Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Game of Thrones.
Hello again, glad to see so many of you read the last chapter and hope you will enjoy this one! Thank you to those that read and reviewed.
Some people were commenting about Meera being too naïve to not see Baelish coming? She might have suspicions but she is still a Stark. She was so concerned with other things she honestly did not even consider him and besides she might be aware of the game but she is not a skilled player. Harry you might have noticed was not really aware of such things either. More alert now but has never been taught to play. To really learn to play it, she needs someone to show her the way.
On with the story...
Chapter 17 – Peace Falls Part 2
The Red Keep, Kings Landing…
Meera was alone as she stood over her father's body, her eyes had long dried but she was expressionless as she stood vigil over him.
She looked a mess, her hair was ruffled as were her clothes but she didn't care in the slightest as she stared down at her father's body. It had been prepared for travel home so at least he would be laid to rest at Winterfell she thought, taking a little comfort in that but not much.
Ice and his Stark Medallion had not left her person since she had found him, Ice in particular was strapped to her back along side Gungnir and would remain there till she was able to give her family's sword to Robb when they got home she thought with determination. She had seen Ser Ilyn Payne stare at the blade but had backed away from it after she had glared at him. Many of the Red Keep's servants had been avoiding her since the death of the king and her father since her mood was so bad that she looked ready to kill if anyone spoke to her.
The bells could be heard, telling the city of the death of the King but Meera cared nothing for that.
She was still trying to come to terms with the fact that her loving father, the most honourable and best man she had ever known was dead. She had run out of tears but still felt torn up inside as she struggled to cope with all that had happened. The Unsullied and what Stark men remained surrounded her constantly, determined to protect their mistress after failing to save their lord.
But aside from her grief, something else was growing inside her...rage.
Her eyes tightened as she felt the same fury boiling up inside her, she saw the mocking smirk of Baelish in her mind's eye again and her anger was just boiling. She had now seen the evidence of his involvement and his vendetta against her family was going to end...today she raged inside.
She saw Tyrion Lannister looking at her and she was so ready in that moment to spear him straight through the head that the only thing that stopped her was the fact that he was not her true enemy. He was she noticed accompanied by Joffrey who looked at her with a strange look that she couldn't identify.
Honestly in that moment the last thing she wanted was to have to deal with these people but she pulled herself together and walked over.
"I must return home soon, to return my father's body so he can be laid to rest." Meera told them. "But before that there is some unfinished business. Baelish must pay." She told them with a cold and hard look in her eye.
"Yes." Tyrion said with a slow but unsure voice, not certain if the girl was in the right mind for this but she was not going to let any one stop her. He knew the death of Lord Stark was going to destroy her, it seemed she was so full of rage but was trying to direct it where it was best suited. It was he thought a good thing as if left unchecked it would destroy her.
She might be a strong warrior and a genius inventor but in terms of the game, Tyrion thought with a little pity very unprepared. Starks often were, too simple and straightforward for it, so they were often at a big disadvantage.
"No...stay." Joffrey said suddenly and had an almost pleading look on his face which was truly so astonishing that Tyrion blinked to make sure it was there but Meera with effort that only she had not thought herself capable of managed to keep up her mask and told him.
"For your sake I can't." She told him and he was very confused so she told him. "This is your time now, you are the king and this is going to be your greatest test, the first year of your reign. Both your uncles are going to press for the throne themselves hence why Renly has fled so suddenly. Your Uncle Stannis too who hasn't been here for months. You have to prove you are not only going to be king, but be a good or even a great king and if I stay...how long before people are saying I am controlling you?" She told him and he seemed to not fully understand what he was being told.
"You have show everyone that you are capable of making those decisions, of ruling on your own and making good choices about who to have at your side. If I am here people will say I am making your choices for you. This is your chance to prove you are your father's son and be strong." She told him and took his hand.
"But first, we must ensure justice for our fathers." She told him and he nodded with a look of fury coming on his face.
"Yes, Baelish will pay for this!" He snarled. "We'll do it together."
"Together." She said with a whisper while Tyrion looked on with worry at what the two of them were going to do now.
- x -
Meanwhile with the Red Keep on a much higher state of alert after the murder of the king and hand, Myrcella and Tommen were now surrounded by Lannister guards with Ser Jaime and Ser Aerys on constant watch for any sign of trouble.
"Is Joffrey going to be king now?" Tommen asked with fear in his eyes now that father was no longer here to make sure they were safe from him. Myrcella nodded but took Tommen in her arms and told him gently in the ear.
"But Uncle Tyrion and Uncle Jaime are still here, I'm here." She told him with a smile on her face that did not quite reach her eyes. "Besides he is going to be far too busy being king to bother us. You and I can have more fun and not worry." She said and Tommen with a quivering lip asked her with his eyes full of doubt and maybe a little hope.
"Promise?" He asked her and she told him, doing her best to be brave and convincing.
"Promise." She said and Tommen with a small smile hugged her which she returned.
Jaime watched his children with a small tear in his eye, they were so good he thought. Too good for this world and how when her mother was such a bitch could Myrcella be so good? He wondered and praised the Seven for giving her such a good and strong heart, that she was able to be almost a mother to Tommen despite being only a scant few years apart.
He honestly was wondering if all the good that Joanna Lannister had in her heart which he remembered so well had somehow skipped Cersei and gone straight into Myrcella. Oh she had been a truly gracious and strong lady but capable of so much compassion and love Jaime thought, dearly wishing she was still here now. Father had been a different man while she was around and she would have adored her granddaughter, Tommen too he thought with a sad smile. Joffrey would never have been allowed any kind of nonsense when she was here.
He was just hoping to keep them both safe he thought with anxiety as the war had now begun. Unlike his sister who had learnt nothing from father despite her claims to be only one like him, she was delusional in how she thought power was all about coin and being ruthless. Those were he admitted part of it but he had seen others throughout his life assert power in other ways even if it seemed pointless to him. She was even so stupid and prideful that she refused to admit she had caught a pox from one of her many lovers and was only now finally getting treatment for it. Probably so she could he imagined be all powerful through Joffrey or so she thought.
Honestly though, Jaime was completely unsure just what to make of Joffrey any-more. He was still the same arrogant bully inside but there was a bit more caution and thought into his actions now which Jaime worried might make him more dangerous but he did at least take his duties more seriously although how long that could last was debatable.
Especially with the Stark girl going soon.
He was in some ways glad she had come he thought reluctantly, namely because she had been such a good influence on Joffrey and even sad for her losing her father the way she had. It was he thought disgusting what Baelish had done and the bastard deserved to pay since there was so much injustice in the world. Normally he wouldn't have cared especially about a Stark but she had earnt a little in his mind.
- x -
Elsewhere in the castle Quentyn Martell had taken over securing the Red Keep, he was quietly efficient and surprised everyone by doing his job very well without taking advantage. It was not in his nature to do the kind of underhanded tricks that all the realm thought were normal for Dorne which is why his father had chosen him for this task.
Some would have used this as a chance to kill Tywin Lannister's children and grandchildren to deprive the man of his precious legacy but although some would think it foolish to not take advantage of this it was not Quentyn's way to be so underhanded especially if he was to repair his family's reputation.
He was seeing to securing their garrison with his newly found cousin at his side, he could hardly believe it was really her but the more he was with her the more he saw the likeness to her mother, his late aunt. She was calm and gracious just as his father had said but was strong like steel beneath the surface.
"You must go to Dorne." He told her, she looked at him with great unease. "My family would be so happy to see you are alive."
