A SONG OF PAST AND PRESENT
EPISODE 4 - THREE KINGS
OPENING CREDITS
1. Ext. Field of Battle. Day.
Two armies are facing one another with a distance of around fifteen hundred feet separating them. The yellows of the Baratheon army look like they´re outnumbered though by the reds of the Lannisters almost two to one.
One thing that they have, that the other side don´t however, is their twenty cannons that they´re in the middle of loading under Gerard´s supervision. Edward comes over to him.
Edward:
They´re trying to surround us. If ...
Gerard:
Have faith, my brother.
Gerard looks like he´s confident that nothing can beat his army and Edward decides not to argue it further.
Edward:
Shall I get the men ready to charge?
Gerard:
Have them take defensive positions.
Edward:
Very well.
He goes to fulfill his orders, as the artillery gets ready to fire their weapons at the enemy for the first time.
Gerard:
YOU MAY FIRE WHEN READY!
The fuses are lit and Gerard looks over at the enemy army, that have no clue what´s about to hit them.
Gerard:
Let´s show those bastards what hell looks like!
The cannons fire their loads and they tear brutally into the Lannister line, that moments after begin their charge against them, clearly deciding that waiting for another salvo to hit them wouldn´t make for the best tactics.
Gerard draws his sword and smiles to himself at the thought of the battle ahead.
We fade to;
2. Int. Red Keep Courtyard. Day.
A 9 year old Gerard and Edward are standing next to one another among a group of other nobles and are being forced to attend the execution of their father, who´s been accused of treason along with their mother and a handful of other nobles. Both of them are in shackles, as their brought to the Gallow´s Pole, where they are to be hanged. The smallfolk show their hatred for them by yelling at them and throwing things at them, with the Regent´s blessing. Edward looks like he´s having more trouble dealing with it, than Gerard is and starts crying.
Young Gerard:
Don´t cry, Edward. That´s what they want from us.
Young Edward:
I´m trying not to, Gerard, but I can´t!
Young Gerard:
Do it for mom and dad.
Young Edward:
I´ll try.
He tries his best to stop crying and manages to more or less.
The prisoners are led up to where they are to be hanged and nooses are placed around their necks, while the bloodthirsty crowd cheers the executioners on.
We see a young King Weston (at this time in his mid 20´s) watching it with his young wife, Rhaella on one side and his mother Eliza on the other, signifying how they´re locked in a power struggle over his good graces, that he´s still blissfully unaware of at this time. He rises from his seat and a hush goes over the crowd, who look to him.
Young Weston:
THESE MEN AND WOMEN HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF TREASON AGAINST OUR BELOVED REGENCY! THEY DID THIS KNOWING FULLY WELL, THAT THERE COULD ONLY BE ONE PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR CRIMES, THE SENTENCE OF DEATH BY HANGING!
We see Edward and Gerard trying to look away, but being forced to watch by the castle guard, as their parents are executed in front of their eyes. In that moment, the childhood disappears from both of them forever and is replaced with hatred and a desire to get even with the Regent, when they get the chance to.
We fade to:
3. Ext. Field of Battle. Day.
The Lannister army is in full rout and Edward is leading the charge of the knights, that are hunting them down. From the look of the amount of dead from each side on the battlefield, it´s been a definitive victory for the Baratheon army, who go about killing those enemies that are too wounded, for it to make sense to take them as prisoners of war. Gerard, whose armor is covered in the blood of his enemies walk among them and takes in the satisfaction of his big victory.
4. Ext. Red Keep Courtyard. Day.
In the same square where Gerard and Edward´s parents were executed years earlier, another group of unfortunate "Traitors" are being executed, only now the executions take place by them being hung, drawn and quartered, which is so inhumane that the crowd is both much smaller and to many it´s too much to watch for themselves, so they sneak off while trying not to be seen by the Regent himself.
Weston watches it, but clearly has no joy in seeing it, unlike his mother who looks like she´s enjoying it.
Weston:
Is this the world you envisioned for us, mother? One, where we´ve devolved below the level of animals?
Eliza:
Something had to be done. We can´t very well let traitors live, can we?
