Chapter 39

"Why didn't you tell this to anyone?" asked Aegon while Jamie shrugged.

"Who would have believed me? Everything about what I did screamed 'he broke his oath for Tywin Lannister' or 'he killed the King for his Father'. No one that day wanted to hear the truth. Not Lord Arryn. Not Lord Stark. And certainly not the new King. He was too damn happy to see Elia Martell's defiled body along with her dead children being brought before him after sitting on the Iron Throne," said Jamie while glancing over at his Father before shaking his head.

"Why didn't you move to protect Elia Martell and her children? You had time once King Aerys was dead," commented Aegon since Prince Oberyn wanted to know too.

"I was in a daze. I sat there, thinking to myself 'I killed the King' over and over again in my mind. I don't even know how long I sat there on those steps. As for Elia Martell and her children, I should have protected them once the King was dead. But I honestly didn't think, or rather believe, it would happen the way it did. I didn't think my Father would take it that far by ordering their deaths. Hostages maybe. Exiled perhaps. Or have both children fostered under loyal Baratheon Houses to keep an eye on them. But I didn't think he would go that far to prove his new found fealty to Robert. When they were brought in, I couldn't even look at them. I couldn't look knowing I would see their scared, haunted faces, and the eyes filled with so much fear in them. Eyes pleading for someone, anyone really, to protect them from the horror that was unleashed before the end," replied Jamie while closing his eyes and bowing his head slightly.

"Who else knew the truth of this?" asked Aegon with Jamie sighing again.

"Aside from Varys and Pycelle? No one else," replied Jamie before Varys made a noise to get everyone's attention.

"That is not entirely accurate your Grace. Lord Tywin also knows the truth about what happened that day. The late Grand Maester Pycelle secretly told him the truth," added Varys with Jamie looking shocked and glared at his Father.

"You knew? All this time?! You knew?! And never once said anything?! All the while making me assume you were ashamed of me for my choices in life?" demanded Jamie angrily at his Father with Tywin glaring back at him.

"I had planned to use it to my advantage. Like everything I do for my family and legacy. Cersei was Queen and married to Robert. But the fool would not be swayed in releasing you from your vows because you killed the Mad King. When Joffrey was born, I knew I would have to wait until he ruled in order to finally get you out of the Kingsguard. Robert would not care for the truth one way or another and it made House Lannister more feared in the belief you would kill a King for me. You were meant to be my heir and yet you had served a King filled with madness and drunkard soon after when your position was meant to be elsewhere," explained Tywin without shame and Jamie shaking his head.

"That is so like you Father. Typical Tywin Lannister. Use everything to your advantage while never once considering the needs of your family members or if they would be hurt by your actions. Always doing what you want to get your way and damn anyone else who has a difference of opinion. Even if they are right and you are wrong. What Mother saw in you that made her fall in love, I will never know," Jamie shot back and it made Tywin glare even harder.

"If you weren't my son, I would kill you right here and now just for that last remark about your Mother," growled Tywin with Jamie smirking now.

"Go ahead Father. Do it. You have done so many bad things in the name of securing your family legacy. Destroying two Houses. Sacking a city with thousands of innocent people being murdered, raped, and robbed from the act. Why not add Kinslaying to the list? You nearly did it with Tyrion the day he was born after Mother died. Why not give into the impulse with me?" challenged Jamie with Tywin scowling further.

"As amusing as that would be considering it would damn Tywin Lannister even further, I cannot allow it," said Aegon with Jamie Lannister looking from his Father to the King.

"I have nothing left to say on what I did to the Mad King. I did what I did and will not be ashamed of it. Even if he was your Grandfather," replied Jamie while Aegon surprising him and everyone else when he nodded.

"I understand. And I even agree with you. My Grandfather, Daenery's Father, was mad. That cannot be disputed. It will not be disputed. As such, after conferring with my own personal council on the issue, it is decided on the act of killing my Grandfather, you will be pardoned for the act. And no one is allowed to address you as Kingslayer ever again," said Aegon with some form of protests coming from the people.

"He broke his oath your Grace!" said one Lord.

"He killed your Grandfather and King!" shouted another Lord.

"And my Grandfather deserved it for his own actions. Or do you think a King should be allowed to burn people alive? To rape a woman, his own sister no less? Or perhaps you believe it is acceptable for a King to order an entire city of innocent people be consumed in Wild Fire?" challenged Aegon with everyone protesting the pardon being silenced and surprising Jamie Lannister further.

There was finally someone who saw things from his perspective.

