King's Landing 297 AC.
Arianne Martell
Arianne woke up the first thing she noticed was that her betrothed was not in bed with her.
She found a note on her nightstand.
I have business to attend to in the city, I didn't want to interrupt your sleep my love. I'll see you at lunch.
This made her smile, she adored these small gestures that the prince with bright blue eyes had with her. I look at the note for a few moments, and then proceed to change. She brushed her long black hair, washed her face, then applied some makeup and put on a violet dress, which was her favorite.
And Steffon's too. She thought with a smile remembering how he looked at her during dinner on his first night in Dorne.
As she finished changing, she saw the doors to the room open and her cousin Tyene enter.
"Good morning cousin." Tyene said looking at her. "I guess you really were tired, since you didn't even listen to me or your betrothed."
"Did you wake up together?" Arianne said raising an eyebrow.
"He woke up first." Tyene smiled. "I did it when I felt him get out of bed. So I helped him get changed."
Arianne laughed at her cousin's audacity. "AND?"
"We shared a delicious kiss before he left the room. That's all."
"Oh really?" Arianne raised her eyebrow again. "You would never settle for just one kiss."
"Well I tried to take him a little further." Tyene admitted with a mischievous smile. "But he refused, and said: 'That's enough, unless she says otherwise,' and then he looked at you. So apparently you don't have to worry about the Prince of Storms being unfaithful to you."
"Good." Arianne smiled pleased. Happy that her betrothed passed the test. "Let's have breakfast, I'm hungry."
Both women left the room and found Ser Asher waiting for them.
"Good morning princess." The knight greeted her courteously, bowing his head. "Prince Steffon has asked me to be your personal guard, while he attends to certain matters in the city."
Arianne was surprised by this, as she thought Steffon would leave his safety in the hands of his personal guards. "Very well Ser Asher." the princess said with a smile. "Escort my cousin and I to a place where we can have breakfast in peace, we still don't know the city as well as we should."
"Of course princess. Follow me."
The two women followed the knight to the gardens of the Red Keep, until they reached a place where there was a table and four chairs, with food and drinks ready. "The prince ordered that they prepare this especially for you and your princess cousins."
Arianne smiled and ordered a servant to call her cousins. Obara and Nymeria arrived shortly after, both just woken up, and there the four Dornish women sat down to eat breakfast.
"So Arianne, from what I heard last night, I assume that you two o better said three had a nice night." Nymeria said suddenly looking at Tyene, making Arianne raise an eyebrow. "The walls of this place are very thin cousin, your betrothed told us that, remember?"
Arianne and Tyene looked at each other and smiled. "Yes, a very nice and pleasant night."
"Then the young stag is as skilled with his spear as he is with his sword." Obara said and Arianne and Tyene laughed. "Your suspicions were right Tyene."
"Yes they were." The blonde Sand Snake responded, biting her lip.
"So Arianne," Nymeria began again. "When you invite me to join the bed with you and the Prince of Storms."
Arianne laughed as she saw an annoyed expression on Tyene's face. "I'll think about it." She answered simply, before Nymeria could protest, Arianne saw someone approaching them and it was none other than Cersei Lannister the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, accompanied by a King's Guard.
"Your Grace." Arianne said, standing up from her chair and bowing, her cousins following her example.
"Princess Arianne, what a surprise to find you here." The Queen said with a fake smile. "I thought you would have breakfast in the main room, and that my son would accompany you."
"My betrothed got up early, apparently he had things to do in the city, so I decided to have breakfast with my cousins." Arianne answered with the same fake smile, noticing the gesture the Queen made when she called her son, her betrothed.
"I see." Cersei answered, then directed a look of contempt at her cousins, and then turned her eyes on Ser Asher. "Tell me Ser Asher, why are you here? Instead of protecting my son?"
"Prince Steffon ordered me to act as sworn shield for his betrothed Princess Arianne." Arianne once again noticed the expression of annoyance on Cersei's face, when Ser Asher called her Prince Steffon's betrothed. "But I assure you Your Grace, that the prince is well protected, he has seven of the best swordsmen and seven crossbowmen guarding him."
The Queen put an incredulous smile on her face again. "It's adorable how my son cares so much about the safety of his future wife."
And you hate that, don't you, Your Grace.
Arianne smiled again. "Yes, your son is a very affectionate young man." Cersei's face hardened. "Especially in the bedroom. Very skilled with his loving caresses despite his age." Her cousins laughed, the Queen was about to speak again but Arianne beat her to it. "So tell me, Your Grace, did you come join us for breakfast?"
Cersei tried to calm herself before answering. "I came to meet the woman, for which my son decided to challenge his family, and to attack two of my father's banners." Arianne remained impassive. "And the truth is that I don't see the reason why he went to so much trouble." The Queen looked at her with a mocking and contemptuous smile.
Her cousins frowned upon hearing the Queen's words.
She wants to play, alright, let's play.
Arianne gave him a big smile. "It's interesting that you came here to try to understand your son's reasons, Your Grace. From what Steffon told me, I understand his mother never cared about him."
Cersei tried to maintain her mocking smile but failed. "My son likes to exaggerate things."
