Braavos 298 AC.
House of Black and White.
The Kindly Man.
The man had waited a number of days for an audience and they kept him waiting on purpose. The Kindly Man spending his time speaking to his god and asking what his plans were, yet finding no answers for quite some time. After half a week he gave up and allowed the man to enter, enjoying the nervous way he looked around the hall. The other petitioners were either speaking to priests, praying to the gods, or sitting and praying by the pool.
"My master sent me to speak to you." Afodar said.
"And what does Magister Illyrio require of the Many-Faced God?" he asked seeing the man's shock that he knew who he served, these pitiful men not knowing the truth of the world they lived in always amusing him.
"A death."
"Who does he wish the gift given to?" he asked and watched as the man nervously handed him the note.
He opened it and looked it over and was unsurprised to see the magister had told the full truth of the man he wished dead. Some had tried to lie to them and their fates were enough that no one would dare try to do so again. To save coin and pretend that they or the life they sought ended were inconsequential was such a foolish thing. But the man they asked them to bring the gift to was known even to him, known by many names other than the one written on this note.
Jaehaerys Targaryen,
Trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen,
King of Westeros.
The Kindly Man knew this man well, the White Wolf, the Winter Dragon, the Prince that was Promised, even the Many-Faced God had an interest in Jon Snow. He looked to the man who was watching him nervously and so he smiled, putting him at ease somewhat.
"What offering does the magister make for this man to receive the gift.".
"A million gold dragons" Afodar said.
"Pitiful." he said walking away.
"A million and half." Afodar shouted after him.
"Two." he almost screamed forcing the Kindly man to stop.
He turned and walked back to him, looking him in the eye before he smiled and saw the man breathe a huge sigh of relief.
"Come back in three days and we'll give you our decision." he said and Afodar nodded before hurriedly leaving.
The Kindly Man walked past the pool and up the stairs. When he reached the third floor he passed by the faces on the walls, moving to the holy sanctum and kneeling down to pray. Asking his god once again for guidance and smiling when it finally came, he rested easy that night and woke early the next morning. He watched on as the Waif continued her training and as the servants cleaned the floors and readied the house for the day ahead.
Later that day he met with some of his fellow priests and watched as men and women were sent on their way. Some to journey far and wide to deliver their god's gift and some to go no further than a few streets away. They met and discussed their work and their god, the Kindly Man listening as some of their most sensitive secrets were discussed. Smiling when he heard tale of Jaqen and where he was sent, laughing at the irony of the man being where he was and of what they could use him to do if they wished it so.
When Afodar came back, the Kindly Man asked him to sit with him. Both of them sitting down alone by the pool, the room was empty for once. He told the man that their god had decided the gift must be given and saw his smile before he offered him the water. The man looking at him strangely before he reached into the pool and took a cup for himself and drank it down and Afodar did likewise.
"Death holds no sweetness in this house. We are not warriors, nor soldiers, nor swaggering bravos puffed up with pride. We do not kill to serve some lord, to fatten our purses, to stroke our vanity. We never give the gift to please ourselves. Nor do we choose the ones we kill. We are but servants of the God of Many Faces and today he's decided is to be your last." he said as Afodar fell to the floor, the Kindly Man looking on as the man was carried to the room to be prepared.
He called for the Waif and handed her the face, telling her to leave immediately. The Many-Faced God had work for her to do and a name for her to offer to him.
"I'll see it done." she said.
"See that you do." he said as he walked away and left her alone.
The White Wolf had nothing to fear from the Many Faced God, for even death feared the cold winds that blew, and without Jon Snow, there would be no further offerings made, and no one left to make them.
Riverrun 298 AC.
Gerion.
It took them far longer to actually set up then he had hoped and so it was mid-afternoon rather than noon when they began to move against the walls. The siege towers were moved just outside of the archer's range. The trebuchets fired small rocks against the walls of Riverrun, enough to let them know they were there but not enough to do any serious damage.
Using portable wind wheels, Gerion set up some of the crossbows he used at Castamere, these ones adapted to fire a different type of bolt. His men looking on amazed both at the distance and accuracy as they aimed them at the soldiers on the highest walls. Forcing them back into cover after more than a few hit home.
