Chapter 11: The Sept

POV Lady Kyva Tully

The coronation was a small ceremony that didn't last more than ten minutes. Kyva was tucked off to the side of the lawn, trying to stay out of everybody's way. Her mind raced as she watched people trickle in and out of the ceremony.

It was chaos as the crowd began to move as one back towards the pavilion to begin the dancing part of the night. She got lost in the mess of people, moving with them. Luckily, she ended up beside her sister Alissa.

Alissa had on the most beautiful gray dress, falling gently over her shoulders and reaching the grass. She wore a simple kraken necklace with water spewing under it, a mark of where she has come and gone from.

"Ali," Kyva said in relief, clutching her sister's arm. "There's so many people."

Her sister looked at her and nodded. "Enough for anyone to get lost."

"Can we talk?" Kyva asked her, steering her through the crowd and towards one of the big tents that had been set up for people to eat and drink under. She didn't wait for an answer.

Alissa's hair had always been a darker red than hers, but now it seemed almost brown. Kyva tucked them under the side of the tent, standing opposite each other.

"Are you okay?" Kyva asked immediately, not having been home in months. Her hands were holding both of her sister's, eyes locked on hers.

"I'm fine, little sister," Alissa gave her a hint of a smile. "I'm doing fine, I promise. It's not I you should be worrying about."

"Oh?" Kyva asked, folding her arms across her blue dress. "Who should I be worrying about?"

Alissa cast glances behind her and around her to ensure no one was listening. "Our brother got caught into perhaps one of the worst circumstances in Westeros. He heard Daenerys talking about her baby personally, and he hasn't talked about it with anyone. The Targaryens are infuriated, and their anger will be taken out somewhere. I just hope it's in Casterly Rock and not in Riverrun."

Kyva's brow furrowed, scratching her hair. "Athyn wouldn't do anything stupid. Who's running Riverrun while this is happening?"

"Auster's here," Alissa said. "Somewhere, but I haven't seen him tonight. Athyn is too. Kell is running the Riverlands while he's away, with help from Lord Mallister and the youngest Frey. Why?"

Kyva took a deep breath and looked around. "If something bad happens…the banners will need to be ready. Kell will need to be ready."

Kyva loved all her siblings, but it was Kell whom she meshed the most with. Her heart ached with the thought of him having to lead a Riverland army east, while the rest of them were stuck here. She hadn't seen him in months either, not since she had left Riverrun. Her mother had made pacts for both her and Auster, Auster had made one for Alissa, but Kyva was fiercely protective of Kell, and refused to let either of them make one for him.

Before Alissa could speak, the tent opened suddenly, and a big person entered. In the darkness of the night, it was hard to tell who it was. Both girls backed up warily, clutching each other. Kyva breathed a sigh of relief when she could tell that it was just Athyn.

He was in a sparkling blue tuxedo, which worked well on him, in Kyva's mind. His blue eyes matched it perfectly. He had the start of a beard, but nothing long enough to classify as one. His eyes looked frantic and worried.

"Alissa? Kyva? What are you doing here?" Athyn asked, almost out of breath. "Why are you here? You shouldn't be here."

Kyva took a step towards him. "What do you mean, Athyn? No one should technically be here, but…why us, specifically?"

Athyn put his head in his hands, and Kyva went to him. Her thin arms wrapped around his torso, putting her head into his chest. He smelled like the forest, like he always did. He let her just hold him for a while, as Alissa opened the flap of the tent.

"Athyn?" Alissa asked in a sharp whisper. "Why is the Kingsguard here?"

"You missed it," Athyn said dryly, his chin on Kyva's head.

Alissa screamed as the flap tore, a sword slicing through it and barely missing her skin. She launched herself backwards, hitting her back on the wooden pole and making the tent itself begin to shudder.

Ser Manderly entered first, followed by Ser Yronwood and Ser Redwyne. Following them were the last two, Ser Whent and Ser Royce. Their white cloaks and chest plates gleamed, each of their swords out and facing the trio of them.

Kyva was frightened, backed into Athyn and trying to take comfort in the fact that he had trained with them. She even knew Ser Whent a bit, from the time he had spent at Riverrun. Manderly used to be a kind man as well, as far as she could remember. She didn't know the other three at all. Yronwood was a Dornish man with a deep tan and a deeper scowl. Ser Redwyne was quite a bit of a beauty, with his luscious blonde locks, but he had a straight face. Ser Royce had a mean face and uncompromising eyes.

"Ser Athyn Tully, on the order of Queen Daenerys, I place you under arrest for treason," Ser Manderly said, holding out his sword towards him.

"Queen?" Alissa asked incredulously, stepping forward. "There hasn't been a Queen for twenty years, and a Queen named Daenerys for over a hundred. Unless you mean Princess Daenerys, there is no other you can speak of,"

"While your brother was giving away state secrets," Ser Yronwood spat. "King Aegon and Queen Daenerys had a simple wedding ceremony while all the lords and ladies were here. So please address her as Your Grace."

