Disclaimer: This is a story based on ASOIAF Universe and all recognizable characters, plots belong to GRRM. I have no ownership to it.
Chapter 57: The Great Game XIII
King's Landing
Cregan Stark
Cregan Stark stood in the Great Hall of the Red Keep, his expression carefully neutral as he surveyed the assembled lords and ladies gathered for the feast and dance. The celebrations marked the public union of Gael and Daemon earlier that day, a marriage so heavily wrapped in ceremony and symbolism that it felt less like a wedding and more like a declaration to the realm. Music echoed against the high stone walls, mingling with the hum of conversation, laughter, and the faint clatter of goblets being refilled by tireless servants.
Though Cregan had arrived last among the Lord Paramounts to King's Landing, he could not ignore the subtle gravity drawing eyes toward him wherever he moved. It was an uncomfortable sort of attention, the kind that lingered just long enough to weigh upon the shoulders. He knew precisely why it existed, and pretending otherwise would have been an insult to his own intelligence.
House Stark had risen to the top among the Great Houses second only to the House of The Dragon. That too, not through open ambition, conquest or loud proclamations, but through quiet alignment with royal power that others had failed to understand until it was far too late. Even without playing the Game of Thrones, the North now sat at the heart of discussions that mattered, and that alone unsettled half the realm.
Cregan understood the truth behind that rise better than anyone present in the hall. Years ago, his grandfather had made a decision that many had whispered against, though few had dared to challenge openly. He had chosen to support a bastard grandson named Daemon Snow, not as a liability to be hidden away, but as blood worth nurturing. That single act of loyalty, compounded by patience and foresight, had altered the balance of power in ways most southern lords were only now beginning to grasp.
The feast wore on, and Cregan endured the parade of polite conversations with the practiced ease. Nearly every Lord Paramount sought him out at one point or another, eager to test the waters. There were offers of expanded trade agreements, carefully framed discussions of fosterage between houses, and even tentative suggestions of future betrothals. Each was met with courtesy, but also with firm denial.
When the subject of marriage arose, Cregan declined with the same measured response every time, explaining that his sons would marry within the North in this generation. He offered the refusal politely, without offense, yet without leaving room for negotiation.
Only one Lord Paramount refrained from approaching him entirely: Tyrell. The absence did not go unnoticed, but Cregan chose not to dwell on it. If anything, the silence was revealing in its own way. House Tyrell was the youngest and stewards used by the conqueror to create division among the heart of the South and Faith. They have far more internal worries than thinking about House Stark's ascension.
Of all the interactions that evening, only one truly gave him pause. That conversation did not take place beneath chandeliers or amidst the noise of the feast, but in the quiet shade of the godswood.
Cregan had retreated there later that night, seeking the familiar comfort of his Gods and still air. The heart tree stood pale and watchful, its carved face solemn beneath the moonlight. The southern godswoods never felt quite right to him, yet even here there was something grounding in the silence, something that allowed his thoughts to settle.
It was there that Lord Jason Lannister found him.
Cregan had half a mind to dismiss the intrusion outright, but curiosity stayed his hand. A man like Lannister did not venture into a godswood without purpose, especially not one who so openly favored the Faith of the Seven. The grimace on the lord's face as he stepped into the soft earth told its own story. Jason Lannister carried himself with unmistakable arrogance, his posture rigid with pride and his garments rich enough to shame a lesser house. Yet beneath that familiar veneer, Cregan sensed caution. This was a man who wanted something badly and knew he could not simply demand it.
"Lord Stark," Jason greeted, inclining his head in a nod that stopped just short of respect.
"Lord Lannister," Cregan replied, returning the gesture. His voice remained calm, "I did not think I would ever meet you in a godswood. I was under the impression that all the ancient First Men houses south of the neck except House Blackwood has succumbed to the Andal Faith."
Lord Lannister just laughed.
