Pycelle I

The Grand Maester shuffled into the tower, keeping his gait as slow as an old man's while still arriving in the Small Council chamber on time. He did not want to stand out as particularly early or late. It was the first Small Council meeting since the mourning for Prince Joffrey was done so Pycelle kept his face suitably solemn.

Lady Shireen and Princess Elyana were born in the shadow of this sorrow, and the latter was completely neglected by a mourning, inconsolable mother. Thankfully, His Grace had noticed and had spent at least an hour each day with his daughter, laughing and playing, till both their blues eyes sparkled with joy. Of course, the true reason Queen Cersei does not care for her daughter was different, a voice whispered in his head. Pycelle crushed the thought as he entered the Small Council chamber. I had to do it, for House Lannister and Lord Tywin. The Queen did not realise what she was asking for, what it would have meant.

Lord Wyman Manderly was already there, and the Grand Maester expected it took an elephant and an hour to lift him up the steps. The new Master of Whisperers was far less sinister than the eunuch, at least. The empty seat of the Master of Ships was another consequence of his disobeying the Queen. But it is good for House Lannister. Lord Stannis could continue to brood over the Princess Elyana being named King Robert's heir over him, but it would get Lord Tywin's grandchild on the throne, as he deserved. If he had to lie to save Princess Elyana from her own mother, it was a small price to pay.

"Lord Wyman, Maester Pycelle," Lord Jon greeted them both good-naturedly as he took his seat. Lord Quentyn Qorgyle took his seat next, the Dornishman arriving later than it was proper, as he often did. The Grand Maester often rued the day Lord Arryn had granted the Dornish so many concessions to get them to bend the knee to King Robert. Lord Tywin would have showed the vipers their true place. Once Lord Alester Florent arrived as well, Pycelle informed the lords of the news from the north.

"Lord Stark and his lady wife have been blessed with a second daughter, Sansa, my lords. He also writes to inform us that he believes Ser Jorah Mormont has fled to Essos to escape the king's justice."

"Mormont is the one who sold slaves, isn't he?" The Dornishman asked.

"To pay for the treatment of his lady wife, yes. It was all for naught, as she succumbed to the Iron Illness anyway," Lord Wyman explained.

The topic of the meeting eventually wandered to the lack of a male heir and Pycelle straightened in his seat, keen to pay attention to it all.

"With the Targaryens resting like Blackfyres in the east, an unstable succession would be the bane of the new dynasty," Lord Arryn said.

"Prince Joffrey—" Pycelle began with a cough.

"Is dead," Lord Arryn interrupted him with uncharacteristic harshness. "His Grace may have named Princess Elyana his heir, but the realm would be split between her and Lord Stannis should Robert—may the Father let him reign long—pass away. I'm sure you remember the last princess named heir over her uncle, Grand Maester. We cannot have another Rhaenyra."

"Queen Cersei had only had two pregnancies in more than six years of marriage," Lord Alester remarked. "Perhaps it is her fertility that is the cause for concern. Her brother has fathered no child in all these years either." Pycelle opened his mouth to defend Lord Tywin's children but he was interrupted by the Dornishman.

"Perhaps His Grace's infrequent visits to the queen's chambers are the cause for concern," Lord Quentyn pointed out. "You cannot deny that there is no love lost between the two."

Lord Arryn nodded. "I will remind His Grace of the necessity for a male heir. However, in case the Queen truly is infertile and needs to be set aside, we should have new candidates ready for His Grace to choose from. Lord Wyman, I trust you will be able to make such a list?"

"I will, my lord. Though with Princess Arianne's betrothal to Lord Renly, Lady Margaery Tyrell is the most suitable choice for Queen—"

Pycelle interrupted him before he could go further. "All this is conjecture for now. I am certain Her Grace will give King Robert many children in the years to come."

The Grand Maester listened to these meetings more diligently than the kings he had served did, offering helpful advice when needed. The student of the Citadel took care not to protest when most seemed in favour of a proposal, keen not to make a powerful enemy. Once the Council had checked the finances of the realm after Balon's Rebellion, Lord Arryn concluded the session.

