Hey everyone, this is Chapter 17 of Unexpected Allies.
This chapter is a bit longer than Chapter 16, I had a bit of fun when writing this chapter and as a way to make up for not uploading yesterday.
Also, if anyone was wondering how Jon Arryn looks, just picture Patrick Stewart in the role. I think I mentioned it in one of my earlier chapters, but just in case I didn't add it in one of the previous chapters, well here it is.
I hope everyone enjoys the chapter and have a wonderful day.
Chapter XVII.
"Sure, let's watch a hobbit, a Tarly and a wildling play a game of riddles with a foul creature named Gollum, while my two youngest grandchildren are being held captive by goblins," Olenna Tyrell said with sarcasm.
Mace and Garlan did agree with the Queen of Thorns, Loras and Margaery are still held captive by the goblins of Goblin-town, they hope Gandalf comes to their aid.
"Gandalf will come to their aid," Garlan mutters.
The knight of Highgarden let out a sigh, his brother and sister are held captive by legions of goblins, their only chance of survival is Gandalf.
Hearing Bilbo and Sam are going to be playing riddles with Gollum, Varys turns to the children, minus Joffrey in the dragon pit, who looks impatient as always.
"I hope some of you are fond of riddles," Varys said to the children.
Myrcella and Tommen were looking forward to the riddles, they weren't good at riddles but it doesn't hurt to try and guess.
"I hope I can one right," Tommen said optimistically.
"That's the spirit, nephew," Tyrion cheerfully tells his nephew.
Tommen smiles at his uncle, Myrcella smiled as well for Tyrion is their favourite uncle.
"Same here, Tommen," Myrcella says to her brother.
Arya and Bran look excited, they may not like riddles as the others, but it doesn't hurt to try and they want to see if they could get any riddles right.
"I hope I get one right, I'll be okay," Bran says to Arya.
Oberyn chuckles at the upcoming game of riddles, while Tyrion has an idea.
"Any wagers?" Tyrion asked around.
Renly shook his head.
"I am good, Tyrion. I already lost enough gold, nor do I plan to lose more," Renly declines.
"Your loss," Tyrion remarks.
Varys decides to join in.
"I will join," Varys said.
As he brings out his pouch of gold.
"Whoever gets the answer first or is close to it wins this," Tyrion tells Varys.
Placing the gold he won from Renly earlier on display.
"Very well," Varys agrees.
Putting some of his gold out on display.
"I am game," Varys joins in.
Bringing out his pouch of gold.
"Let the games begin," Tyrion proclaims as he dramatically raised his hands.
His gesture earned laughter from Myrcella and Tommen.
Edmure is about to join in but is stopped by his uncle, who is shaking his head at him.
"Don't even think about it, boy," The Blackfish warns his nephew.
Catelyn looks relieved at her uncle stopping Edmure from making a foolish decision, one that could have cost their House plenty of gold.
Melessa, Dickon and Talia couldn't believe Sam would agree to the terms Gollum just made to him and Bilbo.
"So, if they lose, Gollum eats them?" Talia said with confusion.
"Apparently," Dickon responds.
Lady Melessa shook her head, all she could do is pray her son will be safe and survives.
"Please win, my son," Melessa muttered softly.
Joffrey who is seated by his mother doesn't seem that impressed with riddles.
"I don't see the whole point of these stupid riddles," Joffrey said with mockery.
Tyrion rolled his eyes at his nephew's words.
"I bet, you won't even solve one, nephew?" Tyrion bets his least favourite nephew.
Cersei glared at Tyrion, but Joffrey sneers at his uncle before looking down on him.
"Alright, uncle. I'll play your stupid games and when I win. I'll make you my little cupbearer and dancing fool," Joffrey said with arrogance in his voice.
Before he starts laughing at the things he would make his filthy uncle do.
The Starks look disturbed at Joffrey's behaviour and sinister look.
"What is wrong with that child?" Catelyn muttered under her breath.
"Well, Baggins or Tarlys first," Gollum points to Bilbo.
Bilbo and Sam share a brief pause before Bilbo rose his right index finger and begins speaking the riddle.
"Thirty white horses on a red hill, first they champ, then they stamp, then they stand still?" Bilbo says the riddle.
"This is an interesting one," Varys admits.
The riddle is a tricky one for many in the dragon pit, though Olenna Tyrell has figured it out but chose to say nothing.
"Seven hells," Tyrion groaned.
The Red Viper has a proud look on his face and chuckled.
"The answer is teeth," Oberyn reveals the answer.
Varys and Tyrion turn to Varys in disbelief.
"Are you sure?" Tyrion asked.
"I am, I made some chains when I was studying at the Citadel, I learned quite a bit about the human body. The red mountain is our tongue and the thirty hills are the teeth," Oberyn explains his answer to them.
Joffrey scoffs at the trio's attempt on solving the riddles.
"Your answer is teeth?" Joffrey mocks Prince Oberyn.
Tyrion rolled his eyes at his nephew's insult towards the Red Viper, but Oberyn had a grin on his face.
"Then what is your answer then?" Oberyn asked the prince.
Joffrey grins at the question.
"It's obviously knights?" Joffrey answered as if he knew the answer.
Tyrion struggled to contain his laughter upon hearing Joffrey's answer.
The flames show Gollum, who is thinking long and hard about the riddle before he has an answer.
"Teeth?" Gollum said cheerfully.
Bilbo looks unhappy; Gollum is correct.
Gollum begins laughing in rejoice at knowing he is right.
"Teeth! Yes, my precious! But we, we only have nine,"
Gollum opens his mouth wide, displaying his nine teeth.
Bilbo and Sam look disgusted.
Once the riddle was revealed, Tyrion burst with laughter once he saw the look on Joffrey's face seeing he was wrong the whole time.
"Knight?!" Tyrion said before continuing his laughter.
Varys, Oberyn, Myrcella and Tommen stare at Tyrion with the latter two keeping their feet beside their uncle's chair to prevent him from falling off of it.
"I can't believe you thought it was Knight!" Tyrion tells Joffrey once he regained his composure.
Joffrey could only scowl at his uncle for making him look like a fool as his eyes glimmered with glee as he looks down on his uncle.
"You didn't get it either," Joffrey grumbled.
Tyrion agreed with the statement.
"True, but at least I knew the answer," Tyrion quipped.
Upon hearing this, Varys came up with a solution.
"I have an idea, Lord Tyrion, whenever a riddle is brought up. We have a short amount of time to come up with an answer, but we only get one chance each and whoever is right, or the closest to it, wins the gold?" Varys suggested to the self-titled halfling.
After a moment of thought, Tyrion agreed to it.
"Sure," Tyrion casually responds.
The children already knew Gollum had terrible teeth, but seeing he only had nine grossed them out.
"That is gross," Arya states the obvious.
"It is gross," Sansa agrees with her sister.
"Our turn!" Gollum says to them.
"Voiceless it cries, wingless flutter, toothless bites, mouthless mutters?" Gollum recites his riddle.
"Again, a tricky one," Tyrion remarks.
"It is," Varys said to Tyrion.
Olenna Tyrell saw her son and grandson struggling to come up with an answer, which did not surprise her.
She can see the children, minus Prince Joffrey is who looks as if he knew the answer, Shireen is in deep thought, Tommen and Myrcella are talking to one another to see if one of them can come up with the answer.
