Disclaimer: I don't own Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire
Alyssa I Targaryen
Book : The War of the Four Sovereigns
Chapter 8: Loose Ends
Beta:
Trigger warning: Implied canon typical underage
Much to Alyssa's annoyance, Jeyne's words the morning after they first made love proved prophetic. No sooner than she had formally announced that she was taking Jeyne as one of her concubines did the High Septon begin to make his displeasure known.
"What is the High Septon saying about me today?" Alyssa asked Varys, more curious than anything. She cared nothing for the Faith of the Seven after all, much less the smears of its chief priest.
"He is decrying you as a heretic for being a follower of the Old Gods." The Spider informed her and they both shared a laugh that earned them curious looks from her concubines with whom she was breaking fast.
"What's so funny Alys?" Myrcella asked, looking puzzled.
"It's just, he thinks I'm a follower of the Old Gods."
"You're not?" The former Princess asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Lord Varys, have I knelt before a Heart Tree since I was a child?"
"Not since you were ten if my little birds are to be believed."
"Then what faith do you follow, love?" Margey asked, trying out yet another new pet name. For some reason her First Concubine was determined to give her one despite her protests against needing one.
Scrunching her face in distaste of Margey's latest attempt and earning a pout in reply, she explained. "I believe in Lord Nameless. He is the god who appeared to me when I was ten. He gave me my magic, taught me how to use it, showed me where to find Ghost's egg and guided me through hatching him. I owe everything I am to him."
All her concubines, everyone in the room really, looked shocked by this. Even Varys which was something Alyssa would hold over the Master of Whisperers forever! The man was almost impossible to surprise and she would savor this rare moment.
"You must tell me more about your god, Alys." Myrcella said to nods from her fellow concubines.
"Another time," Alyssa told the blonde. "Right now, I have to deal with the High Septon. Lord Varys, what else is he saying about me? I'm sure it's not just that."
"Indeed not, my Queen." The eunuch agreed. "He has also taken to slandering you over your magic, calling you a witch."
"Which I am," Alyssa noted with a roll of her eyes. "Though I prefer the term mage myself. It's what the Tome of Magic Lord Nameless gave me calls magic users like me."
"I will see that the proper nomenclature is spread among the smallfolk, your grace."
Alyssa rolled her eyes at how her offhand comment was being taken so seriously.
"Focus, Lord Varys. What other slander is the High Septon spreading?"
"He is calling your laying with other women unnatural," the Spider said almost hesitantly. "That your taking of not one but four highborn women as your concubines no less, is a sign that you are unworthy of the crown."
That's an escalation. Alyssa noted, her eyes narrowed in anger though she wasn't the one who reacted most negatively to the news.
"He dares!" Shireen shouted, surprising everyone. "Alys you should take his head for saying that!"
"You've very worked up about this, Shireen." Jeyne said, expressing the room's surprise. "To my knowledge, you have not lain with Alys yet."
"Of course not," Alyssa said hastily. "Shireen is much too young! She hasn't even flowered!"
"But I will soon!" Shireen shot back and looked at Alyssa with what could only be considered a predatory look. "And when I do, I expect to be made a woman your grace."
"Me too!" Myrcella chimed in before Alyssa could reply.
Startled she looked between her two youngest concubines at a lost and turned to Margey and Jeyne for help, only to see her lovers nodding in agreement with the two younger girls.
Put this off! Alyssa decided. That's my only hope here. Make no promises and push this off till later. Maybe they'll change their minds over time.
"We'll see." Alyssa said noncommittally as she looked away from her concubines and to an amused Lord Varys. "And the Septons? How have them responded to the High Septon's new stance towards me?"
"They have been dutifully repeating his slander." The Spider said without commenting on her abrupt change of topic even as her concubines giggled at her desperate evasion. "Thankfully their words have found surprisingly little traction among the masses of King's Landing, who are receiving ample supplies of free bread baked in the Red Keep's kitchens, made from grain shipped from the Reach and provided to them by the very Queen they decry."
