Chapter 11-Hardships
Cersei comfortably sat on a throne made of actual gold with red cushioned seating that were the colored symbols of House Lannister. Her House. Not House Baratheon. Not House Stark. Not House Tyrell. And certainly NOT House Targaryen. Sitting beside Cersei was her son. Prince...no it was King Joffrey now. King Joffrey and ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.
Or rather he would be the official ruler of the Seven Kingdoms if not for Ned Stark and the damn Demon Sage. The masked man had not only killed a large portion of Lannister men and Kingsguard loyal to her House, but had driven her family from King's Landing, and taken control of it under the pretense of naming the next rightful King.
Sadly, Lannisport was a poor substitute for her son when compared to King's Landing, and the symbol of power it represented. Oh Lannisport wasn't horrible in design or in being a symbol of Lannister power. Far from it. The city of Lannisport was a symbol of trade with other places, other kingdoms, and had been a growing form of income for House Lannister instead of mining gold found in the mines of Casterly Rock. But that was because both Lannisport and Casterly Rock were symbols to a High Lord. Not a King.
Not like Cersei's precious son Joffrey.
Earlier, she met with what was considered her Small Council, which consisted of a few High Lords who lived in Lannisport, and were loyal to her Father. As his child, they had to obey her until his return, and Cersei was making sure the ravens sent out to her Father were carefully watched to ensure Joffrey's darker side was kept from being known Tywin Lannister. Cersei knew her Father didn't want his Grandson shaming his legacy and so long as she kept him in the dark, any order given to the Lords of Lannisport to take away authoritative power would not arrive.
As things stood, the city was slowly being flooded with refugees from the war between House Lannisters and House Stark with the violence escalating during each battle. She didn't care about the refugees. They were smallfolk. Peasants. Their duty in life was to serve the High Lords and Ladies that were born in high standing until the day they died. Unfortunately, the overall numbers of the smallfolk were many and a burden on the city's food supply, and with the recent declaring of Summer now over...Winter seemed to be getting much closer.
Cersei had also spent the recent months preparing for an invasion of King's Landing and taking the Iron Throne back from Ned Stark. She had decided to put the smallfolk around Lannisport, event the refugees, and conscripted them into fighting for House Lannister. There were a few who resisted since they didn't want to fight in the war, nor believed in fighting for the side they were being told to serve. Cersei had made it clear to them that they could either die fighting against the Starks or they could stay in Lannisport to watch their loved ones die by hanging and being labeled traitors to King Joffrey's rule.
That was another thing that upset Cersei. Ravens had been sent out all through the Seven Kingdoms about Joffrey's true parentage. It was bad enough her son was being denied the Iron Throne, but to have the reason behind it revealed to every House was even worse as there were some who actually believed the information was true. Cersei had acted quickly to silence them through ordering their executions when they spoke about the issue, and following that, had been busy attending to Joffrey with his name day which had happened just a few days ago. Fortunately, her Father didn't believe it (or possibly didn't want to believe it), and was fighting for her son to be the King of the Seven Kingdoms.
As for Joffrey at the moment, Cersei spared no expense on her son's name day, and being able to provide him with entertainment. Why shouldn't she? He was a Lannister. A pure Lannister thanks to her time with Jaime. None of the vile blood from Robert's House was in her son. Not that anyone really knew the whole truth, except for a select handful of people, and those that were against her son being King had no right to judge Joffrey in terms of being the uncontested ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.
'As if there is anyone more worthy of being King then my Joffrey. My son. My beautiful son. He will take the Iron Throne back from Ned Stark, kill his family, kill the Demon Sage, and we will put their heads on pikes for all to see,' thought Cersei angrily at how her years upon years of careful planning were foiled by one three eyed demon hiding behind a mask.
Beside her, Joffrey was thinking similar thoughts. Of course, unlike his Mother, he was using his time doing something to vent his anger instead of letting it fester while sitting on a throne. Granted, it was still festering and growing with each passing day, but it was also being used to make up creative ways to hurt someone...violently.
At the moment, Joffrey was currently having some fool for a jester he randomly picked up from among the smallfolk get his tongue cut out just because the young Lannister felt like seeing someone suffer. And it wasn't the first time he had done this to someone in Lannisport either. Quite a few of the smallfolk within Lannisport, supporters of House Lannister for years going back generations, were being picked out at random, and being used by Joffrey for his own sick amusement. And what was even worse for the smallfolk, no one in his new throne room had made an attempt to stop him. Why would they? How could they? He was protected by Lannister men on all sides. Each of these men were all chosen by Cersei to be his Kingsguard because she knew they were all loyal to House Lannister, and what her House represented.
"This bores me. End this peasant's life. I want to see more of his blood all over the floor," commanded Joffrey, as he saw the man had just lost his tongue, and yet the spoiled child wasn't happy with how this mere peasant wasn't suffering enough.
The poor man cried out with what little voice he had after the removal of his tongue, but it did little to make the Lannister man next to him from taking out his sword, and running it through his chest.
Seeing Joffrey was busying himself with the suffering of the smallfolk he could gather from the city, she decided to handle matters regarding Lannisport, and summoned the Small Council to handle important matters normally entrusted by it ruler. While her son enjoyed these days sitting on his throne and enjoying life being a ruler, Cersei felt it was her duty as the Queen Regent, and Mother to the current King to run things for him until he was ready to take a more active role in ruling over people.
Much to her surprise and anger, she found the one person coming into the Small Council Room the Lannister woman didn't want to see.
"Hello big sister! Don't get up on my account. You look ravishing as always. War agrees with you. Forgive the interruption. Do carry on," said Tyrion before kissing his sister on the cheek and sitting down in a nearby chair while Bronn was standing nearby.
"What are you doing here?" demanded Cersei while hating the idea of her little brother being in the same room.
