Chapter 40
By now, the capital would have learned of his plans. Bloodraven's pawns would be scouring the Riverlands by now, but the bastard would find no trace of him there.
It was true that he had found the greatest support for his cause in the Riverlands, as many lords began to fear the Crown's rising power as they saw it conquer the Iron Islands for itself.
Some supported them because of fear, others did so because of devotion or greed. But the man in front of him was different. He supported them because of rage.
"I must say, we are quite grateful for your support," Aegor began, as he offered the man a smile.
"Lord Baratheon...."
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JENA DANDARRION
Matarys' body gave up soon after he had made it back to New Haven. He passed out in the Godswood as he clung to his wife and child, and for good reason. The tall hedge knight he had taken into his service years ago was able to tell them of their travels, and it was a wonder how he was even alive.
The two of them had ridden for four and a half days straight without any pause. Through thundering rains and heavy storms, they had pushed their horses and their bodies to the limit to make it back to the castle in time, but even then he was too late.
He woke a day later, and by then the preparations for the funeral had been made though he paid it little attention as he secluded himself in the Godswood, and sat under the very heart tree where his wife had offered her life to save their son's.
Jena, as the Queen and his mother knew all the details of the sacrifice Gwin had made. Even though she understood nothing, she knew of the curse and the sacrifice Matarys's wife had made just to buy time for her own son.
They had been happy after a long time. Ever since the death of Maekar in the Trial of the Seven some three years ago, grief had clung to their family like a leech. Smiles had become a rarity for them, laughs even more so.
And every celebration was followed by a trial to test them, but none of them had been tested like this. None of them.
She looked at her son's back and could not help but pity him for all the burdens he was forced to shoulder. He had been so full of life, always smiling and laughing, and then Maekar had died by his hands, robbing him of his smiles.
His joys had come back to him when Gwin had told him about being with child, and she had seen a glimpse of that sweet boy in him once more when she had come to care for his wife, but the Gods were not yet done testing him.
They were not yet done testing all of them.
She felt him sense her, as he glanced back slightly and wiped away the tears from his eyes covertly.
"You are still here?" he asked, and he was not the only one being tested for in the capital her own Lord husband fought a battle against the Stranger.
"You ought to head to the capital," he advised, and seven knew she wished to. But she was not just a wife. No. Jena was a mother as well, and though it pained her to choose between her Lord Husband and her Son, she knew that Matarys needed her more than anyone else.
"And leave you like this?" she retorted, as she came and plopped down beside him.
"But fathe...," Matarys countered, but she cut him off as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Your father is a strong man," and though the Maesters had no encouraging news for her, she believed in her lord husband the same way Gwin had believed in hers.
"He also has Valarr to care for him," and if she were to leave then, Matarys would be all alone, and she did not know if he was strong enough to bear this burden all by himself.
"The preparations are complete," she whispered weakly, as she rubbed her hand on his back. She felt him still at those words, before he bit his lip and began shaking his head slowly.
"This is wrong," he cursed.
"All my life I have only ever tried to do the right thing. The noble thing," and he turned to face her, as he sought answers that she did not have for him.
"Even when it came at great personal cost. I chose to do the right thing," and she knew that better than most.
"But all I have ever received in return is pain and suffering," and he turned his head away with a shake.
"Why! WHY!" he asked with clenched teeth.
"I will not defend the Gods," and though she was a pious woman, even Jena did not have the heart to speak well of them in this moment.
"But I know this that only those meant for greatness are tested like this," and he had been tested more than anyone else in their family.
"Then let them test me!" he retorted as his head snapped towards her.
"Make me suffer! Curse me! Not those around me!" and she shook her head.
"That is your true test," she repeated softly.
"The Gods know how much you love your family, and so they choose to test you through them," and it had been Maekar first, and now they were testing him through his own wife and child.
"Gwin gave her life because she believed in you," and the girl had left behind only a letter explaining her choice. She had forced Shiera into making the exchange, and by sacrificing her own life she had bought Matarys a year to undo the curse on their child.
