Casterly Rock 295 AC.
Tyrion.
While he missed not having everyone here he found he enjoyed himself also, even more so when the letter arrived from Dorne. He had been almost too nervous to open it, putting it off until he went to his room that night, the smell of her perfume on it enough to make him smile. When he did eventually open it he was relieved and excited by what it said, by what she suggested and he had ended up rereading it almost every night since.
My lion,
I find my nights to be dull and without entertainment, my bed to be far too big and far too empty. The quietness seeming so dull compared to the roars I enjoyed so much. Were it not for my uncle's own visit to the Reach I could, I would have been able to come to visit and find out if the memories I think on are ones which can be repeated, or dreams I shall need to look back on.
I hope this letter finds you miserable and alone, pining for the princess you left behind, thinking of the delights we shared and will share once more. I have convinced my father that a trip to Casterly Rock is in our interests, that a second set of eyes on the lions is a good thing. As I write this I find there are many places my eyes wish to travel, many sights I wish to see, and delights I wish to savor.
I shall see you soon but until then I will think of you, especially when my hand invariably begins the work your tongue is so much better suited for.
Ari.
Just thinking about the letter and the thoughts of her coming to visit was enough to distract him yet again, though given how Harys was droning on and on maybe that was not a bad thing. When his uncle's goodfather left, both Bronn and Satin took their seats and as always it was Bronn that started things.
"If words were weapons that man wouldn't be able to beat Satin here." Bronn said to chuckles from Tyrion and an annoyed glare from his squire.
"I've been getting better." Satin said affronted.
"Aye, put a bow in your hand and we're screwed, but you wield a sword little better than you do a lance."
"Maybe you're just a terrible teacher." Satin said with a smirk.
"I'm an excellent teacher." Bronn said.
"Who have you taught?" Tyrion asked deciding to play along.
"I taught me and I'm still fucking alive am I not." Bronn said and he found he couldn't argue with the man.
He'd developed an interesting relationship with the former sellsword turned mummer assassin, it seemed the man had hopes and dreams for a future that didn't involve doing either. Given what he know knew, it may turn out he'd get them as Tyrion had been almost as surprised at Bronn's appearance at the cave, as the man himself was by what Tyrion was doing there.
" I fucking knew it, I knew there was something about the boy, he's a fucking Targaryen isn't he."
" Aye he is, what do you intend to do with that information." Tyrion asked as Lygaron moved forward, thankfully Rhaenix was still sleeping as he had some control over his own dragon.
" Do, I intend to do fucking nothing. I'm not a fool, though it does mean I've got a better chance of getting me castle now."
" Castle?"
" Aye, a castle, a small price to pay to a worthwhile man." Bronn said with a smirk.
" You think you're worthwhile?"
" I think I can be, you've already found that out, I'm sure the boy will too in time."
" You do realize we could just kill you." Tyrion said.
" Aye, but if that was who you were then I'd be dead already." Bronn said and Tyrion laughed at the man's logic, sound though it was.
It had turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it seemed that Bronn wasn't the only one who was eager to know what Tyrion did on his visits tot he vaults. While he knew now the man could be counted on, he wasn't sure that Satin finding out the truth without Jon and the others here to speak to him was a good thing.
"Any word from the tourney my lord?" Satin asked.
"No, it should be done by now, they will no doubt be on their way home soon." he said seeing the boy's smile at that.
"Good." the boy said and Bronn jumped on it faster than he could.
"What's wrong? you miss them that much, is our company not good enough for ya, or is it just that we don't smell like a rose?" Bronn said and the boy stood up angrily before he composed himself and looked to Tyrion before leaving the room.
Bronn sat there with a little smirk on his face while Tyrion just shook his head.
"What, the boy needs to learn." Bronn said nonchalantly.
"Learn what?"
"He needs to be able to have the piss taken out of him, especially over that."
"You really think?" he asked still not sure Bronn was right.
"Aye, he and the Rose though they don't fully know it yet."
"How do you know?" he asked wondering how he had seen what Tyrion had not.
"How do you think I knew about Jon, or to follow you? There's a reason I've lived this long and it's not just that I'm good with a sword."
The rest of his day he went over figures and was happy to see the numbers just kept getting better, the ice trade in Essos was incredible. It was already reaching better numbers than most of their other nonmaterial trade, wood still being the biggest of it all. Their gold production was steady, silver was slightly up and both their coin in their vaults and their accounts in the Iron Bank had never been higher.
He had received a raven from the Maester at Winterfell regarding a use for the wind wheels that he'd not thought of. Even though they'd used it to pump water, the idea of pumping it around the keep was something he'd not considered. He had set Jardene to the task and had found the new Maester to be a different sort than Creylen was, though he still wasn't completely sold on trusting Maesters.
"My lord a raven." he heard Satin say and so he pushed the books to one side and took the raven from the boy, opening it eagerly when he saw the golden lion seal.
Tyrion,
We are ready to depart and should arrive home within the moon. Jon won the duels yet again and there were some other matters which we need to discuss, I look forward to our return.
Jaime.
"They're on their way back, Jon won." he said and saw the smile on Satin's face and thinking on Bronn's words he wondered if it was Jon's win or Loras's return that his squire was happiest about.
"Is there anything else you need my lord?" Satin asked.
"No, go rest, I'll see you on the morrow."
"Good night my lord."
"Good night Satin." he said as the squire left.
