THE MANNIS UNLEASHED
Disclaimer : All Characters are owned by George RR Martin and HBO. This story is a self insert into Stannis Baratheon during Robert's Rebellion.
Chapter – 29
Tywin Lannister
He was happy with the death of oberyn martell at the hands of clegane. This will force lord doran to make peace with house lannister and the crown. If they seek vengeance he will personally end their line as he did the reynes and tarbecks.
Once again his faith in the mountain had paid off, if not for him and lord Farman he would have been killed by the red viper. His worries about the blackfyre came true and the eunuch will get his due soon along with his pentoshi good brother. He have to be more careful now, with his heir still a kingsguard and the miserable dwarf as his only option he cannot die without securing his house's legacy.
He had asked his goodson the prince to delay his trip to the free cities till a son is born to him but he insisted on going on this trip with cersei in tow. Luckily he sent half a dozen ships as escorts along with five hundred men to keep them safe. There is talk that ser mandon and ser illyfer would accompany the prince on this journey.
His brother Gerion, Sandor clegane and his sister will accompany cersei on this trip to keep her safe in case any pirates attack them. His son Jamie looked very upset these days and refused to talk to him when he asked him to take his rightful place at the rock. He knew that Rhaella was to marry ser bonnifer hasty and become the stewardess of dragonstone and lady regent to the blackfyre boy, so he cannot think of marriage again.
He had generously gifted ample gold to ser gerold reyne for saving his life which the lad cleverly used to build a holdfast in the stormlands. He knew that many of the stormlords are angry with his goodson for granting lands and titles for the former exiles but saw the wisdom in it.
The newly made lords and knights will be loyal to the prince and since summerhall was being rebuilt with tyrell gold, he was sure some of the new lords will be making their castles near the place to be his bannerman. It will increase security and defences through the dornish passes as prince Renly was granted the title of 'protector of the boneway' and 'prince of summerhall' by the king.
He spoke with his daughter and found that she was already enjoying her marriage with the prince and vowed to provide a heir before she returns from essos. He was of a mind to make one of his grandsons a lannister and declare him the heir to casterly rock but wanted to wait and see how tyrion fares in the future.
He knew that this baratheon dynasty is more strong than the targaryan's and proved their worth in such a short time by bringing dorne to heel and removing the blackfyre threat once and for all. House baratheon will be on the throne as long as their descendents will not become another Aerys.
He had overseen the delivary of cersei's dowry to the treasury of storm's end and even gifted some chests of gold and silver to stannis to cover expenses in the free cities. He had sent men loyal to him as spies to report back to him on the prince's travels and spread news of his new 'golden bank of westeros' in essos.
He smiled as the 'golden bank' will cement his house's name in history once it is fully operational and vowed to do everything in his power to protect it's reputation. He had saw the downfall of the 'Rogares of Lys' and their bank when ambition got the better of them. This is an exciting time for his house which gained royal favor and if he can have tyrion wed to a powerful family if he cannot get Jamie back his legacy will be secured.
His dwarf son had shown more wits and knowledge than his son or daughter combined, if he shows the talent and promise that he can be a worthy heir, then all the better even though he may not forgive him ever for Joanna's death. He ordered his household guards to start preparing for the journey back to the westerlands and walked towards the private chambers of the prince where the close family is being feasted.
Lord Balon Greyjoy
He watched as the priest of the drowned god placed the driftwood crown on his head after anointing him in the banks of the sea. He rose as his men and family bowed to him in respect.
"What is dead may never die" he roared and soon the words were repeated by everyone present. "But rises again harder and stronger" he repeated. He was lord of the Iron Isles now and 'lord reaper of Pyke' after his weak father passed away. He reached the castle and sat on the seastone chair.
His brothers Aeron, Euron and Victorian bowed to him as held court. He looked at his court and smiled before saying "well brothers, how do you find this new storm king who dubs himself as 'king of the Ironborn', is he a match for our skill ?".
His brother Aeron hesitated before weakly nodding his head and Victorian spoke "This baratheon king is as ruthless as he is merciful brother. He has united all the kneelers in a way the dragons never did. His brother is a foul sorcerer and he sent you a message brother".
Victorian pulled a sealed message with a stag riding a wyvern signet and gave it to him. He mpatiently broke the seal and read the message -
To Lord Balon Greyjoy,
Congratulations on becoming the lord reaper of Pyke. The new baratheon dynasty respects the ironborn culture and your lack of interest in our 'Greenlander Politics' but do remember if the king's peace is disturbed or any crimes are committed by you and yours in westeros, the iron islands will face the full force of the Storm King. All your house and lords will be put to the sword and your isles will be razed to the ground. So please I urge you to rise up in rebellion and pay the iron price for it so that we make sure that your people are extinct and erased from history. Remember our unofficial family words before your take a rash decision and seal your fate - 'Dare to Defy'.
