Hi, so this is my Game of Thrones fanfiction. Now, I know that George R.R. Martin hates it when people make fanfiction of his work and if this offensive to him, I'm sorry. I love G.O.T and I wanted to make a fanfiction for some time now. Anyway, read and review please! :)
3rd P.O.V. Highgarden
"Rowtag, they killed Rowtag!"
Seraphine had to sit herself down at the news.
Rowtag, Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South is dead.
Her cousin is dead.
Her husband is dead.
The tears came freely down from her crimson eyes and stained her rosy cheeks. She put her hands of over her eyes and softly wept for the love of her life. This damned war was taking everything away from her.
The Knight who delivered the news swallowed.
The rumors were true.
Even when upset, it only enhances the mysterious beauty of the women from House Pyralis.
The silence was broken by a desolate voice, coming from the figure who was staring out the window, with watered dark crimson eyes, towards the fire raged hills in the distance.
"I don't believe it."
The Knight sighed. He knew this woman would be in denial, after all it did seem impossible.
Rowtag was an excellent fighter and tactician. One of the best in Seven Kingdoms, plus the Riverlands. He had been trained in multiple types of combat and was as sharp as a needle.
However, Ned Stark was better. While Rowtag Pyralis had the training, he did not have the grit or the stomach to kill someone he once considered a close friend. Ned Stark did though, and this made him better.
"My Lady, I saw it myself, from a distance. He was beheaded."
Gellian saw as her body went rigid at this new information, something he immediately regretted telling her.
Another moment of silence.
"Who?"
"I'm not sure what you mean, My Lady. Who what?"
Seraphine snapped her head around and her dark crimson eyes began to glow a bright gold. In a dark voice she asked, "Who killed my husband?"
The knight gulped in fear of the ethereal being.
"Ned Stark."
Seraphine looked down, the anger fading, as well as the gold glow in her eyes, guilt over their past actions bubbling up in her stomach. "Of course he would. He has every reason to kill him. Every single reason in the world."
The news hurt that their former friend killed her husband, but not as much as other things.
Seraphine sat back down in the chair, looking out the window again, examing the fields that surrounded her home.
"Is that all you came to tell me, Ser Gellian?"
Gellian shook his head. "We're losing the war. Rhaegar is dead, as well as Ellia and her children. Jaime Lannister killed the king."
Seraphine's eyes widened at this, yet her demeanor remained calm.
"If the king and the prince are dead, then how is it the war still continues on? What more could they want?"
Gellian took a breath and said what he needed to, for they were wasting too much time talking. He needed to get her out, NOW! They didn't have much time left.
"Robert wants blood. He wants the blood of every Targaryen. He wants the blood of the Dragon...and the Phoenix."
Seraphine turned her full body around this time, and covered her mouth in shock.
"The Phoenix? WE DIDN'T START THIS DAMN WAR! We only wanted to help out family, it was our obligation to do so." Even telling herself this couldn't rid the demons that tortured her with guilt from the mistakes she and her husband made this past year.
Gellian nodded, "That is true yes, but you are the Targaryen's biggest supporters. If they were to make a return, you would be their strongest allies. Not to mention if he had killed every Targaryen, your family would be next in line for the Iron Throne. You hold a position of great power, and it is too much of a risk to keep you alive, a risk Robert is not willing to take. They are slaughtering your family as we speak."
Seraphine nodded slowly and got up. She walked to the window, examining the fields once more while she played with the necklace that sat on her collarbone.
She turned to the sandy-haired knight.
"What do I do then?"
Gellian walked over to her, and started to pull Seraphine by her forearm.
He pulled her out of the new and unused nursery, leading her down the hallway.
"I arranged transport on a boat heading towards Braavos. There you'll make your way to an associate of the Spider. He has your cousins in a safe house. You still have family, and you'll be tasked as their guardian."
Seraphine walked along side Gellian at a fast pace through the corridors of the castle.
"What cousins do you speak of?"
Gellian didn't bother to look at her as they turned another sharp corner.
"Viserys and Daenerys."
Seraphine's heart swelled at the thought of taking care of the new baby, Daenerys and her small five-year-old cousin, Viserys.
Seraphine nodded in agreement to Gellian. She needed to make it alive, for her cousins. She needed to protect them. To protect her own child.
As they came into a great hall, shouting from the other side of the massive doors that were the entrance could be heard.
"Gellian!" Seraphine gasped gripping tightly on the Knights forearm.
