Chapter 43: Tears of Death
In the south...Two weeks before...
Highgarden...
Different POV
Despite the great pain he felt in his body, Jaime decided to get on his horse and watch Highgarden fall.
And now he could see, his army passing the first walls of the destroyed city, and in the distance screams and blows of the battering ram in the distance.
"The city will soon fall into our hands," said Crakehall, who in the meantime came to his side.
"That is only the second level Lord Crakehall. There's another level to conquer. The main one and beyond that is the palace," said Jaime, not with such optimism, but aware that the city will be theirs before darkness falls.
"We'll make it," said the Lord.
"Who's leading the attack?" asked Jaime, intrigued and even a little jealous.
"Ser Harys Swyft," replied Crakehall, and Jaime nodded, though he would have preferred it was he who led the charge to take the city. Watching the lees assault her brings back memories of his first time when he was sixteen years old and conquered Castamere. The duel with the Red Lion was one of the toughest fights he had ever had.
Bringing his attention back to the present, Jaime was grateful that the Hightower army was defeated in the south, otherwise they would have had to watch their backs from the enemy in case of an attack.
And the precious prisoners will give him a way to bring Old Town to its knees without bloodshed. But first Highgarden.
"The doors are about to break!" shouted Arys Oakheart, a member of the Kingsguard who was on the battlefield with him.
And Willas saw the men keep trying to reinforce the gates, even though the wood was crumbling.
The men on the walls were falling under the arrows of the enemy, and he knew that the only thing to do was to retreat to the first level, where the keep was, and then leave the city.
"We must fall back to the Keep, "Willas said. And they sounded the horn of retreat, with all the men abandoning the walls and the gate, while the enemy climbed up the wall thanks to the stairs.
"They are at the gates of the palace!" shouted a soldier running into the great hall, and those present all started fidgeting like frightened sheep, running away fast, but she didn't. The Queen of Thorns had no intention of running away. She wasn't a frightened sheep running away from the raging lions.
As those present were leaving the room, Ollena saw Ser Gerold Hightower, the White Bull, and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and a knight old as her, but still in his best shape, coming at her through the people.
"So Ser Gerold, is everything ready to take the King and the Princes to safety?" she asked as she made her way to the throne, on which she had not sat for years.
"Yes, Your Grace, but Prince Willas is not yet in the palace, but at the main gate holding the defense."
Stubborn boy and inexperienced, Ollena thought before turning his attention back to the White Bull, "Send someone to take him away and leave town. But I want you to swear that one day you will go to the Stormlands and save my granddaughter from the grips of the Stag."
"I swear," Hightower said, bowing, and leaving the Great Hall, and Ollena, was ready for her fate to come, but with the knowledge that her family will survive, and one day they will take back this kingdom, and kill those who betrayed them.
Once in the courtyard of the keep, the gates were locked and the men climbed over the walls, while others stood in different positions with spears and unsheathed swords and a wall of shields if they could, at the entrance.
Meanwhile, they were brought water or wine to quench their thirst, and as he drank, Willas started to look at his men. They were extremely tired, and their morale was down. It was written on their faces.
If Garlan was here, all this would be completely different. And with his charisma, he would have rallied the men and raised their spirits.
"How much will we be able to resist, my Prince?" asked Arys coming next to him and taking his helmet off.
"I don't know," said Willas, sighing and looking down. "The gates will not hold forever, and anyway they have ladders to climb the walls. This are all the men we have for what I know, and most of the people of Highgarden it is still out there on the streets of the city that is in chaos and burning."
"Maybe it's time to abandon it. Run and put yourself in safe," said Arys, drinking some wine.
"I'm not abandoning my people, Ser Arys," said Willas.
"That gives you honor, my prince, but the war is lost. Better live today and fight tomorrow than dying today with no chance of tomorrow."
Willas was ready to contradict him, but he heard his name shouting, and turning towards the source, he saw the White Bull running towards him.
"What is it?" asked Willas.
"We must leave the city. Everything is ready," said Hightower panting. "Your Grace. The Queen of Thorns explicitly ordered me to take the royal family to safety. Everyone else is already there. Only you are missing. And they certainly won't leave without you."
Willas looked down for a moment before nodding, and then giving one last look at the men at the gate, followed Hightower, with the other two members of the Kingsguard. Ser Arys Oakheart and Ser Robert Ashford.
A few hours later...
Jaime saw a rider galloping towards them.
"The city is ours, Prince Jaime," he said, and Jaime, drawing the reins rode towards it followed by Crakehall, Marbrand, Rowan, and his guard.
As he rode through the streets leading to the palace, Jaime saw the chaos on them. Women and children weeping, because they were raped and beaten; men slaughtered, beheaded; houses destroyed, and on fire. A complete disaster.
"This is the fate of every city that is sacked, my Prince," said Crakehall. "And Highgarden because of its riches more than any of them."
"Maybe. But there is no honor in this," said Jaime, though the truth was another.
After some riding, Jaime finally reached the palace, and saw some soldiers on their knees and in chains, while his men were deployed on the line.
As he got off his horse, he saw Harys Swyft coming towards him.
"Have you taken the royal family into custody, Ser Harys?" asked Jaime as he began to walk, followed by Ser Addam Marbrand, and Lord Rowan.
