The Wars to Come - J.S.

25 - LOYALTY

— king's landing —

"How many?" Jaime Lannister asks.

"A hundred thousand at least." Daenerys answers, his eyes widen in fear. 

Euron Greyjoy stands up and walks over to the dead wight, "Can they swim?" he asks. Jon answers with a simple no, and Euron stands up. "Good. I'm taking the Iron Fleet back to the Iron Islands."

"What are you talking about?" Cersei asks. 

"I've been around the world, I've seen everything, things you couldn't imagine, and this.. This is the only thing I've seen that terrifies me." he then approaches Daenerys' group and everyone tenses up, the Dothraki step forward and Jorah and Aurora shift in their chairs, their hands going to their swords. "I'm going back to my island, you should go back to yours. When winter is over, we'll be the only ones left alive."

At that, he turns and walks away, Aurora looks at Theon and they share a confused look. 

"He's right to be afraid. And a coward to run. If those things come for us, there will be no kingdoms to rule. Everything we've suffered will have been for nothing. Everything we've lost will have been for nothing." everyone watches Cersei carefully as she speaks, "The crown accepts your truce. Until the dead are defeated, they are the true enemy." 

Everyone lets out a sigh of relief at her words, but their relief may have come too soon as she opens her mouth again. "In return the King in the North will extend this truce. He will remain in the North where he belongs. He will not take up arms against the Lannisters. He will not choose sides."

Jon looks at Aurora as Daenerys asks why she doesn't ask this of her as well, their eyes meet and as soon as they do she knows what he is going to do. He has pledged himself to Daenerys, after seeing all the good that she does, and that she is truly a good person, he has bent the knee to her. 

Aurora smiles sadly at the man that she loves, knowing that what he is about to do will mean that Cersei will not accept their truce any longer. She nods to him slowly, telling him without words that it is okay. His loyalty will be the end of him, she once said, and he remembers those words now as he opens his mouth to speak to Cersei.

"I am true to my word." he begins, answering Cersei's statement that Ned Stark's son will be true to his word, "Or I try to be. That is why I cannot give you what you ask. I cannot serve two queens. And I have already pledged myself to Queen Daenerys of House Targaryen."

"Then there is nothing left to discuss." Cersei replies, "The dead will come North first, enjoy dealing with them. We will deal with whatever is left of you." 

And with that she walks away, followed by her group of guards and her Hand. 

Brienne follows Jaime and speaks to him, hoping for him to change Cersei's mind. But when she walks back to them, she has the same dejected look that everyone else does. 

"I wish you hadn't done that." Davos says.

Daenerys walks over to Jon to speak to him as well. 

Aurora stands beside her brother and sighs, he glances over and gives her an understanding smile.

"I'm pleased you bent the knee to our Queen, I would have advised it had you asked. But have you ever considered learning how to lie every now and then? Just a bit?" Tyrion asks.

Aurora steps forward, "You have no right to ask that of him. He was raised to be truthful and loyal, he wasn't raised here. All anyone in this shit city does is lie." Sandor Clegane chuckles quietly at that.