I'm a bad story parent, I missed this story's birthday a few weeks ago. Happy second Birthday DotF I don't think you will make it the three.
Chapter 109: The Wolves in the Shadows
An hour later … late morning …
Maidenvault, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Targaryen, Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
"Bash this fucking door down now!" Robb bellowed as he sheathed Trident's Vengeance to help his men ram the large door apart.
After a few dozen blows the door creaked and cracked. In the next instant, Robb was in the room and his eyes immediately located his sister's fiery hair.
They ran to each other and he scooped her up in a hug that took her off her feet, "I'm so sorry Sansa. I never meant to make you a prisoner in King's Landing again."
Sansa reciprocated his tight embrace and buried her head into his neck, "Doesn't matter. We are together again."
Robb didn't register the Unsullied dragging certain prisoners away or the tears springing from Trystane at seeing his young daughter for the first time. He was too focused on that feeling of finally being reunited with family, that warm, cosy tingling that had always been so strong when his father had been in Winterfell, now it was a small amber that needed to be kindled back up again and Sansa was the spark. Jon had bonded with Arya over their shared distaste for what was expected of them but Robb and Sansa had always embraced what was considered their duty and followed their mother's house words more closely than they had believed in their father's.
He pulled back from her, "I avenged the Red Wedding. Tywin Lannister is dead. I avenged mother, Talisa, my child."
Sansa gave him a nod and a sad smile, "Yes, you did."
Robb grabbed her arm at her solemn reaction, "What is wrong Sansa?"
"We need to talk," she replied in a hushed tone as her eyes took in the amount of Unsullied and Dothraki men cajoling the mainly women and children from the Maidenvault.
Ser Davos was standing in front of Lady Shireen in the corner, watching everything through cautious eyes while Margaery's cries of anger and Genna's downright furious ones could be heard above Daenerys's soldiers marching.
Same time …
Vaults deep underneath the Throne room, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Targaryen, Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
"You can do this Tyrion," the dwarf said as he paced back and forth with a candle in hand and a flagon of wine in the other.
He took a swig each time he had completed a dash from the doorway of the vault to the front of the large piles of wildfire filled barrels, hoping each gulp of wine would push him closer and closer to carry out his plan. All he had to do was place the candle on the floor and wait for the wick to burn down low enough to catch the leaking wildfire. He raised the flagon again only to discover it was empty. He threw it at the wall in desperation as his free hand scratched his head.
Tyrion had estimated he'd been down in the vaults for hours. The Targaryen forces would've converged on the Red Keep and now was the ideal time to ignite the wildfire for maximum effects. He stared at the barrels that were capable of such destruction. He knew he wouldn't feel a thing; that no one would feel a thing but he couldn't help but imagine the aftermath.
Would the entirety of the Red Keep just cease to exist? Would some walls remain and a partially collapsed tower as a cloud of smoke consumed the sky? Kenna had given him her permission and he had come up with the plan but is this what they truly wanted, more chaos? Yes, Daenerys, Robb, Oberyn would die alongside their armies, ensuring a mad Targaryen would never sit on the Iron throne again but was that worth all the innocent lives that would be lost? All those servants that mill around out of sight just gone in an instant. Myrcella, Tommen and their children dead due to his actions. Lady Sansa, Lady Shireen, Ser Davos, Genna …. the list was endless. Could he condemn all of them just to deny Daenerys Stormborn her rightful throne? Who would really be saved if Daenerys died? Maybe the Mother of Dragons would prove his father and Kenna wrong, maybe she wasn't like Aerys.
Tyrion shook his head, but what if she is exactly like her father but worse with two dragons at her back?
His hand lowered towards the fluorescent green liquid. The bottom of the candle dipped into the wildfire and Tyrion let go. He kept his eyes on the burning wick and swallowed, trying to ignore the dryness in his throat.
Should have brought more wine, he scolded himself.
He wasn't drunk enough for this. Were the Gods punishing him for all his past life choices? Did they steer him to be the one to do this because he'd made a mockery of them at every turn he could?
He'd die in a blinding flash of green light. No one would know the truth. No one would know it had been Tyrion 'the Imp' Lannister that had finished what King Aerys 'the Mad' had started.
The comparison is what tipped Tyrion over the edge. He wasn't mad and this was madness. His palm came down over the candle extinguishing the flame. He ignored the burning pain. It helped to sober him up.
Tyrion let out a long sigh of relief as the smell of smoke and burning flesh filled his nostrils. He let his head hang backwards in the dim glow of the wildfire at his feet.
