Chapter 32: Sixskines
In The South...
Jaime Lannister POV
They were one day from Highgarden, but due to the heavy rain brought by the recent storm, the ground became very muddy, and consequently slowed the pace of their march. Many of his men died during that stormy week, and many more were sick and cold because they were soaked. Winter was really coming since the winds blowing from the north were cold.
Prince Jaime. We need to stop the march and rest. The men are tired, sick, and the ground makes it difficult the advance," said Lord Roland Crakehall. Jaime nodded, and then he saw Ser Addam, approach.
"News from the spies, my prince."
"Speak," said Jaime, still on the horse.
"The Tyrell have cut down almost all the trees that were around the Castell so that we cannot shelter ourselves. They will use the wood for defensive weapons, for sure."
Jaime was sure that their delay caused by the storm would give the enemy a chance to prepare.
"Give the order to make camp for the night, Captain, and hear them every ten paces, and change shifts for an hour. We will make camp for tonight, but put sentinels every ten feet, and whit a shift of one hour for everyone. I don't want to be taken by surprise by the enemy as it happened at the border between Dorne and The Reach, between our enemies."
"Of course, prince Jaime," and they left to give the orders, while Jaime sat on his horse.
" Any more news from our scouts, Ser Addam?" Jaime asked.
"No, Prince. No word from the Second Lannister army, much less Lord Tarly."
Jaime nodded, and when he saw the Great tent of the commander set up, he headed there and getting off his horse he entered inside.
After the camp was made and came the night, all the Capitans of his army were gathered inside with him in the tent of Command, they started the discus on the strategy for Highgarden, or what will happen.
"The castle is well defended almost impregnable, and surely the Tyrell have prepared it for a long siege. It will take months to seize it and the supplies from their capital could last for years. Perhaps we should first isolate it, attack the other castles and turn the loyal lords against them," said Roland Crakehall.
"If we bypass Highgarden, to head against other castles in order to isolate it, the Tyrells might take even more advantage of it, and attack us from behind," spoke Ser Addam Marbrand.
"We must attack Highgarden. The second Lannister army sent by the King will attack from the coast, and that will give us an advantage, and with numerical superiority, the enemy may yield and surrender," Ser Harys Swyft said. "What do you say, Prince Jaime?"
Jaime was leaning against the back of his chair, smirking, and said, "I'd like to know Lord Rowan's opinion on this regard."
"Mine, Prince?" asked Lord Goldengrove, surprised.
"Of course, I want. You were a Lord of this realm before you knelt to the King, my father. "I'm sure you've spent a lot of time in the capital, in your youth, and perhaps even recently, have you not?"
"Yes, but..."
"Then I'm sure you can give some indication for our next move. To attack the capital, and lay siege on it or pass it."
"Of course, my prince," he said, bowing his head, nodding. "Yes. Highgarden is made to withstand a siege for a long time. The castle is certainly well-stocked, and King Mace and Prince Loras, who was released from the vows of the Kingsguard, to be the heir, will be training the citizens of Highgarden, giving them a considerable defensive number in addition to the soldiers, who are of quite a considerable number."
"So. Getting to the point of our strategy."
"Yes. We should attack the capital."
"Good," replied Jaime. "You may go and rest. We'll leave at first light to march on Highgarden and lay a siege."
"My Prince," they all said, leaving the tent.
"Lord Roland, a moment." And the lord stopped.
"My prince."
"I have received word from the border spies that wagons have arrived from my nephew Joffrey's kingdom. I don't know what's in them, but we'd better be careful. I want you to send three dispatches, to the Tarly Army and the Second Lannister Army wherever he is, to warn them of possible surprises."
"My Prince," he bowed and left.
Jaime dread whatever help that mad boy of Joffrey had sent them because Jaime really didn't like the surprises.
After taking off his armour, Jaime lay on the bed with his sword beside him, thinking of the coming siege. One thing the Lord didn't mention is the labyrinth surrounding the castle. They'll have to set it on fire before they attack the capital, otherwise, the enemy will use it on their advantage and that's what he'll inform his commanders at dawn.
Willas Tyrell POV
Willas stood on the great balcony of the Great Hall watching the construction of the Highgarden defenses, and the people who were inside the walls.
