Daenerys sat upon the iron throne, her royal bottom cushioned by a velvet pillow stuffed with the softest of downy feathers plucked from northern Ice Geese. Sometimes called Stark Swans for their roosting territory in the heart of the cold north, some had joked that with the diminished power of the Starks in the world they should replace their Direwolf sigil with a Stark Swan. A few even suggested that In concert with a sigil change their motto "Winter is Coming" ought to be changed to "Breakfast is Coming" (due to the legendary size of Ice Goose eggs), or the more cruel but succinct "We Laid an Egg."
Whatever the case, with most of the Starks gone and only Sansa left to re-build Winterfell, the fowl that lived in the North were a lesser concern than the wights and white walkers that it was now exporting. The terrors of winter had come and they were headed south, slowed only by valiant soldiers holding them back with fire, dragon glass and cold steel.
Daenerys knew that her newly won throne would not be worth ruling from if the tide was not halted or repelled soon. She also knew many expected her to employ her dragons in defense of the realm. This was something to be considered with care, for as much as she enjoyed being the mother of the people, being mother to her dragons was somewhat closer to her heart. Until she was sure that the rumored ice dragons could be safely vanquished by fire she was unwilling to risk the only three dragons known to exist. Winter would eventually end, wouldn't it?
For now she must get her Kingdom in order, and that meant dealing with past wrongs to her family and more present threats to her rule. Which was why at this moment the great hall was filled with the most influential, favored, and/or least trusted people of Westeros, all awaiting an event nearly as salacious as the trial of Eddard Stark and his subsequent beheading. Jaime Lannister now stood before the iron throne, chained but not broken, head bowed, yet not subservient in his bearing or expression.
Looking over the crowd Daenerys saw the Kingslayer's whore, Brienne of Tarth, tension in every line of her, her hands opening and closing as though if she flexed them often enough the swords she had been made to surrender outside might magically appear. She really did present quite the figure there amongst the silk and embroidery covered crowd. Aside from her height and bearing, her plain leather garb, faded from what might once have been a bright blue to a worn grey, set her apart. As did her face; the lines of her mouth were drawn down in a fierce grimace, her chin was raised defiantly, and her blue eyes were riveted on the Kingslayer. It was said that she was called Brienne the Beauty, an obvious jape due to her unattractive features. Daenerys did not see the humor in the name. Brienne's eyes were exceptionally beautiful in color and shape, and while her features were not those of a traditional beauty, or a non-traditional one at that, Dany thought they were distinctive and intriguing. Having traveled through many lands on her way to the throne, Daenerys had seen people of many different appearances, which included people with generously plump lips, women of great height, tribes with freckles and other pigment not often seen in Westeros, along with men and women very heavily muscled, either because of their ancestry or the chores of their daily lives. Scars, too, were common everywhere, though the one on Brienne's cheek seemed fairly unusual in shape. To Daenerys, Brienne was not deserving of her epithet; she merely wondered if Brienne's forbears got around quite a lot.
As a Targaryen this was an interesting question, since the Targaryen line was kept quite pure through not breeding outside the family. Aside from that little incident with Rhaegar, it was unheard of to cleave to someone not silver of hair and lavender of eye. This was also why the question of the Kingslayer's fathering with his sister of the last two kings to sit the throne was of little concern to her. To be honest, the thought that Robert Baratheon, pretender to the throne, had been cuckolded by his wife was a delicious little bit of retribution.
Jaime Lannister was here to answer for killing her father, King Aegon Targaryen. Dany had never known her father, but even as far away as Pentos, where she and her over-reaching brother had lived while awaiting the opportunity to regain the throne, people spoke of "Mad King Aerys". Whispered it, really, when she or her brother were about. As king, didn't he have the right to be mad? Certainly her departed brother was often mad at the smallest things. She recalled that he once became enraged over soggy noodles and threatened to tweak the nipples of a serving woman for it. He was awfully fond of tweaking when he was in a poor humor. Good thing she was never betrothed to him, she thought with a little shiver. Now this Lannister fellow, she could see a sister wedding and bedding him with no hesitation at all. But the Kingslayer was not a king, and one only became a queen by marrying one or de-throning one. In this instance, she almost felt sorry for the sullen and slutty Cersei Baratheon, former queen and up next in her procession of prisoners.
Schooling her features to appear stern and hopefully less inexperienced at sitting a throne, Daenerys nodded to Missandei, her speaker, to begin the trial.
"Jaime Lannister, known as Kingslayer, member of the King's guard, you will answer before this throne for the death of King Aerys Targaryen, second of his name. Do you deny that it was by your hand that the rightful king died?"
There were titters throughout the room as people were reminded that Jaime no longer had the hand in question. Even Jaime might have smirked, though it could just be a nervous twitch under his overgrown beard. Brienne did not react, except to draw in a long breath and flick her eyes up to Missandei.
Jaime raised his head, looked Queen Daenerys in the eye and said in a carrying voice, "That is true." No one had expected him to deny it. Many present wondered why the new queen hadn't simply taken his head to decorate one of the spikes around the Red Keep.
