Casterly Rock 294 AC.
Arthur.
He stood watching as the king spoke, trying not to stare at the white dragon as it crawled on his shoulder, his clothes had burned away but there was not a mark on him. Arthur wasn't sure what it was he was more in awe of, the dragon the king had brought back into the world or the fact that he'd seen him engulfed by white flames and yet he was unburnt. He looked to the body that Richard and Jors were untying from the stake, and then to the king who was wrapping himself in a cloak, he still wasn't completely sure of what he'd seen.
1 hour previously .
Arthur stood with Richard as the king made preparations, he was stunned by the appearance of the second dragon egg, yes he knew of it, but he also knew the trouble Rhaegar had gone through to get the white one. When the guard, Jors, brought the egg back he was surprised but listening to what the king said to Lorch he felt his own anger rise, the king spoke calmly though. When he saw the sword enter the man's stomach it shocked him and watching the repeated stabbings made him very nervous.
He looked to Richard who seemed to be enjoying it and then to Jaime who like him seemed to have a worried look on his face. But it was watching as the king carried the egg to the fire, watching as he dripped his blood into the flames that scared him the most. He moved at the same time Jaime did but it was too late, the flames swept over the king before they made it even a couple of feet. The cry from Jaime was loud and piercing and he could see the hurt in his former brother's eyes.
"He's moving." Richard said his voice choked from his own emotions at what he'd seen.
"What?
"Arthur he's moving, look."
What he saw then would be something he'd remember to the day he died, the king walked out of the fire, his clothes had been burnt away but he was unharmed and on his shoulder there was, gods there was a dragon. He looked to Richard and to Jaime who was now smiling broadly and without thinking he knelt, it was true, it was all true, he was everything Rhaegar had said he would be, Jaehaerys was the prince that was promised, he was the song of ice and fire.
Now.
Once Richard and Jors had untied the body they walked back over to the king and awaited further instructions, Arthur looked to them both and knew should he raise a looking glass to his face, he'd be wearing the same expression.
"We need to have him delivered to the Dornish, should it be here or Dorne?" the king said to loud chirps "Dorne it is." he said and Richard nodded.
"My king, the dragon what are we to do with it." Arthur asked.
"She stays with me, my sister stays with me." the king said and Arthur looked at him in confusion.
"Jon, what do you mean?" Jaime asked.
"Rhaenix, she's not a normal dragon." the king replied and Arthur couldn't help but agree, not that he was an expert but didn't they have two legs not four?.
"I don't understand." Jaime said.
"I can't explain it, but somehow she's Rhaenys." the king said and the dragon chirped for quite a while, he watched as the king began to laugh and then turned to him.
"There was a feast for her second name day, Jaime you were her Kingsguard and Arthur you were with my father, Richard you and Myles had gotten her a book full of colorful images of Dorne. After you gave it to her, she was showing father when she noticed the cake, she was hungry so she reached out and grabbed a chunk of it. The cake was messy and she had nowhere to wipe her hands though there were two pristine white cloaks near." the king said as he laughed while the dragon chirped again.
Arthur looked to Jaime who had a smile on his face, Richard too, all of them remembering the day in question, for the rest of the night both Arthur and Jaime had walked around with the princess's hand prints on their cloaks. It was one of the few times he remembered Rhaegar be happy that weren't when he was with Lyanna, Elia too was having one of her better days.
"For over ten years I've been without her, I'll not be parted now." the king said then and Jaime nodded.
"We can keep her in your rooms for now, Ghost can keep people away, but as she grows.."
"She'll stay down here," the king said and the dragon no Rhaenys, Rhaenix chirped again.
"We'll need to tell Tyrion, he won't forgive me if he knows there's a living dragon here." Jaime said laughing.
"We should head inside." Richard said "I'll see to Lorch."
"My king, his death, did it have to be. Was there no other way?" Arthur asked.
"Half a hundred times he stabbed her Arthur, half a hundred, she was a little girl and that monster stabbed her over and over again. Only death can pay for life and his death was far more merciful than it should have been."
Arthur nodded in agreement and they headed inside, Richard hurried on ahead eager to get the large man to help carry the body. When they reached him Walder looked at the dragon and smiled, the king asked Jors to wait by the door while Walder and Richard walked back to the body, when he said it would leave the king unprotected Jae laughed saying he was with two of the greatest Kingsguard that ever lived, he'd be safe enough.
"I'll speak to Tyrion later, you two need to talk." the king said and Jaime nodded as he walked on, the king stopped him though "Arthur, Lord Jaime is the reason I'm here, the reason my sister is here with me now, you have any idea how much that means to me, how much he does.?"
"I do my king." Arthur said and Jae nodded before walking to his room.
He looked to Jaime and followed him to a large room, entering they sat across the desk from each other, the first time they'd speak together in almost ten and two years. He found his mouth dry, almost unable to form words, but the one question he'd always wanted to ask was now the only thought his mind could form.
"Why Jaime?"
"Because it had to be done Arthur, do you know who Aerys named as his hand? Who he chose to be the second most important person in the realm in those last days?"
"No."
"Rossart."
"The alchemist?"
"Chief alchemist, head of the guild of Pyromancers, now why do you think that was?"
"I don't know."
"Wildfire Arthur, you know how obsessed with it he was, what he'd do once he'd seen it used." Jaime said and Arthur could hear the disgust in his voice, he felt it too, what Aerys had done to their queen, gods the screams.
