Chapter 336 - 23

The Stormlands...

The situation in the Stormlands was quickly coming under control not least of which due to the king's large dragon but also Robert Baratheon's tactical genius bringing down the rebel houses so quickly that barely a month or moon had passed since the first battle.

The rebels, desperate to try and survive but worried about just surrendering in case of severe punishment or worse. So they had heard that Storm's End was undermanned and vulnerable with both the Lady Jocelyn Baratheon and Mya Stone were present. This made them launch a desperate attack to try and take the two girls hostage to try and leverage better terms for themselves.

Unfortunately they had no idea that this was in fact a trap, laid by Robert Baratheon to bring all of the remaining armies of the rebels out into the open. The woods nearby were thick and allowed the Baratheon army to remain unseen nearby while the garrison of the castle was far larger than the enemy had led to believe. On top of that Haeron and his dragon Kara were keeping watch further down the coast, using a telescope to keep watch. When the castle deployed a green banner on the sea facing side he knew it was time, he urged his dragon into the sky and the enormous dragon took flight, ready to do battle.

The armies of the houses who had rebelled found themselves against walls that held strong and then an army that encircled them charging out from the woods nearby and then to make the situation even more hopeless a dragon appeared seemingly from nowhere. They looked around and saw that there was no way out and the bloodthirsty cries of Robert Baratheon filled the air as he led the charge himself, his nostrils snorting like an enraged animal as he and his men completed the trap. Kara breathed fire down on the screaming men who were pressed closer and closer to the flames.

Be burned, or be crushed.

Their screams filled the air but the Baratheon forces did not wavered and continued to press the enemy forces back and back towards the wall of flame and arrow fire from the castle walls, the moat became full of corpses and after what seemed to be an eternity the battle finally came to an end.

The air was filled with the smell of bodies already starting to rot, piss and shit from where some had lose control of themselves in the face of their fear and burned flesh. It was a terrible mix of horrible odours, however Robert was revelling the in moment, the victory as while the enemy castles still stood they were depleted severely and would not take long to capture and secure.

Robert was to his credit not drinking again, at least for now. He was still the life of the party though as the men celebrated their success, leading the various tales of battle and their accomplishments which were surely exaggerated at best but he was at least finding new friends among his people and proving that he was not beyond being the lord of at least some worthiness.

Haeron when he landed on his dragon was greeted with cheers and cries of victory which he politely acknowledged. He walked over to Robert who surprised him by making a toast to him albeit with water.

"THE GREAT DRAGON! The doer of the Impossible!" He called out in loud barking laugh. "You're a better man than any dragon I've met before."

"Thank you." Haeron said with a raised eyebrow, not entirely happy with Robert being so informal but put it aside for the sake of peace. "Now, I trust you have the situation here at hand. I must leave for the Vale to rescue my daughter."

"Yes of course." Robert said with a nod of understanding which was a strange moment of connection as regardless of their differences they understood the love and protectiveness of a father to a daughter. "I wish you success."

"Good, speaking of daughters." Haeron said calmly, eager to be away and getting Caelys back but knowing there was one thing to do before he left. He pulled a declaration from the pocket of his coat and handed it to Robert, he took it looking surprised before opening the document to read. His eyes grew wide as they read it and he looked up in shock.

"You...your..." Robert stuttered, for once lost for words while Haeron nodded.

"Your daughter Mya will be given the Baratheon name, from this day forward she will be known as the Lady Mya Baratheon. Stannis will still be heir but she will have a standing she deserves." Haeron told Robert who was stunned by the news. "You have been loyal to my house and that merits a boon I think."

"Thank you." Robert managed to say with almost tears in his eyes that his little girl would at last be free of the stigma of being a bastard. She was his daughter he thought with determination to be a better father to her from this moment on.

"See that you are the father she needs, now I must be the father I need to be." Haeron said and without waiting another moment he remounted his dragon and flew north towards the Vale...and Caelys. Robert and the other Stormlanders watched him in awe, wondering just what he would do next.

Brightwater Keep, the Reach...

House Florent had used loans from the Blackfyres and Petyr Baelish to create an image of themselves as the richest and most impressive house in the Reach or at least appear that way. They had even gone to the trouble of purchasing a Valyrian steel weapon, a spear made from pieces of the precious metal found in Essos to add to this status as the Tyrells, their biggest enemy didn't have such a weapon themselves. They hoped to prove not least of which that they were grander than the Tyrells but that they were more capable of making boys as Mace Tyrell had failed to do in years.

But that took a lot of coin, so much so that they were hopelessly indebted and given assurance that they would poison the dragons and promised Highgarden if they did so they had risen up. It had not taken long for them to realise though that they had been abandoned and lied too, but now they were too committed and felt there was no chance of merely surrendering now. Hoping instead to make enough of a fight of it to make terms more in in their favour.

Mindful of dragons however they had the best scorpions that they could lay their hands on mounted on the walls in the hopes of deterring an attack. So when the Tarly army appeared outside who had stayed loyal to their liege lord they had hoped to hold a siege long enough to make terms.

However they had failed to remember how lucky a shot from a scorpion would have to be to hit a dragon, dragons in flight were fast and agile. More dragons had been killed by other dragons or when chained on the ground than by scorpions. Also House Targaryen was fully aware of the potential danger they posed and had taken steps to ensure they would not be a threat to their dragons this time.

The sun was shining through the clouds and that was the best blessing that Daeron Targaryen could have asked for as he and his dragon dove in straight from the sun. The dragon was descending like a falling star and the men who looked up in its direction were blinded by the sun, giving Daeron just enough time to do what he needed to do. Artyr was agile and fast, but its golden flames were powerful too, pulling up at the last moment they bathed the walls and the scorpions in dragon fire, sending men running in terror or burning.

The Tarly Army watched with almost amusement as the walls of the castle were bathed in flame and soon the keep inside was too. If they survived then the Florents would surrender as had many of the smaller houses, hostages would be taken and their punishments given out.

Lord Tarly on the back of his horse gave a nod to Daeron as he flew past, his help had made this campaign go a lot faster and with a lot less losses than they might have taken otherwise. Daeron did notice his nod and returned it before flying off to where he was needed next. Daeron was tired as was his dragon as they had been flying all around the Reach helping put down the smaller houses that had risen in defiance of House Tyrell and House Targaryen. They were small houses and barely worth mentioning but there were many of them.

Primarily it was House Tarly, House Rowan and House Hightower that were putting down the revolts and so it fell largely on him to help them in their efforts.

Now he thought with exhaustion they would need to be put down one of the few major houses that had risen in revolt, House Roxton which House Rowan was currently lay siege too. He flew on the back of his dragon across the Reach and was relieved to see the castle come into view, he felt bone tired and wondered just how long that they would need to go on like this before peace returned.

He was still reeling from his mother's death and while these battles had been helpful in providing an outlet for his anger he was quickly growing jaded by it all. He liked to fly with his dragon but using it as a weapon? He thought with disgust at such a thing, it twisted hard into his side.

He landed his dragon at the camp and men appeared to greet him, not least of which was Lord Mathis Rowan who greeted him with a bow and that was when Daeron noticed that the gates of the castle were already open much to his surprise.

"Greetings Lord Rowan, has House Roxton surrendered?" He asked with suspicion and Lord Rowan nodded with a calm seriousness.

"The knowledge that you and your dragon were here was enough when combined with the size of our army was enough to break them." Lord Rowan told him and proudly showed him the trophy he had taken. A long sword that was the ancestral weapon of House Roxton. "Orphan-Maker, now it will belong to House Rowan."

"I can think of no House more deserving." Daeron said calmly before breathing a sigh of relief that he and his dragon could rest for the rest of today at least. There were still a few small holdouts but it would not take them long to put down he thought confidently, sure they were at last getting the situation under control.

The Crag, Westerlands...

The war against the Iron Born was continuing in earnest, despite earlier setbacks the reavers were not giving up and came again and again at the coast in the hope of raiding and enriching themselves.

