"I don't blame you."
Jaime looked at Tyrion in surprise.
The Imp was still not looking at him, yet Jaime still saw the man's eyes. They were focused, furious and haunted.
"You did as Father wanted you to do, and I don't blame you for it" Tyrion elaborated. "But I am blaming you for waiting this long, for waiting until there was a chance where I would learn from this, from watching the future. I blame you for not telling me soon enough so I could have saved my wife. It will take me time to… forgive that. Do not force forgiveness from me, Jaime"
Jaime nods.
[DRAGONSTONE, GENDRY'S CHAMBERS]
[MELISANDRE leads GENDRY to the side of the bed. She kisses him, and gently pushes him back onto the bed. She undoes his pants and straddles him.]
"Wha- is this her example of fattening the pig before slaughter?" Gendry asked incredulously.
"You seem to be enjoying it" Renly countered with an amused smirk.
"Yeah well… I'm a boy who likes women so-"
Renly snorted and a few chuckled at the response, the mood becoming lighter because of it. The boy was Robert's through and through.
[She helps him inside of her, and they both undulate and moan with pleasure. GENDRY fondles her breasts, and MELISANDRE gently leads his hands to the headboard of the grand bed. She quickly binds them with a single pull on a leather strap.]
"This is getting a little too graphic. Someone cover the children's eyes" joked Tyrion.
A joke it was, but mothers and aunt did just that. The mothers also pulled their eyes away. The aunt did not. She was rather interested in the whole act.
"What are you doing?"
[MELISANDRE gives him a peck.]
"You have to trust me."
[She searches down GENDRY's body and he gives himself over to her, eyes closed. She binds GENDRY's booted feet to the other end of the bed. He opens his eyes, watching and panting. MELISANDRE opens the ornate box at the side of the bed, pulls out a leech, and places it on GENDRY's chest.]
"And there's her true angle there" Varys sighs. He knew there was some other reason behind the witch being this… affectionate.
Gendry's face fell. If this was some sexual plaything, he did not like it.
"Don't fight, don't fight. They won't take much."
"Why are you doing this?"
"I told you there's power in the blood of kings. And you have so much blood."
[MELISANDRE places a leech on GENDRY's groin.]
Gendry closes his legs in alarm, while the other men hiss sharply. Yep, he definitely disapproved of this play.
[The chamber door opens. STANNIS and DAVOS enter.]
"You can blame Ser Davos. He didn't believe in the power of king's blood. He wanted a demonstration."
[MELISANDRE walks to her dress and slips it back on. STANNIS approaches them. MELISANDRE returns to GENDRY and removes the leeches with her forceps. MELISANDRE hands leeches to STANNIS, next to the brazier that she lit earlier. STANNIS takes out the leeches one by one, tossing them into the flames, which spark with each one.]
"The usurper Robb Stark. The usurper Balon Greyjoy. The usurper Joffrey Baratheon."
"I am no usurper!" Robb said in outrage.
"You sit on the throne of the North" Stannis pointed out.
"Because your Southern King killed my Father and has my sister prisoner" Robb countered. "What man wouldn't be outraged by their actions!"
"I am not saying it's not deserved" Stannis explained. "I am saying, it's what that makes you. Robert here was also called a Usurper."
Robb still looked unhappy. All of the Stark Family members looked it. But them, for other reasons, at least the adult ones.
Stannis had used black magic once to kill a King. And now he's done it again.
The mother clutched her chest in worry, while the father's face darkened like the sky before a storm.
The North Remembers and Ned Stark will not soon forget this.
[KING'S LANDING, THE WEDDING RECEPTION]
[SANSA walks through the revelry with SHAE. After opening a curtain for SANSA, SHAE quickly departs as JOFFREY intercepts SANSA.]
"Congratulations, my lady."
Sansa looked disgusted at the blatant fakness of Joffrey's congratulatory words.
"Thank you, Your Grace."
"Well, you've done it. You've married a Lannister."
"Oh joy" Sansa said dryly.
"Soon you'll have a Lannister baby. It's a dream come true for you, isn't it? What a glorious day."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"I suppose it doesn't really matter which Lannister puts the baby into you. Maybe I'll pay you a visit tonight after my uncle passes out. How'd you like that?"
The girl looked stricken. No, she wouldn't have that bastard anywhere near her, let alone her bed!
She blinked when someone touched her hand.
It was Arya.
The girl said nothing, only holding her sister's hand.
Sansa was glad for it, squeezing her hand for comfort.
"You wouldn't? That's all right. Ser Meryn and Ser Boros will hold you down."
Sansa's grip tightened but Arya did not complain.
"He'll die painfully" Bran muttered from Sansa's other side, sitting between his elder sister and mother.
Sansa looked at Bran and saw the anger and disgust in his eyes. She'd never seen that look in Bran before… and it was for her.
She gently ruffled the boy's hair.
Bran smiled at her, the look now gone.
Sansa smiled back.
[JOFFREY smirks cruelly as he turns back to the main hall and claps his hands for attention.]
"Time for the bedding ceremony."
"There will be no bedding ceremony."
