The Return of the Rogue Prince

Castle Black 300 AC.

Daemon.

He looked at his uncle's body, he had sent his steward to inform the Lord Commander, but looking down on the man, seeing him lie there, Daemon thought he looked at peace, he looked happy even. Aemon had lived a remarkable life, the man who should have been a king, the man who turned down the throne and then to protect his brother's reign came here to this place.

A dragon who wasted away in the cold, there was no fire here, no warmth, and Daemon felt furious with himself, with his father, with his family, they had left him here alone and forgotten, left him here to die alone. His uncle's words resonated in his head though, Daemon couldn't blame the man for getting a prophecy wrong, for filling his father's head with it, though it didn't excuse his father's treatment of him, so what if he wasn't a Visenya, he was his blood, was he not?.

"My prince, perhaps you should allow me to prepare him, the Lord Commander wishes to see you also." Chett said and he nodded.

"Very well, look after him." he said and the man's expression and his soft nod told him he would.

Daemon took another look around the room, he gathered up the letters and the Maester's journal and walked to the Lord Commander's solar. Inside he found Jeor Mormont speaking to his steward and Bowen Marsh, all three, even the young steward looked tired and grey to him, this place clearly taking its toll.

"My prince, I'm sorry for your loss." Jeor said.

"Yours too Lord Commander."

"My prince, I hate to bring this up now, forgive me but our need is so great I have no choice. The watch is suffering, we're on the brink of collapse, men, supplies, we have too little of both, I beg of you, speak to your father, tell him of what you've seen here."

"I will Lord Commander, coin, how are you for coin?" He asked and Jeor looked to Bowen.

"We receive very little in taxes my prince, the south has forgotten us and the North is not rich, we have less than 100 gold dragons in credit in White Harbor, less than 100 here."

"I'll make some available from my own account. Lord Commander do you have someone who can go to Braavos?"

"My prince, we cannot ask this of you." Jeor said shaking his head.

"You did not, but it is my duty, all the same, I can allow you 20,000 gold dragons to be collected in Braavos, I can also speak to my uncle in Winterfell and to Lord Manderly in White Harbor and allow you to credit another 30,000. I shall speak to my father and the lords of the south upon my return Lord Commander, you have my word on that."

"My Prince, I thank you, the watch thanks you."

"Tell me of the Free Folk Lord Commander, my uncle mentioned them to me, what can you tell me of them?".

"Wildings my prince, they raid and try to cross the wall, savages, cannibals, we do our best, but we don't have the men." Jeor said apologetically.

"I was casting no aspersions Lord Commander, more seeking information, do they have a leader? Are they congregated somewhere in particular?"

"Hardhome." Bowen Marsh said and Daemon looked at him.

"Hardhome?"

"It's the closest thing to a settlement they have my prince, as for a leader, I'm ashamed to say they have a former brother of ours they've declared King Beyond the Wall, Mance Rayder." Jeor added.

"What is he like this King?"

"He was a decent brother for a time, but he was born beyond the wall, we raised him and he turned on us, turned his cloak on his brothers." Bowen Marsh said spitting on the floor.

Daemon looked at the men, they were bitter, he'd receive no unbiased information from these men today, no if he wished to know about Mance Raydar and the Free Folk, he'd need to use other means. Standing up, he nodded to the men, Jeor thanked him for his support and they made their way to the hall to eat, he had no appetite but it would be hours until Aemon was ready to be laid to rest.

The pyre was raised high and Aemon Targaryen, the forgotten dragon was laid on top of it, Daemon looked to the men around the pyre, older men, men who knew his uncle no doubt. He had thought of asking Lyanax to burn the pyre, had gone so far as to offer it, but Aemon was a man of the watch and the watch had their own way of saying goodbye.

"Aemon Targaryen came to us brother of a king, but to each of us, he was our Maester, our brother, a man of the Night's watch. He was just like each of us a watcher on the wall, and now his watch is over." Jeor said leaning down and placing his torch at some branches.

"AND NOW HIS WATCH IS OVER." the men shouted as each of those nearest did the same.

The flames rose higher and higher, the pyre catching blaze so quickly that men moved back, but Daemon didn't, Daemon felt himself move forward, felt drawn to the flame. He saw it then, among the flames, saw the men and women run in fear, their furs, and crude weapons no match for the things they faced. Their enemies weren't men, not anymore, their eyes blue, their weapons even cruder than the ones the men in fur bore.

On the hill, he saw men of ice riding bears, elks, horses, they wore pale armor, they pointed down and more and more of the dead things, for he could see them clearly now, moved forward. They overwhelmed the men in furs, he saw them fall, saw men, women, even children fall, and then he was on a hill facing a Weirwood tree, in its branches a raven cawed. It's three eyes staring at him.

" You must come, you must be ready, you'll know when, now is not the time, but you must come when called." the raven said.

In the blink of an eye it was over, gone, the vision no more, instead the flames burned normally and looking around Daemon could see that they always had. He shook his head, once before he had seen a vision like this, then the men who fall rode horses and wore horsehair instead of fur.

There the things which faced them had eyes of red not blue, the result was the same, the message the same, though the raven then had only two eyes, one blue, one green. The message was loud and clear that time too, the same words, the same feeling, even the fire itself had burned high, and like then Daemon felt the fear deep in his bones.

