Chapter 17: Turmoil

He had cried and raged for a day. Just one day. He collapsed into the corner of his wrecked chambers in the end, his face buried in his hands, cursing the world. For years he'd been working towards peace and they stole it from him in the span of an hour. All of his work – gone. They robbed him of his dreams and turned his purpose to ash.

There wasn't much to discuss anymore. There would be a war and Jae could do nothing to stop it. Lord Varys has played us all for fools 

He convinced Lord Stark and Lord Arryn of the truth of Aegon's heritage – whether or not he lied, even Jae did not know for certain – but it had been enough for the two Lords. When Jae saw Lannister men burst into the Throne Room with blood on their blades, he thought it belonged to the Goldcloaks. Some of it did, but most of it came from the bodies of northerners and Valemen.

Stark and Arryn had correctly believed that if they took control of the Red Keep with the men they brought with them to the capital and convinced the rest of the Lords of the truth of their claim, it would be enough to secure King's Landing. The thousands of men-at-arms from all over the kingdoms would have been enough to make Aegon's reign the shortest one yet.

And that's where Varys entered the picture again. He and Lord Tywin must have been planning for months because the Old Lion smuggled almost five hundred men into the city, dressed as civilians. When the slaughter began, they joined the Lannister men-at-arms and swarmed the Red Keep.

Lord Stark and Lord Arryn did not know what they were walking into, did not understand that a just cause and a willingness to conspire were far from enough to succeed in the capital. At least Uncle Ned proved he isn't a complete idiot. Robb Stark had escaped the capital on a ship right before the start of the Council. By the time Lannisters realized it, it had been far too late to catch him. Should be arriving at White Harbor any time now. 

And then the ball would start to roll. No more talk of peace, no more attempts to prevent the inevitable. Robb would invade in a righteous bid to free his father. When the people of the Vale learned about the accusations of treachery leveled against Jon Arryn, they were likely to throw a fit and slaughter half the Crownlands. He did not even want to think about the brawl brewing in the Riverlands thanks to his catastrophic mistake while Lady Olenna might go into full murder mode now that her granddaughter wouldn't be Queen.

No one could be sure what to think of Stannis Baratheon. He claimed to have nothing to do with the plot and all the evidence supported that claim. Arryn and Stark did not involve him in their plot because they knew of his utter loyalty to the Crown, he said. Jae thought they wanted one traitor left standing if all went wrong and did not think they'd need his help. Boy were they wrong.

Lord Tywin must have thought the same because Lord Stannis had been named to the Small Council to serve as Master of Laws and hostage-in-all-but-name. Who knew how the Stormlands would respond.

The only kingdoms not thrown into chaos and disarray were the Westerlands and Dorne. Martells and Lannisters became the best of friends overnight, only furthering Jae's suspicions about Aegon's legitimacy – why else would the Martells submit so easily?

Serves them right. They could have married Jae to Rhaenys and retained their ties to the Crown. But Jae may or may not have heeded their advice, an annoying prospect for a family that wanted to get their hands on a puppet. They wanted binding ties to the Crown that could not be disrupted or interfered with. The idiots!

The ambition and treachery of the Martells would cost thousands of people their lives. All because they wanted a King they could control in exchange for the thousands they lost at the Trident. And because I missed it. Missed the warning signs, too caught up in his own brilliance and belief that the Council would proceed without a glitch. I thought I would usher in a new era. Never truly questioned it for a moment.

He thought about going on a killing spree. The first night, he came within a hairsbreadth of sneaking through the secret passageways and paying the key players their last visit. Aegon, Tywin, Oberyn, Kevan. The Red Keep would wake up to find Jae had become King and all had to kneel and kiss the ring. But that wouldn't work. It would turn Dorne and the Westerlands into an enemy and in a world teeming with people wanting to kill him, Jae thought it wiser not to pile on. He did not know how the Lords of the Crownlands would react to him becoming King. Maybe they'd support me, or maybe they'd kill me and crown Viserys.