Prince Stannis Baratheon, Lord Paramount of Stormlands
Balon cursed the baratheons and threw the letter away before rounding on Victarion " have you no shame brother that you turned lackey to a green boy who dares threaten us". He saw that both aeron and victarion wince but shut their mouths. He again felt anger at the smug prince's warning, even the targaryans knew not to rouse the ironborn. He will make them pay by killing this prince and sending his head to the stag king.
"Brother" aeron croaked "think before you act, the blackfyres and martell attacked the usurper and destroyed for it. We can wait till the king grows lax and take the greenlands up their arse later". He was not so stupid as to believe that his brothers are cravens, but their fear of the younger baratheon gave him pause.
He looked at Euron now and asked "what say you brother ? or are you gone soft as well ?". The deadliest of his brothers smiled with his black eye and spoke "I would advise caution against the crown for now brother, though I heard stannis and his new wife are to travel the free you wish, I can kill him and gift his widow as a salt wife to you".
He smiled then "do it brother and leave none alive so that we cannot be blamed, that will teach them not to rouse the kraken" He saw that euron was smiling when he left the hall. 'Good Riddance if he dies, he never trusted Euron anyways'.
He sat on his throne and saw that Aeron had a smile on his face but thought nothing of it. "Victarion, build a fleet that our grandfather would be proud of. Once we are at full strength again, these Greenlanders will face the full wrath of the drowned god" he ordered with a smile on his face.
The Mannis
He raced Robert and Lyanna who were flying on 'lockheed' back to the redkeep on Rodan. His good mood from storm's end continued. Once the dornish were put in their place, he spoke with lord velaryon who left for pentos under heavy guard to sell his manse and free his slaves. He did ask him to search thoroughly for the three dragon eggs and any hidden treasures. Illyrio wrote and signed a letter handing over all his properties and businesses to the crown with lord Velaryon as a representive.
Bolton had cut some pieces of the magister which made him spill every secret about hidden treasure and hideouts in other cities like Myr and Lys. In the middle of that horror show, illyrio even admitted to have brought the valyrian steel sword "Truth" from the bankrupt Rogares of Lys and hidden it in one of his safehouses. He intended to retrieve it himself from Lys and lord gift the sword to lord Jon Arryn.
Cersei was travelling with her father and uncle's retinue and will be at the keep within a few hours. That women was truly a lioness in bed and he enjoyed fucking her hard everynight. He pleased her immensely and shocked her with his tongue and fingers. Luckily she was amicable to talk with as he professed his undying love for her to stroke her ego. Let that bitch think she hooked him and once her cruelty resurfaces after she gives me enough children, I will send her back to casterly rock. He vowed to not let his children be spoiled by her after all that he has achieved.
He cleaned up quickly and joined Robert in the yard for a sparring session. His skill with a sword was ever improving everyday after facing ser barristan, Jamie, ser franklyn, the blackfish and ser illyfer regularly. He was stronger and faster than he ever was with the regular training and spars with Robert. Even renly was showing interest towards sparring lately.
The only problem he faced now was from Euron and lord doran. He hoped that his letter would enrage balon enough to attack his party by himself or by Euron. He just needed a cause to crush them now rather than waste resources and time on the ironborn. He had a nice surprise waiting for the crow's eye if he decides to attack him.
Once he saw that the lannister's party along with the baratheon retinue rode through the gates, he went to receive them along with ser Illyfer. His lady wife exited the carriage and he led her back to their chambers. Once inside cersei pounced on him and they pleasured each other till they are both exhausted.
"I have missed you my love" she moaned as he twisted her nipple and made her wince before answering "I missed you too my lioness". They embraced and laid naked on the bed. They both got dressed and when servants brought them their food they ate while discussing their upcoming free city tour.
He went in search of lord Arryn but found that a crowd have gathered around the moat near Maegor's. He saw a dejected Aenys Blackfyre being dragged by guards as his goodbrother Illyrio was also brought outside to witness the trial. He saw that tywin lannister along with his brothers kevan and gerion were looking at the proceedings.
He saw the hand signal the guards to slowly lower the eunuch into the moat using ropes. The eunuch was then given a spear and a dagger to defend himself. After splashing the water with his spear , stannis saw that the crocodile stirring from the bottom.
