Lyra stood on the bow of the ship with Ghost at her side as usual. They were getting closer to King's Landing harbor. She could tell by the smell...a very gut wrenching smell.

"Ser Davos, remind me again why anyone would want to live in the city." Lyra asked her advisor as she breathed through her mouth. The horrible stench hit her in the face thanks to the wind.

Ser Davos looked at her with sympathy at having to smell the shit city they were traveling to. "Job opportunities, a better living, excitement, refuge..." he paused, unsure how else to answer her question seeing how he grew up in Flea Bottom and had to literally hop over a river of shit every time he walked out that front door.

Lyra coughed and gagged, her enhanced smell being a curse at this moment. "Forget I asked." she coughed again, "If the dead don't kill me first, this shit pile will. Seriously, the smell of dead corpses running at you is much preferable than this." she commented while waving her hand in front of her in a vain attempt to fan away the stink. Ser Davos couldn't help but laugh at her smell preference of stench. It was quite refreshing after watching her in her unusual somber mood as of late.

Lyra heard Ghost wine in agony at the city smell before she rested a hand in his fur in order to comfort him. "Don't worry Ghost, we're only here for an afternoon, then we're gone." she assured her Direwolf before coughing into her other hand.

In order to escape the present stench, her mind wandered back to Aegon's proposal two weeks before...


"'Your wife?'" Lyra repeated, not sure if she heard correctly as she stared at the Dragon King in front of her, sightless eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.

"Yes. What better way to seal our alliance than with marriage? Think about it, a Northerner, descendent of the Kings of Winter, serving her country alongside as its Queen." Aegon explained, smiling at her surprised expression, "Your bannermen follow you as the honorable Queen in the North who will fight beside them. I do believe they'll still follow you as Queen of Seven Kingdoms."

Lyra's mouth was open, but no words came out until she found her voice, "But...I am a mere bastard. All Seven Kingdoms will never accept a motherless bastard as their Queen."

"Lyra," he began with a sigh, "from the moment I met you, I knew that 'mere' is hardly what you are. You are so much more than what your name dictates. I could legitimize you, but that would be a waste of time because you and I would share the name Targaryen." he said this with certainty, as though she has already accepted his proposal.

Lyra hummed, "Lyra Targaryen." she tested it out, feeling strange about how her name combined with Aegon's House sounded. The Dragon King's smile widened, liking the way her name fit with his family's.

Lyra then asked, "Have you spoken to Tyrion about this?"

"He made an implication, though he may have been speaking his thoughts as usual. I remember him saying that it would be the right balance for Westeros in terms of unity and leadership." Aegon recalled that one conversation where the dwarf suggested them being a good match as a 'just man and an honorable woman.'

Lyra was silent as she pondered his proposal. The last time a Targaryen made off with a Stark, it sparked a war that tore the country apart. However, they were already at war on two fronts. The Northerners will raise a stink if one of their own married a Southerner, a Targaryen no less. Still, if the Night King is defeated, the fight for the Iron Throne will continue, and personally, having Aegon on the throne is much preferable than the bitch who will more than likely be out to destroy the rest of House Stark for the sake of exterminating her enemies. They need to be united against the Mad Queen if they are to survive, and marriage does seem to be a logical solution if it means having an alliance.

Finally, the Queen in the North spoke, "I need time to think about this."

Aegon nodded in understanding, though he was truly hoping that she would accept his proposal. If he was being honest, he wanted her as his wife for personal reasons, not for politics.

"After we show Cersei and secure her alliance to fight the Long Night, I will give you my answer."


Ever since that day, she has gone back and forth about accepting his marriage offer. She consulted Ser Davos about the union who provided the benefits about a daughter of House Stark and the last son of House Targaryen, one of those beng the reconciliation for the brutal history that happened in the previous generation. She for one had no wish to remain in the past or hold onto age old grudges because of someone's blunder. Yes, this can help restore faith back to House Targaryen.