Looking down on the books he got up and rubbed his brow deciding to call it a night himself. He walked to the kitchen and filled a small sack with some fruit, cheese, and some peach pie, then grabbed a bottle of wine before taking the lift down to the vaults. Without Walder or Jors here, the guards they picked were not allowed into the vaults themselves. Even though it was only Sarella who stayed there now, they as far as he knew adhered to that policy and he gave the two on-duty a nod as he walked through the door.
He headed past the rooms and out onto the beach, down through the sand and into the caves. As he walked further in he found both dragons laying there after having clearly eaten, placing his food on the ground he walked over to Rhaenix, her purple eyes looking to him as he did so.
"They are on their way back, my nephew won once again, we should seem them soon." he said reaching out and stroking his nephew's dragon and feeling her trill as he did so.
He then walked to Lygaron and sat down, grabbing his food he began to eat and even shared the pie with the dragon, his dragon having a sweet tooth while Rhaenix preferred meatier fare. Leaning against the dragon's back he drank his wine as he began to tell the dragons of his day, of what he got up and what plans he was making. Soon all three of them were sleeping and he once again found himself dreaming of flying through the air.
Kings Landing 295 AC.
Jon Arryn.
Ruling without the king and the royal family he found much to his liking, had Lysa not been here during the time, it may well have gone down as some of the happiest of his life. He enacted laws, organized projects, and didn't have more than one feast to attend to until Illyrio returned. Before then he was simply able to be Hand, to rule and to see the benefits of that rule without spending most of his time running after Robert and clearing up his messes.
Each night he went back to the Tower of the Hand though was a night of other problems. Seeing Lysa with their boy, how she coddled him and fussed over him, even berating him for chiding the boy during one his all too regular temper tantrums, was as tiring as dealing with Robert. More and more he wished she had gone to the damn tourney, he'd even asked Petyr to take her only to be reminded that Tully's were not invited.
Had they not planned to gut the roses for coin he'd have been sorely offended by that, as it was he was still incredibly angry. Bad enough that his goodsister and brother had been all but banned from the Reach, but his wife also, it was too much. Robert had explained that Lysa wasn't actually specifically told not to attend, nor had Catelyn or Edmure been, but the perception was clear and none of them had been officially invited, a snub he intended to pay back when he could.
"My lord, a raven from his grace." Pycelle said handing him the scroll.
Waiting until the man left was annoying, as Pycelle's mummery and his eagerness to see what his reaction to the King's words, was all too clear to Jon. But wait he did and once Pycelle left the room Jon opened it before throwing it down on the table. Of all the damnable things that little monster could do, pulling a knife on Gerion's daughter, as if they didn't have enough issues with the damn lions.
"You called my lord?" his steward said sticking his head through the door later that night.
"Aye, that list of prospective Kingsguard do you remember where I put it?" he asked and the man nodded walking to the shelf and then pulling down a book and handing him the note.
"Thank you, I find my head clouded this evening." Jon said and his steward just nodded as he left.
Fucking Boros Blount, he thought as he looked through the names, in the end, he just put the list back on the shelf and poured himself a glass of wine before quickly draining it, deciding he'd deal with that on the morrow. Walking into his rooms he saw Lysa sitting with Robin asleep on her lap, his wife singing softly to the boy and while her voice was atrocious, it still made him smile to see that sight.
Compared to the others, he thought as he shuddered to remember her breastfeeding the boy while they broke their fast. Taking a seat he began to drift off, only for his wife to speak to him forcing him to stay awake for a while longer at least.
"Have we heard any news from Petyr?" Lysa asked.
"Not yet my dear, we did receive a raven from the king about Prince's Joffrey's behavior, but nothing from Petyr yet."
"But he swore he'd write, has he been harmed, has something happened to him?" Lysa asked her voice rising enough to wake Robin "Hush, hush now my sweet boy." she said and their son went back to sleep.
"I'm sure he's perfectly well Lysa, he is a very busy man though and perhaps his duties have kept him from writing." he said and she nodded.
"You keep him far too busy." she said shaking her head.
"Indeed." he said already tuning out the inevitable diatribe that was coming, whatever it was she said he slept through it.
He woke up stiff and uncomfortable early the next morning and broke his fast alone. He was actually working in his solar before the dawn broke. Illyrio's coin had been an incredible boon, both through taxes and through loans and barring giving the man access to one or two markets, and then allowing him to buy some buildings, the man had asked for nothing.
Robert had even asked him to join them at the tourney though the man had reluctantly declined, saying he needed to go back and check up on events in Pentos but that he would try and return as the king did. Though he had in fact returned even earlier, Jon meeting him and treating him with the deference and respect he had come to realize meant so much to Illyrio.
As he read over his papers he was surprised to see increased taxes coming from Darry and the Velaryons, not that he didn't welcome the extra coin but from those two it was a surprise. Calling for his steward once again he asked the man where the increased coin from the houses was coming from. Soon finding himself surprised and shocked to learn that both houses were involved in trade with the Lannisters and Manderly's.
"House Velaryon I can understand, they at least have ships, but Darry?" he asked confused.
"I believe Ser Raymun explained it when he was last here my lord." the steward said.
"Explain it again." Jon said not remembering meeting Darry.
"As Lord Raymun told Lord Baelish." his steward said and Jon breathed more easily glad he had not forgotten something important again "Ser Willem befriended a man in Braavo and saved the man's life."
"While he was hiding the dragons." he said shaking his head.
"Apparently so my lord. The man it turns out was a trader and to repay a life debt to House Darry he gave them access to some of his routes. Access that the Lannisters and the Manderly's were most happy to receive I gather."
"As do I given this coin, very well. It's most strange though there is nothing illegal in it and more coin is most welcome."
