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Lord Walder Frey was eating dinner when Maester Brenett came in with a letter. Lord Walder's young wife looked down as Walder Frey wiped his mouth. He took a drink of his wine.
"What is it Brenett?" Lord Walder spat out.
"A Letter from Storms End," Brenett explained.
"Hand it here," Lord Walder said sitting back.
He took the letter from Brenett's hand. His eyes went wide as his face a ghastly shade of white. This could spell the doom of his family and his line. It read.
Lord Walder Frey, Lord of the Twins
I am writing to you to inform you that you are done treating Lord Robb Stark or rather his mother Lady Catelyn Stark. You are now dealing with me. And you know I will not be pushed around. You know your lovely daughter Lady Marleina is my head lady in waiting. It is my duty to find her a marriage. I have done so. She will wed Lord Robb Stark upon the joining of my armies in the Riverlands. Think of it, one of Frey's blood will one day inherit the North as you wanted. But I will do you one better. One day one of Frey's blood may sit on the Iron Throne. I know that is more than my grandsire or the crown can offer you. I know the type of man you are. I know your history. Betray me and the fate that awaits you and your family will make what my grandsire did the houses Reyne and Tarbeck look like a stroll through the gardens.
Queen Joanna Baratheon and Targaryen, first of her name. Queen of Andals, The Rhoynar, and the first men. Lady Regent of Seven Kingdoms.
The letter fell from his hands. His eyes traveled around the room. Maester Brenett looked at his lord in fear. For the look on his lord's face was not a good one. Lord Walder Frey could almost hear the Rains of Castamere. His eyes rapidly went side to side as he tried to figure out a way out.
"Get me, Genna," Walder Frey ordered.
Balon Greyjoy, Yara, and Euron exchanged looks as Balon just stated. Yara knew his father was right. But she did not want to lose their freedom. Euron said nothing else. He just leaned against a wall. He had his face half the darkness. He had a grin on his face.
"What if we send an envoy to treat with her? Perhaps they could argue for the departure of Iron Isle as a free state," Yara suggested.
The suggestion hung in the air. Euron looked over to his brother. They caught each other eyes. She left the room in a huff. Once she was gone Euron turned with his hands on his belt. Balon looked at him.
"You know my niece's plan does have a point. I would not send her through. My nephew is still with the Starks?" Euron asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid the Starks have turned him against us," Balon replied.
"What is dead may never die," Euron stated.
"What is dead may never die," Balon repeated.
"She is allied with the Starks. If you don't bend the knee to you. She will likely install my nephew in your place. She has the dragons to truly break us. I will go to Dragonstone and treat with her," Euron told him.
"What do you hope to gain by treating her," Balon said.
Euron moved forward. He clasped his brother on the shoulder. The fire behind him cast shadows on the walls.
"Dragon, brother, there is a horn to bind them to your will I have it," Euron stated.
Balon looked at his brother in disbelief. Balon knew there was no hope in even getting close to one of the dragons. Horn being true or not. Balon shook his head. He looked down. Before, he raised his eyes to look at his brother.
"Even if you truly could bind a dragon to your will. You said it yourself. She has Seventeen of them. One against sixteen is not great odds. They will kill you. You learned the stories of the Dance of Dragons just as I did. She will destroy you before you even have a chance to make a single order. Then she will turn her attention to us and if she is anything like the grandsire that help raised her there will be seven hells to pay. She is a Baratheon; you remember I as well what her father did to us. It is a fool's errand to offer anything but to bend the knee and live," Balon argued.
Euron took his brother's tongue lashing with a grim look on his face. He moved even closer to his brother. He had a plan. It would work he was sure as he was sure of Drown God. Suddenly moves his hand stabbing Balon in the neck and wrenching it making it look like his brother killed himself. Balon's hand went to his neck gasping the dagger. Blood pouring down his neck and hand. He collapsed to the ground, blood pouring around him.
"What is dead may never die," Euron muttered walking over to the table and removing the blood from his hands.
Lord Varys came into the dining room. Cersei and Joffrey look ready to kill. Tywin stood by stoically. He would glare over to Cersei and Joffrey when he heard them talking about killing Joanna. And have her head decorated spike.
"You wanted to see me Your Grace, My Lord Hand, My Queen," Lord Varys addressed with a bow.
"How big are they?" Joffrey demanded.
"What your grace," Lord Varys asked.
"My sister's dragons of course," Joffrey stated like there was no other question as to what he was talking about.
Tywin glared harder at his grandson. He slammed his fist on the table. It caused Joffrey and Cersei to jump. Lord Varys did not move he could tell that Tywin was temper was holding on by a very thin tread.
"As I told you, My King, it matters not. The sheer number of them would not matter if they were the size of the last dragon. Which skull sat by your throne and was the size of Tommen cat's skull. Against seventeen of them, you and our armies stand no chance," Tywin growled.
"They are growing every day Your Grace. Reports out of Storms End say they are now the size of horses," Lord Varys answered, earning him a glare from Tywin.
