#i want to know if the witches have legends about Bran’s mother

[ellynneversweet]

Mercy Thompson books: magic is leeching out of the world and the various supernatural creatures have lost a lot of power. Ariana is one of the last surviving great fae.

Silver (set in something like 300CE?, featuring Bran’s horrible mother/Samuel’s horrible grandmother and Ariana’s awful father making a brief, unholy alliance):

“What it holds someone can take,” the hobgoblin agreed. “Can you stop that?”

“No.” She was powerful but not as powerful as some. To lay such locks on the artifact that no one could break it open was beyond her. And it would be unwise, even if she could. If it did nothing but sit in the cottage and steal magic from the fae that passed near it—eventually it would eat all magic and concentrate it in the lump of silver that fit into her hand. She didn’t know how much the metal could hold—but an explosive release more would be destructive on a scale she could almost not comprehend. Not as horrible as what would happen if it was able to hold all of the magic indefinitely—without magic, all life would cease.

“But I can make it so the magic it collects dissipates back to the Heart of Magic.” The Heart of Magic was the center of the world. Magic held in the Heart did not come readily to anyone’s hand but caused the wind to blow and the rain to fall. Ariana smiled fiercely at her little friend.

…that seems to me like Ariana was the person what did it (the magic fading). No wonder the [REDACTED] in Wild Sign is a big deal.

[sxpiosexualx]

ASOIAF: TPTWP and the significance of Jenny’s song

Since your better at doing the do with meta I thought I'd ask: D&D are putting a serious significance on ensuring it is always a STARK who saves Jon (Ned with his lie, Sansa at BotB & Benjen beyond the wall). I think that when D finds out abt Js parentage, she will make an attempt on his life. If the Starks come to the rescue again, I have a feeling it will be Bran... bt next ass save could be Arya. I also believed the PtWP and Azor Ahai were seperate. How likely do you think Pwtp = Bran & AA=J

Hello anon! Thank you for the ask, I dwelled on the prospect of Bran being TPTWP when you first asked this months ago and apologise for not getting back to you sooner, I wanted to make sure I had a better understanding on the subject so as not to respond ill equipped. I’m also choosing to answer this as a post itself instead of responding via ask box because this post is going to be lengthy and my ask box doesn’t warn me before accidentally exiting the window(it’s happened before and I don’t want to have to retype everything).

Bran’s arc, with the exception of Dany(her dragons), has been most tied to the more magical fantasy elements missing throughout the other POV chapters, so trying to logically map out what he’ll achieve or how he’ll go about being a prominent factor in the story to unfold is difficult. We know of some of the Three-Eyed-Raven’s abilities, but there’s so much more we don’t. And the issue of the Others has yet to be made clear. We don’t know for certain if the extreme of Ice is necessarily evil, only that it has the ability to become a destructive force. That being said, his journey in becoming the Three-Eyed-Raven would no doubt have a big impact on the story, and I think we can both agree he’ll likely have a hand in the war of the dawn or a conflict in the future.

As for him being TPTWP, you could argue that Bran was reborn amidst smoke and salt when he crawled out of the ruins of Winterfell when Ramsay burnt it down after hiding in the crypts, as the red comet was above them, and you could even go so much as to speculate that he’ll metaphorically wake a dragon in Jon, by revealing his parentage to him. Then there’s also the fact that Meera and Jojen refer to him as a prince(the Prince of Winterfell, after Robb becomes the King in the North). But there’s the issue of blood relations, and the prince that was promised is prophesied to come from the line of Aerys and Rhaella. This post will touch on that in greater detail in a moment.

First I think we have to reexamine the issue of TPTWP and Azor Ahai being separate entities. There are multiple different interpretations of Azor Ahai spread across Westeros and Essos: the North tells of a tale of the Last Hero, while the Rhoynish and YiTish have their own versions of the story as well, and then of course there’s the Asshai’i who dub him Azor Ahai, and then comes the prophecy of TPTWP. However no one in the series has ever distinguished between the two, and there’s no good reason to think this, as Melisandre, Aemon and GRRM all use it interchangeably:

“Westeros must unite beneath her one true king, the prince that was promised, Lord of Dragonstone and chosen of R’hllor,” - Melisandre, Davos IV (ASOS).

“It is the war for the dawn you speak of, my lady. But where is the prince that was promised?”

“He stands before you,” Melisandre declared, “…Azor Ahai come again” - Melisandre & Aemon, Samwell V (ASOS).

“[Stannis] is discarding the gods that he has worshipped since childhood and accepting the Red God, and giving himself to the Lord of Light, and in return Melisandre sees that the Lord of Light gives him a token of his role as the prince that was promised by ancient prophecy, and that’s the sword Lightbringer,” - GRRM in Game of Thrones Season 2 Religions of Westeros.

So I apologise for disappointing you but I’m of the opinion that TPTWP and AA are the same person, or at least the same entity. With that made clear, we can now proceed to predict in this post, whom I believe TPTWP/AA reborn is, and in order to do that, we must first look at the criteria of what makes TPTWP. 

(this meta will touch on the prophecy of TPTWP/AA, Jon&Dany & how they fit the criteria respectively, the Tragedy of Summerhall and how it involves Aegon V, Rhaegar and the Ghost of High Heart, as well as the significance of Jenny’s song, and Dany’s vision in the HoTU, so buckle up and grab a snack because it is lengthy! and under the cut)

The Prince that was Promised | Azor Ahai

Melisandre believes that AA is prophesied to be born under a bleeding star, as does Maester Aemon, and few others:

“When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt,” - Melisandre, Davos III (ASOS)

“a prince that was promised… the bleeding star… the one, born amidst salt and smoke,” - Maester Aemon, Samwell IV (AFFC)

“Benerro has sent forth the word… the fulfilment of an ancient prophecy. From smoke and salt she was born to make the world anew. She is Azor Ahai returned.” - Haldon, Tyrion VI (ADWD)

“Born amidst salt and smoke, beneath a bleeding star. I know the prophecy.” - Marwyn, Samwell V (AFFC).

