The Wall/King's Landing 299 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

A thousand men burned in the blink of an eye, wiped out as if they had never existed and all that remained of them was a pile of ash. It was an awesome show of force and all those who saw it now looked at him and Brankardix with very different looks than they had before. There was more fear than respect, more worry than appreciation and yet he found he cared not. He was who would have to live with this not them. Years from now, should he survive the war to come this would still be a part of him, a stain on his soul, and yet he felt no regret for what he'd done.

He'd done more for the Watch than any member of his House since Good Queen Alysanne and they had spat in his face. They'd killed good men and true who had only been here at his behest and so it was not the lives of the thousand men that he mourned as Brankardix landed, it was the lives of the men they had taken. The families and loved ones that mourned with him and in truth, he knew that would be the real stain he'd wear.

Jae had no desire to be here any longer than he needed to and so he spoke briefly to Stannis, Mance, and to his uncle. Benjen too showing the same eagerness as he was to leave this place. Stannis had decided to seal the tunnels and that Castle Black should remain unmanned, other than a group of men to keep watch. It would not be what he would have done himself but he left it to the new Lord Commander to see to the Wall's defenses. After saying his goodbyes he turned to Jaime and saw the look that Val gave the knight. It was a look that stirred something in his heart and one that he disliked seeing.

"Val, I find the need for a witness to what happened here, a representative of the Free Folk who can speak to their needs even better than I. I know I'm asking a lot of you but I'd ask for you to join Ser Jaime and me on our return to King's Landing." he said as both the knight and the woman looked at him curiously.

"If I can be of help, Jae." Val said, her voice non-committal though he did see the smile she shared with Jaime after she had done so.

"Ser Jaime, perhaps you can help Val gather her things?" he said and Jaime smirked as he nodded at him.

"Of course, your grace." Jaime said and he and Val soon moved from the courtyard.

He could hear the laughter from Tormund and Mance once they'd gone, Jae, joining in as the two men walked over to him.

"A matchmaker and a draognrider" Tormund said slapping his back.

"At least one good thing came from me being here then." he said and Mance nodded.

"I hope to see you again but not for some time, Jae." Mance said with a smirk.

"As do I, Mance." he replied with a nod.

It took no time at all for Val and Jaime to arrive back and though nervous, she climbed up on Brankardix's back far more eagerly than Jaime did. Though Jae did notice how eagerly the knight wrapped his arms around her when they were both sitting on the dragon's back. With a final nod to Stannis, Mance, Tormund, and Benjen, Jae climbed up after them and within moments they were in the air. The sight of the Wall fading from view behind him as he looked over his shoulder, was one that he more than welcomed.

By the time they reached the Riverlands night had fallen and so Jae had Brankardix land just past Seagard and near the Green Fork. He could see that Val though in a little discomfort from the ride was more fascinated by the lands they were in. Winter had not yet fully taken hold and the Riverlands were still green and fertile and Val looked at the grass and the flowers that blossomed with a soft smile on her face. They set up camp and ate from the supplies, Val had wished to go hunting but Jae felt it better if they just stayed where they were. She didn't know these lands and he had no wish to spend time looking for her if she got lost.

Jaime looked at him oddly when he said that he'd sleep with Brankardix and they could have the fire to themselves, though once he saw the smile on Val's face, he soon agreed. Jae was happy to give them privacy and he found himself feeling a little jealous of them both. The thoughts of being back in his wife's arms were ones that filled his head for the rest of the night. Waking the next morning it was even clearer just how amazed Val was by the lands around them.

"You people have lands like this and yet you begrudge us wishing for the same." she said as they broke their fast.

"That was the old world, Val, we all now live in a new one." he said and she nodded.

When they were done eating they didn't waste much time before getting back onto Brankardix's back and soon he was listening as Jaime explained to Val about the keeps they flew over. Harrenhal, Darry, Antlers, and Rosby, Val seemed amazed by them all and when she saw King's Landing for the first time he felt her intake of breath. The Red Keep loomed large in front of them as Jaime told her that was where they were headed to.

It was perhaps mainly for her benefit that Jae flew Brankardix almost on a tour of the city below. The Great Sept, the Red Keep, the city itself, and finally the Dragonpit all seeming to excite her though that excitement was soon tempered when they landed and she got her first true smell of the city. They'd done some work to fix it but there was much more to be done and the look on her face was one that brought a smile to his own.

"The city smells like shit." Val said.

"Welcome to King's Landing." he said with a laugh.

It was Ser Oswell who came to greet them, Jae surprised to see the man was alone but then he remembered he had Jaime with him and so there was no need for more than one Kingsguard. After briefly introducing Val, he quickly mounted up and though he wished to race to the Red Keep, so eager was he to see Margaery and the babes, he rode at a far more leisurely pace.

"Speak to Tyrion about a room for Val when we arrive Jaime, then take the day for yourself and perhaps show her some of the sights." he said and Jaime nodded as they rode into the courtyard.

"I will your grace." Jaime said and then Jae turned to the woman who was looking at the Red Keep with an awed look on her face.

"I may not see you for the rest of the day, Val, but if not then we'll speak on the morrow." he said to her and she smirked as she looked back at him.