"Maybe it would be better if I remained dead." She said with a very unsettled look on her face which only made Quentyn frown. "I hardly remember this castle, I only am just beginning to remember my own cat." She said with a frustrated look as the animal in question leapt onto her lap. It purred gently as she petted it, seeming to have discovered its gentler nature now she was with him again.
"But you are family!" Quentyn said with an urgent look in his eyes. "My father and Uncle have mourned you, your mother and your brother for so many years. It would honestly be the greatest gift in the world for them to learn you are alive and they would be able to tell you much about your mother. If that isn't worth a trip to Sunspear then what is cousin?" He asked her, pressing for her to give in and go.
He could see her resolve weakening, the desire to learn more about her mother was almost eating away at her.
Ser Barristan Selmy looked at the pair from a distance now understanding why Varys had asked him to watch the Dornish, them not even being aware he was close enough to hear and the sight of the young woman that was so clearly the Princess he had mourned for nearly sixteen years. Despite being in armour rather than a dress she was the mirror image of her mother and then there were gestures the two had in common. When a strand of her long dark hair fell in front of her face she pushed it behind her ear with a single finger in the exact same way her mother had. Whenever she raised an eyebrow it was just the same too and many other little things.
She was clearly her mother's daughter.
Barristan had been thinking of sneaking off to join with Stannis since he would never support the cruel bastard Joffrey in his quest for the throne. But when he had seen the pair together and overheard them talking his mission had changed.
He had failed her father, her mother, her brother, he had failed her too but now he was going to make that right. He walked straight into the room and seeing him shocked the Dornish party but more so when he knelt down in front of Rhaenys and said.
"Princess. I must ask your forgiveness" He told them, making all of them gasp and those with weapons grabbing them immediately, but Rhaenys with a gesture made them stop as she looked down at the legendary knight before her with confused and frightened eyes. "I swore to defend your family...and I failed." He said with bitterness. "Allow me to see you to the safety of Dorne and I will not fail you again." He said with an almost pleading in his voice.
Rhaenys was almost frozen, not able to believe this was happening...that Barristan Selmy, the most legendary knight of her grandfather's Kingsguard with the exception of Ser Arthur Dayne was here on his knees before her.
"To Dorne, then." She said with a slight smile which again only reminded Barristan more of the girl's mother and wished the realm had been blessed with the queen like her.
- x -
Varys too was smiling, glad that his third option had been secured and now had Ser Barristan's protection and would hopefully be safely in Dorne where she would be out of reach of her family's enemies.
Still thought he frowned, concerned over his lack of preparation for Baelish. He played the game far better than most who had been raised to play it their whole lives but that was no excuse he thought sadly.
He had been bested and he knew it, now the civil war he had feared was about to begin and many would die and suffer because of it.
It was surprising that the Stark Girl and the Martell Prince seemed to have become Joffrey's chief lieutenants as he knew the girl had left the Red Keep with a large number of men to pursue the Mockingbird while the Prince maintained the security here. It worried him greatly for a moment that maybe the Starks and Martells might actually fight for Joffrey before he realised how foolish that was and realised just why the pair were doing this.
With the Martell it was easiest to figure out, their hatred of the Lannisters was still strong and they wanted to see them fall and to make that happen they were willing to try and mend fences with the Starks after the ill-advised visit to Winterfell by Prince Oberyn. He was here to get Meera Stark's blessing and if so then Varys could only wish him good luck.
As for the Stark girl, it was more difficult because although she had been good at concealing her feelings and intentions before the assassination of her father, now her mask was all but impenetrable and her ability to manipulate Joffrey stronger. She wanted revenge and rather than charge after it wildly like the animal her house used as its symbol she was prepared to be patient and use Joffrey to her own ends.
That while dangerous meant she was learning to play the game he thought, wondering if he should help her or not but decided against it. She was full of anger and rage, only time would tell if she would be a blade in the dark and strike with precision or a wildfire that would destroy everything in her path.
- x -
House of Kisses, Kings Landing…
The House of Kisses as a brothel was not somewhere that would ever hold up under a siege, it was designed for privacy and quick entrances and exits for its clientele.
So when Meera Stark showed up with around nearly forty men it was incredibly easy to force their way in. The whores screamed and did their best to hide as did the customers already inside while others who had been coming or going swiftly moved on so they did not attract their attention.
Meera saw a group of sellswords and rotten gold cloaks coming up to her but he was so angry she did not hesitate to draw her spear and impaling one man through the chest with ease while her Unsullied at her side dealt with the others and allowed her to kick in the door to Baelish's solar.
The bastard was standing there looking so smug that it was honestly so astonishing she was speechless. He smirked and asked her.
"Can I help you Lady Stark? If you had wanted to experience the particular pleasures this place has to offer you only had to say. I am sure we can come to some arrangement that will satisfy whatever needs you might have." He told her.
His smugness only made her rage worse and if she had been more impulsive she would have impaled him right there on the spot. However she was not going to let him off that lightly, she could see it in his eyes...because they had no real tangible proof to link him to what happened he believed he was safe.
That only made her fury greater and decided to teach him just how little proof she would need to make something stick. She put a cold smile and walked over to him which seemed to make him confused for a moment before she punched him hard in the face. With her greater strength she knocked him out with a single blow and smirked herself now as she walked over to the desk and saw a pile of papers on his desk with his signature. She picked them up and gave a cold smile.
For a moment though she was torn, as Harry she would have kicked the butt of someone that was trying to do what she was right now.
Oh gods, she thought, sagging into a nearby chair as a wave of depression and self loathing hit her. What was she doing? What level had she sunk too?
She wanted revenge, she was hurting so bad inside but...what was it turning her into? She thought with worry. Was this the best way to honour her father? To become a vicious creature like the one she had knocked out and was left lying at her feet?
She could almost feel not only her father's judgemental eyes staring at her along with Ron and Hermione's not mention everyone else she had ever known. As Harry or Meera she had never behaved like this before, had she? She questioned herself with a deep worry.
Meera took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself down before looking to Baelish, this sort of man always weaselled their way out of trouble she thought with frustration having seen back in her old world before. To get him she was going to have to be underhanded herself.
So she took the documents on the table that had his signature on it and as her men secured him for transport back to the Red Keep she pulled a prepared confession to his crimes out of her pocket and with a nagging sense of guilt worked on a spare piece of paper till she could copy his writing.
It was all they needed she thought with annoyance at her guilt given who it was over but at least feeling a little comfort that she could feel guilt at all. But for what he had done she thought darkly, Baelish and all his plans and puppets would know what it meant to cross the Starks!
- x -
"With the death of Lord Stark I am forced to choose a new hand." Joffrey said to the gathered court who were hanging on his every word much to his own enjoyment. "Given his great experience in the role and skill as a lord I have decided to name my lord grandfather Lord Tywin Lannister as Hand of the King but since he is currently unable to attend court in Kings Landing my uncle Tyrion Lannister will take the post in his stead." Joffrey announced to the court which honestly surprised them all and there was a great deal of private looks being shared and quiet whispers.
Tyrion at his side and already wearing the badge of the Hand was proudly smirking at the audience. It was a big step forward in his plans as at last he now had not just a position in the highest seats of power but one of the best.
Seeing Meera Stark enter the room with her men dragging Baelish in only made his day even better. Joffrey too looked happier in his own sadistic way and as Meera came over and bowed to her king he looked almost excited about something.
"Lady Stark, I trust you have what I asked for?" He said to her and she smiled with a cold smirk.
