Maester's Interlude

Following the end of what would become known was the war of the four kings, Westeros entered a decades long peace with Rhaegon Blackfyre the man known as the conqueror and the vindicated ruling for twenty years before he died one night in his sleep. His son Maegor Blackfyre continued to rule well and did all he could to ensure that peace in the southern kingdoms remained, Dorne was welcomed back into the Iron Throne's realm by the marriage of Maegor Blackfyre's son and heir Aeron Blackfyre to Princess Gwyneth Yronwood, the Dornish this time round were accepted much more openly by the court and were seen not as villains but as equals and contemporaries, by a largely pro Blackfyre court. Under first King Rhaegon and then King Maegor, overtures were made to the north to establish some sort of warmer relationship, but King Benjen III Stark refused to act anything but cordial with the Blackfyres still angered by the death of his beloved sister Shiera, it was only following some sort of trip beyond the wall that King Benjen Stark decided to take a different tact with the Blackfyres and things began to become warmer between to the two kingdoms.

In the southern kingdoms, especially in the Westerlands and the Riverlands the two kingdoms most affected by the war much work was done in order to bring peace and stability back to the regions. Lord Robb Reyne the Lord of Casterly Rock by virtue of his marriage to Myrcella Lannister used the gold from the Rock and from the mines around his ancestral home of Castamere to refurbish and rebuild the Westerlands, something that earnt him the love and respect of many of the Westerlords something that the Lannisters had never had. In the Riverlands, Edmure Tully ascended to Lordship of the Riverlands and married Allyria Dayne the aunt of war hero Jon Stark, Tully worked closely with the Iron Throne and with his nephew Robert Arryn to see the Riverlands healed from the war that had torn them apart, Houses Darry, Goodbrook and Smallwood were all extinguished in the male lines by the end of King Rhaegon reign on the Iron Throne. In the Reach, the Osgreys continued as overlords though House Tyrell were granted the lands and incomes of Brightwater Keep and lived up to their motto of Growing Strong. Maelys Blackfyre the youngest child of both Visenya Stark and Borros Reyne was given castle Dragonwood by his cousin Rhaegon Blackfyre, Dragonwood being the old seat of Daemon Blackfyre, the black dragon was seen as a great honour by many in court and made Maelys Blackfyre a much sort after suitor.

In the kingdom of the north and Iron Islands, King Benjen III Stark ruled well into his eighties, seeing just one other rebellion during that time. Led by man simply known as the Head, the Head gathered some 5,000 free folk to his side before being put down by Tormund Giantsbane. It appeared that Benjen Stark developed something of a fierce reputation amongst the northern, Ironborn and sistermen lords as well as amongst the free folk, though not martial in nature, Benjen Stark was known as a greenseer and as such this gave him the edge over many of his would be foes and made sure that all of them did their best to remain on his good side. With his wife Val, Benjen had six children, his eldest children were the twins Bael and Lyanarra named after the famous duo from the song, he then had two boys named Edrick and Edwyn and two girls named Sansa and Serena. Bael grew up to be a fine young lad, strong and martially minded a man who inspired confidence from his father's lords and other retainers. Edwyn and Edrick became their brother's right and left hand's in councils towards the end of their father's reigns both of them pushing hard for what their brother wanted and ensuring that his will got done. Bael was wed to Alysanne Ryswell of the Rills whilst, Edwyn was wed to Sigorn Thenn's daughter by Alys Karstark Robyn. Edrick joined the Winter's Guard and soon became its Lord Commander. Benjen's daughters Lyanarra, Sansa and Serena all made matches that would strengthen their father's hold over his kingdom. Lyanarra wed the heir to the Iron Islands Borros Greyjoy, whilst Sansa wed Tormund Giantsbane's grandson Mag and Serena wed Brandon Sisterstark the lord of the Three Sisters.

In Volantis, the long peace that had lasted through much of King Maegor Targaryen's rule ended with his death. Killed by an assassin, his son King Vaegor spent much of his own reign fighting those from Yunkai, Meeren and Astapor who wished to see a new dynasty installed on the Black Throne. In the end King Vaegor's reign lasted for ten bloody years in which he crushed seven wars in total, it is interesting to note that during that time he had the support of all of his noblemen in the territories ruled by Volantis. His son King Rhaego I however faced some rebellions in Lys and Myr that took roughly five years to crush, and once they were ended House Targaryen of Volantis' rule over their kingdom was secure and Essos once again bowed to the might of dragons.

The chaos that had begun when Daemon Blackfyre, the original Blackfyre had rebelled, had caused chaos for generations following his death, and with the ascension of his descendant Rhaegon Blackfyre, peace was finally achieved for good in Westeros. It was something that all rejoiced in and something that truly seemed as if it would last, the everlasting peace that Aegon the Conqueror had foreseen for his people and his children when he had taken the throne, had finally been achieved,. Though of course how long it lasted was for anyone to guess, after all this was Westeros that was spoken of, and nothing is certain as long as the game of thrones and the game of ice and fire is played.