Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Undercurrents
Aiden had found two dragon eggs hidden within the volcano on Dragonstone, they were never found due to being deep within the volcano, so it would've been too hot for a regular person to get to.
After he brought both eggs, he had placed all five eggs in front of Daenerys, Rhaenys and her two brothers. After informing them to place their hands on each egg and pick the one that felt the warmest to them, they were able to pick out their eggs.
The eggs were then placed in Rhaenys and the others beds, it was a process that was needed to help form the initial bond to awaken the dragon inside the egg.
This was what was forgotten all those years ago, but it wasn't the only reason that dragons stopped being born. It actually wasn't uncommon for wild dragons to be born, but magic had been faultering progressively, until eventually there wasn't enough magic in the world to facilitate the birth of dragons.
This was something Aiden planned to investigate, he knew magic did fluctuate, like the tides it would expand and retract due to various reasons, but in this case the magic wasn't returning.
So Aiden knew someone or something was the cause, he intended to find out the cause of the depleted magic, but between setting teleportation hubs as well as setting up and learning more about the Phantom Zone projector, he has not had time to travel Westeros to investigate, plus it wasn't a priority for him to do so. But that has now changed.
Aiden and Oberyn had left Dorne together by boat to head for the tournament in Lannisport, the two had become very close, after learning of Aiden's origins and that he had saved their sister and children, the Martells considered him family.
Aiden wasn't too big of a fan of Doran due to he had sensed that he had ulterior motives in his accepting him. He could tell Doran wanted to try to utilize him to take back the throne for his nephew.
Although Aiden planned to do just that, it wasn't Elia's Aegon that he would be putting on the throne, Lyanna's son was the rightful heir, although Elia's children weren't bastards and did have a ligitimate right to the throne, Lyanna is still by law the crown princess.
It was part of the annulment agreement, Rhaegar had learned that the "Prince who was Promised" was a product of Fire and Ice. So unless Lyanna's son willingly gave up the crown, he was the rightful king.
Should Aegon VI want to put forth a legal claim when he comes of age, it would be possible to win it from Aegon VII. But that would be something the two brothers were to decide on their own, not for Adam or anyone else to decide.
Oberyn was different, he wasn't power hungry, he didn't care about the throne like his older brother. He just cared for the well-being of his family. Although he didn't have the greatest reputation, due to his use of poisons, he was a passionate person.
While Doran had still held a grudge with Jaime, Oberyn completely befriended him. He didn't see him as a Lannister any longer, he saw him as a brother. He had assisted in the escape of his sister and children.
"So do you plan on participating in this tournament?" Oberyn asked as their ship made its way towards Lannisport in the west.
"Are you going to participate in it would be the real question, wouldn't want to hurt that pride of yours Uncle." Aiden replied with a smile.
"Aye, that's appreciated. I do have a reputation to maintain nephew." Oberyn replied with a chuckle.
"Although I planned to participate if there was a melee this will only have a joust, I think I'd rather you participate since you will definitely win. I'm fine with enjoying the show." Oberyn replied
"Sure, though I am not well versed in jousting." Aiden said with a shake of his head.
"Well with your strength it shouldn't be a problem, also Gerion Lannister might be participating in the joust. I want you to humiliate the Lannisters after what they attempted to do." Oberyn said with a stern expression.
"I see. You do know that those were Tywin's men right? So most likely Gerion didn't know about his brothers plans. I hear the relationship between the two isn't that great as it is. Rather than humiliating an innocent person just because of their last name, why not use him to get back at Tywin himself. I am sure you and him have a lot in common, in fact aren't you wanting to travel the world? I hear that he is planning on going on a expedition after the tournament, maybe you can join him." Aiden said with a awkward smile.
Oberyn picked up on Aiden's implications, "Aye, sorry nephew, I should have thought more on it before speaking. I know you growing up as a Sand was probably tough in Kings Landing." Oberyn replied.
