A/N: hey guys no idea what happened to the last upload. No matter what I tried I couldn't upload! It showed on my app but not on the web...hopefully it doesn't happen again! This part of the story deals with getting people out of Westeros to safety and events in Kings Landing. Also I don't usually post on a Friday but I just finished an end of year exam and I'm feeling like I want to celebrate. So an early upload and a glass of wine it is! Enjoy :)
Chapter 26: The Valonqar
Brienne stood in the Hall of House Manderly, an enormous merman rose out of the wall life like and stern gazing down at her. The room behind Brienne was littered with nobility who had arrived in haste. Many fled the rising dead that had begun to haunt the Northern parts of the country. Others had heard Winterfell had fallen and had nowhere else to turn. The whispers in the room verged on frantic and the fear was in the air. Brienne stood tall and steadfast in front of them as Wyman Manderly took his seat. His enormous form slowly sitting and the chair creaking in protest at the weight thrust on it. Brienne for the slightest moment looked disgusted at the girth of Manderly but regained composure as his eyes gazed at her.
Brienne dipped her head in respect, "Lord Manderly I am Brienne of Tarth..."
"Ah the famous lady knight," spoke the Lord warmly, "some truly heroic tales are being told of you my dear."
Brienne smiled courteously, "Thank you my Lord, I only try to do what is right and that is why I'm here tonight"
"You bring bad news to us don't you?" replied Lord Manderly gravely.
"I'm afraid so, Winterfell has fallen. The dead have risen and we must evacuate, tonight"
The room erupted into panicked murmurs and Lord Manderly's family looked concerned.
"Tonight?" he repeated with uncertainty.
"Sir we can't waste any time. If we don't leave tonight the dead will be here within a few days"
"We can keep them out, fortify the walls. We have never been breached" spoke the Head of the Manderly guards.
"If Winterfell has fallen we don't have any hope" replied Lord Manderly irritably to the guard, "Where would you have use evacuate to Lady Brienne?"
"All evacuations are going to Dragonstone, we will convene there and move to safety after consulting with Queen Daenerys and Jon Targaryen"
Lord Manderly's eyes shot up at the sound of the name.
"Who?" he demanded.
"Jon Targaryen, or as you know him. Jon Snow" spoke Brienne slowly hoping this wouldn't cause more of an uproar.
Lord Manderly's face slowly changed from shocked to a smile as the realisation dawned over him.
"Eddard you fooled us all" he chuckled loudly booming all through the hall. People looked to each other confused for a long moment.
"Guards!" he barked, "put the call out. We evacuate anyone who wants to leave with us, secure the vaults Wylis and get your family on the ship as a priority. We sail to DragonStone tonight"
All over the city bells tolled and messengers went out to evacuate citizens, ravens flew to neighbouring towns to alert villagers to evacuate. White Harbour mobilised who was left alive in the North to flee to DragonStone.
Brienne accompanied Wylis to ensure his safety as Lord Manderly's surviving heir, his wife and daughters had already been escorted to the waiting ships.
Wylis eyed Brienne with trepidation as he secured the family vaults with intricate locks.
He tried to shield Brienne from viewing his actions and she rolled her eyes and turned away.
"If I wanted to steal from your family I wouldn't have publicly come here to save you. And those locks aren't difficult for someone who knows to break locks, my Lord"
Wylis flushed scarlet and angrily walked by Brienne, "You don't have to evacuate if you don't want to Wylis. You have two daughters and heirs to the Manderly name..."
Wylis rounded on her angrily, "What if you're wrong? We will not fall to this..."undead" king!"
Brienne scoffed, "After all you've heard you still don't believe they exist?"
"We all know they are legends Ser" he returned spitting Brienne's title at her.
Solemnly Brienne stepped forward a shadow crossing her face, she towers over Wylis who is not a small man himself.
