Highgarden 295 AC.
Sam.
Spending time with his family was just as he had expected it would be, his father's disappointment made all too clear, with his mother's happiness to see him being the bright spot. Dickon still talking of things Sam really had no interest in and Talla just happy to hear him tell her tales of life at the Citadel. Being brought into his father's room and being made stand in front of him while he worked on papers, was something he knew all too well, and so was not a surprise to him.
Thankfully though because of Marwyn, he was better able to handle it, the Maester showing it for what it was, a way to belittle and make you feel small. The Mage had pointed it out to him in the Citadel, showed him how Theobold and Ryam especially did this often, while Ebrose and others had no time for silly games.
"You will be going back to the Citadel." his father said simple and directly and Sam raised his head having been lost in a dream and thinking about the ride back all the while.
"Of course father." he said and his father just nodded and looked back down to his papers.
"You have coin?" his father asked not looking back up at him.
"I do." he said smiling.
"Very well, say your goodbyes to your mother, brother, and sister before you leave." his father said and Sam noticed that he'd left himself out of it.
"Goodbye father." he said softly and walked out of the room, receiving no reply or acknowledgment from his father as he did so.
Marwyn had left with the Lannisters and Jon Snow, Ser Jon now, along with Prince Oberyn and the Lords of the West. He had thought he'd be going with him but the Maester and Jon had come to speak to him before they left, and told him he would not.
" Would you not like to spend some more time with your family Sam?" Jon asked.
" Aye, I would, some of them anyway Ser Jon." he said and Jon chuckled.
" I already hate that." Jon said and Sam couldn't help but smirk at the annoyed look on his face.
" If I'm not to go with you then how am I to make it back?" he asked turning to Marwyn.
" Jon has arranged for you to travel as part of his family's accompaniment, they will treat you far better than I did when we traveled here together Samwell." Marwyn said.
" I enjoyed our travel Maester." he said genuinely.
" But not my snoring, eh Samwell." Marwyn said and they both laughed.
" Sam there is something I need you to do for me." Jon said and he looked to Jon and then to Marwyn who nodded at him.
He had agreed to do what Jon asked, it was simple enough. All he had to do was just watch the Maesters as he had been doing for Marwyn, they would arrange someone to contact him in Oldtown, and that was it. After saying his goodbyes to the Maester, for now at least, Jon had introduced him to his family and despite his initial shyness he had enjoyed spending time with them.
He had spent a little time with Sansa and Margaery too after Jon's departure, surprisingly finding that it was Margaery more than Jon's sister who seemed more put out that he had left. When the time came for his own departure, he felt some tension when the king's party was to ride with them, though a lot of that disappeared he felt when Lord Baelish said he'd instead make his own way to Kings Landing.
Saying his goodbyes to his mother and sister were just as hard as they had been the first time, to his brother though not as much, and with his father, he may as well not have come back, or at least that was the impression he was given. He had thanked Lady Olenna for her patronage and she had just smiled and said that one day he could pay her back, making Sam wonder how he could ever do such a thing.
"Come Sam, the carriage is leaving." he heard Bran Stark say as he stood looking at Highgarden, not knowing when or if he'd see it again.
"I'm coming, are you riding with me?" he asked.
"I am, you can tell me more of the Smiling Knight and Ser Arthur Dayne, or the one about Maelys the Monstrous and Ser Barristan." the boy said tales of knights being his thing.
It was on the second day of the ride that he made the discovery, walking in the woods near where they were camped he came across Bran, Arya, the two Reed children, and Lady Jonelle sitting in a clearing. Both Arya and Bran sat with their eyes closed, and he looked on as one of the Direwolves walked up to Bran and licked his hand. Hearing the branch break behind him he turned to see the other wolf and this one didn't look as if it was going to lick anything.
"Please, please, don't eat me." he said almost sobbing and falling to the ground as the wolf moved towards him.
"Arya, call Nymeria off." the Reed boy said and Sam watched with great relief as the wolf walked away, though he heard no call.
"Please, I wasn't spying, I was just walking and I saw." he said his voice shaky as he checked his breeches, relieved to find he'd not soiled himself.
"What did you see?" Lady Jonelle asked as he was helped to his feet.
"The wolves, you are, they are, wargs?" he asked excited by the prospect.
"You can't tell anyone, Sam." Bran said and he nodded his agreement.
"I won't, can I..can I stay and watch?" he asked and Bran looked to Jonelle who said he could.
He spent the rest of the day watching them, seeing it in person was far different than reading it in the books. There were some who called it a myth, Maesters who said they'd never heard of such a thing and that it was just the tales of fools. They had tried to say that tales of warging meant as much as tales of grumpkins or snarks. Marwyn though said he had met men and women beyond the wall who could do it, and that skin changing was well known there.
That night he was treated to an awkward meal where everyone could hear the load boasts of the king from his tent. Sam sat with the Reeds and some of the other northern children, as the Starks had all been invited to sup with the king. Throughout the night he and others had heard loud shouts of 'Sword of the Morning' and how Jon was just like his father.
"Gods that man can talk." he heard one of the Mormont girls say.
"Talk, drink and grope servants, to think he was once called the Demon of the Trident." he heard another voice say before people began to chuckle and he soon joined in with the laughter.
By the time he got to Oldtown he felt a little sad to be saying goodbye to them all, hearing them tell tale of fostering and of visits to be arranged made him feel left out. His father had barely allowed him to visit the other houses in the Reach and were it not for his mother he'd have never met any of the other children. He had never needed to ask his father the reason and when he had started taking Dickon with him when he visited other houses, it was made even more clear.
"It was nice to meet you Sam." Bran said as he bid him farewell.
"You too Bran, next time we meet you'll be a knight." he said with a smile.
"Really, but that won't be for years." Bran said sadly.
