Chapter 36
Jaime
He pulled the hood closer around his face and lowered his head as they rode into the city. Atop the city gates and by the sides, he glimpsed the Unsullied keeping close watch. He glanced at Brienne and she nodded at him. When the Unsullied saw the approaching soldiers, they barred the entry to the city. Brienne spurred her horse closer as a man, a gold cloak, from atop the city gate shouted, "who goes there?"
"Brienne of Tarth," she replied smoothly, "I come bringing men on the orders of Lord Tyrion, the Hand of the King and Queen,"
The men nodded, "let them through!" he shouted. Jaime glanced at her, letting out a breath he did not realise he was holding as they rode past the gates.
"Hey, the man in the cape on the horse, halt!" Jaime tensed but halted his horse. Beside him, he glimpsed Brienne turning, "who is this?" the man demanded.
"He's with me," Brienne replied smoothly, "one of my military commanders,"
"Why does he has his hood drawn up?" the man asked. Jaime could hear his footsteps approaching and Brienne dismounted.
"He is with me," she repeated in a low tone.
"Well, if he would show his face and answer me, I will let him pass-"
They paused and Jaime looked ahead to see a small entourage approaching, a small sedan in the middle, carried by the servants. The servants lowered the sedan before them and his little brother walked out. Tyrion was wearing a black jerkin over a black cotton shirt and brown pants and boots. The pin of the Hand on his chest.
The guards bowed, "Lord Tyrion,"
"They are here on my invitation, let them pass," Tyrion said to the guards. The man speaking to Brienne nodded and stepped back to his post at the gate. Tyrion stared at him for a long moment before he nodded to Brienne and waved for them to follow. Then he ducked back into the sedan.
Jaime kept his head low as they approached the Red Keep. The common people of King's Landing peered at them curiously as they passed and Jaime knew if even one of them saw his face and recognised him, they would be screaming for his head. After his escape, the King issued an official announcement that Jaime Lannister was now a wanted man and for what crime. And as Jaime had said, the people loved their Queen. But none as much as I.
As they entered the Red Keep, Jaime dismounted and stood by his horse as Tyrion emerged from his sedan. He met his little brother's mismatched eyes before Tyrion approached hurriedly and Jaime crouched and they hugged.
"You believe me?" Jaime asked, almost in disbelief as Tyrion pulled back.
"If I did not, your head would be mounted on the spikes of the castle gates by now," Tyrion snorted, "but you shouldn't have run, it was stupid,"
Jaime rolled his eyes. And as he expected, of course Tyrion would know where he was. If not for the service of Varys, it would be because of his intelligence and if not even that, Tyrion knew Jaime better than anyone alive.
"Why have you come?" Tyrion frowned.
"To warn you and help you," Jaime said, straightening as he handed the stable boys his horse. At Tyrion's puzzled expression, Jaime continued as they walked into the Keep, "I think someone is plotting against the Crown,"
Tyrion's steps stilled. Jaime turned to see Tyrion blink twice, his lips parted in absolute surprise, "w-what? Jaime, that is a huge accusation-"
"It's not an accusation, it's the truth," Jaime took a step towards him, "Arianne Martell warned me-"
"What?" Tyrion scowled, "warned you about what?"
Jaime paused then, realising on hindsight, he should have informed his brother about what he knew about Arianne Martell. Tyrion would have been able to put together the pieces before things came to this; the King was a day or two from King's Landing and the Queen, more than that, even while on dragon back, "I caught her coming out from the King's chancery… she was fastening her robes,"
Tyrion's eyes widened, "what?" he glanced around them before he began walking quickly, to the Tower of the Hand and Jaime understood, following. Jaime entered before Tyrion and as Tyrion closed the door behind them, he turned to him, "that is impossible! The King would never-"
"The Queen knows, she saw," Jaime added and if possible, Tyrion's eyes widened further, "but I don't think anything happened,"
"And how did you know that?" Tyrion demanded.
"I confronted Arianne Martell,"
"Whatever for?" Tyrion rubbed his face. To warn her that if she was to try anything to hurt the Queen in anyway, I will kill her.
"It doesn't matter!" Jaime snapped, "when I confronted her, she said she wanted the King for herself and wanted to be the Queen. She said that it was better for the realm… that Dorne was not the only enemy of the Queen and it would be the end of House Targaryen,"
Tyrion froze then.
"Tyrion, how did the Queen know Meereen was in danger? Who sent the message?" Jaime demanded.
"Varys' little birds found out," Tyrion muttered.
"And they did not find out about Arianne Martell's ploy?" Tyrion did not reply as he stared vacantly at the wall, "where is Varys?" Jaime growled.
"With her, he went with the Queen…" Tyrion replied, still in a semi-daze of shock.
Jaime then began to feel faint, "who else went with her?" Tyrion did not reply, "WHO ELSE?"
"Darry, Whent, Hightower and Mormont,"
Jaime felt some form of semblance of comfort as he heard Ser Jorah's name. Jorah would never betray the Queen, he loved her as well. But Jaime knew there was only so much one man could do against everyone else; no matter how good a warrior Jorah Mormont was. He closed his eyes, wishing Ser Ned Cerwyn, and Rodrik Karstark had went with her instead but they had accompanied the King to war. They were the ones who were most trustworthy amongst the Kingsguard; Northerners who were absolutely loyal to the King. The rest, they took their vows, but Jaime knew in desperate times, men break and forget their vows.
Jaime closed his hand in a painful fist. He wanted to go to her. Gods if he had a dragon… But Jaime knew if she was in danger, there was little he could do for her, if it was not already too late. Then Jaime stood, "the King, did you inform the King that the Queen has left for Meereen?"
Tyrion replied, "I sent him a message but he is at war, I haven't received any reply and the message could be lost-"
"Send another one and let him know the Queen needs help… only a dragon can get there in time now," Jaime muttered. He loved her but Jaime knew this was all he could do for her from where he was. This…and protecting the Crown Prince, her son.