"We can't find them, my Prince," replied the knight. "But the Queen of Thorns is in the throne room," and Jaime stopped abruptly, looking towards Swyft with an eyebrow raised. But Swyft did not answer, and Jaime continued walking, "Ser Marbrand, give the order to the men to make an inventory of the riches and all that is here. I also want the number of dead and wounded of our army. Ser Harry, find the cells, and take the soldiers there, then send men to search for the other members of the royal family. Lord Rowan, accompany Ser Marbrand."
And the men walked away while he went inside the palace. It was a very welcoming building, apparently, despite the chaos outside, but there'll be time to visit it in the next few days or weeks.
First, he needs to deal with the Queen of Thorne.
Ollena heard the footsteps through the hallway, getting closer and closer to the doors of the throne room, and she knew her time had come. So, she put wine in a glass goblet, followed by a vial of poison. She knew that her death would be slow, but not painful, which was good.
When the doors opened, Ollena saw a handsome, blond-haired man with the golden lion on his shoulders and chest, enter. And she knew he was a Lannister.
"You must be Prince Jaime Lannister," she said as he approached.
"Indeed, I am," said Jaime, looking at her as she was sitting on the throne. An old woman was she in her late sixty maybe, but he knows her reputation. "And you must be the famous Queen of Thorn."
"I'm flattered that you know who I am, young lion," she said, taking a sip of wine.
"Your reputation is well known across Westeros, and your granddaughter speaks so highly of you."
"My Granddaughter is in the Stormlands," she said, taking another sip.
"No, she isn't. Margery Tyrell is our prisoners. All her guards had been slain during our attack when she tried to pass the border with the Stormlands."
"You are lying," she said.
"Am I? Why should I do that? Though I'm surprised you asked help to my nephew."
"Your nephew or your son? We both know what is the true Prince Jaime," she said, with a smirk, and now he was serious. This wasn't a very good thing that she knew. "Does your father know that he is your son? That he may pas all his legacy to a madman?"
"And yet you tried to ally with a madman as you call him."
"Yes. One of my biggest mistakes," she said, taking another sip.
"Old Oak is ours too," he said, and she didn't respond. So he tried to reveal something else. "You know, the Princess of Dorne had birthed a child recently. A boy I would say. HE has his father look, but I'm sure he will be a Dornish of heart."
"And he will take back what was once of his father," she said.
"I doubt it. Dorne will fall soon in our hands and house Martell will be extinct," Jaime said, knowing that Tyrion and the Dothraki are heading there."
"What is his name?"
"Morgan Nymeros Martell, if I recall correctly," he said. "But now I hope you are ready to be chained and dragged through the roads of Westeros to Castely Rock.
"Oh, I will not do that, Prince Jaime. You see, what I'm drinking now is wine with poison that slowly will make me die and in peace," she said, and Jaime was furious. So, drawing his sword he cut off the head of the Queen of Thorn with a single slit, leaving the throne room.
The men had entered the Palace, but Willas and the others were heading towards the secret path that led out of Highgarden. The enemy will be occupied with the sacking and they will be able to escape.
Loras was still dizzy while the others protected the king and queen. On the outside, Willas saw Hightower raise a hand and silence them. And he realized that there must be soldiers out there.
When the White Bull waved to the Kingsguard to come with him, Willas also went to Hightower, and peeking around the corner he saw that there were about twenty men in front of their way out, chatting and laughing.
"We can beat them," whispered Willas, and Hightower nodded. And so they attacked the enemy by surprise. Willas wasn't as good with a sword as Loras or Garlan, but he was good enough to defeat and kill the enemy, and the enemy soldiers were falling. More under the swords of the four members of the Kingsguard than under his.
Now that all were dead, and entering the secret passage, Willas waved to Loras, the king and his mother to come. But in that same moment, one of the men who they thought was dead rose up and killed the king, and almost wounded his mother, but who avoided the blow thanks to the intervention of Loras, who then kill the men with a dagger.
Willas ran to his father in tears, falling to the ground on his knees crying, "Father stays with me. Do not die."
"We have to go, Prince," Hightower said, coming to him, and trying to drag him away. "He is dead. There's nothing more we can do."
And after some efforts the White Bull managed to drag him away despite Willas' efforts to resist, entering the passage before leaving the city.
South of Highgarden...
Tytos Brax POV
He lost more than half of his army and so did Tarly, with no intention of marching towards Old Town.
And after giving the order to set up the camp, and buried the dead, Tytos headed for the cage where the prisoners were being held.
Or to be more precise, where the most important prisoners were kept. Stopping for a moment, T Tytos watched them. Since they were valuable prisoners, if they were wounded, a Master was sent to treat them. And they were stripped of their weapons and armor.
"I know you are the captains of the Hightower army, hm?" said Tytos, and he saw them looking towards him. "Prince Jaime will soon conquer Highgarden, that is already burning, the remaining men of your army are retreating toward your city, or they scattered across Westeros, running away like cowards."
But the prisoners did not answer, and so Tytos continued, "You know, I have captured many of your men, and if you do not tell me your name and the House from which you come, I will be forced to kill them one by one, since the supplies I have will not be enough for them, and I certainly have no intention of wasting them on you if you do not cooperate.
The prisoners started looking at each other for a moment before one of them answered.
