Tyrion
For the first time in many weeks, Tyrion found himself in a place where the lands all around were not covered in snow. Though he only wished that he could be somewhere that didn't smell of shit even when the source was miles away. The skies were filled with a light blanket of clouds that contained the heat of the sun, giving everyone the relief of not needing any winter cloaks. But the air was still chilly like the damp after a spring rain. In the no too far distance the, sounds of birds chirping could be heard, bringing a peaceful mood to those that could hear them. Tyrion felt incredibly upset that such a day couldn't be enjoyed for a nice lunch outdoors, or even for a game with friends. Instead everyone had to waste it to agree not to kill each other.
With the mercy of being granted into the city, Tyrion and his escort walked along the roads that led to the Dragonpit. He was followed by Ser Jorah, Missandei, Varys, and Qhono leading ten of his best men. The Dothraki present were men who fought at the Blackwater Rush against the Lannister and Tyrell forces and all of them wore looted armor and weapons. Unlike the Dothraki who went to the North, they had to make their own clothes that would be suitable for the winter and all of them wore the fine cloaks or leather coats of men they killed who fought against them. Behind all of them was jackass pulling a cart that held a wooden crate that contained the most dangerous type of soldier in the world, and the only hope that could unite the realms for a greater purpose.
As they all drew closer to the crumbling structure that was once a place to be feared, Lady Missandei couldn't help but inquire about the place. "Why did they build it?" She asked.
"Dragons don't understand the difference between what is theirs and what isn't," Ser Jorah informed, "land, livestock, children. Letting them roam free around the city was a problem."
Unfortunately, Tyrion had learned that such a prison for dragons was needed in any city they housed at when he first arrived in Meereen. The story he heard of Drogon burning a three-year-old girl had devastated him, and he couldn't imagine how it affected Daenerys at the time. But they had to push forward and look ahead, ever so careful not to let such a thing happen again. "I imagine it was a sad joke at the end." He commented. "An entire arena for a few sickly creatures no smaller than dogs. But in the beginning, when it was home to Balerion the Dread, it must've been the most dangerous place in the world." Considering how faster Drogon had grown during his time in the North, it would take only a few more months there for him to finally reach Balerion's size and surpass the legendary dragon of Aegon the Conqueror.
Approaching Tyrion and the others from and intersecting road were about sixty men dressed in the red Lannister armor and led by none other than Ser Bronn of the Blackwater. "Maybe it still is." Jorah said. Both parties come to a halt as the faced each other where their paths would cross. Compared to the Dothraki, the Lannister forces looked unified and disciplined, all marched together in perfect synch and in fine lines. But the traits they lacked that the Dothraki had were ruthlessness and intimidation.
"Welcome, my lords." Bronn announced. "The other lords arrived here before you did, cept for the Night's Watch. I've been sent to escort you all to the meeting." He gestured his arm down the road he and his men came from and the soldiers parted ways. There was brief moment of doubtful silence before Tyrion nodded to Qhono and he led everyone down the road. The Dothraki took the lead and everyone else fell near the back, sticking close to the cart. "Come on," Bronn called out to Tyrion, "best not fall behind."
As Tyrion and Bronn pushed their way to the front of the line, Tyrion could barely overhear talk behind him. "What's in there?" A Lannister soldier asked.
The only reply he receieved was from a Dothraki who didn't speak the common tongue, but Tyrion had learned enough to know he said 'fuck off.'
"What?"
"He said 'you'll see.'" Missandei lied.
The Dragonpit grew closer as Tyrion walked side by side with Bronn. "He we are," Tyrion said, "the heroes of Blackwater Bay. It's a strange place for a reunion."
"Got that right," Bronn confirmed, "you ever been here before?"
"In my younger years when King Robert ruled. I found a small dragon claw and took it back to Casterly Rock. Two days later, it disappeared from my chambers and I've never known what happened to it even till this day."
"I'm sure no one will mind you taking another. Who knows, if your King and Queen end up ruling and put their own dragons in here, you might be able to take home a skull one day."
"Actually, Daenerys plans on tearing this place down. She's going to let her dragons have the entire island of Dragonstone. Not a cage to rot in."
