Beron V
The Red Keep, 298 AC
"...did you hear what I just said?"
Beron's mind snapped back to reality. He took in his surroundings and instantly remembered where they were and what they were doing. They were in the godswood of the Red Keep, sitting under the heart tree. Over a short distance, Princess Rhaenys was playing with her cats under Daven Lannister's watchful eye.
And Princess Visenya was staring at him with a furrowed brow, as if wondering if he had just been pretending to listen to her. Beron cursed himself for letting his mind wander and stummered an apology.
"Your Grace...please, forgive me..."
"If I am boring you, by all means say so." She scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest, sending a short glance toward her little sister. For a moment, Beron felt envious of Rhaenys Targaryen. Being so young, she could still spend her days without a care in the world, playing and laughing.
"I...beg your pardon, my princess. You are not boring, not at all. I was just...I was just wondering how our men are faring in the Stormlands." Beron decided that being honest was his best option. The princess could barely blame him for thinking about the war. "I reckon they should already be there, by now."
The princess' glare seemed to soften at that. "It takes a lot of time for an army to march to its destination, doesn't it? Anyway, by my calculations they should be one or two days away from the border."
Beron nodded. "Soon they will engage the enemy. And hopefully, it will all be over soon."
"Oh, it shall be, I'm sure of it." The princess toyed with her hair, which were now fashioned into a long braid. Beron had to admit she looked better like this. More mature. More...Don't even think about that! he chastised himself. It wouldn't do to have such thoughts about the princess.
"Mother says that this time it's just a deluded fool with a sorry excuse for an army. Reports say that they don't even have elephants like last time. Have you ever seen an elephant, Ser Beron?"
"I'm afraid not, princess."
"I should like to see one, one day. They say that they are common enough in Essos. Perhaps once this war is done, I could ask Mother to let me go on a voyage through the Free Cities, like Uncle Gerion and Uncle Tygett did."
Beron doubted the Queen Dowager would consent to such a request. Even with a proper escort, she would never let any of her children, let alone her eldest daughter, get that far from her. Not with everything that had happened the past few months. Maybe once Visenya was married, but now now.
"Will you accompany me then, Ser Beron?"
"Of course, Your Grace. My duty is to protect you, now and always."
The princess smiled at his words. However, there was something in her eyes that Beron didn't like. She wouldn't...She had stopped with her clumpsy seduction attempts after her father's death, but from the way she sometimes looked at him it was clear that she had no intention of desisting.
Beron prayed that the princess would soon find a young man who would catch her heart. For deep down, he knew that she would become even more beautiful the older she got. And maybe, there would come a day when he wouldn't be able to resist her feminine wiles, no matter his vows.
"Anyway, back to what I was saying earlier..."
He frantically tried to remember what she had been talking about. It had something to do with her mother...
"...who do you think Mother is going to choose?"
Oh...yes, that. "To be honest, I wouldn't know, Your Grace." he said. "There are many suitable candidates, and you know that the Queen has your best interests at heart. She would never select a bad man to be your bethrothed."
That was half a lie, and he knew it. It was true that Cersei Targaryen loved her children more than herself, and she would make sure to find the best matches she could. However, a parent had to be extremely practical when arranging a bethrothal, a royal one especially. They would look for power and prestige. He wasn't naive. He had since learned that marriages were for creating connections between noble houses. Love was something for songs, or the smallfolk. If the man in question was of the gentle sort and he and the bride managed to develop affection for each other over time, all the better. But if he wasn't, or if the marriage turned into just a cold and dutiful affair...well, hopefully there would be children to cheer the woman up.
He hoped the princess' marriage would be a happy one. He had grown quite fond of her over the years, and would never wish for her to lead a miserable life.
"I know that." she nodded. "Still, I'm...well, to be honest I'm quite scared."
"Scared?"
"Yes. I never told anyone about this, but..." She paused, then resumed talking. "Soon, I will be six and ten. I have already flowered. I'm almost a woman grown. I'm of royal blood. When I think of everything that's waiting for me...the responsibilities, what people will expect of me...I can't help but be afraid. Sometimes I wish I was still a child, like Rhae." She glanced at her sister, and for the first time Beron noticed something in her eyes. Was it...envy? The eldest princess watched as her younger sibling scratched the belly of her favorite cat, which she had named Lann after her ancestor. Another feline, a female named Daena, kept on trying to reach a small toy that the princess held on high with her other hand. He also noticed Daven Lannister trying to suppress a chuckle.
It was the very picture of joy and carefreeness. Beron could understand how it could elicit envy in Princess Visenya.
"I'm telling you this not because of your white cloak, Ser Beron. It's because I consider you a friend."
Beron was a little taken aback by that. He already knew that the princess liked him. But...a friend? That was unexpected, to say the least. "Your Grace, I...I'm honored."
"There are just a few ladies of my age here at court, and they are all too busy gossiping or thinking of something to say that would please me. You are the only one that tells me the truth. The only one I...I can tell about my fears. Even Mother doesn't know about this."
A moment of silence followed the princess' words. Beron couldn't help but feel a little sad for her. One was supposed to be able to confide in their family and friends. To think that the princess had only him...
"Your Grace...I don't know what to say..."
"Just promise me that what I told you won't leave this place."
"Of course."
The princess smiled and softly touched his hand. "Thank you." Then she looked at the darkening sky above. "It must be getting late. We should retire for the evening meal." She stood up and brushed her skirt. "But first, the sept. The old hag will harrass me for at least a fortnight if she founds out I have been lax with my prayers." Beron chuckled. The princess had never been fond of her septa. How could he blame her? Septa Selyse was a stern woman with a voice like a whip. Daven had once japed that she could turn a Dornishman to ice with just a glare.
Princess Visenya called her sister, who openly showed her annoyance at having to interrupt her play. Soon after, they all left the godswood and went toward the royal sept. Beron and Princess Visenya led the march, while Daven, Princess Rhaenys and the two cats followed.
Once they reached their destination, they found Ser Waymar and Ser Loras standing guard at the door. They explained that the king, accompanied by his sworn shield, had gone into the sept to pray. King Aegon had never showed any particular interest in religion, but he supposed that a pray wouldn't hurt. Princess Visenya opted for waiting for her brother to finish.
A few moments after their arrival, the air was suddenly filled with a scream coming from the other side of the door. There was a moment of panic as Beron and his brother knights recognized it as the king's voice. Without wasting time, they burst the door open, ready to face whatever was inside the room.
However, nothing could have prepared them for the horrific sight that greeted them.
"WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE, CLEGANE?"
For in front of the statue of the Warrior, Clegane was standing with his sword in hand...
...and the king's lifeless body right at his feet.
AN: I know what you're thinking. "You heartless bastard! How could you have Selyse as Visenya's septa?" What can I say? I just enjoy torturing characters.