Hello there!
Army numbers reminder for the beginning of this chapter:
Daenerys Targaryen forces – 3 Dragons, 100,000 Dothraki horse riders, 10,000 Unsullied spearmen, 2,000 Second Son mercenaries (lightly armored infantry), 500 ships.
Trystane Martell forces – 40,000 soldiers split over Princes Pass and the Boneway
Mace Tyrell/Loras Tyrell – 40,000 Reach soldiers split over Princes Pass and the Boneway, 150 Redwyne ships
Kenna Lannister – 18,000 Vale soldiers, 40 Arynn ships, 18,000 GoldenCompany mercenaries, 40 Golden Company ships
Robb Stark – 16,000 Northern soldiers
Tywin Lannister – 13,000 Westerlands soldiers, 15 ships
Tommen Baratheon – 3,000 City Watch soldiers
Enjoy :)
Chapter 78: The Old Queens and the New
Five hours later as the sun is beginning to rise …
Bed chamber in Prince Oberyn's private chambers (currently occupied by Lord Tywin), Old Palace, Sandship, Sunspear, East Dorne
Tywin woke for the first time in nearly thirty years with someone next to him and the experience wasn't wholly unpleasant just unfamiliar. Since the time of Joanna's passing, he had sustained himself with expensive and discreet companions but he had always sated his physical desires in Chataya's brothel, never in a bed he intended to wake up in the next morning.
He could see Kenna's entire body rise and fall to the rhythm of her deep slumber. She was laying on her front with her dark brown hair spilling around the pillow as her arms encircled it.
Tywin eyed the whipping scars that almost covered her entire bare back. He knew the skin was smooth but the silvery marks were stark against her slightly tanned skin.
He reached out a hand to lightly wake her up. He got halfway before his movement did what he intended his hand to do.
In the next second he found Kenna straddling him with one of her hands around his throat while her other was raised ready to land a punch.
She blinked a few times and held a confused look on her face.
Tywin calmly looked up at her, "If you are wondering where your blades are, they are on the table."
Kenna looked to her left to where one of Tywin's hands was pointing to and saw he was telling the truth and lowered her fist.
"And if you are wondering why you are in my bed, I can assure you it was a mutual decision."
Kenna moved her hand away from Tywin's throat as her memories from the night came back to her but she didn't shift her weight from his torso.
"You know I had a nightmare last night," Kenna said stretching her neck and rubbing her eyes, "Daenerys Stormborn managed to acquire the service of one hundred thousand Dothraki and convinced them to cross the Narrow Sea."
Tywin cocked his head, not amused at Kenna's humour, "We have work to do on that front."
"Yes," Kenna murmured before slipping from Tywin and the bed to gather up her clothes.
Tywin watched from the bed as she started to step into her breeches. Kenna noticed where his eyes were lingering most though.
"Ugly, aren't they?"
"The whipping that Balon Greyjoy inflicted on you shows what you can endure for your family," Tywin said with a hint of satisfaction that his choice of Kenna as mother to his heirs had been proven to be such a fruitful and rewarding experience.
Kenna shrugged into her tunic then started to place her bracers back on her arms, "I'd rather be able to attack those that threaten my family not just take beatings from them."
Tywin rose from the bed, grabbing the two hidden blades that rested on his side table, and walked towards Kenna who was adjusting her cloak and hood.
"Now you have proven you can do both; endure and attack," Tywin stated as he approached the fully clothed Queen, "and every single man that whipped you is dead."
"I thank you for making that so," Kenna said acknowledging his role in killing the Greyjoy Captains as she finished tying her hair into a hastily done three weave plait.
Once Tywin loomed above her, he demanded her hand with his outstretched scarred one and when Kenna gave it, he started to strap one of her hidden blades onto the offered wrist.
"I meant what I said last night. I will not let all that I have built be turned into dust. I will not let my family be destroyed," Tywin said tightening the second blade to Kenna's other wrist.
"I am in this alliance with you because I want the same. I want my family safe. I want my Kingdom free. I want to grow old and hold my grandchildren. Anyone who gets in the way of those three things I will crush without mercy," Kenna declared passionately noting the healed stab wound on the Old Lion's midriff, knowing who had given it to him.
