"Have you finished yet?"
Tarla sighed, shoulders sagging and head dropping in exasperation at the question that had been asked repeatedly. "Get off my back dog," the brunette quipped at Grey Worm, "Healing and regrowing trees like these aren't as easy as it looks." Tarla proclaimed from her crouched position at the base of a freshly healed tree.
Lord Forrester and his brother had left to return to the castle earlier after showing the pirate the last of the sick trees. "The queen has left." Grey Worm matched her tone. " We are to return to Dragonstone for rest as ordered." he relayed. "And where exactly has my cousin gone this time? She wouldn't have left ahead of us if she intended on going back to the island" Tarla straightened to her full height and looked to the Unsullied captain knowingly.
"Daenerys and Missandei are returning to Dragonstone." Grey Worm informed, "Queen Ranta is going to the home of Prince Oberyn and Lady Olenna." he explained.
"And?" Tarla probed. "And nothing. Our orders are to return to the island." Grey Worm narrowed his eyes on the pirate. "So she's run off on another adventure into the lands of Westeros...of course she is. Should of been an explorer" Tarla huffed, moving to walk back towards the Forrester castle but was blocked by Grey Worm stepping into her path.
"Mind your tongue, Tarla Naylor." he warned lowly. "Get out of my way. I'm trying to do what you said and you're stopping me." the woman scowled, trying to go around him again but was intercepted once more.
Blinking incredulously Tarla opened her mouth to give the man a thorough tongue lashing but Grey Worm beat her to the punch of speaking first. "All of us are to return to Dragonstone." he repeated, "Even the dragons. None outside of Vaemarr and Laemyx are to follow the queen to Dorne and the Reach." the captain relayed.
"What is she going to do there?" Tarla asked, her tone finally level and attitude free. "To meet with the common people, discuss things with Prince Oberyn and Olenna and eventually the prince and Daario will siege the Riverlands together." Grey Worm explained.
"Does the dwarf know this?" Tarla asked quietly. "He will, she sent a letter to be delivered to him through Missandei." The stoic man supplied, leading Tarla to nod absently in understanding. "Right. Let's get going then." The pirate lord patted Grey Worm a bit roughly on the arm as she passed him by. Glancing down at where the woman had touched him, Grey Worm's face scrunched up in confusion for a moment before following after the woman.
From what he had quickly learned over the years from Daario, was that her gesture was meant to be exchanged between friends…. Grey Worm didn't think he was the lady pirate's friend considering how much they butted heads with each other. Missandei and he were friends – more than friends though it wasn't out right spoken about.
Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan were his friends. Daenerys was a friend. Queen Ranta was a friend. Tyrion, Varys and even Daario with all of his quirks that annoyed Grey Worm, were his friends.
But he did not know that Tarla Naylor considered herself a friend to Grey Worm.
"What the hell are you glowering about? I'm walking as fast as I can." Tarla's voice snapped the man out of his thoughts. The red lipped brunette was looking back at him as they walked. "Nothing." Grey Worm dismissed stiffly and their journey continued on in silence.
0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.
"This isn't a good idea, Mira."
Narrowing her light blue eyes on the now successfully picked lock, Mira turned and glared at her one friend in King's Landing. "Yes you've made that clear, Tom. Time and time again you've made it clear but it doesn't matter if it's a good idea or not." the servant woman rose from her crouched position and swung open the door to the cell that held one of the sell swords belonging to Naylor forces.
Around her torso was a satchel of medicinal supplies to use on the prisoners. 6"Once word reaches the Naylor queen that her men have been captured," Mira stepped into the cell and knelt down next to the motionless sell sword, placing her fingers to his pulse point on his neck.
" Dragon fire and the wrath of the gods will be down on our heads. Everyone in Kings Landing will suffer for Cersei's actions. Man, woman, child. Street urchins to the highest ranking knight or nobleman. No one will escape. I don't know about you but that is not the way I wish to die- caught in the crossfire of warring queens." Mira pulled her fingers away after finding the man's pulse and began digging in her satchel to start treatment.
The coal boy shifted on his feet uneasily, though he was merely tasked with watching for guards that ventured down into the dungeons - Tom may as well be the one doing the treatment himself since his level of nerves matched the job.
"When are we going to leave?" Tom asked, " You promised that you would leave and take me with you to your home." unlike Mira, serving the Red Keep and surviving on the streets was all Tom knew. He never really got to enjoy the comforts of home despite his young age.
"Not any time soon, I'm afraid." Mira exhaled air through her nose lightly. "Cersei has resorted to using wildfire, we need to find the supply and get rid of it. I'm sure she would sooner blow up this Keep than lose it to Queen Ranta." the woman drolled, popping open a bottle of smelling salts and waving it under the nose of the soldier.
It took a moment but eventually the man's face began to twitch and move as he regained semi-consciousness. "Can you hear me?" she murmured gently. "Can you show me a sign that you understand what I'm saying?" Mira prompted. Upon sliding her hand into his own, ever so slightly did the woman feel a weak squeeze come from the man.
"Well at least you're still alive." Mira breathed a sigh of relief, letting go of his hand and carefully slid one under his head and propped it up as her other hand brough a canteen of water to drink. "Little drinks, friend. I need you to tell me what hurts." the Forrester requested. Carefully sipping from the canteen provided, rough coughs began to rack through his frame which caused Mira to pull the water container from his lips.
