It seams like I am always doing this, promising that I plan to get back to a normal update schedule only to have life get in the way. This time it was employer of almost 10 years stabbing in me the back and once I found out they where amazed that I left. Now however I have found a new IT job which is less work, about the same benefits for greater pay, funny how that works. I will not promise that I will update on a normal schedule because any time I do it fails. So now I hope you enjoy this chapter until next time. Wilkins75.
Chapter 22 Choices of Queens Part 1
Night had fallen over the north and as far as the eye could see it was pitch black, that was normal for the guards standing on top of the walls of White Harbor. There were of course some lights near the king's road which ran nearby as some of the last carts for the day came in. It was a normal late summer early fall night, cold enough to require furs but not cold enough to freeze, a light snow far covered the ground and rooftops. They never saw the dark figure as the Black wings of Drogon scared the guards on the walls of White Harbor as the massive black dragon came out of the North and flew over the largest city in the North and the 4th largest city in Westeros. The guards rang a bell to alert the Castle and others of the dragon, but Drogon's massive wings was already kicking up the light powdering of snow in the Merman's court as it came in for a landing creating near white out conditions for a moment for the guards.
Queen Daenerys slipped from the saddle with grace even as White Harbor Knights rushed forward and bent their knees as she approached them.
"My Queen." greeted the Captain giving a bow before approaching Daenerys. "We weren't expecting you."
"I made better time than I expected, the winds are coming out of the North making the trip down faster." explained Daenerys before raising her hand a sign for the Knights to rise. She recognized the symbol on the knight's breastplate. "Tell me, where you at the battle of Winterfell?"
"I was my Queen." confirmed the Captain as three of the twelve knights nodded that they were veterans of the battle as well.
"Good, the Free Folk captured some wights and I am taking them South to revival to them what we face." Explained Daenerys as she looked back at the tied-up weights who while gaged and restrained where attempting to escape none the less. They were in wooden barrels which still moved side to side from the saddle. "They are to be guarded by no less than 3 dozen men armed with dragon glass and fire. They are important to keep to show the Southerners but I do not want to lose a single man, if you have to destroy them."
"As you command." said the Captain, as a few men moved closer and began to free the weights from the chains attaching them to the dragon's saddle. They undid the barrels from the saddles and with swords drawn and torches at the ready each barrel was opened and checked all of them where still restrained. By this time Lord Manderly dressed in a fine woolen robe had appeared in the courtyard, with his massive weight he looked more like a barrel then the Knight he still was.
"My Queen." Greeted her master of coin, Lord Manderly. "If I had known you were coming I would have prepared something."
"That is quite alright, my Lord." reassured Daenerys with a warm smile. "It is I whom should be apologizing to you for not giving you a warning of my arrival, with the winds coming down from the North Drogon was able to make better time than expected. So instead of staying at Winterfell tonight, I hoped to stay in your great city if possible."
"Of course your grace, White Harbor is yours." Reaffirmed Lord Manderly, that was the right way to approach it on both sides, she was showing understanding that even as a Queen she wouldn't get the best welcome on short notice and as a Queen he didn't really have a choice of were she stayed.
"I thank you, my lord." Said Daenerys "I require 3 things of you."
"Anything you want your grace." Stated Lord Manderly
"First, I require a room and some food for myself and Drogon." noted Daenerys getting the most important thing out of the way first.
"Of Course." confirmed Lord Manderly before snapping his fingers to get a servant attention who quickly ran off to carry out the command.
"Secondly in the morning I would like to have council with you and the other leaders of the city, there is much we need to cover. The Dead aren't at the Wall yet, but we need to prepare for their arrival and White Harbor will be key to our defense in the North." requested Daenerys "I would like your Maester and whomever is in charge of the faith in White Harbor there as well. This will require them as well."
"Of course, I will inform the kitchens to prepare a grand morning feast, might as well break our fast while we have our meeting." laughed Lord Manderly as Daenerys chucked a bit and nodded her head in conformation. "What is the third thing my Queen requires?"
"If possible, I would like to take a tour of the Winter Sept before I leave." explained Daenerys as Lord Manderly blinked, it was an odd request, an easy request but still an odd on.
"Of course, may I ask why?" inquired Lord Manderly
"While I haven't discussed it with Jon yet, White Harbor is being heavily considered as host for our wedding." explained Daenerys
At that news Lord Manderly's smile grew even wider, to host a royal wedding was a high honor and to host a wedding of the ruling Queen was a great honor. Normally only King's Landing or Dragonstone hosted royal Weddings of any real importance. Summerhall, the old seat of house Targaryen on the mainland did as well but that had burned down decades ago and had never been rebuilt.
"That is if you would be so kind of to host us, the crown will of course cover the cost but since Jon is of the North the place where the old gods and the Seven meet seam best." explained Daenerys, as Queen she could order Lord Manderly to open his City to host the event but that would be unwise, powerful lords wouldn't take kindly to being overruled in their own city.
"Of course my Queen it will be of course a great honor to host the royal wedding of yourself and Lord Jon Stark." Stated Lord Manderly if the royal wedding of Queen Daenerys and Lord Jon Stark was to happen at White Harbor has host Lord Manderly would naturally be point of contact for every great lord/lady in Westeros and beyond, he would be sitting at the high table and the influx of travelers would bring much wealth to his city even if the costs was high. "White Harbor is where the south and the North meet, we honor both the faith of the Seven and the Old Gods here, it will be a pleasure too host, I will get my people working on it at once."
"Before you go planning anything Lord Manderly this isn't my choice to make alone." Interrupted Daenerys with a soft laugh "I want Jon's input on this and more so I know he will want his cousins most of all Lord Robb there and I want them there as well. I just want to take a look to see if the Winter Sept is as good as I have heard."
"Oh, it is." confirmed Lord Manderly "I will send word at once for the meeting and prepare for the council tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, my Lord." said Daenerys "I could go for a quick meal before retiring to bed."
"Of course." said Manderly "Follow me."
Night was quickly falling in the South as Jon Stark stood before the painted table in Dragon Stone placing pieces on the ancient wooden table. A table which had been painted to show every town, village, river and mountain range in all of Westeros, it had even been cut out in the shape of Westeros coastline, it had been updated since it had been built by Aegon the conquer over 300 years ago. King's Landing along with the multiple roads and new castles which had been built now covered the wood of the table.
"Lord Royce and his forces should arrive outside the gates of Gulltown by tomorrow, I will fly up to meet them with the elder of the Redwyne twins while you keep the other here." Stated Jon as he placed the marker down outside of Gulltown.
