Two days later
Ned knelt beside the bed of his friend. Whatever had happened over the years, the Robert that lay in this stately bed was still the person who had once been the very best friend he had ever had. His relationship with Robert Baratheon had at one point been much closer than the bond he had had with his own siblings. Later on, his relationship with Benjen had improved not only because Benjen had grown up by then but also because of their mutual care for their only nephew. But still he had never lived so closely together with Benjen as he had with Robert.
Robert and he had shared a bedchamber often even though they each had been allotted their own quarters. They had been inseparable when they were both fostered at the Vale, sharing lessons, training sessions, playtime and nightly talks for years. Reaching adulthood, they had fought battles side by side and their bond had still deepened until that fateful day when Ned had been confronted with a gleeful Robert boasting about the death of the Targaryen children and their mother.
"What have you done to yourself, Robert?" Ned's voice shook with unshed tears when he uttered the words.
"Stupid." Robert uttered. "Just been utterly stupid. Did not to listen to the healer's advice."
"When have you ever? How long do you still have?" Ned asked his voice barely more than a whisper.
"A sennight, ten days at best before my body poisons itself and I will beg for milk of the poppy to be put to sleep, never to wake up again." Robert sighed. "It was my own doing, Ned." He coughed. "You remember how I always told you I wanted to die?"
"I remember. Shooting a boar and fucking a woman afterward, there's no better way to leave this world" Ned tried to keep his voice light. "You forgot one detail though. You were supposed to be old and grey when you did that."
"Well, fate has decided otherwise."
Both men gazed at each other. Ned wondered why Robert had taken such a risk with his life. Things had been a roller coaster lately. Ever since Littlefinger's trial, they had been growing closer together. Just when he thought Robert trusted him completely, Ned's conscience began to trouble him again, certainly when his former friend showed signs of becoming a competent King. But then the situation had changed again, this time for the worse. For some unknown reason, Robert had started to suspect him once more and had slowly reverted back to drinking and whoring.
The stupid fool had even drunk himself into a stupor in the midst of a boar hunt and according to Yohn Royce had been so out of it that he had fallen of his horse and had been an easy prey for the wild animal that had happened upon him. Robert had been brought back to the Keep on a stretcher, sporting a nasty abdominal wound. Apparently the boar's protruding canine teeth had made a large tear in his stomach.
The healer had done all he could to clean and close the wound. The King had been lucky but had needed to keep to his bed and had not been allowed to sit upright. He had been warned several times. Should the wound reopen, it could tear things under his skin as well. When that happened, his body would poison itself from the inside out and his chances at survival would become non-existent.
And just when the entire keep had been apprised that the King would recover, Robert had pulled another stupid stunt. Yesterday evening he had drunk an entire pitcher or wine and had bedded his paramour. Against all advice he had let her mount him and fuck him into oblivion. In the middle of the act, just when he was about to reach his peak, he had suffered a kind of fit. A large part of the castle had been alerted when the young girl had panicked and ran across the hallways scarcely clothed and desperately screaming for help.
According to the healer that had been summoned once more when Grand Maester Pycelle had been found abed with a fever, the King's body had suffered a shock of some kind. They had been able to stop the seizures that racked his body by forcefully pouring milk of the poppy down his throat. Ever since, he had lost some of the function in his left arm and leg and sometimes his speech became slightly impaired. The healer had reluctantly told them that the sutures had ruptured and that body waste was slowly seeping into his abdomen. His Grace would not recover. He would not live to see the next fortnight, perhaps not even the next sennight. For now the healer had been sworn to secrecy. Only Varys, Ned and the King himself had been informed.
Ned had tried to locate the girl to find out what had really happened. Perhaps Robert had told her something that would help them understand why he had acted so recklessly. But she was nowhere to be found. That poor girl probably thought she might get arrested for putting the King in harm's way. Since she hadn't been discovered yet, Ned was sure that they would never see the girl again. She could well be on her way to Essos by now
"Why, Robert? Why did you do this? Why risk your health in such a stupid way?" Ned asked. He had pulled the chair closer to the bed and sat down, holding Robert's limp left hand in his. They were alone in the room. Ned had dismissed all the servants. A Stark guard at the other side of the door would see to it that Ned could pay his respects to his dying King unhindered.
Robert looked at his friend. His blue Baratheon eyes betrayed how much pain he was in. "I am not long for this world Ned. I am in your con- control now. You can keep me a virtual prisoner. You can-can prevent me from speaking to anyone, from denouncing you for the traitor that you are. I want to hear the truth from your mouth. What happens after I am dead?"
"Robert?" Ned had paled visibly.
"No more evading, Ned. I was told with absolute certainty that you are a traitor and have someone up in the No-north ready to usurp my throne. Who will sit the Iron Throne once I am dead? The Dragonrider? Or some puppet you trained so you can-can rule by proxy? For the sake of our … friendship, you owe a dying foster-brother at least that. I want the truth."
Ned bowed his head. His mind was frantically trying to come up with the best way to handle this situation.
"Ned, the truth, please?"
Ned lifted his head and his eyes met Robert's pleading stare. He decided to give in. What did it still matter? He leaned a bit closer and whispered, "Lyanna's son, my nephew, Prince Aegon of House Targaryen, the rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms."
Robert closed his eyes and released a shaky breath. "Lyanna had a son? With Rhaegar? That ca-can't be possible."
"You would recognise him the moment you saw him." Ned now looked at his friend, the fond look in his eyes unmistakably visible despite the unshed tears that threatened to spill from his eyes.
"He is the spitting image of her, more Stark than Targaryen. His has dark hair, with curls just as her hair would curl when she walked through the rain not caring about her appearance. Remember?"