“...Rhaegar was certain the bleeding star had to be a comet,” - Maester Aemon, Samwell IV (AFFC)

So it’s known so far that the (i) Bleeding Star, and the (ii) Salt and Smoke, are part of the criteria.

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Another sign is red or burning sword called Lightbringer:

“In ancient books of Asshai it is written that… a warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall free before him,” Melisandre, Davos I (ACOK)

“a prince that was promised… The prophecy …[Stannis’] sword is wrong… light without heat… and empty glamor… [Stannis’] sword is wrong, and the false light can only lead us deeper into darkness,” - Aemon, Samwell IV (AFFC)

and in Sam’s readings, he also stumbles upon the fact that the last hero(the North’s rendition of AA) defeated the Others using Valyrian steel:

“I found one account of the Long Night that spoke of the last hero slaying Others with a blade of dragonsteel. Supposedly they could not stand against it”

“Dragonsteel?” Jon frowned. “Valyrian steel?”

“That was my first thought as well,” - Samwell I (AFFC)

One account of the legend suggests it has to be tempered from a sacrifice of Azor Ahai(his sacrifice was of his wife, Nissa Nissa):

“Azor Ahai… Lightbringer was his sword. Tempered with his wife’s blood if Votar can be believed,” - Jon III (ADWD)

Davos speculates that AA would have to make a similar sacrifice but it’s important to note that it’s never said to be part of any prophecy so a sacrifice might not actually be required.

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Both Maester Aemon and Melisandre speculate that dragons would be involved:

“a prince that was promised… the prophecy… Daenerys is the one, born amidst salt and smoke. The dragons prove it,” - Maester Aemon, Samwell IV (AFFC)

“Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake the dragons out of smoke and stone.” - Melisandre, Jon X (ADWD)

but on waking the dragons out of stone, it’s important we take her word with a grain of salt, considering she admits herself she’s made errs in interpretation:

“sometimes I have mistaken a warning for a prophecy or a prophecy for a warning.” - Melisandre, Davos V (ASOS)

“Many a priest and priestess before her had been brought down by false visions, by seeing what they wished to see,” - Melisandre (ADWD)

“we all deceive ourselves, when we want to believe. Melisandre most of all, I think.” - Aemon, Samwell IV (AFFC)

With that in mind, it seems possible she’s wrong about the stone dragon, but all agree that the prophecy is at least associated with dragons.

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Lastly and possibly most important in distinguishing TPTWP, is that it’s prophesied by the Woods Witch that TPTWP would be born from the line of Aerys II(The Mad King) and Rhaella Targaryen. The significance of the Woods Witch will be explored further in a moment, but for now let’s acknowledge the final candidates that fit this criteria of TPTWP, because while most characters have instances that could be taken as signs of them being TPTWP/AA reborn, only two living characters fit this one: Jon and Daenerys.

Let’s recount the criterion so far:

a bleeding star

born amidst smoke and salt

a burning sword

an association with dragons

born from the line of Aerys II and Rhaella Targaryen

now let’s briefly(because I intend to expand certain things further and do not intend to drag this out longer than it already is, and Daenerys is one of the main and widely accepted candidates for AA already) explore how much either candidate fits this image.

The Case for Daenerys

she sees the red comet the day she burns Drogo’s funeral pire,

born on Dragonstone(amidst salt from the sea) and reborn as the Mother of Dragons(amidst smoke, and arguably also salt from the sweat and tears of Miri Maz Duur),

literally woke dragons out of stone(Dragon eggs),

is the child of Aerys II and Rhaella Targaryen, and,

her dragons could metaphorically be the flaming sword, as suggested by Xaro Xhoan Daxos’ description of them:

“your dragons [are] a flaming sword above the world” - Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Daenerys III (ADWD)

and now, let’s examine the points for Jon.

The Case for Jon

In the chapter where he gets betrayed and stabbed, he mentions a promised prince, and along with that, certain things are mentioned that could be taken as points toward him being TPTWP:

“A promised prince, born in smoke and salt.” - Jon XIII (ADWD)

“a bloody corpse… cloak… patterned with blue stars. Blood and bone were flying everywhere heralds was… distinctive.” - Jon XIII (ADWD)

“Bowen Marsh stood there before him, tears running down his cheeks,” - Jon XIII (ADWD)

“the wound was smoking,” - Jon XIII (ADWD)

So already present in that chapter is not only a reminder of the prophecy but of the criteria of smoke, salt and a bleeding star. Moreover, we know now that Jon was born in the Tower of Joy, and Arthur Dayne was amongst those that stood guard of that tower. Coincidentally(or not), the ancestral sword of House Dayne, ‘Dawn’, was forged from a fallen star. So that’s an extra bit of support in his birth as well.

