Chapter Seventy-One
…
Winterfell Dungeons
The sound of sizzling can be followed by the muffled sound of agony made by Tyrion Lannister as he thrashes on the X- wooden torturing rack he has been placed by one Ramsay Snow. He might have been screaming if not for the large piece of cloth in his mouth.
Tyrion has no idea how long it has been since he has been handed to the hands of the monster in human form. Time seems rather to fly fast especially when Galleons are pre-heated to cherry coal red and then glued to your skin. Tyrion has seen his father do some rather ingenious ways of making enemies (or rather even perceived enemies) talk, but this is the first time that he has experienced witnessing Galleons being used as a torture device. Of course if possible, he would rather not be the one who is being volunteered as the guinea pig of such torture. So far in the past few hours or so, the one they call Ramsay Snow has successfully managed to cover only half of his body to a goldified mummy from the feet up and ending somewhere near his crotch.
"You know what I don't like about the Starks Lord Lannister, they are rather so banal when it comes to torture. No blood, no screams. Where's the fun in that? But my brother, well my brother bows to the Starks and well we enjoy what we can enjoy at the moment I guess," and there's the rather nasally voice of his "caretaker" at the moment.
"Hurmmf! Hurmmf!" Tyrion tries to scream "fuck you!" to him only for the cloth gag at his mouth to get in the way.
"Yes, yes I know you rather want to confess already that you are responsible for ordering the attack on the Stark boy but where is the fun in that? That would end our session a little faster than I want and I would terribly miss your company Lord Lannister," coos Ramsay heating another Galleon over a candle, slowly turning it red.
Tyrion's only reply is too glare angrily at the man with every iota of his hate.
"Now where was I? Oh yes. The Starks never have the stomach about skin peeling, the breaking of bone, the blood on the floor and yes, the screams. I never really like them for saying that they don't want any screams. I mean what's the point of torture if you can't hear the screams right? It just kicks the fun out of it?" he monologues before finally approaching the huffing and puffing Tyrion who now cows as he approaches with the burning heated Galleon.
"Now that is why we are into gluing gold in your good self Lord Tyrion. Your father shits gold as is well-known throughout Westeros. Well, I am turning you into the perfect golden man, the perfect Lannister. There's also the rumor that you rather love your balls when you are in Wintertown a few weeks back. The whores say they are rather disappointed with your performance. Let's give them a little justice shall we?"
Tyrion protests and begs loudly through the muzzle of cloth on his mouth as Ramsay bends down to face Tyrion's exposed pecker.
"Now, did you order the death of the Stark boy Lord Lannister?" he grins before shrugging as Tyrion tries to beg again through the muzzle. "That's a rhetorical question, let's just continue shall we?"
The sound of sizzling flesh is heard once more followed by Tyrion's muffled screaming on the dungeon.
…..
King's Landing, Robert's Personal Quarters
Two men sits in acute silence even as the evening oil light slowly burns away its last embers. It is a companionable silence for both do not say anything instead relishing the fact that they are not alone in these most crucial of times.
"Did you think I did the right thing Ned? Crowning my daughter as my next heir for the throne?" asks Robert swirling the cup of Firewhisky in front of him. Ned only looks at his friend. Not for the last time it reminds him of the sight of a man totally unfit for his role. Ned pities Robert, he should never have been crowned king. The free spirit that is his friend should never have been tied. As much as Ned loves Jon Arryn, he hates him for this.
Duty either makes or breaks a man. In Robert's case, it is the latter.
"I don't know Robert. You are the king and the Southener. I'm just a dumb ruffian from the North," replies Ned earning him a wry smirk from his chubby friend.
"I'm not asking you as a king Ned. I am asking you as your friend,"
"Do you want my honest opinion?"
Robert simply nods in silence.
"I think that you should have been a better father to your son. Else you could have avoided this choice that you are doing right now," points out Ned.
"I should have shouldn't I?" Robert chuckles sadly. "Normally I'd blame that it is Cersei's fault for coddling him; but in the end it's mine. Most of the time I've been to drunk and too engrossed in sleeping around that I can barely remember one day to another. I've taken for granted my family, Jon Arryn, and even the whole kingdom. I'm a failure in every way I guess Ned. I may have won the fight against Rhaegar on the Trident but in the end it is him who won seeing as to where I am now,"
"Robert," Ned tries to interject trying to stop the line of thought beating that Robert is doing to himself.