"Eager to see your queen, Jae?" she said teasingly to a frown from Oswell.

"Most eager." he said as he quickly dismounted and almost ran up the steps and into the Red Keep.

Though he didn't quite run, he did move quickly and in no time at all he was at the door to their rooms. Ser Loras and Ser Barristan were on duty and he nodded to them both before opening the door and walking inside. His wife was sitting on the floor with Aegon and Rhaenys, her grandmother and his mother both there with her, as Ghost was amusing his children by just brushing his head against them.

"We'll leave you alone, your grace." Olenna said as she saw him.

"We'll talk later Jae." his mother said kissing his cheek and then he was alone with Margaery and the children.

"I missed you all so much." he said kissing Margaery as he sat down beside her, his eyes torn between his wife and his children as finally, his thoughts were no longer on the events at Castle Black, for now at least.

King's Landing 299 AC.

Margaery.

She watched him play with the children and it brought a smile to her face to see him so relaxed. When he'd arrived she'd noticed there was something off about him, he was trying to hide it but she knew him too well by now not to see that there was something on his mind. His kiss to her, how he looked to the children at first, and even how stiff his body felt when he sat beside her, all showing her that something had happened at the wall. Something more than him simply dealing with some errant Night's Watchmen.

Now though that stiffness was gone and instead Jae was back to how she wished he could always be. What had happened she still knew not but she was sure that when he was ready he'd tell her. For now, she joined him in making Aegon laugh or as he played with Rhaenys, the four of them and Ghost almost oblivious to the world outside their doors. When she saw the babes eyes begin to grow heavy she looked at him and Jae nodded. Margaery picking up Aegon while Jae took Rhaenys in his arms and they carried them to their cribs. Jae then stood by the cribs for some time after they'd laid them down before he then turned to her.

Looking into his eyes she could see that he still didn't wish to speak and so she decided not to push it just yet. Instead, she took his hand when he led her to their bed and after helping him remove his armor she lay down with him. He kissed her softly and took her in his arms and within moments he was asleep. Margaery holding him and feeling the occasion shudder from him as she did so. Whatever had happened had clearly affected him greatly and she began to worry just what that was. She hoped that when he woke he'd at least share it with her and not keep it to himself.

"Margaery." she heard his almost panicked voice almost shout out when he woke a few hours later.

"I'm here, Jae." she said and he looked at her as if he couldn't see her for a moment, his eyes taking some time to focus.

"I.." her husband seemed unable to find the words and so she kissed him softly, feeling him relax somewhat.

"What happened Jae?" she asked.

"I had no choice." he said shakily "You must believe me I had no choice." he said pleadingly.

"Speak to me, Jae, talk to me." she said softly as she moved her hands to his face so that he was looking at her.

"They broke the peace, the Night's Watch broke the peace. They killed my men, Marge, the men I'd sent to help them defend the Wall, the men I'd asked to fight for me. They killed their Lord Commander and some of their brothers who wouldn't go along with their plans." Jae said as he stared at her.

"Their plans?" she asked, concentrating on that for now.

"They wanted to attack the Free Folk, their old grudges and bitterness something they couldn't let go of. An army of dead men march towards them and yet they saw men, women, and children who just wanted to live as their enemy."

"You stopped them?" she asked and he nodded, though only slightly.

"I arrived in time, but not for everyone. Two hundred died, men, women, and children, Marge, they even killed children, what kind of men could do that?" he asked and she felt him move from her, Jae hurrying to the cribs to look down at their own babes.

"They are safe, Jae, our babes are safe." she said taking his hand and he nodded, though she knew he had needed to see them himself again to be sure.

"I had no choice after that." he said and she now heard a difference in his words, they were firmer, as if he was more sure of himself and she was happy to hear his resolve return.

"What did you do?" she asked softly.

"I burned them, Marge, I burned them all." he said not looking at her or the babes as he did so.

She felt his hand stiffen in her own and she stroked it softly as she knew now why he was feeling how he was.

"You're not him, Jae. These men deserved it." she said as he turned to look at her.

"I burned a thousand men, Marge, practically every brother of the Night's Watch barring my uncle and Samwell Tarly." he said, and though it shocked her to hear it was that many, the reasoning didn't seem wrong to her.

"Did you enjoy it?" she asked and he looked at her with a horrified look on his face.

"How could you ask me that?" he said angrily.

"Wasn't that what he did, Jae? Didn't he enjoy it when he burned people? You are not him, not unless you enjoyed it, which I know you did not." she said and he looked at her as he nodded.

"I did it because it needed to be done. Those men could never be trusted again, I couldn't trust them to fight side by side with the Free Folk or with me. I hated it, I hated every single moment of it. I hate them for what they made me do, Marge, more than I've hated almost any man I hate them for what they've turned me into." he said and she kissed his cheek.

"You are not him, Jae, you never need to worry about becoming him." she said and he nodded as he hugged her.

She sent a servant to bring them food and they sat down and ate near the cribs. Jae taking a moment to stop and look at their children almost every time he swallowed some of the food. Outside night had fallen, though it was early yet and yet she had no desire to leave the room and neither did Jae. After eating, they sat quietly, and then Jae began to ask her had anything happened while he was at the Wall. Margaery quickly told him of the dragon ride that Dany, Shireen, and Arya had taken where they'd tried out the new saddles and how both girls very much enjoyed it.