He spent the night drinking with the men, they celebrated Aemon's life rather than mourned his death and Daemon was grateful for it, he found he needed it. He hadn't been drunk, properly fall down drunk since he and Thoros had stumbled on the Golden Company in a tavern. They had listened to the men brag about their word being as good as gold, about Bittersteel and he hadn't been able to stop himself.

" All this to celebrate a craven." he said loudly from the corner.

" What did you say boy?" a large oaf of a man said and Thoros looked at him shaking his head.

" I said, Bittersteel was a craven who ran with his tail between his legs, a false dragon with no balls, I can see now why you celebrate him so, you look like a man with no balls to me."

" Daemon." Thoros said warningly as the other two got up.

" I'm going to teach you a lesson boy, on that my promise is as good as gold."

" I think you're more likely to do as Bittersteel did, run with your tail between your legs, why don't we find out?" Daemon said.

" Daemon, really." Thoros said shaking his head a smirk on his face.

" Fuck em." he said as he dove across the table taking the big man to the ground.

In the end, he had been proved right, the man had run and he and Thoros got drunk, but they had run for more men and so Thoros and he had ended up being chased by god knows how many. It had become a thing with the Golden Company and him, over the years he just couldn't resist, these idiots had almost brought down his family, simply because of one man's jealousy.

Waking the next morning, his head pounding, he bid his farewells to the Lord Commander, giving him the two letters of credit he'd written for White Harbor and Winterfell and the letter allowing him access to the coin in the Iron Bank. Calling for Lyanax, he looked at the wall knowing he'd be back here someday and hoping it would not be for a long time.

Mounting his dragon he took off heading south, he'd speak to his uncle and get him to organize supplies based on the coin, hopefully, it'd be enough.

Kings Landing 300 AC.

Elia.

Speaking to the red priest and priestess was a unique experience for her, Thoros had arrived at court sometime before, ostensibly to convert the land to his red god. She had not met the man then, nor dealt with him, but now speaking to others she found the man to be perplexing. By all accounts, he didn't believe what he said, was not a true believer in his god and was simply a drunk.

The man she met, the woman she met, were anything but, they believed, they believed fully, that it was Daemon they believed in gave her a lot to think on. What had happened to him in Essos? What had he gone through? Whatever it was there was pain involved, danger, the woman's words making that clear and her worry for the boy increased. He'd left one land full of danger and come back and in this one, she had no doubt he was in danger too.

"Mother, are you well?" Rhaenys asked and she shook her head and pushed the plate away, she had barely eaten, her appetite lost to her.

"I'm well, what were you saying?"

"I was talking about Arianne mother, she's due here in a day or two."

"I know, your uncle sent a raven." she said shaking her head, her brothers were idiots if they thought Arianne could or would be accepted for Daemon's wife.

"When is Daemon coming back?" Rhaenys asked and Elia couldn't tell if she was genuinely interested in seeing her brother or if it was more to tie in with Arianne's visit.

"I don't know Rhae, no one does."

"Not even Myrcella?" Rhaenys asked.

"Not even Myrcella."

She looked at her daughter who had a small little smirk on her face and it annoyed her, it was bad enough Aegon was in an almost public war with his brother, having her daughter in a private one was not something she would stand for.

"Arianne and my brothers are wasting their time, you should know this."

"I wasn't even aware she was coming mother." Rhaenys said and Elia could tell by her put out tone this was the truth.

"Not only would your father not allow the match, Daemon's interests clearly lie elsewhere."

"Surely father wouldn't allow that match either mother." Rhaenys said concernedly.

"I do not know your father's mind on this, I do know he'll not give Daemon to Dorne, your grandmother would never allow it."

"Grandmother doesn't get a say." Rhaenys said and Elia laughed.

"Oh, my sweet child, who do you think Daemon would listen to. your father or your grandmother? Rhaella won't just have a say, she'll have the say."

She watched as Rhaenys sat quietly for a moment, almost as if she was running things through her head. Before she had a chance to say anything though, Rhaegar walked in, Arthur following behind him like a shadow.

"A raven from the wall." he said handing her the scroll.

"From Daemon?" Rhaenys asked and she shook her head as she read it.

"From the Lord Commander, it seems Maester Aemon is dying. I'm sorry my love, I know you were close."

"We were, once." Rhaegar said.

She didn't know why they stopped sending each other ravens, other than with Lyanna's death Rhaegar stopped a lot of what he did. Though she could see some guilt or was that grief on her husband's features now.

"Where's Egg?" Rhaegar asked and she shook her head, having no idea where her son was.

"Rhae, where is your brother?" he said turning to Rhaenys.

"I don't know father, I didn't see him last night, perhaps he's looking for Theon?" Rhaenys said and she saw her husband look to Arthur.

Rhaegar ate as little as she did and when Rhaenys asked to be excused Elia turned to him, ready to see what his mind was on Arianne and Myrcella.

"You know why Arianne is coming don't you?"

"I know, it can't happen Elia."

"I know, what of Myrcella?"

"He seems fond of her, more than fond." Rhaegar said smiling softly "They would be a good match too, but, I have concerns."

