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[TheFordee20]

Pyke, The Iron Islands


"Wait- Haelga..."


Conn stood at the steps. He couldn't properly think of anything to say that would stop her from going home.


I felt the very same when'st I returned from Essos. When I lost Na'i.


"Have dinner with your family and I will... I will have a proper talk with you about your ideals." Conn said slowly. He wasn't sure himself if he was lying or not. A part of him to drown his sister in a well for what she had said, but, another part of him actually wanted to sit down and listen to what she had to say. As an elder brother would do.





Conn's brow was furrowed. "We have too much to talk about, it'd be a shame if this was the last time I ever laid my eyes upon you."


Vaughan was looking at both his niece and his nephew.


"Come on ya' too. I'll get the cook to start something." He mumbled as he brushed his beard with his fingers.


Conn looked at Haelga...


@SirDerpingtonIV


The Red Keep, King's Landing


"This isn't my- my blood." Aerea told Kuvira as she stared at the specks of red painted onto her hand.


She knew her face was covered in it as well. Aerea felt like getting sick, but she held herself. Ser James put his hand on her shoulder and spoke softly. "C'mon, my princess."


Aerea didn't say a word. She just followed him. She looked back to see if Daenna was also being carried off by a member of The Queensguard. But, she couldn't see anything- as a crowd of people moved in hoping to get a closer look at the body of the servant girl.


Ser James stopped at a fountain, a few feet from the courtyard. "Here, was that blood off." He whispered to her as he gave her a sympathetic look. Aerea nodded and put her hands into the cool water...


I'm in shock.


Aerea cupped her hands and picked up some of the fountain water to splash against her blood-stained face. She sighed as she did. She looked behind her to see Ser James standing on the path, his hand on his hilt.


Aerea looked at her reflection in the fountain water and suddenly her lips formed a smile.

 

[Hypnos]

Initially shocked by the sudden act of violence that was unfolded before him, Walder quickly gestured for the lordling that had attacked the girl to be restrained, his son and a few of his more elite guard making quick work of the fat crownlander, knocking out several of his teeth in the process and dragging him to the floor, the poor lad won't try something like that again, thought Walder with a hint of pity, the boy had only been doing what he thought best for the kingdoms after all, though Walder would be damned if he let anything happen to one of Osmund's children, he wouldn't fail them like he failed him.


"Lord Walder!" Came a cry from one of his guards,the man pointing towards a large crowd of heavily armoured gold cloaks, in the midst of them Lady Astris Baratheon and what appeared to be the Princess Daenna Targaryen. "Do you want us to fetch the girl? With our numbers we could likely overpower these few guards and smuggle her out of the city by boat, sail up the Trident until we get back to Riverrun, send word to Lord Breaden, I doubt we'd have trouble leaving the city, everyone's in his hysterics"


Walder frowned, shaking his head, there was a time for action though this wasn't it, he doubted that harming the queens sister would do him any favours and whilst the guard was right in his assumption that they could likely get out of the city, he wouldn't possibly know what to do after that "Seven bloody hells!" He exclaimed, frustration eating away at him "Just stay put, all we can do for now is sit here and wait for Queen Kuvira to deal with the Baratheon's, by the seven let us pray that she is nothing like her father"

 

[Spacing Out]

Kuvira looked towards the remaining baratheons "your brothers disappearing act isn't favorable to you. For that You all will be held hostage until The runaway decides to come back for you, hopefully it will be soon." The guards immediately seized the Baratheons and took them away.


Kuvira didn't watched as they left keeping her head held high as she looked at the leaders. She let out a smirk., her voice boomed through the courtyard as she spoke."And as for the houses leaders, I want them taken and locked in separate chambers until I speak with them about the matter...For everyone else, You are trapped in red keep until someone confesses but I will still treat you as guests,Unless someone takes this kindness for weakness...I will advise you all that the longer this takes, the worst it will be for everyone and you don't want to see me when I lose my composure." She turned to make her leave but prior to that she turned to Arryn. " I would like to Speak with you privately." The remaining guards took the house leaders leading them into the east wing of the castle, locking them in separate rooms. She walked towards an empty hall, lifting up the front of her dress since her lady in waiting were no longer with her at the time.



