Silver Stag

The Time Has Come

[King's Landing - Red Keep, Aelinor's Chambers]

Aelinor was playing with Aegar when her door slammed open.

In rushed Dyanna and Willem.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"They're coming," Dyanna choked out, still out of breath from running.

"Who's coming?"

"The sparrows. They're coming to arrest you."

Aelinor's eyes widened. She picked up Aegar and stood as quickly as she could.

Hugging him tightly and peppering his face with kisses, she whispered, "I'm sorry, little one. You might not understand it right now, but mommy is doing this for your own protection."

She handed him to Dyanna, noting the confused expression on his face.

"I will protect him with my life." Dyanna told her.

She nodded as Aegar began whimpering.

"They will be safe, Princess." Willem told her. "I swear it."

She couldn't standing hearing her son cry or seeing him reaching out for her. "Go, please! Now!"

Dyanna and Willem did not bother to argue, knowing the sparrows could arrive within seconds.

Aelinor opened up the secret passageway, grabbing one of Aegar's favourite toys, handing it to Willem, and ushered them through it, before closing the passageway behind them.

Not a moment too soon either, for a few seconds later, the sparrows burst into her chambers.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Her mother's cousin, Lancel Lannister, stood at the front. "Princess Aelinor, will you come with us?"

"Why?"

"You stand accused of adultery. By order of the High Sparrow, you are to be confined to a cell."

"Adultery?! Who speaks these lies?!"

"Princess, please. There is no need to make a scene."

"A scene. What would you do? Drag me to a cell? Me, a pregnant princess?"

"The Faith would nevr condone harm against an unborn child or its mother."

"Yet you stand here with the intent of confining me to a cell." She sighed. "Fine. Let us go."

"Just one moment." Lancel walked over to her son's crib. "Where is the young prince?"

"Why?"

Lancel waved her question away. "Nevermind that. Please..." He gestured to the door.

She knew Aegar had been crying when they had left and did not want to risk them being caught, if they hadn't been already.

She obliged their request, exiting her chambers.

The palace servants and guards watched in shock as Aelinor was escorted away by the sparrows.

Their Princess who was good and kind. What could she have done?

She quickly noted they weren't leading in the direction of the Sept where most other prisoners were held.

"Why are you taking me to the Black cells? I thought prisoners were held in the Sept of Baelor."

"The High Septon has arranged for you to remain imprisoned in the Red Keep, so you may receive care for your unborn child."

"Wow. How gracious of him. Yet, he's still locking me up."

"You have committed crimes against the Faith," Lancel told her. "You will be tried and punished accordingly."

"I recognize no Gods but the fourteen of Old Valyria."

"Nevrtheless, you will still be tried for your crimes."

"You're nothing but brainless minions. What? Did you not get enough attention from mommy and daddy?"

"We have no families, no names, no-"

"Yeah, yeah, you have nothing. What do you think I tried to do for the smallfolk. I actually wanted to help them. I didn't ask or expect anything in return. I simply wanted all of the people to be adequately taken care of."

"A noble effort. One I'm sure His Holiness greatly appreciates."

They arrived at her cell.

Lancel gestured for her to step inside. "Thank you for your co-operation, Princess."

"Yeah, yeah." She shrugged him off. "When will my trial be?"

"It is uncertain. First, your mother and husband's trials will be held, which I expect to be soon."

"Fine."

"Do not worry. If you feel any discomfort, a guard can fetch a maestar."

"Fine."

Sensing her growing hostility, Lancel exited the cell, locking it behind him and walking away.

As she sat in her new cell, she realized why she was only now being arrested.

Timing was everything.

Her Uncle Jaime had remained in the Capital longer than had been expected, which gave the High Sparrow ample time to realize how resistant he was to the Faith's teachings.

The High Sparrow knew what a threat he was to the trial of his sister as well as his control over the King. It's why he had Tommen strip Jaime of his position as Lord Commander of the Kingguard.

Just as Margaery was released, she was imprisoned.

A Queen for a Princess.

They needed to have a pawn in one way or another.

Margaery for House Tyrell and her for her mother.

She knew her arrest was meant to keep her mother under control, in light of her upcoming trial.

The question is; would it? Or would it infuriate her, and cause her to take drastic action?

Aelinor expect the latter, but they would all have to wait and see.