"My lord." his steward said with a small bow as he left.
It was times like this he was glad that Robert didn't pay attention to the affairs of the realm, had he done so then he'd no doubt be ranting and raving about Dragon sympathizers. While keeping them in their rightful place was all good and proper, going too far with them would not endear them, even to their loyal lords.
Over the next few days he was happy to receive a raven from Petyr saying that he had managed to smooth things over with the roses, and it had made Lysa happy to find out that her friend wasn't ignoring them. It was the next few that arrived which had him almost tearing his few remaining hairs out.
"Of all the damn stupid, why that boy, of all that idiotic ideas he could have had." he shouted as he brushed the things from his table angrily, knocking them to the floor, the glass breaking sounding loudest of all.
"My lord?" Hugh his squire said as he ran into the room.
"Get out, get out now." he shouted and the young man did as he was bid.
He stewed in his anger for the rest of the day, refused to see anyone, and were it not for dinner that night with Illyrio then he may have not seen anyone until the morning. As it was he reluctantly made his way to dine with the fat magister, he was not too keen to see the man gorge himself on food and especially not with no real appetite of his own. That Robert had knighted that boy was bad enough, though given how he doted on Jon Snow it was not a surprise.
But that he'd betrothed Myrcella to a damn Stark of all things, what was his foster son thinking? Was he really that deluded? That stupid? The answer he knew to both was yes, but to give a princess to the savages in the North. It was bad enough he wished to bring one to the Red Keep.
Though by all accounts Sansa had been or was more like her mother than her aunt, perish the thought of another Lyanna Stark. A princess soon to be the queen of the realm though would have no choice but to worship the true gods, a princess sent North could very well end up kneeling before a damn tree he thought bitterly.
"Ah lord Jon, it's good to see you my friend." Illyrio said when he walked into the room, Jon smiling forcedly as he watched the man lick his fat fingers clear of the grease.
"Illyrio, I'm afraid I have little appetite this evening." he said with a shake of his head.
"You are troubled Jon? I find sharing them with the right companion and over a fine meal to be most comforting."
I bet you do he thought but said nothing and smiled once more as he took his seat. He shook his head at the offered food but gladly accepting the wine.
"Fucking Lions and Wolves, Roses too, but Lions and Wolves mainly." he said his speech slurred a little later that night.
"The Lannister's are causing you distress Jon?" Illyrio asked curiously.
"Aye, they are, fucking uppity Lions, they think because they have the gold they make the fucking rules. They don't, I make the fucking rules." he said taking another glass of wine.
"Indeed, I have had dealings with them in Essos, quite a trading organization they have. It would please you to see them troubled?" Illyrio asked.
"It would my friend, it would please me indeed." he said smiling broadly.
"Then perhaps I can help? I have contacts in the Golden Company, I've been known to use them from time to time, maybe it's time the Lions suffered some losses?"
"Really, you could manage this?" Jon said spilling his wine in his excitement at the thoughts of it.
"Anything can be managed for the right incentive." Illyrio said smiling.
"You'd find me most grateful my friend, most grateful to see the lions brought low."
"I'm sure we can find something that will allow you to show that gratitude Jon." Illyrio said and he nodded smiling as he drank and then he reached out to grab some of the meat on the plate, his appetite suddenly returning.
Essos the Shy Maid 295 AC.
Jon Connington.
Seeing Norvos in the distance he once again wondered if this was a good idea, while he knew why Aegon wished it, given what had happened with Daenerys and the Hound he wasn't sure they should do this. But his king had been insistent and he cursed Illyrio and even himself for not destroying the letter. He wasn't even sure if they were still here and surely if they were then Illyrio would have dealt with them by now.
But Aegon hearing that his aunt was in Norvos was in no mood to wait for others to bring her to him, not any longer. Despite countless conversations, both from him and Septa Lemore, Aegon was convinced he was to marry his aunt and that together they would usher in a golden age of Targaryen rule. While it was a pretty thought, Jon wasn't sure if Daenerys was a fit consort for his king, the stories he had heard marking her out more a savage than a princess.
"What if she does not wish to marry you Aegon?" Septa Lemore asked.
"Why would she not marry me? I am to be king, we are the last of our line, it is what father would have wished." Aegon said determinedly.
"Or he may not, your father was against incestuous marriages Aegon. I believe had he lived he'd have wished you marry into a Great House for the alliance. Lady Margaery is of age and the Tyrell's bring the Reach."
"Flowery fools who sat besieging a keep while my father fell. What use are they to me if they would not fight when they were needed most, Jon." Aegon said angrily and while he agreed with his king, the numbers didn't lie.
"What of Arianne?" Lemore asked and Jon was glad of the help.
"My uncle will support me upon my return there is no need to wed my cousin." Aegon said and Jon couldn't' help but smile at his king's intellect.
"While that is true, Aegon, your aunt brings us nothing but her name, a name you have already. You are the rightful heir, should they know of you then houses throughout Westeros would be singing your name and toasting your return."
"They would?" Aegon asked a smile on his face.
"Of course they would my king. But houses are fickle too, they also seek to rise, they seek to gain and the easiest way to do so is with a union by marriage. With yourself and Princess Daenerys you have two marriages to offer." he said hoping to make Aegon see reason.
"No Jon, I will marry my aunt and that is final." Aegon said angrily before storming from the room.
He sighed as he lay in his bed later that night, the girl had nothing to offer other than the three dragon eggs she'd stolen from Illyrio, and they were only good for coin. Something that thanks to Illyrio they had a large supply of, no it was men they needed. They needed the support of the Great Houses and there they had enough problems without Aegon wasting himself on a silly girl who thought herself a warrior.