"No, you know it's right Ned. If not for dear old Jon cleaning up my messes, the kingdom would be gutting itself from the inside out. No, the Targaryens united this continent with their accursed dragons with fire and blood, I and Jon united it with the strength of our swords and diplomacy, Myrcella would be the gentlest of all and I can see that daughter of mine Ned destined for greatness,"
"As you say Robert, as you say," Ned simply replies raising a cup to his lips. "It's not as if the realm can stop this decision of yours once it is given. You are the king,"
"Yes, yes I am,"
….
Throne Room, King's Landing, Twelve Hours Later
"As the former Crown Prince and the Rightful Heir of the Iron Throne, I invoke the edict of stability established by King Jaehaerys Targayen that states that the proper Crown Heir of the Iron Throne cannot be replaced with another until he is deemed incompetent. Until then he reserves the right to challenge the one taking his place. This I do so against my sister, Princess Myrcella, so mote it be!" the confident voice of Joffrey Baratheon declares proudly in the gallery much to the murmuring of lords and ladies present at the moment who came to King's Landing to have their petitions brought to the King. Or rather to the poor overworked Ned Stark who is busy disseminating what should be Robert's job.
"Your highness, I meant no disrespect. But what is the meaning of this?" barks Ned out standing from the chair he is using at the side of the empty Iron Throne. He is already tired and sore from sitting here the entire day. Ned has been looking forward to his lunch when Joffrey had made his sudden entrance.
"This is me putting into action my right to challenge my father's decision about giving the realm for a little girl to lead. I am the Crown Prince after all and a man, capable and strong!" he booms out in a way that Ned would never imagine the rather lanky (and quite pathetic) young man would be able to do.
Ned has been skeptical with Robert's decision to put Myrcella into the throne. Even after so many generations, the scar left behind by the Dance of Dragons still leave its mark on the minds and thoughts of many Westerosi. It is a fitting reminder for many what would happen if you place a woman on the Iron Throne. The result is a realm refusing to bow to her.
While history of House Targaryen teaches much about the very land lived by their forefathers, that does not mean that it is stone clad written. The defeat of Rhaegar and the victory of Robert signaled a sign of new beginnings. House Targaryen is as dust as the wind, the few remaining survivors finding succor to forgotten parts of the world where they can escape Robert's wrath. Many of the practices of the dragons have been revoked and a normalcy settled in.
Many might be wary of the effect of the Dance of the Dragons to the realm due to the concerns of a woman leading, but it is not all bullshit as far as Ned is concerned. At the North, many women lead their houses throughout the annals of the North and some are even mightier than their male counterparts. However this is the South and Ned knows how prickly Southeners can be when it comes to their perceived politics.
"She is your sister, your highness," points out Ned. "There is no need of you to fight. Besides, it is your father's direct mandate that your sister would inherit his throne,"
Ned is rather reluctant about Robert's decision but he knows it is the right one. He has seen Joffrey and compare him to Myrcella, even a moron would realize that the Eldest daughter of Robert would do the realm good instead of the rather still immature brother of hers. She has good standing with many of the Houses and most importantly has the support of the two richest and strongest of them all at her side.
"I know Lord Hand. I know that she is my sister and she has my father's permission to steal my birthright from me. That is why I have this, an edict made by King Aegon after he threw the upstart traitor sister of his, Princess Rhaenyra at the dragon's maw. It is a law enforced again and again by the Targaryen kings through the ages that unless it's a major fault made by the MALE heir to the Iron Throne with the backings of the Seven Great Lord Paramounts, the same said heir cannot be replaced by a woman. In the event however that such an order is given by the command of the current reigning king for the heir to be replaced, the MALE heir has the option to put a Challenge, a duel to the upstart that is replacing him. I have that right Lord Stark, to put a challenge to my sister who is stealing my throne from me,"
"And do you have proof that this document that you are stating is real and not simply a made up law your highness. It seems a little convenient after all that such a law would exist," points out Ned.
He is grimacing however the inside. While Jon and Robert after all happily kicked out the Targaryens, majority of the laws are kept to keep the country stable. Unfortunately throughout the years despite the deceased Falcon Lord going through the laws like a fine toothed comb, his old age and the rather lackluster state of affairs due to Robert's neglect of his position as king, it is not surprising that some of the laws have been rather either missed or skipped by the old man.
"I have proof Lord Stark, and here it is!" with a dramatic wave, Joffrey raises a leather worn book with a Targaryen motif and a title written in bold large letters at the front saying: "BOOK OF ASCENCIONS".
