Chapter One: The Liberation of Flea Bottom
There once was a young boy running through the forest, as fast as he could, he ran meticulously by the trees. Avoiding any roots and any low hanging branches. In one look the boy was ordinary, at a second he was not. He looked young only 6 name days old, yet his face was one of sincerity and curiousness. His face was soft, some might even say girlish, but his long messy black hair that tickled his face that gave him a boyish look. What set him apart was the deep green eyes that showed nothing but pure mischief in mind. His white shirt and brown pants made him look as if he was a peasant, yet the gold necklace bouncing around his neck and the arm band clutching tightly at his bicep said otherwise.
He huffed like a horse that had been running for too long as he came upon a clearing where he spotted a family of Stags running by. Missing them by an inch of his life he came to an abrupt stop, as he stumbled to avoid them he tripped and came descending on the ground. The boy laid still as on the ground kissing the wet grass as a soreness went through him. He turned around to look at the branches shielding him from the bright rays of the sun. Like the child he was he started laughing as loud as he could. The animals stare at the maniac child lying in the middle of the forest looking up at the sky and laughing. His audience not knowing what was happening decided to mind their own business and carry on,
"AH! That was fun!" he huffed as he stood up cleaning his clothing. Patting the dirt off he looked around to see where he was when he suddenly heard a whimper. He looked around to look for the originator. Yet there was no one to be found. He closed his eyes to concentrate when he suddenly heard the whimper again. With the direction clear in his mind he headed deeper in the woods. Where eventually he came upon a lioness. Lying by a branch dead with an arrow sticking out of her lower neck. He was sure the lion was dead but the noise was still ringing in his ear. He came close to find a small cub hiding underneath her paws. As if trying to take shelter one last time. He picked up the little cub, as it squirmed in his arms trying to get back.
"It's okay, it's alright I'm here, I won't let anything happen to you" The lion was dark and unlike any that he had ever seen. He consoled the little beast but it didn't do anything but squirm and cry, his little mews did little but break the boy's heart.
"DUNCAN!"
"My Prince! Where are you!" He heard several voices and looked around to see a searching party looking for him. His father, the fat giant, looked right at him and pointed at him.
"There he is, come here lad, what are you doing there?"
As the party converged on his location he didn't move and kept comforting the orphan beast. They came to circle him, his uncle Renly, the great knight Barristan Selmy, his father's squire, and his father King Robert Baratheon.
"What are you doing there boy? What is that in your hands?" he inquired as he pushed his people out of the way.
"It is a cub, father, he was clutching on to his mother as she laid dead" he replied fully focused on the cub.
"That's an interesting cub there, never seen anything like it?"
"Seems to me he has a melanistic trait, your grace" The squire said.
"A what?" Renly asked.
"It's a trait my lord, I read it in a book in my old maester's library. It's where the animal has a unique defect which causes him to look black in appearance" he finished.
"Ah! Seems to make sense brother, that your son finds a pet just like him!" he replied.
"You speak the truth Renly! Come on boy let's get the poor cub out of here, he is your responsibility now." The prince looked up for the first time to see his father's smile shining down at him.
"It is an auspicious day lad, you are to receive a sibling soon and now a pet!" he said again.
"Father?" His father looked at him to see what part of what he said confused him. "Can we bury his mother first?"
His father and the rest of the party looked at the boy with sympathy. His father waved at two of his other guards to start shoveling.
"Alright boy, but remember one thing, though I am letting you keep this lion you need to remember your roots. You are born a stag, you will not be like your mother's family. Do you understand?" he said in all seriousness.
"I am tired of seeing golden lions. Even though Joffrey is more like his mother, you will not be. I will have one son that shows my side understood?" he elaborated more. As he started to chug his wine.
"Yes father" Duncan replied and stared back at the cub who had stopped struggling.
A few moments later the mother lion had been buried and the cub had stopped weeping. In the warmth of his holder the cub decided it was time to sleep. As they started to walk back Robert had gotten drunker, Renly had decided to join him in his stupor but Barristan kept a good eye on the boy. When suddenly a rider appeared,
The messenger came to a stop in front of the king's party and said "Your grace, I bring good news, a son was born to you and the queen currently holds the boy in her arms back at the keep. She names him Tommen Baratheon!" A round of joyous congratulations were thrown around and the party started to rush back.
