Chapter 13-That which is dead can still burn

Ned Stark stormed toward his room within the Tower of the Hand. His men flanking him as he entered the room where he was living in while serving as Hand. He couldn't believe his wife would be so foolish. He didn't want to believe it. He shouldn't believe it. And yet the evidence of Aegon's powers, seeing what could happen, and the place where it would happen if events prior to it were unaltered came into play. The description of what Aegon told him and the Small Council in vivid detail could not be ignored. Disputed? Yes. Even Aegon said the future was always in motion. But ignored? No. To ignore it was to invite certain death and doom.

"Go to the Tower of the Hand Uncle. See for yourself what I told you is true. It will be the only real time you will and ultimately come to believe what I have told you in the Small Council chambers is what the future holds for us, if we are not careful. What you will see, what you will read, and will hear from your wife will remove whatever doubts you still possess Uncle. It will be bitter truth, but truth you must experience to endure this life, and do your duty as my Hand."

Shaking the memory from his mind, the Hand of the King reached the door, opening it with such force, it made a loud, almost smashing sound, Upon entering, he saw his wife in the chair, in front of the desk where he worked as Hand. In front of her, there was the paper, ink, and quill in hand to write with. Her face was one of shock, surprise, and above all else...fear. They were bloodshot, eyes filled with tears, the fear in them increasing, as they looked from him to the paper she was writing on. The truth of it clear as day to him despite not seeing just yet what was on the paper.

Moving quickly, Ned had stopped Cat from trying to destroy the message she was writing just in time, and his men now moved to flank the woman to keep her in the chair.

What he read filled his heart with rage and despair.

Lord Walder Frey,

As you have no doubt heard, the Targaryens have returned to the Iron Throne once more, punishing those who have fought against them during Robert's Rebellion. My own House being one of them. It won't be long before the new King turns his attention on you as well despite your army coming to Robert's aid when the war was coming to an end. I have met this dragon. I know how he thinks and acts. He will come for House Frey because of how it is tied to mine by oath. Whether he attacks by using his vile sorcery or three dragons, I cannot say, but he must be stopped. So I propose a secret alliance and a means to strike the dragon down to ensure our own Houses do not fall completely to ruin under the new King's wrath.

As Roose Bolton is going to be married to one of your daughters at the Twins, I suggest our three Houses unite to take the dragon's head. All of them. The King, his Aunt, and even the future Queen Margery Tyrell if possible. A proper trap can be placed during the wedding and the ambush will allow us to remove the strength of the dragon when they least suspect it.

I have no doubt Lord Frey, that this lethal strike against House Targaryen will help in appeasing you for the slight the King has given for annulling the promises marriage between House Stark and House Frey with my eldest son marrying one of your daughters as we discussed. Once removed from power, Lord Stannis will take the Iron Throne and have him rule properly over the Seven Kingdoms. With our actions bringing him the Iron Throne, he will pardon us for any crime others will see we committed to achieve it.

My only condition to this scheme being carried out, is that my children and the rest of my family be spared from the attack when we attend. I will even try to make them leave early to ensure they are not informed or try to stop it from happening. I have also enlisted the aid of Theon Greyjoy, who seeks revenge for the loss of his kin despite everything and-

Ned stopped at the part of the letter which was incomplete knowing this was when he had entered the room to his wife's complete surprise. No doubt she assumed he would be busy with his duties as Hand and on the Small Council to come back here in time to see her in this position.

"Why? Why write this? Why are you doing this to Aegon?" asked Ned while Cat still had tears running down her face.

"You know why I did this Ned. I did this to obtain justice. Justice for my House. For my family. The family I lost. For the family he robbed me of when he killed by Father, my sister, and sending my brother to the Wall," answered Cat while Ned looked away from her.

"Family members who were guilty against House Targaryen and the Crown. Actions that you know were wrong Cat. Your own Father conspired against them with Lord Arryn. Lied, schemed, plotted, and planned to dethrone the dragon in a quest for greater power they should have never attempted to obtain," countered Ned while his wife glared at him.

"He didn't have to kill my sister or her child. And what about sending my brother away to the Wall?" asked Cat while Ned glared back.

"Your sister helped in the conspiracy that plunged the Seven Kingdoms into a senseless war Cat. She made sure my sister's messages never reached the other Lords informing them of her marriage to Rheagar. Your brother openly supported your Father's plans and schemes while making it known to everyone in court about how he would try to rebel against the Crown," answered Ned while Cat scowled further.

"That doesn't justify killing young Robin. He was a boy Ned. How do you justify that?" asked Cat with Ned being silent for a moment.

"Your sister scorned him. Ignored the command to come to court. And admitted to killing her husband while having an affair with Lord Baelish. She gloated and all but spit in the face of the Crown. A price had to be paid for her crimes outside of her own life. Besides, Robin wasn't Lord Arryn's son. He was a bastard and as I recall, you have always hated bastard children. So why do you care for this one bastard now?" replied Ned at last with Cat glaring harder.

"Because I know that this bastard child was also a Tully despite everything. I know that even though the child was a bastard, it was my sister's child. I was an Aunt by blood," Cat shot back at him.

"So if I have had a bastard child with another woman, it is okay for you to hate said child to your heart's content. But so long as the bastard is without question from your House's bloodline, it is tolerated? Do you hear yourself? The hypocrisy behind it?!" asked Ned with Cat standing up from her chair and shrugging off the men on either side with anger burning with those Tully eyes.

"And what of you? You, who lied to me all these years! You, who claimed him as your bastard son. You, who decided to protect that boy instead of throwing him into the sea to die. You chose to protect that child, knowing what he was, who he was, and where he comes from on his Father's side of the family. You put all my children at risk with a boy, who could have had the madness within him like his Mad King for a Grandfather. What if he had the madness Ned? Would you have put him down? Ended his life?" asked Cat with her own anger rising with her voice.

"First off, Aegon was my sister's son. He was all that was left of her! I was not about to see him die after I had just fought in a war, only to see his Mother perish after bringing him to the world. She asked me to protect him. I made a sacred promise to her Cat. A promise I was bound to three times over! And as for your children, they are my children too. I would never endanger them. And Aegon would never had had the madness. He was not born from the repeated incest acts of House Targaryen. Those same practices which Aegon himself wishes to ban to ensure the madness does not return," answered Ned while Cat was still furious with him.

"And yet you allow his Aunt, who is born from such incest to take an interest in your son. My son! Because of this King, a promise of betrothal to House Frey was broken. You are lucky this didn't happen during the war with the Lannisters. They would have pulled their support and your son's chances in winning the war would be in jeopardy!" exclaimed Cat while Ned struggled to bring his temper into check.

"There is nothing wrong with Robb being interested in Daenerys Targaryen and in turn her being interested in him. Provided that is the case as you say. If anything, them being together further mends old wounds. History spoke of a time when House Stark and House Targaryen being united together helped create a lasting peace within the Seven Kingdoms for well over a century. I for one would like to see that happen again. And as for House Frey, you would see our son married to one of them? A House with no honor and sees to only bleed those around them dry of what they have in life? Your own Father knew this to be true when he japed and called the Lord of the Twins the 'Late Wader Frey' for not sending his bannermen until after Robert won the battle at the Trident. Besides, you had no right to do any kind of business with Lord Frey in negotiating on who Robb would marry in life. It was not your place to do so," replied Ned with Cat looking insulted.

"It is the way of things Ned. It always has been the way of things. The Fathers negotiate betrothals when it comes to their daughters. Mothers their sons," countered Cat with Ned shaking his head.

"Aye, when a girl is still a girl. When the boy is still a boy. Robb was not a boy when this happened. You wouldn't allow him to make up his own mind. You wouldn't allow him to perform his own negotiations. You had no faith in him. No trust in his ability to make the right decisions. And before you counter my words by saying Walder Frey would have outsmarted our son if he had gone to see the Lord of the Twins, Robb could have easily taken several Lords with him. Lords who were skilled to give our son proper counsel on these matters," replied Ned with Cat still looking irate over him questioning her actions.

