Chapter 14
Great Sept of Baelor, Late 281 A.C., Four days later…
I breath in, smelling the incense as I stand in my finest blue and white tunic next to my cousins and uncles amidst the Northern lords crowded into one of the seven aisles of the Great Sept of Baelor. Myrra wasn't with me but instead with her father and brother somewhere in the sea of Westerlords and ladies in another aisle across the sept. After songs, prayers, and a ten-minute-long sermon that the Old Golds worshiping Northerners, apart from the Manderlys, was respectfully silent through, the ceremony finally began.
At the altar stood the High Septon, a thin, old man with a long grey beard wearing brown robes and a crown made up of large crystals stood, behind him were two large statues, one of the Father and the other, the Mother. In front of him were the two couples with their father and "father". Prince Stannis stood facing Lady Cersei with her father next to her and King Robert stood facing Lady Lyanna with her brother next to her, standing in for the role of "father". Unlike Old Gods weddings, where the groom removes the maiden cloak himself to put on the bride's cloak, in Seven weddings, the bride's father removes the maiden cloak for the groom to place the bride cloak.
"You may now cloak the brides, and bring them under your protection!" The High Septon proclaims after the brides and grooms recited the marriage vows of the Seven. Lord Stark and Lord Tywin remove the Stark and Lannister maiden cloaks off Lady Lyanna and Lady Cersei respectively and stepped off to opposite sides. The royal brothers then placed their Baratheon bride cloaks across their shoulders.
"With this kiss I pledge my love." All four said as one before the two couple briefly locked lips and stood holding hands as the High Septon spoke again.
"In the light of the Seven-Who-Are-One, these two couples are each one flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever!" He proclaimed to cheers and applause with the Northern, Western and Stormlords being the loudest. The newly weds walked down the aisle towards the exit with the king and new queen in front with the prince and new princess closely behind. A massive bell could be heard through the walls of the building from the belltower in the plaza outside the sept as I heard my cousin Wyman speak.
"About bloody time! The ceremony wasn't too bad but all the prayers and singing beforehand. Not to mention the sermon that felt like it went on forever!" He quietly complained to me but I heard my other cousins Owen Fisher and Galbart Glover murmur their agreement as I gaze upwards at the interior of the dome. It was a beautiful white marble dome with hanging crystals that reflected light from high windows, creating a kaleidoscope of colors across the interior.
"Stunning architecture aside, heart trees are faster and much less fuss." I jape to the chuckles of my cousins as my gaze shifts to see Lord Stark talking with the High Septon. "Uncles, are we presenting our gifts to the newlyweds together?" I ask.
"I'm afraid not nephew." My uncle Rogar Glover said. "I'm presenting my gifts with my bannermen, the Wolfswood clans." The Wolfswood clans were similar to the northern hill clans in that they were run by chiefs that used a similar title system such as the Bole or the Woods. Living in the middle of the Wolfswood in small wooden holdfasts, they were among the poorest Northern houses with little agriculture and mostly dependent on hunting, timber and what little mining they can, with their main exports being pelts and timber.
"Who's going to give their gifts first, the Forresters or Whitehills?" Wyman quips and my uncle just signs. "They aren't, the Whitehills is presenting their gifts with the Boltons." He mutters to our shock. House Forrester and House Whitehill used to be Wolfswood clans but grew rich and powerful enough from the ironwood trade to become proper lords under House Glover. Both houses grew ironwood until some five hundred years ago when the Whitehills' ironwood died out and they accused the Forresters of sabotaging their ironwood groves to gain a monopoly while the Forresters maintain the Whitehills overharvested their ironwood to exhaustion. The rivalry between the two houses has always been a source of headaches for House Glover but grew worse with the depletion of the Whitehill ironwood groves and in recent years due to Lord Ludd Whitehill's marriage to Lord Royce Bolton's cousin.
