41 Chapter 40: Northern justice

There was a reason why everyone agreed the Queen should focus her dragons on the Dragon gate. The might of her dragons was not to be considered a simple matter. Dragons could wreck the city walls easily enough. Their flames were potent enough to melt stone and steel. However, the fragile nature of the capital city was a cause for concern. The city has already seen a burning at the hands of Cersei Lannister. If Queen Daenerys were to use her dragons in this battle it should be somewhere remote.

There was no other place better than the Dragon Gate. The gate's proximity to the Dragonpit ensured it was the least populated part of the city. So, even if the Queen was to use her dragons extensively any loss of life on the civilian side would be minimal.

'I suppose the Queen and the people of the city were indeed lucky. Lord Tyrion was quick to assign the Queen the task of breaching the Dragon Gate.' Ser Barristan thought, noticing the better part of the Lannister forces were focused along the Dragon Gate.

No doubt they hoped a major assault from the Queen's dragons was more of a threat than the attack from her armies camping near the Iron Gate.

"Ser Barristan."

He swivelled around atop his horse to see the Queen trot to his side atop a white mare. The mare was a gift by Aurane Waters, no doubt hoping to woo the Queen or hoping for a position in her court. Truly, if he had a gold dragon for the number of lords and knights hoping to garner the Queen's favour, then he'd be a rich man.

"Your grace."

"Lord Tyrion informs me they have begun the assault on the Iron Gate. Shall we begin?" Daenerys asked, her amethyst eyes trained on the ramparts along the walls and the many towers filled with crossbowmen and archers.

"As you wish, your grace." Ser Barristan dipped his head before riding off towards the men.

"Blow the horn. The siege begins!" he gave the order.

Warhorns blew loud and clear from the Targaryen army. The Targaryen banner flew proudly in the wind and so did the banners of the Narrow Sea lords and the Crownland lords. He was reminded of a time when he was fighting under the banner of dragons. That time, his mind was conflicted. He was fighting to preserve the throne of a Mad King. He was fighting beside Rhaegar who had started a civil war between the kingdoms because of his rash actions. He was fighting against a son who lost his father, brother and sister to the dragons. He was fighting against a Lord who was honour bound to protect his guests in his home. He was fighting against a man who was rebelling to rescue his kidnapped betrothed. Despite knowing the ill-nature of the loyalist side he had fought on till the Targaryen army broke and his prince lay flat on the Trident, never to rise again.

This time, however, was different. He felt as if he was on the right side of the battlefield. He could fight with a clear conscience and most importantly he was in charge of the overall command of the army. He'd not be sidelined from formulating sound strategies, unlike the disaster that unfolded at the Battle of the Trident. Dreams and prophecies will not win wars. He had said so to Prince Rhaegar before the prince crossed the Trident. But, the Prince was adamant to ride off into battle because his dreams demanded the battle take place at the Trident.

Shaking those disturbing thoughts away, Barristan focused on the task at hand. His task was simple. He was given the bulk of the infantry by the Queen's overall army with very few siege engines. The gate was vulnerable according to Varys' spies. However, breaching the gate was no easy task. Like the Iron Gate, it was made to withstand siege using several tons of steel and mortar. It won't be easy to blow the gate off its hinges the conventional way.

But, then again, the Targaryen army was not an army like any other. The Queen's two dragons changed the nature of this siege. The Lannister men along the ramparts were positioned specifically to counter the Queen's dragons. It was Lord Tyrion's idea to leak their plans to Cersei. And the madwoman seems to have reacted exactly as Lord Tyrion predicted.

The men working the siege engines dipped the stones in whale oil and lit them with fire before launching them against the ramparts. He waited for the siege engines to gain a modest momentum. As the city walls began to take a consistent amount of beating he sent out the orders for the men to prepare. The screams from the Lannister men hung in the air as they burned or got crushed under the assault of the siege engines. Some poor chaps were even blown off the wall. They were probably dead or worse dismembered. If it was the latter they'd not suffer for long because it was time for the men to take the field.

"Men. Form lines! Lock shields!" Ser Barristan shouted again and again, as he rode along the lines of men arranging men in formations.

"First Line. Forward!"

The men locked their shields above their heads and moved as one. The archers along the walls released their arrows but they fell short as the men were out of enemy range. Barristan arranged for another line to take the field and have them approach the walls. The lines were a cover for their archers and crossbowmen.

