KINGDOM FALL
— 57. Moon Tea

    Hours later, Ramsay was laying in bed, his arms propped up behind his head as he stared at Annalys closely. She stood at the room's window, looking out. She was completely naked, with nothing covering her bare body. Despite the cold wind from outside blowing against her body, Annalys didn't seem to be affected in the slightest.

Immediately after sleeping with Ramsay, Annalys realized why the room was so familiar to her. It was Robb's room. The room he had been staying in the last time they were in Winterfell together. It made her feel even safer, especially with what she had to endure while sleeping with Ramsay.

Ramsay's eyes ran up and down Annalys' body, finding numerous bruises scattered across it, along with scars. The scars, of course, were from battle, but the bruises weren't. The bruises were caused by Ramsay himself.

Annalys always enjoyed roughness during sex, but not like that. Not in the way Ramsay had been with her. He also liked to be in control. In complete control. Annalys was a Queen. A queen with no husband or a king to boss her around. She didn't like to be the one being bossed around. However, to get what she wanted, Annalys knew she'd have to be.

"I've given your men rooms to sleep in during their stay. We shall have a feast in a fortnight, to celebrate our betrothal. We'll invite the Northmen loyal to us and us alone," Ramsay explained to Annalys, who continued to stare out of the window blankly. He meant men loyal to House Bolton.

From a distance, as she squinted her eyes, she could see the Godswood. It reminded her of the visions given to her by Melisandre. If the visions were correct, she'd be here again, to fight the Night King.

"That we shall," Annalys answered softly, trying her hardest to remain calm, yet still strong.

Ramsay studied her features from where he laid in bed, trying his best to figure out what was going on in that head of hers. Of course, he found himself unable to. No one was capable of doing such a thing when it came to Annalys, especially when she wore her infamous unreadable expression. It was a look no one could ever figure out.

"You don't talk much." Ramsay stated in a calm tone, eying Annalys closely as she refused to look him in the eye.

"I haven't much to say." Annalys sarcastically replied, but it was clear to both of them that she was lying.

"Really?" Ramsay questioned and Annalys hummed in response, "I heard the former Queen in the North was quite the talker."

Annalys found herself smiling, turning to finally look Ramsay in the eye. "It depends on the day." She answered and Ramsay lowly chuckled, but clearly didn't believe her.

____

   That night, Annalys was sitting in her bath, an unknown girl washing her hair, "You're so beautiful," The woman whose name was Myranda complimented Annalys, "I don't think I've ever seen hair quite like yours. So..." She trailed off as she smiled slightly, "Golden."

"It comes with being a Lannister." Annalys answered, her tone calm and relaxed.

"Pure-blooded Lannister, you mean?" Myranda suddenly asked Annalys, who was taken aback by the question.

Annalys knew what the girl meant by the comment. She was talking about the fact that Annalys' parents were siblings. Twins, at that.

For the first time ever, Annalys found herself offended by the comment. She turned to the girl, giving her a warning look, "Pardon, Your Grace. I meant no offense by it." She tried to apologize to Annalys, but it was clear she didn't believe her.

"Oh, you and I both know you did." Annalys argued, sending the girl a smile, despite her tone low and slightly threatening.

"Perhaps you're right," She replied, beginning to run her hands through Annalys' hair to wash it out, "I wanted to inform you of something...Ramsay tend to get bored easily. You don't want to end up like the others."

Myranda watched Annalys closely, clearly hoping for a reaction, which she did not get, "So, there has been others?" Annalys asked, a slightly amused look on her face.

"Yes, many, actually. Ramsay got bored each of them, though. When he gets bored, he goes out on a hunt." Myranda explained to Annalys with a smile on her face, despite the subject they were talking about.

"What kind of hunt?" Annalys found herself asking, much to Myranda's enjoyment.

Myranda smiled mischievously, but Annalys was unable to see it, "I think you know."

"Interesting," Annalys muttered under her breath, taking in each piece of information Myranda spoke about Ramsay, "What is your name?"

"Myranda, Your Grace." She introduced herself to Annalys, looking both proud and confident as she did so.