Arianne gave him a look of disbelief. "Like your brother the Kingslayer tried to kill him when he was six years old and you did absolutely nothing." The Queen let out an angry sigh. "I did hear your conversation, Your Grace. And I don't think Steffon was lying, in fact I think he is one of the most honest people in King's Landing, which is quite rare."
"You are a bold woman." the Queen said with disgust.
"My apologies, your Grace." The Queen seemed surprised. "I forgot that you don't like to be told the truth, Steffon told me about that too." The Queen's face once again took on an enraged expression.
"The people of the capital know how to choose their words carefully, that has kept them alive." The Queen said after a moment. "You would do well to follow her example, princess."
Arianne noticed how Cersei hated having to call her princess. "Oh yes, the capital is a nest of vipers and all that." She responded mockingly. "We Martell's are known for being snakes ourselves. So I think we'll be fine here, Your Grace."
"We'll see." and with that said the Queen left.
"That is a completely despicable woman." Tyene said when the Queen was far enough away. "I guess the rest of what Steffon told us about the people here is true then."
"I didn't know you were so close to the prince to call him after his name Tyene." Nymeria said, arching an eyebrow.
Tyene blushed. "I think after all the time we spent together I earned that right, dear sister."
Arianne and Obara laughed noticing that Tyene was still blushing. The four women remained like that for a long time, until Arianne decided to go look for her betrothed, she decided to go to the sparring yard, remembering that the blue-eyed prince enjoyed training every day.
Upon arrival Arianne saw Steffon practicing once again with Ser Loras Tyrell, she saw how a small crowd, including Prince Tommen and Princess Myrcella, had gathered to watch the young prince train with the Knight of Flowers. Ser Loras was armed with his sword and shield, while Steffon had a sword in each hand.
"His movements have improved since last time." Obara observed, noting how Steffon seemed to keep Ser Loras' attacks at bay, Arianne just smiled watching her betrothed return her attacks to the Tyrell knight.
Steffon was knocked down by Ser Loras but quickly managed to get up and attack him again, but Loras was able to use his shield to make him drop one of his swords and put the other at his throat.
"I yield." Steffon said defeated.
"Well fought, my prince." Ser Loras said respectfully, although he had an arrogant smile on his face.
"Well fought, Ser." Steffon said simply.
Ser Loras went to remove his armor and the rest of the crowd began to disperse. Arianne approached her betrothed who received her with a passionate kiss. Arianne rushed to kiss him back.
"I missed you." said the young prince.
"Is that why you left without even waking me up?"
"I had things to do." He gave her another kiss. "I'll tell you later."
Arianne watched as Steffon took off his light armor, and as his plump little brother told him to teach him to fight that way, while Princess Myrcella petted the lion cub that Steffon had given to Tommen.
"Well, well brother." said a shrill voice, everyone turned to see who it was and saw Prince Joffrey and his sworn shield Sandor Clegane. "You'll never get tired of losing from what I see." The blonde prince tried to provoke Steffon but he didn't say anything. "First uncle Jaime, then Ser Barristan and now Ser Loras. It's like you love being thrown to the ground."
Steffon smiled "At least I have the decency to lose to extremely skilled people. Unlike you who don't even know how to use that sword you carry with you."
Arianne and her cousins laughed when they noticed Prince Joffrey's red face, who seemed to want to say something but nothing came out.
"What's that?" Joffrey said looking at the lion cub.
"That's Ser Pounce." Prince Tommen answered, visibly scared. "Steffon brought it to me from Dorne."
"That's not a pet." Joffrey said touching the dagger on his belt. "Although it would make a rug for my room." Joffrey began to draw his dagger but suddenly Steffon punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
"Ser Arys, please escort Tommen and Myrcella out of here." Steffon ordered the knight who acted as protector of the princess and the young prince.
"Yes my Prince." The brown-haired knight answered quickly. "Follow me princess, Prince Tommen." Prince Tommen quickly took the lion cub into his arms, gave his brother a grateful smile and proceeded to follow his sister and the knight with long, light hair.
He is a quite handsome man. Arianne thought for a second.
Arianne returned her gaze to Prince Joffrey who was spitting blood from the blow that Steffon had given him. Joffrey tried to get up but Steffon pushed him to the ground again, at which point Prince Sandor Clegane's sworn shield tried to advance towards Steffon, but he let out a whistle, which confused everyone. But then they saw a group of ten men appear with torches in one hand and a sword in the other. This made The Dog paralyze.
"If you value your life Sandor you will stay there." said the young prince to Sandor Clegane who didn't even make an attempt to move when Steffon grabbed Joffrey by the collar of his clothes. "And as for you Illborn, if you dare touch Tommen's pet I will break your hands so you can never hurt another creature again, and then I will knock out all your teeth so you can never say another stupid thing. Do you understand?"
"You can't..." Joffrey tried to say but Steffon head-butted him on the nose.
"Do you understand?" Steffon repeated to his brother who had blood coming out of his mouth and nose.
"Mother will hear about..." Steffon tackled him to the ground again before he could finish speaking.
"Go on, tell her, like the cowardly, crying child that you are." Steffon said smiling while his brother turned red. "But I assure you that that will not prevent me from fulfilling what I said." Joffrey opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. "Okay now you're understanding."
