Jaime
Oh, how the proud lions have fallen from grace. I have been shamed and discriminated against by my sworn brothers and the family I had sworn to protect. Did I really merit that? I saved the whole city of Kingslanding from that mad king. So what that I have killed a boy. The wrong does not simply stand against the good I have done.
My beloved sister, Jaime choked, is dead, snuffed out by the family I had sworn allegiance to. I have been by her side since we came to the world, and now she has left me alone. Tommen…just a boy…my boy…killed by the dragons' ire.
Jaime wanted to roar and break the chains that held him like the lion of his family's banner. He wanted to take up his golden sword and carve through the Targaryens for the wrongs they had done him. Jaime thought of Rhaenys and Daenerys and how they were sisters to the men in House Targaryen. I ought to cut them to bloody pieces for what they did to Cersei. Sister for a sister. It is only right.
But Arthur Dayne's violet eyes came to mind. Jaime forced his eyes shut, seeking to relieve himself from how disgusted Arthur had looked at him. He regretted taking me as his squire. He says I am a blemish that trails back to him and himself. He told me to rest in piss…and I believe that I am. Jaime had let him down. It crushed Jaime with the force of a bolder.
…Rhaegar…I disappointed you too. I can see it in your purple eyes. Before you rode out of Kingslanding to meet the rebels at the Trident, you told me things will be different when you return. You told me I was going to be part of that change…. Oh, how I proved you wrong…
Jaime then switched back over to anger. You punish me not by death, but with the death of my sister and son. How can you be so cruel? How can you order the deaths of a beautiful woman like Cersei and a lovable boy like Tommen? You Targaryns wanted them dead and now they are.
You deserve this kingslayer, his mind whispered to him. Jaime laughed at it all. How the gods are so cruel to make men.
Jaime was forced out of his musings when the cell keepers snapped to attention. There were ten Targaryen men in total, to make sure Jaime could not escape. "Lay down your arms," one guard warned to someone Jaime could not see. "The king permits no one to come here." Jamie can hear the anxiety in the man's voice and wondered what made him fear so. A coward, meet the opposition head-on with steel. There was an echo of footsteps from the other end of the hall. But there was a particular sound of feet from one of them. It was heavy and cumbersome. The earth beneath Jaime seemed to vibrate a bit. There was also the clank of armored men. Oh, there is blood to be spilled, Jaime thought indifferently. They can die for all I care. Cersei is gone. These men mean nothing to me.
"We do not come here to comply with the dragons' command," a deep voice said, and it was one a man can hear from miles. There was the sound of swords being brandished. "We come here to free the son of Tywin Lannister." I know that voice…
"You are defying the orders of the king! Men, draw your swords and root them out!" The guard said, and all the Targaryen guardsmen drew their swords. "For House Targaryen!" They sprang into action and met the enemy halfway in the corridor. Jaime heard the first cry of a casualty.
The dark halls were filled with the clash of steel and the death cries of men. Jaime can see blood splatter against the wall from the torches. He can see bodies fly to the ground. What the hell are they fighting with? The scuffle lasted a couple of minutes. In the end, a hulking form, the biggest man Jaime had ever seen, grabbed the cell keeper's helm with two massive lobstered gauntlets and smashed it against Jaime's cell with a wet plop. The head and helm split as one. Blood and brains slid down the cell bars. The body fell lifelessly to the ground with a dead thud. Monstrous strength. No wonder this was a slaughter. Pity on them for being too stupid to run away at the sight of this monster.
Jaime can now see it was Gregor Clegane and his ruthless men at arms. My father's dogs. I should've known from their senseless brutality, Jaime thought with a sardonic smile. Samwell Spicer, Polliver, the Tickler, Raff the sweetling, Dunsen, Shitmouth, Tobbot, Chiswyck, Eggon, and many more stood around the dead Targaryen guardsmen, looting and toying with the dead. They do their jobs efficiently enough. They attack and kill with the best of them. That is exactly what my father wants. The men went around the hall and stabbed the bodies thrice, yapping along the way.
"Shit!" Shitmouth cursed. "Fucker bit my hand!"
Raff smiled. "That's your fault for not killing him quickly enough. Toughen up, bitch."
"Get the key," Gregor Clegane commanded harshly. "Before you end up just like him." He pointed a bloody lobstered gauntlet to the dead man he just smashed his brains into bits. It was all the encouragement they needed as they scurried the floor for the key. The mountain watched them, a monster among men.