"Jaime, we have to prepare the city for an attack," Tyrion said, looking at him.
Jaime nodded, "where is the Prince?"
"At his lessons," Tyrion glanced out the balcony before he continued, "with Arya I think, at this time of the day. He is spending a lot of time with Arya after his mother left,"
Jaime nodded. Arya would keep Jaehaerys safe. In fact, there was no one else left in King's Landing that Jaime would trust with Jaehaerys. King's Landing had most of the Lannister army that Jaime was supposed to take with him to Casterly Rock, and now the men that Brienne brought with her. They did not know the enemy and that was their greatest weakness at this point but whoever was coming would have to organise a siege of the city and the walls of King's Landing were stronger than most castles, "send a raven to the Reach, we will need all the men they can provide. Them, the Riverlands and the Vale," Jaime flexed his left hand as he pondered. Then he added, "and the North. Tell Lady Stark we will need them to arrive as quickly as they can-"
Just then, the bells of King's Landing tolled loudly. The city was under siege. Jaime and Tyrion exchanged a glance and they both knew what it was.
They're here.
Jon
Fire!
Rhaegal screeched and he burned the column of approaching soldiers. Beneath them, the Dothraki screamed, waving their arakhs in the air as they cut down the soldiers. As they rose into the air, Rhaegal roared and his body tremored under Jon. Anger. The emotion came upon Jon but he knew it was not his own for it came to his head before it creeped and sank deep into every inch of his body.
Rhaegal. Jon glanced to the green dragon, who screeched again into the night sky. Rhaegal came for his mother, and his brother, and Jon knew he was determined to bring Fire and Blood to those who harmed them.
I'm sorry, for not knowing you when you have always known me, understood me and fought beside me.
Just before their battle at Hellholt, Rhaegal had been anxious, even angry and Jon did what he could to soothe him but there was only so much he could do when he did not know what disturbed the dragon. But the dragon had felt the danger his brother and mother was in. Probably since they had set off from King's Landing.
We will, boy. Jon promised as he hunched over Rhaegal, spurring him to fly to the centre of the city, we will bring Fire and Blood to our enemies. And your mother and brother will be safe again. Rhaegal's roar was deafening.
Then came another roar from beneath. Drogon. Relief sank deep in his middle. He looked down, expecting to see Drogon in the air with Daenerys on his back; he hoped. But instead, he glimpsed the black dragon on the ground, beside the largest pyramid Jon has ever seen; surrounded by soldiers. He guided Rhaegal to burn the men surrounding Drogon before they landed. Rhaegal screeched to his brother, bumping Drogon's head with his snout in greeting. Jon dismounted quickly and ran to Drogon.
Drogon snapped and screeched but did not make to stop his approach. Drogon knew him. Daenerys was nowhere in sight and the relief he felt earlier faded to fear. He paled when he saw Drogon favouring a leg as he stepped forward towards him. Jon squinted in the dark and was appalled to see one of Drogon's leg missing a huge chunk of flesh; what remained of the leg was grossly disfigured and looked hardly functional. As Drogon limped forward, forcing his injured leg to the ground, black steaming blood poured from it. Jon hurriedly stepped up to him and reached a hand for his snout but Drogon did not lower his head to him as he always did. Instead, Drogon roared and unfurled his wings, as if he wanted to fly.
"Where is Daenerys?" Jon shouted. Drogon's right wing was tattered in places, evident of having been burned. Then suddenly, Drogon made to spring off the ground and take to the air. However, his injured leg faltered and failed to launch him properly into the air and Drogon fell heavily to the ground on his belly. Jon fell on his behind from the impact of his fall that shook the ground.
As Jon stood, Rhaegal purred and nudged Jon in his back with his snout. Jon staggered forward and glanced at Rhaegal. Fear. Anxiety. The emotions clutched at his heart. Then Drogon screeched, looking up, he pushed himself off the ground and flapped his wings. He began to rise into the air. Jon followed his gaze to see Drogon flying towards the top of the pyramid. There was only ever one person who could rile Drogon up like this; when she was injured in the Great War and did not recover for four years.
Jon sprinted back to Rhaegal and scrambled onto his back. Fly. Jon thought, barely sat properly yet. Rhaegal screeched and took to the air. They caught up to Drogon as he landed heavily on top of the pyramid. Jon guided Rhaegal to land as well, perched on the side of the pyramid, his claws sinking into the concrete. Beside him, Drogon was panting heavily but there was a loud purr coming from Drogon as he proceeded closer to the balcony of the pyramid.
Rhaegal sank the claw of his foreleg onto the parapet of the balcony and Jon dismounted hurriedly. Behind him, Drogon stepped closer to the balcony. He landed heavily in the balcony. It was the private chambers of the owner of the pyramid. Then he saw two figure hunched on the floor beside the table.
Relief filled him.
"Daenerys," he breathed as he approached her hastily. She rose and turned to him. He wrapped his arms around her firmly, pressing his nose into her hair, taking in all of her. She smelled fresh, washed. He stroked her long soft silver hair gently with one hand as the other wandered to the small of her back, pressing her closer to him.
She hissed in pain and he drew back hurriedly.
That was when he realised she was bare.
Jon froze before the implications of it came to him, his eyes taking in the state of her. One side of her face was red and slightly swollen. Her lips, swollen as well, had a deep bleeding cut on the bottom. His eyes gazed over her body to see discolouration over the expanse of her middle. It was so large Jon could hardly call it a bruise.
Rage filled him then and his hand flew to Longclaw. He stepped away and glared around the chambers, searching. That was when he spotted the large bed with an overhanging canopy. The sheets were messy, looking slept in and his stomach dropped, his heart tearing itself asunder at the thought of what could have transpired. Slowly, he turned back to look at her, pained, regret for leaving her sinking its claws deep within him.
