Chapter Twenty Six

The threat about Myrcella's safety isn't brought up as Oberyn Martell is alive and kicking and now negotiating with his brother about creating an army to support Daenerys reign.

Prince Doran doesn't want any war but his brother already promised Aera their support. "Can't believe you move without my Knowledge." Prince Doran said looking at Oberyn who just shrugs.

"The Princess is rather convincing." Prince Oberyn said.

"And had exquisite beauty," Ellaria added.
_

Aera at Kingslanding. The Princess had been sending food to the citizens, she doesn't want to get the attention of the high lords but who gives a shit.

Aera's gold is useful, she helps the citizens to build their homes and gives them some food supplies. Then people have begun to talk, asking who she is and some even called her the realm delight.

For her beauty and kindness. She gives a dozen donations at the orphanage, making sure the children have clothes and food for their daily life. Whenever she would visit the Orphanage the kids would always love to see her.

She even goes to the places where sick people are and help to nurse them, she never really got infected by any disease. The gods made sure of that, she has been helping people whenever the main characters of Game of Thrones don't need her help.

She hired a few people, and slowly their numbers got larger and larger... Volunteers. Aera starts paying them.

Everyone knows her as Aera. No one knows her origins but people begin to love the Princess. Aera bought a small compound in Kingslanding where the people she hired started working, they're the one who buys food, clothes, and any daily supplies that people needs.

"People need water, not wine," Aera said while massaging her temple, someone inside her organization bought ten barrels of wine when she ordered barrels of clean water to drink.

"Sell these wines to the merchant, or to anyone who loves to drink then use the money to buy some water... reminder, not wine but water!" Aera exclaims and the three people she asked nodded then leave.

A girl then approaches her. She's one of the people she helps, she's a whore who wanted to have a new life so Aera bought her from the brothels, and after that, the girl began to help her to provide for the people around Kingslanding.

Her name is Sheila. "My Lady, you need to calm down... People frequently makes mistake" The girl spoke out and Aera just nodded.

" Who makes the mistake of buying 10 barrels of wine when I stated that it will be provided for the Orphanage? " Aera grunted making the girl chuckle.

" Well... The kids could learn early" Shiela said while Aera rolled her eyes. " I have been working for you for months, my lady. But I know nothing about you" the girl spoke out making Aera turn to her.

Aera trusted no one, even though all this time Shiela had been nothing but loyal to her... She becomes her squire or servant.

" Well... There's nothing to know. My Father is a lord from Volantis... One of the richest men in Volantis and he wanted to marry me off to some lords here in Kingslanding. But he died, leaving all his wealth to me. I didn't want to marry some drunken cunt of a Lord that is why I started to help the needy with my father's money"Aera lied, she's a good liar even Shiela believes.

" Lady Aera, people in Kingslanding had been calling you their savior, guardian... The Realms Delight" Shiela apprised making Aera turn to her.

" Really... the last Realms Delight that I know is Rhaenyra Targaryen... The half-year Queen... " Aera said, she despised the greens for taking the rights of Rhaenyra Targaryen. "Shiela, while I'm gone take care of the people, I'll travel to Volantis to get some of my belongings." Aera tossed Shiela a small purse containing some gold.

Shiela was surprised when she peeked inside, she didn't know that the woman trust her that much to give her money. "Take care of everything while I'm gone, make sure none of the people in Kingslanding will starve, go to the poorest part of Kingslanding and give them food and water" Aera instructed and the woman nodded.

Shiela did what her Lady told her, but she even mention to everyone that it was Lady Aera who sends these donations to help them, sooner or later... Lady Aera would be cherished by all.

Jaime who had been patrolling Kingslanding notice Shiela providing food to the children. The man wandered towards the lady.

Shiela turned to him. "Lord Commander." Shiela gives her respect to the man and continues to give out food.

"I know who you are, you're a whore... Since when are you giving out food to these people?" Jaime raised a question, his brother Tyrion is known to be a manwhore who loves to fuck and drink so Jaime knows the people he fucks.

"I'm not a whore anymore, Lord Commander. My Lady bought me from the brothels... And now I have been helping her help the people" Sheila said as she continue to help around.

" And who's Lady is that? " Jaime asked.

" Lady Aera, everyone here knows her... She's famous for helping people. " Sheila let out stunning the man from his post.

He had been looking for Aera, for the longest time now only to hear that the Lady is helping the people of Kingslanding.

A girl is helping out the people while the King is doing nothing in his castle, letting his people starve.

" Where is she?" Jaime asked.

" She's away, in Volantis. She will be back soon. "Sheila told.

_
Aera isn't in Volantis, she doesn't have anything to do in Volantis, it's just an alibi to be out of Kingslanding.

