Kings Landing 295 AC. (seventh moon).
Jon Arryn.
The more life got better the worst it got Jon Arryn was starting to believe, that and being Hand was a curse far more than it was a pleasure. He had no sooner resolved one problem, no sooner been able to put his feet up and rest so to speak, when he had received news which sent the Red Keep spiraling. That Ned Stark of all people would be the one to do such a thing was beyond him.
The details, the why, the justification for it were all secondary, for Jon the issues it raised were not. Firstly it was the fact that his former foster son was removing the one person who could have allowed for the faith to take hold, the one person who while she'd failed to convert Ned, had at least began the work with her children. Jon may have given up on being able to convert the North in his lifetime. But the hopes that it could be done after he was gone, rested on Catelyn Stark, no Catelyn Tully now, and her children.
That was now a distant memory with her being set aside, which led to the other issues it brought up, a very irritated wife who constantly looked to him to do something about the Northern Savage who shamed her sister. A queen who had grown ever more paranoid that Robert would decide that what his friend did, wasn't such a terrible idea after all. Not to mention a Goodbrother and sister who looked to him to right this wrong.
He had spent months dealing with this, with it in his thoughts, and once again his day started with it yet again, though quickly it seemed he'd be thinking of other things. Seeing the Grandmaester shuffle in he wondered what had brought the old fool to his door today, before he saw the scroll in his hand.
"My lord a raven." Pycelle said handing him the scroll bearing the Golden Rose of Highgarden.
As usual, Pycelle showed no signs of leaving, and for once Jon was more eager to read the scroll than to wait for the man to go. Opening it he began to read, soon sighing as he did so, knowing he'd need to speak to Robert and try to persuade him not to go to the damn thing.
"I thank you Grandmaester, I may have a response for you to send later on."
"As you say, Lord Hand." Pycelle said shuffling back up and taking an age to walk to the damn door, he looked at the scroll again, wondering and suspecting that they'd sent it to the entire realm.
Lord Mace and Lady Alerie Tyrell.
Do hereby invite His Grace, Her Grace, and their family,
And all those who would join them,
To the Tourney to celebrate
Their beloved daughter Margaery's two and ten Nameday.
Lord Mace Tyrell.
Warden of the South.
While a tourney at Highgarden would normally not be something Robert would care for, they had not held a proper tourney in Kings Landing for quite some time, so he knew the king would consider it more than he would normally. The idea of traveling, of getting out of the city, of drinking and whoring in a new place, would also no doubt interest the king.
The last thing he would want though is to go and sup with the damn roses and ever since their new arrangement with the Magister they no longer need their coin, which essentially was the only reason he'd deigned to have them in his presence anyway. Dealing with the fat oaf and the withered old rose was not something he cared for, to not have to deal with them at all made his days that much better.
Still, he had no choice, he would need to tell Robert of this invitation and hope that the king would turn it down, snub them like they deserved to be snubbed. He sent for Petyr to find out his thoughts on things, his friend having become an even bigger source of comfort to him since bringing the magister on board. He'd even been the voice of reason in disputes between him and his wife over her sister's treatment.
It took some time for them to find Petyr, with him eventually arriving more than an hour after he'd sent someone to bring him, it annoyed him, though what he had to say soon made him even more thankful for his help.
"Forgive me, my lord, I was with Lady Lysa, she's most upset, it seems Lady Catelyn has written to her again." Petyr said and Jon shuddered knowing how his wife got when she received such letters.
"What does she wish for this time Petyr, that we invade the North, that we strip Ned of his rank, he was well within his rights to set her aside, though I may wish he had not."
"Of course my lord, but Lady Lysa was most upset, so I did my best to comfort her, to calm her ire."
"Were you successful?" he asked hopefully.
"I was my lord, she was in a far more pleasant and agreeable mood after I left."
"I thank you Petyr, what you do goes above and beyond your duties, you are a true friend."
"I am most pleased to hear you call me such my lord. You sent for me, was there something specific?"
"Ah, yes, I received this from the oaf of Highgarden." he said handing him the scroll.
He watched as Petyr read it, almost carefully going over each line, he could almost see the wheels turn in his mind, the ideas taking hold. It was one of the things he most respected about his friend, he was able to see things that even Jon missed. It made him think of the future, of what would happen when he was gone, there could be no better choice than Petyr to replace him as Hand he felt.
"You think his grace would wish to go?" Petyr asked.
"I do."
"Would that be a bad thing my lord?"
"We don't need the damn flowers, why grace them with a royal visit, let them know instead they were snubbed."
"Indeed, however, should his grace and the crown prince go, we could once again tempt them with the idea of a betrothal."
"I told you I'd rot in the seven hells before I give that old cunt a queen for a granddaughter."
"Of course my lord, I wasn't suggesting we actually give them anything." Petyr said a smirk on his voice
"Petyr?"
"No doubt my lord, Olenna knows of our new arrangements, knows that we no longer need her coin, it leaves them out in the cold even more. Since taking their coin away to force us to bend to their will didn't work, now she's the one who'll be more desperate."
"You suggest we use this opportunity to bring them back into the fold, to garner more of their gold?"
"Indeed, our arrangement with Illyrio is working even better than we hoped, but still, it would be good to have more would it not, just in case things became difficult." Petyr said.
