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Here be Dragons by fadedaura

Percy Jackson and the Olympians & Game of Thrones Xover Rated: M, English, Fantasy & Drama, Percy J., Silena B., C. Beckendorf, Zoë N., Words: 176k+, Favs: 2k+, Follows: 2k+, Published: Jan 28, 2018 Updated: May 28, 2018

755Chapter 5

AN:

Thank you for all the support for my story so far. All your comments have been taken into consideration and things constructive are always incorporated to the story whenever possible.

Also a special shout out to those who sent their ideas via private messages. You know who you are ;)

There was one message that I thought I must respond to.

This story is something I conceived with random thoughts and I wrote it down so that I could organize these 'what ifs' to a story. I posted it for your entertainment. The characters may seem like OC's because they depict what I want them to look like in this story. And honestly, almost all of the stories in this site depict the main characters as OC's because it's what the authors want them to be. We dont read stories in this site just to find out that its nothing but a cheap rip off of the author's works. I have read some stories that are much more entertaining than the original work because of this 'what if' factor. In a way all these original characters become some what OC when reimagining a story like this.

So if you do not like changes to the original story, I wonder what you are doing in a site like Fanfiction.

Enough of my rant. So here's chapter 5. As always... enjoy.

"Everyone is here… let us start," Rheagar Targaryen began as he strode into the room with his two personal guard.

Varys smiled slightly as he stood up in respect the Silver Prince along with the rest of the occupants in the room. The room was circular with a circular stone table with five chairs. It was located deep within the bowels of the Red Keep in a section souls would rarely venture. There was only a single entrance and he could guarantee than anything said within these walls would stay secret. And he could bet his life on it… unless somebody from within betrayed them of course.

The occupants in the room were the most trusted men that the Prince could get into his service. There was him; the master of whispers who worked for the Targaryen Dynasty, Mace Tyrell; the Warden of Reach who was secretly here in King's Landing without anybody's knowledge, Leyton Hightower; the lord of Oldtown and the protector of the Citadel, Jon Connington; the Lord of Griffins Roost and the crown prince's best friend and Rheagar Targaryen, the crown prince.

Rheagar Targaryen, a boy of ten and eight years of age was the hope of the Seven Kingdoms. Due to the madness of King Aerys, the Targaryen Dynasty was crumbling piece by piece. The crown prince wanted to get things under control before the political tinder box known as Westeros exploded. As he wasn't able to overthrow his father in a direct confrontation, the prince had taken to obtaining loyalty from the various houses that dotted the continent.

Currently things were heating up in King's Landing and even the smallfolk knew that a conflict was just around the corner. Already people were fleeing areas that would one day come under direct attack slowly to other parts of the kingdom. Partly that was due to the decline of the standard of living at King's Landing to a state where even the beggars couldn't stomach. The problem was that nobody knew who would be the aggressors. Nobody knew if and when the fighting would start should it start at all. There were parties that were already profiting from the heightened tension and the crown couldn't do anything about it. The out of sight out of mind policy the Crown had taken to these poor people was coming to bit them back slowly as the capital was losing its population and revenue.

The Targaryens had lost a lot of power ever since the Dance of the Dragons. The only symbol that kept them at the top of the political food chain had died out and nobles were already starting to doubt their power. Only the threat of wildfire kept the most rebellious factions at bay. But wildfire itself was not an answer to everything despite King Aerys viewing it as that. One day their wildfire stock was going to run dry. Not because they wouldn't be able to make more, but because it took a lot of time and resources to produce a single jar. And the production procedure was a heavily guarded secret of the Alchemist Guild that even he couldn't pry out of their tightly clenched fists.

Varys was loyal to the crown. He viewed stability and order to be above anything else. So when Aerys invited him to serve as his Master of Whisperers when the king got paranoid about the crown prince's and queen's action, he took the opportunity to make things easier for the little people. He started small and he knew how the people without power were being treated. Heck, he was sold to a magician by his former troupe leader for a pretty penny. Now that he was in a position of power that even the most powerful lords feared, he took actions to prevent the hated magicians from ever rising to power in Westeros and serve his roots as much as he could. The Order of Maesters did much to keep magic out of Westeros and it helped him in his crusade against these 'evil doers.'

So here he was playing the role of double agent. He would speak to the Kings about the actions of his heir to pacify him as it was his duty while feeding the prince with information about his father, keeping both sides content and not rearing to go for each other's throats. Sometimes he let slip important details of the other party when it didn't align with his own ideals. It was a despicable act, even he knew that. But he had to take certain actions to keep the kingdom stable when the Royal family was busy infighting. He knew that he wasn't completely trusted by the prince or his closest companions, but he was a necessary evil for what the prince had in mind. So his presence was tolerated.

This was the first time he saw Mace Tyrell and Leyton Hightower in the prince's little group. He had to commend the prince for being able to hide the two nobles from his 'little birds' right in their proverbial nest. He knew of other lords who had thrown their lot with the prince opting to ignore the current king. But he had a vague feeling that the people in this room were going to be the people in power should the Silver Prince's plans come to fruition.

Gerold Hightower, the White Bull who was in-charge of the King's Guard closed the stone door behind them. Rheagar sat in the empty seat gesturing the others to have a seat as well.

Varys had to agree with the smallfolk. Prince Rheagar was extremely handsome with his Vayrian looks and royal purple eyes. He as smart and kind, always looking to help those in need within King's Landing. Varys himself had seen the prince perform with his harp to raise money for orphans. He knew that Rheagar would be the ideal king for the fractured kingdom. That was why he had thrown his lot with the Prince as well keeping him safe from his own father. But in a kingdom that couldn't resist the whims of the current king who was almost a raving lunatic, the prince was hamstrung and blocked in every single way.

Rheagar couldn't actively depose his father without the support of the lords under him. The Alchemist Association were staunch supporters of King Aerys and they had a large deterring power known as wildfire to keep the masses scared. He needed a majority of the nobles within his grasp for a peaceful power transition. That was why he was searching and recruiting more and more allies. He had been doing that for over three years now. It was a tiring, slow and a tedious task since most of the nobles wished for the status quo to exist. It helped them to hold on to their power and increase it slowly as the power of the Crown slowly failed. This wasn't the first time a mad king like Aerys had sat upon the throne, and it won't be the last either. They didn't want to trade one bad king with another since they all remembered how Aerys was smart and bright like his son in the early days. They already knew how this mad king worked. But Rheagar was a wildcard since they didn't want to adjust to another bad king if the power changed hands suddenly.

It seemed like Rheagar's power grab was coming to a close since he had managed to snag the Lord of Reach into his faction. The Reach was the largest, populous, fertile and prosperous of the Seven Kingdoms when you discounted the North for its sheer size and its recent changes. Yet still, the Reach was the only Kingdom that could field an army of one hundred thousand within a short notice. That carried a huge political weight by itself.

The Warden of the Reach was not particularly a bright man. He was more a meat head that preferred clashing steel than strategies or diplomacy. Vary was able to find out that it was his mother who was running the eastern kingdom. Mace Tyrell was just a figurehead and a puppet to his mother Olenna though Varys doubted that Mace referred to himself as one. The Reachman was proud and boastful like all Tyrells in the past.

The other person was quite a surprise to Varys. The Lord of Oldtown and the Guardian of Citadel had a powerful political weight in him. The Order of Maesters had to defer to him in all things political since it was stipulated in the original treaty between House Hightower and the Order. The Order didn't take part in active conflict, but a single order from the headquarters could cripple a Lord's army. This was done secretly, of course. The Order didn't want the Lords to know of their ability to sabotage them should they go against the Order's view of governance. That was why even the Tyrells in all their pride never provoked this particular house even if they belittled and provoked ancient houses like the Florents and the Tarlys who had a larger claim to be the Wardens of the Reach.

