KINGDOM FALL
— 48. The Legend of Annalys Lannister

FIVE YEARS PRIOR
KING'S LANDING

     A fortnight before they were due to leave with the royal family and head for Winterfell, Annalys and Jaime stood in the dragon pits of King's Landing. She had been sixteen at the time, having no clue what was in store for her in the future. No one did.

    Just like every other day at noon since the age of ten, Annalys sparred with Jaime in the dragon pits. There were many reasons why Jaime chose to spend more two hours every day for nearly seven years teaching Annalys how to use numerous kinds of weapons.

He wanted her to prepare her for whatever the future had in store for her. He knew that sooner or later, Robert Baratheon would have her married off and there'd be nothing he could do about it. He wanted to teach Annalys how to defend herself before that could happen.

Another reason was because he enjoyed spending time with Annalys. After all, she was his firstborn child. He didn't know that Annalys knew that, though. He still thought she was oblivious to the truth. If only he knew. 

Jaime pointed his sword directly at Annalys, circling around her with a daring look on his face. "Defend yourself." He ordered in a stern tone, encouraging her to start the fight.

Annalys showed no fear as Jaime wasted no time driving his sword at her at full force.  She seen it coming. His actions were always the same each time they fought, unlike hers.

  Annalys immediately jumped back, however, moving to the side before Jaime's sword had time to reach her. She returned the favor, pressing the attack. She swung, but Jaime quickly dodged it as well.

  Jaime slashed his sword at Annalys, who ducked and grabbed Jaime by the elbow, pushing him back as she dodged his form of attack.

Jaime laughed, clearly not expecting Annalys to be so quick with her actions, "Very good. I'm impressed." He complimented the girl as they continued to exchange attacks.

Soon enough, Annalys' sword nearly slashed Jaime across the neck. His eyes widened at how close her sword was to his neck and he quickly bent backwards a bit to avoid the blade of the sharp weapon.

He laughed in astonishment, absolutely impressed by Annalys' skills. She smiled at his reaction, proud that she was proving to be just as good as him.

"You've gotten better since our last sparring match. Have you been practicing without me, niece?" Jaime questioned Annalys in a mocking tone, earning a playful eyeroll from her.

She hated when he called her "niece". She wanted nothing more than to tell him that she knew, but she had no clue how to bring it up in the first place.

Thinking she was distracted, Jaime swung at Annalys, but she was quick to parry. "We practice nearly every day, Jaime. I don't believe there's any time for me to spar with anyone else." She commented and Jaime smiled slightly, knowing it to be the truth.

Jaime delivered numerous types of strokes to Annalys with his sword, but she was surprisingly able to block and dodge each and everyone of them.

She swung left and right at him and for the first time in a very long time, Jaime found himself on the defensive side. Annalys was getting better by the day. She was sixteen and Jaime knew for a fact she was better than he was at her age.

Annalys ended up swinging so hard at Jaime that when the blades of their swords collided, sparks flew.

    Annalys' eyes lit up, finding the sight to bring her so much joy for some odd reason. She loved the thrill that came with fighting. It would take her years to actually admit that to anyone, but nothing brought her more joy than feeling of a sword in her hand.

Annalys swung her sword upwards then side-slashed. She then ended it with a single, powerful, overhand swing. Jaime attempted to swing his own sword at Annalys, who simply slid to the left and avoided the hit as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

Annalys spun her sword in her hand, smirking menacingly at the Lannister man.They continued to deliver attacks to each other and soon enough, the sparring match ended with the blade of Annalys' sword pressed against Jaime's throat.

Jaime uneasily stared down at the cold steel pressed against his neck, a look of disbelief on his face. Annalys smirked, gripping on the handle of the sword tightly as the blade remained pressed against the Jaime's throat.

"You've bested me." Jaime stated, a deeply worried look on his face.

"I know." Annalys responded proudly, only to have her smile fade once she noticed the uneasy look on Jaime's face, "Jaime, what's wrong?"