Her hand felt warm whenever she thought about the Dragon King. She remembered how pleasantly warm his hand felt in contrast to her cold skin. The way his fingers wrapped around hers made her feel at peace, like there's no war outside their circle. She never thought of getting married, never hoped for a happy relationship other girls dreamed of growing up. So the idea of being married to a nobleman, a King no less, is a frightening concept for her. But sometimes, she forgets that he is the Dragon King and just a man who she shares an unexplainable kinship with. She doesn't hate him, she never did, but can she love him the way a wife would with their husband? She's not sure what she would feel if she were to spend the rest of her life with him. But she knew that he would need a friend that he can trust when he finally wins the Iron Throne.

"Your Grace." Ser Davos' voice pulled her out of her thoughts, "It's time."

Her hand buried itself in Ghost's fur, signaling him to guide her off the swaying ship with the Onion Knight. "Is it in the cart." Ser Davos knew what 'it' she was talking about as he helped her down the gangplank and back onto steady ground. "Sandor Clegane is taking care of it as we speak."

"Good." Lyra nodded as they joined Tyrion, Varys, Missandei, Jorah and a company of Dothraki warriors. Once the crate was in the wooden cart, they set off towards the Dragonpit where the meeting would take place.

"Ser Jorah," Lyra whispered to the bear knight behind her without looking back, "where is His Grace?"

"He'll meet us at the Dragonpit." Jorah answered as Lyra sighed, caught between relief and exasperation.

"No doubt to make a fancy entrance. The bloody showoff." Lyra muttered under her breath, but they all heard her anyway as they stifled their laughs. As they continued their journey to the summit, Lyra tuned the conversation about the reason why the Dragonpit was created. The air here was definitely foul and heavier compared to the North. She never been this far South, it felt as though she was suffocating on this side of the continent. The Capital is truly unpleasant, even her direwolf can't stand it. 'Sansa, how did you survive this place?' she thought of her sister, finding another reason to respect the trueborn daughter of Stark.

She and her entourage stopped when they were joined by Lannister soldiers and three others, two of whom she recognized by scent. Brienne and Podrick. "I've been sent to escort you all to the meeting." The unfamiliar voice said before they all continued towards the Dragonpit.

Through smell and the sound of heavier feet, she was able to walk on the left of the tall woman with Ghost beside her. "Brienne of Tarth."

"Your Grace." Brienne bowed her head in respect and greeting to the blind warrior.

"You're not with Sansa." Lyra stated, noting how the woman sworn to protect her sister is not with the young redhead.

"She sent me in her stead to represent her." Brienne explained as they marched together.

Lyra nodded, "Good. I do not want her returning to this horrible place."

"I didn't want her coming back here either."

Lyra let out a quiet breath before she asked anther question, "Bran and Arya, how are they?"

Brienne paused, unsure how to best answer the blind warrior who has not seen her younger brother and sister in years. "They're safe in Winterfell."

"And..." Lyra pressed.

Brienne swallowed, "Brandon Stark is...I don't know how to describe." she paused, unsure how she should talk about the young cripple who seems distant from the rest of the world. "You'll need to see him for yourself. But I assure you, he's alive."

Lyra breathed out through her nose, knowing that would have to suffice for now. "And Arya?"

Brienne smiled, "She's a fighter. Doesn't need mine or anyone's protection as far as either of us are concerned."

Lyra chuckled under her breath, "She's always been skilled with a sword, it is why I gifted her with one that best suited her before I left." Memory of the night she left her little she-wolf sprang forth, how she placed her last gift in a place where only Arya would find it. She remembered how she gave a kiss to the sleeping girl's forehead before she left to join the Night's Watch as Jon Snow. If only she had said a proper farewell that night.

"Thank you, Brienne of Tarth." she said to the knight.

"It has been my honor Your Grace." Brienne bowed to the young woman.

Lyra left her side when she felt the Hound come up on Brienne's right before they began their tense conversation. She sensed a bit of history between the two-not the heartwarming kind-and decided to give them their privacy.

