Chapter Fifteen

…

"In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father, I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother, I charge you to defend the innocent. Arise Delianah Tully, a Dame of the Seven Kingdoms,"

As Delianah rises to her feet, the cheers immediately sounded nearly deafening her coming from everywhere. She has to smile as she stands before the king taking the sword offered by King Robert himself. It is a great gift, Knight Maker is its name, one of the very few Valyrian Swords found on the treasury of the Red Keep, Robert Baratheon's personal gift to her.

Suffice it to say that her rescue of Princess Myrcella made a much bigger impact than Delianah ever thought. Her original objective was to simply aid the king's vessel by ramming the nearest Ironborn ship tapered to it. Color her surprised when she noticed Euron Greyjoy of all people holding a knife on Princess Myrcella and was loudly threatening how he will make the small six year old his salt wife. His fate was then sealed. Delianah after all hated above all else murderers, rapists and cutthroats. Unfortunately, the murderous bastard managed to survive by throwing himself overboard. Delianah mentally prayed that the sharks would get him. He was after all bleeding profusely.

Robert Baratheon however was nearly apoplectic with relief as he literally crushed Delianah's spine alongside his daughter's with a bear hug that sent her ribs crying in alarm. The Kingslayer, also looked extremely relieved, almost as relieved as the king. The smile he gave her and the handshake was also very genuine and contains no sarcasm or snide comment that the Lannister was prompt to do.

Suffice it to say that the rest of the battle to put down the Greyjoy Rebellion was completely uneventful for Delianah. Apparently the rest of the Lords (and the King included), despite being thankful concluded that she contributed way too much already on the campaign and had elected that she be the personal guard and caretaker of Princess Myrcella for the duration of the Rebellion. The King after all vehemently refused to send the princess back to King's Landing via ship after what just happened.

Thus in an ironic way, the Royal Cabin was transformed into her personal quarters alongside Myrcella's. The king on the other hand along with the rest of the Lords (minus Tywin and the almost unrecognizable Mace Tyrell transferred to other ships), kipped it on the deck to give the ladies some space. Renly almost transferred ship in order to find a cabin for himself but Robert put his foot down, demanding that the dandy fop put some backbone on being a man.

Thus Delianah remained there most of the time as the Royal forces finished off Greyjoy's Rebellion. While she might have enjoyed joining the charge for Pyke, she instead allowed Lord Viktor the honor alongside Dragon Shit to lead her men in. She after all had bigger fish to fry.

Myrcella was inconsolable after her ordeal and Delianah can't blame her. She after all had been threatened to a fate worse than death and had more times than she can count had a knife pricking her skin. For a six year old that was a terrible thing and Delianah was more than happy to keep her company. She had seen how such traumatizing things damage the psyche of veteran warriors in the field, it would be worse for Myrcella. She was no mind healer, but she did know that leaving the little girl alone in the dark would be the last thing that the Princess needed in order to cope with it. She will never get over it, but she can survive.

Thus Delianah almost spent the entire time with Myrcella at their small personal cabin. She would keep her company, asked her about herself, play games with her, let her do her interests with her as a friend, and what Myrcella loved the most, she loved listening to stories. Of course seeing that Delianah was the twenty-first century, the stories she knew were none like the one in this world. Thus what she told was an abridged story of Star Wars. Myrcella loved it and she was almost fully distracted from her ordeal most of the time. Thus while the two of them spent their times in peace at the Royal Cabin, Pyke burned and the Rebellion was put down.

Robert however did not show his gratitude until they finally returned at King's Landing where the victory banquet awaits. When asked for any boon, Delianah asked to be knighted. Not of course for the prestige or the idea of riding around the countryside saving peasants, but rather because of two things:

One, she had seen the different armies of the other Kingdoms of Westeros in this campaign, and she had to admit that her forces despite being good and fair in number were wholly inadequate of dealing with them in the case of some ambitious Lord Paramount once more attempt to make the Riverlands their battlefield. She needs her entire population galvanized. Already many of the womenfolk back at Harrenhal and its attending territories were starting to question the norm of the man-dominated country, she needed to show them that it's alright to be of the fairer gender and still achieve the same things that a man can. Not only would this give her higher recruitment rate to the Unsullied legions, but production output can be maximized, which would be needed in the coming years.

Two, other than stroking her ego of being the first female knight of Westeros, she needed the High Lords to see her. Respect and fear after all were the two things needed to be an effective ruler. The respect she already gained by taking Old Wyk and the Ten Towers plus saving the King's daughter. They need to see the latter; they need to know that she's not breaking out of the social norms of Westeros. A legitimized bastard that not only became a Lady of a great castle but also a knight, worthy of her title. Personally she just wished that with her ascension, she would attract the rest of the bastards of many lords to her. Nothing after all can bring moths together than a flame.

