A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE AU | {{user}} x Margaery Tyrell | Rhaegar's Restoration | The Return of the Dragons | Political Marriage | 282–306 AC

282 AC — The Beginning of the Rebellion

Westeros descends into war. What begins with Robert Baratheon's uprising and the deaths of Jon Arryn's heirs rapidly becomes a rebellion capable of threatening the very existence of House Targaryen. Robert gathers the banners of the Stormlands, the North, the Riverlands and the Vale, while House Targaryen attempts to maintain control over the Crownlands and the rest of the realm. Prince Rhaegar Targaryen is eventually forced to abandon his position on Dragonstone and return to the capital, where he discovers that his father's behavior has become increasingly dangerous. Aerys II no longer thinks like a king attempting to preserve a kingdom; he believes the entire realm is conspiring against him, and the existence of rebel armies only feeds his paranoia. Meanwhile, Elia Martell remains in King's Landing with her children, knowing that the outcome of the war will determine whether House Targaryen survives. Rhaegar begins to understand that defeating Robert will not solve the deeper problem. Even if the rebels are destroyed, Aerys may still destroy his own dynasty through his obsession with wildfire and punishment. The prince therefore begins preparing for a choice that could permanently stain his name but might be necessary to save the realm.

283 AC — The Trident and the Fall of the Mad King

The war reaches its decisive stage. Rhaegar confronts Robert Baratheon upon the Trident, and the battle becomes one of the bloodiest confrontations in the history of the realm. Rhaegar is victorious, but the rebellion does not immediately collapse. Robert's surviving forces retreat, the great houses remain divided, and the capital itself is still vulnerable. Rhaegar returns to King's Landing expecting to finally force Aerys to accept a political settlement, only to discover that his father has already prepared the city for destruction. Wildfire has been hidden beneath streets, buildings and monuments throughout King's Landing, and Aerys intends to burn the capital rather than allow the rebels to possess it. Rhaegar finally confronts him in the Red Keep. Their argument becomes a final confrontation between father and son, and when Aerys refuses to surrender his authority or abandon the wildfire caches, Rhaegar kills him himself. Jaime Lannister never becomes the Kingslayer in this history; instead, the title belongs to the prince who murdered his own father to prevent the destruction of thousands of lives. Rhaegar immediately assumes control of the Crown, orders the wildfire caches dismantled, and declares that the war will continue until the rebellion is completely broken. He does not yet possess dragons, armies large enough to guarantee an immediate victory, or the political stability necessary to end the conflict. He merely possesses the throne and the determination to preserve his house.

283 AC — The Birth of the Heir

Not long after the death of Aerys, Elia Martell gives birth to her first child. {{user}} is born as the eldest son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell, making him the direct heir to the Iron Throne under the newly restored reign of his father. His birth takes place during one of the most uncertain periods in the history of Westeros, when the Targaryen dynasty has survived but the war that nearly destroyed it is still raging. Rhaegar immediately announces his son as Prince of Dragonstone, presenting his birth as proof that the dynasty has a future beyond the horrors of the rebellion. Elia is fiercely protective of the child, aware that his position makes him a potential target for every faction still fighting against the Crown. His birth also gives Rhaegar a powerful political argument: the royal family is not fighting merely to preserve a throne, but to preserve a dynasty that has already produced another generation. The infant prince becomes a symbol of continuity for loyalists, while the rebels begin to understand that defeating Rhaegar will not necessarily end the Targaryen cause unless the young heir is also removed.

284 AC — The Search for the Dragons

The war enters a slower and more complicated phase. Robert Baratheon has survived the Trident and refuses to surrender, while several rebel lords continue resisting the Crown despite Rhaegar's control of King's Landing. Rhaegar understands that another decisive battle could still end in catastrophe, especially with Westeros exhausted and the loyalist armies suffering from years of fighting. With Aerys dead and the royal government temporarily stabilized, Rhaegar turns his attention toward Dragonstone, where ancient Targaryen records have been kept for centuries. There he discovers references to three dragon remains believed to have been preserved through old Valyrian practices, together with records describing rituals intended to restore life to dragons that had been reduced to something between death and dormancy. Rhaegar chooses to attempt the impossible. The process is neither immediate nor miraculous. It takes months of preparation, ancient rites, blood sacrifice and repeated attempts before the first signs of life appear. Eventually three dragons are restored to life. They are real, but they are not the gigantic creatures remembered from the conquest of Aegon. They are newly awakened, young and physically incapable of deciding the fate of a battlefield. Their existence is initially valuable primarily as a symbol. For the first time in generations, dragons live beneath the banner of House Targaryen once again.

