Aalf

The King's gate was the proper way for their standing to enter King's Landing Aalf thought. Fifteen of his best and a few squires were with him as the banner of the Black Ram on a red backdrop flowed above them. All of them were dressed in the same chainmail that most of them wore during the Greyjoy rebellion nine years ago. For weeks they had traveled from Karland Rock for the new Hand of the King Tournament.
"A fine day today." His second, Korlof Veram, said as he rode next to Aalf." The sun has hidden behind the clouds and there is a smell of rain in the air." Korlof had long black hair and beard,a kind face save for his eyepatch which covered his left eye. A scar from the rebellion, although the ironman who inflicted it on him suffered a case of death shortly after.
"You miss to be drenched by rain and chilled to the bone by ice cold winds, Korlof?" Aalf smirked. Aalf was a tall man in his late twenties. He had short brown hair and had the build of a prince, but his face was very common. If it weren't for his entourage or his red and black painted armour added with their black and blue wool cloaks, he might have been mistaken for a common sellsword and not the eldest son of Lord Aaldert Karland Lord of Karland rock which his family took their name from.

"A little milord." Korloff replied. "Admit it, the wind in your hair, the strong gale hitting your face like my wife's large bosom and just the magic of it all."
"Magic?" Aalf inquired with a raised brow.
"Aye, like when the Old gods or the new decided to create this world and the storms…it makes you feel like you know your place in the world, it's hard to explain."
"And difficult to comprehend." Aalf added his own opinion." When I see storms my heart goes out to my father's trading vessels and what cargo we will lose and other losses."
"Such as the lost sailors or widows from the lost sailors, milord?"
" Both. Dead men cost money either way. A man's training takes time and coin, their experience more so. When the widows or orphans weep, my purse weeps with them."
"You are very kindhearted, milord." Korloff smirked which accentuated the scar that ran from his left eye from eyebrow to cheek.
"I promised on the New Gods and the old to my father for when he passes , I will keep the Widow fund for both sailors and soldiers…so don't you fret. Your wife and children will be looked after if you should die." Aalf quickly pointed at him though." That doesn't mean I'm encouraging to kill yourself. I'll flog you the moment I find out you do."
"Do not fret milord, I rather plough my wife several times more and see my first grandchild being born before I desire to see the stranger." Korloff laughed.

Aalf chuckled as he punched his second on the shoulder amicably as two mounted men drew to them. By their black armour and spears and their cloaks coloured gold Aalf Karland knew they were the City Watch. Aalf held out his hand which halted his party as the guardsmen stopped as well.
"Name?" one guardsmen asked.
"Lord Aalf of House Karland, son of Aaldert Karland. I have come to partake in the King's Hand Tournament."
"You sure about that milord?" the courageous guardsmen asked." Last I checked, the Lannisters pay their bannermen well enough and last I recall, no Karland ever won a tournament."
"The words of my house are 'As Stubborn as a Rock' my friend. We'll keep trying until we do even if it takes until the Others crawl over the wall. Besides.." Aalf smirked." There is nothing wrong with a bit more coin. May we pass?"
"You may, although I do think it is wise you do not trust the hope to find a room here. Other houses large and small have come to King's Landing and claimed most if not all of the inns. You may be forced to either sleep outside until the tourney tomorrow or..." the guard faltered.
"I rather not sleep outside, the cold ground disagrees with my back." Aalf replied." What is the alternative?"
"The brothels have opened their doors for rooms to sleep in, a courtesy of Lord Littlefinger."
"Good." One of the knights, Terrence laughed." I rode this horse long enough, riding a woman will be a nice change." The other knights joined in the laughter which made even Aalf chuckle.
"Thank you." The heir of Karland Rock said as he handed some coin to the two guardsmen and led the way into the city.

The city of King's Landing was in fervor of the upcoming tournament of Eddard Stark as the Direwolf flag was placed all over the city next to those of the Baratheon Stag or Lannister Lion.
"We love those, right?" Korloff asked as he pointed at the golden lion, much to the amusement of the knights and other squires. One of the other knights slapped one squire in particular. The young blonde haired bright lad called Henry Frey, one of Genna Frey nee Lannister's sons with Emmon Frey. Since Lannisport was only a week's ride from Karland Rock and the Karlands were bannermen to the Lannisters, it was only natural Henry would squire for one of Aalf's knights. Henry was Terrence's he believed. He prayed to the Seven more frequently for the boy's sake then he did for himself when the walls of Pyke fell nine years ago and he had to charge in after the insane priest of Myr who always set his own sword on fire. He killed eight men that day, eight he remembered at least.

As the sun began to set, they had found a place to stay. It was a whorehouse and nearly all the knights and their squires, save Korloff and the other married men, were enjoying the delights of the flesh. Aalf's good mood on the midday was gone as he drank deeply from his cup. There was one Inn they may have found some space, but Aalf decided against it. The Innkeep was a fat, old balding man who refused despite good coin and threats.
"Both my sons died when you and your Lion masters sacked this city!" he raged." They were both soldiers who died defending this very inn and you monsters killed them! Turncloaks and monsters, may the Others take you!"
"Thomas!" an elder woman pushed him away." You don't say such things to an lord! My apologies, please!"
"You know the smallfolk, my lord." Terrence tried to appease to his mercy." Let it be, our house did nothing wrong."