"We…" he croaked weakly after his coughing fit. " need...to leave." the sell sword finished. Stiffly, parts of his body began to move on their own. His legs began to buckle in and his arms slid upwards into the correct possition to push himself into a sitting position.
However, the injured soldier did not get far before Mira pushed her hands against his shoulders in order to keep the man on his back. "You wouldn't make it out of this cell before collapsing." the woman said stiffly. "Try me." the dirtied male glared, undeterred.
"Unfortunately for you cunt, I would wager that she'd be right."
Both started at the additional voice joining the conversation and turned around to see not only Bronn of the Black Water standing at the door way and holding poor young Tom hostage, but also Jamie Lannister as well.
"A word of advice" Jamie began, looking to the stunned and gaping woman. " If you're going to have some one on look out then I would suggest scoping out the entire place first." the one handed Lannister advised. Mira flushed but otherwise remained silent.
"Go on, lad. Run along. The grown ups have some things to discuss." Bronn pushed the boy away from his person. Tom stumbled forwards a few steps but caught himself before he could fall down. Regaining his composure, Tom went on to glare in defiance at the older man and stayed rooted where he stood.
"Leave, Tom." Mira said sternly, not wanting anything to happen to the boy because of his strong dedication to her. "But-" the coal boy tried but was quickly shut down again. "You heard what Sir Bronn and I said!" Mira snapped. "Go on now, return to your duties around the Keep. You'd do well to remember your manners as you do so as well" she said pointedly.
There were people who had been killed for less and the Forrester did not want Tom to die for such. "...Yes lady Mira." the boy finally caved, bowing to her and then to Jamie and Bronn,
"Lords Jamie and Bronn." Tom muttered respectively before turning and leaving at a brisk pace. "Loyal." Bronn commented off handely as he watched the boy go before returning his focus on the situationi at hand. "He's young, he will learn to adjust his loyalty accordingly." was all Mira said.
"Hope so, he won't last long if he doesn't...Didn't know his duties included keeping watch as you heal the prisoners. Not very good at it though, he could use some more practice at it. Also makes me think that you two aren't supposed to be down here at all" Bronn rocked on his heels.
"We are doing our duties." Mira proclaimed evenly. "Your duties?" Jamie now spoke up, brows raised. "You're a hand maiden. A servent. Those in your field are not tasked to healing. The maesters are." he said.
"We are doing our duties." Mira repeated through clenched teeth. " Our duties are to serve the Keep. How are we to serve the Keep if it is destroyed by a Naylor's temper or by a beast's fire?" she pointed out. "These men need to leave before either fate comes down upon us." Mira stressed heavily.
Bronn pursed his lips at this being brought to light and nodded along with what the Forrester had said. She had a point. This place won't be anything but ash and rubble if they stay here.
Especially if word spreads that they were being held captive here. Despite his previous declaration of staying out of the war and thus terminating the contract between he and Jamie, Bronn technically couldn't yet. Not by principle. He hadn't gotten paid yet and Bronn has not done everything that he's done to not get paid. He had little choice but to shadow Jamie until he came up with what Bronn was owed.
Sighing heavily, Jamie looked to Mira with an unreadable expression. " Had you been found by any of my sister's guards. They would of ran you through with a sword and asked questions later, and quite frankly it's what I should be doing now." he said, causing Mira to hold her breath in suspense. " But the gods seem to have favor for you Mira, because I'm not going to." Jamie informed, leading the woman to exhale in relief.
"You're not?" Bronn asked a bit surprised himself. "No, I'm not." Jamie repeated. "In fact we never seen anything." Mira's eyes widened at this as the one handed man then turned to Bronn, "All we did was discuss strategies on how to keep Casterly Rock under our control and how to dominate the sea….we didn't come up with much outside of Euron." he finished with an awkward shrug of his shoulders.
"Sounds good to me." Bronn allowed a small smirk to cross his lips at this, it looked like his influence was finally rubbing off on the one handed man. Satisfied with the mutual understanding that the sell sword had, Jamie squatted down to Mira's height and looked her dead in the eye.
" I suggest you disappear within the hour to avoid being spotted by the next patrol. I would also advise you to follow this advice every time you come down here. If you get caught then there will be nothing I can do to save you. You or the coal boy." the Lannister portrayed seriously. "I understand." Mira nodded her brunette head once, watching as Jamie then rose to his original height and turned his armored back on the hand maiden.
Though before he could get very far, the sound of pained grunts filed his ears. "Stop moving." Mira scolded the man in her arms but it was useless. He continued to struggle until Mira finally helped him sit upright.
"Why….why are you helping?" the second son asked, panting lightly from the effort. Jamie was silent for a long moment before he finally spoke, "It doesn't take a genius to know when you're fighting a losing battle." he said simply before beckoning his companion to follow him out. "Come on, Bronn." Jamie muttered quietly to his friend who followed after with ease.
"Where we going?" Bronn asked, they originally had been down there for a small training session since their usual spot by the sea had been discovered and added to the patrol route. "You heard her earlier didn't you?" Jamie looked over to him.
"Which part?" Bronn asked in return. "About the wildfire. We need to dispose of it. Most of it is kept down here but there are other places where father and the Mad King used to store it around Kings Landing." the Lannister explained and then sighed tiredly, "I'm sure Cersei has had a hand in placing her own stores around the city as well." he finished.
