A/N - Reyna's POV. The godswood in the chapter is for the gods of the Shadowlanders, who are sort of like the old gods, but not really.
"They say Queen Bellona was one of the greatest swordswoman Westeros has ever seen. They say she could single-handedly take down three seasoned fighters. They say she was a warrior queen, twice the ruler than any of the Grace kings," said Ser Michael, looking rebellious.
"I know what they say about my ancestor, ser. What is the point in bringing it up now?" asked Lady Reyna.
They were sitting on the opposite sides of the campfire, a little way away from the road, their horses tethered to a nearby tree. It was war time and the number of travellers had increased fivefold. Everyone was flocking to Olympus. The amount of people on the road increased as they got closer to the capital. Now, they were a day away from the city.
"Westeros could do with a warrior queen," said the knight. "I have had enough drunken sots ruling the Three Kingdoms."
"What you speak is treason, ser," said Reyna, fighting to keep a smile off her face. "If the wrong ears hear you, your head would be on a pike. Mine too."
"There is no one here, my lady," Ser Michael said, lowering his voice nonetheless. "Do you think the prince will be successful in his endeavours?"
"I think you had better keep your loudmouth shut when we get to Olympus," sniped Reyna. "It's a good thing you're a fine fighter, or else I might have left you behind a long time ago."
"I'm just trying to make conversation," said her companion sullenly.
"Go to sleep, ser. I'll take first watch. Your conversation can wait for better places," said Reyna, dismissively.
The knight made a resigned face at her and settled into his thread-bare blanket. It was not that Ser Michael was a bad conversationalist, just that he had no sense of discretion after drinking mead.
The silence was acute now, apart from the occasional nickering of the horses. There was no wind blowing, making the atmosphere still like before an impending storm. Firelight flickered in the small space where they were camped. The trees around Reyna seemed like wraiths. A sickle shaped moon shone upon the world, accompanied by millions of stars.
Reyna had to stay awake for most of the night, so she took care not to get too comfortable. In the eerie atmosphere, ensconced among trees older than any living man, Reyna felt her thoughts drifting to the carnage that was sure to come to the city lying ahead of her.
Ser Michael's question had pricked at her side like an errant thorn. Did she think that the prince would be successful?
Reyna had known him since she was a child. The prince had been sent to be fostered at Greatspear when he was ten. He had a great affinity with arms even at that age. Both of them had trained side by side with Ser Halycon Green, the master-at-arms at Greatspear.
She had known King Zeus by his reputation long before she had met him. He had a host of bastards running around in Westeros; it was rumoured that he had a bastard in every Free City of Essos. After his wife, Queen Beryl of Lys left him and his daughter, Princess Thalia ran away, he had been driven to the extreme end of his insanity. The Hand of the King, Lord Aeolus Aire, had been governing the Kingdoms since then. He was the one who sent Prince Jason to Greatspear.
Reyna had always thought that she and Jason would get married once they grew up. But, when Jason had come of age, he had gone back to Olympus, to take his place as the prince of the realm. He had fought like a beast in the War of the Typhoon King, earning himself the title, the Young Eagle. Reyna had fought with Jason in that war, beside him every step of the way. They had been through so much together that the marriage had seemed inevitable to Reyna after that. But the next time she saw him, Jason was married to Lady Piper of House McLean.
Still, she believed in the prince. Her admiration for him was far above the reproductive frenzy of common human relationships. She believed that when he inherited the Iron Throne, Westeros would be a better place.
Then, Lord Nico di Angelo had rebelled and they had ridden off to war again. When the bannermen were called by her sister, Hylla, the lady of Greatspear, she knew that they were on the wrong side of the war. She had gone with King Zeus' army only because of her belief in the prince.
Now that the prince had suddenly opened his eyes to his father's tyranny, Reyna could only hope that he would succeed in bringing true peace to the realm. Lord Nico di Angelo was a great man, if the small folk of the Shadowlands were to be believed. But Reyna hoped he was a good man, for the sake of the realm and the sake of her prince.
The moon had climbed to the apex of the sky by the time Reyna had broken her lofty train of thought. She blinked her sore eyes at the fire and poked at Ser Michael until he woke up.
"We ride at sunrise," Reyna reminded him as she set up her temporary bed. Then she turned away from the light and fell into a dreamless sleep.
By the time Reyna and her talkative companion were ready to travel, the colours of the world around them was in sharp focus. They planned to reach the capital by sunset and for that, they had to be fast. Their horses were well fed and rested and getting to Olympus would be no great task.
They travelled along the Kingsroad for the rest of the journey which ran to Olympus in a straight line, cutting across the kingswood. To Reyna's relief, Ser Michael Kahale did not try to make awkward conversation with her again.
Reyna could see the city looming ahead of them when they were a few miles out; its opulence dwarfing the surrounding countryside. When they finally reached it, the sun had almost set, painting everything a vivid hue of orange. The Gold Keep seemed like it was on fire, the golden hue merging and shimmering under the light.