"I suppose the fact that the smallfolk have had to endure great hardships under the rule of the Lannisters whom the Faith had supported helps us in this regard."
"Indeed, Lady Darry, it does."
"Even if that's the case, we cannot allow the High Septon to continue." Alyssa concluded. "I can accept dissent. Even slanderous dissent. Giving the people room to express themselves reduces unrest but I draw the line at open questioning of my right to rule. Lord Varys, it is time to take action."
"I am at your command, your grace."
Seated in one of the pews reserved for observers, Alyssa watched as the Most Devout debated over who would be the new High Septon, the previous one having tripped while climbing the steps leading up to the Great Sept just yesterday and was sent tumbling down the long flight of stairs almost all the way down to the base of Visenya's Hill. A fall that proved fatal.
Just the thought of the man's humorous death brought a smile to Alyssa's face and she made a mental note to have Varys and those of his little birds responsible for the deed handsomely rewarded.
"Alys," Margey said leaning into her side to whisper into her ear. "They're about to vote."
Alyssa nodded and used a Message spell to allow them to speak more freely.
Are we sure the man we've arranged to get the post will be more pliable than his predecessor? Alyssa asked through the spell's telepathic connection.
Yes. Margey reassured her. Of all the candidates, he is the most corrupt. So long as we provide him with the coin he needs to feed his appetites for luxury and women, he'll do whatever we tell him.
And we are sure that he will win?
The Reach is the cradle of the Faith, Margey reminded her. That means it has great influence over us but the reverse is also true. See for yourself, beloved.
Alyssa frowned in distaste at Margey's latest pet name but nevertheless did pay attention as the voting finished and the ballots were counted. She was pleased but not overly surprised when their preferred candidate won by a wide margin.
I told you so. Margey said, preening at what she rightfully saw as a victory for her family.
Well done, Margey.
Not everyone was happy with the results of the election however and almost as soon as news of the results were announced, the Sparrows, a radical sect of the Faith made out of followers of the Seven most affected by the War of the Four Sovereigns and whose leader had been poised to win the vote if Alyssa hadn't intervened, threatened revolt as they denounced the election as a sham and the new High Septon as a mere pawn of the 'Witch Queen'. And in the process signed their own death sentences.
"This is the last of their safe houses?" Shireen asked as Alyssa, her concubines, Hand and Lord Varys watched the crushing of the Sparrows by the Gold Cloaks via Alyssa's combination of her Scrying and Minor Illusion spells.
"Yes, Lady Shireen it is." Loras, serving as their on duty Queensguard today. He would know. As Lord Commander of the Queensguard, he had been deeply involved in organizing the raids that were crippling the Sparrows and their nascent rebellion.
"Hush," Myrcella said. "They're breaking into the leader's room now."
Indeed they were, Alyssa noted as a squad of Gold Cloaks kicked the door to a small, spartan bedroom open. They were immediately beset by a group of men with woodcutters' axes but superior training and equipment soon told the tale. Within minutes, the five men were dead and the three Gold Cloaks had merely suffered a few bruises where the blows from the axes had dented their armor.
Now unopposed, the loyalists seized the small, thin, hard-eyed, grey-haired man with a heavily lined face that was the leader of the Sparrows. Perhaps realizing there was no escape, the man didn't even bother to resist as he was dragged away.
"And that's that." Alyssa declared as she dispelled her spells. "Now the Sparrow leadership can all be executed by dragonfire tomorrow morning."
"Just in time to show your strength to the Dornish." Lady Olenna noted with a smirk. "You have a good sense of timing as always, your grace. The executions will not only cow the remaining Sparrows and the rest of the Faithful but it will also hopefully at least rattle the Viper."
"We can only hope." Alyssa agreed. "Margey are they settled in?"
