Chapter 6: Retaliation

RECAP

As Viserys left he walked to Rhaenys and touched Jon's head. He knew all along that red keep wasn't a safe place for Jon, but it's not like he could do anything about it. However, he would do everything to make it. After few moments, he too walked out of the chamber but not before giving Daenerys a glance.

Next morning, the Whole keep was on alert, men patrolling, bodies being cleaned up. On Viserys decree heads of assailants were on spikes at the gates of king's landing. While other brave men who fell last night, their bodies returned to their families with generous condolences. Last night royal force at kings landing lost a total of 67 men. Other high lords were also causing the commotion over last night incident, though they were handled somehow. So guest quarters were also being heavily guarded by city watch as assurance, even so, the matter was indeed of great concern, last night assassination attempt took a great toll on everyone.

The small council meeting was called upon sunrise by Viserys, lord protector of the seven kingdoms. The council chamber was tense and filled up hitherto. Lord Varys, grand maester, lord baelish, ser Arthur, lord arryn, Hoster Tully had already arrived. Though Lord stark also arrived shortly. But seeing lord stark at council meeting might not have been a good thing for most.

Even then, Varys was the first one to greet Ned as he entered, offering both hands as to greet in a good gesture "it's good to see your fine, lord stark…. I was sorry to hear about your last night trouble." varys said looking at Ned with his smiling face as always.

"Aye, I am very much alive. Lord Varys," he replied in an ironic tone. He just walked to take a seat as flattery and greetings would hardly do well for him. At the same time, lord baelish rose from this seat and walked toward him "I hoped to meet you for quite some time lord stark, though not sure if lady Catelyn mentioned me"

"She don't have to. I understand you knew my brother Brandon as well" Ned's tone was rather a straight one.

"Oh too well, I still carry a token of his esteem from the navel to collarbone" baelish answered pointing the supposed mark, which was the result of his duel with Brandon Stark. He still remembered the day he challenged Brandon stark foolishly, being in love with Catelyn. The girl he loved since 5. Though now he finds it rather satirical, he was a fool and madly in love, a teenage boy wanting a girl with all his might, which was nothing. Although Brandon defeated him without a sweat but that day, he learned one of the most important lessons of his life.

"Perhaps you chose a wrong man to duel with," Ned said smiling,

"It wasn't the man I chose. It was Catelyn Tully… a women worth fighting for. I am sure you'll agree" baelish said with a grin, knowingly tempting him probably,

Ned was ready to smack this man, his hands were already folded in a fist, However, luckily for baelish, suddenly interrupted by the eldest member of the small council, great grand maester pycelle. "I humbly beg your pardon my lord stark" maester pycelle said while sitting in his seat, an old man, white hair, though quite reddened face for a man of seventy-two for sure.

"Grand maester" Ned recognized the man. pycelle nodded his head in acceptance "good to have you here, lord stark"

"Aye, hope you were also happy to see my brother and father, grand maester" Ned said sarcastically, remembering what happened with his brother and father still enrage him to kill the mad king with his own hand, but the deed was done, and he would regret it until his dying day or maybe even after that. Pycelle shrouded discerning meaning behind Ned's word. Ned just took a seat next to Jon and Arthur. Baelish sat opposite to Ned. Anyway whole time Arthur remained silently out of the picture. Well, he decided that wasn't his place to object or intrude.

After few minutes' Viserys made his arrival. Everyone stood up and arched, as protocol demands. The place was tensed. Everyone's eyes were on Viserys, possibly fearing the outcome of last night's assault by lannisters and Tyrells. Lord stark sitting straight with his brood face, Arthur with his stern one and other ready to lick Viserys ass at first sign but finally, Viserys broke his silence.

"Do we have information of where those fucking traitors are?" Viserys said with a loud, though very well expected. Varys chose to answer judging Viserys gaze on him, with his hand inside his sleeves "lord tywin and Lord Tyrell were spotted fleeing crownland's border, a few hours ago... although other things are still uncertain, Your grace" varys words were calm and slow, possibly to soothe the effect,

Viserys waited before speaking. "And I should assume other lords of reach, and Westerland has also fled." He said glaring at varys. Though the voice came from other side
"I am afraid so, your grace." Ser Arthur said as a matter of fact.

But Viserys already contrived the retaliation plan in his mind. He shifted his glare towards Ned.

"Lannisters and Tyrell declared war on us. We need to retaliate before they play their next move." Viserys voice had rather concoct element than rage.

"We can't call it a war. It was a vain attempt" Jon arryn said, trying to avoid the inevitable at all costs.

"Is it that casual, my lord? Last night, my whole family would have been slaughtered. However, that surely not your problem…. isn't it "Viserys ended his remark with a bash on the table. But now these words were anger guided words unlike before.

"Ur grace, my lord, it's not time to squabble among ourselves," Ned spoke hoping to calm the moment, though he knew it would do little.

"That's exactly the bloody point…. It's not the time to bicker among ourselves. It's time to band together" Viserys spoke heavily, in a desperate attempt to prove his point.

