Argilac I
"We have to do something." King Argilac shouted, dismayed by the fact that no-one around him would realise. "King Harren will want to expand his borders."
"Your Grace, aren't you taking this a bit far? King Harren would only stand to lose from this, it is not his style to attempt something he will lose. Just let him sit behind his walls and he will not bother you, trust me." The aging Maester Hollen was little and no help to Argilac, he always underestimated threats and would now just get in his way.
"Out, get out. All of you." Argilac screamed at his council. They left with a mutter of 'Your Grace,' none of which made him feel any better. He had to act and if his council didn't agree then he would have to do it alone.
There was a knock at his door. "I said get out." Argilac was not going to let those men change his mind.
"It's me, father, please let me in." Argilac's daughter, Argella, was a maid of 16, but a woman grown. In his moments of anger the only person he would talk to was her. "I heard what happened at the council. Please father." With some reluctance, Argilac let her in and sat back down at his desk. "I hear what happened."
"I imagine most of the castle did too." Storm's End was not the largest keep in Westeros, but had endured more than most. It has to constantly battle the elements of the sea, wind and rain on a daily basis. Although some of the towers were starting to crumble, the keep was still intact.
"I think you are right. King Harren cannot be trusted and the Stormlands needs to show the other kingdoms that we are not a pushover." Argella was always a determined girl, whenever she got an idea, she had to carry it through. No doubt she got this from her father, a stubborn soul if there ever was one. Nevertheless, Argilac was glad for her support.
"What do you propose?" Argilac was always interested to hear her opinion. She would later become the Storm Queen, and although it was not preferable to a boy, he made the most out of the situation and trained her to lead her kingdom.
"Have you heard the tales of the Free Cities? There is a Lord of Valyria who is intending to unite the Seven Kingdoms into one under him. If you bend the knee to him with a treaty then you could guarantee protection from Harren should he attack." Argella was determined to get her point across, but nervous about her father's reaction.
"You want me to give up the crown? You are asking me to forfeit not only my claim to a throne, but yours and your children's?" Argilac was prepared to take risks for himself, but not if it meant taking them away from his daughter.
"What is a crown, when you have no Kingdom to rule with it? If you feel it is the right thing to do, I will support you." With a small curtesy Argella left Argilac to his thoughts. It had been 13 years since his wife, Allyria, had died, but he had never remarried. He climbed into his empty bed and thought about what Argella had said.
When he finally fell asleep, he dreamt of a black winged beast breathing fire and his enemy King Harren melting from the heat. He dreamt of a terrible storm that broke down the gates and a fake stag sat on his throne in the keep. Argilac did not consider dreams as important, but something about these made him reconsider.
He awoke to the sound of an argument below. It was Argella arguing with the Durrandon guards. "I don't care what he told you, as his daughter and heir to the Stormlands, I demand you open this door."
"That won't be necessary Argella." Argilac had closed the door before turning back to the guard. You knew this was my daughter, yet you treat her like some visitor out-of-bounds. From now on she has the same access as me and should any guards disagree with this instruction I will make a symbol out of their heads to show to people just what happens if you poke the stag."
Argilac proceeded to enter the great hall of Storm's End where he expected to find the members of his council. What he found instead was an empty room with the exception of one guard and one of the kitchen staff serving breakfast.
"Where is Maester Hollen?" Argilac demanded from his guard. "I specifically requested his presence this morning, along with the rest of the council."
"You Grace, Maester Hollen is still in his chambers and the other members of the council are out visiting the smallfolk." The guard was nervous about Argilac's reaction and stepped back in case Argilac went on another rant.
"Please order the kitchen staff to send my breakfast to the Maester's Tower. I require his presence this morning and it cannot wait." Argilac ordered before turning to his daughter. "Argella, please break you fast without me today, I must send my terms to Aegon before Harren has a chance to act against us."
"Father, I will do as you ask, but please inform me of the events later." Argella then went to sit on the seat adjacent to the throne and sat with perfect posture. Argilac thought he had done well in raising a future Queen. Argilac then started the long journey to Hollen's chambers where he would demand the aging maester to write his letter to Aegon. As he approached the door however, he heard Hollen speaking to one of the guards about his rage and mood swings. Argilac charged into the room and bellowed for the guard to leave at once.