She's actually taking care of Robb Stark, he hasn't woken for a year now and his mother is worried sick. The arrow that was shot at him contains a deadly poison, and she's doing everything she could to save the man.

The north needs him, and Aera stays awake day and night just to take care of the man, even Catelyn was worried for Aerasanne's health so she advises the girl to take a rest but Aera won't budge.

Aera decides to have a walk near the lake, she needs to clear her mind to come up with a better strategy, right now everything lines up. Catelyn notices this and approaches her. "We meant to die at that wedding, aren't we?" Catelyn asked.

Aera stare up ahead, she didn't look at the woman. "But you're alive, that's all that matters."

"Because of you, none of us will live if it weren't for you. You saved us. I haven't officially thanked you-" before the woman could continue, Aera looked at her.

"Don't thank me... I wavered in saving you, in saving everyone... Talisa might be alive today if I didn't hesitate." Aera confesses she's condemning herself for the death of that woman.

Catelyn grabs her hand.  "Aerasanne, everyone would hesitate to save us, especially if you're outnumbered. Yet, you saved us, you sacrifice yourself for us." The woman reassures.

_

In Meereen, Ser Barristan Selmy didn't die because Sandor was there to protect them, the two fought the people with masks together with Grey Worm but they are badly wounded and Daenerys wasn't happy about this.

Daenerys did feed one of the enemies to her dragons, not in the dragon pit but in an open area to send a message to the people who betrayed her.

She's the mother of Dragons and being her enemy is a painful way to die. Her enemies will be scared of her and there's nothing they could do.

Daenerys watched as Viserion and Rhaegal eat the remains of her enemy, she is furious.

_

Aera who arrives at Castle Black, she wanted to talk to Maester Aemon but she stops herself when she saw that Sam was speaking to him.

"And though Daenerys maintains her grip on Slaver's Bay, forces rise against her from within and without. She refuses to leave until the freedom of the former slaves is secure... She sounds like quite a woman." Samwell remarked while reading the letter to Aemon Targaryen.

They know that Aemon can see now, but because he's old, his vision isn't that great. His eyes cannot focus and read small letters which is why Samwell helps him.

"And she's alone, under siege, with no family to guide her or protect her," Aemon said, Aera was listening and suddenly felt guilty leaving her sister alone, but she did send people who would do anything just to protect her.

" Alone? But she has a sister, a twin. They say that her sister has her own dragons. "Sam asserted.

" Aerasanne Targaryen, a mysterious woman, they said. She's not with her sister right now, she travels for them to survive." The Maester said confusing sam because everything the man knows about Daenerys and Aerasanne is what he was told.

"Why do you keep this kind of book? All torn and unreadable." Aera snorted carrying one book to the table where the Maester and Samwell are seating. The girl doesn't wear her mask.

"Aera!... Lady Aera, you're here... You are here, what.. what are you doing here?" Sam stutters, confusing the lady.

"Sam calm down, why are you panicking? I'm not a ghost." Aera let out as she flips the book open.

"Aera, I heard what you did in the execution of Mance Rayder. You gave him a painless death." Maester Aemon said looking at the girl. Aera smiles sweetly at her Great-uncle.

"The man doesn't deserve to die painfully, Maester Aemon," Aera said as she turned her head to the book she was reading.

"Ah.. well... Lady Aera, umm... Are you a witch?" Sam cannot stop himself from asking and Aera glance up at him, she raised her eyebrow at the man. "I meant no harm... No offense."

Aera chuckles at the man. "I'm not a witch."

"Well... The Lady Melisandre reminds me of you, so I thought-"

"Hey! I don't sulk like her! Besides I'm prettier than that woman!" Aera childishly complains, she's mostly joking, and she doesn't really give a shit. Samwell was startled. Aera laughs while witnessing him like that. "Calm down. I'm just joking, we're different. She serves her god while I on the other hand believe in a god that doesn't exist here and the gods of my ancestors." Aera said and she glance at Maester Aemon who's been listening to their conversation.

The man is smart, smart enough to know what Aera's game is.

"I wanted to say, Thank you for helping us... Against the wildlings" Sam spoke up and Aera nodded and continue to read.

"Maester Aemon." Jon walked in he was about to step forward when he saw Aera reading a book in front of Samwell. Sam and Aemon turned to the while Aera just continue reading a book.

"Lady Aera..." Jon Snow called confused. Aera gave her a thumbs-up and ignored him.

"I believe the Lady doesn't want to be disturbed while reading," Sam said looking at Jon.

"Who wanted to be disturbed while reading?" Aera snorted. Jon Snow approaches them, he just let the woman do what she likes.

