Game of Thrones: Winter's Fire

Daeron

It was raining hard outside, Daeron Stark King of the North and the Iron Islands, could hear the sound of the rain hitting the castle walls from his solar. He was currently sat staring at the latest report to come from his Master of Whispers Ethan Glover had sent him from Deepwood Motte, the free cities would be in war once more over the Disputed Lands and Bittersteel had committed the Golden Company to fighting in that war, that was good, for it gave Daeron time to make sure certain plans of his had time to come to fruition. He knew his nephew Aemon would not be happy though, the boy wished for his throne, and he wished for it now. Daeron could understand why his nephew wished to fight for the throne now rather than later, Aerys Targaryen was a weak king admired and liked by few, despised by many, the fact that that kinslayer Bloodraven was his hand only made things worse for the man.

Daeron was weary though, he was no longer twenty four, he knew what destruction war could bring, he did not wish to bring that same chaos to his people or to his lands again, not for now anyway. And so he had told his nephew when Aegon Targaryen and Ser Duncan had come bearing Daemon, that they would wait for Bloodraven to make the first move, for Daeron knew that whilst Aemon and Daemon were both in the North the man would never be able to stand still, war would come, but Daeron would not be responsible for it. Daeron glanced down at the letter once more and read the reports of mumblings and grumblings from various lords in the south with Aerys' reign, and the stirring of the Yronwoods and the Daynes in Dorne, this all boded well for when Daeron would stir the north, he could sense the war that was coming, but he knew things now that he had not known when his brother had fallen, he was wiser, and older now.

His musings were interrupted by a knock at the door, calling for whomever it was to come in he found himself looking at Grand Maester Tywin, the man had been serving as the maester at Winterfell since Daeron had been but a babe at his mother's breast, he was one of the smartest and wisest men Daeron had ever met. "Your Grace, the scouts have reported that the princess's party has been sighted some five miles from here." The maester said in his formal tone.

Daeron nodded, standing up he said "Thank you maester Tywin, send word to my wife and the children, we must be ready to greet the princess and her party in the courtyard when they arrive. I want everyone suitably dressed; Aemon will want to see his sister as well."

The Maester bowed his head and said formally "Yes Your Grace."

"Before you leave, send Theon will you Maester?" Daeron said.

Maester Tywin bowed once more, and then before he left he opened the door and called for Theon, once Daeron's brother was in the room, Maester Tywin closed the door softly behind him. Daeron looked at his brother, Theon the Lord Commander of his Winter's Guard, with his grey cloak and black armour, his brother seemed tired but still alert, he was one of the finest swordsmen in the north Daeron knew. "You wished to see me Your Grace?" Theon asked.

Daeron nodded. "Aye brother, sit down." Once his brother had sat down in the chair opposite his own, Daeron sat down and looked at his brother for a long time before he finally spoke. "How good are our defences? Are the soldiers of the guard ready for battle?"

"Our defences are solid brother," Theon began. "The walls are thick and manned with well trained men who know their loyalty and duty. The guard is as good if not better than Aerys Targaryen's Kingsguard. We will be ready for battle, but I must ask do you think it will come so soon?"

Daeron nodded. "Aye, Aegor is marrying our niece Theon, a daughter of Daemon Blackfyre, Aemon and Barbery and their children as well as Daemon still live here. Yes there will be war, Bloodraven cannot allow them to live and still be considered fearsome or even worth a thought."

"But with Bittersteel fighting in the Disputed Lands, how can we count on the houses from the south supporting us?" Theon asked.

Daeron gave his brother a secret smile and merely said. "Because we can. Bittersteel is not needed for us to win, though his services would be most helpful. Bloodraven is becoming impatient waiting for us to make the first move, and what is it our father always used to say?"

"Impatient men, make the most mistakes." Theon replied.