"Appearances must be maintained," he said lightly. "But truthfully, I wished to speak with you alone, and this seemed the most suitable place for such a discussion."
Cregan almost snorted in mirth as he felt someone in one of the animals around him spying on this meeting. He extended his senses and he identified the intruder as Reed. Cregan hadn't felt him earlier and he realised Reed must have been following Lannister.
"Well," Cregan said after a moment, "this is already more interesting than the tedious conversations I endured earlier."
Lord Lannister looked distastefully at the comment but remained silent about it.
"I have heard that you prefer directness," Jason said instead. "So I will be direct. For several years now, I have been observing developments in the Sunset Sea. Ironborn bastards, flying no sails and hiding behind the guise of piracy, have been preying on our merchants."
His voice hardened as he continued, his irritation no longer carefully veiled behind polite restraint.
"It was easy for us to defend against them, and the cost was not high, but ever since the Mormonts became self-reliant and beat every ambush when the Ironborn manage to find them in the first place, my own ships have become easier targets. The attacks have even increased because the fucking squids are mad at losing badly to Bear Island, and they now ambush my ships and merchants with renewed obsession, trying to reassure their wounded pride."
Cregan grimaced slightly, knowing the dark deeds of the Ironborn.
"That is regrettable," he said evenly. "It is the duty of every lord to protect his subjects. If matters have escalated so far, you should bring this before the king. I fail to see what this has to do with me, given that House Stark has had no fleet in the Sunset Seas since the days Brandon the Burner."
Lord Lannister just scoffed. "Do not be coy now, Lord Stark. You extorted a royal prince by asking for a princess's hand with a supposed healing potion. You know what I want. I want the method by which the Mormonts escape ambushes, or at least the route they take by sailing so far away that you cannot even see land for direction. I will give a ship's weight in gold for these things."
Cregan remained stoic at the arrogant nature of the demand. A ship's weight in gold was tempting even for him. Still, he could not accept the offer because he did not want to that they were using skinchangers.
"I cannot help you," Cregan said simply, his tone final.
Jason stared at him, disbelief flickering across his face before turning into a sharp laugh.
"You would deny yourself such profit?" he asked. "I find it difficult to believe that a lord as pragmatic as you would allow a vassal to grow so powerful without your blessing, let alone keep such secrets from you."
Cregan merely shrugged. "You misunderstand me. I know the ways in which the Mormonts have thwarted the Ironborn. After all, it was devised and established by Prince Daemon when he was there. Both the Mormonts and I cannot reveal such a method without his blessing."
"Then perhaps," Jason said slowly, "I should pursue another solution."
His voice carried the tone of someone making a great sacrifice for the good of his realm.
"I am willing to seek Lady Lyanna's hand."
Cregan snorted, the sound abrupt and unrestrained, before breaking into outright laughter.
"You want to marry Lyanna?" he said incredulously. "And I cannot believe that you present the prospect of marrying the daughter of a future king as such a sacrifice on your part."
"Yes, I am willing, and anyone with sense would jump at the opportunity of being Lady of Casterly Rock," Jason replied without hesitation.
Cregan's laughter faded instantly into irritation at the sheer pride and arrogance.
"I know her very well, and she will never agree," Cregan said flatly. "Not now, and not ever."
"Who needs her agreement?" Lannister said with a shrug. "The heir is spending gold like House Targaryen's coffers have no end, or as if he were a Lannister himself. I may offer a lofty gift for her hand. I am sure House Mormont would agree, because they are in this position due to his grace in the first place. Why would Prince Daemon deny this, when it would benefit him the most under the current circumstances? House Baratheon and Arryn would never support him truly if Prince Viserys or Princess Rhaenys got some ideas at the time of King's death. You would be in the north and very far away to support him immediately. I am the only Lord Paramount with tangible power to support him in the south."
