THE WHITE LION
Disclaimer - All characters belong to George RR Martin and HBO
Chapter 8
Hand of the Emperor
Kevan was not surprised by the Ironborn's stupidity even after they benefitted largely from the new Empire. It took five years longer than the original timeline for the Ironscum to declare themselves as an independent Kingdom and Balon crown himself as "Emperor of the Seas". The Ironborn have more ships and more thralls to throw at the other kingdoms due to the trade with Essos and rides on pirate sails benefitting them largely. Kevan was not surprised when the first blow came against the Reach, though the fleet at Casterly rock deflected Aeron Greyjoy's attacks and destroyed the invaders.
The emperor was enraged after his current campaign in the Vale while smashing the mountain tribes and accepting their surrender. The king had taken Harrold Hardying as a squire and knighted his previous squire Galladon Tarth. Robert was happy to reunite with his three children and the queen is with child again. The Crown Prince Edward Durrandon was nine years old while the princess Alysanne is eight years old and prince Ormund is seven years old.
When the news came to the capital that five hundred ship attacked the shield islands, the three towers and the Redwyne Straits with Euron and Victorian Greyjoy leading the fleets, Emperor Robert called upon his Kings and their banners. Unfortunately Ryamsport was sacked as was shield Islands and the towns near three towers. The former master of ships Paxter Redwyne's attack was repelled by the Ironmen who caused significant damage to his fleet and the Redwyne's lost a quarter of their fleet before preparing for a sieze.
Balon greyjoy himself attacked the riverlands putting Seaguard under sieze and sacking villages. His son tried the same to the Stormlands but King Stannis was ready with his storm fleet and sunk a hundred Ironborn ships near Greenstone along with Balon's son Rodrick. Half the Stormlands fleet quickly joined Lord Redwyne's armada and recaptured the shield islands putting every single ironborn to the sword before the others surrendered including Lord Drumm. Stannis acquired Red Rain and took the sword as his own after sending Lord Drumm and his men to the wall.
Jamie and Gerion had let the Lannister fleet with Lord Sebastain Farman and took the ironborn by surprise in the dead of the night and burned almost all of the Ironbornships seizing the Arbor. Only 20 ships led by Euron Greyjoy escaped back to the Iron isles. Victorian Greyjoy surrendered along with his men and almost a thousand Ironmen were sent to the wall. Then the fleet bolstered by Lord Grafton's gulltown fleet travelled to Pyke to decimate the Iron isles once and for all.
The Royal fleet and Dragonstone fleet led by Lord velaryon and King Viserys carrying the crownlanders attacked the Ironfleet in the riverlands and killed half the men before sending the others to the wall. King Balon fell back to Pyke and made his final assault against the combined fleet of the Empire. A hundred Ironborn ships which travelled North to raid fishing villages and take Bear Island were captured by Manderly fleet and the new Northern Fleet. Many of the ironborn surrendered after Jorah Mormont, lord Rickard Karstark and Greatjon Umber slaughtered the invading forces while Lord Glover cut down Maron Greyjoy.
Only 200 ships guarded Pyke by the time 2000 ships from the rest of the Kingdoms, after a one sided battle only 20 ships sailed back to Pyke. The Islands themselves fell one after the other before majority or fighting men are killed or captured. Finally King Balon gave up his Emperor crown and ended the rebellion by bending the knee. The Emperor beheaded him before his family and made Rodrick Harlaw the regent to little Theon Greyjoy and Asha Greyjoy was sent to Riverrun as a hostage and would marry into house Tully.
The emperor warned the few remaining lords of the Isles if they ever think of Rebellion all Ironborn race will be culled from history and the Isles will become part of the Riverlands and become bannerman to House Tully. Thousands of Salt wives and Thralls are set free and given choice to sail to essos or come to the mainland to find honest work. King Tywin took five thousand of the freed men and women offering them work in the mines and hills of Casterly Rock.
Two thousand Ironborn rebels are send to the wall in 40 of their own longships as a gift to the wall. Lord Commander Qorgoyle was all praises for the emperor as Seven thousand Iron islanders became brothers of the Nights Watch. All of the wealth accumulated during the last ten years was recovered and given to the freed thralls, sacked villages and the families of dead Reacher and River lords. All the strength of the ironborn was spend and most of the new lords were infants. Many river lords married into houses with only daughters tying them to the Iron Isles.
Apparently Euron Greyjoy was caught near the Step Stones by fifty ships of the Stormfleet. The abomination slaughtered his entire crew and ready to cast a spell when Lord Grandison and Lord Seaworth along with Lord Caron put an end to the notorious pirate. They recovered a Valyrian steel Axe, a dragon egg and two Valyrian Steel daggers which they shared among themselves. The war ended in two moons and the realm was peaceful once more.
Kevan had sent Lancel to foster in Hornhill and his twins under King Stannis and Prince Doran Martell. The Dornishman gained royal favor as Princess Arianne was promised a royal marriage and Prince Oberyn, who became the new Master of Justice. Due to his handship, Kevan was always busy dealing with Magisters and checking on the Emperor.
