A/N: Hope you all are staying well and healthy. Much to worry about, but much more can be gained by focusing on the positives :D
This chapter will introduce new characters while we explore one of the key figures of the Conquest, whose death was necessary. But mark my words, the Reach will not be the same in this story.
MERN I
Mern Gardener rode his horse as he used practice lances against the training marks. He was not dressed in his full armor, so he had an easier time moving around training under the heat of the Reach summer. He broke his lance on the target and got more cheers from the spectators, his twentieth lance broken.
Contrary to what many expected, jousting was not a sport for the light-hearted, as it took balance and a certain fearlessness to continue holding the lance against an opponent who was just as determined in unhorsing the rider, and it took strength in the legs to remain seated in the horse and in the arms to keep the lance steady. Mern had prided himself in winning over ten tourneys in his lifetime, six of them before he inherited the throne in Highgarden. As such, he had much strength to boast about.
But he had to cut back on his involvement in tourneys at the advice of his maester and septon, since he was the king and had to remain in good health for as long as he could. And he understood their other reasoning, as his heir Edmund was not yet prepared to take the reins of power and thus needed more time under his tutelage.
He charged his horse again and broke his twenty-first lance before deciding that he had enough for the day. With his squires giving him his bucket of water and unbuckling his armor, he wiped the sweat off of his brow.
"Your Grace," he turned to see his captain of the guard, Ser Rycherd Roxton. The second of Lord Roxton, he was accorded the honor of wielding his family's heirloom, the Valyrian steel sword Orphan-Maker. "The one chosen to protect his king should use the best weapon available," were Lord Roxton's words as he witnessed his son's knighting ceremony and appointment to his post.
"Ser Rycherd," Mern greeted him.
"Your Grace, I trust that you have concluded your daily training for the day?" Ser Rycherd asked.
"Yes, I have," Mern handed the rag to his squire. "Anything you wish to bring to my attention?"
"Lord Addam Hightower has arrived, Your Grace. He is currently awaiting in the courtyard as we speak."
Right. "Keep Lord Addam occupied while I go change into cleaner garments and ready my solar. Give him Arbor gold and some bread before you call him."
"Yes, Your Grace," Ser Rycherd bowed as Mern went to change.
Washing his face and with the servants dressing in fresher attire, he then had the crown of iron thorns placed on his hand, as he was a king during war. Confident in how he looked, he moved to the solar, where he had another servant arrange the many parchments on his desk as he sat down and waited for the heir to Oldtown.
Finally, Ser Rycherd came into the solar and brought in Lord Addam. "Your Grace, Lord Addam of House Hightower."
"Thank you, Ser Rycherd," Mern dismissed him as he stood up from his chair and walked over to welcome Lord Addam.
The last time that Mern Gardener looked upon the man who would inherit Oldtown was over five years ago, but his father Lord Manfred had many good things to say about his son. From his well-kept brown hair and his sharp blue eyes, along with his thin frame covered by choice garments from Myr if he had to guess, he dressed as a man from House Hightower would.
"Your Grace," Addam Hightower dipped his head.
"Good to see you again, Lord Addam. I trust Lord Manfred is well?" Mern shook his hand.
"He is, Your Grace. He toils every day overseeing the trade goods and merchants that come to our fair city while keeping the faithful content in the midst of this war."
"I'm sure he is," Mern gestured for Lord Addam to sit across him.
"And he apologizes for the late response, but he wishes to send his condolences on the death of Prince Gawen," Lord Addam stated.
Mern sighed, not wanting to think upon his son's death as he used his jousting and his other duties to keep his mind away from such sorrowful thoughts. "I thank your family for your words, but couldn't they have been sent by raven? That would have been sufficient."
"I have business to attend to, Your Grace. Business that I must undertake here on behalf of my family."
"Oh? And what do you wish to discuss with me?"
Lord Addam cleared his throat as he relaxed in his chair. "Your Grace, my father Lord Manfred has some concerns about how this war is going about."