Cregan's eyes gleamed with something cold and amused. "I have nothing to say about the treason that will never happen as of now. Also, I suggest you never tell The heir what you just told me. Daemon is of the mindset that loyalty that is not given freely after oaths are sworn is not loyalty worth keeping in the first place."
Jason grimaced at that, understanding the threat. He nodded at Cregan to continue.
"Anyway, Daemon has allowed his daughter the freedom to choose her own path," Cregan said. "Without Lyanna's consent, nothing will come of this. And even if, by some miracle, Daemon were persuaded otherwise, there remains another obstacle you have failed to consider."
He leaned closer, his voice almost conversational, which made Jason curious as well.
"You see the giant direwolf called Fenrir," Cregan said with a hint of laughter. "Believe me, Fenrir will follow Lyanna's orders rather than Daemon's, and she would certainly ask him to get rid of you. There would be no witness or even a trace how you disappeared."
Lannister swallowed, hiding his fear as he remembered the monstrous wolf that followed Princess Gael to protect her after the announcement of her pregnancy.
After a moment, he inclined his head, this time without any pride or arrogance.
"Then tell me," he said with a voice full of tiredness and slight desperation, "what would you require for an alliance against the Ironborn?"
"Let us meet Daemon and Lyanna, and discuss how to deal with the Ironborn," Cregan said. "This is not something we can decide alone, if they are committing such savagery under the name of piracy. I do not want my father-in-law to accuse me of breaking the King's peace."
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Daemon 'The True Eyed' Targaryen
It was only two days after the end of all the celebrations and the official conclusion of the tourney, which I had obviously won, crowning my wife Gael as the Queen of Beauty. The lords had been leaving the court reluctantly after they were dismissed, and I had been postponing a meeting between Cregan and Jason Lannister for many days. I tried to get them to go and meet my grandfather, the king, but Cregan insisted on dealing with me alone. I had heard from Aethan that the matter concerned certain shipping lanes and the fucking squids. Even trying to think about them made me furious because of how deeply I hated their entire culture and the sheer waste of air they breathed. There was a reason I had built the Mormont navy and trained them so well, after all.
Also, the horrific presence I could feel in the western seas gave me even more reason to hate the damn squids. I had tried to see what it was through warging, greendreams, and even by attempting to look into the past, but I could not get any results. After a point, even my connection to any birds, whales, or dolphins I sent into the western seas was broken, and greenseeing was not working, not even in the Iron Islands, let alone the vast Sunset Sea. Since there was no mention of monsters or anything of that sort waking up in the current time period from the western seas, I did not want to tempt fate, and that was the only reason I did not fly with Morghul to the west to see what was hiding there. I was hoping it was not something I would have to deal with, like the other three threats I had identified so far. I had made it very clear to the Mormont men what could and could not be done, and they followed it almost religiously, knowing how much my words and actions had helped them. So it angered me that the status quo in the Sunset Sea was changing because the fucking squids could not even die properly or learn to live with the losses they suffered from their piracy.
I had already planned to use them as bait and as the first round of attack when I made my move for the Stepstones, and even to use them as an attack against Dorne should Dorne choose foolishness. The best method of purging the useless culture of the Ironborn while gaining the most benefit was this, and the fools would be very easy to lure in with mentions of gold and whores. But that would not happen if I had to make an example of the Ironborn first before dealing with others.
I ordered their entry as Cregan knocked on the door of the chamber in the Hand of the King's Tower. I grinned upon seeing Cregan dragging Lyanna by the hand while an amused Lord Lannister followed them from behind. For a second, I concentrated on Fenrir's senses to make sure Gael was protected by him while Lyanna was with me. I could see Gael in her chamber, resting, and I withdrew from Fenrir's mind.
Everyone seated themselves at my nod, and I sighed slightly even before they could bring up the matter.
"I know why you have all come here," I replied tiredly, but before I could finish, my daughter interrupted me.
"That is very good then, because I do not know why Uncle Cregan dragged me here for a political meeting. I am hoping it is not to talk about my marriage," Lyanna said as she glared at Jason Lannister, who tried to keep his face stoic.