Steffon grabbed Joffrey by the collar of his clothes again to lift him up. Arianne couldn't help but notice how tall Steffon was compared to her twin brother whom he looked nothing like.
"You are not going to do absolutely anything to Tommen's pet. Do you understand?" Steffon told him furiously.
"Yes." Joffrey said after a moment of hesitation.
"Good, because if your Dog or anyone else hurts the lion cub, I will know it was you and then I will look for you to fulfill what I said. Do you understand?"
"Yes." said Joffrey who was now shaking.
"Well, make sure you tell that to our mother when you go whining to her." and with that said Steffon released his brother, throwing him to the ground.
Joffrey took him away, tried to give him a defiant look, but he failed and turned to leave. "Come dog." he told Sandor Clegane, as he wiped the blood from his mouth and nose.
"Same to you Clegane." Steffon said, directing his gaze to his brother's sworn shield. "If you do anything to Tommen's pet, I will have my men burn you alive. And one more thing, when my mother and father ask you what happened here, you will tell them the truth. All the truth. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my prince," he answered between his teeth.
"Good." Sandor turned to leave but Steffon decided to tell him one last thing. "You are a skilled man Clegane, you should not waste your life following the orders of a stupid and spoiled child." The man with the burned face took one last look at the black-haired prince before leaving.
"The rumors we heard in Dorne were true," Nymeria commented, "the blonde prince is a little piece of shit."
Arianne, Tyene and Steffon laughed at that.
"So, Sandor Clegane is afraid of fire." Obara said after a few moments. "Our father would be interested to hear that." Steffon let out a dry laugh.
"You never told me your brother was as hateful as your mother." Arianne said giving Steffon a kiss on the cheek.
Steffon laughed. "You say that, as if you've already talked to my mother."
"I did." Steffon looked at her surprised. "She came to see us while we were having breakfast."
"And?"
"I think it's more than safe to tell you that she didn't like me at all." Steffon just smiled and took her hands. "Although that was to be expected, after all you told me that she hates everyone."
"What did you talk about?"
"I'll tell you if you tell me what you were doing around the city this morning." Arianne responded with a mischievous smile.
Steffon smiled at her, taking her face to give her a long kiss, "That's fair." "He said breaking away from the kiss. "But first I want to take a bath. I stink."
Arianne and the Sand Snakes laughed. Steffon took her by the hand and so the five left the fighting yard.
King's Landing 297 AC.
Stannis Baratheon.
The lord of Dragonstone was walking through the streets of King's Landing and found himself going to a place he never thought he would go: a brothel.
But unlike most men who went there in search of cheap and disgusting pleasures. Stannis was heading to look for a particular person.
From what his squire told me, he should be here. Stannis thought as he entered one of Littlefiger's brothels.
"Prince Oberyn, where is he?" Stannis asked sharply to the woman who received him.
"He is in the room at the end of that hallway, my lord." the woman answered. "But he is busy as you can understand, but if my lord is interested he could..." Stannis did not let her finish and went to the room that the woman indicated.
Stannis opened the door roughly and found Oberyn in bed with three of Baelish's sex workers, her paramour Ellaria, and a young, blonde boy.
"Prince Oberyn."
"Lord Stannis." Oberyn responded, separating himself from his paramour that was above him.
"Can we vacate the room? I would like to have a word with you." Oberyn nodded to her paramour and she stood up as did the three women and the boy.
"Call me if you need me lover." Ellaria said to Oberyn before leaving.
"Do you want to sit down?" Oberyn told him once they were both alone.
"No, thank you."
"Some wine?" Oberyn asked him as he poured himself a drink and lay back on the bed.
"No, thank you."
"So, to what do I owe the surprise of your visit." Oberyn said, eating a grape from the plate on the nightstand. "After all, from what I know about you, you don't really like brothels."
"I despise them." Stannis answered more abruptly than he intended.
Oberyn just laughed. "I suppose you disapprove of my lifestyle then, Lord Stannis? I have heard that prostitution and gambling are prohibited on your island Dragonstone."
"Does your… lifestyle involve prostitution, raping and gambling?" Stannis asked him.
"Well, I've never had to pay for a woman, even if she's a whore, in fact now I only paid for the rent of this room. Gambling for money doesn't interest me. And I've never needed to force myself on any woman." Oberyn answered, proud of himself.
"Then it is not my place to approve or disapprove."
"So tell me Lord Stannis, why are you here?"
"I came to talk about my nephew."
"A remarkable boy, quite intelligent I must say. Although I suppose, he didn't get that from his father, did he?" Oberyn said laughing as if he knew something he didn't, waiting for a reaction from Stannis but he didn't say anything. "I am more than pleased to welcome him to our family."
"Really?'" Stannis asked with serious sarcasm. "Because the hatred you feel for my family is well known." Oberyn was still smiling. "Why marry your beloved Princess of the Sun, with the son of someone you despise so much."
"He gave us the justice that Dorne has been waiting for over fourteen years." Oberyn answered him as if he were the most obvious thing in the world. "And he did it behind the backs of his own grandfather and his parents, that's something worthy of respect."
