Harry

After a full week of snowstorms, King's Landing was finally graced with clear skies and a warm sun. Many in the streets would come outside to bask in the heat that was absent for months. It wasn't as hot as an early spring sun, but warm nonetheless. It was interesting to see the people be in such high moods when they didn't realize how deep in horse shit they really were.

While regular shipments of raided food from the Reach were being brought to the city, there were still too many mouths to feed. Everyday there were more than a dozen bodies lying dead in the streets from the cold or starvation. But it wasn't the littering bodies that was turning the city into a hellhole. Unbeknownst to the people, the bodies were taken away by the Gold Cloaks to a place everyone thought to be a burial of sorts. But in reality, the bodies were butchered into 'goat' meat and fed to the people. The Queen made it absolutely impossible for whispers of what really happened to leak out to the ears of the people. But given how starving everyone was, they probably wouldn't even care.

Harry and the Golden company were spared from such barbarianism and cruelty since they were under the employ of the Queen. In fact they and the Gold cloaks and a select few in court were the only ones who received the food from the Reach. But resolving to this just to hold onto power was beyond ridiculous and insanity. Harry Strickland was finally beginning to wonder whether or not he should have followed Jon's advice. But now that the Wildfire was in place, there was no chance of betrayal and with Jon's rotting skull decorating the walls of the Red Keep next to a few hundred others, there was no surety that any thoughts put into words no matter how quiet or secluded would go unheard.

In his regular time, Harry would've been spending the afternoon discussing and planning the defense of the city with his other men, against the dead or the living if they were victorious. But a summons from the Queen cut his time with his men short as he was now walking to the small council room relocated behind the Iron Throne.

The number of people dwindled too few compared to how many chairs were around the table. Only four seats were actually used. One by Qyburn, who was the Hand of the Queen, Master of Whispers, and acting as the maester to the Throne, remaining as silent as he usually was unless he had something to say. Euron Greyjoy, or Ironjaw as Harry's men would call. After his failure at Pyke, he returned with only about a hundred or so ships filled with crew who were idiotically loyal to him. Qyburn's work on his face was probably the best in the world, but still it was horrific to look at. The blade that was shoved up from the bottom of his jaw was near irremovable and cut into his right eye, permanently blinding him. The blade was filed away as much as possible, freeing his mouth to open and close. But he had to have a piece of metal nailed into his jawbone to keep it from breaking and he could only eat foods he didn't have to chew.

And then there was the Queen. Her hair had been growing steadily and it was long enough that she finally gave it some style of hairdo. But ever since her brother left, she had been acting differently. Every week she would take a lover into her bed and then have him killed simply because she grew bored of them, the next victim unaware of his eventual fate. Euron knew and didn't seem to care seeing as how he and his men took over the best brothel in the city and constantly raped the whores. One poor girl exclusive to Euron fell pregnant and he had her tongue cut out so she could never speak the name of the father.

But the worst change in the Queen was her eyes. The jade green color of them would sometimes flicker in the light and make it seem like Wildfire was burning inside them. Ser Gregor stood vigil behind her, as lifeless as ever.

Harry took his seat next to Qyburn and waited for someone to explain why they were having their first council meeting in months.

"Captain Strickland," Cersei said, "so glad you could join us." Her words were calm, but every syllable had a volume of poison in them. "Apologies for interrupting your meeting, but today we have news that concerns all of us." She nodded to Qyburn who revealed a small scroll from his robes.

"This came from one of our spies in North last night." Qyburn informed.

"Wha's is say?" Euron asked, unable to pronounce his words properly.

Qyburn grew a sly smile as if he was proud of what the scroll said. "The dead have been defeated."

Harry felt a wave of satisfaction come over him. He had his doubts that any army would be able to stand against those creatures, but the Targaryens succeeded. And now he would have to face them on the battlefield. At least, he would if Cersei was unable to force their surrender with the city as her hostage. And now with this knowledge, the weapons of dragonglass made for his men were no longer needed.

"Is that it?" Harry asked.

