Varys gritted his teeth silently as he stood across from the man lord Tywin had sent to negotiate the alliance between house Lannister and House Targaryen. The Old Lion's letter regarding lord Ambrose's arrival had only arrived the day before and already the lord of Terra was walking through the more secretive tunnels of the Red Keep. What was even worse for the Spider was that he had had no idea that one of the lords of Fair Isle had even been in the crownlands, let alone so close to the capitol. One would think that a man who stood as tall, if not taller, than Gregor Clegane, would be conspicuous enough that one of his informants would have noticed him.
No matter the change however, Varys had his duty to the realm. The war that had broken out, no matter how responsible the Targaryens were for it, would harm the people of the realm far more than than a peaceful rule under Aerys and Rhaegar. The common people of the realm did not deserve to be forced to fight for the pride of their lords. He ushered lord Terra along, though he took some small satisfaction in the fact that the man who had so completely evaded his web needed to hunch over to fit in the tunnels. Eventually he pulled open a hidden latch in the wall, revealing a door that led into a large room. Varys had made sure to hide the exact process to unlock it from the man, using his smaller form to block lord Terra's view.
Sitting in the room, prince Rhaegar sat alongside Jon Connington and Arthur Dayne, three men who Varys knew were in no hurry to report the events of the meeting to King Aerys. Rhaegar had been advising his father to contact the lord of Casterly Rock ever since the war had begun, but it seemed that only now, months in and with several battles fought, that the Old Lion had decided to send his new favourite lord to parley.
"Prince Rhaegar." Kurt Ambrose smiled and nodded, but the expression on his face did nothing to diminish the frighteningly hard look in his eyes.
"Lord Ambrose." Rhaegar replied, rising and gesturing for the man to sit at the other end of the table. "Thank you lord Varys for your aid. If you would leave us however."
Varys bowed respectfully, leaving the room and allowing the four men some privacy as they began to speak. He would get a report from one of his little birds who was safely hiding in the same passage he and Lord Ambrose had just come through.
"I have been asked by lord Tywin to respond to your request for an alliance with the Westerlands in this war." The Spartan said, his smile never leaving his face even as his eyes pinned the three men to their seats and the talks began.
Jon Connington sneered at Kurt, finding his nerve as the island lord spoke.
"Your rightful king has demanded that the Westerlands gather their forces and vanquish this insurgence. That lord Tywin instead makes demands of the crown for such a thing is treasonous in itself."
Kurt barely offered lord Connington a look, instead focusing on Rhaegar.
"It is my understanding that this entire debacle occured because the prince could not control his own lusts. I was under the impression that Aegon IV was abhored for those same qualities."
Both Jon Connington and Arthur Dayne rose from their seats at that, hands on their swords.
"You dare?" Jon snarled.
Again, the lord of Terra ignored the two men.
"I was also under the impression that your own great-aunt was married into the Baratheon house after a broken betrothal resulted in a rebellion. Prince Rhaegar, I was led to believe that you were a student of history and a man of good sense, and yet you seem to be so quickly and readily repeating the mistakes of your ancestors."
Steel scraped as swords began to leave their sheathes. Rhaegar stopped his friends from attacking however.
"Enough. Arthur, Jon, this is not the time for such things."
Slowly, both men re-sheathed their blades and sat down, though both still fixed lord Ambrose with venemous glares.
"There are events that would lead the uninformed to believe that I have harmed my family's standing in recent times." Rhaegar admitted, offering no real acknowledgement of any wrongdoing. "But to those who understand the full weight of my actions, I assure my lord, they are far from the folly that the rebels have portrayed them as."
Kurt made no move to disuade the prince from continuing, and so Rhaegar did. Perhaps this was his chance. He could pull away Tywin's greatest warriors to his side. Lord Kurt, while impudent almost to the level of condescention, did not seem like a fool and perhaps he would be reasonable enough to understand the evidence regarding the inevitable return of the Others in the far north.
"The future holds great darkness for us all lord Ambrose. I've searched throughout our history, and I've discovered the truth. The great Others of legend are returning to the world. The cold winds are rising, and the only way to defeat them is with the power of the dragon."
"The power of the dragon?" Kurt asked, raising an eyebrow. "The dragons are dead prince Rhaegar, unless you've found a way to bring back a dead species, that isn't changing any time soon."
"My family is the blood of the dragon my lord." Rhaegar said. "Long ago we were given a prophecy, the prince that was promised would rise from the line of my mother and father. For a time I believed I was that child of prophecy, but now I know it to be Aegon."
