Chapter 15-Cleaning House
Roose Bolton liked to think he had planned for everything. How he had waited patiently, almost to the point of it being painful, to execute his plan to claim the North for his House. The Red Kings had been defeated by the Winter Kings ages ago. But those of his House who remained had vowed to never give up, never forget, and never forgive. They waited. Plotted. Planned. Kept their blades sharp and waited for the day when the Dire Wolves of House Stark became mere dogs. When they would become weak, tamed, and docile like other great Houses had become when the years went by. It had happened to the dragons in recent time with those who could have been the revival of their strength either being dead or in exile.
Save one.
Aegon Targaryen. Son of Prince Rheagar Targaryen and Lady Lyanna Stark. Blood of Kings from both sides of the boy's family were in his veins. His right to the Iron Throne could not be contested. No one had a better claim to the damn thing than him at this point. Aegon Targaryen born from Elia Martell was dead, Rhaenys Targaryen had been cut out of the right to keep her life, and Daenerys Targaryen was in Essos.
And yet, it wasn't these facts alone that Roose chose to betray House Stark with the secret aid of the Queen Mother Cersei Lannister. It was he who had hatred and vengeance in his heart. The loss of his son Domeric had hurt him deeply, even more so when he suspected Ramsey of the deed, though Roose could not prove it. The look seen on in his bastard boy's eye when word was spoken of it, the twitch of a smirk, told the Lord of the Dreadfort all he needed to know. Roose had wanted to gut the boy for it, kill his bastard for killing the trueborn heir to his name, but had stayed his hand due to the fact Ramsey had shown such potential for their family's ancestral art. To make people cry out in fear, terror, and beg for mercy, even before the flaying had begun! A true heir trapped in a bastard body and the status of one keeping the boy from reaching his full potential.
Only for said boy to be taken from him by Lord Stark.
Admittedly, the deed needed to be done. Ramsey became more rabid and his desire to hurt others had become more difficult to control and with each passing year the boy grew into his own. The hunts of the smallfolk became more frequent, Roose telling the boy to show restraint, to make sure things were done discreetly became less potent in the boy's mind until they were ignored as one ignored a gentle breeze hitting them in the face. Roose knew it was only a matter of time before Ramsey did something stupid to the point where he would get caught and would have to face Northern justice.
And it had happened. Had Ramsey simply been patient, been more mindful of his action, and waited for the next war where the Starks could have fallen in some shape or form, it could have been different.
Now Roose was without an heir. Without a son to his name regardless of said son was to be trueborn or bastard. All he had left was his hatred and desire for revenge. If his House was going to destroyed in his time, he could at least take House Stark and a few other Houses with him.
Hence the betrayal.
House Dustin had been slighted too many times by House Stark. Brandon was meant to marry the lady there, only for Rickard Stark to marry him off to the fish woman, and Brandon dying before it could have happened. She would have married Eddard Stark instead as a result of Brandon marrying House Tully, only for Holster to hold back his army to aid in Robert's Rebellion unless the second son married Catelyn Tully. She couldn't even marry the third son Benjen, as he had joined the Night's Watch. And while Lady Dustin had married a fine young man with a son to their name, she was denied her promised position as a lady of House Stark.
As for Lord Whitehill, he had sworn his House to Roose's own and the Leech Lord had promised to end the simmering feud with House Forrester as only a descendent of the Red Kings could. With sacking and flaying men of House Forrester down to the last man, woman, and child. Such promises only made their desire to claim the North even stronger and ended those who stood in their way.
Hence the betrayal.
When the letter came to him from House Lannister, Roose couldn't even believe it. The Queen Mother had promised her son would support the deed and call House Bolton the new Warden of the North. Allow him to flay to his hearts content any who would challenge his rule in the North and even go so far as to find him a suitable wife to sire a new trueborn son. All that was required was Roose's "proof" of fealty aside from kneeling before King Joffrey to make it official.
Hence the betrayal.
Cersei had provided the place and time for the secret meeting between Robb Stark and Jamie Lannister to possibly have peace. Something neither Cersei nor Roose wanted at this point if they were to achieve their goals. The Queen Mother made it clear that everyone, but Jamie, were to be killed at the meeting. She also made it clear that her twin was not to be harmed or crippled by his men and there would be severe consequences if either happened to him should the order be disobeyed.
While the conditions were not a problem on any front, the woman had also demanded the head of the Lin Kuei Grandmaster, who had been an influential driving force in the Seven Kingdoms since the days of the Mad King. That in itself was a problem. But the Queen Mother had felt the man had slighted her and House Lannister in some shape or form. How he did, Roose did not know, nor did he care. What he did care about was trying to make the plan to betray House Stark and those loyal to them without it coming to bite them in the ass.
The Lord of the Dreadfort had his men get into position within the main camp. It would have been easy to do considering morale was high and their side was winning. A simple fact that almost stayed his hand in giving the order.
Almost.
Most of the loyal Stark bannermen were asleep this night. Those awake, his men could easily dispatch when the order was given and those who would struggle to awaken would soon be dead before they could reach for their swords.
Only, when the time came to give the order, it had gone in the opposite direction to what he had hoped would happen in terms of the outcome. When his men and those loyal to his House went to make their move, the rest of the encampment was ready for them. Stark bannermen who were supposed to be either asleep, drunk, or struggling to stay awake to guard the camp were upon them with weapons at the ready. The trap set for them had been thrown into reverse, and it was House Bolton and Whitehill who were struck down in a surprise move. In another surprising move, Dustin bannermen turned on Bolton and Whitehill before they knew what hit them.
One moment, Roose heard the sound of fighting, assuming everything was fine, only to find one of his bannermen run into his tent to tell him their intended prey wasn't as vulnerable as they initially thought. Frowning, Roose rushed outside to see his forces had been overwhelmed by House Stark before the ever chilling sensation of fear crawled up his spine.
A sensation related to only one man who Roose Bolton truly feared.
The Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei himself.
Turning around with sword drawn, Roose didn't even get a chance to swing his weapon before the punch struck his face and knocked him out cold. The sound of fighting was still echoing around the Lord of the Dreadfort while everything went dark around him.
When he finally woke up, it was still dark out, but now Roose Bolton found himself in his own wooden cell made for prisoners when encampments were setup. His hands bound behind his back in chains. Not rope. Clearly whoever had done this didn't want Roose to rub his bindings against his prison to awaken them in order to escape. Not that he would get far as the man was heavily guarded by Umber, Mormont, Glover, and a few others who were loyal to House Stark.
"For such a calm man, you really are a fool Roose Bolton," said Sub-Zero, who seemed just appear in the darkness of night while standing in front of him.
"I never did figure out how you were able to move so silently and quickly without anyone noticing," said Roose while glancing up at the man who seemed to represent the coldness of the North itself.
"Nor shall you ever know. Not after this," replied Sub-Zero with Roose holding back the wince from the punch the man landed on him.
One or two of his bottom teeth was loose.
"I saw an opportunity and I took it. I merely played my hand for what I wanted too soon. Or perhaps not soon enough," said Roose while Sub-Zero's eyes narrowed.
"You let your bitter hatred for the Starks and me cloud your judgment," said Sub-Zero with the Lord of the Dreadfort holding back his anger despite it wanting to come out.
"The North was meant to be controlled by the Red Kings. My ancestors. We were considered to be the strongest, the cruelest, and ruthless of all the Houses that ruled over the Kingdom. Instead, the Winter Kings of House Stark won everything. We tried multiple times to take it from them but failed each time an attempt was made. It was clear each time the Head of House Stark showed us mercy they were trying to keep us around only to point us at future enemies should the North ever be attacked. While it was reluctantly accepted each time, my predecessors vowed to overthrow the Winter Kings and become the true rulers of the North," said Roose while Sub-Zero scoffed.
