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Two stallions darted to the center of the tourney field, on one side rode a man in gold armor and a flowing white cloak. The golden lion of Lannister on the white stallion's coat.
On the other was a young lad in black armor, a blue satin cloak with a coat of arms, a quartered shield with the black stag of Baratheon, and the silver seahorse of House Velaryon.
The two knights met but the Gods favored the younger knight whose lance flew the older knight from his stallion and fell to the dirt.
A roar of cheers erupted from both sides of the tourney field, nobles and smallfolk alike threw flowers at the feet of the champion of Prince Joffrey's twelfth name day.
From the dais sat the King, Queen, and the royal family and Small Council, among the councilors sat the champions father, Stannis Baratheon.
Dismounting from his bronze stallion, the Champion helped a reluctant Ser Jaime Lannister up on his feet, "A good contest, Ser Jaime." the youth praised but the Golden Lion said nothing and sulked off with his shame.
Removing his helm, the Baratheon-born knight's Velaryon silver hair flew with the breeze and settled just a few inches past his neck. Smiling, Addam approached and knelt before his uncle and King, "My King."
The words were courteous and he enjoyed the look of envy from his Princely cousin.
The Demon of the Trident lost much of his fearsome traits over the years, growing big around the belly and his thick beard covering his double chin. "My nephew, the champion of the city!" declared the King, and Addam turned his eyes and found his father nod with approval.
It wasn't often that he was allowed to participate in such contests, so this was a very enjoyable moment as he soaked in on the love of the people.
After the Greyjoy rebellion, his father had decided to bring him back to the city, something about keeping him close but he didn't mind much, it was his father and he did as he was told.
What hurt was leaving Shireen, he often takes time every once in a moon to go home and see his sister, then after would spend a day or two at Driftmark.
"You did excellently, Ser Addam," said Alyn Blackwood.
Alyn was eight name days but shared much with Addam's hobbies of sailing and riding. The fifth-born son of Lord Tytos Blackwood and as such was made for little in life.
They met one year ago, a moon before he was knighted by Ser Barristan Selmy.
For some reason or other, he soon became fond of the lordling and asked his father to inquire to Lord Blackwood about making him his first squire.
The Lord of Raventree was all too happy to oblige and made it happen.
He handed his young friend his helmet, it was a black great helm with gold inlaid. "I nearly lost my arm against Ser Loras, and Ser Jaime almost finished me once or twice, I was just highly lucky to overcome them," he told his young friend.
Some part of him thought for a moment that the Kingslayer aimed a little too closely to his neck, he was thankful that he had his gorget to protect him.
Alyn shook his hair, his pitch-black hair waving back and forth as it did so, "I prayed to the Old Gods to protect you, Addam." the Old Gods?
Addam wanted to scoff but he wasn't so disrespectful as to do so to his man, well, his boy. His squire, and young confidante.
Making their way to his tent, he was eager to get out of his armor and was happy his prize of 300 gold dragons was brought as if he was the expected winner and it was so.
Ser Jaime was a fine rider, a finer warrior but he was just a shit jouster though the man wouldn't hear him say that.
If so, then he's sure to end up like Aerys the Mad, the King who killed his grandfather.
As day became night, Addam was out with some friends at a local tavern, he had to sneak through one of Maegor's secret tunnels lest one of the guards inform his father and stepmother.
His cousin Aurane met him, he embraced the older man as they made for the tavern.
Aurane Waters was the bastard son of his uncle Corwyn, he had died defending the royal family against some Lannister men. His heroism is something he admires, something he would do if his family were ever in such danger.
Father says that is foolish, brave fools die the same as cowardly ones so it is better to be neither and do your duty.
His other cousin, Monford remained at Driftmark, with his four-year-old son and his second cousin, Monterys. Addam had a strong bond with both brothers, though he was closer to Aurane than the much older Monford.
"I heard you put Jaime Lannister on his arse today," Aurane said as he and their companions found a table.
Some of such companions were Lucos Chyttering, a teen the same as him and the son of Lord Fulton Chyttering. He was a lean boy with shaggy brown hair and grey eyes.
Matthos Seaworth, fourth-born son of Ser Davos and one of his childhood friends during his early years on Dragonstone. He was always a cheerful man until he returned from Dragonstone spewing about some newfound faith though he paid little attention to it.
Other than Alyn Blackwood, his last companion was Justin Massey, brother to Lord Massey and a knight in his father's service.
Justin once squired for his uncle in the Greyjoy Rebellion, seeming getting his lusts from that short time before finding service at Dragonstone when he turned eleven.
"Sing a song, Lucos!" Aurane said with a shout, the tavern's populace hooting in unison.
Lucos vehemently refused, "I'll be dead before doing that, you sot!" laughter filled the room when the little lord settled next to Addam, "So are we drinking your money away, Addam? If so then why not make a trip to Littlefinger's brothel." the suggestion may have made him blush a year ago but no more.
"And get the pox? I think not... " besides, he has no use for another bedmate.
He has one already.
The night grew darker as Septons and Septas left for their homes.
A lone night worker remained to maintain things until the morning came, she was a young woman her face the color of copper and eyes that of lilac. Her dark-brown hair, apart from a streak of silver that fell from the side of her face was covered by the headgear of the Andal Faith.
She had been a novice for years, and fully avowed Septa for six and in that time she's become resigned to her fate, forever distant from the life she knew.
The father whose face she's forgotten and the mother who she lost... And a brother, too young to know.
It was all gone, she would tell herself, and should be grateful that she was spared the block or worse, used to legitimize the Usurper's claim.
"High in the halls of the Kings who are gone, Jenny would dance with their ghosts... " The song was a sad one, and on certain nights she would look up the hill to the Red Keep and remember the joy she once felt.
