293 after Aegon's conquest.
Orryn
Ser Justin Massey was the new Master-at-arms of Dragonstone. Once a squire to my uncle, King Robert, Ser Justin earned his knight's spurs after the Greyjoy rebellion.
With little to show for his service in the lands where his older brother would rule, and with the King unwilling to remain him in the capital, Ser Justin turned to us here at Dragonstone. With my mother's support, he became Master-at-Arms of the fortress.
"Very good, Orryn, but keep your guard up to avoid a counterattack." He instructed me as we had our fencing lesson.
I swung the training sword in a wide sweep, this time keeping my guard up. I took two steps forward and punch Duram in the face, catching him distracted and sending him away.
I drove my sword into his arm, disarming him, and Ser Justin ended the duel as I brought the blunt blade to Duram's neck.
"It was a victory, my lord, but I must remind you that this is a fight between knights, not a tavern brawl. As for you, Duram... we'll have to get you running around the yard a bit more." Ser Justin said with a little disgust for both of us.
"Yes sir." My companion Duram Bar Emmom, the next Lord of Sharp Point, spoke a little breathlessly.
Duram and I were... friends. He was brought as my companion when he was young, and we've spent a lot of time together since then.
He doesn't like training and doesn't do well at it, but at the same time he doesn't like books and lessons either. My father says he'll have a hard time when he becomes a lord, which may be true, but I'll help him as much as I can.
Ser Justin released us for the next tasks of the day, more lessons with maesters Pylos and Cressen.
"You could have taken it easy with that punch Orryn, I'm sure I'll get a purple stain." Duram grumbled, wiping his hand where I hit him.
I laughed lightly and decided to joke around a bit. "Calm down Duram, I'm sure I can get you an extra cake after dinner."
His eyes lit up. "Really? Don't lie to me, you can't lie for my belly." He joked, tugging at some of the fat that had accumulated around his waist despite all the exercise we were doing.
The lessons went smoothly, and once again I was praised by the maesters for my dedication, but that was no big deal... it was the duty my father had given to me before he left for the capital to continue his service.
"Fulfill your duties with devotion. Learn from Ser Justin, Ser Davos, and Maester Cressen".
Father told me then, in his authoritative voice. He was silent for a while before he spoke again, and I've always remembered what I heard very well. "And take care of your sister".
Shireen had no friends. My little sister was shy and only managed to bond with me and 'Patches', the court jester who had followed our father since he was a boy, and no one else.
"Hi Ciri". I said to the girl who worked in the kitchen. Cirilla had been my friend since she helped me steal the cats, her family had worked among the servants for generations, as she said, and that was probably true, for her Valyrian features from the old dragonlords were clear. Silver-blonde hair and green eyes.
"Hello, my lord." She said, bowing with a smile.
"How many times must I tell you, Orryn is my name." I replied with a grimace and Ciri smiled even wider.
"I don't know, Orryn, it's just that a servant like me shouldn't have the luxury of speaking so openly to a lord."
"And no running, no playing, and no making mud pies in the yard". I said, remembering our games and offering my hand for her to take. "Come, Shireen is waiting".
At five name days old, Shireen was learning her letters, and every day I went to help her with her chores. Ciri came with me too, and I taught her the same way I taught Shireen, and she learned very well.
As one of the few people my little sister got along with, I intended to ask my mother to make Ciri Shireen's handsmaid, after she learned to read, of course.
"Orryn!" Shireen said happily and ran to hug me when I visited her.
I spun her around in the air and kissed the top of her head before letting her down. "Shireen, are you ready for your lesson?".
"Yes, just let me get Quicksilver". Shireen called and ran to get her lazy kitten, who was also named after ancient dragons.
She was intelligent and learned everything so fast, sometimes even Maester Cressen was frightened and said that if she had been a boy, he would have sent her to the citadel.
"Orryn, I can't wait until I can read books like you." Shireen said excitedly when the lesson ends. "When I do, I'll read them all in the library, one by one."
"Then you'll tell me every single one that I haven't read." I replied, ruffling her hair and realizing that it was almost time to say goodbye, it wouldn't do to find Ciri here with us.
We said our goodbyes and I slipped back through the corridors with Ciri right behind me.
