Hello there to everyone, I apologize for the long absence and I hope you all enjoy the update here.
Chapter 39: My Stalwart, My Strong Right Hand
Joran
Joran sat on the Iron Throne, thinking about the day that made it possible for him to be here.
"Are you sure I am ready, father?" He asked the King who nodded, his sister and mother standing at his right and left looking so proud.
"Jaehaerys the Conciliator once made two of his son's Hand of the King late in his Reign, he trusted they were ready for the role and I believe you are as well... " The Queen smiled proudly and his father even curved a lip to slightly grin. "The Lannisters led by Genna continue to fight for anothers false claim, they don't have the numbers they used to and will be your first test while I deal with Lysa Arryn and her allies."
Joran Baratheon rose from his chair, sliding the pin on his breast, smiling and swelling with pride, "I won't let you down, Father- I mean, my King." Stannis nodded.
Two weeks later, his father had left the city with 10,000 men from their host sailing on half of their fleet towards Gulltown to meet with Lady Waynwood and those Vale Lords who stand against the revolt of their liege, those consisting of the men siding with his father are House Redfort, Melcolm, Grafton and House Royce of Runestone.
And to the West is his initial task, the Lannister host numbered seven thousand compared to the larger number he has at hand. They only appear to be at the Golden Tooth, he doesn't know why but under advice from Robb, he's sent scouts to serve as spies.
"You look very Kingly, brother." Shireen said as she came into the throne room, "I almost mistook you for Uncle Robert before he grew too fat."
"I wouldn't say that in front of Father, he always disliked how the Lords and Ladies thought I looked like his brother."
He rose to his feet and descended the steps of the Iron Throne, meeting his little sister, "Does something call to my attention?" He asked and Shireen frowned while nodding.
"You know of what's going on in the city, no?" He sighed, wishing he didn't but yes, he knows what was going on at the moment.
Since they've taken the city, there has been a growing divide between the Faith of the Seven and the Followers of R'hllor.
Just yesterday, a Red God follower was beheaded and their body dismembered in seven pieces like the star, and a week before a man was burned by a group of worshippers down in Fea Bottom.
"Have the High Septon and Melisandre brought to the throne room on the morrow, we can't have the city be divided with the Vale in rebellion and the Lannisters on the march." He ordered and Shireen didn't move, it caused him to raise a brow in a questioning way. "What?" He asked and she smiled whilst shaking her head.
"You are going to be a good King, Joran, I hope you know this." She said stunning him and leaving the throne room speaking again, "Bring Sansa into your talks, it'll help." He grinned and nodded, thinking that maybe he will, and stayed for a moment longer while looking at the Iron Throne.
He later found his betrothed sitting with Margaery Tyrell, Joran ignored the sister of Willas Tyrell, thankfully the woman noticed the mood and bid Sansa goodbye.
"Robb is already fond of her, especially after sending my mother and Arya to Riverrun." He's glad to help where he could to ensure the next Lord of Winterfell is of good southern stock despite House Tyrell's choice in support in the last war. "Did you want something, Joran?"
"You said you wanted to help, the hostilities between the Faith and R'hllor are escalating quickly and I thought we could work with the leaders of both religions on the morrow." He said and she beamed, taking his hand and walking with him.
"I'd be honored, my Prince."
The next day, he and Sansa, and Shireen with the Small Council stood in the throne room waiting for their guests to arrive.
Lord Wyman Manderly, his uncle Axel Florent, Aurane, and Gulian Swann we're seated. Around the throne were ten men, half being worshippers of the Seven and the other R'hllor.
Melisandre sided with a returning Thoros of Myr and his mother came first, "Her grace the Queen, and Lady Melisandre and Thoros of Myr!" The herald said as the door opened and closed.
Five minutes would pass on before the herald cleared his throat, "His Holiness, the High Septon!" Wyman, Aurane, Ser Gulian, Shireen, and Sansa stood to greet the new leader of the Seven-pointed star when the old one was killed during the riots.
But he refused to, instead remaining seated on the Iron Throne, his uncle Axel too
"Thank you for coming... " he was going to say his name but he realized that he doesn't know it. "I'm sorry, you've anointed my father as King but I don't know your name, your Holiness."
"My name is of no real concern, my Prince. Most of the Septons and Septas refer to me by Sparrow which I must say does me no great honor." Joran grunted a response, "But, I have come today on your authority, my Prince, I also pray for the King as he defeats the misguided men of the Vale."
"Misguided?" He said questioningly, "The Eyrie and House Arryn are in revolt, led by a mad woman and her equally insane husband Petyr Baelish, and immature son."
"And yet the people they are throwing against the King are innocent, smallfolk who have led peaceful lives before the call to war came. The Father judges us all, my Prince and the Mother is merciful." Joran wanted the man to shut up already, Sansa placed a hand on his own and looked him in his blue eyes.