"You've bested me. The kingslayer. Do you know what that means?" He asked Annalys, who frowned and immediately shook her head in response, "I am known as the greatest swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms that is still breathing, aside from Ser Barristan Selmy. You've defeated me, which means..."

"I'm better than any man alive." Annalys realized and oddly enough, she began to understand what made Jaime feel so worried.

She was a girl. A sixteen year old girl. Yet, somehow, she was able to beat the infamous kingslayer. It put them both in danger, oddly enough.

"Men won't like the fact that a woman is a better warrior than anyone in the Seven Kingdoms. You'll be put in danger." Jaime explained to Annalys, trying his best to maintain a calm voice as Annalys removed the sword from being pressed against Jaime's throat.

"You will, too." Annalys replied, causing Jaime to give her a puzzled look, "If people learn the infamous Kingslayer was bested by a sixteen year old girl, all of your enemies will begin to come after you, believing you to be losing your skill."

"But I haven't." Jaime remarked, earning an annoyed look from Annalys.

"They don't know that." Annalys reminded Jaime, causing him to sigh in defeat since he knew she had a point.

"Perhaps we should keep this a secret, then," Jaime suggested in a calm tone, "For both our sakes."

Annalys wasted no time nodding in agreement, knowing it was the right thing to do, "I agree. We shouldn't spar anymore, either," She suddenly responded, causing Jaime's eyes to widen in shock, "If I keep besting you, someone will be bound to see it for themselves one day. It won't end well. You and I both know that."

Jaime found himself looking torn at the fact that they wouldn't be able to spar anymore. It was the only time they ever got to spend time together. It was the only time Jaime felt like he could truly be a father to Annalys without anyone suspecting anything.

Jaime hesitantly nodded his head, much to his own dismay, "Fine by me," He managed to agree, despite it being the opposite of what he truly wanted, "Perhaps you ought to stop using a sword for a while, then, too."

"Sounds good. I'll stick to a bow from now on," Annalys agreed, earning a loud scoff from Jaime, "I heard that. Why'd you scoff?" She asked, raising a brow at him.

"There isn't any weapon you aren't good at, is there, Annalys?" Jaime jokingly asked the girl.

The duo wasted no time turning to each other, a smile on both of their faces, "A spear." They answered in unison, causing them both to laugh at the thought of what happened last time Annalys used a spear.

It wasn't a pretty sight, that was for sure.

"You're shitty with a spear." Jaime commented, earning an annoyed look on her face.

"I know. Don't remind me." Annalys scoffed, rolling her eyes as she recalled Jaime laughing hysterically at her when he saw her attempt in holding a spear.

The duo quietly laughed as they began to walk out of the dragon pits together, "I can't believe I finally bested the infamous Jaime Lannister." Annalys found herself confessing, a small smile on her face.

"And don't you forgot it. You should be proud." Jaime responded, clearly feeling proud of his daughter, whether or not Annalys actually knew it.

"I am," Annalys admitted, a large smile forming on her lips.

"Just don't tell anyone, alright?" Jaime reminded Annalys, who was annoyed that he thought it was necessary to keep reminding her of something so obvious.

"I won't. I give you my word," Annalys promised Jaime in a sincere tone, "No one will ever find out that I've defeated you in single combat."

   Little did they know, the entire scene had been witnessed by Barristan Selmy, who had been sent to fetch Jaime and the Princess for Robert Baratheon.

He would remember that day for years, never telling a soul until he met Daenerys Targaryen, the last person Jaime and Annalys would have wanted to find out the truth.

PRESENT TIME
CASTERLY ROCK

   Months had passed and Annalys was settled with her family in Casterly Rock. She was Queen of the Westerlands and all seemed to be well with her life. However, she found it odd that Robb hadn't declared war yet on her, despite the fact that she had kidnapped her children.

