3rd Moon, 64 AC
Throne Room of the Red Keep, Kings Landing
Queen Laena sat upon the Iron Throne, overlooking the throne room which was packed as her courtiers, guards and various Lords from both the Stormlands and the Reach as well as their retainers had gathered had come to witness the trial of Lord Aumary Tyrell who stood accused of murder and the poisoning of Raymont Baratheon, the Lord of Storm's End.
Below the throne two tables had been set up. Lord Aumary Tyrell sat at the first, due to his standing as a High Lord he was not chained or bound by her daughter Liannas decree, though Ser Allard Caffren and Lord Commander Bryce Woyne of the Kingsguard stood behind him in full armor and plate. The Lord of Highgarden looked clean if nervous, wearing a black doublet with a golden rose stitched into it, her daughter had made the decision to confine him to a Tower Cell above the dungeons, claiming that his status as a High Lord afforded him a certain degree of comfort.
At the other table sat her sister, Cymella who had been married to Lord Raymont, she would represent the Stormlands in the trial, and with Laenas support had built a strong case against the Lord of Highgarden. Her daughter Lianna stood immediately beside the throne, as Master-of-Laws, overseeing the trial was her responsibility.
Queen Laena returned her attention to the testimony of Lord Braxton Florent of soft spoken man of 40 who was serving as a witness for the Princess Cymella against his own liege lord.
''Repeat your testimony once more if you will Lord Florent, for the scribe.'' Lianna asked.
Lord Florent nodded ''Certainly princess…..the conversation in question took place shortly before my liege lord left Roseford for the peace negotiations….I expressed a doubt that we had enough leverage to secure favorable terms from Baratheon, and suggested we might take to the field and attempt to retake Ashford as to better our position.''
''And how did Lord Tyrell respond?'' Rhodry Martell, the Hand of the King questioned.
''He stated that there were more ways than one to defeat an enemy, he continued on to state that he was aware Lord Raymont would never acquiesce to favorable peace terms, but he continued on to say that his wife, the Lady Cymella would likely offer a hefty tribute of gold and silver to win a peace and preserve the Stormlands for her young son, Lord Boros….when I reminded him that Lady Cymella did not have the authority to broker such a peace without her lord husbands permission he responded that she would as her sons regent. I questioned him, out of curiosity what led him to believe such a circumstance was inevitable, he merely smiled and replied that the feast table can be just as dangerous as the battlefield….'' Lord Florent said softly.
A mild murmur ran through the crowd in response to this revelation.
''The fox is truly an apt sigil for your house Lord Florent…you lie between your teeth.'' Lord Tyrell said.
''Lord Aumary, you will have your chance to speak in a moment you have my word, but do not interrupt again….Lord Florent, you swear in the sight of the seven gods above your testimony is true?'' Lianna asked, looking Lord Florent in the eyes.
''I do Princess.'' The man said, bowing his head.
Her daughter continued to look at Lord Florent for a moment before slowly nodding her head, a strange look in her eyes.
Laena smiled as she looked at Aumary Tyrell, clearly uncomfortable, shifting around in his seat. The Lord of Highgarden's position was not as secure as he had thought, nor was he as well liked amongst his vassals as he had believed. Lord Tyrell was a man that was stingy in the distribution of gold and loot won from the campaign, always promising his lords would be rewarded in the future, after one more battle, one more captured castle but never delivering, it had been easy to find allies amongst the Lords of the Reach who were angry about the losses their levies had suffered with no prospect of compensation, and Lord Florent was not the only one.
Lord Wilbert Osgrey had presented his cousin Ser Willas Osgrey, who had been present at the peace negotiations as one of the knights that had rode with Lord Aumary as a witness. The knight had stated that when Lord Tyrell had commanded his servant to fetch Raymont Baratheon a cup of Arbor Gold from his own cask, he had seen the man place something in Raymont Baratheons goblet.
Before him had been Lord Peake, who had stated that Lord Tyrell had already made a prior attempt on Raymont Baratheons life after he had captured Ashford, regaling the crowd with a tale of how two bumbling assassins had made blunder after blunder in their attempt to kill the Lord of Storm's End, eliciting many a laugh from the audience.
When Lianna had questioned the man how he could possibly know this information, Lord Peake had claimed that while one assassin had fallen and broken his neck climbing the walls to Lord Baratheons bedchamber, the other had been caught by Baratheons household guards and before he could be executed had escaped the dungeon.