"It is true a Kingsguard swears his life to serve the King and protect him from harm. But the oath does not apply when the King himself orders the death of innocent people. Or chooses to violate women in private or public. Or ordering the destruction of an entire city and the people who live within it. Who here would protect such a man? Who here would do that and hide behind the excuse that his oath prevents him from doing what is right? If not for this man, doing what he did, this city would be ashes blowing into the wind! By ending my Grandfather's life, King's Landing was saved from a fate far worse then the sacking it went through. Harsh as it may sound, Tywin Lannister's sacking of the city was the lesser of two evils that occurred. Even if the lesser of the two evils shouldn't have happened in the first place," added Aegon while glaring slightly at Tywin.

"Surely you don't intend for him to go free your Grace?" asked Lord Umber while Aegon shook his head.

"No. While he has been pardoned for the one act, there are still other crimes unrelated to it that he has committed. One, being in a sexual relationship with his sister, and having three children. Not only is it wrong, but when you committed the act, you were a member of the Kingsguard, which forbids you from having children. Which leads to the second crime of breaking your oath to the Kingsguard three times! One per child. The third crime you have committed was tossing Brandon Stark out of the old tower in Winterfell when he caught you and Cersei fornicating there," replied Aegon with Jamie wincing since he had done that for his sister in order to prevent the boy from telling anyone about it.

"It left my son crippled," commented Ned angrily since his son had been denied the right to walk, run, and even climb despite the latter always making the boy's Mother worry.

"I had hoped the fall would have killed him," replied Jamie and saw Lord Stark was very close to drawing his sword to take his head.

"I might be able to help your son Uncle. When time permits, I will travel to Winterfell and see if I can't heal him myself, "said Aegon with Ned nodding though the man was now wondering how his nephew could heal Brandon.

"I take it my punishment is death?" asked Jamie, but already knew the answer.

"Considering all your crimes mentioned, along with others I don't need to mention, you really think I would let you live? Take the Black? You were in the wrong in taking an army to the Riverlands and attacking the Lords there. How many died there because you listened to your Father? Because you rushed to judgment over what happened between your brother and Catelyn Stark? To have you live after today following everything is an insult to the laws of Gods and Men. And it is only fitting that you will meet your end, by my hands," said Aegon before drawing his sword while two Unsullied picked up Jamie and dragged him up the steps until he was at the top of the dais.

"No! I won't allow it!" exclaimed Tywin while trying to rise, but was forced down by another pair of Unsullied.

"Wait your turn Lord Tywin! You and the Mountain will soon get yours in the coming moments along with your daughter Cersei and bastard Grandson. After all the horrible things you have done to preserve your precious family legacy, it is only fitting to see them die by the hands of a dragon," countered Aegon with Tywin gritting his teeth and watched as Jamie's head was forced to bow.

"Let him take the Black. Spare him!" pleaded Cersei with Aegon glaring at her now with angry eyes that were surprisingly reddish yellow.

"And risk him escaping along the way to the Wall? Fleeing to either Essos or Braavos to start a new life? Or perhaps he breaks his vows when at the Wall and deserts? Do you think I would allow this man as many chances as your Father has done? No! Justice has demanded this man here die for his crimes. Crimes against my Uncle's House when my cousin Brandon was thrown from the tower. Crimes of committing incest with his sister and trying to put them on the Iron Throne. The crimes against the Lords of the Riverlands when he unleashed the Lannister army on them. He could have easily gone to the King or approached my Uncle in a civil manner to find a way to release his brother from being a hostage? Did he? No! His actions have consequences and the consequences demand that justice be done for all to see and know," replied Aegon with his tone leaving no room for dispute.

With his course of action set, Aegon readied his sword and after glaring one more time at Tywin Lannister for good measure, he brought his weapon down on the Lannister's neck. When the head fell from the body it followed down the steps one after the other until it stopped at Tywin Lannister's knees. The dead man's face aimed upward and staring at his Father, who for the first time since his wife Joanna died, started to cry over the loss of someone close to him.

The old lion was broken inside. His legacy ruined. Poisoned. Corrupted. Dead. He had nothing left, but his brother Kevan, and a dwarf of a son Tyrion.

"Prince Oberyn, would you please step forward," commanded Aegon after cleaning his sword and put it away.

"Yes your Grace," said Oberyn before bowing respectfully at him.

"Given what happened to your family during the sacking of King's Landing, the realms demand justice be done and punish those who wronged you. As such, I am providing you a choice on who you wish to deliver that said justice upon. You may choose between the Gregor Clegane, the man who did the horrible act against your family. Or you can take the head of Tywin Lannister himself, the man who gave the order. You can only choose one Prince Oberyn," said Aegon with Prince Oberyn looking between the two.