"And just like that?" Stannis asked in disbelief. "Was giving you Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch enough to make you forget the hatred you have for the Baratheon's? Just like the Pac..."
Oberyn slammed his fist on the nightstand before Stannis could finish speaking. "So it's true? You told Steffon about that." Stannis continued standing without saying anything. "You should not speak of such matters so lightly, Lord Stannis. Especially in a place like this."
Oberyn finally got out of bed and spoke in a whisper. "But since you insist, you should know that my brother tore that paper into pieces before signing the marriage proposal between your nephew and my niece."
"And he signed the paper just like that?" Stannis asked again in disbelief. "Deciding to marry his only daughter and heir, to the prince son of the King whom you still call The Usurper."
"Are you questioning our honor Lord Stannis?" Oberyn grew serious. "That's strange coming from the brother of a man who laughed out loud at the corpses of two small children covered in blood."
"I'm not my brother." Stannis said to Oberyn, looking him straight in the eyes. "I only worry about my nephew's well-being."
Oberyn smiled. "Now I see why he appreciates you so much. Considering you more of a father than his own father." Stannis smiled slightly remembering his nephew's words, although he was still amazed by the boy's audacity to say such a thing to Robert's face in front of the entire court. "But I assure you that you have nothing to worry about. In Dorne we do not blame a child for the sins of his father, or his grandfather. Much less if that boy risked so much to bring us our long-awaited justice."
Stannis was still not convinced of the Martells' reasons for accepting Steffon's proposal so quickly.
There must be something else they are planning or something else that maybe Steffon has offered them.
Oberyn seemed to notice his uncertainty so he spoke again. "You also have nothing to fear Lord Stannis, nor did you or your brother Renly participate in the death of my sister and her children, both of you were in Storm's End after all, being besieged by Fat Flower and Paxter Redwyne. And based on your personality and your brother Renly, I doubt that you laughed, like your brother Robert did, when he saw the bloody corpses of my sister and nephews." Stannis still wasn't convinced and Oberyn noticed so he started writing something on a piece of paper.
Oberyn approached Stannis "If my words are not enough to convince him, I suggest that you speak to your nephew and ask him directly why we accepted his proposal." Oberyn handed him the piece of paper.
Ears everywhere.
Stannis read it and looked at Prince Oberyn who simply raised his wine glass in his direction. Stannis nodded. "Have a good day, Prince Oberyn." and with that said the lord of Dragonstone left, leaving Lord Baelish's brothel.
Stannis returned to the Red Keep again to look for Steffon, but he ended up encountering another Baratheon.
"Brother, there you are." Renly said upon seeing him in the Throne Room. "He was looking for you."
"What do you want Renly?" Stannis said gruffly. "I'm busy and I'm not in the mood for your jokes right now."
Renly laughed. "You never are. But I actually wanted to talk to you about Steffon." That caught Stannis' attention. "Did you know he hit Joffrey again."
Stannis rolled his eyes. "He probably had a reason for doing it."
That child is horribly cruel. Stannis thought, remembering Joffrey's past actions.
"Yes, apparently Joffrey tried to kill Tommen's new pet so Steffon punched him in the face twice and threatened to break his hands and knock out his teeth if he tried again."
Stannis snorted, remembering a similar incident with a cat when Joffrey was three years old.
I really thought Robert had killed him that day.
"How did you find out about that?" Stannis asked him.
"The spoiled child went to try to get Robert and Cersei to punish Steffon. But Clegane told them the truth." Renly laughed "You should have seen his face when he saw his beloved Dog betray him like that." Stannis remained serious. "In the end, Robert reprimanded Joffrey by warning him that he wouldn't stop Steffon from beating him if he hurt Tommen's pet."
"I guess our Queen didn't like that at all." Stannis guessed, remembering how every time Steffon and Joffrey had a dispute, the Queen always took Joffrey's side no matter what he had done.
"She's completely furious, she stormed out of Robert's office to go look for Steffon." There was a small tone of concern in Renly's voice, so Stannis decided to reassure him.
"Steffon will take care of it, he may be young, but he is more mature and smarter than most people in this place."
"That sounded like criticism, brother." Stannis didn't say anything. "But if you say it, I believe you." Stannis tried to leave but Renly grabbed his arm. "There is another thing I would like to talk to you about, regarding our nephew's choice of bride."
Stannis looked at Renly intently before answering. "Fine, but not here." He showed him the paper that Oberyn had given him.
Renly laughed again. "Always so suspicious, brother. As you wish."
Both Baratheon brothers walked out towards the walls in the outside of the Red Keep.
"Speak." Stannis said to his youngest brother.
"Do you really think this is a good idea? A Prince Baratheon betrothed to a Dornish princess. It's hard to imagine that Doran Martell would accept his proposal so easily."
"I already spoke to Prince Oberyn about that." Renly looked at him surprised. "He assured me that neither he nor any other member of the Martell family would harm Steffon." Renly didn't look convinced. "Steffon gave them what they had been waiting for, for fourteen years: 'justice'. Thanks to him, Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch are dying of pain on the streets of Sunspear. He gave them the justice they wanted, at the expense of his own father and grandfather, both of them people that the Dornish hate more than anyone." Now Renly looked thoughtful, so Stannis continued. "By doing that Steffon earned the respect of the Martells and they will soon be united by marriage. The Dornishmen are many things, but many of them have a code of honor, the Martells included."
