Hey everyone!

Welcome back to Dance of the Falcon!

ARC III starts now and this is the final part of this story!

This story is on a weekly update schedule, next update will be next Thursday or 08/10/2020 :)

For those that like to have a timeline in mind, consider the story, roughly as it is an AU, around the end of Season 5 or Beginning of Season 6.

Enjoy :)


Chapter 64: The Toll

A few moments later….

The Bridge, the Twins, Northern Riverlands


"Lord Lannister," Robb greeted through grating teeth, holding back the desire to run at the taller man and plunge his sword through his chest.

"King Robb, Lord Royce," Tywin returned watching the two men closely before walking to the front of his guard.

Lord Royce and Robb came together and stood a few metres from the imposing Western Lord, mirroring his position in front of his red clad men with their own.

"We need to talk," Tywin said authoritatively, understanding why this meeting had been called and why he had attend.

"The Ironborn took Ser Jaime and Queen Kenna from Winterfell a few weeks ago, most likely they are at Pyke by now," Lord Royce started.

Tywin flicked his golden flecked eyes so they locked onto Robb's bright blue ones, "And whose fault is that?"

Lord Royce, sensing Robb's outburst before it came, quickly interjected, "Queen Kenna and your son traded their lives so that your grandchildren could live."

Tywin picking up on the emphasis Lord Royce had put on the word grandchildren, narrowed his eyes at the fellow Lord, "A sign of good parents but poor strategy."

"You are talking about your own grandchildren. You are a heartless bastard, aren't you?" Robb finally managed to spit out.

"I am a practical man; a mother can always have more children," Tywin said coldly, secretly hiding his relief that his new-born sons were still alive behind his renowned mask of stone.

"Yes, you were very practical when you encouraged the Frey's to betray their liege Lord and slaughter my men and family in this very castle," Robb roared, barely containing his fury, his clenched fist hovering close to the pommel of his sword.

Tywin's eyes twinkled as he took in the simmering rage of the Northman before him, "So, you agree with me that it was a better tactic to kill the leadership of the Northern rebellion in one night than let many thousands of soldiers suffer over months in a needless war."

"You wouldn't have won in battle against me so your only option to win the war was by dishonourable means," Robb snarled back.

"Perhaps," Tywin entertained the possibility before his gleaming eyes bore into Robb's once more, "but I did win the war didn't I."

"Enough," Lord Royce boomed, causing some soldiers from both sides to reach for their weapons, "We are not here to squabble over past deeds. We need to come together to destroy the Greyjoys and get Queen Kenna back."

"And my son," Tywin said his jaw tightening at Lord Royce's omission.

"Fine," Robb shot out as he removed his hand from the hilt of his sword, "We have a combined force of over seventy thousand men so we should be able to easily crush the Ironborn raiders."

"Fighting on land isn't the problem," Lord Royce said taking a step towards Tywin in strategic thought, "It is getting our men to Pyke which might prove problematic."

"A problem I have already solved," Tywin announced, "Paxter Redwyne and his two hundred ships are mustering at Old Town harbour. It is a formidable fleet and should be able to take on the Iron Fleet."

"Lord Grafton is in command of the Arryn and Golden Company ships. I sent word to him to sail to Pyke as soon as we lost Queen Kenna and Ser Jaime," Lord Royce revealed.

Tywin nodded appreciatively at this piece of news, "The Redwyne Fleet and your ships can combine at Old Town. The Lannister ships at Lannisport can also join. That armada will be enough to clear the pathway to Pyke for our armies."

Robb brushed a hand through his growing beard but avoided the scar that was lurking beneath his newly grown facial hair, "And how long will it take for all these ships to consolidate into one moveable fleet, destroy the Iron Fleet then transport our armies to Pyke?"

"It takes roughly a week to sail to Pyke from Old Town, then maybe the sea battle will take a few days to conclude, and I can see it taking another week to transport the men and complete a siege of Pyke," Lord Royce calculated.

"Surely faced with these odds Balon will surrender and hand over Kenna and Jaime to avoid total destruction?" Robb commented.

"Balon Greyjoy is a stubborn and stupid man or he would have learnt from his last rebellion. He won't consider surrender until we have our sword against his throat," Tywin said in a tone indicating he had no love for the Ironborn.

