Chapter 20
Davos
The howls of the wolf took his attention. It cut through flesh and bone, even deeper than the icy wind that was taking over the North.
'Winter is coming, sooner than we thought.' He thought as Ghost howled once more.
Davos only returned from his mission recently. Once he entered Castle Black, he found the King, his King, and his family gone. The Red Woman was the only one who returned from Winterfell and he knew enough: the Bolton army defeated Stannis'.
Ghost kept on howling and Davos was wondering why Jon didn't go to him: the two were inseparable. It was nothing like Jon to keep Ghost howling.
He stood up and walked to the window to look at the courtyard. Ghost was nowhere to be seen, although he could see something move a blocked door, the place where Thorne and his men kept Ghost once.
As he listened to Ghost's howls carefully, he could hear the anger, but also the sadness. Something wasn't up, and he was about to see what it was.
He took the warmest cloak he could find as he stepped into the cold night. He couldn't see much, but he did saw a hump covered in a fresh cloak of snow. What was it?
As he walked closer, he could hear Ghost try to free himself. Davos felt a bit sick, as he knew that this wasn't going to be nice.
He reached the hump and he was right: the fresh coat of snow was red, blood red, and with Ghost locked up, he could only imagine who it was.
Jon couldn't have lied here for very long, but the wind and snow were ice cold, leaving his body a little stiff already. He took him to his chambers and lied him down on the table. Davos closed Jon's cold, dead eyes as he left to find help.
He didn't know where to look: the dead Lord Commander didn't have many friends at the Castle and with King Stannis, Lady Alyssa and the Wildlings away, it was only a matter of time when Lord Commander Jon Snow's men turned against him.
He banged against a door which he believed it belonged to Dolorous Edd, as he still could hear Ghost howl. Maybe he should've gotten Ghost first, but the giant wolf intimidated him and Dolorous Edd knew Ghost better.
Edd opened the door to his chamber and looked confused as he saw who it was.
"Quickly, with me. Don't say a word." Davos whispered as he waited for Edd to return.
The two men walked towards Davos' chamber as Edd looked around nervously. He also had heard the howls of Ghost.
When Davos opened his door, Edd swore loudly: "Fuck!"
"We need men to protect us. You go and find all the men who support Jon and free Ghost. We need him now and his howls wake everyone up. When you've returned, I'll go and find the Lady Melisandre and talk to the Wildlings." He whispered.
Edd nodded as his face was white as the snow outside. He left quickly to go and find the others. Soon Ghost stopped howling. The night was now deadly silent and Davos paced through his chamber nervously. What was his plan? Maybe Edd could find three to four other men and Ghost. That would never be enough to go against the other men. There was a small chance that the Wildlings would return with him, as they only talked to Jon in the first place.
And then there was the Lady Melisandre. What could she do for them? He had seen her do many things, some of those memories he didn't even want to remember. What could she do for Jon, the Watch, the North?
Edd returned to him with four other men and Ghost, like suspected. Ghost immediately went to Jon's side. His big snout went over his master's dead face and once he saw that his master didn't respond, he started to whine.
Davos quickly left to look for the Lady Melisandre. He didn't wait to enter her chambers, only to find her in a warm cloak by a lit fire. He never saw the Lady sitting by a fire, for she always said that the Lord of Light kept her warm, but his mind was too occupied to think about that.
"M'lady, you need to come with me. The Lord Comm…" He said breathlessly.
"I know." The Lady Melisandre only said without looking at him. She stared into the flames instead. "I saw it in the flames."
"Then you must come with me. It is not safe for us here." He said, a little irritated because of here calmness.
"The Lord of Light does what needs to be done." She shrugged. "Don't feel sorry for the dead, he's in peace."
"Yes, but we are not, m'lady. Please, come quickly, now."
He reached for her hand as she took it: cold. The Lady saw his reaction and sighed as she stood up and walked with him to his chamber. As she saw Jon's body, she showed no sign of surprise. Davos assumed that she was right about what she said before.
"Go, Ser Davos," she said as she inspected Jon's wounds. "Go and find the Wildlings. I'll send Lady Lannister a raven."
Davos left the room into the cold night, again.
Alyssa
She knew they were getting closer to Casterly Rock with each minute. She knew this road so well: it was the road she always took to the Golden Tooth to visit the Leffords with her Lord father. She was even named after the current Lady of the Tooth, Lady Alysanne Lefford.