"It would, it would, I'll speak to Robert, but should he go, then I would not be able to join him. I hate to ask this of you Petyr and you're needed here far more, but if it's to happen would you accompany the king on my behalf?"
"My lord, I live to serve."
He spoke to the king later that day, Robert almost jumping at the chance to go, Cersei even more so and so he left the king's rooms happy that he'd at least have Petyr there to steer things in the direction he wished.
Kings Landing 295 AC.
Cersei.
She had been on tenterhooks for months, trying to placate her fears with the newfound coin they'd come into. While she had not yet been allowed free reign, some of the limits on her spending had been lifted and when news came of what Ned Stark had done she took some comfort in that. The fear was ever-present though, the idea, the doubt, if Ned Stark could set Catelyn Tully aside, could Robert do so to her too?.
At one point even the suggestion of it would have been ridiculous, even the mere idea of it. Her father would never have countenanced such a thing, had Robert even contemplated it then her family would have been there for her, the West would have been there for her. But her father was no more, her family had all but abandoned her and would the West rise if Jaime would not?.
So she had been more pliant and meek around Robert than usual, less bitter, less prone to raise his ire. True she was rarely actually around him, but when she was she made sure to be pleasant and nice, for now at least. Soon the thoughts of what Ned Stark had done would like most things in Robert's life be a distant memory, soon he'd forget and not shame her by laughing about it so openly.
" He did what? Ned, Ned set her aside?" Robert's voice boomed.
" He did your grace?"
" Why, has he found himself a younger woman to warm his bed?" Robert laughed "No not Ned, he would never, what the hell did she do Jon?"
" I don't know your grace, you know what Ned is like, he's not one for airing his linen."
" No, that he's not, ha, I bet you'd have thought of the two of us it'd be me eh Jon?"
" Robert." she said indignantly.
" Relax woman, it was a jape, more's the pity."
" Your Grace." Jon Arryn said reproachfully and she was glad of his presence.
" You two are no fun, I'm japing, by the seven who'd have thought it of Ned." Robert laughed as he drank more win.
He may not have been serious, may not have meant it but still over the next few moons, she found he looked at her oddly, almost contemplatively, something that was strange to see on Robert's face. So she changed how she acted, how she behaved, gone was her judgemental looks when he drank, or whored, or generally behaved like the savage he truly was.
One of the unfortunate downsides to this new state of affairs was that once again she was forced to endure the fat pigs grunting and groaning on top of her, something she had hoped was a thing of the past. But one did what one must and the idea, the merest hint that she too could be set aside was something she couldn't allow to enter his head. When Joffrey was older, when the timing was right, she could then think of what to do about Robert, for now, though she had to grin and bear it.
Her days went by like this with no change other than the quality of her wine, the fat Magister's coin and access to Essosi rates allowing them far better quality than they'd had recently. She would speak to Joffrey, help him, educate him and each day see him become more and more like the king he would one day be. She would also spend as much time as she could with Myrcella and Tommen, but she was far too busy to give them too much attention.
"Your grace, Lord Baelish is outside asking to speak to you." her maid said and she emptied her glass in one swallow before refilling it and telling her to send him in.
"Your grace." Littlefinger said with a bow when he entered.
"Lord Baelish, to what do I owe this visit?"
"I wished to speak to you, your grace, some news has come my way, I thought perhaps it may be of interest to you."
She looked at him trying to discern why he would bring her news, but her curiosity for the news itself soon outweighed her concern over the messenger.
"My lord?"
"The Tyrell's are hosting a tourney for their daughter's nameday."
"Why would this interest me Lord Baelish?"
"Your grace and his grace have been invited."
"Of course we have, we're the king and queen, again I ask why would I be interested in this news?"
"I imagine given their shared trading agreements and the fact that the Tyrell's attended the tourney and your brother's wedding, that Lord Jaime may return the favor." he said and she glowered at him, her anger clear.
"What care I for what my brother would do?"
"No reason at all your grace, I just thought that perhaps you'd enjoy meeting your niece."
"I thank you for the news Lord Baelish." she said and a moment later he was gone.
She almost broke the glass she was holding it that tightly, placing it on the table, she removed her hand lest she cut herself. Before picking up the vase and throwing it against the wall, she had found that her anger often made her break wine glasses, or the bottles themselves, forcing her to have to wait until they were replaced. Something which irked her greatly and she'd sought to rectify, she leaned forward picking up the glass and sipped it, her mind going a million miles a second.
Littlefinger was right, Jaime would be there, maybe his northern whore too and their mongrel whelp, they would need to go, she would need to go, Joffrey, her precious boy would need to go. There was nothing else for it, should Robert deny them she would need to take the chance, need to raise his anger and force him to go just to spite her.
In the end, she had no need to do anything her husband being far too excited by the idea of a tourney, far too eager to pluck some of the reach's fruits while he was there. As she lay on her bed that night she began to think, she would place Joffrey near Lady Margaery, let him see her, charm her, force her husband to give up this ridiculous notion of a wolf bride for her boy. The Tyrell's would bring her access to more coin, a chance to once again live the life she was born to live, and then, and then, she would deal with the mongrel whelp.
"Younger and more beautiful." she whispered as she fell to sleep.
Winterfell 295 AC.
Benjen.