The elder Stark sister visibly relaxed. If Tyrion Lannister denies it, then she would be safe.
[JOFFREY takes SANSA's hand and leads her to the central banquet floor.]
"Where's your respect for tradition, Uncle? Come, everyone. Pick her up and carry her to her wedding bed. Get rid of her gown. She won't be needing it any longer. Ladies, attend to my uncle. He's not heavy.|
"There will be no bedding ceremony."
"There will be if I command it."
[TYRION stabs his knife resoundingly into the table in front of him. JOFFREY is shocked.]
"Then you'll be fucking your own bride with a wooden cock."
Tyrion whistled. Drunk and disgusted Tyrion was not one to mince his words. He respected it but to the King… Deserved or otherwise… oh he was definitely his own enemy sometimes.
[TYWIN rises from his seat.]
"What did you say? What did you say?"
"I believe we can dispense with the bedding, Your Grace. I'm sure Tyrion did not mean to threaten the king."
[TYRION's hand shakes with rage as he grips the knife with all his strength. Suddenly, he regains his drunken composure. He releases the knife and laughs obsequiously.]
"A bad joke, Your Grace. Made out of envy of your own royal manhood. Mine is so small. My poor wife won't even know I'm there."
Tyrion snorted. There it was, his quick recovery.
"Your uncle is clearly quite drunk, Your Grace."
"I am. Guilty. But- but it is my wedding night."
[TYRION staggers from the head table, and tumbles into another as he walks.]
Tyrion winced. Gods he was making a fool of himself here.
"My tiny drunk cock and I have a job to do. Come, wife."
[TYRION entreats SANSA to come with him. She follows, embarrassed and small.]
Sansa stiffened again. No… please someone had to stop this.
[TYRION'S CHAMBERS]
[TYRION opens the door for SANSA. She enters nervously. TYRION closes the door and staggers directly to the wine and pours himself a glass. TYRION sits on the side of the bed. SANSA takes a breath. She pours herself some wine and drinks it. TYRION offers a drunken toast of solidarity. SANSA moves quietly and obediently to the bed and begins undressing her many layers while TYRION watches.]
Sansa watched it all with wobbling lips and a hand that gripped Arya's as if her life depended on it. She felt her heart race and tears prickle in the corner of her eyes.
"Stop. I can't. I could, I won't."
"But your father-"
"If my father wants someone to get fucked, I know where he can start. I won't share your bed. Not until you want me to."
Sansa let out a shaky breath of relief. She wouldn't have to do it. She wouldn't have to watch herself be forced into anything.
She quickly let go of Arya's hand when she noticed just how tightly she'd been holding it.
"I'm sorry," she said immediately.
"Hush" Arya rolled her eyes, discretely rubbing the hand.
Sansa snorted, taking her hand again and rubbing it for comfort.
"The room will heal me" Arya pointed out.
"I know" replied Sansa, but still rubbed her sister's hand.
Arya did not mind that.
[ENCAMPMENT OUTSIDE YUNKAI, NIGHT, DAENERYS'S TENT]
[MISSANDEI bathes DAENERYS in a tub by candlelight. The two talk about how MISSANDEI can talk in nineteen languages and about Daenerys' Dothraki and High Valyrian. MISSANDEI gasps and DAENERYS turns to see MISSANDEI held captive, her mouth covered and a knife at her throat. Her assailant, DAARIO, wears the uniform of the Unsullied.]
"Where are the guards?!" Rhaegar said with absolute outrage. Two Queensguard and that man still managed to sneak in!"
Daenerys stared in horror. She'd been so confident with her dragons and men around her. But now she was vulnerable, without them she was vulnerable. Was this where she died?
"Perhaps it would be better to pick up the sword as well, my dear " Elia whispered. "You need to be able to protect yourself."
"I think that would be a good idea" Oberyn muttered, not a drop of playfulness in his tone.
Daenerys nods. She should be able to protect herself.
[DAARIO leads MISSANDEI further into the tent. DAENERYS watches nervously, feeling vulnerable in her bath. DAARIO removes the knife from her throat and lifts off the Unsullied helmet. His eyes smile at DAENERYS. She is confused and angry.]
"What do you want?"
"You."
"Let her go."
"Don't scream, lovely girl."
[DAARIO releases MISSANDEI with a grand gesture. She scampers next to DAENERYS.]
"You were sent here to kill me?"
[DAARIO nods and chuckles.]
"So why haven't you?"
"I don't want to."
"That's… well that's nice of him I suppose" Jon muttered. He was relieved that Daenerys was safe. She seemed a good woman, and she was doing good. It would be a shame if she were to die before she could make meaningful changes.
"What do your captains have to say about that?"
[DAARIO removes his satchel and dumps its contents on the floor. The heads of MERO and PRENDAHL thud as they hit the floor.]
"You should ask them."
"He killed them?" Robb frowned. "So he's a turn cloak and backstabber."
"He is" Oberyn nods, "but you get men like that when the leadership does not please. And I am assuming that he now holds the position of command" he adds.
"He is still a backstabber, foolish to trust," Robb said.
"It would be" Oberyn hummed. The Sellswords are meant to be armies of gold. They get paid to risk their lives. If they start to break their promises… what was there left for them?