"And the King?" Athyn's voice was hard. "The King bids the same?"

"He stands with his Queen," Ser Manderly replied in a crisp tone.

"Where are they?" Athyn demanded. "I need to see them now."

"The bedding ceremony, as you can remember, that is what happens after a wedding," Ser Royce chuckled as he spoke.

"I didn't think that necessary, considering it's already happened," Alissa snarled in a tart voice.

"Lady Tully, I don't think it wise to insult the Queen, or you can follow your brother to the dungeons," Ser Redwyne spoke.

"Lady Greyjoy to you," Alissa replied. "If you kill him, I bring the wrath of the ironborn to King's Landing. My brother will march the Riverland army from Riverrun to the Landing within days."

"And Westeros will stop you," Ser Whent replied coolly. "The Riverlands and Iron Islands do not scare the likes of Lord Lannister, or Lord Tyrell."

"That's funny," Kyva said in an amusing tone, putting her finger on her chin. "I think I could bring thousands of Tyrell swords with me too, after my wedding to Lord Gerard. I doubt the North will want to get involved in some petty squabble with the south. Dorne will not want to face off against the rest alone. I hear you dislike Lady Lannister, so I doubt Casterly Rock would see much use in helping out."

Ser Yronwood and Ser Manderly lunged at Athyn and grabbed each of his arms, twisting them behind his back. Kyva took one look at Alissa and they each nodded. They broke at a sprint, running through the tear that the Kingsguard had made in the tent. Kyva didn't look behind her, never ceasing her sprint until she got into the safety of a crowd.

Alissa had made it as well, the two in the center of a dance floor. Many were watching them with cool looks and raised eyebrows.

"Sister," Kyva whispered, immediately wrapping her arms around her. "We need to act."

"How?" Alissa replied morosely. "Athyn will be in the dungeons by now. I don't know where Auster is, nor where mother is."

"Then we use our new friends," Kyva replied, standing up straight. "I will go to Lord Tyrell and ask for aid. You go to your husband and do the same. The King likes to say how the Dragon reigns over all animals. I don't believe a dragon has had to spar with a kraken yet."

Alissa gave the barest hint of a smile and ran off the dance floor to find her Greyjoys. Truth be told, Kyva didn't know if she could even get the Tyrells to help. She had to give it a try, however.

She ran the opposite way. Her mother had filled her in on the various compounds and meeting houses of all the major houses of Westeros. Nearly every family always had someone in King's Landing. Athyn was theirs. The Tyrells were quite a bit away from the Red Keep, but they normally retired early anyways.

Kyva's walk was much more pleasant than the runs she'd been on for the past couple times she'd been on her feet. It was a quiet night, the moon was out, the stars were shining above and over the city. Even the fires of the coronation/wedding ceremony seemed warm and welcoming from a distance. She took a right turn and saw the rose design on the door. Tyrell headquarters in the Landing.

She knocked once, twice on the door. The door opened without a hesitation, but not of anyone's accord. No one was inside, and the room was dark.

. . .

Part 2

POV Lady Cecilia Tully

She had lucked out with who she was standing by for the wedding ceremony. Without her husband to be there with her, she had expected to be placed by someone she didn't know, or she didn't like. Instead, Lord Lyonel Baratheon was at her right, his brooding self not talking the entire time. She could handle that, at least.

Her children had disappeared as soon as the coronation ceremony had begun. She hadn't seen Alissa at all. Kyva had left to find her when they'd arrived. Athyn was off doing something by himself, and Auster was talking to the Lannister camp a ways away from her.

The ceremony was quiet, and she could see the looks from lord to lord, and lady to lady. It wasn't a very well held secret that Daenerys was likely with child already. The two were in love, you couldn't doubt that. Their eyes were glowing with happiness as they put the Targaryen blankets over the two.

Cecilia almost smiled but stopped herself. She instead folded her arms across her chest. These people were the ones that had caused her family strife. These people were the ones that could start a war. As she looked up at Lord Baratheon, his face was impassive. She wondered what he was thinking below that stony exterior. It likely mirrored what she thought, Cecilia consoled herself with.

The two were led back into the palace for the ceremony, and she turned to talk with the Baratheon, but he had disappeared. She was standing alone in the courtyard.

Cecilia began to walk, following the crowd towards some of the tents. She smiled and walked towards where the Lord and Lady Tyrell were standing. Finally, some decent conversation.

"Lady Tully," The Tyrell woman smiled graciously. "It's wonderful to see you again."

"And you too, both of you," Cecilia said, and she meant it. "I would inquire as to where your son is, but I fail to know where my own daughter is either."

Lord Tyrell smiled, and Lady Tyrell laughed. "They're hard to control."

They engaged in polite conversation for a while, watching as a few more people strolled up to them. One was a Dornishman, but who had obviously intermarried with a Valyrian, as he had white-blonde hair. The other was Lord Arryn, with his long face and somewhat pointy ears.

Cecilia stopped talking to most of them for a while, letting the others talk while she smiled and listened.