"Its been a remarkable journey. I pissed off the edge of the Wall. I slept in a Sky Cell and I even fought with the Hill Tribes of the Vale. I've had so many great adventures in such a short amount of time. I don't know where to start. I wish Myrcella and Tommen were here in this room. They would love to hear them all. Joffrey not so much," replied Tyrion with a smile and it only made Cersei's scowl grow.
"What are you doing here? In Lannisport?! In this room? This is a Small Council meeting and you weren't invited," countered Cersei angrily.
"Really? Well, I would think the lord and ruler of Lannisport would have to attend all and have a say at such meetings. Especially if they in fact do concern the city and the people living within it," Tyrion shot back calmly.
"Our Father is the lord and ruler of Lannisport. Not you!" Cersei growled at him.
"Yes that is true, but in his absence...you are only half right," replied Tyrion before he gave a rolled up and sealed parchment to one of the Lords of the Small Council.
"It says your Father has named Lord Tyrion as the ruler of Lannisport in his stead while he fights the...," said the Lord who was the appointed by Cersei as the Master of Ships of the Small Council was interrupted by the Queen Regent.
"Out! Get out! NOW!" commanded Cersei angrily.
"Something I said?" asked Tyrion calmly knowing she wanted him to stay and talk about this.
"I would like to know how you tricked Father into this?" demanded Cersei while leaning down to stare at her dwarf for a brother.
"Me? I didn't trick anyone. Especially him. If I could trick Father, I would be Emperor of the world by now. I am here because you brought this on yourself," replied Tyrion with Cersei's anger not leaving her in the slightest.
"I've done nothing wrong," countered Cersei though her tone sounded more like a child being punished and not liking the idea of being punished.
"Oh please! We both know that is not true sister. Father knows better with how things are here in Lannisport. He has more spies watching you then you even begin to realize. As for your past mistakes, let's see...there was your attempt to take the throne from one Ned Stark after the late King Robert had named him Regent. That was a major wrong and you know it. The attempted coup cost us quite a few Lannister men while you fled and now your intended march on the Capital to take back the Iron Throne is to be stopped from being carried out immediately. Father doesn't want Lannisport to be anywhere near empty of Lannister soldiers since they are needed here to keep the peace and I for one, in this very rare moment in time, agree with him. Besides, we may need them in the future to fight for Father in this war that you, and Joffrey started in King's Landing," Tyrion shot back, as he went to drink some wine, and saw Cersei looking like she wanted to slap him.
"I still say I have done nothing wrong. I was trying to take the throne back for Joffrey so he could become King. My son. Our Father's Grandson," stated Cersei firmly in the belief she was right while Tyrion smirking at her.
"Really? From what I have heard on my way here, your son has no right to the throne considering who his Father is, and that said Father has none of Robert's blood in him," countered Tyrion and saw his sister was two seconds away from slapping him in the face if he pressed a little bit harder on the issue.
"Don't you say that! My son Joffrey, is the Crown Prince, and deserves to rule as King of the Seven Kingdoms!" stated Cersei with Tyrion shrugging since he didn't care what her beliefs were on the matter.
"Be as it may, everyone else in the Seven Kingdoms doesn't think so, and they all happen to have large armies at their command. The Starks. The Baratheons. The Tyrells. All the major Houses are aiming to not only wipe us out in this war, but fight for the Iron Throne in the process. The North is planning to breakaway from the kingdom despite its Liege Lord ruling over King's Landing as Regent and most likely do so when the new King is eventually crowned. Stannis and Renly are now on the march to take the Iron throne from the other before they can sit on it. All this because you tried to take the throne from Ned Stark and then attempted to kill him in the process when he wouldn't bend the knee when demanded of him by Joffrey," replied Tyrion with Cersei not looking at him.
"I tried to make peace with him," said Cersei, but she knew it was an easy lie, and one her brother didn't believe.
"Did you? Well, it failed miserably. That little piece of theater will haunt our family for a generation. Maybe two if we are truly unlucky," said Tyrion with a sigh.
"Ned Stark is a crippled wolf. Robb Stark is a child in his Father's shadow," commented Cersei while Tyrion shook his head.
"Who has won every battle that has been fought against us. Do you even understand what losing this war means? To us? To House Lannister?" questioned Tyrion while Cersei did not care in the slightest and it showed.
"What do you know of war? You spent many of your days drinking, whoring, and on rare occasions reading from a book with a goblet of wine in hand," Cersei shot back.
"It's true, I know nothing of war except for the battle I was in with the Vale's Hill Tribes I helped acquire to fight for our House. I also know that aside from the simple fact its quite bloody and cruel, the victor holds the life of the loser in their usually unmerciful hands! I also know people! How they think, how they act, and how they will react when having a civilized conversation with them like we are right now. I know the Starks won't rest until they have had their fill of fighting in the name of justice for what you started. It is what I know about people in general that is our only hope of ending this war peacefully with our lives intact and cleaning up this whole dirty mess currently staining our House. If Prince Joffrey wants to see his...Uncle Jaime again, he'd better listen to me from here on out, and keep his...violent tendencies from showing further," said Tyrion with Cersei frowning in confusion.
"How?" asked Cersei with a hint of curiosity.
"Fortunately, when I was taken to the Vale, I was able to befriend the Demon Sage in the hopes of clearing up the unjust accusation that was made against me about murdering the previous Hand of the King. Not to mention clearing my name regarding the attempted murder of Lady Stark's second oldest son Bran? You remember Bran, right dear sister? The one either you or was it Jaime, who pushed the boy out of the tower to silence him so he wouldn't speak of the relationship you have with Jaime? Anyway, Father wants me to eventually get in contact with the Demon Sage in the near future in the hopes that I can speak to Ned Stark. If we can come to peaceful terms, I believe we can convince him to send a message to his son about getting the Northern armies to calm down, and end this need for bloodshed before things spiral out of control any further. Winter is coming after all," explained Tyrion with Cersei clenching her hands into fists.