"How do you propose on finding all of them?" Bronn asked. "You're a sellsword," Jamie drew the duo to a stop, "I'm sure you've made your connections here and there. You've got to know someone who knows where the caches are, or at least has an idea." he tried.
Bronn scratched his bearded cheek in deep thought, "I might." he gave a solitary nod, "Can't promise anything but I can try." the mercenary declared. "That's all I ask." Jamie said relieved, "I'll try and see what I can dig out of some of the castle staff myself. Eventually we'll have to visit the Alchemists' Guild to see what business between my sister and them has been going on if any." he finished.
"I reckon this will have to be kept rather quiet?" Bronn assumed and was met with a nod. "Alright, I can do that." the dark haired man said confidently, " Let's go treasure hunting shall we, cunt?" Bronn patted Jamie's back heartily.
0o.0o.0.o0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0.o0o.0o.
"So you would have me do nothing? That is the last thing I expected from you."
Sky blue eyes were sharp and dangerous, staring out at the dark, raging sea in anticipation. In the not so far distance there was a lone ship that flew her colors heading her way but it wasn't the ship that held the monarch's interest. It was what was lurking below the sea that interested her.
A permanent blanket of dark clouds had settled over the city, thunder constantly rumbled threateningly as lightning danced within. The air was unbearably tense and none neared Sunspear's newest royal guest. She was a venomous snake ready to strike at a moment's notice. It had been days of this. Days of the queen stewing in unspoken anger, although no words were necessary. The sky depicted her anger for her.
"No one has implied that, your grace".
The prince, his lover, their three eldest daughters Obara, Nymeria and Tyene had all been standing a distance away from the Naylor who occupied the end of the dock. They were just as on edge as the Naylor was though they played it cooler than she did. Ser Barristan was a great friend, and his capture rubbed none the right way
"By all means, storm King's Landing."
A bolt of lightning struck across the sea angrily at the mention of this, the wind whipping her blue locks around violently.
"Just do so with caution."
A smirk slid onto Ranta's lips at this. "With caution?" the woman hummed humorously, and held out a hand over the water knowingly. "You continue to surprise me." she admitted. Looking close enough, the Naylor could spot two large blob like figures moving through the water with ease and within seconds they had reached the woman.
"Prince Oberyn Martell and Ellaria Sand of Dorne advising caution when it comes to Cersei Lannister."
Slowly rising from the water, emerged two dual and identical figures. "Isn't that funny...Vaemarr, Laemyx?" Ranta looked up to the two basilisks, her hand running along the hard armor like skin of the lighter of the two.
"I don't believe it." Ellaria whispered loud enough for her to be heard by her family, gaping at the two water logged behemoths. "Now those are some snakes." Tyene grinned childishly in contrast to her two other sisters who studied the creatures critically and with a wary eye. In response to the woman's question, Vaemarr and Laemyx both growled lightly - snorting water out of their nostrils.
"Vaemarr, my friend." Oberyn called aloud after taking a moment to collect himself, "It has been awhile since we last saw each other has it not?" the Prince had an easy going smile on his face as if he were addressing a life long friend he had not seen in some time and even dared to take a few steps forward.
"You know him?" Tyene's young face glowed with excitement and if Nymeria had any slower reflexes, she wouldn't have been able to snag the dagger wielding woman from prancing to her father's side. "Have you lost your mind?" Ellaria hissed without missing a beat now that the girl was safe in her sister's grasp. "Alas, I am afraid that I do not have a rabbit for you this time." Oberyn chuckled, ignoring what had happened behind him with his daughters and lover.
The midnight black snake regarded the prince for a long moment before stretching his neck forward and entered the Dornish man's personal face. Oberyn remained stiff still as the creature brought them nearly face to face and didn't dare move otherwise outside of the grin that continued to grow. "What a magnificent animal you are." the prince couldn't help but say softly, more to himself than Vaemarr.
Hearing this, tan slitted eyes blinked slowly and a large gust of air was blown into Oberyn's face in the form of a huff. Ranta's attention from the duo had been diverted when she was suddenly nudged by Laemyx, who looked down at the woman imploringly. "What?" Ranta asked of the snake and watched as his head slowly turn to look out into the distance behind him.
The ship tasked with escorting the duo, the Iron Giant, was closer now and was headed straight for the port next to them. On the top deck, maneuvering the oversized ship was Penrose and she looked like she was ready to bolt. "Penrose!" Ranta called out once the ship was docked, " What's the matter?" she wondered. It wasn't like the ship captain to seem so nervous.
Flashing a hesitant smile down to the queen, the captain simply walked over to the railing and rested against it instead of de-boarding the ship. "Your orders, my queen, have not exactly been followed to a tee and there wasn't much I could do about it." she forewarned.
"What are you talking about?" Ranta asked confused but Penrose said nothing, merely motioned with her head to a cluster of people walking down the ramp that had been placed down between the dock and ship. Her uncle Colren being trailed by seven Naylor women in all. Ranta recognized the majority of them, but there was one that she did not know in the least bit.
"Uncle?" Ranta said wonderingly, "What are you doing here?" she asked as he and the others stopped before her, " My orders were clear, only Vaemarr and Laemyx were to come here." Ranta stated. " I know." the man nodded once, "but us coming was important." he assured. "Why?" the monarch asked and saw a look of worry overcome his features before a new voice cut in and caught her attention.
