It's rare to see Loras hesitate. Not because of arrogance, but because he thinks about his decisions thoroughly before he starts acting towards them, so when the time comes, the outcomes never surprises him. Until now."The fact that you felt unseen. Unheard. That is not an excuse for this bloodbath. Yes, you betrayed me for my own faults, but those people who died for it, what blame do they have?" He points at the prisoners that are sitting on their knees, waiting to hear their fate."I am done with explanations, brother. You can use your imagination to fill the gaps in my story. Assume the worse and it will be fine." Tommen rolls his eyes like this stretch of his life is too bothersome to deal with."You are right. No explanation will excuse what you and your supporters did. Everyone will get their pay." Loras shakes his head, but his words seem to have triggered something inside Tommen, because the rebellious prince's facade cracks. He rises his head, a bit of panic in his eyes."S
It feels like forever since Astrid had stepped foot in the palace. The place was starting to feel like a home when she left, but now the walls seem cold, and the air is tense.The guards salute the king, but as they pass them, she sees them exchanging looks.A maid greets them at the harem entrance and tells Loras that Lady Sansa is waiting for him in her room."She should have been here to wait for the king. The entire harem should have been here!" Tamara comments and Loras signals her to calm down."It is quiet around. What happened?" Loras asks the maid that looks rather uncomfortable."Maybe Lady Sansa would be more fit to answer You majesty's questions...." She answers trying to take a step back,but Loras stops her."I asked you. Now answer!""Your Majesty..." She tries to avoid saying ore, but Loras throws her a warning look and she gets pale as a ghost. "The ladies of the harem were getting quite old... Lady Sansa decided to move them to the old palace until they could be marri
"I love Omar. He is the only family I truly have left. I will protect him from everything and anyone if I have to. Including you." Sansa says as she looks at Loras with a fierce expression, but her words made the king angry. "You? You want me to believe you did all of this to protect Omar from me? How exactly would that have worked? Tommen would have named him heir?" Loras asks sarcastically laughing. Sansa rolls her eyes. "Tommen wanted Omar before he even became king. And believe me or not, I have all the faith that he wouldn't have hurt him, but I was not so sure about the rest that would have circled him like vultures. But no, I wouldn't have risked placing him in Tommen's hands regardless." "Then?" "Do you think that Tommen would have lasted more than a year on the throne? He would have been the traitorous fool that overthrew a great king, the people would have revolted. And what better option would have been than the son of the great Loras Dardarian? He would have been the n
"Maid!" Loras calls again, the frustration in his voice palpable. "Call the officer's wife in here. Immediately!""Yes, Your majesty.""She did nothing to make you question her story?" Astrid asks again, but Alex shakes his head. His eyes are on the ground, ashamed of the situation he got himself into."If I wanted to get rid of a witness do you think I would have married her with an officer from the place?" Sansa shouts, exasperated at the situation. And for the first time since she knows her, can't say she blames her."Well, that can be said the other way around... Why did you let her to marry a palace officer when you wanted to get rid of the girls that played into the revolt scheme?" Loras turns to his older sister, but it doesn’t even sound like an accusation, rather, an amused question at this point.Sansa lets out a huge sight and falls down on her chair."The girl was doomed because she did what I pushed her to do. When he came declaring how much he loves her I thought I can o
"He just stormed off?" Tamara asks, pacing around her room, still dressed in her nightgown."Without a word..." Astrid sits down, on the sofa, feeling hallow inside. She should have told him... Initially, she was mad at whoever brought this letter to him, then at herself because she wrote it down, and then at Loras because he just walked away. But as time passed, she realized that she only had herself to blame. She knows Loras, she knows he wouldn't have been against her wishing to take some time before a child, he would have supported her. Then why on earth did she feel the need to lie?"Who gave him that? What was in your head when you wrote that?" The princess asks, repeating Astrid's circle of blame."I don't know. I woke up and he was in the study room, reading it. As for why... I thought I was dying, I didn't want that lie to live forever in between us.""Astrid that is by law, treason against the king! Even if he forgives you, it can still cause a mess. Who had access to it?" T
"Did Alex know?" The moment of hesitation makes Astrid wonder, but Lanna shakes her head."I will ask the king for mercy." Astrid says, despite wanting to know Alex's version of events, but regardless of that, Lanna incriminated herself even more just for a chance to save him. She doubts that she is lying, this time. Not only that, but the desperation in her eyes makes her think that her feelings are deeper than love at a first glance."Thank you... Astrid, thank you!" She cries, grabbing the corner of Astrid's sleeve and missing it.Embarrassed by the gesture, Astrid stapes back and leaves the room without saying another word."Alex!" She calls.The poor man almost jumps at the sound of someone calling his name. He was talking with Tamara in the hallway."Yes, Lady Astrid.""Do you love her?" Astrid asks and he is taken back for a moment before letting his head down."I made a promise and..." He tries to explain, but she interrupts him."That's not what I asked."Alex clears his voic