As soon as they came back Robert went to the party, instead of seeing his newborn son, with Renly. When Duncan decided to go to his mother. He found her in her room where she lay tired and asleep, his Uncle Jaime sitting next to her as he looked down at his new born nephew.
"Uncle?" he whispered. Jaime came out of his musings to turn around and stand up looking at him.
"My prince, you've returned" he stated.
"Father's celebrating with uncle Renly and Ser Barristan is guarding him, he said you were not required to return to your duties tonight. You can stay" he said as Jaime nodded in return and pointed to his brother.
"Would you like to meet your new brother?" he asked with a smile. His Uncle Jaime was always quiet, and nice. He knew from when Uncle Tyrion had drunkenly told him of Jaime's past as a knight, when asked why he was always so quiet around him.
"Yes, um do you mind?" he replied as he showed him a peculiar cub.
"Well that's new, did you have a child too?" he asked in a joking manner.
"No" Duncan smiled back knowing full well that his uncle only means to jest "I found him crying under his mother's paw, I didn't have the heart to let him wallow alone, and father decided that I could keep him as a pet"
"A lion's a dangerous pet" he stated as he took the sleeping cub with just one hand.
"Yes but even the most dangerous of beings need someone to help them with the pain of losing a loved one" he went towards his toddler brother and played with his locks as the boy snored lightly. Not knowing the little epiphany had a vast effect on his Uncle's face. He smiled at him, when suddenly he felt ruffling behind him to see his mother had awoken. Jaime smiled at the two brothers as losing himself in his thoughts. When his sister's voice prevented him from being in his stupor.
"Duncan? Is that you darling?" she said in barely a whisper.
"Mother" he whispered back as he diverted his attention and quietly took himself to the bed and snuck up on the bed and threw himself in her embrace.
"Mother, are you alright?" he was so worried when he had left her side, he remembered hearing her starting to scream. He hugged her as tight as he could, maybe because seeing her in pain or maybe seeing that lioness lay dead in the forest.
"I'm alright, love, I'm just fine. See little cub?" she said. She said smiling down at him. With a tired look on her face she stared down at him with nothing but a loving smile.
"Mother, I was so worried, and you wouldn't believe what happened in the forest, an-" he kept talking as she shushed him and kept him close to her chest.
"My prince maybe it's best if you talk to your mother in the morning. She is tired from the birth and you don't want to wake the baby up" he looked up at his Uncle and nodded.
"Alright, has Myrcella, gone to sleep?" he asked as he props himself upright next to his mother to leave.
"Yes, your sister is in her room asleep" he replies.
"Okay, good night, I shall see you in the morning" he says as he gets up and takes the little cub from his hand, as Cersei raises an eyebrow.
"Sleep well, my little lion" she calls after him. As he gives her a last look and leaves. "What was that?"
"You'll find out in the morning, how are you feeling?" Jaime asks.
"Happy" she replies "How are you my sweet?"
"I'm not the one who underwent such a long labor" he replies as he sits back down next to her as they overlook the child in the crib.
"He is yours you know"
"I know" he replies, looking perplexed as always.
"What is it?" she asks, noticing the worried look.
"Your son is quite fascinating" she knew when he was talking about Duncan.
"Yes, the only one that is Robert's yet he is nothing like him except his appearance" she says with a little pride.
"Even his appearance reminds me of mother, sometimes, the face, the eyes" he looked into the distance.
"Father says so as well" she replies back. "How is Tommen?"
"He's been sleeping for most of it but I reckon, once he is awake he should cause quite a fuss" he replied with a smile. "You just rest for now, and I'll make sure no one bothers you," he smiles as he let go of her hand and walks away.
Few days later…
A loud clash of wood on wood echoes in the training grounds, Duncan is thrown out by Barristan Selmy. Duncan is gasping for air, he gets up on his feet again to see himself drenched in sweat and blood.
"You're stances are getting better but you need to work on your strategy, my prince, I can see clearly that your work has improved in this past moon cycle but you have forgotten the other aspects. Make sure that you focus on all areas of swordsmanship" he lectures as Duncan nods.
"Duly noted Ser," he replied as he looked at his mother and siblings, all three of which were resting under the shade in plain view of the training field.
