The Witch Queen of Essos
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Tyene: (sighs) Ever considered getting a new computer? (tsks) Sorry about that. She's just mad because she and DanaCardinal are having trouble getting the next chapter of Avengers of the Multiverse back and forth for final edits. George RR Martin sits on the Iron Throne and JK Rowling is Minister of Magic - we are merely spectators and whisperers.
Chapter 11: Dragon Fire
Viserys missed Ginny's pain killing spells and medicine.
His leg burned with inconsistent bouts of pain, mixed with a blurry mind and sleeplessness. He had barely maintained consciousness long enough to keep his loyal mount from attacking any of the Freys, and to order him to return to King's Landing. Quicksilver had whined in concern, not wanting to leave him behind, but Viserys insisted until he flew off.
Two of Walder Frey's daughters were tending to him. The older woman was trained in healing arts, while the younger one sang to him in an attempt to ease his pain.
Viserys was desperately grateful for Roslin Frey's voice. It was so beautiful, whenever he heard it he could think clearly and rest easily.
Walder Frey's children certainly came of...varying quality, but Roslin was his favourite and his constant companion for the last two days. She wasn't as beautiful as, say, Ginny or Daenerys, but to his eyes there was no fairer flower in the Riverlands.
On the third day, the pain had gone down enough for Viserys to sit up and hold a level conversation.
"Any word from King's Landing?" He asked. I should be there with them...curse my carelessness. Being a dragon doesn't make me invulnerable.
"None yet, your grace." Olyvar responded, his face sympathetic.
"May I ask something?"
"Anything!"
Olyvar was of two minds on Viserys. He, along with his brother Alesander and Perwen Frey and sister Roslin were 'black sheep', so to speak, of their family. By which that meant they weren't prone to backstabbing each other or committing various petty crimes.
When he had brought the injured Targaryen prince to The Twins, he swore Walder's eyes had transformed into golden dragons for an instant. It aggravated Olyvar to no end that his father saw his rescuer's injury as a means of raising the family status; unfortunately that was just the sort of man his father was.
Obviously Walder hoped to make a 'friend' out of Rhaegar's brother; that was probably why he'd sent Roslin and Daera to tend to his injury instead of their maester.
"One of your sisters has been singing to me." Viserys said. "What is her name?"
"Oh – that was Roslin. By my father's third wife." Or was it fourth? Sixth? Sometimes Olyvar himself had trouble remembering. Those wives didn't tend to last very long.
"I see. If it isn't to much trouble, could I ask her to continue to keep me company?" Viserys asked, closing his eyes. "Her voice is quite soothing."
Olyvar smiled hesitantly. "There's no trouble, your grace."
He worried for Roslin sometimes; their father was bent on getting her a 'prestigious' match – her happiness was of no concern to him. He worried about where she might end up should she be married to a man of bad character but good standing.
Roslin was visibly infatuated by Viserys's handsome looks (along with his courage and strength in arms, as they had seen by his defending the Twins against Tywin's raiding parties), and since Walder hadn't sworn her specifically to the Starks Olyvar saw no harm in it.
They hadn't received the raven informing Walder of Robb Stark's infatuation with a mysterious Volantis healer yet – it wouldn't arrive until nightfall.
**~At King's Landing~**
Rhaenys, Daenerys and Emily entered the throne room dressed in armour at midday. Jon and Aegon were already discussing defensive strategies with Mace Tyrell and Oberyn. Rhaegar and Lyanna stood on either side of the map that had been brought in, listening to Tyrion's report on ballistic stocks.
Jamie stood off to the side with The Hound. His Kingsguard armour had been retired; he wore militia leather instead.
His trial regarding the infamous Oathbreaking – and the trials of Robert, Cersei, Tywin and Joffery – had been postponed by Stannis's declaration of war; Tyrion had convinced him to help defend King's Landing in hopes that this could earn him the mercy of the Diarchy.
Given that Jon had promised a fair assessment of the incident and circumstances, the dwarf had more hope than he felt he should, given the charge.
Ginny and Lillian entered the room last. Only Daenerys and Tyrion saw Jamie start and stare in astonishment when the red haired witch arrived.
"...true he's converted to the Lord of Light?" Jon asked, speaking of Stannis.
"Yes." Mace scowled slightly at this. The Lord of Light was not thought highly of in Westeros. "A twisted Red Witch – no offence, lady Gryffin d'Or -" The other red haired woman shook her head and smiled in response. "-has been trailing behind him ever since."
"What can she do?" Ginny asked.
"I'm afraid I've only heard rumours." Mace responded apologetically. "Many of which contradict each other."
Ginny clicked her tongue and said, "I've put up a defensive shield around the Red Keep." She said. "Her magic is likely different from mine, but if she tries anything our kings and lords will be safe."
Rhaenys smiled a bit when she heard that, the first she had ever since she left the Stark camp. She had been outside and watched as Ginny cast her spells. The Red Keep was engulfed in a shimmering blue shield, guarding it from all outside harm.
"Who else is near?" Aegon asked. "Does Stannis have any allies?"
"Only the men of the Stormlands." Oberyn answered. "Renly sought the safety of Highgarden with the Tyrells and rejected Stannis's calls for arms; he was always the smartest of his brothers. Olenna claims neutrality, but she and Renly are in the process of dissolving his marriage to Maegary Tyrell."
Aegon's lips twitched. He had received a letter from Ser Loras's sister after Viserys visited the infamous Queen of Thorns. The woman had an astute mind and a quick wit. If she was truly like the written word, she should be quite interesting wife.
"The Starks are marching north to break the Greyjoy occupation of Winterfell. Doran will see to it that Eddard meets up with his son with some lent sellswords. Either way, they wouldn't assist Stannis with Queen Lyanna and her family here." Mace continued.
