Edwyle
Myriah found him in the godswood, his head bowed in prayer in front of the heart tree, his hands clasped in front of him. Winter had broken, spring had come and gone, and now summer was here, Edwyle prayed for a long summer to end the harshness of what winter had brought, he prayed as he always did that his family would know peace and prosperity and that they would never face the despair and tragedy that had plagued Edwyle and his siblings and nephews in years past. He was taken from his prayers when Myriah laid a hand on his shoulder, no one else would think to do that, to disturb the fierce lord of Winterfell from his prayer, but Myriah was not just anyone, she was his wife, the love of his life, he ruled the north but she was the one person along with their children that he would give up anything for. He opened his eyes and turned to face her, noting the expression on her face he asked her. "What is it my love? Has something happened to the children?"
Myriah shook her head slightly and spoke softly as if not to disturb the ancient things that Edwyle knew resided in the godswood. "The children are fine my love. No a raven has come from King's Landing, from my brother the king."
Edwyle nodded. "And what does his grace say?"
Myriah paused for a moment as if considering how best to say what she wanted to say. "He and the royal family including my mother ride for Winterfell."
"That is good is it not? It has been many years since we last saw his grace." Edwyle replied.
"Aye, my love it is. But I wonder why Brynden has chosen to come all the way to Winterfell and with his family as well, surely it would not have been more prudent to ask us to King's Landing. After all Rowena has been through with those blasted Graftons and with mother not being as young as she once was." Myriah said.
"Perhaps he wished for her grace to get some air and time away from the capital. I would not know how his grace thinks, but I know that if something as traumatic as a loss of a child happened to us gods forbid, I would wish for us to leave our home for a time. It can only be good." Edwyle replied.
Myriah smiled at him then, and Edwyle felt his heart flutter in his chest, he always felt like a green boy in front of his wife, no matter how long they had been wed. "Well then, come inside my love. We shall need to make the preparations for the royal visit won't we?" Myriah asked.
"Aye that we will my love. I shall need to write to Rodwell and Donnor, they will both wish to be here when his grace gets here." Edwyle said, Rodwell and Donnor had gotten along very well with Brynden during the last Blackfyre rebellion, the three of them had been nigh inseparable, Rodwell had fostered in King's Landing as well as a youth alongside the young king, yes they both would wish to leave the quagmire of Barrowtown and come for their old friend's visit.
And so in the month it took from the raven arriving in Winterfell to the royal family's arrival in Winterfell suitable arrangements and preparations were made. Myriah told Edwyle that no doubt her brother would bring some of the court with him, and they both had their suspicious as to why Brynden was riding so far north, but neither of them spoke of it. The children were of course very excited to meet their uncle, the King. Rickard and Brandon both bounced on the balls of their feet in eager anticipation on the day of the king's arrival, Melissa and Anna both dressed as prettily as possible, though Edwyle knew that his goodbrother had betrothed his son and daughter to one another in keeping with Targaryen tradition, though why he had done so Myriah had not been able to explain, given what they both knew of the king's loathing of his family's incestuous practices.
All of Winterfell was gathered in the courtyard dressed in their best finery, when the King, Edwyle's goodbrother rode into the castle grounds. Brynden Targaryen, the first of his name looked as impressive and as fierce as Edwyle remembered him from the last time he had seen him, some five years ago now. The king was dressed in the black and red of his house, with the three headed red dragon showing most prominently on the cloak he wore. His iron crown glittered in the sunlight, the seven swords shining. He was followed by two knights of the Kingsguard, Ser Oberyn Dayne the Lord Commander and Ser Tywin Reyne, both men glittering in their white armour, white cloaks billowing behind them. They were followed by the Prince of Dragonstone, who for a moment Edwyle mistook for his old friend Prince Maekar so true was their resemblance, the prince was handsome looking that was for sure, he was accompanied by Ser Matthis Baratheon youngest son of Robar Baratheon.
Once the king had dismounted Edwyle and the rest of Winterfell kneeled before him, after a space the king asked them to rise, before he clasped Edwyle on the shoulder and said in that gruff tone of his "Lord Edwyle, it has been too long."
"Aye Your Grace it has." Edwyle replied.
The king broke out into a smile then and said "Well come now Lord Stark, don't be so solemn, introduce me to my nieces and nephews!"
Edwyle could not help the smile that came to his face then, and so he proceeded to introduce his goodbrother to Rickard, Melissa, Brandon and Anna all of whom either bowed or curtseyed and Edwyle had to fight hard to repress a smile when Melissa blushed at a compliment from the King. When Edwyle got to Myriah though, the King went serious for a brief moment and then forgot all propeity and embraced her tightly. Edwyle looked away from the reunion but heard the king whisper to his sister "It has been too long Myriah, I have missed you deeply." He did not hear his wife's response though he could guess at what it would be.
