Chapter 62: March
Gendry waited for a nod from Lothar Brune, when the man nodded, he stood atop the cart and cleared his voice. "People of King's Landing!" He said as loudly as possible. Some of the people walking in the street stopped and looked at him, others kept walking.
Gendry continued unperturbed. "Earlier this week, we witnessed the horrors that came from having a barbarian on the throne. Robb Stark, a man who claims to be King had a loyal subject mauled to death by his direwolf."
"Why?" Someone asked. Gendry knew that that someone was one of the Kettleblacks.
"Because he is insecure and his hold on the throne is not stable. Robb Stark believes his wife to be the rightful Queen, but she is not. She denied the throne to her brother and she denied the throne to another brother. She is nothing but a harlot. Petyr Baelish knew this and came to the Red Keep to explain this. And for that Robb Stark had him killed." Gendry said.
"I heard that the King had him killed because Baelish admitted to treason?" A woman asked, she was portly.
Gendry looked at her and said. "That is a lie. Petyr Baelish never committed treason. He was a loyal advisor to King Robert and to King Joffrey. He did what he could to ensure that the finances of the Kingdom remained stable."
"So, why did he flee?" Asked a man stood next to the portly woman.
"Because he knew what Robb Stark would do, he would try and have him killed, for the grudges that that family bears him." Gendry said. Baelish had given him the script knowing full well that he would not be alive to see Gendry deliver it.
"What do you mean?" Asked the portly woman.
"Robb Stark's mother was in love with Petyr Baelish for many years. From the time they were children, as Petyr was with her. But their union was denied due to the ambitions of Hoster Tully. Brandon Stark, Robb Stark's uncle found out about their love and tried to have Petyr killed. Then when Brandon died, Hoster Tully felt that perhaps his daughter would be safer with Baelish, but Eddard Stark demanded his brother's betrothed and Hoster felt compelled to give the woman away." Gendry said.
"Petyr and Lady Catelyn had been communicating for many years, trying to figure out a way to be together, but when Lord Eddard found out he tried to have Petyr killed for he could not abide that true love would flourish."
"How sad." The portly woman said.
"But Petyr Baelish was not a fool, he knew what would happen and he planned." Gendry continued. Watching the looks on the people's faces, they were leaning onto his every word.
"What do you mean?" Asked another figure in the crowd.
"Petyr Baelish kept Queen Cersei's greatest secret and King Robert's too. That they had had a son who bore the typical Baratheon colouring. But there were threats to the boy's life, and so, the boy was sent away for protection. Given to a smith to raise until the Queen was ready to find him again. Baelish did this task for the Queen and found the boy and helped finish his training."
"You're telling me that King Robert and Queen Cersei had a son and yet they decided to give the son away?" someone asked.
"Yes." Gendry replied.
"Why would they do that?" the person asked.
"Because King's Landing was not completely safe. There was an attempt on both their lives in the immediate years after the war for the throne. Safety only came a few years later." Gendry said.
"But then why did they not find their child and bring him back?" Someone asked.
Gendry was thankful then that Baelish had drilled the answer into him. "Because they had told the court and the kingdom that the child was dead. What then would happen if they brought the boy back to court? People would whisper."
"So, where is this child now? Where has he been hiding?" Someone asked.
Gendry bent down and picked up his hammer, and held it aloft, and as loudly as he could he said. "I am that child. My name is Gendry Baratheon, and I am the rightful King of Westeros. The firstborn son of Robert and Cersei."
There was a pause, and then someone in the crowd said. "He's lying."
Gendry frowned. The person continued. "He's not Robert and Cersei's son, he's a mere bastard. King Robert's bastard aye, but a bastard, nonetheless. Petyr Baelish lied to him and he's lying to you now. He's trying to claim something that isn't his."
"I am not lying." Gendry said, stepping down from his perch and searching for the person who'd said that.
"You are." The figure replied, pushing forward. It was a woman.
"Robert Baratheon is your father, but you are nothing more than a bastard. You are being used boy."
Gendry felt his anger grow. "I am not a bastard."
The woman continued. "Oh but you are. You are nothing but an afterthought, the reflection of your father's night, nothing more."
"Enough!" Gendry said, as he swung his hammer. It hit the woman causing her to fall down.
He blinked.
"He hit that old woman."
"He's no King of mine."
The crowd that had gathered started to rush at him, Gendry started swinging, but to no avail, there were many of them, and only one of him. "I'm not a bastard!" He yelled desperately. He wasn't. Baelish wouldn't have lied to him, surely?!
The day for her lying in had arrived. As her servants set things up so that she would have everything she'd need during her confinement, Myrcella decided that she wanted to speak with Robb. After all, until the child was born, they wouldn't be able to speak with one another.
She decided to start with the names. "You're sure you want to go with Cerenna for a girl?"
Her husband nodded. "Yes, there's no Cerenna in my family and the one in the Lannister family is young still. It's a name without any past history, freeing the girl from any expectations."
