S'up,
Part 2/'Aftermath' of the Scenario 2 - Crown forces win the Battle of King's Landing.
Some good solid interactions between those that survived in this chapter!
Chapter 121: Scenario 2 – Aftermath
Next day …
Great Sept of Baelor, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister) Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Kenna stood at the end of one of the front pews staring up at the beautifully chiselled decorations that adorned the ceiling of the Great Sept and the colourful light that filtered through the stained-glass windows. This place was breathtaking, only a fool would deny it.
Vale nobility stood behind her in rowed pews while Artys dutifully stood beside her. Her fingers were entwined with her nephews, giving him support. Sansa had been a friend to Kenna but she had been so much more to Artys.
The High Septon droned on about the lives lost to the fighting and how the Gods would watch over those who had survived. Kenna snorted. Gods, they never did anything but watch.
When the High Septon got to the names of those that had perished in the Maidenvault she felt Artys's hand tensed in her own and Tommen stormed down the aisle of the Great Sept, unable to handle the mention of his departed family. No Kingsguard had survived the battle so a group of Lannister soldiers chased the upset King after a glance from Tywin.
Kenna nudged Artys and inclined her head after the King. Artys nodded and followed in Tommen's footsteps. The two young Kings had forged a friendly bond before the battle and their actions during had only made it stronger. Tommen needed a friend now more than ever and so did Artys.
The High Septon returned to his speech and Kenna found Atyts's vacant spot had been occupied. She gave a slight shake of the head to the questioning look of the Vale Knight that had stood beside Artys. The newcomer was welcome.
"Tyrion," Kenna greeted in a low voice, sniffing at the heavy taste of alcohol that clung to the little Lord.
"Good-sister," Tyrion poked back, "I hope you don't mind I couldn't remain next to the ice block that is my fucking father."
Kenna's eyes flicked to the mentioned man, he indeed seemed unaffected by all the losses that had occurred yesterday standing straight and tall amongst the Westerland nobility across the aisle. The occasion might have been a wedding and his face would have had the same expression but Kenna could see the mask now. Knew it was there.
"He's hurting just as much as you Tyrion, he just hides it well and doesn't drink to drown his sorrow," Kenna said in hushed tones, her hand hovering near Tyrion's shoulder to support him if need be.
"And how are you so … calm?" Tyrion asked, his balance wavering ever so slightly.
"I lost a friend, and I've had a lot of practice at losing those. It is but a drop in the ocean of loss for me now. You lost multiple family members. You are allowed to be broken right now."
"Tell that to my father," Tyrion said sombrely but changed the topic, "Do you know where Yohn and Jorge are?"
"Yes, they are safe with Qyburn."
"Where?"
"Ah …" Kenna hesitated looking at the palm of her hands before leaning down to whisper into Tyrion's ear, "at Chataya's Brothel."
"What?" Tyrion half wheezed with the unexpected answer, the alcohol eliminating what little inhibition he had in the moment, "My father will fucking love that. Have you told him?"
Kenna ignored the remark and placed a hand on Tyrion's shoulder steadying the dwarf, "I don't suppose you know where the Red Woman is?"
"I'm not hiding her in a brothel if that is what you are asking but I can check if you would like?"
Kenna tutted but there was a small smile on her lips, "She is the last of Daenerys's councillors we have yet to find."
"She is a shadowbinder, I'm not sure we will find her if she doesn't want to be found," Tyrion said, belaying an intelligence that shouldn't have been possible for someone so inebriated, "Besides she did what she came to Westeros to do, she helped stop the never-ending night."
"You think she's gone?"
Tyrion shrugged, "I don't think she had anything left to do in Westeros."
Kenna nodded gently at Tyrion's logic then noticed the High Septon had stopped monologuing.
"Thank fuck for that," Tyrion said, in the direction of the now silent High Septon.
"I'm not so sure I'm ready for what comes next," Kenna admitted quietly.
Tyrion's eyes hooded over, "Yes, it does seem rather backwards to be going from a funeral to an execution."
