Part Five

Snafu's Notes: Here it is. The final chapter of Game of Thrones: Consequences. This chapter is brutal, to say the least, with the fates doled out to Tywin and Cersei. Be warned. To anyone who watched The Raid 2/Berandal, there is a scene inspired from that movie.

"Who dares, wins."

- Motto of the British SAS

Along the Kingsroad, in the Riverlands – three weeks after Aegon VI's coronation...

Myrcella Lannister had never traveled to the North before. Her mother made sure that she stayed in the Southtron countries, particularly the Stormlands and the West. Now, as her life in King's Landing had drawn to a close, she was opening up a new chapter in her life, this time as a Lion of the North.

The Northern Lannisters – along with the wheelhouse which contained the former Queen of Westeros – was being escorted by an honor guard of Northern Lannister and Stark bannermen. Following the Invasion of King's Landing, which had resulted in Myrcella abdicating the Iron Throne, Aegon had sent word out to the Great Houses and their vassals, that they should send representatives to King's Landing in a show of fealty, to formally recognize Aegon as King of the Seven Kingdoms.

Jamie and Valeriya Lannister attended, representing the Northern Lannisters. Rainer Lannister also accompanied his parents, as the eldest child, while Joanna and Jason remained in Lionsden with Tyrion. Just as a Stark must remain in Winterfell (which is why Robb and Rhaenys Stark were in the place of Ned and Cat), a Lannister must remain in Lionsden.

It would be several more days on horseback before they would cross into the North. But Myrcella didn't mind, as she looked out the window of the wheelhouse, watching the landscape. The Riverlands had been left untouched by the War of Two Kings, as most of the Seven Kingdoms. A thin layer of snow had covered the landscape. From what her uncle and aunt had said, the winter would get worse over time.

Speaking of her aunt, Valeriya was seated beside her inside the wheelhouse, while Rhaenys Stark and Tyene Lannister sat on the opposite side. Tyene and Valenciya both were married to their respective betrothed in King's Landing. While Valenciya left for Sunspear, Tyene returned to Lionsden. Elia Martell would remain in King's Landing for several more days before making the trip back to Lionsden. In her place, Tyene would tend to the sept.

"A golden dragon for you thoughts?" Rhaenys asked.

While Rhaenys had been present to see the downfall of the Southern Lannisters, Rainer and Tyene had rode to King's Landing after the executions of his aunt and grandfather. Robb and Jon Stark, however, had been present and had fought in the final battle, having been conscripted by Aegon himself.

Myrcella knew that Tyene was one of Oberyn Martell's bastards, now legitimatized and husband to her older cousin. She also knew that Rainer had a mistress in Baara's mother. During the trip, the three girls had became friends, despite their backgrounds.

"You can say that I had a lot to think about, over the last couple of days," Myrcella replied.

"You have the look of one with regret," Tyene noted.

"I do. In spite of their crimes...Joffrey, Mother and Grandfather were still family. Such ties tested by their treachery, of which I was a witness of. Mother and Joffrey ordering the deaths of Cousin Rainer and the Starks, Grandfather masterminding the destruction of House Baratheon..."

"It's safe to say that all of Westeros can rest easy knowing that Tywin is dead," Tyene said. "You my feel bad about it now, but your actions saved lives."

Myrcella knew that was true. She had given Aegon the Iron Throne, and in a show of fealty, her mother and grandfather to face justice for crimes long overdue. Aegon had kept his word, but not before he had Myrcella confess to the court of her illegitimacy, and of her mother's crimes in organizing the murder of Robert Baratheon and the attempted murder of Rainer Lannister, Robb and Jon Stark, and the murder of Robert's bastard children. It was also during this gathering, that both her mother and grandfather were executed, but not before Elia and Tyrion had wrought upon a vengeance that shocked even her brother, the Red Viper himself, having devised it shortly before Elia had rejoined her sister-in-law and her children for the Invasion of King's Landing.

Just as Tywin had done with Tyrion when he had his garrison rape his wife, Tysha, Elia had two Golden Company garrisons rape Cersei over the next three days, forcing Tywin to watch as Aegon's men violated his daughter. Once a man was finished, they threw down a golden dragon on Cersei. "After all, a Lannister cost more," Elia had said, throwing what Tyrion's father had said to him back in his face in regards to Tysha, meaning that Tyrion had suggested the idea to Elia.

Not to say that Tywin himself had escaped unscathed. Tywin had been beaten within an inch of his life. Then once the two garrisons were done with Cersei, his eyes were gouged out, 'the last thing you shall see is your daughter, defiled and broken,' was what they had said.

The coins were gathered following the event and given to Myrcella. But she did not keep them, as she knew where they had came from. The two bags of coins were still in King's Landing.

Myrcella remembered that final day she had seen her mother and grandfather. Cersei was naked, her hair matted down with sweat and bodily fluids, her body covered in dirt and bruises. There was no need to shackle her, as she was beaten and crushed. Tywin's jaw had been broken, a bloodied cloth wrapped around his eyes, his tongue removed, the mouth bloodied, as they were taken to the Dragonpit where the three dragons had made their home.