"Last I checked, yes." Margey replied, having been responsible as Alyssa's first concubine for ensuring that the newly arrived Dornish diplomatic delegation was taken care of. "But I'll make sure before I retire."
"Make sure to leave invitations to the executions." Jeyne reminded. "We don't want them to miss it."
"I will." Margey agreed. "Thanks for the reminder."
"I will assist with that, Lady Margaery, Lady Darry." Varys offered. "My little birds can ensure that our guests attend."
"Right, then I leave the matter to you two." Alyssa said as she stood. "I'm going to retire. Jeyne, join me?"
Blushing lightly Jeyne hurried over with a smile.
"Good night everyone," Alyssa threw over her shoulder while wrapping an arm around Jeyne's shoulders and pulling her close.
She received a chorus of wishes for a good night in reply as the two departed for bed.
Memories of her lovemaking with Jeyne last night proved essential in the day which followed for Alyssa as she found herself negotiating with the Dornish. They had traveled by ship to King's Landing to meet with the Lannisters initially, with the full understanding that they would end up negotiating instead with whoever won the battle that had become known as the Battle of the Blackwater. To that end, the Dornish party was led by no less than Prince Oberyn Nymeros Martell himself who as brother to Dorne's ruling Prince had more authority to conduct negotiations than most.
This would have been a boon. If not for one problem. The Red Viper hated her for having survived Robert's Rebellion where his sister Princess Elia and her children, Alyssa's half-siblings, had not. Anger that was compounded by Alyssa as the daughter of Lyanna Stark was a living reminder of why that disastrous war had been fought in the first place. At least that's what she'd been able to gather from his seemingly ceaseless barbs over the last hour of negotiations.
"We've already agreed to give you the Mountain and Amory Lorch for punishment," Alyssa reminded the Prince tiredly. "Even though as Rhaenys and Aegon's sister, I have as much right to vengeance against them both mind you. What more do you want?"
"You cannot give me what I want, your grace." The Viper spat her title out with venom.
"Then what does Dorne want?" Lady Olenna asked, sounding as frustrated as Alyssa felt.
The Viper looked ready to spit even more venom but thankfully the levelheaded Harmen Uller, the Lord of Hellholt and the second in command of the Dornish diplomatic team cut him off whilst shooting the man who was his bastard daughter's paramour a quelling look.
"A treaty that reaffirms our special place in the Seven Kingdoms in accordance with that the one between King Daeron II Targaryen and Prince Maron Martell that made Dorne part of the Seven Kingdoms is a start."
Oh thank Lord Nameless! Progress at last!
"Agreed," Alyssa said. "What else?"
Here Lord Uller sent Prince Oberyn another hard look and though the Viper seethed, he obediently held his tongue.
"To strengthen the ties between the Iron Throne and the Sunspear, we would also like to have you appoint a Dornishman to your Queensguard."
"Easily enough." Alyssa acknowledged. "It was my intent from the start to diversify its membership to include warriors from as many Kingdoms as possible."
"And lastly," Lord Uller began only to pause to glare Prince Oberyn into silence as the Martell growled angrily for some reason. "We would like you to take a Dornish paramour."
"Agre-" Lady Olenna began, only for Alyssa to raise a hand to tell her to wait.
"You want me to take a Dornish concubine?" The Queen asked. "Immediately?"
"Yes," Lord Uller said with a firm nod. "You already have concubines from all the Kingdoms who you have conquered or have bent the knee to you."
Not entirely true. Reach forces under Lord Mace's command were still clearing up pockets of resistance in the Stormlands and they hadn't even invaded the Westerlands yet. And of course, she had taken no Northern lovers. But it was close enough she supposed.
"While not all of them share your bed yet-"
Alyssa really wanted to know how he knew that.
"-but they all have your affection and confidence. We desire the same privileged access."
Alyssa shot her Hand a glare. The whole harem idea was partly her idea!