"Tell me, Myranda, do you truly think whatever you say to me will actually scare me into leaving?" Annalys suddenly asked and Myranda's smile immediately fell as Annalys turned to her, "As you already know, I'm a Lannister. It will take more than a few bedtime stories of a madman's vicious deeds to scare me away. I came here to marry Ramsay for the sake of my kingdom. That is what I will do."

Falling silent, Myranda found herself looking down to see the bruises scattered across Annalys' back, causing her eyes to widen, "He's already come to see you," She commented, a horrified look on her face.

"Yes, he has," Annalys replied, nodding her head in confirmation.

"Yet you're not afraid." Myranda continued on, trying her best to scare Annalys into leaving Winterfell.

Myranda saw the way Ramsay looked at Annalys. She was a queen. If they married, Ramsay would become the most powerful man in Westeros. Myranda would be left off to the side and he'd never even bat an eye in her direction again. Why would he, if he had Annalys at his side? No man would.

"It's nothing my little brother hadn't done to me when he was still alive. Yes, Ramsay may be far worse than Joffrey ever was, but it isn't anything I can't handle," Annalys explained to Myranda, who found herself consumed with anger.

She couldn't believe it. Her intimidation didn't work. "It'll only get worse, you know." Myranda continued, despite a part of her already knowing she had lost.

"I'm Annalys Lannister. Winterfell was my home once. It's going to take a lot more than a Bolton bastard and a Kennel master's daughter to scare me." Annalys explained to Myranda, who glared at her, in a low and threatening tone, "Now, get out before I rip out your tongue and feed it to you. Maybe then, you'll learn to shut your mouth."

Despite Annalys' threat, Myranda remained in her seat in front of Annalys' bath. The Lannister woman rolled her eyes, standing up from sitting in the tub, "Why must everyone choose the hard way?" She muttered under her breath as she stepped out of the water.

Immediately after Annalys was out of the bath, Myranda wasted no time lifting up the knife that was rested on Annalys' nearby dinner plate. She yelled out as she lunged for Annalys. Annalys rolled her eyes, unamused, as she effortlessly ducked to avoid Myranda's form of attack.

As Myranda went to stumble forward, Annalys grabbed the girl by the hair. She roughly slammed Myranda's head against the table in her chambers. Myranda cried out, a cut immediately forming on her forehead. Annalys continued to tightly grip onto Myranda's hair, pushing the girl's head into the bath she was formerly bathing in.

Annalys knelt behind Myranda as she submerged the girl's head underwater, clearly attempting to drown her. Annalys growled in frustration, trying her best to keep Myranda's head underwater long enough to drown her. Myranda tried to fight back, but she was unable to fight against Annalys' strength.

Annalys continued to look unamused as she drowned Myranda, clearly not feeling guilty in the slightest. She didn't care that she was still naked, either, not finding that detail of any importance to the matter at hand.

Soon enough, Myranda finally stopped fighting and Annalys waited a long moment before taking Myranda out of the water. Annalys started down at Myranda's lifeless body, panting for breath. She was dead. After years of killing only men, Annalys had killed a woman. She didn't feel guilty, though. Myranda had it coming.

Before Annalys could react, however, the door to her chambers opened, much to her dismay.

Annalys turned her head to see five servants enter, causing the Lannister woman to become alarmed. The five servants, however, practically cried in relief as they saw Myranda lying dead on the ground. Each of them had suffered from Myranda's torment in some shape or form.

Annalys watched in utter disbelief as each of the servants knelt before her. "We've waited a long time for you to return, Your Grace," The eldest woman there stated, continuing to kneel before the woman she believed to be the one true Queen in the North, "We serve at your command. For whatever you may need."

Annalys uneasily glanced around at the five servants, not knowing whether or not she could trust them. "Help me get rid of her body." She whispered to them, only to see they were still kneeling, "And stand up, would you?" She asked, annoyance laced in her tone.

"Yes, Your Grace," They responded in unison, rushing forward to assist Annalys in getting rid of Myranda's body.

____

    A fortnight soon passed and Annalys knew it was time for her to finally enact the last part of her plan. It was time for her to kill Ramsay and take back the North for both Robb and the sake of Jaime. Annalys knew she could simply take the North and claim it as her own, seeing though she was the one taking it from Ramsay, but she didn't want to risk Jaime's life for the sake of having more power.

