"Seven damn it Robert! What are you doing?" I yelled to him. I really should have put more stock on my old man memories, but I certainly couldn't imagine the man who approved of the deaths of the princess and her children as 'dragonspawn' was the same Robert Baratheon I fought and drank with.
"I'm going to finish what I started Rose, get out of the way!"
I was holding the taler man from reaching Elia's room. "You're going to murder defenseless woman and children Robert! Just think for a moment what you are doing!"
"She's right Robert", said Ned with more heat than usual, "there's no honor in that, it will be nothing but butchery. We won, the Targaryens rule is over. There's no need to spill more innocent blood."
"I won't stand as the last of the dragonspawn and his whore are still alive!"
At this I let him go, and he stumbled on the ground a few paces forwards. This alarmed Ned for a moment before Robert regained his balance and he stood up once again.
Just for me to slap him so hard to draw some blood, and he once more fell on the ground, shocked at my move.
"Listen to yourself Robert! The hero of the rebellion who fought against the tyranny of the Targaryens, the one who killed the kidnapping, rapist Rhaegar is now advocating killing women and children! Is that the hero you want to be?" I yelled him just as he spit some blood and glared at me. "I'm going to call that favor right now."
"You can't honestly believe what I owe you that much from that alone?" He said with an incredulous look.
"Even if you ignore that debt you know you owe me much more than that." I told him and he tried to hide his wince, "but I won't ask you something outrageous. What I want you to do is to sit down, take a deep breath, calm yourself and take a decision based on what is best for the rebels and the realm, taking into account the counsel of people you trust. In other words, act responsible."
I took a deep breath. "I don't know about war, and perhaps even after my request she might end being killed, but I don't want you to make such important decision while angry." I said while holding up my hand. "Can you do that? For me?"
He looked at my hand and for a moment I thought he would reject it, but after a few instants he took it and stood up. "Fine, I can at least make a proper decision when not angry."
"Thank you!" I said with a smile before kissing him on the cheek, "here, all better now."
"Does that mean-"
"No."
"Che", he said earning a light chuckle from Ned, tension leaving us for now. "Alright, we still need to deal with the other Targaryens who fled to Dragonstone."
I nodded with a sigh. "If only there was a way for them not to be heirs or something without further bloodshed or clashing of armies. Do you nobles have any laws about dethroning that doesn't involve shoving a sharp piece of steel through their chests?"
"There... might be a way." Allowed Ned, "don't you have Targaryen blood yourself Robert? After the war is finally over we can call a grand council to legitimize you over Aegon or Vyseris. At worst we can send them to the Wall."
"That's one solution", muttered Robert, "now I just have to figure out what to do with Tywin."
I shrugged. "Do whatever you want, I will just remind you that he appeared to be important-"
"He's the Lord Paramount of the Westernlands", interjected Ned.
"- he is someone important so whatever you decide will consequences, but frankly I'm not feeling very charitable to the guy who ordered the pillaging, killing and raping of the city. Something I do not approve regardless which side he is on." I told the two, and they nodded, taking the hint.
"Well, I will have time to deal with those headaches later. I will send a raven to Storm End saying the king is dead so you can lift the siege for me Ned. You're the only one I trust to do this without Jon Arryn", he said the last with a bit of pain, "and Rose doesn't have experience for command since I will need you to send supplies to Stannis."
Ned stared at his friend for a moment, before giving him a grim nod. "I will do it, but I won't return here. I will go directly to search for my sister."
I coughed, getting their attention. "You know, I could go and find her, you know? Even if I don't find her by the time you're done you can still search for places I missed."
"I'm her brother", said Ned firmly, "it's my responsibility to look for her."
"And you're not avoiding your responsibilities", I told him, "I'm volunteering to go ahead. I'm sure your sister will understand."
"Great idea!" Said Robert suddenly, "you do that Rose. You can meet with Ned later after he finishes with the siege."
Ned tried to protest, before sighing. "I suppose Robert have a point, but I would still want some of my bannermen to accompany you."
I nodded. "That's fine, ask for up to ten volunteers to ride with me. I'm find her as fast as I can. Speaking of which, did Varys have any clue on where she could be? Heard he was Master of Whispers or something."
"He said she was most likely in Dorne, but other than the Kingsguard that is not here probably no one else knew where she is." Said Robert bitterly.
Oh well, guess I will need to look and ask around Dorne. Hopefully I will get a clue on where the Tower of Joy is without tipping my companions.
~~O~~
The tip came, out of all places, from Elia herself.
"I have no love for that wolf... woman", she said at some point, "but I can't deny that Rhaegar started all this. If he had crowned me the queen of love and beauty in that tournament, none of this would have happened."
"But why are you helping me?" I couldn't help but ask, "you shouldn't feel that much better about Robert since he did killed your husband and tried to kill you and your children."
"You protected us from his fury", she answered simply, "and while I fear the rebels as a whole might still try to kill me and my own, I'm certain that if you didn't do anything Robert would certainly kill me."
"I'm sorry I can't do much", I said to her, "I might be strong enough to force the issue for a while, but unless I commit myself to killing anyone that disagrees with me I can't do much, and I don't want to be remembered as someone who's no better than the Mad King. At least they know my position on this matter and will take my wishes into consideration."
