Chapters 37 and 38 have been posted.
Cersei gritted her teeth as she scrunched the message in the hand. She had good reason to kill the raven which sent the message in the first place.
The Stark Kings had the Dragon Bitch's Dothraki and Unsullied armies station at every realm from North, South, East, West of Westeros and even Essos.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to see her brother's eyes and squeeze his neck for leaving her. For leaving their child.
Fuck it, she let out a shrill scream, clenching her fists tightly as she screamed until her throat was raw and scratchy.
"Your Grace-"
"Leave!"
She watched the intruder of her thoughts, Qyburn, leave before rereading the message again.
She hoped Euron wouldn't let her down.
Heading to the dungeons with the Mountain forever her shadow, she glared at Euron who grinned in reply.
"Have I insulted you?" He asked coyly.
"Shut up," she replied. "Show me the prisoner."
Euron opened the door and led Cersei inside where his niece recoiled from the presences now in the cell.
"Yara!" Euron sang, kicking at her legs. "You have a visitor."
Yara looked up and glared at them both. "What do you want?" She hissed.
"Dear niece, you're speaking to the Queen. A bit more manners would do," he said.
"Tell me what the Stark Kings are planning." Cersei went straight to the point.
"What?" Yara asked, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Why did the Dragon Bitch bend the knee to them?" Cersei hissed.
Yara frowned. "Queen Daenerys bent the knee?" She began to shake her head. "I-I don't know... It's been moonturns!"
Cersei sighed heavily. That was true. There was no way for the Salt Queen to have known anything as she'd been here for moonturns.
"You don't know that they've claimed six out of seven kingdoms under my nose?" Cersei asked the young woman.
Yara frowned even more. "I-I didn't know."
"I am Queen Cersei, First of her Name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men and you don't know anything?"
"I don't!" Yara snapped. "I've been your prisoner, you fucking bitch!" She spat at Cersei's feet and before she could prepare her lips to do so again, her face was snapped to the side and a red mark was on her cheek.
"That is no way to speak to the Queen," Euron said, glaring at his niece.
Yara grinned. "This is no way to treat a queen, cunt."
In a quick and fluid motion, Euron had his hand wrapped around her throat and he squeezed it hard. She clawed at his hand as her eyes turned to Cersei who smiled in content.
"Stop."
Euron let go and Yara immediately began to breathe in lungfuls of air, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Shall we try again?" Cersei asked. "Where is your brother?"
"The cunt... left... me."
"He did," Euron confirmed with a grin. "Well, he has no balls."
Yara rolled her eyes and leant against the wall, watching the two people in front of her converse.
"Let's leave her." Cersei finally smiled.
They walked out of her cell and she wished that Euron hadn't have strangled her - she wanted to scream.
...
Mya gently brushed Sansa's hair, hoping she wouldn't yank tightly at the younger woman's orange locks.
Mya wasn't beautiful, at least she didn't think she was - she had her mother's looks who was nothing but a handmaiden.
Meeting her brother, she could tell that he had their father's looks, Robert had been a very handsome man in his youth so, in turn, Gendry was a handsome man. Not overly but enough to win the heart of the sister of the Princess whose hair she was brushing.
"I normally do my own hair and so do my sister and sister-by-laws but you need work," Sansa said lightly. "I'm telling you now, Queen Ygritte and Arya will never let you do their hair."
Mya chuckled softly. "I don't mind. Your hair is very lovely. I wish I had it."
"Ygritte says that we're 'kissed by fire'. She tells me that's how she seduced my brother," Sansa teased. "Jon says otherwise, of course. Knives were pulled, arrows were released..."
"Pardon?" Mya asked, her eyes wide. "Knives and arrows? How did they end up married with children?"
Sansa began to laugh. "Love. No matter how many times they attempt to hurt each other they'll be loyal to each other. I'm afraid to say that I'm jealous. I'm also jealous about Robb and Talisa then Arya and Gendry."
"Weren't you married, Princess? Twice, I believe?"
Sansa scoffed. "To the enemies of my family?" She asked with a roll of her eyes. "Well, Tyrion is not my enemy - he's a friend. Neither times were for love."
"Do you have your eye on someone?"
Sansa shook her head. "No. I only have eyes for my daughter - she's my life now. I'm lucky enough to have family who does not pry into my love life."
There was a knock on the door and Arya entered with a bright smile.
"You rarely smile. Why are you smiling now?" Sansa teased her, returning the smile.
"Lord Dayne's here. He managed to peacefully claim Dorne. I think Jon and Robb's rule is going very smoothly."
"Did the Sand Snakes submit or realise it was for the best?" Sansa asked.
"Does it matter?" Arya retorted. "No blood was spilt."
"But they could become a problem in the future," Sansa said. "If they submitted, there's a chance they could start a rebellion just as the Salt Throne did many times in the past."
Arya frowned. "We need leverage to ensure that they comply for good."
"Oberyn's youngest daughter, how old is she?"
"I wouldn't know. What are you thinking?" Arya asked her sister.