"Exactly," Daeron smiled. "Now go and get ready." Daeron stood up as did his brother, but before his brother left Daeron could not but help pulling his leg. "Oh and brother, try not to do anything with Lady Mormont before the wedding please." He saw his brother blush, and burst out into a peel of laughter.

Later Daeron and his family, as well as Aemon and Barbery and their family and Prince Daemon (Aemon's younger brother) were gathered in the courtyard waiting for Princess Delena Blackfyre and her party to ride through the gates. When they did, Daeron noted that the princess seemed to be the exact replica of Daeron's mother, with her heart shaped face and flowing silver hair and daring violet eyes, Daeron momentarily felt a pang in his chest at the thought of his mother, something that was soothed by Dacey's hand soft and reassuring in his own. As he watched the princess dismount, he saw that she had come with some heavy duty guards, there was Ser Lyman Reyne the fierce boulder of a man, with his orange hair and sharp green eyes. Eventually his niece came to stand before him and Daeron took her outstretched hand and kissed it briefly before saying. "Welcome to Winterfell Princess, welcome home."

He made the introductions to his family and noted with some smug satisfaction the fact that his son Aegor as well as Delena seemed to be completely taken with each other. Aemon and Daemon's reunion with their sister also brought a smile to his face, it was nice to know that the siblings had been reunited, and he once again swore to the old gods that he would seat Aemon on the throne before he died. Eventually all the introductions and reunions had been made and Daeron decreed that they should all retire before that evening's festivities.

The next week was spent feasting Delena and her party before the wedding was to take place, Daeron ensured that Aegor and Delena had as much time to spend with one another to get to know one another, and from what he could see from his observations was that his plan was largely successful. He also ensured that Aemon and Daemon had some time to spend with their sister, making sure that neither of them were too busy during the day if Aegor was not with his bride to be. Eventually the day of the wedding came, and it seemed to Daeron as if the whole of the north and iron islands had gathered for the event. The lords Umber, Karstark, Glover, Manderly, Dustin, Royce and Dreadstark were present from the north in Winterfell as well as Daeron's cousin Edwyle and uncle Beron and their families. From the Iron Islands came Daeron's cousin Dagon and his family, and other members from the Iron Islands as well as Lord Borros Sunderland and his two sons and young daughter.

The wedding went off well, as did the feast that followed it, and soon Daeron found himself sitting in the Great Hall, most of the lords having either retired for the night or past out from the drink and celebrations. Aegor and Delena had retired to their bedchamber for the night, and Aemon was with Barbery watching over their children, where Daemon had gotten to Daeron knew not but he would be safe here in Winterfell, the last of Bloodraven's spies in the north having been put to the sword a few moons back.

"The wedding went well Your Grace." Daeron heard his cousin and high steward Edwyle say.

"Aye it did. Let us hope word reaches Bloodraven after a time though." Daeron replied.

"You do not wish for the man to know about Aegor's wedding too soon Your Grace?" Edwyle asked.

"Aye Ed, Bloodraven is an impatient man, and with his spies dead or fled, he will not know what is happening here for a long time, time that we shall need for all that we have planned to come to fruition." Daeron said.

Daeron saw his cousin nod his head before he heard him ask. "You have foreseen this then Your Grace? The war that will come once Bloodraven learns of Aegor and Delena's wedding? And the price Westeros shall pay in corpses and blood because of it?"

Daeron nodded, suddenly feeling tired, and this was something that always happened when he spoke of his dreams. He could not speak of them to anyone else, not even Dacey whom he shared all else with, he could only speak of them to Edwyle, because he knew his cousin shared the same ability. "Aye cousin I have, and this time I know how close we shall come even before the battle has happened. I want you to speak with Dagon before the man leaves, tell him to strengthen his defences around Pyke. And tell him, the time to unleash his weapons may come sooner than he thinks."

If his cousin was confused by what he was saying he did not show it, but merely nodded. "Good," Daeron said feeling quite tired and wishing to rest in Dacey's embrace now. "Get some rest Ed; I shall speak with you tomorrow." With that he got up and left.