Pycelle walked back to his chambers, as fast as he could in keeping with the guise of an old man. His seeming frailty had protected him during the Mad King's reign, as even Princess Elia was not protected. Pycelle vividly remembered the day Princess Daenaerys was first old enough to break her fast with the rest of the royal family. The king had arranged for only five chairs and had made the Princess of Dorne sit and eat on the bare ground while Princess Daenaerys was seated in her place. He had wanted to remind the Dornish that their place was beneath the true dragons and it was neither the first nor the last time he had publically done so. Princess Daenaerys had become little more than a pawn to insult Dorne at every step, Pycelle had observed in those years.

King Aerys had made worse enemies than the Dornish in Lord Tywin, insulting and belittling the great man in almost every breath. Lord Lannister may have been only a Hand, but he was all a king should be, as he had proved by the prosperity he brought in the twenty years he ruled. His lord was no fool, knowing how long personal glory lasts, as any student of history would. One's legacy is the only thing that remains in this world after they are gone, not chivalry and not honour. King Aegon conquered kingdoms, yet his sons almost lost it all and destroyed his legacy. King Jaehaerys the Wise left a golden legacy his heir was unable to maintain. King Daeron I attempted to conquer Dorne, looking only in the present like most men, and had his murderers pardoned by his brother. King Viserys II was said by many to have been poisoned by his own son. All of these so-called great men left this world without enriching their family, only increasing their own fame. Lord Tywin understood the mortality of men and did all he did for his House and his legacy.

That golden legacy he planned was in jeopardy now, with no suitable heirs to see it through. It had been a joyous occasion when, just after the court had returned from Ser Jaime's wedding to Kiera Banefort, Queen Cersei had announced her pregnancy. He had ensured the golden-haired child was born healthy, an heir to Lord Tywin's dynasty. Even Lord Stark had been persuaded to visit the capital and His Grace had convinced him to stay for Lord Stannis' wedding to Janna Tyrell. Little Renly had been betrothed to Princess Arianne and fostered by her father, healing the wounds of war. The birth of Boremund Baratheon to House Baratheon of Storm's End secured the new dynasty even further. Yet as the seasons turn, so do joy and sorrow. Balon Greyjoy's rebellion, hastily crushed, still took a toll on the kingdoms. Their armies had stayed too long in the islands, and as any maester worthy of his chain knew, armies gave birth to diseases. The Iron Illness had swept the kingdoms, affecting the highborn far more than the smallfolk, unlike the previous plagues. Prince Joffrey, the Queen's beautiful golden-haired boy had succumbed to it, despite his efforts.

Pycelle shook his head, shaking loose all his aimless thoughts of the past as he reached his chambers and decided to wait for further news from the court before taking any action himself. It was a wise decision. Lord Jon's urging of King Robert to visit the bedchambers of his lady wife soon bore fruit, as Her Grace missed her moonblood the next month.

His relief—and the court's, for no man wanted more war—was marred by the discrete message he received from her. She wished for him to remove the child growing in her womb, just as she had ordered him to remove Princess Elyana. Knowing that the situation was beyond his capabilities to handle, Pycelle immediately wrote to Lord Tywin of the questions the small council shared of the queen's fertility and revealed what the queen had asked him to do, urging the Lord of Castrely Rock to come and ably handle the situations as he always did. In the meantime, he placated the queen by giving her some coloured water, disguised as potions.

Lord Tywin arrived a mere moon later, intent on visiting his granddaughter and daughter. As soon as was proper, the Lord of the Westerlands asked to speak with him in private, where the Grand Maester once more informed him of everything he knew. What the former Hand of the King spoke to his daughter, Pycelle did not know. Yet Her Grace never again asked him for the potion to lose her babe, only enquiring about Margaery Tyrell when she came to ask for the essence of Nightshade to help her sleep. Seven moons later, in the beginning of the new year, Queen Cersei gave birth to Prince Edwin, named on the suggestion of Lord Jon, a strong babe with the looks and lungs of his father.

—

Somewhere in a cave of skulls, a three-eyed raven altered a note of the song of magic and the mundane, life and death, ice and fire. The one who watched from his ancient throne delayed the walkers of the woods for a few human years and, unbeknownst to him, fire answered his challenge.