Hi,
Sorry for the delay in posting, I thought I would be able to get the epilogue out while I was on holiday but silly me rock climbing buggers your fingers so I couldn't really do any serious writing for a while so did an entire reread of the story to make sure I had caught any loose ends I wanted to and shit this story is so long!
My team is out of the Euros (soccer tournament for you Americans) too so I am in a state of mourning but I have writing time back in my evenings so there is that.
Anyway, please enjoy the last chapter/epilogue of Dance of the Falcon!
Chapter 117: Epilogue - Weddings and Tombs, Fathers and Sons
A year later … 306AC
The Great Hall, Riverrun, Seat of power of House Tully, Capital of the Riverlands
Kenna stood with a cup of wine in her right hand and watched Sansa drag Artys around the dance floor even though he was hopeless. They laughed often and the look of love on their faces was clear for all to see. A love match that was also a great political match was rare but Kenna was happy for them. They deserved each other.
Her silent companion, Lord Andar Royce's eyes flashed and his jaw tensed. Limping towards them was King Robb. His beard had grown to cover his entire lover face but the scar Smalljon Umber had given him poked out the top. Kenna observed the heavy use of the wooden cane and dismissed Lord Andar with a soft nod. The Valeman walked away but not very far.
"Robb," Kenna greeted as he finally reached her.
Robb noted the flexing of her three-fingered hand and said in a light tone, "If I didn't know your blades rested at the bottom of the Blackwater, I would be worried."
"You are a brave man to jest about such matters," she said, keeping her eyes on him.
"No, just one that knows you value their love," he inclined his head towards the couple at the centre of the lively dance procession, "and the well-being of our Kingdoms and families over buried grievances."
Kenna simply grinned, she had missed this type of tête-à-tête since she had returned to the Vale.
Robb continued, tapping his crippled limb, "I know how you love to dance and I'd offer you my hand but my leg isn't up to the challenge."
Kenna raised her mutilated hand, "I'm afraid I wouldn't be the dancer you remember either."
Both let the jarring memories of the Red Weddings pass between them but Robb acted quickly to dispel it.
"I hear you brought your little girl with you?"
"Leyla. I wasn't going to miss Artys and Sansa's wedding but equally, I can't bear to be apart from my children more than necessary. A feeling I'm told you will soon experience. Your Manderly wife is with child, yes?"
Robb nodded slightly, "Wynafryd is with child."
"Congratulations, you will make a fine father."
"I hope so. Will you get married again?"
Kenna smiled and took a sip of her wine, "If I ever find another man worthy of being my opponent in marriage, I will consider it but the field is thin and the Vale doesn't need a King, it has its Princes and Princess. How is the North recovering?"
Robb noted the quick change of topic, "Winter's wind is still blowing and it is harsh but the people of the North are used to it. We will endure as we have always done. And the Vale?"
"Work on rebuilding Wickenden and Gulltown has commenced as well as the new Arryn fleet."
Robb nodded, her words confirming his scouts' reports as he was sure his words had confirmed the reports she had received, "And what of the Eyrie?"
Kenna let out a sigh, "The Eyrie will follow Gulltown and Wickenden but it isn't a priority right now. I hope one day to start to rebuild it but I suspect I will never see it restored to its former glory."
"A falcon must always have its eyrie," Robb muttered softly.
If Kenna had heard his words, she had chosen to ignore him. She threaded her arm in his, "Let us leave the young lovers to their celebration and walk the walls of Riverrun."
"Afraid to do so alone?"
"You will recall I did end up in the Trident last time I strolled above its rushing waters and it is an experience I do not wish to repeat."
A bemused huff escaped his lips at Kenna's excuse and he leaned towards her ear, "If you wish to enjoy a walk with a crippled man by all means I will indulge you. If you want to talk about the future of Westeros while taking in the evening's air with your ally, I will oblige you also."
Kenna's blue eyes shone, "There is much we need to discuss."
