A/N: Once again, I ask that you be patient with my grammer and spelling, I am writing via my smart phone currently.
Chapter 3:
King's Landing, one of the greatest cities built in the last 300 years. Founded on the shores of the Blackwater Bay. Architects of great renown had been enlisted to create this city, based around the fletchling Red Keep home of King Aegon Targaryen, the conqueror of the seven kingdoms of Westeros.
When it was completed 240ish years prior it was one of the greatest sites in modern Westerosi history. The keep held the hue of a red sunset, the streets cobbled, people sophisticated, and the greatest Craftsman gathered in the epitome of modernism. Unfortunately as the city continued to expand after the Conqueror had passed, the care in which the city had been imagined, planned and executed had began to wane. The sewer systems incompatible with the size and population of the growing Capitol city.
Successive Kings began to focus on the Lesser Pursuits, religious buildings, dubious orders that siphoned gold and silver like a boat with a leak taking on water without a plug. The masterfully built homes, businesses, wash houses, markets, amphitheaters and coliseums soon began to be neglected by the crown.
The city of Kings, modernism, Arts and of great minds began to rot slowly but surely as the decades passed and the rulers began to become lesser and lesser men. War and foolishness to take tts toll on.
Now near 300 years have passed since the Conqueror landed with the dragons of their sigils and took the continent by storm. Now even miles out from sea to land the stink of backed up sewage, human waste, and various undistinguished smells wafed farther and farther. The heat of the South ripens the stench to unimaginable degrees.
'Gods I hate this city.' I couldn't help but think.
Dragonstone was my home, not this cesspool of corruption and snakes. But this was my City now, my future, and the future of my children.
"Once this is settled, the First thing I would like to do Lord Hand, is fixing the sewer systems, rid us of this horrid smell."
Rhaegar mused to the elder man beside him, astride a massive spotted war horse.
"Will there be enough coin your Grace?"
An apt question from the aging man.
" My father may be a horrible King, however the Treasury's books are in pristine condition, I can assure you." I chuckle quietly to my second in command.
"That is a relief." He sighed. "We will need it to smooth over the inevitable disputes once this is over."
A man that just so happens to connect all the former rebel fiefs via marriage will be able to stabilize the country quite quickly at my side.
A small smile graced my lips at the thought.
'Baratheon was right. Jon Arryn will be the single greatest addition to my new small council, with his wisdom we should be able to run the country smoothly.' I couldn't believe it, really I still find it hard. How did the arrogant, selfish Robert Baratheon become such a wise man? I suppose he may have always held that intelligence, Eddard Stark didn't seem the type to suffer fools after all.
No, Robert had been a whoremonger and drunk, that was undeniable. The war must have forced him to mature as it has us all.
My actions and carelessness allowed my father to murder my wife's family, I had been just as immature as Robert.
My face twisted in a grimace at the truth.
'Be honest, never lie to yourself.' My mother would say or ' If your council agrees to everything that you say is right, find others, they are lying.'
--
We were coming within an Few hours distance from reaching the city walls, when something began to tingle at the back of my mind.
'Something is wrong.' The thought hit me, what could it be. Turning towards my wise companion i mentioned my unease to him. Lord Arryn assured me I was correct in my worry as he felt it as well. His wrinkled face showing his worry, quickly donning his helm after pause of thought.
Just as we were about to order men to speak to the scouts, one came galloping towards us at top speed, his brown river horse pounding the soft earth as it raced closer and closer.
"Sire! Lion's to our left flank! 20,000 Wasteland troops!" He shouted.
"Tywin, damn you." I mutter under my breath, then raised my voice to ask For anymore detail, while Jon Arryn shouted orders left and right, quickly wheeling our forces to the left, sending a call for all heavy horse forward, to charge in necessary. Standards at the ready, if its a fight Tywin Fucking Lannister wants its death he will get.
" Lord Jon, send the advanced party at full speed toward the capitol tell them to fly the three headed dragon and send ser Connington to led them, tell them to go straight to the keep, protect my children and the princess, they have their orders apart from that!" I commander, a knot of dread in my gut. Lannnister is ruthless, he could be doing the same.
