Casterly Rock 297 AC.

Richard.

The Lion's Roar stopping off in King's Landing wasn't strange and was timely, Richard glad to see the captain switching his journey with one of the other ships and taking him directly to the West. It cut the traveling time down by almost a moon and so it was a little over three weeks after Viserys's execution, that he arrived in Lannisport.

He rode straight from the city to Casterly Rock, didn't even bother to send word ahead that he'd arrived, as he knew his king would wish to speak to him immediately. He was proved right and was shown through the vaults and out onto the beach. Jors leading him to where Jae was sparring in the sand with Arthur, both of them moving quicker than he thought possible. Standing there with Jors he watched and waited until they were done and saw Jae look to him and smile before walking over to him, Arthur following behind.

"Richard, it's good to see you." Jae said.

"You too my king, I came as quickly as I could.".

"It's much appreciated Richard, have you eaten?" Jae asked.

"No.".

"Come let's eat, we've a lot to talk about.".

They walked back up the beach and into the vaults and Richard was surprised when they took the lift to the family wing. Inside it was empty and they sat down and had food brought to them. There wasn't much said as they ate, Jae asking him how he was and letting him know that Wyman and his brother were here. Something which he'd already known but even had he not it would have been proved true a few moments later anyway.

"Lord Wyman." Jae said as the lord of White Harbor walked in and took a seat.

"Jon, Richard." Wyman said as he began to eat his own meal.

Wyman too didn't speak much, simply talking about how he'd expected Jae to ride with the others that morn, Jae saying he'd been expecting Richard and wished to get straight to work. That surprised Richard some, though he had sent word he was on the Lion's Roar, he had not expected them to know when he would be arriving. Once he'd finished Jae said his goodbyes to Wyman for now and Richard followed him as he took the lift back down to the vaults.

"How did you know I'd arrive today Jon?" he asked worried he'd been compromised.

"I've been looking for you along the route Richard, using birds to find you. Once I did I knew when the Lion's Roar would arrive and so I waited for you." Jae said.

"You can do that?" he asked surprised not by the warging but that he could stay in something long enough to find him.

"You'd be surprised what I can do Richard." Jae said closing his eyes "Right now Ghost is running with his brother ahead of all the others, Loras and Robb have just been beaten in a race by Joy and Cregan has been teasing them over it making Wylla and Wynafred laugh." Jae said.

"It's that easy for you?" Richard asked.

"With Ghost, or with any animal I've already warged into it's almost instant, with others it takes a little longer to make the connection, and the further I need to go the more I have to concentrate." Jae said.

"You don't need me, you could warg into almost any castle or keep you wish to." he said only half japing.

"And I'd still find out less than you do Richard. I can warg into multiple things, but I can't be everywhere, even with this and the Glass Candles it's not enough, though I do have something that may help you in your work." Jae said as they stepped from the lift.

He followed him to his room and was led inside, just him and Jae with Arthur waiting outside along with Jors. Once in the room Jae walked over to a chest in the corner and came back with a glass candle wrapped in cloth and handed it to him.

"Once a week Richard, we set aside a time once a week, and through that I can speak to you." Jae said and Richard looked at him as if he was crazy.

"Speak?".

"Aye, I've been more motivated lately, you know why." Jae said and he didn't need to say more "I've spent my nights reading, trying things and I figured it out. I've come to understand more about the cooldown and how it works, well almost how it works, there's a lot more there I've not gotten to yet, I know there is." Jae said.

"But you can actually speak to me?" he asked again trying to be certain.

"If you wish to see it work Richard then you'll need to stay a few days." Jae said.

"I had intended to." Richard said looking at the glass candle and trying to figure out just how much of a boon this would prove if true, and he believed or was starting to that it was.

"Before you leave we'll arrange a time, once a week I will light it and we can talk, anything you need to tell me about, you can.".

"Why not more than once a week Jae?" he asked.

"Sometimes I'm going to wish to use them to see things, once I do I lose the chance to use them for a few days, after we speak I lose another few. I've figured it out, I can do both only at the start and end of a week, it's the shortest time I can get it to, for now.".

"For now?" he asked.

"Aye, as I said there is a lot more that can be done with them, I'm still only scratching the surface." Jae said with a smirk "Viserys." he said then a moment later.

"It was impossible my king, I looked, Barristan looked, had we more time..".

"Aye I know, I saw." Jae said and Richard's head spun towards him.

"You saw?".

"I wished to go, to ride on Rhaenix and burn the fat stag and the Red Keep to the ground, to force them to release my uncle. Rhaenix wouldn't take me and so I looked and saw, you weren't the only one who had run out of time Richard." Jae said and Richard could see the hurt was still there.

"Viserys was…".

"My uncle, I care not how he was, he was my blood Richard, my family, I'm not that blessed with so many of them that I can lose anymore." he said.

"Daenerys? You wish me to find her?" he asked and Jae shook his head.

"No Richard, I've made arrangements for my aunt, your job is much more pressing.".

He listened as Jae told him that it was time to make more direct moves, that Robert holding this tourney to celebrate his killing of Viserys was a step too far. The time was almost upon them to remove the stags from where they didn't belong. He asked him to speak to the loyalists, the true supporters of his family, they needed to be brought into the fold and told the truth, the full truth.

"You aren't afraid of being found out?" he asked.

"It's only a matter of time Richard, I'll be found out, and when I am it's far better that it's on my terms than anyone else's.".

"The tourney?".

"Aye I'll go, I have work I need to take care of there, a message I need to send to all who are watching and something that will help you in your work. Speak only to the most leal of houses during the tourney Richard, only those who are already with us, the rest once it's over with.".

"I will my king.".

"Richard, the Magister, he dies." Jae said.

"He dies." Richard replied.

Dorne 296/297 AC.

Tyrion.

His excitement at traveling to Dorne had been tempered somewhat by the journey itself. Even though the Lion's Tooth was as comfortable as all the pinnacle ships were and as fast, to Tyrion this journey had seemed to be the longest he'd ever been on. He knew of course that it was not, he'd traveled to King's Landing passing Dorne on the way before, and yet it felt it all the same.

As he sat drinking with Bronn one night they discussed it or more he did and Bronn just made smart-ass comments, though he found he enjoyed them all the same. The man continually bringing up the fact that since they'd been gone a year already, something that Tyrion couldn't seem to grasp was a jape for some time, that was why the journey felt so damn long.

"We've been gone a week." he said shaking his head.

"A year." Bronn said and Tyrion glared at him.

"We left a week ago." he said before drinking some more.

"Aye we did and what year was it when we left?" Bronn smirked.

"296." he said.

"Well it's 297 now, see we've been gone a year." Bronn said as he cut a piece of cheese with his knife and ate it, washing it down with a mouthful of ale while grinning at him.

"That's not how it works." he said before hiccupping.

"It is today." Bronn said laughing.

He woke up the next morning with his head thumping, he'd not got fall-down drunk in years. A couple of times only since Jaime had returned he reckoned and he paid for it over the course of the day. Bronn taking great delight in the fact that every little sound, every little noise or sudden movement made Tyrion cringe.

"You need more of what we had last night." Bronn said as he bit into an apple, Tyrion throwing up over the side of the ship amusing him greatly.

"Never again." he said when he felt his stomach settle a little.

"I've I had a silver stag for every time I've said that, do you know what I'd be?" Bronn said with a chuckle.

"A very rich man?" he laughed back.

