Jon Connington
King's Landing had haunted his dreams for so long, the last time he and Rhaegar had seen each other had been in King's Landing before the Tourney of Harrenhal, where they plotted and planned how Rhaegar would get the lords of Westeros behind him to remove Aerys from power. They had been so full of hope and ambition, young as they were, naive as they were, then Harrenhal had happened and everything had gone wrong, Rhaegar wrote to him and told him to stay away from the capital, and like the obedient puppy he was he had obeyed. He wondered if he had stayed if he could have stopped Rhaegar from committing the folly he did. The next time he was in king's Landing was to command the royalist army to remove Robert Baratheon from being a threat; he failed and was sent to exile across the narrow sea.
Now he was back in King's Landing the hand of a different king, a younger king and one who was fresh of a heady victory in the north against foes that many had thought the myths of legend. Aegon had been away from King's Landing for two years, and had returned just two days ago, and in that time Jon had stayed in King's Landing and had seen to the running of the kingdoms. As Hand of the King he finally realised why Tywin Lannister had accumulated so much power, with Aegon in the north Jon had spoken with the King's voice making decisions on things that were brought before him as he thought Aegon would have wanted them to be made, when such a situation was lacking Jon made the decisions based on how he would want the problems to be resolved and so far it seemed that his judgement had been correct.
One such issue that had needed to be decided upon Aegon's return was the issue of the Kingsguard. Ser Rolly Duckfield had been named as the Lord Commander when they had landed in Westeros but Rolly had died fighting alongside Aegon at the Wall, slain by one of those pale eyed demons that Aegon so rarely spoke of, to make things worse, it had been Aegon who had ended his former mentor's life, through Acteon's dragonfire. There was a haunted look in Aegon's eyes whenever he spoke of Rolly and that battle, but there was still the issue of the Kingsguard to decide upon. Ser Cafferen had also died fighting in the north and so the Kingsguard had all sevens lots available for the first time since its history. After much heated discussion between Aegon, Jon and the small council it was eventually decided that Ser Loras Tyrell, Ser Garth Hightower, Ser Daemon Sand, Ser Balon Swann who had been in Dorne during the fighting, Ser Brynden Tully and Ser Lyle Crakehall and until Ser Jaime Lannister was found the seventh position would remain empty for Aegon was most insistent on meeting the oath breaker face to face.
The Kingsguard had fallen upon hard times during the reign of the usurper and his brats, Ser Barristan Selmy was the only knight of honour in that guard, or so Varys told them, but now Ser Barristan lay dead in Meeren, fighting for Princess Daenaerys, and the other knights of the Kingsguard apart from Ser Balon Swann were dead. Jon knew from looking at the Kingsguard and its Lord Commander Ser Brynden Tully that the white knights would regain their fabled reputation in the years to come, hopefully under Aegon's long and successful reign.
There was another issue of considerable import for the king and the small council to discuss, the issue of the succession. Whilst he had been in the north Aegon had apparently found his long lost brother, the product of the union between Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark. The boy or rather young man was named Jon Stark, and the whole of Westeros had thought for the longest time that he was the bastard of Brandon Stark and Ashara Dayne, but it appeared that Eddard Stark truly had cared more for his family than the usurper as he had left the boy with Ashara Dayne to raise for a time, before the boy came to Winterfell. The boy had quite the formidable reputation in the north according to Aegon, having freed the north from the clutches of the Boltons and the Freys and from the White Walkers. The council though still wished to discuss what would happen should Aegon die without a male heir.
The small council was a changed being from when Jon had had his small stint as hand, even then he had not really been part of the meetings as he had been given the handship and then sent off to war. The members were as thus, Jon as Hand, Varys as Master of Whispers, Grand Maester Gormon Tyrell, Master of Ships Paxter Redwyne, Master of Laws Prince Oberyn Martell, Master of Coin Daven Lannister, and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Brynden Tully. It was a council of experienced men and proven warriors, something that would be needed. Aegon begun the meeting, "My lords I thank you for coming today on such short notice. But it is important that we discuss the issue of my succession what with there being the threat of another war what with the kingdom not quite secure yet."
Jon spoke next. "Thank you Your Grace. Now I believe the matter rests with whether or not we should formally announce Lord Jon Stark as heir to the throne until a son is born to you Your Grace, given that Lord Stark was named Lord Protector for the now deceased Shireen Baratheon and also holds the loyalty of the north who may try and claim independence once more."
There was some murmuring at that, and Paxter Redwyne, who really it seemed was the proxy for his aunt Olenna Redwyne said "The northmen would be foolish to try and claim independence now. Especially after his grace helped them defeat those demonic beings. Though I agree with Lord Connington, that there is no trusting what Stark may do if pressured enough. I suggest naming someone else as heir until a son is born to you, perhaps even Princess Alysanne could be named heir?"
