The Red Viper and Dragon Princess Edit

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Fourteen: 299 AC - Riverrun

Negotiations began right away the next morning.

Visenya didn't even get a change to ask after Hoster, as Queen Talisa ushered them into the warm halls of Riverrun, servants running about to set the Great Hall up to receive its quests. The Dragon banner adorned the ramparts beside the Tully trout and the Stark wolf. Robb had given Visenya permission to set camp around the castle, which had been left in Ser Oswell and Grey Worms hands. Everyone else entered the keep, many of the Lords returning to their men in order to relay new orders, which were to wait as a possible alliance was being discussed. The Essos army was loud as thousands of horses and the war elephants were corralled into fast constructed pens and fires got going as the weather began to turn colder as the sun began to sink.

Robb led the way to the Great Hall, Greatjon, Smalljon and a dozen other lords following. His mother, the Blackfish and Edmure led Visenya, as acting Lord of the Castle, and her council in. The Great Hall had been settled with a large table, which would hold six people on each side and one on each end. Robb took the farthest side at the head, his mother on his left and his wife on his right. Lord Umber, Bolton, Tully and Lady Maege Mormont took up his side of the table. The others all gathered in the surrounding chairs behind them, as that was the voice of the northern council. Visenya would be seated at the head of the opposite side, Jacaerys on her right, Daenerys on her left, Ser Gerald on Daenerys side, as Roslin took the seat beside her husband. Lord Valeryon and Ser Garlan Tyrell took up the last two seats.

It was not a full war council, but these were each monarch closest allies.

Jace knew that if everything went according to plan that he would have to step up and be a commander. As his aunt always said, good kings lead their people in mind and body, if you cannot or will not fight for them, then why should they fight for you? He knew that as future King he would have to be the one to lead the armies of Westeros as the soldiers from Essos followed his aunt and no other. He was okay with that too as his aunt had made many plans and back up plans and plans to back up those back up plans, it was time for him to do the rest.

Roslin had told him that Westeros was different from Essos and the men of the North were strong and cold hardened men, he had believed her when he had seen them the night before. He was also surprised to see how much he looked like his cousin, Robb. Everyone always said he looked a lot like his Targaryen family, but he also looked like part of the North. He had wanted to speak more with his cousin the night before but with his aunt rushing off and Ser Gerald ordering them all back to set up camp, he knew it wasn't the right time.

Now they had entered a council meeting to offer terms to each other in order to build and alliance Jace wasn't sure what his aunt had in mind; they had discussed a lot during their journey, but nothing had been defining but he was hoping it wouldn't end in bloodshed. The northerners were a proud people, he could see it and as blood of the First Men, it was understandable. He and Visenya both bore northern blood as well, but the Targaryen name shadowed them, given what Aerys had done years before to Lord Stark and his heir Brandon.

As they settled Jace reflected on how strange it was, that there was someone on the same level as him and he wondered what his aunt would say of another king. He knew it wouldn't be right for her to demand he give up his crown as it was the lords and not him who had called him King and given everything that had happened to their kingdom over the last two generations, Jace couldn't fault them. Robb Stark was what the North wanted, and he hoped any demands made on either side would not make a fight break out.

For the first time Visenya wasn't dressed in a gown. She wore a pair of black leggings, a red blouse and a black armor corset over top and black leather boots, her sword was at her back and a dagger locked around her thigh, she looked more warrior than lady. Everyone knew it was the men of Westeros understood, that while she may be a lady and queen regent, she was also a warrior, one of much renown and she would be belittled by no one. Jace had just smirked when he saw her to the confusion to everyone else but Ser Arthur and the Kingsguard who were now no longer protecting Visenya but had sworn for him before they left Dragonstone. All but Ser Arthur who was Visenya's Sword-Shield and had accepted him as his King but would not serve him as he was bound by his word to Visenya, unless she released him.