He could not take that risk, because he knew what would happen next – chaos the likes of which the Seven Kingdoms hadn't seen since the Dance of the Dragons. Varys' plot would culminate in something deadly. Robb would do Gods know what. Balon Greyjoy had been stirring since his father died some three years past. He'll be looking to take advantage.

No, Jae needed Tywin Lannister and his ruthless reputation. Let him be the face of the Crown for now. Let my enemies hesitate in facing him and buy me time to act. Killing Tywin and unleashing chaos on the capital would only embolden them.

He had more pressing matters anyway. Surviving the accusations leveled against him by Lord Darry would be a task in and of itself since he had no idea what they wanted to do with him. Get rid of me, most likely. Now that Aegon's betrothal to Myrcella had been announced, the Crown would soon have little need of a rogue Crown Prince and with Eddard Stark in the Black Cells, they no longer needed him to keep the North in check.

So Jae sat in his room and he plotted, playing Cyvasse against himself, considering every move and counter-move until he got the result he wanted. Because Jae would not give up. He had failed, yes, but he would not admit to being a failure. Jae had come so close that he had almost tasted the success, only for it to be wrenched from his grasp. Now he saw it in the distance, a long way off, with fields of corpses and rivers of blood between him and his goal. Giving up is not an option. Jae meant to wade right into the chaos if it meant he'd get a chance to build a world he wanted.

On the fourth day, Rhaenys came to visit. The look on her face did not bode well for Jae. "How are you doing?" she asked as she stepped into his chambers, wearing a black dress as though in mourning. At least the maids had cleaned up the mess he'd made the first day.

Jae sat back in his chair behind the table, examining her. She looked tired and shaken and more than a little guilty. Is it because you know the rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms is being held prisoner, dear sister? "I'm fine," he lied. From this day on, Jae had no family, had no friends. Pawns to use and enemies to kill, a simple world order. "And you? I hope the latest developments haven't taken too much of a toll."

She gave him a tired smile as she sat down. "Dealing with traitors can be a tiring affair, yes."

Jae hummed. "And what is to become of Stark and Arryn?"

"They'll be held prisoner for now. At least until Robb Stark bends the knee and the Vale swears fealty," she said, eyes searching for a reaction.

Jae crossed his legs and rested his hands on his knee. "And does my cousin mean to bend the knee?"

She huffed in exasperation. "You met him, what do you think?"

"He's called the banners." Yes, the spirited young man he'd met in the capital wouldn't hesitate to declare war if he thought the cause to be just.

She nodded, massaging her temples. Jae hid a smile. "If you were to speak to him, Jaehaerys, you could—"

"Convince him his father wasn't being held hostage?" Jae asked.

"His father's a traitor!" Rhaenys said but Jae sensed the false bravado of a terrified woman who knew that she could survive only by acting brave.

Jae shrugged, indifferent to her righteous anger. "I'm sure he sees it that way."

"So you won't try to help?"

"Of course I'll try to help, haven't I proven that already? I'm simply expressing my doubts about the effect of my help," he told her with an intentionally false smile. Let them know I'm coming.

"I don't know how this could have happened!" she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "How could they have believed Varys' lies?"

"Questions about Aegon have lingered for a long time. Your family has done nothing to dispel them. You can't be surprised someone decided to take advantage."

"You mean why Aegon took so long to come to the capital?" She chewed on her lip.

Jae nodded, silently telling her she better answer the question.

"He was sick, Jaehaerys, it took him a long time to recover fully. We didn't want anyone to see him like that."

Such a primitive lie, Jae couldn't help but wonder if they were too lazy to think of a better one. He didn't know why they sent Rhaenys of all people to talk to him because she hadn't produced the desired effect.

Why didn't you just say so, then? He barely stopped himself from asking. It served no purpose, better that they dance their little shadow dance and wonder about what lies within one another's hearts. So he said, "What else has happened?"