With the extra coin, with the continued support, his nephew and Jaime Lannister were sending them life at the wall had become somewhat bearable. With more materials, more access to buying them, they'd been able to do works that they'd never thought they would. The Common Hall was no longer draughty, their quarters were warmer and more secure, no longer did the wind whistle through cracks in the wood.
Their clothing was warmer, their furs newer, never had the men of the watch had it so good he believed, they even had regular shipments of ale. For Benjen himself the knowledge that he and Aemon shared kin, that they were tied through Jon had helped develop a tighter friendship between the two men. They would talk, eat, drink together, and be joined by Ser Alliser and Ser Jaremy, all four eager to hear more about the king.
Though both he and Aemon were shocked when the letter arrived, not a raven but an actual letter from Jon at Casterly Rock, the news something neither had expected.
" Aemon, a letter from Jon." he said as he took a seat by the fire.
" What does our nephew wish to speak to us on now?" Aemon asked excitedly.
He looked at the Maester after reading the letter, trying to decide how best to tell him what it said, that he had more kin would be welcome news no doubt, how he had more kin not so much.
" Jon says Tyrion Lannister, is not a Lannister, he's a Targaryen, his uncle, Aerys son."
" What that cannot be, How?"
" I'm sorry Aemon, it seems Aerys committed far more crimes than we ever knew."
" He forced himself on her?"
" Aye."
" How are they Jon, Tyrion, how are they handling it?"
" Jon calls him family, says Tyrion sees him as a nephew and he sees him as his uncle, they've grown closer and Tyrion has bonded with Lygaron."
" Another Dragonrider?"
" Aye, he also says he's had visions of his aunt, she is well and has met up with someone who will help her."
" Pass the ale, I feel like a drink Benjen." Aemon said happily.
With his time split between Aemon, helping to organize the improvements and his ranging he had not gotten around to traveling to Winterfell, not gotten around to speaking to his brother. They had much they needed to resolve, though a lot of his anger at Ned had passed when Jon's letters told him of the decision to support him, to kneel for and claim him king.
So with the impetus for his visiting Ned taken away, he had resolved to speak to him when next he got a chance, something which it seemed would be far sooner than he'd expected.
"Lord Commander's looking for you Benjen." Bowen said as he passed him in the yard
"Aye, he up there?"
"He is."
He made his way to the Lord Commander's room, finding Jeor sitting at his desk, the Old Bear was and could still be grumpy when necessary but some of the bite had gone. Seeing his family thrive, Bear Island prosper, his niece married to the Warden of the West and a new mother, all of it combined to make him far happier than ever. Watching the watch grow and seeing it being better supplied also making him far more pleased with the job he was doing leading it.
"Ah take a seat Benjen, got a raven for Winterfell, it seems your brother wishes to see you."
"Does it say why?"
"Here read it."
Lord Commander,
I find myself in need of my brother most urgently, I would not ask as well you know unless I needed him here, so I beg of you, allow him to come to visit, to come to stay for some time.
Ned Stark.
Warden of the North.
"What's going on?" he asked wondering if Jeor knew any more than he.
"I don't know Benjen, last time we received such a raven was when the war was on, it's not like Ned, so while I've not heard of anything too pressing, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt."
"I should get packed."
"Aye, hurry back Benjen, we do have our own work to do."
"I will Lord Commander." he said standing up and getting ready to leave.
"Give Ned my best."
"Aye, I will Lord Commander.
It was too late in the day to leave and cover much ground before nightfall, so he readied his things and spent the night with Aemon, Jaremy and Alliser, keeping away from the ale as he was traveling early. He bid them goodnight, told Aemon where he was going and had an early night, before walking back to his room to find Frost there waiting for him.
The Direwolf was both a constant companion and a pain in his arse, he would find him at times right by his side, sleeping at the end of his bed or by the fire. While other times the wolf would need to be let out of the gates to hunt and would be gone for days on end. When he was gone, when he was out hunting, Benjen would have strange dreams, odd dreams, of moving through the woods, of hunting.
He had spoken to Aemon on it and he suggested he was a warg like Jon, though no matter how much he practiced he couldn't seem to be able to do so at will. Looking at the wolf he wondered who'd look after him when he was gone, who'd take care of him and was stunned when the wolf began to growl at him.
"What is it? What's wrong boy?" he said as the wolf bared his teeth "You want to come with me?" he asked and as soon as he did the wolf was beside him, his tongue licking his hand.
Waking the next morning early he broke his fast, and then after readying his horse, after gathering his supplies he rode out of Castle Black heading south, Frost walking alongside him, the wolf moving almost eagerly as was he.
Dorne 295 AC.
Oberyn.
He had stayed a couple of moons longer in Casterly Rock than he had planned, given what Tyrion had gone through both he and Ellaria felt they were needed. When they had left Sarella had come with them, his daughter eager to see her younger sisters and to spend some time in Dorne before she went back to Casterly Rock. Arriving back he had debated whether to tell Doran about Tyrion, Ellaria being the one who'd talked him out of it.
" Let Jon be your guide on this Oberyn, let him be the one who tells the world."
" You wish me to keep it secret from my brother, why?" he asked curiously.
" Arianne."
" What of my niece?"
" What was said of Jon and Margaery, would you not wish it for Arianne too?"
" You think them that serious?"
" I would like them to make a choice rather than have one forced upon them, would you not?"