"Horses," Cersei said in shock all color draining from her face.
"So, you are telling me my sister that is acting as a pretender to the crown has seventeen fire-breathing horses and there is no way to get any defense for them," Joffrey roared.
"That would depend on which side the Citadel falls on now," Lord Varys replied.
"They side with the Tyrells and Hightowers which currently are on either Renly's or Joanna and Aegon's side," Tywin stated rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Cersei and Joffrey looked at Tywin in shock that he just said this fake Aegon was true Targaryen. Lord Varys looked at Tywin, he had a grim look on his face. Tywin caught the look on Lord Varys' face. He took a goblet of wine downing it for he knew as soon as he saw the look on Lord Varys' face that nothing good come from this.
"With Renly's death the question of which side the Reach sides with is more important than ever," Lord Varys stated.
Tywin sank into a chair. Joffrey and Cersei looked hopeful. They did not see the bigger picture. Tywin shook his head.
"We just completely lost the Stormlands," Tywin growled.
"What are you talking about grandsire, I am Robert's Baratheon true-born son. Stormlands should be mine. Storms End will Tommen's," Joffrey growled back.
"Yet, half of them sided with Renly. And the other side with Joanna and Stannis. They believe the lie that Stannis put out. That you are the product of an incestual affair and not Robert's son. You have never even set foot in Stormlands why should they side with you," Tywin roared back.
"So, what if I never set foot in Stormlands? And my sister has," Joffrey asked slamming his fist on the table.
"Yes, Your Grace, your sister has stepped foot in every part of the Seven Kingdoms except Dorne. And with her marriage to Aegon the sixth of his name Targaryen so of Elia and Rhaegar she has Dorne. Why do you think your sister is in the Stormlands? Because unlike you who is drinking and partying and partaking whores, she has given the man you claim to be your father a proper burial. She has returned him to his original home. The Seven Kingdoms will praise her for it. The small folk call her the people queen and maiden reborn and I have no doubt the mother reborn," Tywin explained glaring at Joffrey.
"I am the King. My sister truly believes I am…Is that way she calls me her bastard half-brother like the bitch of whore she is. I will have her head for this," Joffrey raged.
"Any man that says I am the King is no true king," Tywin growled.
Cersei caught the look in Tywin's eyes. If she did not get Joffrey out of the room and away from Tywin. She would be one son down. Seven Hells she was thankful that the Mountain was not in the room or Joffrey's head would now be on the ground.
"My lion, let us go to bed. You have a big day tomorrow and Father can work out our next moves," Cersei said ushering Joffrey out of the room.
Lord Varys bowed, leaving the room. As Cersei and Joffrey left the room, he said something that caught Tywin's attention.
"Mother if the Reach is no longer sided with Renly since he is now dead. Surely a Tyrell would be a better bride for me," Joffrey questioned.
With those words, Tywin realized what set Joanna off. He had taught her better than he believed he did. His head was in his hands. Renly was never truly against Joanna. He knew that men around Joanna would make her confront him. So, he played like he was king. That was why he never truly entered any battles. His marriage to Lady Margaery Tyrell was to keep the only other worthy bride from Joffrey. He pulled out the letter from Joanna again. His eyes scanned the letter with new eyes. He saw it then, Joanna up until now was playing the game of thrones. Now, she was done family be damned. If she had to become a tyrant to win her throne back, she would do so. She would reconquer the seven kingdoms if had to. But he also knew that he taught her tyrant rules only through terror, but if a king or, rather in this case, a queen isn't feared he or rather she is powerless. What she had planned now would make her subject fear her. Seven Hells. Tywin got up putting the letter back into his doublet. He left the dining room heading toward the Tower of Hand.
Genna walked into the dining room. She was dressed in Lannister red and gold. Her golden blonde hair was pulled back in mostly up hairstyle. She had a large lion necklace around her neck. She walked up to the high table. Her green eyes glared up at Walder Frey.
"You wanted to see me," Genna stated.
"I received a letter from your grandniece," Walder Frey told her.
"What does have to do with me?" Genna spat out with a cold look in her eyes.
"Just read the damn thing," Walder ordered throwing the letter at her.
Genna caught the letter. She looked at the seals on it. Before, she unrolled it. She started to read the letter. Her only reaction was her left eyebrow raised. She took a deep breath as she set the letter down. Walder Frey looked at Genna. He did not like how Genna had a cold hard look on her face.
"Does she mean it you know her better than me?" Walder demanded.
"If my brother, Tywin, is involved then you have nothing to fear," Genna started. She took a goblet of arbor gold from the table and took a drink of it. Walder looked at her in shock at how casual she was acting. "For his love for me and his knowledge of how valuable of an ally you are," Genna finished as she took a large drink of her wine.
"And if he is not," Walder Frey asked.