​

 

[WanderingJester]

Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands.


Tiber Lannister, his brother Martyn, his cousin Wilhelm and Ser Tidus Marbrand stood around the living quarters they've been provided. With the amount of security they had, the Lannisters had taken up an entire wing of the castle themselves. The sun had long set upon the eventful day, and the three men gathered around a table with the map of Westeros on it, along with a more detailed map of King's Landing on the side. Various figures were placed on it: a lion in the Westerlands, a wolf at Winterfell, and others similarly around. Two knives were stuck upon the map, one on the Stormlands and one in King's Landing on the larger map, upon the symbols of House Targaryen and House Baratheon. A stock of Stars, Moons, and Dragons rested to the side, and some on the map itself, stacked neatly around. There was also a knife stuck to the edge of the larger map, in the direction of Essos.


The Head of House Lannister gazed upon the atlas in front of him before considering the individuals around him. All were young, and what many considered inexperienced. With himself being the exception, all were eligible bachelors that could wed into powerful alliances in the future. All four of them have seen men die in front of them, either by their own hands, by their words, or both. Leanne and Celena had retired to their chambers down the hall, and guards constantly patrols the hallway here and now, not to mention some protection within the shadows. He turned his gaze once more on the cartography in front of him and begun speaking.


"If war wasn't inevitable before, by the Warrior it is now."


Wilhelm spoke up, his arms crossed across his chest. "Perhaps not cousin, if the Queen acts rationally-"


"Then the Others have come, and so have the end of days." Ser Tidus scoffed. "When has a Targaryen acted rationally in the last three score years?"


Tiber frowned. "Perhaps, but the possibility is there, however slim it is. There's also the fact that Braedon Baratheon will most likely immediately demand the release of his siblings as soon as he can mustered his forces, threatening war and such. The man's calculating, but he's a Baratheon, and theirs is the fury."


Tidus nodded, while Wilhelm contemplated the fact. After a while he spoke up, "and we are to join our forces with whom?" Tiber waved his hand dismissively.


"To early to commit to such a decision. As far as they're concerned I'm not going to commit to anything until I've wed and bedded Leanne, and I intend to use the time allotted to us to see how things will develop. Until then, we build and we prepare." Wilhelm smirk.


"Careful my lord, you're starting to sound like an Arryn."


Tiber gave him a small smile. "Even they have good ideas sometimes Wil, never discount the other side's tactics." He took a stack of coins and placed them in the Westerlands, spreading them between Casterly Rock, Lannistport and Golden Tooth. "Our forces depends upon your father's ability to train up new soldiers, and hire sell swords. Our navy is competent at the moment, though still a bit small to my liking. That said, the absence of the Martells and the Iron Men does create more questions than answers. I hope for their sake they can give an account that would satisfy the Queen, else they are currently the prime suspects in the little debacle this afternoon. At the very least though, if war erupts, we'll have Riverrun on our side."


"If war does erupt, how much help would Riverrun be exactly?" Tidus asked, observing the small stack of coins around the Riverlands. "If they cannot control the lands around their seat, then anyone attempting to reach the Westerlands can just bypass their seat and head straight for us in the West. Our flanks would be just as exposed if they were not our allies at all."


"Ah but there are many miles between the Trident and Pinkmaiden. An army can only move so fast, and its speed is inversely proportional to the amount of stealth they utilize. By the time they reached Golden Tooth, our garrison there would be reinforced and entrenched, and more troops could be sent while they hold the enemy off there. The only way they could surprise us is if they amass an army right on our borders under our noses, and there is no such thing happening at this time, is there Strider?" He asked one of the dark corner of the room, where a silhouette of a person had formed.