As with everything to do with the heart he deferred to her, she knew best and so he kept the news to himself, only telling Arianne that he had asked after her and giving her the letter Tyrion had asked him to deliver. What it said he didn't know, but he was pleased to see his niece so happy, and should she decide to be with Tyrion then he would be welcomed into their family.
He had given Richard the name of some contacts in Essos, men he had fought with, men he had bled with, men who for coin would look into the magister for them. As for the magister himself, it was Doran who had told him of the man's move into Kings Landing.
" He is lending them coin?"
" He is brother, I do not understand it, you said this man met you, that he has Viserys?"
" He did and he has."
" Then why make friends with the stag?"
" I do not know, what are your plans brother?"
" Has the king reached out to his aunt?"
" She is on her own journey is all he's told me, why?"
" I've sent Quentyn and some men to do so."
" Why?"
" His mother asked him to come visit her and so since he was going to Norvos anyway, I sent some men with him, to see if we can help reunite the king with his aunt."
" And that's the only reason?"
" Should Quentyn and Daenerys get along I wouldn't be adverse to the match brother, but yes that is the only reason."
" She has the Hound with her, he is aware of this?"
" He is, don't worry I sent him with some trusted men."
They had received some belated messages from Quentyn telling them he'd arrived safe and well and that Daenerys had visited Norvos and left before they'd got there. Though that was pretty much all they'd gotten back, the distance meaning they were moons behind.
Sarella stayed just over a moon before leaving and when news came of events in the North he found himself in a celebratory mood. That Ned Stark had sent her away, set her aside, brought more joy to him than most things. Ellaria too was glad the woman was no longer a part of Jon's life, though both knew she'd be a danger to him still. Ellaria felt for the children, she wondered how they'd react and would they blame Jon.
Where for him it was knowing that with her back in Riverrun it made her easier to watch, easier to keep under control. With her, in Winterfell it would have been harder, and she potentially had the chance to find out the truth, something which he and Jon had discussed more than once.
" What if she were to know of you?"
" Then we'd be at war uncle."
" You think she'd tell, even though it meant your uncle guilty of treason?"
" I think if she found out she'd sell me out in less than a heartbeat."
" Will your uncle tell her?" he asked worriedly.
" No, he gave me his oath."
Northerners and their oaths and their trees, all of it was most strange, but to them, it was a blood oath, a vow to their gods, one that no true northerner would or could ever break. But still, he had worried about her, worried that even if Ned never spoke, she'd overhear, she'd find some papers or somehow find out. He was ready for war if it came, they had the numbers, but it would be far better to wait until the dragons were big enough, then nothing could stand against them.
His life became a routine and pretty soon he was bored, visits to the brothels, spars, none of it enough to keep his attention. Only Ellaria and his children stopped him from going mad. His youngest girls Dorea and Loreza toddled around chasing after their older sisters, and while Obella and Elia were starting to be interested in activities more suiting their ages they doted on their sisters.
"A raven uncle." Arianne said walking in as Ellaria lounged with Loreza in her arms and he chased after a giggling Dorea.
"No papa, I run." Dorea said laughing as he looked to Ellaria who took the scroll from Arianne while he grabbed his daughter and began to tickle her.
"I have you my little snake, papa has you."
"No, papa." Dorea said giggling even more.
"My love, it seems we've been invited to a tourney." Ellaria said and as he turned to look at her his daughter slapped his face laughing some more.
"Come Dorea, let's go to mama." he picked her up and carried her over, Ellaria making room on her seat for Dorea to sit.
"It's too early for Joanna's nameday surely?"
"It's not the Lannister's uncle, it's the Tyrell's."
He took the scroll, looked at it and seeing the writing he found himself surprised he was invited.
Prince Oberyn,
I would like to invite you personally to my granddaughter's nameday celebration, you Lady Ellaria and your daughters, I look forward to seeing you again for this special day.
Olenna Tyrell.
"An invite from the Queen of Thorns, what say you my love, do you wish to see Highgarden?". he said as Ellaria nodded.
Winterfell 295 AC.
Ned.
Things had been hard since he'd sent her away, the children taking it harder than any. Bran was confused and Arya stopped speaking to him for a few days, his daughter unable to understand why he'd sent her mother from their home. He had debated what to tell her, what to tell Robb and Sansa, the letters he sent them were vague but to the point. Arya, he had told how things had fallen apart, how her mother had betrayed his trust and shown no remorse for it.
It hadn't been enough, but he couldn't tell her the truth, and so it was Elle who won her round, who explained things to her that he was unable to, who told her that it didn't mean he loved the children less. So while she had stayed mad at him for a while for making her mother cry, she had come around eventually.
Brynden surprised him, though he partly thought the man hadn't reacted badly because of allowing him to take Bran when he was older, he'd pushed for seven and they'd settled on six, giving him one more year with his son and daughter. One more year before he'd be alone in Winterfell, and he wondered how he'd cope then, how it would feel to have that much peace, how he'd handle being alone.
"You're doing it again." Elle said taking a seat beside him.
"What?"
"Brooding?"
"I've had a lot to brood about lately." he said and she nodded.
"Aye you have, was it the right decision Ned?"
"It was."
"Then that's all that matters, now stop brooding the children will be in a moment for their meal." she said and he chuckled softly.
