9th Month of 282 A.C. King's Landing
Knight Major Brandon Stark
His father was dead, gone, long gone, Brandon did not know how he felt, but there was anger within him, anger and rage. He wanted to find the people who had had his father killed and have them tortured, he wanted… gods he wanted so many things. The news had come, and he had not believed and then his father badge, the thing he had treasured so badly, Brandon remembers hearing his mother joke about the love his father had for that badge, and it had come. It had come and he had wept, but he had not known what to do then. He could not ride off to some unknown place, looking for something that he could not find. And so he threw himself into his duties, Knight Major of the Order, he had arrested Myles Mooton, had the man executed for treason, and had begun finding out where people's loyalties lay. He was not going to allow the order to rot.
The king had asked to meet with him in his private chambers, and as such Brandon stood there now, looking at the king, waiting for him to speak. Eventually the man does so, and Brandon notices just how much stronger the man's voice is. "Tell me Knight Major, how goes the progress. Have you managed to root out the foulness within the order?"
Brandon nods. "I have sire, those members like Mooton who pledged themselves more to Prince Rhaegar than to yourself I have sent to them onward to their deaths. They shall not besmirch the order anymore. As for their recruits I have managed to persuade many of them to continue on in the order, on your side."
The king smiles at this. "Good, very good. And what of the rest of the court, what is happening there? Are you to make them break before your iron will as well Knight Major?"
Brandon considers this and then responds. "Most of the court continue to demonstrate fervent loyalty toward you Sire, those who do not have either disappeared or have been caught and killed. Their heads adorn the spikes of the city."
The king laughs then. "Good, you are as efficient as your father. We are truly sorry for your loss Knight Major. Lord Rickard was good man, an honourable one and a true one. Much more a friend to me than Tywin Lannister. Now tell us, what word have you had on that other matter."
It takes Brandon a moment to think on what the king means but then it clicks. "The issue of those across the sea." he pauses and then says. "I have had word from a reliable source that there are some within the riverlands who hold true to that cause, and yet they will not act. Not yet."
"They are waiting to see how this little war turns out. The Blackfyres have always been very cautious, after the second rebellion ended it such grave defeat. It is not a surprise. And you have found out who their leaders are within the kingdom." the king asks.
Brandon nods. "Lord Butterwell, taking the lead from his ancestor has been speaking quite fervently to some of the Riverlords, they remain fervently aloof from the war raging within the riverlands, as well as Lord Rowan within the Reach. It seems the man has forsaken his father's alliance."
The king seems to consider this then, his face contorting into a look of concentration, the beard has been trimmed, the nails cut, but the hair is still somewhat long. "Rowan, yes the man's father died fighting for my father in the Stepstones, and the Rowans have long been the overlord of a house with Blackfyre sympathies, in fact, the Osgreys are related to Tywin through his grandmother, and it would not surprise me if the man is using Rhaegar as an excuse."
The king looks at Brandon expectantly, and he replies. "It would seem that, that is not the case. From what I have been able to gather, there is little in the way of actual contact between Tywin Lannister and his cousins within Coldmoat and Standfast. It would seem Rowan has been swayed by the fighting within the riverlands, as well as his bannermen's own proclivities to make the decision to lead the Blackfyre cause."
"And what about the Blackfyre children? Have you figured out who Maelys was fighting for? The children's names continue to elude me." The king responds.
Brandon thinks on this and then responds. "I know the girl died some time ago, likely when King Jaehaerys was still alive Sire. As for the boy, it seems that he has remained alive and well throughout the years, and hid in plain sight here all these years."
"Is it the eunuch?" The king asks. "I did always think he was far too observant within the capital to be anything else."
Brandon shakes his head. "Alas no, it would seem that someone else is the Blackfyre boy." Brandon pauses not sure how best to explain this and then he says. "I believe that Lucerys Velaryon is the Blackfyre boy Maelys was fighting for."
The king does not look too surprised, but asks. "And what has led you to think this Knight Major?"
"There is no record of his parents, anywhere I look, and I found one thing that raised a question. Lord Daeron Velaryon died many years before Lord Lucerys was born, and his brother Aethon did not claim the lordship until two years after his brother died, and yet the Driftmark continued to be ruled as if there was a lord there. And when Aethon died Lucerys appeared, and yet there was no known record of him." Brandon says.
The king looks at him for a long time and then asks. "Velaryon is on the Driftmark is he not?"
"Yes Sire." Brandon replies.
"Send word there, tell him his king wants him to return, that there is some unfinished business we have. He will come, he still thinks me mad, and he will want to take advantage of that. Of course he will delay somewhat, but he will come." the king says.