Tywin nodded down in approval at her forbidding words as he saw the same burning determination in her eyes as he knew he had displayed to her last night.
"When you are ready to save the Seven Kingdoms I will be in the solar," Kenna announced leaving the naked Lord Hand in his bed chambers.
A little curl of his lips betrayed his thoughts on the departing Queen's words before turning to the large oak wardrobe to pick out his outfit for the day.
A few hours later … still the morning
Solar in Prince Oberyn's private chambers (currently occupied by Lord Tywin), Old Palace, Sandship, Sunspear, East Dorne
"There will be no peace with Oberyn, five of his daughters are dead," Kenna proclaimed from her sitting position on one of the recliners beside the low table.
Tywin flicked his eyes from the map of Westeros that was laid out between them on the table to nod at her assessment of Oberyn, "Perhaps not with him, but with Myrcella and the three youngest Sand Snakes we may be able to convince Trystane to stand down his army and play no further part in Daenerys's war for the Iron Throne."
"We would have had more leverage if I hadn't killed so many Sand Snakes. I should have thought more strategically and shown more restraint," Kenna chided herself as she looked down at the various cyvasse pieces that were placed around the map.
"No, sometimes such insults and actions need a firm response so they are not repeated," Tywin responded resolutely having no regrets about dispatching Elia Sand, "Besides if Oberyn doesn't want us to add to the number of dead daughters he has he will advise his nephew to stand down his army as well and give his apologies to Queen Daenerys. We have Myrcella and soon we will have Trystane's child. I know Tyrstane loves her. He will not go against us while we have her."
Kenna flipped her head side to side as if deciding what Trystane would do presented with that scenario but seemed to trust Tywin's judgement, "Send the raven then, hopefully it will get to Trystane before Robb and Loras's hosts do."
Tywin leaned forward from the Western side of the map and tipped over the two onyx spearmen pieces that were placed in the Princess Pass and the Boneway on the Westeros map.
"With the Dornish threat gone, the Tyrells," Kenna moved two heavy horse pieces to join the King piece that sat above King's Landing on the map," can return to the capital and," she pushed a light horse and an elephant piece to join the Tyrells, "so can King Robb and Commander Strickland."
"We will also leave Sunspear soon and return to King's Landing," Tywin said moving a catapult piece and a trebuchet piece over the Sea of Dorne to join the now crowded area of the map that represented King's Landing.
"Queen Daenerys," Kenna stated palming the dragon piece in her hand, "will most likely land on Dragon Stone or attack King's Landing directly. We will need-"
The tactical discussion was abruptly interrupted as loud banging and swearing could be heard from outside the solar door that led to the corridor.
Tywin instinctually stood and grabbed for the sword resting at his belt while Kenna rose flexing her fingers ready to pounce at the first sign of danger.
The door flew open.
"Lord Royce?" Kenna questioned open mouthed as the open door revealed four Lannister guards on the floor behind him. All but one looked unconscious and was crawling to his feet.
"Lord Tywin asked not to be disturbed-"
"You already said that," Lord Royce replied as he landed a heavy punch on the still dazed man that put him down for good.
"I need to get better guards," Tywin blasphemed with his sword out, clearly thinking Lord Royce was a threat to him.
That sentiment was confirmed as Lord Royce stepped into the room with a hand on the hilt of Honour's Edge and advanced on the armed Lord Lannister, "Kenna are you okay?"
"Stop this madness," Kenna roared as she stood in-between the two Lords, "Yohn explain yourself."
"You didn't come back and when I woke, I was worried," Lord Royce said reaching out for Kenna with one hand.
"Yohn," Kenna said in a warm voice which she hoped showed that she appreciated his concern, "Take your hand away from your sword there is no need to worry …. Well not for me right now in this moment."
"What do you mean?" Lord Royce asked with a quizzical look on his large face but he took his hand away from the hilt of Honour's Edge.
"Read the letter on the desk," Kenna said, "it is scrunched up into a ball."
The Vale Lord stomped towards the desk. Tywin lowered his sword but didn't sheath it.
