Chapter: 36 Journey of the Dragons
Casterly Rock
Jaime was standing in front of his father, with the armour already on him and listening to his father's last details about the plan regarding the invasion of the Riverlands. The North won't come to their aid, and the mountain will be the one to clear the way to his army.
"Father. I think that by now you already know that-"
"You paid a sellsword to free Joffrey and brought him here?" his father finished, taking a sip, and looking up at him with seriousness, said, "Yes I do. I knew that you would try something like this because I know that you are his father."
"Father. I-"
"Quiet. You brought shame on our house with these actions," his father said dangerously and trying to keep at bay his anger, while Jaime looked down, in shame, avoiding his gaze, not knowing what else to say. "We are lucky that Orys is the King's son otherwise our house would have been doomed."
"We are the Lannister father. Our Gold and our armies-"
"Can't win everything!" he said, raising his voice, making Jaime jolt at that. Getting up, his father said, "Now, from this day, you will behave properly and no longer bring shame on the house. You will put a child in that girl's womb and the future of the family will be secured."
As he moved away, Jaime asked, "What are you going to do with Joffrey?"
"Nothing for now. He will stay here till this war is over," his father replied, drinking some wine, and breathing heavily. "Now go. Your men are waiting, and I need to speak with your sister too."
And so, Jaime left his father's solar, heading to his chambers hoping to find his wife there, and say his goodbyes before leaving.
Upon entering his rooms, however, he didn't expect to find his sister instead of his wife and sighing, closing the door behind, he said, "What are you doing her Cersei?"
"We need to talk," she said, with a goblet in hands and turning toward him.
"I don't have time for that. My men are waiting for me and I need to say goodbye to my wife."
"That whore," his sister said, spitting with venom, and approaching him. Cersei grabbed his neck, leaning up and whispering to his lips, "She doesn't deserve you."
Such a great temptation she was. Every time she was around him, Jaime could feel his will weakening and succumb to the deep desire he was feeling for her. A desire that he couldn't control.
"I want you, Jaime," she whispered again, biting his lips, and moving her hand down his breastplate, till his cock, that was hardening in his armour. "Take me, Jaime," she whispered again, starting to kiss him, forcefully, despite him trying not to respond.
But in the end, he surrendered himself to that desire, and grabbing his sister by the neck and by the waist, Jaime pulled her against his armour, whispering, "You are a hateful woman," and starting to back her against the bed, till pushing her down. Standing over her, Jaime unclasped his armour, tossing it aside, and the noise of hitting steel ringed through the room. Bending down, he started to devour his sister with heated kisses, and between them, he says, "Why the gods made me love a hateful woman."
She starts to help him untie his tunic and his breeches, freeing his cock, and Jaime, pulling up her dress, he let her guide him at her entrance wet and welcoming. With one powerful thrust, he entered her inside, feeling something different than what he felt with Roslin. This feels like home.
A few hours later…
Daven was heading to his uncle solar, in the hope to talk about the war against the Riverlands and ask him the permission to lead the foraging and prove himself worthy of the name and coat of arms he was bearing. To prove the greatest lord that house Lannister has ever seen that he is a true Lannister a true Lion.
On his way, however, Daven hears a scream of a girl coming from one of the rooms, and he immediately rushed in that direction, bursting through the door seeing a crossbow with the shape of a lion on the floor, while turning on the bed, Daven saw golden-haired boy over a girl, trying to rape her. He rushed immediately at him, pushing the golden-haired boy down, and only seeing at that moment who it really was.
Prince Joffrey Baratheon started to scream at him, with the face of a madman, and curse them all. He no longer looked like the young prince he once saw in the capital a long time ago. Now he was like a madman. Like a monster. Widened eyes, messed hairs, and drool dripping from his mouth.
"YOU DAMN STARK! I WILL FLY YOUR SKIN AND WILL CUT YOUR HEAD! " the mad Prince screamed from the floor pointing the finger, as Daven looked at him confusedly, and at the same moment, other red Clocks came in too. "Take the prince to one of the chambers," he said to the guards before turning his attention to the girl, who now he recognizes. It was the Lady Roslin Frey, wife of his cousin Lord Jaime. "Oh Seven, did the boy forced himself on you."