She quietly listened to the odd conversation between Tyrion and the man known as Ser Bronn of the Blackwater. She would've found their strange companionship amusing if not for the stress of this summit that may or may not end in bloodshed. Still, she could tell that they care for one another in their own strange way.

Ghost tensed under her fingers as they finally came upon the ruins of the Dragonpit. She switched on her inner sight and saw lions surrounding the center stage that will serve as the meeting point. 'Gods, please let everyone come out of this unscathed.' she silently prayed as she turned off her inner sight, but remained tense in case of a trap. She felt eyes on her, more specifically on her direwolf, whose size frightens the Lannister soldiers since they never seen such creature in real life. The fear and apprehension never left the soldiers as she stepped up onto the platform with the council. She stood off to one corner of the stage with her advisor and direwolf beside her with her fingers stroking Ghost's white fur while patiently waiting for Cersei to arrive.

After what felt like an eternity, she caught a new scent in the air. Ghost sensed it if the rise in his fur was an indication as his blood red eyes turned in the direction of the new arrivals. She switched her inner sight back on and felt her stomach churn at the horrific souls the other world showed her. There, walking towards the platform, one she has no doubt is the Lannister Queen, except through her inner sight, a monster that can only rival that of the Night King. It was a lioness, but instead of the beautiful golden coat they possess, this one was an eerie green and glowed menacingly with razor sharp teeth covered in blood of its enemies. But what frightened her more were the green flames that burned within its eyes and ashes that exuded from it's fur. 'Madness.' was all she could think of as her pale eyes locked onto the lioness' green ones.

Marching close to the Mad Queen is a creature that can only be described as a red eyed demon made up of rock, stone and decaying flesh. He somewhat reminded her of the wights, except this one wasn't created by the Night King, it had more sense of self and a real thirst for blood. Somewhere deep in her very being, she felt an extremely strong urge to kill this monster where he stood.

The last one unsettled her the most. It was a kraken, one that was menacing and foul at the same time. It moved through the air as though it was swimming in water. Its eyes directed at her made her want to shiver in disgust because of the lust she sensed inside of him. She knew what this creature wanted from her, and she would rather be dead again than let that thing's tentacles anywhere near her.

The only newcomer she found more pleasant was a golden lion with a literal gold paw. The creature she recognized from that dream where the wilting rose mocked the lion in its final moments.

She blinked as she switched off her inner sight, the gut wrenching sight of three demonic souls was almost enough to make her vomit. Thankfully she was able to keep it down for the sake of this meeting.

Cersei, Jaime, Qyburn, and Euron took their seats on the chairs stationed on the platform. Everyone silently watched the one-sided exchange between the two Clegane brothers before the young stalked off to who knows where.

The Mad Queen's green eyes traveled to the Northern Queen and quietly seethed with anger and rage. This young woman was a shocking replica to the late Lyanna Stark, the woman who caught beautiful Prince Rhaegar's interest and sparked the rebellion that helped Cersei become Queen of Seven Kingdoms. And now she's back in a different, more beautiful form.

'You'll be queen, for a time. Then comes another, younger, more beautiful, to cast you down and take everything you hold dear.' The witch's prophecy echoed in her mind, taunting her as she beheld this Northern Queen who was indeed more beautiful than Sansa and Margaery combined. Her stance and composure spoke years of war and battle, a warrior that will not hesitate to kill when given the opportunity.

The giant direwolf snarled at Cersei, making the older woman flinch. There was warning and a vengeful promise in the beast's eyes as he glared at the monster responsible for the deaths of his brothers and sisters.

Lyra laid a hand on the spot that calms him down, "Do not eat them Ghost, you don't where they've been." Though she meant it as a way to keep her closest companion from getting sick, Cersei felt insulted and didn't miss the way her dwarf of a brother bit his lip to keep from laughing.

"Where is he?" Cersei asked as she reigned in her anger.

"He'll be here soon." Tyrion answered as he felt her glare on him.

"Didn't travel with you." Cersei stated.

"No."

"Let's just say he needed some...fresh air." Lyra added with a slight smirk, not moving from her position as she stroked Ghost's fur. Thanks to hers and the direwolf's sharp senses, they were able to Drogon in the distance before anyone else.