In retrospect if I hadn't done so, my family may not have lived.
Hearing the war horns of the Lannister army sound, We marched to meet them.
Half an hour later I begin to see the Lion standard flying high above the rest of Westerland banners.
Rows of footmen are set to the middle, the archer auxiliary to their left and the horse to the right.
The land we are currently on is lush flat grasslands, stretching miles in all direction, farming land.
The cadance and drummers beat out the ominous but exhilarating rhythm of war. I can see the men begin to tense, their weapons at the ready, shields held loft incase of immediate use.
Searching for the old lion himself I gazed intently upon their formation. It seemed useless until a dozen men broke through the Lions formation and made towards us. Nodding to Lord Arryn and several other prominent nobles we galloped to meet halfway.
Thinking to myself, 'This ends one of two ways, submission or death, Lannister will ganer no concessions from me.'
As we approached I could make out Tywin and his three brothers, Gerion, Tygett, and Kevan by his side. Lefford, Crakehall, Westerling, and several others.
All but the Lannisters look incredibly nervous, obviously not expecting to meet a massive army enroute to the capitol.
The fact that our outriders hadn't seen them, or theirs our own host, means no news of our pact with rebel forces had made it out, a small miracle.
"Prince Rhaegar." Tywin Lannister greeted in his calm superior way.
This was the man I learnt governance from as a young boy, and as a young man.
"Lord Tywin, have you come to join our king?"
The voice of lord Rykker questioned pointedly.
"Prince Rhaegar, we were made to believe that you had gone to the Trident to defeat the Usurper Baratheon. Yet I see 50,000 men at your back." The old Lion stated, voice neutrally probing, and casually ignored the question.
"And yet, Lord Tywin, you are here with the entirety of the Westerland force's headed in the same direction, I wonder after all, why you had not been at the Trident?'
Jon Arryn's voice cut through, silence permeated through the air. The western lord stopped in his tracks. The looks of bewilderment across the many faces would bring a smile to my face for many years.
Tywin's head snapped towards the still helmeted Lord Arryn, his eyes growing wide at the realization, a hint of fear In his eye quite possibly?
Jon reached up with a sigh and removed his great helm, allowing all to see the elderly Lord of the Eerie in the afternoon light.
"You pronounced Robert Baratheon King." Kevon Lannister stated nervously. Twisting the reins of his steed in hand, glancing at his brothers in worry.
"Aye, I had, until the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands Robert Baratheon bent the knee to his chosen king, Rhaegar Targaryen."
"Impossible, you took his woman." Lefford shouted indignantly, pointing a stubby finger my way. The men behind me bristled at this insult .
I grew tired of the back and forth jabs and spoke up.
"The North, Vale, Riverlands, and the Stormlands have pledged their loyalty to me, and have sworn their swords to my name. You shall do the same Lord Lannister or else I promise you! That one of us will not leave this field alive." I stated calmly, my tone never going away from carefully measured confident.
A long moment passed as Westerland lords shot looks of dread around them.
" Baratheon rides in your host?" Tywin asked quietly.
"He has gone to lift the siege of Storm's end. He has renounced all claim to the throne and has sworn his fealty to me as his King." I explained, emphasizing the last portion.
Taking the hint, Lannister looked towards his brothers and shared looks of resigned acceptance.
"Very well, what does your father the King command?" He intoned back.
"Nothing. King Aery's is unfit to rule, you will swear fealty on this field alongside all your men, and then we shall march unto the capitol." I ordered.
I could see his calculating green eyes narrow in anger, to be commanded by the very prince he once taught, the son of the one who had wronged repeatedly.
"Very well." His answer short. Swinging off his gorgeous black Mount as I did the same, ser Lewyn a step in front of me.
"Kneel!" I shouted allowing my voice travel.
Lord Tywin spoke his oath first, followed by his brothers, and the lords that followed them.