With a faraway look in his eyes, Robert nodded to Ned. "I do. Tell me more."
"He is intelligent, strong, an excellent swordfighter. He can beat Prince Oberyn, would you believe that? He even beat …" Ned held his breath and looked guilty.
"Just tell me Ned, the time for lies is past." Robert looked resigned and eerily calm.
"He can even beat the Sword of the Morning, Ser Arthur Dayne." Ned looked apprehensively at his friend.
"Those three Ki-Ki-Kingsguards, they live? You knew all this time?" Robert asked when he saw his friend nod affirmatively
"I am sorry, Robert. I did. I encountered them when I searched for my sister in the South after the Rebellion. She did die from a fever as I told you. Only it was child bed fever that she contracted after she gave birth to a son."
"Why didn't you tell me? I would never have harmed Lyanna's son. I loved her." Robert sounded sincere when he said that.
"I didn't know that, Robert. To tell you the truth, I don't believe that. Not at the time, perhaps now, but not at the time. You would have called him a dragonspawn. You would have declared him a product of rape. He was Lyanna's son but he was also a Targaryen Prince. Technically, that small baby boy was the true King of the Seven Kingdoms from the very moment he drew his first breath. My little nephew was a threat to your new reign. With his father and grandfather deceased, he was the only one left to inherit the Iron Throne."
"Still,…" Robert's protest sounded weak.
"Lyanna asked me to protect him, Robert. With her dying breath she asked me to vow that I would protect her son, that I would keep him safe from you. I have honoured her vow, Robert. Everything I have done, every deed you consider treason, I did because I promised Lyanna."
Tears rolled over Robert's cheeks now. "She feared me. She died thinking I would harm her only son. The last thing left alive of her in this world. I would never, I cou-could never …"
"You say that now, Robert and perhaps you mean that now. You wouldn't have then. In any case I couldn't take the risk. I love him, we all love him."
"What happens now, Ned?" Robert had leaned back and was staring at Ned as if seeing him for the first time.
"He takes the throne after you are no longer. He has the support of the North, the Vale, the Riverlands and the Iron Islands. Lord Tyrion of House Lannister will do as I ask. We hope that Dorne won't pose a problem and the Reach, well the Reach will choose the winning side. Don't they always? He will take your throne, Robert. Stannis might try something but he won't stand a chance. We outnumber him on the ground as well as at sea. And my nephew, he has two dragons, Robert."
"Dragons." The word was spoken half in wonderment half in fear. "I once dreamed that I had a dragon. Aren't you sca-scared of them though?"
"I am not. You should see him with them. They are totally subservient to him. And he is no wild, mad Targaryen, Robert. I told you, he is all Lyanna. Only the fact that she is a female makes it so that he doesn't carry the Stark name. He is more Stark than I am. He carries the values of our house within him. But even if he is at least as honourable as I am, he is more balanced. He will be no puppet of mine. Hells, he will command me. He already has at several instances."
Ned still on his knees before the bed put his hand on top of Robert's. "I know I am often too rigid, and only see right or wrong. My nephew, a young man of more than half my age has already proven himself to be wiser than me. He considers all sides in a conflict and tries to determine his opponent's motives. He understands better than I that they often have the best intention even though they choose the wrong way to go about achieving their goals."
Ned swallowed and looked deep into his friend's blue eyes willing him to understand. "Can you believe he has called me out on some mistakes I made and did it in such a way that I not only had to admit I was wrong but that I apologised wholeheartedly and meant it? I kneel to him willingly and with absolute devotion, Robert. He will be the best ruler the Seven Kingdoms have ever known. If you believe anything I told you here today, believe that."
"I want to see him, Ned. I want to see Lyanna's son with my own eyes at least once before I die." The King put his other hand on top of Ned's to lend extra weight to his request.
"Robert, I do not know …" Ned's voice faltered and he looked away hiding the sudden mistrust that surely had to be visible on his face. He carefully freed his hand and put it back in his lap.
"Grant me this dying wish. I want to look at his face and search for Lyanna in him. I want him to fo-forgive me for what I did to his half-brother and sister." Robert didn't give up so quickly.
"Robert, I will not risk him. Not after all these years of keeping him safe from you." Ned had forced a blank expression on his face and studied the man on the bed, trying to determine his true intentions.
"I will not harm him, Ned. I just want to see him. Draft a document for me right this minute, a royal decree in which I state formally that I abdicate the throne effective immediately in favour of him. You can add the necessary names, titles, you know them better than I do by now."
"It will make no difference. Stannis will claim that you were not in your right mind when you made this decision." Ned protested.
"It will make a difference to Lyanna's son, Ned. If he truly is who you say he is, it will make a substantial di-difference to him. He will know that he did not usurp my throne but that I willingly abdicated in his favour. Think of Lyanna's son, Ned. It will mean the world to him if I cou-could tell it to his face. Give me the opportunity to bless his reign. I will die in peace knowing that Lyanna's son sits upon my throne without guilt or remorse. It is my dying wish, Ned. Grant me my dying wish."
"Even if he agreed to come here, I am not sure that he would be able to get here in time. He is in the north, beyond the Wall." Ned stalled for time.
"He has dragons, Ned. I am sure he can get to King's Landing in no time. I am not dead yet. Write the damned do-document. I'll sign it and then you summon him." Even though Robert's voice was weak, Ned could hear the determination and kingly authority in it.
"All right. Let's do this." Ned got up from the chair and slowly walked to the door to ask the Stark houseguard to fetch some writing materials. Perhaps Robert was right. It would be the best outcome for Jon's peace of mind.
