The Princesses War

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Chapter Three

A Sense of Continuity

'I am only doing this to maintain a sense of continuity,' Radwen explained to Jon as they walked through the Red Keep a few hours before lunch.

As usual since siezing power a full platoon of the Royal Guard was always close by to Radwen but they let Jon walk with her. They had officially announced their engagement the day after Radwen took the royal family hostage and took control of the capital. Ghost walked with them, since Nymeria had been killed he seemed to walk with less vigour, his posture slightly slumped but he was always loyal to Jon.

'Continuity?' he asked her. 'I thought the whole point of taking power was to change Westeros for the better.'

'That is the plan. It's just if we abolish the practice of petitioning the king, or at the moment the Princess, overnight then it will just make my new subjects resent me and drive them into the arms of the Lannisters of King Renly.'

'I'm more worried about Renly than the Lannisters. Isn't Tywin pinned at Harenhall?'

'I think so. He won't attack us until he's defeated your father.'

My uncle, he thought to himself and tried to hide his frustration at this mess he'd let himself get into. His father had asked him to play the part of a spy, which at the moment he was failiing at, his uniform marked him as a foreigner, as something not a part of Westeros.

'I'm sorry Jon,' Radwen said and stopped walking. 'I know it's not easy for you, fighting against your father.'

'Thank you Radwen.'

'Leave us for a moment,' Radwen orderd her guards, the tall, broad shouldered men in dark purple uniforms and black plate armour, who at once moved out of earshot, leaving Jon and Radwen in the corridor.

'Since we took control of this city what's been wrong with you?'

'Nothing's worng. It's just, we're in a war. I don't know what's going to happen to us.'

'It's not that. If it's private I won't go further but just, but just promise me it won't hurt us.'

'I don't know. Yes it's private but, I just don't know.'

'Alright. Is this about Sam?'

Sam, he thought. The official story was that he went missing after going drinking somewhere in the city. For the first few days there were jokes in the officers mess about how much pain his hips would be in when he wakes up from whichever brothel he fell into but now, after a couple of weeks, he was officially listed as a missing person.

'No, I just wish we could find out what happened to him.'

'So do I. He was a good engineer. Now, if there's anything else, we'd best get to the throne room.'

'Of course.'

'Guards,' Radwen loudly said and they were once again under the protection of the guards who escorted them to the throne room.

Already it was busy, numerous lords and ladies who had been in the city were there waiting to make their petitions, as well as common folk. Roughly five hundred men, a full battalion, from one of the regiments of foot, stood around the chamber as guards. Jon and Radwen entered through the main doors, arms linked, Jon leading her slightly until they reached the steps of the Iron Throne. The two of them looked at the ornate wooden chairs on either side of the throne, the one on the right occupied by Colonel Donnah, the commander of the Military Police in Westeros, after the fall of Oldtown he revealed that he had agents across the continent, several of whom opened the gates when the Farosi attacked the city. The one on the left was occupied by Brigadier Curn, the commander of the Farosi garrison within Kings Landing. Jon, again, looked up at the throne, since cutting her hand on it when she first mounted the Iron Throne, Radwen had ordered a dark purple blacket of wool to be thrown across the seat itself with several cushions. Radwen slowly and regally made her way up the steps, reaching the seat before turning and sitting down, gazing at all those gathered there. Jon bowed to Radwen before walking to the side of the hall, standing amongst the onlookers.

'Ladies and Gentlemen,' Radwen loudly spoke to those gathered there, 'I welcome you all to the first petitioning I have ever sat in witness of. The armies of Farsos do not come as conquerors, but as liberators, protecting all the poeple of this realm from tyranny. We respect the traditions of all our people which is why I will perform this ancient duty of the Westerosi monarchs. Please, let the first petitioners step forward.'

For the next two hours Jon watched as various noblemen stepped forward to ask for requests such as judgement in legal matters, for that Radwen often asked Colonel Donnah of his opinion. In matters of Farosi troops patroling the city and the planned defences against Lannister attacks or attacks from Renly she consulted with Curn. A very large lord eventually stepped forward holding a small booklet of brown paper, one of the ration books, he guessed.

'Your Highness,' he said and bowed deeply to her. 'I am Ser Carl Brinner, of Toddman Hall. I have come here to ask for changes to be made to the ration allowance.'

'And what changes do you desire?' she asked him.

'It is absurd,' he declared and pointed at the pages. 'I am allowed a small amount of bread and corned beef each day, it is madness. Why should I be forced to eat the same as a day labourer when I am of noble blood?'

'Do you have a family?' Radwen asked him.

'I have two sons and a daughter,' he answered her. 'Right now they are in our home begging me to put on a feast but all I can get them are these pathetic rations.'

'The rations have been organised to last as long as possible. Our supplies of fresh food from the Reach has been cut off, if we did not introduce these rations we would be starving in a month and your children would be begging for the rations we can provide now. No, there will be no change to the rations and anyone caught using the black market will be placed under arrest.'

