Apologies for my mini break from this story. I hurt my hand (sporting injury) and I got a few messages prodding me for updates on other stories so obliged them first before coming back to DotF as some of them had gone months without updates.
Chapter 110: The Great Burning
An hour later …
Chataya's Brothel, Street of Silk, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Targaryen, Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Tyrion hurried along the torch-lit tunnel, passed an opened metal door then a wooden one. The children tugged him along like he was a piece of driftwood stuck on a roaming wave.
"Where are we going?" he asked, for what he felt was the tenth time.
But none of the children answered they just pushed him toward the end of the tunnel where a third wooden door stood but unlike the others, this one was closed.
"Go," the girl holding the torch said bluntly, "Qyburn is through there."
"I bloody hope not," Tyrion muttered to himself as he pushed on the wooden door with all his strength.
He yelped when the door glided away from his touch and he fell forward to thud on the carpeted floor. He looked back to see the open wardrobe he had just fallen through before the children closed it shut.
Where in the Seven Hells am I? Tyrion cursed as he looked around.
There was an unlit fireplace with a bear rug just in front of it. There was a reclining area in one of the corners with a cyvasse board placed upon the table with two chairs tilted towards it. A large bed dominated the room but Tyrion's eyes were drawn to the closed door at the other end of the room. Tyrion pushed himself to his feet and started to walk towards the door but as he glanced at the bed once more, he flinched and jumped away.
On the bed was an unmoving body. A beautiful dark-skinned woman wearing practically nothing. Tyrion wandered cautiously towards her. One of her arms was hanging off the bed and as he got closer Tyrion noted she wasn't breathing. He touched the loose arm. It was cold.
"It was a shame she had to die. Such a pretty thing," a worn voice came from behind him, "but she knew too much."
Tyrion spun around to see Qyburn in the now open doorway washing his hands with a cloth.
"What the fuck is going on? Kenna told you to take her children and leave King's Landing. What are you still doing in the city?"
Qyburn stepped into the room, "My Queen charged me with keeping her children safe. I can think of no safer place than here; where my children are everywhere, hearing and seeing everything. Where I know everyone's moves before they make them."
Tyrion gestured around him, "This is a whorehouse, not some impenetrable fortress."
"Yes, it is Chataya's Brothel," Qyburn eyes went to the woman lying on the bed, "or it was before she got greedy."
Tyrion followed his gaze, "You killed her?"
"It was painless I assure you."
"Why?"
"When I arrived here, she knew who Yohn and Jorge were. She was happy to keep her mouth closed until Daenerys's forces entered the city. Then–"
"You had to silence her?"
Qyburn nodded, "Regrettably so."
"What now?"
"Follow me," Qyburn said turning and walking through the open door he had come through.
Tyrion half jogged to catch up to Qyburn who entered another room. As soon as he stepped in, he was assaulted by two unseen assailants.
He landed on his back and protected his face with his hands before he realised his two attackers were the same size as him and weren't striking him but hugging him.
"Yohn? Jorge?"
"Uncle Tyrion!" the two boys yelled into his chest.
Tyrion patted their heads and gently pushed them away so he could stand up. He saw Arty's hulking form sitting in a chair with Silver Fang resting at his hip and a large battle axe behind him on a long rectangular crate.
"Everyone thinks you are dead."
Artys ground his teeth together as his mind wandered back to the giant wolf snapping at his face "I probably should be dead."
"Me too," Tyrion let out a humorous sigh as he watched Yohn and Jorge run from him to play fight around the room.
"Stories for another time," Qyburn said as he stood between them.
Artys rose from his chair, "Yes, we need to rescue my aunt and the sooner the better."
"Agreed," Tyrion said.
"I have an idea on how to handle the dragons," Qyburn said reservedly.
"Your last idea didn't work very well so forgive me if your words do not instil me with confidence," Tyrion snapped, wishing he had a pouch of wine in his hands.
"The ballistas would have done their job, my Lord, it is the men behind them unable to see their target that was the failure," Qyburn countered, but there wasn't any heat in his words.
"What are you thinking?" Artys asked, walking to his former mentor's side.
"My children were searching through Prince Trystane's personal baggage and they found something quite … surprising."
"What?" Tyrion said, closing his eyes and trying to will away the coming headache.
Qyburn smiled, "They found a letter addressed to Prince Trystane from his father."
"And?" Artys said gesturing wildly with his hands.
Qyburn ignored Arty's impatience, "The letter spoke of an instrument that could kill dragons. Doran urged his son to use such an instrument to end the Targaryen line once and for all after avenging Elia Martell and her children's deaths."
