authorsnote: excited for this update!
I hope you enjoy, there is so much more drama to come...
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songrecs: stay - justin bieber, the kid laroi (currently obsessed with the kid laroi, expect a lot of his songs to pop up!)
The next day was the trials, and he didn't have time to talk to Sansa before he was eating his breakfast.
During the meal he'd glanced at her … more than once. She was sat with Jon, at the top table as was her right and rank, but Tyrion was determined to talk him through the Westerosi trial process, which Aegon happily absorbed, knowing his new court were happy to have him as a leader but would grow quickly unhappy if he didn't show to respect the Westeros culture.
Sure, there were many changes he still planned, many outdated concepts and quirks he would be getting rid of, but he didn't intend to change everything. He knew the war of propaganda from his enemies had called him a foreign King, and he was determined not to show the Westerosi people they had been right.
He may have grown up on other lands and become enriched in doing so, but Westeros was his home.
And so, he didn't manage to speak to Sansa, who he did note was very quiet. He didn't flatter it was the effect of their kiss but rather her ongoing nervousness at Kings Landing, which he understood and wished more than anything he could chase away.
If only he could ignore his advisors' words yesterday, he'd make time before the trial to sweep Sansa into a side room, steal her breath away with a kiss and try to help soothe her worries. He wished he could do so, hold her hand under the table, place a kiss to her forehead, whisper something silly in her ear to make her laugh, keep her close to him and as distracted from her unhappy surroundings as possible.
Yet, as the announcer called for the trials to begin in five minutes, he knew he could not … for more reasons than just a lack of time.
He thought on what his advisors had said to him the night before, part of him wanted to ignore it, but they were too good and he too good a King to ignore his advisors. He wasn't sure they knew Sansa well enough to determine her character or ambitions, but he was sure their words were to be heeded.
And so, where did that leave them?
He knew he was getting ahead of himself, he and Sansa had shared one kiss, nice as it had been, and they weren't even formally courting, he barely knew her, it was just what he did know he liked, and liked it a great deal. He wanted to get to know her better, maybe court her, but was it wise?
He ignored the implications for marrying outside the Kingdom for the moment, and felt both Tyrion and Varys underestimated Sansa's connections to the Vale and Riverlands, which both were in his Kingdom, but still, he focused on their concerns about her ambitions, her personally.
It made him angry to even be considering it, made him want to yell, how dare they cast aspersions on Sansa's character? But then he knew they did so out of concern, and that made him think; should he be concerned?
He liked Sansa, had seen her sweet side, but was there a side he hadn't seen? A side hidden from him that he should try and uncover? Or should ignore, alongside any thought of courting her? He recoiled at the thought, glanced down the table at her as she chatted to Jon, holding a cup of wine but not drinking and frowned; no, the thought of just dropping anything with Sansa was repugnant to him.
But then, he was being a fool; what about what Sansa wanted? Yes, she'd kissed him back, had spoken pretty words to him, but did she want to court him? Did she want to potentially make Kings Landing her home? She looked uncomfortable enough here, drawing into herself, paler, and even less animated than she had been on the road (and she had hardly been spilling over, thanks to her traumas before then), would she want to stay here, even for him?
"Call to trial" The Herald yelled on the hour, jerking Aegon out of his thoughts. They quickly made their way from the courtyard (as it was still warm enough to dine outside, though he near laughed as both Sansa and Jon still wore heavy cloaks, Jon as he seemed to do so on principle, Sansa he wasn't sure), to the Throne Room, Tyrion falling into step next to him, Varys the other side.
"Why does Sansa wear a fur cloak here?" He asked, regretting it almost immediately, he should be talking further about the trial, but he couldn't help himself, though he didn't miss the look Varys and Tyrion shared and shot a glare at them both.
"I imagine Your Grace that she is covering up" Varys said with a bow of his head, "She is still wearing borrowed dresses, and she never liked the Southern style"
"No?" He asked, turning to Tyrion then, who also shook his head.
"No, she always wore Northern styles, covered up, modest" Tyrion said and Aegon nodded.