"You should have heard them, Jae, both of them seem to think that because they're more secure that means they can try things they'd not have risked before now." she said with a small laugh.

"Rhaegon may even allow them to, my son has seen some of what I and Brankardix have done and though he's done it himself, he's not done it with riders on his back. I'll need to speak to all three of them." Jae said smirking.

"Tell me you'll not let them take too many risks?" she asked and he chuckled.

"I'll tell Rhaegon to do just enough to stop them from wanting more." he said and she relaxed somewhat at that "Will they wake up?" he asked looking to the cribs.

"They will, they'd eaten just before you arrived back but they'll be hungry again in a little while."

"Then we won't be retiring anytime soon." he said and whether it was how he said it or how he looked at her, she felt certain that it wouldn't just be sleep they'd be sharing when they went back to their bed.

It wasn't long after the dishes were taking away that the babes woke up, Jae taking Rhaenys in his arms while she fed Aegon and then taking Aegon from her to allow her to do the same with Rhaenys. Perhaps it was because their father was here or maybe it was that they sensed Jae needed to play with them as much as they wished him to, but both children stayed awake far longer after they'd eaten than they usually did.

It was far later in the night than she usually retired when they finally drifted back off to sleep and though Jae spent a little time looking at them once again when they'd placed them in their cribs, it was clear that it was her that he was more focussed on. He didn't even give her time to undress and she was soon laughing at his eagerness, that laughter soon turning to moans as he began to kiss and touch her. She knew he needed her, to be with her, to be one with her and she was surprised that she found she needed it just as much as he did. The loud moaning and gasps that came from her mouth ones that she was sure the entire Red Keep could hear.

Later as she lay in his arms, she felt he was completely back to himself. His breathing was deep and even and as he slept beside her there was a look of contentment on his face. He had needed her and she'd been there for him and Margaery felt her own relief that she'd been able to comfort him so. As she fell to sleep she tried not to think of the Wall or what he'd done, he had been right to, on that she was certain but she knew that there would be those who'd not think of it that way. She would be his clarity, his reason, and whatever anyone else may say of it, she would show him that he was the good man she believed him to be.

King's Landing 299 AC.

Tyrion.

The woman was a beauty and he could see why Jaime had fallen for her. It made him wonder even more about the Free Folk though as Val was the furthest thing from a wilding savage as he could imagine. Seeing how Jaime looked at her, how close his brother sat with her and how Val looked back at him, brought a smile to his face. His own life was finally one that he was happy with all aspects of and it was something that he was glad seemed possible for Jaime now too.

Myrcella and Tommen didn't know how to take the woman at first and then like him they found themselves fascinated by the tales she told. Life Beyond the Wall, the Cold Lands, the Frostfangs, and Hardhome, all of it like a tale from a book that none of them had ever read. After they'd eaten and Jaime had shown Val to her room, Tyrion had asked to speak to him about events at the Wall. He knew very little of why Jae and Jaime had gone there and for his brother to then come back with a wilding woman that he was clearly in love with, he felt there was a tale to be told.

"I can't stay for long." Jaime said as he took his seat opposite him.

"Eager to be somewhere else brother?" he japed though he was the only one that laughed.

"This is all new to her, Tyrion, this place, our customs. When we traveled to meet them it took me some time to find my bearings, Val, Tormund, Mance, and others were there for me and helped me to do so, I owe her the same." Jaime said.

"And you'd prefer her company over your brother's also." he said, this at least getting him a smile from Jaime.

"No offense, but I would." Jaime said both of them laughing a little.

"What happened?" he asked and he saw Jaime sigh.

He listened in shock, horror, and confusion, not sure if the words his brother was saying were true and yet knowing they were. A thousand men, the Night's Watch ended for all intents and purposes, that alone was something the realm would have difficulty in understanding. That those men had been burned by the flames of a dragon, finding out that the king had set a thousand man aflame, that would cause major problems.

"He had no choice, Tyrion and you didn't see him afterward." Jaime said.

"I don't doubt he didn't enjoy it, Jaime, I've seen enough of him to know that. But a thousand men?" he asked.

"A thousand traitors, Tyrion, They killed the king's own men, they killed their brothers, their Lord Commander and then they killed men, women, and children." Jaime said angrily.

"But to burn them? Would it not have been better to hang them or take their heads?" he asked.

"Those men got a far better death than the one they gave to the Free Folk. Some of those they attacked took hours to die Tyrion, those traitors died in a moment, it was quicker than any hanging or beheading."

"It was burning Jaime?" he said appalled that Jaime of all people couldn't see the difference.

"Aye it was, and what would we have needed to do to them once they were dead, Tyrion, but burn them? He was right in this, just, he gave them far more than they deserve and any man who dares say differently is a fool." Jaime said rising to his feet.

"Jaime.."

"No, Tyrion, you're Hand of the King, figure out how to let the realm know of this or even if they should. These men deserved to die and had it been me or you, father or anyone else then they'd have suffered far more than they did." Jaime said before leaving the room.