Annalys walked through the woods near Casterly Rock, searching for what her mother had told her about. Cersei warned Annalys and told her it wasn't wise of her to do what she planned to, but of course, Annalys didn't listen to her. She never did.

She made sure not to trip on her dress as she made her way through the woods. It was foggy and the air was humid as well. She stopped walking when she found a hut in the distance, smoke coming out of the opening in the roof. She took a deep breath, just before heading in the hut's direction. Once reaching the place, Annalys wasted no time entering the location.

Inside, a fire was burning and various plants were hanging from the ceiling.

She walked through the hut, only to come face to face with a elder woman who sat on a throne-like seat made of vines and branches. "Get out," The woman croaked out, glaring at Annalys, who didn't seem bothered.

Annalys remained standing in her spot, eying the elderly woman intently. She had long grey hair, her face wrinkled and blackness around her eyelids. "Get out!" She sneered at Annalys, who made no motion to leave, despite being told to.

"My mother's right, you're nothing close to how scary they always describe you to be," Annalys stated in a low, calm tone.

Maggy the Frog remained silent for a long moment, narrowing her eyes at Annalys. She knew Annalys looked familiar. Annalys was the daughter of the last young girl who came to visit her little hut in the woods.

Annalys looked exactly like her mother did at her age. It was practically terrifying how much they resembled each other.

"You don't know what I am." Maggy reminded Annalys, her tone calm, yet still terrifying.

"Oh, I think I do. I know you're a witch and you can see the future," Annalys replied, a faint smile on her face, "Would you mind telling me mine?"

"You look exactly like her, you know. Your mother, she came here decades ago," Maggy suddenly told Annalys, who was taken aback at first, "I'd recognize that face anywhere. Such arrogance."

Annalys tried to maintain composure as she glared at Maggy. "Will you tell me my future or not?" She questioned, annoyance laced in her tone of voice.

"Everybody wants to know their future. Until they know their future." Maggy pointed out to Annalys, who deep down, knew she was right.

However, Annalys knew she had to find out if she was right. Melisandre predicted a part of her future. She told Annalys before she left King's Landing that a war would start between the Lions and the Wolves.

If that was true, would that mean three other wars would start? One against the Baratheons. Another against the Targaryens. Then, the last one between the living and the dead? If it was the truth, it meant Annalys would never get a break. She'd never be at peace again.

However, Annalys should have realized that would happen the moment she fled Riverrun with her children.

"Aye, that may be true, but I need to know," Annalys replied, her tone confident, which slightly impressed Maggy.

Everyone always seemed fearful when she said those words. Annalys didn't, though. She didn't even feel bothered. Perhaps she was just hiding it well.

"As you wish, Your Grace," Maggy sarcastically responded, chuckling as she handed Annalys a knife, "Your blood. Give me a taste."

Annalys' eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She glanced between the knife and Maggy. Maggy extended her hand out even more, gesturing for Annalys to take the knife.

The Lannister woman sighed in defeat, cautiously taking the knife from Maggy. Annalys opened up the palm of her right hand, just before cutting into her index finger with the tip of the dirty knife.

Much to Maggy's surprise, Annalys didn't even flinch as she cut herself. She narrowed her eyes at the blonde, already feeling the energy and fate belonging to Annalys, despite not having her taste of blood yet.

Annalys wasn't just any arrogant Lannister who unluckily came to power. She was more than that. Far more. The young woman who stood before her was the future of the world. The future of magic as well.

People thought the birth of Daenerys Targaryen's dragons would awaken the magic in the world, but that wasn't the whole truth. Annalys was the key to it all.

Maggy knew she always allowed people three questions, but even if Annalys asked all the right questions, she'd need more than three answers for her to be prepared for what came next. And Annalys needed to be prepared, for everyone's sake.

"Five questions you get," Maggy informed Annalys, who was taken about by just how many questions she was able to ask, "I have a feeling you'll get what you're hoping for, unlike your mother."

