" hundred years, hundred more
someday we may see a
woman king, sword in hand
swing at some evil and bleed "
House Yronwood had offered me a carriage and horses for travel to Riverrun. I declined the carriage, but took the horses. We would be able to move quicker and draw less attention this way. Ellaria had come through on her promise to send fighters with me. Aylward and I rode a few days ahead of them, so we could explain their presence to Brynden.
After a long hard journey we finally made it to the Riverlands. I hadn't realized how accustomed I had become to the Dornish climate, until we started heading north. My Dornish wardrobe had been discarded in favor of warmer dresses and coats.
We stopped to observe Riverrun from a distance. The last time I'd been here was Hoster's funeral. That seemed like a different time. "Frey men around the perimeter," Aylward noted.
"Can you get me inside?" I asked him.
He gave me a look. "I believe a giant could slip past this sorry excuse for a siege. But we'll have to leave the horses." We both dismounted and gathered our things. He opened my bag and pulled out the dragonglass candle. He touched it gingerly as if it might explode at any moment. "Tell the Blackfish we're here. We'll need him to lower the gate."
I pulled my sleeve down to grab the candle without lighting it. I walked over to a tree and sat down. I pulled my coat around the candle so the light wouldn't draw attention to us. Then I touched it. "Do it fast," Aylward warned. "Your coat is glowing."
I nodded and quickly began to think about Brynden. The blinding light I'd grown used to engulfed me, and then I was inside the castle. "Seven Hells! Amina, is that you?" I grinned. Brynden pulled me into a hug. "How'd you get in here?"
"Well, I didn't, not exactly," I told him. "I'll explain it all in a moment. I need you to let down the gate so I can get inside."
"Frey men have the castle surrounded," he grunted. "As best they can at least." He thought for a moment. "Come around the south side. The majority of their forces are around the north gate. I'll have my men cause a ruckus and get everyone's attention. Then we'll lower the south gate and bring you in."
"Perfect, see you soon."
I let go of the candle and stood up. I handed it back to Aylward. He packed it. "South gate," I told him. The two of us headed that direction. His hand hovered over his sword. I clutched one of my knives.
I heard shouting from the north side, and knew Brynden's plan was working. As we neared the south gate, I saw a few Frey men remaining. Most of them looked rather distracted as they looked in the direction of the noise. A few began heading toward the ruckus. Aylward put a hand on my back and guided me closer. We made our way around a few men, ducking behind trebuchets and small tents.
Two men stood just in front of the gate. One looked half asleep, the other only slightly more awake. "I've got this," I told Aylward. I removed a second knife and stood up. One of the men noticed me, but before he could say anything I flung the knives one after the other.
The first man fell right into the moat. The second collapsed on the ground. Aylward and I ran over. I stared down into the water. "Damn, I liked that knife." I pulled the other knife out of the Frey soldier's body and wiped it on my sleeve. I gave the body a kick and it splashed into the moat with the other. "Brynden!" I called. The gate lowered quickly.
I heard shouting behind me. Aylward and I ran across as soon as the gate was down. An arrow flew just over my shoulder. "Close 'em up!" Brynden shouted. His men raised the gate just as fast. I heard a few more arrows hit the gate, but we'd made it.
During the sprint, the hood of my coat had fallen back, exposing my silver hair. Everyone stared. Brynden just nodded. "Catelyn never told me, but I guess some part of me knew."
"I came to help," I told him.
He looked his men over, and then looked back to me. "This lot could use a Queen to fight for."
OoOoO
That night Brynden gathered his men in the great hall. I had changed into a clean dress, and tied my hair back. But I didn't hide it. I addressed the hall. "Some of you may know me as Amina Stark, Queen in the North. Some of you fought for my husband. I ask you now to fight for me, with me. House Frey has betrayed your brothers. But the Riverlands do not answer to House Frey." There was a cheer at that. "Together we can take back the Riverlands!"
Once the second round of cheers died down, a man stepped forward. I recognized him, but I didn't know his name. "You're a Targaryen, you've lied to your people. People who supported you as Queen in the North."
