—Vale of Arryn—
The Eyrie…
Gawain's return to the Vale had been marked with a hero's welcome. The news success of his mission to destroy the train depot and retrieve Father Lucien had been spread, no doubt by Kay. And of course, the rescue of the hostages by Gawain's men and Daenar's ships only added further acclaim. On his trip to the Eyrie, he had been greeted by throngs of cheers, though Gawain had not felt much like a hero. He had spent the entire voyage to Seagard writing out letters to the families of the men who had perished. Each one is personal and heartfelt.
But he knew in his heart that a letter and the bones of the fallen would hardly make up for the loss of a loved one. Before he entered the council room of the Eyrie, Gawain paused a moment, took a deep breath, and put on his overconfident smile and cavalier attitude. Though it was not long before he had walked into another squabble amongst the highborn lords and their leader.
"My lady, I seriously must object to this notion!" Lord Tavion spoke.
"You must remain in the Vale, my lady," Lady Anya chimed in.
"As the last of House Arryn, you must marry and continue the proud bloodline," Rupert concurred.
Sharra, however, was less than amused. "Your opinion is taken under advisement, my lords and ladies, but as Lady of the Vale it is my decision to make," she refuted. She was preparing for a diplomatic mission to Dorne. Escorted by several Brotherhood of Winged Knights escorts, led by Captain Jasline, her safety was of utmost priority. She wore long open sleeves, cape-like, hanging from the shoulders (not the back of the neck) - again evoking a falcon's wings. These sleeves hang down below the arms, then loop back up to attach to brooches in the middle of the chest. "Only the Dornish remains the wildcard here. I know Princess Arianne and her daughters. I was in parliament with several Dornish delegates. I know... I have known them," she corrected herself, "on a first name basis."
"So send someone else in your stead—"
"No, this must be done delicately. Someone else might have gotten it wrong." Sharra then noticed Gawain. "Oh. Captain. I did not hear you enter."
Samson stood there. "This is why I hate politics. Too much handholding and an awful lot of talking," he groaned.
Jaecarys concurred. "But Lady Arryn insists on leading our cause's diplomatic mission to Sunspear. So long as Dorne remains neutral, too many uncertainties remain a problem."
Captain Jasline stood at the front. "The Brotherhood of Winged Knights will keep our lady safe."
"I highly doubt—" Anya tried to speak.
"No, Lady Waynwood," Sharra interrupted. "Captain Jasline saved my life at Gulltown. If it were not for her bravery, those Talons and hill tribes would have killed me. I trust her with my life."
Samson groaned. "Anyway, lad," he turned to Gawain. "I'm sure you're now acquainted with Admiral Jaecarys's nephew. Captain Daenar Velaryon, heir to Driftmark. He's also one of those being evaluated as a potential candidate for our Kingsguard."
The mention of the word Kingsguard immediately brought a mental image of Ser Connas to Gawain's mind, causing his hand to tighten around the hilt of Nightfall. But he quickly dismissed the image, The Butcher's time would come, eventually. "He has a good head on his shoulders, which is for sure. If he does not make it to Kingsguard he could certainly give his uncle a run for the position of Master of Ships," he had heard rumors of potential candidates throughout the rebel-held territories being scouted for a chance to don the white cloak.
"That's not the only reason you're here," Sharra interjected.
Both Samson and Jaecarys nodded in agreement; it was just then, at that time, that Daenar entered the room as well.
"We've been going over this for some time. And we agree that we'd like you both to take a more active role in our revolution."
"Daenar," Jaecarys spoke first, "in recognition for your naval prowess and extracting allied forces under fire, you are hereby promoted to Commodore."
"Gawain Thayne," Samson spoke firmly, "for your role in the Battle for Riverrun and the mission in the Reach, I hereby promote you to the rank of Major."
An aide came forward, with the new rank badges. Jaecarys took the first and pinned it to his nephew's uniform, while Samson took the second and attached it to Gawain.
"Thank you, admiral," Daenar formally saluted his uncle, not wanting to sound overly familiar despite their relations.
Gawain simply stared at Samson. During his time at the academy, he had been told that because of his attitude and disregard for protocol that he would never advance far in the ranks. He had worked to achieve the rank of captain simply to spite the naysayers. And now, he was a major. He simply bowed his head in thanks to the General but did not say anything.
"We should get going," Captain Jasmine cleared her throat. "We've got a ship getting ready to depart from Gulltown."
"While I'm gone," Sharra mentioned, "my cousin Petyr Hardyng will take over in my stead. Please show him the same respect you have shown me and my house."