Just then the man in one of the dark corners of the room cleared his throat. Wilhelm and Tidus jumped, their hands on the hilts of their swords. If Martyn or Tiber was surprised by his presence, they gave no indication. The man stepped forward, most of his body was covered by a dark cloak along with a hood over his face. He spoke in a deep and almost disembodied voice. "None of the kind my lord. Shall I report in on my findings?" Tiber nodded, his eyes still on the map, while Wilhelm and Tidus watched the man suspiciously, hands still on their weapons. Martyn had merely gave a passing glance to him, before his eyes fell back on the map once more.


"Lord Braedon Baratheon had successfully clear the walls of King's Landing, and heads back to the Stormlands as we speak. Queen Kuvira has locked down the castle and the city in general, so that none can enter or exit without her permission, at least with the public entrances. I've discovered several unguarded passages in and out of the capital, though if we wish to evacuate we will need to do so in shifts, as we cannot bring our horses with us, and the tunnels aren't large enough to fit a party of our size all at once."


The shadow assassin had appeared with Tiber one day in Casterly Rock after a visit to his father at King's Landing. He had spoken three sentences to the heir before entering into the young man's services, when Tiber inquired of his name and nature ("They call me Strider." "I've come to offer you my services." "Asshai."). Tiber hired the man immediately, letting him have anything of material value in Casterly Rock in exchange. Since then no one's been sure what Strider had taken of value from the Lannister's seat of power outside of a bit of gold to survive on, but the intelligence chief of the Lions had not complaint about payment once. The only reason the Faceless Men of Bravos are more feared than their counterparts from the Shadow Lands was solely due to the fact that more people know about them.


Tidus spoke up. "What of the Yellow Cloaks?"


"Numerous but disorganized. They have to guard so many Lords and Ladies that a few of the Lannisters missing won't be discovered until later, and by then we shall be on our way to the Westerlands and well away from the city. I also have additional reports that an expedition by the Greyjoys just returned to the Iron Islands. Their original goal and the nature of their mission was unspecified, and I will need to depart from the capital in order to discover and confirm what I find. I also have reasonable suspicions about something but I cannot confirm or deny them."


"Your suspicions haven't been wrong yet. What about?"


"I have reasons to believe that Timos Starks have connections with the Assassins of Bravos."


Tiber looked up at the man from Asshai-by-the-Shadows for the first time, his eyebrows raised. "A serious allegation."


Strider continued in his even voice. "The boy slipped away from the Keep when they first arrived, and a report of an unsolved death appeared next. The boy was more careful in his approach to and from the Keep than anyone from the land of ice and snow had any right. The body was too clean for a common murder and I've had reports that the boy came from one of the Northern Free Cities in Essos. There's just no way to validate the suspicion though." He stopped, indicating his report completed. Tiber gave him a nod, and the man melted back into the shadows of the room, before disappearing.


Only now did Tidus and Wilhelm relaxed, and the Lannister gave an uneasy shuddered. Before he could comment though, Martyn looked at his brother and spoke for the first time since he entered the room. "What's our next steps my lord?"


Tiber slowly gripped the handle of the knife buried into King's Landing, before tapping a thumb on pummel. "I'll give her Grace a week, if we're still here then we'll begin to evacuate."


When the servants came to fetch the members of House Lannisters later, all they would find of the table were the two nicks in it as well as a sack of gold sitting on the side.


___________________


Rowan Tarly still felt confused by the whole situation.


First he finally got some decent amount of food when suddenly there was a commotion nearby. He looked over to the dance floor and a girl laid on the ground dead in a pool of her own blood. The yellow cloaks as well as the House Targaryen guards surrounded the Baratheons, and the Stag Lord had ran with his guards away from the Red Keep. Rowan furrowed his brows. Why would someone kill a random girl at a coronation? Later he found out the servant girl had tried to kill the Queen, but then why would someone kill her Grace less than an hour after she's been crowned? Surely she couldn't have done anything that would warrant something that drastic has she? For the Father's sake, she's only been Queen for an hour or so!