Two moons after his son's wedding to Delena Blackfyre, Maester Tywin confirmed that Delena was pregnant, and Winterfell and the whole of the kingdom rejoiced with the news, soon an heir for the heir of the north would be born. To celebrate Daeron decided to take his son along with three men of the Winter's Guard on a hunt in the Wolfswood, Dacey was pregnant and so Daeron had decreed that she should stay behind to run the castle, Aemon and Daemon had both declined to come along on the hunt.

They had been on the hunt for roughly three hours, Aegor's wolf Serron had found and killed three boars in that time, when they spotted it, a deer, a big one at that and silver to boot. Instantly Aegor, in his youthful exuberance set off after it, and Daeron nodded at Asphell Wull and Jeyne Mormont to follow his son, whilst he and Theon hung back waiting to see how successful Aegor would be in his first proper hunt. Whilst they waited, a slight wind rustled through the trees and Daeron felt the chill enter his bones, he shivered slightly.

"So brother," Daeron began. "What is happening exactly between you and Jeyne Mormont?" When Theon began stuttering, Daeron laughed. "Oh come now brother, did you truly think I would not notice if two of my own guard began having an affair?"

Theon continued to stutter incoherently, so much so that Daeron began to laugh aloud once more. "So tell me brother, without stuttering like an absolute fool, what is happening between you and Mormont?"

Daeron watched as his brother swallowed nervously before he spoke. "We… we were having an affair brother."

"Were?" Daeron asked, his curiosity getting the better of him now.

"Aye," Theon replied. "Jeyne, she, she said we should not keep doing what we were doing, that it would be a dereliction of our duty to you, to the kingdom to keep doing this."

Theon sounded so sad when he spoke that Daeron felt for his brother, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder he said. "Did you/ do you love her brother?"

"Aye." Theon said so softly, that Daeron thought for a moment that he had not even spoken.

"And does she love you?"Daeron asked.

"Aye." Theon replied once more.

Daeron sighed. "Ah brother, if only you had told me. How long have you loved her?"

"Since we were young brother, whilst you were in the south." Theon said.

Daeron looked at his brother incredulously. "For that long? Why did you not say anything you idiot. I could have arranged your betrothal to her, and then you too could have married. If I had known you needn't have joined the Guard."

"She was betrothed to some boy from the Mountain Clans; we joined the guard together so we could be together. But she's right, we can't keep going as we were and still do our duty to you and the kingdom properly." Theon mumbled.

Daeron was about to reply, when he heard the sound of leaves rustling. Raising his bow, he looked toward the trees where the rustling had come from and nearly dropped his bow in shock. For there standing before him and his brother was a creature with nut brown skin and pale spots and large ears and larger green eyes. "Halt in the name of the King of the North." Daeron heard his brother say.

The creature whatever it was stopped its rustling and looked at them both, before it began speaking in a guttural tongue that neither of them understood. The being stopped talking and then cocking its head to one side spoke in the common tongue. "Stark?" it said, the words sounding cracked and discordant.

"Yes," Daeron said finally regaining the use of his voice. "And who are you?" He spurred his horse closer toward the creature, Theon following close behind.

"I am of those who sing the song of the earth. I have no name in the old tongue, the true tongue. But you may call me Leaf." The creature said.

"What are you?" Theon asked, Daeron glanced behind him quickly and saw that his brother had his hand on his sword hilt.

"I am what you would call a child of the forest." Leaf said.

"The children died thousands of years ago, everyone knows that." Daeron replies.

"Not all, some of us went into hiding after the dark disappeared and the light came. When dragons danced, one more joined us, and our Order continues in the Land of Faces. You, yourself were crowned on our land by one of us were you not Daeron Stark." Leaf says smiling slightly, so that Daeron and Theon can both see the creature's jagged black teeth.

