I'm back!
This story has surpassed 900 reviews and 500 follows which is just insane! Thanks so much for the interest everyone :)
Please enjoy the beginning of Section 5. We open with a witty Tyrion and Kenna conversation pondering the art of betrayal and basically comforting each other :D
Also, gentle reminder that Kenna's clothing choices are basically Evie Frey's from Assassins Creed: Syndicate but with House Arryn colors. I absolutely hate describing clothes sorry.
Chapter 98: Heroes of the Dawn
Three weeks after the Long Night …
Balcony facing the Blackwater Bay, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister, Arryn), Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Fresh air swirled around the balcony as both Tyrion and Kenna stared down intently at the cyvasse board before them. Kenna finally unfolded her hands from underneath her chin to move a piece.
Tyrion noted the angry red line that went across the back of her left hand and the slight tremble in her fingers as she moved the dragon piece.
"How is your hand?"
"A bit stiff."
"Still painful?"
"Only when I move it."
"Then why do you not use your other hand?"
Kenna turned over her healing hand and flexed her fingers, drawing a wince from her facial muscles, "I guess I'm punishing myself for my stupidity."
"You could have hardly predicted Robin would be so bold to let out the Sand Snakes."
"No, but I could have predicted he would strike out against me and it was silly leaving such a threat in play, so close to my children."
"The Gods were with you, sending such a dashing hero to come to your rescue," Tyrion gestured dramatically at himself.
"I was lucky you were there," Kenna scoffed, "I can't rely on luck going forward."
"Rely on it, no, but all great leaders have had an element of it that enshrined their fate."
"Your turn," Kenna said bluntly.
"You're not very subtle when you want to change the topic."
"I wasn't aware I needed to be subtle with you."
Tyrion smirked then let out a chuckle as he moved a piece on the board.
"What has amused you now?" Kenna asked, scanning the board.
"You and my father have both been bitten by a snake now, him by Oberyn and you by one of his daughters, there is some poetry hidden there."
Kenna nodded lightly but thought it more likely a bad joke than poetic irony.
Tyrion glanced up from the board, "You know my main concern with the news of Robb Stark's betrayal was that it was at your behest and your treachery was just to follow with the walls of King's Landing but that isn't the case and I fear my father wouldn't take the news well, he is rather possessive of what he thinks is his and a betrayal from you might finally push him over the edge."
"I belong to no one," Kenna growled, capturing Tyrion's elephant piece, "and if your antics over the years haven't tipped him into madness I don't imagine anything I do would either."
"I said thinks," Tyrion protested before replying to her later words, "You jest but it's probably the truth."
Kenna gave a little shake of her head as she placed the small ivory statue to the side of the board then leaned back in her chair.
"How do you know I'm not just biding my time?"
"You would never join forces with Daenerys Stormborn. Even if you somehow swallowed your pride and bent the knee and Daenerys is foolish enough to accept your words of peace and reconciliation, her allies would not. Oberyn wants your head for his daughters and I'm sure my sister hasn't forgotten how she got that scar on her face."
"It seems Robb had no issue with bending the knee. I never imagined he would give up Northern Independence."
"Perhaps he didn't," Tyrion said, brushing his bushy beard in contemplation.
Kenna's eyes snapped to Tyrion's, "What do you mean."
"Daenerys Targaryen is an unwed Queen and most alliances are sealed with a wedding. Perhaps he isn't the King in the North anymore but would-be King of the Seven Kingdoms."
"Perhaps …" Kenna trailed off, returning her attention to the pieces below her.
Tyrion conceded that this wasn't an avenue of conversation he would get very far with, "I hear Myrcella's daughter favours her father but is a pretty little thing."
"Congratulations."
"Why congratulate me? I did nothing."
"It's called manners."
"We both don't value those very highly so why bother?"
"Is it your turn now to be in a fractious mood?"
The corners of Tyrion's mouth edged up and he clucked his tongue as his eyes drifted from the board to Kenna. She was one of the only people left in King's Landing that dared tussle with him anymore and therefore one of the only people left that could entertain him.