Jaime was busy leading the defence of the coast, until the arrival of the Royal Fleet or a dragon became available he was staying purely on the defensive to conserve their strength.

He was fighting hard in the defence of his homeland and his family, Jaime cleaved one man down with ease and smirked as he did so. The Iron Born were only good on the water which is why he now realised they always launched surprise attacks because they were terrible at fighting against someone who could actually fight back he thought with a sneer. Some of them had a reasonable amount of skill at arms but many were passable at best, also they seemed to easily lose their balance as he suspected they were used to fighting on the water. Or they were trying to be fast and losing power in their strikes so they were easily countered.

So on land they would always be trying to correct their balance or lack strength in their strikes which made his armoured men far superior to the raiders many of whom were young or lacking in practice.

Sandor at his side was swinging his great sword around with ease, taking down two or even three men at a time and was he noted a far better man than his brother. He didn't glorify or enjoy killing but he was not squeamish about it, he just got on with it. His father was actually quite happy with Sandor working for him Jaime thought with derision not least of which was due to him being potentially his monster in the same way the Mountain was Tywin's but Sandor was no monster and he would gladly keep him around as one of his men Jaime thought with a smile at the skill and loyalty of Sandor but he was a better man and the one that he felt secure having around his family.

He soon saw the Iron Born begin to retreat or try too as some of his archers set their long boats alight, he could have taken some prisoners but instead Jaime just had the men kill the raiders. It might seem harsh but he was ironically doing something that he had learned from his father...making the Iron Born realise that if they dared try to attack the Westerlands then they would be killed.

While he wasn't sure if he was entirely comfortable with this yet it was in triumph that he returned to Casterly Rock to meet with Maylee and see Tyrion again he thought with hope.

- x -

House near Casterly Rock, The Westerlands...

Tyrion was smiling with a kind of happiness that he had never imagined would ever be his.

He had married...he had a wife.

The idea that he would find a woman willing to marry him was something so unlikely that he had always thought it a hopeless dream and yet it had finally happened.

Tysha, his beautiful flower and to him the most kind and luminous soul that he had ever known was laying next to him in bed. Their small home an oasis in the otherwise chaotic world. He held her close and watched her as she slept, her face peaceful and he smiled finding what felt like an unhealthy amount of pleasure in just looking at her.

He loved her without any hesitation or regret.

He was annoyed at the sound of something outside and looked up to see the door open, his face falling into terror as he realised that someone had found them.

The sunlight meant it took his eyes a moment to adjust when he noticed who it was.

Maylee, his step mother and Jaime his beloved brother...both staring at him in shock.

At least it was not his father or his monster the Mountain Tyrion thought with some relief but it was only slight as he knew now that he had placed not only himself but more importantly at least to himself Tysha in great danger. He carefully got out of bed so to not disturb his wife and walked over them, thankfully he was still wearing his shirt so he retained some dignity not that it felt that way in the moment.

Maylee and Jaime watched silently, looking between him and the girl in the bed and Maylee who had always been supportive of him before frowned before asking.

"What is this Tyrion? Speak true." She urged him and feeling the intense stare of them both Tyrion admitted the truth.

"My home...with my wife."

The silence that followed that statement was tense as they both took it in and seemed to struggle to accept it and Jaime who usually smirked regardless of what was happening put his hand to his face and groaned.

"I take it this is a legitimate marriage? And consummated?" He asked and Tyrion despite himself smirked.

"Brother, I am quite capable of consummating this union." He said with humour but it fell flat as Maylee looked at him with dismay.

"You know how your father will deal with this." She reminded him harshly and he felt a chill running through him as he knew the danger of angering the Lion of Casterly Rock. He knew what he had done to Cersei when she had rebelled against him and she had been his daughter, what would he do to Tysha? A low born peasant girl who now was wed to one of his sons?

He did not even want to imagine the horrors he might inflict on them or specifically on Tysha.

Jaime and Maylee both knew it was inevitable that Tywin would find out, it was incredible that he hadn't already and they could only thank the war for distracting him. But that would only hold for so long they both knew so they needed to made a plan fast.

"I will get you sent to Kings Landing, go there with your...wife. Make yourself helpful to House Targaryen." Jaime said with a frown as it was a risky plan but they could only hope that the presence of House Targaryen might hold his father back for a while at least until Tysha was pregnant.

That might be the only chance they had to save them both he thought with desperation.

Tyrion was shocked at the suggestion and looked angrily at Jaime before Tysha who unknown to them had woken up spoke.

"Maybe it would be better for us my darling husband." Tysha said in her sweet gentle voice that sounded like the most beautiful music to Tyrion at least. "If it keeps you safe from your father." She said with a hopeful look in her eyes.

Only thinking of his safety? Tyrion thought to himself with astonishment that she was so full of compassion and decency. Maylee and Jaime both shared a look in surprise themselves before leaving to make arrangements, knowing they had little time before Tywin became suspicious and figured out something was up.

Tyrion meanwhile turned to his wife and returned to their bed, taking comfort in each other and their love.

- x -

Casterly Rock, The Westerlands...An Hour Later...

Tywin Lannister sat in his solar and looking at the reports his son and other men in his employ had made towards keeping their coast safe and it pleased him. Balon Greyjoy was no genius and his tactics if you could call them that were pathetic in the extreme, he just came at them again and again with the same raids and in the same places.

To be honest he was still confused as to why anyone would think it was wise to challenge House Targaryen right now and not during Aerys's reign? Right now they were at the height of their power, with so many dragons and one of the best fleets in the world. They had allies all over Essos and a secure line, what had possessed them to try them now?

He knew that the Blackfyres were involved from Kevan and from that he now could guess why they had triggered the uprisings, it was to provide a distraction while they went underground again. To hide until they could find a new way to the throne.

The fact they still existed was a shock even to him as he like the rest of Westeros had thought they were extinct but clearly they had just grown more cunning. He almost admired that if they weren't trying to kill him and his family, so he was already looking to exact his own revenge on them when the opportunity presented itself.

The door opened distracting him from his thoughts and he saw Jaime walk in, looking tired and dirty but confident so he was sure of his success in driving off the Iron Born.

"The attack was repelled father, we killed them all and burned the boats. But I am sending Tyrion to Kings Landing, with so many members of House Targaryen absent it might help reinforce our influence there." Jaime said quickly and while Tywin questioned the wisdom of sending Tyrion of all people to represent House Lannister but he did have a habit of making allies Tywin considered and Kevan would be there to watch him.

"Very well." He said with a nod of agreement, which immediately relieved Jaime as it meant getting his brother away from his father for now until they could think of what to do next.

The Twins, The Riverlands...

The Freys ambitions to supplant House Tully as Lords Paramount of the Riverlands and being the strongest of their vassals had eagerly taken up arms, their power and strength easily made them the leaders of the uprising.

But many houses had stayed loyal to House Tully much to their surprise and apart from them the only major house to rise up was House Bracken due to them having used Blackfyre funds to repair and maintain several holdings to improve their position against the Blackwoods.

Now both the Twins and Stone Hedge were under siege.

Old Walder was frowning as he looked out at the tents on the southern side of the Twins, he had thought more houses would rise up against the Tullys given the weakness of Hoster and Brynden but instead they had stayed loyal. He knew he was outnumbered and only the formidable defences of the Twins was keeping them out for now, he was however confident that he could make terms and was even willing to offer some of his more useless spawn as hostages if needed.

However Brynden Tully curse the fish he thought with jealous anger at how the smug bastard refused to conform to his designs and scowled as he saw the Black Fish swanning around the camp below him. But they had not even considered his terms or tested their defences which made him question just what they wanted or were doing. Where they trying to starve him out? He considered before seeing a shape on the horizon, he thought it was a bird at first but it seemed to be getting larger and larger as it was coming closer and then pulled up high into the sky.

When the truth finally dawned on him he literally pissed himself and said simply as his men and useless sons ran around screaming.