"It's gonna be alright, My Lady. I know another way."
They quietly went towards a wall tapestry and Gellian lifted it to reveal a door. He opened it, ushered Seraphine in, dropped the tapestry, and shut the door. Gellian grabbed a torch from the wall and lit it with a spark rock, creating a flame for the torch.
They walked what seemed forever until they came to a small boulder.
Giving the torch to Seraphine, Gellian pushed the boulder aside with his shoulder and back, until it slowly started to move. It revealed a gap big enough for them to duck through.
They went through the gap and came into a clearing. Turning around, Seraphine in the distance could see the castle of Highgarden, several miles away, surrounded by Baratheon and Stark banners.
They made it out just in time.
Holding back a choked sob, Lady Pyralis did her best to compose herself and followed Gellian.
However, Seraphine knew in her heart she would never be back.
She would miss Highgarden, the castle's gardens, the festivals, and the memories with it. Though for most of her life she did not spend at Highgarden, this was the place she got married at. This was the place she fell in love. This was the home of her future. But now those dreams and fond memories see gone.
Seraphine knew she needed to leave Westeros, for there wasn't much time and more important things were at stake.
"Where will I get the money for transport? "
Gellian didn't say anything but with his back turned, he held up a medium sized bag.
"Before I came and got you, I went to your room. Rowtag told me before battle, should he die, I am to get this from your room and take you out of the country."
"He knew about Varys' plan?"
"Yes."
Seraphine felt a fond smile for her cousin twitching at the corners of her lips. He was always the preparer and Rowtag did not leave any stone unturned when thinking of a plan.
They came to a halt and ducked behind some bushes as they saw some riders coming forward, carrying Lannister Banners.
They rode past and the duo let out a sigh of relief.
Then a voice broke out.
"Well, well, well what 'ave we here?"
As soon as Gellian and Seraphine turned around, a sword went through Gellian's shoulder.
Seraphine screamed, and tried to run away but ended up running into the arms of another solider.
The first solider put his foot to Gellian's chest and pushed his body off of the blade.
The Knight of Highgarden closed his lavender eyes and laid still.
Seraphine struggled against her captor, screaming her friend's name.
"GELLIAN! GELLIAN, WAKE UP! PLEASE!"
"Now calm down miss, we ain't gonna hurt you."
Seraphine kept struggling, even as they bound her arms to a rope and tied the rope to the saddle of a horse. The two men took the satchel of jewels and gold from Gellian and his sword, Fire Forger.
The soldiers got on the horse and rode slowly for about a mile and half, with Seraphine in tow, which she detested due to how swollen her feet had gotten.
They arrived at a camp with Baratheon, Lannister, Tyrell, Tully, and Stark banners.
Seraphine's heart froze in fear as they stopped to enter into the camp.
She started to thrash around wildly, trying to get out of her binds.
It was no use
'No, no, no! Not here!' She thought to herself with panic.
The solider who stabbed Gellian untied her rope from the saddle and dragged her through the camp.
The men who saw her recognized her immediately. The look of the Phoenix is a distinct look.
Brown-Red hair for women, while the men had Blue-Black hair. Both had dark crimson eyes.
The men sniggered and jeered at her.
They laughed at her humiliation and defeat.
They laughed at her family's failure to win the war.
They threw rotten meat and mud at her.
Some threatened to slit her throat.
One or two even threatened to have their way with her that very night.
The men who threatened her were obviously Southern, because as she scanned the crowd for a familiar face or for someone to aide her, Seraphine saw that the men wearing the colors of Northern houses did not partake in the obscene jesting at her expense. Rather, most ignored her or looked sympathetic to her plight.
The walk of shame seemed eternal until they came to an enormous tent.
The solider went behind her and pushed her inside. They came to a table where two strapping young men were inside talking. The one with black hair narrowed his eyes at the sight of her.
The solider behind her kicked the back of her knees.
Seraphine gave a yelp of pain as she was forced to bow down to the Usurper.
"I got the fire bitch like I was told." The solider spit at her, phlegm landing near her dress. She shivered with disgust.
"Turns out Maester Lomys did know where to look. You may tell him that he's free to leave."
Disbelief rocked the young Phoenix as she found out that her trusted Maester was a turncloak.
The solider bowed and left.
Robert narrowed his eyes at Seraphine, as did Ned.
