Don’t Be Afraid

"That is King's Landing?" She had to ask, at least once more.

"Of course, your grace. This is your city, inside are your people and within the Red Keep is your throne." Tyrion told her, she turned and saw all her advisers, even the newly acquired House Tyrell with the newest leader, Garlan Tyrell and formerly a bastard-son of the late Mace Tyrell.

Somewhere else within this camp of many monarchs are King Rodrik and Queen Sansa with her husband, Waymar Royce.

It was also the first time she'd seen them, how they behaved like the best of friends seeing one another after a long time, it made her feel a tinge of jealousy.

Rodrik was warm to them, the people that surrounded him loved him and were happy to see him returned in one piece. In the opposite, Rodrik was cold as ice to her, denouncing her claim and throwing what her father had done to her face.

The Coalition force is strong, smaller than her own but strong. They have experienced more battles than her army, and suffered defeats and learned more than her own army. I almost wish I'd brought the Second Sons, at least I will have had an experienced force.

She has Dothraki, but they are inexperienced in fighting a formidable force and not the small rabble fought in the Stormlands. The Martell's would also be wisely wanted, but for fear of Prince Trystane, they have decided to march only so far, near the Wendwater until victory is assured and the Prince is alright.

"Send an envoy to their gates, I would give them one more chance to surrender to me and renounce their allegiance to the false Queen." She ordered of Grey Worm, turning and watching her fleet inch closer to the Blackwater. "And Missandei, ask Yara Greyjoy and her brother to come ashore, I would convene a meeting before gathering with the other false King and Queen." Soon, yet her camp at the edge of the Kingswood needs to be established.

Rodrik and Lady Stark's camped on the Blackwater Rush and nearly 10,000 Rivermen were already camped Northwest on the road going toward the God's Eye. The Tyrells have split their force in two, forty-thousand on the Rush, and forty-thousand within the Kingswood. They have King's Landing surrounded on four sides by land or sea. They can wait and try to convince them to give up their foolish resistance.

"Leave me, I wish to rest for has been quite a ride here." She ordered and everyone dismissed themselves to go to their own duties, as for herself, she spent the rest of her time with her dragons, but even being so far, she can hear Rodrik's dragon let out a roar every now and again.

Then Tyrion approached here at the shore, bothering her but she still had some questions.

"I wonder how he tamed it, his dragon, he never gave me details about how he came about such a creature." She wondered and Tyrion shrugged, unknowing about such a thing which didn't very much help her.

"Your bet would be as good as my own, my Queen. I was under the impression only Targaryen's could ride them, but then I remember that your House has wed once or twice into House Arryn. So mayhaps, that bit of blood gave Rodrik an edge, or maybe he just tried so many times and what we know doesn't make sense anymore." That would be a theory, but the truth still eludes her.

She wonders if, in this uneasy alliance, that the resisting Lords and Ladies that she is fighting alongside with will grow to her, that they will come to see her as their Queen without force when the threat here and beyond is defeated.

But then again, maybe force is what is needed, to unify the Seven Kingdoms into one once more.

"You are deep in thought, again, care to share?" She shook her head, no need to worry her Hand when they might need to fight his sister and brother.

"Nothing to trouble ourselves with, not now, anyway." She reassured Tyrion, the two stood in silence and enjoying it until they heard a rider coming up. "Grey Worm? What news do you bring us?" She asked her friend who nodded.

"Yara Greyjoy is here, we are ready to call a meeting." A smile broke as she nodded, it is time.

Rodrik 

He sat and heard Sansa and Waymar berating him about what happened moments ago.

An hour ago, a messenger snuck into the Tully camp and Edmure sent that message to them... Cersei and Jaime wish to meet, tonight, on neutral ground between their camps.

"You cannot do this." Sansa began, her arms crossed and staring daggers at him.

"You read it, she is bringing my daughter to this meeting." He reminded her and she shook her head, and of course, he knows this is madness to which he will be prepared.

There is more, Daenerys has requested they gather to formulate a plan of attack. As Cersei has requested he see her tonight, he won't be attending the gathering this night on the eve of battle.

"I have made up my mind on this, I will go whilst you two meet with Queen Daenerys." He told the two, although Waymar has since remained quiet. "Brother, my friend? You can trust in me returning, can you not? I will return, the Seven happens to give me their favor in that regard." He added as Waymar tensed before looking away.

"Do what you will, your grace." Waymar left, upset with his choice of what to do. Sansa followed but stopped to say something.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Rodrik. We've been through too much to lose you." He smiled, nodding at her warning. Even if I die, the Vale will live on. He thought as he took a sip of wine, putting it down and preparing for the road ahead.

So the decision was made and by evening when the sun started to set, he and fifty other rode out of camp and headed up the river. They crossed and moved southeast, meeting another twenty Tully soldiers before heading for the neutral ground that Cersei has chosen, a small farmer home, abandoned and forgotten from war and with winter upon them, the owners will no doubt be seeking warmer shelter in the city.

He thinned his lips when he caught sight of the lion banner, feeling a want to slaughter them on sight for what this House has done to the people, to Ned and his family, to Robert and his brothers.

