. Our House will carry on through the bloodlines of you two. The seed of the Son of Fire and Ice is far stronger than any blood curse that the witch placed on you, Niece. Aemon thought to himself.
The two of you will repopulate House Targaryen. Aemon quipped to himself in his mind.
"What are you smiling about, Uncle?" Daenerys asked, noticing the odd look on her great-uncle's face.
"Oh, nothing, niece. I was just thinking. It is getting late, and it has been a long journey. These old bones of mine could do with a good night's sleep."
"Do you want me to escort you back to your room, Uncle?" Jaehaerys asked
"I will find my way. I may be blind, but I still remember my way around Dragonstone."
"If you are sure." Jae sat back down.
"I will be fine, Nephew. Stop fussing like a mother hen," Aemon said as he left Daenerys's chambers.
"Then there were two."
"Aye, then there were two," Jae agreed, sipping on his goblet of wine. He was never one for wine. He'd never drank it much during his years at Winterfell or Castle Black.
"When do your allies arrive?"
"In a few days, you arrived earlier than expected." Daenerys looked at him over the top of her goblet. For maybe the hundredth time or the thousandth time. He found himself lost in these violet eyes of his.
"Are you ok with this marrying your Nephew? A man you barely know," Jae asked.
"I was raised with the expectation of marrying my brother Viserys. Had Rhaegar lived, perhaps we would have wed each other. You are a far better man than my first husband. I didn't marry him for love.
My brother Viserys sold to him like a broodmare in exchange for an army. The Dothraki are not known for their gentleness. I wasn't in love with Drogo; I loved him for the protection it gave me from Viserys.
Viserys was as mad and cruel as our father, your grandfather. I still to this day remember what he said to me when I said I didn't want to be Drogo's queen. I would let his whole tribe fuck you, all forty thousand men and their horses too, if that's what it took. To get his army to take back the throne.
In the end, I barely recognized the man, who was my older brother. Under the constant threat of assassins, surviving on the streets of the Essos took its toll on both of us. I try to remember the brother I remember, not the husk he was at the end. So marrying my nephew is nothing compared to that of marrying a brother." Dany finished pausing for a moment before turning her attention back to Jae and continuing her story of what had happened to her over the years in the Essos.
"Tell me what it was like growing up in Winterfell," Dany asked, curious to know more about her nephew and his life until now when they had been reunited on Dragonstone.
"My Uncle Eddard named me as his bastard son to protect me from Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister. While I understand why he did it, there are things I can't forgive. My uncle, I suppose, loved me like I was his own son.
I had no friends growing up. To everyone in Winterfell and Wintertown, I was the bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark. A stain on his good name and honor. The only friends I truly had were my older cousin Robb and my other cousin Arya.
My aunt hated me and despised me even. She never knew the truth, even when she, Robb, and everyone else were slaughtered at the Red Wedding. But I doubt it would have made any difference to her.
Catelyn Stark was a spiteful and hateful woman. She was never physically violent with me. But you don't have to be violent, especially, to abuse them. She made my life a living hell all my life.
She and the Septa never let me forget my place. I was lucky then some I suppose I had a roof over my head, warm food in my belly, and clothes on my back. I was treated no better than a dog.
My uncle's ward and hostage, Theon Greyjoy, was treated better than I was. He was given a room in the Keep. I was put out with the dogs and horses. For as long as I can remember, I begged my uncle to tell me anything about my mother, but he made excuse after excuse.
He still refused to tell me anything the last time we saw each other. When I went to Castle Black to take the Black and he went south to Kings Landing to be Lord Hand to Robert Baratheon. 'The next time we see each other, I'll tell you about your mother. That was the last words he spoke to me," Jae told Dany of his childhood growing up in Winterfell.
"What would you have done if he had told you the truth about who you really were?"
"I would have come looking for you both. Growing up in Winterfell, I never felt like I belonged, even after I was named King in the North. I never felt like a Stark, even after Robb named me Jon Stark in his will.
Since coming to Dragonstone earlier today and having met you, I felt like a part of myself that has always been missing has been restored, if that makes any sense at all."
"It makes perfect sense, Nephew." Dany reached a hand across the table, taking his larger, rougher hand in her smaller hand.
"What happened to your palm?" Dany asked, noticing the faint burn scar on Jae's hand.
"I burned myself, grabbing a lantern to kill an undead man who was going to kill my Lord Commander. Not all of us are fireproof," Jae smiled, and Daenerys smiled back at him. She had barely known him for less than a day, and it felt like they had known one another for years.
"What of your time with Watch? You don't have to tell me. How was it that you met the Free Folks?"
"Not long after I joined the Watch, I was sent beyond the Wall to infiltrate the Free Folkes, led by a man named Mance Rayder. I captured a Free Folkes Spear Wife by the name of Ygritte, and in turn, she ended up capturing me.
