ARTHUR: The chapters will all be the same except until this chapter 16. I have decided to come back and the story will be very different going forward after this chapter. There will be another note at the end of this chapter to answer questions you may have.

Robb

It was the feeling of his eyelids being peeled back did the heir of Winterfell awoke. He was greeted with the wide grin of Arya and the smirk of Jon snow. It was Arya that held his eye open. "Wake up! Wake up!" She whispered, at least having the decency to not wake up his lady wife. "We want you awake."

Robb swatted her hand away. "You accomplished that without fail. You have my congrats and my leave." He made sure his voice show his displeasure.

"We also want you to get up, my lord," Jon suggested.

"For what?"

"I promised Arya that we were going to see the God's eye this morn."

"Why do I have to come with you?" Robb challenged tiredly. "And weren't we going to the lake at nightfall?"

Jon's face was guarded. "You know why I'm not going."

"You're not?" Arya questioned. "Why?" She looked between the two and found no answer.

"I also wanted to show her something else."

Jon's voice was telling. Robb actually rolled back to them and looked him in the eye. "Do you jest?" Jon was not joking. "That thing is a monster. And Arya is just a little girl."

"What monster?" Arya said with frustration. "And I'm not a little girl!"

Jon opened his mouth to protest but paused his face shifting. Robb never knew what Jon was thinking. Whether he was angry or said, Robb always took an educated guess. But Jon left the pavilion quickly.

"Jon!" Arya shouted. Alys stirred and sat up in bed in a sleepy daze.

It must not be good, Robb thought grimly. He got up and dressed.

"What's happening?" Alys asked, now alert.

"I don't know. But I shall find out," Robb said, now in his white and grey doublet. He looked at Arya. "Stay here."

He knew Arya was not going to obey and left before she can respond. It was outside of his tent and his guards stood his mother.

"Mother," Robb greeted.

His mother cut right to the business. "Robb, there is something we need to discuss," Catelyn said, urgency lacing her voice.

Whatever Jon is dealing with he can handle it, Robb decided hesitantly. Until he clears up whatever his mother has trouble with.

They walked along the camping site of the north until the tents grew thin, the trees grew thick, and the guards fell back but not out of sight. The massive form of Grey wind came hopping at their heels, his yellow eyes always alert.

Catelyn eyed the wolf thoughtfully and looked at Robb. "The matter is about Jon."

Robb grew rigid and his gloved fingers clenched. "Your feelings about my brother are no concern of mind."

"He's not yo-," Catelyn started.

"Yes, he is!" Robb barked, his temper flaring. "He lived with us, played with us since I was just a little boy. What you say can't change that. He is more Stark than you can ever be." There was a low rumble in Grey wind's throat, low and dangerous.

His mother's face grew taut. "I say he is not your brother because I know the truth, Robb."

Robb's anger melted away as quickly as it came. "You know?" His surprise was expressed in the widening of his eyes.

"Your father told me the truth soon after Jon returned."

"He didn't see fit to tell me," Robb grumbled. "He didn't see fit to tell you a long time ago. Jon could've been spared from a lot of anguish."

"I know." Eyes so alike his own looked into his imploringly. "And I'm truly sorry for causing that, I am. I've told him that himself. But Robb, this is not why I brought you over here."

"Then what is it?" Robb was curious now.

Catelyn's face hardened and determination set on her face. "Jon is the rider."

Robb was so shocked he couldn't form a response.

"Do not lie to me, Robb. I've raised you since you were a babe at my breast. I know you tried to brush off the truth after his duel with darkstar. But I know you when you try to lie."

Her hands went to his cheek. "Oh Robb, the danger we are in."

Robb shook off her hand. "I thought having a dragon would be the exact opposite."

"No, it is the exact reason. That dragon is wild and dangerous."

"Jon is a warg," Robb said, enjoying the look of astonishment on her face. "With his valyrion blood too, he has it under control." Ever since Jon told him that he thinks all of them can warg too, Robb had begged him to teach him. Jon promptly refused and said they can wait until they returned to the north.

Catelyn still had the determined glint in her eye. "What if others learn of his identity hmm? If no danger is apparent to us but what about to him? They will try to use him, bed him and have his children and his dragon."

Robb's mind was a mess. "That's not going to happen." Yet, he thought of the interactions of Jon and the dragon princess. When they danced, it seemed intimate and unbefitting of a princess to dance with a bastard. Yet it still happened. Robb also noticed the looks that princess Arianne and her cousins sent Jon's way. But it's harmless. His secret is still intact.