Once all the introductions had been made the royal party retired for the afternoon in better preparation for that evening's festivities. Edwyle was about to lead Myriah back into the castle when he heard the king say "Lord Stark, walk with me if you would."
Edwyle nodded and joined the king, they walked toward the broken tower, Ser Oberyn and Ser Tywin following a discreet distance behind the two of them. It was the king who spoke first. "How have you been Ed? It was long ago I last saw you, and that too after a godforsaken war and the death of my uncle and many good men."
"I am good Your Grace, we all are."Edwyle replied.
The king snorted at that. "Please Ed, call me by my name, I have enough people kissing my ass back in the capital as it is."
"Very well then... Brynden," Edwyle said smiling slightly. "Rodwell and Donnor shall be coming later tonight for the feast, I thought you might like to see them."
Brynden smiled widely then, and it was as if Edwyle was looking at his goodbrother as he had been at ten years of age. "Ah that will be good. How have they been doing Ed? Is Rodwell as wild as he was before, has he settled down or does he still go about breaking young girls hearts?"
Edwyle laughed then, and was thankful that none of his bannermen was there to hear it, he had a reputation to uphold after all. "Alas no Brynden, Rodwell finally acquiesced to my uncle's wishes and settled down. He married some second daughter from House Dustin, and has started a cadet Branch of our family in Barrowtown. Donnor is serving at the Wall."
Brynden laughed. "Rodwell married, now there's a sight I wish I had been present to see." The king turned serious then. "You must know why I have come all this way Ed, my uncles are both dead, one by battle, the other from illness. Some on the council urged me to look to the south, some suggested Egg, but my cousin refused, some even suggested that bastard Lannister, but no. If not Egg there is only one person I trust more than him, and that is you. Edwyle Stark, I would ask you to be Hand of the King."
Edwyle could not say he was entirely shocked by the request; nonetheless he got down on bended knee and said. "Your Grace, I am not worthy of the honour."
Brynden snorted. "You're more worth of the honour than some of those pock nosed bastards in the south, all of whom want something, but whisper pretty little lies to try and get my favour. No, if there is one thing my uncle taught me, it was to value family. You are my family Ed, you have ruled the north well and good, now help me rule the Kingdoms and we can end this god damn Blakcfyre threat and bring a lasting peace to Westeros."
"As you wish Your Grace, if you could give me time to speak with my wife about it, I shall get back to you." Edwyle replied, though he already knew what Myriah would say.
"Yes, yes. Now come I believe we must feast soon no?" Brynden said.
And so later that evening they feasted, well into the early hours of the next day. It was very, very late by the time Edwyle and Myriah returned to their own chambers, both were tired, though Edwyle knew he must speak of the offer to Myriah now before the moment past. "My love, what we thought would occur has occurred. Brynden offered me the handship."
Myriah nodded slightly, and then said "And you will accept it won't you my love?"
"Aye. I must, for the good of the realm, my dreams are not wrong, if I do not accept the black dragons will continue to plague Westeros, and Brynden will not last long for there will be traitors in his court, even now there are." Edwyle replied, speaking of the vision he had had some moons ago, when news of what had happened at Gulltown came to them.
"Then, accept it my love and keep an eye on my brother. He has a good heart, but I know not whether he is like our father, or our uncle." Myriah said.
"Your mother did not come to Winterfell after all my love?" Edwyle asked. He had not had the chance to properly introduce himself to the rest of the King's family apart from Queen Rowena and Prince Maelor.
"No, Brynden said mother felt too unwell to make the journey. She sent her love though for both us and the children." Myriah replied, and Edwyle wished he could tell her why her mother had avoided coming to Winterfell, for it had nothing to do with illness, though he had promised Prince Maekar that he would never tell a soul, not even his own wife.
The royal party stayed in Winterfell for two weeks, in which time there was a hunt, and the Princes and Princess got to know their cousins, and Edwyle began to learn more of his goodbrother, past the fine swordsman and more than capable battle commander, and through these observations of his, he came to see that there was more of Prince Maekar in the king than King Aerys or Bloodraven, a good thing that was for sure.
They left Winterfell, the royal party, Edwyle his daughter Anna and youngest son Brandon along with their household guard and forty other retainers, as they travelled further south, Edwyle noticed that the king seemed to lose the air of joviality that he had in Winterfell, his smiles became less frequent and his brooding seemed to become more prominent. One day, when they were near Harrenhal especially, Edwyle noted that the king became very, very agitated, though why he would not explain until they had past the cursed castle.
"I do not like that castle nor those whom occupy it." Brynden said a deep anger in his voice.
Edwyle looked at his goodbrother then and asked. "Why Your Grace? I thought that one of the Lothstons served on your small council?"
