A/N: I expect many will be disappointed because I saw a lot of assumptions about what might happen in this chapter. I couldn't correct without spoiling it. I always knew the major details of how this would unfold. I'm not trying to be unpredictable for the sake of it. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint too much.
Chapter 80: Aegon | Arya | Cersei
Aegon
After Aegon entered through the gate, his eyes scanned the area quickly. He knew Lord Connington had been inside the city for a time before he advanced but still did not know how far ahead of him his Hand was. He will be wroth with me. Aegon knew he did the right thing. Remaining outside the city after the gate was secured would make him a craven. Arya had the right of it even though her words did not refer to him.
I must not hide while my men fight and die.
Men gathered close to him, bringing various reports. They told him of the losses and brought a report of Lord Connington being headed for the Mud Gate. Aegon knew what he needed to do. He thought quickly on the map he memorised of the city and gave the command to cut through to the Street of Steel from River Row. He would join up with the Northern forces, mayhaps the Dornish too if the timing was right. They could march on the Red Keep together.
The path seemed fairly unobstructed though there were signs of past fighting. He saw dead men lying in the street. Nym remained close by his side offering encouragement. Few of his guards disapproved. Aegon knew them well enough to know that although their priority was to keep him safe, they were not used to being out of the action. They thrived on combat. His decision to ride into the city, while likely to anger his Hand, gave almost everybody else exactly what they wanted.
He focused on where he wanted to be, his patience wearing thin with each delay. As they climbed Visenya's Hill and closed in on the Great Sept, he was greeted by the ranks of the Faith Militant. The Warrior's Sons were distinguishable by their rainbow cloaks. Aegon nodded greetings to them and received courteous responses but they appeared tense. He supposed that was to be expected in the midst of a war.
They watched as he and his guards rode along the street. Aegon was a little puzzled but he dismissed the feeling. It is not their war. He supposed it made sense for them to observe but given he knew they already fought against the gold cloaks and Lannister men it seemed strange they did not take part. No doubt Lord Connington or Arya might have some insight as to why but Aegon could not dwell on it.
They do not oppose me and right now that is all that matters.
The Great Sept came into view and Aegon looked on it with curiosity. It did not look as he expected. The structure looked worn and in disrepair. Aegon saw signs of destruction all along the way through the city but he expected the sept to be spared. He frowned before his attention became distracted by the mounted men he saw in the distance.
Nym spoke behind him, saying something about wanting to enter the sept. Aegon ignored her and gave the command to keep moving. He squinted to see the banners, resisting the urge to lift his visor. They were not sigils he knew well. The Dornish. He felt a new rush of adrenaline as he moved to join them. He had met with many of the leading Dornish lords in planning the attack but not all.
They will know me.
The woman giving commands addressed him abruptly.
"Cousin Aegon."
He paused a moment before Nym interjected.
"Obara" she said in an almost playful tone. "I am pleased our Uncle set you loose. Have you seen our other sweet sister yet?"
Aegon could not see her face under the helm she wore but Obara did not seem in the least playful. He had not met the eldest Sand Snake. He knew she was one in command but she remained in the Dornish camp before the attack and was known to be prickly.
"No" she said shortly. "We are not here for family reunions. Tyene can wait."
Aegon took little notice of their exchange, instead observing the white cloak one of the men brandished like a prize. It brought to mind Arya's quest.
"Who does that belong to?" he asked.
"Ser Balon Swann" Obara replied.
Aegon heard Nym laugh. "I trust you exacted your vengeance against him for the plot against Trystane. Obara and Ser Balon had quite the history cousin. I knew if they were to meet again it would not end well."
Obara's tone was clipped. "I warned him."
Aegon had heard quite enough. "What of the North men?" he pressed. "Have you seen them?
Obara read him more easily than he might have liked and Aegon wondered exactly what Nym had told her family. "I saw her, her and that monstrous direwolf. They passed through not long ago. She wants Kingsguard. If I hadn't been waiting for men I might have gone with her."
"Where?" he asked, suspecting he knew the answer.
"The Red Keep" Obara replied. "She moves quickly. You were not wrong about her Nym."
"I should be wounded if I thought you doubted me."
Obara began moving quickly and Aegon saw she had as little patience for the conversation as he did. He called to his guards as the Dornish host finished forming up.
