The Fierce Falcon.

Part 56

Sansa's Pov, 

The Next Day, 

So many people have died in this fight, but we will never forget them.... forget what they fought for. Theon he died while he was protecting Bran, he grew up here and after everything he was still our family.... one of us.... he saved me from Ramsay and he regretted all the things he did I don't think he ever did it out of hate he did it because he wished love from him father while even in the end he saw my father as his father. 

Robin Arryn and Tommen Baratheon where also amongst the dead, he's all alone now he loved Tommen like a little brother and he loved Robin even after everything that happened.... they wished to fight and even as king who was he to say they couldn't? I just wish Artys will ever be able to forgive himself, he's lost so much  so many otherers would have turnend darker... more hateful and sure he's changed during the years but he's still a good and honorable man. 

Turning to look at the body on the bed I look towards his bandaged torso that's slowly rising and falling again as he's at least breathing the Maester wasn't sure if he would make it.... he had so many wounds and yet the men and women spoke that he just kept fighting..... he defeated the Night King. 

Hearing the chamber door open and close I see Daenerys walk in as her hard gaze meets mine. "What are you doing here?" 

"Checking up on a friend, your grace." I say almost through clench jaw before walking towards the door to make my way out but I soon stop as I hear Artys mumble something. Turning around with a small frown his head moves around in the bed as he mumbles something again but I have no idea what he's trying to speak. 

"Sa-" 

"San... Sansa." It now comes out just above a whisper and I think I can feel the fury radiate from the Dragon Queen next to me as I have to hold back the smile that tries to form on my lips. "You should leave, Lady Stark." Daenerys almost growls out as she walks next to the bed and takes a seat on the chair while grabbing Artys's hand whose body seems to have calmed down again. 

"My husband is clearly under the influence of Milk of the Poppy." She adds and I give her a small bow before walking out of the chamber..... he called my name even in this state. After everything that happened I never thought I would love like this.... that I would love a man, and wish him. And yet there he is, I love Artys and I want Artys but he's a king who even if our hearts wish one thing he has a duty to do......... I could hate him for it... for choosing duty over me but he does it out of love not just for me but also for the people and it makes me love him more. 

I don't wish to know what Daenerys would have done if Artys would have wed me and the lords wouldn't have bend the knee to her, she could have burned us all to a pile of ashes.... she says she's not like her father but there's something inside of her.... something dark that needs a push to be released and I don't even wish to see it release while she holds a army of Dothraki, Unsullied and still two dragons on her side. 

"And how is he?" Jace asks me as I think he has been pacing around the Great Hall since Artys was brought into the chamber. "Alive but still asleep, and right now with his wife." I say with a shake of my head. "What will he be when he wakes up." Jace breaths out. 

"How much can a man take before he tips over? Sure Robin was a little shit who almost killed Artys but that doesn't mean he didn't love the boy, or Tommen he loved Tommen like he was his little brother he always had and now they are both just gone." He continues and I don't know.... I don't know how much a man can take before he tips over. He's lost so much........ everything, his family, his brother and the boy who he saw as a younger brother............ he's the only one left. But Artys is strong.... stronger than any man I've ever met, if one person is able to get through all these hardships it's Artys Arryn. 

"He's stronger than anyone I know, but will help him get through this." 

Artys's Pov, 

With a groan, I open my eyes to a world of pain; it's a pain that permeates my body, a deep ache in my heart that not even the Milk of the Poppy can soothe. I had braced myself for death's arrival with the Night King, but never had I anticipated that Robin and Tommen would be among those claimed.

Life survived but it came with so much dead...... I saw them, the piles of dead, the ones who were raised again by the Night King.  Robin and Tommen..... they fought for Westeros and it's people they gave their lives to that other could have theirs, they had lives to live......... to fall in love see their kids grown and be able to become old and yet they never will, they'll forever stay young........ but not forgotten and if I could trade my life for theirs I would do it in the blink of a eye but I can't. 

"Seems the Night King failed in his attempt to kill you," Daenerys's voice remarks, prompting me to turn my head towards her with a grunt. "You don't have to sound too pleased to see that I survived," I retort, my voice gruff as bandages obscure one of my eyes.

"When do you think we can march for King's Land-" 

"Is that all that's on your mind? We've just endured the most grueling battle of our lives... the dead are countless, and the wounded are just as numerous. We owe them a dignified tribute. It's impossible to compel weary, mourning men to march to King's Landing now," I argue, shaking my head in dismay as I grit my teeth against the pain and rise to a sitting position.

"They will march at their Queen's command," she declares, rising and exiting the room. As the door shuts behind her, I let out a long, weary sigh. This is not the way to win their loyalty........ we only just defeated the Night King and his army we need to give our deaths a proper burial..... we need to give the wounded time, not go marching right now towards King's Landing. 

 It shows where her priorities lie, not with the people no with the Iron Throne........ she can't have one without the other if she doesn't have the support of the people she'll meet the same end as her father, if she has the love of the people than they'll all happily march for her to King's Landing they would die for their queen........... now they see her as Daenerys Targaryen the girl who doesn't belong here..... who came to Westeros with a foreign army and three dragons..... they don't see her as their 'rightful' queen. 

Hearing the door open I look towards it as Sansa is quick to walk over to the bed while I give her a small smile. "You should be resting, or I can get Maester Woldan for you if the pain is too much." She quickly says making me respond with a gentle shake of my head. 

"I'm alive and well." 

"H-how are you feeling with what happened? I'm so sorry Artys.... about Tommen and Robin we'll make sure they'll never be forgotten or the sacrifice they all made." She says as has almost tears in her eyes. 

"They fought because they wanted to fight, their bravery to fight for Westeros and it's people was stronger than their fear that they might die doing so." I softly say as I lick my dry lips. "Not even I could have stopped them from fighting nor was it my place to do that." 

"I'm here for you, if you wish to speak about it or anything else........ you can always come to me no matter what happens." She softly says and I let a hint of a smile grow on my lips as I look at Sansa. 

"I know, and I'll be there when you need me Sansa Stark." 

Author's Note, 

Alright well I'm going to try and finish this book in the upcoming day's like there aren't many chapters left so yup xD vote and comment!