Mern leaned forward on the table. "And what concerns would they be?"
"Given that the forces of this kingdom and that of House Lannister outnumber the forces commanded by the dragons, everyone involved expected a quick victory and a clear demonstration of how the Valyrians are not welcome in this land," Lord Addam started with.
"And we are still fighting. There will be more battles ahead, Lord Addam, despite the setbacks we have faced," Mern answered.
"Those setbacks are the reason that I have come here, Your Grace," the heir to Oldtown stated. "We both know that the reason why the His Holiness appointed you a Marshal of the Faith was because Loren Lannister has seen his forces rolled back in the riverlands and therefore wants a more pious man to have more control over the war effort."
"I know that, Lord Addam."
"And yet, Your Grace, there has not enough significant progress against the dragons. A good indication of that is this Aegon Targaryen declaring himself King of Westeros, followed by his sister-wife Rhaenys, his sister Visenya, and his goodbrother Jaenys Belaerys," Lord Addam brought up the dragons' declaration.
Mern remembered the declaration very well, but he fought the urge to simply through it in his hearth because of how ridiculous it sounded. A man barely grown, and he fashions himself a king? With his fervent goodbrother by his side? Ridiculous.
"Not only that, the Starks of Winterfell have declared their allegiance to the dragons and thus bringing the northern half of Westeros on their side. His Holiness is concerned, as he fears the days of the old gods and the barbaric practices of the First Men coming back to these lands, after all of the struggles that our ancestors have experienced to bring something better," Addam added.
That was what continued to baffle Mern. He only heard about the reputation of King Torrhen Stark, now no longer a king, and he couldn't understand why a king would give up his crown to support a family who had no history of being rulers. If I remember correctly, the Targaryens were far from powerful in the days of old Valyria while the Belaerys' might have been at the top, but they too were not kings themselves.
Mern knew that something else was going on, but for the life of him, he couldn't wrap his mind around such an exceptional incident as a king kneeling before a simple lord willingly. The dragons burned the Hoares except for Darvin, and they killed Argilac while taking his daughter, but Torrhen just lent his support. Why?
"As I spoke to His Holiness and to Loren Lannister, the dragons are a threat that have to be dealt with soon, especially with the northmen on their side," Mern spoke.
"Then, may I ask Your Grace on why there hasn't there been any meaningful progress against them so far? Word has it that they are on the move against Sharra Arryn and the Vale houses, who are also among the faithful. Your Grace, we cannot just sit idly by while they begin to take one of the most important regions in Westeros that have a majority following the Seven."
"Careful how you speak, Lord Addam. I like you and I have nothing but good feelings towards you and House Hightower, but don't forget that I am the King of the Reach and it is bad manners to make questions on strategy even in private settings," Mern warned him.
Addam swallowed before nodding. "I apologize for any offense against you, Your Grace."
"I accept. But to answer your question, we have forces still tied up in the former Storm kingdom and Orys Baratheon smashed our reserves. It'll take a while for us to form another force that can reinforce my son Prince Edmund and reinforce our allies elsewhere."
"A bastard killing a prince of House Gardener… Prince Gawen shall be avenged, Your Grace. He was a fine knight and a good horseman."
"Thank you, Lord Addam."
"But going to my business, the reason why I ask on what is being done against the dragons because my family loaned you a significant amount of gold when you needed more to finance the campaign against the dragons and was able to persuade His Holiness to make a contribution from the Starry Sept's coffers, which combined with the gold contributed by House Lannister and the loans from the Iron Bank is what allows the army to remain in the field."
"And what is your point in mentioning things that I already am aware of?" Mern knew what Lord Addam was getting at, but he wanted to hear it straight from his lips.
"House Hightower has played an instrumental role in underwriting this war, Your Grace. And the only gains that we can see are lands east of the Slayne and nothing more. From what I am told, Argella Durrandon had the lords slight their own castles, take all of the livestock and crops that they could, and burning the rest, which doesn't make those lands any useful to us anyways. In addition, Loren's scheme in having Orys annulling his marriage to Argella Durrandon in favor of Prince Edmund did not go well, which implies that the two of them have some bond that cannot be broken," Addam continued on.