"My name is Ser Garth Hightower," said one of the men, with a tough expression, and truly he has the Hightower look. "This is Ser Desmond Redwyn, Ser Mark Mullendore, Lord Costayne."
And Tytos started looking at them, noticing that one of them had part of his left arm cut.
"Where is Bealor Hightower the commander of your army?" asked Tytos.
"Baelor Hightower was not the commander of our army. It was me. He is in Old Town preparing the defenses of the city."
"Baelor Hightower escaped with his tail between his legs, abandoning his men," Tytos said, lying, of course, not having captured him nor found him among the dead. So, he was somewhere out there.
The knights did not answer, and Tytos left the cage, retiring to his tent to wash and rest.
Riverlands...
Riverrun...
Edmure Tully POV
Edmure had just returned from White Harbour with the ship and was immediately informed of the arrival of someone he had not seen in a long time. His second sister and the late Queen of the Vale, Lysa.
And in addition to that, he was also given a scroll from the North. From his sister Catelyn.
Dear Edmure,
I write to inform you that the Targaryen whore has imprisoned us in the cell of Winterfell, but thankfully to some who is still loyal to me, I managed to write you this scroll. Sansa's life will be in danger if you don't march north to free us as soon as possible. The Targaryens have already killed Brandon to remove any rightful pretender to the throne, and soon our daughter's turn will come.
Lord B olton, will join you by attacking from the North, and I have also gained the support of many Northern Lords, including Manderly, Karstark, Umber, and I managed to hire the mercenary company that was in the North, and is now in Winterfell, ready to conquer in my name.
The bastard is dead, and soon all his loyalists will be wiped out.
However, I need your help, brother. You need to conquer Moat Caillin and free us from the grasp of the Usurpers.
Your beloved sister, Catelyn.
When Edmure finished reading it, he knew one thing. Catelyn needed him, and wrapping the scroll, he headed to the Great Hall and the Throne Room.
Upon entering he saw his sister looking out the window, holding her son's hand, and next to her was his Uncle, Brynden.
"Lysa," Edmure greeted her, hugging her, but she did not return it, and Edmure saw the coldness on her face. She had not yet forgiven her father or her family for making her marry the old Jon Arryn. "What are you doing here, sister?"
"I come to ask for your protection and especially your support to win back the Vale, in my son's name. The rightful King of the Kingdom of the Vale and the Mountains," she said straight, and Edmure glanced at his nephew, who was looking up at him and grasping his mother's skirt. He was a sicky boy. A weak Boy, and Edmure knew that she and him will never be able to hold the crown of the Vale.
"We can't help you with that, Lysa. King Tywin has started his conquest of Westeros. The Reach has almost fallen, and soon will come our turn," said his uncle, the Master of War stepping forward.
Edmure instead, trying to be more gentle, said, "Lysa. I cannot help you with this. It's our father decision to take and-"
"Our father is weak and sick. He will die soon, and you will be king," she snapped cutting him. "We can unite the Vale and the Riverlands under one banner and face the treat of the Rock together, brother."
"No, Lysa. I can't help you there. And now if you'll excuse me, I must speak to our father urgently," said Edmure. "If it was Catelyn who asked help you would have gone," screamed Lysa, and her son started to cry, but Edmure didn't care, leaving the room, hearing his Uncle Brynden ask where he was, but Edmure did not answer.
Entering his father's room, Edmure saw him lying in bed, struggling to breathe, and Grand Maester Vyman treating him.
"What happened?"
"Your father's health has deteriorated, but he still won't stay in bed and above all he doesn't want poppy milk."
"I need a moment alone with him," Edmure said, first heading towards the table to fill a goblet of wine and then, after taking a sip, heading towards the bed on which his father lay, as the master was leaving.
You went to see her?" he asked, coughing, and almost whispering. "You went to see Catelyn?"
Taking another sip, Edmure replied, "Yes."
"And how is my little Cat? Does she still hold a grudge against me?" his father asked.
"No. But she is imprisoned and perhaps worse by the Boltons," Edmure said, taking another sip of wine. "Her daughter imprisoned by the Targaryen whore, and her son killed by them."
His father said nothing, just coughs and breathe hard. So, sitting next to him, Edmure began. "You know father, she has always done her duty, to you and to the house in your times of need," he stopped for a moment to take another sip. "You had always cherished her best of all your children. Our two older brothers died in infancy, and she had been son, as well as daughter to you, until I was born. Then our mother had died, and you had told her that she must be the Lady of Riverrun when you were away, and she had done that too. And in a very admirable way, I would say."
Edmure stopped again, to take breath and to glance at his father who was breathing slowly, and had his eyes closed. So drowning al the content of the goblet, and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he said, "And when your hunger for power and ambition grow up, forcing her to seduce a Northern Prince, despite being a sin in the eye of the Seven claims another woman's man, she accepted gladly, even though she didn't succeed, without help of course. So, you see father. She always did her duty to you and to our Kingdom when you needed the most. But when she needed the most?"
"I left her alone," his father said in a weak way. "Forgive me. Tansy ... blood ... the blood ... gods be kind ..." his father said in a delirious mind, and Edmure looked at him confused.
He knew that if his father got better, he will let Catelyn in the North, fearing the outcome of the bastard, but Edmure also know that what he was going to do next, will damn his soul for the eternity.