"No, Captain Strickland, there is more. A report on the battle. One of the dragons fell and the united armies suffered heavy losses and many injured."

"Seven hells," Harry said aloud, "the number of dead must be catastrophic."

"Is there a report on the Targaryens?" Cersei asked, unfazed by the number of dead.

"Alive and unharmed. One of the Starks however took some form of injury. Brandon Stark is bedridden and unable to wake from sleep."

Cersei failed to contain a chuckle. "Then his rumored visions were heard of is of no use to the bastard and the dragon whore. We must act now before the boy recovers."

"Excuse me, your Grace." Harry interrupted, "but the truce with the Targaryens is still in effect. They have two months to mourn their dead and two months to rest and let the armies not sworn to them disperse and return home. If we act now, we'll be violating the terms you agreed upon."

"I am aware of what I agreed upon, Captain. But I'm surprised that you would actually think that I would honor terms with usurpers and bastards. I gave them peace to defeat the dead, and the dead are defeated. Which brings me to the next order of business."

The sound of approaching footsteps entered the room and everyone turned to see a man in ragged armor, wearing a arakh at his side enter the council room. He was a sellsword without a doubt, most likely from the companies hiding in Dorne.

"Thank you for coming as fast as you did, Captain-"

"I'm no captain, your grace." The man said, "I'm just a sellsword."

Harry stood up from his seat, fists clenched and knuckles whitening. "I never thought I would see you here. Come to sell your blade then use it on the buyer, Naharis?"

Daario chuckled as he took a seat next to Euron. "Not this time Strickland. In fact my pockets are the only ones that weren't given gold to fill. My price is far more valuable than any money you have to offer."

"You can't fool me." Harry turned his attention to the Queen. "He betrayed the masters and gave his allegiance to Daenerys Targaryen. You can't expect him to stay loyal to you when we're about to be on the brink of war!"

"Sit, down!" Cersei said firmly through her teeth.

Harry did as he was ordered but kept his eyes on Daario Naharis who was smirking at him.

The Queen regained her composer and continued to speak. "Daario Naharis has promised his loyalty and his men to us and in return he will receive fair payment."

"And what is this fair payment, if I might ask?" Harry inquired.

Daario chuckled at him. "Let's just say there's something in the North that was taken from me, and I want her back."

It didn't take long for Harry to add things up and finally understood why he would fight for Cersei. "And you're going to allow a Targaryen to live through all this, especially one with carrying two male heirs in her?"

"He has experience with the dragons at their large size and knowledge of how to defeat them," Cersei informed, "In exchange for that and his men, I have agreed to give him the dragon whore as payment."

"And as for those bastards of hers," Daario interjected, "The day the enter this world, they'll go to Ser Gregor over there for safe keeping."

Safe keeping, obviously another way for him to say to be killed like the last Targaryen children. "And you believe him?" Harry asked.

Daario scoffed Harry. "You right. I plan on leading my three thousand men against sixty thousand and seize the city before the Targaryens even get here. How did you see through my master plan?" The only one who got a laugh out of Daario's sarcasm was Euron. "The biggest problems we'll face on the field will be the Dothraki and the Dragons. I've ridden with the Dothraki and I know how to beat them. As for the dragons, I know how they attack and when the perfect moment will be to use the scorpions you have."

As much as Harry didn't want to accept it, Daario Naharis might be the best hope they have at beating the Targaryens.

"Then we mustn't delay any further," Cersei said. "Qyburn, send word to the companies in Dorne. Inform them that the time has come to begin their contracts."

"At once, your Grace. And when should I inform them to start?"

"Sunspear, Starfall, and Hornhill."

Hornhill?" Harry asked, confused. "The Tarly's are declared for you."

"Randyl Tarly declared for me and he is nothing but ash in the wind. His damn widow is planning on declaring the Reach for the Targaryens. We must remind the rulers of the Kingdoms what happens to those that betray the throne."

"And should I inform our guest to begin his task as well?"

Cersei's guest. Harry began to regret telling her about the friends he had in Braavos. Especially the one from the House of Black and White.

