Gathering of Kings and Queens

Summerhall 

The One-Eyed Lion crumpled the raven scroll from his scouts at Tumbleton, it informed him that out of the 20,000 Northmen only 500 will be making the trip the meeting place to which he is standing in the ruins of.

Summerhall seemed the perfect place to both intimidate the Targaryen girl, and remind Jon Snow what he must have seen at Riverrun.

He wondered if it was all true, that Aegon the Fifth really burned down the castle to hatch some dragon eggs. He also doubted that Rhaegar truly traveled so far to just sit here and sing about the tragedy that sent House Targaryen down the path to destruction, it made his sister's infatuation with the man truly foolish.

Then again, he was never one for minstrels and songs, just the glory and the records written about his victories.

This meeting wasn't his choice but he can't exactly fight two armies and three grown dragons, can he? No, he chose to play it the way his father would have done if he was less arrogant and foolhardy.

"If the timing is to be correct, neither Targaryen or Stark parties won't be here till another two days." Damon surmised to which he agreed.

"We play this out, force them into a position to give us time to deal with them one at a time or all together." The destruction of Stark and Targaryen is still very much his goal but he can't possibly go about it how he wished, they have the power at the moment but he'll have the wheel after their turn.

He wished he could be beside his wife and daughter, check on his bastard child still in Sansa's womb but until he and his enemies meet an agreement, there can be no such thing.

The Hand of the King thought about the last few weeks on this road, burning the fields and starving Daenerys from using his food for her army of slaves and traitors and mercenaries.

Part of him wanted to laugh, he did a few times when the scouts and spies reported that the morale of the Last Dragon's army being low from food shortages, resorting to killing their own horses for meat and broth.

It brought him a bit of joy to know that, gives him some faith that he still holds all the power.

Tyrion ran through his thoughts for a moment which made him turn to Damon, "Did our scout see anyone of importance with Daenerys retinue?" He asked, hoping his elder brother wasn't with his whore Queen.

Damon's expression killed his hopes. "Yes, Lord Tyrion and the former Master of Whispers was among their group." Loren wanted to growl with frustration but fought every welcome urge to keep a strong face, instead grinding his teeth hard.

Damon gave him a questioning stare, "Cousin, do you want us to subdue Lord Tyrion when they arrive?" As much as he wished it were possible, it would only end in a large scale fight with his enemy.

His brother's tactical mind of war and court intrigue is a valuable asset, Daenerys would have to be a complete imbecile to agree to hand him over.

No, he'll leave his brother be for now... Until he finds the right moment to deal with all his enemies.

Loren walked the ruined halls of the castle, part of him hoping to find some ancient riches inside of the old chambers or the great hall where he plans to do the summit with his adversaries.

"Do even think this will work? Or about what might happen if things turn south on us." True, things can very much turn out bad if Daenerys decides to try and roast them all alive, a smirk formed as he turned to his cousin and nudged to the eastern side of the camp.

"I already anticipated such an action, come," He told Damon who followed him east, his cousin was surprised at what he was shown.

At least two-dozen scorpions, all hidden in the case that Daenerys wants to attack them with her dragons. She'll learn that her power can be taken away by a single shot to the neck of her beasts, then I will add her head to the bones within the Red Keep dungeons. He thought while crossing his arms.

He left Damon soon after showing him his weapons, walking back to Summerhalls main chamber, and sitting down at the head of a round table.

"I think I'll wait here, let them come to me."

King's Landing 

Margaery was spending time with her daughter, hemming the new dress that she bought for Cornelia from the Street of Silk.

She's noticed the city has gotten a lot calmer since Joffrey was murdered, since the fanatics disbandment and Cersei's coup against Loren. Not all of it was her husband doing, of course since the Reach had been sending steady trains of food.

It makes it seem like the Realm is going to be truly at peace, she'd like her daughter not to know what it's like to be a prisoner in your own home while an enemy force lays siege or to see the dead piled like an anthill.

She might have arrived days after the battle but there were still bodies lying and rotting in the Sun, or floating on the shores of the Rush.

That won't ever happen to her daughter, she almost had a mind to send her elsewhere for her safety. Maybe Gulltown since Loren brought them back to the fold or perhaps Duskendale, somewhere her daughter won't be in danger.

"My Lady, your grandmother is here." Her eyes expressed surprise, setting her daughter back in her crib and standing on her feet.

"Grandmother!" She greeted and embraced the older woman, shocked but very glad that her grandmother is back in the capital.

"It is very good to see you again, I especially missed this little one," Olenna told her and wiggled a finger at a curious Cornelia, "Things have taken a turn for the worst in the South, my dear, your husband has given up on Dorne and a large portion of the Reach." What? She had thought the campaign was going well for Loren, he said as much in his last raven.

"How many men did he lose? Or, where has he gone if not coming back to the city?" She inquired of her teacher as they turned away from her daughter and going to sit down, she gestured for Mira to come and bring them something to eat and drink.

"He's lost only a few thousand, mostly Dornish, Loren's since turned the army Northeast at Summerhall. What for? I do not know for certain, but what I have heard of is that Northern host settling within the Riverlands... Now, that will be trouble." She knows of that.

Loren doesn't seem to be as worried, she's theorized that perhaps her husband's gotten the North on his side but House Frey has gone completely silent as they offered no warning to the host moving South. Addam Marbrand is also furious as he was charged as the new Lord Paramount of the Riverlands and Lord of Seagard.

