Hello everyone! I do hope all of you are having a great day. It's really been a long time since I updated two chapters in a week, and yes, it's been around five days since the last update. I am posting this on a Saturday (my time zone).
In any case, I don't want to waste any more time, so let me tell you all about the next schedule!
-Overlord Geass (One Chapter)
-Harriet Potter: The Demon Empress. (One Chapter)
-Boku No Overlord (One Chapter)
That would be all!
See you all soon, and please follow me on my Tumblr page, where you can see more updates, works, and news, as well as where you can support me directly to help me continue writing fanfictions!
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Chapter 40
The sound of the bells resonated throughout King's Landing, signalling the triumphant return of the queen of Westeros and her victorious army from the battle of Mud and Rain. It was a remarkable spectacle, undoubtedly captivating the attention of all. The citizens of King's Landing eagerly readied themselves with delight to welcome their beloved queen and eagerly anticipated the upcoming festivities. It was more than clear that those festivities were meant to bring more than just a well-earned joy to the soldiers who were tired but an opportunity for certain people to claim more power.
"What a wonderful day, isn't that, dear sister?" Tyrion spoke with glee as he watched Cersei's face twitch slightly. "Our queen is coming back, and so, Jaime, aren't you happy?"
"Yes, I am," Cersei whispered, her voice lacking any hint of happiness. It wasn't necessary, though, because she wasn't simply glad her oldest daughter had returned safely. She was, in fact, absolutely overjoyed. However, the reason for Cersei's lessened happiness was the ongoing secret war of whispers she had been engaged in with numerous individuals in King's Landing over the past few weeks. While the battle on the battlefield may have concluded, the battle at court was an entirely different matter.
Every Lord in Westeros, from the lowest to the most powerful, understood that marrying Galadriel would secure the future for generations to come. Some even believed that her hand in marriage was more valuable than the Iron Throne itself. For the first time, an individual held more significance than the seat of the kings. No previous ruler had ever wielded such immense influence on Westeros, to the extent of being revered as the Blessed One, chosen by the Gods. That title held greater worth than any amount of gold, and Galadriel's children would inherit more than just titles.
That was why it escalated into a war among the noble houses on a scale never seen before. Cersei, of course, was a major player in the game. However, she was not the only one vying for control and power. Among her rivals was Tyrion, who had the ability to win over any noble that Cersei wished to influence. Money was never an issue for either of them, which only added to Cersei's frustration. She had to resort to blackmail and death threats in certain situations. Cersei reluctantly admitted that Tyrion possessed a charm that allowed him to manipulate people and situations.
And adding the fact that Cersei knew that Varys was a key player and Tyrion's ally made it harder for her to move without them knowing. However, Cersei knew also about the Dornish whore and the flower slut. Those two were there, next to Galadriel, acting as lady-in-waiting, but Cersei knew those two wanted to get into Galadriel's head too. They all wanted to manipulate her. But Cersei would not allow it, one way or another.
None of you truly comprehend the gravity of the situation at hand. Not a single person genuinely cares about our family or my children, including you, father. These thoughts raced through Cersei's mind as she locked eyes with Tywin, who, too, was a player in this game but at a different level. It was evident that Tywin had some sort of plan in motion; Cersei was well aware that her father would sacrifice Galadriel if it served his own interests. The expression on the Old Lion's face betrayed his intentions. He was biding his time, assessing who held more value in the long run, which is precisely why Cersei was determined to eliminate any competition.
But I'll come up victorious. I swear it. Cersei thought once again as she held a calm look on her face.
"Where is my sister?" Young Tommen asked, his voice no longer sounding like that of a child. Although his mother still saw him as a kid, the rest of Westeros recognised that he was growing into a young man, especially when he was next to his betrothed, Shireen Baratheon, who, just like him, was becoming a young woman.
"Don't worry, love. She is coming," Cersei replied, as her eyes gave a hateful and resentful look at Shireen, who looked away quickly.