"Indeed your grace, not only do we now know just who are his puppets across the city from the documents retrieved from his rooms but a signed confession to the murder of your late father and mine too." She told him and Joffrey's smirk widened as he got off the throne and walked down to stand by her in front of Baelish who was still unconscious from the punch.
"Lady Meera I have a special punishment in mind for him but while the finishing touches are put on it, the list." He asked and she handed it too him. Looking at it he nodded before handing it to the Hound.
"Ser Clegane, I leave the punishment for their crimes in your hands. I care not how they die Ser Clegane only that it happens." He told the knight who had been silently watching nearby. The Hound nodded and left the King under Ser Jaime's protection while Joffrey and Meera discussed something else in private.
"My aunt Lysa's ill health makes me concerned for my cousin, I know the late Lord Arryn intended to have young Robert fostered for own sake and I suspect given what we found in the solar of Lord Baelish he may have been manipulating her. For her sake and that of my cousin and the Vale I think it best we have the Vale ruled by others till my cousin is of age. Perhaps Lord Royce and Lord Redfort could be joint regents with Lord Waynwood? To ensure he has the best education and is secure in his rule as of course if the Vale stays strong and loyal to you. My aunt is not of sound mind after all." Meera said, knowing to keep the Vale from falling apart under the insanity of her aunt she had to remove her from power.
The things she had learnt of her honestly made her wonder what her grandfather had done to his children to make them the way they were? Lysa still breastfed her son at the age of six! Her constant coddling him did not help either and would in all likelihood arrest him development badly if not irreparably! If her cousin was to have any real chance of ever growing up then she had to go Meera thought, not die but be removed from her son for his sake. The Vale Lords would likely jump at the chance as the Tullys were not well regarded thanks to her grandfather and mother's actions not to mention she was far from stable and they must have learnt that themselves by now.
It galled her to have to have her own aunt removed from her son but the last thing they needed was her aunt seeking vengeance for Baelish and her father had spoken only good things about the lords she had mentioned not to mention Domeric who had squired with the Redforts for years.
Joffrey it seemed was instantly on board with that and told her proudly.
"I will have the grandmaester write to them immediately and sign it myself. Now Uncle I believe you had a proposal to put to us?" He asked and Tyrion who had been patiently waiting spoke now, wondering to himself just why the Stark girl would conspire against her own aunt Baelish's puppet or not?
"Yes, your grace it might serve the crown to seize all of Baelish's assets and hold them until the debt he was responsible for is paid off. It would aid the treasury in its recovery and help feed the city." Tyrion suggested.
Joffrey looked to her and she nodded, seeing Tyrion was taking the opportunity to expand his own power-base. She might have advised against it given she had no real intention of helping the Lannisters but knew if it helped feed the people of the city in the war to come she would accept it.
She nodded and made a suggestion.
"Since it is likely that the Reach will cut off food supplies to the city it should allow you to buy food from elsewhere to keep the city fed. That means no riots and the people won't rise up against you so quickly. People only care who feeds and clothes them after all." Meera said knowing full well people don't care who rules them as long as they had food in their bellies and were kept safe.
She knew in the back of her mind she should be undermining Joffrey to make overthrowing him easier but to be honest she didn't really think any one of the current candidates for the throne deserved it although Stannis was the best bet. She mentally sighed deciding it was better this way so the people did not suffer unduly due to this war.
She would look after the North and her family in the meanwhile, swearing to herself that she would not allow her family to suffer any more losses.
Winterfell, the North…
Robb sat at the lord's desk in the solar with the letter from the capital in hand, he was in a complete state of shock, unable to believe it was real.
That his strong and seemingly invincible father was dead...murdered by a coward who should have stayed as vermin in the sewer.
He put his face in his hands and would have cried but he just couldn't find any tears in his grief-addled state. It just couldn't be happening he thought with denial, it just couldn't be.
But it was and now he had to break the news to the rest of his family. Wylla who had not left his side ever since receiving the letter from Meera held his hand and rubbed it gently to make sure he knew she was there. The comfort it gave him in that moment was honestly the only thing that kept him from collapsing. The fact they had just discovered that she was with child now no longer held any joy for them as despite the fact they would love this child with all their hearts, the memory would forever be tainted by this day.
"My lord." Maester Luwin asked with a sad expression on his face, hating to press his young lord but his siblings were waiting outside and waiting wasn't going to make things any better. He nodded to Luwin who knew what he meant and went to let the others in. Robb was revolted at what he had to do, what he was going to tell them and honestly he would rather scale the Wall without a rope or indeed anything else than this but it had to him he thought with misery. He could order someone else to do it but that he thought with shame would be cowardly, better they hear it from him.
He saw Sansa coming in with a smile, gods he thought with sadness, she had been dreaming of her wedding, having father walk her to the Weirwood. Now that duty Robb realised with sadness would fall on him.
Their father would never see any of them married...not in this world anyway.
That honestly was the worse thing, so many things that he had been cheated of; walking his daughters to the Weirwood, meeting his grandchildren, seeing them grow.
Robb then looked at Arya, Bran and Rickon wishing dearly Jon and Meera were here with him now to help him with what was about to happen. His heavy heart was only lifted a little by the knowledge that Meera had survived the attempt on her life and would soon be back in Winterfell and safe within their walls again.
"Father and Meera were attacked in Kings Landing by thugs in the service of Petyr Baelish, Meera survived but Father did not." Robb said, not able to think of any other way to say it.
The silence in the room was so complete that you could have heard an insect crawling. None of his siblings seemed able to comprehend what they were being told and only their breathing motions made them look any different than statues.
Sansa was the one to break the spell first, her hand went to her mouth and her eyes welled up with tears Robb, knowing she needed walked over and pulled her into his arms letting her cry into his shoulder.
Wylla meanwhile went over to Bran and Rickon who honestly just collapsed into tears and sobs as they dealt with their father's death, she gathered them up in her arms and hugged them letting them take strength from her when they needed it the most.
Arya was the only one not to cry, she just sat there staring into the distance and not seeming to notice anything that was happening around her. One might of thought she was just in shock, not able to understand what was happening but only a moment later her brow creased with fury as she began to plot revenge in her mind over the people that had taken her father from her.
Highgarden, the Reach…
Olenna Tyrell was fuming.
For years she had been trying to get a grandchild of hers on the throne and in a way she had at last succeeded. But it was not in the way she had hoped for.
Renly was now wed to her rose, her rose was queen.
And would never bare a child.
Olenna was no prude in terms of sexuality, she knew it didn't really matter what your preference was beyond the social norms where you happen to live however for a king to be interested in men exclusively...that was a problem.
He could not even get it up in Margaery's presence, let alone put a babe in her belly.
Olenna put her head in her wrinkled hands with exasperation, she wouldn't have minded Margaery wedding Joffrey despite him being a bastard or even Stannis as at least they could have put a son in her but Mace had been convinced by Loras to try and put Renly on the throne.
Despite the fact that Stannis came before Renly in the line of succession, this was dangerous she thought and made worse by the fact that Stannis had a new more fertile wife that had already given him a strong son. She had been tempted to offer Margaery to him despite the hatred the man had as he would surely not be so stupid to ignore the massive army, gold and food basket they could put towards his cause but somehow the Connington's had beaten her to the punch and stolen perhaps the best chance they had.
Robert Baratheon's new will did not help with this issue and most of the Stormlords had gone over to Stannis when it became common knowledge which certainly did not help Renly's case.
She wished dearly that she was more of a drinker sometimes as she considered her options and saw they were bleak. She would look into means that maybe could help a man who was not aroused become so just so Renly could actually do his duty by Margaery.
