All trademarked items in this fanfiction is owned by their respective copyright holders (A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio by Ark Performance, etc). The ones owned by me are past and future OCs, plot, and author's thoughts. This fanfiction is made solely for entertainment purposes and not intended for any material gain.
A March of The Meek and Landless
Act 1: A Place to Belong
Chapter 9
Jon sighed as the clerk receiving the Clegane unit's report thanked him. Submitting reports is tough… he thought as he walked past doors containing various offices and committees involved in forging a realm.
Forging a realm , Jon again thought aloud.
The realm was to be named Aidajima, from the Nihon words that meant 'isles between'. It would stretch from the easternmost protectorates of Morysh near the rough center of the Disputed Lands up until Weddell Isles in the West Passage just east of the Sea of Dorne. Further divisions of fiefdom and allocations of farmland would be decided after pirate and dissident cleanup operations finished, if Jon recalled right.
And I'm going to be a part of this new realm… a new knight , Jon thought before sighing. He would stay with Clegane men who chose to remain at the islands and most likely receive knighthood, maybe a command posting. From there he hoped he could prove himself to House Kirino and receive commensurate land, perhaps even a modest lordship. Maybe after that, I can find the courage to send that letter to Starfall…
The main gate of the former Archon's Palace loomed above him as a voice called.
"Jon, a minute!" Owari exclaimed, a few paces from the youngster.
"Yes Kenshi?" Jon replied, having familiarized himself with the rank and modes of address the Kirinos used.
"Do you have time?" Owari asked.
"Of course Kenshi," Jon answered the question. Landon would have to do today , he thought.
"Great, great. Get a boat to the Yamato and deliver this to the Lady-Admiral for me," Owari said as she handed a hefty bundle of documents to Jon. "It's the latest draft of the new constitution of Aidajima. Amaha-dono and I are due to… root out some holdouts in the northern part of the island."
"It shall be done Kenshi," Jon nodded as he accepted the documents.
"You know the way, I hope?" Owari asked.
"I… have been to the ship a few times, aye," Jon replied, a little unsure.
"Good!" the tall woman said after a pat to Jon's back. "My best regards for the king."
Thus Jon did as he was bid, first swinging by the Westerlands quarters and finding Sandor and Landon to relay his unavailability for the afternoon before finding Yukikaze who was getting ready to ferry a handful of sutlers picking up supplies at the Shinano. A smooth crossing later, he arrived at the Yamato and was directed to the admiral's quarters by Kasumi.
"Excuse me? Um, Lady-Admiral Kirino?" Jon called, finding Yamato entertaining Robert with dialogue. "Uh… Your Grace, much pardons."
"Oh, hello Jon Snow. Is that something for me?" Yamato said, her tone having a curious lilt in it.
"A draft of the new constitution from Lady Amaha, I was told," Jon answered the question.
"Excellent. I shall study this, my king, and leave Jon here to entertain you," Yamato said, sending a wink Jon's way. "By your leave?"
"Aye, granted. This new realm needs a diligent ruler," Robert waved Yamato off before turning his eyes to Jon. "Come help me up, boy. I want some fresh air."
"Yes Your Grace," Jon replied.
Jon helped Robert to a wheeled chair, and pushed the king out of the recovery room. Kasumi guided them through several passageways and lifts until the party of three finally reached the deck.
"Ah, fresh air," Robert said as he sat facing the ocean. Kasumi stayed a respectful distance from the two men. "How is your father doing one of these days?"
"I think he is reinforcing The Wall, Your Grace. We have not been in touch for some time before my departure," Jon replied. "Winter is coming after all."
"Huh, I thought he was going to fight some King-Beyond-The-Wall," Robert said, his tone curious.
"Uh, no Your Grace," Jon explained. "The Others had risen again and had tried besieging The Wall. I heard Lady Kirishima repelled them at Eastwatch some years ago and it spurred The North into action. Father had gathered a sizable number of men and supplies and was ready to depart for the third inspection, last he wrote."
"Risen again?" Robert asked, his tone puzzled. "It's summer, what the hell are they doing up and about? Are the Others not creatures of winter?"
"I do not… rightly know, Your Grace," Jon replied to the question. "Maester Luwin and Old Nan are equally bewildered."
"Dang. What would I give to join that fight…" Robert grumbled. "I heard nothing about that in the capital!"
"I… do not know why that happened, Your Grace," Jon responded with an unsure tone.
"Maybe the Lord Hand suppressed the news to not cause panic," Robert grunted. "Not the first time…"
"I am sure… it was for the good of the kingdom, Your Grace," Jon tried placating the king.
"Aye…" Robert sighed. "But that's enough of my grousing. Tell me about your mother, Jon. After the rebellion I never met Ned again until the Greyjoys revolted. Huge shock when he admitted to fathering you."
