A/N: Hi, all. How you all doing? I hope you're doing well.
Vevienne
Vevienne cried in the godswood, on her knees and her hand scratching against the bark of the weirwood as her tears dropped onto the ground freely. The only reason why she was not rolling on the ground in despair was Theo holding her tightly. He could say nothing, for he did not know what it was like to have almost her entire family wiped out, but the only he could offer was his presence.
Vevienne, her mother Queen Victaria, cousin Gyles Gardener, Harlan Tyrell, and Theo Tyrell were breaking their fast when one of the guards shouted that a rider was approaching. As all of them were desperate for any news about the battle outside of Goldengrove, they had to assume that the rider would bring the news that they wanted to hear. But to their shock, the rider was none other than Ser Rycherd Roxton, the captain of Highgarden's guard who had accompanied Vevienne's king father. What was more shocking was that he was covered in soot and he looked exhausted from having ridden for days. As soon as he dismounted his horse, he collapsed on his knees, his body revealing how spent his body was.
"Ser Rycherd, what are you doing here? What news of the battle?" Victaria was so desperate that she was shaking him and not giving him respite.
To his credit, Ser Rycherd took his time to answer and take a few breaths. "The battle… lost."
Vevienne gasped, as did Victaria, Theo, Harlan, and the other members of the Highgarden household.
"Lost? How badly did we lose?" Victaria pressed him.
Ser Rycherd shed a tear, which was unbecoming of a knight like himself. "Our army… gone. All of them. Many burned, the others surrendered when they saw that we could not win. That, and the army led by Loren Lannister, who we know is dead."
The King of the Rock… dead? Vevienne agreed silently that a king dying in battle was either a glorious feat or an indication of how grim the results were, and it was very much the latter in this case.
"What about my father? My uncle? My brothers?" Vevienne could wait no longer as she had her own queries to ask.
Ser Rycherd looked at her eyes and she could see the tears forming. "No," Vevienne shook her head. "Please, it cannot be. Tell me that I am wrong, good ser."
Ser Rycherd shed more tears, as Victaria knew that there was only one reason why he would respond in such a manner. "I saw King Mern trying to organize what was left of the Reach banners. I was knocked out by a northerner with a big red wolf, who struck with a spear shaft. I tried to stop the king and to drag him out of there, for I knew the battle was lost. But then, a silver dragon descended upon them and…"
The captain of the Highgarden guard could not say more, but he did not need to. Victaria collapsed onto her knees and started to wail at the loss of her husband. She did not want this war to happen, and look where it got us.
Vevienne had to know where her brothers, her uncles, and cousins were, for if they were still alive, there was hope. "Where are Princes John and Hugh? Where are Lords Lymond, Raymun, and Owen?"
Ser Rycherd closed his eyes tightly before shaking his head. Vevienne could not be there any longer, for she had to mourn alone in the godswood.
Theo held onto her, staying silent while she cried. She had no idea how long she was going to be like that, for how could one move on when her father, all of her brothers, her uncle, and all but one of her cousins had all died?
"Let it out, Viv," Theo whispered while calling her by the name they agreed to use. "Let it out. I am sorry that this is all I can do."
Vevienne pounded her hands onto Theo, not out of anger at him but out of grief that was becoming more uncontrollable by the moment. "Why? Why? Why?" she repeated over and over.
Thankfully, Theo continued to be silent and allow Vevienne to release her sadness. She did not know how much time had passed, for she felt the warmth of the sun change into the coolness of the moon. She did not stop crying until she could feel the warmth of the morning sun return, but even without tears falling from her eyes, she was still shaking.
"What will we do? How could we live?" Vevienne asked more to herself.
"I don't know," Theo admitted. "But whatever you decide to do, I will be there with you. You know that."
Vevienne looked into his eyes, and she felt her innocent affection for the son of the Lord Steward of Highgarden grow into something more. From the pit of pain that she fell into, here was someone who offered her only chance at seeing the light again. And for that, she pulled into a kiss, with Theo returning it eagerly. They remained in each other's embrace for as long as possible, for Theo was the anchor that Vevienne needed to stop herself from becoming adrift in her sea of sadness. Thank the gods that he is here with me.