"Nobody knows," Robb told her. "No one will know."

"How do you know?" Catelyn pressed desperately. "And even worse, what would people say when they found out his parentage? The realm would descend back into war Robb!"

Robb tried to find the words to ease his mother. "Jon said nobody will know! He gave his word."

"If the word does come out, the king will want your father's head. Jon can stop them with his dragon…or he won't. What side would he choose?"

"Us!" Robb growled, his stark temper flaring again.

Catelyn pressed her lips together. "As you say. All I wanted to do was plead caution. A dragon rider is powerful but not invincible as his ancestors proved in the dance. A dragon will lay eggs, Robb. Jon might not be the only one with a dragon forever."

Catelyn smoothed out her attire and swept away. Her guards with the trout of Tully upon their breastplate fell in step.

Robb's journey back to his tent felt longer than it really was. Jon was back and stood with Arya, Tyrion, and Alys.

"We were waiting for you." Arya had her arms crossed, clearly miffed about being left behind.

"Arya said you walked off with Lady Stark. What's wrong," Jon said, ever observant.

"She just wanted to give me an earful about the setup of the camp. Someone reported a brawl between a dornish man and a northerner." Robb's belly burned with the lie.

"I did say you were a little bit too lenient about the spots," Alys gently reprimanded. "You know there is bad blood between them and us. We should've been farther away."

"I agree. Being closer to the river ain't such a bad thing," Jon said. Robb just had to look once at Jon to know he didn't believe the horseshit he just spilled out. What would he think? Robb clenched his fists. He would think we are scheming behind his back. He has just returned to us. We are not going to set him off again.

"Are we ready to set out now?" Tyrion Lannister inquired. "I was reading an interesting tomb that I liked to get back to."

"What is it?" Arya asked curiously. "Reading is boring."

"Reading is only boring to the most boring, little girl. And the one just happened to be about the process of dragons birthing eggs."

Robb closed his eyes.

"We are ready to go," Jon decided. "Your wife stays here."

"I wish to go with." Alys frowned when Robb wrapped his arm around her and kissed her head.

"I will be back soon," he promised. Alys glared at him and retreated back into their tent.

It seems everyone is mad at me today, Robb thought musingly.

They all looked at him with smiles.

All three Starks were riding on their respecting Direwolves as they were now larger than any horse. Tyrion, the only one on a normal mount, struggled to keep his mare from running off in terror in such close proximity to the rare animals. "Relax," Tyrion kept saying with a death grip on the reins. "Relax, that's an order from the dwarf of Casterly Rock!"

As Arya and Tyrion rode on ahead, Robb was beside Jon. The greenery pressed all around them. Deers, stray dogs, and sorts of creatures lopped away at the sight of them.

"Something is bothering you."

Robb rubbed the ears of Grey wind. "Remember what we talked about? About the princess?"

"What about it?" Jon looked at him.

Robb looked into lilac eyes. "I think you are right."

"I am?" Jon said with a pleasant surprise. "You never admit when I'm right, Stark. And I'm right most of the time."

Robb couldn't find it in himself to banter. "I'm thinking about what can happen if your relationship with her blossoms." He couldn't hold Jon's gaze.

"Nothing is going to happen. She is my half-sister. She may not know but I know." Jon shook his dark hair. "Nothing will come out of it, I promise you."

"From what I have seen, that is untrue. What happened back at the feast by the bank? We retired back into our tents, but where were you?"

Jon put his eyes forward. "I never knew you were so interested in my doings. I did not say a word when you and Theon went to winter town and did as you two wished." We brought you along Jon. But you refused to touch a single thing that moved. Are you still the same?

Robb laid a hand on Jon's shoulder. "It's my job as the older brother to look out for the little brother. If anybody knows you have a dragon, she and everybody will want to use you and seek harm to you."

Jon gave him a side-eye. "You were born only a couple of months before me. There's nothing little about me."

"A couple of months still mean a couple of months older right?" Robb shot back with a grin. "Don't tell me all those years on dragon back knocked all the sense from your skull."

"No, all the years of me knocking you to the ground in the courtyard knocked all the sense from your skull," Jon shot back with a smile.

They went back and forth like the old days. Robb felt at peace. His brother was finally with them again.

Jon

Something happened, Jon thought as they fell into a comfortable silence. Robb's voice had an edge to it, almost like a plea on his lips. Jon noticed it but did not comment on it. Jon had a few ways to gather the truth if he wanted to but strayed his tongue. If it was important, it will come out sooner than later. The truth will always come out, just like blood.