Leyton Hightower was an old man who was surprisingly sharp and strong for a man his age. He didn't show it and concealed this with his persona of being a weak decrypt old man, but Varys could see it in his eyes. He wasn't considered to be the best in his field for nothing. It was his ability to see these little things that made him dangerous. Also, this wasn't the first man to use this disguise. There was another man, right in this very keep who acted the same way when he obviously fit in mind and body. A man who wore black robes and a chain made of steel rings.

The other man was not someone worth giving a lot of attention to. But he was the Crown Prince's best friend and the current Lord of Griffins Roost, a rather wealthy house from the Stormlands despite his tender age.

"Your highness," began Mace, "it's an honor to finally meet face to face and talk about our little situation. You do not need to worry. The Tyrells stand firm behind you," he said boisterously.

"As will the Hightowers," Leyton added discarding his persona.

"Thank you for answering my summons, my Lords. But we need to speak on some matters that mustn't fall into other ears. That is why I requested to meet like this without a single soul being aware of our presence," Rheagar said.

Leyton and Mace shot Varys a look of distrust. It wasn't surprising as he was King Aerys' right hand man now that Tywin Lannister had been dismissed from service.

"We are all here to serve," Varys said with a smooth smile.

"He's here on my request," Rheagar explained quickly. "We need him to continue with our plans. Varys wants what's best for our kingdom. He has agreed to provide us with his services, but he will still play the part of being my father's right hand man in court."

"If you say so, your highness," Leyton replied slowly. But you could still see the suspicion within his eyes. Mace on the other hand was thrilled at the prince's explanation. It was a wonder how he survived until now with his rather dull mental capabilities.

'Lady Olenna must have a rather powerful grasp on Lord Tyrell. Let me see if I can use this to my benefit,' Varys mused.

"First things first... father is going to send out request to the Lords to present their daughters in the royal court to choose a bride for me. I don't know when he will send out the order, but it will be soon."

"Who do you think will be the most eligible, my prince?" Jon Connigton who had been silent until now spoke up.

"I don't know, Jon. My father is slipping more and more into insanity. Even I can't keep him stable like I used to do. And I can't even fathom to guess what's going inside that head if his. Varys did you get the list of the nobles who are most likely to present daughters?"

"Yes, your highness,' Varys replied bringing forth a rolled up piece of parchment. He unfurled it and placed it on the table so that the others could see it.

"I wish I had a daughter," Mace complained loudly. "If I had one I would have give to you, my prince. And she would have been your queen."

"We don't know that Mace," Leyton chastised him.

"What do you mean we don't know? Tyrells are the Lords of the Reach and the king doesn't look at us warily as he looks at the old lion. My daughter could have been the perfect candidate," he lamented.

It was a relief that the walls were thick and there were nobody who actively used this part of the castle as Mace didn't seem to know what a secret meeting constituted. Varys felt a headache coming when he saw what he was going to spend the next few hours with.

It wasn't surprising to see Mace Tyrell jump the chance to produce his daughter to the prince. They had been trying to get a daughter form their family in to the Royal Household from the day Aegon Targaryen unified the Seven Kingdoms. The Tyrells despite being rather dim were a very ambitious family. They betrayed their Liege Lords, the Gardners and rose to power overstepping many houses that were higher than them in the hierarchy to become the Wardens of the Reach. The Royal family knew that and hadn't given them a single opportunity to do so. They had taken wives from other families like the Hightowers of the Reach but overlooked the family of the Wardens much to their dismay.

"Well, you don't have a daughter. So there's no need on wallowing. Let's get back to business at hand," Jon interrupted the large Reachman who looked genuinely sad. Mace looked stunned but frowned heavily at the young man as soon as he got over his surprise.

Varys smirked. This was one of the few things he liked about Jon. He was a brusque man who was to the point like those northerners, a character that was hardly seen these days south of the Neck. He wasn't just Rheagar's best friend for no reason. It was this no nonsense attitude and a rather keen mind that drew the two men together.

"Let us all be calm, my Lords," the prince interrupted seeing the heated atmosphere. "Varys… continue."

"The most likely candidates are from House Lannister with Cersei Lannister, Mouse Martell with Princess Elia Martell and House Tully with either Catelyn or Lysa Tully. We can ignore the houses on the list that are not great houses since King Aerys deems them below his standard to be related to."

"We can most certainly ignore Cersei," Rheagar said. Seeing the questioning look by the other occupants within the room he started to explain the same thing that Varys had predicted. "Father has a grudge with Tywin. You remember on what charges he was dismissed as his Hand right? He will never give the chance for a Lannister to rise into power again."

The Lannister fallout had been bad. Tywin had left the capital with his family and retreated to their family holding at Casterly Rock. Aerys had just laughed at Tywin pointing at him in his court saying that he chased away the cowardly lions. After that Tywin hasn't been seen outside his castle.

Vary knew that the old lion was mad at the slight from his sources within the Rock. He probably wanted to concoct a plan that followed the same lines as the Reyne massacre. But unlike the Reynes or the Tarbacks who were vassal underneath him, Tywin didn't have much power outside the Westerlands, despite his wealth since nobody liked the aggressive Warden of the East. So trying to massacre the royal family would only culminate to the massacre of his own. The humiliated lion was biding his time. For what... only time would tell.

To prove his superiority yet again, the King would deny Tywin's daughter a chance to enter the royal family. Despite being considered one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom, his sources said that Cersei was a petty and arrogant girl. It was probably for the best that Tywin's daughter not be the princess since she would not be a match for the prince at all. It would only cause more problems down the line with her being in a position of power.

"It will probably be Princess Elia we can put the Tullys aside for now," Leyton said with a thoughtful look.

"Yes… Dorne is currently loosely associated with the Iron Throne. Despite having several marriages with the Dornish houses and the Targaryens, Dorne doesn't consider it under the rule of the Iron Throne. Aerys will want to make it his legacy to finally pacify the Dornish and include them in the kingdom proper," Jon agreed.

"Say what you will about the king, but at times even all of us put together will not be able to outsmart him," agreed Ser Gerold as his colleague Jonothor Darry nodded.

"What about the Starks? I've heard about Zoe Stark's beauty. She is considered the most beautiful women by most of the kingdom isn't she?" Mace asked with a frown. To him the chance of joining the royal family was an honor that they should jump given the chance. It was a chance to increase their wealth and prestige as the court was usually filled with the members of the Queen's family.

"Hahaa," Jon laughed and Leyton snorted.

"What? You mean they won't participate in this event?" Mace asked.

Varys wanted to smash his head against the table. Seriously what was going on inside this Lord's head? How come he not know of the greatest falling out the Targaryens had in over three centuries of unified rule?

"Even if King Aerys begged Rickard Stark on his knees, the wolves will not answer his call. Do you not remember what happened during the court?" Leyton asked Mace.

Mace nodded remembering the day that almost ended in war. Ever since that day the North had closed its borders and almost nobody in the rest of the kingdom knew what was going on in the vast white north except for a few snippets they gleaned from travelers between the Riverlands and the North. Even Mace had to agree that if he was in Rickard Stark's shoes, he would want compensation. But the slight the Warden of the North took couldn't be compensated by any means. Until Rickard was in power in the North, there would be no reconciliation with the Starks. They could only hope to mend brides with his heirs after Aerys had been deposed by his successor.

