The day had been hot and the sun shone down remorselessly on the city of King's Landing, as Stannis Baratheon sat alone in the Small Council Chamber. He was brooding once more, as he thought about the current situation. This gods forsaken mess that his brother had left behind, when he rode to High Garden with most of the court.
Not that Stannis minded being left behind in the capital, to assist the Hand of the King, Lord Jon Arryn of the Vale. He was actually glad, for he had no interest in enduring such a jolly celebration, where Robert would drink himself to an early grave, right in front of his most dangerous enemies. For all intents and purposes, Stannis considered his brother to be a downright fool.
The dragon princess must surely laugh about the drunk king's follies every day, how could she not, when Robert ruined himself more and more, whereas all she had to do was sit by and wait. Stannis had seen the amount of gold that Robert spent every day. For drinking, for whoring, for other things that entertained him. And Stannis remembered the last Small Council meeting all too well. The concern that the Hand had uttered, when he was once more informed about just how much money the king already owed other people. Not that Robert would care.
And to make things worse, Robert had left them with so little power in the capital, no one knew how they were supposed to manage until he returned. Most of the servants had followed him to Highgarden, as well as the entire Kingsguard and a the majority of the guards. The thieves were having a field day in the city and no one knew how to change this, at least not without encumbering with even more debts.
Stannis finally realized that the Seven truly hated him, what else could this be, than an act of punishment for his refusal to worship these cruel gods? All was about to spiral out of control. And now, at the worst time possible, the Hand of the King had taken ill... and as the king's oldest brother, the current regency fell into his unwilling hands.
"Rather dreadful, these news, don't you agree, my lord?" Stannis sighed annoyed, when he heard the velvety voice of another member of the Small Council. His brother's Master of Whispers, Lord Varys. "One would have thought that the marriage of the king's youngest brother would be a time of joyous celebration, yet here you sit, all glum and dour. Isn't he your brother as well?"
Stannis tried to ignore the man, as Varys sat down across from him. He didn't even wanted to look at the man, this hairless eunuch, clad in a silken robe of a garish color, that would have been more fitting of a whore, than a member of the king's Small Council. He did not trust this man, not even in the slightest. But he also knew that this man's spy network was invaluable.
"We should thank the gods that so far there had been nothing that would truly call for a war. The king is known for his temper and the presence of Rhaenys Targaryen could possibly trigger... a new crisis." The eunuch looked actually concerned, though Stannis wasn't sure, whether it was because of the threat to the crown or the threat to the dragon princess. No one could tell, who Lord Varys would support, once a war for the crown would start.
"My brother knows better than to attack the girl in such a public setting. And he has Lord Stark with him, to keep him away from harm. I trust the northern lord with this task. If there is one man besides Lord Arryn who could keep Robert from starting a war, it is Eddard Stark. Robert's only true brother." Stannis replied grudgingly. He didn't like that Stark all that much. It was nothing personal, nothing the man had done, but what Robert had done. The day Robert had placed Eddard Stark above his own brothers, was the day Stannis had to accept that his eldest brother and king cared little about his true siblings. All because of his obsession with the wolf lords of the North. He had nearly ruined their house, just for the sake of the Starks.
"Yet my little birds have told me a story about the return of Rhaegar Targaryen. They whisper that the dragon knight himself has risen once more, clad in his armor, Targaryen eyes burning with a thirst for revenge. The chaos he caused nearly lead us to the brink of war. And all that in a single fight against the king's oldest son and heir." Varys said, clearly amused by his own words and the effect they had on Stannis.
The dragon knight? Rhaegar Targaryen was dead. Robert killed him himself. Crushed him at the Trident with his hammer. There had been many witnesses. The crown prince is dead, but who else would have the audacity to pose as this cursed man?
"Fear not, my lord," Varys continued, a satisfied smile on his face, "Though the person in the armor bore an uncanny resemblance to the Targaryens, he turned out to be the very boy Tywin Lannister has declared as his heir. Arthur, the son of Jaime Lannister and the sister of Ser Arthur Dayne. He and prince Joffrey are... at odds now."
More bad news. This was definitely not good. The heir of Tywin Lannister, a Targaryen loyalist. Was this a sign of betrayel from the Warden of the West? No, he wouldn't dare. Not with his daughter as the current queen and his grandson as the next king. But why declare such a boy as his heir? Deep down he knew the answer though. Because he was powerful enough to make it happen. Another chance to show who possessed the real power in Robert's realm. The crown owed him enough money to make sure that the king would not oppose this heir. At least not without causing damage to his own side. They would need the Westerlands in the upcoming war. Gold is the key to winning wars and no one had more gold than Tywin Lannister.
As Stannis remained silent, Varys seized the opportunity to continue his little game of words, "And just imagine the possibility of the Westerlands declaring for Rhaenys Targaryen. Together with the Reach and Dorne, who knows what this girl could do to the realm. With every day the war seems more and more likely. All they need is for us to give them a reason... or for them to gain an heir with a strong enough claim. Viserys Targaryen will not stay on the other side of the Narrow Sea for ever. Once he returns, the realm will bleed."
"Then make it happen that he does not get back." Stannis replied curtly. He tired of this man's game rather quickly. As if he did not know how dangerous their current situation was. Their enemies were gaining new allies with every passing day. They were not ready for another war like the bloody rebellion fifteen years ago. "Once that boy is gone, all that remains are two young girls and all the Lords remember all too well what had happened the last time a female Targaryen tried to rule this realm. They won't support them. At least not all of them."
"Alas, that would greatly contradict the plans of the Hand of the King. Lord Arryn is a man who seeks peace, not the death of children. He would not condone this." Varys replied with a small smirk.
"He does not have to know. Arrange it before he recovers from his illness. If that is what it takes to keep the peace in this realm, I want Viserys Targaryen dead." Stannis declared angrily.
A servant entered the room, a troubled look on the young man's face, as he stood before Stannis and Varys. And he was obviously out of breath. "My lords, Grand Maester Pycelle sends me." The boy had to pause, so he could take a deep breath. But Stannis just wanted the boy to say what he had to say and be gone from his sight.
"What is it? Out with it, boy."
"My lords, his lordship, Hand of the King Jon Arryn has passed away." Stannis felt as if someone had just dumped a bucket full of ice cold water over his head, as he felt numb when he heard this. "He succumbed to his fever, there was nothing the Grand Maester could do to save him."
"Leave now, boy. Tell no one else about this." It was Varys who gave the order, as Stannis was still stunned. All Stannis could do now was sigh, as he shook his head in disbelieve.
"So it begins," Varys muttered ominously.
"Without Jon Arryn there will be no one left to reason with Robert. Once Eddard Stark returns to the North, everything will escalate." Stannis muttered. "Now we must prepare for the worst. War will come soon. Viserys Targaryen no longer matters, the conflict is inevitable now." And he knew that he would fight for his brother. Not because he liked Robert, but because it was his duty. Just like during the rebellion he would fulfill his duty to his brother. Now they would see who serves the realm... and who serves only their own interest.
"And the realm shall bleed." Varys concluded, before he stood up and left Stannis alone. The eunuch left, no doubt to plan his own schemes for the war. And Stannis was sure that not all of this man's plans were in the king's favor. He was too cunning to fully join only one side in the war. No, Varys would do his utmost to survive the war with as much power as possible. And one thing Stannis knew without a doubt, the day this man turned traitor, he would be there to end him. Just like all the rest. All traitors would fall.