Four days after the Arryn manse's destruction.
As Jayce was busy checking the straps on his armor and shield, he looked around himself, seeing the best that the North had to offer to participate in the melee, from Greatjon Umber and his son Smalljon, to Robb, who was about to enter into his very first melee. Though Jayce was now a Dornish Lord, due to the fact that there were none of the Dornish Lords or Knights participating in this melee, Jayce was allowed to enter the lists as on the side of the Northerners, bringing along with himself Aemond and Arthur Daynes, as well as Visenya. There were some of the Northmen who thought that she wasn't suited for such things, but once everyone heard that it was Visenya who fought alongside Jayce at Torrentine, all but one went quiet, for they respected Jayce and his word, except for Robb, who was trying to make it look like he didn't think much of Visenya and Jayce's opinion.
Neither Visenya nor Jayce were particularly troubled with it, as they could see that despite all his bluster and assurances, Robb was trying to cover up his nervousness and fear, which was understandable, as this was his first time in participating in such a melee. For Jayce, battles like these have become as common and normal as they could be, having never shied away from a fight and battle, and this paid off in his calm disposition and concentration. Looking out, he could see the participants from other Kingdoms and regions preparing themselves too, as the people in the stands gathered to watch the upcoming melee, and amongst the onlookers and visitors, none could find the Arryns or the Tully, safe for Blackfish.
The deaths of Jon Arryn, his wife Lysa, Lord Hoster Tully, Lady Catelyn and Petyr Baelish had naturally caused a shock for the nobles and Royalty, as Robert Baratheon honestly could not believe that his former mentor and foster father was gone like that. Naturally, there was a great deal of people who believed the fire to not have been natural, and that it was a work of someone who harbored ill intent towards the Tully and Arryns. Just as Jayce had predicted, he became the very first suspect, but before the accusations were even put forth, Robert had stepped in put an end to it, reminding all that Jayce was with him that night, and only left because was summoned by his mother. Lady Ashara testified that she indeed sent for Jayce, as she had not been able to reach Baelon and wished for Jayce to assist in searching for him. In the eyes of Robert and others was enough, and so the people started looking for others to blame, with Robert and Tywin shifting the blame onto the Targaryens, the most convenient for them choice, and while most were more than happy to accept this incident as having been caused by the Targaryens, Ned Stark knew better.
Lord Stark from the very start knew that this was Jayce's work, and though there were no love or warm feelings between him and those who had burned, he did question Jayce privately as to his reasons for doing so, and Jayce gave him the most obvious and clear answer- he was tired of being their target, and so he eliminated them. As much as he may've joked about his assassination attempts, Jayce wasn't really all too keen on the idea of constantly having to look behind his shoulder, and it was long overdue for him to deal with Catelyn Tully, while taking out Jon Arryn, her father, sister and supporter were good too for him. With House Tully now nearly wiped out, the Riverlands were now officially ruled by Brandon Stark, who was recognized by the King as Lord of Riverrun, but with him still being too young to assume the duties of a lord, Ser Brynden Tully was chosen to act as a Regent in Brandon's stead.
As for the Vale, after Lady Elena Grafton conveniently relayed the knowledge and letters she had about Lysa Tully and Petyr Baelish to the Crown on the very next day, House Arryn was left without an official heir, with only Harrold Hardyng to assume the name and titles. Just as Jayce had predicted, this wasn't met all too well, as Harrold, despite having good looks and certain prowess in combat, didn't have the best reputation among the nobles of the Vale, not to mention the fact that a great many assumed him to be a puppet of Lady Anya Waynwood. These suspicions were not without merit, and over the coming days, more and more started to turn to House Royce as the next logical and legitimate choice as rulers of the Vale, and Jayce was counting on this to become reality quite soon. And as for Petyr Baelish, as far as Jayce as concerned, he too would soon be replaced, possibly by a Lannister, and this was not something that Jayce could exploit at the moment. For the time, he would focus his efforts in a different area, to ensure that when the time came, he would be in the most prominent and powerful position imaginable.
Yet before he could get to accomplishing it, he needed to get through this melee, and considering that there were quite a great many of the renowned and skilled fighters, from Barristan Selmy to Jaime Lannister, Jayce knew that he would have to be ready to fight at his fullest. As he checked his belt and the blunted sword he was carrying, Arthur moved to him, patting him on the shoulder.
"Feeling nervous?" Arthur asked of Jayce. "I've taught you for five years almost, and as I see it, you'll have no problem going through most of them."
"One at a time, sure, but I get the feeling that I'm gonna be quite a popular person here today." Jayce remarked with a chuckle, with Arthur agreeing with him. "Shame that we couldn't get Ulric to join."
"My brother is of the opinion, that one must use their sword only to defeat the enemies in battles, and not for the spectacle of others." Arthur noted. "Still, even without him, I'd say our chances are pretty good. Aemond is a solid fighter, one of the best in Dorne, and Visenya is I'd say on par with you."