"You are talking about Dragonbinder," Tyrion said slowly, "The Hellhorn. You are resorting to myths?
"The White Walkers and the Night King were considered myths not long ago and yet we all know they existed. Perhaps they weren't the only things we considered simple stories but are actually truths."
"Perhaps," Artys said, "But if Prince Trystane has it and we do not it hardly matters."
Qyburn's little smile returned to his face and he pointed behind Artys to the crate where his great battle-axe rested, "What if we have it?"
"Open it," Tyrion demanded as he darted towards the crate. He had read everything there was on dragon lore and the Dragonbinder had featured prominently in many of the books he read as a child. The horn supposedly once blown killed all dragons who heard its sound.
Artys obliged the little Lord and picked up his axe before swinging it to release the sideways lid of the crate. Tyrion instantly looked into the crate. Inside was a horn, about six feet long. It had a black gleam to its shiny surface and the material wasn't metal but bone. Dragon bone. Tyrion could see his distorted reflection looking back at him as he took in the sight of the large horn.
"Do you think it will work?" he asked.
"Only one way to find out," Qyburn responded as Yohn and Jorge came over to look at the ancient instrument.
"But first we rescue my aunt," Artys said.
"Yes," Qyburn agreed but his tone indicated there was still one issue to discuss.
"What is it? Artys asked, knowing Qyburn always had good reason for reluctance.
"We can rescue Queen Kenna, and perhaps the horn will kill the dragons but if we have no men to defend us Daenerys's forces will eventually find us with Oberyn leading the charge, presuming you don't want to spend the rest of your lives beneath the Red Keep."
"You are saying we need an army?" Artys clarified.
"I'm humbly suggesting we have an opportunity here to completely destroy those that wish us harm."
"Since I am fairly sure the Arryn and Lannister armies were obliterated, I guess you are talking of Lord Loras's men in the forest?" Tyrion said.
"The Lannister army is gone as well as your father," Qyburn confirmed.
Tyrion looked to his feet, "Who did it?"
"Oberyn."
Tyrion nodded as if expecting the answer. In his silence Qyburn continued explaining his plan, "I have been communicating with Lord Loras and his army is ours if we can return his sister to him and kill the dragons. He knows for the House Tyrell to flourish once more Queen Daenerys needs to be dead, he just isn't willing to stomach being directly responsible for his sister's death."
"Margaery is heavily guarded in her chambers. Freeing her will not be easy," Artys commented while laying a comforting hand on Tyrion's shoulders as the Lord processed that fact he had outlived his parents and his elder siblings.
"My children are waiting for the right moment," Qyburn admitted.
Artys took in a deep breath, "We save Kenna and Margaery, return her to Loras, blow the horn and if it works, we kill the Dragon bitch and all her supporters, if it doesn't, we run for as long as we can."
"That's the gist of it if you don't want to become a cave dweller," Qyburn said, as Yohn and Jorge disappeared into the crate, tapping on the horns surface as they explored. "Queen Daenerys has gathered her court in the Dragon Pit as we speak for King Tommen's execution. Now would be an ideal time to free Queen Kenna from the Black Cells."
"Tommen's execution!" Tyrion exclaimed, "We need to stop it!"
Qyburn shook his head, "It's too late."
Tyrion pointed towards the horn, "We can use this now!"
"We need to secure Lord Loras's support first," Qyburn replied calmly.
"You are going to let Tommen and his babe die?!"
"They die no matter what we do," Artys said, not meeting Tyrion's furious gaze, "If we use the horn the dragons die but Daenerys won't just let Tommen and Steffon leave the Dragon Pit. They would die by the sword instead of by dragonfire but they would still die and we would lose our advantage of surprise."
"No," Tyrion refused to believe his words.
Artys knelt before Tyrion, "I'm sorry, I considered him a friend and I know he was a good person but he is already dead."
"No," Tyrion stubbornly repeated before lunging past Artys towards the tip of the horn.
Same time …
King's Landing, Seat of power of House Targaryen, Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Robb took his seat next to Daenerys, "My Queen."
"We have been waiting," Daenerys said as her eyes scanned the pit.
Her dragons were circling the sky above them waiting on their mother's command. Daario and Margaery sat together on Daenerys's right with Melisandre flanking Margaery. Prince Oberyn and Prince Trystane with Myrcella sat in their own grouping of chairs. Myriah relaxed content on her mother's lap, observing the different colours and people gathered in the arena. Ser Davos and Lady Shireen cut isolated figures as they sat practically opposite the Dornish contingent but it was Sansa who was next to Robb that radiated an ice-cold aura of emptiness surrounding her.
