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The Falcon Flies High

From the moment he was born, Rodrik of the House Arryn was raised to protect the Vale and all of its people. When his father is murdered, he bears the weight he was raised to hold but unwed, childless and with no heir, he must resist all types of foes when the chaos arises in the aftermath of the Kings death and will tear his Kingdom apart, but he can fly once more, he is an Arryn. ——————————————————— author: Hail King Cerion Site: Fanfiction.net

MichaWT · TV
Classificações insuficientes
44 Chs

Kings, Queens and Vagabonds

Sansa 

"Lady Olenna, it's been some time." She said and gave a respectful bow to Olenna, the older woman looked at her suspiciously before she cracked a smile.

They've been traveling for a few weeks, she's married and this time for the better, Waymar will be a good and kind husband.

Not to say Tyrion wasn't a dutiful husband in the short time they were married, it became somewhat of a complication when she decided to take another husband.

Some were offended, she had to clarify that her marriage to Tyrion wasn't consummated, he never took her and for that, she will always be grateful to him. Her Lords of the North was somewhat puzzled over her choice, Lord Umber saying that her King should have been a Northerner, but that wasn't her play.

For thousands of years, before the Conquest, the Lords of the North and the Vale have been enemies. The enmity wasn't gone, she'd seen this with the number of arguments that Northmen and Valemen have had.

It was her plan to unite the two Kingdoms into one, especially since Rodrik hasn't married, nor had any children other than Lady Joanna, a bastard-born who will not be recognized as the future of the Vale.

If Rodrik dies, if the Arryns go extinct, her marriage to Waymar would not just give the Vale and North a future, but unite the Kingdom of the Trident as well.

"Yes, indeed, Lady Stark... Or was it Queen? Is that it, now? You're a Queen of the North, a leader of men. I honestly never thought a woman would have the job." The Queen of Thorns, ever the sharp woman as she's remembered when she was still a Caged Bird.

"I did take the mantle of Queen in the North, the first in my families history before Aegon." She pointed out, and quite proud of that fact.

Before her, no Lady of House Stark ever bore the title of Queen without having married to become one. She was crowned by Rodrik's Septon, she's gotten oaths made in letter form from her vassal Lords, her own little brother even abdicated the crown to her and hailed her his Queen, she, in turn, made him Crown Prince until she's had a child of her own.

"A great achievement, and a stupid one." She frowned, and her husband folded his knuckles.

"Do you insult my Queen and wife?" Waymar asked, a heated and offended tone in his voice.

Olenna smirked and began chuckling, furthering her husband's anger until she placed a gentle hand on his own, to calm him down.

"No, I don't insult her, Vale-Lordling," Olenna said sardonically, with a hint of sarcasm. "Sansa, can an old lady pass down some, much-needed advice?" She nodded, though she will have heard it anyway.

The Queen of Thorns never truly accepts a 'no' for an answer.

"You know how House Tyrell survived dragon-fire, Roberts rage?... Women, girl, women ran and governed for their foolish husbands. We knew the world wanted men in power, so that is what we gave the world." She didn't know what the woman was getting at? But she listened intently. "We let men lead the armies, but we chose the battles. Men rose as Kings and symbols, and we paved the path to another generation. You see, Sansa. You can govern a realm, you can walk and speak as a monarch, but you must never make yourself a symbol. Should your Lord-Husband go mad or upset your people, the nobles? Being their symbol, it would be your head they would call for."

So, Olenna's wisdom is to hide behind her husband, as some sort of brace against mistakes against her nobles.

Yes, there was a few that hadn't approved of the fact that she'd be Queen and Rickon not being King. Smalljon being the largest supporter of Rickon. She could see where Olenna was coming from, and it is very smart advice.

Yet, she is a Stark of Winterfell.

She won't hide behind a man, she will stand front and center. She wants Cersei to know she will be one of the few that the woman's wronged to bring her to justice, to avenge her father, Septa Mordane, Jeyne Poole, Jory, everyone who was slaughtered in the Tower of the Hand when King Robert had died.

"I will take your wisdom under consideration, my Lady." She said in response, Olenna nodded once with a small ghost of a smile.

"Good. Now, you two and your army has traveled a long way to come see me... Why?" Now it's come down to why they've come, she took a deep breath before speaking.