"I'm thinking I should meet this friend of yours and propose a few ideas of my own to tell our brothers. We need to begin that Small Council meeting now."
Mya stood back and Sansa arose from her vanity, putting her gloves on. The handmaiden was about to offer her cloak but she denied it.
"I'm a Northerner - we don't wear cloaks around the castle halls," she said with a smile. "You have a lot to learn, my Lady."
Mya blushed. "Of course. I'm sorry, Princess."
"What for?" Sansa laughed. "You've done no wrong!"
"Do I need to come with you?"
Sansa shook her head. "This meeting is private but you go and see your brother. He's at the smithy."
Mya curtseyed to both women before leaving and heading towards the smithy.
Arya fell into step with their sister as they headed to the Great Hall with Tormund and the Mormont Kingsguard, Ackerly Karren, behind them.
"Ser Ackerly, please bring everyone from the Small Council to the Great Hall," Sansa instructed him.
"Yes, Princess."
Ackerly turned around and headed back the way they came from as the Princesses continued on.
"How do you fare, Ser Tormund?" Sansa asked.
Tormund grinned. "I am better, Princess. Just had a few ales with your brothers yesterday."
"Of course, you did," Arya chuckled. "Just don't give them the Wildling stuff - that tastes like piss."
"No, your stuff tastes like piss," Tormund retorted.
They arrived in the Great Hall and waited for the others to join them. It was meant to start in the late afternoon but midday was still fine.
When everyone was seated, Edric Dayne was led into the Great Hall, a bright smile on his face.
He stopped behind Arya. "Princess."
"Cunt," she replied.
He walked on and sat down beside Tyrion on the end. He turned to the Kings. "I am Lord Edric Dayne, Your Graces. It's wonderful to meet the men who have the whole of Westeros bending the knee."
"Welcome, Lord Dayne," said Robb.
"Edric's or Ned's fine, Your Graces," he replied, pointedly looking at Jon.
"Well, Edric, we want to thank you for claiming Dorne peacefully," Jon replied, purposefully not referring to him as 'Ned'.
Ned shrugged. "It was no issue. I am the Sword of the Morning for a reason," the man said with a grin. That earned him a glare from Arya.
"In return, Dorne will remain independent under the Winter Throne rule," Robb told him. "Lord Dayne or should I say, Prince Edric?"
Ned smiled. "That actually doesn't sound bad when you say it. I mean, Princess Arya suggested it and with her saying it, it didn't feel right. I think she didn't really mean it."
"When does Arya ever mean something?" Sansa asked with a smile which he easily returned.
"Thank you for agreeing with me, Princess Sansa," Ned turned to her. "Her own sister agreeing against her."
"Anyway, I requested that we begin our meeting now," Sansa said, turning away from him with a slight blush. "According to Arya who learnt from Lord Dayne, the Sand Snakes submitted. There's still a high chance they'll rebel."
"So?" Robb asked her.
"I was thinking if we did what Father did to Theon all those years ago - we take one as an assurance. They can't try anything if their sister is within a pack of wolves."
Both her older brothers raised their eyebrows in wonder and slight disagreement but it was true.
"Aye, that may be an option," Jon finally said after a while. "Elia Sand is near her fifteenth nameday and the youngest, Loreza is six. It seems as if Elia would be influenced by her elder sisters."
"Who do we choose? The strongest or the weakest?" Sansa asked.
"I wouldn't understate them," Arya said to her. "I could shoot an arrow from age six."
"Behind Mother and Father's backs," Sansa replied. "You three," she pointed to her sister and elder brothers. "I can't believe you were lucky enough to hide that."
"Then who would you choose?" Robb asked her. "If the youngest is just as much as a threat as the eldest?"
Arya cleared her throat. "How about all of them? They won't try anything in Dorne if they're here and I'm here."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ned asked her. "Why would you need to be here for them to not try anything?"
"I know you know what I am," Arya said, receiving a bright smile. "One step out of line and I do to them what I did to Littlefinger - child or not."
Jon frowned. "We don't kill children."
"Oh, I wish I killed Joffrey when we were children," she replied. "Shows that not all children are as innocent as they seem."
Sansa sipped her wine, holding her tongue regarding that chilling confession. "Speaking of killing a Lannister," she began, taking her new ring out and slipping it on. "Don't you all just adore my new ring?"
Arya inspected it. "What's the green liquid inside?"
"A special gift from Lady Olenna for Cersei Lannister," her sister replied with a smile. "I asked Ser Jaime how she died - she drank poison and confessed to killing Joffrey with a poison similar to this one inside my ring."
"You intend to poison Cersei?" Robb asked his sister.
"If Arya goes, I do too. We all deserve to be there to watch her die or swing the swords to do so."
Her brothers shared a wary glance.
"We won't be wanting to kill Cersei Lannister," Jon confessed.
"And why not?" The sisters asked.
"She's with child," Robb replied with a heavy sigh. "No child deserves death."
"Are you joking?" Arya asked. "She's... she's with child?"
