The Children of Spring

Jenny I - Tidings of War

The day after the raven came, they headed to the Capital. It was different from the other journeys they used to do, because there was a lot of tension in the air. No one knew if there was going to be a war, still there was going to be a battle for sure and that was a fair enough reason to be worried about.
Jenny Payne-Lannister knew that her parents were concerned, because they would have to go to the fight and they would have to leave them. Jenny did not want that to happened, she wanted to fight with them, she wanted to help them. She wanted to protect her family.
She and Marianne had a small plan to join the fight without their parents noticing it, however they had to wait for their cousins to complete the plan.
The journey to the Capital was quicker than Jenny would have thought, normally all the trips she had done to KingsLanding in family took ages, because Thomas and James never stayed in the same place for too long and they always disappeared, what led to Jenny and Marianne and their parents had to spent a lot of time looking for them before lifting camp and returning to the road. This time none of that happened, Jenny was thankful for that and she suspected that it was due to the fact that the twins had grown up, although, in Jenny's mind they would always be her little brothers, even Marianne was still her little sister sometimes. The difference was that Marianne and her had a different bond and smaller age gap.
Jenny was 1 year-old when Marianne was born and as they were growing up they were always together all the time and they knew everything about each other. They had a close bond with their brothers too, but it was more like the feeling of responsability of taking care of them. Jenny and Marianne had always had and would always have each other and that would never change.
At last, Jenny saw the great gates of the city and the Red Keep standing tall on the top of Aegon's High Hill. The city was full of life, there were children playing in the streets, the doors were all opened, the merchants were selling their products and there were even some singers singing. The colors of the city had always amazed her, sometimes she wondered how a city like that could ever be different. 17 years of peace and nobody remembers the last war, I hope it stays this way, Jenny thought looking at the Red Keep. She knew that her mother had known that she was pregnant of her in the middle of the last war and she also knew that war had been one of the worst ones, because, despite not telling anyone, she knew that it had left marks on the people who fought in it and the proof of that was the fact that her parents still had nightmares sometimes, or the fact that the stories talked about three full grown dragons and by then there were just two. I've never known war... I know how to fight, but I only did it in practice and it was never like the way mother and father practice sometimes, Jenny thought. It worried her, she had no doubts that she wanted to fight if there was going to be a war, however she knew that she had no idea of how a war was supossed to be. She had heard stories and read some books, still she felt that she would only feel what it was when she was in the battlefield with a sword in her hand. Jenny was almost as good as her parents with the sword and she practiced almost everyday. From time to time, she watched her father and mother practicing together, it was nothing like she had ever seen before. They were just amazing and they fought like it was a real fight sometimes, still most of the times it ended in a tie. Jenny knew that the way they fought had been the way they had to in the last war and she wanted to fight like that someday. I will fight like them someday, I am a lioness, like my mother and I'm going to protect my family, no matter what, Jenny thought.
Jenny was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard,
"It's still beautiful." Marianne said.
"It will always be." Jenny said looking at her and they smiled. They liked that city, not as much as they liked Casterly Rock, still there was a certain beauty about KingsLanding that always made them smiled.
"It still smells like shit." James said and Thomas laughed. The twins, on the other hand, prefered the Rock to anything else. Every other place that was not the Rock, except for Tarth, Winterfell, Storm's End and sometimes KingsLanding, they would want to get out of as soon as they could. Well, this time you're going to have to bear with it, boys, Jenny thought.
"Believe us, when we say that this city never smelled good and never will." Joanna said honestly.
"You will get use to it, after some time." Pod said and the children laughed. Jenny knew that her parents prefered the Rock too, instead of KingsLanding, still she could not figure out why.
"Did you see the Blackwater Bay?" Jenny whispered to Marianne. She had tried to have a look at the Blackwater, when they had entered the city, however she was riding next to her parents and she could not be too obvious about it or they would start asking questions. Sometimes, she wished she could tell her mother or even her father, still there was too much at risk. It's not the right time. They're probably going to war, they don't need to worry about these things, Jenny thought.
"I couldn't see very well, but I didn't see any sails with yellow suns, or white crescents, or lions. You're going to wait a bit longer, sorry." Marianne whispered back, giving her a knowing look.
"Don't look at me like that. I was just asking a question." Jenny said anoyed. I love this game, but sometimes it gets on my nerves, Jenny thought. A new generation had come and the game still continued, the teasing was still on.
"No, you ask two questions in one. The first was about boats and the second about Gal." Marianne said in a low voice and Jenny rolled her eyes and sighed and Marianne giggled. She loved anoying her sister with these kind of things, because, eventhough Jenny was with Galladon, she continued to be not very easygoing with what concerned talking about those things, especially in public places.
Jenny and Galladon had been together for a year, despite liking each other for almost 3 years. Since they were children that they had gotten along amazingly, they played together, fought together, talked with each other and helped each other. Everytime they were together was magical, the two of them were the eldest and had a lot in common. They had never known life without each other. When they turned 14, things changed. They were not just best friends anymore, they were something else, something more. It took almost 3 years for them to admit it, still they did. However, they kept it a secret, the only people that knew were Marianne and Gerion. There was a lot at risk, mostly because they did not know how their parents would react. They were first cousins and they knew that, at least, in the Lannister family there had been some problems with relationships within the family. Still, it was dificult to be together always in secret, they could never let their guard down, except for when they were alone. I can't wait to see him again, Jenny thought.
