23

Summary:

The Dornish travel the eastern coast and to the heart of the North.

Notes:

This chapter is the longest one so far, and a fair warning: it may be a bit boring to some but it has its share of setup. While this chapter 12k words, I think I want to go back to around 5k for chapters, just that is much more comfortable to both read and edit from my experience, it also prompts a bit more engagement from the comments as there isn't so much happening in one chapter.

Edits: In chapter 14, I made it clear that Laerra(Jon/Marg's eldest) is married to Harry-the-Heir's son, as it was originally a slightly confusing moment.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Sunspear and its shadow city held very little beauty but Rhaenys thought it mostly represented the people of Dorne rather well. The city itself was composed of close knit buildings that left little room for roadways, the homes were windowless and made of mud-brick, it paired well with the intimate, solitary yet social people. Above it all were the three winding sandstone walls which could represent Daeron the First's three groupings of Dornishmen; salty, sandy and stoney. The sun and spear towers' meaning was obvious: Nymeria and the Martells.

The sight may have been nice had it been dusk rather than just hours after sunrise, the silhouette of the Sandship and the two towers against a sky of orange, reds and violets would have painted a beautiful scene. Oh the woes of the eastern coast. 

It would have been more beautiful if she hadn't been staring at it while standing on the deck of the ship for the past hour at the dock. She shouldn't have expected a man like her uncle to not live his life by his own sense of time even if he had the past moon to make his preparations. With Willas Tyrell departing a fortnight prior Oberyn should have had little to do but alas…

She hoped for their sake that her uncle had done the little that her mother or rather she had asked of him. Most notably was not telling anyone that they were alive, specifically above all else Uncle Doran was to remain ignorant. 

Arianne was to rule Sunspear while Oberyn was on his spontaneous flight from responsibility, though Rhaenys thought it was beyond time that the woman, girl really, learned to do her duty. She was also to be told to cease her promiscuity but Rhaenys thought Oberyn more likely to tell the woman to be more discreet. At the very least Rhaenys was confident he'd impress upon her the need to avoid Gerold Dayne but if Arianne listened was another matter.

Rhaenys stopped herself before she internally revisited her entire argument against sleeping around and why she was not prudish but simply responsible. Rhaenys sighed, she needed to not get so worked up over her cousins' choices, even if those actions did propagate a culture of dishonorable men, like her uncle and Darkstar. There was also the fact that permissive people through multiple generations would likely spread sex related diseases in the majority of the population and even the most pious of noble families.

What she needed was a distraction. Unlike for Haella and nearly everyone else, music was off the table. She'd surely be tossed overboard if she tried to so much as whistle a tune and despite being docked so close to land, Rhaenys didn't think that sounded pleasant. The very same thing could be said for her sad attempts at music, there was a reason she'd been banned from the art at the manse. Aegon was barely acceptable so Rhaenys was left to believe that either Jae or Dyanna had been the sole inheritors of their father's talent or it skipped their generation as evidently Haella very much had it. Even her egg despised Rhaenys' singing, last time she had tried to sing to it the egg had heated itself to the point even she couldn't stand to touch it.

Cuddling her egg did sound nice, she'd have included Jae's egg if they weren't using it to keep their cargo of lemons and food nice and cold. It really was a shame they'd lose that ability when Frostfyre hatches but maybe the dragon will lay a clutch of full ice dragon eggs they could use even if it did feel like an insult to use them like a common household tool.

In the end she had little time to enact any plans of entertainment that she may have conjured up as a rather large party came to view and made their way to the ship. The group was spearheaded by a child, multiple children. Gods, she hoped Oberyn kept their secret, his lips better not be as loose as his britches.

Stopping just shy of the ship the family conversed and converged mainly on Oberyn, who seemed to be the focal of the group. After a lengthy period of an exchange of embraces, the group splintered and three climbed the gangplank instead of one.

The tall woman that trailed Oberyn ascended the ramp like a soldier off to war, spear over the shoulder and a two toned shield on her back. Rhaenys had to hold back a grimace knowing how much harder it would be to not openly avoid her uncle with the woman on board. Obara was allegedly an angry woman and if that was true then Rhaenys would struggle not to attribute that anger to the woman's father.

The other follower was a man, objectively handsome in appearance. But ultimately the man was no one that she could confidently name on first glance or with the little information she had.

Oberyn spoke to Arthur for a few moments with his followers in his shadow. The Martell appeared to be getting berated for not informing them of his companions joining their journey, she figured most of it had to do with Arthur just rubbing in his authority over Oberyn because even she expected Oberyn to bring some personal protection. As much as Arthur would like to disagree, he would know that Oberyn would only expose them to those he trusted.

It wasn't until they were at sea with sails and banners hidden below deck, that the group came together in one of the cabins. The room would house the women and was the largest on board but it was a bit cramped with fifteen inside.

"What have you already told them?" Her mother wasted no time in getting to the thick of it.

"Not much, I thought you might like the honor." Oberyn shrugged but at his sister's glare elaborated. "Something about visiting the North to learn some secrets and plot treason."

Ashara with her hair still dyed silver-gold rolled her eyes, at her good-brother's antics. "Yes, I suppose that is accurate enough. Should we begin with introductions?"

Leaning casually back in his chair to the near point of tipping, Oberyn grinned. "You all know me." Pointing his thumb over his shoulder at the woman behind him, "My eldest daughter, Obara." Repeating the action on the side, "And my former squire Ser Daemon Sand." Having done his part Oberyn turned his chair around to face his companions.

Rhaenys watched her mother cross her arms and seem to clam up. After over a decade of hiding, of trusting no one, the hesitancy was to be expected, especially with the threat still looming. "You are certain of their loyalty?"

"I am." Oberyn's tone said it all. There was no doubt.

Considering they were on a boat, the same boat that had taken her as a babe away from King's Landing, still worked by the same men, men who knew their secret, the precaution was a bit unnecessary. The men were kept silent by their loyalty, their good wages, and their own part in her family's escape.

After a deep calming breath her mother blurted it out, "Elia Martell." Another breath. " It is nice to see you once again, Obara. You have grown a lot since then. And it is a pleasure to meet you, Ser Daemon."

Evidently Oberyn had the right idea in watching the reactions because Obara's annoyed face turning to disbelief, confusion and shock, was greatly amusing. The way she gaped down at her aunt. "Aunt Elia?"

Ser Daemon looked equally shocked and stupefied. A red tone bloomed across his cheeks.

"Yes, my niece." The warm motherly tone told Rhaenys that her mother had that sweet, kind and soft smile on her face even if she couldn't see it. "You'll find my company just as unbelievable I'm afraid."

Ashara raised her hand to do a small wave. "Ashara Dayne, supposedly dead lady of Starfall."

Pulling off his helmet and shaking out his brightened hair, Arthur gave a slight bow. "Ser Arthur Dayne." 

That bit made Daemon weak at the knees and eyeing Arthur like he poked every hole in the blanket of the night sky to create the stars. Though if rumors were to be believed it may be for a different reason the knight was so close to dropping onto his knees.

Aegon mirrored his teacher. "Aegon Targaryen, but Egg or Ae is a bit safer."