Aegon and Daenerys had played the role of executioners, as Illyn Payne was dead. The Dragon King had to admit that Lord Stark had a point when it came to delivering justice, as Robb told him that 'the one who passes judgment also must wield the sword.'

Tywin had been decapitated by Aegon, while Daenerys slit Cersei's throat, and was later decapitated. The bodies were fed to the dragons while the heads were placed on spikes along the Traitor's Walk. As for House Baratheon, Aegon had stripped it of all honors, replacing it with House Connington. As Connington had married a Volantene woman and had a family of his own at Elia's request, the family line would continue.

Myrcella had to admit that Aegon and Daenerys were cordial, unlike her mother and Joffrey when Stannis had hosted Rainer and the Starks. Her mother even tried to seduce Rainer with honeyed words in an attempt to get him away from Jamie and Valeriya just to spite them. Then she tried to have him killed.

Tyrion once said that in order to test a person's character, give them power. Lord Stark had given her uncle Moat Cailin and a lordship, and the North became prosperous. Joffrey became King and nearly sent all of Westeros into madness. It was clear as to who had succeeded and who had failed.

"Your mother's desire for power and your grandfather's quest in trying to make the Southern Lannisters the most dominant House in Westeros led to their end," Tyene said. "Unless you were directly responsible, then you are blameless."

"They were still family," Myrcella said.

Valeriya decided to break her silence. "I have it on good authority that Olenna Tyrell was impressed in how you played the game. From my past experiences with the old woman, The Queen of Thorns is a very hard woman to impress. Yet, you came out of King's Landing not made short by the height of your head."

"I had a good teacher," Myrcella replied. "One of three, the other two being Uncle Tyrion and Lord Varys."

"So much so that Lady Olenna has brought Jamie and myself to the side to discuss your future," Valeriya continued. "You may be a product of incest, but you carry the Lannister name. Which is why Olenna, Jamie and myself are considering aetting up a betrothal contract between you and Garlan Tyrell."

"Don't sell yourself short," Tyene said. "As a bastard myself, I should know. The fact that Olenna is even considering such a betrothal is a feat in itself."

"And what does Uncle Jamie think about it?" Myrcella asked.

"We were still negotiating with Willas Tyrell when we left Lionsden," the Lion Tamer replied.

"Garlan is attractive. And I did have my eye on him when I was a princess..." Myrcella mused.

"Why did you betray Cersei and Tywin?" Rhaenys asked after a pause.

"Spite. Betrayal. Self-preservation. Chose for yourself," Myrcella replied, looking out the window once again, remembering her last day in power...

[Flashback]

The Red Keep, King's Landing, around the same time Kevan and Addam were in Lionsden.

It was the end, and everyone from Tywin to Cersei knew it. Tywin should have known that the Targaryen's month-long ultimatum was just a ruse. Now, he and his family faced the same nightmare that Aerys himself had faced at the end of the Rebellion.

Leaving King's Landing by ship was out of the question, as Blackwater Bay was being blockaded by Tyrell ships. Any Lannister ship attempting to sail out of King's Landing was stopped, pilfered of its cargo, and burned. What remained of the Lannister forces had been slaughtered. House Westerling, having replaced House Lannister as the Great House, issued an order for all Lannister banners to lay down their arms and accept the Targaryen's pardon.

Much to Tywin's dismay, many of them did. Among them were Tytos Brax and House Brax, having forsaken the Lannisters and swearing fealty to the Targaryens, thus withdrawing his own banners. Now, only less than a hundred Lannister banners, the Kingsguard and the Goldcloaks assigned to the Red Keep were all that stood between the Lannisters and oblivion.

Unknown to the everyone inside the Throne Room save for Myrcella, Varys, and Sandor Cleagne, the 50 Goldcloaks were in truth, members of the Golden Company, having infiltrated the Red Keep the night before, using the secret passages located throughout the Red Keep, while there were another 50 hiding within the walls of the castle.

The attack commenced during the midday meal, with the roar of the dragons acting as the signal. The Red Keep wasn't the only place in King's Landing that Aegon had his forces infiltrate, as the City Watch had been wiped out. The surviving Lannister Banners located in and around the city gates had been killed.

Just as Cersei had the Baratheon House Guards killed when Renly has attempted his ill-fated coup, the Golden Company had struck during the midday meal, storming into the dining hall, and putting the Lannister guards inside to the sword. Caught off-guard, Tywin, Cersei, Myrcella, Sandor, and Varys was forced to retreat to the Throne Room, where the doors were barricaded.

There was a hidden passage inside the Throne Room, but only Myrcella knew about that, and the numerous passages and escape routes hidden within the Red Keep. Her uncle Tyrion had known about them, as he studied various maps of the Red Keep during his tenure as Hand to the King, and had relayed that knowledge to her.

Myrcella sat on the Iron Throne, her expression was that of calm, which was a stark contrast to her mother, who was in a state of panic. Tywin, was armed with a sword he had pilfered from a dead Lannister guard, watching the barred doors with an intense stare.

While Tywin simply waited in the shadows, and watched, thinking that he won, Myrcella was the opposite. She hid in plain sight, watching as her plans were wrought into fruition.