"We shall ride together for the Red Keep." He raised his voice in the hopes the Dornish might hear him. "The city is already falling. Join with me. The remainder of my men await us. We will take the Red Keep together."
He felt another surge of excitement run through him as they shouted his name. He was so close now. A short ride up Aegon's Hill and he would see the Keep where the Targaryen Kings ruled. He urged his horse forward, joining the Dornish host. His one hope was that Arya did not do anything reckless before he got there.
Let me take my throne and be crowned in her presence.
Arya
Arya was ascending Aegon's High hill and the gathering of Aegon's men were within sight when the messenger drew close looking strained.
"What is it?" she demanded. As far as she knew, although they had losses the city was falling. This man's expression however did not tell a story of success. He began to ride with her as she approached the gathering to see the Targaryen banner still flapping in the breeze.
"The Prince" the man began. "He refused to remain outside the city."
Arya did not let him finish. She heard the drawbridge begin to lower and heard the alarmed shouts. The man holding the Targaryen banner dropped it. The voices gave it away. Arya saw men crowding close and knew something terrible had happened to somebody important. She tried to calm herself as she leapt from her horse but her heart pounded rapidly in her chest. Her guards shouted to her but she paid them no mind as she discarded her shield.
Her foot slid a little before she gained her footing and she tore her helm off, resenting that the slippery ground would not let her run.
I told him not to take risks. He told me he would be careful.
The men recognised her as she approached and they parted way for her. She knew she said something to them but she had lost awareness of everything but seeing and fearing what lay ahead of her. She resisted the urge to call out to Aegon. She did not know if he could even still hear her and that thought was even worse.
The last of them seemed to move more slowly and Arya knew she shouted. She still gripped her father's sword in her hand. She held onto it tightly and heard Nymeria whine beside her. The sound frightened her even more.
When she saw him a wave of relief washed over her but it was short lived. A lump formed in her throat and she tried to swallow past it. Lord Connington had fallen to his knees and an arrow was sticking out from his chest. Another had struck him in the shoulder. Arya closed the distance as he slumped over onto his side.
"Stay back" he said, so softly.
Arya ignored him and dropped to her knees beside him. She reached for his hand and he pulled away. The other men moved back away and Arya heard dark mutterings of greyscale and knew Connington had told them. She looked at the arrows. They had pierced his ringmail and were embedded far deeper than they should be.
"Find the archer" she barked out. "He was amongst you. Make sure there are no more."
Arya knew the man had likely tried to flee. She did not touch the arrows but she knew they had to have been shot from close range to make such an impact. The men obeyed her and she realised the drawbridge was down. She wondered briefly who had lowered it. Those within did not look as though they had a part in it.
"Stay back" Lord Connington said again.
Arya persisted this time, taking his gloved hand in hers. "No" she said stubbornly. "You are my friend."
She did not know how much pain he felt but he scowled at her nonetheless. It passed to be replaced by another expression Arya knew well. She had seen it on many dying men. Lord Connington was afraid.
"I must not look like a fool. A stupid mistake. I am slower... I still have my wits. The boy..."
"You made no mistake" Arya told him. "Aegon will know."
He gripped her hand, awkwardly but tightly. "I failed." His voice was quieter but Arya still made out the words. His eyelids fluttered shut. "Rheagar."
"No" Arya told him again. She looked up and through a gap she saw a hooded figure. They watched her. It was a woman. Arya could tell by the way she held herself. She dressed like a peasant but something was wrong about it. Some people remained in the streets, frightened and hurrying away from the soldiers as they passed. Nymeria's eyes were sharper than hers. The direwolf took a few steps closer and the woman still watched though a man took her arm. He said something and Arya tried to be certain but she was pulled back too soon.
"Rhaegar" Lord Connington said once more. "I wanted... Aegon was meant to..."
Arya had to make a decision and she couldn't do both. The woman was leaving and Lord Connington looked at her with glassy eyes. His expression was hard until the end but Arya saw beneath it. She put her sword across her knees and placed her other hand over his so that she held onto him with both hands.
"You died giving the commands which will give Aegon his throne" she told him. "What are your commands my lord?"
She waited a moment while Connington blinked. Understanding dawned on him and he spoke to her softly. Arya relayed the message to the men around her. She only had to say it once. She looked back down at Lord Connington. His eyes were closed but he lingered.
"Aegon needs Daenerys and her dragons" he whispered. "You are not unworthy."