Unlike Jon Arryn did in the other timeline, he did not tolerate Robert's vices and told him to travel the realm through out the year and hold courts in the regions. The emperor was delighted with the idea and travelled through the Riverlands and reach making new friends including Darry's and Peakes. Robert was followed by hedge knights and third and fourth sons, captured and executed Bandits, sent thieves to the wall and gave Knighthoods to those lads proving themselves.
Kevan came up with an idea of a personal royal elite force under the Crown's command and Robert recruited everywhere, training them with Selmy, Tygett and the Blackfish before testing their metal in ambushes, fighting pirates on sea and tracking criminals. He suggested to the emperor this force will become one of the best sell sword company if they wanted. The King also recruited from the westerlands with a generous donation from King Tywin Lannister. Young men such as Balon Swann, Garlan Tyrell, Sandor Clegane, Gerold Dayne, Andar Royce, Lucas Blackwood, Rolland Storm, and some Frey's showed promise.
One of the best things he orchestrated was the death of Black walder and Old Walder Frey through poison and King Hoster wasted no time in naming Stevron Frey as the new lord of the Crossing. A total of hundred rebellious Frey relatives and their supporters were sent to the wall immediately by the Emperor. The biggest challenge was the Vale as finally Queen Lysa Arryn gave birth to a boy and a girl in two years after Kevan had Qyburn treat her. The girl was named Jeyne and the boy was named Jasper, the blackfish requested the Falcon king to have the Queen and the princelings placed in Riverrun for a few years after observing the mental condition of his niece, to which he agreed. Kevan had baelish killed in Gulltown using a cutthroat whore two years into Robert's reign and Queen Lysa was heartbroken and attempted suicide twice before King Hoster himself had to visit the vale with Lady Whent to console his daughter.
The Emperor and his royal army spent three years in the Vale travelling through the mountain of the moon, subduing clan after clan before launching a full scale attack on the caves of the Burned Men, Stone Crows and Black Ears. The hilltribes are decimated before the charge and trainings while few away in fear. Robert challenged the best warriors from each clan and defeated them causing all three tribes to bend the knee to the Falcon King and Storm-Emperor.
With the Rebellion done, King Stannis visited the capital with queen Ashara and their children Princess Shireen, Prince Steffon, Prince Arthur and Princess Elenei. The Empress gave birth to another prince named Halbert. Prince Renly was given a rebuilt Summerhal as a castle while the emperor's acknowledged bastards Mya Stone and Bella Rivers were kept under Lord Estermont's care.
Kevan was not worried about the choices he made for his own family as Jamie remains unmarried and Prince Tyrion lannister will be wed to princess Rhaenys Targaryan when she comes of age to pacify Dorne and Queen Rhaella. Prince Gerion fell in love with Briony and Joy was born and accepted into the family. Kevan had joy legitimized as a lannister as a wedding gift to Gerion and Briony. Tygett become lord of Tarbeck with Gerion as his steward and the brothers continue to thrive with their new found freedom. Tyg and Darlessa welcomed a daughter they named Johanna , delighting Tyrek to no end.
Tywin invited many maidens to catch jamie's eye but Jamie rejected marriage after hearing of Cercei's daughters by Prince Oberyn and wanted to leave for Essos. It took him and Gerion a great deal to convince Jamie that his destiny is to save Westeros and marry lady Brienne of Tarth which amused him a great deal. But he stayed to keep an eye on Tyrion, who went to the citadel to learn and returned after mastering several links in only three years. Tyrion and Jamie toured the free cities on trade deals and other secret business and were surprised when they visited Slavers bay to buy 5000 unsullied for a large sum from the Wise Masters.
Jamie was happy for freeing the men and bringing them to westeros , where they were granted a manse and a large keep to garrison and protect Lannisport and the Golden Tooth. Unfortunately cersei was still a problem after she birthed three children Myrcella, Daemon and Mors with prince Oberyn. It was said that she loathed the Red Viper's bastard daughters and his paramours while being Powerless in Sunspear. She wrote many letters to Jaime to run away to Essos but Kevan managed to drill into Jamie that Cersei was still using him.
The biggest challenge would be the North and the King intend to go there with his court after three ore years when he stepped down as hand as per the deal they made with Robert Baratheon, Jon Arryn, Eddard Stark, Hoster Tully, and Mace Tyrell. The King though busy still did not recover from the betrayal of Lyanna Stark. It is said that the Northern Princess was still hated by many lords n the north as she rejected lesser lord's marriage proposals and constantly warred with Queen Catelyn for control over Winterfell ,according to King Eddard's letters to the Emperor.
Kevan even suggested marrying her to Jamie but both parties rejected the match, alas he was not sure King Stark would leave the North to become hand to the Emperor or deal with Queen Mother and Mistress of Intelligence Olenna Tyrell. He himself would do all he could do to evade the fate of westeros after the steps he had taken in advance. He had dragonglass mined from Dragonstone after convincing Queen mother Rhaella and her hand Bonnifer Hasty about his visions of the Long night.
