RANDYL TARLY

HIGH GARDEN

Randyl sits in the main hall feasting with his family, Lords, and Knights. His Lady wife Melessa Tarly nee' Florent is not pleased with his betraying House Tyrell. He looks across the table at her as she sits there refusing to eat. "My Lord…" Maester Berryl says walking up to him.

"What is it?"

"A raven from King's Landing…"

He breaks the seal and reads it, "My Lords and brave Knights…The time has come…King Robert is dead…We march…" They all cheer at the news. Randyl plans to march half his army to King's Landing and the other half will march to Silverhill and help Lord Tywin. "You are still not talking to me?" He says to Melessa as they get ready for bed later.

She huffs, "Olenna Tyrell was your friend…How could you betray her like that…"

"I was betrayed!" He replies raising his voice.

"How? Sam…I am glad he is with the Romyns…"

"He was supposed to go to the Night's Watch…"

She climbs into bed and turns away from him. The next morning he goes to see Olenna, "What is happening?"
"We will march to the Capitol…You, your son, and granddaughter will be joining me…"

"What news of my grandson Loras?"

"He's alive…You will see him soon…" Randyl leaves her to continue his preparations for the journey to the Capitol. He leaves Dickon at High Garden with five thousand men to rule in his name. Dickon must also raise conscripts for the army and hire sell swords. Lord Jonathan Oakheart is to lead twenty thousand men to join up with Lord Tywin Lannister. "Move out!" Randyl commands.

They march up the Rose Road to King's Landing. When they reach Bitterbridge Lord Caswell informs Randyl about Stannis' letter that arrived a few days ago. In it he claims that Tommen, Joffrey, and Myrcella are all bastards and demands that the Lords and Ladies of Westeros support him as King. Randyl does not stay at Bitterbridge as he is anxious to get to the Capitol and help fortify it. After two weeks of marching Randyl Tarly reaches the city with twenty thousand men.

Waiting in the courtyard is Lord Tyrion Lannister, "Lord Tarly…Welcome…I am Hand to King Tommen Baratheon…"

He dismounts his horse, "You Hand of the King…"

"Yes is there a problem?"
He pulls him on the side, "Your family name is Lannister…That being said I don't know you became Hand of the King…I don't care…I am here to help defend the city and uphold King Tommen as King…My men are mine to command…So don't get any ideas about giving me orders…I know your reputation with women, gold, and drinking…If you were my son I would have sent you far away…as not to embarrass my family name…"

Tyrion smiles, "Lord Tarly…I am underestimated because I am a Dwarf…Had I been born into some other family they would have left me for dead…My name is Tyrion Lannister…and I may be a Dwarf but I can roar just as loud as any other member of my family…Give me the opportunity and I will earn your respect…Don't make an enemy of me…Now the steward shall show you to your rooms…Ser Gowen will help your men get settled…After you have rested there will be a small council meeting in the council chambers near the throne room…"

Later Randyl is unpacking in his room when he gets a visit from Queen Mother Cersei Baratheon. "Your grace…"

"Lord Tarly welcome to the Capitol…"

They leave his room and walk through the hallways, "I wanted to speak with you before the council meeting…"

"So did I…I was surprised to find your brother as Hand of the King…"

She sighs, "I was distracted by other matters…Both my brothers convinced my son King Tommen to name Tyrion as Hand…I have tried to convince him to remove him, but…my son has become very strong willed since becoming King…"

"I have taken great risks to support the crown…Tell me why was Prince Joffrey passed up as King…"

"Joffrey…I am ashamed to admit this…Let's just say that Joffrey is not fit to be King…Before Robert died he had Joffrey stripped of his rights to the crown…He named Tommen his heir in his place…"

"I will not press the matter Your Grace…I do expect your support in betrothing my daughter to the King…and Princess Myrcella to my son when she comes of age…"

"Your son is too old for my daughter…"

"But my armies are not too good for the crown…If we are to allies I will accept nothing less…"

"So be it then…"

"Will the King be at the small council meeting?"

"Tommen is present at all the meetings…He is shaping into a fine young man and King…"

As she said Tommen is present at the small council meeting. He walks up to Randyl, "Lord Tarly…My father tells me of your support to the crown…You have my gratitude for your men my Lord…"

"You are welcome Your Grace…"

"Lord Tarly may I present Lady Adalyne Vastell…of Volantis…She is an information broker and our new Master of Whispers…" Tyrion makes introductions before the meeting starts.

He nods to her, "My Lady…"

"And this is Lord Harold Massey of Stonedance…Master of Laws…And Lord Emmon Master of Ships…"

Everyone sits after the King is seated, "My Lord Uncle please begin…"

Tyrion looks at Lady Vastell, "My Lady…"

"Stannis has sent letters to all the Great and Minor Houses of Westeros demanding support for hi claim to the crown…"

"Stannis is my uncle…What claim does he have to the crown?"

"Perhaps we should skip this matter…" Cersei says speaking up.

"No I will hear the truth of this…" Tommen insists impressing Randyl.

"Your Grace…" Tyrion speaks before Lady Vastell can answer, "Your Uncle was always jealous of your father…and he will say anything to get his hands on the Iron Throne…"

"My son…I will speak with you in private on this matter later…"

He sighs, "Very well then…"

"The Stormlords are gathering on Dragonstone…"

"Do any of them support the crown?" Randyl asks.

"No they have all declared for Stannis…With the full support of the Stormlands Stannis' army will number one hundred thousand strong…"

"How many troops do have in the city?" Randyl asks.