"I assure you, Lady Mormont, you are not lucky enough to be the Lady of Casterly Rock," Jason replied, retorting in a way that surprised me. I could feel the reluctance and slight fear he had toward me, yet his own pride was quite evident in his tone.
Lyanna merely scoffed, but I interrupted before it turned into an imaginary dick-wagging contest.
"Enough of this. Lyanna, do not interrupt me and waste all of our time needlessly. Patience is a virtue, and do not make me teach it to you again in the yard."
She grimaced and nodded at me.
"Lord Lannister, there is no use in you learning the secret behind the northern shipping methods because you cannot replicate it. What is stopping you from throwing the proposed gold at new ships and arming your fleet to fight off the pirates?" I asked curiously.
Lannister hesitated for a few heartbeats, trying not to argue regarding the secret, but he finally accepted it, probably because he does not want to anger me.
"The king is stopping me, My Prince. Not everyone is insane enough to throw needless taxes at the crown to increase their armada. My own fleet is already at its maximum, as set by the Iron Throne," Jason replied truthfully.
I was surprised that a Lannister was closing his purse for anything, especially someone like Jason.
I merely smirked. Well, well, there was something even a Lannister thought could not be solved by throwing gold at it. I looked at Cregan and said, "Cregan, you must have thought of some solution to drag everyone here."
Cregan just smiled smugly. "I did, my prince. I think we should simply follow the same path we used with the eastern lanes. We should provide transport as well as escort services to any ships that do not wish to be attacked by pirates. The Mormonts could provide it, and Lyanna here could negotiate on behalf of her mother for the payments immediately."
I nodded and looked at Jason, who was deep in thought at the suggestion.
"Your Grace, if it is something like this, I do not want to be charged an outrageous amount. The charge must be in proportion to the cargo's worth, and if the ship suffers damage, there should be no payment," Jason said shrewdly.
I just groaned in annoyance. "Lord Lannister, I am not in charge of Mormont ships. I will allow them to do it, that is all. Lyanna, deal with it and make it reasonable. I want my subjects to be safe and trade to flourish. Meanwhile, I will have a conversation with the Greyjoy who were here for the function and the swearing-in, to rein in their stupidity."
Lannister and Lyanna snorted at the same time knowing whatever promise Greyjoy will be worthless, which made them look at each other in surprise and annoyance, but it was Lyanna who actually asked something in response to my order.
"Why all this trouble, Father? I know you hate them almost as much as the Bear Islanders do. They are blatantly misusing the king's protection in the name of piracy, just sacrificing some nobodies when the pressure is far greater on them, and then going back to their atrocities. We should simply make an example out of some house, and we will have peace for years."
"That is something I can support with all my will, my prince," Jason insisted immediately, with some hope in his voice. "I will provide my entire fleet if you want to deal with them, My Prince, and I will bear the entire cost."
I just sighed at their ignorance.
I looked at Cregan, who seemed to be analysing the situation. "Cregan, you wish to tell your companions why I am not following this suggestion."
Cregan nodded before looking at Jason and Lyanna. "Because it is useless and a waste of time for a temporary solution. If it were that easy, the Ironborn would have been wiped out entirely long ago by our collective efforts when we were kings," Cregan said, before looking back at me. "You wanted a permanent solution, and I am sure you have one as well that does not involve simply killing everyone there."
"Well, there is something that may or may not work, and it is too early to tell. You can never destroy an entrenched culture like the Ironborn without destroying the underlying unifying factor: the Drowned Priests and their god. The priests are the ones who influence them toward barbarity and violence, and without dealing with them, nothing meaningful can be done for the others.