Annalys found herself confused for a moment, puzzled by Maggy's words. She didn't question her, however, and went on to ask her question, "I'm told I'll be fighting in four wars. One against the Starks. One against the Baratheons. One against the Targaryens. And one against the Dead. Is that the truth?"

The dead, Annalys had said, which took Maggy by surprise.

She watched Annalys intently, shocked that Annalys had known such a thing. How could Annalys know about a war that hadn't even happened yet, let alone four, one of them against the dead?

She had to have help from another witch, but whom?

"Yes, you will," Maggy replied after a moment of silence between her and Annalys, "But one will end in your death."

Annalys, of course, assumed the war that would end in her death would be the last one. The war against the dead.

After all, how could she fight in the war against the dead if she died in the one before it? Not to mention, her constant dreams had told her that she would die in the war against the dead.

"A red priestess told me I'm the Azor Ahai," Annalys found herself saying, trying her hardest not to think about the fact that it was practically set in stone that she'd die in due time, "Mind telling me if that's the truth?"

Maggy's eyes widened, realizing exactly what was going on. That was why the energy around Annalys was so odd, yet so powerful. She was the Azor Ahai. However, she knew there must have been more to it.

She recalled Annalys' mother's prophecy. When Maggy told Cersei that only one of the four children would outlive her mother, Maggy had seen images of Annalys in her mind. She had seen flashes of each children Cersei would give birth to, but only the images of Annalys stuck with her all these years. She hadn't remembered the images at first when Annalys first came to her hut, but now she did.

Annalys was the one. The child of Cersei that would outlive her mother. The daughter who'd be the one to unite the world and bring peace to the seven kingdoms, not before bringing more chaos and bloodshed in four separate wars, each of them caused by her own wrongdoings.

Annalys raised a brow at Maggy, noticing the odd look on the woman's face. "I'll need another taste of your blood." Maggy managed to speak up, gesturing told the knife Annalys still held in her hand.

Annalys didn't question Maggy. She lifted the knife in her hand, on the verge of cutting another one of her fingertips.

  "The tip of your finger won't give me the blood I need to answer such a question," Maggy suddenly said, causing Annalys to look over at her with an uneasy look.

Annalys sighed in defeat, just before she extended her arm out slightly. She took a deep breath, just before she dragged the blade of the knife across her wrist. She made a face at the pain she felt, but didn't cry out.

Once she made the large cut, she turned toward Maggy, who gestured for her to move closer. Cautiously, Annalys began to walk toward Maggy. She had her arm extended out, blood dripping from her wrist and onto the ground.

Annalys stopped when she was standing in front of Maggy. She held out her wrist, leading to Maggy grasping her arm in her hands. Annalys watched closely as Maggy latched her mouth onto the cut on the younger woman's wrist and began to drink from it.

Annalys winced slightly, the feeling of the blood being sucked out of her being quite odd. Annalys tried her best to remain silent and it felt like hours had passed by until Maggy finally retracted her mouth from Annalys' wrist.

In reality, it had been about a half a minute, but that was still a long time for someone to drink from another person's wrist. It wasn't even normal.

When Maggy pulled away from her wrist, Annalys noticed the trail of her own blood spilling from the corner of the elder woman's mouth and down her wrinkled cheek.

Maggy remained silent for a long moment, seeming to be in deep thought. After a long while, she stared up at Annalys, looking to be almost taken aback. "You're more than just the Azor Ahai," She suddenly said, her tone laced in both shock and disbelief, "Your birth is the reason the White Walkers awoke in the first place."

Annalys was taken aback by the revelation. How? How was that possible? How could her birth be the cause of the White Walkers being awakened?

She was born in King's Landing, thousands and thousands of miles away from the Wall and what resided North of it.

Annalys opened her mouth to ask another question about the White Walkers, only to be cut off by Maggy.