"Fuck."

The dragon of Shaena Targaryen dived on the Twin's and bathed the southern castle in fire before doing the same thing to the northern castle. Shaena smirked as she looked at the two burning castles while sitting on her dragon's back. She had already burned Stone Hedge to the ground and with this all rebellion in the Riverlands would collapse. She felt powerful in that moment, the strength that her brother and his wives had known before her and felt it was addictive she thought before reinforcing her self-control to not let herself get carried away.

No one was invincible she reminded herself sternly. She would meanwhile consider heading north as there was still a revolt happening up there to contain.

Winterfell, the North...

The northern winds were cold and bitter, something that sent a shiver straight through to the bone...but to Ned...it was home.

He sat on the back of his horse, wearing leathers and furs that he not worn in many years but at the same time were as comforting and familiar as a familial embrace. He saw his wife and children where shivering slightly but a small smile was on his face as he knew they would adjust with time.

The sight of Winterfell as they came over the hill sent a strong sense of comfort and desolation through him at the same time, he had always imagined that he would return to this place to see the rest of his family and introduce his children to the other half of their heritage...not to take up the mantle of Lord here he thought sadly.

His wife who rode at his side looked at him with concern, Ashara knowing when he was upset and he gave her a thankful smile at her support which at this moment meant more than anything in the world. His children meanwhile saw the castle in the distance and were astonished.

"How large is Winterfell?" Brandon remarked with awe. "It looks so much bigger than Starfall."

"It is." Ulrich said with a knowing certainty. "One of the four biggest in Westeros. Only Harrenhal is larger and only the Red Keep and Highgarden are a similar size."

"Boring." Arya said with a roll of her eyes, teasing her brother who knew all of these random facts before Vorian told her sternly.

"At least he prepared for coming North, what do you know of the North?" He said with an expectant look and Arya who despite being intelligent did not really apply herself to more academic pursuits only glared at him before Ned told them all to bring an end to any arguments.

"Enough, there will be plenty of time for you all to learn about the North, now let's get there first." He told them and they all fell silent and nodded.

He rode onwards towards the castle followed by his family and their guards, eager to seek the safety of Winterfell and its walls.

- x -

In the yard of Winterfell Benjen looked towards the open gate, his brother was soon to arrive and at last the burden of handling all of this alone would not be solely on his shoulders. The bloody battle that had taken the lives of his father and brother had at least put the rebels on the defensive and bought them enough time for Ned to get here and to rally their own armies proper.

At his side his wife Jonelle held his hand, her presence comforting in the moment as she knew the pressure he had been under. Their own children Edwyk and Martyn standing close, curious about the uncle that they had never met while Catelyn stood with her three daughters, all worried as their entire future now hinged on how the new Lord of Winterfell would treat them.

When Ned rode through the gate it was a relief for the waiting to be over, despite his years in Dorne he was the image of a Northern lord. Long in the face, brown hair, grey eyes and dressed well if practically. His eyes focused on Benjen straight away as he rode towards them and dismounted followed by his family.

Ned walked over to Benjen and embraced his brother who hugged him back, they had not seen each other in so long but in the wake of their loss it was a great comfort to each other for them to be together again.

They broke apart and Ned's family joined him to meet the rest of their family, the fact that apart from Benjen every man was staring in awe of Ashara's beauty did not go unnoticed Catelyn in particular who felt suddenly ugly for the first time in her life. Catelyn saw the perfection of the other woman's features and the way all of the men looked at her with instant worship at her feet.

The fact she had four children, three of them boys only made her feel worse as it seemed she actually had managed to produce boys while Catelyn had failed.

"Jonelle, this is my brother Ned." Benjen said with a smile, introducing them. "Jonelle, Edwyk and Martyn. My wife and sons."

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you." Ned said with a warm smile as he greeted his goodsister and nephews, they looked at him with a little apprehension but also his warm smile and what they had learned about him made them smile back as he kissed Jonelle on the hand and shook his nephews hands.

"Likewise...Lord Stark." Jonelle said with a polite voice but Ned shook his head, momentarily making her think she had done something wrong before he told her calmly.

"You are a member of my family now, Ned is what you will call me. Family is important to me and I will look forward to the chance to get to know you and your sons better." He told her before bringing Ashara forward along with his own children. "My wife Ashara, my children Vorian, Ulrich, Arya and Brandon." Ned said proudly as they came forward, the boys giving the polite bow to Jonelle while Ashara merely nodded her head and not wanting to curtsy Arya followed her mother's lead.

Catelyn was watching and instantly felt her ire rising, clearly this Dornish hussy had no idea how to raise a proper daughter. The girl had her mother's beauty which made Catelyn jealous but no manners or proper education.

She would need to make sure they did not spread their corruption to her own daughters she decided there and then with complete certainty in her own righteous.

Ned noticed her and her daughters, he smiled gently at her and she felt a flush come to her cheeks as he had such kind eyes she thought to herself. He came over and bowed gently to her before saying.

"Lady Catelyn, my condolences to you and your daughters. I know you must be grieving Brandon." He said with kind words and then added. "I can reassure you that I have no desire to deprive you or my nieces of their position. They will have all the privileges of House Stark." He reassured them and the three girls all smiled warmly as they all felt much more confident in their position and that their uncle was a nice man that would be there for them.

Catelyn meanwhile was feeling a great deal of emotion, he was already a vast improvement over Brandon she thought quietly to herself.

- x -

Later that day Ashara and her children all took their time to familiarise themselves with their new home, looking around the castle it was as grim inside as it appeared outside but it was warm at least. Apparently they used water from hot springs to heat the castle which was impressive, it meant they at least felt more comfortable inside although Arya was strangely finding it enjoyable.

They looked at present around the Godswood and thankfully there had been one at Starfall so they were familiar with it but the one at Winterfell was much bigger and like a small forest all on its own.

They walked up to the Weirwood they saw its carved face and the deep pool around it, the cold was strong but at the same time they felt safe here and they could almost hear something in the wind as it moved through the tree branches above them.

"Its nice here." Arya said with a smile as she touched the tree with reverence. Brandon however felt differently.

"Its too cold." Brandon complained but Vorian gave him a stern look.

"Its one of the greatest and most historic castles in all of Westeros. It is the heart of the North, our ancestral home." He told Brandon while Ulrich was more academic in his views.

"There is a lot of things that might be improved. It is not perfect." He said calmly while Ashara intervened.

"That's enough. Regardless your father is the lord here now and it is our home. I know it is different but that can be a good thing as well as a bad thing. Now, let's get back to our rooms and settle in while your father is speaking to his new lords." Ashara told them firmly, wanting to end this before it became some kind of argument. She was not entirely sure about this move either but she knew Ned needed to be here and so did they, a whole kingdom might well depend on it she thought with concern.

- x -

In the main hall of Winterfell Ned was wishing he had more time to prepare for his meeting with the lords.

He had not seen any of them in years, they all had doubt in their eyes he could see it but Ned despite his own worries he walked in with Ice around his waist and Benjen at his side and put on as calm a face as he could.

"I know some of you have doubts about me, fair enough I have been away from the North for many years but I am here now and that is for good." Ned started saying to them and the GreatJon scoffed loudly.

"Southern wife. Southern pups...what could you know about being Lord of the North?" He said with obvious disrespect.

The others all looked on to see just what Ned would do, Ned knew that the GreatJon was testing his strength and how he reacted would determine whether they supported House Stark or not. He needed to show strength he thought and with some trepidation he did what he needed to do.

He punched the GreatJon straight in the face!

The suddenness of it caught the large lord off guard but as he stumbled back from the hit Ned lunged forward and delivered a solid punch to the gut which sent the Lord Umber down to the floor winded.

Ned turned to the other lords and Benjen who were staring in surprise but Benjen grinned as he knew this was going to work and Ned then looked down at the GreatJon who was looking up at him with amazement before Ned offered his hand and helped the large man to his feet. Ned then told his lords with cold sternness.