"Yeah, I guess you are right." Jayce said, as he took his helmet in his hand, preparing to put it on. "Out of curiosity: what do you think are my chances against the Kingslayer?" Jayce asked of Arthur, as they both turned to see the proud Young Lion already looking at Jayce with a victor's look.
"Back when Jaime was made a knight, he was one of the best swordsmen of his age and time, and he held the potential to be one of the best in history, on par with the likes of Ryam Redwyne and Aemon the Dragonknight. I've seen him fight in the Greyjoy Rebellion, and recently he trained against the Lannister knights, and he is better than anyone you've ever fought against in real battle. Barristan and I considered him once as the best natural swordsman in Westeros." Arthur stated to Jayce truthfully, but then smiled to him. "But then I met you and learned that I was wrong in that regard. He only had a few weeks of training from, but you had spent years with me, and to be quite fair, I wasn't even half as hard on Jaime as I was on him. You are bigger, quicker and stronger by a good margin than he was in his prime, and what's most important, in the amount of experience you have."
"Hm, I did have fight almost all the time since I was nine, and still somehow survived, while he spent last five years guarding the King's privy." Jayce noted with a chuckle, as he put on his helmet. "I guess we'll soon see if the Dreadwolf's claws are sharper than Young Lion's." Jayce said, as he and others advanced to the field, as the King and royal family made their appearance.
"Good people of King's Landing, guests from all of Seven Kingdoms, welcome to the Grand Melee, held in honor of Princess Myrcella's betrothal to Lord Rodrigo Antaryon of Braavos!" The herald announced. "Today, on this very field, we witness the very finest of knights gathered from all of Westeros and Seven Kingdoms, ready to fight for glory and honor, as well as the generous sum in coin, for the victor shall take home with fame and glory 20 thousand gold Dragons, while the runner-up and the third best knight shall claim 10 and 5 thousand respectively. Now, representing the Stormlands…" Jayce didn't pay much attention after that, as he gathered his focus and readied himself for the fight ahead.
"…And finally, representing the North, we have Lord Rickard Karstark with his sons, Harrion, Torrhen and Eddard Karstarks, Lord Greatjon Umber and his son, Smalljon Umber, Lord Jorah Mormont, Lady Maege Mormont and her daughter, Lady Daisy Mormont, Robett Glover, Robb Stark, Heir of Winterfell, Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, Ser Aemond Dayne, and finally, Lord Jayce Stark, the Sea Wolf and the Sword of Twilight!" The Herald finished, and the public cheered, as Robert Baratheon rose up, and spoke up.
"I see a great many of the finest of warriors in all of Westeros here today, so I expect you to show us all, what you are all really made of!" Robert shouted them. "Now, begin!" He commanded, the trumpets sounded, and the melee was officially on.
Jayce didn't hesitate in seeking his target, having already identified the one he would go after first, as he moved towards the participants from Riverlands and picking off one of the Brackens, quickly engaging him in a fight. The knight of the Brakens used a Morningstar against Jayce and was aiming to crack Jayce's head open, but Jayce baited him into swinging it down and striking the dirt, getting stuck, with Jayce using the opportunity to smash his shield into his helmet, knocking the man down and getting his first win. He didn't celebrate or rest on his laurels, as his first real opponent quickly made himself known, striking from his right in an attempt to take Jayce by surprise, but Jayce reacted quickly, blocking the sword with his shield and then struck at the man, hitting his shoulder. Only then did he notice, that this was none other than Brynden Tully, the Blackfish, with two additional Rivermen coming to his aid, one armed with a sword and another with an axe, while Brynden was recovering.
"Bloody hell… You are quicker than you were in White Harbor." Brynden heaved with pain, as he struggled to keep his sword in his hand. "You didn't expect me to simply let you off with what you've done to my nephew, did you?"
"Not really, no." Jayce answered, as he readied himself, as the two Rivermen attacked at once.
Jayce moved at the one with the axe and shield, feinting a stab, but then slashing his sword at his helmet with enough force to knock him off course and force him to retreat, before turning to the second one, blocking his attack with a shield and then pushing him back and striking his right shoulder before he recovered. The man turned out to be weaker than Brynden, for after this attack he dropped his sword and yielded to Jayce, allowing him to turn and finish off the axe man with a second strike in the head, knocking him out for good. This left Brynden alone, as other Rivermen were busy engaging others, and so the Blackfish was up against the Dreadwolf, and knowing his options, Brynden threw down his sword and shield, his left hand going to his right shoulder.
"I yield…" He said bitterly, with Jayce accepting the win with a nod, as Brynden wobbled away from the grounds, while Jayce was suddenly pushed away, causing him to nearly lose his footing, but he managed to stay on his feet and with a bit of force, he pushed his new opponent away.