"This is …. not good," Lord Royce settled on as he finished reading the unfurled letter.
"No. That is why Lord Tywin and myself have been up all night re-evaluating our strategies," Kenna said waving her hands above the map on the desk, "Daenerys Targaryen is probably halfway across the Narrow Sea by now so we don't have much time left."
Lord Royce put the letter back on the surface of the desk, "Why didn't you come and get me and Artys?"
Kenna saw and felt the look of hurt on Lord Royce's face and immediately set off to right that, "Yohn you were mourning Lord Grafton I wanted you to at least have the full day to remember him and you were enjoying draining the last of Lord Redwyne's Arbour wine so I doubt you would have been in a state to .. help."
"You were mourning him too and I remember you consuming a fair bit of wine as well," Lord Royce pointed out.
"Knowing one hundred thousand Dothraki are coming to terrorise the whole of the Seven Kingdoms sobered me up," Kenna stated sourly, leaving out the details of her mini tantrum.
"We don't have time for this," Tywin glowered still holding his sword by his side, "Your Queen is fine, as you can see. Our forces need to prepare to return to King's Landing and I need to send a raven."
Lord Royce ignored the irate Lion Lord and instead fished around in one of his pockets. He presented a rolled-up letter to Kenna who took it and slowly broke the wolf seal.
"A messenger woke me up wanting to know where Queen Kenna was," Lord Royce offered in way of an explanation.
"Robb decided against pushing the Dornish in the Prince's Pass and instead joined with Commander Strickland," Kenna summarised as she went, "They successfully trapped and killed the Martell host that had gathered in the Boneway. They are now with Lord Mace's host near Summerhall and are beginning their march back to King's Landing. They sustained significant losses. He estimates six thousand Northmen, three thousand Golden Company, and three thousand Reachmen but expects that to rise with the amount of injured still marching."
Kenna folded the letter and offered it to Tywin but he shook his head.
"This changes nothing in our immediate future. Prepare your troops to leave Sunspear. I will send a raven to Trystane telling him what is at stake if he doesn't stand his remaining host down."
Kenna nodded in agreement and walked towards the still open door. She caught Lord Royce's hand on the way out and tugged him along.
Once they had left Lord Tywin's chambers and stepped over the unconscious Lannister guards Lord Royce let some of the tension in his muscles go.
"I know what I did was extreme but I was worried for you," Lord Royce said stopping Kenna and placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I know Yohn and I love you for it but I was in no danger from Lord Tywin," she looked up at his slate-grey eyes and kind but lined face, "I regret not informing you of the letter's contents earlier. I just wanted time to process it and I wanted to have a plan in place before the news spread."
"I understand .. I … I just .. ah…" Lord Royce hesitated.
"What is it?" Kenna asked, wondering what was stopping her Hand from speaking his mind.
"I don't trust Lord Tywin."
"We shouldn't trust anyone that isn't us."
They continued walking but Kenna could tell Lord Royce had not spoken his mind fully and by the time they had reached her chambers he had come to the decision to reveal his earlier silenced thought.
"I don't trust you with him. Your past with him is complicated. I fear it clouds your judgement."
"I can handle Tywin Lannister," Kenna replied, hoping her voice wasn't betraying her inner feelings of guilt at the extent of her nightly activities with the mentioned Lord or the fact that the loss of trust he had just admitted felt like a stab to her heart.
"I will always tell you the truth Kenna," Lord Royce said pushing open the door to her chambers.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Kenna said walking through the threshold.
A few days later …
Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Lannister/Tyrell) in the Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
"You should eat something, you look terrible," Olenna asserted from across the table as she placed a piece of soft cheese into her mouth.
"Everything just seems so unappetising," Margaery remarked back, pushing away the presented plate of cheesed placed before her.
"How is Tommen?"
"He is with Steffon, hardly leaves the babe alone."
"That is good," Olenna said taking a sip from her goblet to wet her dry throat, "We knew he would be a good husband, now we know he will be a good father and if we win this war we will find out if he will be a good King."
Margaery stifled a yawn, "I really think he will Grandmother. He just needs time to develop into one."