"And that justifies betraying most of the North? For what? A promise from a false King who may or may not even grant you what was owed for this deed. Does the supposed King on the Iron Throne sound like someone who would keep his promises? Even when he didn't make the promise himself? Or did you forget the promises of various rewards were made by his mother. Not him," remarked Sub-Zero knowing the boy would say as much and deny Roose his "entitlement" and reward against the Starks.
"The Crown would be unwise to do anything less," said Roose confidently.
"Rickard and Brandon Stark thought the same way with Aerys Targaryen when they confronted him in the throne room all those years ago. We know how that went and how it ended," said Sub-Zero with Roose again holding back a wince since it was true.
And with Roose without an heir to carry on his family name upon his death or capture, the Crown could hold him indefinitely, even if he kneeled while requesting his reward. It would have been easier to detain him and let the North tear itself apart before moving in the claim the lands soon afterwards. The Leech Lord had to admit, the idea of betraying his fellow Northerners for the overall land and expecting to gain it with the backing of a dishonorable King and his Queen Mother were less likely to happen.
And now he was going to lose his head for it. He had rushed into it and tried to back the questionable side because of his pride and ambition to claim the North for himself.
"I take it Lord Stark is going to take my head," said Roose with Sub-Zero nodding.
"He who passes the sentence swings the sword. Lord Forrester is going to deal with Lord Whitehill and a message will be sent to the false Queen soon enough to let her know the plans she thought were so clever, are not. You were foolish to believe Lady Dustin would support your efforts despite the slight all those years ago. Fortunately, she saw the folly of your actions and was not swayed to see your side of things but felt the need to play the mummer's act all the same. In fact, many of her bannermen helped stall your treasonous forces long enough for the rest of the camp to get ready," said Sub-Zero while he knew had her husband not lived through the rebellion or had been blessed with a son to be the next Lord Dustin, the possibility of betraying House Stark would have been there for Roose to nurture.
Fortunately, Lady Dustin's husband and son proved good men and true. They were probably the only real reason Lady Dustin didn't despise House Stark since there was no fighting in Dorne that faithful day at the Tower of Joy. Sub-Zero's own spies had been at work to check to be sure they could be trusted, and they had proven the House was loyal as a result.
"At least he follows the traditions of the North. Many had concerns about Lord Stark's mother making him too much of a Southerner for their tastes. Even more so when she tried to deny you the means of teaching him," said Roose with Sub-Zero just staring at him.
"If Robb did not take your head, it would have been my student and future King of the Seven Kingdoms who would in his place. Even if they didn't get to you, I have no doubt Lyanna Stark would have found you on the battlefield to run her blade through your heart," said Sub-Zero knowing that the woman had already slain a few Bolton bannermen when things happened after they discreetly made it back to camp undetected to hold a secret meeting with the other loyal Lords of House Stark.
"When is my expected death to happen?" asked Roose knowing the hour was late, but never too late for a beheading.
"Soon. You have, among many others, seen their last sunrise," said Sub-Zero before he left the man in his makeshift prison cell.
(Riverrun-Sometime Later)
Catelyn Stark could not believe it. She refused to believe it. Her father was dead. Killed by the Lin Kuei Grandmaster of all people. The very one who saved her father from that poisoning incident five years ago on his nameday. When she confronted her brother, after learning he was under house arrest, about the whole situation, he went on a rant about how bastards and dragons were going to tear down their House to one of minor Lordship. How they were going to lose everything unless the dragon was cast down with someone more stable like Stannis who could move to make his claim. When Catelyn went to her uncle, the man had been more calm, yet still angry about the situation.
But what surprised Catelyn was her uncle had not been angry at the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei like she had thought he would be when things happened. Instead, her uncle had been furious with his brother, her father, Holster for his part in Robert's Rebellion happening the way it did. How he cursed Lysa for her actions in giving Lyanna's letter meant for Brandon to Holster, who read and destroyed the document to allow the events to unfold. Bryden had told her that the situation with their House was indeed quite precarious at the moment, with Lysa and Holster's actions, Edmure openly supporting them along with his own halfwit ideas on things, and the fact the rebellion was based on a lie setup by various Houses who wanted to cast down the dragon when they had been on the brink of ether revival or annihilation.
It had broken Cat's heart to know her own father did these things with her sister's help and caused such deaths by destroying the one document that could have prevented such a war from happening. It had become worse when Bryden had told Cat how Edmure would be sent to the Wall, Lysa would most likely lose her head for her role in this among others, while her son was to join Edmure at the Wall when he was of age. It didn't take a well learned person to know with all these things, Bryden would be the new Lord of Riverrun, and while that normally wouldn't be a bad thing, her uncle had no heir to his name, nor did he plan to marry anytime soon.
The only saving grace Catelyn had in relation to this was her son Brandon would most likely be named the heir to Riverrun and learn everything he would need to know under Bryden. Her uncle had known every detail of her home and the lands about it similar to Holster during their youth when their father was alive and wanted to make sure both sons knew how to rule in case, the Gods forbid, the eldest had died young without a son of his own to carry on his side of the bloodline. Even when Holster had three children with his loving wife, Bryden still kept his mind sharp, despite the feud he had with his brother over some stupid thing they argued about in the past.
"Is there no other way, uncle? Perhaps we can change things. I can talk to my son. Or the soon to be King perhaps?" asked Cat with Bryden shaking his head.
"No. It is not possible. Our House made its mess and now we have to lay in it. Dirty sheets and all," said Bryden knowing they could do nothing about this.
"Has Edmure tried anything?" asked Cat, knowing her brother well enough that he wanted to escape his "confinements" to get revenge for the loss of their father.
"Once or twice. But the men around us are not stupid. They are loyal to our House, but know if we are not careful, the fallout of the truth leading to Robert's Rebellion will destroy House Tully. Edmure is my brother's son, but he has no mind for politics or leading our House like it was meant to be led when the time came for Holster to pass on from this world," said Bryden knowing his House was in jeopardy right now.
"Do you think he will do something stupid?" asked Cat with Bryden sighing.
"Your brother has been making stupid choices since before you married your late husband. Holster has done little to discipline him. Ever since your mother died, Holster has been unable to bring any of you to heel. She was the one who would make sure none of you got out of control to the point where a firm hand was required to literally knock some sense into your heads," replied Bryden with Cat wincing since she knew Edmure and Lysa had done some bad things with the most recent ones being the worst.
Not to mention Cat's own shortcomings with the soon to be King.
"I am sorry uncle. I know how much our House means to you and what it represents with our House's words. We shamed our House to the point of being cast down from our high standing," said Cat while Bryden sighed.
"It's not entirely your fault Cat. Nor is it Edmure or Lysa's even. My brother was always an ambitious man when it came to playing this damn game. He was always looking for the winning side and supporting it in order to gain boons in the aftermath. Did you know he tried to arrange a future marriage between you and Rhaegar?" asked Bryden with Cat looking surprised.
"No, I had no idea. I only know Tywin Lannister tried with his daughter Cersei, but it didn't work," said Cat with Bryden holding back a snort.
"It was during the War of the Ninepenny Kings. Your father marched off to war with me and other Lords to end the fifth Blackfyre Rebellion. Back before Aerys went mad. He was a young Prince at the time and Tywin wasn't the mean cunt we all know. That came much later. In any case, your brother talked to Aerys after one of the battles. Even back during those days, Holster wanted to move our House up to be tied to the royal bloodline of House Targaryen. He felt it was long overdue after centuries of loyal service. So, he proposed an arranged marriage between his firstborn daughter and Aerys's firstborn son. Aerys said he would consider it and left it at that since we were dealing with the damn Blackfyres. Nothing was set in stone because the fighting was getting intense and anything could have happened between then and the end of the war," said Bryden with Cat looking confused.
"And nothing ever came of it afterwards?" asked Cat with Bryden shrugged.
