The Hype / Gendry Waters (2.8)

17. Bend the Knee

One condition. One Cersei knew would seal her reign. As long as Daenerys Targaryen bends the knee publicly for all to see and with the Lannister's holding all the power here and Daenerys army almost completely wiped out Daenerys would have no choice but to agree.

"We offer you sanctuary and refuge in the walls of the capital." Gendry remarked. He glanced to Cersei and she nodded. Mother knows best he supposed. "If Daenerys Targaryen bends the knee to the rightful queen. Queen cersei Lannister."

"What?" Daenerys demanded. She scowled back at Jon but he was hugging rieka as Rieka fussed over Bran and how big he got and what the literal fuck was going on with him?

"He's in a trance?" Rieka questioned confused.

"He became someone else." Jon remarked. "I dont know how to explain it-"

"But he's okay?" Rieka questioned kissing his little face. She missed him, he wasnt a little boy anymore. Gendry glanced their way before daenerys outrage made him face forward again. He felt like he was in trouble but he knew with cersei and rieka on his side he was golden.

"Relinquish my claim?" Daenerys rasped.

"I would think fast on that, we do have an army of the dead coming." Cersei added. Daenerys hissed a breath at her. "And they will come for you first if you are outside the walls."

"Where is Arya? Sansa?" Rieka questioned looking around.

"I dont know Rie," Jon whispered. He knew that tyrion claimed sansa was dead however.

"Did they get out? Are they one of them?" Rieka questioned.

"Rieka," Tyrion whispered.

"Tyrion," Rieka answered smiling back at him. "You are okay."

"I am... Sansa didnt... make it." Tyrion remarked.

"She's going to be coming to claw our eyes out." Rieka realized. "Thats what you are saying?" Tyrion nodded. "I'm glad you are okay... what about Arya?"

"Little shit is here." Sandor remarked marching forward.

"Hi Sandor," Rieka whispered.

"Pup," Sandor answered hugging her. Rieka relaxed into him. "Am I allowed in or is everyone being stopped at the gates?"

"Get in here," Rieka agreed. She glanced to Bran again still unconscious. Sandor grumbled picking him up and tossing him over his shoulder. "Thank you Sandor." Rieka added.

"Yeah, yeah." Sandor agreed heading in.

"Love you!" She shouted out

"Yeah yeah," sandor agreed, a smile pulling at his lips

"Say it back!" Rieka demanded chasing after him. Jon looked around he didnt get to really see the castle before.

"What of Daenerys?" Jon questioned.

"Thats up to her." Rieka reminded him.

"Daenerys Targaryen you must bend the knee, swear your loyalty to the rightful queen and queen of Westeros." Cersei repeated confidence radiating from her every pore.

Rieka watched as Daenerys took a step closer to cersei, fury raging through her but she dropped down to her knees, the unsullied and dorthraki shouted out in outrage and Daenerys grit her teeth. Her eyes slowly drifted up to cersei. 

"I Daenerys Targaryen..." Daenerys didnt like it but she had to do it. They left her no choice but to. She had to put her people before herself. She had to sacrifice everything she worked so hard for, for the safety of her kin that remained. "Relinquish my claims to the iron throne. I bend the knee to queen.... Queen," she was going to gag. "Cersei Lannister ."

"Welcome to the capital, Daenerys." Cersei agreed. "RIght this way." Riekas gaze shifted to Bran again.

"When is he going to come back? I want to hug him properly."

"Has anyone seen Arya?" Gendry questioned.  "Its been forever i was hoping to see her again before we all die."

"She's surely here." Jon remarked looking around. "She wasnt in the crypts."

"Tyrion-" Daenerys demanded. But he marched past her.

"Queen cersei," Tyrion remarked. "Has a nice ring to it." Cersei rolled her eyes.

"What she means is right this way dear brother." Rieka countered. "Gendry, is Eurons fleet ready?" Rieka questioned turning to him, she offered Tyrion a small smile.

"Yes. They are in position." Gendry confirmed. "The troops are at the walls, blocking the main gates... the castle is secure."

"Sightings!" a steward declared running into the great hall. "They are... monsters."

"They are here?" Cersei questioned rising up. She tried to keep her racing heart and nerves from showing, she was the queen after all.

"All of them."

Rieka looked to Jon. He grabbed her hand kissing her cheek.

"Get safe." Jon instructed.

"Unlikely." She countered "Jon, be careful." Rieka begged hugging him.

"ALright, lets get to positions then." Gendry agreed. He looked to Daenerys, "your dragons-"

"Just the one." Daenerys corrected. Cersei scoffed.

"How does one lose two dragons?" Cersei questioned.  Gendry was good at commanding the room. Rieka thought so at least. Rieka was good at getting the room riled up and agitated.

"Daenerys can you take to the sky? Give us a boarder of fire, give the men some more time to get into position, get the rest of the people to safety." Gendry instructed like he was born to lead. Cersei was so proud. Daenerys nodded, she didnt like that she was taking orders instead of giving them but she did as he requested. "Thank you." Gendry added and Daenerys glanced back at him, she had planned on taking back the throne after they won this, if they won this but it was going to be more difficult now. She still wanted to be queen though. But she had showed weakness. For her people but weakness the moment this was over she would kill them all.

"You are not going out there." Cersei corrected.

"Yes i am. Im a good fighter. I am going to help." Gendry corrected. "I can't hide from this. I have to fight for my kingdoms as any prince would."

"Joffrey would not have." Rieka countered bluntly.

"I cant lose you. I just got you back." Cersei countered

"Trust me. Im coming back," gendry assured hugging her. Gendry pulled rieka aside after. "Its pointless tellingnyou to get safe-"

"Yes." Rieka agreed.

"So im just going to kiss and tell you that you are the most impressive and important person in the world to me." Gendry declared pulling her into him. She was left breathless when he pulled back. "I want to marry you when we win this."

"Okay." Rieka rasped back eyes glossy.

"Okay," gendry agreed kissing her again.

As the night king approached his main forces lined up along the outer walls. Thats where they focused their attention. But the night king was smart and has a separate force along the water's edge. Where Eruon Greyjoys fleet is stationed.

"I love you." Gendry whispered before heading off. She echoed his words as he left.