ALICE OF WESTEROS SACRIFICE

A WESTEROS (ICE AND FIRE/GAME OF THRONES) FIC By Sandra Dermark (IdonotownWesterosorAliceofHumanSacrifice)

Once upon a time, there was a little dream. It was such a little dream, that it is still unknown who dreamt it. The little dream didnt want to pine away in the shade, completely unnoticed. So the little dream thought, and thought, and came up with a great idea. I should let humans come to me, and have them create their own worlds!

I. The first Alice was a gallant one. Sword in hand, she entered Wonderland... ShewastallerandmorestalwartthananyothermaideninallofWesteros.And,beingtheonly childofaveteranwarrior,shehadbeenraisedlikeaboy:taughttoridehorses,swingswords, fighthandtohand.Briennekeptherflaxenhairshort,andherfreckledcheekswererosywith sunshine. Shenevermarried,forcouldtherebesomewhereagentlemanwhowouldwedsuchan amazon? ShewasbornandraisedononeoftheStormlands'vassalislands,comingovertothemainland toseekherfortune.LordRenlyBaratheon,herdarkeyedliege,impressedbyBrienne's prowess,madeheroneofhisforemostwarriorsandtheensignofhiscompany:theonlylady knightsofarintheStormlands'history.Thoughtheflaxenhairedladyknightfeltherheartbeat forRenly:theyounglordwasaspleasedwithLorasTyrellasLoraswaswithhim.Yetthelady ensigndidn'tfeeltheslightesttwingeofjealousy. ShestayedbehindasRenlyleftforhissweetheart'sbirthplace,andstayedalwaysfaithfultoher duty,untilStorm'sEndfelltothehostsofthecoldheartedStannisBaratheonintheabsenceof hisyoungerbrother.AsshesetofffortheReachandHighgarden,tocallherlordtoarms, Briennesawvillagesrazed,thegodswoodablaze,thefaithoftheLordofLightimposedwithfire andsword. ThedarkbeardedLordRenlydidn'thesitate,neithergoldenhairedandhazeleyedLoras.Hailing theirliegelordastheirking,thewarriorsreturnedtotheirhomeland,theirheartsablazewith confidence. Theyencampedbeforethefortressassoonastheyarrived,thenlitacampfirefortheleadersto gatheraround.Everywarrior,eventheladyensign,hastedtoquenchhisthirstandhavearest aftertheexhaustingmarchfromtheReachtotheStormlands. Thatnight,atallandleanfigurestabbedRenlyBaratheoninthebackandranasharplongsword throughhischest.AllevidencepointedatBrienne,eventhoughherbladewasfreefromblood stains.Hismindcloudedbysorrowandanger,LorasTyrellatfirstaccusedthefairhairedlady knightofaheinouscrime. DuringthechaosthatwasthestormingoftheBaratheons'nativeseat,atallandblondwarriorin abloodstainedbreastplatefledupnorth,intothedarkestwoods.Herblueeyessparkledwith confidence:shewassurethatyoungTyrellwouldrecognizeherinnocence. Eversince,taleshavebeentoldofaladyknightscouringthewoodsofthatregion,takingspecial delightinslaughteringtroopsledbyStannisBaratheon.Sheleavesatrailofcrimsonbloodand slainsoldiersinherpath.AsidefromherwakeofbloodandslainBaratheoniansoldiers,thereis noothersignofherexistence. Sheexists.Sheisstillalive,stillthirstyforrevenge.

