The battle had ended shortly after Lord Tyrion's peasants had driven their makeshift spears into the rear of Stannis' line. Idris wasn't so foolish as to think that Stannis was dealt with entirely. They'd seen him escape the fighting. Lord Tywin had ridden onto the field of battle just as the battle was concluded. Idris had laughed as the Lannister army arrived. He wondered if they had waited for the proper moment.
"My Lord!" A call from Idris' right. He turned and ran to where the call had come from. Lord Tyrion's squire was coated in blood, his spear was snapped in two and he held Lord Tyrion in his arms. Lord Tyrion was now lacking a nose and soon, if nothing was done, he'd be lacking his life.
"Take the wounded to the maesters! All of the wounded!" He took Lord Tyrion into his own arms and rushed into the city, Ser Boros had already had the gates opened. Men were cheering all about him as the Ironfurs began to haul the injured into the safety of the city. Many were peasants from the poorer parts of the city. They had risen to his call admirably. There were still spirals of smoke rising into the air above King's Landing. The cheers followed him as he ran.
The maesters began their work dutifully as soon as Lord Tyrion was presented to them. Jonella and the other ladies of the court had come down from Maegor's Holdfast. Lord Tywin had already arrived on his white horse and his brilliant gold and red armour. Lannister men and banners were already flooding the keep. Idris gave Jonella a quick, emotion-filled kiss before running back out to the Mud Gate. He was pleased to see Lady Sansa close to Jonella's side.
For the next week wearing an ironfur would get Idris' men mobbed by flirtatious young women and merchants would bring gifts to him and Jonella on their walks. Occasionally they'd see Ironfur banners hanging from a house or a shop. The quality of the banners was improving at an impressive rate. No doubt a few businesses had chosen to embrace the new found popularity of the Ironfur in King's Landing.
On one such walk Idris and Jonella went to see the repairs occurring at both the Mud Gate and the docks. They had been regular visitors at the waterfront before on account of Jonella's fascination with ships and the sailors were more than enthusiastic to be seen with the Lord and Lady Ironfur. At the Mud Gate they found crowds would form around them, cheering them. Idris had thought the men were exaggerating when he said that their efforts to rebuild the gatehouse were being overshadowed by the troubles caused by the crowd. He tried to persuade the crowd to let the men go about their work. It astounded him how silent the crowd went as he spoke. It surprised him even more when they all dispersed but for a few who went to aid in the rebuilding work.
At the end of that week Lord Tywin and the boy king held a court session about the events of the Battle of Blackwater Bay. The first matter of the court was brought by Ser Garlan Tyrell. "Your Grace. I ask that you take my sister, Margaery as your bride. To bind House Tyrell and all of the Reach to yourself through marriage would be a great honour."
"Ser Garlan." The boy king pretended to protest. "I am already betrothed to the Lady Sansa. Surely in the sight of the Gods it would be a crime to marry your sister." The High Septon stepped forward. Idris could hear Jonella whispering to Lady Sansa that she must look to be faithful to the betrothal for now. He glanced over, the worry on Lady Sansa's face seemed real enough.
"Your Grace. I have conferred with many wise septons and septas." The High Septon spoke more to the crowded throne room than to the boy king. "We are clear that, as Lady Sansa's father is a self-confessed traitor and as her brother fights now in rebellion against the crown, the betrothal would be better broken than kept in the eyes of the Seven your Grace."
"Then who can speak against the Gods!" the boy king looked over at Lady Sansa before locking eyes with Idris. "Ser Garlan, it would delight me to marry your sister, they say she is the most beautiful woman in all of the seven kingdoms, besides my mother of course."
Lord Tywin was next. He stepped up to the base of the Iron Throne and the boy king climbed down to his grandfather. "Lord Tywin Lannister's army came and saved this city when it most needed it. Without my Grandfather's aid the battle would have certainly been lost. I name Lord Tywin as the Saviour of the City!" Murmurs rang out in the court. Many sounded unhappy. More than a few courtiers glanced over at Idris and the mention of Lord Tyrion was not uncommon. "Lord Tywin shall also be serving as Hand of the King." Applause followed this announcement, although Lord Tywin had already been named as Hand of the King several months before.
Ser Mandon Moore had died in the battle so Ser Loras Tyrell was granted a place in the Kingsguard, his father Lord Mace Tyrell was granted the title of Master of Ships and a seat on the Small Council. Idris wondered how Lord Tyrell could possibly take that as an honour. The entire Royal Fleet was currently ashes and cinders at the bottom of Blackwater Bay. It would be both costly and time consuming.
Many other honours, titles and lordships were granted to various men. Idris didn't fail to notice that all of them were members of Lord Tywin's army. Finally some of Lord Tyrion's allies began to be rewarded. His personal guard became Ser Bronn of the Blackwater, it was a shame Lord Tyrion was still comatose in his bed. Idris had visited regularly, although far less so than Lady Sansa, she was already there whenever he went to visit. The maesters said that he would awaken but they could not say how long the wait would be.
"Your Grace has been very generous today, I am honoured that he would name myself as Saviour of the City but I, and many of the men and women here today are aware that Lord Idris Ironfur's men stood against Stannis' Baratheon's forces bravely and boldly. Without them I fear the city would not have lasted long enough to see my own men save the city. I invite Lord Idris to take a place in the Small Council as an advisor to the King and to his Lord Hand." Idris walked into the open space before the Iron Throne and bowed his head to the boy king.
"Your offer is generous Lord Hand. But I fear that I shall not be able to remain away from my lands for too much longer. The winds of Winter are already blowing and I fear that there may not be enough food for my people if I am not there to oversee the harvests and their storage before Winter does finally... arrive." Lord Tywin looked down from his new seat beside the boy king.
"Nevertheless, while you are still with us, Lord Ironfur, you shall serve the realm faithfully, I am sure."
Idris bowed his head. "You honour me, my Lord Hand." Idris straightened and turned to leave. He could almost hear the boy king grinding his teeth, infuriated by Idris' lack of respect. Idris saw Torrhen and his small companions behind Jonella. He nodded towards the group and the Ironfurs all began to leave. Not without some relief, they had been stood, or in Jonella's case sat, for hours waiting for all the pretentiousness to end.
When Idris closed his door he smiled at Jonella, who had laid down onto the bed and was wiggling her feet in the air all while groaning. He chuckled as he passed her, tickling one of her feet and darting out of reach. He drew an knife and cut his palm before holding the dripping hand over a small pot. The sapling within eagerly drank the droplets of blood as they fell. When it had had its fill Idris withdrew his hand and winced as he bound it in a rag that he had left nearby. Jonella was looking over at him. He clambered into bed and kissed her softly. It would be late in the night when sleep claimed them both.
She responded as eagerly to his kiss as the weirwood sapling had to his blood.