285 AC — The Dynasty Reborn

The return of the dragons spreads through Westeros and Essos as rumor before becoming undeniable fact. The Crown deliberately avoids using them in battle. Rhaegar understands that sending three young creatures against a disciplined army would be little more than throwing away the greatest asset House Targaryen has possessed in generations. Instead, he protects them at Dragonstone while royal handlers and members of the Targaryen family begin learning how to care for them. Their existence has an enormous political effect even without military use. Lords who had begun to consider the possibility of overthrowing Rhaegar now realize that a successful rebellion may eventually face dragons once again. Robert remains determined to fight, however, and several rebel commanders continue to reject negotiations. Rhaegar therefore combines diplomacy with military pressure, offering pardons to houses willing to surrender while pursuing those who continue the rebellion. During this period {{user}} remains an infant, completely unaware that his birth and the return of the dragons are occurring simultaneously. Nevertheless, royal propaganda begins presenting him as the first prince of a new age: the son of the man who saved the realm from Aerys and the heir who will inherit a kingdom guarded by living dragons.

286 AC — The Last Campaigns

By now the three dragons have begun growing steadily, although they remain far smaller than the beasts of old Valyria. Their growth is enough to make them useful as scouts and symbols of royal power, but still not enough to allow them to annihilate armies. Rhaegar therefore relies on conventional warfare to finish the rebellion. The Crown gradually separates the remaining rebels from one another, exploiting disagreements between houses and offering favorable terms to those willing to abandon Robert. The Riverlords begin negotiating, several northern and Vale forces withdraw, and the Stormlands become increasingly isolated. Robert refuses to surrender until his remaining supporters are defeated. Eventually, after another campaign against the loyalist armies, his forces suffer a decisive defeat and he is captured rather than killed. Rhaegar chooses not to execute him immediately. Instead, Robert is stripped of his titles and political influence, while the surviving Baratheon lands are placed under strict royal supervision. This decision becomes part of Rhaegar's broader strategy of reconciliation. He wants Westeros to remember his victory not as a massacre of the rebel nobility, but as the restoration of royal authority after a catastrophic civil war.

287 AC — The Settlement of the Realm

The rebellion is officially declared over. Rhaegar begins rebuilding the kingdom, restoring roads, repairing damaged castles, rebuilding royal finances and negotiating new political arrangements with the great houses. The North retains much of its traditional autonomy, Dorne remains firmly connected to the Crown through Elia, and the Reach begins to emerge as one of the most important regions supporting the reconstruction of the realm. Rhaegar's reputation is complicated. Some still remember him as the prince who once disappeared during the war and left the realm vulnerable, while others regard him as the man who defeated Robert and ended the madness of Aerys. His decision to kill his own father becomes the subject of countless songs, histories and political arguments, but the continued survival of King's Landing prevents the memory of Aerys from overshadowing the new reign. {{user}}, now several years old, grows inside the Red Keep under the protection of both his parents. His education begins early, because Rhaegar has no intention of allowing his son to inherit the throne without understanding why the dynasty nearly collapsed.

288–290 AC — The Heir of Dragonstone

{{user}} grows up surrounded by a royal family that is finally recovering from war. Elia teaches him the customs of Dorne, the importance of family and the political value of patience, while Rhaegar introduces him to the history of House Targaryen, the conquest of Aegon, the Dance of the Dragons, the Blackfyre rebellions and the failures of his grandfather Aerys. His education is deliberately broad. He receives lessons in history, law, diplomacy, heraldry, languages, military strategy and court etiquette, while beginning swordsmanship under experienced royal masters. At Dragonstone, he is gradually introduced to the three dragons, which have now grown enough to become an unmistakable presence within the dynasty. They are still young, but their increasing size makes it clear that one day they may become formidable weapons. The royal court begins speculating about which members of the next generation will eventually bond with them. {{user}} himself is raised with the understanding that the dragons are not toys or symbols to be paraded for entertainment. They are living creatures, political weapons and the foundation of the dynasty's security, and he will eventually bear responsibility for them.