From all three sides of Riverrun they attacked without fully attacking, using long-ranged attacks and moving siege towers close but not close enough. The mummery needing to be enough for the watchers to keep their eyes on them and them alone. When night fell they put guards on the towers, just in case there were brave souls inside the keep who'd risk riding out. Gerion calling for his lords and for Cregan, the boy arriving first and Gerion glad to see him looking unperturbed by the siege going on around him.
"You sure you wish to do this?" he asked.
"I do, Dusk does." he said and Gerion nodded, sending guards with him and waiting for the lords to come to him.
When they were there he told them of his plan and asked for volunteers, Roland and Addam doing so immediately along with two of Tytos's lads and Raymun. In the end, he ended up getting the numbers he wished and asked Raymun to find the boats and get them ready. Dusk started to howl long before the lords left and he chuckled as he went to sleep that night, the wolf keeping it up through the darkest hours and he could only imagine what that may sound like to those inside the keep.
The next day it was the same again, crossbow bolts fired, siege towers moved a little closer, the wolf howling through the night and on it went for three nights straight. Finally they were ready and he asked Jonos and Tytos to see it done. Lord Jason was left in charge of his defenses and Gerion made his way to the boats, Cregan making him take Dusk with him despite his arguments against it.
"My mother would never forgive me if I didn't send him with you, my lord." Cregan said.
"Your mother would never forgive me if you were hurt, Cregan, so for tonight I ask you to stay with Lord Jason." he said looking at the boy and seeing him nod.
"I will my lord.".
"Gerion, lad, we're kin now." he said with smile.
"Gerion." Cregan said and Gerion climbed into the boat and watched as the others moved in front of them.
Their armor was light leather and some mail, no plate, as it was not conducive for swimming. The boats moved silently across the water and Gerion heard the cheers and saw the flames in the distance. The siege towers burning just as he had ordered and he was glad they'd used ones that were poorly suited to the task, and not the larger better ones they possessed.
As the boat reached the Water Gate he was surprised to see it almost fully raised. The note from Richard saying it would be partly open to them and they'd need to swim underneath. He looked to Dusk to see the wolf resting comfortably and thought on what Jon had said, motioning to those with him that they weren't rowing into a trap. Soon they were underneath and he and the others quickly climbed from the boats, their work would need to be quick and as he looked around at the others he saw they were ready.
Almost twenty and seven men he had with him and one very large wolf and they moved through the route that had been drawn out for them. Soon finding themselves in the courtyard below. Above them, attention was focussed on events outside the walls and so they moved quickly to the guard and gate houses, finding less than ten men in each. Half of whom were asleep and quickly subdued, allowing them to lower the gate and the drawbridge.
They heard the shouts from above them and so quickly grabbing a torch, Gerion waved it in the air. The crossbows began firing and the horses rode fast toward the now open keep. He heard a sound from behind him and watched as Dusk took a man down, another soon to follow and then the fighting truly began.
"Remember, the soldiers, none of the servants. Any man who doesn't listen will lose their head this night." he said and was glad to see so many nods.
They moved through the Godswood and he heard the groans as two of his men were taken down with crossbow bolts, then the screams as the men who'd fired found they couldn't reload faster than a wolf could run.
"Thank the gods he's on our side." Addam japed and even Roland laughed at that.
They reached the keep itself to face men with pikes and Gerion watched as Dusk dodged away from them and Roland ran towards them. The Crakehall Lord scaring even him as he charged with half a dozen men.
"None so Fierce." Roland shouted and quickly lived up to his house's words, the large lord cutting through Tully men as if they weren't there.
By the time dawn broke, it was done, small fires were being put out and prisoners were marched to the dungeons. Gerion walked to the lady's chambers to accept Catelyn and Littlefinger's surrender and as he looked around at the keep he felt his anger rise. She had come here for help, a liege lords duty was to provide it and protection and she'd been given neither. He tried to put it out of his mind and looked on as a young girl ran his way, he waved Tytos's boys off when they tried to stop her, once Dusk had seemed to take no issue with her presence.