"How can you say that? I love our son. I do trust him to do what is right. I merely wished to ensure his future with a powerful House was provided," countered Catelyn while Ned shook his head.

"And House Targaryen isn't a powerful House? A House, if married into, would tie us to the royal bloodline of Kings? You would have our son bound in marriage to a Frey over a Princess?" asked Ned with Cat looking away.

"Considering what your bastard nephew has done to my House? Yes!" stated Cat with her eyes filled with anger and rage.

"Your family members were punished because they deserved to be punished Cat. You could have easily been punished too if the King so wished it. But he chose to leave things alone as they were. And what did his act of mercy in sparing your life produced in the end? You seeking to betray the Crown as your Father, brother, and sister have done! To conspire and kill them at a wedding of all things! A WEDDING! I would think a woman, who followed the faith of the Seven would know just how disrespectful it is to allow such a thing to happen if it came to pass," said Ned with Cat looking away.

"Not when they don't follow the faith of the Seven," commented Cat while Ned scowled at her since she had tried multiple times to convert others in the North to her faith, but failed each time.

"And what of myself Cat? If I were attacked at this wedding, would you cry for me? Or just our children should they be attacked?" asked Ned with Catelyn looking at him again with narrowed eyes.

"My children would be safe. Safe from the dragon. Safe from his supporters. And safe to follow the true path I set for them," replied Cat with Ned reading between the lines.

He followed the Old Gods, as such, his life was not as important as their children. They could still be molded. Turned to her faith. Whether by manipulation or force, it didn't matter to her. She believed the Seven was the one true faith. The one faith that mattered and didn't care for any other despite knowing what it meant to marry a man from the North.

She also assumed their children would not be harmed at the wedding.

"And you assume the Freys and the Boltons will let our children live after the wedding? Or to be held as hostages to hold against the other Northern Lords?" questioned Ned while Cat looked insulted.

"Of course they would. House Frey is bound to my House despite it being weakened by the damn King. They wouldn't dare break their oath to my House," countered Cat with Ned sighing since his wife believed these men would honor their oaths and deals when they would gladly break Guest Rights at a wedding.

"And yet these two Houses would violate Guest Rights at a wedding. Anyone who does that would betray you Cat. Your House has been brought low, disgraced, and these two Houses have no honor if they plan to go through with it. Why would one honor their oath to your House and the other, who does not, follow the first?" challenged Ned with Cat not looking at him for a moment, her own mind clearly unable to answer his question, much less challenge his own challenge against her decisions.

"Life was so much simpler and easier when he was just a bastard," whispered Cat bitterly while sitting in the chair now, slumping her head in defeat.

"What?" asked Ned confused when he heard this while Cat just simply looked up at her husband now with more tears running down her face and eyes filled with loss as well as pain.

"King Aegon. Back when he was Jon Snow. It was so much easier to hate him. Hate him for what I thought he was. What the world said he was. What the laws of Gods and Men said he was to those of high born status. That he was born from lust and sin between two people not doing it for love. How he was a walking talking symbol of your unfaithfulness to me and our marriage. How he represented my fears of showing so much talent that you might legitimize him as a Stark and would name him your heir over Robb. I felt so happy to see him brought low. Brought down from whatever position he tried to reach in life. I wanted him to suffer for being born from your union with some nameless, faceless whore for a woman, and I did everything I could to ensure he never could rise above his station as a bastard," commented Catelyn while more tears fell and she cried some more.

"And now?" asked Ned curiously.

"And now? I hate him even more for what he has done. And yet, I can't hate him for the main reason I did in the past. Because he isn't a bastard. He isn't your son you had with some nameless, faceless whore for a woman. He is of royal blood. Legitimate in every way. He is the King of the Seven Kingdoms and his word is law. I can't call him a bastard like I did in the past. I can't even say he shouldn't be King. How can I? He ended the war with the Lannisters, exposed the vile conspiracies throughout the Seven Kingdoms, and brought justice to everyone who was wronged. And yet I still hate him! I hate him for not being what I thought he was. I hate him for what he has done, even though it was within his right to do. I can't stop hating the new King. Its all I have left. I have lost most of my family on my House's side and the one I have left won't even speak to me. Whether out of keeping what is left of our House honor intact or simply to spite me, I do not know," said Catelyn sadly.

"You still have your children Cat. They were and still are in your life. It is not too late to fix this," said Ned with Catelyn shaking her head.

"My children think I am an idiot and foolish. Robb was furious at me when I created the betrothal with House Frey. When the King nullified the marriage betrothal, our son was happy about it. When I told him this was wrong, he glared at me for even saying that. Sansa won't speak to me since I have spoken ill of Aegon long after he went missing as a boy. Arya is the same and refuses to listen to me about being a proper lady. I haven't seen Brandon or Rickon since the war started or ended. Even if I went back to the North, it wouldn't be the same since they no doubt heard of my House's actions, and wondering why things happened the way it did. Not to mention why I was so mean to Aegon when I thought he was your bastard. I can't go back to them Ned. I can't go back to them and see their eyes looking back with sadness, the disappointment, and the shame of having me for a Mother of such dishonor," replied Cat while Ned sighing while rubbing his eyes now in frustration.

"And this was your alternative? Conspiracy to kill a King?" asked Ned in a tired voice.

"All I have left is my hate Ned. What else is there for me when everything else is gone?" asked Cat while Ned not answering her.

"Aegon endured such things for well over a decade. Endured being scorned and laid low for being a bastard Cat. The least you could have done is endure such scorn from others for that amount of time, if not more. Had you done so, it would have things easier. But now, with your actions being what they are with this act of treason...I don't know what I can do," said Ned with Cat glancing at the paper in his hand.

"You could destroy letter Ned. Swear these men to silence. They are you bannermen. Not the King's," answered Cat while Ned shook his head.

"I can't. I won't. If I did, I would forsake my honor as a Stark. My loyalty to Aegon as his Hand. To ask these men of the North to betray him is not something I will ask them to do. And even if I did, Theon is being taken as we speak. If he doesn't name you now as one of the conspirators in this plot, the boy will confess soon enough," replied Ned before he motioned for his men to take Cat away.

Only after they left did Ned fall into the chair his wife sat in moments ago and sighed in defeat knowing his wife had wronged is nephew yet again. And this time, blood relation or not. Hand of the King or Warden of the North, Ned Stark knew he could not save his wife from whatever punishment Aegon commanded. No matter how much he wanted to plead and beg for him to show mercy to her.

It would not do any good. Aegon could no longer show mercy to her regardless of who asked for it. To do so would invite weakness. He already heard from Mace Tyrell what happened with Loras when he came back from dealing with Renly. Aegon would no longer give mercy or leeway to House Tyrell. Loras has burned through it all and Lady Olenna made sure the man heard it well enough from the most wicked tongue lashing she had ever given in her life.

The King could only show so much mercy before people believed him weak and a dragon had to be strong in all things no matter what.

Even against rebellious family members whether they were from blood or marriage.

(With Theon Greyjoy)

They came for him when he was at one of the more fancy brothels. While fucking one of the more wild girls the establishment had to offer. He paid less coin then most given he was the sworn brother to Robb Stark, who was the cousin of the King. The head of this establishment didn't want to make the new King upset if he heard how his cousin's sworn brother had to pay so much coin for a single whore.

For Theon, it felt good to have friends in high places. Even if he was going to betray said friend in the near future.

It was actually why he was here. To take the stress out of the whole situation. The guilt of betraying Robb like this given what he was helping others to do at the Twins. He would try to convince Robb not to go. Tell the man he didn't have to be around the pompous and arrogant Freys with their weasel smiles and backstabbing ways given the stories told of them. But in the end, Theon knew that Robb would go. Honor demanded it and Starks liked to be honorable to the end.

But Theon wasn't a Stark despite being raised among them. He was a Greyjoy. From the Iron Islands.

When word did reach him of the Iron Fleet heading out, possibly to the North, no doubt to pillage, rape, and plunder everything in their wake, part of Theon wanted to leave for the coast. To get on a boat and join his fellow Iron Born in what they planned to do, even if it meant it was attacking the North. Of course, Theon would have no part in that if it was possible, and could even try to convince his Father to give him some of the fleet so he could sack the West.