He knew there was something going on with them, with him and Elle, though they'd done nothing about it. Not even an out of place touch, not a kiss, nothing. At first, he put it down to missing the warmth of a woman's body, missing the touch, the softness of a warm body beside him. But it was more than that, it wasn't physical contact he craved, though he'd welcome it, it was that feeling of closeness of being able to trust someone else.
Yet even now moons after she'd gone he'd kept to the vows he'd sworn, even on nights when he was bitter and wondered had she, he held true to their vows. Though each day it was getting harder and harder to do so. Elle was different, how she looked at things, how she went about her day, in some ways she'd taken on the duties of the lady as well as her duties as Governess.
His children adored her, his household too and each day he spent with her he was beginning to feel more drawn to her. That the wolf liked her, that Lya seemed to be almost pushing them together hadn't gone unnoticed by him either. He looked over to see her helping Bran cut his meat, saw her chastising Arya for belching and when she saw him looking she smiled and he felt something within him.
"Benjen." he heard someone call and looked up to see his brother entering the hall.
"It's good to see you Jory."
"Aye you too, been a while."
"Aye, we've been busy at the wall. I'll grab an ale with you later, I can see my brother looking at me."
"Uncle Benjen." Arya shouted running from her seat, Bran following behind.
"You can't be my niece and nephew, look at the two of you, you're almost fully grown already."
"No, we're not?" Bran said.
"Aye, that's true if you were fully grown I couldn't do this." Benjen said lifting them both up and kissing each of their cheeks repeatedly.
"Gerroffff, gerrofff, stupid." Arya giggled until he let her down.
"Lord Benjen." Elle said as she helped grab the two children and brought them back to the table.
"Just Benjen, Lady Cerwyn."
"Elle."
"Elle." his brother said with a smile.
"It's good to see you brother." Benjen said grabbing him in a hug.
"You too brother, you arrived just in time for dinner, I'm sure you'll be interested in a warm meal."
"Aye, I would."
Once they'd finished dinner he and Benjen walked to the crypts, as they did so he looked and saw a large wolf with Lya, turning to Benjen who was looking as surprised as he was.
"You have a wolf?" they both said together before laughing.
"Aye, Lya, she's the pups mother."
"Frost, I think he may be the father."
They looked at the wolves as they walked towards the keep, Ned calling for Jory to make sure they were both allowed inside.
"How?" he asked as they walked into the crypt.
"I was coming back from beyond the wall, the wolf helped with some wildings, hasn't left me since, you?"
"Jon." he said as they reached Lyanna's statue "All the children have one now." he said proudly as Benjen nodded.
"Cat, Ned, where is she?"
He told him then, his brother's anger grew more and more as he did so, he even found himself scared some having never seen him like this.
"You know when he told me I planned to come here to confront you, god's if I had, we may not be speaking now."
"I failed, I know that Ben, but I've been trying to make it right."
"Aye, I know, I'm glad I didn't come, he was right, it needed to be you two, you needed to fix it between yourselves. I'm sorry about Cat, for you, for the children."
"Thanks, for not punching me." he said and his brother chuckled.
"We're lucky she wasn't here, she'd have punched us both." Benjen said looking at the statue.
They stood and paid their respects and by the time they left it was nearly the hour of the bat, so he decided to leave it until the morrow to speak to him on why he asked him to come. He bid him goodnight and made his way to his room surprised to find Lya waiting outside for him.
Waking the next morning he broke his fast with Elle. Benjen, and the children and then asked Benjen to come with him to the Godswood. Elle and the children more interested in the fact that Frost was playing with Summer and Nymeria while Lya looked on protectively.
"I need to you be the Stark in Winterfell Ben, I received a raven from Sansa, well the Tyrell's mainly inviting us to Lady Margery's nameday tourney."
"A tourney, you Ned?"
"I'd not go, but Sansa, Robb, even Jon will be there, I sent them letters, but I need to speak to them about their mother, and I wish to see Jon again, speak to him face to face.
"How long will you be gone for?"
"I don't know, a couple or maybe three moons."
"The children?"
"They and Elle will be coming with me."
"Elle?"
"It's not like that Ben, I mean, no it's not like that."
"I'm not judging brother."
"I know. Luwin knows about the projects in Wintertown and I was expecting some builders to arrive about Moat Cailin, I'll show you the plans and Luwin knows of the costing."
"You're finally rebuilding it?"
"Aye, Jon was right, we need to build the North up and with the trade, we have a chance."
"I'll write a letter to Jon, it's a pity I didn't know that's what you wanted, I'd have had Aemon write one too."
"You get along well with him?"
"He's kin now Ned, speaking of which."
He told the children, asked Elle who was only too happy to come with him and had Luwin send the raven to Bear Island. Not only would the Pinnacle ship mean a shorter journey by land and therefore a quicker one, but traveling through the Riverlands was perhaps not the best idea just now. They sent the raven to Casterly Rock and to Highgarden the day they left for Bear Island, the children, the wolves, and he all looking forward to reuniting the pack.
White Harbor 295 AC.
Robb.
He had thrown himself into his work, between sparring and training with the lance, spending time with Wyman going over trading issues and spending time with Wynafred he had done a good job of keeping his mother from his mind. His father's letter didn't explain much, just that he and his mother wouldn't be living together anymore and that she had gone back to Riverrun.