It felt weird to think, for as she didn't want to leave the North in the first place, but she was glad that she was almost home. She could hear Bronn and Eleonor whisper behind her. She knew Eleonor was worried about her as Bronn tried to convince her not to, but Eleonor knew her too well: Alyssa was not fine, at all.
It all started at the north of Winterfell, where the Bolton army already stood waiting for Stannis'. Luckily, they only had eyes for their enemy, so the four of them could silently get away. She was ready for a warm bed that night, but Jaime and Bronn didn't want to go to an Inn, as it was too risky for the small party. Two Lannisters at a Northern Inn would never survive after the Red Wedding and the Boltons were also on the lookout for her.
So they travelled for over three weeks without an Inn to stay in. Jaime and Bronn won't let them travel over the Kingsroad as it was too dangerous. Once they reached the Twinns Jaime told her that she was on saver ground, but she didn't agree: they all knew what happened here.
The emptiness of her stomach overruled her disliking to Lord Frey as she dined in his Hall. She knew that eating of his food would not guarantee their safety. The wine tasted poor as Lord Frey complained that it was because of the war of the five Kings, that the harvest was bad. Alyssa disagreed, for she thought that it was because Lord Frey was a terrible ruler of the Riverlands. But, Ladylike as she was, she closed her mouth and smiled and nodded and rolled her eyes when the Freys were not watching.
Jaime on the other hand, saw what she was doing.
"Could you just pretend to be interested to what they have to say?" He whispered as he leaned into her, as he sounded a little irritated.
Alyssa looked at her eldest brother. Jaime had changed over the years. His face was growing older, as his once smooth forehead now had several wrinkles. His careless look had changed into a careful one. Was her brother growing up, at last?
"Why should I? They are everything but interesting." She snapped back.
Her brother sighed as he shook his head. She noticed that he did not eat from the meat that was in front of him.
"Still have trouble cutting your meat?" She said as she poured herself another glass of wine.
It was bad wine, but at least they had wine. Alyssa needed to stay positive.
"Not just cutting his meat, I guess." Bronn intervened as he handed his goblet over to her to let her pour in some wine for him as well.
Alyssa smirked to him as it was now Jaime's turn to roll his eyes.
To all of their dislikes, they saw Walder Frey approaching towards them. The man had trouble walking, as he looked like he hadn't washed in ages. His hair was greasy and his clothing were nothing but rags of cotton.
He pushed in between Alyssa and Jaime as Alyssa held up her nose: Lord Frey smelled horrible as well.
"Lord Frey, what an honor!" Alyssa said with her sweetest smile as she blinked at him.
Jaime held in his laughter as he smiled to Alyssa, who winked at him.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, spare me your words, Lady Alyssa. Still no husband, I presume?" He said as she had the feeling that he was checking her out.
"No, still happily unmarried." She said as she smiled once more.
She could see that Lord Frey was not satisfied with her answer. "From what I've heard, you were supposed to marry the bastard boy of Bolton."
"Yes, she was," Jaime said before Alyssa could speak, "but there was a match with Arya Stark to secure the North for them. I'm escorting my sister to Casterly Rock."
Casterly Rock… So she was going back home… Not to that rotting place Kings Lading, but home…
"What a shame, what a shame," Frey said as he licked his lips, "I still have a lot of sons that I need to marry off. You could be the heir to the Twins." He said as he smiled his rotten teeth towards her.
"No thanks, I prefer someplace quiet. There's a lot of people in this castle." She said sweetly.
"Hmpf," Lord Frey said, displeased, "I guess you're right. Oh, well," he said as he turned to Jaime, "I will bring out a toast to our newborn allegiance." He said as he stood up and walked over to his chair where his two favorite sons were sitting next to.
Alyssa could see everyone paying attention to the old man as she was curious to what he had to say.
"For House Lannister!" He said as he raised his goblet of wine.
The men in the room all cheered as they yelled: "Hear me roar!"
"For House Frey!" Lord Frey continued as he raised his goblet once more.
"We stand together!" The Freys all shouted as Alyssa rolled her eyes.
Jaime gave her a warning look, but she didn't bother.
"May we stand together through the centuries! Good friends, to the last!" He said as he let the men cheer again. "And when we drive our swords through our enemies hearts, may we speak the words of our alliance: The Lannisters AND the Freys send their regards!" He ended as he raised his goblet again.
Some men slammed their fists on the table as they yelled. Alyssa looked at Jaime, who was looking quite indifferent. He raised his goblet as well out of courtesy.
