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Samwell Tarly stood in the throne room of the Red Keep. He had never thought he would ever be here, especially not after his father exiled him to the Wall. Yet here he was. Sam knew that the throne room was designed to awe all those who stood within it and it was certainly working on him. Considering how anxious Jon seemed to be, that was true for him as well. It was darker than the rest of the Red Keep, with none of the colorful dornish tapestries that seemed to be hung in every corridor. Instead it seemed as though the room had been unchanged for generations. At the front of the room was the great mass of swords that made up the Iron Throne, blades sticking up all along the stairs leading up to it. Along the walls were mounted giant black dragon skulls, Sam had once read they had been mounted following the death of the last dragons during the Blackfyre Rebellion.
Yet it was the six great pillars that held up the roof that truly put him in awe. On floor level there were carvings that were as old as the Red Keep itself, depicting scenes from Aegon’s Conquest. But above them were great statues of the first six Targaryen monarchs. Closest to the throne was of course the Conqueror himself and his son Aenys. Then it was Maegor the Cruel who sat parallel from Jaehaerys the Old King’s statue. Sam noticed that Jaehaerys' crown was repeated for the next three monarchs. After that it was Viserys the Peaceful, wearing his grandsire’s crown. The final statue was of course his daughter, the first Ruling Queen, Rhaenyra, The Dragon Queen.
Sam turned to Jon, “Honestly I find it sad that there are only six pillars. I have always been a fan of King Jacaerys. Probably the most successful King since Jaehaerys,”
“Sam.”
Not really hearing Jon, Sam continued rambling, “Actually, considering his relatively peaceful reign, I do find it ironic that he is known as ‘The Strong’, I mean he was allegedly a bastard child of a Lord Strong bu-”
“Sam! Please shut it! We are in the Red Keep. You can’t just voice your beliefs on the history of the Targaryens like that. The royal family is quite touchy when it comes to their history.”
Sam looked around nervously. Some of the courtiers that had gathered were staring and mumbling, “Sorry, Jon. I’m simply anxious. I have never met the royal family and you know me, I like to chatter when I’m nervous.”
Jon put an arm on his shoulder, “It will be fine Sam. Just follow my lead and let me do the talking.”
“What if they don’t believe us? I know we have the hand,” Sam gestured at the slightly wobbling box at their feet, “and a letter from Maester Aemon, who is a Targaryen, but we are telling a pretty unbelievable story.”
“Then we will go to each of the Great Houses and petition them. We will head to Storm’s End next, see if Lord Stannis can be convinced. If nothing else, my Uncle Stark believes he can convince Lord Arryn. We will have the Vale at least and possibly the Riverlands, if we can at least sway the Hand today.”
“So you think there is a cha-,” Sam was cut off as the doors to the hall opened and the royal party entered.
In the lead was the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, the Sword of Morning, Ser Arthur Dayne, who was the one to announce the Queen in a booming voice, “All Hail Queen Rhaenys of the Houses Targaryen and Nymeros-Martell, Second of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm.”
The Queen entered, flanked by the greatest Knights in the Realm. Although he could not see their faces under their helms, Sam knew it must have been the likes of Barristan Selmy and Jaime Lannister. The Queen herself cut an even more striking figure. She was clad in a dress of red and orange, with a ruby chain around her neck. Around her waist on one side was a large sword, which from the pommel Sam knew to be the ancestral sword of House Targaryen, Blackfyre. On the other side was a large dagger, one knew Sam nothing about beyond that it was known as the “Dagger of Kings” and never left the side of the monarch. Yet most striking was the crown sitting upon the Queen’s black hair, a crown carved far above Sam’s head, a crown of ruby and Valyrian Steel. The Conqueror’s crown.
The Queen was flanked by the Small Council, some whom Sam recognized, namely Wilas Tyrell, the Master of Coin, and the Queen’s Uncle, Oberyn, who Sam believed was serving as Master of Laws. Despite having been on the throne for less than a year, Sam was in awe of the Queen’s poise. All around the throne room, nobles bowed their heads and Sam did the same. When he brought his head up, he noticed that Jon had not and was instead staring intently at the Queen.
The Queen marched up to Jon, stopped, and, to Sam’s great surprise, pulled him into a tight hug, “Brother! It has been too long! You have been missed at Court dearly!”
Sam completely forgot that Jon had not told him to talk and instead blurted out, “You are the brother to the Queen? How? You never told me?”
Jon sent a horrified look at Sam, and he began to worry before the Queen chuckled and gave Jon a firm pat on the shoulder, “So you go by Jon? And I guess then you never told your new brothers of your status?” She looked at Sam, “And who is your companion, dear brother?”
Jon looked at Sam, who coughed a moment before introducing himself, “I am Samwell Tarly of Horn Hill, Your Grace. My father is Lord Randyl Tarly. I am a brother of the Night’s Watch now.”
The Queen nodded, “A pleasure to meet you Samwell. To answer your question, ‘Jon’, as you apparently call him, is my half brother. He was born Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen, son of my father, King Rhaegar, and his second wife, Lyanna Stark.”
Sam turned to Jon, “You are a Prince? Why would you ever join the Night’s Watch?”
Jon, or apparently Jaehaerys, began to reply, “Well, King Jaceaerys decreed that a member of the family should always serve in the Watch, and it was my hono-”
The Queen cut him off, “He didn’t want to marry me. Our father had weird notions about that. It was probably for the best,” she glanced at Longclaw, “You seem to have done well for yourself, brother.” Without waiting for a response, she stepped away from Sam and Jon and started back towards the Iron Throne, “We can all exchange stories later at dinner, Sam I expect you to attend, but I hear you have been sent by the Lord Commander with pressing business. I suppose we should handle that and other court business.”