Kevan had weapons made of Dragonglass and sent it to the new Lord Commander Jeor Mormont along with coin and supplies detailing the upcoming danger in a letter. Thanks to him the Nights watch's ranks swelled to 12000 men after Fourth and Fifth sons voluntarily took the black. Rhaella was not convinced as a good trade deal between the Narrow Sea and the Crown . She expressed her wish of uniting both houses by marrying her daughter Prncess Daenerys to Crown prince Edward but Kevan said the rift between the two houses still need some time to heal and suggested Prince Robb Stark as an alternative.
Kevan had hired skilled assasins to enter the North and kill the wildling 'Craster' and send his wifes to Essos , especially Myr where they were granted new lives working in a manse and a Tavern owned by the lannisters. The White walkers will not find easy allies this time. Kevan wanted to visit the North along with Jamie in three more years when the first real battle for Westeros begins.
Storm-Emperor of Westeros – Emperor Robert Durrandon I
Empress of Westeros - Empress Janna Durrandon (nee Tyrell)
ISSUE - Prince Edward Durrandon (Heir), Princess Alysanne Durrandon, Prince Ormund Durrandon and Prince Halbert Durrandon
The Royal Council :-
Hand of the Emperor - Lord Kevan Lannister (Lord of Catamere)
Spouse – lady Dorna Lannister (nee Swift)
ISSUE – Prince Lancel Lannister, Prince Martin Lannister and Prince Willam Lannister
Emperor Guard – Ser Barristan Selmy, Ser Brynden Tully, Ser Martin Cassell, Ser Lyn Corbray, Ser Gregor Clegane, Ser Mandon Moore, Ser Garth Hightower
Admiral of the Imperial Navy – Lord Monford Velaryon (Lord of Driftmark)
Master of Intelligence – Queen Mother Olenna Tyrell (nee Redwyne)
Master of Engineering – Lord Jonos Bracken (Lord of Stonehedge)
Grand Master of Knowledge and Learning – Grand Maester Marwin
Master Confessor/Torturer – Lord Roose Bolton (Lord of Dreadfort)
Master of Economics – Lord Mathis Rowan (Lord of Golden Groove)
Master of Justice – Prince Oberyn Martell
New Kings:
King of the Vale – King Jon Arryn I
Queen of the Vale – Queen Lysa Arryn (nee Tully)
ISSUE – Prince Jasper Arryn and Princess Jeyne Arryn
Hand of the Vale King – Lord Yohn Royce
Storm King – King Stannis Baratheon I
Storm Queen – Queen Ashara Baratheon (nee Dayne)
ISSUE – Princess Shireen Baratheon, Prince Steffon Baratheon, Prince Arthur Baratheon, and Princess Elenei Baratheon
Hand of the Storm King – Lord Davos Seaworth
King of the Trident – King Hoster Tully I
Prince of the Trident – Prince Edmure Tully
Hand of the Trident King – Lord Jason Mallister
King of Winter – King Eddard Stark I
Queen of Winter – Queen Catelyn Stark (nee Tully)
ISSUE – Prince Robb Stark, Prince Jon Stark, Princess Sansa Stark, Princess Arya Stark, and Prince Brandon Stark
Queen-Sister of the North (Self-proclaimed) – Princess Lyanna Stark (Widowed and Unmarried)
Hand to the Winter King – Lord Wyman Manderly
King of the Rock – King Tywin Lannister I
Hand of the King - Princess Genna Lannister
ISSUE - Prince Jaime Lannister, Prince Tyrion Lannister, Prince Lancel Lannister, Prince Willam Lannister, Prince Tyrek Lannister, Prince Martin Lannister, Princess Joy Lannister, and Princess Johanna Lannister
King of the Reach – King Mace Tyrell I
Queen of the Reach – Queen Alyrie Tyrell (nee Hightower)
ISSUE – Prince Willas Tyrell, Prince Garlan Tyrell, Princess Margaery Tyrell, and Prince Loras Tyrell
Hand of the King - Lord Paxter Redwyne (Lord of the Arbor)
King of the Narrow Sea – King Viserys Targaryan I
Princess of the Narrow Sea - Princess Daenerys Targaryan
Hand to the King – Queen Mother Rhaella Targaryan
Prince of Dorne – Prince Doran Martell, Prince Oberyn Martell, Prince Quinten Martell, Prince Trystane Martell, Prince Daeron Martell, Prince Mors Martell, and Prince Aegon Targaryan
Princess of Dorne – Princess Elia Martell, Princess Mellario of Lys, Princess Arianne Martell, Princess Rhaenys Targaryan, Princess Cersei Martell (nee Lannister), and Princess Myrcella Martell
King of the Iron Isles – King Theon Greyjoy I
Princess of the Iron isles – Princess Asha Greyjoy and Queen Mother Lanny Greyjoy (nee Harlaw)
Regent/Hand of the Iron King – Lord Rodrick Harlaw
Note :- Apologies for the delay. As always thank you for the support and reviews.