"You got lucky in Gulltown, bastard, but this time you won't get a chance to cheat on me!" Harrold Hardyng yelled at Jayce with anger, as he swung his sword at Jayce, with Jayce blocking his strikes with shield. "I've been waiting a long time for this!" Harrold stated to Jayce, as he seemingly pushed him to the very edges of the arena, forcing him to block.
However, once Jayce had found his moment, instead of blocking, he evaded to the side and then pushed with his shield Harrold into the stone wall, forcing him to collide with it, and then delivered a hard strike on his helmet, repeating it twice, until Harrold managed to recover and swung his sword erratically. Managing to stand up, though clearly not without shaking, he tried to charge Jayce again, but the Sea Wolf outmaneuvered the Young Falcon and ended up striking charging falcon with a slash straight into the slit of his helmet. Though the blades used in the melee were blunted, they were still weapons, and once Jayce retrieves his blade from Harrold's helmet, there is clear blood and even flesh on it, as the young man is crying in agony, falling on his knees and helplessly waving around, with the squires hurrying to him. Though not the most honorable of victories, it was still a victory and Jayce needed to move on, and he soon found himself more than a few a troubles on his head, in form of Bronze Yohn Royce and his three sons, Andar, Robar and Waymar.
"Lord Royce, I hope that you bear no bad blood to me for what I just did." Jayce asked of him as he readied himself.
"None at all, things like that happen." Bronze Yohn responded. "However, I and my boys were hoping that you could spare us some of your time, before the Kingslayer comes for you."
"I'll be delighted to accommodate, though even for me, the odds do see a bit on the unfair side of things." Jayce commented with a bit of a humor, until he noticed another sword join him, surprising him.
"Then how about we even the odds?" Baelon Velaryon asked of Jayce, as he held his bastard sword ready. "I can't let you lose before we duel."
"Now this is a more even matchup!" Jayce said, and the two attacked Royces.
Evading and pushing away Andar, Jayce moved to engage Bronze Yohn, while Baelon swiftly parried and struck Waymar and locked blades with Robar. Lord of Runestone was regarded as one of the best fighters in the Vale, and it showed, as he and Jayce exchanged blows, with only parries and evasions being the result of it, until Andar recovered and tried to attack Jayce from behind. Dreadwolf noticed it and as he locked swords with Bronze Yohn, he then pushed the incoming sword away with his shield and switched the attack on Andar, thrusting his sword in between the plates into his shoulder and then slashing him in the helmet, before finishing it off with a good strike shield bash in his torso, forcing Andar to fall flat.
Bronze Yohn Royce used the chance and nicked Jayce in in the arm, getting his attention and the two resumed their fight, with the older Lord impressed that Jayce was able to keep up with him, until Jayce again feinted a thrust and then bashed his shield into Lord Royce's leg, causing him cry out and fall on one knee. Pushing away and out of his hand the sword, Jayce held his blade to Yohn Royce's neck, with the Lord of Runestone yielding, before Jayce helped him and Andar on the feet, before turning his attention to Baelon. The Widowmaker was proving that he had earned his nickname through martial prowess and not as a joke, as he dispatched Robar with a slash into the gut and shoulder push onto the ground, before swinging back and disarming Waymar, forcing him to yield. This gave Jayce and Baelon the space and opportunity to see which of them was the better sword, and the two brothers readied themselves, and the first one moved Jayce.
Using the shield for cover, he tried to thrust his blade at Baelon, but he stopped his shield with a pummel and deflected the sword away with the blade, before pushing Jayce aside and trying to strike from left, but only achieving a block from Jayce. Trying to disarm Baelon, Jayce moved his blade in such a position in which he could hook his sword to Baelon's but Baelon didn't let him, pushing Jayce off himself and regrouping, before trying to strike at Jayce. Feinting an overhead attack, Baelon went for a thrust, which Jayce blocked with his sword, but then Baelon swung his sword in such a way that Jayce was unable to keep it in his hand, being left disarmed. Bashing his shield into Baelon to get him off himself for at least a moment, Jayce used the chance he had to catch his breath and just in time to use it catch Baelon's arm and deflect Baelon's blade under Jayce's left arm, and then smashing the shield into Baelon's arm. The longsword that Baelon used dropped unto the ground, with Jayce them bashing his shield into Baelon, forcing him onto his back, and the next time he saw Jayce was when Jayce put Baelon's own sword to his neck.
"I yield." Baelon said, with Jayce helping him.
"Mind if I keep it?" Jayce asked of Baelon, pointing to his longsword, with Baelon nodding to him.
With Baelon moving out of the arena, Jayce finally took stock of the situation around him, and found that that majority of the fighters have already been dispatched, and hardly any Northmen remained, with Aemond and Robb fighting against the two Tyrell brothers, while Arthur was engaging Lord Randyll Tarly, while Visenya was on the back foot against a large knight with a mace wielding Stormlands knight. Deciding that Visenya was of higher priority to keep in the fight, but he wasn't fast enough to get to her, as Visenya yielded after her shield was smashed and she was pushed onto the ground, so all Jayce could do was avenge her. Deciding that pure brute strength would not do him well against such an enemy, he changed his usual approach, and so went to strike at its knee just as she turned to Jayce, and then following it up with his shield bash into it.
