Hand of the Queen

10

"I'd say you handled it well, Alysanne. I would have advised the Queen to do the same." Varys tells me, he walks on my left with Edlin close by on my right. Melania trails only a few steps behind us, taking in the smells of the pyramid's garden.

"Daenerys seems to have her mind set on breaking the wheel, there is a strong chance she may never reopen the pits." Edlin says, his gaze remains on the passing clouds within the blue sky.

"If she wishes to regain any sort of peace within the city she must adhere to some of their customs. I believe this could be the least harmful path, if she follows my advice." I tell them.

"I agree with you, Lady Alysanne." A deep voice says from behind, the three of us turn to see the Targaryen prince stood behind us.

"Your highness." Varys says with a smile, each of us offering him a small bow. He now stands in a loose black tunic, black trousers wrapped around his legs. The sleeves remain rolled to his elbow, revealing his massive arms, his shirt tucked in to make way for the silver and black belt that houses his blade. His white hair is swept away from his face, a small grin sits on his mouth. Varys and Edlin look to me once more before moving in sync, settling at each other's sides as they begin the walk back to the pyramid. Aegon walks closer to me, stopping when he stands only a foot away.

"I was just about to tell Daenerys the same myself when you beat me to it." He tells me. I watch as Melania takes careful steps toward the prince, the direwolf having grown tall enough to stand at Aegon's waist. Her eyes do not move from him as she takes in his smell. Aegon slowly offers his hand to her, her nose finds the back of his palm. After a moment, it seems as though she's deemed him unworthy of killing today; she leisurely returns to perusing the garden.

"A bit egotistical, isn't she?" I say with a smile, he returns it. Aegon lifts his hand to my cheek, his finger brushing against the stitching in my skin.

"Daenerys told me of what happened in the city streets." He says, his arm falling back to his side. I let out the breath I did not know I held within me.

"Sons of the Harpy, it seems the word of my entry into Daenerys's court has spread quickly." He motions for me to follow him as he begins to walk in the gardens.

"These men are a problem that must be eradicated swiftly. Daenerys will not take to my advice of wiping them out with brute force." I smile as the words leave his mouth.

"You sound like my brother Robb." Aegon looks to me as we walk. "Perhaps the problem is much more delicate than you think, Prince Aegon." The prince smiles at me, watching me closely.

"I suppose you're right, Lady Stark." Hurried footsteps come from behind, I turn to see Missandei.

"Both you must come now."

...

"You must show your strength, Daenerys." I say as we sit within the council room, repeating the words I once told the queen. "This man murdered a prisoner awaiting a trial, freedman or not. This is treason against your word, it must be met with justice."

"He was a freedman who killed a former master, you know how this will go over within the masses." Edlin counters, I nod in agreement.

"It is still a crime that cannot go unpunished." Aegon tells the Queen, Varys meets my eyes.

"It will likely ensue a riot, but we have already spoken of a potential path to unite the people once more." I say, Daenerys looks to me and nods.

"There will be an execution, we will decide on how to calm the uproar once it comes." She says, standing without another word. The rest of us follow suit, bowing to her as she exits the room. Missandei and Greyworm quickly follow after the Queen, I look to those who remain.

"She will have to reopen the pits, it will be the only way to settle the people." Varys says, tucking his hands into his tunic. "Come now, the walk to the execution is a long one."

...

I stand beside Edlin and Varys as Daenerys and Aegon receive the gathered crowd. My eyes remain on the Targaryens as they speak, the House that has always held the title of royalty in Westeros. I admire the power they hold in just their stance, like the strength of Aegon the Conqueror truly does run through their veins.

I watch as the axe comes down, the head topples away from the neck, and uproar ensues without a moment's notice. Greyworm immediately runs to his queen, his Unsullied following close behind, and Aegon steps back beside me. Edlin and the prince pull their swords from their hilts, leading Lord Varys and I after Daenerys as she escapes back to the pyramid.

I hurry to Daenerys's side as we arrive in the throne room once more, Greyworm and Ser Barristan break away to control the riots that ensue within the streets.

"Is the violent brutality of the fighting pits truly the only way to ensure peace among these people?" Daenerys says, her words come between heavy breaths.

"Sometimes it is this horrific bloodshed that brings people together the most. It is similar to how tourney knights dueling one another have always united the people of Westeros, your grace." I tell her. "Those often end in bloodshed, as well." Daenerys nods to me and walks toward her private chambers with Missandei, Varys and Edlin head towards the pyramid balcony.

"Are you alright?" Aegon asks, holding my arm in his hand.

"Yes, yes I'm fine, your highness." I tell him, he carefully studies every inch of my body for any signs of a wound.

"Your stitches are looking better, Alysanne. By tomorrow, they may be ready to come out." I smile at him as he loosely runs a finger across the bumpy wound.

...

"Daenerys?" I ask, knocking gently on her bed chamber door.

"Yes?" She calls, I enter to see her sitting across from Daario.

"I come to ask your permission to write home, to ensure the safety of my sisters." The Queen offers me a gentle smile.

"You need not ask permission to write to your family, Alysanne. You are not a prisoner within this pyramid." I let out a breath and bow to her.

"Thank you, your grace." I turn without another word, rushing to where the maester sits waiting on my bed chamber's balcony.

"Ready?" He asks, the old man holds a feeling of calm that washes over any in his company. I sit across from him and feel the warmth of his kindness spill over me.

"Yes." I tell him, his quill touches the paper and he writes as I speak.

Jon,
I write to you from across the Narrow Sea, far from our home in Winterfell. There is much I wish to tell you, many new stories I wish to share, but cannot trust within parchment that must travel so far.
I must know if Sansa has returned home safely, if my effort to free her from the Red Keep has succeeded. Has Arya been found? Last I heard, she escaped the day of father's execution and I have worried for her every moment since.
Are Bran and Rickon alright? Did they escape Winterfell when the Boltons arrived?
Are you alright Jon? Have you lived through your time in the Watch? I must know of our family, I must know of their safety.
Your sister,
Alysanne Stark.