"Really?" Kurt asked, looking skeptical. "And why might that be?"
"The dragon must have three heads." Rhaegar said, as if it explained everything. "Our sigil is that of the dragon, three heads are needed. Three to represent Aegon the Conqueror and his sister wives. Already Rhaenys and Aegon are born, but Visenya must join them. Elia could not give me my third child, my Visenya who will wed Aegon and Rhaenys."
"And Lyanna Stark?" Kurt asked, keeping his voice level in the face of the prince's speech. "Why elope with your cousin's betrothed?"
"Long ago, a pact was made between the dragons and the wolves. The old magic of the North must be awakened and married to the magic of old Valyria. Lyanna Stark is the woman I love with all my heart. I know this to be true, and it is that love that will fulfil the pact of ice and fire and birth the Visenya who will aid Aegon in ending the threat of the Others in the lands of always winter."
Rhaegar stood up from his seat, looking down at Kurt as he stayed where he was.
"Please my lord, know that this war was not my aim. I did not desire this conflict, and the actions of rebellion and death are not my doing. The Westerlands has seen the mercy of the dragons after defeat in the war of Targaryen conquest, and has reaped the rewards of loyal service for hundreds of years. Lord Tywin should not be the one to break faith with house Targaryen, not now, when we face such a threat over the horizon."
"I'm here to bring Tywin's demands and to negotiate on his behalf." Kurt pulled out a scroll, sliding it along the table where it came to rest across from Rhaegar.
The prince picked up the scroll, breaking the pristine wax lion seal and reading over its contents. Jon Connington and Arthur Dayne glanced at the note from the sides, reading along with Rhaegar. Kurt had been given a summary of what the letter contained, but seeing the look of rage bloom on Connington's face showed Kurt that this was going to be an interesting negotiation.
"Unacceptable!" Connington slammed his fist onto the table, shaking it. "You would demand such things from-"
"Peace Jon." Rhaegar said, though his expression had soured somewhat. "What lord Tywin requests is reasonable. Marriage is undeniably the best way to seal such alliances as what we are proposing. However, my brother is still too young for such a thing, and lady Cersei is a girl a decade older than him."
Men marry girls with a far greater difference in age." Kurt pointed out."
"Aye, but for women it is different. A man's seed does not grow spoiled with age as a woman's womb does. What should happen if lady Cersei's womb should fail before they have children?"
"Are you suggesting that your brother will be unable to get lady Cersei pregnant if she is eight and twenty while he is eight and ten? Prince Rhaegar that sounds a bit foolish."
Rhaegar tried not to fidget in his seat, after all, the excuse was a rather lame one. Quickly he tried to find a way to gain back some leverage and control over the negotiations, before he remembered a piece of his correspondences.
"I'm afraid though, my lord, that my brother's betrothal is a matter we are currently discussing with other parties. Lord Tyrell's immediate loyalty to the crown has caused many to consider rewarding him with a royal betrothal. Lord Mace's youngest sister Janna is also far closer in age to my brother."
"Then you might have to decide which means more to you your grace, the man who already fights for you, or the man who has yet to declare a side."
With his piece said, lord Ambrose rose from his seat and offered a slight bowing of his head.
"If you will excuse me your grace, sers, I must check on the status of my people."
Kurt left the room without another word and without sparing any of the three men another glance. As the door closed, Rhaegar threw lord Tywin's message across the table, where it came to rest right where Kurt had been sitting.
"Damn him." Jon Connington muttered. "Lord Tywin, that bastard lord Terra, and his Spartans."
"We've recieved reports from the Reach." Arthur added. "Robert's forces are about to cross into the Westerlands, even if we continue to harrass his forces as we have, it's unlikely we can stop them from uniting with the Vale and Northern forces by the new year. If we wish to crush this rebellion, we must see to it that the forces of the Westerlands can attack the rebels from the side."
"Lord Tywin should have already done so." Jon groussed. "As soon as the ravens arrived commanding his presence in the war effort, he should have marshalled the forces of his kingdom and crushed the rebels north of Ashford. We could have caught Robert between the hammer and the anvil."
"And yet the lion slumbers." Rhaegar said, leaning his chin on his hands. "Tywin waits for the right opportunity. When one side is at a clear advantage, he will strike and ingratiate himself with them. Likely this meeting was just a way for him to buy more time before commiting to our cause."
"But the rebels cannot win." Jon said. "The Reach alone stands in equal number to two thirds of their forces, combined with those of Dorne and the Crownlands, we outnumber the Starks, Baratheons and Arryns handily."