"My apologies. My sister and I were mourning our brother's death. She hasn't taken it well."
"Of course," Daenerys replied, her face morphing into one of understanding and kindness as she looked Sansa's way, "Jon was a great warrior and he will be remembered."
"I will get justice for his death just like got justice for my father's and mother's," Robb said, hoping the tension in his voice would be mistaken for grief over his brother's death not rage at the person who had caused it.
"My Queen, should we start?" Grey Worm asked from behind Daenerys's shoulder.
Daenerys nodded and rose from her chair to address her gathered allies, "Today is a glorious day. Today we usher in a new era of peace, plenty and prosperity! The age of the Dragon! You all choose the right path. You supported my rightful return to the Iron Throne and you will all be rewarded for choosing the right side."
Daenerys turned to Daario, "Since we first met you have proven your loyalty to me a dozen times over. I name you the Lord of Highgarden, my Warden of the South. Long may your children with Lady Margaery rule over the Reach. Your wedding will take place later today."
No one dared point out that Margaery was still married. Everyone knew that was soon to be remedied.
"Lady Shireen Baratheon, I name you Lady of Storm's End and I would have Ser Davos as my Master of Ships if you will allow it."
Shireen slipped from her chair and curtsied knowing there was only one answer to give, "Of course, your Grace, may he serve you well."
Robb tapped the chair's arm with his fingers, seeing the game Daenerys was playing so clearly now he knew her true nature. Adding Ser Davos to the Small Council might appear to be an honour for the Onion Knight and he would probably perform the duties well but in reality, it was a move to sever Lady Shireen from her only loyal servant. To weaken her position. The Stormlands was a populous kingdom. The kingdom of the usurpers and the claim Robert used to take the Throne still coursed through Lady Shireen's veins.
"Prince Trystane, for the support of House Martell I grant your family a permanent seat on my Small Council and I bestow upon you personally a gift," Daenerys gestured to Grey Worm who walked towards Trystane with a sword in a sheath, "I believe it used to be called Honour's Edge."
Robb watched as Trystane took the hilt and pulled the Valyrian sword free. His mind flashed back to the man that had wielded the sword, Lord Royce, and a pang of regret stabbed him in his stomach.
"A fine sword and a fine gift," the young Prince replied before sitting back down.
Daenerys turned to him next, "Robb Stark, I would name you Hand to the Queen. To guide me on all matters and be my lifelong consort."
Robb moved out his chair to kneel before Daenerys, he quickly turned his face towards the ground so no one would spot the tremble in his lip or the tension in his jaw, "My Queen, it would be an honour."
"Your first act would be to help me decide what to do about the Riverlands."
"My Queen?" Robb said, forcing his eyes to meet hers.
"Yes, the male line of House Tully is no more. I propose to give Riverrun to Lady Sansa and her descendants, with your blessing."
Robb looked to his sister, she still held a blank expression on her face but her eyes were shining, taking in every little reaction.
"My sister would be honoured," he settled on.
Daenerys turned away from Robb and he pushed off the ground to return to his seat.
"If you want Riverrun Lady Sansa, bend the knee and swear the Riverlands to me."
Sansa didn't look at Robb as she gracefully moved from her chair to stand directly before Daenerys and sunk to her knees, "Riverrun and the Riverlands are yours, your Grace," she said, giving away nothing.
"I name you Sansa Tully, Lady of Riverrun in your own right."
"Thank you, your Grace," Sansa said, pushing back to her feet and walking back to her chair.
Daenerys too went back to her seat and eyed everyone around her, "The rewards have been given but it isn't the duty of rulers to just give out rewards we must also give out punishments. Bring them in."
One of the gates to the Dragon Pit was pulled open and a group of Unsullied spearmen brought Tommen to the centre of the pit. The former King carried his young son in his arms. Robb noted the babe was small and had a tuff of light brown hair denoting its Tyrell parentage. Margaery let out a shriek at her son's appearance and attempted to reach them but Daario was quicker. He grabbed the former Queen with one arm around her waist and one hand clapped over her mouth.
Tommen equally tried to reach Margaery but the Unsullied were a firm wall and he was pushed to the sandy ground and left there holding his now crying baby. The gathered audience watched as Tommen tried to calm his son.
"It's going to be all right," Tommen cooed, keeping his eyes locked on Steffon's, "Your mother and your father are right here."