The king snorted, "Aye Jarryck, a fine young man, though he comes from traitor's stock. A man Edmond Rosby suggested for the role after uncle Brynden died. Rosby resigned you know, when I said you were to become Hand of the King. Upped and left for his pile of mud and bricks, saying he could not serve on the same council as a madman and a savage such as yourself." The king spat into the ground as if to show what he thought of Edmond Rosby.
Edwyle remained silent for a moment at that and then asked softly. "And who will be replacing him Your Grace?" Rosby was known for his financial genius that much Edwyle knew from his sources in the south.
"Garon, Daenys' husband. He has money and has skills in the department, though I wish he did not have to come." The king replied, a grimace on his face.
Edwyle had heard rumours about the tensions between the king and the Lannisters, though never at his sister, Myriah had always told him that more than anything Brynden loved and cared about was his family. And so he had to know to understand. "Why do you wish that you did not have to ask Lord Garon to become master of coin Your Grace?"
The king gave a sad sigh. "Because the man is a coward and a brute. He abuses my sister daily, the only thing that gives her joy in their marriage is their children. Nothing else, I do this only so that Daenys can have some piece from the man, for I know that if she were to come to court and he were to abuse her, I would kill him before he knew what had hit him. Though some of those westermen may take it into their heads to then side with those cunts across the narrow sea. The West never truly forgave my grandfather for keeping Tybolt and Gerion Lannister hostage during the war." Edwyle nodded then, understanding at once why the King disliked the Lannisters, if not his sister and her children, then her husband and his other relatives. The King changed the subject though before Edwyle could ask another question. "But enough about that. I must warn you Ed, you shall face opposition from some on the council and the High Septon, though I know, you probably already know this." The king laughed at the surprised look on his face. "What you think I don't know what you are? I have the sight myself, and so I know another one when I see one."
The first four years of Edwyle's reign as hand of the king were relatively peaceful, the small council did not completely object to his presence. Though how much that was due to fear out of his reputation, and the king's own adamant insistence that he was worth ten of any southerner, he often wondered. Anna and Brandon thrived in the south, Anna with her love of songs and pageantry quickly ingrated herself with the princess's circle of friends and followers, even becoming a bed companion to Princess Rhaenys before her wedding to Prince Maelor. During one small council meeting, the king mentioned perhaps betrothing Anna to Loren Reyne the heir to Castamere, for in his words 'strengthening the ties between the north and south further' and so it was that in 243 A.L., Anna Stark and Loren Reyne were betrothed to be married at a later date. Brandon, his energetic little boy, developed into a fierce swordsman, training with Prince Baelor and Prince Aenar, he learnt from the best of teachers in the knights of the Kingsguard, and some of the southerners began discussing betrothals for him with Edwyle despite the fact that his son was only eight years old.
There were of course royal weddings during this time as well. The eldest two sons of Prince Aegon of Summerhall, much like their father had before them, married for love, which though not uncommon caused quite a stir amongst the nobles of Westeros, especially when Prince Duncan the eldest child and heir of Prince Aegon married a common girl from the Riverlands by the name of Jenny of Oldstones. Their wedding took place in the Great Sept of Baelor, with the whole of the court in attendance, Prince Duncan was well loved amongst the commons, and his marriage to a commoner had led to much talk and gossip about the girl, the fact that she had brought a wood's witch with her only added to the gossip, with some whispering that the girl had bewitched the prince into marrying her. Such talk was often said away from the ears of Prince Aegon and the king, for though both had allowed the wedding to take place, they would not tolerate slander of the family name.
Prince Jaehaerys wedding to Daenaerys Blackfyre, the daughter of one of the late Blackfyre pretenders caused even more scandal and gossip when it occurred late in 241 A.L. The story of Daenaerys Blackfyre was an interesting one, she had been born two years after her husband in 226 A.L. and had grown up in Tyrosh alongside her kin, but when her father the late Aegon Blackfyre, had led the attack on Westeros he had brought with him his daughter in the hopes of winning a marriage alliance with one of the lords disinclined with Brynden's rule, with her father's death, the girl had become a valuable hostage for the King, and he had acquiesced to his uncle's request, and sent her off to Summerhall to be tended to by his cousin's family. It was during this time that a young Jaehaerys began to come to understand and get to know the girl, who had at one point been a threat to his family, the two found an interest in one another and fell in love gradually, Jaehaerys refusal to marry one Joanna Crakehall, led to the King and Edwyle slanting the marriage with Daenaerys as one that untied the two Targaryen lines and hopefully ended the Blackfyre threat. The fear of retribution that Brynden had had about that wedding was ended when in 242 A.L. a boy who was named Aerys was born to the couple.