So, assuming we take that to account for the star and smoke and salt:

Jon will be reborn amidst smoke and salt,

his rebirth will be under a bleeding star(though it could be interpretated that the bleeding star only heralds the coming of TPTWP, so the red comet could apply regardless),

he is one of the only characters to wield a Valyrian steel sword,

he is like to metaphorically “wake” a dragon in himself once he’s told of his parentage, and,

he is born of the line of Aerys II and Rhaella Targaryen

+ whenever Melisandre tries to see Azor Ahai in her visions:

“I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai and R’hllor shows me only Snow” - Melisandre (ADWD)

Additionally, Jon also has a dream he wields a burning red sword:

“That night he dream[ed] … He stood atop the Wall, alone. “Flame,” he cried … Jon was armoured in black ice, but his blade burned red in his first. As the dead men reached the top of the Wall he sent them down to die again. He slew … a girl with thick red hair. Too late he recognised Ygritte.” - Jon XII, (ADWD).

That’s some pretty damning evidence especially if we consider the sacrifice that mirrors the original tale of Azor Ahai.

So keeping in mind that both Jon and Daenerys fit the criteria of TPTWP the most of all the characters, what then further sets them apart? The significance of the Woods Witch and Jenny’s song. And to dive into that(stay with me!), we’ll have to examine three prominent figures to better dissect the Tragedy at Summerhall: 

Aegon V, 

Rhaegar Targaryen and, 

The Ghost of High Heart.

1. Aegon V Targaryen

Now in the books, King Aegon V Targaryen was grandfather to King Aerys II(The Mad King), but in show!verse, he is the father of Aerys II instead of Jaeherys II -- the show skipped Jaeherys’ entire generation, but kept two of his siblings, Duncan and Daeron, making them Aerys II’s siblings instead.

Here’s are screencaps(the first is book!verse, the second is show!verse) for your comparison of how the Targaryen family tree was reduced for simplicity’s sake:

Let’s proceed.

Aegon V was prophecy obsessed, and this obsession with prophecy within the Targaryen household was brought upon since King Aerys I(noted to be well read) read something which prophesied the return of dragons. Like Aerys I, Aegon V believed that the only way people would fully submit to their rule is if they had dragons once again.

You’ll notice that Jaeherys II(or in show!verse, Aerys II Targaryen) succeeded the throne despite having an older brother, Duncan Targaryen(show!verse made him Aerys II’s brother). This is due to the tale of Duncan and Jenny, which if you aren’t familiar with, to put it simply: Aegon V’s son, Duncan Targaryen, married a lowborn maid, Jenny of Oldstones, forfeiting his rights to the throne and passing it to his brother, King Jaeherys II(show!verse, his brother would be Aerys II). This bit of information is important because when Jenny came to court in King’s Landing, she brings along the Woods Witch who prophesied TPTWP being born of Aerys II and Rhaella’s line along with her. Because of this, he commanded Aerys II and Rhaella to wed, and thus they did, although unhappily:

“Your grandsire commanded it. A woods witch had told him the prince that was promised would be born of their line.”

“A woods witch?” Dany was astonished.

“She came to court with Jenny of Oldstones. A stunted thing, grotesque to look upon. A dwarf, most people said, though dear to Lady Jenny, who always claimed that she was one of the children of the forest.” - Barristan Selmy, Daenerys (ADWD)

Aegon V’s final years were dominated in search of ancient lore and text in dragon breeding, he even commissioned journeys all over the world to search for hidden knowledge on the matter. He ends up devising a ritual in an attempt to hatch some dragon eggs, and this takes place at Summerhall. He summoned his family and friends to celebrate the birth of Rhaegar, while performing the ritual. The ritual backfires however, and Aegon V loses his life along with Prince Duncan, his son, and Jenny of Oldstones, in what goes onto be known as the Tragedy at Summerhall.

With that bit of lore about the Tragedy at Summerhall in mind, let’s dive into what we know of Rhaegar Targaryen.

Rhaegar Targaryen

Rhaegar was noted to be bookish to a fault:

“the Prince of Dragonstone was bookish to a fault. he was reading so early that men said Queen Rhaella must have swallowed some books and a candle whilst he was in her womb.” - Barrister Selmy to Daenerys (ASOS)

and what little we know of him suggests he was prophecy obsessed. But he also has a strange obsession with the Tragedy at Summerhall:

“Viserys had spoken of Rhaegar’s birth only once. Perhaps the tale saddened him too much. It was the shadow of Summerhall that haunted him, was it not?”

“Yes. And yet Summerhall was the place the prince loved best. He would go there from time to time, with only his harp for company. Even the knights of the Kingsguard did not attend him there. He liked to sleep in the ruined hall, beneath the moon and stars, and whenever he came back he would bring a song. When you heard him play his high harp with the silver strings and sing of twilights and tears and the death of kings, you could not but feel that he was singing of himself and those he loved.” - Ser Barristan, Daenerys (ASOS).

But there is textual evidence that is reason enough to believe that his obsession with the tragedy and in visiting Summerhall has to do with his obsession with the prophecy of TPTWP. 

Still with me?

We know from Maester Aemon that Rhaegar had once assumed he was TPTWP, and that something changed that made him realise his son would be:

“No one ever looked for a girl,” he said. “It was the prince that was promised, not princess. Rhaegar, I thought… the smoke was from the fire that devoured Summerhall on the day of his birth, the salt from the tears shed from those who died.” - Maester Aemon, Samwell (AFFC).

“He shared my belief when he was young, but later became persuaded that it was his own son who fulfilled the prophecy, for a comet had been seen above King’s Landing on the night Aegon was conceived, and Rhaegar was certain the bleeding star had to be a comet. - Maester Aemon, Samwell (AFFC).

“Until one day Prince Rhaegar found something in his scrolls that changed him. No one knows what it might have been, only that the boy suddenly appeared early one morning in the yard as the knights were donning their steel. he walked up to Ser Willem Darry, master-at-arms, and said, “I will require a sword and armor. It seems I must be a warrior.” - Barrister Selmy, Daenerys (ASOS).