"Concerns?"

"Aegon."

"You would turn down the match?"

"There is no match, not unless I make one, but I don't know, Daemon with the Lions, Aegon with the Roses, I'll not set the seeds for another dance."

"You may not have a choice." Arthur said surprising them both.

"Arthur?" she asked.

"Daemon likes her, she likes him, the old lion is in his debt, he'll wish a match. What do you say if he asks, if you snub him here, how will he take it."

"You think he'd revolt?" Rhaegar said shaking his head.

"I think he's a proud man, he may accept Aegon marrying Margaery, but seeing his granddaughter gets along with Daemon and to then not get the match, he may not be happy, and that's not even taking into account Daemon's own feelings on the matter."

She nodded then, though Rhaegar seemed more reticent, turning down an offer from the Lannister's would be problematic from their perspective, from Daemon's it could be unforgivable.

"What of these men Daemon has with him, these unsullied, Ser Davos?" she asked.

"Dangerous men, I do not know if our own men could beat the unsullied unless we overwhelmed them." Arthur said and she looked at him in shock.

"Why would that be an issue?"

"It isn't my queen, but it's one I consider all the same." Arthur said.

"They are loyal to Daemon?" she asked and both Rhaegar and Arthur nodded.

She needed to find out more, though she hated doing it she needed to speak to Rhaella, she'd far prefer to find out this her own way, but it seems even Varys was quiet on Daemon, something she didn't understand at all.

Kings Landing 300 AC.

Myrcella.

She looked at the letter again wondering why the princess was asking her to join her for lunch, well that wasn't quite true she knew why, she more wondered why now. Her mother and uncle sat beside her, Tommen smirking at her annoyingly, Tyrion was with her grandfather and Joffrey had been called to Aegon's side, no doubt to discuss the men who'd arrived.

She'd heard her grandfather and uncle speak of them, the unsullied, slave soldiers, though Daemon having them as free men surprised them, almost as much as Ser Davos being with him. Having a former Baratheon loyalist with him was something her grandfather couldn't understand, though, given the restrictions on the Stormlands, it made more sense to her.

"What time have you to meet the princess, Myrcella?" her mother asked.

"I don't know mother, she said she'd send for me."

"Is that what you're wearing?"

"It is, why? Is there something wrong with it?"

"No, you look beautiful my love, doesn't she Jaime?"

"Very much so." her uncle said and she smiled at him.

They were surprised a few minutes later when her grandfather and Tyrion arrived to eat with them, she had assumed they would be breaking their fast themselves later. She was glad of it though especially seeing her uncle smile at her and her grandfather look at her approvingly.

"What is that?" her grandfather asked looking at the letter in her hand.

"Princess Rhaenys has invited Myrcella to luncheon." her mother said and Myrcella noticed her uncle and grandfather look to each other.

"Grandfather?"

"I just received the news that Princess Arianne is due to arrive within the next day or two."

Why was Arianne coming? she was about to ask and then it struck her, she was here for Daemon, it had been years since Arianne had last been in the capital and now she was here for Daemon.

She looked back at the letter, then at her grandfather who was looking intently at her, before she smiled.

"What are you smiling at Cella?" Tommen asked smirking at her.

"Just thinking of snakes brother." she said and saw her grandfather's small smirk.

"We have just organized a shipment of food and supplies to the North, it's the first of many, bringing with it the offer a trading agreement too, father feels it the least we can do." Tyrion said looking at her.

"It is uncle, if you'll excuse me I think I'd like to change for lunch." she said and got up from the table.

The dress she picked ended up more crimson than gold, the shawl she picked to go with it was black, she knew exactly how she'd look, what impression she'd give, let the Dornish see her for who she was she thought. Preparing herself she wore very little makeup, very little jewelry, it was simple, direct, a statement, one she knew would be picked up on.

When the carriage arrived she walked to it her head held high, she rode in silence her guards behind it, a dozen of her family's finest at her grandfather's insistence. Arriving at the Red Keep she was escorted to a room, inside Princess Rhaenys sat with her cousins, all of them staring at her as she walked into the room.

"Lady Myrcella I'm glad you could make it." Rhaenys said a smile on her face.

"Princess, I thank you for inviting me." she was just about to sit down when she was surprised by the shocked look on the princess's face.

"Grandmother, I wasn't expecting you." Rhaenys said and Myrcella looked to see Rhaella standing there.

"I was just passing when I heard Lady Myrcella was coming to lunch, I thought I may join you if that's no trouble?" Rhaella said.

"No grandmother we'd be honored for you to join us." Rhaenys said though even the smile on her face couldn't cover up her annoyance at the turn in events.

The lunch was interesting to say the least, every time one of the sand snakes tried to get under her skin, before she could answer, before she could speak up for herself, Rhaella did. The looks she gave the girls as she did so made Myrcella smirk and she was glad she wasn't on the end of them, them or the things she said back to them. Rhaella left no one in any doubt that she had her favor, her support, even when Arianne was brought up, she made it clear.

"My cousin should be arriving soon, have you met Princess Arianne, Lady Myrcella?"

"I haven't had the pleasure Princess." she said her smile belying the annoyance she felt.