"What if she was wrong? What if I fail?" and he now shouldered the burden of both his son and his late wife's life.
"You won't," she was certain of it.
"I know nothing of magic. I tried to revive a dragon once and I failed. I have no idea on what I am even meant to do," and she shook her head as she assured him.
"You will figure out a way," she was certain of it, and she believed in him more than he believed in himself.
"But first you must bury Gwin so she can rest in peace," and no wife should be buried without her Lord Husband's blessing, especially after she had made as great a sacrifice as this.
"She did not deserve this," he whispered back, as she agreed.
"Neither do you, my son," she assured him, as she wiped away the tears from his face. Slowly, he pushed himself off of the ground and then offered her a hand as well.
They turned towards the castle, when she spotted a familiar face walking towards them. She knew the tall knight well now, and he had been Matarys's companion for a few years now.
"What brings you here, Ser Duncan?" she asked, and his condition was no better than her son's and the toll that the journey had taken on their bodies was rather visible.
He glanced between her and Matarys before he slowly slid forward a rolled-up missive.
"This came from Kingslanding," and her heart sank as soon as she heard those words, as fear gripped her heart.
"Have you read the missive?" Matarys questioned, and the tall hedge knight shook his head.
"No, my lord," and Matarys glanced at her, and his face shifted slightly as he took a step forward.
"Give it to...," and she knew that she had to act.
"No," her son had enough burdens of his own. She would not make him take over hers as well, and so she gathered her courage and stepped forward.
"I will read it," she commanded, and the hedge knight glanced between her and Matarys before he slowly handed it off to her, and her hand trembled as she held the missive.
The words from the last letter began to ring in her head, as she remembered the Maesters warning about Baelor's condition. She prayed to the Gods as she unrolled the missive, and she recognised Valarr's writings in a blink.
Her eyes quickly skimmed over the message, and a clear gasp escaped her mouth as she read the contents of the letter.
"Huh," and tears began rolling down her face, as she felt her legs grow week.
"Mother," Matarys was quick to come to her aid, as he supported her shoulder.
"What happened?" he asked, and slowly she passed him the missive.
"Your father," she began with a shaking voice.
"He has beaten the Spring Sickness," and Matarys's eyes widened at those words as he took the missive for himself and began to read it. She saw color return to his face as he read the encouraging news, and she thanked the Gods for taking some mercy on them.
"The Gods have not forsaken us, my son," she assured him, and Matarys' lips quivered as he nodded.
"They have not forsaken us," and the hedge knight spoke again.
"A rider came from the capital as well," and Matarys frowned at those words.
"It is one of Lord Brynden's men. He says that he has something for you, my Prince," and Matarys's brows came together.
"Me?" and Duncan nodded.
"Aye," and he nodded.
"I will see him now..."
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An hour later, Matarys stood in front of his wife's slumbering form, as the Septon said his prayers. The body had been prepared by the Silent Sisters, and it lay on a pile of logs, for Gwin was a princess and her last rites would be done according to the traditions of their House.
When the Septon had said his prayers, he walked forward but he was not alone. Shiera walked beside him, and while Matarys held the torch, Sheira Seastar held in her hands the greatest treasure of their House.
A Dragon Egg.
The scenery reminded her of King Daeron's funeral, and there Baelor had done the same. Back then, she had thought of it as some form of tradition, but now she understood that this was no tradition.
No.
This was an attempt at trying to revive the power their House had lost a century ago. Lady Shiera slowly put the egg aside, Gwin's slumbering form, before she backed off as Matarys slowly lowered the torch and lit up the logs.
The fire began slowly at first, but soon enough it had swallowed Gwin's entire body. Suddenly, the boy in Kiera's arms began to cry and she prayed to the Gods for mercy.
The fire grew, and soon enough, the people began to leave, but Matarys stood still. He waited and waited until the Sun had set and only embers remained of the pyre that had swallowed his wife.
She walked forward until she was beside him.
"Did it work?" she asked, and he shook his head.
"No...."
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