While his men gained ground against the city walls, the siege engines were still bombarding the city walls to keep the Lannister men engaged. However, the Lannister army began to use their own siege engines from inside the city. A ball of fire streaked across the sky from inside the city and landed short before one of the lines of his men.

Barristan turned his horse around and looked at the Queen. This was the part of the plan that he was most disagreeable with. He urged his horse forward and forced his horse to a trot as he neared his Queen.

"Your grace, as Lord Commander of your Queensguard I urge you to reconsider. I can't guard you in the skies." he pleaded.

"You're right. But, you need not worry. Drogon will guard me. Then there is Viserion." said Queen Daenerys as she turned her horse towards her dragons.

Ser Barristan was forced to follow and on the way, he tried his best to dissuade her.

"It'll only take one lucky arrow for all of this to come to an end. The men can take this city given time." Ser Barristan said.

"At what cost? Remember Ser, this will not be the only battle we shall fight. These men will be needed in those battles. Now, should anything happen to me, you need not fear. You have my nephew in the Riverlands to ascend the Iron Throne. The Targaryen bloodline is secure."

Ser Barristan cursed himself for failing to dissuade the Queen. He could do nothing but watch as the Queen saddled up on her dragon and took to the skies. With a mighty flap of his wings, Viserion also joined Drogon in the sky. When they planned out the siege they had never taken into account of Viserion simply because the dragon was supposed to be roosting at Dragonstone.

Instead, Viserion joined them at the encampments a day back. Barristan was actually relieved to see that. One more dragon should actually increase the Queen's safety. He let out a sigh as he watched Drogon and Viserion disappear among the clouds.

"'Tis in the hands of the gods now." Ser Barristan muttered, before he rode off towards his men to give new instructions.

XXXXXXXX

Daenerys loved to fly. The wind rushed past her gliding through her hair with the gentleness of a new lover. The clouds were at her eye level making her think she was in the heavens. Here, high in the sky, she and her dragons were one. She could feel the oneness among them. It was in the realm of the sky she truly felt like a dragonlord...a Targaryen. Down there on the land, she was just another Queen albeit one with dragons.

Here in the sky, it was a different matter. She was free from her titles, responsibilities as a Queen and even her duty to her house. Here, she was just Daenerys free of any burden.

But, today was different. She was riding into battle atop Drogon with Viserion accompanying her. She didn't like to use her dragons for battle. They were her children.

After all, who'd want their children marching into a battle head-on?

Though she considered Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegel as her children she knew they were much more. Dragons were born to dominate the sky and land. It was their destiny to be at the very top. Nothing else could settle their thirst and most of all her children loved battle. She could feel it through her bond.

So, she held onto the harness firmly and conveyed her will to Drogon. She urged Drogon to fly low abandoning their position among the clouds. As Drogon dipped down Viserion also followed. Their minds synced and became one. They eyed the walls of the city and the men along those walls. These people were their enemies.

Daenerys could feel someone roaring in her mind. She could feel her blood surging through her veins. It took her a moment to realize it was Drogon who was roaring. With a mighty flap of his wings, Drogon opted for a steep dive. Viserion was quick to follow. The siege engines of the Targaryen army fell silent. There was no more need for such crude weapons of war to function when dragons take the field. They took down the high walls of Volantis built by Valyria at the height of its power. How long could walls built by Andals withstand the might of dragons?

They were about to find out.

As they climbed down from the sky they were greeted by arrows and crossbow bolts. The thick scales of her children shook away those projectiles with ease. At least, those that were lucky enough to land on her children.

"Dracarys!"

It was not merely a command to rain fire down on her enemies. It was a declaration of power. It was a show of might over the lesser men. Dragonfire forged the Iron Throne as well as the Seven Kingdoms. Now, dragonfire will reclaim the throne.

Screams reached her ears as Lannister men were cooked alive in their armour. Some were instantly turned to ash under the red flames of Drogon. Drogon stopped breathing fire on the wall and with a mighty flap of his wings, he began to climb up. But the attack didn't end with Drogon. Viserion started where his brother finished. Daenerys watched Viserion open his maw wide and spill out yellow flames that set ablaze the remaining portion of the wall.

More screams joined the fray. Daenerys gazed at the once proud walls that were built by her ancestors burning away under the heat of Dragonfire. The city was not just her inheritance but also an embodiment of her family's past. Every stone in that city had a story to tell about her family both good and bad. It pained her to see she was destroying that legacy. But, there was no other option. This city belonged to House Targaryen, not House Lannister or Baratheon.