"Lord Tywin has held a hearing—"

"Lord Tywin? Not Aegon?" He cocked an eyebrow at her slip up. Either she's doing this intentionally or she's scared out of her wits.

"Aegon, yes, he held a hearing to question Lady Daenys. She claimed Lord Varys had kidnapped her when she was dismissed from Aegon's service fifteen years ago and held her hostage the entire time. She said Varys threatened to murder her entire family if she didn't testify that Aegon died on the voyage to Dorne."

More likely it was Lord Tywin who did the threatening. "I trust the Lords have been pacified?"

She nodded. "Yes," she said, "but it's you who should be careful."

Ah, now we're getting to the good part. "Why's that?"

"Lord Tywin wants to have you executed. Aegon says you should be sent to the Wall," she said and looked away to wipe at her eyes.

"I bet Lord Tywin loves that idea." Might as well hand me over to Robb Stark. Lord Tywin remembers Bittersteel.

"He will have to bow to the will of the King," Rhaenys said as if she hadn't already made it perfectly clear that they all bowed to Tywin.

"Of course." Jae bowed his head in apology. Lord Tywin will agree with the King and then make sure I don't have a pulse by the time I cross the Neck. Nothing to do but out-maneuver them, then. "Do I warrant a hearing? A trial?"

Rhaenys nodded. "In two days."

"Well, that should give me time to think of something," he said with a smile. Rhaenys nodded, not sharing his cheerfulness. She stood up without a word and made to leave, but turned before opening the door.

"You do believe us, don't you? That Aegon is the legitimate son of Rhaegar?" she asked.

"I must admit, I had my doubts, Rhaenys. But you coming here today put an end to all of them."

"Why?"

"Because you are my sister, a child of Rhaegar Targaryen as much as I. And I have no doubt any child of Rhaegar would remember they are a dragon first and a snake second. Isn't that right?" His quicksilver smile had her paling as she nodded and all but fled from his room.

Sweet sister, you are weaker than I thought, he considered, staring at the door after she left. Wrecked by guilt, torn apart in having to choose which side of her family to betray, Rhaenys looked lost. I have to break her. Crush her completely.

When the time came, Rhaenys had to take his side. She had to serve as the last ounce of proof that Aegon died on the voyage to Dorne, for why else would his own sister betray him?

So Jaehaerys took in the new information and added them to the mosaic he built in his mind.

A few hours later, another knock came on his door. This time Ser Jaime opened the door. Jae honestly hadn't thought he'd get another chance to speak to the man. Whereas with Rhaenys he could easily keep his cool, Ser Jaime presented an entirely different challenge.

Ser Jaime, the man who had watched over him for years. Ser Jaime, the only steadfast companion he had as a lonely Prince in the capital. One look at him and his resolution of pawns and enemies began to crack because suddenly the price seemed too high. Even when I had nothing, I had Jaime. He wanted to retreat to his corner and get back to crying his eyes out. How can I ever trust him again and what does it say about me?

"Did you know?"

Jaime had his eyes on the ground. He shook his head but wouldn't look up. Shame doesn't become you, Kingslayer!

"Am I supposed to believe that?" Jae shouted and immediately looked around, as though he feared he'd disturbed someone's rest.

"I do not expect you to, Your Grace, but I knew nothing. My father thought me too loyal to Your Grace. He thought I'd inform you of his plans," he said, his voice hoarse.

"And would you?"

This time Jaime looked up and Jae saw the pain in his eyes. "I do not know, Your Grace."

That Jae could believe. Would I send Lord Stark to the chopping block for a man I'd sworn an oath to protect? He did not know either. "Why are you here?" he asked, swallowing down emotions he could not process.

"You are to present yourself before the Small Council, Your Grace. They've sent me to escort you," he said.