There was even more murmuring at that, before Daven Lannister snorted breaking the murmuring. Lannister in his booming voice replied to Redwyne's comments. "We all know what happened last time a King decided to name his daughter as his heir. Dragons danced and Westeros bled. What is there to say that her grace the Queen will not give his grace sons for a long time, and then when the princess is fully grown a son is born to the king? What then, will we bleed once more? No I say let Stark acknowledge his Targaryen parentage formally and be named heir."
Jon could see Aegon nodding in agreement with that Lannister was saying, it was something the lad had argued many times with Jon in private since he had come back from the north. It seemed Grand Maester Gormon shared Lannister's views. "It would be more prudent to name a male heir who is of age already and has proven battle experience rather than a child Your Grace. Especially with the Faith Militant still armed and a real threat to the peace of the realm."
Ser Brynden voiced his agreement as well stating. "I do not agree with Lord Redwyne's belief that the north will try and crown Lord Jon Stark king. They did so once before because there was a tyrant sitting the throne and the other options were not suitable ones. Now that His Grace sits the throne, I believe that the north shall remain solidly behind the Iron Throne, especially with Lord Stark's connection with His Grace. I believe he should be named the heir until a son is born to you."
Jon still had his doubts, he knew he could never truly trust a Stark, not after what that wolf whore had done to Rhaegar to cause the deaths of thousands, but still it seemed that the others of the small council were determined to see the lad named as heir, and so Jon could only sigh and reluctantly agree to what the others had said. "Though I do not like it, I have to agree that there is more merit in naming Jon Stark heir, especially with the disparities between the faith Militant and its leader's reluctance to disband."
Jon saw Aegon smile widely then, before he masked his expressions carefully. He spoke in an iron tone similar to his father's when he said "Very well then. Maester Gormon I want you to write a formal declaration, stating that until a son is born to me Jon Stark of Winterfell, will now be officially known as Jon Targaryen Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Prince of Dragonstone until a son is born to me and my wife."
Two moons came and went before Lord Stark arrived in the capital to be formally recognised as a Targaryen and the Prince of Dragonstone. Jon Stark now Targaryen spent three weeks in King's Landing and during that time, Jon watched as the lad laughed and talked with Aegon as if the two had known each other for most of their lives, though there were times when he thought some of his silver prince in the lad, some of the solemn and melancholy nature of Rhaegar was in Jon in a way it could never be in Aegon and in some way that was a large comfort to Jon Connington knowing that something of what had made him love Rhaegar still lived on in more than one person. On more than one occasion Jon noticed that whenever someone brought up the issue of whom Stark's cousin Lady Sansa would marry, Stark often changed the topic or looked quite annoyed at it being mentioned and when Jon sought to ask Aegon about it, his son who was not his son merely shrugged and said "Somethings are best left unsaid between family Jon."
With that done, the attention of the council now turned to the other pressing matter of the Faith Militant and what the best approach was to dealing with them. Some of the members such as Ser Daven and Prince Oberyn were in favour of taking a more aggressive approach to dealing with them and perhaps taking steel with steel. Others such as Lord Redwyne and Ser Brynden suggested perhaps taking the talks more formally and more seriously for as Ser Brynden said "You have the legitimate claim Your Grace. You have a dragon, two if Lord Stark needs to be called. The faith bowed once to the dragons, they will bow once again."
And so a meeting was called between the King and the High Sparrow who was now also the High Septon, the talks took place in the Great Sept of Baelor. Terms were discussed and bandied about, and eventually after four long days of haggling back and forth, the High Septon eventually agreed to disband the Faith Militant, in exchange for the Targaryen dynasty always once again protecting the Faith when it came under the threat. A round of celebration was held in the Great Hall of the Red Keep for three days to celebrate this triumph and the eventual bringing of peace to Westeros, when news came from Bronze Yohn Royce in the Vale and Daenaerys Targaryen and her betrothed Victarion Greyjoy had landed in Gulltown.
The small council was called late that night and the lords looked haggard and tired, and worn from the celebrations. Aegon himself appeared to be wide awake no doubt he had been spending time with his daughter Alysanne and his wife Allyria as Jon had not seen him at the feast for sometime before it had ended. "So my aunt has finally decided to come to Westeros, but she comes with the Ironborn who I was always led to believe were despised by the lords of Westeros. So my lords does she stand much chance of gaining the allegiance of any of the lords who bent their knee to me?"
There was silence for a moment and then Ser Brynden spoke. "The Riverlands will stand beside you Your Grace I can tell you that for certain. My nephew will not go back on his word."
Ser Daven is the one to speak next. "Nor will my cousin. Martyn knows he owes much to you Your Grace. He will not betray you, nor shall the Westerlands."