"Can we see to it a dressmaker is sent to her rooms today?" He asked, knowing he shouldn't, but he wanted to, "The cousin of the King in the North should be treated well here"
"Of course" Tyrion said, "That being the only reason"
Aegon didn't bother answering that one, especially as they made it to the Throne Room.
He walked straight down the middle, Daenerys joining the three of them, seats were set about the Iron Throne for each party member.
Dany sat to his left, on a comfortable cushioned stool, looking at complete ease as she did so, wine glass in hand, fierce and beautiful.
Tyrion sat to his right, Varys next to him, he imagined when he named his Small Council others may sit up there for trials too, something he'd be doing in the coming days. Jon had been offered a seat there too, but declined, he was a King too after all, not deferential, and instead stood glaring in the court, Jon would never like Southerners, too much North in his blood.
Sansa stood next to him, he hadn't offered her a seat, imagining she'd prefer to remain with Jon. He did offer her a smile as he passed and she offered one back, though she looked nervous. He wished he could approach her, offer some comfort, but all he could do was carry on, see justice done and hope to speak to her afterwards.
His seat was in the middle.
The Iron Throne.
He remembered when they had taken Kings Landing…
He was alone, still dressed in armour, leather though, to ride Viserion easier, a sword strapped to his back, blood staining his skin and hair, the battle had been bloody, brutal, even with three dragons, Cersei had not yielded, thankfully they had kept damage to a minimum.
She had yielded, to save her children, Tommen, the boy King, Mycrella still in Dorne, and was now in the dungeons. Dany, Tyrion and Varys were overseeing the final taking of the City, and had left him here.
To claim his seat.
Of course, a formal coronation would need to happen, but first he relished the moment alone, to take his seat, his aim for so long, what he had worked for, his destiny.
Sitting down on it felt like coming home.
He settled back into the seat, closed his eyes, and would have wept were he not so tired. He had retaken his Grandfathers Throne, the Iron Throne, and he would re-establish a Targaryen dynasty.
He sat down this time without fanfare or emotion, though something stirred in him as he did so, the seat seemed made for him, the swords never poking or prodding him, he settled down with ease, knowing he looked a touch arrogant, but he had worked for this Throne, of course he was damn proud of it.
"Bring them in" He called as he sat, the court sat in the viewing seats that had been brought in, the stand stood in the middle, he noted Jon and Sansa remained stood, off to one side of the seats, perhaps because they didn't want to mingle with court, but then he saw Jon had positioned them near the back exit by the Throne, not far from Dany, and judging by Sansa's white knuckles, he had them there in case Sansa wanted to leave.
He glanced at her again but her eyes were on the floor this time.
The urge to do justice, to get justice burned for Sansa, and as the first was brought in, he forced himself to remain calm, his temper could get the better of him, but he couldn't let it.
This was his first test, his first show of being true and fair in front of his people, he couldn't let them down.
They started with the minor cases and worked their way up.
King Tommen was pulled in first, though he wore no crown, and just cried, a boy of 9, he was no King and no enemy either.
"Tommen Waters" He proclaimed, "You are here to answer to the following charges"
There were no three judges here, he was the judge, but he knew he'd taken council if needed, though he'd already discussed each case with his advisors, they were all on the same page.
"Tommen Walters, first of his name is accused of treason, usurping the crown from the rightful King, and continued claim to a crown that is not yours" The Herald boomed, "How do you plead?"
"I…" Tommen began, looking at his Uncle Tyrion, who smiled and nodded at him, and Tommen nodded back, "G…guilty"
"Due to your young age, and the manipulative forces around you, Tommen I sentence you to live out the rest of your days as a bastard at Casterly Rock, you will be overseen by a guard and governess at all times, you will hold no power ever, and will have no means to inherit" Aegon said, he knew it was generous, but he had done so for Tyrion, to show mercy and again Tommen was just a boy, not guilty of any real crime other than doing as his Mother had told him.
"T…thank you your… your Grace" Tommen stuttered, Tyrion had coached him on what to say, "May I take my cat Ser Pounce with me?"
