King Robert I Baratheon

Summer was baking hot in King's Landing, and though the Blackwater was there, it never brought the cool breezes that one could expect at Storm's End, instead, you got the putrid smell of thousands upon thousands of bodies crammed together and the shit and the disease that went with it. He'd ordered the city and the drains and sewers cleaned regularly, but still there was a smell, he was beginning to think that maybe he would need to order a burning down of the hamlets that sprung up in Flea Bottom. He grimaced at that thought, sometimes the necessary things were unpleasant. He cleared his throat and looked around the room, he smiled at his son, Jon was dressed in blue, his coronet atop his head, he looked every inch a Prince.

"Baelish, you've been keeping an eye on the situation in Braavos, tell me what have those merchants decided?" Robert demanded, he knew from Jon Arryn that Baelish was trying to get someone elected who would be hostile to the reforms he'd worked his arse off for. Consequently, what Baelish told him would decide the little worm's fate.

"Taario Naehris, the merchant of the war faction is currently facing down opposition from Lothar Morgos, the leader of the merchant and peace faction. Naehris continues to argue that the reforms being instituted here in Westeros pose a great threat to Braavos, and he wishes to increase the size of the Braavosi fleet to ensure that it is capable of handling the Royal Fleet." Baelish responded, Robert nodded that corresponded with what Jon had told him and what his own spies had reported. "Of course with the withdrawal of several houses accounts from the Iron Bank, Naehris is getting support from prominent members within the Iron Bank itself, and as such seems likely to win." Robert nodded again and thought to himself, no doubt thanks to you, bringing your own ill-gotten gold to the table. Robert knew Baelish had been skimming some of the money from the top of his elected dues from customs for years, he'd said and done nothing because he was waiting for Baelish to take a big amount before nailing him. "Morgos is currently facing a stiff climb to garner support in the Eastern and Southern parts of the city, which have always faced more dangers from the Dothraki. As such, he is looking like he might lose."

Robert knew that that was what Baelish wanted, and he knew to some extent Jon wanted that as well, more to convince Baelish and whoever else was out there that he was on their side, but Robert had to think of the kingdom as a whole. His reforms needed Braavos to be amenable to the new terms he sought to negotiate. Therefore, he said. "I want you to get in contact with the Forels, the Antari and the Beldoch, and tell them that they are to get their purses out to bribe and cajole any and all who would support Naehris. If that man gets elected Sealord the sea will run red with the blood of both Westerosi and Braavosi and we can ill afford that." Baelish nodded and made a note of that. Robert then turned to Jon and asked. "What word from the heartlands, how are things within the Riverlands, is the yield strong?" He knew that perhaps he should ask Baelish about this, after all as Master of Coin it was the man's responsibility to take note of the crop yield, but since an incident in 294, Robert had not been willing to trust the man with that and so had moved the duties to Jon Arryn.

His mentor was old, but he was not foolish, he had just celebrated his seventieth nameday and was as sharp as ever. "Lord Edmure has sent over the yields for this season, and they have produced some four hundred thousand dragons worth of product, enough to feed the entire kingdom for three to four years. All I need is your agreement to begin the shipment."

"You have it." Robert replied. A few years after putting down a rebellion in the Riverlands that had cost Hoster Tully his life, Robert had decided that instead of leaving the production of food to the regions- there were no more kingdoms, just one, and he ruled it- he would ensure that there was a crown appointed food collector, and as such the Riverlands and the Reach being the most fertile areas were responsible with producing the bulk of the food in exchange for beneficial trade deals with the free cities. It had been a good deal, and so far the yields had always made a profit. Jon Arryn made a note of his approval.

"There is also the matter of the Faith, the current High Septon grows old and weary and it seems likely that he will be expiring before the next feast of the Father." Varys said. "The Most Devout have been meeting regularly in the Room of Silver to discuss who amongst them they would nominate to succeed."

Robert listened intently, since the time of Baelor the Beloved, the Faith had been beholden to the crown, nothing more than a puppet, that was still the case, but recently there had been murmurings from within Baelor's Sept that things were changing that the faithful were angry with corruption within the church. Robert knew things needed to be reformed but in a manner, that he approved of. "Who have they decided upon, if anyone?" The thing with religious people was that they always talked and talked and never decided on anything.

The Spider looked down at his notes and said. "A man named Peregrine, a man from the Riverlands who has strong ties to Bracken and Mallister as well as Crakehall he is someone who wishes to keep things the same as they have always been. However, there is another, a woman, named Dolorous, she speaks of reforming and separating things into one or two components."

"That will be something, a woman as High Septon, Baelor would shit himself." Renly japed.

Stannis snorted, but said nothing, his brother was oddly quiet. Varys however replied. "It might be more likely than you think, she has gotten support from three of the Most Devout, the others are swiftly changing to her point of view."

Robert considered this, having a woman as High Septon would be an interesting thing to see, but whether it would happen or not, he did not know. "I wish to meet with both of them, Jon you shall arrange this. Varys keep an ear to whatever is discussed within the Silver Room. Dismissed." With that the members of the council got up, bowed and left, leaving Robert alone with his son. He looked at Jon and asked him. "So, what did you make of all of that?"

