Loras
After several hours training in the yard, Loras Tyrell was tired and sore and covered in sweat. Beating the likes of Boros Blount and Meryn Trant in fights was not hard, but he still was able to challenge himself with the likes of the Strongboar and Ser Balon Swann and his older brother, among others. Even then Loras was still among the best of them. It seemed that only Garlan was truly a better sword than him among the men he was able to face in the yard.
Loras's new brothers, the knights of the Kingsguard, had proven to be quite the disappointment to him. He had known Ser Meryn and Ser Boros were mediocre, but now even the likes of Ser Mandon Moore was gone, while the Kingslayer remained a captive of the Starks, Ser Arys Oakheart was down in Dorne, and Ser Merlon Crakehall was dead far in the North, having been stripped of his white cloak. Now he was on the Kingsguard, with Ser Balon Swann and Ser Osmund Kettleblack, and he found himself wondering why it had fallen so low. He promised himself that he would bring the Kingsguard higher, that he would restore honor to the institution. I'll be as great a knight as Ser Ryam Redwyne or Prince Aemon the Dragonknight. I'll rise to be the Lord Commander and be remembered as one of the greatest there ever was.
Deep down though, Loras knew this would have been so much easier if Renly had lived. If that homely Maid of Tarth had not taken it upon herself to slit his throat, allowing Renly to defeat Stannis the following morning. It would have been him who led Renly's men to victory, him who men would sing songs about as he led the vanguard of the greatest king there ever was, greater than Daeron the God or Baelor the Blessed or Jaehaerys the Conciliator.
But the sun had set on Renly and his cause, as it had on a hundred other kings before him. Now it would be with King Joffrey Baratheon with whom Loras would make his status as a legendary warrior. There would be many battles to come after Margaery's wedding, with Stannis still on Dragonstone, the Young Wolf holding out in the Riverlands, Lord Balon on his Iron Islands. Perhaps even those Dornish allies would prove to be more treacherous than previously imagined. In any case, there would be many a chance for glory soon.
As he was walking through the middle bailey, making his way to the White Sword Tower, he spotted the Queen Cersei and the Lord Hand, Tywin Lannister, talking. The Queen Regent wore a black silken morning gown, with a hundred rubies sewn into the bodice, while the Hand of the King was wearing a crimson and gold doublet, with similarly colored cloak. "I will not give thought to Lord Balon's proposition," the queen was saying, with a fury in her voice. "Not after what his son did to my daughter."
And only to Princess Myrcella, Loras noted. Not her grandchildren, or to the Young Wolf's brothers, but only to the Princess. He had heard the queen speak of her eldest daughter before, and seen how little regard she had for the children she had given the Young Wolf, and took careful note of that as he continued to listen.
"I know that you want justice for Myrcella and her children, and you should know I wish for justice as much as you do. But I must consider options that will help us win this war."
"I don't care how he responds to us rejecting his proposal," the Queen put in, sharply. "Write to him telling that he will find no friends among us. I don't care if he turns his attention towards Lannisport and Casterly Rock, I want his head, not his friendship."
Lord Tywin gave a sigh as they continued to walk away. Loras could not hear the rest of their conversation as he continued walking, but he knew enough to judge where it was going. I'll speak to father about it tonight, he promised himself.
It didn't take Loras long to reach the White Sword Tower. Inside the first floor common room, all of the Kingsguard were still absent, and he knew none of the Kingsguard would be sleeping now, as he made the way up to his chambers on the third floor. From the window of the tower, he was able to look out over Blackwater Bay, seeing over the pale red walls of the Red Keep, where the ruins of ship were still everywhere, and hundreds of corpses still remained unburied.
In his room, he changed, putting on his silver armor, decorated with sapphires and twirling black vines, and put on his light wool white cloak on. Once that was done, he put on his swordbelt and did not take long to finish adjusting his appearance in the mirror before he stepped out again, making his way down and out of the White Sword Tower.
Loras strode across the lower bailey with a new found confidence as he made his way through the Red Keep. There was to be a court session today, and he would need to be there.
