A/N: Nothing is owned by me. All of these characters (except James) are owned by George R.R. Martin.

Chapter 22 James VI

James

"Martells have laid siege to Storm's End. Send troops if you can. Stannis is departing with his fleet from Dragonstone."

The raven message read that came from Storm's End. James crumpled it in his hands and tossed it aside, as he shifted his weight in his chair. The small council room was very quiet, minus the blowing wind outside, and the occasional chatter or two that would echo from out of the halls. King's Landing was a lot more quiet, nowadays. The city was apprehensive about the final showdown that was seemingly looming over the horizon. The Martells were angry with them, Aegon was on their doorstep, the dragons were still missing, no word from Bran about Moat Cailin or his mother, it set everyone on edge. The only positive that came from this was that a Baratheon splinter force arrived in the city. The force was not big enough to help repel, Aegon, but it was still better than nothing. Trystane, had just finally made his move, laying siege to Storm's End in response to Arianne's arrest. I don't know if I could kill her…if it came down to it. Ros, is still too fresh in my mind.

James scoffed at the audacity of the young Martell boy. He is strutting like a rooster making empty threats he couldn't possibly come through on. James had sent an envoy to the Martell army, informing them of how he would be putting Arianne's life in danger if he attacked King's Landing. Arianne told him that Trystane may be bold on paper, but would not dare attack the city. James remembered the conversation they had that day:

"She is in there," the Chief Goaler told him, unlocking the door with the huge set of keys.

The mechanism unlocked and he opened the door, James stepped through to find the room still only lit by candles. Arianne was actually dressed in a Dornish sun dress this time, it was orange in color and it clung to her body. She also wore an inordinate amount of jewelry with that damned snake wrapped around her arm. Arianne greeted him with a smile and James ordered her chains to be locked to wrists. James brought a flagon of wine with him and poured himself a cup before handing her one.

"Still don't trust me, I see," she told him as they locked the last one.

"Just a precaution," James said. "You did try and murder my family not too long ago."

She sighed. "That was not my doing."

James waived his hand. "It doesn't matter now. How have you been since we last spoke?"

"Good," she admitted. "I've been treated well and the such."

"That's good to hear."

"How are you, Your Grace?"

"James. Call me, James, when nobody is around."

She nodded. "James. How have you been?"

"Stressed," he answered. "I've had a lot to deal with."

Arianne laughed. "Well, that is the price of being the king, is it not?"

"I guess so."

"How did you come into your crown?"

"Surely you have heard that story. The whole realm does."

"Daenerys chose you, I heard. She wanted an honorable man."

"And so she has one."

"Don't you find it odd that she chose you? Like some sort of animal."

James laughed. "More than you think."

"Life is odd, is it not? You never know what is going to happen next."

James nodded. "I often tell myself that."

Arianne remained silent, but she spoke up eventually, "Have you asked Her Grace whether or not I can walk the gardens?"

James nodded. "Yes. And I'm afraid she did...did not take too kindly to that request."

"She said no."

He nodded again.

Arianne sighed. "That does not surprise me. I'm afraid that Daenerys does not like me too much."

"Well you did try and kill us, Arianne. Are you surprised by this revelation?"

"My cousins tried to have you killed!" She yelled. "I had naught to do with it."

James pulled out a parchment from his pockets and handed it to her. Arianne gave him a confused look, but readily took it and opened it up, she began to read. As she read, James studied her. Arianne Martell was a great beauty indeed, he realized. James wasn't as attracted to her as he was to Dany, but he saw a beauty in there. I don't see why Jon did not like her so much, he thought as she finished reading. James could tell by the laughing.

"The cock on that boy!" She yelled. "Trystane is too bold."

"My thoughts exactly," said James, taking the message back to put it in his pocket.

"He'll never attack King's Landing," Arianne said. "Trystane may be bold on paper, but he won't actually do it."

"That's good to know," James replied. "How do we get him from not even considering it?"

Arianne thought on it before speaking, "Tell him that if he attacks you will harm me and my cousins. That'll shut him right up."

"Will he buy it?"

She nodded. "If I personally write him a letter, he will. Send an envoy to his army in Storm's End."

"That is what we will do."

"What is to become of us?" She asked after a few more minutes.

"If the city is to be attacked by Aegon than I will leave you where you are. He won't harm you."

"And if you are to defeat him?"

"Than I'll release you. Provided that I'm given a ward, of course."

"A ward?"

He nodded. "I want to make sure that Dorne won't rise against me."