"Your forces are spread out." stated former King now Lord Stannis Baratheon, now that Lord Stannis had bent the knee Jon was showing the positions of Targaryen loyalist forces across Westeros.
"Agreed." confirmed Jon, as he looked at the map. The Targaryen forces were spread out all over the map from as far north as the Stoney Shore to now south to Dragonstone. "However, the Vale was in disarray after Lysa Arryn headed south to King's Landing to marry Little Finger and we couldn't let the Northern and Riverland host be destroyed at the Twins by the Freys forcing us to spread out our forces."
"Agreed." confirmed Stannis "At least you are in a good defensive position, with the Trident on one side and holding the Twins and the Crossroads it will be hard to hit you. Issue is that you don't have the forces in place to take King's Landing."
"We don't plan on taking King's Landing." admitted Jon as Stannis looked at him in scorn, to win the war one had to take the Capital. Jon sensing the scorn from the older man raised his hand to prevent him from pointing out the need to take the city. "Not yet, what I am going to tell you can't leave this room."
Stannis nodded his understanding.
"The Mad King placed stashes of wildfire in King's Landing." explained Jon "His plan was to destroy himself and King's Landing killing everyone before your brother could take the City. Every man, woman and child burn alive by wildfire in one last mad act."
"The King Slayer stopped him didn't he." stated Stannis as Jon blinked. "Everyone always focuses on how the King Slayer killed the Mad King but he also killed the Hand of the King at the time, head of the pyromancer guide who is in charge of making wildfire. Torn between his oath to his King and his oath as a knight to protect the people, reminds me a bit of how I was torn between following Robert my brother into rebellion or my King."
"Yes." confirmed Jon "We are currently getting the wildfire out of the city using some of Varys contacts as well as some of Ser Davos's friends in the smuggling business. Until they are done, we can't risk attacking the city, set off a cash of them and it could kill thousands. Once they are removed, we will move in. Until then we will keep gathering forces."
"With luck we could hopeful destroy Joffrey in the field and end him without taking any innocent lives." stated Davos, it even sounded false to his ears and more so to Jon and Stannis, all three of them knew that sooner or later the forces of Daenerys would have to clash against Joffrey and thousands would die.
About a day's journey away from them by ship in the Heart of the Red Keep Queen Mother Cersei Lannister stood on her balcony overlooking King's Landing as darkness began to take the city. In her hands a large goblet of wine was moving back and forth as she spun the Arbor Gold in the goblet, every so often she took a small drink, but she fought the need to down it. She needed her wits of her this night, and she knew it. A knock at the door caused her to turn around.
"Enter." ordered Cersei as the doors opened as a man dressed in the finest silk with a silver mockingbird pin on his chest entered. "Evening Lord Baelish."
"Queen Cersei." said Little Finger with a bow. "Forgive my refusal to dine with you this evening, my new wife required my attention, and an evening meeting was all I could arrange."
"You were performing your duties as a husband; it shows your love for your lady wife…" stated Cersei as Little Finger flinched just ever so much. He was calm, collective and possible the best none Lannister in the political game of thrones but even he couldn't hide that saying he loved Lady Lysa Arryn now Lady Lysa Baelish was a bold face lie. Everyone in the palace from the King down to the servants who cleaned chamber pots knew Little Finger didn't love his wife, the only two who didn't know was Lysa herself and possibly little Lord Robin Arryn. "Now I hope you are able to take some time to perform your duties to the crown."
"Of course." said Little Finger as he took a seat across from Queen Cersei. There was of course a server in the room to take note, they wanted to avoid and shut down any gossip that this was a romantic meeting, this was a work meeting.
"Since my father is now on the march and most of the men are off to war King Joffrey has left me to handle some of the lesser matters to help rule is kingdom." stated Cersei "I am honored and humbled to be given these duties."
"The King is very wise; I can't think of a more gifted person man or women in this city that could carry out the duties our King needs you to do." Said Little Finger as he went to pour himself a cup of wine only to find it empty. Seeing lack of wine, the server bowed and headed out the door leaving them alone as they planned.
"Enough with the show…I know it was you who sent those "witness" to his high holiness to spread the lies about my children's parentage." stated Cersei as she studied Little Finger. To her anger, the low born lord who rose far above his station remained calm as he looked at her.
"Let's not lie to each other about the truth of those witness." stated Little Finger, saying without words what she wouldn't say outload, that they were Jaimie's kids not Roberts and everything they said was true. "What would I gain by doing that move? Nothing."
Cersei paused for a moment, he spoke the truth it did give him nothing to make that move and did nothing but harm him. He was tied to the Lannister and Tyrel cause, and they were tied to a royal marriage to her kids, he would gain nothing.
"I was the one who recommended to our King to defeat his enemies in battle to clear his name and…" started Little Finger
"And forced my son to march to war." snapped Cersei
"Please our King would have done that anyway in time, all I did was prevent him from filling King's landing streets with blood and turning the faithful against you. The Reach most of all Old Town is full of the faithful, if our king would call for the High Septons head like he did Eddard Stark how quickly do you think they would bend the knee to the Dragon Queen." countered Little Finger, another good point. "And if you didn't know it, one of the witnesses is a women named Shae who is former bedwarmer to the imp."
Cersei's eyes flashed at that news; she didn't know that. Maybe she was wrong, and this was the play of her monster of a brother not a low born man.
"I believe that this is the work of him and the Spider." stated Little Finger as Cersei placed her hands up to her chin and leaned back in her chair. "They would know everything and have the reasons to do this and…"
"And the Varys would have no trouble arranging this from wherever he currently is." stated Cersei as a knock at the door meant the servant was back with more wine. Time to go back to being less blunt as he came back in with more wine.
"From what I heard, the Spider along with most of Queen Deanery's court was in White Harbor a few days ago heading toward the Twins." stated Little Finger going back to issues that could be talked about safety.
"What have you learned?" inquired Cersei
"Queen Daenerys has taken almost the entire Vale, Gulltown is the only city not in her hand and I expect that will change in the next day or two if it hasn't already." announced Little Finger "The Wildlings have been let through the Wall and…"
"She let the Wildlings through the wall?" inquired Cersei with a grin on her face as Little Finger raised his hand.
"I thought of what you are thinking too, the Northerners have seemed to reach a kind of accord with them, we can't turn their hate against them that easily and worse all if they bend the knee to Queen Daenerys, they have hundreds of giants and Mammoths." stated Little Finger
A few days ago Cersei would have said the idea of Giants and Mammoths would be laughable, both where once real yes but they died out a long time ago, but they said that about dragons and two had flown over Kings Landing.