However, she could not enjoy her solitude with Theo for long, for Ser Rycherd, having recovered, ran into the godswood. "Your Grace! The enemy is coming!"
Theo and Vevienne stood up in fear. "They are here, Ser Rycherd?"
The Roxton knight ignored how Theo was holding her, for there were much bigger concerns at the moment. "I count one thousand riders coming in from our north. I recognize their banners as that of the Starks!"
The Starks? They are moving fast. If northerner horseman were already arriving at Highgarden, that meant that the rest of the dragons' armies would be very close behind.
"Ser Rycherd, are we going to offer resistance?" Theo asked him.
"We should," Ser Rycherd nodded. "I have already ordered the men to close the gates and have distributed arrows to the archers. We should be able to hold them off at the moment."
"Orders that I have countermanded." Harlan Tyrell made his presence known by entering the godswood. He approached Ser Rycherd with a deep sense of resolution.
"What did you just say?" Ser Rycherd was very confused.
"Are you stupid, Ser Rycherd? You want to offer resistance when the dragons made quick work of our armies?" Harlan Tyrell scolded the captain of the Highgarden guard.
"Lord Harlan, we cannot just give in." Ser Rycherd clearly wanted to fight out of vengeance for the king, but even Vevienne knew that such a thing was pointless.
"I am afraid that we have no other recourse, Ser Rycherd. I have ordered the guards to stand down and the gates to be opened."
"Are you going to trust the conduct of northmen, of Valyrian heathens if they were to enter Highgarden?"
"Do you want to be the one responsible for when Highgarden goes up in flames and smoke?" Harlan knew how to cut deep into Ser Rycherd, who had to be reminded of how he saw King Mern die. "If not, our only chance of survival is to allow these northerners inside our walls."
"If they have any knowledge about the Gardeners, they will know that there is at least one man who can carry on the family line," Ser Rycherd reminded everyone about Gyles Gardener.
"He is past his prime and not likely to father children," Harlan pointed out. "We do not have anyone left to rally around."
Ser Rycherd was not about to give up yet. "Then what about Princess Vevienne? We must declare her queen."
Vevienne was shocked and Theo held onto her hand tightly.
Harlan slapped the upside of Ser Rycherd's head. "And have you not considered that the dragons have thought of that also? If we do that, we will condemn her, and the Gardener line will truly be extinguished. For the love of the gods, stop thinking with your heart and start seeing things with your head. It is over!"
"I very much agree." Victaria also entered the godswood, with her dressed in black. "There is no more point in fighting. We have lost, and I will not allow more blood to be shed. I will not let them take my daughter too."
Ser Rycherd realized that there indeed was no other alternative, but Vevienne could see that it very much hurt his pride and honor, for he had failed to protect his king. She pulled out her veil, the one she would use when she favored a certain knight at jousts, and gave it to him.
"Your Grace." Ser Rycherd was surprised but still sad.
"You have served our family honorably, Ser Rycherd. But now, I beseech you to live," Vevienne commanded. "Please."
Ser Rycherd slowly took it before he tied around his forearm. "Even if it pains me, I shall do as you command."
With that, Vevienne, Victaria, Harlan, Theo, Gyles, and Ser Rycherd all waited in the throne room of Highgarden along with a few of their guards while the northerners outside came close. The waiting made them all more anxious, as all they could was look upon the doors that they closed and there would be nothing to stop their enemies from entering and doing whatever they wished. Please, keep us safe, she prayed to the old gods in a last act of desperation, for the Seven clearly failed her and her family today.
All of them were startled at the sound of many roars booming through the sky outside of Highgarden. From what Vevienne had heard, that only meant that the dragons had come and there truly was nothing to prevent the riders from entering at will. And their entire army is sure to follow within a day or more.
Hearing hoofbeats approaching outside of the door, all of them clasped each other tightly. Despite their orders, they could swords clashing and the guards dying. Then, the doors burst open and in came men with the Stark surcoat, a direwolf's head against a white background.
"Where is Gyles Gardener?" one of them shouted. As he was clearly threatening with his axe covered in the blood, the few guards that were in the throne room unsheathed their swords and charged. But a swarm of northmen rushed into the room and dispatched in brutal fashion, with only one being pushed to the floor while the others were hacked to pieces or run through with swords and spears.