There was a saying that her uncle Tyrion once told her: 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'

She had been in the Throne Room that day when the Goldcloaks – on Littlefinger's payroll – betrayed Renly and killed Loras. She watched as her mother had a look of grim satisfaction on her face as the deed was done, as she thought her secret was now safe. But Renly had blurted out that Rainer and the Starks knew, and had fled the castle, meaning that his death would only postpone the inevitable. Renly was right.

Outside, the fighting in the hall intensified. Cersei yelped as the men outside banged against the doors. But they held. Outside Jon Connington's voice was heard. "In the name of the one true King of the Seven Kingdoms, Aegon, the Sixth of That Name of the House of Targaryen and of the House of Martell, open the doors and surrender!"

"Never!" Cersei screamed, somehow gaining her courage. "You inbred bastards have lost the right to rule! The Iron Throne is no longer yours!"

"It's over, Mother," Myrcella said. "The Targaryens have won. We are only delaying the inevitable."

Cersei and Tywin slowly turned and faced the Bastard Queen, who did not back down from her mother and grandfather. "Have you not forgotten what we had done in order to gain the Iron Throne, you foolish girl?" Cersei asked, the fear now forgotten, if only a moment. "The Targaryens will kill us all!"

Neither the former Queen Regent or the Hand to the Queen noticed the false Goldcloaks move into position behind the remaining Lannister House Guards.

"We have no one to defend us," Myrcella continued, "the other kingdoms have turned their backs on us because of Mother's deception, and because of Grandfather's past exploits. House Stark will not defend us, as they have bent the knee to the Dragon. It's over."

"It is never over," Tywin replied, tightening his grip on his sword. "You think that the Targaryens will show you mercy, you foolish child?"

"Not if I show them fealty. A lesson I have learned from you, Grandfather," Myrcella calmly replied.

Tywin's eyes narrowed. Then they widened at the realization of Myrcella's words.

At that moment, the false Goldcloaks struck. Tywin spun around as the screams reached his ears, and watched as the Goldcloaks cut down his remaining men. Two of the false Goldcloaks had grabbed Cersei and forced her to her knees. Tywin spun around again when Cersei screamed out, "Father!"

That distraction was all that Sandor Cleagne needed. His fist bounced off of Tywin's skull, knocking him to the ground, his sword clattering to the floor. Sandor kicked it away and moved back to Myrcella's side as the barred doors finally gave way, swinging inward, all the while Tywin was forced to his knees, his hands tied behind his back.

Golden Company soldiers entered the room. Myrcella recognized Robb Stark, clad in Stark armor, who walked alongside Rhaenys Targaryen. A sword was in his hand, stained with the blood of Lannister men. His massive direwolf was at his side, the muzzle stained with blood. He was followed by Jon Stark, also clad in Stark armor, his own direwolf following behind, his white fur stained with blood.

Rainer would have come to participate, but he was to marry Tyene, much to his dismay. Not that he was complaining. Neither was Oberyn, as he was still in Lionsden.

Jon Connington entered next, escorting a septa, her face concealed by a cloak. But the two that followed stood out. They had the classic Valyrian appearance; silver-blond hair and violet eyes. While the man was clad in black-and-red armor, the woman was wearing the Targaryen ancestral armor once belonging to Visenyra.

The cloaked septa drew back her hood, revealing herself to be Elia Martell. Tywin and Cersei's eyes widened at the realization. They were not expecting a woman who had met such a violent and brutal end at the hands of The Mountain That Rides to be alive and well...and very, very angry.

Myrcella rose from the Iron Throne and stepped down. She did not look like the Bastard Queen that the Targaryens had spoken of, but carried herself with a quiet calmness and dignity, a stark contrast to her mother. Sandor was behind and to the side of her.

"Myrcella Baratheon, I presume?" Aegon asked.

"Good assumption," Myrcella replied. "You must be Aegon Targaryen." She looked at Dany. "And you must be Daenerys Stormborn."

"Mind your tongue, Bastard Queen!" Connington snapped. "He is your rightful King!"

"Lord Connington...manners," Aegon scolded.

Connington caught himself. "My apologies."

"My Hand is a good man, yet forgets his manners," Aegon said. He looked at Myrcella. "You are not what I expected from the Bastard Queen."

He was surprised when Myrcella didn't appear to be insulted. "And you are not what I expected from the stories I heard about you, the Dragon Commander. I thought you would be taller."

Aegon chuckled. "You have spirit. I like that."

Dany cleared her throat. "Nephew. Back to the matter at hand."

Myrcella turned to the still-struggling Cersei and Tywin, fresh blood seeping from the head wound from where Sandor had struck him earlier. "Lord Targaryen...Lady Stormborn...may I present to you Tywin Lannister...former Hand to Aerys II Targaryen, my two predecessors, Kings Joffrey and Tommen, along with myself...the Savior – and Sacker – of King's Landing. Former Lord of Casterly Rock and Former Warden of the West. May I also present his daughter, Cersei Baratheon, former Queen Regent...wife to the Usurper, Robert Baratheon, and Kingslayer."

