PART II: The Great Game
The Eyrie
300 AC
All was silent in the High Hall.
Outside the walls of the blue-veined white marble, an airy snowfall began to mount its quiet offense against the defenses of the mountaintop keep. A draft would soon make its way inside and lay a silent curse upon the Eyrie's inhabitants.
To Starag Mormont, the draft was preferable to the hostile welcome he'd received from Robert Arryn.
After Jorge and Orin were shuffled away by the Arryn men-at-arms, likely to their own cells, Mormont found himself standing alone in the High Hall with his host standing above him on the marble dais. There were six more household guardsmen standing close by, ready to kill him at a moment's notice. Mormont would not dare them, he had no reason to.
Neither, he realized, did he have a reason to lie. He'd come to find out what he could from Robert Arryn, and it was clear that the young lord knew far more about this mess between the Lannisters and the Tullys than he did-judging by his arrest of Tyrion.
"I was sent by Lord Stark to find out what you knew about Jon Arryn's death." He paused. "As you know, Lord Stark was by and large raised by your father here in the Vale. He wants to know who is responsible for your father's death and punish them accordingly."
"I am supposed to believe this? You entered my home with the Imp, a man whose family orchestrated my father's assassination." The boy lord spat. "How do I know you are not his ally?"
"You don't," Mormont said with a matter-of-fact tone. "But I'll have you know that I met Lord Tyrion almost three days ago. I saved him and his men on the High Road and we traveled up the Giant's Lance together. And I don't exactly owe Tywin Lannister any favors." He threw his hands into the air. "Seriously, do you think me stupid enough to travel with a man who helped murdered your father if I was aware of his involvement?"
His conviction seemed to sway Robert Arryn. The young man's hands had relaxed upon the pommel of his longsword. After a few moments, he sheathed it on the scabbard attached to his belt. "Forgive me, Lord Mormont. I did not know you, and there are few I can trust these days."
Mormont watched as the young man climbed down the steps from the high dais. The men-at-arms around him stepped backward a few paces, giving Mormont some more room.
"Why did Lord Stark send you?" Robert Arryn had asked once he stood before him. "If he wanted to know the truth, he could've traveled here himself."
Mormont considered that the boy did not have the political awareness that his father had. "It would have been too suspicious," Mormont said. "We already suspected that someone had your father murdered, yet we had to seem ignorant of it. I offered to go in his stead, I know these lands and I do not have the presence of Lord Paramount. I would not be missed."
"I see…" The boy lord nodded. "While you are in the Vale, he goes onto the capital…"
Naturally, Mormont neglected to mention Oberyn. Robert Arryn didn't need to know about the Red Viper.
Mormont decided that now he'd press his advantage. He had a job to do. "Lord Robert, how is it that you know the Lannisters had your father murdered?" He asked. "It makes very little sense to me."
The hard edge returned to the boy's sky-blue eyes. "I know they killed him. And I have proof."
Well, then. That settled the matter, didn't it? "Proof? From who exactly?"
The boy lord had gripped the pommel of his longsword. "You forget, Lord Mormont, that you are not welcome in my home. I do not need to prove myself to you."
Mormont forced the ice into his veins. In his grief, Robert Arryn forgot what a lord's courtesy was. And he'd wrongfully accused Mormont of being in league with the supposed killers of his father.
He'd crossed blades and broken lances with the finest knights and warriors the Seven Kingdoms had to offer, and he'd battled demons in the depths of Valyria. Starag Mormont was not about to bend to a lordling not accustomed to power. "You forget, Lord Arryn, that I have the backing of House Stark. Lord Eddard himself is attempting to avenge your own father, and you deny him the evidence he needs to punish the traitors accordingly?" He stood firm. "How do you know the Lannisters murdered your father?"
Mormont knew there was something that the boy lord did not wish to reveal, which explained why he was hesitant in revealing anything at all. Still, he seemed to relent a little as he removed his hand from the pommel of his longsword.
"Not long after my father's death, I received a letter from my aunt Lysa." Robert Arryn explained. "She knew the Lannisters committed treason, and that they poisoned my uncle Edmure the same way they did my father."
He continued. "She said that my father had discovered a terrible secret held by the Queen; that her children were not sired by Robert, but by a Lannister cousin. My father was poisoned in his own chambers before he could tell the king of this treason."
Mormont could barely trust the word of Lysa Tully. The woman had practically ignited a civil war. "Where's the proof, Lord Arryn?"
"You think my aunt would lie to me?" Robert Arryn looked menacingly at him.