"I don't understand how this leads to you betraying your oath, how it leads to you killing your king." he said accusingly.
"Because had I not then he would have burned the city to the ground, that was his master plan Arthur, his master fucking plan, burn over half a million people to death in the hopes it would kill his enemies." Jaime said loudly.
"But he, you, Elia and the children all of you would have been killed too."
"He didn't fucking care about me, certainly didn't care about the half breeds, or don't you remember what he called Rhaenys when she was presented to him, what was it he said, take her from my sight, she smells Dornish to me. The man was fucking mad Arthur and we shamed ourselves by serving him."
"So you killed him to relieve that shame." he said dismissively.
"You think I care about shame? I'd have worn and have worn shame from that day in the Throne Room and done so gladly. I should have not been forced to wear it but I did, my brothers, where were you Arthur? Where were you when I needed you? When she needed you where were you?"
"I was in Dorne guarding the king."
"Not then Arthur, not then. When Rhaella needed you, when I needed you where were you then?" Jaime said his voice breaking.
"I..I.." Arthur mumbled unable to answer.
"That boy Arthur, our king, you know what he told me, him a boy of ten name days old you know what he told me, our oaths were shit Arthur they meant shit, if we couldn't protect her from him what use were we?"
"He was the king."
"He was a fucking monster, we swore an oath Arthur, an oath to protect the innocent, what comes first that oath or an oath to a king? I killed Aerys because he ordered Rossart to set off the wildfire, to Burn Them All, but I failed Arthur. I failed because I should have killed him the first time he touched her."
Arthur looked at the hurt in Jaime's eyes, the self loathing that he himself felt, he had held his own blade back because Rhaegar willed it, but Jaime was right, the king was right and he and Rhaegar had been so very wrong.
"Elia, the children, what happened?"
"I didn't know Arthur, you must believe me I didn't know. I never could have imagined he'd do that. After killing Aerys I thought it was done, I thought I'd saved them, I didn't, I should have, I didn't know." Jaime said his eyes pleading.
"For over ten year's I've cursed you Jaime, cursed the day I knighted you, I thought you my biggest mistake, my biggest failure, I'm sorry for that, for what you had to go through alone Brother." Arthur said and as they sat and spoke of other things it was not only Jaime's tears that were spilled in the room that night.
Margaery.
After everything he had told her she had tried to be there for him, but it was hard, what he'd said, what she'd seen, it was all too much, too confusing and so she had skipped dinner that night. When Loras had asked her why she had told him she needed time and he seemed far more understanding then he should have been, she realized then he knew, he had told Loras before her a part of her mind said and this made her even more upset.
As she lay in her bed that night though things became clearer to her and she almost slapped herself when she realized the mistake she'd made, she had accused him of using her, using their friendship, but he hadn't. Jon had been her friend for years, he had learned the truth moons ago, she felt both relieved and ashamed that she'd been so wrong about it, that she'd said that to him. Just thinking of it made other things more clear, Loras knew because he had told him when they were north, had she been there he'd have told her too.
When she woke the next morning she felt so much better, there were things she needed to discuss with Jon, but the realization that he had been telling her the truth, that he liked her for her made her smile just thinking about it. After washing and dressing she made her way to break her fast and was surprised to see Loras there, more surprising was that Joy and Sansa were with him, she looked but was disappointed to see that Jon was not.
"Margy." Joy said excitedly when she saw her.
"Good morning Joy, what brings you here?"
"Loras did Margy." Joy giggled.
"Then I must thank my brother."
"Come meet Sans, Margy."
"Sansa?"
"Sans." Joy said nodding.
"Lady Margaery." Sansa said standing to curtsy.
"Call me Margaery please Lady Sansa, we shall be spending a lot of time together when you come foster."
"Margy." Joy said looking as Sansa.
"Margaery." Sansa said with a smile.
"Margy." Joy said giggling.
She said hello to her brother and sat down, Garlan and Leonette arrived along with their mother a few moments later, as they were eating their meals she was surprised that Ghost wasn't following Joy, nor was the little black pup.
"Is Jon not joining us?" she asked Loras who told her he wouldn't be, when she asked about Ghost Joy got a little pout on her face.
"Ghost with Jon and Ballon too."
"Ballon?"
"Balerion, Joy's Cat." Loras said.
"Ballon." Joy said shaking her head.
Margaery couldn't stop laughing, apparently the girl now had shortened even the cat's name, Jon was lucky his own was already short.
"Is the little black wolf pup yours Sansa?"
"No, he has no owner, my pup is grey she's called Fang." Sansa said proudly.
"Will Fang be coming to Highgarden with you?"
"I..if it's all right with your family." Sansa said a note of worry in her voice.
"Willas will love her, a Direwolf up close, he almost swooned when he met Ghost."
"Your brother met Ghost?" Sansa asked.
"When we were in Oldtown for my aunt Lynesse's wedding, we met he and Jon while they were collecting Lynesses's present."
"The coat, it was beautiful was it not? Lynesse allowed me to put it on once it was far too big, but so soft." Sansa said dreamily.
"It was a wonderful thoughtful gift." Margaery said with a smile "You and my aunt are friends?"
"Lady Lynesse was good enough to tell me of things in the south and how what I thought about it was a little different from the truth, we write to each other. I'm really looking forward to seeing her and the babe.
"Babe?" Margaery asked excited.
"Damn I knew I'd forgotten." Loras said and Margaery glared at him.