Arya felt her eyes sting. Lord Connington fell silent. His grip loosened on her hand and she knew he had breathed his last. Amongst the mayhem of battle she rose and turned to Thoros. He waited close to her.
"Guard his body" she told him. "He should be burned." She thought that might have been what Lord Connington would want.
Arya took up her sword once more and put her helm back on. She declined the shield they offered and advanced toward the Red Keep.
Cersei
Cersei Lannister refused to speak about the impending attack until the raven was delivered. She read the messy handwriting and the signature from her twin. After all this time she had wondered if he might be dead. She told herself he wasn't, that she would know if he died but it had been so long. Her fingers shook as she read and her initial surprise turned into rage.
He abandoned me. He left me here alone.
He suggested what her bannermen also pushed her to do. Leave the Red Keep to the Targaryen army. Get out before they could bring House Lannister down. Jaime did not suggest surrender as her men did. He was not so foolish as that. Instead he pushed her to retreat. Cersei lingered in the throne room right up until the last minute.
They will think they have defeated me she thought bitterly.
Qyburn was by her side when she made her move. Her disguise ensured she was not detected. She moved closer, pausing so that she might see just as the Targaryen forces gathered fell into confusion. She heard the shouts. Their leader has fallen. She stood on higher ground, giving her a line of vision albeit not the best one. Cersei felt her hopes rise until she saw the banner approaching. The grey direwolf stood out on the white field but worse than that was the small figure dismounting and leading the North men.
At first Cersei thought it was just a small man. The voice carrying above the other noise gave away her error.
"Make way" the girl shouted. "Let me through."
The men parted before her allowing Cersei a proper view. The young woman held her helm loosely in her fingers. Her dark hair blew in the breeze, showing a long face. Cersei did not need to be closer to see if the girl had dark grey eyes. The monstrous direwolf at her side answered that. The girl might have been beautiful but it was hard to tell from so far away.
"We must go your grace" Qyburn urged her but Cersei did not heed him. She had to see this girl. Sandor Clegane betrayed his allegiance to Casterly Rock, his allegiance to her over this girl. The prince gave her half of Westeros. Men obeyed her, even feared her. This girl had the power and loyalty that belonged to Cersei. Cersei would see her before she must leave.
Arya Stark wore armour, ringmail over leather. The sword in her hand swung and caught the light. Despite the girl being covered in blood, her sword had been wiped clean and Cersei saw the ripple of red in the steel. She knew that sword. It is Jaime's sword. The betrayal cut deep.
They say she looks like Lyanna a nagging voice inside her head taunted her. Rhaegar left everything for Lyanna.
She heard the men calling to the girl. Your Grace they called her. They flew the Targaryen banner and yet Cersei saw them bow before Arya Stark while the girl paid them no mind. The direwolf padded by her side but it was not the wolf they looked to. It was not the wolf they feared. My father did not let me wear armour Cersei remembered. I was not allowed to carry a sword.
"Let me pass" the voice called out again.
Cersei watched as the girl knelt by the fallen man. Her hopes were dashed when she realised it was not the prince. This man was far too old. She could not make out their words as they spoke. Arya lifted her head.
"Find the archer" she barked out. "He was amongst you. Make sure there are no more."
They hurried to carry out the command. Cersei did not hear the next words but the girl did not weep over the dying man. Suddenly Arya Stark raised her head and looked directly at Cersei. Cersei knew she did not look like a queen. Her hooded cloak and peasant garb disguised her and yet the girl did not move her gaze.
She cannot know who I am.
It had been years since Cersei laid eyes on Arya Stark. She barely remembered what the girl looked like. This young woman could not possibly pick her out. Arya's head dropped and Cersei thought the worst was over until she saw the direwolf watching her. It seemed to see her, to know her and it began to approach with fangs bared. Cersei took a step backwards and Qyburn urged her once again to leave.
The direwolf was meant to be dead Cersei remembered. I commanded it at the Trident.
A wolf had died and looking at the animal Cersei feared it knew what had been done. Just as she began to back away the direwolf returned to her mistress. Cersei glanced back at the girl and saw she was no longer looking. She heard the command ring out behind her.
"Storm the Keep" the female voice seemed to echo. "Find the false queen Cersei Lannister and bring her to be sentenced for her crimes. Find and confine Myrcella Baratheon to be questioned for her part. We will take the throne from the usurper."