"So, you're here to protect your house's investments?" Mern figured out.
"Yes."
"And what will you do if there is no progress made on our part soon?"
"We certainly don't want our king to lose all of the confidence that he had worked very hard to obtain from the Starry Sept, as Reachmen are fighting and dying on behalf of the Holy Seven," Lord Addam stated.
Oh, now I see what this is. "You do realize that it is unwise to say such things, especially during times of war, as we need to be united against the common enemy."
"If you need more coin, Your Grace, you can send a raven to Oldtown and my house will happily grant you what you need, as you are our king. But please considerate on the needs of your bannermen, as we all wish to return to our homes and resume worshipping the Seven as we have done before," Addam expressed.
Mern sighed. "Of course, Lord Addam. We don't need more coin from you, but you tell your father that I appreciate the gesture and that we understand each other more clearly."
"I shall, Your Grace," Addam nodded in satisfaction. "But to keep him satisfied, I have to tell him what you plan to do next. He might not do something we both don't wish to happen if he's allowed an insight."
Mern rubbed his chin in thought before bobbing his head. "One thing that I will say to you, Lord Addam, is that we intend to strike hard at the bastard in Storm's End while moving on the Blackwater Bay as my late son did. And this time, we'll be more careful how we proceed forward."
Lord Addam pursed his lips, absorbing what his king revealed. "I shall tell my father, Your Grace."
"You do that. Meanwhile, I invite you to stay here at Highgarden for a few days and nights, where you will be comfortably accommodated."
"I graciously accept your offer, Your Grace."
"Good. Go outside and Ser Rycherd will bring you to your quarters. If you have anything else to discuss with me, let me know."
"Of course, Your Grace," and Lord Addam left with the Gardeners' captain of the guard.
But Mern's amiable demeanor evaporated as he leaned back on his chair and rubbed his forehead, trying to stave off the headache that came.
The Hightowers had always been an over-mighty house, especially since they saw themselves as equals to the Gardeners despite having surrendered their crowns. And part of the reason why that was originated from his ancestor offering his daughter in marriage to the King of the Hightower, meaning that no fighting actually began between them and no one saw who was better. Either bring them into the kingdom peacefully, or face bloodshed showing who's above who.
But setting those thoughts aside, Mern straightened his garments out and made his way to the sept, where he was sure his wife and queen, alongside his other sons, grandsons, nephews, and cousin were there.
With the guards bowing their heads as he passed by, Mern entered the sept but was careful to be as quiet as he could. He found his queen and wife, Victaria, kneeling in prayer while dressed in black, along with their younger sons Hugh and John. Hugh was six and ten while John was five and ten, and both were still unmarried. Might have to work on that soon.
Next to his youngest sons was his brother, Lymond, and his two sons, Owen and Raymun, who had just come from their estate further north of Highgarden. Next to them was Mern's cousin, Gyles, who was employed in the household since he was far down the line of succession and thus had few prospects.
But on the other side of Victaria was his only daughter, Vevienne, also dressed in black. All had knelt in prayer for the soul of Gawen, who had departed this life without fathering any heirs but died as a warrior would. May the Warrior guide him to good place in the afterlife, wherever that may be, Mern prayed silently.
Out of respect for his wife and queen and out of remembrance for their dear departed son, Mern also knelt down and clasped his hands together in prayer.
"Where have you been, Your Grace?" Victaria asked him.
"I just came from a meeting with Addam Hightower. We had much to discuss regarding the war effort against the dragons."
"I see… matters of the kingdom shall always take precedence over the matters in your own family," Victaria stated.
"Now, watch your words, women," Mern was cross. "I mourn Gawen every day since he died, but I am King of the Reach. I must run this kingdom, which is our family's birthright and one that Gawen died for."