"Well when next we meet you'll be a squire then." he said and the boy seemed far happier with that.
Walking through the Seneschal's court he made his way to his room, well cell really, placing his belongings on the small table he quickly headed to the library and found some books on what he was looking for. He spent the night reading of wargs and greenseers, of skin changers and shape changers. He shuddered when he read of being able to take over a man's body and the dreams he had that night made him wet his bed.
On the road to Oldtown 295 AC.
Jon.
Saying goodbye was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do, even if he'd also done so the night they were wed, he'd done so privately before he'd left, and he'd then done so again publicly when they all did. Each time felt like an arrow to his heart and apart from the last, each time leading to him holding Margaery in his arms for quite some time.
After they were wed, he'd gone back to Margaery's room with her. It was bad luck for a married couple to not share their bed on their wedding night and his family had more than their share of bad luck and he'd not risk more. So he had lain in her bed with Margaery resting on his chest, he had stayed awake when she slept, and as morning's first light rose so did he.
" Jon." she said sleepily.
" Go back to sleep." he said kissing her cheek.
" How can I when my husband abandons me so." she said her lopsided smile showing she was fully awake now.
" We cannot be caught like this, not yet." he said and she nodded reluctantly.
" I know, but soon." she said and he smiled at her.
" Soon." he said as he kissed her softly.
" Goodbye husband." she said and he felt as if the world itself had stopped and ceased to exist.
" Goodbye wife."
The second goodbye was the night before he left, earlier that day he had been once again called to the king's table and asked his plans for the future.
" Your grace while I'm now a knight of the realm, I still have much to learn. I can think of no one better to teach me than Lord Jaime and no place better to learn than Casterly Rock." he said and Robert laughed loudly.
" Aye lad, he's taught you well thus far. You'll be needing a squire soon though Ser Jon."
" Can I be his squire Father? Ser Jon can I be your squire?" Tommen said and he heard the yelp from the queen.
" Certainly not." Cersei said loudly before she realized everyone was looking at her "You're far too young to squire Tommen." she quickly added a plastered smile on her face.
" But when I'm older?" the little boy said and Jon felt it best to speak up now.
" I'm sure when you're older his grace will find a most worthy knight for you to squire for my prince." Jon said and saw the king nod in appreciation at his words.
" I don't want a worthy knight, I want to squire for you." Tommen said and both Jon and the king laughed at the young boy and possibly for the first time they laughed genuinely together.
" He has you there Ser Jon." the King said his smile still beaming as he looked from him to Tommen.
" Your grace, my prince." he said bowing in front of Tommen who smiled at him as he did so.
Later that night he had once again gone to Margaery's rooms though this time with Lady Olenna's permission, along with a warning to behave as a true knight should. He had spent some time with her and once again said his goodbyes, promising that as soon as he was able they would see each other again. He had then gone and said his goodbyes to Sansa, to Olenna, and to Alerie too.
Departing that day he had been slapped hard on the back by the king who had come to see them off. He had wished the prince and princess all the best and whispered to Tommen that he'd take him to squire if he was allowed, something which made he boy look to him as if he was a knight from a tale or legend. Saying goodbye formally felt false to him, the courtesy felt wrong and the protocol was annoying. He was thankful for the hugs from his sisters and from his brother, and then he looked jealously at the hug Margaery gave Loras.
"Cheer up, you'll see them soon." Oberyn said later from beside him, Jon having stopped Winter for a last look at Highgarden before it was completely out of sight.
He had asked Richard to come along with them, the journey to Oldtown giving him enough time he felt, to firm up his plans for the maesters. Though he found that between riding, sparring with Loras, Cregan and Brienne along with his cousins, the Sand Snakes more than eager to test his mettle, that he had again far too little time.
He barely slept on the journey, waiting until he could no longer stay awake and then grabbing a few short hours. Most of his nights were spent up with Richard making sure they could do what was needed to be done and that everything would be in place. Men weren't a problem, and some could be taken care of by others, though even those he and Richard insisted would be accompanied by their men to do the actual deed, something Wyman had agreed to most readily.
"The writing is key, do you think you can manage it Jon?" Richard asked as they stood by the tree.
"It's like drawing, Richard. So with enough practice Aye, I can do it." he said as he was sure he could manage it "The ravens?"
"I can get them but you'll have to control them, can you?" Richard asked looking at him.
"If you get the right kind, Aye, I can make them go where they need to."
"Which leaves us with the Citadel itself." Richard said.
"Do we go in hard of soft?" he asked and Richard smiled.
"Both Jon, we go in both."
He was more than happy to leave it to Richard, the plan they had was sound but like all plans, though there was no certainty of success and there would be problems later on that they would need to deal with. But it needed to be done now, which was more than could be said of some of their other plans. The Blackfish being an area were not just he and Richard disagreed, but everyone else did also.
"I know what you say of him Richard, but as much as I wish him on my side, it's too early." he said and saw both Oberyn and Jaime agree.
"It is, but we make the moves that are in front of us Jon. Let me speak to him, let me reappear and see his mind on things, I'd not put you in danger and I'll not even hint at things, but let me speak to him." Richard asked.
He looked to Jaime who nodded and to Oberyn who shook his head and finally he closed his eyes, trying to think, trying to reason it out but he could not.
"For now we leave it, give me until we reach Oldtown." he said and Richard nodded.
When he wasn't sparring or making plans he was as always riding with Joy. Despite her asking him to allow her to ride the stallion that he'd won, something he couldn't do given its size, he knew she had enjoyed riding on Winter with him. He'd even persuaded Cregan, Loras and Brienne and his cousins to race them, using the argument that he'd need to go slower with Joy in front of him.
"We can go fast, Jon?" Joy said to him her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course we can, but if they know that, they'll never race us." he whispered back seeing her look at him conspiratorially before she winked back at him as they all lined up.
