The Witch Queen of Essos
Wanda: (shuffles scripts) I'm glad this is just a four day school week.
Tyene: Aren't we all. For the disclaimer, we refer you to the first five chapters.
Chapter 10: Missing Folk
Sansa awoke late that morning. She sat up slowly and rubbed her eyes, as if that could clear away the stress and pain she had experienced for the week in which her father had been taken, leaving her at the mercy of Joffery Barantheon. Or was that Hill, now?
Though King's Landing was now under the control of her kin, Sansa was still apprehensive. She had never met her aunt, thanks to the Rebellion, the same event that forced the Targaryens to flee King's Landing for just short of twenty years. Surely Rhaegar and his sons wouldn't let that side by unpunished.
Joffery certainly wouldn't have. Sansa shuddered in memory of the person her former betrothed had transformed into the minute Cersei had her father arrested.
There was a knock on her door. Not the pounding fist of a soldier, but a soft thump like she often heard when Rickon had a bad dream and sought comfort. Uncertainly, Sansa got up and walked to the door. Taking a deep breath, she twisted the knob and opened it.
Waiting for her were two children – her youngest cousins. Daemon III Targaryen stood just an inch shorter than her brother Bran; his silver hair was wild and unkempt and his violet eyes lit upon her with undisguised curiosity. Standing next to him was his twin sister, Ginerva. Her silver hair fell down just past her shoulders; she was dressed in boys clothes much like Arya.
"Good morning cousin!" Ginerva said brightly. "Don't you want breakfast? The sun's climbed high in the sky."
"I..." Sansa hesitated, unsure of what to say. "Forgive me, Ginerva. I didn't sleep well, and I lost track of time."
"That's fine." Daemon said. "Father said that might be what ails you. Food always makes me feel better when I haven't slept well." He offered her his hand. Sansa hesitantly took it, with some care – she had heard that these two children were more frail than their siblings.
"You're much prettier in person," Ginerva decided as they started walking down the halls.
"Thank you, Princess." Sansa murmured.
Ginerva shook her head, "You don't have to call me that, Sansa! We're family. Family means never having to call us by titles." She nodded firmly at this. "Mother only had the letters to tell us what you looked like. Where's Arya staying?" Ginerva looked about the hall expectantly.
Sansa bit her lip. She hadn't seen Arya since the deaths of their Household guard. Where are you, Arya? ...oh, what was the last thing I said to you? I can't remember. I hope it wasn't anything cruel. Please, be okay. "I'm not sure."
Daemon frowned, slightly crestfallen. "Oh. I'll ask Uncle Oberyn to look for her later." He responded, his pace quickening.
Sansa's heart skipped as Daemon lead her into the Red Keep. Sandor was standing at the foot of the now duel throne; a second chair of iron had been erected. Both Aegon and Jon were seated there, while Rhaegar took the place of the Hand. His wife Lyanna stood at his side.
In front of them was Daenerys Targaryen. Behind her were Tyrion and Jamie Lannister. Sansa was astounded at Jamie Lannister, the Kingslayer, was standing unbound before the family who's father he had killed. Surely they weren't doing so out of fear of Tywin – not after Rhaegar crowned his sons.
Lyanna glanced to the right and caught sight of her. "Lord Tyrion, the hospitality of the Red Keep is yours. Jamie must be near you at all times." She commanded.
Tyrion bowed and shuffled out, Jamie at his heels. Jamie paused and looked over his shoulder as if looking for someone. When he didn't find that person, he disappeared into the hallway.
Daenerys, Jon and Aegon all turned to face her. Sansa swallowed slightly.
Jon stood up and walked down the stairs. "Sansa," He said with a friendly smile. "I'm glad to see you awake."
"T-Thank you, cousin." Sansa said nervously.
"Call me Jon." Her cousin said as he came to a stop in front of her. "Are you alright? Did that bastard hurt you?"
"I – I am well." Sansa insisted, brushing her hair away from her eyes. She didn't want to put the shame Joffery had made her feel to words here. Not when her family still stood splintered.
Lyanna joined them. Sansa looked at her aunt with a small bit of awe; even at thirty and after ten years of marriage Lyanna was still incredibly beautiful.
"I'm glad," Lyanna said softly.
She opened her arms slightly, and before Sansa knew it she rushed into them, sobbing. Her aunt rubbed her back and murmured soothing words. "It's alright. The little bastard can't hurt you now. Your father is safe. Everything is going to be alright."
"M-My father?" Sansa whimpered. "He can't be a traitor, there's been a mistake-"
"Of course," Lyanna murmured, gently stroking Sansa's red hair. "Ned is safe; he's recovering in Sunspear."
"The charges of treason were fabricated by a false Queen to hide her infidelity." Aegon added. "They have been expunged, his titles and honours restored. I would hardly send my uncle to the wall before I had a chance to meet him."