"She should be arriving any minute now," Varys spoke, his eyes darting towards the two Stark girls who appeared visibly uncomfortable in their presence. They still hadn't forgotten the events that had unfolded, the reason behind their father's death. However, amidst it all, they were slowly adapting and grasping the intricate game of thrones. They had no other option. Sansa and Arya had to learn to fight back in this world of cunning strategies and hidden agendas, or risk becoming victims once more.
Fortunately, they were mostly being overlooked in most cases, as the main attention was on Galadriel and other matters. However, Sansa has grown more observant of her surroundings. Additionally, Varys and Tyrion have been keeping a watchful eye on both girls, along with the peculiar butler named Sebas, who was quite a fascinating individual.
Varys observed that Sebas was truly loyal to the queen, without any ulterior motives. This man couldn't be influenced by promises or bribes of any sort. Tyrion speculated that Sebas might be an exiled knight, and Varys concurred, recognising that such unwavering devotion and loyalty deserved respect. Yet, there more Varys thought about it, the more everything became confusing.
How was the queen able to secure someone like Sebas? Additionally, it seemed that Galadriel had another person in her service, acting as her advisor and keeping her informed about events beyond the Wall. This was quite peculiar. However, shortly thereafter, a pair from Lys, a lord and his daughter, who possessed both remarkable beauty and an air of mystery, suddenly arrived in King's Landing as if appearing out of thin air. And it wasn't just any lord, but the first magister of Lys, someone of great importance and authority.
Where did all these people come from? How could the queen accomplish all of this without any of her spies detecting it? Varys would have to wait and observe. However, he had a suspicion that Galadriel might be even more cunning than anyone had realised.
"Look in the sky!" Shireen said as she pointed at the large shadows arriving at King's Landing.
"That's Ancalagon!" Arya exclaimed, unable to tear her eyes away from the colossal creatures soaring overhead. Ancalagon effortlessly cast a shadow over King's Landing, easily dwarfing the presence of Scatha and Smaug. It was evident that these three colossal beings were far too large to fit within the confines of the city.
"I swear, they seem to grow larger every time I lay eyes on them," Tyrion exclaimed. His gaze started to wander, in a desperate search for his niece, but to no avail. And he wasn't the only one looking for the queen. Everyone who awaited her arrival anticipated that she would be riding the colossal black dragon known as Ancalagon. However, she was nowhere to be seen, not even atop Scatha or Smaug. Curiosity started to stir among the crowd. Where could the queen possibly be?
Cersei began to panic. "Where is my daughter?" She asked loudly, but before anyone could say anything, flying above them was another figure. A small one.
Then, they beheld a sight that took their breath away. Galadriel soared through the skies above King's Landing, her majestic wings unfurled and truly immense. She was accompanied by her dragons, her beloved children, and it seemed as though every inhabitant of King's Landing had turned their gaze skyward to witness this spectacle. She was a celestial being, a chosen one among the seven, the Divine Queen, and countless other titles would surely follow.
The true was that Galadriel was being dramatic, as she wanted to make a scene, and succeeded in it. Then, she landed on the graceful in the courtyard of the Red Keep. Galadriel looked at the group and smiled gently.
"I'm back," Galadriel said, as soon Tommen laughed as he went to hug her.
"You fly! You fly!" He said joyfully, and Galadriel's expression softened. She sometimes forgot that she was an older sister.
"I do, and it's very recently," Galadriel replied with a smile.
"Grandfather, mother, uncle," Galadriel spoke gently. "I saw Lord Stannis' fleet entering the Blackwater Bay. He should be here by nightfall. After that, I want a reunion with the small council."
"You should rest, your grace, you just came back from a battlefield, and also, take a bath," Tyrion said, noticing that Galadriel was covered in ashes and mud.
"Oh, I didn't notice," Galadriel mumbled. "Sebas prepared me a bath."
"At once, your grace," Sebas nodded, as he guided a group of servants back to the Red Keep.