"Dorne belongs to me, James. I'll make sure that we won't rise against you."

James nodded and rose from his seat. "We will see, Arianne. We shall see soon enough; Aegon is just lying in wait."

"How is Jon?"

"Do you really want to know?"

She shook her head. "Probably not."

Before he could leave, Arianne grabbed his hand suddenly. The shackles shook as she did, and James turned to face her, standing. She was looking at him with moist eyes.

"Don't go, please. Just stay a little longer, James."

"I have to go," he told her. "Daenerys doesn't like that I come to speak with you. She is the jealous type, if you haven't noticed."

Arianne laughed. "I have noticed. She does love you dearly, and I see why."

Is she crazy? James thought. "Arianne..."

"Have you ever thought about how our lives would have been if we had gotten married?"

"Once or twice. I'd think we'd have dark skinned children with grey eyes."

"I think we would have," Arianne said with a laugh. "I thought about it all the time, after you became, king. You are a handsome man, James. Daenerys is lucky to have you."

"As I am lucky to have her," James said, "And I love her with all my heart, but I really must get going."

Arianne squeezed his hand one more time before letting go, as James walked out of her room, leaving her alone.

"You have been spending too much time with, Arianne," Jon said, stirring James out of his thoughts. "Dany is beginning to notice."

"Huh?" James asked, staring at his younger brother…or cousin. He still didn't know what to refer to Jon as. Just calling him cousin made what he had with Sansa just a little easier. Although, he was glad to see them both happy.

"Arianne," he replied. "You're spending too much time with her, James. It is not befitting and your wife is beginning to notice."

After the conversation they had with Arianne in her chambers, James, took pity upon the woman. She was in a situation that she did not want to be in, and had only come to marry his cousin.

"And what is Daenerys saying about it?"

Jon sighed, his most trusted friend. "She doesn't seem to happy about it," he gave a slight chuckle, "and may be getting jealous. If what Arya and Sansa say is to be believed."

Not again, James sighed to himself. The last time, Dany got jealous about the prospect of him being with another woman it caused enough strife between them to end whatever love they had left. Too fresh on my mind.

"And what would my Hand recommend?"

"End it." Jon firmly replied. "End it now before Daenerys does something rash. We all know what happened the last time she became jealous…"

James waived a hand before speaking, "I don't want to be reminded about that," he sighed, "I don't know what to do, Jon."

"Why do you go see her in the first place?"

"Sympathy."

"What are you so sympathetic about?"

James reached over and poured himself some water. "That every chance of happiness she could have had, has slipped through her fingers. That I could have ended up like her, in some way. All lonely and full of regret."

Jon ran his hands through his hair. "Well, that isn't the case is it?"

The water felt good against his lips as he drank, "I'm just feeling charitable, I guess."

Jon sighed, a small frown spreading across his face. "I do feel guilty for what I put her through, I do. But that is all in the past now, and I am happier than I have ever been."

"And I am happy for both of you, but it does me good to talk to Arianne."

Sansa had already been speaking of a wedding for her and Jon. In Winterfell, of course, with the whole Stark family present. First, we must defeat Aegon though.

Jon gave him a puzzling look, "In what way?"

James shrugged. "Look. I feel bad that she hasn't found someone, and that she was put up to the betrayal. She is confined to nothing but those chambers all day, and it does her good for some human contact an hour or two throughout the day. Dany, already denied my appeal to let her atleast walk the gardens with guards, so I might as well give her someone too talk to. Lest she go insane."

"I guess I can somewhat understand," Jon replied, "but you must end it, James. You know what will happen if you don't, and that will be unneeded in these times. The Stark family must be as one."

James nodded. "I understand, Jon. I'll end it."

"Good," he said, "now are we all ready for later?"

"Yes," responded James, "meet me at my solar in the afternoon. That is when we shall pay a visit to our Master of Whispers."

And confront that fucking traitorous shit. I should have known better than to trust that eunuch.

"Good," Jon replied. "Now I would take my leave."

"Where to?"

"The gardens," he answered, "to walk with Sansa."

James laughed. "Have fun with that."

Jon sat up from his chair and gave him a smile, walking towards the door. "Oh I will!" he yelled.

James laughed to himself, and silently reached over for another raven message that had come too. Except this one was from Trystane himself:

"Release my sisters and cousins, and I will not do you harm. If you release them now, I will not go over to Aegon, but if you don't….I will see King's Landing burn."

