JUSTICE
PART 1. THE MOUNTAIN BLEEDS
Ten and five years had passed since Prince Rhaegar was killed on the trident, at the hands of Robert Baratheon. Also known as the Demon of the Trident. Ten and five years since the Capital was sacked by the orders of Tywin Lannister, Warden of the West and Lord of Casterly Rock. He came to the Capital claiming to be an ally and friend and when he was allowed to enter, Tywin's army sacked the city. Men were killed, women raped, mansions plundered, and children orphaned.
It was during the reign of the Mad King AKA Aerys Targaryen. that Prince Rhaegar had been accused of kidnapping and raping Lyanna Stark. To make matters worse, Aerys had Rickard and Brandon Stark executed in the most horrific ways. Rickard was burned alive while his son with a rope around his neck watched and was strangled to death.
These things started the war, but it was the deaths of Princess Elia and her children that was the most horrible act of the war. Princess Elia was raped and murdered. Her children Princess Rhaenys was stabbed fifty times and her son Prince Aegon was slammed against the wall and his skull crushed. The Targaryen Dynasty was bought to its knees and Robert was named King.
The sky is full of stars and the moon shines bright. A cool breeze blows across the lands of Lord Gregor Clegane, Knight of Clegane's Keep. His grandfather had saved his Lord during a hunt and he was Knighted and rewarded with his own lands. Giant's blood had been in the veins of the Cleganes all born reaching a height of anywhere from six and half to seven feet and two inches. Gregor is by far the tallest on record at seven feet tall.
Gregor has a thousand men under his command. Two hundred of which are now on duty, patrolling the halls and walls of Clegane's Keep. Their Lord sound asleep in his room. His reputation as Tywin's mad dog is well earned. His servants live in fear of his wrath; the slightest misstep would set him into a rage. Many servants have died at his hands. It is even rumored that he had a hand in the deaths of father and baby sister.
A lone ball of fire streaks across the night sky. It landed in the mountains near the Keep. When the fire dies out a shadowy figure wearing all black valythian clothe and a mask lands. A red three headed Dragon on his chest. He is armed with a bow made from the wood of a heart-tree, a Valyrian sword and dagger. The Valyrian clothe is just as strong as any armor His chest and abdomen is covered with Valyrian armor. A Dragon helm covers his face and head.
Known as the Masked Dragon, he had become a legend throughout Wetseros. Appearing suddenly and dispensing justice in the name of the Targaryens, then vanishing into the night in flash of fire. For the past year men and women of high and low birth have died at the sword of the Masked Dragon. In the North the bastard of the Dread Fort was killed as he stood over the crib of his father's true born son. Lord Bolton entering the nursery with his wife.
On the Iron Isles Euron Greyjoy was in the mist of trying to rape his brother Victarion's wife. The Dragon appeared, fought, and killed Euron saving the woman. The Dragon appeared in Horn Hill and threatened Lord Randyl Tarly. "Treat your son Samwell with the respect and love a father owes a son or face the wrath of a Dragon…I am watching my Lord. A thousand eyes and ears I have and I see and hear through them all…"
Small folk were given justice from abusive Lords. Women avenged of stolen maidenhoods and children delivered from abusive adults. Even Prince Doran of Dorne got a visit from the Masked Dragon and was healed of his gout. Now the Masked Dragon travels through the wilds towards Clegane's keep. "Tonight a mountain will bleed Clegane and you will face Targaryen justice for your crimes." The Masked Dragon says on a cliff overlooking the Keep.
A man on patrol is taken down by an arrow of Valyrian steel. The next man's throat is slit by a dagger. The Dragon is crouched behind a wall pillar staring at the hay barn. He looks at a torch on the wall and then a ball of fire leaps off the torch at the barn. "FIRE!" A man screams.
The Keep comes to life and Ser Gregor Clegane jumps out of bed. "What the fuck! Someone is going to get their fucking skull crushed!" He says jumping out of bed butt naked. When he exits his room the hallway is littered with the dead bodies of four guards. "Who the fuck are you supposed to be?" He asks with a raised and angry voice.
"I am born of Fire and Ice…Gregor Clegane. The Prince that was Promised. I bring the dawn to the darkness and what man is darker than Gregor Clegane."
"The Masked Dragon…I have longed to cross swords with you. The King will make me a lord when I kill you." Gregor walks back into his room and grabs his great sword. When he returns the Masked Dragon is still waiting. "Good you did not run."
"Don't you want to put your armor on?"
"I won't need it."
"As you wish…Tell them in whichever of the seven hells you end up in that I sent you." He draws his sword and it bursts into blue flames. They run at each other roaring and the Masked Dragon had to admire the Mountain's courage in the face of a flaming sword. The mountain swings his sword with one hand, but the Dragon dodges all his attacks. He even dodges the punches and swings from Gregor's free hand.