Daenerys limped forward. She cupped his cheeks in his warm gentle hands. As her eyes locked with his, she shook her head firmly. He let out the breath of air he has been holding. He wrapped an arm gently around her waist and pulled her to him. Her arms snaked around his neck and she pulled him down to her, pressing her lips to his. Jon, with his eyes closed, smiled unwittingly against her lips, a sweetness filling his mouth, his chest, as he kissed her gently.
Then he tasted blood. His eyes flew open and he quickly drew back. He pressed his forehead to hers, his eyes darted down to the gash on her lips and he scowled, "where is he?" Jon growled, his voice harsh and almost animalistic. He hardly recognised his own voice. It has been a long time since anyone could evoke such rage in him.
Daenerys shook her head then, in disbelief as she gazed at him, "how did you find me?" His middle fluttered as he heard her voice, the very one he longed for and heard in his dreams every night, since he left her.
As he gazed at her, he felt the rage ebb away and he replied softly, "Dany, I will always find you," a small smile graced her lips as her eyes welled up. Jon gently cupped her cheek, minding the red swollen skin as he caressed her with his thumb. She closed her eyes, pressing into his palm. He stared at her wounds, letting the hatred sink deep inside him.
Then her eyes flew open and she pulled away, "Jon, we have to go back," she said.
"What?"
Her face contorted with fear, "Jaehaerys, they are going to take him," she staggered past him towards the balcony.
Jon frowned in puzzlement. He held her arm and stopped her as gently as he can, not knowing where else she might be hurt, "Dany, what are you talking about?"
She swallowed and made to speak. Then the door opened suddenly. Jon turned to see a man standing there, stunned at the sight of Jon, "Hey!" he snapped out of his reverie and shouted. He drew his sword and Jon let go of Dany and drew Longclaw, his face in a snarl. Jon parried the man's strike to the side and plunged his sword into the man's chest. As he fell, one more entered, stabbing his sword at Jon. Jon twisted to the side and brought Longclaw along his exposed neck, slicing the skin and flesh open like paper. The man gasped, clutching his neck as he fell; dead.
Jon turned to Daenerys then. He glanced at her still bare form and went to a large chest to the side, opening it. He rummaged through it and pulled out a black coat and a pair of pants. He opened the coat and went to her. Gently, he helped her slip her arm through the coat and he pulled it over her, buttoning it. It was slightly larger but not overly so. He then helped her with the pants. The furrows between his brows deepened as she staggered while trying to step into it. Eventually, she leaned heavily on him as she did.
"It's the Blackfyres," she told him, slightly short of breath from the pain of donning clothes, as he laced up her pants. His heart wrenched at the thought of the pain she was in. Blackfyres. Jon remembered learning about their multiple rebellions in the past, all failed rebellions, "they have dragons," his eyes darted to hers, stunned.
"How many?" he asked, tensed.
"I don't know, I think four," she said, "But Drogon and I, we killed one. There is one more here but the rider…" her voice wavered and trailed off and her gaze shifted. He followed her gaze to a young woman on the floor whom Jon did not notice before; dead. Then suddenly, they heard a screech from the balcony. Rhaegal.
Daenerys turned and limped towards the balcony. He held her arm and helped her to it. As they emerged, Jon glanced to Rhaegal and followed the green dragon's gaze to see a shadow in the skies. He squinted and saw it to be a dark coloured dragon but it was flying away.
"Moonlight…no," Daenerys muttered and she turned to him, clutching his arm, "we have to go to King's Landing. That is where he is going,"
"Who?" Jon frowned.
"Daemon Blackfyre," she said tersely, refusing to meet his gaze as she glanced to the fleeing dragon.
His grip on Longclaw tightened, almost painfully, his other hand on her arm, gentle, "did he do this to you?" he asked quietly.
Daenerys nodded stiffly. She turned around as a loud purr was heard behind them. Drogon had lowered his snout to them from atop the pyramid, his eyes fixed on Daenerys, "Drogon," she whispered. Drogon purred in response. She raised a hand and stroked his snout, "ānogar ānograro (blood of my blood)," a whimper came from Drogon as Daenerys pressed her forehead to his snout, "we have to go. Now," she made to mount Drogon.
Jon nodded in agreement and he went to her. Drogon lowered his wing, the claw of his foreleg digging into the balcony. Daenerys made to step up but she gasped and staggered back. Already expecting it, Jon caught her against his own body and held her to him firmly, "let me help you," he muttered, already knowing she would never agree to ride with him on Rhaegal. She nodded and he proceeded onto Drogon. Drogon snorted as Jon mounted him but Daenerys hushed him. Jon then offered her a hand, from atop Drogon and pulled her up. Guiding her the last couple of spikes up, she settled gingerly on Drogon's back with him helping her from standing on Drogon's side.
He gazed at her face a moment longer, worried. She met his eyes then and cupping his bearded cheek gently, she whispered, "don't leave me again,"
"Never," he replied softly, placing his hand over hers, on his cheek, "I never should have in the first place," Jon leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek before he dismounted and mounted Rhaegal.
Daenerys glanced below, "Dothraki?"
He nodded. He had found the biggest Khalasar he could and defeated them in a short battle; understanding that to gain their respect, he would have to earn it; to rise as a leader within their ranks, power has to be taken. It was not Jon's way, to defeat them and 'force' them to follow him but it was theirs and Jon had little choice. She smiled at him and Jon glimpsed pride in her lilac eyes. He returned the smile.
"We should bring them with us, if the Blackfyre means for a battle-"
"There is no time," Daenerys said, fear in her eyes but not fear for herself or him; Jaehaerys.