"Then I fear for all who stand in her way. King Robert taught her how to weld a sword up until she was the age of seven. Then my brother, Tywin, molded her mind into someone who understands that sacrifice, and bloodshed, are necessary to win a war no matter the cost," Genna said gravely. Walder Frey looked at his bride and then at his sons who all had a look of horror on their faces. Genna was not done. She almost laughed as she continued. "Not to mention men fall at her feet because of her beauty. And if she has truly married a Targaryen, she would have more claim on that Throne than any true born or bastard son of my niece," Genna answered.
"What you just described sounds more like a Targaryen queen than a Lannister or Baratheon or union of the two," Walder Frey admitted.
Seventeen dragons flew in the fading sun. Joanna stood on the dock of the ship. She was dressed in Targaryen colors. In truth, she had taken two of her gowns and combined them. The main body of the gown was a Baratheon gown in black velvet. The details and lacing of the gown she had taken from a Lannister red gown of satin. Around her neck was the necklace that Oberyn had given her. Her hand rests on the railing of the ship with a large ruby ring on her finger. Her hair was in a rope braid that hung down her back. She was watching the dragons drive and swooping the air. They caught large fish killing them with flames. She looked over her shoulder to where Aegon was talking with Gendry and Oberyn. They were giving Gendry advice for he was now the Prince of the Stormlands and lord of Storms End. Myrcella walked over to Joanna.
"Sister," Myrcella addressed.
"Sweet sister, what can I do for you," Joanna asked.
"Do think I will claim and dragon," Myrcella asked.
"If you want to, I believe there is very little you are not capable of," Joanna said lovingly.
Myrcella looked at the dragons as they danced in the setting sun. Unlike when their mother said those words to Myrcella. She knew that Joanna truly meant it. She watched as Vhagar pulled a large squid from the ocean throwing it up into the sky as she flame roasted it. It reminded her of something that Teora mentioned seeing in her dreams.
"Teora saw something," Myrcella told her.
"What did she see?" Joanna asked looking back at her sister
"She saw a Kraken with house Uller coat of arms they betrayed a three-headed dragon and the Martells," Myrcella told her.
"The Kraken is the sigil of House Greyjoy. I will be wary of any response from House Greyjoy, thank you, Sister," Joanna said her hand going to her lower stomach which was still flat.
"Jo, have you and his grace given any thought on names for my niece or nephew?" Myrcella asked.
"If it is a girl, Rhaenyra, Rhaenys, Visenya, or Elia," Joanna replied.
"And if it's a boy?" Myrcella asked.
"Aegon of Aemon if he takes after me maybe Orys," Joanna replied as she said the name Orys, Gaelithox roared.
"May I suggest something?" Myrcella asked. She took Joanna's hand that was on her belly. Their eyes met. Joanna nodded her head. "You remember your letters to Mother and me when you first went to Casterly Rock. How everyone thought you loved apple cakes as grandmother did while in truth you prefer raspberry tarts. Do you want him to have that much stigma to his name as he must live up to Maester Aemon or have two Aegons in the same room?" Myrcella questioned.
"You, Cella I haven't thought about that. What name would suggest?" Joanna asked.
"A name that is used in both Aegon's and our family, Damon be it spelled differently. For Damon Lannister and Daemon Targaryen. " Myrcella said.
"Daemon," Joanna said with a smile on her face. Caraxes flew closer to the ship he let out a whistle. Myrcella and Joanna exchanged looks with each other. Aegon walked over to the pair of them. "I will talk to Aeg about it," Joanna told Myrcella.
"Talk to me about what my love," Aegon said kissing the crown of her head.
"A possible name for our son," Joanna replied.
Tywin was packing to depart for Dragonstone as soon as possible. Kevan knocked on the door as he entered the room. Tywin was shoving his clothes into a traveling sack.
"You want to see me," Kevan said.
"Yes, I am naming you the hand of the king in the interim. I am leaving to fight this war that is about to kick off in earnest. I have to stop this war or die trying," Tywin stated.
"Brother, what am I to do?" Kevan asked.
"Try to keep the king in check if his mother cannot. Pray to seven that Janei can temper some of his grace's darkest impulses." Tywin told Kevan.
"Where will you go?" Kevan asked.
"Harrenhal, we need a strong foothold in the Riverlands to stop any army that invades from the North," Tywin stated.
"What about the dragons?" Kevan asked.
"Pray to the seven that Joanna doesn't get pushed to use them," Tywin said truthfully.
Kevan came over to Tywin. He caught sight of a letter that had Robert's sigil on it. He read what he could before Tywin covered it up. What Kevan read could not be what he thought he read. It said that Joanna was Robert's sole heir, the rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Tywin closed the bag throwing it over his shoulder.
"This will be my last war win or lose" Tywin told him.
There was a look in Kevan and Tywin's eyes that both knew that this would be the last time they would see each other on the same side. In the early morning, Janei would become Joffrey's queen. And if what Kevan read was true a direct threat to Joanna's rule. Kevan also knew that Tywin would never let anything happen to what he viewed as the second coming of his wife.
Author notes:Let me know what you think Joanna and Aegon's first child will be and how many. What will Aegon, and Oberyn's reaction to Tywin coming to Dragonstone? And what is the gift from Yi Ti?