But he went against the impulse knowing it would betray Robb and the North would seek to take their own pound of flesh from him before anything else. His concern changed however, when word reached him of the Mad King's daughter, the current King's Aunt, had taken one of the dragons to attack the Iron Fleet. Not just attack, but burn practically all of it, save for a few ships, into nothingness.

What was dead may never die, but it could burn all the same as anything alive.

Theon had been so infuriated by this. His kin deserved their days on the seas pillaging, raping, and plundering as they did in the old times. The dragon had no right to challenge the kraken. And in the open sea no less. That was the domain of the Iron Born and the Drowned God. Theon wanted revenge and take the dragons down for what they did to his fellow Iron Born.

So when Lady Stark approached him on the issue, he had been surprised. At first, Theon thought it was a trap. A test of his loyalty to House Stark over House Greyjoy. But it was not. She wanted revenge just as much as he did. The loss of her Father, sister, her sister's only child, and shamed brother being sent to the Wall had made the red haired woman see the same shade in a desire for revenge.

So they soon began to conspire with those who would benefit from the fall of the dragon when the moment of opportunity came upon them. Namely with House Bolton and House Frey. Roose Bolton wanted more power to control the North and take it from House Stark like his ancestors failed to do in the past. Lady Stark had no problem with it. She planned to take her children to Riverrun following the massacre and convince her Uncle Brynden to name Robb his heir.

As for House Frey, they had been scorned badly by the dragon when Aegon had nullified the marriage agreement Lady Stark made with Walder Frey to cross the Twins. It was a slight the Lord of the Twins was not about to tolerate, even from a King, and Theon knew a man with Walder Frey's reputation had no problem being dishonorable, especially if it got him what he wanted from others.

And Theon had thought the plan was fool proof once it was put together. No one would see it coming. Everyone was lax in their vigilance or suspicion of each other. Enjoying the new found peace, the prosperity the new King was providing as promised, and the idea of living in a new golden age not seen since the start of the Targaryen Dynasty.

He was planning to enjoy seeing the people lose everything just as his fellow Iron Born had lost everything the Targaryens had destroyed.

Only to find his imagination regarding how that would happen and the aftermath of it all to be interrupted like his time with the whore he had mounted when the ten Unsullied had come for him. They had entered the room, slamming the large wooden doors open with enough force to make it heard throughout the building. The act had not only scared him, but the whores, and even the owner man running the establishment. Before Theon could have a chance to react, one of them had punched him in the face, very hard, stunning the man long enough to take a shield to the ribs, and forced the young man to his knees. They tied his arms behind his back in an arm wrenching position so tightly, Theon felt his arms were going to lose all feeling within them in a matter of minutes. A hand grabbed his hair and moved his head up violently so his eyes would go wide from the sudden pain and see the angry face of one Daenerys Targaryen with two more Unsullied flanking her.

"You," said Theon with bitterness in his tone.

"Yes. Me. The one who burned your House's Iron Fleet. The one you hate so much you would see my House fall. Given your reaction at seeing me here, it is not because I just caught you like this in a place of sin, but the fact I am here at all to arrest you. I also imagine you did not expect to be caught like this quite literally with your pants down. Though from what I see between your legs, it isn't much, or that impressive to say the least. I will have to pay the girl extra for having to deal with you and your filth," said Daenerys while giving Theon's manhood a quick glance before focusing on the man himself.

"Robb Stark will not allow this. Even from you. I am his Sworn Brother!" exclaimed an angry Theon with Daenerys not looking worried.

"I am well aware of that. I also know he was most upset when I told him what I had to do and why. At first, Robb didn't believe me. In fact, he didn't want to believe me when I told him everything that was to happen at the Twins. But a quick search of your room and the letters you had tucked away, which revealing your plot with House Bolton and House Frey to ambush us at the wedding taking place there made him a believer. As far as Robb Stark is concerned, you are no longer his Sworn Brother. You are no longer his friend and ally of the North. In the eyes of the North, you are just another Greyjoy. One who took what he had with House Stark and ruined it in a quest to avenge a family he has not seen in a little over a decade," remarked Daenerys with Theon now struggling to break free in anger, but his position wouldn't allow it.

"You burned down the Iron Fleet. You killed my kin. They deserve to be avenged. As the heir to House Greyjoy, it falls to me to deliver such a thing for them. That which is dead may never die!" said Theon with Daenerys still looking calm.

Though no less serious.

"What is dead may never die Theon Greyjoy. But it can be burned. And yes, I did burn the Iron Fleet down. Why? Because they were going to attack the North. And possibly the West. Your House rebelled once and tried to take what is not there own. Your own House's words 'We Do Not Sow' are proof of there intentions when launching the fleet on Westeros. Do you really think I or my nephew would allow it? To allow your House and the Iron Born to do what they wished? I have seen the darker side of life Theon Greyjoy and I have no doubt it would have been darker if things didn't happen the way they did with Aegon finding me in Pentos. The one thing I wish to do when I leave this world, is make it a better place then when I was born into it. To make this world a brighter place where people can live happy without living in fear of a blade to the back or to the throat. Where the people don't live in fear of being violated by someone with dark intentions and the vile people responsible for such things getting away with it. When I leave this world, it will be knowing my nephew and I helped bring about a new golden age for the Seven Kingdoms. Sadly, you will not live long enough to see it," said Daenerys before she made a quick hand motion and the Unsullied took the naked man away.

(The Red Keep)

Aegon sat on the Iron Throne, his mask in place while his future wife and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms was sitting right beside him. Her hand on his to show support for the man she would marry. The mask she realized did more then just intimidate people. It also shielded others from his face when it was filled with so many emotions. So no one could see him angry, sad, or other emotions that would give away his intentions. This was a mask he wore to let others know it would be strictly business here with little to no room for pleasantries. The throne room itself was closed off at the request of his Hand in order to handle this with some measure of discretion. Though the Small Council was present for this and it was clear his Hand was filled with mixed emotions.

Not surprising given the two guilty parties to the act of future treason was his wife and the other was his assigned hostage, who he treated like a ward.

"Do you deny the charges against you?" asked Aegon with his tone being deadly serious during this entire matter.

"No your Grace," said Catelyn in defeat.

"I have nothing to say to you except the Iron Born will come back stronger then ever!" stated Theon who was now standing with just a mere brown sack around his waist to cover his shame.

"No they won't. My Aunt is going to finish what she started. The Iron Born will not rise from this. Never again. The Seven Kingdoms is tired of them and what they do. The only reason the Iron Born were not wiped out long ago was due to the morals of others who did not want innocent lives to pay along side the guilty. But the Iron Born as a whole are guilty and as such all of them must be made accountable for their actions," said Aegon with Theon looking at him now in horror.

"You wouldn't. No. You wouldn't dare!" protested Theon and was held tightly by the two Unsullied on either side of him.

"Oh, but I do dare young Greyjoy. This is not just your punishment for your actions, but the punishment for all the Iron Born still alive, who wish to keep following such barbaric ways. Your people want others to pay the Iron Price when it comes to pillaging, raping, and plundering. As far as I am concerned, they owe the Seven Kingdoms a debt and the price of paying that debt is high. It is time they paid that debt. It is time they all paid the Dragon's Price. A price that will be paid fully in fire and blood!" replied Aegon with Theon shaking his head and tears falling down his face.

Everyone knew Aegon always backed up his words with deeds. He only told them first so people could understand the gravity of what was going to happen. To imagine the horror or joy of his actions, depending on what they were, and what he planned to do.

This one naturally being one of horror.

"You're Grace, perhaps not all of the Iron Born have to die. Surely some can be spared to start over fresh. To restore House Greyjoy through honorable means if given the chance," said Ned with Aegon glancing over at him.

