-Chapter 104-
-POV Ronnet Connington-
"Very well, since we are all in agreement, I would like us to move on," I said, pausing for a few seconds before continuing, "All the promises I made to you will be fulfilled as they should."
I turned my gaze toward Aurane and said:
"As promised, from now on, you will be known as Aurane Velaryon, Lord of Dragonstone."
He instantly knelt and said:
"I thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty."
I nodded, then added, "The Iron Islands will be returned to Yara Greyjoy and Bronn Greyjoy."
"I hope to never again have to deal with the pirates of the Iron Islands. Otherwise, I will raze those islands. You are beginning to know me well," I said, looking them straight in the eyes.
Yara and Bronn nodded, while all the lords from the Iron Islands who had come with them simply lowered their heads, as I had indirectly granted them amnesty.
'It is time to unite,' I thought as I stood up.
"Tonight, I will host a banquet for all of us. In the meantime, I will let you explore the quarters that have been assigned to you," I said, signaling the servants to guide them.
---
-POV Alynne Connington-
I gently pushed open the door to Ronnet's solar, nervous at the idea of resuming our argument.
But contrary to what I feared, Ronnet seemed calm.
"Sit down, Alynne," he asked me calmly, his back turned.
"I…"
Seeing that he remained silent, I wanted to apologize for disrespecting him, but he raised his hand and said:
"No, you have spoken enough for today."
Sensing that, despite his calm demeanor, his tone was still slightly cold, I remained silent.
"I have a gift for you," Ronnet said as he turned to look at the table in front of me.
I followed his gaze, and my eyes landed on the Hand of the King's brooch.
I frowned, then Ronnet raised his eyebrows, looking at me with meaning.
"Me?"
"Who else?"
"Anyone but me. Not after…"
"You have always been at the heart of the administration of my lands; that will not change," Ronnet said before pausing.
"I will not forget what you have done, and, in fact, I do not even forgive your actions. But unfortunately for me, you are my sister, and I will simply have to move on."
"Thank you," I said, slightly inclining my head, because he understood.
'Maybe he does not accept it, but at least he understands why I did what I did,' I thought, relieved, as that was what worried me the most.
'That he would not understand my reasoning,' I finished silently.
"Do not thank me, Alynne. You and Raymund have both betrayed my trust, each in turn, without caring about how I might feel. There will be no more second chances," Ronnet said, and in his eyes, I could see a steel-like determination.
I nodded, and just as I was about to leave the room, Ronnet added:
"There is no need to tell you that you will not marry anyone without my approval."
I hesitated for a brief moment, wondering if he was aware of the letters I had exchanged with Willas Tyrell, then I nodded.
"Send in Trystane once you are outside, Lady Hand," he said, confirming that this was not a dream.
I, a woman, no less, had just reached the highest position of power coveted by all the pretentious lords of Westeros, aside from that of King.
I smiled, then gestured for Trystane Martell, escorted by knights of our House, to enter.
---
-POV Trystane Martell-
I entered after the King's sister had left, bearing the Hand of the King's pin, and allowed myself a second of shock—it was the first time in the entire history of Westeros that a woman had become Hand of the King.
I was snapped out of my thoughts by a rough shove from one of the knights, who signaled me to move forward.
With shackles on my hands and feet, I stepped into the King's solar.
"You summoned me?" I asked as I heard the door close behind me.
"Yes, sit down," said the King before continuing, "Your father thought himself clever by naming you Crown Prince before I became King of the Seven Kingdoms."
'I knew it,' I thought, realizing that I was not being sent north because of Myrcella, but because of Arianne.
"He did what he believed was right," I said, keeping my composure despite the deep sense of injustice rising within me.
"Do not look so indignant. You threw yourself into the trap that… that I did not even set. You simply jumped, of your own free will, into a hole you dug yourself," said the King with a light tone.
"You want the entire kingdom under your control," I said, narrowing my eyes.
The King responded, "No, I want to have control over ALL the kingdoms, so that what happened during the reigns of the Targaryens and the Baratheons never happens again."
"Elia will help you achieve that goal," I said, shaking my head, discouraged.
"All the Conningtons will help me achieve that goal," the King replied, not denying what I had said.
"Elia will be a Nymeros Martell," I insisted, because despite our differences, Arianne, my father, and I were all united by the pride of our blood and history.
"Have you even looked at her?" he asked before continuing, "She is my spitting image—blue eyes and red hair. A Connington through and through, and that is what she will be."
"Then why did you summon me? To boast about your intelligence? Your victory?" I asked, growing more frustrated with each question.
"You have the wrong idea about me," said the King, shaking his head, almost amused by my words, before adding:
"I assure you, all I want is to help you."
'As if that were true,' I thought, finding it ridiculous.
I held back a mocking laugh, but the King continued:
"It is the truth. But for that, you have only one thing to do."
"What thing?" I asked, willing to hear what he had to say, even though deep down, I had little hope.
'If I have a chance to see her again, I have to try everything,' I thought.
"I want you to be my spy in the North," said the King.
"Why?" I asked, surprised by his request, before adding, "I would be of no use to you, given that I will be in the Night's Watch."
"That is not the question you should be asking," the King said, shaking his head.
"What question should I be asking?" I said, looking him straight in the eyes, without fear, since my fate was already sealed.
"What do you have to gain?" he replied.
I furrowed my brows but remained silent, as I truly could not see what I could possibly gain from him.
'The Night's Watch is not an order one can leave, so it will not be freedom…' I thought.
"Freedom, along with a ship to take you directly to Myrcella," he declared, shattering all my assumptions.
I widened my eyes, my heart pounding with new hope, before regaining my composure and saying:
"You do not even know where she is."
"It is not hard to know where she is headed, given who is accompanying her," the King said, his glacial blue gaze piercing through me before adding, seeing my confusion: "Who is more powerful than me?"
I immediately realized what he was implying and widened my eyes in shock.
I thought for a moment, then said, "They would not dare…"
"Why not?" the King interrupted before adding:
"From their point of view, they have nothing left to lose."
"I… I…"
I was so shocked, surprised, yet thrilled by his offer that, for a few moments, I could do nothing but stammer foolishly.
The King silenced me by saying:
"Do you, or do you not, want to regain your freedom and the woman who will haunt your dreams for the rest of your life? The question is that simple."
I did not need to think.
I was willing to do anything for her—to protect her and cherish her until the end.
"I accept."
"Perfect. A ship will leave tonight for Eastwatch-by-the-Sea," he said before motioning for me to leave.