'Lions and stags have no place in the lair of dragons.' Daenerys thought as she urged Drogon for another pass on the wall.

The sooner the gates fell to her army the better it'll be for everyone involved.

XXXXXX

Jaime flinched as the sound of bombardment reached his ears. Even inside the safety of the Red Keep, he could make out the distant hammering the city walls were enduring. To make matters worse, there was a full-blown rebellion inside the city that was getting out of hand.

After the wildfire died down, Cersei sent the City Watch and Lannister men to sweep the city for any dissidents. The main thrust was focused on House Tyrell and their allies. But, what Cersei didn't take into account was that an army without a leader tends to behave like undisciplined pigs.

And that's exactly what happened.

Women and children irrespective of their noble birth were hunted down and raped. Some had gone missing from the city altogether. Most likely they were dead or they were being kept prisoners by Cersei's men. Families have been torn asunder and the City Watch used the chaos to settle their grudges within the city. A lot of innocent men were butchered under the pretext of restoring order in the city.

All of this resulted in a full-blown rebellion in the city. The survivors of Flea Bottom had lost everything they held dear. So, they had nothing to lose except for their lives. These survivors cared not about losing their lives and focused only on killing as many Lannister men and the men of the City Watch. The consequences of this were reflected in the defences they were putting up against the Dragon Queen.

The City Watch and Lannister armies could only move about in the city by barricading some pocket areas within the city. It was a measure that was only going to exacerbate the problem in the long run. More and more people would inevitably turn against Tommen's rule because his sister was locking up people and branding them all as rebels.

But, Jaime was no longer worried about Tommen's future as a king. As it stands, it became quite clear that Tommen won't be sitting on the Throne for long. The only person who refused to see that was Cersei.

'Perhaps, she does not see that at all. It's more than likely that she sees herself sitting on the Iron Throne.' he thought grimly.

Jaime gazed out of the window looking down at the sprawling city. He could see smoke coming out of the many parts of the city. It was not the enemy who was responsible for those smokes but his sister and her pack of sycophants. Oh, how he wished those smokes were the result of an enemy attack? At least then, he'd not have been racked with guilt.

'Everything has come full circle.' Jaime thought, gripping his cane tightly.

He had killed the Mad King so that the people of this city would not be burned to a crisp. He had worn the name of Kingslayer as a cloak around his shoulders. He had treated the name as a badge of honour. Yet, more than a decade later he watched helplessly as the same thing he struggled to prevent so long ago happen before his eyes. The only silver line in all this was that not all of the city was lost to the Wildfire. And the culprit behind the city's butchery still hangs onto the last shreds of power like a leech drunk on the lifeblood of this city.

The most horrific factor in all of this was he could not make up his mind to act against Cersei. His body was weak and he could only walk with the help of a cane. Even if he somehow managed to physically conjure up strength in his limbs his mind could not bear killing his sister. Cersei, for all her faults, was still his sister and the mother of his children. In his heart, he held no love for his twin but that doesn't mean he has the courage to take her life.

'I'm a coward.' Jaime realized.

When he stabbed Aerys Targaryen in the back, he didn't feel any hesitation. His arms never shook nor did his conviction flatter when he put an end to the Mad King and his schemes.

'So, why? Why can't I do it again?' Jaime asked himself, closing his eyes unable to look at what was transpiring down in the city.

Strangely enough, he could hear Ned Stark's voice whisper in his mind.

"That's because you never killed the Mad King to save anyone else but yourself. You killed him because it suited your purpose. You knew your father was burning the city and you knew Aerys was a dead man. You killed the Mad King because you wanted to kill him, not to protect the Smallfolk. You, are a false knight, blinded by the lies you have spun yourself like a spider."

Jaime shook his head, trying to shake away the annoying voice of Ned Stark.

"Who are you to judge me Stark? You hid your sister's son away in the North. And look at him now. He is waging a war for the Iron Throne. Where was your honour when it came to your family?" Jaime challenged, feeling the pain in his body thanks to Ned Stark's nephew.

It was also difficult for him to forget the screams of men and the smell of burned flesh. Those memories haunted him in the night gifting him nightmares and nothing else.

"If you hadn't betrayed Robert and shared the bed with your sister my nephew would have executed his duty and vows at the Wall. Instead, you fucked and whelped out bastards breaking the Baratheon bloodline on the Iron Throne. You and your mad sister lit the fires of war that have robbed the continent of peace and stability we have all bled for. Your treacherous family paved the way for the dragons to flourish again in Westeros. Now, BUUUUURN!"