"She makes bold claims." Mormont insisted. "You must see the precarious position that the Lannisters are in. They are surrounded by enemies and are on the verge of being compromised as traitors to the realm. And Tywin Lannister is not renowned for being stupid."
"The royal children look nothing like the King. But all of his baseborn children carry his features." The boy elaborated. "Black of hair and blue eyes. Just like King Robert himself."
That, Mormont could not deny. He'd seen Joffrey Baratheon and his siblings with his own eye. The boy had not looked anything like a Baratheon in the slightest. Or is it simply Joffrey Lannister, now? Or Waters since he's supposedly a bastard?
By that same token, Mormont had also once seen the boy Edric Storm, who looked every inch like King Robert.
Yet surely the Queen couldn't have been stupid enough to do that not only to her children but to her House as well? Had Tyrion known about this? Had Jaime?
He sincerely doubted Tywin Lannister knew about it. The Old Lion wanted to maintain the fearsome reputation of his House, not simply piss it away by giving the rest of the Seven Kingdoms an excuse to finally snuff out House Lannister.
And why had Lysa Tully mentioned this to Robert Arryn? Hadn't Margaery said Lysa never got along with Jon Arryn? Why suddenly trust her nephew, who worshipped the ground his father walked on? Moreover, why not send a similar letter to Ned? He who had grown up in the Vale calling Jon Arryn a second father? Why not warn Eddard Stark about the shoes he was about to step into?
Well, at least some of the pieces were coming together. If the Vale declared war on the Westerlands, the Lannisters would be hard-pressed for natural allies. Both the Tullys and the Arryns marching against the Lannisters would completely break up the old alliances from Robert's Rebellion. Complete and utter chaos.
It's all lining up against the Lannisters… yet what about the Spider? Mormont recalled Gerold Hightower's warning of the Master of Whispers. It seemed as if all the attention would be directed away from Varys, the exact member of the Small Council he'd been warned about, and conveniently enough, the last person to speak with Jon Arryn alive.
"If what you say is correct, then only the Queen is guilty of these crimes," Mormont said. "Her brothers are innocent, are they not?"
Robert Arryn shook his head. "No. My aunt was clear that the Queen and her immediate family were guilty." He ground his teeth together. "No doubt they would have sought to have King Robert assassinated so they could take the throne for themselves. I'm not about to let that happen."
Mormont pursed his lips. If he wasn't careful, he might just be shown his way out the Moon Door. "Lord Robert… what if the Lannisters did not have your father killed?"
The boy lord glanced curiously in his direction, wordlessly asking him to elaborate.
"I understand it seems as if the Lannisters are responsible…" Mormont began. "Yet I see that the Lannisters are on the verge of losing. I don't know if the Queen's children are sired by the King or not, this is the first I am hearing of such claims. Surely you must see that the Lannisters are surrounded by enemies on all fronts. They have no friends in the capital."
"What are you saying, Lord Mormont?"
"That, perhaps, you aunt may have arrived at an incorrect conclusion," Mormont said. "The last thing the Lannisters would want is open war-they already control the Crown, so they have no motives for killing your father or the King," Mormont remembered how two of his own children looked more Targaryen. Thalia had the same platinum-blonde hair as the Dragonlords of old, and Jeor looked more and more like the Conqueror himself as he got older. It was only Duncan and Arthur who carried traditional Mormont coloring. "Your father would've needed more proof besides the coloring of hair and eyes. Besides the appearances of the royal children and of Robert's bastards, what other proof is there of the Queen's adultery?"
Robert Arryn went silent. He said nothing as he glanced up at the weirwood throne on the high dais. It seemed as if he was turning over the question in his mind again and again.
It only made sense, though. Jon Arryn would certainly require sufficient evidence to convince Robert of his wife's treason. Especially with Tywin Lannister present…
And hadn't Jon Arryn been too busy trying to clean up this whole mess in the first place? Wouldn't this case only add more fuel to the fire he was trying to put out? How would Jon Arryn have time to conduct an investigation like this while he was attempting to stop a civil war from starting?
Stannis… The answer came to him immediately. Perhaps Stannis Baratheon was looking into the matter and had brought it before Jon Arryn? It would explain his sudden disappearance to Dragonstone. Perhaps he fled knowing full well he could be next.
Robert Arryn's gaze returned to him. "Then what would you say killed my father, Lord Mormont? That his heart had failed him?"
"No…" He paused. What evidence did he have against the Spider? How could he contest Robert Arryn's own claims-the accusations given to him by his aunt? "Perhaps someone else had him killed. To get him out of the way."