"It was that very same morality that allowed the Iron Born to continue rising again to full strength each time Lord Hand. Do you know what they did each time they returned from the brink of annihilation? They raped, pillaged, and plundered. Without a care. Without any form of mercy on their part. And all the while, laughing with joy as they did it. You yourself fought in the Greyjoy Rebellion and they didn't care about honor. They did not care about the Seven Kingdoms or the lives ruined by their hands. They didn't care about the homes they burned. The women they raped and enslaved as their Salt Wives. Of the men they killed or even violated depending on their preferences. Mercy to the Iron Born is not an opportunity at redemption for them Uncle. It is a means to come back and take another chance at hurting the people now under my rule and my protection. To allow the Iron Born to continue this way is to validate their means of living and very existence in terms of taking what they want when doing things the Iron Born way," countered Aegon with his mind already made up.

"He is right Lord Stark. The history of the Seven Kingdoms is filled with moments where the Iron Born rise again when the Crown has shown them even an instant of mercy. I told Robert he should just remove them in their entirety, but wouldn't hear of it. Something about giving him a chance to fight again if they ever tried to rebel a second time under his rule. With the Iron Born fully removed, trade with Essos, Braavos, and ports throughout Westeros itself would thrive," added Stannis since he knew through his trusted former smuggler Ser Davos how some Iron Born who escaped the end of the rebellion had left to do what they did in the open sea and caused problems for honest sea traders.

"The time of the Iron Born rising again and being reavers is over. If any do survive this next attack, they can either choose to change their ways one final time or they can be put to the sword. Either they change for the better or they die as fools. As for you Theon Greyjoy, you will be kept in the Black Cells and await for word of your House being reduced to a smoldering pile of ash!" said Aegon with his tone being final on the matter.

"Yes your Grace," said Ned while seeing his nephew's decision would not be changed.

"Now that being decided, we now come to the issue of Lady Stark here," said Aegon while his gaze behind his mask focused on the woman in front of him.

"Your Grace, I...," said Ned, but a raised hand silenced him.

"I know what you wish to say Uncle. You wish for me to show mercy to your wife. One last final act of mercy. Out of respect for you being her husband. And on some level, I understand. But in the end, such acts of treason cannot be ignored. What she planned to do with House Bolton and House Frey would have cost me family, friends, loved ones, and those vital to the safety and security of the Seven Kingdoms," said Aegon with Ned sighing and nodding since such treason went beyond forgiveness.

"There is also the issue of showing Lady Stark mercy would make the King look weak in the eyes of the people. They believe his Grace is a honorable and just King. If he ignored this situation because she is your wife, the people would think differently. They would think him weak or incompetent. Justice cannot be ignored or denied regardless if the one committing the crime is related to you," said Stannis with Aegon nodding to the man since he knew this was one of those times when harsh decisions needed to be made that close to one's own family.

"Which is why I have a punishment befitting her," replied Aegon while seeing the Tully woman looking increasingly nervous.

"And what is the King's decision?" asked Tyrion curiously.

"Since Catelyn Tully Stark dislikes all things related to bastards, she will be placed in an area surrounded by them. She shall be sent to Dorne and be put to work as a servant of one of the Houses most filled with them. Prince Oberyn, you will coordinate this with your brother. She will do nothing considered dishonorable to her person of course, but the House she serves must have a significant number of them. If one cannot be found, she can work in one of their orphanages where all the children located there are bastards. In addition, I hereby forbid Catelyn Tully Stark from seeing any of her five children again. Ever!" replied Aegon with Catelyn now looking truly horrified.

"Your Grace, please don't do this. Don't deny me the right to see my children. Please!" begged Catelyn while staring up at the King.

"You once told me that I was and always will be, a bastard. That I will never rise above my station. I will never have what your son will have in life. How I will always be lower then the dirt you, Catelyn Tully Stark, walk on. You made my life miserable and more so when my Uncle was away on business or during the Greyjoy Rebellion. Swearing all of the servants to silence while you ran the castle and making it clear to me that anything I would tell my Uncle about such treatment, would be seen as a lie. You devoted so much love to your children. Love I never had. Love I always wanted. As I grew up, I hoped to one day earn that what love was from you. To show you I was worthy of it. Do you know what I learned since those days in regards to you Lady Stark?" said Aegon before slowly rising from the Iron Throne and walking toward the steps, but stopped at the edge.

"Your Grace, please don't...I...I...," said Catelyn while on her knees.

"It wasn't me who was unworthy of being loved. It was YOU! Not me. YOU! You are not worthy of being a Lady of a prominent House. You are not worthy of being a Mother to any of your children. And above all else, you are not worthy of being loved by anyone in the entirety of the Seven Kingdoms. You were trying to see my time as King end just as it started, knowing the truth about my heritage, knowing I was never a bastard of Ned Stark to begin with, and all the while hating me afterwards. And for what? Just for delivering long overdue justice against those who wronged my House! It is only because you are my Uncle's wife that I spare you the sword to the neck!" stated Aegon with his fury over this woman slowly rising and it could be felt by everyone in the room.

Tyrion flinched slightly since those were words his Father would say to him, if given a chance with a few altered words. Though he felt the King's words would have made just about anything the late Tywin Lannister say fall short by comparison. Tyrion was quite fortunate that the King only held grudges against those who hurt him. Not the entire an group or House as a whole.

Prince Oberyn had a small moment of sympathy for the Tully woman since the idea of never seeing his many children would be devastating to him. Not that he blamed the King for making such a decision since the Tully woman had no reason to hate Aegon despite what had happened to her House. The King had been wronged for years. His very House had been wronged by others. And now this woman near undid everything the King was trying to do now that he sat on the Iron Throne. Still, the words the King spoke were so venomous, one would think they could be used as a poison, and used on one of Prince's blades.

Stannis held back his flinch despite the image of never seeing his daughter again and being relocated elsewhere while dreading what would become of his precious child. It was one of the reasons the decision to bend the knee and pledge fealty to the dragon once more had been the smart move. Ser Davos had said as much. Robert had been drunk on rage, bloodlust, and whispers of promised power once being King with Lyanna Stark by his side. Stannis held no such ambitions, tempting as they were when the Red Priestess had arrived in Dragonstone, and the letter from Ned Stark initially told him the truth of Cersei's children not being Robert's. No. Tempting as the trappings of power were, he knew it was foolish to challenge the might of a young and truly powerful dragon.

Stannis also knew that Robert was only able to best Rheagar at the Trident because his war hammer was successful when hitting its mark at the exactly the right time. Stannis believed if that one attack had missed, it would be Rheagar sitting on the Iron Throne for the last twenty years. Not Robert.

Ned grimaced knowing his children would be upset with their cousin on this, though the crime in which their Mother committed had been warranted such an act. Daenerys and Margery were silent on the issue with one knowing this was something that could not be ignored and the other knowing this was a personal family affair she had no real say in.

The only one truly expressive here was Lord Tyrell, who looked uncomfortable when the King made his decree, given his son's own actions had been very close to Catelyn Tully Stark own, and the punishment delivered was quite harsh in his mind. The Lord of the Reach knew he had no more political room to maneuver with the dragon and trusted his Mother to bring Loras back fully into the fold of things. Renly has been a fool to push his claim despite the possibility his House could have used him to get their daughter on the Iron Throne. Had Aegon not come along when he did, perhaps Mace and his Mother would have considered it. Yes, the rules did say Stannis was next after Robert since the latter had no official heirs. But no one truly followed the rules or honored them these days.

Or at least, they didn't prior to the current King sitting on the Iron Throne.

Varys had a brief look of sympathy for the woman. If only in regards to her children, who he knew would not like this decision, even if it was justified. The Spider considered this act by the King to be merciful since Aegon could have easily called for the woman's head right here on the spot. Of course, the King was not his Grandfather (thank all the Gods), and had a good head on his shoulders.

"Lord Stark, I am going to allow your wife to spend the next few days here within King's Landing to be spent in your custody since I am sure you will wish to spend it with her," said Aegon with Ned nodding since he would have to spend those days with her knowing it would be a long time, if any, that he would see Catelyn again.

"I will arrange for Lady Stark's ship to Dorne your Grace. And send a letter to my brother to further along the arrangements," said Prince Oberyn with Aegon nodding.