"If you say so." Renly still looked thoughtful. "Although I can't help but wonder if our dear nephew offered them something else in exchange for an alliance."
Stannis gritted his teeth. "If he did it he didn't tell me anything." Stannis remembered what Steffon told him, about telling him later but he didn't tell Renly that.
"It's still a shame." Renly said, Stannis looked at him confused. "That he chose Princess Arianne as his wife." Stannis tried to speak but Renly continued. "I mean, I knew he would never marry one of the Stark girls, he told me that himself. But I already had the perfect bride for him."
"Who?" Stannis asked although he already suspected the answer.
"The Golden Rose of Highgarden of course." Stannis gritted his teeth. "She is very beautiful, intelligent and with a sharp tongue, just the way Steffon likes."
"As far as I know, Steffon subtly suggested to Mace Tyrell a marriage alliance between him and his daughter, but the Lord of Highgarden rejected him." Stannis said through gritted teeth, as he did every time he remembered what he endured in the siege because of the Tyrells.
"Yes he did." Renly admitted. "Apparently Mace intended to betroth Margaery to Joffrey." He said that last thing with annoyance. "But Loras spoke to him about Joffrey and convinced him otherwise. At the same time, he reminded Lord Tyrell that Robert planned to marry Joffrey to Ned Stark's eldest daughter. I intended to talk to him and convince him to agree to the marriage. between Steffon and Margaery, but now I lost that possibility."
"Well it's the best." Stannis said to which Renly looked at him annoyed.
"They are the second wealthiest House in Westeros," Renly reminded him. "They have the most fertile and populated land of the Seven Kingdoms. I don't see how having them far away is the best."
"I do not trust them." Stannis told him bluntly.
"Do you trust the Lannister?"
"¡No!" Stannis roared. "But I don't trust them either, maybe I don't distrust of them as much as the Lannister, but pretty close."
"Well I do, and I know them much better than you."
You have been seduced, you mean, by the entire rose family.
"We need your support Stannis, if you weren't so blinded by you hatred because the siege, you would see that too." Stannis began to get angry. "The crown is in debt and we barely have the food to feed the lowborn in the city. But the most important thing is we should prepare ourselves and have allies in case any misfortune occurs."
"What are you insinuating?" Stannis asked suspiciously.
"If any misfortune should happen to Robert." Renly began. "Cersei would crown Joffrey immediately, and the first thing she would do would be to fill the Small Council with pure Lannister, our name and influence would disappear." Stannis became thoughtful so Renly continued. "That's why my intention was to marry Steffon to Margaery, he would never be controlled by his mother or any other Lannister and he would make sure to keep our family's position and reputation high."
Stannis approached to Renly, now understanding where he wanted to go. "You're talking, about treason."
"Joffrey is a monster." Renly said bluntly. "We already saw what happened the last time a monster sat on the Iron Throne, half the Kingdom rebelled and there was a war." Stannis stared at his brother blankly without saying anything. "What is best for the Kingdoms? What is best for the people we rule? We both know what Joffrey is, he does not inspire love or loyalty, he is just like his mother in that aspect and thanks to the fact that Robert is a 'Horrible husband', she hates us too." Stannis was speechless. "Something you should think about brother. Joffrey is much more of a Lannister than a Baratheon." and with that said Renly left, leaving Stannis alone with his thoughts.
Stannis went to his chambers, he stayed there trying to concentrate on his work but he was still distracted by the previous conversation with his brother. He remained like that until his squire Devan gave him a letter from his wife.
Stannis thanked the boy, poured himself a glass of wine, and prepared to read the letter.
My dear husband
It's been three months since you left for the capital, three months in which my bed remains empty, as does the main place at our table. Even though our children keep me busy, that doesn't stop me from missing you. Edric also asks about you, he wants you to come back to show you his new moves with the sword, he has also progressed a lot with his lessons. Shireen misses you too, she spends most of her time in baby Casanna's room keeping her company and talking to her about her dragons dreams.
The baby has grown quite a bit too; you should come more often before she doesn't recognize you. The castle has been feeling very lonely lately, Ser Davos and his two eldest sons set out on their ships, apparently on some kind of errand for Steffon.
That reminds me. How is Steffon? I heard what happened in Lannisport, now there are rumors that he is engaged to Princess Arianne Martell, would you like you to tell me if that is true or not. I really hope that the Queen and your brother haven't been too hard on him. Edric and Shireen are also worried about their cousin.
I don't know what else I can tell you, except that I miss you, I hope you can take some time to answer this letter.
Your loving wife Alysanne.
Stannis smiled as he read the letter, his wife's words, even written down, were something that always managed to make him smile. He read them several times, then put it in the drawer of his desk, and then kept thinking about a sentence from the letter:
The castle has been feeling very lonely lately, Ser Davos and his two eldest sons set out on their ships, apparently on some kind of errand for Steffon.
Stannis wondered what Steffon needed that he decided to send Davos and his two oldest sons on ships somewhere without telling him. He will have to talk to his nephew immediately.
King's Landing 297 AC.
