Lord Martyn Lannister

The war with the Targaryens was done; Aegon Targaryen had died by his hand, the man's dragon as well. That had given Martyn a lot of satisfaction, especially when he remembered the fact that the man he had killed was the one responsible for driving he and his pregnant wife out of their home in the first place. Following Targaryen's death, there had been a moment of uncertainty where everyone had been unsure as to what would happen, and then Ser Barristan Selmy the Lord Commander of the Targaryen Kingsguard led a charge through their ranks and began a counter attack. It would have succeeded had it not been for Martyn's uncle Lord Tywin and his swift thinking brain that saw Selmy and those who rode with him cut down in a blaze of fire. His uncle and his father had both died during the battle, his father killed by Jon Connington and his uncle from his wounds taken during the battle. After that battle, King's Landing was secured, but there were still those who claimed loyalty to the Targaryens in the Stormlands and Daenaerys Targaryen and her son were in his castle, and so with King Tommem's permission he rode out with what was left of the Lannister strength and dealt with those who were foolish enough not to realise when their time was done. Martyn was the one to kill Matthis Rowan and those of the Kingsguard who were sent to block his way. They reclaimed Storm's End and the Stormlands, but Daenaerys Targaryen, her son and her bastard brother Aelix Targaryen as well as their two dragons escaped. A sour tasted but at least for now the war was done.

As it was with the war having taken many of the old guard away from the capital, through death- his father and uncle, Mace Tyrell, Randyll Tarly, Paxter Redwyne, Mathis Rowan- all of these were men seasoned in war from a very young age, but now Martyn and his generation were as well. And so King Tommem had decreed that his uncle Lord Tyrion be named hand of the king and return to court, which he had done so. The King and his uncle had then gone about appointing new members to the positions previously occupied by the stellar names of old. Martyn was named master of laws, Aurane Velaryon- the legitimized bastard of the Driftmark- was named master of ships, Petyr Baelish remained as master of coin, Grand Maester Pycelle was still there as were Lord Commander Ser Loras Tyrell and Master of Whispers Lord Varys. Martyn's cousin had seen in his sixteenth nameday in the New Year, and as such had begun attending and deliberating matters of state in his own right. And as such had called a council meeting to discuss various issues. Tommem was tall and broad shouldered, with a mop of blonde hair, in some ways he seemed like Martyn's cousin Jaime Lannister- who if rumour were to be believed was the king's father, though Martyn was never sure what to make of that rumour- anyway Tommem was a good lad and would make a fine king. His voice was calm when he spoke. "My lords, I thank you all for coming today. We do have some very urgent business to discuss. Though the war with the Targaryens is over, and the civil war in the Reach done, there are still some very pressing issues that they have left behind. Uncle if you would begin."

Lord Tyrion nodded at the king and unfurled a piece of paper. "Well, Lord Willas has written that those houses that rose in rebellion against House Tyrell include: House Florent, House Appleton, House Meadows, House Peake and House Osgrey. All of these houses have either been destroyed or have bent the knee. Lord Willas does ask what Your Grace wishes to do with those that have given over hostages, do you wish for them to grow up in the Reach under his care, or in King's Landing under your supervision?"

The king was silent for a moment and then he said. "I believe it would be best if the hostages grew up in the Reach. That way we know they will have the loyalty that House Tyrell deserves and needs in order to keep the peace going throughout that realm. Now what news is there from the Iron Islands, has that issue been settled?"

Martyn had expected Lord Varys to speak and so was surprised when his cousin spoke again. "It has indeed been solved Your Grace. Rodrik Harlaw wrote me and his letter arrived this morning, those factions that sought to fight for independence have been crushed, and those that fought for something more have also been crushed. The factions that fought for the throne have triumphed and as such have agreed to see Lord Harlaw as the regent of the Isles until Balon and Urrigon Greyjoy come of age."

Martyn saw his cousin nod and heard him say. "Very good, Pycelle, I want a raven sent to Lord Harlaw telling him of the throne's approval of this and that should he need any more support he need just ask." Pycelle nodded and Tommem went on. "Now, Lord Varys I have one question to ask of you. Where are the Targaryens?"

Lord Varys tittered slightly and then said. "My little birds have them at Pentos last but after that they seem to have gone their separate ways. Daenaerys Targaryen was seen flying with her infant son towards the east, whilst Aelix Targaryen was seen flying towards Bravos."

Martyn heard Tyrion snort at that. "Then Aelix is a bigger fool than I imagined. If they are trying to gather support and sellswords, they are going about it in completely the wrong way. Bravos hates the dragonlords, they shall never give the Targaryens what they want. And is the fat cheesemonger who runs Pentos not your friend Varys?"

The eunuch tittered uncomfortably and said. "No my lord hand. I assure you I have never had any dealings with Illyrio Mopatis, nor shall I ever have dealings with him."

Liar. Martyn thought, but he said nothing. The king merely nodded and said. "Very well then, when you hear more about them let us know. We have other more important matters to discuss. Lord Baelish where are we on the loan repayments to the Iron Bank?"

The little worm that Martyn thought the master of coin was, wormed slightly and said. "Very badly Your Grace. This last war has cost the throne some 800,000 gold dragons, of to which we only have some 200,000 of our own to pay the bank back with. The rest we shall have to borrow from the Reach and the Westerlands, or raise taxes and risk facing more open rebellion."

"Surely there must be another way in which the throne can get money? Other than having to borrow more and put itself in even more debt?" Martyn asked.

Lord Baelish looked at him as if he had grown a second head. "Well in case you had not noticed Lord Martyn, the Westerlands, the Reach, Dorne and the Stormlands are the only kingdoms still truly under the throne's control. The north has always been a barren wasteland but it is big and was a big source of timber tax, it is now free and independent, the Vale has declared independence and has sealed off its ports to our ships. And the Iron Islands are falling apart more and more every day. We can only get the money we need from the sources available to us. And the Riverlands are blocking the way from the Westerlands."

Martyn sighed and said. "And to make it so that they do not we shall need to bring more war to Westeros, something that we can ill afford as it is."

To his surprise his cousin spoke then, his voice strong sounding. "I do not agree with that assessment. The Riverlords are uncertain of what is happening; there is tension between the King in the North and the Blackfish. There is tension between the King in the Vale and the King in the North. If we attack the Riverlands in quick bursts, akin to what the Dornish are used to doing we can take much of their wealth before they know it. It will take time for the Vale and the North to mobilise, and I am not sure they will want to."

Martyn spoke then. "But that would be suicide my lord. We do not have the numbers, and we don't have the will power to go on like that. Another war and people shall revolt."

Tyrion looked at him then and said. "We cannot afford to default on a loan to the bank, if we do then we shall have to deal with worse than a revolt by peasants. The lords in the kingdoms left to us should be hungry enough for glory and revenge as well. If Your Grace were to use that, then we could be successful."

There is silence as they wait for the king to speak, when he does Martyn's heart sinks. "Then we had best begin planning this invasion then."

Perhaps his father was right and Shireen should have been sitting the throne.