The nobility merely stood in silence while bowing their heads in acknowledgment. As the leader of House Arryn, Sharra's words were law in the Vale. Gawain and Daenar we are chosen to accompany her to Dorne. It would be his first time seeing the southernmost region in the kingdom, though he had taken the liberty to dress for the occasion. Dorne's climate was indeed the hottest.
Gulltown…
Upon descending from the Eyrie to Gulltown via the monorail system, Gawain saw firsthand the presence of the massive rebel fleet. There had to be at least 1,500 vessels, almost 2,000! All of them were staffed by Velaryon sailors. The rebellion's ground forces were smaller, but in terms of naval warfare, they surely had the advantage. With the recent attack on Gulltown by the Talons and various hill tribes, there had been increased security and random screening. No one wanted to take another chance of getting caught off-guard again.
"Well," Daenar pointed to the dock, "there she is. My ship, the Meraxes."
One of the largest in the rebel fleet, the Meraxes was one of the first Daveth-class dreadnoughts commissioned, larger even than war galleys.
"Magnificent, isn't it?"
"Can't say I know much about ships, 'being a landlubber' and all, but I got to say she does make an impressive sight," Gawain said, whistling for emphasis. "Though I suppose I suppose the title your house has as 'Master of the Tides' isn't just for show."
—Aboard the Meraxes—
Bay of Crabs…
Crewmen were loading up the last of the supplies on the gangplank, food, and water but also a large supply of weapons.
"There's a reason why House Velaryon is the master of seafaring," Daenar remarked.
One by one, more were boarding the dreadnought. Gawain's men were uncomfortable being on a ship this size, let alone on open water, whereas the Velaryons felt right at home. Sharra soon boarded, carrying a stack of documents and other necessities.
"There's more. The Meraxes... My uncle, Lord Jaerys Velaryon commanded this vessel during the War against the Band of Twelve. He resigned his commission and his lordship when he married aunt Shiera Baratheon."
Gawain's ears perked up at the name. Was the heir of Driftmark implying that the emMeraxes/em, one of the first emDaveth/em-class dreadnoughts, was commanded by THE legendary Sea Dragon himself?! Whether someone's a soldier or sailor, Jaerys's name was known everywhere not just throughout the Kingdom of Westeros, but across the Narrow Sea to the Free Cities of Essos as well. Before becoming Prince-Consort, he was hailed as the greatest seafarer and naval commander Westeros had ever seen. During the War against the Band of Twelve, his fleet engaged the pirate ships at the Stepstones and destroyed many. With the tide quickly turning against them, the Lynese and Tyroshi invaders turned tail and fled in what vessels they had left.
Any military man—naval or army—could not deny a feeling of awe and respect for the Sea Dragon. His name was listed among Corlys the 'Sea Snake' and Alyn 'Oakenfist'. He had been a war hero and the blood of old Valyria flowed strongly in his veins. Poets and bards loved to tell tales of how the Swashbuckler of Driftmark had been charmed by the Baratheon princess, who he loved more than the sea. It had caused quite a stir throughout the realm when Jaerys gave up his lordship and entered into a morganatic marriage to Shiera, thereby ensuring any children born of their union would carry the name Baratheon rather than Velaryon./p
Even in death, Jaerys remained an influential figure in naval warfare.
Gawain noticed his men staring at the deck, planks, and mast of the ship with new admiration. "Oy, look with your eyes, but if I see any of you lot tearing out nails as a keepsake, I'll have the Commodore keelhaul ya!" he shouted, and the troops were quick to move.
"Landlubbers always react this way the first time they hear stories of my uncle," Daenar mentioned in amusement. "But remember: one land you have free reign, but on the open waters we have the final word."
One soldier carrying a large container tripped, dropping the cargo.
"You klutz!" exclaimed one of the sailors.
"Sorry!" the youth apologized. "Sergeant Colmar Frey!" he saluted. "Report for duty, ser!"
"At ease," Daenar dismissed. He turned to Gawain. "One of yours? Colmar Frey. General Samson says this one claimed descent from Ser Olyvar Frey, King Daveth the Great's first apprentice who eventually rose to join the Kingsguard 800 years ago."
"He may claim that but unless Ser Olyvar married and sired a child before he donned the white cloak, then more likely he is descended from some other branch of that family," Gawain said as he walked over and picked up the crate of /br /House Frey was one of the most numerous families in Westeros, with numbers in the hundreds. Most of them were concentrated in the Riverlands, however, a person could run into a few of them scattered throughout the rest of Westeros. Ser Olyvar had been one of the most famous members of that family. According to the history books, he had been a squire to King Daveth I the Great, rising to become a member of the Kingsguard and eventually Master-of-Arms at the Red Keep.