He managed to get the knight off balance, but then it straight up grabbed his shield and disarmed Jayce of it, before trying to take Jayce out with it, but Jayce evaded and then struck his sword at the helmet of his opponent. With both hands on his blade and no encumbrance to his mobility, Jayce went on the offensive, outmaneuvering his opponent and striking in the leg again, now managing to get him off the balance and follow it up with a shoulder bash. The knight went down and fell, with Jayce standing over him with his blade drawn for a stab, with the knight yielding to Jayce, and so he disengaged from him, moving to Garlan Tyrell, as he finished Robb off, while Loras stood and watched. Once the two Tyrell brothers were done with their respective opponents, they turned their attention to Jayce, and just before either of them could talk, Jayce moved at Loras, feinting a stab and then slashing at his head, forcing him to drop his longaxe and then Jayce nicked him in the knee, forcing him on one knee.
Disengaging from Loras as he was out of the fight for a moment, Jayce turned to Garlan, armed with sword and shield, and the two fighters began to try and defeat one another, with Jayce finding Garlan a good match against him, as he was able to block and deflect several of his attacks and land a strike at his left arm. Jayce took a few moments to watch how Garlan would act, and believing having discovered a pattern to his attacks, Jayce launched a new combo at Garlan and after it was blocked, Garlan went onto the offensive with an expected stab. Jayce used the moment to dive underneath and to his right side, before striking at his arm and then smashing his pummel into his helmet, followed by a full body smash into him, forcing him in his back, knocking him out. Taking a few seconds to regain his breath, Jayce then swiftly and powerfully swung at Loras, striking him in the helm and knocking him out, leaving him as one of four standing in the field.
Aside from Jayce, there were also Arthur Dayne, Barristan Selmy, and Jaime Lannister, who turned to face Ser Arthur, speaking up in an arrogant tone.
"So, Ser Arthur, mayhaps it is time for true Knights to fight. What do you say?" Jaime raised his sword in an expecting manner, but Arthur turned to Jayce and nodded to him, before turning to Barristan, who without a word said accepted the challenge. "Guess I'll have to content myself with the leftovers, then. I do hope you've at least learned how to properly hold a sword from Ser Arthur, though I'd hardly expect you to have learned much from him." Jaime said with arrogant tone, while Jayce readied himself.
"Are you done talking?" Jayce asked of him simply, with Jaime perturbed slightly at such a cold response.
Not waiting for a response, Jayce simply launched an attack at the Kingslayer, first feinting an overhead slash and going for a side one, with Jaime evading and trying to counter, but Jayce deflecting and striking with a counter himself. Jaime blocked and deflected aside, moving away for a bit of a distance, before launching his own assault, rapidly trying to strike Jayce, with the Dreadwolf keeping up and blocking two and deflecting two more, until Jaime managed to get strike at Jayce's torso, but without much result. Despite the sting in the ribs, Jayce pushed through the pain and returned the favor to the Kingslayer with his own strike at his left arm, which visibly left him in pain too, before following it with an attempted strike at the helmet, but Jaime deflected that one to the side, with Jayce then using the chance to disarm Jaime by driving the sword away, but didn't manage it, as Jaime moved back a bit to regroup.
Taking a second to catch his breath, Jayce decided that it was time change his approach to the attack, and so he prepared to seemingly defend, appearing to Jaime as if he was still recovering, and so the Young Lion of Lannisters went on the attack. Jayce then moved his blade to block, but when Jaime's blade touched his, Dreadwolf then allowed Jaime power through, with his body moving forward, while Jayce's to the side with his sword. Having put too much force and strength into his strike, Jaime was unable to react in time to Jayce outmaneuvering and then striking him hard on the neck and back with overhead slash. Then following a downward slash and a strike at the knee, forcing Jaime onto the dirt, with Jayce towering over him, heaving and panting, but still victorious, yet Jaime didn't seem to accept it, as he reached for his tried to reach for his dagger while Jayce wasn't looking. His hand already retrieved the weapon and aimed it at Jayce's hip, ready to plunge it in, but then his hand was struck by another blunted weapon, with Arthur Dayne locking eyes with him.
"Have some dignity, Kingslayer, for you've long all your honor." Arthur stated with disappointment in his tone. "Yield."
"Since when… Does a lion yield to a runt?" Jaime asked with a sneer, with Jayce deciding not even to bother, as he then struck Jaime as hard as he could with a pummel, knocking him out for good, before Jayce moved to face Arthur Dayne.