"Well, there are other means to retaliate other than war," Jon said as a matter of fact,

"What are those so-called other means, my lord," Viserys asked sarcastically,

"We can close down their sea route and other trade routes, they won't survive long alone" Jon was wholeheartedly demanding to avoid Viserys methods.

"It's the best you got? I thought you were smarter than this lord arryn. Royal fleet can't block lannisters trade routes forever" Viserys replied.

"And with Tyrells, they won't be needing support for a long time, my lord" varys interrupted giving a blunt glare to lord arryn but not an aggressive one.

"We still have numbers. Lannisters and Tyrells are no threat to us. Your grace" Jon said, trying to assure him with all his might.

" Lannisters have gold, if given the time they will hire sellswords, sellsails whatever they want…..but currently we have numbers, my lord. We need to show them, what happens to those who betray the realm" Viserys proclaimed with loud, and Viserys words were true in most sense.

"Betray the realm?" hoster Tully said ironically. Even if he was sitting there, he had no love for Targaryens, and he sure doesn't wish to follow an arrogant spoiled brat of ten and eight in a war

"My lord, the king is realm, if king falls down so does realm. Last night, could have gone either way." Viserys answered hoster Tully with his glare piercing his thoughts.
"And if it weren't for our brave men, tywin Lannister would be judging our life at this very moment." baelish voice was high with a wink toward Viserys.

Lord Tully smirked at him. Petyr grew up along with his children, and he even liked him at some point but now that's all gone. His work makes him regret fostering him. Even so, He knew, at some point Lannisters are far worse than current Targaryens but still, that wasn't enough reason for him to send his men to fight a war, in which they have nothing to do with. So he kept his silence, waited for others.

"I can't help your hostilities lord arryn or lord Tully…..but lord stark, didn't you said Jon will always have north at his back, are Stark word that feeble." Viserys blurted out although his aim was just to manipulate lord stark to get him up for his plan.

Ned gave a deep glare to Viserys "aye, I said it, and I meant it. Your grace…. Wolves protect its own," Ned waited and gave a look to everyone in the chamber " Winter will come for lannisters and Tyrells, north will aid King Jon in the coming war" His words didn't fail to remind Viserys again where his loyalty lies. Other might think differently but his decision was his own, not Viserys manipulation. He would destroy anyone for his family.

Ned turned toward hoster Tully, his father by marriage, silently trying to convince him. And Finally, Lord Tully also stated his decision "once before I called my banner alongside Starks. Looks like I'd have to do it again….. Riverland will stand behind north as it has before and support King Jon" hoster winked at Ned. He was grateful to Lord Tully for supporting his decision. Well, his marriage had its perks other than having a beautiful wife in bed. Although Hoster didn't want to get in any war rush, but he has to support his daughter's husband, at least for her grandchild's sake.

Jon understood there wasn't any choice there, no matter how much he hated it, but he has to support yet another war. Tully's and Starks already knew where their loyalty lied, but he wasn't sure and opposing crown when Starks and Tully are already supporting their cause, the decision was more than sure. Finally, Jon looked at Ned and gave him a wink.
"Since its need of moment…..vale will support crown, backstabbers won't get away with their sins" lord arryn finally declared.

"That was my instinct as well. Lannisters and Tyrells will pay for their crimes" Viserys replied with a grin. He now had three kingdoms at his back. Though he wanted Dorne as well, but he was sure they'd come soon enough.

"Send ravens to north, Riverlands, and vale to rally up the forces, my lords …..and lord varys, get your little birds to work. I need all-out information about Tyrell and Lannister army and their whereabouts." Viserys commanded, he was ready to chase out lions out of their den.
After few more discussions, meeting was closed. War was inevitable at this point. No one wished to see more war, and last war already did more than enough. But gods, yet decreed another war.

Ravens were sent to vale, Riverland, and North. Lords of crownland's were hitherto present at the capital, so they were informed about latest arrangement right away.

While others were worried about coming war, Viserys was quite elated with this idea, relaxing in his chamber lying in his bed. He only wanted tywin Lannister and mace Tyrell at his blade begging for their lives. After the last night attack, he personally made sure the maegor's holdfast defense was at peak. He lost enough people to last his lifetime. He couldn't protect his brother and mother, but he would protect them. He remembered his brother's last word. Rhaegar wanted peace and end of warfare but peace couldn't be established until lannisters and Tyrells are dealt with, and if this war was the price for peace, he would readily pay this price for the sake of his family.

At the same time, Arthur was inside Rhaenys chamber dozing over a settee, while Rhaenys was book reading to Jon and Daenerys. she loved reading stories to them. In a trice, her eyes went to Arthur, and she couldn't help but chuckle. He was sleeping with his one hand supporting his head while other on the wooden settee. She knew Arthur barely had time for himself, most of his time he spends guarding over them. But last night, she got deadened to her bone with fear when she saw the body of the huge man on the floor. She was glad that ser Dayne was there but his shoulder got fractured last night, although maester pycelle assured that it would heal soon enough, she was worried nonetheless. She looked at him once more then went to balcony along with Jon and Daenerys not wanting to wake him up.

hey guyz here is this one ,, if u like it leave reviews and even if u dont like it, leave reviews...voting still on(revised)