"Too close," he muttered into the darkness before turning to the door and randomly deciding on a tunnel to walk down knowing no matter what direction he went in his fate was the same.
But the Gods were not done playing him yet and he didn't know everything.
A few minutes later he located a stairway and started to ascend. He heard footsteps above and braced himself for the coming encounter, taking a small dagger from his belt as the light of a torch reflected off the walls.
He pounced expecting to come face to face with armoured guards but he found himself on top of a ratty clothed black-haired boy who was even smaller than he was. He lowered his blade as he registered the fear in the boy's brown eyes.
"Get off!" the pinned child squeaked, wriggling beneath Tyrion.
"Shut up Criston!" a high-pitched voice demanded and Tyrion looked up to see a blond girl holding a torch above them on a higher step with six or seven smaller children crowding behind her, "You the Imp?"
"I prefer Lord Tyrion," he replied, moving off the still squirming boy but keeping his dagger handy, "What is going on?"
"Qyburn sent us to find you. He thought you'd be in the tunnels if you weren't dead or captured. We've been looking for ages," the girl complained, "Follow us."
"Wait, Qyburn?" Tyrion asked but the girl and her gaggle of children were. Already tugging him up the steps as if he was just another street urchin to be put to work.
An hour later …
Small Council Chamber, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Targaryen, Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
"No. No! NO!" Robb yelled, placing his head on his arms that were pressed against the stone wall of the Small Council room.
Jon's armoured body had been placed on the rectangular table with Long Claw resting on his chest. His eyes had long since closed and his body had succumbed to the cold air. Ygritte was laid out opposite him so their feet were almost touching.
Sansa's hand drifted over the wildlings face, brushing long fire kissed locks from her cheek. She muttered a prayer to the mother before slowly walking to Jon and doing the same but to the warrior. She had seen their deaths and, in a way, she felt guilty for intruding on their final moments.
"How did you know where they were?" Robb asked from across the room, still facing the wall.
Sansa planted a chaste kiss on Jon's pale cheek and walked over to Robb, turning his shoulder to her so she could move them into an intimate embrace with her mouth hovering by his ear.
"I saw their deaths with my own eyes. I saw the dagger slip under Jon's armour," Sansa said, her voice breaking for a second at the memory, "and when Ygritte came to Jon's aid, she too was killed. Daenerys is responsible. I heard the Second Sons' Captain declare his actions in the name of his Queen."
"Daario Naharis," Robb started to gently shake his head, it was almost too much to take in, "She is my wife and Queen … how could she do this?"
"Jon revealed himself to give her comfort and a family. She rejected that and saw only a threat to her power and glory."
Robb's forehead rested on her shoulder as her comforting arms wrapped across his back, "How did you see this?"
"Jojen Reed showed me. He had powers like Bran," Sansa whispered.
Robb remained silent and doubt started to tug at Sansa, "You do believe me, don't you?"
Robb pulled his head back slightly so he could see her face, "Of course. I have fought dead men, seen a dragon unleash its fire and my brother could walk in the past. I believe you tell the truth. You are the only one I can count on to do that."
"We are Starks. We work together."
"I miss them all, Arya, Bran, Rickon, Mother, Father … Jon. I should have pushed him to keep his parentage a secret."
"It was his decision to make," Sansa said gently, "You couldn't have changed his mind."
Robb suddenly broke their embrace and stalked towards the table to lean both of his hands on its edge. He stared down at Jon, "I'm tired of losing. I'm tired of always picking the wrong ally. Daenerys is going to execute Tommen and Steffon. She is not the person I hoped she would be."
"She is a conqueror, a liberator that will go on liberating until the people of the world are free, and she rules them all. She doesn't compromise or listen and with two dragons behind her she never will."
"What do we do now?" Robb lambasted, staring down at his dead brother, "We cannot oppose her. We don't have enough men and she has her bloody dragons."
"We cannot oppose her alone or openly yet," Sansa replied secretively.
"I doubt the Dornish would rally to us. Daenerys gave Oberyn everything he has ever wanted by allowing him to kill Tywin Lannister and Trystane has Myrcella back which is all he really cared about."
"The Dornish are not the only ones left. Lord Loras is still out there with a considerable force."
"Yes, I didn't see him on the battlefield. He may have the will to continue fighting Daenerys but he doesn't have the stomach to endure Margaery's execution. As long as his sister remains in captivity he won't march on King's Landing and I don't think he is stupid enough to lead his men against two dragons either. Besides we do not know where they are."
