In my travels back and forth to work downtown, I've often passed a woman who walks (she may be homeless, but i kind of dont think so) and she has a small elderly dog that the woman has acquired a fairly nice childrens stroller to push the dog around in, and i dont know if ive ever connected with an energy more.
On with story, hoping to finish it up before the new episode.
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The only break Gendry and his workers had taken had been when the Dragon Queen and Missandei came around with some of the larger children, giving out bowls of porridge and cups of warmed water. Gendry saw the odd looks the Queen had given him as she herself gave him his bowl, not thinking on it, he gratefully accepted the offering, turning to look out at the men around him as they playfully interacted with the children.
Missandei was the only person in the vicinity that saw her Queen's look of indecisiveness, one she hadn't seen in quite a while. So she was only slightly concerned while watching Dany watch the blacksmith, but then the Queen spoke. "I didn't thank you earlier, blacksmith, for bringing Jorah back to the keep with us. He meant a great deal to me and... I... I didn't actually ever think there would be a world in which I existed with the knowledge, that he no longer didn't." Dany stuttered over her words, voice breaking in emotion.
Concerned for her Queen, Missandei stepped forward to place a hand on her shoulder, but the blacksmith turned to them, a stern look on his features, it looked odd on the generally relaxed face.
"Your Grace, there's something I should tell you before you thank me, I was advised not to bring it up, but, I don't feel comfortable accepting your gratitude without you knowing. I am one of Robert Baratheon's bastards, the last of them if the red woman is to be believed. I don't have a desire for the throne, and to be completely honest, I don't want to take part in another war, but I will, because I pledged myself a long time ago to righting what my father did wrong, and the Mad Queen is part of that."
By the end of his speech, he had bowed his head in deference to the Dragon Queen, knowing that, with this knowledge, she could choose to kill him, but hoping that, after the night they had all had, she would pardon him. Missandei could see the hope in his eyes before he lowered his head even more.
She was well aware of the implications the man could have to her Queen's claim on the throne, after all, if she understood the history correctly, this blacksmiths' father had been the usurper to her Queen's father, claiming the throne for himself and the people had followed him. What would happen if they choose to follow the stag line once again?
Missandei was startled from her thoughts when Daenerys spoke, voice like steel, "Raise your head and face your queen Usurper's son. If what you tell me is true, I should be concerned, after all, if the people of the seven kingdoms knew of you, who's to say they wouldn't choose to follow you instead?" Dany paused, face grim.
Missandei didn't know where her queen was going with this, part of her hoped that Dany recognized the need to keep as many allies as possible on her side, but the logical part understood where her Queen's fears were coming from well. She was surprised though when the queen spoke once again.
"With that being said, do you Gendry Baratheon, legitimized son of Robert Baratheon pledge yourself to me and my cause to ride this world of the Mad Queen and return the Iron throne to its proper owners? Here in front of these Knights, and the peoples of the North, do you pledge to be my Royal Blacksmith, creating blades and weapons for my cause until there is not more battle to be fought?" Daenerys sounded so regal in that moment, even Missandei, who had been with her queen for so long, was still moved to follow such a powerful woman.
Looking at the young man in front of them, he had widened eyes filled with water, Missandei could understand, he had just been legitimized by the woman who had the most reason to hate his father, she had placed a level of trust in him that so far, no one else had. Missandei knew it could be overwhelming, to be on the receiving end of such faith, but Daenerys was always good at making people believe in her, even when they may have been skeptical beforehand.
Gendry spoke, voice clear, "Your Grace, I, don't even know where to begin, I never thought I would be legitimized on day, even with the knowledge that the previous 'Baratheons' that took the throne were not my fathers' children, I never thought I could live up to the name in this world. I do have to admit something though Your Grace, a long time ago I promised to fight for Lady Arya, she saved me in more ways than one, I would be happy to forge as many weapons as you'll need for however long you need them your Grace, but, I feel like I need to also be able to care for the first Lady in my heart. If you find that amenable, I will happily pledge myself to you."
—
Jaime watched patiently as the Dragon Queen and her councilwoman stared down the younger man, curiosity getting the best of him. He spoke before Daenerys was able to speak herself. "How did you know that neither Joffrey or Tommen were not Baratheon?"
Jaime saw the eyes of both women turn to look at him, questions in their eyes as if they too wished to know. The blacksmith just shrugged his shoulders "Ned Stark came to my master's forge a long time ago, asking about me, I didn't understand then, but then, there were whispers all over flea bottom the days following. Soon, it was known that he was put to death, I even watched it happen. Then, when I saw King Robert's brothers, I knew the truth, neither Joffrey or Tommen looked a thing like them, too blonde, too fair and thin. Us Baratheon's are built for strength. You Lions? Built to look pretty and throw their weight around just because they feel it's their due."