"We haven't heard anything from Casterly Rock and it's been three weeks since Sansa tried to escape. The Reed boy isn't talking either. He seems stuck in an endless dream."
"I imagine ravens don't fare well in winter conditions and it takes roughly three weeks to sail from Casterly Rock to King's Landing. What is happening with the Reed boy is beyond me. If he were to wake, we could cajole answers out of him but he is no use in his current state."
The worried look remained on Tyrion's brow, "All we know is that the Night King was defeated and Robb Stark betrayed you. We don't know who survived or died. What number of our forces remain. We know nothing!"
"Exactly, we need to wait for our scouts to come back or for ships to sail into the harbour."
"And what if the scouts report our forces were completely wiped out or that the ships that sail into our harbour have dragons flying above them, what then?"
"Then you find the fasted horse you can mount and ride as hard as you can. But I don't think it will come to that."
"Why not?" Tyrion said, gesturing outward with his hands.
"Lord Royce and your father are the most capable commanders I have ever met. Do you think they wouldn't have a plan for when the Long Night ended?"
"Robb Stark's betrayal may have surprised them."
"Deceit is not Robb's natural state, he may have betrayed me and turned on our alliance but I doubt he could have maintained his façade long enough to manoeuvre himself to cause a fatal blow to our coalition."
"I wish I shared your confidence."
"I have confidence because I've put too much effort in the defence of this shitpile of a city to fail. The new ballista placements have been completed. They not only line the walls of King's Landing and the Red Keep but also dozens upon dozens of rooftops all over the city. I have a few ideas for how to engage Daenerys's armies that I'd like your views on."
"I'm all ears."
Kenna's eyes brightened but before she could divulge her plans the bells of King's Landing sounded all around them. Both knew what that meant and whipped their heads to Blackwater Bay. There was a fleet sailing down the horizon and no dragons in sight.
A few hours later …
Hand's Study, Tower of the Hand, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister, Arryn), Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
"No," Tyrion said resolutely as if what his father was telling him was merely a bad joke.
"They're gone," Tywin said evenly, flicking his eyes between his son and sister who both sat opposite him. The only outward sign of tension was the whitening of his knuckles as he gripped the ends of his chair but his hands were hidden underneath his desk.
"No!" Tyrion shook his head, "They can't be gone!"
"I saw their deaths with my own eyes."
"Did you even try to protect them?" Tyrion snarled, his eyes shimmering as he tried to comprehend his sibling's deaths.
"Tyrion!" Genna warned but Tywin raised a hand to his sister.
"If I could have saved them, I would have. Family is everything. When I encountered them, they were already wights and Tommen killed them shortly after."
"What!?" Tyrion said, flinging himself from his chair as Genna let loose a few unladylike curses.
"I don't think he realizes who he killed," Tywin remarked keeping his mask of indifference intact, "And I don't intend on telling him."
"Poor boy," Genna said softly, understanding the true relationship between the three Lannisters.
"How could he not know?" Tyrion asked, fighting through the threat of tears to find his voice.
"It was frantic, bodies and skeletons everywhere with flashing blades coming at you from all angles. Half the time you didn't know what you were swinging at let alone who."
Tyrion using the ensuing silence to contain his brimming sorrow but remained standing between the chair and the desk.
"Casterly Rock was destroyed soon after by liquid fire that spewed from the summit."
"Casterly Rock is … no more?" Genna said, shifting in her seat.
Tywin nodded, unwilling to confirm what he had seen in words. Their childhood home was gone. The Rock that had so dominated their everyday lives had been covered in a fiery blanket as black smoke clouded above, denoting the place below it as one of death and ruin.
"Then Robb Stark turned on you?" Tyrion muttered, with his hands clenched into tight fists.
Tywin frowned; he hadn't informed anyone of the Stark boy's betrayal yet.
"How did you know that?"
"Sansa tried to escape and the only reason she would do that is if Robb Stark had changed sides."
