Queen Daenerys, the First of Her Name, was silent as she observed the council debate over one mundane topic to another while her husband King Aegon, the Sixth of His Name, was whispering something to the Hand of the King – Jon Connington – who nodded slightly and whispered something back.

"Your Graces, we recently received word from the North." Harry Strickland, the Master of Coin, said grimly, his eyes focused more on Aegon than Daenerys while Daenerys fought hard to not roll her eyes. It was no secret that Aegon's supporters, those that came to Westeros with him, still despised that Daenerys and Aegon ruled as co-rulers instead of Aegon ruling and her sitting like a little flower, saying nothing. Still, the idea of news from the North was always nerve-wracking for Daenerys for whenever the Lord of Winterfell was involved, it was always troublesome for House Targaryen.

Jon Stark, the wildest of their vassals, was not a man that remained silent for long. She could still remember the hate on the young Lord Stark's face when he was forced to bend the knee to the son of his aunt's kidnapper and the daughter of his grandfather and uncle's murderer but Daenerys knew that was only the tip of the iceberg for Jon Stark had a deep hatred for her and Aegon because Sansa Baratheon, King Tommen Baratheon's own wife, was raped and murdered by Khal Argo, her most useful soldier and the leader of the Dothraki sworn to her and it was for that crime and the lack of punishment for the crime that the Starks despised her and her nephew.

"Hm?" Aegon hummed, appearing disinterested, but Daenerys knew her nephew and she could see the fear in his eyes which brought her a sense of annoyance. It was no secret that King Aegon Targaryen feared his Warden of the North for whenever they were in the same room, the King would be pale and his usual iron tones would not be present. How was it that in this tale Aegon was Joffrey Baratheon and Jon Stark was Tywin Lannister?

Jon Stark truly was a northern Tywin Lannister, in truth. It made her laugh that the house that Starks hated as much as Targaryens was who Jon Stark was most compared to. His cold, ruthless bearing, his destruction of House Bolton and his defiance in the face of his King and Queen. He was Tywin Lannister twenty years before the Rebellion.

"What happens in the North of our Kingdom, Lord Hand?" Daenerys wondered, looking towards Jon Connington, finding a great deal of amusement in Harry Strickland's annoyed expression.

"As you know, Queen Daenerys, the North are a wild bunch to say the least." The Hand said, grunting. It was known throughout the Seven Kingdoms that the Hand of the King and the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands despised the Starks and the North. "Word has come that the Lord of Winterfell has begun building more and more settlements in the True North." He said, grimacing at such a name.

Daenerys hummed.

The True North was named as it was in the climax of the war when the North grew in size, now bigger than the entirety of Westeros when Jon Stark claimed the True North as it began to be called, giving lordships and castles to Wildlings. It was said that Tormund Giantsbane was known as the Lord of Snowfall – one of the many new castles – and Protector of the True North who ruled over the True North, subservient only to the Lord of Winterfell. Many in the South rallied against it, cursing that the North should hand over some land but fortunately Aegon was not fool enough to add insult to injury knowing rebellion would arrive in an instant.

With Viserion killed by Cersei Lannister's cursed black arrows, Rhaegal slain in the first battle against the Night King and Drogon injured and lost in the cold waters of the True North in the final battle against the Night King, the Targaryens no longer had unparalleled power to hold over their vassals which is why the South feared the North as it did.

"What importance does this have?" Aurane Velaryon, the legitimized Lord of Driftmark, and the Master of Ships, wondering, arching an eyebrow at Harry Strickland. "Jon Stark has been creating settlements since the war ended." He said.

Daenerys almost slapped her forehead at her husband's noticeable flinch towards merely the name of the Lord of Winterfell.

"The importance, as you say Lord Velaryon, is that Jon Stark is not a man that has loyalty or love for King Aegon and Queen Daenerys." Jon Connington said calmly. "The Lord of Winterfell is one step away from rebellion. He has not forgotten nor forgiven that Khal Argo took his sister from him." His voice dripped with blame as he gazed at Daenerys for half a second.

Daenerys gave him a sharp glare but said nothing.

"Why not calm that rage of his, then, Your Grace?" Tyrion Lannister, the Master of Law wonder curiously. "Give the Lord of Winterfell Khal Argo. Let him have his justice and he will thank you for it."

"If we give him Khal Argo now, he will demand more and more and more." Daenerys said sternly, her violet eyes hard. "Jon Stark will never stop demanding and before you know it, you will be on a bended knee with Longclaw at your neck." She snapped, while Aegon paled even more if possible. "Jon Stark is not a man to be underestimated."

"House Lannister can find a middle ground of agreement with Lord Stark." Tyrion pressed, while Daenerys nodded for him to continue. "There is an amicable relationship between Jon Stark and my cousin, Devan." Tyrion told her, his voice desperate, knowing he feared war as she did.

Daenerys considered this. Devan Lannister, the Lord of Casterly Rock, was certainly a man that called Jon Stark friend. Even now, she wondered how Tyrion had allowed Devan to become Lord of the Rock as he had even though the reason was logical. There was little love for Tywin Lannister and his children in the Westerlands and would only bring unease if the Imp became their liege lord, but the men of the West loved Daven Lannister as a man, warrior and leader, and with Jaime Lannister the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and Tyrion as the Master of Law, it was an easy decision.