"I choose the Mountain your Grace. While I would love to take the head of the man who ordered it, I think I would prefer the head of the man who actually committed the crime," said Prince Oberyn with Aegon nodding.

"Sandor Clegane, your sword please. Give it to the Prince for him to use," commanded Aegon with Sandor nodding and giving it to the slightly surprised Prince.

"I'm surprised you would give me the means to kill your own brother given you are also a Clegane," commented Prince Oberyn with Sandor snarling and spit on his brother's face.

"Fuck my brother. He is a cunt. Who do you think did this to my face? He even killed our little sister years ago. Father was too terrified of him at that point to do anything so he ignored it. I always wanted to kill my brother myself, but the King won't let me. Said it would damn me just like my brother is damned. I figured having someone who hates him just as much as I do and getting the chance is enough. Provided I get to see it," replied Sandor while he glared at his brother, who snarled back, and clearly wanted to kill him.

"The King is a wise man," said Prince Oberyn before he turned to look at the downed man, who even on his knees, was nearly the height of the Dornishman.

There were no words that needed to be said between the two men. Both hated the other. One for what the other did to his family. The other, simply because he hated everything and everyone. Gregor Clegane was an animal. A monster. A demon put in human skin and a bane on all the people around him who crossed his path. He was an asset to House Lannister, who rewarded the Mountain for his years of service and work in hurting others who crossed the old lion. With gold and political protection from those who demanded the large beast of a man be put down, Gregor Clegane had no problem doing what Tywin Lannister wanted or commanded.

~ "Clegane! Lorch! Go to the Red Keep. Kill everyone who stands in your way with the exception of my son. Find the Dornish whore. Kill her and the children. Do not make it clean. Do what you do best." ~

So when the time came to kill Elia Martell and her children when the sacking began on King's Landing, the Mountain along with Lorch carried out his orders to the letter. He was to send a message to Dorne and anyone else who thought about ever crossing House Lannister. To make them understand who the real power was in Westeros. Not the weak sickly dragon. Not the bloodlust filled Stag. Not the wise falcon. No. The lion would roar and make everyone know they were the House with the means and muscle to do things.

And it was known for nearly 20 years. Until the dragon had come. Literally appearing right over his head, shooting fire in his path, scaring the horse Gregor rode on. Before he could turn around, a giant dire wolf had appeared out of nowhere from the forest, taken the legs of his animal out from under him, and to make it worse the damn animal had clawed and bit at his face. By the time he got out from under his horse, the wave of Tully bannermen were on him, a chained net, multiple arrows to his knees, a mace to the skull that only his helmet had stopped from caving it in.

"This is for my sister, who you raped and murdered! For my niece, who you laughed at when the Pig Monster was stabbing her! For my nephew of a baby, whose head you had smashed against a wall!" exclaimed Prince Oberyn while fifteen Unsullied had forced the Mountain's head down with the ones holding the poles on his limbs assisting from their own position.

The sword was raised over the Prince's head and came down on the Mountain and sliced his head clean off his neck. Even after he did, the body twitched, as if the monster refused to die, and wanted to escape. A thrust of that same sword into the body through the back into the heart soon forced it to stop twitching. Letting out a sigh and feeling better then he had in years on the issue with his family, Prince Oberyn gave the sword back to Sandor Clegane with both men nodding to each other.

"The next to die will be Joffrey Hill. Lord Stark, since he wanted your head taken earlier when he was a false King, it is only seems fitting you take his head in return," replied Aegon with Joffrey now struggling to escape, but it was no use, and had been dragged up the dais where Lord Stark once more drew his sword.

"When you ordered my execution, you went back on the deal made that day. My daughter would not be harmed and I would take the Black if I gave my false confession. You went back on the deal and tried to have me killed. Unlike you bastard boy, I will actually carry out the execution myself and not have someone do it for me when called upon," said Ned while glaring at the whimpering pathetic flesh before him that was Joffrey Hill.

"No! Leave him alone! Please Lord Stark! He is my child! I beg of you!" pleaded Cersei and it only made Lord Stark angrier.

