-Chapter 56-

-POV Eddard Stark-

"We are summoned to the capital," I said, setting down Aegon's letter.

Robb furrowed his brows and then said, "What should we do?"

"We have no choice the letter was very clear we must arrive in the capital within a month of receiving this letter or risk going to war with the crown itself."

"We've done nothing wrong it's that bastard Bolton who raped and killed women then fed them to his dogs."

"That doesn't matter to Aegon, all he sees is that we're not following his instructions and that we've broken the king's peace."

"We can't control the Bolton's bannermen if even they don't want them as their lord then maybe it's time for Aegon to recognize his mistake in dividing the North."

"His mistake...you're still young Robb, how would you expect him to acknowledge his mistake when everything is going as he planned."

"I don't understand what you're implying Father."

"He doesn't want peace he's trying to break the realm and refashion it to his will, the North is too vast and too wild for him to control so he divides the North and breaks the fragile peace the Starks have maintained for thousands of years."

"He's also a Stark."

I stood up and observed Catelyn in the courtyard playing with Robb and said:

"Unfortunately, thanks to Cate, he'll never be a Stark, he's a Targaryen and nothing will change his mind, he's king now and we must all quickly forget Jon in favor of Aegon."

Once finished, I turned to my heir who nodded his head and as I was about to leave he said:

"Is he still our brother?"

That sentence froze me and made me think hard, my thoughts spun but there was only one answer that kept repeating in my mind.

"Even if he doesn't see me as his father, he will forever be my son," I said before leaving the room.

-10th day of the 2nd moon 299 AC-

-POV Daenerys Targaryen-

I gently stroked Drogon resting in my arms when suddenly I heard someone enter my tent, I turned towards the intruder tense ready to defend myself but I eventually relaxed upon seeing my faithful protector smiling at me.

Since Drogo's death, he was my only support the only person capable of understanding me also exiled and pushed away by his family.

"It's only me Khaleesi, I simply came to inform you that we're approaching Astapor," said Ser Jorah Mormont.

"Ser Jorah do you really think I should buy a slave army before returning to Westeros," I said uncertain of what I should do since the usurper was dead without issue and House Baratheon was practically extinct.

Ser Jorah said: "I'm convinced otherwise you might be forced to remarry by King Aegon."

"You know him do you really think he would do something like that to his only family?" I said, not sure that my nephew would be so cruel.

Ser Jorah said, outraged: "He preferred to save your brother the scum over you, he sent no one to search for you upon your husband's death, the Dothraki could have raped you and forced you to become a slave, you could also have been forced to join the Dosh Kaleen but he did not seek to help you, the only one you can count on is yourself and only yourself."

"Not to mention the fact that he stole my children," I said still annoyed and sad over the loss of my two dragon eggs.

"Exactly we can trust no one and if you absolutely want to return to your homeland you must do it because you truly want to and not because you feel obligated to do so because it's what your family expects of you," said my faithful protector.

I stood by his side and held his arm while saying: "Thank you I don't know what I would have done without you Ser Jorah."

"You would have managed very well Khaleesi," he said with a light smile.

-20th day of the 2nd moon 299 AC-

-POV Arya Stark-

It had already been more than a week since we arrived in the capital but the palace gates remained closed to us because King Aegon didn't have time to receive us and he was too busy with his royal duties.

I attacked furiously trying to vent all the frustration I had in me in this already lost fight like all the others I had fought over the last year with Syrio Forel.

"Watch your back," said Master Syrio, hitting me with a stick in the back.

"Your footwork is sloppy," he said this time by sweeping my legs and making me fall on my butt.

I lay there without the strength to get up and then I heard my master say:

"What troubles the mind of thewolf?"

"My brother," I said, annoyed.

"The Lord or the King?" he said, trying to tease me.

I turned my head towards him furiously, and he said with a smile: "Of course, it's the King."

He sat down in the grass next to me and then said: "Do you think he hates me?"

"Why would he hate you?" said my master.

I could sense the ridicule in his tone, and even I realized that Jon wouldn't despise me, but with Valeria's death by the assassins my mother's sister had bought, who knows, maybe he had disdain for anyone with Tully blood in their veins.

"Arya."

I turned my head towards my true brother calling me, and I got up reluctantly to follow him.