Bran, Arya and Lyanna are seen debating on what the answer is, while Sansa is sitting with her mother, who is thinking about what the answer is too.
"It's Death! I fucking solved it!" Joffrey declared proudly.
Standing up from his seat and began laughing at his uncle being unable to solve it.
Only to be cut short by an unexpected answer.
"It's the wind,"
Many in the dragon pit turn to see who came up with the answer, only to see it is none other than Lord Eddard Stark.
Tyrion, Varys and Oberyn are the most shocked by the answer out of the people in the dragon pit.
"You bloody sure, Ned?" King Robert asked.
Ned Stark nods.
"I'm certain, the riddle reminded me of one, Elbert told me years ago in the Eyrie. It just came back to me when Gollum began reciting his riddle, it is similar to the one Elbert told me," Ned explains his answer to the King.
The King laughs at Ned's answer, recalling Elbert's loving of riddles, even if he couldn't remember one of them.
Joffrey sneers at Lord Stark, something that went unnoticed by the Stark children.
"What would you know of riddles, Lord Stark? You are nothing more than a savage barbarian of a barren wasteland," Joffrey mocks the Lord of Winterfell.
Before Ned can respond, it was King Robert who backed up his dear friend.
"Enough, boy! Apologize to Lord Stark!" King Robert roared with anger.
Joffrey quivered quickly.
"My apologies," Joffrey grumbled.
Lord Stark knew the boy truly not meant it, with King Robert looking at Ned with shame.
"To think, I was gonna ask you for him to wed your eldest daughter," King Robert said with disappointment.
"I'm grateful you didn't," Ned admits.
Making the King laugh in response, while Joffrey glares at his father and Lord Stark.
Cersei places her hand on her son.
"What does Lord Stark know of riddles?" Joffrey mumbles.
"Exactly," Cersei whispered to her son.
Gollum creeps forward, unsettling Bilbo and Gilly.
Sam tries his best to keep a rock between the two of them.
"Just a moment," Bilbo chirps to Gollum.
Bilbo walks off to the side of the lake.
Gollum suddenly has a look of excitement.
"Oh, we knows! We knows!" Gollum says cheerfully.
Soon as he said this, he quickly developed a look of anger towards himself.
"Shut up!" He tells himself.
Bilbo watches the lake water, thinking as a soft breeze ruffles the surface of the water, causing him and Sam to grin.
"It's the wind!" Sam answers joyfully.
Gollum looks angry, confirming Sam is right, Bilbo and Gilly smile at Sam getting the answer.
"Lord Stark is right," Lady Olenna said with disbelief.
The Queen of Thorns was surprised, to say the least, Lord Eddard Stark got a riddle right, not that the Lord of Winterfell is a halfwit, but it just surprised many in the dragon pit.
Mace Tyrell turns to Ned Stark and gives him a proud look.
"Good for you, Ned. I didn't even think of the answer is the wind," Mace proudly congratulates his newfound friend.
Making the Lord of Winterfell chuckle.
"Thanks, Mace," Ned answered sincerely
Sansa, Arya and Bran were proud to know their father got a riddle, despite knowing he is not fond of them.
Catelyn is just as stunned as her children, her husband answered a riddle and got it right on his first try.
"Is something the matter?" Ned asked his wife with concern.
"I am just surprised, Ned...that's all. I can't believe you remember a riddle from all those years ago," Catelyn tells her husband.
Ned chuckled at her words.
"I forgot about it for years, Cat'. When Gollum spoke of the riddle, the memory just came back," Ned told her.
Shifting to Tyrion and Varys, both men who are considered to be one of the smartest among the dragon pit ironically have not properly solved a riddle.
"So far, both of us have nothing, how does that happen?" Tyrion says to the Spider.
"Perhaps it is what some people say 'Expect the unexpected', a strange meaning but one that has some sense to it," Varys retorts.
Oberyn couldn't help but laugh, Ned Stark solved a riddle before Lannisters, he saw the crowned prince fuming in anger upon being made a fool again in front of many in the dragon pit.
"It appears Lord Stark solved one, before you?" Tyrion humorously teases his nephew.
Joffrey is glaring at his uncle with hatred in his eyes, Jaime turns to his brother and shakes his head at him.
"Stop antagonizing him," Jaime tells his brother.
Tyrion cocked a brow.
"Someone needs to keep the shit in line, when King Robert cannot," Tyrion retorts.
Back to the Red Viper, he turns to the Hand of the King and asks a question.
"What was the name of the book, you gave to your late nephew?" Prince Oberyn asked.
Jon Arryn let out a soft chuckle at the question before he answered.
"The book didn't have a fancy title, for my ancestor, Elbert Arryn from 180 AC wrote it. He named it 'The Book of Riddles'. I found it by luck when I was looking through the library in the Eyrie. I gave it to my nephew as a name day present, he loved the book very much. He read the book countless times and knew every riddle in it," Jon Arryn answered the Red Viper.
Oberyn could see the Hand of the King is recalling the memory, he can see Jon Arryn was close with his nephew and felt pity for the old man at losing his nephew at the hands of Aerys Targaryen.
"Do you still have the book?" Prince Oberyn asked nicely.
"Last I checked, the book is in my quarters back in the Eyrie," Jon Arryn answered the Red Viper.
Jon Arryn soon turns to Oberyn with a soft look.
"I could send a letter to the maester back in the Eyrie and have him make some copies for you and Lord Tyrion," Jon Arryn offers Oberyn.
Oberyn is touched by the response for he did not expect to get a response so soon, let alone be offered a copy of it.
"I would like that, thank you, Lord Hand," Oberyn thanks the Hand of the King.
The Tarlys minus Randyll showed joy and pride at Sam for solving the riddle.
"Good for Sam," Talia said with a smile.
"Same, good him," Dickon said with a matching smile.
"He gets it from my father," Lady Melessa said sweetly.
Randyll Tarly didn't seem that impressed by the piggy he calls a son on solving a riddle, anyone can solve riddles.
"It's just a bloody riddle, I would have just killed the creature and keep on searching for a way out," Randyll bluntly states.
Earning looks from the likes of Oberyn, Stannis, Ned and Olenna, the latter of which shook her head at the Lord of Horn Hill's comment.
"Your son is using that head of his and thinking long term, sure it is ridiculous your son and Bilbo have to win a game of riddles. But it is better than what most of us would have done in his boots. And what good would it do by killing Gollum?" Olenna asks Randyll Tarly.
Many are shocked to hear the Queen of Thorns tear a new one to Randyll Tarly, who had no idea how to respond, nor did Olenna Tyrell give him one before she continued.
"Sure they wouldn't have to do the stupid riddle game, to begin with, and they would not be able to leave the Misty Mountains. They would have a high chance to be found and captured by the goblins of Goblin-town and most likely be killed. So for once Lord Tarly put aside that idiotic pride of yours and appreciate your son is no halfwit like you, who has to solve everything with violence," Olenna finished.
King Robert bursts with laughter once he saw Randyll Tarly is left fuming and speechless on what to say without insulting his liege lord's mother and the real ruling head of the Reach.
Tyrion turns to Jaime.
"Doesn't he remind you of our father?" Tyrion asked.
"Somewhat," Jaime answers.
"Very clever, Tarlys, very clever," Gollum says to Sam.
Gollum crawls forward, snarling.
Sam brings out his hand while slowly preparing for his axe, though Bilbo already unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards Gollum.
"It's our turn, remember," Bilbo says to Gollum.