"I don't have to tell you that I had reservations about you waging war against people who did nothing towards us," Victaria shot back.
"Quiet!" Mern shushed softly. "It was for our family that I waged war."
"A war that took one of my sons away and my oldest away from home," Victaria kept her eyes closed. "I am angry at the man who killed him, but you got our family into a war that we had no business being a part of."
"Do you not follow the Faith, Victaria?"
"Does the Faith want all houses to go to war, where sons perish?" Victaria's hands were getting into a tighter clasp.
"We have to stop the Valyrians from spreading their ways to these lands, or everything we know will be over," Mern defended himself. "I'm exerting myself for my family as best as I can. You know that."
"I do, Your Grace," Victaria finally opened her eyes. "But I also know that I will never hold Gawen in my arms again, never hear his voice again, and never see his face again. He came from my womb, and I didn't even get to bury him. Mothers should never bury their child."
Mern sighed heavily, understanding her sentiments. "My heart was torn out when Gawen died. But now, we have to keep going if we are to ensure that he didn't die for nothing. And now, I must make sure that someone will be able to take his place."
"What do you mean?"
Mern turned to Hugh and John. "Boys, I have a present for you. Follow me outside."
Hugh and John looked at each other, confused, before complying with his father's commands. Victaria, Vevienne, Lymond, Owen, Raymun, and Gyles also followed.
Outside of the sept, Mern gestured for his sword to be brought to him. Unsheathing it, he held it high.
"Kneel, Hugh," Mern pointed to the ground in front of his third-eldest son, which he did. "In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father, I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother, I charge you to defend the innocent. Arise, Hugh of House Gardener, a knight of the Reach."
Hugh was stunned by being knighted by his own father. "Thank you, Your Grace."
Mern smiled before turning to John and bidding him to kneel down. "In the name of the Warrior, I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father, I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother, I charge you to defend the innocent. Arise, John of House Gardener, a knight of the Reach."
"Thank you, Your Grace," John also formally addressed their father.
While Lymond, Owen, Raymun, and Gyles nodded their heads in approval, Victaria looked as if she saw more death, as her face became paler. Her eyes were saying to Mern, "You've just killed my sons," as knighthood means that they will soon see battle.
But he ignored her as he issued his next commands to Hugh and John. "Starting tomorrow, I want you to train with arms with me and practicing your riding more vigorously. You are men now, so you must join the war with me."
"Yes, Your Grace," they both answered solemnly.
As for Victaria, she couldn't bear to see what was happening and went to return to her quarters. As for Vevienne, she turned in to the opposite direction towards the godswood, where she found comfort amongst the three weirwoods reputedly painted by Garth Greenhand himself.
But while Mern would tolerate the occasional visit to the godswood, she was a princess of the Reach, so she needed to be in the sept more than the worshipping area of the First Men. She even asked the maester more books on what the First Men did and how they worshipped, which Mern confronted her over.
"We do come from Garth Greenhand, father," Vevienne said. "Shouldn't we know some part of our history before the Andals came?"
"History is good as a side interest, but it's useless for when you have to learn how to fulfill your obligations. And I've heard that you spent three hours in the godswood for each one hour you spend in the sept. That's not good. You need to show the septon that you are dutiful and pious, for who in the Reach will marry you if you don't?"
"It was just an intellectual curiosity, father. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. You are old enough to be married and there will be lords seeking your hand soon. You must be in a good mind and in a good form if you want a satisfying union. Keep that in mind the next you go asking around for knowledge of the times before the Faith came to this kingdom, for it will reflect badly on us. Do you understand?"
Vevienne sighed. "Yes, father."
But knowing his own daughter, who didn't listen to commands very well since she was a babe, he had the maester try to restrict her access to any books about the Gardeners' First Men heritage. Also, he had the septon take part in her tutelage, since he was not going to let his daughter lose her sense of piety to the Seven.