So the question is, what led to this change? Or rather, who let him in on it? I have reason to believe that it could have to do with the Ghost of High Heart.

The Ghost of High Heart

Now, many people believe that the Woods Witch Jenny of Oldstones brought with her to court had died in the fire along with Jenny, Aegon V, Duncan and everyone else at the Tragedy of Summerhall. But there’s textual evidence which suggests she went on to live as the Ghost of High Heart.

The Ghost of High Heart(excluded from the show) is an old, stooped, short woman who lives at High Heart in the Riverlands, and had white long hair with pale flesh and eyes that bleed red. Her appearance is similar to that of the Woods Witch that Jenny brings to court, but more importantly, she too has visions of both the future and the past:

“The old gods stir and will not let me sleep. I dreamt a shadow with a burning heart butchering a golden stag(Stannis killing Renly), aye. I dreamt of a man without a face, waiting on a bridge that swayed and swung. On his shoulder perched a drowned crow with seaweed hanging from his wings(Euron’s murder of Balon Greyjoy). I dreamt of a roaring river and a woman that was a fish. Dead she drifted with red tears on her cheeks(Lady Stoneheart), but when her eyes did open, oh, I woke from terror. All this I dreamt, and more.” - The Ghost of High Heart to the Brotherhood, Arya (ASOS).

“She has her own ways of knowing things, that one. The weir woods whisper in her ear when she sleeps.” - Thoros, Arya (ASOS).

The Brotherhood visits her to hear of her prophetic dreams, and in return she always asks for a song as payment, Jenny’s song.

Jenny’s Song

Jenny’s song, as aforementioned, is always requested by the Ghost of High Heart as payment in exchange for telling the Brotherhood Without Banners of her prophetic dreams. Tom of Sevenstreams sings it for her, accompanying the words with his woodharp, and the song is soft and sad in nature:

“She always makes me sing the same bloody song.” - Tom of Sevenstremas to Arya, Arya (ASOS)

“Let her savour her song in peace. It is all she has left.” - Thoros of Myr, Arya (ASOS)

“Oh, aye. My Jenny’s song. Is there any other?” - TGoHH, Arya (ASOS)

When sung, the Ghost of High Heart sings along quietly and sobs for her Jenny. The only known lyric to us suggests a connection to the tragedy of Summerhall:

“High in the halls of the kings who are gone, Jenny would dance with her ghosts…” - Arya (ASOS)

Jenny’s song, is clearly about none other than Jenny of Oldstones(who brought the Woods Witch to court). “...the halls” suggest the court of King’s Landing, tied by “of the kings who were gone” that clearly references the Targaryens who once lived and reigned in King’s Landing. “...Jenny would dance with her ghosts...” alludes to the people Jenny loved, her friends and family, that are now ghosts that have died with her at Summerhall. It explains why the Ghost of High Heart cries, because the song is a tragic memory.

Her encounter with Arya(recreated in show!verse with Melisandre instead) supports this as well. When she meets Arya, she becomes extremely frightened by her presence:

“I see you. I see you, wolf child. blood child. I thought it was the lord who smelled of death… You are cruel to come to my hill, cruel. I gorged on grief at Summerhall, I need none of yours. begone from here, dark heart. Begone!” - Arya (ASOS).

she mentions that she “gorged on grief at Summerhall.” So both the Woods Witch and the Ghost of High Heart are similar in appearance, have a dear friend named Jenny, was present at Summerhall, and have prophetic dreams. That’s evidence enough to assume that the Woods Witch survived the Tragedy at Summerhall, and went on to live as the Ghost of High Heart. This could explain why Rhaegar was constantly visiting Summerhall in his early years.

While there is no concrete evidence of Rhaegar ever meeting the Ghost of High Heart, there are subtle clues that suggest as much. Firstly, when Daenerys asks Ser Barrsitan:

“It was the shadow of Summerhall that haunted him, was it not?” - Daenerys (ASOS).

considering that the Ghost of High Heart gorged on tragedy(suggesting she dwelled there for awhile), the wording choice of “haunted” could therefore hint at the Ghost of High Heart, and her ““haunting”” could just as well mean her meetings with Rhaegar whenever he visited. In other words, the Woods Witch can therefore be viewed as the Ghost haunting the halls of Summerhall.

Secondly, we know that Rhaegar would visit only with his harp and would return with a sad song, singing of tragedy and kings who died. The one line we know of Jenny’s song references the tragedy of house Targaryen and we know it’s a sad song evident by the Ghost crying for her Jenny every time. It’s then very possible to assume that Rhaegar wrote Jenny’s song. He was known as a skilled musician especially with his harp. Moreover, we know his songs and playing have brought tears to people before, Lyanna for example.

Jenny’s song is known as a tragic and sad song, just the type of song he would sing to bring people to tears. Who else would know of these events so well? The song being accompanied with a woodharp also connects Rhaegar to it because it’s the instrument we know he plays.

So, similar to the Brotherhood, you could assume Rhaegar visited Summerhall often to meet the Woods Witch, and he rewards her with a song: Jenny’s song. Rhaegar initially believed that he was TPTWP, but you could further accredit this to the fact that for years he was the only child(Rhaella suffered still births and infant mortalities) until Viserys. His change of heart is still a mystery but maybe the Woods Witch/the Ghost of High Heart expanded on his prophesy. With Rhaenys and Aegon(his children with Elia Martell) gone, Jon Snow is the only contender. Perhaps the Woods Witch told him that TPTWP has to be born of not only the Targaryen line but also the Stark line, thus prompting Rhaegar to pursue Lyanna Stark.