A few weeks later …
The Hall of Heroes, Casterly Rock, Seat of power of House Lannister, Capital of the Westerlands
The Hall of Heroes was a majestic place full of tombs containing the deceased Lannisters and their close kin that had died valiantly. Or it was supposed to be.
Kenna stood in the doorway but pondered why she considered it one. There was no door, it had been ripped away by the tide of the risen dead, leaving only the metal hinges behind. Kenna cast her eyes around the space in front of her, she could tell Tyrion had made a good start to repairing and clearing the damage the army of the dead had done to the large chamber.
The tombs closest to her, the most recent ones, looked newly chiselled and brighter than the others while the further her eye travelled the more decrepit and cracked the stonework became. Some tombs were even missing lids and occupants entirely. It seemed most of her children's ancestors had escaped their earthly resting places at the command of the Night King. It was a terrible scene to imagine, skeletons climbing out of their own tombs and attacking the living. She shuddered when thinking what these walls had witnessed.
It was chaos, came that familiar deep voice that had followed her around for the past year.
Kenna ignored it in favour of advancing towards the nearest tombs. She saw the carved inscriptions. Kevan Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Genna Lannister, Tywin Lannister.
"You are in there," Kenna whispered, looking at the most prominent white stoned tomb.
Yes.
Kenna took in a deep breath, keeping her composure despite her mind visualising the decaying body underneath the stone slab in front of her. Suddenly Kenna felt a warm sensation across her midriff then a strong presence at her back. She closed her eyes and she was once again standing on the edge of the sky cell with cyvasse pieces scattered around her feet and Tywin Lannister's arms securing her to his chest. It was nice but she knew it wasn't real. It couldn't be.
"I didn't come here to be comforted by ghosts," she murmured faintly.
Then why did you come?
Kenna opened her eyes and looked at the sack hanging in her hand, "To place your killer's skull atop your tomb so you would know you have been avenged. I wish I could tell you Oberyn died slowly and in a painful way but he didn't and if it wasn't for Tyrion, our daughter and most likely I too would be dead." She paused. "I named her Leyla."
Leyla, Tywin's voice almost hummed by her ear, like he was savouring the sounds of his daughter's name.
"You're never going to leave me, are you?" Kenna asked the empty room and even she didn't know what answer she wanted.
Only when you want me to, came the obvious reply from her subconscious. You can make me leave whenever you want.
Kenna let out an exasperated laugh at the typically frustrating answer, "Fucking bastard, even in death."
"I would agree," Tyrion's voice rang out.
The warm presence around her vanished in an instant. Tyrion waddled towards her and she took the precious few seconds to compose herself then reached into the sack. She drew Oberyn's skull from the bag and with both hands placed it on Tywin's tomb like a high septon would a crown on a king.
"What is it with you and skulls?" the dwarf asked softly behind her.
Tyrion, not really expecting an answer, closed the distance between them to stand next to her hip so both were directly in front of Tywin's tomb.
"How was the wedding?"
"Artys and Sansa will be very happy together. The Riverlands are lucky to have them as their King and Queen."
"The children are sleeping," Tyrion volunteered in the ensuing silence, "They asked for their mother. Something about a tale of a falcon knight?"
"The Falcon Knight, Artys Arryn, the founder of House Arryn and a legendary Andal warrior," Kenna corrected feeling her lips tug into a smile. Her boys had been demanding the ending to that story since they had passed through the Lion's Mouth in the morning.
"How is Leyla?"
Tyrion playfully moaned at the name of his newest sibling, "Tyriona is fine, sleeping in her cot."
"My daughter is called Leyla because I don't want to see your grinning face each time I call for her."
"What's wrong with my face!?" Tyrion jested; feigning hurt at her words.
Kenna huffed in drawn-out amusement, the tension of the past few minutes flowing out of her at Tyrion's silliness. Tyrion, having achieved his goal gave a little triumphant waggle of his head before turning his gaze to his father's tomb.
"Is he still in your head?"
"I …" Kenna hesitated, reflecting on the ghostly apparitions that had haunted or comforted her this past year, "I think he always will be."