"As you obviously have heard, The North, Riverlands, and the Vale have come together to fight a common foe once more... The Lannister's. A Coalition of war-worn soldiers and blades poised to strike at the tyrant, Cersei Lannister. I and my husband, we have come to offer a place in our cause for House Tyrell." Olenna remained silent for some time after finishing, looking between her, and Waymar. Garlan Flowers even remained as silent as a ghost.

"And why would I do that? Who would be our ruler when that cunt is put down, you? The Queen in the North. The Fierce Falcon? Bah! The Reach ran him out of the capital with his tail between his legs, though he did give some a nasty scar." She should have known the woman would say no, any sane one would turn and go home... But not her.

"I don't ask you to declare neither I or Rodrik your new ruler, not even Daenerys." She paused, thinking of something to sway her, "I heard your son, grandson, and granddaughter died in the fires at King's Landing. I would have expected you to march on the capital before us, and Margaery during that short time was a good friend to me." Olenna remained still, but her eyes showed her so much emotion, mostly anger. Garlan, upon glancing at him saw he was folding his knuckles.

They are angry, and they should be, they should want vengeance for their family.

"Are you asking if I want vengeance? Yes. I would gladly march on the city myself, if I could... " If she could? That doesn't sound very good, not for their cause.

"What is stopping you?" She asked Olenna who folded her own hands, nervous and it scared her, the Queen of Thorns was never scared.

"It seems my oafish son had slighted one too many Lords, and I curse myself for doing the same damned thing." She was confused, what was happening in the Reach. "Lord Randyll Tarly and Lord Leyton Hightower have been colluding with Lannister messengers, I found out some time ago because I caught one leaving the border." That is troubling news, indeed, the Reach cannot leave to fight their enemy when a pair of daggers are at their back.

"Have you tried to appease them, or perhaps asked for terms?" Waymar asked Olenna and Garlan, the baseborn Knight answered him.

"We have had some, complications. Lord Tarly is the only one who is open to negotiations, whereas Lord Leyton has all but drove our messengers away." And that is the reason the Tyrell army is facing the direction of Old Town, and not South to Horn Hill.

"Lord Hightower's daughter was your son's wife, Margaery and Loras were his grandchildren, why would he rebel?" She asked, wondering what nonsense would drive the Hightowers to back their enemies, especially after what happened to Margaery and Loras and Lord Mace.

"I may have, unjustly drove off Alerie, but I had to! She was going to remain loyal to Cersei, despite what she'd done. And... And the Queen Mother promised the hand of her daughter's firstborn to Baelor's son." Olenna admitted, and she wanted to sigh, "I've made mistakes, that is true. I will make up for it, I still have the loyalties of the other Lords- A fleet from my nephew in the Arbor." Yes, a fleet could very well take the Old Town, and an attack on the city by sea and land will lead to many deaths, but a crushing defeat for Lord Hightower.

"If Lord Hightower is rebelling, defeat them." She told Olenna who raised an eyebrow, "I've learned in my short time with King Rodrik is that when your Lords and Ladies are acting out in rebellion, you have to be as ruthless as you are merciful." Olenna hummed in agreement, and Garlan was listening to her as well. "Take their lands, their titles, their lives, humble them and force them at your feet, and at the sight of the first King of the Reach." Olenna scoffed, blubbering in laughter.

"King? My dear, you must have let the idea of independence go to your head." Olenna said and continued, "And who would be our King? The last King of the Reach died on the Field of Fire, with all his son's." Of course, that is very true, no one would dare do such a thing... When King Robert was around, but he is dead and so is his two false-born sons.

"If the Kingdom of the Reach joins their forces with the Coalition of the North, Vale, and Riverlands... Rodrik and I will endorse Ser Garlan as King Garlan... And we will also endorse his legitimization as full-blooded Tyrell." She said and saw Olenna look to Garlan who was befuddled by the suggestion.

A Kingdom of the Reach, governed by a Tyrell King, the first in the families history? Surely the Queen of Thorns would relish in the opportunity.

Rodrik 

He should be thankful to Sheepstealer, that the beast is protecting him.

If the beast wasn't here, then he wouldn't have a way to escape from this island, especially with his outburst and refusal to bend the knee.

Daenerys didn't relent in her response, she said that he and Sansa, with their refusal to bow to her they were denounced 'thieves'.