"She'll have to secure the goods in the Red Keep first." Bronn turned his gaze to Tyrion, his brow arched high as they walked. This meant he was ready to leave King's Landing except for one thing he needed smuggling.
"Luckily the odds are faring on our side." This was the signal for Bronn, letting him know that he was ready to receive his cargo. Bronn turned his gaze back in front of him onto the road ahead. They had to keep up appearances to avoid any unwanted ears listening.
"Speakin of her, where is she? Seems a bit odd she wouldn't be with her Hand."
"She's on her way with the King. They'll be here soon."
"Shame. Was hopin I could get a better look at her today than I did trying to shoot down that huge fucker she rode. But diplomacy's not my thing. I'm just the greeter."
"Been thinking of our Queen lately? Perhaps you've been reconsidering your allegiances. Remember my offer, whatever they're paying you, I'll pay double."
"And that would be double of what now, exactly?" Varys asked. His help orchestrating this entire bribery to Bronn would not go unthanked when this was over. "Two castles and two highborn ladies?"
"I don't need two women fightin over their inheritance when I'm dyin. Don't you worry about me, I'm doin alright looking after myself."
"Are you?" Tyrion asked. "Helping me to arrange this meeting wasn't exactly looking after yourself, was it? You put yourself at risk."
"I put 'yourself' at risk, important difference. It's your head Cersei's offered a castle for, not mine. Now thanks to me, she's got two traitor's heads coming right through her door. She can lop them both off as soon she gets tired of the clever words that pour out their pie holes. All thanks to Ser Bronn of the fucking Blackwater. If that's not lookin after myself, I don't know what is."
Tyrion had to admit that he missed Bronn's annoying cleverness since he first escaped King's Landing. "It's good to see you again." He admitted.
Bronn cracked a faint smile that brought comfort to Tyrion for once. "Yeah, you too."
Finally, they all began to enter through the crumbled passage that led into the arena of the Dragonpit. In the center was a wooden platform, but not nearly enough room to seat all of those attending. Instead, circling around it, where chairs under canopy tents and banners identifying where each representative would be seated. In the order from the closest to the entry starting from the left, the banners of the Vale began, followed by banners of pure black for the Night's Watch, the Targaryens, the Stormlands, the Maesters of the Citadel, the Crownlands and Westerlands, the Reach, the Iron Islands, the North, the Riverlands, and finally Dorne.
Just as Bronn had already told them, the only vacant seats were theirs, Cersei's, and the Night's Watch. While everyone else got situated at the area for the Targaryens, Tyrion decided to try and establish a good first impression with the other lords. He walked onto the wooden platform and decided to first try and give some comfort of apology and sympathy as he approached Lady Melessa Tarly.
She was seated down between two lords and accompanied by five guards. The lord to her left had a patch sewn into his tunic of a red gold fox on ermine, the sigil of House Florent. The other lord had a patch of a white watchtower with a flame lit atop, the sigil of House Hightower.
"Lady Tarly." Tyrion greeted.
"Tyrion Lannister," she replied sternly, "I suppose you're the one to thank for organizing such a gathering?"
"I am, my lady. But for reasons as to why, I feel it would be best to wait for everyone else to arrive."
"Then if you would so kind as to leave me be, I would feel more contempt with being here."
He suddenly had a pain of guilt latch onto his stomach that made him feel sick if he did not say anything. He knew why she was acting coldly and she had every right to be. "I'm sorry about your husband and your son-"
"Just, leave." She was in no mood for his apologies or sympathies. Tyrion kept his eyes to the ground, afraid to look at her as he bowed his head and turned to go sit down with his others comrades. He felt that maybe smalltalk would be best saved for after the meeting when everyone would be curious and confused rather than angry and on edge.