What a boy, James thought to himself, as he stood from his chair. He saw a map of King's Landing rolled up in a neat little scroll next to his pitcher of water and stack of parchments. James, took the map in his hand and untied it, flattening it out against the table. It was times like these that he thought to himself about how Aegon would approach attacking the city. He would be alone for at least a little while.

Aegon will attack the Mud Gate in full force, James thought to himself, a finger pointing to the gate itself on the map. He will try and break down the gate with a ram, troops swirling in as he goes, and he might try to come up on the walls with ladders. Perhaps, if we can stop the majority of his fleet with wildfire and if Stannis could help us out in time, we might have a chance. Our numbers are just too low for now. We must have archers lining up against the walls of the Mud Gate, and have men-at-arms there too. Than we can send out squads of men to meet Aegon upon the shore, and hopefully push him back. I will stand on top of the battlements and direct troops from there.

That is if Varys hasn't already informed him of this. Tyrion had his suspicions of Varys being the traitor since he was described the messengers who came to the different assassins. Jorah, the valiant man, described him the same: a fat man with boiled leather and a hood, stubble on the face. It was Varys, James knew. The man wore the same disguise when he came to visit him that one night in the Tower of the Hand, when his father was still alive and James was still a green boy of the Night's Watch. I was on a recruiting mission, James remembered. Then that is when everything all went wrong. I should have seen this before, perhaps we would still have the dragons. Daenerys, had tried to call out to her children again and again, but they never responded. Tyrion being the dragon expert he was, figured they'd go to the ruins of Valyria or Dragonstone. "Dragons aren't meant to be chained," he had said, "they grow stunted and cruel."

James sighed and sat back in his chair, grabbing another message that came from a scout he had in the Stormlands.

"A fleet has been seen moving past Storm's End, two weeks past. They fly no standard or sigil, but they move in force. We can't tell an exact number, but the fleet is big."

Stannis must come here with all haste, James thought. He sat back in his chair once more, and looked around the small council room. That is when everything went black.

He was having one of those dreams again, the same ones he'd have of growing up in Winterfell:

"We must do this quietly," James urged his brothers.

Robb and Jon had been snickering the whole way there, and could not keep quiet. The dead rabbit felt cold in his hands, and it began to smell. They had found it outside the stables that past morning, as they walked back from the practice yard. Robb, had the idea that they should take it and place it in Sansa's bed, thinking that it would be funny. James agreed. Now, they were walking to Sansa's room in the Great Keep.

"Will you two shut up!" James whispered back to them. They stopped snickering, "Do you know what will happen if mother catches us?"

Robb laughed, his auburn hair was bright in this dream, brighter than it had been in real life. "Father won't allow it! He loves us too much."

Jon snickered. "Speak for yourself! Your mother would have me killed."

"What is the plan?" Robb asked.

James gave a devilish smile. "We sneak into Sansa's room and place the rabbit under her sheets."

Robb frowned before speaking, "But how will we know when she sees it!"

James urged him to be quiet. "We will know."

"But I want to see her reaction," Jon added.

They stopped at the edge of one of the halls and looked around, no servants were around so they kept going.

"We can hide under her bed!" Robb suggested, "It is big enough for the three of us."

James smiled back at him. "Good idea. Let's do this."

The three boys sprinted down towards the end of the hall, and found the entrance to Sansa's room. James, knew that she would be at her needlework lessons with Jeyne, Arya, and Septa Mordane. This was the perfect time to do this. They stood about her door and looked around, before slowly opening the door. It creaked open and they stepped in, the room smelled oddly of flowers. It never had before.

Robb took the rabbit out of James' hands and threw it under the pillow of her bed. Jon tried to suppress a laugh but it tumbled out of his lips. James and Robb shot him both looks and he kept quiet. Than they got down on the floor and crawled under bed, waiting for her to arrive. James laid in-between both of them as they waited.

"I can't wait to see her reaction," Jon said.

"Neither can I," Robb added.

"Make that three," James said.

"How long until she gets here?" Robb asked.

James shrugged. "Not sure. Should be soon though."

Time passed as they all grew restless. What after felt like an eternity they finally heard voices outside her door. One of them was Jeyne Poole, James knew, Sansa's best friend. The other one was Sansa herself.

"Arya Horseface is probably the worst at needlework!" Jeyne exclaimed, as Sansa opened the door.

Robb looked at James with excitement that only a young boy could muster for things like this. James placed a finger over his mouth to be quiet, but found he couldn't suppress the laugh either. Jon, was trying to do the same.