"Proceed Prince Oberyn. I will leave the arrangements for her travel to you and to inform your brother of these events," said Aegon while sitting back on the Iron Throne.

"There is also the issue of my Tommen and Myrcella. They have been guests here, but I am unsure of their place in the world," said Tyrion while visiting the two every so often and assuring them nothing cruel would happen to either one of his kin.

"What do you propose Tyrion?" asked Aegon curiously.

"It is no secret that Myrcella herself is going to become a beautiful woman, not unlike her Mother. Without the cruel tendencies hidden behind it of course. I also know that young Tristan Martell, Prince Doran's son, is a young boy himself, and will one day rule over Dorne. Since the issue with House Lannister and House Martell born from past issues has been resolved, I would like to consider an arranged marriage between the two," replied Tyrion with Aegon looking at Oberyn, who was considering it.

"I would have to ask my brother about it considering the delicate situation of the young girl's parentage, but I doubt he will truly mind," said Prince Oberyn with Aegon nodding.

"Good. And unlike previous arranged marriages done in the past where neither side truly knows the other, I want Myrcella to know her future betrothed. And, in the event they do not like each other in such a fashion fit for a future marriage, the betrothal can end with both sides parting on good terms," said Aegon with Tyrion and Prince Oberyn nodding.

"And Tommen?" asked Tyrion with Aegon thinking it over.

"A Maester. Once this issue I have with them has been cleared, we can easily arrange for the boy to go to the Citadel to be trained under one," said Aegon with Tyrion liking that since the boy had a good head on his shoulder for learning.

"Tommen will be thrilled by the news your Grace," said Tyrion while smiling since his nephew was an innocent boy who loved cats and other innocent things.

(Iron Island-Short Time Later)

Balon Greyjoy was not amused. He was an old bitter man with one loss after another under his belt. His rebellion against the Crown had cost him most of his family with only his only daughter and hostage for a remaining son in Theon. Not that he considered the boy his son. Not anymore. He had been corrupted. Tamed by the wolves into thinking like one of them over a Greyjoy. Over a reaver. He would sooner fight beside the Starks in battle over pillaging, raping, and plundering like a Greyjoy should. As far as Balon was concerned, the boy was no son. Those of his children he lost during the rebellion against the Crown were his sons.

All Greyjoys and Iron Born to the end.

And years later, when he could strike back again, his House failed to win again. It had been defeated. The Iron Fleet burned with most of its men. Only a small handful of ships survived. His daughter returning in disgrace. In shame. Defeated not by the Northerners, which she was suppose to attack, and entrench themselves onto the coast like the days of old. But by two fucking dragons and one rider among them burning the mighty Iron Fleet to ash with some of it sinking to the Drown God to claim for his own.

And like any bitter King, when his forces are defeated in battle, he takes it out on the one leading them in his name. In this case, his daughter Yara Greyjoy.

"You failed Yara. You failed to claim the North. You failed do what was required as one of the Iron Born. You failed me!" exclaimed Balon angrily at his only daughter while he continued to rant and raved with Yara standing there without saying a word back.

What could she say to him? Sorry?! Sorry for losing the Iron Fleet to a fucking dragon that could destroy them single handedly from the sky? Sorry for returning home to tell her Father what happened to the Iron Fleet and how the Targaryens had returned? How she chose to flee with what few ships they had left over not returning at all? How she had barely escaped with her ship and crew alive and saw dragon fire burn everything around her into nothing? That those who weren't burned jumped into the sea and chose to drown to meet their God?

The image of the great beast flying overhead burning everything in sight bladed through her mind and Yara had to hold back the flinch that wanted to appear on her face. The smell of burning human flesh and her men drowning in the water while she escaped had appeared once more. It would haunt the woman to the end of her days, of this Yara had no doubt, but would she apologize for doing what needed to be done to survive. Fuck no. She wanted to live to see another day and while what is dead may never die...it could still be burned and turned into ash.

Yara had no intention of being burned or turned into ash. Especially by a dragon.

"Well? Do you have anything to say for yourself?!" demanded Balon while glaring at his daughter angrily.

"What would you have had me do Father? Die? Burn or drown with the rest of the Iron Fleet?" asked Yara at last.

"You could have died like a true Iron Born. Like your brothers did!" spat Balon while Yara scowled and almost snarled.

"And be without an heir? You already cast Theon aside. Who would you have be your heir, if not me at this point? All your other children are dead or disowned. Besides, you haven't exactly lead by example," countered Yara while Balon looked ready murder her and she was honestly expecting it or possibly contemplating the idea for such disrespect.

"I am the King of the Iron Islands. I will command who I want, when I want, and how I want to without some prissy little cunt I have for a daughter telling me how to lead. You think I need you to be my heir? I don't! I can easily find a woman, mount her, and see she gives me a true Iron Born heir. Maybe I should. Or maybe I should have some of my men throw you into the sea or simply violate you until one of them puts a baby in your belly. Maybe I should let them help in giving me an heir through you. Bastard the child will be, but at least I will know without question it comes from my bloodline and I can legitimize him on the spot when born," remarked Balon with Yara looking shocked that her Father would consider such a thing.

"I am your daughter! The only child you have left to call Iron Born. Yet you would use me in such a way? That is beneath even our ways. King or not!" countered Yara while Balon sneered at her and the bitterness from the years past showing clearly.

"I am the King of the Iron Islands. What I do with it is mine by right! If I want you dead, I would and could order it. If I want my men to violate you every day until you are with child, I can and will order it. You think because you are my blood that it protects you? It does nothing! You either prove yourself as an Iron Born or you are used to strengthen the Iron Born. And as King, I decide how you are used my dear daughter!" spat Balon with Yara looking at him in disgust.

"It is no wonder we lost to the King Stag. With the way you have run the Iron Islands, it is amazing our home stands at all!" countered Yara with Balon looking enraged by her continued disrespect.

"And that's what I love about our family. Always fighting everyone and everything we see around us," remarked a man cloaked in shadow standing in the doorway, an evil grin on his face.

"Who in the Seven Hells are you?" asked Balon angrily.

"Come now brother, surely you remember me? The last of your true Iron Born kin. The kin you cast out. Exiled. Threw away before the King Stag could get to us," remarked the man, who walked into the room, and revealed himself to his family.

"Euron? Euron Greyjoy?" asked Balon in shock while his brother grinned.

"The one and the same brother. I'm back! Though I must say you look like you have seen better days. Is our home not agreeing with you since casting me away?" said Euron with a look of mock pity.

"You do not belong here. Get out!" commanded Balon with Euron walking forward with a swagger about him, confident in his walk and stride, and the evil smile never leaving his face.

"Come now brother, is that anyway to speak to long lost family?" asked Euron while he stood several feet away from Balon.

"You are not family. Not my kin. You were never one of us. You were mad. You still are from what I can see," remarked Balon with Euron Greyjoy laughing.

"And so what if I am. Madness makes life worth living! Enjoying! Look at you? You are sitting here, complete sane, yet you look like shit the birds drop on the shore rocks. Me? I feel great. Fantastic! I have sailed all the seas and been to one end of the world and back. I have seen things you wouldn't believe, yet here I am. Back home to claim what is mine that you are sitting in," said Euron with Balon gritting his teeth.

"You have no claim to the Salt Throne. Not while I am King," replied Balon with Euron's grin never leaving.

"True. You sitting on the Salt Throne does prevent me from having it. But there is a way around that problem," said Euron with that evil grin still on his face.

And all the while, Yara tensed since she knew of the only way Euron could have it. Her Father had the same thought since he was tense while sitting on said Salt Throne.

"You wouldn't dare strike me down. Not even you would resort to kinslaying," remarked Balon with Euron shrugging.

"You have something I want. Something I have no problem taking. Those are our House words after all. 'We do not Sow'. So why should taking the Salt Throne from the current King be any different? Because I am your brother? You don't even consider me one so I would say kinslaying is not an issue with us," remarked Euron before glancing back at his now very cautious niece.

