6 | THE END

Karsi stood outside, feeling the gentle breeze of the outdoors sting her face. It was a gloomy day, for it was the day Tomas and Cordin were to be executed. The two were lined up, on their knees, ready to lose their heads by the executioner. All they were waiting for was for Karsi to give the order to the executioner. Both men were nearly pissing themselves as they were about to meet face to face with death.

Karsi absorbed this sense of power. Not to relish in it, but to respect it and to understand it. It was the feeling that tyrants thrived in. And she didn't want to have to feel so superior in that way ever again. But, she needed to at that moment to avenge her siblings. Her mother was a strong figure and earned her power, unlike Karsi, so she had life experience that kept her from being a selfish dictator. Because Karsi lacked this life experience, she had to be careful with her newfound power. Inherited monarchy was a dangerous thing. Karsi's aunt Sansa always told her stories of people like Joffrey, Cersei and the Mad King. All defects of inherited monarchies. And she didn't want to be like that at all. It went against everything Reyanna and Jon fought for.

Karsi held out her hand to have the execution give her his sword. The executioner reluctantly gave it to her. She admired it for a bit as she twirled the heavy piece of metal in her hands. "I'll do it." She told him, causing him to step away from the scene.

Karsi looked at her brother's pleading eyes and pursed her lips at him. Without thinking another second, in case she'd backtrack, she drew back her arms, holding up the sword, and swung it down, powerfully. The blade hit the back of his neck and tore through every muscle and bone, disconnecting his head and causing it to roll across her feet. Karsi moved on to Cordin, and just as she did with Tomas, she did with him. Karsi has suppressed all of her emotions and memories of the two in order to get the job done. She wasn't herself in that moment. She was a void body, programmed to do what she had to do to set an example. To send a message to any other traitor that dared harm the royal family.

This time, when Cordin's head rolled across the ground, Karsi reached down and picked up his head. She turned the head so that it's blue eyes were staring right at her. For a flicker of a moment she felt disgusted by what she had done, but the feeling soon faded away when she turned to a knight, standing nearby, and said: " Bring me a stake."

Hastily, the knight brought a pike to her. She held up the head and jammed it on the end of the stake, blood gushing all down the pike. "Stick it somewhere everyone will see." She ordered the knight. "This is what happens when you betray the kingdom. When you betray and try to destroy all the work that has been put into this kingdom to bring us peace. Don't let my rage fool you, I am not the villain here. Those thirsty for power are." She announced to the cheering audience from the stage. She handed the sword back to the executioner and walked off the stage. As she walked back into her palace, the face of Tyrion Lannister appeared.

He tried to stop her to speak with her, his eyes low and sad. "My queen!" He called for her, but Karsi kept walking.

"Please! I want to apologize!" Tyrion shouted after her. Karsi stopped in her track and slowly turned around.

"Apologize on behalf of your son? Please. You did not commit the treason. I'm sorry for you have to live with that treacherous last name until the end of your times. The Lannisters were horrible, at least the last living one is somewhat tolerable." Karsi spoke, before she hurried off back to her room.

As soon as she entered her room, she allowed herself to break down. She allowed herself to feel the anger, the hurt and the grief she had been keeping pent up. She dropped to the floor and sobbed for hours. She felt like dying. She didn't want to live anymore. And she especially didn't want to live with herself after killing her brother and the love of her life. She knew it was necessary to protect the crown, but if that is what it took to be queen—she didn't want to be queen.

* * *

It didn't take long for Karsi to decide what she wanted to do with her life. For a while she contemplated suicide. But, she knew if her mother was there, she'd be disappointed. She recalled that her mother changed the rule to allow for women to join the Night's Watch after she spent some time there defending the Wall. And Karsi decided that was the place for her. She'd be honoring her mother and father's legacy while there, and she'd remain celibate under their codes.

Karsi has enough of making face to face announcements, so, she arranged for a horse to ride her North... and while she waited for her transportation to be ready, she wrote a letter indicating her abdication of the throne.

I, Karsi Stark, formerly abdicate the Iron Throne. I leave my crown to my brother, next of kin, Tormund Stark as I continue my journey to the Night's Watch. Although this is not the ending many in the kingdom wanted to hear, this is the ending most suitable for my life and my broken heart. I hope you understand.

Karsi

Karsi put the pen down and sighed. She deserved better. She deserved more. She deserved a happy ending. But, that didn't seem to exist in the world where the game of thrones never seemed to end.

FIN

author's note: some of y'all about to be real mad at me... but it had to be like this. I gave y'all a happy, coherent and satisfying ending to Challinder (the actual game of thrones series, too) so I had to change it up a bit here to keep y'all on your toes lolll.