Jaime flinched and suddenly opened his eyes.

"Ser Jaime."

Jaime was totally surprised to find Bronn standing nearby shaking his shoulders.

"I...Ser Bronn?" Jaime looked around confused.

"Are you alright? Maybe, you should return to your bed and get some rest."

Jaime shook his head.

"No, not yet. Have you done what I asked?"

Bronn looked like he didn't believe him but the knight was thankfully the bearer of some good news.

"Everything is ready as you asked. Are you sure you are not coming along? Your sister won't be kind to ya once she finds out." Ser Bronn warned.

"If death comes for me by my sister's hand, I welcome it. It'd be poetic justice." said Jaime.

He had come to terms with the possible consequences that awaited him. If he was physically capable he wouldn't have entrusted this task to Bronn. But, the gods have made him useless at this last moment. He looked at Bronn and made a quick decision.

Jaime leaned against the wall and set his cane aside freeing up his good hand. With some effort, he managed to unbuckle the belt tied around his waist and presented Widow's Wail to Ser Bronn.

"What's this?" Bronn looked at him in wonder.

"It's Valyrian Steel. You can get a mountain of gold with this sword. Take it, but keep Tommen safe." said Jaime, handing over the blade to Bronn.

"Your sister will be right mad at ya for this." said Bronn, fastening the priceless sword to his hip.

"She's busy getting ploughed by Kettleblack to notice what's happening." Jaime scoffed.

A bone-chilling roar reached Jaime's ears making him look fearfully out of the window. There, in the distance, he could see two dragons breathing fire at the city walls. He gulped fearfully as the events of Riverrun came flashing back into his mind. He was forced to remember the screams of men and the smell of burnt flesh.

"You should hurry Ser Bronn of Blackwater. Keep Tommen safe." Jaime forced the sword into Bronn's hand and also two pouches full of gold.

"Go before it's too late." Jaime urged.

He stayed there beside the window watching Bronn take off. There was another crashing sound followed by roars of jubilation coming from the Iron Gate. Jaime squinted his eyes but he could not make out what was happening at the gate. His vision had suffered somewhat after surviving the siege of Riverrun. Nonetheless, he didn't need his sight to realize what was happening. Bells began ringing in the city. Either the men were sounding the bells for surrender or they were a warning that the enemy has breached the walls.

In both cases, the news was not favourable to him or his family. He hoped against hope that Bronn might be able to get Tommen out of this cursed city and even this continent. In Essos, the boy could have a life. Here, Tommen would only be decorating a spike.

Another chorus of bells began ringing and this time it was from the south. Jaime was a bit flummoxed by the bells ringing from what he assumed was near the Mud Gate. Their spies had found the Dragon Queen's fleet moored at Duskandale where her troops had landed. Even with his ailing leg, he rushed towards the other side of the castle as fast as physically possible. Servants and guards in the castle rushed around him running like headless chickens making his task all the more difficult. When he finally managed to find a view, his eyes widen at the sight before him. There were ships as far as his eyes could see. Large galleys flying the dragon and direwolf banner were arranging themselves against the Blackwater. There were even the banners of Braavos in the mix.

"No!" Jaime whispered in horror.

His entire plan to sneak Tommen out of the city banked on the Blackwater being free of enemies.

More screams could be heard from down below. The people down in the city were screaming and they were not scared of the ships. The reason for their fear became apparent to Jaime when the flapping of wings reached his ears. His entire body shivered and locked up in fright as a familiar green dragon circled the Mud Gate.

"No! Not again."

Jaime teared up as the green dragon dived and began breathing down its potent flames on the Mud Gate. The gate withstood the first mouthful of flames from the dragon but it fell apart on the dragon's second attempt. He could see the dragon rider make a triumphant gesture before the green dragon took to the skies.

Jaime closed his eyes as he realized there was no escape. He wanted to rage at the gods for squashing out his last hope. He wanted to kill Ned Stark's nephew for thwarting him at every turn. He wanted to wring the Dragon Queen's neck for attacking the city. He wanted to scream for all to hear as he felt like his head was splitting in two. He stood there by the window frozen for a few more moments until the green dragon disappeared from his line of sight. He swallowed hard and turned around limping his way through the Red Keep. He picked up his pace as he saw the chaos around him. The inhabitants of the castle were now sure of what awaited them.