So, taking a breath, and one of the pillows, and placed it on his father's face, taking his father's life, and mothering, between, tears, "I'm sorry."
Edmure was heartbroken over what he'd just done. Eyes full of tears and a lot of remorse. But he had to choose between Cat and their Father. And Cat didn't have time to wait for their father to die of natural death.
"Kingsguard!" shouted Edmure. "Kingsguard!"
And the men of Kingsguard who was guarding the door went inside.
"The King is dead. Warn the whole castle, and send for the Septon and Grand Master Vymen," said Edmure, as he held his father's lifeless hand.
After a while he saw the master enter, followed by his uncle and sister, and finally the Septon. As the bells started to ring, Edmure kept on asking forgiveness from his father and the Seven for what he had done. For being a kinslayer.
As the Septon was praying, Edmure stood up and approaching his uncle Brynden, said, "Gather the council. I need to inform them of something that happened recently. And then make the preparations for my coronation."
"Not before three days. We have to-"
"There's no time, Uncle. Do as I command," said Edmure with tight teeth, storming out of the chambers and heading to the Sept, to pray. For his soul, and for the soul of his father.
Three days later...
Almost all the lords of Riverlands came to pay their last respects to the old dead king, and to attend the coronation of the new king, while Edmure immediately gathered the Small Council to inform them of his plan to march north within two weeks, and free his sister.
"Your Grace, I continue to insist that this is a bad decision, considering that the lion of the rock is at our doorstep," said his uncle, trying to be as respectful as possible, but Edmure knew that if they would have been alone he would have insulted him in every way.
"I agree with Ser Brynden," said Lord Blackwood, the Hand of the King, but Lord Bracken, the Master of Coin, intervened as well, saying, "I did not think you were such a coward, Lord Blackwood. Perhaps the time has come to appoint a new Lord Hand."
"How dare you, Lord Bracken!" shouted Blackwood standing up. "I have always been loyal to the King, always done my work well and advised the King as best I could. Not like your House."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bracken said, standing up, too, in an offended tone, and glaring at Blackwood.
"Enough!" Edmure stopped him, knowing that if two of the most important houses continued to fight, they would get nowhere.
"Members of the Small Council. Within two weeks, I want the army ready to march."
"Your Grace, it takes more time to raise an army enough to invade the North. Without, of course, leaving our borders undefended," Blackwood said.
"I don't care, Lord Hand. My sister is imprisoned. So is her daughter. They killed my nephew. The north should have been an ally, but this is an act of war."
"Family, Duty, Honor, Lord Hand. Those are the words of House Tully," said Bracken, only to turn to him and add, "House Bracken will be ready when you will call the Banners, your grace."
Edmure nodded, and he was grateful for it. Though he knew that Lord Bracken did this more for himself than for the crown, because he wanted to win glory on the battlefield and get riches from sacking and conquest.
"House Vence will answer," said the Master of Law. And so did Mallister and Blackwood in the end.
"I will not march north," said his uncle, leaving the room, and Edmure started railing at him calling him a traitor and more, then he turned to the council saying, "Lord Bracken, you are the new Master of War. I'm all ears for your best proposal regarding the invasion."
In the North...Now...
Winterfell...
Daenerys Targaryen POV
Her beautiful Jon was brought to another room theirs and placed on a bed that wasn't, full of warm furs that could keep on fire even a dragon. But not him. His skin, no matter how warm it was under the fur, it keeps being cold as the ice in winter times.
Maester Luwin had come to check and see if it could be done something regarding his cold body, or try and make his heartbeat again, but no. He could do nothing. There was nothing of his knowledge that could be done to bring her Jon back. And neither the sorceress, Shiera could do anything. He was dead.
And Ser Arthur give her only three days to spend with Jon, to cry, and to hug his lifeless body, before they try to burn his body. Since the discovery of the walking dead-men in Winterfell when the Nigh Queen escaped, he feared that because of the connection with the Queen of the dead, and her killing him, she may bring him back. And Daenerys dreaded the coming of that day.
But now her she was in bed naked as her name's day, under the fur, laying her head on her husband's cold and bare chest, making circles on the place where his heart once beat, but now only the holes of the arrow remains.
"Why did you go to a place where I couldn't follow you, my love?" she said with a cracking voice, felling also how her tears were silently falling. "This wasn't supposed to be the end of our story. We were supposed to be Jaehaerys and Alysanne reborn. Rule together for a long time. Love and fuck till the end of our long life. And have many children. But you decided to leave me."
She could feel how his frozen body was eating the heat that her own radiated, as she was laying necked, but she didn't care. If this was the price for the last time, she can hug him and kiss, then she would gladly.
He changed so much in these months. His hairs were longer and so his beard. He has got more scars, especially on the face. One scary cut on his left eye.
The more she was laying on his chest, the more she was hugging him and caressing him, the more she was looking at him, Daenerys felt her anger grow. She felt that her body could no longer contain everything she felt, and soon she breaks out.
She started to hit on his chest as she was crying, and screaming, till her hand almost hurt.
"Why did you leave us! Why did you leave us!" shaking her head, squeezing her eyes and crying, as she keep hitting him. "Why did you leave me alone! Why. why. Why my love couldn't keep you here. Why the warm of my arms can't bring you back."