Cersei ran, following Qyburn's directions. He led her back, down the serpentine steps and across a small courtyard. They passed through a long gallery, through a heavy door. Qyburn had her climb down a ladder in the cliff, promising a boat waited for her. She almost slipped and pushed away her fear.
I am a lioness. I am not afraid of anything.
The climbed into a boat and Cersei did not look at Qyburn as a man rowed them out to a galley. They helped Cersei out of the rowboat but Cersei's thoughts were elsewhere. She heard Maggy the Frog once again.
"Queen you shall be . . . until there comes another, younger and more beautiful, to cast you down and take all that you hold dear."
Casterly Rock must be her refuge now. She did not want the Rock but it was all she had left.
Let them think they have their triumph she thought, seething as tears tried to well in her eyes. They will not have it long.
Arya
The already lowered drawbridge made entry into the Red Keep much easier than anticipated. Arya did not wait for Aegon. The men could not stand idle waiting for him while the castle lay open and waiting but she knew he would join them soon.
She used her knowledge of the Keep from her time their years earlier. It was little changed. She strode through the courtyard and the kitchens, negotiating her way through the small hall and another courtyard. The men within the Keep gave her little trouble. The army overwhelmed their numbers, her guards remained near and Nymeria shadowed her. The direwolf dripped blood and Arya feared she had been hurt but she still offered the protection Arya needed.
The drawbridge was down at Maegor's Holdfast too and Arya saw that the guards were dead. She hesitated, wondering if it was a trap. Extra men awaited them when they reached the royal apartments. Arya had rushed ahead of the army and her guards became separated from her, fighting alongside the other men and trying to stop her being targeted.
It did not work. Arya found herself face to face with one of the Kingsguard. The man guarded the door to one of the Royal apartments. One of his brothers emerged from within the apartments. His visor was up and Arya saw the droopy eyes and rust-coloured whiskers she hated so much. She pictured the scene the day Syrio Forel died.
"You should have run" she told him.
"Kingsguard do not run" Ser Meryn replied.
Nymeria seemed to know what to do. She growled menacingly at the other man in white as Arya faced off against Ser Meryn.
"My dancing master did not run either."
He gave her a look which reminded her of how cruel he was. Arya had only been learning to see the day he had killed Syrio, she knew much more now and she knew the type of man he was.
"That made it easier to kill him" Ser Meryn replied. He dropped his visor. "I may not live through today but at least I will take you with me."
Arya wished for a bravo blade, a weapon she was more used to but the valyrian steel, while larger than what she knew, was not so much heavier.
"I am armed with more than a stick" she said quickly "and you are slow."
He cursed and advanced on her, slashing with his sword. Arya danced away from him, quick as a snake. He became frustrated quickly but Arya could see. She might not see his eyes but she saw his movement through the restricted vision of her helm, Syrio had been right but it took her time to learn. She knew what Ser Meryn planned to do before he did it.
She landed blows herself, her sword denting the steel armour. Arya was sore. Her shield arm was worse, for sure, having absorbed so many blows but the day had taken its toll. She darted this way and that, listening for sounds to keep aware of other threats. She knew she was not armoured near so well as the knight but as long as he did not reach her it did not matter. Even tired she surpassed him in speed, especially as she was not encumbered by a shield..
They had been circling each other for a little when she heard Nymeria whimper and looked to see that the direwolf had been wounded. The kingsguard knight muttered curses, one amongst them being warg and Arya knew that her wolf had suffered for her blindness. She barely dodged the next blow from Ser Meryn.
I should have waited for the others.
She wanted to go to Nymeria but when she tried the other knight joined her fight against Ser Meryn. Arya kept her wits about her, avoiding both swords. The second knight was less skilled than Ser Meryn but Arya did not underestimate him. She managed to inflict a blow in the joints of his armour and heard him cry in pain.
I should use poison like Nym.
She had never used poison in combat such as this. It still would not work quickly enough, she knew. Nymeria whined again and Arya felt her panic try to rise. She tried to push it down. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Her opponents pressed forward and Arya jabbed the second one in the knee and this time her sword cut true. He dropped to one knee and did not rise again.
When Arya turned back to Ser Meryn she saw new arrivals. Her guards had subdued most of their foes but a familiar form in black armour pushed his way through. The sight of him gave Arya courage and she landed a blow at Ser Meryn's elbow, forcing him to drop his sword. Aegon lifted his visor as he drew up alongside her. His eyes looked tired but still bright.