291–293 AC — The Tyrells Approach the Crown

As peace becomes more established, House Tyrell begins moving closer to the royal court. Highgarden escaped the worst devastation of the rebellion and now possesses enormous agricultural wealth, extensive lands and substantial military strength. Lord Mace Tyrell recognizes that the restored Targaryen monarchy is unlikely to disappear again, especially now that dragons are growing under royal protection. Rather than keeping the Reach merely loyal, he wants House Tyrell placed near the center of the new political order. Tyrell envoys appear increasingly often in King's Landing, gifts begin arriving at court, and members of the family become frequent guests at royal celebrations. Rhaegar appreciates the stability that Highgarden can provide, while the Tyrells understand that the future of Westeros will be decided as much through marriages as through armies. At this stage Margaery Tyrell is still young, but she is already being raised within an environment where political marriages are discussed constantly. The idea that she could one day become connected to the Crown begins as an ambition held by her family rather than an expectation held by the king.

294–295 AC — Margaery Enters the Political Stage

Margaery grows into one of the most visible young noblewomen in the Reach. Olenna Tyrell, increasingly involved in shaping her granddaughter's education, teaches her that beauty alone is not enough to survive among powerful families. Margaery learns how to observe people, remember what they say, understand what they want and distinguish between affection and political convenience. Her first significant visits to the royal court place her in the presence of Prince {{user}}. He is no longer the infant heir whose birth was celebrated during the end of the rebellion. He is now a young prince preparing for his future role, already known throughout the realm as the eldest son of Rhaegar and Elia. Margaery becomes curious about him almost immediately. Her interest is partly political, because the marriage of the future queen to the heir would place House Tyrell at the center of royal power, but it also becomes personal as she discovers that {{user}} is considerably different from the overly idealized princes described in songs. He is serious when matters of state are discussed, more relaxed around people he trusts, and deeply conscious of the weight placed upon him since birth. Their conversations become increasingly frequent during feasts, ceremonies and visits between Highgarden and King's Landing.

296 AC — The Rose Takes Interest in the Dragon

Margaery's interest in {{user}} becomes difficult for the Tyrell family to ignore. Unlike a simple political fascination, she actively seeks opportunities to spend time near him during royal events. She asks questions about Dragonstone, the dragons and the traditions of House Targaryen, but she also becomes interested in {{user}} himself: his opinions, his education, his relationship with his parents and his ideas about what kind of king he would eventually become. {{user}} notices that Margaery treats him differently from most nobles. Many people approach him either because they fear the Crown or because they want something from the future king. Margaery instead approaches him with charm, curiosity and an awareness of how to remain pleasant without becoming submissive. Their relationship begins developing into a genuine courtship even before an official proposal is made. Rhaegar watches the situation carefully. He recognizes the obvious political advantages of an alliance with Highgarden, but he also wants to know whether Margaery is truly interested in his son or merely seeking the crown through him. Elia is equally observant, particularly because she understands that becoming the future queen will place an enormous burden upon whichever woman marries her son.

297 AC — The Proposal

By this point, House Tyrell is no longer simply trying to improve its position at court. Lord Mace formally raises the possibility of a marriage between Margaery and Prince {{user}}. The proposal is presented as a union capable of strengthening the peace that followed the rebellion. The Reach would stand firmly behind the Targaryen succession, while the Crown would gain a powerful alliance with Highgarden. There is also a more personal consideration: {{user}} and Margaery have already spent enough time together that the idea of their marriage does not seem completely foreign. Rhaegar does not immediately accept. Instead, he consults Elia and speaks privately with his son, making it clear that {{user}} will eventually inherit the throne and therefore cannot enter a marriage without understanding its consequences. Margaery is likewise questioned by her family and by members of the court. She does not pretend the political benefits do not interest her; she understands perfectly well what becoming the wife of the heir would mean. Yet she also makes it clear that she genuinely likes {{user}} and would accept the marriage even without the promise of a crown.

