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[Spacing Out]

The Red Keep


POV: Vladan
​

Shortly after sending the lord of Highgarden his message, Vladan felt an enormous weight drop upon him. The urgent desire to rest filled the elderly man, imploring him to swiftly return to his chambers. 'There's still much that needs to be done. . .' He told himself, but his feet kept moving. He was in good shape for a man his age, but his body tired all the same. 'It must be well past ten. I hadn't intended to be kept up for so long.' Vladan would apologize to Kuvira later. He wasn't sure what help he could be if he struggled to keep his eyes open. She'd want to talk for hours too, he suspected.


Arriving in his room, the Grand Maester wasted no time in dropping onto his bed. There he sat, collecting his thoughts as he looked about his room with indifference. The guards and servant women didn't bother straightening up after grabbing what he told them to. His chest was left open, with half a vial of nightshade spilled out. 'I'll clean it up when I wake.' Vladan never planned for such events to unfold, yet alone how quickly they had. The day was ludicrous. Lord Walder spoke so boldly many less gracious rulers would have his tongue, and the Stag of the People tried to name himself king. 'His sister is gone. Our last defense against his armies. . ' He was a man of the mind, which had conveniently been tuned for warfare. He would never easily admit defeat, but Kuvira asked not for any allies. 'Lord Gelgin's Vale Knights won't reach us in time, even if they were already mobilized. Lord Walder would see they stop along every river between his lands and King's Landing.' The Crownlands would be torn in two if Rory Baratheon declared for his younger sibling. Vladan had no idea why he wouldn't, either. 'We're defended by the brutes that wear golden cloaks. No, we're defended by paper shields and pens.'


The week itself was far worse than the day. Two out of the three princesses were almost lost, in an open courtyard. The assassin was bold, that was certain. 'Mayhaps Maeryn's passing wasn't the will of the gods.' He tried to ignore that possibility earlier. The old king being killed in the night was grim and would only start witch hunts. 'It's far too late for that.' He groaned, his body creaked as if old wood under stress. 'Braedon's claim is all due to that bastard.' His mind drifted to Viserys Waters. Vladan had been in the same keep as the lad for less then a year, before convincing him to go. 'Bribing.' He corrected himself. He was a nuisance, a corruption on the true born children. He tried to save them from his bastardly taint. 'I almost succeeded. . Corbis though. . ' He wished to think the name no longer. Viserys worried Vladan little, but his existence was a slight to the Targaryens of all ages. He looked far too similarly to Maeryn in his youth and spoke with authority where he had none. 'And now Braedon is using the words of a bastard to justify his succession. I'll bury them both, under a mountain of corpses.' He might lose the city, but not before destroying what remained of the Stag line. 'Astris must be found.' He thought darkly.


"Lord Vladan. . " A voice crept up on him. A young man, a servant no less, had opened the door without Vladan hearing it. It worried him how absent minded he was.


"What is it, lad?" He said the words with venom, he wished to be left alone with his thoughts.


He didn't speak up at first, aggravating the maester. "Her highness wishes to see you. . Immediately."


Vladan direly wanted to be done with the day. A reluctant sigh, and he stood. "I'll do as her grace bids." He was in service to the crown, if she needed his guidance, he would give it to her. The servant stood at his door until Vladan growled, scaring him off. He'd prefer to walk alone, the sounds of another's footsteps beside him might awaken a headache. The maester began to walk, first out the door and down the hallway, then up the stairs. He purposefully took the long way to the queen's throne room. It was to collect his thoughts. By the time he entered he found it dark, almost empty. Vladan took to one knee. "Your Grace, you called for your humble servant?" He rose after speaking the words, clearing the distance between them. "I bring ill news. . Astris Baratheon escaped. We know not how, but two gold cloaks were slaughtered by Astris' benefactors. Commander Cethann is scouring the city searching for her, along with preparing for a siege. . I thought it prudent to begin such actions." His lips thinned. "Aerea is a subject I'd like to discuss as well, your grace." Better to handle that quickly. 'Mayhaps the Reach will provide us shelter if we need to flee King's Landing. I'd settle for an army under Aerea's banners to avenge us, though.'


@Robyn Banks

Kuvira looked at him on the throne while taking bits of the raspberry precisely placed on a fruit tart."yes yes of course, but we need to talk about the battle first. The baratherons could be planning their attack right now and I don't want to be the one left behind." She said placing the tart on the plate before turning back to him.