Jon nodded stiffly, "we'll call for the Lords of Westeros,"
"We will fight for the Iron Throne without 'foreign savages' this time," Daenerys told him, an amused twinkle in her eyes and Jon barked a laugh. They were going to war and unlike how he had felt when he marched on King's Landing after the Great War or when he marched to war against Dorne, Jon felt an odd serenity as he gazed at Daenerys beside him. We would be fighting together.
She caught his gaze and he told her, "you know I never liked fighting. But my father always said, if I have to fight, win,"
Daenerys smiled and nodded, "we will," then as she guided Drogon to the edge, ready to take to the skies, she gazed at him once more; her smile gone and there was a foreign look in her eyes that Jon could not delve into in time before Daenerys turned away and leaned forward gingerly. Drogon roared, leaping off the pyramid.
Jaime
Tyrion stared at him, stunned.
"Go! Send the ravens!" Jaime snapped, "and take some men to protect the Prince. Bring him to Maegor's holdfast, fill the moats and lift the drawbridge!" then he ran to the outer yards. That was where he found Brienne.
"What is going on?" Brienne asked.
"The city is under attack," Jaime told her. Brienne's eyes widened, "where are your men?"
"Settling down in the barracks-"
"Get them to the square now! And the Lannister soldiers!" he shouted. Brienne nodded and took off. Jaime then sprinted to the top of the battlements. The city was thrown into chaos. The people were panicking, running into their houses and shutting the doors and windows. Some of them had their possessions with them in the streets as they ran to the city gates, no doubt trying to escape the impending battle. Then he looked towards the city gates. The gates were closed and Jaime muttered his thanks to the Gods that the gold cloaks and Unsullied on guard had the wit about them to close the gates when they spied an impending army.
As he glimpsed the soldiers gathering in the square as he commanded, Jaime allowed himself to breathe as he thought. He could dedicate their forces to defend the keep but it would mean leaving the thousands in King's Landing to suffer at the hands of enemy soldiers. It was not what the King and Queen would have wanted-
Suddenly a screech sounded from the skies. Jaime looked up, hopeful and relieved beyond measure. He spotted a dragon approaching from over the city gates. His smile faded when the dragon reared back its head and burned the city gates, setting the soldiers defending from above alight.
His breath hitched in his throat and he realised too late the scales of this dragon was silver, not jade green or black. Jaime watched, shaken and in disbelief, as the city gates was battered open, weakened by the fire, and sellswords began to flood into the city, shouting war cries. The dragon roared and Jaime could only stare as pale white flames burst forth from the dragon, setting houses alight.
Scorpion. We need a Scorpion. He knew Cersei had a few of them made but since the Targaryens ruled, the scorpions were kept away in the most obscure dungeons of the Red Keep. They were cumbersome to move and watching the silver dragon raze the city with its flames, Jaime knew they had no time to transport the Scorpion; even if they did, the dragon would simply burn it before they could shoot. It was heading for the Red Keep already.
Jaime shouted, "take cover!" to the square below as the dragon roared, approaching fast. He himself ducked down as the dragon flew overhead. Jaime glimpsed the white fire pour from the dragon and into the square. The soldiers below screamed and Jaime could smell their flesh burning.
He glanced up at the dragon as it circled the keep. On its back sat a woman, her hair was dark and she was pale, slender. As she circled the Red Keep, she glanced around the Keep and Jaime knew he was looking for the Prince. Then beyond the walls, Jaime could hear approaching soldiers, all sellswords.
"Shut the gates!" Jaime shouted and the men scrambled to obey but the dragon above screeched and its fire turned the men approaching the gates to ash. Jaime's eyes widened as the dragon approached him, the rider staring straight at him. Jaime ran off the battlements and descended the stairs just as white flames burned where he was. The flames followed him and he tumbled down the remaining steps and into the courtyard.
The dragon screeched and rose into the skies again just as the soldiers turned to it, throwing spears.
Jaime rose from the mud just as battle cries was heard behind him. He turned to see the sellswords, some on horses, some on foot, flood into the Keep.
As Jaime drew his sword, he prayed Tyrion managed to bring the Prince to Maegor's Holdfast and secure the Holdfast. It may not be much defence against a dragon but a dragon would not be able to take the Prince, the rider would have to dismount and fight her way to the Prince herself or find a way to get her men across.
Jaime parried as a sellsword hacked his sword at him before Jaime stepped forward, gutting the man. As he dropped, Jaime turned to the next man but a telling sound of approaching beat of wings stopped him. Jaime turned and dove to the side as the dragon burned the courtyard of men; sellswords and Lannister soldiers alike.
Then the dragon landed atop the battlements, roaring down at the men below, "stop this battle or everyone here will burn!" the rider shouted.
Jaime rose. About him, the Lannister soldiers glanced to each other before they turned to him. The sellswords surrounded them and more were flooding in.
The rider gazed over them before her eyes found him and she held his gaze. Jaime blinked and glanced around him and he saw his men; all men with wives, children, families. They all wanted to live. Who was he to demand they died for him? With a heavy heart, Jaime threw his sword down and around him, his men followed.
Jaime glared at the rider as she smirked. She gestured to the sellswords and they began to round up the soldiers in the centre of the outer courtyard, forcing them to their knees. Another group of sellswords proceeded into the Keep, no doubt gathering everyone from the Keep into the courtyard. Jaime shrugged off a sellsword who approached him only for three more to converge around him, pushing him to his knees. The rider dismounted her dragon and they watched as she descended from the battlements.
"This city is now mine," she said as she descended the last few steps, "what I want is simple. If you give it to me, you can all live, to die another day," she smiled. The men glanced to each other around Jaime but he could only stare at her. As she approached, her eyes were a stark purple colour; Valyrian blood, "give me the Crown Prince, Jaehaerys is his name I think," she said, "and from what I heard, silver hair, silver eyed, only a boy,"
The men bowed their heads in silence. They did not need her description. They all knew the Crown Prince, they all loved him as if he was their own son. The Crown Prince often mingled with these men in the training yards, regardless of the telling lion on their breastplate.
