Hand of the Queen

13

"Alysanne." Daenerys says, rushing to me as she enters the throne room once more. She pulls me into an embrace, moving back to meet my eyes. "I was so worried about you."

"It seems I returned just in time, your grace." I say, she smiles at me.

"I had something made while you were gone, that I planned to offer you the moment you returned." I look to her in confusion as Missandei hands her a small silver pin. "You held my city while I was gone, you reminded the masters of my strength when even I could not. Alysanne, I wish for you to be my Hand." My eyes widen as she attaches the pin to the loose fabric above my corset.

"Daenerys, I am honored." I drop to one knee as she holds my hand in her own.

"Stand, my Hand of the Queen." I rise and meet her gaze with a smile.

"Thank you, your grace." I look to see Edlin stood behind her, a proud smile pulled across his lips.

...

"This came for you, my hand." Aegon says, smirking as he bows to me. I roll my eyes and take the parchment from his grasp, the seal of the Night's Watch still intact.

Alysanne,
I am grateful to hear from you, and thankful to the god's that you are alive. I'm sure I will hear more of your stories when I see you again.
Last I heard, Sansa remains within the Vale beside Aunt Lysa and her new husband, Lord Baelish. Even if I don't much like her company, we know she is safe there.
As for Arya, I still have no word. But you know our little sister, she is resourceful and she is fierce enough to survive.
There is one bit of the story you have missed, Ramsey Bolton took Winterfell after it had been sieged by the Iron Islands, lead by Theon Greyjoy.
He betrayed Robb, and he killed Bran and Rickon. It is a deep regret that I must burden you with this news.
I will see you again.
Your brother,
Jon Snow

I look to Aegon as the news of utter betrayal sinks in, the pain of my little brother's deaths.

"What is it?" Aegon asks, I hand him the parchment. He quickly skims his eyes over it, reality settling into them.

"Theon was my father's squire, he treated him like a son. Theon betrayed Robb, he stole my home. He killed my little brothers." I say, shaking my head. "I should have never left them." Aegon places a hand on my cheek, falling to his knees in front of where I sit. Even through the sense of heartbreak and betrayal, my heart still pounds as his violet eyes look into mine.

"You would have been slaughtered if you went there alone, Alysanne." I let out a shaky breath and lean my forehead against the prince's.

"I just miss my father, Aegon, and my mother. And Robb, and all of them." Without a word, he pulls me into his arms, cradling me in his grasp where he sits on the floor. I crumble into him as he strokes his hand through my hair. "I killed Joffrey, I killed the King who took my father's head. But the rest of them, the Lannister's, they killed my mother, they killed Robb." I sit up, holding Aegon's eyes in my hardened ones. "I want to kill then all, Aegon."

"I will not leave your side until the last of them are dead, Lady Stark." He stands and offers me his hand, pulling me to my feet as we head toward the door and to the throne room.

My breath hitches in my throat as I take in the scene, of the wound so newly opened. Without a word, I pull the dagger from Aegon's belt and move with lightening speed up the stairs. Aegon pounces on me, grasping my arms and holding the blade of the dagger inches from Theon Greyjoy's throat. Edlin steps forward from the Queen's side without another word, moving to stand beside me.

"You!" I shout, pulling against the prince's strong hold.

"Alysanne-" Daenerys starts in shock, I do not let her finish.

"He sieged Wintefell! He betrayed my brother, my father, and took my family's home! He slaughtered my little brothers, your grace!" Daenerys looks to the man before her in horror.

"Alysanne, I didn't kill Bran and Rickon!" Theon pleads to me. "I know I betrayed your house in what I did to Winterfell, but I swear to you, I did not kill your brothers." I lower my hand as anger still runs through me, consuming every thought within my mind.

"Yara Greyjoy has come to offer us her fleet." Daenerys tells me, I look to her in horror.

"He is the reason there is no Stark in Winterfell." I say, Yara meets my eyes.

"Those were the words of my father, not mine." She tells me, my eyes burn into her.

"We need the ships to return to Westeros, Alysanne." Aegon quietly says to me, I look to him with betrayal in my eyes. I turn unnervingly calm, regaining my posture and bowing to the Queen with folded hands.

"I urge you to do what you believe is best for our conquest, your grace." I say, turning without another word. I shove Aegon's dagger into his chest, he just barely catches it as I walk down the stairs, Edlin close on my heels.

...

"You know what is right Alysanne." Edlin says, his calming words followed with his hand on my arm. I hear the door to my bed chambers open, knowing who stands within it without having to look. Edlin looks to me and I gently nod, he walks from the room and pulls the door shut behind him.

"Lady Stark." Aegon says, I stifle the scoff.

"Have we returned to formalities, your highness?" I ask, he lets out a breath and walks toward me.

"I am sorry that I spoke against you within the throne room." I shake my head.

"We are in need of a fleet to move our forces." He closes the distance between us and takes my hand, almost begging me to look at him. I finally cave, allowing him into the pain that sits within my eyes.

"I know what he did to your family. If there was any other way, I would search the entire continent for it." He presses a soft kiss to my knuckles. "I swear this to you."

"I know you would, my prince." My voice is barely a whisper, he places a hand on my face and drags his knuckles across my cheekbone.

"I have never felt fear like I did when you disappeared from those gardens." I do not speak another word to him before pressing my lips to his own.