"Get out! Get out!" Victaria shouted, angered that the violence was even happening.
Vevienne shook her head at her mother, gesturing to her that her shouting would only make things worse. "Have it. Have everything you want. Please don't hurt us."
The only guard that had managed to stay alive had to crawl backwards while Ser Rycherd was about to draw his sword.
"Enough!" All of them heard a northerner bellow, and they all gave to two men who were clearly in command. One was older than the other, although the other northman had a big red wolf next to him. At the sight of him, Ser Rycherd trembled.
"Our king and queen have ordered the traitors to be confined to their quarters until they call for them all," the older northman stated.
"Traitors?" Harlan Tyrell was incredulous.
"All of whom had fought against the dragons in the battle," the younger northman explained.
"That doesn't make us traitors!" Ser Rycherd denied. "We fought for our king, Mern the Ninth of His Name."
The older northman shook his head. "King Aegon Targaryen and Queen Rhaenys Targaryen, alongside Prince Jaenyx Belaerys and Princess Visenya Targaryen Belaerys, have declared that their reign begun many moons before the battle took place. Those that fought against them all are declared traitors."
Vevienne exchanged nervous looks with her mother, Theo, Harlan, Gyles, and Ser Rycherd. Things are going to get worse from here.
"Which one of you is Gyles Gardener?" the older northman asked roughly.
Despite not being in his prime, Vevienne could see that Gyles was not afraid, and he knew that they were going to find out anyway. He stepped forward, to everyone's fear.
"Ah, the last male Gardener," the younger northman remarked before waving to a few northmen. They strode forward before they grabbed his arms and took him away. Vevienne and Victoria tried to stop them, but they were held back by the other northmen.
"No! Please!" Victaria was hysterical. "Don't hurt him."
"Cousin Gyles!" Vevienne cried out.
"So, you must be the last Gardener heir, Vevienne." The younger northman with the big red wolf stepped closer to her. "Pleasure to meet you."
"Who are you?" Vevienne asked, but she could barely control her trembling.
"Brandon Snow, and this is my brother, Torrhen Stark."
Vevienne's eyes widened, as did everyone else's. Never in their wildest imagination had they thought that they would be face to face with the key members of the dragons' inner circle. And this was the first time that the Starks had ventured this far south in anyone's recent memory.
"Please, I beg you. Don't hurt Cousin Gyles," Vevienne begged.
"That's not up to us, unfortunately," Torrhen Stark answered gruffly. "His survival, as is all of yours, depend on the good charity of the dragons. Men, confine them to their quarters."
Harlan Tyrell stood with his eyes pointed towards the floor, as were Theo, herself, and her mother. Vevienne felt angered that the dragonlords were sitting on the throne that belonged to her father and family, but as they were all dead and Gyles in their clutches, there was nothing she could do besides being still. And because they had dragons, they held their lives in their hands. She had wished that she was still in her quarters, for having their eyes look upon the last of the Gardeners was becoming too much to handle. What was worse, she had no idea where Ser Rycherd, despite her asking about his whereabouts. Please, if you are merciful, old gods, help him have a happy life after all of this.
"Do you know why we summoned you four to this court today?" Aegon Targaryen asked them all while he and Rhaenys sat on the thrones where the King and Queen of the Reach would usually sit. Jaenyx Belaerys and Visenya Targaryen Belaerys flanked the royal siblings, their hands on the pommel of their swords, while Orys Baratheon and Argella Durrandon watched on their right side with their arms crossed as they watched the remnants of the royal household of the Gardeners tremble in fear. Thankfully, they summoned no one else, meaning that no one else saw their fear and their trembling.
"No." Harlan Tyrell shook his head.
"You are speaking to the new king of Westeros, old man," Visenya spat. "You shall address him as 'Your Grace.'"
Harlan was quick to correct himself and bowed lower, as did Theo. "Forgive me, Your Grace. I have yet to grow used to the new circumstances."
"Of course," Aegon nodded. "Your family served the Gardeners as their stewards longer than the both of us have existed and now, there are no male heirs left to carry on the Gardener name."
Vevienne fought hard to hold back the tears that were threatening to burst forth again, especially since the killer of at three of her brothers and her uncle was in the same space as themselves.