"She is… Ashara Dayne, Your Grace," Jon replied to the question. "Lord Reed told me, and that she then died of childbed fever not long after birthing me."
"I… well, my condolences son," Robert said, a hand on Jon's shoulder. "Even so many years ago, she was a jewel of the kingdom. Had it not been for Ned and Lyanna, I am sorely tempted to have a tumble with her…"
"I… I am sure Your Grace," Jon said, a little sheepish and unable to comprehend why the information was offered.
"Though… How old are you, again?" Robert asked after a beat of silence.
"Roundabout… ten and four years, Your Grace," Jon supplied an answer.
"Huh, I thought you would be older," Robert wondered as he scratched his chin. "The Tourney of Harrenhal was held until the last day of the year two hundred, one and eighty. If Ned… well, made you while at the tourney, you should have been born in the middle of my rebellion… year two hundred, two and eighty for sure."
"Well…" Jon started an explanation. "Father went to Dorne after the fall of King's Landing, then there was a fight between my father's retinue and three Kingsguards who were guarding a dying Lyanna Stark. Father prevailed, but Aunt Lyanna still died and he himself was gravely injured. With no better recourse, my father and Lord Reed sought refuge with House Dayne in Starfall. They stayed for nigh a year… that was what Lord Reed told me."
"I see. Daring of him to bring you back North," Robert nodded to Jon's tale. "But then again, I might have influenced him to do so."
"Influenced him, Your Grace?" Jon said, genuinely curious.
"Aye," Robert explained. "I fathered a bastard in The Vale named Mya Stone, a couple years before that blasted tourney. Fought tooth and nail with my foster-father for her to be raised well despite her mother being a lowborn. Ned probably thought that was a good thing to do with you."
"I see…" Jon replied.
"Still, his wife must have been livid," Robert said.
"Most… likely so, Your Grace," Jon unsurely replied after a short pause.
"Most likely so, he said!" Robert said after a gale of uproarious laughter. "You are a clever one, ain't it lad?"
"Lady Hyuuga seemed to think so, Your Grace," Jon said sheepishly. "As is Lord Reed."
"You could be a maester," Robert replied. "A wolf maester seeking to surpass House Kirino's brilliance in engineering!"
"Ah, um, I… do not think I am suited to be a maester, Your Grace," Jon said a little unsurely. "And… I would rather gain a name for myself through strength of arms."
"Not a bad thing to aspire for as a bastard," Robert opined. "You want to be a Stark, son? I just need to sign a few writs for that, here and now."
"Actually… no Your Grace," Jon said after a steadying breath.
"Is that so? Why?" Robert asked. "Surely it would be something Ned would want for you?"
"I think it would cause too much conflict with Lady Catelyn, Your Grace," Jon replied, a little twitch as he mentioned Lady Stark's name. "I would rather preserve my bond with Robb and my other step-siblings and disavow myself from the Stark succession altogether."
"Spoken with honor, as your father would," Robert said, pride in his voice as he patted Jon's shoulder. "We'll see to it when we return to the capital, lad. You will have your name and some land, or Seven help me!"
…
"Fleet Flagship," Yahagi said as she materialized in the white room.
"Yes, Yahagi?" Yamato replied, looking up from the panel she was looking at.
"You must see this," Yahagi said as she materialized a large shimmering panel to her right.
"Oh?" Yamato exclaimed in a curious lilt "Oh dear…"
"Yes. As Hamakaze had predicted, Cersei had made her play," Yahagi explained. "A small sailing crew had pulled in, midnight today. They brought in a mess of a body clad in stag armor. I cross-referenced the faces with the pictures you provided and found Osfryd Kettleblack among them."
"I hope the body is black-haired," Yamato said, rubbing her chin.
"It is. A recent set of armor was also missing from storage," Yahagi went on. "The queen threw herself to the body and started wailing. The capital is in mourning by sun-up, and the Royal Expeditionary Forces had been declared kingslayers and rogue traitors to The Crown."
"Kingslayers? How did that come about?" Yamato wondered aloud.
"Tales of magic, blood sacrifice, and treachery," Yahagi answered. "The queen insinuated that you seduced Stannis with promises of kingship."
"How about Renly?" Yamato inquired, now leaning back to her seat. "Any other hostages?"
"No other significant… guests of the crown other than Renly and me. We are preparing to leave the capital as we speak," Yahagi replied. "I would need to borrow some more processing power for distraction."
"Granted, Shinano and I will lend you two percent. Go straight here and we'll get the grand show started," Yamato said as she rose from her white plush seat. "Access prompt: Area B7R. Access password: warau, kado, fuku, kitaru. Priority: red."