Clearly no battles were fought North, which means the Riverlords surrendered or just didn't want to destroy themselves to stop their advance.

Her grandmother saw her worry, putting a hand on her own stopped it for a moment. "12,000 men stand between you and anyone attacking the city, dear child, you have nothing to fear for the moment." She wasn't entirely calm, but it did make things somewhat bearable.

"Now, how is our Little Bird doing, hmm?"

She scoffed and shook her head, "Sansa's been under the weather for a number of days, that and the deaths of her family are still hanging over her." She is a very good liar, taught by the best.

"I hope she recovers, it would be a shame to see House Stark go extinct like their wolves."

The Boneway 

Tyrion walked the camp with Varys, his eyes landed on the cliffs and noticed a Lannister scout.

"They've been following us since we took Wyl and Yronwood, I have a mind to tell the Queen to not go and meet my brother." Of course, he already tried several times, saying that they can't trust Loren.

At the least, her grace could have forced this meeting to happen on their territory and not the land his brother massacred into submission.

Jon is being careless, if he was smart the boy would have stayed home. I do wonder what Jon wants to meet about, can't be anything minor if he means to have all of us in the same room. The Hand of the Queen thought, scratching his chin.

"What spies I still have had told me that Loren's gone nowhere else since arriving at Summerhall, the place he's chosen to have our summit." Varys started and had a frightened expression on his face, "Stranger news, things at the Twins went silent and now I know why. Walder and all his male kin have been poisoned- The Strangler." That is some news.

"Couldn't have happened to a better House, I wish more would choke on that poison." He laughed on his own comment and desire to see every one of his enemies choking just like Joff had done.

Varys had them turn direction and walk towards the area where Daenerys was sitting beside Drogon, she looked so peaceful in being beside such a ferocious creature that once dominated the skies and Westeros.

The beast took quite a bit of damage during the Sacking of Yronwood, Lord Anders gave quite the fight and wounded the dragon but since then Drogon has healed quickly.

"Do you still believe in her, in the hope she can bring true peace to Westeros?" It wasn't a question to either him or Vary but a curiosity, Varys looked at him for a long moment, waiting to hear him answer it.

He believes she can get justice for Jaime, he believes she can be a great hero for the people, albeit less of a savior in the eyes of a great many Lords and Ladies but they'll get used to her being around.

And if not, there is always room for exiles at the Wall or across Essos with the mercenary bands.

Tyrion smiled and nodded, "Yes, I still believe, and besides... Where can I go if I didn't?" His answer came and he left Varys side to join the Queen's company.

Summerhall 

Jon Snow's never been this far South before, not in all of his life had been anywhere passed the Moat.

"This is a mistake, Jon Snow," Mance said to him, he knew it was but the North won't survive what is coming without assistance, even from the two families who had a hand in murdering members of his own blood.

It surprised him when he marched on the Twins, he wanted to defeat and kill Walder Frey for his treachery against his brother.

What he found instead was a holdout of looters, raped women, and dozens of House Frey, all dead with their patriarch in the main hall of the Crossing.

Upon inspection, none of the slain was killed by conventional means. They were all poisoned, choking on their own blood. The memory still was fresh in his mind, and he had seen some horrible things back in the North and beyond the Wall.

"We need the men, the obsidian, and what Valyrian steel is left. Our people need it." His wife begged him not to go, even when he had received that raven from Tyrion Lannister.

He had just stopped at Moat Cailin when he got the message, his people had their doubts but he swore to each and every one of them that he will be bending no knees to anyone, especially not the heir to House Targaryen.

Mance's words rung true when he welcomed the Wildling's past the Wall and Castle Black, he's no kneeler anymore.

"Yes, we do but don't be so sure about trusting a lion and dragon to put aside their own pettiness to join us," Tormund stated before riding ahead with some mixed Northmen and Free Folk.

Jon and his company of 500 crossed a narrow path, seeing a sort of valley and the back of it being the mountains that protect the Stormlands. Didn't do much to protect them from Loren Lannister. He thought as he spotted the larger camp of red and gold, Lannister men rode out to greet them.

One of the men looked a lot like a Lannister, "Greetings, Jon Snow, I am Damon Lannister. My cousin also sends his well wishes." He was tempted to scoff at the notion. "The Hand of the King asked for no more than twenty come with you, we have bread and salt if you wish to be cautious." What did bread and salt do to keep his brother safe or any Northman that went with him? Jon went to speak but a Northerner named Asher spoke first.

"Do you really believe your Lord will keep traditions? A Lannister?" An honest question, he'd have it answered and quickly.

"As you know, Walder Frey and Roose Bolton acted on their own accord, both men were known to be very ambitious and hardly loyal to Ned or Hoster before their deaths let alone their sons." The man didn't seem very confident with himself, Jon noticed that quickly but sighed heavily before choosing his men to go with him.

Being around so many Lannister soldiers made him nervous, nervous enough to demand that he and his men keep their arms on their sides.

Summerhall seemed like what he'd seen when passing Riverrun, but more ancient with green vines and moss making their home on the stonework yet still seemed like a place for royalty.

Jon dismounted as he came eye to eye with one of the two people he came to meet, Loren Lannister smirked and his eye glimmered especially when he noticed Ghost standing at his side.

Just then, everyone heard and felt a thunderous wind, a shrieking roar then the shadows passing overhead.

The final ruler has arrived, and with her was her three dragons.