Hey!
Sorry I am a bit late with this one but this is the last chapter for a bit so enjoy :)
Chapter 85: The Price of Loyalty
A week 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
Tyrion tugged gently at the inside of his collar as he looked everywhere along the table, meeting his nephews alert gaze and the expecting eyes of Margaery and her father. He even acknowledged Robb Stark's presence and gave a nod to his scheming partner, Qyburn. What he didn't do was allow his eyes to get captured by the Lord of Runestone, the King of the Iron Islands or the Queen over the Mountains.
He knew his next words were not going to be well received by them. Instead, he caught his father's withered look.
Get on with it.
Tyrion braced himself for the inevitable rage that was to follow his words, "We are getting reports from the Vale that the Dothraki hoard has sacked Gulltown and Runestone. They have passed through Wickenden as well and moved into the Riverlands."
"Moved on after they have caused havoc; raping women, killing anyone that resisted and leaving orphans in their wake if they weren't taken as slaves," Lord Royce bellowed in outrage as one of his fists slammed down onto the large polished oak table.
The hulking Vale Lord turned to Kenna, wondering why his Queen wasn't showing the same outward rage he was.
But she knew something he didn't.
Kenna's eyes remained focused on Tyrion's sullen expression. He wasn't finished.
"Our scouts also reported that," Tyrion flicked his eyes down to the table for a second before meeting Kenna's gaze again, "Queen Daenerys burnt down the Eyrie after proclaiming Baelish's bastard as its new Lord."
All the table's occupants shifted their weight towards Kenna, waiting for her reaction.
She curled her hands into fists on her lap and couldn't stop her jaw from tightening her face into a murderous scowl, but no words of fury were flung from her tongue as she let her mind walk through the reality of what Tyrion had told her.
The beautiful marbled castle of her memories was just that, a memory to be cherished and never relived. Her childhood home was nothing but melted rock and charred ruins. The message was clear. Daenerys Targaryen wasn't afraid to unleash her dragons and turn her enemies to cinders and ashes.
Kenna forced her numb and whitened knuckles to unclench and brought her hands slowly up to rest on the table's surface. She still commanded the attention of all those around the table.
"If only your wildfire plot had worked Lord Tyrion," Kenna said with forced detachment.
Tyrion bowed his head at that remark. How many people would have been saved if any of the assassination attempts of Daenerys Targaryen had been successful?
"Is there anything else I should know?" she asked keeping her burning anger confined to the insides of her mind.
Tyrion placed his hands on the table to stop them fidgeting, "There is a young knight from the Vale that says he was there the moment Queen Daenerys took the Eyrie. He wished an audience with you."
"Where is he? I need to talk to him immediately," Kenna replied eager to take the opportunity to remove herself from this meeting. Her mind was no longer focused. The walls holding back her simmering rage were beginning to crack and she knew it.
Kenna stood from her chair as Tyrion gestured to one of the Kingsguard waiting by the closed door.
Kenna raised her eyebrows at Tyrion's silence.
Tyrion pointed behind her and she turned around to see the Kingsguard escorting a tired looking blond-haired man towards the table. His tunic front was adorned with the coat of arms of House Redfort of the Vale. A red castle, on a white field, within a red embattled border.
"What happened? Where is your liege Lord?" Kenna demanded more than asked as her rage started to seep through the cracks. It was only a second later than her eyes fell to what the newcomer was holding onto.
The man's blond hair fell into his blue eyes as he broke away from the Kingsguard to stop a metre away from Kenna and the table.
Kenna observed his browbeaten posture and the glimpse of tears forming in his eyes. It was then that she inspected the sack he held in his trembling hands.
The bottom of it was stained red. A fact no one else at the table had missed.
Kenna reached for the sack and the man gave it up willingly.
She peeked inside.
What she saw caused her to immediately turn her face away and close her eyes.
"What is it?" Lord Royce said jumping from his chair to her side.
Kenna didn't reply but let the sack drop to the floor and walked straight up to the blond man who was on the verge of tears now.
"What is your name?"
"Ser Mychel Redfort," the young Vale knight managed to announce.
Kenna looked away for a second, "I am sorry for your loss. Your father was a good man."
"What?!" Lord Royce said before grabbing at the sack and seeing what Kenna had seen. "Gods-
"Lord Royce please see Ser Mychel to suitable chambers and learn from him all you can about Daenerys armies and council."
