
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/3487340.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      F/M
  Fandom:
      A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire_-_George_R._R._Martin
  Relationship:
      Sansa_Stark/Aegon_VI_Targaryen
  Character:
      Sansa_Stark, Aegon_VI_Targaryen, Robert_"Sweetrobin"_Arryn
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe_-_Future, Mild_Sexual_Content
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-03-05 Completed: 2015-03-17 Chapters: 2/2 Words: 3286
****** Fire and Stone ******
by cocoalover1956
Summary
     He came to the Vale to reclaim part of his kingdom, and found a
     lover.
***** Spark *****
No army on foot or horse could take the Eyrie, but so high in the air, it would
be easy prey to a dragon. But Aegon had come to the Vale so that he could rule
its people, not kill them. He landed Rhaegal on a cliff upon the Giant's Lance,
the Eyrie just above them. So this was Jon Arryn's home, where he first raised
his banners against Aegon's grandfather. The desire for vengeance burned in
him, but Jon Arryn and all the other rebels were long dead, and punishing their
children would do naught but divide the realm deeper. All that was left was to
unite the Seven Kingdoms under the dragon banner.
Surely the people heard Rhaegal's roar, saw his green and bronze scales shining
in the sunlight, for all the panicked screams he heard. Aegon coaxed the dragon
higher until Rhaegal perched on a balcony on the Eyrie itself. Was this where
Queen Visenya took Ronnel Arryn's crown all those years ago? If so, the singers
would surely notice.
A small boy and tall young woman, flanked by a group of knights went to greet
him. Aegon was almost disappointed by the little lord of the Eyrie, a child who
trembled under his cloak. His sister looked still and calm, though her pretty
blue eyes were wide with shock. Robert Arryn of the Vale bent the knee not long
afterwards. They'd stayed out of any fighting so far and were not inclined to
sent men to the field any time soon.
He learned that girl's name was Alayne Stone, that she wasn't an Arryn, but the
bastard step-sister and caretaker of the House's lord. She sat with Lord Robert
always and his hands stayed bunched in her skirts. It was clear to all that
they adored each other, but Aegon needed his Warden of the East to made of
tougher stuff.
===============================================================================
He called Alayne to the Lord of the Eyrie's solar, which he was using as his
own for the time being. Lord Robert didn't mind at all, seeing as he was more
concerned with building up the nerve to touch Rhaegal.
"Lady Stone," Aegon asked when she was seated, "How is Robert Arryn, as lord?"
Her lovely body was poised, her sweet voice polite and unassuming. "He is but a
boy, your Grace. Lord Yohn Royce governs the Vale from Runestone in his stead
until he is of age."
"And how old is Lord Robert?"
"Almost ten." She replied. Her beautiful eyes held his in place. Though she
acted demure, Aegon saw a spark of fierce protectiveness in her. This girl was
not one to be cowed. Even with her low birth, she showed him no deference.
Aegon had to stop himself from smiling. "When I was almost ten, I was in Qohor
as it was besieged by Dothraki horselords."
"I'm not surprise to learn that you've had a adventurous childhood, but Lord
Robert has been sheltered by his mother since his birth. He was taught to be
afraid of everything and everyone, but he's learning to grow accustom to the
hardships of this war." Alayne Stone's words did not falter, had no hesitation.
She became more beautiful was every word, from her lovely dark hair to the
curve of her shoulders.
"Well said, Lady Stone." This time, he didn't hide his grin.
===============================================================================
She would come to his chambers late in the night, after tucking Lord Robert
into bed.
"After his mother's death," she once told him, "He could not spent a night
without me by his side. He's getting better though."
"And what of your father? He married her mother and joined her in the grave
soon afterwards."
He then wished he hadn't asked, after seeing the myriad of emotion play out on
her face. She fixed her expression into a neutral mask and said, "He was
executed for crimes against the Vale. The valemen understand that I am innocent
of whatever schemes he cooked up, but it didn't make me popular with them."
"They trust you with their lord."
Alayne smiled softly and kissed him, "I'm the only person he likes. They have
no choice."
There were no secrets in this small hollow castle, but his men paid no mind to
his activities with Alayne. She gave him her maidenhead and her heart. It was
more than he could ever hope to repay. No amount of gold or jewels could pay
for her laugh, her sweet wit, the lovely blush of her skin when he kissed her.