Seraphine, for a moment, became puzzled. The last she heard, these two were no longer speaking to each other, though she didn't know why. Regardless, she pushed any observation about the Stag and the Direwolf from her mind.
Robert walked around Seraphine, analyzing her like a predator would a prey, right before striking. "So," he drawled out slowly, "The last bird, trapped in my cage. I would tell the soldiers to bring your sister and father in here to comfort you but, I had them executed earlier. "
'No...it can't be!' She thought desperately. Seraphine glanced to Robert and saw the truth in his eyes. 'Analia was different! She was innocent, she did nothing wrong!'
Seraphine looked down, tears dripping down her face. Their blood was on her and Rowtag's hands.
"You're a slippery little one, aren't you? I'm hoping you can do what your relatives refused to do: talk."
Seraphine snapped her head up.
"Talk about what? You know fully well that we were dragged into this war the same as everyone else."
Robert knelt down to reach eye level and grasped her chin, his nails digging into her skin. His Baratheon blue eyes met her Pyralis crimson ones. One type of fire meeting another.
"Not about the war, idiot woman. About Lyanna. Where is she?"
She jerked her head out of his grasp and looked away.
"I don't know." She mumbled quietly. It was a lie. She knew it, and apparently so did Robert.
He backhanded her.
"LIAR!"
"ROBERT!" Ned's voice broke the tension as the two looked at him.
Rubbing the red spot on her cheek, Seraphine looked at Ned. For a moment, she remembered how this was the man who was once considered by her father to be a marital candidate for her. She remembered how when they met for the first time, she noticed how his eyes did not linger on her but rather a far greater beauty, Ashara Dayne.
And now she was a widow, Ashara was pregnant with a bastard by some unknown man, and he was married to her closest friend.
"Lyanna may be the woman you love, but she is my sister! Seraphine may be family to House Targaryen, but she is still a Lady."
Seraphine felt the guilt bubble up in her again. How could he still defend her after knowing what she and her husband did to his family?
Ned's arms crossed in front of him and his face filled with anger, but his eyes held sympathy for Seraphine.
"Even if I told you every bit of valuable information, I would still die. Wouldn't I?"
Robert nodded fiercely, while Ned shook his head.
Robert look at Ned in shock.
"You would have me let a traitor live? Let a Phoenix live?"
Ned shook his head and answered, "I would not have you spare a traitor." He uncrossed his arms and directed his gaze towards Seraphine.
Or rather Seraphine's protruding stomach.
"I would have you spare a child and their mother."
Robert's face went red. "You'd have me spare an unborn Phoenix? For what purpose? To be mocked, to hold no lands, or perhaps to bring back any remaining Targaryens? They'll grow up with vengeance in their heart and want revenge for their family. It is more mercy to kill it now."
Ned glared at his friend.
"An unborn child is innocent from everything, even their family's crimes. Hasn't there been enough bloodshed and death? A child needs a mother. Seraphine is a woman. What harm could one woman do?"
"It is her title that matters. Her family is next in line for the Iron Throne. Do you really want some unnatural THING to rule over our lands?! I don't. Kill her and kill her brat. The less of them the better."
"I will not allow it! I have had enough of innocent children dying on your orders, Robert. You touch her baby and you will no longer have any hands to touch with."
The two men stood chest to chest as they glared at each other.
"Are you threatening me, Stark?"
Then Seraphine knew what she had what she had to do to save the life of her unborn child.
She looked up to the ceiling and asked the Gods to forgive her for what she was about to do.
She asked for forgiveness from her ancestors for her choice she was about to make.
She asked for forgiveness from her family for what she was going decide.
She asked that her husband forgive her, because his loyalty for his family (which brought him to his ultimate end) would have been for nothing.
She asked that if her unborn child ever find out about what she was about to do, that they would not think any less of her.
And most importantly, she asked the Gods for the will to forgive herself.
Seraphine took a breath.
"I am prepared to make a deal with you, Robert Baratheon."
Robert turned from Ned and glared at her.
"Speak and I might listen."
Ned, sensing something was amiss was about to interject, but Seraphine shot him a look that silenced him.
"In exchange for the life, safety, and overall well-being of my unborn child, I will give you the information you seek. ONLY, if I get a written agreement for my baby's life and safety from you or anyone who wishes to do them harm. I will be allowed to live at least until my baby is a year old, and after that time, you may execute me if you wish."
Robert looked gob smacked, while Ned couldn't believe what she was saying.