"Blame Margaery." Lady Olenna deflected. "More importantly, the man is right. If we want Dorne to reintegrate peacefully then we need to treat them like we've treated the other Kingdoms and that means you need to take a Dornish paramour."
"Alright, I can accept that much." Alyssa said with a resigned sigh. "But immediately?"
"Prince Doran feels that delay is not beneficial." Lord Uller said with a grimace, obviously not liking this stipulation either. "It would give whoever you choose less time to earn your confidence and thus put her at a disadvantage to your other concubines."
Since when did my love life become a matter of politics!? Oh right! When I decided to be Queen.
"I see," Alyssa said with a raised eyebrow. "But even if you say that the only Dornish women of eligible age that you've brought with you-"
"Are my daughters." Prince Oberyn cut in angrily, glaring at Alyssa like this was somehow her fault.
Well, I suppose this is the real reason why he's so angry.
"I suppose I should meet them then." Alyssa said in resignation.
It turns out that the five oldest of the eight infamous Sand Snakes had come to King's Landing with their Father and were now stuck in the unfortunate situation of being forced to potentially becoming one of Alyssa's concubines. At her request, Prince Oberyn unhappily led her to one of the Red Keep's training yards which the five had commandeered for their own.
Walking towards the yard, Alyssa paused to observe the scene.
A woman in her mid twenties that was probably Nymeria Sand with a figure that was slim and slender as a willow and straight black hair worn in a long braid which pulled back from a widow's peak was practicing with some throwing knives. Seated next to each other in one corner of the yard were the fair skinned, golden haired Tyene Sand and light-brown skinned younger woman who Alyssa guessed by the books that surrounded them and the tales of the various Sand Snakes' interests was Sarella Sand. In the center of the yard, the oldest looking of the sisters was a big boned and mannish looking woman that Alyssa instantly recognized from Varys' reports about her as Obara Sand was exchanging blows with a slender woman with an athletic figure with her hair bound in a braid.
"Who's that?" Alyssa asked in an eager whisper even as natural process of elimination told her the girl in question was Elia Sand as she pointed to the girl in question.
"My daughter Elia," Prince Oberyn said with his eyes narrowed.
"Elia?" Alyssa said breathing out the name as if it was a prayer.
As if her attention was caught by the sound of her name even over the impossible distance. Elia Sand's head snapped to Alyssa's direction. This unfortunately distracted her and her sister took full advantage and swept her feet out from under her with her spear, sending Elia crashing onto her back and forced to yield as Obara pressed the tip of her spear to her neck.
Acting entirely on instinct, Alyssa rushed over to Elia's side. Arriving just as the other girl was helped back to her feet, she pulled the girl towards herself and raked her eyes over her.
This deep concern for a girl I've just met… Yes, I know what this feeling is… Or at least I am getting familiar with it.
"Are you alright?" Alyssa asked urgently. "That looked like a hard fall. You didn't hurt anything did you?"
"No, um-" The girl asked, blushing brilliantly at the unexpected scrutiny even as unseen sparks of magical energy arced between them from where Alyssa's hands still held her shoulders.
"Elia, this is the Queen." Prince Oberyn supplied, now sounding mildly amused despite himself.
"Your grace!" Elia shouted as she hastily pulled away from Alyssa, causing her to pout at the loss of contact, and knelt.
Her sisters had hurriedly done the same, but Alyssa was so overwhelmed by the pull of her magic right now that she only had eyes for Elia.
"Rise," she said as she practically pulled Elia to her feet, the sparks of her magic that she previously missed now clear as day to her as they jumped between her and the Dornish woman.
"Elia Sand," She said without hesitation. "Would you accept being my concubine?"
Everyone in the yard made sounds of shock, even Lady Olenna and Ser Royce who was her Queensguard shadow for the day. All except Elia herself.
Instead, blushing prettily, she shot her Father a pleading look.
Alyssa turned to look at him as well, though her glance was far more demanding.