Sansa went weak with relief. Jon glanced over her shoulder and frowned. "Where's your sister, Sansa?"
"Arya...Arya ran when our house guard was killed." Sansa whispered. "I don't know where she's gone. She – she had a sword."
Jon cursed in High Valyrian. Daenerys, Aegon, Daemon and Ginerva adopted worried expressions upon hearing this. Clearly they had thought that Arya was still in the Red Keep.
Rhaegar got to his feet; Sansa thought he looked like a true king, everything Robert wasn't. He was tall, handsome and strong, but there was also a gentleness to his stern face that few lords shared.
"She can't have gotten too far." He said. "More likely than not, she sought out a way to return to the North, or meet up with the Young Wolf. I'll take Balerion and find her."
"No, love." Lyanna said, walking over to him. "We need you here, with our kings. I'll find her."
Rhaegar shook his head. "Lyanna...I can't risk your safety."
"And yours? You're hardly inconspicuous, husband." Lyanna insisted. "I, however, am not silver haired. I do not fear them."
Rhaegar held her gaze for a moment, and Sansa could see all the love he had for his aunt in his worried violet eyes. After a moment, he bowed his head and whispered, "Stay safe, my love. I can't loose you now."
Lyanna kissed him and said, "It is not time for me to meet my Makers. I am not going far."
Sandor handed the Queen Mother a sword; Daenerys then walked with her outside. Jon glanced at Sansa and asked, "Have you seen our dragons yet?"
Sansa mutely shook her head. Jon smiled. He had received a raven from his cousin at the Stark camp earlier that morning. "I'll show you. Let's go find Robb."
**~With Lillian and Ginerva~**
Casterly Rock had been a sign of Lannister power since they ruled as kings in their own right.
Now it glowed like a candle against the dark sky. Ginny sat on a stone on a hill overlooking the burning buildings – Rhaenyra still flew overhead, roaring in triumph and spitting flames at the last few who tried to undo her work. The stench of rotting flesh was dizzying if you stood too close to the building. The destruction was almost beautiful in its own way, as if an ugly outer shell was being destroyed, leaving the raw but young snail to grow stronger than before.
As Castamere had drowned, Casterly Rock burned. In the end, the only difference was that Tywin Lannister was at Harranhall, sparing his life. However, Kevan Lannister was now dead, and many of his troops annihilated alongside the Lannister seat of power.
The Unsullied marched among the commoners, handing out food and redirecting those who had lost their homes. Ginny had enlarged a number of houses to accommodate the collateral damage.
The caw of a raven brought Ginny from her thoughts. The bird landed on the low hanging tree branch next to her head, a letter tied to its feet. Ginny took it and read it as Rhaenyra hurtled up towards her and landed a few feet away. Lillian nimbly slipped off her back, gently tugging at her reins as she joined the witch queen.
"What is it?" Lillian asked.
Ginny grimaced. "Word from Mace Tyrell. Stannis Barantheon moves to march on King's Landing. He has a navy and a reserve of 50,000 banners." She stood up. "Rhaegar needs me and all six dragons at King's Landing."
"But Aegon and Jon are the rightful kings!" Lillian protested.
"Stannis hates your family," Ginny pointed out softly. "He'd sooner press his brother's supposed right to rule before accepting your brothers."
Lillian frowned, but she marshalled herself and said, "I'll write to Rhaenys. With all the dragons, there's no way he can beat us."
Ginny nodded, handing her the quill and paper.
As Lillian wrote to her favourite cousin, Ginny took out the sword of Gryffindor and examined it. The handle was warm, and as she cleaned the blade she once again wondered how the blade came to her. It had been a whole world away when she first arrived in Pentos...and yet it arrived just when she decided she might need it.
I have never prayed to the Seven, she thought, but perhaps they are watching us. If I pray now...I pray that they are on our side. Help us fight against Stannis, and the Others when they come.
**~With Rhaenys and Emily~**
Rhaenys lay in bed next to Robb, gently stroking his hair and watching him sleep. Jon had received her letter. The Northern army had received a letter from King Aegon proclaiming Eddard's restored titles and the return of his daughters to the North.
It was as if that had taken a thousand irons off Robb's shoulders. Rhaenys loved seeing him happy. Robb had a growing sense of gallows-style humour that she really appreciated; though she didn't think Catelyn approved much.
Could we stay this way forever? Rhaenys wondered. Could father or Aegon overrule the Freys for us? Oh, but I haven't even told Robb my real name. How will he feel when I tell him the truth?
"Rhaenys! Rhaenys!"
Rhaenys looked up in surprise to see Emily sticking her head through the tent doors.
"What are you doing? This is dangerous!" Rhaenys protested.
