If someone asked Ser Barristan to describe his life in a single word, he would use the word 'Glorious'.
At age ten he appeared as a mystery knight at the Blackhaven tourney, where he got dubbed "the Bold" for his actions. At sixteen he was knighted by Aegon V after his display at the tourney in King's Landing, where he defeated Prince Duncan and Ser Duncan of the Kingsguard. During the War of the Ninepenny Kings, he killed the last Blackfyre Pretender, Maelys Blackfyre in single combat and ended the rebellion for good. At age twenty-three he was named to the Kingsguard by Gerold Hightower, his Lord Commander. During the Defiance of Duskendale, he rescued the imprisoned Aerys Targaryen and brought him to safety with an arrow in the chest, and avenged the death of his fellow Kingsguard Ser Gwayne by slaying Ser Symon Hollard. And during the Rebellion that is now known as Robert's Rebellion, he cut down a dozen men. He was grievously wounded and near death but Robert Baratheon himself had made sure he was tended to by Robert's Maester.
It has been days since Robert had come to the capital, and by extension so had he. So far he had been treated kindly, shown the respect that a knight of his stature should be shown. Yet Ser Barristan couldn't help but be on edge. He was after all the enemy not long ago. He had served the Mad King, stood by, and watched him do his horrors. There were many times the knight had wanted to speak up, but it was not his place. He was a knight of the Kingsguard, his duty was to be the silent shield of the king and his charges. And now the king was dead and he was a useless shield readying himself for his fate.
Days later he had finally been allowed out of the room he was put in, only to be escorted to the Throne Room. He was escorted and not forced, something Ser Barristan took note of. The Throne room was stripped of all its Targaryen heirlooms and trinkets. The Targaryen sigil had been stripped away and the dragon skulls were put away. It was now a bare room of stone that held only the Iron throne. And on the Iron Throne sat Robert Baratheon, the new King of The Seven Kingdoms.
He looked different from the last time Ser Barristan had seen him. He had discarded his armor and now wore a simple tunic of yellow and black, the color of House Baratheon, far from what any other monarch would wear in the throne room. He had trimmed his beard, keeping it short and along his face rather than a shaggy mess. The crown sat proudly on his head and Ser Barristan had to admit that it suited him just well.
"Ser Barristan" Robert greeted the man with a friendly smile, "I welcome you to my throne room" he stood and motioned to the room around him. Other than Robert and himself, Ser Barristan saw Jon Arryn, who adorned the badge of the hand. Something not unexpected. If anyone knew Robert Baratheon, they would know just what Jon Arryn meant to the man. He was their foster father in a sense, both to Robert and Ned Stark.
Ser Barristan saw a few other Baratheon men stood guard in the Throne Room. And to his surprise he saw Varys there as well, smiling at the knight from his place near the throne. He had not been expecting the eunuch at court again.
"I am not a man of many words," Robert's speech had brought the knight's attention back to him, "So, I'll say right what I want to say. You are an honorable man Ser Barristan. You stood guard over the deplorable of kings and did your duty without sinking a dagger into his chest. No matter how much he deserved it."
It was a jape. Aimed at one of his Kingsguard brothers. Ser Barristan could see right through it. It was a blessing that Lord Tywin was not here. He would surely have taken an insult to this.
"Yet you were fighting on the side of my enemies. Honorable and bound by your vows you were, you were still an enemy. And now here you stand, at my mercy. I get to decide what to do to you. Your fate is now in my hands."
Robert stood and descended the steps to the Iron Throne. He was a large man, almost as tall if not taller than the mountain that walked. The king stood right before the knight, his face holding onto the smile that welcomed him into his throne room.
"I have pardoned Ser Jaime for his role as a defender of my enemy. I have pardoned his oath-breaking for the reason that outweighed the sin. And I shall do the same for you."
Ser Barristan blinked in surprise at the revelation, watching King Robert closely. This Robert was not the same man that he fought on the trident. He was not the man that helped him when he was on the verge of death. This man was different, something about him was very different.
"I pardon you of your transgressions against me Ser Barristan. And I offer you a choice" Robert turned and called for one of the boys that were standing in the far corner of the room. When the boy came, Ser Barristan stared at what he was holding.
"You have to swear your loyalty to me either way, but the choice I present to you is simple. You also swear the vows of being my Kingsguard, the first of the lands finest. Or you can return to Harvest Hall, where you were born. If I am not mistaken, your great-nephew is the current lord of Harvest Hall. I am sure he can make arrangements for you to be able to live the rest of your life in peace there."
"A life of peace was never my thing, your Grace" Ser Barristan spoke and Robert let out a bark of laughter. The knight went on one knee and said the words he had once spoken many years back. He wasn't sure when it had happened, but Ser Barristan wanted to serve under Robert Baratheon. Maybe it was when Robert had shown him the kindness that many would not have in the field of war when he had saved his life.
Robert took the white cape from the boy and draped it around the shoulders of Ser Barristan. "Rise Ser Barristan, the Lord Commander of my Kingsguard."