"Just over five thousand Lannister men…Two thousand Gold Cloaks…" Lord Janos says.

"Plus we are raising conscripts…So far four thousand have volunteered…" Tyrion says looking at Randyl, "We were hoping you would train the conscripts…"

"With my army that gives us…Just over thirty thousand troops to defend the city…" He leans forward looking at the Master of ships, "What is the status of the Royal Fleet…"

"Stannis took many ships as he was the former Master of ships…We only have fifteen ships to defend the bay…"

"Have the defenses been inspected?"

It is Tyrion who answers Randyl's question, "They have…As we speak I have men reinforcing the

Mud gate…We are weakest there…"

"And that is where we should focus our defense…Stannis will hit us hard there…"

"Has there been any word from other Houses?" Tommen asks.

Randyl smiles, as despite his age the boy is asking some very grown up questions, "House Bolton is marching its army south as we speak…We also have the support of House Corbray…House Frey says they will support us but are unable to send us any military support…" Lady Vastell replies.

Randyl grunts, "The Late Walder Frey…He'll sit in his castle and wait to see who wins…"

"Perhaps we can entice him to come out of his castle…" Tyrion says.

"How?" Cersei asks.

"Walder Frey felt very slighted when King Robert didn't grant him more lands and titles…We can offer him a Princess…"

"No!" Cersei screams, "Absolutely not…"

"A better match for the Princess would be with my son Dickon…"

Tyrion frowns and looks at Tommen, "For your loyalty Lord Randyl I will marry your daughter when I come of age…But there are other Houses that are just as deserving of a match to my sister…"

"Perhaps we should talk about this in private your Grace…" Cersei says.

"No I have made my decision…" He replies in a firm tone of voice.

Cersei stares at her son. "What news of the North?" Randyl asks changing the subject.

"Robb Stark has summoned his banners…As we speak they march on Riverrun…Edmure Tully rules in his father's name…He too has summoned his banners to Riverrun and there is talk in the Vale of the Knights mustering as well…"

"I don't want a war…" Tommen says, "People die!"

"We don't want a war either Your Grace, but sometimes wars must be fought…" Randyl says.

Maester Pycel clears his throat, "House Stark did send a Raven inquiring about the health of Lord Eddard Stark and his men…"

"And?" Randyl asks.

"If House Stark does not bend the knee then Eddard Stark must be executed for treason as an example…" Cersei says.

"No!" Tommen says, "Lord Stark was my father's best friend…"

"But he committed treason my King…"

"Eddard Stark can be used as a bargaining chip…Let's see how things unfold on the battlefield before we execute anyone…" Tyrion says.

"What of Houses Martell and Romyn…" Cersei asks.

"House Romyn…"

Vastell starts to speak, but Randyl interrupts her, "Will not be a problem…I used the gold I took from High Garden to hire the Golden Company…As we speak twenty thousand men are heading for the Western Expanse…"

"This is excellent news…" Cersei says in excitement.

"House Martell is amassing an army in the Prince's Pass…"

The meeting lasts for hours, but then Tommen yawns, "I am getting hungry…Perhaps we can continue this another time…"

"Very well Your Grace…"

They dismiss Randyl and Cersei remain seated as everyone leaves the room. Tyrion lingers and then he leaves. "Did you write your father about him?"

"Yes I did…He replied to leave Tyrion as Hand of the King…"

"Why?"

"Says that if he messes up it will be Tyrion's fault…"

Randyl shakes his head, "I should be in command of our forces…Properly placed this city can hold against Stannis or anyone else who comes calling…"

"Let my brother have his fun and when he falls you can pick up the pieces…"

"If you will excuse me Your Grace I think I will pay these recruits a visit…" Randyl stands up to leave.

"Lord Tarly…"

"Yes…"

She gets up and walks around the table, "My brother doesn't know, but I have commissioned the pyromancers to make Wild Fire…"

He looks at her, "If not handled properly that stuff could level the city…"

"Or give us a great victory over Stannis…"

He leaves not liking the idea of using Wild Fire to defend the city with. The new recruits are gathered in Maegor's Tower for training. Like the Tower of the Hand, Maegor's Tower has its own courtyard, but it is inside with windows. "Attention!" the Commander yells, "Stand at attention you slobs!"

After inspecting the men Randyl goes to visit Eddard Stark. To his surprise Stark has books and a wash tub in his cell. "For a prisoner you are treated quit well…"

"Lord Tarly…I had heard you betrayed the Tyrells…"

"Its not betrayal if I fight for Robert's heir…"

"We both know Robert has no true heirs…"

"And who should be King? Stannis…No one will follow him…"

"I suppose not…"

"During the tourney of the Hand…you spoke with Julian Romyn…What did you talk about with him…"

"It was a private matter…"

Randyl stares at him, "Of all the Lords in the realm you are the most noble…Your sense of honor would tell you to support Stannis…but I do not see the conviction of that…something else is going on…"

"I'm afraid you will have to look elsewhere…"

Randyl walks away mulling on his conversation with Eddard Stark. There is no way he would support the Targaryen's return to power. Over the next few days Randyl trains the conscripts into a fighting force worthy of the crown. His daughter is pleased to be marrying the King when he comes of age. As for Tyrion's defense plans for the city Randyl had to admit that imp of Casterly Rock has some good ideas. Soon they receive a Raven from the Golden Company they had landed on the shores of the Western Expanse.