It was in no time at all that Polliver recovered the key and unlocked Jaime from his cell and the manacles. A groan from relief escaped Jaime's lips as he rubbed the red marks on his wrists. Jaime eyed the men. "I should not have to say anything about the damning consequences of this act, gentlemen. The whole castle will be on our heads, men and ghosts alike to take our lives away."
"The dragons are preoccupied, my lord," Chiswyck said gruffly. "Right now, we are the ghosts."
With what? What can they be so distracted with to not be alerted that the kingslayer has escaped?
"It is no matter. We have our orders. We will make haste," Gregor boomed. His voice was stone-breaking. "We shall escape Harrenhall and not a person will be aware. If one does, we will have them dead."
Funny thing to say from an eight-foot-tall, unclothed barbarian.
As they moved out of the dungeon, Jaime looked back over his shoulder to the dead men, conflict on his face. His green eyes landed on the dragon of one of their chest plates. It lingered there. Cersei's golden smile and green eyes overcame that. I'm sorry, Rhaegar. Jaime did not look back again. They sped down the halls. Armor and steel and feet made such a clamor Jaime thought they will never make it out of Harrenhall without the king's fury falling upon them.
Strangely, the halls were empty. They did not encounter a single soul. Maybe the wraiths were laid to rest this day? Jaime thought. Bloody riddance. They took too much from me already. Cersei…. Tommen…Joffrey… Cersei was his other half; her shortcomings be damned. She needed to be avenged. Tommen and Joffrey were his blood, of his own seed, nonetheless. Joffrey was a little shit. But that was my fault…as a father…I should've been there more for him, to be a proper father and mold him to be a real man that knows how to weld steel in his hands…
I believe the Targaryens murdered Joffrey and blamed the Baratheon boy for it. They hated Joffrey, Aegon, Rhaenys, Daenerys, all of them. and they may have even debated the nature of his birth even before this damned tourney. They wanted the right justification to pluck us out, one by one. Edric, for that I am sorry…. I know better now.
Tyrion...how could you? But Jaime already knew the answer.
The guilt lurked, but Jaime did not let it drown him. Jaime's thoughts drifted to Myrcella. She is safe at Casterly Rock. Relief that he has never known flooded through his system. Myrcella had wanted to stay with her grandfather instead of going to Harrenhall, and Viserys had granted her that wish despite Cersei's protest. I will return to you, Myrcella…my only child…Resolve powered his tired body. I will not fail her as well. Outside of a side gate, the armored Kevan Lannister sat on his neighing horse. Addam Marbrand sat beside him on his red courser. The rest of the party and retainers waited as well, their armors winking in the sun.
"Kevan, you have rescued the poor kingslayer. Uncle, may we hug and kiss each other on the cheek?" Jaime jested. "I have never been certain of your love of me until now."
Kevan indulged him with a strained smile. "You are Tywin's son. The blood of the lion shall not be leaked again, not by the king nor any dragon."
"The dragons have spurned the Westerlands too grievously," Addam declared. "They lied and spat on your integrity and honor, Jaime. A new ruling voice on the iron throne is necessary."
They did not lie. I am a kingslayer, an oathbreaker, and a sister fucker, Jaime thought ruefully with a smile to hide his thoughts. They will kill Myrcella too, his mind whispered. Jaime's eyes narrowed. I will not let that happen. She is the only piece of Cersei I have left in this god-forsaken world.
"You and I think alike, I think," a sleek voice said. Eyes and swords shifted to the hard and fast approach of a rider. Darkstar reined in his horse and looked upon the swords pointed in his face disinterestedly. "A new authority must be established. The Targaryens are not fit, as we all agree. I wish to join you."
"Why should we allow you, a Dornishman, to join us?" The mountain growled menacingly. "Dorne is loyal to the Targaryens! He is here to spy and give our position away!" He and his men at arms shifted closer, itching to cut Darkstar off his horse. "My lords, allow us to rid yourself of this insect. I can have him squeal," Gregor said with a cruel smile. Even as Darkstar was mounted, Gregor Clegane was the same height.
Darkstar inched his horse back away from the hostile men. "It is true I am from Dorne. But I have no love there. My allegiance is not given to them. It can be given to you instead. You and I have a common cause."
Jaime held up a hand. "Ease your hackles, dog." Gregor grumbled and waved his men to stand down. A good dog is always an obedient dog. Jaime turned to Gerold Dayne and gave him a derisive smile. "How can you be beneficial to us, Dayne? You have no Dawn to aid us with. You can't even beat a bastard in a harmless spar. So obviously your sword is not as skillful as your cousins. How can you help us?"