Of course they could raise banners and go fight the North. But everybody knew that the North was the only kingdom that couldn't be invaded with normal methods. The Targaryens were able to defeat the Winter Kings only because they had an unfair advantage called the dragons. The extinct creatures were the perfect counter for the North's natural barriers. Even then the historians were divided on how a speculated war against Aegon and Torrhen would have gone. Had they fought like the Dornish, they would most likely be able to bring down at least one dragon causing a huge blow to the new Targaryen rule but at the cost of Northern lives. But Torrhen valued the lives of his men over his crown.

Without dragons, it wouldn't be neigh impossible to pacify the vast land. And that was if they ever manage to reach the Northern lands. With bottlenecks like Moat Cailin, invading through the neck was paramount to suicide. The Andals invaders proved their folly during the Andal Breaking.

"No I don't think the Starks will agree to the offer. We'll put them aside for now and get back to the main task at hand," Rheagar quickly brought the conversation back on track. Even he was uneasy about speaking of the direwolves that ruled the north.

The conversation continued and Varys kept a keen ear on every single detail discussed. Mostly it was on how to gather more allies. Then came the part on how power would be distributed after the coup. All of the gathered Lords agreed that the transition should be carried out without bloodshed if possible. All they needed to show was that Aerys wasn't the most powerful after all. Pressure from a fracturing and almost war bound kingdom would force him into their terms… or that was what they hoped for. There were also plans to infiltrate the ranks of the Alchemist Guild to fracture its chain of command from within delivering a massive blow to Aerys' deterring power.

Varys gave input now and then so that he could include certain policies that benefited the depraved and down trodden that he represented. Sure it was a king's duty to look after all of his subjects. But that didn't translate to real life policies since it was easier to just ignore them. The existence of Flea Bottom was the prime example for this. This area right in the middle of the capital was the centre where all the depraved gathered. Conditions there were so poor that it was a miracle that they didn't turn into mass murder.

According to the discussion, Mace Tyrell would be elevated as the Hand of the King while House Hightower gets the position of Master of Laws. The Hightowers will also get a grant from the royal treasury to increase their holdings. Since these two were the houses that Rheagar Targaryen wanted his lot to rally behind, it wasn't surprising to give them the most benefits. And the Reach was well known as a place where the most corrupt Lords ruled.

Plans were made for other houses that were supporting the crown prince as well. New taxation laws, trade routes were amongst the last in the agenda. The final topic for discussion was of the pirates and the dispute for the Stepstones. Mace wanted to conquer them, but Connington and Hightower disagreed as it would lead to an open conflict with the free cities. Rheagar being an advocate for peace decided to ignore the dispute about the islands but focus on flushing out and destroying the pirates that ran amok in the area. The Royal Navy would be given the full power to engage the pirates as they saw fit. The Redwyne fleet would help them in the task. With the combined strength of these two naval forces they would be able to clear the area in a matter of few months.

Varys knew that these were the topics the Rheagar wanted him to hear. He was absolutely certain that these men would meet together again without him to discuss about more sensitive matters. But he did not worry about that. Sooner or later he would hear about the entire thing. If not… he liked surprises as well. It was these surprises that kept him on his toes.

"Thank you for coming, my Lords. We will see each other soon. For now everything will go as we discussed," Rheagar said with finality bringing the meeting to an end. "Varys, you stay behind," he added with an afterthought.

"Your highness," said Mace, Leyton and Jon as they got up and bowed to the prince. With Rheagar's nod they filed out of the room closing the door behind them leaving Varys with the prince and his trusted bodyguards.

Rheagar watched as the other occupants walked out of the room. He wanted Varys to wait since he had some important and sensitive things to discuss with the Spider without the others. The meeting had gone as he had planned and now he had two large pillars he could depend on in the upcoming storm. Sure, he was yet to gain support from another Great House, but he still had time to maneuver. All his work until now was mostly done secretly because if his father got a single whiff of what he was doing, it wouldn't end well for his mother... or him for that matter.

Aerys was never a father to him. All his life he watched his father descend more and more into madness and watched helplessly as his own family and kingdom suffered for it. Aerys was never meant to be king. If the tragedy in Summerhall had never happened, they wouldn't be meeting like this in secret to depose his own flesh and blood. His mother wouldn't have been abused both physically and mentally while he watched helplessly. Fate was cruel and now the Seven Kingdoms were slowly bleeding itself to death.

Sometimes he couldn't but get stray thoughts on whether his father's madness was a ruse enacted by the man. It was because some of the orders his father gave was sound and quite beneficial. For an example Rheagar agreed on father's decision to strip Tywin Lannister from his power within the Capital. The man was becoming more and more powerful and his family got away with things that other families would have paid for dearly. The man, who was a ruthless tyrant, was not the best choice to be the Hand in a kingdom that was politically convoluted such as the Seven Kingdoms. The Lannisters benefited from his father's instability while other families suffered. The last stroke that really irked him was the fallout between the Crown and the Starks. He wasn't sure who started all the rumors, but he knew for a fact that Tywin was somewhere in the scheme as well. The man couldn't bear to see the up rise of another house that wasn't connected to his in any way or benefited his as well.

The best man for the position of the Hand would have been his uncle Steffon Barratheon. But the man died on his return journey from Essos just as he was nearing his destination. If it wasn't for his father's orders to not return without a suitable Valyrian bride for him, the tragedy would never have happened.

The incident had caused the tensions between the Throne and the Stormlands to rise again as Steffon's son Robert Barratheon viewed the Targaryens as culprits on the demise of his parents. Robert, who fostered in the Vale under Jon Arryn, was now holed up at Storm's End doing who knows what. Despite being a loud brute that slept his way through the Seven Kingdoms, the man was an astounding commander and was politically sound. Rheagar was a little hesitant in reaching his relative as they didn't get along very well. With the tragedy at Storm Coast, he was actually afraid in contacting Robert. That was why he had reached out to other influential families like the Connigtons. Barratheons may be the Wardens of the Stormlands, but it didn't mean they were the only powerful family in that region.

Dorne was silent as always despite considering themselves as part of the Seven Kingdoms and having representatives in the Royal Court. They didn't have much contact with the Targaryens because of the actions of Daeron I Targaryen and Queen Rheanys. During the First Dornish Conquest, Dorne was burnt again and again until Mexarys was killed along with Queen Rheanys. The Daeron began his conquest only to be killed by the Dornish too. The Martells who were descendants of the Rhoynar were never on friendly terms with the Dragonlords. Their cultural and historical conflicts saw to that. Yes, they may have married Martells and the Daynes in the past, but to them the blood the Targaryens spilled was never going to be forgiven.

That left Rheagar with the Westerlands, Riverlands, Vale and the North. Tywin was the last person he wanted to visit. Rheagar was sure that the man would want benefits that he couldn't possibly give. The most likely clause he would put up was to marry his daughter. He didn't have a good impression of Cersei Lannister. So he put the Westerlands to the back of his mind. He already had multiple houses giving him their loyalty in both the RIverlands and the Vale. He needed to slowly approach the Arryns and the Tullys and he would have their support as well.

But that left him with the biggest headache. The North... his father had burnt that bridge so hard that even he, who was considered to be one of the smartest males to ever grace the Targaryen line was left stumped.

"Varys, any news from your little birds in the North?" he asked the spymaster.

The reason why he wanted to speak with Varys was to gain any sort of intelligence to help him coax the Starks into giving him their loyalty.