"How did she know-" Tywin started before Tyrion waved him off.
"The Reed boy could see some of what was happening at the Rock, like Bran Stark's visions, but he fell into a deep slumber after we captured him fleeing with Lady Sansa and Shireen in the tunnels under the Red Keep and we haven't been able to wake him up since."
Tywin didn't seem convinced but let the statement go unchallenged, "Queen Kenna knows about the Stark boy's treachery?"
Tyrion scrutinized his father's face for any slip of emotion, "Yes, and she didn't take it too well."
"I thought she took it well enough considering it came on the back of an assassination attempt and an execution," Genna chirped.
Tywin blinked then fixed his intense gaze on his sister. It seemed he wasn't the only one who had tales to tell.
Genna took the silent hint to elaborate, "Robin Stone or Arryn let the Sand Snakes out of the Black Cells, they would have killed Queen Kenna if not for Tyrion and then she threw her maybe brother off the roof of the Tower of the Hand in retribution."
Tywin nodded slowly as if agreeing with Kenna's actions, "Are Lady Sansa and Lady Shireen in the Black Cells now?"
"No, confined to their guest chambers as high valued hostages," Tyrion answered.
"We'll have a Small Council meeting tomorrow to discuss our strategy to defend King's Landing."
"Father," Tyrion said turning to the door, knowing the conversation was over.
Genna watched Tyrion waddled to the door and when it clicked behind his disappearing form, she returned her ever-inquisitive eyes to her brother.
With Tyrion's exit, Tywin seemed to release some tension in his shoulders and his upper body sunk into his chair.
And the mask droops, she thought, watching her older brother closely.
"You look tired."
"I am tired," Tywin remarked, closing his eyes and letting a hand wander over his face and massage at his temple.
Genna took this opportunity to round the desk and place a hand on his right shoulder, "Mourn for them Tywin, don't bottle it up like you did last time. Tommen can't afford for you to hide with your grief as you did with Joanna. We don't have months; we may not even have weeks."
"I know," Tywin replied and to Genna's shock, he placed his left hand over hers and squeezed it in an appreciative gesture.
It was the first real display of brotherly affection he had shown to her since he protested her marriage betrothal in their childhood. He really must be tired.
"Where are Tommen and Myrcella?" Tywin asked, finally opening his eyes ready to deal with the situation at hand as they disengaged from the rare familiar embrace.
"They are with their children, your great-grandchildren who you haven't seen yet," Genna said markedly, "Do you even know their names?"
"I've only been back in the capital for a day but as I understand both Steffon and Myriah were born healthy."
"Family is everything," Genna smugly quoted back to Tywin, "and I believe you haven't seen your grandchildren either."
"Where are Queen Kenna and her children?"
"Little Yohn and Jorge are tucked safely behind a wall of Arryn soldiers. It would take an army to get to them now and I'm not sure you have an invitation from their mother to go see them."
Tywin shot Genna a warning look that showed the full extent of his displeasure at his sister's jesting tone. But she seemed impervious to his steely gaze and simply smiled slyly back at him.
"I can tell you're eager to see your Queen over the Mountains again dear Brother but you are going to have to wait. She has sequestered herself in that odd man's laboratory ever since her nephew was taken there, probably praying as we speak that the young boy doesn't die."
"She doesn't pray," Tywin scoffed, knowing Kenna, just like him, had long since given up hope that the Gods were listening, "and you're wrong."
"Maybe she ought to and what am I wrong about?"
"I'm not eager to see her."
"Oh really?"
"Lord Royce is a calming influence on her. Without him, she is more … prone to wielding blades at throats and taking rash actions."
"Maybe she has mellowed with age and motherhood?"
Tywin scoffed, "Unlikely."
"Best keep some guards on hand for when she seeks you out then."
"What makes you think she will seek me out?"
"A woman knows things," Genna said, rising from her chair and leaving Tywin to ponder on her words.