"Look how beautiful you've grown to be." Ranta heard and turned her head to the voice. Coming besides her blood relation, was an exact copy of him but in the female version on the verge of tears. There was a familiar itch at the back of her head like she had recieved when meeting Colren all those years ago. "My dear child-" Dasina reached out to pull Ranta in for a hug but the monarch was quick to back step out of reach.
"Do not ever presume to touch me." Ranta warned with a small glare, "I don't know who you even are." from up above Vaemarr and Laemyx snarled and hissed warningly, their tails lashing dangerously in the water. Ellaria and Oberyn were quick to come between the mother and daughter to act as a barrier for the queen as Colren took his sister by the arm and pulled her back a few steps.
"You cannot be so rash, Dasina." Ellaria advised, "It has been a long time." the Dornish woman reminded. "I did warn you this could happen." Colren also murmured to the female ravenette. Dasina couldn't believe what had just unfolded in front of her very eyes. Her own child, flesh and blood had pulled away from her as if she were some repulsive scum of the earth. "I am your mother." the ravenette said aghast.
"My mother was Rhaella Targaryen." Ranta countered, "She's the one who I remember raising me but you?….I don't remember you." she shook her head and that was the truth. The young monarch had never seen this woman before. Never seen a picture of her or heard of her name since the night the house scattered.
The only reason why Ranta remembered Colren was because of pictures and portraits Rhaegar and Rhaella would show her but there were none of the woman claiming to be the blue haired woman's mother. "I don't know why you're here but you need to go back to Dragonstone." Ranta directed this towards Colren, dismissing Dasina entirely. " But-!" the man started and then cut himself off. "But what?" she asked of him.
"What of Casterly Rock?" one of her people asked, a distant cousin who had control over wind if she remembered correctly. "What about Casterly Rock? We have it and it's being held" Ranta rattled off, not noticing the uncomfortable looks being thrown around by the people who had just came from Dragonstone.
"What we need to worry about is Ser Barristan, he's in Cersei's dungeons as we speak along with the other men who accompanied him to the Stormlands." the monarch informed.
"Captured?!" many parotted the word back to their queen. "Yes, unfortunately." Ranta's face had twisted into a displeased expression as she said this but then it turned into one of realization. Whipping around, Ranta observed the Naylors present with a thoughtful look upon her face. "Ser Barristan and the second sons with him will be rescued." she declared after a few moments, "And the lot of you are going to help me get to them." the monarch decided.
There were none who knew the inner workings of the Red Keep than those who served in there under the Mad King. They would know where her people were being kept. "So are we your grace." Ranta turned to see that it was Oberyn who had spoken. "You are?" the blue haired woman questioned. "Of course. Saving Ser Barristan is important, but to get there you're going to need a guide when traveling through Dorne. Especially when reaching Kingsgrave." he advised.
"Kingsgrave is held by the House Manwoody who sits outside the Red Mountains. They guard the Boneway pass that leads to the Dornish marshes. You'll need to get through both to make your way towards Kings Landing." Ellaria explained further. " Mountains." Ranta murmured lowly, eyes trailing over to her two snakes. "They'll make it through, your grace." Oberyn assured.
Ranta waited for at least one of Oberyn's children to raise protest about the two of their parents offering their services but no protest ever came. So, ever so slowly did a satisfied smirk spread across Ranta's lips at this, and clicked her tongue off the roof of her mouth.
" You best grab those horses if you don't want to get left behind." she said simply, motioning to the outpost nearby stationed with Dornish horses. Positively grinning, Oberyn practically had a skip to his step as he made his way over to the structure. His lover simply shook her head in fondness before following at a slower pace along with the Naylor party.
Colren wisely remained behind with his niece.
"I am your mother." He heard her mutter bitterly with a shake of her head, watching her family in particular grow farther and farther away. "Utter nonsense." Ranta scoffed. "Perhaps the delivery of the news was." Colren said with his hands behind his back. "But the fact remains the same." He mused slowly. Ranta looked to the man and found the ravenette was looking to her already. "Regardless if it is or isn't true-"
"Which it is."
"She shouldn't have told me that. What am I supposed to do with that information?" Ranta asked incredulously. "Whatever you want with it." Colren shrugged. "When we came to you in Mereen all those years ago, you brushed us aside and put us to the back of your mind until you needed something." Ranta winced at how bad it sounded and opened her mouth to utter a useless contradiction but was unable to. "It's understandable." Colren said truthfully.
"None of us blame you, really. You still took us in instead of turning us away or having us killed. Made sure we were protected and well off...even doing the same for the late arrivals" He listed off. Silence enveloped the two for an unknown amount of time before Colren spoke again.
"I'm not going to pretend that the family relationship will be restored to what it's supposed to be, neither will anyone else. Daenerys is your family, your only family. The damage between us is done and while my sister may have a hard time accepting that at first, she'll come to understand." The male ravenette assured and then rested his hand on the monarch's shoulder, knowing he held much more leeway than his sister did considering they had longer to build a relationship.
"But know this, we're here and always will be. There are others in the family who are interesting to talk to besides me and Tarla." Colren teased lightly before moving off to join the others.