"First the storm comes, mist and darkness, you can't see ahead of you. A sound like a roaring wave approaches from the distance and it gets closer and louder. When you see it you are too late to escape, they swarm over you. Engulfing the living and killing everything in their path. They do not sleep, they do not tire, they feel no pain and they have no emotions. They just want to kill you. Your comrades die to their blades and they raise next to you with blue eyes and blood lust. They lust for your blood. They overran the walls of Winterfell, aren't those walls taller than your city walls? Never mind, once they're in here they'll sweep through this city easily and you will march south as a mindless, dead man killing and consuming all you cross"
Wylis looked with terror into Briennes intense face as she snarled down at him recounting the dead attacking Winterfell. When she finished the shadow stayed on her face, her hand gripped the hilt of her sword so tightly her knuckles were almost glowing white. Swallowing thickly Wylis stepped back raising his hands in a show of surrender.
"I hear you Lady Brienne, let's go to the ships"
The ports were a hive of activity with huge numbers already evacuated sailing out to the horizon. Their dark shapes barely visible in the dark of night, Brienne felt the cold air sting as the wind began to blow. The wind filled the sails and helped the ships sail faster but many were still waiting to board ships and evacuate. The Manderly's had filled a ship with their family and closest allies who had arrived in haste with alarming stories of empty villages and blood stains but no bodies. This had spurred many into action faster, if this had happened close by the dead were near.
Just as the last ships were boarding and the last of the city watch men were abandoning their posts, the alarm sounded over the city. Everyone on the port froze in terror and looked in the distance to see something, anything. The darkness of night made it impossible to see anything, a dark storm cloud approached the walls.
"Board! Now! They're coming!" Yelled Brienne as she heard the familiar roaring of the dead in the distance.
Hastily she pushed people onto boats, and in the panic some fell and she helped up who she could. The wind picked up and the cold became unbearable as the army of the dead brought their fury to White Harbour.
"We have to leave now! He has a dragon!" she screamed to the captains.
In the distance she saw a sight she knew, the dead were pouring over the walls of the city and advancing to the ports, seeking out the living. Anyone who had remained in the city would be dead soon, she couldn't help them now. The last ships crammed on the remaining citizens of White Harbour and desperately left the port. Some cargo had to be left behind but in the moment nobody cared, they had narrowly escaped losing their lives.
Brienne watched in despair as she heard the cries of the living still in the city as they fell, the ships were utterly silent. As White Harbour slipped away the screams of the dying haunted them all.
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Grey Worm arrived under guard at Sunspear, the harsh heat and harsh people feeling more relatable to him compared to the others in Westeros. His horse had ridden swiftly and fast after leaving Winterfell, he had never known a beast to travel such vast distances so fast. The cripple boy had been correct, he remembered the solemn look Bran Stark gave him as the horse consumed the red leaf.
"You are the only one they will talk to and let leave their province alive. It must be you who goes to Dorne"
Grey Worm had resisted the orders from this cripple, but he knew had Daenerys been present she would have agreed. After the battle for Winterfell and losing most of his soldiers he had felt emotions inside he thought made him weak. He refused to spend time with the foreigners and battled his internal thoughts of failure and defeat. The cripple had found him on the walls of Winterfell looking out to the shimmering wall that shielded them temporarily and convinced him to fight on. Now arriving at Sunspear it's towers and turrets rising out of the sand he felt ready to return to succeeding. Covered in the dust of the road he followed the harsh guards into the inner sanctum to find lush gardens and fountains. There was the sound of trickling water and the coolness of shade and plants. And he could hear he was approaching the sound of steel on steel, and shouts of training. The guards led him into a wide space in the gardens where three young girls all with dark hair and brown skin fought and danced around one another. Halting him brusquely, the guards waited with their prisoner until the girls finished their duel. Laughing and panting with exertion they turned to look over Grey Worm with interest. The eldest stepped forward alongside an older man who was whispering in her ear.
"Welcome to Sunspear" she spoke in a thick, seductive and heavy Dornish accent, "isn't it funny. I dreamt of the arrival of a dark and mysterious man and here you are. Standing in front of me"
"Yes I am here, I bring important message for you and your people"
Her eyebrow raised in curiousity, "What message is that?"
"You must evacuate your lands, send out messages to your Lords have them evacuate immediately."
The girl looked around to her sisters and back to her guards bursting into laughter.
After a time she stalked towards Grey Worm running her hands up his body and breathing in his scent. Her hair tickled Grey Worms skin sending shivers through his body and her scent was intoxicating. He flinched slightly and she groaned in pleasure laughing seductively at his discomfort.