Lord Wyman had explained what being set aside meant, he'd offered no comment, just sympathy, and Robb had been grateful for it. While he wasn't sure what had happened, he could guess, it had to be about Jon, just like for his mother it seemed everything was. The fight he had with her was still fresh in his mind, the argument as clear as if it were yesterday and not moons ago.
" How are you settling in?" she asked.
" Good mother, Lord Wyman is ever gracious and I'm learning so much, and Lady Wynafred has been a true friend."
" You shouldn't get too friendly with her Robb."
" Mother?"
" Lord Wyman may be friendly and his granddaughter too, but you are the heir to the North they see you as a good match."
" Would it not be?"
" It would but you should aim higher my love, a great house, a larger house."
" And how I feel means nothing?" he said angrily.
" Your future means more."
" More than my happiness?"
" Robb, you can be happy with many ladies, you shouldn't settle for a northern one, even one who follows the true gods."
" Have you ever spoken to her mother, ever spent any time with her? Have you judged her so completely without even taking the time to get to know her?"
" Robb."
" No mother, I may not get to decide my future, but I'll not have you decide it for me, not have you speak ill of someone who's been nothing but kind to me."
" This is what I feared, this was his plan." his mother said shaking her head.
" His plan?" he asked confused.
" The bastard, tie you up in a meaningless marriage, all so he can take your birthright."
" Don't call him that, he is my brother."
" Robb, he is a threat, to you, to your future, to your future children."
" As far as I can see the only threat to that is you mother."
" Robb." she said angrily.
Grey Wind moved quick and fast, growling all the while and he watched stunned as the wolf forced his mother back, his teeth bared, his shoulders raised.
" Grey Wind, to me." he said and the wolf turned his head and growled again before moving away.
" You need to get rid of it, get rid of that filthy beast, why I ever wished you to have the white one I'll never know, they're vicious, horrible, beastly things." his mother said and while he could see she was upset something she said resonated.
" Ghost, you wished me to have Ghost?"
" What?"
" The white one, you said you wished me to have the white one, why mother, why did you want me to have Ghost?"
" Robb, it was nothing."
" Mother, why?" he said his voice raised.
" Why should the bastard have it, why should he have a Direwolf when my trueborn son did not, you're the heir to the North, not he, but I was wrong, I wish they were all gone. All of them."
" Yet you think he wishes to take what is mine, that my brother wishes to take something from me, he who brought me Grey Wind and who showed me how wrong I was in how I behaved. You worry about him taking from me and yet you wished to take from him, who is the usurper here mother."
" Robb, this is what he wants, to turn you against me, to trick you into thinking he's good, you can't let the bastard win Robb, you need to be protected." she said and Grey Wind moved closer to her growling once again.
" I am protected mother, the pack protects each other."
" Robb."
" I'm not even sure if you're pack anymore." he said angrily as he and the wolf left.
He was walking down to break his fast, the memories coming unbidden as they had been doing lately, no matter how much he tried to put it out of his mind when he wasn't busy it came. For a short amount of time after he received his father's letter he had tried to blame Jon, tried to see it from his mother's perspective, but it made no sense, it wasn't the Jon he knew.
So instead his mind had drifted back to Winterfell, to the days before Jon had arrived back, to how things had been, how his mother had behaved, then and when he did arrive. Every step of the way she had tried to put him against his brother, yet Jon had done everything to try and bring them together. He had read up on bastards, on usurpers and had even asked Wylis one day, the knight only too happy to set him right.
" Aye some bastards have taken what their trueborn siblings have, though not as many as you'd think. Some trueborn's have done the same Robb, you know of Cregan Stark?"
" The Wolf of the North?"
" Aye, you ever hear about his uncle Bennard?"
" No."
" Not many have, Cregan was lord after his father passed but he was only three and ten, not yet at his majority and so his Bennard was his regent. Then when Cregan reached his majority Bennard wouldn't stand aside ."
" What happened?"
" It took him two years to wrest control from his uncle, two years, now tell me does it matter if a man is trueborn or a bastard?"
" No."
" Do you believe your brother true?"
" Aye."
" Then nowt else matters does it." Wylis said slapping his back.
He walked into the hall and found Wynafred smiling as she and Wylla looked at him excitedly, his own troubled thoughts soon fading away.
"Come quick. Grandfather has news that will cheer even your grumpy self up." Wynafred said.
"I'm not grumpy." he said grumpily.
"Robb even Grey Wind is grumpy, look at him." she said and he looked to see the wolf looking miserable.
She practically dragged him to the seat, didn't even allow him to grab a meal, just sat him down and looked to her grandfather eagerly.
"Tell him." she said and Wyman sniggered.
"I thought she was going to drag you from your bed Robb." he said to laughs around the table, even getting a smile from him "We received a raven from Highgarden, we've been invited to a tourney lad, looks like we're all heading on a trip."
"A tourney." he said excitedly.
"Aye, you'll get to see your sister, your brother too no doubt."
"Jon is going?"
"I doubt there's a thing in this world that'll make him miss it."
He smiled then looking to Wynafred who was smiling too, a tourney, Highgarden, he'd see his sister and Jon, he found himself looking forward to each of those things equally.
Casterly Rock.
Jon.