Only a few weeks since he had arrived, and he was mad for her.
She spent her days teaching him recent history, helping him better grasp the
state of the kingdom he was to rule. When he asked her why she aided his
conquest, she was intensely earnest. "In the last three years, there have more
kings than I can count and they've tore the realm asunder. I have faith that
you will bring us peace."
He had her right there, in the borrowed solar while her step-brother was right
outside with his pups. It was the first time they'd made love with her on top,
Alayne shining above him like a goddess from the songs. He preferred it this
way, when he could see her dark hair framing her face like a holy curtain as
she came. Even her cries of pleasure sounded sweeter and needier while he
kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts.
"Alayne, I love you." He held her tight against his chest and her eyes were
bright with tears.
===============================================================================
Aegon had moved his court to the Gates of the Moon waiting for Daenerys to re-
take Dragonstone and Jon Connington to subdue the Riverlands. At the Eyrie
Rhaegal had been growing more restless by the day and now he was happy to have
new skies to roam. He took Lord Robert with him to show the Vale lords he came
as a friend. And to have Alayne by his side.
"The Starks hold Winterfell once again." Bronze Yohn reported during one of
their meetings. "The pretender Stannis Baratheon died fighting the Boltons and
Manderly of White Harbor pulled out the last son of Eddard Stark as if he had
the boy under his sleeve the whole time."
"How could he have possibly survived when all the others in his family
perished? Wasn't he killed by Theon Greyjoy along with his brother?" Aegon
demanded. He heard the irony of his words, but he didn't care. That damned
bloodline, already more that eight thousand years old, persisted.
Bronze Yohn read the letter from Wyman Manderly, signed by various northmen
lords, in full. Bran and Rickon Stark had not been killed because they had
escaped the Sack of Winterfell, and Theon Greyjoy lied in an effort to save his
failing conquest. Greyjoy's squire, a mute boy now held at White Harbor, saw
them running north when the Boltons burned Winterfell and followed them. When
he was captured by northmen, they forced him to reveal their location. Only
Rickon had been found.
"Lord Rickon is a boy younger than Lord Robert." Aegon forced himself to speak
calmly, "He'll be willing to bend the knee. I'll go north to Winterfell and
negotiate peace."
===============================================================================
Aegon ended the meeting in a bad mood. Alayne was waiting for him in his
bedchamber. She practically jumped on him the minute he entered and kissed him
deeply.
"I heard everything." She whispered happily, "I was listening behind the door."
She was unusually giddy, more like a normal fifteen year girl than he had ever
seen her. Aegon drank in her light and buried himself in her warm, inviting
flesh. As they laid abed, she covered him in gentle kisses. Her eyes were
unguarded, her body totally at ease. He wished he could be half as serene.
"You know a Stark still lives, then?" He asked. Aegon wanted her to understand,
to see every part oh him. He already shared his bed with her, so it was only
fair that he shared his heart with her as well.
Alayne became worried at his tone. "Yes. Is there something wrong my love?"
He sat up. "Actually, there is. I can't stand the thought of the Starks still
living through this boy, and ruling Winterfell after everything they've done to
my family." Alayne fell silent and lowered her head so her hair is covering her
face. Aegon brushed back her silky locks and lifted her chin, "Trust my love, I
won't hurt him. You know I'm a better man than that. After all, he's only a
little older than my dear sister Rhaenys was when she died, but she wouldn't
have died if not for the Starks."
"Do you truly hate them so much?" Alayne asked in a small voice. Her brightness
from earlier is fast fading, and though part of him regrets telling her this,
it was nice to have someone to speak earnestly with.
"The only people I hate more are the Lannisters and Baratheon," Aegon admitted,
"But they're all dead. Everyone I wanted to have vengeance on died waiting for
me to return. I don't think I could hate Rickon Stark any more than I would
Sweetrobin, but everything, the downfall of my family, my exile, leads straight
to them."
Alayne laid back down and pressed her face against his side. Aegon lowered his
mouth to her ear and whispered, "That slut Lyanna Stark seduced my father away
from my mother and ruined my family. Her traitor brother rose against his
rightful king, smiled over what he thought was my corpse, and betrayed the king
he placed on the Iron Throne. My only regret is that I didn't get to kill him
myself."