Continuing the theme of ripping off the bandage quickly, Rhaenys gave a smile. "Rhaenys Targaryen. Best to call me Rhae."

The Northmen echoed their names after her.

"William Dustin."

"Theo Wull."

"Ser Mark Ryswell of the Rills."

"Ethan. House Glover. Former resident of the Mad King's dungeon."

Then eyes went to the remaining three. The youngest took initiative with a gleeful wave. "Princess Maenara Targaryen, painter. Call me Nara." That caused confusion with the two ignorants.

But as always Aemon was quick to rectify the problem. "Aemon Targaryen or Mons, brother to these two attention seekers, we're the future children of Rhae. From a different womb to be clear."

"Hi, I'm Haella. I write and sing perverse songs that would make my father cry if he didn't know I only like women." Rhaenys was willing to bet Haella did not include that just because Ser Daemon had earlier been staring at the silver haired woman's large chest but because it was a good distraction and broke the tension rather well.

As they all watched Daemon and Obara's reactions with amusement, Oberyn turned to Haella with that grin of his. "And how many hearts have you broken with your lack of interest?"

Snorting, Haella just smiled back. "Oh, my 'condition' as some call it is rather public by now but that doesn't stop the more arrogant men. Usually by the end of most feasts I sing enough lewd songs that all the idiots rush off to fight over whores in the pillow houses, the owners give me gifts. I do also recall some rumors of a cult with the purpose of curing me but it's been quiet of late."

"I take it that more than a few are cursing the gods for their cruelty."

Completely tired of her brother's antics, Mother shook her head and tried to corral the conversation back to a semblance of seriousness. It took a while but they eventually got Obara and Daemon caught up on all that they wished to share.

Obara said plainly what everyone already knew. "Doran won't be happy about it."

"Well, Doran can suck a cock if he has a problem with it." Haella's crued answer did bring some smiles. 

Smirking, Oberyn did nothing to defend his brother's honor. "I'm afraid my brother doesn't have such a proclivity."

Haella shrugged. "I can't blame him, neither do I."

Little over a fortnight later and they were half the way to White Harbor and Rhaenys had decided that their voyage was equivalent to one of the Seven Hells. Between Oberyn and Aegon's impatience, Obara's complaining and Rhaenys' seasickness it was not enjoyable. 

Rhaenys was a dragon, she was meant to be in the sky or on land or swimming, no creature was made to suffer this insufferable swaying and teetering. She had enough fortune that she wasn't spewing her guts over the side of the boat but Rhaenys had to keep her stomach full to prevent it from becoming queasy. The craving for solid land was something she refused to voice even if for the rest of her life her dreams would be haunted with the feeling of the shifting under her feet. 

She'd rarely traveled by boat, not needing nor wishing to leave the sanctuary of their home. They'd gone to Braavos and sailed much of the eastern and southern coast of Westeros to see the world and the realm that she, Egg, or Jae was to rule. There was also the visit to Myr, where she'd seen slavery in practice, where they made their second step into the glass trade when they bought, freed and subsequently offered a job to one of the city's best glassmaker's best slave. Through all of this her stomach has yet to acclimate to the open water.

The sea did have a beauty to it and the way man has learned to use something as wild and free as the tide and wind to travel was just fascinating. Boating expanded man's horizons and she'd never have been born without the invention. Rhaenys looked over the railing at the dreary island they were to pass.

According to the captain; it was Dragonstone, her birthplace, Egg's birthplace. An island harsh as stone but in its heart was fire and warmth. She wondered how many eggs still remained in its caves, had Stannis gained access to the vaults that held the crowns of the kings who knelt or surrendered to the three conquering siblings? It was strange to think it could have been her home.

The thoughts of her past, from before she became a princess without a crown or a father, reminded her of the dreams. Rhaenys had always had the dreams but as of recent they'd suddenly increased their rate of occurrence. She had finally had enough to notice that despite their similarity they were never the same. Everytime Rhaenys would be crawling through what she presumed to be the Red Keep, she'd move lithely, too graceful and quick for her small infantile size. Little of note would happen but it made her miss the forgotten times she'd crawl around with Balerion through the very keep, an action that surely enraged her grandfather.

But Balerion was never with her in these dreams, all she had left of him was her necklace which depicted his leaping form for her to remember. Her poor kitty probably died with the unlucky girl who not only was ill but had to suffer loneliness and the cruelty of Amory Lorch in her final moments.

The squawks of Aemon's flock of seagulls distracted her from her tears. Her future son by marriage had said he was using the birds to predict storms. He too had watched Dragonstone forlornly, the castle had too been his home, he had ruled it in his time as the Prince of Dragonstone. The fact that he and others had traveled through time still boggled her mind, it was so illogical, so unpredictable, so magical.

"How do you speak with the seagulls?" There must be some magic at play that she didn't understand.

As one, Aemon and all the gulls raised their heads to look at her, odder was when he lifted a brow and the birds all tilted their heads in unison. "What makes you think I speak to them?"

Maybe there was some near indistinguishable detail somewhere on the birds that could be read to determine if a storm was nearby but there seemed to be something else at play. "Birds don't fly in the direction of an open sea too big to cross if they are near land. Your birds also fly in separate directions, I doubt you've been able to create rookeries to train them like ravens or pigeons as you met them on this trip."

That got a smile from Aemon and a nod from all his rather horrifying flock of synchronized menaces. "Good conclusion. You've read about the histories of the Starks, have you not?"

"I have. They have a history unmatched by any other house of Westeros, though not so well known and accessible in Dorne. So, I will require clarification on which part will explain this connection." Rhaenys may have studied much when she was young to learn about her lost brother from afar, it was silly looking back but good to know.

"Do you know what a warg is?" A simple question.

"It is synonymous with skinchanger, is it not? There was an enemy of the Starks that went by the Warg King, I believe. They were allied with the children of the forest."

Aemon seemed impressed but ultimately gave her an apologetic smile. "Close and mostly correct; a warg is the term for a subset of skinchangers who are bonded to canines, be they dog or wolf."

Ah. "The confusion is understandable, considering you have only used warg in reference to your father and his cousins' ability to bond with their wolves. So your father may be bonded to more than just his direwolf?"

"Yes, he is also bonded to Frostfyre as well as his horse and a raven. Currently he only has Ghost, I imagine."

Rhaenys looked at the gulls. "Then you are connected to these four?"

Giving each bird a rub on its head, Aemon nodded. "Some animals are easier than others. Some refuse to bond to multiple people, each one is unique though species tend to carry loose similarities. But an animal that has bonded once is more likely to accept another partner should its first parish. To answer your original question, I do speak to them in a way but when I'm scouting for storms I'm usually in their minds. Usually there is a give and take, they become more like you and I more like them but with a delicate enough hand, or rather mind, I can be a bystander of sorts. Though it appears I linked them to each other."

"Thank you, I've found this very interesting, father did too, he suspected Lyanna was a skinchanger." That was one of the limited things her mother had told her about the Northern woman.

Having gotten the information she needed, Rhaenys let the man be with his seagulls. She had once theorized the bond between rider and dragon was similar to that of skinchangers, and thought that ancient Valyrian may have been able to do some sort of blood magic to replicate the ability with beasts believed to be untamable. Though the possibility that the dragonlords had acquired it just as the Starks had remains thesiable, there once was a land bridge between Westeros and Essos, if man could cross so too could the children. It seemed she would have to wait until Sunfyre hatches to tell.