"And why would we do that? We have only just restored order to the lands of Dorne after my fathers death and my step mother's disappearance. My older sisters are all dead, the ruling of these lands falls to...me"
"Your people are in danger Lady Martell."
"In danger from who? Who would dare to cross into Dorne and risk coming to head with the wrath of what awaits them?"
"The army of the dead is coming. For all of us. Winterfell has fallen, I was there"
"You? In Winterfell? How? You are not from these lands?"
"I serve the Queen of Westeros, Daenerys Targaryen..."
"So your Queen seeks to rule the Dornish by sending you to "save" us while we leave so she can finally conquer us?!" Yelled the young woman flicking a dagger to Grey Worms throat.
"Queen Daenerys is on DragonStone. We must evacuate Westeros. They're coming for all of us"
"We are unbowed unbent unbroken. We will not yield to anyone least of all some army who do not live"
Her advisor stepped forward and whispered furiously into her ear, thrusting a scroll into her hands. She looked down at it and read it carefully, her face drained of colour.
"When did this arrive?!" she demanded.
The man bowed, "It arrived just now. The raven died on its arrival. It travelled quite a distance"
The scroll crinkled in her fingers as she read through it again and her hands trembled as she looked up at her advisor.
"Lady Elia, as your advisor I would usually caution against following words from anyone outside our boundaries. But if this scroll is true we must take action. Now"
"Sister, what does the scroll say?" One of the girls bounded forward and grabbed the scroll showing the other. When they finished reading it they looked to each other ominously, Grey Worm shifted uncomfortably.
They turned to look at him, Elia snatched the scroll back and strode forward to approach him.
"Who sent this?! Is this a trick? You arrived moments before the scroll, you don't think this is suspicious?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Lady Martell. Bran Stark sent me here to warn you and evacuate. He told me you wouldn't listen to anyone else or let them leave your city alive"
The advisor scoffed, "He is right, we do not have good relations with those people. They can't be trusted. But if we don't heed these words we face the death of our people, all of us."
Elia looked to him and after some internal battling she conceded.
"Sound the evacuation. We follow the words of this scroll. For the first time in the history of our people we will take their words as true"
Elia Martell turned to Grey Worm, "You will be allowed to leave the city, but if your words are lies and this Bran Stark is lying to us you've just made a terrible enemy"
"My Queen had an alliance with your sisters and their mother. I uphold all my Queen's alliances at all times. My words are true, I cannot speak for this scroll but the danger is real. I've seen them and fought them. We can't win"
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Cersei sat in her chambers, glass of wine in hand, looking with boredom at Euron as he complained about Jamie. As she swilled her drink and sipped she contemplated how to get rid of Euron permanently.
Noticing her absentmindedness Euron put down his glass and slid along the floor towards her, grabbing Cersei's hand and kissing it passionately.
"Come to bed my Queen, let me show you why you keep me around" he said hungrily.
Cersei looked down at him expressionless, and tried to hide the look of relief as there was a knock at the door. Euron's face darkened, and he stood slipping a hand down to stroke the weapon at his hip. Cersei noticed how easy it would be for him to wield that against her, she was unarmed.
"Enter" she said as she stood to see who had been allowed through her guards.
Qyburn shuffled into the room with a smirk on his face, she recognised that look. Cersei appreciated Qyburn's timing and knowledge of her feelings of dislike for Euron.
Qyburn bowed, "Queen Cersei I came for its time to examine you"
"Leave us" spoke Cersei directly to Euron
"But my Lady we were just getting started..." smiled Euron as he came towards her with that hungry look on his face still.
His face was so eager and full of expressions, she noted how much she hated his face.
"I will send for you if I'm not too tired when Qyburn is finished, don't despair" she kissed him although unconvincingly, "we have plenty of time now that the Seven Kingdoms are ours"
Euron bowed and left the room, trying to hide a troubled look on his face. Cersei took in a deep breath and dropped her shoulders, relieved he was gone. She'd secretly hoped keeping Jamie out of the dungeons would aggravate Euron into attacking her. Get it over with because Cersei knew he was scheming against her. Euron was no good at hiding his intentions, too long at sea not enough time around people. Certainly not enough time in Kings Landing, a city that will hone the craftiest people to plot and scheme convincingly. Qyburn waited patiently, Cersei turned to him.