"That is a lot more men than you need, is it not?" A guard asked him with a hand on his weapon, he grunted as he made his horse stop.

"When dealing with Lannister's?... No." He answered back, then dismounting from his horse and removing all his weapons but his sword, "Now where is your Queen?"

Sansa 

How in all of the hells does Rodrik expect to distract the Dragon Queen until he returns?

He is being difficult, he's always been difficult, always leaving and never giving them any reassurance of returning to them.

"They are coming." Her husband whispered as they stood, watching the Queen ride over to them with her counselors, including her first husband who rides beside his Queen.

"Hopefully, Rodrik knows what he is doing, now smile." She commanded and stepped forward. "Your Grace, I welcome you to our humble camp. I am Sansa, of the House Stark. Wardeness of the North. Lady of Winterfell and Queen of the North and Trident." The dragon was annoyed, she could see that in her eyes but yet, she smiled and curtsied.

"Pleased to meet you, at last, Lady Stark. I am Daenerys of the House Targaryen. Queen of the Andals, Rhoynar, and First Men. Lady of the Seven Kingdoms. Protector of the Realm. Mother of Dragons. Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea. The Unburnt. Breaker of Chains and Queen of the Bay of Dragons." She was a little startled with all the titles, other than the official titles given to the monarchs of Westeros. "I am sorry if it is a mouthful, I have become quite renowned in the time I've been in Essos."

"Not at all, your grace. I am happy that you and your advisors are here to talk as our final night before the battle." She told Daenerys as they all started walking to the biggest pavilion, hers and Waymar's pavilion.

"I am curious, where is Rodrik? Why hasn't he received me with you." She didn't want to answer this, didn't want the woman to ask that.

"Umm, He has come down with a fever, he will be with us, shortly." Her response was retaliated by Daenerys when she stopped and stared at her, with her amethyst eyes boring into her blue ones. Daenerys continued walking and Waymar brushed her arm and started chatting with her grace, so she doesn't have to.

"It has been a long time, wife. I almost missed your scowls and remarks." She won't lie, a smirk made its place on her lips as she turned to Tyrion, he smiled at her.

"It is good to reunite with you, Lord Tyrion. If there is one Lannister I could ever want as a friend, it would be you." She told him and urged the dwarf to follow.

He did so, and they told each other many tales of their journey.

Cersei 

She heard the sound of hooves, heard Rodrik speak to the guard outside and smirked at the falcon's remark.

Jaime scowled with a hand upon his sword, Joffrey's blade. He looked at her and must have felt disgusted with her happiness, but that made her frown in sorrow.

This wasn't her idea, she was content to let her armies deal with her enemies smash against her walls. Her weapons would bring down Daenerys and Rodrik's beasts and with hope the Dothraki would then begin fighting everyone else for superiority, once Rodrik and Daenerys were out of the picture, her enemies would turn on each other and she would eliminate them all, one by one until she had that bitch Sansa in her hands once more.

Yet, Jaime with all his honor, he would gamble it all away and for a chance. Yet, it might be a chance we win, Rodrik will agree as his honor dictates. Yes, her foolish twins plan may just work, and even then, she plans on making sure they stay down by murdering them anyway.

"Please don't be angry with me, once all our enemies are defeated, we will have a chance, alright?" She whispered as she took his hand and brought it to her swelling stomach.

She's known it for some time, now, that she will be having one more child. This baby will be a chance for her, a chance to do things right with no scheming, no plotting, and no power, just peace, and tranquility.

"I am fine." He said back to her, smiling lightly.

They ceased to speak when the door to the farm home opened, and Rodrik entered with his eyes scanning the room for any tricks. It was amusing to watch but responsible in this case.

"You have nothing to fear from us, traitor, not until tomorrow." Jaime threatened, she shushed him and urged Rodrik to sit, to prove there are no tricks, she sat first where Jaime remained standing.

"You said, that you would bring me, my daughter. Where is she?" She will admit, simply asking for Rodrik to meet him would be asking too much, she needed some incentive to bring him here and to hear them out.

"I knew you would not come here otherwise- " Rodrik got up to leave, "But wait! We have terms to end this peacefully though I see no peace after tomorrow." Rodrik looked at her, confused as to what she meant.

"If you believe there is to be no peace, then why ask me to come here? Why even go to all this trouble." She remained silent for a time, contemplating how to say all of this to the man she's longed to see, but is split between her love for him, and for her brother.

"This meeting was not of my machinations, but of Jaime's." Jaime folded his arms with a sigh, "He has convinced me to allow this conflict to end without bloodshed, without fire and blood." He seemed doubtful, and in another time, she would expect it but her mad brother is true to his plan.

"Fine... What are your terms, Jaime Lannister." Rodrik glared at Jaime who grunted a response before speaking.

"You may not have seen the Sack, Rodrik, you didn't the blood and the fires, the women and children butchered in the streets that used to ring with music before the Mad King turned insane. I have and add a horde of rapists and fire-breathing dragons and you got more than that. I won't let it happen, I cannot." Jaime confessed and Rodrik agreed, she could see it in his expression.