"That damned Sage. This is all his fault! He should have just stayed in his little hut of a home or whatever little hovel someone like him lives in," remarked Cersei while Tyrion shrugged.
"In any case, Father wants me here to rule, and keep the people from rebelling due to the horrible things Joffrey has done since being here that you allow! From what I have heard on my way here, the people in Lannisport, and in the West as a whole are slowly turning against us in terms of support. No thanks to Joffrey," replied Tyrion while Cersei glared at him.
"We should march against Ned Stark and the Demon Sage. We have more then enough men totaled at 7,000 able soldiers to launch such a campaign. It could easily be done with King's Landing being weak right now," said Cersei while Tyrion frowned at her and his own patience with the woman running out.
"Oh, enough sister. Even if you somehow managed to raise an army four times that size, you can't win. Not with the Demon Sage in King's Landing helping Ned Stark run things from the Iron Throne. Besides, your army would never be able to catch anyone in charge of things in King's Landing off guard. Word has it Pycelle is dead and so is Littlefinger for betraying the Lord Regent. Lord Varys is siding with them and is no doubt having his little birds recording everything we say here without us noticing before sending it all back to him to report to Ned Stark. Even if you did get the army to King's Landing with a fight in mind, who among us can stand against the Demon Sage? No one! Not you, me, or even Father. The man cannot be bought with an offering of gold, silver, jewels, or anything we High Lords and Ladies covet as valuable. His skill with weapons is unmatched and has the power to wipe out your conscripted army you have been building for months in a span of mere seconds. Or do you think the stories of the three eyed masked Sage killing entire armies with a single swing of a sword were just that? Just stories told by Father to amuse us?" countered Tyrion with Cersei huffing angrily like a spoiled child.
Getting no response, Tyrion sighed knowing his sister better then she knew herself, and looked out the window to see a red comet streak across the sky.
A sign of the dragons returning to the Seven Kingdoms.
(Essos)
The red comet did indeed mean the return of the dragons as the omens predicted. Three dragons to be exact. Three dragons born through fire, sacrifice, and love from a woman descended from a House said to have dragon's blood in their veins.
That woman's name? Daenerys of House Targaryen.
And right now, her life was slowly falling apart. How was it falling apart you may now be wondering? Her husband Khal Drogo was dead. Not slain in battle like a Khal should be killed given the warrior like culture. But rather through a witch using the arts of blood magic. What was worse, is the said witch use her magic to kill the child she carried too in a moment of weakness. This same witch Daenerys had spared from the cruel brutality of the Dothraki Horde her husband commanded. The witch actually justified her actions in saying it was justice for the Horde attacking the village and the people here to get them to follow Khal Drogo. She also wanted to ensure Khal Drogo's bloodline died with him and his progeny would not be as great or greater then him.
But Daenerys wouldn't tolerate such an excuse. Not when it resulted in the death of an innocent child. HER child to be exact. In that moment, the knowledge of how to make the three dragon eggs hatch was unlocked, and what needed to be done to bring them into the world was made known to her.
As such, the widow of Khal Drogo knew what needed to be done to bring them into the world, and get justice for the two people she loved. Tying the witch to the funeral pyre where her husband rested upon, Daenerys soon sets it ablaze, and walk into the fire with the three dragon eggs in hand. Jorah Mormont tried to stop her, not wanting Daenerys to die, as he believe in the woman being something great in this world, but she would not let him stop what needed to be done, and walked into the flame.
And the fire welcomed her. It practically embraced the woman of House Targaryen like it was welcoming a long lost friend. The witch Mirri Maz Duur not so much. The witch had stated she wouldn't scream, but Daenerys knew she would scream, and told the woman she would do just that before the end.
And the witch did scream. She screamed loud enough for the two of them.
The next morning, Jorah found himself staring at the nude form of Daenerys Targaryen, and she was holding three dragons in her arms. Slowly, he kneeled at her feet, as did the rest of the remaining Khalasar who were willing to stay after the rest dispersed following Khal Drogo's death. It was then, Jorah Mormont swore he would do everything ask of him by this woman, if it was within his power, to ensure Daenerys sat on the Iron Throne as its Queen.
Only now, the trick was getting her someplace to setup some form of powerbase to make it happen. Which wasn't easy given they had so few in number among this Khalasar, even fewer pieces of food, water, and horses to work with. They were currently in the middle of the desert that was called the Red Wastes and Daenerys was in the middle of trying to get her three little dragon "children" to eat what meat could be spared for them.
"What did your brother say about them Khaleesi?" asked Jorah while seeing the dragons eating the meat given to them though it looked like it was difficult to do.
He still couldn't believe there were three live dragons barely two feet from him.
"He said they ate meat," replied Daenerys while seeing her three "children" struggle to eat the meat and nearly choking on the peaces.
"He didn't tell you what kind of meat?" asked Jorah while seeing the dragons seemed to dislike the meat given to them.
"My brother didn't know anything about dragons despite his attempts to say otherwise on the matter. He didn't know anything about anything. My brother was an idiot with an ego the size of Westeros," said Daenerys while she put Drogo, her largest of the three dragons in his cage, and turned to see her horse had fallen over exhausted from the intense heat.
"He's going to die Khaleesi. The Red Waste makes even the mightiest of creatures who cross it fall with enough time and patience," said Jorah with Daenerys caressing the poor animal lovingly.
"She was Drogo's first gift to me," commented Daenerys while seeing the horse slowly die from the heat of the desert.
"I remember," whispered Jorah since he remembered that moment too and mourned the loss of the now dead animal that his Queen loved.
"I promised to protect them if they followed me. I even promised their enemies would die screaming. How do I make starvation scream?" questioned Daenerys with Jorah sighing.