Seraphine turned to look at Eddard, and she shut her eyes tightly, opening them up again to reveal red, watered eyes.
"Ned...I want you to be the guardian of my child. Teach them how you wish to, raise them in the North, and perhaps... perhaps they won't make the same mistakes their family did."
Before Ned could say anything Robert said, "I accept."
Ned looked at Robert in anger and disbelief.
"What?!"
Robert ignored Ned and bent down to Seraphine's eye level again.
"Here is the deal: I will execute you eight months after your baby is born. If it is a boy, I will kill it and if it is a girl she may live. I won't risk a boy trying to go after me and take back Highgarden when he becomes of age. If it's a girl, she will know nothing of her heritage until she's sixteen and Ned will raise her as he wishes. She'll be married off to Ned's choice at seventeen and will hold no lands and have no dowry. He will keep me updated monthly on her growth and if she shows any signs of being like you, she'll die. After this conversation you'll be a formal prisoner of the North and of House Stark. You'll be escorted to Winterfell where you will give birth, and where you'll eventually be executed. Is that understood?"
A moment of pause ensured.
Eddard couldn't believe what he had to bear witness to.
In one way, it was despicable on how quickly Seraphine was willing to betray her family.
In another, it was the most admirable scene ever; a mother willing to be executed for the safety of her child.
"I understand. I trust the honor of the Starks to take care of my baby." Ned shook his head at his friend.
He couldn't believe Robert was agreeing to this atrocity, especially without asking if he was willing to take on a ward when he'd barely become a father himself.
On second thought, yes he could.
"Good, I'll draw up some papers soon. Now tell me what I want to know."
"Lyanna is imprisoned at the Tower of Joy from what I last heard. She could be somewhere else by now but that's the best lead I have."
"And when did you hear of this information?" Robert inquired gruffly.
"A fortnight ago." Seraphine answered looking down in shame.
Ned stared at her and shook his head. He knew that she was not the one who helped aid Rhaegar in his endeavours- no, that was Rowtag. But her being aware of where his sister was at proved that Seraphine Pyralis had a bigger part in this war than she let on.
Ned started to move out of the tent but before he could leave Seraphine shouted, "Wait! There's something else you need to know."
She took a deep breath and looked both men in the eyes as she released the information that would officially deem her a traitor to both sides of the war.
"The Prince Viserys and the Princess Daenerys Targaryen are alive. They are somewhere in Essos, though I know not where."
********************
After betraying her family, Seraphine was escorted to small guarded tent.
And she was lucky it was guarded because when news reached the camp that Howland Reed and Ned Stark were with Lyanna when she drew her last breath, Robert was absolutely beside himself.
She could hear his howling with pain as he went about the camp shouting in a drunken rage.
He wanted Seraphine's head right then and there as a form of repayment for his lost love, but he already drawn up papers with Ned Stark as a witness to keep Seraphine alive for the time being, so legally he could not kill her. Seraphine kept to herself in the tent, afraid to step foot outside. Everyone looked at her with disdain and hatred.
After six weeks Ned, Seraphine, and Ned's bastard baby (Yes, she was quite shocked when she learned of Ned's infidelity) made their way to the gates of Winterfell. He informed her on the way that his wife would be arriving the same time they would, with his newborn legitimate son arriving in a couple weeks aftwards with a Septa and the rest of Catelyn's possessions.
The young Phoenix did not respond much, for she had no reason to judge.
After all, who was the one who betrayed their family between the two?
A guard led her inside where she passed her old acquaintance, Catelyn Tully, in the hall.
She was exiting out from one of the rooms, her red hair shining bright and her Tully blue eyes curious as to what a Pyralis was doing at Winterfell.
"Sera, is that you?" Seraphine didn't answer, even as she brushed her shoulder against Cat's.
"What are you doing here? Seraphine!"
She stayed silent as the girl from Riverrun called out to her. She was led into a comfy bedroom with barred windows.
The guard shut the door behind her and she heard a 'click'.
She looked through the window, down at the courtyard where Catelyn was seen running to greet Eddard. She could see her stop abruptly as Catelyn caught sight of the cute little baby bastard boy, and start to shout at Ned.
All over an innocent baby, a tiny person who did nothing wrong.
'The Gods do have a way of being ironic.' Seraphine thought.
So anyway, read, review, and rest easy! :) Things will switch back from the past to present for several chapters. I will be changing some minor details but it's overall canon and will be sticking to the plot pretty closely.