II. The second Alice was a gentlemanly one. Singing a song, he entered Wonderland... Therulerofthoselandswasinlovewiththebeautiesandcharmsoflife.Fromtheclifftoptower wherehewasbornandraised,RenlyBaratheondelightedinthewarmcoloursofthesunsetting behindthewoods,theglitterofsunlightonthewaves,thesoftspringflowers,andthefallingof theautumnleaves.Frombeyondthewoods,fromthefertileReach,cameLoras,hisgood friend,towhosesisterMargaeryhewasbetrothed. RenlywasaspleasedwithLorasasLoraswaswithRenly. NowMargaerywasn'tthathomelytosaytheleast,butitwasn'tforherthatRenly'syoungheart beatinsuchafebrileway.ItwashazeleyedLoras,withhiscascadesofgoldenlocksandsoft cheeksofpeachfuzz,thatRenlyloved.HehadrecentlylefthisbirthplacetoliveontheTyrells' statelychateau,surroundedbythehighrampartsandbeautifulgardensthatgavetheestate suchawonderfulname.TheladyofHighgardenlovedhimlikeshelovedherownchildren,and shehopedthatRenlyandMargaery,havingtiedtheknot,couldgiveherhopefulgrandchildren. Theyoungdarkhairedlord,whosecheeksandupperliphadstarted,unlikethoseofhisbeloved, tobedeckedwithlittlestrandsofravenhair,stillsawherasafriend,remainingsteadfastinhis feelingsforLoras.Thoughtheirreligionforbadesucharelationship,itdidnotinflictany punishment.Theyoungmenkissedundertrellisesofgoldenroses,theyshookpeachblossoms oneachothersheads...theysleptinthesamebed,inthesamebedchamber,ticklingeach otherundergreencoversheetsembroideredwithgoldenroses.Theylovedeachother passionatelyallspringandsummerlong(andthoughRenlyhadwedtheauburnandgreeneyed Margaeryinmidsummer).Butautumnhadtocome,therainbowshadtofadeaway,andsuch lovehadtopayitsdue. Leadencloudsdarkenedtheskies,thegoldenrosesstartedtowither,andmanyotherflowers hadpinedaway.Coldwindsfromtheeastmadetheleavesfall,andwarriorsfromthe StormlandsvisitedHighgarden.Theirleaderwasatallandfreckledladyknightwithshort,fair hairandsteelblueeyes. TheStormlanderswantedtheirlordtobetheirkinganddeliverer.ForStannisBaratheon,Renly's sternandcoldheartedolderbrother,hadlefttheharshislandfortressheruledtoclaimhis ancestrallandsatStorm'sEnd,wherehehadimposedaforeignreligionbyfireandsword.Ifleft unchecked,theflamesofwarcouldsmitethepeacefulReach. Thefarewellknewnoequal.ThoughRenlymerelylovedherasagoodfriend,hekissedhis

youngconsortanddriedupheruncheckedtears.WestwarddidtheStormlandhostride: darkeyedRenlybeforehisranks,softcheekedLorasTyrellbyhisrightside,fairhairedBrienne carryingthestandardofthegoldenstagtotheleft.Whentheyarrived,Stannishadalreadytaken Storm'sEnd,andburnedthesacredgodswoodtotheground.Theheroescoulddonothingbut encampbytherampartsandawaitthegarrison'ssurrender. Fromthewindowinthechamberthatoncewashisbrother's,Stanniswatchedtheenemylay siegetotheBaratheons'ancestralseat.Thatevening,twoyoungmenlayhuddledtogetherby thecampfire.Thedarkeyed,cleanshavenconquerorrecognizedyoungRenlyandLorasTyrell. Havingconvertedtoanotherreligion,Stanniscouldn'tforgivehisyoungerbrother'ssins.Defying naturebymakinglovetohisowngender!Suchanotoriousdeedshouldnotbeleftunpunished! Restrainingtheragethatsurgedwithinhim,StannisBaratheonannouncedthathewouldmakea sortieintotheenemycamponhisown.Thesharplongswordathissideremainedsheathed,but hisfirmhandwasonthehilt. HalfdrunkonsweetReachfruitwine,twoyoungwarriorslayhalfasleepinthemiddleofthe Renlyianencampment.Oneofthemwasravenhairedandbearded,whiletheotherhadgolden locksanddownycheeks.Atallanddarkfigure,wieldingalongsword,steppedsilentlybythe campfire.Aflashofmoonlightreflectedontheblade.Renlyfeltasharp,stabbingpaininhis back,piercinghisvitalorgans,andthenthetipofthesharpsteelsprungupinthemiddleofhis chest.Theyounglorddidn'thavetimetolookoverhisshoulderandrecognizehiscleanshaven andleanolderbrotherastheonewhohadrunhimthroughthechestwithhissword,forthe bladehadpiercedhisheart:withonelastsigh,darkhairedRenlyceasedtobreatheandshuthis eyesforever.Thebloodthatsurgedfromhispiercedheartspreadlikethescatteringpetalsof crimsonroses. WhenLoraswokeup,heburstintotearsthatcouldn'tberestrained.Thenewsofhisbeloved's deathhadspreadthroughtheencampmentlikewildfire.AndtherageoftheStormlanders couldn'tbemorejustified. Theyrushedforthtoavengetheirliegelord,thehazeleyedLorashimselfslayingtheenemy's lieutenantswithhisownswordinafitofgrievingrage,buttonoavail:mostoftheRenlyian officershadalreadydefectedtotheenemysideorbeentakenprisoner."Ican'tavengehimifI'm dead",theyoungTyrellthought,ashisranksdesertedhim:thestrongholdonthecliffdidnotfall attheendoftheday.ButtheslayerofRenlyhadalreadyleft.AndatearyeyedLorashadfled theStormlands,returninghometotheReachonhisown,withthelifelessformofhisbeloved. Iwon'tdelveonhowfairBrienne,toconvinceLorasofherinnocence,fledthecampduringthe siege.WhatisworthofmentionisthatthelifelessformofRenlyBaratheonwasbroughttothe peacefulReach,thenearthedbeneaththerosetreeswherehehadsofrequentlykissedhis darling,asHighgardenwasdrapedinblack.

