Link climbed out of the drainage tunnel. Mud coated his heavy traveler's cloak. Jaime followed behind. The golden knight looked disgusted by the filth. They stood in the deep shadows of a cavernous stable. Cold air from Rhaenys Hill whistled through the cracks in the ancient masonry.
[Status Alert: Health 4%]
[Status: Mental Fatigue 91%]
[Warning: Consciousness unstable]
"Halt!"
A voice rang out through the ruins. Torchlight flooded the area. Five Northmen stood in a semi circle. Spears were leveled at the chest of Link. Polished steel glinted in the flickering orange light.
"I am Link," Link panted. He leaned his weight against the damp stone wall. "I am a guard of Lord Stark. I have Ser Jaime with me. He comes to speak with the King."
"Lannister?" A guard spat on the floor. "Kill him now."
the Northman stepped forward with his spear aimed at the throat of Jaime.
"Wait," Jory Cassel shouted while stepping into the light. He looked at Link with utter disbelief. "You were dead. Or captured. Lord Stark said you stayed behind in the solar to hold the door."
"I am hard to kill, Jory," Link whispered. "Take us to Robert. Take us before the city burns."
Jory hesitated. He looked at Jaime. The Kingslayer was unarmed. Mud ruined his fine silks and his face was hidden by a hood. The Northman signaled for his men to lower their weapons. "Follow me. But if the Lion moves, he dies."
They climbed the crumbling stone stairs. They entered the main arena of the Dragonpit. Campfires burned in the deep pits where dragons once slept. Robert sat on a massive slab of fallen marble. Ned stood beside him. Both men looked up. Fury ignited in the eyes of the King.
"Kingslayer," Robert roared. He reached for his heavy warhammer leaning against the hearth. "You have a lot of nerve coming here. I should have finished you at the Red Keep."
"He did not come to fight, Robert," Ned said while watching Link. "Look at the boy. He is dying."
Link fell to his knees. The stones were hard and cold. He looked at the King. "Robert, listen to me. Jaime is here because he knows the truth. If you attack the Dragonpit, the Lannister army will burn the city. Thousands will die. For what? A chair?"
"I want justice!" Robert screamed. "She tried to kill me!"
"She did," Link said. "But war is what she wants. She wants you to die in the fire so she can rule through Joffrey. If you stay here and fight, you give her the victory she desires."
[Quest Updated: Final Negotiation]
[Objective: Avoid Civil War]
Jaime stepped forward. He did not look at Ned. He looked directly at Robert. "My sister is a fool, Robert. She thought she could control you. She was wrong. But my father is no fool. If you execute Cersei, Tywin will never stop. The Seven Kingdoms will bleed for decades."
"So I let her live?" Robert asked. His face was turning purple. "I let the woman who poisoned my wine stay in my bed?"
"No," Link whispered. He felt the darkness pulling at his mind. "Exile. Send her to Casterly Rock. Or the Silent Sisters. Take the children as wards of the throne. Keep the Lannister gold. But send the Lannister steel to the Wall. Ned knows the truth. Winter is coming. We need every sword."
Robert looked at Ned. Ned looked at Link. The silence in the Dragonpit was absolute. The only sound was the crackling of the fire.
[Status: System entering stasis]
[Status: Timeline Divergence 95%]
"If I do this," Robert said while looking at Jaime. "I want your oath. No more secrets. No more lies. Or I will hunt every Lannister until the world is empty."
Jaime knelt. He placed his hand on the cold stone. "You have my word, Robert. For what it is worth."
Link felt his heart slow down. The objective was met. The King would live. The war was paused. He slumped forward into the ash of the fire pit.
[Quest Complete: Savior of the Crown]
[Status: Extreme Fatigue. Manual Restart Required.]
….
Author Note
Hi guys! Thank you for reading my fanfiction. I'll be realising 4 Chapters a day from now on.
Also I'll be still releasing bonus chapters for Power Stones. Here are the goals:
15 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapter
30 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapter
50 Power Stones: 1 Bonus Chapter
75 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
100 Power Stones: 2 Bonus Chapters
Thanks for the support!