***
A day later
"The King asked to see me right away?" the Hand of the King repeated the message Cassel just brought him.
"He did, Lord Stark. He was most insistent. He ordered the servant who brought him his lunch to fetch you this very instant."
"And nobody has been allowed entrance? You are sure he has not received any visitors."
"Not since your last interview with him yesterday. Only his manservant and he can be trusted as you know full well, my Lord."
Ned sighed. "This could not be good news. Perhaps Robert had second thoughts. Yesterday he had been emotional and had thought of nothing but Lyanna's kinship with the young Targaryen. But now that he had been able to look at the situation from all angles, he could very well be appalled that his own Hand had been plotting his downfall for the entire duration of his reign.
He rose from his seat with an uneasy feeling. "Then I better attend to his Grace."
His heart beat loudly in his chest when he entered the sickroom. Robert immediately looked up and Ned could read nothing from the serious look in the King's sunken eyes. Robert didn't look healthy. His face was ashen, his brow was sweaty, dark locks were clinging to his forehead and his eyes were dulled with pain.
"Come sit, Ned. We need to talk. I have many questions." His hand motioned to the chair that stood closest to his bedside.
Robert's calm tone and demeanour put Ned at ease somewhat. Still he did not fool himself. This conversation would not be an easy one.
"I am sure you have, Robert. What do you want to know?"
Robert didn't beat about the bush and came straight to the point. "Why did you agree to let me take the throne in the first pluh-place?"
Ned let out a breath. This was an easy question. "You won the battles and had the greater claim because of your Targaryen ancestor. I never wanted the throne for myself. You knew that to be true then and it is still true now. I didn't know about Lyanna's pregnancy back then, Robert. I found her approximately a moon after I left you on the Iron Throne at King's Landing."
"And then cu-cursed your stupidity for swearing allegiance to me." Robert sounded bitter.
"It wasn't like that, Robert. If you know me even a little bit, you can easily imagine that I have struggled with this tangled situation for years. You probably won't believe me after all that has happened lately, but when I held that baby boy in my arms for the very first time, I felt such a fierce love for him and such an urge to protect him from all the war and hardships his legacy was sure to bestow on him if his existence was revealed to the realm. My first intention was to bring him home to Winterfell and tell my new bride I had a byblow. I was willing to forsake my honour, hurt my new bride and tell everybody that I sired a bastard during the rebellion. I wanted to raise him as my son, keep him in my sight and protect him with anonymity. I so much wanted to cling to the unrealistic hope that I would never have to reveal his true identity."
"But you didn't, Ned. You didn't." Robert stressed the obvious.
"His Kingsguards would never have let me raise their King as a bastard. We debated long and hard and eventually I saw reason. He was a King the moment he took his first breath. A bastard, even a bastard of a noble Lord would lead a harsh life. My wife would surely hate him. Even now she struggles with the fact that my nephew is more important than Robb, our firstborn."
Ned looked deep in the blue Baratheon eyes. "You must believe me, Robert. I never wanted any of this to happen."
Robert studied him for a moment a frown on his face. Then it disappeared. "Even though it is a tale that is rather hard to swallow, the honourable Ned would not lie about this. I believe you, Ned. Now tell me more. Where did he live if not at Winterfell? I want to hear all about the boy who is to take my throne away from me."
Ned adjusted his position so he sat in a more relaxed manner and told Robert all about his nephew's development from a small baby to an honourable man and renowned swordsmen who commands a direwolf as well as two dragons."
It was much later when Ned fell silent. But this time it was a comfortable silence. Robert had mostly listened quietly only interrupting a few times to press for more details. The more amusing interruption had been when Ned had described to him how easily a young Prince Aegon had charmed Prince Oberyn.
"The Red Viper swore allegiance to him, you say? Tell me again how Lyanna's son charmed him, Ned. And please more details. That is the best part of this entire business until now."
***
Prince Oberyn had been waiting at the docks for their ship to arrive. Before anyone could assist him, the Dornish Prince had jumped on board and greeted everyone with a big smile. "Isn't this a great day?"
Ser Gerold led the Prince toward a larger cabin and there they discussed how they would proceed from here. Prince Oberyn reassured Ser Gerold at every turn. Yes, they had loyal men stationed throughout the city along the path they needed to travel to get to the Red Keep. Certainly, Lord Stark would smuggle them inside through a smaller side entrance and would have his houseguard with him. Of course the throne room would be filled with Targaryen loyalists. And yes, Ned Stark had indeed seen to it that every hallway was safe for the Prince to walk past. Even if Prince Oberyn rolled his eyes several times at the barrage of questions, he kept his composure and provided Ser Gerold with the necessary information.
Not long after, they disembarked dressed up as Stark men, Jon's three Kingsguards as well. They had donned a closed helmet for the occasion. Lord Stark would send loyal servants to unload a large number of crates they had brought with them on the ship. Most of them were filled with Targaryen banners and the correct attire for the Kingsguard, houseguard and servants. Once Jon had met with Robert Baratheon things would change quickly. The people would believe the transition of power better if there were visual signs of House Targaryen's presence all around the Red Keep and as soon as possible throughout the entire city as well.
The plan was for Davos and Sam to disembark separately. They were dressed as normal inhabitants and would be able to navigate the streets without causing suspicion. Davos even predicted that they would arrive first since two men could navigate the narrow streets easier than a mounted caravan.
The ship carrying Princess Daenerys and Ser Barristan would dock later that morning. She would join them as soon as they sent word that it was safe for her to enter the Red Keep. Dany and Jon had argued about it after supper, but Jon with the support of his Kingsguard had finally persuaded her to give in. She would at most be half a day behind them.
