Sue Me / Sandor Clegane / Vaera Targaryen

23. Targaryen

"I would suggest milk of the poppy to ease his pain but he is completely insensate."

" Bloody Martells." Cersei hissed.

"The cause appears to be manticore venom." Pycelle added.

"It is, yes, manticore." Qyburn agreed.

"I've read a good deal about it. It's a horrible poison, usually Mantari in origin. Oh! Yes, yes. There's nothing to be done." Pycelle added.

"Yes there is." Qyburn countered.

"Gregor isnt dead, Oberyn is." Vaera remarked at sandors silence.

"Your father assigned me to your guard again." Sandor agreed. 

"He did?" 

"Gregor is... incapacitated." Sandor reminded her. 

"It will be nice to have you around all the time." She agreed. "I..."

"Aye?" 

"May I ask what you think you're doing?" Pycelle countered.

" Saving him."

"Your grace. I wish it were otherwise, but Ser Gregor is beyond saving. Well, well beyond. This man is not even a Maester, let alone Grand Maester." Pycelle suggested.

"That's for the best. No Maester knows how to save him." Qyburn agreed

" That is exactly the sort of arrogance that had him expelled from the citadel, your grace. His curiosity was deemed dangerous and unnatural. Rightly so in my opinion."

"Do you think Gregor is going to die?"

"That would be the hope." Sandor offered. 

"Do you think my father is really going to kill Tyrion?" Vaera added. 

"Aye." Sandor agreed. "You want to say goodbye one last time?"

"I... I dont know." Vaera admitted. "I think I should... but I dont want to..." her voice broke, sandor held her. "We were different together, i can't imagine him being gone forever. I dont want to imagine it." 

"You're dismissed, Grand Maester." Cersei cut in

" Your grace. This is my laboratory!"

"Not anymore." Cersei turned to Qyburn. "You can save him?"

" Difficult to say, your grace, but if my past work is any guide. We stand a chance." Qyburn agreed

" Do everything you can. Come to me with anything you need." Cersei answered.

" Thank you, your grace. You should know, the process may change him, somewhat."

" Will it weaken him?"

"Oh no." Qyburn assured

"Very well then."

"Thank you for giving me back Sandor." Vaera remarked. Tywin smiled back at her. 

"I'm glad you approve." Tywin agreed. "He cares for you a great deal, I can see that." 

"He does, he is a good friend. What is the word on Gregor?" Vaera questioned. 

"Cersei is playing god." Tywin answered. 

"How?"

"Dont worry." 

"Can we have a funeral for Gregor when he passes?" Vaera questioned. "He was good to me. It's the least we can do." 

"Alright." Tywin agreed as Cersei came in. 

"Vaera give us a moment." Cersei requested. She nodded, Tywin kissed her temple before sending her off, Tywin turned to Cersei as Sandor extended a hand for Vaera. 

"Vaera..." Sandor whispered. She turned her face up to him. "I have been wanting to do this since the moment I started being your guard."

"What?" Vaera questioned her voice small.

"Don't hate me."

"I could never hate you." Vaera countered. He nodded touching her cheek, she hoped she knew what was coming. His lips touched hers and she melted into him. He rested his forehead against hers. "I dont hate you, quite the opposite." vaera assured fingers grazing over his lips. "i would like to do that again." 

"Good." Sandor agreed lifting her up, she was so short, he was craning his neck to kiss her but it was worth it. 

" You don't know, do you? You never believed it. How is that possible? What am I saying, of course it's possible. How can someone so consumed by the idea of his family have any conception what his actual family was doing? We were right there in front of you and you didn't see us. One look in the past twenty years, one real look and you would've known."

" Known what?" Tywin demanded

" Everything they say is true. About Jaime and me." Cersei said as if proud by the vile act.

"No, no, no, no, no." Tywin demanded shaking his head

" Your legacy is a lie."

"I don't believe you."

"Yes you do."

"Vaera would be a better queen than you." Tywin declared. Cersei turned her cheek to him.  Tywin had to tell Vaera the truth about her parentage. 

"Is Gregor going to be alright? I thought his death would have been announced by now. What is the maester doing? Is he going to survive?" Vaera questioned settling into her fathers couch.

"I doubt it." Tywin admitted. "Shame... thats not why I called upon you though."

"Oh?" Vaera questioned. 

"It's about your mother."

"My... mother?" Vaera whispered reaching for his hand.

"My Vaera... you are born of fire and blood but you were anything but."

"I dont understand." She whispered.

"Your mother was the queen. I fell in love with her and... I'm sorry I didnt tell you sooner."

"The queen? The Targaryen queen?" Vaera questioned.

"Yes. She was too good for Aerys. Too sweet, you remind me of her actually." Tywin admitted.

"I'm Targaryen?"

"Yes." Tywin agreed kissing her forehead.

"What does this mean? Who else knows?"

"You and me." Tywin assured. "It's dangerous being a targaryen in this world. I wanted you safe." Vaera nodded slowly. "No one else can know Vaera." She nodded slowly. She was Targaryen.