The Legacy

Part 18

Viserra remembered being only 9 name days when she first saw a beheading. Aunt Cat argued the boys were too young and Viserra couldn't handle such horrible things. Yet, when the time came Robb and Jon both looked away, but Viserra didn't. She felt she had to witness his death, otherwise his soul would be lost forever to wonder.

The old scruffy black haired man looked confused as he was lowered to the block. He cried for his mother in the end. Viserra flinched as her uncle's sword separated the man from this physical world.

She remembered the look on her uncle's face when the deed was done. Serious and conflicted. Viserra heard those same words from her first beheading again when the Night's Watch deserter was sentenced to death. Young Bran learned the same lesson his older siblings had learned. "The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword".

Viserra stood on the platform surrounded by hundreds and heard nothing. Ned confessed to false truths to appease the Lannisters. In admitting to treason he swore to the old gods and the new his niece was not involved in his plot. He acted alone and Viserra was absolved from any involvement. Viserra watched as the only father she knew was forced to the ground and labeled a traitor. Ned Stark is a good man, an honorable man. He lived for his family and his family did the same for him. Viserra knew none of the Starks could bear to lose their patriarch. She racked her brain looking for a way to stop injustice from happening. Her eyes stung and vision became blurry. She was panicking, as she was running out of time and had no idea how to save her uncle.

"It's alright loves" Ned's voice was soft and soothing. He looked one last time at his daughters on the stage and into the crowd as Arya stood next to her dance teacher. "It's alright" he repeated. "Look out for each other."

"No! Please! I beg you!" Viserra yelled at Cersei who looked conflicted at her son's decision. Sansa pleads with Joffrey who just motioned Ser Illyn forward.

"It's alright girls. Look away now" Ned Stark had accepted his fate. He smiled knowing he had saved Viserra from the black cells. Ned smiled as he kept his silent promise to his brother. He knew his eldest daughter would watch out for the girls. He trusted no one else to do it. Viserra thrashed against the Hound as he kept her in place. "She so strong, she will do great things as a Stark and Targaryen" Ned thought. Viserra was exhausted from her time in the black cells and used the last of her strength against her the Hound, but it was too late.

The sword sang as it connected with flesh. Viserra dropped to her knees and prayed it was all a nightmare she had yet to wake from. She shut her eyes and prayed when she opened them she would be back home in Winterfell. All of this was a nightmare that she willed herself to wake from. When she opened her eyes, the sea of a bloodthirsty crowd cheered, and she still heard nothing. She felt nothing. Nothing was quickly dissipated only to be replaced with rage.

She rose from the ground with a purpose. Fury filled her. The muted crowd became alive again as Viserra rose to her feet and the ringing dulled. Viserra had no weapons or armor, but she would get the blood owed to her even if it meant she would take it with her bare hands. Before she could act on it Lord Varys appeared next to her.

"Think clearly." His voice was low and calm. "He did not give his life just so you could follow so closely behind him dear girl." Varys met the bright violet eyes of the young girl. "Think of Sansa. She is not strong enough to survive alone." Varys placed his hand on the shoulder of the young shewolf as to pacify the fury building within her. Sansa wept in the arms of Cersei Lannister in search of comfort. Everyone noticed when she rose from her knees, and watched to see the Targaryen Shewolf to act. The anticipation of another potential beheading quieted the crowd as she crossed the stage with the Hound close behind her. Her face as if carved from stone, giving no emotion away.