Tywin's playing games. Sending Jaime to make me believe all is back to normal. Maybe Jaime really is loyal if his own father is using him. Or maybe Jaime's in on it. He hated his suspicions about Jaime and hated the knowledge that they would disappear any time soon even more.

He nodded and walked out of his chambers without another word. They shared the trek to the Small Council chambers in silence.

Jae walked in to find another piece of evidence screaming of Aegon's falseness, for Aegon wasn't present. Lord Tywin, the new Hand of the King, sat at the head of the table. Lords Tarly, Velaryon, and Baratheon sat on one side of the table, Prince Oberyn, Pycelle, and Lord Tyrion on the other.

"My Lords," he said with a nod when he walked in.

"Your Grace," Lord Tywin replied, those pale green eyes examining him. Lord Tywin wore a black doublet with golden lions embroidered into the fabric, a jewel-encrusted cup of wine on the table before him. "As you must know, you are facing accusations of treason. You have been asked to join us here today so we may resolve the issue."

Resolve the issue? It dawned on him a moment later. They want something from me before they send me to my death. "And how might we go about that, my Lord Hand?"

"Lord Darry has witnesses to your treason, but perhaps an even more important concern is that your Uncle is one of the main actors in the plot to depose King Aegon," Lord Tywin said and Jae could not detect a single emotion in his countenance. A block of ice if ever I saw one.

"I am considered a fellow conspirator?" he asked.

"Not at all," Pycelle wheezed, drawing an annoyed look from Tywin. "But many believe the plot was executed with your blessing."

Tywin quickly took back the reigns. "As you can imagine, it is imperative that you publicly denounce Lord Stark for his treason."

"Ah." A good way to convince the remaining skeptics about the absurdity of the claims against Aegon. Jae could almost imagine the stupid look on his face when he'd be sentenced to take the black right after giving his testimony. "Of course, my Lord Hand. My Uncle is a traitor and deserves any punishment coming to him. I will do my part."

Lord Tywin's eyes narrowed slightly. "The King has agreed to give you a full pardon in exchange due to the... well-intentioned nature of your crime."

They didn't expect Rhaenys to tell him of their plans? Interesting and it boded well for his other plans. "I see the King is already proving himself a just and able ruler," he said, staring the Old Lion right in the eyes.

The rest of the Small Council members regarded him in silence. Baratheon looked confused, the others wary. Some of them had been around when Jae performed some of his greatest tricks. They're about to see another one. They knew better than to declare him dead before seeing his head on a pike and Jae resolved to prove them right.

"Indeed." Tywin nodded.

"Is there anything else?"

"No," Tywin said and dismissed him with a wave of a hand as though dismissing a servant.

That rankled. Jae put on a charming smile and nodded to the Lords present. "My Lords." He walked out of the Small Council chambers, Ser Jaime following him.

"I knew everything would work out in the end," Ser Jaime said with a huff.

"What?" Jae asked, his mind far away. He had a lot of moves to make in the next two days.

"Your pardon, I mean. I knew they had to grant it," Jaime repeated.

"Ah, yes, of course." Jae shot him a brittle smile. He didn't have the energy to be convincing. He headed straight back to his chambers and shut himself inside before Jaime could get another word in, telling him not to let anyone disturb him for the rest of the day.

He walked into his bedroom and found Daenerys pacing before the bed. "Jae!" she exclaimed in a loud whisper and threw herself into his arms. "I'm so sorry, I should've noticed what Tywin was up to."

"Dany, it's fine, you couldn't—"

She pulled back and looked up at him, shaking her head. "No, you asked me to keep an eye on things and I missed an entire army being smuggled into King's Landing."

A tear made its way down her cheek and Jae wiped it with his thumb. "I missed it too, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but—"

"No one saw this coming. No one imagined Tywin would even try something like this." He led Dany back to the living room, sat her down at the table, and poured them both a goblet of wine. "They're not giving you a hard time?"