"I can think of someone who might."
"Kenna?" Robb half laughed half spluttered, "I was ready to kill her but hours ago and now you suggest we ask for her help?"
"Why would she deny us? I imagine Kenna's desire to see Daenerys dead is just as strong as it was before her capture."
"She won't trust me."
"She doesn't have to and from her point of view if we were tricking her, she personally loses nothing in revealing Loras's location and if she turns on us no one would believe her word over yours."
Robb's mouth twitched at Sansa's forward-thinking, "I sometimes forget how much time you have spent in King's Landing. But what of Daenerys's dragons? No matter how many men we have they will always be a problem."
"Even if they are motherless?"
"I don't know."
A loud knock pierced through the air. Robb charged to the thick wooden door and ripped it open, "Yes?"
A plain-faced Northerner inclined his head, "Your Grace, the executions are starting soon. Queen Daenerys requests your presence in the Dragon Pit."
Robb turned to Sansa with a grim expression on his face, "So the reign of Queen Daenerys begins."
Same time …
Black Cells, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Targaryen, Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Kenna leant her head on the grimy wall. She had wedged herself into the corner of the pitch-black cell. Her head was still pounding from the beating Oberyn had given her but the blood had dried and the cuts had stopped bleeding entirely. Her arm was still agonizing but she tried to ignore it and jostle it as little as possible. She had called for a maester all the while she had been dragged from the Throne room through the Red Keep to be thrown in the Black Cells. If any of her injuries festered, she doubted she had the strength to endure for herself let alone her unborn child.
If I'd have known I was going to die slowly in this imitation of the Seven Hells I wouldn't have revealed I am with child, she snarled internally before forcing herself to think of better things.
The blackness in front of her made it easy to imagine where Yohn and Jorge could be, the life they might lead, the grand adventures they would share. Her mind even conjured up pictures of her mother, father, sister. She even smiled when she saw Lord Royce and Lord Grafton bickering like old wives in her head. But as hard as she wished those images to stay they always faded to reveal the harsh reality she was trying to avoid. Artys was dead and so was Tywin. She had failed.
She raised her able hand to her cheek to feel the wetness of her tears. She didn't know who she was crying for more Artys or Tywin or perhaps herself.
"What are you thinking about?" a soft voice emerged from the darkness.
Kenna cleared her throat which caused her to wince at the pain in her shoulder and collarbone, "The people I have loved. My children."
Her words echoed in the small space until Tommen's voice filled the air once more, "I should have sent Steffon away too."
Kenna took mercy on the young King and sought to alleviate him of his guilt, "It isn't your fault Tommen. You had nowhere to send him and no one you could trust to keep him safe."
"I don't pity myself," Tommen said suddenly, "I know it is the duty of a King to die for his people and for what he thinks is right. I … I just hope Margaery is spared and can start a new life with Steffon after I am gone."
Despite her surroundings, she could feel the corners of her lips curl. Young love was so heartwarming. Even as Tommen faced his death he thought of others. He would have made a good king if not a great king. Kenna didn't have the heart to remind Tommen that Daenerys had called for his son's death too.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," Kenna said, there was nothing else occupying her time.
"Was my father Jaime Lannister or Robert Baratheon?"
Tommen must have heard Kenna's intake of shocked breath, "If you know the truth just tell me. I think … I think before I die, I should know the truth."
Kenna ran her tongue around her dry mouth and saw no point in mollycoddling the boy now, "You, Joffrey, Myrcella are all Jaime's."
Tommen remained silent for a few beats, "Myrcella can't know. It would ruin her marriage."
"Trystane's love will protect her from her bastard status if anyone dares publicly reveal it," adding internally, but I'm not sure it will protect her from fire.
"Thank you for telling me the truth."
"You're welcome."
"Did you think of my grandfather?"
Kenna felt her face crease, "Sorry?"
"You said you were thinking of those you loved. Did you think of my grandfather? I heard what his dying words were."
My Lady. My Queen.
Kenna gnawed her teeth, completely stunned by Tommen's question, "I … did think of him."
"You were always the only person I saw stand up to him, besides Uncle Tyrion. My mother, Jaime, even Joffrey shrunk away from him and when he started to instruct me in Kingship, I understood why but I did learn from him."
"He was a great man," Kenna finally said.