Of course, Balon saw this as a moment to strike and drew his sword. If he was going to be marked as a kinslayer, so be it. At least he could justify the act in self-defense. Euron wouldn't have such an excuse or want one. It was clear the man would gladly admit to such a thing and kill anyone who denounced him.

He had to die. Now!

Unfortunately, Euron anticipated this. Even planned it. Looking back at his niece was done to make his stupid brother take the bait of acting first. Balon had always been the more impulsive one. The one who acted first without thinking. He had ordered Euron to make the rest of the Seven Kingdoms be put on notice of the Iron Islands breaking away from the Crown. He didn't think of what would happen with such an act or if all the other Kingdoms would unit against him. Still, Euron had responded to his brother's command by burning down the Lannister fleet while laughing the entire time the Iron Born did as ordered.

Before Balon could get in striking distance of Euron, the crazed brother of the two moved to meet with a blade of his own. Easily got within Balon's defense, cut the man's arm off, and followed up with stabbing the man in the gut before twisting the blade just because he could.

"What is...dead...may...never...die!" called out Balon before Euron pulled out his sword and watched his brother die in front of him.

"That was lovely. Now dear niece, if you would be so glad to tell everyone I am back and there new King I...," said Euron, only to find when he turned to face Yara, she was gone.

If anything, Euron was a tad impressed. He was planning to kill his niece too after being named King and it was clear Yara knew he was going to do it too. Even he had to admit, she had good instincts that one.

Of course, such thoughts were ruined when a roar of a dragon was heard outside and the room he was in was now consumed in flame.

(With Yara-Moments Prior)

She had run to the docks. Run as hard and fast as she could. Yara Greyjoy knew enough to know if she didn't leave the Iron Islands now, it would be her end. She would die. By her Uncle's hands no less. She knew he was mad. Even before his exile. Her Father and Uncle both. One embracing it with pure joy. The other one was drowning in it with pain, grief, and anger over past failures.

She knew what her Uncle planned to do long before he hinted at it when walking into the room. Her instincts had told her as much. The look on his face. In his eyes. That fucking crazy smile when he walked into the room and the hunger for power she felt coming off of him like the foul stench one smells from a whore house when the wind is blowing in your direction.

And this stench was blowing in her direction. Heavily. Her Uncle was a kinslayer. Yara had no doubt she was next when it came to Euron. The man would have no problem with ending her life since she was the only one who could challenge him for the Salt Throne. She had her supporters, men loyal to her, and would rally them to make her the Queen of the Iron Islands despite many viewing women as weaker of the two genders. She wasn't weak like those other women on the mainland and they knew it too. Which is why they would follow her if called upon.

Or they would provided Euron didn't kill them all first. Many of the men around her as she fled were her fellow Iron Born loyal to her Father and herself to some extent. But it seemed Euron had wanted them out of the way and already had them killed before he even entered the throne room. No doubt to prevent anyone from stopping his ascension to being the new King of the Iron Islands.

It was when she got to the docks did it happen. Wave of relief and dread rolled up into one when the roar of the dragon was heard by all. Soon dragon fire came down on Pike, burning everything and everyone in its path. And not just from one dragon, but two. Just like before with the silver haired Targaryen woman flying the one, looking down at her target, eyes blazing with the same fire the dragon's unleashed.

And Yara knew if she didn't get out of here now, she would be one of those targets.

All around her, people were screaming, running, some trying to shoot the dragons with arrows, only for the creatures to attack with greater range, speed, and power. Yara saw her home fall and burn to the ground, somewhat glad Euron would not be made King after he killed her Father, but was saddened to know it came at a heavy price.

Her home was burning. The Iron Price...no, the Dragon's Price was being paid this day, and it was being paid as only a dragon could demand payment.

Through fire and blood.

She had just made it to her ship when a blast of dragon's fire came down on the docks she had just been standing on. Her men were getting the ship ready for sailing when the two dragons attacked Pike. They had been waiting for her of course. Loyal men all. The very moment she was on the ship, they were off! Sailing with all the strength they could bring to the oars. Only her ship and two more behind this one made out undamaged despite the flames getting dangerously close.

"Where to now Captain?" asked one of her men.

"Essos. We sail for Essos. We only stop at ports to resupply and nothing else. Westeros as a whole is no longer our home. We must make a new life elsewhere. One that doesn't require our House words being 'We do not Sow', but something else. Something better. Something stronger," said Yara knowing what they had to do and not look back.

To look back now was to die.

(The Twins)

Aegon landed in front of the Twin after leaping off Revanchist before his dragon took to the air once more. While Vaderon and Drogon were with Daenerys dealing with the Iron Born, he decided to deal with the Twins before taking care of House Bolton. The bridge was up and Aegon knew they had no intention of lowering it. Not for him. Not for the King. Not for a dragon. They knew he was here for a purpose. Knew he was here to show you don't mess with a King and they were showing their own strength/disrespect back.

So he decided to counter their disrespect by showing them the power he wield.

The power...of the Force.

Stretching out his hand, Aegon made the bridge lower. The King heard the shouts from the men within the Twins trying to stop the bridge from lowering, swearing and cursing as they failed to stop it. Wondering how it happened in the first place. When it was fully on the ground, Aegon walked forward casually as if they invited him into their home. No sooner had he entered past the draw bridge, Frey bannermen swarmed him with swords, spears, axes, and other violent looking weapons.

And yet, it was nothing compared to the power Aegon wield within his very fingertips at this very moment.

Force Lightning fueled rage at these men filled the courtyard as he walked. These men who would betray the Crown. Betray the King. His family. His dearest friends. Many of them were dead or badly scarred from the experience of House Frey betraying them at the intended wedding.

A wedding he would ensure did not take place.

Using stone from the walls of the Twins itself, Aegon used them as projectiles. Smashing them against Frey bannermen who has yet to be hit by his Force Lightning. Those who were not crushed by stone were struck down by his sword. The screams of pain and death echoed throughout the Twins while he walked through its halls, Revanchist was burning the towers while flying through the air.

And rightfully so since this place had a foul stench of corruption upon it. He could see it, smell it, and sense it within the Force itself. Aegon could see every foul deed done in this place and would happen in the future this House was allowed to continue its ways. As the King of the Seven Kingdoms, he could not allow such a place to continue thriving off the life and blood of others.

Cutting through more Frey men, he made his way to the Main Hall where Walder Frey sat with his old putrid face forming a scowl so deformed he looked more monster then man. Though given his various "appetites", the man was mostly likely was some horrible monster trapped in human skin. The man was clearly in the belief his bannermen could have stopped Aegon, dragon or not, and had been content to sit in his chair, acting as if nothing had happened, and glaring at the King walking into the room.

"You have a lot of nerve coming into my home. Killing my sons. My bannermen. Even unleashing one of your pet dragons. The other Lords and the Seven Kingdoms will not stand for this," stated Walder angrily from his chair.

"I think they will. Once it is revealed of your plans to kill me and others at Lord Bolton's intended wedding," said Aegon while Walder's eyes narrowed and stayed silent for a long moment.

"You have no proof of such a thing," countered Walder with Aegon letting out a chuckle.

"Do I now? Sorry to disappoint you Lord Frey, but I do have the proof. I do have all the correspondences between you and Lady Stark. I do have all the correspondences between her and Roose Bolton. I have enough to order your death and the death of House Bolton once and for all," said Aegon with Walder's eyes narrowing further it was clear to the King the man was calculating things in his head, thinking of a way out, and somehow get in younger man's good graces.

As if Aegon would let him.

"Even if what was mentioned true, one fact still remains, and that it was you who slighted me first young King. You dissolved the arranged marriage between one of my daughters for your Stark cousin. The one who would be the heir to Winterfell and the North. You had no right to nullify such an act! To shame me!" declared Wader Frey.

"And you had no right to make such an arrangement with his Mother. Nor when time was pressed for Robb Stark to free his Father or his Mother's girlhood home from the attack led by the Lannisters. What's more, you would have used the marriage to claim the North for your own perverse ends using your daughter to influence Robb. Even more so once a child was born from their union. Honestly Walder, holding your future Grandchild as a hostage to make the future heir to the North do things that favored House Frey. You have no honor," replied Aegon while easily reading the man's mind and saw all his dirty and not so little secrets.