She narrowed his eyes as they settled on Jaime, "you," she pointed, "you're the commander aren't you?"
Jaime did not reply. She gestured to the sellsword and two men converge on him, yanking him to his feet and forward. Jaime struggled and managed to shove them off, walking ahead on his own towards the rider.
"Who are you?" she asked. Jaime stared at her quietly, "tight-lipped man, aren't you?" she smiled. Behind her, her dragon roared, threatening to spew fire but Jaime stood his ground, unfazed. Her brows raised in evident surprise, "brave as well," she then looked over his garbs, "not a Kingsguard… not the commander of the goldcloak-" then she paused and Jaime followed her gaze to see it fixed on his golden hand, "Jaime Lannister. What a pleasant surprise, the last I heard of you, you were across the country on the run from the Queen,"
He remained silent. A flash of rage crossed her face before Jaime felt a hard slap across his cheek. He staggered to the side but remained standing, "I will never run from the Queen," he glared at her.
She smirked, satisfied. Then she turned as the sellswords that entered the keep emerged. Jaime tensed as he glimpsed Tyrion amongst them. Tyrion met his eyes momentarily before his eyes dropped. If his presence here was not telling enough, it was evident on his face then that Tyrion had not managed to do as he asked. Jaime could only hope he managed to send the ravens.
Tyrion and the men behind him was forced to their knees with the soldiers. Then they waited. Every time the sellsword emerged from the keep, Jaime could only mutter a quick prayer that it would not be the Prince and time passed. But with the Prince somewhere in the Keep, exposed and unprotected but for his aunt, Jaime knew it was only a matter of time before they found the Prince.
"You'll never find him," Jaime spoke then.
The rider turned from stroking the snout of her dragon and she frowned at him, "what did you say?" she demanded and approached.
"There are many secret passageways in the Keep, you will never find him like this," Jaime said evenly.
The rider glanced to the Keep and seemed to be in thought before she looked at him, "and I suppose you have a suggestion? Do you know where he is?"
"No," Jaime replied simply, "but if I go looking for him, he will come to me when he sees me. If he sees your men, he will only run and hide. Then you will never find him, not before more of the King and Queen's men arrive,"
She narrowed her eyes at him, "so the Prince knows you?"
"He trusts me," Jaime replied, "I have been here since he was born, his mother's sworn sword,"
The rider nodded then and as he stepped forward to head into the Keep, she raised a hand, "wait," she said lazily, "do you think I'm an idiot? My men will accompany you," she gestured and two of the sellswords stepped forward, their swords drawn, "if he tries anything, run him through. If you have walked the castle once through and the Prince is nowhere to be found, skewer him," she told them then her purple eyes fell on him, "the next time I see you, it will be with the Prince, or not at all," she smiled, "bind his hands!" she ordered.
"If you bind my hands, why would the Prince come to me for safety? With your men, faces he does not recognise with me, even I don't know if he will come to me," Jaime snapped. She paused before she nodded stiffly, giving the men with him a meaningful look. Keep an eye on him. As he walked towards the Keep, he met Tyrion's eye momentarily but it was not who he was looking for. Then he found her, Brienne, knelt amongst her own men. He shot her a look and hoped she knew he would do something about this and she would act when the time was right. Her brows furrowed in worry but he glimpsed her lower her head in a subtle nod as he was shoved forward.
"Not here," Jaime muttered, turning towards Maegor's Holdfast. Jaime did not know what he intended to do but he knew they needed to kill that dragon if they want to stand a chance to win. He had no idea where the Prince was. Although in the past, Jaehaerys would not hesitate to come to him amidst such a dangerous situation, Jaime was not sure if the Queen's poisoning has changed that.
"Where are you going?" the man behind him demanded, the point of his sword digging into his lower back.
"Maegor's Holdfast," Jaime replied quietly and the men muttered amongst themselves. As they descended the serpentine steps, Jaime spun around quickly and backhanded a man with the sword in the face with his golden hand. He heard the man's cheekbone crack under the impact as he fell to the floor with a shout. The other man lunged forward, stabbing at him. Jaime twisted to the side and the sword missed. The man, predictably, began to lose his balance, teetering on the steps. Jaime grabbed him around back of his neck and shoved his knee into his face as he brought his head down.
Blood spurted as his nose broke and Jaime shoved him down the steps. The other man, one hand holding his broken cheekbone, rose and began hacking at him. Jaime dodged and ducked into the armoury. Blindly picking up a weapon, Jaime blocked a strike to see he had picked up a sword. Jaime parried his next stab and turned his sword, driving the pommel into his face. The man cried out and fall to the ground, unconscious.
He stood there, staring at the unconscious man. Jaime knew he could go into the Keep and find Jaehaerys and attempt to bring him to safety. But then what? If these men did not return to her reporting that Jaime had been killed or bringing Jaime and the Prince, the rider would no doubt look for him, atop her dragon. Jaehaerys would be hunted, in harm's way.
Then Jaime looked to Maegor's Holdfast. No. Jaime decided. Jaehaerys will stay here, in a place he knew better than anyone, where he could run and hide as he always did every single day of his life since he could walk.
And I will draw the dragon away. Jaime then slipped into the secret passageway behind the rack of swords. The men are not dead. They will inform her I have escaped. She would come find me on the oft chance that I have found the Prince and fled. He ran down the passageway and soon, he was out of the Keep. He ran down Shadowblack lane and he came to the foot of Aegon's high hill. He ducked into the streets, between the houses as a pair of sellswords walked past.
He glanced down the quiet street, appalled. The street was lined with bodies of the innocent, the drains quickly filling with blood. Jaime swallowed before deciding to go down the one on his right, the Street of the Flour. Jaime knew the dragon would be out looking for him soon but then what?