"Except that Dorne had likewise been in no hurry to aid us." Rhaegar pointed out. "And the forces of the Crownlands are not so large that they can match any of the rebles. We can only rely on one of the seven kingdoms to stand wholy by us."
"Traitors all around." Jon muttered angrily.
Arthur nodded his head in solemn agreement with the griffin lord.
"Perhaps this was my mistake." Rhaegar said. "I should have placed more contingencies before enacting my plans."
"Do not say such things." Jon said, laying a hand on Rhaegar's shoulder. "It was your father who killed Brandon Stark, and Jon Arryn who so selfishly plunged the realm into war."
"You could not have forsee the king's reaction." Arthur agreed, though he did not deride lord Arryn for protecting his wards as Connington did. For all that it was treason, Honour had demanded lord Arryn's actions, and Arthur held respect for the man, even if he would likely have to aid in killing him.
Rhaegar's eyes hardened at his friends' encouragement.
"You are right my friends. Now we must plan, and hopefully we can see to it that this war does not damage the realm more than it already has."
Privately, Rhaegar knew that to betroth his brother to Lady Cersei was as good as consigning his children to death. Tywin wanted his descendents on the throne, and after his failure to have Cersei married to Rhaegar, he would never be content to have his only connection to the crown by blood be a branch family that would inherit almost nothing. No matter that it might isolate Tywin, he could not allow the prophecy to be derailed by the man's greed and ambition.
Kurt was glad to see Jane, Robert and Shane again, though he was honestly not esspecially happy to be back in King's Landing. The negotiations with prince Rhaegar were only half of his job. The rest of it entailed gaining a more solid understanding of the intelligence that had been gathered by team wolf pack while they had been stationed in the city. Most of that information could have been transmitted via radio or discussed over a distance, but Kurt had found that Tywin's request that he deliver a message to the Targaryens gave him a unique opportunity to speak with his soldiers in person, rather than over a holotank. Not to mention that in person briefings were far less likely to possibly leak out into the general knowledge of the city.
Despite the rather tiresome futility of his trip, seeing the three Spartans was a heartwarming experience, though he found Jane's dress to be somewhat strange. She was wearing a gown of forest green cloth, flowing down to her ankles and in the style of the natives.
"That's a nice dress." He offered with a smile.
Jane returned it, though she also rolled her eyes.
"Rhaella has been asking that I 'blend in' more amongst her other companions. I still wear my combat boots under it though."
Kurt snorted.
"Of course." His face turned serious for a moment. "Is this room secure?"
"Yes sir. We filled up a small passage and caused a cave in. We've checked the rest of the room thouroughly and confirmed that there are no other areas to hide. We also planted sensors around the room to notify us if anyone comes within earshot."
"Good." He nodded "Status report then, all three of you."
The three snapped to attention.
"Sir." Shane started. "So far the mission has been progressing smoothly. We have identified two-hundred-fourteen infiltration and exfiltration routes across the main red-keep complex. One-hundred-thirty-five of them are unguarded as they require the use of hidden passages but possess the possibility of discovery due to the enclosed space and need for a light source to navigate."
"Good. And the rest?"
Robert gestured towards the small holotank they had pulled out of a secure steel lockbox. It activated to show off the entire red keep, and showed off multiple routes throughout the castle.
"We've tracked the comings and goings of any significant members of the local power structure. The king's routine is by far the most set, with only mild deviations that are randomised due to the nature of his dementia, paranoia and clinical insanity. We have established sixty-seven routes for assassination and escape that can be used at any point along the standard route."
"And tracking him if he deviates during an operation?"
"We've snuck a small tracker into his food, We'll have eyes on him for the next few weeks before it exits his system."
"Excellent... Jane, what about the rest?"
Jane's voice didn't even crack.
"We have recorded one-hundred and seven routes that can be used in the event of total extermination, twelve of which I can direct the queen and her child onto. The problem is Lyanna Stark and Elia Martell. We don't have enough information to predict her full range of movements in the event of an operation yet, and we have had no chances to gather intel on Elia Martell since she left to Dragonstone."
"Don't worry about that. I have Fireteam India keeping an eye on them."
Jane nodded, but then bit her bottom lip.
"Permission to speak freely sir?"
"Granted." Kurt nodded.
"I would like to request a stay of execution on Rhaella Targaryen if possible." Jane said.
Kurt raised an eyebrow, looking at Shane and Robert as their leader spoke. There was a slight note of surprise on their faces as they heard her, but they quickly schooled their faces into those of solemn solidarity.