"I understand Uncle Rogar, we will need to keep an eye on the Whitehills." I say with a grim nod. The Whitehill-Bolton alliance has been a headache for my uncle because it has emboldened the Whitehills in their feud with the Forresters. What had me concerned was their location. The Whitehills were the easternmost house in the Wolfswood, right on the border of new Karstark ally House Lightfoot, who also borders House Bolton. This meant that if the feud exploded into bloodshed, the Boltons could march through ally lands and reinforce the Whitehills. Not to mention the potential spying Lord Whitehill could be doing for the Boltons, and consequently, the Karstarks and Umbers.
"Uncle Osric?" I turn and ask my other uncle, who smiled and nodded. "Aye nephew, our houses will present our gifts together!"
"What are you lords gifting them if you don't mind me asking?" I ask my uncles.
"Castle-steel swords with the handle and pommel carved from the tusk of a narwhal for the king and prince and golden bracelets of red amber for the queen and princess." My Uncle Osric answers before my other uncle cuts in. "Two war hammers with the handles made out of ironwood and otter-furred winter cloaks." He answers before asking. "And you, nephew?"
"A sliver and gold blue amber necklace for the queen and princess, and I commissioned two paintings for his grace and Prince Stannis." I state simply and they turned their heads and looked at me with raised eyebrows as we walked through the Hall of Lamps, named for colored, lead glass lamps that hung in from the ceilings of the entrance hall.
"Where did you find a painter? Is your betrothed a painter?" Uncle Robar asked incredulously.
"While my betrothed is a painter, she did not paint the gifts. That was Lucos, a painter I found in Flea Bottom!" My uncles and cousins minus Wyman look even more incredulous as we hear the roar of the crowd outside.
"A lord finding a painter in Flea Bottom? That sounds like the setup to a jape!" I hear an accented voice quip and turn to see Prince Oberyn Martell and his paramour Captain Nakaya Sho. "I hope you didn't cause too much damage in Flea Bottom searching for a painter." He says with a grin.
I chuckle. "Oh please. You make it sound like I kicked down doors interrogating smallfolk on their artistic talents!" We both laughed before I continued. "I found him working at the Wayfinders Guild painting on the wayfinders and saw his talent." I explain as we reached the entrance and stepped outside into the late morning sun.
*BONG*
The large belltower in the center of the plaza continued to ring, each sound echoing throughout King's Landing. I saw the king and queen mount pure white horses with the prince and princess mounting their own white stallions before they began to casually trot down the Street of the Sisters towards the Cobbler's Square. The still rebuilding Goldcloaks lined the sides of the street, keeping the crowds at bay with the assistance of Northern, Western and Stormland men-at-arms and levies as the royal couples smiled and waved.
*BONG*
The bell continued to toll as the crowd of smallfolk shouted praises and well wishes to the royal couples. "HAIL THE STAG KING AND WOLF QUEEN!" "LONG LIVE THE BARATHEONS!" "MAY YOU BE BLESSED WITH MANY CHILDREN!" "DOWN WITH THE DRAGONS!"
*BONG*
"You know, when I agreed to send a single swan ship to Wolfsport, I did not expect two trade fleets in return!" I hear an accent that back on Earth, I would have described as vaguely West Africanand turn to Captain Nakaya.
I snort. "The original plan was for just the western shore houses of the North and Lannisport Lannisters. I didn't expect more houses to join in and I certainly didn't expect the king to take a stab at trading." I say, referencing the announcement of the creation of the Royal Trade Fleet yesterday. The only thing that directly affected me in the announcement was that the king gave his royal blessing to the Sunset Trade Fleetcreated by Lord Dustin and I.
*BONG*
"The arrival of two trade fleets from the Sunset Lands will create quite a stir back home. The Summer Islands are divided between many princes and the last unifier was chosen by the Council of Elders over a century ago. The princes may see one or both trade fleets as an opportunity to gain an advantage over their rivals, so I suspect they will be very willing to trade but not use to foreign ships coming in such numbers." She said as we descend the white marble steps.