"Holster thought the issue was closed with his House getting to marry into House Targaryen when Aerys became King with a son and heir born to him. But I knew better. As I just said, nothing was set in stone. But Holster being Holster took the, at the time Prince, at his word, and there would one day be an actual marriage binding our Houses together. My brother was practically giddy with excitement. I told him not to get his hopes up about it since there was no guarantee such a marriage would happen. There were too many factors involved in this to make it happen. But did he listen? No. When Rheagar was born, my brother was so excited since you had been born around the same time. My brother was so certain Aerys would honor the pseudo agreement he made during the war. Only for the arrangement to never happen, as the now King of the Seven Kingdoms had been slowly losing his mind with the incident at Duskendale making it worse. By this time Holster, had sent a raven to him to demand Aerys honor the agreement," said Bryden with Cat gasping in shock.
"He demanded it from the King? And Aerys didn't call for his head?" asked Cat in surprise.
"My brother, your father, was foolish, but not an idiot Cat. He worded it in a manner that was a demand without it being a demand. Aerys saw it as such, but madness had not quite taken ahold of King at the time. Holster was able to avoid meeting the same fate as House Stark did, but just barely. Afterwards, my brother felt our House had been slighted by the Mad King. When Robert did rise up in rebellion against the crown years later, Holster chose Robert's side in the belief he would finally have our House tied to the new dynasty," said Bryden while sighing at his brother's actions.
"But I was promised to marry into House Stark. And Lysa married into House Arryn. Edmure wouldn't be able to marry into House Baratheon due to there were no daughters born from House Baratheon," said Cat with Bryden sighing.
"Sadly, that is where your children come in Cat. Robert wanted to tie his House to House Stark. The man had wanted to do that through Lyanna. But as you know, it could not happen because of what everyone already knows. So, it would be done through one of your children with his own he would have with his new wife. Though considering the truth of the Mad Queen Mother, I doubt it would have happened, and Robert wouldn't have known the truth of it," said Bryden with Cat looking shocked by this.
"It is hard to imagine my father would be so ambitious and spiteful to break our oath to House Targaryen over something such a possible marriage with no guarantee it would be honored in our lifetime. Or that he would seek to tie our House to royalty of the new dynasty," remarked Cat with a sigh.
"Again, Holster was always ambitious. But he could be foolish too. He just hid it well," said Bryden while wishing he could give his brother one last punch to the face.
"Do you think the war will end soon uncle?" asked Cat with Bryden making a noise.
"I don't know. I believe it will soon, once both sides clear out those who seek to make matters worse. Until that happens, we need to be on alert," said Bryden with Cat nodding since she had heard what happened at the peace talks.
"Considering Cersei Lannister is the Queen Mother, and her son is still considered the King of the Seven Kingdoms, do you think Jamie Lannister can deal with them before it gets worse?" asked Cat with the Blackfish looking unsure.
"I honestly don't know Cat. At this point, only the Gods know," remarked Bryden.
(King's Landing-Red Keep)
Jamie hated being here. In this Gods awful place. How many years had his body walked through his halls, but his mind being anywhere else? How many times did he walk through these halls and hear whispers of a Mad King raping his wife/sister? Or how Robert took another whore to his bed? The only descent royal had been Prince Rhaegar, and the man was dead! If only the Bard Prince had won at the Battle of the Trident against Robert. How much would be different this day? Would the Targaryens all still be here under this roof? Happy? Safe? Would those who committed treason against the crown be punished in a way befitting oath breakers?
Sadly, it was a possibility many would never know. It was just a dream at this point. A dream of fools and madmen who still supported the dragon in secret. Many wishing as Jamie himself did during days when he had to stand outside Robert's bedroom or solar while he fucked whores loudly for all to hear. There were times he wished Rhaegar had taken him to the Trident, if only to kill the damn stag himself with his own sword. To see the traitors punished, heads taken by the hundreds, if not thousands, and see justice done where none had been when Robert took the Iron Throne.
When the Lannister army entered the city, it was clear to him that the city had seen better days with the people in it suffering heavily under Joffrey's rule with the boy's mother whispering words into his ear. If the smallfolk had looked slightly ill and sickly under Robert's rule, they looked like they were near death because of Cersei and Joffrey. He knew the Grandmaster's Lin Kuei did what they could in the city, but they could only buffer the damage done throughout the city to a certain extent with what resources they could spare without being discovered.
Even still, the hatred the people had for the Lannister army entering the city was apparent to Jamie with the simple truth of well-armed numbers of the Lannister army prevented the people from lashing out at them. Jamie had heard stories about the storming of the Dragon Pit by the people, overpowering the skilled warriors there, the Dragonkeepers no match for the sheer number of people that swarmed it. The people eventually overwhelmed the dragons within, killing the fully developed there, crushing countless eggs they found, and doing so much damage to the dynasty that bred them. How the people living in the city had not only rebelled against House Targaryen but had been able to repel even the well trained and disciplined City Watch.
In the end, it took an army to come into the city to set it back to rights and make the people pay for their actions against the crown. But Jamie wasn't sure if his army could handle the people if it happened again with the people rebelling against his son. For one, the people living here in the city outnumbered House Lannister's army and the City Watch combined. Roughly one million people lived in this city and many of them were not happy under Robert's rule and even less than with Joffrey. The boy had done everything to make the people hate him and amplify it by a hundred with his mother adding her own problems to the mix.
The woman was under the impression they were unreachable. That they were untouchable because of their House's strength and the fact it sat on the Iron Throne. Countless Houses had thought that way and now almost all of them were either dead or close to it. The feeling of dread increased with each step his horse made toward the Red Keep, his eyes seeing a dark shadow had fallen over it, like some disease had possessed it and slowly spreading further with each passing day. He had seen it before when Robert was around but had shrugged it off as a trick of the light or him seeing something that wasn't there.
But now?
Now Jamie knew for certain a darkness had truly fallen over the Red Keep. A darkness that would one day consume the castle and the city if left unknown.
Will things change when this rebellion is over, my prince?
Many things Ser Jamie. I know serving my father as a member of the Kingsguard has been hard. I know you and many like you wish to do something about his nefarious deeds, only to find you cannot for one reason or another. The curse of oaths men make when serving Lords and Kings when neither are good for the realms.
I await your return, my prince. Hopefully, when this over, you can set the realm to rights.
Thank you, Ser Jamie. All I can ask of you now is protect my family here in the Red Keep while I am gone to deal with this rebellion. Protect them from my father and others who wish them harm. Even if I am victorious over Robert, I fear there are others who would wish me to taste the bitterness of defeat all the same for their own ambition.
Jamie wondered if Rheagar suspected his father would come here, win or lose, after the Battle at the Trident. Did he foresee Jamie's father moving to slay Elia Martell and her children when sacking the city in the hopes that Bard Prince would have to marry Cersei? Did Rheagar suspect those in Aerys Court of possibly conspiring to bring them all down and entrusted Jamie with the task of protecting them since he had a good head on his shoulders?
'It seems I failed in the one task Rheagar entrusted me with above all others. In the end, it was the Lin Kuei Grandmaster who did what I could not. Had he not arrived, Elia would not be alive and Rhaenys would be dead too after Clegane smashed baby Aegon's body against the wall. Father had been so proud of that moment but was infuriated about Elia and Rhaenys living,' thought Jamie knowing his father had been a mixed bag on the situation.
With baby Aegon dead, it was assumed by everyone in the throne room that there was no one left who could contest Robert's claim to the Iron Throne, even with Viserys alive. The boy was still just a boy and having fled Westeros with what little they could on a ship bound for Essos with to no knowledge of how to survive on that side of the world. Rhaenys, while alive, was a girl, and Westeros would not tolerate a woman sitting on the Iron Throne when she came of age. It was probably a saving grace of sorts, which allowed the girl to live this long without assassins able to kill her. That and all of Dorne would know who to blame if she did die at the hands of an assassin, which would have brought all sorts of problems.