It wasn't long after he took his seat that a small party of four men all in black from the Night's Watch walked into the Dragonpit. Samwell Tarly was among them, but he was the only one Tyrion recognized. Two of the others had brown hair and beards, but the lengths were opposite to eachother. The third man wore his hood up and a mask covering his face. Something curious to Tyrion was the color of the man's hands. There were a light blue and felt cold just looking at them. While they were situated, Samwell decided to greet his mother and even one of the Maesters from the Citadel, though they didn't seem pleased to see the other. When Sam rejoined his brothers of the Watch, everyone was graced by the presence of Queen Cersei Lannister and her Queensguard. Tyrion was surprised to see she had a significantly swollen belly and it didn't take a maester to tell that she was pregnant. She was escorted by none other than the Mountainas one of her Queensguard, dressed in black armor and his face was covered more than the stranger from the Watch. He couldn't imagine how even a great lurking man such as he could've survived such a wound from Oberyn's spear.
Something that worried Tyrion was Jaime. He didn't look at anyone when the entered the arena, not even his little brother. His faced reeked with sadness and his eyes were bloodshot. His gaze kept to the ground even as he took his seat. What Tyrion saw wasn't his older brother, he saw a man chained to a woman who thought she was a queen.
Tyrion wanted to go over and say something, anything to Jaime, but his chance was taken when Sandor broke off from Gendry's party and walked right up to Cersei's area. Before he got close to her, the Mountain walked in front of her and blocked his brother's path, but it wasn't Cersei that the Hound wanted to see.
The two Cleganes faced one another, the Mountain standing only a few inches taller than the Hound. "Remember me?" Sandor asked. Gregor showed no sign of response, but he didn't need to. "Yeah, you do. You're even fuckin uglier than I am now. What did they do to you? Doesn't matter, it's not how it ends for you, brother. You know who's coming for you, you've always known." Sandor walked away from the Mountain and off of the platform and out of the Dragonpit the way everyone came in.
"Come on Pod," Bronn called out as he followed Sandor's example, "let's go have a drink. We got no place here." Podrick had accompanied Gendry and Ser Davos while Brienne and Beric remained in the Stormlands to Tyrion's knowledge. Podrick rushed after Bronn and the two of them walked out of the arena together with Bronn put one of his arms on Podrick's shoulders.
When they left, Tyrion met Cersei's gaze for the first time and he didn't recognize her. "Where are they?" She asked him. He didn't need to ask who for Tyrion to know.
"They'll be here shortly." Tyrion said with volume. Everyone would have to speak up given how far apart they all were from each other.
There was a long awkward silence that followed. Most of the people present were in conversation, but it was only amongst the ones they came with. All of that stopped when the sounds of the dragons screeching were made and everyone turned their gazes up to the sky. Above the Dragonpit, four dragons circled high above in the air. The first one to fly down was Rhaegal and as he landed on the rows of stone benches in the upper parts of the arena. Many of the lords and ladies couldn't help but get out of their seats and back away. Rhaegal roared out to all of them as he slowly climbed down to the dirt ground and lowered his body. Jon took his time to get down from Rhaegal's back and gently hopped off to the ground.
As Rhaegal spread his wings and took back into air, dust clouds rising from the power of his wings, Drogon took his place, but his movements were more careful and slow. They needed to be given that his rider had two babes within her. As Daenerys started to climb down, Jon extended his hand to her just before she was to let go of Drogon and step onto the ground. She gladly took her husband's help and gracefully dismounted her dragon. The two of them waited for Drogon to go back into the sky before they walked together, arm in arm, to their respective seats and advisors.
Tyrion couldn't help but feel pride in the two of them. They each wore their crowns and showed no doubt in themselves. These were the rulers that Westeros needed. As they sat down together, Jon's dragons both perched themselves on opposite sides of the Dragonpit arena. Cersei had her guards, and Jon had his.
The other lords and ladies that were frightened by Rhaegal and Drogon's entrance returned to their seats. The only one who looked marveled at the whole ordeal was Robin Arryn of the Vale. He had a large grin as he continued to watch the dragons flying.
Once everyone was situated, one of the Maesters of the Citadel arose from his seat and walked to the center of the platform to address everyone. "Today marks a momentous occasion, the likes of which has never happened before in the history of our great country. To avoid conflict and turmoil, today and today only, no one will be addressed as the rightful rulers of Westeros, only claimants. Will that pose a problem?" He looked over to Daenerys and Jon, waiting for their response.