"How do you know that?" Daeron asks, trying to keep his voice calm

Daeron hears the creature chuckle, before it says in its cracked voice. "Because my kind have been keeping an eye on your family for generations now Daeron, ever since the Builder raised the wall, we have kept watch over your family and the north. And now the time has come for you to learn of secrets forgotten for many a generation south of the wall. Come follow me." And with that Leaf turned and walked back into the forest.

Daeron hesitated, unsure of whether to follow or not. Theon moved his horse closer to Daeron's and whispered fervently. "Don't follow the creature brother, we both know that the Children of the Forest have been dead for thousands of years, since long before the conquest. This could be a trap."

Daeron merely looked at his brother, before saying. "I must go and see what this creature wishes of me, and if it seems traitorous I shall kill it myself." With that he spurred his horse forwards and after the creature, Theon cursing followed behind him, his sword raised, ready for any possible attack. They found Leaf sitting on a rock in the clearing of the Wolfswood, and beside it tethered to one of the trees was a large beast, with tusks. "That can't be possible." Daeron heard his brother say under his breath.

"Oh but it is, Theon son of Willam and brother to Daeron. Mammoths live, just as Direwolves do, as you well know, considering your nephew and nieces have them. Daeron Stark, you claim to be King of the North and the Iron Islands, you worship the old gods as your ancestors did before you. And yet you do not control the whole of the north. The lands north of the wall remain to the free folk and those creatures of darkness. What I tell you know will help you and your descendants in years to come, and will help explain the dreams, or predictions that you have when you sleep."

Daeron swallowed, and he knew that his brother was looking at him askance, wondering what it was that the creature was speaking of. Daeron merely nodded at Leaf, asking it to continue. "The maesters, those learned men of the citadel will say that magic has died. That it died when the last dragon died in Westeros during the reign of Aegon Targaryen. This is not true, as you well know, with direwolves in Winterfell; Magic is still well and alive. There are dragons in the Far East as well, in those fiery places where the worshippers of the heathen are. But that is not relevant, direwolves; mammoths are only the shadow piece of this great magic. Giants and wargs live as well, as do those with the sight, and the greenseers, though there is only one of those at present."

"Is that why my children found the direwolves then? Because they are wargs?" Daeron asked surprisingly not completely disgusted with the idea.

"Yes, the gods in their wisdom have seen fit to grant your children the power that your ancestors lost when the conqueror came to Westeros. But that is not all. With the dragons dead in Westeros, and with man continuously growing in south and the north, the giants are dying Daeron Stark. Those creatures that your ancestor the builder loved and cherished are dying. And help is needed to protect them from destruction." Leaf said its eyes seemingly saddening at the thought of Giants death.

"But how? How can I help?" Daeron asks. "I am but a man; I am no warg, no magician."

"Ah but you have the sight Daeron Stark. Those dreams that keep you up at night, sweating and afraid. They are also a gift from the Old Gods. A vision of things to come, a way for you to alter the future. Your abilities will be present in your children and grandchildren and all those who follow you. There is one more of that type in your lineage, a cousin. Use that gift, teach your children and grandchildren of the gift and the land shall be saved." With that Leaf got up and left, leaving before Daeron could ask anyone of the hundreds of questions that he had burning through his head.

Maekar

It was damnably hot in King's Landing, Maekar had ridden past people sweating so much that he was surprised a river had not formed from their perspiration, the bodies of the fallen those who had caught whatever it was that was doing the rounds in the capital were building up in the streets, the flames from the Dragonpit still not ending the continuous pile up of bodies and famine that was attacking the city. Maekar sighed, winter had ended and had brought spring, but spring had heralded disease and famine, and death, his father and nephews had died and so Aerys had come to the throne, and with him had come that blasted Bloodraven.

