CHAPTER 55 | A LONG ROAD

WARNING: CHAPTER CROSSES OVER AND CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM MY OTHER GOT FIC, "SINNER"

THE salty waves of the Narrow Sea pulled their boat atop the shores of Dragonstone. It had been a long ride to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea, but it had been an even longer sail to Dragonstone. Maia found herself vomiting every time the boat rocked, and it made her unsure of what she was throwing up from. She was so happy to finally be off the boat that she began to walk through the tide at Dragonstone just to rid herself from retching again.

Jon and Davos followed their bannermen up to the shore, allowing the men to carry the boat to land. The wet sand mushed underneath Maia's feet, and she found herself looking around in amazement at actually seeing no snow. Her arm clutched Jon's, which he took willingly, as the two and Davos walked to the company waiting for them on the shore.

Near the uppermost rock formations of the castle before them stood a dwarf man, which Maia could only guess from her research was Tyrion Lannister. Beside him was a dark-skinned woman, with curls that frizzed out and eyes that shined in even dim lighting. Amongst them all were men that looked like savages, which Davos was kind to point out that those were the dragon queen's Dothraki horde, who had never stepped foot in Westeros until she commanded them to.

Tyrion sent Jon a warm smile when they stood in front of each other. "The bastard of Winterfell."

"Dwarf of Casterly Rock," Jon nodded, unlatching his arm from Maia to shake Tyrion's hand. It was no joke to Jon that the man before him had aged greatly.

"I believe we last saw each other atop the Wall," Tyrion said.

Jon agreed. "You were pissing off the edge, if I remember right." He gestured with his chin to Tyrion's features. "Picked up some scars along the road."

"It's been a long road, but we're both still here."

Maia hugged her arms around herself, finding the crash of waves behind them slightly cold. She wasn't used to such a wet climate, let alone one not covered in snow. She pulled her shawl closer to her person, just as Davos took a step closer beside her, trying to keep guard.

The dwarf looked towards the other members of Jon's party, including the bannermen. "I'm Tyrion Lannister."

Davos stepped forward, shaking Tyrion's hand. "Davos Seaworth," he introduced.

"Ah, the Onion Knight." Tyrion nodded quickly. "We fought on opposite sides on the Battle of Blackwater Bay."

Tyrion's eyes were on Maia then, who hesitantly stepped forward. She held out her hand, "My name is Maia Sanders."

Tyrion placed a gentle press of his lips on her hand, a sign of etiquette. Jon's hand immediately locked around Maia's waist the second after. "We've heard a lot about you, Lady Maia. Thank you for your letter. Her Grace is interested in meeting both of you."

Maia glanced to Jon for a moment, confusion racking her brain. She sent Lord Tyrion a smile nonetheless.

"Missandei," Tyrion said, gesturing to the woman beside him, "is the Queen's most trusted advisor."

Missandei bowed her head before exclaiming, "Welcome to Dragonstone. Our Queen knows this is a long journey. She appreciates the efforts you've made on her behalf. If you wouldn't mind handing over your weapons ..."

Jon looked to Davos, and then to his bannermen. Maia sent him the same skeptical look. "Of course," he replied, unlatching his sheath from his belt. Davos did the same, but Maia kept her arms locked around her torso, for she had no weapons. The Dothraki soldiers took each and every shield, sword, and dagger. Maia frowned at the sight of it.

She then looked over her shoulder, watching the Dothraki lift their boat away. "But – but –" Her mouth opened in shock, but closed it when she glanced at Tyrion Lannister. She sighed, muttering, "This is comforting."

"Please," Missandei instructed, "this way."

Jon and Maia kept staring at their boat being whisked away, while Davos followed Missandei and Tyrion quickly. Maia exhaled sadly, looking around the thunderous water. Jon shook his head, mumbling, "You still think this a good idea?"

"No," Maia whispered truthfully, "but Daenerys Targaryen is the best ally we got." The two turned on their heel and followed.

•••

The walk up to the castle was tiring. Maia took several stops during it to rest for a moment. She blamed it on dehydration, but she knew the real issue. Nevertheless, the long steps towards Dragonstone were long and tedious. Sometimes she wished she had the ability to invent elevators or cars in this world. They would've made things so much easier.

Jon walked side by side with Tyrion, who uttered, "How is Sansa? I've heard she's alive and well."

Maia strode along with Davos, Missandei leading in the front with a few Dothraki soldiers guarding their backs. Maia found herself staring at the Dothraki men from time to time, feeling suspicious about their presence. Jon finally replied, "She is."

"Does she miss me terribly?" Tyrion asked, to which Jon stared on. "A sham marriage. Unconsummated."

"I didn't ask."

"Well, it was – wasn't – anyway." Tyrion shook his head. "She's much smarter than what she lets on."

Jon shrugged. "She's starting to let on."

"Good," Tyrion smiled.