"Balon sounds like a man that would simply execute his hostages in the face of defeat not negotiate with them," Robb said with worry written all over his face.

Both Lord Royce and Tywin remained quiet.

"Lord Royce?" Robb pushed but Tywin answered.

"What Lord Royce doesn't want to say out loud it that there is a very low chance that Queen Kenna and my son will make it out of Pyke alive."

"Then why are we even sieging Pyke?" Robb said incredulously waving his arms in frustration.

"Because when the Dragon Queen comes, we do not want to be fighting on two fronts with the Greyjoy's harassing us from the West, raiding our towns, cutting off our supply lines and destroying our crops. We need to eliminate them before Daenerys Targaryen reaches Westeros," Tywin said focusing all his attention on the young King, "and I would have thought you over anyone would understand that."

"I understand," Robb half yelled as he closed the space between himself and the Lion Lord, "but my priority is to save her life."

"Do you owe Queen Kenna a debt?" Tywin needled wanting to identify where this saviour complex was coming from.

"She is my ally and friend. In the North we try to save our friends," Robb replied with near literal venom in his words.

"A noble goal," Tywin said but felt there was more emotion behind the young King's words than there ought to be for a mere friendship and it irked him, "Just like marrying for love is."

Robb's eyes snapped to Lord Tywin's at the not so subtle insult at his past tactical mistake in breaking his oath to Walder Frey.

The King in the North raised a pointed finger that was trembling with rage, "The only reason I am not ripping your throat out right now is because I promised to fight alongside Queen Kenna against the Dragon Queen's invasion. If she dies so too does my promise."

"You would relinquish Northern Independence so easily?"

"I would do what is best for my people."

"And what is best for your people is dependent on whether Kenna Lannister lives or dies? I didn't know she had such influence in the North or is her influence just over the King in the North?" Tywin continued to jab at Robb's sensitive heart.

Lord Royce tired of the argumentative nature of the two men in front of him took out his sword, which caused everyone on the bridge to unsheathe their weapons.

Tywin quickly stepped away from Robb and his men rushed forward to cover him while Robb retreated to his own men.

"Lord Royce, what are you doing?" Robb whispered frantically over to the older man; he had clearly not anticipated having to actually fight on the bridge.

"I am making a point," Royce replied to the younger man.

"What are you playing at?" Tywin shouted across the windy bridge.

"I could ask the same of you," Lord Royce yelled back, "If all we are going to do is argue among ourselves and antagonise each other over our past actions, we might as well just fight each other now and let the Dragon Queen have whatever is left because if we do not work together now we will not win this coming war."

Tywin looked over at the still fuming King in the North, at least his combative behaviour could be excusable by his youth. Tywin had no such excuse and he knew his provoking words had come from a place of possessiveness over the mother of his children rather than of protectiveness for his son's wife.

Although it rankled at his pride Tywin lowered his sword, "You are right Lord Royce. If we do not cooperate now, we are all doomed in one way or another."

Lord Royce and Robb sheathed their swords and their action was followed by multiple hissing sounds indicating that everyone's on the bridge had followed their lieges' actions.

"Shall we continue?" Lord Royce asked in a neutral but demanding tone.

Tywin and Robb nodded and the three men once again converged on the grand bridge, albeit much more cautiously than they had before.


"I have a suggestion."

"Go ahead," Lord Royce beckoned Robb.

"Once the fleets have merged at Old Town instruct them to sail directly to Seagard to pick our armies up then sail onto Pyke. It would lessen the time it takes to start the siege and would catch Balon off guard."

"Yes, but a fleet transporting so many men is much more vulnerable than one that isn't," Tywin cautioned, "and you are assuming that the Iron Fleet won't simply engage our combined fleet as soon as it gets close to the Iron Islands."

Robb rubbed his hands together as much in thought as to warm his palms, "Considering his mistakes during the Greyjoy Rebellion I don't think Victorian will want to engage fully-"

"You think he will favour quick attacks followed by swift retreats to pick off the strangling ships and whittle down out ship numbers," Lord Royce interrupted, intrigued by Robb's line of thinking.