"We had philosophical differences."
"Over what?"
"Your beauty. It meant more to me than it did to them."
"You're a strange man."
"I'm the simplest man you'll ever meet. I only do what I want to do."
"Simplest yet the most dangerous. If he ever wants something different, he'll abandon his commitments" Elia added with a frown.
"And this is supposed to impress me? Why would I trust a man who murders his comrades?"
"Good. Don't just go with his words" Rhaegar muttered.
"They ordered me to murder you. I told them I preferred not to. They told me I had no choice. I told them I am Daario Naharis. I always have a choice. They drew their swords and I drew mine."
"Hm… so he killed them because they attacked first."
"And they attacked because he refused an order. Gross mistake in an army for one man to not follow their superiors."
Daenerys chewed on the inside of her cheeks with a frown. She was certain that the man was going to pledge his sword and his company to her. But… could he be trusted?
[DAENERYS rises from her bath and steps to the floor. She stands naked before DAARIO, matching his confidence with her resolve.]
"Perhaps you shouldn't walk out naked before just anyone" Margaerys suggested with a smirk. "You never know what men would do to you if you do that."
Daenerys blushed.
[MISSANDEI steps behind her and slips her into a robe. DAENERYS walks to DAARIO.]
"Will you fight for me?"
[DAARIO nods]
"Swear to me."
[DAARIO unsheathes his sword and kneels, placing it across his knees.]
"The Second Sons are yours and so is Daario Naharis. My sword is yours, my life is yours, my heart is yours."
"Pretty words, but he's shown to be someone who does not follow orders, and openly rebels against those he serves. It would not be wise to trust him" Jon Arryn mutters with a frown.
"I don't think I have any other choice" Daenerys muttered. She needed the men.
[THE BROKEN FARMHOUSE, NIGHT, BEYOND THE WALL]
[The wind howls and whistles in the night, and crows caw outside. Inside the broken farmhouse, SAM tries to strike a fire with his flint stones. GILLY requests him to stop trying and join her under the furs. SAM blinks rapidly, then sits next to GILLY. She spreads the furs over them both. SAM strikes up a conversation about how the baby winked at him before the talk moves on to naming the baby. After a while of talking, GILLY sets down the BABY and stacks the wood. She tries to strike the flint. Crows caw outside the broken barn. GILLY sits back down next to SAM once the fire is lit and blazing. The sounds of crows escalate into a chorus of relentless cawing. SAM and GILLY listen with fear. SAM nods at her with a slight smile and rises. SAM takes a burning torch from the fire. GILLY tells him to stay but SAM decides to check it out. SAM reaches the side of the barn and looks out. He grabs his sword as he exits. The godswood tree is swarmed by crows. They cry out in a cacophony. GILLY joins SAM outside, clutching her BABY. Every branch of the godswood is covered by crows. There must be hundreds. Suddenly the crows fall silent. A growl comes out of the darkness beyond them. SAM looks into the woods and drops his torch. A lone figure walks towards them from the woods. SAM readies his sword, two-handed. The figure comes closer. It is a White Walker, approaching calmly.]
Jon inhaled sharply. Sam can't win against that. His heart broke at seeing a friend he'd made about to die.
"It's come for the baby."
"Stay back!"
[The White Walker continues to approach. SAM extends his sword in front of him, an unconvincing threat. The White Walker is nearly upon SAM.]
"You stay back!"
"Oh, the boy has some courage after all" Olenna chuckled. Not many would have stood to fight that creature of the darkness.
[The White Walker grabs SAM's sword. It sounds a resonant ring and suddenly shatters in his grip. He levels SAM with an uppercut that sends him sprawling to the ground. He turns his attention to GILLY and her BABY. SAM draws the dragonglass knife from his furs. He lunges and plants the dragonglass knife in the shoulder blade of the White Walker. The ghoul screeches and turns to attack SAM. But the White Walker seizes up, howls, and falls to his knees, his flesh hardening and cracking like ice. Suddenly, he shatters into tiny shards, practically vanishing into crystal dust.]
"The boy killed it!" Robert roared in approval, slamming his hands together for a thunderous applause. He was a warrior and he would always respect a show of bravery even in the face of certain death.
Ned's eyes though took it in with a critical look, as if he was absorbing information. His eyes then went to Brynden.
"Dragonglass, you said Dragonglass kills them. What else?" the man asked.
"Fire… and Valyrian Steel" the man answered, his lone crimson eye fixed on Ned. "It was made with dragonfire and thus it holds the fire's properties. It can kill a White Walker."
"How do you know about Valyrian Steel, if you were a Wildling?"Brandon the Elder questioned.
"I never said I was" Brynden shrugged. "I said I'm simply from beyond the wall."
"So a deserter" Lyanna surmised.
Brynden shrugged. "You'll find out soon, I believe."
That was no good for Ned. He wanted to know now. He needed to have as much information as he could if he were to prepare for this threat.
But he knew Dragonglass worked now. He needed to start collecting them. Dragonstone was sure to have many… and perhaps he could reach out to Skaagos for more.