2nd Month of 300 A.C. The Twins
Robb Stark
His body cried out for blood, it was the aching of the war, coming back to haunt him. His heart wanted to head north and deal a cruel blow to those fools who were hurting his home, to Stannis Baratheon who would dare try and harm his home and establish some heathen god on his soil. Robb wanted to rid the world of Ramsay Snow and end House Bolton for good, he wanted to ensure that House Karstark knew his wrath, for their schemes, and he wanted to speak with Barbrey Dustin and to thank her for her part in all that had happened. Of course he could not yet move, not yet, there was too much that needed to be done and so he remained and he listened.
"Tell me again of what happened at Deepwood Motte." he says his voice clear.
Donnor Snow, the bastard brother of the Ryswells speaks. "My brother Lord Roger moved and attacked the Ironborn as they tried to flee from the Motte, Your Grace. Lord Roger came with some one thousand men to drive the Ironborn out of the castle and to their deaths."
"And what of Asha Greyjoy, what became of her?" Robb asks.
"She was captured, just as you asked her to be, Your Grace." Snow responds. "She is being held within the cells of the Barrow Hall."
"Good, let her rot there until I return north. Has she said anything of use?" Robb says.
Snow is silent for a moment and then he responds. "She has said many things Your Grace. She speaks of the moment her father sent her to take Deepwood Motte, of how Theon Turncloak devised the plan to take Winterfell, and how he harboured a secret before his death."
Robb looks at the man interested now. "And what was this secret did she say?"
A moment's silence and then. "He did not kill Prince Brandon and Prince Rickon, Your Grace. The Lady Asha said that the Turncloak could not find it within him to do such a thing, not after having seen them grow up. It is the one good thing he did, she said."
Robb feels his heart speed up at the words the man says. Such news is more than he could have hoped for, but it also makes him feel foolish, all that happened, all the treachery, it came from that one piece of news and now, gods he feels anger, much anger. Looking at Snow, he keeps his face expressionless and says. "This is good news if it is true, but Greyjoy might well be lying, and as such until there is definitive proof that what she says is true, I do not want word of this getting out. You will tell Lord Roger that." The man nods and Robb goes on. "What more did she say?"
"She spoke of her uncles, the Crow's Eye and Victarion Greyjoy. She said that she knows how to make them break apart and fight one another, if you wished to enter into an alliance with her." Snow says.
There is a chorus of laughter at that, and Dacey says. "A Northman ally with an Ironborn, a Greyjoy at that? She must be out of her right mind."
There is even more laughter at that, and Robb holds up a hand and merely says. "Unless she gives me a valid reason to wish to support her bid for some pile of rocks, she can remain within that cell for now. You may leave Donnor." The man bends and turns and leaves.
Once the man has left, Robb turns to the figure standing at the foot of the throne, who comes forward and speaks. "All is going according to plan my lord. Jon knows where he must go now to seek the answers he wishes to find."
"Very good, but one must wonder whether or not the fool will actually leave that damned wall. He always wanted to be there, and now, well who knows what he wants. We are not the same anymore. He will find safe passage?" Robb responds.
"He will my lord," Howland replies. "Jyanna will ensure that none try and do him harm. Though the Watch might well be an issue."
"The Watch will do as I tell them to. They owe the fact that they even have something left to call home to Winterfell. If Ser Allister is the man you say he is, then it should be no trouble. So long as Jon gets to Breakstone Hall before the turn of the moon, all should be well." Robb says.
"He will my lord, have no fear of that." Howland responds.
Robb nods then, and then turns to the other recent arrival. "Ser Desmond what word do you bring from the south? How fares my uncle against those fools in the brotherhood?"
Ser Desmond Grell was an old man, old as nails, but true. "He does well my king. Lord Edmure is finding them and bringing them down per size, though one band of the party continues to evade him. It is believed this might well be the party led by the mysterious stone lady."
"What of my other uncle, Ser Brynden? How does he fare?" Robb asks.
"He holds Riverrun, just as asked Your Grace. Though he grumbles about this thing or the other, he does his duty. There is one thing he wished for me to speak to you about though Sire. And that was the issue of Black Walder Frey." Grell says tentatively.
Robb sighs then, the Lord of the Twins had been a good solider and a loyal lord for a time, but since sending him to King's Landing, Robb had begun sensing a change in the man. "What has the man done?"
Grell looks at him then and says softly. "It is not what he has done, and more what he intends to do."
"And what is that?" Robb asks.
"He intends to use his position within the capital to make an advancement on the Lady Sansa. We had word of it from within his party, he spoke of it after one too many cups of wine." Grell says hurriedly.