An awkward silence passed over the gathering until a loud screech and a pair of flapping wings descended upon them. While some of them jumped out of their seats at the sight of the large dragon, Lyra remained where she stood as gusts of wind brushed against her from the massive wings. She smiled up at where she knew Drogon and Aegon would land before they even touched the ground. She sensed shock and fear among those not part of hers and the King's council, more prominently in the Mad Queen who beheld the legendary beast and the remaining descendent of Old Valyria.

Aegon dismounted from Drogon's back before her made his way to the center of the Dragonpit, his dragon created gusts of wind as it flew away. As he walked up the steps, he glanced at Lyra who smirked slightly and mouthed, 'show off'. He hid his own smile as he made his way to his seat to the far right of Cersei's council.

"We've been here for quite some time." Cersei said in what sounded like annoyance.

"My apologies." Aegon said, though everyone knew he didn't mean it.

With everyone present, Tyrion stepped forward to address the issue. "We are a group of people who do not like one another. Given our history. We have suffered at each other's hands, we have lost people we loved at each other's hands. If all we wanted was more of the same, there'd be n need for this gathering. We are entirely capable of waging war against each other without meeting face to face."

"So instead we should settle our differences and live in harmony for the rest of our days." Cersei mocked Tyrion with a feint smirk on her face.

"We all know that will never happen." Tyrion quickly stated with a hard stare at his older sister.

"Then why are we here?" Cersei demanded to know the real reason for this meeting.

Lyra took this as her cue to take the reigns as she stepped forward until she was in the center. "This is not about living in harmony, it's just about living and surviving." she said as she turned to face Cersei with a blind cold emotionless stare. "The Long Night has returned, and it is coming for all of us. This is a general you cannot negotiate with, and an army that does not leave corpses on the battlefield." Aegon clenched his fists at the horrific memory of what he saw beyond the Wall. "A million people live in this city, that's a million more soldiers to add to the Night King's army."

"I imagine for most of them it would be an improvement." Cersei mocked in an attempt to get a rise out of the Northern Queen.

Lyra's expression didn't change, "This is serious. Otherwise, I would not be standing here."

Cersei scoffed, "This is probably anther bad joke. If my brother Jaime has informed me correctly, you are asking me for a truce." she directed her statement at Aegon whose face remained stoic while he kept his temper in check.

"Yes, that is all I'm asking." Aegon said, hardly fazed by Cersei's glare.

"'That is all'?" Cersei leaned forward, "Call off my armies and stand down while you go on your monster hunt? While you expand your position and put me at a disadvantage until the moment you return to march on my Capital."

"The Capital and its people will be safe until the threat beyond the Wall is dealt with." Aegon said, his calm façade hiding the anger he held for the monster who didn't even care for the people living inside King's Landing. "You have my word."

"The 'word' of a would-be usurper trying to steal my throne." Cersei sneered.

"That throne belonged to my brother Rhaegar." Aegon corrected, "It also belonged to my nephew. The same nephew who your rabid pet beside you butchered in his crib." he directed his glare at the Mountain. "And this is coming from the woman who took that same throne from her youngest son the moment he jumped from the highest tower in the Red Keep." he could not help but enjoy the way this woman shook in anger at the mention of her son.

"At least mine lived longer whilst yours didn't even breath life in this world." Cersei cruelly and venomously shot back at Aegon who was just about ready to incinerate her for that comment.

"Enough!" Lyra commanded the Lion and the Dragon, "This is ridiculous, by far the most foolish joke. I did not pass through a freezing hell and death to listen to children squabble over a fucking chair." she said to both monarchs who turned to her annoyed expression.

"She's right, nothing any of us say or do will erase the last fifty years." Tyrion said as Cersei turned to him, "We have something to show you."

Not long after he said that, Sandor Clegane returned carrying a heavy crate on his back. Lyra and Tyrion both stepped back as the Hound placed the wooden box onto the ground. While most watched with intrigue, others looked uncomfortable and fearful for what they knew was in that box. After removing the various locks, the lid was final off the crate.