Darkstar's sinister smile was both anger and smugness. "I do not have Dawn yet. But I have the full power of fire and blood behind me." They all cursed and backed away as a purple and white dragon slithered around Dayne's shoulder to hiss at them all. The dragon's amethyst eyes peered into the souls of all and promised destruction. "Do not be afraid. Twilight only wishes to play." Gerold reached to his shoulder and scratched the dragon's neck fondly. "I expect Tywin Lannister and I to have an understanding. Tell him I wish to meet after my business here has concluded, kingslayer." No one had the bearing to respond.
Westeros has become hell, Jaime thought numbly as Darkstar urged his horse away.
Rhaegar
Lyanna…Lyanna's boy…Rhaegar's mind kept repeating, even as the great hall was in a great clamor of fury and disbelief. The situation was becoming ugly, but Rhaegar did not care in the slightest. The royal family to his sides looked at him in fear and incredulity, but Rhaegar still did not care. The child lives…He is my son.
Rhaegar knew it to be true. He was right this time.
Jon Snow looked up at him through brown curly strands of hair. Just like Lyanna's. How many nights have I wished for my love to come back from the dead just so I can run my fingers through her hair one last time? Rhaegar thought woefully. It was many nights. He will never again witness Lyanna's hair whip across her face as she raced him on horseback. Jon's eyes were shocked and wary. I understand, my child. I understand you are scared. You did not know. They took you away from me. You are now safe with me, Rhaegar mentally soothed. Those eyes were a beautiful lilac, just like Rhaegar's and just like Aegon's. When he dreamed of the child he had thought lost, Rhaegar imagined the child with the grey eyes of its mother. Though, Rhaegar appreciated the actual visual, because this time it was real and not a dream. It was delightfully real, and it connected with his own. A magnificent combination of me and Lyanna with his hair and eyes. The Gods were good, Rhaegar noted.
His nose…gods…his nose…how does no one else see it? Lyanna had smiled at Rhaegar, a very long time ago, and he will never forget how her nose flared when she laughed in the air with abandonment. Rhaegar liked to see her laugh. It filled him with warmth. Rhaegar did not often crack a smile, but he did it for her anytime she liked. It was all for love.
The cheekbones are hers. I had caressed them myself as a husband would do to a wife. His lips are mine. How can a man not know what his own lips look like?
He is Lyanna's boy…and therefore he is beautiful…and mine, Rhaegar thought, tears dripping down his face. Oh, gods, I am so…happy. It feels strange for him to say that, even in his head.
The tearful Rhaegar and the wordless Jon stared at each other, one hungry for knowledge and the other silent from suspicion. It was like the shouting, the threats, and the numerous shocked lords ceased to exist around them. The tables, the windows, the lords, the kingsguard, hell even the whole castle disappeared. Rhaegar and Jon stood alone. They were in a vacuum of empty space where only they reside. The silence was deafening. Rhaegar wanted to tell him so many things, of how he loved him, of how terribly sorry he hasn't been there for him. He wanted everything to be right.
He wanted to put aside his crown…and be a father. Rhaegar can see Lyanna behind Jon, smiling brilliantly at the reunion of father and son.
Rhaegar hungrily searched Jon's face and paused at the long scar over his eye. In that instant, his fury destroyed his daydreaming and brought him back to reality. He has been harmed! They stole him away and let him be harmed!
Rhaegar turned his angry purple eyes back over to the Starks and Robb. "Well? ANSWER ME AT ONCE!" He spat. I will have heads, every last one of them for taking away Lyanna's boy!
Robb's face was sheet white, and so were the rest of the Starks. "Your grace, there must be a misunderstanding," he said nervously. The northern lords were all standing, live steal in their grasps. If it is war they want, then they shall have it. Rhaegar can see the Dorne section rise as well, eyeing the northern lords with hate.
"Misunderstanding? Misunderstanding?" Rhaegar whispered severely. The hall quietened, but the energy still bubbled, ready to burst. "Do you take me for a fool?" His index finger was swung to point at Jon. "Did you really think I would not recognize my own son?!" Robb flinched.
Oberyn sprung out from his chair to try to reach Rhaegar, but Arthur Dayne blocked his path. The prince of Dorne glared at the Dayne and sent a worse one to Rhaegar. "This is foolishness! That man!" Oberyn pointed to Jon. "Is the bastard son of Eddard Stark! He is not your son! I have told you to not shame my sister like this! But you must have a death wish, Rhaegar!" His dark eyes were venomous and dangerous.