Apart from Winter's hooves hitting the ground, the loudest sound was Joy's laughter as they left the others behind. He'd had to hold onto to her tightly as she moved in front of him, trying her best to turn around to see how far behind the others were and laughing even more when she saw them. By the time the others caught up with them, he, Ghost, and Joy were standing by the Mander. Winter drinking her fill and Joy trying to skip stones as he showed her how.
"You are all so slow, so slow." Joy said giggling when Loras and Cregan arrived first.
"You two aren't human." Loras said and Jon just looked to Joy before they both turned and stuck their tongues out at him, laughing loudly when he huffed.
When the rest of their group caught up they made their camp by the Mander, knowing they'd be reaching Oldtown within a day or two it would be one of their lasts nights sleeping outdoors. It was that night while eating with Oberyn and Ellaria that his uncle told him he'd be leaving from Oldtown, rather than Lannisport.
"I had thought we'd have more time." Jon said looking to him and Ellaria.
"It makes more sense to leave from Oldtown nephew and I find I'm missing my daughters." Ellaria said longingly.
"I understand, I hope to meet them one day." he said and saw her smile.
"You will meet them one day, Elia will pester you for a ride on Rhaenix and Obella for one on Winter, while Dorea and Loreza will ask for a song and a story." Ellaria said her smile even broader now as she spoke of her girls.
"Then I shall need to write a song more fitting for Princesses of Dorne." he said and got up from his seat by the fire to walk over and hug his aunt.
"You be safe nephew. I shall tell my daughters of their cousin and that they will meet him, you'd not make me a liar now would you?" Ellaria said looking to him.
"Never." he said and she kissed his cheek as she patted Oberyn's shoulder before heading to their tent.
"I look forward to my girls meeting you also." Oberyn said before handing Jon a letter "For Sarella." his uncle said.
"I'll give it to her when I return. I…" he said not sure what he wanted to say to him.
"I will go to Yronwood and speak to Anders." Oberyn said changing the subject.
"It can't happen until it's time uncle." Jae said looking to him and Oberyn just smiled.
"You think me a viper, Ander is even more snake than I he'll do it when it needs to be done and that man will suffer." Oberyn said looking into the flames.
"Will this fix things with House Yronwood?" he asked curiously.
"Who knows, Anders is an ambitious man, Criston Cole reborn Ari calls him." Oberyn said shaking his head with a look of disgust on his face.
"Quentyn fostered there didn't he?" Jon said knowing all to well the story of Criston Cole.
"He does and Ander believes that a woman is not fit to rule, even though in Dorne we know the truth. Ander believes it's a man's duty to be lord, to be prince and so he has whispered in Quentyn's ear from when he was but a boy."
"Quentyn would seek to usurp his sister?" Jon asked shocked, given how much he knew family meant to Oberyn and Elia and assuming that all Martell's felt the same.
"Ambition is a cruel thing nephew, it starts as a want and grows into a need. Quentyn knows he's seen as lesser than Arianne, among the people, by his father, by me, and so he seeks to prove himself. Add in a man who whispers in your ear and soon his want becomes his need and finally you can convince yourself it's for the better good. That it's the others who need you and for them, you must do what it is you wish to do." Oberyn said and Jon watched as he raked the fire with a stick, the sparks soon flying into the air.
"Why do you allow them to plot so?" Jon asked curiously and was surprised when Oberyn laughed.
"Lords plot, men plot, women plot, stopping them is like holding back the sea, a fruitless and pointless task. Stopping the plots themselves should they become an issue is far easier and should the need arise you only remove the plotter as a last resort."
"A lesson I hope I learn." Jon said and Oberyn stood up and reached over to him patting him on the back as he turned to go to his tent.
"A lesson you've already learned, nephew."
They arrived at Oldtown two days later and he once again said his goodbyes to his uncle and aunt, to his cousins and watched as they left on a pinnacle ship. He told Richard to speak to the Blackfish when he found the time and that he trusted his judgment on this, something Richard seemed most happy about. He and the others boarded The Lady Joanna and as they set sail, he found that despite feeling the loss of Oberyn and Ellaria's presence, he was excited to be going home, he longed to see his son again, to see his sister.
Riverlands 295 AC.
Vyman.
He felt the walls closing in, ever since Lady Catelyn had taken over things had changed. No longer was he in charge of the coin and no longer did he have Edmure's support. When she had put Utherydes in charge of the books he knew he was fucked, only a fool wouldn't see how terrible their position was and while some of it was Edmure's fault, most of it was his.
So he had gathered his things and in the dead of night he'd snuck out, the horse he'd readied and hidden was thankfully still waiting for him. He'd rode hard and soon came to the village, quickly he made his way to the brothel and he had sought sanctuary. Knowing that until he was out of the Riverlands it was the only place he could hide.
As hiding places go it was perhaps one of the best, he ate well, he drank well, and the girls kept him company. He felt no guilt over not paying them, they were his reward after all and their boss had insisted upon it for as long as he was in his service. Vyman too felt it owed to him, as he had done everything Littlefinger had asked of him, everything.
"You seem unable to rise Vyman." Kara said the young girl doing her best but nothing seemed to work.
"Leave it, for now, we'll try again later." he said and the small dark-haired girl smiled and nodded to him as she got up from the bed.
Even the sight of her nude body, her small firm breasts, and round apple-shaped arse was not enough to rouse his member, something that was happening much more frequently lately. He had at first put it down to guilt, down to the fact he had not just betrayed his calling, but the family he had served for so many years. He had embezzled from them, set them on dangerous paths and kept things from them, and he had helped Edmure be the fool he really was.