--
Reaching the city took little more than an hour once we had parted from the host, mounted horse travels faster than common foot soldiers.
We reached the Gate of the Gods, banners flying in the wind, the three headed Dragon proud and true. A hundred men behind me as we approached cautiously.
"Who goes there?!" A shout rang from above.
"I am Ser Joseph Connington! We come on orders of his majesty Prince Rhaegar! Open the gate!" I shouted back.
Minutes passed, I soon began to believe they would continue to deny us passage into the city.
But then the gates began to creak and open just enough for our horses to file one by one through. Taking the lead myself I cantered through, hand on my sword just in case.
"My lord, I am Ser Alister Thorne, temporary commander of this gate, I apologize for the delay." The man introduced himself.
"No worries see, we must make haste to the keep. The Prince in but a couple hours away, make sure you do not hesitate for him! " I command seriously.
"We live to serve the Prince my Lord!" A resounding cheer swept around us from the men present, smiles of relief plastered upon their faces.
"If that is true, make sure you remember that today, we serve Prince Rhaegar." I tell the man lowly, making eye contact, and waiting to see his expression.
His eyes widen in understanding, a strong nod of acceptance.
The ser organized a quick escort of a dozen gold cloaks, with strict orders to follow all commands given by me as they come straight from the Prince. The men all agree readily.
Clearly these men had already chosen their King.
We swept through the city streets quickly, no one dared block our way.
Making it to the castle proper, the gates had already been lowered to allow entry. Peculiar.
.
We reached the courtyard as hand of the king met us himself.
"Sers what news do you bring from the front?" His sniveling voice questioned, his hands in the sleeves is piromancer robes.
"We come with urgent news for the Kings ears! " I tell the man, motioning for 3 dozen men to go straight for the maiden vault to protect the princes and royal children. The Golden cloaks stayed with me and the rest of the 3 hundred men of the advanced party.
Looking around I notice very few troops in the area.
"We saw the Banners through the city my Lord, the King wishes to speak to you now."
The Wiseman explained.
" the king has sent many of our troops to the city walls. I am quite glad that you have come to reinforce the keep, the messenger had only been sent a day past requesting men." As he turned to walk away.
Nodding to a couple of men, they rushed forward and tackled the wildfire creator to the ground, a knife to the throat end his miserable life.
"Quick now men." I call as they rush toward the few troops in the square. None bothered to put up a fight, and were knocked out.
"Lets move!" The men streamed through the doors, orders already given to each man prior of their duties.
Turning to the gold cloaks I spoke, "We are to arrest the King and place him in confinement until the Prince arrives to take the throne and end this fucking war." My voice rang out, challenging them to protest. Yet none came, they each readily nodded along, vicious smiles all around.
'He really is a horrid king for these men to turn so readily against him.' I couldn't help but think.
We raced, steel bare towards the throne room, passing a few skirmishes of loyal household guards. None lived but a few moments. This was an assembly of 300 of the most loyal of the Prince's chosen men.
Heaving open the great doors, the sight of Jaime Lannister with his sword bare standing in front of King Aerys with the white cloak around his shoulders.
"What is the meaning of this?!" The scabbed king roared. His gnarled yellow nails and overgrown silver white hair flying as he gestured around.
"Ser Jaime bring me their heads!"
The boy knight looked resolute.
"Enough!" I shouted over the King.
"We are here on orders by Prince Rhaegar. You are to be confined until he arrives, your time as King has ended." I tell the mad king as I walk slowly towards the Kingsguard.
Turning my attention to him I speak to him,
" Prince Rhaegar has deemed it necessary for these actions. He has requested that you serve him now and protect the the former King Aerys while he is confined, to make sure he is safe. " I tell him, trying to convey to him his choices
"You are not here to harm the King?" He asked quietly, so low only I could hear him.
"No, just confine." I confirm.
He paused, I could see the war in his eyes.
"Every Kingsguard has already sworn their loyalty to Prince Rhaegar, your honor will be intact." I press him.