"Why didn't you come sooner?" she hissed angrily.
"I had an unexpected visitor my Queen" replied Qyburn smoothly.
Cersei raised an eyebrow, "Anyone I should know about?"
Qyburn smiled terribly, "Just a little bird with some news on the undead army movements, they are only days away from reaching us. Have you some sort of plan to evacuate?"
"How many times do I need to go over this with you? We board the ships moored under the Red Keep and we kill this undead king with wild fire. I'm making Casterly Rock the new Capital of Westeros, it's time my family seat held all the power. My father would be proud the crown finally comes home to the Rock" spoke Cersei impatiently.
Qyburn smiled and bowed slightly, "Of course he would be, now let me examine you"
"There's no need Qyburn we both know there's no pregnancy, Jamie came running back to me for a lie. Now tell me how can we be rid of Euron, he's becoming a problem" continued Cersei irritation and anger rising.
"First we need to talk about you" smiled Qyburn.
Cersei glided across to her wine and poured herself another glass, taking a long sip she didn't realise Qyburn was standing behind her. She turned and was startled by how close he had gotten, in the moment of noticing he was close. His hand darted to her neck and clamped her tightly, Cersei was confused, Qyburn was and always had been loyal. Or had he?
Under the grip of his hand, Cersei felt her throat squeezing and her eyes tightened with the pressure. The glass in her hand fell to the floor, soundlessly as it fell onto the rug, spilling wine over the floor.
"Shame" said Qyburn quietly, "shame, shame, shame" With each word, the grip tightens and pushed her higher up against the wall, Cersei's feet were no longer touching the ground.
Tears began slipping from the corners of her eyes, as the grip tightened again. Trying to fight back but in vain Cersei lashed out trying to scream. The guards were just beyond those doors, if only...
Cersei looked longingly to the doors but the grip held her tightly up against the wall. No escape.
"And then comes another, younger, more beautiful to cast you down and all you hold dear" speaks Qyburn, as the last words slip from his mouth his face changes and Arya Stark is standing smirking up at her.
"The Starks send their regards"
Arya lowers Cersei slightly and spins around her quickly, snapping her neck in the process. Cersei's neck snapped easily and effortlessly in her hands, her life gone. A woman who had haunted Arya's list for years extinguished quietly, quickly and easily. Looking over Cersei's crumpled form, Arya breathes heavily as she watches and waits to see if the guards outside the door come to investigate the noise. Her breaths heave for a moment and then begin to balance, no movement, no guards rushing in. Arya stands and unsheathes her knife, looking down at Cersei holding her sharpest knife.
"I'm going to enjoy wearing this face" smiles Arya as she gets to work.
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Bran was relieved when Arya had released him from the bindings on the bed. Thankfully his physical form hadn't sustained too much damage. It also turned out no one visited Qyburn's quarters, this was an advantage for Bran. Qyburn's dark reputation kept people away from prying, but Bran didn't enjoy being confined in this room either. It smelled of death and pain, there were severed limbs around and foul smelling potions. As Bran looked around he realised Cersei must have killed and poisoned a lot of people to have this man working freely for her. Blankly he realised he didn't really care now, Arya should have achieved her goal of extinguishing Cersei. Now they needed to continue following the plan, the Night King was approaching.
Time to fly, thought Bran.
Sitting back in his chair, Bran held onto the chair as his eyes rolled back and he steadied the visions. He was standing in a beautiful garden in front of a towering heart tree, not recognising this place as Westeros he turned around trying to figure out where he was. When he saw her he knew instantly, he wasn't on Westeros lands, he walked towards the familiar and aged woman.
"We meet again" said Bran simply with a small smile.
"We do, and this time you come to me" returned her voice, aged and cracked.
"Time is drawing near, Will you be ready?"
"I've been preparing for a long time Bran, my body is old and tired now but I'm ready for this mission."