The petitioners did not take long to begin to file into the throne room. Loras stood at the foot of the Iron Throne, along with Ser Meryn Trant, guarding King Joffrey, who sat atop it. Next to the throne was the table of the Small Council, with his father, Lord Tywin, Queen Cersei, the Spider, Littlefinger, Lord Mathis Rowan, Lord Paxter Redwyne, Grand Maester Pycelle and Ser Kevan Lannister.
He spotted Margaery among the crowd, joined by their mother and their cousins as well as a few other select lady companions of hers, and Garlan on the other side among the gallery, with his wife, Leonette, standing at his side, holding his arm. There were many others too that he recognized among the crowd; Lord Randyll Tarly, Ser Phillip Foote who had slain Lord Bryce Caron on the Blackwater, his uncle by marriage, Jon Fossoway, Ser Osmund Kettleblack's brothers, Osney and Osfrey, his twin cousins, Horas and Hobber. There were too many to list them all, but there was an abundance of many faces Loras knew well that had been rarely seen at court during the reign of King Robert.
Finally, the royal steward stepped forward, and cleared his throat. "The court is now open to all petitions meant for his grace, King Joffrey Baratheon, the first of his name, and his council. If you have matters to lay before the king, please step forward."
Right away, Loras could sense this would be a quiet session of court. Often there was some sort of announcement the king or his council would begin the session with, such as two days ago which had come with the announcement of the safe arrival of Princess Rosamund and her husband, Prince Trystane, at Sunspear, but today there was none. No new battles had been fought, or major alliances or marriages needed to be announced.
It was Lord Buckler who came forward first. "Lord Ralph Buckler of Bronzegate," the herald announced.
The young lord stepped forward, walking with a confidence that Loras didn't quite expect for a man who had fought for Stannis on the Blackwater. His arm had been broken during the battle, and it was a miracle that his leg wasn't broken too after his horse had nearly fallen on it. It was Loras himself who had captured the Lord of Bronzegate, and he almost felt resentment for how easily the man strode to be in front of the crowd.
"Your grace," he said with a bow. "Lord Arstan Selmy and I have agreed that I might take his seven year old nephew, Beron, as my ward when we return home after your wedding. I humbly ask for your royal blessing of the fostering, sire."
Loras turned to look at the King. His golden blond curls were obstructing half of his face, and he sat with one leg propped on a higher step than the other, plainly disinterested in his duties. Very few boys of fifteen were ever interested in this sort of thing, and Loras could not blame the young king for looking bored already.
King Joffrey did not even deign to ask his Small Council their opinion on the matter. "My blessing is yours, my lord. I wish you safe travels when you finally do return home."
Lord Ralph smiled, "my thanks, your grace," he said as he turned away, filing back in amongst the large crowd gathered.
"Ser Garth Hightower of Oldtown," the herald announced next.
Garth Greysteel, Loras thought to himself. His Uncle Garth Hightower was quite the dangerous man with a sword, well renowned for his prowess in melees throughout Westeros. He had commanded a thousand knights from Oldtown among Renly's host, and later on the Blackwater. His uncle was tall and robust, with long brown hair that went to his shoulders, with only the first grey hairs starting to form, with small blue eyes and a clean shaven but long face. As his mother's brother stepped forward, Loras could only guess what he meant to ask the boy king about.
"Your grace, I have a pair of matters to lay before you today," Ser Garth began. "First, I am asking for your leave to return to Oldtown with my men in a few day's time."
Before the wedding? That struck Loras as a little odd, since it was Margaery's wedding. But it was not entirely a shock to him.
"If it is your wish to return home before my wedding, ser, you are more than welcome," King Joffrey responded. "The next time I see you, you'll be my uncle."
"I suppose I will be," Ser Garth said with a low voice. "Thank you, my king."
There was a brief silence before Lord Tywin Lannister spoke up from the Small Council's table. "What is the other matter you wish to lay before us, Ser?" the old lion of the Rock asked.