All my life, I had been told to hate the Free Folks. They were nothing like I had been told they were. Ygritte and I became lovers. When the truth came out that I was a member of the Night's Watch. She said you know nothing, Jon Snow; I do know something; I do know I love you, I foolishly said.
It was never love between us. My first time was not of my choosing. Some wouldn't call it rape. I ever had to fuck her break my vows, or she would have killed me in a cave beyond the Wall. But it was rape in some ways."
"What did she do when the truth came out?" Dany asked, interrupting.
"Put three arrows in my back. Somehow, I made it back to Castle Black. By the time I recovered, I was told what had happened to Robb and those who were killed at the Red Wedding. Yet I stayed. I became Lord Commander of the Night's Watch by one vote by Aemon.
Not long after, the Free Folkes attacked the Wall. Ygritte was killed by an arrow through the heart. I suppose in some way I did love her, but I wasn't in love with her. Stannis Baratheon showed up at the Wall looking for an army.
The rest, you know." Jaehaerys had a far-away look in his eye.
"What happened between you hanging the men who made an attempt on your life and you being made King in the North?"
"A few days after I hung the men who tried to kill me, my cousin Sansa turned up at Castle Black with her sworn shield, Brienne of Tarth, and Brienne's squire, Podrick Payne. After my uncle's execution, Sanas was set aside to marry Tyrion.
The day of what people call the Purple Wedding. Joffrey Baratheon was poisoned on his wedding day. The finger of blame was pointed at Tyrion. Sansa fled the capital, headed to the Eyrie by Lord Petyr Baelish, also known as Little Finger.
She was later sold to Ramsay Bolton. The Boltons ruled the North after they betrayed my cousin at the Red Wedding. Ramsay was cruel and a madman. She and Theon, my uncle's former ward, escaped Winterfell by jumping from the battlements and fleeing into the Wolf Woods.
Brienne and Podrick saved them from the Bolton soldiers pursuing them. Theon left and headed back to the Iron Islands, or so Sansa told me. I thought she had changed during our years apart. We had never been close when we were growing up.
But time had done nothing to change her attitude toward me. She played me for a fool. My cousin, the youngest, Rickon, was captured by Ramsay. He was just as cruel as my grandfather and uncle, if not more so.
Sansa suffered similarly to you at the hands of Ramsay and Joffrey Baratheon. We gathered as many men as we could. There was one vital piece of information she failed to tell me. Before we even left Castle Black, Lord Baelish offered the support of the Knights of the Vale to help take back Winterfell.
She never told me any of this. Rickon was killed right in front of me. I almost reached him when Ramsay put an arrow through his heart. He was just a boy of ten and one name days when he died.
For whatever reason, Sansa wanted both Rickon and me to die on that battlefield that day. We almost lost the battle until the Knights of the Vale turned up at the last second. I confronted her about the day after the battle. She gave some excuse to the effect of. I didn't know if they would come.
It was from then on that I lost all trust in her. I never said a word to her about me being a Targaryen rather than a Snow. She can't be trusted. And the hopes she had of being Queen in the North were dashed when Robb's will was read, naming me his heir, and she was removed from the line of succession or any of the children she bears. But she and Littlefinger are plotting something." Jae finished his tale.
"Who rules the North while you are here?"
"Sansa, but I have people I trust to keep an eye on her and Little Finger. They will report back to me what is going on." Brienne and Podrick had agreed to keep a close eye on Sansa, but like Jae, they didn't trust Littlefinger.
Dany contemplated all her nephew had told her of his life until they had been reunited today. Like her, he had suffered terrible hardships. She couldn't help but wonder how different things would have turned out had Jae been by her side from the start.
They couldn't go back and change the past; they could only look forward to the future and their future together. Before they left, Mereen, and after she dumped Daario, Ser Barristan, and Tyrion had both told her the best way to make an alliance was through marriage.
And she was making an alliance with her long-lost nephew. It would bring the North into the fold possible. The last thing Daenerys wanted to be thinking about right now was politics when her sinful, handsome nephew sat across from her.
Was it a bit soon to think of bedding him? They had barely known each other for twenty-four hours yet. But a part of Dany was ready to throw caution to the wind and have her way with Jaehaerys.
A fire burned within her that hadn't burned when she had been with Drogo or Daario. But Jae was different. There had been a spark lit between them when they met for the first time in the throne room.
Jae too was having similar thoughts as he looked at the Valyrian goddess, who was his aunt. Fuck it. Jae swore to himself in his mind. There was undeniable sexual tension and attraction between the two of them.
Life was too short to think of the what-if anyway.
"Dany" Jae pressed his lips to hers. A surge of electricity went off between them as they kissed. Both felt like they had been struck by lightning as their lips touched for the first time.