He looked up at the heart tree, it's leaves waving to him on the wind. Dragons flying and screeching over head, there were hundreds in the sky.
"I've never seen a place like this, and your heart tree is the biggest one I've seen"
Alaerya smiled, "We have powerful magic here Bran"
She showed him her hands, as he looked closer a beautiful ornate golden spear materialised. In laid with rubies and dragon glass it was smeared with an oily black substance.
"Don't touch this, its a poison I've made especially for this purpose. When my blood magic mixes with this there is no escape"
Bran looks over the weapon, he had never seen a real Valyrian artefact they were even more spectacular than he had imagined.
"You will lose some of the ships you sent us" he remarked as he looked over the weapon.
"We have plenty more, we use magic to build ours, it won't affect us or our plans"
Bran nodded slightly, feeling a pull to leave, "I will go now"
Alaerya's face dissipated into the sea of visions, and he travelled through the visions until he found who he was looking for. Marching south, the army of the dead appeared to be a sea of rolling death. The soldiers of the dead scrambling over one another in a ceaseless flow of searching out the living. The Night King had secured every person north of the Neck who hadn't been evacuated. Bran felt the entire north was emptied of life, the only remainders were the animals of the forest who had hidden and not been important for the Night King. Not yet anyway. When desperate who knows what he will do to grow his followers. Bran's ravens flew above the undead soldiers, he flew in their small bodies for the longest time before reaching the end of their force. There the Night King flew, in the rear, ready to deliver the final blow to anyone still living after the devastating attack. He flew confident, sure of his win. Bran smirked slightly then controlled himself, the vision shifted. Sansa was running in the darkness, suddenly she turned with a greenish glow on her face and whispered, "Valaer morghulis". Bran returned to his body Quickly realising he had company, a small group of children stood around watching him. Bran glanced around at them and realised he had Varys' little birds, without a thought Bran held up a handful of gold coins Arya had given him.
Their little eyes lit up.
"I'll give you a list of people, get them into the black ships waiting in the ports and the coins are yours."
Their little heads nodded eagerly, "Once I give you these coins get on those ships yourselves. Do not stay in the city, the dead are coming"
The children froze at his last comment, and looking at each other they sped from the room. One girl lingered, Bran looked at her and held up three coins towards her, "Take these and deliver messages to the dungeons".
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Cersei strutted along the hall way, flanked by guards, she felt powerful and she felt invincible. They reached Jamie's quarters, guards were stationed outside.
"Wait here for my return" said Cersei with authority.
The men soundlessly followed her orders, which made Cersei feel another surge of satisfaction from flexing her power.
Arya understood why Cersei craved power so much, it was intoxicating.
Cersei gracefully opened the doors and glided in, pouring herself some wine and approaching Jamie who lay asleep in his bed. She sipped and took in his form seductively, placing her goblet back on the table. Then slipped up the bed, crawling over him and kissing her way to his face. He awoke sleepily and hesitated to put his hands on her, he stroked her back as she kissed him lustfully. Jamie returned her kisses for a moment, then suddenly he pushed her away rising out of the bed. Cersei sat back, looking hurt.
Jamie paced the room, scratching his head, he spun back and advanced on the bed.
"This is madness what you're doing. You can't just do this-"
Cersei sat back slightly and smiled, "I can do whatever I want. I'm the Queen, it has certain benefits."
"You can't just play with me like this!" Jamie shouted in response, "We aren't children anymore! This is worse than you think! That army is coming and we won't survive with you playing these games! We don't have time..."
She raised her hand, "Quiet brother, I have everything where I want it. Tyrion imprisoned, you alone in a room and the crown on my head. All our enemies will be crushed, once we execute the Stark brats..."
Jamie laughed madly, "You don't get it do you? If it wasn't for them I wouldn't even be here talking to you. What is your obsession with seeing everyone as an enemy?"
Cersei rose from the bed and slowly walked to put her arms around Jamie.
"Everyone who isn't us is an enemy my Love, today I'll execute them and then we let the Night King finish off the rest and then we..."
Jamie pushed her away, "I won't be part of this madness anymore Cersei, stop...just stop"
On instinct he put his hands on her face and considered strangling her right there, it would end all the madness and the games. He stared into her eyes and saw the slightest change in them, he felt uncertainty, instead pulling back from his former Love.