"They're gone milord, the lady and her husband, they snuck away by boat two nights past." the girl said.
"Why should I believe you? How do I know they're not hiding somewhere inside?" he asked looking to the girl.
"It were me who sent you the note milord, sent it to Alayn, Pearl's my name I've been one of Alayn's people for some time." the girl said and Gerion looked at her, Richard had said he had people inside, this was one of them? Obviously so.
"Why didn't you send me another?" he asked almost angrily before he breathed deeply "You couldn't, forgive me, Pearl. Have any of the servants been harmed?"
"No milord, what's to happen to us?" she asked worriedly.
"Alayn is a good friend of the king's, Pearl, you'll not be forgotten."
"The others milord?"
"We'll see them right." he said and asked Lucas to follow with her the Blackwood boy moving to do so before Gerion thought of something else the girl could help him with "Any word of Edmure?" he asked her and she shook her head.
He walked past the lady's chambers and into what he assumed was the lords. He was standing in Hoster Tully's rooms and he allowed his rage full reign.
"You, you killed her, fucking fishes, you killed her." he shouted as he began destroying the furniture, not noticing when Cregan walked inside.
"Gerion, Gerion." the boy shouted and he turned to look at him, tears falling from his eyes as he now felt no satisfaction from taking this keep.
"Ask Lord Jason to gather the cavalry, we ride in search of Edmure fucking Tully." he said as he sat down when Cregan moved to do as he asked.
He closed his eyes and pictured her pleading for their help, waiting for them to come. He imagined Joy getting to spend time with her mother and though he'd not give up Ashara for anyone, he felt guilty that he loved her and couldn't love the mother of his child in the same way. That he had not been able to stand up to Tywin and it had led her here, to these weak fishes, that it had cost her, her life.
"For Briony." he said as he got up from the seat and walked from the room.
The God's Eye 298 AC.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He spent most of the night with Jaime, Arthur, and Barristan going over their plans and glad to hear they thought his one the right one. Robert's army was days away and Randyll's would arrive after they did. It would actually work out better as if they knew exactly what they'd be facing then there was a good chance they'd turn, instead go and try to join up with Jon Arryn's forces rather then face them.
After confirming his plans, he spent some time with Ser Bonifer. The man telling him about his grandmother and how he had loved her, Jae sympathizing with him, and trying not to imagine what would have happened had Mya not spoken her prophecy. It was hard to look at the man after that. Bonifer had never forgotten his love for Jae's grandmother and it had not diminished in all the years since her death. For Jae though it was the knowledge that events had conspired to ensure he was born. In doing so lives had been changed irrevocably, Ser Bonifer's among them.
"I'll sleep with Rhaenix tonight, could some of you at least try to rest." he said to his Kingsguard, watching as Barristan sent Loras and Arthur to rest while he and Walder stood guard over him.
His sister was eager to take the fight to the Golden Company, more so when she knew that Robert rode with them, Jae having to almost calm her down so she didn't bring the fight to them right now.
"I know Rhae, I feel it too, soon, we'll do it soon." he said as he lay against her.
"Sleep little brother, you need your rest." she said and he chuckled.
"Aye, you too big sister." he said as he lay down against her warm scales.
He slept a dreamless sleep and was glad of it on the march the next day, more so knowing that he'd speak to Margaery that night. He rode with Jaime and Lord's Brax and Banefort, listening in as Quenten told tale of the Greyjoy Rebellion and Andros spoke of the Golden Company and the War of the Ninepenny King's. Both men giving him much to ponder on.
When Richard told him what Tyrion had seen, he'd been stunned and had thought of flying to the islands and facing the fleet himself. Though he knew he could not and that his place was here. He had been glad to hear that his uncles were preparing and had sent the word out. The tales of the Golden Company had him looking to Barristan for more, the knight a fountain of knowledge, and Jae most eager to learn.
"I know Bittersteel founded them Ser, but didn't the Blackfyre line end when you slew Maelys?" he asked as Tommen looked on while they sat around the campfire.
"Aye, your grace." Barristan said.
"Did he really have two heads? Tommen asked to a chuckle from the knight.
"He did lad."
"How would you rate the Golden Company, Ser Barristan?" he asked.
