Chapter 24: The lion and the Stag

In the south...

Gerion Lannister POV

Today was his wedding day, and Gerion was very nervous. But not for the day itself, but because a new chapter in his life will begin. And he was looking forward to the night, to finally come true what he had wanted since he met her. He didn't like it that some lords, and other members of the court, will watch him while he consumes the marriage, but his grandfather was adamant about that, despite his mother's firm protests about it. He was sure that she was the only one in this world who openly challenged him, and he didn't know if it was because she wasn't afraid of him, or because being married to the heir to the throne gave her security.

Now before heading to the great temple for the ceremony, his grandfather, King Tywin asked him to meet him in his study.

Upon entering, he saw him while he was reading some dispatches.

"You wanted to see me, Your Grace?" Gerion asked, using the title.

"Yes. Come in and sit down."

"We must go to the temple. The wedding..."

"The wedding can wait a bit longer," his grandfather cut him, and Gerion went inside, and then sat down. "I've called you here to let you know about the news we've received." And he gave him a letter.

"Your grace,

as by your instructions, the chaos at the border between Dorne and The Reach has unleashed and the two armies have clashed. Garlan Tyrell and Olyvar Martell have fallen, while the Tyrell army has been slaughtered by our allies.

T.L"

"So, soon the invasion will take place, right?" Gerion asked, handing back the dispatch.

"Yes. Within two days, your Father will mobilize the army to march on Goldengrove," said his grandfather, looking towards him, "The sellsword I hired from Essos, with a six-month contract, are conquering the Shield Islands, and the watchtowers as we are talking, while our fleet with the new troops will depart to land on the coasts of The Reach and march on Highgarden."

"And this will only happen if Goldengrove falls and the sellswords companies keep to the contract."

"They won't. They are paid a lot. And I sent an envoy to Dragonstone to make King Godfrey bend the knee and bring him and his ten thousand men to our side."

"What about the Vale and The Riverlands?"

"I'm waiting for Hoster Tully to die and his idiot brother to march on the North. I haven't received anything for the Vale yet."

"We both know, Your Grace, that the Lords of the Vale, even though Robin Arryn is not the son of the king, will not kneel to you, and the Bloody Gates are impregnable."

"Nothing is impregnable, Gerion, you must know that. But that' s why I'm going to leave it behind. First I want to conquer the Southern Kingdoms."

"And Dorne?" asked Gerion.

"Dorne is ruled by a woman who thinks she knows how to do it. Soon it will also come to its end when we are finished with The Reach."

" You know Joffrey's gonna be a problem in the Stormlands, right? He' s up to something. I can feel it. He's smarter than he looks."

" Madder, yes. Not smarter. And yes, I already have a plan for him. But now let's go, it' s time for the wedding. Your gift awaits you in your rooms, by the way."

Before leaving the room Gerion asked another time, "About the consummation of the..."

"It will be done in the presence of the lords in your rooms. It is decided."

"But there are other ways..."

"No! You're going to do what I say, do you understand me?"

Gerion sighed and nodded, even though he didn't like it.

Myrcella Baratheon POV

She and Gerion were standing in the great temple, in front of the High Septon of Castely Rock, and with all the lords and ladies of the kingdom as their witnesses, as well as with some representatives of the Stormlands, including Ser Aemon Estermont, Brienne of Tarth, her swornshield, Lord Sebastion Errol, and Ser Davos, who was here in the Name of the Hand of the King, Stannis of House Baratheon.

After the High Septon said the prayers of the Seven Gods and tied their hands with the sacred lace he said, "Now recite the oath of the Seven Gods so you may be united before them." And looking into their eyes they started.

"Father, smith, warrior, mother, maiden, crone, stranger,"

"I am hers, and she is mine,"

"I am his, and he is mine,"

"From this day, until the end of my days."

And they all sealed with a chaste kiss.

"Let it be known, that Myrcella of House Baratheon and Gerion of House Lannister are one heart, one body, one soul. Cursed is he who tries to break their union. "

And they all start to applaud when they turned to them. Her grandfather was serious, and Gerion mother was smiling as well as his two little sisters.

After the ceremony of the great Temple, they headed to the Great Hall for the great feast, when entering it was wonderful, and Myrcella was speechless. She has never seen such beauty in their past feasts.

They headed to the center of the hall to start the dances. Myrcella loved dancing since she was a child, and now when she did it with Gerion it was like going back to the past, when her mother taught her how to dance, despite the constant jokes of Joffrey when she started to cry because she couldn't make the steps. She hated him for that.

"What is there to smile about," Gerion asked, whispering in her ear, and kissing her neck.

"Memoirs of when I was a child," replied Myrcella smiling.

After they danced with many lords and ladies except the king, she and Gerion headed to their table to start the banquet.

As they ate and drank, Gerion leaned toward here, and said in a low voice, "About this night, I tried to change the king's mind, but he is adamant about that. He wants the Lords to be present and to witness that the marriage has been consumed. "

And when Gerion said that, Myrcella looked down, feeling her anxiety grow within herself. Gerion put his hand on hers, that was on the table, and said, "Know that I will try to be as gentle as possible, considering that I cannot prepare you for that." He said that to reassure her, but all he did, was increase her anxiety.