She nodded, sobbing, and Daven, despite not wanting to know, and especially not being his place to ask, asked, "Did he raped you?"
She spoke her head, sniffing, and with a broken voice, said, "He didn't have the time." Resuming to cry. He needs to inform Lord Tywin about it.
"My lady, do you think you can go to your room alone?" he asked, and she nodded, as Daven helped her up slowly, and pulling down his Cape, he wrapped it around the young girl. "Lord Tywin will be informed about it, my lady. I swear it. Action will be taken on this regard."
"Thank you, Ser," she replied, looking up at him with tearful eyes, starting to head towards where must be her rooms, and Daven, sighing, headed to Lord Tywin's solar.
Cersei was lying on his sweet chest, with a smug on her face, thinking back to what just happened. She knew that no matter what, no matter who, no matter how, she will always find a way to lure him back in her arms and make him do whatever she wants.
His seed mixed with her juice was still leaking down her thighs, her cunt still pulsing and wanting to have another ride, but she knew there was no time.
When she came her it wasn't really for this, but rather to speak, however, when the opportunity came, she wanted to use it to make her forget the atrocity that happened between her and Joffrey days ago.
Joffrey. Only thinking about that moment, her body shuddered and started to tremble. She still couldn't believe that he was able to do that to her. To his own mother. The only person in this world that loves him the most. Why? Why? Why? She keeps asking herself, feeling tears come down, and her brother shifting in his position, asked, pulling up her chin, "Hey. What is it? Why are you crying?"
She tried to look down for a moment, whispering, "I-I need to tell you something, Jaime."
But before she could continue the door burst open, as a crying girl got in to only stop dead as she saw them in bed. Cersei looked at her, recognizing that it was that bitch of Roslin Frey.
So running her fingers, Cersei smirked at the girl, grabbing Jamie's cock from under the sheets, while the girl, shaking her head with widened eyes as she has seen a ghost, run away.
"Seven Hells! Cersei!?" He said, pushing her hand away, and naked run after the girl, calling her name, while Cersei, laughing to herself started to roll in the bed. Another victory for herself. Another lesson taught to that whore.
One month later...
Balerion
"Again," said the Sword of the Morning, as Daenerys missed the strike again, falling onto the dock, and breathing heavily. "Get up, Princess Daenerys. Get up! The enemy will not be easy with you."
Daenerys, releasing a groan of frustration stood up pointing her sword and attacking her opponent again, who parried easily.
After a few attacks, Daenerys managed to disarm the Sword of the Morning, releasing a chuckle of victory, but knowing very well that he let her win in the end.
"You did well, daughter," her mother said as she approached her, smiling. "But you should reduce your training hours. After all, remember that you are pregnant."
"I am a warrior like Visenya, and my son will be a warrior prince, mother. I believe he must learn from the womb that this is the way to protect his beloved and that is what his mother is doing," Daenerys replied proudly and confidently, heading to quench her thirst.
Then, leaning on the edge of the ship, Daenerys looked towards the water, seeing her reflection in it.
It had been weeks now since they had left Tyrosh, and since the last time, she had awoken in the arms of her beloved. They were quite difficult these nights and days without having him near or around, she really would have much preferred to follow him up North, but this was her plan. She asked to be sent to Qarth to free Shiera Seastar if the woman was truly there. She hoped this wasn't some kind of trick as her mother claims to be, since there were warlocks there.
"What is that, Ser Arthur?" her mother asked, and Daenerys looked up at her, seeing her mother gaze toward the shores of Essos.
"It's an army, your grace," the Sword of the Morning replied, approaching them too.
"Iron legion and War elephants," said a man coming from behind them, and that she thought he remained in Tyrosh when they left. "As I can see from this distance, I would say they are at least six legions, and maybe a hundred of war elephants."
"How do you know this?"
"Because I saw them. I visited New Ghis a long time ago. The legions came from there, Princess," said the man, looking at her for a moment, before returning his attention back on the marching army.