"Brother! You have arrived here safely. It is good to see you," said Cersei while seeing Jamie get off his horse and greet her brother like he had won the war.
"Cersei. We need to talk," said Jamie while being all business right now.
"Of course! Of course! Follow me, please. We have so much to discuss," said Cersei while smiling as if all was right with the world.
"Indeed, we do," replied Jamie while he and some of his men followed her through the Red Keep and saw just how truly dark this place had become since he was here last.
The servants were afraid. The corridors had darkness cast over them, even with the torches lit, as if the light itself gave off a dark and unholy glow to them. Even the Lannister men who have been here longer than most had been clearly uncomfortable being here and it showed on their faces despite trying to hide it from the Queen.
But Cersei didn't seem to care about that in the slightest. She didn't care if the servants were afraid. Or how the light from the torches looked tainted when lighting a room. She seemed to enjoy the way things looked now, as if she had designed it to be this way and the more dreary it looked, the better.
Jamie did not think it looked better.
"Leave us," commanded the Queen Mother to her guards while Jamie motioned his men to stay outside.
"You have been busy," commented Jamie with Cersei smiling happily and seductively at him.
"Just because I am the Queen Mother doesn't mean I should let the trappings of power leave me and go to our son right away. He needs guidance. Someone who he can listen to when all others try to fill his ears with lies and honeyed words," replied Cersei while Jamie felt that was hypocritical on her part but knew the woman wouldn't see it that way.
"You set up an ambush to prevent the parlay with House Stark and House Targaryen," Jamie stated with Cersei smirking at him proudly.
"I did. The fact you are here means the North is in chaos and House Bolton has everything well in hand. It is almost a shame I have to eventually have him killed when he least expects it. But a House like his will make the North difficult to control in the future. A weaker House will need to be put in place who can be considered loyal to us yet keep the savages in the North in check. Not to mention cast down the tree worshipping they do," commented Cersei with the last part being to herself.
"Has no one told you?" asked Jamie since he was certain Cersei would have heard the news of how the parlay was a failure, but the opposition was still very much alive.
"Told me what?" asked Cersei while she went to drink some wine.
"The parlay was interrupted by House Bolton bannermen, but House Stark and House Targaryen are still very much alive," replied Jamie with Cersei turning to him with a frown at this before she shrugged.
"I guess I expected too much from Northern savages who liked to flay men. No matter. Even if it failed, I sent someone to Braavos to obtain the means to end them permanently," said Cersei with Jamie now frowning at her words.
"Braavos? Why would the Sealord of Braavos aid us?" asked Jamie with Cersei scoffing.
"As if I would do business with him. I'm talking about the Faceless Men. Varys was kind enough to use his many contacts to obtain an audience with them. I dispatched Lorch a short time ago," commented Cersei while Jamie looked at her in disbelief.
"You sent Armory Lorch to broker a deal with the Faceless Men? Do you know how much it could cost us to have them kill Robb Stark and Aegon Targaryen?" asked Jamie knowing well enough from his studies that the Faceless Men charged heavily for high ranking targets like those two.
"You're thinking too small brother. I am not going after just those two. "No, I am going after all of Houses in Westeros who I deem our enemies. The Tyrells, the Martells, Starks, the Tullys, and anyone else in the Seven Kingdoms wishing to oppose our right to rule," said Cersei while she smirked at how devious her plan was when it came to eliminating the "threat" to her House's position.
Or rather, her position.
It was in that moment, this one defining moment, Jamie knew his sister had gone mad. Beyond madness. Not even Aerys, for all of his actions, would consider going this far to slaughter some of the more ancient and powerful Houses in Westeros. He would have burned a few people, laughed, and do horrible things to his Queen for a sister, but not this. Never removing so many by their roots and stems, much less bleed the realm in such a manner that is might as well be suicide!
"And you think the Faceless Men will deliver? That they will take such a contract? How will we pay them when the crown is in debt thanks to Lord Baelish?" asked Jamie since he knew from several people near the Small Council room when Lord Stark was Hand that the crown was roughly six million in debt.
"Simple, once the various Houses have been destroyed, the spoils will be seized to pay them and square away what the crown owes to all parties," replied Cersei with Jamie shaking his head at her logic.
The sheer amount of gold needed to kill so many high ranking Lords, not to mention the rightful King of Westeros would make the debt the crown had right now seem like a mere pittance. Even if it was pulled off successfully, which was a big IF, no amount of coin from the coffers of these major Houses would be enough to pay the Faceless Men AND the debt the crown owed to various places.
"There isn't enough gold from all those Houses combined to do all of that. The Faceless Men will want their payment upfront," said Jamie with Cersei scowling at him now since he was telling the ever painful truth of this matter, and she didn't like it one bit.
"They will be paid when I say they will be paid. Those fools don't frighten me," remarked Cersei in the belief her family's reputation for being ruthless would be enough to make even the Faceless Men of Braavos pause in any attempt at retribution.
"One does not set terms with the Faceless Men on when they are paid, Cersei. If they did, Father would have used them long ago, damn the expense," replied Jamie with Cersei scoffing and went to drink some more wine.
He noticed she was doing that more and more lately.
"Father could have used them but chose not to at the time. It wouldn't get his point across that it was House Lannister who did the deed. Even before his death, they could have been used to put down House Stark, House Targaryen, and even the Lin Kuei too, if we knew the truth of things sooner. Sadly, Father became old and weak. I am neither, Jamie. I am not some weak little thing people can walk all over. I will see every House who threatens us, every single one throughout the Seven Kingdoms, be rooted out until there is nothing left. Our House will remain and all the others not under our banner, the banner of the lion of House Lannister, will die!" stated Cersei, as a crazed look in her eyes shined brightly behind the Lannister green, emerald color their House was known for, aside their golden blonde hair.
Jamie could practically see Aerys standing right beside her, laughing at him, the ghostly apparition having one of his long fingernails hands on Cersei's body. The lust the ghost had for this woman with madness that could rival his own.
It's a shame, isn't it my killer for a so called Kingsguard. If only she shown up at court with such madness and flowered to boot. Such madness and passion, I would have made her my second wife! She could have given me children just as mad as us!
The echoes of the Mad King's laughter ringing in Jamie's mind, and he winced in the process of trying get rid of the man's words out of his head.
"This madness needs to stop Cersei. We cannot win. We are losing! All the other Kingdoms are following the new King to this single moment. We do not have enough strength to hold out against them, whether it were by land or sea," said Jamie with Cersei clearly being too delusional right now.
"We can hold out just long enough for paid assassins to do their job," remarked Cersei while believing no one could harm her or Joffrey. Myrcella and Tommen were of no consequence in her eyes.
In the Queen Mother's eyes, Tommen was a weak cub with no understanding of things and Cersei had not time or patience to teach him otherwise. Myrcella was still a little girl who would one day become a woman and Cersei had no intention of getting too close to her if the witch's prophecy became true. The idea of her own daughter becoming more beautiful than Cersei herself had irked the Queen Mother, as she refused to believe anyone else could surpass her in the ways of beauty.
And yet…there were contenders to that right.
Cersei saw it in Margery Tyrell. Word of the woman's beauty reaching Cersei's ears and the woman liked it not when people said the Rose of House Tyrell was a lady many a knights would gladly fight for to win her hand. The idea of the woman being so loved by the people by giving them food, clothing, and other things had confused Cersei to an extent. Why give the peasants anything? They were peasants! They were born and trained to serve those of higher status with very little chance of rising higher than their station would allow. If anything, Cersei saw the act as an insult, not only to herself, but to all the high born who ruled over the smallfolk. It vexed the Queen Mother to the point where the idea of sending someone after the Tyrell whore but had stopped due to the fact the Queen of Thorns would spend every single gold dragon in her House's coffers to find out who did it.