He went straight for his sister's chambers. He had promised himself that he would not go to her but he inevitably found himself at her doorstep. He barged inside heedless of the towering body of Robert Stone standing guard outside her doors.

"Jaime!" Cersei gasped as she saw him.

She was half naked only covered with a reddish piece of silk. He could see Osmund Kettleblack mounting her from behind. He didn't know how, but at that moment, his limbs acquired a dose of unholy strength. With his metal arm, he struck Ser Osmund straight in his face in full force. The knight fell into the bed with a groan spilling blood.

Jaime didn't heed his sister's shrill screams. He proceeded to smash the knight's face into a bloody paste with his metal arm.

"Jaime, stop." Cersei tried to catch him by his shoulder.

He pushed her away and continued to beat Ser Osmund's head with his metal arm until finally, the man was dead with his head crushed under Jaime's onslaught.

"Your grace."

Both Jaime and Cersei turned towards Qyburn who didn't even bat an eye at the bloody mess on Cersei's bed.

"Your grace, we are being surrounded. Ser Daven's forces have been betrayed. The Tyrells turned their cloak."

Cersei let out a frustrated howl after hearing her little ploy backfired at the worst possible moment.

"I'll have that whore's tongue ripped out. I'll burn Mace Tyrell alive for this betrayal." Cersei raged.

"You'll do nothing you bitch." Jaime shouted, surging forward smashed his metal arm against Cersei's head knocking her out cold.

For a moment, there was silence in Cersei's chambers apart from the screams coming from the city.

"Ser Jaime, maybe we should..."

"Fuck off before I crush your skull." Jaime said, coldly looking at Qyburn.

Qyburn took one look into Jaime's eyes before wisely retreating in silence.

Jaime was left alone inside the chamber with a dead Osmund Kettleblack and an unconscious Cersei. He limped towards Cersei and sat near her on the bed. With his good arm, he reached forward and wrapped his fingers around her neck. He looked at her slumbering face and his will to commit the deed left him.

He hated her just as fiercely as he loved her before the war. Yet, that hatred was never enough for him to kill her.

'I'm a coward.' Jaime thought, a lone tear falling from his eyes.

XXXXXXX

Tyrion looked on with his mouth agape as a sizeable fleet sailed towards the city.

"How? How did we miss this?" Tyrion asked, looking for answers at Varys.

"I believe we are about to find out." Varys said grimly, looking pointedly at the sky.

The Queen's missing dragon could be seen flying towards them. On the way, Rhaegal breathed a long line of fire outside the city walls as a warning to not cross into the city.

Rhaegal flapped his wings and settled down closer to their army forcing Tyrion to move to the forefront of their troops. Varys also closely followed him as they made their way towards the Queen's missing dragon and its rider.

"Is that?" Varys asked quietly.

"Yes. That's Jon snow."

"He planned for this and we knew nothing of his movements. There is a traitor in our midst. This many ships won't sail into the city without the knowledge of the Narrow Sea lords." Varys said, his eyes darting back and forth looking for potential traitors in their midst.

"I know. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough." Tyrion muttered before plastering what he assumed to be a friendly smile.

"Jon Snow or is it Daeron Targaryen?" Tyrion asked as he settled on the forefront of the army but a good few paces away from the dragon.

"I'd prefer the second one. But, if you have taken a liking to the name given by my uncle, I'd ask that you call me Jon Stark. My cousin did issue a royal decree to that effect before he was murdered by the Freys and Boltons." said Prince Daeron, once he disembarked from his dragon with a dark red cloak fluttering behind the Queen's nephew.

"Good work with the Freys and Boltons. The realm won't miss them" said Tyrion, attempting to make smalltalk as his mind rushed to make sense of the situation.

"The realm won't miss the Lannisters either." said the prince snidely.

"Then let our army pass. We can make sure justice is served today." Tyrion suggested, only for the prince to take out his sword from the scabbard and point at them making Tyrion take a step back hearing the Valyrian steel sword singing in the air.

"I'm afraid your notion of justice is not enough. You'll stay put my lord as I impose Northern justice on your family. The city is mine to take. If you are insistent on moving into the city..." the Prince paused for effect as Rhaegal let out a threatening roar at them spooking the horses and the men alike. "...you may do so, only after bending your knee."

Tyrion rolled his eyes and looked skyward.

'And to think everything was going so smoothly. Why me?'