"Queen Daenerys is growing stronger by the day; my contacts have informed me that she has sent messages to every major house in Westeros and I wouldn't be surprised if the Sea Lord of Bravos knows of her return and all the leaders of the Free Cities will know soon enough as well. A dragon has been spotted at Dragonstone." stated Little Finger "If she manages to get King Stannis to bend the knee, she could cut almost all of Westeros off from the Narrow Sea."
"How?" inquired Cersei "We still control the Stormlands and…"
"The Stormlands doesn't have any major ports of note." stated Little Finger "Besides, Lady Brienne of Tarth or should I say Ser Brienne rides with Queen Daenerys."
"A women knight?" inquired Cersei
"So it would seem, she is said to be a large as a man and as skilled with a sword." stated Little Finger "Brienne the Beauty they called her, and it wasn't a compliment. Either way if her father the Evening Star Lord of Tarth and her grandfather is Lord Eldon Estermont, if both of them rule island located outside of Shipbreaker Bay and the Sea of Dorne respectfully. If they bend the knee Queen Daenerys rules the Narrow Sea from the Broken arm to the Wall. If that happens that would be the end to almost all of our trade with the free cities."
"They didn't bend the knee to Stannis or Renly when they made their claims for my son's throne I don't foresee them joining with the Dragon Queen." countered Cersei as Little Finger took a drink of wine.
"I am not so sure about that, I have heard whispers that this Brienne the beauty is very close to your brother, Jamie and there has been talk among some in Deanery's court of a marriage match between the two." announced Little Finger as Cersei's eyes narrowed with a mixture of rage, hurt and disbelief. "It goes without saying that would be a temping gain for the Evening Star, having your grandson be the heir to the West…"
"That will never happen." growled Cersei
"Maybe, even so there is word that a young man marches with Lord Royce a bastered son of our late King Robert and depending on what Lord Stannis does he will be named Warden of the Stormlands." Added Little Finger as he studied the Queen closely "His name is Gendry, and he is said to be a spitting image of Robert."
"GET OUT!" yelled Cersei as she slammed the table her anger boiling over.
"Of course, your grace, I am sorry that the news isn't better." stated Little Finger as he stood up, having learned what he had wanted to learn. It had cost him a lot, but he knew the price in the end was worth it.
Once he was gone, Cersei dismissed all the servants and poured herself a large cup of wine and went to the window and looked out over the city again. Her anger still nearly at a boil but she was calming down a bit. She could see multiple ships leaving the harbor below, mostly trading cogs and the like but coming over the horizon she could just make out multiple ships. She couldn't see the sigil on the sails but this was about the time the Redwyne fleet was supposed to arrive and given no one was ringing the bells alerting the city someone must have spotted the sigil. Her thoughts then turned back to what Little Finger had told her, she needed to confirm what he said but if everything he said was true then she didn't know what she would do.
Darkness had fallen over the Riverlands but they kept pushing on as the glow from multiple camp fires guided them off the Kings Road down a smaller road which lead them toward their end goal, the Twins.
"Halt!" yelled a strange voice in the darkness as four men, dressed in strange style armor with pointed helms came out of the darkness. Each of them carried a long spear tipped with simple yet deadly point, a large shield and a short sword on each of their hips. Their darker skin color stood out, marking them as not being from Westeros.
"Sir Jorah." Said one of them recognizing him before Jorah Mormont could even identify himself. "It is good to see you, Grey Worm has been expecting you for a little while."
"Rainfall delayed our passage through the neck." Explained Tyrion from the chart.
"Yes, that was a muddy march for us." Answered another in a strange accent "Please come with us we will escort you past the defenses."
"Very well." said Jorah as they went down the road. Catelyn Stark who had remained quite watched as they moved down the road, as they did she spotted multiple ditches and short spiked walls to prevent mounted knights from attacking. From multiple posts the three headed dragon of house Targaryen flew.
"I see you have been busy." Stated Tyrion as they passed yet another line of defense.
"We have Lord Hand." answered one of their escorts "Greyworm had been fortifying this location from attacks from the south as well as the North."
"Why the North." inquired Catelyn as everyone looked at her as if she had had just asked a very stupid question.
"Because that is where the real enemy is." stated her undead brother-in-law as they moved past the main line. There where multiple lines each one stronger than the other but there were a lot of common folk as well, most like them where heading toward the Twins themselves. Catelyn noticed that the fields around them had been replanted and had been expanded. It became clear the common folk had come to the Twins because it was a place of safety in a realm torn apart by war and to them they didn't care who ruled over them, they just wanted to live in peace.
The Twins themselves was still being rebuilt, the dragon fire had burned away the roofs of both keeps on either side of the river but one had already been fully rebuilt while the other looked to be nearly done. The Dragon Banner of House Targaryen hung broadly from the tops of both keep, the Unsullied didn't have a sigil of their own so there was no second banner flying from the Twins only the three headed dragon.
Their small party moved right into the inner courtyard of the Northern most castle, they were just dismounting when a thin but strong looking man came toward them. His hair was cut to the point he was partially bald and his skin was dark, he had a stern look on his face but his eyes brightened when he saw Queen's Deanery's handmaiden Missandei. Catelyn hadn't bothered much with the women, she was a handmaiden which was only a step above a common servant and a translator she had been told. The more she thought about it the more she realized that this common women had been talking a lot with Tyrion, Varys and other high ranking members of the court, something was odd about her, a translator while important wasn't that important.
"Master of War Grey Worm." greeted Tyrion with a smile as he stepped out of the cart while Samwell and the women Gilly was helping the old Maester Aemon. "It is good to see you, how are you?"
"I am well Lord Tyrion and the news I have is better." announced Greyworm "We have taken the crossroads and control the road leading from here to the Vale. Last report says Lord Royce is marching on Gulltown and the rest of the Vale has bent the knee or soon will be."
Catelyn took all that in, that meant the two of the seven kingdoms of Westeros had fallen totally within Queen Deanery's camp and they were the two which was the easiest to defend. Hold the Bloody Gate and Moat Cailin where in almost perfect defensive positions.
"Good and what news of Robb Stark?" inquired Tyrion
"There the news isn't as good; they haven't bent the knee but yesterday morning a Raven arrived saying they request our Queen to make her case for them to bend the knee to her at Riverrun as soon as possible." stated Greyworm "They also state they want to have a trail by battle to show if her words are true."