"I will not tolerate disrespect, especially towards my wife and children. From anyone." He said with an edge of warning to them all. The GreatJon though laughed and clapped Ned on the back, thankfully not enough to make him stumble but enough to leave a sore spot.

"So you haven't forgotten what it means to be Northern. Good." Lord Umber said and Ned nodded before telling them all.

"I have never forgotten my roots but for now we must bring the rebels to heel." He said grimly as he turned back to the maps and saw the markers around the North. "Now as I understand it most of the rebel houses have retreated to their own lands. So we will isolate them and take them down one by one, I have some ideas that might enable us to deal with them."

They looked interested in that when Maester Luwin came up to him with a message in hand, the maester giving a nod to his lord who returned it evenly as he took the message and read it.

"The Targaryens have sent aid, a dragon rode by Princess Shaena Targaryen to support our efforts." Ned told them and while they did not have much love for the dragon riders the fact they would have such a beast to help them was gratefully received.

"Rally the men." Ned said, determined to get started which made many of the lords smirk widely as they were eager to end this war and achieve some glory.

- x -

The Dreadfort, the North...Two Weeks Later...

Roose Bolton was standing on the battlements of his castle with his eye bandaged still, his vision not good but he was stoic in his keeping vigil. He knew it was only a matter of time before the loyalists came against him here but for now it seemed they were too timid.

"My lord, a party wearing the banner and colours of House Locke approaches." One of his men said from near the gate. Looking in their direction it was only a party of twelve men, holding the banner of purple and white strips with two golden crossed keys. The road was open enough that there was no way of anyone approaching without being seen so he said.

"Open the gate."

The gate opened and the small party rode inside, he walked down to the yard, doing his best not to stumble and lose face due to his injury. Looking at them he saw they were dirty and battle worn so the leader came forward and bowed to Roose.

"My lord. We come from Oldcastle on behalf of Lord Locke. The Manderlys are laying siege to the castle and shooting down any ravens that leave. We were sent to get help, half of our number died running the siege." The man said bitterly as he handed a letter to Roose that bore the seal of House Locke. Opening it he saw the writing was indeed Lord Locke's, a plead for him to come and break the siege. Roose frowned as he had nowhere near enough men for that especially against the Manderlys of all houses. He could try and send the few ships he had to try and attack White Harbour but that was foolish he thought with derision. The Manderly Fleet would tear them apart, so he would be forced to leave them until he could gain more support or find some way to get himself back to respectability and change sides.

"I will consider it. Till then you work for me." He commanded and the new arrivals looked insulted but bowed their heads.

"Yes my lord." They said meekly and he nodded before going off to work in his solar.

- x -

That Night...

In the dead of night while the guard was at its most depleted and the men unable to see properly due to the dark night, the supposed men of House Locke struck.

Roose had no way of knowing that Oldcastle had in fact surrendered to the Manderlys and in exchange for the life of his family even if he and his eldest son had to go to the Wall Lord Locke had provided the letter and clothes needed for a party of Stark men to infiltrate the Dreadfort. Ned had learned something of Dornish tactics in his years at Starfall and now was putting this to use.

The Stark men crept forward and took their turn guarding a section of the wall near the main gate, a small light in the woods that enclosed the road let them know the time had come. They sneakily opened the gate and then from the deep dark forest emerged an infantry force that had been camping on the other side out of sight of the Dreadfort. Horses couldn't get through the thick foliage but men on foot could.

The men charged straight in, they did so though in silence until enough of them had gotten through the gate and now had enough men to keep it open as they kept on coming.

Ned was leading them with Ice in his hands, at the head of the charge to prove to his men that he would never ask them to do something that he wouldn't do himself. The sight of the new Lord of Winterfell with Ice in his hands as he proved that if anything his time in the south had made him a more lethal fighter. Training with the men of House Dayne had sharpened his skill to a fine point, far beyond what it had been before. Two of the men of House Bolton rushed him but regardless of Ice's size he was using it like it weighed nothing, cutting them down with precise strikes to the chest.

Roose rushed out, his sword in hand to see Stark men swarming his courtyard but he was unable to remark as Ned was on him in a blink of an eye. He raised his sword even though he was hampered by his single eye, Ned however did not care and easily batted his sword aside before taking Roose's head off with a single effortless slash to the neck.

Ned did not waste time looking at the body of a dead man, moving on to the next target as his men poured into the Dreadfort. The guards were being overwhelmed, caught off guard and many without weapons or armour so it was easy for them to take over.

But with Roose dead they were now looking for Domeric Bolton to make sure that the threat of House Bolton was contained but as they broke into one of the rooms of the castle what they found shocked even the most hardened of men.

Word had it that Roose Bolton had a bastard son as well as his trueborn but not much was known of him, they both brought here to protect them from outsiders trying to take them as hostages but where Domeric was a calm and reasoning boy who would have made a much more honourable lord than his father, Ramsay...was something much different.

The men looked and saw that the demented boy had actually killed Domeric and flayed him! Or was in the process of doing it.

They were staring in shock as Ramsay looked up and smirked confidently at them with his face smeared with blood looking more like a beast or demon creature from the deepest pit.

The men did not know what to do, so they fetched Ned who came and looked at the scene with revulsion and disbelief. Not able to believe that someone who was not yet a man could be so cruel and barbaric but there was nothing human in Ramsay's eyes, no fear or hesitation just pure enjoyment at the kill and brutality he was displaying or the reaction of others where having to what he was doing.

Ned however honourable he was did not hesitate, instead decapitating Ramsay with a single swipe of his sword. Normally he would never harm someone so young but if years in Dorne had taught him anything it was that people like Ramsay were beyond reason or help.

He turned to his men and looked down in disgust before telling them.

"Arrange for Domeric Bolton to receive a proper burial." He ordered before leaving the room and wanting to put the sight of it all as out of his mind as he could, the men did as they were ordered but word of it would spread among the others and made more than a few have bad dreams and lose their stomachs as they struggled with what they had seen.

- x -

Now the castle was firmly secure Ned looked around in disgust at all of the horrors they had found here, the flayed human skins, the candle holders made of real human bones and more. It honestly revolted him and more than a few hardened men had had wept in grief.

But he thought turning his attention back to the strategic situation in the North, the capture and removal of the Boltons meant they now had control of the small port they had built and no longer would foreign allies be supplying their enemies. It also was the largest of the rebel houses so that shifted the balance of power very much in their favour.

"Lord Manderly will be given dominion over the new port, their men made this possible." Ned said to himself as he looked at the map, the Dreadfort and other Bolton lands would be divided among loyalist families. He was eager to get back to it as he saw Ser Rodrik Cassel come into the room and bow to his lord.

"My lord, all the prisoners are ready for transport to the Wall, many took it without complaint." He informed him and Ned nodded, glad of the man's loyal service.

"Good, prepare a garrison to hold the castle until you can take lordship here." Ned said and Ser Cassel looked momentarily stunned by the offer before saying.

"My lord, surely there are those more worthy of such an honour." He said protesting but Ned just smiled and told him.

"A loyal friend is priceless, something you and your family have proven time and time again. House Cassel has earned this by years of loyal service...Lord Cassel." He said calmly before Rodrik reluctantly nodded in acceptance and told him.

"Thank you my lord. House Cassel will stand true to House Stark forever for this honour." He pledged and Ned nodded with acceptance, glad to have a new lord he could trust.

He let the man go to assemble his garrison while Ned himself went to see what else required his attention. He was going passed the dudgeons of the Dreadfort when Hallis Mollen, another of his family's most trusted men at arms attracted his attention.

"My lord, we have...an unexpected prisoner found in the dudgeons." Hallis told him with some unease. Ned frowned before asking.

"Who did you find?" He asked and Hallis rather than answer turned and gestured for the prisoner to be brought up.