"And you think such a thing is your shield? That it protects your son? It no more protects your son then the Robert's last words on paper did me in this very room. You took great delight in seeing me suffer former Queen. Seeing my bannermen die. My servants, who came here with me being slaughtered by your men and those of the City Watch you had bought with Baelish's coin. You mocked me for my honor. Tried to humiliate me in front of the people in this city. To make me confess a liar's story. To hurt my daughter for your own sick amusement. If not yours, then for the amusement of this disease you call a son. What strength do you now possess now that would consider making me stay my hand in ending his life former Queen of the Seven Kingdoms? The answer is none!" replied Ned before he furiously raised his sword and brought it down on Joffrey's neck.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Cersei when seeing Joffrey's head become severed at the neck and rolled down the dais right in front of her.

"Lord Connington, as one of my most loyal friends since we met, I give you the honor of ending the life of Cersei Lannister, and her Father Tywin Lannister. Do you accept this order I have given you?" said Aegon with Jon Connington bowing respectfully in front of the King.

"Yes your Grace. I will gladly perform the task asked of me by House Targaryen and the Crown," said Jon Connington with his sword now drawn and the Unsullied dragging her up to the top of the dais.

Walking over to the Cersei, Jon saw the woman crying tears of sadness, tears of hate, and rage over what she had just lost. Out of all her children, Joffrey was her favorite. He was cruel to everyone around him, except her. He commanded and people obeyed. Just like her and her Father. He was a lion. A pure blooded lion, who roared loudly for all to hear and tremble in his presence.

Only for him to be struck down by the jealous wolves supported by these inbred dragons.

"I will have my revenge. Not in this life, but I will have it in the next. All of you will one day know my wrath. One way or another. Do you hear me?! I swear it as the one true Queen of the Seven Kingdoms!" said Cersei, who was near the point of shouting at the King, Ned Stark, and the others in the room while her head was lowered.

"Unlikely. Jon, her head," commanded Aegon with Jon nodding and brought his sword down on the woman with her head falling down the dais next to Jamie's own.

Right in front of Tywin.

"You have taken everything from me," whispered Tywin, but loud enough for Aegon to hear him.

"You have taken far more then I ever did or will Lord Tywin. You tried to control the Crown through your wealth and daughter. You wished to secure a legacy that would last well over a thousand years while stepping on the bodies of well over ten times that many people to do it. You destroy everyone who stands in your way whether they know it or not and don't apologize for it. Or even admit your actions might be wrong. You claim that lions should not care for the opinion of sheep. Well, I am not one of the sheep my Lord. I am a dragon. My Aunt is a dragon. And everyone in the Seven Kingdoms now bows to a dragon. It does not matter if you are lion, wolf, fish, falcon, or some other House sigil you fly as your banner. The dragon is the supreme entity here," said Aegon before using the Force to levitate Tywin up into the air to the shock of everyone and placed him on his knees at the top of the dais.

"All I ever did was for my family and House," remarked Tywin with Aegon glaring at him with rage in his eyes.

"All you ever did, you did for yourself. Nothing more!" declared Aegon before he nodded to Jon, who waited until the man was forced to bow his head low, and swung down on the old lion's neck.

And ending the rule of Tywin Lannister of House Lannister.

'Goodbye brother. May the Gods be merciful to you on the other side,' thought Kevan, as he looked on sadly while Jon Connington kicked the body down the steps of the dais.

"Holster. You are the last," remarked Aegon with Holster nodding and walked up the dais and went to his knees.

"And which man is going to take my head?" asked Holster while glancing from the King to Lord Connington.

"Ser Jorah Mormont will take it," commanded Aegon with Ser Jorah approaching with his sword drawn.

"I see. I suppose you find some amusement in it. A bear claiming the fish like one does in at a stream," commented Holster with Aegon smirking.

"All things considered? Yes. I do," replied Aegon before he motioned Ser Jorah to do the deed.

Which he did without hesitation.

'Please all Seven Gods be merciful to my Father. Protect him on the other side,' thought Catelyn Stark, as she had looked away from her Father losing his head, and now wept knowing he had died as a traitor to the Crown.

"Take all the bodies and limbs to the dragon pit. My dragons will burn their corpses until there is nothing left but ash," commanded Aegon before he walked back to his seat.

"And what of Edmure Tully your Grace? When the man finally awakens and learns of his Father's death, I have no doubt he will try to do something rash, if not stupid once more," inquired Varys with Aegon focusing on the still unconscious Tully.

"Keep him under guard here in the Red Keep. Responsibility for him will fall under his Uncle until the time comes to send him to the Wall," said Aegon with Varys nodding.

"Yes your Grace," replied Varys while Edmure was taken away by some of the Unsullied with Lord Connington leading them out.