Gollum looks annoyed at it, but the brief conversation between Bilbo and Gollum, allowed Sam to come up with a riddle.
"A box without hinges, key or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hidden?" Sam tells his riddle to Gollum.
"Now that is a good one, got to give Sam that," Tyrion admits.
Impressed with Samwell Tarly for being able to come up with such a complicated riddle.
"It is," Lord Varys said as well.
Joffrey desperate to get the slip on his uncle turns to him and grins.
"Isn't it obvious, uncle? The answer is the iron bank!" Joffrey said proudly.
Upon hearing this, Tyrion didn't bother laughing for he could only laugh so much on his shit nephew's idiocy.
He truly is Cersei's son, both are far more stupid than they believe, so the self-titled halfling decided to play along with it.
"Of course, nephew. How could I, be so blind!" Tyrion answered with sarcasm.
Earning giggles from Myrcella and Tommen, who knew their uncle was making a fool out of their older brother.
Joffrey was too proud to have noticed the sarcasm in his uncle's voice, King Robert shook his head at how stupid his son is, but the King chose to let the Imp have his fun and mock the shit.
Wondering how long will it take for the shit to figure it out.
Meanwhile, Dickon, Talia and Lady Melessa are seen with a proud look upon seeing Sam come up with another riddle, one they are struggling to solve.
"Shit, that's a good one," Talia groaned.
Dickon agreed with his sister, either he needs to improve on his reading or Sam is good at riddles, either way, he hopes to see his brother again.
"He must have learned them from the dwarves," Dickon says to his sister.
"Considering who they made those moon doors. I wouldn't be too surprised about them being good at riddles," Lady Melessa tells her children.
Randyll can be seen fuming, while he paid no attention to the game of riddles, but even he had to bitterly admit the piggy is quite clever at riddles.
"A box without hinges, keys or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hidden?" Bran recites the riddle.
Bran, Arya and San turn to their father to see if he could recall a memory of Elbert Arryn's many riddles, only for the Lord of Winterfell to shake his head at them.
"Nothing's coming to me, sorry," Ned tells his children.
Causing all three to groan while Ned can be seen chuckling at his children, who quickly begin working together to try and come up with an answer to solve it.
Gollum turns around and begins muttering to himself.
"Box... and a lid, then a key..." Gollum mutters.
"Well?" Sam asks Gollum.
Who ignored him and raised his finger at him.
"It's nasty," Gollum tells Bilbo and Sam.
Gollum paces up and down the slab of rock. Bilbo looms over him, feeling proud of Sam for coming up with such a riddle.
"Do you give up?" Bilbo asked Gollum.
Who shook his head at them.
"Give us a chance, precious, give us a chance!" Gollum pleads to them.
Tommen and Myrcella are seen debating on what the answer could be, while Jaime can be seen watching them, having a smile of fondness at seeing them being so close.
"Shit, this is a clever riddle," Oberyn admits.
Face Lady Tarly with an impressed look.
"Your son is quite good at riddles, Lady Tarly. You should be proud, many would kill to have that type of mind your son has," Oberyn said.
Lady Melessa smiled upon hearing the Red Viper's compliment about her son.
"Thank you, Prince Oberyn," Lady Melessa said sweetly.
Joffrey is still seen rejoicing on his 'win' over his uncle, giving him a sadistic look.
"You are going to regret ever making me a fool, uncle! Once you are my cupbearer. You'll be the fool!" Joffrey said with glee and laughing.
Shireen turns to her father with anger.
"I don't like him," Shireen says to her father.
"Same," Stannis simply responds.
While in deep thought, Tyrion's eyes widen in realization while Varys looked shocked before both men turn to one another and give each other a nod.
"At the same time," Tyrion offers.
"Very well," Varys agreed.
Tyrion does a hand gesture of 'three, two, one'.
"An egg," Tyrion/Varys said in unison.
Frustrated, Gollum pounds down at the floor. He puckers his face, being deep in serious thought.
Suddenly, he opens his eyes and smiles widely.
"Eggses!" Gollum proudly answers.
Bilbo looks annoyed at Gollum, while Sam has a look of disbelief.
"Eggses! Wet, crunchy, little eggses. Grandmother taught us to suck them, yes!" Gollum adds.
"How are we going to win this?" Bilbo says to Sam.
"I'm thinking," Sam tells Bilbo.
"I don't want to be eaten," Bilbo adds.
"Neither do I," Sam responds.
"I knew it," Tyrion said in rejoice.
The self-titled halfling stood up proudly, not caring if he made fool out of himself.
Varys chuckles at Tyrion's little scene.
"I got it right as well, Lord Tyrion," Varys reminds Tyrion.
"That you did, Lord Varys," Tyrion acknowledged.
Oberyn rose a brow at them and decided to join in.
"Since you both solved it at the same time, wouldn't that make it a draw?" Oberyn tells them.
Hearing this, the two decided to agree to the Red Viper's words.
"Seems fair," Tyrion acknowledges.
"That it does, Lord Tyrion," Varys said agreeing with Tyrion.
When Joffrey heard the answer, he turned to his uncle Tyrion, who let out a grin and wink, revealing he was playing him earlier and made him look like a fool.
Joffrey turns around to see the other children around him start snickering at him for being wrong yet again and made a bigger fool out of it this time, causing Joffrey to react by standing up from his seat and points his finger towards the younger children.
"Stop with your laughter! As your prince, I command you to stop laughing this instant!" Joffrey hissed at them.
But none were fazed by his words, leading Joffrey to turn towards Jaime.
"Uncle! Make these filthy children know their place," Joffrey said with a sinister smile.
Only for the Kingslayer to shake his head.
"I take orders from your father and mother. Not you," Jaime states.
Joffrey looked to see the children began laughing again, resulting in the crown prince to scream out in anger.
"Stop laughing!" Joffrey cried out in anger.
Cersei quickly tries to stop her son's tantrum before it makes a scene.
"Calm down my son," Cersei sweetly tells her firstborn.
Joffrey scoffs at her before slapping her hand off of him.
"It's not fucking fair! How does a filthy savage Northerner, solve a riddle and I can't! I'm the fucking prince!" Joffrey snapped at his mother.
The insult towards Lord Stark made Sansa, Arya and Bran glare at the prince, but before either of the three children could do a thing.
It was King Robert who stepped in.
"Because he can use that brain of his, that's why!" King Robert roared at his son, having enough of his son's behaviour.
Furious at the insult his son towards his best friend, Joffrey hid behind Cersei for protection from Robert.
"Mother!" Joffrey screamed.
King Robert shook his head at Joffrey, looking disappointed at him.
"I warned you, Joffrey! But this!" King Robert roared with anger.
Using one of his hands to gesture the scene before them.
"Throwing a bloody tantrum because you are too stupid to solve it and insulting my brother in all but blood, Joffrey! Be grateful I am not shipping your spineless hide to the Wall or knocking some sense into you!" King Robert yelled at Joffrey with his ever-growing red face.
Joffrey cowardly nods to his father while still hiding behind Cersei.
"I will, father!" Joffrey practically begging him.
King Robert was not done given his posture.
"Until you can prove yourself worthy of being a prince, let alone my bloody heir of the iron throne! I hereby name, Tommen, my heir!" Robert declared with his booming voice.
Cersei and Joffrey were horrified at the King's words, with Joffrey on the verge of tears upon knowing he is no longer his father's heir.