Then he swings his sword and cuts through Gregor's blade, shocking the giant. The Dragon swings again cutting the mountain in half at the waist. He looks down as his bottom half falls forward and his top falls backwards. Gregor is still alive, so the Dragon extinguishes his sword, cuts the Mountain's head off and picks it up. There is screaming accompanied by running footsteps. The Masked Dragon turns to face twelve of Gregor's men.
"Tell Tywin Lannister that the Masked Dragon sends his regards…Tell him that as the Dragon's wrath came for the Mountain…it too will come for the Old Lion." Arrows are fired up the hall. The Dragon raises his hand and a foot from him the arrows burn to ash. The men cover their eyes as the Masked Dragon bursts into fire and light and he is gone leaving behind a sooty, smokey, hallway.
DORNE
Doran Martell is Prince of Dorne, Lord of House Martell and Sunspear. He is alone and asleep in his bed. But in his sleep he senses a presence and awakens to a dark garbed figure standing at the edge of his bed. "You again. What do you want now?"
"I present to you a gift." He holds up the severed head of Gregor Clegane, "It appears that Mountains can fall and bleed."
He throws the head on the bed, "You killed the Mountain?" He nods, "Who are you?"
"I am the Prince that was Promised. Born of Fire and Ice. And I will bring the Dawn."
"Are you Prince Viserys?" He does not respond and runs to the balcony and jumps. Doran gets up and runs to the balcony. He is gone, "Aero!" He calls his faithful bodyguard walking back inside.
"My Prince…" He says looking at the severed head on the bed. "Who was that? And where did it come from?"
"That is the head of Gregor Clegane. A gift from the Masked Dragon."
"Again he slips into the palace. A man who goes and comes as he pleases is a dangerous man my Prince."
"He is a Targaryen my friend and he killed the Mountain in my sister's name."
"Had you ordered me my Prince I would have killed the Mountain for you."
"I know and I value you too much to see you throw away your life."
"It is not a throw away my Prince if I die in your service avenging your precious sister and her children."
"Even so Gregor's men would not have let you just walk away. Even you cannot fight an entire army. Now enough of this…Go and fetch my children, my brother, and nieces."
They did not like being awakened from a sound sleep, neither did they like not being told why. Prince Oberyn was the most upset, because he and his Paramour were being intimate for the third time that night when Aero disturbed him. Oebryn was the last to arrive at his brother's room with his Paramour Ellaria Sand. She was his wife in everything, but name.
"Brother you finally arrived."
"I was…" He looks at Ellaria, "…busy. Now what is so important that I must be torn from the arms of my lover."
He points to the head, "That is the head of Gregor Clegane. A gift from the Masked Dragon."
Oberyn walks up head, picks it up and stares at it. Then he throws it on the floor and spits on it. "We should have a national feast day in honor of the Masked Dragon." Arriane Martell Doran's eldest daughter says.
"I agree…" Sarella Sand, Oberyn's daughter says speaking up, "Plus it'll drive the fat Stag mad that we have a national holiday celebrating the Masked Dragon."
Oberyn laughs and so does Doran, "My niece you are too clever for your own good. Oberyn tell the Maester and have him send the Ravens out right now."
"I would love to see the look on the old Lion's face when he finds out." Trystane Doran's son says.
PART 2. GOOD NEWS FOR SOME BAD FOR OTHERS
THE LANNISTERS – CASTERLY ROCK
TYWIN
The Lord of Casterly Rock Tywin Lannister ruled his domain with an Iron hand. He believed in instilling fear in those who served him. He is a man who hated weakness in all forms. Obsessed with building a legacy for the Lannisters that would last a thousand years. Sadly for him his son Jaime Lannister is not the man he wanted him to be. And his second son Tyrion is a Dwarf, a man whore, a drunk, and a bibliophile or lover of books. His daughter Cersei Baratheon nee' Lannister is Queen, but her son Joffrey is a mad Prince in the making. His spies reporting on incidents in the Red Keep.
His brother Kevan and sister Genna have true born children. Perhaps one of them can fill his shoes and take his place. His brother Gerion has a bastard, that he fawns over. Not worthy of the Lannister name in his eyes. Still Lannister blood will sit the Iron Throne, but the shadow of the Masked Dragon loomed over everything Tywin had, is and has yet to accomplish. A few moons ago the gold he sent to his daughter and her fat drunken whoremongering husband was stolen.
Tywin had also placed a bounty on the Masked Dragon's head. A million gold Dragons dead or alive. Five hundred thousand for information on who he is. Tywin believes the Masked Dragon to be in House Velaryon of Driftmark. It made since, because the Velaryons shared blood with the Targaryens and is an off branch of the Family. However the King had sent soldiers to investigate the Velaryons and an incident involving the Masked Dragon occurred, so that disqualified the Velaryons.