"You speak to me of honor? You, who sacked whole cities. You, who denied Trials by Combat to accused enemies to your rule. You have no right to speak to me about honor you bastard King! I have more noble blood in my cock then you do in your entire body!" exclaimed Walder Frey angrily.

"Says the man who didn't come to the Usurper's aid until after my Father fell. What was it Holster called you? 'The late Walder Frey' I believe. You would have done the same if my Father won the day at the Trident. And as for being a bastard King, I am true born so any insult to my bloodline is false. Besides, you have no reason to speak to me about that with the way you have been producing so many bastards over the years," said Aegon with Walder looking ready to have a stroke from the stress showing on his face.

"Someone come in here and kill this fucking bastard! Kill him now!" commanded Walder with his eyes blazing with anger and hate.

"They won't come to help you. Considering they are all dead," replied Aegon before the wall behind Walder exploded from the force of Revanchist smashing into it.

"You may kill me and destroy my House boy, but the rest of the Seven Kingdoms will no doubt avenge us for this act!" declared Wader before he was bitten in half by Revanchist.

"Unlikely," said Aegon before he turned around and left while Aegon burned everything in the room to the ground.

He would rebuild this bridge using this destroyed House's own coffers. Let the blood and gold they obtained over the years be used to purge their sinful legacy from the world.

(The North-The Dreadfort)

Word had already spread of House Frey falling at the hands of a dragon's wrath and fire long before the flames consumed the Twins. Ravens sent out to through all of the Seven Kingdoms made it clear that House Frey planned to commit crimes of treason against the Crown during a wedding. Roose Bolton's wedding and the man was in on it with proof and signed confession from several conspirators adding to the guilt of House Frey along with House Bolton.

Naturally, Roose Bolton was angry. But also scared. He was deathly afraid and rightfully so given what happened to those caught in the dragon's teeth and claws. They did not die well or clean. They suffered. They screamed. Begged even. Their deaths were used by the dragon to let everyone know what would happen if anyone tried to betray the Crown as things currently stood.

Even worse, if it were possible, the North had already called their banners to block any and all Bolton bannermen from fleeing to other lands. Apparently, young Brandon Stark, crippled though he was, had every bit the wolf in his blood when angry. And word of this treachery had awakened it. In a rare show of maturity in ruling over the North, for one of his age being so young, the second youngest male Stark called on Northern bannermen surrounding Bolton territory to block any escape for Roose, his bastard son, or any of his bannermen for that manner.

And while Roose could try to counter it by calling in his own favors owed to him, despite them being obtained through treachery, he knew it would be pointless. No Northern Lord would betray House Stark. Not now. One of their blood was now on the Iron Throne, its Warden of the North was Hand to the new King, and the Warden's son and heir was now rumored to possibly being in a relationship with the Targaryen Princess. Add in three dragons, massive armies, and other things factored into this whole situation Roose knew no one would dare come to House Bolton's aid.

All he could do was wait. Wait to die at the hands of a dragon.

And he didn't have to wait long.

It came in the late afternoon. Sometime after word has spread of several of his bannermen trying to escape Bolton territory. Only to be cut down by Northern bannermen. No mercy on their part. "Traitors to the North" they were called. Dying deaths that would ensure the Old Gods would punish them in the afterlife. Ramsey had tried his hand at infiltration of an encampment in the dead of night with some men to break the lines on one end to make way for their escape to a possible port where they could "obtain" a boat and secure safe passage to somewhere they could survive, if not thrive in a different land.

Only for the plan to fail and a mask covered Ramsey himself barely escaping in the dead of night in the enemy encampment when a dragon lit up the sky before it killed all the men his bastard son brought with him. Ramsey even had the pleasure of seeing the King in the camp he had tried to infiltrate when fleeing back to the Dreadfort.

It actually unnerved his usually sadistic son to see someone like that and it made Roose himself nervous since his son was not so easily scared of anything or anyone.

The roar of the dragon echoed throughout the Dreadfort. His solar was shaking so much, it had caused trickles of dirt and stone to fall from the ceiling. In another room, a wooden board fell and from the sound of things, had killed someone. Hi men were heard running throughout the Dreadfort, orders from people being given, but not everyone was obeying since they didn't know who to obey outside of their Lord. Ramsey had tried to organize things with few following him or willing to follow since the boy was a bastard and had no real authority to do so given his status. One Roose had planned to change in the future, but now it seemed moot given what was about to happen.

But the Leech Lord would not bow. Not anymore. He would not beg. He would not plead for mercy. For too long, he and his House had been under the thumb of the Starks. All of them for generation to generation. Several rebellions against House Stark, only to be put down because those of his House chose to do it openly while waiting for the right time to do it secretly.

Only now, it seemed to becoming undone by the new King. It would have perfect if it was allowed to happen. Killing Stark, the King, those who supported him. Creating such a power vacuum that everyone and their Grandson would be striving to fill the void. To try becoming the new King of Westeros. Some would claim it through their lineage via the bastard relationship they had with Robert Baratheon. Others would falsify it or just say the Seven Kingdoms would be better off with new blood over those men descended from the previous Kings.

And through it all, Roose would have claimed the North for his House. He would have made himself its new King. A King of the North. Ruling with a cruel iron fist and made his bastard son Ramsey the heir. They would have brought the Northern Lords to heel with threats and flaying. Aided by House Frey, they could have taken vast amounts of territory when going further South, and forged a new Kingdom. The plan was to finally consume the other Seven Kingdoms to be one whole one under the banner of the flayed men.

Under the banner of House Bolton.

Only for this damn King to ruin everything!

"Where is he? Where is the King?" asked Roose to his archers in the hopes they would spot him.

"I don't know my Lord. He's not on the dragon from what my eyes I can see," said one of the archers while they tried to shoot the dragon despite knowing it was a waste.

"Then he is on the ground. He is here in the castle Search the Dreadfort! He is here. Take his head! Once the King dies, the dragon will die too!" commanded Roose while his men were now searching the castle for the King.

Apparently the dragon must have heard him and didn't take kindly to his command before unleashing a massive wave of fire on the wall he was standing on. Roose leaped from his spot into a pile of hay below him and was fortunate it was thick enough to break his fall from a height so high that it would have killed him without it. His archers however, were not so fortunate, as they burned, screamed, and ran while on fire.

A fire that was now spreading as a result in some places depending on where these men failed.

"Looking for me?" asked Aegon with Roose turning around and glaring at the King with an intense hatred few could match while the dragon continued its destruction of the castle around them.

"You. Foolish boy, I will enjoy flaying your corpse and that of your dragon," remarked Roose with Aegon tilting his head slightly in thought.

"You presume the day is yours and you will achieve victory here over me. Not this day you won't," replied Aegon with Roose snarling angrily before drawing his sword and his flaying knife he had on hand.

"We shall see your Grace," said Roose mockingly before he stopped and found breathing to be extremely difficult.

No. Scratch that. He couldn't breathe at all!

"Do you think I would spend use up more time, energy, and efforts needed on someone like yourself Lord Bolton? Men like you are not worthy of dying honorable deaths at the hands of a King's sword. The Greyjoys learned that the hard way with my Aunt leading dragons to burn down their island. So did House Frey and all its vile brood at the Twins. Why should you, your bannermen, and your bastard son be any different?" said Aegon before throwing the man left and right, hitting wall after wall, some wood, some stone, and into some things pointy or sharp.

When Aegon was done using the man like a projectile, he was still alive, barely alive to be more precise, and had a few pointy objects sticking through parts of his body. One of the rooms nearby that Roose had been thrown into at one point had been Ramsey Snow's prized torturing room where the bastard learned the craft of his House. It was only fitting in Aegon's opinion that some of them were used against the man who taught his son how to torture people regardless if it was for obtaining information or just for fun.

