JON
But for the innkeeper and his wife the place was deserted. Still Jon and Stannis, disguised as knights, spoke softly and when they were being served they talked about armour mostly. When horses approached Jon continued to talk about their plan but as soon as the door opened he focused on his soup. Stannis, who must have a gullet made of iron, had finished his already. A man in a brown tunic without livery or sword entered. "Is there a smithy near?" he asked the innkeeper.
"Aye. Half an hour's walk north from here. Horse lost an iron?"
"Not yet but my mistress feels it soon will. My thanks," the man said and he left. Jon had never spent a lot of time with Stannis but he'd come to think that if only Robert was a bit more like his brother, he'd make a fine king. They softly discussed the loyalties of the Kingsguard and Jon was so caught up in it, that he didn't notice the door open again. Moments later on hearing the rustle of a skirt he smoothly said: "I've seen knights wear armour that made them look like peacocks."
Stannis, who wasn't one for improvisation, nodded and looked up at the innkeeper's wife while making a gesture that she could clear up. His jaw clenched. Jon wondered what the woman had done to anger the master of ships. He too looked up. She was all alone, without a single red cloak to attack him or Stannis. She smiled and seated herself on a stool. The innkeeper came over to attend his new patron.
"My horse is close to losing an iron. You can imagine how glad I was to be near an inn. And to find you here sers! It must have been two, three years since we last met."
"May I serve you mistress?"
"How's that soup Ser Charles?" Lady Lannister asked Jon.
"Fine," Jon managed.
"Some soup and bread please."
The innkeeper left. Lady Lannister looked around the inn. The building had known far better days but the straw on the floor was fresh enough. The lioness looked at the ceiling and eyed every beam. She stamped the floor and the result seemed to satisfy her. Eyeing him and Stannis she softly said: "You question the parentage of my daughter's children." For a moment Jon thought he must have misheard but the look on Stannis's face told him he hadn't.
"I lost twenty-five years of my memory, but not my wits."
Jon forced himself to breath in deeply. "What do you plan to do?"
"I'll wait for my servant to return with my newly shoed horse. In the meantime I'll enjoy your company and my soup. It smells good!" Lady Lannister complimented the approaching innkeeper.
The man carefully placed the bowl in front of her and she gratefully looked up to him. The previous day in the Throne Room Joanna Lannister had appeared more regal than her daughter but she now looked and acted like a merchant's wife. She wore a grey cloak of a thin fabric that was travel-dusted and her hair was arranged in a modest way and a bit dishevelled from travelling. How did she find us? Lady Lannister's only jewellery was a plain small silver ring. Even the spoon she produced did not reveal her to be the wealthiest lady in Westeros. The innkeeper left to busy himself in his kitchen.
"Tell me what you plan to do."
"We are gathering evidence and we'll present it to the king," Stannis spoke determinedly.
"It is likely that he will kill my children and possibly my grandchildren. To me that's unacceptable."
Stannis was about to speak but Jon silenced him with a glance. "What do you suggest?"
Lady Lannister swallowed a spoonful of soup, wiped her lips with the back of her hand and roughly tore off some bread. She even ate like a commoner. "You won't inform the king or anyone else. My son returned home this morning and is to stay there. Joffrey marries Shireen Baratheon."
Jon's lips parted in surprise.
"By rights I should sit the throne," Stannis muttered angrily.
"Yes. But there's no lost love between you and your elder brother: your younger brother might be appointed as his heir. I heard he's popular among the smallfolk."
Jon was shocked to think he hadn't thought of that either. Why would Robert care for the proper order of succession? Had he ever spoken a kind word to his most deserving brother?
"Whatever happens my daughter will deny the accusations and my lord husband will not believe your proof and call his banners to defend his kin. There will be a civil war. I want peace. The marriage between Joffrey and Shireen will assure that."
Stannis frowned. Lady Lannister ate some soup. "Skipping a generation is a sacrifice," she gently said. "But where you would gain a land torn by war, your daughter and grandson will inherit a peaceful prosperous realm. And until then you can serve your good-son in the Small Council, perhaps even as Hand."
Lady Lannister calmly finished her soup, occasionally chatting about such things as the weather and the condition of the roads. Stannis resembled a statue but Jon suspected there was a lot going on behind his impenetrable exterior. The innkeeper brought the stew he and Stannis had ordered. Out of his own accord the man had turned it into a three person dish.