Prince Oberyn looked unwilling.
"Father, please." Elia said pleadingly.
The Red Viper looked thoroughly confused but he was not known for pampering his daughters for no reason and with a reluctant nod, he gave his approval.
"Your grace, I am yours." Elia told Alyssa with a passable curtsy despite wearing breeches.
"And I am yours." Alyssa replied, pulling the other girl into a kiss that intensified the sparks of magic jumping between them into a veritable storm which the mage struggled to understand how the others couldn't see.
Unlike the kisses which sealed her relationship with Shireen, this was only a brief peck. They were after all still in public but as they parted, Elia nevertheless let herself fall into Alyssa's arms.
"Which of your sisters would you like to join you in King's Landing as a Queensguard, Elia?" Alyssa asked her soon to be concubine as she ran a hand through her hair, even as everyone just looked on in confusion.
Elia shrugged and turned in Alyssa's arms to send her sisters questioning looks, who in turn just stared back at her as if she had lost her mind. Considering the powerful effect Alyssa's magic was having on her, they might not be too far off the mark.
"Sard this!" Nymeria said at last. "I have no idea what's going on, but I'm not leaving Elia here alone. I'll do it."
"Thank you, sister." Elia said offering her older sister a grateful smile.
And that was the very unorthodox way that the negotiations concluded with Elia becoming one of Alyssa's concubines and her sister Nymeria a member of her Queensguard. That it was followed by lengthy explanations and Elia insisting she wasn't being controlled and she stood by her decision magically influenced be damned. It was a long week that was for sure.
She was therefore more than relieved when word from the North provided her with a distraction from the still ongoing drama between Elia and her family, as she continued to struggle to convince them to respect her decision. Thus she happily took her leave of that ongoing disaster and fled to read her correspondence.
Your grace,
The Wildling attack on the Wall has been repelled and the last survivors of the pretender Stannis Baratheon's army who showed up as you predicted to 'assist the Watch' have been wiped out. Lord Commander Alliser Thorne wrote in the raven he sent to inform her of the situation. The reinforcements you had sent our way were a godssend. Without them we likely would not have survived. Please let me express my awe at your foresight for predicting all that has happened and sending us those men.
Not all is good news I'm afraid, your grace. I regret to inform you that Stannis Baratheon was killed in the fighting and that his wife apparently died of an unknown malady while sailing North. Both their remains have been cremated and their ashes sent on their way to King's Landing. The Onion Knight, Ser Davos Seaworth, along with the survivors of the Baratheon men have been captured and await your judgement as you requested . As for the infamous Red Witch, she is despite our best efforts unaccounted for. The remaining Wildling survivors have, as you ordered, been captured pending resettlement further South under the Night's Watch's jurisdiction.
Lastly, I am pained to report that there remains no new news on the whereabouts of your Uncle Benjen. I'll continue to have my brothers be on the lookout for signs of him but I'm afraid that it's unlikely he's still alive.
Your eternal servant,
Ser Alliser Thorne,
998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch
Who would've thought, Alyssa mused. That Thorne, who hated me so in my past life, not only has assumed my old position but is so polite to me in this one?
"Apologies Loras," Alyssa said with a sigh as she handed the missive over to the Lord Commander of her Queensguard. "It seems we have both been deprived of our vengeance."
"There is still that Red Witch," Loras declared in a furious hiss. "She worked the magic which killed Renly and she will die for that."
"There is that," Alyssa said as noncommittally as she could. As much as she wanted revenge for her husband, she knew how powerful Melisandre was and was loathe to lose her assistance against the Others in the war to come.
"Myrcella?" Alyssa asked her the blonde former princess who had volunteered to serve as her scribe for the day. "Write up a message in my name to Lord Commander Thorne telling him to offer Ser Seaworthy the chance to either bend the knee to me or take the Black, but to inform him either way that his lands are safe and the inheritance of his heirs are assured."