Lord Brinner just glared at the princess before, angrily, storming out. Colonel Donnah shot a look at Radwen but she shook her head. After them came three women, the one at the head of the group was a redheaded woman who Jon thought was attractive although she appeared to have had a few sleepless nights lately, bags just forming under her eyes and her hair astray in a few areas.

'Your Highness,' the redhead said to her, 'I have come here because we are all in trouble.'

'Well, if you tell me what it is I will try to help. Oh, are you from the North?'

'Yes I am.'

'I thought so. The accent made it obvious.'

'Thank you. My name is Ros, we are, the three of us, are the girls who work at Lord Baelish's establishments.'

'By establishments I assume you mean brothels,' Radwen responded in as dignified way as possible.

'That's right Your Highness. With Lord Baelish in the dungeons we want to know what's happening to his business. Before he was locked up he made me his assistant so I have been running things, but we want to know when he'll be released.'

'Colonel,' Radwen said and Donnah stood up, adjusting his black frock coat.

'Lord Baelish is under investigation for the crimes of corruption and conspiracy. While the investigation continues he will remain in custody.'

'That's all well and good Lord Donnah but we have to keep working. He's my boss and I need him back running things. I'm his assistant but I can't do everything he used to do, he owns the business.'

'I see. Well, I cannot say I approve of the business,' Radwen stated and many of the noblemen in there nodded in a very exaggerated, almost comical, way, 'however, I understand that you have to make money. We'll have papers drawn up handing full control of Lord Baelish's business to you until he is released. If found guilty it is likely that his business will be confiscated, at which time I will allow you to buy his business. Is that satisfactory?'

'Very much Your Highness,' she responded, smiling at what had been offered.

'I'll have a lawyer draw up the documents and take them to you tomorrow. Which of his establishments can he find you at?'

'The one where the shootout happened between Lord Stark and the Kingslayer happened.'

'Oh that one. Thank you.'

Ros and the other girls turned to leave. They turned out to be the last of the petitioners so Radwen rose from the throne and all present bowed before she began to leave, Jon and Ghost going with her. When they were out of the throne room and on the way to Radwen's chambers, which had previously been Prince Joffrey's private rooms, Radwen shook her head in annoyance.

'How these people got anything done I have no idea,' Radwen complained.

'It's worked well for centuries.'

'How much work could Jon Arryn have done in the time he spent on the Iron Throne listening to petty disputes? When we have a real court system set up everything will run much smoother.'

'I do agree. Still, it helps keep a sense of continuity.'

Radwen gave him a warm but slightly sharp look at that comment as they finally reached Radwen's chambers. They had been cleared of Joffrey's belongings, the royal family was being kept under house arrest, ironically at what had been the Farosi Embassy. Now that the Farosi were in charge all of the work once done there was now done in the Red Keep. The royal family was under constant watch but as long as they stayed in the embassy they were allowed to do what they wanted. Radwen's new rooms were very luxurious, although still slightly rough and ready.

Jon and Radwen sat at the dinner table, Ghost sitting himself under the table close to Jon, as the servants brought in lunch, that days rations allowed them some small corned beef pies with roasted potatoes and a thin gravy.

'It's strange,' said Radwen as she cut into one of her pies, 'there isn't a single Green or Red soldier within miles of here but we're already under siege.'

'Can the navy bring in supplies?'

'Not at the moment, to maintain surprise we could only have a small fleet at the Arbor. If I remember right our current rations will last us for three months.'

'How long until the reinforcements arrive then?'

'Maybe two. As soon as they get here they'll begin shipping in supplies.'

'Good. The last thing we need is a city in revolt.'

'Speaking of which, Colonel Donnah tracked down Janos Slynt.'

'Where was he hiding?'

'We found him trying to sneak out of the city dressed as a woman. He's in the dungeon right now.'

'Good. When we took the Gold Cloaks prisoner half of the officers offered to give evidence against him.'

'I imagine that prosecution won't take long.'

'No it wouldn't. We'll still have to keep most of the Gold Cloak officers locked up.'

'And how does the training of the new men go?'

'The old Gold Cloaks all agreed to join the Kings Landing Constabulary.'

They were to take over the duties of the Gold Cloaks, wearing used Farosi uniforms, bowler hats and ankle boots. However, considering the threat of attack from Renly and the Lannisters they would be a conscript force.

'How good soldiers are they?'

'I think they're at their best when they can stop a tavern brawl.'

'At least each of them will have a rifle,' was what Radwen said after a few moments.

'We'll still be outnumbered badly if we're attacked. We have six hundred Light Horsemen, four thousand regular infantry, your Royal Guard, two cannons and three thousand of the Constables.'

'Brigadier Curn is working on a plan. Have faith in the man.'

'I don't know much about him to have faith.'

'During the war, well, the last real war, when he was just a Lieutenant he took command of his battalion when the other officers were all killed or wounded and led a bayonet charge which threw back the Gwaitholi Forces attempting to outflank General Hamhill.'