"It will not." Daenerys told him. The maester turned his gaze over to Cersei and Tyrion could feel he wasn't the only one holding his breath.
"Likewise." Cersei said.
"Then let us welcome all. Representing the Crownlands and the Westerlands, heir to the Iron Throne by right of marriage, Cersei of House Lannister. Joining her today, Lord Jaime of House Lannister and Captain Harry Strickland of the Golden Company." He refused to announce Qyburn as he turned to the Targaryen seats. "Joining us today. Jon and Daenerys of House Targaryen, heirs to the Iron Throne by right of blood. Joining them as advisor, Tyrion of House Lannister." Tyrion sighed as he realized this was going to take a while for the introductions to get out of the way. "From Dorne," the Maester continued, "Lord Edric of House Dayne, Quentyn of House Qorgyle, and Dagos of House Manwoody." Edric was only a boy of near twenty and sat between men more than twice his age. "From the Reach, Lady Melessa of House Tarly, Leyton of House Hightower, and Alykene of House Florent. From the Stormlands, Gendry of House Baratheon." Tyrion noticed Cersei twitch at the mention of Gendry's name. Gendry scowled at her before calming down. "Supporting his claim as lord, Ramona of House Dondarrion and Kurtis of House Wylde. From the Riverlands, Lord Edmure of House Tully, Jonos of House Bracken, and Tytos of House Blackwood. From the Vale, Lord Robin of House Arryn, Yohn of House Royce, and Lyonel of House Corbay. From the Iron Islands, Lord Theon of House Greyjoy, Rodrik of House Harlaw, and Dunstan of House Drumm." Sitting beside Theon was his sister, Yara. "From the North, Lady Sansa of House Stark, Rodrik of House Forrester, Lyanna of House Mormont, and from the Wildling Clans, Tormund Giantsbane." Next to Sansa was Arya. "From the Citadel, I, Archmaester Ebrose have been chosen as the representative while the other maesters accompanying me will record what will transpire. And finally, from the Night's Watch, Lord Commander Eddison Tollet, First Ranger Jack Ironsmith, Samwell Tarly, and… I'm afraid I wasn't informed of the fourth man's name."
The man with the blue hands removed his hood and his mask, earning many gasps of some of all who saw his decomposing face. "Benjen Stark." Sansa and Arya both looked wide eyed and happy to see their uncle.
The Archmaester shook his head out of his quick daze and resumed his introduction. "Yes, well then, I present Tyrion Lannister, who will present his case to us all."
Tyrion got out of his seat as the Archmaester returned to his. Feeling all eyes and ears on him, he did not want to prolong the silence anymore. "For too long, our country has been plagued by civil war, over and over. We've all lost many we've loved in the wars of our fathers and our own. It's only now that we are graced with a small time to cease such nonsense amongst ourselves. But unfortunately, it is just before the point of too late that all of you will learn that this constant squabbling for a chair of swords is nothing compared to what's coming for us all."
"And what is coming for us all?" Cersei asked, a tone of mockery slithered through her words.
Tyrion looked over to Jon and let him take lead of the revelation. He stood up from his seat and walked onto the platform next to Tyrion. "Six years ago, I was sworn into the Night's Watch. The day I took my vows, my direwolf found the bodies of two rangers at the weirwood just a mile north of the Wall. The night we brought them back, one of them attacked Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, but I managed to stop it."
Cersei failed to contain a bit of laughter as Jon spoke. "I thought you joking little brother," she said, "I didn't think it would be this bad."
"If you wouldn't mind," Tyrion said, "please wait until he finishes." Cersei shut her mouth and turned her gaze back to Jon, waiting for what other 'nonsense' he had to say.
"Lord Commander Mormont let a Great Ranging Beyond the Wall. Our mission was to defend the realms against an army of Wildlings and to investigate the rumors of White Walkers and an Army of the Dead. We planned to find them after dealing with the Wildlings, but they found us. I was a prisoner of the Wildlings when it happened, but there were three hundred men camped at the Fist of the First men, and only three who fought against the dead made it back south of the Wall. Lord Tyrion tells me that a million people live in this city. If we don't unite together, they'll become a million more soldiers in the army of the dead."