" Lord Commander." Aemon greeted him.

" Sam...Aera, I'd like to speak to the maester alone," Jon said. Sam gets up, grabs his papers, and leaves. Aera didn't do anything just continued reading the book.

" Just don't mind me," Aera said and the man cannot do anything about it. He just walks over and sits beside the table.

"How are you feeling?" Jon asked the Maester.

" Oh, like a hundred-year-old man slowly freezing to death." Maester Aemon retorts.

" I need your advice. There's something I want to do, something I have to do. But it'll divide the Night's Watch. Bitterly. Half the men will hate me the moment I give the order." Jon started.

" Half of the men already hate you, what are you afraid of?" Aera asked without looking as she continue to flip the pages.

"The girl is right, Lord Commander. Do it" Aemon said.

"But you don't know what it is," Jon said. Aera stop from reading and looked at the man.

"That doesn't matter. You do. You will find little joy in your command. But with luck, you will find the strength to do what needs to be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy, and let the man be born." Maester Aemon advises.

"I know what your plan is, the wildings," Aera said looking straightly at the man. Jon straighten his body and looked at the girl who save them.

"You fought them before but you killed none, why?" Jon asked.

"It's not my position to kill any of them."

"But you killed Mance"

"With approval"

"So you kill people with their approval and permission!?" Jon asked ridiculed.

" If I kill them it means they have to die, they will die either way without me killing them. I never kill anyone, only Mance and I have his permission."Aera response.

Jon stared at her, he always find her mysterious, and everyone does. " You said you are not a witch, that lady with Stannis doesn't like you. "

" The feeling is mutual. " Aera retorts.

" Help me, help me help the wildlings and we'll be in your favor," Jon said, he's been asking her for help ever since and the girl had been helping them without anything in return.

Aera turned to Maester Aemon who nodded at her. Aera sighed. " Find out who I am, Jon Snow. I will help you with the wildings but you have to find out who I am. In that, we could be officially comrades. " Aera smirked at the last part.

She could earn the trust of the man by him finding out who she is, maybe in the future he could convince the north to bend the knee to Daenerys.

Aera looked at her book once more." My favorite book is Aegon conquest. " Whispered. Jon turned to Maester Aemon who just nodded at him.
_

Aera let Tormund and Jon Snow talked about what will they do about the wildings.

"What would you have me do, Lord Commander?" Tormund leans forward.

" I'd have you go north of the Wall. Gather the remaining free folk wherever they are and bring them back here. I'll open the gates for them and let them through. I'll find them lands to settle south of the Wall." Jon informed me, he is willing to help the wildings.

"They won't kneel for you and neither will I."

"I  don't want them to kneel for me. I want them to fight with me when the time comes."

"The day I ask my people to fight with the crows is the day my people cut my guts from my belly and make me eat them."

"And how many of your people can't fight? The women, the children, the old, the sick, what happens to them? You're condemning them to death. Worse than death because you're too proud to make peace. Or maybe you're not proud. Maybe you're just a coward."

"Easy thing to say to a man in chains."

Jon unchains Tormund. Tormund’s eyes widen as he feels his hands.

"Your people need a leader. And they need to get south of the Wall before it's too late. We don't have much time and they have less. The walkers are coming and they'll hit your people first. I'm not asking you to make peace to save your skin. Make peace to save your people."

" Most of them are at Hardhome. You know where that is?"

"Up on Storrold's Point. I can give you 10 horses and nine other men. You can get there in a week."

"We'll need ships."

" I'll talk to King Stannis about lending you his fleet."

"All right, then. You're coming with me. You're the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. They need to hear it from you. They need to know the ships they are boarding won’t be torched in the middle of the sea. You come with me, or I don't go."

Aera shows her presence, she's actually behind Tormund the whole time while Jon was talking to him.

Jon knows she was there the whole time, and he wanted to involve her in this mission but he also has a mission on his own.

" Don't tell me, I'm going too?" Aera snorted from behind startling the wilding. Tormund turned to her.

She's still reading the book with seating cross-legged. Aera glances up at the man.

"You! You... You are the girl! The one... You are!" Tormund cannot say out loud that this girl manages to beat their small troops alone. Aera rolled her eyes.

"It's nice to meet you, Tormund. I'm Aera and forgive me about your hand." Aera said pointing to the scar on his hand.

She actually stabs him in their fight because the man marches at her, without thinking. Aera lend her hand out to shake and the man hesitate but he did it nonetheless. He's still amused by how the girl manages to win against them.

"I have to meet your friends, Wun Wun and Dongo!" Aera childishly exclaims, she wants to see them again. Tormund turned to Jon confused and the man just nods.

Comment