"But to go back as to why we called you here, it is to hear your thoughts on what must be done about you and everyone else here," Rhaenys spoke. "Your armies are broken and the only thing that spared you all from the flames of our dragons is Harlan Tyrell's decision to not resist us when we came. Normally, we would consider such decisions and the accompanying circumstances prior to granting mercy to those that surrender without a fight. But in your case, it cannot be so simple."
"Why do you say that, Your Grace?" Harlan asked.
"All the male Gardeners are dead save for Gyles Gardener who cannot bear chidlren, but there is still one left to carry on their bloodline," Jaenyx stated while pointing at Vevienne, causing Theo to shift slightly to her to protect her while Vevienne herself was very much afraid since she had some idea on what Prince Jaenyx was capable of.
"Surely, Your Grace, we did not offer resistance and you did not see any Tyrell banners at the battle at Goldengrove," Theo came to Vevienne's defense. "There is no need to bring harm on Vevienne."
"We do not think that she can be threatening by herself," Visenya joined in. "However, there are more than a dozen houses in the Reach that can boast descent from the Gardener kings and considering the blood that runs in the veins of Vevienne Gardener, she will be a useful asset to whatever ends they have in mind. If one of those houses get their hands on Vevienne, what is to stop them from declaring themselves the new rulers of the Reach and thus plunging this kingdom into conflict all over again?"
Vevienne could not deny Visenya Targaryen's reasoning, which only made her more afraid for everyone left in Highgarden that had meaning to her. Please, do not let them kill us. Soften their hearts to spare us, she prayed.
"We will make sure that such a thing will not happen." To her surprise and pride, her mother Victaria stepped forward to defend her daughter, her only child left. "We shall remain in Highgarden and we will not venture outside of these walls. No one will be able to use us for their ends."
"I am afraid that it does not matter what you might proclaim or promise to do." Vevienne just remembered that the elder dragons, Aerion and Valaena Targaryen, were also in the throne room and it was Aerion who shook his head. "By herself, Vevienne represents the threat for war to be renewed and thus negating the purpose of us showing mercy to the last of the Gardener line. Even if you do confine yourselves inside this castle, all it takes is a single lord ambitious and reckless enough to declare that he is going to marry your daughter and tens of thousands of Reachmen will rise to support him."
"Will that not be irrelevant to you, my lord?" Victaria asked strongly. "You showed to the world that numbers mean nothing with dragons at your side. I will admit that your progeny had accomplished the impossible, which is to break the back of the armies sent from two kingdoms. If one of those lords that you speak of has the gall to declare such an empty promise and amass an army, you will burn them like they were nothing."
"You are not seeing the point, woman," Rhaenys raised her voice slightly. "Yes, we will burn them, and we will defeat anyone who wishes to continue fighting us. But bloodshed causes more bloodshed, and I am sure that there are already those who will never let go of who they lost at our hands while blaming us for their losses, even though their kings ultimately ordered them to charge towards their deaths. This will condemn Westeros to at least a few more generations of continuous fighting and we will not recognize this land at that point."
Vevienne gulped while Theo held onto her tightly.
"From the way we see things," Orys finally decided to talk. "There are only two ways that we can neutralize the threat posed by your daughter. One is obvious, which is killing her right now and Gyles Gardener, but enough killing has been done and we would very much prefer to avoid taking a life needlessly."
Victaria narrowed her eyes. "And what is the second way, Lord Orys?"
"She marries into a house with little standing," Jaenyx answered for him. "She must be supervised at all times and the choice of her husband must reflect the last of the Gardeners not wishing to use their blood claim to rise up in revolt against the coming of the dragons. Such a husband must not possess great titles and lands at the moment, for both represent the potential to form great armies. There is nothing more dangerous to the peace and stability of any realm than ambitious people having the means to back up their claims."
"That means that houses such as the Oakhearts, the Florents, the Fossoways, and the Cranes cannot marry her," Visenya said. "But at the same time, we do not intend to disrespect her by having her marry a lowly knight or some other family with no standing at all. She has royal blood, so she must have means to maintain some of that dignity."
Vevienne blinked, surprised the she-dragon would even contemplate such a thing. "Then… who shall I marry, Your Grace?"