I nodded. "Yes, it's true. I am the blood of the Mad King." There were murmurs. "But I was raised by Eddard Stark, and I will always be his daughter. He taught me honor and sacrifice. Catelyn taught me the importance of family and duty. It is because of that I know that I must take my birthright. It is my duty to sit on the Iron Throne. For years we have bowed to false kings, and they have torn the Seven Kingdoms apart. Today it is time to say no more." There were a handful of enthusiastic cheers, but some still looked unconvinced.
Brynden stood up. "Listen here, you shits. I have known this woman over two decades. I saw her as a stubborn little girl, learning how to fight because she was not going to let the boys be better than her. I've been her strategize, and she's smart. She has charisma that can capture the hearts of a thousand men. And she is still stubborn as hell. If she says she is going to take the Iron Throne, you better believe that she will. It's time we join the winning side." He nodded. "Now let's show the fucking Freys who they're messing with!"
I smiled at Brynden as the men cheered. "I think that is the most these men have ever heard you say." He grunted in response and I laughed. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. We're under siege, this is the last real meal you're getting for a while."
OoOoO
The first few weeks of the siege were uneventful. I received a raven from the Dornish men. They were outside the gates awaiting my command. I replied that they should find a safe place where the Frey soldiers wouldn't find them. Not that I was particularly worried about the Freys. They weren't even vigilant enough to shoot down a couple of ravens flying in and out.
Things did not begin to get interesting until the Freys brought Edmure from the Twins. "Edmure is a shit," Brynden said with a sigh. I nodded in agreement. "You did good, sending him off. Wish it would've worked out better."
"Has Roslin had a child yet?" I asked. He nodded. "Something tells me they won't kill him just yet. Their place in the Riverlands is precarious at best. They need him."
"I'm going up to the walk, stay here."
"I haven't seen the outside of the keep in weeks," I protested.
"The Freys want you dead, can't risk you being out in the open. One of our sentinels spotted the Lannister army coming across the hill too. They should be arriving soon."
I sighed. "Fine, I'll just go roam the halls again."
"Read a book or something, do some target practice in the courtyard." He shrugged. "Whatever it is young women do these days." Brynden left me alone in the great hall.
After he had been gone for a few moments, I headed to one of the parapets. I waved one of the archers out of my way, so I could peer through the arrowslit. Even from this distance I recognized Lothar Frey, and Black Walder. I would never forget them. They had led my family into a slaughter.
Black Walder held a knife to Edmure's throat. "Yield the castle or I cut his throat!" He yelled. I pressed my face into the tiny window, but it was as if I were wearing blinders. I could only see straight ahead.
"Go on then, cut his throat!" Brynden called back. I watched as Black Walder reluctantly let go of Edmure. I had been right. They didn't want to kill him. I waited for a moment. I could hear the archer behind me growing impatient. Finally Jaime and Bronn came into view.
I couldn't hear their conversation, but I saw Jaime smack Black Walder across the face. I smirked and stepped away from the window. "As you were, soldier."
OoOoO
By that afternoon, we had received word that Jaime wished to have a parley with Brynden. They set the time for the following day. "It's time I show my face," I told Brynden.
"Show your hair more like," he grunted.
"Either way, I need the rumors to spread. I need the smallfolk to talk, and the nobles to whisper. Rumors of my sister have swept Westeros, meanwhile I have been hiding away for my own protection."
"You'll be armed."
"I always am," I said. "But I have nothing to worry about from Jaime Lannister." Brynden raised an eyebrow. "For one, that is not the sort of person he is. But also he's sort of a friend."
"You're friends with Jaime Lannister?" He asked with disbelief.
"It's a bit of a long story."
He shook his head. "Fine, fine. You can come with me. But put on something queenly. Intimidate the hell out of them."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
I returned to my chambers, Aylward followed. I could tell without looking that he disapproved of my choice. "If you so much as think I am going outside just to see Jaime Lannister, I will personally throw you over the wall. I'll let that army do with you what they will."
"You'll be seen," he said simply.
"That's the point, you heard what I said to Brynden," I reminded him. "I'll be armed."
"What if someone sees your hair from a distance and decides to shoot you down on the spot? There's no amount of weaponry that will protect you."
"I cannot sit inside having tea and cakes for the rest of my life," I snapped. "My sister is across the Narrow Sea, burning buildings and riding dragons. I may not have dragons, but I know how to fight. For too long I have been a pawn in someone else's game. It is time I stop hiding and become a Queen."