"Yes Sire." Brandon replies, knowing better than to question the king.
There is a moment's silence and then the king speaks once more. "And what of my son? What word has there been from Ser Gerold Hightower? Has the man found my brat of a son?"
Brandon hesitates for a moment and then responds. "Unfortunately there has not been any word from Ser Gerold Sire, though it does seem as though there has been some movement within the Reach. Forces are gathering within the reach, and it seems that Lord Tyrell has not been idle."
The king considers this. "Tyrell, they were one of the houses that were spurned when my father and mother married. They were one of the houses my grandfather thought might well consider fighting for the Black dragon. And yet they have always remained loyal, perhaps that old harridan Olenna has kept her husband and son in line. Until now. Tell me Knight Major, at Harrenhal, who was Lord Mace conversing with?"
Brandon thinks back to the tourney, that damned tourney and he thinks on Tyrell and what happened there, to them all. "I think he was with his mother most of the time, as well as with Prince Rhaegar."
The king nods. "My son has a habit of collecting fools and paupers for himself. He was never a warrior, and there were times when I wondered if perhaps he might have become something like what my uncle Daeron might have been, but then I discounted it. My son has borne the brunt of my anger with Tywin, and now, well now it seems he does mean to get his revenge."
Brandon looks at the king curiously then. "You think he is definitely allied with Lord Tywin then sire? That he means to betray you?"
The king nods and sighs. "I think that my son has become that which Tywin hoped I would be. You see when we were growing up here, Tywin was a hero to me, and how could he not be? He who had stood up to his father and won praise and fear. He was everything I wanted to be, and then Joanna came." Here the king gets a wistful look on his face. "Joanna, the girl who charmed the stranger and the warrior that was what they used to say. We both loved her, and yet she chose Tywin, and I married Rhaella, and that changed me." The king's face hardens then. "Rhaella, I did not love her, not like I loved Joanna, and yet she was my sister, she was my other half. We grew up when our grandfather went mad, and our father gave into madness. We fought together, lived together. She is me and I am her. And Tywin he did something to her, he wanted to be part of our family, and she would not let him. My brave, sweet Rhaella she broke Tywin Lannister long before Joanna did. And now, now he is getting his revenge."
Brandon looks at the king, not sure just what the king is trying to say, but sensing that he knows. "Are you suggesting that whatever her grace Queen Rhaella did was enough to break Tywin Lannister, and make him want revenge in the most abhorrent way?"
"Not suggesting. I know Tywin, I know he is doing this, because of that." the king responds. "Tywin never takes well to rejection. Never did, never will."
"But why did Prince Rhaegar fall to his charms?" Brandon asks.
"Because I did not keep an eye on my son. I allowed him to become weak, I allowed him too much freedom. Tywin broke my relationship with my son long before I could form one. For he broke Rhaella, and I never had the chance to make amends with Rhaegar. I could not abandon my wife, never. I am not Tywin, I would never leave my wife. And that was where Tywin won, he broke my bond with my son. Broke it, and then mended it, by replacing me with himself. Tywin was the father Rhaegar never had." the king says, there is so much sadness in the king's voice that Brandon wants to comfort him, but he dares not move from where he is.
"What do you suggest we do then sire?" Brandon asks. "Do we move to make Tywin Lannister scramble? Do we make a move on his son?"
"No, leave Ser Jaime." the king replies. "He is far too valuable to use in this manner. No, we shall allow Tywin to make his moves, and when the time comes we shall slaughter him and his followers."
"And the prince?" Brandon asks.
The king's face softens slightly, and then it hardens. His eyes narrow and he says. "Rhaegar is to be dealt with as if he is a traitor. I want an order put out that he is to be condemned, he is removed from the succession and Viserys is my heir."
"I shall make sure the hand sees to it." Brandon says, before remembering that Connington had died during that battle. Brandon looks at the king, then wondering if he has remembered that as well, it seems he has for he is looking at Brandon intently.
"Lord Connington is dead, Rhaegar's lover is gone. And now my new hand stands before me. Tell me Knight Major, Lord of Winterfell, Lord Hand. Do you wish to make the announcement formal?" the king asks.
Brandon looks at the king surprised. "I…I am honoured Sire."
"Good, you are to march north with the forces coming in, as well as with the order. Ride north with Ser Barristan and Ser Jonothor. Ride forth and end this threat before it becomes too great. And make sure that Tywin dies a painful death." the king says.
Brandon bows. "It shall be done Sire."