Myrcella nodded, appreciative of the fact that they'd both agreed not to choose names with too much history on them. So, their child, be they a boy or a girl would not need to deal with such pressure.
"And if it's a boy?" She asked. She knew the name she had preferred, and she knew Robb had liked it as well, but she wanted confirmation.
"Edwyn." Robb answered.
Myrcella nodded happily. Edwyn meant joyful conqueror in the Old Tongue, and seemed like a good name for the heir of a new dynasty.
"How are you feeling?" Robb asked then. "Any discomfort?"
Myrcella shook her head. "Nothing, everything is as it should be. Pycelle believes this delivery will be easy. So long as there are no complications externally."
Robb snorted. "Well, I will ensure everything is as it should be."
Myrcella smiled and took his hand. "I can still oversee business should you need to go and fight Renly." That had been a concern they'd both shared. If Renly decided to leave Bitterbridge, would she be able to handle the business of running government from behind a closed door.
Robb shook his head. "No need, Lord Tywin will handle things if it comes to that."
Myrcella raised an eyebrow. "You don't think it will?"
"I think it might come to a clash of arms, we had word from Jon. Lord Rowan and his men were seen near where Jon had camped, but they didn't engage instead Rowan and his men rode off. No doubt to go and tell Renly." Robb answered.
"Which means Renly will be faced with a difficult choice." Myrcella said.
"Indeed. Varys has heard rumours that the man might try and seek a peace." Robb said.
"Oh?" Myrcella asked, she was surprised by that, she didn't think her uncle capable of such a thing.
"It seems that someone in Renly's camp fears what might happen should he decide to engage in combat. Apparently, my reputation precedes me." Robb replied laughing.
"And what do you think?" Myrcella asked.
"I think Renly will engage. I think he has to. He's staked his claim on being your father's true successor. Nothing less than a proper battle will do." Robb said.
"I agree." Myrcella replied.
She was about to ask something more when Lady Merryweather appeared. "Everything is ready, Your Grace."
Myrcella looked at the woman and said. "Thank you." She looked at her husband then, he smiled at her and kissed her. "See you soon."
"See you soon." When they next saw one another, they'd have a son or a daughter, and that excited her.
"Renly Baratheon has left Bitterbridge." Varys said.
Robb looked at the eunuch and asked. "Do we know which direction he is heading in?"
The eunuch shook his head. "I do not think he even knows, Your Grace."
"Well, he has two choices, he can either go via the Kingsroad or via the Kingswood. Both have their benefits and drawbacks both for him and for us." Robb said. "What is the council's view of what we should make him do?"
Lord Tywin spoke first. "I would say force him to take the Kingswood. We know that the majority of his force is made of Reachmen, men who have never fought in the thickness of the woods. They have light infantry and cavalry. His cavalry will be useless in the woods whilst light infantry might serve as a warning party. The Stormlanders would be held back. At least if it is Lord Tarly deciding the strategy."
"I agree." Ser Barristan said. "The Kingswood would be my preferred choice. We can use the northern mountain clans as harriers and use the men of the Dreadfort as the pincer. Furthermore, we can use the infantry of the Riverlands to create chaos."
Robb could see the sense of that strategy. Indeed, it was the one he favoured the most.
"We would need to create the scenario that makes Renly, and his commanders think that the Kingsroad would take too long or be too hazardous." Robb said then. He looked at Lord Bolton then. "Start putting blockades on the road and the surrounding areas around the city. I want the Lords of the Crownlords to start packing the road with obstacles. Force him into the Kingswood."
"Yes, Your Grace." Lord Bolton said.
"There is of course the risk that Renly might simply disengage and retire back into the Reach should he learn of what we are doing in front of the city. So, how do we ensure he cannot do that?" Robb asked.
"An initial attack would be wise. Someone to lead him toward the Kingswood." Lord Tywin said.
"Ser Jon and his force are still near the border with the Reach, they could perhaps be used as a diversion." Ser Barristan suggested.
"They are too few in number, I would say we need a larger host." Robb replied. He also didn't think Renly would really react if he learned the man charging at him was Jon, yes, Jon was his brother, but Jon was also a bastard and the youngest Kingsguard. No, what they needed was a larger force commanded by someone with a established reputation. "Ser Jaime can command two thousand Westermen and lead the chase." He said then.
He saw Lord Tywin's expression shift briefly then before it settled back into studied neutrality. "I will have the men ready, Your Grace."
"Good." Robb replied. "Of course, Tarly is not a fool, so when he realises what is happening, he will try and pull back. We will have forces waiting for him. Archers, heavy infantry etc. We shall ensure his army is crushed."
"Of course, Your Grace." Came the reply.
That strategy decided, Robb decided to turn to another matter. "So, what happened with Gendry Waters?" He'd heard all about the boy's attempts to claim the throne through starting a popular riot.
"He has unfortunately died, Your Grace. It seems the mob did the work a little too well." Lord Bolton replied.
Robb exhaled. "I see. A tragedy." It wasn't really, one less idiot trying to claim the throne.