Then came the great cake that was magnificent, and they stood up to cut it.

As she was finishing the cake, Myrcella saw her aunt and future mother-in-law, Ellyn Reyne coming and sitting on one of the empty chairs next to her.

"I'm sorry, Myrcella. I tried to change the king's mind about the consumption, but he was adamant about that. He says he wants to see the marriage consumed himself. I know it will be an embarrassing thing, it was for me too, but don't think about their presence, think it's just you and Gerion," Ellyn whispered.

"I know. Gerion told me that he too tried, but the king didn't want to listen," Myrcella responded. Ellyn nodded and give her a kiss on the forehead before leaving.

After having eaten, drunk and laughed, first of all, her uncle Tyrion, who was totally drunk and was making a fool of himself, the King, silencing everyone, said, "It's time for the ceremony of consummation."

And some Lords headed to their room as she did as well.

On entering, the servants began to prepare her, taking off her dress, and putting on her nightdress. At least she was spared nudity in front of the Lords. She remembers some stories that said the lord reaped the dress from the bride and the women from the groom, but it seams at least her grandfather spared that to here, and she will not be naked before them.

When she was brought near the bed and turned around, Myrcella saw Gerion approaching. Her breath began to increase, and her heart began to beat fast. She began to look at the sides, the lords who were there, but Gerion put his hands on the sides of her eyes and said in a low voice, "Don't look at the sides. No one matters but us." And he began to push her slowly toward the bed as he was kissing her. On the sides of the bed were linen curtains, through which you could still be seen.

Myrcella was lying on the bed, on her back while Gerion, was between her legs

As he continued to kiss her, Gerion began to raise her dress, with one hand, caressing her thigh. Myrcella, on the other hand, began to caress him with her hands in his hair and began to raise his long nightdress, moaning in the meantime, for the feeling, and shutting her mind off for everything in that room, except for her and Gerion.

As he kept kissing her, she felt how Gerion moved his hand, between them, and then felt something enter inside he, and Myrcella gasped. And she knows very well what it was

She opened her legs and Gerion began to enter her slowly, and it hurt so much. She felt how her walls resisted his entry, and how he was too big for her. But she thought it was normal since it was her first time.

Once he was completely inside her, Gerion stopped, and she squeezed her eyes for the pain, feeling some tears coming down from her eyes.

He began to move his hips, to thrust slowly, and she felt how the head of his member was hitting against her entrance.

With each thrust, she panted cries and moans despite she didn't want them to hear. Her body shook, likewise unable to handle the fullerenes that she was feeling.

The walls inside of her pulsed in unison with each thud of her heart. Her moaning grew throaty as she grabs strongly his nightdress. Gerion picked up speed, thrusting with his full length. She cried out, gripping him hard.

His thrusts began to falter as his muscles tensed, growing weaker and uneven as he lost control.

As his cock quite literally crashed into the very back of her cunt, Myrcella let out a sharp cry of pain to match. Then she felled it, more warmest when she was sure he spilled inside of her, and then he pulled out of her lying next to her, both breathless.

Godfrey POV

Godfrey stood in the room of the painted table, looking out over the sea from the great view. This room was made for the conquerors. Aegon the Dragon plans his conquest from here, and now this island belonged to his family. His ancestor was a sellsword and now his family rule over a small piece of land. But the only good thing about these land that the Lords of Westeros gave to his ancestor when they divided up the Targaryen kingdoms, was the castle of Dragonstone. A giant, impenetrable fortress. But now, Tywin Lannister was ready to bend the seven Kingdoms with his lust for power and his armies, and he will have to choose whether to kneel or fight him. And above all, it was time to find another wife. His previous one died recently falling from the cliff and hitting the rocks.

"Your Grace," Godfrey, hear one of the Master, "We have received news from King Tywin Lannister."

And he brought him the letter.

After reading it, Godfrey sighed and said, "Ready to send my answer."

He accepted everything Tywin had to offer him: Lord Paramount of the Crownlands, lord of Dragonstone, and in return he will have to kneel, swear allegiance, and especially his army. 10 thousand men.

Of course, they were a miserable handful for the future king of Westeros, but they were still extra men.

"Any news of the envoys I sent about marriage proposals?"

"No one has answered yet," and Godfrey nodded, and then saw his 10-year-old son, Malekit, enter.

"Father, Father," ran the child to him. He was just like him, except his hair, and nose. Those were his mother's, and this always hunted him down.

"See this small table Malekit. This is the table of a conqueror. As well as this castle. And it is in our hands," said Godfrey, "and it is from here that you will begin your conquest when your time will come. Just like the one they call Aegon the Dragon. "

"Will I also have a dragon, Father?" asked his son giggling while he was tickling him.

"Of course. You will have an army of dragons. And a Dragon Queen to ride, when the time will come, little Malekit."

"Now go with the Master."

When they left, Godfrey put his hands on the edges of the table and began to observe it, coming up with new ideas in his mind.