All men who were able to wield a sword or bow or anything in their hands were sent to the training area and trained by the great knights of House Tyrell. Willas wasn't a great warrior, but he can handle it when the needs occur. What he was good at, was reading and learning. He had read a lot of books a lot and he used all his knowledge to prepare the defense.
As he stood on the balcony, Willas whistled and his most trusted hawk, the one who was with him in Dorne, landed on the parapet.
"My friend," Willas said, caressing him. "I have a very important task for you." He whispered to him, and then he took the little scroll he wrote for Ny-Arianne Martell.
"Fly where my heart is and carry this message for me." And he flipped the hawk into the air, who flew away. He then leaned against the parapet of the balcony again, keeping his gaze on the plain, once full of trees and now all wooded, and only the mountain and rivers can be saw.
"Ah the young love, so bright and so cruel," heard Willas a voice coming from behind him, and he knew who it was.
"Grandmother Ollena," he greeted her, and then returned his gaze to the horizon.
"Did that Dorniana princess really stole your heart, with her seductive arts?" she asked in a mocking way, and Willas chuckled, shaking his head, and walked toward her.
"Grandmother, grandmother. You are never holding what you think, right?"
"Why should I. Life has taught me how to speak my mind, by being clever sometimes. After all, men are a bunch of sheep, and they think they're knights." She said while drinking the wine she put in the goblet. "And you didn't answer my question, grandson."
"No," he replied whisperingly, pouring some wine in a goblet and sitting in the chair next to his grandmother.
"You're a terrible liar, Willas. You always had been. So spit it out," she said.
Willas chuckled, "Maybe."
"I would say more yes than maybe, by how you are behaving."
"I don't know. Never felt before like this," he said, sipping from his goblet, as he was looking inside it too.
"Remember this, Willas. When you will be King, there will be no place for love. Kings marry for an alliance."
"I thought that was why you sealed the pact with Dorne and made me marry the Princess by proxy."
"That was before. Now things have changed. You will marry Lynesse Hightower, your grandfather's sixth daughter if he decides to raise his great army to our cause."
"I'm still confused as to why he didn't intervene. His daughter is Queen, and if Highgarden should fall, so will she. He has nothing to gain from it."
"Hightower has everything to gain if he kneels to King Tywin without a fight. He hopes that way his House will rule over The Reach. And let's be honest, everyone knows your mother has no power over your father. She doesn't know how to manipulate, or to even rule from the shadow. He only listens to what I say, and even sometimes, like what he did with Garlan, he does shitty with his head. But if he marries her last daughter to a new king, he is sure to have more influence. Not to mention Lynesse is smarter than your mother. And thirstier for wealth and power."
"And if he does not take sides, who will I marry?"
"No one, since we will be prisoners or food for the crows, and since you have no heir, and Garlan's wife with her unborn child was poisoned, our family will be extinct."
Willas nodded. He still was shocked by the news they received regarding Garlan's wife, and he couldn't understand who could have poisoned her. She was such a sweaty girl.
Sighing, he stroked his temples and started thinking about what they had right now. Which was almost nothing. Jaime Lannister came with an army of 50,000 men, and every traitor that joined him. The second army, consisting of another thirty thousand or less, came from the coast, and to the south Lord Tarly with his ten thousand men, mostly infantry and archers blocking the coming of possible allies. If there was one thing that suited them more was that "They're fucked," and they couldn't even get the royal family out safely because they were surrounded.
"Anyway, don't worry about your dear Dornish Princess. Surely, she's already forgotten about you and fucked some lord or other," she said, getting up from her chair and heading for the balcony, leaving a thoughtful Willas. She was right. The Dornish people were that way. Never faithful, but it doesn't matter to Willas, they weren't in a relationship anyway. They only fucked a few months, after all.
In the North...
Jon Stark POV
It had been two days since they left the burning Cave of the Three Eyes Raven, and they have been running ever since. His men were tired, exhausted and hungry. They abandoned everything but their weapons as they ran through the snowy fields to be faster.
When they reached a forest, Jon saw that his men were slowing down due to the tiredness, and stopping he said, "Men, we'll rest for 5 minutes, but don't wander off. The dead are on our heels."
Everyone sighed and sat on the floor, catching their breath. He heard The GreatJon say, "We can't continue like this, Your Grace. We won't last much longer. The men are too tired and hungry."
