Chapter 26
Jon
The Unsullied opened the door to their chambers just as Jon came to it and he ran straight to the bed. He gently placed her on it, his hands coming up to cup her cheek. Her eyes were closed and her face was pale. Blood seeped from her closed lips and he wiped at it with his thumb frantically but a fresh trail quickly replaced the smears his thumb left.
Jon blinked away tears as he looked at her, "Daenerys, open your eyes," he coaxed and shook her gently but she did not respond, "Dany!" he cried, then he turned to the Kingsguards and the Unsullied standing around them, uncertain, "WHERE ARE THE MAESTERS? BRING THEM NOW!"
A flurry of activity ensued at his order, the men almost tripping over each other as they scrambled to obey.
"Daenerys, don't do this," he pleaded, "don't leave me alone again," she remained unmoving and a sob escaped him as he hung his head. He froze then as he glimpsed the pillow on which she lay begin to soak through with her blood.
Then the door flew open, slamming against the wall behind it. Jon turned, feeling some semblance of relief come over him as the Grand Maester burst through the door with Sam at his side.
"Julian, Sam, quickly! She's not moving," Jon cried. Both Maesters ran to them.
"My King, if you will," the Grand Maester muttered before he edged himself into the space Jon occupied and Jon shifted to the side, his hands reluctantly leaving her. He peered over their shoulder as they worked. The Grand Maester and Sam exchanged a look as they opened her eyelids and peered into her eyes.
Then Daenerys began choking, coughing and blood spluttered from her lips. The Grand Maester shifted and Jon lost sight of her. He retreated till his back touched the stone walls, helpless; he could only watch as her life's blood left her, seeping into their bed.
It is my fault. I should never have allowed her to leave my side. I should have protected her.
Then Jon saw red. He shot to his feet and ran out the chambers with one name in his mind: Jaime Lannister.
As he exited the solar, he ran into someone.
"Ow!" the person yelped. Jon stumbled back but managed to stay on his feet. He glimpsed the other person fall to the ground, hard. Jon ignored said person and ran down the corridor, a hand on the pommel of Longclaw, "Jon! Where are you going?"
He did not stop until a hand wrapped around his arm and yanked. Jon was pulled to a stop and he spun around, angry, to see the face of his sister, Arya.
"Where are you going?" she demanded.
"Where is Jaime Lannister?" He snarled. Jon felt, in that moment, he could kill the man, with his bare hands. He would rip the Kingslayer limb from limb.
"Captured," Arya told him, "he's being thrown into the dungeons as we speak by our men," Stark men.
Jon paused.
"This is not the time for revenge, how is Daenerys?" Arya asked, her eyes wide with concern and fear.
Jon stiffened. He felt unbearably cold at the mention of her, "I don't know," he whispered.
Arya then opened her palm to him and in it, was a necklace. Jon stared, "this could be the antidote but the Maesters should check it,"
Jon looked at her. He dared not believe, "where did you get this?"
"Jaime Lannister," she replied.
He glowered, "no, I will not give this to her. How can you trust him?" Jon hissed, having half a mind to toss the offending item away.
Arya grabbed him around his shoulder, "I don't but this is a chance we will have to take if the Maesters cannot cure her!"
"No," Jon glared.
"You would rather let her die than give this a chance?" Arya snapped.
Jon glared at her and his hands clenched into fists at his side. Arya glanced down at his hands but they both knew he would never harm her. Jon gritted his teeth and growled instead, "she will not die." I will not allow it. With that he turned back to Maegor's Holdfast with her on his heel. Arya was beside him when he came to the closed door of their chambers.
Then, as he stood there, staring at the wooden door, the last of his anger ebbed away to be replaced by fear. Jon was grateful Arya did not take the liberty to open the door; he was not ready for what news awaited him beyond it.
He reached for the handle, trying and failing to stop his hand from trembling. Then Arya's hand covered his, "be brave, big brother. Whatever happens, your son needs you," Jaehaerys.
Jon clenched his teeth and nodded, opening the door. The smell of blood was overwhelming. His wife's blood. Jon teetered on his feet. He felt Arya's hand on his shoulder and he took those steps to the open door of the sleeping chambers. Within, he glimpsed Sam and the Grand Maester. When they saw him enter, they looked up and paused.