The queen nodded again to Missandei who said "King Aerys Targaryen's daughter, Queen Daenerys Targaryen, second of her name and Queen of the Andals and the First Men, seeks to know why you committed this treason."
Jaime Lannister did grin then, and asked "If I answer well will she release me? I've had enough of being in chains for a lifetime." He rattled the chains that hung from his left wrist and were also tightly clamped above his right elbow. "I'm not asking for a Stark Swan pillow or anything, but I do promise never to do it again."
The great hall erupted in a confused mixture of outrage with scattered guffaws quickly converted into coughing fits. Daenerys spoke quickly and coldly "Kingslayer you are called, and you have laid claim to that name before this hall. Your punishment is in my hands. You will tell me of my father's death."
At this Jaime turned slowly, looking in the crowd for Brienne. When he found her he raised his eyebrows at her in question and she mouthed "Tell her!" her eyes widening in exasperation and fear. So Jaime began: he told of King Aerys' madness for fire, his lust for torture, his plan to cook King's Landing with caches of wild fire. "I am sorry to say, your Grace, that slaying your father may have been my finest act. I took no pleasure in it and I have taken no pride in it. This is only the second time I have ever spoken the truth of King Aerys. The first time was to the Maid of Tarth after I lost the hand that slew your father."
"Why did you speak of it to her? Why not before then, or even afterwards, when you might have found favor for your 'deed'?"
"I trusted Brienne then as I do now, and I've been spilling my guts to her ever since. Also," he paused and lowered his voice "I felt my own death might be at hand." More titters. What is sofunnyabout amputation, thought Daenerys.
"So, 'Mad' King Aerys? You are telling me he was crazy, that his mind was broken?"
"He was not just grumpy, your Grace."
Daenerys suppressed a smile of her own. Her brother had been both grumpy and crazy. The ember does not land far from the fire, she thought.
With a graceful wave of her hand she said airily, "All Targaryens are somewhat mad for fire." and allowed that to sink in with her new subjects. "Fortunately, I do not have to resort to wild fire, nor secrecy. I have dragons."
In the great hall there seemed to be a collective holding of breath. This new queen, this pretty, petite, dangerous queen, had them all straining forward to hear what she intended with such an inflammatory statement. Daenerys was not inclined to relieve their curiosity. Let them wonder, let them fear. Too bad her dragons had grown too big to be in the hall with her, it would have been very satisfying to have some of her larger unsullied fling a sheep into the air so they could watch Drogon catch it in his mouth and swallow it whole. She had been trying to train him to roast it with fire as it flew through the air for a more terrifying display, but alas the only time he had got it right the still flaming sheep had seared his throat and given him an awful case of flame reflux. Drogon was never docile even with his mother, and after that he had been surly for days.
The queen let them stew for a moment as she studied Ser Jaime. Even with his missing hand he was quite an attractive man. Not in comparison to her sun and stars Drogo, but certainly far more appealing than her other husband Hizdahr, who was out kissed by a fish. As Jaime stood before her awaiting her judgment she had the leisure to study him: his winter darkened golden hair, his untrimmed beard, his compelling green eyes, which studied her just as avidly, if not for the same reasons. She knew she should allow Ser Barristan, who stood with utmost dignity and patience behind her throne, to execute his fellow member of the old King's Guard. She also knew that Ser Jorah in his secret jealousy of any man he suspected of catching her eye would be delighted to take on that duty as well. Poor Ser Jorah, perhaps she could find him a high maintenance wife to keep him busy and take his mind off of his obsession with her. For a strong and capable man he could just be so needy in his infatuation.
No one in the crowd could have suspected how Dany's mind had wandered for just a moment, but she was still a young woman for all of her accomplishments and power. Back to the matter at hand, she glanced up at Brienne, who was stolidly staring at her now instead of at her rumored and possibly doomed lover. Such an interesting pair, and the stories and even songs made about them had reached her ears even as she made her way to the seven kingdoms. Daenerys wondered if any of them were true. That story about the bear had bard blather written all over it. Would a crippled man on his way to freedom really go back to rescue a woman he hardly knew from a big bear in a pit? And without a weapon other than his own diminished value to the hand of the king? But he had said he trusted the tall woman, and perhaps there was more to the tale. Was it a romance for the ages or was the affection one-sided as it was with her and Jorah Mormont? An intriguing question and one that caught at whatever romance hadn't been burned from her heart along with Drogo.
Dany glanced to the far side of the dais where the Kingslayer's brother stood suppressing any emotion he felt at his brother's trial. She had grown very fond of Tyrion and felt for him as he stood apart from his family and their crimes.
Daenerys gestured to Missandei, who addressed the hall, "The Queen has made her decision regarding Ser Jaime Lannister, known as Goldenhand and Kingslayer."
After discreetly making sure none of her garments were snagged on the prickly parts of the iron throne, Queen Daenerys stood, Sers Jorah and Barristan moving forward to flank her.
