The Purple Wedding

Braavos

Sealord's Palace

Late 300 AC

Braavos, located in a lagoon where the narrow sea and the Shivering Sea meet on the northwestern end of Essos, is the wealthiest and most powerful of the Free Cities. It is also known as Braavos of the Hundred Isles and the Secret City, a name shared with the city Nefer, the last remaining city of N'ghai. Unlike other Free Cities, Braavos was never part of the Valyrian Freehold, leading some to call it the "bastard daughter of Valyria."

The city is renowned for its staunch opposition to slavery, having waged six wars against the Free City of Pentos between 80 and 297 AC in an attempt to eradicate the practice. Though Braavos boasts a powerful navy and trained intelligence network, its military strength on land is lacking, often necessitating the employment of sellswords. The Company of the Rose, founded by Brandon Snow, the bastard brother of Torrhen Stark, is one of the most frequently utilized sellsword companies by Braavos.

The Sealord, who resides in the Sealord's Palace in the northeast of the city, governs Braavos. The selection process for the position is complex and convoluted, with Braavosi magisters and keyholders making the final decision. The Sealord serves for life, and succession is not hereditary. However, it is not uncommon for a Sealord's son to succeed him, having been groomed for the position by his father. The same "family" has held the position of Sealord from 130 to 297 AC.

Lately, the situation in Braavos has been somewhat tense due to the instability of the War of Five Kings. The constant shifting tides of the war had the city watch on with interest as the kingdoms of Westeros tear themselves apart. And when news of the Red Wedding reached the city many believed that the situation in Westeros would finally stabilize; that is until the White Wolf had stepped on the stage and the city had once again held its breath.

Like spectators in a mummer's act, the people of Braavos had listened with raptured attention as the Bastard of Winterfell had stopped the House Lannister's victory cold before forcing them into a stalemate, a stalemate that seems to be slowly turning into a victory for House Stark as the bastard of Westeros' most honorable man began to employ ruthless and cunning tactics reminiscent of his ancestors.

The news is met with various reactions throughout the Free City, with most not caring much while others simply feel elated.

One such person is Cregan Snow, descendant of Brandon Snow and current Commander of the Company of the Rose.

When news reached him of the North's attempt at independence he had been hopeful but cautious. The thought of finally achieving his ancestor's dream of returning to the North had excited him, but he could not in good conscious lead his men to death for a King who may not even remember them, especially since around half of the company would prefer to remain in Essos with no intention of ever going to Westeros.

His caution seemed to have paid off for news would reach them of the Red Wedding. He had been devastated, for with King Robb's death the North would have almost certainly lost the war and their attempt at independence would be a failure, and with it his hopes of returning North.

That is until Jon Snow had stepped up and had sent an emissary to him.

"Gentlemen, forgive me for the wait." says a voice interrupting Cregan's thoughts.

Turning to the voice, Cregan finds himself facing the Sealord of Braavos, Ferrego Antaryon, and his protector, Qarro Volentin, the current First Sword of Braavos.

"Commander Snow, it is good to see you." greets the Sealord before turning to Cregan's companion. "Introduce me to your friend." he says.

"You may call me Hassan, my lord." says the man with a very distinct northern brogue man as he bows.

"You look like a northman, and yet your name is quite foreign." observes Ferrego.

"Hassan is merely my title." replies Hassan.

"Interesting." says the Sealord with a slow nod before turning back to Cregan. "To what do I owe the honor Commander?" asks Ferrego, but it is Hassan who answers him.

"My Lord Commander, Jon Snow, has a proposal for you that he believes will not only be beneficial to Braavos, but has the potential of increasing Braavos' already vast superiority when compared to the other Free Cities." says Hassan.

"Your Lord is Jon Snow? The White Wolf, the Bastard of Winterfell, Commander of The Wild Hunt?" asks the Sealord with a gleam in his eyes.

"It seems that you know of my lord, I am pleased." replies Hassan with a humble bow of his head.

"Hahahaha, know of your lord?" says Ferrego with a booming laugh. "Of course I know of your lord. All of Braavos knows of your lord, and how could we not for it is such a riveting tale that should he prove victorious songs will be sung of him for centuries to come. Already many compare him to Cregan and Theon Stark and every mummer company in Braavos perform various versions of his and House Stark's tale." explains the Sealord with zeal.

"Come, this is a conversation best had with my solar." says the Sealord as he leads them inside his private solar.

The meeting within that room will help lay a solid foundation for the North's prosperous future.

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King's Landing

The Red Keep

301 AC

The sound of merriment fills the halls of the Red Keep as the nobility celebrate the union between House Baratheon and House Tyrell with King Joffrey's marriage with the now Queen, Lady Margaery Tyrell.

On the surface, the wedding feast brings in the new year with good tidings and happiness, and the dawn of a thriving dynasty under House Baratheon.

Amidst the grandeur of the hall, the guests have gathered as one to celebrate the wedding day with an opulent feast, joyous smiles and laughter. The drinks flow freely, the food is plenty and flavorful, and the air is filled with music. The bride and groom bear beaming smiles as if a couple lost in love.