Tyrion studied her face, "That doesn't appear to have you worried."
"Because it doesn't worry me."
"You never hated him," Tyrion suddenly stated, "You heard the monstrous tale of the Rains of Castamere. You fought on different sides in a war. He captured you and threw you in your own prison; forced you to marry his son but even then, when you were my good-sister in King's Landing I never saw hatred in your eyes."
Tyrion cocked his head and his emerald eyes twinkled with curiosity, "Why?"
Kenna's shoulders sag and her head dipped slightly like she was wrestling with the truth in her head. Tyrion waited patiently, knowing the answer was worth it.
Kenna audibly swallowed, "It's hard to hate someone for doing the things you would have done if in their place."
Tyrion blinked. That wasn't the answer he had been expecting.
"And what exactly do you think my father did?"
"Protected his family at all cost."
"Is that it?"
"You are only asking why I didn't hate him, if you are really asking why I loved him the answer is infinitely more complex and I don't quite understand it myself."
Tyrion flicked his eyes to his father's tomb and put his hands up, "I don't think I ever want to know the answer to that."
"Is it unsettling to know you will eventually end up here," she lifted her hands, "in one of these tombs, just rotting away."
"We all have to die sometime and rest somewhere," Tyrion shrugged, "Jorge and his children will be interred here too."
Kenna stepped back from Tywin's tomb and looked at the various stone graves lining the wall till they sprawled out of her sight. She shivered at the display of death.
"Do you intend to stay long?" Tyrion inquired.
"Only until Jorge is settled here."
Tyrion's eyebrows shot upwards, "You intend to leave him here?"
"I intend for you to teach him how to rule his future kingdom."
Tyrion nodded slowly, "I'm surprised you are willing to let him become by ward."
"As much as I don't want to let him go, keeping him with me in the Vale would be selfish and detrimental to his future reign. He needs to know his lands and people if he is going to rule as King of the Rock."
Tyrion nodded again; her decision must have been a hard one. No mother willing separates themselves from their child. He moved the conversation past this sad point.
"Dorne will want Oberyn's skull back eventually when they realise his skeleton is missing that part."
"If they haven't figured that out by now, they never will and besides if Prince Trystane is willing to hand over Honour's Edge and Lord Royce's armour in return I would strike the bargain gladly."
"You'd give them a skull alright but not Oberyn's," Tyrion said slyly.
"One skull can look like another, and I would know, I've seen enough of them."
"Would you be willing to risk another war over a skull?"
"You think handing them back Oberyn's skull will stop the coming war?"
"What coming war?"
"There is always another war, then another and another such is the nature of this land."
"Dorne would be stupid to start another war now. The Westerlands, the Vale, the Riverlands and the North are all united. An attack on one would be an attack on all. The Stormlands and the Crownlands do not desire more war either. Besides Qyburn has King's Landing in the palm of his hand which mean so do you. Gods know what the Ironborn will do but it doesn't much matter."
"The board will not always be set up this way and the Dornish have long memories."
"Ah, I've missed playing cyvasse with you."
"And I you."
"I have a board in my chambers and a full jug of wine, care to play a game?"
"Of course, but only the one, it's late and I'd like to be sober tomorrow morning."
"Spoilsport," Tyrion muttered under his breath before stepping towards the doorway, "Come then. It would be my pleasure to beat you."
"You can try," Kenna retorted, giving Oberyn's skull and Tywin's tomb one last meaningful look over before she walked beside Tyrion and exited the ghostly hall.
Seventeen years later … 323AC
The Great Hall, Riverrun, Seat of power of House Tully, Capital of the Riverlands
"With this kiss, I pledge my love," the Prince of Winterfell announced before kissing Leyla and sealing their marriage before half of the Kings and Queens of Westeros.
Kenna clapped as her only daughter walked out of the sept on Robb Stark's firstborn's arm.
"If he hurts her, they will never find his body," Yohn growled beside her.