"I cannot answer another question about the Azor Ahai. Or the White Walkers. Answering such a question will kill me," Maggy lied and oddly enough, Annalys believed her, "Ask something else."

Annalys remained silent as she tried to think of a question that had nothing to do with the Azor Ahai or White Walkers. It was hard to do so. It was all she thought about lately. Well, that and Robb.

That was it. That was what she could ask about. Robb.

"Will I love another, besides Robb Stark?" Annalys questioned, an uneasy look on her face.

"Never. You will never love another but him," Maggy informed Annalys, who was saddened by the question, despite already knowing she would never love a man who wasn't Robb, "You will try. With a king, with a bastard, and with a Wildling, but you will fail all three times."

A king? A bastard? A wildling? That didn't make sense.

Annalys shook her head slightly, just before asking another question, "Will I remain queen of Casterly Rock?"

"Yes. For a time," Maggie replied in a calm tone, a slight smirk on her at how scared Annalys looked. "You will soon become queen of the world. A conqueror."

"That doesn't make sense," Annalys argued, a large frown on her face, "I would never be a co--" She began to say, only to cut herself off to ask another question, "I have two children already, will I have more?"

"Yes, by 30, you will have six children, all by the king," Maggy informed Annalys, much to her disbelief, "He will have seven."

She knew the king must have been Robb, seeing as though the seventh child must have been the one he had with Eleanor Mallister just months before. However, it didn't make sense.

Why would she ever have more children with Robb? Their marriage was over. It would always be over.

"With the king? That doesn't make sense!" Annalys exclaimed, only to have her eyes widen in disbelief as she quietly gasped, "He and I will be together again..."

Annalys' eyes began to fill with tears, knowing the only way she and Robb would ever get back together was if the rest of her family was dead.

"No, no, no," Annalys frantically shook her head, tears in her eyes, "That can't be...That can't be."

Seeing Annalys' distraught reaction, Maggy the Frog began to laugh hysterically, much to Annalys' horror. Blood from Annalys' wrist began to spill even more than it had been before.

  Alarmed, she took one last look at Maggy before running out of the hut.=, tears streaming down her face.

_____

  A fortnight later, across the Narrow Sea, in Meeren, Daenerys Targaryen stood on her balcony, alongside Barristan Selmy. Six months after Annalys came to power in the Westerlands, word of her reign had finally reached Daenerys in Essos. Daenerys had heard so much about Annalys. All of it made it seem as though Annalys was the greatest ruler to ever live. Well, the most powerful, at least.

"Ser Barristan, What do you know of this..." She trailed off, sounding disgusted in her next words, "Annalys Lannister?"

"She's one of the greatest warriors this world has ever seen," Barristan Selmy informed Daenerys, sounding confident with his answer.

Daenerys turned to Barristan, a puzzled look on her face, "Wasn't she only seventeen when you left King's Landing?" She questioned the Lord Commander of her Queensguard in confusion.

"Yes, but I lived in King's Landing and served King Robert for many years until his death. I was there as Annalys grew up," Barristan responded, recalling memories of seeing Jaime and Annalys sparring with each other when they thought no one was looking, "Even at a young age, she showed promising skills with a sword and a bow. She was trained to use a sword at a very young age by her father."

"Robert Baratheon?" Daenerys asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

"No," Barristan shook his head, earning a large frown from the Dragon Queen, "Her real father. Jaime Lannister. The man who murdered your father," He paused, noticing how Daenerys' eyes widened in shock, "I've heard that Annalys has become the greatest swordsman who ever lived since she fought in the War of the Queen and Five Kings. They say she's better than Ser Arthur Dayne and myself, especially when she fights with her infamous Valyrian Sword. Lady's Wrath."

Daenerys tried her best to remain calm, despite knowing there was a chance that she should have been afraid, "Do you believe that it's the truth, Ser Barristan?"

"I'd be a fool not to, knowing who her father is. I also believe that Annalys' skills with a sword is mostly because of the sword she uses. Just as it was with Ser Arthur Dayne." He explained to Daenerys, who didn't know enough to know what it meant.

