5th Month of 298 A.C. Darry
King Robert I Baratheon
He could almost smell the dragon that infected this place. Robert was not so great a fool as almost everyone, even Ned he suspected, took him to be. He knew the Darrys were Targaryen loyalists, and the urge to kill every single last one of them was strong. He was growing tired of having to allow such insults to go by unpunished, there was one thing his damned wife had been right about, the Targaryen loyalists needed to be crushed, and yet Robert did not have the stomach for doing such a thing. Once he might have done, but now, well now he found himself slowly fading from such hunger and turning toward his final days. He knew he was not to last for much longer, being in this god damned shit hole proved that. He just needed to speak with his son before he died though.
His son was everything a man could want in an heir, he was strong, tall, muscular, smart and a warrior. Robert was deeply proud of his son, and he knew that the boy would make a fine king, and if the way he looked at his wife was any indication, a fine husband as well. He was relieved. He takes a sip of wine then and then speaks. "You are enjoying married life son?"
His son is somewhat taken aback by this but responds all the same. "I am father, thank you."
"What do you make of your wife son?" Robert asks genuinely interested.
"I…Lady Sansa is a very beautiful and smart lady father. She is interesting to me." His son replies.
Grinning Robert says. "Clearly, she is very interesting to you, if cries I've been hearing at night are any indication."
He nearly roars with laughter at the expression on his son's face. "I…I… did not know we were being so loud." His son stammers.
This time Robert does burst out laughing. "Oh it is no worries son. It is good that you are enjoying your wife so. This kingdom needs heirs, and if you are getting some fun out of it all the better. Gods know our family needs some fun in its life."
As if picking up on his mood, his son asks. "What will become of mother father? Will she remain in King's Landing, or will she be sent back to the Rock?"
Robert sighs then, this is something he has been debating for a long time. He cannot allow the woman to remain in King's Landing now, Ned would likely throttle her, and truth be told, Robert could not blame him, though, Tywin, gods dammit, that man would likely be out for blood as well. Looking at his son he asks. "What would you do lad?"
There is a vehemence in his son's tone when he replies. "I would send her back to the Rock or make her join the Silent Sisters. She has been nothing but trouble since Winterfell, and will continue be so unless something is done to prevent her madness from spreading."
Robert nods. "Yes, that is true son. And yet your grandfather would be craving some form of retribution, what would you do there son?"
"Grandfather can complain all he wants, we are the royal family, and you are the king. He has to ensure that you are kept happy, otherwise you could well cut off any deals he has for trade. That is something he would not want, I think. Money is something Tywin Lannister values more than family." His son replies.
Not for the first time, Robert is surprised by the thought process in his son. It is somewhat worrying for him, but truth be told, it prevents him having to think too hard on such matters. He has never done well with such things. Looking at his son he says. "That is true, and yet there is the ever present threat of the dragons looming. You know, I am sure, of the whore's marriage to some Dothraki Khal. That is a threat I cannot ignore."
"The Dothraki are scared of the sea father. They will not come marching here anytime soon. Viserys Targaryen has gotten himself a useless army, that never intend to do anything for him." His son replies.
Sighing in frustration Robert asks. "And what of those rumours of there being something more out there. Come now son, you know them just as well as I do, I did not have you sit on the council for nothing."
His son looks at him a moment and then replies. "If there is any truth to them, then Varys must be killed immediately."
Robert looks at his son surprised, and then says. "And who would you have replace him? The man is good at his job."
"That is one thing, withholding information from the king is another father. Should there be any truth to these rumours, the kingdoms will begin tearing themselves apart. We cannot allow that to happen. There are others who would be more than willing to fulfil the role." His son says.
"Someone such as Ned's bastard?" Robert asks.
His son looks surprised. "I was not thinking that, but yes, I think Jon could do well. He has a skill that can be used."
"And he would garner even more attention should he be named to the council, being a bastard. No, this is something I will consider, and consider alone." Robert says.
His son nods and then asks. "What about the Darrys father? How long do you plan on keeping us here?"
Robert looks at his son a long moment then and replies. "We shall be leaving soon enough. I intend to speak with Lord Raymun once we are done here. It is time we sorted out some of his longstanding issues, I cannot have such things remaining."
His son looks worried then. "Is that wise father? The man has noted loyalties, surely something should be done to end that?"
"It must be done. I will not hear a word against it. Now go, return to your wife, and allow me to be king." Robert says, his heart heavy. His son stands then and bids him a good night, before turning and leaving the room. As he watches his son go, Robert knows that this will be the last time he sees the boy, and he hopes he is not leaving his son a mountain to climb.