"My father writes from Oldtown, wishing to inform the court that the conclave has convened to begin the process of choosing a new Grand Maester. He expects for there to be a new one chosen within a matter of days, and by the moon's turn at the latest."
Oh dear, Loras thought to himself as he turned his attention over to the Small Council's table. He was more than aware of his father's plan to get great-uncle Gormon made the Grand Maester, and it seemed it was not a secret to Lord Tywin either, who had been quick to restore old Pycelle to the position of Grand Maester after he had returned, despite the man being over eighty.
But Lord Tywin Lannister remained calm, his face hardened like stone. "The council is grateful for the conclave's concern, and your father's as well. However, Grand Maester Pycelle has been restored to his place on King Joffrey's council for the nonce."
Ser Garth did well to mask his displeasure, if there was any at all. "I will write to my father at once, my lord hand."
Lord Tywin gave a nod. "And I will do the same. Thank you, ser."
Just like that, Ser Garth Greysteel peeled away back into the massive crowd, just as Lord Buckler had, to be replaced by a new petitioner, Ser Jorel Longley, a hedge knight from the West who ever so humbly asked to be risen to the lordship of Parchments, with Lord Penrose being an old nearly done man who had fought first for Renly, then for Stannis.
As Queen Cersei and Lord Tywin were quick to reject the man's notion, Loras found himself taking careful note of his Redwyne cousins, Horas and Hobber. The young men were lingering in court, though Loras knew that neither of them would have any matters to lay before the king. But Loras found himself watching how their eyes were quick to wander towards Margaery, how it seemed they wished that they could be closer to her and among her company. Loras wondered to what end.
It always seemed to him that Horas and Hobber always had a slight fancy for Margaery as boys, even as she grew into one of the fairest maids in Westeros while they grew quite homely. Now Margaery was sixteen, the flower of the south, and soon to be the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, but even still, their twin cousins wanted her as one of their brides, or perhaps to even share her.
While they whispered, Loras found himself wishing that he could hear what they were saying, to know what every little glance they shared with each other and their father meant. But instead, he could only listen as Lord Renfred Rykker requested a charter to construct warships to aide in the coming battle with Lord Stannis, as well as permission to hold a tourney in the wake of the king's nuptials to celebrate it. The Lord of Duskendale was given permission to begin better fortifying, particularly by the sea to prepare in case Stannis were to strike at the city, and granted permission to hold the tourney even, but was denied the ability to construct warships. "The duty of constructing a new royal fleet will fall upon the crown and the city of King's Landing," Lord Tywin announced, his voice indicating that he was speaking to more than just Lord Renfred.
A young lady came forward after that, offering her condolences to Lord Tywin, Queen Cersei and King Joffrey over the death of Princess Myrcella and her children, which was followed by a prisoner from the Riverlands offering his sword to King Joffrey, forswearing his loyalties to the Young Wolf.
The boy king was handling himself very nicely, all things considered. Each petitioner came through and was either given some sort of courteous response from the king, or his council would discuss matters and make some sort of conclusion.
A land dispute in the Reach came up, two of Lord Rowan's vassals requesting access to a river that passed unevenly through their lands, which was delegated to having Lord Mathis sort it out when the time came. Ser Philip Foote came forward next, requesting the crown's aid in finding a suitable marriage for his son, Humphrey, which Lord Tywin gave assurances that he would, and Lady Taena of Myr came to announce her new arrival in the city.
After that, the herald introduced a man that Loras had never heard of before. "Ser Harlon Jenkins, of the Dornish Marches."
A handsome young man, twenty five if Loras was to give him an age, stepped forward. He was very nicely dressed, wearing a finely laced blue and black doublet, with a green cloak. Sewn into his chest seemed to be his own personal arms, which looked like a pigeon from the distance Loras was seeing it at. His black beard was very neatly trimmed, and his curly hair was evenly cut around halfway down his neck, and his eyes were a very nice shade of green.
"My king," he said, bowing his head to King Joffrey at the top of the throne, then turning over to the council's table. "Your grace, my lord hand." He gave a smile.