"It is a trick I never learned I'm afraid," answered Jorah while looking at the vastness of the desert they were in.
"Does it ever end?" asked Daenerys while Jorah slowly nodded.
"This is further east then I have ever been. But yes Khaleesi. Everything ends. Even the Red Waste," said Jorah before something caught his eye and saw the ripple in the air and saw the Sage manifest himself.
"Hello again Lady Targaryen. You've clearly seen better days," remarked Naruto while the woman in front of him scowled and Jorah put a hand on his sword.
"You knew what was going to happen to me," said Daenerys in an accusing tone toward the masked man with a hint of anger in her tone.
A cold, yet fiery anger.
"I did," replied Naruto sadly while nodding.
"You knew I would lose my husband and child. You knew it was through their deaths I would feel the emotional pain you spoke of that would unlock the knowledge to awaken them. You knew! And yet you allowed it to happen!" accused Daenerys before walking right up to him.
"I did. I saw your future. I saw theirs end," replied Naruto with Daenerys barely resisting the urge to slap him.
"Why? Why didn't you tell me? Why weren't you here to stop it? To save my husband? My baby?" questioned Daenerys while tears and anger spilled from her eyes.
"Because the future you would have if I did would have been worse," answered Naruto with Daenerys frowning.
"How?" asked Jorah curiously.
"Contrary to what many believe, the future can be changed. What you don't know and even fewer do know, is that changing the future can either be very good...or very very bad!" answered Naruto while Daenerys frowned at him.
"Are you saying...my future would have been worse then it is now?" questioned Daenerys with Naruto nodding.
"Aye, it would have been. Would you like to know what the future held for you and the world had I revealed the painful truth early on?" asked Naruto with Daenerys reluctantly nodding.
"I would. Tell me the future I did not have," commanded Daenerys while hoping the Sage did not take offense to her tone.
"As you wish. This is the truth behind your alternative future which I would have created the day I gave my gift of knowledge pertaining to your three dragons and how to awaken them. Following my revealing of certain events, your alternative self tries to ensure they do not happen, and results in your now late brother Viserys performing the ritual needed to bring the dragons to life instead of you," answered Naruto with Daenerys and Jorah frowning.
"The fire would have consumed him. He is not immune to harmful effects of fire like I am," answered Daenerys with Naruto nodding.
"True, but he doesn't know that until its too late. The fire consumes him and the dragons are born through his life being reformed into them. As a result, the dragons he brought into the world at the expense of his life leaving it...becomes tainted," replied Naruto with the woman in front of him looking shocked.
"Tainted? By what?" asked Jorah in confusion.
"Madness. Viserys had it long before Daenerys here was Khal Drogo's wife. When he did the ritual, which he eventually overheard Daenerys mentioning to you Jorah, the madness from him past on to all three dragons. You try to nurture them as they are apart of your family legacy. You love them. Show them all the kindness a Mother shows her children. And they grow up strong, healthy, and yes they do breathe fire. In fact, you are quite proud of them. For a time at least, all the while completely unaware of the madness that is slowly growing in them. You finally give birth to your son and he is indeed a healthy boy. Your husband Khal Drogo is very happy to see his son growing up into a great Khal like himself," said Naruto while Daenerys frowned.
"How is that bad? You said earlier that the alternative future is worse then the one I am in now," questioned Daenerys while Naruto is nodding.
"It does get worse later on. Your three dragons slowly succumb to the madness and they unleash said madness one day on your Khalasar. Burning everything in sight. Destroying everything in sight. Eating everyone in sight. Including your son. Your husband is burned in the dragon fire early on so he doesn't witness the three of them ripping the poor boy to pieces. You however...you do see it. You are the only survivor of their madness...again it is only for a time," replied Naruto with Daenerys looking horrified by this.
"And what happens when they are done eating and burning things to the ground around me?" whispered Daenerys with Naruto closing his eyes for a moment.
"They fly away to cause untold death and destruction while leaving you alone and in the desert to die slowly from the heat just as you are now. The dragons continue to destroy everything around them in sight. Feeding, burning, and killing with all of them having madness in their eyes. They are eventually killed, but that won't be for another...30 to 50 years, and by that point...half the world is already consumed by their destruction. Essos, Westeros, Braavos, and even Dorne will never be the same again," replied Naruto with Daenerys going pale in the face while leaving out he was busy dealing with the White Walkers during this time so he couldn't stop the dragons himself unless necessary.
"I see. Such a future is indeed worse," whispered Daenerys with Naruto nodding.
"Even still, our current situation of little food, and water puts us in a dire situation," said Jorah with Naruto smirking.
"Fortunately, I am here to improve your situation with a temporary solution until you get to Qarth," replied Naruto before spinning his staff and slamming it down onto the ground.
And making a lush oasis manifest itself barely 15 feet from them.
"By Gods," whispered Jorah while the Khalasar behind them were speechless.
"Remember, the oasis here is only temporary! This will last about...3 days before the Red Waste claims it for itself. Use this time wisely to drink and store up on the water. On the food produce here. Then head for Qarth in that direction," replied Naruto before pointing in the direction where to go next.
"What will I find in Qarth?" asked Daenerys while Jorah quickly ordered those behind them to use the oasis to its fullest.
"Aside from warlocks, fat merchants, and greedy individuals seeking to use what you have for their own benefit? A place to stay and catch your breath. A place where you can plan your next move. Just be careful Daenerys Targaryen. Now that your three dragons are back in this world, the magic this world once lost is now back, and those who could command it will want to keep the source behind the magic close by," warned Naruto with Daenerys looking back where her dragons were stored.
"I won't let them take my dragons. No one can take them from me," stated Daenerys with Naruto nodding.
