Chapter 37 - Broke me

( I hope you enjoy this chapter, I wasn't going to do it in the beginning but I thought a long chapter will be better than no chapter at all, so I hope you enjoy it, the story will go back to its regular timeline after this chapter, I just wanted to express my writing in a different way.)

[Glimpse of the future]

The waves crashed, smashing against a misty shore, the wind scattered silently with the songs of distant fighting. The air shaking with the never-ending waves, while the sky seemed to dim with the heaviness of black clouds, the sand below dyed red with warm life, in great contrast to the sky above. The sand sinking as staggered steps followed with impressions behind heavy footsteps, two steps for each person as their boots became slick with blood, the air around them silent while the men of driftmark Their eyes drawn to the blood staining every part of their body, from their snow white hair to their black armor, not to mention their weapons that seemed to drown in it.

"It is done.." One of the men said, ignoring the looks of the men around him, not even turning his face to the man in charge of strategy during this war.

"Prince Keth, you and Daemon have done more than I could have ever asked for. Why are you in a rush? There is much to talk about." Corlys, the man in charge of this army, spoke out with a firm tone, it was easy to the both of them what he wanted to say, but here was not a place to discuss it.

"It has been months, sitting amongst the sea and dead, I've grown accustomed to, but it does not mean I enjoy its company, Lord Corlys, if there is a matter, discuss it with me at kings landing." Keth spoke, rubbing the back side of his muddy glove through his bloody hair, spitting out sand from his teeth as he looked into Corlys eyes before walking away.

"Is it not you who should explain, but no matter, when you have faced judgment from the king, come to Driftmark, we will talk at length." Corlys, the ever wise man did not let his emotions control his actions. Though say for only a few, knew what his words meant, his firm tone leaving no room to talk as he watched Keth's back.

"It seems gratefulness is in short order, no matter the wrongdoings of any man, it takes two to make a child, push to far Lord Corlys, and misfortune may befall you." Deamon said, even if he wanted to blatantly say what was going on, he knew this matter was not his to deal with, he would not interfere with his brothers affairs.

Corlys said nothing, his eyes straight, but calm as he watched Daemon nod his head lightly, only to swing his cape clipped to his armor as he turned away with the commanders of his army. The army laid silent, it wasn't clear what was going on, but it seemed something had happened between Lord Velaryon, and Prince Keth. They would not speak out, it was not the place of a knight to question their Lord.

Maliketh moved his feet up the muddy banks off the coast the fighting had taken place, his arm placing his sword back as he climbed a small outcrop of rocks, his eyes looking at the hundreds upon hundreds of black armored men that saluted him. Each was clean, the signs of fighting no longer filled this battlefield, while the lines of men knelt one after the other.

"Lord, the ships are ready, along with the men to return to kings landing.." from the side of keth who placed himself atop a rock, a voice of a man could be heard as 13 men with different armor from the normal armor knelt. The man's blonde hair blowing in the wind, his eyes to the floor, unable to meet Keth's gaze.

"Clover, can you not meet my eyes?" Keth spoke back to the man, his eyes cold, and unmoving as he looked at the man in question. His body shifted slightly as he pulled the straps of his armor, dropping it to the floor as if it didn't matter.

"I can not Lord, We, no.. I have betrayed what you trusted of me.." Clover the right arm of his Lord, knelt down even deeper, his illustrious blonde hair blowing in the mist of fighting, the sky diming for a moment as a hand held his chin.

"Did I not say before, whatever has happened is forgiven, I only wished the situation, turned out another way, get the men to the ship, we will depart immediately." Ketj said, his voice far distant as his eyes looked out to the shores along the horizon, his hand losing its strength to pull clovers face to look at him, only leaving behind a few words as he pulled a letter from the side of his underarmor.

"No man have greater love than this, that he would give up everything for the people.. he loves.." Keth's voice reverberated throughout the battlefield, his words calm, full, and a notion of sadness could not be unseen by the words he spoke.

Daemon said nothing, his eyes adrift in the Myriad of seas, his usual banter only placed as lackluster jokes, looking at his brother that held the letter with care, it was clear to him that something wasn't right, even if he knew it in his heart. Sitting atop his dragon, he watched his brother deepen his shoulders, watching him take off, not saying a word to his army or the ming. watching as he sat above the ships waiting for them to depart for a journey no one wanted to take.

Instead of the usual celebration, the wine that kept flowing, the unending women, and all the Praises a man could want for after War, there was none of that. Daemon flew his dragon to sit on the sea stone outcrops of rocks next to Keth, watching as even as Caraxes landed, his brother did not react. Only after the collapsing of the waves and shifting of the dragons became too unnatural, did Daemon hear a voice speak to him.