There are other Houses who share blood by marriage to the Targaryens, Houses like the Blackwoods of the Riverlands and the Hightowers of the Reach. Then there is an entire village of men and woman descendant from the Targaryens that live on Dragonstone Island. The people of Dragonstone vanished after the Masked Dragon made his first appearance. After a message was written in blood in the King's Chamber, Robert sent a message to his brother commanding him to cleanse the Island of the Dragonspawn. He replied that the people had fled long ago.
Tywin is in his solar breaking his fast. He only ate with the family when his sister Genna insisted. Genna was the only woman who could reach and reason with him since his wife Lady Joanna died giving birth to their son Tyrion Lannister. There is a knock at the door, "Enter!" He coldly commands. It is Creylen Maester of Casterly Rock. Maesters serve as teachers to the children of noble families, advisors to the family, doctors, they tend the Ravens which are used to send messages, and other things they do for the House.
"My Lord a message from Clegane's Keep." Creylan says handing him the note.
Tywin breaks the seal and reads, "Maester summon my brothers and sister."
"Yes My Lord."
Creylan knew better than ask what the message is about. Of he wanted him to know he would have told the old man. Genna and Gerion arrive at the same time. Kevan an hour later as he lives in Lannisport, not far from Casterly, but it takes a while to get to the rock. Less time of the secret passage is used.
"What news brother?" Kevan asks.
"The Mountain is dead. Killed by the Masked Dragon."
"What?" Kevan exclaims taking the note. Kevan is the second eldest to Tywin.
"If this Masked Dragon can kill the Mountain in his own keep, how safe are we? How safe are the children?" Genna asks.
"Perhaps raising the bounty I have on his head will loosen tongues." Tywin says, "Someone knows something."
"Perhaps we should hire the faceless men." Genna says.
Tywin nods, "I shall have it looked into."
"Perhaps we can use Armory Lorch as bait" Gerion says, "Especially considering what he did to that little girl."
"An excellent idea brother."
"With the Mountain dead title and lands of Clegane's keep goes to his brother Sandor." Kevan says.
"I will send for Clegane." They discuss other things and then leave the solar. "Who the fuck are you?" Tywin asks staring at the message. He sets the message aside to send a message to the King and then another for Clegane, Gregor's brother.
KING'S LANDING
ROBERT
On one of the rare occasions King Robert Baratheon eats with his family. A thing he does if his daughter Princess Myrcella asks. He sits with his wife, Queen Cersei Baratheon nee' Lannister. His eldest son and heir, Prince Joffrey Baratheon, Princess Myrcella Baratheon, and his youngest child Prince Tommen Baratheon. The children in the same order are ten and four, ten and twelve, and nine name days old. The King's brother Prince Renly Master of Laws is at the table as well.
As they eat, Sers Jaime and Barristan of the King's Guard are on duty. Suddenly Grandmaester Pycel enters the private dining hall. "Pycel! Why are you disturbing our meal."
"An urgent message from Casterly Rock my Lord." He says handing the King the message.
"Robert what is it?"
"Fuck to the Seven hells!" Tommen and Joffrey laugh, while Myrcella gasps at her father's language.
"Robert! The children…Your language."
"The Mountain is dead…Killed by that demon! The Masked Dragon."
"Ser Gregor is dead! Our Grandfather's own bannerman." Joffrey says.
"I'm glad he is dead…I hate the Mountain…And was not a very nice man." Tommen says.
"Shut up stupid!"
"Joffrey don't call your brother stupid! Robert says.
"Yes father."
"What are we to do? This Masked Dragon threatens our rule." Cersei says.
Robert looks at Ser Barristan and Jaime, "Perhaps I should send the two greatest Knights in the realm after this Masked Dragon…What say you Ser Jaime" Ser Barristan?"
"My sword is yours to command My King." Barristan replies, with an unnoticed look of mischievousness in his eyes.
"I would be honored to hunt this enemy for you Your Grace." Jaime says. He just wanted to see if the legends about the Masked Dragon are true. Jaime also wants to cross swords with the man who killed the Mountain, magic or not.
"Robert…Ser Jaime is my brother."
"And has the reputation as the best swordsman in the realm. The two of them together should be able to kill this Masked Dragon."
"But father what of the rumors are true." Tommen says, "What if the Masked Dragon can truly appear at will in a ball of fire. What if he does have a flaming sword? I don't want my Uncle to die."
"Nothing will happen to your Uncle Tommen. Because your father won't send him!"
Before Robert could say anything his Squire Lancel Lannister cousin to both Jaime and Cersei enters, "Your Grace you asked me to let you know when it is time. It is time for the small council meeting."
"Saved by the bell…I am needed elsewhere."
"Father you will take me riding today won't you?" Myrcella asked, "You promised!"
"Later my little Deer."