Word spread like wildfire and soon the people on the streets were screaming for justice. The commoners loved their Queen, who would actively try to do better for them. Her death started a period of mourning that quickly turned into outrage when the news of the murder was known. The head of Pycelle outside the gate to the Red Keep quelled the flames, but they were not silent just yet. Not when it was made known that the King's mother had played a hand as well in this murder.
Three days had passed since the arrest of Cersei Lannister and the subsequent orders to interrogate her. During this time the Queen's funeral had been completed and she had been buried under the Great Sept of Baelor, where all royals were put to rest. The whole of the realm wept from what Edric was told. But he didn't have the time to take it all in, not when his mother confessed and it was known to all the people. It was one of the guards, a Redwyne man who didn't believe that the King would punish his mother. The man was given back to his Lord to deal with. Sadly, Edric could not do the same with his mother.
She was confined to her chambers, a mess compared to her usual regality. Edric felt a pang seeing her like that, with dishevelled clothing and hair. When she saw him enter, she did not move from her spot on the bed, not even react.
"All of that over a fucking prophecy" the venom in his tone made the woman flinch. "You could have killed my daughter as well. Your Granddaughter could have died from your actions."
"What is my verdict, your Grace" the woman cut her son off, voice hollow and without any emotion behind them. It made Edric straighten, the emotions playing inside him calming.
"Your verdict" he knocked on the door behind him, two guards coming in and moving to the woman, "is that you've been found guilty in the murder of the Queen, my wife and the mother of my child. For that, you will lose your head. Bring her."
The guards nodded, pulling the King's mother to her feet and practically dragging her as they followed their King. Edric led the way, flanked by his Kingsguard minus Ser Jaime, trailed by the two guards and then a few more men behind them. The execution grounds would not be used this time, not for her. Men were gathered above the gates of The Red Keep, men of the council and kin to the King. And below them practically the entire city was collected, to watch the King's justice. Ser Jaime looked at his sister, and went to say something but decided not to speak. Lord Tywin did not look at his daughter, sternly staring out at the people gathered instead. Tyrion was comforting Tommen, who looked like he had seen better days. Edric couldn't blame him. He was about to see his mother being killed at the word of his brother. Myrcella was not there but Edric knew she'd be distraught as well. A raven had been sent to The Eyrie to let her know of what was happening. Cersei was her mother as well, she had a right to know.
Cersei was pushed to her knees and a roar of insults was thrown her way from the crowd below them. They all went silent when the King stepped forward.
"My people!" the King shouted from his place on the wall. "Your love for my wife, your Queen, truly warms my heart. Before you, kneels the woman responsible for her death, my own mother!" the crowd broke into jeers and shouts of curses, men and women roaring for Cersei's head. They were silenced when the King demanded them to be silent.
"Lord Paxter" the King called and the man who was standing to the side with his wife stepped forward. "I can't kill my own mother. I will not be labelled a Kinslayer" he unsheathed his blade and held it out to the man. "My sword, use it to carry my sentence. For I, Edric of House Baratheon, First of my Name, King of the Andals, The First Men, and The Rhoynar, Protector of the Realm, sentence Cersei of House Lannister to die, for her crimes against the royal family, her own blood. Maybe the seven have mercy on you" the King stepped back once Lord Paxter Redwyne took the offered Valyrian Blade. The man moved to Cersei and twirled the sword in his hands before slashing it down over the woman's neck. It was a clean strike, blood squirting out over the edge of the wall, the head rolling off it and down below. Cheers rang as Lord Paxter returned the blade to the King.
"Thank you, your Grace. It wasn't an easy decision I know, but thank you for giving my daughter justice" the man said softly. But Edric didn't hear the gratitude, nor did he hear the cheers of the crowd. All he could see was the blood on his sword. The Valyrian Steel sword known as Nightfall had been taken by Edric after the annihilation of the Iron Islands. While Lord Tywin had the one he was gifted from the Rebellion reforged into the likeness of House Lannister, Edric chose not to change anything about his one. It was a beautiful piece already, with its blade that was black as night, the hilt was a pretty piece, the black and gold playing neatly and its moonstone pommel.