"They thought about it, I think. But I put a stupid look on my face and Tywin decided I wasn't a threat." She smiled sheepishly through her tears, holding the goblet with both hands as she took a sip. It quickly disappeared when she remembered the reality of his situation. "Jae, what will you do? People are saying Tywin wants to have you executed."

Jae took a long look into the goblet before he took a sip. "He does."

She set down her wine and leaned forward. "What will you do?"

"Not sure yet." Jae scratched his chin. "Any ideas?"

"Yes, I have one. Two actually. But I need your help to execute them."

"Really?" Jae raised an eyebrow, expecting good things. "Go on."

"Well, I was thinking about Rhaenys and…" 

Half an hour later, Jae went for the latch behind his bed and climbed down into the tunnel that ran beneath his chambers. Closing his eyes to remember the way, he crawled for an hour in the dark among spiders, rats, and spider webs before he emerged in the guest wing of the Red Keep.

He sat in a chair, sipping on Arbor Gold when Lady Olenna and Margaery returned from their walk through the gardens. He had a tough time getting all of the dirt off of him, but he managed. Can't be visiting noble Ladies looking like a beggar.

Margaery jumped at the sight of him, barely covering her mouth in time to stop herself from screaming. Wouldn't do to have the guards burst into the room.

"Now, now, my Lady," Jae chided. "Is this any way to greet me now that we're to be such close friends?"

Lady Olenna smiled to see him. "I had wondered how long it would take you to show up."

"You did?"

She nodded as she walked further into the room. "And for the record, you're two days late."

"A few things I had to do first, unfortunately." Like cry.

"I imagine you're here on a quest to save your life?" she asked, without an ounce of pity for his precarious position.

"Indeed, the most righteous cause I have ever embarked upon, if I may say so myself," Jae replied, earning a giggle from Margaery.

"And why should we help you in this endeavor of dubious worth?" she said, sitting down when Margaery pulled up a chair for her.

"A Tywin Lannister dominated capital is not exactly what Tyrell dreams are made of, is it?" Jae asked.

"Nor is having our heads mounted on spikes of the Traitor's Walk, Your Grace," Margaery replied.

Someone's grown a tongue. "You wound me, my Lady. I would never ask my friends to take such a risk," he said. "No, I merely wish for you to express sympathy for me in a discreet, yet public way. Perhaps wonder out-loud how many people had ignored the ridiculous restrictions placed by Connington only to be saved from certain doom by the gracious Prince Jaehaerys."

"Sway the public opinion? That will get you far," Lady Olenna said.

Do I detect a hint of disappointment, my fair Lady? "You wouldn't be remiss in pointing out that I might very well be aware of all the lawbreakers and might decide they should share the fate of the Tullys. Turnabout is fair play, after all."

Olenna nodded then, a light of understanding in her eyes. "Something tells me we are but the first stop of your tour this evening."

"You would be correct, my Lady. I thought it only fitting that I visit distinguished Ladies such as yourselves first." He thought it imperative that he retain his ability for playful banter. You're not truly standing on the brink of death until you begin to act like it. Let them wonder what else I have up my sleeve.

"You flatter us, Your Grace," Lady Olenna said. After a beat of silence, she nodded to herself and added, "Very well, we will do as you ask. Not because I consider it to be a particularly brilliant plan, mind you, but because it's the only chance I have of sparing myself from watching Cersei Lannister prance through these halls for the rest of my life."

Jae chuckled at that. He could only how smug the Lannisters had become. "I shall thank the Gods for her disagreeable nature, then."

"Indeed, now run along, construct your little schemes and remember I shall be very disappointed to see your head on a stick," she said, patting his hand from across the table.

"My Lady," Jae said, putting his hand over his chest. "One could be forgiven for thinking you've grown fond of me."

Olenna snorted, a most disorienting sound to come from a venerable Lady such as her. "Go, you insufferable child."

Jae retreated back to the secret passageway, laughing. He had a lot of visits to make.