"A trial by battle?" inquired Tyrion remembering how unreliable those where, he hadn't harmed Joffrey yet he was to be killed when the Red Viper lost to the Mountain because the Red Viper got sloppy in his quest for revenge.
"If I understand correctly, they want to have 7 warriors each, either male or female fight each other to prove their side is right or wrong." stated Greyworm
"Sounds like a mixture of the trail by Seven of the South and the Champion fights of the North." Stated Aemon as Samwell helped him down from the cart with Gilly helping as well. The two of them had been keeping good care of the elderly man on their journey south but it was still hard on the old man.
"But none of that has happened since the trail at Ashfort where Prince…" started Sam
"No need for a history lesson now." interrupted Tyrion, he knew that famous event in history well enough he needed to focus on this new event. "We must inform her grace of this."
"She should be arriving here in a day or two if the plan goes as expected and the message said copies were going to White Harbor, Winterfell and the Eyrie." Said Greyworm
"One of those should reach her grace." Said Messandei as she smiled at Grey Worm who gave her a brief smile back.
"We also know that Joffrey's army has marched and is heading toward Riverrun." announced Grey Worm as Catielyn's eyes widened. "Her grace has informed Lord Robb and given the size of his armies and the ground they have to cover we have some time."
"Alright, we will need to cover this more in the morning." stated Tyrion
"Of course." Stated Grey Worm with a simple nod of his head. "I have rooms prepared for you all."
"Thank you, a rest would be great after a day of hard travel." said Tyrion
Princess Arianne of House Martell heiress to Dorne stood on top of the walls of Gulltown along with her cousins. The lords of Gulltown, house Grafton had refused to provide her with horses for her party to journey inland to investigate reports of an approaching army, instead they had barred the gate and had manned the walls with all the men they could. During her short stay in Gulltown, she had learned much all the stories about people simply disappearing one day was true. Almost a quarter of the fighting force of Gulltown from knights to archers had disappeared one day, common people had as well all of them men and men who were either of military age or about to be. She had heard stories like that in Sunspear before sailing, the people as far south as King's Landing had disappeared one day. It wasn't something she would have believed but then again only a couple of days ago had seen a dragon fly over this city before heading out to sea.
"They have no right to keep us here." stated her cousin Obara as she stood beside her cousin and future Princess of her homeland. Obara had always been the bluntest of all the Sand Snakes but with her spear, shield and short sword she was also the deadliest in a straight up fight. She however was also the rashes and most ready to solve all problems with either the tip of a spear or a sword blade.
"They claim it is to keep us safe." explained Nymeria, some said she was the most beautiful of the sand snakes but that may because she often showed the most skin and wore the most relieving cloths. While some said she was the most beautiful all who truly knew her agreed she was the most cunning in political matters. "It makes sense, they have to keep the Princess of Dorne safe and who would be foolish enough to attack and possibly kill you, that would anger all of Dorne."
"True, but still I don't think it will matter all that much." Stated Tyene as she moved her hand to take in all the campfires which was now visible, a whole army was coming down on Gulltown and the wall they were standing on had fallen before to a lesser army at the very start of Robert's Rebellion. They had spotted the banners from almost every house in the Vale, the Falcon and moon of House Arryn was also among the attacking army but the thing that stood out was the red three headed dragon of house Targaryen.
Arianne took all this in and processed it, she had long ago begun to study the art of making decisions by standing beside her father at council meetings and hearing all viewpoints was key. True the meetings she was allowed to attend where always lower, less important matters. As she got older her father entrusted more to her, still it was clear that her father had kept so much from her. She understood that she didn't like it but she understood it none the less.
"Unless they have ships, they can't place this city under siege." stated Arianne as the sound of someone in heavy plate armor coming up behind her caused her and everyone else to turn. All the sandsnakes where reaching for weapons, Obara her spear, Nymeria a dagger and Tyene's hand was on a whip while another hand rested on the handle of a long dagger she kept covered with poison. They relaxed a bit when they recognized their fellow Dornish man walking up toward them.
"Sir Dayne." Greeted Arianne to the knight and the only male member of their little party. "How did your talk with the leaders go?"
"Well, they will not let us ride out to go talk with them…" started Dayne as he spotted the anger on Arianne's face. "Let me finish, Princess."
"Go on." She ordered
"They will not let us ride out to go talk to them tonight, in the morning they are going out under a peace banner to ask to hold a meeting with them." Explained Sir Gerald Dayne "Depending on what they say, they will allow us to go forth with them to said meeting."
"Very well." stated Arianne, not pleased with the news but accepting it none the less, it was going to be a long night.
To the south and west the torches were burning in the Great Hall at Kings Landing as King Joffrey Baratheon sat on the Iron throne looking down at the man who had just entered the hall. On either side of him was his soon to be father-in-law now Hand of the King Lord Mace Tyrell and his soon to be brother-in-law Sir Loras Tyrell the Knight of Flowers.
"So you are telling me, that you can't obey the orders I am giving you to defend this city because your two sons where dumb enough to get captured?" inquired Joffrey in a cool voice which barely hid the anger.
"Yes, my king." answered Lord Redwyne before quickly adding. "I will not be able to defend the city but I nor my men will not serve the Dragon Queen."
"No…I think not. I will not let your foolishness to let you off the hook like some common fish." Stated Joffrey "I will give you one last choice, do your duties as ordered by your King or I will have you thrown into the black cells. You will disembark your men and they will take up positions on the wall to hold this city while I go out on the march to crush our enemies."
"My…King?" stuttered Lord Redwyne "I can't…I can't, my sons are captured."
"You have a 3rd son do you not?" inquired Joffrey as Lord Redwyne nodded.
"He is only a boy of 6 and…" started Lord Redwyne
"And he will be your heir if they take your other sons heads." stated Joffrey calmly.
"My King, you are not a father yet but a father's love…" started Lord Tyrell as he came to the defense of the other great lord from the Reach and a banner man to himself. House Tyrell and Redwyne actually shared a long history with multiple intermarriages across time.
"Is not worth two golden dragons." countered Joffrey "My father was a great warrior but he believed in riding out and facing your enemies in combat."
"Maybe your grace once we capture a few of the high lords and ladies of our enemies we can trade them for…" began Sir Loras
"I will not be taking prisoners, any Lord who dared to rise against me will find his head removed like Eddard Stark." Countered Joffery as everyone gulped, that wasn't how the game was played among the high lords. "So Lord Redwyne what do you say…"
"I…I am sorry my king but I…" started Lord Redwyne
"Guards, take him to the Black Cells." Ordered Joffrey as four armed guards came forward. Redwyne didn't fight, instead he rose and bowed toward his King before being lead away.