"Arya will never learn!" Sansa pouted. James could see the hems of both of their dresses dragging along the floor from under the bed.

The three boys began to giggle, as the girls stopped talking. They suppressed their laughter.

"Did you hear something?" Sansa asked.

"No, did you?"

"I thought I heard laughing."

Jeyne sighed. "Could have been anything, Sansa."

James heard the in-take of breath, "Do you smell something?" Jeyne asked.

"Yes!" Sansa exclaimed, "I smell it too. It has some weird rotten smell to it."

James saw the weight of both girls press down against the bed, as they searched for the source of the smell. That was when he heard the scream.

"AHHHH!" Sansa and Jeyne yelled. "Who put a dead rabbit in my bed!"

The three boys looked at each other, struggling to not let the laughter tumble out of their lips, but it was too late. They began to laugh wildly as Sansa continued to scream. Suddenly, they saw both of the girls faces peering at them from underneath the bed.

"YOU!" Sansa yelled, grabbing for them. The three boys pushed themselves back and stood up from under the bed, laughing the whole way. They stood in front of the two girls with the laughter still resonating throughout the chamber.

"I hate you!" Sansa exclaimed. Jeyne kept quiet and was eyeing the rabbit carcass on her bed. James waived at her and she waived back.

"Oh have a sense of humor, Sansa." Robb said.

"You placed a dead rabbit on my bed, you idiots!"

They continued to laugh as she stared at them with narrow eyes, Jeyne began to suddenly laugh too.

"Jeyne finds it funny!" James exclaimed. Sansa, looked back at her friend and gave her a look, but Jeyne continued to laugh. "It is a little funny, Sansa."

"No it isn't!" she yelled. She faced them but her frown turned to a devilish smile, "I'm. telling. mother!"

"NO!" Robb yelled. Sansa turned heel and ran out the room with Robb and Jon at her heels. James stood there and still laughed to himself with Jeyne in the room with him.

"It was pretty funny," she told him. "Sansa is just overly dramatic."

"James!" the voice came from nowhere, but it wasn't Jeyne's voice. "JAMES!" it came again, this time it was Daenerys. "JAMES!"

Jeyne smiled at him once more, like she used to, as everything went back again. No I don't want this to end, James thought to himself as he woke up.

"James!" he heard again, his eyes gradually opened.

Dany's face appeared before him, and he felt her hand on his shoulder. She was dressed in a dress of blood red, cut across the neck to bare her shoulders her crown heavy on her brow. James looked at her and rubbed the sleep out of his eye, he could tell the afternoon sun was coming up on the sky.

"How long was I asleep?" he asked, sitting up in his seat to look at her.

"Not sure," she answered, "I just found you sleeping now."

James sat up in his seat, and saw that a cup was placed on the table in front of him; tea, he figured. He took it with both hands and raised it to his lips, it was his tea. The same medicinal tea that Sam made for him everyday. It tasted like shit if you didn't add any honey to it.

"Thanks for the tea," he told his wife.

"No problem," she assured, taking a seat next to him. Daenerys had this coldly demeanor on today, and James could tell she was upset. Arianne, he deduced.

"Water?" James offered, sliding the pitcher to her. She shook her head, the silver hair bouncing as she did.

He sighed. "What is wrong, Daenerys?"

She crossed her arms petulantly before speaking, "I don't want you talking to her anymore, James. I forbid it!"

She looked like some child, ordering him around as if he wasn't the king or anything. Sometimes he wondered whether she forgot that she had chosen him for the job, something he never truly wanted.

"Nothing is happening between us, Dany. I just talk to her is all."

"You talk to her more than you do me!"

James sipped on his tea, and remained silent. He couldn't blame her for her profound jealousy, it was Daenerys. She was often this way and would always be so. He had grown used to it by now, and made sure not to flash any smiles to other handmaidens.

"I do not talk to her more than you," James assured.

She crossed her arms again. "When was the last time we took a walk?"

James thought on it. "Not sure, why?"

"Because that is when you started talking to Arianne. What happened when you first talked to her?"

James hadn't told her because she never asked. Daenerys was harboring feelings of malcontent towards the Dornish, especially Arianne. Arya was of the same nature and wanted to rip the woman's eyes out. It would have come down to that if James had let them see her that day.

"She broke down and began to cry, Dany. Arianne began to cry about all the men that have slipped through her fingers." He paused before listing off the names. "Edmure Tully, Arys Oakheart, Jon, Viserys, Me-"

"-Well you're mine so that won't happen."

