Chapter 8: King And Queen
Ailith opened her eyes and saw the first sunbeams shining through the window. She could feel Rowans arms around her and his body against her back. She took a deep breath and laid her hands on his arms. When she heard him murmur, she turned around and kissed him. Slowly he opened his eyes and murmured something that looked like a good morning. Yesterday they had been out of bed, but only to wave at the last guests, eat something and get back into bed again. Ailith was thankful she had waited, she had given everything to her husband. Ailith gave him a kiss on his nose when his eyes almost closed again. All of the sudden the door swung open and several things happened at once. Lysum, the general of the Reach entered and bowed. Ailith jumped up, sat straight in bed and covered herself with the blankets. The door swung open so hard it bumped against a small table, which made such a bang that Rowan sat up in bed too.
'Damn you man-' Rowan murmured half a sleep, rubbing his eyes.
'Beg your pardons, my prince,' Lysum said, 'But we fear that the last hour of your father has arrived and he wishes to see you and your bride.'
'I'll be on my way,' Rowan said, immediately awake. Lysum turned around without looking at Ailith and closed the door. Rowan looked at the closed door as Ailith laid her hand on his shoulder. She moved closer to him and turned his chin towards her. She kissed him and looked deep in his eyes.
'You are not alone in this, remember,' she whispered. He smiled and nodded. Quickly they both got out of bed and got dressed. Rowan wore a dark green tunic and a cloak of the same color, while Ailith pulled on a soft green dress and braided her hair in one long braid and laid it over her shoulder. Rowan waited for her and took her by the hand. With four guards around them, they walked hand in hand to the King's chamber.
Ailith was surprised with what she found there. The King laid in his bed, doctors and councilors around him, Queen Amelia stood alone, at the feet end of the bed. With no pity or compassion in her eyes. She did not even look at Ailith, only at her son. Rowan walked towards his father, still holding Ailith by his hand. When she stood next to her father-in-law Ailith saw why Lysum had summoned them. When Ailith looked around the room again, she saw none of Rowan's siblings were present.
'Where is Wardell? Where are the Kings other children?' she asked, when no-one answered Ailith looked at Lysum, 'Please summon the Kings children, they need to be here.'
'I'll be the one deciding about who attends and who not,' Queen Amelia said fierce.
'Let me ask you, your Grace, what mother keeps her children away from their dying father?' Ailith spat the words before she knew it. The Queens eyes were flushed with rage.
'Mind your tongue, Wolf princess,' she hissed, 'Or you'll hear the roar of a lion.'
'Bring my brothers and sister,' Rowan suddenly said.
'Rowan -' his mother wanted to oppose him, but Rowan turned his face to Lysum.
'Bring my brothers and sister,' he said again, 'They need to be able to say their last goodbye.'
'How dare you!' Queen Amelia shouted.
'Mother, calm down,' Rowan said, Ailith could feel his muscles tensioning.
'Calm down? For who, I ask you, the Wolf princess?' she spat the words like they were poison.
'Mother, enough,' Rowan said, pronouncing the words clear and calm.
'Don't you see what she's doing, my dear son?' Amelia said, Ailith was shocked, 'She's driving us apart. Before you know it she will give our lands to her father!'
'What!' Ailith was to baffled to say any more.
'Mother, I'll forgive -' Rowan began, but his mother interrupted him.
'Forgiveness is for the weak, son, only the strong survive in this world,' she said and turned around. Yet now she had woken Ailiths temper. Ailith let go of Rowan and run towards to room, to stop before the Queen. Ailith looked her in the eyes.
'What have I ever done to you, your Grace, that you hate me so?' she said, 'You did not want me to marry your son, but since your lord husband insisted on it you allowed it, but only to put be in the most horrible yellow dress on my wedding day. Now everything I do, everything I say I wrong. Your husband is dying, and you don't even allow your children-' SLAP with her flat palm of her hand, Queen Amelia hit Ailith with all her strength. Ailith stumbled a bit, but remained on her feet. She was breathing deep, but straightened her back and looked at Queen Amelia.