"I know, Lord Umber. But the longer we stay exposed, the more we give the undead a chance to reach us and overwhelm us. We must find a hidden shelter, a cave, and resist to the possible attacks."
When Lord Umber wanted to argue back, they heard the noises of the undeads and the screams of the White Walkers, coming, covered by the storm of snow that just had hit them.
"Stand united!" Jon shouted to his men as they drew their swords and he took up the heavy Ice and taking his position too.
Looking around him, Jon realized that the forest was not a very good battlefield to face the undead, who were running around them fast, screaming, and ready to attack them. When his men began to fight with the undead, the Lord Commander twirled his flaming ball, and Jon also began to fight. Then he heard those screams again, and when he turned his eyes to where they came from, he saw three White Walkers arrive, on the back of giant spiders, bigger than a hound. "We're fucked!" said the GreatJon, as he fought with the undead.
At that very moment, Jon also heard a bear roar and saw him attack the undead. He was huge. Then there were also wolves, and a strange beast like a big dark cat, and an old man with them, with a club, smashing the skulls of the undead.
Grateful for the help that the mysterious old man gave them, Jon shouted back, "Viserys! Arthur!" drawing their attention from the undead and pointing his finger at the White Walkers. During their stay in the cave of the Three-Eyed Raven, they discussed about what could kill them besides the Dragonglass. The Valyrian steel, but Jon did not know if Dawn could do, and Arthur said that trying does no harm, after all, it is made of a steel not of this world but of the skies, and it was even stronger than the Valyrian steel.
Jon with the great Ice charged a sword high against one of the spiders, and since his sword was very heavy he had to use its advantages, which are the powerful blows that can come. Once in front of his enemy, with a spin, he managed to cut off their legs, making the White Walker fall to the ground, and without wasting time, with a slash from high he made the sword fall on the White Walker, who exploded, and with it a part of the undead. Turning towards the others, Jon saw how the remaining two exploded, and with it, all the undead, fell.
"Jon, are you all right?" Benjen asked, approaching him quickly.
"Yes," replied Jon, but he felt tired like all men. When he saw Lord Umber's approach with Robb, he said, "Check the men. See if they are wounded and how many are left. Let's go and welcome our helper, Ben," and they headed for the man who had a bear with him, a strange black beast, and three wolves.
"Thank you for your help, good man. May I ask your name?" Jon asked.
"Sixskins!" he heard the mighty voice of Tormund approaching, and the man's animals, tensed. "What are you doing here, you vicious little runt?"
"I heard your red ass got captured in the attack on the Wall, I've come to show you how a true man of the Free Folks fights."
"Do you know each other?" Jon asked, looking between them.
"Yes. This old bastard is Varamyr Sixskins. He is a skinchanger of the Free Folks."
"We've already been attacked once, and this is the second time since we started the journey from Castle Black," said Mance as he stepped forward, only to ask, "Are the other clan members still alive?"
"Mother Mole led the army that should have attack East Watch to Hardhome. The old woman said she saw a fleet coming there to rescue us," said the old man to Mance, and returning his look to Tormund he said, "Your clan of Giants decided to march against the wall anyway. The battle was a slaughter and twenty Giants 4 mammoths and over five hundred of that damn Southerners died."
" Bloody fool, this is the southern King Jon Stark!"
"I know. Your men at Eastwatch are in a rather bad shape, but they're lucky the giants have retreated, other views they would have been fucked. They finished the bolts for your scorpions."
"Then we have to reach their camp as soon as possible."
"You won't make it. The giants' camp is two weeks' journey from here in normal times. There are many mounds of snow, and wherever the Night King goes, he brings the storm of winter. And from what you can see, you are all exhausted and hungry. Come."
"Mance?"
"Yes. We can trust him." Mance replied, following the man who was walking away. Turning to his Wolfsguard Jon said, "Never let your guard down. Tell the others, too."
And they followed the old man and helped the wounded. Once they reached the old man's cave, Jon saw wild meat there, and immediately became suspicious.
"You've got a lot of meat there, considering that everything Beyond the Wall is dead," said Benjen, not letting his hand down from the sword's hilt.
"There are more of the animals, hidden inside this big cave," replied the old man, pulling out a knife, and starting to skin the beast.