This Baratheon boy had thrown the gauntlet in challenge, questioning the Lannister line, but, Jaime didn't have the strength to deny the claims. He could feel they had started draw a crowd, everyone wanting to see the commotion with the Dragon Queen in the center. He could even see his brother joining the crowd, a guarded look in his eye.
"I wont lie, they were my children, Cersei and I, we thought we were in love, that love brought our children into the world. It crushed my heart to watch them grow up believing they belonged to another. But that's in the past. The Lannister name died with my father, with little hope of ever regaining it's power again." Jaime had sighed out the rest of his statement, regret burgeoning inside his soul.
Looking around the crowd, he finally saw her, Brienne had appeared in the crowd with Sansa Stark at her side, both of them looked as if they had been crying. Jaime felt a clenching in his chest. "when I pledged to fight for the side of the living, I renounced all other claims I'd made previously, including those to Cersei. I will continue to fight for you your grace, so long as you will have me."
Jaime made eye contact with Brienne, he saw apprehension in her eyes, he understood her fear. It was one thing for the Dragon Queen to accept him when the war was against the dead, but another when it was against his own sister. Looking to Tyrion, he saw fear in his eyes, the same fear Jaime felt in his chest.
Suddenly, the crowd cleared, Jon Snow had joined the party, quietly watching to see what would happen. Afterall, if things didn't go a way he liked, he could always withdraw the north's support. The Dragon Queen spotted him, standing amongst the living in front of a field of the dead. Almost all movement around the keep had been halted, everyone watching the scene unfold with baited breath.
Finally, the Queen spoke. "Lord Gendry Baratheon, and Ser Jaime Lannister, I, Daenerys Targaryen, first of her name, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea. Mother of Dragons. The Unburnt. Breaker of Chains. Lady of Dragonstone. Do hereby accept your loyalties, I hope to be a just and fair ruler, I will listen to you both with respect and dignity. I expect each of you to live up to your names, for Storms End and Casterly Rock will need new lords to guide them soon enough."
The queen turned to look at the crowd, and Jaime heard the beginnings of her speech, but he couldn't process the words, she had accepted him, he had killed her father, and she still accepted him. Relief flooded his veins, nearly identical to the relief he had felt just hours ago when the dead had stopped moving and he and Brienne had both still been standing.
Jaime saw the crowds dispersing, but had no inkling of what was said, he quickly thanked the Dragon Queen and walked to where he saw Brienne following Sansa. Quickly catching them, he threw out his hand to catch her. She tensed at first, but looked at him and relaxed quickly. Sansa had seen the interaction "Find me later Ser Brienne and we can speak about you taking a long vacation when the war is officially over." with a dry smile, the lady of Winterfell glided away.
Brienne caught his eye before guiding the him off to the side out of the way of those still hard at work and any prying eyes and ears. Once settled, they both attempted to speak, but stopped in awkward silence, Jaime broke it first, his curiosity getting the best of him. "if you don't mind my asking, what caused your tears Lady Knight?l"
"not at all, Lady Stark and I went to view and pay our respects to Theon Greyjoy, it would seem there were some deep emotions Lady Stark had buried concerning the boy, suffice to say, it was a bit heart wrenching to take in. I believe its partially to blame that i'm still feeling a sort of series of... aftershocks from the battles."
Jaime could see her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she attempted to use logic for her feelings. But he couldn't shake the relief that flooded his gut, he wasn't the only one still having trouble getting past this battle. This was an unfamiliar notion to the war experienced knight, not even the days following the loss of his hand had felt this delirious.
Brienne began to open her mouth, eyes set in determination, but Jaime cut her off. "My Lady Knight. Brienne. i need to tell you, i've only just begun to understand the feelings i've felt for so long are indeed changing, im learning and growing. But I still need time, I...It doesn't feel right to make promises or declare anything in this moment, especially when we dont know how the next battle may turn out."
Jaime looked down with a sigh before swiftly grabbing her hand and leaving a chaste kiss upon her knuckles, "But i would like you to know i understand, no matter your choices, if they include waiting for me, or if you find someone much more worthy of you in the mean time i will support you."
Brienne nodded at him and she flashed him an understanding grin. Jaime felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders that had been crushing him since an unknown point the evening before. Soon both knights were in a companionable silence, both slowly lulling into the exhaustion beginning to creep into their souls.
A high pitched scream coming from the direction of the stables gave both knights swift kicks of adrenaline as they raced to find the cause of the commotion.