Ser Raymun Darry
Gods he was nervous, his heart was hammering so quickly within his chest he was worried that it might pop out. This was what he had wanted for so long, a meeting with the usurper, a chance to bring about the end of the man who was responsible for the deaths of his family, and now that this chance was finally coming to him, well Raymun was shit scared nervous. There was much and more he was willing to do, but whether this was one of them, he was not sure, but by the gods he was nervous. Swallowing he nods at Ser Barristan, the traitor, who calls to the king and when the door opens, Raymun enters. The king is a fat man, no longer the warrior of his prime, the wine Raymun knows is in this solar is one that has been minted with something his wife had brought from Lys. It will do the trick just nicely.
The king gestures for him to sit down, and then pours him a glass of wine. Raymun looks at it wearily, but drinks all the same. The king speaks then. "I thank you for keeping my court here for some time. I know this cannot be easy for you Ser. But I thank you nonetheless."
"Of course Your Grace. It was no trouble whatsoever. It was an honour." Raymun says, the words coming out of his mouth like poison.
The usurper laughs then. "Let us stop this nonsense now Ser."
"Your Grace?" Raymun asks.
"We both know that you do not like me or my family, and that should the dragons ever return you will likely die from having filled your pants with your own seed. I do not claim to understand it, nor do I want to. The dragons must all die, and that includes their supporters. But before I kill you I would have something from you." The usurper says.
Raymun looks at him and asks. "And what is that?"
"You know where the dragons are. I highly doubt that you and your fool of an uncle did not keep in contact. You know the whore is married to a Khal, and yet we both know they will never march for Westeros, so there is something else going on. What is it?" the usurper asks.
"What makes you think I know the plan?" Raymun asks. "I am merely a loyal follower of the Dragon Knights, not the damned chief of the order."
The usurper snorts then. "That order still exists? I would have thought you all would have crawled one another's shits to avoid being killed by my agents."
Raymun grins then. "Your agents are not as skilled as you think. There are those who remained loyal even after you abandoned the cause you traitor. They did what they had to do to survive, we all did, but we never forgot the mission."
"What? To make the damned dragons back into the gods they were during the dance? Please, such a thing was a mad man's fancy. I would not have such a thing here in my kingdoms. They lost their right to rule when Aerys burned two Starks and his son raped my betrothed." The usurper snorts.
Raymun sneers. "And how do you know that this was not something they planned? We both know something ate away at you during the rebellion Robert Baratheon. We know this, and yet you continue to deny it. Why?"
"Enough! I will not listen to this nonsense. There is no reason for the true reason to be a lie. She was taken against her will, by the rapist you believed would safe us all from Aerys. I will not tolerate this. I should have your whole damned family killed. And your castle torn down." the usurper bellows.
Raymun looks at the man unimpressed. "There are only two of us. It would not be much of a thing to do. Besides our allies would begin their plotting anew. Your time is nearing its end usurper, and soon the dragon shall rise from the ashes, stronger and bolder."
"Truly, you still believe that?" the man asks, though his speech is becoming more and more slurred. Raymun knows the poison is taking its affect now, but he keeps his face neutral.
"I do. Come now Baratheon, we know that your position has always been weak. Arryn's death and the chaos with the Queen has led many to wonder if the Baratheons are secure. Why has your brother left? Why is he not here? Your other brother, he is a Tyrell Puppet, you know things are looking bad for you." Raymun says, relishing the look on the man's face.
"And you truly believe they will go for the mad king's son?" the usurper asks.
"Anything is better than you." Raymun replies, his own words becoming slurred.
The usurper looks as if he is being hit by something with the weight of an aurochs, the poison truly is taking its toll. Raymun himself feels as if he is being eaten from the inside. "You are mad….so very mad." The usurper slurs. "What causes such fanatical devotion to a family of mad men?"
Raymun is having a hard time breathing now, he knows the poison has taken its toll now, but he does not care. "The knowledge of the truth. The knowledge that they are the only ones who can repair the mess you have made. War is coming, and the truth will come out."
"Truth?" the usurper asks, his voice sounding distant.
"The truth of the rebellion, and the role you played in destroying the kingdoms." Raymun breathes, every word a task.
"I do not know what you mean." The usurper says his voice echoing in Raymun's ears.
"The true reason you fought the rebellion. We both know it was not for your supposed love. The greed and guilt that has consumed you. It will come out and your son shall face its wrath." Raymun says laughing.