"They are still young and weak dragons. As are all things recently born when entering the world. As it stands, they could barely intimidate a small house cat, and the mere sight of them now would hardly provoke the necessary fear where fear is needed most," remarked Naruto before he walked over to the cage holding all three.
"What are you doing?" asked Daenerys before she looked shocked when he opened the cage and put his hand inside.
"Giving your dragons the strength they need to grow," answered Naruto before he let the three dragons bite his hand and eating his flesh.
"Doesn't that hurt?" asked Daenerys while hearing the dragons more then seeing them eat the flesh from his hand.
"Of course it does. I just have a high pain tolerance. You have to be when in my line of work," answered Naruto while the three dragons feasted on his hand before taking the appendage away.
And made them whine before he shut the cage while give the three of them a scolding "do not push it" look.
"Why are you helping me? What price are you asking me to pay now?" asked Daenerys with Naruto walking toward them.
"None. I'm merely giving you a means to survive. To stay strong. I've given you all that is needed to endure the Red Wastes until you get to Qarth. Just remember what I said about trusting them," replied Naruto while Daenerys nodded since he basically told her when reading between the lines.
"Don't trust them," answered Daenerys with Naruto smiling behind his back.
"You're learning quickly. Well done. I'll see you and your group later to checkup on your progress. Until that day Mother of Dragons," replied Naruto before he was gone again in a ripple.
"Is it true about what he said about Qarth?" asked Daenerys with Jorah nodding.
"Every word Khaleesi," answered Jorah with Daenerys frowning.
"Make sure everyone is well fed and we have enough food stored for the travel to Qarth. I want our future host to see that we are not as weak as they would first believe us to be at the start of our first meeting," commanded Daenerys with Jorah nodding.
(Westeros-Dragonstone)
Stannis was in the war room of his castle within Dragonstone. It was a dark dreary place during the day and even worse at night. It had become a depressing place once Stannis was given it as a "reward" by his brother Robert after years of loyal service during the Rebellions. Meanwhile Renly got the Stormlands that was where the Baratheon House resided and currently ruling over it while proclaiming himself the new King!
'That treasonous brother of mine violates the rules of succession and expects others to follow him over me?! My brother knows nothing of combat. Of blood being spilled by your own hands and sword. He goes to tourneys, drinks wine, writes poetry, and if the rumors are indeed true...be with others not of the opposite gender,' thought Stannis, as he looked over the table map showing the situation Westeros was in with the war between the Lannisters in the West, and the Starks coming down from the North.
Stannis had nothing against Ned Stark. Like the Wolf, he too had a sense of honor, and decency while punishing those who broke the laws of Gods and Men. While he didn't really believe in the Seven Gods, he still believed the laws made should be upheld, and punish those who defied them. At first, Stannis was willing to trust in Robert's judgment at his end to name Ned Stark as Regent, and Protector of the Realm until a King could be declared. It wouldn't be difficult to get the Warden of the North to make Stannis King, as Robert had denounced all three of his wife's incest bastard born children, and the rules following the line of succession clearly stated the King's younger sibling would take the throne.
That changed when a raven came to Stannis by Lord Stark that the Red Woman and his acceptance of such a God was not in the best interest of the realm. That the right to say who would be King or possibly Queen of Westeros was under the control of the Regent and neither Stannis nor Renly were going to be made ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. Not when there were better candidates to choose from.
In short, Ned Stark was not going to name Stannis Baratheon the new King of Westeros, and was going to choose someone else he felt was more worthy of the crown.
It was an insult to him as a Baratheon!
And then SHE came into the picture. The main reason Ned Stark had said ultimately said no to appointing Stannis as King. The Red Woman Melisandre of Asshai from Essos. She had arrived shortly before Robert's death and Ned Stark was still Hand of the King. The red haired red dress wearing woman spoke of the "Lord of Light" and how Stannis was the God's Champion. How she could help him gain the Iron Throne through her God and all Stannis had to do was embrace her God's faith. Stannis planned to get rid of her to get the throne from Ned as proof of being worthy, but Melisandre had claimed that even if he did send her away, the Wolf would not yield to the Stag of Fire, and still deny Stannis is rightful claim. That if he was truly a Baratheon, Stannis would have to fight for what was his by right, and claim the Iron Throne by force just as Robert did against the Targaryens years ago.
With her help and the help from this Lord of Light.
Seeing no other alternative before him, Stannis decided to embrace this God from Essos, and see if this one deity could do what the Seven would not. At the same time, he would use his standing, and influence to spread the news everywhere so all would know to make the right decision.
Which was why the current scribe of Dragonstone had written his message about Cersei's three children being bastards born of incest with Ser Jaime the Kingslayer. How by the laws of Gods and Men that as Robert's next oldest sibling had a right by blood to the Iron Throne. That the Lord Regent Ned Stark and the Great Sage were to step aside to let him rule over the Seven Kingdoms.
"When Eddard Stark first learned the truth about the parentage of Cersei Lannister's three children, he only told me in the hopes of handling this matter discreetly. No doubt to help protect Robert from further shame. While admirable to some degree to show his loyalty to House Baratheon, my brother is dead so protecting him from further shame is quite pointless at this time. I won't make the same mistake and I will ensure everyone knows the cold bitter truth about the incest born children his sinful wife brought screaming into the world. Send my message to every corner of the realm. From the harbor to the Wall. Let no man claim ignorance as an excuse! It's time to pick a side!" commanded Stannis while the scribe nodded dutifully.
"Your Grace, at the moment, the Lannisters seemed to be the major concern for the time being. As they are the main reason for this war and your older brother's death, perhaps you could make peace with Renly long enough to crush them for their crimes against your House," offered Ser Davos Seaworth, who had been a long time loyal follower of Stannis, and became one of his close Advisors.