"... Yes, you are right, your holiness." Joran said with pursed lips, "That is why I asked you and the Lady Melisandre to meet and hopefully, peaceful coexistence between the two faiths could be made." the man looked at Melisandre and back to him before shifting in his seat given to him by the herald.
"I am afraid we may be beyond peaceful resolution, my Prince. Her people slander the Gods openly and attempt to turn many from the Seven Who Are One." The High Sparrow said and Melisandre smiled, shaking her head at his comment.
"Your people, old man. All the followers of R'hllor are Westerosi, not Essosi, and they simply speak the truth." The High Sparrow scoffed, insulted by Melisandre's rebuttal. "In fact, was it not your disciples who dismembered one of my flock into seven pieces, symbolizing your false idols?"
"They are not false, wretch! Yours is heretical and steeped in black magic! The very black magic that won his grace the throne!" Joran rose from the Iron Throne, glaring down at the zealous and proud High Septon who was on his feet as well.
"My father won his throne by might, it was his birthright and his by-law. You will watch your tone, Sparrow." He told the man in a low and threatening tone, "The traitor Lannisters are coming here, and I cannot defend the city when it is tearing itself apart." He added, stepping down till he met the High Septon eye to eye.
The Sparrow narrowed his dark eyes at him, "How, my Prince? When you yourself are a heathen believer." God how he wished he could just cut this man down, his sword arm even folded into a fist because the charlatan is aggravating him.
"The city will be divided regarding the faith, your people will keep to the Great Sept of Baelor and the Red Priests will make a space at the Dragonpit to speak their sermons." He decided and the Sparrow and even his mother wished to argue but he wouldn't let it happen, "Enough! As Crown Prince and Hand of the King, I decree it!" He raised his voice.
Before the Sparrow left, however, "And I am no Heathen, you little peacock... I am your Prince and future King so it may be wise to keep my good graces." He expected the man to be afraid, or at least quiver slightly.
"Mayhaps, but the Seven Gods and the Crown are two pillars holding up the Realm because if one crumbles... So does the other." He seethed as the homely man left with his party.
Axel Florent was the first to speak, "That Sparrow is arrogant, you should have sent him to the dungeons or better yet burn him." Arianne scoffed, causing the man to glare, "And what is your issue, Dornish?"
"Quickly resorting to murder because someone disagrees with you, I can see why he called you heathens." The Princess rose from her seat, "Lord Archibald is at your service should you need a good commander, Lord Princely Hand or whichever you go by." The Princess said teasingly, making Gulian and Axel, a Reachmen and Stormlander bristle at the light jab of her insult towards their ability.
Joran felt a hand on his shoulder, Sansa looking at him with an assuring smile, "That could've been better, but it wasn't horrible." He chuckled and she giggled.
His mother shook her head, "Old fool, how dare he slander our faith when the Andals abused the Seven for conquest?"
Shireen huffed, "Mother, please stop." Selyse went a gasp, hearing her daughter speak to her in such a way. "You did well, Joran. The work isn't over yet, however." That it isn't.
Aurane yawned, "The not-so-fun part of being on the winning side, my brother... Politics." the Bastard of Driftmark wrapped an arm around his neck, a grin on his seafaring face.
"Politics is our lives, now. But you are right, it is the not-so-fun part of winning a war."
There were others not so gladdened about the conversation, Wyman Manderly frowning and walking past not even giving the Crown Prince and Hand a parting farewell.
Gulian, a comrade of Joran since the Second Battle of Highgarden and a pious man of the Seven Who Are One. "Ser?" Joran called and the Lord Commander of the Watch left the throne room, then shook his head of the feeling creeping up his spine. "Aurane have a dozen stonemasons work on the Dragonpit, fix for the Followers of R'hllor to gather." His friend sighed and left to see it done.
Axel grunts, "At least we know who are sycophants of the Seven. Wyman Manderly and Arianne Martell, even Gulian Swann despite the oaf fighting his last war," That is true, Ser Gulian told him after the Battle of the Blackwater that his fighting days were over and took the post of Lord Commander as a way to find the right successor.
"We aren't the Blacks and Greens here, uncle. The Small Council needs to stand together on issues like this, not bicker about whose faith is better. Now, we prepare to finally finish the Lannisters." Joran said and left the hall, continuing to speak, "Tomorrow, I want the commanders brought from the Camps and the army ready to depart in a fortnight."
All the while, Melisandre prayed to the flames and together with Thoros finally sought the beginning of change in Westeros.
AN: I hope you all enjoyed this little bit, the next one will begin with Stannis arriving at the Vale via Gulltown. I've also started the beginning of the 'holy' war between the Seven and the Red Followers which will have bitter scenes and character deaths before the end.