Trying to clear his head, the young Tarly heir went for a walk. His parents had retired to a nearby room, probably to discuss the events of the day and how it would impact their house. Rowan had no patience for such talks, even though he knew he should stay and understand them, even if he didn't want to. Still the young man went out and watched the sky began to dim. Before he knew it he was at a courtyard, where a few guards along with a Queensguard stood. They had seemed tense at seeing Rowan originally, but when he appeared unarmed, they relaxed slightly. A girl was washing her face at the fountain, and though the guards were menacing, Rowan had killed and commanded worse.


Walking over, he noticed it was one of the Queen's sisters, the one with red hair. He looked at her, tried to remember some of the manners about how to talk to a member of the royal family and said, "Greetings Princess. I hope today's distasteful events hadn't upset you too much. How are you feeling?" The Fair Tarly had expected the girl to be quite shaken up. After all, what lady (aside from Lady Stark earlier) is exposed to blood and the horrors of the Stranger from that close?


@TheFordee14

 

[General_warNpeace]

Deanna: The Red Keep


Sitting at her window Deanna looked over the vast city of Kings Landing and the intricate mazes that the buildings and streets made up but she didn't truly see them. After the Baratheons were taken Deanna found herself escorted to her room by her personal guard, Ser Dominic, on her sister's orders. She tried to protest and insist but found each one shot down by the man. He has been her guard since she was a child and was one of the few that could keep her under control. As such he had no qualms practically manhandling her into her rooms and the waiting hands of her hand maidens. Before she knew it she found herself sitting in the tub as her skin was rubbed raw. Once her mind caught up to her body she dismissed the girls and continued alone. It was only once she was changed into a fresh white long sleeve gown with a high collar and a silver dragon sown down it that she actually allowed herself to think of what happened.


Those thought's troubled her but didn't last for long before new ones took over. All through out the day she had heard whispers that questioned her sister's true blood but she had simply waved them away at the time. Now however she found as her restless mind settled that they fluttered back to the surface. Idly she began running her fingers through her waist length hair that she had decided against binding for the night.


As a child I noticed the difference in our hair color but never did I question it. I always just accepted that my sisters looked different. I never doubted that they were my full blooded siblings as I never thought that my Queen mother would have the courage to cheat on my King father then parade bastard children off as his own. Nor do I believe even now that my King father would claim any of his bastards. If he had they most certainly would have been males. Yet, with every whisper I have felt a seed of doubt grown within and now I can't help but wonder If the whispers rang true. What if my sister's are really not my full blooded sisters but just bastards bored by my Queen mother. Oh, what traitorous thoughts! Deanna held in the scream of frustration that built within her with each suppressing thought. Standing she began pacing the length of her room and biting on her bottom lip. Each passing thought made her quicken as her aggravation grew.


Kuvira has to be a Targeryen otherwise...I know she has the potential to be a great Queen but shouldn't only a Targaryen sit in the throne? She paused before sneering at her own thoughts. She is my sister! She is a full blooded Targaryen she has to be. If she isn't then that would me I am the only child with a legitimate and true claim. Something I can only pray never comes to pass. I have no wish to be Queen. Feeling like she would go crazy with the storm darkening her mind Deanna ruthlessly pushed the thoughts from her mind and locked them within that black box that was quickly becoming a large chest. Releasing a shaky sigh she crawled into bed, her young kitten 'Kit' joining her soon after.


She was a young black tomcat with one ear that she had found shortly before her fathers death. The length of time it took to capture the small kitten made her impulsively take it in when she finally snatched it. Now she found the kitten joining her every night for bed before disappearing during the day. To hunt or cause trouble.