Maekar and Bloodraven had never been the best of friends, that was well known, Maekar had never truly trusted his bastard uncle, and after the Blackfyre rebellion had trusted him even less than he had before. The realm needed a solid and firm hand, and so he had expected his brother to name him hand of the king, not their bastard kinslaying uncle. But Aerys had never had much common sense, the fact that Aelinor was still a maid proved that, and so one disaster had followed another with the drought replacing the sickness, and now the famine had come. Bloodraven kept one eye on the north and a thousand on Tyrosh, but Maekar had retreated to Summerhall, knowing that he would not work well with the kinslayer, not whilst Daeron was still alive.

Now he was back in King's Landing for the first time in four years, back by summons of his brother the king, though he knew that it was Bloodraven who was summoning him. Summoning him to answer for what his son Aegon, otherwise known as Egg had done. He knew not the full details of what his youngest son had done, only that they had rescued Daemon Blackfyre, and had taken him north to Daeron for sanctuary instead of allowing him to be arrested by Bloodraven. A curious situation if ever there was one Maekar had to admit, though he did admire his son's bravery. He nodded at Ser Roland and entered the small council chamber, where he found his brother- looking frailer than last he had seen him-, Bloodraven, Lyonel Baratheon- master of laws-, Tybolt Lannister- master of ships-, Ossifer Plumm- master of coin and husband to Maekar's great aunt Eleana- and Lord Commander of his brother's Kingsguard Ser Willem Wylde present. So it was to be a public matter was it? Not sorted behind closed doors. Typical, Bloodraven could not allow anything to do with Daeron go unpublicised, not since they had been children. The fool.

"Where are Ser Duncan and my son?" Maekar said brusquely speaking directly to Bloodraven.

"They shall be here shortly Prince Maekar. First though we would like to speak with you." Bloodraven replied in that soft voice of his.

Maekar did not like the way that this conversation was going, he could already feel the frustration with his bastard uncle begin to come to the surface. And so trying to keep his voice as calm as possible asked. "And what is it that you wished to speak with me about?"

"What do you know of what your son and his sworn sword did at Whitewalls?" Bloodraven asked, his voice becoming noticeably colder.

"I know only that of which I have been told my lords, Your Grace. That my son and his sworn sword helped the pretender Daemon Blackfyre escape from imprisonment and justice and helped him reach his uncle Daeron Stark in the north. As to the why and how I know not." Maekar replied, taking some grim satisfaction in the way his uncle's faced grimaced when Daeron's name was mentioned.

"Very well then," Bloodraven said. Maekar watched as his uncle got up from his chair opened the door and said to Ser Roland. "Bring them in."

Once Bloodraven had sat back down, Maekar turned to watch as his son and his sworn sword were brought into the small council chamber. Aegon wore his princely attire, black and red with the Targaryen brooch clasping his cloak, Ser Duncan wore simple brown clothes. Aegon walked in with his shoulders straight and his head held high, whilst Ser Duncan walked with a limp and his shoulders stooped. Maekar merely looked at the two, before Bloodraven spoke once more. "You know why you are here. Prince Aegon and Ser Duncan aided the traitor Daemon Blackfyre in his escape from arrest at Whitewalls. They took him to the traitor Daeron Stark, where they broke bread and drank wine with the man, and then they returned south, without Daemon. Now please explain to the council why you did these things."

Maekar deeply hoped that Ser Duncan would do the talking, for he had a bad feeling that whatever Aegon said even if it were the truth, it would only make things much worse for them. He nearly groaned aloud when Aegon spoke. "We freed Daemon Blackfyre from Whitewalls and helped him escape because he had never wanted to be there, because he had been blackmailed into being there and attending that tourney."

Maekar looked at his son questioningly, this was the first time he had heard of this, the other members of the council were muttering amongst themselves as well. "What do you mean he did not want to be there? He's a Blackfyre isn't he? Those lot have more pride than sense." Lyonel Baratheon said brashly.