"Father...please...reconsider! I'm your firstborn! Not Tommen!" Joffrey pleaded with his face red with tears.
The King shook his head at Joffrey wailing.
"Since you are crying like a mere girl! I'll have your spineless hide be placed below your cousin Shireen, in line of succession!" King Robert finished.
Hearing he is now, last in line for the iron throne and Tommen is their father's new heir, Joffrey's once teary eyes turn to one of anger, standing up and looking at his father dead in the eye and started screaming at him.
"I'm your bloody son! I'm your firstborn! Not the fat crybaby Tommen, who cries like one of your cheap whores! The iron throne is mine! Not his! You fat shit!" Joffrey screamed at his father.
Cersei is shown completely terrified of her son's act, knowing full well she cannot stop Robert from harming him this time.
Tyrion meanwhile is smiling, another reason to prove to people Joffrey is unfit for the iron throne.
Myrcella wraps his arms around a crying Tommen after Joffrey's vicious insult.
"It's alright," Myrcella gently assures her brother.
The Starks have completely lost any respect for Joffrey Baratheon, mainly Ned who couldn't believe the whining child is Robert's son, despite the two looking nothing alike. The thought of Sansa possibly being married to the now-former crown prince sickened him.
"You dodged an arrow on marrying him," Arya says to her sister.
The elder Stark daughter gives her sister a nod of agreement.
"I did," Sansa said proudly.
Catelyn looked disgusted at the former crown prince's words and behaviour, how could the foul boy be the King's son, he looks nothing like the King.
The Tyrells shook their heads at Joffrey's rant, Olenna considered it a fair punishment for the little shit to be disinherited from the throne, the boy will be Aerys reborn if he became King.
Mace is horrified at the prince's insults towards his newfound friend Ned Stark, a man who has shown more kindness and compassion than most Southerners he has met, even if he had a temper but who wouldn't when their children are being insulted.
"I don't think you are a filthy savage, Ned," Mace sincerely tells his friend.
Olenna and Garlan both facepalm and shake their heads at Mace's poor choice of words.
"Bloody oaf," Olenna muttered.
Luckily Ned Stark quickly knew what Mace meant and smiled.
"Thank you, Mace, that is very kind of you to say," Ned thanked the Lord of Highgarden.
Who nods in response.
"You have shown more compassion and kindness than most Southerners in this short time here, than I have seen my whole life, Ned. And you seem to be a loving father to your children here, I wish my children would look at me at how your children do," Mace adds as he refers to Ned's children.
The Lord of Winterfell smiles fondly at Mace's words, even feeling sympathy for the man.
While Garlan had a sad look at his father once he heard the last part of his father's words.
"You are a good man, Mace. Don't let other people say otherwise about you, just know House Tyrell will always be welcomed in the North," Ned assures his friend.
Mace is touched by this and gives him a nod.
"And the Starks will be always welcomed in the Reach," Mace proudly adds.
Both men give one another a nod of understanding before ending the conversation.
Olenna and Garlan turn to one another with disbelief at what they saw, both expected Ned Stark to be insulted at Mace's words, instead, both acknowledge their respect for one another and now the others House will be welcomed to the other's kingdom.
"What just happened?" Olenna asked with shock.
Garlan responds by shrugging his shoulders.
"No clue, grandmother? But, I think father just found his new best friend," Garlan oddly answers.
Meanwhile, Stannis Baratheon and Jon Arryn were stunned, to say the least, Robert removing Joffrey from the throne is a good thing, but knowing what the boy just said is further proving Robert's point.
Once Joffrey finished his rant, he had a look of pride for standing up to his father, only for his face to drench once he saw the fury in his father's eyes.
The King's eyes scream 'What did you say' and soon as Joffrey realized his mistake, his face turned to horror and fear. The King looked ready to attack the boy in front of everyone, but it was Stannis who stopped him and placed his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Brother, perhaps the boy needs to be sent to his quarters as punishment," Stannis calmly says to his brother.
Robert faces his brother with a look of disbelief.
"You are defending the little shit?" King Robert said with fury.
Stannis let out a sigh before he responds.
"No, I despise the child just like you. He is unfit to rule the Seven Kingdoms and will be Aerys Targaryen reborn if he ever becomes King," Stannis bluntly tells Robert.
Making the King chuckle in response, while Cersei glares at Stannis for the insult.
"Always so blunt, Stannis," King Robert said with no surprise in his voice or eyes.
"Send him to his quarters, he will not see the rest of this," Stannis offered while pointing to the seeing stone.
King Robert briefly looks at Joffrey then to Stannis.
"That's not a bad idea, Stannis," King Robert honestly admits.
Cersei seeing Stannis just convinced Robert to send Joffrey away, she stood up, but before she could say a word.
Robert raised his finger at her.
"Not a word, woman! Because of your constant coddling over Joffrey. You turned him into a spineless coward who throws tantrums when not given his way! I don't even know how he came from my seed," King Robert spat with ill-will.
Stannis again chose to cut in.
"I can have my men send Joffrey to his quarters," Stannis offers.
Robert shook his head.
"Kingslayer!" The King calls out for Jaime.
Jaime faces the King, with a look of anger and disdain.
"Yes, your grace," Jaime responds.
"Send the shit to his room and make sure he stays in there. If he throws a tantrum, you have my blessing to smack some sense into him. Seven hells, he needs it if he wishes to be my heir again," King Robert commands Jaime.
Jaime walks up to Joffrey and harshly grabs the boy and began escorting him out of the dragon pit.
"Let go of me, uncle! I'm the fucking prince! Unhand me!" Joffrey screamed at his uncle.
As Joffrey slaps his uncle in the face, catching Jaime off guard, while Joffrey had a proud look on his face.
"Getting old, unc-" Joffrey said with mockery.
Before he could finish, Jaime smacks Joffrey back, with the smack causing Joffrey to drop to the ground instantly, his face quickly turned red from the smack Jaime has given him.
"You hit me?!" Joffrey cried out in pain.
Already in tears from the slap, but Jamie didn't care and starts dragging Joffrey by his collar out of the dragon pit and back into the Red Keep, Joffrey began crying out to his mother for help.
"Mother! Command uncle to unhand me! Mother!" Joffrey screams out with fear.
Cersei couldn't do anything this time and looked away as Jaime kept on dragging Joffrey out of the dragon pit.
Jaime can be seen looking done with life, briefly looking back at Joffrey, who is still trying to fight back, but to no avail, he shook his head at the sight of the child that came out of his seed, the same child who disturbingly reminds him of Aerys in his outbursts.
"I hate my fucking life," Jaime mutters.
No one dared to say a word after what they just witnessed, for they did not want to suffer the King's wrath.
Dickon, Talia and Melessa chose to ignore the drama between the royal family and chose to focus on the game of riddles.
"Shit!" Dickon muttered in anger.
He does not want to see his brother killed, let alone be eaten by Gollum.
"Maybe it's not too late, brother, they can win," Talia says to him.
Lady Melessa agrees with her daughter.
"We must not give up on him, Dickon," Melessa said to her son.
Dickon nods, knowing his mother and sister are right.
"That is true. Sam wouldn't give up on us," Dickon replies.
Bran and Ayra were stunned to hear the answer is eggs, like most of the other Houses, they ignored the drama between the royal family and the insults Joffrey made about their father.
"Eggs?" Arya said with confusion.
"I know right," Bran agreed with his sister.