She keeps crying and crying and hitting and asking to his lifeless body. Why has he abandoned his children? Why has he abandoned her? Why did he rip off her heart, taking it with him, leaving only the shadow of her body?
Viserys Targaryen POV
Viserys was in his room, in front of the fire with a cup of wine in his hand, and a blanket wrapped around him, thinking back to all the shit he's seen in the last few months beyond the wall. Walking dead, White Walkers, shadowcats, children of the forest, a man in the roots and the so-called Night King who raise them up. All things that used to be children's stories.
But beyond that, the worst thing that weighs on his mind was the failure. Not being able to protect the king. His friend, his brother-in-law, the husband of his sister that he loved with all his heart. He let Daenerys down. And he failed his nephew. He didn't even have the courage to go and see him. He wasn't ready yet.
Suddenly, while he was thinking about it, he heard a knock at the door and said to come in, not taking his eyes from the fire, hearing only a few words as the wood was carking. 'Burn them all,' he kept hearing in his mind. 'Burn them all.'
"Viserys?" he heard a voice and looking up he saw Dacey Mormont, in the armour of the Wolfsguard, with the only light that was made by the fire in the fireplace.
"Viserys?" she said his name again, sitting near him, "What happened, beyond the wall?" she asked, and he could hear the concern on her voice.
"My sister?" he asked.
" She is crying and screaming inside the chamber where the king has been placed. She hasn't left it since he was brought there. But there are Unsullied and SmallJon with Eddard Karstark at the door."
Viserys nodded, then got up and went to pour some wine into another glass, and then filled his again, returning back to her, who meanwhile turned her gaze away from him quickly, looking towards the fireplace, because he was bare-chested, without boots, and his trousers were untied.
Viserys gave her the cup of wine, and sitting, asked, "My nephew?"
"There are 8 Unsullied defending the hallway, with two Wolfsguards. Grey Worm and Missandei are inside."
"Sa-"
"Don't worry about her, she's confined in her room with a Wolfsguard guarding the door," she said, stopping him, and then taking a mug of wine and swallowing it, asked, "What happened beyond the Wall, Vis?"
Viserys took a long sip of wine, and began, "We have faced death. The cold winter that brings it, monsters from old stories. The children of the forest and the giants." Taking another long sip, he continued. "The king faced one of them and then brought them to their knees. It was an impressive sight to behold."
"What happened to the king? Who killed Jon?"
"I don't know. All I know is that there were three arrows of ice stuck in his chest and dark smoke escaping," Viserys replied recalling the battle of Hardhome. A slaughter. And the dead rising with blue eyes. And the voice in his mind kept saying Burn them all. "We failed to protect him."
"But we won't' fail his son, and neither his wife and Queen," said Dacey, drinking all the content of the goblet, and rising up ready to leave. But Viserys stopped her, by grabbing her hand.
She immediately looked down at their hands, as Viserys gazed at her beautiful eyes, "During this expedition beyond the wall I also understood a thing."
"But we won't' fail his son, and neither his wife and Queen," said Dacey, drinking all the content of the goblet, and rising up ready to leave. But Viserys stopped her, by grabbing her hand.
She immediately looked down at their hands, as Viserys gazed at her beautiful eyes, "During this expedition beyond the wall I also understood one important thing."
"What?"
"How short life can be. How it can be taken away from a blade or the tip of an arrow," he said as he placed the goblet down and stood up, conscious of his bare chest. "You know, I was afraid I would die beyond the Wall and that I could never tell you what I feel for you."
"Vis-"
"No," he whispered, leaving her, hand coming closer and caressing her cheek, "I know this goes against our oaths, but I love you. I loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you."
"Vis-" she said with barely a whisper, but he interrupted her with a kiss on the lips. "We can't." she said.
But despite that, she did not stop him from kissing her, nor when he began to untie her armour, making it fall to the ground. And then the tunic underneath it, slipping his hands inside it. Touching her soft skin, but still feeling her muscular body, as his hands went up to her breast, which weren't small, squeezing them, and passing his thumb over her hardened nipples.
Dacey moaned, and she too now was bare chest, only with the trousers still on, but without boots, that she managed to take them off somehow as they were kissing.
When they reached the bed, she hit it, falling on it, and so dragging him with her, but he coughs himself, before hitting her.
And now he was between her legs, with the hands on the sides of her head, and gazing down at the woman he loves. Looking her in the eyes.
Someone once said that love comes from the eyes, and clearly, he could see that now. Love and lust. And grabbing him by the jaw she side, "Now Start fucking me before I lose my mind."
Bringing then his head down and starting to kiss him fearless and biting like a bear. "Give me your big dragon." And rising, he pulled of her trouser and throwing of his, freeing his cock and immediately bend again. With one thrust he entered her. Because no one of them was the first time so it was easy, but still she was so tight, and her was were almost squeezing his cock. She was so warm so wet so ready for him to move. So good.
He starts to move his hips, with an increasing speed, as he was kissing her, and she him back, running her hand thought his silver-blond hair.
Then suddenly, she pushed him on his back, and start to ride him fast and hard. Her breasts were jumping at the rhythm, as they intertwined their hands and looks in the eyes. She was biting her lips to shoot the screams and moans.