"What is your business?" Lord Tywin asked. Loras could already see a hint of dislike from the old lion, which he had not yet seen with the other petitioners, even the ones that did seem like a true waste of time. "What matters would you like to lay before the court of King Joffrey?"
"I come to offer a marriage, my lord," Ser Harlon said with a small smile.
Once again, it was the for the Hand to interrupt his pause. "Who would be wed?"
"Me," the hedge knight began, carefully spacing out his words, "and the queen regent."
Instantly the hall was filled with a chorus of gasps. From time to time he had seen men come forward, offering their daughters as brides for members of the royal family, particularly Prince Joffrey and Prince Tommen while Robert was king, though they were usually given a quick dismissal. But this was something else entirely.
Queen Cersei's face was red as the rubies on her gown, and not because she was blushing. Many within the crowd were shooting foul looks at Ser Harlon, and Lord Tywin's face had somehow managed to display even less kindness and warmth than before. Already, Loras felt his hand drifting towards his sword, knowing there was a chance he would need to use it.
"The Queen is still young and beautiful and fertile," Ser Harlon continued when the gasps had quieted a little, talking much faster than before. "I'm sure she could use a new husband in her grief for her husband, daughter and grandchildren, and I know there is no better man than me to fulfill those tasks. With Parchments or Brightwater Keep or Nightsong as my fief, I would make a more than worthy husband for the queen regent, and men all sing of my valor on the Blackwater. The King needs a warrior for a step-father, and I would be just that-"
"Enough!" Lord Tywin demanded, raising his voice for the first time. He was standing now, with a foul look upon his face, unwilling to hear any more of this man's folly.
Ser Harlon continued to remain silent, and Lord Tywin waited until the crowd was finally silent. "That will be enough of your proposition, ser, that I will hear at this time. Perhaps my daughter and I will speak with you of this at a later time." Speak of discipline over making a mockery of the court, Loras knew. "If any man wishes for Cersei's hand in marriage, they are to come to us privately or not at all."
The hedge knight continued to remain silent, but from his grin, he seemed quite pleased with himself. You fool, Loras thought to himself, as he saw Ser Harlon start to open his mouth again. Keep your bloody mouth closed fool, he wanted to say, but it was too late.
"The queen must take a new husband," Ser Harlon insisted. "Unless she means to save herself for the Kingslayer, and wait to give him another bastard or two. You've only refused because you know our children would expose the truth of your bastards that you've passed as princes and princesses all these years under good King Robert's nose."
Loras would have gone to deal with the man, but already within moments a trio of red cloaks had come to seize the man, tackling him to the ground and pinning him, while several more came. "What should we do with him, m'lord?" the captain asked, looking up at the royal family.
"Cut off his head!" King Joffrey ordered from atop the throne, reminding Loras of how he had cut his throat during the first court session Loras had attended. "He called me a bastard."
The captain turned his attention over to the Hand and Queen Regent, who were at least a little calmer. "Take him to the dungeons," Lord Tywin ordered instead. "We'll deal with him later."
With a nod, the red cloaks started to carry Ser Harlon out, dragging him, while the hedge knight continued to rave about the queen's bastards, and even mentioned Stannis. He's not wrong, Loras couldn't help but think to himself. It was very much true that Princess Myrcella, Prince Joffrey, Princess Rosamund and Prince Tommen were all the Kingslayer's bastards, but now the only alternative king was Stannis Baratheon, who would make for the very worst sort of king. In another lifetime, Loras and Renly might have been successful in having Queen Cersei removed and replaced with Margaery, and the realm would have been so much better for it, but now the bastard king would have to suffice.
Atop his throne, Joffrey insisted the man be put to death, but Lord Tywin went over from his council chamber over to the throne, and walked halfway up to talk the king down, while Cersei went over to the royal herald, and whispered to him. "The session is at its end," the herald quickly announced, and all at once, the court began to exit.