"Only occasionally, mother and grandmother always did what they could to shield me from it, however many still whispered what they thought amongst themselves." Aiden responded.
"Aye, the followers of the Seven are real cunts when it comes to bastard born, yet they have more bastards than we do in Dorne. So what do you plan to do after the tourney is over?" Oberyn questioned, he had forgotten that Aiden had grown up labeled as a Dornish bastard.
"Head north, I promised to go to Winterfell to set up a hub to allow Aunt Lyanna the chance to see her family, I intend to do just that, then head beyond the wall." Aiden explained.
Aiden had been putting off going north, although he could tell Ned Stark was a honorable man, he had still planned to attack the three Kingsguard since they made it clear they wouldn't bend the knee to Robert.
"You know, your going to stand out in that armor of yours." Oberyn chuckled as he observed the kryptonian skin suit.
"Can't be helped. I have tried to wear regular armor but even if I hold back, they get crushed. It's like my body doesn't like or approve of any other armor. This is the most inconspicuous of the armors available to me." Aiden said with a sigh.
He had tried to wear a full set of plate armor but none could withstand even being put onto his body, and the kryptonian battle armor was even more bulky and eye-catching than the skin suit.
As Aiden and the Dornish made their way south, back at Winterfell Ned Stark was reading a letter that had just arrived from the Vale.
A letter from Jon Arryn himself, so he knew it was important.
Since Ned had returned from Roberts Rebellion, life went very smoothly for him. Since he didn't bring a baby back, claiming it as his own bastard, his marriage to Catelyn had little to no difficulty.
The only issue they had was in raising their children, Catelyn wanted to raise them as followers of the Seven, Ned refused due to the North followed the Old Gods. He knew that if he allowed her to do as she wished then they would lose the north one day, the North had always followed the religion of the Old Gods.
Northerners hated the Faith of the Seven, only the Manderly's who were lords of White Harbor were followers of the Seven in the North. Unlike the southerners they didn't disrespect the Old Gods, in fact they didn't chop down the Heart Tree that was stationed in White Harbor.
South of the neck all the Heart Tree's and Weirwood trees had been chopped down by the Faith of the Seven, only one place still had them south of the neck, Isle of Faces in Gods Eye lake near Harrenhal.
Catelyn and Ned had fought often on this subject, but Ned never once relented due to knowing that the Stark legacy would be lost should he allow it.
The letter he received from Jon had encouraged Ned to come to Lannisport for the tournament, stating that he had important things to discuss with him regarding the realm and the north.
Unbeknownst to Ned, this was actually a trap laid out for him by Jon Arryn, Tywin Lannister and Roose Bolton. Roose had made a deal with the two, offering the North to have closer ties with the crown in exchange for making him Warden of the North.
Knowing that not only would King Robert not just strip the title of Warden from the Starks, and that even if they did the other northern houses wouldn't abide by the change since they were extremely loyal to the Starks, they needed to kill Ned.
Their plan was to name Roose Bolton as Regent of the North, until Robb Stark came of age. Roose could use the several years it would take till Robb was old enough to take the mantle to gain the loyalty of the other houses.
They could then kill Robb and marry Roose's heir to Sansa and then the Bolton's would take the North peacefully and completely. Effectively ending the Starks rule that lasted for thousands of years.
After reading the letter Ned had no choice but to attend, but Ned did see this as a possible opportunity to try to find clues as to who had betrayed the North.
He had suspicions that it was someone in the Vale, Lyanna had told him that she had sent letters to try to tell her family that she was fine and that she wasn't kidnapped, she told him where she had sent letters to and none was received.
The Eerie, Riverrun, Starfall, Casterly Rock as well as the Red Keep. Ned had a deep suspicion it was the Lannisters. Since he felt that Tully, Arryn and Dayne were trustworthy, he knew the Lannisters had the means to have spies in every major house in the south, even a few in the north.