Myrcella then took a knee. "The Iron Throne is yours. I will call myself Queen no longer."

Aegon looked at the pair, as did Daenerys and Elia. Then he turned back to Myrcella. "Rise."

Myrcella complied. She rose to her feet.

"As promised, you will be sent to Lionsden...but without the Baratheon name, as I will strip you of that cursed name." He produced a scroll with the Northern Lannisters' insignia on the wax. "From your uncle and your aunt. Legitimization papers. You will carry the name of Lannister. My mercy is tempered with this decree. Unless summoned by me or my aunt, you will spend the remainder of you life in exile from King's Landing."

Myrcella accepted the scroll. "My thanks to the both of them."

She turned to her grandfather, who was giving her the most intense, hate-filled death glare he could, despite being bound and gagged. "I learned from the best, after all. You especially," she said, albeit in a tone that was filled with sadness, which surprised Aegon and Dany. "'When you play the game of thrones, you either win or you die. There is no middle ground.' That is the lesson you taught me, Mother. A lesson which I have taken to heart."

Myrcella sighed. "It was Aunt Valeriya who saw the potential in me. She was my first teacher in teaching me in how to play the game. Uncle Tyrion was the second, and Lord Varys was the third. I know the truth. I overheard Uncle Stannis speak to Cousin Rainer about it when he and the Starks were here. Varys confirmed it."

She then turned her attention to her mother. "You lied to me...and to my brothers...after all these years. You had Uncle Renly killed to protect your secret, and started a war all because you did not want to lose the power you wielded following Robert's death. You never had the right to rule because you were not fit to rule. You always hid behind the Lannister name, unlike Uncle Jamie. He proved to be the better Lannister than you."

Cersei sobbed softly, her head bowed, unable to look at her daughter.

"All of this...could have been avoided. It took not only discovering the truth about myself, but also nearly getting killed to realize that." She looked upon the throne of melted swords. "We don't have the right to rule. The Iron Throne is a burden. Despite their faults, the Targaryens of the past had united the Seven Kingdoms...and it took both you and Joffrey to split it apart."

Cersei knew that she was right. The power she once wielded once Robert was out of the picture was a seductive mistress, an addictive thrill which left her yearning for more.

"One more thing," Myrcella said. She turned her head to a pair of servants, one holding a pitcher of water, the other holding a wash basin with a cloth hanging over the side and summoned the both of them over to her. Elia, Aegon and Dany watched as Myrcella extended her hands so that they were over the basin, allowing the first servant poured the pitcher of water over her hands, Myrcella turning her hands over so that they were thoroughly soaked.

"I am innocent of their blood," Myrcella told Daenerys and Aegon, drying her hands with the towel, looking at Aegon and Daenerys. "I will not slay my own kin. That is left to the both of you."

She then joined her cousin and the Starks. She never looked back at her mother and grandfather, but she had a look of sadness on his face, as noticed by Aegon and Daenerys. But they had chosen their path. Their fate was theirs.

Aegon turned to Tywin and Cersei. His violet eyes glared down at the Lannister patriarch. "Not such a big man now, are you not? Where are your banners? Where is your gold? The people speak of you as if you were the Stranger made flesh. What I see is an old man who is nothing without his gold, his honors and his titles. Your actions have cost me and my sister our father, our mother her husband, and my aunt her brother and father. But the most heinous of crimes was that you betrayed the Dragon. On these charges, do I find you guilty. Your sentence is death by beheading."

Tywin struggled, but it was no use.

Aegon then turned to Cersei. "As it was the Usurper who you had killed, you must stand in his place for his crimes against my family. Had you not murdered the Usurper, I would have placed you under house arrest in a location of my choosing. Even though he was a Usurper, Robert Baratheon was still King. Cersei Lannister...for the crime of Kingslaying, I find you guilty. For the murder of innocent children, I find you guilty. For the murder of Loras Tyrell, I find you guilty. The sentence is death by beheading, and the sentences will be carried out in three days' time."

"No."

Aegon turned to his mother. "Mother?"

"Not yet. Killing her would be too merciful," Elia said, walking up to her son, her tone as cold as ice. "Before she dies, I want her to be given the same courtesy that the Mountain had given to many a woman, especially to the woman who he thought was me. I want the same courtesy that Tywin had wrought on Tyrion's first wife. I want the same courtesy to be given to her tenfold."

The color paled from Cersei's face as she knew what Elia was implying. She had heard the stories of how Gregor had raped Elia – or so he had thought it was Elia – with Aegon's blood on her hands, before cutting her in two. She also insulted Tyrion's first wife, and of how the crofter's daughter fucked an entire garrison of Lannister men on Tywin's orders.

Aegon thought about it for a moment. Then he nodded. "Do with her what you will."

To the three Company men guarding Cersei, Elia gave the order. "The highborn cells are too good for her. Take her to the Black Cells."

Cersei was literally carried away, kicking and screaming for help. Help that was not to come. Tywin was hauled away soon after.