"I hereby convene today's session of Court. I think I can safely say that everyone here has had their fair share of death today. We will continue this tomorrow with a fresh start and hopefully without the need to execute any additional traitors to the Crown. I have already arranged for accommodations to be made to all the Lords here and even their bannermen who chose to come here with them," said Aegon while seeing many were ready to leave in order to comprehend what was just seen here in this room.

"And now they will fear as well as respect you my nephew," said Daenerys when most of the people had left the throne room.

"As they should. If I didn't do this now, some of them would consider it a weakness on my part. That I would not have the courage to kill the lions, the fish, and all those who support them. They would see this as a chance to possibly join forces and rebel against me in the near future," remarked Aegon after putting his masked helmet on his head.

"Which is exactly what we don't need right now," replied Daenerys while Aegon nodding in agreement.

"Not now or ever. The dragon must stay on the Iron Throne and rule it Aunt. Anyone else would lead the Crown to ruin. Only a dragon has the strength to hold all Seven Kingdoms together no matter the danger," said Aegon with Daenerys nodding while glancing over at the Hand of the King and Warden of the North Ned Stark, who was clearly worried about his wife after what happened.

"Permission to leave your Grace?" asked Ned with Aegon nodding.

"Permission granted Uncle. See to your wife. Explains things to her. Explain everything and leave nothing out," replied Aegon with Ned nodding and rushed off to see his wife to do what had to be done now.

"He is not what I expected when first meeting him," said Daenerys since she had heard stories of him from Viserys when they were younger.

How the Starks were barbarians and monsters all just like the Usurper. How Ned Stark's sister seduced Rheagar and whored her way into his heart. How the kidnapping story was a lie and one the North used to justify their betrayal to the dragon. How their Father, who was King, had been justified in killing Brandon and Rickard Stark all those years ago.

Only to find out even the Starks had been betrayed just as badly as anyone else. And by those supposedly close to them.

"My Uncle protected me from harm. Even if his way of going about it was wrong to a certain point. He had to work with what was in front of him at the time," replied Aegon while holding no ill will toward his Uncle Eddard considering what the man went through just before finding him as a babe in Dorne.

The violence. The darkness. The hate. Seeing people die in a bloody war. Seeing violated bodies of a woman and her children brought into this very room while his Sworn Brother laughed. The one ordering such horror smirking knowing it would secure his legacy with his daughter as Queen. Aegon knew the moment he was placed in his Uncle's hands, the man realized the true horror of the situation, and had to come up with a plan to protect his sister's child from them.

Granted, he could have done things differently later on. Given the boy over to his trusted bannerman Howland Reed for fostering. Or even over to the Umbers or Mormonts. But it was clear to Aegon that the man trusted no one with his nephew other then himself and with how the boy was raised. Unfortunately, Lord Stark had been overly protective by not considering other options, and it resulted in keeping the boy close to the point where his wife hated Aegon when he was the bastard Jon Snow. Aegon knew that his Uncle had been hoping his wife would come to accept the boy as a member of House Stark, but he had underestimated the woman's hate for him.

"What do you think his wife's punishment will be when they speak to each other?" asked Daenerys curiously.

"Who said he would punish her?" asked Aegon with Daenerys looking surprised.

"But she hurt you as a child. Demeaned you. Destroyed whatever you earned and made you feel less than dirt in her eyes. Surely your Uncle will do something that will make her think twice about such actions," said Daenerys in confusion.

"You're right. She did hurt me. And now I am King. The bastard she loathed and despised when growing up in Winterfell has revealed himself to be so much more. Her Father is now dead. Her brother will be sent to the Wall. Her sister will soon face my wrath for not coming when commanded. The only mercy she has received at the moment is her Uncle Brynden is the new Lord of House Tully and the Riverlands. I have left any punishment deserved up to her own husband to carry out as he sees fits. Not that it really matters in the long run. Now everyone will be looking at her with distain and disgust for how she treated me over the years when growing up in Winterfell. They will look down at her. They will make japes and other snide remarks when in her presence. And all the while having to sit there and take it without any reprieve. She will finally understand what it means to be looked down on like I was by her all those years ago without a means to stop it. This is my punishment. To always let her feel the shame and the dishonor she brings about just by existing," said Aegon while seeing into the future where his Uncle's wife was having a conversation with the Lords at a feast.

And having to be there or near them while they all japed or made snide comments about her regarding how she had been harsh on the King. And simply for believing him to be her husband's bastard child.

Catelyn Tully Stark would live with the shame of what she did for the rest of her life and people would constantly remind her of it. That was punishment enough for him for there was no better punishment then the one you yourself made.