"You've done good today my prince, but you should go spend some time with your siblings, you have plenty of time for improvement later" Barristan says as he catches Duncan staring off.
"It's fine, I can finish up my training first, I will rest tomorrow, seeing that Father has finally agreed to meet with me in front of his small council chambers" he replied.
"I have been meaning to ask you about that my prince" he replies, getting his attention as Duncan gets in his offensive stance and Barristan comes over to fix it. "Foot pivoted like this and angle yourself here so you can increase speed in movement, what are you planning on asking your father?"
As Duncan fixes himself, he ponders on whether or not to tell him, ah what could it hurt, "Well Ser Barristan, you can't let anyone know," he says.
"On my honor" Barristan replies in jest, thinking it was probably something childish.
"I want to ask my father, if he could make me the lord of Summerhall" he says in a quiet whisper. Barristan in shock, stands completely still.
"Bu-" Before he could start Duncan had already cut him off.
"I went there" he sighs as he takes a couple practice swings. "It's completely destroyed, and the ruins are just that. But when I talked with my Uncle Renly and Uncle Stannis who led me to a few books which led me to believe that there is some richness in the old mines there that is still undiscovered and not to mention it's strategic importance in the Stormlands is just invaluable. I couldn't resist."
"I understand but why not just hire some miners to go mine, why do you want to be a lord?" he asks in return.
"It is true, I could do what you say, Ser Barristan, but this way can write my own destiny, I can earn my place in our world, Joffrey is to be king, Myrcella probably married off to create better relations and Tommen, he is just born but I'm sure that mother will want him to go to Casterly Rock, after all he is the youngest. I am just a deterrent back up if something happens to Joffrey. And I don't want to be remembered as such."
"My Prince, you worry too much, you should enjoy your time as a child before you involve yourself in such matters." Barristan tries to reason, after all a child of only six namedays does not need to carry the world on his shoulders.
"I am a Prince…" he said coming back to a proper stance, "And I am not blind Ser, Everytime I go outside the keep, everytime I pass the common folk, and sometimes even the nobles all I hear is ramblings of how the poor and sickly the folk of King's Landing are, how the peasants have destroyed the purity of the sacred land. And as a Prince it is my duty to do something about it. I can't bring myself to be useless when someone else is in pain."
"You are not wrong but how will becoming Lord of Summerhall help these people? They who live worsley than the animals in the forest" he asked his pupil.
"Summerhall is key, Ser Barristan, Summerhall is the answer to all our problems here in King's Landing. I am sure of it, it has to be!" he said as he resolved himself.
"How so?" he asks.
"I'll tell you tomorrow with the small council. Just trust me, I know what I'm doing!" Duncan smiles and leaves Barristan unsatisfied oh well he would wait a single day. Although the question will haunt him this entire day.
"Let's move on to your bow, my Prince"
The very next day…
You will find the young prince standing firmly with his back on the wall holding a few books and scrolls in his hands. His eyes closed, inhaling and exhaling deep breaths as he focused himself. He had decided to wear his long black tunic with black trousers, a silver stag being formed on his chest, right next to his necklace and the arm band around his bicep. His look was that of a regal prince and modest enough of an official. He remembered his GrandFather, the lord of Casterly Rock, who came to visit them a long time ago, his behavior was that of a strict official and he planned on using him as inspiration. When suddenly a guard came outside and joined his partner who had been standing next to the door, he found the prince in deep concentration when he called out.
"My Prince, they are ready for you" he said as he pointed towards the door. He steeled his resolve and entered.
As soon as he did, he saw the group of adults laughing and chuckling to a joke his father had just said. Although Uncle Stannis looked as stern as ever. They were all sitting on a round table with a chair empty in front of him.
Uncles, Renly and Stannis and Varys sat on one side, and on the other Peter Baelish, Pycelle, the Hand of the King Jon Arryn, and at the head of the table his father King Robert. Behind the King stood Barristan Selmy, it seems he vacated his seat so Duncan could sit on it.
"Ah my boy! Come in sit! Tell us why you have asked me to come join my council in this early hour when I could be sleeping peacefully in the bosom of my chambermaid! Ha!" Robert said jokingly although knowing him it was probably true. Duncan gave a smile at his father's jest and decided to be professional and take his seat. Everyone stared at him to see what he would say, after all it wasn't always that a prince asked an audience with the council although on the other hand if it turned out childish it would be quite a disappointment.