But it was Hoster he thought most on, the old man had been kind to him and had for many years welcomed his advice and counsel, yet he had betrayed him most of all. Poison he had heard some say was a woman's weapon, but no one wielded it as well as someone trained in it uses. A small dose here and there over the years was more than enough to make him sick, enough to have people know of his illness and then he'd use a larger one when the time was right.
" You wish me to end him, to take his life?" he asked Littlefinger, his shock, and disgust apparent in his tone.
" His or yours, it matters not to me at this time, but I believe you'd prefer to keep your own would you not?" Littlefinger said.
" Why now?" he asked, he'd known this day would come, but had he now always foolishly thought he could put it off he wondered.
" Because I say so, do it Maester and do it soon, or it won't just be access to my girls we'll cut off." Littlefinger said and just by looking at him, Vyman knew he wasn't making an idle threat.
Waking from the dream, he shook the memories from his head as he got up and walked to the privy, the time for regrets was long since past, though he had many. He regretted not being able to keep to his vows, he regretted falling in with Littlefinger, and most of all he regretted the murder of an old man.
It was that night that Littlefinger himself arrived and soon he found himself having to explain to the man what had happened, how Lady Catelyn had figured out that coin was being embezzled. Of how she and Utherydes would by now know it could only have been him to do so, and so he had run before they could ask him questions, worried that they may use stronger methods should he not speak.
"You think Cat would see you tortured?" Littlefinger said clearly amused by the idea.
"I think Utherydes would and I fear she'd leave it to him." he said as he wiped the sweat from his face.
"What does the steward know? What will they find in the books?" Littlefinger asked his voice curious as he stared at him.
"Nothing, he knows nothing. As for what they'll find, they'll see the coin was taken and was spent extravagantly, then they'll wonder why I did so." he said and saw Littlefinger smile.
"That's why I prefer to work with clever men Maester, they cover their tracks. A fool would have given them far more, maybe even led them to me." Littlefinger said and Vyman could hear the implied threat clearly.
"Then it is good I'm not a fool, is it not?" he asked staring at the man's face to judge his reaction.
"More than good, for not only would I have no use for you now. I'd have even less in the future." Littlefinger said smiling at him and Vyman breathed a sigh of relief.
"The future?" he asked curiously.
"Of course Maester, I have much use for a man such as you, a clever, learned man. I need such a man to overlook my operations in King's Landing." Littlefinger said moving closer to him "You'll find the selection there even more exquisite, let's call it a perk of the job." Littlefinger laughed and Vyman soon laughed with him.
Sitting down to eat that night he felt the weight lift off his chest, enjoying the meal his head filled with ideas of the delights he'd get to sample once they got to King's Landing. He even felt the stiffness in his breeches and nodded to Kara who smiled back at him, letting him know that she'd come to his room later.
As he undressed and the girl came in he was glad to see the wine in her hand, he took off his breeches as she poured it into a glass and he climbed into the bed. Smiling she handed him the glass and as he sipped the wine she began to undress and he felt himself stiffen more, as her teats were exposed he quickly drained the rest laying the glass down. He felt it then, the loss of breath, his throat constricting, and he looked as Kara walked to the door and opened it to let Littlefinger inside.
"He drank it all?" Littlefinger asked as Vyman struggled for his breath, his hands reaching to his throat.
"He did my lord." Kara said as she put her top back on and he watched her breasts be covered up for the last time.
"You did well little one, you'll prosper in King's Landing." Littlefinger said kissing the girl's cheek.
"Thank you, my lord." Kara said smiling as they both walked from the room.
As he felt his last breaths, as he felt his throat constrict even more he would have laughed if he could. Poison was indeed a woman's weapon being the final thought he ever had.
Casterly Rock 295 AC.
Ashara.
The tourney had been interesting, to say the least, she had come so close to being herself again only to see that dream delayed for a little longer. She had seen her son accepted by his family, something that she knew wherever Brandon was he'd be proud of her and them for. But perhaps the most unexpected, though she had known she had been feeling something for him for some time, was how she now looked at Gerion and he at her.
Seeing him standing up for her son and for Dusk had only reinforced what she was beginning to feel for the man, that he was good, honest, and true was something she already knew. That he was a man she was attracted to was also not a new revelation either, but that he was a man she could see a future with was. After the trial, she had spent far more time with him, even to the detriment of the tourney itself. She had found she had missed a lot of the events, and some of them she was sorry she had, and yet she had enjoyed her time there immensely.
Each outing, each walk, each time they'd sat the same table she'd found herself smiling more, laughing more, she was happier and so was he as far as she could tell. They'd kissed more than once and though it had gone no further she felt it was only a matter of time. So arriving back at Lannisport, and when the others said their farewells to Kevan and his family, she had gone to a small house where a wood's witch had set up her stall.
"My lady, how may I help you?" the woman asked.
"I'm looking for some tansy." she said and the old woman nodded before moving back to one of the shelves and coming back with a small pouch of it.
"You know how to brew the tea?" the old woman asked looking to her face.
"I know." she said smiling as she handed the woman the coppers she asked for.
Making her way back outside she hurried back and arrived just as they were about to set off. Finding Gerion looking around before he saw her and he smiled as she then walked to the carriage.
"I had wondered where you'd gotten to?" Gerion said helping her into the carriage.
"I had something I needed to do my lord, perhaps we can speak later?" she asked her smile making his own soon appear.
"I'd like that Lyarra." he said and she nodded.
It turned out that she didn't get to speak to him that night as some meeting or other had been called. As they broke their fast the next morning he apologized to her and said he'd meet her that night instead. She allowed Joy to miss her lessons that day, the girl unsurprisingly spending the day with Jon and Cregan, while she helped Dacey with the babe and then went to the Godswood to pray.