Her response was cut off when Tywin appeared before them, "It's time."
Kenna nodded and turned to walk down the aisle, leaving father and son to exchange nondescript looks and follow behind her.
A few minutes later …
Steps of the Great Sept of Baelor, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister) Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Robb, Jon and Ygritte stood on the wooden platform above the steps of the Great Sept of Baelor. Their hands were all bound by rope behind their backs. Tommen appeared at the great doors to the sept and it looked like he was being comforted by Artys.
"Listen to me," Robb hissed to his left so Jon and Ygritte stopped trying to wriggle free from their bonds. "I want you to bend the knee."
'What?" Jon rumbled, keeping his voice low so the guards stationed around the stage couldn't hear them.
"They will behead me for allying the North with Daenerys. That will make you the head of House Stark."
"I'm not a Stark."
"King Tommen will make you one if you bend the knee on the North's behalf and swear an oath to him to be his Warden in the North. Do it."
"No."
"I'm ordering you as your King and pleading with you as my brother. Bend the knee and go back North. The North needs a Stark and that is what you have always been at heart."
"Robb …" Jon started but the sound of hundreds of feet pattering against stone interrupted the moment and people started to flow out the Great Sept of Baelor.
Kenna settled by the wooden stage beside Tommen, Artys, Loras and Tyrion while Tywin walked onto it. Robb now knelt alone while Jon and Ygritte were surrounded by Lannister men on the other side of the wooden platform.
"Robb Stark, for the crimes of treason against the Crown, oath-breaking and betraying your alliances to House Lannister and House Arryn. You are sentenced to death."
Tywin unbelted the sword at his hip and handed it to the King's Justice. Kenna recognised the sword as Trident's Vengeance. She walked onto the stage, ignoring the warning glare Tywin gave her and passed by the black-hooded man, now wielding the Valyrian sword to kneel before Robb.
She placed a hand on Robb's cheek, "This was never what I wanted. Sansa … she didn't deserve to die. I'm sorry for her."
"She always saw the best in you, I think she even thought you were friends."
"We were friends."
"You don't have friends," Robb hissed, turning his face away from her touch, "You have pieces you move around a board, waiting to sacrifice and betray them when the moment suits you!"
"That is untrue," Kenna said soberly, retracting her hand to place it on the wooden floor for support.
"You would've betrayed me eventually because that is what you do," Robb spat.
"So, you thought you'd betray me first?"
Robb's eyes captured Kenna's and the burning injustice he felt was clear to see, "My father would've hated the person you've become."
"Yes," Kenna admitted softly, "I suspect he'd mourn for the little girl in the Eyrie that used to follow him around but he'd also mourn for the little boy at Winterfell and for the man you could've been." Robb's eyes flashed but Kenna continued, "You'll die just like him but unlike him, you didn't keep your honour intact."
Robb lowered his face, "I loved you once."
Kenna hesitated, planting a sentimental kiss on top of his head before straightening back to her full height, "I know but we were never meant to be."
Robb lifted his face, "We could've avenged our fathers together with honour and now look at us. The defeated King and the whore Queen."
"I have no use for honour, it won't help my people rebuilt their homes and lives, it won't keep my children and those I care for safe," Kenna felt the emotion of what was to come tug at her heart but she closed it off, "I'm sorry Robb but you sealed your fate when you allied with and married Daenerys Targaryen. I can't forgive that."
Kenna walked back to her place amongst the watching nobles, feeling Robb's stare on her back all the way. Once she had cleared the platform Tywin gestured to the hooded man who didn't wait on ceremony. He set himself then swung Trident's Vengeance and it cut clean through Robb Starks neck. The auburn curls of Robb's hair spun around as his head rolled on the wooden stage and his body flopped forward. Jon's screams could be heard in the background but were cut off as he received a swift kick to his chest.
The now bloodied Trident's Vengeance was given back to Tywin and he sheathed it then walked over to Jon. Tommen, knowing what was coming, crossed over the stage, stepping around Robb's body and the spilling blood to stand beside his grandfather.
