350 AC
The ancient keep of Storm's End stood tall in the sunrise, red sunlight streaming across the huge drum tower and curtain wall. It had taken three days to travel down the kingsroad to the Baratheon's towering stronghold, though they had moved fast to avoid whatever sellswords and knives Andrew would have sent after them. The gates had opened at the arrival of Lord Endrew and Lady Valkyrie Baratheon, and the newcomers to Storm's End had given until high noon for everyone to settle in and return to the yard.
Darius settled into his new quarters, a very large room overlooking Shipbreaker Bay and Storm's End's harbor. He laid down his saddlebags and belongings, but kept his crimson plate on, as he knew what ceremony came next. The knight remembered when he first was knighted by his uncle, Ser Damon Brax, for whom he squired for six years. Ser Damon was a lean man who enjoyed the luxuries of nobility more than the rush of battle, and he bore no love for Darius, seeing him as a product of seduction and sin. Truthfully, Darius knew not how he was conceived, other than that Lord Tybolt Lannister and Lady Cerenna Brax lay together one night years ago. It does only harm to dwell on these thoughts. I must ready myself for what comes.
Ser Darius walked down dimly lit staircases along the walls of the drum tower, which the residents of Storm's End called Durran's Spear, descending down to the front yard. The yard was shielded from sunlight, siege, and storms by a hundred-foot-tall stone curtain, which, like the rest of the castle, had never bore the slightest scratch in thousands of years. Arrayed across the yard amongst racks of weapons and firepits were all the men-at-arms and knights of Storm's End, with Queen Aemma standing in the middle, flanked by Endrew and Valkyrie. Ser Perros and Ser Samwise stood in front, white cloaks unwavering, guarding Aemma from any harm. Darius could also spot Lady Lily and the Baratheons' maester Pylos in the front, so he decided to stand near them.
Queen Aemma was clearly not ready for public speaking, nervously staring off into the distance. She eventually rose her voice, "Lord Endrew Baratheon, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Lord of Storm's End, Defender of Shipbreaker Bay, please approach."
Endrew stood in front of his queen, kneeling, "Yes, Your Grace?"
"In the eyes of gods and men," Aemma began, as Darius remembered the threatening-looking white weirwood in the godswood, "Swear an oath of fealty, my lord." Darius could only take pity on Aemma, she had no idea of how these sort of things worked. He wished he could call out to Maester Pylos, Maester, help Her Grace, please, but he knew he would bring her more shame if he did.
"I, Endrew of the House Baratheon, pledge the fealty of House Baratheon, Lords of Storm's End, to Your Grace, Queen Aemma Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm. Hearth and harvest I yield up to you, Your Grace. My swords, spears, and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and I shall never fail you. I swear it by the old gods and the new, in the sights of gods and men."
The men arranged in the yard knelt along with their liege, which was more than Darius could remember about the lords of the westerlands. Between the Spicer Rebellion, the dozens of smallfolk uprisings, and the constant insults to House Lannister, Casterly Rock could expect nothing out of its sworn swords, which could play to Aemma's advantage.
"Arise, Lord Endrew, and thank you," said Aemma, with an upward gesture with her hand, and Endrew arose with the rest of his men. "Ser Darius Hill, approach."
Darius was taken by surprise, but he would not disobey his queen, especially when his other alternatives all involved his head on a pike. "Your Grace, your word is my command," he proclaimed, kneeling.
"Arise, Ser Darius. You are famed throughout the Seven Kingdoms for your valor and valiance, though I have also heard expertise of economics exceeds the knowledge of many of us here. Would you do me the honor of serving on my small council as master of coin?"
"Of course, Your Grace, it would be a great honor, far surpassing any of my experiences thus far," Darius exclaimed half-jokingly. Truthfully, he knew almost nothing about money, but being a Lannister meant you had rumors spread about you. One week, you were an economic wizard, the next, you were an evil money-hoarding pig.
"Many men have named you the best sword in the westerlands, Ser Darius. Would you agree with this statement?"
"I would not say such a thing; it would be much too boastful for a bastard."
"I would venture to say you are, seeing how you defended me on our journey to Storm's End. I hope this is not too much to ask of you, for you have pledged enough of your services to me. Ser Darius, if you would choose, I name you to my Queensguard."
It came as a shock to him. There had been so much he had not done; he had not wed a woman, he had not seen a child of his own, he had not grown old with the woman he loved. He knew it to be a maiden's folly, romantic interpretations of what a perfect life should be, but he believed it was possible. As honorable as it would be to serve his queen, to protect her from all harm, and to shield her from danger, it sacrificed his life for hers. Darius did something unbelievably stupid, and whispered to Her Grace, "What's the punishment if I don't?"
It was Valkyrie who turned to him, speaking softly for once, "Be a Dragonknight, not a Kingslayer. Be an Arthur Dayne, not a Criston Cole. Do it."
"I accept your generous offer, Your Grace. It would be a great honor to serve on your Queensguard, to shield you from harm and danger for as long as I may live."
"Kneel, Ser Darius Hill, bastard of Casterly Rock," Queen Aemma proclaimed, beckoning to Ser Perros Blackmont, who held the white cloak of the Sworn Brothers of the Kingsguard draped over his arm. Darius knelt down once more, emotions conflicting in his head, as Ser Perros fastened the cloak to his crimson-clad shoulders. This is me, thought Darius. His thoughts turned to Lily Tyrell, surprisingly. The bastard's got a lady love, he could hear Valkyrie say. It made him think of what he was losing, but he attempted to dwell on what he was gaining. As he heard the latches click, he heard Aemma exclaim, "And rise, Ser Darius Hill, Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard."
The small council meeting had started as soon as Aemma's court had ended. Seated around Lord Endrew's table were Queen Aemma herself, Lord Endrew, Lady Valkyrie, Darius, Lady Lily, Maester Pylos and Ser Perros.