Then he heard the clashing of swords down the bend. He had half a mind to turn the other way; he had better things to take care of. But his vows came to him; the ones he took when he became a knight. To protect the weak and defenceless. So Jaime ran down the street. Before him, one man fought four sellswords.
Jaime parried away the strike of a sellsword and quickly opened a large gash in his neck. Then he turned to the next sellsword. He hacked at Jaime, missing as he ducked. Then Jaime quickly brought down his sword on the sellsword's, disarming him. Jaime ran his sword through his stomach.
Jaime removed his sword, letting the sellsword sink to the floor before him. He turned to see the man he helped kill the last sellsword with a knife to the throat.
The man turned to him, "thank-" he blinked, "Ser Jaime?!"
"Cadder," Jaime frowned, "what are you doing here?"
"I live just down the street," Cadder panted. A baker's son. "My dad told me to hide with him in the shop but I couldn't…" the young man blinked, looking at him, "I'm a knight now, I have a duty to fight,"
Jaime could not help the proud smile that spread over his face then.
"What is going on here?" Cadder asked angrily, "I heard the dragon but they are attacking-"
Jaime blinked, remembering he did not have much time left. Jaime told him, "it's not the King and Queen's dragon," Cadder's eyes widened, "someone has come to usurp the throne while the King and Queen are not here," Jaime glanced back to the Keep.
"Now what?" Cadder followed his glance to the Keep, no doubt knowing that was where the dragon was.
"We are going to kill the dragon," Jaime said as he thought, his eyes searching the streets. Then he glimpsed a body of a child. Jaime pulled away from Cadder and gingerly picked up the small boy. His body was cold and limp in his arms.
"How are you going to-"
"They want the Prince, no doubt to hold him hostage to be used against the King and Queen when they return," Jaime said. With the boy's body in his arm, Jaime averted his eyes from his face, "we have to lure the dragon away from the Keep and then we will kill him," Jaime glanced to the boy's hair to see it was dark. He then approached the open front of a deserted store. Piercing a sack of flour with his sword, Jaime picked up a handful of flour and dusted over the boy's hair till it was white. Not silver but from a distance, it would be enough.
Cadder stared at what he was doing and asked, "how are you going to lure the dragon?"
"They will know I escaped soon enough and when that happens, they will send the dragon to look for me, it's the fastest way. And they will see me escaping with the Prince," Jaime looked down at the boy, a lump forming in his throat at the boy's pale face. He was only about Jaehaerys' age. Jaime swallowed and positioned the boy on his back with Cadder's help so the boy's arms were around his neck and Jaime held onto his legs.
Cadder nodded, "well, then how are you going to kill it then?" he shifted from one leg to the other, "is there anything I can do to help?"
Jaime glanced down the streets as he thought. Then he glimpsed the top of the dragonpit over the rows of houses. He turned to Cadder then, "you are going to light a fire for me,"
Arya
"Very good, white wolf!" Arya exclaimed as Jaehaerys managed to tap her on her arm with his wooden sword. The many days of training was starting to show. Jaehaerys was a fast learner, especially because he hated to lose. Every time Arya struck him, he would scowl before he would hold up his sword, ready. The only thing he hated more than losing was winning when she let him win. In those moments, Arya thought Jaehaerys was too smart for his own good.
Jaehaerys grinned gleefully as he struck her but at her words, his smile faded and he frowned.
"What's wrong?" Arya asked, holding her sword behind her back as she approached. Jaehaerys' sword was lowered to the ground.
He stared at the floor for a moment before he said, "the people calls Father that, don't they?"
Arya closed her eyes. He missed them. In the days of their absence, Jaehaerys' lessons carried on as usual but any mention or reminder of his parents, he would withdraw to brood and Arya could not hate Jaehaerys' resemblance to Jon any more than in those moments; he was almost inconsolable, exactly like Jon, "yes," she replied gently.
"Why?" he asked.
"Well, after his wolf I suppose, Ghost was white. But it started when he was first named King in the North," Arya explained, "when he avenged our brother, your uncle; his wife and my mother too,"
"The Red Wedding," Jaehaerys said.
Arya raised her brows, surprised he knew about it.
"Father told Maester Sam to teach it to me; the War of the Five Kings. And the Purple Wedding, the Great War…" Jaehaerys said.
Arya nodded, "a King must know his history, to learn from it,"
Jaehaerys did not reply her then. He merely stared out the balcony blankly, "do you think they are coming back soon?"
Arya stepped forward, lifting his chin with a finger so he looked at her, "your Father and Mother will return when their duty is done,"
"How will they return if there is nothing to return to?" Jaehaerys asked, gazing at her.
Arya frowned then, "They are returning to you-"
"What if I'm no longer here?" Jaehaerys said.
Arya was appalled as he spoke of death; a child only four years of age. She cupped his cheek, waiting for his eyes to meet hers. His grey eyes, normally filled with light and life, were dull.
"Do you believe in the Gods, Jaehaerys?" Arya asked.
Jaehaerys nodded, "the Old Gods," because his father taught it to him, "and I know the Seven as well, and the Lord of Light, the Drowned Gods… Maester Sam taught them all to me too," he looked at her curiously, "do you believe in them?"
"Well, someone once told me that there is only one God," Arya smiled, "and his name is Death,"
Jaehaerys frowned, "you can't worship death," he argued, "no one would ever want to die-"
Arya chuckled, "you don't worship him. You tell him something, every day," it kept me alive most days.
He asked then, "tell him what?"
"Not today," Arya smiled. Jaehaerys thought on it for a moment before he smiled and Arya cherished his little face lighting up like this; it happened less than it should these days, "Jaehaerys, your father and mother love you with all their heart,"
"And yet, they left me," Jaehaerys countered indignantly. Arya fell silent. She could not argue with that for she had thought it; about her own father and mother a thousand times. They should not have left Winterfell, everything would be alright if they stayed; they would still be alive.