"Can we forget I ask?" Jenny asked.
"You can, I have a debt to collect." Marianne said smiling.
"Are you sure? I've got the payback, remember?" Jenny said teasing.
"We'll see." Marianne said smiling.
"What are you talking about?" Thomas asked, out of nowhere. Jenny almost jumped from the horse, when she heard him and Marianne laughed. Why do I always do this?, Jenny thought anoyed. It was always happening.
"Why can't you tell us?" James asked.
"How much did you hear?" Jenny asked a little concerned. Thomas and James never shutted up and, if they knew about her secret, there was no case scenario in which they would not put their foot in it and tell their parents, Jenny was just not ready for it. Not yet, at least.
"Nothing, that's why we're asking." James said anoyed.
"You always do this." Thomas complained.
"It's girls things, you wouldn't understand." Marianne said, it was only half a lie.
"So it was something as if you two are with someone?" James asked.
"No! We're talking about boats, just that." Jenny said.
"You're a terrible liar, Jen." Thomas said softly. Jenny knew that Thomas would always had something to cheer her up, he was always optimistic and very kind. James was more adventurous and more extrovert, still he was very kind, when he wanted to.
"She is, but it's true, we're talking about boats." Marianne said.
"And you? What were you talking about?" Jenny asked, trying to change the subject. That one was close, Jenny thought relieved. She knew that she was a terrible liar, which was why it was even more dificult to have a secret.
"We were talking about how me and Thomas will beat you in the next practice." James said.
"Yeah? And how are you going to do that?" Jenny asked.
"We don't know, yet. Maybe Gal and Ger can help us." Thomas said.
"I'm sure they will." Marianne said.
They kept talking while reaching the gates of the Red Keep.
When they arrived at the Red Keep, they left the horses at the stables and then entered. Jon and Daenerys were already there to meet them.
"We came as soon as we knew." Joanna said.
"We have to start to make plans, urgently. The enemy it's not just another army. We'll explain in the council room." Daenerys said.
"Did you get the kids out of there?" Pod asked.
"Yes, they're in the yard." Jon said.
Then Joanna turned to her sons and daughters and said,
"We have to talk with the King and the Queen. You can go and see your cousins, alright? We'll see you later."
"I'm sorry, sweetlings, but it's important." Daenerys said.
"Don't worry, aunt Dany. We'll be fine." Jenny said.
"Don't disappear, alright?" Pod asked, looking at the twins. They nodded a little.
"They won't, don't worry, father." Marianne assured him.
The adults went to talk and Jenny, Marianne, Thomas and James went to the yard.
They got to the yard and saw that Jorah and Rickon were practicing, while Gerion gave them some indications and Lyanna watched them with atention. And Jeyne and Rhaella were talking in a stone bench.
"Hey, everybody." Jenny said and they all looked at them.
Thomas and James went to where Jorah and Rickon were and greeted them. The girls went to Jenny and Marianne and gave them a hug. Marianne hugged Jeyne and said, "Don't worry, everything will be alright." And the girl nodded, after that Jenny did the same.
"Jen, can you practice with me?" Lyanna asked her.
"Sure, Lya. Tomorrow or the next day we'll practice." Jenny said and the girls went back to what they were doing. After that, the twins went to greeted the girls and Jenny and Marianne went to greet Rickon and Jorah and gave Rickon a bit of comfort.
Then Jenny and Marianne went to where Gerion was, he had moved away by then.
"Come here, Ger." Jenny said and they hugged him tightly.
"We're here. Don't worry." Marianne said, after the hug.
"They didn't let me stay." Gerion said.
"We'll go to that battle, don't worry." Jenny said.
"You have a plan?" Gerion asked.
"We have a small plan." Marianne answered.
"We have to give them a few days, for they won't get us before we get there. We have to convince Davos and Varys that we are almost adults and don't need their premition to go. But, we still have to know details from the fight and to wait for Gal to arrive." Jenny said.
"There's a meeting going on right now. We could try to hear something." Gerion said.
"Let's go. Don't worry, everything is going to be alright." Marianne said and then they went, sneaking out, to the meeting room and while Jenny and Marianne were listening at the doors, Gerion was seeing if anyone was coming.
"Do you have any idea where Grey Worm is?" Joanna asked.
"Naath. He and Missandei went there." Daenerys said.
"I'm taking Raeghal." Jon said.
"You can't go alone." Pod said.
"I'll go with him." Davos said.
"Very well." Jon said.
"It doesn't make sense, I thought that there were no more Unsulied and how did they get an army at the walls of the castle without anyone noticing it." Joanna said.
"They used magic to hide the army." Bran said.
"Who can have that kind of power? There's just few pages that talk about it in the books and all of that is from the Free Cities." Sam said.
"Pyat Pree." Daenerys realized.