"though I know you would like to value our allies in combat. There is no need. I purpose a small invasion at first. We attack at Shipbreaker Bay with a 'trogan horse' of ships disguised as merchants'. They will get there safely since they are hidden also the men at the port will be vulnerable, not expecting a battle to break out so soon especially by me. I am already planning to bribe a few companies into it. As for mine. I doubt my father left this god forsaken world with leaving at least a small army. I told the others I would send for them when I need them but clearly I will only need them for backup if it comes to that point... Braedon has threaten me and I can not allow to think that I will just wait in the shadows untilbge strikes. I know my decision so far are shaky, I will not lie about that, but I believe in this one."


She took a step back before pausing for a bit. "For Atris, she will do us a favor, since her brothers didn't come and save her like I thought. She will be left with doubt's on her brothers maybe even cause some conflicts with them... She's probably already gone, there's no need to look for her, but I believe that she didn't escape out of there on her own. Someone close to the baratheons must have freed her.that's the person you should be looking for."


She took up her tart, taking a lingering bite of it. She's only been on the throne for a week and already her throne was threatened, she hasn't been the wisest leader either which is putting more gas to the fire but she could change that... Hopefully.
​

@TheAncientCenturion

 

[TheAncientCelt]

The Red Keep


POV: Vladan
​

Vladan's face was a mask. "Your grace, as an adviser to your father before you, and the throne, I must firmly reject the solution. We don't have an army yet. We could send the goldcloaks disguised as merchants, aye. Turn cloaks even if we wanted to, but Storm's End is a formidable keep. . One wiff of our plots and Braedon will lock himself up." He took a step closer to her, eyeing the food she ate. 'Where's Gelgin? He should be here.' Clearing his throat, the Maester continued. "Furthermore, we aren't positive where Braedon is. . . He sent the raven earlier this day, but could be about gathering banners. It's a risky plot my queen. Holding King's Landing is what's important, calling our bannermen to counteract his. ." He would of went on to comment at how winning under trickery wouldn't display the Targaryen's strength, but frankly he wasn't opposed to the thought. 'We just don't have enough men to pull it off. Should Braedon the Breaker come marching as we send out a few hundred men to Storm's End, our heads are removed.'


"If you insist. . I'll find men to fight for us. I'll find ships in the harbor ready to sail for us. But I am not confident in such a ploy." He was stiff, nothing unusual about that. But his eyes struggled to stay open. His body longed for the comfort of his bed, his chamber, even a servant girl or two. "A Kingsguard may join them, perhaps. . To lead these men into glory." He would do as Kuvira requested. He would travel to the far side of the Wall if the young queen wanted fresh snow. But the prospect of ignoring Astris Baratheon's escape was hard for even he to swallow. His jaws clenched, with not a sound escaping him. 'I'll look for her regardless. She's too important to lose.' She could be married off to Corbis, in the worst scenario he could think of. A sufficient punishment for Astris, and a way of controlling the volatile Stormlands. "Command me, your grace, and I shall act."


@Robyn Banks

 

[JustWhipIt]

Storm's End, The Stormlands


(Braedon Baratheon)


Braedon's jaw tightened at Walder's words. The man was almost a second father to him, and to hear the man scolding him was more than enough to keep him silent. It was true that he hadn't been the best host to Rory, but Braedon felt no regret for his actions. Perhaps his face was a little red, though it certainly wasn't of shame. It was of anger. In fact, it more towards Walder than Rory. The man brought a criminal into his house, and had expected Braedon to treat him as if he was family - which he wasn't. When Walder brought up Osmund, Braedon merely scoffed to himself. Lord Osmund was turning in grave - being betrayed by his very own friend. Braedon no longer knew to whom Walder's loyalties belonged to. The thought of Walder and Rory potentially working together to overthrow Braedon's position was more than sickening.


"I understand."


It was all Braedon could muster before he shut his eyes and took a deep breath. His father always told him to keep his mind clear and not to let his emotions overpower him. Now that Osmund was gone, Braedon had nobody else to look up to. The man always stressed the idea that lordship was a tough task, though Braedon had never really believed him. The days he used to spend among his people and the mutual love they shared - it all seemed easy enough for him. But now, there was a knife pointed to his throat. He spent his entire life in preparation of ruling the Stormlands, and he wasn't about to have it taken away from his hands by his brother.


Brother. It was odd, thinking of Rory as a brother.


"What do you think of Rory?"


It was sudden, but Braedon wanted to know. What did Walder see in the man?


"Not as a strategist or a warrior per se, but... as a person?"