Undergrowth and leaves crunched as they advanced further into the woods. "What was that?" Arya demanded as something unusual grew louder in volume. She slowed Nymeria. Her wolf crouched and bared her fangs. Grey wind followed right after. Ghost stayed silent and calm. Tyrion's horse reared and fled with him on its back despite the dwarf's loud slurs.

The noise increased as did the vibrations in the earth. Birds fled. The trees parted and were torn out of the ground with their roots scattering in the air. Rocks broke apart. Leaves scattered and blew in the breeze. A dark shadow loomed over the earth.

"Gods…" Rob's face was pinched with raw fear.

Arya stared at the dragon with fear but also with amazement. "It's the black dread…"

"No," Jon said with a small smile. "It's worse."

Cannibal's emerald eyes held the bloodlust that can never be sated. Its black sharp teeth, larger than any man, were drenched in the blood of its latest snack. The wild beast eyed the animals of the north hungrily. Jon sent a command calmly, letting it be known they were friends of his. The direwolves still bared their sharp fangs but wisely took a step back or two.

"You're the rider," Arya said to him, wonder in her grey eyes. Excitement played at her lips. Jon smiled, knowing that she would react like this.

"I am, and before you ask any questions." Jon put a gloved finger up, closing Arya's mouth quickly. "I wanted to give you something."

He dismounted Ghost and steadily walked to Cannibal. Jon knew the beast was prickly and petty. Jon knew it was mad for keeping it away from him for so long. The dragon had pride, and it considered it a blessing for Jon to be even near it. He had to be careful.

"Hey." Jon reached its large ebony snout and placed a hand on it. He got a low growl in response. I know you're angry, Jon thought to him. But I'm sorry, very sorry. Cannibal narrowed its green eyes and opened its mouth. Jon tensed but only a breeze, albeit very warm, soothed over him and his clothes. It was a warning, Jon realized with a shiver. It took a minute to get into his saddle to get into his large golden with all the sorts of belongings he discovered in Valyria.

Back on the ground, he strode back over to them. He stopped in front of the stunned Arya, a gleaming Valyrian sword in his hands. "That's mine?!" Arya couldn't help but blurt out. Nymeria sniffed at the blade curiously.

"It is yours," Jon confirmed. "I'll maybe give you an even better blade when you can prove to me you can be decent with this." Arya took the dagger in her hands and gave him a smile that warmed his heart.

"Where's my blade at?" Robb demanded. "I want one too!"

"You have to beat me in the yard first, Stark!" Jon said. Where is Tyrion? The man had galloped when his horse panicked but Jon thought he would be back by now. He was supposed to be here to help with the eggs. Cannibal can be hatching any minute now. I felt it. Something gleamed in the sun, specifically something in Cannibal's mouth. Jon took a closer look to see it was shards of egg shells.

"No," Jon whispered in horror. The thunder of hooves echoed around them. The direwolves threw off their owners and stood in front of them protectively, snapping savagely. Jon and Robb took out their swords. The Valyrian sword in Jon's hands screamed for blood. Cannibal stood and growled loudly.

It was then that they saw men on their war horses emerge from the trees. They were armored from helm to foot and they bore no banners of arms. Their armor was plain grey with no hint of their allegiance. Yet, they all froze in fear of the snarling dragon in front of their face.

"It's the dragon!"

"It's Cannibal!"

"Fire!"

"Calm, calm, calm!" Jon pleaded to Cannibal. In that instant, whether by nerves or by stupidity a loose arrow struck the armored scales of the dark dragon. It was useless, but the damage was all the same. Jon tackled Robb and Arya as green fire flew out overhead. The effect was immediate. The men were cooked like chicken in their heavy armor. Horses cried and were roasted too before Cannibal marched over and munched them whole. There was movement in the woods, and more fire the shade of jade chased the targets. Trees and bushes were set aflame. The fire spread quickly and was deadly by the wind of Cannibal's wings. Smoke and death rose.

"Get up!" Jon yelled, yanking Robb and Arya to their feet. "We have to move now! He's not going to stop." They were on their direwolves, and were soon sprinting past trees and fire until all was a blur.

Darkstar

It was painfully humiliating walking through the grounds of Harrenhal with a limp at every stop. On the other side of him Joffrey Targaryen, with a wineskin, was clearly being humored by his struggles.