"How is it, eggs?" Ayra asks around.
Tyrion decides to answer Arya.
"For starters, Arya, 'A box without hinges, key or lid' most likely refers to the eggshells, the eggshell has neither of said things. And the 'Yet golden treasure inside is hidden' is the egg yolk and the 'golden treasure'. Hope that helps with your question," Tyrion explains the riddle to her.
Arya is confused at first, but after a few moments of processing the answer, Arya understood what Tyrion told her.
"Oh, that makes sense, thank you" Arya responds.
Tyrion gives her a nod.
"You are welcome," Tyrion replied.
A bat squeals in the distance, startling Sam, Gilly and Bilbo, the trio look around for the bat.
Bilbo and Sam look back down and find Gollum is gone, but his voice echos from across the cave.
"We have one for you. All things it devours, birds, beasts, trees and flowers. Gnaws iron, bites steel, grinds hards stone to meal?" Gollum recites his riddle to the duo.
"Shit, that is a good one," Tyrion groans.
"That it is, Lord Tyrion," Varys agrees with him.
Tommen has calmed down with Myrcella's help, the two are muttering the riddle Gollum just recite.
"I hope we can solve it," Tommen says to Myrcella.
"We will," Myrcella assures her brother.
Cersei catches her two youngest children interacting, she always found Myrcella to be too compassionate and Tommen to be too soft.
"Leave them be, woman," King Robert warns her.
"I just want to spend time with them," Cersei tries to use her sweet voice to him.
The King scoffs in response.
"You never gave two shits about them, it was always Joffrey this and Joffrey that! Seeing how that shit turned out, they're better off without you," King Robert responds harshly.
The words hit Cersei hard when she saw the look on Myrcella and Tommen's faces, they heard the debate and it was further shown when Myrcella placed her arm around Tommen as if she were protecting him from their mother.
"You always took Joffrey's side," King Robert spat.
Before he got up from his seat and ruffled Tommen's hair.
"You're a better lad than Joffrey, Tommen! Don't let anyone, especially your mother say otherwise, got it!" King Robert tells Tommen.
Hearing this brought a smile to Tommen, a truly genuine smile.
"You think so, father?" Tommen asked with doubt in his voice.
"Seven hells you are, Tommen! You didn't throw a bloody tantrum over fucking riddles," King Robert responds.
Making the young boy giggle in response.
"As my heir, Tommen. You are going to be taught how to be a true man. One who will turn you into a fine King someday," King Robert began telling the young boy.
The King turns his attention to Ned Stark right away.
"Ned, once all of this shit is over. I want you to foster my boy here and take him back with you and your family to Winterfell," King Robert asks his dear friend to foster his son.
As Robert gently pats Tommen, both Ned Stark and Tommen are shocked, to say the least.
"Are you sure, your grace?" Ned asked.
Robert nods with pride.
"Seven hells, I am!" King Robert quickly responds.
Looking back between Ned and Tommen.
"I want you to make my boy into a man like you! Spending time up in the North will harden the lad and he'll grow into a fine King! One that will be a better King than me," King Robert said proudly.
Tommen is touched by his father's words.
Bilbo paces around the rock, sword raised defensively, his eyebrows furrowed while thinking of a way to solve the riddle.
"Answer us!" Gollum demands Bilbo.
Bilbo walks in circles, shaking his head.
"I don't know this one," Bilbo said with defeat.
"I think I know it, Bilbo, but I don't want to take any chances if I'm wrong," Sam tells Bilbo.
Gollum's voice echoes throughout the cave.
"Is it tasty? Is it scrumptious? Is it crunchable?" Gollum speaks in a singsong voice that echoes throughout the cave.
Out of nowhere, Gollum appears behind Bilbo and grabs his neck.
Bilbo jumps away, aiming his sword straight at Gollum.
"Let me think. Let me think," Bilbo tells him.
Slowly, Bilbo backs away as Gollum watches with a grin.
"It's stuck. Bagginses is stuck," Gollum asks the hobbit.
Bilbo paces back and forth, looking frustrated.
"Time's up," Gollum says to Bilbo
While giving Bilbo and Sam an eerie smile.
Cersei stood up with anger, refusing to allow her son to be fostered up in the North.
"Don't you dare rob me of Tommen!" Cersei screamed at Robert.
Before Robert could respond, Tyrion stood up.
"Your grace, sending Tommen with the Starks is an amazing idea. After all, you and Ned were fostered together in the Eyrie as boys, so it should be fitting for your sons to be fostered together," Tyrion says to the King.
Cersei is fuming with anger at Tyrion taking Robert's side.
"See, woman. Your brother agrees," Robert tells Cersei.
Stannis and Jon Arryn look at one another, Tommen may not be Robert's son but they do not want the child to die, when Robert learns the truth, perhaps having the boy be a ward/hostage to Ned Stark will be a good idea in the long run.
"That is a wise decision, Robert," Jon Arryn says to the King.
"Tommen and Lord Stark's son are the same age, the North will harden him," Stannis joins in.
Renly saw what was going on, and stood up as well.
"That is an amazing idea. It will be you and Ned Stark all over again, brother, except it will be in the North," Renly cheerfully said.
Seeing his brothers and Jon Arryn agreeing on something yet again, amazed the King before laughing hard.
"Hear that woman? If my brothers, Jon and the Imp here!" King Robert says to Cersei.
But before either could continue, Tyrion chimes in.
"I prefer halfling, your grace," Tyrion quickly adds.
The King shrugs the comment off before he continued.
"If they can agree on something. Then it's a fucking good idea! Tommen will go North once this is over, he will be a true man and will be nothing like Joffrey!" King Robert declares proudly.
Cersei fumes with anger, before shifting to Myrcella.
"What about Myrcella? Will you rob her of a brother?" Cersei cried out.
Tyrion has a grin on his face, something Cersei noticed and before she could respond, Tyrion turns to the King with his hand up.
"You know, your grace. Perhaps you could have Myrcella be betrothed to young Bran here, it seems like a good match. After all, not only will your son and Bran here, get to grow up together in Winterfell when Tommen is fostered there. But Bran, could get a better chance at getting to know his future bride and it will give Myrcella time to know the people of the North and you won't have to divide Myrcella and Tommen apart. It will lead to the joining of House Baratheon and Stark, like you always wanted," Tyrion explains to the King.
The King looks at Tyrion with a stern look, before donning a proud smile.
"That's fucking brilliant!" King Robert roared with pride.
Before shifting his gaze to Myrcella then to Bran and then to Ned.
"Ned, my daughter, your son. We'll join our Houses through them," King Robert cheerfully tells him.
Cersei looks livid at the results that just transpired and glares at Tyrion, blaming him for everything.
Tyrion is immune to her glare and responds by giving her a smile than a cheerful wink.
The Tyrells, Tarlys, Greyjoys and Prince Oberyn chose to ignore the argument between the King and Queen and were watching the flames.
Mace Tyrell may not be the best at riddles, but after paying attention to the latest one, he thought it was death or life, but once Gollum said 'times up'. The Lord of Highgarden recalls something Willas told him about 'time healing wounds' and his eyes widen upon possibly solving the riddle.
"Time," Mace muttered softly.
Unaware Prince Oberyn overheard Mace's mutter and realized the Lord of Highgarden may have solved the riddle.
"I should write a letter to Willas later, he would not believe what I just heard," Oberyn said to himself.