"No, your highness. Everything has gone dark above the Neck. I don't even know whether my little birds are still alive. Everything we have now is the first hand accounts from the sailors who travelled to White Harbor and the peddlers who travel in between the two regions," Varys replied with a worried look. For a man who was known as the best in his line of work to be stumped in his own game... it meant the Northerners were aware of the spymaster's network and took action against it. This silence was the cruelest thing Rickard Stark could do right now when the kingdom was in turmoil. Nobody knew or could guess what the North was up to, to figure out where their loyalties laid.

"What have you found?" Rheagar asked almost happily since they had lost contact with the North for over a year and a half. Everything he had heard were self contradicting and he wanted what the man who knew about everything knew.

"Nothing solid, your highness. From what I've gathered from the sailors, White Harbor had been developed to a state that it didn't even resemble the place they knew. They were not given leave to enter the city. All sailors were given quarters in a new section by the docks. It was where foreigners who weren't Northerners and didn't have permission to enter their lands were being given board. I don't know how the system works, but I can tell you that they have effectively put up a barrier denying us any chance of finding the real situation in their land. But from what I've heard, New Castle has expanded and as have the White Harbor. The sailors also noticed that Widow's watch had also changed," Varys said.

You could see the disappointment in Varys' eyes. He a man who wanted to know every single detail in the Kingdom was kept dark in the matters of the North. Rheagar knew that the personal spies the spider employed to travel through the neck had also gone missing. Varys said that to him on an earlier date. But so have the soldiers sent secretly by the Throne and various Lords.

Rheagar cursed his father for his folly. He remembered distinctly the day Rickard Stark was humiliated in front of all the nobles in court. The Massive Wolf didn't say a word. He just stared at the Royal family until his father was done. But unlike when Tywin had stormed off after his dismissal, Rheagar saw something in the Northern Warden's eyes that chilled him to the core. It was this cold silent fury that promised death and destruction. The wolves unlike the lions were very subtle in their revenges. Tywin was like a mad lion that lashed out furiously and quickly saw to the destruction of his enemies. But what he had seen in Rickard's eyes was something else. It was the promise to slowly destroy everything the Targaryens held dear until he personally delivered the killing blow. That was the last time anybody saw a Northerner down from the Neck. Despite king's orders, the Northern contingent that came with the Warden disappeared that night.

Rheagar thought back to the incident that prompted the king to call the Starks down to King's Landing. Varys had gotten wind of the new port that the Starks were building at Sea Dragon Point amongst many other conflicting news. The Starks had stopped importing grain from the Reach and Riverlands and had opened trade with Braavos instead. There were also rumors about the heir of Winterfell. Charles Starks was said to be a genius that invented things that put maesters to shame. He had used that intellect to help his people and Wintertown, a place that even Varys had no news from, was said to have developed beyond compare. There were rumors on public baths, improved drainage systems and whatnot. Varys on the other hand had learnt of the influx of skilled craftsman from Essos to the North from his little mice.

The Reachmen were the first to complain since they had lost their major exporter. Tywin was also ready to fan the flames since he and Rickard had never seen eye to eye after the Reyne incident. The courtiers were already hounding to increase tax from the North, which according to the laws the Throne couldn't do unless the Northern Lords gained a massive profit from trade. They hadn't done any from what they could find and the entire continent was curious about the Stark's newfound wealth.

So Rickard Stark came to King's Landing with only three other men. Granted they were large and probably stronger than two normal warriors, it raised a question on what their identities were and why the Lord Paramount of the North would travel with such a small protection detail. Highwaymen didn't discriminate on the origin of a person. If they found a walking money bag, they attacked with force. King's Road was full of these vagrants despite being put down again and again.

But soon the discussion turned sour as various Lords wanted to know where the Starks wealth came from. Even the king questioned and accused him thoroughly. All Rickard did was explain that they were using the money the Starks had saved up to create a port and a navy to safeguard their lands from the Ironborn again and again. But his explanations fell into deaf ears as the king wanted to see the Stark wealth.

FLASHBACK

"... I don't want to hear another word from you Stark. I'm the King. You will open your treasury for my inspectors and donate three quarters of it to me! And this port you are building... I will appoint one of my men to be the overseer. Don't want you dirty dogs disturbing the trade routes my family established for centuries," Aerys yelled at Rickard Stark who stood in the center of the room without a change of posture or emotion.

Actually the king didn't give a single chance for the Northern Lord to explain anything. Whenever Rickard opened his mouth and started to say something, the king would go on about something else. In the end Rickard just elected to stay silent until the king was done.

All around him, most of the courtiers were pointing and laughing at him. Rheagar stood next to his father and kept a keen eye on the Northern Warden. The man may have not shown any emotion, but he could see it. It was in his eyes. A fury like no other... a fury that put the infamous Barratheon fury to shame, like a winter storm decimating everything in its path But this was not the kind of fury that lashed against its adversary... it was the kind that waited patiently. The kind that lashed out at the weakest point... the kind that took away everything with one strike. Rheagar wanted to stop his father but the mad man was on a roll.

"What are you waiting for your filthy dog? Get out of here. You will leave with my inspectors in three days. Until that you are confined to your chambers," Aerys yelled at the large man. "Aegon Targaryen should have torched your kind when he had the chance! Trying to change things! I'll show you how to change things! And get me the Master of Laws! I want to change their filthy habit of dodging taxes! I will burn you all!"

Rickard Stark just turned around and left without another word. But Rheagar was extremely alert. His family had made an enemy. An enemy they should never have crossed. He wasn't sure how the North would retaliate but he knew that Northerners were people with long memories. They would rally behind the Starks even if it meant their deaths. Even today they didn't like the fact that they were associated with the Seven Kingdoms. They never fought with Aegon the Conquer. They didn't consider them part of the Targaryen dynasty. All it needed was for a Stark to call for his banners and name himself the new King in the North and the entire North would gather behind him without complaint. Before Aegon was even born, and before the Dragonlords rose in Valyria the Winter Kings ruled over North with no contest from anybody. Even the Andals who conquered everything wasted before Moat Cailin. It was always a sore topic for the Northerners about King Torrhen's decision. Now his father had stoked the Northern pride and they had no idea on how the First Men would react.

"...And send your so called genius son to me. He will be part of my King's Guard," Aerys screamed after Rickard.

The Northern Lord didn't even respond to that. He kept walking out.

FLASHBACK END

And that was the last time he saw a Northman. Rickard Stark disappeared during the night with his three guards much to his father's ire despite the guards outside the Stark Residence in King's Landing. The king ordered a force of a thousand men along with his appointed tax collectors after the Northern Warden and that was the last time anybody saw them. They got news about the force until they entered the Neck and in the lands of the Crannogmen, they just... disappeared. There wasn't even a sign of a fight breaking out. The king wanted to send a larger army, but to Rheagar's relief he listened to his advisors and called it off.

The day after Rickard Stark disappeared, the Inn of the Kneeling Man had gone up in flames. Nobody knew who had started it, but the inn and the surrounding area had been rendered uninhabitable by the uncontrollable flames that lasted two days straight. Folk in Riverlands were saying that it was a sign saying that the Northmen were done kneeling to outsiders and were ready to take up their mantle once again. To this day there were no concrete proof on how the fire erupted.

After that reports stopped coming. First the spies employed by other Lords went silent. Varys got a wind about a chest that arrived in Lannisport as a gift containing heads of Tywin's spies along with a note. Varys even found out the chest contained the heads of two of Tywin's relatives... of whom Varys wasn't clear. But whatever was in that note said to have scared the lion to his bones that he pulled all his resources that were sabotaging the Starks. He didn't even seek revenge like he would have for the death of his relatives, how distant they may be from the main family.

Even Olenna Tyrell was rumored to have gotten a note of mysterious origins. What it said and what Olenna did as a result was still unclear. That woman was so hard to read sometimes. She was well versed in court politics that put the other Lords of the realm to shame.