"No, he will wait until the companies arrive at the capitol with their prizes."

"As you wish, your Grace."

"As for you, Euron," Cersei looked directly at him, "our naval strength is far outnumbered to stand a chance. Is there a way for you to remedy your mistake?"

Euron was angry, but he did well not to show it. "I can redake some of the shibs my niesh and nephew shtole from me. They've splid the fleed and docked ad Whide Habor, Easdwash by the Sea, and Dorrhen's Square. Bud withoud the men do crew the ships, id won'd madder."

"If you can acquire the ships, then I will get you the men to crew them." Cersei said confidently as she stood from her seat. "This counsel is adjourned. Captain Strickland, a word in private?"

Everyone stood up from the table and left the room while Harry followed Cersei and Ser Gregor to the balconies overlooking the Godswood. The walkway was swept clean of snow

"I can imagine you have certain disagreements with my methods." Cersei sated, not far from the truth.

"May I speak freely?" Harry asked.

"If you wish." She challenged.

"I may be a sellsword, but I try to have a sense of honor. We Know that Dorne is planning to stay out of remainder of the war and many of the lords of the Westerlands and Crownlands are still loyal to you. If you break the truce, then you'll incur the wrath of the whole country against you."

"And if we honor the truce, what then? We allow our enemies to heal and recover to their full strength? I will show the world that those who challenge the throne will fear what they face. Their leaders will break and their armies crumble."

"And if they should rally for vengeance rather than cower out of fear, what then? The Targaryens rose up to lead the greatest army the world has ever seen and fought for it while we sat idly by."

"I have no doubt that the Targaryens will demand revenge for the fools that follow them. But they won't be alive long enough to make such demands."

"Does that mean you were lying to Daario Naharis about Daenerys Targaryen?"

"He can have her, but only after she watches her bastard husband burn alive and Ser Gregor crush the skulls of the dragonspawn she carries. Then, and only when the last light of hope leaves her eyes will I extend mercy to those that remember who the true Queen of Westeros is."

"I don't think the rest of the Kingdoms will believe that you have any mercy. The only Lannisters they trust seem to be your brothers."

"You think I am without mercy?"

He knew he couldn't say no without insinuating a negative response from her with a terrible consequence behind it. "No, but the lack of honor keeps you from showing it."

She laughed at his response to her. "I've shown it, you just haven't seen it. For instance, you're still breathing and your head not a spike with the traitors you let out of the city. And did you honestly think you could smuggle my brother out of the city without me knowing?" She stopped walking and looked out to the oceans, wearing a deadly smirk. "The only reason you're still alive is because our contract will break if I kill you. And If you die, then what purpose will your men have of staying here?"

Harry found himself cornered. All this time he's been nothing more than a pawn in this entire scheme. But the thing that shocked him was that he allowed himself to stay that way. And now, he couldn't be anything else but that.

"That will be all, Captain Strickland. I leave you to your own time." Cersei and Ser Gregor left Harry standing in his place. He was the leader of the strongest Sellsword company in Essos, but this entire time he's been nothing but a fool.

Heading back inside the Red Keep, the first person Harry saw was Daario Naharis who was waiting for him.

"Have a lovely chat with the Queen?"

"Fuck off Naharis." Harry walked past him without giving a second glance.

"So hostile to an old friend. What did I ever do to deserve such treatment?" Daario asked while slowly following Harry.

"We were never friends, Naharis. Now for the last time, fuck off."

"Why should I? Unlike you I want to be here. All the excitement is about to happen and I'm going to see it all."

Harry finally turned around and faced Daario who continued looking as smug as ever. "And when the excitement arrives at the gates of the city, what then? I'm sure the Queen told you about what she has hidden under the streets of the city and what she plans to do if she faces nothing but loss when the Targaryens arrive."

"The Wildfire? Of course I know. But I don't care, because I will be the one to defeat the remains of the 'greatest army the world has ever seen.' I don't even need you and your army to do it."