"My King that was unwise I think." Stated Lord Tyrell as Joffrey once again sat down on the Iron Throne.
"No…it was." stated Joffrey
Sunrise found Queen Daenerys sitting in a high backed chair with three wooden dragon heads on it's back. It wasn't made of stone like the Merman's Throne which was the throne of House Manderly who ruled White Harbor. While that throne stood at the center of the raised platform above the hall, her chair was higher marking her as Queen. Manderly had sent word to nearby keeps and holdfasts outside of White Harbor so there were more lords then she had expected, they had ridden through the night to get here. She wished they hadn't she couldn't stay long but she also knew it was next to impossible for a landed knight who ruled a small piece of land from a simple tower to be this close to a Queen normally. Here they could get their voices heard like the normally couldn't, so to them it was worth the ride.
"My Queen, my small folk are up in arms with the orders from Winterfell to burn the dead bodies of their loved ones." stated a Landed Knight, Daenerys didn't recognize the sigil or in truth remember this man's name. Given where he sat, he likely ruled over a small farming community which may or may not have a name. Still his voice was something she needed to listen to, everyone's voice was worth listening to. "It goes against the faith."
"True." confirmed a much more important voice, Septon Ronard, he was a member of the most devout who was suppose to be among those capable of voting for the High Septor in Kings Landing. Most of the most devout lived in Kings Landing to be close to the High Septor and the power there, Septn Ronard had decided to trade that power to be instead the de facto head of the Faith in the North. "It is written in the Seven-Pointed Star that none of the faithful would rise again until the last day if their bodies the containment vessel for the soul is turned to ash. To destroy the bodies of the dead is to doom them to one of the seven hells until the day the Seven return and all who are worthy rise again."
Deanarys blinked as she looked at this man, he hadn't come back in time with them he hadn't seen the undead army and those cold blue eyes, neither had that knight who had raised the issue. Time to fix that.
"My Lords, I understand that." reassured Daenerys, even if her own family's custom was to burn bodies but that was always pushed to the aside, just like the Targaryen custom of brother and sister marriages. "However, forgive me but there is something for you all to see which I believe will make you understand."
With that the doors to the great hall opened and a figure bound in heavy chains with not one but three collars attached to thick poles was pulled into the chamber. Even chained, bound, gagged and with a dozen armed knights in full plate ready to stop him he was still thrashing about like a wild animal. His unnatural blue eyes looking outwards. His body was made of rotten, half frozen flesh, parts of his skeleton could be seen. He was the walking dead; he was a weight.
"By the Seven." gasped Septon Ronard stepping back as he looked at the monster, he wasn't alone some of the ladies fainted and a few knights as well.
"This was once a man, a man who died and was risen from the peacefulness of death by our enemies coming down from beyond the wall." explained Daenerys stepping closer but remained a safe distance, there were a couple of knights between her and the wight. "The White Walkers, raised him, use him as part of their army to kill everyone."
Daenerys nodded toward a knight who was near to the wight but not one holding the chains, he drew his sword and ran it through the body of the wight slamming it up to the hilt so the blade went into the stomach and out the back. To the amazement of everyone who had not come back with them from the future, it did nothing and the wight kept trying to attack. The knight pulled out the sword, the wound didn't draw any noticeable blood however the blade was stained by thick smelly dried blood.
"Only fire, obsidian otherwise known as dragon glass and Valyrian steel can kill them." explained Daenerys "That is why we must burn the bodies of those already dead, to prevent them from rising again. For with each body we burn, that is a body that the Night King cannot make part of his army to destroy all life."
"But it is said that those whose body is burned will not rise until the final day and will not enter any of the seven heavens above." stated Septor Ronard as he repeated from the Seven Pointed Star.
"Septor, the Father above allows my ancestors to enter his grace even though we burn or dead. I don't not think he will turn these souls away." Countered Daenerys, that tradition predated House Targaryen taking up the Faith of the Seven and had been accepted as a gift to them for being the blood of the Dragon just like brother and sister marriages. "Besides I think the Father above will accept why we have to do this."
"And the mother above will likely speak for us, forgiving us of this great sin." added Lord Manderly "For she is merciful and will surely understand the reasons to do this."
"I will…I will have to send a message to his High Holiness in Kings Landing but I agree at the moment." Said Septor Ronard as Daenerys nodded.
"Good, now we have a some more wights which I will be sending South to help the explain to other lords, Ladies and small folk why we must prepare for the Walkers." announced Deanarys as she looked toward Lord Manderly "I will leave this one here with you, use it to show your people what we face. Make them understand, that while they are to be feared, they can and will be stopped as long as we work together."
"Aye, my Queen." said Manderly
"Good." Said Daenerys as she moved to sit back down, the next topic would be an overview of the defensives which was already being built around the city. She planned for this meeting to end in a few hours, when she hoped to tour the Winter Sept before a light lunch before heading south to the Eyrie. That all changed, as a Maester walked up to her with a scroll in hand, it was sealed with the three headed dragon of her house in wax, when she opened it she recognized the hand writing.
"My Queen?" inquired Lord Manderly, having noticed she wasn't paying much attention to what was being said.
"News from the South, Lord Robb Stark has sent his invitation to speak before the remaining Lords of the North and the Riverlords to convince them to bend the knee." explained Daenerys as she reported what Grey Worm had just written to her. "The issue is that some of their lords and ladies want to carry out basically a trial by battle to determine if my words are true."
"That is a foolish idea." stated a nearby Lord
"I am not so sure, I will need to think on this. If I am able to convince them without having the resort to battle it may be worth the risk." stated Daenerys as she stood up. "Still, forgive me my Lords and Ladies but I must depart ahead of schedule to attend to this."
"Understood my Queen, do you think you will have time to tour the Winter Sept and there is the other matter we had arranged on your behalf." Inquired Lord Manderley, Daenerys considered for a moment. The Winter Sept wasn't that far away, and it would take some time to prepare the wights she was bring south for travel.
"Yes, but it will have to be quick." stated Daenerys as she looked around. "Forgive me, my Lords and Ladies but I need to end this council. I thank you for your time and your words, you have given me much to think."
The sun was rising over Blackwater Bay as the Redwyne fleet sat at anchor even as their lord sat in the black cells beath the Red Keep. It didn't matter to Joffrey that he had just imprisoned the Lord which had the strongest war fleet in Westeros who had close families ties with multiple key houses across the Reach. He didn't care at all because today he would ride for war.