But it did, Aalf thought. The Karlands were there with the Lannisters as they betrayed the Targaryens and helped sack the city. The Karlands were loyal to house Targaryen ever since the days of King Aegon and his two sisters. But when the Mad King's insanity caused Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark to rebel was the beginning of the end. The Karlands fought for their king, but were getting slaughtered by bad tactical decisions. Months after the war began and it became clear who was winning, Lord Tywin Lannister came to Karland Rock and offered a deal. Because House Karland lost so much and remained loyal to the Iron Throne, the gates of King's Landing would open for them without question. Once the gates were open the Lannisters would attack the city and slay the king which would secure their place with King Robert's rule. Aaldert's loses, both his soldiers and other personal sacrifices he did not divulge to his sons, to the Mad King's losing war against Robert Baratheon's Rebellion and the sick carnal fantasies only a mind as dark as Aerys II could conjure was all he needed to drop the red three headed dragon as his banner and pick up the golden lion. Lord Tywin's gold as a reward was a nice offer as well and it was the main reason many still attributed. Rather then 'Stubborn as a rock' which the Karland's are attributed with from the large coastal cliff where their castle is carved from, the sentence 'Until coin gets thrown around' was added. Although the Lannisters did most of the killing, they had the coin to buy off the badmouths and it helped the Queen was Cersei Lannister, Tywin's daughter. The Karlands had no such luck or coin. Even their involvement in aiding the King during the Greyjoy rebellion did nothing to sooth the naysayers.

Aalf gave the woman a small purse with coin for her losses. She gave a small smile. She opened her mouth but her husband was already replying for her.
"Keep your coin, we don't take gold dragons from sons of who-"
He was caught off as Korloff punched the man in the gut and finished it off with a blow to the left cheek which toppled him down and broke a chair. The entire inn fell silent for a moment. "Get back to your drinks, shows over." Terrence said which urged the inn to get back to their own business.
Aalf gave a bit more coin to the terrified woman." For the damages." He tried to say with a smile but only found fear in her eyes.
With a grunt, Aalf mentioned his men to leave and stormed off as the woman tended to her unconscious husband. An hour later they found rooms in Chataya's brothel where Aalf had been brooding ever since.
"Milord, are you alright?" Korloff asked with concern." You haven't been this quiet since Adelhelm left for Pentos…"
The mention of his younger brother snapped him back to the present." My mood is soured, Korloff. It doesn't matter how kind I am to smallfolk or how much gold I give, I still pay for my father's sins. Maybe I should have ran like Adelhelm as well and go after the Targaryens…"
"That would've killed your father and ruined your family name milord." Korloff replied." And if it helps, this smallfolk is still very grateful for having been given this chance to serve you."
"I owe you my life, my friend." Aalf smiled." There will be a day I hope I can do something similar." He took his mug and gulped down the rest of his arbor wine." Right, I will fetch myself a whore."
"What of your lady-wife?" Korloff asked.
"Alysa doesn't need to know. Here, have some more wine lest you want to be chivalrous." Aalf said as he threw a small purse on the table in front of them. Korloff smirked as he raised his own mug to his lord." Happy ploughing to you, milord."
Aalf chuckled and walked off to his room.

Ten minutes later, his joints coupled hungrily with some red haired woman with freckles and small breasts. Alysa Grimbold was a political marriage with the wool providing Grimbolds who are one of the few houses that still call the Karlands friends, but there was little love on his end these days. She claimed to love him, but she was a nag and a woman who wanted everything her way. The tapestries, the book purchases, plans for the future for their daughter and so on. At first the coupling was intense since both never had a partner before. Nearly every room in the castle was visited by them. He was madly in love with her. There was even a time he jumped through hoops for her and followed her like a dog. After the birth of their baby girl he quickly got tired of her though since nothing changed. The coupling stopped cold and claimed the birth did more harm then good and it hurt, he had to do her favours but got none in return. Married for five years and he was sick of her. He only stayed with her because of their baby girl Adellia he loved to bits.

"Milord!" his whore moaned." Oh milord!"
He pinned her down as he quickened his pace. He groaned in ecstasy as he emptied himself in her. Aalf didn't even know he name, nor did he care. He liked how she looked and he paid good coin for her. With her red hair, freckles and small breasts, she was the furthest thing that reminded him of Alysa of House Grimbold. Yet when he looked down at the whore he saw her. The long brown hair, the cat like eyes and the smaller stature and the large breasts. Even here, Alysa haunted him. He rolled off the woman as he caught his breath.
"That was quite the load, my lord." She said as she snuggled her head on his chest." When was the last time you had a woman?"
"To long…" he said.
" You wish me to-"
"I give you another Gold Dragon if you clean up my lance and keep quiet for the rest of the evening." He snapped at her. She gave a simple nod and crawled under the silk blankets and began her work down below. As he rest his head on his hands, he stared up at the ceiling and wondered where his younger brother was.