"Yes," Robb confirmed, "To combat this I think we should get our armies to Pyke as soon as possible and siege it. Victorian would have no choice then but to fully engage and commit his men and ships to a proper battle which he will lose due to our superior numbers."

"I agree."

Lord Royce and Robb both looked to Tywin with expressions of slight shock. A Lannister agreeing with a Stark was a very rare thing.

"Time is a factor in this siege," Tywin said between the two men, "If we want a chance at rescuing my son and his wife, we need to surprise Balon and we need to get to King's Landing as soon as possible to best prepare for the Dragon Queen's invasion."

"So, we are all agreed?" Lord Royce probed.

Both Stark and Lannister man nodded.

"I will send the raven to Lord Grafton notifying him of our plans then," Lord Royce said stamping his feet to return some warmth to them.

"I will do the same with Paxter Redwyne," Tywin declared as he turned back towards his men, "I will see you both in Seagard."

Lord Royce and Robb watched the Warden of the West walk away from them as they huddled together.

"I will cooperate and fight alongside him for Kenna's sake but one day I will kill him for what he did to my mother and Talisa," Robb said fiercely to Lord Royce as they faced each other.

Lord Royce just nodded slightly, not doubting the young King's conviction but wondering what his Queen's opinion would be on the matter.


Same day …

The Great Pyramid, Meereen, Slavers Bay, South Essos


"Your Grace, Lady Cersei, Lord Oberyn and his paramour Ellaria Sand," Missandei announced.

"It is actually Prince Oberyn," the charming Dornish man corrected confidently as he strode towards the sitting Dragon Queen.

The Unsullied guards bluntly stopped his advance, crossing their spears before he could reach the steps leading the Great Pyramid's throne chair. Oberyn could see the famed knight Ser Barristan the Bold sitting on one of the steps watching his movements keenly as one of his hands rested on the pommel of his sword. Lord Varys was standing beside Jorah Mormont, talking to him in soft tones that did not travel far, with his hands tucked into his sleeves.

Cersei and Ellaria settled behind Oberyn as Jorah Mormont walked a few steps to whisper something into Daenerys's ear.

"Prince Oberyn," Daenerys politely started as her Hand stepped away from her, "Are you here to request something of me?"

The tanned man laughed good naturedly and his rich baritones bounced around the walls.

"We are in an alliance no? An alliance to put you on the Iron Throne of Westeros," Oberyn paused for effect, "Yet you are still in Meereen, in Essos. Why is that?"

"I cannot leave Meereen when as soon as I do it will fall to the rule of the Master's again."

"These are not your people," Oberyn brazenly pointed out, "Your people are in Westeros fighting for your rule while you sit here listening to the squabbles of a city that doesn't want you."

"Careful Prince Oberyn. You are talking to the Queen," Jorah warned from beside Daenerys.

"I do not mean to be distasteful but if you do not return to Westeros soon you may find that all your allies will have been crushed in your absence while you play at ruling here."

Daenerys stood from her throne and walked down to Prince Oberyn so only the spears of her loyal Unsullied separated them causing Barristan to stand up and hover next to his Queen protectively.

"You talk of being my ally yet you arrive here with one of my enemies," Daenerys said accusingly looking over Oberyn's shoulder to Cersei.

Oberyn looked back at Cersei before refocusing on the silver haired Queen, "Cersei Lannister doesn't stand before you as an enemy but as an ally."

"Her son sits on the very throne I wish to take," Daenerys exclaimed her eyes drilling into Oberyn's dark ones.

"He will stand down when faced with the might of your armies and your dragons," Cersei cut into the staring contest, "and all I ask is that you spare him. He is just a child. Spare him and let him bend the knee to you as Lord of Casterly Rock. He will not oppose you."

"He is opposing me this very minute by calling himself King of the Seven Kingdoms," Daenerys snapped back, her purple eyes shimmering with fury.

"It isn't him. The power behind the throne isn't Tommen it is my father, Olenna Tyrell and Kenna Arryn."

"When I return to Westeros, I will take back the Iron Throne and my dragons will burn anyone that gets in my way," Daenerys said with conviction that comes with true belief, "including your father."