He does not know about Lord Connington.
Arya advanced on Ser Meryn and glanced over to see that other men held swords on the second Kingsguard knight. She heard them speaking of Myrcella and the door to the apartment opened. Arya paid it no mind.
"Lift your visor" she demanded.
He took a step backwards but did not do as she asked. Arya stepped forward, holding her sword on him.
"I want to see your face before you die."
I have to see his eyes.
Aegon moved quickly and quietly. Somebody called out to him, calling him Your Grace but he ignored them. He yanked Ser Meryn's helm off roughly. The man looked at her defiantly.
He isn't even sorry.
Nymeria whined once more and Arya turned away. The direwolf was trying to get up. She took a step then turned back to Ser Meryn, burying her sword in his throat. She yanked it back out, wanting to cry as she ran to Nymeria. She tried to enter the wolf but the pain drove her back.
"I'm sorry" she whispered.
She looked over the injuries, they were mostly cuts but one leg was battered. Nymeria licked her hand. There was a lot of blood. I can stitch her up she thought hopefully. The wolf might harm somebody else but not her. She would never hurt me. A small dose of one of her powders and the wolf slept. She tore strips of material to slow the bleeding.
When she turned to decide what to do next she heard the men speaking behind her.
"It isn't her" a voice said. "They played a ruse. The girl has the Lannister look but she is not Myrcella Baratheon."
Aegon cursed. "What of Cersei?" he demanded.
"She is gone too Your Grace."
Arya remembered the figure outside and shook her head. She suspected but suspicions were not enough. I will do no good telling them. She rose and saw some of her men nearby. They baulked when she asked them to help her with Nymeria but they gave in when she insisted. She was about to leave to find the supplies she needed when she heard the question she dreaded.
"Where is Lord Connington?"
A silence fell. Arya could only imagine they kept the news from him thinking it best he find out after the battle. She walked over to his side and placed her hand on his arm. He looked at her hand and blinked. If he saw the blood he showed no sign of it. Arya saw his face contort before she said the words.
"Lord Connington fell just before we entered the Red Keep. His last words were the final commands to take the throne."
Aegon did not weep. At first she wondered if he understood. He did not rage or question. He did not seek her embrace. When she tried to explain he cut her off. She wanted to comfort him but couldn't. Nymeria needed her.
Mayhaps I will go to him later.
Aegon left abruptly. He gave a curt command to the men to follow him to the Throne room. Arya knew then what he planned to do. She busied herself with her own concerns, finding what she needed to tend to Nymeria while she knew Aegon climbed the stairs to sit the Iron Throne for the first time.
When she finished her work she still doubted. The maester was little help. He feared both her and the wolf. Arya stopped the bleeding but time would show if Nymeria recovered. Until then she knew they were vulnerable. She thought on the day, on the faces of the people she saw. The wailing came back to her, the sound heard during the fighting of women and children inside their homes and Arya began to doubt.
The only name left on her list was Cersei. The death of Ser Meryn did not feel good, no matter that he needed to die. Cersei and Myrcella had escaped to add doubt to Aegon's new reign. They had taken King's Landing but it did not feel like triumph.
What have we really won?
AN 2: Obviously I had to go with Arya as the younger queen because with the AU I left myself no room for anything else (unless I brought Dany in sooner). I believe Dany is the younger queen in the books. It is really about what Cersei believes anyway in the end and I suppose it is plausible here even if Arya isn't Queen of Westeros. Prophecies seem to be rather self fulfilling.
There are loose ends and I know/expect questions will be raised by some of the content in the chapter. Some things are deliberately vague and will be answered in the next chapter(s). Feel free to ask me though, you might find something I accidentally missed. It did end up longer than planned but I wanted the battle done this chapter. It will be good to get back to single POV again. It takes time to write so many.
In response to the question received, I don't have anybody in mind who I see as Aegon. When I write him or write others interacting with him I have certain ideas of what I think he might look like, I have developed headcanons beyond what is in ADWD but I haven't gotten into fancasting (yet). Most of the fancasts I see on Tumblr annoy me because I don't think they are right but I am really picky (it isn't just Aegon either, I am picky about a lot of the other characters too). If I do think of somebody I'll let you know :D