"Loras." she said annoyed,
"Loras." Joy said in the same tone and then laughed forcing Margaery to giggle .
"I'm sorry Marge, I really did forget." he said apologetically.
"Fine you are forgiven for now. Are they really coming Lynesse and the babe?" she said looking to Sansa.
"They are, they couldn't attend Dacey's wedding in Winterfell, but they're coming with the Manderly's on one of those ships."
"The ones Jon came up with."
"Aye those," Sansa said and Margaery nodded.
"Jon has a ship?" Joy asked and Margaery explained to the girl who nodded along.
Once they broke their fast Margaery walked with them back to the family wing, she needed to speak to Jon and the longer it went on the more nervous she felt. Speaking quietly to Loras and telling Sansa and Joy she'd talk to them soon, Loras pointed her in the direction of Jon's room. While she had been there only the day before, she found herself unable to remember exactly how to get to it and didn't wish to be found walking around the family wing like an unwanted guest. After a few moments she saw Jors standing outside the room and he knocked at the door for her, seeing Jon open it she smiled.
"Good morning." she said and Jon smiled back at her and led her inside.
"Don't be scared, she won't hurt you." Jon said and she looked at him confusedly before she saw it.
"Is that, is that a..Dragon," she said before she fainted.
"Margaery, Margaery are you all right, please talk to me." she heard Jon's voice as she came to.
"Jon, I had the most wonderful dream, I dreamt of dragons." she said smiling as she reached up and touched his face.
He laughed and she looked around, she was laying on his bed and as she moved she saw it crawling on his shoulder, it was so beautiful, it's white scales and blue wings, just like the one she'd seen yesterday. She realized it then it was real, what she'd seen was real, the dragon, the man, the man was Jon, she'd seen Jon riding a dragon. She looked to the dragon again and saw it look at her, it's head tilted to one side before it chirped and Jon laughed.
"It's beautiful Jon."
"She." Jon said.
"She." she smiled.
Jon got her some water which she drank eagerly and as she sat up on the bed he sat down beside her, the dragon jumped from his shoulder, it's wings not able to make it fly yet and as soon as it reached the bed Margaery threw her arms around him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry for yesterday, for what I said, I know you're my friend, I didn't meant it." she said quickly as she felt his arm touch her softly on the back.
"It's fine, I'm sorry too, I should have eased you into it, I wanted you to know, to know everything, but I should have given you more time."
"What does this mean Jon, will you? Are you going for the throne? She said still not taking her arms from him.
"I am, I have to Margaery, I need to." he said and she nodded.
"I'll help Jon, anyway I can, I'll help, Grandmother too, she, my family we were always loyal to yours."
"I know, do you think I should tell her?"
"We should."
"We?" Jon said.
"We together." she said determinedly.
"Aye together." he said and she felt the butterflies in her stomach 'Together' she thought and leant her head on his shoulder.
Genna.
Having the queen of thorns in her domain was too good an opportunity to resist, Jaime had said that the Tyrell's were on the outs with the crown and if so then bringing them onto their side would be game changing. With the West, North and Reach together Robert would fall, at best he'd have the Vale, Stormlands and Riverlands, but they would split along the same lines as they did in the rebellion and without the North the other three kingdoms wouldn't be enough.
While she had been stunned by the revelation from Jaime she had to agree with him, there would be no one better than Jon to rule the realm. Joffrey was out of the question and while Tommen could turn out to be different he was an unknown, Myrcella too, the realm wasn't ready yet for a queen. So she had asked and been happy with the answer to how her grand niece and nephew would be treated, she had no fear of Jon harming them, it wasn't in his nature.
But she needed to know that once he was king, that he'd look out for them, knowing he was leaving it to Jaime had been the deciding factor. So she was in it now, the great game and it was time to meet and evaluate one of the major players. She was under no illusions of the cost of the Tyrell's support, she was only happy that the children already seemed more than fond of each other, her own wedding showing what happened when the match was a terrible one. So as she watched the queen of thorns shuffle towards her, she smiled politely and willed herself to be on her best behavior.
"Lady Olenna, please take a seat." she said as she watched the woman sit to join her in breaking their fast.
"Lady Genna, I thank you for the invitation."
"Once I knew you'd be staying with us my lady I looked forward to it."
"Me too." Olenna said.
She looked then to the two giant guards and cursed she not asked Jon to borrow his own giant, the man he'd returned from the North with easily the match of these two. She had arranged for a plate of soft cheeses for Olenna knowing the lady preferred them than the more hearty meal she herself was having. They ate and made small talk, something neither were very good at and once finished she looked to see Olenna staring at her.
"I wonder if your guards wouldn't be better suited elsewhere Olenna." she said dropping formalities.
"I find I enjoy my meals more with them present Genna."
"I think they stifle conversation." Genna said looking directly at her.
"Left, you and right go guard the door, make sure we're not disturbed."
"Left?"
"Eryk or Arryk, it's too confusing for a woman of my age."
"I doubt you've ever been confused Olenna."
"You haven't met my son too often."
"Nor you my husband." Genna said and they both laughed.
"I've missed you Genna, there are so few ladies of substance around."
"You too Olenna, we lost too many of the good ones."
"Your good sister was a fine lady." Olenna said and Genna nodded.
"I hear you're not too enamored with our king?"
"Fat oaf, stupid man too, wants to marry into the Starks of all people." Olenna snorted.
"The Starks are rising."