It might not be what she had hoped for but she thought with a sigh it was what they had, so she sent the command for the banners to be called and the Reach's enormous army to assemble.
- x -
Dragonstone, the Narrow Sea…
Stannis watched the fleet preparing for war in the small port below, he gained a sense of satisfaction at that he would never acknowledge to anyone. He turned around to see the table in front of him where Ser Davos Seaworth and Ser Rolland Storm were standing.
"So the Stormlords have accepted my claim?" He asked and Davos who had been named his interim hand of the king for now nodded.
"Yes your grace." The gruff former said. "They are rallying their armies and will be ready, some like Lord Penrose have instead rallied to your brother Lord Renly but by large most stand with you."
Stannis gritted his teeth at Renly's betrayal, he had long known that the fool was in deep with the Tyrells but not to the point that he would try and steal the throne with their backing. He was not the sort to hate but this stabbed deeply into him. The traitors would pay Stannis vowed to himself before turning to Ser Rolland.
"And the Lannisters?" He asked and the knight answered.
"Tywin Lannister is moving his army south to meet us in battle and prevent anyone marching on Kings Landing, however the...reinforcements Master Kilburn sent have been causing some real unease down at the docks." Ser Rolland said with a disturbed look on his face.
"As long as they fight for me the men will do as they are told." Stannis told him sternly, not wanting to admit to some apprehension to having them here. When Master Kilburn had approached him with the idea of recruiting wildlings to fight for his army Stannis had been dismissive but the man was persuasive and he had given him leave to do so and almost immediately regretted it when the men and women arrived if they could be called that.
The wildings he had recruited were some of the most vicious and nasty creatures that the Seven Hells must have spat out, Stannis thought with alarm when he had first seen them. The unkempt and disgusting manners and behaviour was bad enough but he had quickly learnt that these wildlings were from a group known as the Ice-River Clans which were to his alarm, cannibals!
Pork and occasional dead bodies seemed to satisfy them but Stannis had been ready to have them killed given how volatile they were but then he had seen them fight. They honestly were like beasts in human form and tore through most men without any hesitation and terrified most with just their appearance except for the most brave and focused of men.
As a weapon, they were devastating especially when given steel weapons and light armour.
He was worried about using them given how difficult they were to control but the five thousand savages were a potential weapon to unleash on his enemies and spread fear that could undermine his enemies and frighten them into submission.
Fear was not his sort of weapon but even he knew its power and this would allow him to compete with even the most dangerous enemy of them all.
- x -
Lannister Camp, Location Unknown…
Tywin Lannister was once again for the first time in years dressed in his impressive lion themed armour, looking down at a table from ideas on where to best defend the capital from Stannis and Renly.
He had sources and knew most of the Stormlords had sided with Stannis despite Renly being their liege lord and from the Narrow Sea Houses not to mention some wildlings recruited from beyond the Wall but other than that was outnumbered by Tywin's own army.
Renly who to be honest had rather foolishly named himself king as well had the Reach and a few of the Stormlords on his side too and outnumbered Tywin by a good margin. Not to mention Randyll Tarly as their commander who was a man even Tywin respected for his skill as a strategist and tactician.
He frowned looking at the situation and wondered just where best to go to block the route while coming up with a plan to ensure Tarly would not be able to work against him.
Since he had no hostage or leverage to use over Randyll and the man would be unlikely to turn against his liege lord for power if he had not already Tywin decided to have the man poisoned. He had some spies around that were capable of making it to Lord Tarly and ensuring even if he survived he would not be able to command.
Joffrey had surprised him though by being more calm and dedicated to his role as a king which pleased Tywin greatly not to mention Tyrion had ensured justice for Robert and Lord Stark and brought the city firmly under control. While he cared little for justice it was good for their image and Tyrion had been a genuine surprise in how well he operated.
Now he pondered, just how to make the most of his better armed men and good numbers?
Pyke, the Iron Islands…
Theon was getting used to sailing as he came back in from another voyage of pirating with his sister who was now so pissed with the alcohol that they had seized she was unable to leave her cabin and would in all likelihood have the mother of all hangovers tomorrow he thought with a shake of his head. Wondering how long she was likely to live drinking that much?
Still it had been a good haul he thought with some pride, a good pile of gold and silver not to mention some very valuable materials and foods. Theon had a good sized pouch of coins now hanging at his waist and a very nice castle forged longsword taken from a knight that had been travelling on one of the ships they'd taken.
He wasn't sure why accepting this, doing the exact opposite of what Lord Stark had been teaching him all these years came so easily...perhaps it was in his blood he thought with some concern but more acceptance than he would have thought.
Getting on the horse that was waiting for him at the dock he rode up to the castle where he was greeted by cheers from the guards which made him smile as he enjoyed their applause and admiration. He dismounted from his horse and walked with much confidence to his father's solar.
Seeing the man standing over a table was hardly new but the fact it had maps of the Westeros coast on it was. Theon's brow creased with confusion and intrigue as despite giving the orders he knew his father had not sailed in years so he was wondering what were the charts for.
"Where is your sister?" Balon asked with a confused look seeing that Yara wasn't with him. Theon just told him without much care.
"Sleeping off the mother of all drinking binges, she probably won't be sailing for a few days." Theon said with a deadpan voice, Balon blinked then laughed.
"Watching her deal with the hangover will be almost entertaining. Now you have been proving me wrong boy, about what I thought when you first arrived." Balon said, surprising Theon who had not expected that at all. "You fight well, sail well and are paying the Iron Price well. To that end, you will be getting your own ship soon."
Theon could hardly believe it, a ship of own! That was enough to make him excited beyond belief as no longer would he have Yara looking over his shoulder every moment and finally able to sail for himself! He was almost about to thank his father but remembered that was not the Iron Born way and said instead.
"About fucking time, watching Yara drink herself into a stupor has been pissing me off. Now I get to raid on my own." Theon said and Balon smirked a little.
"That's the spirit boy! Now with Lord Stark and the fat fuck dead the mainland is about to descend into war. This will be the best chance to take back out independence and reave as we should! This boy is going to be a golden age! The Driftwood Crown is mine again!" He said with pride, almost visibly swelling up before Theon's eyes.
Theon was however too shocked to think about his father's plans as he learned that Lord Stark was dead, he felt a cold weight settle in his stomach at the man who had treated him as his own son and raised him was gone. He wondered how Robb was doing and if he should write to offer his condolences.
But that was when his father's full words finally caught up to him, they were going to try for independence again...that meant raiding the mainland and most likely the North.
Theon was instantly full of worry for Robb and the rest of the Starks. Winterfell might be far from the sea but the North itself was certainly going to be a target for their raids and Robb would certainly be leading the defence.
A part of Theon, the part that saw Robb as a brother who had stuck by him through everything and the part that was grateful to the Starks for all they had done instantly made him want to protest, or write to Robb to warn him of what was coming.
But when later that night he sat at his desk with a piece of parchment and a quill in hand, as the ink was dripping on the parchment he just couldn't do it.
He was stopped by the thought that it was betraying his father and sister, would ruin the element of surprise and his chances of ruling the Iron Islands some day.
So he took the message he had prepared and with a moment of hesitation threw it into the fire, watching it burn was almost painful...like he was turning his back on the people that actually cared for him.
The Red Keep, Kings Landing…
Baelish was bound and gagged as he was dragged behind Joffrey and Meera as they approached the large bronze lion Joffrey had constructed. It was an impressive statue and if you did not know its true purpose then you might easily mistake it for a sculpture. He looked around fearfully before his gag was removed.