"What if you used the candle," he suggested. "If anything goes wrong, you'll be able to get away."
"That is a coward's move."
"No one will know."
"I'll know."
"Amina, please."
"No, Aylward. Not this time. I trust Jaime, and I trust that this parley isn't an assassination plot." He shook his head, but he didn't argue. "Now, which of these dresses looks most regal."
OoOoO
The following day I met Brynden at the north gate. The drawbridge was lowered, revealing Jamie on the other side. He wasn't wearing the armor of the Kingsguard. Instead he was wearing red and gold Lannister armor. Something had clearly happened since we'd last seen each other. He looked surprised to see me.
Brynden and I crossed walked toward him. I walked slow and deliberately. My navy gown had just enough train to be elegant. But the silver armor around my torso and the knife belt around my waist showed I was not to be messed with. My silver white hair was braided in a crown that encircled my head. I had never felt more like a queen. "Jaime," I said, with a nod.
"Amina."
"Kingslayer," Brynden said. Jaime finally took his eyes off me.
"Blackfish."
"I assume you're here to fulfill the oath you swore to my niece," Bryden said. "I don't see Sansa or Arya."
"I don't have them," Jaime answered. My mind flickered to Arya. I had seen Sansa, but I had not seen little Arya's chubby cheeks and mischievous smile in six years. I wonder if her cheeks were still chubby? I was glad I hadn't used the candle. With my luck, I would've been whisked away to her right then and ruined everything. "You know why I'm here. This castle belongs to House Frey. You are a trespasser. I am under command of King Tommen to return this castle to its rightful owner."
"Rightful? Please." I rolled my eyes.
"We do not bow to your false king," Brynden told him. Jaime glanced at me, for a moment I saw a hint of pride, but only for a second. Brynden shook his head. "My nephew is marked for death, you might as well hang him and be done with it. It will have no effect on my residency in this castle." Brynden walked past Jaime and looked into the distance.
"It won't stop with Edmure," Jamie said. "I will be forced to storm the castle, hundreds will die."
"Hundreds of mine, thousands of yours. If you can breach the walls."
"We will breach the walls," Jaime told him. He walked toward him. "And kill every last man inside. But if you surrender, I will spare the lives of your men. On my honor."
"Bargaining with oathbreakers is like building on quicksand."
Jaime looked at me for help. I just stared back at him, betraying no emotions. Jaime turned back to Brynden. "The war is over. Why sacrifice men for a lost cause."
Brynden stepped toward him. "As long as I'm standing, as long as that girl," he pointed a finger at me deliberately, "stands with no crown on her head, the war in not over. This is my home and she is my family. I will die for this castle and for that Queen." Brynden's eyes narrowed angrily as he spoke. He was not loud, but the fire in his voice was enough to make me shiver. "So you can either storm the castle, or starve us out. We have enough provisions for two years. Do you have two years, Kingslayer?"
Brynden walked past Jaime, and past me. I looked at Jaime for a moment, and then started to turn. I hadn't come here to talk. I had come here to be seen. But as I turned away, Jaime grabbed my arm. I saw Brynden reach for his sword. Jaime withdrew his hand quickly. I held up a hand to Brynden. "Give us a moment, please." Brynden looked displeased, but he nodded. His hand still hovered on the hilt of his sword.
I took a few steps toward Jaime. "If the Blackfish doesn't surrender this castle, we will take it. And if you're inside, I can't protect you anymore."
"I never asked for your protection," I reminded him. "I am grateful for it. But, make no mistake. If you come for me, I will not hesitate to put a knife in your heart. You know I would do it."
"Why did you come here?" He asked.
"Because Brynden needed my help, and because Ellaria Sand is insane. I'm so sorry about Myrcella. She deserved better." He looked down. "I should go. It was nice seeing you again, Jaime. I wish it were under better circumstances."
He looked up as I started to step away. "I was right, silver hair suits you, little queen." I saw it again, the pride. Jaime would always be a Lannister, and his family would always come first. But he was still the same man who had served my mother while on Aerys' Kingsguard. I had seen the admiration in his eyes when he talked about her. Rhaella was long gone, but for Jaime her memory lived on in me.
I gave him a sad smile as I turned back to Brynden. As soon as I was across the drawbridge the men raised it behind me. I didn't look back.