Lord Frey sat down again as Alyssa, Eleonor, Jaime and Bronn looked in front of them again. A girl with some fresh wine walked towards them as she tried to get Jaime's attention as she poured in the wine for Alyssa and Bronn. Black Walder walked passed at the same time and licked his lips as he looked at Alyssa from up to down.
Bronn sighed. "You don't have to do anything, do ya?"
Alyssa and Jaime both shrugged as they let the man and woman walk pass. Alyssa giggled when she saw that Jaime had the same boring expression on his face as her.
She could hear footsteps from behind her as she saw that Walder Frey approached them, again.
"Oh well, here we sit! Celebrating that Riverrun belongs to the Freys and that my son-in-law is back in his cell again," He smirked, as he got some of the wine for himself, "and the Blackfish gone. Killed by foot soldiers in your absence. 'Legendary warrior' they say, ha!" He said mockingly.
"Have you done much fighting yourself, Walder Frey?" Jaime asked him.
Alyssa saw that he was irritated by the old man, but kept calm.
"Well, I'm a bit old for that!" Lord Frey started to joke, but no one laughed.
"No, but, back in your day." Jaime continued.
Lord Frey thought for a moment before he answered. "The purpose of fighting is to defeat your enemies, isn't it?" He asked Jaime, who nodded. "I've defeated mine. Riverrun had belonged to House Tully for a thousand years, and now it's mine. How do you call that? Victory!" He said as he raised his goblet to Jaime.
"Yes, you're a great conqueror." Alyssa said sarcastically.
Lord Frey grinned his teeth. "Go on, mock me girl, do you think I mind? The Tully's, they've mocked me for years. The Starks mocked me. Where are they now? Your brother talks about war like he's an expert, but the one battle I remembered him fighting, he was captured by Robb Stark, the Young Wolf. But that doesn't matter. Here we are now, two Kingslayers. We know what it's like to have them grovel to our faces and snigger behind our backs. We don't mind, do we? Fear is a marvelous thing." He ended as he gulped from his wine.
Jaime waited to response as he looked at Alyssa warningly, telling her to shut her mouth. "They don't fear the Frey's, though. They fear the Lannisters. We gave you the Riverlands to hold the Riverlands. If we have to ride north and take them back for you every time you lose them, why do we need you?"
Jaime stood up as he looked up to the rest of their party, as Alyssa knew it was a sign for her to stand up as well. She bowed out of courtesy for Lord Frey, as she walked behind her brother out of the big hall.
Gods, she hated this place.
…..
Jaime
He waited impatiently as he clicked his tongue and looked at Bronn.
"Any idea when she will be here?" He asked his sister's friend.
Bronn shrugged. "No idea, m'lord. Knowin' your sister, it could take some time."
Jaime shook his head as he waited. The Twins were a safe location for Alyssa, but word would spread that she was there very easily, and the Boltons would know where to look for her. The sooner Alyssa would go to Casterly Rock, the better. Unfortunately, his younger sister thought otherwise.
He sighed as he finally heard her coming through the gates. Jaime had already saddled her horse Snow, so that they could leave immediately.
The weather was nice enough to travel. The sun wasn't shining so bright, which was good, as the reflection of the sun would not kiss Alyssa's brown golden hair and give away her identity. He definitely wanted her to put her hood on.
Alyssa took her time as she smoothed out her dress as she walked. She was wearing a crimson red dress, a dress that Jaime did not remember her wearing. Was it new? And how on earth did she get that? The dress would pay too much attention for unwanted eyes.
"Good morning, brother." She greeted him with a smile as she embraced him.
Jaime took in the familiar scent of her hair as he didn't know when he would see her again. He looked at her from head to toe, as he sighed.
"Couldn't think of anything less striking to wear?" He said as he raised an eyebrow.
Alyssa shrugged. "I'm on Lannister lands now. Who could harm me anyway?"
"The Boltons, perhaps?" Jaime answered as if she was stupid.
Alyssa shrugged as Jaime noticed that she didn't seem to bother. He looked at Bronn, who shrugged as well, and left the dress for what it was.
"You are coming with us, right?" Alyssa asked him, but sighed immediately when she could see from the look of his face that he wasn't, "What's the point of going back then anyway? Cersei will want my head on a spike as soon as I enter the Rock!"
"No she won't, you're her sister." He tried to comfort her.
"That doesn't stop her from chasing after Tyrion." Alyssa spat.
"Tyrion murdered our father." Jaime remembered her.