His son took off his coronet and said. "I think that Baelish is lying about what's happening in Braavos, either that or he's over simplifying it."

Robert smiled and asked. "Why do you think that?"

"Baelish has contacts throughout Braavos, indeed, I know from Maester Gormon and from reading through the ledgers that he practically owns most of the Braavosi elite, if he wanted to swing the election of the Sealord in our favour he would have done so already. That he hasn't suggests he has some other motive." Jon said.

Robert nodded. "Precisely, which is why Baelish must remain on the council, we must know what he is planning and with who, before we can act and remove him and take what he owes us."

His son nodded, then asked. "Do you think there will be a female High Septon?"

Robert laughed. "I do not know, but that will make discussions of doctrine very interesting. Have you read the Seven Pointed Star?" His son laughed as well, and they walked out of the council chamber together.

Robb Stark

It was great to be back home, walking amongst the walls and halls of Winterfell, playing games with his brothers and sister again, and getting reacquainted with them. He'd not really thought about how much he'd missed his siblings when he'd been at Oldstones, there'd been far too much to do, to justify that, but now he was home, he was glad he was. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate everything that he'd learned at Oldstones, it was just that, being back here, it felt right. And of course he could write to Myrcella without being pestered by his friends for everything. That was a benefit.

Greywind snuggled closer to him, he and Bran had found the direwolves when they'd gone with father to deal with a deserter from the Night's Watch, the man had been ranting and raving about something that seemed improbable. White Walkers, with their skin blue as anything and their breath as cold as ice. Robb didn't believe the man had found them, but there was something in the way he'd said it that made Robb stop and think. And of course they'd found the mother and the father direwolves there protecting their cubs, or at least both had died trying to, before being killed with a shard of ice. That had been chilling.

His father sighed. "Word has come back from Benjen, it seems what that deserter said has some merit. There has been an increasing movement of wildlings north of the wall, it seems they are either congregating somewhere or they have a plan to achieve something. Benjen reports that Lord Commander Mormont is planning on going on a ranging to see just what is happening. And of course it seems there have been sightings of more direwolves and not just direwolves but other great beasts."

Robb straightened then, such sightings were incredibly rare, and if the wildlings were gathering in large numbers that could only mean one thing. "Do you think the wildlings are preparing to march south of the wall?" He asked, the last time the wildlings had attempted such a thing had been during the time of his great-great-grandfather Willam Stark, where they'd marshalled under the command of Raymun Redbeard, they'd be defeated at Long Lake, but not before taking Willam's life. If he were being honest, the thought of fighting wildlings both thrilled and terrified him. He wasn't too sure if he wanted them to come south.

His father sighed. "I do not know, son. I do know that Mance Rayder has declared himself King Beyond the Wall, and that the last time a wildling was foolish to do something like that, they crossed the wall."

Mother spoke then, she looked concerned. "Does this mean then that you shall have to ride north for the wall also, Ned?"

Robb watched as his father took his mother's hand. "I am not sure what will need to be right now. I will wait for more word from Benjen and then make my decision. I cannot just march north to the wall, because of something that might have happened beyond it. I need to wait for word from the Lord Commander." Robb saw his mother visibly relax at that, her shoulders loosening.

Maester Luwin spoke then. "There has been word from Harlaw, my lord as well, from Lord Rodrik." Luwin handed his father the letter, and Robb watched as his father's eyebrows rose the more he read the letter, eventually, his father stopped and handed the letter to Robb.

"Read this lad, and tell me what you think of it." Father said.

Robb did as he was bid and started reading the letter.

Lord Stark,

I write to inform you that there is a growing sign of terrible times ahead. The traders I have sent out on missions have told me that there is a great fleet marshalling near the Gulf of Grief, they fly black and gold banners, with skulls and cross bones on them. Their crews, I am told are made up of mutes, all of whom stare at the passers by with nothing more than an empty stare. We both know who prefers his crews to be mute. Should he be returning, I fear for the safety of my nephew and niece.

Robb put down the letter and stared at his father. "Does this mean Euron Greyjoy is returning?"

"Not returning, but he is certainly making plans to do something, and that means we shall need to be alert. He will come for Theon and for Asha Greyjoy as well, which means we shall need to increase their guard." Father said.

Robb snorted. "Greyjoy won't like that, he already feels as though he is a prisoner. He's got a right little band of people around him, mainly women of the night and others who listen to his every word." Robb explained, his mother raised an eyebrow and he blushed. "I happened to be visiting a tavern with Jory and heard him giving some sort of speech to the people around him. He looked as if he were deep in his cups and wanted some attention."

Father looked saddened by this. "He is our ward, Robb, but he is also a young man who was denied the company of people his own age for a long time. He is not sure what his place is now that you are back." Robb raised an eyebrow but said nothing on that, instead he said.

"I heard him mentioning that he would marry Sansa when he went back to the Iron Islands, that she would make a fine lady of the isles." Robb had had to hold himself back from getting up and throttling Greyjoy there and then for saying something so absurd.

His father sighed. "I shall speak with him."

Mother spoke then. "Meanwhile, make sure to stay clear of his influence, Robb, you do not want the people getting the wrong idea."

Robb nodded. "I don't have any inclination of working with him, or befriending him." The thought of being friends with a squid was repulsive to him.