And after some moments, he could feel himself coming, but first he wanted her first to come, and so he brought his hand to her pearl, and started to stroke her fast.
"I'm coming," she said, moaning, and he could feel her squeeze. Then once she was done, she felt over him, but Viserys wasn't done, so with her laying on him, and rising her ass a bit, he started to thrust his hips up fast, knowing that he was coming. And once he was about to spill, he pulled off and groaning he spilled all on her back.
"You know," she said breathing fast, "you could have spilled inside me."
"I didn't know if you wanted," he said, breathing fast, as his chest was rising fast.
"We will be cursed by the old gods for fucking in this dark time," she said, and he nodded as he was hugging her.
Arthur Dayne POV
He hasn't had a chance to talk with his sister since he got back, and she's been locked in her room the whole time.
But now he wanted to try again, and when he reached her room, he saw Brandon Snow guarding the door.
"Ser Arthur," he greeted him.
"Brandon. Has my sister left the room?" Arthur asked.
"No, Ser. She has been there ever since the King's body was brought to Winterfell, crying all the time," replied the man, and Arthur went to the door to try and see if it was locked or not.
But luckily it wasn't, and turning toward the Wolfsguard, he said, "You can go, Brandon," and he nodded away, as Arthur walked in and opened the door.
The room was almost completely dark, except for the rays of the sun coming in through the window. The fire in the fireplace was almost out, and the heat in the room was also dimming.
Locking her in, Arthur began to look around to see where she was, and he saw her in front of the window looking out into the night sky.
"You made a promise," she said in a firm, but not loud voice. "You promised to protect him. You promised to bring him back to me." Arthur did not answer, as he approached her. But Ashara turned towards him immediately, and continued, "You have broken your promise, Lord Commander," and the coldness with which she said, made his heart freeze.
But also, thanks to the moonbeams coming through the window, Arthur could finally see her. She was a broken woman. Hair out of place, red eyes caused by the many tears she shed.
He was standing in front of her, and what he saw in her eyes he hoped that he had never sawed. Hate. Disappointment. A broken heart.
"You broke your promise!" she cried out, slapping him hard on the cheek. Then another slap comes, and another. And Arthur knew that in a normal moment her hand would already be hurting. But not now. Not with the anger inside her and the grief. But this was a good way to let it all out.
She keeps him hitting, on the chest on the face, while starting to cry and scream and curs at him.
When she stopped, bringing her hands up to her face and shaking because of the crying, Arthur slowly approached her, and wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her in a hug.
Ashara buried her face in his chest, wrapping her around his torso, squeezing his tunic and crying with all her force. He could feel her cry ring through his body, and his tunic wet from her tears. And on top of that, he could feel her falling to the ground despite him trying to hold her up.
After a while she pushed him away and cleaning her eyes with the back of her hands, she said in a cold and broken voice, "I want you out of Winterfell and out of the North, brother!"
"Ash-"
"No!" she stopped him, by raising her voice. "You failed to Protect three Kings, Lord Commander. I will not let you guard my grandson. I want you out of the North before the morning of tomorrow comes!"
"Ashara…"
"If tomorrow morning you will still be here, I will kill you in front of the whole Winterfell, Brother! I swear it. On the old Gods and the New."
And despite having a broken heart, and failing the most important people of his life, Arthur nodded and getting up from the ground, he left the room, with a heavy heart, hearing behind him the scream and cries of his little sister.
He will need to pack everything, name a new lord commander and leave.
After some hours and once his things were ready, Arthur, and after sending more men to the post, he gathered all the Wolfsguard in the Great Hall, and now they were all around him.
" You must wonder why I gathered you all here, so I just go straight to the point," said Arthur, stopping for a moment, feeling the weight of the words that were about to come out. "I have served three kings so far, and I have failed to protect them all."
"Arthur-" began Benjen, but he stopped him by raising his hand. "This is difficult for me and will be difficult for you, but I was exiled because of my incompetence, and I accept it."
"Arthur. You are the best swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms," began Viserys, but Arthur stopped him with a laugh. "The reason I've gathered you here is to appoint a new Lord Commander of the Wolfsguard."
The members of Wolfsguard began to look at each other for a long time, until SmallJon came forward, saying, "Why are you doing this? You know what's coming against us and yet you run away. Why?"
"I got exiled and It's not easy to explain Jon. And that-"
"You're a coward if you do that. You stain the wolf you wear on your chest and with him the honor you've earned in this long time."
"So, will you be the new Lord Commander, Jon?" Arthur asked, not wanting to continue the conversation.
"Yes. And I'll make sure I don't stain it with my cowardice, as you did," said Jon angry, leaving the room, followed by all the others, who left the room with a disappointed face.
"This is a mistake and you know it. Jon may be dead, but part of him still lives here, and I will do all I can to defend him," said Benjen. Heading towards the exit, but stopping for a moment, "It was Ashara, wasn't she? She exiled you." But Arthur didn't respond and Benjen left the Great Hall, shaking his head.
Arthur sighed, only to leave the hall too. He needs to reach White Harbour.
Robb Snow POV
Robb was on the walls of Winterfell looking towards the northern wilderness, but nothing could be seen except the darkness.
He couldn't sleep, so he went out to take some air. He couldn't believe that his best friend and king was dead. It was like this was a nightmare from which it was hard to wake up.