Sansa Stark was another such threat. The girl was naïve enough to be sure, but Catelyn Tully in her youth had been a beauty as well. The little dove had the makings of one such a woman, if given enough time to grow and mature. The idea of the Northern whore sitting on the Iron Throne, possibly marrying her son to get to Cersei's crown made the woman want to lash out at the entire House. It was a shame the girl wasn't still in King's Landing under the Queen's control and used as her future plaything to torment for fun when Joffrey wasn't doing it himself. To break the damn wolf bitch and show her why lions were the superior animal above all would have made ruling more tolerable.
Arianne Martell was the third contender. If there was ever a whore among the slowly growing group of those to rival Cersei in terms of beauty, it was the Dornish. The woman was said to make many men in that damn Kingdom, and in those out of it, to turn their heads at the direction of at the woman. The idea of any whore from Dorne, even a Princess of Dorne being more beautiful than Cersei irked her to no end. The Dornish fucked like it was a sport or some great past time where they could see who produced the most bastards out of all of the Seven Kingdoms. They were filled with lust and sin for their deeds and Cersei almost wished to bring back the Militant Faith, if only to direct them toward Dorne in order to "cleanse" the place of their sinful deeds.
And speaking of Dornish whores with the title of Princess to their names, Princess Rhaenys Martell, was another who could challenge Cersei. She was not only beautiful, the damn woman was half Targaryen, and many knew the filthy creature had a claim to the Iron Throne. Swearing it off be damned. What was a piece of parchment with words that couldn't be ripped up and thrown aside? Cersei knew better and wished her father had found a way to end the Dornish bitch when she was still a little girl so she could never become a woman grown. The whore could marry some high lord, spread her legs, and make a play for the Iron Throne with whatever spawn she brought screaming into the world.
Had the damn Lin Kuei Grandmaster stayed away from King's Landing or the Seven Kingdoms itself, much would have been different. Of that, Cersei had no doubts.
"No Cersei, we can't. There isn't enough gold in the Seven Kingdoms to make this plan of yours work," said Jamie while Cersei growled again.
"It will work Jamie. We are Lannisters. The lions always win," said Cersei confidently.
Jamie was not so confident.
He would need to speak to Tyrion before doing anything yet. The time was not right. Not yet. His army here and outnumbered Cersei's own forces here. The City Watch could be brought under Tyrion's control without issue if they needed to bring about a peaceful surrender when the dragon's army marched itself toward King's Landing.
Leaving quickly, Jamie went to his own personal chambers to take a bath, change clothes, eat, and rest long enough to think about what to do next.
"Thinking was never your strength Jamie," remarked Tyrion while seeing his brother thinking deeply while eating his dinner.
Cersei refused to eat with Jamie so long as Tyrion was in the room. This worked out for Jamie since the two of them needed to have a conversation anyway without their sister there to cause problems.
"We all have to learn to cope with our weaknesses Tyrion," remarked Jamie with a small glare.
"Especially when some weaknesses are greater than others," Tyrion shot back with the meaning behind it in his eyes.
"I take it you know?" asked Jamie with Tyrion nodding after sipping his wine.
"Varys was helpful in providing me with information on many things. Namely the truth of my niece and nephews. Your hand in their creation. The war itself being generated by Littlefinger. Our Father's death and how he died. There is also the fact our enemies have been winning one victory after the next," said Tyrion with Jamie flinching with each reveal.
"Did you also know I tried to meet with Lord Stark and the true King for a parlay? To end the war? Only for Cersei to conspire with House Bolton to fuck things up?" asked Jamie with Tyrion nodding.
"I did. As for not telling you sooner, I found out before I could get a message out. Though considering how skilled you and those you were parlaying with, only a fool would try something. Fools tend to die stupid deaths," said Tyrion with Jamie nodding but still had a grim look on his face.
"It's worse than even you know Tyrion. She also sent Lorch to hire the Faceless Men of Braavos. Not just to kill our enemies I was facing on the battlefield, but all the major Houses throughout the Seven Kingdoms," said Jamie with Tyrion nearly spitting out his wine and coughing heavily.
"Our sister has gone mad! There isn't enough gold throughout the Seven Kingdoms to pay such a price to the Faceless Men. Not to mention the crown itself is heavily in debt to our House for one half of it and the Iron Bank the remaining half with no means to pay it off. The fact Cersei sent Lorch of all people to Braavos to meet with the Faceless Men is further proof she has lost her mind!" exclaimed Tyrion with Jamie sighing snice it was true.
"Which is why I need your help Tyrion. The Seven Kingdoms is against us. Even the West. Father's dead and I am a shit replacement. Kevan is a prisoner of the North. As things stand, I will either lose my head or go to the Wall. Either way, you will be the new Warden of the West and Head of House Lannister," said Jamie with Tyrion flinching since he didn't want to lose his brother one way or another.
"The new King?" asked Tyrion with the rest of the question of "will he be merciful?" not being asked.
"He has a good head on his shoulders. Good teachers all around will do that. He's lived a humble life as you and I well know. With a proper Small Council to assist him in running the Seven Kingdoms, it will see a new age of peace and prosperity not seen since the Old King Jaehaerys Targaryen himself," said Jamie with Tyrion nodding.
"Cersei will never let it happen. The fact she will go so far as to see so much blood spilled to hold onto the trappings of power is proof of it," said Tyrion with Jamie nodding.
"I know. We need to arrest her and Joffrey. The Lannister army here is loyal to me despite what she may have thought when I brought them here to the capital. Once we secure Cersei and the children, we can signal for the approaching army to enter the city and we can end this whole bloody thing," said Jamie with Tyrion frowning.
"How long do you think we have until our not so sweet sister suspects something?" asked Tyrion with Jamie grimacing.
"A few days at most. No doubt Cersei and Joffrey will want to discuss our plans for taking out the army marching here. I have to play the role of the loyal Lannister family member if I am to buy us time," said Jamie with Tyrion smirked.
"Just be sure not to play your role too well, brother. You know how our sister gets when you are around and no one is watching," said Tyrion while Jamie glared at him.
"Those days are over Tyrion. I made many mistakes in my life. Being with Cersei was one of them. We should have never let such a thing happen between us. I see that now," said Jamie knowing he had done much in his life that made him such a fool for a Lannister.
Lannisters do not act like fools.
Even now his father's words echoed in his mind like a haunting ghost to remind him of this.
"With any luck, we will all keep our heads. Though Cersei and Joffrey most likely will not," said Tyrion and gave his brother a knowing look.
"If it comes down to a trial by combat, I won't be either of their champions. I already know the choices the crown has to act as their champion. I wouldn't win," said Jamie with Tyrion nodding since he already knew those who step forward to act as the crown's champion.
And all of them were either on par or beyond Jamie's skill.
"At least Tommen and Myrcella will be safe. They will be safe, right?" asked Tyrion while seeing Jamie nod with an assuring smile.
"It was one of the terms I was trying to secure before the ambush. You would be the one to take care of them as the new Lord of Casterly Rock. Whether or not they are legitimized will probably have to be discussed between yourself and the King. After what happened last time, I doubt anyone would want to be in a room with me again," said Jamie with Tyrion grimacing.
"When can we expect the massive army to reach the city?" asked Tyrion curiously.
"A week. Maybe two," said Jamie since he was sure scouts were already clearing the path for the King's army consisting of so many Lords to come marching to the city to see the young man crowned.
"Which gives us some time to prepare for their arrival. Unfortunately, our not so sweet sister is probably thinking the same thing. Is there anything you can tell me about the city that you haven't told anyone else? Something that Cersei might use against the King, if only out of spite?" asked Tyrion and saw Jamie hesitating for a moment.
