Hand of the Queen

25

Our army marches to the gates of King's Landing, I stand beside Daenerys with Aegon at my other side. Greyworm stands among us, Tyrion and Varys only a few steps behind. Cersei's hand emerges from the gate, Qybern I believe his name was. I step forward and walk to meet him, Aegon watches every move the enemy hand makes with primal-like focus. We stop only a few steps away, a look of unwavering calm on his face.

"My lady," He says, my face does not change.

"Queen Daenerys demands Cersei's unconditional surrender." I tell him, folding my hands before me. "And immediate release of Lady Missandei of Naath and Lord Edlin of Riverrun."

"Queen Cersei demands Daenerys's unconditional surrender. If she refuses, Missandei of Naath and Edlin of Riverrun will die here and now." Qybern tells me, we hold each other's eyes as the silence hangs between us.

"I believe you to be a rational man, Qybern." A smug smile pulls across his face.

"Or so I flatter myself, my Lady." I do not allow my face to change. There will be no wolf in sheep's clothing now, only the unrelenting force of the Queen's Hand.

"This will be your final chance to avoid the carnage of war." The smile does not fall from Qybern's face.

"Yes, my lady." I clench my jaw.

"The Queen does not wish to see the city burn, but she will if that is what it will take." Qybern looks to me in confusion.

"My lady, I am only a mouth piece for our Queen." I feel the anger begin to build within me, my patience beginning to falter.

"Your queen." He grins at me.

"Cersei is Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, you are her subject." I allow a small laugh to escape my lips.

"Her reign has come to an end, Qybern. You understand this, now you must help her understand it." I flick my eyes up to where Missandei and Edlin stand beside Cersei.

"We understand nothing of the sort. Your Queen's armies are vulnerable, weary and depleted, while ours have been reinforced with the Golden Company-" I do not allow him to finish before stepping past him, no fear at Cersei's men lining the wall. I allow the false queen to see unbridled strength as I approach where she likely expected weakness.

I stop just below where she stands upon the wall, meeting her eyes. I watch as she raises her hand, contemplating allowing the arrows to fly. Her eyes drift to the swollen bump on my stomach, just as a I knew they would, before she releases her hand and forces them to stand down.

"I know you do not care about your people, about those who reside within these walls. Why should you? They hate you, you hate them. But I do not believe you are truly the monster you claim to be. I killed your vicious son, and yet you do not allow the arrows to fly because of the child that lies within my own stomach. You know he was a monster, which proves to me you are not. Tyrion tells me you hold your own child within you, do you truly wish to see them burn beside you? If not for yourself, then surrender for the sake of that child." She holds my eyes for a moment. "Your reign is over, Cersei, do not allow your child to go with it."

I watch as Cersei moves to stand between Edlin and Missandei, her lips moving to each of them. Edlin looks to Missandei and slowly nods to her, acceptance passing over each of their faces.

"Dracarys!" Missandei shouts. In one swift movement, the monster of Cersei's creation steps forward and cuts the heads from both their necks. I watch in horror as their bodies topple to the ground before me, every emotion within me fades to nothing but ice within my veins. Unbridled rage rips through me as I stare at their lifeless bodies. The memory of my father's death replays in my mind as I stare at Edlin, stood beside them both was the false Lannister Queen. Twice she has taken a father from me, twice she has ripped my heart from my chest.

I look to Cersei with unnerving calm one last time before turning away from her. I walk back to the Unsullied army, where the rest of Daenerys's council sits. Aegon looks to me with fury in his eyes, I do not stop to look at him as I follow Daenerys back to the dragons.

...

I stand beside the window of my bedchamber, staring out at the roaring seas of Dragonstone. It seems as though the oceans themselves have felt the loss of Edlin, the currents know they will never see his ships again. Aegon walks behind me, wrapping his around around my stomach. He feels for the movement of our child inside me, placing a kiss on my cheek.

"He was incredibly proud of you, my love." Aegon quietly says, I lean into him as we stand together.

"Missandei was so excited for the baby, she would talk about our child constantly." I whisper to him, he holds me tighter against him. The loss of Missandei and Edlin has ripped through Dragonstone, hitting us all like a storm of grief and intense rage. Cersei will pay for this action, they all will pay for this.

"Lady Hand." I hear, I turn to see Tyrion stood behind us. He has a weary look to his face, I meet his eyes in confusion. "There is something you must know."