Then suddenly Suvion shot to his feet from curling on the floor, around the red-black dragon egg that Jaehaerys brought with him wherever he went, barking. They turned to Suvion. The direwolf yipped then at the wall. Then he howled. Jaehaerys frowned, "danger…" he turned to Arya, "Suvion…" Jaehaerys walked towards Suvion then, picking up and cradling the dragon egg to him.
Then they heard an indistinctive shout from outside the door and there was the sound of clashing swords. Jaehaerys stepped towards the door curiously. Then the door flew open. Arya instinctively reached for Jaehaerys, pulling him behind her. Suvion came to Jaehaerys' side, growling. Arya glanced to Needle which lay on floor at the side as five unfamiliar men came into the room. She raised her wooden sword before her at them. They all wore leather armour and wielded swords.
Out in the corridor, Arya glimpsed the Kingsguards fighting the other men, dressed similarly.
"Prince Jaehaerys, come with us," one man snapped.
Jaehaerys frowned at them and made to step forward but Arya raised an arm, pushing him back, "who are you? How did you come into the Holdfast?" she demanded.
"Come quietly Prince," he stepped forward and Arya stepped back, pushing Jaehaerys back. She raised her wooden sword before her. The men paused, eyeing it before they burst into laughter.
"Jaehaerys," Arya said evenly, "run, take Suvion with you,"
A man cried out as he lunged forward towards her. She parried his sword and as he stumbled forward, losing his balance, she struck him hard on the back of his head. He fell to the floor, unmoving.
"Jaehaerys!" Arya snapped and glanced back to see Jaehaerys blinking, "go!" she shouted.
"What about you?" Jaehaerys whimpered. Two men then cried and charged towards her, "Suvion! dohaeragon zirȳla (help her)!" Jaehaerys shouted and as Arya met the sword of one man, beside her, Suvion bit into the arm of the other. The man who was bitten, screamed and dropped to the ground, the direwolf on him. Arya rapped the man on the side of his head, hard. As he fell, two of the Kingsguards came through the door, fighting and killing the other two men. Arya looked up and tensed. Through the door, she glimpsed more men were coming towards the disturbance.
"Jaehaerys," she turned to him. He met her eyes, "you have to go,"
Jaehaerys shook his head, "we'll go together," he said firmly.
Arya glanced to the approaching men. There were at least three ten of them, "I will catch up to you," she placed a finger under his chin. Jaehaerys glanced to the men approaching and then to his Kingsguards, "go. Don't worry, I know the words, to the God of Death. As do you," she told him and he nodded reluctantly, "keep Suvion close, protect him as he will protect you,"
Jaehaerys nodded, firmer this time. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her. Arya stepped back, surprised, before she forced a smile and gave him a tight hug. Then behind her, she heard the clashing of steel. She pulled Jaehaerys away and pushed him towards the other door. As she turned, she parried away the sword of a man charging towards her. Glancing back to Jaehaerys, she hit the man, hard, over the shoulder. To her relief, Jaehaerys turned and clicked his tongue to Suvion. Together, they ran out the other door.
Tyrion
Tyrion watched as Jaime was escorted away, unbounded, to search for the Prince. What was he planning?
Brother, be smart about it and don't get yourself killed, whatever it is.
Tyrion had tried to do as Jaime instructed. He had scrawled messages for all the six Kingdoms, ordering them to send their armies to aid the Crown in a rebellion by unknown foreigners. As he watched the ravens take wing, breathing a sigh of relief as he watched them fly out of sight safely, Tyrion turned to the Maesters and ordered them to hide themselves before he went in search of the Prince.
The Prince was supposed to be at his water dancing lessons with Arya Stark, in Maegor's Holdfast. Tyrion quickly walked towards the Holdfast. As he approached, he shouted orders to the soldiers and Unsullied standing guard to prepare the Holdfast for an attack. As he watched the men begin to fill the moults, he heard the familiar beat of wings and hope filled him. Tyrion looked up and hope turned to horror as an unfamiliar dragon and an unfamiliar rider flew overhead, claiming the Keep as their own. The dragon had burnt the men trying to secure the Holdfast before the sellswords came, apprehending them.
Tyrion's own men were killed before he was apprehended and dragged to the outer courtyard where he saw Jaime.
Arya… she will protect Jaehaerys. She must.
Tyrion eyed the woman before them, trying his best to ignore her snarling dragon. Her hair was long and dark. Her skin pale. She looked an ordinary woman if not for the purple eyes. She had Valyrian blood… or it was merely a coincidence but Tyrion knew, having read about them, that it took a dragon to ride one; a dragon would not be ridden by a mere common woman.
The Targaryens… what was left of them were rulers of this very country this woman was invading, and the Prince she was hunting. But Tyrion knew of another house, one that had the blood of Old Valyria as well and was famed for failed rebellions only three generations ago. The line of the sons were long gone and so House Blackfyre was assumed to be extinct. But the daughters… they were not to be underestimated.
Could she be a Blackfyre? The daughter of Maelys the Monstrous? No, she is too young. Granddaughter then?
She was sat atop the post of the stables, picking at the wood impatiently. Then suddenly, she leaped to her feet and stalked closer to them.
Tyrion watched her as she approached. Her purple eyes studied the knelt men before her. It was only when her eyes met his and she held his gaze, did Tyrion realise he was the only one looking up at her. The rest of the men around him had their heads bowed, looking to the dirt or their eyes closed.
"You," she pointed at him and the sellswords came to him, dragging him before her. She looked over him, her face twisting in disgust as her eyes darted over his frame, "if it isn't the Hand of the King and Queen," she sneered.
Tyrion glared at her.
"Who better to ask about the whereabouts of the Prince," she said.
