3 Months Later
Visenya let out a breath from the position a top her horse. Since returning to Winterfell, and as soon as her injuries were healed, she had opted to go back on her morning rides, that she used to do when she was a child. Since Jon had become King in The North, he had gifted her a new horse, that looked similar to Rhaenys. While no horse would ever top what Rhaenys was, Visenya still accepted the horse, naming it Meleys, in honor of the dragon, Meleys.
She sighed in content looking over the hills that surrounded Winterfell, each with a light coating of fresh snow. Riding on the outskirts of Winterfell has brought her peace since she was a child...and now it gave her a sense of familiarity...but at the same time...foreign in a way. She knew Aegonar and Sunspear were not too far away, but she also knew that now would not be the time to go flying.
She was now a Queen.
Something she never thought she'd be.
Nor did she ever think she would accept it.
Realizing she should head back, Visenya carefully urged the horse to walk down the hill, before urging it into a gallop, as she head back to Winterfell. As soon as she got closer to the gates, she slowed Meleys into a slow canter, and eventually a walk, not allowing her to plow through any pedestrians that might've been in the horse's way.
"Welcome back Your Grace." One of the stablehands began as she dismounted Rhaenys. "How was your ride?"
"Very well, thank you." Visenya replied giving the man a small smile.
It had been 3 months since Jon declared Visenya the rightful Queen of The Seven Kingdoms, and since then, she has still not fully adjusted to it. A small smile came onto her face watching Brienne and Podrick sparring, and just as she got to the two of them, Brienne punched Podrick in the gut making the boy fall to the ground.
"No." Brienne replied holding out a hand to help the boy up.
"Not bad." Visenya began as she made her presence known among the two of them.
They both gave her a nod. "Your Grace."
It took all her might to not roll her eyes, but still gave them a smile. "You're getting better since the last time I saw you, Pod. You've done rather well...especially against Lady Brienne."
"Thank you, Your Grace." Podrick nodded giving Visenya a smile.
Visenya was about to reply back before a frown came upon her face, seeing Baelish speaking with Sansa. Brienne, noticing Visenya's dislike for the man let out a sigh.
"I understand your concerns, Your Grace." Brienne sighed.
"I don't trust that man...no matter how much we need the Knights of The Vale." Visenya sighed. "I fear he is still manipulating Sansa."
"I agree." Brienne responded quietly. "We must tread lightly...I will continue my watch over Lady Sansa, as you requested."
Visenya nodded. "Thank you."
As she started walking toward the doors to head inside, she heard Jon call for her.
"There you are." He began, as he walked toward her. "I need to speak with you."
"About what?" She asked in confusion, opening the door for the two of them to head inside.
Jon said nothing but gave her a note that must've been delivered by a raven. Visenya unraveled the note, and her eyes had widened upon reading it. Cersei now declared herself as Queen of The Seven Kingdoms, and wanted Jon, Visenya, and the rest of the traitors to come to King's Landing and bend the knee. While they knew she had murdered Margaery, Loras, and Mace Tyrell during the explosion of the Great Sept of Baelor, word had also spread North that Tommen had killed himself due to the loss of Margaery.
All of them knew that Cersei wanted the throne more than anyone, but they all couldn't believe she'd allow for her own son to die...and be unfazed by it.
In Visenya's mind, they all shouldn't have not been shocked...Cersei was cruel. There was no denying that.
"So what are you going to do?" She asked, crumbling the note in her hands. "Head South and bend the knee?"
He shook his head. "No...if anything I'd rather reason with her, then deal with her later."
"Reason with her?" She frowned. "Whatever for?"
"We need everyone we can get to fight the Night King and the White Walkers, I have instructed scribes and some of our Maesters to search the texts for mentions of Dragonglass. Sam is in Oldtown doing the same." Jon explained.
"There is an entire mine of it beneath Dragonstone." She explained. "I could fly there, and bring some back."
Jon nodded. "If you bring some, I could send a few ships there as well, after you return. To mine for more."
She nodded. "Of course."
She then gave Jon a nod, before heading up the stairs heading to her chambers, expecting Jaime to be there. But no sooner she opened the door, she was met by Myrcella reading at the desk, with Maegor sleeping by her feet, which was unsurprising...Maegor had taken quite the liking to Myrcella.
"What're you doing?" Visenya asked with a small smile.
Myrcella sighed. "I'm sorry for intruding into your chambers...you have a better book collection than I do."
Visenya's smile grew, as she walked over to the girl. "It's quite alright, where's Tristane? I'm surprised he's not with you."
"He's with Rickon." She explained. "Rickon wanted to show him how to use the bow...as he told Rickon that he never learned how."
"I see." Visenya said with a nod. "What're you reading?"
"Aegon the Unworthy." The girl sighed. "The man truly was worse than my father...with regards to fathering bastards."
"Your father is a good man...you and Tommen turned out alright." Visenya sighed placing a hand on the girl's shoulder.
Myrcella turned around to meet Visenya's gaze. "I meant Robert Baratheon."
Visenya let out a huff of amusement, as did Myrcella knowing how true the comment was. Robert Baratheon fathered too many bastards...too many to count.
"I haven't gotten through all of his bastards." The girl admitted. "I'm only on Bellenora Otherys."
"You have quite the ways to go." Visenya sighed. "Where is he?"
Myrcella sighed. "Where he always is these days."
Visenya nodded before placing a kiss atop the girl's head, before letting her get back to reading. In the time since the two had met at Dragonstone, Myrcella had begun to consider Visenya as her mother rather than her own mother. Of course she felt differently as a child, but now as she was grown, Myrcella realized that Visenya was nothing like the person her mother made her out to be...but rather it was the opposite, as her mother was the cruel and vile person.