"Where do you think they are going?" she asked, as Arthur brought her a Myrish glass so she could see them better. Looking through the glass, Daenerys could see that there were indeed thousands of men, armed with what seemed round shields and spears in hand, marching in a way that they seem follow each other as closely as possible. And in front of them there were men on horses who seem to wear iron halfhelms with horsehair crests. Then there were the War Elephants that looked like the one from the Golden Company, the only difference was the number.
"Who knows. Maybe they got hired by the Masters to fight some wars against whoever know what enemy," Ser Arthur said, but immediately after, she heard Grazdan say, "In the past, before the rise of Valyria and the coming of the dragons, the lockstep legions were nearly unbeatable on the battlefield."
"Why are you here, Grazdan?" she asked, sighing and turning towards him.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm her to protect you," her replied, smirking, approaching her, and Ser Arthur stepped between them with the hand on his sword ready to draw it out, but she placed her hand on his shoulder, making him step away.
"You know that I don't need your protection. I have a Valyrian sword and I have two of the best swordsmen of the Sven Kingdoms," she replied, with confidence, but the man laughed at her, shaking his head.
"Yes, they may be, but they are knights and knights follow the code of honour. And the Qartheen don't have it."
"You were there?"
"No. But I met a Qartheen long time ago," Grazdan replied, moving away, and Daenerys got very curious by his words, wanting to follow him and learn more about Qarth, but was stopped by her mother, who said, "I don't like him and I don't trust him."
"You don't trust and don't like whoever isn't Aenar," she replied, rolling her eyes at that, but which seems to stir something in her mother, who with fiery eyes and furrowed eyebrows looked at her, saying, "I lived more than you, girl. Remember. I wandered through these cities, met thousands of people, fought them, observed them. I know bad intentions when I see them."
With those last words, her mother moved away from her heading towards the forecastle deck, followed right behind by Ser Barristan, while Daenerys headed below the decks to when her dragon, Syrax was sleeping at this moment, followed by Ser Arthur.
A few hours later…
Daenerys fell asleep next to her dragon, with its wings wrapped around her like a blanket when she hears a horn being blow up. Stirring herself, she rose up, and before leaving, she chained her dragon.
Outside the door, the Sword of the Morning was still guarding it, and Daenerys, smiling, said, "You shouldn't always be here to protect me, Ser Arthur."
"His Grace commanded me to never leave your side," Ser Arthur replied with a smile and a bow, while Daenerys, rolling her eyes, went up to the docks.
Outside, she saw, they were entering a dock. A gigantic port. The air smelled of salt and frying fish; of hot tar and honey; of incense and oil. There were hundreds of ships docked, with different emblems on them, and different sailors on them, coming from every part of the world it seems.
"The Queen of Cities," said Grazdan stepping next to her. "Ruled by the Pureborne, who contend with the merchant princes from the Thirteen, the Ancient Guild of Spicers, and the Tourmaline Brotherhood for control of the city."
"Who are the leaders of the Tourmaline Brotherhood?" she asked.
"Who knows, they are pirates."
As they were docking, turning to the sword of the morning, Daenerys said, "I know that Aenar told you to never leave my side, but I would ask you to stay here at the ship and protect Syrax." When she saw that the Sword of the morning wanted to object, placing her hand on his cheek she said with a pleaded look, "I beg you, Ser. You know this is a dangerous place and whoever will find out about her will come to search."
Ser Arthur nodded hesitantly, as they got down from it, starting to head towards the inner of the city, but soon their path was blocked by the guards and in front of them appeared a tall, dark-skinned, with thinning hair, and a short cut beard, wearing raffinates robes of maroon silk and cloth-of-gold. At his neck there was hanging a medallion will at his hips was attached the sword. With a smile and a bow, the man, "Daenerys of House Targaryen. Welcome to the city of Qarth."
"Thank you, my lord?"
"Oh no, I'm not a lord," the man replied, "My name is Xaro Xhoan Daxos, a merchant prince of Qarth and a member of the Thirteen."
Daenerys, at hearing that, looked at her mother. They both know who the Thirteen were, but she never expected that they would know who she was before announcing.
"How did you know of our coming, Xaro Xhoan Daxos?" her mother asked, stepping forward.