"What is it you want to say, Daemon? From the time we killed the carbfeeders, to the walk across the nest, even as you spoke words in the place of my own to Lord Corlys, it seems you want to say something. Come on then." Keth's whose dragon was far larger than Daemon's, had Fortassax bend her body down slightly, his voice reaching out to his brother as he waited for his army to become ready.

"Viserys.. he lost everything, two people lost in mind and understanding, I don't know what fucking possessed him to do so, but I do not think it should be a matter and where you care for some whore." Daemon said, he wasn't the most poetic with his word choices, nor was he a person to hold his tongue, but his words indicated that while sorry for his brother's blight, it was their brother all the same.

"It does not matter to me, Daemon, What has happened is already done. I merely wish to get this over with, I have grown tired.." Keth's voice rang out in Daemon's ears, the tone uncaring, and even as he turned his eyes to look at Daemon. There was nothing like the notions of care he had for as he received letter after letter in the beginning of this war. Now it was as he knew him long ago, just doing his job of killing and now going home.

"Deal with the matters of the step stones, I will return to our brother." Keth said, Fortassax lifting her body from her lowered position as Keth left behind a few words.

" I will join you brother, there is nothing left here." Daemon said, moving Caraxes to stand as he looked at Keth, only getting a nod before they took off into the sky. 'What manor of shit is this Viserys, fight your war, and the reward is nothing.. you as well, Rhaenys, have you two lost your mind, surely you wish him not to lose his." Daemon's thoughts became a force of crashing waves like the sea below, shaking his head to the matters of shit that happened after this long campaign.

"Let us stop in the key, I wish to take my time before filling my ears with never-ending talks." To Daemon's surprise, Keth spoke in an almost joking tone, his Dragon obscuring his figure as the voice rang down to him, speaking of a brothel not far from the stepstones.

"Very well, I am in need of a warm bed, and thighs to accompany them, the first round for your men will be on me." Daemon said with a small chuckle, the frame of time they had been set floating, seemed to pass for faster than he had thought, the black Legion upon their ships moved from the shores of the step stones. Turning Caraxes as he watched Fortassax fly off into the distance.

While the journey from the stepstones did not take but an annoying trip, it was a while before they arrived in King's Landing, after nights of debauchery and heavy drinking, the capital was finally within their sights. it seemed word traveled fast, and unlike the time he came here before, the city streets did not fall into chaos seeing Fortassax as they did before. Her heavy body, landing alongside with Caraxes at the dragon pit, leaving the brothers behind with no welcoming party as Keth clipped a blood sack to his armor once more. It seems the blood and filth of the battlefield had been left on the skin, along with his hair and armor. His steps followed by Daemon without anyone to greet them as they did not take him to the keep, but within the city.

"Brother, what is it your waiting for? If you do not wish to go, I will do so in your place." Daemon said, allowing Caraxes to be taken into the dragon pit. His eyes looked at the back of Keth, who rubbed the head of Fortassax, her eyes opening as she gave a hiss to him coming between her master and her.

"I only wish to see something, go to the shore with the men, make sure they have done what I asked." Keth said, patting Fortassax lightly as she shook her head, looking at Daemon once more before taking off into the sky, her roar echoing across the city as her shadow eclipse the Sun for a moment.

Daemon said nothing, watching his brothers back disappear into the distance of the city. His legs taking him into the city down to the ship yard where he saw the black Legion, along with a white-haired girl who rushed to a carriage, giving him no chance to say but a word as he looked at the ships of driftmark. His eyes not missing a boy who was whiter than the others, His gaze looking over at Lord Corlys's men who had caught up because of the stops him and Keth had made, only to shift to a figure of a woman who held the boys hand, her eyes meeting his before looking at the floor as she walked to the carriage, whose destination was the keep with her men.

[Meanwhile]

Within the keep, and the iron throne, word had spread fast of Keth's and Daemon's dragon seen within the city, the nobleman and women of every kind sat waiting, as king Viserys sat deliberating over manners concerning the realm. his ears picking up conversations across his court, as his eyes tilted towards the woman beside them, it was strange for her to even be here, she did not favor politics or rule of Passage, but she was here all the same. After what felt like a lifetime of talking and roundabout conversations, finally the doors were opened a guard coming in announcing the arrival of people.

"Lady Rhaenys Velaryon of drift mark.." the guard said, everyone watched on as Rhaenys walked with her head high within the court, her hand no longer holding the boys, who was placed far behind her like her and the boy were of no kin. Her body brought her to the foot of the iron throne, doing a light curtsy at Viserys.

"Your grace, it has been a long time.." Rhaenys mature and yet sweet voice rang out in the hall, there was no inflections in her voice, as if everything that happened to this moment was natural.

"That it has, Lady Rhaenys, I am glad to see you well.. I'm hoping your trip from drift mark was not unpleasant." Viserys leaned forward, his eyes looking between the woman and the boy, only to give a polite response, watching us Rhaenys shook her hands indicating not to speak further.