"Oh, you'll love her, she's so outgoing, so full of life, I'm sure my brother would like to meet her too wouldn't you agree?."

"Daemon met her before or do you not remember granddaughter, what was it she called him again, oh yes that's right I remember now, a bastard wolf." Rhaella said glaring at Rhaenys who smiled back.

"They were children then grandmother, children tease all the time do they not."

"They do indeed granddaughter, but wolves are like dragons, they never forget." Rhaella said looking to her Rhaenys and then each of the sand snakes.

When the lunch was finished, she saw Rhaenys get ready to ask her something, only for once again Rhaella to jump in.

"Myrcella my dear, I find myself most tired could you help an old woman back to her room."

"Of course your grace, though you're not old."

"Some days I feel older than others." Rhaella said glaring at the sand snakes.

Walking back to Rhaella's rooms she did so silently, Daemon's grandmother as quiet as she. When they reached them she was asked inside and once there shown to a seat, Rhaella stood for a moment while a man checked the rooms, once he nodded to her, she turned to her and began to speak.

"Be careful child, you travel dangerous waters now, the snakes have their eyes on you, as they do my grandson."

"Thank you, your grace, I did think that was their plan." she said and Rhaella looked to her.

"Their plan?"

"They wished to belittle me, make me feel small and not worthy, make me run away and cry like a little girl."

"But you're not a little girl anymore are you child?." Rhaella said smiling.

"No, I'm a lioness, your grace."

Kings Landing 300 AC.

Aegon.

Watching the unsullied as they took up residence in the manse, even he couldn't help but be impressed, the way they moved almost as one, how they secured the place, everything about them made Aegon jealous. How Daemon had gained the favor of these eunuchs was beyond him, the fact he had another 8,000 of them at least, worried him greatly.

He and Jon had been overjoyed when they had heard slave soldiers being part of Daemon's past, that his brother had stooped so low was a boon he had not thought he would receive. Red Priests and slave soldiers, even with a dragon his brother's fall from grace was all but assured, but now if anything he'd become even more popular.

When people heard he had freed slaves, that these men followed him by choice not because they had to, when they heard of that ridiculous jump he did from the balcony, all of it would enhance, not diminish Daemon's reputation. Turing to Loras and Gerold he could see them looking at the slave soldier's warily, Joffrey, Quentyn and Harrold seemingly more convinced their reputation was underserved.

"Maybe we should try one of two of them out, put them in their place." Harrold had said and Gerold laughed.

"You fancy yourself a warrior of their equal Harrold, you have no idea of the training, of the acts these men do."

"They are spearmen Darkstar, no match for a Dornishman, or is it the beatings you've taken from the bastard prince which has taken your courage from you?." Quentyn said to laughs.

"I'd back my courage against your own any day my prince, but you think your spear a match for theirs, then feel welcome to try. I'll tell your father you fought bravely when he stands over your body."

"They wear no armor, our men on horseback, our lances ready would cut through them like butter." Joffrey said.

"The Dothraki thought that, or have you not heard the tale of the Three Thousand of Qohor?" Loras asked.

Aegon had not, history was such a boring subject and completely irrelevant he found, what did the past matter, what bearing did it have on today, so no he had not heard of the tale.

"What of them Loras?" he asked before Joffrey could.

"A Dothraki Khalasar under Khal Temmo came upon Qohor, fifty thousand strong, half of them braided and belled." Loras began before Quentyn interrupted.

"Braided and belled?" his cousin asked.

"It means bloodied warriors, men who had fought and won battles and victories, men who had proved themselves true." Gerold said and Loras nodded before continuing.

"That it does, these men had sacked cities, wreaked havoc, and none in their path had slowed their march. Qohor bought three thousand unsullied, they hired sellswords but they fled after the first day. The unsullied though do not flee, they do not run, they fight and fight they did."

"They won?" Aegon said worriedly.

"By the end of the battle, there were six hundred unsullied left standing, they had killed over 25,000 Dothraki, Khal Temmo, his bloodriders, his sons, all lost their lives." Loras said looking on as the unsullied took position at the gates of the manse.

"Horselords, savages, not the same as knights, I tell you my prince these men are nothing." Joffrey said dismissively.

"I'd like to see you face a Dothraki charge Joffrey, we'd find out the truth then." Gerold said with a smirk on his face.

"The truth?" Joffrey said confusedly.

"Whether Lannister's really do shit gold." Gerold said and even Aegon laughed at this.

"Come, let's get drunk I find myself in need of a release." Aegon said and didn't notice how Loras scowled at him.

As they walked to Chataya's, he saw Joffrey look to the scarred man who had stood silently by a few feet away while they had watched the manse, the Hound not speaking once. Aegon smirked though as the closer they got the more nervous Joffrey looked, before suddenly making the excuse of needing to meet his grandfather to discuss something important.

He had been told by Quentyn who Joffrey had confided in one night when drunk, that brothels were now off-limits to the boy, that the Hound had literally dragged him kicking and screaming up the street one night he'd tried to enter one. Aegon found it hysterical as did the others, Joffrey was so easy to rile up, so quick to anger, yet he at least knew his place.