Kneeling down in front of the tree she closed her eyes and prayed, seeing him as if he was standing right in front of her, his beaming smile, his sparkling eyes that promised mischief, and the tears came to her unbidden.
" Do not cry my love, remember you made me far happier than any man deserved to be." Brandon said as she reached out to touch him.
" As you did me, we had so little time." she said sadly her fingers mere inches from his.
" Aye, but it was the best of my life. Be happy Ash, live, live for me." he sad as he faded away
She heard the footsteps behind her and turned to see Jon standing there, looking both worried and almost shamed that he'd caught her at what was clearly a moment she'd wished to be alone.
"Forgive me, aunt, I had thought no one here. I didn't mean to intrude." Jon said and turned to move away.
"Stay nephew, please." she said and she brushed some dirt from the ground with her hands as if to make a place beside herself for him to sit, which he did but a moment later.
"Are you well?" he asked a note of worry in his voice.
"I am, I was just thinking on your uncle." she said and attempted a smile, not quite sure if she succeeded or not.
"I wish I'd gotten the chance to know him." he said sadly.
"He'd have loved you. A swordsman with a wolf who rides like the wind, He'd have dragged you halfway across the North." she said and this time her smile was far more true.
"What would you have done aunt, if things had been different, what were your plans?" he asked looking to her.
"A small keep, a place to grow old together, our plans were simple Jon, the plans of two fools in love." she said and saw him look down to the ground "I don't mean it like that, not in a bad way, but we didn't fully think things through, other than we'd be together." she said her voice tinged with sadness and regret.
"I'm sorry you never got the chance for the life you both wished for, aunt." he said and she looked at him before reaching out and wiping the tear that fell from his eye.
"There is only life Jon, we live it and we do our best."
"Be happy and live." Jon said and she gasped in shock "Aunt?" he asked worriedly.
"What, it's nothing Jon, but yes you're right. Be happy and live, it's all we can do." she said and he stood up and helped her to her feet.
By the time they reached the keep they were both laughing and japing, seeing Joy and Cregan playing with Dusk while Loras and Satin sparred she didn't notice the frown which appeared on Jon's face. Instead, it was the laughter of her son and of Gerion's daughter that she concentrated on, their happiness fuelling her own even more.
When she finished eating that night she kissed her son goodnight as he went to bed and found herself and Gerion among the last to leave. Instead of walking to her room, she walked to the lift, and Gerion looked at her curiously before he followed. Taking it to the top she soon found the night air to be far cooler than she had imagined, and she chuckled when Gerion put his jacket on her to keep her warm.
"What do you want from life Gerion?" she asked looking out at the night sky.
"I want Joy to get everything she deserves, everything I can possibly give her. I want her to be happy and safe and to know she's loved."
"She does." she said and saw him nod "But you, what do you want?" she asked as she turned to look at him.
"I..for the longest time I wanted nothing." he said as he reached over to touch her cheek "Now I want you." he said and moved in to kiss her which she allowed him to do.
"For tonight?" she asked when she broke the kiss.
"Forever." he said and she smiled as she kissed him again.
She woke the next morning to find him gone from her bed and she felt the loss immediately, sighing she got up and walked over to the jar she kept the tea in and drank it down, almost dropping it when the door opened. Turning she was surprised to see him standing there and even more surprised at the tray in his hand.
"I thought you may be hungry." he said as he looked at her and the jar curiously.
"Thirsty." she said putting the empty jar back on the table and smiling at him as they walked back to the bed.
As she ate from the plate and drank the warmer normal tea she laughed, she had thought for the briefest moment that he'd left after getting what he wanted, that he'd played a game that she had long since not been a part of. But as he laughed and japed with her, as they ate and made plans she realized that he like her, just wished to find comfort in this world, something to make them happy.
Casterly Rock 295 AC.
Marwyn.
He hadn't had as much time to speak to the prince as he had hoped, either in Highgarden or on the journey back to Oldtown. He did get to speak to him a little to set Sam on his way and a little more on the ship, though he spent most of his time walking around it and looking at it with awe. How a boy had come up with it would have been enough for him to be amazed, knowing that somehow this ship was a design from Valyria, even more so.
He was excited when they reached Lannisport, finding the place far different than it had been on his previous visits, seeing more of the Pinnacle ships in the dock or being built just showing even more how much the prince had changed things. But it was reaching the Rock itself which had his heart racing, knowing what was here, what he would see. Marwyn found his patience severely tested though, the little he had anyway, when instead of going straight to the dragons he was brought to his quarters.
"It's not that we don't trust you Maester, but it's more to give them time to know you'll be coming." Jaehaerys said and while it annoyed him, he did feel it better to have a dragon aware of you than unaware.
At dinner that night he saw his old friend for the first time in years, Loamara most pleased to see him to given the smile on his face. While the others caught up, he and Loamara ate and then went out to the gardens, both men talking of their adventures before he asked the question he most wished to know the truth of.
"It's true, they are real?" he asked and Loamara grinned.
"They are, though the prince won't allow us to study them, not completely." Loamara said though his voice was less annoyed than Marwyn's would have been in the same situation.
"He doesn't trust us." Marwyn said.
"Given what he knows of us do you blame him Marwyn?."
"That was them, not us." he said angrily.
"True, give him time, he will allow us to visit, to see them, and to study from afar. Perhaps in time, we can prove our worth." Loamara said patting him on the bacl "It is good to see you again old friend. I heard you have been helping them with their investigations?"
"I did, knowing what they've done, we're lucky it's just the guilty he seeks to punish." he said, still feeling a little upset about the fate of his former brothers.
"And yet punishment is what they deserve. I can sense your hesitancy old friend but they wished me dead, should they know of you then they'd wish it for you too."
"Aye, you have the right of it, come let's get drunk." he said and the other man laughed.