"What for, Lord Mormont?" The boy lord asked.
"So the conflict between the Lannisters and the Tullys could continue." Said Mormont. "So the kingdoms would fight amongst themselves when they're about to head into winter."
Robert Arryn frowned. "And why would anyone do that? My father was going to end a civil war. That would only mean peace for Westeros."
On that front, Mormont had no answers. "I don't know." And it maddened him to no end. Why anyone would have Jon Arryn killed for trying to prevent a full-scale war between the Great Houses was beyond him. Why would Varys have Jon Arryn killed? What secret could he be hiding? And why does he want this conflict to escalate?
His alternative did not satisfy Robert Arryn at all. "I do not see it, Lord Mormont." His voice hardened. "Clearly the Lannisters are guilty, and it also seems that you are attempting to protect them."
Mormont narrowed his eye. "I am simply using my mind, Lord Arryn. The Lannisters killing your father does not hold weight. Especially if he was attempting to stop your aunt and grandfather from declaring war on Tywin Lannister."
"Enough!" The boy lord commanded. The household guards took three steps towards Mormont, each of them drawing their swords. Shhhwing!
Robert Arryn stepped forward and glared up into Mormont's eye. "Do not believe I am so trusting of you, Lord Mormont, simply because you have the backing of House Stark." He spat. "The practice of slavery might be quickly forgiven in the North, but not here in the Vale."
Mormont clenched his fists tight. You little shit…
"Do you expect me to believe the word of a Lord ruling a House that once sold slaves? Are you so arrogant with the prestige and wealth you command that you now presume yourself a Lord Paramount in your own right?" Robert Arryn's voice was like a sharp dagger biting into his chest. "What right have you to demand that I believe you and your Lannister allies over my own aunt? My own flesh and blood?"
It would've been so easy to just snap his fingers and snuff out Robert Arryn with a bolt of lightning. All Mormont would have to do is just flex his hand and then…
No. Mormont commanded the raging sea of emotions that battered against his resolve. I would only seal my own fate by killing him. There is no going back from slaying a Lord Paramount.
"Bravely spoken," Mormont thundered into the High Hall. He kept his face a mask of stone. "To a man without a weapon." He stepped toward Robert Arryn. Behind him, the guardsmen advanced. "I come into your home, give up my arms to you, ready to aid you however I can as a gracious guest…" He paused. "And you insult me and my honor."
"Honor?" Robert Arryn stood firm. "Whatever honor you had disappeared when your House began selling poachers. I wouldn't be surprised if you funded your fleet and lands with the leftovers of your illicit profits." He snapped.
With great effort, Mormont forced himself to be ice-cold. It took all he could muster to not march forward and snap this spoiled lordling's little neck.
Leave now, Mormont. Otherwise, there will be no going back. "Well, then." He said with forced calm. "I will take my leave of you, Lord Arryn. I will not trouble you any longer."
"No, Lord Mormont. You will not be leaving."
Behind him, the guardsmen were barely seven feet away from him. All of them had their swords drawn. Mormont looked down upon Robert Arryn. "So what, you'll kill me here? And invite war with House Stark?"
"No." The boy lord had said. "But I cannot allow you to go running to Lord Stark, not until I know for certain where his allegiances lay. Until then, you will be designated a cell in the dungeons. Once we begin moving to the Gates of the Moon, you will be afforded quarters as befits your station. You will remain there when we march on King's Landing."
March? "You called your banners."
"I've had the Lords of the Vale gathering at the Gates of the Moon for weeks in secret, Lord Mormont. And my aunt also gathers her numbers at Riverrun. Do not take me for some greenboy unaccustomed to war." Robert Arryn said. "Our fleets will be deployed in a few weeks' time. The Lannisters will pay for their treachery one hundredfold."
"And Lord Tyrion?"
"He will stand trial for his family's crimes. Lord Tywin will also be summoned to answer for his treason against my father and King Robert."
"If you think Tywin Lannister will bend to your whims, you're more stupid than I thought."
"Careful, Lord Mormont," Robert Arryn drew his sword. "Your stay will become much colder if you insist on remaining insolent." He nodded to his guardsmen. "Show Lord Mormont to his quarters."
Mormont stared down the Lord of the Vale, the petty little shit who so eagerly insulted him to his face. "And what makes you think Lord Stark would stand for this?"
"What was it you said, Lord Mormont? 'I would not be missed'" Robert Arryn quoted him from earlier. "He will not hear of your imprisonment for some time. So we will find out whether or not you were right."