He knew he was right and he knew that death by Dragonflame was perhaps the quickest least painful way for the men to die. It was what it represented though, a king setting men aflame, no matter how they spoke of it that's all people would see. With what was to come they could not afford men to look at Jae and think of Aerys, not even for a moment.

It preyed on his mind all night and even when he woke the next morning to break his fast. That a Small Council meeting was called was no great surprise and he knew no matter what he said to Jae, the Small Council was to be told the full truth of things. He hurried to the Small Council chambers and entered to find, Jaime and Val both already there, his brother and the wilding sitting beside Prince Oberyn and Tyrion noticing the annoyed look Val shot the prince's way.

Varys, Willas, and Wyman arrived together and then Lord Monford arrived with Prince Aemon followed by Ser Arthur, Ser Oswell, Lyanna, Olenna, and Jon Connington and then the King, Queen, and Princess Daenerys. He looked to the king and was relieved to see that he seemed calm and composed and he wondered if that was why he'd taken the day. If so then it showed that he was just as he believed him to be, a man who while not afraid to make a harsh and heavy choice was not immune to its consequences.

"I've no doubt some of you have already heard of events at the Wall, for those who've not I'll try and be brief, so I ask you to hold your questions and comments until I've done." Jae said.

Tyrion looked at each of those in the room, Varys knew, he could tell by just looking at the man as did Prince Oberyn but he felt that other than himself there wasn't anyone besides the king and the queen who were aware of what had happened.

"I received a warning from Lord Bloodraven that I needed to be at the Wall and so Jaime and I flew there. We arrived in the midst of a battle where almost the entirety of the original brothers of the Night's Watch were attacking the Free Folk with no provocation. The peace that I'd gotten both sides to agree to had been broken by the Night's Watch and so it was them that faced my fury, just as I warned both sides would happen." Jae said.

He looked to Olenna and Aemon, the prince staring at his nephew with more than a keen interest now while Olenna kept her face as schooled as always.

"After ending the fight with Brankardix, the truth of what had occurred was made known to me. Men of the Night's Watch had attacked and killed their Lord Commander and some of their own brothers who had refused to go along with their plans to attack the Free Folk. Men I'd asked to help shore up the defenses and who had been sent to Castle Black had been attacked and killed by the very men they had gone to shield the backs of." Jae said his voice calm but Tyrion could see his eyes were anything but, there was anger, sadness, and determination in them as he spoke.

Tyrion could see that Val was even more angered and that Jaime was keeping her calm, Oberyn looked just as angry too which surprised him. Jon Connington had a look of disgust on his face and Tyrion knew that he was thinking of the men they'd sent to shore up the Wall.

"There was over two hundred dead on the Free Folk side, men, women, children, it mattered not, the black brothers saw them all the same way and tried to put them all down regardless of whether they bore steel or not." Jae said his voice dripping with disgust, and Tyrion felt that way himself as he thought of children being killed.

Again he looked around the room, Lyanna and Daenerys both looked upset and he was sure it was the thoughts of the children that made them feel that way. Or perhaps he was wrong and they knew what Jae had done to the men who'd killed those children.

"The Watch is where we send those who commit such crimes, we give them a choice, take the black or lose your head. But what do we do when it's men of the Watch who commit such acts? What is the sentence for that? In the Watch, if you desert you lose your head, if you commit a crime that is beyond forgiveness then you die. What these men did was beyond forgiveness." Jae said.

Tyrion took a deep breath and waited for the words to be spoken, his eyes almost frantically seeking out the others in the room as Jae began to speak once again.

"I could not trust these men to guard the backs of men and women they had already risen against, nor could I ever trust them to stand by my side. If they blamed the Free Folk for being on this side of the Wall, then surely they'd blame me for bringing them through. Setting them free was not an option either as not only did the crimes they committed demand justice but where could I have let them go? South of the Wall only gave them the chance to attack once more and North would make them enemies that needed to be faced again.

There was but one sentence, death and so that was what I gave them. Brankardix at my instructions gave them a far quicker death than they deserved." Jae said.

The voices rose quickly, Tyrion hearing them and yet not who spoke the words. Questions of "You burned them" and "Would they not have been better hanged" ringing around the room. He was surprised that Jae let them go on for so long and even more so when it wasn't him that put an end to them.

"Enough." Margaery said loudly "Speak your questions one at a time or hold your tongues."

"Where was Benjen, Jae?" Lyanna asked worriedly.

"He was speaking to the Northern Lords about defenses, he arrived after the fight and is now free of his oaths and on the way to Winterfell." Jae said and Tyrion saw the relieved look on her face.

"Was there no other way, your grace?" Aemon said sadly.

"Peace is only true, uncle, if those who break it are punished for doing so. The Free Folk have lived up to the terms they agreed with me, their people wish to live in peace, the Night's Watch couldn't allow that, wouldn't allow that. These men killed their own first, their Lord Commander, their brother,s and then as my men sat amongst men they thought their allies, they turned on them and killed them without mercy.

So no Uncle, there was no other way." Jae said.

"But burning them your grace?" Willas asked.