"I hope we're getting fancy titles," mused Valkyrie. "Endrew Baratheon's sister never quite suited me."
"Val, this isn't a joking matter," chided Endrew, and Valkyrie sighed, rolling her eyes.
"It is okay," said Aemma quietly, "I've decided to make Valkyrie my master of law."
"Har! Finally, I'm doing something more interesting than ol' Captain Stag over here!" Valkyrie laughed, and Endrew only glared at her. If looks could kill, thought Darius, though none is so accursed as the kinslayer.
"Of course, Darius is master of coin," continued Aemma.
"Not sure what I'll do with all this money you're entrusting me with, Your Grace. Maybe I'll buy myself a white sword to match the cloak."
"Lord Endrew will retain his position as master of ships, not because I favor Lady Valkyrie more," Aemma said with a glare, "but because he is an accomplished naval officer, and he served my father very well. I also name Ser Perros the Lord Commander of my Queensguard."
"Thank you, Your Grace," said the Bold Buzzard.
"He'll be better than whoever Andrew's got. Ser Huge Massive, is that his name?"
"Ser Hugor Massey," said Ser Perros bitterly.
"Aye, him. You can't deny he's a fat old arseface, though."
"Ser Hugor has seen better days," said Perros.
"Please do not insult my father's Kingsguard, Lady Valkyrie," Aemma chided. "Besides, we have more important matters."
Maester Pylos spoke in a well-fashioned manner, Darius noted. He was a man around seventy, who had served House Baratheon since Lord Stannis laid claim to the Iron Throne fifty years ago. When the war had calmed down, and the old maester at Storm's End passed away, the Conclave had permitted him to serve House Baratheon once more at their ancient keep. "We received a raven from Andrew Lannister this morning." The maester began to read aloud, "By the order of Lord Andrew Lannister, Protector of the Realm, Lord Endrew Baratheon, Lady Valkyrie Baratheon, and Lady Lily Tyrell are summoned to King's Landing to reaffirm oaths of fealty to the Iron Throne. All those in company are charged with the safe return of Her Grace Princess Aemma Targaryen to King's Landing. Ser Perros Blackmont and Ser Samwise Taylor are charged with protecting Her Grace especially, wishing that they protect the princess at they did her father, King Aemon, blessed be his memory."
"Seems fine enough, you know, minus the 'Princess Aemma Targaryen' part," said Valkyrie nonchalantly.
"There is more, my lady," said the maester with a pained expression, "All those with knowledge of Ser Darius Hill's whereabouts will be rewarded handsomely. It is the will of Lord Lannister that he be brought back to King's Landing alive, where he faces charges of treason and attempted kinslaying. Best regards, Grand Maester Ashe, writing the words of Lord Andrew Lannister."
The room fell silent, and it was Darius who spoke first. "There's a story for you, Darius Hill, the treasonous Kingsguard. I won't be the first, will I? I've got myself an uncle already who stabbed a king in the back." There was another long pause. "I think I'll need some wine," he said, rising from his seat.
"Speaking of ravens," said Valkyrie, "I ought to send a few to the North and the Vale. I did promise I'd rally Lady Stark and Lord Arryn to our cause."
"Just because you know Sansa Stark's granddaughter and Nestor Arryn's niece doesn't mean you can rally two of the Seven Kingdoms to our cause," muttered Lord Endrew, obviously angry with his sister.
"It may be a hopeless cause, but it's worth a shot," Aemma said optimistically. "Darius, pour a second cup of wine."
Darius turned around, "I'll just pour a glass for everyone." After Darius sat back down, passing around cups of wine, he rose his glass. "I propose a toast, to life, to victory, to safety and security, to Queen Aemma Targaryen! The first queen since Daenerys the Unburnt, and while she doesn't have the dragons, I'd gladly breathe fire at her enemies."
"To Queen Aemma," cried out the small council in unison, and while Maester Pylos and Ser Perros abstained, the rest of the councilors drank their fill.
"What a wonderful small council, eh?" Darius joked.
"Aye, a bastard, a brooding captain, a crazy woman, a flowery maiden, an old knight, an old maester, and the queen who keeps us all in check."
A flowery maiden. It had been the first time Darius thought of Lady Tyrell since the ceremony, but she had been sitting at the far end of the table, not even calling out during the toast. She seemed visibly distressed, but a small council meeting was neither the place nor time to comfort her.
"This didn't go as planned," chuckled Aemma, "We'll save the real matters for when Lord Willas arrives. Maester Pylos sent a raven to Highgarden this morning, and hopefully we'll receive a reply telling of his acceptance of the office of Hand of the King. Meeting adjourned, though feel free to stay and drink."
Lady Lily stood up abruptly, exiting the room in a hurry. Darius felt obliged to follow her, and softly rose from his seat. Before the oaken doors to Lord Endrew's solar could close behind Lily, Darius opened them back up with mailed hands. Aemma must have sensed Lily's distress as well, as she held no qualms about his departure.
"Lady Lily!" Darius called off into the halls, nearly sprinting after her, though he could not move very fast in his plate. He was about ready to die from heat exhaustion after wearing the armor all day.
Eventually he found her outside her quarters, which were conveniently on the same level of the drum, and marked with a golden rose above the door. Valkyrie had sent some well-placed ravens, it had seemed.
"Spare me your words, ser," whispered Lily, tears slowly streaming from her eyes.
"Please, my lady, tell me what is the problem."
"Nothing."
"My lady, I beg you, allow me to help."
"You can help me by leaving," Lily said sternly.
"Lady Lily…"
"Leave, ser."
"I apologize, my lady," said Darius, turning.
"Spare me your apology. Spare me your words. Spare me your presence."