Annalys stood in her chambers, rubbing at the bruises on her wrists from Ramsay. He was rough with her, that was for sure, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. She played like she enjoyed it and seemed to Ramsay liked that, which made their time together much easier.

Each night, however, she was forced to endure even worse from Ramsay during their time together. Annalys feared what would happen if she didn't kill him soon.

There was a knock on the door, causing Annalys to sigh in defeat since she knew what it meant. "Enter," She spoke up and turned to find a female servant standing before her, "Did you bring it?"

"Yes, Your Grace. I've had the Maester make the tea you asked for. I didn't tell him it was for you." The female servant explained as Annalys made her way toward her.

Annalys found it a bit odd that she had never seen the servant before and that the first time meeting her had been that same morning. All the servants were on Annalys' side, claiming her to be their queen and the savior of the North. They all knew what she planned to do and vowed to do anything they could to assist her. However, the servant standing before Annalys was someone she had never met before until that day.

But for some reason, Annalys was so caught up in making sure she didn't get pregnant that she hadn't thought to realize something odd was going on.

"Thank you." Annalys thanked the girl, taking the cup of tea from her hands.

She wasted no time drinking a large sip of the tea, the servant girl watching her closely as she did so. Annalys quickly drank the rest, making a weird face at the bitter taste. She didn't know what Moon Tea was supposed to taste like. She had never consumed it before.

Annalys slowly turned to face the servant, who stared at her closely. Annalys immediately handed the empty cup to her, which she took before leaving the room without another word said between them.

___

   That night, not even two hours after she had been given the Moon Tea, Annalys sat at the head table in Winterfell's Great Hall alongside Ramsay. His men were all scattered out at different tables, drinking, laughing, and talking amongst theselves. Annalys glanced around, a large, yet fake smile on her face. Her remaining weren't there, however. Annalys had ordered them to not attend the feast, for their sakes.

Just then, Ramsay rose from his seat, lifting up his mug of ale, "To Queen Annalys!" He shouted out and the Bolton men wasted no time cheering and slamming their fists on their tables, chanting Annalys' name.

Annalys snapped her fingers at a nearby servant girl, who wasted no time serving glasses filled with Arbor Red Wine, which had been delivered to White Harbor just days before, courtesy of Annalys.

Annalys smiled slightly, raising her own glass of wine, "To the Kingdom of the North!" She shouted out and the men repeated after her, just before they began to drink their wine.

Annalys watched them all closely, making sure Ramsay drank as well. She held her cup to her lips but refused to drink even a sip of her own wine.

Only a few brief moments had passed when Annalys glanced around to see many of the men already groaning in pain, causing her lips to curl upwards into a satisfied smirk.

The majority of the men dropped their glasses of wine, beginning to choke, cough, and spit up blood. Annalys, however, watched the scene occur with a slightly amused look on her face, "You stupid idiots," She spoke up loudly, scoffing as each man in the Great Hall slowly began to die from the poison that had been laced in the wine, "You heard what my grandfather did at the Red Wedding, yet you still decided to trust me. All because I offered you the Seven Kingdoms. You're pathetic. You betrayed Robb Stark and I, your king and queen. Where I come from, treason doesn't go unpunished, nor does betrayal. The North remembers, as do I. Sleep well."

With that, each of the Bolton men collapsed, dying within seconds, much to Annalys' satisfaction. From the corner of her eye, Annalys noticed Ramsay, who was dying, weakly lunging toward her. Annalys wasted no time picking up the knife she had previously been using to cut her meat on the table, stabbing him in the stomach.

He grunted in pain, but oddly enough, Ramsay continued to smirk sadistically, causing Annalys to frown in concern, "Enjoy your moon tea," He whispered to Annalys in a low tone.

   Horrified, Annalys pulled the knife out of Ramsay's stomach before stabbing him a second time, directly in the heart. With that, Ramsay dropped to the ground, finally dead.

  However, Annalys looked down to see that he had died with a smile on his face, as if he were satisfied. To say the least, it terrified her. How did he know about the Moon Tea?