Rhaenys was reading under a cozy blanket of furs when a knock sounded at the cabin door. She had decided to hole herself up in her shared room to avoid the annoyance that was the boys and Obara constantly sparring on the deck as well as the cooling air. Therefore it was slightly irritating to have her 'quiet' time interrupted. "Who is it?"

Obviously it was a man as all the girls but Obara followed their knock with a polite question of decency. That wasn't necessarily needed but there wasn't much of the cabin that couldn't be seen from the open door should one of them be changing, though there was a bar on the door.

Her deduction rang true as a male voice replied, "Your uncle, Oberyn." There was the slightest of pauses which could be the closest thing she's seen of Oberyn in regards to hesitancy. "I'd like to speak with you."

Sighing, Rhaenys recognized this was over a moon in the making, it was one thing to fake a political familiarity with strangers but spending over a fortnight on a boat and trying to force a sense of fondness with one's uncle is different. "Enter, but leave the door open for the sake of propriety."

He did as she asked without question and sat down backwards on one of the chairs available in the middle of the room. "What are you reading?"

Closing her journal carefully, she smoothed its leather. "A list of my plans for the realm post-restoration." Setting it to the side, she let her hands be distracted with the large golden egg cradled between her thighs and body.

"You think, this Jaehaerys will let you implement them?" Despite knowing the truth, Oberyn still had a minute dislike of the Starks and was more than a bit skeptical of Jae. A reasonable doubt when your blood is being 'passed over' for another with a rather questionable status of birth in the eyes of many.

"I'm told he will even let it be known that they were my ideas." She'd long since pulled every little detail she could about her plans and the potential opposition to them from Aemon. "But yes, I think Jae would be willing to part with some power for the betterment of the realm. He was raised a bastard until not long ago, what he likely craves is respect and attention."

Oberyn acknowledged her words with a nod. "May I read over these plans of yours?"

Even if she knew her uncle would never willingly lose or destroy the journal, Rhaenys still felt her heart drop in fear of losing her ideas. "Only after I create a copy. I really should have done so sooner, books can be so easily destroyed after all."

Once again he accepted her terms, but then his face denoted a changing of topics. "Have I done something to anger you my dear niece?"

Yes, no, it's silly, but Rhaenys voiced none of those. "T-there is something you did, that doesn't affect me, it was well before I was even born, but it just makes me think ill of you."

His thin dark brows tightened, as he tried to make sense of her vague explanation. But Oberyn drew up blank. "I've done many of things, you'll have to be more specific."

Biting her lips and exhaling, Rhaenys tried to explain without beating him over the head with her philosophies. "It is just how you handled your daughters, the eldests in particular, Obara more so?" At his continued confusion, she went on. "Some commend you for raising your bastards but… Mother says with Obara you placed a spear before her and her mother and told a young girl to pick her future when someone that age couldn't know the consequences. They say that within a year, her mother drank herself to death after you took Obara. I understand that the woman was a prostitute and you are a prince but could you do no better? Your actions deprived Obara of a mother, killed the woman. Does Obara have a guilty heart for a choice she made when she was little more than a child?

"You see I never got to meet you, through no fault of your own, but all I had was these stories and the rumors and tales. Mother's were always so filled with nostalgia, happiness and fun but there was so much time to over analyze them that I couldn't help but conclude that while you might be a fun, passionate individual, ultimately you seem uncaring for those outside of your circle or at least you act without thought of consequence and their well-being." Rhaenys was out of breath when she concluded and she felt dirty, she felt like she had gone wild at the man's spirit with a blade and ripped it to shreds.

Dark eyes stared at his hands, surely used to picking sand out from under his nails. Oberyn's jaw clenched and unclenched over and over again but he never spoke. Eventually he was slumped and his forehead rested on the back of his reversed chair. "You're right…"

Rhaenys said nothing, she wasn't seeking validation, she knew what she believes to be right and wrong. Her heart still hurt for the man before her realizing the faults of his actions or maybe simply being reminded of the faults.

"Doran always said I was impulsive." There was no doubt he felt guilt in her mind.

She hoped she wasn't being likened to Doran beyond sharing a more cautious and knowledgeable nature. Her own guilt at causing Oberyn of all people to brood made her speak up again. "You did nothing criminal and nothing knowingly. I just wanted to know if you regretted your handling of that situation and if you intended to do better. Now I know. That's the most important thing we can do: try and be better than the day before."

Oberyn nodded along. "A wise future queen you'll be."

The warmth of what was most assuredly a faint blush tingled on her cheeks, it was nice to be praised for her intellect by someone who had not raised her, though Oberyn was still an uncle. "Just doing Dorne proud."

"We couldn't be prouder." He seemed a bit more recovered from his moment of reflection.

"Well if I was to be the sole queen and my children the heirs then I think they would be more proud." Rhaenys offered her first true smile even if it was a small soft thing.

It still managed to restore some joy to Oberyn as his traditional grin started growing. "Yes, I imagine we would prefer that. A rose covered dragon…" He shook his head mournfully at her.

Rolling her eyes back at him, Rhaenys couldn't help but point out a flaw in his thinking. "You like three Tyrell-Targaryens."

"Aemon marries a Dornish woman, and he is technically a Martell because of that. Haella is Dornish in spirit. Nara is too young to hold anything against. Besides, those three don't look like Tyrells. Though from what I hear they have a pinch of sand in them, their father was born in our dunes."

"In theory Jae's blood would be, what? An eighth Dornish?" She took a moment to process the numbers in her head, the two incestuous relationships could be negated. "Three sixteenths, if you count the Daynes as fully Dornish rather than of the First Men."

Her uncle's lip curled in displeasure. "The Daynes count as half Dornish, if I'm feeling generous." Arthur was not even present and Oberyn couldn't resist the jab.

In that case her initial educated prediction, not guess as she was above guessing, was correct. "An eighth Dornish, born in Dorne, raised as a bastard, with multiple wives, I'm surprised you don't like him."

Shrugging, Oberyn just smiled. "If he let's me knight him then he can be my third favorite nephew."

"Where do I stand against Arianne?" She didn't expect him to answer and she certainly wouldn't expect to best her cousin. This was the first time she and Oberyn even interacted without false pretenses.

Humming noncommittally, Oberyn acted like it was debatable. "Hm… I'd have to see you with a spear, Elia said you were trained. You haven't graced us up on the deck."

Arthur and the others had trained her at her mother's behest, the fear of being defenseless was not something she'd wanted for her daughter, moreso when the crown would want her dead if they were aware Rhaenys lived. "Maybe once we get on solid ground. I should warn you Uncle Arthur trained me."

"So you're only a half decent spearwoman?" Oberyn snorted. At her mocking glare, he corrected himself, "Half pass decent spearwoman." 

"That sounds more correct." Truly she was probably only just competent with a blade, she'd always enjoyed twirling around more and had hated actually hitting Arthur or Egg. "How did Egg fare against you?"