He accepted the sword silently, wiping the blood with the sleeve of his tunic before sheathing it. "Small Council meeting right now. We have matters to discuss" he muttered and made his exit, worried glances being shared between the council members.
It didn't take long for the council to gather at the King's call. The man had been there first, his Hand coming in after him. "This will be a short meeting, to hammer out a few important details" the King spoke. "Lord Tywin and I had talks on possible succession issues that have come up with Ser Jaime in the Kingsguard and Lord Tywin unwilling to pass Casterly Rock to his younger son and my uncle Tyrion Lannister" the statement made Tyrion uneasy, while Tywin remained impassive. The rest too sat in unease. "I have decided that Dragonstone will no longer serve as the seat for the crown prince or princess. I come from the Baratheons of Storm's End, not Targaryens from Dragonstone. But that does not mean I'm naming Storm's End as the seat to the heir. There will be no such thing. Dragonstone is currently in Tommen's name. But I am removing him from that seat. Tommen Baratheon will inherit Casterly Rock, as agreed upon by both me and the current Lord of Casterly Rock" the decision elicited more murmurs, and Tyrion looked chastened. "And I am naming Lord Tyrion Lannister as Lord of Dragonstone and all its boon to his name" another round of murmurs went about and this time Tyrion looked slightly happier with his circumstances.
Edric and Tywin had talked about this in the three days of Cersei's interrogation. It was all a distraction for the King to not think about what was happening. His Hand had been accommodating and indulged him.
"Lord Redwyne, this is an insensitive question but do you have any plans of who you would name as your heir?" the King asked.
"Well" Lord Paxter shuffled slightly in his seat, "I was thinking of naming Princess Joanna as my heir. She is of my blood."
"A good thought. If it's alright with you to name the heir to the Iron Throne as your heir as well" the King's declaration was met by shuffling noises as the people sat straighter.
"Your Grace" Lord Stannis spoke, "it's not the norm for a woman to be named heir to The Throne. It has only happened once before, and it caused a civil war."
"I will not make the same mistakes as Viserys Targaryen" Edric said smoothly. "If you need to look through an Andal perspective, think of our ancestor. When the last Storm King fell, Storm's End fell to his daughter Argella Durrandon. If you look through Valyrian eyes, the council of 101 was the first time a matter of succession was brought forward. Aegon the Conqueror ruled the Kingdoms equally with his wives. He would leave matters to them to deal with and only intervene if necessary. And even Jaehaerys Targaryen calling a great council was his way of letting the mass choose for him. But the call was his in the end and he chose his second son's eldest to sit on that damned throne. So as King, I'll be making my choice as well. My daughter Joanna Baratheon will sit on the Throne should anything happen to me any time soon" the King's statement and explanation were met by an uneasy silence, the members barring Tywin looking at one another.
"Your Grace, the other Lords might not approve of this" Qyburn said softly. "Maybe up North and down in Dorne you might find the support, but anywhere else you'll find men rallying against you."
"Let us make a compromise, your Grace" Tywin finally spoke. "Princess Joanna shall be your heir, only until you produce a male heir. Let it be like that and the Lords of the Realm will do nothing."
"That only applies to whether I remarry or not. And as things stand, with at least two different armies planning on starting a war with me, marriage is not my primary focus" the King said with a sigh. "Let us talk on this matter more later" he slapped the table gently. "Lord Tyrion, make arrangements of building scorpions all across the walls of the Red Keep. The designs for the ones Dorne used against Meraxes were in the archives last I checked. Qyburn will assist you in improving on them so they can tear through Daenerys' dragons should she choose to fly all three and burn the Capital down someday."
"Your Grace" Tyrion nodded.
"And Qyburn, before you help Lord Tyrion you will write a raven to the Citadel and request for a replacement for Pycelle. Ask for someone middle-aged, so he might serve me longer."
"Your Grace" Qyburn nodded.
"One more thing, this raven will go to the Citadel as well. Write to them about the secrets of how they killed dragons the last time. In case we need them."