"How does my father feel more offended on the traitorous behalf than his own son?" Joffrey was ranting. "Mother said I was right putting that bastard in his place. He shouldn't have laid a hand on the dragon!"

To be truthful, Darkstar was tired of all the whining and pouting the golden-haired boy did. So, he stayed quiet and nodded his head whenever the long haired Targaryen looked over for approval.

"You are limping," Joffrey pointed out with glee. His golden curls were as bright as the sun itself.

You don't think I know that you imbecile? Darkstar had to curb down the pit of anger in his stomach. Joffrey, even with his appearance being solely Lannister was still a Targaryen by blood and ranks higher than him by far. And the welp has the means to do what I cannot.

"Yes, I know," he said tightly.

"How did the bastard of Winterfell best you so? There were talks that you were the most dangerous man in Dorne. Well, it is the gods' blessing that he is of the north." Joffrey took a deep swing of his wine.

"This is why we came to an agreement." Darkstar raised his purple eyes to meet haughty green ones.

"Yes, yes, yes," the Targaryen boy waved away impatiently. "The bastard will be dead soon enough."

Joffrey was most eager to comply with his demands. "That bastard dared to upstart me in front of my father and my family," Joffrey had raged. "Blackfyre was supposed to be mine to have and mine to give!" They had snow and his family followed until this morn was a report they were setting out on a trip. A dozen armored men with no coat of arms were bought with gold to see the job done. Some of the men came from the free cities of Essos and were eager to get even better pay for the bounty of the white wolf.

Darkstar let himself get drunk with excitement. Does the bastard think he can get the best of me and threaten me in my own chambers? I am the sword of the night.

"At least when your cousin dies, the sword of the morning, Dawn has a good chance of passing off to you," Joffrey said. "You are the best sword's men in house Dayne after Arthur. At least that's what they say."

"I am better than him," Gerold snapped. "I've always been. The sword happened to be passed down to the wrong man."

"Right." Darkstar can see the smirk Joffrey tried to hide behind his sips. He wanted to carve a new smile on his insolent face, a bloody smile.

His dark musings were interrupted by the sight of smoke, black and high and twisting in the air. It was across the shore, surrounded by the press of trees. Green flames were seen, spreading faster than any normal flame would.

"Wildfire?" Joffrey asked with loads of fear.

Darkstar knew better. "No, it's the dragon." But he said it with no small amounts of shock. What is the dragon doing here? The rider is here?

The flame engulfed the wood until the sight was a wall of the bright green blaze. The inferno rose in the air and sparked. The two men stood there, memorized by the beauty of the destruction the flames brought. On the other bank, Darkstar can see a crowd gawking as well.

A small hiss gathered the two men's attention. Crawling from the water was a serpent with two catlike eyes and a waggling tail. It had scales and wings. The scales were a pattern of a rich deep purple with the silver lining its wings. Its intelligent eyes eyed them warily. It stood on its hind legs and screeched and flapped its wings.

"A dragon," Joffrey hissed excitingly. "It's a baby dragon."

Darkstar's eye bulged out of his head, his brain racing but body unable to move. Joffrey still eyed the dragon hungrily. He pushed Darkstar to the ground and rushed over. "It seems god decided to grace me with a dragon instead of Dark sister! A good compensation!"

The dragon was hissing, the steam rising from its snout, but Joffrey seemed oblivious to anything as he reached down with one demanding hand…

Joffrey screamed in pain and fell on his arse. Two deep bite marks decorated his hand. "I'm a Targaryen! You can't hurt the blood of Valyria!" He roared from the grass and the dirt. "You obey me!"

You are not the dragon you thought you were, Darkstar thought. The dragon's eyes met his and he froze. It seemed to be awaiting death as the little serpent marched its way to him. It curled around him and settled on his shoulder with a screech. It claims me…

Joffrey's face was pale. "H-h-ow? You're not a Targaryen!" The boy was in absolute disbelief on the ground.

"Aye, I'm not. I'm Darkstar."

Joffrey didn't have time to even flinch as Darkstar brandish his sword and plunged it deep into the Targaryen's chest. The boy shuddered. Gerold, with a smile, watched the life bleed away in his green eyes.

No one can know.

The dragon hissed in contentment. Gerold stood up and wiped the sword clean on Joffrey's red and black doublet. He looked at the dragon thoughtfully. A wide grin broke his face. "I name you Twilight."

Footsteps drove him behind a couple of trees.