Oberyn slumped at the question. "He's more Arthur's nephew than mine. That Dayne twisted him! Bests my spear with his bloody sword. Though I put that on these thick clothes and our choice of ring. His skill with a spear makes me want to cry, the boy is half Martell and he favors a sword!"

Shaking her head at her uncle's antics, she couldn't deny his words, even Rhaenys was better than Aegon when it came to spears. "I'm told my younger children are talented with the spear, and their siblings from beyond the Wall are just as good. If they are present at Winterfell, I'm sure they'd be willing to entertain you with a spar."

"At least one of you raised your children right."

The rest of their journey was slightly more pleasant after her conversation with her uncle, Rhaenys wouldn't say she enjoyed being in his presence but she thought he was much more tolerable now that she knew he had some remorse. To their fortune, Aemon's use of his gulls was completely unnecessary and they weathered no storms. 

Though annoyingly the travels took so long that her eating to fight off nausea made her gain some weight, not really noticeable but enough to make her normally snug riding breeches a squeeze. It was a good thing she'd soon be buried in furs that would stive off the chill of the North and make this change in body weight completely unnoticable.

There may have also been the fact that she'd been brooding a fair bit, Rhaenys thought she of all people had a right to dwell in her mind considering the circumstances. She'd soon meet her possible or rather future husband for the very first time. Even more strange was that she may very well meet children of her womb that she'd never so much as conceived. It was mind boggling, so too was the fact that soon, so very soon, the egg she's cradled since she was a babe shall hatch and dragons will return to the world.

All that was between her and the culmination of her thoughts was White Harbor and four hundred odd miles up the White Knife.

Hearing the shouts of the sailors increasing around the ship, she took one last glance at herself in the polished silver of her mirror, she quite disliked the term 'looking glass' as in most cases there was no glass, at least be accurate. With the confirmation her two white locks of hair were securely hidden in a clever braid and under a nice warm fur hat Rhaenys stowed the mirror away in her chest and headed onto the ship deck.

An energy had taken over many of the sailors and that did not exclude any of the other passengers, Rhaenys was beyond ready to escape this floating monstrosity. She was the last to exit the cabins as her family and acquaintances were already up top looking towards the distant shore and the white city that slowly grew there. Rhaenys took one moment to admire the white sword and star flying on the purpure sail. The sail had sat idle for four and ten years and now is finally dressing its maidenship.

Much to her uncle's displeasure he too was draped in the deep lilac of the Daynes, he seemed to be expressing his annoyance to an equally put out Daemon Sand. Above all else she noted that Oberyn ensured his back was always angled towards Arthur's smirking face.

On the other hand, Aegon and Arthur looked all too proud. Aegon was a Dayne in all but blood, with Uncle Arthur training him as if to become the next Sword in the Morning, but they'd long since agreed that honor would go to Edric, should he prove worthy. 

Arthur had always been their father figure, their exemplar of the male gender. Now under falsehood he'd be Egg's father. With his hair lightened and his beard masking the different facial features, he looked like a Valyrian. She liked the way that made her family feel all that much more intertwined.

A large rock spanning higher than their mast caught her attention as they sailed near it. Capping it was an old stone ringfort, armed with all the violent yet defensive essentials. Seal Rock, if her books were true.

The creatures that lazed on the bottom where the water lapped at its rocks, were adorable. They were like fat mer-dogs, with round earless heads, and the cutest beady black orbs for eyes. One even swam alongside the boat looking at her. She concluded she wanted ten of them but she refuses to take another pet until she has confirmed Balerion's fate. In the end she was forced to wave her little friend goodbye as they ventured further from the rock and neared the great wall that sheltered the core of the city. The seal even flapped a flipper or was it a paw back at her.

Docking went smoothly, and at last her feet were on land once more! Ashara and the captain had settled whatever conversation they had with the harbor manager.

Before she knew it the group was walking through the wide sprawling main street of White Harbor. The name was extremely fitting, nearly every building's exterior was covered in whitewash. It was such a contrast from Sunspear, instead of clear blue skies, the heavens held only dull grey clouds. Rather than narrow alleys, the Northern port city was vast, one might wander with their eyes closed and struggle to meet a building within a minute. The city exuded wealth in a way that made Sunspear appear poor.

"Fuck, it's cold," Obara cursed. She and Daemon had struggled the most to acclimate to the chill of the northern kingdoms. Unlike her and Aegon, who had left Dorne within the past decade and had a freezing dragon egg in their home, the two didn't even have the fires of Valyria heating their blood.

Aemon, Mons as she needed to get used to calling him, addressed Obara. "Pull your cloak tighter then. We'll speak with Lord Manderly then get adequate garb to last us until Winterfell. Then we'll be in the burning heart of the North and we'll get the warmest furs the North can offer. Northern made clothes will fare much better than those of Gulltown."

Atop a hill at the far end of the long stone way was their destination: New Castle. The seat of the only southern house in the North. Rhaenys always thought it was surprising that the Starks had given the emigrating southern house so much, after all the wars and battles with the Andals she'd think they wouldn't allow the house to keep their religion. They were entrusted with a very powerful seat and served faithfully and flourished with their southern attitude towards trade.

The Manderlys were a perfect example of immigration, emigration to be precise, they adopted many of the North's values and let their own differing values speak for themselves but also kept their family's traditions. Wisely they took the best of both kingdoms and were stronger for it, the second strongest in the North and no one could say they were not Northmen. Despite the Andal tendency to burn weirwoods for the sake of the Seven, here the cultures danced to the same tune. A grand sept was visible above the slate roofing and behind her somewhere inside the walls of the Wolf's Den was a godswood. She liked that freedom.

When they finally reached the keep, Rhaenys' legs were a bit shaky from finally being on land again, their lack of use over the past moon and the long walk. She'd need to tend to that sooner or later, she needed to be at her best as the game was soon upon them. 

After another discussion with a guard, they were admitted into the empty court under the watchful eyes of other guards. They were armed with polished tridents that shone like silver, the center prong was noticeably longer to not lessen its skewering ability but still had the outer prongs long enough to catch an opponent's blade, tradition and aesthetic not compromising practically.

The first to enter the hall was a green haired girl a bit younger than Jae, she was also the first to greet them and was the one to offer them guest right. "Welcome to New Castle, Lady Dayne. Bread and salt?" When they accepted she continued. "My grandfather will be here shortly. We had not been expecting you." One of the guards clearly relayed Ashara's identity to the girl's family.

"I'd think you mad if you had, I like to think I'm rather good at hiding. You need not fret, we sent no word ahead, Lady…" Ashara smiled kindly at the girl as she trailed off with an expectant brow raised.

"Wylla." Rhaenys watched with amusement as the green haired girl realized how casual and familiar her answer was before she corrected herself. "I am Wylla Manderly. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ashara." There was a hint of rightful skepticism in her tone at Ashara's name but that was forgivable.

The Dayne only grinned back. "And a pleasure it is to meet you, Lady Wylla. I like your hair. Tyroshi dye?" Poor Wylla would miss the double meaning and Rhaenys had to bite the inside of her cheek to not smile at Ashara's wordplay. After years, Ash's hair was finally back to its raven color, though not by natural means.