Recognizing that Victaria needed to be alone since it would take time for her to accept that the rest of her sons would have to go to war, Mern turned to his sons. "Wait for me in the training yard. Once I finish my other duties for the day, I will see to the both of you."
"Yes, father," they both said.
He nodded to his brother Lymond, his nephews Owen and Raymun, and his cousin Gyles, granting them leave for the rest of the day, as he left for another part of Highgarden, this being where his steward attended his own duties. But considering what I must do for today, I have to be there.
He walked into the solar of Harlan Tyrell, High Steward of Highgarden and head of his house. The steward stood up and dipped his head. "Your Grace."
"Lord Tyrell, how goes your duties for today?"
"I've been occupied, Your Grace," Lord Harlan sifted through the pieces of parchment on his desk, which outnumbered those on Mern's own. "Given the responses to the decree sent out to the various lordships, villages, and towns under your rule, I had to find a way to keep the people more committed to the fight against the dragons."
"I see," Mern nodded.
He had commissioned Lord Harlan to write a declaration, in which they would smear the name of the Targaryens and Jaenyx Belaerys so that the smallfolk would be more motivated in fighting against the Valyrians. Lord Tyrell suggested that they directly attack the dragons through their marriages based on what the former maester at Dragonstone told them. With their knowledge of Aegon acting as a warrior, Jaenyx's cold demeanor, Visenya being said to be stern, and Rhaenys just like every other maiden in Westeros, they decided to take some liberties and present them in the most unflattering light possible.
Remembering that Jaenyx, from what they heard, had a very low opinion of those not carrying Valyrian blood in general, it wasn't hard for Mern and Harlan to come up with the idea that he would take more pleasure in the arms of Lysene whores, who had the blood of old Valyria in them, and neglect Visenya, who wasn't very outwardly friendly and seemed to strike down those who would try to make act more like a lady. Warrior women… how typical, the King of the Reach dismissed.
Regarding Aegon and given how close his bond with Jaenyx had become, Mern and Harlan decided that the latter's more prejudiced tendencies rubbed off on him and that it wouldn't be much of a stretch to see the one who called himself king going after Rhaenys because she was an easy woman. What knight or warrior wouldn't do so, based on what I heard of this "Queen" Rhaenys?
"What else are you planning to distribute, Lord Harlan?"
"I'm thinking of saying more words on the parent dragons and the bastard in Storm's End," Harlan revealed. "We could say that the father seeks power, but he is too old to lay claim as a king, so he wants to accomplish his dreams through his son. And the mother is all too willing to go along, since she wants to be a queen."
Mern rubbed his chin in thought before nodding. "I like that." Whether it's true or not doesn't matter, so long as other people believe it.
"And that the bastard in Storm's End killed Argilac because of the slights thrown his way and saw his daughter the former princess Argella Durrandon as the ultimate prize. After all, conquering a castle gives you claim to everything in it, including its women," Harlan said.
"True," Mern admitted. "How soon can you get this published?"
"Give me three days, Your Grace, and I shall have enough copies to send to all of the houses under your control, where the words can be further spread by the other lords," Harlan put up his seal. "But regarding the future decrees, I'm afraid I must ask for your personal seal."
"My seal?" That, I did not expect.
"It would grant my words more legitimacy if Your Grace endorsed them. After all, I am but a mere servant at Highgarden and my words won't account for very much unless backed by a higher power," Harlan explained.
"Now I understand," Mern looked at the first drafts of the new decrees. "Finish the copies, and I'll give you my seal. You can stamp however many times you want."
"Thank you, Your Grace," Harlan smiled.
"Anything else that should be brought to my attention, Lord Harlan?"
Harlan set down his quill and stood up straighter. "My son, Theo."
"Yes?"
"I know that my position is hereditary, and he will be the new High Steward of Highgarden after I die," Harlan began. "But before my son settles down, he must do what he can with his youth, which might be serving in the field or conducting affairs outside of the walls. I ask Your Grace if there is anything else besides my current duties that Theo can serve in."