"Also, I need something to eat. I'm absolutely famished," Galadriel called out, glancing at the group in front of her. "I'm going to take a break for today and I think the guards deserve a little rest, too. They've worked hard. Varys, please keep me updated if anything happens across the Narrow Sea. The Golden Company has been wiped out, but I don't want any more unexpected surprises. I'm tired of wars."
"I shall do my best, your grace," Varys said, bowing to her.
Galadriel nodded as she walked towards the Red Keep. She waved at Arianne and Margaery, who quickly followed her.
"You don't seem pleased, father. It's all over now. There will be no more wars, no more pretenders. You should be delighted," Tyrion boasted, but Tywin only gave him a brief glance before walking away.
"Why am I the only one happy?" Tyrion sighed.
"It cannot say," Varys quipped with a smirk. "Perhaps there are more wars, but just different."
"Ah, of course, but I am glad that no more armies would be needed to achieve such a thing," Tyrion said.
"I hope so, too," Varys replied.
The morning light gently streamed through the window, tenderly brushing against the queen's skin. Although she possessed immense power, she took pleasure in the peacefulness of sleep. Weariness had seeped into her very being, intensified by the understanding that the upcoming days would only become more demanding. And so it began with a knock at the door, followed by Sebas's entrance, accompanied by a few maids and two members of the queensguard, Mya and Brienne, that her day started.
"Your grace, it is time to wake up," Sebas said, noticing how Galadriel was covering her body with her wings. "The small council meeting is scheduled to start in a few hours, and we have a tight schedule to adhere to."
Galadriel groaned loudly. "Tell them that the queen is tired, that she doesn't want to wake up," she mumbled.
"That would be quite problematic, your grace. After all, you called for this meeting," Sebas said with an amused look on his face.
"Tell them that I am sick," Galadriel whined.
"Or that she is lazy," Mya teased as soon as Galadriel threw her a pillow, only to be caught by her.
"How can neither of you be tired at all? You've been riding all day. Did either of you even take a bath?" Galadriel groaned, reluctantly getting out of bed. She was completely naked, and as expected, Sebas was already behind a curtain in order to avoid seeing his lady in such a state. Galadriel walked towards her large mirror, where the servant girls began to assist her in getting dressed.
"We slept enough, and we did take a hot shower; the mud was everywhere," Mya said as Brienne chuckled slightly.
"I just need a few hours of sleep," Brienne added, as Galadriel could be heard groaning behind the curtain.
"Workaholics, all of you," Galadriel mumbled, as Mya and Brienne only looked at each other with very amused expressions on their faces.
"Is she calling us that? Her, of all people?" Mya whispered as Brienne simply smiled.
"Hey, I can still hear you!" Galadriel called from behind the curtain. She emerged, donning a breathtakingly opulent and graceful gown, complete with an awe-inspiring and somewhat formidable crown atop her head. "Well, shall we?"
Galadriel emerged from her room to find her entire queensguard gathered in the hallway, including her uncle Jaime. His presence came as a surprise, leaving her wondering why he hadn't spent the night with her mother. It seemed that something unexpected had occurred. This meant that Cersei was angry with him or with something, and Jaime, being her usual punching bag, seemed to want to avoid her for now.
I sort of feel bad for him. But he is a masochist by this point. Galadriel thought. "Good morning."
"Good morning, your grace," Ser Barristan greeted. As Galadriel started to walk, the queensguard quickly fell into step as though they were her shadows. Furthermore, Galadriel now had her own personal detachment of soldiers accompanying her wherever she went. It may have seemed excessive, but it seemed clear that Tywin wanted to ensure her safety. Galadriel, however, was unfazed by this. With a smile, she gracefully walked out of her private tower.
"How are the wounded soldiers, Ser Barristan?" Galadriel asked.
"During the night, we lost a few, but not many. The remaining ones will survive, although some may have lost an arm or leg."
