-Chapter 118-

-POV MC-

Dear Nephew,

First of all, I want to offer my sincere congratulations on your victory over the Ironborn. Thank you for supporting us during this war; it has greatly moved the lords of the North.

With the help of Ser Balon Swann and the Dark Guard, we have managed to bring all the houses involved in the treachery committed by the Boltons to their knees. However, their lords have barricaded themselves in the Dreadfort with the remnants of Roose Bolton's army and the Golden Company.

We started the siege of the Dreadfort two weeks ago, and given the concentration of people and the shortage of supplies, we are hopeful to end it in less than two moons.

I hope you are in good health and that your wife is well. I will pray for her and your future child.

Eddard Stark

---

"Whose letter is this?" asked Arianne at her dressing table.

"From my uncle."

"What does he want?" she asked nonchalantly.

"Just to inform me of the progress in the destruction of House Bolton and to wish you and our future child good health," I said as I folded the letter.

Arianne nodded her head while sneaking a glance in my direction.

I smiled, then said:

"Go ahead, spit it out, I know you want to tell me something, and I think I already know what it is."

Arianne put down her hairbrush on the dressing table and stood up, then approached me with difficulty because of her 'burden' and said as she sat on one of my knees:

"Spare my uncle."

"Whatever you think, I have no intention of harming him," I said, kissing the back of her hand.

Arianne seemed reassured, but I continued: "As long as he withdraws from the fight, he will live."

"Why are you so set on killing Aegon? Whatever his real name, you've already won, he can do nothing against us," she asked, irritated.

I shook my head and said: "Arianne, the Blackfyres have haunted the Targaryens for a century. It's time for all this to end once and for all. I will not let your uncle or anyone else stand in my way."

"You could let him go far from here, exile him to Essos," she pleaded softly.

"Aegon Blackfyre had the chance to accept his role as prince of Summerhall, and I think you are the best positioned to know what ambition drives him and what his reaction was to this announcement," I said.

"But it's different now that he has been publicly identified as a Blackfyre, he'll understand that he has no other choice but to live quietly away from the Iron Throne," she said with a little hope of changing my mind.

I shook my head and said: "He was raised to rule, he always thought the Iron Throne would be his, you know perfectly well he won't stop until one of us is dead, and I refuse for it to be me or one of our sons lying in a coffin."

Arianne fell silent, then placed her face in my neck and said: "My uncle knows deep down that Aegon is a Blackfyre, but he can't let doubt end the last potential son of my late aunt."

"I understand him, but you also have to put yourself in my place, what should I do? Simply accept the insult Oberyn makes to me? Show weakness and release the last Blackfyre because the uncle of my queen threatened to commit suicide by confronting me in a duel?"

Arianne remained silent for a few seconds, then said: "Don't kill him."

"He will come to no harm as long as he retracts, but there's no question of releasing a Blackfyre," I said, deciding to end the debate.

-POV Oberyn-

Lying in bed with my beautiful wife Ellaria, I found myself reflecting on my actions. I knew perfectly well that Aegon was not Elia's son; I knew it the moment he presented himself to me.

The story that he had been swapped in the cradle by Varys seemed even stranger, but every time I saw this young boy, I couldn't help but ask myself... and if he really was Elia's son?

I couldn't think of anything else since the moment he was dragged into the dungeons by the dragon guards, I couldn't understand why this obsession was raging within me, but it was the case, I had only one fear, it was abandoning my sister again at the moment she needed me the most.

I wasn't there when Gregor Clegane came for her and her family, I wasn't strong enough to stop his murder and rape, but now I can do it, I can bend the king now while I can make a difference, I find myself doubting Aegon's true identity.

"You seem troubled, my love," said Ellaria.

"I was thinking about tomorrow."

"There's nothing to say, tomorrow you will present your official apologies to the king in front of the entire court for your behavior, then you will let him execute Aegon, even if you feel he is the son of Elia, remember that this is not the case, do not project your feelings and your guilt onto him."

I said nothing then she continued: "He is a puppet who doesn't even know that strings were attached to him at birth, Varys knew what he was doing, he did this to make us doubt, we have always had the doubt that he was Elia's son, it was more advantageous for us to pretend not to see it, so don't ruin your life, don't ruin our life for him, I beg you, Oberyn," she said, ending in sobs.

I clenched my teeth and then said: "I will do it."

"Thank you, my love," said Ellaria as she kissed me passionately.