"No a damn poor one, only a fool says never." Bronn said as he picked up his own mug and handed it to him "Drink, you know it'll settle your stomach, just have the one if it makes you feel better.".

He did and ended up having two, though Bronn's grin soon went from his face when he realized that would be all he would be having for the foreseeable future. He asked the captain where they were and when they'd be arriving, happy to find out they were sailing past the Salt Shore and would be passing Lemonwood on the morrow, and then be in Sunspear by that night.

The captain's word proved true and they arrived just before nightfall the next night, Tyrion both happy and slightly upset to see that while an escort was sent and Prince Oberyn stood ready to greet him, Arianne was not with him. Still, he was glad to see the prince again and was warmly greeted by Oberyn, the smile on his face and the sound of his voice as welcoming as ever.

"The Lion of Lannister." Oberyn said grinning.

"The Viper of Dorne." he said back, his own smile just as big.

"It's good to see you again my friend, come as much as I like the docks, this is not where you wish to be." Oberyn said.

"No, it's not.".

Oberyn climbed into the carriage with him and Bronn rode the prince's horse back and as soon as the carriage began to move, Oberyn began to speak.

"My niece sends her apologies Tyrion, we had a visitor today before we knew you were arriving and while relations have improved with House Yronwood, if Arianne had left to greet you when she had not done the same with them it would have been taken as an insult."

"I understand. Arianne she is well?" he asked slightly nervously.

"Eager to greet you in person my friend." Oberyn said with a smile.

"And you Oberyn, you and Ellaria all is well, the children?".

"They are and I look forward to introducing you to my youngest, how fares things with our nephew?".

"Good, he and Rhaenix took to the sky Oberyn, he traveled to Dorne among other places." he said and Oberyn stared at him.

"He was here?" Oberyn asked.

"He visited the tower, even found more dragon eggs if you'd believe it, but you understand why he didn't come here don't you?" he asked.

"I understand, I'd have liked to see him though." Oberyn said softly.

"And you will again soon no doubt, he's not the only who's flown Oberyn." he said and Oberyn stared at him before laughing.

"A giant shadow indeed." Oberyn said and Tyrion for a moment didn't realize what he was saying before he remembered speaking to him of meeting Rhaenix the first time.

He felt his nerves rise once again when he reached the Old Palace and as he followed behind Oberyn into the hall he found them setting up for the night's feast. Oberyn led him to his rooms and had one of the men lead Bronn and his guards to theirs before he turned to him and winked as he walked away. Opening the door he walked in and moved towards the bed, the darkness in the room only illuminated by the light of the moon outside.

"My lion." he heard from behind him and turned to see Arianne standing there, the slip she wore soon falling to the floor and he felt his heart soar.

"My princess." he said as he moved towards her.

It was quick and frenzied and not how he preferred but they were both like two people who'd been denied water for moons. Two people who'd been forbidden food and had to watch as others dined on the best of dishes. Their hunger and thirst was of a much different sort though and even despite the quickness of their coupling, it was sated for now.

"I'll speak to you later, when we do this properly." Arianne said smiling as she kissed him and moved to put her slip back on.

"Can't we just skip the feast and move right onto the dessert?" he said almost whining and she laughed as she moved forward and kissed him again.

"My hungry lion." she whispered as she bit his ear gently.

He watched her leave through the door which led out onto the balcony and once she was gone he lay back down. What her father would think of his offer he didn't know and he wondered if as Jon and Jaime suggested it would take him knowing the full truth of him. Or would it be as his aunt suggested, who he was being enough for any man to be proud to call him a goodson.

Whatever it took though he would make Arianne his wife, she had asked him to come and fight for her and fight for her he would, with a dragon if necessary.

Essos 297 AC.

The Shy Maid.

Jon Connington.

For the first few days he had felt he had failed completely, even more so than he had at the Battle of the Bells, this easily outstripping that as the biggest single failure of his life. He had allowed his king to decide things that he should not, that he was not ready to, and had gone against his own judgment in doing so. Haldon had warned him and Jon had taken Aegon's side and he was now responsible just as much as Aegon himself was.

Yet it wasn't his king he blamed, nor himself, instead his true anger and true rage was directed at Daenerys Targaryen. She had known, somehow she had known what he had planned and had arranged this, there could be no other explanation. Jon didn't understand how the bond with dragons worked, but that she was with the Red Priests and that she somehow had Shiera Seastar with her, proved what had happened here. This was the blackest of magic's, the darkest of them and it had perhaps cost Jon more than even Robert Baratheon had taken from him.

"Well?" he asked as Haldon walked from the room, Jon sitting at the table drinking heavily.

"I've done what I can, he rests and until or if he wakes we'll know no more.".

It was the same answer he'd given him for over a moon, Aegon rested and had not woken and maybe would not. He swallowed his drink and walked into the cabin, his king laying on the bed covered in bandages. One side of his face was completely covered up, his arm and side bandaged heavily and yet he breathed still. His king showing the strength within him and surviving where a lesser man would have fallen.

"I'm sorry my prince, forgive me." he said crying as he lay in his bed that night, his nightly prayers and cries for Rhaegar to absolve him both going unanswered.

Lemore too had taken Aegon's injuries badly, the Sept praying much more frequently and reverently than before. She would stand over Aegon's bed and sing to him, she washed him and cleaned his sheets, fed him, and apart from Haldon, it was she who spent the most time with him. Jon needing to be almost drunk before he could face looking at the evidence of his failure.

The first time he woke up should have been a joyous occasion but the screams of pain that came from Aegon's mouth tore Jon up inside. It got so bad that Haldon needed to give him a draught to put him back to sleep, but just that he was able to wake alone gave him hope. Over the next few weeks, Aegon woke more and more and Jon's drinking became a problem, so much so that both Lemore and Duck lost their tempers with him.

"Who are you serving by drinking Jon, not Aegon, he needs you and you're in no state to help him, to guide him and see him through this." Lemore said angrily.

"She's right Jon, you as you are now may as well not be here, he needs you, more than any of us he needs you.".

"Leave me alone, I failed him." Jon shouted.

"No you did not, but you are failing him now." Lemore said walking away.

"Help him Jon, help him or leave because as you are now you're useless to us." Duck said as he too walked away.

It took him almost a week to dry out, to stop the shivers and shakes which came from not drinking. During that time Aegon was awake more than not, the pain Haldon told him would take time to go away, some of it more in Aegon's mind than from the actual burns themselves. When he sobered up he began to sit with Aegon more and more, to speak to him and to try his best to make him feel better.

"Why did he turn on me, I'm a dragon, Jon, the last true dragon, why did he turn on me." Aegon said struggling to speak.

"Magic's Aegon, darkest magic's. I do not know where your aunt learned them, whether it was the Red Priests or from Shiera herself.".

"How could that be Jon, Shiera, surely she's not her, a mummer of some sort?." Aegon said before he began to cough, Jon quickly grabbing the mug of water and helping him drink, though most of it came spluttering out through the bandage.

"I don't understand it, but those eyes Aegon no one else has those eyes, those along with the rest of her features, that woman is Shiera Seastar I'm sure of it." Jon said and Aegon nodded.

"Can we beat their magic Jon, break their spell?" Aegon asked.

"We will my king, we will." he said as Aegon lay back down on the bed.

When the bandages came off the full extent of Aegon's injuries were revealed and even Septa Lemore couldn't bear to look at him. The right side of his face had been burned horrifically, his eye completely scarred over, his ear gone and his cheek was an open wound. His neck and shoulder were completely burned making him barely able to turn that way and his arm was a withered mass of flesh, Haldon telling him that he'd never use it again.

