Chapter 9: Winter has come
Dany and her council immediately settled in the Red Keep. She had formally named Lord Tyrion her hand and Ser Barristan her Lord Commander. Aegon was named her heir, and no consort has been selected.
Dany's small council was so far made of Tyrion Lannister, Warden of the West, Varys the Spider, Ser Barristan the Bold, Nymeria Sand of Dorne, and Lady Sansa of House Stark. Positions were still in need of filling, but Dany knew they can wait. She had to solidify her hold on her people first, and that was not an easy feat at all.
Seven days after the taking of King's Landing a feast was held in honor of the new Queen. The whole city was given food and wine to celebrate. For the first time in a long time, the poor people of King's Landing had a full meal and were happy. The simple gesture eased their acceptance of the new rulers and they could not care less.
At the dinner feast, all the lords of westeros were summoned to bend the knee to Danaerys Targaryen, and most of them complied. The only ones who dared not to were to Boltons of the North. Roose Bolton had declared, that with the death of Queen Cersei Lannister, the North is to be a separate kingdom from the South and he shall be the new King in the North.
Sansa and Arya suspected the move. It was obvious that the Targaryens will return the North to them. And being the vile man that he was, Roose knew that they would make him suffer worse than the seven hells. Upon swearing fealty, they requested for a host to take back Winterfell and exterminate the Boltons. For their loyalty and part in the conquest, Danaerys gave the sisters Oathkeeper and Widow's Wail; sword that were recovered from Casterly Rock. Danaerys promised them an army of 10,000 men and gave them leave to liberate the North. The Northmen in the feast all cried out in salute and in unison spoke the Stark words, "WINTER IS COMING!"
Once all formalities were over, Aegon tried to look for Arya and bid her farewell. His eyes finally found her drinking at the end of a long table with Ser Gendry and the other North Lords. She was having a drinking contest with Greatjon Umber, and was apparently winning. Aegon hesitated his approach and was then distracted by the site of Lady Sansa exiting the room. He followed her out and called out to her.
"Lady Sansa," Aegon shouted, "where are you off to?"
"Prince Aegon," she greeted and curtsied before answering his question, "there is someone I'd been wanting to visit."
"At this hour? I think it'd be better if I escort you my Lady. That is if you'd have me?" Aegon held out his arm to her and smiled. Sansa willing took it and led him down the dungeons. The Warden stopped them a moment before he recognized who they were. Sansa curtsied and made the man blush before commanding him to take them to Cersei Lannister's cell.
"Oh hello little dove," Cersei greeted with a mad man's smile on her face. "Why have you come to visit me?"
"I only wished to see your defeated face," Sansa answered tauntingly. Aegon was surprised to see this gloating side of her. He kept his distance to give them some privacy, but stayed near enough to protect her from harm.
Cersei would have flung a slap on her had it not been for the chains that detained her. Sansa stood her ground unalarmed by the violent woman before her. "You! I always knew it would be you!. I should have let Joffrey break you into a tiny million pieces!"
"You should probably have, else he'd be the one alive and I dead," Sansa's eyes remained blank as she taunted Cersei. "You once told me that I'd have to whore myself around to fight as a woman does. Well, I'm here to tell you that you were just a lustful whore. I never headed any of your words, yet here I am Master of Laws and you the fallen Queen."
"How dare you call me a whore? I'm certain my brother has taught you all those perversions of his!"
"Lord Tyrion's not my husband anymore, He had our marriage annulled on the grounds of non-consummation.," Sansa's face began to curve into a smile as she continued. "I am still innocent, despite your greatest efforts to ruin me."
"I always thought you were the girl in the prophecy, little dove. Queen you shall be until someone younger and more beautiful comes to cast you aside and take what you hold dear," Cersei recited apparently mumbling to herself.
"You've gone mad," Sansa remarked.
"How was I supposed to know it would be that blasted Targaryen. I should have killed all of you young maidens when I had the chance! You! Margery! And that blasted dragon Queen!" Cersei shouted and screamed and tried to break free of her chains.
"Such a pitty, you're highness. But you were never fit to e Queen," Sansa then turned her back and held on to Aegon's arm so that he may escort her back. Cersei's eyes followed her and upon seeing Aegon screamed in horror.
"Rhaegar!"
They remained silent as they walked up stairs and into the gardens.
"I used to be happy here, back when my father was alive. We lived in that tower over there," She pointed to the tower of the hand and Aegon saw a tear fall down her face. "I was so happy when father brought me to court to become Joffrey's betrothed. I wanted to be Queen; it was the only thing in the world that I wanted back then. But after all the tortures this place has brought me, I'd much rather leave for Winterfell."
Aegon now understood why Sansa had to face Cersei in that manner. He could not help but hold her in his arms as she warmly welcomed him. Lady Sansa sobbed and cried in silent whimpers. They are so different from each other, Aegon thought, reflecting once again on his feelings for the Stark Sisters. They were however broken from their thoughts when snow began to fall.
"Snow," Aegon remarked in confusion, "the winds of winter have reached this far south."
Sansa looked up and saw more flakes falling, just like the one that fell on Winterfell. "This is not a good sign."
"The Long Night is fast approaching?"
"Yes, and that means the White Walkers will soon come."
They rushed back into the Great Hall and informed Danaerys of the snowfall. All the lords turned their eyes towards the windows and saw the specks of white against the blackened sky.
"The dragon must have three heads Aegon, I wonder where the last one is," Dany said in a serious and worried tone. She held on to Aegon's hand and hoped he'd answer him that Rhaenys was actually alive. But instead of the answer he'd hoped for he said, "We must ride to the Wall."
Meanwhile, at that moment, Jon Snow finally opened his eyes and the direwolves of howled while the dragons breathed their fire.