Jon nodded. "Ser Jaime told Lady Brienne and she told us."
"Well, I guess we're waiting." Sansa smiled.
"For what?"
"Until she has the child. Then we will not stop until she's dead." She glanced down at her ring. "She has made our family suffer ever since she ordered for Lady's death. It's because of her actions that we have no parents. Father and Mother were good people and their blood are on her hands. Father's blood because she didn't stop Joffrey from ordering his head and Mother's because..." She turned to Tyrion. "What do you Lannisters always say?"
"A Lannister always pays their debts." The man complied sadly.
"And she was killed at the Red Wedding where she witnessed her son and unborn grandchild being murdered," Sansa continued.
Everyone turned to Robb.
"Did she say...?"
"I did die, yes. I was brought back just as my brother was. Through the Lord of Light by Thoros of Myr."
"Why didn't your father get the same treatment? That is now three Stark sons brought back to life - will Prince Rickon get the same fate?" Tyrion asked, downing his wine. Everyone glared at him. "Not the time, sorry. That was in poor taste, forgive me."
Sansa rolled her eyes. "Cersei and Tywin got the Freys and Boltons to break guest rights."
"And I killed the Frey heirs and fed them to their father before I slit his throat."
"And Ramsay stabbed his father in the heart before I let his hounds on him."
"And Tywin was killed on the privy..." Arya trailed off, staring at Tyrion Lannister who downed another glass.
"So, it's only fair that Arya and I get Cersei."
Robb smiled. "You're right. It's time you both swung the swords more. As I said, everyone is equal in this family so if you want your revenge on Cersei, you have it-"
"Robb!" Jon cried out. "We're not-"
"I think we can forgo that this time, don't you think Jon?" Robb asked his brother.
"You're outnumbered in the decision," Arya said. "All in favour of Sansa and I killing Cersei when we get the chance to?"
Dany, Varys, Sansa, Arya and Robb raised their hands.
"And all in favour of not?" Arya asked.
Davos, Jon, Brienne and Lorin raised their hands.
They turned to Tyrion and Bran.
"You didn't raise your hands for either choice," Robb noted.
"I vote..." Tyrion shakily began. "To kill her. She was never a sister to me anyway so why would I mourn for her?" He poured himself another cup and drank it whole as tears stung his eyes. He refused to let a tear fall for the woman.
"Six against four," Arya said with a smile. "Bran's vote won't count for anything."
"Mine will. If I am the Member for Dorne." Ned grinned.
"What makes you think it will count for anything? If you vote either way, I'd win," Arya told him.
Ned turned to her, nudging his head in the direction of Bran. "Bran has a kind soul from what I can see - he'll vote against and so will I."
"He's right," Bran called out. "I'm not partaking in this petty argument. There is no question about it - we Starks are honourable and do not kill just for the fun of it. Yes, she has committed great crimes against our family but we should be better. She murdered people with wildfire, doesn't mean we should unleash ours - not physically speaking."
Arya glared at her brother. "Six against six then. Who gets the deciding vote?"
"Theon should," Jon finally said. "He is the Master of Ships."
"He's not here," Arya said. "Who will decide on his behalf?"
"I will. I know Prince Theon - his sister was my Commander of the Iron Fleet," Daenerys replied.
"He is a Stark by honour, a Stark should speak for him," Arya told her. "No offence."
"No offence taken," Dany smiled back.
Robb gave his sister a smile. "He decides for."
"I'll sharpen my knives," Arya replied with a small, victorious smile.
"And I'll protect my poison very dearly," Sansa added, sharing a coy smile with her younger sister.
Many, many miles away, Theon and his troops reached King's Landing, a determined look on Theon's face.
It was time to save Yara.
Notes for this chapter:
(1) Cersei's perspective is for this chapter only - she tried to get information out of Yara who is revealed to still be alive and is unknowing of Dany bending the knee North.
(2) Sansa and Mya speak about love and whether Sansa has her eye on anyone.
(3) Arya tells her sister that Ned successfully got Dorne from the Sand Snakes.
(4) Sansa reveals to the Small Council her poison in her ring and that they should bring Oberyn's bastards to the North to keep them in check to prevent a rebellion against the Winter Throne.
(5) The Kings confess that Cersei is pregnant (which Tyrion already knows) and that they won't be killing her.
(6) Seven out of thirteen votes for killing Cersei after Robb is convinced much to Jon's chagrin. The deciding vote was Theon's with Robb as his representative.
(7) It is decided that Cersei will be killed after giving birth by the Stark Sisters.
(8) Theon arrives in King's Landing to get his sister, Yara, back.
*If the brothers show some bloodthirst, I thought it was fair to let the sisters show some too although Arya already shows her bloodthirst more freely than her siblings do. Also, I've decided that the sisters should have their revenge on Cersei as it is always up to Robb and Jon to swing the sword. Eddard Stark taught his children that he who passes the sentence must swing the sword and since his eldest sons have done so many times, it is fair for his daughters to carry out what their brothers were taught to do this time.