Cersei Lannister
The Queen of the Seven Kingdoms was walking furiously through the corridors of the Red Keep towards her eldest son's room.
Not that anyone knows that he is the oldest, thanks to the fact that I ordered that old man of Pycelle to tell everyone that his precious Joffrey had come out of her womb first, everyone thought that Joffrey was born first.
Smiling slightly at that memory, the Queen continued walking towards her son's room, she was furious.
Furious that her oaf of a husband had said that Steffon was right to hit Joffrey.
Furious that idiot of Renly had laughed.
Furious that her stupid drunken husband allowed her son to marry the Dornish whore, without even consulting her or asking her opinion on the matter.
Furious, that he rewarded him by naming him Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, after he publicly admitted to having kidnapped two of his father's bannermen to hand them over to the damned Martell.
She found four men posted at the door of her son guarding them, two of them had crossbows. Without bothering to knock she entered her son's chambers to find him sitting at her desk next to his uncle, Stannis Baratheon.
"How dare you hit your brother like that?!" roared the Queen, her son barely recognized her presence and turned his gaze from his to her uncle.
"Now you know why I needed the services of Ser Davos uncle. Do you need anything else?"
"No, that will be all." With that said Stannis rose from his seat, "My Queen." He bowed and left.
The Queen looked again at her son who crumpled the paper on the table. "I asked you a question Steffon. Answer me!"
Steffon stood up until he was in front of her.
He is as tall as me. Cersei thought as she saw how her son was in front of her, looking into her eyes, projecting an aura of imponence that reminded her of her father, Tywin Lannister.
"Your Illborn tried to kill Tommen's pet in front of him, so I taught him a lesson."
"Don't call it that!" she ordered, hating the nickname Steffon had given Joffrey.
"I'll call him whatever I want. And I mean what I said if something happens to Tommen's pet, Joffrey will lose his teeth."
She wanted to slap him but his words from a couple of days ago stopped her; 'The next time you try to slap me for telling you the truth, I'm going to find Joffrey and punch him in the nose, as punishment for your hypocrisy.' "A lion is not a pet." she said trying to stay calm.
"It's a lion cub." He tried to correct it. "If you are a good owner and take good care of the puppy, it will grow up to be a loyal animal that will always protect you. But if you are an idiot, the dog will bite you whenever it can." Steffon smiled a charming smile that seemed familiar to the Queen, but she didn't know who. "That lion will be a good guardian for Tommen when he grows up."
"The Hound..." she tried to say.
"Sandor told you and father the truth. I know that, because Uncle Renly told me." her son hastened to say. "That you refuse to accept it is your problem, mother, not mine." The Queen said nothing. "You may not care about Tommen and Myrcella's safety but I do."
"How dare you..." she tried to say but her son overpowered her.
"You do not care!" he roared. "Your IIlborn spends his time terrorizing Tommen and killing his pets and you do nothing. Even Myrcella protects him more than you. Tell me, mother, do you have four children or just one? Why do you defend Joffrey no matter what he does, even when he threatens your youngest children?"
Cersei didn't say anything, remaining silent without knowing how to respond to that. "Your brother has always been strong-willed, you know that." She said trying to defend Joffrey
Her son gave her a look of disbelief, looking at her for several moments until he finally spoke shaking his head. "You are blind mother." The Queen said nothing. "You can defend Joffrey's stupidity and cruelty all you want. But if he takes it to Tommen and Myrcella, then he will regret it." He put his hand on her cheek. He has very soft hands. Not like Robert's. "And remember mother, unlike everyone in this disgusting city who are traitors and liars, I always tell the truth and most importantly I keep my promises. And if you don't like hearing it, then stop coming to look for me." Cercei felt a stab of pain in her chest. "I won't tell you half-truths like Varys, nor counterproductive ideas like Littlefinger, nor will you have obedience from me like you have from that libidinous old man of Pycelle, nor will I tell you compliments like the Kingslayer." With that said her son took her hand away from his cheek and went to sit on her desk again, she tried to take her hand again, but he pulled away.
Cersei watched her son pour himself a glass of water and begin to write a letter. And for the first time in thirteen years she looked at him, really looked at him. He looked different, he had spent a few weeks in King's Landing before leaving with Ser Barristan to Lannisport, but Cersei hadn't bothered to pay him any attention, he was always coming and going from King's Landing, but she never bothered to pay him any attention. Now that she saw him, she no longer saw the boy like a young Robert like she used to see him before, she saw a young man, a very handsome and different young man. He was no longer a small deer, he was a lion, her Black Lion
He is just like my father. He has the same aura.
"You're still here." Steffon commented without looking at her.
"Steffon." She said smiling warmly, she sat down where Stannis was sitting before. "I know I haven't been the best mother to you lately." Her son continued writing without paying attention to her. "But I want to fix it." She took her hand. "If you would let me."
"I don't want to hear it." he replied. "You burned that bridge years ago mother. You, not me." He pushed her hand away from her again. "You didn't care when I told you that the Kingslayer threatened to kill me when I was six years old." Cersei frowned looking down. "The only thing you said was: don't say anything to your father, or your grandfather, or anyone. That day you showed me who you really cared about and it clearly wasn't me."