He woke the next morning with a heavy head, and so he made his way to Jardene's rooms, surprised that the Maester hadn't come to see him the night before. Arriving at his rooms he saw just what kind of a boon he'd given to his former student. Not just prestigiously, but support wise this was perhaps the best place a Maester could be appointed to.
"Forgive me Archmaester, I was lost in my work and so didn't come down for dinner last night, had I known." Jardene said apologetically.
"That's quite alright, many is the time I got lost in a search for knowledge. I came for the morning cure." he said and Jardene got up from his table and grabbed the herbs mixing the liquid and pouring him a glass.
As he did so Marwyn looked over the man's work, seeing some drawings of the wind wheels and some pumping system he'd not seen before, he was almost lost in it by the time Jardene came back.
"This is most impressive Jardene, most impressive indeed." he said when the man handed him the glass which he quickly drank down.
"I cannot take credit Archmaester, I'm just refining it for here. Maester Luwin of Winterfell came up with the plan and Jon Snow designed the Wind Wheels I believe."
"Still an exciting project. Your time here you have enjoyed it?" he asked putting the empty glass on the table.
"I have, I am." Jardene said and Marwyn smiled at him patting him on the back.
"Good, I shall be here for some time, I look forward to working with you my friend." he said his voice eager.
"And I with you Archmaester."
That evening after eating he was approached by Loamara and a woman wearing the red robes of R'hllor. The woman was striking, her red hair the color of fire, and she wore an incredible ruby around her neck, one which he found himself drawn to immediately. Hearing her voice, so soft and seductive, he almost for a moment felt under a trance and knew he would have much need of the local brothel during his time in the West.
"Marwyn this is Melisandre, a servant of R'hllor and friend of Jon's." Loamara said.
"My lady an honor." he said smiling at her which she returned.
"I have heard much about you Marwyn the Mage, come I am to bring you to see that which you've traveled so far for." she said and he jumped up like an excited child.
Taking the lift down to the bottom he found himself walking through vaults, they reached a huge door and he saw the prince's giant guard standing at it. Once they went through he was led out through a corridor and past some rooms.
"Whose rooms are these?" he asked.
"The prince and some of his friends along with myself and my guards reside here." Melisandre said.
"You have known the prince for long my lady?" he asked.
"I've been serving the prince for many years Marwyn, but I know him personally just a little over one."
"You are from Essos?" he asked trying to place her voice.
"Asshai." she said catching him by surprise.
He would have said more, but as they had walked past another door he found he was standing in a cove. Walking through the sand he saw the prince standing by the edge of the sea, the waves almost but not quite reaching him. For a few moments, he couldn't quite see what it was the prince was looking at. Before Jae called him over and directed him where to look.
"The smaller one is Lygaron, my son. The larger is Rhaenix, my sister." Jon said and pointing out to two small shadows in the distance.
Marwyn looked out seeing the shadows grow larger and larger and then he dropped to his knees as they finally flew over him, his eyes wide open and his smile larger than it had ever been.
"Dragons." he said and heard the prince laugh.
"Aye, Dragons, Marwyn."
Highgarden 295 AC.
Margaery.
Every since he'd left Margaery had both felt like she was the happiest girl in the world and the saddest. She was married, Jon and she were married and at times she longed to shout it out so the world could hear, so they knew that she was his and he was hers. Yet at other times she would turn to speak to him or go looking for him only to find he was not there and her mood would turn.
It was becoming noticeable, her grandmother, mother, Willas had all inquired if she was well and so she had told them some of the truth, how she was just missing Jon and Loras and they had accepted that. Sansa on the other hand had not, at times Margaery felt the girl to be watching her as closely as Fang did, looking at her with eyes that were remarkably wolf-like.
She had come so close to telling her more than once also, just sitting in their embroidery lesson or today as they went hawking with Willas, she had come close to just blurting out that she and Jon were married.
"I thought I was the warg." Sansa said and Margaery turned to look at her, seeing both Willas and Sansa standing there with grins on their faces.
"What?" she asked having not been sure what Sansa had said.
"I said I thought I was the warg, yet it seems it's you who's lost herself to the birds." Sansa said and Margaery shook her head.
"I was just thinking." she said turning away.
"Hmmm, whatever could it be that's on your mind, Willas do you have any idea what it is that has Margaery so distracted?" Sansa said her voice playful.
"I do not, I've been trying to find out, has something happened in the last few days? Has someone perhaps left?" Willas said with a grin and she scowled at them both before she turned to speak to Mira.
She knew they were just teasing and she wasn't even angry or upset with them which thankfully they noticed, both of them ribbing her as they moved to the cages. When the hawks were set free they soon began to race after them, though Margaery rode far more carefully than her grandfather had, something their grandmother insisted upon.
Soon it became clear that Sansa was cheating and while there was no coin on the day, Willas she could see was a little annoyed at it. Though her brother hid it well and smiled when Sansa's hawk won the day, it was later that night when she and Sansa were alone that Margaery felt the need to bring it up.
"You shouldn't have warged today." she said and Sansa put down her sewing and looked to her curiously.
"Why?" Sansa asked moving closer.
"I think my brother wished to show off his skill, prove his training of the birds, and you put him to shame." Margaery said though seeing the upset on Sansa's face she explained further "I don't mean it as harshly as that, more he wished to impress upon us and you didn't allow him to."
"I didn't mean..I just thought." Sansa said clearly more upset than Margaery had intended.
"I know, as does Willas. It's just that others do not." she said looking to her friend.
"Oh." Sansa said realizing how it may have looked "I'll speak to Willas on the morrow."
"No don't, he'd not like it to be known, I know my brother." she said and Sansa looked at her.
"As I do mine." Sansa said and it caught Margaery by surprise.
"I don't understand?" she said staring the other girl down.
"Something happened, something between you and Jon, he was sadder when he left, and you have been too."