"Jaime Lannister, you are sentenced to take the Silver. You will be sent to fight the threat coming from the north. You will face almost certain death in defending my realm. In this way you will pay for your crimes and either perish or win your redemption."
Smoothly Missandei intoned "Taking the Silver, named for the silver hair of the true Targaryen rulers, is distinguished by a commitment to combat whatever forces seek to harm the seven kingdoms and rule of the Targaryen dynasty. The appointment is for life, and the punishment for abandonment of the duties required is death. Those who have taken the silver may be known by their sigil, a silver dragon rampant on a purple field. We do not ask that you be willing to give your life if needed in service, we demand it. "Missandei paused at this point, knowing that even though everyone present had heard the terms of Taking the Silver before, this point provided drama and emphasis. She continued, "Unlike the so-called crows of the wall, we do not require your celibacy. We would not have our warriors neutered in spirit as our unsullied were in body. Those who hold lands and titles will give over those possessions to the crown, to be held in trust for times of peace. In this way those who may consider themselves too grand to serve with lesser men and women may be motivated to strive to regain those lands in time through exemplary service and sacrifice."
Into the brief silence Brienne could be heard to gasp in relief at this reprieve. Jaime himself seemed to be struggling not to roll his eyes. "You may speak," Missandei told him.
"This I will willingly do, for I was in the north already fighting the wights and white walkers when I was seized and brought to trial."
"Jaime!" Brienne hissed behind him. Clearly she had more sense than to bait the queen who had just sentenced the Kingslayer, and leniently at that. Jaime did not look chagrinned in the least, he bit his lip to hold back a little smile, whether pleased at Brienne's concern or feeling too clever for his own good Daenerys did not know. She narrowed her eyes at him and did not give him the satisfaction of a reply. She settled gracefully back onto the throne.
"Remove his chains but return him to his cell." She said, with a little thrust of her chin at the Unsullied ranged around him. His arms were grasped by the soldiers and they turned him around to make his way through the crowd. Their path took them past Brienne, who looked down at him as he deliberately brushed up against her in passing.
"Idiot." She said, but a small smile curved her mouth and a dimple appeared in her un-marred cheek. She looked as though she might trail after the Unsullied leading Jaime out when Missandei again began to speak.
"Bring forth Cersei Lannister Baratheon!"
Brienne stilled and turned back to the face the throne, a curious glint in her eye.
Cersei was brought out in chains as well. For all that she had been disgraced and shorn not so long ago, Cersei entered with her dignity intact, her hair short but perfectly framing her small face, and her expression secure in knowing every eye would be drinking in her renowned beauty. How, thought Daenerys, could a woman seem to make chains a fashion choice? Cersei did not smile, for hers was not a face for pleasing expressions when confronted by another woman, or by most men for that matter. I could learn from this woman, thought Dany, before she thrust the thought away. Still, Cersei had the queenly experience that Daenerys lacked and in a way she admired her spirit.
Glancing up at Brienne, Dany caught her brief flash of annoyance at seeing Cersei seemingly unaffected by her imprisonment.
Cersei, seeing that she had the attention of the court, dropped a perfect curtsy to the new queen, a curtsy so calculated as to not give offense yet not give satisfaction either. I wonder if she practiced that in her cell Dany thought with a little smile, let's see how she likes what I have planned.
"Cersei Lannister Baratheon you are brought before her Grace, Queen Daenerys Stormborn, Queen of the seven Kingdoms, as a former queen and queen regent, to formally relinquish the titles and privledges that were yours during and after the false reign of Robert Baratheon, Joffrey Baratheon and Tommen Baratheon."
Cersei's expression did not change, but somehow the room, already too cool even with all of the huge braziers lit, seemed to drop in temperature by several degrees.
Missandei continued "You are not formally accused of any crime, as the crown does not recognize treasons to a pretender to the throne. In her mercy Queen Daenerys will spare your life, but you will never again pretend to a higher station than you should have had. Nor will you be able to claim the station you relinquished, that of Lady Lannister, daughter to Tywin Lannister of Casterly Rock." Cersei's eyelids may have lowered a bit at that, but as she appeared bored by the proceedings she could merely be feigning an urge to sleep.
"You will henceforth be known only as Cersei Waters and your station will be servant to the assistant of the royal cook." At this a horrified gasp was heard in the audience, presumably from the head cook, though it might have come from Varys, who loved his food and knew of the lady's penchant for poison.
Missandei glanced at Daenerys for any further word and was waved on to continue. "You have permission to speak before your Queen."
Cersei's expressive eyebrows drew down in fury over her sparking eyes as she said in a low, haughty voice "A servant? To an assistant? Of a cook? I'd sooner take the silver."
Daenerys laughed delightedly, "Done!" she said, turning to smile at her knights, "Ser Barristan, see that Cersei is outfitted in armor and given some instruction in using a sword. She will be leaving with the next unit of Silvers in a fortnight."
Barristan's face lit with glee as he spoke from his place behind Daenerys, "Though she may be a little old to learn, it would be my pleasure to see to her readiness for the campaign."