Tyrion shrugged, "the Prince's parents maybe, the King and the Queen-"
Without warning, the breath was knocked out of him when she kicked him in the chest. He fell back, biting back a groan, "don't try to be funny with me, I know they are not here," she snarled. So Jaime was right, they baited the King and Queen away to attack, "I have heard of your sharp-tongued reputation, Lord Hand, it is an honour to meet you in person and experience it for myself,"
"I aim to please," he replied as he got back to his feet, rubbing his chest that was surely bruised.
She sneered at him, "your brother sure is taking an awfully long time," she turned.
"It's a large Keep," he glanced to the side to see a man approaching, one of whom had departed with Jaime. He was staggering towards them, holding his nose from which blood gushed from.
The rider turned to him, scowling, "what happened? Where is he? Is he dead?"
The man shook his head and said nasally, "he attacked us on the steps-"
She glared at him, seething, "where is he now?"
"I don't know, we were both knocked unconscious," the man said. She cried out in frustration and before the man realise it, she has drawn her dagger from her hip and ran it across his neck. He fell on the ground, dead.
She turned to Tyrion then, "Jaime Lannister. He thinks he can escape with the Prince," she snarled.
As she turned to her dragon and her intention that she meant to give chase, became clear to Tyrion, he panicked, "Jaime is a coward, an oathbreaker," Tyrion spat, "he probably fled by himself," no way in Seven Hells.
She stilled in her steps and turned to look at him slowly. Murder flashed in her purple eyes, "you really think you are so clever?" she snapped, "Jaime Lannister is utterly loyal to the Queen, he would never flee without the Prince and he said it himself, the Prince would come to him,"
Tyrion closed his eyes as she mounted her dragon.
"Make sure no one escapes before I return," she shouted to the sellswords before the dragon roared and took to the air.
Flee Brother…and quickly. Save Jaehaerys… if anything were to happen to the King and Queen in their battles… the Prince is our only hope.
As the dragon departed, Tyrion looked at the sellswords. Most of them had a broken sword on their leather armour; the second sons. Daario Naharis was dead and they betrayed the Queen. This woman was evidently from Meereen if she arrived with the Second Sons. Tyrion pursed his lips, wondering if she had met the Queen and praying that she had not, for she was here and the Queen was not.
Tyrion wondered where they have gone wrong. What had led to this? Was it Arianne Martell's beheading? Then he realised. They, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, are strongest when they are together. Their mistake began when they parted ways; Jon Snow off the war with Dorne and Daenerys Targaryen alone in the Red Keep before she went off to Meereen. Tyrion thought. Ice and Fire. One cannot do without the other but together, who would dare oppose them? Who could? And yet, now, they are neither together nor here to save their country.
Suddenly, a loud cry rose from the soldiers behind him and Tyrion turned to see a large soldier drive his dagger into the chest of a sellsword nearby. The soldier turned to another sellsword and Tyrion saw that it was Brienne. When the soldiers of Tarth saw their Lady fighting, they rose.
"Grab a weapon!" Tyrion shouted at the nearest Lannister soldier. The young man scrambled for a rock and smashed it into one of the sellsword's head before he could stab him with his sword. The Lannister soldiers rose and fought. Tyrion ducked as a Lannister soldier almost trip over him as he approach to fight a sellsword. Tyrion stumbled and fell back against the stables post, his eyes wide and alert for danger.
He grabbed an abandoned shield before ducking back against the post of the stables. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped, pulling back the shield to dash it against the enemy's knee. But he only saw the Prince's face. Tyrion stopped himself just as Jaehaerys' eyes widened in shock and he fell back on his bottom in the stables.
"My Prince!" Tyrion hissed. Jaehaerys' face scrunched up in distaste as Tyrion addressed him as such. Jaehaerys had always preferred to be addressed by his name, especially by people who he knew his whole life. Tyrion glanced about nervously but none of the sellsword noticed, they were too busy fending for themselves against the Lannister and Tarth soldiers, "go, run!" Tyrion glanced to the skies nervously.
"Come with me, run away with me," Jaehaerys said.
Tyrion glimpsed over him, relieved to see Jaehaerys was uninjured. In his arms, he cradled his dragon egg. Behind him in the shadows, Tyrion could see Suvion, watching Jaehaerys unblinkingly; the best guardian Tyrion could ever wish for the Prince, "no, Jaehaerys," Jaehaerys frowned, "you have Suvion and you are fast," Tyrion grabbed his shoulder, "faster than anyone I have ever seen," Jaehaerys smiled, tears welling up in his grey eyes, almost silver, "I will only slow you down and I can't protect you, I can't fight," Jaehaerys shook his head and made to object but Tyrion said quickly, "go with Suvion and go now!" before the dragon returns. But Tyrion would not tell him that, there was no need to frighten the young Prince.
"Where should I go?" Jaehaerys asked,
Where would it be safe for a Prince? The North but it was too far and a journey too dangerous for the young Prince to undertake alone, even with a direwolf at his side, "go south, to Storm's End. The Baratheons, even if Gendry is not there, they would protect you," Tyrion squeezed his shoulder, "go quickly, Suvion will guide you through the Kingswood where it would be easier to stay unseen," Jaehaerys bit his lips, "you are very good at that, aren't you Jaehaerys? To stay unseen," he smirked.
The edge of Jaehaerys' lips turned up and Jaehaerys rubbed the tears from his eyes, "Tyrion…" he looked at him with sad grey eyes, "don't die," he said.
"I won't. Go!" Tyrion whispered. Jaehaerys nodded before he turned to Suvion. Holding the egg under one arm, Jaehaerys fisted Suvion's fur, crouching. He watched till the sellsword fighting a Lannister soldier by the stables was killed before Jaehaerys darted out the side and disappeared around the back of the stables.
Jaehaerys Targaryen the Third of His Name. A boy of four with a heart bigger and braver than most Kings, grown men, that I read about.