Dragons and Thrones: An Unusual Union
Chapter 24 of my crossover story, enjoy.
Reviews
Marina Ka-Fai: Yup, it's bad, but sadly necessary.
wazzup11: Thanks, I wouldn't say that, that's demeaning, there's a difference between being naïve and being stupid and Sansa is naïve, plain and simple.
Boris Yeltsin: Yup, she's in a tight spot, we can only wait and see.
Veridissima: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it; yeah, well, it's bad for her now, she doesn't want Arya to suffer too.
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks; well, despite everything, they are still sisters.
mr I hate znt nobles kill em: Oh, the usual sort of complaints you'd get from Qunari, doesn't necessarily have to be nobles, can be anyone really.
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin. Dragon Age belongs to Bioware.
Cersei
Cersei was once more seated in the Small Council chambers, she sighed as she rolled her eyes; Pycelle was droning on about the same drivel for the past ten minutes. She was starting to grow frustrated and even trying to tune him out wasn't helping.
'He cannot accept that the decision has been made.' She thought angrily to herself. 'Doddering old fool; I see I'm going to have to spell it out for him.'
She glared at Pycelle who continued. "In addition to various complaints from the citizens, the High Septon himself has also raised issue with the Qunari presence in the city. He has branded them heretics, followers of a false religion; what is worse for him however, is the threat posed to the Faith of the Seven by them. Many people have also declared that they have felt unsafe in King's Landing at night, since the Qunari arrived."
"That will do Pycelle." Cersei snapped.
He started at this. "Your Grace…?"
Cersei shook her head. "The decision regarding the Qunari has been made, as you well know. Those with 'complaints' should be questioned for them, for their lack of respect for the crown's authority."
"The decision did come from all of us after all, the King too." Lord Baelish remarked with a sly smile.
Pycelle glared. "No Lord Baelish, it…"
Cersei cut him off. "Lord Baelish is right; they are questioning a royal decision, they could be considered traitors for that. As for the High Septon, I would advise him to stop wasting our time with personal problems, that goes for you too Pycelle. Making up excuses to dislike the Qunari, they are staying and that is that. You are overruled."
Pycelle sank back in his chair, defeated. Cersei smiled; glad to have finally put the fool in his place.
All the same, they could just leave the issue like this.
She decided to discuss that matter. "We will allow the Qunari to stay and retrieve their missing item, they have made it clear they will leave once they do that. However, we cannot simply leave them to wander around the city all day and night…"
Pycelle narrowed his eyes. "As I said, they make the people feel unsafe…"
"King's Landing is always unsafe at night, the Qunari don't change that." Cersei snapped. "If they were gone, the people wouldn't be any safer, so stop using such a pathetic excuse."
Finally she turned to Lord Baelish.
"Lord, Baelish, as Master of Coin, I have a project in mind for you to fund." She said. "Nothing drastic, simply fashioning a compound at the docks, for the Qunari to stay while they are here."
Baelish nodded. "But of course Your Grace, a relatively simple project; costs shouldn't be difficult either…Our main concern is how to present the idea to its…intended recipients."
It was then Varys added his thoughts. "My little birds have given me some reports on Qunari behaviour. I believe the best approach would be to offer it to them, as a gift."
Cersei nodded, satisfied with that and soon the plans were put in place.
Smiling to herself, Cersei decided to move on to the next topic, pleased that things were already resolved and that no more time was being wasted on pointless complaining. Especially from people who had no right to complain.
"Now, onto other matters, we've already made the official decrees; Sandor Clegane has been accepted into the Kingsguard." She explained. "It is also official, my father shall become the new Hand of The King and my brother Jaime shall take Ser Barristan Selmy's place as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard."
They all nodded and murmured their assent.
Cersei then added. "In addition, as a reward for his meritorious service to us; I recommend a new addition to the Small Council. Commander of the Gold Cloaks Janos Slynt, be given a post as a Royal Advisor."
This time, although clearly surprised, not even Pycelle raised any complaint to this; in fact they all seemed to assent.
Although Varys did ask. "What meritorious service are we discussing, Your Grace?"
"Shortly after the death of Jon Arryn; Janos was able to intercept some slanderous letters, written by an unknown party, trying to implicate the man, along with cause embarrassment for the Baratheons. Janos brought the letters to me, to ensure they could not be used in this manner and so, he save House Baratheon, the late Lord Arryn and likely the whole of Westeros." She revealed while thinking.
'Of course, Jon Arryn actually wrote those letters himself, but still, it doesn't do to speak ill of a dead man.'
The others accepted this and Cersei knew she was well on her way now, she would soon be able to properly build up her own power, to have the authority she deserved.
However a few days later; things came to a jarring halt when she was called back to the Small Council chambers. As she made her way there she frowned, wondering what was going on.
'An emergency; what could be so urgent?' She wondered.
She soon entered and took her seat; she could see the other Council members, all of them were tense.
"What is going on?" She asked immediately.
It was then revealed by the man standing before them. "We just received word Your Grace, Stannis Baratheon has declared war…on the Iron Throne."
She froze at that. "What?!"
Varys began to speak. "It would seem Your Grace, before leaving; Lord Stark sent letters…similar to the ones Lord Janos intercepted, to Stannis Baratheon. Letters which implicate, falsely of course, that…"
Cersei didn't need to hear that part; she knew exactly what those letters contained. She should have guessed.
'Lord Stark; you didn't keep the secret to yourself after all; how clever of you. You sent the letters then acted as if nothing had happened, you got us to send you home, out of reach…But you made two crucial mistakes.' Cersei thought venomously. 'Sansa is still here, our prisoner and so will that little animal Arya when she returns. After all, she doesn't know what's happened, she'll come here, I know it.'
"We must answer this, Your Grace." Janos snarled. "Such slander cannot go unpunished."
She nodded. "True, but we don't know yet how things stand, we must rally an army against Stannis, but who will join us?"
Varys sighed. "Not many I'm afraid, we obviously have the Crownlands, the Westerlands too. But as for the other Kingdoms…The North and Riverlands, remain together in alliance, and have sworn themselves to Stannis. Lord Renly seems to believe this little…outcome, gives him just cause to try for the throne too, he leads the Stormlands and has allied himself with the Reach, creating a massive army, preparing to advance upon us. Meanwhile the Vale and Dorne remain neutral."
It was worse than Cersei thought. War was upon them, threatening everything she had worked so hard for.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
Well, last Cersei chapter for this story, next up Ned.