The Starks, Lannisters, and the Baratheons would all be against them, House Arryn too and so that was four of the Seven Kingdoms they could end up facing. The Iron Born would do as they would and so that left them Dorne and the Loyalist houses. If they could also bring The Reach too then they had a chance but would The Reach come with no reward? If they could cause enough disruption then with those numbers they would have more than a chance. Yet Aegon wished to throw all that away on a girl who wished to play with swords.
That alone proved he was his father's son, far more than the different shading of his eyes or hair proved him not to be, that he was so lost in the idea of being with an unsuitable girl showed him true. But while he had failed the father, Jon would ensure he didn't fail the son, he would ensure it by doing whatever it took he vowed as he slept that night.
"Where is he?" he asked Lemore angrily the next morning.
"He, Duck, and Haldon went into the town bright and early." she said as if she hadn't a care in the world.
"And you didn't wake me?" he asked his face red from the pressure he was putting on it just so he'd not explode at the silly woman.
"For why? Young Griff wished to visit the town and brought his guard with him, what more could you have done?"
"I could have refused him leave." he said.
"Good luck with that." she said dismissively as she walked away.
Grabbing his sword he left quickly and began to search the city, Norvos was far too large though and he doubted he had any chance of finding them at all. Something that was proved right as over the course of the day he found no sign of them whatsoever. Feeling his worry rise and at times on the verge of panic he almost didn't hear the talk of the young girl and the scarred man, he almost missed it and was passing by when he turned back.
"What's that you say?" he asked the fishermen.
"Who are you and what business of yours is what I say?" the man asked suspiciously.
"A mere traveler friend, the scarred man is a man I know from long ago, you say he was here?" he said putting on his most friendly smile.
"I do, and that's all I'm saying." the man said as Jon reached into his tunic and pulled out some coins, quickly finding one with the three bells of Norvos on the front.
"How about now?" he said showing the man the coin which the man looked greedily at.
"He and the girl took the witch's ship, headed to Volantis I heard them say." the man said as Jon handed him the coin.
"The witch?"
"Quaithe of the shadow, evil woman, she put a spell on a friend of mine, turned him into a fish and then fried him up and ate him." one of the other men said.
"And you're sure it was Volantis?" he asked wondering what to do with the knowledge.
"I am, though why you and a green boy wish to know of her is beyond me, the girl didn't even have no teats."
"Girl, green boy?" he asked confused.
"A while ago a blue-haired boy asked me of her and I told him, made more coin today with the tale than I did from fishing all week." the man said laughing.
After finding out that Aegon and the others had been here earlier and had gone to the Red Temple, he went too and found he was barred from entry, just as they had been. Turning back he walked to the ship and was almost there when a woman wearing red stepped out from the shadows.
"A Black Dragon is no dragon at all, you know the truth, in your heart you know the truth." the woman said and when he moved to her she was gone, Jon shaking it off as he made it back to the ship.
He was relieved to find Aegon there and even more so to see him in such a good mood, though not at the idea that they would be now going to Volantis. Still he could perhaps get a message to Illyrio once they passed through their drop point in Ghoyan Drohe. So he played along with Aegon's happiness, ate his dinner, and tried not to shudder when Aegon had his harp lesson, the sounds not what one could call music, not truly.
Laying in his bed that night he formulated his plans and hoped when he finally saw his silver prince again he'd forgive him for them. Aegon though must be king and to do that he needed a bride who actually brought them something, one who was worthy. He'd not let Aegon make his father's mistakes and Daenerys was already sounding far too much like Lyanna Stark for his liking.
"Forgive me my prince." he said as he contemplated how they would kill Rhaegar's sister without Aegon knowing and he hoped that Illyrio managed it so that he would not have too.
The dreams that came that night were of his silver prince and the music he played, the song he sang at the feast, and seeing him dance with the girl who cost him everything.
" My son is the true dragon, protect him, protect him, protect them from the Black Dragon Jon." he heard Rhaegar say and then Lyanna looked to him "Protect our son." he thought she said but he was sure he had to be mistaken.
Pyke/The Sea Bitch 295 AC.
Theon.
When he had arrived on Pyke he had been nervous. Heading to the keep with Dagmar and the others he had covered it well, but deep down inside he had been nervous. He saw the men look to him as they walked into the Great Keep, heard the whispers as he strolled through the Great Hall. There in front of them, sitting on the Seastone Chair was a man he'd not seen in almost six years.
Beside his father stood two of his uncles, Victarion and Aeron, the Lord Captain and the Damphair, both looking surprised but happy to see him. His father on the other hand did not, his face was set in a scowl and he glared at him, almost making Theon wet his pants so intense was the look.
"How did you get here boy?" his father asked his voice firm and angry.
"I escaped." he replied a little shakily.
"Escaped, six years it took you and we bound by our word which you've now broken." his father said.
"Word given to Greenlanders is not fit for purpose." he said repeating something he heard one of the men on Dagmar's ship say.
"Aye the lad speaks the truth Balon." his uncle Victarion said.
"How did you escape boy?" his father asked not even acknowledging what his uncle said.
Theon told him the same story as he did Dagmer, of stealing the horse, coin and clothes, of taking the boat from the man and paying the Iron price. Of sailing down the coast until he reached Seagard and then finding Dagmer and coming to Pyke aboard the Foamdrinker.
"And where is the boat you stole?" his father asked.
"I broke it up for driftwood so I'd not be found and gave it back to the sea." he said and finally saw the smile on his father's face.