I’m wrapping up, promise...

Daenerys’ vision in the HoTU

Textual evidence suggests that Rhaegar may have hid the prophecy in Jenny’s song: something that could never be destroyed. The best evidence we have of this is in Daenerys’ vision in which Rhaegar appears in an apparent flashback:

“Viserys was her first thought the next time she paused, but a second glance told her otherwise. The man had her brother’s hair, but he was taller, and his eyes were dark indigo rather than lilac. “Aegon,” he said to a woman nursing a newborn babe in a great wooden bed. “What better name for a king?”

“Will you make a song for him?” the woman asked.

“He has a song,” the man replied. “He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire.” He looked up when he said it and his eyes met Dany’s, and it seemed as if he saw her standing there beyond the door. “There must be one more,” he said, though whether he was speaking to her or the woman in the bed she could not say. “The dragon has three heads.” - Daenerys (ACOK)

presumably, the woman is Elia Martell with the first Aegon, and it looks like a vision of the past but visions in ASOIAF as we know, are tricky and seem to span into almost an alternate timeline. So let’s assume instead that it’s a glimpse into the future that never was, just like Daenerys’ vision of her dead son:

“A tall lord with copper skin and silver-gold hair stood beneath the banner of a fiery stallion, a burning city behind.” - Daenerys (ACOK).

it’s also important to note that there is no physical description of the woman, so it could just well be Lyanna Stark. Show!verse has already confirmed Jon’s true name as Aegon, and that he’s the true heir to the Iron Throne - this coincides with the vision of Rhaegar naming him Aegon, a name fit for a king. It also makes sense then why he says his song is the song of ice and fire. Rhaegar would represent fire and Lyanna, ice.

He looked up when he said it and his eyes met Dany’s, and it seemed as if he saw her standing there beyond the door. “There must be one more,” he said, though whether he was speaking to her or the woman in the bed she could not say. - Daenerys (ACOK)

Seeing as Jon is a few months older than Daenerys, this statement makes sense continuity wise as well. But as to why the dragon must have three heads or what it could possibly mean(I’m of the opinion that the two other people are meant to aid TPTWP) is another issue for another day.

Rhaegar then plays the harp and a sweet sadness fills the room:

“He went to his window seat, picked up a harp, and ran his fingers lightly over its silvery strings. Sweet sadness filled the room as man and wife and babe faded like the morning mist, only the music lingering behind to speed her way.” - Daenerys (ACOK).

They all fade away but the song lingers on suggesting the idea that while we all eventually die, songs live forever. This would be why Rhaegar hid the prophecy in Jenny’s song. Where scrolls and old texts can be destroyed and damaged with age, songs live forever and are passed down - immortalising our heroes and celebrating our triumphs.

Finally, both Jenny’s song and the song of ice and fire have no official names. While every song mentioned in the novels or show has names, they are the only two songs without. So when Rhaegar tells Lyanna that he(Aegon) already has a song, the song of ice and fire, he could be referring to Jenny’s song - the song that conceals and protects the Woods Witch’s prophecy.

We know that ASOIAF/GoT is at its base, an anti-war story. Both Ice and Fire have the means of absolute destruction. This is why I’m of the belief that TPTWP/AA reborn, must not only be born to the Targaryen line, but of the Stark line too. He must have the blood of Old Valyria and the First Men, it adds a layer of depth to the importance and significance of Jon Snow’s parentage. Where Daenerys represents the extreme of Fire and the Others represent the extreme of Ice, Jon Snow is the son of ice and fire. He has that something extra that distinguishes him from Daenerys as a contender for the title of TPTWP.

Rhaegar hid the prophecy where it can be heard, yet can never be destroyed. He hid it within the song of ice and fire.

Thank you for the ask! I apologise for the length but there’s no way around that without missing out crucial points to consider. Very sorry for the delay though, I hope you didn’t think I was avoiding it on purpose! Also if there are typos or grammar errors just know I didn’t proof read this, thanks for putting up with me!

[queenofairandsnarkness]

Five times Sansa's hair was brushed by someone else?

(originally, the Black Jewels AU was Sansa-centric, and followed the GRRM plot more. also, I apologize for the wait, but this snarled up horribly on me a few times!)

one.

Sansa was seven today, and was feeling very grown up. Her mother had a new gown made for her, white as snow, with grey direwolves chasing each other about the hem of her skirts. Arya was wearing Tully blue still, three years younger and just starting to come into a babe’s Craft.

The only thing that would make it perfect was if her hair was just as pretty as her dress. Arya’s straight brown hair combed easily, but Sansa needed to sit very still, else her scalp ached from attempts to fix her curls. Septa Mordane was not very good with hair, though it would be rude to say so.

Sansa fidgeted a bit, wondering were her septa was. Possibly arguing with Old Nan about how a Birthright ceremony should go- Father and Mother should have worked it out when Robb was seven, but she supposed a witch was different from a Warlord Prince. Even a very small Warlord Prince, like Robb must have been. (Though she couldn’t imagine it.)

Lady Catelyn entered, and Sansa stopped moving. “Mother?”

Her mother gave a tired smile. “Sansa- Septa Mordane is in the sept right now, I’m afraid, so I decided to prepare you before we go to the Godswood.”

Well, Sansa would admit many years later, going to the Godswood made sense. When someone went through their Birthright ceremony, they were then officially considered part of their father’s House. Since the Starks were Northern, a Northern ceremony made the most sense- it was the argument used for Robb’s Birthright ceremony, because Mother always wanted to be sure that Robb was seen as the proper heir to Winterfell. She had grown up with her Uncle Blackfish’s stories about the Ninepenny Kings, and the older stories of the Blackfyres. While Sansa, as an adult, realized that Jon was as likely to take Robb’s birthright as the moon was likely to be made of cheese, Catelyn couldn’t have known that about about the boy her husband was so strange about.