Then Vary's little birds stopped replying, effectively closing off the North. Even the Ironborn who usually raided the Northern shores didn't return after their skirmished over time. Whatever the Starks were implementing was big and the other Northern houses have rallied behind them with no questions.

"Anything else?" he asked the effeminate man.

"There is one thing...," Varys began. "I don't know whether I should mention this to your highness," the man fiddled with the hem of his sleeves as if tormented by indecision.

"What is it Varys?" Rheagar asked intrigued.

"I have one man who came all the way down from the North with news. This is the only authentic source of news I have. I don't know whether he would be able to come back again if he returned to his previous post. So I'm keeping him hidden at King's Landing for now."

"What did he tell?"

"The person who is behind for all the Changes in the North is not just Charles Stark. His two siblings are just as instrumental in these changes. My man managed to find out that the port at Sea Dragon Point and the navy being built there is done under the supervision and guidance Perseus Stark. Everything there is of his design," Varys said slowly. "Even Zoe Stark is said to have done amazing things. I don't know the exact details."

One smart wolf was bad enough. Now Rheagar had to deal with three. And that was without counting Rickard Stark, who was said to be a man of Olenna Tyrell's caliber.

"What else?" Rheagar asked with concern. By the way things were going; even he would not be able to pacify the Starks in his lifetime. If they were to be incorporated to the court politics again, he would have to lay the ground work so that his children could do it in the future. But then again he truly wanted the Starks by his side to fulfill the ancient prophesy.

"Not all houses are included in the Stark's expansion. But the ones that have joined have increased their wealth and standard of living exponentially. By the time my man left the North, only the Boltons, Whitehills and a few other major houses wasn't included to this group. These houses are mostly in the dark about the details but Boltons are already guessing something strange is going on. Their people are already leaving their settlements by these Lords to settle down in more 'developed' areas. They are getting antsy. They may prove to be an asset or a disaster to us if we actively move against the Starks."

"Boltons? No wonder... they and the Starks have a rather bloody past. That must be why they aren't included in whatever plan the Starks have thought of. But the Whitehills? What have they done for their seclusion?"

"I have no idea. The only thing I can think about is that they are a family that follows the Faith of the Seven. They have Andal roots because of intermarrying."

"Then the Starks are finally getting rid of the Faith," Rheagar mused. He always wondered why the Northerners allowed septons to spread the religion that the Northerners hated. Sure, it was a stipulation in their surrender but the Starks who were devout followers of the Old Gods had allowed the faith to increase their power in the North. He had seen the tension between the two faiths amongst the smallfolk. Whitehills being isolated was proof that the followers of the Old Gods were striking back for all of the misdeeds the invasive religion did to them.

"There is another thing, your highness," Varys began.

"What?"

"Do you know about the assassination attempt on the Stark triplets when they were three years old?"

"I've heard about it. Didn't they capture the culprit and handed them a punishment that put the Bolton practice of flaying to shame?"

"Yes... But do you know who sent the assassins?"

"No," Rheagar said intrigued. "Who was it?"

"It was the King, your highness. Tywin Lannister sent the man on King's command," Varys replied slowly.

"WHAT?" Rheagar yelled. He stood up and started to pace around the table. This news was going to complicate things further. "I guess Rickard Stark know about it?" he asked Varys absent mindedly.

"Yes," the spymaster replied.

"Why would he do that?" Rheagar asked himself. Rheagar could never fathom to understand a mad man's mind. If the news got out in the open, it would tarnish the Targaryen name further. His attempts to reunite the kingdom would also come to a halt. Their three centuries worth of legacy would vanish like smoke in the wind. And the prophesy… the destined prince would never be born.

"My thoughts are that he was jealous of the Starks for their good fortune. The king wanted a large family so that he could go down in history as the man who brought the Targaryens out of extinction. But he tried for so long to have you, only to be given stillborns. Maybe he was incensed about the rumors that the Starks were blessed by the gods and wanted to quell it. I do not claim to understand his majesty's mind. But all I can tell is that the Starks have not forgiven King Aerys for that. They are a family with a long memory. They can hold grudges for generations," Varys replied.

"They have yet to forgive us for not fulfilling the Pact of Ice and Fire," Rheagar sighed. "Now this… is there any way they could be reasoned with? Any way we could put this all behind us?" he asked himself almost tearing his hair away in frustration.

Without the Starks he wouldn't be able to give birth to the promised Prince. The Prince born of Ice and Fire. He knew that Zoe Stark would never even consider giving him her favor, the son of the man who almost ended her life. This prophesy was the cornerstone in his plans for the Seven Kingdoms. He needed to figure something out to get one of the Stark girls to his embrace. And that was what he was going to do tonight.

"I don't think so, your highness," Varys answered his rhetorical question. "The Stark saying may be 'Winter is Coming', but we all know the common saying amongst their people."

"The North never forgets," Rheagar answered almost immediately.

"Yes, a Lannister always pays his debts, but the Northern memories are long and they have patience to deliver their judgment slowly."

"You may return to your duties Varys. I need some time to clear my thoughts," Rheagar said dismissing the Master of Whisperers.

"As you command," Vary bowed and glided out of the room closing the door behind him leaving the Silver Prince and his two most trusted King's Guard to their thoughts.

Percy swore under his breath. He couldn't help but cruse the sweltering heat of the south and he could only blame himself for his misfortune. He was the one who volunteered for this harebrained scheme. The worst part of it was leaving Windshear behind. This was the first time he was separated from his familiar since he hatched for him. They were not yet ready to bring out the storm dragons into the public as it would only cause more panic and confusion in the already confused nation.

The South was vastly different from the environment he grew up in. The people of the North grew in an unforgiving environment and that led them to be more community oriented. There were little luxuries as they didn't have time to enjoy such trivial things. You didn't know when you would meet your end. Be it from the untamable wilds or the savage bandits that roamed near populated areas. It was said the First Men of the North grew up as hardy as the trees of the North, both adapted to whether anything the nature threw at them. But that was before he and his siblings started to shake things up and introduce a change that every man, woman and child above the neck welcomed. And it was the reason why they flocked around their house despite their past differences like moths to a flame.

In contrast, the Southerners had little to worry about. Most of the land was populated, and these settlements were close by unlike in the North where you had to travel for days on end to get to their neighboring settlements. Food was there in abundance. Dangerous wildlife, the kind that could wipe entire villages out didn't exist. With this abundant wealth, they had turned to court intrigue and whatnot to keep themselves occupied. The only danger they faced were each other. During the short time Percy was in the South, he had seen people who were like brothers turn on each other for benefits. This cutthroat competition was one of the things keeping the societal stagnancy.

And here he was... all alone, roaming about the outskirts of the Citadel. He was looking at ways to get inside discreetly. He didn't seem to be out of place since the area was full of young men about the same age as him going about their duties in Oldtown. But luck didn't seem to be on his side as he had been doing the same thing for three days. He had seen several ways in. But the problem was to avoid internal security to get about his task without a problem. The reason why he was still loitering about was because he still couldn't find a pattern in their security rotations.

This was one of the most secure places on Westeros. The maesters weren't known for their generosity when it came to knowledge they had gathered.

Percy went to an outdoor inn just across the Citadel's main gate and sat down in the shade. He was going to probe the situation inside tonight. Maybe he would be lucky and get to his objective in one try. He had a trump card known as magic to help him get there. It was one thing he didn't consider in his plans since he didn't know whether the citadel had anti-magical security systems. The maesters may discredit the existence of magic in public saying their infamous quote about how it was not magic that should rule the world but men, but even they knew that magic existed from all the documented facts from history. Oldtown was an old settlement. Who knew whether they had wards like Winterfell?