"Then surrender, don't fight us- " Rodrik

"No!" Jaime shouted, silencing Rodrik and she watched this scene play out. "To surrender is to destroy my family, but here are my terms." Rodrik waited, watching, "We settle this in the old ways, you, and me. Whoever wins takes Westeros, and the loser lays down their arms and leaves the kingdoms." Rodrik was stunned by Jaime's course of action, "So... What will it be? Blood, or the lives of one death for the safety of thousands."

Rodrik leaned back into his chair, watching them both.

"... "

Daenerys 

"You did what!?"

She couldn't believe this, couldn't even conceive a thought for this betrayal.

"You didn't think to let me in on your plan? Not once, and to make an agreement with our enemies? You are mad!" She shouted at Rodrik who stood against her, not flinching to her voice at all, that seemed all the more annoying.

"I made the right call, and swore to fight for the kingdoms tomorrow." She gritted her teeth, hearing the mans words angered her even more.

"And how do you know my sister is going to be true to her word? You know who she is, Rodrik, how can you be so foolish." Tyrion said and Sansa nodded in agreement, in fact, so did many others in this pavilion.

Rodrik sighed, turning to look into the outside, the men and few women moving around camp. She wished she could understand this man's reasonings, truly, but it seems impossible, more so than before.

"Cersei swore upon her two daughters, upon my daughter's life." She wanted to scoff, actually, Tyrion and Sansa did so for her.

She thought the Lady Stark was hardheaded, in fact, she wished she had demanded the attendance of Rodrik when she arrived at this camp when in reality, he was going across enemy lines and speaking with an enemy she was told would unite them.

Now, it seems more splintering than anything.

"Forgive me, but that is idiotic. They could have had you killed and we wouldn't know, in fact, they could have raided one of the camps during all of this, it was stupid." She told Rodrik who remained stone-faced.

"I am so heartened that you would care if I was slain, Daenerys." Again, he refused to call her by her title. "Tomorrow, I and Ser Jaime will do battle. You all know the terms? The one losing will leave in exile or death, but we will simply return to the North, to fight the undead." He reminded them, but she cannot do that.

She can't simply leave the fate of this campaign to the sword-hand of one man, she can't possibly leave if he fails to bring down a man some say is the greatest swordsman in Westeros. Shaking her head, she got up from her seat and went to leave but stopped to turn to Rodrik once more.

"You can fight and die... If you wish. I came to take the Seven Kingdoms, to take the Iron Throne and receive my birthright." He narrowed his eyes at her, a silent challenge to her authority.

"Do you will, you are your own ruler, but the Vale will stand down and follow my chosen heir." He told her and she huffed, thinking of what a waste this man is on such a task.

She left, Tyrion and her other advisors following. On the ride back to camp, she ordered for her forces to move on King's Landing the moment Rodrik dies, that is, if he is not successful in defeating the Kingslayer in combat.

Damn that man, damn him, and his honor. She thought as she gripped the reins of her horse, wincing when she bled from the gripping.

It seems she's drawn first blood, she can only hope Rodrik is victorious in his test.

The Next Morning 

The ground was trampled as men marched over bridges and fields, as ships and boats ferried horse and man across the rush.

Along the walls of King's Landing stood the men of House Lannister, four-thousand Goldcloaks manned the ramparts with bows in their hands.

Rodrik Arryn, Sansa Stark, and Waymar lead their men in their formations on the right. Edmure and Brynden Tully marched their forces on the left. The forces of Sansa and Rodrik became the center as Daenerys Hand and Ser Garlan and the Dothraki leader lead theirs, becoming the right flank.

The line of Lannister soldiers parted when the Lion Gate opened, another thousand soldiers marched out of the gate, they were lead by a man in splendid gold armor, a white cloak attached to his back and the lion helm.

Rodrik looked over to Waymar, "Remember what I said, Waymar, remember." He told his friend who nodded.

With a push, Rodrik urged his horse forward, seeing across the lines he saw Jaime doing the same. Looking right he was thankful for Pod wanting to Squire for him this day.

The horses met, and the men atop them dismounted and approached one another, stopping four feet apart.

Jaime removed his helm to look at him, "I waited for this day the moment she took you into her bed, because that was the day she gave you half of her heart." He wished he could take it back, that was true, but Jaime has to realize that it wasn't his intention to take her.

"I will ensure you are given a good death, so long as I get one in return, Ser Jaime Lannister. The Young Lion." He said with mentioning Jaime first moniker. The Kingslayer looked surprised, but it faded and a small smile made itself known.

"I will, Rodrik the Fierce." Jaime looked back, for standing at the top of Lion Gate was his daughter and sister, both praying for his success.

Both men took a deep breath and put on their individual helms, there would be shields but Jaime has lost his hand, and it would be unfair so only swords would be used.

Rodrik and Jaime unsheathed their swords and got into their positions, waiting as the sun reached its peak.

The horns blew, and the fight would begin with a clash of steel, the gods are watching, and they would receive the bravest warrior in death.