"YOUR GRACE!" He cried out in a panic, his eyes wild with fear as he between the strange lion and the young Lannister king. "The confession is a forgery! Lady Stark created it! She killed her own father! I swear I have always been loyal!"
"Trying to place the murder of my father and Lord Stark on his own daughter? By the gods you are revolting." Joffrey said, having been told by Meera it was indeed fake but he like her was eager for revenge and didn't care. "As for your loyalty? Embezzling from the crown to build your empire of whores? Getting my kingdom into such debt it will likely take most of my reign to pay off?! If that is your definition of loyalty then I would be interested to know what betrayal means to you." Joffrey said with fury on his face.
"To actually betray someone your grace would mean that the Mockingbird is loyal to anyone but himself and to coin." Meera told him with a cold look. "Money is king to him, people...just objects to be used as discarded...like our fathers." She said and Joffrey nodded in agreement with her and gave the order.
"I intend to create a new punishment for treason against the crown, based on one I learned was once done in the Qohor centuries ago until it fell out of use. It is an interesting thing and I will be very interested to see if it works as promised. Put him in." Joffrey commanded and the Lannister men grabbed Baelish as the man kicked and screamed, struggling to not be put inside the bronze lion by the small door on the side but with some effort managed to force the flailing man inside. Shutting and securing the door they could hear the faint sounds of his cries and thumping on the door as he presumably kicked it in hopes of forcing it open.
It would not work Meera thought coldly, as the fire was lit beneath the area which held Baelish. She knew of a similar punishment which used a bull instead of a lion that had been used once on Earth, in Ancient Greece and it was regarded as one of the worst methods of execution of all time.
The fire heated the metal underneath the compartment that held the prisoner and that would slowly roast the prisoner to death slowly and painfully. Their screams would be projected through specially designed pipes that made the screams sound like an animal bellowing in pain while any smoke came out through the statue's nose which had incense in it to cover the smell of burning flesh.
Inside Meera was horrified, she wanted Baelish dead and had a whole repertoire of Northern punishments in mind to make him suffer before he died but this was horrendous.
Joffrey might be more confident and more capable a king than he had been before but all she had done was help him reach greater heights of sadism.
It was like a punch to the stomach in a time when it was already at its most tender, she felt awful but managed somehow to keep her mask in place and even manage a small smile for Joffrey which convinced him that she was enjoying this as much as he did.
Something that made her want to throw up.
As the bellows came out of the lion and the smoke emerged from its nose she tightened her emotional control and kept her revulsion to herself. Her mask was now so easy to her that she could summon it when ever she wanted, maybe that would help her when she had to play this game again.
Baelish had taught her something she thought as the bellows continued, not to underestimate anyone and certainly never someone who had clawed their way up from nothing as he had. To do that you had to be not only ambitious but cunning and she would have admired that had he not used his power to try and have them all killed. If she had such enemies again in the future she would not hesitate in dealing with them, action won the day she thought with anger at herself as she considered all of this her error and her father had paid the price for her hubris.
She would never forgive herself for that Meera thought with grief stabbing at herself, Baelish might have been the one that ordered it but she had been the one who was supposed to be watching their backs.
Her penance, she decided with stern resolve, to make sure this never happened again.
If someone was a threat to her family, she would eliminate that threat she thought, or make sure they were unable to hurt them if they were needed.
If she had learnt anything from this, it was to not let a danger get so close again.
- x -
Across Kings Landing the Hound and his men were busy cutting down men who served Baelish.
Sandor was troubled now that Joffrey, the little shit was king and was only too glad to be away from him. He didn't care about the people he was killing, they had done nothing for him or for anyone really as far as he could tell so what sympathy did they truly deserve?
As he struck down Ser Lothor Brune, the head of Baelish's fighting men such as they were with ease and watched as the freerider's head rolled away.
Some of the people he was killing however were whores, women and their screams of fear and pleading for mercy made him pause. He felt a horrible memory of his mother and sister's pleas whenever Gregor was near them and he stopped for a moment, the terror in their eyes now aimed at him just like his mother and sister's had been towards Gregor.
He honestly was struck by an intense sense of self-loathing and seeing the whores before him he gritted his teeth and for once in his life did the right thing.
"Run. You run out of here and you keep running as far as you can. Never look back." He told them gruffly and the women looked confused for a moment before finally what he had said caught on especially when he told them. "Now...before I change my mind."
The women did not hesitate and ran out of the room as fast as their legs would carry them, all but one ran out of the door straight away but the last one, a girl with dark hair who was apparently famous for her ability to bend her body ran up to him and kissed him fully on the lips before saying to him while he was shocked.
"Thank you." Before she ran out of the door.
Sandor was surprised at that as no woman had ever kissed him since his face was burned. The scars Gregor had left him with made most turn away in fright. He knew better than to read too much into it but honestly he was feeling much better about himself.
- x -
Joffrey stood watching as the heads of Baelish, now looking rather burned and all his followers were put up on the spikes that adored the walls. A swelling pride inside him gave him an immense amount of satisfaction at what he had achieved.
Now he was king, his fury grew at the thought of his uncles putting forward a claim for the Iron Throne and he vowed to see them and all that stood with them mounted on his wall! Joffrey raged, his mood was saddened by the fact that Lady Meera would have to be leaving soon so no one would doubt he was his own man and a king in his own right and he would have her back here eventually he decided.
She was at his side for this last moment and she smiled at him as she saw the heads mounted before saying to him.
"Thank you." She said in a whisper that actually spent a shiver through him and he was even more surprised at how she put a kiss on his cheek before telling him.
"Watch yourself, snakes rarely let you know they are there before they bite you." She told him and with a last smile walked away, he watched her leave and was going to call her back before deciding he would when this war was over and she would be his he swore to himself.
- x -
Meera and her depleted party readied their horses and the wagon that carried her father's body while the few servants that had survived Baelish's attack rode alongside like a guard. She would be glad to leave this place and to wash her mouth too, she hated doing that...kissing Joffrey but if she was to keep her hold on Joffrey she had to leave him with something even if her plan was to never see him again.
She just wanted to get home and never leave the North again if she could help it, she wished dearly for the comforts of home even if they would now be different with the absence of her father.
It was almost midday and as she was about to mount her horse she suddenly realised that today was her seventeenth name day. She had been so consumed with the events of the last few days she had completely forgotten.
The first one she would spend without a single member of her family around her to share it with.
She was struck again with grief, not able to fully accept yet that her father was gone but a rush of memories that came to her as the anniversary of her birth came and she started to remember more of her life as Harry.
She could see it all, when they had lost Hedwig and Moody. When Remus and Tonks had died. When Ron had abandoned him and Hermione. A year on the run while they struggled to find and destroy the horcruxes.
But at the end, just as her pain was increased by the hopelessness of the situation they had been facing...all her friends had come back and together with so many others behind them, they had won and destroyed Voldemort.
She could hardly believe it, even when all had seemed hopeless they had managed to keep going and ensure the villains were defeated and the world taken back from them. She smiled a little, seeing she clearly had much more to learn about herself and began to feel a small shred of comfort from the fact that she saw now that even when things seemed their darkest...when life just seemed to be taking endless turns for the worse and hope was almost snuffed out...things could get better if you could find it in yourself to keep trying and not give in to misery.
She was still hurting badly and she probably would for a long time perhaps the rest of her life...but she would not wallow in it. She would she swore to herself devote her passion and time to making sure the rest of her family was safe and would not suffer a tragedy like this again.