"I will let each of you say whatever you want to say before I begin. So?" Loras asks looking at each of them."Please don't look at Omar any different because of me... If a punishment is in order it should be only mine." Lysa jumps the boat before any of them could and Astrid looks confused at Tamara. The princess is surprised too."Why can't you understand that Omar is my son as much as he is yours? I am tired of everyone trying to protect him from me. For the love of God, if I wanted to get rid of my own child, not you, not Sansa, not this entire world would be able to stop me. But why on Earth would I want that?" Loras loses his calm for a second. The frustration is clear in his eyes as they throw fire daggers at Lysa."History proves that this can change. He is a child now. No one thinks you would hurt your child, but once he grows? Once you're both men that disagree with each other?" Lysa doesn't back down."So you just try to accelerate this supposed process? You spend the most
Wife? How would that even work? The king is not allowed to marry. He has a harem. The laws. After a war, everything is unstable. This entire thing can be disastrous. No one would support such a thing. How would the laws of succession work if they would be married?There are a million reasons why this is a bad idea. There are even more reasons why she should say no. He shouldn't even ask such a doomed question.But...There is a reason why her answer is going to be yes. Because she loves him. And if that's not enough, then nothing is."Yes..." She whispers, still shocked. "Yes... " A bit louder this time."Yes yes yes!" She shouts with excitement.The ring is gorgeous. A black teardrop diamond in the middle, surrounded by a dozen of smaller, white ones, giving a grey reflection. Just like her eyes.Loras gets up and kisses her. A kiss not filled with lust, not filled by attraction, but one filled with smiles, joy and laughter."But how this will even work? The laws?" She asks after the
"All hail to King Loras Dardarian and Queen Astrid Dardarian!" The guard announces them solemnly as they step through the gold doors. The banquet room is filled with the noble lords and ladies of the kingdom, diplomats from beyond the seas and high members of the land councils. They all bow in front of the royal couple as they slowly make their way to the other side of the room, where the thrones await.Astrid looks at Loras, who is holding her hand. So many years passed, so many troubles they overcame and with every second that they live she feels that not a thousand lives would be enough next to him. Loras notices her melancholic glance and smiles."This is not the day for unpleasant feelings, my little one! This is a day of celebration." He whispers, the feeling of his breath on her neck, still giving her shivers of pleasure after so many years."I am old, Loras. When will you stop calling me little one?" She laughs."Do you want me to find you another nickname in the next life?"A
"Where is my son?" Loras shouts, his voice unrecognizable.Astrid helps Lysa get up and whispers to her that Omar found his way to the dragon cave and is now with his aunts. Once she hears that, color returns to her face and she starts crying hysterically.Everyone turns to them, distracted by the noise. Everyone but the king, who is so blinded by his rage that he can't hear a thing around him."You're not lying?" Lysa asks, clinging to Astrid's arm with such force that she almost breaks it."He got lost in the corridors. The king's dragon sensed his distress and called for him. That's why he ended with us." Astrid explains and the guards around them exchange questioning looks before glancing at the king."Loras! Loras!" Lysa shouts, running toward him, ignoring the traitorous lords that throw her murdering looks. "Omar is with Astrid! Omar is alright! Our son is alright!"The king's fist freezes in the air and he turns his head to Lysa. His former favorite is in tears, happiness mixe
Astrid tries to swallow the lump in her throat as she looks at the cave's entrance, waiting for someone to run in and announce that Loras arrested the lords without spilled blood.Sansa's voice is in the background as her prayers echo on the cavernous walls, creating a soothing noise. It helps the other girls that are gathered in the corner, as far away from the dragons as possible."We just got here..." Tamara tries to calm Astrid down, but to no avail."Did Loras say anything to you about Lysa and Omar?" Astrid asks, holding Erik a bit tighter to her chest."He just seemed furious. But my brother is not the one that is easily overpowered by emotions. And he loves Omar. I think he will forgive Lysa too for his sake." Tamara confidently declares. Her reassurance seemingly more for herself than for Astrid."My lady?" Esmee asks. "I could take the little prince for a while. So you could rest."Astrid looks at her. She wants to say no, as feeling Erik close to her makes her feel better,