He wasn't actually alone right now. Sif and Fenrir were somewhere about hidden in the shadows. The hellhound pups that Mrs. O'Leary bore had grown up substantially in these past five odd years. They stood taller than any human in their natural form. Luckily they could change their size unlike their mother and mostly seen in the size of a regular wolf. Maybe it was a trait they got from their father, the mighty Cerberus. The pups had started to follow the other Stark members after they got used to them. Sif and Fenrir always followed him. No matter where he went at least one of the two followed him. They were identical in every single way except for their gender.

Zoe had named one Blacklight in honor of her pseudo familiar in the hunt and taken it under her wing along with about a dozen of direwolves. Neither Charles nor he commented on the fact that she was starting to emulate Artemis' hunt trying to form her own band of followers. Zoe was a little vain in this regard. Luckily they didn't geld males on sight. Her deep hatred for males was mostly sated and these days she went all out on people who escape justice.

Irontooth was the pup that followed Charles at first but had then taken to like Silena better than his original companion. Since Silena lived with them at Winterfell these days, Irontooth kept alternating between following the two. He abandons Charles right away whenever he sees him going to do something boring like forging or doing his lordly duties. At these times he visited Silena as she spoiled him rotten. This was the pup with something like a multiple personality disorder since he acted in two different ways around the two which was totally in contrast to each other.

Nemesis was his mother's while Ares followed his father. They had personalities that were almost identical to his parents. Nemesis was wild and free, spending most of her time out in the woods. Ares on the other hand rarely left his father's side. He was the quietest of all of the pups.

His younger siblings were given Freya and Raijin. Freya was the only pup with a different colored coat. While all of its siblings were pitch back, he was light grayish in color with a pure white underbelly. Lyanna loved her little companion and often bragged how different she was from the rest of the litter. Raijin on the other hand was just like his brother. If a hellhound had ADHD, it would be just like Raijin. The duo could never stay in one place for more than five minutes, always sneaking out of the castle looking for trouble and tailing Zoe when she went out.

The hellhounds were rather territorial about their partners and it was seen when their partners were threatened in any way. But they also came and went as they pleased much like the direwolf pack at Winterfell. Often they wouldn't see one or more of the hellhounds for weeks before they turned up again only for another to vanish. They were wild as they came but oddly seem to sense when their partner was in trouble. Though they had grown up, Percy still called them pups since he was the one who was given their responsibility. And that was a responsibility he took to heart since Mrs. O'Leary was his pet and was one of his closest companions.

The North had changed a lot ever since their discussion after the discovery of Winterfell's Nexus. Charles had taken it upon himself to completely change Wintertown unlike his half hearted efforts prior to that. Entire sections were torn down and rebuilt to 'Charles' Standard'. When their father saw how efficient Charles was, he stepped down and gave the reins to his son to lead his people. Their father was still the Warden of the North, but he had completely shifted all his responsibilities to the three of them and relaxes with his wife. If you wanted to see father, he was most likely at the baths enjoying his newly found freedom with his friends.

The most impressive thing was the introduction of the bath houses. It was styled after the Russian banya with features taken from the Roman baths. It was widely celebrated and people actually set aside a time of the day to visit the place. It had become a great place to socialize. When Lord Wyman Maderly saw its success he wanted one at White harbor as well. Soon every family with close relation to them petitioned for one. But the one at Winterfell held significance above others since it was the largest and also the first to be built.

They also got to meet Silena again. It was always fun watching Charles melt in her arms. She could play him like a fiddle and played with him she did. She came to live with them in Winterfell after their eleventh name day. But she left the castle now and then to oversee some of the things she had started to implement at her birthplace. Silena was instrumental in tracking down the grains that could weather the harsh northern climates. Now the swampy areas around the Neck were full of rice fields, the Rills and the Barrowlands cultivated with corn and wheat and the Umber and Karstark lands with potatoes, cabbages, carrots, etc. Sure it had taken them a massive labor force and a long time to prepare the lands, but it was all soon rewarded. The smallfolk were especially grateful for the increased farming opportunities. And after three years since their father's confession, the North was finally self sufficient in grain. The initial plan was to make their land self sufficient and slowly increase production so that they could export their produce in time.

"Excuse me! Is this seat taken?" a voice broke Percy out of his thoughts.

Percy who had been reclining in his chair with his feet propped up on another seat sat straight when he saw that he was at the only table which wasn't full of people. All other spots had been taken by the patrons to quench their thirst in this exceptionally hot day. The pitcher of cold wine he had ordered was mostly empty as he had subconsciously sipped the beverage while deep in his thoughts.

"No," Percy replied as he glanced at the person who disturbed him. His eyebrows shot up when he saw the two people standing in front of him. He did not know them... but one of them brought back memories of a time that was and wasn't meant to be. His single biggest 'what if?' The question that had gnawed him day in and day out during the time in Elysium... the only secret he had kept from Zoe… the decision that would have meant for a different outcome of his short life.

"Thank you," said the man seating himself in the seat next to Percy while pulling a seat for the lady who had to be his sister seeing that they were so alike.

"Hello," Percy said without any changes in his facial expressions. But he couldn't help but steal glances at the young lady right in front of him. They were so alike that it couldn't be a coincidence. It was almost as if fate was mocking him right to his face

"Hi," the man replied. "Name's Arthur Dayne. And this is my lovely sister Ashara."

"The heir of Starfall and the beauty of Dorne," Percy said with a smirk. "I wonder what you are doing here in Oldtown without any guards."

"So you know about us," Arthur said with a smile. "But we are at a disadvantage. Why don't you introduce yourself."

Percy looked around to see whether there were 'little birds' flying about. Since the incident at the capital, he and Zoe had taken it upon themselves to hunt these little pests that spread rumors. They were aided by Howland Reed and the trio had gotten quite good at spotting the Spider's little lackeys and eliminating them without raising alarms. Winterfell was already cleared of most of the spies by their father when they started this project. They only had to give a cursory sweep to catch the rest that remained. Then they went to White Harbor, Bear Island, Last Hearth, Karhold, Barrowton, Rylls, Torrhen's Square, Deepwood Motte, Ironrath and other places where the Lords cast their lot to stand behind the Starks no matter what when they were eventually brought into their development plan. It was a tiring job, but they were able to roam the entire North doing it. The Storm Dragons were a real help in ferrying them about and they completed the task within six months with the rest of the North not even finding about their flying mounts.

"If you are looking for spies, you can relax. I had this inn swept with my men today," Arthur said with a relaxed shrug. "I found out about everything about this inn's patrons. You were the only one I could place anywhere. You are clearly the son of a noble. I can see it in your posture. You are clearly a talented warrior as well. But you don't match any known child of a noble, unless you are a bastard or a hidden child. Then again you are out in the open… in this very spot for three whole days doing Seven knows what. So who are you?" Arthur asked a little forcefully.

"Doing detective work on me, are we?" Percy asked with a smirk. "Don't worry I'm not here to sabotage whatever you are planning I didn't even know you had brought the whole place to yourself. But that would explain seeing the same faces three days in a row," Percy mused. He hadn't thought much about this inconsistency opting to believe that this was how things were in the South since he was unfamiliar with most of their customs.

Arthur's hand went to his sword. Percy held his hands up. "Relax. I'm just messing with you. You wanted my name. Do you want the real one or the alias I go by these days? I still haven't figured out whether I can trust you or not."