That it was his weaker side wasn't much of a boon but it was all they got, that and that the burns stopped at Aegon's waist. Jon tried to comfort him as much as he could when Aegon asked for the looking glass, tried to convince him not to look, and tried to hold him when he sobbed afterward. The revelation of just how bad his injuries were though almost broke him, Aegon needing time to himself and Jon, Lemore, Haldon and Duck, none of them being able to offer any comfort.

"We need to make something for him Jon, to cover that side of his face. We have to have outfits made to cover as much of him up as possible." Lemore said.

"He is our king, I'll not see him covered up." he said angrily.

"He must be Jon, we know him and he looks a monster to us." Duck said and Jon glared at him.

"I love that boy Jon, like he was mine own son and I find it difficult to look at him. How will strangers react, those we seek to bring to our side, how would you if you didn't know it was Aegon?" Lemore asked.

He knew what they spoke was the truth and yet he found he wished to disagree, in the end, though it was Aegon himself who decided. After a few days of dealing with it as best he could, Aegon called him to his room and spoke the same words that Lemore and the others did. Jon telling Yandry to take the Shy Maid to Norvos and then sending the letter to Illyrio to finally tell him what had happened.

One thing which he noticed quickly on the journey was Aegon seemed far more focussed on his training, even beating Duck before they got there and disarming him also. He hated that it had taken what had happened to fuel Aegon's rage and give him a focus and that it was no longer the fat stag and the lions he sought to end. Instead, it was his aunt and Shiera, Sandor Clegane, and eventually the Red Priests, and Jon tried not to shudder when he spoke.

"We should be looking West Aegon." he said as they stood on the deck.

"We will, once my aunt has been dealt with I'll look West, before then though I seek to make them all pay Jon, all of them Daenerys, Shiera, Sandor and the Red Priests.".

"We'll make them pay my king." he said.

"I'm going to burn them Jon, I'm going to burn them all." Aegon said as he walked away.

Casterly Rock 297 AC.

Robb.

He soon found that like Jon he loved being at the Rock, it was so different than the North, both in the warmth of the days and the way they did things. White Harbor compared to Winterfell had opened his eyes, Braavos and Pentos too had shown him the world was a much larger, stranger, place than he had thought. But it had also shown him the benefits of the world being like that, of trade and bringing in things that each place didn't have enough of.

Ice in the West was a luxury, the East too, and yet in the North it was everywhere, here fruits, wheat and grain, things which were in short supply in the North were just as plentiful. He'd learned from Wyman and Jon had spoken of it too since he came here, that one of the keys was to see the gap in the market, see something you had that they did not, and see if there was a way to exploit it.

Jon had with the West and the North together managed to find some big gaps and it along with the building of the ships had led to Wyman and the North itself becoming far more wealthy. Yet compared to the Lannisters they were nowhere, the sheer scope of the Lannister gold mining operation dwarfed almost all the North's trade. When Cregan told him of Castamere and Jon took him to one of the Lannister mines he began to wonder, did the North have gold or silver or anything they could exploit?.

"How do you find the gold, Jon?" he asked as they walked the mine once more.

"I don't." Jon japed and Robb was glad to see his brother happy, he'd not been for some days.

"Aye, of course you don't you lazy sod." he said smirking back as Grey Wind and Ghost came back from one of the tunnels they went down.

"Lord Jaime has men employed by him, surveyors and men who know what to look for, they dig and take samples of the rock. How they know what they know is beyond me, but they can tell if there is the chance of gold or silver and then they're put to work." Jon said.

"Could some be sent North?" he asked.

"I don't know, at present having the gold makes the Lannisters wealthy, should you find some in the North it may affect that." Jon said.

"What if we made arrangements with them, did a deal of sorts, we could offer them a part of it and they could offer us their help in finding it or mining it if we did?" he asked.

"You think your father would go for it?" Jon asked.

"I don't know, if I could bring it to him as a possibility, perhaps." he said and Jon laughed "What?".

"My brother, I remember when all you cared about was getting an extra slice of one of Gage's pies." Jon said.

"Aye, and I remember when you weren't a king, Jon." he said laughing back.

"You heard of the tourney?" Jon asked.

"Aye, you going?".

"We're going brother, Lord Wyman has agreed to travel with us." Jon said and Robb looked to see if he was japing and then slapped him hard on the back when he realized that he wasn't.

"Thank you brother." he said and Jon looked at him confused "I know were it not for you then I'd not have this life Jon and I'm grateful for it, truly." he said and Jon smiled at him.

"I'm happy for you brother, now come, while not the same as Gage's we still need to move quickly, it's peach tonight and Joy may not let us have any." Jon said with a laugh as they headed back to the Rock proper.

Jon was proved right, Joy sitting with the peach pie and deciding who got a piece, laughing as both Ghost and Grey Wind looked at her forlornly when she fed Dusk. Wynafred told him that her grandfather had just let them know they'd be going to the tourney and Wylla seemed the most excited of them all. Even Loras and Cregan seeming less enthused than his future goodsister was about traveling to King's Landing.

It was his cousin who told him why the next day when they sparred and Robb found his own enthusiasm dimming somewhat when he did.

"It's to celebrate killing Jon's uncle, Robb, the idea of seeing his head on a pike." Cregan said with a shudder as he took Robb's sword and put it back on the rack.

"He would do that?" he asked.

"He will do that, mother, uncle Arthur, Loras and Brienne, each of them have said so and he means to celebrate his death, that's the main point of the tourney. Robert will show off Viserys's head and we'll be expected to look and be happy." Cregan said.

"Even Jon?" he said with a note of anger in his voice.

"Even Jon." Cregan said and they turned to watch Brienne and Loras go through their paces.

Jon joined them on their ride the next day and he and Wylla and Wynafred looked on eagerly when he and Joy got ready to race. The girl had left him and Loras in the dust when they'd raced days earlier, both Loras and Cregan laughing at his expense. It was only afterward he found out that she and Jon were the best on a horse in perhaps not just the Rock but the West itself.

"Who'll win?" he asked Cregan his voice barely a whisper.

"Jon if he wishes, Winter and he are as one, only Ghost or your own wolf could beat them, but it depends on the day, Joy wins some days.".

"He lets her win?.".

"Some days." Cregan said with a smirk.

Today it seemed was one of those days, Wynafred and Wylla clapping happily when Joy took the race and Jon whispering in Joy's ear making her laugh. They stayed by the side of the stream near the tree and Jon came over to speak to him once they'd eaten.

"Take Wynafred and follow Ghost, stop where he leads you and meet us back at the Rock." his brother whispered in his ear.

"Jon?".

"Trust me brother." Jon said as he walked away.

Doing as he was told he helped Wynafred to her horse, Wylla smirking at them as they rode away. It was just he and his betrothed, their guards, and both wolves and they rode for almost an hour. The place they ended up at was a small hill and they could see Casterly Rock in the distance. Ghost looked up at him and for a moment he felt the wolf was going to drag him from his horse, Ghost only moving away from him when he dismounted.

Helping Wynafred do the same he led her to where Ghost and Grey Wind were laying down, both wolves looking in the direction of the Rock and Robb couldn't stop himself from smiling, a note would have done just as well brother he thought with a chuckle.

"Robb?" Wynafred asked.

"Jon told me to come here, said it'd be worth the visit." he said taking his cloak off and laying it down so Wynafred could sit on it. Once she had, Robb sat down beside her both of them looking off into the distance.