As she was riding through the city streets on her way out of the city she saw a bunch of gold cloaks chasing after a familiar looking boy around her age, maybe a little younger. Gendry she remembered from the day she had been investigating Jon Arryn's actions before his death. He was cornered in an alley by a group of jeering gold cloaks that honestly were acting more like thugs than law men. She guessed that these were some of the more corrupt ones that had so far escaped the purge as Gendry had been a quiet boy who did as her was told and was not the sort to break the law.
Either way she was in no mood to tolerate this kind of bullshit today.
Meera held up her hand to stop the column and skilfully dismounted her horse while her people looked on confused. She walked up to the Gold Cloaks and shouted to get their attention.
"What is going on here?"
The gold cloaks sneered at her and spat at her.
"Fuck off you little whore! We are carrying out official business so unless you want a cock to suck on then clear off!" The apparent leader said and Meera's eyes narrowed as did the rest of the Stark retinue at the insult towards her. Meera who honestly had such a short temper she would be described if she were a cask of wildfire as ready to explode drew the hunting knife her great uncle had given her as a present all those years ago given the relatively cramped environment.
"You really picked the wrong day to speak to me like that. Now I have to kill you." Meera said with a cold smirk on her face. And before any of the men could even laugh or react in any way to what she said Meera moved.
Holding her knife in a reverse grip she slashed cleanly through the throat of one of the men kicking another so hard into the wall it cracked with the impact as she imagined did his spine. She moved with the grace of a dancer and planted her dagger into the head of another man before punching another with her free hand.
Pulling her knife free she pivoted away from a rather clumsy sword strike and stabbed the offender straight in the side before tearing it free and kicking the last one straight in the head. Meera looked at the pathetic men around her and without any hesitation finished off the injured ones with her still bloody knife.
She wiped the blade clean one of their cloaks before looking up to the astonished looking Gendry who stared at her with awe so she told him before more showed up.
"Best get out of here, more will come." She told him but he only bowed and told her.
"Lady Stark, I have no where to go and you saved my life! Let me serve House Stark until I repay you for this." He asked her with awe still in his eyes. Meera was frowning at this, knowing that sort of debt was difficult to pay off and the boy was no trained warrior. She should tell him to go find some small village somewhere and live his life as quietly as he could.
But at the same time she was reminded of Robert when she looked at him which in turn reminded her of her father too, she felt her aggravation grow as her conscience warred against her desire to not become responsible for everyone she met but could not help herself in the end as her better nature won out as she just couldn't leave Gendry here to die.
"Very well but House Stark has a smith of their own so you had best pull your weight well." She told him firmly but while he bowed he told her.
"I will do my best to make the best steel my lady but I also intend to swing my hammer into your enemies if you will permit me to do so." Gendry told her.
Meera blinked for a moment at his request, seeing the large muscles the boy had from hours of working in the forges and he would be very strong she thought, maybe even stronger than his father in time due to having the sole focus on physical activity but fighting even with such a blunt weapon as a war-hammer was not as easy as it looked as well she knew.
She sighed before motioning him to follow her, seeing a spare seat on the wagon next to the driver of the wagon and told him.
"You ride on the wagon till you can prove you can handle a horse, now come on. I am eager to leave the city before nightfall." She said with exasperation at the fact she was picking up more people before she had even left the city and then just as she was starting to get back on her horse she saw the Dornish party now including Rhaenys riding up to her.
'Seriously! What Now!' Meera thought with her frustration getting greater by the second, gritting her teeth as she turned to face Rhaenys and Quentyn doing her best to stay courteous even if she dearly wanted to tell them to fuck off.
"Prince Quentyn, Pearl." Meera said, referring to Rhaenys by her false name in case anyone overheard them. Ser Barristan she noticed with surprise was riding with them and seemed to appreciate it and he gave her a nod in thanks which she returned.
"Lady Stark, I was going to offer to ride with your party till we are both clear of the city but I see you need no help in that area." Quentyn told her looking at the dead gold cloaks behind her while Gendry looked at the pair of them with awe, never having seen a real prince before or a lady like her.
"Good of you to notice." Meera said as she remounted her horse and started riding at the head of her column with the Dornish to her annoyance riding alongside. She noticed the cat that apparently belonged to Pearl, Balerion was riding in a box at Rhaenys' side and looked more at ease than she had ever seen the animal before.
"Yes, I was wondering if you might permit me to follow you with my men to pay back the injustices visited on you by my uncle?" Quentyn said and Meera as they passed through the gates of the city and out into the country side nearly stopped in her shock at his request.
"You have to be joking." She said as they rode further away from the city walls. Her face and that of her own retinue were twisted with disbelief even the Unsullied who literally looked ready to slice and dice the Dornish as a potential threat to her.
"I made a vow to my father that I would repair relations and make the North and House Stark see Dorne in a favourable light again. I intend to prove not only myself but that my family is not like my uncle who was punished for what he did." Quentyn told them as they followed but Meera still wasn't having it.
"Well good for you but you didn't see what that betrayal did to my father!" She said with anger coming through, her eyes nearly glowing. "In our own home, in their bed no less! Not to mention the antics of his paramour and daughters that night!" She told him remembering how Theon had nearly died and they tried to steal Gungnir.
Quentyn realised this was the famed Northerner stubbornness at work and knew it was going to take a great deal of effort to make her see him as more than just another potential Oberyn.
"Perhaps my lady you should see it as a chance to show that House Stark is willing to see past previous slights." Ser Barristan said suddenly to their surprise. "I did not know your father well but I know he was not the sort of man to blame the actions of one person on another or hold their family's accountable for the mistakes of others. Lord Stark was arguably the most truly noble lord I have met in all my time as a knight and even before then, if the world had more like him it would be a far better place and now you have the chance to show you have his spirit." Ser Barristan said with a grave smile.
The mention of her father honestly made her so angry that she nearly speared Ser Barristan for bringing him into this.
"But I'm not like him Ser Barristan. That is my twin brother Robb." She told them, holding her temper in before coldly telling him. "Robb has his noble spirit, his honour and integrity. Me...I can do the things he couldn't. I can be deceitful and violent and destructive. I can be underhand, I can cheat. He couldn't." She told them with a little sadness in her voice as she realised just how much that light of honour and loyalty her father had shown her the way. She knew going on without him was going to be hard but she would have to find a way.
"Then maybe you can start, the world has too many villains. It could use some more honour and integrity. Besides you can see the dangers now that surround your father and shield others from harm. Quentyn is offering to be your shield for yourself and to do what it takes to see House Stark through the dark times ahead. An extra spear during a war and the potential friendship of Dorne if it all goes well. In these times, can you discard that?" Rhaenys asked with a probing look.
Meera wanted so much to deny everything but as irritating as she found it, she and her family might need allies in the future if the war came to them. Allies like the Dornish though she thought with reluctance, knowing they wanted something but what she could only guess at. Not able to deal with this herself after the last week she told them with a tired sigh.
"You can follow us to Winterfell but then you have to convince my brother to let you stay. He is the Lord of House Stark now and it will be left to his judgement what happens to our house going forward." Meera said with a few surprised looks at her decision but then more satisfied as she was giving deference to her brother who would surely show the Dornish the door they thought with anticipation.
Without any more words Meera directed her column up the King's Road which was followed by Prince Quentyn who briefly shared a smile with his cousin before turning to follow them. Rhaenys and Barristan meanwhile turned themselves south, hoping to slip quietly through the Crownlands and the Reach until they reached Dorne.