"Real name, please," Ashara replied for the first time. "And I promise that if you aren't going to interfere with our work, we won't interfere with yours either. On that you can trust us."

"Alright I'll bite," Percy decided to take a leap of faith. It wasn't like him at all to trust another especially when he was in potentially hostile land, but Ashara really reminded him of Calypso. Their resemblance was uncanny. He wanted to trust this figment of hope he had within him. He had yet to decide what he would do with this information, but he wanted... no he needed to know where this conversation would lead. Would it be the start of a new friendship?... He didn't know. But the feeling inside him wanted him to take this small leap of faith. If things turned sour, he could always escape with Sif and Fenrir.

"My name is Perseus Stark."

Both Ashara and Arthur drew a cold breath when they heard his name. He couldn't help but curl the corner of his mouth involuntarily at their reaction. He knew something like this was coming since it was the first time a Stark had ventured South after the disastrous fallout his family had with the Targaryens. Then there was the fact that of the 'wolf trio,' he was the person others knew nothing about. Charles who was called the 'smart wolf' was given the moniker 'Charles the Harbinger,' because he heralded change for his people. The system that had been in place for thousands of years was changed almost overnight. He would go down in history with the likes of Brandon the Builder, Brandon the Breaker, Brandon the Shipwright and the likes.

Zoe on the other hand called the 'silver wolf' but that changed when she tamed the direwolves to earn the moniker 'Zoe the Huntress'. She with her wolves to hunted the highwaymen that were robbing, killing and raping against their father's wishes and thus her name came to be. She was seen as the darling of the smallfolk. Handing out rations for the unfortunate and helping children, she was the only member of the three wolves that mingled with the people the most. There was also one other thing that Zoe did, that both infuriated and endeared his sister to him. The moniker was never given to her by the people like the one Charles gained. Instead she used her popularity to spread rumors and thus 'Zoe the huntress' came to be. It reminded them that although all of them tried to forget their past life, a part of it was engraved in their very souls. It was what defined them and it could never be replaced.

He on the other hand was known as the silent wolf. But he too wanted a cool nickname like his siblings. He didn't want something boring like Perseus the Warrior or something on the same lines. But he wanted something that would make him known no matter what… something like 'Perseus the Thronebreaker' where he got it in a fantasy about him shattering the Iron Throne, or 'Perseus the Winterwraith'. But to get a name like that he needed to do something big, something spectacular that would make him go down in history. So here he was, biding his time for an opportunity.

"Shhhh!," he shushed them when he saw that they were about to make a racket. "I'm not supposed to be here you know. So keep it quiet."

"What are you doing in Oldtown?"

"Are you really the Silent Wolf? You are different from what I imagined."

"Are your brother and sister here as well?"

"What is it like in the North? I hear things have changed since your brother took command over from your father? What is he like by the way?"

"Is your sister beautiful as they say?"

"Can we meet them?"

The brother and sister started to gang up on him firing question after question at Percy. Percy tried to open his mouth to answer but each time he did the other sibling would overpower him and ask another question. In the end he just watched the one sided conversation with amusement. The brother sister duo was turning out to be fun to hang around. He didn't trust them at all to reveal his purpose here, but the duo looked like they were fairly decent people from the way they interacted with him. Of course this could be deception on their part, but Percy was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he would gain some new friends all the way on the other side of the continent

He held his hand up to slow the out of breath siblings. Arthur who looked a little older than him had the typical Dornish build. He wasn't overly larger with bulging muscles, but had a lean fit body like a runner. He had deep black hair with lilac eyes and a face that told another that he was a kind individual. But now he was all red faced with excitement.

Ashara on the other hand was just like Calypso. The same facial features… the same silhouette. It was like reliving a memory from Ogygia. The only differences they had with each other were their eyes and their hair colors. Ashara had deep lilac colored eyes that conveyed a wide range of emotion while Calypso had soft brown eyes that matched her kind personality. Instead of brown locks, she had soft raven locks that gave her an exotic look despite raven hair being common throughout Westeros. She, who was silent at the beginning of the conversation, was somehow leading it after she found out who he was. From what he saw, she had a fiery personality that attracted him.

"I'll answer what I can," Percy began. "I'm alone, so you can't meet by siblings. Most likely they are at Winterfell. But knowing Zoe, she might be somewhere out in the wild with our father hot on her tail," he added with an afterthought smiling at the mental picture.

"We'll just say that I'm sightseeing for now. What else?.. Yes my sister is really pretty like Lady Ashara here, and no the descriptions don't do her any favor. Yes, they call me the Silent Wolf for some reason and no, don't know when they started to call me that. Winterfell is a wonderful place with new things to discover every day. And finally yes, the North has started to change since brother took the reins upon himself relieving our father to run after my wayward sister and younger siblings."

'That's it I think,' Percy thought as he tried to recall all the questions the siblings posed at him. He answered them the best he could without giving any secret away.

"How long are you staying in Oldtown?" asked Ashara, still blushing slightly about his comment on her beauty. She was finally tuning down her excitement and started to act like a typical southern lady which didn't seem to match her at all. Even Arthur had calmed down significantly.

It was then Percy realized on the impact they had caused just by closing the borders of the North. Currently almost no information passed down from the neck and everybody was curious on what was going on. They couldn't completely stop the flow of information as there were peddlers, travelers and merchants who ventured back and forth between the kingdoms. So the southerners had vague bits and pieces of information about the great changes that was happening in the North. And in the centre of this change were the Stark triplets. They were amongst the hottest topics for gossip during social gatherings.

Charles was already engaged and everybody knew that. In the North they were called the golden couple because of their services to their people. Charles developed the North while Silena was instrumental in keeping them fed. But that left with the Silver Wolf whose beauty was said to outshine all southern ladies and the Silent Wolf who rarely appeared in public. His sister had quite a public profile and her deeds were bound to reach southern ears. All those who wanted to line up for her hand had to forget about the idea ever since his father stormed out of the Capital without anybody knowing severing multiple bridges behind him. If Zoe was ever to be wed, it would be with someone Rickard Stark agreed… that was their thinking anyway. As if Zoe marry somebody just because she was ordered to.

Of all the Stark siblings, he was the most mysterious. That was probably why the Dayne siblings were so excited to see him. If they got to know him, they had the bragging rights about being the first to meet the Silent Wolf, or any of the three wolves for that matter. Also he was one of the most eligible bachelors despite being the second son of the Northern Warden.

"I don't know actually," Percy replied. "I may be gone by tomorrow or if delayed the day after that. South is not a safe place for a wolf these days you know?"

"Oh," Ashara said. You could literally see the disappointment wafting from her across the table.

"I don't know what you are here for, but we could hang around until my work is done," Percy said to her in order to cheer her up. For some reason he didn't like seeing her sad like that.

"Alright," she replied, he spirits climbing up immediately.

"So tell us about yourself," she immediately fired again not giving either her brother or him a chance to put out a word.

"You want to know about me?"

"Of course. Everybody wants to know about the infamous 'Wolf Trio'. But they don't get the chance d they? I have the opportunity that nobody has and I'm going to use it to find everything I can."

"You'd better sit back comfortably. When Ashara finds something interesting, she rarely lets it slip past her," Arthur said signaling a serving girl to bring another pitcher of wine.

"Alright," Percy sighed leaning back on his seat once more. "What do you want to know?"

"What is it like in the North?" she asked starting with a small question.

"The North…. The North is a large unexplored place with so many things to see and explore. It is a beautiful place for those who know how to survive and respect it. I do not think any Knight of Summer be able to survive the harsh conditions up there. Unlike here, the North is like one giant community. It is a place where you need to put the needs of the many before your own. This sense of community helps us to survive… it also helped us when the southerners invaded because unlike in the south, our people tend to stick with our own and not betray our own kind. Of course there are exceptions, but you can look over them as they are so rare. That is the North."