When his grandfather was ruling, he said, 'Remember Godfrey, always wait for the right time to strike, kneel if you need to achieve your goals. Be ruthless when you attack the wounded enemy and never have mercy of them.'

And that's exactly what he intended to do, get close to Tywin Lannister, gain his trust, prestigious position, and then start to strike down those he loves, until you take power from him. Patience is a great virtue. And when Tywin Lannister destroys the North, he will ask Daenerys Targaryen as a gift for his loyalty and will marry her to his son.

Opening the chest with the Dragon Eggs that was on the table, Godfrey said, "Soon you will return to this world, Gods of the Sky, and together we will bend it to our will." And laughing, he turned to the view from the room.

In the North...

Jon POV

They had left Castle Black more than two weeks ago heading towards what was to be the first Wilding settlement. According to what Mance Raider said there should be more than 30 thousand, but that the majority of them are old and children, or at least people who can't fight. It wasn't news he was thankful for, but they had to be saved. What was sure was that it would be a long march for them, from there.

"I met your father once. Before you were born," said Mance, bringing him back from his thoughts.

"Well, he never talked about you, and I never heard of you until you became King Beyond the Wall."

"I was part of the Night's Watch at the time. And we were both young."

"And tell me how it is that a man of the Night's Watch became King Beyond the Wall?" asked Jon, really curious about his story. His sources didn't tell him much about Rayder's true story, and although he was still an enemy, Jon was always fascinated by the enemies' stories, so he could predict his opponents.

"My mother was a woman of the Free People, while my father was a member of the Night's Watch. I was found as a child after a group of raiders were put to the sword. I was taken by the Night's Watch and raised. That's where my name Rayder came from," replied Mance looking forward, and taking a breath he added, "I served as Ranger at the Shadow Tower. And once when I was ranging beyond the wall was attacked by a Shadowcat, and wildling woman healed me. She mended my torned cloak with swatches of red fabric. When I returned to the Wall, that madman of Ser Denys Mallister required me to replace my mended cloak, that became very important to me and that I wanted to wear for the rest of my life, with one of uniform black. So I abandoned the Shadow Tower because I couldn't bear to live a life where you are not free. And I went to live with the free folk in the way he wished, that I wanted. I have a son now, and I had a beautiful woman, that gave her life for him."

Jon didn't answer and Mance asked, "Are you married, boy?"

"Yes," replied Jon and his thoughts returned to Daenerys, and what she was doing at the moment. He missed her smiles and kisses more and more.

"What family?"

"Targaryen."

"Targaryen! Really?" Mance said, laughing. "I'm sure you miss her a lot, and she's very beautiful. If I were you, I'd hold her tightly, because who knows she can't find anyone else. Maybe someone from the Free folks. They are very gifted in those parts, especially in tame that wildness."

And Jon gave him a deadly look and gave the orders to stop, and prepare a camp.

"Are you sure you want to do this, boy?" Mance asked.

"Yes, we need rest. And don't call me boy. And don't you ever dare to speak about my wife like that again," replied Jon, getting off the horse.

While they were eating the last meat that had remained to them, having found no more animals for miles, Jon heard Mance say, " You know they're there, right? Somewhere. Closer than you could ever know, especially at night."

"Yes. I'm sure they're there. That's why some of us are equipped with dragonglass."

"Dragonglass?"

Robb showed it to him, saying, "A member of the Night's Watch said he killed a White Walker as he was digging out of Craster's house.

"No one in 8,000 years has ever killed a White Walker," Mance said.

"Well, apparently someone did it," replied Jon. He didn't talk to this Samuel Tarly in person, but Robb did, and Jon trusts him. Then Jon added, "We have to capture an undead."

"Everything on this side is undead," Mance replied. "But to capture one? Good luck with that."

"It won't be difficult. After all, the Night King is looking for the last living," Jon replied, and Mance nodded. But he wanted to ask something that had been hunting him for a long time, and after drinking a sip of the wine that Mance offered him, with such a strong taste, he asked, "Are there only White Walker males?"

"I don't know but if you are referring to the stories about Night Queen, that's just a fairy tale, or at most she is completely dead with her king."

"What if it isn't?" replied Jon, with the thought to the woman who had taught him a lot about the ancient magic of this world, the secrets of the North that no one knows, and especially the old language.

"What do you know?" Mance asked with a confused and curious look.

I think you already know her story about her affair with the Night's King and their defeat, so I'm going straight to the point. There's an Iron door inside the crypts, sealed, and from which it' you can feel the evil. I'm sure she's still there. Still, alive. Or rather dead, but alive."

"I've heard stories about her true origins. Of course, they may not be true, but the old people of the free Folk said that she and a group were north of the Wall, and were attacked by the White Walkers, then nothing of her was heard, until she seduced the 13th Lord Commander of the Night's Watchers, a certain Brandon Stark. Then she and her lover were defeated, and she disappeared again.

Jon remembered the stories of Old Nan, who told him, of those dark times, and then heard Mance say again, "But even if they existed they have been completely destroyed a long time, by the King in the North and The King Beyond the Wall. The White Walkers on the other hand, are still in this world."

Jon nodded and said, "Let's get some sleep." Lying down next to the fire with his hand on his sword.