"Wait," the young Vale knight burst forward towards his Queen, "I wish to serve you as my father did. I .. I wish to avenge him."
Kenna closed the remaining space between them and gently took Ser Mychel's head in her hands so her thumbs rested upon his cheeks.
"I promise you we will avenge your father's death. The Dragon Queen will pay for all the destruction she has brought to the Vale and its people. Her dragons will fall from the sky and we will make sure that she rues the day she set foot in the Vale. The Targaryen name dies with her."
Ser Mychel nodded back weakly at her fierce words. Lord Royce took this as his cue and ushered the bereaved son out of the Small Council Chamber.
Kenna picked up the sack on her way back to the table and shook out the contents onto the table.
Lord Mace let out a ripping cry as three partially decomposed head rolled out onto the surface of the table. Tommen grasped onto Margaery's hand as his eyes widened in shock. Robb and Artys exchanged weary looks before settling their eyes on her. Judging by Qyburn and Tyrion's mute reactions they had already known what would likely be in the sack. Tywin hadn't looked once at the heads displayed on the table. They weren't important. What was important was Queen Kenna's reaction to them.
"Lady Anya Waynwood," Kenna growled down the table, keeping her eyes focused on a spot in-between the decapitated heads as she started to knock a fisted hand on the table to relive the growing rage that was building within her, "Lord Hunter and Lord Redfort."
"They were good vassals, loyal and brave. Part of my High Council." Her knocks were getting harder with every word she spoke. "They were fathers, mothers, grandparents … and now all that is left of them are their heads!"
Kenna imagined their last moments. It was not hard to see how it had ended for them. Daenerys would have demanded their fealty to the new Lord of the Eyrie. They would have refused and someone would have swung the sword.
It was their loyalty to me that got them killed.
A larger hand trapped her fist on the table halting her pounding on the table. She flinched and saw Robb beside her.
"Kenna-" he started with concern in his eyes but she cut him off.
"Qyburn see to the heads. Their bodies may be ash now but their skulls will be buried in Vale soil."
"Of course, your Grace," the chainless maester replied.
Kenna attempted to pull her hand away from Robb's but he refused to lessen his grip.
"I need time to think," Kenna said quietly hoping her fellow monarch would understand.
He lessened the pressure and Kenna slipped her hand from his. She started to walk to the exit when a sharp voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Where are you going?" Tywin thundered finally seeing the need to intervene.
Kenna didn't even turn back, "I need to calm down."
"We don't have time to cater to your bruised ego," Tywin threw across the table to Kenna's retreating back, "We need to discuss our response to Queen Daenerys's attack."
Kenna whipped her head back to face Tywin and the sight of him standing above the table all high and mighty, demanding her return was all that was needed to push her over the edge. That tightly controlled demeanour Kenna had fought so hard to maintain was undone in an instant.
"You do not command me!" Kenna shouted back at the top of her lungs.
Tywin narrowed his eyes, and all those still at the table looked between the two sensing the pivotal moment.
"Reconvene this meeting tomorrow if it pleases you Lord Tywin but I am done for today," Kenna roared back holding her good-father's gaze long enough that his silence was beginning to unnerve the rest of the nobles in the room.
Kenna shook her head once and broke the silent battle to continue her retreat content to concede if it meant her swift exit.
Robb and Artys gave each other a quick glance before nodding together. They excused themselves to Tommen and followed in Kenna's footsteps.
"I am sure my Queen will be ready to continue discussions tomorrow," Qyburn said diplomatically as he started placing the decomposing heads back into the red stained sack before hosting it over his shoulder and heading for the door.
"That went well," Tyrion declared sarcastically after a few beats of silence. He could tell his father was fuming and Tommen had no idea what to do.
Margaery, sensing the moment, immediately pulled Tommen up with her as she rose from her chair, "Let us go for a stroll in the gardens then have some lunch. Father you are welcome to join us. I think we could all good do with some sustenance and fresh air."
Tyrion inclined his head as he watched his nephew and the Tyrells leave the room then swivelled in his chair to face his father who was still standing in front of his chair with his ferocious stare stuck on the spot Kenna had occupied only moments earlier.
"She is gone Father," Tyrion muttered up to him, "You can stop glaring."