"Are you looking forward to the tourney?" she asked and Robb shook his head.

"I was, Cregan explained what it was for though and it's spoiled it for me somewhat, though I do wish to see King's Landing and traveling with Jon and the others should be fun." he said.

"Aye it should, he seems different." she said looking to him "Jon, does he seem different to you?".

"Aye, I thought it was what happened with his uncle but I think it's more than that, I think he's ready to take the throne." he said.

"There's going to be a War?" she asked nervously.

"Aye, I don't see any other way.".

"Will you fight?" she asked looking to him.

"He's my brother, aye, I'll fight." he said determinedly.

"Promise me you'll return, that you and I will have our lives together Robb, promise me?." she asked and he looked at her to see her eyes watering.

"Wynafred, I promise, I swear it by the old gods and the new. I'll not take any unnecessary chances and I'll return to you, always." he said as he leaned in to kiss her softly.

They kissed for a few moments and he rubbed his fingers over her eyes, stopping the tears before they fell. Putting his arm around her he felt Ghost brush against him and when he looked to the wolf he saw his head turn towards the rock. Both he and Wynafred looked on as the sun set, the light shining down and casting the Rock in gold. The reflections changed as they watched, golden brown, red, bright orange, and then finally began to fade as the sun moved away. He turned to see Wynafred was holding her breath, a smile on her face when she looked to him and he kissed her again.

'I promise' he said loudly in his head and hoped he'd be able to keep it.

Riverrun 297 AC.

Cat.

The ravens came and she looked at the seals, one bearing the hand of the king's and the other the seven-pointed star. She nervously broke the seal on the one from the High Septon first, eager to see if he had accepted her request. At first, she had intended to just send a letter and then had changed her mind, a personal visit from Septa Mordane may stand her in better stead she felt, now reading she'd soon find out if that was so.

Lady Catelyn,

After a meeting with the most devout, we have agreed to accede to your request for the dissolution of your marriage to Lord Stark. We have prepared the legal documents and they will need to be signed by your husband or yourself to take effect, once done then you are both free under the terms of the faith to wed once again. I look forward to speaking to you personally in the future my lady, to discuss the other matters you raise.

His Holiness,

The High Septon.

She almost cheered such was her happiness, her plan had worked and she poured herself a glass of wine to celebrate. Ned would receive a raven soon and she could have him send one to the High Septon confirming he accepted. Taking a sip of the wine she opened the other scroll and began to read it also, finding herself believing it a sign from the gods.

Lord Tully,

His grace invites you to the tourney of King's Landing 297 AC, a tourney held in celebration of the ending of the Targaryen line for good. We look forward to you and your party coming to celebrate this joyous occasion.

Lord Jon Arryn,

Hand of the King.

While she wasn't sure exactly what the raven meant by end of the Targaryen line and she was a little put out that the words were so formal, she welcomed the opportunity to travel to King's Landing. It had been moons since she had seen Petyr and she had worried it would be many more, but now she had the chance to go and speak to him in person, to explain her plan to him and to make arrangements for their wedding.

She had gone over and over in her head to see if there were any other candidates, someone who would add to their own strength and had found them few and far between. That she was a woman wedded, bedded, and who had given birth was problem enough, a maiden fair and true being what most sought. That she had also been set aside and her age as well took some potential husbands off the table. The biggest obstacle though wasn't her, it was that those who could offer her what she needed were already wed.

The Reach, Vale, West, Stormlands, all of them were off the table, Dorne was an option simply because Doran was unmarried but she'd not consent to marry a cripple or to live in such a place. Not even the chance of making Ned and his bastard suffer could make her demean herself so, which also took the Iron Islands from the table. Though on her darkest of days she did consider it, especially given their own enmity with the North. No, it had to be Petyr, not only was he the most palatable of the options she had, he was someone she could trust and she cared for him also, even if not in that way.

"Pearl?" she called out and the girl came running.

"Milady?".

"My brother, Pearl, has he returned?.

"No milady, I believe he's to return this evening." Pearl said and she dismissed her.

Over the next few days she found out more of the reason for the celebration, the king having executed Viserys Targaryen. That he had done so himself she cared not for, far too much like his good friend in that regard for her liking. Edmure welcomed the chance to go to King's Landing as Lord Paramount, to be feted as he should be and Cat too found herself keener to set out on the journey.

"I believe the children will be there Cat, Sansa for certain but perhaps Robb too." Edmure said the night before they left.

"You really think so?" she asked hopefully.

"I do, they traveled to Highgarden and this is a far more prestigious tourney than that, even should he not come, Edmure refusing to say Ned's name ever since the letter had come, I'm sure there's a good chance that Robb may.".

"I hope so, but even if they do not we shall enjoy ourselves brother." she said with a smile.

"Aye, that's the spirit, we'll have fun Cat, no matter who else is there." he said drinking his wine.

She had wondered if she should let him in on her plans and had in the end discarded the idea, better she worked them herself than gave him the chance to mess them up. Despite the controls she'd put on him, he almost messed up every chance he got and she'd had to cover for him constantly. He'd even slept with a servant and gotten her with child, Cat having to force the girl to drink moon tea before she dismissed her from their service. She'd not allow another bastard ruin her life more than Ned's one already had and until she was wed herself, this was all she had.

Edmure thankfully though still showed no signs of settling down, even if his behavior was becoming more and more of a problem. Soon she'd have power of her own and the ability to make them pay for what they did to her, and so she closed her eyes and wondered what it would be like to lay with Petyr as man and wife.

Leaving Riverrun the next day their party was larger than most, Pearl coming along with her to act her maid and Utherydes being left to act as castellan. Looking back at Riverrun she began to picture the ceremony in her mind, one better prepared and managed than the one she had there years earlier. Though she bemoaned that once again it was not the man she wished that she'd be marrying.

Dorne 297 AC.

Doran.

The gods laugh when men make plans, never had truer words been spoken and Doran felt a fool for not taking note of them years ago. He had planned, plotted, and done little but not enough, made agreements, and worse he had kept out of the fight when he should have done more. A betrothal agreement he held in his hand, one half of it an impossibility and the other unlikely. In his other, he held the reason why, the scroll from King's Landing showing him what waiting got him.

Prince Doran,

On behalf of his grace King Robert Baratheon, I would like to invite you to the Tourney of King's Landing 297 AC. A tourney to be held to celebrate the ending of the Targaryen line, we look forward to your attendance.

Lord Jon Arryn,

Hand of the King.

He hadn't needed the second raven to tell him what had happened, his spies having the information relayed to him before official word came from the crown. Viserys was dead, his head resting on a pike above traitors walk, and with it lay Arianne's future as a queen, this route was gone now. Now again he was faced with a decision to make, one half of the agreement was still possible, Quentyn could rule if Arianne could not, but was it truly possible?.

Arianne had disappointed him greatly upon her return from the West, she'd not as he hoped gotten close to Jon Snow, not at least in the way he had wished. Instead, she like Oberyn seemed to see the boy as kin, as family and that was not what he wanted or what he would accept. It left him in a delicate position and one he knew he had to take advantage of and needed to do so now.

"He is here my prince.".

"Good send him in." he said and heard Areo behind him grip his axe as the Darkstar walked into the room.

"My prince.".

"Ser Gerold, please sit." he said and the Darkstar did as he was bid.

"You wished to speak to me.".

"I did Ser Gerold, you're an ambitious man are you not?".