Arthur reached behind his back and pulled Dawn out slightly, sharing only the briefest of hints of the pale blade. "The only death here will be yours if you threatened our king again," Arthur warned with narrowed eyes. "The king's word is the king's word. Tell me I am wrong, and I will gladly show you how I am right." Oberyn did not back down and squared up Arthur with his eyes. Give me a reason to be rid of you.
Rhaenys stood up as well, nose flaring. "Father, uncle has the right of it. This is crazy, absurd, bizarre, and…" Her dark eyes landed on Jon. "Untrue…It has to be….," she whispered. Rhaenys snapped her gaze back to her father and said louder, "He is not my brother!"
Aegon was the next to stand up. He looked furious…and strangely anxious. "That bastard is not our brother," he snarled, to the gasps of many. Aegon met Rhaegar's gaze fearlessly. "And I am your only son!"
How dare?! Rhaegar thought furiously.
Elia's gaze was hard as it looked upon Jon snow. "You wish it for him to be the son of the woman you actually loved and started a whole war for," she said with not an ounce of emotion, "But I don't see it. All I see is Stark and just pretty purple eyes."
"Enough!" Rhaegar growled, and it silenced everyone, all hundreds of them. It was tense, very tense. They can hear the birds chirp outside.
Rhaella had her eyes trained on Jon's face. "Rhaegar… I see it," she whispered amazingly, drawing everyone's attention.
Daenerys placed a hand on her mother's arm. "Mother, what do you mean? I only see Stark in him," she said with a tight frown.
"You must look past his beard and solemn face. When I look at him, I see Rhaegar. He is currently brooding, just like how Rhaegar broods. And the eyes, the cheekbones, the lips…it is all Rhaegar's," Rhaella said with a smile, tears in her purple eyes. "I have another grandson…" No one knew how to respond to that.
You do, mother. You do, Rhaegar thought with a nod.
Catelyn Stark stepped forward. She held her chin high from all the stares and glares. "Your grace, Jon Snow is not your son." There was muttering at her boldness.
Rhaegar smiled at her coldly. "Lady Stark, I did not think you that bold to dismiss the words of the king so thoughtlessly." What lies will you Starks spew out to save your heads?
"I do not think you are unwise, just mistaken, your grace. This boy has lived with us ever since the end of Rober-"
"Stop right there," Rhaegar interrupted easily. "You said that he has lived in Winterfell since the conclusion of Robert's Rebellion, correct?"
Catelyn hesitated and nodded. "Yes. Lord Stark fathered him on a common woman during the war."
Prey, tell me why you do not seem angry at that. Most Wives will be upset retelling how their husbands shammed them so, but you are not. Catelyn was tense and afraid, yes, but Rhaegar did not see anger.
"What gives him the purple eyes?" Rhaegar demanded. "Those eyes are my own."
"The mother was said to be from Lys, your grace. It came from the mouth of Eddard Stark himself," Catelyn responded, politely.
Horseshit! Rhaegar frowned and looked at Jon. But the man stayed silent, observing everyone and everything. Tell me what you think, Rhaegar pleaded. Jon did not say a word.
Rhaegar turned to Catelyn and gave off a humorless chuckle. "You and your husband's lies are fickle and weak. A common woman, a prostitute I imagined, is most prized in Lys. They do not come cheap or easy. And you are saying that he just mingled with one of them by coincidence? During a war? Find a better lie."
Catelyn was racing to think of something to say. Slowly, the whole hall stared at her and the Starks, judgment growing in their eyes. Robb Stark held his wife tightly. The younger Starks looked confused and afraid. Rhaegar embraced it. Let the whole realm see how you all are, Rhaegar thought with disgust. Let them know you snatch babies away and hide them from their true fathers.
Catelyn breathed deeply. She gave a fleeting glance to Arthur Dayne. "I will now have to reveal the truth to you, my king."
I won. "As you should have from the start," Rhaegar barked. "But I shall let you have your last words."
"Jon Snow's mother is not a prostitute from Lys, nor is she a common-born." It is Lyanna. Say it! The hall leaned in their seats, and Rhaegar found himself leaning with them.
Catelyn looked at them all. "The mother is the lady, Ashara Dayne." There was a collective of inhaled gasps.
Did she lie to my face once again?!
She did. Rhaegar's closest friend Arthur Dayne did not look pleased. The Sword of The Morning glared down at her from where he stood behind Rhaegar. "Woman, you lie so easily. Does it not wear you down so? And you lie upon my sister, a noblewoman from Starfall," Arthur growled. "No bastard has been fathered on my sister. If I know, the man would be dead already." Rhaegar believed him. He knew him better than anyone. Arthur loved his sister dearly.
