Storm's End

It took a while for the shock to start wearing off. Some of the gathered people, nobles and the royalty mostly, made their way inside, their thoughts in turmoil.

House Targaryen was the worst ones affected by the revelation. Dragons, the very creatures that made Old Valyria the strongest empire in the whole known world, that allowed Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives to forge seven petty kingdoms into a single united kigdom.

The symbol of the power of the house Targaryen was now in the hands of Robert Baratheon. The man they exiled five years ago, for attacking the crown prince over a broken betrothal.

Naturally, the state of the members of the Royal Family reflected the situation pretty well.

They all looked shaken to their cores, Aerys more than the others. He kept muttering "How?!" to himself, over and over again, ignoring everyone around him.

Crown Prince Rhaegar was shook too, however, for an entirely different reason. It was his child with Lyanna who was supposed to bring the dragons back so how did his cousin do it? What was it that he knew about the prophecy? Was he lying when he said he was wrong about his child being the prophesized saviour or could it be the truth?

Queen Rhaelle's mind was racing. What could they do to stop Robert Baratheon should he decide to make a claim for the throne? He had dragons, and while the Lord's might be loyal to them, it would quickly change when they faced the dargonfire, as their ancestors had during the conquest.

The rest of the Royal Family was no better, except Viserys who wasn't old enough to grasp the direness of the situation yet.

Tywin Lannister was analyzing the situation, trying to find a way to use it for the betterment of his House, coming up short of a solution.

He was aware his heir and son Jaime did not wish to rule but to gallivant around with his sword and had his daughter Cersei not been betrothed to Prince Daeron, he would offer Robert Baratheon her hand and lordship over the Rock, on the condition he took the Lannister name.

Alas it was not possible, and he did not have any other daughter to offer.

Jaime didn't really think much besides wondering how that idiot managed to hatch dragon eggs when the Targaryens couldn't do it for well over a century and a half.

Cersei was worried, however. If the Baratheon brute clashed with the Royal Family, her chances of becoming Queen once Rhaegar was dealth with would turn to ashes.

Hoster Tully, Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident was beating himself for not educating his youngest daughter better. Had he, they would have been tied to the family of the man who brought back the dragons.

Now? Now they were in hot waters with the Baratheons after what he tried to do came out, and they couldn't do anything about.

Brynden "Blackfish" Tully, on the other hand had planned to teach the Baratheon boy a lesson, but that went out the window when he took off on a dragon.

Lysa was just sobbing quietly in a corner and Edmure did not know what to do.

Jon Arryn was, while bewildered at the turn of events, was quite happy for his foster son. He had worried about what would happen to him, berating himself for not taking a stricter hand in his education during his fostering at the Vale. But it seemed his worries were for nothing, as it would be a monument to foolishness if anyone, even the Royalty, tried anything to bring harm to him.

His manners and conduct as a noble still needed work though, as he had gained the animosity of half the seven kingdoms.

Elbert too felt the same as his uncle, happy for his foster brother, only hoping he wouldn't use the dragons for selfish reasons as the Targaryens once did, and bring himself to ruin.

"Are you pleased with yourself Mace?" came the sharp voice of Olenna Tyrell the affectionately named " Queen of Thorns" as her idiot of a son stepped on the toe of the Dragonlord, albeit unknowingly, just to kiss up to the King Aerys.

"Mother, I... How could I have known?" he asked, dejected and a bit scared. The Baratheon fury was well known throughout the Seven Kingdoms, as it wasn't that long ago Lyonel Baratheon rose in rebellion for the insult dealt to his daughter by the then Crown Prince Duncan Targaryen.

"Yes, you couldn't have. That did not mean you should have confronted him so openly, not the least in his own home" she cided her son. Truly, he got his wits from his father, and not a shred from her.

"If only I had one more daughter" she lamented. Her youngest daughter was just betrothed to Prince Aegon, and her eldest Mina was already wed. She had gotten the royal marriage that was denied to her through her daughter, but at what cost.

Mace Tyrell just wimpered.

Rickard Stark was in deep thought. The dragons were back, not at the hands of the Royal Family but the Lord who they had a broken betrothal with.

The Lord who was angry enough about the whole affair to attempt to assault the Crown Prince in front of the whole realm. If only he had another daughter to offer to the Baratheons.

He turned to his eldest and heir, Brandon, who was nursing a goblet, his head bandaged from the wound inflicted by the aforementioned Lord who his heir attempted to assault even though he was provoked.

He was well aware of the faults of his eldest - his whoremongering, his drinking and his distaste for ruling- and always hoped he would grow out of them, especially with a beautifull wife like Catelyn Tully.

He shook his head, if only he had more of his second son's mannerisms.

Speaking of Ned, he was whispering with his wife, who looked dejected at having their secret out before the whole realm. If only he wasn't in trouble with his foster brother, he could have been a buffer between them.