"So… It's just you and me, huh?" Jayce asked of him with his breath ragged, with Arthur not even looking winded, with Jayce knowing that he stood not a chance, as he put his blade down, moved to Arthur, and then raised his sword arm into the air, and the crowd cheered at this victory.
"Lords and Ladies, we have our victor! Let's give a heartfelt applause to Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, and to the graceful runner-up, Lord Jayce Stark, the Sword of the Twilight, for his outstanding prowess!" The herald announced, and nearly all cheered and applauded to the two victors, with Robert rising to his feet and applauding and shouting praises louder than all the rest, followed second by Eddard Stark and Ashara Dayne, both of whom had proud smiles on their faces.
Evening. Hand of the King's personal chambers.
"The name of House Lannister, of my House, is one that induces fear and respect into the minds of all that hear it, and it is a name that I've sacrificed much for to make it as revered as it is." Tywin Lannister spoke up, as he looked down on his seated eldest son. "When Aerys took you away to slight me, he thought that he could make us Lions obey him, but he didn't, as you've demonstrated to him, and as you've continued to demonstrate afterwards. The sole reason why I allowed you to live out your boyhood dreams is because you brought recognition and induced fear of our family. Today… Today you were made a mockery of, by a boy half your age." Tywin stated to Jaime with disappointment and even disgust.
"Hm, with the way he is built and his fitness, one would be quite hard-pressed to call him a boy." Tyrion decided to chime in on behalf of his brother. "And I very much doubt that he hasn't laid with a woman, if that is what you are basing your opinion on, father. Given how he is fairer and more handsome than even I am, I have no doubt he has more problem in making the choice of whom to take to bed."
"Is this all you can offer? Quips and japes?" Cersei asked of Tyrion. "Our family has just been humiliated and made into a mockery of, and all you do is drink and jape. To be humiliated by a bastard…" Cersei spat that one out.
"I fear that I need to correct you there, sister, for he is no bastard, thanks to your husband." Tyrion reminded her, as he drank his cup. "And I think you all take this matter way too seriously. It was bound to happen, for as Jaime himself has said, no man can ever remain undefeated."
"He is no mere man. He is a Lannister, and Lannisters are not made fools of." Tywin stated, as he walked back to his desk and sat behind it, as he looked at his heir. "Do you have something to say for yourself? Go on, say it."
"That boy has been trained by Ser Arthur Dayne for near five years." Jaime tried to answer.
"And you have a lifetime of experience above him, and yet you lost. And what is worst, you didn't even seem to try to win back there." Tywin stated to him. "This should've been an easy victory for you, and yet you've allowed him to take it for himself instead."
"It's not like I didn't try to beat him…" Jaime muttered, but Tywin wasn't interested in small excuses.
"When Robert made that bet with that boy, he challenged our House, challenged our strength and power, and I've made it clear that you were to win against him." Tywin reminded Jaime. "For all the disappointments you've brought to me with your foolish pursuits of boyhood fantasies and service to a madman and a drunken buffoon, your martial skill was one thing at least I could rely you to be capable in. And now you've failed me with this, and made us a mockery before all."
"And now that bastard will not only be able to parade himself as the victor of a Young Lion, but will now also has the pleasure of training my son." Cersei spat it out like it was poison. "To have a bastard train the future King… My son deserves nothing less than the very best."
"Well, then in that regard, dearest sister, the only better option for you would be the Dreadwolf's own trainer, that being Ser Arthur Dayne." Tyrion spoke up, drawing her irate eye to himself. "But in all seriousness, your son could indeed use a good practice in the swordplay, as well as a good trainer in general, and having the Sea Wolf give him a few lessons could be of benefit to him."
"I'll not allow that upstart brat lay a finger on my son." Cersei said with determination, as she turned to her father. "Father, there must be something that can be done about it. There is no way that this bastard had won fairly. Surely, some form of cheating or…"
"There was no form cheating that took place in there, and if I were to declare that there was one, then I would be making a fool out of myself. Is that what you are suggesting?" Tywin's ice cold tone was enough to shut Cersei. "As humiliating as it is to lose to that boy, making a move against him would serve only to aggravate many, and turn potential allies into certain enemies. Jayce Stark, as it happens, carries a great deal of favor not just with Robert and the North, but also with Dorne, and more importantly, the Antaryons. The Sealord himself had personally invited him to a private supper tonight, from what I've heard." Cersei widened her eyes after hearing it.
"How could that brat have earned it, when not even you were not granted it?" Cersei was honestly confounded by this fact. "You are the Hand of the King, the greatest Lord in the Seven Kingdoms, and yet that peddling lord invited him to a private supper?"
"The Stark had earned that grace by saving the Sealord's son and his wife from an ambush, set by late Clegane and his companions." Tywin remembered it, with Cersei tightening her lips at this mention of another "mockery." "Along with the Antaryons, he also has favor of Velaryons and Daynes, and a number of other Houses looks towards him with favor, such as Blackwoods and Royces. Given also his newfound status as Lord of Sunspear and a potential heir of Dorne, should Edric Dayne die before achieving his majority, under normal circumstances, he would have made for a good party to Myrcella."