Catelyn stood firm in the sinkhole. "If you knew, ser. You did not know. Ashara Dayne is the mother. Lord Stark has told me in private, with the wishes to not bring shame on Ashara and House Dayne…I even myself am hesitant to name the woman as it brings me much grief thinking of the woman that shared my husband's love."
She was taken aback by Arthur's scornful laugh. It went from the dais and traveled through the rest of the hall. When Arthur was done, he gave Catelyn a smirk. "Why don't you tell the woman yourself?"
Oh yes.
The Dorne segment on one side of the room slowly parted for a woman making her way to the center. Men and women murmured curiously as Ashara Dayne made her approach. The eyes followed her as well, both lustful and intrigued.
The woman was truly a beauty. Her skin was fair, her hair dark, and her haunting violet eyes that can infuriate men into a crazed madness. Her black dress could not hide her suggestive form. Jon stared at her, face unreadable. You are a bastard no longer, my son. Any woman you desire, you shall be free to marry.
Catelyn's face was wracked with fear, Rhaegar noted in satisfaction. He looked at Ashara Dayne. "What do you make of her words, lady Dayne? She says you are the mother of Jon Snow. Is it of desperation or is it the truth?"
Ashara's gaze was too much for the other woman to bear as Catelyn moved her eyes to the floor. "You sought to shame me for the wrongs you so dearly try to avoid. House Tully's motto needs some consideration for some reworking. Desperation is one hell of a drink." She turned to Jon and put her finger to her lips and eyed him. "This boy is not my son…or this man." Her eyes were suggestive. I understand. What less can be expected from the son of Lyanna? Rhaegar thought with pride.
Catelyn fell to her knees with a cry, startling many. Brynden Tully and Edmure Tully were there by her side, tensed and whispering under their breath. "My lady this is your son! How can you deny the truth? The king's accusation will have my son's heads on the spike, including Ned's! I thought you held love for him!"
"I did, and I still do," Ashara whispered. She looked at Jon, but this time it was a bittersweet look. "This man is the child I would've had if naught for the madness of king Aerys. But maybe I should reflect on myself more. I will not support a man that takes children away from their fathers." Ashara walked back to where she was seated.
Catelyn was sobbing. "Please, please! Your grace, Jon is not your son! PLEASSSEEEE!" The cry was long and full of sorrow. Rhaegar could not enjoy it more. The Starks moved to console their mother, but they themselves were uneasy. It is your time to hurt as I have hurt, but only tenfold of that. You took Lyanna's son away from me.
A smooth voice was heard over the everlasting cries of denial from Catelyn. "Aye, your grace. You have the right of it. I am your son."
It was Jon who said it, breaking his silence at last. A hush gripped the great hall. That was that. The scandal was over. Rhaegar smiled a small smile at the acceptance from his son but dimmed. Did he know? Rhaegar shoved it away. There's something much more important to be settled.
Standing high with the crown upon his head, Rhaegar looked down at the guilty-looking Starks. "The truth came from the lips of my own son, the son I had thought lost with his mother." Rhaegar's vision was once again clouded by tears. "18 years…18 years you have hid him from me instead of returning him to where he rightfully belonged. It has been 18 years of painful thoughts of torment wondering what he would have looked like if the child lived. 18 years that I had to sit through dealing with the grief over a dead child. 14 years you had him suffer the life of being a bastard instead of a Targaryen prince and drove him away to Essos where he had to kill to make a name for himself. 18 years of Eddard Stark hiding the outmost betrayal to House Targaryen and most importantly, to me." Rhaegar blew out a shaken breath. "You will all be held accountable for this." He motioned for the Kingsguard. "Take them! We will hold them until Eddard Stark can come to confess his treasons himself." Time will not come soon enough for me to put my hands around his throat.
That was all it took for hell to break loose the second time this evening. As the kingsguard drew their swords and stepped forward, the northern segment stood and had their swords out as well. But they were met by the armed men of Dorne. It was a conflict that had been long brewing and now it was ready to serve. The Riverland men sprung into the fight but were met by the Targaryen guardsmen. It quickly became a battlefield. Cries and shouts to stop rang as loud as the steel did. Jon Arryn and the lords of the vale watched, full of conflict. The high table watched on with nervousness.
Robb, Theon, Brynden, and Edmure bared their steels in the faces of the marching kingsguard. That hardly deterred them. The kingsguard fell into formation flawlessly out of skill and by years of experience at each other's sides. Dawn was in a two-handed grip of Arthur Dayne, the great sword pale as milk glass.