"This is proof of my gods given right that I CHALLENGE my sister to a duel to the death in order to retain my position as Crown Prince of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros!" he declares loudly turning to let everyone see what it is he is holding. Tomorrow morning at the tourney yard, my champion Gregor Clegane wil fight for my honor and remind the people why it is a MAN who should be king!"
As a combination of murmurs and whispers surround the entirety of the court room, Ned can't help but grimace. It seems that the first of major backfires of Robert's decision to crown Myrcella as his apparent heir has finally started.
He never notices a cloaked shadow smirking a bit as its ladies' first carefully laid plans come into fruition.
…..
Lannister Rooms (Three Hours after Joffrey's Challenge)
"Father you can't do this! Joffrey is the eldest son of King Robert and it is tradition all over Westeros that the eldest son inherit the House and his father's mantle," Jaimie heatedly argues at the Old Lion who only scoffs at his words as he continues eating at the long table facing the open window that looks over King's Landing.
Suffice it to say that Jaimie is livid about everything these past two days. First is Robert's proclamation about making Myrcella his replacement, then later after Joffrey's public announcement, about his father stepping in and ordering The Mountain that Rides not to represent Joffrey in his (brilliant in Jaimie's opinion) challenge to regain his birthright. Of course his father knows about Joffrey's declaration of Challenge, his father's spy network runs deep. However it makes Jaimie livid due to the fact that Tywin's interference is making it impossible for him to fulfill Cersei's dying wish to him.
"If Joffrey has been correctly disciplined and well-versed on the position that he is about to take, then yes, I might have supported him wholeheartedly. Yet he is nothing but a spoiled, cruel and idiotic who takes great pleasure on seeing others feel pain without merit or reason. There is nothing wrong with the use of fear, but used excessively for nothing more than craziness or pleasure and it becomes a double edged sword that cuts its own user.I don't need to remind you my son of the days of Aerys. You were there and I would not see another Mad King ascend to my throne, much less coming from my family! His recent move is not only foolish but one that even a dunderhead would not make in open court. He just declared to the world that not only is he standing united with his family, but he is also willing to go against his king and father for his own selfish desires! What do you think that would show the realm?"
Jaimie only winces. As much as he hates to admit it, his father has a point. There remains the fact however that he made a promise to Cersei at her last breathe.
"Promise Jaimie, promise me that Joffrey would be king!" she can still remember her words from before as clear as the moment she said it.
"Father, please at least-,"
"I will have no more discussion about this Jaimie. Clegane will not fight for Joffrey and in fact, I will pay off every fighter that he dares approach for this Challenge of his. Myrcella would be queen and all the realm would all be better for it. Unlike Joffrey after all, Myrcella does understand what the word responsibility means," and with that final note, Tywin waves off that signifies the end of the discussion.
Jaimie however only sees red t he moment his father declares that the discussion is over. He loves his family and he loves his children (in secret). Above all else however, he loves Cersei and he would move the heavens and the land for her. That is the reason why he forsook his birthright as heir to Casterly Rock, to be near to her. All the wealth, prestige and power he gave up for the woman he loves.
Now as he stares at his father eating, all he sees is a power hungry old man preventing him from fulfilling the last wish of his love to him. In that moment Jaimie remembers all the snide insults, sneers and words of disappointment thrown to him by this man sitting in front of him in full disregard. A madness that Jaimie doesn't even understand descends on him.
Marching with full measured steps at the wall beside the open window overlooking the dining table where his father is supping, Jaimie unhinges from the wall, an ornate crossbow (which in another world would have been gifted to Joffrey). Checking the mechanism, it is already loaded Jaimie can see.
Tywin must have also noticed his actions for he looks up from the food he is eating.
"Jaimie what are you-," the sound of a string snapping is followed by the pained gasp of Tywin as the crossbow bolt hits proud and true at his heart piercing bone, flesh and muscle.
Gasping and whining, Jaimie only watches the power hungry figure futilely try to take off his bane currently stuck on his chest. With measured steps, Jaimie loaded the crossbow again even as his father stares at him in confusion and betrayal.
"Jaimie…why?" Tywin gasps dying as the Kingsguard raises the crossbow bolt again at him.
"For a promise I made to the woman I love that I would make her son, our son, king," Jaimie simply says before letting loose the crossbow one more time even as realization sets in on his father's eyes of the truth.
With one more twitch, the form of Tywin Lannister finally lies still with two bolts embedded on his heart. Jaimie only mournfully looks at the unmoving figure of his father before turning away to the hidden passageway known only to the direct members of House Lannister. There he throws the crossbow in before closing the passageway again.