Tywin slammed his hands down on the table and bowed his head, "We need our allies to be practical not emotional."
"The woman just learned half her kingdom is in flames and the other half is literally being fucked into the ground. She was hardly going to take that news well and you can't convince me you would react any better to the Westerlands being pillaged and burnt to cinders. Let her calm down. Another day will not alter the war's outcome."
Tywin sank back into his chair at Tyrion's words, "No it won't. Daenerys Targaryen appears to be gathering her forces at Darry, she will venture no further west or north."
Tyrion picked up on the unexpected addition, "Are you afraid for Kenna's children?"
"They are my preferred heirs," Tywin revealed, "And they are not safe anywhere that is not under my direct control."
So you now consider me a possible heir? Tyrion picked up as he responded, "They are with Sansa in Winterfell and she would never harm them. She isn't capable."
Tywin grunted, indicating he didn't entirely agree with his son, "Daenerys Targaryen will march for King's Landing soon and we are well prepared for that impending eventuality. It doesn't matter for us if the Vale is in flames or if the Riverlands is a marshland of beggars and thieves, in fact it will helps us in the long term, if we win this war. But right now, we still need Queen Kenna's army and Robb Stark's cooperation."
"I feel you are in a better position than I to keep her happy," Tyrion quipped, knowing he would never tire from mocking his father on this topic, "and as far as I can tell where the Queen over the Mountains goes so too does the King in the North."
Tywin moved around the table without so much as a glance back at his son to acknowledge his remark and headed out of the Small Council Chamber.
Too far? Tyrion questioned himself before chuckling to the empty chamber before him.
An hour later …
Great Sept of Baelor, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Lannister/Tyrell) in the Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Kenna sat crossed legged before the statue of the Warrior. Her eyes were closed and her hands were clasped together just underneath her chin. She had managed to calm herself down and focus on her next move.
To the Silent Sisters milling around the Great Sept, it looked like she was a devout worshipper giving her prayers to the Warrior before the next big clash against the Dragon Queen.
The Knights of the Vale guarding her stationary position before the statue knew their Queen better than that. She was not prone to asking the Gods for help. The only other times she had stepped foot in the Great Sept of Baelor had been for her father's funeral, her wedding to Jaime Lannister and most recently the weddings of Joffrey and Tommen Baratheon to Margaery Tyrell.
"I thought you would have favoured the Crone."
Kenna didn't open her eyes as her nephew's lanky frame dropped down on the clean stone floor beside her. Artys crossed his legs to mirror Kenna's position.
"I favour all the Gods," Kenna replied opening her eyes to look up at the blank face of the warrior.
"Bullshit," Artys scoffed, "You weren't praying."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because you know it doesn't work," Artys said darkly looking up at the Warrior's statue above them, "The Gods watch over us but they do nothing when we call for them. If they did, half the atrocities that go on in this world wouldn't happen. I bet my mother prayed every day while she was Euron's captive and it did her no good."
"She was saved eventually," Kenna said testing how far Arty's would take his point.
"Not soon enough," he shot back bitterly.
"Are you losing interest in the idea of converting the Ironborn to the Faith of the Seven?"
Artys returned his gaze to his Aunt, noting how her eyes were scrutinising him, "You know that is only an excuse so I can destroy those godforsaken islands and make sure the Drowned God and his raiding ways are forgotten to the annals of time."
Kenna patted Artys's knee, "Of course I do."
"So, what are you doing here?" Artys asked dragging the conversation back to his original point.
"I am thinking. You should try it," Kenna teased not wanting to dwell on the painful past.
Artys let out a little laugh that got the attention of some of the Silent Sisters who shot them both disapproving looks. Apparently to them it didn't matter if you were a Queen, a King or a peasant. All who stepped foot in Baelor's Great Sept were simply worshippers to them.
"I thought you would have gone to the roof of the Tower of the Hand. You always said you did your best thinking the closer to the sky you were. Or are you afraid of crossing paths with the Old Lion? I would happily escort you up there myself."
Kenna's lips curled at the suggestion. If only her nephew knew how many times, she had been in the Old Lion's chambers alone.
But he was partially correct.