Harlan was quick to speak up. "Your Grace, if I may, I would like to petition that the Princess Vevienne Gardener marry into my family."
Vevienne and Victaria, as well as Theo, looked at the aging steward with shock. "Father, what are you doing?" Even his son knew that making such a request was unwise and would not look good to especially Victaria, who had gritted her teeth in anger at him.
"Why should we consider your petition?" Aegon asked Harlan straight. "It is true that you have opened the gates of Highgarden without a fight and that no banners of House Tyrell were seen fighting against us, but that does not mean that we will grant an advantageous marriage like that offered by Vevienne Gardener."
"Your Grace, you must consider the fact that you cannot control the Reach without a family ruling from Highgarden. It is true that you have shown your power over any army that can be assembled by the Reach lords, but Highgarden has been the center of all power in the Reach since the first Gardener kings. No other family besides the Gardeners could hope to rule from this castle without causing a backlash from other ambitious houses, as they all wish to prove their might. However, my family have been stewards for the Gardeners for centuries and we have deep roots in and around this castle. We might not command armies or hold vast lands, but we are in a position to rule from Highgarden if you choose to use us as your agents in this region." Harlan Tyrell took a long time to explain his reasoning.
Although she still had affections for Theo, Vevienne's opinion against Harlan Tyrell took a negative turn. She thought of the old man as competent at his job, but she never thought that Harlan would be so quick as to try to take advantage of the new situation. Has the situation changed him, or was he always like this?
"You do bring up sensible points, Lord Tyrell," Jaenyx nodded. "But there are certain factors that seriously damage your case."
"What would they be, Your Grace?" Harlan asked.
As if on cue, Jaenyx Belaerys pulled out a piece of paper, which Vevienne recognized as those sent out by her king father as part of the distribution of papers to spread negative words regarding the dragons. The reason why she knew it was her father's was because she could make out the seal of the Gardener kings. Oh, no. They are going to kill Harlan and that would condemn Theo.
"Lord Harlan." Jaenyx unfolded the pages that made up the declaration that Harlan was commissioned to write. "In these documents, you have written by your own hand words in which your Gardener overlord and the Faith masters at the Starry Sept had utilized the smear the good name of House Targaryen and House Belaerys, so that the smallfolk would be more motivated in fighting against the Valyrians, our people. You went into good detail when you wrote your attacks on the very culture we practice. After conversing with the household in this castle, we were able to find out just what exactly you suggested to the late King Mern in your king master's direct attack on the dragons."
Vevienne could see that Harlan's face became pale, as she also read the declarations and knew that the dragons were going to make it very hard for him to survive this ordeal.
Jaenyx cleared his throat as he read the declarations. "You claim that the words of our marriages were based on the testimony from the former maester at Dragonstone named Harrion." The eyes in every one of the dragonlords and Orys Baratheon darkened, for they were reminded of the maester who showed his true colors when he went against them. "Harrion stated: 'It is against the unnatural laws of the world to have brother and sister be married, but such a practice has been encouraged among the Valyrians in the hopes of retaining a pure bloodline, one that could bond with the dragons. But even with the properties of such a union, it is still cursed in the eyes of the gods and if the Valyrians were to win, what is to stop them from spreading such positive thoughts on incestuous unions? Would you want your son and daughter to marry in the hopes of keeping their bloodline pure?'"
Harlan closed his eyes, as his very words were being spoken back at him.
"You go on about describing my goodbrother the king's abilities as a warrior, without mentioning that he was also more able in other areas that went previously unnoticed by Maester Harrion," Jaenyx continued. "You also describe my wife Princess Visenya as being stern and cold, not tolerating anything less than the standards that she set for herself and you claim that my goodsister the queen was just like every other maiden in Westeros in being taken with flights of fancy. I quote, 'The man who calls himself Aegon Targaryen, the new king of Westeros, is only as good as the hands that swing his sword, for what good are hands when they have a mind of their own? And we have two more examples of how the Valyrians will rip apart everything that we hold dear, for how can they encourage our women to behave independently while knowing that the minds of women are easily influenced and unfit for the roles of rulership?'"
Theo sighed, as he knew that his father had already dug his grave too deep, but it was not going to end there.