Drawing his sword, and facing the window, Jaimie morphs his face into one of severe distress though it is tinged with truth with the murder of his own father.
"GUARDS! GUARDS! HELP! SOMEONE SHOT MY FATHER!"
….
Rivendell Camp, Inner Walls of King's Landing
The forms of Rhaenys, Myrcella and Delianah lies side by side on a large sofa contently dressed in comfortable pajamas of different colors. The three just went through an hour long massage that left the three beauties fully relaxed and quite content as they nibble through the snacks at Delianah's personal tray.
"So you are not worried about Joffrey's Challenge for me?" Myrcella asks in no small amount of awe at the rather lack of worry that Delianah is emanating. If it is anyone else, they might have been a ball of worry and stress already. The future of the Iron Throne after all, or rather the future ass of who will sit on it is at stake.
"Nope, not really, I have been expecting this of course. It would be only stupid not to be wary of a counter move by the prince no matter how foolish it might be. Why do you think I have you stay here instead of that cesspool of a keep? I don't want anyone sending you to Old gods yet before your time,"
"Because you'll miss me?" Myrcella waggles her eyebrows at her lover who smiles in return.
"Or rather I'd rather miss my warm pillow that is a good replacement for my bolster," she replies back.
"Oh get a room you two," snorts Rhaenys waving the two of them off much to the amusement of Myrcella. Her Rhae-Rhae is such a jealous bear when it comes to her and Delianah.
"If only she has the courage in asking to join in the action at night," she sighs dreamily. Let her Rhae-Rhae struggle uncomfortably on the meanwhile, she'll come around as far as Myrcella is concerned.
"Either way my lady. Tomorrow already is the Challenge. I must ask, will I or will you be the one to face The Mountain?" asks Rhaenys.
"What? Either of you will?" Myrcella asks in concern. She has been expecting that someone at least other than the ones she care about would face off against that monster. She knows Delia and Rhae-Rhae are both extremely capable but she worries nevertheless.
"No one else at the moment is equipped on dealing with him on our side Cella," answers Rhaenys. "I might suggest Draco but he is too lightly armored to be fighting against that monster. He is good but one mistake is all that is needed and he would be bisected from head to groin,"
"No need to get worried Cella. Neither I nor Rhaenys here would be fighting The Mountain. I have recruited someone else to fight for your honor tomorrow,"
"And why is that? Do you think that you or I would lose my lady?" Rhaenys asks who is looking a bit affronted. Myrcella resists the urge to clamp her mouth shut with her hand. She's just glad that Delianah has found someone else.
"What? Of course not Rhae-Rhae. I have the highest opinion that you are more than a match for old Clegane. However while it might be satisfactory, it would remiss us of a bigger opportunity,"
"An opportunity for what exactly my lady?"
Delianah only grins as she stands up dusting herself off. "An opportunity to bring your mother's people to the fold Rhae-Rhae. Nothing after all lurs men more than the promise of revenge. In fact Cella's representative is coming any second now,"
A few seconds before a man entered the entrance of the tent stopping only to bow on his knees at the three of them. Myrcella only blinks at the sight of the warrior. His outfit is not anything that Myrcella has ever seen before. Covering his entire head is a full face helmet smoother than anything she has ever seen before covering even his eyes. A T-shaped visor is the only proof where his eyes are supposed to be at the front of his helmet. He is wearing a shoulder pauldrons, vambraces, breastplate, codpiece, kneepads, and thigh and shin guards clasped over a body stocking of grey. All of them are coloured silvery grey almost reflecting the firelight of the tent. At his back is a mottled ripped cape where a slender spear made of silver Delianite gleams.
"You have called my lady. I have come to serve," he declares loudly.
"Yes, the time has come warrior. Vengeance and justice is at hand as I promised you. You help me and I help you. The opportunity of death for the man that murdered your sister, and in return, the Spears of Dorne,"
"It is as you say it is. When will the fight be?"
"Tomorrow at dawn, prepare yourself," Delianah pauses before gesturing for him to stand up. "This is the Way,"
"This is the way," he simply replies before heading out much to the confusion of Myrcella and also Rhaenys at the odd man.
…..
Author's Note:
Hehehehehehe I hope you like the cameo here. Only for those who really knows understand. This is the Way.
Im rushing the story guys okay? Soon War of Five Rulers will Start and it won't be who you expect it to be hehehehe.
As usual thanks for the support readers. Sorry I can't update as much as before. Im playing Jurassic World Evolution and am loving every second of it.