Kenna's first instinct had been to go to the roof of the Tower of the Hand to seek out that sense of safety and security she had enjoyed with her sister on that fateful day where they had switched their destinies. However, she knew she would never have made it down the stairwell of the Hand's Tower without its current occupant's guards dragging her in to face him. It was not a confrontation she wanted to have while the wound of losing the Eyrie and the knowledge of how her people were suffering was still so raw. She couldn't guarantee it would be a confrontation both parties would survive such was Tywin's ability to get under her skin and her emotional control had been stretched to breaking point today already.
Kenna closed her eyes again shutting out the white interior of Baelor's greatest achievement in favour of calming darkness.
After a moment of silence that washed over them Kenna gave a voice to her insecurities, "Are you sure what happened at the Eyrie isn't the Gods retribution for my shunning them all these years and breaking the laws of man?
She didn't allow Artys the time to formulate an answer, "I usurped Robin before I knew he was Littlefinger's bastard because I thought I could be a better ruler than he for the people of the Vale. I refused to take the Iron Throne because I only wanted to serve the people of the Vale. I joined the Crown against Dany to help protect the people of the Vale from her invasion and rule … who are suffering now … the people of the Vale. Dothraki pillage the towns, they loot the land, rape the woman and kill the men and children. The Eyrie is nothing more than a charred testament to my stupidity and Daenerys Targaryen's might!"
Kenna's shoulder's slumped, "I have always liked to think I knew when my reach exceeded my grasp but I have truly failed the people of the Vale in this war."
Artys let out a disappointed breath at Kenna's view on the situation before taking the next few seconds to commit to his next words, "While you think Aunt, our people are being killed and raped as you just pointed out."
Kenna's eyes snapped open at the harsh implication and sought out her nephew's as anger started to cloud her own, "Be careful Artys. You are over stepping."
"I am not your bastard nephew anymore. I am a King. Your equal. I will say what I like," Artys said in hushed voice. The quiet tone was at odds with the antagonising words he had spoken.
Kenna couldn't believe how the conversation had turned like this. Could Artys really be blaming her for the destruction Daenerys Targaryen was causing in the Vale? It was one thing to think it but another for someone so close to her to confirm it.
"You are a King without a Kingdom," Kenna retaliated trying to rattle Artys as he had her.
"That makes two of us then!"
Kenna raised her hand but as it came down the intended slap turned into a harmless placement on Arty's cheek as she saw through her young nephew's tactic at the last second.
"You are trying to rile me up, why?" she asked with genuine puzzlement on her face.
"Because we can't change what has happened in the Vale but we can avenge all those that have suffered. And it is better that the Knights of the Vale are led by a wrathful Queen hell bent on revenge that one that is wallowing in self-pity and questioning her every decision."
"I am not wallowing," Kenna stated adamantly wondering when Artys had developed the ability to read her so thoroughly.
Artys looked around the near empty Sept, "Why else would you be here?"
Kenna opened her mouth but the rebuttal died on her tongue.
"What type of Queen do you want to be?" Artys suddenly asked.
"One that dies of old age surrounded by family," Kenna instantly replied not having to think about it, "What type of King do you want to be?"
"One that my mother would be proud off," Artys said placing his hands into his lap.
Kenna nodded as she pushed herself into a standing position to loom, for once, over her nephew.
"Where are you going now?" he asked up at her.
"To plot a murder no one else seems capable of carrying out," she replied as she extended a hand, "Want to help?"
Artys grinned at that response and grabbed the offered hand to pull himself up.
"I would be delighted to."
Same day ..
The Great Hall, Plowman's Keep, Castle Darry, Darry, Near Ruby Ford, South-East Riverlands, Westeros
Daenerys sat at the head of a long oak table shifting her gaze around the relatively small Great Hall. She couldn't help but feel a connection to the castle and the town her armies now occupied. Ser Williem Darry had been a Targaryen loyalist and a kind man who had taken care of her in her early years. Without him she probably wouldn't even have made it of Dragonstone or survived her early years in Braavos. She would forever be grateful to House Darry and this is why she had spared the few scores of soldiers who had initially resisted her occupation into the area.
Her thoughts on the old Riverlands Knight that had saved her and her brother's lives twenty-two years ago faded as Jorah strode down the length of the table to stop by her side.
"My Queen," Jorah said bending down towards her with a serious expression on his face, "There is an envoy from the North that wishes to speak to you."
"Unless they talk of surrender on their King's behalf, throw them into the cells of this castle and leave them there," Daenerys replied with cold authority.