They stopped abruptly when Jon stood in the way. The kingsguard looked at each other and up to the king uncertainty. Boy, move out of the way! Rhaegar's eyes told Jon. The man stared back unflinchingly. "Why do you protect them?" Rhaegar yelled to Jon, trying to be heard over the din of noise. Whatever Jon had said Rhaegar did not hear.
Frustrated, Rhaegar slammed one fist on the table. "That's enough! Everyone stand down!" In the blood of the fight, no one heard him, or they simply did not care. Rhaegar growled. "Stand down, IN THE NAME OF YOUR KING!" He had always spoken softly, but the emergence of his stolen son enhanced his command to where all the people in the hall heard him. Slowly, the fighting waned. It still took a couple of Targaryen guardsmen to put other men down who still wanted to keep going.
Even back to their sides in the hall, Dornishmen and the Northern men exchanged heated gazes. But they all concentrated on what the king had to say.
"Despite what House Stark did to you and me, you still stand beside them. Why?" Rhaegar demanded Jon. I have to know.
"They are my family and my blood," Jon said at once. "You talk of how terribly you missed me and my mother over these years. But would Lyanna Stark agree with the mistreatment of her own family?"
"Lyanna wouldn't have liked to have her son taken away from me," Rhaegar countered. "She would've wished to have you raised with me." I knew her. You did not.
"All the same, the Starks are not to be harmed."
"They took you away from me, a royal prince of the crown. All of them are guilty by default. I can't let them go about their day with nothing to show for it. They will pay the price."
Jon shared a glance with Robb. "All the Stark's present were unaware of this. They are innocent. Lord Stark and I were the only ones aware."
"Lady Stark knew," Rhaegar pointed out. "I can smell the reek of her guilt. And she tried to place the identity of your mother on the lady Dayne. That was most deceiving, had it actually worked. The woman was desperate to the extreme." Catelyn couldn't meet anyone's gaze.
"Her too," Jon said after a minute. "The rest of them did not know."
"It's simple then. Lady Stark and Lord Stark shall be punished."
Jon shook his head. "No."
"No?" Rhaegar growled. "You are my son. I love you dearly. But I am the king. And Eddard stole you from right under my nose like a thief in the night. He stole my most valuable treasure. How can I excuse that?"
"Because I said so. You have only just found your missing son again. Do you not want to make him happy?" Jon said with a challenge in his voice. "If you do, you shall let Eddard Stark walk free. My si-my cousins do not need to lose their father."
Damn him. He talks exactly like you, Lyanna. Rhaegar could not deny what Lyanna wanted. She knew it. As he looked down at the man that remained of her, that same dilemma ate at his stomach. In the end, he shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, my son. Eddard Stark swore an oath to the crown…to be loyal. He sliced that oath and did much worse. I will have his head. I hope this does not create a wedge between us."
Jon's face hardened. "Then I shall be against you. I will not let you harm Eddard Stark." He received looks of horror.
Watch me. "How will you manage to do that, hmm?" Rhaegar questioned. Everybody else was curious as well and stared at Jon.
Jon's face was grim. He silently pointed upwards.
A hundred eyes and more traveled to where he pointed at once. It was there the windows lined the top of the walls to let the sun rays through…
…. And it was in one of them a huge emerald eye hovered to peer at them all. A chill swept over them all. The eye hungrily traveled along each frightened face, slowly, never skipping over one, each as long as the last. "The wild dragon," Aegon said breathlessly, his purple eyes frightened. Rhaegar was transfixed. He did not have to look around to know everyone was the same. They did not dare move, or else the dragon would kill them. Arthur even dropped Dawn with a clang, and no one blinked an eye. The dragon had cast an evil spell to freeze them. The beasts snuck upon us in our squirrel. How easy it would've been for it to send us all to the stranger.
It's even more terrifying to behold than it was seeing it at Kingslanding, Rhaegar thought. He can feel the perspiration on his person. A king had no power against a dragon. The frightening serpent eyes arrived on Rhaegar and settled. Then, ominously, the dragon slid its blackened tongue up the glass. Fresh blood joined saliva on the window. The rough texture of the dragon's tongue cracked it and damned sure almost broke it whole. One person broke the spell and screamed, but only one.
"We ought to talk it over in private, your grace," Jon grunted. Rhaegar just now noticed how Jon's face had been strained with concentration, ever since Rhaegar's outburst. Rhaegar had waved it away at the thought of the situation…But Jon looked like he was battling with a mental foe as if he was holding the dragon on a leash.
Yes, let's talk.