"Bend the knee, renounce the North's claim to independence and King Tommen will legitimise you as a Stark and name you Warden of the North."
Jon's iced over eyes went to Ygritte who was still struggling then up at the Lannister Lord and King towering above them. He sighed but knew Robb's earlier words had been true.
"I Jon Snow, declare King Tommen Baratheon the one true King of the Seven Kingdoms and bend the knee and swear loyalty to the crown."
Tommen looked at the defeated Northerner, "I Tommen Baratheon, King of the Seven Kingdoms name you Jon Stark, Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell."
Tywin seemed satisfied with the exchange and nodded at the guards who then promptly picked the wildling and new Warden of the North up, tugging them away from the stage and through the crowd.
Tywin then turned back towards the group of nobles on the other side of the stage and his eyes fixated on the only lady there.
"Queen Kenna," his deep voice travelled over Robb's decapitated body, "It's now time for you to bend the knee and declare your allegiance to the Crown."
Kenna's eyes raged for a moment, she had never been good at submitting and the man demanding her oath knew that. Knew that bending the knee to Tommen was bending the knee to him as well. It was payback for making him kneel before her in that tent all those years ago.
Son of a whore, Kenna slandered in her mind, unable to resist flexing her fingers and feeling the weight of her blades on her wrists. The implication of what would happen to her if she refused to do so was clear. The crowd went quiet at the possibility of there being more than one beheading.
"Didn't see this happening, did you?" Tyrion slurred cheerily beside her as Artys stepped in front of her with his hand on the hilt of Silver Fang.
Kenna ignored the drunk Lord in favour of stopping Artys's advancement further. She placed a hand on top of Artys's and shook her head. She slowly walked to the edge of where Robb's blood was still running from his cut neck and measuredly knelt to Tommen, keeping her eyes locked onto Tywin's.
"I renounce the Vale's claim to independence, my title as Queen of the Vale and Mountain, and swear loyalty to King Tommen Baratheon, King of the Andals and First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms."
Tommen nodded, "I pardon your transgression of independence and name you as Warden of the East and Lady of … the Vale," Tommen stumbled, knowing the Eyrie no longer existed.
"Thank you, your Grace," Kenna replied, moving and returning to Artys's side.
"It's your turn now, King Artys," Tywin announced.
Artys gave Kenna a questioning look and she nodded, knowing there was no other choice for them.
Bastard.
That afternoon …
Still intact walls of the Red Keep facing Blackwater, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister) Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Tyrion watched the sun disappearing beneath the waves of the Narrow Sea. The water of the Blackwater Bay had never appeared darker as he peered over the edge of the battlements. It was the first time he was able to do so with the wall's battlements having been destroyed so the top of the wall was completely flat. He took two more swigs of the wine pouch in his hand and his feet moved to the edge. The gentle wind swayed all around him and the cooling air tickled his rosy cheeks.
Tyrion 'the Imp' Lannister had become Tyrion 'the Dragonslayer' overnight but he would give anything to become the ridiculed dwarf again.
He closed his eyes and his thoughts turned to Myrcella. She had always been kind to him, never afraid even as a little girl, never laughed at her mother's cruel jokes and now she and her babe were dead, turned to ashes by the wildfire he had ordered placed underneath the Throne room. She was dead because of him. Tommen's child hadn't reached its first name day because of him.
His toes crept over the edge and he threw the empty pouch over the wall and watched as it floated down to eventually splash into the black water below.
"Are you going to jump?"
Tyrion flinched, using his hands to rebalance himself before turning his head to see his father walking towards him, along the wall. He saw his Lannister guards in the distance.
"What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to inspect the damage and how much it'll cost me to rebuild."
"Here I thought you'd be in hiding from Kenna's fury but of course you are always thinking about the coin."
"Always thinking about the family. If Tommen is to have a successful and long reign, he needs his defences repaired and his armies replenished before those who wish to contest his rule can do the same."
Tyrion saw the pragmatic logic, and in the period of a few slow blinks, his father stood beside him on the edge.