"I am my prince, I make no bones about it.".

"But unfortunately even ambition runs into obstacles, you wish to marry my daughter and you know I'll not agree to it." he said and watched as the Darkstar's eyes glared back at him, his lips tight as he spoke.

"I know." Ser Gerold said his voice strained.

"What if I changed my mind if I did allow it? What would you do for me if I granted you your wish Darkstar?" he said and saw how Gerold smiled at hearing him call him by his silly moniker.

"What it is you require of me, my prince?".

"Something that'll come easy to a man like you Ser Gerold, I wish you to kill a woman for me.".

"Any particular woman or can I choose?" the Darkstar said with a chuckle.

"A very important one, but do it and you and Arianne will be wed, I give you my word.".

"Very Well, who?".

"Margaery Tyrell." he said and saw the Darkstar smile even more broadly.

"A rose, I think I'd quite enjoy that my prince.".

He waited until the man was gone and he was sure he was well out of earshot before he turned to Areo, his protector looking at him with doubt in his eyes.

"You don't approve?" he asked.

"It's not my place to approve my prince, I follow your orders and them alone." Areo said.

"Speak your mind old friend." he said and Areo nodded.

"You would allow him and Arianne to marry?" Areo asked.

"I am a man of my word, the marriage will happen if Ser Gerold does his job, though he'll not live long enough for the bedding." he said and Areo nodded.

"Then my concerns were as always for nothing my prince." Areo said.

"Yet they are welcomed all the same.".

With that taken care of he waited to see why the Lion had been brought to his domain, he'd not said anything much to Tyrion last time and he wondered why he was coming back now. That he had spent a number of weeks in Sunspear without coming to see him was in some ways disrespectful and in others welcomed. Doran knew of his brother's friendship with the imp and given his connection with Jon Snow he wondered if he'd learn something he didn't know when the man arrived on the morrow.

Sleep that night was haunted by bad dreams, arguments he'd had with his sister from years before playing out almost as if they were real. She too as Arianne had at times refused to do her duty, to do what was best for Dorne and her house and they had fought over it many times. In the end, he had gotten his way and he had sat back and waited for the next part of his plan. Aegon would marry Arianne and he would see his blood on the throne, and just like with Viserys the gods had laughed at him then also.

"My prince, my prince." Areo said waking him from a terrible dream, he was in the Red Keep and Elia called for him and even though he could walk he never went to her.

"What is it?" he asked shaking the dream from his head.

"It's almost noon my prince, Prince Oberyn and Lord Tyrion have arrived." Areo said.

"Send in my servants, I need to dress." he said and Areo did as he was asked.

He broke his fast as he met with them, Oberyn and Tyrion waiting in the sunroom for him when he was wheeled in. His brother ate a little and Tyrion, not at all but Doran found his appetite was unable to be fulfilled. Quickly eating far more than he usually did, something which Oberyn commented on.

"Hungry brother?" Oberyn japed.

"I slept late, missed breaking my fast. I believe I'm eating two meals to your one, brother.".

"It's good to see you hungry, brother." Oberyn said and he nodded, on some days before they'd gotten rid of Caelotte he had found he had no appetite at all.

"Lord Tyrion, what brings you to Dorne?" he asked far more to the point than he usually was which again Oberyn seemed to notice.

"I come on a matter of great import my prince, to me and I hope to you also.".

"Is this referring to my nephew?" he asked and looked to Oberyn who nodded.

"In a way my prince, but mainly your daughter.".

"How so?". he asked curiously.

"I wish to ask for her hand, my prince, I come with an offer of a betrothal." Tyrion said and of all the things he could have heard this was not one he expected, so he did the only thing he could, he laughed, and only seeing Oberyn's angry expression did he stop.

"Forgive me my lord, but many men have asked for my daughter's hand and she herself would turn down most, I believe that would be the case for you also.".

"Not so brother." Oberyn said handing him a letter.

Doran opened it and looked inside, the writing was clearly Arianne's and he began to read, shocked at the words his daughter had written.

Father,

I write to you with hope in my heart, hope that you will grant me what I wish for more than anything in this world. Tyrion is a good man and he makes me far happier than I ever dreamed I could be, he's smart, funny, loyal, kind, he's loving and he loves me father, he loves me as I do him. As Lord of Great House and with the power of the West behind him, he brings far more to the table as consort than any other lord in the realm. That he's also someone Oberyn respects, someone that Ellaria thinks worthy shows just how good a choice he is. Our union will bring us and the West closer father, it'll strengthen Dorne, and not only will I gain a husband I already love, but also a man who I can rely on for advice and comfort when needed.

I ask you this not as a Princess of Dorne but as your daughter, please father allow me to be happy, allow me to be with the man I love.

Your loving daughter,

Arianne.

"My daughter speaks most highly of you Lord Tyrion and yet I cannot agree to this match?".

"Doran?" Oberyn said angrily.

"No brother on this I must be firm." he said before looking to Tyrion "Surely you understand Lord Tyrion." he said and saw Tyrion look to the ground before he looked back up at him, his expression schooled from him.

"I do not, perhaps you can enlighten me, my prince. Is it that I'm a dwarf?" Tyrion asked his teeth grinding once he'd done so.

"No, my daughter sees no problem with it, and were you any other dwarf then perhaps, but no it's not that." Doran said.

"Then may I ask what it is?" Tyrion said dropping Doran's title which he noticed immediately.

"Your father Lord Tyrion, your father ordered the killing of my sister and her children, and though he is dead and the men responsible have paid the price, you remain his son. Dorne will not stand for the son of Tywin Lannister marrying their princess and neither will I." he said and saw Tyrion smirk as he looked at him, he braced himself for jokes about being in a wheeled chair though they did not come.

"And that's your only objection my prince, who my father is?" Tyrion asked as he looked to Oberyn who for some reason nodded.

"It is." he said and saw both his brother and the lord smile.

"Then perhaps it's time you learned of a truth long hidden Prince Doran." Tyrion said.

Essos 297 AC.

Dany.

The further North they traveled the more Missy and even the unsullied seemed to relax. While the soldiers never gave much away with their expressions or their posture, over time with Shiera's help she had begun to see the difference, to see just how much they were changing. They relaxed more and seemed far more at ease and knowing now that they too had felt as Missy had, thankfully like her they soon began to accept and understand they were truly free. Jhiqui and Irri she'd begun to get along with though both women were at times strange to her. With Missy's help though she had learned some of there language and the strange awkwardness was diminishing each day.

They were camping by the Sarne, Sandor teaching three unsullied how to fish and they quickly having more success than he did. Ellagon and Rhaegal were flying far ahead of them, chasing after far bigger prey, the dragon's appetites increasing along with their sizes. The dreams still came to her, though not every night, and as they traveled during the day she felt more and more she was heading in the right direction and that she would find Sandorix or him, her, soon.

So much so that she had begun to make plans for what would happen once she did find him, or more precisely she and Shiera had talked about what they would do once that happened. She was sure now that Sandorix was free from the mummer pretending to be her nephew and while a part of her wished for nothing more than to find the boy who stole him, another part was thinking of her true nephew. With Sandorix back she felt the only thing which could hold her back was waiting until the dragons were large enough to fly.

Once they were it would be time to go West and help her nephew take back their family's throne. Or if she found her nephew to be unworthy then to take it for herself, though she believed he would be as she hoped and she remembered the vision she had in Volantis of standing with him.