"Is the babe keeping you up? You should really let the wet nurses do their job."
"I am Steffon's mother not them," Margaery replied before letting out a weary laugh, "I can understand Cersei's fierceness in protecting her children now. They are everything."
"Indeed, they are," Olenna said eyeing her granddaughter with a proud smile before she let out a throaty cough.
"Grandmother are you okay?" Margaery asked concerned as Olenna took another sip of her wine.
"I feel .." Olenna murmured before closing her eyes, "Something is wrong."
Margaery rounded the table and knelt before her grandmother who was clutching at her chest while panting in pain.
"Guards," Margaery yelled out as she rounded the table to kneel by her grandmother, "Get Qyburn!"
An hour later …
Small Council Chamber, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Lannister/Tyrell) in the Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
"My condolences I could not do anything to help Lady Olenna your Grace," Qyburn directed at Margaery as he walked towards the large table.
She was sitting in one of the middle Small Council seats with Tommen standing protectively above her with a hand resting on her shoulder. His thumb was rubbing back and forth near her neck as he tried his best to comfort his wife.
"She was dead before you got to her," Margaery brushed off trying to remove the dazed look from her face.
"I will send ravens to Lord Mace and Ser Loras," Tommen said.
"No, no I will do that. I should do that," Margaery remarked rubbing the sides of her arms with her delicate hands.
Qyburn approached the table. He could tell the distress that Margaery felt was only mirrored in Tommen who's worry for his wife was clear.
He turned his attention to the empty spaces around the table, "Where are Ser Kevan and Lord Tyrion? I presume you called for them after you got me?"
Margaery wiped a hand around her eyes, "Yes I sent a messenger to fetch them a while ago."
As if the man's ears had been burning, the Tyrell messenger ran into the hall and quickly stood before the assembled members of the Small Council.
"I went to Lord Tyrion's and Ser Kevin's chambers. They aren't there and their guards were gone too."
"That is odd," Tommen commented slowly, "There is nothing that would require both of their attention right now. Maybe we should have the Kingsguard look for them?"
"Qyburn?" Margaery inquired having noticed how his body had stiffened at the words of the messenger.
"I do not think that a wise move your Graces," Qyburn said as his hands clasped together on the table.
"Why not?" Tommen asked.
"I think Ser Kevan and Lord Tyrion are in danger and the Kingsguard should be with you and Queen Margaery until that danger has passed."
"You think we are in danger?" Tommen blurted out.
Qyburn's eyes darted between the King and Queen, "I am not sure but it is best to be cautious, especially with Lady Olenna's recent death which I think merits further investigation."
"Steffon," Margaery shot up from her seat before frantically rushing out the chamber.
"Find Lord Tyrion and Ser Kevan," Tommen ordered as he hurried to catch up to his wife and the Kingsguard that were surrounding her as she ran to her son's chambers.
"Yes, your Grace," Qyburn said as he too vacated the Small Council Chamber at a rushed pace.
A few minutes later he entered a dark room with a box in his hand.
He shook it and suddenly a dozen small children appeared from various hiding spots in the room.
"I have something for all of you," he said in a kind voice.
The children surrounded him with their hands out, knowing what sugary delights were contained inside, but he placed the box out of their reach.
"Before you get your reward, I need a favour."
A girl that could be no more than eight years old and only came up to his hip asked in an expectant voice, "What do you want?"
"Do you know where Ser Kevan and Lord Tyrion are?"
The children huddled together and spent a few seconds in a fast-paced conversation that Qyburn couldn't quite follow.
The girl broke from the pack, "Little Lucas saw Ser Kevan leave his chambers half an hour ago with his guards. No idea on the whereabouts of the Imp but we can find out."
"Do so and this box and more will be yours," he said shaking the contents around for emphasis, "and the quicker you find them and tell me the more I will bring."
Qyburn exited the room and hoped his little helpers would locate the Lannister men soon. He hoped the nagging feeling persisting in his stomach was just an old man's paranoid mind snatching at coincidences but this was King's Landing and it was always best to think the worst.