Loras continued to stand at the foot of the Iron Throne with Ser Meryn. He was not watching for any looming threats though, but instead looking at how people were reacting. Margaery and her company waited for a good long while to exit, when the crowd was almost entirely gone, though Garlan and Leonette were among the first to leave. Horas and Hobber stayed as well, under the pretense of going to their father, Lord Paxter, and speaking to him about something near the council table, and then continuing to linger until after Margaery was out. It was hard to keep track of so many others as they exited so fast, but Loras did his best.
By the time the young king had descended the throne, the court had left. "You did very well," he heard the queen telling her son, and he looked over to see her give him a smile. "Ser Harlon is one of those fools who believes your uncle's filthy lies, that's all."
Loras shared a glance with Ser Meryn, and from his expression, they were both thinking the same thing. Neither of them had heard of this knight, or even House Jenkins of the Dornish Marches before, and he had a lingering suspicion that Ser Harlon may not have been acting independently, but he kept it to himself.
"He's to be executed soon, though I want him questioned first," Lord Tywin was instructing Ser Kevan, who was serving as the Master of Laws. "His head will serve as an example to those who spread Stannis's lies."
Lord Tywin's younger brother gave a dutiful nod. "It will be done, Tywin."
"I will not be hearing any more of this folly from other lords and knights," Queen Cersei declared, turning her attention away from her son over to her father. "I will not be taking another husband, no matter how enticing his offer may be to you."
The Lord of Casterly Rock's face remained like stone. "Your remarrying may still happen, if I should find a suitable groom for you, Cersei. We won't be speaking of this here though."
Queen Cersei was not pleased, that much was obvious. "I won't-"
"I said we will not be speaking of this now." Lord Tywin's words were harsh and final. "Ser Meryn, Ser Loras, see Cersei and Joffrey back to the royal apartments."
"At once, my lord," Loras said with a nod. He and the older knight both started to walk forward, with the king following them. Queen Cersei hesitated for a moment, but relented and started following them.
Loras and Ser Meryn took the king and his mother through the Red Keep, going around the full length of it from the throne room to Maegor's Holdfast, even though they could have gone much more directly through the godswood. Once they crossed the dry moat, it was up several flights of stairs before they reached the royal apartments, where Ser Balon Swann was already waiting, standing guard over Prince Tommen.
The queen shared a warm greeting with her younger son, giving him a hug and a kiss, and then sitting down next to him as he was playing with his toys, while Loras remained outside with Ser Meryn and Ser Balon. "We should be enough guard," Ser Balon said after a few minutes. "You can go, Ser Loras."
Loras nodded, gratefully. "My thanks, sers," he said, quickly turning away. He knew he needed to find his brother or his father, to discuss what he had overhead between the Queen and the Hand earlier.
He encountered Garlan first as they crossed paths along the Serpentine Steps, but Garlan was deep in a conversation with Leonette, and Loras decided against bothering them, which meant he would need to find his father, who he found lingering between the small library and the Tower of the Hand.
"Loras!" his father exclaimed when he saw him. "Are you busy with duty now?"
"No," Loras said, shaking his head. "Ser Balon and Ser Meryn are guarding the king, queen and prince."
Mace Tyrell nodded. "Is there something you want to speak to me about?"
"There is," Loras answered, glancing around. He wanted somewhere private, but everywhere he turned he saw people milling about. Then, he had an idea. "Come on, let's go into the godswood."
A little bit confused, Loras's father followed as he started into the Godswood, first passing through the closed gate, and then making their way a few hundred feet inwards walking along the path which he guessed would eventually lead them to the heart tree. He did not care to go that far though, and they just needed a private environment, even more than the bedchambers of Maegor's Holdfast.
"I overheard Queen Cersei and Lord Tywin discussing matters this morning," he began. "They were speaking of a proposal."
"A proposal? Hmph," his father raised his hand up to his chin, contemplating it. "What sort of proposal? Who was it from? What were they asking for?"
"Well, I don't know exactly," Loras admitted. Renly would have known what to make of it, even better than father or I. "They were speaking of the Greyjoys, and the queen was quite angry. She mentioned how they had killed her daughter, Princess Myrcella."
Loras could see what his grandmother, Lady Olenna, meant when she called his father an oof. "Hmm, and what did the Greyjoys want?"