Blushing almost a tomato red, Wylla beamed under the praise and nodded rapidly. "Yes, I believe so." The girl bit her lip in uncertainty, but soon a curious glint crossed her eyes. "Is it true you are… Jon Snow's mother? Rumor has it that Lord Eddard confirmed it to King Robert about a fortnight ago."

Ashara stiffened but still answered. "In a way. I didn't get to mother him much." There was a bitterness seeped into the words and Rhaenys couldn't help but admire Ashara for her answer with such a painful topic.

Thankfully Wylla was observant enough to see the hurt the inquiry caused and she mumbled a soft apology and soon enough the girl's family arrived. "Lady Ashara, let me introduce you to my grandfather Lord Wyman Manderly, my father Lord Wylis, my mother Lady Leona, and my sister Lady Wynafryd. Grandfather, Lady Ashara Dayne and her company."

The Manderlys were definitely a plump group and that was putting it kindly, the two males were the largest men Rhaenys had ever seen in terms of total mass. Wylla's mother was nowhere near her husband or good-father but still an unhealthy weight. The other girl, about Rhaenys' age, was like Wylla and had a graceful build that was startling next to her parents. Both girls had a beauty one would not be prepared for amongst the bald round heads and bushy mustaches of their father's family or the round pink flesh of their mother. They must have also been beautiful people beneath their fat and in their youth.

"Pardon, Lady Ashara for our skepticism but we were under the impression you were dead." The largest and oldest man moved to sit atop the large cushioned high seat and in his shadow was a wall of beautifully wood carved sea creatures.

"You are forgiven, that is the intended result of faking one's own death after all."

Wyman snorted and chuckled. "You aren't wrong. Do you mind me asking why you hid yourself?"

Sighing, Ashara explained. "Because my elder brother Arthur joined the Kingsguard I was heir to Starfall. I was expected to marry and birth an heir, but I already had a son." Two sons and two daughters. "I already had a child, one taken from me, one I couldn't replace, one I couldn't give another all that should be theirs." She took a moment to wipe her eyes of the tears that threatened to fall. "I had a little brother, who'd always been in our brother's shadow, I could give him Starfall, so I could be with my other family."

Rhaenys was beyond impressed by her second mother, not once did she lie. While Elia had always been the more booksmart of the two women, Ashara had excelled at the social even if she disliked the dishonesty.

"Lord Eddard, has a wife." Lord Wyman's meaning was clear.

Ashara's chin rose slightly in defiance. "And I wish to come between them no more than I already have. I didn't come for him."

The Manderly needed little time to connect the clues. "You came for the boy." He was confident enough that he didn't need confirmation. "You knew Eddard would accept the offer to become Hand of the King. But why reveal yourself to me and ask me to commit treason against my lord?"

"You know he won't be able to stay at Winterfell long without Eddard there. He is nearly of age and Lady Catelyn doesn't need to order him to pressure him to leave. I'd think Eddard would prefer he be in my care at a known location than wandering on his own." Ashara then frowned. "Though from what I hear, Eddard was willing to let my son join the Watch should he wish, it seems Eddard has given him the choice of his future. I am just to offer him another option." 

Rhaenys could practically see the cogs of Wyman's mind turning. He remained beyond hesitant thought. "What assurances do I have that you will not use the boy to supplant Lord Robb?" Wyman was very conscious of the fact that above everyone Ashara appeared to have all the reasons to hate Eddard Stark, ironic that a third of those reasons was currently very much alive in the same room as him. 

Now that was a hard to answer question that even stumped Ashara. "Beyond my word, I have very little. Though if it helps, Eddard and I were never married, no vows, no papers, no gods. My son has very little claim to Winterfell." The instant Ashara realized her next words was noticeable the moment her lips turned downwards, not in defeat but grief. "Four and ten years ago I lost my lover, my child, my brother due- during a war. My brother was as skilled a swordsman as they come and I never got to see him again. Starting a war that could take the life of a child of mine would be the last thing I'd ever want."

Wyman was still unmoving though it was clear he wanted to bend, Ashara's tears could break men.

"If nothing else can show my good intentions, then explain why I would reveal myself to you instead of securing my son. If I sought to name my son the Lord of Winterfell why risk alienating the strongest of the North's bannermen? Why would I risk you stopping me?" Ashara's questions meet silence.

None of the Manderlys had an answer. In the end Wylla voiced the question that was certainly on all their minds. "Why did you come here?" No hostility, just confusion and boldness.

There was a pause where Ashara seemed to realize how off topic they had gotten. "Yes, well… I came to ask for some recommendations for certain services that your city may offer. You see, Eddard unknowingly ordered a shipment of glass from me and I need to see it safely transported to Winterfell. We will also need warmer clothes, horses and more to see us Dornish to Winterfell. I'd also like to ask if you have any prisoners set to be executed? I need three. I understand it is an odd request but you will have my word they'd be executed promptly upon arrival at Winterfell."

Had Ashara not already confused the Manderlys before then they were after that. Wynafryd's undyed brown brows were furrowed as she tried to make any sense of the everything. It wasn't like any of them could understand the need for those three lives.

Having worked through his thoughts, Wyman came to a decision. "I shall let you continue to Winterfell." There was clearly a 'but' coming. "However, you shall be accompanied by a number of my men. You may even have your three prisoners so long as my men witness the execution and the disposal of the corpse."

A sharp inhale came from Ash. She made a show of thinking it through and turning to face Arthur, who as the most embellished knight appeared to be her captain of guards, which was true. Her eyes were not seeking his opinion however but Elia, Egg, Aemon, and Rhaenys'. Having gotten whatever could have been conveyed from the silent conversation, Ashara faced the large lord. "One man witnesses the execution and disposal, one that you trust above no other."

"My second son, Wendel. He can see to some other business of mine at Winterfell, while he is there. Does this satisfy your terms?" One of Wyman's bushy white brows rose in question.

"Yes. You have my word no harm will come to your son from any of mine." Once again Rhaenys noted Ashara's clever wording.

"Good, now I offer you and your company rooms for the night and you are invited to dine with us for supper."

"Thank you, Lord Manderly, for your kindness." They all recognized the offer while possibly kind was to keep a close eye on them.

After many days of riding, they somehow managed to make it to Winterfell without any deaths or the Northmen being recognized by Ser Wendel. Aemon's claims of the Manderlys' steadfast loyalty to the Starks better ring true because a lot of lives are riding on his ability to keep his tongue and Wendel was a loud talkative individual.

The North, unlike what many said was beautiful, mayhaps not in the traditional sense but beautiful nonetheless, most were simply too blind to have a little perspective. Maybe it had to do with living in Dorne, a land equally discriminated against even by herself at times, or it could be the natural excitement for the foreign that gained her favor.

On their second day in the North, she had her first experience with snow! Waking up to witness the wonder of small white flecks slowly dancing their way down from the heavens just to melt on the first thing they touched. Nature at its finest. Their travels had made one thing clear to her and it was that the North was easily the kingdom most in tune with nature. One might expect the Reach for that title but there was an air to the North that begged to differ. The North was vast, extraordinarily so, it looked so untouched by man that it was purely by nature's design.