Silence fell over the Dragonpit as everyone waited with baited breath. With his hand on the hilt of his sword, Sandor kicked the crate over and let the dead demon spill out. Its screeches filled the air as it charged at Cersei who shrank back in her seat at the sight of the monster. Just as it's rotted hands reached for her throat, Sandor pulled the chain to yank it back. It fell to the ground, but it wasn't deterred as it turned its attention on Sandor who armed himself with his sword. The wight charged at him with bloodthirsty vengeance, only to be cut in half at the waist. However, it still continued to move its upper body to crawl after the Hound. It got close enough for its left arm to be lopped off.

Tyrion glanced over at Cersei and saw a look of pure terror on her face. Anger, hatred, and smugness have always been her trademark, but fear is one of the rarest he's seen on his sister.

Qyburn stood up from his seat to pick up the rotted hand, his eyes were filled with intrigue as he watched the fingers continue to move on their own accord. Lyra stepped towards where Qyburn stood and held her hand out expectantly before the disgraced maester, gave the wight's hand to her. Davos was the next to come forward with torch ready to be lit as Lyra held out her other hand. Once the torch was firmly grasped within her hand, the Onion Knight used flint and steel to ignite it.

"There are three ways to destroy them;" Lyra began as she got everyone's attention, "fire..." she lit the moving hand which quickly spread before she dropped it and gave the torch back to Davos. "...Valyrian Steel..." she placed a hand on the hilt of Longclaw then reached into her fur cloak to unsheathe a dragon glass dagger, "...and dragon glass." she finished as she held up the weapon.

"If we don't set aside our differences and band together, then that shall be the fate of everyone in the world." Lyra announced as she switched on her inner sight and marched over to the wight to drive the dagger into its head to set its soul free. With the wight's shrieks coming to an end, she rose up, turning her inner sight off as she faced her audience. "We all have one war that we must fight in, the Great War, and it is already here." she said as her white veiled gaze penetrated their souls.

Silence fell over the Dragonpit as what they just saw began to sink in. "I myself didn't believe it until I saw them." Aegon said to Cersei who glanced at him, still shocked by the wight. "I saw them all... them...and the Night King."

"How many?" Jaimie asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he feared the answer to his question.

"A hundred thousand...and they continue to grow with every person they kill." Aegon said as he glanced at Lyra who nodded in confirmation.

Euron was silent as he got up from his chair and walked over to the now dead wight before he knelt down beside it. "Can they swim?"

"No." Lyra answered, not turning to the Kraken and knowing what this coward will do with this knowledge.

"Good." Euron stood up, "Because I'm taking my fleet and I'm going back to the Iron Islands."

"What was that?" Cersei asked the Kraken.

"I've been around the world. I've seen everything, things beyond imagining. But this," he gestured to the wight, "this is the only that I've seen that scares the fuck out of me."

Lyra scoffed, "Fool. You think a body of water will stop these things? You're wrong." she said to Euron who turned to meet her unseeing gaze. "They may not be able to swim, but I can guarantee you that the winter the Night King brings will turn the sea into solid ice for his army to march across. Tell me, can your ships outrun this storm before waters freeze them into place?"

Aegon fought the urge to leap out of his seat when Euron took a step towards the unmoving Lyra. The hungry look in the pirates eyes made him want to gut the bastard alive. "I'll take my chances White Wolf. I suggest you stay on that dragon's island while I stay on mine. By the time winter s over, we'll be the only ones left alive." Euron said as he gave her a suggestive look before he sauntered away from the Dragonpit.

"He's right to be afraid, and a coward to run." Cersei stated as the pirate left the pit. "If those things come for us, there'll be no kingdoms to rule. Everything we've suffered and lost would have been for nothing." she glanced at Aegon, "The Crown accepts your truce. Until the dead are defeated, they are the true enemy."