"Good luck, my love." Said Lady Margaery as she bowed her head toward Joffrey as he stood in the courtyard of the Red Keep in a set of new plate mail. The armor was made by some the finest smiths in Kings Landing and was a deep rich red color with large selections of gold with his signal on the front made of rare and expansive stones. On top of his helm which he had no plans to wear if needed were a large pair of golden antlers, his Father Robert had worn a matching set on his helm when he went to war. To have them on his armor was another way to prove those lies about his Uncle being his father wrong. It was to make him more like his father, just like riding out to battle like his father would have done. It was fit for a King and he was a King, a sword hung from his belt and a shield rested on his saddle as he prepared to ride out of his city.
"I thank you, my love." Said Joffrey as he said the words load enough for the entire court to here. The entire court was gathered to watch him leave…aside from one.
"My King, I am sorry that your mother couldn't join us." said Grand Maester Pycelle "While a Queen, she is a mother, and I don't think she could stand watching you ride out to war."
"My mother, is a good woman a strong woman but she is still a women and as you said a mother." Stated Joffrey, in truth he had all but threatened to send his mother to the Black Cells if she came. She had been the one to pull him back from the walls during his Uncle's Stannis attack and he wasn't going to let her hold him back now.
"Go forth, my King and let the Warrior give you strength and the father protection before you return to us in victory." Said the Castle Septon as Joffrey nodded.
"The Seven is with us, for we go to war against those who do not believe in the faith." Stated Joffrey as he kissed Margaery hand, before whispering. "When I return, I will make our enemies heads part of our wedding celebration."
"As you will my King." Said Margaery more than slightly put off by that statement but keeping a straight face as Joffrey turned and mounted up before riding out with his knights.
He rode out of the gates and down Aegon's high hill expecting to see the streets full of small folk being held back by the Gold Cloaks. Instead, while the streets where full of people most seamed to pay him no real mind. They watched him and the large column of man he commanded ride with no real interest. Some did cheer him but once he swore, he heard a few actually call out for the Dragon Wore.
"Don't let it get to you, your grace." said Ser Loras "Bring them victory and the small folk will love you."
"I am their king; their love is mine without question." stated Joffrey as he rode out of Kings Landing, passing by the tail end of the massive army which had been encamped there. He rode past his man, almost all of them where Tryell banner man. The Western man were coming from Lannistport and would meet at Riverrun. He did have a few Storm landers and crown landers, but they mostly stayed back to protect Kings Landing and he was unsure about the Storm landers. The Dornish hadn't even shown up and the Red Viper had grinned a cocky grin while he did that little act in the courtyard. Their time would come as well, but first he needed to crush the Boy Wolf and the Dragon Whore.
It was well past the midday meal by the time Princess Arianne mounted her horse and headed out the gates of Gulltown along with 3 dozen knights and men of arms from the city as well as her own party. The knights where loyal to Lord Gerold Graften the elderly man who ruled over the largest city in the Vale. In the distance was the army, which was marching toward his wall, they had banners from all over the Vale which wouldn't be much of a concern considering most where allies to House Graften but above all even the Falcon and moon of house Arryn was the three headed dragon of house Targaryen. Seeing them coming a small party split off from the advancing army and raced forward, their peace banner flapping in the wind along with the Banners of house Arryn, Targaryen, Royce and most surprising House Graften's own.
They meet in the middle between the walls of the city and the army which was deploying out preparing to make camp or place the city under siege.
"Lord Graften…so good to see you again." announced Lord Royce as Lord Graften blinked.
"Yohn…you look older." stated the already old man
"And you look alive considering you died a year from now from a sickness." explained Lord Yohn Royce.
"Grandfather." said a younger man, a very young knight as Lord Graften looked at the man.
"By the seven…Walter." said Lord Graften in surprised.
"His grandson…he was among the many who disappeared from the city." Explained Sir Dayne to Princess Arianne who gave a slight nod, this was getting weirder and weirder could the stories be true.
"How…you look older?" inquired Lord Graften as he looked at his grandson.
"I am older grandfather…this is going to take some time to explain." stated the young Sir Graften as Lord Royce began to explain what had to be the most impossible story in history.
An army of the dead coming down from the North, a Targaryen Queen coming across the seas to fight alongside a new King in the North Jon Snow. Then losing the battle with the dead only to use magic of the children of the forest to travel through time, that bastered snow being a Targaryen Prince who is now legitimized as a cadet branch of House Stark and promised to the Targaryen Queen. It was a crazy story even before he added how her uncle would be killed in a trail of battle by the Mountain and she would die in a shipwreck coming back from visiting her mother. How Dorne and the Reach would side with house Targaryen only to loss to a mixture of the Iron Fleet and a Lannister trick. It was crazy and she didn't know why but she believed most of it. If she needed any more convincing, there was a roar as out of the sky landing a few feet behind Lord Royce an actual Dragon with two riders appeared. One was a handsome man who slipped from the back of the beast with ease dressed in black armor with a sword at his hip. The other was unarmored man and was scared out of his mind.
"Lord Stark…glad to see you return." announced Royce as the armored man walked toward them as figures rode up to take charge of the dragon. "And who is this?"
"One of Lord Redwyne twin sons." explained Jon as Royce raised an eyebrow "We captured them, and the other is with Lord Stannis. I was planning to either keep him with you or send him to White Harbor."
"Lord Stannis?" inquired Arianne as Jon turned his gaze to her, he was short for a man that was sure but not too short and he had a hard but yet somehow gentle look to him, a noble warrior. He had hard but actrivie features with scars on his face from a life of battle and the way he carried himself was that of a hardened veteran.
"Yes, King Stannis has bent the knee to Queen Daenerys and in return he is now Lord Stannis Lord Paramount of the Stormlands." explained Jon as everyone's eyes widened at that news. "And who are you? If I may inquire my lady."
"Princess Arianne of Dorne." announced Sir Dayne as he walked forward and stood before Jon, he was slightly taller and dressed in much heavier plate armor. Yet from the way Jon was standing and how he presented himself Arianne wasn't sure who would win in a fight between the two of them and aside from her Uncle the Red Viper Sir Dayne was the deadliest fighter in Dorne. That was saying a lot about this Jon, he was hardened by battle. "You look like your mother."
That caused everyone to look at him confused, even Jon seamed taken aback.
"Allow me to explain. I was a squire to my Uncle Sir Arthur Dayne of the Kings Guard and I was outside the door of your mother's birthing chamber when Lord Eddard Stark came to get his sister." Explained Sir Dayne as he looked at everyone. "If you had any concerns about their words, take mine on this fact at least. This is the son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and his wife Lady Lyanna Stark of Winterfell."
