Sister's Keeper
Edited by xXFallenSakuraXx52
Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones
Chapter 62: The Lioness Envoy
Alysanne's POV
"Safe travels," I told Yara on the docks as she and her fleet would soon be sailing off to Dorne with Tyene Sands. It has been two weeks since the Unsullied sailed off to Casterly Rock. Captain Aurane and Lord Paxter advised that the Greyjoys sail down the Narrow Sea and not on the coast. There have been reports of Euron's Iron Fleet have been sailing around the Blackwater Bay. We assume that Euron is trying to form a blockade to prevent my army from getting close to King's Landing.
"I will," Yara said, as we did the Greyjoy shake. "In a month or two, this will all be over."
"You will have the Iron Islands and I the Seven Kingdoms," I agreed. "Two Queens in the world of men."
Yara snorted with a smirk, before walking up to her ship. Theon gave a slight bow, which I nodded to him in return as a sign of respect. I stood there with my guards, watching the Greyjoy Fleet leaving the bay sailing south to Dorne. It won't be long now. In a few months, I will reclaim my home, and unite the Seven Kingdoms to prepare the Realm for the Long Night.
Varys came over, "A raven arrived from the North?"
"And?" I asked.
"The King in the North shall be sailing down in two weeks unless the winds are kind," Varys answered.
"Good," I said, as I started walking back to the Castle. "Tell me, Spider, what was Lord Eddard Stark like?"
I need a better knowledge of Jon Snow. All that I know of him is that he is the bastard son of Lord Eddard Stark. Once a member of the Night's Watch as Lord Commander. He then supported his sister Lady Sansa in fighting the Boltons, in the bloodiest battle in the North in the past four hundred years as the conflict has been declared the Battle of the Bastards. Now the Northmen acknowledged him as the King of the North. The people chose him, and I respect that, but I need to make sure he is a fair king. Lord Tyrion talked about the King in the North, along with his sister Lady Sansa, but children are raised by their parents in their upbringing.
"He was an honest and honorable man, Lord Eddard. Ofttimes I forget that. I have met so few of them in my life ... When I see what honesty and honor have won him." Varys replied.
"And yet he sires a bastard," I noted.
"And you married your brother," Varys countered.
I gave him a warning look not to go there.
"Apologies," Varys replied with a bow. "But why must you know of a dead man?"
"The dead hold many secrets," I said. "Secrets that the living wants to forget."
"You've grown wiser since your resurrection, my Queen," he noted.
"When death kisses you on the lips, you see the world differently," I murmured.
Varys nodded in agreement as we have fall into silence. As we continue to make our way back to the castle, Daenerys was coming down the stairs with discontent. Something was not right, as I made my way over to her.
"What's wrong, sister?" I asked.
"Queen Cersei has sent an envoy," Daenerys answered.
"An envoy?" I asked a bit confused.
Based off of Varys, Ser Barristan, and Lord Tyrion's reports on the Lioness, she doesn't seem to be one to negotiate. The daughter of Tywin Lannister, willing to relinquish her power over the Iron Throne, when she has no king's blood in her veins. Then again, the Lannisters used to be Kings three hundred years ago, but she doesn't have the blood of the dragon that defines the inheritance to the Iron Throne. Unless learning about my numbers and allies has made her reconsider on abdicating.
We made our way back to the castle and into the throne room where the envoy stood. It was a single man, dressed in dark robes as the hood cover his face while holding a gittern. Tyrion stood there, tensed as if he knows the envoy. Missandei started the introduction:
"You stand before Alysanne Targaryen, Queen of Meereen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men. Breaker of Chains and Dragoness of the West. May I ask who you are?"
The envoy remained quiet.
"What message do you bring from Cersei Lannister?" I asked.
The envoy adjusted the gittern before plucking the strings away playing a melody that seemed melancholy. Not long after, he started singing in a deep voice.
And who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat,
that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red,
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord,
as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke,
that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall,
with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,
and not a soul to hear.
The Rains of Castamere, I thought.