The man who appeared from the dudgeons was indeed a surprise, a man wearing clothes baring the sigil of a black horse with a blazing red mane. He was a tall and fairly muscled man with his dark hair and Ned recognised him immediately from the feasts that they had attended at Winterfell in his youth.

"Mark Ryswell." Ned said with a guarded voice, the Ryswells had been one of the houses that had turned traitor probably for what had happened between his brother Brandon and Mark's cousin Barbrey, not to mention taking their daughter together and raising her in Winterfell.

"My lord." Mark said with a small smile which seemed incredible in the moment before dropping the surprise. "I wish to be bend the knee to you and re-pledge my loyalty to House Stark."

He dropped to his knee as he did this which rendered Ned momentarily speechless before he asked.

"Is this a jape Mark Ryswell? Your family is responsible for my father and brother's deaths and tried to deliver the North into the hands of the Boltons. Why should I accept any word you say?" Ned said with a harsh challenge which made Mark wince before he said with sadness.

"My family has suffered a great deal too. I am now the standing Lord Ryswell with my uncle and cousins dead, it is my responsibility to assure our family's future and that is in remembering just where our loyalty should be. We will put our men back in your service and the Rills will once again stand with you, Roose would not allow that and held me here hostage while Barbrey holds our seat. All I ask is a chance to prove it." He said with a softly spoken plead.

Ned was suspicious, he had great reason to distrust anything that Mark said but at the same time those men would make securing the North a lot easier not to mention it would allow them to move across the Rills without issue. Mark had always been a good man, he knew that but at the same time he was a Ryswell. He knew that as lord now he had to make the decision and the weight of it would fall on him regardless of what happened but he had to do what he felt was best. So he made his decision.

"You will hold lordship of the Rills and prove your loyalty to House Stark, do so successfully and your cousin's daughter will be allowed to spend time with her mother at the Rills and at Winterfell. She is as much a Stark as she is a Ryswell." Ned proclaimed while his men looked ready to argue against it. Mark however smiled and bowed his head to Ned.

"Thank you Lord Stark, you will never regret this I swear it. House Ryswell will serve with integrity and dedication under my lead." Mark said with relief and gratitude.

Ned nodded slowly, hoping that he was making the right decision but if his many talks with Lord Dayne and Ashara had taught him anything it was that when you led you had to make your decision and stick to it. Weak leadership will change like the wind but true strength is doing what you know is right for your family and staying the course you set.

He was Lord Stark now and the future of House Stark and all its members hung on his shoulders so he must be ready to accept that burden and lead, failure to do that and he might as well take his family back to Dorne and leave the rebel houses to control the North.

- x -

A Day Later...

After establishing Rodrik as the new Lord of the Dreadfort he slept one night in the castle and then left to continue to putting down this uprising. Ned was riding on his horse with his men accompanied by Mark Ryswell, wondering just what else he had surprises he had to look forward to in this campaign.

As they rode onwards though one final one was coming to him.

He and his men stopped as they heard a pained howl nearby, they stopped and looked in confusion and Ned dismounted from his horse and went into the forest followed by his men who were alert to any potential threat. They saw a river nearby and on the banks was a large creature with dirty matted fur, it was whimpering with pain and exhaustion as a dead shadowcat lay nearby. It was enormous but its snout and body shape were as familiar to Ned as his own hand as he recognised it for what it was.

A Direwolf.

He had thought them gone from the North, existing maybe only on the other side of the Wall but here was one. Injured he saw with the matted fur coloured with blood, he crept closer and the poor creature was so weak that it could barely lift its head as he came closer, whimpering in pain and he gently put his hand on its head. It did not struggle but in fact leaned into his hand as if pleading for him to help.

Ned did not have to be told twice, without wasting any time he carefully washed and bandaged the beast's wounds and fur with his own hands as his men watched in astonished silence as their lord tended to the wolf with the care you would expect someone to give to their own child. The direwolf was able to eat some food he gave her and seemed to regain some of her strength. Enough to look up at Ned and gently licked his hand.

The men could scarcely believe it, Ned was bonding with the emblem of his own house and he smiled as he gently scratched behind its ears which made it almost hum in comfort. Seeing it was still injured and would need care to survive Ned commanded.

"Make room on one of the wagons, she will be travelling with us." He said and none of the men dared argue, still amazed at what they were seeing. They went to do his bidding and with some effort, they loaded the heavy and injured wolf onto a wagon, noticing her swollen belly Ned now understood why the direwolf had been so desperate for help...she was carrying pups he thought with a smile.

"I will call you Lyarra." He said as he scratched behind her ears again and the wolf hummed as if accepting that name.

Highpoint, the North...

The cold winds of the North battered Shaena as she flew her dragon, she was glad to have dressed warmly as if she had not been wearing furs she would surely have fallen from her dragon's back as the cold made her fingers numb.

However she clung on and arrived at the sight of the battle.

As she understood it, the Whitehills were in the employ of the Blackfyres and had been promised sole control of the invaluable Ironwood trade. The Blackfyres had helped them hire many sellswords for the battle and it was more than House Forrester could field at one time and House Glover was unwilling to get involved.

That left the Forresters dangerously outnumbered and yet they had no choice but to fight.

Shaena looked down on the battlefield below and urged her dragon into a dive, hurtling towards the ground and specifically the Whitehill rear guard. The men looked up and saw the dragon descending towards them, the Forrester men were elated and rallied to fight back harder the Whitehills and their sellswords were terrified but they had only moment scream as Shaena bathed the field in fire. The men were consumed by the flames as the dragon breathed a trail of destruction across the field, Lord Whitehill looked up and hung his head as he accepted the end, the flames just engulfing him in seconds.

The panic the dragon had created and the death of their lord spread among the others in moments, made worse as the Forresters pushed them back towards the lines of fire that surrounded them. Shaena and her dragon continued their attack, cutting down the enemy army with ease.

Lord Gregor Forrester looked up at the dragon in awe of it as well as fear, that creature was all but unstoppable. He hoped that he never had to face one in battle and now rallied his men to take the few survivors prisoner, the Wall would have many new recruits soon he thought with a smile and he meanwhile would secure Highpoint for his family, his son Asher was of the same age as the only Whitehill daughter Gwyn so he would secure it through them. The Whitehill boys would go to the Wall where at last they might be some use at last he thought with mirth and satisfaction at the end of the old rivalry.

The Vale...

The passages of the Vale were blocked by the Hill Tribes who were perfectly suited to ambushing knights who tried to pass through but now Harmony and Haeron were clearing them, the Vale Lords that had stayed true to Lord Arryn now could move their armies around the Vale and gather against their enemies.

Lord Elbert Arryn watched as each house was brought into line, many surrendering hostages now his army was rallied and had two dragons on his side they were only too happy to surrender and give up their family members if they could avoid being burned by dragons.

Some even went further to prove their new found loyalty.

Elbert sat on the Weirwood throne with his wife Alyssa Royce and their two sons Allard and Rolland at his side as Lord Lynderly proudly presented his two 'gifts' to House Arryn.

"My Lord, allow me to present to you Harrold Hardyng and Lyn Corbray." He said with a smile as he bowed, the two bound men glaring at him as he had grabbed them while they slept and dragged them here. "Here to face your judgement. Hardyng for treason, Corbray for...unspeakable acts with...boys." He said with obvious disgust at the skilled but deeply disturbed knight that had been the best warrior of House Corbray.

The implication hung in the air and many of the lords and knights present were deeply unsettled by what was being said, it was a crime that rarely ever was heard and by a man that had been a respected knight as well.

Harrold meanwhile had been a potential heir to the Vale until Elbert had produced two sons, he was the rallying point of this rebellion and his greed to be Lord of the Vale had caused so much death and destruction already. Elbert was not in a mood to be kind to either of them and nodded to Ser Nestor Royce who would soon be given Heart's Home the castle of House Corbray for the loyalty that House Royce had shown him.