  Annalys glanced around uneasily to see the bodies belonging to dozens of Bolton men scattered across the great hall.

   Feeling an uneasy feeling in her gut about the whole ordeal, Annalys rushed out of the room, heading straight for the courtyard to escape.

  She ran outside, finding the courtyard filled with servants who had all sworn to serve her in the previous days. She looked out onto the field beyond Winterfell to see Stark bannermen battling against what remained of the Bolton Army, "Annalys?" A voice suddenly spoke up, causing Annalys' eyes to widen as she turned her head to find Jaime standing before her.

He stood about five feet away from her, covered in dirt with a deep cut across his cheek, "Jaime?" She called out, her tone soft and quiet as she began to tear up, "Jaime..." She trailed off, beginning to cry with joy at the sight of her father.

Annalys wasted no time rushing toward Jaime, the two of them hugging each other tightly as Annalys quietly cried, "I thought..." She trailed off in between cries, "I thought I'd never see you again."

"You couldn't get rid of me that easily. " Jaime smiled at his daughter as they slowly pulled away from each other, t the Lannister man affectionately stroking his daughter's face.

It felt great to each other again, especially after all they gone through to reunite once more.

Annalys looked up at Jaime, smiling softly at him. She feared she'd never get to see him again, but here he was, alive and as well as he could be after going through what he had to get to her.

  Suddenly, Annalys found herself letting out a small cough. She thought nothing of it, though, until she began to cough a few more times. As the seconds passed, Annalys found each cough to be more severe than the last, causing Jaime to frown in concern. He knew for a fact Annalys was never the one to ever be sick. "Annalys," He called out in concern, a frown forming on his lips, "What is it?"

  Feeling blood beginning to slowly drip from her nose, Annalys turned to look at Jaime, alarmed. Jaime's eyes widened at the sight of Annalys' nose bleeding, knowing it wasn't normal. Something was wrong. Something was really wrong.

  "Annalys?" Jaime called out again, noticing Annalys' small gasps for breath, "Annalys!" He exclaimed worriedly as black liquid that he presumed to be poisoned blood begin to spill out of her nose severely.

"J-Jaime...F—" Annalys gasped for breath, clutching and clawing at her chest as she began to feel agonizing pain around her heart.

Annalys' gasps for breath became louder as she cried out, clutching her chest. Her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest. She had never felt anything quite like it.

  Feeling weak in the knees, Annalys nearly collapsed to the snow-covered ground. Before that could happen, however, Jaime caught his eldest daughter in his arms.

The people around them began to watch in horror and utter disbelief as Annalys continued to struggle to breathe, black liquid spilling from her nose, eyes, and the corners of her mouth.

"Annalys? Annalys, what's happening! Tell me what's happening!" Jaime pleaded, an absolutely horrified look on his face as he knelt on the ground while holding Annalys' body in her arms.

"Father..." was all Annalys uttered as she let out one last small, pain-filled gasp, just before her body went limp in Jaime's arms, her eyes remaining open.

   A loud gasp mixed in with a heartbroken cry escaped Jaime's lips at the sight of his daughter lying lifeless in his arms.

Her last words had been calling Jaime 'Father' for the first time.

Tears immediately began to fill his eyes and he shook his head, trying his hardest not to cry, "No, no, no. This can't be happening. This can't be happening," Jaime muttered under his breath, distraught, "Annalys?! Annalys!"

Jaime let out a small sob as he looked down at Annalys. She laid limp in her father's arms, her eyes open and dark colored blood all across her face, some still spilling from the corners of her eyes, lips, and out of her nose as well.

  He pressed his forehead against Annalys' as he cried over her death. The pain was unbearable. He had never felt anything like it. It hurt him more than losing his left hand ever did. The feeling was describable.

As Jaime cradled his daughter's lifeless body in his arms, he lost a part of himself. Annalys was gone. His firstborn daughter was gone, all because he didn't arrive in time to save her. It was all his fault. For that, he'd never forgive himself.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Maggy the Frog said one of the wars would end with her death!

Jaime also warned her that her arrogance and overconfidence would be the best of her and look what happened. 🤷🏻‍♀️

What do you think will happen next? 🤔