"Explain Spartan."
"Sir, Rhaella Targaryen is the victim of repeated and violent sexual assault, she possesses none of the obvious qualities that indicate mental instability, and has maintained a decent sanity mark despite the repeated and condoned acts of sexual violence and abuse. I believe that she might be useful in future endeavours if we were to hold her rather than kill her. Additionally, if we were to hold her son Viserys, we would have access to the next heir of the native monarchical throne and allow us further political clout outside of relations to the Westerlands."
Kurt regarded his soldier.
"You've given this some thought Jane."
She nodded.
"Your request will be taken under advisement, and you have my word Jane. If it is at all possible, I will make sure that Rhaella Targaryen is in as little danger as possible in any attempted coups."
"Thank you sir." She said, pulling off a crisp salute.
A sensor alert went off, drawing the attention of the four Spartans. Robert pulled up a screen, showing Rhaella Targaryen walking down the hall with Ser Oswell Whent trailing behind her.
Rhaella had heard that the Spartans had apparently abandoned Ser Jaime for the day. Such a thing had not happened since they had first been assigned to the boy by their lord Kurt Ambrose. She wondered about that might have caused this strange dereliction of duty but as she came up to the quarters assigned to the warriors of Fair Isle, she saw the door open and a massive man exit the room.
Lord Kurt Ambrose was so tall that he had to hunch over to fit through the doorway, and when he stood up to his full height Rhealla was once again shocked by just how large the man was. She heard the slight clatering of armour signalling that Ser Oswell had shifted in his steps, getting a tad bit closer to her as they approached. The three Spartans followed their lord out of the room, all of them pulling of crisp but strange stances and raising they hands up to their forheads. The gesture was returned by the smiling commander and Rhaella suddenly feared the worst.
Why would a man like Lord Ambrose come to the capital at a time like this? The Westerlands had been silent for the war's entirety. Perhaps he was here to recall his soldiers back to his household?
'No.' She shook the thought away. Tywin had told her that the Spartans were responsible for the safety of his son, and with a war raging, it no sense to recall those protectors. Likely he was here to check up on his soldiers, perhaps to pledge the support of the Westerlands to the war effort against the rebels.
Turning his head to regard, her, there was not an ounce of surprise on his face or in his voice as he addressed her.
"Ah, queen Rhaella. It is an honour to see you again your grace." He offered a small bow, far less than what most would offer her, and took her hand. He raised it to his mouth and laid a kiss on her knuckles, and Rhaella felt blood creep up her neck, which was thankfully covered and did not show how the gesture effected her.
"Lord Ambrose." She returned, curtsying politely. "I wasn't aware that you were in King's Landing."
"I've come to check up on the Status of my Spartans." He gestured to the three massive warriors, who next to their commander, looked young and small, almost like children. "I've been told you've been exceptionally welcoming to them. Allow me to offer you my sincere gratitude."
"Nonsence." She waved away his thanks. "Lady Jane has been a delight to be around, and Ser Robert and Ser Shane have been wonderful company when they are there."
"Still, I would be remise if I did not try and repay your kindness. Perhaps I might offer an invitation to join me for dinner?"
Rhaella was shocked by the man's audacity. To propose such a thing to a married woman, much less someone of her status, was an incredibly presumtuous thing.
"Now listen here." Ser Oswell it appeared had taken on the task of being offended in her stead. "Such propositions towards the queen are unacceptably inappropriate. I demand that you apologise this instant."
"Peace Ser Oswell." Rhaella calmed the kingsguard before turning back to the lord of Fair Isle. "My lord, such an invitation if appreciated, but it would be wholly improper."
Lord Terra looked at her, a slight bit of amusement twinkling his eye.
"Of course, forgive me your grace. Still, if there is an opportunity, I would be more than happy to host yourself and your household."
Such an invitation was far more suitable. A private dinner with such a man as Lord Ambrose would have caused the gossips of King's Landing to run wild with speculation, but bringing her entire household, and likely her son and good-daughter, would make the affair far less personal.
"That sounds wonderful then my lord. I hope such an event may happen soon."
Lord Ambrose offered another shallow bow, really more of a tilt of his head, before he turned and walked down the hall, abompanied by his Spartans.
We see some humanising of the Spartans, but they still focus on the mission. Jane is the one with arguably the largest exposure to the natives, while Kurt has spent longer, his main source of interaction is with Tywin, not the best source of sympathetic feelings. Jane's connection and tentative friendship with Rhaella is interesting to write, I like it.