"Ser Jaime, how quickly did the men die?" Jae asked.

"In a moment, your grace." Jaime said emphatically.

"Lord Jon, how long does it take a man to die when hanged?" Jae asked turning to the Master of War.

"Some time, your grace." Jon said

"Death by Dragonflame is far quicker than any other, Lord Willas. To hang a thousand men or to behead them would take days, weeks even. Men would sit knowing they were to die and wondering if their turn was today or would they see another dawn before it came. That's a crueler fate than the one I gave them." Jae said and he saw some nods from some of the people.

"It no doubt is but there are those who'll just see this as death by fire, your grace." Olenna said.

"They will Olenna, but it cannot be helped and how I'm looked upon bothers me far less than preparing for what's to come." Jae said and he saw Margaery reach out to touch her husband's hand.

"I say that none in this room speak of this." Tyrion said looking to the king and queen.

"Word will get out, Lord Tyrion, even mine own little birds won't be able to spin a tale that will stop that." Varys said.

"True but for now we speak nothing of it. In time the truth will out and then we can speak our side of it but for now, I say let it be rumors and whispers and see if they spread more than the goods deeds the king and queen are doing. The realm, its Lords and Ladies know what comes for us, let us concentrate on that and when that fight comes and we win, then let the word be spoken of men who tried to betray and of the king who was forced to bring them justice." Tyrion said looking at the king.

"I believe the Lord Hand is right, this story will out, but better it does so when other stories are more known." Jae said and as one it was agreed.

Tyron felt that he was right in this as for now people would only see the worst of it, in time after facing the army that marched for them after Jae had seen them through the darkest of days, then they'd see it in a far different light.

Dragonstone 299 AC.

Aemon.

After the meeting where he'd learned that an order he'd given most of his life with was no more, he'd been glad to get a moment alone with his nephew. Jae had explained his thinking more in-depth and he found it very hard to fault it. He had no qualms about the use of the dragon as others may have. True he knew some may try and make a link to Aerys but trying to tell a fool how to think was like trying to stop the tides from coming in, a wasted and pointless endeavor.

He'd drank a glass of wine as his nephew drank his water, the two of them toasting the Lord Commander and then he'd spoken of the things they needed to do to make ready. His nephew felt that the events at the Wall were a portent of what was to come. That despite it being completely different, it in some ways mirrored events that Brynden had shown him. A mutiny leading to the death of the Lord Commander, anger in the Watch about Jae bringing the Free Folk through the Wall. He had listened and then had asked Jae a question that he wasn't sure he wished the answer for.

"Was that why you were certain they had to die?" he asked.

"Uncle?"

"The Night's Watch Jae, were you certain they had to die because of what happened to you in that vision?" he asked.

"I didn't even consider that, truly uncle. I felt I couldn't trust them to watch my back, that they'd seek to do me harm but I'd not, or at least I'd not thought I had. Could I? Do you think I did?" Jae asked.

"I believe you felt the reasons were true enough, perhaps knowing they'd seek to do you harm played its part, if it did then even for that alone you'd be right." Aemon said.

"Right? How could I be right killing a thousand men because I feared they may try to harm me?" Jae asked his voice shaky.

"Without you to lead us we are lost, nephew. A thousand men or you is a trade that I and the realm would gladly make."

He had reassured his nephew that whatever the reason he had done what he had it had been the right one. Aemon told him to speak to Bloodraven when he got the chance and he'd find out more if he needed to. Then he had told him that they needed to begin to ramp up their preparations and he had spoken to him about Valyrian Steel. Dragonglass was being mined and turned into weapons as quickly as they could and Jon Connington had begun to make the plan to move men to the Wall more practical than simply words on a piece of paper.

Ships had been put aside, horses gathered and were being moved to where they were needed. Food supplies had begun to be diverted into three separate shipments now. One to the Wall, one to the centers that Lord Willas had set aside for winter stocks, and the last to feed the army that would eventually head to face the one that marched their way. Lastly and most importantly, Aemon had begun to gather the blood that was needed.

He, Shiera, Dany, and Jae all spent time being leeched and having their blood gathered and stored while each of the dragons too gave up some of their own. It was a long process, the leeching could only be done every other day so they didn't weaken themselves too much and the Dragons though cooperative weren't happy and would only allow Jae or Dany to take the blood from them. When he had gathered what he felt was enough to begin the first true batch of weapons, he'd taken it to Dragonstone and begun work on the forge to cast them. Now he looked over the forge and at the two men who'd been chosen to do the work.

"Master Mott, the forge works well?" he asked as the master and his apprentice stood looking at it.

"It is, though I don't understand why you made me remove the fire once I'd tested it." the Qohorik said.

"You'll see soon enough, you've both read the instructions?" he asked.

"I don't read but the master showed me what to do" Gendry said and Aemon nodded.

"Then we need only wait for his arrival." he said as he looked to the sky.

It took some time for Jae to arrive on Brankardix's back. The Dragon landing not far from the forge and Aemon watching as Jae and Ser Arthur climbed down off its back. His nephew looked eager and far happier than he'd been when he first came back from the Wall. Whether that was because he was now focusing on things such as this and making plans for the war to come, or for some other reason though he couldn't be certain.