"What do you mean?" She asked, a deeply confused look on her face.

"Years ago, when Ser Arthur Dayne was still alive, many viewed us both to be two of the best swordsmen who ever lived. With Dawn, Ser Arthur was always at his full potential and could defeat any man who came his way, even me. Without Dawn, he and I were equals. Without his sword, he was still the best, but wasn't as powerful. There's always that type of sword for every man. The sword that gives you your power. It becomes apart of you and without it, you're never the same. I believe the same goes for Annalys and her sword, Lady's Wrath."

"Then, if we were to take the Seven Kingdoms and fight against Annalys, all we need to do is take her sword. She'll be powerless." Daenerys dumbly replied, clearly not exactly understanding what Barristan had meant.

"Even without her sword, we'd be a fool not to fear Annalys," Barristan remarked, much to Daenerys' confusion.

"Why's that?" Daenerys questioned, slightly annoyed that even Barristan seemed fearful of Annalys.

Tyrion, Varys, and even Jorah had reacted the same way. It annoyed her deeply. She couldn't understand what made them fear Annalys. It couldn't be because of her father being Jaime Lannister.

After all, no one feared Daenerys because she was the daughter of the Mad King. They usually hated her for it. No one hated Annalys, though, despite her father being one of the most hated men in Westeros.

No, the people of Westeros loved Annalys. They loved and feared her at the same time.

Of course, the same went for Daenerys in Essos, but the Targaryen woman still couldn't understand why people feared Annalys so much.

She didn't have dragons like Daenerys did. She didn't have a direwolf like Robb Stark did. She didn't have a Red Priestess on her side like Stannis Baratheon did.

Why is it that the ruler who had no "magical being" on her side was the most powerful and fearful?

"She won a war that had been going on for nearly five years all on her own, simply by using her wits and skills in manipulation," Barristan explained, recalling stories of another person from House Lannister doing the same centuries before, "Some even compare her to Lann the Clever, her House's founder."

Daenerys shifted uncomfortably in her seat, beginning to tense up when Barristan opened his mouth to speak again.

   "There's also another reason she's feared," Barristan informed his queen, who turned to her in concern, "She did something a few months ago. Something that will be remembered for centuries."

Daenerys' eyebrows knitted together in confusion, "What?" She asked, sounding slightly concerned.

_____

On the shores of Casterly Rock, the headless corpses of more than two dozen Ironborn were laid out on top of a large banner with House Lannister's sigil on it. Numerous Ironborn boats were broken to pieces on the shores. On pikes near the headless corpses were their heads.

Annalys stood several feet away from rotting corpses, a disgusted look forming on her face from the smell. The bodies belonged to each Ironborn who dared to try and raid her shores.

Balon Greyjoy had ordered them to do so, clearly wanting to test out just how powerful Annalys was. Many ironborn men had decided to do so, thinking they could take the Rock now that Tywin had been killed. However, all of them have been proven wrong soon after stepping foot on the shores of Casterly Rock.

The Ironborn who lost their heads were evidence. It was the reason Annalys had them laid out on the shores. It had been happening for months and only a fortnight before did it finally stop.

The raiders finally stopped coming and Annalys knew her plan had worked. She had killed each of them herself, which Cersei wasn't happy about. It prove to every other kingdom she wasn't someone to mess with, though, meaning Annalys had succeeded.

Annalys took a deep breath, taking one last look on the shores before turning on her heel and heading back toward the castle.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

This chapter and the next chapter will have a ton of scenes of places in the Westeros (and Essos) where significant characters mention Annalys.

(Robb in Riverrun, the Greyjoys in the Iron Islands, etc.)

ALSO CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

Annalys will be involved with a Widling, a Bastard, and another king?

Who do you think those will be?

Also, before you guys start saying, the bastard will NOT BE JON!!!