'That was him?'

'Indeed. He's very humble about it all.'

'I hate men who brag about achievements.'

'I do unless they have good reason to brag. I remember, when Miccal, my brother, when he came back from his first mission as captain of his own ship he was boating for days over how they captured a smuggler ship.'

'I'm guessing that made him popular.'

'My mother threatened to stuff his mouth with cotton.'

Jon chuckled at the image. It must have been just before Miccal renounced his claim to the throne. The Farosi Royal Navy had always been the lesser branch of the armed forces, ironic for a people who worshipped a sea goddess. It hurt them in the long term, when Farsos declared war on Gwaithol, a nation of three great islands and many smaller ones which had a larger fleet with stronger ships. The Farosi fleet was destroyed in a matter of weeks, for the rest of the war reinforcements and supplies had to be sneaked in, maybe a quarter of all the men Farsos lost in that war was from starvation thanks to the efforts of the Gwaitholi navy.

'Do you ever wish that Miccal hadn't decided to remain in the navy?'

'Sometimes,' she admitted. 'Still, what's done is done.'

They ate the rest of their meal in relative quiet, Jon didn't want to speak much any way, he was of course worried that any wrong word would let his secrets known. He just didn't know what Radwen would do if she learned that she was betrothed to the last son of House Targaryen. That was when he remembered that Small Council meeting not too long ago, but it may as well have happened in a different life time considering how different things were. They had finished eating by then and Jon knew Radwen would soon start her afternoon work, corresponding with the Iron Bank, arranging rations and the like.

'Is there any news of the Targaryen girl in Essos?'

'Colonel Donnah's not sure. He's managed to gain control of many of the Spider's agents but so far only rumors. We know her husband is dead but no word on the girl herself. Some say a witch stole her baby from her womb, others that she gave birth to a dragon, we're not sure yet.'

'Let's hope the last one isn't true,' Jon commented.

'Dragons? You really worry over a matter as silly as that?'

'No.'

'Good. I'm more worried of Lions, Stags and Roses than I am of Dragons.'

'Since your family are the descendants of House Casterly do you know the truth, I mean, the truth of what happened with Lan the Clever?'

'Of course I do. For thousands of years every child of House Cassius on their fifteenth birthday has been told the story, taken from the writings of King Harrel Cassius, son of Cassius Sea Walker.'

'Then what was it?'

'Cassius was a bastard son, one of a few, of Lord Henman Casterly, the last Casterly to rule the rock his family had owned for thousands of years. Back in those days from every tower of the castle flew a golden banner bearing a black gryphon. Lord Henman had four bastard sons and two true born daughters. One day a young man, a warrior with golden hair arrived, and sought service in Lord Henman's army. One night, after befriending the commanders of the army, the warrior crept into Casterly Rock and forced himself upon Henman's eldest daughter. She fell pregnant and, believing that his daughter had welcomed the warrior into her bed, Henman forced the girl to marry the warrior. Years later Henman died and the warrior, named Lan, proclaimed House Casterly to be done and House Lannister was born. He then killed Casterly's other daughter but the bastard sons escaped. Cassius Hill, the youngest of the bastards, knew that he and the small number of Casterly cousins could not defeat Lord Lan and his army so, as the bravest son of Lord Casterly, the others agreed to go into exile with him. They bought ships and supplies and with one last look behind them, they set sail into the Sunset Sea. We all know what happened after that.'

'He found Farsos.'

'He founded the greatest kingdom in history. Valyria was driven by dragons, Westeros by knights, Farsos is driven by steam and gunpowder.'

'And a few bayonets,' Jon added, 'with some guts behind them.'

'I suppose so. Do you know what time it is?'

'No, my watch stopped working. Again.'

'Perfect,' was what Radwen said and stood up, walking towards a mahogany wooden box on a table by the wall.

'What is it?' he asked her as she carried the small box to Jon.

'A present, to celebrate our engagement.'

Jon opened the box and saw within a new pocket watch on a golden chain, the case of the watch was gold and on the front was a silver wolf with the smallest of rubies in the eyes.

'It's beautiful,' he said to her, taking the watch and checking the time. 'It's half past one.'

'I'm glad you like it. I wish we could spend more time together but, well, I have work to do.'

'Me too. Tomorrow then?'

'Yes.'

Jon kissed her, not pushing too deeply, and then left, heading down to the barracks to help train the new Constables. He knew they would need them soon.

AN: The Farosi maintain control of the capital as they wait for more soldiers to arrive from their homeland. Jon is torn between his loyalty to
his family and the King he has sworn loyalty to.

Review Responses:

Puffgirl1952 the 2nd: So the Farosi are now receiving word of what Dany has been doing, although it is just hearsay for now. I will say this here
now though, this story will mostly focus on events in Westeros for the immediate future.

Stannis the Mann: Thanks for the review, I'm glad you enjoyed.

So, another chapter in and I hope you all enjoyed this one. Please review, I love reading feedback. Have a great day.