Two years later, Princess Rhaelle, Prince Aegon's only daughter married Tyrek Baratheon the heir to Storm's End, a man whom through his use of the weirwood network and various other means Edwyle had kept an eye on, on his goodbrother's insistence. The man was kind if not the most attentive of betrotheds, though Rhaelle seemed to be smitten with him, and the two had a child by the name of Steffon in 244 A.L. the last year that there was peaceful times in King's Landing during the first decade of Edwyle's tenure as Hand of the King.
As Brynden had predicted four years ago, the faith had gradually become less patient with him, though he cared not. He was devoted to his gods, and so had begun planting more and more weirwood trees in the godswood of the Red Keep and caring for them himself. What had gotten under the Faith's skin was that according to Brynden, they believed that he was influencing the court away from godly practices of the seven and towards the more heathen and savage practices of the old gods, something that made Edwyle's blood boil.
Things came to a head when some pious idiot in the streets of King's Landing tried to throw things at him and his son when they were wandering around speaking with the commons. Fed up and angry with the bigoted ways of the Faith Edwyle spoke with Brynden and the High Septon was summoned from the Great Sept of Baelor to answer for what had happened. "Your Holiness, what was done to the hand was most unacceptable. Since the days of my ancestor Aegon the Dragon, Westeros has been a place of multi faiths and acceptance. Why has this suddenly changed?"
"Your, Your Grace. It has not changed, it is just that this man is having a bad influence on yourself and the court. Turning them to heathen ways and to the path to hell." The high septon had stuttered.
Brynden had snorted, and Edwyle had coldly replied. "My gods give me peace Septon, I have not tried to convert anybody to anything. It is you and yours who have misconstructed my religiousness and taken it for something it is not. End this conflict now, or I swear you shall regret it."
The High Septon seemed terrified then, and Brynden had burst out laughing. "You have heard him, end this foolishness now, or face death Septon. I know you, and your beliefs, end this foolishness, or I may need to look for a new High Septon."
As if to prove his point, Brynden turned to Edwyle and said "My son and daughter's wedding shall take place in the godswood. I do not want this idiot scampering on about heathenry and ruining their day."
"As you will Your Grace." Edwyle had replied. He had looked at the High Septon then and the man had gone running from the room.
The king slumped in his chair then, and Edwyle concerned asked. "Are you well Your Grace?"
His goodbrother looked up then, though his eyes seemed tired, and his skin seemed pale. "Aye Ed, I am, I am. The High Septon will stop his preaching I know, but at what cost I know not. My dreams do not tell me this, I cannot afford a war on all fronts. Lucereon Blackfyre will be marching soon for Westeros, and there are those who will try and use my nephew against me. Jaehaerys is loyal but he is weak, and his bride is ambitious."
"Do you wish for me to look to the trees to see if there will be further trouble Your Grace?" Edwyle asked.
"No, do not bother Ed. What will come, will come. But we have a wedding to prepare for." The king replied sounding older than his years.
Sure enough on the fifth day of the fourth month of the 245th year after Aegon's Landing, Prince Maelor was wed to his sister Princess Rhaenys in front of the heart tree in the godswood of the Red Keep with the whole court and delegations from the Vale and the Stormlands watching. A daughter was born to them nine moons later, a girl they named Rhaena, though the child was born weak and sickly and died a few days after being born.
More children were born to the King and his Queen though, a balm of sorts for their grief over the death of their grandchild, a Prince Maekar born in 244 A.L. and a daughter a Princess Jaehara born in 246 A.L. the last of the King and Queen's Children, and whose birth nearly cost the queen her life, and after that old Grand Maester Derryck decreed that it would not be safe nor wise for the King and Queen to have any more children.
In 248 A.L. a son was born to Prince Maelor and Princess Rhaenys, and they named the boy Aegyl. A grand celebration was held in honour of the prince's birth, and Edwyle finally got to see his wife and eldest two children after eight years. Rickard, now a man grown at Twenty seemed grim and solemn, just like Edwyle had himself at that age, Melissa at twenty six had married and had a child of her own in the time he had been in the south, unable to attend his firstborn's wedding due to some need in the capital.
A few days after the celebration feast, a raven arrived from Harrenhal asking if the King would be interested in betrothing his son Prince Baelor to Lady Taena Lothston, the heiress to Harrenhal and Lord Jarryck's niece. Discussions were held and eventually it was decided that Baelor would be betrothed to the Lady Taena, though Baelor insisted on going to Harrenhal himself to court her properly. And so it was that on the first day of the new year in 249 A.L., Prince Baelor rode out from King's Landing with Ser Gerold Massey of the Kingsguard and twenty other companions for Harrenhal and his bride to be, not knowing what waited for him ahead. Edwyle for saw pain on the horizon, though for whom he knew not, the dreams were not always specific.