He expected a fight to take place, that he and Brienne and the guards they brought would have to fight their way back to the ship and him to Sheepstealer. Daenerys proved to him that no, she isn't quite as mad as her father... She is just more stubborn than the Kings and Queens that have come before her.

"You are mad, you know that." He turned and took his hands off of Sheepstealers nose, turning away and looking at an unexpected visitor.

"You, come to seduce me, again? I would think your cousin would have been invited." He wondered, with a frown across his lips, his blue eyes staring like pointed daggers to Arianne dark ones.

She didn't move, not right away. Perhaps it was the dragon, maybe his glare, but the woman's approach was slow until he raised a hand to stop her.

"Rodrik, please, let me explain?" He shouldn't have, but eventually, he nodded and let her speak. "My brother is a virtual hostage to the Crown, just as your daughter is despite her blood-ties to Queen Cersei." The news was recent, but yes, he does know Prince Trystane is in King's Landing, with the newly Crowned 'Queen' Myrcella of the House Baratheon.

"And? I am still marching on King's Landing despite this, war is hard for many and it did not excuse you to try and coerce me to go back on my word." He said and her face became saddened... And a bit furious.

"It wasn't just for that! Gods, I wish you would stop being a King for a moment to realize that night was true for me, as it was for you- " She tried to place a gentle hand on his chest, but he shook his head and gently placed it back on her side.

"I won't lie, I have had feelings for you, for a long, long time... But that was a different man, a man who would trust before suspecting treachery." He led Arianne away from Sheepstealer, then placed both hands on her cheeks and placed his lips to her own, even enjoying the sweet taste of her scent, for the final time. "I do love you, but no longer in a romantic way, see you soon, Princess." He whispered to her before leaving.

Even with the wind blowing, he could hear her sobbing, yet he kept walking and forced down the boy who he was.

Daenerys 

"I thought you said your plan failed, have you been trying again?" Her violet eyes turned from the moment that happened on the hill with Rodrik and Arianne to Tyrion, her Hand was watching the same thing.

"I didn't, and I seem to remember only asking Lady Tyene to do it, not the heir to Dorne." She hummed in understanding before turning away, only lingering on the Lord Arryn walking away before going to sit down.

Lord Arryn is stubborn, too stubborn and she doesn't quite know how to change his mind.

"If he is against bending to me, why is he here?" She asked to no one, perhaps to herself, and Tyrion shrugged while running a hand through his beard.

"Leave it to me, your grace. I will look into this, but, what he said the other day about the Dead and the Night King." She still thinks it is nonsense, how could the dead walk? But, some of the strangest things happened to herself in Essos, Qarth, Slaver's Bay.

Her dreams come true, she did birth dragons by magic. Sorcerers from Qarth and their spells, then the visions they showed her. Snow, the Wall, my throne room in ruins.Slowly she felt more and more on edge, but like all dreaded feelings, she overcame them.

"My Queen, are you alright?" Tyrion asked her, her shaking hadn't subsided quite yet, that and her silence must be worrying.

"I am fine, Tyrion, I am simply exhausted from dealing with... Him." She said and Tyrion chuckled, "Are all men amused by a woman? I must be a great jester." She added and Tyrion smiled at her, then went on to respond to her 'amusing' comments.

"Forgive me, your grace, it's just that I haven't seen you so... Challenged, not since your confrontation with Jorah Mormont." Is the man saying that she is fancying Rodrik the Fierce? A Usurper of all people, no, no she is not.

It's unthinkable, really, Rodrik is a rebel, an Outlaw and his supporters.

Whereas yes, the man is a fetching person. His blue eyes like a clear-blue sky, hair the color of pale-gold. What makes it hard is the sigil, a falcon crossing a crescent moon.

This wouldn't be much of a bother if not for the white crown atop the falcon and moon, it was on his surcoat and made in a light that seemed traitorous to her, it angered her to see that and it angered her further that he stood so defiant and looked at her like he was of an equal station.

Rodrik the Fierce is a Rebel, an Outlaw.

"I am challenged." She said, her lips forming into a frown, "But I see now, we have a common enemy, Cersei Lannister, and her daughter." She added, standing to her feet and sighing heavily.

Tyrion cleared his throat, jumping from his own chair and setting down his cup.