Harry failed to contain his laughter. He didn't have the ability to know when someone was lying to him, but he did know when words were nothing but horseshit. The armies Cersei had were less than half of what the Targaryens probably have remaining. And they still had three dragons.

"Go ahead and laugh. Someone like you probably finds laughter hard to come by. But then you'll realize the advantage we have against them that secures our victory."

"And what is that Daario? Arrogance or lies?"

"A bit of both actually, but more importantly, it's actually something we don't have, but you and the Targaryens have. It's called a sense of honor." Harry's amusement disappeared and Daario's smirk grew slightly bigger. "Daenerys has been around the bastard king for too long. She used to be a queen to be feared and loved at the same time. But once all memory of her husband is gone, she'll come to who she was when I knew her."

"You honestly think that killing her husband and her children will bring her to have affection for you?"

"She only married him to gain the support of the North. She even told me herself that she planned on sealing alliances with marriage. As far as I'm concerned, those children she has are nothing but an obstacle she has to endure."

Harry shook his head at Daario, unable to believe how oblivious and overconfident he was being. "You're an even bigger fool than me, Naharis."

"Maybe. But I'm still smarter than you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a special meeting with the Queen, and I have yet to discover what the cunt of a lion feels like." Daario patted Harry on his shoulder and left him standing alone and angry in the throne room.

"Arrogant man, if I must say." Qyburn said as he appeared from behind the pillar he hid behind. "I personally have no doubt of his ambitions to fight for the Queen. But I can't understand why he believes that she'll spare the Dragon Queen."

The mere idea of Cersei letting Daenerys Targaryen or any Targaryen live was complete nonsense. The fact that Daario was too thick in the head to realize it was just astounding.

"I don't understand you, Qyburn." Harry admitted. "Why do you still serve Cersei? She's has the city ready to be destroyed with everyone in it at her command, but you don't seem like the kind of man who is willing to do for his Queen and country."

"Believe me, Captain Strickland, I don't plan on dying in this city. But my research to understand that which we do not keeps me here."

"And what is it you're trying to understand? Magic long forgotten? Better ways to zombify people like the Mountain?"

"I gave up on magic when I was stripped of my chain at the Citadel. But Zombification is the only thing I study and practice. "In these times, understanding war and battle is at the utmose concern. Things like practically and reason are another. And then there is people. Take yourself, for example. You could order your men to sack the city and betray Cersei and we would have no chance of resistance should the Wildfire fail to light in time. I can't believe that a contract and honor are what truly keep you as an obedient animal to his master. So the only thing left is the gold and pride. I've heard that before the Queen hired the Golden Company, it was on the brink of collapse and dispersing into different factions of Mercenary companies. The only battles you've been in were only won because of surrender. You even have yet to lead a charge and stain your blade with blade for the first time. You were born into your band of mercenaries, giving you an emotional attachment to your men. This job was the only chance you had to keep things together-"

Qyburn was cut off by a tight hand around his neck and being slammed against the pillar. Two of the Queensguard appeared with their swords drawn and held them at Harry.

"For a man who has spies that rival the Spider, you still know hardly anything about people." Harry released his hand and shoved his way past the swords pointed at him. Had it not been for Qyburn calling the guards to stand down, Harry might've been killed then and there.

Returning to his commanders waiting for in at one of the city's taverns, Harry sat at their table and downed a large horn or wine reserved for him.

"What word from the Queen, Captain?" One of his men asked.

Harry didn't give a single damn about what the Queen wanted. If he had his way, they would all be sailing back to Essos where they belonged. But his contract was the only thing that kept him in this miserable place. Maybe he should've taken Jon's advice and left with him. But then he would be everything people said about him in Essos. An insecure commander who only got the position by pure accident. And if heleft, then that would be the end of the Golden Company, the only thing he had left. As much as he hated to admit it, Qyburn was right. The only thing that got him out of that throne room was an insult and a lie.

"The Targaryens won their fight against the dead, and it won't long until they get here." He stared deeply at his men, taking in the gravity of their situation. "Send word to our men in Dorne. I want the elephants marching for King's Landing and ready for battle when they get here."