The Red Viper and Dragon Princess Edit

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen: Riverrun, 299 AC

Line of Succession

The same night Lyra and Sansa Stark were returned to their families loving arms, when the Targaryen party all retired for the night, Jace was sat in his and Roslin's tent looking thoughtfully at the letter that his aunt had handed him. It was from the Tyrell's, speaking about their coming arrival and asking about what his plans were for marriage. He knew his aunt hadn't sent out announcements for his marriage because she wanted them to have a calm couple of moons first before the Game of Thrones commenced among the Westeros nobility. He knew Mace Tyrell had another daughter Margaery that he was hoping to wed to Jace to seal the alliance, but Jace was already married, binding the Riverlands to the Iron Throne. Edmure planned to give his oath of allegiance after he and Arianne were married, and he was officially the Lord of Riverrun.

The get Margaery close to the throne would be to wed her to the closest bloodline. His aunt Visenya was a woman, Robb was married, and all his brothers were too young and well there was Quentyn Martell, rumors swirled that he was the coming Heir to Dorne as Arianne was going to be Lady of Riverrun, and as Trystan was wedding Ryanne Tyrell, she couldn't marry him. This left either Oberyn Martell, which would never happen, or Visenya's cousin Smalljon Umber, who wasn't wed yet. There were pros and cons to that marriage and Jace wasn't sure how his aunt wanted to handle the ambitious family from The Reach, but he knew they wouldn't be getting to the Iron Throne.

But as the alliances were now coming together in person, he would have to speak about how he was already married. Royal weddings were usually a spectacle, but Visenya had pushed theirs through because there needed to be a clear line of succession, and it needed to show the Realm as a whole that the royal family was settled and, in a position, to govern and care for the Seven Kingdoms. Joffrey was clearly as mad as King Aerys was said to be and it was also known, he was not the son of Robert Baratheon but Jaime Lannister. He wasn't married and had no children, meaning his brother Tommen was his heir and it was said the boy was simple, so therefore not a threat.

So, his wedding to Roslin, gave him the advantage.

Small, gentle hands ran across his naked shoulders, and he turned his head to see his beautiful naked wife standing behind him, smiling coyly, "What has you thinking so hard husband?" she asked rubbing his tense neck firmly with her small hands. He groaned in appreciation and then turned pulling her to him and kissing her hip, "I am thinking that instead of reading the letter my aunt gave me, I should be enjoying my lovely wife," he murmured softly against her skin.

Roslin's eyes softened, "You're the future King Jace," she pointed out softly as she ran her hands through his curly hair, "You won't always have time to ravish me."

She felt him smile, "Yes and as future King I should be working on making an heir with my beautiful wife and not paperwork," he complained jokingly as he pulled her down into his lap.

She giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and when she was settled, she smiled shyly, "It's hard to make an heir when you already have one," she whispered in his ear.

Jace pulled away looking at her confused before her words actually penetrated his mind and he placed a hand on her stomach, "Are you... You're with child?" he sputtered.

Roslin smiled at him lovingly and nodded linked the fingers on her stomach between hers. A grin split his face, and he pulled her into a deep kiss. Roslin lost her breath at his attack on her and kissed him back just as fiercely, thankful beyond words she had been given such a loving and amazing husband and not sold off to the highest bidder like many of her sisters had been. When they had first been intimate, she had been very shy and unsure of herself. It had taken Jace a while before she was comfortable sharing his bed. As Walder Frey's daughter she was no stranger to talk of sex or actually seeing one of her many brothers with the maids. But it had always made her blush and after Viserys had tried to rape her on their way to Vaes Dothrak, she hadn't been comfortable around strangers or anyone really, other than Jace.