At seven, though, Sansa merely reflected that while the sept was pretty, and the colored glass would make pretty lights on her dress, it was a rather small sept, and not all of the guests would fit.

Especially the Umbers- Smalljon was already as tall as Father, even, if not taller.

Her mother gently combed out Sansa’s curls. “I cannot believe you are seven, already.”

“I waited for ages for this,” Sansa protested. Robb had said she was impossible, plotting out which parts of the glass gardens she would help tend, and quizzing Robb, Jon, and Theon on various points of Protocol.

(Jon had pointed out that there was no questioning about Protocol for a Birthright ceremony, and while it was useful, he’d already shielded her from Theon’s japes twice that morning.)

“Yes, but you are my eldest daughter,” Mother pointed out, quietly. “And this is a very important day for you.”

two.

Jeyne was trying to braid Sansa’s hair, fingers tangling terribly. Sansa tried to remember that Jeyne’s hair was straight as sticks, and Sansa’s hair was very hard to work with, but it hurt.

But Jeyne was the only person Sansa could talk to about the news.

“Father is considering a betrothal for me,” Sansa said, as much to cause Jeyne to stop as anything else. “From House Dayne of Starfall.”

“That is not a Northern house,” Jeyne said, puzzled.

“No, it is from the Red Mountains, in Dorne,” Sansa said, not entirely sure where that was. Yet. There was a book on the geography of Westeros that she could borrow tomorrow.  

“The Sword of the Morning is a knight from House Dayne,” came Arya’s voice from the corner.

Sansa jumped. While the stories about Black Widows were all nonsense, it did not meant that Arya was not very good at sneaking about and scaring people. Especially now that she could make a very good sight-shield.

“And what else do you know?” Sansa asked, less kindly than she wished. Arya was very good at finding things out, especially things that she was not supposed to know. Driving her out of the room would mean that Sansa wouldn’t know what was going on. And that irritating little sliver of doubt and worry Arya was also very good at provoking made everything seem awful.

“That Father agreed to it, but Mother was against it,” Arya said, “And that Lord Arryn was the one who came up with it.”

“But why?” Sansa asked, sharing a confused look with Jeyne.

“I heard the servants once say that an Ashara Dayne was the mother of Jon Snow,” Jeyne confessed. “But my father doesn’t believe it.”

“And Arthur Dayne helped kidnap Lady Lyanna, Mother said so when they were fighting,” Arya said, wrinkling her nose. “She is our aunt, but…”

“It feels strange, referring to her as such,” Sansa agreed, biting her lip. Her tummy felt horrid right now.

“Jeyne, give me that brush, Sansa will be impossible if her hair eats it,” Arya said, grumpily. She started brushing out the curls- for all that Arya was horrible at needlework, she had learned to brush hair with Mother, like Sansa, and was much better then Jeyne at it. “Apparently Lord Allem is ill, and wants his heir to have a wife picked out before he dies. And Lord Arryn- Aunt Lysa’s husband- is trying to make alliances. Apparently his sister- Lord Dayne’s, not Lord Arryn, I don’t know if he has a sister- is going to marry a lord from the Stormlands, and it made people nervous. Lord Edric’s apparently your age, and his sister will be acting as queen-in-Starfall until you turn six-and-ten and wed.”

Sansa frowned. “But Lord Edric is not his uncle,” Sansa said, trying to puzzle out Arya’s information.

“I think Mother objects to you being used to pacify the Dornish,” Arya said, frowning. “At least that’s what she said.”

“Dorne is very far south, and the Dornish are said to be very strange,” Jeyne agreed. “She would most likely see you once a decade, if at all.” She frowned. “I think I might like to stay near Winterfell, for all the South is supposed to be grand.”

“Mother said she thought of the north as very strange, when she first came,” Sansa pointed out.

“It’s why Father built the sept for her,” Arya agreed. “But… some silly lordling shouldn’t be able to have you, just because some Southron lords are worrying about things so far away.”

“It could be far worse,” Sansa said, thoughtfully. “I could have to marry Theon, and live in the Iron Isles.”

“You would hate it there,” Arya wrinkled her nose. “You wouldn’t have singers.”

“Or Myrish lace,” Jeyne added. “Or fine silks.”

“Or lemon cakes,” Sansa said, laughing.

She would find out why Mother was so upset eventually, but for now Sansa would prepare to become the perfect lady of Starfall.

three.

If Sansa were too guess at who would walk into her room, her father would have been slightly above Jon Snow and slightly below Bran.

“Hello, Father,” she said, attempting to unwind her braid. Jeyne was getting better, truly, she was, but it was best to replace her attempts before sleeping.

“Hello, Sansa,” her father said. There were dark circles under his eyes, but he was smiling, so Sansa decided to try and make things as easy as possible.

But her betrothed was coming to visit, with companions that included a Prince of Dorne, which was enough to set Winterfell aflutter.

Then Father received a raven from the King, saying that Lord Arryn was dead, and that the Court was taking the King’s Road to Winterfell. Lord Edric and his small group were taking a Coach along the Winds, and would arrive two days earlier. Which was, at this point, tomorrow.

This news was making everyone uneasy, even the ever-steady Septa Mordane.