"Stannis marches on King's Landing!" Emily hissed. "Aegon and Jon are calling you back. Visenya's in the forest with Dany."
Rhaenys's heart skipped painfully. "But..." She cast a pained look at Robb, took a shaky breath and said, "I'll be with you in a moment. I have to dress."
Emily gave her a sympathetic look before vanishing out of the tent again.
Rhaenys didn't want to leave Robb now. But her family needed her help.
Carefully and gently Rhaenys freed herself from Robb's embrace. In a rush, she dressed and collected her sword. Putting up her hood, she rushed to the table and wrote out a quick letter. It wasn't enough words, not nearly enough, but she prayed that he'd forgive her when they met again.
Once she had done that, Rhaenys gave her love a final kiss before hurrying outside.
Visenya let out a hiss when Rhaenys finally came into view. The dragon was getting very ornery; she only trusted Rhaenys to ride her, but since they had been separated Rhaegar had been keeping her penned in the old dragon's den in the city. Visenya hated being confined; aside from Rhaenyra she demanded free flight the most.
"I know, I know," Rhaenys said with a sigh, rubbing her dragon's neck. "I'm sorry, Visenya."
Daenerys frowned. "What's wrong, Rhaenys? You seem distraught."
"Merely tired." Rhaenys deflected, climbing onto her dragon's saddle. "I haven't slept well since last week." Not entirely a lie.
Daenerys looked at Emily. To Rhaenys's relief, Emily merely shrugged and said, "Army tents aren't the most comfortable, Dany."
Her sister-aunt seemed to accept this; she mounted Balerion and helped Emily up. The two dragons flew low to avoid detection and hurtled towards King's Landing.
**~With Lyanna~**
Lyanna's search for Arya Stark brought her to the road to the Wall.
Rhaegal snorted and flew low. Lyanna craned her neck to see a group, all destined for the black. There was a small boy there, one matching Arya's description quite closely.
Is that...? Oh, you clever little thing. Lyanna thought proudly.
Rhaegal let out a loud bark to get the convoy's attention before landing on the path itself. The men dropped their weapons and scrambled to cower behind each other as Rhaegal surveyed them, glowering.
The leader, a man named Yoren, held his courage. Lyanna dismounted and let her hood down. "Queen Lyanna Targaryen." He said. "Do what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I'm searching for Arya Stark." Lyanna explained. "She managed to flee imprisonment by the false Queen when my brother was branded a traitor to the realm. I had thought she would seek a relatively safe passage north. Is she among your number now, by chance?"
A moment of silence – then - "I am here, Your Grace."
Sure enough, that small 'boy' walked forward, head held high. Lyanna spotted a familiar looking boy – one of Robert's illegitimate children, undoubtedly – gaping as Arya stepped forward. She smiled slightly as Arya came to a stop in front of her.
"Pretend to be a boy? A wise choice, Arya. Is that yours?" She gestured to the slender blade hanging at the girl's side.
"Robb had it made for me," Arya said, her tone somewhat defensive.
Lyanna clicked her tongue and smiled. "We have much to talk about, then." She placed rested her hand on the handle of her own sword, Light Streak. Arya's eyes widened slightly when she looked at it. "Thank you for your time," Lyanna told Yoren. "May your travels go smoothly."
"Thank you, Your Grace." Yoren said as Lyanna lead Arya over to Rhaegal.
Lyanna watched her niece's reactions to the creature with curiosity. Many in King's Landing had all screamed in terror upon the creature's arrival, or stood dumbstruck. Arya, however, stood fearless, examining Rhaegal with amazement and awe. Lyanna lead her around to the saddle; Arya pushed her hands aside and climbed aboard herself.
I definitely like her.
**~Back at King's Landing~**
"Why is Quicksilver here without Viserys?" Aegon asked in alarm.
"I received a letter from the Freys." Rhaegar said with sigh, holding said letter in his hands. "Viserys was wounded by a crossbow arrow to the leg while defending Olyvar Frey from scattered Lannister troops. He's currently recovering in the Twins, but he is not ready for battle."
"How is he?" Jon asked.
"He'll recover, and retain his ability to walk. But it will take some time." Rhaegar read from the page. "He sent Quicksilver ahead to aide in the defense."
"Do we know when Stannis will be here, father?"
"Soon. Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow night." Rhaegar said. "Tyrion is shoring up the defenses at the wall as I speak. Daenerys is moving the smallfolk towards the centre of the city. All that's left is for you to prepare yourselves."
End Chapter
I do, in fact, have a plan for where I've put everyone in this story. I haven't forgotten Tywin or the Greyjoys; they'll be confronted sooner or later. right now, Stannis is the biggest threat...or would be if the Targaryens didn't have six dragons. This should be interesting.
Read and Review please!