Just as Bilbo turns around with a wide grin on his face.
"Time. The answer is time," Bilbo answers
Bilbo clears his throat and feeling proud for figuring it out. While Gollum groans at Bilbo figuring out the riddle.
"Actually, it wasn't that hard, come to think of it," Bilbo adds.
"Seven hells, that was a good one," Tyrion acknowledged.
"It wasn't difficult, but it was a good riddle, to say the least," Varys agreed.
Prince Oberyn however decided to change the tone of the dragon pit and turns to Mace Tyrell.
"You solved it, Lord Tyrell. I'm amazed," Prince Oberyn proudly praises Mace Tyrell.
"Thank you, Prince Oberyn," Mace cheerfully responds.
Tyrion and Varys had a look of doubt on Oberyn's comment, but the Red Viper gave them a nod.
"I heard him mutter it and as we know, Bilbo is right given Gollum's expression," Oberyn explains to them.
Ned overhears this and turns to Mace, giving him a genuine smile.
"Good for you, Mace," Ned congratulates the Lord of Highgarden.
"Thank you, Ned," Mace sincerely said to his friend.
Garlan pats his father's back with a smile.
"Good job, father," Garlan compliments his father.
"Thank you, my son," Mace thanks Garlan.
Olenna is baffled to see her oaf of a son solved a riddle.
"How did you figure it out?" Olenna asked her son.
Mace shrugs his shoulders.
"I honestly thought it would be death. But it's a little grim to be a riddle, I thought it would be life, and I remember Willas mentioned something on 'time healing wounds' a while back and it just felt right," Mace oddly explains to his mother.
Olenna rolled her eyes and groaned in response, her son solved a riddle by sheer dumb luck, though she felt some pride in her son at being able to solve a riddle, guess he wasn't like his oaf of a father after all.
"Last question. Last chance," Gollum tells Bilbo and Sam.
Behind his back, Gollum grasps onto a rock.
Bilbo doesn't notice for he is too busy thinking of a riddle.
"Ask us. Ask us!" Gollum demands them.
Bilbo is the first to answer.
"Yes, yes, all right," Bilbo responds.
Bilbo strolls to the edge of the bank, starting to rub his pocket, he feels the ring inside.
"What have I got in my pocket?" Bilbo mutters to himself.
"Seriously?" Tyrion said in disbelief of Bilbo's question/riddle.
"I don't think he meant it, he was muttering to himself," Varys told him.
Dickon, Talia and Melessa don't hate it or like it, but as long as Sam survives and finds his way out of the cave, they will be fine.
"Long as Sam is alive and well," Lady Melessa said to her children.
Both of her children agree with her.
"Same here, mother," Talia replied.
"Same," Dickon responds.
Arya and Bran look confused at Bilbo's question.
"Isn't that cheating?" Arya asks around.
The Blackfish turns to his great-niece and decides to answer her.
"Gollum did ask a question, even if Bilbo wasn't being serious about it. I just hope that Tarly boy has some brain and convince Bilbo to not use it as such, otherwise, it might come back to bite the hobbit," The Blackfish explains to Arya.
The youngest Stark girl understood the answer once her great-uncle explained it to her.
"Oh, okay," Arya simply responds.
Upon hearing this, Gollum looks baffled at the 'question'.
"That's not fair. That's not fair, it's against the rules!" Gollum cried out.
Gollum throws down the rock in his fury. Bilbo looks at it and is startled.
"Ask us another one!" Gollum demands.
Bilbo steps closer, but before he can speak, Sam steps in and places his hand on Bilbo's shoulder and shakes his head.
"It wasn't the question, Gollum," Sam assures the creature.
Gollum looks rather happy at it.
"Good, good," Gollum mutters.
Sam spots the bodies of the goblins, he and Bilbo have slain earlier ago, giving him an idea.
"I forgot something to tell you, it was right after we saved Gilly here," Sam tells Gollum while referring to Gilly.
He points towards the goblin corpses to Gollum.
"We killed a couple of goblins over there, can you see them?" Sam said to Gollum.
Gollum's face lit up at the sight of the two corpses.
"In exchange for the two bodies, how about we call it a draw?" Sam tells Gollum.
Who cocked his head in response.
"What's a draw, precious?" Gollum asked.
Bilbo and Gilly look worried at Sam, but the latter gives them a 'trust me' look.
"A draw is when no one lost or won," Sam simply explains the meaning.
"Gollum sort of has a point," Tyrion admits bitterly.
"But, Gollum did ask them a question, not a riddle," Oberyn somewhat disagrees.
"Either way, Gollum would have figured out Bilbo has his ring either through win or loss and when Gollum does find out he lost his ring. He would rightfully accuse them of having it or stole it from him. Had it not been for Samwell Tarly interfering, they might have had a less than gruesome outcome," Varys points out the obvious.
Talia Tarly overheard what Varys said and agreed with him.
"So, my brother just prevented Bilbo from using the 'question' to avoid conflict?" Talia asked Varys.
The Spider nods at the eldest daughter of Randyll Taly.
"Indeed, Lady Talia," Vary replies.
Lady Melessa smiled at her son coming up with a way he and Bilbo won without causing Gollum to throw a fit or back out of his word.
"That's my son," Lady Melessa said joyfully.
Dickon chuckled at his mother's little moment of being proud of Sam, admitting to himself that Sam is thinking the long term to get out of the Misty Mountains.
"You have a smart son, Lady Tarly," Ned Stark compliments the Lady of Horn Hill.
"Thank you, Lord Stark," Lady Melessa replied to the Lord of Winterfell.
Tyrion and Varys soon turn to one another, both men know they are in a draw as well, both men nod at one another and shake their hands.
"So, a draw?" Tyrion asks.
"A draw, it is," Varys agreed.
Both men keep their gold and agree to call it a day on bets.
Gollum looks disappointed but Sam isn't done.
"In exchange for showing us the way out of here. You can have those goblins over there, they're dead already, so you don't have to worry about them getting back up," Sam offers.
Gollum is hesitant at first before he started walking towards the two goblins, poking the smaller goblin and saw no response, Gollum smiled once he found the head of the decapitated larger goblin.
"Three goblinses to eat! Oh, I like draws, precious! I like draws!" Gollum proudly declared.
Sam quickly goes to Bilbo.
"Why did you ask him that, Bilbo?" Sam asked about the 'riddle'.
"He did ask a question," Bilbo casually responds.
"So, what is in your pocket?" Sam curiously asks.
Before Bilbo can tell Sam, Gollum comes back with an eager smile and points to the right.
"Safe passage over there, precious!" Gollum yells out.
"Oh thank the seven," Lady Melessa said with relief.
Feeling a burden off her shoulders once she saw Sam convinced Gollum to call the game a draw, even giving Gollum the two dead goblins from earlier, at least he won't try to eat her son.
Melessa swore she saw a half-smile on Randyll's face, she knew deep down in her husband that he loves Sam, but he is stuck in his ways and is too stubborn to admit it.
"I knew Sam would come through," Talia said proudly.
Dickon chuckles as his sister and mother smile with joy at Sam coming through and convincing Gollum to call it a draw in the game of riddles.
"How does Sam not notice the ring?" Bran asks.
"Sam was stuck above Bilbo, good chance he didn't notice the ring on Bilbo," Oberyn explains to Bran.
"That makes sense," Bran tells the Red Viper.