"Would some of these princes, such as House Xaq of Koj, be interested in the Sunset Trade Fleet setting up trading posts in their ports?" I ask.
*BONG*
The people around me looked gave questioning looks. "You wish to establish more permanent trade with the islands?" She asked and I nodded. "Some princes like Prince Dalazhar Zoko of Lotus Port or Prince Makathar Xaq of Koj might be amenable to a trading post, though of course not for free. Some may demand a good price for goods, some will want to establish a trading post in Wolfsport, and some will even request a marriage alliance!" The captain answered.
"I would like to establish a more permanent if small trade between Wolfsport and the Summer Islands depending on the outcome of the trade fleet. As for a trading post in Wolfsport or a marriage alliance?" I shrug. "Mayhaps a small one and all of House Seastark is betrothed."
*BONG*
"Captain Nakaya, why are the Summer Islands divided and why is it so rare for them to be united?" I hear my cousin Wyman ask the Summer Islander.
"Ah, that is because when one prince amasses too much power or influence, the other princes will usually unite against them. It is difficult for a prince to amass enough power whether through trade, marriages, and ritualized warfare to even call for an assembly of the Council of Elders in Tall Trees Town. Then they must get the council to vote in favor of crowning them as King of the Summer Islands. The first prince to become king was Prince Malthar Xaq, Prince of Koj and founder of Port Malthar, the main trade port of Koj…" The captain began answering as the bell tolled again
*BONG*
"I heard you and Lord Dustin are sitting at the king's table for the feast after the gift giving." The prince turned me and asked and I was reminded of my unexpected conversation two days ago.
I was surprised when Lord Stark approached me in private to thank me for House Seastark's contributions in both the war and getting his sister back. I thanked him but when I commented on the timing he grimaced, quietly admitting that while he was busy with the wedding preparations, he should have met with me earlier and apologized, calling it a failure on his part and his bluntness surprised me. This apology didn't seem like much since back on Earth I had seen hundreds of half-assed apologies (and made more than a few myself) but in Westeros, lords, especially lord paramounts or kings, rarely ever apologized to their bannermen even when it's clear they're in the wrong. Even getting a half-assed apology from a lord was like pulling teeth so to get an unprompted, genuine one from Lord Stark caught me flatfooted. To make up for it, he did two things. The first, he invited me to be one the three Northern lords at the king's table along with himself and Lord Dustin and I immediately accepted the honor of dining with the king in front of the whole court.
The second was that he offered to foster one of his children at Castle Warg and I was caught off guard because he said children not sons. Why does this matter? Because while uncommon, it isn't unheard of in Westeros to foster daughters and when they do, it is usually as a ward to secure a future marriage alliance. I saw it as an opportunity to land me something House Seastark has chased for centuries, another marriage with House Stark. I inquired if daughter might be fostered to secure a marriage, and Lord Stark's response was a "mayhaps" and a clarification that it won't be his heir. I accepted because even if it wasn't a daughter leading to a marriage alliance or fostering the heir, fostering a child of your Lord Paramount was a huge honor and sign of trust.
"Indeed, we are seated at the king's table. I take it you are " I continued my conversation with Prince Oberyn while the captain spoke with my uncles and cousins as we walked with the other highborn towards the Red Keep.
*BONG*
Three hours later…
I stood with Lucos, my cousins Wyman and Owen Fisher and Lord Fisher in the Great Hall next in line to present our gifts. King Robert sat on the Iron Throne with the king's table in front where the Queen, Lord Hand, Lord Stark, Prince Renly, Prince Stannis, and Princess Cersei sat facing the hall. The middle was left open for the gift giving ceremony and for dancing later while the sides had dozens of tables serving hundreds of Lords. My uncle Lord Glover had just finished presenting his gifts with his bannermen and the herald to our left formally announced us.