Weston:
Sometimes I wonder, if we´re not just creating more enemies for ourselves at a time, when they´re the last thing, we need.
Eliza looks at him and smiles slightly to herself.
Eliza:
Weston, there are two ways to rule. The first is through benevolence, like Tyrion, the first regent did. Only he could do so, because all of the lords still loved him for saving their collective hides, twice! We don´t have that luxury, so we have to rule the second way, by showing force.
Weston:
You don´t think that the two could be combined?
Eliza:
It´s been tried. What it gave us was the biggest rebellion since the War of the Five Kings. Trust me, son. This is the only way for us not to appear weak to our enemies.
Weston:
By brutally executing our citizens with little to no evidence against them?
It looks like they´re clearly not agreeing on the subject.
5. Int. King´s Council Room. Evening.
Weston is with his small court, consisting of his son Rinus and his Hand ot the Regent Vinicious Tyrell.
Weston:
Sixteen executions today and twenty more tomorrow! Maybe it would be for the better, if this rebellion succeeded. It´s not like they can do much worse at ruling, than we are at the moment!
Rinus:
You don´t mean that, father.
Vinicious:
The ears tell us that rebellious talk is rife all through the city. There really is nothing else we can do to stamp it out.
Weston:
You don´t think that we´re helping to spread it, through our reign of bloodshed and terror?
Vinicious:
Sir, that´s the wrong way to see it.
Weston:
What is the right way to see it then?
Vinicious:
History has shown ...
Weston:
That´s a great question! What has history shown us? Rinus, my son, you know your history better than any of us two, who have forgotten half of what the septas taught us. Why did the Targaryen dynasty, the longest reigning dynasty in history, come to an end?
Rinus:
Robert´s Rebellion, father. Even you must still remember that!
Rinus gets a small smile out of Vincious, but Weston is in no mood for jokes.
Weston:
And why did Robert´s Rebellion happen?
Rinus looks like he´s about to answer.
Weston:
Allow me to tell you. It was because life under The Mad King became so awful, that the small folk looked for someone else to take his place. Robert couldn´t have won that war, if it hadn´t been for them.
Rinus:
I´m sure that if the Targaryens still had their dragons, then it would have turned out differently.
Vinicious:
Undoubtedly.
Weston:
Why did they not have them? Was it not because the small folk killed the remaining ones, that were left after The Dance of the Dragons? Maybe back in the days of Aegon the Conqueror, you could rule the kingdoms based on fear alone. He could have chosen to rule that way, but in stead he chose to build a dynasty through diplomacy, that would go on to become beloved by historians forever more. What are we going to be remembered for, when either one army or the other have conquered us, apart from leaving the kingdoms in a worse state, than when we took them over?
Rinus and Vinicious decide to keep quiet, as he stares them down.
Weston:
Perhaps my mother doesn´t want to see it, but we´re repeating the exact same mistakes, they made. Pushing away our supporters and sending more over to the enemy every minute of every day. It doesn´t take a Grand Maester to see which direction this is heading.
Vinicious:
Thankfully, all is not lost yet, although I do see your point quite clearly, sir.
Weston:
Any suggestions on what to do about it?
Rinus:
If we need more allies, there´s always the North, we can try turning to.
Vinicious:
The North have stayed neutral to Westerosi affairs for close to a century and a half. It´s very doubtful that they would want to break that neutrality pact.
Rinus:
I know, lord Tyrell! I´m not an uneducated fool! However, if the two families were to be united through marriage, maybe that could sway their opinion on the matter? Not that I particularly want to see my dear sister sent off to live at Winterfell, but I hear that it´s quite peaceful up there and it would keep her far away from any rebellious elements, that would rather see our entire family dead, here in King´s Landing.
Weston looks like he considers it as arguably the least bad of his alternatives.
Weston:
Lord Tyrell, do they even have an unwed son, she could be married off to?
Vinicious:
Two of them, my Regent. But I believe that one of them is already engaged to a girl from House Arryn. The other one, Prince Tavis, I believe his name is, isn´t wed, from what I know, at least. He is around the same age as your daughter too.
Weston:
Find out and if he isn´t, then send them a raven to see, if the Starks are interested in a union between our families. After all, we have been allies in the past.