"Their bastard is rising further and faster."
"Jon is a special boy." Genna said and smiled.
"That he is, your family is very fond of him."
"Why would we not be, he's made us rich."
"You were already rich."
"Richer then." Genna said with a chuckle.
She nodded to the tea and Olenna shook her head so she poured herself a cup while Olenna had another piece of the soft cheese and washed it down with her wine.
"Your nephew is more than I expected."
"They both are, have you met Tyrion?"
"Only briefly, what he lacks in height he more than makes up with wit."
"Time's are changing Olenna, one wrong move and a family may find it's fortunes fading.
"Indeed, not however if you pick the right side Genna"
"And what side have you picked?."
"Why the same one as always, whichever will help us grow the strongest."
"Then it seems we'll be on the same side." Genna said and poured two glasses of summer wine.
"What are we drinking to?" Olenna asked.
"To the wars to come, where we will roar and you will grow strong."
"To fire and blood." Olenna said her eyebrow raised as she looked at her.
"Fire and blood." Genna said and watched the smile that appeared on Olenna's face.
Ellaria.
He had been so quiet since returning from Casterly Rock that had she not been there herself and seen what he had gone through she have been even more worried than she already was. But she had been there and seeing him like that had scared her, for a moment she feared he'd been poisoned, given some potion or had something dropped into his drink. But Oberyn knew more of poisons than anyone she knew, so the chances of someone being able to slip him something which affected him so was unlikely.
Which had led to even greater worries, that he had lost himself somehow, seeing him fall to his knees, hearing him call out for his niece had almost broken her heart. That he had done so in the company of Lannisters was something she knew he would be even more upset about. But she had been unable to speak to him since then, unable to see how upset he was or how hurt he was, he had all but shut her out of the room.
When his daughters came to see him with Ser Daemon she had noticed their guilt right away. They had been so excited at the thoughts of catching Lorch they had celebrated it and written their father a note telling him it was done, only for the man to disappear. She had thankfully found the note before Oberyn, the last thing he needed was disappointment right now. Dismissing them she went back into the room and found him laying on the bed almost curled into a ball, tears still in his eyes.
"My love please talk to me, tell what it is that ails you so, let me comfort you please," she said pleadingly.
"She was so small, so young, how could they, how could they, a girl like her, she was the sweetest girl Ellaria, the sweetest girl." Oberyn said his voice hoarse and raspy.
"We'll make them pay my love, make them all pay, I swear it, on blood and sand I swear it." he just nodded and wrapped her in his arms and she held him sobbing as he fell to sleep.
When she awoke the next morning he was sitting at the edge of the bed looking at her, a smile so large on his face that she jumped up and kissed him so happy was she to see it.
"Where is he?"
"Who?"
"Lorch, I found the note, they have him, where?"
"Oh my love, my love, they..I… tried to keep it from you, they never had him, they saw him and wrote the note before they actually had him."
"They let him get away, they let Rhaenys's killer free, the fools, the damn fools." he said angrily.
"He's here somewhere my love, in Lannisport, we'll find him again." she said and he nodded "What happened Oberyn, what did you see, what pained you so?"
"I. the cat Ellaria, the cat was hers, Balerion, I was there when she was given it by her father, her eyes they were so happy, Balerion the black dread reborn I said and from then on that's what she called it. I know that cat, many's the time it scratched me or anyone who got too close to Rhaenys, seeing it, I got lost." He said softly.
"How is it here?
"I do not know, the girl she played with it, it seemed…..seemed happy even if it was a Lannister that plays with it now." he said a tad bitterly.
"Hill."
"What?"
"The girl her name is Joy Hill, it seems your niece's cat has found it's way to one of my sisters." she smiled and so did he.
"I need to know more, know why it's here, but first, I need to find Lorch."
"My love what of the Mountain, I thought you didn't wish to cause a stir."
"I may have done enough of that last night." he said with a soft laugh.
"Are you feeling well now?"
"I am my love, thank you for giving me time." he said moving forward to kiss her.
"Of course my love."
They were sitting down breaking their fast when the girls arrived and she had never seen him so angry with them, his daughters without her were wilful as were the ones they had together, all but Sarella had earned his ire at some point. But here he shamed them, hurt them with his words and she waited until they left thinking he'd gone too far.
"Was that necessary?"
"It was, we're in a dangerous place, we cannot play games here, if I will not then neither should they."
"You hurt them Oberyn." she said and he nodded.
"I did not do so out of spite my love, they needed to know, needed to learn, they know they failed me, that I think less of them today than yesterday but it will spur them on to be better tomorrow."
"They may resent you for it."
"They will live because of it and I can handle resent if my girls live the long lives their cousins didn't get the chance to."
Jaime.
Speaking to Arthur had been emotional, but it had been something he had wanted to do for the past ten and one years. To finally be able to tell the truth, to speak to his mentor and to make peace, he had never dreamed he'd get such a chance and to not only get one but to be accepted and acknowledged for what he did was freeing. Once they'd done talking about things Arthur asked to speak to their smith and have a full helm made, one which covered his face, he would be staying here from now on and Jaime rejoiced in that.
Jon would have the best protector he could possibly have, he and Loras would also have Arthur to help with their training, not to mention Jors and Walder too. While Jaime trained every day with Jon and Loras, he never had the full amount of time he wished to give to them, his duties taking him elsewhere. Now though they'd have Arthur too and they could expand their lessons, allow them to experience other weapons and forms.