Whenspringcame,therosesathisgravebloomedneithergoldennorbloodred,butthecolour ofcopper.AndthememoryofhisuntimelydeathwouldlingerwithintheheartsoftheTyrells,as longastheReachexisted. ThemostexperiencedveteransinWesterossaythatarideronawhitesteed,wearingan antleredhelmetandashiningbreastplate,ledthecavalrychargeonthefrontlineatBlackwater. Thebattlewaslost,butthechargewouldneverbeforgotten.Theveteransoldierssayitwas RenlyBaratheon,whosedeathmaynothavebeenwhathappenedinreallife.Onlyafewpeople, theTyrellsofHighgarden,knowthetruth:theleaderofthechargewasLorasTyrell,dressedin Renly'ssuitofarmourandridinghisliegelord'ssteed.

III. The third Alice was a beautiful young girl, the fairest and dearest one to enter Wonderland... ShehadcomefromtheNorthernhinterland,fromaprovincecalled"Winterfall"orsomethinglike that...Winterfell.Thedaughterofthelatechancellorandarebeldowager,herhairwasthe reddishbrowncolourofmahogany,andhereyeswereasblueandpureassummerskies.Her namewasSansaStark. Shehadchosentostayatcourtbecauseherownnativeshirelookedcoldandbleakin comparison.Andbecausethenewlycrownedboykinghad(ostensibly)yieldedhishearttoher modestprovincialcharms.Thus,SansastilllivedintheRedKeepwithherbetrothedandhis tangledfamily.Indeed,JoffreyI,withhisdownycheeks,hisgoldenlocks,andthosepiercing emeraldeyes,wasthebestpartyinthelandandthedreamofallitsmaidens.Andshe,outof themall,washisbride!Thecourtiersintheirelegantrobeswerealwaysattheirbeckandcall... but,totellyouthetruth,theonewhoactuallyruledWesterosfromtheRedKeepwasQueen MotherCersei,regentbywidowhood,asbeautifulashereldestsonandheir,whosegoodlooks hehadinherited.TheGoldenLionesswastheonetoarrangethebetrothal,andtolivethelifeof herdaughterinlaw.Shehadsetupatrapfortheyounggirl,ensuringtheKeepwouldbethe gildedcagefromwhichshenevershouldescape. Lookingupatthenightskyfromhertowerbedchamber,Sansathoughtofherownmother,of herolderbrotherandyoungersister,oftheharshgranitehallswheretheyusedtoplay,and suddenlyburstintotears.Shecouldn'treturntoWinterfell.Andshewasnolongerachild.