Robb considers this a moment and then says. "I suppose it is time we reminded the man who it is he owes his loyalty to." He pauses and then looks toward Dacey and says. "Bring the man's brothers here, as well as his son. It is time they met their end, as I said they would."
The Great Pyramid, Meeren
Queen Daenaerys Targaryen
Her heart ached as she sat atop her throne and saw the bodies being moved from the throne room. The bodies of yet more slain, the work of the Sons of the Harpy, destined forever to fight in perpetuity against those who would try and free them from their curse. Daenaerys did not know why they continued to do as they did, but she knew she could not tolerate them for much longer, she knew sooner rather than later, she would need to find the Harpy and have them removed from power, for good. She looks at her husband and asks. "Have you found out any more to what you said you would find?"
Her husband, Hizdahr Zo Loraq, a worm if ever there was one, looks at her a moment surprised and then he says. "I have found one thing, the same thing that my men have found almost everywhere."
"And what is that?" Dany asks her patience running thin.
"They are killing those who guard the city that they once worked for. The Slaves of Meeren are falling by their dozens, and as such there is more and more chaos by the day. The noble born fear for their families and for their lives, and the slaves grow angrier. Something must be done soon my wife, otherwise, there will be blood on the streets." Her husband replies.
"And what must be done then, husband of mine? I cannot go after the nobles for they would riot. I cannot tell my children to go back into their servitude. I have reopened the fighting pits, and damned well nearly suffered for it. So what would you have me do?" she responds.
"Take to the streets, and show them that you are proud of being their ruler. The people want a Queen, give them a queen." her husband says.
"And what would that do, but her in the line of fire?" the commander of the Brazen beasts says. "The nobles would rather see her dead then accept her as Queen. Do not lie Loraq, you know damned well that something else is going on here."
"What are you suggesting, Shavepate?" her husband asks bitingly.
"You know damned well what I am suggesting Loraq. And until you give me reason to believe otherwise, I will stand by what I said." the Shavepate says.
"Enough!" Dany barks. "Enough of this foolishness. Whether or not there are traitors within our ranks is an argument for another time. There is a very real threat outside our walls, and our food is running low, there is chaos on all sides. Yunkai has gone back on its agreement, and Volantis is coming for us as well. I would know how you all plan on sorting that out?"
A long silence and then her husband speaks. "I know the commander of Yunkai's forces, we have been friends for a time, and I can speak to him, and convince him of ending this farce once and for all."
"And no doubt have us all killed in the process." The Shavepate says.
"Enough!" Daenaerys shouts. "Enough of this bickering. Our people are dying, there is a threat within our walls and without. I will not allow petty grievances to bring us down further into chaos. We must stand united, or we must fall on our own swords."
"What are you suggesting my queen?" her husband asks.
Dany looks at him and merely responds. "Go, speak with the fifteen families, and tell them they are welcome to come here tonight. It is time we spoke about what is good for Meeren and what must needs be done for it. And send word that should the Harpy wish it, I will speak with them as well. I am done hiding."
Her husband looks at her surprised, and then he quickly stands and says. "I shall get to it at once." Dany watches him hurry out of the room, and when the doors close behind him she laughs.
Turning to the Shavepate she says. "When he leaves this place, I want your men to have him arrested, and then tried. It is time we deal with these fools."
"I will do so gladly." the man responds.
Ser Barristan looks at her then and asks. "Are you certain that is wise Your Grace? The man is keeping the city from opening into war, is it not better to keep him at arm's length?"
Dany looks at the old knight and merely says. "You once told me, that my father was a man who did what he said, and yet he is known as the mad King, my grandfather was a frail man, and yet my great grandfather gave nothing and everything. I do believe it is time, I showed these people what it means to play with fire. Ser Barristan, if you would come with me, there is something I must show you."
She stands then and walks down from her throne, Ser Barristan follows her, and they walk in silence for a long time, before reaching the place where her true children are kept. She walks through the gap, and in the darkness she waits, and waits, and then when she sees the eyes of Viserion and Rhaegel emerge, she says. "It is time that I used what I have been given. I will not hide. I will not cower before them. I am no girl anymore, I am a queen, and queens do not hide."
"What will you do Your Grace?" Ser Barristan asks.
Dany turns round and looks at him a moment, before turning back and smiling. "I will give these fools what they have always wanted. They can have their city if they so wish, but they will not get it until such a time as they have learned what it means to fight a dragon." she pauses a moment and then says. "I shall give them fire and blood." with that she smiles and whistles, and her dragons roar, the sound sets her blood on fire.