"You have paid the Iron Price and come back home. I welcome you my son, What is dead may never die."
"What is dead may never die." the men in the hall said loudly, Theon joining in.
He received a pat on his back from his uncles and sat with his father that night at the feast, enjoying the company of a thrall as he slept in his own rooms for the first time in years. He eventually had the discomfort of meeting his uncle Euron, the man just as crazy as ever in Theon's opinion. Though it was moons until he met his sister and Asha was not the same girl he remembered.
"You fucked up." she said as he tried not to scream while looking at his finger on the ground.
"You've had more experience than me." he said draining the ale as Aeron reached over with the burned blade and placed it on the stump where his finger had been, Theon almost but not quite passing out as he smelt the burned flesh.
"Aye and not just at finger dancing little brother, though when you wrap that hand around your cock later on it'll be as if someone else is doing it for you." she said laughing as he tried not to cry from the pain.
"It won't be my hand around my cock, sister." he said and she laughed loudly as did he.
Over the next few moons he had begun to enjoy being an Iron Born once again. Finding his sea legs, going on a trip around the islands with Asha on the Black Wind, and getting to know his sister again. He learned more about his uncles and Asha warned him even more about Euron, telling him that the man's madness was beginning to be a problem.
"Be wary of the Crow's Eye brother, you are father's heir and he is ever resentful." she said drunkenly one night and he nodded before one of her thralls, a girl he had his eye on took his sister to her bed.
When the letter from the crown demanding his return came, he laughed along with everyone else when his father shouted out his response.
"If he wants my boy he can pay the Iron Price to take him back, just like Theon did to get here." Balon said to loud cheers and Theon had never felt so worthy as he did right then.
A few days later he was given his own ship, Asha standing beside him as the new longship was presented to him by his father. He had hoped to call it the Sea Maid but Asha had japed it was more a bitch than a maid and so the Sea Bitch is what he named her. His crew were men he felt he could trust, Maron Bottley and his boys, Gerin Harlaw and thanks to his uncle Rymolf Stormdrunk to steer.
"I've given you a ship, and you've gathered a crew, go and prove me right to do so, reave and reave well boy for the time when we show the Greenlanders the true god is soon to be upon us. What is dead may never die." his father said.
"But rises again harder and stronger." he replied as he nodded to his father and walked up the gangplank of the ship.
As the ship left he stood on the bow looking out, he had ordered the men to make for the Stoney Shore knowing a few small villages that would be easy pickings, just enough to give the men a taste. But there were bigger plans in his head, juicier targets, and all he needed was time and he could get to them. His uncle had tried to take the Pinnacle ships but at sea that was apparently too hard even for the Lord Captain.
Theon though knew where they had the best chance to get at one, the best chance to make some true coin, and when the time was right he'd go there. He wondered how Ned Stark would react knowing his youngest daughter was thrall to Theon Greyjoy, wouldn't that just be the supreme irony he felt as he thought of Bear Island.
Volantis 295 AC.
The Hound.
Everywhere he looked there was fire, fire on the walls, fire in braziers, these fuckers prayed to it, stared at it, and fucking worshipped it for all he knew. It took all he had to just stand beside the princess when she looked into the flames, even seeing the visions himself wasn't enough to make him wish to be in those rooms. Yet each day he entered and each day they waited, the time it seemed was never right and it wasn't just Dany who was pissed off.
But the food was good, the wine plentiful, he slept in a warm comfortable bed and apart from having to listen to the whinging of Shiera fucking Seastar, a stupid name if he ever fucking heard one, all was relatively good. He and Dany sparred daily and both even sparred with these fighting priests they had here, Dany doing better than he once the flames came out.
"You need to overcome your fear." he heard Shiera say from behind him as he watched the princess spin and move away from the man with the spear.
"Easy for you to say, you ever been kissed by fire? no, I didn't' fucking think so." he said grumpily.
"She shouldn't have said that." Shiera said sympathetically.
"No she shouldn't, stupid fucking cunt." he said thinking of the stupid red priestess who was lucky he'd not gutted her there and then.
"Sandor." Shiera said chastising him and he couldn't help but chuckle.
"You really think I'll stop my cursing because you ask me too?" he asked the woman.
"You have with the princess." she said smirking and he glowered at her before turning back to watch as Dany knocked the spear from the man's hand.
While she'd not yet come even close to beating one of the Fiery Hand, she had better luck with some of the men who were training and hoping to be one some day. The princess practically skipped over toward them, a smug smile on her face knowing they'd seen her beat the man.
"I told you I could beat him." Dany said happily.
"Aye and you did." he said before Shiera spoke and annoyed the princess.
"Come we have lessons princess."
"I'm not in the mood." Dany said.
"Daenerys, you promised, I'd let you spar, and then you'd take your lessons seriously." Shiera said looking to him and then to her.
"You said I could spar with Sandor and we haven't yet." Dany said and Shiera nodded reluctantly.
"Fine, one more hour and then you come Dany, no more delays."
"I promise aunt." Dany said and he waited until he was absolutely certain that Shiera was gone, the woman's hearing far too attuned to them.
"You fucking liar." he said picking up his sword.
"I didn't lie." she said smirking.
"You fucking did."
"Sandor." she said mimicking Shiera's voice and he couldn't help but laugh loudly.
"Come on let's spar and then in an hour I'll drag you to her." he said smirking at the pout on her face.
In the end, he didn't have to, after a few minutes sparring he could tell that despite herself her heart wasn't in it. Dany instead was just using it as an excuse to annoy Shiera. Something they both did on occasion, more to alleviate the boredom that could sometimes set in than out of any malice towards the woman.
