2nd Month of 299 A.C. Storm's End
Ser Loras Tyrell
Renly was dead, how it had happened Loras did not know, did not care, because Renly was dead. His love was gone, his throat slit, there was blood on the floor and there was blood on the tent flap. He had killed two members of the Rainbow Guard in his anger, how had they allowed their king to be slain? Had they not felt the man who had done the deed come in? It was all too much for him, he felt as if he was falling apart, being torn in two. Nothing made sense, nothing made sense anymore. Renly was gone, and his world was dead. Anger that was the only emotion that made sense right now that was the only thing that mattered. Anger, at Stannis Baratheon, the coward who had slain his own brother in this manner. Stannis Baratheon, a man who would know what it was to die before the year was out. Loras had sworn that, he had taken the oath, he would not rest until Stannis was dead and Renly was avenged. So much anger and hate, he knew his father and his father's lords were discussing what to do, but there was only one thing they could do in Loras's mind.
"I want to find and kill Stannis." he says then, his voice hoarse.
His father looks at him then. "Stannis will have gone by now Loras. He would have heard of Renly's death and he would have gone."
"His men remain outside Storm's End my lord, as do ours. He is not going to be going anywhere." Lord Rowan says.
Loras sees his father glare at the man, but he finds himself speaking up in support. "Stannis will not go until he has gotten more men. He has betrayed the code of honour, and he will take what he believes is his. I want to find him."
"You will be killed before you even get anywhere near him." His father says.
Loras stares at his father then. "Not if I have the archers supporting me, not if I have Lord Randyll and the mounted men supporting me. We will cut Stannis and his men down to shreds."
"The lords of the Stormlands will stand in your way Ser Loras." Lord Randyll says. "King Renly is dead, and now they will fight for Stannis. They will not fight for the Tyrells, and they will not fight for Queen Margaery, for she is not with child."
"Then I will kill them as well. I will kill anyone who gets in my way." Loras says.
"And you will die." his father says. "Loras come now, I know you are grieving, but you have to understand that doing this thing you are proposing now, and it will not achieve anything. There is far too much ground between here and there. You will be killed the moment you mount a horse and ride. Renly would not want that."
Anger blooms within Loras, it is growing, and it is consuming him. There is nothing within him that matters now, more than killing the smug bastard who stole his love from him. "I will do this myself then." He goes to walk from the tent, but his father's hands grip his shoulders, preventing him from leaving.
"You will do no such thing." his father says. "I am still your father and your liege lord. And whilst I can appreciate that you are grieving, we all are. We cannot act rashly now."
Loras looks at his father stunned then. "You cannot mean to bend to Stannis father?!"
His father shakes his head. "I did not say that, and I would never do that. We are more likely to suffer under Stannis than anyone else. No, we must now consider our options. Renly is dead, but we still have a force of men, and Margaery is still a maiden, the time is coming where we might need to look either north or to King's Landing."
"Renly is dead, and already you are planning another marriage for Margaery? Do you have no shame?" Loras asks.
"This is war boy," his father barks back. "There is no place for shame. We must do what is in the best interests of the family."
Loras thinks on this for a moment, really thinks on it, and considers what might be done, and what could be done. Eventually he says. "We should go to King's Landing father. That is what Renly wanted, if he died. We should go to King's Landing and make sure Stannis never sits the throne."
His father considers this and then says. "Yes, King's Landing makes the most sense. Randyll, I want you to take some men and make sure the Florents cannot do anything without us knowing of it. Destroy those who would turn to Stannis, and make sure our supply lines are secure. Mathis, send word to Bitterbridge, make sure they know to open food lines to King's Landing."
Loras sees both men nod and then turns to his father to ask. "And what of me father? What role can I play?"
His father looks at him and says. "You are coming back to Bitterbridge with me. We must make sure that your sister and brother know what is happening. It is time we prepared for the alliance we must make."
"So we are not going to attack Stannis now?" Loras asks, feeling disappointment grow within him.
"No lad, not yet. We have more things to do before we can strike at the heart of the matter. Come with me, and I promise you, that you shall have your revenge." his father responds.
Loras nods and then says. "I'd like some time alone please father." His father nods and walks out of the ten accompanied by his lords. Loras stands there for a moment, his heart hammering in his chest, and then he cries, he truly cries. His love is gone, and his world has broken. But he will kill Stannis Baratheon, even if it is the last thing he ever does. He will kill the man.