Mern looked at the aging steward up and down, taking in his rich robes, graying beard and hair, and slightly hunched back gained from many years of leaning over the table because of writing. It was true that Harlan Tyrell's position was hereditary, since the second son of Ser Alester Tyrell had done so well in his duties that his ancestor made his position permanent for his family. And they were distantly related by blood, as a princess of House Gardener did marry a lord of House Tyrell centuries before. Ser Alester Tyrell was a great warrior and a worthy Andal, who might have established a strong martial house had his eldest son died. While being a steward did have its benefits, it was not exactly prestigious.
"You've done my house great service, Lord Harlan. The least I can do is see what else you and your son can do, for all that you've done for me and my family," Mern granted his request.
"Thank you, Your Grace," Harlan dipped his head in gratitude. "And if I might ask for one more thing?"
"What is it?" What do you want now?
"I understand that you are currently looking for eligible bachelors to grant Princess Vevienne's hand in marriage. If it pleases you, might I request that Theo be included in the list? I'm not asking for your daughter's hand, as that would be imprudent of me, but just a chance for Theo to be considered," Harlan asked for.
Mern sighed. Of course. Again, they were distantly related since they both had Gardener blood, but since he came from the senior line while Harlan came from a very far-off lineage, a match between Theo and Vevienne was unthinkable to the lords in the kingdom. At the same time, he couldn't just deny Harlan.
"Theo shall be considered," Mern decided not to kill Harlan's hopes. "But don't expect anything."
"Thank you, Your Grace. That's all I ask," Harlan grinned.
"I'll leave you to your work, then," Mern verbalized before he left Lord Tyrell's solar.
Mern twiddled with his thumbs as he thought more on what Harlan asked him to do. He wasn't going to deny that Theo was an agreeable man, coming from good stock and raised by his able father to take over the duties as High Steward. He also witnessed how Theo and Vevienne were close from an early age, both of them sharing an interest in how Westeros was before the First Men were largely overpowered by the Andals. He didn't like how his daughter was taking an interest in such information, but he wasn't going to hinder his daughter's curiosity. Curiosity leads to a development in intelligence, which will be an attractive trait to any of her husbands.
But like he thought earlier, the idea of a union between Theo and Vevienne, no matter how much he liked him and how much appreciation he had for providing Vevienne a companion, was unfathomable in Mern's mind. After all, the Tyrells were stewards and thus unfitting for a princess of House Gardener. If I agreed to it, then Houses Hightower, Tarly, Peake, Rowan, Florent, and Redwyne will never let me hear the end of it.
Marriages were matters of great importance to the kingdom and thus, Mern had to carefully consider who might offer a good husband for Vevienne. Certainly not House Hightower. They already have a few drops of Gardener blood in them and they might use Vevienne to press for more things from me. The marcher houses might be good, but who can I choose at the expense of the other? And while it's been a long time since a house in the northern parts of my kingdom saw a marriage with a Gardener princess, none of the houses have any bachelors that will be suitable for her. So, who else?
He found himself walking to the ramparts of Highgarden, looking upon the various fields that were outside the briar labyrinth. He found more peace looing upon the fields that his ancestors planted, the source of their wealth and power, which made him believe that the source of all authority for men, save for the Seven, came from the earth. The earliest men developed farming, and thus they built communities before deciding who would lead. It only progressed upward from there, with kings soon rising up. House Gardener just happened to be one family that overcame all of the other kings to rule the biggest kingdom on the continent.
But the beauty of the Reach, so painfully molded by the ones before him, was now under threat by foreigners, which came from the people that could control dragons. Thousands of years of tradition would be undone if he failed now. The dragons shall never take this land. We will win, or we will perish before we surrender, Mern promised to himself. A Gardener has not knelt before and we will not kneel now, especially to a man barely grown whose power only lies in abominations.
"Your Grace," Ser Rycherd approached him again and dipped his head.
"What is it, Ser Rycherd?"