It was a warning. It has been known to be sung when disciplining unruly vassals; most lords send armies. Lord Tywin Lannister only had to send a singer. There's no faster way to dull a vassal's ambition or any festive occasion than hearing 'The Rains of Castamere.' Now his daughter continues this practice. The only problem was, I am not a vassal. I am Queen Alysanne Targaryen, and I am here to reclaim my home. To take back my birthright and prepare the people for the Long Night.
All eyes were on me, questioning my reaction. For the envoy dare to sing that song is considered to be an insult. Daenerys even scowled, though kept her composure since the message was pointed at me. Keeping a neutral face, I walked over to the envoy though kept a safe distance in case a weapon was missed. The man, shroud in black, mainly stood there caressing his gittern. A replica of the Stranger. Only he was a mere mortal delivering a message. It was clear Cersei Lannister will not abdicate her power. And since she was not an anointed queen by the Seven or the old religion, she holds no spiritual connection to the Realm, and she quickly declared war.
So, facing the envoy, I stared where his eyes would be. "Anything else?"
The envoy shook his head.
"You accepted death, knowing that coming here would be a suicide mission," I noted.
The envoy said nothing.
"I will let you leave with your life and send a message Queen Cersei," I said, staring intensely into his dark eyes. "Tell her that she is not going against a red lion, but a red dragon. Tell her, do not test my power, and do not tempt my fury. Relinquish her claim over the Iron Throne or her House will weep o'er her hall, and not a soul to hear."
The envoy's eyes widen slightly.
With nothing else to say, I excused myself wanting some privacy. I made my way to Aegon's Garden. Luckily, Cersei did not burn the garden down as she did with the limited crops. The garden was different from all the gardens I've encountered in Essos. Just like the song the envoy said, there was a melancholy sense to it. Within grows tall dark trees, wild roses, towering thorny hedges, and cranberries about. The scent of piney engulfed the air, masking all the other fragrances. Every now and there would be statues of dragons, statues of the Targaryens, and statues of the Valyrian gods. The lack of care, allowed moss and vines to cover the statues, strangling away what remains of the dragon lords.
Ser Barristan accompanies on the walk. A neutral silence, since there was nothing much to talk about. Morning training went as expected, then the departure from the Greyjoys. In a few more months, the Lannisters will be overthrown, and House Targaryen will be restored. The thought somewhat bothered me. I was questioning myself if I truly wanted to be Queen and comparing it to the dream the Warlocks made. I was happy in the illusion, a businesswoman with a son and husband. Now I am a conqueror, destined to help Westeros against the Long Night and through the journey experience so much suffering. And what is my reward in all this? The Iron Throne. After much thinking is it worth it? Sentimental value, yes. However, power is not as tempting as it used to be.
Ever since being resurrected, ruling the Seven Kingdoms doesn't hold an appeal. I want to get it done with and move on. Once the Great War is done, what's the point? The past several years has been war. A war of survival. All my life, I thought I would never return to Westeros again. Even when Viserys worked on his schemes with host families and sellswords, I expected less. Viserys made things worse. Now, all that has happened, the suffering and death …what's the point? I spent years focusing on a war that no one will believe is going to happen. Another Doom, only it was ice and death.
Unfortunately, a negative reputation is placed on House Targaryen. It all began with Maegor and continued over the years until it ended with King Aerys the Second and Rhaegar Targaryen. I wanted to restore House Targaryen's name, redeem my House before it goes into extinction. Let history remember that not all Targaryens are that bad. So many thoughts ponder me about the future. All I ever wanted; I can never have. Not in this life at least.
And the Warlocks taunted me of it.
I sighed, pinching the brim of my nose. When I opened my eyes, I saw Lady Olenna sitting on a stone bench reading a letter. Curious in what it was, I walked over to the Queen of Thornes. Lady Olenna brought up a good point, that I need to not rely on my Small Council. I've spent years relying on Ser Jorah, Ser Barristan, Varys, and Tyrion. Already, I'm questioning Tyrion's strategy plan on collecting Casterly Rock. Ser Barristan had to interfere from the straightforward method of taking the Rock. Making sure not all our forces go straight to Casterly Rock but in different parts of the West Coast. So, the Lannisport will be under siege at the same time as Casterly Rock. Ser Barristan knows Ser Jaime; he'd taught and trained the young knight. Expect the unexpected, and House Lannister is about Order, they will expect a direct assault on King's Landing, and a possible on the Rock.
