65 Omake: A Rhapsody of Thrones

A Rhapsody of Thrones

"Mikael Waters, you stand accused of high treason."

Daenerys Targaryen sat on the Iron Throne, her retinue surrounding her, as her right-hand woman read the sentencing to this last and most formidable foe.

She was ready for this all to be done. The trials had been going on for weeks as she sought to consolidate her hold on the Seven Kingdoms.

No more war. No more Night King. Just peace and rebuilding.

Rebuilding which would have gone much easier if this man had bent the knee.

But Mikael Waters kneeled to no one.

His pride would be his death.

Impressive resolve for a bastard, but he had more than earned the right to be proud.

As it was, Daenerys had a headache about how she would handle the riots that would form from the little folk when they received word of his execution.

Mikael Waters was a hero to them.

A hero brought low by her.

If it wasn't for the insistence of her handmaids, Daenerys would have been happy to send him into exile rather than have him killed. But they had never steered her wrong yet, so she had followed their advice.

The man, a pacifist so famous he wasn't even cuffed, stood unbowed before the most powerful men and women of the Seven Kingdoms.

The new Queen of the Seven Kingdoms had once heard he had been beset by assassins but, rather than fight back, had convinced them to not only spare his life but to slay their original contractor. It was said he refused to even kill a fly and would never physically hurt another living being.

Such an admirable man looked devastated as his charges were read to the assembled crowd of nobles (those who survived) that gathered in the throne room.

It was rather lengthy but basically boiled down to: Rising above your station. Crimes against the crown. And having the bad luck of being on the losing side in a war.

After the more serious crimes were read out, a few charges Daenerys was unaware of were also read.

"For the crime of stealing a horse."

"It's not stealing if the owner is dead," Mikael denied with a frown. "Then it's just animal rescue."

"For despoiling a priestess, laying with a lady of high standing, and fathering over a thousand children with different women."

"Cersei and Melisandre came on to me. Not the other way around," he sighed in resignation, barely putting up a fight. "And nothing happened. I don't cheat on my wives." Admirable in its own way. She hadn't even known the man was married. Or that he was a polygamist. "And that last one is completely made up. And if it weren't, it's not even a crime. This is a sham trial, and you know it. Let's get this over with."

He was right.

This was getting excessive. Daenerys shot a look towards her right-hand woman. It wasn't like Emma to make mistakes like this.

The blonde showed no indication of speeding it up, taking her time to read even more absurd charges. Daenerys looked to her retinue, trying to get their read on the situation. Their political acumen had saved her life before.

Robin had that little smirk on her face. Tsunade wasn't smiling but radiated contentment as opposed to Yoruichi, who was grinning like a jungle cat about to feast. Ranni was expressionless as always, but long familiarity with her told Daenerys that the woman was incredibly smug. Melina was trying to calm Medea, who was laughing quietly in a significant breach of court etiquette.

They all, to a woman, were watching the situation with relish. As if seeing this man brought low was their long-held desire.

"You are also accused of burning several Septs and despoiling artifacts of sacred significance," Emma accused with a smirk.

The gathering nobles and courtiers shuffled as murmurs broke out. That was a serious accusation, especially after the loss of the Great Sept of Baelor.

"It was Winter. We were cold," Mikael sighed again as if this was just another silly accusation. "And if they don't want their artifacts used in latrines, they shouldn't be shaped like that. Or leave them undefended."

The crowd's murmur started to rise to a clamour, forcing Daenerys to step in.

"Enough!" She ordered, standing from the Iron Throne. Emma took a step back but, judging by the smirk on her face, was utterly unrepentant. They would be having words later. "Mikael Waters! Your crimes are numerous. So are the blessings you have given to the people of Our realm. Your creations. Your aide in the Long Night. Your defence of the little folk of Our lands. They speak of your potential. We will ask one last time. Bend the knee. Swear fealty to Us. You shall be spared to continue to work for the betterment of all."

"I will not," Mikael denied. "I only kneel to my wives. And only in bed. I am a free man, no matter what."

"Very well," Daenerys felt her stomach clench. She had been hoping it wouldn't come to this. That he would swallow his pride for the sake of his life. If nothing else, in order to see his wives again. "Then, by Our right as Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, We sentence you to death by beheading. Your wealth shall be claimed, and your lands seized. Your family shall be spared in light of your deeds."

Political theatre. That was all this was.

Mikael Waters had been born a bastard with nothing to his name. He had achieved considerable wealth thanks to his inventions and political titles for services to his various lieges, but he had held on to none of it. It was all reinvested into raising the Seven Kingdoms to new heights.