"That's very generous of you," Myrcella noted as she began drafting the letter.
"Shireen adores Seaworth," Alyssa told her concubine. "Just like I didn't send Rosamund to the Silent Sisters for your sake, I can offer mercy to Seaworth for Shireen's."
Rosamund who had been sitting patiently at one side doing some embroidery whilst waiting for instructions as befit her role as Myrcella's handmaiden startled and shot Alyssa a thankful look. It seemed Myrcella had not told her cousin just how close she'd come to being punished for the crimes of their family.
"Ah, I see." Myrcella acknowledged. "I hope Seaworth bends the knee then. Shireen would like that."
"That she would." Alyssa agreed as she picked up the next piece of Northern correspondence. This time it was from her Stepmother.
Your grace,
I bring you good tidings. The Ironborn have mostly been repelled thanks to the reinforcements you sent north and we are now scouring the countryside for their remnants.
Winterfell was besieged but like you predicted we thankfully held out. Alyssa breathed a sigh of relief to know her childhood home would not suffer the depredations in did in her past life. A circumstance we owe almost entirely to the many magical traps you'd set up in the Wolfswood. They were responsible for taking out more of the Ironborn raiders than anything else.
I knew planting those Glyphs of Warding around Winterfell set to trigger whenever someone with the intent to attack the castle passed by would prove useful. Alyssa thought to herself with a grin as she continued reading.
As you can see, all is well in the North. Though I hear alarming news from King's Landing.
What exactly has she heard? Alyssa pondered worriedly.
What is this I hear of you preparing to go campaigning while seven moons pregnant? Her Stepmother wrote and Alyssa winced as she imagined the stern look that would have accompanied those words had she been there. It wasn't that hard. She just had to picture the disapproving look Robb had given her when she told him and imagine it was ten times worse. Do you know how reckless that is!? I implore you to reconsider Alyssa! Think of your child!
I hope you come to a wise decision.
Your worried Stepmother,
Lady Catelyn Stark,
Lady of Winterfell
"Need me to write a response?"
"No Myrcella, I think I'll write to my Stepmother myself." Alyssa said as she picked up a quill and a fresh raven's scroll. "I would not want to get her any more upset with me than she already is."
"I heard from Margaery that your Stepmother scolded you via raven for thinking of campaigning in such a late stage of pregnancy. Did it change your mind?" Lady Olenna asked as they sat down in the Small Council Chambers to discuss the body.
Alyssa shot her Hand an unimpressed look. "I have not and you know why."
"A few moons will not make much of a diff-"
"It will give our enemies time to recover that I will not allow."
We need as much time to prepare for the Others as we can get. Which means we need to end this war as quickly as possible! Alyssa thought but did not voice.
"Besides" Alyssa continued instead. "Despite my supposed late pregnancy my movement has not been impeded in any way."
"You are remarkably small for a woman that is almost seven moons with child." The Queen of Thorns allowed. "But it is still unwise to put yourself in unnecessary danger whilst in your condition."
"Save it, Lady Olenna." Alyssa said with a sigh. "I've made up my mind on the matter. Let us discuss the matter of the Small Council as we agreed shall we?"
"Very well," the Tyrell matriarch said with a frown. "You said this would be a war council correct? One designed to run the country in your absence while you campaigned?"
"Yes," Alyssa acknowledged with a nod.
"With that in mind, I came up with a few suggestions."
"Let me hear them. Go in order of the seven reserved positions."
"That'll start with me," her Hand said with a roll of her eyes. "And then the Grand Maester who we currently lack."
"He will have to be decided by the Conclave of the Citadel."
"Or you could just appoint whoever you liked, it's not like anyone would gainsay you."
"Perhaps," Alyssa said with a frown. "But, for now at least, I want to avoid rocking the boat wherever possible. We did enough of that dealing with the High Septon. As such, I'll follow the forms here. Though I would prefer someone I trust and with whom I had a prior relationship like Measter Luwin from Winterfell."