"Your Grace, I was not expecting you this morning." Maester Hollen said quickly, as though that was a good enough reason for talking in such a way about his King.
"I am your King, Hollen. You should answer to me. You should respect me. I could have your head for what you have just said." Argilac would never kill the maester, but was intent on making him feel guilty for what he had just done.
"I cannot put into words how sorry I am Your Grace." Maester Hollen looked terrified and ready to do the King's bidding.
"You had better not say anything like that again, I mean it." Argilac was now calm enough to discuss the letter. "I have made my decision on the plan of action over King Harren."
"Your Grace, I thought we decided yesterday, Harren was not a problem." Maester Hollen still tried to get Argilac to change his mind, not that he would.
"You decided it Hollen, not I. Now I want you to write a letter to Aegon Targaryen, no doubt you've heard of him?" Argilac hoped that Hollen had, he did not want to waste time this morning chit-chatting when he had a Kingdom to protect.
"The Valyrian on Dragonstone, I have heard only the same as others, Your Grace. A letter you say?"
"Yes, it will detail my terms for an agreement with him. Tell him that he could marry my daughter, Argella, in return for protection from Harren." Argilac was still unsure of this match, but he had to do what was best for his Kingdom, and arranged marriages could be successful, his own was not a failure.
"You have heard that this man intends to take all of Westeros for himself?"
"Of course, maester, should it come to that I will willing join his cause and help fight other Kings that would resist him."
"And give up your crown?" Argilac grew weary of the old man's questions. He had obviously thought of everything he might suggest.
"Yes, Argella and I are prepared to take these consequences."
"Very well, I shall send the letter." At last Argilac thought, some progress. "I should have it ready by the week, so it will be within a fortnight of arriving."
"No." Hollen obviously didn't realise how important this was. "It must be written now, and sent by your fastest bird. I order this to be done today Hollen, or reap the consequences."
"As Your Grace commands." With a bow Hollen pulled out parchment and ink and Argilac returned downstairs to inform Argella how the negotiation is going, but was stopped halfway down the stairs by his steward, Edric Toyne. "Your Grace, I'm sorry to interrupt, but Lord Tarth is here to discuss protection with you, he said it was urgent."
"Damn that man. Whenever I have something to do, he always shows up. Fine, send him in. Then you will find my daughter and tell her to come and meet me in the throne room. She will be the next person I see after Tarth, or on your head be it." With that Argilac followed Edric into the throne room. Argilac had grown to respect and even like Edric. He was a competent boy of 14, from a very wealthy and influential family in the Stormlands. One day it would be Argilac's pleasure to find him a suitable wife, but it won't be Argella as House Toyne were hoping. When he entered the throne room, he placed the Storm Crown on his head
Lord Hosteen Tarth was the largest man in the Stormlands. Argilac often commented that he made boulders look as thin as a pencil. He has been a constant annoyance to Argilac since he became the Lord of …. He was also isolated on an island, so feared for his life with pirates in the Narrow Sea.
"Your Grace, I wish to ask you for more ships to defend my shores." Lord Tarth spoke with an air of confidence and nobility, which Argilac did not overlook.
"You presume too much Tarth. My ships are not leaving their port. We fear an attack from King Harren and there is a would-be King of Westeros on Dragonstone. So, you will understand why I am refusing you." Argilac hoped this would bring an end to the conversation quickly.
"Your Grace, I understand that you need those ships, but it is for the exact same reasons that you listed that I also require them. Is there not a few ships you can spare me?" Tarth was practically begging now. It disgusted Argilac to see one of his Lords beg to him in this manner.
"I will give you 3 ships if you get out of my sight this instant."
"Your Grace, your generosity is second to none. Thank you." And with that Lord Tarth left quickly so as to not upset the King. Argilac sat for a moment and considered Aegon Targaryen who would be the King of Westeros. But as all his thoughts do, they changed into those of Harren and his attempts to take his land. He would need a miracle, and he hoped that Aegon would be the miracle he needed.