His main argument had been that her safety was paramount to him and he would not be able to concentrate fully if he was consumed with worry about her. His Kingsguards were anxious enough about the fact that Jon wasn't quick on his feet due to his wounded leg and would not be able to defend himself or run and hide fast enough if things went wrong. Although she had given in in front of Jon's advisers she had joined him in his chambers afterwards and had not minced her words in private.
"Sit down Aegon and rest your leg. We need to talk and it won't be a short conversation." Her harsh tone had startled him.
"I thought you understood, that you agreed." He had stammered while obeying her order and installing himself on his bed. He had tapped the spot beside him with pleading eyes.
Dany had ignored his inviting gesture and had removed Blackfyre from the chair next to his bed where he had just left it and had put the precious object on a small table instead. She had taken a seat, but had kept her back stiff. After she had carefully folded her hands in her lap, she had lifted her head and had fixed her stare on him, no longer concealing the anger she felt. He had admired how calm she explained herself despite her obvious frustration with his behaviour.
"I mostly agree with you that the war up North was men's business and I would just have been a nuisance to you if I had come along. You certainly do not seem to realise how much I would have preferred to go with you. I am of the opinion that there would have been many things I could have helped you out with over there. But still, I get that you would have been worried for me in such a harsh environment facing an unpredictable enemy with superior numbers."
She had cocked her head slightly and had continued. "But isn't that the same for the loved ones who are left behind when men go to war? Did you once stop to think about how worried I was for your well-being and survival every single moment you were out there risking your life? Fool that I was, I convinced myself that next time when you faced some danger in the south you would let me help you. And I wouldn't mind if my role then would be confined to caring for the wounded or arranging the logistics like food and shelter. I would be there with you and more importantly, I would know all the sooner whether you survived and were all right or not. But at the first opportunity here in the south, you intend to keep me away just the same."
"I don't." Jon had only gotten two words out when he was silenced by her next words.
"You do keep me away, Aegon. You shelter me as if I was some slim, tall glass ornament that would topple over by the slightest draft in the room and would be irreparably damaged. What am I to you? You claim to love me but we hardly see each other. You are always flying off to deal with the next dire problem and don't even bother explaining to me what is really going on. I must have dreamed that you were better than other men and treated women better than the average male. Reality teaches me otherwise. I had cherished the hope that we were going to be different from other couples, from other rulers. But now, I just don't know what to think."
Jon had closed his eyes at that point. He hadn't been able to think clearly when she had looked so fierce and passionate about what she had been saying. He had willed himself to gather his wits so he could determine how much of what she had been telling him held true and how much had been twisted or exaggerated because she had only looked at it from her point of view. When she had stopped talking and he had slowly opened his eyes he had caught her wiping a single tear away that had escaped her eye. His heart had melted. He had longed to reach out and touch her hand but had decided against it. She probably would have considered it a patronizing gesture at this stage of their disagreement. He would have to try to convince her with words alone for now.
"Dany, we are going to be different. We just need time to find the best way to do that. We will learn together as we go along. I am the first one to agree that I haven't given you enough time or attention but you must admit that circumstances have been dire lately. Will you believe me when I tell you that I have already made plans for things to change from now on?"
She had looked rather skeptical and had expressed that sentiment with her terse one word retort. "How?"
Jon glad that she at least had seemed willing to hear him out, had taken his chance and had carefully considered each word he had uttered next.
"I won't pretend that I missed you every moment when I was in the North. Over the next days, I will try to relate to you in detail what happened over there so you can better understand my actions and thoughts these last few sennights. It will not be easy since it is a horrifying tale at times which can give the toughest man nightmares. For you however, I will try. I just need a bit more time and quiet to do so."
He had exhaled deeply and had stared at her with his honest dark Stark eyes, imploring her to believe his next words. "By the Gods I swear to you that I tell you the truth now when I say that in the very moment that I was almost defeated by a White Walker, it was the thought of never being able to hold you again, of never getting the chance to marry you and seeing your stomach swell with our child, that gave me the extra motivation and strength needed to turn the tide and survive that battle."
His eyes had never left her face while he spoke and he had noticed her expression soften a bit. "In future we will travel together, we will rule together. But make no mistake, I will always try to shield you from harm. Not because I consider you a glass ornament but because I couldn't bear losing you forever, Dany. Don't hold that against me. And if you ever are to join me on a battlefield, it will be behind the frontlines with an entire regiment of Dragonguards there to protect you. You will have to accept that. I can't act otherwise. In any other matter, you may always challenge me, order me to hear you out and treat you as an equal partner. You can even demand that I give precedence to your opinion over my own and I will promise to consider it. But never on a battlefield, Dany. Never on a battlefield."
He had taken a few deep breaths to have a little time to mull over his next words. He had known that she would keep silent because he still hadn't fully answered her question.
"You ask me how things will be different? They will be different because I will make an effort to make time for you every day. No matter how busy our schedules are or how dire the issues we need to deal with during the day. And I say we because you will be part of every meeting you choose to attend. But aside from seeing you in meetings, I promise you to make time for a private discussion with you at least once a day. You can berate me then, tell me what I am doing right, what I am doing wrong without the presence of witnesses and without me holding it against you. I make you the solemn vow to always hear you out and keep an open mind. And more importantly, I will always be honest when I answer you. But in turn I ask that you grant me the same courtesy. I need you to promise me to hear me out as well when I need to unburden or explain myself to you. But more importantly, I beseech you to give me honesty, always and in all matters."
"Private time each day and absolute honesty, you promise?" She had leaned a bit forward when she had asked him that.