He sighed again, "It does not matter, Dany. I just felt sorry for her is all; don't do something rash."

She narrowed eyes at him. "I won't be doing anything rash, don't you worry," now she smiled, "but if I find out that something happened between you two…"

James laughed. "Let's hope that doesn't happen."

She laughed some more, and he right along with her. He wouldn't dare bring up what happened with Ros. James forgave her for that a long time ago, but he couldn't forgive himself for how he treated her. Even until this day I will never feel like I deserve her. James waived a hand to her and she walked over to him, hugging him.

"I would never cheat on you," he whispered.

"You better not," she whispered back.

She kissed him on the lips, and stepped back as she took her seat again.

"Was that a threat?" James asked.

She shrugged, jokingly. "It could be…"

He laughed. "I promise not to see her anymore, Dany."

"Good. I have another question, by the way…"

"What?" James asked, he didn't know what could happen now.

"Would you want to take a walk this afternoon, with Jon and Sansa? The woman has been dying to."

"I'd love to, but I can't." James said, but than he reminded himself about Varys.

Dany crossed her arms again. "And why not?"

He beckoned her over with his hand, looking around to make sure that nobody was listening. Varys, could never know that they were coming to speak with him in the afternoon. They were planning to sneak into his room when he was out in the city meeting with his little birds. Tyrion, Gendry, and Jon, if he remembers, should be waiting for him in his solar at any moment now. All three of them planning to confront the eunuch before it was too late. James had told her about Varys being the traitor, and she felt the same amount of stupidity course through her as James did. How nobody figured it out it was the most obvious man the whole time. Daenerys walked over to him and lowered her head down to listen, her cleavage was in his face.

"We're confronting him today, Dany." James whispered quietly.

She backed off and looked up at him, nodding. "I understand."

"I'll make it up to you somehow, but we have to get it done."

"What will you do with him?"

James shrugged. "Lock him up, kill him, who knows? All I know is that we can't let him leave the city today, Dany."

She bent down again. "Varys, knows the city, James. He knows all of the Red Keep's secrets; whether it be the secret passages that run through these walls or how to sneak into the city without being seen. Your going to have to do more than just lock him up."

She back off again and looked him in the eyes, James knew what she meant. Daenerys wanted him to kill the eunuch. "Dany, I don't know…"

"What if he were to escape?" She shot back. "The man knows all. of. our. secrets, James. He knows everything! He has sat through our small council meetings and knows of our plans. You need to end that lying cockless man once and for all."

He gave her a puzzling look, yet Dany had some reasoning behind this. Varys was too risky to just be kept alive in some cell within the Red Keep, because James knew that the eunuch was privy to its secrets. The tunnels that Maegor built, or the entrances than ran under the gates, Varys knew. He has to die, James realized, Varys has to die.

"That is if he hasn't told him already, Dany."

"He hasn't," she assured, "and if he has than we are already doomed. It is a risk we are going to have to take."

"You're right," James muttered. "Varys, is to risky to be kept alive. I'll see that it is done by my hand. I won't have his blood on anybody else's hands."

She smiled and kissed him once more. "The man who passes the sentence, should swing the sword."

"So my father has told me on numerous occasions."

Daenerys nodded and put a hand on his shoulder before striding out of the room. James sighed and drank his tea, which had grown cold, in a couple of big gulps. He wiped his mouth the sleeve of his doublet, and looked at the noonday sun that was now growing dimmer and dimmer. It is time. James, stood up from his chair and tucked it in before walking out of the small council chamber towards his solar.

Cold sweat began to form on his brow, as he played the scenario of Varys' encounter in his head, over and over. Gendry planned on taking the eunuch by surprise when he was to enter the room after meeting with his little birds. From there they would interrogate him by whatever means possible. Varys, was a feeble and weak man when it came to violence and torture. James knew that he would break after a couple of punches to the stomach, or a kick to the groin. Although I doubt it'd hurt him if I kicked him there. Than the idea of killing him played in his head. I'll have to kill him with my dagger or something, maybe slice his throat and get it over with. Even though the eunuch more than deserved his death, in James' eyes at least, he still didn't like the idea of killing anyone. It was bizarre because he remembered when he killed his first wildling, the fool tried to cut him with an axe but was clumsily about it. James quickly slashed him across the face with his sword, and he remembered retching after that. His uncle Benjen was there to witness it.