[End Flashback]

Just as the Lannister garrison had raped Tysha on Tywin's orders, two garrisons of Golden Company soldiers had their way with Cersei. Men that Elia herself had chosen for the task. Thankfully, Myrcella was not around to hear her screams, as the deed had taken place inside the Black Cells. To add insult to injury, Tywin was forced to watch his daughter being violated over and over again.

During those three days, the representatives of the Great Houses and their vassals had arrived in King's Landing to witness the coronation of Aegon Targaryen, among them Jamie and Valeriya Lannister. As well as the executions of both Cersei and Tywin Lannister. Now King Aegon VI, his first order of business was to appoint his sister as Lady of Dragonstone. However, Dany had appointed a proxy to rule the island in her place, while she remained in King's Landing.

Myrcella did not leave for the safety of Lionsden straightaway, but remained inside the Red Keep until after Aegon's coronation as King. Only then, under escort, was she allowed to leave. Myrcella had feared that Aegon and Daenerys had reneged on their agreement, and that she would remain in King's Landing as a hostage. But Aegon honored his word, even wishing Myrcella the best of luck in her new life.

The chapter on Myrcella's life as a Southern Lannister was now closed. In the coming days, a new chapter was to begin, this time as life as a Lannister of the North.

Valeriya looked at her niece. She was family, Jamie had said to her when asked why he would open their home to her. He owed Cersei that much. Jamie and Valeriya had been among the nobles and vassals present during the execution of Cersei and Tywin Lannister. Despite everything, Jamie had wept behind closed doors once the deed was done.

While Myrcella spoke with her daughter-in-law and Rhaenys, Valeriya sat back in the wheelhouse, looking out into the passing landscape. There was a reason why she was known as 'the most dangerous woman in Westeros.' Something that Tywin and Cersei had found out the hard way.

Now, contrary to public opinion, House Reyne of Castamere was not obliterated alongside House Tarbeck decades earlier at the hands of Tywin Lannister. A member of House Reyne had been away in Essos at the time, serving with the Golden Company.

That person was Valeriya's father, a bastard son of the Red Lion of Castamere, the result of an affair with a Volantene woman in the past.

Valeriya's father had groomed her into being the instrument which caused the destruction of the Southern Lannisters. Jamie Lannister had been an unknown factor in the plan. Valeriya could have killed him and sent his head back to Tywin, but as Jamie had been disowned, it would serve little purpose. Falling in love with the son of your most hated enemy was not part of the plan. But the union did produce four children, of which she loved dearly, as she did Jamie.

Valeriya suspected that Varys knew the truth about her ties to House Reyne. But he kept his mouth shut. After all, Jamie was a vassal to Lord Stark, and war between the Lion and the Wolf would prove to be disastrous. But Elia Martell knew. Valeriya had found in the Dornish princess, a kindred spirit, one who hated the Lannisters as much as she did, save for Jamie, as his actions during the Sack of King's Landing ensured that she and her children survived.

Nineteen years, she waited and plotted. The War of Two Kings had provided her with the perfect opportunity to manipulate events which would lead to the Southern Lannisters' destruction. But first, Petyr Baelish had to go.

Varys had written to her in Pentoshi, telling Valeriya that it had been Littlefinger who had found out Rhaenys' identity from a former whore who once worked in his brothels, now working in the brother in Lionsden, and rather tell Cersei and Tywin, provoked Roose Bolton to rebel, all because he wanted Catelyn Stark for himself. Both Elia and Valeriya were furious at the revelation.

So Littlefinger was kidnapped by a crack squad of Golden Company men and was smuggled to Lionsden. There, Elia and Valeriya had words with the little bastard.

[Flashback]

Lionsden Godswood, three weeks after Bolton's Rebellion.

Baelish had been found on the Kingsroad, heading for The Vale when he was intercepted by the Golden Company who had begun to infiltrate Westeros. Littlefinger was brought to Lionsden in the dead of night.

Elia Martell and Valeriya Lannister studied the man for a brief moment. The contrast was indeed shocking. Elia Targaryen, regal and intimidating despite being clad in the robes of a septa; Petyr Baelish, ruined.

"If I had to choose one word to describe the game of thrones, it would have to be 'ambition,'" Elia began. She then caught herself. "No. Let me rephrase. 'Limitation' is the word. And there is the importance of knowing yours."

"Take my brother-in-law, the King," Valeriya continued. "The man built his reputation in leading the Rebellion which had drove the Targaryens from power. But he understood his place. He understood how high he could climb, which is why Tywin let him where he was, drinking and whoring himself into an early grave."

The sound of steel being drawn from behind caught Baelish's attention. Turning his head, he saw one of the Company sellswords holding a dagger in his hand.

Elia saw the growing panic in his eyes. "Oh. Don't mind him," she said. "I like to think that I'm very reasonable. Even ambitious, as I wish to see my son on the Iron Throne, the Targaryens the dominant House in all of Westeros. But in the game of thrones, you have to take it one step at a time, something that people like Cersei, Joffrey and Tywin failed to do."

"And you, especially," finished Valeriya. "You really should have been some fucking steps away from a meeting such as this."

"Cersei will..." Littlefinger began.