Cersei felt tears coming to her eyes. "My little stag." she said moving closer to hers and trying to take her face in her hands.
But her son quickly moved away from her. "Don't call me that. I am the Prince of the Storms. And now, they belong to me permanently." said her son, proud of himself. She was about to speak when her son's eyes fell on another person who had just entered.
"Arianne." Her son said smiling for the first time since she was in her room.
The Dornish whore.
"Hello lover," the Dornish whore said. "I'm interrupting?" Yes.
"No, my mother was already leaving."
"Steffon." she started to say.
"Leave mother, I already told you everything I had to tell you. I'm not in the mood to continue listening to your false excuses either." Her son gave him a cold look similar to her father's. She looked at him and his whore for a few seconds before leaving the room.
As she was leaving Cersei heard her son and his whore talking.
"My uncle wants to talk to you."
"Why didn't he come see me here then?"
"He said it was something private, about your uncle Stannis, he's waiting for you now at the Rosby Mansion."
"Well, I'll finish writing these letters and meet him."
Then the Red Viper and her son would meet at the Rosby Mansion. Cercei would find out what they will talking about, she would send someone there to spy on them.
King's Landing 297 AC.
Steffon Baratheon.
The last few days had been quite exhausting for Steffon Baratheon, having to deal with his mother, who for some reason now wouldn't leave him alone. Even after Steffon beat up his cousin Lancel for trying to spy on him while he and Oberyn were talking at the Rosby Manor, his mother insisted to him that she was just trying to take care of him.
She doesn't even care about what I did to Lancel.
Another thing that bothered Steffon were his uncle Stannis' constant questions about how he got Doran Martell to accept his preposition so easily. Steffon promised to tell him everything, at least most of it, when they both went to Dragonstone.
He had planned to go to Dragonstone once he resolved things with his grandfather. There he could tell Arianne everything before heading to Storm's End to assume his new position. Steffon would also take the opportunity to see his aunt Alysanne and his cousins Edric and Shireen along with the baby Casanna whom he had not yet had the pleasure of meeting.
Steffon planned to finally empty Dragonstone's vaults of the gold he gained during his trip to Essos and store it in his own castle. The rest of his coins were divided between his ship, his room in Storm's End, and a stash in Rosby Manor. Melisandre also wanted to go to Dragonstone, according to her to collect some of her old belongings.
The prince with black hair and blue eyes spent his days in the capital enjoying the pleasant company of his betrothed, and Tyene, Steffon laughed remembering the looks that the blonde Sand Snake gave him, Arianne did not seem to mind. She keeps inviting her to share the bed with them.
Steffon and Arianne also enjoyed spending time with Tommen and Myrcella, their sister having taken a great liking to her brother's betrothed, while Tommen blushed every time he saw her, hiding his face in the lion cub to hide his face flushed, Arianne laughed every time she saw him doing that.
The young prince also continued his daily training to improve his skill with the sword, training with Ser Barristan, whenever the old knight was available, Oberyn who seemed to enjoy knocking him to the ground every time he felled him with his spear, although that did not stop him. Giving him a couple of tips on how to move, while Ser Loras, although still maintaining his usual arrogance, the young Tyrell genuinely enjoyed training with the prince, as he was one of the few men in the city, who could keep up with him during combat.
Steffon also met with Asher several times to tell his men how to proceed with the information that Varys had given them. Steffon already suspected that those people were involved. Varys only confirmed his suspicions, so Asher kidnapped each of those people, he taken them one by one, during the night so that they would not attract too much attention.
During the morning before the prince went to the sparring yard, Ser Asher entered his chambers. "My prince, your grandfather's party was spotted a few miles from the city."
"Good." said the prince smiling. "Go meet him and bring him straight here."
"As you command, my prince." Asher bowed and left.
Steffon sent for Arianne, Oberyn and her uncle Stannis and Jon Arryn.
"So, the old lion has finally come to town." Oberyn said with a tone, as he entered his chambers along with Arianne. "Do you think he'd be happy to see us?" he asked sarcastically.
Steffon who was still sitting at his desk laughed. "No, I don't think so. In fact, I doubt he'll be happy with any of the things I'm going to show him."
"And what are those things, lover?" Arianne asked him, leaning down to whisper in his ear and then lick him.
"You'll see, my love." Steffon said, turning his head to look at her, so Arianne kissed him.
At that moment they heard someone clear their throat, so Steffon and Arianne separated. "Lord Arryn, uncle." The prince greeted the Hand of the King and his uncle Stannis.
"My prince." Jon Arryn greeted him.
"I hope you know what you're doing Steffon." his uncle told him.
"I always know what I'm doing uncle, don't worry." Oberyn laughed at the young prince's comment.
At that moment Steffon saw how the four guards who were stationed at his door entered in his chambers, the prince looked at them confused for a moment, but finally understood as soon as he saw that his mother and the Kingslayer entered. his room.
"What are you two doing here?" He asked the two of them with the same cold tone as always.
His mother frowned when she heard him talk to her like that. "I heard your grandfather, has just entered the city." She responded, smiling at him, apparently ignoring the cold tone he used earlier. "And I'm very curious what you're going to tell him."