"I do. I just pray to the Gods that Cersei hasn't found it yet. We need to discuss this with Varys and in a place for the three of us can talk without anyone knowing," said Jamie with Tyrion nodding.
"I'll speak to Varys. If you do, it will reach Cersei's ears and will instantly suspect something is wrong," said Tyrion knowing his sister will want Jamie all to herself soon and hearing him talking to the Spider would make the woman feel her rule through Joffrey was threatened.
But if Tyrion met with Varys, she wouldn't even care. As far as Cersei knew, which was very little, the two of them would go someplace filled with debauchery or some other filthy place with other filthy people. Of course, considering what Cersei had done and who she was doing since before even marrying the late King Robert Baratheon, she had no real room to speak of regarding that type of stuff.
(Outside of King's Landing-Two Weeks Later)
They had arrived. A massive army stood in front of the city. Not since the Greyjoy Rebellion had an army been amassed of this size. Not since Robert's Rebellion had so many Lords rose to claim this one city and to crown a new King to put down a mad one. It was truly a sight to behold if one looked at it from high in the sky or even if one were to see it, even from away, up on the city walls.
"Do you think there will be a battle, your grace?" asked Ser Barristan curiously.
"I don't know Ser Barristan. While Jamie Lannister intended to set things right in the city, one cannot let down their guard until the final sword is sheathed with no one left to fight," said Aegon while he looked at the city with his spy glass from his position.
Already he could see men on the walls running around, alerting others of the army that was approaching the city and what it may mean for them. It was no secret the last time an enemy army entered the city, it was led by the Head of House Lannister, and he had given his men leave to sack the city in order to show his so called "might" to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Ironic how the roles had become reversed with the lions now risking an army led by the dragon coming to the city with the possibility of it being sacked if simply given the order.
Fortunately, Aegon was not his Grandfather. He was not Maegor the Cruel. He was not Tywin Lannister. He was a man who would do what was right when it came to taking this city and ensure the people had faith in their King once again. They had lost it due to Aerys. They never knew it with Rhaegar. They were lost in terms of what to do with the Usurper on the Iron Throne. As for Joffrey, the boy was clearly a mix of Aerys and Maegor in some twisted package only the Gods could understand.
"What do the men of Lin Kuei say to you Grandmaster?" asked Maege Mormont curiously.
"The last reports I have from them state the city is under heavy lockdown. They are being extra careful not to be caught. From what I have deciphered from the last message, the Queen Mother is still doing her best to whisper words of lies and honey into her son's ear. As for the false King, he is as cruel as ever, torturing the smallfolk for pleasure, beating servants or their family members, and all the while being completely ignorant of the fact the people in the city are getting ready to riot in the streets in mass. Not even the Lannister army and the City Watch put together can stand against the overall population within King's Landing should they choose to rebel in their own way," said Sub-Zero while thinking about how the city was getting ready to rip itself apart.
Something he couldn't let happen. The chaos of it all would bring about too much pain, suffering, and death with nothing left to build on once Aegon took the Iron Throne from the false King. It nearly did happen after the Dance of the Dragons and only stopped getting worse when the Northern army came to set the Capital to rights. Even after that whole event came and went, the city itself was never truly the same again, and slowly went into a state of decline. One which Robert Baratheon sped up with his lack of proper management and Joffrey doing the same with his own brand of cruelty.
"What of Ser Jamie?" asked Robb curiously while wondering what became of the Kingslayer.
"My last message regarding him stated his sister is keeping the man close. She is under the impression he will protect her and their children from any harm. From what information I have gathered, he has to play the role, but the man is with us," said Sub-Zero with Robb sighing.
"Can your trust the source regarding him?" asked Robb, knowing people could easily lie and certain pieces of information could be false.
"The message is from his brother, Tyrion," said Sub-Zero knowing Tyrion was a man who always looked at things from an intellectual perspective and would always seek to make the smart moves.
Tyrion was always smarter than most gave him credit for.
"It could still be a mummery," warned Lord Umber knowing Lannisters weren't exactly honest people.
"In this, he was being honest. Varys sent me a message confirming it. They have been making discreet moves of their own to secure the city and make sure certain parts of it are not accessed," said Sub-Zero with the message Varys sent him being disturbing in its own right while the Lin Kuei confirmed it was all true.
The caches of wildfire. Barrels upon barrels stacked on top of each other, all throughout King's Landing, right underneath the city and everyone's noses. One spark was all it would take, and the entire city itself would be no more with the green fire burning everything in its path. The Mad King had lived up to his reputation quite well and Sub-Zero was truly saddened the man fell so far into madness around the time they met each other. Perhaps, in time, the Grandmaster could have helped him deal with the madness, but time was something Sub-Zero did not have when he arrived in this realm.
Now he had to deal with a Mad Queen Mother and her nearly equal in terms of madness filled son in said city with either one possibly discovering the wildfire for one last final standoff.
"We will lay siege to the city for the moment. Let Cersei and those loyal to her think we seek to claim it in such a manner," said Aegon knowing he needed to deceive his enemy to win here.
"I hate sieges, your grace. They can get rather dull," commented Bryden Tully to the chuckle of a few of the Lords.
"As do I Lord Tully. Still, for the plan to work, we will need our enemy to see only what we want them to see, and not our real self, nor our true strength," said Aegon with Sub-Zero nodding in approval.
"If we seek to end this without pointless bloodshed of the smallfolk, stealth will be required in the days to come," said Sub-Zero knowing they couldn't' take the city by force if there was to be a proper change in terms of people's perceptions.
"You plan to take the city with a small force?" asked Lord Karstark knowing it was the only option outside of a full blown assault on the city.
"What a large army cannot do, a small force can. Even more so if the enemy does not expect it. The city was designed to repel a large army and navy. A small force who knows where the hidden entrances are located is another matter entirely," said Aegon knowing his Sifu had instructed him about designs of a city and how they usually had hidden passages to smuggle people out in the event the city in question was lost to the invaders.
They could also be used to smuggle people in when required to take such a city.
"But what if that cunt for Queen Mother and her madness driven son of hers also knows such a thing is possible? What if they have plans in place to see such a small group never reaches the inside of the city, your grace?" asked Randall Tarly knowing such a tactic also had its own risk to those who joined in it.
"Cersei is more focused on keeping a tight lid on the Red Keep. Not the city itself. The Lannister army is mostly centered around the Red Keep while City Watch is being ordered to man the walls. Fortunately, they are too few to guard everything or be everywhere at once. Cersei will no doubt order the Lannister army to tighten its hold over the Red Keep and leave the rest of the city to the City Watch," said Aegon while he had been told quite a bit about the woman since the war started.
He could practically anticipate her moves within his mind and was prepared to counter them should they happen.
"How do you know this, your grace? asked Lord Ashford curiously.
"Because I know my enemy, my Lord. I know the Queen Mother's mind. Madness driven as it is, I know enough of her to anticipate the actions she would take when hearing of our army approaching. I know the mind of her son and what he will do when hearing of us. By knowing their minds, I know how they will act, and I will in turn, know how to react when required," said Aegon with Sub-Zero nodding again in approval.
"You intend to be part of this small group, your grace?" asked Randall curiously.
"I must, my Lord. A King I maybe, but without a crown, and I am still a member of the Lin Kuei all the same. I walk in the shadows just as well as any member of the clan. I must also lead by example if I am to rule over the Seven Kingdoms. If I cannot lead even a small force into the heart of the enemy territory and achieve victory, how can I rule Seven Kingdoms proper?" asked Aegon with Randall nodding since leading others by example showed you were willing to take the same risk as others would when facing a dangerous situation.
"Who will go with you?" asked Robb after a moment.