"Is that what that is?" Cersei looked over to Benjen. "He looks to be just fine, better than most of my subjects. Maybe they should join him."
"Don't you dare compare me to what they are," Benjen called out, "I'm what's just before death and after life."
Cersei smirked at him. "Seems the only way to kill Starks is to take off their heads."
Tyrion noticed Arya's hand grip her dagger tightly as she tried to step forward, but Tormund stopped her. Tyrion could see the rage in her eyes and never once saw someone with so much intent to kill.
Even the young Lady Mormont took offence to Cersei's statement, and instead of using steel, she used words. "And the only way to kill Lannisters is… everyway it seems. Poison, wildfire, a crossbow, even gravity." Cersei stared down Lyanna with her emerald eyes and such a comment finally got Jaime out of his despair as he looked up. Lady Mormont was not intimidated at all and had the ferocity of the bear on her sigil.
"Everyone, please." Tyrion interjected, brining Cersei's attention back to him. "Can we not even have an hour without the desire to kill someone here? We thought you would have your doubts, but we brought something to show you." Tyrion and Jon backed away as soon as Sandor returned on cue, lugging the large crate over his back. When he reached the center of the platform, he dropped it and began to undo the many locks on it. When the last piece of metal was removed from the hinge, Sandor tore the lid off the crate and quickly backed a few steps away.
Everyone remained silent as nothing happened and continued to be that way. Irritated, Sandor kicked the crate over and without warning the undead soldier rapidly crawled out and screeched as loud as it could. Everyone jerked in their chairs from shock as the creature began to run as fast as it could at Cersei. It would have reached her before her guard could react, but Sandor pulled onto a chain that was attached to a collar around its neck and dragged it onto the ground. It's cold blue eyes turned to who stopped him and the undead soldier got up and sprinted to Sandor.
Just before it reached him, the Hound drew his sword and with a powerful slash, he separated the soldier's body from its legs. Even after such a wound, the legs jerked around as the body began to slowly crawl to the nearest living person screeching and biting at the air.
Tyrion looked around at all who watched and everyone who saw the undead for the first time was wide eyed and open mouthed, marveled and terrified. Ygris and Lyarras began to shift and looked uncomfortable to be near such a thing. As the wight tried reaching a hand out to Sandor, he easily cut it with his sword and the hand sailed to where Cersei was. She remained in her seat, but Qyburn got out of his and picked up the hand, the fingers continued to move. He observed it for a moment before Jon walked up to him and was given the hand.
Davos had got up from his seat and walked to Jon, bringing a torch and flint with him. He gave to torch to Jon and lit it with the flint. "We can destroy them by burning them." Jon held the hand in the flames and it ignited as if covered in oil. He dropped the hand and handed the torch back to Davos, then walked over to the wight's twitching legs. "We can also us dragonglass." he drew his dragonglass dagger and held it up for all to see right before he knelt down and stabbed the legs in the thigh, relieving them of movement. He stood up and sheathed his dagger and approached the remaining body. "And we can use Valyrian Steel." Jon drew Longclaw and planted the blade into the chest of the wight and the terrible screeches ceased and the blue of the eyes disappeared. "If we don't win this fight, then that is the fate of everyperson in the world." He sheathed Longclaw and walked directly up to Cersei, she being the one who had to hear this. "There is only one war that matters, the Great War, and it is here."
Cersei only looked mystified and exchanged glances with Qyburn and Jaime. "I didn't believe it until I saw that thing," Daenerys said, directing her words to Cersei, "I still didn't believe the evil they were. Then I saw someone I care for turned into one of them and I lost one of my dragons to the Night King. And now he rides atop my child, regrouping his army before he marches on the Wall."
"How do you know such things?" the Archmaester asked, looking terrified as almost everyone else.
Sansa stood up from her seat and took the chance to explain to all. "My brother Brandon acquired abilities beyond the Wall. He's what is called a warg and can enter the minds of animals. He's been following the Army of the Dead using a flock of ravens." She was smart about not mentioning his other ability.
"Impossible," The Archmaester said, "such a thing cannot be done."