Back at the Red Keep Tyrion as he looked down at the map where all the brothels of the city were marked, he felt a sense of satisfaction. Baelish had been trying to engineer a war to advance his own cause but while that war was now upon them he would not be here to enjoy it Tyrion thought coldly.
Tyrion was annoyed as he had not thought the war was coming for a couple of years yet but one must be ready for the unexpected in the game he thought and knew he would need to adjust his plans.
He now had control of nearly the entire city he thought with a calculating look in his eye. His man controlled the gold cloaks while Tyrion had controlled much of the city's commerce and now with the brothels and his own network a strong source of information to draw on. The corrupt gold cloaks were now either in his pocket or dead and he had the position of Hand of the King, at least till Tywin found the time to get here and Tyrion did not intend to make it easy on him. He was somewhat surprised at being given the position but he suspected Meera Stark might have had a role in convincing Joffrey to name him. Maybe to reward him for helping bring Baelish down or something to that effect.
Tyrion then turned his thoughts back to his plans. His father was moving his army to fight against Stannis and Renly but this would not Tyrion decided be an easy war for him. His father while a competent military commander was no Robert Baratheon or Randyll Tarly in such matters and relied on fear and other such tactics so against the likes of Stannis or Tarly he was at a disadvantage. One that Tyrion intended to make use of.
He had been quietly investigating just which lords of the Westerlands were truly loyal to his father or would be the most against him taking over and with that information Tyrion was going to engineer their destruction, passing information by use of a puppet to Stannis and Renly, posing as a Baratheon loyalist although Tyrion knew how to make sure there was no linking this back to him should the wrong person learn of it.
He would pass the Baratheon brothers information that would help kill his father's loyalists and when the war ended depending on which brother won he would have some proof to offer of his 'loyalty' to them which should ensure he was spared the block and could be put in charge of Casterly Rock. But even if that didn't work out Tyrion would have sufficient gold put aside to escape if he needed too.
But more crucially with the exception of him, his own daughter and niece and youngest nephew when this war was over...he didn't intend anyone else from House Lannister to be alive.
Perhaps Jaime if he was a good boy, Tyrion then thought with a shrug.
However there was much to do before that day came, Tyrion reminded himself sternly. Firstly he had to get the brothels up and running again so for that he needed someone to run it for him.
"The woman you asked for is outside my lord." Bronn told him with a smirk which Tyrion replied with.
"Then send her in."
Tyrion was wary of Bronn as he knew the man wanted a castle and would do just about anything to get one but the man's skill was considerable, so to that end he kept a close eye on him but used his sword.
The woman that walked through the door had once been a whore herself but had since started by seeing to their needs and making sure the brothel she worked at ran smoothly and that was the kind of person he needed now. However Tyrion was surprised as she walked in the door looking very much like the portraits he had seen of his own grandmother. She was a bit younger than he was and could he thought have been a younger sister to him given how much of a Lannister she looked like.
Tyrion honestly was shocked as the woman given her age could easily have been fathered by Tywin while the man had been Hand to Aerys. Tyrion just sighed as another element of his father's hypocrisy was revealed to him. Looking down on others for using whores yet using them himself...what a bastard Tyrion thought.
"You sent for me my lord." She said with a curtsy and Tyrion from what he knew of her felt she was more a lady than half the ones at court but pushed past that and said.
"Yes Marei. I have learned you are in-charge of maintaining some of the brothels in Kings Landing and was even able to coax Lord Stark into your bed."
Marei immediately blushed which again set her apart from the women at court and Tyrion could see that it was indeed true. He was surprised as who thought Lord Stark had it in him and with a teasing look in his eye that was also in Bronn's he asked her. "Was it a good night?"
Her blush turned an even deeper colour and she told him with a quiet voice.
"He was...a generous lover my lord and very caring. I have never known a man like him and don't think I will again." She said with a mournful look in her eye and Tyrion was wondering just what Lord Stark had done that had smitten Marei so easily. Those Starks he thought with amusement, always full of surprises.
"His death was a tragedy, but life goes on and so must we. To that end I wish to give you a position in my household, as Madam to all the brothels in Kings Landing." Tyrion said simply.
Marei was struck silent he noticed by her offer and she said quickly.
"My lord, that is a generous offer but why would you choose me? I am a nobody my lord." She said and Tyrion was just touched a little in his cynical heart by her modesty and humility. Such rare qualities in this world he thought.
"You are an intelligent woman, one who has managed to rise high despite the stigma you have." He said, referring to her not just being the child of a whore but also a bastard. "Coin and influence in this city can only be trusted to those that deserve it. Can I trust you Marei?" He asked her and she swallowed nervously, clearly considering her answer with great care.
"I would like your favour my lord, far more than I would like your disfavour." Marei said and Tyrion nodded with satisfaction at her answer. Clearly knowing what might happen if she betrayed him.
"Good, then Madam Marei I leave you these documents to read in regards to your new position." Tyrion said handing her a pile of documents for her to read. She took them and took her leave quietly.
"Interesting that you would choose your own half sister to run the brothels for you. But I suppose she like you has reason to want to gain power, to climb out of the position they were forced into by factors they could not control. I do admire that about you both." A smooth voice said and Tyrion looked up to see that Varys had appeared in the room seemingly from nowhere.
"If you had wanted a meeting with me Lord Varys you only needed to appear at the door or wait till the next Small Council meeting but since you are here, what can I do for you?" Tyrion asked, now much more on guard as Varys was one of the most mysterious yet informed figures across the city.
"Oh nothing of too greater importance my lord. I merely wished to introduce myself, since we will be working together in the future. And to offer not only my congratulations on your position but also for the deal you have struck with the houses of the Riverlands to supply the city with food now the Reach is no longer selling to the capital. You have managed to ensure a much more stable city provided of course the Riverlands make good on their word." Varys said and Tyrion nodded.
"They had little to gain from getting involved in the war and it will make them all a lot of coin selling to the crown." Tyrion said, having written to particular lords rather than try and make the arrangements through Lord Tully who was not only old but frail with illness and not expected to survive this time. His heir meanwhile was fool and Tyrion had no patience to deal with him.
"Perhaps my lord, perhaps but I think things are going to get a lot more interesting around here soon. Although I do confess I am wondering if you are working on a new play? I have enjoyed your previous productions." Varys told him, Tyrion bemused a little allowed him a little hint.
"It is an activity that I enjoy and I am working on a tale about a man that as a boy falls in love with a lady and to earn her hand proceeds to work his way into wealth and power for the chance to be her husband. I have yet to decide whether it should have a happy or tragic ending yet but I hope to have it performed soon." Tyrion told him and Varys smiled gently before saying.
"Then I must confess a happy ending although unlikely would be a welcome thing to see. After all the effort a man puts in to any endeavour should be rewarded." Varys said and both knew they were not talking about the play.
Beyond the Wall…
The bitter cold was hard to bare as they were forced to march onward by Loki and his Unsullied towards Craster's Keep. The group was exhausted so when they finally arrived it was a relief to them all, at least a little since they had no real idea just what to expect here.
Although to call it a keep Jon thought with some disdain would be an insult to an actual keep. It was he saw in reality a barely fortified homestead and not much of one but it could with some work Jon conceded hold around sixty men at the hardest push. The others looked at the place and since Loki had brought them all here Benjen guessed Craster curse him was no longer in charge.
Loki meanwhile made a show of clapping his hands together and rubbing them as if to warm himself and shouted.