"You knew about this?" inquired Arianne
"Yes, your father knows as well…how he learned about it I don't know." Stated Sir Dayne
"The raven we sent to Sunspear said that house Dayne was at the Tower of Joy that day." explained Jon as the elder Dayne nodded.
"That is possible, your father only asked me for this information before we left Sunspear." confirmed Gerold Dayne
"We will talk about this later." Stated Arianne as she looked at Jon and the story she had been told with new light.
Having spotted Jon's Dragon when it flew toward the meeting outside of Gulltown, Sir Jamie Lannister had ordered the cargo ship he was on to change course heading toward the city. They didn't go into the city because of the fear of the wildfire they carried going off instead, both himself and Septon Torbert of the Most Devout instead boarded a nearby fishing ship and paid them to take them ashore.
They didn't have far to go to get into the busy port and Septon Torbert dressed in the cloth of Silver of the Most Devout allowed him to get past the port guard and to get a pair of horses for himself and Jaime Lannister. Once at the main gate it took some convincing to allow them to pass, once again Septon Torbert cloths and being the right hand of the High Septon himself convinced the guards it was better to open the gates and let them leave. They came riding up just in time to see the old Lord Graften bend the knee to Jon who was standing in for Daenerys.
"Arise Lord Graften, master of Gulltown and protector of its people." Announced Jon as he went to help the old man up as he was having trouble getting to his feet.
"Lord Jon." Announced Jaime as Jon turned his attention to the oncoming riders.
"Sir Jaime." welcomed Jon as the Dornish turned their attention to the Golden Lion, he was much older with silver in his beard and an unmoving hand which was the mark of a man who had lost his hand in battle. "Welcome back, I assume your son didn't take the news well."
"No, Joffrey is on the war path, but I did talk to his holiness and the Red Viper they know." explained Jaimie as he jestered to the man dressed in silver beside him. "Allow me to introduce Septon Torbert of the Most Devout, one of his high holiness most trusted advisors."
"Septon Torbert welcome." greeted Jon "I am Jon Stark."
"Lord..." corrected Lord Royce, as Jon eyed him both men knew as well as Jaime Lannister did that Jon wasn't used to going by Lord, that is something he would have to learn. "Lord Jon Stark future King consort to our Queen Daenerys of House Targaryen first of her name."
Before more could be said, a roar filled the air as Jon along with everyone else turned toward the North to see another dragon, this one black of scale coming out of the clouds. The dragon came down low, getting a cheer from the army as it came in for a landing. The massive dragon landed and extended it's wings out before letting out a roar. That caused every single horse to skitter back a bit in fear. The only one who didn't flinch was Jon as he began to move forward.
For her part Princess Arianne of Dorne was taken aback as she watched Jon move toward the dragon, letting his hand run across the scales and brushing past it's fangs like it was some kind of massive horse. Then he lifted his hand up and helped the figure who had been riding it down. Princess Adriene always had been told she was the most beautiful women in Dorne and she believed it not only because she was the princess of Dorne but because she had seen most of the high borne women and none matched her. The figure which came walking toward them dressed in black with her silverly blonde hair braided in multiple complex rows was above her in beauty. Not by much in her view but even she knew she was above her in looks.
"Queen Daenerys." Said Lord Royce as he took a knee along with the other knights, even the elderly Lord Graften knelt again. Jaimie had dismounted and had knelt as well leaving only the Dornish and Septon Torbert standing before her while Jon stood beside her, slightly behind her like a Queen would to a King. Could this be the new Queen and King concert of Westeros, thought Arianne…they had the looks of it but looks only counted for part of the battle.
"Arise." Ordered Daenerys as everyone who was kneeling rose up.
"My Queen we didn't expect you." explained Lord Royce
"News have brought me here; I am sorry that I couldn't give you forewarning of my coming." explained Daenerys as she looked toward Jon. "Your cousin has put before us a very interesting offer and I require your council."
"My Queen…" said the elderly Lord "Gulltown is yours I would be happy to host you in my very hall this night."
"I thank you, my Lord." Said Daenerys "I will gladly take you up on your offer, I will require however you to also prepare your most secure cell and at least a dozen armed men to go with a dozen provided by Lord Royce. I will also require you to call your townsfolk together in the largest square if possible."
"Of….of course." said the elderly Lord, clearly unsure. "Can I ask why?"
"Do not fear, my lord." Stated Daenerys with a reassuring smile "I will show you in the square. Prepare the people and we will come in when you're ready we do not wish to scare anyone."
"Yes, my Queen." Said Lord Graften as he turned and headed toward his horse helped by his now older grandson who rode off with him toward the city gates.
"My Queen?" inquired Jon, he would call her Dany but they were not alone.
"I took a page out of your book Jon." explained Daenerys as she looked toward her dragon as Jon remembered the barrels hanging from the saddle and how they moved. "Like what we did in Kings Landing in the Dragons pit."
"Queen Deanarys." Interrupted Sir Dayne as Deanery's turned her attention to the Dornish party. "I am Sir Gerold Dayne of Starfall, allow me to introduce."
"Princess Arianne Martel of Dorne along with her cousins the Obara, Nymeria and Tyene Sand all daughters of the legendry Red Viper." Said Daenerys as she nodded to all four women. "While I never had a chance to meet the Princess in our time before we came back, I did meet all three of you briefly on Dragonstone when your escorted Ellaria Sand as a representative of your brother. You are women of great passion it will be an honor to get to know all of you better."
"There is much we need to discuss." Stated Princess Arianne as she eyed Sir Gerold Dayne, the fact that he confirmed that this Jon Snow…or rather Stark was in fact the son of Rhaegar Targaryen was something she needed to process and if there was something her father had always stressed was to never rush into anything without careful planning. She needed time to plan. "But the middle of a field isn't the place for that, I assume you will be staying in the Castle tonight."
"Or in our camp outside the walls either way you will be most welcome to dine with us this evening." Stated Daenerys as Princess Arianne bowed her head in agreement. "I do request that you attend the public gathering shortly, otherwise I will see you at sundown for dinner."
"Of course." confirmed Adrienne as she and her party turned and headed back to the city.
An hour later Daenerys Targaryen mounted on top of a white mare rode forward along with other high lords and knights toward the city, her normal silver mare a gift from Kar Drogo wasn't with her but this horse was magnificent. Before her some of her knights and men at arms had already entered the city. Where Robert Baratheon had to storm the walls to take the city at the very start of his rebellion against her house, she rode through the gate. Where Robert and his men had killed hundreds of its defenders and small folk no one was harmed as she passed through the gates. Still as she turned her gaze toward the small folk she was taken aback, there was no cheering for her or sadness, the people where neither happy nor depressed the best she could describe it was that they were confused and worried. They knew she was the daughter of the mad King, the king who had burned men alive with dragon fire before the court and much worse, they feared that in her.