Edric Baratheon came marching to the bay, armored and a sword at ready, "I saw you Targaryen! Don't be craven now! You will not dare speak of my father Robert in that way!" He shouted in his young voice. He was clearly young but the famous Baratheon temper was on him. He said further insults as he waved his sword in the air dangerously before he stopped on the spot, seeing the body of Joffrey lying in the grass.

"Targaryen?" Edric said uncertainly. The boy poked the body with the sword. He is indeed dead, young one.

One person arrived at the scene with a scream, "Murder!" and the crowd followed. Suddenly there was a press of people trying to push to the front. In the middle of all of this was Edric Baratheon who was trying to plead innocence. You cold murderer, Darkstar chuckled. His balls dropped. The dragon on his shoulder snorted.

"Make way!"

The royal family parted the crowd with the Kingsguard and reached the scene. The golden bitch Cersei screamed her voice horse and cradled Joffrey's head but the boy's life was long gone. Visery's face was pained. Your last memory with the child is you striking him, beautiful. Jaime Lannister looked even more grief-stricken than the father. Tommen looked overwhelmed. Rhaenys surveyed the crowd. Aegon took one look at his dead cousin, drew Blackfyre, and pointed the blade in Edric's face.

"You murdered someone of royal blood," Aegon declared loudly to the point where everyone could hear.

"No, my prince! It wasn't me!" Edric pleaded, dropping his sword. There were tears in the boy's eyes.

Aegon grinned. The tip inched closer to the nose. Blood dripped at the slightest touch. "I see the contrary. I see a murder. Take him to the cells!" Lewyn Martell, Jaime Lannister, and Loras took action at once.

"Kill him! Kill him at once!" Cersei spat. She looked to the crowd and then to Jaime. The kingslayer said naught a word. They were to the open gates when the men of the Storm lands met them at the entrance.

Renly was at the front and wore his armor, forest green with deer antlers on his helm. His hand was on the hilt of his sword, ready to be drawn at any moment. The lord and the crown prince squared off. Renly was taller and loomed over him.

"May I ask, my 'prince'," Renly said mockingly, "why is my heir and my nephew in your custody?" He tilted his antlered helm.

Aegon stared back amusingly. "Your bastard nephew is guilty of killing Joffrey Targaryen, the blood of the dragon."

"Oh?" Renly's voice was full of fake sympathy.

"Yes," Rhaenys said with the boredom drawl of Dorne. "Spilling the blood of a royal family member is punishable by death."

"It ain't such a bad thing," Renly quipped. "I only see dragon spawn." There were gasps.

"How dare you!" Cersei screamed, her golden hair whipping like a lioness. "I would have your head!"

"Not on my watch," Brianne of Tarth declared, her huge form steady beside her liege lord.

Swords were drawn all at once when Viserys pulled his. The brother of the king was furious. His eyes were a pool of purple fire as he looked at Renly. "I will have justice! What's a stag compared to the might of the dragon?" Loras looked conflicted, his sword still sheathed.

"Ours is the fury," Renly said with a smirk.

"Enough of this banter," Aegon said. He grabbed Edric from Jamie Lannister and held him by the cuff of the neck. "You will move aside, by the order of your crown prince. Edric will face trial."

"I assume when the king arrives?"

"No." There was a glint in Aegon's eyes.

"The trial begins at our say," Rhaenys declared with a sweet smile.

"Move aside Baratheon," Arianne Martell said with a lazy drawl, the sand snakes bouncing excitedly behind her.

"If you know what's good for you and the future of your house," Oberyn added with a sly grin, his dark eyes sliding to Edric.

Renly still held the smile but the disdain in his eyes was brighter. He stepped aside and so did his men. The tension did not ease until everyone filtered out. The sobs of Cersei rang out until they slowly faded away.

Interesting

Twilight screeched.

Jaime Lannister

"I want his head now," Viserys growled. Rhaenys and Aegon glared. The solar room of Lady Whent was spacious, but it barely held the heat within. Jaime sat with the crying Cersei in his arms.

"The trial will begin at dawn, uncle," Aegon said to him.

"Why are we even having a trial?" Viserys said with heat. "The Baratheon was caught standing over the dead body of my son with a sword in his hand."

Rhaenys played with her nails. "It is by custom, Viserys. Every man gets to have a trial- you know that. We are starting the trial even before father arrives. You should be thanking us." The princess sat with her cousins.

"That's not good enough," Viserys decided. "I want to go down to the cells myself and cut off his bastard head!"