Last but not least, his daughter, the woman who the Crown Prince and the Baratheon Heir almost fought for. He loved his daughter, but he was aware of her shortcomings. She did not like doing the duties that were expected of her, marrying, bearing children, running a household, but loved the priviliges it gave her- the horse riding, bow and sword lessons, even the joust training she did in secret, or at least thought she was.

She was beautiful, just like his wife but he was aware there were more beautiful Ladies out there. Their house wasn't the richest nor could they call a lot of men to arms. So a marriage with her gave the grooms side less than what a marriage to the Lannisters or Tyrells would.

That was the reason he had accepted the offer of the Baratheons in the first place, knowing she would have a better life in there than in the North, and only broke it when he and Lord Steffon negotiated following the Prince Rhaegar's crowning of her as his Lady of Love and Beauty and their declaration of love at first sight.

His actions during the sham trial they conducted to ensure a peacefull outcome to the whole situation casted doubts on that. Did the Prince really loved his daughter, or was it because he believed in some sort of prophecy that included her?

His only hope for the future was that they wouldn't come to regret what happened.

"Mother, please..." pleaded Steffon Baratheon at his mother to stop laughing.
"Let me have my fun Steffon, I haven't laughed like this in decades" she scoffed at her son.

"What do we do now?" asked Cassana, looking at her good mother for guidance. " We agreed to make Stannis the heir so the royal family wouldn't target him, but now that he has dragons they can't do so anyway, and we can't just disinherit Stannis right after declaring him the heir."

This whole situation was giving her a headache. Nothing was ever so easy when it came to her eldest.

"He promised me once when he was child about how he would hatch dragons and take me to the skies. I did not take him seriosly then, but it appears I have been grievously mistaken, and I have never been gladder for it"

Said Rhaelle, then just kept laughing. She had no love lost for her birth family - save for Rhaella, who she just pitied for being forced to marry Aerys- after they gave her as a consollation prize to clean up the mess Duncan had created. She had came to love her husband Ormund but did not mean she forgave them.

And to know that her grandchild brought back the dragons where her father king Aegon V Targaryen and her brother Duncan Targaryen, along with many others died while trying, almost extinguishing the House Targaryen? She was saddened at their deaths, but she also saw how this was what they deserved for chasing a prophecy for so long.

Stannis was thoughtfull. The usually dutifull and uncompromising man had learned much from his father in the last five years, including how to see other perspectives and how to be flexible.

If his brother wanted the seat of Storm's End he would no doubt find supporters all over the Seven Kingdoms. However, he claimed he was going to leave, which made him think. Should he let his brother just go like that and be the Lord of Storm's End when the time came or do what was possibly the best for the whole of Stormlands.

What was his duty here? To do as his father bid or take the best course of action for the land he was born in?

Renly was just overly excited at seeing the dragons and just kept pestering his father for when was Robert going to return and would he let him ride the dragons.

The Stormlords on the other hand were celebrating. They did not like Stannis much due to his unbending nature and unshakable adherence to the laws and rules, and now the real heir in their eyes had returned.

And what a glorious return it was.

Already they were making plans of offering their daughters, sisters and other unmarried relatives to Robert Baratheon, some smaller houses going as far as to plan how to sneak them into his room, seeing as their chances were low.

The only ones who weren't celebrating weren't celebrating were Richard Lonmouth and Jon Connington, loyal friend of the Crown Prince.

But who cares about them?

Storm's End
Evening

His dragons fed, Robert returned to the castle, landing on the now mostly empty courtyard. He took his swords Stormbringer and Nightblood and offloaded the rest of his baggage carried by the dragons. They weren't much really, just clothes, medicine, bow and arrow, and his King of the Wild Hunt armor and his ever trusty hammer.

Instructing the servants to carry them to his room, he sent his dragons back to the caves to rest and decided to go and do the same himself. He didn't even get close to the door before people came pouring out, all watching him silently.

Now that he thought about it, he really missed songs from Earth and decided to sing one as he walked inside, albeit a bit changed to fit the current situation.

" I've paid my dues
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime"

he began to the confusion of the watchers, not understanding why he suddenly started to sing

"And bad mistakes
I've made a few"

he gestured at the Starks with his hands

"I've had my share of sand
Kicked in my face
But I've come through

And I mean to go on and on and on and on

I am the champion, my friends
And I'll keep on fighting till the end
I am the champion
I am the champion
No time for losers"

while pointing at the Targaryens this time

"'Cause I am the champion of the World"

he raised his fists in the air, dragging the last syllable as he entered the keep and began to laugh again while the Starks and Targaryens looked at him with impotent fury, the rest of the guests were bewildered.

Perhaps he should create a band and teach them the songs to sing whenever he wanted? A thought for the future.

Right now he was having too much fun to bother.