"The leader of the group, is Jon Snow a former brother of the Night's Watch and Eddard Stark's bastard. He knew my father. He doesn't talk of the War for the Iron Throne, but the war for life itself."
Daenerys rose her eyebrows at that dramatic wording from her normally dower Hand.
"Please Khaleesi, meet with him and see what he has to show you."
Daenerys nodded, knowing Jorah would never steer her wrong.
Daenerys watched as the wooden doors of the Great Hall retreated. A large man with a disfigured face came in carrying a wooden box on his shoulders as well as a handsome black-haired man.
Her eyes settled on the one she guessed was Jon Snow.
"Lord Snow, I present the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Daenerys Stormborn," Jorah announced not bothering with all his Queen's titles as Missandei would have.
Jon tried to walk forward but his path was blocked by a spear.
"I am no Lord, Ser Jorah. But I come carrying news of a great threat to the Seven Kingdoms and if," Jon switched his attention from the knight to the silver-haired Queen, "you wish to rule anything we need to fight it together to ensure there is something left to rule."
"What are you talking about?" Daenerys asked with suspicion evident in her tone.
Jon signalled behind him and Daenerys saw the large man set down the box at Jon's feet. Jon and the large man unclipped the locks and opened the lid.
Nothing happened for a few seconds and Daenerys was tempted to have the men and their travelling companions thrown in some cells but Jorah's look of concentration encouraged her to keep silent for a moment longer.
Then she saw it.
A bony hand curled around the rim of the wooden box.
Daenerys could hardly believe her eyes as a skeleton with glowing blue eyes emerged from the box, it took a beat to look directly at her then launched itself into a frantic sprint towards her.
Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah stepped in front of her but their expertise with a sword was not required as a metal chain wrapped around the skeleton's spine snapped it back onto the floor.
The man with the burnt face quickly caught up to the thrashing skeleton that was now screeching as it clawed at empty air and sliced it in two with his long sword but the creature's top half kept moving on the floor trying to make its way towards the closest unsullied who impaled it to the floor with its spear.
Daenerys fought through the shock to speak but couldn't take her eyes of the flailing skeleton, "How many of these things are there?"
"Too many to fight alone, your Grace," came Jon's solum reply, "We need all the armies of the living to fight together if we stand a chance at defeating the Night King."
"The Night King is just an old Stark tale," Ser Jorah said more to himself than anyone else as he too stared at the abomination crawling on the ground trying to free itself from the spear imbedded through its ribs.
Jon eyed the knight, "Your father once told me, that the Wall wasn't built to keep out wildlings but to keep out the Night King and his army of the undead. He was a wise man."
"He was," Jorah conceded tearing his eyes away from the wright to Jon's dark ones.
"If this isn't enough, we have a dead Stark walking around the castle's courtyard, a fucking tree child that can throw fire balls," the Hound said gruffly, "and a boy that can see the pa-"
"I believe you," Daenerys said interrupting the Hounds rough tones, "I just hope my enemies will believe as well."
Author's Notes:
Did you like Kenna's reaction? She isn't a machine so I do think she would want to retreat from the meeting and seek out a place of calm to regroup her thoughts. I also think she would experience some wavering thoughts over her rulership in the wake of such an attack on the Vale but luckily Artys is there to fan the flames of her anger and direct them onto Dany. Nephew of the year!
Dany and Jon finally meet (reminder that Ygritte is still alive). I didn't want too many character's involved in the encounter at Darry but Jon travelled down South with – Ygritte, Ghost, Arya, Bran, Summer, Hound, Benjen, Leaf & the wright.
Reviews:
Supremus85 – Well I thought about this. The Eyrie is actually quite a small castle (only 500 garrison) and is situated at the top of a massive mountain so they wouldn't have the crafts people or resources there to build massive ballistas and they wouldn't have the wall space for dozens upon dozens so 'anti-dragon' proofing the Eyrie seems a bit of a waste. The Eyrie would have had archers but in the face of three dragons circling above threatening to burn it all down. Lord Hunter, Lord Redfort & Lady Waynwood made the decision to surrender. They didn't bend the knee because they had already made oaths to Kenna (Vale honour) & they believe (rightly) that Robin is a bastard.