Tommen mercifully didn't pursue the topic and the cell once again returned to its natural state of silence and she dozed off.
The next thing she knew a loud sound woke her and she quickly shielded her face with her hands from the blinding light that entered the cavern. She heard the turning of a key and the steps of multiple people enter the cell. Tommen's grunts of struggle filled the air.
"Get off me! Let me go!"
Kenna didn't need to ask what was going on. It was time for Tommen's execution and she half expected herself to be yanked up as well but no one touched her.
She peeked from between her fingers as her eyes adjusted to see Tommen being dragged out the metal barred door open to their joint cell and through the large oak door beyond that led to the cavern where the metal barred cell was situated.
Kenna felt the warmth of the torch graze her hands and she completely dropped them so it could reach her face. The Dothraki towering above her wielded the torch like a weapon at her and she noticed the iron key hanging from the savage's neck.
"Take him to the Dragon Pit," Daenerys's cultured voice ordered just as she walked into the small cavern.
The Dothraki holding the torch took a few steps away from Kenna and raised the torch to light the entire enclosed area. Daenerys walked past him to stand just out of arms reach of Kenna.
"Do you know where Lord Tyrion is?"
She doesn't waste time on pleasantries, then again why would she with a dead woman? Kenna mused, taking in the commanding presence and the serious expression on the younger Queen's face.
"No. Even if I did, I wouldn't tell you," Kenna spat defiantly.
"Tell me and when I find your children, I will ensure they retain their birthrights to the Westerland and the Vale."
"A kind offer but one I don't believe you will stick to."
"You and your allies couldn't stop me. I will have my new world and your children can be a part of it. The world we need, the world we deserve, won't be built by those loyal to the world we have. Before I can usher in the new era the old must be put to rest. But your children don't have to follow you into oblivion."
"New?" Kenna croaked, "You speak only the language of death and that is the oldest there is."
Daenerys's features darkened in the torches raging light, "It appears that is the only language the people of Westeros understand … for now."
Kenna nodded sarcastically, "Let me give you some parting advice from one fallen Queen to the risen, gaining power is easy compared with keeping it. One day you will fall and I only hope you don't doom all of Westeros to a fiery hell when you do."
"I won't make your mistakes," Daenerys said, "You are the falcon that flew too close to the dragon. Your wings got singed and now you've plummeted to the ground."
"Beautiful imagery, only problem is I'm not actually a falcon and you aren't a fucking dragon."
Daenerys smirked, beckoning for the maester loitering in the doorway to come in and tend to Kenna's wounds. The middle-aged maester hurried to Kenna's side and laid out his pouch of clothes, bottles, string and scissors.
"If you birth your child, it will become a ward to the crown, under my care," Daenerys said turning away with all her men except the torch-wielding Dothraki who stood as the sole light giver.
Kenna wanted to snap back a reply but the maester shushed her words by grabbing her chin and turning it back and forth to inspect her cuts and bruises.
"Will my wounds hurt my child?" Kenna asked after the bearded man released her chin.
"The healthier the mother, the healthier the child," the chained maester replied noncommittally but his pale blue eyes portrayed his concern, "I have a balm for the facial injuries, the cut above the eye will need stitches and I was informed your shoulder was dislocated. I can pop that back in but they didn't give me any milk of the poppy for the pain."
"Pain is something I have got very good at enduring so just get on with it."
The chained maester gulped but he gently turned Kenna's injured shoulder so it pressed against the wall.
"This will hurt … a lot," he warned.
"Just do it."
The corners of Daenerys's mouth turned upwards in a wicked smile as the faint but distinctive screams of Kenna Lannister reached her as her party ascended the levels of the Black Cells.
Author's Notes:
Qyburn's children are the MVPs of this entire story lol. I feel like Qyburn is assembling the GOT Avengers/Super League for one last ditch attempt to save Westeros with his children as the fetchers xD
Sansa revealed to Robb Dany's deceit but they are faced with the problem of how to actually oppose Dany such is the Dragon Queen's position of power right now.
Tommen … man … he is too pure for this world! Dany shows a bit more of her personality with her interactions with Kenna and although she isn't down right sadistic or cruel there are darker elements emerging in her that were not present in canon (depending on your opinion).