"Might take your man a while at the smithy's," the man said. "Thought you could do with proper food mistress."
"This soup was fine and the scent of your stew makes me want to eat more. You're a good host, my thanks."
It wasn't until then that Jon noticed that all the while Lady Lannister had spoken in a King's Landing accent that fitted her disguise. For the remainder of the meal Lady Lannister shared her additional plans and Jon got used to being called Ser Charles occasionally. The taciturn master of ships wasn't bothered with a fake name.
ROBERT
Why isn't there any wine here? Robert thought. Stannis was informing him about the state of the fleet and though he tried to look as if he were paying attention, Robert's mind drifted to more pleasant things: two lovely new sisters he'd tasted at Chataya's. What were their names again? Nya and Norina? Mia and Mirona? The things the one with the shortest name could do with her hands...
Stannis's lips had stopped moving. "So you desire more money," Robert said, making an educated guess as to why his brother had been boring him about his visit to the docks. Stannis frowned, so either he'd guessed incorrectly or the man was simply in a worse mood then he usually was. Robert was glad when he saw Varys enter the room where Stannis had cornered him. The eunuch made an apologizing gesture and was already on his way out when Robert summoned him in. Stannis's expression didn't improve.
"Your Grace. Lord Stannis."
"What is it Varys?"
"Nothing Your Majesty. I was merely on my way." The eunuch held a book. "I was to bring this to your good-mother."
"What's it about?"
"It is my own copy about the Battle of the Trident."
"Ah! I told her about the battle a few days ago."
"Indeed! If you permit me: it is pleasant to have her here."
"Ha! And entertaining as well! You should have seen the queen's face and her brother's at Ser Jaime's farewell dinner."
Varys smiled. "She's a charming lady."
"With a skin made of Valyrian steel no doubt. Still she's quite attractive."
"You're not the first king to notice that Your Grace."
"Aerys huh?"
"The Mad King was rather… enchanted by her."
"And he took liberties during her bedding so I heard. My good-father killed him for that."
"But no Your Majesty: Lord Lannister slay his liege because of him threatening to set the city afire."
"What are you nodding Stannis?" Robert said. "You weren't there."
"Nor were you Your Grace if I may be so bold. And how could you be? You were valiantly fighting other dangerous enemies."
Robert recalled how, on his victorious march to King's Landing, he'd imagined how the townspeople would cheer him. Men would admire him, women would go weak in the knees and offer themselves to him. Fucking glorious, that's how it would be. And what had he seen? Green fire. Thinking the city to burn, he'd hurried along as fast as his tired destrier could carry him. He'd seen flags flowing from towers: the Stag. Somehow the city was his and yet it wasn't.
"I bloody well did. I could have fought some more though: Lannister should have left Aerys for me."
"The city being in danger made Lord –"
"Seven Hells Varys," Robert angrily interrupted. "To kill you need to stab only once, not a dozen times."
"The Battle of the Trident will forever be remembered in this realm and beyond I'm sure. I – "
Robert made a gesture to stop Varys from finishing his line. The Others take him! First he brings the topic up and then he tries to set my mind of it. Damned eunuch. Damned Tywin Lannister.
"I wondered back then why that – Lannister didn't take the Iron Throne for himself. The city-folk would have supported him. I might not even have challenged him: I rather hold a sword than sit on a chair made of them."
Robert paused to allow Stannis and Varys to say something flattering. Stannis eyed him intently while the spymaster could only come up with: "The Demon of the Trident!"
"I asked my good-mother about it. She said that Lords Stark and Arryn would have expected me to go through with the rebellion, so her husband seizing the throne would have caused another civil war and the country couldn't bare that she said. She wanted peace she said and didn't need a crown. I guess all she wanted was Aerys to stop breathing."
Stannis frowned. Varys shivered. "Talking of death always makes me uncomfortable Your Grace. I'm not a fierce Baratheon warrior after all. I'm not even much of a horseman. I believe that you and the Lord Hand encountered each other yesterday while riding Lord Stannis?"
"We met when I returned from a visit to a dock."
"What did you talk about?" Robert asked, wondering why Jon hadn't simply urged on his horse on sighting Stannis.
Stannis held up the report he'd tried to hand him before. "I took the opportunity to discuss this with Lord Arryn."
"Does he agree with you?"
Stannis nodded.
"You could have told me so before and spared me the lecture. If Jon thinks it's a good idea, I'll support it. First I'll need wine though."