"Uncle." Jae said with a soft smile on his face as he looked at him.

"Nephew, is he ready?" he asked looking to the dragon.

"He wishes to hunt first, so we'll have to wait." Jae said almost amusedly.

"You've met Master Mott and Gendry." he said walking with Jae to the smith and his apprentice.

"I have, you've made the molds Master Mott?" Jae asked looking at the man.

"As your grace requested."

Aemon had at first imagined them casting swords of all sizes. Longswords, Greatswords, even Shortswords, and maybe knives and daggers too. His nephew had other ideas however and he found his to be more suitable than his own. One longsword took the same amount of blood and steel as fifty or more spear tips. They could make jagged points of Valyrian steel that could go on pikes or even arrowheads and could do so quicker and in more quantity than they ever could swords.

The more men they armed the better it would be, Jae, had said and in this Aemon could find no fault. The Unsullied, the men of the infantry, and then if they had the time the knights and the lords. All in all, they had almost thirty Valyrian Steel weapons in Westeros without the swords and daggers that Jae himself had handed out. Of the very best swordsmen in the realm, only one or two now didn't bear Valyrian Steel and so it would be the others they concentrated on for now.

He heard the beating of the wings as Brankardix returned and so Aemon moved to get the jars continuing the blood, and once he had them he nodded to the smith and his apprentice. Jae moved to Brankardix and then he heard the word being spoken the forge was soon covered in flames.

"Dracarys." Jae said and Aemon looked on as for the first time in generations Valyrian Steel was once again being produced.

Isle of Faces 299 AC.

Bloodraven.

He had looked into the past to try and find what it was the horn did and he'd been surprised by what he found. It didn't as he'd imagined truly affect the Wall, other than help the magic's that had strengthened it. What it did do was bind the will of those who helped to build the Wall, the giants, the beasts, and the dragons. Bloodraven looked on as the ice was spewed from the dragon's mouth and the Wall began to rise.

Giants, men, and beasts, all working side by side to see the Wall built, and then once it was done and the horn was blown the Wall was no longer just ice. It was something far different and as he looked closer at it he could almost see the magic knitting it together. He was certain of it then, even as he later watched the Night's Watch be formed, as he looked at men taking their oaths and the magic of the Wall grow stronger. Or as he watched as the order under a man whose name was legend take up residence in the Nightfort and the Wall's magic began to flicker and weaken, Bloodraven was certain.

The Horn wouldn't bring down the Wall the way they feared it would, it was never meant to be taken so literally. Instead, it would break down the magic's the Wall possessed, and while the physical barrier remained, the magical one would be gone forever. It both relieved him and worried him at the same time and so soon enough he was looking again. This time trying to find how the Night King intended to deal with the physical barrier and with the dragons that he'd face on the other side of it should he pass.

Time seemed to move quickly around him, far too quickly or perhaps it was he that was moving slowly. He watched as the Army of the Dead grew larger and as the Night King made his first moves and then he saw how the young king had countered them with his help. Men, women, and children who the Night King had sought as meat for his army were denied to him and though he could never get truly close to him, Bloodraven could feel his rage, and when he did get close then he would be thrown from the vision, just as he was now.

"Drink." Leaf said and he looked to the child whose fingers touched his bloodied nose.

"He's getting stronger." Bloodraven said when he saw her worry.

"The Prince will stop him." Leaf said, her voice full of hope.

"He will but at what cost?" he said more to himself than to her.

Seeing the army the Night King had amassed truly put into context the battles to come, dragons, men, the Wall, all of it would be needed and Bloodraven wasn't sure that it would be enough. He drank the water and closed his eyes so he could look at the young king, smiling as he saw the weapons being forged. They were needed and would help and yet it would the one the young king bore that would win or lose the day. He ate, solid food as he had been eating since coming here, and once he felt his strength return he looked back Beyond the Wall once more.

They dug, countless numbers of them they dug and he saw the horn as it was found and as it was brought to the Night King and as he took it in his hands, Bloodraven was surprised to see a shimmer and shaking of them. It was a brief thing, an involuntary thing but he felt it an important thing, though he knew not why. He moved from the past to the present, the Army of the Dead was marching and the Night King and his generals marched with it.

Feeling himself being pushed once again, he moved before it could happen, leaving the dreams and visions to look at things through many different eyes. The ravens flew through the air and he was truly who he had always claimed to be now. A thousand eyes and one and all of them were focussed on the same thing, the army that marched beneath them. As one he felt the pain of the birds as they fell, the Night King forcing him from each of them. Unlike with the visions though there were far more eyes to force away than simply his alone. Each bird gave him time, time to see, time to look, time to find and find he did.

The army had split into three, one heading towards the Bridge of Skulls, the other toward Castle Black, and the last to Eastwatch. Bloodraven looked, he searched and though he couldn't see where the Night King himself was, he could see his generals leading each of the armies. The time had come, the war was here, and for the first time in his life, Bloodraven felt true unadulterated fear as he tried to look beyond the present and into the future and found the path blocked to him.