"Yes, and we set him free to do it. And after that: I've fled North to go and see Ned Stark's bastard to tell him my feelings for him. Well, we all know Cersei's feelings towards the Starks." Alyssa ended bitterly.
"Yes, so I've talked to her before I came to get you and tried to make her listen!" Jaime answered impatiently as he rolled his eyes.
Alyssa eyed him suspiciously. "How?" She demanded.
"Well…" Jaime said as he moved uncomfortable as he looked at Bronn again, who looked curious as well, "Well…"
"Spare me the details. What kind of deal did you make?" Alyssa said as she rolled her eyes now.
"Cersei will remain in the Capital, as Tommen is too young to be left alone. She will be there to rule alongside of him, as Uncle Kevan will come to Kings Landing to be the new Hand of the King. Therefore, you will be the acting Lady of Casterly Rock, as I am still a King's Guard as Tyrion's claims were taken away from him by the Crown."
He could see that he had Alyssa's attention now. They were all the same, the Lannisters: if there was a price to achieve, you'll have their attention.
"I'd do it." Bronn shrugged.
"Shut up you," Alyssa snapped to Bronn, "Is Maester Creylen still there?" She asked him.
Jaime nodded.
"Bastard," Alyssa said in disgust as she continued, "All right, I'll go home." She finished as she rolled her eyes.
Jaime grimaced. "There is only one but.."
"Of course there is," Alyssa sighed, "What is it?"
"Cersei wants your word that you will stay loyal to the Crown. She wants you to send our men whenever need to and…" Jaime sighed.
"And?" Alyssa said as she raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
"And she will find you a husband that she seems suitable." Jaime ended.
Alyssa smirked. "Of course. Well, it can't get any worse than Gregor Clegane, right?"
"Don't get your hopes up." Jaime said as he feared for her.
He said his goodbyes to her as he helped her on her horse and he tried to put her hood on her.
"Stop it, Jaime! I don't want to! I've hidden myself for more than months now!" She told him.
"Someone might recognize you!" Jaime tried.
Alyssa sighed. "So what? I am the Lady of Casterly Rock!"
"Don't worry," Bronn said to him as Jaime sighed, "I'll look after the Lady."
Alyssa, Bronn and her handmaiden Eleonor took off as Jaime watched them ride away in the distance.
He really hoped Bronn would.
….
Bronn
He had never been to the Rock. Of course, he had heard Alyssa and Tyrion talk about it sometimes, but he never was actually there.
Alyssa and Tyrion both talked about it as though some of their favorite and least favorite memories of them took place there.
He eyed Alyssa as they were getting closer to the Rock by now. He could see the colossal stone hill from far away as he thought of what she was thinking.
Alyssa, a smooth talker like her brother, had talked much since they left the Twins, but now that they were getting closer to her ancestral home, she fell more silent. She still had her chin up, though, proud as a lioness.
He thought of all the treasures there would be in the mines of the Rock. 'A Lannister always pays his debts', and it was about damn time he was getting paid.
Approximately two hours drove by as they were reaching the Lion's Mouth, the main entry of Casterly Rock. Bronn looked at the immense natural cavern of which stories told it reached two hundred feet high. Alyssa, however, didn't seem to be too impressed by it, but Eleonor and he were.
"Halt!" A guard at the gate yelled, wearing the Lannister armor.
He saw Alyssa rolling her eyes as he smirked at her. 'Boy, that woman had temper.' He thought to himself.
"Who is approaching the gate?" The guard asked them.
"Do I really need to tell you that?" Alyssa spat at him as she raised an eyebrow.
The guard recognized her now as he swallowed, knowing that he had made a mistake. "Of- of course, my Lady Lannister. W-Welcome home." He muttered.
"Thank you." Alyssa answered him as she continued, "Now go and tell the Commander of the City Watch that I need better guards at my gate."
Bronn started to laugh as the guard stumbled away as he opened the gate for them. Alyssa entered, as Bronn and Eleonor followed.
The streets of Casterly Rock were totally different from Kings Landing. The smell was a lot better, actually, as the merchants were offering fresh foods from the docks. The people were also more clean, as they all bowed for Alyssa as they rode past them.
"Lady Alyssa." The people whispered respectfully.
Alyssa smiled at the people as she nodded back at them as well. Bronn noticed that the people were fine with Alyssa taking control over the Rock. He couldn't blame them: she was much better than Cersei or Tywin Lannister.