While another fire was lit for his men, the old man asked, "Word came to the Giants, from a Warg, that Mag the Mighty was slain."
"It was me," Robb answered, approaching. "I charged at him with a spear and I finished him off with my sword."
"Then you're even more doomed. The giants are very pissed off at you, so know that as soon as you set foot in their camp you will all be gutted."
"Not if I bend them," replied Jon, confidently knowing perfectly well what he had to do, should they try something.
"Pha. You? Bend them? They kneel to no man. Do you really think they'll kneel to a brat of not even 20 years old," the old man kept laughing.
"If they won't kneel willingly, then I'll bring them to their knees," replied Jon and the old man laughed as he kept tearing the animal apart. Jon took one look at his men who were whispering amongst themselves, as they looked at him, or at the old man with hatred and contempt.
"They hate me for bringing them on this expedition of death."
"They don't hate you. They're just tired and hungry and cold," Arthur replied. "They have seen the real enemy, and they know that without this expedition the North would have been even more in danger because the Night King would have 100,000 more dead bodies."
Jon sighed and nodded, lying by the fire, looking up at the cave ceiling. It was a very beautiful sight to see, despite this coldness.
"After I have earned the trust and loyalty of the Giants, we will return to East Watch, and from there with the ships that Daenerys will send from White Harbour, we will head for Hardhome."
"Good," said Benjen. "But once at the East Watch, we should rest before we go to Hardhome."
Jon nodded, closing his eyes for a moment, dreaming of Winterfell, his mother, his sister, Dany.
When the meat was ready to be eaten, they all devoured the meat, because they were hungry like wolves, and then they drifted to sleep, but not without some of them making shifts of staying awake.
Val POV
Val felt a warm, naked body next to her, an arm around her waist, and a thigh above hers.
Starting to open her eyes, Val rubbed her sleepy eyes with one hand, and looking towards the part where she felt the body weight, she saw a woman, and then remembered what happened yesterday. She drank a lot, and made a step with the Sellsword commander, and wine mixed with excitement and curiosity got her into the bed and fucking. Looking around, she realized she wasn't in her room, and she needed to get up. Her nephew was alone, and she needed to get back to him.
As she tried to get up, the woman, Laena, began to move slowly and moan as she was caressing her. Val beat her lower lips, feeling the heat rising from the centre, and her pussy began to get wet, caused by the already wet cunt of the woman who was rubbing her right thigh, with the cunt.
Then Val felt the woman's hand start caressing her chest, between her tits, around her nipples, "You wanted to leave without saying good morning, princess," then going down along her belly, and circling around her belly button, which tickled her, and Val giggled.
Laena got up a bit and started kissing her on the lips, as she carried her hand down, on Val's right thig, and grabbing it.
Grabbing Val's tits, she gave them a squeeze and then she took one nipple at a time in her mouth, sucking them. "So beautiful and big tits you have, princess. I'm sure Lord Snow is crazy about them," she said, continuing to suck, and Val moans.
Leaving her tits, Laena gave kisses to her belly, coming between her legs, and Val could feel Laena's hot breath linger on her pussy, and Val bit her lips for anticipation.
"So wet," she said between the kisses she left on the sides of her inner thighs, and close to her pussy's lips, "and so ready for me," she added, placing her hand on Val's pussy, and beginning to stroke it slowly and tease, spreading her pussy's lips, looking for her nub.
When she found it, she grazed with her thumb it fast, while with the other she started to trust one finger into the pussy, and then two. Val was moaning with pleasure, and when Laena started to suck and lick her lips outside, then in, then teased her nub before going back down, making his way up her cunt, she couldn't stand it anymore and she came, all around Laena's face.
"By the gods, that fast?" And Val giggled.
Recovering from this moment of pleasure Val said, "Now I have to go to my nephew, but I'll come back tonight and return this favour."
And kissing her passionately on the lips one last time, Val got dressed and then headed to her room, but not before taking one last glance at the woman, who was lying on the bed, naked, with her ass in the air, and a hand between her legs trying to pleasure herself.
When she arrived at her room, Val saw that the Unsullied were still there, and upon entering she saw a woman cradling her nephew, and Grey Wind let her do it.