Rinus:
When we haven´t been sworn enemies, that is.
Weston looks set on the plan going forward now.
6. Ext. Winterfell Courtyard. Day.
Hendryk is updating his sword fighting skills in training against his son, while Erik and Tyra watch them excitedly, with Jamilla there to watch over the two of them.
Erik:
Come on, father! Show him how it´s done!
Tyra:
Tavis is going to win! He´s much younger and faster!
Erik:
Want to bet on it?
Jamilla:
There will be no betting!
Hendryk shakes his head at their childishness (even though they admittedly are children) and engages his son with his training sword in hand. Tavis is clearly a skilled swordfighter and loves to show it off to everyone, but Hendryk still hasn´t entirely lost his abilities either, although his son clearly has the advantage on him.
Tavis:
Not bad, father!
Hendryk:
Don´t start thinking that you´ve already won, before you actually have, Tavis. That´s how men end up getting killed.
Hendryk launches an attack against him, but Tavis is too fast and launches a countermove of his own, that sends the king falling to the ground. Erik looks disappointed, while Tyra looks at him with an "I told you so" kind of look. Tavis looks triumphant, but it´s then that his eye catches his beloved Stablemaster´s daughter Esta and before he knows it, it´s him that´s on the ground with the pointy end of a training sword pointing at his throat.
Tavis:
Alright, I yield. You win, father.
His father sheaths his sword and gives him a helping hand to stand up. He looks up at Esta, who smiles sweetly at him and tries to look, like it doesn´t affect him.
Hendryk:
What did I just tell you, son?
Tavis:
Not to think, that I´ve won, before I actually have.
Hendryk:
If this had been in a battle, then you would be dead by now.
Tavis:
I´m well aware. It won´t happen again.
Hendryk:
Being dead is a much worse situation, than finding yourself having fallen in love with stablemaster´s daughter.
Tavis looks shocked, that his father knows. Hendryk walks over to the younglings.
Hendryk:
I believe, you owe me an apology for doubting in my sword fighting skills, lady Tyra.
Tyra:
I apologize, my king.
He walks past them and into the keep. Now it´s Erik who gets to give Tyra an "I told you so look" and she clearly doesn´t like being proven wrong.
7. Int. King´s Private Chambers. Day.
Stephania is helping her husband with getting his training armor off. When we see him bare chested though, we also see his numerous battle scars, most of them are very old. Stephania gently strokes one of them, where it looks like he was stabbed in the chest and it´s a tender moment between them.
Stephania:
Were you afraid, when you got that scar?
Hendryk:
I was terrified.
They kiss.
Hendryk:
Although it´s been so long since then, that it feels like it happened in another lifetime, part of me still remembers the pain and the fear, when I felt that Umber soldier´s blade glide into my flesh. That and the feeling of warmth, as the blood ran from my body. I hoped so dearly, that none of my children would ever get to experience, what real fear like that feels like.
Stephania:
There´s still a chance, that we´ll be allowed to stay neutral, isn´t there?
Hendryk:
I don´t think we will be this time, my love. No matter which side we choose to go with, only one thing will be for certain. Many of us will die. Perhaps even all of us.
They take in the somber reality of things for them, as there´s a knock on the door.
Tavis (off screen):
Mother, father. Can I come in?
They smile at one another, knowing what it will be about.
Stephania:
Yes, Tavis. Come in.
The door opens and Tavis comes in, looking rather nervous at what he´s going to talk to them about.
Tavis:
So ...
Stephania:
I take it, you have something in particular, you want to talk to us about?
Tavis:
You know about me and Esta, don´t you?
Hendryk:
Your sweetheart for the past three years, yes?
Stephania:
We´ve known about the two of you, ever since you had your first kiss, on the day that you were allowed to come on your first hunt with your father and the other lords.
Tavis looks surprised that they knew pretty much everything, which they find a little amusing.
Tavis:
I thought, that you would be angry with me, if you found out.
Hendryk:
We were both young once too. I had my own Esta, when I was your age. Only mine had a different name and was the Cooper´s daughter.
Stephania:
So did I, although mine was a noble boy.
Tavis:
What happened to them?