"You also took the time to say something about me." Jaenyx gave them a smile, as if he was about to enjoy what he was going to read next. "'The one who calls himself Jaenyx Belaerys, a newcomer to Westeros from what has been testified by the former maester of Dragonstone, possesses a very low opinion of those not carrying Valyrian blood in general, which is a symptom of the prejudices held by those with Valyrian blood who believe that anything less is worthy of being looked upon as nothing more than savages. The Valyrian behavior is also evident in the Belaerys union with Visenya Targaryen, for he takes more pleasure in the arms of Lysene whores, who had the blood of old Valyria in them. And given the unwomanly conduct practiced by Visenya Targaryen, his wife even though the gods have not blessed their union, it is reasonable that he would seek his pleasures in bed with other women, because Visenya Targaryen is not very outwardly friendly and seems to delight in striking down those who would try to make act more like a lady. This is the man who would rather look upon softness in women as something to stepped upon.'"
Vevienne turned to see her mother, who had also closed his eyes and even she understood that Harlan went too far at that point. But to the detriment of them all, Jaenyx was still not finished reading.
"'It would appear that the prejudices possessed by Jaenyx Belaerys has become a central influence in developing the conduct of the so-called King of Westeros Aegon Targaryen, which is only natural as they see each other as natural brothers in both blood and by marriage. It can be said…" Jaenyx Belaerys took a moment to read it, as if trying to be dramatic and making all that was left of the core members of the Gardener household at Highgarden afraid. Visenya Targaryen Belaerys was trying hard to control her laughter, as was the rest of the dragonlord family and the Baratheon couple, for they saw ridiculous the whole declarations were sounding.
"'It can be said that Jaenyx Belaerys is the key architect to the villainous scheme that is being pursued by the dragons, who want to overturn thousands of years of tradition and replace it all with ones they can call their own. And the influence of the Belaerys prince has brought out the worst in Aegon Targaryen, for it is only natural to assume that he pursued his sister Rhaenys because she was an easy woman and like all of the other maidens in Westeros. What knight or warrior would not do so, for how can one deny the beauty of Rhaenys Targaryen and…'"
Vevienne prayed that Jaenyx Belaerys did not read that last part, for even she knew that Harlan Tyrell went a little too far.
"It is all right, Jaenyx," Rhaenys said. "I have read it before, and I am much stronger than these people claim I am."
Jaenyx nodded. "'And not mount her all the same?'"
Harlan exhaled. Vevienne gulped one more time, as she was not exactly going to defend what Harlan said. But one would have to be ignorant in trying to hope that Harlan would live after what he had said.
"Are you not going to say what they said about me?" Orys saw that Jaenyx had put the declaration down.
"I believe the Highgarden household sees the point and the chances of their lives being forfeit are very high," Jaenyx answered to Orys. "Any further saying of these disgusting things will only superfluous."
"Just say them, Jaenyx," Orys said. "I want to see them tremble some more. In addition, I like how you read. It allows us a sense of your dramaticism."
The dragonlords and Argella chuckled amongst each other while Jaenyx bobbed his head, silently agreeing to continue.
"The final part of your declarations that you have authored at the behest of the late Gardener king talks about Orys Baratheon, who you refer to as 'the bastard in Storm's End. You stated, 'The father of the bastard in Storm's End, Aerion Targaryen, seeks power for himself, as what dragonlord would not and especially the head of the largest family of dragonlords to escape the Doom of Valyria, but Aerion Targaryen is too old to lay claim as a king or on any royal title, so he wants to accomplish his dreams through his son, the bastard in Storm's End. And the mother, Valaena Targaryen, is all too willing to go along, since she wants to be a queen and thus explaining her unusual affection towards her husband's bastard son."
Both Aerion and Valaena Targaryen gave fiery eyes to Harlan, who to his credit kept looking down on the floor.
"'And that the bastard in Storm's End killed Argilac Durrandon because of the slights thrown his way, for how could a king behave honorably towards a bastard and thus defy what the gods and natural law have said about family relations. Lastly, the bastard in Storm's End saw his daughter the former princess Argella Durrandon as the ultimate prize. After all, conquering a castle gives you claim to everything in it, including its women, and this allowed the bastard to claim power and glory for himself.'"