That morning though had been the only time they got to experience snow. Wynafryd, Wylla's elder sister, had explained that day that while summer snows were not uncommon, they were sparse especially in the southern part of the kingdom and rarely lasted to noon. True to the girl's word, when the group finally came across a farm that the crops had weathered the cold and survived as even at night the ground never reached freezing.

The sight of the massive castle's eastern gate pulled her from her musing and towards her worries: Jaehaerys. She knew logically that she should have little to fret about, they were by all accounts happily married in a future. That knowledge didn't stop her mind from doubting, time and experiences can change someone greatly and there were years and many missed memories that may have made them compatible. 

Before she knew it and before she could brood more, Rhaenys was shadowing her mother and Ashara into a courtyard full of beautiful people but two caught her eye first. First was the cold yet restrained face of Lady Catelyn Stark, which Rhaenys figured was an act, though it was hard to tell with how natural it looked. The other figure… was Jaehaerys.

Her future husband in disregard of all procedures was almost instantly glomped on by Ashara. There was no better word for what she witnessed, it was almost violent but radiated a figurative gooiness to it. Ashara being so buried in furs didn't help to make it look less like a bear attack.

Jaehaerys took a second to recover before he hugged Ashara back, soon enough he was smiling a lovely smile and nuzzling into white fur. Rhaenys almost questioned how she could even see his face when Ashara was still taller than Aegon who had almost two years on Jae but with the cloaks it was hard to tell if someone was at their full height. She was struck when his eyes opened in the rare cloudless noon, he looked like he could have been Ashara's son; his eyes a bit duskier, hair with a warmer rich glow to it designating it to be brown rather than black but it was close. Combined with his evident joy, he made a pretty sight, one she'd remember.

Their eyelock was broken when she felt a nudge on her leg, looking down it was just Aegon. "What? 

Aegon offered her a hand as if he was a gallant prince instead of a devil. "You can keep staring or you can dismount. I don't think the Starks would enjoy a horse in their halls."

He got a light kick of her boot in retribution from her, and a dignified huff from her horse. "I was not staring! And the Starks would be blessed to have this beautiful girl in their halls." Her black mare gave a pleased whine at either Rhaenys' words or her stroke of the horse's mane.

"You were most certainly staring, you didn't even notice you're the last to dismount and that was a minute ago." Admittedly her brother's word appeared correct and he was helpful in getting off the horse, not that she needed him.

"Yes, because I have empathy and felt my heart warm at the emotional reunion of a son and mother that makes me smitten." She rolled her eyes at him, though becoming infatuated with Jae would be productive and help prevent any familial feelings from arising.

Her brother wasn't listening though, Aegon looked back and forth between her and a trio that made her breath hitch, each time the smile on his ugly mug of a face grew. With the absolute subtlety of a dragon, he mouthed 'They look just like you' to her. She sincerely hoped his dragon would be wiser than he, because she doubted they'd have been able to hide Egg without the belief he was dead, not exactly something as easily applicable to a dragon.

It was incredible just how much she and her children looked alike but she could see differences. There was a part in the back of her mind that reminded her of the reported lack of genders in dragons and their mysterious reproduction. She wasn't a dragon physically though, and her ability to seemingly duplicate herself still likely required Jae. Plus to her knowledge a dragon has never perished reproducing like her grandmother, Lyanna, and almost her mother and Ashara.

Daena was almost Rhaenys' exact reflection, the only difference being flakes of Jae's violet in otherwise black eyes. She even had Rhaenys' unique hair stemming from her temples, all three did actually though for Baelor and Myriah they had a single white lock sprouting in the place of a widow's peak instead of their temples. These were her children!

Rhaenys itched to embrace them, smother them in motherly love, but she couldn't, at least not before all of Winterfell. She had zero confidence in her ability to converse with them and not hug them. But soon enough they were moving towards the keep as Ashara and Lady Stark concluded stilted talk about the glass shipment and she reluctantly separated to save Jae from Aegon, only catching the tail end of their conversation.

"-bastard sword. They are easily the best." She grimaced at Aegon's lack of tact but Jae didn't seem phased.

"Aye. The perfect middle ground between an arming sword and greatsword. Good reach but still usable with a shield and on horseback." Jae's words caused Aegon's eyes to light up with that boyish look men had when they talked about their swords like toys.

Eyeing Jae's blade, Aegon tapped its pommel. "You are a man of culture!" Favorite sword type would be something Egg would tease his brother about if found not to his liking. "We will have to spar sometime."

A slight grin grew on Jae's face and Rhaenys was amazed by how different the two half-brothers looked. She was hard pressed to see many similarities, their chins were close, cheekbones even closer, and their nose similar though varying in tilt and length. "Aye. I could use a new partner, Robb favors the greatsword."

"Gross." The two's comments earned themselves an 'Oi!' from up the column and they laughed off the redhead's annoyance.

Now, Rhaenys decided was a fine opportunity to intrude. "I-if I recall correctly; Ser Arthur Dayne, considered by many to be one of the greatest swordsmen of all time, uses a greatsword. The legendary blade Dawn is a greatsword, so is Ice, I believe?" She couldn't tell but she'd bet Arthur was smiling under his helm.

"Ice is a ceremonial greatsword so it really isn't meant for combat, the Lords of Winterfell use it for executions, Lord Stark didn't take it with him so as not to disrespect the King's executioner." Clever, Jae caught on to her little inquiry about the blade's safety and had a good cover up.

It also made her remember their three prisoners who she assumed were being moved to Winterfell's cells. She didn't feel too bad for them, a murderous child molester, a serial murderer, and a thrice over rapist, all three had not only threatened her during the journey but every woman in the party including little Maenara. None were repentful and she thought the world would be better without them.

A warmth overtook her as they passed through thick ironwood doors, the stories were true! "The walls are heated! Incredible! Do you often have to add water or is there a sort of collector on the roof or is it a perfectly enclosed system? How often do you deal with leaks, a single one would ruin the whole system if it were enclosed? Do you use controlled leaks to have hot water for baths on command? Wait, no, that water would be slightly sulfuric or is it? I suppose you could use the spring water to heat clean water regardless…" Rhaenys had been too distracted studying the walls in amazement to realize her ramblings or that the group had paused in entirety to stop and stare at her. When she finally did notice, she shrunk. "Uh…ignore me." That did give her some ideas for the Stormlands though.

Aegon gave her a grin which shortly widened, he gave her a pat on the back before leaving her in Jae's company.

As if he knew in advance they were arriving today, Jae was dressed in silver and violet, or he changed to appear even more like Ashara's child, either way it was to their advantage. He didn't say anything or tease her for what just occurred, which she considered a good sign, but he did have a single straight brow raised.

Suddenly stupid, like all her brains were poured out in her last outburst, Rhaenys forgot how to talk. "Uh… I- I was told you only wore black." Yes, clothes are a great topic to speak with men about. She stopped herself from face palming, plus she was bringing up that he was sent to what was essentially a penal colony; she doesn't even know if he has come to terms about it or not. Where did her tongue go when she needed it!

Jae chuckles and she feels both relief and embarrassment roll over her, he wasn't mad but he was laughing at her. "In another life." Was he laughing at her after all? "I always thought it was my color but recently I'm told that I can pull off red as well." So, he thought she went back to their little double talk, that's better than thinking she lost her nerves from a little attention.