"As you wish." He replied coldly. Seeing that, Arianne hugged him from behind and kissed him on the cheek, ignoring the murderous looks that his mother was sending to her.
Shortly after, footsteps were heard from a group of people and in just a few seconds Tywin Lannister entered.
"Grandfather." Steffon greeted him with a friendly smile.
The old lion looked at everyone in the room, apparently he did not expect so many people here.
Especially two members of the Martell family. Steffon thought holding back a smile.
After carefully observing everyone in the room, the Lord of Casterly Rock finally spoke. "Steffon." he said, repeating the cordial greeting of his grandson. "Lord Arryn, Lord Stannis."
"Lord Tywin." both men said one after the other. The old lion saw his two sons who were looking at him expectantly, but then his eyes were directed elsewhere.
"Prince Oberyn." Lord Tywin said coldly, looking at the Red Viper of Dorne. "I didn't expect to find you here."
Oberyn smiled fakely. "Your grandson invited us here, after all, we will be family soon."
Once again Steffon had to contain his smile especially while Arianne caressed her chest.
Tywin's eyes darted toward Princess Arianne. "Princess Arianne." He said bowing his head.
"Lord Tywin." She greeted him while she was still caressing Steffon's chest.
The old lion turned his gaze towards his grandson again.
"Well, Grandfather," Steffon began, already knowing for days how he would handle this. "I suppose you are horribly angry with me. Although in my letter I had already explained to you my reasons for doing what I did." Steffon looked at Oberyn who was now looking at Lord Tywin with an expression of hatred, Arianne had a similar look, Lord Tywin said nothing keeping his expression hard, obviously waiting for his grandson to get to the point. "But as I also explained to you in the letter that I send you, I have something else that might interest you."
Steffon stood up from his desk, gently freeing himself from Arianne's embrace. The young prince felt all the eyes of the room on him, he ignored them as he brought the box that Varys read a few nights ago.
Taking a book out of the box, Steffon glanced at his grandfather. "Come closer, grandfather. You too." He said looking at his uncle Stannis and Jon Arryn. "This is the accounting book of the crown's finances." The young prince began, the three men looked at him attentively. "This is the amount of gold that Lord Baelish has borrowed these last eight years. However, as you can see only thirty percent of that amount has actually been used to pay my father's excessive expenses. The rest has been allocated to an account that Baelish himself opened in the Iron Bank in his name."
"Do you remember what you told me when I was your ward, grandfather? That you couldn't believe how quickly the gold in the crown disappeared. Well there's the answer."
The Old Lion looked at the book trying to calm down while he read it. Steffon could see how Tywin was holding back a homicidal rage. Since he had been the main target of the Baelish scams for years. The Tyrells and The Faith had suffered minimal losses compared to the money the whoremonger had stolen from House Lannister.
"So all the money is in the Iron Bank account?" Jon Arryn asked in shock.
"No." The young prince answered them, taking out other papers from the box. "According to the investigation I ordered, Baelish used the other part of the money to buy most of the City Watch officers."
"Janos Slynt." Stannis said angrily.
"Yes." He confirmed it to his uncle. "Him and almost everyone else. Except for Jacelyn Bywater." Steffon watched as his uncle looked at Jon Arryn as if he wanted to say 'I told you so'. "From what Asher heard from certain witnesses, the gold capes derail all of Littlefinger's rival businesses to ensure that he has no competition and thus continue to increase his profits and his network of spies." His grandfather closed the book with a slam that made his two children jump.
"Where is Baelish?" His grandfather asked him with an icy tone, trying to contain himself.
It was Asher who answered him. "He is in his main brothel, Lord Tywin."
"Jaime come with me." his grandfather ordered the Kingslayer who hurriedly followed him out of the room without protesting, leaving his mother alone.
"Janos Slynt and the rest of the officers are chained in the Rosby Mansion, my men are guarding them." The prince said to Lord Arryn and his uncle Stannis and handed them some papers. "This is the list of people who have helped Baelish with her dirty business, at least in the capital."
"Thank you my prince." Jon Arryn said, receiving the papers, while he tried to compose himself from what the prince had shown them. "You have done your father and the crown a great service." Steffon noticed how the Queen frowned at the mention of his father.
"Well done son." Stannis said proudly to his nephew, who nodded with a smile.
"Lord Arryn." Steffon said when he saw that the Hand of the King was about to leave the room. "In the Rosby Mansion there is a room with some maids," he looked at him confused. "They have some information about Baelish that concerns you, my men will tell you where the room is. Talk to them after taking care of the corrupt officers."
The Hand of the King looked at him thoughtfully. "I will, my prince." And with that said Jon Arryn and Stannis Baratheon left the prince's chambers together.
Steffon Baratheon watched them leave and smiled, proud that his plan had worked. When he heard someone applauding, he turned around to see Oberyn applauding him.
"Well played Prince Steffon." The Dornish prince said laughing. "You actually managed to get Old Lion to direct his anger at someone else, at least for now. Just like you said you would."
"I told you Prince Oberyn, I always tell the truth." The black-haired prince said smiling, trying to pour himself a glass of wine, but Arianne smashed her lips against his. He returned the kiss with pleasure, without noticing the look of shock that her mother was giving him.