Game of Thrones: Fanfic: United

[m_findlow]

Title: United
Fandom: Game of Thrones
Characters: Tyrion, Jaime, Daenerys, Jon, Sansa, Davos, Arya
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 1,231 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for sidonie's prompt "Any, any, enemies or rivals forced to work together for a common cause" at fic_promptly
Summary: Jaime comes to Winterfell with dire news

'Ah, Jaime,' Tyrion greeted. 'Are you the new emissary from King's Landing? Come to offer your counsel for the impending war?' he asked, watching as his brother dismounted.

Word had come from the gates of Winterfell's inner keep that a Lannister was requesting passage. Small wonder they passed on the message at all, rather then just carving him open from crotch to gullet. Carrying the name Lannister anywhere north of the Twins was likely to lose you your head.

'Perhaps you could give me your thoughts,' Tyrion continued speaking. 'The Mormonts want to lead the vanguard, but I'm wondering if that's advisable given there's only three hundred of them. What will it do to morale to have an entire house of the North wiped out within the first five minutes of battle? Dothraki would be better, though the cold might be an issue.' He sighed dramatically. 'Who would have thought I'd ever yearn for a few Black Ears and Burnt Men. Not particularly bright, but fierce, and good cannon fodder when the time comes. Perhaps we should send an envoy. I mean, now that the Lannisters are joining the war effort, they might be more inclined to treat. They only care for land and weapons. I'm sure we could accommodate those requests.'

Jaime's expression was dark. 'Tyrion, stop. We need to talk.'

Tyrion idly wiped a finger around the lip of his wine goblet, praying he didn't crush it in his hand. Or throw it at someone.

"They're not coming." Three words from Jaime that had changed everything.

'I always knew my sister was a cunt,' he said to the room full of stunned and silent companions. The look he received from Jaime for the comment incensed him more than the actual news itself.

Tyrion leaned forward in his low chair. 'Oh, don't tell me you still love her after everything she's done,' he said. 'If you do, then you're an even bigger fool than father thought.'

'We gave her proof,' Dany said, remembering the look of horror on Cersei's face when that creature had made to come for her, crawling across the ground, already missing a hand, and severed completely in half. Part of her might liked to have stopped Jon from killing it before it tore her limb from limb. 'Is she afraid?'

'Cersei fears only that which threatens her grip on power,' Tyrion replied.

'There must surely be men amongst those in King's landing who would fight if they knew what was coming,' Dany said. 'You must go back and tell them,' she commanded Jaime.

'Cersei rules through fear,' Sansa said, her face serene. 'Even if the city was overrun with white walkers, no one would lift a hand against her word.'

'Cersei would rather let you all be slaughtered. All her enemies gone in one fell swoop,' Jaime said, feeling a cad. He had genuinely believed that she had meant for him to lead he forces north to join with the Northern houses against what had become their common enemy.

'If Cersei doesn't join us, it won't matter,' Jon said. 'There'll be nothing left for her to rule over.'

'You must go back,' Tyrion said. 'If she has any sense left, she'll listen to you.'

Jaime shook his head. 'I tried.'

Tyrion's face grew stern. 'Then try harder.'

'Do you honestly think I haven't?' he yelled. 'I saw what that thing was capable of surviving. I truly thought that when she had committed our forces that she meant it.'

'And like a lovesick fool, you believed her,' Tyrion said. 'Or was it your cock that made the decision for you?' he added, his word cutting deep.

'Didn't you?' he retorted. He stepped closer towards Tyrion, but Davos sidestepped and blocked his way.

'We came to you,' Jon said, getting equally riled up. 'We showed you what was coming. The Seven Kingdoms can only hope to beat them if we all stand together. We might be the first to die, but she'll die along with us and every person south of the wall will suffer the exact same fate.'

Daenerys placed a gentle hand on his arm, silencing him. Tyrion noted the tenderness in that touch, which no one else seemed to have picked up in yet. 'So, what do we do?' Dany asked.

'We fight with whatever men we have,' Jon replied. 'If we can't rely on the south to come to our aid, all we can do is throw whatever men we have at their forces.'

Sansa stood up from her seat. 'You nearly lost you life against Ramsay Bolton's forces doing just that,' she snapped. 'What chance to do think you have against an army of the dead? Or do you plan to die this time and give them a few more corpses for their army?'

He looked at her, that beseeching gaze giving away the bleeding heart underneath. 'What choice do we have?'

'There is another choice,' Dany said, her voice level. 'If Cersei refuses to lend us her army, we shall take it by force.'

Jon grabbed her by the arm forcefully, turning he to face him. That particular touch did not go unnoticed by several people in the room, least of all Sansa who Tyrion saw narrow her eyes. She suspects, he thought.

'You promised you wouldn't wage war in King's Landing.'

'I don't intend to,' she calmly replied. 'But I will have their army.' She smiled. 'Tyrion once told me an interesting story of how he came to escape the dungeons in the Red Keep. In fact there are hundreds of hidden passages throughout King's Landing, are there not?' she said, turning to Lord Varys for confirmation.

'Indeed, my queen,' he said, bowing.

'Indeed,' she repeated. 'I will not raid King's Landing with armies and dragon fire. If their queen will not proffer her army in the battle to come, then the city needs a new queen who will. I shall steal into the castle and kill Cersei Lannister.'

Jaime stifled a laugh. 'You?'

Dany straightened herself taller. 'I am the rightful queen.'

'Your Grace,' Davos implored. 'You cannot expect to just walk in there and murder Cersei in her sleep. A smuggler such as myself would have hard enough a job of it.'

'Why not?'

This time it was Jon who scoffed. 'Have you ever even held a sword?' She looked incensed at the accusation. 'You might have dragons, but Cersei will have guards posted at every door and in every hall, ready to kill on command. You cannot fight them.'

Her own expression became stern. He'd come to know that look well. 'I will do what I must to protect the people of my kingdom. All of them,' she said, scanning the faces in the room, making eye contact with each one, looking for support.

'Jon's right,' came a new voice in the room.

'Arya!' Sansa scolded. 'You are not supposed to be here.'

'But he's right,' she said, easing her way silently into the middle of the room. 'You cannot steal into King's Landing, unarmed, and murder Cersei.' They all stopped and looked at her as she paused. 'But I can.'

Dany looked incredulous, and she wasn't alone in that reaction.

'You? How?'

Arya pulled the Valyrian steel dagger from her belt and spun it in her hand. 'Give a girl a name and it shall be done.'