Lord Lannister, Lyanna, as of now there is nothing more I can do. Let the escort be a temporary solution, and kill every single reaver caught in such attacks regardless of their station. Even if you catch a Greyjoy, do not bother holding him or making the other Ironborn Lords answer for it, as they will simply claim he went rogue. There will be no ransom or such shit, since they are only pirates. Get rid of the waste of space with extreme prejudice, also as much as possible burn or bury them. Dumbing the bodies in the seas should be something that should be done only as a last option. Knowing that their failed men are being not given to Drowned God's halls will make them hesitate more than any death."
Lyanna grinned at that, and even Jason Lannister looked pleased by the declaration.
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Several Moons Later.
I looked at the sleeping form of my son, Gaemon, in my hands and smiled. The labour had gone well, and Gael had been resting for the past hour after the birth. The boy was rather large and had exceptional lungs. I was very much tempted to name him Maegor just to fuck with the king and the realm, but I resisted the temptation. Gael chose the name Gaemon, after my own name and the first letter of her own name, and Gaemon the Glorious, and I allowed it.
I observed the boy and used all my enhanced senses to see how much more impressive physically than my last child years ago. Unfortunately, it was useless as I had only seen my last child through animal eyes and never with my own eyes. Still, I could feel some form of magic already in the boy and I was glad that an animal companion has already been found by Fenrir. I was very much tempted to try and hatch a dragon, or gave an egg to my son, but I decided to wait for the dragon when he is older.
"So is this the only child you held after me, even though you sired hundreds, Father? Is that why you have been just holding to a sleeping baby and staring him at like that?" Lyanna asked from behind me, her voice full of mockery.
"Who said I held you at all?" I replied immediately with a grin, making Lyanna frown in embarrassment.
Lyanna shook her head slightly and replied, "Anyway, I am going to rest, and I am glad that my punishment as a bodyguard is over. As much as I like my stepmother, I hate how boring it is." She finished and immediately turned around to escape the room after that comment.
I just keep looking at my son and I didn't say anything until she almost reached the door of the children's room.
"Lyanna, come here," I called, and I could feel the disappointment and disbelief from her before I heard a frustrated sigh from her. She followed my order and arrived beside me.
With great effort not to grin, I asked, "Do you see your little brother defending himself from any form of attack?"
"No, Father," Lyanna said through gritted teeth.
"So you will continue to guard him if he is not in the presence of Fenrir, your brother Rickon, or with Gael or me." Lyanna groaned in disbelief and horror.
"Father, please, you have Kingsguards or other guards for that. You have your animal spies everywhere in this city, over and above the human ones. You have been scrying and using greendreams to detect any threats. I do not believe anyone is coming to harm Gaemon, at least not now. You are being paranoid for no reason over you killing a Faceless Man. They are not coming here for revenge at all, knowing it would be futile."
"Daughter, you are not paranoid when you have enemies; it is called being pragmatic. I have guards and Kingsguards, but I do not trust them to be able to win against a Faceless assassin or any magical attack that could happen. If a shadow demon attacks, only the mentioned persons could defeat it, so you will comply and guard him."
Lyanna grimaced and tried to deny it again. "And where is Fenrir right now, Father? I have not seen him for some time, ever since he could not get into this children's room due to his size."
I smirked knowingly, which only irritated Lyanna further.
"Fenrir is somewhere else and doing something very necessary. He will be back. Meanwhile, as I said, you will guard Gaemon."
Lyanna finally nodded reluctantly, and I dismissed her. She reached for the door, and I interrupted her again, to her frustration.
"Lyanna, for what it is worth, guarding Gaemon will not be boring like guarding Gael. Gael has duties to attend to, and Gaemon has nothing, as he is a baby. After two weeks, feed him my highest-tier potion, and you may take him anywhere you wish to go. There is no need to stay in one room or anything like that."
Lyanna immediately grinned at that and left the room.
"Poor girl," I whispered to myself with a smirk. I wonder how many times she would do it before she gets fed up with the baby's crying, pooping and piss before she decides to stay indoors where servants are available constantly.