"You can't mean that, father! I would sooner kill my daughter than let her become that bastard's whore!" Cersei practically screeched, with Tywin silencing her with but a glance.
"Myrcella is not simply your daughter. She is the sole princess of the Realm and it is her duty to be used to build valuable alliance and to breed." Tywin stated, before he sighed through his nostrils. "As it stands, despite him beating Jaime, it would be to the advantage of our House to have Jayce Stark as our ally. With the North's strengthening position and the shift in power within Vale, it's all the more likely, that Starks and the Royces may attempt to form an alliance, and that would also mean that Sunspear will also be included in it."
"And how do you propose we destroy this alliance?" Tyrion asked of his father.
"We won't- we will join it." Tywin stated. "Jayce Stark remains unmarried, and we shall use it to our advantage. An ambitious person like him will not miss a chance to forward his own position, which we can help him with."
"I take it you mean to make him somehow useful to us?" Tyrion asked of his father, with Tywin nodding to him. "Well, good luck on that. I hear that he is notorious for his willfulness and rarely recognizes any authority." Tyrion noted.
"He will recognize my authority." Tywin assured him, as he started to plan his next move.
Meanwhile. Sealord's manse.
"Once again, messir Antaryon, you honor me with by granting me such a privelage." Jayce told to Ferrego Antaryon, a man already in his fifties, as they were finished their dishes. "And do please pass my compliments to your cook. It is like I've once again experienced the pleasure of being in Braavos and in your home." To this Ferrego chuckled.
"I shall certainly do so, and if there is one thing that I can't stand more than this… malicious smell of putridness that permeates this city, is having a bad cook, like the Crown does." Ferrego commented, as they were served wine. "And you need not thank me for this invitation, my friend. After what you've done for Lorenzo and my family, this is but the smallest thing I can do. My House and my family are in deep debt to you, Jayce, and I've not forgotten to whom I owe experiencing the joy of being a grandfather."
"Lady Lucretia has given birth?" Jayce asked with surprise, with Ferrego nodding to him. "I see. That would explain why I've not seen Lorenzo. You have my most heartfelt congratulations on the occasion, messir. A boy or a girl?"
"A boy, named after the man who saved his mother and father." Ferrego stated to Jayce, who was surprised at hearing it. "He may be small, but young Jayce has quite the fire to him, and suspect that when the time comes, he shall be as famous as his namesake."
"And hopefully a bit less notorious than I am." Jayce chuckled, as the two raised their cups. "To the bright future of House Antaryon."
"And to its friends' future." Ferrego added, as they drank from their cups. "Speaking of the future and our friends, I've been paying quite a close attention to you and your activities, and I must say that I'm rather impressed. Rarely one gets to rise as fast and as high as you have, and to tell you the truth, as a Sealord and your friend, I am glad that Sunspear now has a lord that is worthy of it and its people."
"Your words flatter me, though I must confess that I do plan on returning back to Essos, since I've developed a taste for adventuring." Jayce admitted. "And as for Sunspear, I did not expect or ask for it, and I believe it will be safer in the hands of my aunt Allyria."
"Yes, Chesare had mentioned it. I am also grateful to you for having accepted him in your company. The time away from Braavos has done him good, from what I can say." Ferrego nodded to Jayce. "I've learned the hard way how traitorous the sellswords can be, and how it is hard to find those in which you can trust to fulfill their obligations. Should Braavos need the services, I shall know whom to look for."
"And I will be more than happy to provide them to you, at an appropriate price." Jayce and Ferrego chuckled. "But as I've personally learned, sometimes sellswords can have more loyalty in them than the people who are supposed to be trusted and depended upon. Like my supposed ally, the late Martells."
"You have a point there, and to be frank, while I was never of high opinion of Doran and his brother and family, the last thing I would expect is such form of treachery towards the man who avenged them and their sister." Ferrego stated his opinion. "Although, perhaps that was to be expected of the man who had only valued his sister's life in mere ten thousand untrained men." Ferrego added, with Jayce nodded.
"In my personal experience, I've found that Dorne was prepared to raise all fifty thousand of their spears and swords just for Princess Elia, but Doran would not allow it." Jayce noted. "I've heard opinions state that he feared and despised war, but I and those who knew him better than I did, call this nothing more than an excuse."
"An opinion on which I agree, but let us turn away from the Martells, for they sour the appetite and taste of wine." Ferrego suggested, as they filled their cups. "I shall confess that there is another reason as to why I wished to see you, Jayce, beyond merely wishing to express my gratitude for the past service. I was hoping you could provide certain assistance to me and my house in a delicate matter."
"I would be happy to assist you and your House in whatever way I can." Jayce said, with Ferrego nodding to him.