She already has plans for that.

The sword however is an unexpected gift from Robert. He must be very grateful to her for him to be freely giving a three million dragon worth of weapon to her. Now she has three swords in her possession, Red Rain, Nightfall and Knight Maker. Delianah personally takes pleasure on seeing the other high lords grinding their teeth to dust for a "bastard" to be given such gifts and honor.

"LET THE FEAST BEGIN!" Robert's booming voice echoes on the archway as the entirety of the Red Keep cheers.

It seems however that Robert's enjoyment of feasts is not exaggerated. Food is aplenty with a seven course meal for the lords to enjoy. Wine is also flowing and Delianah more than once spots delicacies and drinks that Harrenhal imports. On the other hand, a lower and moderate feast is given to the commoners outside.

Delianah is just ready to follow the other lords of theRiverlands to where her father is sitting when Myrcella's small hand clasps hers.

"Princess?" Delianah smiles at the sight of her. Decked in gold and black dress, the princess' attire is a stark contrast of her wine red suit and pitch black pants. She might have opted for a dress for the festivities, but seeing that she's breaking the norm of becoming a knight, she decides to go all the way, even attire-wise.

"Come sit with me Delia," Myrcella beams. "Ermm…your princess commands it," she says then in a commanding squeaky tone, her face scrunching up in a cute way.

"She looks so adorable,"

"Are you sure that your parents would mind?" Delianah asks looking at the raised table where the rest of the royal family is sitting.

The queen might have looked gorgeous if not for the rather unpleasant scowl on her face as if she's smelling shit right under her nose. The king on the other hand is already busy with his cups and is clapping the back of Ned Stark at his right hand alongside Jon Arryn, the Lord of the Vale is even more old and thin than Delianah imagined. At the king's left is Joffrey, the Crown Prince after his mother's seat busy carving the head of a cooked pig with a carving knife. At his side on a smaller chair is Tommen, eating porridge from a small bowl befitting his age. It is at Tommen's side that Myrcella leads her.

Taking the seat at the farthest end of the table beside Myrcella's, Delianah has to admit that it feels awesome sitting here at the king's table. Despite herself she can almost feel smug at the jealous and angry looks that the other lords are throwing at her. Her interest however disappears from them as Myrcella starts offering her different assortments of food.

….

Private Royal Quarters Five hours after the end of the Victory Feast.

"YOU LITTLE SHIT!" before Joffrey knows what's going on, the large hand of his father, connects with his perfume covered face making Joffrey literally see white as he is hurled to the mat. He can taste something coppery from his lips and his eyes widen as he realizes that it is his blood.

"Father what is going-," he never finishes his words as a backhand sends him sprawling on the opposite direction this time, scrambling like an animal. Several of his gums are already bleeding and he stares in abject terror at the fat king who is looming over him, red-faced due to drunkenness and rage.

"ROBERT! ROBERT! WHAT IS GOING- OH JOFFREY! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING ROBERT?!" screeches an enraged Cersei rushing to Joffrey's aid. He has never been so glad to see his mother.

"HE ALMOST GOT HIS SISTER KILLED, THAT'S WHY!" roars the stag king approaching again, large meaty hands reaching for him. In instinct, Joffrey recoils but his mother bats away his hand with a screech of her own.

"HE IS JUST A BOY?! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" she hollers angrily while hugging Joffrey to her chest. "HE WOULD NEVER HURT A FLY?!"

"HE BULLIED HIS SISTER THAT SHE HAD TO HIDE HERSELF IN MY SHIP AND ALMOST GOT HERSELF KILLED BY EURON GREYJOY!" roars the king. "AND STOP DEFENDING HIM! HE IS MY SON AND I WANT HIM DISCIPLINED!"

"IT IS NOT JOFFREY'S FAULT! MYRCELLA IS OVERREACTING, I'LL TALK TO HER AND TELL HER TO TELL THE TRUTH THAT-,"

With a loud bull-like roar, Robert lunges at Joffrey only to be stopped this time by his Kingsguard by pulling him back.

"Your grace! Your grace! He is your son and you're drunk!" hisses Ser Arys Oakheart at the red-faced pudgy king who seems to finally regain his senses.

"BAH! Discipline him woman or else, I'll do it for you," he growls angrily before walking off. The faint shouts of Lancel's name to bring him some wine echoes on the corridor.

As his mother hugs him to herself, Joffrey glares angrily at the fire, face bloody and bruised. Myrcella would pay for being a snitch and for causing him to be hurt by their father. He would bid his time before striking on the morrow. Nobody could cause him to get hurt and get away with it.