"I promise. And if there are things I can't tell you about, I will explain to you why that is the case and you will have the absolute certainty that the reasons I give you are the honest to the Gods absolute truth. Can you promise me the same?"
She had looked at him then as if he she could truly see him for the very first time. Her purple eyes had once more freely expressed the love she felt for him and he had known at that exact moment that things would be alright. Theirs would be a marriage unlike any he had every witnessed. He might not be able to merge his mind with hers as he could with Rhaegal but they would not need to. They would achieve the same result with open, honest conversations. He would see to that. They would see to that.
"I promise, Aegon. I promise you honesty and I will speak my mind freely even if it means making you angry with me. I hope you won't come to regret granting me that and not treating me like many men that curb their wives' tongues and consider them mere broodmares."
Her soft voice had never sounded so sweet to him and he knew he had probably looked like a fool in love but hadn't cared on bit. He had tapped the space on the bed next to him once more. "Then won't you come and sit on the bed with me for a moment? I kind of am in need of a bit more reassurance than mere words from you can offer me."
"Even if it are honest words?" She had attempted a watery smile.
"Even then." He had held out his arm and she hadn't hesitated any longer. The intensity of their make-up kiss had surprised him. He had heard some of the Free Folk boasting how the couplings after a fierce fight with their spouse had been worth the bruises and hurt ego they had suffered. 'Worth it a thousand times.' Tormund had boasted when Jon had asked him about a nasty bruise on his cheek one time.
The thrill he felt every time they had kissed before had been nothing compared to the lightening he felt now coursing through his blood. He inwardly cursed the fact that they weren't married yet and how he had promised Ser Barristan earlier that they would just talk and maybe exchange an innocent kiss but nothing more. It had been the only way the knight had let her enter his room at this late hour while staying outside in the hallway himself. Ser Barristan had understood their need to cement the precariously truce of their earlier argument and that they preferred to do so in private. He had played his role of chaperone extracting a promise of chastity from Jon all the same.
Jon would have given anything to have been entitled to make her his right there and then. He had summoned all his willpower and had succeeded in ending a very long and passionate kiss. He had taken a few deep breaths and had gazed deep into her dilated pupils. "As much as I want to keep you in my arms and show you how much I love you and worship every inch of your body, I made a promise to Ser Barristan."
"We both did." She had reluctantly released her hold on him and was breathing heavily as well. She had settled herself against the headboard of his bed and had stared straight ahead. Her hand that had rested between them however had shifted slightly towards his until she could caress it endearingly. He had not hesitated and had intertwined their fingers. A comfortable silence had ensued. Dany had been the first one to test their new resolution.
"Perhaps I can try to make a start with speaking my mind and letting you know some of my thoughts?" She had offered after she had regained her composure somewhat.
"We can make a start tonight if Ser Barristan allows us a bit longer." Jon had pressed her hand silently acknowledging his thanks for the effort she had been making.
Dany had checked the door that had still remained closed. She had turned to him and he had been able to discern the determined look that had appeared in her eyes. "I want to talk to you about the dragons, Aegon."
He smiled at the memory when he mounted one of the horses that had been brought down to the docks the day before and absently saw his Kingsguards do the same. He pushed the thoughts of Dany and their newest project to the back of his mind and silently admired the thoroughbred that Prince Oberyn rode. It was clear that the Dornish Prince had brought his own steed. The horses were a last minute adjustment to their plan because of Jon's injury.
The mounted party stayed behind a row of houseguards that marched on foot and cleared the way for them. The rear of their small caravan consisted of two more rows of their own men dressed up as Stark guards. Jon was in full armour. He wore the exact same armour as his Kingsguards had put on for the occasion. He also had a helmet covering his face. Jon's formal outfit had been neatly folded in a large saddle bag and had been secured to Ser Oswell's horse.
The people they passed in the streets of King's Landing barely looked up when they passed by. By now, everyone was used to the sight of the Stark men going about the capital as if they owned it. Jon didn't give the smallfolk much attention either. His gaze was directed towards Aegon's Hill and the pale red stone of the Red Keep. They encountered no trouble whatsoever and the small caravan quickly reached a side gate where they were supposed to pass through the large wall and enter the Red Keep's domain.
His Uncle who had been waiting there for them hugged Jon silently and then the large group marched hurriedly to the inner gates that gave entrance to the palace itself. Ser Gerold was really taking his duties seriously. Jon now flanked by Uncle Ned and Ser Gerold both with their hands on the pommel of their swords, took his first steps inside the stronghold that had been built by his ancestors. Three guards walked in front of him and a large contingent of men protected his rear. They all wore the sigil of House Stark for now.
Jon had never set foot in King's Landing before and had only seen the Red Keep from afar. He tried to look past the guards that surrounded him to take in his first close glimpses of the palace where he would reign but was hindered at every turn.
"How is King Robert?" Jon whispered to his uncle when they stopped at an inner gate waiting for the guards to open the large doors to let them pass.
"He is hanging in there. He is lucid and very much wants to meet you. It won't be long though." His uncle looked haggard and sad when he told his nephew this in a low tone of voice.
Ser Gerold addressed Lord Stark now also speaking discreetly. "Have all our allies been informed. Are you sure our Prince will be safe in there?"
"Of course I am sure. Almost everybody present in the Red Keep is a vetted Targaryen loyalist. You have been receiving a new list of names every few days. A small army from the Riverlands has arrived and will help the City Watch with keeping the smallfolk in the city under control in case of a revolt but we all agreed that such a thing is not likely to happen. Every man we can trust in King's Landing has been alerted. Lord Varys has been spreading rumours in favour of our Prince and several songs are sung by people paid by him that praise the saviour who rides a dragon. All of Jon's deeds in the North are being whispered about as far as the shabbiest corner of Fleabottom."