Nestor nodded back and pulled the wheel that opened the moon door, the wind howling through it and the men holding Lyn and Harrold pushed them forward, they struggled but were bound and helpless against so many men and could only give muffled screams as they fell to the abyss below. Elbert watched coldly before the door was closed again. He looked to Lord Lynderly and gave a slight nod which made the man look so relieved, he would need to surrender a hostage or two but for peace it was worth it.

He just hoped the King and Queen succeeded in their own mission, he thought as it was time for them to deal with the traitor Viserys and his stolen dragon.

Littlesister, the Vale...

Haeron and Harmony were focused entirely on the island of Littlesister, Caelys was in there somewhere and they were not leaving until they found her.

And Viserys they both thought darkly.

- x -

Viserys meanwhile was terrified, word of the rebellion's swift collapse was reaching him in bits and pieces. Many of the houses that had pledged themselves to him were falling or surrendering one after another and his fury at their cowardice was growing as fast as his fear.

They had sworn themselves to him he thought with disgust, they lived and died at his command and now they kissed the feet of his weak and pathetic family.

But now his oldest brother was coming for him he thought with dread, a cold shiver running through his entire body. He could almost see Haeron glaring at him out of the corner of his eyes, making Viserys shake with fear. He tried to shake it off but it was clinging to him like a snake squeezing its prey.

He went to his dragon, wanting to be reminded that he was powerful and strong...that nothing could ever threaten him he thought with barely controlled panic.

- x -

Elsewhere Caelys was miserable, she was basically a prisoner who thankfully no one had bothered with as they hoped that having her here would stop her father from coming here and burning them with his dragon. She knew Viserys was a coward Caelys thought with disgust before reaching for something on her cell table.

It was the necklace her parents had given her with the small fire opal inside, she picked up and held it to her chest. It was the only thing she had managed to keep of hers and she wished she knew more magic to actually use it.

She wanted so desperately to get home, back to her mother and father and her sisters and brothers she thought with misery. She hated it here and that was when she heard the howl from Aurora and felt the dragon's own misery...a reflection of her own.

She looked out from the barred window and saw the green dragon and reached out her hand, her necklace still clutched to her chest, almost like she could reach the poor dragon but as she did so the fire opal on her necklace which was still in her clutched hand glowed warmly.

And Aurora looked her way.

Viserys meanwhile was striding towards the dragon, whip in hand to remind it if necessary of who the beast served. The dragon snarled at his approach, he bared the whip expecting the dragon to terrified at the sight of it. But this time Aurora snarled at him again and blew out a blast of fire that made Viserys dive out of the way. He looked shocked as Aurora took off and rumbled towards the wall of the cell where Caelys was being kept. The little girl looked at the sight in shock before moving back in time to avoid Aurora breathing fire on the wall, leaving it so weakened that the dragon could smash it down with its tail in a single heavy blow.

Caelys looked on in amazement but then Aurora lay down and extended its tail, almost like a hand to Caelys and the little girl could 'feel' what the dragon wanted her to do. She nervously sat on the tail which then carefully moved and slid her onto the dragon's back. Caelys grasped on tightly to the spikes as the dragon beat its wings to take off.

Viserys looked on in horror and shock and screamed out.

"NO! THAT DRAGON IS MINE! MINE!" He screamed in a shrill voice with desperation taking over as the dragon launched itself into the skies.

Caelys clung tightly to Aurora's back, almost screaming as the air rushed past her but at the same time she felt it, a powerful feeling of freedom coming over her as she felt the dragon and its strength. She smiled with complete joy as she realised the sheer thrill that came from flying on a dragon.

But then she saw something that made her heart soar even higher, the enormous form of Kara flying towards them and alongside Sylvie fell in formation. She knew that her father was close by and she flew straight towards him with hope and joy.

Haeron and Harmony both were about to attack when Kara and Sylvie roared out, not in anger but in joy. Looking again they saw someone else riding the dragon, too small to be Viserys and that was when their hearts rose with hope and then joy as they realised who it was that was riding Aurora.

"She did it." Haeron said with pride as he looked at his daughter, so small compared to the dragon on which she rode. His youngest child, the smallest and the most fragile had managed to take a dragon away from Viserys and escaped her own confinement.

Seeing her more clearly now he smiled at her and she smiled back with tears in her eyes, she was so glad to finally see him and Harmony was smiling with relief as well. She might not be her biological mother but she loved the little girl like her own, so seeing her relieved Harmony. Haeron and her had a plan so Haeron directed Caelys to stay with Harmony as he dived on the fleet in the harbour.

With the Blackfyre ships in sight he gave a simple command.

"Dracarys."

Kara did not hesitate and blasted the ships below as the crews screamed in fear, the powerful golden fire of Kara tore the ships apart with ease. Harmony meanwhile led Sylvie down on the attack the camp at the small port, that was were many of the sellswords from Essos coming in from the other side of the Narrow Sea along with Vale forces that had retreated here.

Having seen the ships being devastated by one dragon the sight of another one coming for them sent the men into a panic, Sylvie was as fierce as Kara in her attack, raining down fire upon the enemy and then Kara having finished with the ships joined in, sparing no-one as they bathed the area in fire. Caelys watched from above with Aurora in awe as she had never actually seen the power of dragons first hand before and it was both incredible and terrifying at the same time.

However Haeron then focused his attention on one person in particular, still standing away from the flames and with silver hair. His eyes narrowed and broke off the attack now most of the damage was done and landed nearby, Kara snarled at Viserys as he looked at them with terror and Haeron had a face like stone, he dismounted and then threw a sword to him, just a normal steel one as he would never give such a pathetic creature as Viserys a nice sword. It clanged by his feet as it hit the floor but Viserys was far to scared to pick it up at the sight of his eldest brother who towered over him and had a cold and furious look in his eyes. Blackfyre was already in his hands and glinting the fire and sun light.

"Pick it up." Haeron said with a complete lack of emotion, Viserys meanwhile was so scared that he actually pissed himself and did not move a muscle before Haeron glared and told him again only more slowly.

"Pick...It...Up."

Viserys was shaking so hard that he appeared more like a blur than a man but did at least move now, but instead of picking up the sword and going to fight he turned and ran away. Haeron watched in annoyance as he did before he threw a cutting curse at Viserys, hitting him at the knees. The curse was powerful and severed both his legs off, even burning the wounds so they were cauterised. He screamed out in pain as he felt to the ground and his head fell into a drain filled with waste, Haeron coldly put his foot on his back and held him down. Viserys struggled but couldn't move as his lungs filled with filthy water among other more vile things, Haeron did not relent and just held him down until finally he stopped struggling. He continued to hold Viserys down for a moment to make sure he was properly dead before finally relenting.

Haeron looked down in disgust before dragging the body out of the drain and throwing it into the fire, watching it burn. He remembered the first time he had seen Viserys, held him in his arms only a short time after he had been born. He had seemed so innocent then, so full of hope and potential but now look how it had turned it out he thought with despair.

He felt the nudge of dragon's snout on his arm and turned to see Kara looking at him with concern but he managed a smile for his long time companion and petted them gently before climbing on their back and taking off into the sky, joining Harmony and Caelys as they flew above the island.

He smiled and led their little group to the mainland not far away, they landed on the beach and as Aurora joyfully reunited with Kara and Sylvie Caelys looked at her father and second mother with tears in her eyes before Haeron with a small smile on his face knelt down and opened his arms to her.

She didn't hesitate, she ran forward straight into his arms which wrapped around her like the warmest and most soft blanket in the world. A comfort that was enveloping and made her finally feel really safe.

"I'm so sorry!" Haeron said with a voice full of sorrow and joy at the same time that his daughter was here and safe. "I failed you, I let you be taken and I will never let anything happen to you ever again." Haeron said as he held his daughter in his arms, she hugged him back as tears fell from both their eyes. Harmony came up to her and wiped them away from Caelys's eyes and then joined in the hug.

"Father." Caelys said with a trembling voice. "I missed you so much. Aurora she helped me." She told him.