Author's Notes
I just love the aesthetic of Kenna and Tywin playing around on the map of Westeros with cyvasse pieces planning their moves according to what they think will happen and ruthlessly laying plans to obliterate all those in their way.
Lord Royce came in strong I know but I think he is the type of characters to burst into a room demanding answers and he knows about the parentage of Yohn jnr and Jorge so he is extra suspicious and protective with Kenna regarding anything to do with Tywin, oh and he doesn't like the man so …
What do you reckon? Did Olenna Tyrell 'Queen of Thrones' die of natural causes or not?
And where are Kevan and Tyrion? Will Steffon be where Margaery left him?
Qyburn is on the case or his little birds are :P
RIP
Bunch of Soldiers in the Boneway (Causes of death can range from blunt force trauma to the head to sword points to the neck, arrows to the heart and basic strangulation if there was time and no weapon available)
10,000 Dornish died in the Boneway along side 3,000 Golden Mercenaries, 6,000 Northmen, and 3,000 Reachmen from Lord Mace's host. The Dornish would have had to fight on two fronts here but would have had the advantage of the narrow tunnel like fighting area so the number advantage of the Crown's forces wouldn't have been too decisive a factor and the Dornish know the area way better so that is another advantage to them but they would have run out of men eventually. I imagine it was Strickland and Robb pushing from below while Mace just held the top of the pass near Summerhall.
Olenna Tyrell (Died right in front of Margaery clutching at her heart … her death is under investigation by Qyburn)
Olenna is one of my favourite characters so this was a bitch to write for me. She was old … and only the most badass people die of natural causes in Game of Thrones … She will be a big loss to the Crown Alliance and specifically as a support mechanism for Margaery and Loras. Is Margaery up to the task of essentially replacing Olenna?
Reviews:
DannyBlack70 – Oh this made me laugh! Sorry, I did have you in mind when I said people could skip that section :P As I stated in Chapter 37, I don't write with ships or pairings in mind just the plot so that is why I don't really write romantic scenes but every now and again one is needed, I think. Yes, Jaime going to Dany would be interesting but I rather think it would be a dead end quite literally for Jaime, I don't think his killing of Aerys would be forgiven and Cersei really has no power to protect him.
Supremus85 – Lol I told you a blood bath was coming XD I agree about Trystane knowing the layout of Sunspear and having the population onboard but the Crown Alliance forces aren't going to be hanging around long enough for him to use those advantages and with Myrcella (and his child) being a hostage he doesn't have many options.
Lord Demolitions – Thanks! Will try to get the siege tactics and possibilities in the future of this story as interesting and realistic as possible. Thanks for your ideas on that topic by the way :)
NightlyRowenTree – Wow I didn't know that about horses but I do now! Thanks :) I will keep that in mind with the Dothraki and when a certain weather controlling creature comes into play.
Tohka123 – Thanks and the odds really are as it stands currently.
DesertMortician – Hey Desert!That would make me weird as well so .. no? :P I would agree that they are similar and appreciate certain qualities the other possesses and they do have common goals right now and common enemies which does help push them together. Yeah, I have actually written an AU of my AU with a scenario where Alyssa survived and married Jaime and Tywin decided to marry Kenna so that will come out after I have completed this story properly. I am excited for the combined intelligence of Tywin, Kenna, Robb, Tyrion, Qyburn, Olenna (belated) to go head to head with the might of Dany's armies and basically Cersei and Varys ;P
Guest (commented 28/11/2020) – Nah, there are only three Sand Snakes left and they are aged 16 (Obella), 12 (Dorea), and 10 (Loreza). I think Ellaria was the driving force in that coup against Doran in the show and she is dead so that won't be happening. Trystane and Obeyrn are in total control of Dorne in this story.
Cashy7183980 – I expect you liked the beginning of this chapter then XD
Next Up: The most innocent strike out to bring a good man low, Jon and his party reach the Wall, and Qyburn reveals the side project he has been working on.
If you are enjoying this story please *Toss a coin to your writer, Oh valley of readers* and review, follow and favorite!
Next update will be .. (is there any point in me specifying a date if I know I won't post on it?) LOL okayI will post on 17/12/2020 or earlier but probably earlier XD
