I'm so sorry … :(
Chapter 103: The Shattering of the Cornerstone
A week later …
Walls of King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister, Arryn), Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Kenna folded her arms on top of the battlements of King's Landing's wall. The sky was grey and cloudy, blocking out the warmth of the rising sun and threatening to send a downpouring upon all those not undercover. Her eyes scanned the distance knowing Daenerys Targaryen's forces were near but there was nothing but winter white giving away to spring green as far as the eye could see.
She lowered her forehead so it was touching her bracers and let her mind ponder about her children. Had they boarded a ship and were sailing the seas to Essos? Had they taken the King's Road north to settle in the North as far away as possible from those who might recognize them? Or perhaps they had taken the Gold Road west, thinking to hide among the chaos of refugees resettling in the Riverlands and the Westerlands. The Rose Road south was an option, the Reach was the land least affected by the wars of the past decade and perhaps the last place Daenerys's spies would look for heirs to the West and the East.
"You made the right decision sending them away."
Kenna didn't need to uncurl from her position to know it was her nephew that had spoken the kind words.
"Everyone keeps saying that like it is supposed to make me feel any better but it never does."
"Qyburn will take good care of them as he did with me. Wherever they end up he will make sure they have a happy and long life, perhaps as farmers or healers."
Kenna snorted at the image of Jorge as a farmer and Yohn as a healer. That wasn't their destiny. She turned away from the wall and leant backwards on it.
"I planned to ask you to go with them but just like me you are too recognizable now."
Artys walked to stand beside her so his lanky frame loomed over her, "I wouldn't have gone anyway. I once said that wherever you go, I go and I meant it. You may not be my mother but I see you as one and I will never abandon you."
A deep smile bloomed over Kenna's tired face and she reached upwards to drag Artys's face down so their foreheads touched and Kenna could feel the outline of the eye patch on her skin.
"When I first saw you, held you in my arms, I wanted to hate you. You were the spawn of the man that had destroyed my sister. A man that I had butchered only months before. But every day after your birth as you looked more and more like Euron you demonstrated that you were every bit my sister in spirit: fearless, loyal, humble and honourable," Kenna's voice cracked, "She would be proud of the man you have become, I know I am and as far as I am concerned you are my son, my blood, a true Arryn in heart, a better person than I ever was or ever will be."
Artys drew Kenna into a firm hug and rested his chin on top of her head, "Soon we will have Lord Royce back, we'll defeat Daenerys Targaryen, be reunited with Qyburn and the twins. We will return to the Vale and rebuild the Eyrie."
"If only wishing it made it all so," Kenna murmured against Artys's chest.
"Tyrion will get Lord Royce back; he is good with his tongue."
"He only has so much to work with, Robin and the Sand Snakes are dead."
"We should focus on things that are within our control," Artys said softly.
Kenna disengaged from the embrace but kept Artys hands in hers, "Our combined forces are in position around the city, manning gates, ballistas and barricades. Lord Tywin and you will command the walls of King's Landing, Dickon Tarly and Tommen will control the streets, Lord Redwyne has the fleet on Blackwater Bay while Tyrion and I will control the defence of the Red Keep."
"By our do you mean-"
"The men not under Lord Loras or Lord Randal's direct command," Kenna clarified.
"I'd feel happier if you went with the rest of the woman and stayed in the Maidenvault during the fighting, " seeing Kenna roll her eyes he quickly continued, "but I know you won't even consider that so please just be careful if the fighting reaches the Red Keep."
"Likewise, I want you to be smart in the coming battle, don't take any unnecessary risks."
"If I see Robb Stark, I will gut him for his betrayal."
"I understand the urge but do not do so at the cost of your own life, I beg you."
"I'll try my best," Artys offered sheepishly.
"The enemy approach!" came a shout from among the wall and they both turned their heads to see a marching army way in the distance and two dragons gliding in the sky.
A few hours later …
Outside the wall of King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister, Arryn), Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
"You shouldn't be here," Oberyn said keeping his focus dead ahead at the group of horses trotting towards them, "I remember our Queen making it clear I was to be the only one to negotiate on her behalf."
"They have my sister," Robb implored, gripping his reins tightly, "my wife can chastise me all she wants but she has no right to deny me the chance to secure my sister's release."
"As your wife no, as your Queen yes," Oberyn's attention turned to the sky, knowing what was lurking just above the clouds, "Tell me, how did your brother manage to bond with Rhaegal."
"I don't know much about dragons," Robb shrugged, keeping his eyes away from Oberyn's searching ones.