Lyra let out a quiet sigh of relief, knowing that she was able to open another monarch's eyes to the terrifying truth of the Long Night lifted some weight off her shoulder. But that was short-lived when Cersei added, "In return, the Queen in the North will extend this truce." Tyrion glanced between his sister and the blind warrior, "She will remain in the North where she belongs, she will not take up arms against the Lannisters and she will not choose sides." Cersei finished naming her terms with a firm look as she stared at the White Wolf.

"Just the Queen in the North?" Aegon questioned as he gave the Mad Queen a hard look.

Cersei scoffed, "The likes of you would never agree to it, and even if you did, I would trust you even less than I do now. I ask it only of Ned Stark's daughter, I know a child of Ned Stark's will be true to their word." she said as she used Stark bastard daughter's honor against her.

Lyra was caught in the middle once again, to choose between what's right and what's honorable. Aegon's marriage offer sprung within her mind, how genuine and logical his proposal to her sounded. It's true they would be a united front against both the Night King and Cersei, but the Army of the Dead heavily outnumbers them and they both need Cersei's cooperation. If she agrees to Cersei's terms, they'd stand a chance against the Long Night, but in doing so, she will also have to turn down Aegon's proposal lest Cersei sees their betrothal as a threat and pull her armies out of the fight against the dead.

She closed her eyes for a moment then opened them to see both the Silver Dragon and the Mad Lioness. Through her inner sight, Aegon's inner dragon watched her in anticipation and a strange gentleness within his violet eyes. Whilst Cersei's deformed malicious lion was licking her blood stains teeth, as though ready to pounce and rip her to shreds. Upon closer inspection of Cersei's soul, she saw a small flickering golden light within her abdomen.

With a decision made, she locked eyes with Cersei's soul. "My neutrality in exchange for your help?"

Cersei gave a light smirk in satisfaction, "Yes, that's all I'm asking. The North will be taking the full brunt of the Great War, you'll be busy with reparations, so you won't have the time, soldiers, or resources to back Aegon Targaryen's claim to the throne."

As much as Lyra was loathe to admit, Cersei was indeed correct in her assessment. "If I agree to stand down in your war against House Targaryen, you will swear your oath as Queen to lend us your support to fight the Long Night?" she asked the Mad Queen, though to her it felt as though she was about to sell her soul to a monster.

"Yes. That is all."

Lyra sighed as she glanced at Aegon's soul and saw how the dragon closed his eyes and bowed his head to her. Taking a deep breath, she said the words she knows she can never take back, "Then I, Lyra Snow, daughter of Eddard Stark, Queen in the North, hereby swear to remain neutral in the Lannister and Targaryen conflict once the dead are defeated." she bowed her head as she sealed her kingdom's fate.

Cersei's smile widened by a fraction at Lyra honor, "Then I, Cersei of House Lannister, Queen of Westeros, hereby swear to send my armies North to fight the Army of the Dead."

Lyra nodded her head, "Thank you, Your Grace." she raised her head as she turned off her inner sight, "I pray to the Gods of Old and New that you do not break your oath to the living. For the sake of your unborn child, do not betray this trust."

Everyone's eyes widened at the secret Lyra revealed. Cersei's eyes popped out of her sockets as her hand rested upon her abdomen. How could this woman know about her child? She, Jaimie and Qyburn were so careful not to let the existence of her unborn baby known.

Lyra felt a new kind of fear leak out of the Mad Queen, she wanted to smile, but kept it hidden as she bowed her head, "I wish you good fortune in the wars to come...and congratulations." she turned on her heal to leave the Dragonpit with Ghost and Ser Davos by her sides.

Aegon stood up from his chair, "Farewell Cersei." he said to the Mad Queen as he followed the Northern Queen out of the Dragonpit with his council flanking him. Tyrion was the last to follow as he shared a glance with his brother, no words were exchanged, only the light bow of his head, "Congratulations." were his last words to his siblings before he left to join the Dragon King and Northern Queen.


I'm ending the chapter right here because the next update will basically deal with Lyra's decision affecting Aegon's proposal. Thank you all for your patience and I hope you liked this chapter. 'Til next time.