"That's far more than I expected", she admitted, "thank you for that. Now go and rescue the wolf maiden and finish this foolish war."
With those words in mind we reached the Tower of Joy, and there guarding the place were what my old man memories called 'The Tree Stooges'. Actually, let's voice those thoughts into words.
"So that's where the Three Stooges were hiding", I said loud enough for them to listen to me. I patiently let them come out of the tower to meet with us.
"Who goes there?" Said one of them.
"We're Stark Bannerman", said Greatjon Umber who insisted to accompany me in this task, "and with the aid of the Witch of the Riverlands we came here to rescue Lyanna Stark!"
"You sick fucks", I corrected him and he nodded.
"Aye, you sick fucks."
There was some sound above in the tower, before someone came out of the window. "Ned! Are you there?"
I looked up. "Hey, you're Lyanna? Sorry that Ned himself couldn't come, he's a bit held up at the moment so I told him I would rescue you on his regard. He's worried sick about you, you know? He will cry tears with joy once he finds out you're well and fine."
"She's not going anywhere." Said stooge two, "we were tasked to protect Lyanna Targaryen."
...
Shit.
"Please tell me you didn't do what I think you did Lyanna!" I yelled at the stupid, stupid, stupid girl.
At least she looked appropriately uncomfortable at my glare. "I'm sorry!" She said, "it's a long story, but those three won't let me go of here!"
Good enough for me. "Well, you heard the lady", I told the kingsguard, "she wants to go home. Now, I should tell you that Rhaeger and Aerys caught a terminal case of dead so I would really appreciate it if you three let us pass."
Stooge one stepped forwards. "Nobody will pass while we draw breath. If Rhaegar and the King are truly dead, that means prince Aegon is the king, though the one likely to hold regency is the Queen Dowager Elia Targaryen."
"And who the hell tipped us off to where you might have been, you dumb fucks?"
"Nevertheless", said stooge three, "we will follow the last order of Rhaegar, to our dying breaths."
Well, I did tried to be diplomatic. "Hey Lyanna, wanna see something cool?"
"Something cold?"
I shook my head. "Nevermind, just watch this." I turned to the three stooges. "Which one of you are the best swordsman, I challenge you to a duel!"
The three stooges looked at each other before looking past me. "Aren't you going to come after us yourselves?"
Greatjon laughed. "Oh no, I find this whole thing hilarious! Please go ahead don't mind us."
Howland Reed smirked at seeing their confusion. "You three didn't get the news about the Witch of the Riverlands or the Bloody Rose, did you? I don't know if I should pity you or feel amused by this whole thing. Actually, amused sounds about right."
I stepped forwards a little and pulled down my hood, letting them clearly see my face and they became surprised. After all it wasn't often when they saw a girl barely into her adulthood leading a party of bannermen, let alone when said bannermen allows her to go alone on her own to challenge the kingsguard, some of the finest knights in the realm.
"Well, who out of you three is the best swordsman?"
Stooge one stepped forward. "If I may, Lord Commander?" Stooge two nodded. "I am Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of Morning. I shall be your opponent."
I looked at him up and down before nodding. "Alright then Ser Arthur, here's how things are going to go. Since I'm feeling charitable I will give you one chance to make it counts." He tilted his head at the strange choice of words I gave him. "You're going to get that pretty sword of yours and hit me as hard as you can."
"... what?"
"Now hold on, you might have misheard me." I interrupted him as I stared him intently in the eyes. "Not half as hard, not some arbitrary amount. I want you. To hit me. As Hard. As. You. Can."
"And if I don't do that?"
"Then you might be nearly as much of a pussy as the prince."
He grit his teeth and pulled out his sword from his back, and with a yell he swung at it towards my neck which I caught the blade with my left hand, surprising him.
"What? How!"
Not answering him I kicked him on the chest, sending him flying backwards behind stooge two and three, rolling on his back before hitting the sword on the ground to stop his momentum. Looks like he's a cut above the other people I fought. Just as he regained his balance the other kingsguard took off their weapons with murder on their eyes.
"So this is what the best of you three can do? I was expecting better." I said while shaking my head. "Anyway Ser Arthur, I'm going to give you another chance. You. Me. As hard as you can. Did you get that?"
He slowly made his way to me getting past the other two stooges, spitting to the side before once more gripping at his weapon. With grim resolve he charged at me, swinging at my neck. This time I just stood there as his sword hit my neck with all his strength.
Only to do jack shit.
His eyes widened, and he took a step back.
Unsheathing my own weapon and holding it with my two hands at the side, I coated my sword with aura and my semblance, enough for it to be visible. I gave him a warm smile. "When you reach the seven hells, tell Aerys the Witch of the Riverlands sends her regards."
I made it painfully obvious how I would swing my blade, and Arthur held his sword in a defensive position by instinct. When the power in the blade reached a certain point, I swung.
From obviously telegraphed movement to impossibly fast sword swing in an instant, man, armor and sword were cut in half. Well, more like a large piece of their mid section was suddenly missing, alongside the left rock formation near the tower being blasted away as loose rock and gravel flew towards the mountain range.
Hmm... took a lot more aura than I thought it would. Must refine the technique more.
"So... who's next?"
To their credit they didn't soiled themselves, but both knights took an instinctive step back.