"Are you not hungry Dany?" Missy asked her later that night, the plate of fish untouched on her lap.

"What? Sorry I was thinking, but no, do you want it?" she asked and Missy shook her head but took the plate from her, Sandor would eat another portion she had no doubt.

"How far are we from Qohor?" she asked Shiera when Missy carried the plate away.

"Half a moon, maybe more." Shiera said "You feel them too?".

"I do, I think they're near the city but not at it, flying over the forests and eating and sleeping in them." she said.

"I believe so also, Rhaegal seems content, fully fed, and happy to stretch his wings." Shiera said with a small smile.

"Is it really for the best? To let them fly so far from us?" she asked, the same questions she always had whenever she missed the dragons.

"It helps them I think, allows them to grow even more and we move too slow for them, they can be near us in a day or so. They cover the same ground it takes us a day to in minutes Dany and here there is not enough large game for them, so I think it's for the best." Shiera said.

"I miss them." she said softly.

"I know, I do too, when we fly with them they'll wish to stay even closer." Shiera said looking at her.

"They will?" she asked.

"I believe so, the dragons once bonded won't wish to be parted from their riders.".

She slept well that night and ate fish the next morning to break her fast, Sandor and the unsullied having caught far more than she'd thought. They were riding and heading north within a couple of hours of her waking, Sandor riding beside her, and Missy sitting in front of her on the silver mare. She had given her some lessons on riding but she found that she and Missy both preferred to have her ride with her.

"Why didn't you eat last night?" Sandor asked.

"I wasn't hungry." she said simply.

"You feel unwell?" he asked looking at her.

"No, I just wasn't hungry." she said with a soft smile and looked to him to see him nod.

They'd been riding for a few hours when he suddenly set off riding fast ahead of her, Dany looking to Shiera who seemed just as confused as she was about why he'd done so. He rode back even faster and shouted to Grey Worm, telling him to turn and head for the rocks to the west, to ride and to ride hard. Once he had and the carts were turned around he rode to her and Shiera.

"You see those rocks over there, ride for them now, go, as fast as you can, take those three with you and the girls with you" Sandor shouted.

"Sandor?" she asked.

"Go and get your fucking bows ready when you get there." he shouted and she nodded and did what he asked.

They rode fast and the silver carried her and Missy as if they were a single rider, never faltering or slowing in it's run. Soon she was in front with Shiera, Irri, Jhiqui and the three unsullied behind her and she saw the rocks come more clearly into view. They rode into the middle of them, finding them to be while not very large, enough for cover if it was needed. Given how Sandor and the others were racing towards her, she felt it would be.

"Sandor what is it?" she asked as he directed the unsullied to move to tie the horses behind them and grab their supplies from the carts.

"Men, a lot of them and riding hard." Sandor said.

"Dothraki?" she asked wondering if this was Khal Drogo returning and looking to Jhiqui and Irri both women's expressions letting her know they were not just as Sandor's words did the same.

"No, these are different, I'd say sellswords." he said directing the unsullied where to set up.

"Maybe they're nothing to do with us?" Shiera said.

"You think we're that fucking lucky." Sandor basically growled "These men mean us harm, trust me.".

"What should we do?" she asked.

"Set up in cover, get your bow ready and call the fucking dragons back." he said and she nodded and moved to do what he asked.

Grey Worm organized their men, six of them had been learning to fire bows mainly to help in hunting though she knew Sandor also wished them to learn in case it was needed, something it clearly was now. While they were nowhere near proficient, like anything else they did they gave it their all and she knew they would be able to take men down. Though hiding in the rocks was not to their strengths, nor was splitting them up and breaking their shield wall but if Sandor wished them here then event he unsullied wouldn't argue with him.

When she finally saw the size of the group they faced she saw why Sandor had brought them here, it was far too large for them to be able to beat, hundreds strong and all of them coming towards them. She closed her eyes and reached out trying to find Ellagon and Rhaegal, hoping they could feel her need and that they would come soon.

"Make ready?" Sandor shouted and she put the arrow in her bow and held it taut.

The men stopped out of range though and three of them broke off from the main group and rode towards them, a parlay of sorts she heard Grey Worm say. As they got closer she saw they were Essoi, the one in front with his blue hair and beard marking him as a Tyroshi. The other two were far less colorful and all three were well-armed, the blue-haired Tyroshi having a Dothraki Arakh on his hip.

"You can come out, we mean you no harm." the blue-haired man said a grin on his face.

"We're fine where we fucking are." Sandor shouted back.

"We only want the girl, the rest of you can go in peace." one of the other men said.

"Fuck off." Sandor replied.

"We have you outnumbered, boxed in, you'll all die here and we'll take her anyway." the third of the men said.

"Over my dead fucking body and a fuck load of your mens." Sandor said with a laugh.

"Or you could just come out and fight me, beat me and we'll let you go" the blue-haired man said but Dany caught the wink he gave the other two.

"Who the fuck are you?" Sandor asked.

"Daario Naharis, perhaps you've heard of me?" the blue-haired man said with a smile.

"No, I'd have remembered the name of a stupid fucker like you if I'd heard it." Sandor said and she looked on as Daario grimaced and went to move his horse forward, one of the others holding him back.

"So you'll not take me up on my offer?" Daario said after a few moments, calming himself before he spoke.

"I'll make you a counter, you and your men can go fuck themselves." Sandor said and she heard the laughs coming from the three of them.

"I'll keep you to last, you can watch when we take the girl one by one, I've never wetted my cock in a princess before." Daario said.

The arrow flew true and were it not for the man wearing something on his chest he'd be dead, the three men racing away and back to the others. She heard Sandor's footsteps behind her and turned to see him looking at her with a small grin on his face.

"Next time go for the horse." he said and she smirked as she put another arrow in her bow.

They watched as the group split into four, the men moving to encircle them and she felt scared for the first time in years. Ever since she'd been with Sandor she'd felt while not invulnerable, almost so, that scared little girl she had once been was long gone and she'd not missed her at all. Now though she felt scared not for her but for those with her, for Missy and Grey Worm, for the unsullied and Jhiqui and Irri, for Shiera and for Sandor.

She knew they'd not survive this attack, the numbers against them were far too high and Dany felt responsible for those who were with her. She had rescued Missy for what, freed the unsullied for what, Shiera had joined her because she was her kin and Sandor was with her to protect her. But if she was not here then they would not need to be, they'd while perhaps not being safe, at least live until tomorrow.

"Maybe I should go to them, let them take me?" she said softly, Missy and Shiera closest to her both shaking their heads.

"Men such as them would not let us live Dany." Shiera said.

"I don't wish you to go Dany." Missy said softly, the little girl showing far more bravery here than she was.

"The dragons?" Sandor asked and she shook her head watching as he took a knee and leaned in close to her and Missy, Shiera moving over to them "When you get the chance you take the horses and ride fast, ride south back to those woods we passed, you ride for your lives." he said as he reached over to muss her hair "You hear me you fuzzy fucker.".

"I hear you." she said and saw him smile as he moved to the rock closest to them and knelt down Soon his sword was drawn and his eyes were closed, his lips moving in some silent prayer.

She heard the sound of the hoof beats as the horses charged and she raised her bow ready to fire, looking behind her she saw Grey Worm hold his spear and to her left Sandor had drawn his Greatsword. Shiera held her daggers and Missy a small knife, around her she could see the dust as they came from all sides. She closed her eyes and settled herself before opening them ready to fire.