IV. The fourth Alice was a couple of siblings. Out of curiosity, they entered Wonderland... Theywerebothinthegardenoftheirguardians'estatewhentheiradventurestarted.Theywere bothlilywhite,withsofthairthecolourofplatinumandperiwinkleeyes. Theyoungsiblingswereforeignersandorphansofwar.Theirmemoriesofearlychildhood, beforethegreatdebacle,weretoovagueandviolent,andfarbehindthem. Viserys,theeldest,wasathoughtfulandreservedyouth,recentlycomeofage.Hewasalways distant,tense,asiflongedformorethanhealreadyhad. Daenerys,bycontrast,wasalivelyandupbeatgirl,withabrightoutlookoneverythingthat happenedaroundher. Hewasreadingthechroniclesofagreatwarthathadtakenplacecenturiesbefore.Shedidn't caretorememberthenamesofallthoselordsofyore,whetherslayersorslain.Restless,she wouldpullherbrother'ssleevesasaprank,atwhichpointhe'dgetannoyedandwishheraway withoutaword,butwithapiercingglare. Then,hoppingpastthemcameawhiterabbitcarryinganenvelope.Theyounggirlsetoffinits pursuit. "Dany!Wouldyou...?"Noanswercame.Hedecidedtofollowherdowntherabbithole. Theylandedinahallfullofwindowsanddoors,oneofthemmadeofswordsandthorns,the otherdecoratedwithartnouveaustylecopperroses,thethirdonegoldenandbaroque,witha lion'sheadforaknockerandadirewolf'sforaknob.Theenvelopelayonthetableinthemiddle, theonewithathornleg,anartnouveauroselegandabaroqueleg. "Look,Visy!Theletter!" Thesealwasshapedlikeaheartandlikeastag'santlersatthesametime.Bothsiblings openedtheletteratunison: Thou art herefore invited to an endless evening of pleasure by Queen Cersei Sansa Lannister at her court of the Red Keep. Thou shalt be duly rewarded. PS. RSVP. Theydidn'tknowwhichwaytogo,buttheycouldonlyopenthedoorofironandbriars,andfound themselvesinthemiddleoftheglisteningfirwoods.There,theyheardthelocalsspeakofa bloodthirstyladyknight,whowouldn'thesitatetoslayanyoneinherpathtoavengethedeathof herliegelord.Attheendofthewoods,VisyandDanystoppedtorestatachateaudrapedin black,withabeautifulgardenfullofspringflowers.Anothercoupleofsiblings,anauburnhaired maidenandagoldenhairedyouthdressedinblack,metthembythetreethatyieldedcopper roses.Theytoldthefairhairedtravellersthetaleofayoungrulerfondofbeautyandlove,yet

slainbecauseofhispassions,andoftheladyknightwitheyesofblueandflaxenhair,banished tothewoodsbytheowneroftherosegardenforhavingbeenunabletoprotecttheirliege.They weregivendirectionstogettotheRedKeep,buttheywerewarnedthattheywouldn'tbethat welcomeatcourt. Thebeautifulgardensgavewaytoavast,endlessgrassland.Adetachmentofdarkriders crossedtheirpath.TheyescortedDanyandVisytotheircamp,tointroducethemtotheirleader. Thestalwartwarlordwasdarkskinned,withalongravenbraid.Andhewaswealthyenoughto produceatleastagoldencrownfortheQueentoaccepttheupstarts.Butnotforfree. So,Viseryssawhischance.HeintroducedDanytothewarlordandviceversa."Mysisterin exchangeforthegoldencrown".Thefiancsdidn'tevenknoweachother. AndperiwinkleeyedVisygothisgoldencrownindeed:theriderspouredmoltengoldonhis head,scaldinghimandstrippinghimofhisplatinumlocks.Whilehislittlesister,nottobealone, marriedthewarlordandbecame,afterhisuntimelydeath,theleaderofalltheriders. Oneday,thearmysheledwouldbevastenoughtoputtheQueen'srankstorout.

But who would become the next Alice?