He knew she loved the lessons the woman taught her, the tales of her family, and apart from when Kinvara would speak of her nephew, it was Dany's true favorite time in this place. Finding her standing looking out at the city from one of the balconies later that night, he heard her sigh as he walked up behind her.
"What?" he said when he reached her.
"This is boring." she said.
"Then stop standing here." he replied with a chuckle.
"Not the standing, the waiting, we must wait until the moon is right princess, what the fuck does that men, the moon looks right to me." she said shaking her head.
"Do you want to see your dragons?" he asked reaching out to turn her to face him.
"You know I do." she said eagerly.
"The we wait and then we fucking leave." he said and she smirked.
"My nephew, do you..do you think he'll be like Viserys?" she asked softly.
"If he is then you'll fuck him up will you not?" he said and she laughed.
"We'll fuck him up."
"Aye we will." he said and he walked with her to her room.
Making his way down the corridor he checked behind him to make sure he wasn't being followed, opening the door as quietly as he could when he reached it, he closed it behind him and then he moved to the bed.
"How is she?" Shiera asked.
"Bored, she wants to go."
"We will be soon, now come to bed." she said looking at him as she moved the sheet to one side showing some but not all of her body to him.
He undressed and moved in beside her, flinching as he always did when she reached out and touched his face. Closing his eyes he felt her lips on his, felt her hand slide down his chest. When she touched him he almost spent, her fingers soft and graceful, and yet she was fully in control, just like it had been since she first welcomed him to her bed and Sandor soon felt what heaven must be like.
The next morning he quickly dressed, kissing her as he left, he was under no illusions that they shared anything more than physicality. Still he welcomed it, how she'd look at him, how she'd touch him, and just staring at her as she slept was a gift he was grateful for.
Riverrun 295 AC.
Cat.
Receiving the raven from Lysa she couldn't' believe what it said, they had knighted him, the bastard had received a knighthood from the king no less. She couldn't believe it, why? How? She needed to speak to Petyr and hoped he would come to visit soon though she held out little hope for that. While he had come and stayed in Riverrun since she'd returned, it was only the once and even then just briefly.
Trying to ignore the raven she went about her daily chores, her routine that she'd come to enjoy. While she had less power here by right than she had as Lady of Winterfell, she quickly had found that in practice she had far more. Edmure was her brother and she loved him deeply, but it had become clear to her over time that he was not meant to be Lord, and he certainly had no real interest in doing the work of one.
Her brother far preferred the trappings and it had been left to her to run the keep and by definition the Riverlands. She started with the raising of coin, Vyman she had removed from his position and he now acted simply as a Maester. Edmure had told her she was overstepping until she had pointed out their coin situation, suddenly agreeing with her choices and decisions and leaving her to fix the problem.
Utherydes was placed back in his position even more firmly now and between them they had reduced expenses and begun to claw back some of the coin they had been losing. In a little over a few moons she had stopped the rot and with a small increase in taxes, which while they'd disagreed with them about, had been accepted by the lords. Cat felt that within the year she'd be in a position where they were saving rather than losing coin.
"My lady, Utherydes is outside." Pearl said and Cat nodded to the girl to send him in.
"Utherydes were we to meet?" she asked surprised to see the man before lunch.
"No my lady, it was just, I wished to bring something to your attention." he said looking around to make sure they were alone.
"Please sit." she said and he took his seat facing her.
"My lady this is a most delicate matter, it has come to my attention that Maester Vyman has been visiting houses of ill repute." the steward said and she looked at him in shock.
"But Maester's swear a vow of chastity do they not?." she said and the steward nodded.
"Indeed my lady, but it makes me wonder if perhaps we need to look at the books even more and also perhaps even the Maester's budget itself." Utherydes said almost whispering.
"You think him stealing from us?" she said her voice full of bite.
"I hope I'm wrong my lady, but perhaps it's for the best if we should purchase his supplies ourselves for now."
"Very well, should you find more then come to me." she said and Utherydes nodded as he moved to the door "Utherydes let us keep this to ourselves for now."
It took them a week to find out the truth and during that time two things happened. she received a letter from Petyr telling her he would be arriving soon with news of great import he'd rather speak to her personally on, and Vyman disappeared. She sent men to find the man and found he had gone completely, he had taken all of his belongings and disappeared.
Thankfully they were able to send a raven to the Citadel and request a new Maester, even if for some time it would be the only raven they could send. Though Utherydes was at least able to take ravens in and feed them before allowing them to fly back to who had sent them. When the day of Petyr's arrival came she found herself dressing in her best, her hair tied behind her head showing off her neck and a part of her felt foolish for doing so.
"Cat you look beautiful." Petyr said kissing her hand and then her cheek.
"Thank you Petyr, Edmure is off hawking so I'm afraid it's just me."
"Then I shall consider myself most fortunate indeed." he said smiling and she smiled back at him as she led him into the keep.
They had a lunch prepared and ate it privately, Cat most eager to find out the news and not wishing to wait any longer than needed. When Petyr told her that Ned and the children attended the tourney she almost cried, when he told her that Lady Jonelle accompanied him she couldn't help herself and asked the question she dared not find the answer to.
"Ned was with Lady Jonelle?" she asked her breath coming in short gasps.
"They were together Cat, I did not see anything untoward." Petyr said and she felt her breathing return to normal "Though I must admit I was not around them at all times." he said a moment later and she found herself reaching for her glass and nodding.
"The children?" she asked trying to put thoughts of her husband from her mind.