That evening …
Qyburn's Laboratory, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister, Arryn), Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Kenna inhaled slowly as she watched Qyburn administer some more milk of the poppy down Artys's throat. Her nephew was lying unconscious on one of Qyburn's tables, in a light tunic as his chest rose and fell in a steady but slow rhythm. She could only guess that Robb Stark had sliced from chin to temple such was the area covered by the freshly changed bandage.
Anger started to blur her vision and the urge to lash out with her fists at anything was overwhelming but Qyburn's mutterings as he assessed Artys took her fury away and replaced it with worry.
"Will he survive?"
Qybrun turned back from Artys, "If he was going to die, he would have done so to the fever on the ship voyage back to King's Landing."
She would have cried at that statement and drawn Qyburn into a hug but the knowledge of who had put Artys in this condition left a simmering rage that was best managed with silent control.
"He'll need rest and time to adapt."
"Adapt to what?"
Qyburn's eyes briefly found the floor before he fixed Kenna with a sad but comforting expression.
"The cut was deep. He'll have a lasting scar and … I couldn't save his eye."
Kenna clutched a hand over her mouth.
Qyburn took a cloth from the table behind him and started to wash his hands, wanting to give his Queen the privacy to absorb his comment.
"He should wake up soon, maybe tomorrow or the day after."
Kenna clung onto that piece of news as she forced her hand from her mouth, "Good … good. Keep me updated on his condition. I want to know the moment he wakes up."
"Of course, your Grace," Qyburn said as Kenna placed a gentle hand on Artys's bandages and kissed the top of his curly black hair.
A few hours later past midnight …
Hand's Study, Tower of the Hand, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister, Arryn), Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Kenna climbed rug after rug from memory alone until her hands met the cold resistance of a stone slab above her. Her muscles burned in the effort to move it from above her head but she welcomed the pain as the heavy square moved and she slid it to one side. She poked her head through the opening to be greeted at sword point.
"If you aren't going to cut my throat the least you could do is help me up," Kenna said to the scowling face of Tywin Lannister above her.
In the next moment, the sword was gone and two firm hands were pulling her up by the undersides of her arms.
"What are you doing here?" Tywin asked, placing his sheathed sword back by his desk.
Kenna noted his irritated manner and the shadows around his eyes as he leaned back on the desk with folded arms. Despite the nocturnal hour, the room was fully illuminated by candlelight and the smell of ink and melted wax wafted in the air just as Kenna knew it would. She was intimately familiar with his late-night time habits by now and it was slightly comforting how predictable he was.
She ignored him for a moment and walked to the corner table to pour two cups of wine before offering one to Tywin.
He accepted but gave Kenna a cutting glare, "I'm waiting for an answer."
"I know," Kenna said coyly letting the moment stretch just a bit too long to be considered natural, "I want to hear a first-hand account of Robb Stark's betrayal and your observations of the remaining size of Daenerys Targaryen's forces so we can start to organize the defence of King's Landing accordingly."
Tywin pursed his lips but answered her all the same, "I would have the scouts confirm my words but I'd say we have an edge in terms of men. One of the dragons died during the Long Night and the others were wounded but they will have recovered by now if they didn't die of their injuries."
"And what are our numbers?" Kenna asked, slowly walking back and forth before Tywin.
"We have just under twenty thousand men with the Tyrells commanding fifteen thousand men under Lord Loras and Lord Randal Tarly," he said, his eyes following Kenna's every movement.
"Lord Loras? Mace Tyrell perished in the fighting?"
"Died in his son's arms."
"Mmm," Kenna muttered with apathy as she sipped at the wine and continued to pace.
"I've just over a thousand men at my command and I think the same amount of Valemen survived as well."
"I have taken command of the Knights of the Vale in Lord Royce absence and if we combine our fleets, we have around a hundred and fifty ships," Kenna stated stopping her movements to face Tywin.
A silence enveloped the room as both took a sip from their cups and sized the other up, knowing that the next topic would be of a more personal nature.