But that was different in his eyes. Killing wildlings was a duty to a man of the Night's Watch; they were the sworn enemy of the black brothers, and it was ones duty to defend the realm by whatever means necessary. However, executing a man, looking him in the eyes and listening to his final words was different. You actually were given time to compute ones actions, instead of the quick death you gave a men-at-arms in the heat of battle. When you executed someone you knew them on a personal level, you knew their name. As I knew Ros's name, James thought. The woman who took his virtue at such a young age appeared before him, her green eyes and fiery red hair that contrasted with the snow when flakes landed in her hair. James loved Daenerys with all his heart and would do so until he died, but he still harbored something for Ros. I can't believe I killed her, I believed it to be a mercy. I wonder if this is how father felt. I wonder what he'd think about me now.

He arrived at the solar and gave a silent knock, looking around to make sure there were no little birds watching him. James opened the door slowly and saw the men sitting down enjoying some wine before the deed. They shot up immediately and greeted them, as Gendry handed him a cup of wine. James reluctantly took it and drank a cup before he knew what was to happen.

"What is the plan?" Jon asked in a hushed voice.

"We are to confront him when he comes back into his room," James answered.

"How do we know he will be there?" Tyrion asked, pouring himself another cup. His mismatched eyes staring down the goblet.

"Varys is with his little birds right now," Jon replied. "He will be there."

"How are we to go about this?" Gendry asked.

James pointed at him before speaking, "You will be waiting by the entrance of the door, while the rest of us will be standing there. Once he comes through the door, Gendry will tackle him to the ground and keep him pinned. We will interrogate him and then…" James paused, "…and then I will have to kill him."

The shock was plain on their faces. "Kill him?" Tyrion said. "Kill, Varys?"

"We have no choice," James replied. "Varys knows too many of our secrets, Tyrion. Sure we could have him placed in some cell, but no doubt he would escape somehow. A little bird might slip him a key, or he might kill the goaler and escape. It is for the best to just silence him."

"I agree," said Jon, "it is the best option at this point. Best not leave these things to chance."

Gendry and Tyrion nodded along with them.

"Are we ready?" James asked.

They nodded again.

"Watch out for his fucking birds," Tyrion exclaimed.

James nodded and stepped out of his solar with the three men behind him, as they walked out to the halls. The women by this point were either with the kids, or walking in the gardens by themselves as the men attended to this business. The eunuchs chambers were on the other side of Maegor's Holdfast, and no doubt he had his damned birds posted around them. James just hoped none of them would be around at this point, and that the man wouldn't be privy to this plans. The men had come up with this plot in secret, the moment they left Arianne in her cell. At night they met in the godswood, knowing that it was a quaint place that nobody would really bother. Varys had been distant since the wedding, and everyone had noticed. He was more distant, going into the city more often than he had to, and never lingered around longer than needed. James figured he was growing onto their suspicions.

The butterflies flew around in his stomach, and some more sweat began to form on his brow, knowing that the task was at hand. Again, the scenario played out in his head of how he was going to end the eunuchs life. James clutched the hilt of his dagger, as he walked, full knowing that just slitting the mans throat was how he planned on ending him. He'd bleed out in a matter of seconds and it would be a clean death. James, would have preferred to end the man in a less gruesome matter, but what choice did he have? Poison? A weapon for women….and eunuchs. No, the choice was clear.

Finally, they arrived outside Varys' chambers. The door was closed and Tyrion looked around for any children, but did not find any. They opened the door and barged in, hoping to take him off guard but he was not there. Gendry walked up to the door and slowly closed it as the men looked around for any clues. The room smelled of lavender oil. Of course it smells like that damned oil.

"Don't make a mess," James urged.

They nodded and looked up and down for anything.

"Gendry!" Tyrion yelled, getting his attention, "Stand next to the door and take him by surprise. When he walks in slam him onto the ground, and we'll take care of the rest."

Gendry nodded and stood against the wall by the door, waiting for Varys. His chamber was modest with a cot, chamber pot, small table, and a chase that had books in it. James, grabbed one of the books and saw they were history novels. An History of the Great Sieges of Westeros by Maester Ch'Vyalthan, James read to himself. A big and old book that had dust on it. He wiped it off and set down onto the bed, opening its old pages.

"Having fun reading?" Tyrion sarcastically asked.

James raised a hand behind him as he read. The book was interesting to him and he wished Varys had told him about it. It could have helped cement the siege even further, but they're plan was good enough to defeat Stannis before and should be good enough to defeat Aegon as well.