Arianne
Even now the princess of Dorne was shocked and speechless. She and the rest of the Martells and House Targaryen sat in the private room. They were all quiet. They watched the father and son standoff, neither saying a word. Next to her, Quentyn was still shivering. Obara, Nymeria, and Tyene were wide-eyed, and even they couldn't find their tongues. Elia had the same frown she wore back in the great hall, and it was always toward Jon. Oberyn sat in his seat as straight as a viper, looking at Jon, clenching and unclenching his hands. Rhaella and Daenerys were holding hands, tightly, and both were white. Aegon was horrified, his mouth open and eyes wide at Jon. You can't find many people not joyous from having another brother, Arianne thought idly. Aegon has been an interesting case.
It was Rhaenys that was most interesting. Her cousin was in a silk sleeveless dress of deep gold with a belt encrusted with the finest jewels. It was nice with her brown skin and dark eyes. Her long curly black hair was tied into a bun, but two strands kissed her face. She looked half-goddess. But Rhaenys glared down at Jon with wrath no man wanted to endure from a deity.
What is this change? She wanted to skewer me for even talking about him, Arianne thought. How can…how can you be mad at this?
Jon Snow was tall, scarcely shorter than Rhaegar and Aegon. He was slim, but Arianne can notice the toned muscles of his arms. His curly brown hair fell upon his eyes. But no one can miss the long scar over his lilac eye. His beard was short and neat and lined his face. He's gorgeous, Arianne moaned mentally. Handsome men have always been my weakness. I want him to be my weakness. Arianne loved him already.
And he is the rider, Arianne thought in amazement. A runaway bastard from the north becomes the most famous and feared swordsman in Essos and returns to Westeros as a dragon rider. Who would've thought? It's like an uprising….
He must be mine, Arianne determined. I will rule Dorne after father passes. I will rule the sands with spears and dragon fire.
"Eddard will go to the wall," Rhaegar was saying. It wasn't working. What can you do when a dragon rider tells you no? Arianne thought with a smile. I would get on my knees.
"No," Jon refused.
"He will go to the wall. One of his children will be a ward of the crown and will stay in Kingslanding. You can choose."
"No," Jon said forcingly. "My cousins will not be hostages. I will not have it, your grace. You keep talking of disciplining Lord Stark for naught. I will not have it." They glared at each other, more alike than they know.
Stubborn, Arianne noted with a smile. She liked men like that. She was stubborn herself.
"He stole you away," Rhaegar repeated for what seemed to be like the hundredth time. "The man took you from me!"
"He did," Jon agreed. "I'll make sure he steals no more babies anymore, your grace."
Rhaegar rubbed his eyes furiously with his fingers. I have never seen the king like this. "Then why do you so easily forgive him for what he did?"
"I didn't forgive him. I may never will. You do not get to choose who your blood is. But he is of my blood all the same. And I love him. I will protect him for my cousin's sake. They need their father."
"Didn't you?" Rhaegar whispered. He sunk into his chair. "You ran away from Winterfell to go to the Golden Company. He must not have been like a father to you. I would've been a father to you. I would've made sure you were fed and loved. You did not have to run away then. But he took that reality away, from us."
He's so earnest, so vulnerable, Arianne thought with shock. It was a stark difference from the king's usual soft-spoken ways with hints of melancholy. But in a span of an hour, the lords have witnessed a side of Rhaegar no one has ever seen. He was angry, emotional, and restless. The guard over his face was gone, and it did not build back up. Everyone hung on to their every word. Maybe this should've only been between these two. Who am I kidding? This is marvelous.
Jon turned away as if the heartfelt words of the king stung him. "I used to think in what-ifs. What if I had the Stark name? What if Catelyn had loved me like her children? What if I knew about my mother? It led me nowhere but pain." Arianne can see the pain on his face before it was quickly blocked out. "Thinking about the past gives me more torment than it does of closure. There's no use in doubling back."
"You are not a father, I am. I'm your father. Think of how I am feeling right now. A lord of one of my kingdoms took my son and claimed him as his own. And not trueborn, but a bastard. 18 years and the man has never come forward to admit his treason. In that time, he spurned you away from Winterfell to be a murderer in a land you never belonged."
"Think about me!" Jon snapped, hands clenching. "I'm the one that had my life ruined. I'm the one that has been raised a bastard. I'm the one that has been the brunt of japes and blame. I've…I've…I've been the one to live through it all. Not you. Can't I be the one to decide his fate?"
"No, because you want him to leave this mess untouched. The war had started because of me, for what? Lyanna and the child were dead. That's the pain I had to withstand for all these years. I want what's owed to me." I understand, honestly. There's not a man that I will not kill if he abducted my chlld.
"Isn't having your son good enough?"