"It's nothing Sansa." she said though she saw that Sansa didn't believe her "It's different now, me and Jon we're different." she said and Sansa looked at her closely a frown appearing on her friend's face.
"You no longer like my brother?" she asked accusingly.
"I love your brother, I've always loved him." she said and Sansa's smile and how quickly she moved to hug her then allowed her not to say anymore.
"He loves you too, I can see it, that's why he was so sad. But you'll see each other soon and one day, one day you could be married." Sansa said and Margaery gasped "You could be queen Margaery, you'd make a good queen and Jon a good king."
She came so close them to telling her to just letting it all out, explaining what had happened and telling her of how happy she was that it did. Had someone asked her the next morning why she hadn't? or how she hadn't? then Margaery wouldn't have been able to tell them, but somehow she managed to keep it to herself.
She lay in her bed that night the drawing of her and Jon dancing in one hand while the other played with the pin he gave her. The blue and green gems sparkling in the candlelight, placing it on the table she leaned forward and closing her eyes kissed the drawing before blowing the candle out. As she moved to put the drawing on the table she brushed her finger over the sharp edge of the pin and felt the prick and jumped up.
Relighting the candle she looked to her finger to see the blood pool at its tip and looked for a handkerchief and some water, soon cleaning it up. She picked the pin up and looked as the blood seemed to disappear before her eyes, seemed to be soaked up by the gems and she blinked once, twice, and looked again seeing it was still there. Cleaning it she placed it back before she put the candle out and turned over to sleep.
The glade was empty as she moved through it, the Weirwood tall and true and she looked to see Jon standing there, he was taller, older, his hair was longer and his body more filled out. She moved towards him and he turned and smiled, the red three-headed dragon pendant clear even in the dim light of the glade.
" I knew you'd come." he said and she found herself lost in his touch as he reached his hand out to brush it against her face.
" Always. Jon what is this place?" she asked.
" This is our place my love, a place for us to be who we truly are." Jon said and as his fingers wrapped around her own she looked at the ring on his hand,
The ring was the Targaryen sigil, the three-headed dragon though quartered and she had never seen Jon wear it before, nor had she ever seen him so clearly dressed as what he was, a dragon. When he moved in close she felt his lips on hers, felt his hands as they wrapped around her, and next she knew they were leaning against the tree, her head resting against his own.
" I must go soon my love, the fight is almost here." Jon said and she looked at him willing him to stay.
" I don't want you to fight." she said shaking her head.
" Yet fight I must, I will win and I will see you soon, farewell my love." she heard his voice say as she found herself alone in the woods."
Waking the next morning she felt strange, odd, and as she got up from her bed she felt a little woozy, calling for her maid she almost fell back onto the bed. The fever lasted a few days and when she recovered her mother, grandmother and Sansa were all by her beside looking at her with relief and concern.
"Get Lomys now." her grandmother said as soon as she saw her eyes open.
"Grandmother, I'm well." she said though her voice was scratchy and she coughed before Sansa handed her some water.
"We'll be the judges of that my dear." her grandmother said.
"How long?" she asked when she finished drinking the water.
"Almost a week." Sansa asked taking the mug from her, her worry clear on her face.
"I fell well Sansa, truly." she said reaching her hand to the girls.
After Lomys examined her, he told everyone that the fever had broken, and apart from needing some proper food, and some rest she was all but recovered. He soon left and she sat with her grandmother and mother, while Sansa organized some food. All three of them were awfully quiet while they waited and no one really said anything to her until the meal was brought and she'd eaten some.
"You truly feel well Sweetling, you're not just saying it to reassure us?" her mother asked her hand touching her forehead and checking to see her fever had truly broken.
"I'm well for true." she said smiling at the three of them.
"Good then perhaps you'll explain?" her grandmother said her tone abrupt and to the point.
"I don't know what happened grandmother, I felt no illness and then I just did." she said and was surprised that didn't' seem to reassure anyone.
"Not that, you can explain what you meant when you called out for your husband?" her grandmother said and as Margaery looked at them she knew she hadn't kept the secret at all.
Casterly Rock 295 AC.
Jon.
Arriving back he had immediately gone to see Rhaenix and Lygaron, finding both dragons awake in the cave and both eager to see him. His son even spoke to him almost chattering on like an excited child, telling him of everything he had done while on was away and how his rider had stayed with him often. Rhaenix on the other hand was less enthusiastic, less forthcoming and for a while, Jon didn't understand.
"Have I done something wrong?"
"You risked yourself." she said angrily.
"I'm always at risk." he said laughing trying to make light of things.
"But you risked yourself, I feel it little brother, I feel what you do, just as you feel me. You risked yourself unnecessarily even after you promised me." she said and he couldn't help think that watching a dragon turn it's head from you was a daunting sight.
"I'm sorry sister, I didn't understand." he said and she snorted, the wind from her nostrils enough to blow sand in his eyes "Truly I didn't." he said wiping it from his face.
"And now you do? Or you think by telling me that I'll believe it so." she said her annoyance still clear.
"I do, I'm… I'm married sister, I have a wife." he said and her head moved so fast she actually knocked him to the ground.
"What?" she said as she pressed her head to his chest keeping him on the ground.
He told her then of what had happened at the tourney, of how the prince had acted, of his present and finally of marrying in front of the heart tree, of saying the vows and meaning the words. She looked at him her purple eyes filled with an expression he couldn't quite make out and then he felt it, her joy, her happiness and it was overwhelming.
"That, I felt that, I didn't know what it was little brother, it was you, that was how you felt." she said.
"I didn't know, I feel things, but I, it's you?" he asked surprised.
"We are bonded, sometimes we feel each other, more so when we're close, you know this." she said surprised.