"But... but it's true, ser!" Colmar protested. "My family's so large we have charts to prove we're related to who! What is more we—"
"Yes, yes, sergeant. We heard you the first ten times," Daenar shook his head. "Now, return to your post, landlubber."
Colmar sighed and returned to his post, stacking boxes, and tying cargo into place. As the Meraxes set voyage south, the smell of salt water and the feeling of a cool breeze swept over them. From the above deck, Gawain and his men heard the crashing of waves. Life at sea was quite different compared to venturing on the mainland. He could see two or three of his men vomiting over the side. Where some were blatantly seasick, Daenar and his sailors felt right at home on the seas and never lost their balance. Gawain ventured below deck to familiarize himself with the dreadnought, though he was not used to it yet. He was a soldier, not a sailor. Upon examining each assigned room, Gawain accidentally stumbled upon Sharra Arryn's chambers. She was multitasking—sewing needles on her lap, eight hundred documents being sorted on the counter, and she was reviewing the 387th paper so far whilst writing a letter. But there were Brotherhood of Winged Knights assigned to her door.
"Step away from Lady Arryn," Captain Jasline warned.
That seemed to get Sharra's attention. "It's all right, captain," she called out. "Did you need something, major?"
"Pardon the intrusion, Lady Arryn. I am not the kind of man to remain stationary for extended periods. I was getting my bearings on this behemoth. Most of the time the only ships I have ever traveled on our skiffs." When he took a step forward, Captain Jasline immediately blocked his path from going any further toward the young ruler of the Vale.
"I'm glad someone else said that out loud," Sharra exaggerated. "Still, I never thought I'd miss my old staff in parliament. Or the embassies."
"You were a diplomat before, Lady Arryn?" one of her guards said curiously.
"For three years, I was the royally appointed ambassador from Westeros to Braavos. The nobility is a singular sphere. Those I am not acquainted with, I know through reputation. I hope to guide us down smoother paths."
Gawain was surprised to see how such a powerful highborn lady could be so open. This could be his only chance to ask her questions. Maybe get to know her and her past? Stories of Lady Sharra's beauty and intellect were commonplace. It was said that suitors from Westeros, Essos, and even the colonies had sent calls to court for her hand. "How exactly did one as young as yourself become a diplomat?" he asked, making sure to keep his distance since the Captain of the Brotherhood of Winged Knights looked ready to cut out his liver and eat it if he took another step towards her mistress without expressed permission.
"Hmm. I suppose that is fair," Sharra did not mind the questions. "Truth be told, I was only thirteen when King Ormund II asked me to represent the crown's interest in the Free Cities; most likely due to Queen Elesra's recommendation. If anything, the alliances I forged there may have helped His Grace's agenda. When he died, his daughter, Queen Shiera III the Pure, asked me if I could stay. She was good to me as a little girl and was like a foster mother so I couldn't refuse her." Her face shifted to display a sad one. "But then... she... she passed away due to illness. In the end, I resigned from my post and returned to parliament. I still miss them."
Wait! Gawain might have misheard, but... Sharra knew the Baratheon royal family so long she served King Ormund II Baratheon himself?! "How did you first come to meet the royal family? I do not want to pry too deeply, but it sounds like you know them pretty well." His family had been the servants of House Baratheon since the days of Aegon's Conquest, it had earned House Thayne the reputation of being their 'loyal lapdogs.' Throughout the history of his house, they had known various members of the Baratheon family, both before and after they became the ruling house. But Gawain himself had never actually met a Baratheon personally until he had been brought before Daemon.
"Ah yes. It was... of gods, how long? Eleven years ago, when my mother and I went to King's Landing for the very first time for the 40th anniversary of King Ormund's reign. Grandfather could not walk, so he sent us to the capital in his stead. I was young. But when we got there... ahhh! The balls, the masquerades, and the tournaments were so beautiful! So many nobles and knights from all corners of the kingdom in one place!"
The way she described it; Gawain was certain Sharra sounded like she was a little girl again.