That man Lord Peake claimed had returned to the Reachmen encampment and, fearful of the wroth Lord Tyrell would have for his failure had sworn his loyalty to Lord Peake. He continued on to say that the ''poor bastard'' had been killed whilst pissing during the siege of Nightsong by an archer on the walls, but not before telling Lord Peake of his role in the attempt on Raymont Baratheons life, which Lord Peake took to be true from the clear marks left by manacles on the mans wrist and a bag of Tyrell gold he had been given.
Following the conclusion of Lord Florents testimony, Aumary Tyrell stood from his seat.
''I would like the chance to speak in my defense if I might Princess.'' He said and Lianna nodded her assent.
''The claim is that I poisoned Lord Raymont with wine from my own personal cask…..ordering it to be given to him in front of well over one hundred people, I have served as Lord Paramount of the Reach for 13 years…it is not a small task to oversee the Reach but I have done so diligently and with competence…..do you, lords and ladies of the court believe I would be so foolish as to poison a man from mine own cask so openly right in front of hundreds of people…when I would so clearly be blamed for such an event.'' Lord Tyrell said eloquently, and once again a murmur ran through the court.
Laena looked towards Cymella and gave a nod, they had been anticipating this…..it was Lord Tyrell's only shield….his only defense.
''I would like to call another witness.'' Cymella said standing and looking at her niece Lianna, who nodded her assent.
The aged Grand Maester Josmyn made his way towards Cymellas table, bowed to the throne and began his testimony.
''Lord Baratheons corpse was brought here to Kings Landing within days of his death to be examined…..I opened his throat and found small traces of crystals…. poison was responsible for Lord Raymonts death….The Strangler that is beyond dispute.'' The Grandmaester said.
''I think we were all already aware Raymont was poisoned Grandmaester…..how does this relate to Lord Tyrells testimony?'' Lianna demanded.
''To keep things brief….there are two main variants of this poison…..the Braavosi and Lysene mixtures are slow acting….victims of these will likely pass one to two days after ingesting it….the second variant originates here in Westeros….and will kill just mere moments after ingestion…..I have consulted with Maester Colren of Highgarden, a good and trustworthy maester who says Lord Tyrell never approached him with questions of the poison….it may be that Lord Tyrell embarked upon this plot alone and mistook the two poisons….Maester Colren claims that a vial of this poison was missing from his stores in his personal chambers….it is not my place to suggest this but given that Highgarden is Lord Aumarys own seat….it would have been a simple enough matter to gain access to the poison.'' The man said.
Laena smiled….the Grandmaester had performed his role well, throwing in the last hint of a suggestion to the court like she had instructed, the man was humble and did as he was told, and it had been simple enough to gain his loyalty by leaving a whore in his chambers, courtesy of the Queen.
Another gasp ran through the crowd and Lord Tyrell grew more pale still.
A flimsy shield my lord Laena thought to herself before rising to her feet.
''This testimony has given me much to think about….we shall adjourn for an hour.'' Laena commanded and the court began to disperse, she made her way to a small side room, nodding at a figure in the shadows to follow her.
She sat down and gestured Ser Grance Tarly, a young knight with long straw blonde hair forward.
''Well….everything is in order?'' Laena demanded.
The young knight nodded ''My brother has provided the men…I'll lead them myself…Lords Peake and Florent are aware and wont ask any questions, and I received word from Oldtown that Lord Hightower won't investigate too closely either…..Lord Osgrey was willing to provide his cousin as a witness but I thought it unwise to include him too far, he may have his suspicions but he will keep them to himself.'' Ser Grance replied.
''This raven from Oldtown….did it have word of my sister?'' Laena questioned.
''It did your Grace…she's given birth to a healthy child….a boy.'' The knight responded.
A pity Laena thought, it would have been better if the child had been a girl, but even still she had no worries about an infant.
''Alyssane is no threat.'' Laena responded finally, without her husband Aumary to support her, Alyssane didn't have the spine to defy her, when news of her husband's arrest had reached Highgarden, her sister had rather predictably quickly ordered the banners of the Reach to stand down and return home, Alyssane was not the type of woman to begin a civil war.
She then turned back to the knight ''You will be wanting a reward I suspect?''
He shook his head ''Revenge is all I seek….when the time comes, I mean to be the one that guts that whoreson.''
Laena nodded, with most men she would not believe such a claim, but Ser Grance had more cause than most to want Aumary Tyrell dead….some years prior the Lord of Highgarden had hung his father…the details were unclear but Laena surmised the two had become rivals and Lord Tyrell had trumped up some charge to get rid of this threatening rival,
How the tables have turned Laena thought to herself before turning back to the knight.
