Chapter 10-
Robert Arryn – King's Landing – 298AC
Days after the tourney and his muscles were still aching. He had bruises across his shoulders and was pretty sure he had cracked a rib when Jaime's lance had impacted on his breastplate.
It's a hard knock life, for me.
Since then he had done very little. Chatted a bit to Myrcella and had received silent death glares from the scary incestual mother bear for the trouble. He had drunk a lot of wine at the accompanying tourney feast, at which he sat at the very highest of the high tables along with the king. He found he enjoyed the fat kings company far more than he could have imagined. The stag might be a less than stellar example of a king but he definitely still had some of that legendary charisma he had heard so much about.
He found recently that his father Jon had been scuttling around with Stannis and he knew it wouldn't be long until he croaked.
I wonder who will get to him first, Baelish or the Lannisters.
He knew Cersei would most likely kill Jon and the King and then break his betrothal to Myrcella. He still remembered her going apeshit in the books for Tyrion betrothing her previous daughter to Trystane Martell. Which was quite the overreaction even with Trystane being the annoying, tanned, cocky dickhead he was.
Robert needed to get Myrcella to the Vale one way or another. When war broke out she would be a priceless bargaining chip against the Lannisters and the best way of him remaining neutral besides.
As long as he had family on both the Stark side and the Lannisters he would be able to sit rather comfortably in the middle. Though considering how unreasonable all of them were he highly doubted it would work out well.
No plan survives contact with the enemy after all.
Regardless, despite his growing affection for the father of the body he was inhabiting he had decided to let Jon go. The man was just too stupid despite his apparent statesmanship skills.
So many bad decisions.
The crown's debt for one. Three million in debt to the Lannisters? Two million in debt to the Iron Bank, another million split between Tyroshi trade cartels and House Tyrell and more recently.
Lending a significant amount of House Arryn's recently found gold to the crown.
A hopeless endeavour if ever he had seen one. Luckily it was only a couple of hundred thousand dragons and more gold was still being dragged out of the mountains. But still, really Jon? Fuck sake.
He sighed and continued his walk to his father's solar. Having been summoned a few minutes ago.
I wonder what this is about.
Things either went two ways with his father. A long talk about politics, or a little chat about how he was doing and a game of Cyvasse. He truly hoped for the latter.
Knocking on the door he was told to enter and found an interesting scene. His father was standing with the king and Myrcella.
Should be interesting.
-
After all present sitting down Jon had announced that he and the King had decided that Robert would be returning to the Vale, but not alone. When Jon had let this plan slip The Fat Stag had insisted that Myrcella accompany him to learn about the lands she would one day aid him in ruling. She herself lit up upon hearing this and enthusiastically agreed it was a good idea. Stating she was very excited to see The Eyrie in person and meet the families of the Vale. They both knew she only wished to escape her brother and get as far away from King's Landing as humanly possible. This was merely the best excuse available.
Personally he knew that this was the best way to escape the outbreak of war and get the fuck out of King's Landing before shit hit the fan and his father died.
Jon and Robert, seeing their respective children were happy with the arrangement smiled and Jon politely told everyone to get the fuck out so he could do some work. The King was all too happy to oblige.
A long week later and they had begun the journey to the Vale. This journey was destined to be longer than the last one due to the size of the retinue and the carriage that Myrcella was in. Hopefully there would be no unpleasant interruption this time.
Though with my luck whats the chance of that.
-
Petyr Baelish was a practical man.
He knew what he was doing. Always a number of steps ahead of everyone else, he didn't play the game. He owned it.
So when a malleable sickly child grew into a strong and healthy young man it could be said he exhibited a small measure of shock. A goblet of wine may even have hit the wall.
Petyr had even tried to correct the problem. With his stint as commissions officer in Gulltown he had managed to gain a strong foothold in many parts of the Vale. Even as far as having some of the lower ranking houses in debt to him. Debts he had called to arm the mountain clans with their steel.
Of course they hadn't been happy with the arrangement. The knights of the vale have been warring with the clans for thousands of years. Yet in the face of their houses complete ruin it was the better option.
He had armed one of the larger clans named the Burned Men. Notorious for their raiding, having carried off a daughter of Alys Arryn, Lord Jon's sister, and Elys Waynwood some time before. The Burned Men had been armed on the promise they would fulfill a request at a later time. They had done so, and failed miserably, being beaten off by a twelve year old boy and his retinue during an ambush.
Even whilst surprised the Arryn men had beaten them! It was unacceptable. People would be asking questions now.
How have the clans got weapons? Why were they so bold? Will they attack again?
He supposed it may serve a good purpose if the clansmen are wiped out completely. Whilst he had hoped to find a use for them this once, they were brutal savages at the end of the day.
Yet still his plans would not be foiled completely.
Whilst Robert may be sticking around, his mother would be regent for a time and there were still three years until he reached his majority. Plenty of time for an accident. Harrold Hardyng was Robert's heir and would be much easier to control.
He was the perfect image of the proud Knight of the Vale. Not caring much for the economics and general running of the kingdom.
Perfectly malleable.
-
Jon was feeling ill.
It had come on all of a sudden, crippling stomach aches ripped through him most hours of the day. He suffered through the night, sleeping very little and therefore unable to assume his duties. He supposed this was to be expected, he was in his eighties. Most men died much younger.
He had lived a long life. Seen the rise and fall of five different kings ruled for the last one. He'd fought in a handful of cruel and bloody wars, ruled justly and inspired loyalty in his vassal lords. If this was to be his death then his only regret was that his son wasn't with him.
The sickness continued for days. His maester had at first attempted to treat it, but after apparent failure the Grandmaester had taken over his treatment citing that he was the most experienced maester in Westeros.
Regardless, the sickness remained unabated and he felt the darkness creeping closer with every passing sunset.
He struggled to remain lucid, he had seen and heard Lord Stannis enter the room at one point, growling something out about vengeance. He vaguely recalled searching out the truth of the King's children and their supposed bastardry.
His eyes went wide. The king must be made aware.
He called out for a servant. The boy rushing in quickly, no doubt expecting the worst. Jon ordered him to call for the King, the boy nodded and rushed off.
The pain doubled and Jon was left huddled in a ball in the centre of his bed, light closing in and vague memories flashing through his head.
It could have been a second or it could have been a month later but he heard the booming voice of the King he had raised as his own.
Now his voice seemed so far away, as if he had cotton in his ears.
He opened his mouth to speak, pain jarring its way through his body.
He choked out a few words, mind foggy with delirium.
"The seed is strong."
A/N Sorry this was later than usual. I became unusually busy. As always, thank you to Vampire35, hope you enjoyed and will be interested in your reviews.