"I'm not doing this anymore, put me in the dungeons with our brother. I'd rather face their fate than be part of...this"
Arya wasn't prepared for this, she had come with one purpose only, yet Jamie's words had surprised her. The Kingslayer did have honour.
"As you wish dear Brother, guards!" yelled Cersei.
The guards burst into the room, "Take my dear Brother to the dungeons, put him in with Tyrion. Goodbye Jamie"
Cersei stormed from the room, Arya smiled inside. That had been interesting, now she knew what to do next.
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Euron moodily sipped wine, he had taken to drinking as much as possible after Cersei had kept Jamie's head on his shoulders. He envisioned her death, her begging for life, pleading with him, promising to love him. Euron wouldn't admit it but he had grown to love this cold woman, she never let him in and it kept him wanting more. Angrily pouring another wine, his sloppiness spilt wine over the table and he bent down to look at it. Shrugging he bent down and licked it off the surface, can't waste good wine, he thought.
At that moment the doors opened and in strode Cersei, who faltered in the doorway and looked amused slightly. Euron looked a mess, wine on his face and spilled down his shirt, eyes bleary. His face on the table licking spilled wine, he was truly a sad sight. Euron reached behind and brushed his fingers on his blade, now will be the best time. Euron crossed the room glass in hand, raking his eyes over the Queen he wanted to make his. He wanted this Queen to want him and so far all Cersei had done was use him then push him away. Euron staggered slightly and Cersei eyed him calculating his next move.
"Come to tell me about Jamie's cock my Queen? I know you've been with him, I can smell it on you"
Euron sniffed the air like a rabid dog and snarled.
"You never struck me as the jealous type Greyjoy" mused Cersei in amusement.
"I want what's mine and I don't like to share" growled Euron in response.
"I'm the Queen and I decide who I bed, you are not the King"
"If we marry I'll be-" he started aggressively.
"The Queens consort at best, I will never name you my King"
Fury swept through Euron as he threw his glass to the ground and it smashed between them. Wine spilling across the floor like blood, his movements were sloppy but strong.
He lunged forward pulling his knife from his belt, crunching over glass, he knew now was the right time to kill her. It was time a Greyjoy sat on the Throne.
Calmly Cersei slipped a dagger from her sleeve and threw it in one motion, it landed perfectly wedging in Eurons throat sending him crashing onto his back. Scrabbling for something, feeling blood pouring from his throat as he heard Cersei walking over the glass towards him. Slowly she walked, crushing the glass under her feet, not wincing in pain.
Cersei stands over him and gloats, and just before he dies her face changes and Arya Stark is staring down at him. Eurons face flashes with surprise at the moment of his death. Arya reaches forward and pulls the blade from his throat and smirks, another face for the collection. Blood and wine mixed in a huge pool around his body as Euron died at the hand of his family's old enemy, the Starks.
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Sansa shivered on the rock which had become her bed, it had been days since she had heard Arya speak. Or move. She worried her sister had died, she hadn't seen or heard any movement in the dark. It was so cold down there even if she had died her body wouldn't decompose quickly. Sansa felt alone, but she kept repeating in her mind "the pack survives"
They were all imprisoned, Sansa, Jon and Arya in the dungeons. Bran somewhere in the castle imprisoned also. Sansa contemplated if this had been a mistake coming to Kings Landing, was dying part of Bran's plan? There was nothing else to do than pass the time praying to whoever she could think of and analysing the situation at hand. She had learnt much from Lord Baelish and had plenty of spare time. The sound of little footsteps outside made her raise her head, auburn hair fell to the floor.
"Sansa" a young voice whispered.
Sansa edged close to the door, putting her head nearby.
"Yes" she replied weakly
"I come with a message from your brother"
"Bran? He's alive? He can send messages?" Sanaa's head swum with confusion.
"Yes he is alive and he sent me here to give you a message"
Sansa listened to the message and shortly after the footsteps scurried away. The words sunk in and in the aftermath of the visitor Sansa mulled them over in her mind. They were definitely Brans words, and they made sense. A few tears slipped down her cheeks as she came to terms with what was to come next.