"They looked well Cat, young Sansa is the very picture of you at that age, and Robb is such a fine young man." Petyr said and she smiled at that, her children living up to her principles at least.
"Arya, Bran?"
"Young Arya is quite a.." he said before pausing.
"Petyr?"
"I'm sorry Cat, forgive me but she seems quite a handful, she spent most of her time with the youngest Mormont daughter and she was partly responsible for the incident with Prince Joffrey." he said and she could see it hurt him to tell her so.
"How?" she asked horrified.
"She and the Mormont girl were playing with the wolves and Prince Joffrey was escorting Lady Margaery through the gardens" Petyr said and she felt her anger rise, Margaery it was supposed to be Sansa, not Margaery, she knew they'd ruin this, she just knew it.
"Not Sansa?" she asked looking at him.
"The prince was merely being polite Cat, that and…"
"Petyr please?" she pleaded.
"I believe Lady Sansa was spending her time with Jon Snow, Cat." Petyr said and she saw red.
She barely heard the rest of the story, something about wolves and Joffrey standing up to protect Lady Margaery from them, it was when Petyr spoke about the other bastard and the things she said to the prince that Cat rose to her feet.
"This, this girl, this is the bastard from Casterly Rock, Joy Hill?" she spat.
"It is Cat." Petyr said standing up and walking over to her before reaching out to take her hand in his.
"After that things happened, events moved too fast for me to control Cat. By the time it was done, a duel was being held, prince Joffrey had been made to look both at fault and a fool, and when it came time for the king's meeting with Ned. Cat I tried, I tried, but Ned was insistent."
"Petyr, no, please tell me what happened?" she asked her eyes tearful as she could sense what he was about to say.
"Ned refused the betrothal Cat, Prince Joffrey is to be sent to ward in Dragonstone and Sansa and he are not to be betrothed." he said and she was glad for his arms when they wrapped around her.
She felt herself cry against his shoulder, the tears falling, and only his comforting hand on her back stopping her from running from the room. When she eventually stopped he looked her in the eye and she realized just how close they were standing together. and how it would look should someone enter the room, she moved away but only a small distance, still close enough to touch.
"I did speak to the king though Cat and while I couldn't fix things with Joffrey and Sansa I did offer a solution, one which the king took full advantage of."
"A solution?" she asked hopefully.
"Brandon, he and Princess Myrcella are to be wed, Cat." Petyr said and she shook her head while looking at him, seeing his smile prove his words true.
"They are?" she asked and he nodded and the hug and kiss she gave him on his cheek were far happier than she would have believed herself to be able to but a few moments ago "Thank you Petyr, it's not Sansa but a princess for Bran, oh thank you."
"You never need thank me Cat, you know that." he said brushing a stray hair from her face.
"You are a true friend Petyr, my truest." she said and this time she kissed his lips before she quickly moved away "Forgive me, I…" she said as she walked quickly from the room.
She spent the rest of the day trying to allow the fact that Bran was to marry a princess settle in, and while it filled her with joy it felt wrong, off, it was supposed to be Sansa, she was supposed to be queen. Going over and over events in her mind, she tried her best to put that and other things out of her head but found herself unable to. Ned refusing the betrothal, Sansa spending time with the bastard instead of the prince, the other bastard making up lies to make the prince look bad.
Try as she might she couldn't help but see the pattern and yet she couldn't figure out the endgame, other than the bastard usurping her son, she couldn't see what it was that the bastard was up to. These moves made no sense to her, Bran married to a princess would mean that even should something happen to Robb then her other son would inherit Winterfell.
It was only that night she began to see it, the knighthood, this was all about the knighthood. He had tricked the king into knighting him, he had his father's ear and so Bran would be his squire, the king would welcome it also, and once he had her boy with him then accidents could happen. She almost ran to Petyr's room such was her worry and was relieved when he opened the door and allowed her inside.
"He means to kill Bran." she said loudly.
"Who does?"
"Jon Snow, he means for Bran to be his squire, you must help me Petyr, it cannot happen you must speak to the king." she said and he nodded looking her in the eye as she walked further into the room.
"I can arrange it, would it work if it was your uncle?" he asked and had she been more attentive she'd have seen both his smirk and the fact they were standing by his bed.
"Aye, the Vale, he'd be safe there, with Brynden, and with Lysa, you will help me won't you Petyr."
"Of course Cat, you can always count on me." he said and she allowed him to put his arm around her shoulder as they sat down on the bed.
Volantis 295 AC.
Dany.
While in a lot of ways she'd enjoyed her time with the Red Priests and even more so with her aunt, though what relation Shiera really was to her was so many times removed she couldn't even begin to understand it, it was also incredibly frustrating. She had come here for help with hatching the eggs, eggs that she spent every night curled up in bed with.
She spoke to them, at times felt she could hear a voice speaking back to her and she could certainly feel the life inside them move. But for the moons she had been here not once was she told how to hatch them, and apart from the vision and knowing that she didn't have the items needed, not once had she tried. Instead her time was spent reading, studying, and training, and while she had learned a lot she still felt she was wasting time.
Shiera had told her tales of her family, of her time with them in Westeros, of Bloodraven and Aegor Rivers, of Daemon and Daeron. Yet it was her aunt's stories of who her nephew would be that she found the most interesting, along with Kinvara's own tales of him.
" When our family arrived on the shores of Westeros it was running from an event that three hundred years later people still speak of." Shiera said.
" The doom?" she asked inquisitively.
" The doom, but why did Daenys dream of that, and what other dreams did she have?"