"James!" Jon yelled in a whisper, "I hear footsteps!"

James shot into position as he slammed the book, and grabbed the chairs that were by Varys' desk. He pulled the two up and sat down on one and Tyrion on the other, as both faced the door. Gendry, was standing against the wall, quiet as a mouse, and was waiting for the eunuch. Slowly, the door creeped open and the lavender oil scented Spider walked through. His head was bent down so he didn't see them at first, but than he looked up and locked eyes with James. His eyes grew wide as he saw him, and he turned on heel to find Gendry slam him onto the ground. Both him and Varys went tumbling onto the ground, and Gendry slammed his foot onto the eunuchs neck.

The frail plump spymaster was for once taken off guard, and he emitted a piercing squeal, one that echoed through his chambers. His voice was muffled and he was attempting to fight his way out of Gendry's grip. Varys even tried to lift the mans foot from his neck, but the eunuch did not have the strength. Finally, he shot his eyes open and he looked up at eight eyes that were staring down upon him.

"My lords…and his grace," he spluttered. "I….I didn't expect to receive you."

"That was the point," Tyrion spat. Gendry planted his foot even harder to expel any notion the spider had of escaping.

"If…if I had any time I would have-"

"-Save it," Jon yelled, "we know everything, Varys. Why are you still here?"

"I'd….I'd love to explain, but it…it is." Varys tried to get out.

James looked at Gendry and the man pulled his foot of the eunuchs throat. Varys immediately shot up to it and clenched his throat, releasing coughs that only grew in intensity with each passing second. Gendry and Jon sighed, as they pulled Varys on his feet, holding him by his fatty arms. He struggled to release from the grip, but Gendry delivered a blow to his stomach, making him wretch over in pain. James shot up from his chair and lifted his bald head up to look at him, staring into his eyes.

"Why are you still here?" James asked him.

He gave a slight giggle. "I have no idea what you're talking about, James."

James sighed and pulled out his dagger, pressing against the eunuchs throat. Varys' eyes immediately went wide at the sight of the dagger against his throat. "Now that I have your full attention," James began. "I want you to tell me everything!"

"Just tell us," Tyrion urged, "and we won't hurt you any farther."

Varys laughed. "I highly doubt that my-"

James pressed the blade deeper, "Enough! Speak now, Varys!"

He gave another of his titters. "Why serving the rightful king, of course."

"Which king?" James increased the pressure on his neck, it drew a little blood that made Varys whimper. "Which king, you piece of shit?"

"Gently…Your Grace…gently now….why the true king, of course." Varys' eyes were growing wider by the second. "As I have for all these years before your reign, when the Lannisters still held King's Landing….Your Grace you must be careful."

"I am being very careful, Varys. Give me one good reason why-"

"-I have raised the boy since he was but a child, Your Grace."

"Say his name!" Jon yelled. "We know it is my damned brother you've been working for! Aegon!"

"His Lord Hand would be correct on that one," Varys said.

"Why?" Tyrion asked.

"Like I said before…I've raised the boy since he was a babe. It was me who switched him out at birth with that of a peasant baby. I sent him across the Narrow Sea to be trained by Jon Connington…please release some pressure."

"Oh I think I'll be the judge of that," James replied.

Varys let out a cough. "I couldn't idly stand and watch as your wife took what was rightfully his…I couldn't let Daenerys take what I've been working for this whole time."

James pressed the dagger even further, more blood stained his blade. "You're the one who sent Ros after me. You're the one who sent the assassins after me, trying to get Jorah Mormont to kill me. You're the one who almost had not only me almost killed, but my daughter too and you're responsible for the death of Ser Jorah."

"Ser Jorah's death was not planned," Varys tried to reply. As if one good deed cancelled out the other.

"I don't care if it was not planned," James spat. "I want you to admit you're the one responsible."

He kept quiet.

"Admit it!" Gendry yelled, twisting his arm. Varys released a slight yelp at the pain.

"It was me who bought off the two Kingsguard members under Aegon's orders. It was me who bought off the servant girl to try and poison your kids, under Aegon's orders. And it was me who released the dragons too, but it was Margaery Tyrell who sent me to negotiate with the whore…"

"Don't call her that…" James fumed, the blade was still pressed against his neck.

Varys laughed. "After all these years you still feel something for her…"

"I always will," James replied, "until the day I die."

"Oh how romantic, Lord Stark."