Rhaenys wondered how her mother was doing, had she found happiness or remarried within Uncle Doran's kingdom? Had she despaired and died? She hoped it was the latter and that she could smile again, after the dreadful pain they were dealt.
'The Mother is your only mother, now' She thought but it is hard some days.
One morning she wakes as Septa Rhaenys, a servant of the Faith, on others she is Rhaenys Targaryen, Princess of the Iron Throne and her father's only child and sole heir.
Returning to her duties, keeping the candles lit and the floor brushed until she heard one of the great doors open, she looked up and saw a cloaked man enter and start descending the stairs.
"The guards let you in," she whispered, setting down her broom and brought to the guest a candle, "Prayor for future victories, my Lord."
The man took the candle, his fingers slow to leave hers when exchanging the candle. "I didn't come to pray, I am not much of a man of faith, to be honest." she turned and took the candle back to light her own.
She soon felt a hand at her waist, then an arm wrapped around her shoulder and held her close. "I missed you." Of course, she liked his touch but not here and out in the open, even if there was no one around.
Rhaenys breath hitched and she felt his member poking her backside, "We can't, not here in this holy place." her words made the Lord only hold her closer, she could feel his breath and lips kissing her neck and making her groan in pleasure.
Gods, quite the sinner she was.
"I missed you, Father's had his eye on me since the tourney started."
Worry, concern for her safety, and a mild sense of fun ran through her mind as she smiled, pressing her back against him as he fondled her breasts. "You believe he suspects how vile his perfect son is?" the question made her man chuckle.
Frankly, the heir to Stannis came to be renowned as a dutiful and courteous son, or to those who weren't in the young knight's inner circle.
Yet, none know of their trysts, not even his favored squire.
Addam Baratheon turned her and without effort lifted her unto the counter where no candle was lit. "You tease me, my dear," he claimed her lips for his own and beckoned her to please him as his tongue flicked at her lip, she instead placed a hand on his chest and pushed him back gently.
"Another time, my champion."
A few years ago, he accompanied his father to the docks after that mess in the training yard with his cousin Joffrey. He liked being around the docks where some of the ships had taken action fighting the Greyjoys.
The Fury was there and he was excited to be on the ship that broke the once powerful Ironborn fleet at Fair Isle, he even met some of the men who took up the sword on Great Wyk.
On the return trip was where he saw Rhaenys for the first time, riding back from the inspections.
He had never seen someone so beautiful, she was leading a prayer to some unfortunate souls and met his eyes, he had to know her from that point.
Rhaenys was perplexed when she saw Addam for the second time, the first happening when they were but children, and on the day she said goodbye to her mother, she was later sent to novice at the Sept of Baelor.
It was from a distance, he would come and light a candle and never let her out of his sight unless he was made to do so.
Then he came to her, starting conversations by asking how the day was and then asking her about herself, it was inappropriate for a Septa to spend time with a member of the opposite sex but the Lord wasn't deterred, in fact, he was determined to know her.
She was making a return from an orphanage where she was partaking in prayer, the children enjoyed her presence and she enjoyed being in theirs as like them, she was stripped of such a life when she was a young girl.
It was when she nearly reached the Sept of Baelor that Addam caught her hand with a gentle touch, his hand was calloused having been working the rigging of a ship or two.
Rhaenys knew the danger she was in, and yet she found herself unable to push the boy who had taken such interest in her, as it was the first time anyone had done so.
Of course, the Hand of the King checked on her from time to time, the visits becoming rare and rarer as she got older.
They escaped to a secret building where he pledged his love for her, it was the first time she broke her vows of chastity and would do so only for Addam in the moons after.
It was a secret affair, one that could very well threaten her life... But she didn't care, she loved him.
Stannis Baratheon walked inside the Tower of the Hand, ascending the stairs, and stopped at the office of Jon Arryn for a matter of great importance.
"What did you need, Lord Stannis?"
He looked back outside and shut the door so Hugh, Lord Arryn's squire wouldn't hear what he had to say for it could very well end with the deaths of him and his family should it reach the Queen.
Jon gave him a queer look, "I have come to suspect a great treason in our midst, Lord Hand."
"Speak it then, Stannis, it must be great that you would come to me."
He divulged his suspicions that his supposed nephews and niece were not of his blood, that they were bastards being past off as trueborn sons and a daughter in a plot to take power.
Jon Arryn was initially been against his allegations and asked for proof. "You need only look upon them, they have nothing of their father, nor in complexion or features."
"One could say the same for young Addam, Stannis. He has little of you in him." his son is more of him than any child, even if he carried his mother's hair.
"He has my eyes, Lord Hand, and when Baratheon and Lannister married half a century ago, the babe conceived was born black of hair and blue-eyed." he sat down, "If you require the proof, I have spotted a score of bastards my brother sired during his years, they all bore his features."
Jon leaned back and looked deep in thought, closing his eyes then opening them with a stone expression, "I would look upon these baseborn children myself, if what you say is true then we will require hard proof of the Queen's alleged adultery and an investigation to find the father of the Princes and Princess."
Fine, Stannis thought while rising from his chair and bowing to the Hand, "On your word, Lord Arryn, I shall show you on the morrow."
Leaving his chambers and making his way back to his room, he stopped to the sound and sight of Addam's door opening a closing so sighed in frustration before knocking on the door and waited a moment when his son opened the door.
"Father?" Addam sounded surprised and Stannis could smell the ale. "What is wrong?"
"Why were you out of your room at this late hour?"
Addam shook his head, "I went for a walk, I wasn't sleeping well and needed a breath."
Liar, his son could lie to anyone but not to him, "I will be going out to the city tomorrow, behave whilst I am gone." he ordered then turned on his feet and returned to his chambers to get some rest.