Maekar saw his son's eyes narrow at the man's words. "Daemon Blackfyre simply wished to come to the citadel to become a maester. He harboured no ambitions of claiming the Iron Throne; he never was very martial he admitted to us. He said he had come to Westeros to train, but he had been found by a Ser Maynard Plumm at the harbour and bribed by this man to attend the Whitewalls tourney and if he did not do so, his life would be forfeit."

"Did Blackfyre tell you all of this himself then?" Tybolt Lannister asked.

"Yes my lord he did." Aegon replied.

"And you believed him?" Grand Maester Orys asked disbelievingly

"Yes," Aegon replied unflinchingly. "The man was crying and cowering as he told us this. I have always been taught that a man always tells the truth when there is a sword near his head or if he is crying and cowering."

Maekar heard Lyonel Baratheon snort at that. Bloodraven spoke for the first time. "That is all well and good, but what you did was treason. And for that you must be punished."

Maekar was about to voice his thoughts when Aegon suddenly shouted. "If I must be punished, then so too must you uncle!"

At this there was a loud amount of muttering in the council chamber, Maekar looked at Bloodraven but found the man's face unreadable. Aerys had suddenly perked up at his nephew's words and asked his frail voice. "Whatever do you mean Aegon?"

Aegon swallowed and then said rather formally. "Ser Maynard Plumm the man who had threatened Daemon Blackfyre, works for Lord Brynden, and Lord Brynden himself admitted that he had been responsible for Blackfyre coming to Whitewalls. He admitted this myself and Ser Duncan Your Grace."

"Is this true Brynden?" Maekar heard his brother ask.

There was silence for a long moment before Bloodraven replied. "Aye Your Grace it is."

"Then Aegon is right, if he has to be punished, so too does Bloodraven." Maekar said, now unable to keep a lid on his anger and frustration.

The confusion on his brother's face angered Maekar beyond belief, had his brother truly forgotten the treaty that their father had worked so hard for? Was Aerys so far gone as that? "He tried to bring war down upon us brother. By bringing Daemon Blackfyre to Westeros, to Whitewalls to try and stir up the Black Dragon's supporters and then arresting Daemon, Bloodraven would have brought the wrath of the north down upon us. You haven't forgotten the promise Daeron Stark made to his brother have you when the first rebellion happened? He would have been honour bound to bring his men down from the neck. War would have happened and thousands of lives would have ended because of some crazy scheme our uncle hatched."

"I think you may have overreached there my prince." Maester Orys said, a major Bloodraven supporter, maybe even the man's pawn Maekar thought bitterly. "I am sure Lord Brynden did not try to start another war on purpose. He simply acted as he saw fit for the realm and for the king."

"Are you a fool old man? Lord Brynden deliberately brought Daemon Blackfyre here so that Daeron Stark would try and bring his men down, therefore when war started he could pin the blame on Stark and not himself. Can't you see this?" Tybolt Lannister said.

The arguments raced backwards and forwards as the divided small council argued about who was more in the wrong Bloodraven for trying to start another war, or Aegon and Ser Duncan for helping a Blackfyre escape. Eventually Aerys spoke. "Enough! Enough I say. We all agree that was done by Aegon was foolish, he should not have allowed Daemon Blackfyre to flee, regardless of what the man told him. For that he and his knight shall be banned from coming back to King's Landing for three years, if they try to come to King's Landing they shall be whipped. Brynden…" here the king faltered and Maekar knew he was lost.

He got up and seethed with anger "If you shall not punish him Aerys, then I shall leave and my son and Ser Duncan shall come with me."

With that he walked out of the chamber, with his son and sworn sword trailing after him, they mounted their horses and rode for Summerhall, all the while Maekar was fuming and angry, his uncle had his brother under a spell, something had to be done about it, but what he knew not. Ten miles out of King's Landing, Tybolt Lannister joined them and informed them that Aerys had retreated back to his books after the small council session, and Bloodraven had ordered Tybolt to return to Casterly Rock and build ships for an attack on the Iron Islands. War was coming again. This time though, Maekar was not so sure what the outcome would be.