"I must admit, though, when I first met the king, I thought he was some sort of horned demon god. He was so scary! But once you get to know him, he is a jovial oaf. His wife? The Queen Consort, Elesra Stark? There was a sense of elegance, charm, and grace about her. Looking back now, the rumors were true; that Queen Elesra was the true power behind the throne. King Ormund II ruled the realm in name, but it was his wife who ruled in practice." She smiled. "I also had the pleasure of meeting Shiera the Pure at the dance. She was only a princess back then. But whenever you were with her, you felt safe and welcomed. My mother became her lady-in-waiting, and they became close friends – you seldom saw one without the other. Haha, I still remember the time when Shiera would sneak me treats from the kitchen when the servants were not looking. Despite her being royalty, she treated me as if I was her kin." Sharra then dipped her head slightly. "It was also the time I met her sons... Argilac and Daemon."
Gawain tried to imagine it, a young girl meeting two royal princes, in all regal splendor. "Let me guess, both of them asked if they could have the honor of dancing with you?" he grinned.
"NO!" Sharra exclaimed, quickly shaking her head. "No, no, no, no, no! Quite the opposite. Even as a boy, Argilac was the more domineering and assertive. And Daemon was, well... let us just say it did not take much to determine who was the bully and who was the victim. Argilac loved to flaunt his royal status every chance he got, meaning no matter what he did we couldn't touch him." She shook her head. "Every morning, I'd see Daemon covered in fresh bruises. He never said who did it, but we knew. Poor thing. I never saw someone so... frightened. Treated poorly by his brother. When I tried to help Daemon, he thought I was going to hit him. It took some time, but I think once he understood I meant no harm to him, he began to open up to me. So yes, it does not take a lot of intellect and a keen sense of perception to understand a person's true nature. We became friends ever since once I did something I never thought I would ever do: I told the king and queen what their eldest grandson was doing. Argilac stopped for a while – because King Ormund was the one 'disciplining' him." Sharra then sighed. "But imagine what came next once you hit puberty. Because apparently, I physically developed faster than most girls my age. The boys began treating and seeing—especially seeing—me differently. Argilac... even Argilac saw me differently. He was too aggressive and persistent, cornered me alone one day, and tried to force himself on me. But Daemon intervened and stopped him. It was the first time he stood up to him. Yet this earned him a brutal beating that took him a week to recover. I never left Daemon's bedside for a moment until he was well enough. He then asked for my mother's permission to court me, but by the Gods, he was so nervous! That was five years ago. I cannot describe it, but... Daemon is special to me. He is all I have left."br /br /Sharra then stood up and looked out the window, catching glimpses of the ocean waves. "I hope he's okay."
Well, that answers the question Gawain heard so much about. Daemon and Sharra are romantically involved. He, like everyone, had heard that Daemon was traveling to the North, though the exact specifics of his trip were unknown. Some people thought he was going to seek aid from the Night's Watch, others thought he wanted to negotiate with House Manderly on expanding trade with Essos to bring in more supplies. Gawain had his suspicions, but he did not want to add to the rumor mill. "I am sure he is fine. I doubt Ser Rodrick will let anything happen to him. Those Northmen are tough." He then looked slightly uncomfortable as he asked his next question. "Did… did you know Lord Blackwood's niece, during your time as a diplomat and in parliament?"
Sharra then reminisced on her late colleague. She had not expected to be asked about her again… not since… "Lady Jenna Blackwood," she nodded. "Yes, I knew her. She arrived at parliament the same time I did. Straightforward and kept tribute to the Old Gods. She and Rodrik were the first allies I made in parliament. But honesty does not always guarantee you to get what you want. It is something I learned when studying the game."
"The... game, my lady?" one of the guards inquired.
"Ah. The game of thrones refers to the slow duels of influence among the noble and powerful in King's Landing. It is a lighthearted name for the matter, but courtiers are fond of playful touches. Master the game, and you are guaranteed to get the results you want. Failure to play, and well... you know."
Gawain heard a lot about the game of thrones and how it is played. A dangerous one. Too much politics, scheming, backstabbing, and forging alliances. He then noticed four books on the counter next to Sharra, Trials and Tribulations of the Oathkeeper, Vol. 1-4. He crossed over to the books and picked one at random, flipping through the pages. "My ancestor, Greyson Thayne, he knew the Oathkeeper, Daveth the Great."
Greyson 'the Guardsman' Thayne had been the first Master of War and a co-founder of the Royal Army. He fought numerous battles and authored several books on warfare in Westeros.