Valeriya cut him off with a backhand. "Do nothing!" she bellowed. "You provoked Roose Bolton into rebellion! Your words nearly killed not only the Starks, but almost brought my House to ruin! Your words almost led to the deaths of my lord husband!" Valeriya struck him again. "And my children!"

Valeriya would have beaten Baelish to death had it not been for Elia. "Calm, Valeriya. This is not the way."

Valeriya took one look at Elia, then at Baelish. One final kick knocked out several of his teeth before she stepped back.

"Cat...I did it all for Cat..." Littlefinger wheezed in pained breaths.

"Lady Stark?" Elia confirmed.

"The fool was in love with her since childhood," Valeriya snorted. "She was betrothed to Brandon Stark at first. We all know how that turned out."

This, Elia knew, as she had been present when Aerys had Ned's father and brother killed.

"Cat was supposed to be mine. I loved her...ever since I was but a boy. But she had eyes for Brandon Stark," Baelish confessed. "It was I who came across knowledge of Lyanna Stark running away with the Bard Prince. Rhaegar did not kidnap her. She went with him willingly."

"But you lied, and said that Rhaegar kidnapped her," Elia grounded.

Baelish nodded. "All to get him out of the way. Then she goes and marries his brother! She was mine!"

This time, it was Elia who had slapped Baelish, drawing blood.

"So now, here we are, full circle," Valeriya said. "Ambition and limitation." She looked at Elia. "Varys had sent word that it was Lady Arryn who had poisoned Jon Arryn at Littlefinger's behest. He had hoped that Robert would appoint Lord Stark for the position of Hand to the King, just so that he would manipulate the Lion and the Wolf to come to blows. But Robert had appointed Stannis for the position instead."

Turning back to Baelish, Valeriya added, "Roose Bolton learned the hard way that Lannisters pay their debts. You will learn that lesson first hand."

Elia looked at the Company man and nodded. The man took position behind the bound Baelish. "No...NO! WAIT!"

"We already know everything. You have nothing else of value," Elia said, just as the Company man opened Baelish's throat from ear to ear.

Valeriya turned to the three Company men. "Make sure that his body is disposed of," she said before returning to the Keep.

[End Flashback]

Baelish's headless body would find itself washed ashore near The Twins. The head was not to be found. Jamie was none the wiser (as she had slipped him a sedative in his drink), and Rainer had been fucking his whore at the time. With Baelish out of the way, Valeriya turned her attention to the Southern Lannisters.

The only two Southern Lannisters she could stand were Tyrion and Myrcella. Hell, she actually liked them. Joffrey was a sociopath in the making and Tommen was starting to show signs of the madness which had plagued the Targaryens through centuries of dynastic incest.

It was during the Hand's Tournament in Harrenhal that Valeriya had schooled Myrcella in the game of thrones in the little time she had, sowing the seeds of discord between her niece and Cersei. Then, she had Tyrion instruct her. When Tyrion was dismissed from the Red Keep, Varys was her instructor.

During her time with the Golden Company, Valeriya had saved the lives of a group of Faceless Men. To show their gratitude, they presented her with a contract, promising aid against her enemies, good for one use. To ensure that the Faceless Men would be compensated, Valeriya had brought along a chest of gold bars as payment, seeing as this was a suicide mission. Best to make the Faceless Men realize that it was worth it.

[Flashback]

Lionsden Godswood, at the conclusion of the War of Two Kings...

"This is a bad idea," Elia Martell muttered, wrapping herself in her furs, as her septa disguise did little to keep her warm.

"You said that three times already," Valeriya replied.

"And I will say it a fourth."

Valeriya raised a hand, silencing the false septa. "They are here."

A cloaked man stepped out of the shadows, followed by three more men, their faces also concealed. The Faceless Men - assassins who worshiped the Many-Faced God. They were the best at what they did. And they were here in Lionsden.

"Valar morghulis," Valeriya said.

The man emerged from the shadows. A man with multi-colored hair. Red on one side, white on the other. "Valar dohaeris," the man replied. "A woman calls, and a man answers."

Valeriya produced the parchment and handed it to the man. "A contract was made for a one-time deal between myself and the House of Black and White. Now is the time to honor that contract."

"The contract shall be honored," the man replied, after scanning its contents.

"Good. How many accompany you?"

"A man has fifty companions with him."

"Perfect. You are aware of the war between Stannis Baratheon and Tywin Lannister that is happening as we speak?"

"A man is aware. Now a man needs a name."

"Joffrey Baratheon. Tommen Baratheon. Tyrin Lannister. Give them the gift, but spare the lives of Tywin Lannister and Cersei Baratheon, as their lives are promised to another. Also spare the life of Myrcella Baratheon. But they are not the only ones I want dead. I want not only Tywin dead, but also the lords who fight alongside him, their lieutenants, and their banners. Make it so that it was an act of revenge from Stannis Baratheon."

"A man understands, milady. But such a contract is expensive."

Valeriya pointed to the wooden chest that stood nearby, under a heart tree. "Your payment is inside. Double, as this is considered a suicide mission."