"A raven was sent from Lord Appleton, Your Grace," he held out a small scroll.
"Josua?" Mern immediately took the scroll. He had known Josua Appleton, Lord of Appleton, since they were squires and they attended each other's weddings. The latter was extremely grateful, as having the king come to his wedding added much prestige to his house, which Mern was more than ready to do via land grants and tax privileges.
Unrolling the scroll, he read the message at least twice, not wanting to see if his eyes were deceiving him.
"May I ask what concerns you so, Your Grace?" Ser Rycherd became concerned.
"How many can we get right now?"
"For what purpose, Your Grace?"
"I must ride to Appleton today. How many men can come?"
Ser Roxton took a moment to gather the numbers in his head. "Twenty men."
"That's sufficient. Tell them to be ready to ride out as soon as possible. I have to see Lord Josua."
"As you command, Your Grace."
Within an hour, Mern set out with Ser Rycherd Roxton and twenty men sworn to House Gardener as they rode to Appleton, in the middle of the land between the Mander and the river where Goldengrove was located on. It took less than a day for the King of the Reach to arrive at Appleton, where the guards of the rather small castle were caught off guard.
Mern strode into the castle, where Lord Josua Appleton, his family, and what members of his household that could be ready on such short notice, were waiting for him in the courtyard. Upon his entrance, they knelt.
"Rise, my friend," Mern bid Lord Josua to stand before pulling into a strong hug. "I trust you're not getting bored while the rest of us fight the war."
"There's nothing wrong with a little quiet, Your Grace," Josua Appleton shrugged.
His old friend had looked the same since they saw each other last year, his green eyes still retaining the energy from his youth but with his black hair now peppered with a few white ones.
"I'm sure. But I'm afraid that we'll all have to sacrifice our moments of tranquility soon, if we are to keep what we have," Mern walked with Lord Appleton. "I received your message, old friend. I didn't expect a northman to be this far south."
"It was probably a scout, House Karstark judging from the sun blazoned on his breastplate," Lord Appleton said. "Men belonging to Cider Hall engaged a party of northern cavalry and drove them off, capturing one of them. But the presence of the northmen this far is very disconcerting.
"Indeed," Mern agreed. "I want to talk to him."
"Your Grace—"
"Come now. We've known each other for years."
Lord Appleton cleared his throat as he corrected himself. "Mern, I don't think that's a good idea. Let my men handle him and we'll give you whatever information we can out of him."
"I want to see the enemy that we're dealing with. In tourneys, we stare at our foes in the face, so that we have a better idea on how to fight them. Don't you remember?"
Lord Appleton sighed before nodding. "It's your decision in the end, Mern."
"Take me to him."
Mern followed Lord Appleton in the dungeons of the castle. Walking past a few empty cells, since there were hardly any criminals so close to Highgarden, they finally came upon the one that held the Karstark prisoner, who was tied and chained to the wall.
After Appleton ordered the guard to open the door, Mern stepped in and eyed the northman in the face. He had the grey eyes and dark hair as was customary of the First Men.
"What is your name?" Mern asked politely.
"Who are you?" the Karstark man snipped.
"You are speaking to Mern Gardener, Ninth of His Name, Lord of Highgarden and King of the Reach. Show some respect, you wretch!" Lord Appleton barked.
"I don't know any other king but the one my lord and Torrhen Stark sworn to, Aegon Targaryen, and I didn't know that flowers could become kings," the Karstark man held no bars back.
Mern crossed his arms. "So, because my home is full of flowers, that makes me weak? Is that what you're saying?"
"Aren't you summer knights like that? You only know warm and comfort, while we northmen survived in the cold and brutal winter. You will break at the first sign of real battle, as all flowers do," the Karstark stated spitefully.
Mern scoffed. "I would not trade a feather bed for a stone couch, and neither would you if you were in my position."
"I'd rather not be, Your Grace. After all, I wonder what your ancestor might say if he saw you now."