"Formidable your grace." the knight replied.
The next morning he felt lighter. Having spoken to Margaery and just hearing her voice, knowing each day only brought him closer to being with her, even if it also brought him further away from where she was. He resolved to fly to her when this was done, to see her before they marched to King's Landing and to ready her to join him there. He sparred with Jaime and with Arthur, a little with Barristan and then with Loras too.
After breaking his fast he sparred with Tommen, showing the boy some moves and trying his best to make the boy laugh. Though he'd taken it well, there was a sadness in him that hadn't been there before he'd found out about his mother's death, one Jae wished he could take away. So as they rode he did his best and the boy smiled a little more each day. Jaime telling him that Tommen was happier that he was with him than he had been travelling with him alone. When they finally reached the God's Eye he knew it would be soon, the eagle he set high in the sky seeing the Golden Company and Robert were just a day or so away.
"We'll camp here, they'll arrive on the morrow." he said to Jaime, and after eating they went over the battle plans once more.
Rhaenix flew some miles behind them. His sister was annoyed at being left behind but the time for them to see her hadn't come yet and he wanted to ensure they were lined up before they did. He found he slept well that night, surprising himself. Though the dream he had was no surprise and once again it was the Trident he saw, the swing of the hammer, the rubies falling into the water feeling almost close enough for him to grab them.
"Your grace, it's time." Ser Barristan said and so he readied himself.
He told Tommen to help some of the others and rode out with his Kingsguard. With Jaime, Lord Brax, and Lord Banefort and then he saw him in the distance. Robert looked different and it took some time for him to realize why. The man had lost weight and looked stronger, obviously, he'd been preparing for this fight. He heard Arthur and Barristan say a name and he looked closer. Jon Connington was a name he had heard before and Jae was surprised to see him riding on Robert's side.
"Dragonspawn." Robert spat out when they faced each other.
"Usurper." he spat back and smirked when he saw Robert's expression change.
"I'll not offer you terms, Dragonspawn." Robert said and Jae laughed.
"I'd not accept them from a monster such as you. A man who killed a boy in front of his mother, who ordered the deaths of countless innocents to cover for his wounded pride. A man who could never accept that women don't fall at his feet and worship the ground he walks on." he said looking at Robert as the man grew angrier.
"Then why parley?" a tall thin man wearing gold said.
"I said I'd not accept his terms but I'd offer you mine. Turn and go back to Essos and I'll not follow, leave my lands without incident and I'll seek no retribution but stay and fight and you'll learn what the Golden Company has learned many times before." he said looking to the men in gold and to Jon Connington who was staring at him, his eyes almost tearful.
"Which is?" the man asked.
"That Beneath the gold may be Bittersteel but gold melts, steel melts, and each time you've faced a true dragon in the past you've been burned. Do you really think today will be any different?" he asked looking to each of them.
"You think you're a dragon, you're just as mad as the rest of your family." Robert said laughing.
"Your family too, or have you forgotten that Kinslayer?" he said, and were it not for Arthur and Barristan towards him moving then he was sure Robert would have attacked him.
"You look like him." Jon Connington said softly, his words barely carrying in the wind.
"My father called you a friend once, to see you ride by the side of his murderer is shameful." he said and saw the man bow his head.
"We reject your terms, your Westerosi knights are no match for the Company." a man said and Jae looked at him and shook his head.
"You've heard your answer Dragonspawn, when next we meet one of us will die." Robert said getting ready to turn and ride away.
"Why wait?" he said and Robert looked at him.
"What?".
"You may not care for your men, but I care for mine, so why wait? There's no need for thousands of men to die here today, only one of us. Let's settle this the old way, you against me?" Jae asked looking to Robert.
"Hah, you do have balls boy." Robert said.
"I win, then you men leave these lands and go back to Essos where you belong." he said and Robert stared at him.
"And when I win?" Robert asked.
"The war begins and ends with me." he said and Robert nodded.
"Fine boy, you'll feel my hammer soon enough. One hour here." Robert said as they turned to ride off.
"Your grace, Your grace." Jaime shouted as Jae rode back to the tents, Arthur and Barristan, and the others behind him.