"No, but it is a subject I'd very much like to increase my knowledge on."
"I'd recommend you start with ways to kill them," came a booming voice behind them, "That information might come in handy when you realise the colossal fucking mistake you've both made in supporting a Targaryen's claim to the Iron Throne and she turns those beasts on you."
"Now, now, Lord Royce," Oberyn said in a playful tone twisting in the saddle to look at their prisoner, "Don't make me gag you."
Lord Royce was standing a couple of metres behind Oberyn's stallion, tied to it with rope that also went around his wrists. He was surrounded by dismounted Dornishmen but was at least a head taller than any of them and twice as wide. Even without his customary armour, the Vale Lord stood like a boulder.
Lord Royce's fuming eyes crossed drilled into the back of Robb's head, "Your father would be ashamed of your actions. You dishonour him with every breath you take."
"That's enough. Gag him," Oberyn demanded.
"I did what was best for the North!" Robb responded, unable to take the insult.
"You're a Two-Faced Wolf and-" the rest of Lord Royce's reply was muffled as a cloth was stuffed into his mouth but the message was clear. You're a traitor, a betrayer, a turncoat!
"They approach, my Prince," one of the Dornish guards announced, redirecting everyone's focus back on the contingent of horses that had now stopped roughly ten metres away from them.
Robb spotted a familiar face and a wave of relief went through him that it wasn't Kenna's face he was staring into.
"Lord Tyrion," Robb greeted, noting there was no one else of importance with him.
A warm smile graced the dwarf's face as his searching eyes roamed over their party, "King Robb, Prince Oberyn what an unusual pair you make."
"I'd add dashing and handsome to your description," Oberyn grinned but his tone lacked his usual arrogant playfulness.
"I'm not here to give out compliments but if that is what you want in exchange for Lord Royce, I will sing your praises from the Red Mountains to the cold wasteland of the North."
Oberyn smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes, "We know what you want it is just the price we need to haggle over then we can all be on our merry way."
"And what do you want?" Tyrion asked.
"I want my daughters, Princess Myrcella and her child while King Robb is here because you hold his sister."
"Congratulations on your wedding," Tyrion directed at Robb, "May your second marriage fair better than your wife's first two."
Robb knew Tyrion's words were an attempt to drive a wedge in his marriage but they had no impact. There was already a crack in his marriage. Since Jon's reveal Daenerys had become even more distant towards him; hardly sharing his bed at night and rarely listening to his advice even when she asked for it.
Robb understood her reaction was one of suspicion and mistrust and it was hard to blame her for it. He could imagine from Daenerys's point of view a long-lost nephew with a superior claim to the Throne making himself known to her when she was days from capturing King's Landing was a hard thing to stomach and accept as the truth.
Jon doesn't want to rule and she knows that, Robb reasoned in his head before locking his eyes with Tyrion's.
"Thank you, my Lord, but shall we proceed with the talks?"
Tyrion's smile dipped ever so slightly as his mismatched eyes flicked between the sun-kissed Prince and the Dragon Queen's consort.
"King Tommen is willing to hand over Lady Sansa and Lady Shireen if you release Lord Royce."
"That isn't good enough," Oberyn said, keeping his rage in check for now, "There is no deal to be made if you do not return my blood to me."
Robb saw a flash of panic, or maybe regret go across Tyrion's face.
"What if we returned Lady Sansa and Lady Shireen with Jojen Reed and Ser Davos?" Tyrion bartered.
"I want my daughters!" Oberyn roared, "They are children and have no place being in the middle of a siege."
"No one should be in the middle of a siege," Tyrion retorted, looking at his reins.
"Stop playing with me Lannister! I will give you Lord Royce just give me what I want!"
Oberyn's angry tones stretched out in the silence that ensured and, in this moment, Robb realised Tyrion's problem.
"He can't hand your daughters over."
Oberyn's sent him a confused look, "What?"
"They're dead, aren't they?" Robb continued to probe.
"No," Oberyn said to Robb then reaffirmed at Tyrion, "No!"
Tyrion gave Oberyn a remorseful look, "It's true. I'm sorry."
Oberyn's form didn't slump but his silence indicated his turmoil.
"How?" Robb asked, taking over the conversation as Oberyn sat still in his saddle, shocked that the lives he had come to trade for were already gone.
"Robin Stone set them free during the Long Night and they went after Queen Kenna. She-"
"Killed them," Oberyn finished for Tyrion in a voice shaking with raw emotion that could have been grief or anger or a mix of the two.