The crowd laughed at that and Aegon nodded, smirking, "Of course"
Tommen was led out then by a Lannister guard, Tyrion had assured him Tommen would be kept at Casterly Rock, perhaps prodded in the direction to become a Maester or Scholar so to never be a threat, not that he was likely to be, raised away from Cersei's influence.
The next to walk in was not so easy.
"Kevan Lannister" Aegon said, and this man did not cry, stood proud backed and stiff. "You are here to answer the following charges"
"Kevan Lannister you are accused of treason, supporting a usurper, and continued support of a usurper" The Herald boomed, "How do you plead?"
"Guilty Your Grace" Kevan was far too pragmatic for anything else.
"Due to the good word of your nephew and only his good word will you be sent to the Nights Watch" Aegon proclaimed, "Be thankful for his mercy"
"I am" Kevan said, he then offered a smile to Tyrion who nodded back, Tyrion had noted Kevan had always been kind to him, but was far too involved to ever be found innocent, guilty it was, but no execution.
That only left Genna Lannister who would continue to live at Casterly Rock and had welcomed Tyrion as Lord with open arms, Tyrion would hold the responsibility to carry on the family line, there were a few cousins here and there, but not much else, Tyrion was under just as much pressure to marry as he was.
Perhaps not quite as much but near enough.
Jaime Lannister had already been sentenced, when he had arrived at their tent the night before the battle, having stole out of Kings Landing.
He had decried Cersei, what she had become, requested exile, and promised in return to never return to Westeros, and stay out of the fight. A woman, blonde of hair, Brienne of Tarth had been with him, and vouched for him. He had agreed only for Tyrion and because Jaime had offered them a way into the Castle that had allowed them to cut straight through to the Red Keep, he had left with a goodbye to Tyrion and without looking back.
That just left Cersei.
The Queen had not lost her beauty.
She stood tall and proud even in rags, her blonde hair not as long but shoulder length, her dress was red and gold but muddy, torn and ripped, filthy and yet she stood with her head held high, hands clasped in front of her, glaring at the court as she was lead to the stand, hands shackled.
"Cersei Lannister" Aegon spoke then, and Sansa could she glared at him, clearly furious to see him on what she considered her child's Throne. "You are here to answer to the following charges"
Sansa just noted that, as her hands had begun to shake, and for the moment Cersei had walked in her vision had gone a touch blurry, dizziness near taking over.
She had hoped to never see the Queen again, never to see her face, her beauty, her sneer again. All of the times the Queen had mocked her, yelled at her, laughed at her flashed in her face, and then Cersei turned to look at her.
Somehow her gaze held more hatred than it had when she looked at Aegon.
Once Sansa would have cried, ran for the door Jon had positioned them near, would have crumpled, once she'd have let the dizziness and fear take over.
It was only when one thought burst through that stopped that.
Cersei had lost.
She was here, dressed in rags, filthy, due to be executed, Sansa knew her crimes were too great for anything else. She would die today, the Queen who'd tormented her, she'd die and be gone, for good, she'd lost, Sansa hadn't.
And that a smile tugging into place, to which Cersei for a moment looked shocked, shocked.
She turned back to Aegon without another word, and Sansa felt something like strength steel in her bones, and she lifted her head, as the Herald began to speak.
Her eyes never strayed from Cersei then, didn't catch Aegon looking at her, nor Varys, both curiously.
"Cersei Lannister, First of her name, Dowager Queen to the Usurper, you are accused of treason, murder, supporting a usurper thrice times, treachery and support to murder the previous Hand" That had been added in at Jon's behest, to see justice done for Lord Stark, Sansa was thankful for that, Joffrey had answered for it, now so would his Mother, "How do you plead?"
"I won't stand for this" She hissed, and Sansa was hardly surprised, she wouldn't go down with a fight, "I am no usurper, you are" She threw at Aegon.
Sansa felt an odd sudden urge then to step in, stand between Cersei and Aegon, stop her spitting anymore of her vileness at him, it was ridiculous, Aegon was perfectly capable of standing up for himself, and yet she felt a strange protective urge draw over her.
She needn't have.