The man made a gesture of his own. Two more assassins emerged from the shadows and inspected the chest. Inside, filled to the brim, were golden bars. Gold belonging to the late Petyr Baelish, now used to buy death for the Lannisters in King's Landing. The two assassins nodded in the affirmative.

"A woman is most generous. A man give you his word. Those in question shall be given the gift."

"See to your task, assassin." With that, the meeting was over.

[End Flashback]

Out of the fifty assassins, only ten - among them the man whom Valeriya had spoken to - had survived the Black Dinner. Valeriya could have named Tywin Lannister, but as a gesture to Elia, and by extension, the Targaryens, spared his life and that of Cersei.

She saw that by ordering the deaths of Cersei's boys that she was doing the Tyrells a service. After all, Loras Tyrell - a man she had respected and admired - had lost his head on Joffrey and Cersei's orders. Then the pair had the nerve to call for Rainer's head, along with those of Robb and Jon Stark.

"Cersei and Joffrey ordered the deaths of Robert's bastards," Valeriya had explained to Elia, "I lost countless kin to Tywin when he purged the House of Reyne. It is said that no parent wish to experience the loss of a child. It is time for the Southern Lannisters to suffer for their hubris."

"But why not kill Tywin Lannister outright? Why not kill him and be done with it?" Elia asked. "Why kill his son and grandsons?"

"That would be too easy. Tywin and his daughter must suffer as we all had suffered due to their lies and deceit," was Valeriya's reply.

When the summons from Aegon and Daenerys had came for representatives of the Great Houses and their vassals to come to King's Landing for Aegon's coronation, the Northern Lannisters - Jamie, Valeriya, Rainer and Valenciya - were among those summoned alongside the Starks.

Upon hearing what had happened to both his sister and father, Jamie would have been horrified as to what the Targaryens had wrought upon his estranged family. But he had closed the book on them a long time ago. His father had disowned him and his sister had scored him.

"I consider myself lucky to have avoided this," Jamie had said to Valeriya. "Had I remained loyal to Father and Cersei, I would have been with them in their final hours."

It was during their time in the Red Keep, that Valeriya had Varys lead her to the Black Cells, where she spoke with Tywin for what was to be the first – and final – time. There, did Tywin learn the truth.

[Flashback]

The Red Keep, King's Landing.

While Jamie was catching up on old times with Barristan Selmy, Oswell Whent and Arthur Dayne, Varys had led Valeriya to the Black Cells in which Cersei and Tywin were being held.

Valeriya looked in at the woman who was Jamie's former lover, and her sister-in-law. She was on her side, her dress reduced to rags, bruises and welts along her body. In a final indignity, her golden hair was cut off. A pile of golden coins laid in a corner of the cell.

The next cell contained Tywin himself.

He had been stripped of his armor, leaving him only in breeches and a bloodied shirt. A rag covered where his eyes once were, having been gouged out after witnessing Cersei's brutal violation by the two garrisons. A stark contrast compared to the man she had seen in Harrenhal years earlier. Cold and intimidating. Now, broken and defeated, irons around his wrists and ankles.

"Who is it?" Tywin demanded. "Who's there?"

"Tywin Lannister," Valeriya drawled as she pulled up a chair and sat down opposite her father-in-law. "Lord of Casterly Rock. Savior and Sacker of King's Landing. Hand to three Kings and one Queen. Or would you rather prefer Murderer? Or Butcher?"

"Valeriya? Is that you?"

"Ah. You remember me. I'm honored."

"I would not forget such a woman as yourself. Why are you here? Did Jamie asked you to come here?"

"No. I came here of my own accord. To see the once powerful man in Westeros beaten and broken, along with his daughter on his last night before his execution. Oh, if only Grandfather Tyris was alive to see this day..."

Now that was a name that Tywin had not heard in years. Tyris Reyne, the Red Lion of Castamere. The same Tyris Reyne he himself had put to the sword when he rebelled against his father decades earlier along with Tarbeck.

"So you remember my grandfather, the Red Lion of Castamere. As you should, as you were the one who had killed him. You purged all of House Reyne with the exception of one man. Tyris's bastard son. My father. He had been away, serving with the Company overseas when word reached him. But before he could bring about his revenge, he was called to his ancestors, thus, leaving it to me."

"So what now? Are you here to kill me?" Tywin sneered. "Rob Rhaegar's dragonspawn of the honor yourself?"

"No. I won't kill you. I've already destroyed you, and your son, your granddaughter, Elia Martell and the Targaryens were the instruments used to bring about the destruction of the Southern Lannisters. I could have killed Jamie when he first joined the Company, but I stayed my hand. You would not have shed any tears over him, as you already had disowned him. I made a promise on the lives of my children, that I would not harm my husband, as he is nothing like you."

"So you used Jamie."

"No. Falling in love with the Kingslayer was unexpected. Also, I married him to spite Cersei. There is a reason as to why even Olenna Tyrell herself consider me 'the most dangerous woman in Westeros.' You were there when I posed the question to Cersei about who was the bigger threat."

Tywin remembered that day.

"Olenna should thank me, as it was I who had delivered justice upon her behalf in regards to Loras Tyrell," Valeriya mused. "The Faceless Men does good work, wouldn't you agree?"