“Is there more news?” she asked. Perhaps Lord Edric would delay the trip until after the King had left? It was… she did want to meet him, truly. They had been writing monthly letters by raven for the past year, and he seemed kind. He wrote about his friendship with the youngest of the Prince of Dorne’s children, of Starfall and his sister, the acting queen-in-Starfall, and stories of his squiring for Lord Beric Dondarrion.

Sansa, in turn, wrote about the glass gardens, some of Old Nan’s stories- he had told her about the star-maid for whom Starfall had been founded, and the legend of Dawn and the Sword of the Morning, it seemed appropriate- and Lady, the wolf-pup her father and brothers had found.

But she was perhaps a little nervous about leaving Winterfell. Starfall was terribly far away.

“Gods, I think I’ve had enough news,” Father said, sighing. “Here, let me help.”

He sounded so like Arya that Sansa had to hide a laugh. He swiftly detangled the braids.

“Have you been letting Rickon braid your hair again?” he asked. She sighed.

“Once was enough, Father,” Sansa said. “And Jeyne is not that bad.” She’d never pass for a lady’s maid, truly, but she didn’t need to.

“I expect Prince Oberyn will want the betrothal solemnized as quickly as possible,” he said, frowning. The knowledge that the Red Viper had taken interest in the boy had been a surprise, until Mother had pointed out that he and his late sister had been friends with the boy’s family, and Aunt Lysa had told them that there was apparently a rogue Warlord Prince calling himself the Darkstar and circling around Starfall.  

(That had been before Aunt Lysa’s husband had died. Now Aunt Lysa had taken Jon and was serving as queen-in-the-Vale.)

“And why is that?” Sansa tilted her head. She was one-and-ten, after all. She would most likely not flower for three years, at least, and witches of any stripe were not supposed to have their virgin nights until they were seven-and-ten. She had ten long years before she came into her full power, too.

“I think with Lord Arryn dead, the Dornish worry that we will choose another match,” Father said, studying her. It was a bit worrying- Father never spoke to her like this. Robb, Mother, Maester Luwin, even Jon and Bran sometimes, but never her.

“But the reasons for the match are the same,” Sansa said, wrinkling her nose in thought.

“Yes,” Father huffed. “The Dornish were… not well treated during the war, and many felt they were not recognized for that. Among other things. And that isn’t… well, it is true.”

“Will they hate me?” Sansa asked. It had made her afraid. “For what happened?” Both the rumors about Ashara Dayne and the fate of Princess Elia and her children.

“I see no reason for them to treat a child cruelly,” he said. “It is part of why you are been sent to Starfall.”

“I see,” Sansa said, thoughtfully. “But why are they afraid that you will change your mind?”

Her father was silent for a long minute. “Because they are afraid that the King will want you for his son. It isn’t terribly unlikely, your mother and I suspect. You are a talented young lady, well-connected and with the promise of having power,” he managed. It sounded a bit stilted, like he was trying not to mimic someone. (At least, that was what it meant in Robb.)

“But I made a promise,” Sansa said, after a moment. To be Queen- the High Queen- would be… something from a song, truly. But she had made that promise, and it wouldn’t be fair.

Besides, she liked what she knew of Edric Dayne, who loved his sister and his friends, who promised her a high harp and spoke of a lady who collected songs from all the known lands.

What did she know of King’s Landing, except that her aunt had fled it, and that terrible amounts of blood had been spilt there? And Uncle Edmure said it smelt. The most horrible smell you could imagine, he said. He’d called Queen Cersei a word gently-bred witches weren’t supposed to know, saying she was rude.

She wanted the sea breezes and promise of travel, she decided. “I have a duty, and am happy in my choice,” she recited.

She did not quite understand her father’s expression at that.

four.

Lady Aliandra Sand was only a lady by virtue of her status as a queen and healer, with her Birthright Red jewel flashing around her neck. Lewyn Martell’s daughter by a paramour, was the common guess, the daughter of the lovely and unlucky Jeyne Swann, now married into House Spottswood by virtue of her friendship with the late Princess Elia. Or perhaps by a Braavosi merchant’s widow. The stories were terribly confusing, which made little sense to Sansa at first, until she remembered all the stories about her half-brother. But, like Jon, Aliandra had the look of her noble parent’s house and the power and role that made her impossible to sweep aside.

Though Aliandra’s manner was much more… graceful. And right now, she was very grateful that it was Lady Aliandra with her, with her soft low voice and gentle words, humming a lullaby.

“Shh, little lady,” she said, stroking her hair. Sansa had collapsed into the older girl, sobbing. She had been trying not to let anyone see how badly she’d taken the news, how much it hurt. People were celebrating King Robert’s death, and opinions on her father were mixed. She was one more person hurt by the Lannisters, here.

(Edric had asked if she minded staying in Sunspear and the Water Gardens, that his sister was there visiting a healer who was good for her lungs, and he and his knight-master were going to hunt down the Mountain on her father’s orders. She had said yes, because Allyria was coughing awfully, and she wanted to see more of the places he loved.)

“They didn’t even say anything about Bran or Arya,” Sansa found herself saying. It had not struck her, when she was reading the letter with Allyria and Prince Doran watching her so very carefully. “Or Ned! The Mountain is still…”

Lady Aliandra’s hands stilled- oh, she had been there during the Sack of King’s Landing, if only as a child Rickon’s age. “Yes, I hoped you would notice that,” she said, finally.  “I think the odds are good for the three of them to be alive, if it is any comfort. Joffrey seems to be the sort to like to broadcast painful news, and he certainly would have included more if he knew it. Prince Oberyn seems to think it possible your siblings might have escaped?”