"No more, my love, please." Alayne whimpered. "This talk upsets me."
Moving her so she faced him, Aegon kissed her. "I'm sorry my love. I'll stop
talking about the Usurper's dogs if it makes you unhappy."
She only nodded and turned her back to him.
===============================================================================
For three nights, Alayne did not come to his bed. She spoke little and could
hardly meet his eyes. At first, Aegon suspect he might of frightened her with
his talk of vengeance, but as her coldness persisted, he feared something
worse. That she had stopped loving him.
===============================================================================
He found her outside watching Sweetrobin play with some little lordlings his
own age. "Sweet Alayne, you wound me with your indifference." He whispered in
her ear.
She spun around, surprised to see him, and stepped back. He waited for her to
speak, but she said nothing.
"Alayne, what have I done to make you stop loving me?"
"Nothing." Her voice, for the first time, faltered.
"A lie?" Aegon was hurt now. When had she begun hiding things from him? "My
love, my sweet girl, you know you can tell me anything. Alayne?"
She met his eyes now, and her own were so, so blue and sad. Her hairline was
turning from dark brown to auburn. "My name is not Alayne Stone. I am Sansa
Stark of Winterfell."
***** Cinders *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
After her declaration, she didn't speak; only looked up at him with those
wondrous eyes of hers.
"Lady Sansa Stark." He repeated slowly, "of Winterfell. Tell me Lady Sansa, why
did you put on this mummer's farce? What do you want from me?"
Her lips pinched in anger, "I didn't pretend to be a bastard for you. I've had
to live like this long before you set foot in the Stormlands. I told you what
happened to me in our lessons, remember?"
Aegon wanted to touch her lips, to smooth her scowl into a smile. This was the
madness he would be known for. "You fled after Joffrey Baratheon was killed at
his own wedding feast. Some would say you poisoned him."
"I was kidnapped by Petyr Baelish." She explained. "He had a man poison
Joffrey, a man I thought I could trust. He took me aboard a ship and told me it
was bound for the North, but that was a lie. Petyr Baelish brought me here,
remade me as his bastard daughter, and plotted to use me to gain more power."
"But that failed and you...remained a bastard." Aegon took a deep breathe as he
thought of her position. The North would fight for her, there was no doubt. The
Riverlands would stand behind her. She had the Lord Paramount of Vale drinking
from her cup. "Why didn't you go along with these plots?"
Eyes glistening, she croaked. "He wanted to me to kill my own cousin, to start
a war for a birthright that has caused me nothing but pain. That's why I was so
happy when I heard that my brother was in Winterfell again. I could be with
him, and you, and Sweetrobin. I could go home and have a family again."
She stopped, her mouth frozen over with too many words.
Before his brain could catch up to his heart, Aegon pulled her into his arms
and kissed her. He was lost in his love for her.
===============================================================================
Lady Stark. Lady Stark. Lady Sansa Stark.
The name of a stranger in the skin of the girl he loved. It rang in his head
day and night, pushing "Alayne" out bit by bit. Eddard Stark's daughter, Lyanna
Stark's niece. Gods, he's turned into his father, lusting after a northwoman.
But she wasn't just another northwoman, she was still the same girl she's
already been. Still Sweetrobin's caretaker, still the only one besides him
Rhaegal would allow to feed him by hand, the girl whose lips tasted like
lemoncakes. Only her hair was different, the deep brown giving way to shiny
auburn. It only made her even more beautiful.
The valemen were not pleased with the deception at first, but they soon
accepted that it was only way for her escape the Lannisters. And if they could
accept it, why not him?
===============================================================================
"What spell has this girl cast on you?" Jon demanded. Though his face was stiff
and serious, a note of anxiety slip through into his tone. "Have you forgotten
what happened the last time a Targaryen fell in love with a Stark? She's just
like her aunt, I sense."
"Lady Sansa is no more guilty of what all those years ago than Princess Rhaenys
or my mother." Aegon replied coolly.
Jon shook his head and poured himself another goblet of wine. His arm had grown
stiffer as of late, but he would not see it treated. "See, she is already
sowing strife among us."
"She's just a girl." Aegon protested.
"And what of Daenerys?" Jon argued. "She was to be your bride, House Targaryen
reunited."