They rode closer to the actual castle that was built into and on top of the Rock. It wasn't the most beautiful castle he had ever seen, but Bronn knew that the true beauty of the castle was found under it, where the main mine was located.
Alyssa stopped as they had reached the castle. A few people were already waiting there for her. Bronn could see a Maester, members of the City Watch and a handmaiden. The members of the City Watch helped her off her horse, as Bronn got off his own and helped Eleonor off hers.
"Welcome to your home, My Lady." The Maester said with respect.
"Thank you, Maester Creylen." Alyssa answered politely, like she was learned to.
The Commander of the City Watch helped her off her horse. "I hope your journey was well, my Lady? You've grown since the last time I saw you."
Bronn looked at the Commander. The elder man had a handsome face with golden hair like the Lannisters. His eyes were green as well as his body was long and slim. He held the Lannister helmet in his hands and Bronn saw he had a firm grip.
Alyssa smiled at him. "Yes, it was a good journey, thank you, Ser Lantell. How long has it been? It must be at least four years."
"Seven, if I'm correct. And who are your companions?" He said as he looked at Bronn and Eleonor.
"Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, this one is, a loyal friend to the Lady Alyssa." Bronn introduced himself.
"Or just friend." Alyssa corrected him, but smiled as well, "and this is Eleonor. She was my handmaiden in Kings Landing and I was hoping she could be here as well."
Maester Creylen looked at the handmaiden next to him as the woman nodded and made her leave. "The handmaidens have readied your chambers, my Lady. I assume you know where your father's chambers were?"
Bronn could see that Alyssa was surprised at first, but quickly corrected herself. "Yes, yes I do. Thank you, Maester. I am very tired of the journey, so I will just go to my chambers and rest for a while. Eleonor? Bronn?"
The people nodded as they let them leave. Bronn opened the door for Alyssa as he let her and Eleonor enter. Alyssa looked around her as Bronn and Eleanor did as well. The hall was cool, as for the think stone walls, and everywhere you could look, you could see the golden lion of Lannister. '
"We have always loved to show off." Alyssa joked as she walked further and let them to her chambers.
She opened the door as Bronn and Eleonor walked in after her. Bronn was surprised at how light the big chamber was, for a castle that was basically inside a hill.
Bronn watched how Eleonor checked if everything was in order for Alyssa to use. The big bed was covered in red sheets and pillows, with golden lions stitched into it. There was a big wooden table by the window, where fresh air came through and looked over the city's ports. Bronn smiled to himself when he saw Alyssa pouring herself some arbor gold in a glass which neck was a glass lion.
Alyssa smiled as well. "Better get used to it."
Bronn didn't know if she was talking to him or herself. Alyssa moved uneasy in her new chambers, that once belonged to her late father.
"M'lady! Your sister has already send your dresses to Casterly Rock!" Eleonor said as she looked into Alyssa's wardrobe. "Shall I help you in another dress?" She asked her.
Alyssa smiled. "No, thank you. Just leave me a dress and I'll help myself. If you don't mind, I would like to be alone now." She said to Bronn and Eleonor.
Bronn and Eleonor looked at each other and nodded. Eleonor put a dress on her bed as she bowed politely to Alyssa as they both left the room.
Bronn had an uncertain feeling as he waited at the door. There was something off with Alyssa, but he didn't know what.
"Bronn? Are you coming?" Eleonor asked him.
"One moment, love, I'll be right up there with you." He said as he held his ear to the door and focused.
Eleonor shrugged and left as Bronn listened. It was quiet for a while, but then he could hear Alyssa started to cry. Short, soft sobs were followed by long, loud sobs.
He sighed. 'It was the bastard of Stark.' He knew as he opened the door and entered the room again.
Alyssa was standing by the table as she held herself up to it. Bronn's heart broke when he saw the fierce lioness he always saw, falling apart.
She turned around to see who was there. When she saw that it was Bronn, she only sobbed louder.
'He had broken her.' He thought to himself.
"Oh Gods, sweet girl, come here," He said as he held the young woman in his arms, "It'll all be alright. I promise you that."
Alyssa still sobbed in his arms as he promised himself as well that he would help the girl in his arms to a better future, with or without the bastard, and without knowing that the bastard lay dead on the ground, more than thousand miles up North.
…..
A/N: Long time no see! Sorry that you guys needed to wait for so long, but I had a complete writer's block on this one. I've started a new fic, called "Iron and Winter", which I am focusing more on right now. It would be great if you guys would check that one out as well!
I hope to update this story soon as well!
Xoxo Radicallion.