As the Queen headed up the stairs of the throne, the Small Council passed by and stood before the Throne. A lady with dark red hair, and the pin of the Hand gave Jon a nod as she passed, “Lady Catelyn,” a somewhat humbled Jon responded. Oberyn Martell, for his part, ruffled Jon’s hair and gave Sam a wink. The rest of them took their spots without comment, the limping Wilas Tyrell resting his hand on Oberyn’s arm.
As the Queen sat on the Throne, with a confidence Sam mused she was born with, the rest of the court settled itself. “The Crown will now hear the petition brought by the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, Benjen Stark. As sworn brothers of the Night's Watch, Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen and Samwell Tarly shall speak on his behalf,” the Hand’s voice, who Sam figured must have been Lady Catelyn Stark, cut across the hall, and silence fell.
Jon stepped forward before the throne, gesturing at Sam to bring the box with them, “Your Grace, Lady Hand, members of the Small Council and this Court. What I will say will sound fanciful and impossible but I assure you, on my honor as a Man of the Night’s Watch, and as a member of the royal house, what I say is the truth and fact. I come to beg for aid because it is necessary and we are all at great danger. Before his death North of the Wall, the former Lord Commander, Jeor Mormont, had requested aid but received little from any but House Stark and their bannermen. The new Lord Commander, Benjen Stark, and Lord Eddard Stark, sent me because they thought you would be more likely to believe me, as a Targaryen,”
Jon was suddenly cut off by the Hand, “And how is my husband, Prince Jaehaerys? I have not heard from him in several moons.”
“My Uncle was fine last I saw him but he will not be if we do not receive the aid we need, my Lady. None of us will.”
One of the members of the Small Council, a bald man who Sam had smelled perfume on, interjected, “And what is this threat you speak of, Prince? My little birds have delivered no news from the North beyond the repulsed attack on Castle Black.”
Jon halted for a moment, clearly nervous about what to say next. Sam squeezed his arm and gave him a reassuring smile, “Lord Varys, I speak of a great threat from the North. The dead have risen, led by the White Walkers and the Night King.”
Murmurs were heard around the Court and a few scoffs. Much to Sam’s dismay, no one around the hall looked concerned. At least until he looked at the Queen whose face had turned hard. Jon continued on regardless, “I have a letter from Maester Aemon, another member of House Targaryen, confirming this threat, as well as letters from Lord Commander Stark and Lord Eddard Stark. I believe Lord Stark’s letter also includes a formal petition of assistance as Warden of the North.”
An old man, who based on his chain had to be the Grand Maester, spoke up, “I find this hard to believe. White Walkers and the risen dead are little more than children’s stories, long gone if they had even existed, which to be honest the Citadel does have some-”
“Brother, you spoke of a threat from the North? We already know a Winter is coming, which I believe, you, Grand Maester Pycelle had said might be the worst one in living memory.”
Pycelle seemed a bit startled to be interrupted by the Queen, “Yes Your Grace, but I am not sure what-”
The Queen leaned forward, her hand resting on the dagger, “Grand Maester, perhaps you can enlighten us on why my forefather Aegon came to the Seven Kingdoms?”
“Well, it was a rich and divided land which provided ample prospects for conquest. I believe Archmaester Gyldayn persuasively argu-”
“None of which is entirely correct. It has long been a secret passed from monarch to heir that Aegon conquered the Seven Kingdoms because of a dream of his. A prophecy. That a great threat would come from the North, and the world could only survive if the Seven Kingdoms were united and a Targaryen sat upon this Throne,” the Queen stared Jon in the eyes, “would you say this threat you speak of qualifies?”
Jon had seemed as startled as Sam felt about what the Queen had said, “I believe so… I never heard of this prophecy, but it is certainly a threat we all must face.”
“I never thought Father would be right and that it would be me who sat here when the time came… Yet it seems the Gods have other plans,” the Queen stood and addressed the entire Court, “Aegon’s dream has come to pass and we can only prevail if we stand together. Grand Maester, send letters to all the Great Houses, besides House Stark, ordering them to come to King’s Landing to discuss a matter of great import. They are to also call their banners and prepare for war,” Pycelle, clearly confused, muttered an agreement before the Queen continued, “Lord Admiral Velayron, assembled the Royal Fleet. The fastest way north is by ship, the fleet must be ready to transport our army.”
“Dragonglass,” Sam muttered, heard only by Jon. After a nudge from his friend, Sam spoke up, “We need Dragonglass, Your Grace. The Wights can only be killed by fire and Dragonglass, White Walkers only by Dragonglass. Maester Aemon thinks perhaps Valyrian steel, but that is scarce. But we need Dragonglass to forge weapons.”
Jon spoke up after him, “Your Grace, I remember seeing large amounts of it whenever we were on Dragonstone, Maester Aemon agreed that is probably where the largest quantity is.”
The Queen nodded, “Lord Wilas, as Master of Coin, I place you in charge of mining operations and ensuring the Dragonglass reaches the North as soon as possible.”
“Your Grace,” Wilas nodded his approval and the Queen strutted down from the Throne. As she crossed the Hall the box Sam was holding shook again and he dropped it, startled. As it hit the floor, it bounced open and the Wright’s hand began to crawl across the floor. A Kingsguard quickly stepped forward and smashed it under his boot. Sam chuckled, “We, uh, also brought this hand as proof.”
Queen Rhaenys just glanced between Jon and Sam and said, “You could have simply started with that.”