As such, the King used the Force to make more of those various torture toys fly into the Leech Lord's body. Each one piercing, cutting, slicing, and ironically enough, flaying the man all over his body. He was going to give the man in front of him a taste of what others had suffered for no reason other then to be a target for their sick pleasure.

By the time Roose did finally die, he was unrecognizable to anyone who knew him. His body was to bloodied and missing too many pieces to be recognized as the Lord of the Dreadfort.

Fitting considering all the lives destroyed in a similar manner.

"I must say your Grace, I never once thought I would be honored to see someone such as yourself here or use such power to hurt him," said the soft voice, almost soothing voice of a young man in servant clothes approaching Aegon quietly from behind.

"Oh really. And who are you?" asked Aegon before turning to face the seemingly humble young man in front of him with a disarming smile on his face.

"A humble servant of the castle my Lord. No one important. I am hiding until the traitors of the North are no more. I trust humble servants who are forced to serve such people will be spared your wrath and dragon's fire?" said the man while acting quite humble and very submissive in his presence.

"Perhaps. Though you aren't one of those ever humble servants forced to serve this man or his bastard son," said Aegon with the man not even twitching at the accusation.

"I don't know what you mean your Grace," said the man humbly.

"Drop the act. I know who you are, Ramsey Snow. You will not deceive me as you did others with your humble bowing and friendly smile. I see you for what you truly are in life," replied Aegon while Ramsey's smile increased slightly.

"I see. So hiding in plain sight will not work with you like it has others. A shame. I was wondering if I could fool you and flay you like I have so many others. I always wanted to know if it was possible to flay a dragon," said Ramsey with his smile never leaving him.

"You won't live long enough to find out," said Aegon with Ramsey smirking still.

"And how are you going to kill me? With those powers of yours? Your dragon? Your Valyrian steel sword? How about it your Grace? Honorable combat. Just the two of us? Surely a King such as yourself is honorable enough to fight in a duel like the one I am offering," said Ramsey while knowing his only way out of this was to kill the King and hoped the dragon would die soon after from the connection being severed.

"I know I am honorable, bastard. Unlike you. But I only give honorable duels to those who are worthy of them. You are not. The fact you even suggest such a thing further proves just how desperate you are not to die here with the rest of the filth in this place," said Aegon with Ramsey's jaw twitching for a second.

"I want an honorable duel. I ask that you give it to me. Out of respect from one former bastard to an actual bastard like myself," said Ramsey with Aegon just letting out a cruel chuckle.

"First, I was never a bastard. I was raised as one since my Uncle didn't know how else to protect me from those who would have wanted me dead. You are an actual bastard. One who takes everything from everyone. You hurt others because you enjoy the sound of their screams and pain. You have no shame. No honor. And such, I am going to do the realm of men a favor by removing your putrid stain of a presence from this world," said Aegon with Ramsey's smile leaving him and became an angry scowl.

"I'm going to enjoy your screams and the excitement it will bring me to flay a King," said Ramsey before he made the first move to get within striking distance of Aegon.

Only for Aegon to blast Ramsey back with Sith Lightning.

"Such a foolish and prideful child you are, believing I would not be able to strike first or even be fast enough. That I would not be so ruthless enough to crush you in a way that was befitting a wretched creature such as yourself," said Aegon while Ramsey struggled to get up, but was soon hit with even more Force Lightning, and was screaming out in pain from it.

When it stopped, Ramsey tried to get up again. Only to be hit by more Force Lightning and more screams from his mouth were heard. This happened multiple times while the bastard of the Dreadfort tried to comprehend what was happening to him.

This feeling of being hurt. This feeling of being in unimaginable pain. For as long as he could remember, his Father had shielded Ramsey from those who wanted to hurt him. To beat him. To teach the bastard boy what it meant to be part of House Bolton or live in the Dreadfort. It was a place where cruelty thrived and innocent was snuffed out. Sometimes violently. But Roose wanted to protect his son from such things. Bastard or not. From a young age, Ramsey showed he was every bit his Father's son and Roose could not have his men attacking his son in the off change it damaged the boy into become a weak mess of a man.

Hence why the feeling of pain and suffering was so new to him. Ramsey was no stranger to dishing out pain, suffering, torture, and all out torment to others. But to experience it himself was entirely different.

"Stop. Stop! You can't do this. This isn't right. You are suppose to be a man of honor. This is suppose to be beneath you," mumbled Ramsey while trying to stand.

SNAP!

Only for his leg to suddenly break like a wet twig. He screamed of course. The sudden action made his own desire to resist screaming out overpowering what he wanted. He looked down at his right leg, bent at an odd angle. Before Ramsey could contemplate anything, he found himself being lifted off the ground by some invisible power, and by his own broken leg, which enhanced the pain he felt already. The bastard tried to find a way to somehow free himself from this invisible hold, but there was nothing to break free from when trying to grab whatever was doing this to him. Soon, his body was suddenly forced straight, sans his right leg, his head and arms pointing downward so he could see the ground beneath him. Soon, his wide variety of weapons stored on his person came out from simple knifes to his favorite flaying blade, wine cork openers, his crossbow hidden under his cloak along with a small quiver of arrows, and other various objects he used in the torment of others.

All of them hovering. All of them moving around Ramsey, floating in a circle around his form. He stared at them, memories of what he did with each one coming to the forefront of his mind, which brought the man a brief sense of joy at what they did to those who had been on the receiving end of their pain inducing forms.

Only to find they were now being used on him. His crossbow was aimed and fired on his body with bolt after bolt from his quiver being used until it was empty. Each bolt hitting a nonlethal spot on his body. Various blades and other torturous weapons doing the same as they were unleashed on the Bolton bastard of the Dreadfort. His screams echoing for anyone within the area to hear, but Aegon cared not for whoever heard them. If there was anyone in this place alive, they were either dying, or ready to flee to let the rest of the Northern Lords deal with them.

He just wanted to focus on Ramsey.

"You think yourself some sort of being of justice. Punishing wicked people like me. But you are not. You are a monster. Just like me. You hurt people. Just like me. You are no better then a bastard. The only difference between the two of us in this moment, is you wear a crown and call yourself King," said Ramsey with a smile while his blood came pouring out of his injuries and mouth.

"No. The only difference between the two us in this moment, is you are about to die an agonizing death in the name of those you kill for fun and sport. Your Father's legacy, his House's legacy, and your legacy will be wiped out after today. The stain on the North from which you produced will be removed and the history of House Bolton will be lost or buried for all time," replied Aegon while watching the bastard's wound produce more blood and decided to increase by using the Force to squeeze it even more.

It was like squeezing a fruit of all its juice until there was nothing left.

Ramsey screamed of course. Even going so far as to beg the King for some measure of mercy like the coward he was in life. In truth, people like Ramsey were cowards when someone gives such a sadistic person a taste of the pain he usually delivered to others. They acted arrogant around others in the belief they didn't have the stomach to do what he did because it would make them just as bad. To use another man's morality against him and use it as a shield. How the laws used to protect innocent people could be used to shield guilty people like himself while rubbing it in the faces of the people around him.

But Aegon held no such restraint. He knew Ramsey was guilty so any so called laws in place to protect innocent people didn't apply to him. In fact, Aegon felt no guilt in doing such horrible things to Ramsey or anyone like him because they were not men like him. They were monsters hiding behind human flesh and the laws of men in the belief such things would protect them from the more honorable people of the world in positions of power.

So let them die painful deaths befitting monsters and let the memories of them be purged when the next generation ruled these lands.

When Aegon finally did release Ramsey from his grip, the man fell to the ground looking like a shriveled up corpse. A look of horror on his face. One that did not comprehend or understand why he was being punished, only that he had been punished. It further showed the King that a man such as this had no business being alive or near others to cause them harm.

Walking out of the Dreadfort casually, he heard his dragon roaring, breathing fire down on the remaining Bolton bannermen, and turning the once mighty castle into a pile of ash.

(A/N: YAY! Another update. Sorry this took so long compared to the other updates for this fic. Been really busy and tired. Hope you enjoyed it. Until next time...PEACE!)