Reviews:
Mister LaGuardia (commented twice) – I thought it was appropriate that he got in a few digs at how Daenerys wasn't really different from himself and yeah, he was never going to apologize for anything! No, Robb does want to find his siblings but the scene in the Throne room is happening literally as the siege is wrapping up so his men were at this point, locating Sansa in the Maidenvaults and to the best of his knowledge in that scene Jon was still alive somewhere else in King's Landing. Killing Kenna (pre pregnancy reveal) was something Robb knew would just have to happen, he doesn't want vengeance against her because she hasn't done anything against him or House Stark directly, all she did was side with the Lannisters over him really but Daenerys wants her dead and she lost the war so …
Yes, he is. That is an interesting question, will Dany be satisfied that Myrcella's claim cannot be used against her? She is the wife of her main ally so it's unclear. All I know is if she was unmarried her pretty head would end up on a spike.
Supremus85 – Haha yes! That is what I wanted :D It seems Dany is interested by using Kenna's unborn child to claim the Westerlands and Vale if the twins can't be located but she could always change her mind and easily ensure it is never born if she just wants to kill Kenna outright and pick new rulers of the West and the East who are loyal to her. Yes, that is a good point so I went back and edited a little bits here and there to touch on the Steffon issue.
Guest (commented 2/05/2021) – Sansa did indeed do that but she shifts the blame more onto Jon than place it on Robb as it was Jon's decision. You find out Dany's future plans next chapter, which include Margaery's fate too.
Hoasunny1099 – You had a lot of others! But I will write one for them in the 'what if'/AU scenarios section at the end of the story once I've finished the original story. If Tywin/Kenna was your draw I do write exclusively about them in another publication of mine called 'When the Lion and the Falcon Meet.'
Ser Dorito of Aisle 13 – I couldn't resist some dying romantic gesture to Kenna/confession to himself. It just felt right after the 100 plus chapters of their relationship. Robb knows the truth but the outright rebellion is more clandestine than I think you imagined as Sansa is at the helm in that regard.
David Daniel B – For now. Did you agree with Tyrion's decision? The Stark convo has but not openly. Loras is still on the board so is Qyburn. The ending is coming! You are possibly discounting some other animals but essentially yes, who will win?
Nbj – Thanks!
Kawaiibabies – HAHAHA just you wait till next chapter buddy!
WTFGOT – Robb and Sansa are getting to that conclusion too. Yes, that maester is suspicious, isn't he?
IOUcomment – Yup, in his bid to destroy a monster he has become one himself, forsaking all his principles to satisfy the burning hole of despair that sex and wine couldn't fill any longer.
Newhere – Make a dart board of Robb's face, you'll feel better :P Robb doesn't feel okay with Dany wanting to kill Steffon but she is his Queen and it is technically her decision. Nah ice zombies was so twenty chapters ago xD I got other murderous plans to enact thank you!
NightlyRowenTree – Thanks for reading Tree!
Antares Graceford – Lol they are only down to two members now! Well … Tywin is dead so I'll presume you meant Tyrion and we will see on that point. Myrcella like Sansa was in the Maidenvault during the Throne room scene so she couldn't.
Death Lantern – Does it? ;)
Tohka123 – Yeah, I just felt like Tywin's death was inevitable to be honest when I decided the 'Last War' would be won by Dany, there was no way he was surviving it. I had great fun with Tywin's character but you can't hang onto them once they have past their sell-by-date in the story and him surviving would have been that. I was tempted to keep him alive but I would have been disappointed in myself if I had done that as it would have weakened the story as a whole, I think. Thanks :)
Natman717 (commented Chapter 37) – Thank you! Chapter 37 is still one of my favorites because it is the culmination of a really tricky pairing making that first real change in their relationship and I think I did a good job.
DesereMortician – Sorry! I think the odds are in that favour massively. Ooh nice death image! Qyburn is up to something … Kenna still has some fight left in her and she hasn't truly mourned Lord Royce or Tywin and those two (besides Artys who she currently thinks is dead and her children) were the biggest influences in her life so she really feels alone right now. She is in a low place right now but will there be another opportunity for her to rise again?
Ksyushangel – I knew you would be :(But as I said in my reply to Tohka123 Tywin's death had to happen for the story as a whole to maintain its momentum, plot and, in my humble opinion, its quality and ability to entertain. I would recommend checking out my other story 'When the Lion and the Falcon Meet' but you are already reading it lol. Type into Youtube 'O Death Supernatural Pale Horseman's Intro' and that is basically how I feel each time I write a death scene xD
Next Up: Qyburn whereabouts are revealed and he hasn't been idle, Daenerys makes moves to secure her Throne and her reputation, Sansa and Robb play a dangerous game.
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