Sansa thought about it. “Perhaps- Arya is a Black Widow, and Mother said she was remarkably good at it, but she is only nine. And Bran can get anywhere- I know that Robb suggested he could slip through shields like Mother’s Uncle Brynden.”

“Ah,” Lady Aliandra said, and Sansa could here the smiling. “I’ve heard stories of Brynden Tully from the War of the Ninepenny Kings. And your Mother and brother are fighting to keep the Riverlands safe, and perhaps a few blows to Tywin Lannister’s pride would not go amiss.”

More than a few blows, Sansa thought. Tywin Lannister was not popular in Dorne- or the Stormlands, from what Lord Beric said.

“Robb will take Ned in, if they meet up, and Stark men are with them,” Sansa said, mostly for herself, partially to practice what she would say to Allyria. “The Winterfell men will know them, and Ned is rather difficult to miss.”

“I expect the little lion king will ask you to come to King’s Landing, soon,” Aliandra said, after a moment. “We will, of course, help you delay this in any way possible.”

Sansa straightened up, looking at the older girl. There was something odd in her blue eyes, making them look closer to Allyria’s violet, and there was a faint air of melancholy that Princess Arianne worked so hard to tease out of her.

Then she shook her head, and the strangeness vanished. “Come, now, let us fix those curls before anyone sees.” She gave a wry look. “It cannot be more difficult than my own.”

five.

Ned was trying to remove the pins from her hair. Her own hands were too unsteady for the task, right now.

“You owe me a story, my lord,” Sansa said, hoping to keep the fluttering out of her voice. There was a difference between being a proper lady and being insipid. Or flighty. Or high-strung. All of which Sansa was determined not to be.

“It is a very long story,” he admitted. “And parts of it are hard to tell.”

“Then it is good that we shall have a very long time for you to tell it,” Sansa said, lifting her chin.

“And you have a story to tell as well,” he said. “I’ve heard parts of it from Elia and Trys, but they keep trying to talk over each other.”

Sansa smiled at that. “They are incorrigible, aren’t they?” Trystane was also remarkably fond of arguing with Arya, possibly out of a feeling of familiarity. “But you came home, and that is the most important part.”

“There are people who would say that the Targaryen queen on the throne is more important,” Ned said, a bit too solemn for the sweet, tongue-tied boy she’d known.

“The Queen wouldn’t think so,” Sansa said, tilting her head so Ned could better reach. And Aliandra- Queen Rhaenys, now, with the Blackfyre Pretender and Mother of Dragons dead, and married to the youngest of Leyton Hightower’s sons- was too long under the lessons of Prince Doran not to care about the innocents and people who supported her.

“Or the great battle over Harrenhal,” Ned continued. “Though I suppose since I was there for that…”

“Or Prince Oberyn nearly dying fighting the Mountain, and nearly killing Aliandra when she stopped that,” Sansa said. The lecture, which had turned into a rare shouting match, had taken hours- Princess Arianne and Lady Tyene had watched with round eyes as the Prince continued his tirade, and the tiny Queen pointing out that while the Prince had lost his sister, the Mountain had already cost Rhaenys her mother and brother, and she would be damned before he took any more of her family.

“The first law is not obedience,” Ned quoted, a hint of laughter in his voice. His hands were steady, now, and she could almost forget the scar twisting his face down the side, earned in battle with no healer to hand.

“And how the realm does know it, now,” Sansa said. “How was Robb?” Mother had rather despaired of him. Her brother had fallen with alarming rapidity for a sweet young Queen who wore Summer Sky jewels and had little consequence. At least she was hardly likely to be another Lynesse Hightower, Lord Forrester had japed when he deposited Arya at Sunspear to join Sansa. Apparently her family was terribly poor.

“Deeply enjoying the prospect of rebuilding Winterfell,” Ned said, with an amusing amount of doubt in his voice. To be fair, it was a massive amount of work, one that might take the rest of Robb’s life. “Bran is being sent to Moat Cailin when he turns eight-and-ten, and as such there are an alarming amount of mothers with an eye towards securing their daughter's’ futures.” He paused. “That was your mother’s words. Apparently she’s been receiving strong hints.”

Sansa giggled. “The Freys?”

“Not so much- they took a beating at Harrenhal, and Lady Jeyne is apparently triple-gifted,” Ned said, thoughtfully. “I didn’t realized anyone outside of Dorne would consider that a good thing, but most of the Riverlanders and Northerners were happy enough once that got out.”

“Healer, Queen, and Black Widow,” Sansa frowned. It was terribly rare- Healer Queens, like Rhaenys, were fairly common, and Black Widows continued, especially in lines of the First Men and Rhoynish, but Black Widow Queens were… she fancied that Dyanna Dayne had been the last one, though perhaps Danelle Lothston? She would need to check. Either way, she could name perilously few triple-gifted witches- perhaps half-a-dozen since the Conquest? “Yes, that would be useful.”

“Didn’t come with armies, but the thought of supporting a gifted queen was enough for the ones who were there, and news of Rhaenys shut up the dissenters fairly quickly,” Ned agreed. Her hair finished tumbling to her waist, and he paused. “To bed, my lady?”

“You are my husband,” she said, turning to peer up at him through her eyelashes. Princess Arianne swore it was effective, but normally Sansa was, well, a good deal taller than Princess Arianne. “And I do hate to leave a job half-finished.” After all, she could still see that kind boy she’d first promised to marry, which gave her heart. Even after five years of separation, with only a few letters, and a month to relearn each other.

“And you are my lady,” he said, looking as uncertain as she felt.

In a burst of warmth, she leaned up to kiss him, smiling against his lips at the quick, surprised laugh.

The pins tumbled to the floor, quite forgotten.