Kenna finally let out a sigh willing to be the first to concede, "My condolences on the loss of Jaime and Cersei. It can't be easy to lose children."
"Pray you never experience it," Tywin said tightly, "How is King Artys?"
"Qyburn says whoever cared for him during his journey back to King's Landing most likely saved his life."
"You should thank Tommen then. He made it his mission to tend to King Artys as we sailed."
"Why?"
"Your nephew saved his life during the Long Night and Tommen was determined to do the same. He may be young but he pays his debts all the same."
"That sounds like Artys," Kenna said bringing the rim of her cup to her slightly curled lips. "Give your grandson my thanks. Qyburn says he will survive and wake soon."
Tywin picked up on the sombre undertone of Kenna's words, "But?"
Kenna let her tongue roll around her mouth licking the last of the earthy tones of the wine, "He lost an eye."
"He's lucky he didn't lose his life. If Robb Stark's blow had been any lower it would have been his throat that was slashed not his face."
Kenna bit the inside of her cheek knowing his words were true but finding them hard to accept.
"And what happened to Lord Royce? My men say he was captured."
"Last I saw he was on his knees before Robb Stark and his bastard brother."
Kenna turned away from Tywin at the image his words put in her head and couldn't quite make herself turn back so she drifted to the small balcony not caring if Tywin followed her or not.
She looked out at the moonlight drenched city below. The structures of the Great Sept of Baelor and the ruined Dragon pit loomed over the city just as the Red Keep did. Tiny flickers of torches could be seen crisscrossing all over the streets. King's Landing after all was a city that didn't sleep and was now full to the brim with refugees and citizens alike. The scenery was beautiful in its eeriness and Kenna wondered briefly if it would look as beautiful lit up by dragonfire with rivers of blood flowing down its cobbled streets.
From there, her mind spiralled to see Lord Royce being consumed in flames and her two children being torn from her grasp. She drained her near full cup and planted in on the edge of the balcony as she lifted herself onto it to dangle her legs over the edge.
The night breeze gently whipped her hair around her face as she dispelled the negative thoughts in her mind.
Artys will recover. Lord Royce will be traded. Dragons will fall and Robb Stark will rue the day he turned on me.
Kenna heard steps behind her and she smirked despite the dire situation, he followed.
"We will get Lord Royce back," came Tywin's deep voice behind her.
"We? I was under the impression you hate him. I know he hates you."
"We'll never be friends," Tywin said before reluctantly admitting, "but he saved my life."
Kenna let out a chuckle, "What would you Westermen do without a Valeman to save you?"
"If it comes to a trade, Lord Royce for Lady Sansa and Lady Shireen, I will support your decision."
"And if they demand Princess's Myrcella's and her child too? How much is your debt really worth?"
"I will not hand over family," Tywin said sternly.
"She is a Martell now and your great-granddaughter is to be the future ruler of Dorne. She supports the side that wants our heads on pikes."
"They are still my blood. I will protect them from themselves and you if I must."
Kenna nodded into the night, not really expecting any other answer.
A few moments drifted by before she felt his presence behind her and the sound of metal on stone.
She turned her head to see Tywin's half full wine cup discarded by her right hand.
"Tyrion told me of your encounter with the Sand Snakes."
"Did he tell you how he saved me?" Kenna said, already imagining Tyrion exaggerating his role in the whole debacle.
"He said you weren't wearing your blades and were injured in the attempt. You let your guard down. Foolish."
"I'm wearing them now," Kenna growled, looking down at her healing left hand to see Tywin's own scared hand hovering over hers with a candle in its grasp.
She stretched out her fingers so the red line was more visible and ignored the pain that shot through her entire arm before resting her hand back on the stone railing.
Tywin placed the candle down beside her empty cup and his hand spread over the baloney's railing beside Kenna's. His other hand came around to rest on her midriff.
Kenna rolled her eyes, knowing the gesture wasn't romantic in nature, "If I didn't fling myself from the Sky Cells when my sister died, I'm not going to do so now I have children to protect and dragons to kill."