The flames came before the roar, those in front of them soon covered as the dragon flew on, roaring as he did so. The group to her left were next and the roars grew louder as he flew on towards the others, the ones to her right and behind them hurriedly changing direction. The dragon let them ride on, not bothering to chase after them instead flying back towards the rocks and roaring once more before he landed.

She moved from where she was and ran to him, her son had come to her when she needed him most and she looked into his eyes through her own teary ones, leaning her head against his.

"Sandorix." she said softly as she stroked his head, her son trilling as he looked at her.

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed. Up Next Tyrion and Doran speak some more, we get a look into the life of the small folk. We find out about Joy's visit to Castamere and as the realm arrives for the Tourney, Jae and Margaery are reunited.

The Sphynx: Thank so much, Lancel is hard to write, I've tried to make him a little arrogant but far less and he and Jon while not having a love/hate relationship are kinda rivals (in Lancel's mind) so aren't friends, but he's less of a dick than canon, Joy was always going to cheer him up, love the rest, my friend.

Jman: It really has.

Jaimol: Thanks so much, really glad you've given it a go and are enjoying it.

Mhaleowen: He is yes and he will be seen more of and his connection to Torrhen will be brought up, Jon will go to Valyria, but not before the War for the throne.

VFSnake: Bloodraven is kinda the Old God's mistake here, he's more than they thought he could be but less than they wished, I know vague but it will become clear.

Zyrus: With Stannis, it's more even he knows how far he can go with a prince of the realm and so he can't fully discipline him and it's Joffrey, not even Stannis is that good. In terms of the war, the Tourney and then afterward will be quick, so we're less than ten chapters from the reveal of Jon and the war (won't narrow it down more than that so there's some surprise to when it begins, but it won't be longer than that I promise).

Biohazard: Thanks so much, glad you liked it.

Whitedragonwarrior: Given Jon's powers and without the NK being there now, there needs to be a threat other than just the ones in the war for the throne and Bloodraven, and his own agenda is that threat. Stannis kinda wants more clarification on what he can do, Joff being a prince he's only allowed go so far, but he wants it clearly defined so to speak. Dany will receive Jon's letter as for Leaf we'll see.

Jessicanightmarewolf: With Lancel/Wylla it's again not set in stone, but the idea of a match between Kevan and Wyman's house is a good thing, given that Lancel in canon was married off to a Darry, a very good thing. Robert is like that villain in a story who just keeps digging that grave.

Remi: That's his thought too, not to push too hard during the Tourney and not to make the same mistake his father does, though he does have certain things planned. They will see Cat yes, as for Bloodraven, he has some power and a plan, we'll see if it works.

Dunk: Aemon helped unknowingly by giving Jae the pin, as for Bloodraven yep that's one of the things he can do and we'll see him move to try and do things soon. We'll see with Kinvara and Leaf in a few chapters. The reactions will almost be a call to war and so perhaps a bit of both in a single chapter, preparations and reactions kinda thing. With the Marge/Olenna I didn't want to have to write an extra chapter of stuff at HG, and felt it best to just have FB's, there will be another showing Jae and Maege spending time together also, but I wanted to move the pace a bit and so had the planning and did it this way. In terms of Kl and the Tourney, I hope people like what I have planned there, Jae will speak to the loyalist houses himself yes. On the Red Priests, they will be allowed to come to Westeros and spread their word but it won't be like TDP, here it'll be more they'll be allowed rather than have Jae as almost their standard-bearer.

Lady Octarina: Welcome to my world lol, right now he thinks of himself as Jaehaerys and so we have that line between it and trying to get it so those who may think of his as that and those as you say who know him as Jon is hard, but once he declares, once the truth is out it'll be everyone calling him Jae, barring maybe the odd slip here and there. Jaime and Joy, Marge, and maybe Sansa have that ability to drag him from funks.

That's one of the funny things, I wanted to make it so they could do things without being found out and so they had an incompetent political appointment, even here the guy Jon wished would have been terrible and only Robert's pettiness allowed them to get a competent one, but it creates its own set of problems and Jae being in the shadows is now on a ticking clock. Aemon will have some good news, Jae has sent him a raven. I love the idea of Jon Arryn raising the issue and then finding the issue was resolved, it's just funny to me and the fact that Jae is starting to move means he needs all he can to bring allies, so Mel, Kinvara, and Thoros quickly become more important. I was thinking with Lancel and in canon he married Amerei Frey so here he and Wylla are interesting, also that both Kevan and Wyman would think it is important, it shows their minds at work.

Bloodraven given who he was and now is, was such a waste in the show, like logically the only thing which makes sense of the ending is that Bloodraven took over Bran and basically messed with everyone to put himself on the throne, compared to what we got, that's Citizen Kane's ending there.

Andrews: He may very well but he's here kinda done a Doctor Strange and is holding his finger up with his one plan.

Ronincav: I remember seeing that used in the trailer for Dragon Age Origins, really stuck with me. But yes we're almost there, the war is in sight.

KellarBLair: Thanks so much, really glad you liked it.

Bellaswan: We'll see with Shiera, find out if she even knows of Bloodraven as for the rest, Jae plans to do exactly that, speak to those he knows he can trust and once the tourney is over, reach out to the others.

Guest: Agree completely the only thing with him that makes sense in the show is if he was evil, I also remember that story too and found myself doing the same thing, I will do my very best that you don't find yourself doing it here. We will see more of the dragon's size being brought up, I kinda wanted it hidden to a point but it will be seen more as the dragons are seen more. In terms of the female characters I'm glad you think so, I try and do my best with them and show that they being strong doesn't mean that another character needs to be weak, that they can be different also from each other and not need to be almost cut-outs. In terms of Jon/that female character, my own plans after this involve a lot of that. I have a Jon/Rhaenys, Jon/Arianne/ Jon/Val, Jon/Mya Stone planned and a Jon/Dany and another Jon/Marge in the works, so you may see the 12 stories lol.

Hunterofaremis: Bloodraven will be a menace but just because he thinks something doesn't make it so, Hope you liked this part of Tyrion in Dorne, we'll see more next chapter and we're edging ever closer but the war won't be quick when it does come, it will be a war.

Anarchichmind: I find that myself, that and the certain characters who we could have seen so much more of, it's why fics help to a point, sometimes GRRM gives us these little cool things and we go ok and now what and they don't get expanded upon and so yep a pen and paper RPG would be interesting. The thing is that the show may have killed a hell of a lot of enthusiasm for things, I mean they had planned four spin-offs, we're down to one, that's why the idiots should never be given another job. So glad you liked the Joy/Jon dragon scene it just would have felt odd if he'd not taken her for a ride, her almost more than anyone.

Azure: This Jon has spent more time with the Lannisters than the Starks at this stage, but more than that he learned so early who he was, over the course of the story he's come to realize that people like Jon Arryn and Robert, the Maesters have taken his family from him, so many of his family. He has seen Rhaenys's body, seen Aegon's and Elia's, learned about his grandmother and his father and mother, so he's far more in tune with his targ side than even his stark side, though he feels that too. But over time he's grown into being Jaehaerys Targaryen, it's who he is, who he sees himself as. Seeing Viserys die, even had Dany seen it she'd have reacted but for Jon, it's the loss of yet more family, not being able to save him and so it both hurt and lit a fire under him.

Vwchick: It should, he's coming into the game now and will be a problem.

Mrspotter: So glad you liked it.

Anja: Really glad you liked it.