When he arrived at his room to find Dacey still asleep he smiled as he undressed and got into bed beside her as quietly as he could, though not quiet enough as she turned smiling at him.
"You're late."
"I had much to talk about."
"Want to talk to me?" she said her hand undoing the lace of her nightgown.
"Oh we can do much more fun things than talk I think." he said as he moved to her.
"Hmmm yes please." she said as his lips found hers.
As they lay there drifting off to sleep he knew he was right to wait until morning, the things that had happened last night, what he had seen and what they meant, all of it he'd tell her in the morn. It seemed like only moments later he woke to sunlight beaming in through the windows, Dacey was already dressing and he reached his hand to hers and pulled her back to the bed.
"We're late." she said
"I'm Lord and you're my lady, we're allowed be late." he replied and she laughed.
"There are some things I need to tell you, about last night my love." he said seriously and she nodded.
"What things?"
He told her then about the dragon and Lorch, about why Jon had killed him and how he did so and about Arthur, about what he had discussed with him and how his sister and son would be coming soon to join them. When he told her who was the boy's father it left her almost as open mouthed as when he'd told her about the dragon but she nodded and he continued. Once he was done he waited and worried about her responses, worry it seemed was for nothing.
"Lorch got what he deserved and Jon was right to do it himself." she said first.
"He was?" he asked though he agreed.
"Aye, he who passes the sentence swings the sword, that's how it is in the north and Jon may have spent much of his life in the West but he is of the North.
"The dragon?"
"If we can keep it a secret until it's big enough it'll be a blessing, Robert won't be able to stand against a dragon." she said and he nodded.
"Arthur?"
"How do you feel about him?"
"All my life he's who I wished to be, I never thought I… 're good, having him here will be good for Jon it'll keep him protected. I'm happy he's alive and we got the chance to clear things up, we're not there yet but I think we can be brothers again." Jaime said and she leaned in to kiss him softly.
"The boy worries me Jaime, if what you say is true he's trueborn will he want Winterfell? And if he does what do we do?"
"I don't know, we need to speak to Ashara and Jon too, but Arthur said he'll talk to him about it, I can't see Jon supporting his claim, not now he's made his peace with Ned, not now he's pledged to him, so I don't know."
"Aye me either, what do we do now?"
"I need to talk to Jon, I think he planned on telling Margaery."
"They're good together." Dacey said.
"Aye she's a good friend." Jaime said and Dacey laughed "What?"
"Gods are all men slow or is it just you, they're far more than friends."
"What they can't be, he's only, she's only, they're too young." he said confused.
"Aye, but they're a love match if ever I saw one, trust me in a year or two they'll know it too." Dacey said and he looked at her to see she was being completely serious.
"Do you really think so?. he said his brow furrowed.
"Aye I do, Jaime what are you thinking?"
"It's what she'll want, Olenna, it'll be her price to back Jon, if they're already a love match it makes it better."
"No Jaime you can't, they don't know it yet, if you do this then they may never know it."
"I, I need to talk to my aunt, we can do this, but you're right I need to figure this out."
After dressing they made their way to break their fast finding the room almost empty, Gerion sat with three wolves feeding them himself with no sign of Joy or their owners, Loras too was missing, as was his aunt. Tyrion was there though and he smiled at him as they took their seats.
"Sleep late brother."
"Aye I did brother, have you seen Jon?"
"No not yet, I think he's still in his room."
"Loras?"
"He, Joy and Sansa went to break their fast with his family, that was hours ago though." Gerion said.
"We need to talk later, all of us and Jon, something happened, something incredible." Jaime said looking to Tyrion.
"What?"
"Eat first, we'll go and see them after." Jaime said and Tyrion and Gerion looked at him.
Jon.
Margaery had only been gone a few moments when Arthur came to see him, Jon's smile from talking to her still present on his face something that Rhaenix took delight in teasing him about. Trying to understand what exactly Rhaenix was would be more suited to Tyrion than he, she was his sister and yet not, his dragon and yet not. She was more than just a dragon and less then just his sister, but it was far closer than he ever could have imagined and Rhaenys herself was happy which was all that matters.
He could talk to her and she back to him and he knew it was his sister he was speaking to, her voice, her way of speaking, the things she said to him, the dreams he'd had of her were come to life. It had been strange when trying to feed her she had turned up her nose at the uncooked meat and only when he burned it on a flame had she devoured it.
" Soon brother I will make my own fire."
" How soon?" he asked his own studies saying it varied from weeks to moons.
" Days brother. Days."
" How so quickly."
" Magic knows magic brother and we both have magic in our blood."
As he showed Arthur into the room he looked at her asleep on top of his clothes in the chest, he would need to make something for her, a place she could rest in. He looked over to Ghost's area in the room seeing the small basket the pup slept in, yes something like that. As Arthur sat looking around to try and see where the dragon was Jon pointed to the chest and saw the smile on the knight's face.
"She looks so peaceful my king,"
"Please Arthur call me Jon, you'll need to get used to it now you'll be sticking around, you are aren't you?" he asked.
"I am my..I am Jon."
"You and Jaime?"
"We're good, we've talked, I, you were right Jon, he's loyal I'm sorry if I doubted that."
"You didn't know Arthur. Have you worked out how you can stay?"
"I have, I'm having a helm made it covers most of my face."
"You can dye you hair too, that way you won't need to wear the helm always."