"He was crying, and I thought I'd cradle him a bit until you came back. He is such a beautiful baby. I think he's hungry, and I asked for some cow's milk since we don't have nannies here yet."
"Missandei, right?" she asked, remembering the girl who was usually with the queen.
"Thank you for looking after my nephew. You can go now," Val said, taking the baby in her arms.
The girl nodded, and left the room, while another maid brought the milk and Val started giving it to Bael.
Daenerys Targaryen POV
When Daenerys woke up the day after the feast, and after that bloody moment the first thing she did was to check that her baby was all right and after having been examined, Master Luwin assured her that everything was all right.
And now she made her way to the council chamber, escorted by four Unsullied, three Wolfsguard including Dacey, and Arya too, who said she would not let her out of her sight, despite Daenerys' protests.
Upon entering, Daenerys greeted the Lords "Good morning my lords. Let us start." And they all sat down, and Arya too brought a chair next to her.
"Of course, Your Grace," replied her father, the Hand of the King. "Your attackers are dead, so we can't find out who's behind it, but we found one was wearing a mark on his arm. A mark that only the sellsword wears. And to be precise, a particular company."
"Let me guess, the Second Sons. I'm not surprised. Summon Lord Naaharis and his son to court to answer the charges."
"Your Grace. We cannot..."
"No, Lord Glover. Naaharis, and surely on behalf of the Bolton, are involved in my attack. I want them to answer for that. And it is time for them to answer for the trails of dead women of the brothels, that they left behind."
"My Queen, we don't have to be hasty in judging, and above all create unnecessary disorder in the North, considering that the King and the army are at the Wall," said Glover, with his deep voice and hard gaze, thinking of intimidating her.
"No, Lord Glover," she said even more irritated. "They tried to rape a queen. The ones that sent them wanted to kill my boy. The King's baby. And if it weren't for the King's and Arya Stark's direwolves, they would have succeeded. No, they will answer for it."
"If the child really belongs to the King," Glover murmured.
"What did you say, my Lord?" she asked raising her voice.
"We heard the stories that run on your behalf, Your Grace..."
"How dare you!" she said, standing up, and the Unsullied took up position, with their spears pointed towards Glover.
"I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but is true. A lot of people say that you aren't faithful to our King and that this child was of another man or of more men."
"If you ever say again such thing lord Glover, I'll have your tongue cut and given to the hounds. Did you understand?"
"Your grace..."
"The lies had been spread by our enemy to undermine our Great king. They are all lies, and you can ask to every Unsullied, and every Wolfsguard,"
Glover nodded, despite having an offended look on his face, and she nodded to the Unsullied who lowered their spears.
"I will send a raven myself to Lord Naaharis to summon him," said her father.
"Your Grace, you know Lord Bolton will come too," said Manderly.
"I hope so. Then he will see with his own eyes that I do not lie when I make threats, and above all, that I am not a queen indifferent to injustice."
"I don't understand Your Grace," said Lord Manderly.
" Put the bodies of the attackers on spikes in front of the gates of Winterfell, castrated, and their members in their mouths. I also want it to be written on their bodies "Rapist". I want everyone to see and know the destiny that awaits those who try to force themselves on someone, " she replied, feeling a wave of overwhelming anger inside her, and her breathing was about to increase. She put her hand on his belly and tried to calm herself, as she knew that anger was not very good for her baby.
"Daenerys..." called her father in a gentle voice, but she raised her hand to stop him.
"Let's move on to the next topic," and she saw the looks that the lords exchanged. "Well?" Daenerys asked again.
"There have been sightings of attacks by a strange animal in the woods up north," her father said, taking a breath.
"Wolves."
"No. They attack in packs, coming from a high place, considering they're climbing trees. And they also drag their prey there. But now they start to get closer and closer to the villages. Two days ago, two people disappeared, and their bodies were found a short distance from Wintertown. Ripped to shreds."
"Form groups and hunt."
"We did. But they're dead."
"Create more groups and larger. Place a reward for whoever destroys these animals. " And her father nodded
"I intend to send my brother, Rhaegar, to Essos to find the Golden Company and hire it on our behalf and fight in the Great War."
"Your Grace. We have to oppose this plan of yours. We already have a company of sellswords hired and hiring another will drain our treasury completely. I suggest we have patience. We await the King's return with the new information, then decide whether or not to hire the Sellsword."