Petting the short furred kitten until she was a bundle of purrs she sighed looking up at the silk canopy that covered her bed, the motion soothing her irritated mood. I don't wish to believe something so terrible of my own sisters but I can't seem to stop my own thoughts from defying me. Not until I know for sure. Which means there is really only one thing I can do. Tomorrow I'll began my search for anything that might reveal if they are bastards. If I find nothing then I shall doubt their blood no longer. Curling under her cover's she slowly fell into a dreamless asleep her mind soothed with the knowledge that she had something to do in the morning. Tomorrow she will began to find the truth.

 

[TheFordee20]

The Red Keep, King's Landing


"Oh."


Aerea's smile faded. She turned to face a young boy who looked something like a weasel. Aerea shook her head slowly. "I am quite upset, Lord..." She looked at his clothing and spied the sigil of a red bowman.


"... Tarly." Aerea finished, her hands still clung to the edge of the fountain. Her fingers were still in the water, which had gone a red-ish colour from the blood she had washed off.


"Who sent you? Has my sister asked for me?" Aerea asked, her body shaking. Someone tried to kill me- but they also tried to kill my sister...


The thought of someone killing Kuvira made Aerea feel strange.


@WanderingJester

 

[WanderingJester]

Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands.


If there was an underlying feelings behind Aerea's facade, Rowan didn't see it. He gave a chuckle when she addressed him as "Lord Tarly," and shook his head.


"No, not 'Lord,' mayhaps one day, but for now that's my father." He sat back against the fountain, the sight of blood mired in the water not bothering him in the slightest. He looked up at the sky, viewing the steadily appearing stars above. "I am sorry to hear that, please let me know if I can do anything to alleviate your unpleasantness." Coming from anyone else it would've sounded like a proposition, but from Rowan, he genuinely would like to help the princess, taking her words at face value.


When she asked him, he turned to see the girl shaking. He instinctively reached out to place a comforting hand on Aerea's shoulder, only to hear a "slink" as the Queensguard next to her drew his sword out an inch. Raising both hands in surrender, Rowan gave the guard a "whoa there" look and turned back to the Targaryen Princess, saying, "No one sent me. I just wanted to clear my head after what happened today, and so I came out here to take a walk. I assumed you had the same idea?" He smiled at her, hoping the expression would comfort Aerea as much as possible given the understandable protective nature of her guard.


@TheFordee14

 

[TheFordee20]

The Red Keep, King's Landing


Aerea stared at the young man. She let go of her grasp on the fountain and stepped back a bit- away from The Tarly. "I..." She looked at Ser James, who was ready to pull out his sword and cut the man into two pieces, if Aerea wanted him too.


No, my sister sent me out here.


"Yes. I needed to get out of that courtyard..." Aerea spoke, softly.


So many thoughts were swirling around in her mind. Was it really The Baratheons behind it all- and if they were, did they also kill Aerea's father. She didn't know what The Tarly boy wanted though. Is he genuine in his words? Or, did he follow me out here to slit my throat and finish me off?


Aerea shook those thoughts from her head. House Tarly was bannermen to House Tyrell, they wouldn't work alongside House Baratheon. But what if he isn't even a Tarly!?





Aerea looked at him.


@WanderingJester

 

[WanderingJester]

Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands.


The stars were coming out in droves now, captivating the young man watching them. He had always taken refuge from the world as a child stargazing. The Mother's heavens had comforted Rowan when his father had yelled at him, after the brutalizing training at Horn Hill, and after he killed his first man. Every night, he could always look up and remember that the Mother watched over him, regardless of what had happened during the day, and the Fair Tarly took comfort in that.


When the Princess first spoke, he laughed softly. "Yea I can understand that, blood on the face isn't the most pleasant experiences." Then the girl stopped talking suddenly. He looked over and saw her face alternating between horror, shock and some sort of inner conflict, even as she took a step away from him. Confused, he let his concern show on his face. "Is there something wrong? Did I do something to upset you?" He hoped not, and she would stay. It was nice to have some company to talk to outside of a crowded party.