"We know everything, my lady, though I must say that I don't know who you are," the man replied, stepping aside to make way for them to walk.
"Marry. Handmaid of the Princess," her mother lied, as they start to walk towards the inner of the city.
As they were walking through the streets of the port, escorted by the Qartheen and Xaro, Daenerys saw them lined up with winesinks, warehouses, gaming dens, and temples, but when her eyes fell on the brothels she immediately looked away, not wanting to see that.
When they reached the city, passing the three rings of huge walls, they stopped for a moment, and she hears Xaro say, "Isn't it beautiful."
"It is," Daenerys replied, taking note of the greatness and beauty of this Queen City, which by all accounts was the envy of the entire world. The houses within were colourful, decorated with bronze arch fashioned in the likeness of two snakes mating, their scales delicate flakes of jade, obsidian, and lapis lazuli.
The towers were tall, and she could spot, through the alleys, in the distance, fountains with different shapes.
"Qarth is the greatest city that ever was or ever will be. It is the center of the world, the gate between north and south, the bridge between east and west, ancient beyond memory of man and so magnificent that Saathos the Wise put out his eyes after gazing upon Qarth for the first time, because he knew that all he saw thereafter should look squalid and ugly by comparison."
"I can see that too," she replied, glancing up at him, before returning her attention back to the city, but soon enough she wondered where they will stay to spend the night and eat. "Where we can find an inn for the night, Xaro Xhoan Daxos?"
"Oh, do not worry about that, Princess Daenerys. You are my guest as long as you stay in this city. And tomorrow I will take you to meet those who rule the city. Because that's what you're here for, isn't it?"
They were given the best rooms, but Daenerys did not like them very much, despite, the walls being draped with colourful silk hangings that shimmer with every breath of air, and the floor being breamble. However, what she loved of Xaro Xhoan Daxos, was the outside. A garden full of fragrant lavender and mint and the marble bathing pool that was stocked with tiny golden fish, and that she took one for herself.
They had bathed, ate, and changed for the night, and now she was leaning on the stony rails of the balcony, looking outside, and at the moon, wondering if it Jon was seeing it too. Or if he already reached the Wall.
"What are we going to do, now, Daenerys?" her mother asked, approaching her while cobbling her hairs.
"We wait and see if she will show us a sign. And in the meantime, try to make an alliance with one of the factions for ships."
The Wall...
Shadow Towers
At the head of three thousand men, consisting of Glover Mormont, Forester, and a small contingent of Stark, led by Jory, Robb reached the Wall, on the side of the Shadow Tower, and stopped for a moment to admire this magnificent man-made greatness.
It was tall of seven hundred feet and stretching for three hundred miles. From the Bay of Ice to the Bay of Seals. As the sun was getting down, The Wall was glowing pink and purple, but never lose its shininess of colour blue.
"It's a beautiful sight to behold, isn't it, Lord Robb?" said Dacey, stopping next to him.
"Indeed, it is, my Lady. A wonder worthy to see at least one in life. Especially considering the possibility that in the near future, it may no longer exist."
"Or stay up for another eight thousand years," she replied, and he nodded, hoping it to be true and that one day, he may have the possibility to see it again but with Alyssa.
Alyssa. Remembering her lover from Essos, saddened his heart since he received no news from her, or if she is pregnant. He missed her so much and His mother's pressures in marrying a highborn lady were starting to be difficult to resist.
"Are you all right, lord Robb?" asked Dacey with concern.
"Yes. It's just that at seeing this wonder, I wish someone dear to me was here to see it too," he replied, as they start to ride at a walking patch.
"A woman?" she asked with curiosity and Robb nodded, chuckling and blushing. "Well, I bet she's a very beautiful woman."
"Indeed, she is. But more than her beauty it was her spirit that conquered my heart. So different from every woman that I met."
"How so?"
"It's difficult to describe," he replied, looking down, for a moment, before adding with sadness, "But we will never be able to be together. I have a duty and she isn't highborn."
"Well, who knows what the future has in store for us," she said, smirking, and riding away, more quickly.
Robb smiled too, hitting the horse, following them.
