Shadow of the Dragon Queen

14.

I walk into the council room with Sansa beside me, we round the corner to see Daenerys standing before us. Jorah and Greyworm stand to her left, Missandei and Tyrion to her right. Varys takes a step closer to me, Arya and Tormund ground themselves to my left. Odanno steps to my side, monitoring the queen carefully.

"You believed her, and she lied." Daenerys says, never taking her eyes off of my own.

Two courts stare at each other from either side of the council room, two halves of House Targaryen with the ever growing rift between them.

"I never believed her." I say, shock covers Daenerys's face. "I never thought she would send her army. I knew her promise for cease fire was true, but I knew her men would not arrive at Winterfell." The queen steps forward, I mirror her movement. "You are my queen, Daenerys, and I will support every step you take to reclaim the throne. But this war, this is a war we could not allow to roll through these lands. It would slaughter us all, and I knew there was only one way you would come."

"You allowed her to lie to us?" Her eyes burn like the fire of our dragons.

"I allowed us to have a chance at survival." We stand inches from each other now; each court stands watching, waiting. "The day will come when our house falls, I will not let that be today." Daenerys's eyes suddenly whip back to Tyrion.

"You never should have believed Cersi." She says with venom in her words.

"You never should have either." Sansa says before Tyrion can answer. Daenerys looks back to the Lady Stark with rage in her eyes before leaving the room without a word, her court following close behind.

...

The sun sets over the horizon as I stand alone on the balcony of Winterfell, a cup filled with wine sits in my hand. Footsteps crunch in the snow behind me, I turn to see Jaime Lannister closing the door behind him. I fold my hands over my cup, watching closely as he steps closer. He stops only a few feet away, silence hangs between us.

"I came to attempt to make amends with your House, princess." He says, watching my face carefully. "I broke my oath the day I killed your grandfather, and it's haunts me everyday of my life." I do not utter a word, watching closely as he speaks. "But you were only a babe when your father fought against Robert's Rebellion. Rhaegar Targaryen was beloved across all of Westeros, he was a fierce warrior and he was a gentle, kind prince. Your father was every bit what a King should be, and I see every part of him in you.

But your grandfather, he was a mad man. I decided to take his life as he ordered me to slaughter the city, to burn them all alive. He would rather tear his own city apart, reduce his people to ash, rather than give up his throne. He ordered me to bring my own father's head to him, so I slit his throat as he sat upon that throne." Jaime steps closer, moving to kneel before me as I stare down at him with tears in my eyes. He takes my hand in his own, staring up at me. "Rhaenyra, if your father had sat on that throne, I would have defended him with my life. I would not have stopped until all of Robert's men lay dead around us."

I slowly lower to my knees before him, watches me in shock as I do so. My body sits riddled with emotions, a million thoughts course through my mind and none of them could possibly describe what I feel to the man that sits before me. Without a word, I wrap him into my embrace and let out a shaky breath. He stands frozen for only a moment before returning the gesture.

...

I walk down from the top of Winterfell's walls with Sansa, Arya and Kivi a few steps behind. They talk of the different ways to cut an enemies throat with a dagger. The darkness of night passes over Winterfell, the last bit of the sun's light disappearing beneath the horizon. The people of Winterfell prepare the walls for the coming battle, I stand in my own armor beside Sansa as she looks to me.

"Rhaenyra, I-" Before Sansa can finish her sentence, the bells above us begin to ring.

"They're here." I say, quickly looking back to her. "Get to the crypt now, find Tyrion once you're inside. There will be men down there to protect you." I grab the hands of the smallest children closest to us and shove their hands into Sansa's as she hurries inside. "Arya, Kivi, you're with me. We stay within these walls, we defend the doors to this keep with our lives. They will not get to those people inside."

"With your grace, I would like to watch from within the walls. I find I do my work best in the shadows." Arya says, I give her a grim smile and nod. She bows to me before disappearing inside the doors. Kivi and I meet eyes, pulling the swords from our hilts as the warriors around us move into position.

"Rhaenyra." I hear Tormund say, he rushes to me with sword already in hand. He places a hand on my neck and studies my eyes.

"Viserion?" I ask, he nods.

"She's well guarded, swordsmen will give their life to protect the little ones. Though I think the mother is enough protection herself." I let out a breath of relief. "Jon and Daenerys have taken Drogon and Rhaegal to the sky, though your dragon did not seem very thrilled about the change in riders." I nod quickly, soaking in every word. "I will fight here, beside Kivi. Your Dothraki look for you, I heard your name whispered among them." He leans down and kisses me, I pull back and meet his eyes.

"I will see you when this is done." He holds my eyes for a moment more.

"I love you, Nyra. I'll see you soon." My face warms at his words, I smile back at him.

"I love you." I look to Kivi, she takes my hand in her own. "And I love you, sister." I pull her against me, she wraps me in her tight embrace before I place a hand on her face. Without another word, I head for the front gates of Winterfell.

I walk to the front of the waiting Dothraki army, all their eyes find me immediately. They let out a roar of approval, falling silent when I hoist my sword into the air. The North Men lined behind them take notice of me, Odanno settles in front of them to translate my words. Jorah watches as trail my eyes across all of them, taking in the warriors before me. Dothraki spills from my lips as I shout to them.

"Blood of my blood!" I call, they cheer as they fall into attention. "Today, we fight to protect those who cannot! I am Rhaenyra Targaryen, but Stark blood runs thick through my veins! We will fight for House Stark, for Winterfell, and for every life in Westeros! If death shall take us today, it will be an honorable end! Fight well, die well!" Their roars of anticipation drown out the rumble of the oncoming army, Dothraki and Northern Bannermen alike.

I turn as the Red Woman appears from beside me, Jorah and I watch her carefully.

"I can help you, in this coming battle." She tells me, I consider her words for a moment. Jorah looks to me and nods, I pass the approval onto her. She places a hand on the Dothraki swords and begins to murmur an ancient prayer, her eyes closed in concentration. When her eyes open, the blades of our army light with flames.

"How?" I ask, staring at my lines of men with their glowing swords.

"The Lord of the Light is not finished with us yet." She tells me, turning to face the ever nearing army. I hoist my sword into the air and let out a vicious battle cry before beginning the match forward, Odanno arriving at my side with his own sword drawn. We meet eyes, fear fills both of them, and then back to the coming danger.