The friendship between Lord Stark and Lord Lannister was even stranger as neither men was alike and the Starks and Lannisters had a less than amicable relationship. Jon Stark is a quiet and cold man while Daven Lannister is a loud and joyful man but beyond that they made friends and the bond between Lannister and Stark, the North and the Westerlands was stronger than it ever was but as the saying goes, you make your true friends on your battlefield and the Lord of Winterfell and the Lord of Casterly Rock had fought side by side during Euron Greyjoy's rebellion with the war ending when they slew the so-called King of the Iron Islands as one.

"Devan Lannister has as much love for us as Lord Stark does." Aegon said for the first time sounding like a wise King. "Do you think Devan Lannister has forgotten that we burned Tommen Baratheon, his own cousin, alive?" He demanded of the council. "Do you think he forgives the grievous crime done to his friend's sister?"

"King Aegon is correct." Daenerys said, her voice calm. "In this situation, the only thing we can do is arrange a tourney, invite the Lord Paramounts and learn exactly where it is that everyone's loyalties lie.

There was an uneasy silence as it was clear most of the Small Council disagreed with her and they began to bicker.

The North was their main threat, they were not even a choice. The Westerlands could be either a threat or an ally considering the friendship between Jon and Devan and the bond of blood between Daven and Tyrion. The Stormlands were tricky to the say the least, for even though Jon Connington was lawfully the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, the Stormlands had a greater love and support for Gendry Baratheon, the Lord of Storms End who was Jon Stark's own goodbrother. The Iron Islands could go either way considering the history that Lord Theon shared with Jon, though he had sworn his allegiance to Daenerys years ago. The Vale would undoubtedly follow the North considering that Robin Arryn had been fostered at Winterfell under Jon Stark's tutelage and Yohn Royce was Lord Stark's greatest supporter when he crushed the Boltons. The Reach would highly likely remain loyal to the crown but could just as easily support the North if they were winning knowing Olenna Tyrell and her still unmarried granddaughter Margaery. The Riverlands would support Jon Stark just on the merit of avenging Lord Tully's niece. Dorne, on the other hand, would undoubtedly support the crown because of Aegon, even though they were not pleased that Khal Argo was allowed to live after committing the same crime that took Elia Martell from them.

In the grand scheme of things, the North undoubtedly had three kingdoms including themselves to support them with the North, the Vale and the Riverlands while the Crown had two definite supporters with the Crownlands and Dorne while the Westerlands, the Stormlands, the Reach and the Iron Islands could go either way.

"What if we give Lord Stark a wife, a southern wife?" Grand Maester Malrik, who replaced the sniveling fool Pycelle, put before the Small Council. "If Jon Stark is linked to the South through marriage, it lessens the chance of rebellion, does it not?" The broad-shouldered old man wondered, looking to Daenerys who considered this.

It could work.

"What need is the Lord of Winterfell of a wife?" Lord Commander Barristan Selmy wondered as the council's eyes swiveled to the legendary knight. "The White Wolf has seven sons and two daughters." Barristan the Bold explained, baffled at how illogical the highborn could be even after an event like the Long Night as they still valued their politics and schemes over truth and justice.

"No more than upstart legitimized bastards, Lord Commander." Lord Varys, the Master of Whisperers said, the expression on his face unreadable. "They are merely the children of his mistresses, each born bastards and only able to claim the name Stark to calm the wrath of their father."

Daenerys found no fault in this statement, though she knew if the Lord of Winterfell ever heard this, Varys would find his head on a spike. Lord Jon Stark was a paranoid man that never wed, refusing to give another power over his kingdom and so instead, he fathered bastards on his mistresses which consisted of Val and Ygritte of the Free Folk, Alys Karstark and Dacey Mormont. It was often laughed about in the South; that Jon Stark wished to go the way of King Ronard Storm, known as Ronard the Bastard.

"Despite what you may think, Lord Varys, the Lord of Winterfell cares not what you think of his children." Barristan almost rolled his eyes. "My meaning is that why should Lord Stark even agree to take a wife when he has seven sons to inherit his lands and titles?"

Lord Varys was about to speak but Aegon Targaryen, acting a King for once, held his hand up, silencing the council.

"Lord Commander Selmy is correct." The Silver King said, his face hard. "Offering Jon Stark a southern bride will only serve to make him wroth." He shook his head. "No. The best way to deal with this is to invite all the Lord Paramounts for a tourney." He told the council. "The Crown Prince's nameday is within the month. We will use that as an excuse to recall all the Lord Paramounts, see who our friend is and who is as eager as Jon Stark to regain their independence."

The Small Council said nothing, but they bowed their heads in agreement.

Daenerys Targaryen also found herself nodding, mildly surprised that the King actually spoke something sensible for once.

Now, it was only a matter of patience. They would soon learn if rebellion was inevitable or if the stability of the Realm could be maintained.

Only time would tell.