'If that is your roar,' Ailith hissed softly. Queen Amelia raised her hand again, but was stopped by the sound of Wardell who walked into the room with his two younger brothers and sister.
'Mother!' he said aghast and Alyna even placed her hand for her mouth. Queen Amelia lowered her hand and looked at Ailith, loathing. The Queen straightened her back and started walking, but when she passed Ailith, she turned her head a bit and whispered so soft only Ailith could hear it.
'You were never to wed my son, and you will never be Queen,' she whispered, 'I will do everything I can to prevent that.' Ailith swallowed as the Queen left the room and blinked with her eyes. She would not show any fear, she decided and walked to her husband. Before Rowan could say a thing everyone turned silence, for the King opened his eyes again. Rowan immediately took his fathers hand, as his siblings gathered around the bed.
'Father,' Rowan said softly. Ailith heard his voice shake and laid her hand on his shoulder.
'Papa,' Alyna said soft and took his other hand.
'My children,' the old King said with a small smile. His voice was scraping and almost fading away. Ailith bit her lip and looked at one of the doctors behind her, he shook his head.
'My children,' the King said again, he looked around the room and continued, 'Writer, we need a writer.'
'Here, my King,' a low voice said, and the grey haired maester Cestron sat down with ink and paper.
'This is my final will, written down before the faces of my children, my council and my gods,' the old King began, 'I, Alexander the fourth of my name, son of Alexander the third of his name, of the House Tyrell, King of the Reach, Lord of Highgarden, Protector of Oldtown, Defender of the Shield Islands, Keeper of the Mander here by declare that when I pass, my son prince Rowan will follow me, to be crowned King Rowan, first of his name – and all the other titles, you know them Cestron. His wife, princess Ailith of the House Stark, will be crowned Queen to rule with her lord husband. My wife, Queen Amelia of the House Lannister, will be relieved from all her duties and free to go home if she wishes. Second in line will be my son prince Wardell, until Rowan receives an heir from his wife. I will be buried next to my father, as was he after his father, in the tombs of Highgarden. You have that?'
'Yes, my King,' maester Cestron said and gave the paper to the old King. The King scratched his sign under it and gave his ring to Rowan.
'Please,' he said. Rowan took it and sealed the rolled up paper with candle wax.
'I have no doubts you'll be a good King, my son,' the King said smiling, 'But never forget to listen to your lady wife.'
'I will, father,' Rowan said and pinched the hand of Ailith.
'And you, come here,' the King smiled, looking at Ailith. Ailith moved towards the old man, she lowered on her knees and took his hand.
'My lord?' she said, his hands felt icy cold.
'You may have noticed my lady wife is not very fond of you,' he began with a small smile, 'It is personal, though. The Lion never liked the Wolf and neither did the Wolf ever like the Lion. You see, King Terry or the Westerlands wanted one of his other nieces to marry my son, but I thought that one Lion between the flowers would be enough. And besides: Rowan could not stop talking of you -' the old King laughed '- still she will do all that is in her power to break you. But Winter is coming, my dear, you know the words yourself. And we have had Summer for over twenty years now, so its small wonder we had no Autumn. Winter will fill many a persons life. You cannot yield, none of you! You must be strong, you must be fierce, you must be the light in the damned darkness we call Winter.'
'You are not gone yet, father,' Alyna said with tears on her cheeks. The King turned his head and smiled. Ailith rose to her feet again.
'My daughter, my beautiful sunshine,' he smiled and pinched her hand. Alynas lip trembled and she bit it, to control herself. 'May the gods bless all of you, my children.'
'He's sleeping,' maester Cestron said as he stroke his long chain, 'Preparations have to me made, my prince.'
'Go,' Ailith said to Rowan, 'I will guard you lord father.'
'Thank you,' Rowan said and kissed her forehead and then looked at his brothers and sister, 'We will do this together.'