The heavy doors open and all heads bow in front of her. If the events from earlier wouldn't have opened her eyes, Lysa would think that they all respect her. She looks at her new husband and the dignified way he keeps his back straight and his hand on that decorative sword on his waist. He will find his end tonight. She looks around. They will all find their end. Including her. Two chairs were brought to sit tall on the other side of the room and Lysa walks to sit on one. Lord Connrad joins her soon after and the meeting of the traitors begins. "Noble lords of the kingdom!" Lord Connrad starts his grand speech. "For centuries, our influence was the foundation that the crown used to build this great nation. Every change good or great was passed through our opinions before a king would even consider implementing it. And that brought us to where we are today. On the top of the world. Second only to God's heavens." The Lords cheer in agreement and Lysa simply fails to understand the ne
Lord Connrad has a huge grin on his face as he stares at the woman that once was known as the jewel of the crown. Lysa is indeed a beauty, even so many years later, even after a child. Her figure is unchanged, the skin is soft and tight. Her breasts are defying any force of gravity that tries to tame them.The woman is shaking, terrified by what's to come, but doesn't utter a single word. After all, who would help her even if they hear her screams?She closes her eyes, trying to disconnect, to leave her body to this filthy word. But that seems to provoke Lord Connrad, because he grabs her hair and shouts at her, ordering her to look at him like she used to look at the king.Why would she? This scum is no king...In her mind, she returns to her first night with Loras. Sansa chose her to go. She liked how Lysa could hold her head high. She didn't realize that she was only doing it because she had nothing to lose. In the prince's chambers, she was shaking like a bird caught in hand. Lora
The bells ring louder than Lysa had ever heard them. Curious thing. She's been here for years and she never paid attention at the sound. Every hour... one ding for one past midnight, two dings for two past midnight. Every single day without a break and it's the first time she actually listens to them.The high priest in right on time. The old man always is. That might be his only quality as in the rest of the time he spends his moments preaching about how everything is a sin.Lord Connrad comes into her room without knocking and she throws him a threatening look that he chooses to ignore."You, my lady, are dazzling my eyes. Truly the jewel of the crown as the peasants refer to you."Lysa can't help but throw her eyes in the mirror. The dress is indeed dazzling. Impeccable white, crusted with endless diamonds that reflect the weakest light into a rainbow that then dances around her. A sight to counter her flawless body and rise her full chest. A bit of cleavage, just enough to attract
Omar is shaking at her chest, but Lysa signals him to be quiet. Lord Connrad sent two of his personal guards to escort them, but they still have to get to the meeting point unnoticed. "You said we are going to see auntie!" Omar whines and the echo of his little voice hitting the empty halls makes Lysa freeze. "We have to see a friend first." She whispers to her son. "It won't take long, I promise." The promise is a lie. Lysa doesn't know how long it will take, but it's enough that she is anxious, she is not going to bring her son in the same state. "I'm cold!" He whines again after a moment of silence and Lysa curses herself for not dressing him in warmer clothes. But at the same time, the guards would have gotten suspicious if the prince would have walked to his aunt's place all dressed up. "We are going somewhere warm, my love. One moment." She wraps her arms around him, trying to provide all the warmth she can with her own body. This old path was closed years ago so there are n
"What happened? Where is she?" Astrid bursts into the infirmary with Tamara, confused as hell, running behind her."Forgive me, Lady Astrid! Her stomach started bleeding, suddenly. It may have been more than an indigestion, I believe the stress made a hole inside her guts. She bled out the poor girl.""She was fine a moment ago and now you're telling me that she bled to death?" Astrid shouts, but the medic is already not paying attention to her anymore as she bows to somebody that just came into the room. Astrid turns around, surprised to see Lord Connrad."Thank you for your worry, my lady. My wife would have been honored." He says, barely contenting his smirk. "Your Grace. It's an honor to be in your presence."Tamara doesn't seem to reciprocate the feeling but politely nods at the lord. Since she doesn't know the situation, she is not filled with rage as Astrid is."Forgive me, my lady! My lord! I did everything that was in my mortal power. The rest comes only from God and he was t
"You look at me as if you just saw a ghost, Astrid." Sansa comments, trying to seem offended, but with a smile hiding behind her lips."I... didn't expect that...""Neither did I. To apologize to a... well, you are not a slave anymore... to a concubine of my brother was not something that I thought I will ever do in this life. But I am not that stuck in my own ways not to see the necessity to do it this time.""And what made you think that?"Sansa sighs."More than one thing I suppose. My brother seems better, happier. I can't ignore the good effect you have on him. You offered him a son, a lovely little baby that even if I hated you, I can't help but adore. You turned around the fate of the war... Maybe I started it, but... I never wanted to go through with it. It was too late when I realized that and I am glad it failed. You didn't take advantage of that victory to push everyone else aside for your own gain. And more than anything you seem to care about this kingdom in a way that on