"Lord Fisher of the Stony Shore and his son Owen Fisher, Lord Hugo Seastark of Sea Dragon Point and his cousin Wyman Seastark!" We stepped forward with our gifts. Wyman and I each holding a necklace with servants holding the paintings covered in cloth and I spy a servant to the left writing on quill and parchment, recording every gift given to the royal couples. The king bid us to present our gifts and I gesture toward my uncle, allowing him to give first. He smiles and gives a quick nod before announcing his gifts to the court, his gifts not drawing much of a reaction except the mention of the sword handles being made of narwhal tusk eliciting several whispers and murmurs throughout the court since narwhals mainly lived in the Shivering Sea and the northern waters of the Sunset Sea. Soon it was House Seastark's turn as Wyman, Lucos, and I stepped forward with the servants carrying the covered paintings, drawing much of the court's attention and a flurry of comments and debates on what it could be under the cloths when I spoke.
"Your grace, my Queen, Prince Stannis, and Princess Cersei. House Seastark gives a gold and silver necklace of blue amber to Princess Cersei and Queen Lyanna!" I announce as Wyman and I lift our right hands holding the necklaces, gold in Wyman's hand and silver in mine as my eyes met the queen's. She didn't give me any strange looks and instead matched my gaze with a regal look that gave away nothing. The blue amber draws some intrigued murmurs from the crowd, mostly the ladies, as it was rare outside the North.
"Thank you for the gift, Lord Seastark." Princess Cersei gave her thanks with a practiced smile.
"You have my thanks for the blue amber necklace, Lord Seastark." The Queen said with a small smile as the servants came to take the necklaces away to wherever they were storing the hundreds of wedding gifts already received when she stopped the servant and requested the silver necklace to my surprise. The servant, confused, but obeyed the queen as took the necklace and clasped it around her neck to the gasps and whispers of the court. The blue amber necklace hung a bit lower than her diamond necklace as she made a bold fashion statement by wearing my gift. I smile and thanked the queen as I faintly hear a Southron lady comment to her husband how the blue amber would be a great gift for their daughter for their nameday. My eyes flicker to Lord Stark, whose slight grin and knowing look told me everything with the slight nod.
My eyes flickered to the king as I announce the second part of the gifts. "As for your grace and Prince Stannis… I present to you, two paintings I commissioned for House Baratheon!" I exclaim as the servants holding the large painting carefully removed the cloths to show both paintings with golden frames and the court exploded in comments about the paintings as they were brought closer to the king's table. The paintings were scrutinized by the new royal family, Lord Stark and the Lord Hand, who all looked visibly impressed and commented on the quality. The king, even on the Iron Throne, was just close enough to analyze the paintings.
"The first painting is for his grace, and depicts the Baratheon-led grand alliance slaying the three-headed dragon! The second is for my friend, Prince Stannis…" I ignore the flurry of whispers and mutters from the court when the prince doesn't deny or correct me. "…In recognition of his and the Stormlands' heroism at the Siege of Storm's End! Let no man say he didn't do his duty and defend home and hearth!" I say as Stormlords cheered and Prince Stannis gives a slight smile and nods his head. I suppress the urge to roll my eyes when I faintly hear some courtier in the crowd call me the Eddard to Prince Stannis. "Both done by the artist Lucos of Flea Bottom!" I finished announcing the gifts and gesture to Lucos, who bows anxiously and looks starstruck, being a Flea Bottomer surrounded by all these lords and ladies in the Great Hall, let along having his paintings given to royalty.
"Lucos of Flea Bottom?" The King raises an eyebrow while the table give incredulous looks while the court explodes as lords and ladies comment on Lucos being from Flea Bottom.
"Aye your grace, I took a page out of Prince Stannis' book and found my own talented Flea Bottomer. He found a smuggler and I found a painter!" I pat Lucos' shoulder as I jape as the king and prince both bark out short laughs, followed almost immediately by the court's laughter while the artist looked like he was going to faint from nerves.