"Aye, I just didn't think, over the distance I didn't think." he said and he had a realization then one which worried him greatly.
"Jae?" she asked her voice concerned.
"If I'm hurt, you could be hurt, I could hurt you." he said and she didn't answer and he knew then it was true, the bond was that strong "I'm sorry sister, I'm so sorry." he said leaning his head against her own.
He explained then how he'd been told off by Ellaria and how he had come to realize how things were, though he left out that knowing Rhaenix could feel his pain now only reinforced it. He went and ate and met with Jaime, Gerion, and Tyrion, before speaking to Marwyn and Loamara the two men seeming pleased to see each other after all this time.
He met briefly with Melisandre asking to speak to her on the morrow, keen to find out what he could about Thoros before Beric came to visit. Meeting with his aunt had been strange and he hoped he had been somewhat comforting, though he knew he was offering very little wisdom to a woman who'd seen far more of the world than he. It was with Tyrion that he spent the most time other than the dragons, keen both to be with his uncle and also for his help.
"I need your help uncle." he said sitting at his uncle's desk.
"Anything I can do just ask it of me Jon."
"I can't do it all on my own uncle, I've realized it and I find that even when I do I end up just doing it anyway."
"You have Jaime." Tyrion said his voice a little affronted.
"I don't mean it like that, I'm not doing anything on my own and yet I'm doing too much on my own, it's hard to explain." he said and Tyrion looked to him.
"Try nephew."
"Jaime is my Hand, he, Oberyn, Genna, Olenna, you, Gerion, Kevan, Richard and Wyman, all of you make moves and do things that further my cause, which gives me time to do other things. But instead of using that time wisely, I end up just filling it with yet more things, jumping to other things that need to be done and getting deeper into plans that need to be made." he said his voice full of frustration.
"What is it you want Jon?" Tyrion asked.
"I need someone to act for me, someone to make certain choices without needing to come to me first, Jaime can do so many, but I need someone else, I need family." he said looking to him "The next few moons are going to be busy uncle, Rhaenix wishes to fly, it's only a matter of time until she does and when she does..I… I.."
"Jon?" Tyrion looked at him worriedly.
"There are things I must do, places I must go, with Rhaenix I'll soon be able to. I may not be here as much as I am now."
"Then Jaime as you Hand can act in your stead, that's his role Jon." Tyrion said.
"It is, but he's also Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, he's a father Tyrion. Jaime is my Hand but the Hand is a full-time role and while in the future he'll have to do so, for now, I'd like him to be able to have a life also."
"But for me you don't?" Tyrion asked and Jon for a moment didn't see he was japing before he laughed with him.
"Welcome to my world uncle." he said and Tyrion laughed a little louder.
"We'll all speak on this Jon, but you, me, and Jaime need to speak on it privately first."
"Thank you uncle. For this, for staying with them when I was gone, Lygaron is happier than I had thought he could be and Rhaenix appreciated it too." he said smiling showing his relief and appreciation.
"I was happy to do so, but there was a problem Jon." Tyrion frowned.
"There was?" he asked looking to his uncle who shook his head.
"Not an insurmountable one but Bronn knows the truth of you." Tyrion said and raised his hand when Jon went to speak "He's trustworthy Jon, god's help us but he is. He wishes to serve, wants a castle for himself in the future." Tyrion chuckled.
"A castle?" he asked surprised.
"Aye, he's a good man, he's been a good help to me."
"Well maybe this is one of the things you can take off my shoulders then." Jon said smirking and Tyrion laughed.
"Oh why thank you nephew, howsoever can I repay you." his uncle said sarcastically.
"I didn't mean it like that, but you need a sworn sword uncle, someone to watch your back, Bronn is more than capable and should he prove worthy then a keep isn't out of the question." he said and Tyrion laughed loudly.
"My thoughts exactly, which is why he is my sworn sword nephew." Tyrion said.
"At least it's one less person to keep the truth from." he said a moment later.
"About that Jon, Satin is suspicious, I'd say Brienne is to, it may be time to tell them."
"Aye I know, I'll speak to them both soon." he said standing up and turning to leave "I hear a princess may be coming to visit?" he said looking at his uncle's face and seeing him blush.
"Obviously Bronn didn't get the message about keeping things to himself." Tyrion said.
"Actually it was Ellaria, she said you and Princess Arianne hit it of uncle."
"Jon I…"
"Life uncle is far too short, we should find whatever happiness we can and grab hold of it." he said smiling as he thought of his own happiness and pictured her golden-brown eyes.
"She is a princess, nephew, I'm…" Tyrion said dejectedly.
"A prince of House Targaryen, my uncle and a future Dragonrider, a good enough match for anybody, and a good man who any woman would be lucky to call a husband." he said his voice as true as he could make it "I'm not telling you what to do uncle. I'm telling you that whatever you decide I want you to know that I'm with you all the way."
"Thank you Jon." Tyrion said smiling.
"Ser Jon, I have a title now." he said as both of them laughed.
He read Joy her story that night and after he was done he met with Jaime and Tyrion, while they didn't fully agree to anything they did speak up on the plans for the future. Jaime was actually happy to have Tyrion even more involved in them and though they needed to figure things out even more, mainly how both sets of duties to the crown and to the Rock would work, he felt better for even moving in that direction.
Watching as Lygaron and Rhaenix flew over the water, as they dropped down to feed he felt them both in his head. His son was showing off, spinning in the air and dropping as deep into the water as he could, coming back up a few moments later with a large fish in his jaws. While Rhaenix was calmer, more focused, and just seeing her fly in the moonlight, seeing the light reflect off her he could see just how beautiful and majestic she truly was.
"It's time Jae, you know it's time."
"I know, tomorrow." he said and felt her joy almost overwhelm him.
"Tomorrow little brother, tomorrow we fly."