Putting on some false confidence, Rhaenys hummed in agreement. "You do look good in some color." She nearly tripped herself realizing what she said. Rhaenys had meant to say 'You aren't wearing red, do you not like the color?' as a way to ask if he'd accepted his paternal legacy. At this point her foot might as well be in her mouth rather than a silver tongue.

"Well, you look…" Jae was slightly flushed, so he was wearing some red.

"Cold?" Rhaenys wasn't buried like her mother, Ashara or Obara but she still had thick furs, he wasn't wearing any furs or even a cloak. The heated walls did make it almost comfortable.

Snorting, Jae shook his head in amusement. "I wasn't going to say that but I suppose you look warm and cozy. I guess that is a matter of perspective."

"Yes, yes it is. I'd like to see you under the Dornish sun." Oh gods! She hoped he thought their game was over because if he read into that, she had basically said she wanted to see him naked.

Fortunately he didn't seem to take it that way, perhaps he expected her to stutter if that had been her intent, she clearly wasn't a very confident flirt. "I'd burn up or melt. To think I was born there."

It pleased her to hear that he'd clearly been as informed as she'd been, and recognized his Dornish baptism by dusting. "You wouldn't burn."

"I'm told only Targaryens have an unnatural resistance to heat, unfortunately I can burn." He held out a scarred palm. Was he denying his house?

It took her a moment to process his intended meaning and to push down theories of the conditions and nature of their house's immunity to fire. If he could burn... Returning her attention to Jaehaerys, she grabbed his displayed hand and pulled limb close to study. It was covered in a web of silver, the distinct branding of fire. "When was this?"

He sighed and thought for a moment. "Within a year from now." A strange way to say-

Rhaenys shot him an incredulous look, he couldn't be serious. "How?"

Again he needed time to pick his words carefully. "A curtain caught aflame. A few moons ago we shared scar stories as a group."

Picking through the meaning shadowed by his words was harder this time. The first one may not have a double meaning but it was clear there was more to the story and magic must have been involved if Aemon was correct and he likely was. Scar stories, moons ago, within a year. Had he gotten the scars from being told about them? 

Wordlessly, Jae nodded in confirmation at her questioning look. The group stopped and he glanced around. They were at the doorway to what looked to be the war council chambers but while everyone else had entered Jon, the silver haired trio and her children lingered. "You four can speak in the family room, I'll make sure you don't miss anything important. We'll let your group catch us up and deal with Ser Wendel, we won't cover my side of things." He gave her a soft smile that nearly made her kiss him in gratitude.

"Thank you," never before had sincerity so seeped her voice. Rhaenys very much wanted to be a part of the meeting but the deep wish to meet her children properly made her conflicted, Jae was kind enough to see this and solve her problem. Letting herself get pulled away down the hall, Rhaenys peered back to catch Maenara jumping Jaehaerys with an adorable hug just out of sight of those inside the room. That'll be her in just a few moments.

The instant they stepped out of the staircase, Baelor opened his arms invitingly. There was a cloud of longing, distress, doubt and fear in his dark eyes that pulled at her previously unused mothering nature.

She couldn't help but give in and two more bodies smushed into her sides but still left her an out. These were her children, children she never thought she'd have, children she had long sought to avoid having so as to spare herself risk and pain both physical and emotional.

They were hers and they were her responsibility. She could finally understand the beautiful strength and altruism of not only her mother, but Ashara and every other mother. Rhaenys was flooded with such selflessness that it felt near unnatural considering her previous beliefs. It could have been the sight of them, so like her, or mayhaps seeing herself in the way Baelor had offered his embrace, the way Daena's eyes analyzed her surroundings and the way Myriah's fingers and toes constantly fidgeted. It took her not even a day to see these three were her greatest and most profitable investment, they were her world and they loved her in return, a heart bursting, overwhelming love.

An audible sniffle made her realize she was crying tears of pure happiness. Rhaenys reluctantly pulled back so as not to ruin Baelor's top but it had the benefit of revealing her childrens' faces once more. "D-Daena," her eldest. "Baelor," her boy. "Myriah," her baby girl.

"Muña," all three said it with so much fondness. Couldn't they tell she was trying to stop crying.

Eventually they spent enough time for her to not cry at every little thing they did and for her tears to dry. She had one last order of business at hand before she could return to the others.

Her tight hug surprised Baelor and he let out an 'oof' sound but he returned the embrace. He didn't speak up even as her grip became a bit constricting, the squeaky whine that escaped him was purely involuntary.

The slight sniffle may have ruined the intimation effect but it may have boosted her delivery due to her target. "While I may let you hunt firewyrms as it is ultimately your choice, I want to be informed of any and all injuries and close calls, no more throwing singed cloaks into the sea. I'll prefer to fret with the knowledge you faced danger than have you hide potential mistakes and injuries from me. And if Aegon ever does something stupid, you have my permission to whack him atop the head."

A groan was by a slow drawl. "Aye! I know! You have said this before." He tapped her shoulder in request for release. "I told you about the cloak when we got back." Once released he slowly caught his breath. "Haella told you that?"

"That drama starting girl! I can't believe I fell for that!" Rhaenys was both pale and red at that realization. At least Haella didn't get the pleasure to see the fruition of her plots.

Daena hummed, with a smile. "This last minute never happened, no need to encourage her. Riah, think up some pranks."

"Of course Your Grace," Myriah said and half mockingly bowed. Her dark eyes had the same mischievous twinkle as Oberyn's.

Rhaenys would ensure their revenge was harmless and still friendly but she would relish seeing Haella on the receiving end of drama for once. "Let's rejoin the others, I'd like to hear all that has happened on this end of the realm."

True to Jae's word, Rhaenys missed very little she didn't already know. Her party had not made many plots so as to reduce the probability they might interfere with any of the North's, who as it turned out had done a fair job of making moves without changing the game too much.

Eddard Stark, as per Wyman Manderly's words, had once again accepted the position of Hand of the King. Thankfully this time, he was ever so slightly more politically adept if one counted information from the future, he also did not bring any of his children. Bringing a smile to her face was the news that Martyn Cassel had decided to join both his son and Lord Stark to the Red Keep, not only did it keep the father and son together, but also put a man familiar with Richard Lonmonth and his spies inside the lion's den.

The Starks had made many moves, some already showing fruits, some still growing. They had saved Bran Stark, acquired the New Gift, gotten a promise of fostering for Myrcella instead of a betrothal for Sansa, they confused Jaime Lannister to the point of reclusiveness. Edging on unwelcome was the lack of evidence uprooted on the Boltons so far but that was easily the worst news for the ongoing plots. They had yet to get a response from Stannis for a deal to cure his daughter of her greyscale affliction in return for permission to mine Dragonstone's obsidian.

Most curious to Rhaenys was the woman seeking out Robert Baratheon's bastards. Mya Stone was to become Aegon's wife and Lady of Storm's End, it would be ideal to prevent the girl from wasting her maidenhood on a fourth son. "Just who is this Cassana?"

Jae, as she refused to call him Jon, was the one to answer. "Cassana is our adoptive daughter and my niece, she is Arya's daughter with Robert Baratheon's eldest son, Gendry."