The Dornishman was holding a goblet of wine. "I'd like you all to taste, if you'd like. It's new from the Arbor," He held it first to Lord Tyrell and Lady Tyrell. They each took it and sampled. Jasper Arryn did the same.

"I'm sorry," Cecilia replied, putting her hand over the top of the cup. "I don't drink much alcohol, since my husband died. I don't really…"

"Are you sure?" The Dornishman frowned and held up the goblet. Cecilia nodded.

While the rest of them talked, she kept her eye on him. Curiously, Cecilia noted he hadn't taken a sip from it. They chattered before the Tyrells excused themselves from the conversation, floating over to talk to some of their bannermen. Cecilia strode off to, not sure where to, but she kept her eye on the Valyrian.

She traced his steps to the wine table. He put down his goblet and got a different one and drank from it. Cecilia frowned.

"Anything wrong, Lady Tully?" The voice put ice into her veins. She hadn't anticipated they'd be back at the ceremony at all.

"Nothing, your Grace, I assure you," Cecilia turned around and plastered a smile onto her face.

Queen Daenerys was in tall heels, standing a few inches above Cecilia herself. Her black dress had been put back on after the ceremony, and her hair done back up. She beckoned Cecilia follow her, and she did as she was asked. She led the Tully matriarch into the Red Keep.

"I see you met Lord Aeravar," Daenerys said casually.

"That's who it was?" Cecilia asked. "I didn't know him."

"He's the Master of Whispers around here now. You might know him as Lord Allyrion's son," The Queen replied, leading her to a room that had light in it. It was a nice room, red, with a few tables and chairs. Daenerys sat down in one and gestured for her to sit across from her.

Cecilia sat down. "He was the most peculiar man. He – he had a goblet, I believe, and set it back down on the table from where he'd gotten it. After he'd had people drink from it."

"Did you, drink from it?" Daenerys asked, her purple eyes staring at her.

"No, I'm not one for alcohol, your Grace," Cecilia gave her a bit of a smile. "Motherhood did that to me."

Daenerys gave a glimpse of a smile and stood up again. The Tully could see a flash of anger in her eyes. Cecilia remained seated. Daenerys walked around her chair and put her hands on the back of the one she'd been seated in. Cecilia had begun to think that it was a good time to go. She hadn't known why the Queen wanted her to go all the way back to the Red Keep to talk.

"That complicates things," Daenerys said, tapping her fingers on the chair. "Very much. Who did drink from it?"

Cecilia's eyes went wide, beginning to piece it together. "L-Lord Tyrell. His wife. Lord Arryn. Maybe some others, I do not know."

Daenerys simply tutted. "He missed a few then. You, for one. Lord Baratheon. I sure hope he got to Lord Lannister, he's been a bit of a pest. His meddling daughter has already fled to the Rock, out of my reach. For now."

Cecilia edged to the front of her chair, preparing to make a dash for it if necessary. "I don't know what game you're playing at, or why you are doing this, but I can tell you this: you won't win. In order to win, you will need people on your side. Murdering lords and ladies will not achieve that."

"They cannot trace it back to me," Daenerys replied, picking at her fingernails. "Nor even to Lord Aeravar. Must have just had a bit too much to drink. Alcohol poisoning is fatal, you know."

Cecilia was speechless. "Wh-why?"

The Queen gave her a grin. "Don't you know? The throne is a much sought-after thing in Westeros, and I foremost among them want it. Lord Tyrell and Lady Tyrell were dangers, too much consumed with the idea that they shape policy here. Lord Lannister, of course, has ruined my plans with his daughter overhearing me speaking. Too bad then, that she is out of my sight."

"What do you mean?" Cecilia replied, getting to her own feet and putting her head up.

"Oh, it's nothing really," Daenerys replied, turning away from Cecilia for the moment. "I'm honestly surprised you've survived on this continent for this long. You were a Mooten, right?" She didn't wait for Cecilia to answer, already knowing it. "A small house, with little regard for the overall politics of the land. Insignificant. But the gallant Lord Tully agreed to marry you. That ruined my father's plan to shame the house into picking some lowborn woman from out of nowhere. Before I was born, you'd thwarted my plan."

Cecilia's blood boiled. She had been called many things, been told many things, but this woman presumed too much. Her husband had been a wonderful man, better than any King the Targaryens had lucked into. "You go too far." She said contritely.

"Do I?" Daenerys simpered when she turned back. "I have your second born locked in the dungeons here for treason. I alone know that he did not commit it. Your eldest is meeting with lions. Aeravar's spies have heard of what your youngest does. I think I have your house at a checkmate. Unless…"

Cecilia didn't answer.

"What would you do for your children, Lady Tully? Family, duty, honor."

Cecilia replied immediately this time. "Anything."

A/N: Sorry for the delay! Last week of school for me, so I can get updating at a regular pace now! Wish me luck, and I hope you all enjoyed it! Most of the stuff is beginning to happen now! :D