The flames cut to Sam and Gilly, the latter of which is carrying Sam's bag due to his injury, Bilbo isn't too far behind them.
The hobbit quickly noticed Gollum went back to gather the dead goblins.
"Did Gollum say which path should we take?" Bilbo asked.
"He did," Sam points to the direction of where Gollum told them.
"We take that way and we should be out of the Misty Mountains within less than a couple hours," Sam explained.
Bilbo looks relieved, but the moment was cut short when Gollum can be heard screaming.
"Where is it? Where is it? No! No! No!" Gollum cried out with worry.
This confuses the trio at what is going on.
"Is he alright?" Gilly asked.
Sam and Bilbo both shrug their shoulders.
"No idea," Bilbo answered.
Sam didn't get time to answer, as Gollum's cries become louder and sadder
"Lost! Curses and splashes, my precious is lost!" Gollum cried out.
"Oh fuck," Tyrion groaned.
Just as Sam, Bilbo and Gilly were about to be out of danger, only for Gollum to most likely figured out his ring is gone.
"That isn't good," Tommen said nervously.
"I knew this would happen," Varys called out.
"I hope, Sam and Bilbo escape," Sansa nervously said.
Catelyn held onto her daughter for support.
"They will get out of this alive," Catelyn assures Sansa.
The flames show Gollum is leaning over the edge of the lake, sobbing. He stares at his reflection, and slowly his cries begin to cease. Gollum's face becomes contorted in anger.
Recalling what Bilbo said a while back.
"What has it got in its nasty, little pocketses?" Gollum muttered to himself.
Slowly, Gollum turns to look at where Bilbo, Sam and Gilly are heading to, his face is pale with shock.
"They stole it. They stole it! They stole it!" Gollum yells out in anger.
Sam, Gilly and Bilbo hear Gollum's outburst.
Bilbo quickly remembers Sam is still injured, wanting to make it right for his friend, who he knew won't make it far on said injury, Bilbo turns to Gilly with a determined look.
"Get Sam out of here, I'll lure him away," Bilbo says to her.
Gilly nods but Sam looks heartbroken.
"Bilbo...what about you?" Sam asked.
Bilbo smiles fondly at Sam, giving him a brief hug.
"I wouldn't have made it far without you, Sam," Bilbo assured his friend.
Sam tearfully returns the hug, as Gilly and Sam part ways with Bilbo.
"Thank you, you are a good person," Gilly told Bilbo before leaving.
The hobbit is touched by her words, smiling at her as she leaves with Sam, Bilbo watched them leave while unsheathing his sword.
"I can do this," Bilbo says to himself.
Just as the two are beyond Bilbo's sight, Gollum appears and throws a stone at him.
The hobbit barely managed to deflect it with his sword in time and runs off to the opposite path of where Sam and Gilly went.
Gollum chases after Bilbo as his angry snarls echo throughout the cave.
"That is very kind of Bilbo to do," Sansa said tearfully.
Knowing Bilbo sacrificed himself to save Sam, she developed more respect for the hobbit.
"That he was," Tyrion told Sansa.
"I knew this would happen, but I did not expect Bilbo to do what he did," Varys said to Tyrion.
"Neither did I," Tyrion admits.
Lady Melessa, Dickon and Talia were relieved to know Sam is safe, but Melessa felt sorry for Sam losing Bilbo, the three Tarlys had nothing but respect for Bilbo to sacrifice himself for Sam to escape.
"Thank you, Bilbo," Lady Melessa said sadly.
Arya, Bran, Lyanna and Lyra were shocked, to say the least, Bilbo sacrificing himself to save Sam from Gollum, even if he did steal Gollum's ring.
"I'm gonna miss Bilbo," Bran sadly admits.
"Same," Arya agreed.
The flames cut to Goblin-town, showing dozens of goblins carrying massive instruments of torture into the throne room.
When Thorin & Company saw the devices coming their way, many had looks of horror.
"Isn't that a little much?" Loras asked after seeing the massive instruments.
Thorin heard Loras and shook his head.
"When it comes to goblins and orcs, no, it isn't," Thorin told Loras.
The male wildling is pushed not far towards Dwalin, the dwarf noticed the redhead man's trying to fight back against the goblins before being whipped to submission, impressed by the man, Dwalin turns towards him.
"Dwalin," The dwarf introduces himself.
The wildling heard Dwalin's introduction and nods.
"Tormund Giantsbane," The wildling does the same with his gruff northern accent.
Margaery and the female wildling are standing together, Margaery decides to talk to the woman.
"I'm Margaery. What's your name?" Margaery asked.
The wildling looked at her suspiciously before giving a response.
"I'm Ygritte," The wildling said in a strong northern accent.
Daenerys is with Balin and Gendry, the non-wildling is by them.
"I am Daen.." Daenerys was about to say.
But the man stopped her.
"Daenerys Targaryen...I know who you are. I am Ser Jorah Mormont," The now identified Jorah Mormont introduced himself.
Balin and Daenerys quickly notice the man has a similar accent as Robb and Jon.
Most of the group in the dragon pit were shocked to see the torturing devices the Great-Goblin plans on using to Thorin & Company.
The group didn't have time to process the torturing instruments, as they got the names of the two wildlings among the captured group.
"Ygritte?" Bran said with confusion.
"Tormund Giantsbane?" Arya muttered.
Bran turns to Arya with a curious expression.
"Wonder how he got the name?" Bran asked.
"I doubt he killed the giants we have seen, Bran," Tyrion answered.
Arya's eyes widen upon hearing this as she turns her direction to her father.
"Don't we have giants too?" Arya asked her father.
Ned Stark nods at his daughter's question.
"Aye, but they were supposed to be myths and legends," Ned simply replied.
However, there was a pause in his voice before he continued.
"But, with the recent reveal of our family heritage and how the White Walkers came to be...there is a great chance, they are still among us, living Beyond the Wall," Ned adds.
Arya, Bran and Lyanna seem excited to hear this, given the stories of giants they have heard from Old Nan in Winterfell.
"I wonder how Jorah Mormont knew of Daenerys being a Targaryen?" Tyrion asked curiously.
Oberyn heard Tyrion's question and chose to answer.
"How many people have platinum hair, violet eyes and an unnatural beauty to them, besides the Targaryens?" Oberyn replied.
"Fair enough," Tyrion admits.
The Great Goblin starts prancing around his throne, singing 'Down, down in Goblin-town' once again to mock Thorin & Company, along with the other three prisoners.
"Bones will be shattered, necks will be wrung.
You'll be beaten and battered, from racks, you'll be hung.
You will die down here and never be found, down in the deep of Goblin Town!"
While the Great-Goblin continues his prance to mock the group, his subordinate starts to examine the weapons of Thorin & Company, starting with Orcrist.
The goblin slides the sword a few inches from its sheath and within seconds of gazing at the glowing blade, the subordinate quickly recognized the sword and shrieked in horror, before the goblin quickly threw the sword down.
Orcrist lands in the view of the other goblins, once they saw the glowing blade, the other goblins begin screaming in fear at the sight of the weapon.
The Great-Goblin jumped onto his throne at the mere sight of Orcrist, while stepping on his minions who cried out in pain from the weight of the Great-Goblin.
"I know that sword!" The Great-Goblin yelled with fear as he points to the blade.
"It is the Goblin Cleaver! The Biter! The blade that sliced a thousand necks!" The Great-Goblin continues.