"Well, I didn't get to hear that part. I hoped that you might have heard something in a Small Council meeting or something perhaps." He felt lost.
"Not that I can recall," his father responded. "We have not had much of anything for news from Lord Balon or the Iron Islands, though Lord Tywin does mention them from time to time, particularly with news from the North. Last we heard, Theon Greyjoy had killed the Young Wolf's Castellan who had assembled a large host to try and retake the castle, and slaughtered the host before sacking the castle."
Loras knew that a knight of the Kingsguard was not among the first who needed to know information like this, especially when he was not the Lord Commander, but it still filled him with a little resentment anyways. Renly never kept information this important from me when he was on the Small Council, and he certainly wouldn't have as king. "Is that all?"
"That is all we have heard of late… One of Lord Balon's brothers holds Moat Cailin, and another one of his brothers holds some castle deep in the woods. Or maybe it's one of his sons?" Mace Tyrell shook his head. "That is all that I know for now, Loras."
"I think I know what the proposal was," he said after a few moments. "You heard the way that the queen and her father were speaking about a potential marriage for her earlier didn't you? It sounded as though they had been discussing this matter recently," he paused. "I think Lord Greyjoy proposed some sort of alliance, sealed with a marriage involving the queen, but the queen wants no part of an alliance with the father of the man who killed her daughter and grandchildren, and certainly doesn't want to marry into his family. But Lord Tywin is giving the notion much more thought than she would like."
His father pursed his lips. "Your mother was always the first to tell me how clever you are… But what are you suggesting, Loras?"
"I don't quite know," Loras said, honestly. "But the Queen and the Hand are having disagreements over a potential alliance with the Ironborn. You need to make sure you choose your words carefully in those Small Council meetings, especially when the matter of the Ironborn comes up."
Mace Tyrell gave a nod. "I will Loras, have no fear on that."
Loras couldn't help but think that he likely was missing a few important details. This plot of Lord Tywin's seemed horribly foolish, even if the proposal had come from Lord Balon. Marrying Queen Cersei away like that could only diminish House Lannister's influence within the court, particularly if she was wed to a husband in such a far-away land, and there was the matter of Lord Balon's Rebellion too. So many years prior, his brothers had struck first against the mainland by burning the Lannister fleet at anchor in Lannisport, and were now responsible for the death of one of Lord Tywin's granddaughters and his only great-grandchildren, who far too many were quick to point out their potential use in helping to forge a piece with the Young Wolf. Something didn't seem quite right to him, but he couldn't quite figure out how.
"Do you promise that you will bring me any and all news about this?" Loras asked. "Will you, father?"
"I promise you, Loras," his father smiled. "Come on, we shouldn't linger long though. They'll find it odd if we hang around this place for very long."
That much was true. The godswood at Highgarden was quite beautiful, a combination of forestry and garden, somewhat similar to how it was in King's Landing and other castles throughout the south, much more than they were places of worship, but even so, they still were largely shunned by those who did not keep the Old Gods. All this did was make him miss home. "Perhaps they'll think we're here to improve it," he suggested.
"You should leave that to your mother," Mace Tyrell laughed. "This seems much more work for her and Margaery than it is for us."
Loras couldn't help but smile too. It was one of the first ones he had since Renly's death, and it made him feel better. For just a moment, he was able to ignore his sorrow and grief. I hope you're watching over me Renly, the Kingsguard knight thought to himself. Help me navigate this pit of vipers.
Author Notes:
This chapter just kinda came out of nowhere. I sat down, wanting to write a Loras POV chapter, and see where it took me, and within a matter of hours I had all of what you just read above. It honestly wasn't even that Loras was a particularly easy character to write, but just that I miss writing King's Landing politics so much, and wanted to give myself the opportunity to write more of it.
Originally, this was supposed to be Jon II, but now that chapter has been delayed (it's already finished though, so it's coming out pretty soon) as I slotted this chapter in to help create a little bit of a better buffer for the Jon and Robb chapters.
Anyway, that's all I got for now. Thanks for your support as always!