That made her the one outlier in the group of time travelers, the only one not of Jae's line, though Laerra's daughter also didn't appear in this time. Cassana's presence made it clear that it wasn't Jae's blood that was special but the Stark's, even the Targaryen blood was outshone unless Aegon's children were somehow here.

She shuddered at that thought, all the children appeared at weirwoods close in proximity to their mothers excluding hers, who appeared by their father as the closest weirwood to her resided in Storm's End. She didn't know if there were weirwoods in the Vale or the Crownlands, but she knew of a few in the Riverlands and one in the jaws of the Old Lion, the Stone Garden in Casterly Rock. Rhaenys recognized the dreadful possibility that her nieces and nephews were here being tortured and everything was going to go up in flames. "Where was Myrcella on the day everyone appeared?"

"King's Landing or on the King's Road, I believe." Lady Stark did not seem too confident in her answer. It wasn't much help either way, if Aegon's kids appeared at Harrenhall or the Isle of Faces, they still appeared nearly four moons ago.

Sansa Stark surprisingly spoke up to counter her mother. "Cella said they had been heading to Casterly Rock with Lord Tywin before heading North." Her voice was a bit quiet and shy but still had a melodic tone that made it clear she had a talent for singing.

Rhaenys nearly grimaced at her future husband's wife or rather her future wife's reveal. "We should prepare for the possibility that we might not be the only ones to know the future. If Aegon's children came back as well, they may have appeared right in Tywin's claws."

"What!" Aegon seemed to get the message. "If that whoring golden-" Egg's profanity was masked by their mother's chastement. "-harmed my children, I might pull one out of the other Aegon and the Golden Company's book of tactics."

Their mother fixed Aegon with a fierce glare. "Aegon, no genocide! Only kill the ones responsible, that is justice. For Tywin however you are very welcome to take your time with him considering…"

Oberyn's eyes twinkled and his grin was wide at Elia's words. Evidently Aegon would have an audience if not a partner.

Strangely Laerra, Margaery's eldest and the future queen, was whistling innocently.

"If Tywin learned the future then it was a good thing, Laerra and Margaery got Jeyne out of the Westerlands, he definitely would have tried to get me to marry her again. We can't let him cripple the Riverlands again using the Mountain." Robb Stark stood by Jaehaerys with the determined yet grave look that she figured was common during his dance with kinghood.

"Lord Hoster is ill and we have more than a just reason to visit Riverrun should we attend the Hand's Tourney." Jae looked at Lady Stark and gave her a nod before turning to Sansa. "We already agreed that winning the near hundred thousand dragons in coin purses would be beneficial. I would also like to see the state of the South before it bears the scars of war."

Rhaenys fully agreed, "I think it would be prudent to see the effects of a poor rule though perhaps not entirely practical. We have many things we need to take care of on a strict timeline, every night those beyond the Wall are killed and the more victims of the Boltons there are. The Freys and Boltons need to be dealt with soon before they can harm us during the war."

The rest of the meeting wasn't very productive and they decided to discuss the specifics of their future plans in a few days after they complete the executions. 

"So... What do you think of Jae?" Aegon's voice was hardly innocent. His teasing was a sort of payment for kindly doing the heavy lifting of her things to her new chambers in the Guest House. Ever the politician nothing came free with Aegon, he'd curse her for the thought.

Huffing in annoyance as she placed her small library of books and journals on the desk, Rhaenys decided she'd humor him this time. "Well, I could see why I was happy with him, at the very least in a shallow manner and he was sufficiently clever."

Aegon snorted. "First: that was the most roundabout way to say you find him attractive ever. Second: gross. Third: I didn't need to hear that."

"Then why ask me what I thought of my future husband?" She rolled her eyes at his dramatics once her back was turned to him.

Looking at the two boxes by her bed, Egg hummed. "Because he is our brother as well."

She didn't even try to hide her annoyance at his comment. How many times had she tried to correct him, Egg was to use 'my' instead of 'our' in terms of his relation to Jae. "Yes, and the more you bring that up the more immoral my marriage will be should I apply the traditional familial power hierarchy to my relationship with Jae. One in my position should not correlate any love I may find with him to a blood relation. So please don't, it is counter productive and we are at war."

In return Aegon gave her a little grumble. "Okay… Do I want to know what else you thought about him?" Why in seven hells was he still on about this.

"Gods Aegon, I just met him, he was kind but I am hardly infatuated with him at the moment. I'm not lusty like the rest of the realm label us all Dornish women as. I care for more than just appearances." Glaring at her brother was nothing new and unsurprisingly he was mostly immune to it now.

"From the sounds of it, you are plenty lusty, just exclusive, like Mother. And I must point out you are mentioning Jae's looks quite often, are you sure that you aren't smitten?" He just smiled at her ire.

The urge to throw a book at him was great but Rhaenys refused to sentence one of her innocent books to the filth that was Aegon's face. "Ridiculous. I thought you were grossed out by the thought of me finding Jae attractive?"

Shaking his head, Aegon wore a damnable grin. "You know me better than that."

She did and so Rhaenys raised a hand in a shooing motion. "Go. You are no longer of use to me."

"Why, because you have Jae now to be at your beck and call?" Aegon flicked his brows up suggestively and turned to the door. He chuckled as he left either ignorant or uncaring to the way her eyes narrowed into a more deadly stare aimed at the back of his head.

Moments after he left she let her face relax into a fond smile. For all that they bickered, Rhaenys did enjoy the company of her brother even if he was a bit much at times.

Rhaenys contented herself with opening one of the two small crates by the foot of her new bed, pulling out her golden egg. Cuddling it to her chest she got into bed if only to make a heated burrow. She'd need to speak with Jae after supper, every Targaryen deserved to sleep with their cradle egg.

Notes:

So like Rhaenys I only just realized that if Aegon's kids were also in the past then by the basis I set up Myrcella's kids would appear in Casterly Rock.

This chapter in particular has made things rather clear to me that I need to focus on the main plot and not get too carried away with some side stories that build characters a bit but don't affect the main story really. The Oberyn and Rhaenys distance probably could have been nixed in favor of bending his character but I preferred this. I had a conversation between Rhaenys and Obara but I didn't feel it was completely necessary. If there is to be filler I want it to be fluff. On the other hand this is the new longest chapter in the series though it has a lot of setup so it might have been a bit boring which is a shame to introduce Rhaenys like that.

Also neither Rhaenys nor Elia know that Oberyn actually slapped Obara's mother and then insulted her for crying, that wouldn't go down well with either of them.

I don't know if it is canon or not but I made Edric Dayne's father the younger sibling of Arthur and Ashara rather than their older brother. I simply felt it made a bit more sense considering Edric's age and it adds a bit more to Ashara's story.

So I finally created an outline for the next 15 chapters so I should have slightly quicker updates again. That will bring us to about the Hand's Tourney. That sounds like we're moving really slow, but I guarantee things will be picking up starting next chapter and carrying on. The board is being set and they will be making moves to ensure it plays into their favor.

Next chapter will be a Jon PoV covering the getting to know Rhaenys, some more interactions with his children, as well as some not so surprises.

Upcoming Chapter POV Order:

Jon III (Likely to be two chapters)

Sansa II

Multi IV

Multi V

Mya I