Most of the folk in the dragon pit were caught off guard when they saw how terrified the goblins of Goblin-town were at seeing the elven sword Orcrist, many were even surprised by the Great-Goblin's fear of the blade.
As the Great-Goblin brought up the sword's history, Bran quickly remembers the name of the sword's last wielder before Thorin.
"Did Ecthelion of the Fountain truly slay a thousand goblins with that sword?" Bran asked around.
The Blackfish chose to answer his great-nephew's question.
"From what the Great-Goblin said, it appears so," The Blackfish answered.
The legendary knight was quite impressed by the long-dead Ecthelion of the Fountain, who was able to slay a thousand Orcs with his elven blade.
Arya, Bran, Lyanna and Tommen were amazed to hear this, as the children quickly recall Lord Elrond's brief history on all of the elven weapons.
"Ecthelion of the Fountain must have been an amazing swordsman if he were to have slain a thousand goblins," Arya said cheerfully.
"I wonder who would win in a duel between him and uncle Jaime?" Tommen said to Myrcella.
Myrcella gave no response for she was debating on who would win.
Their mother can be seen looking insulted at her son's comment about who would win between Jaime and some Elf who died thousands of years ago.
"Don't speak so ill of your uncle! He's the greatest swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms and he would have defeated the wretched Elf!" Cersei hissed at her son.
Making the young boy flinch at her cold tone, Myrcella wrapped her arm around her brother.
Ser Barristan overhears Pince Tommen's question to Myrcella, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard shook his head at the Queen's harsh tone towards her son over a mere question.
To cheer the young prince, the Lord Commander of the Kinsguard decided to answer his question more positively.
"Ser Jaime would lose to Ecthelion of the Fountain in a duel, Prince Tommen," Ser Barristan kindly answers.
Tommen didn't look too surprised at the answer but is happy to hear Ser Barristan's kind tone when compared to his mother's.
Cersei scowled at Ser Barristan's comment.
"Are you saying my brother is not as skilled with a blade as some Elf?" Cersei asked Ser Barristan.
The legendary Knight shook his head while looking annoyed at the Queen's behaviour.
"Ser Jaime is a skilled swordsman, but the Elves are in leagues of their own from what we heard and this Ecthelion of the Fountain is said to have slain this 'Gothmog' who is a 'Lord of Balrogs'. Slaying him must have been a great feat if Lord Elrond spoke highly of him," Ser Barristan states.
The Queen chose not to respond to the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard's question and remained silent.
Tommen accepts Ser Barristan's kind answer with a smile.
"I hope we can see the Elves fight, I wonder how different their fighting style is," Tommen said to the legendary Knight.
Bran agreed with Tommen as the two boys begin discussing it with Arya and Lyanna.
Tyrion smiles at his nephew being excited for a possible chance of witnessing the Elves in combat.
The flames return to the Great-Goblin finished speaking of the sword's history.
His minions quickly bring out their weapons and start beating the dwarves and the Westerosi to the ground.
"Get off me!" Dwalin roared at the goblins while fighting them off.
Tormund is able to throw a goblin off of Dwalin when the goblin tried to pounce on him.
"Ugly little fuckers," Tormund said as he stomped on one's neck.
Dwalin gives Tormund a nod of gratitude for aiding him, however, the moment is short-lived when more goblins jump on both the dwarf and the wildling and pin them down.
Gendry is about to raise his hand to summon Húro-Falma to his direction, but his concentration was interrupted by the goblins, who pin him down.
Loras tries to protect Thorin from the goblins after seeing they are going after the dwarf first, but he was outnumbered by a large number of goblins.
"Slash them! Beat them! Kill them! Kill them all!" The Great-Goblin demands with anger.
As he quickly points towards Thorin, who is pinned to the ground by the goblins, with the Great-Goblin looking at him with anger.
"Cut off his head!" The Great-Goblin yells out.
The Goblins hold Thorin down, with one of the goblins raising a knife high above Thorin's head.
Suddenly, there is a vast explosion of white light, the goblins and the torture machines go flying from the shockwave of the blast, while the dwarves and Westerosi are knocked to the ground.
The explosion passes and a shadow is framed against the dim light.
The shadow is revealed to be Gandalf, armed with the sword Glamdring in his right hand, the blade is bright as daylight and is carrying his staff on the other hand.
Next, to be seen is Theon Greyjoy, wielding the sword Anguirel with both hands, unlike most elven blades, Anguirel glows black when orcs or goblins are near, the blade's glow made the ironborn stand out.
Robb Stark shows up next, armed with the elven blade Ringil in his right hand, the blade glows like glittering ice and he wields his Gondor shield on his left hand and is in a defensive stance.
Last is Jon Snow, armed with the sword Tar-Nármacil, the glow from the sword looks as if the blade is glowing in blue flame, the ward of Lord Elrond wields the sword of his ancestors with both hands ready for the offence.
Slowly, the dwarves, Westerosi and the goblins recover from the shockwave.
All eyes turn to Gandalf, Theon, Robb and Jon.
The wizard turns towards Thorin & Company, even pausing briefly once he saw Tormund, Ygritte and Jorah, having a look of surprise before he spoke.
"Take up arms," The wizard says to the Company and the three prisoners.
Before letting out a battle cry.
"Fight! Fight!"
The End of Chapter 17.
Hope you all liked this chapter as the escape/battle of Goblin-town will be in the next chapter.
I am looking forward to the chapter, I haven't started it yet nor will I announce when it will be uploaded on the site.
I did a mild retcon of Jon's sword having a blue flame look, I thought it would further make his blade stand out when compared to Robb and Theon's swords.
Answering Questions/Reviews.
KingManaena: Thanks for liking Chapter 17, I don't know when Chapter 18 will be out, but I know where I am going with it.
axmeave: Thanks for liking the chapter and the story.
Puffgirl1952 the 2nd: Hope you liked Chapter 17.
VFSNAKE: Thanks and hope you liked the chapter.
Asteroth1: Thanks and that's awesome of you to say. No problem, I didn't forget the scene, I am saving it for The Desolation of Smaug arc, as a flashback.
Perseus12: Hope you liked the little action in the chapter, but more will come in Chapter 18, which will cover the escape/battle of Goblin-town, Chapter 19 will cover the encounter with Azog, and Chapter 20 will cover their escape from Azog. I am going to try and not make it obvious that something is off about Bilbo's ring, but they'll just assume it's just a simple magical ring.
Veljko S: Thanks for liking it, I'm looking forward to Chapter 18 as well and congrats for being the 200th review comment.
12345678910: Thay they are, thanks for liking my story, I often update when I feel like it and/or take my time on it so the chapter won't feel rushed, I plan to do twists that appear in the long run and take care as well.
sniperbro1998: Thanks for liking it, we'll get the Smaug flashback of his attack on Dale and Erebor in one of the MANY prologues to The Desolation of Smaug arc, they'll freak when they see how quick Smaug dealt with both Kingdoms. Bobby B is gonna go through a lot of shit throughout the story, and learning Jon is Rhaegar's son is gonna hit him hard. Oberyn will be mixed about it, sure the child is a slight on his sister, but at the same time he will not punish Jon for being Rhaegar's son
walkandtalk: Sam needs love too.
Guest1: Thanks for liking this story, hope you liked this chapter and Gandalf's arrival. Yep, we will see Thorin's father. You'll have to wait and see what happens when I get to the Battle of the Five Armies arc.