"Lysa Arryn has refused to leave the Vale in years." Oberyn added. "I sincerely doubt that's changed by now – not for a war in which none of her men have died in yet. And obviously, the Greyjoys have elected to be a pain in the arse – but they're all up North. Stannis won't be getting any of their ships to support his supposed claim to the throne."
"Any word from Tywin Lannister?" Aegon asked.
Oberyn's eyes darkened. Tyrion and Jamie tensed slightly at the mention of their father.
"He hasn't left Harrenhall." Ginny answered this time. "Likely he's trying to recover from loosing Casterly Rock – that would have been a brutal shock to the system for him. I can't say for sure how many men he has now, but I doubt he'll keep his head down for too long. The only thing I can say for certain is that Stannis wouldn't accept his alliance even if he offered it."
Rhaegar nodded in grim agreement. The Barantheons and the Lannisters had never liked each other, even before the Rebellion had happened.
"How are the dragons, Dany?" Lyanna asked.
"Getting restless." Daenerys said. "It's as if they can smell the coming battle."
Ginny smiled dryly. "Then let's get them outside; before they set something important on fire."
A nervous laugh rippled through the room at that.
"Stannis will be here by nightfall." Jon said. "Bring our men to the walls. Targaryens...to the dragons."
Aegon, Jon, Rhaenys, Lillian, Rhaegar and Lyanna left the room in a different direction from Mace and Oberyn.
While the Red Viper would be out on the battlefield himself, Mace would be taking care of the women and children in the Red Keeping – which thankfully did not include the impetuous Arya, who had been returned along with Sansa to the Starks.
Had she been here, she probably would have slipped out to fight alongside the other knights.
Ginny was the last to leave, giving some directions to the servants before leaving. Sandor moved off to join the muster at the gate; not noticing his charge was dithering.
Jamie watched Ginny walk away before saying lowly, "I didn't realize she was a witch when I first saw her. All those years ago."
"Oh?" Tyrion looked up at his brother, one eyebrow raised.
Jamie gazed upon the spot where the red haired queen had stood, his eyes distant as if he was lost in a dream. "If this is magic...perhaps being trapped under a spell is not such a terrible thing after all."
**~The Assault on King's Landing~**
Ginny's first kill for the battle of King's Landing was the Red Woman's shadow creature.
Despite the difference in magic, the construct had been unable to breach the protective wards around the Red Keep. It took some effort to dispel the creature, but that was enough to prevent it from harming any of the royal family.
"So much for honour." Ginny had said to herself. "Stannis, I'd respect your pragmatism if you were honest about it and yourself."
While this didn't tell her what else the Lord of Light's sorceress would be able to do, it was a good way to kick off a very long night.
Aegon the Conqourer, along with his two sister-wives, had created the term 'field of fire' when he defeated the original Lannister King and the Gardener King of Highgarden during the Conquest. That original firestorm had been created by three dragons.
Today, the Targaryens had six.
It would be a fine line to tread, taking out the opposing army – because there was a blurry but fine line between 'defending yourself and your people' and 'not being a goddamned psychopath who enjoys incinerating thousands of people'.
Given that the dragon lords were still trying to shake of the reputation Aerys II and Aegon IV had left behind, that was fairly important to bear in mind.
That was why they were going to let Stannis and his men reach the shores – consolidating them all in clear, easy – to – target spaces that would still give the victims some chance to flee when the dragons were unleashed.
Ginny liked the armour one Gendry Waters (they were debating legitimizing him, or at least have Renly foster him and his fellow bastard siblings) had helped prepare for Rhaenys, Aegon, Lillian and Jon. The helmets were shaped like a dragon's head, but they weren't all for show – the suits were remarkably flexible for steel and allowed more movement than most others of their kind.
Rhaegar was out front with Tyrion next to him. The Targaryen patriarch wore the same spiked black armour that he had worn during that near disastrous battle on the Trident. Lyanna stood at his right.
Visenya and Rhaenyra were both flying just above the castle; Lillian and Rhaenys were already on their backs. Rhaegal and Viserion were sitting on either side of the gate, while Balerion was behind the wall – waiting to give the approaching fanatic army a nasty surprise. Quicksilver was perched on one of the towers, a little nervous due to missing his rider.
Tyrion was the first to spot the boats as they approached the beach. "Ready yourselves! There are men outside these walls who want to fuck our corpses!"
Somebody's been spending too much time with sellswords. And Sandor. Ginny thought with a muffled laugh as a great roar went up from behind the wall.
%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&%&
The whole battle dissolved into mayhem after Visenya, Rhaenyra, Rhaegal and Viserion made their first pass.
It was said by those who followed the Lord of Light that death by fire is the truest and purest way to die. A good number of Stannis Barantheon's men would come to sorely regret their overconfidence in this belief after their first taste of dragon fire.
The walls were never breached.
Ginny sniped and killed Stannis's red woman, Melisandre, during the battle.
She nearly paid for the manoeuvre with her life as Stannis Barantheon blind sided her and overwhelmed her through sheer weight. The man moved to bring his sword down upon her neck when suddenly he was thrown aside.
Ginny blinked the stars out of her eyes and saw that Jamie Lannister had come to her rescue. After pushing the middle Barantheon back a few steps, Jamie glanced over at her to see if she was alright.
Ginny stared for a moment, then smiled at him – before apparating back into the fray. They were in the middle of a battle, after all.
End Chapter
I think GRRM realized that Dany's dragons were gamebreakers - so he had to create artificial reasons to keep her away from Westeros until he was done torturing the Stark family.
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