As much as Braedon hated to admit it, he couldn't help but be curious about the man. He heard of Rory's feats and brilliance on the battlefield, but never learned much about him personally, despite living with him for years. In all honesty, Walder most likely knew more about Rory than any of his own siblings did. As he awaited an answer, Braedon briefly looked at the door, wondering what Wendel and Rory were up to.


Storm's End, The Stormlands


(Wendel Baratheon)


Rory's response to Wendel's first question wasn't much of a surprise to him. The man was clearly bitter and perhaps slightly jealous, which was to be expected. His face showed little to no emotion, undoubtedly wanting to conceal whatever feelings he had buried beneath the surface. While Wendel was slightly disappointed that Rory didn't trust his brother just yet, he acknowledged that it was foolish to think he would've done so in the first place. Even as a brief moment of silence passed between the two, Wendel still observed his brother's face carefully. Years of isolation and bitterness made him a tough nut to crack.


Upon hearing Rory's final words, however, a smile crawled onto Wendel's lips. His brother might still have some contempt for Braedon, but it didn't matter much at the moment. What did was that he was on their side for the time being.


"Thank you, I cannot express my gratitude enough," Wendel whispered. His words were sincere, unlike the lies he had just told some seconds ago. "It seems I was correct in placing my trust in you, brother."


Even though he was tempted to, Wendel didn't push Rory any further - he accomplished what he wanted to do for now. Rory's mind could still easily change, and he could still very well pack his bags and return to Dragonstone at the blink of an eye. With that, Wendel pushed the doors open to reveal Walder and Braedon, seemingly in the middle of a conversation of their own.


"I shall join you in a moment," Wendel explained, motioning for Rory to enter without him. "You see, I had a particular question I had wanted to ask the maester for a while now, but it escaped my mind during our meeting." When Wendel finished his excuse, he quickly made his way around the hallway corner, following the exact same path that Maester Barret had walked. When he was out of Rory's view, however, Wendel no longer bothered with tracing the maester's path. Of course, he had nothing he wanted to ask the maester about - it was another fabrication on his part. His intentions for missing the meeting was entirely different.


He had to dispose of Tiber Lannister's letter.


@Hypnos @Archon

 

[Hypnos]

Storm's End, Shipbreaker Bay, The Stormlands.


Walder signed, pausing for a second as he thought over the Baratheons' question, the elderly Lord slightly curious about the red tint that crossed over Breadon's face as he spoke of Lord Rory, though he decided not to press the matter, fearing he already knew what it meant. It was sad really, Breadon and Rory both grew up in this very castle, and were born not too many years apart, yet it seemed that they had each been brought into this earth on opposite sides of the continent, neither knowing much about the other, nor stopping to realise that despite their bickering they were actually very similar young men and if it were not for a certain fact, Lord Osmund, they could both have been close friends, working together rather than apart.


"Your brother is not dissimilar to yourself, nor Wendel and Astris, he may not have won the affection of your father, but he has still inherited many of his traits: He is a honourable lad and loyal to a fault, and though preceding my meeting with him upon the shores of Dragonstone I had not spoken to him for quite some time, I still hear of his feats and even his kindness, he is no Stag of the People of course but your brother, much like yourself breeds respect, mayhaps if the two of you were to actually discus the matter, without slights hidden behind ever word you speak you may find common ground"


@JustWhipIt @Archon

 

[Spacing Out]

"Of course. Do what you think is best. I agree with everything you say." She said sitting down. She gestured a servant to bring a goblet of wine. She took the glass into her hand before mumbling. "Since I cant do anything myself." She wasn't in the right mood to figure anything out. "You wanted to discuss about my sister right? The engagement? And I'm guessing she didn't tell what occurred earlier today."

 

[Huor Spinks]

Letter sent to King's Landing

To Lord Hollis Tyrell,


Dear Father, I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am glad to inform you that Evaleen and Filicity are now back at Highgarden, with their party from Kings Landing intact. However, I feel the need to inform you that the Shield Islands are currently being attacked by the Iron fleet. As to their purpose I am ignorant of it, and this worries me. The Redwyne fleet are in the process of being mobilised, and in addition I have also mobilised 50,000 men from the Reach as a precaution, though I highly doubt it would be necessary. I would like to inquire though, as to how long you wish to remain in King's Landing. Despite myself, I cannot help worrying, and a letter from you would definitely put our hearts at ease.


Regards,


Arren Tyrell, Highgarden.

@TheFordee14