"I want the blond, the one with the green eyes." he said to Chataya when they entered.

"Of course my prince." the dark-skinned woman said and within moments he was being undressed by Marei.

Looking at the girl, her sad face, her green eyes looking up at him as she took off his britches, he smiled, reaching down he took her face his hands.

"What's your name?" he said softly.

"Myrcella your grace, Myrcella Lannister."

"Good, you know what to do, Myrcella, you know how to please your prince."

"I do my dragon." the girl said and he felt her lips on his manhood, his fingers in her hair gripping it tightly.

Later that night he found he couldn't get drunk, Loras had as always waited outside, Quentyn it seemed had finished early yet again and Gerold was lost for the night. Heading back to the Red Keep he found his mood deteriorating, the girl had done her job, he had spilled his seed all over and in her tonight and yet she was a pale substitute for the girl he wanted her to be.

Seeing her with his brother, with his grandmother, seeing them together, whether it was that his brother was once again daring to take something which should have been his, or the girl herself he knew not. Myrcella had changed, she seemed more assertive, more imposing, the quiet little cub had grown into a lioness and compared to the rose, was a much better match for a dragon he felt.

"Are you well my prince." Loras said and he nodded, not interested in talking to Margaery's brother this night.

"I'm going to go speak to Jon, I'll be all right from here."

Quentyn and Loras turned off heading in another direction and he and Ser Arys walked towards the Keep, he felt it then, as if he was being watched, as if something was looking at him. He turned around and looked so suddenly that Ser Arya was caught by surprise.

"My prince, there is something wrong?" the knight asked his hand on his blade.

"No I..I. not all is well Ser." he said shaking his head.

He couldn't get the idea out of his head though and until they actually entered the Red Keep itself he felt his nerves on edge, it was only once he saw the guards, once he walked through the gates he relaxed. Had he looked back again he'd have seen the white wolf as it moved silently through the streets, it's red eyes focused on him as it moved in the night.

Winterfell 300 AC.

Daemon.

He was glad to see the tents gone, the men having returned to their homes, war having been averted, it also allowed for Lyanax to land far closer to the keep. After landing and speaking to his dragon, telling her to go rest, to go eat, he began to walk towards the gates, the guards smiling rather than looking warily at him this time. The sky was darkening and he hoped he'd arrived in time for dinner, a warm meal and bed would be welcome.

"My uncle he is inside?" he asked the guard and before he could answer he received his answer.

"My prince, you have returned?" his uncle said as he and his other uncle walked towards him.

"I have my lord." he said being formal while the guards looked on, though once he got closer to his uncles he dropped any formality "It's good to see you again uncle, you too." he said hugging Ned and then Benjen one after the other.

"Come, we were just about to have dinner." his uncle Ned said and Daemon smiled, thanking Lyanax for her timing.

As they walked it began to rain and it made them move far more quickly and far more silently than he'd have hoped. Getting inside just as the worst of it began he was glad they'd made it, flying in the rain something Lyanax enjoyed far more than he. Inside the hall he saw his aunt and cousins sitting at the high table, some of the Mormonts were still there too, though unfortunately, Lord Wyman was not.

"Daemon." Arya said running from the table, pretense, and formality not one of his cousin's attributes.

"Arya, it's good to see you cousin." he said as both Brandon and Rickon came over too. "You too." he said to them and walked to the table.

"My prince." his aunt said and he was glad to see her looking far better than she had done.

"Lady Catelyn, it's good to see you aunt, you too Robb." he said nodding to his other cousin who sat with Dacey and the Smalljon "Lady Maege." he said to the other woman at the high table.

"My prince." she said smiling at him.

Taking a seat he found the meal incredible, the warm stew hearty, the pie crisp and delicious, drinking down the ale he felt content, glad he had been forced to come here. He had always intended to come back and visit his mother's family, just not expected it to be this soon, but he was glad of it, glad to be back amongst them again.

"So my prince what brings you here, not that we're not glad you've come." his uncle said with a smirk.

"Please uncle, call me Daemon, all of you, leave the courtesies for the south." he said to laughs.

"I told you he prefers it." Arya said to her brothers.

"I had to visit the wall uncle, my granduncle has passed." he said a little sadly.

"Granduncle?" Benjen asked.

"The Maester at Castle Black uncle, Aemon Targaryen my granduncle a couple of times over." he said a soft smile on his face.

"I'm sorry to hear that Daemon, though I'm glad it brought you back here." Benjen said and he nodded.

"Did you see my brother, Daemon?" Lady Maege said and he was glad she'd taken his words to heart.

"I did Maege, in fact that's another part of the reason I'm here, the wall is suffering, badly supplied, badly manned." he said and his uncle spoke up quickly and defensively.

"We do what we can nephew, but the North doesn't have the resources to supply the wall alone."

"Uncle no one and certainly not I, can fault what the North does for the watch, the Lord Commander took great pains to point that out to me himself." he said and saw both his uncle's relief and lady Maege's "The fault lies in the south and its lack of support."

"You mean to speak to your father?" Maege asked.

"I do Maege, but I can offer some help myself, to that end uncle, I wished to speak to you and Lord Wyman. I've given the Lord Commander access to some of my private funds, some in Braavos and some here. I have a letter of credit for them for Lord Wyman, also a letter of access to my funds to cover that credit." he said handing his uncle the letters.