"Your Grace!" He said acknowledging him as such definitely caught the attention of Jon and Robert, this might have been the fist time that he might have referred to him as such. "Small Council, I am very grateful that you gave me an audience in your busy schedule. I have asked for this audience because of a very important reason. Last year due, I asked if I could Journey King's Landing. I had always been curious and wondered what life was like after these walls. Suffice it to say I was enticed by what I saw, I have always been given every luxury a prince gets, and yet the people who I have seen suffer outside these walls they seem to live a life of pain and poverty."
"Ah, I can understand, my prince but that is how it has to be, that is how life is. If you want we can try and distribu-" Baelish was interrupted before he could finish his thought.
"No!" Duncan said stopping him "I know where you're going and sadly throwing money at it won't solve this problem, I know as master of coin that might be against your nature but it is not how I see it" Stannis and Arryn were getting curious, so Barristan and Robert. This was a new side to his boy, a side hadn't noticed before.
"What is it that you're getting at boy!" Robert asked frustrated.
"Father, In the past few months I have consulted Lord Stannis, and my instructors, and I asked uncle Tyrion to see if he can find out some information, and what he has returned for me is the answer to all our problems, Here I have is an ernest report of Uncle Tyrion and one of Casterly Rock's farmers. The land around Summerhall is vast and empty, the weather since it stands at the borders of Dorne, the Reach and its location in the Dornish Marches in Storm's end I think we can rebuild Summerhall, and reap the unused Land's benefit. And in my research I find that there are also quite a few minerals in the land, like iron ore, ore metal, some say they might even find a diamond or two underneath. I think that it is highly irresponsible of us to not use that land to our benefit" Duncan rambled on more in depth but the small council was getting his gist of what he was asking for and they could see it was no ordinary ask. This would cost a lot.
Seeing through his research, Stannis, passes it around to Renly who looks at it for a moment and gives it to Varys. Who just like Baelish and Arryn get's engulfed in it. Robert is through his third cup of wine already and he knows that this is going to cause him a pain in his rear if he gives his son what he wants. Jon already lectures him on spending so much on his tourneys and whores.
"What do you think, Jon, can we use what my boy has found to help us?" he asks.
"If what this says is correct, absolutely, we could build a keep store there, create a central area where we can fortify our provisions for Winter when it does arrive. This could work but it will cost"
"Your Grace, I am not sure if we can afford to do this, might I remind you we are starting to collect quite a long debt, that we must focus on first" Baelish advised, what he said wasn't true and if they gave him some time he could reap the benefits of Summerhall before Robert ever can.
"I have a way around that" Duncan cuts in again,
"Looks like you're here with all the answers, nephew" Renly jests at him.
"What is on your mind my prince?" Stannis asks much to intrigued by his nephew to scold Renly right now.
"Your Grace, I think we can use this opportunity to solve more than one conflicts currently in King's Landing, as you know I mentioned my tour outside the Red Keep, to be honest that wasn't my last, I have secretly sneaked out of the Red Keep a lot since then. Disguised as a peasant, I wanted to understand the needs of our people and so I did, and I did the best I could to help as a peasant. Helping clean up the streets, create some sort of decorum on the alleyways of Flea Bottom. So much so that I kept disappearing for days till mother started to notice and I have had to cease such activities" he said.
"He is definitely your boy, your Grace" Jon Arryn chuckled as Robert and the rest just stared at his blatant honesty.
"The people in King's Landing say that the darkest spot on our map is Flea Bottom, I want to clean that spot, and the best way to do that is destroy it completely and rebuild. The city is starting to feel claustrophobic and so I want to petition to move all the peasants and the lower class, and those willing to relocate and clear some of this mass of population that has gathered here and create a cleaner and safer and a more royal city befitting of the Name King's Landing"
Stannis had already put two and two together, and a look of pure clarity had reached his face. This could be how this capital is turned around. Yet he didn't say anything but give a look to Jon Arryn who seemed to be there as well.
"Instead of hiring an army of peasants and miners from Storm's End and the Reach let's move the entire lower class population to Summerhall, where we can use their motivation of a better life and create a whole new city around them" With his thoughts out on the table Duncan had surely shocked the room. Barristan finally understood, and the haunting question was finally answered. Pycelle was befungeld and Baelish was speechless. Robert was in deep thought. After which he took another swig of his drink and got up.