Exhaling air wordlessly, Ranta chose to remain silent as she took in the man's words that caused a storm of unwanted inner turmoil within her. As if sensing her poor mood, Laemyx lowered his head invitingly for her to climb upon. Using one of his curved horns on the side of his mouth as additional leverage to help herself up onto his head, Ranta noted that while Laemyx may not have been as physically comfortable as Rhaegal, the sense of security the monarch got from the creature was no less.
Settling into a groove of his armor, Ranta adjusted slightly until she was content with her position. "Your grace," Penrose called. "What would you have me say when I go back to Dragonstone? The dwarf is up in arms as it is with your continued absence." she pointed out. " What was he worried about before you left?" Ranta asked in return.
"He wants you to call off the Riverland siege and walkthrough so that he can try to set up a meeting involving everyone. Including Cersei. He and the others think you're trying to spread yourself too thin and need to focus on one war at a time." Penrose recalled the words Tyrion had relayed to her to pass on. "And how exactly will he appeal to Cersei?" Ranta said dubiously.
"Through Jamie. He's confident he can get Jamie to listen and we'll be attending this grand meeting in no time." the ship captain assured. Sighing heavily, Ranta thought over what the captain had informed her off for a handful of moments before hesitantly nodding. "Tell Tyrion he'll get what he wants. I'll back off of my original plans and return with ser Barristan in tow." the monarch bade.
0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.
"Sam...what is Heartsbane doing here?"
Tensing, Sam turned to see the family sword in the hands of none other than Dickon. "When did you take it?" Dickon then asked, looking to his older brother with widened eyes. Placing her son down for a nap, Gilly looked between the two brothers with uncertainty and feeling a bit guilty.
During Sam's haste to pack up their belongings, some that may have been 'borrowed' from the citadel, she had seen he had left the sword out in plain sight and could of easily taken it upon herself to store it away in their cart before Dickon could see it but didn't.
Licking his lips nervously, Sam thought of a reasonable answer to give his younger brother. " N..not too long ago actually." he chuckled nervously, " It was the day you, father, mother and Talla meet Gilly and Little Sam." Sam told him. Dickon's face twisted this way and that for a moment before ultimately ending the argument he was having with himself in his head and held the sword out.
"I suppose father's not going to have a need to use it any time soon anyways. Reckon we'll have more use for it once we're on the road." Dickon smiled weakly as Sam took the blade from his grasp. The elder sibling had to fight a bit to get his brother to be more agreeable on the fact that they were leaving Old Town, though Samwell recognized that Dickon's resistance was reasonable.
He nearly didn't make it out alive the last time he didn't obey a command from a higher power.
"Is there um, anything more that needs to be loaded up? Anything else we need?" The younger Tarly asked. "Pelts." Gilly spoke up, surprising the brothers. "We're going to need pelts for you. You're used to the warm weather of the Reach. The weather in the North is nothing like this, you'll freeze to death. The venders in the town square won't be selling any around this time of year either." she informed.
"I'll just uh, go hunting then. I'll be back soon." Dickon promised, grabbing a hunting bow and quiver of arrows off the wall before disappearing out the door. "I'm sorry, Sam." Gilly apologized immediately after the door shut. "I should of hid the sword-" she started but was cut off by her love. "No, no. It's alright. He would of found out eventually." Samwell assured. "Won't he be punished?" she then asked. "What?" Sam asked. "By the queen." Gilly expanded.
"Queen Ranta ordered him to stay at the Citadel with you, but we're leaving. Isn't he technically disobeying orders?" the former wildling asked, effectively silencing Sam and sending him struggling to find an answer to her question. "W-well we can't very well just leave him here." the former watchmen stuttered bewildered.
"I know and I don't mean to doubt you, Sam, or to put a damper on your plans to reunite with Jon in the North and help him with the wights…" Gilly took his larger hands into her own, "I'm just saying that if Dickon runs into the queen or is spotted by her soldiers then they'll know he disobeyed. We'll need to be glued at the hip from now on incase it happens in order to offer explanation or ask for forgiveness." she said kindly.
Sam nodded in understanding, "Yes, yes you're right." he agreed, "I won't let him out of my sight from now on." a small silence enveloped the two after that and Gilly couldn't resist the smile that slid across her lips.
"Sam." she called, meeting his wondering gaze with her own. "Dickon?" Gilly reminded pointedly, emphasizing what they just discussed. "Oh!" the man jumped, and then scurried out of the door of their modest sized home as he began the chase to track down his younger brother - his lover's laugh echoing in his ears.
0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.0o.
"If I've told you once cunt, then I've told you a thousand times. Only I'm allowed to kill ya."
"Well if you're going to do it then I suggest you do it now before she beats you to it."
Jamie wasn't sure how he got into the situation he was in frankly it seemed to happen a lot as of recently. Nevertheless there he was. Pinned against the wall by earthen spikes and staring into raging blue eyes with a storm going on in their depths.
"Jamie Lannister." the young queen narrated. "The gods do seem to work in mysterious ways don't they?" Ranta mused thoughtfully. "So it seems." Jamie agreed. "You're in quite the predicament, if I do say so myself." the woman said plainly, "I spare you your life on the battlefield and you capture and torture my men in return. Rather ugly way to show gratitude." she mused.
"If it's any consolation." Bronn's voice sounded, drawing their attention. He himself was being held captive by stone spikes, a smirking Ellaria Sand watching from a distance away as she and Oberyn helped with medical aide. "He didn't capture your men, Cersei's soldiers did. We only just found out that they were down here recently." Bronn finished, eyes drifting over to members of the Naylorian house, working feverishly in each cell that held an injured man in it.
