Hey people, I'm almost done with the next Chapter where you'll see the house that won the polls. This is just a filler chapter for the decision making and some additional magic-finding for Harry.
Not much else ;)
I don't own anything but the ideas in the void where my mind should be. All GoT and Harry Potter references are the property of some other people or companies who are really famous.
Robert was leaning over the list of houses Harry could potentially foster at. He was sitting in the darkened room of the small council chamber, illuminated only by the flicker of the torches flickering on the pillars that surrounded him.
The list included various people and houses; some of which he personally couldn't believe were on there.
The long list ranged from small, worthless houses such as the Freys and Tarlys, while also going on to paramount houses he didn't necessarily trust, with the Tyrells and Martells coming into question. Though there was family on that list as well; he figured that letting his son foster with Tywin or Stannis could cause outrage for two houses taking that much control of the throne.
The houses of Frey and Tarly hardly seemed like valid choices in Robert's opinion, though Littlefinger seemed to think that those were some good houses to consider; perhaps due to the large sum of money he received in bribery from them to put in a good word towards the king.
The Tyrells on the other hand were once Targaryen loyalists, and though they had made up for it after the war; Robert wasn't entirely sure if he trusted the allies of his former enemies to raise his son. Martells had a blood feud between them and the Iron Throne. With the Lannisters killing off Elia and her children; the queen mother of the prince may make it quite difficult for the Martells to accept Harry.
While he admitted in private that Lord Tywin was a cunningly smart man who knew how to play his cards; he didn't know if he wanted a man that bold to teach the future king to scheme his way through life; not to mention the additional Lannister influence. As for his brother; Stannis tried to be a good man. That, Robert couldn't deny. Even so, he was much too petty at times for his own good, holding grudges for absurdly long amounts of time.
The last house on the list concluded with the Starks. His brother in all but blood and the man who made up the best parts of him.
Though the Starks were undoubtedly a good choice, Cersei held a certain disdain for the ways of the north and the house which used to be that of her husband's former beloved. Aside from personal feelings aside, the Starks had steadfast loyalty towards Robert, and having a prince sent there is hardly the most tactical of moves.
Robert sighed, rubbing his eyes before snatching the list up with one hand and the candlestick holder in the other, and stumbled down the flight of stairs that brought the chamber tower in contact with the castle.
The guards that stood waiting outside the tower door marched him to his own chambers that was stationed on the other side of the castle. It took a good five uncomfortably quiet minutes to walk across its length.
And the council still wonders why I don't regularly attend, he thought jokingly.
With a glance to his sides, he saw that it was one Jamie Lannister and some new trainee for the Kingsguard who were on duty tonight.
No wonder it's so quiet. He gave out a chuckle. If I didn't know better, I'd say Jamie hates me more than his sister does.
But perhaps he truly didn't know better, and perhaps Jamie's hate did outshine his sister's.
A thing that was certain, was that Cersei loved her children.
All of them.
So when she heard from Varys that her darling firstborn was being sent away to foster somewhere, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
She sent propositions to the three houses she deemed worthy enough from the reported list.
While Robert was still debating on where he should send their son to, she sent the houses of Stark, Tyrell and Martell three letters on three of the fastest ravens in Kings Landing.
"House Stark,
As of late, the court has heard that your firstborn son and heir, Robb Stark has come upon his eighth name day. With this in mind, the crown has to question upon your decision on whether or not to foster him at Kings Landing until he comes of age. King Robert Baratheon wishes to bring him to court and raise him along with the young prince, Harold Baratheon. The other houses whom are considering the proposal are those of Arianne Martell and Margaery Tyrell. With regards,
Queen Cersei of the Seven Kingdoms"
"House Tyrell,
It has come to the King's attention that your daughter, Margaery Tyrell, has reached her eighth nameday. King Robert Baratheon wishes your daughter to foster with the young Prince Harold Baratheon, and bids the young Tyrell to come to King's Landing. Other houses with this proposal in hand include those of Robb Stark and Arianne Martell. With regards,
Queen Cersei of the Seven Kingdoms"
"House Martell,
With your daughter reaching her eighth nameday, the Crown would like to offer a proposal of fosterage. The King requests your daughter to foster at King's Landing for the benefits of education, political alliances and the purpose to reestablish relationships. The young Martell princess would receive the best of care, and would grow up alongside Prince Harold Baratheon. The two others this proposition was sent to also include Margaery Tyrell and Robb Stark. With our regards,
Queen Cersei of the Seven Kingdoms"
The powers, Harry noted, came as easily to him as his thoughts.
He started practicing the abilities he had at around the time which he first started to remember things. His first memory of magic was when he was in his room at the age of three.
His septa was singing the song of the seven to him in an attempt to lull him to sleep. The elated boy who had eaten one too many lemon cakes was running and jumping around. It was well past the time that he should be going to sleep, and his parents were too preoccupied with each other in order to care for the young boy.
He had a milky white satin gown on that no longer looked like it belonged to a member of the royal family, and the septa was very close to being driven to tears.
"Prince Harold, please get down from there!" She cried out. The septa was just recently appointed to become Harry's personal caretaker, and she was worried sick to think of the things that might happen to her if someone was to pwalk in on them and see that the young prince was still far from his slumber.
"I'm not tired Gloria. I think I'm just gonna play a bit more." Harry said in a singsong voice.
Ever since the prince had heard the septa's name in passing, he refused to call the lady anything but her given name.
At this moment, Harry was jumping on the bed, in a sudden burst of inspiration he called out, "Look, Gloria! I can fly!"
With that, he took a great leap off of the bed and found himself stuck. He was stuck in air.
No wait- he had frozen time.
Well, slowed it down at least.
He saw his septa still running towards him in slow motion, moving at a pace that was less than a snail's.
But it seems that he hadn't had enough control of his powers, and within a second, time continued to go as it was normally.
And Harry promptly fell to the ground.
Varys' birds sung to him, whispering of the young prince and how brilliant he was. They were singing in happiness at the boy who'd play with them and gift them the finest foods from the King's table and toys from his on chamber.
To say that Varys was worried was to say the least. Should his birds let slip to he prince of his own or others' secrets that they weren't supposed to tell, the cleanup would be troublesome indeed.
Hope you liked it. Cheers!