"I must warn the young king." he said when the final raven was taken from him "I must warn him." he said but he found his energy was gone, his magic feeling almost used up and he had not the strength to contact his kin.

It took more than a week for him to regain his strength, a week in which the children had nursed him, fed him, and looked over him. A week in which he'd tried to call for ravens only to find none answering him and had questioned the gods constantly.

"What use am I if I cannot reach him?"

"Why give me this power if not to help?"

"Am I to be doomed to sit here and wither away while the world crumbles?"

He asked many questions and received no answers, he ate ravenously in an effort to rebuild his strength. Even eating Weirwood paste hoping that it would restore the magic that he could feel but not yet wield. All to no avail, time, it was time that would restore his strength and he hoped that he had not run out of it, that they had not run out of it.

Finally, he was ready, he closed his eyes and went searching for the young king and found him, Bloodraven almost feeling sorry for how urgently he brought him from his world into Bloodraven's own.

"You must see young king, you must see and then you must act." Bloodraven said.

"Is it time?" Jaehaerys asked.

"It is." he said and he was relieved to see the determined nod the young king gave, his faith in himself helping Bloodraven find some in his own heart too.

King's Landing 300 AC.

Jaehaerys Targaryen.

Three moons had passed since they'd begun the production of Valyrian Steel, blood, and dragons, both Brankardix and Ellanys playing their parts though it was Rhaegon who produced the truest flames and the best results. His son had been overjoyed when he would praise him for being able to help them so truly. They'd kept it to spearheads, arrowheads, and smaller weapons, some knives and daggers but no swords or armor.

Instead, they'd incorporated Dragonglass to help armor their men or to be more accurate their shields. Each of which now had a jagged piece of Dragonglass that stuck out viciously giving them an extra weapon to use in the fight. Jon, Oberyn, and the Kingsguard had begun training men to take advantage of what the shields could give them and he'd sent word to their own men on the Wall and to Stannis to begin training their men there with shields too.

It was Dany who had come up with the idea of bucklers, and watching his aunt as she placed one in one hand and then used it in tandem with her sword was like nothing he'd ever seen before. Soon more and more people were using them and even Shireen had begun to take some lessons with it and a small sword. As for Arya, his little cousin was just like his aunt, a natural with it, and when they added the Dragonglass to them then even Jae would think twice about fighting either of them.

It was not all work though, Jae had spent time with his children, more than he perhaps should given what he was readying himself for but when he was with them and Margaery the world simply faded away. He was at peace, content, watching as they grew a little bigger, marveling at every little different thing they did and every new thing they learned. Hearing that his mother was with child had only made him even happier than ever. He was to have a little brother or sister, his children would one day have a true aunt or uncle to call their own and even now he smiled at the thoughts of it.

"What are you thinking of, my love?" Margaery asked him, the two of them sitting on the balcony and looking out at the night sky, the dragons were flying in the air and almost showing off for their father and his love.

"My sister or brother." he said and she nodded.

"It still pleases you so?" she asked curiously as it had been more than two moons since he'd found out.

"It does, I think I needed it, family. I know I have more than I had ever wished for but I think I still needed even more than that. A sister or brother, I had never thought, even after Arthur and mother married I'd never thought." he said smiling as he did so.

"I look forward to seeing them grow up, Jae, all of them, Rhaenys, Aegon, and their new aunt or uncle."

"So do I" he said leaning forward to kiss her.

Whether it was the Gods or Bloodraven himself, he could have cursed their timing. Was he not at present walking lands that were covered in ice and snow and watching as an army of dead men moved then he'd have been able to. As it was he instead looked on and took in the true extent of the Night King's forces. He didn't even hear Bloodraven as he walked and stood beside him, instead his eyes, ears, his whole attention was focussed on the sight in front of him and wishing he was looking instead on the one that he'd been taken from.

Were he not so stunned by what he saw then he'd have been more worried about what it was that Margaery was seeing at that moment. He'd have thought more about how his wife was dealing with the fact that he was no longer with her in anything other than body. Jae would normally have worried about what she was thinking as she held his unconscious body and perhaps he'd even have been worried about the blood that was no doubt seeping from his nose. Instead, he was far too focused on the sheer size of the army that marched in front of him.

"The time is almost upon us young king." Bloodraven said and Jae turned to look at the man, a worried look on his face for once also.

"They march?" he said and tried not to think of the ridiculousness of the statement.

"They march and they split young king, this is but a part of them." Bloodraven said and Jae turned and looked at the man incredulously.

"A part?"

In the blink of an eye, they were walking what was clearly a different part of the lands beyond the Wall, and once again Jae looked on in shock. He wasn't even given time to take it in as again they moved, though at least this time he took some comfort in the fact that it was simply three armies they would face and not even more.

"The Night King?" he asked.

"Marches with them but is unseen to me. He hides his movements." Bloodraven said and Jae nodded "He has the Horn of Joramun, young king."

Jae felt himself nod, he knew it had been what he was seeking and that he would find it, and though he may have hoped he would not, he had prepared himself for it and knew that he was just thinking wishfully. Turning to Bloodraven he readied to ask him what it was the horn did but the man was as always two steps ahead of him and had begun to speak. Jae listening as he was told, much to his relief, that the horn couldn't actually bring down the Wall physically and that it instead removed the magic or at the very least weakened it enough so that the Night King could pass.