The old King had managed to stay alive for another eight days, but on the seventh day Rowan was summoned. In the bedchamber of the King – and Queen, only she never was there – the children of the King kissed their father for the last time as the bells rung the low, sad melody. It was the first time Ailith saw Rowan cry. Rowan, Wardell, Alec, Standis and Alyna, all of the Kings children cried. Ailith wrapped her arms around Rowan as he laid his head on her shoulders and cried. They grieved two days for their father, and on the second days he was buried. Unlike the cold tombs in Winterfell, the tombs of Highgarden were in a beautiful decorated hall with ever burning torches. After the funeral the letter was read before the entire council, all the high lords and other important people in the throne room. Even though Queen Amelia was furious about the decision of her late husband, she dared not to oppose him before all the others who agreed. The next day Rowan would be crowned as their new King.
Ailith walked up behind Rowan. They were in their room and he was looking out his window, this was his last day as prince. Ailith wrapped her arms around his chest and pressed herself close to him. Both of them were dressed in green and gold, the colors of Tyrell. Ailith was not as nervous as he was, but that was mostly because she knew Rowan needed her to be strong now. Rowan turned around, wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She smiled and told him it was time to go. He nodded, took her arm and lead her out. With her hand on his arm Ailith walked into the throne room. The room was decorated with many flowers, banners, signs and people. It was a cold day and Ailith expected the snow to fall any day. The two months the late King Alexander had talked about had almost passed. Before the stairs waited he High Sept. The stairs towards the thrones were filled with all the usual people. Only now, Rowan's mother stood behind the throne of the Queen, next to her daughter. Wardell, as second in line, stood beside the throne of the King.
Rowan and Ailith knelt before the High Sept. Rowan was crowned before the sight of men and gods, as King of the Reach, Lord of Highgarden, Protector of Oldtown , Defender of the Shield Islands, Keeper of the Mander. The High Spet blessed him as he laid the golden crown on his golden hair. The crown was elegant yet strong. It was decorated with several lines and on four sides the flower of Tyrell. Ailith was crowned before the sight of men and gods, as Queen of the Reach, Lady of Highgarden, Protector of the People and Defender of the Weak. The High Sept blessed her as he laid the golden crown on her dark hair. Unlike Rowans crown, Ailith was smaller and elegant. It were small lines, braided together with flowers as decoration. After they were crowned Rowan and Ailith walked up the stairs to their thrones and sat down. The room looked so different from the height. The throne Ailith sat on was smaller that Rowan. This was also because the throne of the King was higher, since there was a step before it. Both were made of wood, with a golden layer over it. The golden thrones were massive and made of one piece of wood. The only opening in it, was the place to sit. Against the back and on the seat were green cushions with the golden rose on it. The entire thrones were decorated with elegant engravings.
After the coronation the new King and Queen mounted their horses and rode through the city. The people cheered and threw flowers before their horses. There was a feast and bread was given to all the people in the city. Yet after all the hours riding, waving, smiling and hand kissing Ailith was glad she found herself in her new bedroom. Rowans bedroom had been changed for the Kings and Queens room. Yet, they had made some changes: there was a sofa, a desk, a carpet on the floor and a sigil of House Stark. Yet when she walked into the room, after she had changed herself, she found her husband sitting before the fire. He did not even hear her enter. Ailith walked up to him and laid her hands on his shoulder and kissed his head.
'Hey,' she said.
'Hey,' he replied and stroke her hand.
'Come to bed,' she said, as she slowly pulled him out his chair, 'You're tired.'
'I'm not,' he lied and fell down on the bed. Ailith crawled over him and laid under the blankets. Rowan sighed, covered himself under the blankets and laid close to Ailith.
'My Queen,' he sighed as he wrapped his arms around her.
'Sleep well, my love,' Ailith murmured and watched him fall asleep. Gently she stroke a hair from his face. He had a small beard now and made him look all 'kingly'. Yet in her arms, he was still the Rowan she had fallen in love with.
Wow…those last few chapters went quickly
Let me know what you guys think of it!