She couldn't stand knowing if Arya was dead or alive, she shook her sleeping form and froze. Her body was cold and dead, frantically she spun her body over in the dark and looked down shocked. Arya was gone, and in her place one of the guards. Sansa sobbed in relief and happiness, she thanked the old gods and the new for Arya's abilities and sank to the floor wondering where she was now.
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Jon and Tyrion were together in the dark cell, the breeze blew through the crack of their door. They were never warm, but after years on the Wall Jon wasn't bothered by the draft. Tyrion was quite uncomfortable though. At first they spoke often, Jon discussing his exploits beyond the wall and Tyrion talking of his travels outside of Westeros. He shivered at the memory of sailing through the Valyrian ruins.
"I always wanted to go there when I was a child, now I know why" smiled Jon.
"It's still very beautiful in a ruined city way" replied Tyrion, "but I advise against going there, those stone men remind of those undead soldiers. I don't like dead things"
Jon snorted in laughter in response.
"Tell me something Jon, now seems a good time to ask with our impending deaths and all..."
Jon looked up from his hands, Tyrion could just make out his face in the semi darkness.
"Why do you refuse the throne? You are a natural leader, you have Targaryen blood and you love our Queen. You could rule together"
"I don't think sharing the throne was in her plan..." started Jon.
"Plans can change, she would still be ruler but you have the right..."
"I don't see it that way" replied Jon in disagreement.
"Please tell me where I'm wrong, for I see the makings of a great King in you" said Tyrion earnestly.
"Well considering we probably won't survive these dungeons I don't see why it matters but, my whole life I've been made to feel like I don't matter. I didn't matter enough to be made a Stark, or be told about my mother, I was killed for my choices as Lord Commander. Being a leader has never brought me any happiness...why would leading this country be any different?" he replied honestly.
"Because you have the woman you love to rule with you, and a child to live for" said Tyrion simply.
"One thing I've learned Tyrion, the happy endings don't happen often in this world"
"You're right there my boy, this world is a cruel place. It would be even crueler if your parents died for nothing"
Jon's brow furrowed, Tyrion laughed.
"A war was started for you to be born, if you ended up living in some waste land as an exile that would be a great waste of their lives and all those who died in those wars. Your birth was the end of the war, sure no one knew of your existence. But your parents love started the war and your birth along with Lyanna's death marked the end of it"
"The sacking of Kings Landing and my grandfathers death had nothing to do with it?" mused Jon.
"Every piece of the puzzle fits exactly where it's supposed to, a great man told me that once" said Tyrion sadly
"What great man is that?"
"My father"
The conversation died out from there as Tyrion launched into memories of his father Tywin Lannister. Despite not regretting his actions which had been coming for the longest time, he regretted his Fathers death.
Footsteps approached in number, heavy and loud, the door to their cell opened and Jamie was shoved inside. He was thrown the ground and just as quickly the door slammed closed. Slowly Jamie rose to his feet and looked around. Jon and Tyrion looked at him surprised.
"If you're in here Jamie we really are doomed" laughed Tyrion.
"We did tell Bran coming here was a bad idea" puffed Jamie as he rose and dusted himself off.
"What did you do to anger our sister enough to be thrown in here?"
"I stopped getting fucked by her, and well, I've fucked myself now" said Jamie as he inspected their cell and Jon looked amused.
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Bran remained hidden in Qyburn's quarters and Arya would visit disguised as Cersei, with guards placed at Qyburn's door. Cersei's face dropped away to Arya's, Bran looked amused and Arya looked rueful.
"Still getting used to you in that face" said Bran quietly.
"It's the best face to wear for now." Returned Arya quietly.
Bran nodded slowly, "You are right about that. We are running out of time now, we need to finish our plan"
"More like your plan Bran, I'm just following what you tell me to do"
He contemplated his hands for a moment, "The dead will arrive tomorrow and there's some things we need to do"
The memory of the undead paled Arya slightly, she wasn't completely fearless, any right minded person would fear them.
"Our family sit in the dungeons, we need to free them" whispered Arya with determination.