"The Grandmaster, Ser Arthur, and Ser Barristan since they would never forgive themselves if they didn't join me. I won't ask for volunteers for this. I will let you all decide whether or not this is something you wish to participate in or stay here as part of the mummery siege. But know this, those who do go must be ready for anything, be silent as possible, and know that there is always a chance of this failing with the result being our deaths," said Aegon knowing he could ask for volunteers to join him, but felt it was better to have those with him make the choice.
He didn't have to wait long.
Greatjon instantly joined, though he had to promise not to yell or make too loud a racket should there be fighting, and they could still obtain the element of surprise. Maege and Dacy Mormont stepped up too since they also didn't wish to be outdone by the giant man from the North. His cousin Robb had also agreed to join him, stating if he couldn't do this, how could he be worthy of ruling as Warden of the North. Randall Tarly also stepped forward and so did Ser Garlan Tyrell. Prince Oberyn and his daughters also volunteered since they could be stealthy when required. Aegon made it clear they were only to kill someone if necessary and to do it quietly. No boasting, no yelling, and no fancy moves to show off to the others. Not only are they sneaking into the city at the risk of being caught, but they were entering where the wildfire was located underneath the city. While he didn't believe anyone was down there, Aegon didn't want to risk there was possibly someone loyal to Cersei accidentally setting off the wildfire around them.
Ser Davos was able to provide him with the means to get where they needed to go. His personal skills when it came to smuggling were once more put to use. Only this time, instead of onions, it was people he was transporting to the spot where the group could head into the city undetected. Fortunately, the Gods were on their side, as there was no moon in the sky this night, even if there was one, a thick line of clouds covered the sky. Once on shore, they moved through the shadows, avoided the City Watch, the aid of the Lin Kuei agent in the city helped guide them discreetly through a safe route to the Red Keep. Any risk of being caught by the City Watch or Lannister forces had been redirected by discreet noises or something else by said agents to make sure no one saw them on their way to the tallest structure in the city.
Fortunately, when they did arrive at the Red Keep, they were met at the secret entrance by Tyrion and Varys, with both men looking calm though cautious all the same.
"Your grace," said Varys and Tyrion with both men bowing.
"Lord Tyrion. Lord Varys. Good to see you both alive. Cersei and Joffrey?" asked Aegon knowing they would need to know where they are right now.
"Joffrey is asleep, your grace. A servant gave him something to drink before he went to bed. The false King will be out for quite some time after the servant accidentally put some nightshade into it before being served to him," answered Varys with a knowing smile on his face.
"As for my sister, she is awaiting my brother in her chambers. My sister wishes to spend some 'personal quality time' with him before the inevitable battle for the city begins. I have been able to relay an excuse to her about going over some battle defenses tonight with Jamie to buy you some needed time, but I do not know how long the excuse will last due to Cersei's current impatient mood to be with him," replied Tyrion with a grimace.
"We will have to make the most of it. How many men are loyal to your sister and Joffrey?" asked Aegon with Tyrion looking uncertain.
"I honestly don't know. My brother had the majority of the Lannister army around the Red Keep under his command. But there are others who have been here longer. From what I can determine, and Varys can confirm, my sister has promised the men guarding her chambers anything from gold to titles to…a night, if not several, in bed with her," said Tyrion knowing his sister had become out of control and there was little he could do to stop the woman from taking things further.
"Not anymore. Your remaining niece and nephew?" asked Aegon with Tyrion looking more relaxed at the mention of his remaining family who were innocent in all of this.
"They are asleep your grace. Like Joffrey, they were given something to help them sleep deeply so they won't know what is about to happen. They won't be harmed?" asked Tyrion with caution and hope in his eyes.
"You have some nerve to ask that imp!" exclaimed Lord Umber while Aegon raised his hand to silence the large man.
"It is not an invalid question Lord Umber. Many know what Tywin Lannister did and ordered others to do when it came to removing two Western Houses and sacking this city. Many in the Seven Kingdoms hate House Lannister and only hold back because they fear it. However, with Tywin dead, many are finding a reason to fear it less, and said fear is melting away to the hatred beneath it for all the man did for his House. Lord Tyrion is afraid I, or possibly one of you, will do something horrible to the children just like what was done to my brother Aegon or something similar to Castamere," said Aegon with Tyrion looking at him with gratitude for his explanation to the question.
Tyrion had no doubt the soon to be crowned King would be merciful. The young man was raised around honorable men. Trained to have a sharp mind as well as body. To see things from all perspectives. Not just those of black and white in terms of morality. He was trained to see the gray, the shadows, the line that separated the merciful from the cruel. The honorable from the wicked. Trained to be brutal but no less precise in any deed done. To be fair, yet firm all the same.
"I know, your grace. But it seems insulting all the same," said Lord Umber knowing the young man was not like most cunts in a position of power who would massacre innocent lives just to "prove a point" in terms of superiority.
"And I thank you for your defense Greatjon. As to Lord Tyrion's question, I have will not harm Tommen or Myrcella. I fight only my enemies and kill only when required. Since neither child is my enemy, it is not required they die or suffer for being born," said Aegon with Tyrion letting out the breath he was holding in despite knowing in his heart the truth of this man before him.
"This way. We must hurry. The guards watching over my sister and vile nephew are nearby. They are the most loyal to her. They have also been known to hurt several of the servants in the past. They are among the crueler men Cersei has kept around to protect them both," said Tyrion while guiding them through the Red Keep to their intended destination.
"All the servants are away?" asked Robb knowing it could get bloody and innocent lives could be harmed during the possible fighting.
"Yes, I sent them away. We don't need any of them getting bold ideas or possibly making a noise that will tip the guards off," replied Tyrion before they arrived where Cersei's chambers would be located along with Joffrey's nearby.
"Good. You and Varys should leave here. Get somewhere safe. We don't need either of you being killed in the fighting that is to come," said Aegon with Tyrion and Varys nodding.
"Good luck, your grace," said Varys before bowing and the two men quickly left.
"How many men are there?" asked Robb with Aegon and Sub-Zero peaking around the corner to see a large group of Lannister men guards both rooms along with the Kingsguard there.
"Plenty. Enough for everyone. Remember, strike hard and fast. The sooner we secure Cersei and Joffrey, the sooner we can secure those loyal to them," said Aegon with everyone drawing their weapons quietly to not alert the guards.
(With Cersei)
She had been waiting patiently for her brother. Painfully to the point where Cersei just wanted to scream in frustration over the wait. How could her brother listen to that vile imp about planning and strategies at a time like this? At a time when Cersei truly needed him? At a time when Cersei's desire for her twin brother had reached the point of near madness? It wasn't fair! Of course, Jamie had agreed, telling Cersei the sooner they planned a defense, the sooner he would be in her bed. She saw the smile, the twinkle in his eyes, and the assurance he would be there to ravage her in bed. How could she not believe he would return to do all that she needed him to do to her?
And yet, the wait was unbearable!
'When I get my hands on that wretched monster for denying me Jamie tonight, I am going to make him wish he was facing the Mountain or Lorch!' thought Cersei angrily while fighting the losing battle to use her fingers to pleasure herself until Jamie arrived.
The woman was so into her thoughts that Cersei never heard the sounds of fighting outside and she did not realize things had happened until a loud "CRASH!" was heard from a large foot kicking the chamber door down. Naturally, Cersei screamed in fright, saw Greatjon Umber walk into the room after kicking the door down before he grabbed the robes nearby and threw them at her. While Greatjon could not deny Cersei had a wonderful body, he didn't much care for the woman it belonged to, nor the fact she was waiting to have sex with her twin brother.
That was just a mood killer for his cock. Beautiful woman or not.
"Get dressed Queen Mother. You along with your inbred son are coming with us," said Greatjon while some of the others came into the room.
"How dare you! Do you know who I am? Do you know who you are addressing?" asked Cersei angrily while covering herself.
"Yes, a woman who has been fucking her twin brother. While the Seven Kingdoms has tolerated it with the Targaryens, no other House does it, nor will the Seven Kingdoms allow it with any other House," answered Lord Tarley with disgust in his eyes while Greatjon grabbed her and began dragging the woman out of the room.