"I will not make peace with Renly so long as he calls himself King. My idiot of a younger brother should be siding with me. Instead, he tries to usurp my right to rule. Usurping the Mad King is one thing, but to do it to your own brother? Its almost as bad as kinslaying," said Stannis with Davos nodding.
"Aye, that it is your Grace. But you must consider the eyes of the smallfolk, and just what they see in regards to your actions. If you fight your brother Renly and then take the Iron Throne away from Ned Stark by force, the smallfolk will not support you in the slightest. We both know a King cannot rule over a Kingdom, let alone seven of them, if he doesn't have their support. Many have already declared your brother King and have pledged their support to him. Namely House Tyrell of the Reach and Randal of House Tarly support Renly being King. Its only because of Ned Stark having the final say as Regent with the Sage himself helping him rule does your brother hold off on attacking King's Landing and doesn't want to be seen as an usurper to his brother's last written words," countered Davos since he knew how smallfolk thought about High Lords due to being one of the smallfolk and an old fashioned smuggler, who Stannis had knighted for his loyalty in it, and following the end of the Rebellions.
"Stannis does not need the strength of the smallfolk. Nor does he need to beg this Lord or that Lord for support. Not when the Lord of Light stands behind him in his quest for the Iron Throne," remarked Melisandre calmly while Davos glared at her.
"And just how many men and ships does this Lord of Light have under his command? How many knights, archers, horses riders, and scouts does your God have to give us?" asked Davos since he was pretty sure the answer was zero!
"He has no need for such things" said Melisandre calmly.
"I'm sure he doesn't, but we do if we're going to war. If not Renly your Grace, at least join with Robb Stark. After what the Lannisters tried to do to his Father and your brother, the alliance between Houses is the only path to take here," offered Davos knowing the last time both Houses worked together, the Targaryens fell, and a Baratheon sat on the Iron Throne for last two decades.
"An alliance with the Starks? Those who would steal the Northern half of the Kingdom from me? They are thieves Davos. That's what they all are in my eyes. Cersei, Joffrey, Renly, Robb Stark, and Ned Stark. They are all thieves. They will bend the knee or be destroyed!" exclaimed Stannis with Davos not looking convinced.
"What about the Demon Sage? He is in King's Landing as we speak helping Ned Stark with his duties as Regent. His magic is considered unmatched and I know you have seen his skill with a blade your Grace," questioned Davos while Melisandre smiled slightly.
"He is nothing compared to the Lord of Light. His so called powers comes from the true enemy that is the Lord of Nothing. The magic this Sage commands is one of darkness and shadow. My magic and visions seen through the flames can handle him when it is time to do away with such a heretic. The more sacrifices I can give the Lord of Light during the campaign, the greater my power becomes through him, and eventually I will be able to do battle and eventually destroy this Demon Sage. The Lord of Light commands it," replied Melisandre confidently while Stannis was thinking things over in his head and Davos grimacing.
'Her Lord of Light commanding it and her Lord of Light giving her the power to do it are two different things. Add to the fact she isn't strong enough to fight him now means any act done with this woman using her magic will catch his attention,' thought Davos, as he feared this woman's honey filled words would turn Stannis into her puppet, and make the man betray himself before the end.
(King's Landing-Weeks Later)
Naruto was taking a break from training Gendry. So far, the young man was doing well, and it was only a matter of time before showing he was worthy of being part of House Baratheon. Right now, the Sage felt the young man should seek council from Ned Stark, and learn more about Robert Baratheon before the man became King. The image of the man as of present was one who drank, hunted, and whored for the last 20 years. It did not sit well with Naruto that poor Gendry would think of such a person that was his Father when Robert's name was spoken in public, if ever. There was more to Robert then all his vices and Ned Stark was one of the few people left in this world who knew how to best describe Robert to Gendry.
A weak kick to his leg while in mediation stirred Naruto from his thoughts to see Arya standing to his right and glaring at him.
"You are training Gendry," commented Arya with a hint of anger in her voice while she scowled at him.
"I am," answered Naruto before getting another kick from the girl.
"If you can train him, why won't you train me?" asked Arya while Naruto smirked behind his mask.
"Because unlike poor Gendry, you are more complex in terms of being taught on how to fight, and thus require a strong foundation before I can work with you," said Naruto and got another tiny kick in response.
"I don't believe you," replied Arya with Naruto getting off the ground and letting out a small chuckle.
"Believe what you want Arya, but it is true. Gendry's fighting style requires brute force and muscle. He has both, but no coordination. Which is what I am working on when I am not teaching him how to use his brain. You my dear require a teacher, who can bring out your agility, coordination, sharpen your eyes to see what others miss, and speed to move fast. If I were to train you now in those things, I would be a harsh teacher, and too cruel for someone with your body to handle. In short, your body would break, and not because you are a girl. Its because you are young and still in a stage of development where it has to do more then someone else to get the needed results. It just takes time and patience on your end. You have plenty of the former, but little when it comes to the latter. If you rush things, you will stumble, and fall hard when trying to learn. So hard in fact, you may not even get up, and be broken beyond repair. I don't want that to happen. I know you don't want that to happen," replied Naruto with Arya still scowling at him.
"I still want you to train me," said Arya with Naruto nodding.
"I know. But you have to prove yourself. You think Gendry doesn't prove himself? He has to train with me everyday in some shape or form. Mentally, physically, or sometimes both to the point where the poor boy has to have a full day's rest. And he's practically a fully grown adult right now so Gendry can take whatever form of training I throw at him. You don't believe me? Ask your Father. Ask Ser Barristan of the King's Guard. Ask Syrio when it comes to my training methods. No one is the same. Everyone is different and gets their own pace with me," replied Naruto with Arya frowning less since she knew both her Father and sword dancing instructor held him in such high regard.
"I will. And I...I'm sorry I kicked you," said Arya before running off and ran around the form of the Hound approaching.