"You're giving the watch 50,000 gold dragons?" his uncle said shocked and stunning the rest of the room as he did so.

"My granduncle asked me to look after the watch, to help it in its time of need, I'm in a position to help." he said and his uncle smiled at him.

"I'll see Lord Wyman receives this, we'll begin the supplying of the watch immediately, it's a good thing you are doing nephew, a very good thing."

He spent the rest f the night drinking with his uncle Benjen, Robb, Dacey, Maege and the Smalljon. Arya and the boys had reluctantly gone to bed and his uncle and aunt had stayed for not much longer before following. He enjoyed the drinking games they played, enjoyed it, even more, when the Smalljon had in an effort to prove he wasn't drunk, stood up, turned really fast and fallen over landing on his arse.

Waking the next morning he broke his fast and then at her insistence went outside to spar with Arya, Sansa who had been unwell the night before, along with her friends turning up to watch them fight. Arya was quick and untrained and he wondered why that was, the North had no qualms about women warriors, but he gave her some pointers and was challenged then by the Smalljon and Dacey.

"You really wish to test your mettle against me?" he asked the Smalljon who looked much the worse for wear.

"Aye, I've never put a prince on his arse before, they'll call me Princebane when we're finished." Smalljon said laughing at his own joke.

The spar was much quicker than the Smalljon would have hoped for, but his hangover and Daemon wishing to end it saw to that. When Dacey stepped up though it was he knew a much different proposition, by this time her mother, his uncles, Robb and the rest of the family had arrived.

"Feel up to facing a girl my prince?" she said her mace in her hand.

"Did I not just face one?" he said turning to the Smalljon who shook his head laughing at him.

"Oh my prince, you really shouldn't say such things." Smalljon said a moment later batting his eyes and making both him and Dacey almost curl over at the image he portrayed.

"Shall we, my lady." he said and Dacey nodded.

He fought within himself, but not by much, the woman was fast, far stronger than she looked and he knew without his gifts, without his god's favor this would be a far more even contest. But he had been trained by the best, the very best, he had learned both in the yard and on the field and he had a god's favor, so he was stronger, he was technically better, but more importantly he was faster.

He parried the blows of the mace using his longsword, Flame moving as if it was an extension of his arm, while Spark stood ready to strike, ready to move for the kill. Dacey became frustrated very quickly, her power not working, her strength being used against her, so Daemon decided to end it. As she moved in, he moved quicker, before she readied her strike he had used Flame to force her mace away, then spinning he held Spark to her neck.

"Yield?" he said.

"Aye, well fought." she said her smile showing she had enjoyed the fight, her loss notwithstanding.

After sparring and despite Arya wishing to spar some more with him and even Robb asking, he instead walked to the crypts after visiting the glass gardens to take her a winter rose. Standing in front of his mother's statue once again, he felt the emotion of it, the feelings different since he'd spoken to his grand uncle. Were his father and mother ever really in love? Was she really the love of his life as Arthur said, as Barristan did?

Or was she a means to an end, a way to fulfill a prophecy? Given how his father had treated him, he feared this to be true and his anger and regret at that being the life his mother had lived threatened to boil over. He calmed himself though, allowed the tears to fall and before he knew it was joined by his uncle Benjen, the man walking and standing silently beside him.

"She'd have been so proud of you Daemon, so proud. I'm sorry you didn't get to know her, sorry you didn't get to grow up with her in your life." Benjen said his arm on his shoulder.

"Did she… did he….were they in love?" he asked the question burning a hole in his brain.

"Aye, no matter what I think of your father, I'll not deny that, she loved him and he, her, that was clear to anyone. That's why Robert really hated your father you know, my brother would tell you it was only part of it, but I knew the man as well as he did, better perhaps as Ned could only see what he wished when it came to him."

"He was jealous?"

"She was supposed to be his, his possession, his property, but your mother Daemon belonged to no man not even your father, she was free, who she chose to give her heart to was her choice, but she was free, and your father he allowed her to be who she was. So Aye they were in love, don't let anyone ever tell you any different."

He placed the flower in her hands, closed his eyes and told her he loved her, he missed her, and that he carried her with him always. Then together with Benjen, he made his way to his uncle's solar, Lady Maege already inside, it was time to tell them the other thing on his mind.

Kings Landing 300 AC.

Davos.

Being called in front of the prince's grandmother had been hard for him, to tell her of what he knew, some of it at less hard than other parts, but he had done what he could, told her what he could, even if he had left some, most of it out. He hadn't told her of Stannis, of how because of the restrictions placed upon him he had had called him to see him all those years before.

Nor had he told her of half the things he had done for or with the prince, feeling some things were best for Daemon to tell her himself. Besides given half the things they had done, he wasn't sure if anyone would believe them coming from anyone but Daemon anyway, he had lived them and barely believed some of them. He found himself thinking on Stannis, wondering how the man was faring, he had raised him up and Davos would always be grateful for that.

Storm's End 294AC.