"It wasn't Stannis who had sent the Faceless Men," Tywin whispered. "It was you."

"It was me. To the smallfolk and the nobles, they will forever see it as a final act of vengeance wrought upon you and your House. After all, dead men tell no tales. Shame. I actually liked Stannis."

The realization began to dawn on Tywin. Stannis didn't kill his son and grandsons. It was the woman before him who gave the order. "You killed my son...my grandsons...and my lords. Why?"

"Easy. So that there would be no one left alive from the Southern Lannisters to seek revenge," Valeriya replied. "You are the last. With your death and that of your daughter, the Southern Lannisters will come to an and, and the Northern Lannisters shall rise, red-blooded and strong."

"And Myrcella?"

"I merely planted the seeds when I instructed her in the game of thrones, and watched as she blossomed," Valeriya admitted. "After all, words work just as well as steel. A lesson you taught to Stannis Baratheon." She stood up. "Remember this day, Tywin Lannister. Remember it in the little time you have left to live. The day in which Valeriya Lannister of House Lannister and House Reyne delivered retribution upon you and your ilk for all of the crimes you have wrought."

"And what will it be for you?" grated Tywin.

"For me...it will be Valenciya's wedding day to Quentyn Martell," Valeriya replied. She then turned to the Company sellswords who had escorted her inside and gave a nod. "Your son had the tongue of a minstrel sliced off," continued the Lion Tamer as a third man entered the cell, holding a dagger in his hand, the blade red-hot from being set into the fire. "And the Mad King has Illyn Payne's tongue removed in the same manner. And I can't have you telling anyone what I had told you, now can I?"

Tywin's screams echoed throughout the Black Cells as his tongue was severed. Valeriya left the whimpering man in his cell in great pain, the smile not leaving her face as she whistled 'The Rains of Castamere.'

[End Flashback]

Tywin and Cersei had been executed the following day before the gathering of the lords and their vassals. Their heads were placed on pikes and left to rot.

Aside from the executions of the Southern Lannisters, the weddings of Valeriya Lannister and Tyene Martell took place inside the Red Keep's Royal Sept. But that was not the joyous news of the day.

Valeriya was pregnant. A new cub was growing inside of her. Rhaenys herself was also pregnant with Robb's child. Prior to leaving Lionsden, Tyene also revealed her pregnancy, and of the impending grandparent status to Jamie and Valeriya. But what was most surprising was that Mheaghen herself was also carrying Rainer's child.

Jamie and Valeriya had read Rainer the riot act over the fact that he will soon father a bastard. Rainer's time in Dorne had showed that bastards were people too, and not judged by the actions of their parents. He would claim the bastard as his own, and give it the surname of Lannister, although the child would not inherit, Rainer would make sure that the child was to be taken care of.

As Myrcella and the others continued to chat with each other, Valeriya could not help but to feel a sense of triumph. The Southern Lannisters' power had been destroyed, and the Nothern Lannisters' reputation will rise. Valeriya will see to that.

But she and Jamie will make sure that Lionsden will survive the winter, and the Long Night that is to follow. Lord Commander Benjen Stark had written about the threat of the White Walkers, and the alliance the Night's Watch had made with the Free Folk and their chieftain, Mance Rayder.

Valeriya wasn't worried. The dragons would be used to put an end to the threat of the White Walkers, while the dragonfire – burning even hotter than the wildfire that Aerys wanted to use on King's Landing – would keep all of Westeros warm throughout the winter, and the Long Night.

And when Spring once again returned to Westeros, it would be the dawn of a new era, both for the Northern Lannisters and for the Targaryens, one that Tywin and Cersei would never see.

Valeriya continued to look out the window, and out onto the landscape, a small smile of victory on her face. Despite the cold, the future for the Lannisters of Lionsden had never looked anymore brighter. No one (save for Elia Martell and her children) would know of the role that Valeriya Lannister had played in the downfall of the Southern Lannisters. It would be a secret that she would carry to the grave.

She had gained vengeance for House Reyne of Castamere. The Lioness of Lionsden made sure that the Southern Lannisters would never rise again. Now, what awaited her was her home that she and Jamie had made together in Lionsden.

As the escort made their way north, she also thought about Aegon's proposal. Should her child produce a daughter and should Margaery bear a son, then he would extend a betrothal contract between them. Now, there was a new possibility that her child – should it be a girl – would be Queen someday.

Oh, yes, Valeriya had a lot to be thankful for. But now, she would do what she does best. Plan and prepare. As she planned, 'The Rains of Castamere' was playing in her head. Oberyn had Tom Sevenstrings and a band of minstrels play it as Cersei and Tywin were executed. "Music to die by," the Red Viper had said. Jamie had always hated that song, and didn't think too highly of 'The Wolf Awakens' as well. Valeriya spoke the final line to the song to herself, in a whisper, so that the others could not hear her.

"'Yes, now the rains weep o'er his hall, with not a soul to hear.'"

END.

Snafu's Notes: So ends, the third in the Consequences Series. The next one will be Ranma ½, redone and revamped.