Daenerys began to think for a moment about what Lord Manderly said, and trying to put pressure on things that might be more important than money, she said, "Tell me, my lord, what is more, important for you, the survival of your children or your gold? Because I know what is it for me." and with that, the Lord did not answer, instead he lowered his head. She was sure that the Lord wouldn't answer to that.
"If there is nothing else, my lords, you can leave." And they left, mumbling to each other.
"I need to go and talk with my mother regarding something important," Arya said, leaving the room. When the room was almost empty, left alone his father, the Unsullied, guarding and Dacey, Daenerys sighed, feeling a little tired, and caressed her small belly, that was starting to show a very little baby bum.
"It's everything all right, Daenerys."
"Just thoughtful," she said.
"Daenerys..." but at that moment Grey Worm entered in the council room, " SmallJon Umber se mirri Wilding māzigon, ñuha dāria. Ēza iā ruarza bardugon hen se dārys naejot tepagon ao." (SmallJon Umber and some Wildings leaders arrived, my queen. He has a secret letter from the King to deliver you.)
" Mazverdagon zirȳla māzigon kesīr." (Make him come here.)
After a while, Daenerys saw SmallJon Umber enter. He had changed so much since he left, and she couldn't imagine what Jon looks now. Did he let his beard grow up? Are his hairs longer? Or has he cut the beard and his hair.
"Your Grace," he bowed.
"Jon. I was told you have a message from the King."
"Yes, as you know, our paths have parted. The king has left for the giants' camp, without horses, entrusting me and Torrhen Karstark with the task of leading the wildlings to the Wall."
Daenerys nodded, and looked down towards her belly, where her hands were rested joined, and asked, "And tell me, how is he?"
"He's fine. But know that you're always in his thoughts. And every night, all he did was talk about you. And I apologize for my bad words, Your Grace, but after a while, everyone was tired of it and wouldn't even listen to him."
Daenerys chuckled. She too missed Jon terribly and he was always in her thoughts, but they both had a duty to perform beyond the moments of love.
"Your Grace," SmallJon called her.
"I'm sure you're tired. If there is nothing else, go and rest before you start your duties again."
"Your Grace," he bowed, and before he left the room, he handed her the letter, "From the King."
"Thank you, Jon." And he left the room.
Daenerys opened the letter and started reading it.
Dear Dany,
I know that I have already sent you a letter with the last raven I had when I was in the Wildlings' camp, but I could not put this part of the plans in the raven's scroll, because they could fall in the enemy's hands, and that is why I am sending it with SmallJon.
You have to send a small fleet in secret from White Harbour to East Watch by the Sea. You need to inform only Lord Manderly if he is present in Winterfell for the council meeting, or else send someone trustworthy. Roose Bolton will surely be lurking, looking for the right time to attempt to take the North. If you had the suspicion that some lords are behaving strangely, then keep your guard high, because they will be for sure blackmailed by Roose Bolton, and therefore on his side.
Keep also a watchful eye on Catelyn Tully, and Sansa, for I'm sure she wants to form an alliance with the Bolton and the South, to put Bran on the Throne.
Your Jon.
"Father, you have to find Lord Manderly and tell him I need to speak with him urgently," Dany said leaning against the back of the chair.
Her father nodded and walked out of the room while she stood up and walked to the small table that was there to drink some water.
Then returning to the great table, Daenerys started to read the scrolls she received from Last Hearth, the Mountain Clans, and Asshai, where Melisandre went.
After about half an hour, Daenerys saw Lord Manderly enter.
"Your Grace, I was about to leave for White Harbor, but the Hand of the King informed me that you wished to speak with me urgently."
"Yes. By order of the king, you have to send a fleet to East Watch, where they will wait for him before they leave for Hardhome."
"How large?" Lord Manderly asked.
"Not much. We don't need to draw attention, Lord Manderly. We don't need a war fleet, we need a rescue fleet. So I'd say about 10 or 20 ships."
"Of course, your grace," he said bowing.
And as he was leaving, Daenerys said, "Remember Lord Manderley. No one must know of this expedition."
The Lord nodded and left, and as she got up, she made her way back to her room to rest, with Dacey and the Unsullied, escorting her.