Poor Daenerys who kept crying and suffering inside that room not wanting to leave him. And with her the dowager queen Ashara. Now the only thing that remains of his old friend is his son, and everyone inside Winterfell was ready to protect him. Him and Daenerys.
"I woke up in the heart of the night, but you were not beside me," said a voice, and Robb, turning around, saw Val approaching him, with a smile.
"These are difficult times. And I have too many thoughts," Robb said, hugging her and kissing her forehead.
"You know that with his death the Southern Kings will think you are weak," said Val.
"Yes. And that will be their biggest mistake. I hope the Free Folk will still fight for us even if he is dead," said Robb, but Val shakes her head.
"They will fight for the North against the dead, not against the south. They would have done that when he was alive. Now maybe they will do that again in twenty years from now. When his son will be strong enough to win them."
"Then that is enough for now," Robb said, leaning on the railing of the walls. The weather is getting colder. A sign that winter is near," she said, drawing a breath.
"And with it the White Walkers," said Robb.
"So, you finally saw them," she said.
"Yes. And fought them. Dragonglass can kill them. And so can the Valyrian steel and Dawn. But sadly, we don't have enough of them."
"I would be sure of that," she said, and Robb turned immediately at her with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"A woman in Red is sending ships full of your obsidian from a city called Ashi… or something like that."
"Asshai?"
"Yes. That city. And a lot of them already came, and many more are sailing," she said.
"Good," he said returning his gaze to the darkness outside Winterfell, but felt Val's hand take his saying, "Now come I want you to fuck me till morning."
"We can't do that as my friend is lying dead inside this wall. There is the-"
"Then I will fuck you here and now, so everyone can see. And you can't hide away," she cut him off and grabbed his cock through the trousers making him gasp. "So? Where do you want to fuck? Her or Inside." She asked squeezing his cock.
"Inside," he said groaning as she left his cock, dragging him down the stairs from the wall.
Missandei POV
He sleeps so peacefully, said Missandei as she looked down at Aeinon who was in the cradle inside Daenerys' room. she put some straight of silver hair aside from his little face in the meantime.
"He has wept until now. He must surely be exhausted," said Grey Worm in the common tongue but with his Valyrian accent, standing beside them with his hands behind his back, and his serious look.
This were dark times for all of them. They lost a second king within a year, she thought as she was rocking the cradle. She wonders if the same fate awaits the little Prince. He was too young to die.
"Don't worry. He will not have the same fate," said Grey Worm.
"And how you are sure about that?"
"Because Unsullied will protect him till the last one. To come to him they will need to puss us."
"Even you can't fight death, Grey Worm. The truth I that no one is safe in this world. May it be alive or dead," Missandei said, walking away from the cradle.
She too needs some rest, even it will be a light sleep.
Grey Worm said nothing, and she saw him looking down at the little prince. But maybe deep down he was right. Maybe the unsullied could truly protect him and Daenerys from danger. Fortunately, the little Princess Raya was away from all this. At least she didn't saw her father's dead body.
Three days later…
Daenerys Targaryen POV
"Dany, Dany," she heard, someone call her and a hand caressing he face softly. "My suite Dany. Be strong in the coming times. Winter is coming. The flayed man is coming."
And she saw a flayed man on a cross, with his head down and the legs up, and an evil laugh in the background.
She woke up immediately finding herself in the cold room where the cold body of Jon was lying, not knowing what did just happen. If what she heard, if what that voice was saying was true or no.
After spending these three days inside this room, she felt as she had aged thousand of years. Her head was hurting, her entire body was weak, she didn't even know if she had the strength to get up from bed or no. The only thing she knows is that she had no more tears inside her. She wept them all for Jon in these days.
Rising up, she looked toward the window seeing that the sun didn't rose up yet, but knowing that will do it soon, and that will mean that Jon will be carried outside Winterfell and put on the funeral pyre to be burnt.
She glanced down at him, looking at his cold body that she had hugged for the last three days not wanting to leave him. She can't let him go.
Ghost was lying on the bed too, and she didn't remember when he got inside, but she looked at him for a moment and she saw grey eyes instead of red gazing at her, but she draws her gaze back to Jon.
As she was looking down, she heard a knock on the door but didn't respond. Then the door opened, and Dacey entered inside, with some clothes and a warm fur cloak.
Daenerys then remembered that she was bare, and she knows that she needs to get dressed, and even if she didn't want, to get ready.
After placing her lips to Jon's cold one, she gives him a long kiss, before leaving the bed, still naked, but knowing that inside the room there was only Dacey.
All the people of the city, the Free Folk with the Giants, and even the lords who were able to make it in time were gathered in front of Winterfell, where a pyre was set up. The Unsullied were in line, and so were the Stark soldier.
The ones to hold the torches were Robb, Grey Worm, and two more Unsullied. While four Wolfsguards were carrying Jon's body, placing it on the pyre. Two of them stood with her, two others with her son, and two in front of Sansa's door so that she would not run away during the funeral.
When her time had come, Daenerys took a breath and called upon all her strength so that she would not break into tears before Winterfell, and slowly made her way towards the pyre.
Climbing the wooden ladder up, first the first level, then the second level, and finally where Jon was placed.