She could almost feel the twitching of Tywin's lips behind her at her bold statement, "I was told someone fell recently."
"I assure you there was nothing accidental about it. Your concern is touching but I'm here to enjoy the view and think," she said, picking up Tywin's cup and sipping on its contents.
"Drinking won't solve the problems we face."
"No, but it does blot out the pain of betrayal and allow me to focus on how I might keep my children safe."
"The only thing that will guarantee the safety of our children is defeating Daenerys Targaryen and her allies."
"I know," Kenna said leaning backwards into Tywin's chest to rest her head on his shoulder.
To her surprise Tywin didn't flinch or pull back his hand, only stood firmly behind her as both were content to look over the moonlight drenched city below them.
Author's Notes:
The game has been reset a little with the 'Heroes of the Dawn' returning to King's Landing and Daenerys's forces have had time to regroup – I wonder what they have been up to in the past three weeks …
This chapter was about how the King's Landing characters were dealing with the fallout from the Long Night so it was heavy on dialogue but I thoroughly enjoyed the Tyrion & Kenna and Genna & Tywin scenes. Does King Artys 'One-eyed' Greystone sound good? He can get an eye patch just like his father had one in book canon. And of course, since Tywin was back in King's Landing, I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity for a Kenna & Tywin reunion, I know some aren't keen on this relationship and others are but regardless it's a central point of Kenna's story and why events play out the way they do (and I have fun writing their interactions). Will Tywin finally meet Yohn & Jorge? Will he find out about Robb and Kenna's dalliance?
Reviews:
Ser Dorito of Aisle 13 – Thanks, it is one of my favorite death scenes I have written and there have been many lol. I can't disclose future deaths, you'll just have to wait and see ;) The relationship between Dany & Robb will be an interesting one to explore, will they share the same aims and methods? Don't worry, there will be no 'Muh qween' bullshit …. ;P
Antares Graceford – She will certainly try! Let's just say I don't think Robb's past friendship with Kenna will save him from her 's betrayal certainly does push her more towards the Lannisters and Tyrells as they need each other more now than ever. Maybe she can make a new table of skulls as the last one got destroyed when the Eyrie burned.
Supremus85 – Your list (lol) has been added to my 'what if' document.
Veronicatolisano – Noted and put in my 'what if' scenario document.
10868letsgo – Well she always has a plan up her sleeves but she is in an isolated position at the moment with Robb's betrayal, Lord Royce capture, Artys being unconscious and only having 1,000 men and 80 ships at her command. For the Lannister, Arryn, Tyrell alliance to have a chance against Team Targaryen Restoration they need to act as one.
Guest (commented 9/03/2021) – Robin was 16 and realized just how much Kenna has taken from him – killed his mum, declared him a bastard and took his throne so his assassination attempt was always coming. Robb's betrayal is a turning point in his character development that started with his survival at the Twins. Your 'what if' scenarios have been added to my document.
Kawaibabies – He does but he judged his alliance/marriage to Dany and the subsequence uncontested rule that would follow was worth Sansa's imprisonment and with Lord Royce's capture he is counting on a trade to happen.
Guest (commented 9/03/2021) – True. Sadly, I do think Ned would be disappointed in Robb now, especially with the leaving Sansa in King's Landing to be a prisoner again.
ArchPsion – I love your reviews! They are so in depth and always looking at the bigger picture. I was building up the Robb betrayal for a long time with Kenna's attitude and actions of neglect towards him. I got a lot of reviews asking why I was treating Robb in this way or making him amenable to Kenna and this was the reason why. It's interesting because Robb is no longer than naive honorable King who married for love and got his family murdered. He is no Tywin or Littlefinger but he is playing the game knowing the 'real' rules now.
Jon's future part in the story will unfold more in this section and he will challenge Robb on his decisions but in this story, Jon isn't in a position of leadership as much as he was in canon because Robb is still alive.