As the Arryn men-at-arms prodded Mormont down the sleek marble halls toward the dungeons, with their sharpened blades at his back, he heard Robert Arryn give out one last order. "Put Lord Mormont in a sky cell if he gives you trouble. If he continues to be a problem…"
"Show him out the Moon Door."
Author's Notes:
Now things seem to be coming to a head…
Why is Robert Arryn an asshole to Starag? Well, the answer's really not all that complicated. House Mormont still carries that slavery stain thanks to Jorah, and there are plenty of people who won't let Starag forget it-especially some of the more traditional-minded Lords of the Vale. Not to mention, Starag pulled up to the Eyrie with Tyrion, who Robert believes helped in his father's assassination-not the best first impression.
Is Robert a Joffrey-esque character? Not really. But he is a spoiled brat who is going through a tremendous amount of stress and grief.
Another thing you might've noticed-Jaime is NOT the father. This will be revealed further down the line. Stay tuned for that.
Up next, Jon and Ned continue their investigation, manage the Seven Kingdoms, help out the petitioners, and have heart-to-hearts with Bobby B.
Deiron Lionheart: That's actually a pretty cool idea, and I probably would have run with it if I'd thought about it in hindsight.
My main contention with Gendry being the child of Robert and Cersei is that it's mainly a show invention. There's zero evidence to support that theory in the books-which is the medium I'm using for this story.
Gendry in the books is five years older than Arya, which means he was born during Robert's Rebellion, not after it. And since I never saw much of a use for Gendry, I decided against changing his parentage and date of birth.
My policy on deviations for characters is to do them if there's a good reason for it. There wasn't much of a solid reason to change Gendry before, so I'm not going to run with it now.
(And if that turns you off from reading the rest of the story, I'll understand.)
Guest: Starag was partially based on OG James Bond from Ian Fleming's book series (each of which is 157400% better than any of the Bond movies). In the books, the period is set during the 1950s.
The views on women's general incompetence and lack of intuition in the 50s also fit in with Westeros and Starag as well since he's spent considerable amounts of time in the South and has seen his female cousins and aunt do other dumb shit during his childhood.
(Just to be clear, I'm not demeaning women in any way. Every man needs a good woman in his life to make his days brighter, and worth living for, and to help create strong sons and respectable daughters. No two ways about it.)
UoDuh: That's the thing… Rhaenys' reveal is obvious to the reader, but not to Starag.
He was right next to Ned when the Starks rode into King's Landing after the Sack. Both Starag and Ned found Jaime sitting on the Iron Throne, and both of them saw the corpses of Rhaenys, Aegon, and Elia.
So it's fairly safe for Starag to discount the possibility of Rhaenys still being alive because he believed that he'd seen her corpse with his own eyes, even though it was actually just some servant girl her age.
DarkPreacher001: Your review put a smile on my face.
I've never understood the whole deal with the self-insert-character trend. Because every written character in a novel is more or less a fragment of the author's personality anyways…
And giving Starag some kind of foresight or advantage because he has fourth-wall levels of knowledge about the world and the characters is super gay.
Starag's not all-seeing, he's not a god, he's definitely not a saint, and he certainly doesn't know everything you or I know about A Song of Ice and Fire. He's not even meant to be some kind of "Badass Motherfucker" kind of character…
Starag is just a competent, intelligent, and ambitious man who knows what he's doing. He simply wants to make the most of the hand life dealt him and do right by his family.
A takeaway I want to share with you all before I end this segment:
It is far more compelling to read about a competent character who is faced with adversity and difficulty than it is to read about some guy who got reborn in a fantasy character's body and has fourth-wall levels of knowledge about everything so he can more or less play demigod.
I care more about Bond (James Bond from the books, mind you) because he's facing down highly intelligent villains who are always smarter than he is.
I care more about Starag because I'll put him up against Euron Greyjoy-who clearly outsmarted Starag and basically fed him to his demon overlord.
Give me a character who is human. Someone who gets injured, who makes mistakes, who goes through pain and guilt just like you and me. And most of all, they can be vulnerable to the reader.
It's the same reason why I'm the proudest of Chapter 53 of this entire series. Starag made a critical mistake, and he suffered the consequences for it. Not something I see much of on this site.
And believe me right now; there's more pain and suffering headed both Jon and Starag's way soon enough.
If what I've written above has offended you, by all means, feel free to report me or leave a nasty review.
In the meantime, folks… Keep hitting the gym and stay hydrated. Cheers 💪