Beneath the merry facade however, a tension lingers for things have not gone well for House Lannister since the Red Wedding, and the doubt of House Tyrell's bannermen in regards to this union has started to put a strain in their relationships for the Lannister are not alone in their misfortune. Shipments of goods and foodstuffs have been intercepted and stolen, crops have been stolen or burned, and criminals in cities such as Oldtown and the Arbor have grown increasingly bold and cunning. Despite the lack of evidence, many of the Reach lords believe the Bastard of Winterfell to be responsible, and yet many more doubt it for reports have placed the bastard in the Riverlands, the North, and even the Westerlands.

If that is not bad enough, the survivors of Randyll Tarly's army returned to the Capital the day prior to the wedding with news of their slaughter at the hand of a pack of wolves led by a direwolf who, based on descriptions, belongs to the youngest Stark girl. In just one campaign, the Reach has lost half of their host and their greatest military commander.

On the side of the Lannisters, word of The Wild Hunt has spread to the general populace and the nobility. Theories of the White Wolf's vengeance and the Seven's retribution are being whispered and enemies of House Lannister have begun to smell blood in the water and circle them like a murder of crows waiting to feast on their carcass.

The groom's family wear fake smiles for they do not trust the bride nor her kin, and the bride's kin, in turn, feel ill at ease for this plan of theirs to place Margaery on the Iron Throne may not be worth it in the end.

Guards in both Lannister and Tyrell colors can be seen standing at attention throughout the hall, and occasionally lords and ladies can be seen looking warily at the doors as if to make sure that they are still open. Tyrion himself can be seen looking at the musicians, and even Jaime Lannister cannot help but occasionally glance at the hooded man playing the lute and the ruby brooch on the clasp of his black cloak.

As the latest song comes to an end, the player of the lute stands and clears his throat, drawing the attention of the attendants.

"Your grace, my lords and ladies." says the man with an elegant bow befit of a noble, causing Tyrion to feel uneasy. "We gather here on this auspicious day to celebrate his grace's marriage to the beautiful Lady Margaery, and as an admirer of his grace and House Lannister I am pleased to present to you a song of my own making. A song of war, glory, and of the winner of the War of Five Kings." declares the man, drawing a prideful smirk from Joffrey.

With a nod from the King the musician sits and exchanges his lute for a harp. Amidst the grand hall aglow with a proud and triumphant hue the harp's beautiful melody fills the air before being soon joined by other accompanying instruments and the musician's melodious voice. The minstrel sings of two nobles from two great houses. A pair of young men that are fostered together and become brothers in all but blood. The minstrel sings of the pair tearing down a centuries old dynasty for love and justice, of the boys becoming men and gaining families and responsibilities; one becoming a king with three golden children from a beautiful golden mother, and the other becoming the king's most loyal bannerman and having six children, five trueborn and one bastard.

The minstrel sings of the glory and prosperity under the new king until he invites his brother to the capital after their surrogate father's death only for the king to soon join their father in the afterlife.

With a captivated audience, the minstrel sings songs of treachery, deceit, battles, worthless heirs, and glory won by the traitor's son, causing the tension in the room to increase. Just as it seems that hope is lost for the king's son, his grandfather puts into motion the most horrifying plot in the continent's history and saves his grandson's crown.

With the death of the traitor's son, the tension in the hall seems to alleviate and all the Lannisters save for Tyrion, Jaime, and Tywin do not smile. The minstrel may have sung of the Red Wedding as if it were a glorious one event, but Tywin and Tyrion can hear the mocking and chastisement between the lines.

As the music reaches a peak, the melody turns ominous and the tension in the hall returns tenfold; for the Young Wolf's honor had served as a leash for his bastard brother and with his brother and greatest friend now dead to treachery, the White Wolf has been freed from his leach and can now lead The Wild Hunt. None are safe from his reach, not the flayed man, not the twins, not the hounds, and certainly not the lions.

"Enough!" commands Tywin, bringing the music to a halt.

With the music stopped, the guests seem to come out of a nightmare as they groggily look around the hall. The previous brightly lit hall is replaced by a dark and ominous one.

The air is thick with a foreboding sign, and the darkness of the night seems to swallow the light, making the hall feel isolated in a never ending night. The walls are lined with living shadows, the ceiling is consumed by shadows and soars continuously upwards, the vibrant colors of the tapestries and decorations are muted, an oppressive weight permeates the air, and a chilling wind fogs the people's breaths.

Sighing, the musician places his harp down before glancing at Tywin "It seems that the farce is up." he says as he removes his hood, showing his inhumanly beautiful face, his long black hair with streaks of white, and his starry cold blue eyes.

Seeing those blue eyes cause Tyrion's breath to catch in his throat before he quickly recovers. As he opens his mouth to warn his father however, the will of a conqueror engulfs the room along with howls of direwolves and roar of dragons, and the guest's know nothing but darkness.

When the people finally awake, it is to the anguished screams of Cersei as she grips the corpse of her purple faced son. With the distraction of the king's untimely death, it is not until later that they notice the absence of Tywin and the burnt navy in the harbor.

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Author's Note: We get to see more snippets of Aemon's plans and the Purple Wedding is here, but it's different from canon. Tell me what you guys think, and please leave comments and discussions.