She looked at him for a moment, skin still frozen, eyes closed, lips sealed because of the ice, and they couldn't even do anything to his hair, or even dress him. All that was laid over him was a large banner with the direwolf of House Stark engraved on it.
Daenerys laid her hand on Jon's icy forehead, caressing him for a moment with her thumb as she was looking at him for the last time, and felt the tears she didn't think she still had, coming down on her cheeks, and she immediately wiped them away.
And then leaning down, she gave him one last long kiss on the cold lips. But before she stood up straight, she whispered, "Goodbye, my love. One day we'll see each other again but know that my heart will forever be yours."
Giving him one last look, Daenerys went down and nodded to those who hold the torches in their hands to set fire to the pyre.
The pyre caught fire immediately but what happened next was unimaginable. Before the fire reached Jon's body, a snowstorm broke out from within, hitting everyone in full force, and the last thing she felt was that she was thrown for many steps backwards and hit her head before everything went black and she lost consciousness.
Sansa Stark POV
Meanwhile, inside Winterfell...
Sansa was preparing to put into practice the plan suggested by her mother in the scroll and was waiting for Robin Flint to come and help her. It was so easy to seduce the fool and bring him to her side. He was so weak of heart and mind. All it took was to show a thigh, some tits, and a few kisses, and the Wolfsguard fell at her feet.
And indeed, as she thought of that, she heard shouting and clashing swords in the hallway, and the door opening, as Robin entered.
"It's done. Those who were in the hallway outside are dead, while those in front of Aeinon Stark's door are suffocating because of the smoke."
She smiled, wrapping her hands around his neck and kissing him passionately, saying, "Now let's go get him and then proceed as planned. Soon we shall be the rulers of the north, my love." And then she kissed him again.
They ran straight towards the bastard prince's room, putting a cloth over their mouths because of the smoke, but Robin was the first to enter. And he was hit by Missandei, but he recovered quickly, only to draw his sword, and pierce Missandei.
Suddenly they heard the glass shattering, and frost entering, which made her confused for a moment, before of the hitting storm.
"Sansa. My love? Are you all right?" she heard Robin's voice calling for her. She nodded back, and Robin continued, "Take the baby and go to the stables. There is a horse there waiting for you. I don't know what happened, but this will give you some time. Go where I showed you on the map. That's where the beasts are in the woods."
She nodded again and grabbed the bastard who was screaming and ran away.
Daenerys Targaryen POV
Daenerys was slowly waking up with a little headache, and Maester Luwin was there with her, along with Ashara and two Wolfsguards, SmallJon and Dacey, if she wasn't mistaken. Now that sadly Arthur left, he was the new Lord Commander.
"What happened?" she asked, putting her hand on her head.
"We don't know, Your Grace. Many have been wounded because of that snowstorm and many house destroyed. It was something dark something evil. The King's body was taken to the crypts and more specifically to the Night Queen's dungeon and at this very moment they are walling up the entrance.
Daenerys nodded but saw their faces grim and some avoided her gaze, so he asked, "What else happened?" But they didn't answer, and that made her angry. "I asked you what else happened?" she asked again, but this time raising her voice.
"Your son is missing," Dacey said, not looking at her, and Daenerys immediately got up from the bed.
"Gather the men and form up groups. Eddard, Robbin and Brandon will come with me, the other members I want them at the head of the groups," she said, on her way to get her armor and sword.
"Your Grace-"
"Enough! Do as I command before I cut off your heads," she shouted. "And tell my brother to come here and protect the Dragon."
He was too small to protect himself.
They had been in the Wolf's woods for hours, looking for her little cub, and she had fifty other Stark guards with her besides the three Wolfsguards.
But they still couldn't find him, and that made her lose her mind. It wasn't enough that Jon was taken away from her, now the gods wanted her son too.
"Your Grace! This way!" Daenerys heard shouting, and immediately turned the horse towards that direction, but at that same moment they were attacked, and Daenerys drew her sword out and shouted, "Men! To me!" and her men ran to her, though many of them fell because of the arrows that were shot at them.
"An ambush!" shouted Eddard who was beside her, before being shot in the neck by an arrow and falling to the ground.
Daenerys was scared now, in addition to worrying about her son. Whoever took him must for sure be with these men.
"Ride away, your grace!" shouted one of the soldiers, and Daenerys started to gallop, not even knowing the direction in which she was heading, until her horse was hit by a spear and she fell to the ground, losing consciousness.
A few days later...
Daenerys did not know how long she had been traveling, but when she woke up she was unarmed, her hands tied and a rag over her mouth with a sack over her head, and especially on a horse, but she felt a body behind her, holding her up.
Suddenly the horse stopped, and she heard men screaming and a gate opening. Then the horse started walking again.
When the horse stopped again, the man behind her got off and she too was put down from the horse and taken somewhere, not knowing where. The only thing she heard was the word stairs when to climb up and the doors creaking.
Then suddenly she was sat on a chair abruptly, and the sack was taken from her head.
Daenerys started to slowly recover. The sight, which was fogged up before, was clearing, and then looking around she realized that she was in a room, with only candles to light it.
But then she heard that voice she hated since the moment he swore allegiance, "Welcome to the Dreadfort, Queen Daenerys."
And she found herself face to face with Ramsey Bolton. No Ramsey Snow.