Robb's hands curled into fists at the sadness of the situation. All his senses were screaming for him to do something. But how could he? The two dragons' passing shadows on the sand were the reminder of what he was up against if he went against Daenerys. He was helpless. Powerless. He looked to his sister. Her eyes were flashing but she had come to the same conclusion as Robb. We can't reveal our intentions.
Ser Davos gripped Lady Shireen's hand in his own and whispered words of comfort into her ear as her eyes stayed on Tommen's form. Myrcella and Trystane were having an argument that was ever-increasing in volume until the blond girl passed over Myriah to Trystane and broke from his grasp and raced towards Daenerys.
Grey Worm stopped her advancement by raising his spear as his fellow unsullied made a protective circle around Daenerys and Robb.
"No further," Grey Worm said with indifference.
"He is my brother," Myrcella pleaded, dropping to her knees before Grey Worm but directing her efforts at Daenerys, "Steffon is a babe. I'm begging you for mercy on their behalf."
Daenerys's purple eyes drilled into Myrcella's and there was no mercy in them, "I would have let your brother live if he had relinquished his throne but he did not do that and there are consequences for denying me what is rightfully mine."
"Please let Steffon go, I can care for him in Dorne. You'll never see or hear of him again," Myrcella tried.
"I have made my decision," Daenerys said with an air of finality.
"Please," Myrcella sobbed.
The word was a breath, a whisper, an instinctive cry of the heart reaching out for mercy.
Trystane came to her side and lifted her to her feet, "My wife is distraught. May we be excused?"
"No, but she may have a minute to say goodbye to her brother."
Myrcella wiped her tear-stricken cheeks and ran towards Tommen who was bouncing Steffon gently in his arms, ignoring everything going on around him in favour of savouring every last moment he had with his son.
"I'm so sorry Tommen. I never meant for this to happen," she cried into his shoulder as they both looked down at Steffon who reached out for a strand of Myrcella's golden locks.
"I know. This isn't your fault but there is nothing you can do here. Just promise that you will get away from King's Landing as soon as possible. Return to Dorne and never leave. Have a large family, a long life. I know Trystane loves you. Be happy," his voice broke then, " just … don't forget me. Don't forget us … and please help Margaery if you can."
Both siblings flicked their gaze to where Daario still held Margaery in place, she was still desperately trying to break the sellswords grip but her struggles only seemed to place a smile on Daario's lips.
"I will try my best."
Daenerys gestured to Grey Worm and he separated sister from brother and roughly guided Myrcella back to Trystane. All waited for Daenerys to rise from her chair and when she did her authoritative voice rang out around the dragon pit.
"Tommen Waters, I Daenerys Targaryen, First of my name and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms sentence you and your son to death. Rhaegal! Viserion! Dracarys!"
All eyes turned to the sky as the two dragons heard their mother's call and flapped their wings to dive towards the dragon pit. Well, almost everyone's eyes. Tommen kept his on Steffon's, preferring to ignore the shadows that grew around him and the way the sand was shifting underneath his feet with blasts of blusterous air. It was only when the two dragons landed and let out terrifying shrieks that caused Steffon to start crying again did Tommen look up at the two terrifying beasts.
His watering eyes met with their gigantic red ones and when their mouths opened to reveal sword sized teeth and breathes of flames Tommen hugged Steffon to his chest, "I love you my son and I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you."
In the next instant, two jets of fire rained down on the young father and son, scorching the ground around them and consuming their flesh.
Margaery's scream of anguish was stifled by Daario's hand and Myrcella's was partially blocked by Trystane's shoulder but their pain, their loss was there for all to see and Robb felt it in his heart, in his soul. This was the pain he had felt at the Twins when his wife and unborn child had been stabbed right before his eyes, except now he was on the other side watching it happen to someone else.
The dragons stopped their fiery onslaught moments later and the sickening heat made way for the smell of burning flesh and Robb couldn't tear his eyes away from the two husks of whitened ash that were now being swept into the air by the dragon's flapping wings as they took to the sky once more. Robb saw the Red Woman walk into the swirling tornado of flying ash and her eyes were transfixed on the spot Tommen and his son had died in.
"This is the fate that awaits Kenna Lannister," Daenerys said, causing Robb to turn his head to her.
There was no sign of compassion in her face, no flicker of the horror for what she had just done or regret, just the unshakable belief of righteousness that only a Targaryen monarch could muster. Her deep purple eyes shone, her dragons' display had empowered her and she was practically glowing.
This was her justice. The burning husks of a sweet boy and a little babe that hadn't seen his first name day.
Gods help us, Robb prayed before exchanging a look with Sansa. They needed to move quickly.