Hendryk:
She ended up marrying a blacksmith, from what I know.
Stephania:
Mine I believe married one of the many Frey girls.
Hendryk:
Not that there´ll ever be a shortage of them!
Tavis looks relieved at how his parents are taking the news and decides to go for broke.
Tavis:
I want to marry her. I´m in love with her and I have been for a long time.
His parents stop smiling and look at him with sympathy.
Stephania:
The only way it could happen, is if you abdicate your rights to the the throne.
Hendryk:
It´s not that we don´t want what´s best for you, son. But the nobles would never accept a common girl like Esta being made queen, anymore than they would accept a common man being named king.
Tavis looks torn on what to do.
Stephania:
Right now, with a war possibly on the way, isn´t the right time for a wedding anyway. After the war or at least the threat of it is over and we´re hopefully all still in good health and safe, then you can make your decision.
Hendryk:
It´s not a decision to be taken lightly. Once you´ve decided, there´s no going back on it, should you change your mind.
Tavis:
Thank you, mother and father. For helping me to put it all in perspective. I have a lot to consider.
Stephania:
If your decision is to marry Esta, then we will respect your choice.
Hendryk:
You have our word.
Tavis smiles to himself.
8. Ext. Field of Battle. Evening.
The Baratheon army are celebrating their victory and no one is a bigger hero to them than Gerard, who´s practically become their new god. He addresses all of them with a cup of ale in one hand and his sword in the other.
Gerard:
GOOD MEN! TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE OUR GLORIOUS VICTORY, BUT THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING! WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL WE´VE TAKEN KING´S LANDING AND THE IRON THRONE!
His men cheer him wildly. One who doesn´t and only lightly claps for him to be polite is his brother Edward, who watches him with a sober look on his face from a short distance, standing by himself. Tilde comes over to him and they watch the rest of her father´s speech together.
Gerard:
WHEN WE DO, WE WILL NOT ONLY PUT THAT PRETENDER REGENT AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY TO THE BLADE, WE WILL DO THE SAME TO ANYONE, WHO REFUSES TO SUPPORT OUR RIGHTFUL CLAIM FOR THE THRONE! NOW, WHO WANTS TO DRINK WITH ME?
His ending statement starts a celebration, that everyone there, who isn´t a prisoner of war, is invited to take part in. For Edward, it only makes him shake his head and while Tilde is still fully on her father´s side, even she didn´t look all that happy at what she heard.
9. Int. Edward´s Tent. Evening.
Edward pours a glass of wine for himself and Tilde, before handing one fo them to her. We can hear the sound of the celebrations coming from outside of the tent.
Edward:
What did you think of your father´s speech?
Tilde:
I think that he has every right to celebrate his victory.
Edward:
However?
Tilde:
Putting everyone to the blade, who will oppose him? It seems ...
Edward:
Unattainable, not to mention horrific?
Tilde:
I´m certain that most people will support us! King Robert was was a beloved king, who untied the kingdoms after the cruelty of the Targaryens.
Edward:
Tilde, for the seven´s sake! Do you believe in everything, you´ve been led to believe since you were born?
Tilde:
Are you saying that he wasn´t beloved or that the Targaryens weren´t cruel? Because I refuse to believe that.
Edward:
In every story from the olden days, there is a semblance of truth left, but there are also the lies, that individuals with an interest in it, have sprinkled into those stories over time. In the case of King Robert, we needed a mythical figure that we could all be proud of to look up to, when things were at their worst for us. Thus, the stories of him changed from the truth to the ones, we tell our children about him today. That he was a brave and noble man, who could practically do no wrong, when no one could ever have been that perfect in real life.
Tilde sees the logic in what he´s saying and takes a sip of her wine.
Edward:
I was around your age, when I found out the truth about him. Do you want to know what the truth is?
Tilde:
I´m not sure that I do, no.
Edward:
Neither did your father. He refused to hear any of what I had to say, because he needs Robert to be his unblemished hero, so that he can use him to justify his quest for revenge!
Tilde:
I´m certain, that this isn´t all about revenge for him.