"Not if one of my agents manages to poison him first," Jorge whispered over Kenna's lap to his elder twin.
Kenna shook her head a little. Her boys had grown up but discussing murdering their good-brother was not something she approved off, even if it was half in jest.
"Hush, enjoy the day. Let us celebrate your sister's marriage and for her sake give this Stark boy a chance. She loves him after all."
The twins grumbled but escorted her out the sept to the Great Hall where the real festivities began.
Soon the gathered nobility was drinking, laughing and dancing to a feverish pace. It had been so long since there had been an event of this magnitude to celebrate and it showed on everyone's faces.
"Are you enjoying this as little as we are?" Yohn asked leaning on the table, while his brother kept his gaze firming on their sister who was being swung around the dance floor from Prince to Lord to Prince to Lord again until she landed in King Artys's arms.
"In my experience weddings are … dangerous affairs."
Both twins nodded, understanding their mother's trepidation. Kenna looked to the far corner of the Great Hall of Riverrun and saw Robb Stark leaning on his cane, talking to a well-rounded maester like they were old friends. His once bold auburn hair was now steely grey and his beard was trimly cut but he looked old and worn down.
I'm probably the same, Kenna chided herself looking down at her vein covered hands and paling skin. The years had not been kind to either of them, so full of burden and responsibility.
"This one will turn out better than any wedding at the Twins," Jorge said, noting where his mother's attention had gone.
"Are you going to tell her," Yohn blurted out with an uncharacteristic nervousness.
Kenna turned to Yohn but before she could ask him to clarify Jorge leaned on the table and spoke in a hushed voice, "When will you tell Leyla about our true father?"
"What would be the point? It would only cast a shadow over her marriage and she may get the foolish notion of avenging her father and she would be in a unique position to do so."
"Robb Stark is responsible for our father's death just as if he had swung the sword himself," Jorge rumbled lowly.
"Do you think I have forgotten that," Kenna hissed back, "You are not to act against House Stark, especially not now your sister will be the North's Queen. You are my sons and you will do as I tell you."
Jorge and Yohn shrunk into their chairs at the firmness of their mother's tone but both still looked defiant.
"A Lannister always pays their debts," Jorge started, "and an Arryn always has their revenge," Yohn finished.
Kenna blew out her nose at the unofficial house mottos before softened her features while checking no one was near them, "I feel the same as you do but think of your sister, not your father. One is alive and the other isn't. Do not jeopardise her happiness or both of your futures for a past offence. Your father wouldn't have wanted that. He is probably looking down at us right now cursing our foolishness in even discussing this topic."
"We understand mother," Yohn begrudgingly admitted, watching the King in the North limp to a group of young Northerners, one of which must have been his famed wild second son by the scowl on his face.
"Are you ever going to tell her?" Jorge inquired, looking at his twirling sister.
"One day I will show her the letter I showed you. Perhaps when Robb Stark has died and there is no temptation to do the deed herself. Your sister can be … rash."
All three nodded, remember the incident at the Riverrun Tourney a few years ago.
"And besides, right now she doesn't need the truth she needs her brothers to save her from dancing with that sorry excuse that passes for the King of the Riverlands and Iron Islands.
The twins looked to the dance floor and saw their cousin receiving a footwork lesson from their sister.
"He is an artist on the battlefield but hopeless on the dancefloor," Kenna chuckled watching Artys's clumsy attempts to follow Leyla's lead, "Go."
Yohn and Jorge took their leave rescuing their sister and exchanging their places with Artys. The lumbering King rested in the now empty seat by Kenna.
"Your daughter is a beauty, Torrhen Stark is a lucky man," Artys puffed out, catching his breath.
"As you are with Sansa."
"Yes," Artys smiled like he couldn't believe who he was married to, "she is putting the children to bed. Are your boys good?"
"Yohn and Jorge have both made me a grandmother near ten times over and will make great Kings. I'm … proud of both of them and Leyla."
"You should be," Artys beamed before raising his arms, "Who would have thought the Bloody Falcon and the bastard of the Eyrie would have all this happiness when the Dragon Queen landed on our shores."