"What about potential enemies here inside the Keep?" Ser Gerold still kept the group of men from venturing further inside before he was satisfied that Jon's safety could be ensured.
"I have ordered my men to work together with the Targaryen loyalists so that at every opportunity and in every room we will outnumber the nobles whose alliance might be doubtful once they realise who my nephew really is. We have everything under control, Ser Gerold. Stannis Baratheon hasn't even done his sick brother the courtesy of showing up no matter how many times we summoned him. He hasn't been told that the King is dying. Nobody has been informed of that yet. Don't forget that the few men from the Stormlands that are in King's Landing are ones that have pledged to support our cause."
"Let's stay vigilant all the same. My Prince, stay close to us at all times and be prepared to draw your weapon."
"Don't worry, Ser Gerold. I am sure nobody in here will be stupid enough to draw his sword and if someone were to try, I am confident you will have dealt with him before I can even think to draw my sword." Jon's tone clearly conveyed his wish to move forward.
"Of course we will deal with them, my Prince. But these moments are decisive. Stay alert."
A small commotion made the men startle and draw their weapons. They were quickly put away again. Davos Seaworth and Sam Tarly had bumped into their rear guard. As soon as order had been restored, Ser Gerold gave Lord Stark the sign to continue and they followed the Hand of the Baratheon King along several corridors. On Lord Stark's command, the guards spread out and by the time they stopped at a door, the group had dwindled down to just Ned, Jon, his three Kingsguards and two of Lord Stark's men. Sam and Davos had stayed behind as well.
Ned ushered them inside a large room where Jon could change out of his armour and dress as the Prince of Dragonstone. A large coat hid his sigil of the three headed dragon on his doublet for now. Ned had been honoured to notice that the head of a direwolf had been incorporated at the bottom of the Targaryen sigil.
"We are close to the King's quarters. We just need to walk to the end of that hallway and turn right. Once inside, you can display your house's sigil proudly, Jon." Lord Stark explained then he turned to the three knights.
"Ser Gerold, I will need you all to remain outside. The royal bedchamber has two exits. Stark houseguards are stationed at the servant's entrance. You will stay here in the hallway by the main door."
"Is there no way at least one of us can guard the door from the inside?" Ser Gerold did not look happy at Lord Stark's suggestion.
"Not before the official abdication has taken place. Then it is up to Jon or more precisely, King Aegon." Ned explained. I hope you trust me with the life of my only nephew, Ser Gerold."
"It is okay, Ser Gerold." Jon spoke up. He had finished dressing but handed his swordbelt with Blackfyre to his Lord Commander. "Please take this for now. I can't enter with a sword on my belt in the King's bedchamber."
Ser Gerold looked at Lord Stark and relented. "I entrust him to you. Promise me you will throw something heavy against the door or find another way to alert us if you need our urgent assistance."
"You have my word. I will keep him safe." Lord Stark nodded to the three knights looking calm and confident. "You can follow us till we reach the door of the King's bedchamber. Once there, be advised that I will enter the room alone at first to inform to the King of Jon's presence."
The small group quickly approached the door to the King's bedchambers. Two Stark houseguards stood at their post guarding the door.
"Is the King alone in his room?" Ned asked his own men.
"The healer left a while ago and told us that the King was resting. He is alone, Lord Hand."
"He will be expecting us." Ned Stark spoke these words so the guards would open the door for him. Next he addressed his nephew. "I'll quickly announce your presence and then you will be allowed to come inside." Ned voice brokered no comment and nobody objected when he swiftly turned around and disappeared inside the bedchamber.
The room smelled of sickness and Robert lay in the bed with his eyes closed. His face looked drawn even in rest. Ned approached the bed and took the bluish hand in his.
"Robert, are you awake? There is a visitor here to see you."
"Ned? I was just resting my eyes. I am not in the mood for visitors now. But you may stay. I want you to tell me more about Lyanna's son. Tell me again about his friendship with this young man that you claim is my bastard, Gendry and is my spitting image. I like to hear how a younger version of you and one of me are friends just like we were."
"Wouldn't it be nicer if he told you personally? My nephew is waiting outside your door." Ned saw Robert's entire body come alive as it were.
"He has come?" The King opened his eyes as wide as he could. His hands were pushing at his furs.
"All the way from Eastwatch beyond the Wall. He has flown here just as you requested." Ned was quick to confirm.
"Hurry, help me up, Ned." Robert looked frantic and was trying to get to a more upright position but was too weak to accomplish that by himself.
"Is that wise, Robert?" Ned approached the bed now so he could help his friend if he persisted in his folly.
"Help me up, dammit. The damage has already been done. I want to look a little more dignified when I meet him. Come on, Ned. Don't make me beg." Instead of being pale, the King's cheeks now had a feverish red colour.
It was a struggle but with their combined efforts they managed to get Robert to sit half upright with a bundle of furs supporting his back.
"All right." Robert was breathing heavily his face contorted with pain. "Now drape my best coat over my shoulders. He flattened his beard with his right hand. Do I look presentable enough?"
"You look just fine, Robert. You haven't lost your Baratheon charm yet. He will recognise your blue eyes immediately. They always were your best feature." Ned tried to appease the dying man. He hesitated whether he would ask him to lose the nightcap but decided against it.
"I sure as hells charmed the ladies with them. Where is that royal decree? Give it to me. I'll hide it under the co-covers until we have spoken."
Ned handed him a large scroll. "Thank you for doing this, Robert."
The King scoffed. "Who would I have appointed as my heir? My brother who b-b-burns children and who doesn't even shy away from burning kin? Or my other brother who fucks men and cannot beget heirs. Lyanna's son is honourable and the right option when all is taken into account. All will be well, Ned."