…..

Lannister Manor, Red Keep

"Lady Delianah, it is good to see finally the face behind all the letters," the rich baritone voice of Tywin Lannister greets as the young Lady of Harrenhal enters his private solar.

"Lord Tywin Lannister, the pleasure is all mine," is the girl's rich reply with only a bowing of her head. He mentally smirks at the fact that she does not bow from her waist, good the girl has pride, something that he approves of personally. "I must admit that your manor looks beautiful my lord. Though I expect someone of your stature to be staying at the Red Keep, not at the wealthy district of King's Landing,"

"Oh and why do you think I stay here so?"

"May I?" she indicates the chair in front of him which Tywin nods in affirmation. With a sigh, she sits down clasping her hands in front of her, green eyes blazing.

"This is the capital of the Seven Kingdoms my lord, which means every nook and cranny in the Red Keep would be within earshot of anyone's spy in the castle. It would not be a problem if you are Hand of the King, like before and you have free rein and control of the servants and had enough of an idea about who goes where and such. You do not know where to speak there at the moment, or rather when to speak without anyone getting an idea of your proper motives. Unlike here, where you bought these space and area; you have time to flood this large manor with your own servants, servants you personally handpick, and trust…..at least to an extent. You can also post as much guards here as you wish without anyone protesting too much since you are a Lord Paramount and your safety is important,"

"Interesting, and is that all?" Tywin asks with a smirk. Personally he is already impressed. It seems that this lady of six and a half years old and looking way too mature past her age knows how to play the game.

"Not exactly my lord. I've taken notice of the way this manor of yours is designed. Simple, one way in, one way out with one gate and a small wall, at least for the knowledge of those who enter the first time. In the event that you might be attacked at this city, you can take shelter here. The wood of those gates might look rich, but those are made too last and the gates and doors have extra locks on them. This place is basically a small fortress, a place where you can hold on to if ever your interests at the capital are threatened. I would bet that somewhere around here is a hidden hallway known only to your or your household staff for it would be folly to trap yourself here and slowly starve in such an event where you are besieged,"

"Hmmmm," Tywin Lannister leans back on his chair saying nothing.

It seems that the rumor about the bastard of Tully is no rumor after all. Clever, courageous and cunning; she would have made a great Lady of the Rock. If she is a little older, he might have considered marrying her off to Jaimie once he succeeds on convincing his fool of an heir to stop being a glorified bodyguard. But alas, she's too young and Jaimie would rather watch the fat king fart himself to death than fulfilling his duty to his family. Still, it's not as if there's an opportunity to bind her closer to his family without being too obvious. Their relationship currently is pure business after all and it would not do to alienate the brilliant young girl this early. He needs her to trust him more (Plus he needs some of that Delianite that the Iron Bank is hoarding like a miser. He cannot compete against them in the auctions of Harrenhal damnit!).

"I have considered the letter that you sent me before pertaining the stay of the Princess Myrcella at your lands," says Tywin looking at her who looks nonplussed at his presence. Most lords and ladies would be fidgety already, but not this one.

Good.

"And I guess that you are planning on agreeing on it, if not agreed to it already else you might not have called me here," points out Delianah making Tywin's lips twitch upward.

"Brilliant indeed,"

"Yes, I do agree on your proposal. The princess Myrcella will foster under your care until her first moon. Then it would be up to her, to decide on the course of action for her life,"

"Up to her? You mean up to you rather, or up to her father," says Delianah with a raised eyebrow.

"I meant what I said. It would be up to her. She'll be learning after you and I have no doubt that the meek and impressionable princess that we have now would be a different person once she returns. I do not doubt after all that you would let her remain as she is, would you my lady?"

"No, no I would not," she replies simply. "Alright, then it's settled. When will you send her to Harrenhal my lord?"

"A moon from now, or earlier depending on her desire of farewells to her family. Also I would like to give you this, to give to her once you think her ready for such an artifact such as this," Tywin takes the box he prepared beforehand, placing it in front of him.

He watches in no small amount of satisfaction as she opens the box, her face morphing to one of surprise and wonder. "This is the-,"

"Valyrian circlet that you have given me as a bribe before for her fostering. I have hired a smith from Essos to reforge it and add whatever Delianite I've been able to buy from the auctions of your lands before the Iron Bank decided to hoard every single bit of it. At the top of the circlet where it morphs into a crown are circles of spacing where I've inserted almost a hundred jewels. This is for Myrcella to be given once she comes of age. You will give it to her,"

"I don't understand why you are doing this my lord. Why make all this effort for her?" asks the young Lady of Harrenhal.