"Ser Sandor Clegane. How can I help you?" asked Naruto since he saw the man, now a knight of the realm for aiding Ned Stark in protecting his assigned station as Regent of the Seven Kingdoms.
"Ned Stark needs to speak with you Great Sage. Its in regards to his son Robb Stark and his army fighting the Lannisters," answered Sandor with the scarred man looking at him with a great deal of respect.
"Of course. Thank you Ser Clegane. Lord Stark is in the Small Council Room I take it?" asked Naruto with Sandor nodding before the masked blonde vanished in a ripple.
"He's done that for months in front of me and I still can't fucking believe it," said Sandor to himself before shaking his head.
(Red Keep-Small Council Room)
"So Stannis is preparing to fight against Renly and Renly is gathering his army with the help of the Tyrells to hold the biggest stick of everyone," commented Naruto with Varys nodding while Ned looked grim.
"Yes. Robb Stark has been proclaimed the 'King in the North' by the Lords residing the North and want to secede from the kingdom once the issue with the Lannisters is over. Even though Lord Stark here is Regent, the Northern Lords feel the South that is us here in King's Landing are not worthy of their loyalty. They won't harm anyone here so long as Ned Stark is Regent, but once a new King has been declared here...I highly doubt they will wish to welcome anyone within these walls with open arms, or bend the knee while swearing fealty," replied Varys while Ned had tried to get his son to reason with all of the Northern Lords for months now and was met with little success.
"Yes well the Lannisters made that happen through their actions so if anyone is to blame for that, its them. What of Stannis and Renly? From what I heard from your last report, Renly has the larger force when compared to Stannis's own?" asked Naruto with Varys nodding.
"Indeed he does Great Sage. As I told Lord Stark here earlier, Stannis has the full might of the soldiers and Lords around Dragonstone, and an impressive navy. He even had one Ser Davos Seaworth recruit a fleet of pirate ships with the help of an old friend of his during their younger ship sailing days. Renly however, has an army from the Stormlands, and the Reach thanks to his marriage to Margery Tyrell of House Tyrell. Overall, Renly has about 100,000 men at his command, and outnumbers his brother by quite a sum," said Vary with Naruto nodding.
"What of the Red Woman from Essos? Isn't she a factor?" asked Ned since he knew from past conversations with Naruto that the Red Woman was an unknown asset to Stannis to be used against Renly.
"Yes. From what my birds have told me, she claims Stannis is in fact her Lord of Light's Champion and has made it clear to him that he will win against Renly if challenged. She has even claimed to eventually challenge you Great Sage. No doubt using some form of magic to give Stannis an edge in battle. One she might use against Renly, which the poor boy doesn't see, or even know about since he doesn't believe magic can harm him," said Varys with Naruto frowning since Renly was acting overconfident when it came to the use of such powers.
"Could she challenge you Naruto?" asked Ned with Naruto shaking his head no.
"No. That's not to say she won't try to kill me. But that will come later after Stannis deals with Renly. She's no doubt sacrificing quite a few people as we speak to prepare her for what she plans to do next against Renly. Melisandre won't make a move against me. Not yet in any case. She actually believes her precious 'Lord of Light' has the power to kill me and will kill me through her while using Stannis at the same time to do it," said Naruto with Ned frowning further at the idea of Stannis being converted to such a religion.
"My birds have also told me that one Catelyn Tully Stark plans to meet with Renly to forge an alliance to combat the Lannisters. Since Robb Stark has no intention of taking the Iron Throne, the young Baratheon will no doubt take it, and use such an alliance to push for his right to be King with the backing of the Tyrells," replied Varys with Naruto sighing and Ned doing the same.
"And if Renly does defeat Stannis in battle, the smallfolk just might pull for it to some degree," commented Naruto with a frown while his hand twitched and part of his mind was saying to act before things spiraled out of control.
So why did he hold back? Surely it wasn't because he was afraid? Afraid of what people thought of him when using his power? No! He stopped thinking that a long time ago. So what made him not go down into the camps of these different Houses and get them to stop the war from becoming everything the late Lord Baelish wanted to see happen?
Because this world needs to suffer. This world needs to be reminded of what it means to feel pain beyond measure by their own hands or else people as a whole will not stop hurting each other.
Frowning at the thought, Naruto banished it to the back of his head to refocus on what Varys was saying next.
"Also, your ward Theon Greyjoy has gone to the Iron Islands to speak to his Father about aiding House Stark against the Lannisters with a fleet of ships. While it is a sound plan of sorts, Balon Greyjoy is not a sound man, and I have little faith he will agree to the terms Robb Stark is offering in return for his aid," said Varys while Naruto nodded.
"No he won't. If anything, Balon will see Theon's return as an insult in the belief Ned here turned his son from a kraken into a servant of the wolf. He will want to attack the North at its weakest with the entire majority of the Stark army marching South. In fact, I know he will do it," replied Naruto with Ned not liking this one bit.
"The North cannot be defeated by the kraken. Such an invasion would fail. Theon would not allow it. I have been more of a Father to the boy then his own could ever be in life," said Ned while Naruto shook his head.
"While true, Theon has also wished for his Father's approval of his decisions, and love a son gets from his Father. Balon knows this and will use it against Theon. To make him choose between loyalty to the North and the man who raised him during that time. Or the loyalty to the Iron Islands in which he was born from and seeking his Father's love to one day be his Heir. Theon will sadly choose the latter in the belief it is reachable. It is not," said Naruto while seeing visions of Theon betraying Robb, returning to Winterfell, and it in its weakest state, and killing quite a few people to show he is indeed a Greyjoy.
"Theon will betray my son?" asked Ned while Naruto nodded.
"If he hasn't already, yes. The future still has its moments where they change at the very last minute. Theon could still change his mind and warn your son with a message. But I doubt he will warn Robb. Not when he sees a chance to earn his Father's love that will sadly never be there for him and telling the idiot otherwise will just strengthen his desire to fight for his Father," replied Naruto with Ned gritting his teeth.