Author's Notes:
Yes, that room Tyrion falls into is the same one from Chapter 37 :P Qyburn has a plan but will it work? I've changed how the Dragonbinder/Helllhorn works – It kills dragons now, doesn't command them. Commanding them seemed very overpowered to me. I set up the Dragonbinder in Chapter 57 so I have had this in mind for a while!
This chapter really shows you what type of ruler and person Daenerys has slipped into. She may not have turned her dragons on the city and burnt thousands upon thousands but she does consider the deaths of her honorable nephew, a sweet child King and an innocent babe a price worth paying to secure her rightful place on the Iron Throne and bring about a perceived era of prosperity and peace under her rulership, whether this will actually come to pass is debatable. It is very much a case of reaching out for a glorious future but using methodologies that betray your ultimate vision to get there.
And to adapt a quote from Stannis and Davos from the show, 'What are the lives of three bastard boys (Jon*, Tommen, Steffon) against an entire kingdom?' – "Everything."
PS: Sorry for ending the first scene with hope on Tyrion blowing the horn in time, I'm cruel like that. I wanted the possibility that Tommen could survive to be in the background as that scene was playing out but it seems Tyrion didn't get past Artys in the end.
RIP
Chataya (Died of an unknown poison on Qyburn's orders)
I'm thinking the same poison that Jaime used for Lady Olenna but I can't figure out what that was called. The moral of this death is don't fuck with Qyburn.
Tommen 'Baratheon' (Burned to death by Viserion and Rhaegal's fire)
He was a threat to Daenerys's future rule and she wasn't going to allow him to live to possibly repeat her feat of returning from exile. I did feel sad while writing the whole Dragon pit scene though because Tommen is just so sweet and doesn't deserve this fate at all and it was a suffocating death with everyone watching and some wanting to stop it but not being able too.
Steffon 'Baratheon' (Burned to death by Viserion and Rhaegal's fire)
I know this story has had babies dying in the past but as with all my deaths there are character driven reasons for all of them and in this case, Daenerys was simply not going to let a potential claimant live, much like with Jon and Tommen. Is Shireen too low on the rankings system to be considered a real threat? Who knows?
Reviews:
Dffrxas – If you are asking if this story has Robb taking the Iron Throne – No comment. If you are asking me to write stories in the future where that happens and is the focus, I'm not sure.
DannyBlack70 – Me too. He is probably one of my favorite characters to be honest just because I constantly want to hug him.
David Daniel B – The irony! Or perhaps poetry if it all goes smoothly ;)
Ser Dorito of Aisle 13 – Consider his book actions I'm not sure smart is the word to descript Loras. Robb and Sansa aren't in a position to strike but they have joined with Kenna in a tentative alliance. We'll have to see where that leads. Interesting prediction and I'm glad someone remembers Melisandre's vision concerning Qyburn xD
Supremus85 – They can but Sansa definitely takes the lead on the stealth and deception front here. As for Steffon …. yikes. Grandpa Qyburn is certainly coming in clutch but the dragons are still on the board and Kenna is still locked up.
Kawaiibabies – I suspect you didn't like this chapter …
WTFGOT – Maybe maybe maybe :D Or maybe something else xD
IOUcomment – I like writing a subtler Daenerys but she is certainly no angel and has displayed qualities that contradict what she values so highly in the new world she wishes to create.
Newhere – She is quite as in your face about it as Joffrey was with his 'madness' but I'd say she is on the same path. Lol if only it was that simple.
Guest (commented 6/05/2021) – Aw mate this comment put a little smile on my face. Thanks for appreciating my work! Yes, I personally think Daenerys has the capability for 'madness' or what passes for that in the GOT universe but I'm very interested in expressing that in subtler ways than TV canon showed e.g Instead of Drogon destroying King's Landing she ordered the assassination of Jon. To be honest most of the main characters in this story have shown elements of 'madness' which makes it very interesting to me when readers express who they like and don't like.
Tohka123 – Thank you! Yes, although you could also say the war was won but another (shadow war) started. Robb and Sansa's decisions in the next few chapters are so crucial for how this story ends.
Rifful (commented on Chapter 11) – Kenna agreed to marry the Frey here because at this point to take King's Landing they saw the extra Frey soldiers as vital to tip the balance of the perceived future battle in their favour. Kenna in turn saw taking King's Landing as vital to getting her revenge over her father's killer who she thought was Cersei at this point.
Next Up: A family is reunited, Robb attempts to renew an old alliance, and Margaery's wedding curse strikes again.
If you are enjoying this story please *Toss a coin to your writer, Oh valley of readers* and review, follow and favorite!