"Lady Olenna," I greeted.
The Queen of Thornes looked up, "Your Grace."
"How are you?" I asked.
"Still living," Lady Olenna answered. "Out of all the gardens in Westeros, this is the most deviant."
"Deviant?" I asked.
"Dark, sad at the same time. Well, at least it's better than the gardens in King's Landing." She answered. "Tempted to throw myself off a cliff if I had to do another leisure stroll."
I tried not to snort, then changed the subject, "How are your Grandsons?"
"My oldest grandson, Willas, has done what you recommended and has evacuated Highgarden and the villages nearby. Our fortune is being transferred to Oldtown as we speak. My second, Garlan, is getting our forces together, calling the banners, expect one House is not accounted for."
"And which House is that?"
"House Tarly. Apparently, the most loyal House in the Reach has turncoat."
"Lord Randyll Tarly serving House Lannister?" Ser Barristan asked surprised.
I looked at my Queensguard, "What do you know of Lord Tarly?"
"He is the Reaches best War General. The only man to defeat Robert Baratheon in single combat, at the Battle of Ashford, and cut down Lord Cafferen." Ser Barristan informed. "The Tarly's were loyal to the Targaryens."
"And to House Tyrell," Lady Olenna added. "A man who praises of his honor, and yet dishonors himself."
"We will need to be careful," Ser Barristan noted.
I nodded then sighed, "Terrific."
"Terrific, once this war is over, my grandson is getting married," Lady Olenna announced.
"Congratulations," I said, being respectful. "May I have asked who?"
"Some noble girl name Elain. I can't remember what House, only that it has some deer on it." Lady Olenna replied. "All I could say is finally. My oaf of a son prolonged Willas from being married hoping he could match him with a Great House or a Gardener descendant."
"I'm sure Lady Elain will make him happy," I said.
"Well, she's smart, thank the Seven. Not many give her credit," Lady Olenna agreed.
"No one gives women enough credit," I said.
Lady Olenna barked up a laugh, "You and Margaery would've gotten along."
"We could have if the rebellion hasn't accorded," I said. "But we cannot focus on the what if's?"
Although, remembering Rhaegar mentioning of arranging a match between Quentyn Martell, Willas Tyrell, and Garlan Tyrell. Men who were around my age at the time. The Tyrells were loyal to the Targaryens. Have been since King Aegon awarded the Reach to them, since the extinction of House Gardener. So, the chances of a noble lady assigned as my ladies in waiting are possible. In the end, Margaery Tyrell is dead, and I am not. A possible future of peace under Rhaegar is gone after a mistake.
"And you will keep your word if the Lannisters does siege Highgarden?" Lady Olenna asked.
"I promised, if the Lannisters do siege Highgarden, I will get it back to your family," I promised. "I don't want what happened in King's Landing long ago happen again."
No more lives be taken in brutality. No more men, women, and children, being slaughtered. Women raped. Houses and homes destroyed. And most importantly, another House falling into extinction. Too many lives have been destroyed by House Lannister. House Reyne challenged the Lannisters and had it coming. But House's Targaryen, the Starks, the Tullys, the Baratheons were pawns who challenged their authority based on the principles of morals. House Tyrell are opportunist, other than marrying in. I do not know why Cersei Lannisters holds a vendetta against Margaery and the others. But a woman who has committed an atrocity by destroying the Sept of Baelor to avoid her trial, killing thousands of innocent people needs to be taken down.
Hey Guys,
Sorry for the long wait, I am on vacation seeing my family. Updates will be different since I am doing some volunteer work and a part-time job this summer. Along with…well, you know how the majority feels about season seven and season eight, and it's messed up continuity.
Thanks for reading and please leave a review!