The members of the house in addition to Oberyn and his lover were bouncing between keeping watch and helping with medical treatment before moving to transport the second sons out of the dungeons, two Naylor women going with them every time to act as a guard incase they were spotted. "Is that right?" Ranta hummed. "It is." Jamie nodded though if he had to be honest with himself, he didn't have much hope in coming out of this alive.
She had him right where any person would want their enemy, on the end of a blade. Or rather in this case, on the end of an earth spike. From out of the corner of his eye, he could see Mira throwing his concerned looks every now and again before she would focus on tending to the injured once more. He envied the Forrester.
What he wouldn't give to be in her shoes at this point. "Forgive me for speaking out of place, your grace." Mira said aloud, as if she had read his mind in that very moment.
" I do not know if this will mean anything to you but, sir Jamie is telling you the truth along with sir Bronn. They also allowed me to continue healing these men in secret and advised me on when to leave so I would not get caught by the patrol men here." the brunette conveyed.
Ranta's eyes slid over to the Forrester in question. "Truly?" she wondered and was met with a definite nod, the woman pausing in her work to look back at the monarch. "Truly, your grace." Mira assured, her mind flashing back through her memories of the duo looking the other way when she had originally been caught red handed healing the Storm Queen's men.
Blinking out of her daze, Mira refocused her attention. "They could of ran me through with a sword and left it at that….but they didn't." she spoke, " Your men are up and moving only because of their discretion, your grace." Mira bid. Exhaling through her nose, Ranta's attention turned back onto the one handed man before her with an even expression on her face.
"Well that makes it all the more harder to kill you doesn't it?" the woman noted and then much to Jamie's surprise, she took a step back and continued to back away from him - the stone spikes retreating back into the ground as she did so. "Thank you...both of you" the monarch then bid, surprising Bronn and Jamie further. "Thank you?" Jamie echoed the words as if it were his first time hearing it.
"Would you prefer me to keep my gratitude to myself?" Ranta quirked a brow and then looked off to the side to observe the progress her people were making. The cells were mainly empty now, there was only one man left and that was Ser Barristan who was being lifted to his feet by Colren and Dasina.
"Tell me Ser Jamie, did you get a letter recently? One from your brother perhaps?" Ranta looked to the one handed lion curiously "I have." Jamie said slowly, saying no more on the matter. This had caused the monarch to huff a humorless laugh. "Well, I would advise you to listen to your little brother." the blue haired woman cautioned, sliding her tongue over the top of her teeth.
"You came." a weak voice sounded, causing all to face the source of the voice. "Ser Barristan!" Ranta somewhat exclaimed, surprised to see the man conscious considering his condition. "We're going to get you home okay?" the young woman said tenderly, bending down slightly to be eye to eye with him. "I...I'm sorry your grace, forgive me." Barristan panted tiredly.
"I have failed you twice. I couldn't get my people to bend and then got us all captured." he said sullenly. "I should be asking for your forgiveness." Ranta shook her head, "I should of known something was wrong long ago when you failed to return to me." she stated but no sooner had she, a strange tingling sensation danced on the edge of her sense.
Raising her eyes from Barristan's form, Ranta's orbs widened at the glint of red and gold lurking in the stair well followed by the unmistakeable twinkle of the edge of a blade, albeit a small one. Without giving another thought, Ranta shoved Barristan back and in extension Colren and Dasina with one hand and shot her other forward just as the unmistakable twump of an arrow leaving the drawstring of a bow sounded.
What happened next was quick in succession, each event happening a split second after another. When the monarch had shot her hand forwards, the stone from the floor had followed her hand's direction and launched towards the figure lurking in the shadows while an arrow successfully buried its' self into the shoulder of the blue haired woman.
A small cry echoed drastically in the emptied dungeons, Ranta falling onto her rear end and clutching her shoulder. The figure she attacked in return tumbled down the stairs and landed with a heavy thump, blooding pooling out around him.
While Jamie and Bronn were blanching at the blatant gaping hole in the head of the soldier who had shot the queen, said woman was being suffocated by an injured Barristan, Colren, Dasina and Mira in their efforts to assure her that she would be alright.
"This was a good dress." Ranta hissed in annoyance, trying her best to ignore the throbbing burning wound in her shoulder and attempted to wiggle herself back onto her feet. With the crowding party though, it was difficult. "Enough!" Ranta barked with a furrowed brow, shooing away the quartet.
" We have to move before more come." she proclaimed, succeeding in working herself to her feet during the next attempt to get up on her own. "But your grace, the arrow-!" Mira started but cut herself off with a small gasp when Ranta proceeded to rip the arrow out and toss it to the ground. "What arrow?" the monarch quirked a brow and then returned her gaze to Jamie.
"Make the meeting happen, Jamie Lannister." Ranta growled tensely and then stalked up the very stairs she had just been shot from, her party right on her tail. The blue haired Naylor couldn't personally wait to return to Laemyx and Vaemarr hiding out in the Kingwood outside Kings landing and made it her mission to maintain a fast pace as she navigated the Red Keep.