Haeron and Harmony both noticed the dragon seemed to have bonded to Caelys, the fact that she had managed to do that when Viserys had already ridden the dragon and was still alive surprised them deeply.

Harmony thought quietly to herself, wondering if Caelys might have a rare gift that she had only read about in the texts they'd found in Valyria. A Dragon Mage, they were magic users that had an deep and complex affinity with dragons. How else had she been able to bond to Aurora while confined and another rode the dragon? She pondered, knowing she had some research to do.

"Aurora is your dragon now." Haeron said with pride in his daughter, she was so strong and she had no idea just how strong she really was. Caelys looked at him in sudden worry and anxiety, her lip trembling.

"Am I a Targaryen now?" She asked him with fear, worried that he would say otherwise but he gently took hold of her chin and made her look him in the eye.

"You always have been. Whatever anyone says, you define who you are. You are bright, kind, strong and most definitely special. Never ever doubt that. Your grandmother would be proud for you to ride her dragon." Haeron told her and Caelys trembled slightly before launching herself back into her father's loving embrace. He held her and was so glad that she was back and safe, kissing her gently on the forehead and letting her just feel safe again, like she needed.

He had failed as a father when she needed him most and he would never let that happen again he swore to himself.

Winterfell, the North...Some Time Later...

Ned rode in through Winter Town with his men at his side, the crowd cheering as they came through which he felt like he did not deserve...not after it had cost him his brother and father to win this war.

The good thing was the last of the rebel houses had been either forced into submission or defeated, new houses had been established to replace those that had been rendered extinct or banished.

It was a great relief to Ned who at least had gotten control of the North back and the Nights Watch had been reinforced by many new men. It was a shame that it had come to this but it was what had happened Ned thought with a sigh and knew it was pointless to dwell on what he could not change.

Instead he thought with a small smile he turned his attention on what he had waiting for the rest of his family in the cart just behind him.

He rode through the gates of Winterfell and saw his own wife and children standing there with Benjen and his family and then Lady Catelyn with her daughters. Behind them were the household and he noticed with some frustration Brandon's two bastard daughters, that was not right he thought as they might not carry the name but they were as much Starks as any other, not hidden like some kind of shame.

That was something he would need to change he thought with annoyance.

He dismounted from his horse and walked up to Ashara who smiled brightly at him with his children, now in clothes befitting the North, sturdy and practical but well made and they had incorporated some purple to show their Dayne history.

He greeted her and the children with a hug and a kiss for Ashara, smiling brightly at them before turning to Benjen and hugging him in turn. They slapped each others backs before separating and he told them all.

"I have a gift for you, well at least those of Stark Blood." He said which confused them before he whistled.

Lyarra leapt out from the wagon where she had been resting, making all of them jump in alarm except the men that had been with Ned who knew full well what he had been caring for since they left the Dreadfort. The great wolf now much better bounded up to Ned and sat next to him, he scratched behind her ears and she shook her head slightly in enjoyment.

The rest of the Stark household were staring in astonishment at the scene while those of Stark blood were mesmerised by the wolf, in awe of not only its great size but the fact the sigil of their house was standing right in front of them and seeming to obey Ned without question.

But that was far from the only surprise that Ned had in store for them today, he gestured to Lyarra who seemed to nod and went back over to the wagon, half reaching inside to drag out something in its mouth.

A small direwolf pup.

The little grey and white pup yipped excitedly as its mother put it down on the floor and then went back inside to retrieve another pup followed by nine more. Soon eleven pups played around Lyarra who stood proudly with her brood with a second large wolf with black fur coming out to stand next to her.

"Meet Lyarra, her mate and their pups." Ned said proudly as the family looked at them. "We found Lyarra on the road and then her mate followed. I think they want to stay with us."

Catelyn, stunned into shock immediately objected as she noticed her daughters getting very entranced like their cousins at the pups, wondering if it was in their blood to be obsessed with wolves.

"You can't let those beasts near my children!" She said loudly and with anger but all of the Starks and even Ashara and Jonelle turned to look at her with annoyance.

"They were meant to be here." Ashara said, herself not keen on enormous wolves being so close to her children either but trusting her husband who seemed to have his wolf under control. In fact she looked over and saw that the large black one was going over to Benjen with curiosity, her goodbrother looked at the wolf with awe and then petted it gently on the head which it took too with surprising speed.

His sons likewise started petting the wolf while Vorian, Ulrich, Arya, Bran, Minisa, Sansa, Roslyn, Yondi and Willow all started playing with the pups, each one seeming to take to a specific one of the Stark children. They were all completely enthralled by them, Lyarra even licking Ashara's hand and rubbed her big head against her which made Ashara laugh a little at how gentle the wolf really was.

The black furred one meanwhile was doing the same with Jonelle who was a little more afraid at first but eased as she realised the big wolf was trying to reassure her it meant no harm, she joined in petting the wolf as her husband smiled.

"Hunter, I'll call you Hunter." He said simply and the male wolf seemed to preen as if liking the name. Benjen's sons meanwhile found two of the pups of their own had wandered over and soon they were playing with them on the ground.

"You will train them yourselves and care for them yourselves." Ned told them, becoming stern and they all nodded happily before everyone went inside for something to eat along with their new partners.

- x -

Now inside Ned was finally able to sit with Benjen and speak with his brother properly, the two of them tucking into a warm stew with relish.

"Your boys seem like good lads." Ned said with a smile as he saw his two nephews Edwyk and Martyn feed their wolf pups as they sat in their laps. Benjen smiled too with pride as he saw his boys take care of their wolves, they were such caring lads he was so glad now that his father had insisted he marry now as while once he had dreamed of joined the Watch as a boy, he now wouldn't trade his family for anything.

"So do yours." Benjen replied as he looked at Vorian, Ulrich and Bran who sat with the rest of their family and chatted warmly with them. They did not look down on those that had grown up in the North and merely wanted to get to know their family.

Ned nodded, proud of his children who would he hoped soon see the North and specifically Winterfell as their home.

Getting up he walked over to his nieces, who were sitting quietly off to themselves and frowned. Their mother it seemed wanted to keep them apart from the rest of the family and he did not like that. They were Starks and should stand together he thought with determination and walked over to them, seeing Yondi and Willow, the two bastard daughters that his brother Brandon had sired were made to sit away from their half sisters which only made his anger at the situation worse. They were as much family as everyone else and he told the two girls who looked lonely.

"Come, eat with us. You are family." He said kindly and the two girls who had never really had any parental affection apart from scraps that their father might occasionally send their way looked up in confusion and mistrust.

"Do you mean that?" Yondi asked him boldly, daring him to try and lie to them but Ned merely smiled and told her honestly.

"Every word." Ned told her with a smile and then added. "And you will be able to spend time with your mother at the Rills. The new Lord Ryswell and I have made an agreement, you will live both here and there."

The words hit Yondi like a war hammer, she was momentarily stunned by the announcement but then a smile began to break out on her face as it sunk in. Hope dancing in her eyes as she had not seen her mother in what felt like forever.

"Really?" She asked with an almost pleading look in her eyes. Ned nodded and smiled.

"Indeed." He told her and she started crying, actually crying but they were tears of joy rather than sorrow as she might at last have her mother in her life. Willow sat next to her half sister and while glad for her she was sad too as she did not have a family to visit like Yondi did. But Ned seeing her pain put a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed it, letting her know that she did have family and they would not leave her. She found a great deal of comfort at that.

Ned eventually went over to Minisa, Sansa and Roslyn who all looked at him with nervous looks, knowing their fate was in his hands as he now was the head of their house. Unless they wanted to throw themselves at the mercy of their mother's family in the Riverlands he was literally their only option.

He smiled warmly at them, seeing the three girls were clearly going to be incredible beauties when they grew older and told them.

"I will look forward to getting to know you all better later. Know that you all have a place here as members of House Stark." He said to them warmly and they all looked into his eyes and started to smile back as they saw his kindness and affection for them.