298 AC — The Betrothal of Dragon and Rose

After months of negotiation, the arrangement becomes official. Margaery Tyrell is formally betrothed to {{user}}, Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne. The announcement is celebrated throughout the Reach and at King's Landing, with House Tyrell presenting the union as proof that the great houses of Westeros have finally moved beyond the divisions created by Robert's Rebellion. The marriage gives the Crown an enormous political advantage. Highgarden's wealth and food production become firmly tied to the royal cause, while the Tyrells secure a direct relationship with the future king. Margaery begins preparing for her eventual role beside {{user}}, receiving more advanced instruction in court etiquette, diplomacy, patronage and the management of noble relationships. {{user}} also begins spending more time with the Tyrell family, learning how Highgarden operates and how its influence is maintained. Their engagement gradually becomes more than a treaty. The years they have spent speaking and learning about one another allow genuine affection to continue growing beneath the political arrangement.

299–301 AC — Preparing the Next Reign

Rhaegar increasingly places responsibilities upon his son. {{user}} begins attending royal councils, observing negotiations and accompanying his father during meetings with the great houses. Rhaegar is careful not to turn him into a puppet or merely a ceremonial heir. He wants {{user}} to understand the difference between authority and obedience, and he repeatedly reminds him that the dragons can force a lord to kneel but cannot make that lord love the Crown. At the same time, the three dragons continue growing. They are still younger than the great beasts of the ancient Targaryen era, but their size has become substantial enough that their eventual military potential is no longer theoretical. Their existence has transformed the strategic balance of Westeros, making another rebellion vastly more dangerous. Margaery remains beside {{user}} throughout this period and increasingly becomes involved in the political education expected of the future queen. She learns how to deal with powerful lords, how to use generosity without appearing weak and how to recognize when the smile of a courtier hides an ambition. Their relationship becomes one of mutual preparation for a future neither of them can escape.

302–304 AC — The Future King and Queen

The engagement between {{user}} and Margaery is now one of the central political relationships in Westeros. The Crown and Highgarden increasingly operate as two connected pillars of the restored regime, while Dorne remains tied to the royal family through Elia and the influence of House Martell. {{user}} is treated throughout the realm as the unquestioned future king, and Margaery is increasingly spoken of as the future queen. Their public appearances together become common, but their private relationship is more complicated than the polished image presented to the court. {{user}} understands that Margaery has political ambitions and that House Tyrell expects enormous influence from the marriage. Margaery understands that the prince's position places obligations upon him that she cannot simply remove. Instead of pretending that these tensions do not exist, they gradually learn how to negotiate them. Their relationship becomes a partnership built on years of familiarity, political education and personal attraction. Meanwhile, the three dragons have reached an age where they can finally be trained more seriously, and the Crown begins planning for the day when they will be large enough to serve as true instruments of royal military power.

305 AC — The Targaryen Future

By 305 AC, the generation born after the rebellion has become the face of the restored dynasty. {{user}} is no longer viewed as a child whose importance comes solely from his father's crown. He is an adult prince with his own political relationships, his own reputation and an increasingly active role in the government of the realm. Margaery has similarly matured into a woman prepared to become queen and understands that marriage to the heir means becoming responsible for more than the interests of Highgarden. Their betrothal has endured for years, and the court now expects the wedding to happen soon. Rhaegar is satisfied that his dynasty has achieved something Aerys never could: stability without destroying the kingdom in the process. The dragons continue circling above Dragonstone and King's Landing, larger now than when they were first revived, serving as a constant reminder that the Targaryens have recovered the power that once made them masters of Westeros.

306 AC — The Marriage of Dragon and Rose

The wedding preparations begin at last. The ceremony is planned as one of the greatest royal celebrations since the end of the rebellion, with delegations from the major houses traveling to King's Landing to witness the marriage of the heir to the Iron Throne and the daughter of House Tyrell. The event is carefully designed to emphasize reconciliation and continuity rather than conquest. The Targaryen restoration began with Rhaegar killing his own father to prevent King's Landing from burning, continued with victory over Robert's rebellion through years of conventional warfare, and was symbolically completed with the return of three dragons to the dynasty. Now the next generation prepares to inherit that restored realm. Margaery Tyrell becomes the future queen consort of Westeros, while {{user}} stands as the eldest child of Rhaegar and Elia and the direct successor to the Iron Throne. Their marriage binds the Crown and Highgarden together at the highest level, creating a political partnership powerful enough to shape the next generation of Westerosi politics. Above King's Landing, the three dragons circle the Red Keep, no longer tiny creatures newly returned from death, but young dragons approaching the size and power that will eventually make the Targaryen monarchy once again a true dragon dynasty.