"I… I'd not thought of that, thank you Jon." Arthur said smiling "There's something else Jon something you need to know."
"Go ahead."
"My sister Ashara she lives, she and her son, your cousin." Arthur said.
"Cousin?"
"Ashara and your uncle Brandon married, they had a son Cregan I'd like them to come here, to stay with us."
A cousin, he had another cousin, wait Brandon, his uncle Brandon had a son, that would mean, if they were married, that would mean, oh by the gods.
"Jon are you all right."
"What, yes, sorry Arthur it's just that, it's a shock, you realize that makes him…"
"He doesn't want it Jon, it's not what he wishes for his life, not what Ashara wishes for him, we've no intent to claim Winterfell, my sister just wishes for her son to know his family. It may be too difficult now for him to really know the Starks but you he can, if you'd allow him to?"
"What does he want Arthur? From life I mean?"
"To be a knight, to travel, he's a boy Jon just as you are, what would you want if you were not to be a king?"
"I have no idea." Jon said laughing and Arthur laughed with him "But when Jaime squired me that's what I wanted too, so I can understand it. I'd like to meet him Arthur him and your sister."
"Then I can send the letter?"
"Aye do so, if they arrive soon enough he could meet Sansa too before she left for Highgarden, we could let them meet without the truth being outed couldn't we?"
"I think so, thank you Jon this means a lot to me and it will my sister too." Arthur said and Jon smiled at him.
"Anything else you need to tell me." he japed and his smirk fell as Arthur spoke.
"It's not just my sister and nephew who wish to meet you, there's a red priestess Melisandre she's here to see the prince that was promised."
"You know this priestess?"
"When we were in Bravos Ash got sick, I thought I'd lose her, a red priestess helped her and we moved to Volantis, while there they showed us things."
"Things?"
"Visions Jon. I saw a lion standing in front of a small white wolf, the wolf grew bigger and licked my hand and as I raised Dawn I saw the wolf change into a dragon as an army approached us. I saw the dragon fly and engulf the army in flame and then fly back and once again the wolf was by my side." Arthur said.
"Seems like I'm not the only one who has them then."
"Jaime mentioned it a little."
"I've seen my father Arthur, my mother. Seen Elia and Aegon, but mainly it's been Rhaenys, we're connected, we were both dragons Arthur had she lived my sister would have hatched that egg, but she… so it was left to me and now somehow she's there too." he said looking to the dragon a tear in his eye.
"She used to have it in her bed you know, the egg, used to sleep with it and then one day she told your father it was her brother's too." Arthur said and Jon smiled.
"I saw that, she showed it to me, was it then when my father, was that when he knew?"
"Your father believed the dragon needed three heads, Aegon, Rhaenys and Visenya, but Rhaenys convinced him he was wrong that it was you not Visenya, when he studied more he became convinced she was right, you were the prince that was promised."
"The song of ice and fire." Jon said and Arthur nodded.
Jon got up and walked to the chest and took out his pictures, carrying them over to Arthur, one was of Rhaenys as she would be now, another of his mother, the last was one he was still working on and was only shapes so far. But when finished it would be of them all, his father and mother, brother and sister, Elia and himself, the family that should have been.
Tyrion.
When Jaime brought them to Jon's room he saw the giant that guarded it and sighed, the mental picture of standing beside the man was now all too real and he looked up and felt even smaller. Jaime nodded and Walder whispered to him though Tyrion heard the name 'Arthur' and wondered who that was. He didn't have long to ponder it as they walked into the room to see Jon speaking to a tanned man who for some reason his uncle was looking at strangely.
"Arthur." his brother said and the man nodded "Uncle brother, Ser Arthur Dayne."
"What, but I thought?" Tyrion said and Jaime just nodded.
"I made a promise my lord, one which I'm no longer beholden to, so from now on I'll be by my king's side." Arthur said.
All Tyrion could think of was that he pitied the next person who tried to harm Jon, Jaehaerys, whatever name he was, as they'd find themselves up against a legend even more storied than the Bold's. The Sword of the Morning was alive and standing no more than five feet from him and he could feel Gerion's excitement beside him too.
His uncle had been quick to join Jon's cause and he too was tied in now, knowing that Ser Arthur was alive and with them gave him some comfort, though he had no idea what he was about to see would do more than that. Jaime looked around the room and then to Jon who smirked before motioning with his head to the chest on the floor behind him.
"She's asleep my lord."
"I think my brother and uncle would like to see her Jon."
"I'm sure they would, give me a moment," Jon said walking to the chest and kneeling down.
"She?"
"You'll see." Jaime said.
Tyrion waited for a few minutes while Jon knelt and then as he turned to face him he almost fell to his knees, he actually rubbed his eyes such was his disbelief at what he was looking at. On Jon's shoulder crawling was a small white dragon, it's wings were blue underneath and white on top and it had four legs. He looked at it in awe and then when it chirped and Jon began to speak to it he almost laughed, they were talking, talking about him, Jon was talking to a dragon about Tyrion.
"No he's not a child, he's just small, but sometimes even a small man can cast a very large shadow." Jon said and the dragon chirped "See you agree." he laughed.
"Jon, that's a dragon." Tyrion said and the dragon chirped again.
"He's usually cleverer than that Rhaenix." Jon said to more chirps "She'd like to meet you my lord."
"She, you can, your dragon wishes," he stumbled over his words but thankfully his feet moved to the dragon and he reached out his hand to touch it's, hers, scales.