"As I'm sure you are aware, in the future, my House and that of Baratheon are to be joined in a marriage, an occasion that is the first of its nature, for a Royal Princess to marry into a noble House of Essos and Braavos." Ferrego began, with Jayce nodding to him. "King Robert, or rather Tywin Lannister, has put quite a great deal of effort in convincing me to approve of this match, and while I did give approval to this betrothal, there are many within my family and among my friends who doubt the prospects of this union."
"Can't say that their concerns are unfounded, since Princess Myrcella is King Robert's sole daughter. A commodity the value of which makes her the most desired lady in all of Seven Kingdoms, especially with her lineage and added fairness." Jayce commented.
"Yes, and as even my son Lorenzo has told me, she is valuable to Westerosi, and less so to us." Ferrego said. "My House, like all other Houses of Braavos, have built our legacies and power in different ways than the Westerosi have. To us, true value comes from commerce, connections and prospective riches that we can gain, not from the notions of bloodlines and honor, or birthrights. Something, I am sure, may sound rather queer for a man like you."
"Not at all, I do not have any qualms against such line of thought." Jayce commented, as he took a sip from his cup. "I shall take a guess and say, that what you wish to ask of me, if you are making a right choice, in uniting your House with that of the Lion." Jayce said deliberately.
"I was under the impression that Myrcella belonged to House Baratheon, not Lannister." Ferrego noted, with Jayce giving him the knowing smile, which Ferrego noted with a chuckle. "I see that you are as perceptive as I had expected you to be. While I do believe that I have some experience in dealing with the Westerosi, I would require an insight of someone who shares the same mindset as Tywin Lannister does."
"I fear that I've not his mindset, but I understand your request." Jayce stated, as he sighed, taking a minute to think about it, and then speaking up. "If you are asking what I am thinking of it all, then my short answer is that that Tywin Lannister doesn't plan to honor this betrothal, and will merely make use of you and your House for his own benefit. In other words, he is, as one would say in Braavos, means to fleece you of your coin for his own benefit, while giving you nothing." Ferrego raised a brow to this, taking a minute to ponder Jayce's words, before speaking up.
"That is a rather straightforward answer." Ferrego noted.
"Would you have me try and maneuver myself with words, twisting and changing them to suit my own needs instead of yours?" Jayce asked of Ferrego. "I owe to Braavos and to you much more than I ever owed to Tywin Lannister and his family. The least I can do is being sincere and direct with you."
"Which is appreciated, but I would also welcome some elaboration to your point of view." Ferrego asked of Jayce, who obliged.
"As I've previously stated, Princess Myrcella is an extremely valuable person due to her status and lineage, but it most certainly so to Westerosi lords, and far less so to you and your House. However, she is also extremely valuable to Tywin Lannister because of the potential alliance that can be forged via marriage to Myrcella, and there are not so many adequate candidates to an alliance, that I believe, would suit House Lannister, and I do not see House Antaryon as one of them." Jayce explained. "To ensure his grandson's stable rule and his House's position of power, Lord Lannister would need to make the right alliances with those that can provide it to him, in form of strong military ally and a mighty army, something that House Antaryon can't provide him."
"Hm, I can see your point. However, how can you explain his sudden desire to make this alliance in the first place?" Ferrego asked of Jayce, who pondered on it a little bit, before speaking up.
"Tell me, messir, did Lord Tywin, or rather his liaison who conducted the negotiations, mention anything about the Iron Bank?" Jayce asked of Ferrego.
"Strangely, no, they did not." Ferrego answered, as he sipped his wine. "Which many of my House found rather suspicious, considering certain… circumstances that tie the Crown and the Iron Bank."
"I'll assume that the Crown owes a debt to it." Jayce speculated, and he knew he was right.
"Under normal circumstances, as a magister, a Sealord and one of Keyholders, it would be unbecoming of me to reveal such information to an outsider." Ferrego said in a polite tone. "I fear I can't tell you, that House Baratheon owes close to five million gold coin to us…" To that Jayce coughed from surprised, as he nearly choked on his wine, scaring Ferrego a little, before the wine finally passed into his stomach.
"Ah… I am sorry… H-how much did you say the Crown didn't owe the Iron Bank?" Jayce asked with a shocked looked in his eyes, with Ferrego surprised to see such a look.
"Five million." Ferrego stated, with Jayce contemplating what he has heard. "I somehow suspect that you were aware of the debt, but not of its size."
"I were aware of its existence, yes, but the number that was given to me was a good amount lower than this, and was around a million and a half, not five." Jayce stated, as he thought about it. "That doesn't make any sense… Who negotiated with the Iron Bank these loans?"
"Late Petyr Baelish, and he always said that those were made with the King's permission and for the Crown solely." Ferrego dropped the act and answered, with Jayce's eyes widening from an understanding.