Edward:
Then why did he say that he would put anyone to the blade, who opposes him? That doesn´t sound like a man, who´s searching for reconciliation, from the way I heard it. If I were you, I´d have a long and hard talk with my father one of these days, to see if he actually is the same man, you´ve always perceived him to be or someone, who´s already become drunk with power, like I already fear that he has.
Edward is clearly losing more faith in his brother by the day, which only makes Tilde more determined to prove him wrong.
10. Int. King´s Council Chambers. Day.
Weston is alone in there with his daughter Lenora (who we met in episode one).
Weston:
How would you feel about going to live at Winterfell?
Lenora:
The North? I don´t know anyone there ...
Weston:
Lenora, I´ve allowed both you and your brother many more liberties, than I probably should have. It was however under the condition that when the time came, you would do what´s best for the family.
She nods in understanding.
Lenora:
Do we know anything about this man, I am to marry?
Weston:
We know that he´s around the same age as you.
Lenora:
Anything else?
Weston tries to think hard to come up with something.
Weston:
He´s a member of the Stark family and first in line to the throne.
Lenora:
In other words, we don´t have the faintest idea, what kind of man he is?
Weston:
No, I´m afraid not.
Lenora:
He could be a barbarian or someone, who eats human flesh, from all we know!
Weston smiles comfortingly at her.
Weston:
It´s been centuries, since anything like that happened up there! There are no barbarians or wildlings left and as for them eating human flesh, those were never more than stories, from what I know.
Lenora:
Are you sure?
Weston:
If I wasn´t, would I sent my only daughter up there? The prize jewel of my entire existence.
He gets a smile out of her.
Lenora:
I suppose, it could be worse.
Weston:
They still have to accept, but I felt it only reasonable, that I gave you fair warning.
Lenora:
Thank you. father. Have you told mother about this?
Weston:
Not yet.
Lenora:
Do you want me to do it for you?
Weston:
No, it´s time that I spoke to her again. Not that I´m looking forward to it.
Lenora looks at him with understanding. The look on his face tells us how little he´s looking forward to seeing his estranged wife.
11. Int. Red Keep Hallway. Day.
Weston comes uo to the door to his wife´s room. He´s about to knock on it, but has to take a moment to gather his nerve to. As he does, he thinks back to ...
12. Int. King´s Bedroom. Evening. (flashback)
Weston, fifteen years younger here, is having a fight with his wife (yet again).
Rhaella:
Does it feel good to have become your mother´s puppet, Weston?
Weston:
I´m no one´s puppet, Rhaella! That´s all in your head!
Rhaella:
She´s taking more power from you with every day, only you don´t want to see it because you´ve always been afraid to stand up to her!
Weston:
You don´t know what you´re talking about!
Rhaella:
I´ve known both of you long enough to know that there´s only one out of the two of you, who has a set of balls and it isn´t you!
He loses his temper and slaps her hard across the face, making her fall down on the bed.
Weston:
Don´t you dare talk to me like that again!
She wipes a few drops of blood from her lips and looks at him defiantly.
Rhaella:
Can´t handle the truth, eh? Mother´s boy!
He gets on top of her and pins her down, while he starts to undress her, not caring that she´s trying to fight him off.
We fade to:
13. Int. Red Keep Hallway. Day.
Weston knocks on the door and it´s opened by Rhaella, who like him is now middle aged. She doesn´t look all that happy at seeing him.
Rhaella:
What are you doing here?
Weston:
Is it that abnormal, that a husband would go to visit his wife?
Rhaella:
It is when it´s you, we´re talking about. I suppose you´d better come in.
She lets him in.
14. Int. Rhaella´s Quarters. Day.
By the looks of it, Rhaella isn´t missing anything as far as materialistic things go. Still, you can´t exactly call her quarters inviting looking.
Rhaella:
How is the fight against the rebellion going? It´s so hard to get reliable information these days, when you´re not on the inside anymore.
Weston:
It´s under control.
Rhaella looks him in the eyes to gauge if he´s telling the truth or not and him looking away tells her everything she needs to know.
Rhaella:
Why are you lying to me?
Weston:
It may have grown larger, than we expected it to.