"It was self-defence," Tyrion said, seeing no need to correct the assumption Kenna had killed all three Sand Snakes alone.
"I accept your proposal on behalf of Queen Daenerys," Robb said confidently, taking the opportunity to lead the talks as Oberyn struggled to accept that all his daughters were now dead.
Dorne may not get anything out of this now but he was damned if he wasn't going to get Sansa back.
"Agreed," Tyrion said quickly before giving one of the men beside him an order. "Lady Sansa, Lady Shireen, Ser Davos and Jojen Reed will be here shortly."
Robb inclined his head in acknowledgement as Oberyn dismounted his horse and walked towards Lord Royce.
"I imagine you will be happy to see your sister again," Tyrion said, watching Oberyn push Lord Royce out in front of the horse with his hands still bound.
"Just as happy as Queen Kenna will be to be reunited with Lord Royce," Robb replied, already feeling a burden being lifted from his shoulders at the thought of returning to camp with Sansa by his side. She was the most level headed of the Starks left and her knowledge of King's Landing and the situation behind its walls would be invaluable in planning their attack.
Robb's positive thoughts were interrupted as Oberyn kicked out Lord Royce's legs so the tall Lord was forced to his knees and rammed a slim knife into his side.
"Tell your father, I'm coming for him and his whore next," Oberyn spat, making eye contact with Tyrion before twisting the knife further in, causing Lord Royce to groan out in pain and push the Prince away.
"What are you doing?!" Robb yelled, unsheathing his sword as Tyrion commanded his riders to attack.
"Kenna killed my daughters; did you think I would reward that with giving her back a man she considers a second father? No, she will suffer just as I have and more!" Oberyn said leaving Lord Royce and his knife to return to his horse.
"You've condemned my sister to death!" Robb shouted in anguish.
Oberyn ignored the accusation, kicking at his horse to evade the onrushing wave of Lannister riders.
Robb sent a guilt-ridden glance at Lord Royce who had clamped a hand to staunch the wound before his thoughts darkened and he urged his horse on to chase Oberyn back towards the Targaryen camp.
If my sister dies, I will kill you, Robb swore to himself as his vision tunnelled onto the flapping yellow cloth of the Prince of Dorne.
A few minutes later …
Just behind the Gate of the Gods, within the walls of King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister, Arryn), Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
"What the fuck happened?" Kenna said in an accusatory tone as she descended the stairs of the wall towards the returning party with Artys at her side.
Tyrion controlled his circling mare, "Prince Oberyn didn't take the news of his daughters' passing well and refused to consider an exchange of any kind. He stabbed Lord Royce before we could reach him."
"Get a maester!" Artys yelled loudly as his eyes located Lord Royce hanging limply onto a horse.
The other riders parted as Artys and Kenna sprinted towards the injured Lord.
"Kenna …" Lord Royce rasped before sliding off the horse and collapsing to the muddy ground.
"Where the fuck is that maester!" Kenna shouted at the top of her lungs as the panic started to set in. She dropped to her knees by Lord Royce's side and Artys copied her on his other side.
"That won't do me any good," Lord Royce muttered, moving his hand away from his wound.
It was deep and blood had already soaked his tunic causing the fabric to stick to his skin. But the worst thing was the smell, emanating from the cut. It smelt sweet and fruity.
"Poison," Artys announced as his whole face seemed to drop at what that meant and transport him back to the moment Lord Grafton died in his arms.
"Oberyn was never going to let me live," Lord Royce confirmed, feeling Artys's hand rest on his shoulder in silent comfort.
"No!" Kenna screamed at the realization, covering the wound with her own hands and leaning over Lord Royce.
"It's fine. You'll be fine," Lord Royce said, gazing up at her face and keeping the pain from his voice, "The Vale needs you to be fine."
Kenna's eyes glistened with wetness as Lord Royce's blood seeped through her desperate fingers, "You can't leave me! I refuse to let you go! I still need you to guide me!"
Lord Royce's lips curled into a weak smile, "You haven't needed me to guide you for a while now. It was my life's honour to serve you and watch you grow from that shy little girl into the woman you are today. You've overcome so much. My only regret is that I won't be around to see how your rule unfolds."
"Stop speaking like this. You'll survive we just need to stop the bleeding and give you an antidote," Kenna said regaining some of her usual calm and logical manner.
"Oberyn's poisons are all deadly," Lord Royce coughed out as blood started to trickle from the corner of his mouth.
"I don't care, fight it, Yohn!"