"That… That actually explains something, the need for this alliance, and also…" Jayce muttered, before turning to Ferrego. "Messir, those five million gold coins, I have reason to believe that all of them were acquired not by the Crown, but by Tywin Lannister himself. From my own sources and information, I know that the Crown officially owes to him about the same amount as it does to you, if not more, and I believe, that he was actually loaning what the coin that was given by the Iron Bank to the Crown."
"He was acquiring the coin through Iron Bank and passing the duty of paying it off to the Crown, without the Crown's knowledge?" Ferrego asked of Jayce, who nodded to him. "That does not make much sense to me. House Lannister is the richest House in Westeros, famed for its gold and mines. Why would he take loans from the Iron Bank in such a manner?"
"Your House too owes mines, and from what I understand, mines are not permanent and renewable sources of income. Let me ask you, for how long did House Lannister exploit their mines under Casterly Rock, and the Casterly did before them?" Jayce asked of Ferrego, who didn't answer. "The answer, are literal thousands of years. I've seen the Rock, and I can tell you that it is indeed a massive mountain, higher and bigger than anything I saw in my life, but spend thousands of years mining it… And even that massive Rock becomes hollow. I suspect that Casterly Rock is starting, or has already, exhausted its primary resource, and for Tywin Lannister, this is the worst possible scenario, for him and his House."
"Without their gold, House Lannister will be nothing more but a House with an empty rock, and a great debt to pay." Ferrego said, as he sipped his wine. "I shan't ask you how you've acquired the information in regards to the finances of the Crown. I will, however, ask you, if you are certain that your information in regards to the amount of borrowed coin in their ledgers is as you say it is."
"I've personally seen their ledgers, and I can vow on it." Jayce stated, with Ferrego nodding to him. "It would appear that late Petyr Baelish was working for Tywin Lannister in this scheme, something that I'm not too surprised about. I suspect, that, through this temporary alliance with you, he means to somehow deal with the Iron Bank, while managing to keep his problems unknown to all."
"If he expects me to pay for his expenses, he will be sorely disappointed." Ferrego said with disdain. "While your theory does have some sound reasoning to it, I would prefer to have solid evidences that would give me a reason to believe in it."
"And if those evidences were to be provided, what would happen then?" Jayce asked of Ferrego.
"Then I'll terminate this betrothal as soon as possible." Ferrego stated to Jayce. "And as for the loans… That will need to be brought to the council of Keyholders, but Lord Lannister, as well as the King, will be facing consequences of most severe character, and I assume that you will be able to provide those evidences?" Ferrego asked of Jayce, who nodded.
"Yes, I certainly would be able to." Jayce said, as he took a sip from his cup. "However, such a commodity is not one that some would say should be parted with freely." Jayce said, with Ferrego understanding what he meant.
"And what would be the price for acquisition of it?" Ferrego asked.
"I assume that Chesare has informed you of my future plans and prospects, the ones of that involve restoration of the House of the Dragon." Ferrego nodded to him. "As you are then aware, I shall dedicate my time and effort to building up my forces and acquiring resources to achieve my goal. I would also require allies to achieve it, both within and without Westeros, and Braavos and Iron Bank are the two friends that any aspiring monarch would wish have on their side."
"A wise thought, but such friendships do not come cheap, and what you are asking for can't be acquired by simple evidences of Tywin Lannisters fraud." Ferrego noted. "What else are you prepared to offer to Braavos?"
"Right now? Only those evidence, but when I do begin my campaign, I will see to the complete repayment of all the loans that were accumulated by the Iron Throne, and not when I become officially King." Jayce stated to Ferrego, intriguing him. "I understand that it all sounds ridiculous to you, so all I shall ask, is that when the time comes, Braavos and Iron Bank would consider supporting the restoration of the Targaryen Dynasty more than preservation of the Lannisters." Ferrego looked Jayce in the eyes, and after some time, spoke up.
"Had anyone else told me of such plans, I would probably laugh at them, but you… You, my friend, is a unique case when I am seriously considering your request." Ferrego told Jayce. "Bring me those evidence, and you will have Iron Bank's appreciation, and that will go a long way to establishing good relations with it. And as for the future… Braavos and Iron Bank thrive on making the right investment, so you will have to prove that you can and will be a worthwhile investment."
"That is what I mean to accomplish." Jayce assured the man.
The smallest chapter yet, and though within my set parameters, the reason as to why it is so small is actually pretty simple- I am exhausted, almost burnout, and I've actually barely had enough energy in me to get this done. Maybe it is the change in weather that affects me, due to my blood-pressure condition or something, but I know the signs, and they are not good ones.
So, I'm thinking that I need to take a bit of a time out from writing, maybe a week or so. Knowing the track record that I have with the stories on which I take break and more often than naught I end up leaving them, I apologize profusely in advance to you all if I do not come back to it, and thank you all for your support of this story. You people were amazing and truly helped me make this story into what it is. Thank you all.
See you!