And Jon froze. He opened his mouth and found he could only say one word, "Daenerys," he walked to the bed and Sam shifted aside.
She was as he had left her. Her dress was removed and she only wore her smallclothes. Everywhere Jon could see was covered in blood. He stood beside her bed and slowly, he reached for her hand as he sat.
Then he heard her take a soft ragged breath. And with that, it was as if she too drew breath for him. He felt sweet air fill his lungs and he closed his eyes, soaking in the relief. Tears gathered in his eyes and sobs racked his body. He pulled her hand, clasped between both of his, to his lips, "my Queen, my strong and brave Queen,"
"Jon," Sam approached and he stiffened. Something in his voice stifled his relief.
Jon looked up at Sam. He was standing beside him, his apron soaked with blood as were his gloved hands. Sam flinched as Jon looked at him but Jon did not drop his gaze. Sam hesitated, "what is it? Tell me," Jon demanded.
"It was poison, an aggressive one," Jon felt his hands tightened protectively around her hand and rage bubbled in him, "the Queen lives, for now. We have taken some poison from her blood and will be studying it for an antidote," Sam said and he hesitated to continue. Jon prepared himself for what was to come but nothing could prepare him for it, "we couldn't save the baby,"
Jon felt numb. He lost sight of Sam and lost the feel of Daenerys' hand in his. Our child. Our sweet innocent child is dead. We will never see her, never know her. His hand twitched with the vivid memory of the feel of the gentle flutter within Daenerys' womb just under his palm. Does she know how much her Father loves her? If she knew, will she still believe it now if she knew he had failed to protect her? I loved her and I failed her and I can never tell her how sorry I am.
"Jon?" Sam shifted and placed a tentative hand on his shoulder, squeezing it, "the baby saved her," Jon looked up, "the little princess or prince saved the Queen. Without the baby, the poison would have overwhelmed her. We would not have been able to treat her in time and the Queen would not have lived,"
"Sam," Arya stepped forward and showed him the necklace, "can you check this? It might be the antidote," Sam's eyes widened, hopeful.
"No," Jon stood. Arya turned to him, "I won't let Jaime Lannister to do more harm than he already did,"
"You don't even know if he was the one who poisoned her!" Arya retorted.
"He did!" Jon screamed, his heart pounding in his chest, blood rushing in his ears. Then he blinked as he saw Arya's and Sam's wide-eyed stares, "I-" he muttered before he sank to the bed, rubbing his eyes with the bloodied heel of his palm.
"Let the Maesters have a look at it at least," Arya said softly, "surely they would make sure it is safe,"
Sam added, "we will not give it to Queen without your permission," he assured, "but the Queen does not have much time, Jon,"
Jon closed his eyes and nodded stiffly. Then the Maesters left the room with the necklace.
It was quiet then.
Jon removed his hands and his eyes found Daenerys. He felt some semblance of comfort touch him at the sight of her; alive. He reached out and cupped her cheek gently. On her chin, there were still traces and smears of blood but her skin was soft and warm and Jon felt the warmth straight in his heart, starting to heal the gash there.
He glanced to see Arya approach on the opposite side of the bed, "she's a fighter," Jon could not look away as he gazed at Daenerys' pale face. He already knew she was. She always has been. She was the strongest person he knew, "I am sorry," Arya said. The baby. Jon felt a pang in his chest and he closed his eyes against the pain.
He shook his head, "you know what the worst thing is?" he heard a voice that did not sound like his own, murmur. Arya kept silent, "if I must choose between Daenerys and the baby, I would do nothing to change how it is now," silence fell over the room, "I really am a terrible father," he scoffed, "I don't deserve my children…I don't deserve someone so perfect, her," he gazed at Daenerys, his wonderful, beautiful wife.
"You love her," Arya sat down on the bed, "your children love their mother," she placed a hand over his, which was over Daenerys' and Jon felt a sort of strength as he gazed at their hands. The pack survives, "and I know I would not hesitate to give my life for my mother's,"
"The child is innocent," Jon whispered. Then something Daenerys had said of Jaehaerys came back to him. He never is. He is the son of the King and Queen.
Arya nodded and said softly, "I know," she squeezed his hand, "be strong, Jon. You're a Stark and-"
"The Starks will endure," Jon said in unison with her. Father always said.