"I see." Lady Olenna said with a smile. "I'll make the arrangements to have word of your preference discretely reach the appropriate ears."
"I know nothing." Alyssa replied with a smirk and the elderly Tyrell laughed prompting her to do the same.
When they both calmed they moved on to the next appointment.
"How about Tyrion Lannister for Master of Coin?"
"He's certainly capable. But I'm surprised that you'd trust him?" Alyssa asked, with a raised eyebrow. "At least, enough to suggest him."
"He is married to your cousin, quite happily if word of their domestic life is to be believed, and is the father of her child. Furthermore, you've promised him Casterly Rock." Lady Olenna said with a roll of her eyes. "With such incentives, it's easy to win loyalty. Besides who else could we trust to impose those exorbitant taxes you intend to impose on their mines as reparations and to fund our expenses?"
Alyssa hummed noncommittally. Unwilling to imply, like her Hand wanted her to, that she had set these circumstances up deliberately.
"Where is Baelish though?"
"You wanted to consider him for the position?"
"Heavens no!" Alyssa replied with a laugh. "I'd rather have him burn. He was pivotal in my Uncle's death. I merely am curious where he's run off to."
"If Varys' reports are to believed he fled to the Vale when the Lannisters sent him to treat with your brother-cousin."
"A rat fleeing a sinking ship? How fitting of Littlefinger." Alyssa noted with a scoff. "Let's move on. I don't want to discuss that man any further."
"Agreed." Lady Olenna nodded, her distaste for the Mockingbird clear. "Master of Laws is next. I think Oberyn Martell would fit the bill.
"Are you serious?" Alyssa asked incredulously.
The Queen of Thorns shrugged.
"Dorne needs a boon that's above and beyond that treaty you worked out. Passable though it is. This will do that."
"But the Red Viper as Master of laws? Really?"
"It might not suit his temperament but he is certainly intelligent and capable enough to carry out the tasks required." Lady Olenna explained. "More importantly, it's relatively unimportant. We thus throw Dorne a bone without actually giving them any additional power."
Alyssa thought about it for a long moment before reluctantly nodding. "Alright. So long as you can honestly assure me that this isn't part of some revenge plot against the man for what happened to Willas."
"You have my word, granddaughter." Her Margaery's beloved grandmother said.
"Then let us move on."
"My goodson Paxter Redwyne for Master of Ships."
"The expected and appropriate choice." Alyssa commented simply as she waved at her Hand to move on.
"This goes without saying but Lord Varys as Master of Whisperers."
"This will not change anytime soon, I think." Alyssa observed with an amused chuckle. "The Spider seems to be the lone perennial survivor of the Small Councilors."
"Indeed."
"So with Loras serving as the Lord Commander of my Queensguard that rounds up the council." Alyssa said with a pleased grin at one task done. Just innumerable more still left unfinished. Including the still ongoing arguments between Elia and the rest of her family. Which were frankly driving Alyssa insane. Her Father and sisters had accepted that she would stay as one of Alyssa's concubines regardless by this point but were still adamant she had been mentally manipulated into agreeing, much to Elia's adamant objection.
"I doubt Loras will ever step down of his own accord." Lady Olenna told Alyssa frankly, pulling her thoughts from one family problem to another. "After Renly's death, he is utterly devoted to the child in your womb. I would not be surprised if he sees it as a second coming of his love."
"I know." Alyssa said rubbing her pregnant womb lovingly.
"First time mothers," Lady Olenna said with a roll of her eyes. "I'd like to see you be so happy on the birthing bed."
"Says the woman who gave birth to three children." Alyssa countered. "If it was so terrible, I can't imagine having more than one."
"Ha! That shows what you know, young lady." Lady Olenna said with a laugh. "The birth is terrible but the children themselves make it worth it. That is why women are so willing to bear with it. You'll see what I mean soon enough."