He was no sooner in the tents then it began, Jaime, Arthur, Barristan, even Loras, all of them other than Walder who just stood silently.
"You can't risk this, Jae, you can't." Jaime said his voice strained.
"Aye my king, let Arthur or I stand in your place." Barristan said.
"I lost your father to that man's hammer, I'll not risk you too." Arthur said gripping dawn.
"Jae, don't do this." Loras said his voice the quietest and yet his face along with Jaime's the most worried and full of emotion.
"How did you think this would end? Did you think I'd allow anyone else to take this from me? That man is the reason my father died, my mother, my brother and sister, and their mother. He killed Viserys with his own damn hands, you think I'd let any of you take this from me? Do none of you know me at all?. This was always how this would go and as your king, I'll command you if need be. I ask you to trust I know what I'm doing." he said and walked from the tent, mounting up as the others followed.
When they arrived back it was to see a larger group waiting and Jae sent for more men, just in case. Only riding forward when they were evenly matched.
He looked up to see Illyrio standing some distance away, to see a young masked man beside him and to see Robert walking down towards him. Behind him, the thin man from earlier and some others and Jon Connington followed. He watched as one of them helped put an antlered helm on Robert's head, as he then handed him the hammer and Jae took off his crown and handed it to Jaime. He took the helm from him before leaning in close to whisper in his ear.
"This is what you trained me for, Jaime, and you trained me well." he said softly as he moved from him to face Robert.
The two of them stood but a few feet apart, Jae drawing Dark Sister and seeing Robert's eyes behind his helm as they looked to the blade.
"You took everything from me. Taking your life won't come even close to making up for it, yet I'll take great pleasure in doing it." he said.
"I'll see you dead Dragonspawn." Robert replied.
"When you get to hell, tell them that the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Targaryen sent you there. The brother of Rhaenys and Aegon, the son of Elia and nephew of Viserys and Brandon, the grandson of Rhaella and Rickard. You tell them Jaehaerys Targaryen sent you." he said as he swung the sword and felt the hammer crash against it.
The force of the blow would have knocked the sword from his hand, but Jae was well used to deflecting such blows and when he swung back he found that Robert wasn't used to his speed. Dark Sister crashing against the armor and almost cutting through, Valyrian steel against plate leaving only one winner. The swing Robert aimed at him in return he easily dodged and then he began to truly move.
Left and then right, inside and out, forward and back, one moment he was attacking Robert head-on and the next he was behind him, forcing him to turn. He began to use thrusts, seeing the gaps in Robert's armor and feeling the sword as it struck home. The pained gasps from the usurper music to his ears. He could feel the sword call out for more, her thirst for Robert's blood easily matching his own.
When he caught him on the back of the knee, he saw him fall and then stumble back to his feet, Robert favoring one side now. The blow that caught him knocked him some feet away and he cursed himself for getting so careless, waving to Jaime and the others that he was well and rolling away from the next shot. He could see Robert was tiring, the exertion of trying to keep up with him, and the loss of blood where Dark Sister had struck home both taking their toll.
When he raised the hammer, Jae struck and Robert looked on shocked as the shaft broke in two where Dark Sister cut right through it. The hammer's head falling to the ground and as Jae thrust once more beneath the shoulder he felt the man almost collapse against him, the blow was mortal and Jae knew he'd soon bleed out.
He helped him take off his helm and looked in his eyes, seeing the pain and something else there, something that he swore looked like pride. He heard him cough and saw him look at him, the blood coming from his mouth.
"End me, end me clean." Robert said and Jae looked at him, getting ready to raise his sword and yet he knew he could not, he turned looking back to where his Kingsguard and Jaime stood.
"Arthur, please." he said, and then he saw Robert smile.
Arthur walked over quickly with Dawn in his hands and Robert leaned forward with his head down before he turned and looked up at him.
"You're her son, she'd have loved you lad, don't ever let anyone tell you different.".
"In the name of His Grace King Jaehaerys Targaryen, the Third of his Name, I sentence you to die." Arthur said as Dawn rose in the air, the milky white blade soon covered in red as Robert Baratheon was no more.