Arya smiled sadly, nodding.
But he was not merely a Stark, he was a Targaryen as well. And he knew their words.
Fire and Blood.
Jon felt his free hand curled into a fist in his lap.
"I will kill him," Jon hissed.
Arya raised a brow, "the Kingslayer? We don't know if he did it, Jon. When I caught up to him, he had Arianne Martell at his feet and he was holding the antidote. Why would he stay if he had poisoned Dany?"
"I don't know what schemes the Kingslayer is plotting. But he was the only one who was near her in the feast and he was with her when she fell," Jon glared at her, "you saw,"
She stared back, "I did, but I did not see him poison her," she shot back.
"Why are you speaking up for him?" Jon growled.
Arya bit her lips then and she glanced to Daenerys once before she said softly, "because Dany went to her, Jon,"
Jon blinked, "what?"
"She went to Arianne Martell, after the joust, in the middle of the night. Jaime Lannister went with her to protect her," Arya said, "I don't what happened inside but you know better than I, that Arianne Martell has no love for the Queen," Jon swallowed. Dany never told him. She went against his wishes and she kept it fromhim. Arya said then, "regardless, we will know after the Maesters have examined the antidote," she stated and Jon looked away.
Then Arya turned to leave, "Arya, you said he is being held in the dungeons," she turned back to him. He stood, "bring me to him,"
Jaime
As they began to dance, Jaime could not help but stare at her. She had kept her distance from him but this was the closest he had ever been to her. She was not looking at him but then she spoke, "I am grateful for your loyalty, Ser Jaime. But your expulsion from the Queensguard…it was necessary,"
He tensed and nodded, "I understand," he truly did but he only wished he had not done it, and forced her hand. What kind of Queen would she be if she tolerated, not mere disobedience, but a complete disregard for her direct command? He was a fool, "I only wish I could stay," by your side.
The Queen looked up at him and Jaime stopped breathing as he gazed into her lilac eyes. At this proximity, he saw that her eyes were not merely lilac. Within them, there were circles of golden around her pupils, like rings of fire. Jaime could not help himself as he lifted his gloved left hand to her face and his hand came over her cheek, barely touching her skin. He gently ran his thumb over her soft bottom lip but she leaned away and he dropped his hand quickly, "this is not farewell, Ser Jaime," she said softly, "you're the only family in this world Tyrion has. He would appreciate seeing you once in a while,"
"Only Tyrion?" he blurted, gazing intently at her.
The Queen blinked and looked away. Then she opened her mouth to speak and Jaime knew he would not want to hear her next words but he will; they were her words, the words of his Queen, "Ser Jaime," she started gently, "you have helped me more than you know you have; by telling me the truth about my family, and who I am. For that, I am grateful and…" her eyes darted to and held his, "I will forever consider you a dear friend," he tensed, "nothing more,"
Jaime flinched unwittingly no matter how much he willed himself against reacting. Her eyes watched him, deeply apologetic and he knew she saw him flinch. But Jaime did not want to see that in her eyes; pity, so he told her, "you are loved, my Queen," I love you. He wanted to say but he did not, it was not his place. Nonetheless, he felt her tense at his words, as if she could hear his thoughts. He continued, "by the thousands; by the people. And thousands more will come to love you in your reign,"
He felt her relax and her lips curved into a hint of a smile but as quickly as it came, it faded, "you once said that my coin had landed right," she said suddenly and he nodded. He remembered, their first conversation and the first time he had made her smile, "do you still think so? Did it truly?"
Jaime frowned. He had seen doubt in her eyes as they spoke of her family but she had never spoken of it or asked him, as she did now, "did something happen, my Queen?"
The Queen paused, "no," she doesn't want to tell.
"Your Father went mad and everyone knew it but him," Jaime decided to say what he could, as he always did in an attempt to provide some comfort or reassurance she seek. The Queen was never a simple woman and was always difficult to read and even now, the walls around her remained strong, "if he had known, he might not have been mad after all,"
The Queen sucked in a breath subtly as her brows furrowed while she thought.
"Whatever may happen, House Lannister will stand with you," he told her and with his eyes, he told her what he thought. I will stand with you. I will stand with you and I will die for you.