Ned shook his head. "It is I who should be saying that to you, Robert. Are you ready? Shall I summon him?"
"It is time. Let him enter, Ned."
Interlude 34: A royal punishment
Willas Tyrell hesitated when he arrived at Lannisport and saw a delegation of Lannister soldiers waiting patiently until he disembarked. They probably had orders to escort him to Lord Tyrion Lannister.
Life sometimes took strange turns. Fate somehow kept throwing Myrcella and him together when he least expected it. First at Winterfell and now surely he was going to see her again while he was a guest at the Rock. He had often thought of her. Mostly wondering how she had adapted to the life of a bastard. The golden Princess of Westeros was now the incestuous bastard of a Mad Queen and her adulterous twin brother. He was not sure if he wanted to see her with the way things were now. A Lord could not treat a bastard as an equal. Seeing each other would only result in pain and heartache. Perhaps he would not get the chance even if he wanted to see her. She might be hidden away in the servants quarters, doing the Gods know what so House Lannister could pretend that she and her brother didn't exist and thus could uphold a fake respectability. He cursed the task that had brought him here. If only he had travelled a little quicker. If only he had sailed off before they had caught up with him. If only.
Nobody could have been more surprised than him when a messenger had intercepted him at Seagard. His first thought had been that his grandmother had wanted him to change his plans and head for King's Landing instead of hurrying home to Highgarden. Nothing had been further from the truth.
The message had been a summons from Prince Aegon Targaryen. It was a request to stop at Casterly Rock and convey a message from the Targaryen Prince to Lord Tyrion Lannister. The strange thing was that he was not yet in possession of the missive himself. He would only receive it when he arrived at Lannisport. The Prince would make sure he got it in time for his interview with Lord Lannister.
Willas couldn't for the life of him come up with a reasonable explanation why it was imperative that he be the one to present the Targaryen Prince's request to Lord Tyrion Lannister in person. However, the incentive offered by the Prince was too great to refuse the errand. The message he received had stated clearly that if Lord Willas Tyrell agreed to carry out this assignment, he would ensure that House Tyrell did not lose its position as Lord Paramount of the Reach despite not offering their allegiance as of yet as the others had. To make things even more mysterious, the message had been signed by Prince Oberyn Martell on behalf of Prince Aegon Targaryen.
"We have orders from King Aegon to escort you safely to Casterly Rock, Lord Tyrell." The leader of the red and golden attired guards addressed him. "Lord Lannister has been advised of your visit. We brought you a mount."
"King Aegon?" Willas was baffled now.
"King Robert died and he appointed King Aegon as his heir by royal decree days before he passed away. We were ordered to inform you that a message from the King awaits you at Casterly Rock, my Lord."
Willas accepted the reins of the horse. He turned toward his manservant. "Please see to it that the crate with my overnight luggage is brought up to the Castle."
He mounted the chestnut mare they had brought for him and steered the horse next to the spot where the leader was waiting for him. "Perhaps you can enlighten me on these new developments on our way up to the castle. I have been confined on a boat for some time and apparently missed this major political change."
***
Willas Tyrell was immediately escorted to a large room where Lord Lannister was waiting to receive him. Willas bowed and started the greeting.
"Lord Lannister, I am pleased to meet you again. We didn't get a chance to meet each other at Winterfell." He stopped looking suddenly nervous and cursed himself to be so stupid as to remind Tyrion Lannister of the downfall of his family.
"Please be seated, Lord Tyrell." Tyrion Lannister motioned the servants who immediate brought a tray of bread and salt.
"Ever since I've visited the North, I have developed a strong appreciation for some of their customs. I never quite thought much of guest rights until I read some of the history books in Lord Stark's excellent library."
Lord Lannister took the plate from the servant and personally presented it to the heir of Highgarden. Willas took a small piece of breath, dipped it in the salt careful not to get too much of it on the bread and took a small bite.
"I thank you for your consideration, Lord Lannister. I am sure my visit must come as a surprise to you."
"Not at all." The dwarf replied keeping his voice as formal as Willas Tyrell's. "I have been waiting a long time to receive an ambassador of House Targaryen. The only thing that I did not suspect is that it would be a Lord of House Tyrell playing messenger boy. As far as I knew your house was one of the last to recognize the claim of King Aegon. I have been told they refused to do so at several instances when our King was still a Prince."
"That is a strong way of putting it. We were never asked explicitly. All we received were vague hints, and you know my grandmother." Willas cringed when he grasped how weak his explanation sounded.
Lord Lannister just mockingly raised an eyebrow and kept silent. Willas swallowed and changed the subject. "You mentioned that you have been expecting a royal ambassador. Then you know why I am here?"
Willas Tyrell had quickly realised that he was at an even greater disadvantage than he had originally surmised. His host seemed to know exactly why he was there, while he still hadn't the faintest clue what message he was bringing to House Lannister. Perhaps King Aegon was punishing his house by selecting him to bring the bad news that House Lannister lost the title of Lord Paramount. Perhaps they had to relinquish the Rock or the exploitation rights to their mines. He started sweating.
"Of course, I know." Lord Tyrion now studied Willas Tyrell closely, a puzzled expression had appeared on the dwarf's face. "You brought the legitimization papers for my niece and nephew, did you not?"
"Legitimization? Tommen and Myrcella?" Willas all of a sudden was praying fervently that that was indeed the message he was supposed to bring here.
A Lannister houseguard entered without knocking, seemingly out of breath. "Apologies, my Lords. This package needed to be handed over to Lord Tyrell immediately upon his arrival. Once again my sincerest apologies." The man gave the stunned young Lord a thick parcel. Then he bowed and quickly exited the room again.