James looked to Gendry who twisted his arm again, gaining another cry from the eunuch. Varys's eyes were beginning to drop and roll to the back of his head.

"Your Grace, I know you want to kill me and are going to; but I'd advise against that." Varys said, trying to twist free. "Unless you want all of King's Landing to fall."

James laughed out loud. "Another empty threat, I'd imagine? I don't see Aegon here, do you?"

"No. A warning." The spymaster stared him down. "I am hidden here waiting for Aegon's attack to come, just like the rest of the city. When it does, I intend to open the gates and let his army in. That way no one needs sacrifice themselves heroically, not even you."

"You just told me that you plan on letting my enemy into-"

"Why, pray tell, is that more of a crime than letting thousands upon thousands suffer and die in an attempt to forestall the inevitable? Aegon will take the city, Your Grace. You have naught the men to repel him, or your precious dragons to do so either. Aegon will take the city, and seven hells couldn't prevent what he will do to you all..."

Jon cracked him across the face, as the eunuch fell to his knees. Jon, went behind him again and pulled him up with Gendry.

"What is he planning to do?" James asked, pressing the dagger against him again.

He chuckled. "Aegon will kill you, of course. Even you know that, James. He might let Jon live, and possibly the rest of your family but you and your children will be killed. He will leave no contenders. From there he will call out to the dragons again, and with them crush your brothers army…killing him in the process."

"What about Daenerys?"

Varys grinned. "Well…the dragon has three-heads, does it not?"

James felt the anger rise in him, as he punched the eunuch in his stomach, making him fall over. Jon rose him up again.

"But there is hope for you," Varys said. "One of my little birds told me that your brother has taken Moat Cailin, a couple of weeks past. He is on his way to Riverrun and may come to the capital, but I fear it may be too late."

"Bran has taken the Moat?" James asked.

Varys nodded again. "So they say, James. But like I said, I fear it may be too late for such delusions of grander. You have lost, and Aegon will be here before your brother will be."

"Aegon is nowhere near the capital," Tyrion corrected.

"Is he?" Varys said, cocking his head. "The fleet of ships you have seen off the shore fly no standard for a reason…"

The shock must have been on James's face because Varys began to laugh. "Aegon is on his way here as we speak, and may even be in the Blackwater Bay by now."

"You lie," Jon spat.

"Do I?" replied Varys. "Knowledge has always been my trade, Jon Snow. I fear that I will always know what you don't."

"Where will he attack?" Tyrion asked.

James increased pressure as Varys spoke, "By the Mud Gate. His men will land on the rush and try to take the city that way."

"Does he know about the wildfire?" Gendry threw in.

Varys shook his head. "Not that I know of. Aegon has been in the dark this whole time, and not even I knew where he was hiding. But he is done hiding now."

James remained silent as everything sunk in, he stood there completely irresolute. The eunuch before him was nothing but a devil, and had been planning the downfall of not only his house, but his family and everything he'd ever loved.

"Look," Varys began, "you can still get your family out and leave now. Let Aegon have the city, Your Grace. Get out while you still can."

"Do you take me for a fool?" James asked. "Aegon will go and find me where ever I run. He will seek for his vengeance against those who wronged him, and after Daenerys especially. I can't go anywhere."

"How did you find out?" Varys said.

"Arianne Martell came to the conclusion," Jon answered.

Varys scoffed. "The same woman who would have you all dead."

"She is a better person than you, spider." Jon replied.

"Says the man who betrayed her," Varys spat, it earned him another punch from James.

Everyone remained silent as the eunuch whimpered some more.

"What is to become of me, Your Grace?" Varys asked.

James looked at Gendry and the man nodded, he slammed Varys against the wall as the three men looked into his eyes.

"You will have to die, of course." James said, pulling the dagger back to have the blade facing, Varys.

The eunuch whimpered and threw his hands up, waiving them as if he was begging for a last ounce of mercy. James was hesitant and didn't know if he could do it, but he knew it must be done.

"I, James of the House Stark, the first of his name, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, the King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, sentence you…to die." He said in a whisper.

Varys laughed. "Send me on my way then, Your Grace."

James pulled back the dagger once more. That is when in the distance, the bells of the Great Sept of Baelor began to boom, deep and dolorous in the late summer evening. All the men began to jerk their heads around as they heard the bells resonate through out the capital. Aegon…he is here…

"You had best decide, Your Grace." Varys' voice was now so soft that James could barely hear him over the rising thunder. "They are coming. Aegon is here."