It was as if he had no material desires. No attachment to wealth, fame, or land.

By any standard, Mikael Waters was a saint.

(Not of the Seven, obviously, but saint-like nonetheless.)

Combine that moral integrity with his intelligence and political acumen, Daenerys dearly wish she could have swayed him to her side.

If she had three Mikael Waters, she could rule the world in her lifetime.

"Do you have any last words?" The Queen signalled for one of her guards to step forward.

"I just want to know how? How did this happen?" Mikael looked around the room, his face a painting of confused despair. "I keep running the numbers in my head, and it doesn't make sense. How did I lose?"

"Human stupidity."

Daenerys glared at Emma for her severe breach of conduct but allowed the blonde to continue as she hadn't known how to answer the man's question.

"I accounted for that," Mikael denied.

"No, you didn't," Melina countered from beside Daenerys. "Your egotism blinded you. You try and understand others but are unable to truly think like them. Even when you believe you are dumbing your thoughts down to their level, you still overestimate others. Most people are stupid. Monumentally stupid. And you couldn't get rid of those idiots yourself, thus chaining your feet and dragging you down."

"I shouldn't need to," Mikael denied vehemently. "This isn't a book or a show! Idiots don't need to survive to drive the plot along! You know how common it is for stupid rulers or nobles to die? If they are incompetent, their vassals, knights, or any number of servants will kill them. It's easy. Humans are squishy. A bump on the stairs. A fall from a horse. A fake political charge. Guards not liking their liege. Hell, the praetorian guard practically made it a tradition! To say nothing of Eunuchs of China!"

Daenerys suddenly felt very exposed. Though she wondered about the names he mentioned. Were they foreign?

"Cowardice," Ranni answered, even as the crowd quieted to nothing, watching the drama unfold. "Even should they have the ability, they lack the will. Few would risk their lives to be free when given the choice to submit to fate for safety."

"But it's common sense!" Mikael looked honestly befuddled at the idea. "If a king is going to get you killed, then you should kill him first. Even if you die, you take the bastard with you."

"Fear and stupidity," Tsunade shrugged. "You were going to lose from the get-go. You had the manpower and infrastructure and played to your strengths, but you were too weighed down by idiots. We started with nothing, but we only had one to worry about. And there were multiple of us, so we could have one watch her for anything stupid while the rest were productive."

Daenerys suddenly felt very insulted.

And worried.

What was going on?

"In the Game of Thrones, you win, or you die. And you, Mikael Waters, have lost." Emma smirked, and Mikael sagged in defeat. "Accept it."

"Fine, fine, this is my loss. So long as none of you cheated."

No sooner had the words left his mouth did the shadows of the throne room lengthen and stretch. The fires of the torches still burned, but their light did little to pierce the obsidian darkness that flowed over the walls and floor.

The Queenguard rushed to surround Daenerys, weapons drawn, even as the courtiers started to panic. Some tried to flee, but the black shadows had covered the doors and windows.

The newly crowned Queen noted, even a fear filled her, that neither Mikael nor her handmaids reacted.

From that black pitch, a woman arose as if water bubbling from a spring.

"Nobody used anything more than basic human abilities," the gray-skinned woman said in a monotone. "Mikael did not kill anyone. Scathach, Artoria, and Diana did not help them. Everyone followed the rules. You lost."

"Fine," Mikael bit out another sigh. "Give it here then."

Even as Daenerys watched her handmaids cheer, clap, and high-five each other, more shadow bubbled from the floor at Mikael's feet.

A white cone rose from the floor, clearly visible against the black, and the bastard reached down to grab it.

Mikael placed it firmly on his head, DUNCE spelled large across its length for all to see.

"I lose, but I am editing the prize a bit."

"That wasn't the deal," Medea decried.

"The prizes remain the same," Mikael rolled his eyes. "I am just changing the order you get them in. I don't want to have to deal with all of you pregnant at the same time, and you don't either," Daenerys' handmaids reluctantly nodded as Mikael continued. The mother of dragons felt like she was in a nightmare. "So it's only going to be two at a time. I will let you all decide the order."

Suddenly, all her handmaids froze amidst their celebration. Then, slowly they shifted their attention to each other, eyes narrowed in calculation.

Mikael crossed his arms, DUNCE cap proudly on his head as he smirked triumphantly.

Even when he lost, he still won.

Daenerys suddenly felt the urge to cry but could not even lean back on her throne to relax.

Even when she won, she still lost.