Game of Thrones

Long Road Home

Chapter III

"There's too much blood."

She had heroes when she was a girl. Her mother and father first, then the princesses and knights of the songs. But it was not until she met her, that she had a real hero in her life. In a different life a King had come to her home, she was awe-inspired by his knights, and his son, the handsome Prince. But it was the Queen she remembered most. She had always wanted to be one of the princesses from the songs, but when she laid eyes on her, golden hair, the most exquisite dresses, a beauty that only came with royalty… that was when she knew she wanted to be a queen. There was a time she thought she was being naive, now she was just embarrassed.

"Hello Little Dove." Cersei Lannister stood on the steps of the Red Keep, resplendent in crimson and gold, an ermine collar about her neck. Her gold spun hair tied up in an elaborate style. "You're perfect aren't you? Look at you, a Queen. It's what you always wanted."

Sansa swallowed hard, in an instant she was a little girl again. She was eased as Lady sat close to her, resting her head on her leg. "Hello Cersei."

"Cersei?" She gave a sly grin "You used to call me Your Grace."

"A lot has changed since then." Sansa's voice was cold, firm.

"Tell me little dove, did you ever find your prince?" Cersei slowly descended the stairs to the Red Keep, and stood before The Queen in the North "No. Of course you haven't. You are destined to be alone, Little Dove."

"Still so hateful." Sansa sighed "I thought death may have humbled you."

"What do you know of death, sweet girl?" Cersei gave a sad smile "It's not your time."

"There's too much blood." A voice echoed again. Cersei looked to the sky, Sansa allowed her gaze to follow. Lady barked. In an instant the sky was torn open, Sansa saw a man in black robes dominating the skyline, a maesters chain about his neck, Ladies in waiting rushing about behind him. "There's too much blood." He cried. In an instant the sky repaired itself, she was looking at dull grey clouds, no sun, no moon, no stars, a gentle drizzle started to fall. Lady barked.

"Is that the beast I had put to death?" Cersei gave a smirk.

"Actually I believe King Robert gave the command." Sansa replied coldly, as she looked her dead in the eye.

Cersei smiled again "There was a time you wouldn't dare meet my gaze. You've grown, Little Dove."

"I had a good teacher." Sansa's face remained like stone

Cersei stood silent for a moment, a beautiful statue not talking or moving "Don't become like me." She said gravely. "Live, Little Do…." Cersei fell to the floor, spread out on the steps of the Red Keep, her body twisted and contorted as if a great weight had fallen on her. Sansa looked down at her body with a detached curiosity.

Lady left her side, she ran up the steps of The Red Keep, disappearing into a doorway "Wait." Sansa called out as she left Cersei's broken body. She ran to the doorway, a pitch black void lay beyond. She heard Lady beckoning her to follow. Slowly the pitch black void became more visible, a dimly lit staircase awaited her. Lady barked.

Sansa was hesitant. "There's too much blood." A voice echoed again.

"Sansa." A voice called to her, that made her blood run cold. "Sansa come here."

She swallowed hard, slowly she ascended the staircase, following the call. How long she climbed stairs, she could not be sure. Finally she made it to the top, Lady sat on her hind legs waiting for her, a set of double doors the only feature she could make out. With every ounce of strength she had, she heaved the doors open. She found herself in the throne room, its braziers were cold, its pillars crumbling. The great skylight and stained glass windows were destroyed, a carpet of ash covering the floors.

She had heard the Iron Throne had melted, consumed in dragon flame, as it had been forged three hundred years ago. Yet there it was, a gentle scattering of ash falling from the sky. Atop the thousand blades of Agon the Conqueror, a young man sits, reclining back in the deadliest of seats. Wearing a gold doublet and a crimson sash, his short blonde hair, like spun gold. He looked at her, with a wicked smile. "What's wrong My Lady?" He asked as he slowly rose to his feet "You don't look happy to see me."

"There's too much blood."