Disclaimer: I don´t own neither OUTA nor GOT. Wish I have that imagination, but nope. Enjoy.
GRAHAM
His footsteps echoed in the middle of the night, and for a moment, Graham feared the clatter was as harsh in the castle as it was to his own ears. He could not afford to alert the guards or the Princess was as good as dead.
For a moment, he allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief. Snow White was at least some hours ahead, and if he did what he had indicated and took the alternate path he had marked on the map instead of taking the King's Road, one would suppose this to be an advantage that couldn't be wasted.
But the castle was unusually quiet tonight, and the silence made the bile rise in his stomach. If there was something he had learned well, it was that silence could predict dark shadows, and those shadows were the sirens of death. Especially if the one manipulating the shadows, with long, slender, white fingers, was Queen Regina.
Inside the gates of the Red Keep, nobody dared to directly accuse the Queen of witchcraft. But the eyes saw, the walls heard, and mouths whispered. They said the Queen worshiped the God of Fire and Shadow, Lord of Light ― R'hollor.
Graham knew that not even that demon-god could possess such dark powers over the land of the living. As Lord Commander of the Royal Guard, it was his duty to protect the King and his legacy, but though this position required compliance of the utmost degree, no one had told him that certain situations would render him blind, deaf, and dumb if needed.
Which was quite often. Especially when it came to the Queen. You had to protect the King, yes. But how do you protect him from himself? The man would never believe that his wife was his deadliest enemy, and probably the only one in all Westeros who wanted him dead most.
In the end, what killed Leopold Stark was no poison but his own naïve, trusting heart.
Still, he should have warned Leopold, he should have said something. It was his duty.
«If only I had told the King my suspicions, perhaps it would be the Queen´s body now cooling in the grave, and not his» Deep down, he realized this would have been useless confidence. The Queen had bribed almost every guard in the city, and what was even more disturbing was the fact that the rest of his White Cloak brothers owed her more loyalty than they had ever given the King.
Panting, he reached Maegor Tower, where the Queen´s chambers were situated. He settled his armor and adjusted his belt, with his sword swinging around his waist. Until now, Graham had not really had a chance to use it. The King was such a benevolent person with a noble heart, one that swords only would rise to protect, never other way, and therefore the work of the Royal Guard consisted mainly in accompanying king. Absently, he ran his hand over the smooth surface of the iron hilt and wondered if finally the time had come to remove the blade from its scabbard.
«I am alone, for no one will dare to accuse the Queen of murder. I have to do this. If she dies, the kingdom will have peace» The thought brought him sadness. There was a possibility that this night would end with the tip of his sword buried into the Queen´s heart. «But it is not treason," he told himself. «I will be fulfilling my oath by protecting the heir to the Iron Throne. Lady Regina is the traitor ― she murdered the King»
Graham remembered clearly the first time he had set foot in King's Landing. Being the eldest son of Lord Tarly of Horn Hill and only fifteen years old, he had also been the only Tarly son who could be part of the tournament held in honor of the King's name-day. He remembered the thrill that ran through his veins whenever his fingers tightened the bow and aimed an arrow. If he closed his eyes, even now after so many years, he could still feel the weight of the quiver on his back, the texture of the wooden bow made of weirwood, and the whistling sounds that arrows made before their tips hit their targets with a thud. That year, he had won the archer's turn, defeating older and more experienced men.
Two moons later, a raven with a message from the King had come to Horn Hill, inviting him to be part of the Royal Guard. And even if he hadn't been particularly inclined to exchange arrows for a sword and armor, he knew he could not reject the King's offer. Even if he was a very kindhearted man, a negative answer could offend any man. So he accepted to wear white.
In two years time, he was named Lord Commander of the Royal Guard ― the youngest in the Charge. That gained him both love and respect...but also envy.
"Don´t mind them kid," cautioned the previous Lord Commander, a tall and well built man, with silver hair and severe eyes. "You´re now a leader, but you are not a leader like a king is. If the times comes, you will be the one giving rougher orders. A king may decide the course of a battle ― if the King is a good one, otherwise even that will be up to you ― but you are the one who leads the sword, the first to die if your king is in danger, and the last to fall, fighting and defending your king´s cause.