"How long have I got?" he asked and Bloodraven shook his head.

"The war has started young king, he marches and so must you." Bloodraven said and Jae nodded.

"I had hoped for more time." he said with a short laugh.

"As had we all.".

When his eyes opened, he saw Margaery, Arthur, his mother, and Aemon all in the room. He was still laying on the floor and the blood hadn't just seeped, it had flowed.

"I am well." he said reaching up to touch Margaery's face, his wife almost shivering under his fingers.

"I thought…I.." Margaery said stumbling over her words and despite the fact, he was covered in his own blood and by doing so he ruined her dress, Jae took her in his arms and whispered that he was truly unhurt over and over again.

"You have to leave?" his mother asked and he nodded, feeling Margaery stiffen in his arms.

"I need to speak to the council, Jon especially and we need to send ravens to the realm." Jae said and he saw Arthur and Aemon nod, while Margaery moaned and mumbled some words against him.

He was left alone with his wife for a few moments, Jae getting to his feet and taking off his shirt while Margaery looked at him worriedly.

"The war is here, Marge, it's time." he said and she nodded and closed her eyes.

"Are we ready, Jae?" she asked and he smiled at her, offering her more reassurance than he truly felt.

"We are." he said, lying to her for the first and what he hoped would be the only time.

Once he cleaned himself up, he and Margaery made their way to the Small Council Chambers, Jae feeling more and more determined with each step he took. All his life he had been preparing for this moment and though he felt some nervousness, he was unafraid. The Wall was better manned than it had been perhaps ever, he had good men and true there and the Free Folk were ready and willing to fight under his command.

He and Jon had worked on plans for years, his dragons were as big as they needed to be and they had their riders and he had sent weapons and supplies to ready for the war to come. There was little else he could do now but march and fight and so he walked into the room ready to give the orders to do just that. Jon would move the men, Aemon would send the ravens and they would take the fight to the Night King and his army of dead men.

Three forces they would face and though Bloodraven didn't know which one the Night King led, Jae, did. Three armies, three points of attack, and as he took his seat and looked at the people in the room he began to chuckle. Margaery looked at him worriedly but he shook his head as the chuckle turned into a fuller laugh.

"Jae?" his wife asked confused by why he was so happy.

"I see it now, why it had to be so, finally I see it." he said and he saw the others look at him curiously.

"See what Jae?" his mother asked and Jae looked to Aemon as he spoke.

"The dragon must have three heads." he said as he saw his plans for the war to come begin to form.

A/N: Thanks to all who've read and reviewed, this was supposed to be updated last week but I've spent the past week in bed with a bad dose of the flu. Anyway, up next the war for the dawn begins.

Daryl Dixon: So glad you liked it.

The Spynx: Thank you, my friend, love it as always.

Xand007; Thanks, my friend. I hope this chapter showed some of the reasoning as to why with Jae too, he really couldn't allow them to live after what they did.

VfSnake: In canon, it was just a few, here it's almost them all and really the end result knda has to be the same. No way we would expect Jae to forgive those who stabbed him in the night and though this is different, the principle is the same. He couldn't trust them either, if he was near any of them why wouldn't they seek to kill him since he was who had done it and so he was left with no choice.

Guest: I get that, I can be the same too, especially if pairings are a big part of the story which they kinda have to be in some respects. The Arthur/Lyanna thing was something I went back and forth over for the longest time and Jaime/Val was just a spur of the moment thing though it plays into things to come.

Lady Octarina: It was all the Watch, they brought them all together, so other than Sam and Benjen, every man at the Wall is dead. I always think the season's thing is the key, that the cycle was never broken shows there is some magical barrier or something and so to me the NK or someone similar is always likely to reappear. If the fight is truly won then the seasons go to normal IMO. Lol, I'd not thought of that with Aemon but it's actually quite funny when you think about it, the poor man spent more than fifty years dealing with men's problems, never examined or looked at a woman and now he's like the number one midwife in Westeros.

Pufffirl: it's a monthly thing, that unfortunately stretched to an extra week this time due to my illness, but I may do something a little different for the war chapters.

Jaimerey: ¿No fueron los romanos quienes usaron la Diezmada, uno de cada diez o cada diez de cada cien para ser asesinados para enviar un mensaje? Creo que aquí el odio era demasiado, nunca lo hubieran aceptado y él solo hubiera estado creando más problemas.

Literary Consumer: I did promise myself and those who read that I'd never abandon a fic, I know how frustrating that can be when you've given your time and got invested and then it just stops and you're left with no resolution, it can be so annoying. I understand that real life kicks in and sometimes that people may have no choice, doesn't stop it from being annoying though. Any way, this and all my fics will be finished, or I'll die lol.

Jae has been prepared for so long, by Bloodraven obviously but even being raised by his mother and the KG, I think we see with Jon that he is smart (despite what the show did with him) and if anything it's simply the lack of training. The Gerold but was hard to do, I did think of having him die in battle saving Jae's life but in some ways, he needed to die how he did, so it could affect Jae and he could have his moment.