"My time is over Kenna," Lord Royce said gently, sliding a palm to her cheek.
Kenna's eyes locked onto Lord Royce's. To her surprise, she didn't see sadness or suffering, but a father's pride.
"You've made me so proud. The confidence you show in your decisions and how you've learned from your mistakes. All I ask is that you don't forget yourself in my death. That you won't let the pain twist you into a person you don't recognise."
Kenna took his hand from her cheek, wrapping it around her own to kiss the knuckles and hold on to it tightly, "I don't know how to avoid that. How many dead eyes can you look at before you too are dead inside?"
"You are stronger than the pain Kenna," Lord Royce urged with his remaining strength, "Concentrate on those you love, those you want to protect. Not on those you hate and want to destroy."
The loving look and his concern for how his death would affect her broke her last resistance and tears fell from her eyes. Her shoulders started to shake as she draped herself over Lord Royce's torso.
"But I love you!" Kenna half shouted half sobbed cut as she rested her head fully on his chest.
Lord Royce started to stroke her hair and whispered into her ear, "I loved you too. The gods know I would have done anything for you to have been my own flesh and blood."
"There were many moments I wished you were my father," Kenna openly wept, not caring who saw her display of emotion any longer.
"Shh," Lord Royce hummed gently as he felt the poison and blood lose loosen his hold on life.
Kenna lost all sense of time as her mind went from one memory to another to outrun the pain of her reality. She didn't notice when Lord Royce's hand stopped stroking her hair or when his calming tones ceased. Nor did she register when Artys began to drag her away towards his horse.
It was only when Artys lifted her onto his horse and Tyrion's gave the order to remove Lord Royce's body that she started to struggle. Arty's long arms caged her in the saddle and he kicked his horse onwards to the Red Keep.
"Kenna stop. He's gone," Artys said, wrestling to keep her on the horse as it charged through the streets.
But she didn't hear his pleading, just exhausted herself until all she could do was stare at her bloody hands and feel the warm wetness on her knees. She knew her entire front was covered in red blotches and it disgusted her, how coated in her mentor's death she was.
Kenna had experienced death before; her mother, father, sister, cousins, trusted advisors and loyal friends had all died around her. She had felt anger, sadness, and grief at each passing and had either hid from prying eyes or sought public revenge. But with Lord Royce's death, she just felt broken, unable to comprehend what her next move should be.
She just felt numb, weightless … lost.
Author's Notes:
So … thoughts on Lord Royce's death?
How is this going to affect Kenna and Artys? Will Dany look favorably on Oberyn for his actions, she doesn't really have any attachment to the prisoners. We know Robb and Jon won't and probably Trystane neither since he actually loves Myrcella and presumably his own child too.
Kenna being 'broken' is a call back to what Euron Greyjoy predicted in Chapter 1.
PS: Thanks, Guests who named themselves as for the others SHAME!
RIP
Lord Yohn Royce/ 'Bronze Yohn' (Died due to Oberyn's poisoned blade)
Throw rotten vegetables at me. I deserve it with this one. As soon as Tyrion confirmed that Oberyn's daughters were dead I do think Oberyn would have lost it and stabbed Lord Royce in anger despite the other hostages in King's Landing (even Myrcella & Myriah) because he is simply a man that has been pushed too far, lost too much and coupled with suppressing his rage for literal decades and his naturally reckless personality the negotiations were always going to end badly. Goodbye Lord Royce you were one hell of a vassal to Kenna and I think she might have lost some of herself with his death.
EDIT TO STORY
I edited Chapters 88, 97 and 98 so that Robb and Kenna never slept together but Robb still confesses to have romantic feelings. Re-reading my story I was unhappy with this development for a few reasons A) It reduces Kenna & Robb's bond down to a physical level when it is so much more than that and I want future scenes to explore that more. B) The end plot point I had for that scene I no longer want to pursue in such a direct way. C) Re-reading made me realize that them sleeping together actually didn't add or change anything to their relationship or the way I was writing them.
Sorry for those that enjoyed it but it no longer felt right and is a glaring mistake in my writing (which I think must have known at the time because I wrote the Robb/Kenna development in a really minimalistic way).
Reviews:
Antares Graceford – I think so! Haha lol that was not my intention. I wanted to show that although Sansa isn't as dark or bitter as cannon Sansa ended up, she is still wary of the 'game' and how it can be played but in their scene Sansa is actually warning Artys so he doesn't end up like Ned even though they are on different sides so it is actually a positive exchange in terms of their personal relationship.