''Very well….make your preparations, I want it done tonight.'' Laena commanded and the knight bowed and withdrew.
The Throne Room
Princess Lianna watched the court adjourn on her mothers orders, silks and dresses of a dozen colors streaming out of the hall.
She gave a look to Lord Aumary Tyrell, who looked like a man in the middle of the ocean with nothing but a piece of driftwood to grab onto, trying desperately to hold his head above water.
The sight filled her with an overwhelming feeling of disgust and shame. She knew it was a sham…it had to be and the worst part about it was that she was the one overseeing it, forced to oversee this mockery of justice.
She could not prove it but she knew her mother was behind it somehow, in league with the lords of the Reach, her mother was nothing if not manipulative. She could do nothing about it however, she had no proof the Lords of the Reach were lying and she could hardly deny their testimony.
And yet there was some small doubt within her, perhaps Lord Tyrell had killed Lord Baratheon and simply made a mistake with the selection of the poison, as bad as it sounded, Lianna hoped the man had done it….but in her heart she knew the truth.
She approached the man.
''Princess…come to pay your respects to a doomed man?'' Aumary Tyrell said lightly.
Lianna was silent for a moment, looking at the man who meant to steal her birthright.
She shook her head ''No Lord Tyrell….I am here to save you.''
He looked at her in surprise.
''You are going to be found guilty…I can do little about that, the evidence against you is far too damning….but I can spare you the headsman's ax…..when the court returns from the recess you must plead guilty.'' Lianna said.
Lord Tyrell looked at her suspiciously.
''I can ensure that you are given the opportunity to take the black, to join the Night's Watch…a man of your station and experience could rise high in such an order.'' Lianna said.
''I don't have much choice else do I?'' The man asked.
Lianna slowly shook her head.
''I accept then.'' Tyrell said.
Lianna turned to leave.
''Princess.'' He called and Lianna turned back to him.
''I did not do this.'' He said.
Lianna was silent before she responded, her voice scarcely above a whisper.
''I know'' She said.
She knew who had.
She went to see her mother.
She saw a young blonde knight leaving the small room, she watched him leave suspiciously, she had not seen him at court before and he wore no sigil betraying his house.
She found her mother sitting down inside.
''Lianna.'' She said, clearly not very surprised.
''Who was that man?'' She demanded.
''That is none of your concern.'' Her mother said lightly.
''You are going to declare Lord Tyrell guilty.'' Lianna said, it was not a question.
Laena nodded ''The evidence certainly suggests that to be the truth.''
The truth It was all Lianna could do to keep herself from laughing.
''I won't try and stop you….but you cannot have him executed….Lord Tyrell will plead guilty if given the opportunity to take the black, to join the night's watch….he is a high lord, not some highwayman, if you kill him the realm wont forget it.'' Lianna said, collecting herself.
Her mother was silent for a moment.
''Agreed.'' She said simply.
Lianna nodded and began to withdraw before turning back to her mother.
''I know you are responsible for this….for all of it.'' Lianna said impulsively.
Laena said nothing at that before nodding towards the door.
Lianna scoffed and left the room angrily.
The trial resumed shortly after, and the Queen declared that in consideration of all the evidence that it was clear that Lord Aumary Tyrell was responsible for the poisoning of Raymont Baratheon.
When Lianna asked Lord Tyrell if he had anything to say in his defense the man shook his head and with his head bowed admitted he had killed Lord Raymont Baratheon, throwing himself at the mercy of the crown.
Queen Laena had raised her hands, quieting the crowd and declared that while the man was guilty of murder in the sight of gods and men, she would show mercy and allow him to take the black
Midnight, Tower Cell above the Dungeons of the Red Keep
Aumary sat on the bed, head bowed as moonlight poured in through the window bars.
Feeling chilled, he walked to the hearth and fed it another log, causing a crackling of embers.
He looked into the fire, wondering not for the first time how he had gotten here.
I underestimated her Aumary admitted, he should have been more subtle in gaining support for Alyssanes claim. Furthermore he had delivered himself on a silver platter to the Queen, separated himself from his armies and the strength of Highgarden, walked into the dragon's den with just 30 men.
He had been such a fool, he had not thought she would be able to conjure such a situation out of thin air, but she somehow had, and here he was.
