Of Lions and Wolves

Doom

Daenerys

The messenger arrived a day before the attack, the northern armies had already camped around the city and her Armada was nearing the city with each second.
The young boy burst into her tent out of breath and heaving,
"A letter for you, your majesty, from the King. "
Dany started from the envoy she had been reading and smiled up at the boy. Rising slowly she took the parchment from his outstretched hand and read it quietly to herself, her advisors and general waiting hesitantly to hear the news.
Dany smiled another soft smile and laid the paper down on the dirty wood table in front of her.
" Well?", Robb Stark asked, an edge of annoyance to his deep voice.
Dany pressed her fingers into the wood, etching the grain of it into the tips of them, an expression of contimplation on her features.
" It appears that King Tommen is dead", she slowly spoke, the words falling off her tongue like thick molasses, waiting for reactions. Tyrion sucked in his breath, distress​ only slightly visible on his bearded face. Robb furrowed his eyebrows and looked shocked, and Yara stared back at her with such unconcern that Dany doubted she had heard her correctly.
"So the city is ours," Yara asked with all her usually bluntness.
" Not quite, it appears that the princess Myrcella has been crowned as queen."
Tyrion's frown deepened and Yara scoffed,"No doubt a mouth piece for her mother."
"She will not surrender the city," the queen finished, looking around at her inner circle. "She also politely requests that when we breach the city to spare the citizens, or else I will have nothing left to rule."
The tent was silent.
" That doesn't sound like Cersei," Robb said first, eyebrows still knitted together in concentration.
Daenerys turned sharply to her hand," Does it sound like Myrcella?"
Tyrion paused and shrugged.
" Not when I knew her."
Ellaria Sand, having been silent all night, spoke up," Your Magesty, if I may, I have known the girl for these last four years. Indeed it does sound like her in spirit. Myrcella is reserved, but given a quill and ink can be quite  bold. And it is not unlike her to be stubborn."
Dany nodded silently, " Is she intelligent, knowledgeable, experienced in battle strategy?"
Tyrion answered," She is very clever, quiet, and sweet, I can not imagine her having the heart for war."
" I agree, I offered to help her train many times but she refused past the basic self defense." Ellaria added.
"Then she should not hinder our previous plans." With that she  nodded, signaling that they may leave.
Before exiting Tyrion stopped and turned his head to her. "My queen, what do you plan to do with Myrcella?"
Daenerys did not answer for awhile and stared down at the maps sprawled on her desk , " I do not know," she finally confessed.
Tyrion nodded his understanding and hesitantly suggested,"I do hope that you will extend mercy to her, she is only a girl." With that the little man walked out and Dany's eyes followed him out as she called after him, " I will not let cruelty be my doom, not like my father."
Tyrion smiled back at her,
"I know."

Myrcella

The city was bustling like it was a regular morning, not the dawn before a battle. Builders and soldiers moved this way and that through the busy streets carrying stone after stone to the city gates. Fishermen and sailors worked together to  spread a line of driftwood across Blackwater Bay, laying Myrcella's traps meticulously. The older citizens and the children had been taken to the Red Keep and Myrcella had moved her seat of government to Flea Bottom. It was closer to the fighting, she would be able to keep better eyes on the city, and it would protect the innocent civilians. But a small part of her also knew that it was strategic, her enemies would expect her at the keep, that's where they would be heading.
Always be ahead of your enemies.
Something her grandfather would have said. If her grandfather had been here. Myrcella turned her back to the small window in sorrow and sat down on the dingy cot in the corner. Pulling her knees up to her chest she dropped her head to her arms. She let out a shaky breath and prayed for the thousandth time for this to be a dream, for her to wake up back in Dorne, or even better, asleep in her bed in the Red Keep, King Robert alive and well.
But she knew that this would not happen, she was queen and she had to face this on her own.
A sudden knock came at the door, startling Myrcella from her thoughts.
"Yes?"
"My queen?", A young soldier named Trenion, poked his head into the small room, "My queen, Ser Jaimie has returned."
Myrcella gasped and leapt from the cot, brushing the dust off of her simple gown.
" Let him in, let him in!", She said hurriedly, waving her hand and Trenion opened the door wider for the older man. Jaimie nodded at the boy,turned and bowed his head to Myrcella.
"So, you've decided not to abandon me?" Myrcella asked half joking.
Jamie looked ashamed and said sheepishly,
"I am sorry, Myrcella, I was hoping that you would change your mind before now, but seeing as you are determined...", At this Jamie shock his head with aggrevation," I might as well protect you as much as possible."
Myrcella grinned, this was the closest thing to good news she had heard in a while.
"You are forgiven, and I was missing a general. I'll need you to head the defense on the east side of the city, the dragon queen will no doubt attack there tomorrow. Come," Myrcella gestured to the pile of papers stacked haphazardly on a miniature table,"Let me guide you through the defenses for tomorrow."
Jamie slowly stepped to where Myrcella guided him, paused and asked,
"Myrcella... Tomorrow, it is doomed you know that, don't you?"
Gazing down at the dirty parchment, at each minisqule detail she had so tidiously drawn out , she sighed.
"Yes, I do, but... I would give anything to protect this city from the rampage of a mad ruler. Do you... Do you think that I am silly?" Myrcella added looking up intensely at her father through luminescent green eyes.
Jamie looked back down at her and for a second, just a small second, Myrcella saw her father as an old man, happy and peaceful, having lived a long happy life.
" I think that you are very brave dear," affection shining through his voice like sunshine," I think you are the bravest girl I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. And..." Jamie's voice cracked with sorrow and grief unspoken, "And, I am so proud, to call you my daughter."
Tears falling silently from her eyes , Myrcella embraced her father and pushed thoughts of doom and destruction from her mind. For now, she was only a girl, protected against the world in her father's arms.