"Why does it seem to me that my boy here has done your job, Jon?" he asked as he walked to the window, he didn't know what to say.
"Because he has your Grace, this unorthodox idea is quite fascinating and if it works extremely beneficial." Jon was in complete agreement.
"I agree as well brother, and if the costs are too much I am willing to pay out of my pocket to help pay for this venture" Stannis said.
"Rebuilding Summerhall really can be beneficial to us" Varys gave his input.
"Yes it will, in fact I am willing to get started on it right away, brother" Renly put in, already thinking of how to use this.
"That would be best, but how do we want to influence the Flea Bottom folk to leave their lives behind here and move?" Varys replies.
"I can do that," Duncan said. "I have, after all, spent some time among them and I can talk to them to see if they would like to do such a thing. Except there is one thing I would need"
"What would that be, nephew?" Renly asked.
"I know that Summerhall falls under your lands but I think that if we are to do this, that Summerhall needs its own lord and I think if you let me, your grace, I would like to be that Lord" Robert turned around in surprise.
"You don't cease to amaze me lad, you're a prince, and not to say, only six namedays old. Why would you want to be a lord, of all things?" Robert asked.
This is where it all mattered Duncan knew this inquiry would arise, Barristan had confirmed it yesterday. But if he didnn;t do this right everything that he had hoped to accomplish for himself would fall apart. He would have to play his father; he knew that, yet acting on it was still nerve racking.
"Father, you won the Iron Throne, defeated the Targaryens and initiated a new dynasty, so to say. You have won, but now we have to rule. Places like Summerhall still leave a lasting reminder of the Targaryens, I want that when people think of Summerhall, to think that is a Barratheon foothold, that the dragons no longer rule our lands, no longer save our people it is the Stags!" He did his best to play his father.
Robert's greatest weakness would always be his hatred for the Targaryens…
"Aye lad! You're right! Removing all Targaryen memories from my lands, that will be satisfying to see. No longer does a dragon whimper on these lands only the Baratheon Fury. Jon I want it so Summerhall is now of my son Duncan Baratheon. Lad, rule those lands and spread the Baratheon name" Robert said with a smug look, seeing it to his victory.
"The question still remains of the boy's age, your grace" Stannis cuts in. "Even though he makes sense he is only six namedays old"
"Okay, how long will it take to rebuild Summerhall?" Robert asks.
Duncan looked down at his papers "Earliest I would say is seven years"
"Alright then, get it rebuilt and then when you have your own castle, you will be named lord of Summerhall"
"That sounds reasonable" Jon Arryn said, "Let's get the preparations underway, Duncan when do you plan on talking with the residents of Flea Bottom?"
Duncan didn't have anytime to celebrate as he saw everyone looking towards him. He liked this feeling, it was invigorating and he would do his best to keep it as long as he could. With a smile etched on to his face he ran his hand through his raven locks.
"I think it would be best if I talked to them tonight" Duncan retorted "That way we can gauge on how many people would leave King's Landing"
Jon looked at him in contemplation, "Alright, I would like to be there as to solidify and show the faith of the council in this endeavor"
"So would I Lord Arryn" Stannis said getting up, "I shall make preparations with the guards to escorts us there tonight"
"The guards will be ready, lord Stannis" Barristan jumped in. The entire time he was here, he didn't speak a single word, but now that he has heard everything his pupil has said he will do his best to help him achieve his goals.
"Well then get this done and let me know how it goes, I will be preparing for an oncoming headache" Robert said as he prepared to leave "I doubt my dear wife will let me enjoy my night after hearing about this" he complained as he made his exit.
"I think it would be best to gather them at the Flea Bottom Bazaar when the sun sets. Ser Barristan?" Duncan said as he gathered his papers and stood up with the rest of the council.
"It will be done, my prince," he said. Duncan knew that all his work and planning, everything he had worked so hard to convince his father, it was all coming to fruition. He is so close, now he needs to prepare for how he will convince his people.
Sometime later…. At the Flea Bottom market, everyone is gathered together. Murmurs and Rumours were spreading on why they had been gathered. None could comprehend what was to come. Soon they found the an entourage headed towards them. An entourage of the Hand of the King, with lord Stannis and the King's guard being led by Ser Barristan Selmy and the Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister, himself.