Being called to face Lord Stannis he knew exactly what the Lord would say, exactly what the issue between them would be, but he had no choice, he had needed to make coin and so had done so the only way he knew how. Standing waiting in the room he looked at the decorations, the tapestries were threadbare, the furniture old, Stannis just like he suffering from a lack of coin it seemed.

" Ser Davos sit." Stannis said entering the room.

" My lord." he said as he took a seat.

" You know why I've called you here."

" Aye I know."

" Would you care to tell me why?"

" I needed the coin, my lord, the harvest at Cape Wrath was a bad one, the taxes the crown demands needed to be paid, I needed to raise coin or my family would have fallen my lord."

" I'm sorry it has come to this Davos, I wish it were not so, but you leave me with no choice, I cannot have a smuggler in my service and I cannot stop a man I respect from earning coin, especially one I owe a great deal to."

" I understand my lord, I thank you."

" As I do you, be careful Ser Davos, keep your activities away from the Stormlands, we are watched for too carefully."

" I will, I wish you good fortune my lord."

" And I, you, go speak to Shireen, don't tell her you won't be back." Stannis said and Davos turned to leave "Thank you Davos, for the onions." Stannis said softly and turned to look out the window.

Now.

Shaking his head from the thoughts he decided to go and see Grey Worm, see how he and his men were settling into the manse, it was a tight squeeze, but it was better than the ship. He chuckled as he walked, seeing the unsullied leader organize his men, sending them each to different parts of the manse, they would not relax here, not even when Daemon returned.

He found himself hoping that would be soon, looking forward to seeing the prince again, as he entered the courtyard he saw Asher and Dale go through the motions, sparring, his son improving all the time. Before he got to Grey Worm though he saw both Thoros and Melisandre walk in, a large white wolf by their sides almost as big as they were.

"Ser Davos." Thoros said and he walked over and embraced the man, glad to see him alive and well.

"Thoros, my lady, it's good to see you both, you especially old friend." he said and the priest laughed.

"You too my knight of onions." Thoros said Melisandre rolling her eyes beside him.

"The wolf?" he asked looking to the wolf which was staring at him.

"Our prince's." Melisandre said.

"Of course it is, not content with just a dragon is he." he chuckled.

They were joined a few minutes later by Grey Worm, who welcomed Thoros back just as eagerly as he had, Asher and Dale too giving up their spars to welcome the red priest back into the fold. Asher looking curiously at the wolf and shaking his head and laughing when Thoros told him its name was Ghost and it was Daemons.

"A Dragon and a Direwolf, greedy fucker." Asher said with a laugh.

The wolf turned though and looked to the sky, forcing their own attention skyward, the dragon flew low, almost as if she wished to be seen, Daemon sitting on her back. Davos was glad to see him look well, though compared to Asher and Melisandre he may have well been scowling, both wearing the largest smiles he'd seen from them in a long time, a very long one in Thoros's case.

"Well he's back." he said and Thoros nodded.

"Come Ghost, I'm sure you wish to see him as much as I do." Thoros said and they joined the priests walking to the Dragonpit.

Kings Landing 300 AC.

Tywin.

After hearing from Myrcella about her meeting with the princess, about Rhaella's intervention and the warning she'd been given, Tywin sent a man to arrange a meeting with the queen mother. It took him no time at all to be granted one and he found himself thankful once again to the prince, his family's access suddenly back to where it had once been.

He had been wrong to ride to the gates during the rebellion, he knew that, wrong to sit it out, but Aerys, his own feelings over the man had made even Joanna's counsel unwelcome. What he had planned to do, he knew not, other than to take the city, be it in the name of King Robert had he succeeded or King Rhaegar had he not, to this day he still couldn't tell which he had hoped for, all he knew was that Aerys had to fall.

That it was his son to do so gave him some joy, Aerys jealousy over Joanna having robbed him of his heir, though in the end, Jaime's own personality did that. He knew now Jaime would not sit his seat, Tyrion may and Tommen more than likely would, but Jaime wouldn't, nor it seemed would Joffrey, the boy not made for such things. Riding to the Red Keep though, he was glad his other two grandchildren had turned out how they did, the Lannister name would be honored by them both.

"Lord Tywin, my queen wishes to speak to you in the Godswood." Ser Jareth said as they arrived, the man standing there waiting for him.

"Of course Ser." he said dismounting, following after the man with a handful of his guards.

He saw one of Oberyn's daughters look to him, though which one he couldn't tell, saw one of Varys's little birds scurry off as he walked to the Godswood. There surrounded by twenty men, all making sure no one could come closer than a couple of hundred yards was Rhaella, Ser Bonifer by her side. These men he knew were hers and hers alone, the hundred having no cause, no queen higher than her.

"Your grace." he said kissing her offered hand.

"Lord Tywin." she said directing him to a small table where a jug was filled with some juice or other

After pouring them both a glass, she offered him one and he took it, pleased at the taste.

"You've heard no doubt of Doran's latest ploy?"

"I have."

"We must counteract it, Dorne is as always prickly and will try and arrange it so they feel slighted, we must give them no opportunity to do so." she said and he nodded.

"Indeed, but would the king welcome an approach?"

"It matters not, an approach must be made and made first, I'll arrange an audience with my son for the morrow, is that soon enough for you?"