"You helped usurp my Grandfather's Throne with Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister" Aegon threw back, "You killed Jon Arryn, you plotted to kill Eddard Stark, you supported the Mad boy King Joffrey and his brother, you are guilty of every crime" Aegon said, unflinching.
Sansa's smile grew a touch, he truly looked like a King.
She almost brushed her fingers to her lips, remembering that kiss, not the right time to do so, she refocused, though her lips tingled.
"You also abused the cousin to the King in the North, and countless other crimes" A few heads turned to her then and Sansa forced herself to keep her eyes up, even as Cersei turned to glare at her again.
"This whore?" Cersei spat, but Sansa did not flinch, she'd had worse. "Have you already crawled into another Kings bed?" Her venom was unsurprising, what was surprising to many members of the court, to Aegon, to Jon, was her reaction.
"You're going to die today Cersei" Sansa said back, her tone calm, measured, the opposite of the angry, fiery Queen, Sansa was the picture of beauty, even in a borrowed green gown, her hair simply plaited, her blue eyes beautiful, deep, wide, and completely closed off, not a hint of her true emotion bled through as she spoke.
"Sleep well"
And then she turned on her heel and left, but not to sneak through the back entrance, instead she walked, shoulders back, head held high, past the stand, past Cersei, who stared agape at her, past the court who were the same, past them all and out the doors of the Throne Room, Jon soon following, levelling a vicious glare at Cersei.
She didn't look back.
He should have looked away.
And yet he followed Sansa with his eyes as she swept out of the Throne Room, not looking back, the picture of beauty and grace, even in a borrowed gown, she outshone anyone in that room, Cersei even spluttered at her cutting words, and watched her leave too, aghast.
"Cersei Lannister" He tried to pull back focus and yet it took everyone a second to look back up at him, Cersei too, though as he spoke again everyone was quickly focused once more, "I find you guilty of the accused crimes, and sentence you to death"
"I demand a trial by combat" Cersei said quickly, evidently ready for this scenario.
"You have no champion" He would not see her go free, damn convention or Westerosi faith beliefs, sure in many cultures a trial by combat was true, but not for treason not for him, "And for treason the crime is death, the Gods have no say over that"
Gasps stole in the audience, and he knew the Faith would grumble at him, but he didn't care, he would see Cersei Lannister executed.
For the realm, for his reign, for Sansa.
"How shall it be done?" Daenerys spoke then, quiet until then, though she glared with hatred at Cersei, "She deserves to die a thousand deaths for what she has done, but only one can happen, how shall it be most effective?"
He thought of Jon then, of swinging the sword, the Northern custom, one they stood by religiously, he liked it, but was not a Northerner or a Stark, and he saw a chance here, to set a precedent, and to show his Targaryen heritage.
Starks swung the sword; Targaryen's called their dragons.
"Burn her alive" Aegon said, "Take her to the dragons and let her be made into ash" He said curtly, "Daenerys see it done"
"Of course" Dany said, almost gleefully, standing to her feet immediately, Greyworm following her.
"Make your peace with what ever Gods you believe in Cersei" He said cuttingly, as he watched her eyes widen with fear, true fear, good, "Lady Sansa was right"
Her fear left her then, and she screamed and cursed as she was dragged away, Daenerys following on the heel, a smile on her features, ready to see justice done.
"Court is over" Aegon said then, looking past everyone to the doors, it wasn't hard to guess what he wanted to do next, "My coronation will happen tomorrow, and I will name my small council after that" He said with a nod, he was pleased he'd prioritised the trials; justice had been done.
That was his rule, that was what he had shown his reign to be, to prioritise justice, the truth, and to doll out Targaryen punishments.
"Your Grace" Tyrion tried to catch him then but Aegon shook his head, damn what they said, he knew he'd need to confront it later, especially with Sansa's bold showing to Cersei, but for now he didn't care, he just wanted to see her.
"Not now" Was all he offered before turning to leave, leaving everyone behind, just as Sansa had.
sooo thoughts?
loved writing sansa/cersei here, sansa has the power, concern as that may be to some...
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speak soon