"What fucking meeting?" Bronn asked, rubbing his throat when their confines had dropped with the departure of the Naylors. "A meeting to engage in a ceasefire to deal with some northern threat." Jamie muttered quietly. Bronn looked at Jamie for a long moment before bursting out into laughter, "Good luck with that" he chuckled, grabbing the legs of the dead man and began to drag it away into some area where it wouldn't be seen anywhere.
"I sure am going to need it aren't I?" Jamie mumbled to himself before sighing heavily and making his way to the throne room where his sister was sure to be.
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" The nation's traitorous Greyjoys that support Ranta Naylor used to have an iron grip on my ancestoral home...but now they have been beaten back and taken care of. Casterly Rock is safe back in Lannister hands and we have Euron to thank for that. " Cersei's voice rang out in the throne room filled to the brim with people of all statuses.
"With Euron Greyjoy commanding our Naval forces and Jamie Lannister commanding our armies, the sons and daughters of Westeros shall defend our country." she finished proudly and sat upon her throne. The crowd gathered positively roared before the lion queen, cheering and applauding to their heart's desire.
It disgusted him and Jamie fought hard to keep the scowl off his face. If only they knew of what his sister had just done, if only they knew who used to be in their dungeons.
"There's nothing quite like the love of the people is there? Though I suppose you wouldn't know." Euron chuckled from beside the one handed hand, as he waved a hand to the crowd with a wide grin.
"This same mob spattered my sister not so long ago, give it some time and they will cheer to see your head on a spike." Jamie replied coolly. The irony of Euron moving in as Ranta moved out in such close proximity of one another with only one of her formerly captured advisors was large. Could it be possible that she wasn't aware of Yara's capture? Ranta Naylor didn't seem like the type to pick one over the other as per her actions earlier down in the dungeons.
"Or yours," Euron shrugged, bringing Jamie out of his thoughts about the blue haired monarch. " they just like severed heads really….listen if you have any advise at all - I'm willing to hear it, when we have a moment to ourselves to speak as brothers that is." he mentioned.
"Advise?" Jamie looked to the Greyjoy confused. A predatory grin graced the other man's scarred face as he took pleasure in what he was about to say. "Does she like it gentle or rough? A finger in the bum?" Euron murmured low enough for only Jamie to hear. Visibly tensing, the one handed lion whipped his head in Euron's direction and made to speak but was interrupted.
" Sh,sh,sh,sh, not now, later. " the kraken winked playfully before whisking off to stand before Cersei. Once in front of her, the Lannister queen watched as Euron gave a theatrical bow in which she tilted her head to before he all but skipped down the steps leading to the iron throne. Mounting his horse that an abused Yara had been tied to, Euron continued to smile and wave to the crowd as he and his party left the room - even throwing out a few air kisses here and there.
With face successfully twisted up as if he had eaten something rotten, Jamie forced himself to stay in place until it was just he, Cersei and her guards in the room. "You look like you have something to say, brother." the strawberry blonde woman intoned dryly. "I do." Jamie said as a matter of fact. "Then say it." Cersei invited.
However, instead of speaking, Jamie gave pointed looks to her body guards hovering near by. "Leave us." she dismissed the group shortly. Stomping past Jamie in their heavy armor, soon it was just the two siblings who vacated the throne room. "Now what is it that you have to say that's so important?" Cersei leaned forward slightly and laced her fingers together.
"I see Euron's returned." her brother said instead, causing Cersei's brow to furrow. "What about him?" she asked a bit defensively. Jamie huffed, laughing humorlessly. " Seeing as Euron's returned from the East...where's the army he said he would bring?" he asked. "You would do well to have your ears checked and memory strengthened," Cersei ground her knuckles together as she said this.
"I said he was only going to Essos to finish negotiations, him being here and capturing his traitor niece on top of it only proves that he has accomplished what he set out to do and more. He would not dare to return if he had failed." she stated. Jamie acknowledged this with a nod, "The beasts from beyond Asshai?" he wondered.
It was at this question did Cersei shift in her seat from side to side. "None." she spat out, causing Jamie to smirk knowingly. " But apparently he did arrange for more war beasts to be bought, some even hailing from Sothoryos if we are to believe that to be true." Cersei sighed lightly. Jamie openly scoffed at this, "Sothoryos." he rolled his eyes as well.
" No one goes there, nothing is known about that place. He didn't get beasts from there." the one handed Lannister easily brushed off. "I don't care where he gets them from so long as they get here." Cersei said stiffly and then narrowed her eyes on her brother. He was still hesitating and not saying what was truly on his mind. "What is it Jamie. Speak." the lioness demanded with a raised voice.
Unfazed by her tone, Jamie looked to his sister with an indescribable look upon his face. "Euron Greyjoy...you trust Euron Greyjoy this much? To throw a parade for him and to dub him a friend to the crown? Did he tell you to use wildfire as well, on your own ancestral home?" Jamie's gaze pierced her own.
"He will be a friend to the crown for as long as I see fit, and he had nothing to do with the decision on how to retake Casterly Rock." Cersei denied. "Of course he didn't." Jamie muttered lightly, "How bad was the damage anyways?" he then asked. Cersei swallowed the small lump in her throat and remained silent, her fingers and knuckles grinding against each other was the only sign that relayed her thoughts.
"You did have sand dumped over the castle to put out the flames didn't you?" Jamie asked with a bit of desperation in his tone. The one handed man was met with more silence, sending the male reeling. "Is our home even still standing?!" Jamie asked incredulously.