"Because I see greatness in you Delianah Tully," Tywin answers truthfully. "My granddaughter will be beside you all the way through and I will not have it when people say, that the Lannister beside her is dressed in pauper attire,"

The silence that follows is almost deafening as the girl looks back at him incredulously.

"Seriously, you expect me to believe that?"

"No, but I thought it would be funny. Now let's come to the real reason why I hand that piece of priceless treasure to you," says Tywin leaning forward. "I want to be able to buy some Delianite from you before the Iron Bank gets their greedy fingers on all of it,"

…..

The Lady's Manor, the Temporary Residence of Delianah Tully till the Renovation of her fortress.

Lord Viktor grunts in no small amount of relief as he finally is able to enter the familiar quarters that he has been working on for so long. Unlike his liege, he and Dragon Shit alongside the rest of the Unsullied army did not waste their time on the festivities of the capital. There is after all much work to be done here back home. As a Green Man, he has no need of the overlarge feasts. What greater joy is there than serving the will of their Messiah and it is her unbidden will that everything they have built here be running properly. Plus someone also needs to look after the finishing touches of the soon-to-built home of Delianah.

Dragon Shit on the other hand returned in order to train the pathetic levies that made up the bulk of their soldiers in this campaign to the standards of an Unsullied. Delianah after all relayed to them her worry that their gathered forces together does not count much against the mighty armies of the Great Housees. For now they would make up of their lack of quantity with quality. Viktor however plans to purchase more slaves soon if he plans to increase their population. There is still wide areas around Harrenhal and its domains and there is always room to grow.

Currently however he is frowning as he reads the reports from the mayors. Apparently the daily tax of the Faith has come and the septons are demanding money from the different towns and homesteads. Seeing that a large number of their population are from Essos and has zero idea about the Andal religion, it is causing some minor conflicts.

He makes a note about it though on his personal notebook. He will need to talk to Lady Delianah about this before making a decision.

"Now what type of messaging system can be an improvement other than the blasted ravens that these people so rely on,"

…

Red Keep Royal Quarters.

Myrcella is almost dashing as she packs up the little doodads and personal effects that is important to her on the medium sized bag at her bed. She had received beforehand a letter bearing the seal of her father and that of her Grandfather urging her to pack up her personal effects, things that she'd miss. She is apparently going to Harrenhal with Lady Delianah and her entourage to be fostered there till her first moon blood. The reason however for their discretion is the simple fact that the Queen Mother won't allow it. Thus to avoid the ruckus and the trouble, she is basically told to sneak out.

Myrcella has never been nervous or excited. She is after all going with her idol and the one person she trusted above all. She can still remember that horrifying moment when that pirate almost did unspeakable things to her, the blood, the sweat, the pain in her joints as she was lifted up to be displayed like a piece of meat. Then her savior arrived wielding a whip of fire and saving her.

She stayed with her, keeping the horrors of the past away with fantastic dreams of a new world, of Jedi Knights fighting the evil Sith (she always imagined Delianah as one of them). When she first slept on her own bed with no Delianah there at her side, she had awakened in a panic, feeling once more as that Greyjoy madman was lurking in the corner. She did not sleep then the entire night.

She is thankful that this later afternoon, she received the message from one of the servants and now she's ready to leave and be with her Dame.

A small knock at her door makes Myrcella open it with a peek outside. She lets go a sigh of relief as the form of Ser Arys Oakheart stands there with a smile.

"Come my princess, its time we go," he says taking the small bag of mementos of Myrcella while holding her hand.

Myrcella Baratheon never looks back to her now empty room. It would be years before she ever lays eyes on it again.

…..…..

At the shores of the cliffs below the Red Keep walks Delianah. If asked why she is here, she would not know the answer. It is as if someone or something is calling her here, voices of old friends, old memories. No one would usually dare to tread these dangerous Cliffside, wet, dreary and slippery, only a fool would take a hike here. A single misstep can cause a man to slip to his watery grave.

Yet here she is, the call becoming closer and closer as she nears the waters. Her hand moves like an automaton over the darkened waves. The very waters vibrate as if roaring in displeasure. She can feel it, the very thing that drew her here. A green tinge appears on the surface as the very waters bubbles as if being boiled and with a powerful splash of explosion that is drowned out by the gusting winds that blows from the ocean.

Out from the waters, levitates a small girl of Dornish descent, eyes wide open, her mouth frozen in a silent scream. Her yellow and red dress tinged with almost three dozen stab wounds. However it is the glowing green stone at her neck that makes Delianah's eyes widen.

The Resurrection Stone has come back for its Mistress.

….

Author's Note: Hope ya like it pips. Next chapter would be more Building. I'm still brainstorming what would be Delianah's House words be once she finished her castle.