Chapter 25: .*The Beginning Of A New Era*.

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Maeleys walked into the forging chambers, hoping to see Blackfyre burned down. She did not need this sword; it was for kings. And she was no man.

Maeleys saw the sword being laid down, "Your Grace, are you sure about this? Blackfyre is no ordinary sword; it's legacy is steeped in blood and glory." Maester Blackwell stated coming behind me. 

"And so is my ambition." Maeleys responded, eyes locked on the sword, "Blackfyre, at the time, was forged for a king. But I am no less worthy. The iron from the sword will crown me not by lineage but by its strength."

"But, My Queen, by melting it down you are casting aside centuries of history. Including the tales of the kings who wielded Blackfyre--"

"--And they're the tales of men who would never understand the weight of a woman's crown. It is not the blade that makes the story; it is the will behind it. I will forge a new legacy, one that is my own." 

Before Maester Blackwell could say anymore, the sword went into the fire, melting it slowly, "Then it shall be done, your grace." Maester Blackwell said while bowing, leaving Maeleys to see the sword melt. 

.

.

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Maeleys walked into the council room, the men around the table whispering in each other's ears. They knew she killed those two kids, " Gentlemen." Maeleys spoke out, putting her hands on the table, " We all know you've heard of the acts that took place last night. You all know that it was me, there's no questioning that." She chuckled, "Let the realm hear me: I will not stand idly by while the winds of treachery blow over my family, over MY people. The Blood of my children cried out for justice, and I answered their cries."

"You sought for vengeance on children!? CHILDREN!? Your grace." One of the men around the table announced, "I did. Because they sought the same from my children. However, My Lord, vengeance does NOT belong to the weak; it belongs to those who carry it like a sword.

With her words hanging in the air like a storm about to break. Queen Maeleys raises her chin and looks out over her loyal subjects. Her heart steeled for the path ahead. 

" Your Grace, two children lay dead. They were innocent, mere kids in a war they did not belong in. Even if they posed a threat, surely..."

"Innocent?" Maeleys responded coldly, " They were nothing but pawns in a game that seeks to undo me! They killed my children. They thought I'd let it happen. They were wrong. You all know the ambitions of my brother. He would have used their innocence against me —my very blood—to undermine my reign. MY STRENGTH.

"Your Grace, it is not the act itself that troubles us, but the way the realm will perceive it. You are a queen of fire and blood, yes, but you must not leave a trail of ashes behind you."

"Did you think this way when my nephew, Aegal, killed Dunken?" Maeleys questioned. Everyone went silent, "Or, or how about when Jaehaerys stole my throne. When I went into labor for 3 whole days and nights screaming in agony. Did you think this then?" 

"Your Grace, all we are saying is that the common folk alone will talk about this. When you do end up getting the iron throne and winning, they will remember this." 

"Let them talk! Let them rebel!" Maeleys screamed out, her voice firm as the crown she wore on her head, "I am not a queen who hides behind curtains while enemies plot my demise. I wear the crown of Blackfyre not simply as a symbol of my power, but as a promise that I will defend what is rightfully mine!"

"Maeleys, Darling, what you did was wrong." Valerion finally spoke out

"Wrong!? Are you mad? Or are you just an idiot." She responded, "Excuse me?" Valerion replied coldly, "I said what I said. He was your son just as much as mine. How can you NOT want revenge."

"Look at you. You look like your father." Valerion responded.

Maeleys eyes became even colder, "Leave us." She commanded. Every man left except for Valerion.

"My father?" She chuckled, "My father was a weak and monstrous man who did not know what to do with his reign. He practically made me watch as my mother drowned in her own blood. And you're going to compare me to that?"

"I will. Maeleys, your better than this. We all know this. You can't say that I don't feel your pain, I do. But we could've gotten revenge another way."

"Your right." Maeleys announced, "Your right my love. Maybe my actions were a little drastic. Maybe harsh. Maybe even rash. However, you may put it you can NOT deny that it was inevitable. Jaehaerys deserved it."

"And the children?" Valerion spoke, "Did they deserve it too?" ...Maeleys was silent for once. She knew what she had did was wrong. However, every time her mind went to that thought that maybe she was wrong, her mind goes back to Dunken. Dunken... her boy. The way he came back. Head off, limbs torn, clothes shattered. It haunted her mind and her chambers. This was the only way to shut them off. To shut the grief off. Killing those kids somehow made it better. 

"It was the only way to... to shut it off." Maeleys responded, "I had voices in my head... his voice. And if I didn't do something then I would've felt like his death was in vain. I couldn't let that happen."

"And what of Cyrelle? The girl you loved with your whole heart." ... "That love is gone." Maeleys spoke, "It left the second her son killed mine. Now she feels my pain. Now we're even."

...

*Cyrelle POV*

"Your grace?" The servant said while peeping her head through the door, "Your Father is here to see you." 

"Let him in" I said griefly.

As my father walked in, he had a certain aura about him. Before I was married, my father was poor. My whole family was. He always pushed me to pursue Jaehaerys. It was never about what I wanted. It was what he wanted. 

"Still crying I see." He finally said. 

"They were just children, I watched them die in front of me, and you expect me to carry on as if nothing has happened?" I cried out.

"You cannot afford this indulgence in grief, Cyrelle. You think the kingdom will wait for your tears to dry? Power is slipping through our fingers, and you weep for what is lost?!" My Father, Orlan said, "The town folk are already talking about rebelling against your husband the King."

 "How can you speak of power at a time like this? They were innocent! They didn't deserve to suffer!" I stated.

 "And I didn't deserve to lose a daughter to weakness! You are the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. You must be strong. Showing vulnerability now will only embolden Maeleys to do more treachery." Orlan spoke.

My father then walked closer to me, tightly grabbing my chin, "You have a duty, Cyrelle! They died for the kingdom, for our legacy. Harboring this sorrow will lead us to ruin. Control your tears – channel that energy into something far more useful."

As my father threw me chin to the side, tears fell from my eyes onto my cheeks, "What is our house words?" He questioned me, I turned to him, "Together We Rise, Bound by Honor."

"And our motto?" He questioned me again; however, his stare became colder than Winterfell, "From Shadows We Strike, Fear Our Fury."

The House of the Undying : Maeleys The MadWhere stories live. Discover now