The dragon almost purred as he touched her, almost burnt his hand the scales felt so warm, he looked at her in absolute awe, it was everything he'd ever thought impossible except it was right there in front of him. When she chirped again he looked to Jon who was smiling the look he had on his face, one he'd seen only when he looked to his sister, or Joy or Margaery.
"She likes you, says you smell right." Jon said and Tyrion another time may have been offended, but he was touching a dragon who said she liked him, damn offense.
"I thank you little dragon." he said looking at her.
"Rhaenix."
"Rhaenix." Tyrion said smiling.
Gerion came over then and he touched her and while she was friendly and didn't bite or burn, Tyrion felt she was less welcoming of him than she had been of himself, but perhaps that was just hope and ego talking. After a few moments the dragon started chirping again and he watched as Jon nodded before reaching out to take her from his hands. He felt the sense of loss immediately and watched as Jon lay her down in the chest and she drifted off to sleep.
"What did she say." he asked and he didn't think there was anything wrong with the fact he was now willing to accept the dragon could speak and Jon could understand it.
"She said a girl needs her beauty sleep my lord." Jon said and Tyrion burst out laughing.
"She's amazing Jon, that was the white one, the egg I mean?"
"Aye it was my lord, the other's not ready yet?"
"Will it be?" Jaime asked.
"It will, it's different, I can't explain, the bond is different." Jon said and Tyrion wished to question him more but Jaime asked them to sit.
"You told him Arthur?" Jaime said.
"I did, I'm to send for them, them and the priestess."
"Priestess?" Jaime asked.
"A Red Priestess, it's a long story my lord, I'll speak to you on it later, but we need her to come and for them to bring the things Arthur collected."
"What things?" Jaime asked.
"Things that will help, but before that we need to speak on the Tyrell's" Jon said and Tyrion looked at him.
"What about them Jon?"
"I'm going to tell Lady Olenna."
"Are you sure Jon?" Arthur asked.
"I've told Loras and now Margaery, I need to tell Olenna too, before she finds out some other way."
"Fine we'll go speak to her," Jaime said.
"No it needs to be me Jaime, I'll tell her and then you can speak to her later, no doubt they'll want something for their support and I don't want to be involved in it." Jon said.
"Why not? You're clever enough and you're to be king Jon shouldn't you be the one to discuss it with them." Tyrion asked.
"Tyrion." Jaime said reproachfully.
"No he's right to ask and I need to be asked from time to time, I don't know everything, you should be able to feel free enough to question me, here in private especially." Jon said and Jaime nodded "I'm too close my lord, too tied in, it's like asking me what reward House Lannister should get for all they've done, I can't be the one to decide it, I'd give away everything." Jon said and Tyrion laughed.
"So you want clearer heads to do the negotiating?" Tyrion asked.
"Yes I do. Jaime's my Hand I have full faith in him to make the best deal, also he'll have your help no doubt my lord." Jon said and Tyrion nodded.
"I do have another job I'd like you to do for me Tyrion." Jon said walking to another chest and taking out a journal "I've been trying to find time to read this, but with all that's been going on, all that's happened, I haven't been able." he said handing him the journal.
"What is it?"
"It's the Maester's journal from before the rebellion Maester Walys, my uncle says it suggests some things about the rebellion, that my mother's letter also suggested and my father's too, but I wish to read them before I hand any over. They suggest that there was more to it than it seemed, perhaps you can find it or some of it in there."
"I'll read it tonight Jon and let you know."
"Thank you my lord, I need to go visit Lady Olenna, I should be back before long but you can lock up here." Jon said handing Jaime the key before leaving.
Tyrion quickly glanced through the book, it was rare to find a Maester's journal, protocol dictated that the new Maester send it back to the Citadel so he was excited to read it. If it contained any of what Jon suspected then he was even more eager to get started.
"You know what she's going to want right?" Gerion said.
"Aye I know, it's a small price and he likes the girl." Jaime said.
"He more than likes her, they'll be a good match." Tyrion said.
"Wait are you talking about giving them a queen." Arthur said.
"Aye it'll be the price, there'll be more too, but that will be the main one." Gerion said.
"Should we be doing this behind his back Jaime?" Arthur asked
"He knows, deep down inside he knows, but it's to be kept between us, let him come to realize it himself lest he thinks he was forced into it." Jaime said.
Olenna.
Margaery had told her she needed to speak to her of something and so she waited and waited and was getting annoyed that her granddaughter just sat there. But no matter how much she pressed her granddaughter would tell her no more and so she sat her fingers drumming the table while left and right stood silently. Finally after what seemed an age she could wait no more, turning to her granddaughter who was sitting nervously she spoke.
"Margaery what is going on?"
"I can't grandmother, not until Jon gets here."
"Jon, what does Jon have to do with this, has that boy done something?" She asked and Margaery shook her head.
"No grandmother, it's just he needs to speak to you too, it needs to be both of us, together," Margaery said and Olenna didn't like the little smile on her face when she said it.
Together, what did she mean by that, she was about to ask more when she was informed that Jon Snow was outside, she told the guards to let him in and waited. When he did come in he looked as nervous as her granddaughter and that's when it hit her, oh the poor fools, the poor romantic fools. She felt glad that they were still so young then, playing at games they didn't understand, she smiled at the boy which only made him more nervous and she tried to come up with a way to let the boy down gently.
"My lady I wonder If I may speak to you in private, without your guards."