"That feels like an age ago," Kenna murmured, "and no one calls me the Bloody Falcon anymore."
"That is because they have short-term memories but the world, we have moulded is a pleasant one. What?" Artys said, noting the darkening of Kenna's features.
"Only you could ignore the cracks of peace so soundly. Did you forget about King Loras's hunting accident? Or about the Dornish assassination attempts and petty insults the Prince of King's Landing throws around at our children's expense? There is a war brewing."
"Kenna, this is your daughter's wedding, leave the dangerous game alone just for one day, will you?"
Kenna smiled as only a teacher could to a pupil who never learnt, "The day that happens is the day I die."
Artys slapped his thighs and offered his hand, "Enough, we are dancing."
"My hand–"
"Doesn't stop you from moving your feet," Artys said, his hulking form standing in front of her with his hand outstretched and his eye gleaming.
Despite herself, she let him pull her upwards and towards the celebrating crowd.
The time for scheming and war would come she had no doubt but today belonged to Leyla Stark, daughter of the Vale and the Westerlands, future Queen of the North and another marriage that bound House Stark, House Arryn and House Lannister ever closer.
Winter is Coming. High as Honour. Hear me Roar!
Author's Notes: (Get a cup of tea, this is long!)
This is the end of the official/original story! It is now marked as complete after just over two years (OMG). I will post a family tree next for the year 323AC soon that will also clarify at some information only hinted at in this chapter (Riverrun Tourney etc.), followed by the ARC III Summary which will confirm my chosen 'What If' scenarios, personal highlights of this story and my next big project.
That maester Robb was talking to was Samwell Tarly by the way, he is the maester of Winterfell which I think is appropriate :)
Lastly, I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has read this far, favorited and followed this story and commented on my work. My overriding principle from the beginning is that I write for myself and only post when I feel the quality is high and I can justify what I have written to myself but knowing people are reading, thinking about and are excited to read the next chapter was always a big motivator so as much as I physically wrote this story you guys/girls/readers had a lot to do with its competition and some comments even inspired me to change the story e.g Lord Royce was going to become the Mountain Zombie 2.0, Oberyn would have died in Chapter 39 and all those Cersei/Oberyn moments wouldn't have happened, Ellaria would have poisoned Cersei and she wouldn't have died at wright Jaime's hands in Chapter 94 etc. You get the point so thanks for all those thoughtful reviews, they were the best!
Acknowledgements - Without these people this story would have probably taken me twice as long and would be half as good:
DannyBlack70 – This author is actually the inspiration not only behind me writing OCs centric stories but also me just actually writing anything on this platform so without their stories, you wouldn't have gotten mine so thank you Danny for writing your stories as well as commenting on this one. It meant a lot!
Supremus85 – This dude/duddette has been around since Chapter 1 and 116 chapters later that is just fucking impressive! Take a bow! Thank you so much for all your reviews and comments, I can't wait for all your own 'What If' stories that save all the characters I have killed.
My regular review gang (term of endearment) - Ser Dorito of Aisle 13, Mister LaGuardia, David Daniel B, Tohka123, Antares Graceford, NightlyRowenTree Death Lantern, Shadow Wolf 15846, Krasni, Chris141linardi, 10868letsgo, the guests who were WTFGOT, Kawaiibabiees, IOUcomment -You guys motivated me so much and literally breathed life into this story when I was tired or wasn't in the mood. One of your reviews would ping literally five minutes after I'd updated and I'd want to start working on the story as soon as I could again. Your reviews ranged from simple thanks to really in-depth political and military (thanks Ser Dorito) analysis which I have taken onboard not just for this story but my future ones too. Thanks gang!
BlackWatcher1234 – If I'm remember correctly his/her first review wasn't actually that favorable to my story but they made some good points for me to work on and I really appreciated them taking the time to give me this type of feedback and in the way they did because it only improved the story the more, he/she gave it and I think it helped me as a writer as well. So, thanks BlackWatcher1234!