It's an internal conflict within Robb himself I imagine too. Did he betray Kenna to secure a better future for the people of the North with him as King and an uncontested rule or did he do it to satisfy his (big) grudge against the Lannisters and essentially punish Kenna for sleeping with 'the enemy'.
One of my main aims in this story was to create the situation both sides could be rooted for and that each side had 'heroes' and 'villains' so thank you for your comment on that!
Who will win and who will die? Hot diggity, indeed!
David Daniel B – It's cool. The story is so long, I'd expect people to forget details here or there. Thanks, I liked the poetry to it considering he liked watching things fly and all. Nice prediction! But the lone wolf dies and the pack survives right …. Oh count on me surprising you!
Mister LaGuardia – Believe me it isn't redundant to me! Kenna is the type to hit back harder but there is only so much she has left to lose and there has to be a breaking point somewhere but will Kenna reach that point before her opponents? It is quite the list now and Robb is most certainly on it xD True on the KISS principle but also Jojen isn't a warg and his greenseerer abilities are not at Bran's level.
NightlyRowenTree – Quality over quantity of twists is my aim. You're welcome!
DannyBlack70 – I designed Kenna to be 'morally grey' so I expect some people not to like her in her entirety. What is it exactly that you dislike? (Just curious as there are so many elements it could be). Haha well it is an interesting story for Stark lovers for sure. I'm not so sure if Robin's death is that controversial even if people consider him a legitimate claimant to the Weirwood Chair as he did try to kill his 'sister', admittedly after she usurped the 'throne' from him but still nobles have been killed for less.
Tohka123 – Thanks Toh! I really enjoyed writing Robin's death scene as although it was really ruthless from Kenna it was a poetic end to Robin's story considering what he has done in this story and canon. Your 'what if' scenario has been logged :)
Death Lantern – Don't worry about other people's reviews, that's my job! I'm not sure if the rest of your review was for the guest reviewer or me but yes, I'd encourage readers to keep in mind all the motivations and feelings of all the characters not just the ones you like e.g Obeyrn has lost every single family member but Trystane now to Tywin, Tyrion, Kenna and Lord Royce so he is out to kill all four while Robb's betrayal from his pov is completely justified as he no longer trusted Kenna to carry out her promise to fight against the Lannisters based on her actions as interpreted by him.
Vandal55 – Very true. I feel like Sansa will defend Robb's actions outwardly but is seething internally at being made a prisoner again. If they reunite, expect a sibling fight to break out lol.
Shadow Wolf 15846 – You referring to Robb or Robin here on Kenna or Robb on Sansa? I presume Robb on Kenna but that happened in chapter 96. Thanks! I like surprises or twists where you are like 'Oh! Yeah, that makes sense!' Aww too kind buddy! I'll probably never stop; the mind keeps coming up with ideas for me to write.
Sarah-rose76646 (commented on chapters 95 & 97) – The method of killing the NK was volcanic eruption and the only canon known volcano in Westeros is Dragonstone but I theorized that Casterly Rock could also be a dormant volcano that the Children's magic could awaken to kill the NK. So, the battle happening at Casterly Rock and the Children travelling South was essential for this plot point to work. I explained this more in the Author notes in Chapter 95 under the RIP section for the Night King. The point of the initial battle (until Bran & Arya's deaths) is to slow the NK down and keep him occupied so he doesn't realize what the Children are doing. Bran knows this too but the rest (Arya, other main characters, soldiers etc.) are fighting to get that unrealistic lucky hit to kill the NK, like in TV canon. I'm sure there are other stories which handle the Long Night differently, I wanted to do a unique ending I hadn't read before. You are forgiven.
Dany hasn't revealed that piece of information so it'll be interesting when that does happen and likewise interesting if/when Jon's secret is revealed to Dany.
Next Up: Tywin confronts what happened to him during the Long Night, Tommen's remaining allies meet to discuss siege tactics and Kenna receives a much-needed boost.
If you are enjoying this story please *Toss a coin to your writer, Oh valley of readers* and review, follow and favorite!