"They fear me." whispered Daenerys, so softly that only Jon who was riding a few steps behind her could hear her.
"They do." confirmed Jon which was something Daenerys didn't want to hear even if it was the truth. "They fear you because they do not know you…they are used to the game that the high lords and ladies play, they surfer from it but all they want to do is live their lives. Give them a better life and they will love you, show them who I know you really are."
Deanarys nodded as she kept moving forward until they entered a large square which sat in the shadow of the castle which overlooked the port, it was full of people with a raised stone platform where for hundreds of years before even the coming of the Targaryen town criers and holy people would speak to the people. Multiple Targaryen Kings and Queens have spoken from that spot in the past, now it was her turn. She dismounted with grace and skill and walked up to the raised platform, Jon and the others in her company stopped at least two steps down from her so that all eyes were on her.
"I am Queen Daenerys Targaryen, only daughter of King Aerys Targaryen the Mad King." started Daenerys "I am not my father, he was a mad tyrant who deserved to be brought down. Robert Baratheon was right to rebel against him."
That caused more than a few in the crowds to look on in amazement, for a daughter to go against her father was rare enough but a Queen calling her father a King mad was unheard of, even if it was a true fact.
"My only regrate is that my brother Prince Rhaegar hadn't joined Robert in removing our father." stated Daenerys "In the coming days you will hear about how and why we suddenly appeared, however I will keep it simple. Magic has returned to the world, if you needed any proof look at the Dragons which are now above our heads."
As if they knew when their mother needed them, two large dragons began to circle the city. None of the people noticed the cart which had entered the square or the multiple knights which surrounded it.
"We have come from the future, using magic of the children of the forest to send us back while ourselves who once lived in this time where destroyed." Explained Daenerys "We were sent back at a point in time where all hope was lost, when the real enemy was about to win. I speak not of Joffrey Waters or any other man or women but the ancient threat to all creatures with warm blood in their veins."
She gave a slight nod as out of the cart their hands bound, with iron chains around their legs and ropes holding them in place came three wights. The clearly dead bodies which were moving on their own caused the crowed to gasp, men and women screamed while children turned away in fear. A few in the crowd even fainted.
Watching from a nearby raised platform Princess Arianne of Dorne and her party looked at the undead thrashing in their restraints with the same mix of fear, confusion and near panic as the lower born.
"Seven save us." whispered one of her cousins, she was too focused on the undead with their blue eyes to really take note of who said it.
"These are wights, they were once men like anyone else only now their bodies have been raised from their graves by the White Walkers in defiance of the Seven and the Old Gods." stated Daenerys "The ancient enemy of everything with warm blood in their veins have returned, the next long night is coming. Last time we didn't unite soon enough to prevent the Walkers from winning, lucky we now have a second chance."
She nodded her head again as one of the knights took his sword and cut off one of the wights arms, everyone in the crowd watched as it kept moving even after being cut off from the body. Then like Jon had done before in the Dragon Pit in King's Landing Daenerys took a torch and had Jon light it. She walked up to the knight who was holding the still moving hand up for all to see. As soon as Deanery's fire touched it the arm caught fire and stopped moving.
"These creatures are not invincible they can be returned to the grave. Fire and most of all a stone called Dragon glass can end them and while Fire will not harm them Dragon glass can kill their masters as well." stated Daenerys "We must all come together in order to prevent the next long night, for as House Stark has been warning us for generations Winter is Coming and the dead come with it. We must prepare and I will require all your help to do so."
Later that night Princess Arianne stood by the window of the apartment in the castle which overlooked the massive port of Gulltown. The town itself was asleep, it was well past the hour of the wolf and it was closer to dawn then it was to sundown. In her hands she was moving a glass of wine as she thought about all the news which came from today. It was hard to believe that only a few rooms away not one but two Targaryen's now slept, a possible Queen to rule over the Seven Kingdoms and that was the part of their story which made the most sense.
"There is no way any of this can be true." said Obara as she sat in a chair with her own wine.
"I don't know, Jaime Lannister's story about us killing his daughter make sense if father died at the mountains hands." stated Nymeria "And in our grief we may have gone out and killer your little brother…sorry about that if we did."
"He is still alive, last time I saw him in the water garden." Reassured Arianne, in truth she did love her brother both of them but she wasn't close to Trystane nor Quentyn.
"Besides part of that story is my beloved sister, your cousin falling for a certain knight from Kings Landing, Bronn I believe his name was." Added Nymeria as Tyene shuffled.
"Now that part I don't believe." added Tyene
"That doesn't matter." Stated Arianne "We need to make our moves and inform father and your father of all these developments."
"A Raven can reach…" started Ser Dayne as he stood by the door in full armor still.
"A Raven can be intercepted most of all in Kings Landing." Stated Arianne as she prepared to lay out her plan. "It has to be in person. I have spoken with Queen Daenerys, tomorrow they are flying to the Twins before a ride to Riverrun to meet with the Lords of the Riverlands and the North still loyal to Lord Robb, if they been the knee Queen Daenerys rules half the seven kingdoms. Dorne will need to have a witness there and a voice, I am going."
"My Princess…" started Ser Dayne
"And you and Tyene will be going with me." announced Arianne "While we go to observe this meeting, Nymeria you will escort one of these weights to the Water Garden under heavy guard, so that father and the other Lords of Dorne can witness what we have."
"So I guess Obara is going to Kings Landing to inform father but why he already knows about wights and White Walkers." Inquired Nymeria "He heard it all from the King's slayer."
"He does, but he hasn't seen it and that member of the most Devout wants the High Septon to see it as well." Countered Arianne as she looked at her warrior cousin. "You can handle one of those undead things yourself I assume?"
"Of course." Stated Obara with a grin.
"Well a daughter coming in to see her father wouldn't arise to much talk in court." stated Nymeria who was the most skilled of the Sand Snakes when it came to court matters.
"The next few days will forever change the Seven Kingdoms, not just Dorne but the entire Seven Kingdoms." stated Arianne as everyone understood that is she wasn't joking. Still, everyone in this room, minus Ser Dayne whom she knew well but not as well was her friends. So she gave them all a grin as she finished. "Besides whom wouldn't turn down a chance to ride a dragon."