Rhaella:
You´re telling me that following your mother´s way, that I tried to tell you repeatedly would lead to you gaining more enemies and refusing to listen to me, has indeed blown up in your face, like I told you time after time that it would? What a surprise!
She looks at him in a way that gets under his skin and it´s pretty clear why these to are married in name only these days.
Weston:
I´m not saying that you´re not a bit right in what you´re gloating about, but that´s not why I´m here. It´s about Lenora.
Rhaella:
My dear daughter, who´s the only one of you kind enough to come and visit me on the anniversary of my name day. What about her?
Weston:
I´ve had a raven sent to off Winterfell with a marriage proposal, for Lenora to marry their prince, Prince Tavis.
Rhaella looks upset with him and he prepares himself for the worst.
Rhaella:
Have you told her about this?
Weston:
She understands, that it is her duty to the family.
Rhaella:
She´s still a child, Weston. You know that and I know that!
Weston:
Which is precisely why I want to send her up there, where she´ll be far removed from any of the trouble, that could very well be coming our way soon! We both know that the Baratheons will show no mercy to us, like we didn´t show any to them, should they take power.
Rhaella doesn´t look too pleased with him for getting them into this situation, but sees the reasoning in what he´s saying too however.
Rhaella:
Are things really looking that bad for us?
Weston:
My mother´s ways have gained us a lot of enemies over the years, like you said they would. Even many of the houses that support us have been clamoring for change for decades, but I´ve refused them every time, because that´s what she told me to do. It´s my fault, Rhaella and if you want to continue to go on hating me, I understand you. But I am doing this for our daughter´s best. Because I love her and her brother more than life itself. I hope you can find it in your heart to understand that.
She looks at him with pity and her hard demeanor softens a little.
Rhaella:
I don´t hate you, Weston. I never have. What I do is feel sorry for you, that you´re a grown man, who´s never been able to step out from being under the control of your mother.
Weston:
That will change soon. You have my word.
She doesn´t look like she entirely believes that he will be able to change anything, when push comes to shove.
15. Int. Winterfell. Day.
Hendryk is holding a meeting with a pair of the higher up´s in the keep.
Hendryk:
How are we stacked up on arrows, quartermaster?
Quartermaster:
We should be reaching the goal you set for us within a few days, my King.
Hendryk:
I don´t want you reaching the goal being an excuse to lower the production. We´ll need at least five times as many, if we´re going to fight a long war.
Quartermaster:
Understood.
Hendryk:
Mastersmith, how goes it with the production of armor for our soldiers?
Mastersmith:
We´re doing all that we can, but we keep running out of metal to melt down.
Hendryk:
I´ll send our army out to confiscate anything that can be used.
His head maester comes in with a message, that he hands to him. Hendryk looks it over with a look of surprise on his face.
16. Int. Stables. Day.
Tavis is caring for his horse Samwell, when his father approaches him in a friendly manner.
Hendryk:
How´s your trusted friend Samwell doing today?
Tavis:
The same as every day. Horses don´t seem to want much out of life, do they?
Hendryk:
They know who they like and don´t like though. The first time you got on his back, it was like the two of you became one.
Tavis:
I was the first one he saw after his birth, so maybe that´s why he feels such a connection with me. I take it that you didn´t come out here just to talk about horses? I would have thought you were too busy for that.
Hendryk:
No, I didn´t. I received a message by raven from King´s Landing. They´re suggesting a marriage alliance between our families.
Tavis:
Would that be an advantage to us?
Hendryk:
I would mean that we are all but covered, in regards to both sides in the war. With Erik betrothed to Tyra, who´s an Arryn, their side is more unlikely to all of a sudden turn against us. If we were to become united through marriage to the Lannister side as well, we would be equally united to both sides and it would solidify our status as neutral.
Tavis nods, but it´s entirely getting it.
Tavis:
In simpler terms?
Hendryk:
It would lower the chances, that we would be dragged into the war against our will significantly, if we said yes to their offer.
Tavis:
Then there isn´t much of a choice, is there?
Hendryk:
Not from a logical standpoint, there isn´t.
Tavis:
Have you told Jamilla?
Hendryk:
It´s not her, the proposal is for. It´s you.
Tavis clearly wasn´t prepared for it and has to take it in.