"You´re now the rock that holds up the swords, but do not forget that even if we are brothers, you will never be the same to them. They will no longer share their jokes with you, nor treat you as they did till now. No, you´re a figure of authority, so they are not only your allies but also your subordinates. Their friendship is not what you should be asking from them. However their respect you shall not lose. A commander without respect is no more than a jester."
The years have took from him the ability to be fast and see far, that which gave him glory in his younger days. He was too old to be in charge anymore, but not to leave his sworn brother. Yet the kind smile on his face that day softened the deep lines that marked his skin. Graham wanted nothing more than to return the burden of command to him, since he knew he wouldn't ever be able to fill these shoes.
He was a great man. And he had died, amid greatness, a year earlier.
«When did I lose my brothers respect?» Graham could almost picture the disappointed look the previous Lord Commander would give him in this instance.
Once outside the door of the Queen´s room, he noted the absence of the guards who were assigned to her safekeeping. Pushing on the doors, he entered without ceremony.
The Queen was there, so serene that she seemed not to notice his sudden presence. The fervent slam of the door against the wall had not altered her. The flames of the fire reflected from her long, black hair and made her skin shine brightly. She was a beautiful woman, and all knew it ― especially her. Her black robe was heavily adorned with huge dark amethysts from Dorme that were embedded in waist, sleeves and bodice swirling around her body, cleavage reaching low down to a very tight waist, slits on the full skirt cutting up to the thigh elegantly. She was indeed a very beautiful woman.
"Sir Graham, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence tonight?" Her back was still facing him, but her head had partially turned his way, letting her loose hair dance from the movement. Her piercing dark eyes were exposed to Graham.
"Lady Regina... I have information about the King´s murder."
She turned completely and sat on the edge of her huge bed. Graham knew he wasn't imagining her sneer. "Oh, really? Well, do go on." The arrogant smile that curved her full red lips and her sharp eyes gave her pale face an unmistakably cruel expression.
"As you know, Master Hopper says the King was poisoned, but it was not anything in his food or his drink." He paused to gauge her reaction, but Queen Regina´s face remained stony. This was not new information for her, as Sir Graham understood. "Master Hopper found two small fang marks behind his left ear ― it was a snake's work. And it just so happens that two days ago, a boat from the city of the sorcerers of Garth made port…with goods for the King's Hand. The ship's crew ensures that one of the chests made strange sounds in the night, like hissing."
She replaced her icy mask for one of perfect surprise and grief, her eyes seemingly filled with tears. "You mean Sidney? But that's not possible ― that ship brought gifts for my daughter, the Princess. I told him myself to deliver the merchandise to Snow´s room. 'Untouched, and completely intact,' I ordered him." She faked a horrified grasp. "If someone were to open the chest…"
"I know what you're implying. And I also know the princess would never hurt her father. If anything, the princess was the one in danger. If Sidney was the one who personally ordered all those objects, he is the one to blame... But of course, he didn't act alone. He does nothing without your request. You were not very discreet, My Lady."
Regina blinked and once again her expression changed, cruel mask returning.
"Discreet, you said, Ser?" Her confident laugh was a rich sound, almost hiding bitter contempt that made him swallow hard. "I've been discreet for far too long, but with my husband dead, why I should be subtle anymore? No man in all King´s Landing would even dream of harming me; therefore, no one will accuse me or do anything with what they know. You believe that you´re the first person to come to this conclusion? Ha, there were more than a few who knew what was coming in that ship, and none of them did a thing to stop me. Where people's loyalty lies depends on what you can offer them. Leopold might have had a lot of rewards to give ― but I have more, and those who were loyal to my husband unto his death were as trusting as he. As idiots as he was. He did me a favor when he filled the Red Keep with fools, while the other half was my own people, of course.
"You were always very smart, my dear Graham. Since I convinced my husband to bring you and make you part of the Royal Guard after that tournament, I must admit that I always hoped you'd come to me of your own accord. If you give yourself a chance, I could be very good to you."