Thankfully, Vevienne was relieved that Jaenyx was finally done reading. Unfortunately, Jaenyx Belaerys had read more than enough to emphasize to all just what kind of position the old steward of Highgarden was in.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Harlan Tyrell?" Rhaenys did not bother to address him by his lordly titles, her anger evident. "You want to administer Highgarden and you want your son to marry Vevienne Gardener, but everything that my goodbrother has read aloud all serve the purpose of undermining your petition. What is to stop us from dragging you out of this castle and burning you dragonfire until there is nothing left but your ashes?"
Despite what she might feel for Harlan at the moment, Vevienne was wise to not let her anger at him extend to Theo. Theo would never be the same if his father died and she did not want his death to be on her conscience. Thus, she stepped forward and got on her knees.
"Viv, what are you doing?" Theo asked desperately, while both Harlan and Victaria were equally shocked.
"The only thing that I can do now," Vevienne whispered before turning her head back to the dragonlords who sat upon the throne created by her house. "Please, Your Graces. I beg you. It is true that my house was a central force in the war against you, but all of those that have taken part have died. I was here, my mother was here, Cousin Gyles was here, and Lord Harlan only did his duty. How could he disobey the will of his sovereign lord and the very instrument that the Starry Sept uses to convey the wishes of the Seven? How could a servant not do what his master commands?"
Vevienne kept her eyes on the floor. "You would go on your knees for this servant, as you describe him?" she heard Jaenyx ask.
"Not just for him, Your Grace," Vevienne answered. "I do it for his son Theo, who I have great affection for. I do it for my mother, who has lost all of her children and her husband except for me. I do it for Cousin Gyles, whose only crime is to have the same name that I carry but he has done nothing but be part of this household while my father, brothers, uncle, and younger cousins fought against you. I do it for Ser Rycherd Roxton, who has proven his loyalty time and again like all other knights would do. Whatever my father did for the Seven, he did for our family ultimately, but we all can see that it was misguided. Now, as the only one left who can carry on our legacy, I now see that the only way we can survive is to serve you, our new rulers, faithfully until the end of our days. Whether you wish to empower us or to grant Harlan Tyrell's wishes, we shall leave in your hands."
To further emphasize that her submission, Vevienne lowered herself to be prostrate on the floor. Seeing her example, Harlan, Theo, and Victaria all followed her.
Vevienne closed her eyes, ignoring the ice cold feeling that the floor gave. It was no longer, for it was not really her home anymore. It now belonged in the hands of the dragons. But then, she heard whispering among the dragonlords and she dared not put her head up in fear of ruining her gesture. She prayed to the old gods once more. Whatever they decide, we suffered enough, more than we could bear. Please…
"All of you, get up from the floor at once." Upon hearing Visenya's command, Vevienne and the others did so promptly. "We have decided that no other adversary of ours has shown a more sincere act of submission thus far and so, you will keep your lives."
Vevienne sighed in relief, as did Victaria, Theo, and Harlan.
"But," Valaena interrupted. "We shall further deliberate on your new station and the wisdom behind Harlan Tyrell's suggestion. For now, Harlan and Theo Tyrell will retain their titles as Lord. As for you two, Vevienne and Victaria Gardener, out of acknowledgement for your royal relations, you will be addressed as Lady from now on. Do you accept?"
"Yes, Lady Valaena. We accept," Vevienne answered for the both of them.
"You shall be taken back to your quarters until we make the final decision regarding your fates," Aegon Targaryen said before signaling to the guards, all of whom replaced the Highgarden guard and wore the Targaryen and Belaerys sigils on their surcoats.
But from that point on, Vevienne felt her shoulders being relieved of a great burden. And she could only share her relief with Theo, who she exchanged a warm glance before they were taken to their separate quarters. Once inside, she got down on her knees and prayed to the old gods. Thank you. Thank you, she repeated.
A/N: This is the only POV we'll see from Vevienne's eyes, but I felt that the drawdown from the Field of Fire would be incomplete without seeing the reaction from those affected. Vevienne's sadness is only tempered as she is able to have deeper feelings for Theo Tyrell, but while she and her family and household will not be killed (save for Gyles, whose fate she is still not sure of), will she and her family survive in the new circumstances?
Next, we see the final fate for the last Gardener and Orys/Argella taking the final step :)