When we returned to the area where the servants were, and I turned to say goodbye.
"Your turn, my lady." I bowed, just for fun.
"Thank you Orryn, for teaching me to read, for teaching me table manners... for everything." Ciri said a little hastily, kissing my cheek before walking away.
I just looked at her flowing silver hair and touched the cheek where she had kissed me.
Maybe, just maybe, Duram was lying when he said that girls had lice, and if so, Ciri certainly didn't.
297 after Aegon's conquest.
King's Landing, Red Keep.
Stannis
"I see Your Grace has granted us your presence today, wonderful." Grand Maester Pycelle said in a weak voice, followed by a cough.
"Okay, okay, whatever. I'm already regretting coming to this damn meeting." Robert said angrily, pouring himself a glass of wine.
Lord Arryn cleared his throat and began to discuss the main items on his agenda. Everyone talked about their own problems and I had nothing to report, nothing that wasn't known.
"Apart from the pirates on the steps who keep insisting on coming back, the repairs and caulking of the fleet have been completed without delay." I offered to everyone.
"I see no need for another punitive expedition against this pirates, the cost would be high and there would be no tangible return."
"I wouldn't take you for a maester Stannis." Renly sneered. "Tangible return, ha!"
Gritting my teeth, I ignored the taunt, even when Robert laughed, and returned to my next request. "I'll be returning to Dragonstone for another moon, I intend to leave as soon as I finish my duties today."
"There he goes again, wanting to be involved in his son's education. Stannis, don't you realize you're the master of the ships and not some damned citadel rat? Surely there are some decent knights on your island who can teach the boy". Renly sneered again and this time I couldn't keep quiet.
"Forgive me, Renly, for wanting my son to be a lord like me. When you have your own... if you can... raise him as you wish."
Renly clenched his jaw and Robert laughed even harder. "He's got you now, Renly!"
Taking another glass of wine, his fifth since the meeting began, Robert leaned back even further in his seat and spoke again. "I hope you don't make the boy as humorless as you are."
I wanted to move on to the next councilor, but I didn't want to leave without Robert's permission, or Jon Arryn's.
"Am I allowed to, Your Grace?". I said through clenched teeth.
Robert seemed to be thinking, scratching at the beard that now covered his double chin, and finally answered me. "You know what, Stannis, I'm not letting you go."
"Your Grace..." Jon Arryn tried to intervene, but Robert only raised his hand to cut him off.
"You've been traveling to Dragonstone and back to see your children for years! Bring them here, damn it! I have children too, you know. Who better to be my son's companion than yours? Another arrogant Lannister?"
"Robert, I don't..." I started to say, but was cut off.
"This is an order Stannis, I want your children, in my court by the end of the week. It's about time they were part of the family and not stuck on your damn island, damn it, I've barely seen them once or twice".
"Orryn will rule the narrow sea in your name from that 'damned island' as you say, it's only natural that a lord should know his lands. Not to mention that he is Ser Justin Massey's squire and must fulfill his duties." I tried to argue, but it was impossible with Robert.
"Fuck Massey, any servant can do the job of squire for him. And if it's so important, just bring him along. I was clear, Stannis?".
I gritted my teeth a little but nodded, "As you wish, your grace".
As soon as the meeting was over, I rushed to my solar, pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote down the King's summons. I tried my best to prevent Orryn and Shireen from coming to the capital, but I had no choice, they had to come. It was the king's King's command.
Later that day, I received an unexpected visit from the Hand of the King himself, Lord Jon Arryn, and I knew something was wrong. First Robert forces me to bring my children to court, then Jon Arryn comes to my door, suspicious, very suspicious.
"Excuse me, Lord Stannis." Lord Arryn greets me from the door and I invite him to in.
"Sit down Lord Arryn, is there anything I can do for you?". I said, getting right to the point.
"I have come here for two reasons, Lord Stannis. First, I've come to apologize for what happened at the small council meeting, which was partly my fault."
I raised an eyebrow when I heard that, but remained silent so Lord Jon could continue.
"Every lord of the Narrow Sea or the Crownlands who has visited Dragonstone has praised his son Orryn, often for Robert himself."
"And how is that your fault, Lord Arryn?" I asked, not understanding the old man's point.