A few moments later…
The gates of Shadow tower were opening, as they get inside, seeing a hundred Night's Watch waiting for them there and they got greeted by a bald old man, with a deeply lined face, blue-grey eyes, and a long white beard. He was wearing black clothes, but his Night's Watch cloak was clasped with a silver eagle. House Mallister. One of his grandfather's Bannerman. Ser Denys Mallister he must be.
"Welcome to Shadow Tower, Lord Robb," said the man, bowing.
"Thank you, Ser Denys," Robb replied. "What is the situation here?"
"Bad, my Lord. We receive news from the rangers that a great number of wildings are heading her too. Or to be more precise to the bridge that is a few miles from her."
"Did you send men there?" asked Galbart Glover.
"Yes, my Lord. Fifty men are there, but I doubt it will be enough," the commander of Shadow Tower said, and Robb stopping said, "Then that is where I will go with half of our men."
"Lord Robb. I don't think it's wise for you to go," said Galbart Glover.
"Do not worry, Lord Glover. Go and inform the men that in a few hours we are leaving for the, what was the name, Ser?"
"Bridge of skulls," Mallister replied.
"Go, my Lord," said Robb, and the man left, while he was led to the great hall, followed by Lord Forrester, his son, and Dacey Mormont.
Castle Black
After the long and arduous march to reach the Wall in time, Ned could finally see Castle Black in the distance, which seems to be still standing. No doubt it had not yet been attacked.
"With your permission, Lord Stark, one question," Bolton said as Ned stopped on the hill to admire the Wall since it had been years since he had last seen it with his father before being sent to the Vale.
"What is it?"
"There are nineteen castles along the Wall, most of them surely abandoned. Shouldn't we garrison them all? Divide our forces among the various castles?"
"No, Lord Bolton. This is where the enemy will attack with force. And this is where we need the men," Ned replied, snapping the reins and riding away, not wanting to discuss further on the matter with Bolton. Ned knew why Bolton suggested that, but he also knew that the Lord of Dreadfort was right. The enemy could round them by using the passages of the other castles and attack from the south.
As they reached the gates, Ned saw them open, and as they entered the courtyard, he saw those few Night's Watch greet them, and among them was the old bear, Jeor Mormont, the father of the traitor Jorah Mormont. Ned hoped that the former lord of Bear Island would not hold a grudge against him because of that.
Climbing down from his horse, Ned greeted the old man, "Lord Commander."
"Lord Stark," the Old Man clapped his forearm. "We are grateful you have come to our aid, my lord."
"What is the situation, Lord Commander?" asked Ned, as they started to walk towards the Keep, with Bolton and his guard immediately behind.
"Mance Raider is about a day away from here. Perhaps less, with a large host. We know for a fact that he has divided his forces, attacking East Watch and Black Castle. But what worries me most is Shadow Tower and all the weak points on the west side."
"Your House, Galbart Glover, and my son will defend it," Ned replied, climbing the stairs that led to the great hall where they would have a chance to warm up a bit and discuss the defense plan.
"I am glad of it," Mormont replied, though Ned could feel a little melancholy and sadness in it. Surely, he was sorry for what his son had done, and especially because now, that man wasn't there to bring pride to the House.
"What about the other castles?"
"We have them reinforced and sealed, but still this one will have to be defended at all costs," Mormont replied, opening the great doors, and as he entered, Ned saw the Master sitting at the great table.
"Welcome to the end of the world, my lord," greeted him the old Maester, He was a tiny thing, wrinkled and hairless, shrunken beneath the weight of a hundred years so his Maester's collar with its links of many metals hung loosely about his throat.
"Thank you, Maester Aemon," Ned replied, approaching the old man.
"Are the news coming from the capital?" asked Mormont, sitting at one of the tables and Ned did the same, as a steward filled their cups.
Taking a sip, Ned nodded, and with the gaze fixed on the floor, he said, "Do not expect help from the south as long as a Baratheon sat on the Iron Throne, Lord Commander. But do tell me, to which castle was prince Joffrey has been assigned?"
"Prince Joffrey? Beg your pardon, my lord, but I'm not aware of such a thing," the Lord Commander replied, and Ned immediately looked up, confused. He received words that the boy was sent to the wall.