"Well now we are all here we must warm ourselves by the fire I think, not to mention enjoy some food and rest. Ladies, attend us." He called out and three young women came out with surprisingly nice looking warm dresses that were clearly not made by the wildlings being made of materials and stitching that was far beyond what had been seen in them so far. Also while the three did have the look of the North which was shared by those north and south of the Wall they were far better groomed with washed hair that was tied in braids, clear skin and clean teeth.
The three the newcomers did notice had their heads down and brought a warm drink to Loki who took it from them with a sly smirk which only made Jon shudder before leading them all inside.
It was more comfortable than they had expected, nice and comfortable chairs surrounded a fire pit in the centre of the room. The heat in created was most welcome though and with only a little resistance they all crowded around it to warm their weary bones.
"Welcome my lords." One of the girls said, looking especially to Samwell they all noticed although she kept her head down and gave not only them but Ghost fearful looks. "I am Gilly, these are my sisters Sissy and Dyah who will be serving you."
"Gilly, that's a pretty name." Samwell said with a blush on his cheeks that had nothing to do with the cold and the girl in question they all noticed with a little amusement blushed too showing it was at least a little reciprocated. "Gilly, I thought this place was owned by a man named Craster?"
"Yes, our father and husband." Gilly said with disgust which was echoed by looks on her sisters faces which were moments later repeated on the faces of the men present. "He took our mothers, then when we were old enough he took us too. Then Lord Loki appeared and killed not only him but our fellow wives and sisters too. He spared the three of us only because we were the prettiest in his eyes and once given proper clothes and groomed would be worth serving him. He brought many of these things here to make it more comfortable for himself and the gelded men hunt for food or Lord Loki brings it." Gilly told them.
Jon and Benjen shared a look with the rest of the men as Gilly and her sisters brought out food for them all and even some nice cooked meat for Ghost who smelled it before tucking in with relish. He gently butted his head against Gilly which nearly made the poor girl jump in fright but when she realised he was only showing her he was grateful she gently scratched his ears which Jon knew Ghost liked. The large direwolf's tail wagged at the attention before he went back to his meal as did the rest of them.
When they were all full which was a blessing Loki appeared having changed into another elegantly tailored outfit, he smirked at them and said.
"I trust you are all happy with the job that the girls have done? Yes, they were worth the effort of keeping alive. But first I must show you something before letting you all rest for the night. Until Lady Stark arrives it should be more than comfortable." He told them before leading them into a small room that had been half converted into a cell.
Thick bars made of steel encased more than half the room and inside was a slouched figure, Jon wondered just who Loki was holding prisoner and went towards the cage to see if he could see a little easier when the figure inside suddenly lunged at him only to be stopped by the thick steel bars.
Jon jumped back as did the rest at the sudden attack but then they could see through the gaps that this thing which was still trying to break through that while it had been a person once, whatever it was now was far different.
Its skin was pale white and dessicated, almost like it was pulled so far back against the skull that any movement it would break. Hair did still cling to its scalp but only in ragged clumps and worst of all was the strange and horrible glowing blue eyes. It was snarling at them more like an animal than a man and Loki only smirked as they looked at it in horror.
"Not a pleasant sight is it?" Loki asked them with mocking amusement. "A wight as I believe your people call them, the animated corpses of the dead that serve those known as White Walkers and they have returned." He told them grimly.
"Impossible." Edd said with a horror as they looked at a myth made real. None of them wanted to believe it even with the proof right in front of their eyes.
"You humans have such a limited imagination." Loki told them with complete dismissal and annoyance. "Even with the proof literally before your eyes you still struggle to believe it. How you manage to get out of bed and dress yourselves in the morning is a mystery to me."
They were all instantly angry at his insult but Loki without a care continued to speak.
"Regardless something has riled them up, they shouldn't be at the Wall or this active for a few years yet. At their current rate though they will be at the Wall within half a year and you humans will be too busy fighting among yourselves to stop them on your own. So it has forced me to take drastic steps to prevent them getting any stronger, hence why I need you and your uncle to bring her here. That spear will be needed and she is the only one that can wield it. Valyrian steel and dragonglass are useless for what I need of her." Loki told them with a look of irritation crossing his face at needing anyone.
"Meera, why do you want my sister?!" Jon said with anger on his face over Loki and his actions so far not to mention the threat to his family but Loki just laughed.
"You mean your cousin, right?" Loki told him which shocked all of them before he laughed again and told them all. "Given your age and a few other things its not hard to figure out, you are the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Eddard Stark found you just as your mother died giving birth to you and to protect you he named you his bastard son. I would show you if magic was not being poisoned and drained by that 'thing' and if it is to be saved then it must die." Loki said with annoyance at having to explain this to all of the stupid humans and told them with a final parting comment.
"Now unless you feel the need to have everything explained to you I intend to enjoy some wine and a nice hot bath so excuse me." Loki said and left them without a backward glance, leaving the men gathered looking shocked and confused.
"Jon, he could be lying." Grenn said but Samwell who having been raised as a noble knew the implications.
"But if he isn't?" Samwell said with a nervous look on his face.
"We can't trust anything Loki says, he is a natural born liar and so we will need to be careful around him." Benjen said sternly, ending the discussion while considering the words carefully. He knew that it was exactly the kind of thing his brother would do to protect Jon if he was indeed Lyanna's son but without being able to talk to him there was no way to confirm it. Seeing his nephew looking very confused Benjen told him.
"We'll get to the bottom of this Jon, whether it is true or not that doesn't make you any less my nephew." Benjen told him firmly but Jon who at the back of his mind was already looking through his past for other clues to either confirm or deny Loki's statement. He honestly did not know what to think and knew the moment he got close enough to a Weirwood he was going to have to investigate this.
However Jon was scared as he knew what it could mean if this got out and what hell it could bring down on the rest of his family.
Dothraki Camp, Essos…
The camp that now surrounded them was growing bigger all the time as more and more Khalasars were either forced to join them or others joined them willingly.
Daenerys was enjoying herself immensely, looking around as all their warriors trained and she showed some of her newer recruits how to shoot from horseback. However she soon had to dismount her horse and go the main tent where her husband was waiting for her with the representatives from several Lhazareen villages who had agreed to meet with them. Her husband saw her approach and she walked up to him with a smile and kissed him on the cheek as a promise of what to expect later tonight. He smirked, knowing he was going to enjoy it before they sat down and faced them. Knowing she spoke their language as well as Dothraki Drogo allowed her to speak for them.
"So, I see you are interested in our proposal. In exchange for food and more horses you will be protected from further raids and slavery by our Khalasar. Any goods we acquire you will be able to trade and grow larger without fear. The best land to grow food without the fear." Daenerys told them in their language and they all looked uneasy before one of them, a man spoke.
"Do we have a choice?" He said with a look of disbelief in his eyes that was also present in the others. Daenerys only shook her head at their doubt, while understandable it was cute she thought.
"Of course you do, a future where you have no worries about being raided and will have peace and prosperity or a life with things such as they are. You will grow stronger as we grow stronger and your children will not have to fear. Isn't that worth the effort?" She asked them with a pressing look in her eye.
The village leaders shared looks with each other before the one that spoke before said.
"Then we accept your terms Khaleesi." The man said and she smiled before telling them with a delighted laugh.
"Then this is the beginning of a profitable relationship." She told them and then fully kissed Drogo right in front of them.
Her plans were started to finally take shape although there was still much before she could move onto the next stage.
Little did she know that as Drogo pounded her into their bedding that night she would soon have more to think about then empire building.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and now we are heading into Season 2 and the war for the Iron Throne, please leave a review and let me know what you think.
Next Chapter – Meera returns home while in the south the War escalates. Tywin, Stannis and Renly clash.