I did consider a swoop and burn scenario from Dany with her dragons and I think it would have been awesome to be honest but I wanted Shireen & Robin alive and useful to Dany and it would have been unrealistic for them both to have somehow survived the destruction at the Eyrie. I don't think there would have been time for a retreat before Dany's dragons would have laid waste to the Eyrie.
I am glad someone is keeping track of the score :D
Guest (commented 24/12/2020) – Yeah,Dany ain't no angel either. They don't have DNA tests so it is quite hard to prove the paternity of any children. Kenna has dark brown hair too though. If Robin was a true born son he would be infront of Kenna. Dany wanted to burn the Eyrie to make a statement to the people of the Vale and the Crown Alliance – Follow my chosen Lord of the Vale (Robin) & that she is not afraid to use her dragons in the coming battles. Jon is in a relationship with Ygritte still.
Ser Dorito of Aisle 13 – Haha well Kenna isn't happy with the situation in the Vale. She probably blames Dany more than Ser Jorah. Dany is using Robin as a political pawn but that has put him into danger as another claimant to the Weirwood Chair. I know I know! Dothraki have their weakness :D "Retaliation must be swift and brutal", I like that!
Newtiepatoetie – Ah thank you do much! Although the conflict isn't just Dany vs Kenna they are obviously big players on their respective sides. Hope you had a good xmas.
OCsProtagonistAliance – A completely honourless person might have organized an accident for Robin Stone butKenna has her limits which includes sedating a child but not killing them. But as Dany demonstrated herself is that leaving claimants alive can bite you in the ass decades later and for Kenna the decision to leave Robin alive has allowed Dany to claim the Vale in Robin's stead.
NIghtlyRowenTree – Happy to provide :)
Mister LaGuardia – Dany isn't a forward political thinker. She sees an enemy she goes to defeat the enemy which to be fair is what Robert Baratheon was like. Robin & Shireen will prefer her over the Crown Alliance for sure. I mean I think her Dothraki will alienate a lot more people than her destruction of the Eyrie. She is a foreigner in the very land she wishes to conquer so she will encounter problems but that is natural.
Boomshanka (commented on Chapter 16) – Pretty much :P
Shadow Wolf 15846 – She didn't ;P Dany's problem is she has lost the advisors that were willing to correct her world view and that she trusted to do so (Varys & Missandei). Jorah & Daario are in love with her, Barristan will not offer advise unless asked. Melisandre isn't there for politicking or military scenarios, Grey Worm is extremely loyal to her vision and will not question anything. Cersei & Oberyn's style of ruling is aggressive & destructive which Dany doesn't need more of. Shireen & Robin are basically children still and are not in her inner circle.
DannyBlack70 (commented on chapters 82 & 84) – I really wanted that scene as it was a chance for a lot of Starks to reunite and pay homage to Ned as well as reveal a few secrets. Things needed to happen and it is war! I liked the image of what was once a white shining castle a top a bleak grey mountain now a burning black mess of ruins that signals the return of dragons to Westeros and Danerys intent for the Throne like Aegon.
Guest (commented 30/12/2020) – Yes, he does. How could he not? He is a child (15 now) that believes his own sister usurp his place as leader of the Vale, that his own (albeit half-sister) killed his mother. I think most people would be pissed in his position, which I agree with you isn't strictly her fault. Kenna certainly doesn't want peace; she wants violence but she also knows the mountain she is attempting to climb by going against Daenerys and she understands that the fall of the Eyrie and the Vale is a direct consequence of her joining the Iron Throne/Crown Alliance so she knows she slightly created this situation. Yes, when Jon puts a wright in front of them and goes "Look, LOOK" it will be interesting. Kenna already wants to kill Cersei, and after knowing who beheaded most of her remaining High Council members, she will want Jorah's head too but many people want her head for personal reasons as well (Oberyn, Robin, Cersei, Shireen a little).
Next Up: Kenna and Daenerys finally meet in a heated confrontation, Robb is reunited with Jon and Arya, the true threat is revealed to all.
If you are enjoying this story please *Toss a coin to your writer, Oh valley of readers* and review, follow and favorite!
I will be taking a break from posting this story to ensure the last 3 sections of ARC III make sense as this is the beginning of the end for this story really so I need it to hit all the beats and payoffs I wanted when I began this story nearly two years ago. Expect me to be back in February/March sometime. As ever thanks for reading everyone :)