One after another of noblemen and women poured into the hall, the names titles and everything announced within their rights, each persons name called held some significance to those lesser Lords who wanted to make connections, but it was only after 30 or so minutes did a name of importance to everyone was spoken.

"Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen.." King Viserys and the rest of the court became silent, his eyes watching us the doors were opened, and excited flutter in his heart as a smile came to his face, only to watch her walk to the throne, giving a curtsy before speaking in a monotone manner.

"Your grace, father, I have returned.." Rhaenyra said, her eyes looking over her father, then to the woman who sat beside the throne, " You as well your grace, Queen Alicent." her voice held no actual care for the woman she spoke to, it seemed as if she only did so out of respect for her father.

Viserys said nothing, because he could say nothing, the fracture within his family ever growing as he watched Rhaenyra walk to the side, it was clear to him as night and day they had made terrible decisions within this rule. his heart fluctuated with the slight rhythmic tones of the echoing sounds of noblemen and women in his court. only for him to see the guard once more come from the door, announcing another person had arrived, but a person that he did not understand why they were announced before the other.

"Prince Daemon Targaryen.." the guard said with the lackluster tone, his voice as if mendacious, not caring for the prince even in the slightest, yet the king said nothing of his tone.

"It has been a long.." Viserys wanted to say words of comfort to his brother, but did not get the chance to as Damon looked at him with eyes full of ridicule, only for the guard to announce once more before he could speak any further.

"Prince Maliketh.." again the guards spoke with a lackluster tone, not even giving his last name, even those privy to information did not know why, asking themselves why they did not announce his last name, even though the family understood why.

Everyone watched as Prince Keth walked within the chamber, his feet carrying him to the throne as he looked at his brother, the bloody sack still oozing blood feom the the sides of it, while he looked at his brother deep in his eyes.

"So you did not think it proper etiquette to come here not being covered and filth and Gore." King Viserys, who normally would not care about such etiquette, spoke out to his brother who looked him dead in his eyes.

"I am sorry brother, no, your grace, I did not think killing thousands in your name would have me, adhere to such restrictions of etiquette.." Keth said, his voice polite as he looked over his brother, in no way that his voice seep deception or disregard of his brother's position, only speaking from his heart.

"That does not matter Keth, go and wash your skin of Filth and dirt, then return.." King Viserys spoke, his eyes wandering from Alicent to Rhaenys who kept their eyes focused on Keth, only to watch as he pulled the sack from his armor, throwing it at the feet of Viserys.

"What is the meaning.." Lord Otto wanted to say, his eyes not taking in the environment around him, only seeing an opportunity to say something untoward to the man before himself. yet his words were cut short, watching as prince Leth bent his knee, looking at the floor as King Viserys looked this astonish at the site.

[Song - Broke me first - you know the part]

"The step stones have fallen, my service is done brother. Now, come.." Prince Keth spoke, his words full of nothing as if no one else within the court mattered, his voice coming out as he spoke lightly, the door opening as 20 or so black Legion nights came through, each carrying a bag as they stepped around The Prince and order to sit in front of King Viserys.

Viserys, Lord Otto, Rhaenys, Daemon, and Rhaenyra, did not know what to make of the spectacle, reluctant to say anything but still held curiosity for the situation at hand. their eyes watching as Keth rose to his feet, his eyes looking at his brother and family, taking the large Claymore from his side, as the contents of the sacks the black Legion held were poured on to the floor, hundreds and hundreds of swords placed at the feet of King Viserys.

"Add them to your pile.." Keth said, throwing his sword on the very top of it, the swords not even coming close to touch the head that was severed at his feet, his eyes looking around the room for a moment as he looked at King Viserys.

"I do not wish to sit atop it.. I've seen enough death, I do not wish to bring more of it.." Keth spoke, his eyes drifting to Alicent, her clear eyes almost bursting into tears as his look held no care for her.

"15 years, I've put hundreds of thousands to the sword, what is the meaning in it, what is the meaning of all these deaths, but that is for you to decide brother..." Keth said, turning his back, watching as Viserys's mouth opened a few times with no words, only to leave the court absent of voice and sound.

Lord Otto, finally took in the environment around him, watching us his daughter dropped to the floor, only to order the nights to surround her before anyone could see, large droplets of Tears leaving her eyes, as she realized his words.

Watching as the prince clipped the remaining armor on his body, the mesh and sickening sound of blood sinking as his armor fell to the floor, his body in full view of everyone, scars new and old, fresh and unseen on full display to everyone in the court.

"I am done, I wish to not see anymore, none of these people, as they laugh and cheer for my downfall, know what death is.."

'Fate, it's such a fickle thing..'