"Are you going to jump?"
"That's what I came up here to do and you are interrupting."
"Why?"
Tyrion let out a frustrated grunt, "You don't let me live my life in peace and now you won't let me die in peace."
"Why?" Tywin asked again in a tone that reminded Tyrion of so many bad memories.
Tywin saw his son's jaw tighten and he asked again but in a softer voice than Tyrion hadn't thought him capable of, "Why?"
Tyrion exhaled a heavy breath, "Because I killed them, Aunt Genna, Myrcella, Myriah, and Steffon. I shot down Daenerys and her dragon causing it to crash into the Red Keep … into the stash of wildfire barrels that I had ordered to be placed underneath the Throne room. I'm responsible for their deaths."
Silence engulfed them and Tyrion half expected his father to simply push him over the edge with this confession but he kept breathing, kept enjoying the dimming sun in the distance until his father spoke.
"You didn't kill them," Tywin responded eventually looking out over the roaming waves. "If anyone killed them it was the Gods."
Tyrion turned on his father, "How can you say that? I killed them just like I killed my mother! The intention doesn't matter … just what happens matters."
Tywin's breathing quickened at the mention of Joanna and his buried emotions surfaced. He gulped but there was no lid he could place that would contain the years of repressed sadness he felt flow out of him in that moment. He saw Joanna's face in his inner mind as clear as the day they were married and knew what she would say in this situation to her son.
"She wouldn't want you to throw your life away for events that were beyond your control. For protecting your family, the best, you could," he whispered almost inaudibly, "If that dragon had lived, we might've all died."
Tyrion's faced creased and his eyebrows furrowed, "I don't understand. You've wanted me dead my entire life and now you … don't? You said you wanted the waves to wash me away well now they will."
"This war," Tywin said quickly before Tyrion could make his move, "recent events … family is important to me. You are my blood. You are my son and we still have family left, that we need to protect. The Westerlands needs you and Tommen will need you when I am gone, so will Yohn and Jorge."
Tyrion turned back away from his father's emotional face, feeling uncomfortable seeing him display such human expressions.
"It's your choice to jump or not to. Just know your family still needs you and what happened wasn't your fault. Your mother and Myrcella wouldn't have wanted this to be your end."
Tyrion watched his father leave the edge and walk back to his men without so much as a glance back at him but his words have lifted a burden from his shoulders. One he had been carrying since his youth. He stepped away from the edge and laid down on the dusty and rubble covered floor, staring up at the clouded sky and listening to his slowing heartbeat.
For Tommen, he promised his mother and Myrcella. It was only when he was walking down the steps of the wall he realised that his father had once again gotten what he wanted.
Next evening …
Chataya's Brothel, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Tyrell, Lannister) Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms
Tywin pushed through the secret door and quickly closed it behind him. Before he had a chance to turn and take in the familiar surroundings a grip on his shoulder rotated him and forcefully slammed him against the wardrobe door he had just entered through. It wasn't powerful enough to hurt him and his assailant was significantly smaller than him.
"Son of a whore," Kenna growled into his face as one of her blades went to his throat and the other hovered perilously at his nether regions.
Tywin lifted his fingers away from the hilt of Trident's Vengeance and raised his hands in surrender. He had been expecting an explosive reaction. They had not seen each other since she had effectively surrendered her crown to him but Kenna wouldn't do anything drastic, she valued her children's future more than soothing her hurt ego.
"Not enjoying being a lady again or having a king to serve?" Tywin asked, his eyes moving beyond her shoulder to take in the plush furniture, the fur rugs, the cyvasse set in the corner and the domineering bed in the middle of it all. This room never changed. It had been a sanctuary for him to become just a man in a woman's arms, not the feared Lord that ruled overall.
"You made me kneel."
"You made me kneel," Tywin fired back, leaning forward despite the flat knife-edge at his throat, "Did you really think I'd let you and your nephew rule over independent Kingdoms? If I had, it would have come to war. You know this."