The King smiles at his painting, seeming to enjoy the image of the Targaryen downfall being depicted through house sigils, which was the common art style of Westeros, though with a Giotto-esque twist courtesy of Lucos. Prince Stannis, meanwhile, securitizes every inch of his painting with a stone face before his eyes land on the Stag at Storm's End slaying Reachmen levies while protecting a fawn and gives a small smile. Prince Renly just looked happy to be in a painting.
"These are well done paintings Lord Seastark, Lucos of Flea Bottom." The king addresses us. "I will have this painting hung in Maegor's Holdfast but for tonight it will hang in the Great Hall! What about you, Brother?" The king proclaims before asking his brother as the courtiers commented on the painting being hung in the part of the Red Keep that housed the royal apartments.
"This painting depicts the history of Storm's End and so one day shall hang in its halls, but until that day, it shall be shown in the Great Hall!" The prince responds as the scribe furiously scribbles on his parchment and servants of the Red Keep come to take the paintings away from my servants and brought them to opposite sides of the Great Hall. Prince Stannis' painting hung on the eastern wall while the king's painting was hung on the western wall. Almost immediately after they were hung up, lords and ladies waiting at the sides crowded around the painting commenting in awe and disbelief that someone form Flea Bottom could paint such artwork.
"You have our thanks for the gifts. House Fisher. House Seastark." The king proclaimed, effectively dismissing us so the next houses could present their gifts. We walked back towards the entrance as Lord Royce Bolton and his son with Lord Ludd Whitehill walked forward to present their gifts, the same herald announcing their houses to the court. My eyes met Lord Royce's briefly but his face gave nothing away. My gaze shifted to Lord Whitehill, whose subtle look of defiance was met with my eyes narrowing at him.
We continued walking until go near the entrance and turned and joined the crowd in the eastern half of the room. Wyman and I were mobbed by some Crownlanders that were interested in purchasing or trading for blue amber while I spied my Uncle Osric and his son talking with Lord Grover Blackwood and his son Tytos. Lucos was hounded by lords over his paintings with some offering gold to work for them that had to be met with polite and awkward rejections. After about twenty minutes of purchases of the limited amount of blue amber sent to King's Landing by my mother, Lucos and I finally broke free to join my uncles and cousins by Stannis' painting with Wyman slipping away earlier join them. Lord Grover Blackwood was with them as we approached.
"Ah, nephew, we were just talking about you and your painter." Uncle Rogar waved us over.
"It is a well-done painting, I've never seen one with such detail. You've found yourself a talented painter." Lord Blackwoods comments with a smile towards me and a nod towards Lucos, who thanks him for the compliment.
"Well, he will be coming to Castle Warg to be a painter in my court." I say to my uncles' surprise.
"I was talking with Lord Fisher, it can be difficult to find a bride that worships the Old Gods in the Riverlands and we decided to betrothed his daughter Mariah Fisher to my son and heir Tytos." Lord Blackwood says and my eyebrows shoot up in surprise before a huge grin threatens to split my face. "Lord Blackwood, I am happy to hear of the betrothal between your son and my cousin!"
I talked with my uncles and Lord Blackwood while my cousins talked amongst themselves and the courtiers. Poor Lucos had to withstand a gauntlet of nobles approaching him to talk about his paintings. After another hour past, the gift-giving was finally over and the king thanked the courtiers for their gifts and made an announcement.
"I have decided to make my brother Stannis Prince of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and my brother Renly Prince of Dragonstone. Despite the title, Stannis remains my heir until one is born." The king announces as the courtiers begin discussing this new development as they start to sit down and get ready for the feast. I head over to the king's table and as King Robert begins to descend form the Iron Throne to the table, I wonder what the rest of the night will bring.
A/N: Next time on Dragonball Z Howl of the Seawolf, feasting with royalty and important lords, dancing, and maybe, just maybe... finally getting out of King's Landing