"Good," Cersei stated and at Daenerys's suspicious look she elaborated, "my father killed my first born, Joffrey, and I suspect Olenna Tyrell and Kenna Arryn of having a hand in it too."

"You are after revenge for your son then," Daenerys deduced, "but what of your brothers? Jaime Lannister? I will not spare him. He killed my father, his King that he was sworn to protect and your other brother is currently Hand to Tommen."

"Jaime abandoned me," Cersei said trying to hide the wobble in her voice but Oberyn caught it, "He is with his wife now."

"Kenna Arryn," Oberyn helpfully filled in for Daenerys.

"And Tyrion killed my mother. I will not mourn their passing," Cersei announced harshly, trying to avoid thinking about how exactly Tyrion had killed their mother since she was close to giving birth herself.

"If she is married to Jaime Lannister, isn't she Kenna Lannister?" Daenerys asked, wondering if she was missing something.

"Depends on your view of what a true marriage is," Oberyn replied mischievously to the young Queen who didn't really understand what he had meant but Cersei's eyes darkened at his remark, knowing the real meaning behind his cunning words and leading her to think back to her father again.

Daenerys gave both Oberyn and Cersei a sweeping glance before ascending back up the steps to her throne and sitting down.

"Once I have dealt with the Sons of the Harpy and secured a truce with the Masters of Astapor and Yunkai we will set sail for Westeros and I will reclaim my family's throne. If Tommen surrenders, I will consider his future as you have requested Lady Cersei but I will not spare your father or brothers."

The tone in which the words had been spoken indicated the finality of them and Oberyn accepted them knowing he had pushed his luck with the Dragon Queen far enough for one day.

The sun kissed Prince bowed then captured Ellaria's arm on the way out. Cersei lingered a moment longer returning Daenerys gaze before following the Dornish couple out the chamber.


A few days later ….

Tied to the mast of Victorian's ship the Iron Victory, West of the North coastline in the Sunset Sea


Kenna resisted the urge to lick her dried lips as she imagined herself back in the Eyrie practicing her archery while Lord Royce looked on. The feel of the smooth wood in her hand, the ping sound of the string vibrating by her ear and the satisfying thud that came when hitting the circular target.

Her imagined world came tumbling down as Jaime's voice invaded her fantasy and drove her back to reality.

"How bad is this going to be?" her husband asked in a middling tone.

Kenna took a moment to open her eyes and accept the various noises of a sailing ship back into her mind.

"You were there when I butchered Euron, weren't you?" Kenna adorned in a way you would a child that asks a question they already know the answer to.

"Yes, but that was a long time ago," Jaime said twisting his head as far round the mast as the rope around his waist and legs would allow.

Kenna copied his movement so their heads where as close as they could be to avoid any of the Ironborn crew overhearing them.

"It was fifteen years ago," Kenna confirmed as she tried to catch Jaime's eyes but couldn't turn her head far enough round the mast, "You and I know people who have held deadly grudges for longer than that."

"If you are referring to my sister, you are wrong. She would have murdered the person before letting it go fifteen years," Jaime said with a small chuckle at the thought of his sister letting a slight go unanswered for so long.

"I was talking about Oberyn and your father," Kenna replied with a hint of annoyance with Jaime's light tone.

Before Jaime could retort Kenna let out a low groan of frustration.

"What?" Jaime inquired looking around them to see if his wife's small outburst had caught any unwanted attention but he didn't see anyone looking their way.

The crew were all too busy carrying out Victorian's bellowed orders and Yara's clandestine ones.

"My wrists are too tightly tied. I can't cut through the rope."

She has her hidden blades, of course she does, Jaime thought whimsically before turning his military mind to the situation, "Why in the Gods name are you trying to cut through these ropes? You see we are vastly outnumbered and weaponless, well I am at least. There is no point in escaping in this situation."

"My plan wasn't to fight and hijack this ship," Kenna said ominously.

"What .. you planned to jump overboard and swim back to the North?" Jaime said mocking her, knowing they were closer to the Iron Islands now than they were to the shores of the North.

"You are an idiot," Kenna declared fiercely in a low tone, "I was planning on jumping overboard and letting the sea have me."