After ensuring Myrcella was alright and didn't need anything, Visenya ventured back down the stairs and back outside. This time, instead of heading to the Courtyard, she headed towards the Godswood, knowing Jaime would be there. Since learning of Tommen's death, he had been spending less time with Visenya and Myrcella, and more time in the Godswood. Knowing that he was never the type to pray to the Gods, the two of them became concerned that he was growing depressed...even though he shrugged off their worries. As she entered the Godswood, he sat with his back facing her, with his head slightly down. He could rebuff her a thousand times...but deep down, she knew he was depressed.
"Have the Gods answered your prayers?" She playfully asked from her place a few steps behind him.
He picked up his head and turned around to look at her, letting out a sigh as he did. "Some days I wish they did. Who told you I was here?"
"You have been coming here every day since we received news of Tommen's death." She explained as she walked forward. "And to answer your question, Myrcella."
He rolled his eyes. "I feel as though I can't tell either of you anything."
"And why is that?"
"Because if I tell one of you something, you tell the other." He sighed as he watched her sit down next to him.
"You should be glad Myrcella and I are close." She retorted.
"I am."
She let out a small sigh. "I know you still morn for Tommen...the both of us have noticed it."
"I do not." He scoffed.
"He was your son...whether you will admit it or not." Visenya explained. "I am not offended by it...Tommen was innocent."
He didn't reply, but interlaced his left hand with her right...almost to try and keep him grounded and not to cry. In response she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I fly for Dragonstone." She explained before taking her head off his shoulder.
"Why?"
"Jon needs Dragonglass...and since Dragonstone has an entire mine of it...I will fly on Dragonback to bring some back. Jon said once I bring some back, he will send miners there to get it." She explained.
"When do you leave?" He questioned.
Just as she was about to reply, a voice called to the two of them.
"Your Grace, Ser Jaime."
They both turned their heads to see Mira standing at the Godswood entrance. Upon laying eyes upon her, the two of them stood up.
"What is it?" Visenya frowned.
"You have a visitor...requesting to see the both of you." Mira explained.
"Who?" Jaime asked in confusion.
A small smile appeared on Mira's face. "Lady Olenna Tyrell."
Visenya turned to Jaime with a frown of confusion, before following Mira out of the Godswood, and into Ned Stark's old meeting chambers, where Olenna was waiting for the two of them to arrive. No sooner they arrived, Mira instructed for tea to be brought for Olenna, knowing the woman would not talk unless there was some sort of tea on the table...and once there was, Olenna looked at the two of them...analyzing their every move.
"Since becoming Queen, these are your two closest advisors? A handmaiden andThe Kingslayer?" She began before turning to Jaime. "Does that make you the King Consort? Since you are the husband of the Queen...but that wouldn't make much sense would it.The Kingslayera King himself."
Visenya looked to Jaime who was standing behind her, who shrugged in response.
She turned back to the older woman. "We haven't thought of it."
"Mhm." Was all she spoke before drinking her tea. Visenya quickly glanced to Mira who was also confused as to why the woman had come all this way.
"Why are you here?" Visenya asked, tired of playing games with The Queen of Thorns.
Olenna smiled. "I was awaiting for you to ask me that question. You should know by now my dear that I am tight-lipped."
"That you are." Visenya spoke in agreement.
Olenna leaned forward. "I am here, to inform you of your sister, being in Westeros."
Her eyes immediately widened. "Daenerys is here?"
"She is on Dragonstone, with her three dragons, with the Imp as her Hand of the Queen." Olenna began. "I pity that poor girl."
"Why?" Jaime asked in confusion.
"Because your brother has no knowledge on how to instruct a girl of that nature." She began. "The advise your brother is giving as her hand is quite astonishing...I can't believe how naive that girl is. He has no clue on how to handle taking the Seven Kingdoms."
"Is it truly that bad?" Visenya questioned. "Has she declared herself Queen? When it is not her birthright?"
"She declared herself Queen based upon everything she has been through...even though you are older." Olenna replied. "But I know you love your sister...no matter how much she declares herself as a Queen."
Visenya let out a sigh, leaning back in her seat, thinking about the words that had come out of the older woman's mouth. She knew that Olenna was right, the woman was wise...she had worked with her before. Her wisdom was uncanny...she's survived this long.
Which is impressive in itself.
Visenya turned to Jaime. "Leave us."
He gave her a small nod, before gesturing to Mira to leave as well. Once the two of them were out of the room, Visenya leaned forward, placing her arms and hands on the desk.
"You're right...I don't know how to overtake Westeros." She began. "But what I worry for, is The Army of The Dead marching this way...I am more concerned for what could happen if the White Walkers succeed, more so than if my sister decides to burn all of Westeros."
"So what do you expect me to do, Your Grace?" Olenna asked with sarcasm. "Return to your sister and say that you are just as stubborn as she is?"
Visenya smirked. "If I was as stubborn as she was, I wouldn't be listening to you or agreeing with you."
Olenna raised an eyebrow, as she leaned back in her chair, curious to see what The Queen of Dragons was going to say.
"I need advice." Visenya sighed, leaning back in her chair. "And after working with you in the past, I believe that you could be rather helpful to me...since your previous protege has perished."
"Indeed." Olenna replied, a smile coming onto her face as well.
"Would you do me the honor, of being my Hand of The Queen?"
Olenna reached across the table, and took one of Visenya's hands in hers.
"My dear, it would be my honor."
A/N:
As always, let me know if you have any questions comments or concerns.