"Daveth gave him a position on the council, elevated him from a landed knight to a lord, found him a highborn bride, and even let him keep a Valyrian steel sword." Gawain tapped Nightfall on his hip. "My ancestor is venerated as a hero in my family, but he was not a player in 'The Game' no member of my family has been. All of them have been pawns. They did what they were told and rarely questioned it." He snapped the book shut. "Do you know when I decided I wanted to stop being a pawn? When I questioned that House Baratheon might not be all-knowing and perfect? It was when Argilac dissolved parliament. I knew Jenna Blackwood; I knew her well." His face turned sad and his eyes distant for a moment. "When I heard of her death, I was beside myself with grief. I went to my father, but he refused to listen, he stayed the loyal pawn and died for it." Gawain placed the book back down. "This 'Great Game' is a bloody and dirty one. But if I am going to be part of it, I am not going to be some pawn to be used and tossed away." He looked at Sharra and smiled. "Based on what you told me, Daemon understood what it was like to be a pawn and he too decided he had enough of it."
"You know... there were times when I had my moment of doubts," Sharra stated, "especially since my ancestor, Robin Arryn, let his mother corrupt the values of our house. Took decades to restore what was tainted." She folded her arms behind her back and straightened her posture. "But even after eight hundred years, the game is still played and its influence is felt everywhere, major. We all live in its shadow, and so long as the music plays, we dance." She glanced over her shoulder. "But the way things are now? There is no honor in any of it. And what are we without it? Honor gives purpose to one's life. Making honor our target, aspiring to reach its heights even if one must fall short, yields worthy contributions. That's what it means to live a good fulfilling life." Sharra then turned to face Gawain. "'As high as honor.' These are the words every Arryn child learns the day we are born. To play the game, guiding it to where it ought to be is not all as an outsider might portray it. It takes one leader and their followers with a singular purpose to make it so. Therefore, I will not stop until the peace Queen Shiera III the Pure envisioned is restored once more. I owe her that much." She then sat down. "Now, I must return to these documents. I should be ready with the dossiers for you by the time we arrive."/p
"Then I will leave you to your work, Lady Arryn. But one more thing, I would not worry too much about Daemon. Something tells me that the prince would fight through the seven hells itself it meant coming back to you," Gawain gave a grin as he saw the blush form on Sharra's face and was promptly ushered out of the cabin by Jasline, who shut the door firmly and locked it behind him.
"Say the word, my lady, and I will teach that man some proper manners."
Sharra, surprisingly, was silent. Instead, she buried her face in her palm – hiding her blush. "Why does everyone comment on my personal life? Am I that obvious, captain? Do I have something written all over me?"
"Jasline, looking awkwardly, gave a subprotocol-like response. "Um, well… speaking freely, my lady, it is rather clear that when you and the prince are together and that when you speak of him that… well… that you view him as more than a childhood friend," she said with some hesitation, believing that she was talking out of place.
Sharra muffled a groan. "I thought I was being a bit subtle... I am 18 years old, and I am the lady of the Vale. I mean you'd think I'm better than this." She scurried through certain documents regarding Dornish culture, traditions, houses, the Martells... any insight that could give the rebellion a diplomatic edge. "Daemon wanted to reward you, you know. For saving my life from the Talons. Land, wealth, a title... you name it. He was so thankful to you."
Jasline bowed her head, "The Prince is too generous, I did only my duty," she said with humility. "And I don't deserve any reward, the Talons should not have gotten as close to you as they did."
Sharra reflected on incidents that occurred these past few months. From her days in parliament, her ambassadorship, to the dissolution of parliament, and her ascension as Defender of the Vale. More so, the recent attempts on her life. But moreover, the protection of her savior. She imagined Captain Jasline had a bright future ahead of her. She just needed a little nudge.
"I think you should apply to join the Kingsguard, captain. The kingdom needs more knights like you."
Jasline blinked in shock, her mouth opening and closing like a fish for a moment before she regained enough sense to speak. "Th…the Kingsguard?" Naturally, she had considered the idea, but never seriously, not with all that was happening. "But… but my lady, who would protect you if I was not here?"
"My primary concern is the people under my care, not my well-being," Sharra replied. "Besides, the Brotherhood of Winged Knights numbers in the thousands. Tens of thousands... and they watch me day and night. But captain, I wouldn't make such a recommendation if I didn't believe in you." She gave a cheeky grin. "Besides, didn't my mother tell me that it was your dream to be just like your inspiration―Ser Brienne of Tarth, the first woman to ever become a knight and one of the first women to join the Kingsguard?"