"You will pay for this. My brother will have your heads. Jamie! Jamie! Where are you? Jamie help me! HELP ME!" exclaimed Cersei while struggling against the giant man holding her in place before finding her mouth gagged.
Had she looked around, the Lannister woman would have seen the dead guards all around her with none of the servants to alert the rest of the Lannister men within the Red Keep. Nearby, Sub-Zero could be seen holding her son Joffrey, who was only wearing his bed clothes, and without any sense he was being carried over the shoulder by someone. Moving swiftly through the Red Keep, they made their way back the way they came, knowing the sooner they got out of the city the better. With Joffrey and Cersei no longer in the city, they were no longer in a position of power, meaning Jamie and Tyrion could now act in bringing about the peaceful transition of Aegon entering King's Landing without bloodshed.
As for Cersei, she was still trying to make some noise, break free from Greatjon Umber's grip, and do just about everything possible to escape from their clutches. It was only when Aegon drew a dagger, and had it pressed to her throat did the woman stop and saw the young man who would be crowned give her a very chilling glare.
You have two choices before you former Queen of Westeros. Either you stay silent willingly or I slit your throat before dumping your body into the water for the animals to feast on it. Regardless, I will have your compliance to be silent or I will have your blood on this dagger to make it so.
Wisely, Cersei decided to be silent of her own accord. Though she still glared daggers at him all the same with hatred burning in those green eyes.
When they made it back to his camp, it was done quietly so the rest of the men in the army were none the wiser, as the sight of Cersei and Joffrey would have raised noise in the camp. While it wouldn't be a bad thing per se, it might make it more difficult for Jamie and Tyrion to get the more prideful Lannister men to obey the command of standing down. It might even bring the Lannister forces into a frenzy of rage and anger that would have made the late Tywin Lannister proud.
Fortunately, that was not the case here with Cersei being dumped into the King's tent with the various Lords who aided him and others who knew of it. Many were pleased the mission had been completed without too much trouble with the amount of life lost being only Lannister men, and even those were the ones loyal to Cersei and Joffrey. Had they not been killed; the risk of their King being attacked later or an attempt to free the former Queen could have occurred.
"You will pay for this! All of you will pay for this! When my brother Jamie finds out what you have done this very night, he will march the full might of the West out of the city down your throats. You will choke on your own blood as he runs his blade through your chest. He will sack your keeps, take your women, and see your children suffer before the end!" stated Cersei with her eyes filled with madness and hate.
"You assume he is loyal to you former Queen of the Seven Kingdoms," said Aegon with Cersei glaring at the young man before her.
"I know he is loyal. Jamie has always been loyal," spat Cersei with Aegon not being intimidated by the woman.
"Unlike you with your whoring ways. How many of your family members and bannermen have you slept with while he was off fighting the North?" asked Aegon knowing the information obtained about the woman in front of him was very damaging.
"You have no right to judge me. You, who are born from a Northern whore. Your mother spread her legs and seduced Rhaegar. She stole him from me!" spat Cersei while she glared up at the boy.
"What do you mean?" asked Aegon with Cersei sneering at him.
"My father told me when I was a little girl that Rhaegar would be my husband. I would be marrying the bard prince and one day be Queen. But your whore of a mother came along. Seducing him. Spreading her legs for him. Giving him a bastard child in your form!" replied Cersei with hate, jealously, and wrath mixed into one.
"I hardly seduced Rhaegar. In fact, I didn't even try anything to make him turn his attention toward me all those years ago. I did nothing to warrant his love or attention until we met that fateful day at Harrenhal when he discovered I was the Knight of the Laughing Tree," said Lyanna Stark after walking into the tent to glare at the woman who helped kill her brother.
"You lie! You're just like every other whore in the Seven Kingdoms. Spreading your legs and seducing men to your bed while the one they are meant to be with has to marry some fat pig of a man who also has no shame in sleeping around with his own whores," countered Cersei angrily and it was clear how she blamed Lyanna for the horrible marriage she had with Robert.
With Rhaegar dead and Robert King, the Lannister woman had to marry into royal blood to become Queen with the only one in the Seven Kingdoms with a claim being from House Baratheon. At the time, Viserys was too young, fled with his newly born sister to Essos with what loyal men were left with the things they could take with them. Cersei had been put off by the idea of not marrying Rhaegar and being forced to marry Robert instead. But when she saw Robert in his armor, muscular, trimmed beard, the true embodiment of the Warrior himself, it changed Cersei's mind.
Only for her marriage to Robert to become another in a long line of disappointments in her life from the very beginning of their wedding night. From the start of it to the end when Robert died, it had been one long painful road to the Seven Hells with no ending in sight. Until that day when Robert went on one of his hunting trips and was hit by the boar. She thought he would finally die from the horrible injury the beast unleashed on him.
That sniveling old, yet loyal fool, Pycelle was almost certain of it, but had underestimated the severity of the wound a few days later. Seeing her one and possibly only chance, Cersei gave Pycelle his marching orders to kill Robert in the man's weakened condition. Make him drink poison and say the wound did the King in in with no one being the wiser on the subject. After all, who would question the Grand Maester and his healing abilities? Who was qualified? Only another Maester could do such a thing, and few had the authority to question one so high in rank among the Order of Maesters. Only for the stupid fool to fuck it all up! Cersei was surrounded by men who were incompetent, stupid, naïve, inept, and too weak willed to do what must be done. To make matters worse, if it wasn't weak willed men who failed Cersei who were at fault, it was whores who made weak men even weaker causing the former Queen problems in their own way.
And now, here Cersei was, being judge for it by this bastard boy, barely a man, and his Northern whore for a mother.
"You have a lot of nerve to speak to my mother that way former Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. My mother never whored herself out to anybody. She has only loved one man and one man only. She has never strayed and was faithful to my father. As for you? Sleeping with your bannermen, your cousins, uncles you find attractive, and your own twin brother? The only title of Queen you are truly worthy of being called, is Queen of all the whores in the Seven Kingdoms and the Queen of hypocrisy," said Aegon while Cersei looked ready lunge at him and sink her teeth into his throat before ripping it out.
"What right do you have to judge me? I am a lion! What do I care for the opinion of sheep?" asked Cersei while Aegon glared harder.
"And I am a dragon. What do I care for the opinion of the lion who must look up at my form in order to have a conversation?" asked Aegon while Cersei looked livid at him.
"I'll rip out your heart!" exclaimed Cersei, as she tried to rise while struggling with the ropes that Lord Umber had bound her in right before making their way out of the Red Keep.
Only for Lyanna to move forward and punch the woman in the face with enough force to break leave a large swollen bruise and a few loose teeth.
"That was for my brother Ned. The next time I strike you down, it will be with a sword. Not my fist," said Lyanna while Cersei spat out some blood and what looked like a piece of a tooth.
"I will have my revenge. Mark my words. You will all pay for this. You, your bastard son, and that thrice damned Grandmaster. I will see you all dying slow agonizing deaths," said Cersei while she struggled to rise.
Only to find a sword made of ice pointed at her face.
"I think it's in your best interest to be silent for here on out, former Queen of the Seven Kingdoms," said Sub-Zero coldly with Cersei torn between madness and despair.
Her entire life was falling apart and there was nothing she could do to stop it from getting worse.
(A/N: YAY! I updated. I'm sorry this took so long. Been busy with many things when I am not writing. Bet you thought I gave all this up. Wrong! I am alive and trying to work on my fics. Moving with the speed of a glacier, but still moving forward as best I can. I actually had to cut this chapter off from becoming too big and pit some of it into the next chapter in order to get this one off the ground. I intend to complete all of my fics so for all those who love my work, please be patient with me. Until next time…PEACE!)