Jon is relieved to hear those words of reassurance from Ser Daven, the Westerlands though beaten and frayed during the war of the five kings, did not take part in the war at the wall and as such has been allowed to rebuild their strength which could help assist whomever they choose to support. Another such kingdom is the Reach, Jon notices how Lord Redwyne squirms under the intense gaze with which the other members of the small council fix on him. He stutters, "I am, I am sure that Highgarden and the Reach will stand beside you Your Grace."
Prince Oberyn snorts. "Of course you would, unless of course Jon Stark decides to marry his cousin himself, then your lord puff fish will side with Daenaerys, and the kingdom will be torn in war once more."
Redwyne bristles and Jon sighs deeply, of course it would be just like Prince Oberyn to say something like that to try and provoke a response. Before he can say anything though Lord Varys speaks, in that deceptively smooth voice of his. "It is all well and good speaking of who will support you Your Grace, it would be more prudent to speak of whom will side with Princess Daenaerys and whom stands the most to gain from siding with her."
"And whom would that be then Lord Varys. What do your little birds tell you?" Aegon asks.
Varys smiles slightly, and Connington is reminded forcibly of the last time he spoke to Varys in King's Landing just before the Battle of the Bells and he feels a chill go across his body. "Why Your Grace, those who have not been rewarded or benefitted from your ascension to the throne. Lord Baelish for one, I have already told you and Lord Connington what the man did to Lord Eddard Stark, and how he instigated the war between the Starks and the Lannisters and Qyburn has told you of how he plotted Joffrey Baratheon's death. The man will wish to see himself raised to more power and will wish to bring his allies with him."
"What more could the man wish for? He was made Lord Paramount of the Trident and is still Lord Protector of the Vale. What more does such a man hunger for?" Jon asks.
Varys turns to him and Jon sees the same look he had during the War of the Usurper when Jon came back to King's Landing, the same sort of deceptively sly smile that makes Jon's skin crawl. "Why he wants to be the one who Princess Daenaerys turns to. She is wed to a brute a man with no cunning whatsoever, she will need guidance, and Littlefinger thinks himself the master of the game, he will whisper in her ear and tell her poisons to get what he wishes. I tell you my lords, Your Grace, if you wish to avoid war, send an envoy to speak with the Princess and to deal with Baelish."
"Will the Princess truly wish to speak with an envoy? Her proclamation clearly stated what she thinks of his grace and Lord Stark. What is there to say she has not already decided to wage war against us?" Lord Redwyne asks.
Jon sensing what Varys is getting at speaks then. "That proclamation was Baelish's words coming through on paper, as Lord Varys said the girl has married a brute, and so Baelish is manipulating her to the best of his abilities. Remove Baelish and she will be willing to listen. An envoy must be sent Your Grace."
Aegon had been lost in thought for the past few moments but looked up at the mention of his name Jon saw, so much like his father. "Yes, an envoy must be sent. Perhaps someone who will appeal to Daenaerys' sensibilities. I believe Ser Osmund Kettleblack was one of Littlefinger's lackeys during the reign of the usurper, perhaps sending him back with a message meant for the Princess might allow my aunt to better consider her position."
"That would be wise." All the lords present say and so it is decided, on the fourth day of the third month of the 303rd Year since Aegon's Landing, Ser Osmund Kettleblack sets sail under a banner of parley for Gulltown to speak with Daenaerys Stormborn and give her the terms Aegon and Jon had decided. How successful he will be is uncertain, but Jon hopes that the man will be successful otherwise war will be inevitable and Jon does not wish for there to be more fighting, he has had enough of war for a life time.
The days turn into months as they wait for a response from Ser Osmund, only one raven came from the man stating he had landed in Gulltown, but since then no more has come through. The kingdom seems to be running smoothly and so Jon is given leave to return to Storm's End for a brief visit. His return to Storm's End worries him more than any business he might have with helping Aegon run the realm, that he knows how to do, being a father and a husband is still something so very foreign to him, even though he has been wed for three years and a father for two.
His wife is a very vivacious woman, lively and proud, he can see traces of Robert Baratheon in her, and though he had thought that that would turn him off, it actually makes her seem more attractive in his eyes, and makes it easier for him to speak to her, than if she were just a meek and submissive woman. Their conversations are eventful, she grew up a bastard learning nothing more than the basic skills needed to survive, and so she has spent much time with Jon's castellan Gawen Storm a man who he was friends with as a boy, who has taught her the basics of running a true and proper household, and with Maester Calotte who has helped her with the accounts. She of course is a natural mother, doting on their son Nestor, who has his fiery red hair, but her deep blue eyes. Their son is already going to be a handful when he reaches maturity Jon can see that much, though he looks forward to teaching his son all about how to be lord and a kind and just man, something he never thought he would have.
He is still in Storm's End when the raven comes from King's Landing, writ in Maester Gormon's hand, it appears that Ser Osmund failed in doing his duty, Daenaerys never heard Aegon's terms and instead had the man imprisoned and then tortured. It seems war is inevitable, the only question Jon has is who will be the one to start it, this dance of dragons.