17. Ext. Courtyard. Day.
Tavis comes riding slowly up to the Winterfell gates. His sister Jamilla comes over to him.
Jamilla:
Where are you off to?
Tavis:
Nowhere. Just for a ride to clear my head.
Jamilla:
Wait here for a minute and I´ll come with you!
Tavis:
I´d really rather ...
Jamilla:
It´s not up for discussion! I´ll be as fast, as I can!
She hurries off to the stables. He can´t help smiling a little to himself at having a sister, who cares this much about him.
18. Ext. Field. Day.
Tavis and Jamilla have stopped to give their horses a rest and to let them graze a little, before they start heading home. The two of them are sitting up against a tree.
Jamilla:
Is it the war, you´re worried over?
Tavis:
It´s both that, but also more than that.
Jamilla:
Does it have anything to do with Esta?
Tavis:
You could say that. Father wants me to be betrothed to some Lannister girl, who´s the daughter to the Regent.
Jamilla looks at him with surprise.
Jamilla:
But they told you, that it´s your own choice!
Tavis:
It still is, only now I could be setting the North up for an invasion, if I choose to say no.
Jamilla sees what he means.
Jamilla:
I´m sorry. Not that I´m not well aware, that the same thing will happen to me some day.
Tavis:
She could be a very nice girl, but she could also be the complete opposite! I could end up having to stay married to some horrible woman for the rest of my life, all to keep happy a bunch of old fashioned lords, who still believe that there´s something special to nobility despite our bloodlines being so watered down, that there´s nothing in reality to separate us from the small folk. I´m going to be named king, because I share the same blood as Bran the Builder?
He scoffs at the idea.
Tavis:
If his blood running through our veins is the reason why we should stay rulers of the North, there´s a bigger reason that we should be rulers of the Riverlands or the Vale, with the amount of Tully´s and Arryn´s, that married into our family. I´m as related to him, as you are to The Dragon Lady!
She smiles to herself at his analogy.
Jamilla:
It is kind of illogical, when you think about it, isn´t it?
Tavis:
I´ve never wanted to be King of the North, Jamilla. All of that having to deal with the small things and settle disputes between lords, I can´t ever see it being something that I´d like doing. At the same time, this marriage could be so important for everyone up here, that I feel bad for being this selfish and even considering not going through with it.
Jamilla:
They´re not you, are they?
He shakes his head in agreement.
19. Ext. Field. Day.
The tents are being packed up, as the Baratheon army gets ready to move on to their next target. Tilde is helped onto her horse, while her father waits for her. He finds it a little amusing, that it´s so hard for her.
Gerard:
It isn´t your fault, that you´re of small stature, Tilde. Don´t let that horse upset you or make you feel embarrassed.
Tilde finally gets in the saddle and settles in.
Tilde:
I won´t, Father. May I ask you something, now that we have a moment?
Gerard:
Of course, you may.
Tilde:
You didn´t mean it literally, when you said that you would put anyone to the blade that opposes you, did you?
Gerard looks shocked, that she would ask him this way.
Gerard:
Don´t you want our family to achieve redemption for all of our suffering?
Tilde:
Yes, but I fail to see how killing a lot of people, who had nothing to do with it, will achieve that.
Gerard looks angry at her for talking back to him and she instantly regrets that she did.
Gerard:
I will have anyone killed, that I think deserves it, because it will be my right to as King! Your role is to support me, do as you´re told and not to ask any questions, that you already know before you ask them, that I don´t want to answer. Do I need to explain it any further than that?
Tilde looks intimidated by him and shakes her head.
Tilde:
No, Father. I shouldn´t have said anything.
Gerard:
In the eyes of the law, all you are is another bastard, with no more rights than the average small folk. That I chose to take you in doesn´t change, that you can be sent back to where we found you. Or perhaps you would rather be a common street whore and die a painful death at twenty five from Syphilis, like your mother did, than stand next to me, as I take my place as rightful King of Westeros?
Tilde:
No, Father.
Gerard:
There´s only one opinion that matters and it´s mine!
Tilde starts to see that maybe her uncle wasn´t all that wrong about her father having become drunk with power already.
CLOSING CREDITS