"After seeing an undead man tried to kill someone," Tyrion said, "you're in denial about the possibilities of other magical powers that are manifesting in this day and age? It seems Samwell Tarly was right about the Citadel. It's full of nothing but intelligent fools."
"Lord Tyrion," Jon said, "it's alright. I can show them." Without any delay, Jon's eyes turned white as snow and the eyes of Lyarras flashed that same color before returning to her own. She started to slowly climb down into the arena and crawl to the lords and ladies. She was mindful of them and stopped as soon as her head loomed over Jon's.
"I think you've made your point." The Archmaester said. "I apologize." Lyarras carefully returned to where she perched before Jon eyes became his own again.
"You said your brother is watching them," Jaime said, "how big is the army?"
"Just over two hundred and twenty thousand," Sansa onformed. Jaime's face turned from concern to horrified as the number was said and many of the lord's and ladies murmured with each other as Sansa took back her seat.
"This is no longer about who has power over who," Jon said for all to hear, "it's only about one thing, survival." Whatever our past quarrels are, whatever strife we have with one another, it doesn't matter. The only way we can win is if we band together, all of Westeros! I'm not asking you to fight for me, I'm asking you to fight with me. If we don't, there'll be nothing left to fight for." He turned his attention back to Cersei. "We're outnumbered and we don't have enough dragonglass for our current forces. The only mine we know of is on Dragonstone."
"I know of it," Cersei told him, "Captain Strickland's men found it while scouting the islands." She took a deep breathe, looking at the wight's body once more before back to Jon. "You're right. If those things come for us, there will be no more Kingdoms to rule. Everything we've suffered will be for nothing, everything we've lost, will have been for nothing. The crown accepts your truce, but my forces will remain here." This caused discontent and confusion to grow among everyone. "I have full faith that you will defeat the dead with your glass weapons and dragonfire. But when the battle is over, do you expect me to think that all will be well? That our soldiers will share drinks with each other and say farewell before they face off in the wars to come?"
"Who do you take him for?" Arya asked aloud. "Walder Frey or your father? In the North, we don't slit the throats of our guests who fight with us on the battlefield or dine with us at weddings."
"I wouldn't have agreed to this meeting if I thought you Starks were without such a thing like honor. It's what got Eddard Stark and his son killed. A mistake I doubt you'll make again." Cersei stood up from her seat. "But as a sign of good faith, I will allow you to have your precious glass and your armies to pass safely through the country. And while you're gone, my forces will keep the peace from any who are coward enough to take advantage of lands vacant of soldiers. At least in the lands I hold." She began to walk away from them all and out of the Dragonpit with her guard, Harry Strickland, Qyburn and Jaime following her.
Tyrion's gaze fell to the ground as he felt defeated. "Without her armies, we're fucked."
"If the others lords help us, we'll stand a chance." Jon said.
"A chance isn't good enough in this situation." Tyrion exclaimed. "I've gone over the numbers. Even if the other lords pledge to fight with us, we're still thirty thousand men short. And as powerful as the dragons are, they're not invincible against the White Walkers. We can't afford to lose anymore than we already have."
"Then what do you suggest?" Jon asked furiously. "Should we buy mercenaries from Essos? We don't have enough gold to buy even half of the difference."
Tyrion sighed, calming down and recollecting his thoughts. He looked around to all of the other lords and ladies and saw them conversing with the others from there regions. "My Lords and Ladies!" Tyrion called out, bringing all attention to him. "I beg of you to give me some time to try and remedy things."
"How can you expect to fix this?" Lord Harlaw asked aloud. "You said we don't have a chance without her forces."
"She was being rash. Give me a chance to talk to her and try to convince her."
Daenerys got up from her seat and walked over to Tyrion. "I'm not going to let my Hand be killed. I could see the hatred she still harbors for you."
"If I wanted to die, I would've stayed in my cell long ago. I will go speak to her, and I will go alone. Or we ask for volunteers now, fight outnumbered, and die."
Daenerys looked disbelieving, but she nodded her head, showing faith in him. Tyrion walked off the platform and followed after Cersei escort, hoping the steps he was taking weren't his last.