It was no doubt that the stories surrounding Ser Brienne of Tarth were written in the annals of history and were a source of inspiration for female knights. A highborn woman, learning the art of martial prowess, had led to join Renly Baratheon's faction during the Stag Sedition; falsely accused of his murder, she was forced to slay her once comrades-in-arms to escape. Only did the civil war ended, Brienne was thereby pardoned by King Daveth I and granted a place in his Kingsguard. For many years, the maid of Tarth faithfully did her duty until she was finally knighted before the Battle of Ice and Fire. Her acts and her heroism were afterward written in the Book of Brothers, cementing her place in history as one of the most popular woman warriors in the realm.
"And honestly? It is time we show the men how it's done. Don't you think?"
Jasline could not help but smile at that. "I suppose you are right, my lady. After all, if we did not, they would not have a clue what to do."
Chapter End
Author's Note: Upon their return to the rebel headquarters (i.e., the Eyrie), our heroes receive a formal promotion in rank and are given their next assignment: trying to persuade Dorne and House Martell to join them whilst also dealing with the loyalist diplomatic envoys at the same time. Both the Fanged Stags and Winged Stags are really trying to gain the advantage over the other by seeking favor with the only region that has declared neutrality throughout the Clash of Antlers.
We are also given a little bit more of a personal background with House Baratheon as described by Sharra Arryn. She also describes King Ormund II Baratheon and Queen Elesra Stark before the storyline began from her personal point of view, as well as the relations between her mother and Shiera, and finally her meeting with Argilac and Daemon when they were children.
Oh, and one more thing! I've noticed that in the comments that there have been some who've been asking for a descendant of Ser Olyvar Frey to make an appearance in this story. Well, I heard your requests. So now we meet a newcomer Ser Colmar Frey, one of Olyvar's descendants, making his official debut. A bit clumsy, but do you guys feel he'll play a larger role as the story progresses?
Find out next time and keep forwarding your recommendations.
CodeWesteros: I like this cap, and see a Olyvar descendent, i think he and Tyenne have kids in secret, because olyvar was a member of the daveth royal guard soo he cant married with Tyenne, but in the end of trial and tribulation of the outhkeeper olyvar and tyenne they kept a secret relationship until the end, since she moved to live in king's landing.
I want see more members of the royal guard and Colmar Frey, how he look, like tipical frey or more beautiful like he descent Tyene Sand
I can't wait to see Dorne in this age, Arienne Martell and his sons, there are bastard or born in marriage, there are like Sand of Snake (Obara, Nymeria and Tyene), his dougther try to seduce Gawain or Colmar like his ancester Olyvar? i cant wait for the next story and know more abaut his two brothers...
simonbagal: I would also like to know how it happened so that the descendants of Olyvar and "Tayne sand" (I think that's how it is written) were recognized or how Daveth allowed them
I would also like to know if descendants of "Jon Snow or Aegon Targeryan" will appear in the north as you say
and as for "Ormund Baratheon" I hoped that having been the best friend of the general "Gerion Lannister" if he was not good in politics at least he was a good military man so his queen "Elesra Stark" could be the one who led the kingdom but because he left her since while his wife was dedicated to politics he preferred to dedicate himself to the military and so was "Ormund Baratheon" as the warrior king with his wolf queen for politics so they complemented each other and so it was through the military that he and "Gerion" became friends before they grew apart
Not that Ormund was a "Mace Tyrell" Baratheon version, but I don't see how he and Gerion became best friends because for people like Gerion to be your friends there must first be respect and if he wasn't good at politics it only occurs to me that Ormund he earned Gerion's respect through the military
―That would be a toughie since apparently Olyvar Frey was a popular character in my first storyline. There would've been some at first since Kingsguard are not permitted to marry, not have children and inherit no lands or titles whatsoever. But since Olyvar was trained by Daveth himself, it is possible that he would have looked the other way and legitimized any child of his with Tyene Sand since they would have been born a bastard anyways.
Any possible descendant of Jon Snow/Aegon Targaryen I'll get to when I can.
Yeah, King Ormund II Baratheon was kind of like the Robert Baratheon of his time - minus the obesity and whoremongering. He loved to fight, lived and breathe warfare and always hoped for the opportunity to get out there to win wars. He and Gerion Lannister might have been friends at one point, but the overall difference would come down to morality. Ormund wouldn't have likely cared, but there are just some things that he couldn't just condone if he felt Gerion went too far - he's the Tywin Lannister of his era.
There would likely be drama between Sharra Arryn and Asha Greyjoy at some point.
Gentry2.0: I love this story so far and the house of the dragon is coming out August the 21 it's going so good to see I hope you have plans for when house of the dragon comes out