Catelyn watched this with some relief but also a strange feeling of discomfort, unsure why yet but she knew it was something more than mere worry...later she would realise it meant that things were changing in ways she might not like.

- x -

Later that day Ashara was sitting in the solar that now belonged to her, seeing the documents around her that came with running such a large castle. It was simple enough she thought with a smile, she knew how to handle things like this.

Ned came in and asked her.

"Settling in?" He said with a smile, confident in her ability to run Winterfell and she rolled her eyes.

"A castle is a castle regardless of how big it is. Same tasks just on a different scale, making sure the children have settled in is going to be the main challenge." She reasoned with a small smile, comfortable in her husband's presence as he was in hers.

"Do you think they'll take to it?" He asked, hoping so but worried all the same.

Ashara just nodded, confident in her children and that they could make the most of this situation.

Unknown to them, Catelyn was listening nearby, she was struck by how easily Eddard and Ashara talked to each other. How open they were and treated each other as an equal, how much they clearly loved and trusted each other.

Seeing Eddard...Ned like that with his wife Catelyn thought made her heart skip a beat and also filled her with regret and jealousy.

She had never ever had the chance to really be the Lady of the North, she thought with bitterness. Rickard and Brandon had never trusted her with anything real beyond their daughters and now this 'perfect' Dornish witch was usurping her! She thought with fury.

But more than that she thought with her thoughts turning to mournful longing, she wished she had been the one to marry Ned...to be his lady as he would have treated her far better than Brandon ever had. It clawed at her with a nagging that would not go away and she carefully crept away, thoughts of what could have been running through her mind.

Griffin's Roost, The Stormlands...

Robert Baratheon stood with a grin as his men cheered as the defences of Griffin's Roost fell, the last rebels had holed up inside the castle in the hopes of a last stand or perhaps make more favourable terms but Robert had instead cracked the defences of the strong castle, sending smaller men up a drain and into the castle to open the gate so they could rush inside.

He felt the thrill of victory and it was sweeter than any wine that he had ever tasted.

This was unfortunately the last bastion of resistance in the Stormlands and the rest of Westeros with the exception of the Iron Islands and he hoped that he might lead some of the fighting there too.

Highgarden, the Reach...

Olenna Tyrell looked at the map and smiled, content that the rebellion had been suppressed by the combined efforts of Randyll Tarly, Mathis Rowan and Prince Daeron Targaryen. Their vassals had been reminded of just who they served and would not forget in a hurry again. Those that had been allowed to keep their castles she thought with concentration as she considered how to use this to secure their reign in the Reach.

She had offered the Ring to House Tarly with one of her granddaughters to wed to Dickon Tarly, Randyll's second son, he had accepted and she was working to tie others to major houses to make their hold secure. She was not blind to the fact it might embolden some of them but it was hopefully enough to secure their rule. She had increased the intensity of Willas and Garlan's education to ensure that they would be able to rule effectively, she was also doing her utmost to ensure that her granddaughters were all educated in the politics and strategy to keep their husbands in line.

It was exhausting she thought with a sigh, this rebellion had lasted only half a year or so as she did not expect it to take long before the Targaryens forced the Iron Islands back into line. Then at last things would hopefully go back to normal.

The Red Keep, Kings Landing...

Kara, Sylvie and Aurora all flew over the city, roaring in triumph and the other dragons flew out to meet them dancing in the skies above the city.

Evelyn, Grace, Shaena, Vaena and Daeron all stood outside to greet them as the three dragons came in to land, dropping their riders off before taking back off to play in the skies with the other dragons. Seeing Caelys on the back of Aurora made all of them stare in astonishment but that was swiftly forgotten as Evelyn ran forward and embraced her daughter in her arms, crying as she held her precious girl as close as she could.

The reunion was warm and comforting as they all came back together, true there was still work to be done as the Iron Islands still resisted but in the months since they had begun their little uprising the Royal Squadrons under Davos had sailed around most of Westeros and would now be coming into position to strike with their new cannons.

But for this moment, they allowed thoughts of war to take a back seat and just enjoy the now.

The children then came out, all happy and glad to have them home and for Caelys it was a reunion with all her siblings. Aemon and Jasen coming over to her and checking that she was safe and well before hugging her tightly, making a vow.

"We will never let you be taken again."

The vow was sweet and endearing but one they would certainly keep, the fact she had now bonded with a dragon and one that was fully grown was of little consequence to them...she was their sister and they would keep her safe most of her brothers and older sisters thought to themselves.

Haeron though focused on Baelon, his son looked bored like he didn't care about Caelys being rescued and brought home. That troubled him, his son had no guilt or regret about what he had done. A chill ran down his spine as he recalled so many of the villains that he had face over the years and how they too had no remorse at the awful things they did, and now his son to his horror was acting the same way.

Given what had just happened with Viserys and how much it had cost Westeros and his family, he could not afford to ignore it.

So steeling himself he walked over to his troublesome son who looked at him boldly, sure of himself which only grated on Haeron's already strained nerves.

"Baelon, I have never been so disappointed in one of my children until now. What you did to Caelys is unforgivable, worse she was kidnapped and held prisoner because of you." He said to him sternly as the atmosphere immediately changed, becoming tense and awkward as everyone looked at Haeron and Baelon.

Baelon just shrugged without a care, not a single bit of regret or remorse...he genuinely did not even think he did anything wrong as it did not affect him and everything turned out fine.

Harmony and Evelyn looked at the boy with disbelief while the other children looked on in anger. Grace, Vaena, Shaena and Daeron all stared in deep concern and Haeron's eyes narrowed.

"You show no will to change or learn, so from now on you will never ride a dragon, nor learn to fight." Haeron declared and Baelon instantly turned into a wild fury and screamed incoherently at him. Even punching him but his little fists did nothing to the grown man.

Haeron nevertheless did not react and told the Royal Guard.

"Take Baelon to his chambers and keep him there. No one is to see him unless I allow it."

The Royal Guard nodded and picked up the screaming prince by the arms and lifted him off his feet, carrying the still swearing child to his rooms. Haeron and the others watched him go with sad expressions, Grace and Vaena took the children inside while the Targaryens stayed a moment to talk.

"Do you think he'll change?" Evelyn asked with worry in her voice but Daeron shook his head.

"The coin landed on madness there, he is just going to get worse." He said sadly, not wanting to say such a thing about his own nephew but it was clear to all of them. They had seen it in Viserys and none of them had acted until it was too late.

They could not afford to make the same mistake again.

They would confine him for now, keep him contained until they could make a better long term plan.

They all nodded sadly before Evelyn just told them a thought that she'd had.

"To keep control on Crackclaw Point, the Whispers could be rebuilt. We could even give it to some of the children as a holding." She suggested and they nodded, it was a good idea and they needed to think of such things for the future.

"While the Iron Born will be dealt with soon enough, to destroy the Blackfyres we will need to go on the offensive." Harmony said with disgust at all they had done and would do. They had instituted a civil war for no other reason than to cover their tracks and distract them, unaware that they could track them now.

"Pentos will be first." Haeron nodded and turned to Shaena who nodded with a grin.

"The large warships, the Man o Wars as you called them will be built. They will be slow but their firepower will more than make up for that."

"It will take time." Harmony said knowing those ships were a huge project alone but would make their navy unbeatable. "For now we must deal with the Iron Islands."

"To help with tactics and strategy it might be worth inviting Robert Baratheon to aid in the planning." Haeron said, surprising them all given how the Lord of Storm's End had been a potential problem for years.

"Is that wise?" Evelyn asked with concern and Haeron could only sigh before telling her.

"He has grown somewhat wiser and more even tempered since the death of his brother Renly, and he is certainly one of the better military minds that we have. Not to mention he could have sided against us but he didn't. At the very least we can keep him where we can watch him." Haeron suggested and they all reluctantly nodded, however they did and whatever it took...they would end this war.