Slowly the eunuch tried to reach the edge to get a vantage point to attack from but his overweight body worked aginst him. The deadly crocodile lashed with it's tail and lunged at the eunuch. The speed of the attack stunned aenys as he tried to use the spear but the impact of the reptile's tail sent the spear flying from his hands as he reeled for some purchase.
The eunuch panicked and tried to reachbehnd him the spear before it sank but that moment of delay cost him as the crocodile leapr out of the water and tore the eunuch's arm from his shoulder. The screams of the eunuch filled the moat as all those assembled watched with fear the horror unfolding before them. The eunuch's left hand was gone and he was bleeding quickly and splashing with the dagger still in his right hand.
But the crocodile attacked him from below and pulled him down into the moat as blood pooled at the place where the eunuch was previously floating. After some time the eunuch coughing blood slowly swan to the surface , this time missing both his legs. His wails fell on deaf ears as he saw the people watching were paralyzed with fear.
The huge crocodile lunged out and grabbed the eunuch around his torso and started it's deathroll. It only took a few seconds for him to see that Aenys Blackfyre's eyes glazed over as his lifeless body was ripped to peaces and consumed by the twenty foot monster right before their eyes. Once the creature went into the water, those assembled quietly left the drawbridge with fear and disgust on their faces. 'Good let them know what fate awaits traitors' he thought and nodded to Jon Arryn before leaving.
He saw that Illyrio have fainted after retching and being led back to the dungeons. One threat was neutralized but one more remained in the vale 'not for long'. He have to take care of that worm before he leaves the fingers. Good thing he has some free time today. Two traitors in one day, this day is not half bad in itself. He closed his eyes and focused on the terrifying 'shadow wing' lurking in the vale.
Petyr Baelish
He hated this place and cursed the windswept , stony land for it's inhabitable nature. The 'Drearfort' as he liked to call it was nothing more than an old flint tower which was surrounded by bare land devoid of trees or plants. He was still healing from his injuries suffred at the hands of the northern oaf.
It felt good when he heard the fool and his father were killed by the mad king but catelyn had married his dour brother instead an welped him an heir. He heard from lysa that the northmen had impregnated ashara dayne who also birthed Brandon a bastard and lord hoster was angry with the northmen so much so he demanded the woman and child be sent away to starfall. He felt happy that catelyn was not on good terms with her husband.
He wondered what talent this ned stark had to bed two of the beautiful ladies in the realm. A plan formed in his mind to exploit this rivalry between catelyn and her husband. Butfirst he need to rise above his station. He thought to write to the dull lysa arryn and ask her to influence her husband to appoint him as a customs officer in Gulltown. Yes he can rise up from there and in the meanwhile reating tensions between cat and her husband.
He was about to write a letter when a goshawk of all things flew into his room and landed on his desk. He tried to shoo away the bird but it used it's talons to scratch his hand. Irritated he rang the bell to summon his steward Ungred and picked a sword near his table and swung it in the birds way.
The bird flew from his desk and scratched his face drawing blood. Enraged he swung wildly at the bird which slowly backed away towards the window but did not leave. He swung his sword in it's direction as he neared the window but missed it as it flew away. It was dark outside but he swore something big flew near his window but could not see anything.
Suddenly a deep growl filled the sky outside his window but he could not see anything, he turned around to leave but something gripped his leg tightly and pulled. He turned around as the grip tightened as he saw a black tendril was pulling him towards the window. His sword fell from his hand when he tried to swing it at the tendril.
He was forcibly pulled out of the window by some monstrous creature and he felt himself carried away into the sky. When he tried to look up all he saw was a giant draon black as sin opened it's maw and it's sharp long teeth and a slithery tongue. He panicked as the creature let go of his leg. He started falling quickly and screamed but sharp talons caught his chest and flew him higher towards the night sky.
When the moonlight illuminated the sky, he saw the giant beast, no a wyvern with blue eyes looked at him with malice and roared. He saw the mountains below and felt winded as he struggled for his breath. The creature suddenly let go of him as he screamed in horror as he descended towards the mountains below.
All he ever wanted was to destroy all the noble families that shunned him and claim the one true love of his life, his angel catelyn. As he plummeted to his death, his last thought was of the auburn haired beauty he kissed in the godswood of Riverrun. "Goodbye Cat" he moaned as he met the ground and darkness took him.
NOTE : Apologies for the long delay. Change of jobs and a busy month kept me away from working on any of my stories. Will try to update every week. As always thank you for your support & Enjoy.