"I understand," Galadriel remarked. "The life insurance I have established will ensure that our soldiers, whether they are serving, wish to retire or are wounded, receive a monthly pay. Furthermore, the families of those who have tragically lost their lives will be granted this insurance and will not be burdened with any taxes," she explained, a sense of pride radiating from Ser Barristan as he looked upon her.
"That's generous, your grace," he replied.
"It's what's right," Galadriel said with a smile, and she could already see the faces of those soldiers who were following her; their devotion was only reaching heights never seen before.
Yes, I know. I am a merciful god. Galadriel thought with arrogance.
Shortly after, she made her way to the Small Council chamber, where an unexpected sight awaited her: Tywin Lannister engaged in conversation with none other than Stannis Baratheon. Galadriel couldn't help but notice the eternally furrowed brows on both men as if they were constantly contemplating bashing their heads against a wall. Although she acknowledged their intimidating presence, her own immense power prevented them from having any effect on her.
But still, why are they like this? Galadriel thought a bit sheepishly. "Grandfather, uncle, good morning."
"Good morning, Your Grace," both of them spoke at the same time.
"We shall discuss it later, Lord Stannis," Tywin said as he sat down next to her Galadriel.
"Of course, Lord Hand," Stannis said, sitting down on his chair.
Galadriel observed the two men before her, tilting her head in curiosity. She wondered what was going on with them, but she knew she would find out later. Before long, the rest of the Small Council joined them. Varys, Pycell, Tyrion, and, of course, her mother all took their seats, each harbouring their own agendas. Galadriel knew she would soon learn about these schemes, but for now, she needed to prepare for an upcoming party before returning to her usual business.
Ser Barristan was also there but, like always, preferred to stand behind Galadriel rather than sit on his chair.
"Good day, everyone. These past few years have been challenging for all of us, with war and death engulfing Westeros for far too long. However, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief as peace has been achieved. Now, our attention must shift towards the task of rebuilding our land. Lord Stannis, could you please update us on the situation in the Iron Islands?" Galadriel inquired, her gaze fixed on Stannis. He couldn't help but recall the other side of the queen, a side that still perplexed him. It was a side that made him realise his niece was far more than he had initially assumed, surpassing even Melisandre's wildest dreams.
Stannis pondered still what his niece was truly. But there were things that he would rather not know.
"The Greyjoy House has been vanquished, along with the other prominent houses of the Iron Islands. They adamantly refused to surrender, so I had to take matters into my own hands. However, I underestimated the fierce determination of the Iron Born, as even the common folk stood against us. To quell their resistance, I had to resort to ruthless tactics," Stannis acknowledged, although he lacked concrete evidence. He suspected that his niece played a role in the mysterious disappearance of half the population of the Iron Islands.
Where did they go? He could not say, but hopefully, their death was fast and painless.
"What does that mean?" Pycell asked.
"I can say that, at least, more than half of the entire population of the Iron Islands is dead. Old Wyk, Blacktyde and Pyke are completely empty for all intents and purposes. And what's left on the other islands are the lowest lowborn and thralls."
"By the gods," Pycell mumbled, surprised by the sheer magnitude of Stannis's rampage, which was truly, in secret, Galadriel's rampage. "Was so much death necessary?"
"They were Iron Born," Stannis simply replied. "If anything, I was merciful."
"Fully agree," said Tywin, who looked at Stannis with nothing but respect. "Robert's mistake was to let Balon Greyjoy live after his rebellion. He allows the Iron Born to realise that they could rebel without facing real repercussions. Now, what's left of them will remember what happens when they rise."
"We won't allow them to prevail. I've stationed a garrison there to ensure their submission. This is how the Iron Born will be eradicated," Stannis stated, prompting everyone at the table to silently observe Stannis and Tywin. These were unquestionably men with the capacity for great cruelty.
"Well, then that left us. Who should control the Iron Island then?" Tyrion asked as they looked at him. "A kingdom is left without a ruler that cannot stand."