"Ah," the dwarf exhaled loudly. He looked visibly relieved. "That explains it. Shall I give you some privacy to examine the content of the package first?"
"I would be much obliged, Lord Lannister. And perhaps a glass of wine? I might appreciate that as well?"
"Of course, where are my manners? I'll fetch a servant right away. He will show you to a guest room and bring you some refreshments. I'll see you when it is time for supper. Perhaps I can then introduce you to Lady Myrcella Lannister and her brother, Lord Tommen Lannister." Tyrion Lannister smiled and as quick as his little legs allowed him, he exited the room to fetch the promised servant.
Willas unable to utter a single word just watched him leave, clutching the package tightly in his grasp. Could it really be that this wrapped up bundle of scrolls, adorned with the bright red Targaryen sigil and a small crown contained a royal decree making Myrcella a Lady Lannister, trueborn kin to a lord Paramount? That would change things considerably. He sobered. Not if Grandmother had already agreed to betroth him to Lady Sansa of House Stark. He was glad when the servant entered so he could retire to a private room and check what exactly the package contained.
***
Willas sat on the bed, his legs stretched out before him, his head resting against the headboard and closed his eyes. He took three deep breaths and then opened them and pinched his arm. No, he was not dreaming. He was still in a richly furnished bedroom with lots of gilded objects. He smiled when he took in the sight of the all-important papers that were neatly ordered on the bed within his reach.
"Grandmother must be furious." He spoke the words out loud and chuckled. "And now I am behaving like a madman, talking to myself."
He shook his head. If he was a madman, he was a very happy one. He had first read the royal decree effectively declaring Myrcella and Tommen members of House Lannister with all the rights and privileges of trueborn children of Jaime Lannister. What was more, Lord Tommen was proclaimed the heir to Casterly Rock and the next Lord Paramount regardless of any future offspring the current Lord Lannister might sire. Lord Tyrion was relegated to the position of temporary regent. Next he had broken the seal on the letter King Aegon had addressed to him personally.
The letter started with an apology for the impulsive manner in which he had been summoned to the Rock by Prince Oberyn. King Aegon however was quick to reassure that Prince Oberyn's actions had merely sped up the process and that the end result was the one he had always intended.
The letter went on with some more formal wordings but Willas had needed to read it twice to grasp the repercussions. His grandmother was harshly rebuked for her stubborn ambitious scheming and House Tyrell had temporarily lost the right to decide the betrothals of their kin. King Aegon was exercising his right as King of the Seven Kingdoms to choose the bride of the heir to the Reach. Lady Margaery also needed to await royal approval before entering a betrothal. His younger brother, Loras would not be allowed to marry. He would be forced to accept a position as a Kingsguard.
Willas smiled when he compared the harsh terms spelled out on the scroll to the way this news would be received by its immediate recipients. Loras would be thrilled and honoured and he, well he was going to jump on the opportunity and ask Lord Lannister for the hand of his niece, Lady Myrcella of House Lannister before the first course would be served. And Lord Lannister even though he would not be given a choice in the matter by King Aegon would be very happy to have his niece betrothed the heir to Highgarden without having to provide a dowry. That was also a condition of King Aegon. House Tyrell would not be getting any gold from the Lannisters but were obliged to proclaim any offspring of their son Willas with Lady Myrcella of House Lannister as the rightful heirs to Highgarden and the next in line to become Lord Paramount of the Reach.
Willas looked at the small crate containing the bare necessities for a one night stay. He regretted leaving his more formal outfit on the ship. He shook his head. It didn't matter. This attire would do. Myrcella would take him even in rags and his future good-uncle, well Lord Lannister had been given no choice in the matter. The King had decreed. He quickly sprang into action. He called for a servant to inform Lord Lannister he wanted a private audience before supper and did his best to refresh himself and present a respectable image to his future good-uncle.
***
To King Aegon of House Targaryen, Sixth of his Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm, The Prince of Dragonstone, Rider of Dragons and Friend of the Free Folk
Your Grace,
I formally announce the betrothal of my niece, the Lady Myrcella of House Lannister and Lord Willas of House Tyrell, heir to Highgarden.
I send this letter to confirm that we will all travel to the capital as soon as our trunks are packed to swear our allegiance to Your Grace in person and to convey our wishes for a prosperous reign that hopefully will last for many, many years. May I take the liberty to inform Your Grace that House Lannister is of the opinion that Westeros will greatly benefit from Your Grace's rule?
Since it will take us some time to reach King's Landing and I am an impatient man, I use this message to express my admiration for the decisive ways by which Your Grace entrusts the lifelong loyalty of his subjects. Your Grace certainly has a unique way to make a punishment into a means of winning over the hearts of several subjects. (I might need to make an exception for the Lady Olenna of House Tyrell. But I am sure her absence at your Court will not be a great loss to anyone.)
My new King seems to be a man after my own heart. I look forward to meeting Your Grace face to face. If I may be so bold as to suggest a game of cyvasse? That might be a good opportunity to get the measure of one another. I am of course at your disposal and open to any other proposal Your Grace might suggest since you certainly come up with original ones.
If ever I speak up against you, just remind me of this letter and the mood I was in while writing it. This diminutive lion is open to a friendship request of a dragon.
My niece, nephew and future good-nephew all send you their deepest gratitude and ensure me that they will be more eloquent when standing before your Grace. I certainly hope so since they are deeply indebted to your Grace.
Your obedient servant,
Lord Tyrion of House Lannister, Regent of Casterly Rock and temporary Warden of the West