"Who?" Joanna asked confused.
"He's a warlock. I destroyed him and his order, the Undying, years ago in the Free Cities. Since then he wants vengance for that. I've never thought that he would join forces with the Sons of the Harpy." Daenerys explained.
"The Sons of the Harpy are an underground insurgency group that opposed the rule of Your Grace in Meereen. They want revenge too. They're no better than sellswords." Varys explained.
"That explains somethings." Joanna said.
"If they are like sellswords then give them money and buy them." Bronn said simply.
"And do we have the money for that?" Jon asked.
"Well... no." Bronn said.
"Because?" Daenerys asked.
"It was an urgent need. The poor girls couldn't be sleeping in the streets." Bronn said.
Jenny and Marianne looked at each other and then rolled their eyes, It's Bronn, what were we expecting?, Jenny thought.
"Watch yourself, you're a married man now." Joanna said.
"I have a beautiful wife and a great castle, how can I forget?" Bronn said sarcasticaly.
Then Jenny and Marianne heard a noise and Gerion came to them and said,
"We have to go. There's people coming."
"We've heard enough. Let's go." Jenny said and left the corridor to the yard.
"Yeah, somehow I don't think he was talking about the orphanage." Marianne said as they were walking to the yard.
"Neither do I." Jenny said.
"What are you talking about?" Gerion asked confused.
"Ser Bronn of the Blackwater." Marianne said.
"Aaah, my father always said he has a kind of a dark sense of humor." Gerion said.
"It's not a bright one for sure." Jenny said and the three of them laughed.
They spent the rest of the day catching up with their cousins and friends.
At night, Jenny was in her room, getting ready to go to bed, when she heard a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Jenny asked.
"It's mother." Joanna said and then Jenny went to open the door and let her mother enter.
"I came to say good night." Joanna said.
"Thank you and good night." Jenny said giving her a hug.
"I know that today was a hard day, but it'll get better. I promise." Joanna said, kissing her daughter's forehead.
"We'll be fine, I promise." Jenny said.
And then she went to bed and, as her mother was leaving, she said,
"Mother, can I ask you a question?"
Joanna turned and sat next to her daughter in bed.
"Sure, you can ask me anything." Joanna said.
"You and father have been in a war, right?" Jenny asked.
"Me and your father met during a war and we've been in a few." Joanna said.
"Can you tell me about it?" Jenny asked.
"Which part?" Joanna asked.
"Everything."
"Well, I had just gotten to this city and things were complicated, because the North was in open rebelion with the crown and so was Storm's End and Dragonstone. My father and your uncle Jaime were fighting battles somewhere in the kingdoms and I was sent here to protect my sister, Cersei Lannister, who you didn't meet. My nephew Joffrey, who you also didn't meet, was on the throne and he was a monster, which made things dificult. I found out that your uncle Jaime had been caught and I wanted to go after him, to rescue him. Your uncle Tyrion convinced me otherwise-" Joanna was saying.
"How?" Jenny asked curiously.
"He can be very persuasive sometimes. And then the day after your uncle came to KingsLanding, he sent his squire, your father, to bring me dinner. That was the first time I saw him and we talked. We just said our names, still it had some impact on us. The day after that, because your uncle did not stop anoying me about how I always smiled when your father was in the room and whenever someone talked about him, we had dinner together and we got to know each other, that was the begining of it." Joanna said.
"That's so beautiful. It must have been dificult because there was a war going on." Jenny said.
"Jen, why are you so concern about the war? You know this story, I told it to you a milion times." Joanna asked softly.
"Because, right now, it seems that we are at the break of one and I want to be ready." Jenny said honestly.
"If there's going to be a war, me and your father and everyone in this castle are going to make sure that you and your siblings and cousins are as far away from it as possible. And if, for some reason, the war comes to you, I'm sure you'll be ready. You're a lioness, just like me and you sister." Joanna said.
"I can't fight as good as you and father. I've seen the way you practice and it's different, it's like it is real." Jenny said honestly. Joanna sighed. She and Pod sometimes practiced like that because, even after 17 years, all the battles they had fought, the Green Fork, the Blackwater, when Stannis attacked the North, the Frozen Lake, the Battle for the Dawn, the Battle of KingsLanding... all of them were still present in their minds sometimes and the way of easing the memories a bit was to fight for real. They knew their limits and trusted each other, that way they could never hurt each other. It was good to have a real fight from time to time.
"Jenny, when you fight in the battlefield, you have to be ready for everything and the things you see in there stay with you forever. Me and your father fought in, at least, two battles and one of them was the worst this world has ever seen. It's normal that me and your father sometimes fight like that, because it help us forget a few things for a while. But that doesn't mean that you don't fight as good as us, you do. It's just that there are somethings that can only be understand in the middle of a real fight. I hope you will never have to be in a real fight, but if you have when the time comes you'll know what to do." Joanna said softly.
"You promise?" Jenny asked.
"I promise." Joanna said.
"Can you tell me the rest of the story? I love to hear you tell it, please." Jenny said.
"Fine. Then..." Joanna told the whole story again and after that Jenny went to sleep a little bit less worried.