"Which brings me to my own son Robert Arryn, a lovely boy indeed and a bit sickly. He will be a great lord of the Vale and of House Arryn, I am sure of that, but he lacks a firm hand in his upbringing... a hand that I, at my advanced age and with my duties, cannot provide. Which brings us to my second topic".
"You want me to raise your son Robert, as my ward at Dragonstone, is that it?"
"Yes, Lord Stannis, and I apologize again for mentioning this idea to Robert earlier, about how your son Orryn might be a good influence on my boy. Unfortunately, I didn't get to say that I intended for the boy to be raised in Dragonstone." Jon Arryn replied with a smile of amusement.
"Since your plans have been thwarted, there's not much that can be done. I can at least order Orryn to accompany your son on some activities, if that's worth anything to you."
"That would be appreciated, Lord Stannis, even if the age difference is great." Lord Arryn smiled, showing his lack of teeth. "Who knows, maybe in a few years my son will be close to your daughter."
"Anything can happen, Lord Arryn, anything can happen." I replied without much patience, as was my wont.
Lord Arryn understood and left soon after. I had a lot to think about, of course.
Robert Arryn was a joke as an heir and Lord Arryn knew it, he probably also knew that he was no chance to have another son and even if he did, he wouldn't see the child grow up, so it was Robert or nothing.
He wants to take him away from his wife, that's a fact, and a relationship with the heir to the Vale would only benefit Orryn and Shireen. But how much of this was really planned by the Falcon? How much of it was an accident? I thought about it for a while until I made up my mind.
"Father, did you wish to see me?" Orryn asked and I allowed him to enter my solar.
I told my men to bring him to me as soon my family landed in the capital, not a second less. The servants would install all his belongings without his direct supervision.
"How were your duties with Ser Davos?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Well done my lord, Ser Davos has great knowledge of the sea and how to handle a ship. He also really made me a part of the crew like any other grunt, as you wanted me to be".
"Cressen, Davos, and even Ser Justin report good results in your duties. Now in the capital, part of your military training will continue every day with me, you will learn what I do, because this position will be yours one day, you will learn what is important."
"Yes sir." Orryn replied with his back straight as an arrow and his arms behind his back.
"Your duties as Ser Justin's squire are temporarily suspended, but it is still your duty to train in the courtyards of the fortress. Many of the guests expect you to do so."
"Yes, sir." Orryn replied again firmly. 'Good'.
I crossed my fingers and looked at my son. Orryn was already tall at 13 days of name. His black hair, always a bit unruly, was kept short and his eyes, so similar to mine, held a seriousness that was not very common for a young boy.
I knew Orryn was charismatic. Not as much as Robert or Renly, but much more charismatic than myself. Orryn at least, pretended to care about who he was talking to, and I knew he was intelligent.
"Do you need me to tell you how to behave during your stay at court?". I asked after a while.
"On the rules and training side, no, sir, that won't be necessary. On the less obvious side... your guidance would be most welcome."
"Remember, there are no friends here. Every whisper they say to you, every suggestion they make to you, you bring to me and only to me, am I clear?".
"Yes, sir."
"Your duties beyond this are already more than well known, and I hope you will continue to carry them out as you always have. You'll probably be included in Prince Joffrey and his sister's classes, so try to earn some goodwill."
"Should I avoid the presence of the King and Queen?" Orryn asked shrewdly, and I knew what he meant. Robert's authority would exceed mine, if Robert decided something for Orryn I would have to comply.
"Be cordial, but don't show off too much, only show up when invited, when Robert remembers you. As for the queen, it's not wise to antagonize a Lannister, especially now that her relatives hold all the positions in the capital."
"I'll keep that in mind and tell Shireen as well. She stands a good chance of spending more time with the royal family." Orryn added with a thought of his own.
"I'm also giving you a new task, at least a few days a week I expect you to spend some time teaching the young Robert Arryn, heir to the Vale. It's a direct request from Lord Jon Arryn, and there's no reason to refuse. Keep Shireen with you during this time".
Orryn just nodded in understanding. I didn't need to tell him how important it was to attend the 'training' and be 'friends' with the next Lord of the Vale.
"You are excused from all duties until dinner. Get ready, check your living quarters until then, and remember, this city does not tolerate failure, and neither do I".