She nodded and smiled. Then the music stopped and Jaime stepped back. He knew his time with her has ended and he doubt he would ever forget this. He asked for her hand and when she granted it, he pressed a feather light kiss over her knuckles. As he straightened, he offered an arm to escort her to the high table where the King sat and she made to slip her arm through his.
But then she froze. Her brows furrowed and blood drained from her face. Her eyes glanced over him before she looked to the high table. Her knees buckled beneath her then and Jaime felt as if his heart had stopped. He instinctively caught her before she could touch the ground and he sank to his knees with her in his arms. A distant memory came to him then and it was as if he had been punched in the gut.
A name: Myrcella.
No.
Around them, panic ensued.
He heard someone shouting orders and the Unsullied marched, closing in on them.
"Daenerys?" he frowned, feeling panic clawing at him. Her head was leaned up against his arm and she was looking towards the high table but her eyes were glazed over and unseeing. She looked almost delirious. Then her body convulsed as she choked. Fresh thick blood filled her mouth and as she coughed, blood splattered over his gold tunic and over her cheek, "Daenerys!"
Myrcella…Ellaria Sand.
He looked up, glimpsing a flurry of yellow disappear behind the curtains, just between two approaching Unsullied.
Jaime turned to his Queen in his arms, torn. But then he knew what he had to do. He placed her gently on the ground and without a moment of hesitation, he tore through the converging ranks of Unsullied, vaulting over toppled chairs and shoving past panicking bodies. He glimpsed a flash of yellow turn left ahead and he spurred himself to go faster. Then as he turned the corner, he felt someone grab his shoulder. Instinctively, he brought his elbow back and felt it smash into the person's arm.
Jaime turned and quickly backhanded said person with his golden hand. When the person fell to the ground, Jaime saw who it was; Arianne Martell. She glared up at him. Resembling Oberyn Martell years before, like a viper, she lunged swiftly, a dagger in her hand. Jaime twisted his body to the side and the tip missed his abdomen by merely inches. He brought his golden hand over the dagger and as it hit her hand, he heard a loud crack of her bones and the dagger clattered to the ground loudly.
As he reached for her with his left, she stepped back nimbly and unfurled her whip from her belt with her other hand. Jaime drew his sword then.
"Did you do it?" he asked quietly.
She lashed out, her whip whistling through the air. Jaime brought his sword up and blocked the whip but the momentum of the whip brought the tip to his face, cutting him on his cheek and into his cheekbone. He snarled in pain, stepping back. He could feel blood already dripping from his cheek. Then she brought her whip around and swung it at him again. Jaime brought up his sword to block it again but he was unable to. The whip skimmed his shoulder and cut him deep. He winced, staggering to the side. He stared at the whip to see small glass shards on the length of it, designed to cut.
He took two quick steps forward, closer and swung his sword. She swung her whip to meet his blows and his sword was deflected by the whip. Then as he brought his sword around to attempt to cut her on her exposed arm, she flicked her wrist and her whip wrapped around his sword and with another flick of her wrist, his sword flew out of his hand and clattered to the floor behind her. She glanced at it and then turned to him.
"Did you do it?" Jaime narrowed his eyes.
She smirked and raised a brow, a smug glint in her eyes.
That was confirmation enough for him and Jaime felt a rage consume him, his left hand, missing his sword, curled into a fist and began to tremble, "what did the Queen ever do to you? She saved this country, including your House!"
Arianne Martell seethed, "saved? She brought an end to House Martell even before the Great War! Because of her, Ellaria is dead. My cousins are dead. Killed because of her stupidity in trusting a Lannister. I am the only one left of House Martell," Jaime froze as she growled, "I came to court and thought maybe, I could spare her. She seemed a better Queen than we have seen in generations but then I saw you and your imp brother; Lannisters who brought the death of my uncle, Oberyn, and my aunt, Elia, and her children. This bitch Queen never learns; she is taking advice from Lannisters. And when it was announced that my aunt Elia was abandoned by Rhaegar Targaryen, the noble Prince of Dragonstone, her children now bastards, I knew then the Targaryens owed the Martells too much,"
"She owes you nothing, all she did, she did it to save your worthless lives," Jaime snapped, "you will die for what you did," Jaime said coldly, "and it will be the end of House Martell,"
She raised a brow, "will I? Will it?" she challenged and Jaime did not see her move but he heard her whip. She means to remove my head and with that whip she just might. Jaime brought up his right golden hand instinctively to defend himself and the whip wrapped around it when it should have been around his neck.