Kenna gave out a roar but pushed away from Tywin to slump down into one of the chairs facing a flickering fire. He readjusted his tunic and outer garment before joining Kenna by standing in front of the fire with his back to her.
"Are Yohn and Jorge here?"
"Yes, they are asleep in one of the rooms. Qyburn is with them and the Knights of the Vale have secured the building. They are safe."
"In a whorehouse," Tywin chided, "When do you plan to leave the city?"
"Within the week. I need to get back to the Vale and my men want to return home, to their families and land."
Tywin nodded into the flames only to be caught off-guard when Kenna's hands snaked up his torso from behind, "This means we have limited time together."
"Forgiven me for making you bend the knee?" Tywin murmured, enjoying the close proximity and the way her hands undid his outer garment so it fell to the floor alongside the sword belt.
"No," she said bitterly but her hands begged to differ as they continued to undo buttons and threads.
An hour later …
"You think Tyrion will try again?" Kenna asked as she trailed kisses up his torso until she nuzzled at his neck, feeling the mattress brush against her cheek.
"No, not as long as he has someone to look after other than himself," Tywin replied, pulling the bedsheets over Kenna's scarred back as she hovered over him.
"Ah," Kenna murmured, recognising the pattern of Tywin's plotting. She stopped her movement so her hair completely surrounded his face, "This point is leading somewhere?"
"Tyrion will eventually go back to the Westerlands and rule in my stead. I'd like Jorge to go with him."
"Not my eldest, Yohn?" she inquired as her lips found the scar Cersei had given him on his stomach.
"Jorge has the Lannister looks and Yohn the Arryn features it makes sense for him to rule the Westerlands and his older brother to rule the Vale," Tywin concluded as his hands dragged Kenna back up his body so he could kiss her forcefully.
"I agree," Kenna managed to get out between kisses, "it will benefit … Jorge's future leadership of the West and … give Tyrion someone to look after."
"I thought you'd fight this more," Tywin said, as Kenna rolled off him to rest her head beside his, in the nock of his neck.
"I can't fault the logic and as much as I don't want to let Jorge go; it is for his future that I do so."
Tywin grabbed for her hand that was still healing from the Sand Snakes ill-fated assassination attempted and pressed a few light kisses to the palm.
"How are you?" Kenna asked as she enjoyed the tender movements of Tywin's lips on her skin.
Tywin didn't relinquish her hand but couldn't hide his hesitation from her, "You do not need to concern yourself with how I am feeling."
"You lost a sister, a granddaughter and two great-grandchildren, it's acceptable to grieve for them and mourn their loss."
Tywin couldn't avoid her searching eyes, especially when she moved to lie flat over him with her arms crossed on his chest and her chin resting atop them.
"I will, once Tommen is secure on the throne," came the predictable response.
Kenna shook her head gently but knew better than to try to change his ways. He either would or he wouldn't so she moved past the difficult subject.
"It was smart sending Lord Jon Stark back to Winterfell. The North can only be controlled by a Stark and he seems to have more of his father in him than Robb ever did. He will be a good Warden of the North and with a Wilding wife he will never command enough respect to marshal the full forces of the North against the South in the future."
"Mmm," Tywin grunted as it was his turn to scrutinising Kenna's expression for any hint of remorse over Robb Stark's death.
"Stop it," Kenna said firmly, burying her face behind her arms but there was no hiding from Tywin.
He switched their positions so she was trapped underneath him, their legs intertwined and his hands went either side of her face.
"You cared for Robb Stark," he stated.
"We fought in a war together, bonds were formed … and broken."
"He would've killed you for his new Queen and his actions would've doomed your children and House."
"I know this," Kenna said, "that is why he is a headless corpse right now."
Tywin gave her another appraising look but seemed to have seen what he wanted and lowered himself into the other half of the bed to relax into the pillows.
Kenna shifted to curl into his chest, "How goes the search for Tommen's new wife?"
"There are several suitable matches in the Crownlands and the Stormlands but House Rosby would be the best match politically," Tywin revealed as Kenna's fingers traced small circles into his abdomen.