Ser Barristan stood, finding a sudden pride about himself again. He had not been aware he was lacking it. Robert returned to his throne and Ser Barristan stood beside Jon Arryn. The king called forth the next guests. The wording was not missed by anyone present.
The next people to come in shocked Ser Barristan. The easily recognizable one of the three was Viserys Targaryen, the youngest son of Aerys Targaryen. He looked at every part of his father, even the madness in his eyes. With him was a man Ser Barristan had seen not enough of. If his memory serves him right, it was Ser Willem Darry. The master-at-arms at Dragonstone. The final member of the trio was one Ser Barristan did not recognize. It was a babe, just days old from the looks of it.
"Usurper! That is my throne you sit on!" Viserys shouted angrily, pointing an accusing finger towards Robert, who simply smirked.
"Is it now?" Robert leaned forward. "And who took it on themselves to crown you King?" he asked, the mocking edge clear in his tone.
"My mother did! Before she passed away" the boy's bottom lip wobbled and Barristan saw a flash of emotions pass over Robert's face. "She told me that I was now King and that the throne is mine!"
"Your mother has no right to crown anyone anything. Nor does she have the ability. Only one King can pass the mantle on. Or in my case, one king can win it from another. Your father died right here, screaming to burn the entirety of King's Landing because the war was lost to him."
"You lie!" Viserys shouted. "Tell them he lies! Ser Willem!" he turned to the knight. Ser Barristan too turned to Ser Willem. The man did not speak, yet Ser Barristan could see the answer plain on his face.
"What do you intend to do with us?" Ser Willem looked right at Robert when he spoke. But Ser Barristan noticed the glares he would throw at Varys. So the spider was the reason these three were here.
"Nothing extreme" Robert spoke. "Viserys will join the rest who refused to bend their knees at the wall" the declaration was met by a hard glance from Ser Willem while Viserys looked as if he was frothing at the mouth.
"I am the rightful heir to the iron throne Usurper!"
"You are the rightful heir to nothing Viserys" Robert glared at the young boy, who cringed at the look. Though it did nothing to push down the murderous glares he was shooting. "I had hoped you would not be like your father. That maybe you can be raised as an heir to Dragonstone. But I see that was just wishful thinking on my end" he spat.
"And us?" the knight questioned, "do I join prince Viserys at the wall? What of the child?"
'The child" Robert stood and walked towards the three. Ser Willem looked ready to fight and Viserys almost did, but a show of swords from the men present had made him hesitate. "What is her name?"
"Daenerys. Daenerys Stormborn" the knight answered.
"Stormborn? It is because she was born during the storm I'm assuming?" Robert asked and the Knight gave a curt nod. He held his arms out but the knight stepped away from him. "I will not harm the child, Ser Willem. You have my word on that" Robert assured the knight. The man hesitated but eventually, he handed the babe to Robert. Viseryson the other hand did not like that.
"Unhand my sister!" the boy went to charge but was stopped by Ser Willem.
"She has her mother in her. Even in a few days, I can see it" Robert looked to Daenerys and then to Ser Willem. "She is under my protection now Ser Willem. She has no threat from me I promise you."
"And me? You have no specified my role in any of this."
"I would have preferred to have you in my Kingsguard" the statement brought out a surprising reaction from Ser Willem, who in his shock let go of Viserys and the boy attacked Robert. But he could only do as much damage as a boy his age was allowed to. Ser Barristan pulled Viserys away from his king and pushed him back to Ser Willem.
"Traitor! You served my father!" Viserys screeched at Ser Barristan, but the man paid him no mind.
"But I have a better duty for you" Robert continued, ignoring Viserys entirely. "I want you to return to Dragonstone and act as castellan until the day comes when Daenerys is old enough to take her seat as the lady of Dragonstone. Until that day she will stay with me at court. I will take full responsibility for her."
Robert stepped back and returned to his seat on the Iron Throne, the sleeping child still in his arms. "But I will demand that you swear your fealty to me first Ser Willem. Otherwise, you will join Viserys at the wall."
Ser Barristan watched Ser Willem think it over, taking his time. Beside him Viserys raged on, spitting at how Ser Willem will never bow to a Usurper. But he did it. Ser Willem pushed Viserys away from him gently and bent the knee to his new king. Viserys was in shock at the display, his words dying in his throat. The boy realized that he had no more support for anything anymore. That he was all alone now.
"Very well done Ser Willem. Now rise. Take rest in the chamber you were given. You will depart for Dragonstone in a few days from now. A raven will be sent to inform Dragonstone about your appointment. And that you be welcomed a lord when you return. Now leave. You can do with some rest."
Robert handed Daenerys to Jon, who in turn handed her back to Ser Willem. Ser Barristan watched the knight exit with the future lady of Dragonstone. Viserys meanwhile was escorted to a separate place by one of the guards. Probably with the rest of the men to be sent to the wall.
"Come, Lord Hand, Lord Commander" Robert's call brought attention back to him. "My brothers have arrived. I want to welcome them personally to the capital."