"Then I shall gather your generals, my Queen. On the morrow, but I will gauge Lord Arryn on his reasons for staying." Yes, she would like to know why he was staying around, or why Rodrik and his people are snooping around on the beachhead.

Jon 

"You are getting better, I am glad you've kept my gift."

"Thank you, big brother."

Jon never thought he would be here, at home, with his family who was lost, so long ago.

The only ones missing is Bran, and now Sansa since she went south with King Rodrik. Rickon, and Sam both concluded that Bran, Summer, the Wildling Osha, even the noble children of House Reed, Jojen and Meera.

For that reason, as acting Protector of the North, he had a message sent to Lord Howland Reed and his wife, Jyana, summoning them to Winterfell. They will be due to arrive in two days, he believes.

"Rickon, you should come and join us, you are the acting Lord of Winterfell." He said, turning to his brother who smiled, gladly walking over to him and Arya.

"Ah, the three of us, this should be very fun," Arya mentioned and he chuckled loudly.

They spent the next two hours practicing, having fun and soon enough, it turned from training to chasing one another like they all grew accustomed to doing.

Yet he reminisced, thinking about the problem Beyond the Wall.

The Night King is amassing forces, the dead, risen from battlefields and crypts. A number of men and women have already been gathered on a grand encampment near Long Lake, almost 5,000 strong, all young and old on the East side of the lake, then there is a host of 4,000 Northmen on the West camp, lastly is the Wildling's he brought from Hardhome to fight the Bolton's, they alone are 2,000 strong.

Any other fighting men are South, with his sister.

Hardhome, The Fist of the First Men, these battles were the first to take place. He will attempt with all his power to keep it Beyond the Wall, to stem the tide of the dead and their White Walker masters.

"Jon, are you coming?" Rickon asked, taking him away from his troubling thoughts.

Plans for their survival needs to be made, and his panic for Bran's safety keeping him awake, he has taken to worrying about all of these and more. His sister made him Protector of the North in her absence, he has a duty to safeguard it at all costs.

"No, you two go ahead, I will catch up." He said, and his two siblings looked reluctant before walking off with Nymeria and Shaggydog following them, but, not before hugging him and telling him to keep up before they both ran off.

It's a heavy burden, being in charge of so many innocent people, but, but he will try with all his might to carry it.

Jaime 

Jaime left Silverhill's gate with Lord Alfred Serrett and his son, Tyton Serrett.

The missives were sent before reaching the Westerlands, he was fortunate that the lower half of the West wasn't plundered by Robb Stark.

He looked at the men, formed into marching formation, they aren't battle-hardened soldiers- Little more boys and old men, but they're all he and Cersei's got.

Two-thousand horse, three-thousand infantry, and one-thousand archers. Most of these men, roughly twelve-hundred belonged to Lord Serrett. Now we march to King's Landing. He won't be naive, his force could fight in one, maybe even two battles, but entire skirmishes against both the Starks and Tyrells.

These men will make their fight near his sister and daughter, well, once he is sure that they've gotten away from King's Landing.

He will admit, the thought of shoving his son's Valyrian steel sword through Rodrik's neck does bring an excitement he hasn't had since, since he was a boy, since the Kingswood Brotherhood.

More so, he wants Rodrik dead for what he had stolen from him, the man had taken his sister's heart. Yes, she's said she loves him, she takes him as a lover would, but in those nights after making love... She would dream of him, in one moment of lust, she whispered his accursed name, as if she'd become Robert and he turned into her.

It was humiliating, seeing her fawn over her bastard-daughter, even knowing she had bedded him was a slight toward him.

It was for this, that he swore to kill Rodrik the Fierce, he'll show the bastard that the lion's claws are just as sharp as the falcon's talons.

"I hope the Seven bless us on this fight against all sides, or your sister really got us fucked," Bronn said to him, he sighed and hopped unto his horse, turning and riding to the front of the column.

With a commanding voice, he looked into the faces of his force and spoke.

"You all are scared, I know the feeling. Some of you might have not seen combat in your entire life, and some have never wished to see it again. Alas, your Queen- Your sovereign ruler! Is under siege by traitors and invaders on all sides, and their numbers are vast, this is true." Turning his horse, he continued speaking, "But trust me, when Robert was outmanned, he still fought on and won! I intend for us all to do the same, follow me, and we will have our names sung in glory!" The cries of six-thousand men rung in the plain.