"Doubt that queen Cersei would have allowed him to join the Night's Watch," the Maester replied, drowning the attention back to him. "But is another prince that I would most likely want to hear about, my lord."
Ned chuckled, knowing to what he was referring, and glancing at Bolton he said, "I asked his help for the battle against the wildlings."
"So, the tales that came from Essos are true, my Lord?" asked Mormont, and Ned nodded.
"It glad me to know that after a hundred of years, a member of my family finally brought back to life one of the wonders of this world," the old blind Maester said with proudness in his voice and Ned could see the glimpses of a smile on his face. "Now, my lord, if you will be so kind as to tell me everything, I will be very grateful."
"Well, I will leave you then," said the Lord commander, drinking the ale and leaving them in the great hall, followed by the others.
A few hours later...
Ned was standing on his top of the wall looking to the vastly lands beyond it and thinking about his son who still was out there with Howland Reed and other northern. Since Brandon has left Winterfell, he pried to the old gods to protect him from the danger, but he doubts they could do much. Beyond the Wall was the domination of the Great Other where his minions are running freely across the snowed lands.
"An Army of a hundred thousand wildings marching on the wall," came Bolton's "It seems after thousands of years and various invasions they never learn that they can't win."
"Well, that is why we are here, Lord Bolton," Ned replied, glancing at him, seeing his cold stare fix on the dark horizon. "Is everything ready?"
"Yes, my liege. The archers are lined on top of the Wall while the infantry in the courtyard with the night watch. The iron gate had been sealed and a dozen of men are inside the tunnel, in a wall formation with sealed shields and long spears."
"Good," Ned said and saw a great fire lit on the horizon, while the horns of the Night Watch started to sound in continuation. "Lord Bolton. To you the courtyard."
The Lord Bowed, leaving the top, heading down, will Ned, turning to the men on top, started to shout orders, while in that same moment, his attention was brought out by a second horn, this time from below.
Leaning forward, Ned saw some hundreds of men coming from the south and attacking Castel Black with the covers of the darkness.
"They are approaching, my Lord!" Ned Hears one of the men scream, and Ned left the side, to look beyond the wall, seeing thousands of roaring and screaming wildings approach at a distance that was out of the reach of the archers from the top of the wall, and could spot giants and mammoths among them.
"Archers knock, everyone else hold!" shouted Ned, looking at all of them from side to side, before returning his attention back to the enemy, who now started to run towards the wall, in great number, and once there he saw them start to climb. "Loose!"
All the archers who were on the Wall started to shoot at the enemy. As his men were shooting the arrows, Ned saw the Night's Watch being lowered perpendicularly to the side of the Wall, and start to shoot the enemy who was climbing, he didn't know how long it will take for them to climb all the wall but didn't want to find out.
He saw a few giants run to the gates, with the mammoths right behind, and Ned, turning to his men shouted, "The scorpion! Shoot the Giant!"
They managed to hit one of them, but another, with a big fucking arrow shoot up, hitting the scorpion. Ned runs to see if the man was all right, while another bolt was shoot from the giant, killing another of the men. "Fuck!" cursed Ned, as he looked down to the courtyard, seeing how his men and the men of the night's Watch were trying to defend the gates.
"They have reached half the Wall, my Lord!" shouted One of the men, and Ned rushed to look at the other side, but avoiding in time another bolt that came from the giants. Seeing that there were too many wildings down near the gates and that the giants were almost breaching them. "Drop the barrels with peach!"
And the men pushed them down, and Ned saw plenty of the wilding being burned, mammoths being scared and run away, dragging behind them the grate door.
"They breached the wall," Ned said, turning to one of the Night's Watch. "Drop the scythe on them."
As he was ready to get down, an explosion happened at the top, making him fall to the ground, stunned for a moment. Shaking his head, with the ears that were hissing, Ned tried to get up and looking around, he saw men screaming, and some were throwing themselves down the Wall in fire, as many others were wounded.
At that same moment, a thunder comes from the sky, followed by a roar so loud that made the wall almost shake. Looking up, Ned couldn't believe his eyes.