As they all came into the middle of the crowd they were surrounded by their people. This must be important if the Hand was here himself. The thought was in the minds of many, only answer to their curiosity will come with time. And time arrived indeed. As they saw an unfamiliar yet familiar face reveal himself. A young boy, hidden between these tall burly men, caught the attention of everybody as a big box was put up in the center so the boy can stand up to the view of everyone present. Barristan proudly did the honors himself.
"THE HONOURABLE PRINCE DUNCAN BARRATHEON, SECOND SON TO THE KING ROBERT!" A slight silence had settled on those words and then the uproar began.
"PRINCE!" everyone passed among themselves, it was true none of them had really truly seen the children of their king up close but this boy they were familiar with.
Flashback one year ago,
A young Duncan stood on the streets of Flea Bottom, the cesspool of King's Landing. Lost in his own thoughts after seeing the reality of his world broken,
"All this time, these people were suffering" he looked at the homeless on the streets begging, the orphans running around, trying to play their little games in the filth. Drunks fell asleep on the side covered in puke and shit. Duncan in his clean clothes of peasants, that he wore to fit in and experience the land with anonymity had been ruined. "What do I do?" he mused to himself.
That day Duncan walked around and every curve and crevice of Flea Bottom and the next seven days he spent in contemplation. And when no answers came he did what he thought he could at the time. He saw and helped one person, and then another and then another, soon the people started noticing the new boy who would come around once in a while and help the needy. He would find medicine for those in need or coerce other children into pulling pranks which left the part of the city better than before. They would coerce adults into moving people or help people improve their meager buildings anything he could do he would.
Days turned into weeks, into months soon a whole year had gone by and nothing had drastically changed the filth was still there but the answer had arrived one day when an occupant had yelled there is no point to fix something so broken might as well just burn everything and start all over again. He could still remember the crude old man reminisced of the days when Targaryens ruled and for some reason that irked Duncan. All that time led to this moment here…
In the present…
"All of you gathered today," he began, "know me as not a prince but a boy who runs around flea bottom helping others. In the past year that I have spent with you, it was not to deceive but to learn. I can understand if you have come to hate me for my lies, but it was only so I could truly understand your pain. Alas, I cannot simply understand, not in the way you can but I can do what most cannot to help because of the position I hold in this Kingdom. Everyone of you here knows me, not in this name or form but you do, no outfit could change me. Not truly, if you could find yourselves to trust me I have found a way to better your lives then, living in this filth. Old man!" he points towards the homeless beggar who was staring at him in wonder "You once said that we have no point in fixing something so broken, I cannot contest that, what I can do is offer a new start. I have been given by the order of the king my own lands, and so that I could provide you with new homes and a fresh start. Where coming for nothing, doesn't mean it's a horrible thing. Where if you help me I will give my life in service to you, so your children and your children's children can have a better life. Come with me! If you want a better life then start anew, and trust in me to help create a better life for you, one where children don't starve to death, one where there is happiness instead of disparity. One where life is worth living!"
And that was all that was left to say… Nothing could have been contested to that. The young Prince had won them over and soon King's landing began to change, once a crowded capital of the seven kingdoms became cleaner, safer, emptier.
Nobody expected so many to leave, but they did, the entirety of Flea Bottom departed the nobles who lost their servants in the transitions found themselves wanting to leave too. Employment increased, income increased, the economy became better. A sudden change but a change welcomed.
The work at Summerhall began with furiosity, Duncan who led the march to Summerhall himself with Ser Barristand and Lord Stannis at his side. People called the Great March, hundreds of thousands of people followed Prince Duncan that day and that's when the legend of the Summer Lord began, the Prince who would bring benevolence to the needy. Prince Duncan, the Savior!
Duncan helped initiate the building of Summerhall, and it became the first city that built homes for the needy before the castle for the nobles. It would take seven long years before Duncan would begin his rule in this land. But to the occupants he had already begun, the farmers who came with took to settling on lands which were evenly divided among them. Blacksmiths got their very own forges. Maesters in learning their libraries and hospitals. And homes for every farmer, blacksmith, miner, maester, shepherd, swordsmen.
And soon a new castle was built one that would be homed by Prince Duncan himself, where he will begin his rule.