Gods she was growing, less than a moon she'd lasted in the new room. It had become pointless for him to stay there and was abandoned, the cave being far more to her liking. Lygaron though could stay in the room but he chose not to, both dragons sleeping in the cave together. Some nights he would fall asleep in the cave wrapped up with them both, he'd even gotten Tyrion to stay more than once.
He had worried that compared to the rooms the caves would be barren, uncomfortable, that a dragon raised in relative comfort wouldn't take to them. But he'd quickly been proved wrong as Rhaenix, in particular, loved them, she loved to be able to come and go as she liked. The freedom of not needing someone to let her in or out something she relished and since she'd moved, she'd grown even more.
Lygaron was the size of a large horse, his wings wider than the cave entrance, but compared to Rhaenix he was like a pup to Ghost. She was at least twenty feet from head to tail, her wings just as large when extended, her flames were incredible, the brightest blue he'd ever seen, where Lygaron's were a deeper bronze. Even her voice had changed, now more a woman's than girls, deeper and even more imposing.
"Are you thinking of me or the trout?" she asked as he lay beside her in the cave.
"You, what care I about a rotten fish?" he said and felt the rumble of her chest as she did what dragons do when they laugh.
"You're worried about what she'll think aren't you?"
"Aye, not just about her mother and my part, but me, a part of me doesn't want to tell her." he said.
"You have to Jae, she needs to know, should she find out later that you didn't tell her after you told Joy, she'll hate you for it."
"I worry she'll hate me for it anyway, especially now."
"She won't, be honest, tell her the truth, I'm a sister, I know these things." she said and he laughed.
"What about you, I'll be gone for some time, a moon, maybe two."
"Think you're so important do you brother, think I can't do without you, I can't last without you near?" she huffed.
"Aye, as I can't and won't be able to without you" he said and felt her head rub against him.
"I'll be fine little brother, you just make sure you are, all of them Jae, even the new one with the foul mouth." she said and he laughed at her description of Bronn.
"I need him to stay here, besides he's more Tyrion's man than mine now anyway."
He felt her huff yet again, but finally, she relented and within a few moments she was asleep allowing him to move over to his son.
"Father, is Tyrion going too?" his son asked his voice softer and more pliant ever since he'd gotten his rider.
"No he's staying, he'll come to visit, he and Sarella."
His son said nothing else, quiet, content, Lygaron spoke only when he had something to say, Rhaenix was a chatterbox, but his son was happy and that was all he cared about. Even to Tyrion he didn't speak much, only to reassure, to help when Tyrion's melancholy became too much, something which thankfully had lessened recently. They had thought him over it, thought he'd handled it well and for the most part he did, but occasionally it would strike him and Arthur would say he looked like him, like Rhaegar too mostly then.
They would be leaving at the end of the week and so he was spending even more time with the dragons, even to the detriment of his sparring and his jousting, tourney on the horizon or not. Waking up early, he watched as the dragons left the cave, stretching their wings and feeding in the water, both returning before the sun rose, he bid them farewell and headed back into the Vaults, dressing before he headed up to break his own fast.
"Jon there you are, where you with our friends without me again?" Joy said as he entered the room and he looked around to see all were in attendance.
"I was, forgive me my lady." he said with a small bow and she looked at him before breaking out in laughter when he did.
"See, I told you I can be a lady when I want." Joy said to Ashara who laughed at her.
"You're supposed to be a lady all the time, Joy."
"No fun, only sometimes, Jon, sit with me."
He sat down with her and for the next few moments, he split his time between breaking his fast and watching as she made a game of sneaking sausages from whoever decided to even briefly glance away. Laughing as she then hurriedly began feeding them to Dusk and Ghost. When she was bored with that she began whispering in his ear about the tourney and her new dresses and telling him that he had better dance with her. Within moments she was speaking about how much she looked forward to seeing Sans and Margy again, he soon found that the time flew by.
"Bye-bye Jon." she said kissing his cheek as she, Ashara and Cregan along with her foster friends went to their lesson.
"Bye-bye Joy."
"Look at them, I swear I thought it was only you that she could wrap around her finger" Loras said as he looked to Joy speaking to the four girls who fostered with her.
He laughed and together he, Loras, and Brienne walked to the sparring yard, they had no lessons today and nothing much to do and he was feeling a little stiff from sleeping in the cave.
"Satin with Tyrion?" he asked and Brienne nodded.
"Then what say we go one for all?" Loras said and he looked to Brienne and back to him and all three of them seemed to agree.
After sparring he went to meet up with Tyrion and Satin, neither of whom would be going to the Tourney. He found them as usual in Tyrion's solar, Bronn too and after saying his hellos to Bronn and Satin he took a seat across from his uncle.
"How are they today? Tyrion asked.
"They're good, Lygaron keeps asking me if you're going with is, every day the same question, I'm starting to think my son doesn't trust me." he said and Tyrion chuckled.
"I suppose I should be flattered, a dragon doesn't want me to leave."
"What of you?"
"I actually don't really care, to be honest, we both can't go and it means more to you than I."
"I'm grateful for it uncle, I really am, knowing they have you, it means a lot."
"They have Sarella too, Jon."
"Aye they do, but it's different, you know it is."
"I do, you ready for the questions?"
"I am, it wasn't me Tyrion, I may be glad of it, but I didn't interfere, I never asked him to set her aside."