Her smirk faded as she glanced to his face to see her whip had not even hurt his hand, when it normally would have decapitated. Panic flashed across her eyes as he lodged the whip between the thumb and palm of his golden hand and winded the whip firmer around his hand, reeling her in. She tightened her grip on her whip and held her ground.
Jaime yanked hard and the whip slipped out of her hand. She staggered forward. Glancing at her whip in his hand, she turned and fled. Jaime bent and picked up her dagger and threw it at her. The dagger found the back of her thigh. She cried out and crashed to the ground heavily.
Jaime stomped over and flipped her over with his feet. As she did, he glimpsed her frantically reaching for the vial at her neck. He crouched and grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Is that the antidote?" he demanded.
She glared at him. Jaime lunged forward and tore the necklace from her neck, drawing back before she could grab for it. He pressed a foot to her chest, pushing her against the floor roughly. He then narrowed his eyes at her.
"Tell me!" he kicked her thigh, the one in which the knife was embedded and she howled in pain. Then Jaime paused, "it doesn't matter," I wouldn't believe you, whatever your answer is. He closed his hand around the necklace. Then he heard a bark and looked up to see men running towards them, shouting. The white direwolf running ahead of them. Suvion.
Then Jaime stumbled back as Arianne Martell used the distraction and shoved him off. She staggered to her feet and Jaime reached to grab her but then in a blur, the direwolf leaped on her, its fangs sank deep into her shoulder. She screamed and dropped to the ground.
Jaime turned to the approaching men to find himself looking down the wrong end of a sword, a small thin sword. He looked at the person who wielded it to see the face of Arya Stark, staring up at him.
"Lady Stark-" he started.
"Seize him," she said and Jaime blinked, shocked as the Northmen came forward and grabbed his arms and twisted them behind his back. He tried to shove them off but there were three of them.
"Wait," he held his ground as they made to shove him forward, "I have the antidote for the Queen!"
Arya turned, a furrow between her brows. She came around and stood before him, staring at him expectantly. Jaime tried to pull his hand free but the Northman held it firmly. At Arya's nod, he released his hand and Jaime opened his palm to her, the necklace in his palm. Arya looked at the necklace and she brought her sword forward, hooking the necklace towards her. Smart girl. "Where did you get this?" she asked coldly.
Jaime glanced to Arianne Martell, whom the Northerners had yanked to her feet. Blood was gushing down her shoulder from the bite mark. Arya followed his glance and met his eye again with an understanding.
"Check it before you give it to the Queen," he said stiffly.
She did not reply. Then she turned to the men, "take him to the dungeons," Jaime went quietly, his head hung low. Then the guards escorting him paused and he looked up.
Jaime paled.
Jaehaerys stood before him, his trembling hand a tight fist in Suvion's fur. The white direwolf bared his teeth at him, blood dripping from its jaws. Jaehaerys' eyes were downcast before they lifted to meet his. Jaehaerys' grey eyes were red, swollen; almost bloodshot as they met Jaime's. Jaime blanched as he realised how this must look to the Prince; the sweet boy who had always trusted him, loved him even.
"Jaehaerys-"
"Did you hurt Mother?" Jaehaerys asked thickly, tears welling up in his eyes that Jaime knew they should never harbour so much pain and anger.
Jaime held his gaze firmly and said, "no, I did not, Jaehaerys,"
The Prince lowered his eyes but the tears did not fall and Jaime could not tell if Jaehaerys believed him. Then beside him, Jaime glanced to see Arya gesturing to the guard and the guards shoved him forward, towards the dungeons.
It was damp and dark and reminded him horribly of the months he spent in the black cells but this was better. Moonlight filtered through the small window high in the cell and once in a while, he could hear the footsteps of the guards down the corridor. He had not seen Arianne Martell since they were both dragged down the dungeons and pulled in separate directions. Jaime could only wish the guards would not be stupid enough to let her slither her way to freedom. She was a cunning one.
Suddenly, he heard the creak of a gate that was closer than he had heard so far. He stood and pressed his face to the bars but he could only glimpse some light from a torch. Someone was approaching. Instinctively, he stood away from the bars and two silhouettes stopped in front of his cell. He blinked, blinded momentarily by the torch but then, he saw the King and Arya Stark standing in front of his cell.
