WILLIAM IX

"With the arrival of a raven from Riverrun, we have learnt that the siege is quickly weakening. The numbers of Frey men are dwindling," Lord Varys informed whilst William paced around the room. Thank the gods, he thought, somewhat sarcastically. His pace was quickened this particular meeting of the small council, and his nerves were heightened.

He turned to see Prince Doran Martell, his soon-to-be father by law. The man was warm and calm and although Will had no reason to worry, he felt that he was under some kind of pressure - likely self-inflicted. The man leant back in his chair, his walking cane standing beneath his right hand. Rich man's disease, they say, William remembered. Sarafine hadn't been too shocked to see him with it, though the King himself couldn't have imagined anything worse than not being free to run and ride and walk and live. Nevertheless, Doran seemed happy enough. After all, his daughter was about to become Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

Doran wore a long surcoat of gold, embroidered with a blue similar to that of his eyes - the colour of the sea, they were. They reminded Will of his own father's icier eyes, but that made him sad. The celebrations began a week ago in the lead up to the wedding, and he'll never get to see it, Will thought with sorrow, I hope he can watch it from above.

"Your Grace," his grandfather's voice pulled him back to the meeting, "what would you have us tell Lord Edmure?"
"Remind me, how many men does he have?" Will deflected, not wanting to seem as if he were not paying attention.
"Ten thousand, though the Frey siege is only made up of four thousand men which is why he doesn't believe it is necessary to call the banners. Though, with the traitors reaving like Greyjoy's about the homes of the small folk, the banners may begin to fight back at any time," the eunuch continued.
"Then why don't they?" Joffrey asked.
"Waiting for the King's command, my son," Cersei gave a smile at her first born.
"That, and that they wish to tend to their lands. With the threat of another Targaryen conquest and all," Varys continued on with far too much melodrama.
"What of our army?" the King asked, "the Lannister host sit idly by waiting for the dragon's arrival...it won't take long for them to march up the Kingsroad to Lord Harroway's...better yet, send those remaining at Casterly Rock. If they take the River Road, it would be a week's march at most. The Frey's wouldn't know what hit them," he spoke, his thoughts turning to words before he could process them.
"We can't risk weakening the Rock," Tywin offered, not unkind, "the Greyjoy's could strike again at any second, we cannot lose Lannisport to them or we end up back where we started."
"Their fleet, Varys?" Will inquired.
"Still in construction, last I heard. The work continues on our end, too," he informed, "if I may, it might be in our best interest to wait for the Frey's to return to the Twins, as Lord Edmure has been doing."
"The Others bugger the twins," he said angrily, "how many remain at Riverrun?"
"Just shy of three thousand, Your Grace," Qyburn informed.
"For now we'll wait," he decided, "the Tully's have the supplies, yes?"

Varys nodded, "regarding Daenerys Targaryen, I should inform that the Sons of the Harpy have begun causing her much trouble. There's been reported deaths of her Unsullied soldiers in the streets."

William felt somewhat guilty to hear of that. They only fight for her because she freed them, he thought, but if they're free, that means they chose it, the King reminded himself. His guilt was soon forgotten.
"And her position?" he inquired.
"She's not shown any signs of moving, so far as my birds have told me. But this could change at any moment. The girl is having some problems with controlling her scaled beasts."

Nothing but bones.
"Meaning?"
"One of them has disappeared completely. My birds are working to find where the other two are keeping. As at now, no one has seen them for a time."

The King thought for a moment.
"Council is dismissed," he announced, "Prince Doran, would you stay?"
"Of course," the man nodded, not moving from his seat while the rest of them exited with bows and curt nods. It was then William himself, Tywin, Joffrey, Cersei and the Dornish prince.

"Edmure Tully has insisted they wait out the Frey's since the damned siege began," Cersei reminded, "they will be so easily defeated."
"But then there's the Greyjoys...and gods know who else," Joffrey muttered.
"We could command Riverrun to fight, could we not?" William questioned.
"Could you not, you mean," Tywin corrected, "you could, but in truth, we want to avoid fighting all together. She could leave Mereen at any moment...depending on her love for those slaves she thinks she's freeing."

Will looked at Doran again, who watched intently yet did not speak. Should I ask him? he considered, maybe a fresh perspective will clear my head.
"The Frey's only job is to cut off the North from the South," he spoke, as if reading the King's mind. His accent was a sweet sound, and for a moment Will wondered what Sarafine would sound like if hers had stayed. He imagined it would sound just as smooth and exotic, "the North is strong enough on it's own, no?"
"For now," Will agreed.
"For now is what matters. They are falling apart now, soon they will be gone. Your Grace, I would advise we let the Frey's waste away in their siege tents," the man offered, putting it all rather simply.
"Nothing it is," Tywin seemed to accept and the King nodded.

Everyone began to make way for the door, all conversing at once. William assisted Doran, and Tywin stood on his other side.
"You're to be a husband tomorrow," the Dornishman reminded.
"I've never been more thrilled," he confessed, his smile spreading from ear to ear.
"I'm glad to give my daughter to you," Doran said, genuinely, "you are a good man. You will make as good a husband as you do a King."
"I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear you say that, truly," the King felt warmer by his words, "thank you. I will not disappoint you."
"Eighty thousand Dornishman will make sure you don't," he laughed and William did too.

The King soon returned to his chambers to bathe and prepare himself for the feast, hosted by the Queen-to-be as tradition permits, though she herself would not make an appearance after His Grace arrived. The next time William would see his love would be in the Great Sept tomorrow. He hoped that she would have the kitchens serve mulled wine so that he would sleep; his anticipation made every moment lengthy and every second more exciting than the next. Tomorrow, everything he'd ever wanted would become his forever.

William could not seem to wipe the smile from his face.

- A/N -

Only a half chapter for Will this week, but still - the wedding is almost here! He's so excited aw

Do you think everything will go to plan? Let me know in a review!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and that you have a lovely weekend :)