Jaime straightened his head and flicked the roof of his mouth with his tongue as he digested what Kenna was suggesting.

"You are afraid of Balon that much?" he probed.

Kenna let out a condescending sigh, "Being a captive as a woman is very different prospect from being one as a man, especially when you stabbed your jailor's brother to death for rapping your sister."

"I lost a hand while in captivity," Jaime reminded Kenna suddenly turning serious at the memory.

"If I thought Balon was only going to cut my hand off I wouldn't be contemplating suicide," Kenna coldly pointed out.

"Regardless, I don't particularly like your plan dear wife," Jaime settled on not knowing how to really response to Kenna's dower prediction of her future.

"I don't recall hearing your plan and I didn't say you had to follow me," Kenna said smarmily, trying to enjoy perhaps her last chance at jesting with the Kingslayer before throwing herself overboard.

"I have another suggestion," Jaime said meekly as if he was still thinking it through, "Why go down without causing any damage?"

"What are you talking on about?" Kenna said resuming trying to cut thought the thick rope.

"Why not wait until you are close to Balon or Victorian then strike with your blades. That way you go down having taken another Greyjoy from this world," Jaime said playing on his wife's more vicious side.

Kenna held the prepared insult that was rolling around on her tongue and inspected Jaime's alternative plan in her head.

If she was quick about it, she could take out another Greyjoy brother then end her life before a guard could reach her. She would have the element of surprise.

"Not a bad plan," Kenna muttered quietly.

"What was that?" Jaime shot back in a smug voice.

"Fuck off," Kenna retorted knowing Jaime's face would be creased into a massive grin.

"I'll take that as confirmation that you aren't going for an afternoon dip in the Sunset Sea," Jaime said triumphantly.

When Kenna didn't response Jaime took that as another personal victory but the smile that graced his handsome face slipped away and was replaced with a great sense of foreboding as he noticed the bleak cluster of land mass known as the Iron Islands appeared on the horizon.


Author's Notes

How did you think the first meeting between Tywin and Robb went? No way the Red Weddings was not going to be mentioned and Lord Royce had to play a little at being peace maker but they all agreed in the end.

Oberyn and Cersei don't appear to be making much progress with the Mother of Dragons :(

I think the Kenna Jaime banter relationship is growing on me :P Although I think he was kind of sensible in the ship scene, as I agree with him no point going down quietly.

IMPORTANT - Structure Note/Schedule Note:

I have split this ARC up in my mind into six different sections or 'mini arcs' and after each one I might take a mini break (2 or 3 weeks) to chill and evaluate the next section before posting because this last ARC became a lot longer than I initially intended so in essence the Last/Third ARC of this story needed its own 'mini arcs'.

Also, full disclosure, I have begun posting this story earlier than I said I would, not because I have fully written this last ARC out (sorry! I have written out the first section though) but because I could feel my motivation to write out my ideas diminishing. Not saying my motivation for the story has ended or I have run out of idea. Hell no, I have so many notebooks full of ideas and I have plotted out every single character's story arcs and I know exactly how each chapter will pan out and roughly how many chapters are left and I know the ending of the story but the motivation to simply sit down and write the ideas out, edit, reread and tweak/polish here and there was beginning to grind on me a bit (The last month I have hardly touched this story).

SO! To fix this I have decided to start posting early in the hopes that a weekly deadline system and your guys/girls engagement with the story will kick me up the arse and I get on with writing out my ideas instead of just adding to my data bank of ideas. This means that although I have the story fully plotted out in my mind, on paper and electronically there will probably still be breaks in-between the six sections that make up the final ARC.


Reviews:

I have replied to all non-guest reviews through PMs so if you don't see a reply to your review(s) on Chapter 63 here it is because I think (let me know if I am wrong) I have replied to you already.

Guest (commented 19/07/2020) – Yes Balon is an idiot doing all he has ever known, raiding, reaving and roving. He is a product of his culture I think but he is incredibly stubborn so he isn't one to go down without a fight.

500K (Guest) commented on Chapter 1 on 19/07/2020 – Thanks! I swear this story has been going on forever :D


Next Up: Kenna strikes, Oberyn comes to Cersei's defence, and Daenerys finds herself in severe trouble.


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