As he looked into the fire, his thoughts turned to Alyssane….good, godly Alyssane, would that he could feel her embrace once again…and his son….his heir, a boy whom he had never held.
The thought filled him with a sudden surge of determination…he would see them again, he would make it so.
I will not be joining the Nights Watch He promised himself, he would find a way to slip away…it was a long journey to the north. There were many in the realm that supported Alyssanes claim, he could take shelter with them till such a point he was able to raise his banners and capture Kings Landing.
The clawmen perhaps He thought to himself, the Brunes had pledged their support to his wife, and Cracklaw Point was so remote none would think to look for him there. He quickly abandoned any thought of returning to the Reach, the testimony of his treasonous lords…those vipers showed he wouldn't trust them.
It would be difficult to defeat the Queen without the chivalry of the Reach, but there were many in the Crownlands who would answer the call to Alyssanes banner, Lords Chyttering and Cressey, Lords Massey and Celtigar as well, if they could somehow launch a surprise assault on Kings Landing….
He pushed the thought from his mind, before he determined that he needed to find a way to escape, which would be easier said than done.
He was startled by the sudden sound of shouting and steel on steel outside his door, muffled but clearly close, breathing heavily he backed away from the door.
He heard a scream and the sound of a body falling and suddenly his door swung open, a long haired blonde knight with plain gray plate armor was standing there, a bloodied sword in his hand, the body of one of the dragon cloaks at his feet.
''Come my Lord….quickly now!'' The man shouted, Aumary needed no more convincing, running towards the door.
There were more men outside, similarly armored in plain leather and chainmail, the bodies of 2 more dragon cloaks at their feet, though one of his rescuers was bleeding heavily from the neck, laying on the ground.
''We don't have much time….quickly, down the stairs.'' The blonde man shouted.
Aumary snatched a sword from one of the dead guards and hurried down the stairs, stepping over another body laying on the steps.
One of the men fiddled with a heavy set of keys as they made their way downwards, opening the door to the dungeon with a loud creak.
''Where are we going….who sent you?'' Aumary asked while they waited, breathing heavily.
''There are ways out of the Red Keep from the dungeon my lord….secret ways…as for who sent us it was your own lady wife….she told us of the exit.'' The man said as they hurried through the door.
Alyssane, you wonderful woman Aumary thought, it was out of character for his wife to take such a risk, but it seemed she had found her courage, that was good, he would need her and her dragon Severax in what was to come.
A disheveled looking turnkey holding a wedge of cheese stepped out of his modest chambers, squinting his eyes, but one of his rescuers put a spear through his throat and ended the man's investigation.
Hurrying through the dank dungeons running beside the cells another turnkey stood in their way, holding a rusty sword.
The blonde knight rushed forward and with a heavy butcher's strike cleaved the man from shoulder to hip, causing the man to sink to the ground with a gurgle.
''Who are you….it seems to me a man should know his rescuers.'' Aumary asked.
The man stopped and turned.
''Ser Grance Tarly.'' He said, a strange look on his face.
Aumary slowly backed up, he knew this man….of course he did, years prior he had ordered the man's father executed and he had two sons at the time…only boys.
It was not a boy that stood in front of him, but a man.
''Recognize me….you fucker….ah yes I see you do….and you know whats going to happen.'' The man said advancing, his men keeping watch.
''Don't…please.'' Aumary said, walking backwards, raising his hands.
He did.
With a yell the man ran forward and buried his sword deep into Aumarys gut all the way to the hilt.
Aumary gasped and fell to his knees, involuntary coughing blood.
''Move the body.'' Ser Grance commanded and his men moved the body of the dead turnkey close to him.
The knight said something else and his men began to laugh but Aumary could not hear them, his vision was fast growing blurry and there was a steady ringing in his ears.
Alyssane He thought to himself before lurching to the ground with a gurgle, his final thoughts on his wife and the son he would never meet.
News would soon spread from the Red Keep that a band of loyal retainers had made their way into the Red Keep and attempted to rescue their Lord from his tower cell, slaying over half a dozen dragon cloaks and turnkeys in the attempt, but it would all be for naught as Lord Tyrell would be found lying dead a short distance away from a turnkey, no doubt succumbing to wounds sustained in the melee.
There would of course be some whispers and conspiracies but these would be kept close to the chest and spoken in hushed tones, and it must be said the Lords of the Reach made no great effort to investigate the death of their liege lord. In fact it seemed as if none of the Lords of the Reach would even care.
None save Alyssane Targaryen.