"It is, I have your support on this?"

"As I already told you, it is not my support you need, but I shall speak to my grandson on his return, I believe it is what he wishes too."

"As does my granddaughter."

"She reminds me of her you know, Myrcella she's perhaps more like Joanna than even your daughter." Rhaella said a smile on her face.

"I feared not at one point, she was too meek when I sent her here, not ready for court, I see that now." he said sipping the juice.

"They'll be good together, we can hope for no more than that."

"Happiness, I can hope for that for them both can I not?" he said and she smiled at him.

"Yes on that we can both hope I believe."

He was about to speak to her on other things when Bonifer moved to her whispering frantically in her ear, the smile which appeared on her face even broader than the one she'd given him when she greeted him.

"It seems my grandson has returned Lord Tywin, fortuitously as I can now speak to him tonight."

"Very good, I shall expect a call on the morrow, my queen." he said rising to his feet.

"Lord Tywin." she said and she, Bonifer and the knights were gone within moments.

Walking back out of the Red Keep he bumped into or more appropriately found the spider waiting for him, his eyes everywhere at once, all while making it look like he was casually strolling thought the keep.

"Lord Tywin a pleasure." the eunuch said his smile as painted on as always.

"Lord Varys." he said nodding.

"It seems our wayward prince has returned once more, do give my regards to your granddaughter my lord." Varys said as he walked away.

He schooled his features as he walked away, the Snakes and now the Eunuch, Myrcella was truly part of the great game now, thankfully she had a dragon to call on, she may need one.

Dorne 300 AC.

The Water Gardens.

Doran.

Hearing of the prince's return was worrying, especially now, especially with them on the verge of things, they had all they needed, his nephew was a careless man, scandals may be covered, but only for so long. Rhaenys would have her crown, it was what she deserved and with her on the throne, Dorne would be the true power in Westeros, the one true power.

But Daemon's return caused problems, that he did so on the back of a Dragon even more so, should it come to it, would he fight for the throne? If he did what backing would he have? Given the dragon what backing would he need? These thoughts had kept him up at night, kept him trying to figure out which moves other players would make.

Olenna.

She may be aiming for a match with Aegon, but her own instincts would see, her own spies would tell her of the truth of the prince, should he fall, she'd ensure she wasn't tied to him unless she had no choice. But Daemon, he gave her a choice, with him back, with him being a dragon rider, he gave her a very good choice. Would she switch her focus from one prince to another? Would he welcome that focus? The Rose of Highgarden was a beauty by all accounts.

Tywin.

Apparently the boy had already shown some favor to the lions, had lunched with the girl and the imp already. Daemon had shown more interest in the old lion's granddaughter than anyone else. Given how out of favor they were, given what Daemon potentially offered them, yes the old lion would support such a match. A dragon and the West, Dorne, and the other loyalists would be outmatched.

Rhaella.

The old queen was no friend of his, no favor to be found there, her favorite grandchild's return had led to her own return and she would, as she had tried before, do her utmost to limit their influence. Would she favor a match between the lions or the roses though? Who would she reach out to, given her favor for her grandson, would she allow him to choose?.

The North, the Vale, Daemon could perhaps count on them too, along with the Reach or the West, no he couldn't allow it, couldn't sit back and watch all their work, all their effort, come to naught. He sent for his daughter, if there was a match to be made then he would make it, he would be the one who controlled the dragon, for whoever did so, perhaps controlled the realm.

She arrived a few days later and had the temerity to argue with him, and though he admired her spirit, he was in no humor for her disobedience, not when the future of Dorne was at stake.

"So you would allow me marry one bastard, but not another." she said and he laughed at that, Ser Daemon was not only unworthy of his daughter, but the white cloak also.

"Given that it was this one who sent the other packing, I'd have thought that would have raised your interest daughter." he said seeing her pause for a moment.

"He is still a bastard, a shame upon Dorne and you would have me make him my husband?"

"He is a dragon rider Arianne, I would have him on our side, I would have my grandchildren be dragon riders too." he said and saw her look at him curiously.

"He really has a dragon?"

"He does, is a fine warrior also from what I've heard."

"I still have no wish to marry him, father. Why do you hate me so?" she said petulantly.

"He may not wish to marry you either, I've heard he prefers the company of a lioness."

"Myrcella, he prefers Myrcella." she said laughing.

"So I've been told."

"A man who prefers a girl is one who's never met a woman." she said and he could see she was hooked "Very well, I shall go meet the bastard prince." and she turned and walked away.

When she was gone he sent for Myles, waiting until the Maester arrived, when he did he stood up and walked around the room, only the Maester and Areo aware he could do so. Enemies thought so much less of a weakened man and Doran enjoyed them thinking less of him.

"You sent for me my prince?" Myles asked.

"I did Maester, the weapon which took down Meraxes are you familiar with it?"

"I am my prince."

"Good, I want more built, update the design though, I may have need of them soon."

"As you command my prince." Myles said as he left.

He sat back down in his chair, his legs having been loosened of their stiffness by his walking around, giving the nod to Areo he was wheeled back out to the pools. Arianne would succeed, he knew that but should she fail, well if you can't tame a dragon, you have no other choice but to kill one.