She was so close to him that the smell of incense that perfumed her skin and the warmth given off by her body made him dizzy. For the first time in all the years he had served in the King's Landing, almost innocent eyes changed her face into something ethereal. "I would never accept such a proposition. When I agreed to use the white, I took an oath: I will not take a wife, nor inherit land, and I will serve the legitimate king until death overtakes me. I swore to protect the lawful king, the one that you murdered, and nothing you can offer me will buy my silence. The folk inside this castle may be yours, but out there, an entire Kingdom loves King Leopold."
These words seemed to enrage the Queen.
"Lawful King? That old man was no more than a sack of skin and fat, too weak to govern ― he came to the throne because his brother died, and anyway the Stark blood has never belonged to this place. If the Starks want to rule, then let them do it in the North. I'm sure no one would complain if they wanted to rule that piece of ice ― and for all that I care about the Starks, they can go and bury their heads in the snow they so adore. But do not worry now ― I am the Rightful Queen, so you can serve me, as you so desired.
Graham swiftly drew his sword out and its sharp tip touched her neck, but Regina reacted calmly, with an amused smile. He felt worry and fear urging him to act faster, but at the same time, they held him back. «It was possible that weapons had no effect on the sorceress, » he wondered. «Everyone dies, for swords bring nothing but death. Why is she not afraid? »
"You are not the legitimate ruler ― with all due respect, My Lady. You have no royal blood," he snapped furiously, her tranquility driving him mad.
But the words had more effect on himself than on her. Leopold Stark was not the rightful ruler, and neither was Snow White. A Targaryen might be the legitimate ruler, for only the blood of the dragon was made for a place on the Iron Throne, whose fire was made to send.
«But the last Targaryen was murdered more than half a century ago, » he said to himself. «Besides, you served a King and swore to protect him, legitimate or not. »
«You failed» An annoying whisper reminded him.
A trickle of thick red blood began to run down the Queen's neck and was lost in her cleavage. "Do not be silly, Graham," she said, pushing the sword with her fingers so easily that it seemed she was shooing a fly stupid enough to buzz around her head. "Can't you see all this is a game?
Graham began to feel tired, eyes heavy as the smell of incense intensified. Regina grabbed his chin and her hands felt icy cold. "And there are only two possible endings. Either you're with me ― or you're dead."
The sword slipped from his hand and produced an echo when it hit the marble floor.
"And another thing, dear. It´s not My Lady ― it's My Queen.
Graham then felt a blow to his chest that took his breath away.
His heart hadn't stopped beating from the moment he led to Snow White into the stables, armed her with a bow and a quiver containing twenty-four silver arrows with swan feathers, a sack of gold dragons, a few deer silver and copper stars, and saw her riding into the horizon on her steed.
But now his heart was no longer wild and free ― in fact, he barely could feel its beat anymore. Hands that once seemed cold now warmly closed around his heart. Then came the sharp pain that made him moan and blurred his vision. The agony intensified to the point that he came to ask himself why he had not fainted.
Or maybe he was already dead and didn't know it yet.
"Now you belong to me, your heart is mine."
Graham wanted to protest, but he thought that the decision was not his any longer, The will to open his mouth and answer, or go after the sword and wield it, was gone. He felt empty, empty, empty...
And when he opened his eyes, between the black spots clouding his vision, he saw a mass of flesh, red as death, dripping blood on the pale hand that held it. The mass of red meat had a strange glow and pulsed as if alive.
Life it held. His. Then he understood it was his heart. But the realization brought no fear. There was no pain.
There was simply...nothing.
A/N: So here is my firs OUTA fic, yap a GOT themed. For those who have not read the books nor seen the show, worry not I´ll be explaining enough so you understand. So I just want to explain some things: The main pairing will be Captain Swan, pairing like Snowing, Outaw Queen, frankiwolf, Red Knave, Cylice, Darling Pan and Ariel/ Erik may not appear to much but their histories will have heavy influence in the main history. This fic will be narrated usingthe Book´s "A song of fire and ice" format (Or at least I´ll try), meaning that there will be POVsofmore than one characterand not justthe main(thoughto understandbettershouldread allthePOVandthe storiesare intertwined, It´s up to you really).
Oh, and also I want to send a warm hug to my wonderful friend and beta for this, 4getfulimaginator, thank you so much darling, and thank you for give the great title too, my brain was dry and you help me out!
So what you think about this prologue? Let me know!