There was a line of farm wagons at the main gate. When Reyna and Ser Michael rode into the city, none of the guards challenged them; her banner was too well-known. The Red God's worshippers were everywhere. The Red Priest, Octavian had rode to battle with Jason. It had empowered the foreign religion even more, encouraging them to dig their roots into Westeros. It seemed to Reyna like no one worshipped the Seven anymore.
"I must get to the princess," said Reyna, whispering softly to her companion. "Find yourself a room in a cheap inn. And try not to get noticed or get drunk."
"But how will I know if you are in trouble?" asked Ser Michael.
"I am Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arellano. I don't get into trouble," she said, sitting up in her saddle and treating the knight with a haughty glare.
"You know, Prince Jason sent both of us here, not just you," said Ser Michael, looking offended.
Reyna softened her glare and said, "I need you outside the castle, ser. If I am somehow incapacitated, it will be up to you and only you to save her."
Ser Michael's defensive look melted a bit and he gave a sharp nod before riding off, presumably to search for living quarters.
I wonder what it's like to live with all that ego, thought Reyna while riding up to the castle. Then she chuckled to herself at the irony. Her ego wasn't all that small either. Her horse, Scipio, whinnied like he agreed to the sentiment. The people of the city crowded the streets, most of them making for the tiny temple of the Red God on the opposite side of town. The fire they lit every dusk was about to burn.
By the time Reyna reached the royal stables, it was considerably darker. The stable-boy seemed startled to see her. Behind him a girl giggled, not even trying to hide her nakedness. She raised her eyebrows and handed him Scipio's reins, patting the horse's muzzle and asking the boy to feed him.
"If you're not too busy, that is," threw Reyna behind her back, making her way to seek audience with the princess, a smirk sneaking onto her face.
The Gold Keep was a vast castle, very easy to get lost in. Princess Piper lived in Amalthea's Holdfast, a castle within a castle. There was a wide moat surrounding it and only a handful of people were allowed inside. There were two McLean guards outside the open drawbridge.
"I seek audience with the princess," said Reyna, addressing the shorter guard.
"May I ask on what business, my lady?" asked the guard, the white dove on his armour glowing eerily in the half darkness.
"I am here on behalf of Prince Jason Grace. It is an urgent matter which concerns her," replied Reyna patiently.
The shorter guard nodded and gestured to the taller one, who turned around disappeared into the building. Fires had now flickered into existence around them. She imagined the scores of people gathered around R'hllor's great fire, chanting to him to keep them safe. It was nice to have that much faith in a god, an intangible power. Since she was a child she had put precious little faith in anything, apart from herself. Yet she believed in the prince, the belief a paradox contradicting all her principles. The McLean guard's return caused her to look up.
"The princess will see you right away, my lady," said the guard, almost reluctantly. "I will escort you to her chambers."
Reyna gave him a curt nod and followed him into the keep. Freshly lit torches lined the walls and they were met by servants scurrying along, their eyes averted. They climbed a few staircases and came to a halt in front of a gilded door flanked by more McLean guards.
"You can go right in, my lady," said one of the guards at the door.
She absent-mindedly thanked him and pushed through the extravagant doors. The room on the other side was just as extravagant. Expensive Tyroshi rugs were on the floor while Myrish tapestries depicting different cities hung on the walls. Some purple Braavosi fabric made up the curtains hanging by the window. Princess Piper herself was seated in chair near the windows looking out over the stinking city. She was dressed simply, at odds with the room, and looked deep in thought but rose to greet Reyna when she heard her enter.
"Welcome to Olympus, my lady," said the princess, offering Reyna a smile which did not quite reach her eyes.
Reyna curtseyed to her, which was quite a feat in her armour and said, "It is good to be here, my lady."
"Have a seat," said Piper, gesturing to one of her chairs.
"What brings you to our fair city?" asked Princess Piper once they settled into their seats, her voice not betraying any of her emotions.
"The prince himself sent me, my lady," replied Reyna, skirting around the subject of her visit.
"Yes, my guards said that. But, what really brings you here? My husband is not dead, is he?" questioned the princess, a sliver of concern worming into her tone.
"No, my lady. The prince is alive and well. He marches on Sea Harbour as we speak," said Reyna, clearly sensing the need to allay some of the princess' worries. Then lowering her voice, she whispered, "Can you guarantee that we won't be overheard here, my lady?"
"That is a relief to hear, my lady," said Princess Piper, subtly inclining her head towards the godswood clearly visible through the window. Then she abruptly got up and said, "Come, we shall take a walk."
Outside the room, her guards fell into step with them. They walked at a sedate pace like they were in no hurry. The princess was greeted politely by many people on the way and they could feel greedy eyes lingering on them wherever they went. The godswood itself was deserted and quite dark, the quickly darkening sky overhead, a weak blue. They hadn't brought a torch with them and the guards stood at the entrance of the godswood.
"Minos' spies are everywhere," said Princes Piper, her voice sounding queer among the sighing trees. "He calls them his little birds."
"I guessed, my lady," replied Reyna, wondering whether there were any little birds hiding among the trees.
"Why are you here?" asked the princess, her tone suggesting she would tolerate no nonsense.
Good, thought Reyna. She wasn't at Olympus to simper and flatter, she was there to serve the realm.
"I am here to take you to your husband," replied Reyna simply.