"We can't free them yet, they're safer down there. They're all in one place for when it's time"
"Time for what exactly?" said Arya as she sat on the ground in front of Bran.
"Time to leave"
"But where? No one can help us Bran. No one is coming"
"You will go to them, they're expecting you. But most importantly you will trust them", spoke Bran cryptically.
"Who Bran? Can't you tell me anymore?"
"This whole part of the plan hinges on you not knowing anything. The only thing I can tell you, is you'll feel like you belong. The people waiting for you are the people you've always wanted to know"
Arya slowly nodded, not understanding at all what he meant.
"Tomorrow you will order your guards to wheel me to the Godswood, and leave me there" he continued looking down into his hands.
Aryas eyes shot up, she began to protest "But Bran-"
"I know what it means, you need me there so the main part of the plan will succeed. When the dead come over the city walls, have me taken there. He wants me to himself, leave me in the gardens then it's time for you to free the prisoners and leave. There are ships waiting behind the Red Keep you know how to get there from the dungeons"
Arya felt sick in the pit of her stomach, the details sink in but she remains quiet.
"You disagree" said Bran as he gazed at his sister.
"I don't want to leave you" Arya's voice cracked with emotion.
"It'll make sense when you see what happens" he replied unemotionally.
"It won't be any easier to leave you"
"I'm ready Arya, this is how it has to be"
Tears streaming down Arya's face she clumsily embraces Bran tightly as he looks blankly over her shoulder. Knowing what is to come, he's prepared.
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Daenerys looks out from the painted table at the ocean sprawling out, thousands of ships have anchored there. They bring countless refugees from the mainland, this had surprised her when the first boat arrived.
Carrying Gendry and Tormund, they had informed her of the plan to ferry refugees away from Westeros and regroup on DragonStone. It had given Daenerys time to talk with the surviving nobility and form relationships with them, despite their reluctance they had begun to warm to her.
Daenerys felt anxiety daily at Jon's absence despite being assured he was alive and in Kings Landing. Knowing he was in the same city as the murderous Cersei didn't reassure her at all. Tracing her hands over the table looking at the lands she had sought to rule brought feelings of sadness. Things had gone so wrong since her time in Westeros, her arrival wasn't welcome. She knew it, and quickly she realised her timing was wrong too. Absentmindedly her hand cradled her swollen stomach, growing larger by the day, keeping her up at night. Her child with Jon was unexpected but welcome, but after her first pregnancy she was plagued with concerns every step of the way. A knock sounded behind her, "Enter" she said softly.
Gendry entered and cleared his throat, bowing his head, "You wanted to see me Your Grace"
Daenerys picked up a scroll from the table and tossed it across to him, "You are officially Gendry Baratheon now"
Gendry picked up the scroll and read the words carefully, "Thank you Your Grace"
Daenerys smiled a small, whistful smile and sighed in frustration to which Gendry furrowed his brow.
"Something troubling you?" asked Gendry as he stepped forward carefully.
"I feel like part of me is lost out in the world and might never return to me. I feel like everything I touch crumbles under my hands and I'm...lost" she burst into tears as the weight of everything she was feeling came crashing down on her.
Gendry edged closer to the Queen as she composed herself.
"I feel the same way, if it helps. Your Grace" said Gendry gently and quietly.
Gendry watched Daenerys slowly lower herself into a chair by the fire, she looked defeated and scared.
Daenerys looked up at him eyes red from crying, "It does help, you understand then the constant ache and the fear youre never going to see them again?"
Gendry's face softened and he breathed out sinking to a chair across from Daenerys.
"Every day the feeling gets worse Your-"
"Please Gendry skip the pleasantries" interrupted Daenerys abruptly.
Daenerys stares across the table at him and he feels uncomfortable.
"Who is she?" she questions softly.
"Arya Stark" replies Gendry looking to the ground.
"Does she know?"
"She knows"
"Does she feel the same?" says Daenerys as she leans forward.
"Yes, but the timing..."
Daenerys smiles and looks out to the sea, "Yes I know, we fall in love while the world is ending. And our lovers are the only ones trying to save us all"
The baby inside Daenerys spins and kicks as she cradles her stomach, worried and anxious for what the future holds.