"So that is why you Northerners are so direct. You don't try to deceive your own people and you expect us to be as direct as you," Arthur added after hearing his thoughts on the North.

"Yes, but many of the Lords in the south have exploited us because of this. You can see why many of our people disdain the southerners."

"Tell us about the changes in the North," Ashara urged impatiently.

"Changes… what changes?" Percy asked with a twinkle in his eye that didn't go unnoticed by either of the Dayne siblings.

"Perseus," Ashara growled.

"We are into first name basis now are we? Fine it matters not. I don't like all these customs and ceremonies you southerners adhere to."

"And you can call us by our first names too," Arthur stated and his sister gave a curt nod of impatience.

"What do you want to know?"

"Tell us about the rumored bathhouses," Ashara said leaning forwards.

Percy had to smirk inwardly. Of all the new additions to the North, bathhouses were probably the only thing the civilians were mostly exposed to. Thus it was probably the only new thing the southerners knew they had established in the north.

"Do you know about the hot springs in the North?" he asked them.

"No."

"Well… the North has a large underground water network that is naturally heated by magma. It is mostly hidden deep beneath several layers of soil, but at some places, this network comes to the top forming hot water springs. One such place is at Winterfell. Our ancestor used these springs to heat Winterfell so that it could survive the harshest of winters. My brother used this unused natural resource and established the baths to provide our people with something new… something to improve their lives. And that was the motivation behind it. Baths are a place of community… a place where the lowest pheasant to the highest noble can go relax and mingle irrespective of their social class. It also has many health benefits."

"How is it structured?" Arthur asked.

"Mostly it contains three main areas; the entrance pool, the hot water pool and the steam room. The entrance pool is where you enter and wash your bodies first. It is mild in temperature. If you spend a few coins, you would be given special oils and salts that are beneficial for your health. After enjoying a soak in this pool, one can enter either the steam room for a hot steamy relaxing experience or the hot water pools. Both these areas are large and have their own entertainment, be it music or any other art form. People tend to switch between these two rooms quite often and spend up to two hours at the baths. We have already noticed the effects of the baths amongst our people. Skin conditions have all but disappeared. Now they do not catch fevers as often and many of the common ailments have started to disappear. Women especially enjoy this venue as one added benefit is glowing radiant skin. Well, that's the short version on the baths."

"What about the ladies? They don't share the baths with the men I hope?" Ashara asked.

"Most of them do actually. But for those who wish to have a more private experience, the baths have their own private chambers to facilitate them," Percy replied.

So Percy began to answer the sibling's inquiries the best he could. He didn't reveal anything about their military capabilities and reforms or about their newly established industries. Those industries needed to have a solid start before their produce was given permission to be exported. For now their products were not even sufficient to distribute amongst their own. Charles and Silena predicted that it would take another couple of years before they are export ready.

They talked about their respective childhoods and their families. Percy recounted all of the happy memories he made with his siblings while Arthur explained on how much a pain it was growing up with both Ashara and Allyria. They talked and laughed without noticing the piling up empty wine jars or the setting sun.

"So… the next Sword of the Morning, eh Arthur? How is it to be one of the most recognized swordsman in Westeros?"

"I'm not the Sword of the Morning yet. That honor belongs to my father Ulrik Dayne. Until he passes down Dawn to me and offers me the mantle, I'm not the Sword of the Morning. A lot of things changed for all of us when your father stormed out on Aerys. Even my family was affected. My father is postponing handing me the title because he seems to be afraid of something. He is waiting… I don't know what he's looking for, but I do know that it has cost delayed my dream for two years now."

"But lately father has been confined to bed. He won't tell us what happened. He rode off one day without any guards and returned a fortnight later with wounds. He's been poisoned. Our maester wasn't able to identify the poison, but it's slowly killing him. We were able to retrace his steps to Oldtown," Ashara added.

"So you are here to find out what happened?" Percy guessed.

"That is a secret of House Dayne," Ashara said hotly.

"Relax," Percy smirked holding up his hands again in surrender enjoying it when Ashara lost composure and reverted to her fiery self. "So what are you going to do when you get the office?"

"I'm thinking of joining the King's Guard. I'm not the one to rule land or order people about. But what I can do is fight and command soldiers under me. So I thought the best way to utilize my skills is to join the King's Guard and be a shield for the people."

"And father doesn't want you doing that," Ashara shot back.

"And there you have it. This is the argument that has been going on in our household for over two years now," Arthur said to Percy shaking his head at his sister. "They don't believe I should join the King's Guard because of King Aerys. My father says that the King's Guard are not what they were like twenty years ago. Now they just follow a mad king, not caring about their duty to the people. Joining King's Guard is my dream you know? I don't think I could find another purpose if that is taken away from me."

"He's not wrong you know," Percy said to the man.

"See, even Perseus agrees," Ashara ganged up on her brother.

"Obviously, I'm quite biased when it comes to the Targaryens. They have done nothing but insult, exploit and humiliate my family. But I sense a huge turmoil in the future. The Seven Kingdoms are spiraling into conflict and I don't know when and how it would start. So it would be of best interest to your family to stay away from the Throne, at least until Aerys is replaced with a suitable heir and this tension calmed down," Percy explained slowly to the man as he had shot him a look of betrayal. "That was one of the main reasons my father closed all contacts with the Throne. We won't be used like we were during the Dance of the Dragons, only to be forgotten and cast aside for our efforts. You could always find a new purpose. But throwing yourself into a mad cause will not only end your life, but it will also bring harm to your family. So think about it when you argue with your father again."

"I see," Arthur said with a sigh. He sat with a faraway look on his face as he slowly emptied his tankard of wine without another word. It was hard to guess what was going on inside his head. Ashara mouthed a thank you at him and he gave her a smile.

"What about you, m'lady?" Percy asked Ashara.

"Oh, I have nothing much going on in my life other than turning down marriage proposals that seems to come by the dozens each day. I don't want to marry so soon. So after I return home, I'm going to take a long hiatus from the public."

"I don't think that would slow down your suitors," Percy said.

"I know… but at least I won't need to meet them in person. What about you?"

"Me? Well… after I return home, I have a few things planned. Don't know how things would turn out but I'm hoping everything could be settled peacefully. After that I suppose I would have to chase after my sister who's preparing to sneak out to venture in the lands beyond the Wall without permission."

"What? Why would Zoe do something so dangerous? And if you know about it, why won't you tell your parents so that they could stop her?"

"Our parents already know about her little adventure. They can't stop her from going no matter how much they argue as they already made an agreement some years ago. Father would give her a full armed escort despite her whining. But it's the land beyond the Wall, so no one knows what to expect. As soon as I'm done with my tasks and if Zoe had already left, I will follow her tracks to ensure her safety. Not that she would need it mind you."

While Arthur was alone with his thoughts, Percy and Ashara really got to know each other. By the end of the day Percy could honestly say that he gained to new friends.

"Ashara, lets head back to our rooms, it's getting dark," Arthur broke his silence. "Perseus, you are welcome to join us and have dinner together."

"Come let's go," Ashara pulled him up seeing a bit of reluctance on his face.

"Alright, fine," after you Percy said as he followed the two inside the inn.

He wanted to get ready for his heist, but that had to wait until he finished dinner with the duo. He did enjoy their company after all.

AN: What do you think. Don't forget to send me your thoughts. Like always review, favorite... and all the other fun stuff.

Chapter 935 - 5