"She won't marry me." Aegon replied, to Jon's shock. "She's like the summer
wind, not meant for one place or one man. She told that she couldn't have
children, and what is a king without heirs?"
Stubbornly, Jon did not relent. "But why a Stark girl? Explain this infatuation
you have with her, if she's just a girl."
"You wouldn't understand. You've never been in love with before."
The minute the words came out of his mouth, Aegon regretted it. His foster-
father's face became as white as Viserion's wings. "You don't know what you
speak of." He growled. "Love is the bane of duty, and you have a duty to your
realm."
"Things are not as they were when my father ran off with Lady Lyanna. The
alliance that nearly ruined House Targaryen can be made into the key that will
save it. Sansa's brother is Lord of Winterfell, her cousin Lord of the Eyrie,
her uncle Lord of Riverrun. That's three kingdoms under my heel without raising
a sword."
"You've already won the Vale's allegiance. And you're a fool to think that one
woman, however well connected she is, can wield so much power. Lord Tully is
grown man and Lord Stark has his bannermen pulling him like a puppet on a
string. These men will not kneel on the word of girl they've not see for three
years. You need -"
"Yes, tell me more of what I need." Aegon barked angrily. "Will you be holding
my hand when I sit on the Iron Throne?"
Impossibly, Jon turned even whiter. "Aegon, I only want what's best for you."
Aegon turned away for a minute to collect his thoughts. He looked at Jon again
and more calmly said, "I understand, but I am my own man. If this is a mistake,
I will be bear the consequences."
"I could not live with myself if I allowed your dynasty to crumble again." Jon
whispered.
Aegon smiled weakly, "You said it yourself. If she doesn't have to power to
raise three kingdoms, how much trouble could she cause?"
===============================================================================
The North rejoiced when their lost daughter took her rightful place in
Winterfell. Lord Rickon forgot all decorum when his sister stepped onto the
grounds. He ran from Lord Umber's side, his great black direwolf at his heels,
and hugged her tight around the middle. Aegon felt something stirring in his
chest. The last thing he had expected was to be happy at the Starks reuniting.
Sweetrobin had come with them, along with a few of his bannermen. Still growing
accustom to his caretaker's true identity, he was plainly uncomfortable with
the thought of sharing her with another child. After the introductions, he
seemed to grow at bit warmer to his little cousin.
Because Lord Rickon was still a child, Mors Umber had appointed Lord Protector
until he came of age. So it was with the lords of the North whom Aegon worked
out the terms of the alliance. The North would swear fealty with the promise
that the Iron Throne would keep land-grabbing southerners out of their lands.
Since several houses had been wiped out in the war, fights had broken out over
who ought to have the unclaimed lands.
Aegon felt uncomfortable with the way the northerners looked him, as if
swearing fealty was like being sent to executioner's block. Mayhaps it was. In
the past twenty years, two lords, an heir and a king had all be murdered by
southerners, so they did not look to another southerner - worse, a foreigner
who had not set foot in Westeros since he was babe - with friendly eyes.
It was Sansa, with her unlimited supply of charm and grace, that brought her
countrymen to bent the knee. Aegon had sorely underestimated the North's
stubbornness. Without her and Rhaegal, he would have lost the North.
===============================================================================
"Marry me." The word tumbled out clumsily the first time they were alone
together since arriving in Winterfell. Sansa had come to his solar unexpectedly
to discuss having Sweetrobin fostered in King's Landing.
The declaration startled her and she stood in front of him with a blank
expression. Just as Aegon began to feel like a fool, like he should have known
that she would decline, her face crumpled, lined with tears. "Don't mock me
like that. We both know this can never come to pass."
"Mock you? Never. Sansa, I love you. I want to wake every morning with you in
my arms. I want to give you sons and daughters-"
"What men want matters not." She interrupted. "What will your aunt say? What
will the high lords says? I am still considered a murderer."
"I don't care what anyone says."
"And that is your problem. You wear a crown and that means everything everyone
says is something you should care about. Your power comes from the fealty you
receive from the high lords. If you anger them, they will retaliate."
"Do you love me?" Aegon held her face in his hands.
"Yes."
"Do you want to marry me?"
"More than anything."
Chapter End Notes
     Well, that's all. Unless I get inspired to pick this up again. But
     its safer to assume that this fic is complete. Thank you for reading!
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
their work!