Xand007: Thanks, my friend. Very apt and totally true, he's woken the dragon. I think with the TER and maybe this is just down to how terribly writing the show was but it's the only thing which makes any sense of the ending, if not him then it's even worse (though I believe the idiots had no idea and he's not evil, they just don't know how to end things), Bran is like the most useless character in the TV show, like seriously, so unless there's some Keyser Sose shit going on it's just the worst ending ever. In terms of the COTR we'll see but you're right people are going to fall, we'll see the start of that soon enough. You too stay safe.

Creativo: respuesta simple si.

Jacobgamble: So glad you liked it.

Sovietgods: Yes certainly within 10 chapters (won't narrow it down more for spoiler reasons) as for fAegon we'll see. Jon, Robert will defiantly be involved we'll see what the Iron Born do. I won't speak on the Riverlands other than we'll find out if Jon's work has paid off.

Battlemage: That was a big point of this with Jon both to have him wish to be reckless, to have him not be reckless and to give him a kinda final lesson in that you can't save everyone, also to kinda light a firer under him and while not get him off his arse, to push him forward. It was exactly as you say it with Medger, not the other way for the reasons you put, more just watching the interactions and seeing his daughter was and knowing from there that Ned had kept his word, not that he ever truly doubted it but just being sure. That's the thing for me with Cat, I think she'd have moved it on from her original issue to a newer one, now I also think there is a way that Cat could have been brought on board, but I wonder if the fhit hit the shan in canon, would she have sought to use Jon to claim the throne, reached out the Tyrells and other houses or would she have sold him out?.

Agree on the religion and Jon kinda told Mel that he wouldn't allow one to be over the others so the faith is in for a shake-up. With Cersei it was more her own hubris in not being able to see the High Sparrow for what he was, Tywin would have and ended him long before then, and the only way to deal with religious fanatics is to meet them head-on, the Targs did that before. Ned as you say didn't care but he asked more for Cat than him, he was hoping her faith would give her what she got here, he didn't care what the faith said to him, his mind was made up, as for the king, he's not waiting for Jon he wants to marry now.

You're right on Joy, that's kinda what my mind was telling me and yet it came across as wrong, your way is so much better than what I wrote and so on a polish up of this when I do so, I will probably steal it from you lol. Jon knows of fAegon and knows he's in Essos, it's more why he's sent Mel and will be shown with that so to speak. The Viserys part was something that did distract him but also focussed him as well.

Lomas is competent, nowhere near as much as Richard our Varys is, the Whispering Skull though is while not an alias for Richard it's a contingency of sorts. There is magic in the words and a little at times Jon speaking to her so the others can't understand them, so when he's alone with her he speaks more English and with others around or when doing Dragon related things Valyrian.

In terms of what Magic's he knows, he's getting stronger all the time and he has a couple of advantages over Bloodraven, the wall is one, and others will be shown a bit later.

Svenion: Not sure what you mean by that, it fits within the lore, it's more magical and it's deliberately weird but Bloodraven's full back-story, his plans and what he did and has done or will do will be shown as we go. He's a greenseer and powerful warg and somehow he was moved into being the TER here I have a reason as to why that was and why he is how he is.

Denoltdn: Marge will be fine, he can't get near her only Jae. We'll see an attempt by Renly to get closer to Marge once the tourney starts. It's funny, the build has taken so long and to finally be just at the point, I'm really eager to have it unfold, just to show the reactions to the truth from all those who don't know, Mace as you say but all the others too, that almost as much as the war to follow lol.

Spartan: Thanks so much, we'll give Robert some smiles for his final tourney, let him revel in it.

Forgotten prince: Really glad you liked it.

Starkiller: Amongst the myriad of problems the idiots did in the last few seasons, not tying up so many of the characters points is just one of them, Kinvara should have come back with Mel imo. It's like the most logical thing right, foster her in Bear Island and she'll be happy, not to mention a far better life. We'll see some of Aemon/Benjen and Luwin/Aemon in a chapter or two. That is the upside to them being idiots, we didn't get to see them ruin certain characters or lore, like the COTR or Val or Arianne. Robb has benefited greatly from being in White Harbor, more so than ever it's the point of fostering and Ned (I know he lost his family and wished them close) more than most should have realized this. That was a big thing for both of them Barry though will be rewarded soon and Richard has a focus.

For Jon, it was the loss of more blood, more family, but logically he's far better off. Jon Arryn will be alive when the war starts, his religious issues are his defining ones here, we'll see in the upcoming Harrenhal/Rebellion FB the true focus of why he did a lot of things. With Ned, he has always felt this way and just never said it aloud when he was near. Glad you liked the Jon/Joy part and yes her husband will have some hoops to jump through lol. I think with Ned and despite how I feel about Cat, they loved each other, but I think he needed a Northern Wife, he allowed his house to be too southern and it cost them greatly, no way a Sansa raised by a Northern Lady ends up that naïve. I always get the feeling if Jon hadn't been so broody and therefore even more like Ned, most would think he was Brandon's.

Bloodraven to me is such an interesting character, there is so much he did as you say in Canon and I don't think a guy like that doesn't carry that forward, so we'll see him as evil here completely, no grey with him.

Olivia: I have it set to update every Tues and Thurs, hopefully, that'll be enough to keep you occupied, all my best wishes to you and the baby when he/she arrives.

Irish Hermit: he'll do something, the head is on a pike but it's Robert he'll do something. On Dany/Drogo, I've not convinced myself they're going to happen or will be endgame if they do, I have another pairing in mind for her and have from the start and her role is as you say different here, either way, she won't just be a convenient let's call her and bring in the Dothraki Cavalry thing, she has her own role to play. With fAegon and Jon C, they'll learn almost as soon as the realm does and we'll see how they react. You got your wish, the dragon is back with his mother. That's the thing and it's something Jon told Ned way back in the WF chapters, Robert will not accept someone sitting it out, you're either with him or against him and so pretty much everyone will be involved. I do hope you like the reactions when they come.

Liza: Thanks so much my friend: That's the thing no way he allows Shireen mistreated by anyone else or looked down upon, he may not have been the best father but he wouldn't stand for that. It's kinda his thing isn't it, at least here and had he done it earlier it is in some ways a good decision, but it's too late for Joff. We'll see with Stannis, it's kinda hard to judge his fate because as you say he's dutiful and so will rise when called and yet he has no Mel whispering in his ear so what does that do to him?. We'll see. The Red Priests are not as prevalent here as in my other story, they have roles to play but more as advisors than religious wise and the High Septon is well, a terrible leader, Religion will come up but more background here I think a bit like Jon believing in the Old Gods.

Bloodraven is a serious threat, an almost forgotten one and a powerful one, the COF though are being played, we'll see if they stay that way. Jon is going to the Tourney and you're right it's going to be hard for him. Stay safe and Well my friend.
Xan Merrick: Thank you my friend: The Jon/Jaime relationship really is important for him, so I'm glad it's still coming across well. Jon A will get his don't worry. That's the thing with Elle he kinda got to know her first and so he knows he can trust her, with Cat he never did and in the end, found out he couldn't. Joy totally wants a dragon, he gave her apples, a dragon is a must lol. Wyman is such a cool character, I can't not see him playing a role in fics, with Kevan they've become friends and so the idea of a match just seems logical. Glad you liked the dragons bit, I wanted to both reshow them and their size and to have others see them and realize what it meant, to reaffirm their faith as you say. We'll see with the children, for now, they're Bloodraven's but if the spell can be lifted they'll turn, hope you like the tourney.