Visages of various Fleet of Fog Mental Models appeared as the exclamation died down. The mood was expectant, and the energy was palpable.
"You called an emergency meeting, Fleet Flagship?" Haruna said, stepping to the front on behalf of her comrades.
"Yes," Yamato exclaimed as she gestured to the monitor showing events unfolding behind her. "The queen had shown her hand. Operation Meteor is now in full effect. Hamakaze, situation in the Westerlands?"
"Lannister consensus to not to aid the crown in case of dubious succession holds. Lord Tywin had also declined the royal offer of Handship," Hamakaze said. "Probes in the maester's office indicate that ravens had arrived from the capital."
"Then we can assume that the kingdoms outside of The Westerlands would be hostile or at least distrustful of us should we make an appearance in the near future," Yamato commanded. "Yukikaze, stay at Eastwatch after your last scheduled shipment until the trap is ready. We'll placate Lord Stark one way or another, you sit tight and wait."
"Yes Fleet Flagship," Yukikaze nodded before explaining. "Also, I have just completed ferrying Lord Yohn Royce and a small retinue of his men from White Harbor to the port of Hawkpine in the northern Vale coast. He has shared some pertinent points about instability and dissatisfaction amongst the lords of The Vale due to the perceived weakness of the current leadership of House Arryn of The Eyrie."
"Interesting," Yamato said. "Compile a report for me, I'll study it after this. If the situation permits, I might offer support for his faction."
…
"That bitch!" Robert shouted.
There were several long moments of rage, before Robert calmed down somewhat. Yamato and Stannis stood some ways to the side, intent on waiting out the storm of Robert's wrath. The king had now known of his queen's treachery.
"Fortunately, now we are presented with an opportunity to remove Cersei and her bastards from the picture entirely," Yamato said.
"How, pray tell?" Stannis asked.
"We bait her into seizing power. Perhaps you can return to Dragonstone and then monitor the situation from there," Yamato explained. "If she indeed made a ploy to seize the throne, you present yourself bearing the unfortunate news of our king's demise."
"Why would we need such subterfuge?" Stannis pursued the line of inquiry.
"Our proof about her adultery and suspected line theft can be refuted as circumstantial, but if she declared regency to a succession when the king yet lived… that is out-and-out treason and easy to prove," Yamato launched into explanation. "If we claim to know Cersei Lannister, power will be what she craved the most. As an ancient Nihon warlord had said, give a man in the dark a pinprick of light, and he will surge forward to seize it ."
"That… could be a death blow if executed correctly," Stannis allowed. "But King's Landing is a hub of trade, and information on Robert's survival and recovery might be passed down already."
"It might be so, but I designed our army to be watertight by virtue of the konida principle," Yamato went on. "With logistics moving in a single entity with the army, the army could go a long way without resupplying from the mainland. Now that we have secured Tyrosh and Argosh, we can instead resupply from here and make it even more watertight."
"Stannis, how is the men's morale?" Robert cut into the conversation.
"Ebbing between high and average," Stannis took the opportunity to answer. "They are dismayed by your continued absence, but buoyed by the success in the archipelago. The promise of land packets to work on is also keeping most of them here."
"So desertion is of little issue," Robert hummed. "This… this might just work."
"Next comes the tricky part," Yamato returned to the conversation. "When you are sure that the bait is taken, you would have to edge the court into falling in line with Cersei, Lord Baratheon."
"I will take no part in dishonorable deception," Stannis exclaimed in indignation.
"Dishonorable deception and strategic masterstroke is often only separated by whether one wins or not," Yamato explained. "Besides, perhaps you can do it without lying. Saying that King Robert was gravely injured and in critical condition when you left is not lying. Keyword, was ."
"The best truth there is," Robert said, grinning.
"You are learning, my king!" Yamato added.
"I swear to The Seven, my lady," Stannis said in half a groan. "You will be the death of honor in the kingdoms. Very well, this plan is sound. I shall do my part."
"Right! We shall need to prepare for our maneuvers," Yamato said happily, her hands clasped in front of her face.
"Might I be afforded some privacy, Admiral?" Robert intoned to Yamato. "I… wish to ask Lord Baratheon's opinion, as my… new heir-apparent."
"Very well… Robert," Stannis said, staying in place as Yamato nodded and walked out of the recovery room.
"If… we all managed to bait Cersei to move and then foil her attempt for power…" Robert after the doors closed. "Would I be… urgh… would it look out of place to ask the lady Kirino hand in marriage? Cersei's maneuvers are sure to be treason one way or another and grounds enough for a divorce, possibly even annulment."
"Permission to speak frankly, Your Grace?" Stannis said, his tone half exasperated and half deadpan.
"Granted, damn you," Robert grumbled.