Maia grabbed hold of Davos' arm, in fear she wouldn't be able to keep up without his support. The Onion Knight took her arm gratefully, leading her up the large staircase to Dragonstone. "How much longer do we have, Lord Tyrion?" Maia asked, swallowing hard.

"Not long, I promise," he answered, turning to Jon. "At some point, I want to hear how an ex-Night's Watch recruit became King in the North."

Jon sighed. "As long as you tell me how a Lannister became Hand to Daenerys Targaryen."

"Long and bloody tale," the dwarf smirked at Jon. "To be honest, I was drunk for most of it."

Maia giggled softly, causing Tyrion to give her a big grin. He was an entertaining one, she'd give him that.

"My bannermen think I'm a fool for coming here," Jon muttered.

"Of course, they do," replied Tyrion. "If I was your hand, I would've advised against it. General rule of thumb: Stark men don't fare well when they travel South."

Jon shook his head. "True, but I'm not a Stark."

A loud screech was heard ahead, one that could almost make Maia's ears bleed, if not ring uncontrollably. She crouched down, bringing Davos down with her. Jon dove to the stone floor as a large reptile flew across them, stunning the Northern company to the core. Jon held the ground for several seconds, but Maia was already scurrying up and fast walking ahead to watch a large dragon fly to the top of the castle. Her mouth went wide at the sight of it, not believing that she was seeing a creature from fairy tales before her eyes.

Tyrion lifted Jon up by his hand. "I'd say you'll get used to them," he said, "but you never really do."

Maia turned to Jon, jumping slightly on the balls of her feet. She grinned at Tyrion and Davos. "Will we get to see them again?" She asked excitedly.

"Not unless you want to be burned alive," Tyrion quipped, beginning to lead the group ahead. "Come, their mother is waiting for you."

Jon slowly appeared beside Maia, and both stared at the creatures in shock. Jon's arm laced with Maia's then. He found it hard to look away from the dragons, but he did, and his eyes met hers. "We're really not in the North anymore, Maia."

•••

Jaime Lannister set his golden hand on the table beside him. He picked up his glass of wine, allowing it to just graze the edge of his lips, before taking a gulp of it. He rubbed at his forehead, for it had been a long and tiring day – again. Euron Greyjoy seemed to be getting the best of him, and he couldn't let that show. The captain needed to know where he stood, because he seemed to think he had the crown at the palm of his hands. He was wrong.

Jaime took another sip of the wine in his golden glass, and then noticed there was a figure sitting in the chair opposite from him. He blinked at the sight of the familiar muddy, brown eyes and dark curls, but he knew she had been showing as a ghostly figure when he needed her most. Since finding out her death, she would show in the moments Jaime acquired advice, and though she was only a part of his imagination, he relished in just a few minutes with her.

"You stress yourself out too much, Kingslayer," Laila Ryswell laughed, almost sounding the exact way it used to when she was alive. "Relax a bit. Don't let the lords of the court get to you."

Jaime's fingers tapped on the glass in his hand. He looked up, noticing her ghostly eyes staring back at him. Her whole figure looked the same, except for the sheerness of it. "How can I not be stressed after everything that's happened?" He wanted to cry, but he wouldn't in front of the figure from his imagination. "The Sand Snakes sent me your head. Tyland's head. I've ... lost everything I've loved most."

"You still have Cersei."

Jaime gave her a confused look.

"I am not bitter, Jaime. I, of all people, knew we would never get our happy ending." Her ghostly hand lay on top of his, but he could not feel it. "That does not mean I will never stop loving you. Tyland will never stop loving you. We'll always be with you."

Jaime tried to grab her hand to squeeze it, but it was like holding air. It made tears well up in his eyes. Laila Ryswell had done everything right in this world; there wasn't a bad bone in her body, and yet, she had the worst fate of them all. Laila had escaped the wrath of King's Landing after bringing the Kingslayer home from Robb Stark's camp, alongside Brienne, after coming to know that she was with Jaime's child. She fled to Dorne, where Prince Doran welcomed her with open arms because of her family name, and she had Jaime's bastard, who she named Tyland. Jaime had only seen Tyland once, when he visited Dorne to win back his daughter, Myrcella. He promised to come back. After Ellaria Sand killed Doran and came into power, she killed Laila and Tyland for being conspirators for the Lannisters. Jaime had to live while she had died, waiting for him in Dorne.

"I'm sorry I never came back to Dorne," Jaime began to cry, his nose becoming runny. The ghost of Laila Ryswell allowed tears to fall down her cheeks, and she tried to squeeze his hand too. He felt nothing.

"You don't have to apologize. We were simply not meant to be, Jaime Lannister." She explained, now laying both hands on his only one. "You were always meant to be alongside your sister. I was only your amber, but she's your gold."

The door suddenly flew open, and Jaime quickly rubbed away his tears. Cersei walked into the room and forcefully shut the door. Jaime looked to the chair opposite of him. He saw nothing.