"Who shall have such a land? It may not be the Reach, but the Iron Island is important and still part of the Seven Kingdoms," Pycell spoke.
"A new house shall arise then to take the mantle of a great house," Varys said, and he knew that a race would soon start. While Iron Island was not a place envied by many, it was the title of being a great house that was worth it. Any minor house with the desire to become one of the big ones would take it. Especially, when it could also mean marrying someone of high status.
Galadriel hummed, fully aware of the situation. "Yeah, hopefully, we can find someone who will follow the rules," she said, trying to conceal her smile. She glanced at the others, wondering if anyone had a suggestion. Galadriel knew that soon, minor houses would begin to move quickly, trying to get that ticket. And from what she could see, Cersei, Varys, Tywin, and even Tyrion were on the case.
It's going to be a fun couple of days. Galadriel said as she would sit down and watch the chaos unfold.
"We shall find soon enough, dear," Cersei smiled.
"Yes, we should continue that at another time," Tywin added.
"Now, leaving that aside, I am working on something big that will change Westeros," Galadriel said as she smiled at the Small Council. Tywin appeared to be the only one who truly knew.
"And what is it, dear niece? Don't keep us waiting," Tyrion smiled.
"You can count on it, dear uncle. I will reveal it during the upcoming festivity. I've heard that the first magister of Lys is in attendance, a close friend who will assist me in achieving my goals," Galadriel's words seemed to bewilder them, with even Tywin casting a puzzled glance her way.
"What do you mean, my dear?" Cersei asked, confused.
"Like I say, Mother, I will announce it there."
Galadriel hummed happily, knowing that she would be quite happy for the next few days. Now, Shalltear and Pandora's Actor. Go and act… please don't be dramatic. Galadriel thought, hoping her beloved guardians would act properly.
Far away, unbeknownst to Galadriel at the moment, stood a towering figure amidst a vast ocean of lifeless bodies. Horses, men, women, and children had all met a swift and brutal end. With a sinuous sway, the figure's tail shifted from one side to the other while a pair of glasses concealed eyes that held a demonic quality unmatched by any other.
"Mm, I see. This is definitely a different world, not like Nazarick at all," the tall figure spoke as he glanced at the sea of bodies.
"Lord Demiurge, there are no more survivors."
"Good job, Yuri. Tell CZ and Narberal to explore the area. Cocytus should also be prepared for any other… problem."
Demiurge said as he stared at the mountain before him. "Such a place. It's so dirty and green. Their heads are also quite peculiar."
"{Oh, Demiurge! Sorry to bother you!}" Mare's voice could be heard through [Message] igniting a gentle smile in Demiurge.
"{You're not, Mare. Don't worry. What have you and Aura found?}"
"{Oh, giants! Big, enormous giants! And also, some strange people and a big city!}"
"{Good, let's try to avoid attracting attention for now. We need to talk to Albedo first once she's feeling better from her current state of sadness.}"
"{Is she going to be fine?}"
"{Yes. She is being quite over dramatic. But it's understandable… we are in a different world, without some of Nazarick's members, but more importantly, our lady. But I cannot help but wonder why. Still, keep me updated on it, Mare.}"
"{Yes!}"
Demiurge mumbled to himself, his gaze fixed on the sky for a brief moment. Suddenly, an idea came to him, swift and resolute. It was something he should have considered thirty minutes ago upon Nazarick's arrival in this world.
"{My lady… are you there?}" Demiurge whispered, and soon he heard it.
"{Demiurge… I expected you to come. It's good to hear your voice.}"
Demiurge's hidden anxieties about being abandoned by his master disappeared when he heard the voice of his lady. They were replaced by a much more profound feeling. Everything suddenly became clear to him; he should have anticipated this, although Demiurge would never truly comprehend the thoughts of a supreme being. It was all planned by his lady.
So, the only thing he could say was, "As expected of Lady Galadriel!"