Little did he know, only House Dayne wasn't involved. Tywin did have spies all over the south, he had paid a high price to keep Lyanna's letter from leaving Starfall.
Hoster Tully approved of Jon and Tywin's plan since his niece would still be the wife to the Warden of the North so he would still gain just as much, if not more, since he would be helping the Bolton's to take over the north.
Roose swore an oath to not harm Catelyn or the other children, only Ned and Robb would be dealt with when the time came, this was due to the fact that Roose didn't have a daughter only two sons. Domeric Bolton, his heir, and a bastard son Ramsey Snow.
Ramsey was born after Roose had witnessed a private wedding, seeing the woman was beautiful, he came after the wedding was over and demanded the right of First Night. When the man refused to allow Roose to bed his new wife first he killed him, hung him from the tree and raped the now widow under his hanged corpse.
Roose paid Ramsey's mother to keep her mouth shut and not tell Ramsey that he was the father, but little did he know the woman took the money but began to turn the bastard child against Roose secretly. She turned Ramsey into a psychopath who enjoyed raping and killing purposely, she wanted to not only ruin the Bolton name but bring death to the Bolton's for killing the love of her life.
Catelyn didn't like that Ned was leaving, she was pregnant with their fifth child, but Ned told her that it was required that he go and that had he not been summoned he would've stayed home.
Ned then set about gathering a small contingent of his most trusted men, the six that had joined him in going to the Tower of Joy, as well as his son Robb. Bran was left as the Stark of Winterfell and Catelyn was regent while Ned would be away.
Ned felt he could use this chance to begin teaching Robb what it meant to be a Stark in the north, he also wanted the boy to witness his first tournament. The north didn't hold tournaments, but it was expected of the Lords to attend unless circumstances didn't allow. A proxy would be sent instead.
So Ned and his group ended up journeying with Jorah Mormont and Roose Bolton to head south. Little did they know a large Direwolf also followed the group, out of view and within the woods. Ned knew Starks didn't have the best of luck south of the Neck, he would bring his secret weapon just in case.
This Direwolf also had pups, these pups were given to the Stark children since it seemed like a gift from the Old Gods, it had given birth to five pups.
Roose didn't plan to make a move till the journey home, they planned to have knights from the four houses dress like bandits and ambush the party on the way home. They would stage everything so it would seem Roose saved Robb so that it would make him trusted by the other northern lords, this would make all their careful plans much easier to implement.
Another who had found out about this plan was Petyr Baelish, he planned to go even farther than the four houses. His goal was to kill all the male Starks and to get Catelyn for himself. He hated the Starks more than any other house, he felt that the Starks stole his love from him.
The Tyrells in Highgarden were also making preparations to go to Lannisport to show loyalty on the surface, even Lady Olenna Tyrell was going to attend, mainly to keep Mace Tyrell from doing anything stupid since he wasn't a very smart man.
Mace Tyrell was an idiot to say the least, he was impulsive and couldn't grasp the bigger picture. He could easily be swayed with short term gains, even if those gains would be extremely harmful long term.
He wasn't even that good at fighting or commanding, the only reason they were able to hand Robert his only defeat during the rebellion was thanks to Lord Randyll Tarly, who was a master commander of the battlefield.
All the lords began to slowly converge on Lannisport, each with their own schemes and plans. Even Cercei Lannister was beginning to make plans of her own. She had started to notice Jon Arryn investigating the truth of her children's parentage which was something she couldn't allow.
Cercei knew of what would happen to her and her three children should the truth come to light, Robert would kill her and the children in a heartbeat.
She had found a ally in Petyr Baelish, who gladly offered his help, he wanted as much chaos as possible, knowing that if he dealt with Jon Arryn, it would cause the realm to tear itself apart.
Jon Arryn was doing a good job of holding the kingdoms together, even though the realms weren't as cohesive as it once was before Robert became king, it was still able to slowly progress.
Even with Petyr Baelish purposely drowning the realm further into debt each passing day.
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