"Stability is key now. Tommen's children will sit the Iron Throne and rule the Stormlands. Loras will compete with the Hightowers to rule the Reach. What is left of House Martell will do whatever the fuck they will do."
"And your children will rule the Westerlands and the Vale," Tywin said, his hand settling on her stomach.
"Our children," Kenna corrected, placing a hand over Tywin's, "If I have a girl, I'm calling her Leyla and if it is another boy, I shall call him Jasper, after my grandfather."
"He will be my son, a Lannister."
Kenna rolled her eyes at the demanding and entitled tone, "What would you suggest if I bear a son?"
"I would have my son be called Tyson and I would have my child birthed in King's Landing so I can see them," his voice went to a whisper, "I want to hear their first cries and watch them experience their first day in this world. I was denied that with Yohn and Jorge."
"We'll see on the name," Kenna said non-committedly but understood a father's urge to see his newborn when the time came, "I'll come to King's Landing under some pretext when the time is near assuming we aren't at war by that point."
Tywin gave a small huff of amusement, knowing Kenna's words were just bluster. House Arryn was firmly once again under the Crown's thumb. His hand rubbed along her side and his mind turned to the pleasures the two of them could enjoy together again in the coming hours.
"I heard Tommen plans on naming Artys as the new Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Riverlands," Kenna asked, knowing there was still important matters to discuss before they renewed their nightly activities to the fullest.
"It's true. Tommen considers Artys a friend, the first true friendship he has ever made."
"Artys will not let Tommen down," she said seriously, "Artys is better than me, he will serve Tommen faithfully but how do you expect him to command the River Lords? He has no claim to Tully heritage and lacks an army to enforce his orders."
"He supported his King and bent the knee, so goes the spoils of war and he has a Great Axe and a scheming aunt to help him hold his new seat."
"He would need a quick marriage to one of his vassals to secure support from within the Riverlands. House Bracken or House Blackwood are not options, a marriage with one would make an enemy of the other," Kenna slid a hand down his torso, not forgetting Tywin's words, "scheming, am I?"
"Undoubtfully," Tywin's hands continued to explore, reaching her upper thighs. "House Mallister would be a good choice."
"So, this is a ploy to keep me distracted and busy so you can consolidate Tommen's power without having to worry about me?"
Tywin didn't reply but roughly kissed her as his fingers went in-between her legs. That was all the indication Kenna needed to know she had been right. They were lovers and parents together but they were also opponents in this game and nothing would change that for as long as both lived.
Author's Notes:
This ending under King Tommen is undoubtedly a different tone from the original ending with the Lannisters still on top through Tommen's rule and Kenna effectively defeated as well.
No one but Jon and Ygritte know the truth about Jon's parentage but I'm not sure Jon would push his Targaryen heritage in this ending scenario so I think the future would be more stable in this version than in the original to be honest.
RIP
Robb Stark (Executed with Trident's Vengeance for treason against the Crown)
With Tywin still alive and Jon as a fallback to rule the North this was going to happen. The Kenna Robb relationship in this scenario hasn't had the 'healing' talk of Chapter 111: The Black Pact so they were both colder towards each other and Kenna more indifferent to his execution because his betrayal of her is still unmitigated in her mind.
Reviews:
Supremus85 – What!? No fair! xD I guess they survive then … *grumbles* in this version.
Antares Graceford – I know lol but there were heavy consequences for what Tyrion did which I hope I showed in the Tywin & Tyrion scene.
Tohka123 – Thanks! This chapter showcases what I think the 'aftermath' would have looked like as well.
Cleo9427 – An interesting idea, I will say not right now but have added to my notebook that contains all potential future ideas.
TheZombieWolf – Haha, I liked the concept of the perceived most protected bunch of people getting taken out and it was all set up really with the wildfire underneath the Throne room and I knew I wanted Tyrion to take out a dragon and become a 'Dragonslayer' because he was so fascinated by dragons when he was a child then I put two and two together and got BOOM!
Next Up: Scenario 3! (See Chapter 119 for scenario list)
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