He doesn't do big speeches, his father hadn't either and yet these men followed him.

"The men await your word, Lord Lannister." Lord Lannister? He never thought he'd have the title, it wasn't his desire, but fate often doesn't give you what you want.

And the Starks, Arryns, Tullys, even Targaryens, and Tyrells won't get what they want, he will make sure of it.

Rodrik 

"You found it?" He asked in shock, Podrick and Brienne nodded and he smiled, following them out of the door.

They went as fast as they could, uncaring to the audience that was watching them as they left Dragonstones gate.

They ran down the steps and around the beach where some Arryn and Stark men were waiting for them, but they weren't alone.

Ten Unsullied soldiers, five Dothraki soldiers, and ten Martell men. Leading them was Tyrion of all people, turning he got a sorry look from Brienne, the Dragon Queen and her Hand already knows what they are looking for.

"Lord Arryn, welcome, I am glad that Lady Tarth and my good friend, Pod made it to you in time." He stopped, staring back at the Hand of the King with indifference.

"So you know why I've stayed? Well, yes, I came here for more than an alliance between rulers... I came here for the only weapons that are effective against the dead." He didn't feel like leading someone who knows their being played with, Tyrion hummed in understanding before having him, Brienne and some other's past a few torches.

"Please, follow me, Lord Arryn. Our other friends are waiting for us." He didn't like that, not one bit.

Yet he reluctantly followed Tyrion, and into the tunnel, they went.

It was dark, darker than a lot of other caves he's been in. Alas, like all dark places, there was light and at the end of it, was his bitter host staring like two daggers.

Why must she be so nosey? This island is hardly worth anything to her, other than a symbolic way. If anything, she could easily take the capital, because he doubts a few thousand soldiers would want to be taking out by dragon-fire, though it isn't something he wants to see, that glimpse at the Dreadfort was enough for him.

"I heard you wanted this, you can have it." She said right away, and he chuckled with a scoff, he folded his hands behind his back.

"And I can only imagine what the payment for this is, bending the knee?" He asked halfheartedly, she smirked victoriously and it aggravated him, she has learned a few tricks from her Hand already.

"At least you are hearing me, most men I've fought with often mute themselves in front of a woman in power." Aye, that is true, but not quite enough from him.

"You do remember I helped Sansa become Queen of the North, one of three independent Kingdoms of Westeros." She looked tense, "Your Grace." She was surprised, probably thought he would call her Princess, but this is a delicate thing, "I said I wouldn't bend the knee, that I wouldn't betray the people I lost, and the people I am still fighting for." Her face softened, Daenerys was hearing him, "But I will not bend the knee, I will not surrender my lands and the people I fight for." Daenerys frowned once more, and he regretted that his pride was getting in the way of getting the Dragonglass.

"You need this material, you need this island, and I would give it to you for one easy thing. Why is your pride getting in the way of this, I need to know why?" She asked him and he sighed, this is all or nothing now, is it? But he won't bend the knee, he won't spit in the face of Ned, or Robert or his father, the men he admired that brought an end to the madness House Targaryen bred from their line and wars.

"Why? There is no reason, for I gave it to you when you asked. Daenerys Targaryen, I don't want to be your enemy, our common foe isn't just Cersei but the dead." He needs to get through to her, the army in the North and at the Wall need the obsidian, "Put aside your rights for just a few months until the threat in the North is dealt with, then we fight one another over who will rule Westeros, but know this, if you carve your reign out of Fire and Blood, you will only get another rebellion after you and all your children are dead." He ended his words with an ominous stare, but not at the Queen.

On the wall to the left, was strange drawings, pale men with white spears, and blue eyes.

"... Very well." It was a shock, hearing her say it. He turned to face her, she took a step forward, "Once Cersei and Queen Myrcella are deposed, and the threat in the North is defeated, I will ask once more for you and your allies to bend the knee... Or else I will be forced to destroy you." She said, then left him with her Lady-in-Waiting and Unsullied commander.

"Our Queen can be reasonable, Rodrik. If there was a hint of her becoming mad, would you think I would serve her?" He scoffed, shaking his head at Tyrion.

"You cannot say anything madness, for you are just as mad as her for murdering your own father on the privy. Though I too, was saddened he didn't shit gold."