"Of course, Left you and Right go wait outside, we're not to be disturbed." she said and hoped the boy and her granddaughter would take her words well.
"My lady, I'm not really sure of how to say this to you, how I'm supposed to say it. I'm sure there's some protocol for such a thing, but I'm unaware of it so I'll just come right out and say it." he said.
"Very well Jon." she said trying her best to look less imposing.
"My lady, my name is not Jon Snow, it's Jaehaerys Targaryen. I am not a bastard but the trueborn son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Targaryen and I am the rightful king of the Andals, Rhoynar and First men."
Olenna looked to the boy then to her granddaughter and then the boy and began to laugh, only to see she was the only one of the three in the room laughing, she looked to him again and saw the confused look he shared with her granddaughter.
"My lady, perhaps this will explain more." he said handing her a letter.
She read it and each line made her heart race faster and faster, by the time she got to the end she was breathing heavily and shaking, her color had left her face and Margaery her sweet rose was speaking though Olenna could hear no words.
"Jon, Jon, get the Maester, hurry." Margaery said and Olenna grabbed her hand and shook her head.
"Water." she said and watched as the boy, the king, fetched her a mug of water which she drained down before asking for another.
"Grandmother are you well, do you wish for me to get the Maester, or mother, should I fetch mother?" Margaery asked worriedly.
"No, no, I'll be fine, I just need a moment." she said looking at the boy, she was pleased to see him not only show concern for her but for Margaery also as he looked to her granddaughter and touched her shoulder with his good arm, his arm, what happened to his arm, his face, there was a scar there, what happened?.
"How were you injured?" she aid focusing on the one clear thought she had.
"We were attacked, they pretended to be bandits, I… one of my guards we lost him." he said sadly.
"Pretended?"
"Yes grandmother they attacked without demanding coin or anything, they just began firing arrows at Jon." Margaery said angrily.
"Do you know who it was?" she asked.
"No but I'll find out, I have someone checking."
"Who, perhaps my people could help?" Olenna said and the boy smiled and she saw it clearly then, that smile, she knew that smile, that was the smile of a prince, of a little princess, that was Rhaegar's smile.
"My man will find out who it was, he's very good at it my lady."
"Your man?"
"Aye," he said and she smirked when he wouldn't reveal more, good he had learned the first lesson.
"Lord Jaime knows?"
"He is my Hand my lady, he knows everything." Jon said proudly.
"Loras?"
"I told him while we were North my lady, I swore him to secrecy, he, he's my friend." he said warmly and she saw how Margaery brushed his hand with her own.
"So you have the Westerlands then?
"I have House Lannister my lady." Jon nodded.
"The North?"
"My uncle is with me."
"Who else?"
"You should speak to my Hand about that my lady." he said and she laughed.
"You've been trained well."
"I'm learning my lady my House cannot afford for me not to."
"Indeed, so I take it you wish House Tyrell's support."
"I do my lady, where House Tyrell goes the Reach does too."
"We must support him grandmother, after what his House did for ours and Jon would be a fine king, you know that too grandmother, far better than Joffrey or Robert." Margaery said firmly.
"I understand certain considerations would be due my lady, Lord Jaime awaits you to discuss them when you're ready."
"You don't wish to discuss them yourself." she asked raising her eyebrow.
"I wished to tell you the truth my lady, which I've done, I could sit and we could negotiate but I have too much respect for your House to do so, too much respect for my friends my lady. What if we were to fall out over a little thing? How would that affect my friendship? No my lady, that and this must be separate, so I'll keep out of it for now."
"So if we were not to support you then you'd still value your friendships?"
"Grandmother what are you saying? How could we not support House Targaryen? How could we not support Jon?" Margaery said angrily and again she noticed how Jon touched her back softly to calm her.
"I was friends with your family before I knew I was a king my lady, I shall remain so regardless of any choice you make."
"Then it seems I must speak with Lord Jaime," she said and Jon nodded "Perhaps you and my granddaughter would like to spend some time together, I find I have a need to have this discussion now."
"As you say my lady." Jon said turning
"Grandmother please we must do this." Margaery said and she smiled at her as they both left the room.
She slumped against the chair, what a damn fool she'd been, all this time it had been there right before her eyes, a king hiding as a bastard, she had to give Ned Stark some credit, he had fooled them all, well apart from Jaime Lannister. Gods he of all people had seen it and acted upon it and then reaped the benefits of it, she laughed as she thought of all the king had already done, not even crowned and he was helping the realm.
She filled her glass and drained the wine, finding herself needing a stronger drink for once, the West, North and Reach, perhaps the lords of the Narrow Sea, some Crownland lords and the Riverlands. Though given how House Tully had acted maybe not, what a complete idiot Edmure Tully was, he'd be lucky to come out of this with his head. No the Riverlords may split as before she thought and Dorne would stay out of it completely. So the Stormlands, the Vale and some of the Riverlords two and a half against three and half though in terms of numbers it would be heavily weighted in their favor.
House Tyrell would stand with House Targaryen again, they would grow strong of that she was sure. She smiled thinking of Margaery, her granddaughter was half in love with the boy already something she was more than happy to see the boy reciprocated. How long has it been since the realm had a king and queen who married for love, a king and queen who were worthy.
Oh my sweet little rose, all this time I've been playing a game trying to make us grow strong and you've surpassed all my expectations, all my hopes. While I've been playing you've not just been winning the game, but you've won the heart of a king.