"No you will not," Aegon said. "If you try, you will be thrown in the cell right beside his. He will get his trial."

Viserys looked at the prince with betrayal and stalked out in a fury.

"What if he decides to do a trial by combat?" Cersei in a small voice.

"Then the man will have his trial by combat," Oberyn said simply. He nuzzled the neck of his paramour, making her giggle.

"What if he chooses a champion on his behalf?" Cersei argued. "What if he chooses the hound, Brianne, or the bastard Jon snow? He could walk free."

Jaime did not miss the flinch Rhaenys gave.

"Jaime Lannister would for certain be the champion against any opposition," Aegon dismissed. "Edric will lose his head. There will be no Night's watch for him." Cersei still wanted to argue, though Aegon turned to Jaime and said, "Please escort your sister to her chambers. She is stricken by grief."

It was in her chambers that his twin sister sobbed on his shoulder. She looked into his face and cupped it. "Jaime, my sweet Jamie… our baby boy is gone…"

And you want me to avenge him.

He was right. "Jaime, you have to kill him."

"Why?" Jaime demanded. "The whole realm would go back to war."

Cersei rubbed his clean-shaven cheek. "What is the war against love?"

"It's not wise," Jaime told her. "The boy will lose his head tomorrow. Why place ourselves in danger?"

"Have you not listened to anything I said? The boy will demand a trial by combat and someone will fight for him."

"And as Aegon said, I will fight against whoever there is," Jamie stressed. "Only Arthur and Selmy are a match against me."

"The north and the Storm lands are still friends and united. Jon snow would be happy to oblige. The bastard is a threat. He could ruin us. You saw him against Darkstar. Then they will kill all the Lannisters."

Jaime did witness it. The bastard was an excellent swordsman. He attacked with raw aggression like a wolf and has the strength you wouldn't think he had. Maybe he could be trouble…

Jaime shook his head. He was a knight of the kingsguard, a prodigy with a sword since he could walk. He would not doubt himself against a bastard, no matter the reputation he comes with.

"It will be fine. You can count on your brother," Jaime said with a smirk. He leaned in for a kiss but was pushed away.

Cersei crossed her arms and looked away. "No, it will not. You can leave ser Jaime. Joffrey's father will be here soon to comfort me," she said coldly. "He will make sure the boy dies."

The words were scathing. The words hurt. Jaime laughed but it died quickly. She yelped when he grabbed her by the hair. "You are a hateful woman," Jamie whispered harshly. "Why did the gods make love a hateful woman?" He pushed her onto the bed and forced himself on top.

"Stop! Jamie! Stop! Our boy is dead!" Cersei cried, fighting back helplessly. Jamie ripped at her dress. "This isn't right!"

It wasn't until they were together as one did he say, "I don't care."

I don't care.

Night had fallen over the castle when Jaime arrived at the cells. The cells were black, with nary a source of light but the torches on the walls.

I'm the kingslayer, Jaime scoffed. He wasn't a good man, not at all. He accepted it a while ago. After he stabbed the old mad king in the back, the other kingsguard made it their second sworn duty to remind him that he was not worth pissing on. His idol growing up and the man he used to strive to be, Arthur Dayne, looks at him with disgust and loathing. The very family he saved during the siege, Aegon and Rhaenys, jest of his moniker as if it doesn't cut him and as if he didn't save their bloody lives. He had nothing, except Cersei and Tyrion, and now only Tommen…

Rhaegar understands…only Rhaegar.

It was because of that he had struggled to dismiss the two Targaryen guards that stood outside Edric's cell. They looked at him with smiles and the word kingslayer on their lips. They had left all the same.

Edric, ragged and torn, looked up at him and said, "Ser Jaime, I didn't do it." The boy's blue eyes pleaded better than his mouth ever could.

What is this feeling? It's strange. Is it…guilt?

Jamie thought of his loving sister and the way she crumbled as she held their cold and unmoving son. A Lannister, his son, his flesh and blood. The boy stared up at him, hope rising on his face. The boy is scared, as all young boys were. What's a bastard boy compared to my son?

Jaime blinked away the water that was strangely on his face and closed his eyes. A second later he smiled a Lannister smile, showing rows of perfect white teeth. "The things I do for love."

ARTHUR: Darkstar being able to claim the dragon without having valyrian blood will be explained in the upcoming chapters. But it has to do with the theory of House Dayne and the Empire of Dawn and the Gemstone emperors. Thank you for reading!