He knew he should bow but he did not and instead gave in to his impulses, blurting, "how is the Queen?"
The King glared at him and Jaime paused as he puzzled the look.
He suspects it was me.
And Jaime supposed it made sense. He had danced with the Queen for a while before she collapsed and in that time, he could have pricked her or fed her the poison. But even the thought of an attempt on her life like that sickened Jaime to the core and he almost threw up the wine he drank at the feast. He literally did not have the stomach to do it. But evidently, the King thought differently.
"Thank you. Leave us," the King glanced to Arya and said quietly.
Arya looked between him and the King and gave the King a meaningful look. Then she turned and left. As her footsteps faded, the King stared at him unblinkingly. Jaime was not a patient man but he resolved to hear what the King had to say first.
"Did you poison the Queen?" the question echoed into Jaime's cell and the words haunted him.
He wanted to scream that he did not, but looking at the King now, he knew he was already guilty. Whatever Jaime said, just as it had been years ago with Ned Stark, he would be judged guilty. So Jaime asked instead, "is the Queen well?"
"It depends on what you thought the poison would do to her when you gave it to her," the King shot back.
Guilty.
Jaime bristled, "why would I harm the Queen when all I have ever done and will ever do is to protect her?"
"Just like how you protected her when you went with her to meet Arianne Martell?" the King shot back quietly.
Jaime froze. The Queen did not tell him. The food. The fucking refreshment. Jaime closed his eyes, regret sinking deep. She was already poisoned when we left that room, "I should have stopped her," she should not have been allowed to be anywhere near Arianne Martell, that viper.
"Why would you when you intended to kill her anyway?" the King muttered.
Jaime stepped closer to the bars and he looked into the King's eyes as he stated flatly, "I did not do it," he snarled.
The King glared at him, "why should I take your word for it?" he took a step towards the bars, his dark Stark eyes boring into Jaime's own emerald ones, "the Queen trusts you because she has a good heart; never looking at lowborn, cripples, slaves or bastards differently. Because she did not grow up hearing about what you did, how many innocent people you hurt. I did. I know. And I don't trust you," he hissed, "the North Remembers," Guilty.
Jaime tensed as his past came back to haunt him. Then he paused, blinking. He steeled himself against the shame he felt as realisation, as to why the King came down to meet him, came to him, "you haven't given her the antidote," it was not a question and the King's jaw tensed.
Jaime came to the bars then, gripping it, desperate. The King stood his ground.
"You fool! You're killing her! I would never harm her!" Jaime hissed, willing him to understand. Then he threw all caution to the wind, knowing full well the next words could be cause for his death. But if it would allow the King see reason and even consider to give her the antidote and save her life, it would be worth it, "I love her,"
The King's face remained impassive but the dark eyes hardened at his words.
Jaime then closed his eyes and willed himself to calm down. Only reason would change the King's mind, not blind rage and insolence, "the Queen ate something Arianne Martell provided in her chambers when we went to her. Arianne Martell herself ate it so she thought it safe. And the antidote, I took the antidote from Arianne Martell after I stopped her from fleeing from the feast. She was reaching for that antidote when I stabbed her with her own dagger, which I believe is poisoned," he paused, "maybe- maybe it's a trick from her. I don't know, which was why I told Lady Stark to make sure it was safe before giving it to the Queen,"
The King regarded him a moment longer, his eyes black as coals.
Then the King suddenly stepped back, "you are free to leave Jaime Lannister," Jaime let out a breath he did not realise he had been holding. He could hear the guards approaching, presumably to let him go.
Jaime bowed and made to ask if he would give the Queen the antidote and if he could see her. But as he straightened and looked into the King's eyes. He saw the same look that confused him. Guilty.
The King said then, his voice void of emotion, "You will never be near the Queen again,"
Jaime tensed and looked at the King, his brows furrowing, "what-"
"You and the Lannister men will leave the capital at once and are not to return unless summoned," the King said, "if you are seen in King's Landing without leave or my express invitation, I will execute you myself,"
With that, the King left.
A/N: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE COMMENTS LAST CHAPTER. They really motivated me to write and so... here it is. I'm not fully satisfied with this chapter and may come back to edit this at a later time but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!