" I don't know." she said looking to her aunt.
" Aegon conquered and our family sat the throne and for three centuries we have been plotted against, conspired against. We have been murdered, betrayed, and we should not have survived, but here today we still do. I live, you live, Aemon Targaryen rests at a wall of ice and our nephew lives."
" Is he really what the red priests say, is he Azor Ahai?" she asked and saw her aunt smile.
" He is the prince that was promised, this I know, what other names they call him I do not, but he is the hero eternal, the one who'll bring the dawn, and our role is to help him do so."
With Kinvara it was far more vague, she only told her that he was in Westeros, that he had already begun to plan to take their throne back and that he was working in the shadows until it was time to reveal himself. It was who he was though that Dany found the most amazing, Rhaegar's son with Lyanna Stark.
" Prince Rhaegar felt the song deep within himself, he and Lyanna Stark were a love so true, so pure, that the world could only withstand it briefly and so it was always doomed to end in tragedy." Kinvara said.
" What happened? Viserys would tell me that the wolf girl led our brother astray and she is the reason our father and mother died and why we were forced to run and hide." Dany said knowing now that this was obviously another one of Viserys's lies.
" All tales have truth in them princess and even that one can seem to be right, but only to a blind man. Your brother was always destined to fall, Lyanna was always destined to fall, magic that strong, the magic used to bring the prince to life has a terrible cost, but one which needed to be paid." Kinvara said her voice never losing its calm tone.
" So my family had to fall so my nephew could be born." Dany said bitterly.
" No, your brother and his wife did. The rest was down to the greed of men." Kinvara said.
" His wife, but I thought?." she asked confusedly.
" Your family had taken two wives before had they not? Though in this case, it was different, Rhaegar and Lyanna loved each other true, and Elia loved another, papers were signed, ceremonies held, though they matter not as the seed had taken root and the prince was born."
" What happened to him? Where was he raised? How was he not found? Where is he?" she asked and with each question her voice more eager than the others.
" In time we can speak on that. He is safe, he is protected and soon he will be ready, as soon shall we." Kinvara said and once again another lesson ended like so many others, with Dany left with far more questions than answers.
Over time the priestess had told her little bits more, The Sword of the Morning lived and guarded her nephew's back just as he had her brother's. She told her that when she was in Braavos Ser Arthur had kept assassins from her door, and that had her path been different then she'd have gone with him. Dany at first had felt sad at that and then not as much as she realized that despite it all she liked the life she led.
She was bathing when the acolyte came to her room, the girl helping her to dress as she told her that Kinvara had sent for her. Dany finding both Shiera and Sandor with the red priestess when the acolyte brought her to her. Something about the room seemed off though as if there was an energy of some sort, and when she looked to Shiera she saw her eyes seemed even more vivid, the colors more vibrant.
"It is time princess, tonight we will see the birth of dragons." Kinvara said and Dany felt her heart race.
"What do I need to do?" she asked excitedly.
"Your eggs, you must fetch them and make ready, the ceremony will begin when the sun sets." Kinvara said and walked away.
"Are you sure about this princess?" Sandor asked and she nodded, her loyal protector worried about her safety above all making her feel loved and so she walked over to hug him tightly before laughing at his response.
"Get off me you fucking idiot." Sandor said and even Shiera chuckled when he spoke.
When she got her eggs and brought them to the large garden at the center of the Red Temple she could feel the heat coming off them, they practically vibrated in her hands. Laying them down among the stones as Kinvara directed her to do, she looked to the small jar of green liquid the priestess held in her hands, inside was no more than half a wine glass full.
"R'hllor has called us here to bear witness to the dragon's being born, to see the prince's kin wake dragons from stone." Kinvara said in what Sandor always referred to as her preachy voice.
A red priest then handed Dany a small knife and Kinvara directed her to the pyre the stones rested on. Walking over Dany waited until she was standing over the eggs, cutting her hand she watched as the blood dripped over them and then was surprised when Shiera walked to her and took the knife. Her aunt too cutting her hand and allowing her blood to fall on the eggs. When she was done Kinvara called her to her and handed her the jar pointing to the pyre.
Dany once again did as she was bid, she emptied the contents of the jar over the pyre, over the eggs, and she walked back to Kinvara who called a red priest forward, the man holding a bow and arrow in his hands. Handing them both to Dany she watched as Kinvara moved her fingers in a circle, and then she like the others looked on in amazement as a ball of flame appeared in the woman's hand.
"The flame is lit princess." Kinvara said a beaming smile on her face.
Taking the arrow Dany dipped its head into the flame and then turned to line up the shot, she fired it into the pyre and then she, Shiera, Sandor and the others had to cover their eyes at the explosion of green fire. When she opened them the pyre was alight and yet the heat felt wrong, the green fire was not a natural one she thought as she looked at it.
"When the moon is at its highest the dragons will be born." Kinvara said and Dany nodded.
It felt like an eternity until she finally felt it, the flames of the what she knew now as wildfire still seemed as strong as ever. They still roared high but she felt it, they were calling for her, they needed her, and so without a thought she moved to the fire. She didn't hear Sandor's screams as she stepped into the flames, didn't hear his footsteps behind him nor him being forced to the ground.
She felt no heat, no warmth, and the only sounds she heard was the cracking of the eggs and the dripping of the blood from her hand. When morning came the fire burned no longer, she sat on the ground naked, her hair and eyebrows had burned away and on her shoulders, and curled around her breast they moved. Her sons, her children, her dragons, and she smiled as the black one crawled up to look into her eyes, and she swore she heard him speak.
"Mother."