"I have to warn my son about this," said Ned with Naruto nodding.
"And I will deal with Theon. I know you feel I should show him mercy Ned, but this is not one of those times. If Theon does betray Robb like I believe he will, I will kill him, but if he does not betray your son...I'll get the man back to Winterfell to deal with at a later time," said Naruto with Ned nodding.
"Anything else?" asked Ned with Varys mentioning a few things here and there along with the issue surrounding the Crown's debt.
"The debt owned to the Iron Bank is being called in Lord Regent. Apparently, the death of Littlefinger has finally reached the ears of the bank in Braavos, and they wish to have the debt they own over the Crown be paid post haste. No doubt considering the simple fact a war is happening around King's Landing and they fear no one here will be able to pay it due to being dead. A representative is arriving in a few days to discuss things with you Lord Stark," said Varys with Ned scowling at what Littlefinger did to the Crown.
"Don't worry about the debt Ned. I have it covered. I found a large portion of the money our thieving Master of Coin hid during his time serving King Robert under his title. We can make healthy good faith payments until any additional income can be gathered to pay off the debt or I find the rest of the stash," replied Naruto with Ned nodding.
"While we are on the subject of vacated seats on the Small Council, who is going to take up such empty positions? Stannis and Renly are fighting for themselves and Lord Baelish is dead. Grand Maester Pycelle ended his life and the Citadel has not sent out another one of their Grand Maester we can use," questioned Varys with Ned frowning.
"For now, they will have to be vacant. I'll handle the finances for now to keep the Iron Bank off Ned's back and see if I can't help get the Crown back in the financial black," said Naruto knowing the Crown needed a stabilized economy.
Fortunately, with the Lannisters out of King's Landing, more places were open to trading with the Capital since all previous agreements gave House Lannister a significant sum of gold when dealing with the Crown. In fact, what gold didn't go to House Lannister, or the Master of Coin (which was the vast majority) went to the Crown. But now that Ned was Regent, those deals were void, and thus new healthier trade agreements could be made to benefit all.
In fact, Ned had spent his long days as Regent fixing more of Crown's problems then he would have liked, but knew it was for the good of the realm. Naruto had been a big help with that using his ability to be multiple places at once and helped coordinate plans with Ser Barristan on how to improve the city. The place was sadly stinking of horse shit, pig shit, and various other forms of shit with the possibility of an epidemic or plague possibly springing up if left unchecked. As such, Naruto had his copies work throughout the city of King's Landing, and improving the city as a whole in order to make living there more tolerable.
For one, Naruto improved on the sanitation system within King's Landing, which had not been updated in years thanks to either the lack of funding or lack of trying. Either way, the Sage knew without proper sanitation, King's Landing was ripe for a plague or disease manifesting itself within the lowest of the smallfolk, and would spread out until all that was left is death.
Second, Naruto began to prepare for the inevitable invasion that would be coming his way, and wanted King's Landing to fight off the enemy army. Whether it was by House Lannister or House Baratheon who came knocking, it didn't matter to Naruto since he knew neither one would spare the majority of the people if allowed to sack the city. Men would be killed, women raped, and some would be a combination of the two. Most of the children would either be killed or enslaved by their attackers for profit by shipping them off to Essos where slavery was one could make a fortune selling people into bondage.
As such, Naruto found various walls around King's Landing were in need of repair, and got the stone mason workers set on fixing these issues immediately. He also looked over a map of King's Landing and the history of each attack on King's Landing in the past surrounding where each attack force struck each time. While every invading force failed to take the city, the one majority of each attack on King's Landing was done at the Mud Gate, and was considered by many to be the weakest gate of them all. Since Mud Gate was surrounded by water, no one considered fixing it since the royal navy was always around to defend from the sea, and the narrow landing area in front of the gate made it easy for the archers to target the enemy soldiers.
Only now King's Landing had no naval fleet to speak of since most of the ships went to Stannis due to his position as Master of Ships when serving on the Small Council and they followed him once he declared himself King after Robert died. Meaning, the Mud Gate had lost its shield against naval invasion, and would need to be fixed in a way where such a weakness in relying on a naval fleet in that area wasn't an issue.
Hence why Naruto decided to create numerous pitfalls around the area while concealing them from view and making it seem as if such traps didn't exist at all. The only part not covered with lethal pitfall trap was a thin direct line to the Mud Gate itself, but even that was protected by a hidden entrance you could only unlock from the inside, and could put a hidden section of archers to flank the invading army. It was located on the far right side of the Mud Gate and was well hidden by some trees and bushes thick enough to hide such a force when necessary.
Another thing Naruto did was expand the farming regions all around King's Landing to help produce one final last minute batch of food before Winter decided to make itself known. While there was plenty of food to last roughly seven years, Winter wasn't here yet, and the supply of food stored could possibly deplete faster due to the war between the Lannisters and the Starks.
The more food the city had, the better it would be able to survive the Winter, and prevent the people from turning on each other should times get tough.
Speaking of people, the war between the two Houses was the refugees flooding into the city seeking safety, which normally would cause problems, but Naruto fixed it easily by having those entering King's Landing be employed in some shape or form. By employing them into a job or service, they wouldn't become homeless, starving, and have no means to affording a roof over their heads when living here. Some even joined the City Watch and the Kingsguard to help bolster the defense of King's Landing with training by the veteran members of both groups training them.
Should King's Landing be attacked in the future, Naruto was confident that the city could defend itself against an invasion by either House Lannister or Baratheon.
(A/N: YAY! Another long chapter. Did you see the most recent episode of the show and how the White Walkers were born? I did. Don't worry, I'll work my way around that little situation...at least I hope I can. Until next time...PEACE!)