Supremus85 – Honestly it felt heavy to write as I wanted to concentrate on the emotion of parents letting go of their children for the greater good which for me was hard but then considering the parents were Tywin and Kenna made it doubly so becaue of the history and dynamics in play. But I'm really pleased with how it turned out.
Well, you now know I was referring to Lord Royce during the prisoner exchange talks :(
Kawaibabies – Yohn and Jorge are cute! Yohn more in that excitable boundless energy type of way and Jorge in the smartass defiant way.
WTFGOT – The comment about a brighter future comes from Sansa not Jojen. Sansa is just assuming Robb's thinking.
IOUcomment – Not happening so don't worry. Yes, both have kept secrets from the other but only Dany's remains an actual secret now considering she knows about Jon. There is certainly a nice crevasse for the Robb (Stark) & Dany (Targaryen) relationship to fall into.
Trojan Prince – I am indeed or rather I was because it is here! Yep, lots are about to snuff it xD That is a very specific image you have in your head
BlackWatcher1234 – Yes, you are a bad man! I prefer to use the Ramsey Quote but yeah there is a lot of suffering ahead as there was in this chapter for Kenna. Oberyn got one! Goodbye Lord Royce, you were an OG. Sansa is certainly in an interesting position now; will Kenna transfer her anger onto her now? I do love predictions! And yes, I never confirm anything specific because spoilers are no fun! xD
Mister LaGuardia – I really wanted some cute family dynamic scenes with Kenna, Tywin and the twins just to flesh those relationships out a bit before the KL battle. Sansa isn't the bitter jaded person she was in canon but she is still aware of how the game is played and has seen the worst of it (Ned death). Correct, that bit about Ser Illyn Payne I was trying to remind readers that Kenna & Sansa do have a longstanding and personal friendship. That bit about the future being brighter under Dany isn't a Jojen dream that is just Sansa guessing what Robb was thinking. Dany is certainly not pleased with the whole R+L=J reveal or that Jon has bonded with Rhaegal but we'll just have to wait and see where that snowballs to. Daario? Yeah, he as a juicy role to play soon.
Guest (commented 30/03/2021) – You either tell me your scenarios or you don't, I already have a lot of fun situations to write regardless :D There will be many AUs but parallel stories no. I have 'When the Lion and the Falcon Meet' which is a story that focuses on just Tywin & Kenna in different AUs but I suspect you have already read that? PS: Name yourself!
Tohka123 – Thanks, last chapter was really all about saying goodbye to the twins and showing the parental side of Tywin and Kenna. Yes, as you can tell from this chapter shit is about to go down and after roughly 5 chapters of calmness it was about time!
Death Lantern – That would match with Sansa's hair at least. Probably …. xD I don't think Westeros has a population problem … probably because one way or another Tywin is responsible for killing a significant amount of the population … maybe he is Thanos? xD
Guest (commented on Chapter 87) – Robb totally created the conditions for the Red Wedding and Kenna married the Frey because she wanted to march on King's Landing as soon as possible, she could have refused if she really wanted.
Guest (commented on Chapter 101) – Daenerys is a powerful woman to cross and this is no longer Robb cannon. It is such a Jon (show) thing to do I think though.
Guest (commented on Chapter 102) – He isn't since he bent the knee to Daenerys, he is her consort now so technically styled as King of the Seven Kingdoms.
NightlyRowenTree – Bitte :)
Ar-Kaos (commented on Chapters 20 & 102) – Thanks for letting me know :) That's okay. A story can't be to everyones liking. I didn't do any twist just for the shock value, there was always a purpose e.g Kenna's kidnapping was to bring the Starks and the Lannisters together as to have any chance of defeating Dany they also needed House Arryn. I don't know what story-fiat means? You are the first person who has read beyond the first twenty chapters and said it is similar to the source material ... I've killed so many characters that survived canon and explored different plot paths and put different characters together. I didn't want to write Gary or Mary Sues so yeah they are flawed and I don't think my OCs should necessary be liked, just as long as they are interesting. Fairwell.
Guest (commented on Chapter 101) – There certainly is a lot of history in the Kenna Robb relationship. Robb also saved Kenna at Pyke and was well on his way to winning the Northern Civil War without Kenna's help. It's true that Kenna has done a lot for Robb but she also neglected their relationship in favour of her Lannister ties which is a major part of the reason Robb turned against her.
Next Up: Kenna tries to piece herself back together but finds an easy target for her rage, an unexpected emotional moment provides clarity for Tywin and the Battle of King's Landing commences!
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