"So be it. Kill every piromancer you see, the king has been planting wildfire through the city." He whispers as he backs towards the throne, quickly sheathing his sword much to the Kings ire.
"What the fuck are you doing? You serve me! You useless lion shit! I'll burn you for this! You'll all burn!" He screamed as men came forward to subdue him as quickly and as painlessly as possible.
I turned and ordered the men to follow Ser Jaime's suggestion.
I turned my attention to the young knight who was still waiting on me.
"Yes?" I question as the look on his face.
"I wish to protect the Prince wife and children, I promised him I would ser." He tells me, a look of regret upon his face.
"So be it. I have sent three dozen men to do so as well, you may take control of their safety, and have them moved to another tower just incase." I tell him, and tell one of my men to join him to alert my men
Instructing the Gold cloaks to man the Gate of the castle, I went off to see if the men had completed their tasks as commanded.
--
Jaime Lannister:
I rushed through the halls of the Red Keep, upstairs and across arched bridges to reach the Maiden Vault that housed the Royal children and their Princess mother.
The princess a was sweet and beautiful woman, but she was a sickly woman. I needed to get to her now!
We neared the tower as sounds of steel on steel could be heard ringing through the stone pathways.
We turned the last bend and blood bath was all I could see. A mountain of a man, dressed in boiled leather and no helm held unto a massive greatsword with both hands as he swept through three men at once, taking their heads clear off their bodies.
Closer to us was a shorter stockier man in the same armour fending off several of the men the Prince had sent.
Without thinking or hesitating I rushed forward with my longsword drawn and threw myself against the shorter man. He turned just in time to block my first strike. I swung upwards, breaking his guard and opened his throat in a rush of scarlet.
Turning towards the large beast of a man I took a breath and maneuvered forward.
He saw me coming, and roared.
"Go the fuck away!"
Clenching my teeth, I bent my knees and danced under his swing, and stepped around him.
A slash of my bloodied blade sliced through his left thigh. My second swing caught his bicep of his sword arm as I once again ducked his blows.
His growl was fearsome in sound. Like a wounded rabid dog caught in a corner.
I continued to dance around his swings, parrying the ones I couldn't. One in particular would have cut me in half if I hadn't already been moving out of the way.
'Fuck he is strong.' I curse as I desperately braced myself weathering the strike.
Don't let him hit me again. Noted.
Unable to help myself I grinned, this was a fight worthy of a kingsguard.
Ducking left and rolling forward I sprang up behind him, and heaved my blade with all my strength up through the man's neck, severing his spinal cord in one thrust.
I was forced to release my blade as he fell forward, dead.
I panted in exhaustion, gulping air as I sweep my eyes for anymore danger, drawing out my dirk at the same time.
The now reduced number of men stared back at me in awe. I sheathed my knife in annoyance at them.
"Ser..ser Jaime, thank you." A wounded man stuttered, one I didn't recognize.
"Stop gawking we are here to protect the Prince's family!" I shout at them as I moved to retrieve my sword still lodged in the man's neck.
"Ser Connington has given command of the Royal families safety to ser Jaime, we follow his commands now." The knight that followed me told the men around us.
Having to heave with all my might to get it to loosen from his corpse I clean the blade on his leather and moved off to do my duty.
--
N/A: I welcome respectfully criticism. However if your whole point is to be as rude as you can, then I would ask that you please keep your comments to yourself. As I stated before please be patient with my spelling, grammar, and other insignificant details that can be fixed once it comes to my attention. So for the keyboard Warriors out there, don't be a dick.
I will adress a couple of things that people have mentioned.
Jaime does not recognize either man, simple because he is 14 and has never actually met these minor lords. For this story Clegane and Loche have yet to be knighted or gain any infamy.
Tywin swore loyalty because it was the only choice he had. He had already sent the Cleagane and Co. before he knew the Prince's army was there.
At somepoint I will go back and fix mistakes such as banner colors or spelling.
I am trying to create a different story, may work may not.
Thank you again for everyone who has read, reviewed, fav, or followed.