"It doesn't matter how bad the damage is or if it's still standing." Cersei shot to her feet, "All that matters is that it's back in our hands and not in the hands of the Storm Queen." she glared. "Destroyed. It is in our hands, destroyed!" Jamie exclaimed pointedly.
"I would see all seven kingdoms engulfed in the flames of wildfire before allowing anyone to take them from me!" Cersei raised her voice right back at him and for a long moment, Jamie no longer seen his sister. He saw the Mad King standing there.
"Burn them! Burn them all!"
"Do not look at me like that." Cersei's voice snapped her brother out of his thoughts. "Do not look at me like that." she repeated with no less venom in her tone once she knew he was focused once more.
"Would you not do the same if you were me?" Cersei closed the distance between them. "Castles can be rebuilt, more people can be born. The world isn't going to end just because a little bit of wildfire was put to use." she smirked at the thought, running a hand over his armored chest in what was meant to be a comforting fashion.
"When is the army coming?" Jamie asked distantly. " Soon. They're preparing themselves as we speak." Cersei soothed, "Have I finally calmed your mind about this war? We're still in it, our house will survive and we will remain where we always have...here." she promised.
"Speaking of that," Jamie pulled away from her touch. "There's something you ought to know." Cersei's brow furrowed at this. Taking a calming breath, Jamie braced himself for the conversation about to happen. "Tyrion wrote to me." the man said bluntly. A long silence enveloped the two of them before Cersei finally decided to sit back down on her throne.
"So what did our dear brother have to say?" Cersei asked with a tilt of her head, feigning curiosity. "Ranta Naylor is calling for a cease fire so that a meeting can be held here. Tyrion suggested the Dragonpit as the meeting place. Olenna Tyrell, Oberyn Martell, and Jon Snow will all be summoned as well." Jamie passed along the information his brother had disclosed to him in the letter he had recieved.
"And for what exact reason does she want this meeting to happen?" Cersei questioned, grinding her teeth slightly. "There's a threat in the North, beyond the Wall that has gotten the King in the North spooked along with Ranta Naylor. Apprently she even has proof of this threat that she can bring to the meeting." Jamie's own brow furrowed slightly at this.
"I fail to see how this is even relatively my concern." Cersei shrugged. "Perhaps because you are the protector of the seven kingdoms and the safety of every kingdom relies on you?" Jamie said sarcastically.
"A majority of the kingdoms wish to see me dead." the lioness snapped. "And if this threat does come, and takes out the others then there will be no one we can rely on for protection...regardless of the Golden company coming or not. We'll all be killed. If we agree to meet with them then at least we'll know what to prepare for whenever this threat arrives." Jamie reasoned though his sister remained silent.
Running a hand over his mouth, Jamie inwardly winced at what was about to come to light. "You at least owe her the entertainment of hosting the meeting." he muttered. "I owe her?" Cersei whispered dangerously. "Yes, you do." Jamie nodded, "She could of killed you today - along with me, Bronn and every other Lannister here." he revealed.
"How do you figure?" the woman glared. "Because she was here, in the dungeons freeing her people that you have captured." Jamie informed, watching as the lioness' frame slowly grow more tense with each passing second. "She was here in my capitol, under my very nose?" Cersei's voice was no louder than a whisper but the emotion in her tone and rage in her eyes spoke volumes.
"Bronn and I walked in on them during the act. Colren, Dasina and more of their house was with them." Jamie continued. "And yet you've walked away once again harm free." Cersei noted, "Do you know what that tells me about her?" she then leaned over. "That she's pathetic, weak and afraid to kill her enemies." Cersei spat.
Jamie instantly disagreed inwardly.
Ranta Naylor was not weak or pathetic.
Nor was she afraid to kill.
If Bronn hadn't disposed of the body then Jamie would of gladly showed her the gaping hole in the patrolman's face. "Then what are you so scared of?" the one handed lion's question had taken Cersei aback. "If she's as weak as you say then where's the harm in agreeing to the ceasefire?" he quirked a brow up at her. Jerking her head away from her brother and lover, Cersei mulled over what she had been told for a handful of minutes before finally coming to a decision.
"Fine." the lioness grumped, "Send word to that twisted little monster that his bitch of a queen can have her meeting. They have until the final day of this month to get here and this little gathering will happen on the first day of the new month."
The siblings did not remain in each other's prescence for much longer after that, soon they parted. Jamie went off to his room in order to write a letter in reply to Tyrion while Cersei went off to scheme behind closed doors without a doubt. Huffing, Jamie shook his head as he stalked down the halls decorated in Lannister decorations. While he did earn a small victory, he was still conflicted with Cersei.
She didn't get it. She still seen herself as the soon to be victor in this war between their two houses. But if she truly meant what she said earlier-to send the kingdoms up in flames with wildfire...then maybe Cersei would end up the victor, but what people would there be to govern if all of them were nothing but ash in the ground?
What she had spoke of was the exact reason why he killed the Mad king. Would it come down to him needing to kill his own sister as well to stop the madness? She was lying to him, decieving him, bringing others into the fold and keeping things hidden. Jamie didn't want to admit it, but he was slowly losing his grip on Cersei and subconsciously he knew that eventually she would lose him sooner or later.
It was all a matter of what would push him over the edge into that decision to leave her.
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