DesertMortician & Ksyushangel – These two were my guilty pleasure cheerleaders for the Tywin/Kenna relationship. I know I say this often or it feels that way but romance in a story is never the primary driving force for the plot and never will be for my novel length stories but the chemistry between these two characters when I was writing the initial 20 chapters drew me in and I decided to go with it more than I planned because it was simply fun to write and an insight into a type of relationship, I feel this fandom doesn't really explore at all – the enemies to lover trope!
ArchPsion – This reader didn't comment regularly or often at all but their reviews were out of this world and caught the meaning behind all my little easter eggs, themes, and character development mimicking past events and consequential tones/actions that I put in mainly for my own enjoyment. It felt like it was me reviewing my own story (it wasn't honest … xD)
There are so many others who have commented and encouraged me on this platform Fanfiction and on Archive of our Own and I can't possibly capture you all so sorry if I didn't give you a shout out but thank you for reading my work, this story has been a fun journey, challenge at times and I'd say a really cool achievement to have finally completed!
Cheers,
R.M
RIP
Loras Tyrell (Died in a hunting accident with his Uncles Garth and Humfrey)
He died under suspicious circumstances but there is no one left to care and is willing to challenge the Hightower's version of events or suggest his wife's children are not his. We Grow Strong my ass.
Reviews:
Supremus85 – In titles only, Artys has no power in the Iron Islands but they aren't really worth conquering. Thanks :)
Mister LaGuardia – Yep, I feel like with the tone of my story it was a safe bet to think there wouldn't be one outright winner but just a bunch of people who avoided disaster and now have to 'clean' up. All your comments are super on point and keep an eye out for the next chapter as that deals more with the long term consequences of this story on Westeros's future than this chapter does.
Ser Dorito of Aisle 13 – You are right, especially for the Vale as it is twofold, a military arm as well as a trading boon with Essos for their economy. The Kingdoms are definitely trying to rebuild everything as quick as they can so they don't get caught out.
Hin – This took longer than usual but here it is.
10868letsgo – Thanks! I do like my twists xD
David Daniel B – Hey D, it's cool! You are under no obligation to review and I'm just happy you read my stuff!
Tohka123 (commented on Chapter 114, 115 & 116) – The last few chapters have been suspenseful and sad but this is certainly an end … well an end of sorts.
WTFGOT – Did you smile?
Kawaiibabiees – Your welcome :)
IOUcomment – Not at all! I love hearing people's opinions on what they would have liked to read in this story and what they would next like to see from me.
What If (commented twice on Chapter 116) – Wow you are everywhere aren't you. Noted all your AUs/What Ifs, thank you.
Guest (commented on Chapter 114 on 09/06/2021) – I always thought AGOT/ASOIAS was really based specifically on the War of the Roses (time period in English history) and then drew on historical events such as the fighting between the clans in Scotland for specific events like the Red Wedding e.g The Black Dinner and the Massacre of Glencoe (lovely place by the way, recommend for a holiday there). So obviously my story has those as historical influences as well.
Fsweet36 – There are a lot of 'Black Prince' stories out there already though I guess a lot of them fall in to the Gary Sue trap. Well, I won't be writing male versions of Kenna as I want to create new characters and challenge myself in that way.
Ksyushangel – Even if he was dying, I think he would crack a joke. I went with Leyla simply because I can't see Kenna naming a child of hers Tyriona :P Yep, lots of rebuilding going on and it is a long-term process, generational in fact. Thanks for the input on my next project, I appreciate it! Both 'Fire & Fury' and 'DotF: the 7 Families' I have developed significantly already (outlining and such) but I may want a break from 'Kenna' in the setting of a long story (I will still continue the Falcon and Lion series I have going though).
Next Up: Family Trees for 323AC and a 'special scene' xD
If you are enjoying this story please *Toss a coin to your writer, Oh valley of readers* and review, follow and favorite!
PS: Please remember to check out the poll in my profile and vote on what story you'd like to see next from me!