"No, they still may blame you, you know that."
"Aye, I do."
"I'll look after the dragons Jon, Loamara too."
"Thank you."
The Maester had helped a lot, once Jon had shown him the glass candles he'd begun to study with Melisandre and with Tyrion's help through most of it, though he still wouldn't tell him everything. But he knew it was coming, between he and Marwyn's letters they'd figured out almost everyone involved and soon it would be time to act, though as of yet he'd not come up with a plan of what that acting would look like.
After visiting with Dacey and Joanna, having a spar with Cregan and Arthur, he ate his meal and went to read Joy her story. She was getting too big for it, she knew it, he knew it, it had even begun to not be a story he told her anymore, instead talking to her of the dragons, of what they got up to. But he liked spending the time with her, and so he'd resolved to keep doing it while he could.
He found Jaime afterward standing on the battlements as he did now most evenings, Jon walked up behind him taking position and both of them stood there silently looking out. Sometimes they talked of their day, of their plans, sometimes they barely spoke, once or twice they'd actually sparred up here. Jaime showing him how to fight on the stairs, against the wall, Arthur too, with blunt swords only though.
"We need to be careful Jon, this came from Richard." Jaime said handing him the note.
Stag, Lioness, and cub attending, Littlefinger joining them, I'll see you there.
R.
"I don't know which is worst?" he said and Jaime chuckled.
"Were it not for her mother, I'd not have Dacey and Joanna go, but she will be attending and Dacey would kill me if I tried to stop her."
"She wouldn't kill you, hurt you very badly perhaps, but she'd not kill you." he said and as he looked at Jaime they both laughed before Jaime quickly when he turned away slapped him on the back of the head.
"Arthur, protect your king." he said feigning injury.
"You deserved that one Jon." Arthur said smirking.
"There's not much we can do is there, we either go or we let them force us not to, I don't think we really have a choice do we?" he said and both Arthur and Jaime nodded "I'll be careful, I'll have my guards, Ghost, I'll try and keep out of Robert's eye line."
"Cersei's too Jon."
"Aye, hers too. I'll see you on the morrow Jaime."
"On the morrow."
They had two ships sailing to Oldtown, Genna and Kevan and their children in one, Jon, Jaime, Gerion, Joy, and his friends in the other. Cregan was looking forward to meeting Sansa again and Loras to going home, Brienne's father would be attending as would Dacey's mother. For Jon, he longed to see his sister, to speak to her and to tell her the truth of him, but the drawing he held in his hand was who he was thinking of as he slept on The Lady Joanna that night.
"I'll see you soon Just Margaery." he said softly.
Highgarden 295 AC.
Sansa.
Preparations were almost complete, the tourney grounds had been finished, the food and wine had arrived in bulk and the Ice House was full. When the first shipment had arrived in Highgarden people had been stunned, though even in the ice wagon it didn't last long. So when the designs came for the Ice House Lady Olenna had a large one built.
Since then ice was a regular part of their daily meals, it was used to cool milk, to cool drinks, to keep food fresh, even to just place in a small pouch and to be held against one's head on a too-warm day. As Willas and she walked with Margaery and her cousins, with Mira and with Fang alongside them, one of the servants carried a large jug of juice filled with it.
She looked at Fang, trying once again to get into her mind, Willas had found some books on warging and Jon had sent her some instructions but she found she couldn't connect as he said. So he had said he would help her when he arrived, was it just for that alone she'd be looking forward to his visit, but knowing now her whole family was coming, she found herself eager to be with them all again.
"Grandmother received a raven, the king, queen and crown prince have decided to attend." Willas said.
"Joffrey is coming?"
"Aye, he is."
"Gods, do you think, father, the king, do you think they'll discuss the betrothal?" she asked and he nodded.
"I think they might, though it's strange, your father's letter didn't mention it did it not?"
"No."
"I don't know, but to me, it seems he's not so keen."
"But with the king here?" she said worriedly.
"We can speak to him before then, he should arrive before the king does."
Willas had a knack, just like Jon did, of being able to calm her nerves and to help her relax. He had done so when news came of her father setting her mother aside, taking her for a walk in the garden and allowing her to express what was on her mind. Comforting her and telling her it was nothing to do with her, that what had happened with her and her mother was not the reason, something her mother's letters made clear when they arrived.
Once again it was Jon her mother blamed, he was the reason, he was the one at fault, never mind he was leagues away, that he was in Casterly Rock while she was traveling the realm. That even was it something that Jon wished for, her father would not do so simply on his say, never mind any of that. Her mother blamed Jon and told her to once again be wary of him, to be careful around him and then invited her to come to visit, come stay at Riverrun.
"Sansa are you well?" Margaery said as Willas spoke to Garlan.
"What, oh sorry I was miles away."
"Nervous?"
"Excited, I think."
"As am I, to see Loras again." Margaery said and she looked at Sansa from the corner of her eye.
"Just Loras?" she said as innocently as she could.
"Not just Loras, Jon too, obviously." Margaery said looking at her before both of them began to giggle.
"Aye, me too, another few days and they'll all be here, this is going to be wondrous Marge."
"I hope so." Margaery said her lopsided grin on her face.
She slept easily that night, dreaming of wolves running through fields of the Reach, all of them together howling, a pack untied against the world and nothing or no one could come between them.