That was the final blow.
Rhaegar stood hastily to his feet, setting his crown down, and crushing Jon in a hug. The king closed his eyes, but streams of tears steamrolled down his cheeks. "You will be enough…son." Jon's hands hovered by the king's sides, unsure, but he wrapped them around Rhaegar in the end. Arianne saw Aegon look away with pain. Oberyn grumbled. Quentyn had a small smile. Nymeria and Tyene silently gasped while Obara just huffed. Daenerys smiled warmly. Rhaella was weeping silently. Elia's face was guarded.
Rhaenys's face was thunderous. "No," she growled, securing all eyes on her. Jon and Rhaegar split apart as she jumped to her feet and walked to them. Rhaenys looked at Jon cooly. "Is this it then?" Rhaenys asked, struggling to rein in her temper.
"It is," Jon said softly.
Rhaenys stared at him. "You lied to me. You deceived me." Her face was angry. She sounded betrayed.
"I did not lie, my princess. I simply did not tell you the truth," Jon said softly. Arianne can tell that he was genuinely sorry.
Rhaenys did not care. The Dornish temper is on her. "As if there is any difference! You are not the brother I want," Rhaenys said cruelly. "I have Aegon. We do not want you here to replace him. The seven has shown us mercy for not allowing the Stark girl to live as well to usurp my mother's position." There was an intake of sharp breaths. Arianne can see the slight snarl on Jon's face. Are you as frozen as the winter kings of old or are you full of fire like the mad Targaryens that came before you? Arianne wondered, seeing how he is going to respond.
Elia was on her feet. "Rhae-"
But Rhaegar put over her. His eyes blazed with stars and her father seemed to have grown in stature, terrible to behold in his anger. "Speak like that again. Rhaenys, I love you as you are my child. But I will slap you senseless if you talk of your brother and his mother in that foul tongue again!"
Rhaenys paid no attention to him. She looked at Jon, but the man did not respond.
"Say something!" Rhaenys snapped. Jon took it even further by ignoring her, turning his eyes someplace on the wall behind them. Not a good idea, Arianne knew. Aegon looked like he had an inking of what was going to happen but did not warn Jon of that.
Arianne saw the hand before she processed what was happening.
The impact of the slap was heard by all and left a red imprint on Jon's cheek. Rhaenys raised her hand as if to hit him again but paused by the look in Jon's eyes. It was hard and cold. Rhaenys's eyes softened. Rhaenys lowered her hand. She looked as if she couldn't believe what she did. Rhaenys shook her head slowly and left quietly with a soft thump of the door. Jon stared after her, face unreadable. No one wanted to break the silence. But her uncle did.
Oberyn laughed. They stared. "What is amusing, ser?" Jon asked. Arianne can hear the threat under the layer of politeness.
Oberyn's smile was filled with mockery and disdain. "It is amusing that only my niece has the taste of common sense." His face darkened. "My sister Elia was shamed by our beloved king right next to you. He ran off with the Stark whore and made a bastard welp that just happened to be lucky to find a dragon. Rhaegar parades like you are a gift from the gods. You are everything but that. This is hell. You are just a living slight against my family."
Jon snapped before Rhaegar did. "Your tongue is bold to talk of my mother in that way." His hand slid to the pommel of his sword and gripped it tightly. "Is your handle with a spear as skilled?" The sand snakes looked ready to pounce, but Arianne motioned them to still. I am having too good of a time. She can feel the puddle of desire bubbling within her as Jon stared down at her uncle. A dangerous man...Arianne was so enamored. Rhaenys...you are going to lose him to me.
"Maybe I shall give you a demonstration. You do not belong here, boy!" Oberyn snarled. Arianne shared her uncle's temper and often agreed with him when Trystane and Quentyn disagreed. I shall diverge from you on this, uncle. You like men as well as women. Do you not see this man before you?
"Make me leave," Jon suggested.
The two stared off. And at that moment, Arianne knew Jon had made a new enemy. Oberyn's dark eyes were dark, full of intent.
It was a while later when everyone disbursed. As Arianne and her cousins walked down the corridors to their chambers, they passed Rhaenys's chambers. There were soft sounds from the other side of the wooden door. Arianne stopped by to listen, but she wasn't sure what it was. It sounded suspiciously like crying. Unsure, Arianne left, thinking of Jon's purple eyes. When her mind returned to reality, her eyes connected with another set of violet eyes, only these were cruel and sinister. Nymeria, Tyene, and Obara were in front of her quickly, like a shield.
"Hello, princess," Darkstar greeted with a sneer. "Did you miss me as I have missed you?"