"I suppose I shall." Alyssa agreed, before pulling the list of proposed Small Councilors that her Hand had compiled and looked it over again. "This looks good overall."
"Really? I had thought that you would comment that there's no woman on the Council except myself."
Alyssa rolled her eyes. "Just because I am a woman and I sleep with other women does not mean I will push them forward over men. What I want is merit and ability."
"Good." Her Hand said with a pleased nod. "Though does that logic hold true for who you'd like to appoint as Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands?"
"What are you saying?" Alyssa asked curiously.
"I'm saying making Shireen Baratheon Lady Paramount would be a mistake. She might have the claim but she would be too weak."
"What do you mean? She is still young yet, I'm sure with a good regent she can grow into being-"
"It is because she is Stannis' daughter." Lady Olenna cut Alyssa off. "And one of your concubines. On the first count, the Stormlords were gutted by the Battle of the Blackwater that Stannis led them into. That anger will carry over to his daughter. On the second, not only will the specter of being part of a homosexual relationship haunt her, consummated or not, but one with the woman who was responsible for their defeat on the Blackwater? It'll doom her chances of ruling the Stormlands."
"I see your point." Alyssa conceded. "Then keeping her by my side-"
"As one of your kept women," her Hand said with a snort. "It will be how they see it."
Alyssa glowered but nodded. "They might see that as me keeping her hostage and thus keep them from raising up in fear for her safety and loyalty to House Baratheon, but the same is not true for wanting her to rule."
"Yes. We humans are strange creatures."
"Yes, well." Alyssa said, not knowing what to say to that sudden if accurate observation. "Who then should we elevate to Lord Paramount?"
"One of Robert's bastard sons." The Queen of Thorns said as if it was obvious. "Find one, legitimize him and give him Storm's End. I recommend Edric Storm."
"Not the boy currently at the smithy in Harrenhal, Gendry Waters? His lack of education would make him easy to control." Alyssa suggested half-heartedly, more to sound out her Hand's reasoning than anything else.
"By others as well." Her Hand reminded. "More importantly, he was not acknowledged by his father. Edric Storm was and had a lord's education besides. He is also already known to the Stormlords as well and will be more easily accepted."
"Very well." Alyssa said after the pretense of a moment of consideration. "Have the appropriate documents drafted and you'll have my signature."
"You're very kind, your grace. And the smith?"
"Can happily remain a smith." Alyssa said with a shrug. "He's an innocent in the Game of Thrones, I will not take his life simply because of who his father is."
"Your mercy might one day lead to ruin."
"We'll face that crisis if it comes to pass. For the time being my order stands."
"As you command, your grace."
"How are our preparations for our campaigns against the remaining kingdoms?" Alyssa asked, changing the topic from the uneasy direction it had taken.
"We have the 40,000 men we used to take the city waiting for your magic trick to link up with the 20,000 men from the North and the Riverlands already at Golden Tooth."
"And the Redwyne fleet?"
"Sailing towards Lannisport with another 10,000 men."
"Then everything is ready." Alyssa noted with an expectant grin.
Soon. Soon this war will be over.
Done!
Told you guys that Nameless' manipulations of Alyssa's love life will escalate. Hope you guys liked the drama that it created with Dorne. And yes, Elia is totally in denial but as Margaery stated when she discussed the influence of Alyssa's magic on her during her conversation with Jeyne last chapter, it doesn't matter the source to those affected they love Alyssa and that's all that matters. Is that creepy and unethical? It's supposed to be.
On another note, is Alyssa insane for going campaigning in person in her third trimester? Yes. She's also a stubborn ass who as she said wants to end this war quickly so she can pivot her attention, and those of the Seven Kingdoms, to the threat of the Others. That she has a rather superhuman constitution as a result of her being a mage and a dragon for a familiar just lets her justify her reckless decision.
That's all I feel the need to discuss this time so till next time mar sin leat!