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2 days later
I woke up to the warmth of a female body that I was spooning, and I smiled unconsciously as I identified it as my dear love, Gael. I tightened my hold as my hands moved over her body, waking her up.
She moaned slightly before stopping my hands from grazing her breasts.
"Do not touch them. I do not want milk on our bed," Gael whispered to me, and I groaned in disappointment.
Gael pressed back against me for warmth, and she moved her hips as if searching for something. She shifted her ass again and again, until suddenly she turned over to look at me with slight worry and anger.
"Daemon, where the hell is it?" she snapped, all sleep gone.
I was confused and simply raised an eyebrow in question.
"You were hugging the most beautiful woman in the world and about to touch her breasts, the mother of your son. Where is the hard-on, Daemon? I thought you had not slept with anyone else for years, and the only reason I could not feel it just now would be if it was satisfied for hours last night," she finished, anger evident in her voice at the implication.4
I frowned at her. "I thought we had this conversation already, and you gave permission," I asked.
Gael looked at me as if I were an idiot, which made even me slightly embarrassed.
I immediately shook my head and replied, "Do not worry, I have not slept with anyone else at all. As for why it was down, it is because of my control ability. I turned off my libido since you were not interested after the ninth month of the pregnancy."
Gael nodded and smiled in happiness. "Is that so? Then do not turn it on for another week. I have recovered thanks to our enhanced healing, but let us not risk it."
I nodded and replied, "Well, we could actually turn it on, as there is another method, and we may have to follow it for some time now, since we need to think about how to prevent another child, because I do not think even moon tea would affect you anymore."
Gael turned slightly red at what I implied. She turned around and spooned back against my body, taking my hands over her body with her own.
"Daemon, where is Fenrir? Where did he go after bringing in four direwolf pups? I miss him, and I will be much more at ease if he is protecting our son, and do not say he is doing something vague like you told the others. Answer me," Gael said forcefully, and I understood it was not time for any naughty deeds yet.
I smiled as my thoughts went to the four direwolf pups Fenrir had sired with some wolf in the Kingswood. Since Fenrir had evolved so much, the pups were not half-breeds even though their mother was only a normal wolf.
"Well, there is no reason for me to inform you. By now, should you not be able to feel where Fenrir is? You are connected to him too, through me," I replied with a knowing smirk.
Gael grimaced as she tried to connect to Fenrir and see what he was doing. I could feel the connection passing through me, and I let it through. I grinned widely the moment Gael registered what Fenrir was seeing. The connection was cut, and Gael looked at me in shock and wonder.
I merely smirked smugly and shrugged nonchalantly.
Gael finally calmed down and stopped worrying about Gaemon.
"Now that I am back to full health, what are the future plans?" Gael asked.
"People already consider you god-blessed because of this child, because of your charity and your kindness toward the two White Harbor bastard children. You have just had a healthy boy, and we should build on it. It is time we healed someone truly needy. Aethan has been looking for some smallfolk who are in need, and they are willing to do it even without gold, simply for the chance to be cured. I already have a reputation among the court of being all-knowing and impossible to lie to. It is time that the people of King's Landing finally acknowledge my god-blessed nature. After me, you will heal someone during your next visit to your orphanage."
Gael frowned in thought. "Are you sure it is time, or even wise, to do it so openly?"
"My dear wife, we ride dragons in the open sky, denying even the gods. What is one more act of magic compared to dragons flying over people's heads? If you are worried about being overwhelmed by requests for healing, do not bother. Half the idiots in this realm will not believe it and will dismiss it as mere rumor. Also, with the new bathing practices, improved waste management, the public drinking wells designated only for clean water, and the order to drink boiled water whenever possible, disease will naturally decrease in King's Landing."
Gael finally agreed, and we returned to enjoying the warmth for a little while longer before the day truly began.
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Author's Note: a small time skip. Next will be the large one tentatively titled: End of the Beginning.
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