"She is almost too perfect a bride for you," Stannis started his explanation. "A fighter strong enough to best Balon Greyjoy in single combat, a warlord capable of bringing a Free City to its knees within a single moonturn, captain of a magical ship and admiral of a fleet of similar ships… any one of them is a feat worth songs, yet she had all of them. She is perhaps a bride only fit for the likes of Hugor of The Hill, a divinely ordained king. If someone had told me that she existed just three years ago, I would have thrown that person into the dungeons right away."
"But she existed before us," Robert responded.
"But she existed before us," Stannis echoed. "Sure as the sun rising from the east yesterday and tomorrow."
"The lords will be offended," Robert said. "The last time a foreign woman got near the throne, the Blackfyre Rebellions were the result."
"It depends," Stannis replied. "Selwyn Tarth dared to marry his daughter to a commoner under Yamato's auspices and then knight her, he would not bat an eyelash. Certainly not Tywin Lannister, her good-father who lent an army to her. Probably not Eddard Stark, who will follow you even to the seven hells and had been acquainted with her birth-house besides."
"But many, many others," Robert said, catching Stannis' withering look. "Do not say that sentence. I am daft and impulsive, not a blathering simpleton."
"Regardless, with the backing of at least three realms I think dissenting opinions would not be strong enough to threaten your ruling," Stannis explained. "I think you can get scarce better than her, Robert. They say bonds forged in war are some of the strongest known, and you two had saved each other's life besides."
"Aye," Robert said after a long sigh. "Thank you for your wisdom, Lord Baratheon."
"I am happy to be of service, Your Grace," Stannis replied before he bowed.
…
"Ned?" Catelyn said as she entered the lamp-lit master bedroom of Winterfell. Eddard was sitting on the bed with his back against the headboard. "You are awake still?
"Aye…" Eddard replied. "Sleep has proven elusive tonight. Rickon being fussy again?"
"Indeed," Catelyn sighed.
"I see," Eddard said. A few heartbeats of pause would descend between man and wife before Eddard spoke again. "Cat… I do not know how to say this with delicacy, but… The Vale. There is something brewing there."
"Something brewing?" Catelyn said, curious. "What do you mean, Ned?"
"Yohn brought me news from there," Eddard answered the question. "They are… not encouraging."
"Is that so…" Catelyn continued her inquiry. "What news? I hope Lysa is alright?"
"That is… part of the problem, Cat. Lysa is behaving in ways that are improper in the eyes of Lord Royce and like-minded others," Eddard replied.
"But that… that is impossible! Lysa was such a quiet and polite girl…" Catelyn interjected, her voice laced with disbelief.
"And that was what, a decade ago? A decade and a half?" Eddard countered. "The capital changes people, Cat."
"What did she do to unsettle a lord with Lord Royce's stature, really?" Catelyn asked, her tone snide.
"She returned to The Vale with her son and her husband's bones quietly and in the dead of night, as a common thief would," Eddard answered the question. "Such behavior can and will cause suspicion, Cat."
"Wait, Jon Arryn died?" Catelyn said.
"A stroke in old age by most accounts, Yohn said," Eddard replied.
"I… I see," Catelyn said a little groggily. "Surely a little subterfuge is no great matter for the lords of The Vale?"
"Yohn also brought the possibility that young Robyn was weak," Eddard went on. "Smothered by his mother into feebleness."
"Lysa would never do such a thing!" Catelyn replied in a surge of indignation. "There was none she loved more!"
"Cat, Robyn asked for his mother's teats," Eddard countered. "Before the assembled lords of The Vale! And Lysa gave him just that!"
"A normal need for a child!" Catelyn shot back.
"He is six!" Eddard exclaimed, full of force. A moment would pass before the Lord of The North would speak again, wrath having receded in the air between them. "No child of ours suckle past the age of two, Cat. This is not typical."
"I… I cannot believe it," Catelyn half-whispered. "Had the capital changed Lysa that much…?"
"It might well be," Eddard "Even with the best intent, this much oddity is improper."
"It seems that no act of us ladies is proper in the eyes of you lords," Cat shot back, stinging venom in her voice. "The bastard of a lord, running freely in the halls of his father…"
"Catelyn," Eddard rumbled in near a growl as a few knocks came from the door.
"Lord Stark, I beg your pardon but… there had been an urgent raven," the voice of Luwin said from behind the door.
"Enter," Eddard said, grateful for the broken tension.
"I think… it is best that you are sitting before you read it, Milord," Luwin advised.
"Right…" Eddard said, reading the missive while sitting on the bed.
There was a foreboding pause as Eddard read the missive, before The Lord of Winterfell let out a choked, anguished cry.
A/N: Oh yeah, the game is on now. Kind of a crazy move by Cersei, but you really can't accuse her of being sensible. Thank you for your support so far!