"All right. What is this?" Mern was getting tired. "Did you get captured because you wanted to throw insults at me?"
"You give me too much credit. I didn't know you would come, but how often does one get a chance to see a soft-bellied king in the face?"
Soft-bellied? He's really pushing it. "You seem to talk comparatively well, considering that you're just a horseman sworn to House Karstark, who are themselves Starks from a pathetic off-shoot."
"Whatever mistakes my house has done, I endured them, while you flowers would rip apart like warm bread," the Karstark man spat back. "Besides, you can't kill me, not without angering my cousin Larence Karstark."
That information threw off Mern. "What do you mean?"
"Means that my name is Hallis Karstark and I grew up in Karhold, so I know much about the history of the First Men, my people, which unfortunately extends to the sad history in the south."
"Sad history?" Lord Appleton narrowed his eyes. "What makes you say that?"
"I have no doubt that Garth Greenhand was a great man, who established a great kingdom. But you lot threw it all away when the Seven thumpers came. You became knights, wiped out the First Men and the children, and made generations forget where they came from. I'm sure that Garth Greenhand would moan upon seeing what you've become," he eyed to Mern.
Mern's fists tightened, angered at how many insults Hallis Karstark was throwing at him and his family. But remembering his training as a knight regarding his control over his hot temper, he uncurled his fist and breathed out to calm himself.
"I knew it," Hallis Karstark sneered. "You can't hit me, because you're not enough of a man. I guess being among flowers and staying warm in summer will do that to you."
Before Mern really lost his temper, he left the cell, with Lord Appleton following and Hallis continuing to throw abuses at the two.
Once they were out of earshot, Mern turned to his old friend. "He is a lord after all, so have him moved to better accommodations and get someone to clean him."
"You sure you want to do that, after what he said to you?"
"This is a test that all of us faced when we were squires. We either give in to our baser instincts, or we stick to laws that we were told to upheld, no matter how painful it might seem," Mern proclaimed.
"As you wish," Lord Appleton walked with Mern out of the dungeons while another guard ran up to him.
"Your Grace," he dipped his head at Mern. "We've just received word. Stonebridge has sighted the enemy and they're about to come under attack!"
Mern and Lord Appleton eyed each other in alarm. "Send ravens to all houses that can spare troops!" he commanded before turning back to his friend. "I must ride back to Highgarden, where I must get my other sons and my armor. Once I have the men, meet with what troops you can at Cider Hall. We must protect the Mander."
"Of course," but before Mern could ride back to his own castle, Lord Appleton called out, "I am sorry about Gawen, Mern. He was a good boy and I shall miss him."
Mern's eyes darkened briefly before he refocused them. "Thank you. I miss him already."
By nightfall, Mern, Ser Rycherd, and his entourage of twenty men returned to Highgarden, where the rest of the night was spent making the preparations to march.
A/N: As I mentioned before, I envisioned Benedict Cumberbatch to play Mern IX Gardener, who is the perfect actor for any character that is upper class, arrogant, and condescending. As one reviewer noted, he is a tourney knight-turned king who likes the simple pleasures of life, but he is also pious and a stickler to the rules of chivalry. I see Mern as the equivalent of Napoleon III and a less academically-inclined Rudolf II (for those who know your history), a man who is so sure of his own position that he treats everything light-heartedly and believes in a strict code even if the situation recommends otherwise. Plus, House Gardener has become so removed from their original routes that it could be said that they were on the decline anyway (which I told through Mern's dealings with the Hightowers amongst others). And he is also quite unwise, as he knighted his two youngest sons because he wants to fill the gap left behind by Gawen, which will never go well.
As for Harlan Tyrell, he might be an obedient servant, but given what he did in canon regarding the Field of Fire, he has something else at play and whatever uses he has for Mern's seal can't be good.
Pay attention to Theo and Vevienne, for they will be important.
Hope this was a good real intro into the politics and occurrences of the Reach.
Next, we see the the first real battle in the Reach, at Stonebridge.