@TheFordee14

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

Haelga Greyjoy, Pyke, Iron Islands



​

She paused at the door, turning to look back at Conn, several of her soldiers pausing aswell. Her blue-green eyes regarded him cold, as she simply stared. "Family... Conn?" she asked, a slightly smirk crossing her face. "Family?" she repeated, taking a step back into the room. "I'm 25 years of age, and how long have I been by your side for? The first seven until my father sent me away, none of that I remember much, thanks to our generous lord-father," she spat. I might as well not even know you. After all, you never cared enough to send a raven, or to visit, or anything. You went off to Essos on your own for a few years, came back, then sent me off to Essos with hardly even a word. If there is anything we aren't, it is family," she said, shaking her head. "But I will attend your dinner anyways, as none can refuse the word of a king." she said, fully re-entering the room, several of her men following suit. "You say you want to talk, Conn. So why don't we?"

 

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Red Keep, King's Landing

POV: Gelgin Arryn

Queen Kuvira seemed remarkably composed for someone who'd had an attempt on her life just a minute ago. Seemed to be thinking fairly rationally. Good. The Queen needed a level head if the impact of this event was going to be minimised. Civil war was already brewing, and some of the final ingredients were being added.


"And as for the house leaders, I want them taken and locked in separate chambers until I speak with them about the matter... For everyone else, you are trapped in the Red Keep until someone confesses, but I will still treat you as guests. Unless someone takes this kindness for weakness. I will advise you all that the longer this takes, the worse it will be for everyone, and you don't want to see me when I lose my composure."





Well, not a bad stance. Some lords would undoubtedly feel trapped by this, which was only natural. He would urge everyone he could to go along with it, for this matter was indeed important. If it was the Baratheons, then this investigation would provide proof, and there would be no doubts. If it wasn't, then the Baratheons hopefully wouldn't be pushed further over the brink, and civil war could be averted. It was a decent strategy, but it didn't account for the human desire for freedom. Being shut away this long could cause some chaos in Westeros, and who knew what some lords would do to get away. It also didn't account for the fact that actually discovering the conspirators would likely not be so easy.


The Queen turned to leave, but cast a look back over her shoulder at Gelgin. "I would speak with you privately" He nodded graciously, and tossed in a "Your will, Highness.", then leaned closer to Laura and spoke quietly so none could overhear. "Find Trevir, he needs to be made aware of this, before he says something stupid. When I am done, I will find you." While he had spoken, she had quietly slipped her hand into his. For a brief instant, the storm parted and Gelgin's expression softened into something resembling a smile. He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, then turned away and began hobbling after the Queen. His cane felt a little heavier, as if it, too, was weighed down by the implications of this.


While the other house heads were 'escorted' by guards, he trailed after the Queen. Out of the corner of his ear, the somewhat humorous sight of Martyn being approached by a wary group of guards, as though he were a shadowcat. He looked entirely unamused. The meaning of Gelgin trailing in the wake of Queen Kuvira, trying to keep up, was not lost on the Grey Fox. Instead, he made an effort to look unhurried.


As she lead on towards a hall, thoughts whirled in the storm of Gelgin's mind, theories forming into waves, then breaking on the rocks as each theory was discarded for various reasons, largely not enough evidence. He needed more, if he was going to form anything solid. He needed more.


Finally, the two entered the hall. He became aware that the Queen was lifting her own skirt as she walked, given the lack of ladies in waiting. He was unsure what to make of that, deciding to leave it for now. The silence hung in the air, and Gelgin finally broke it, deeming it proper etiquette to not force the Queen to speak first.


"You wished to speak with me, your majesty." he stated, barely a question at all. His tone was almost as flat as ever, as was his expression.


@Robyn Banks

 

[Spacing Out]

Queen Kuvira

Kuvira turned to face him, a smirk from before had faded and a more determined expression replaced it. "Yes, As you know the situation at hand is very important. finding the house responsible for the attempted assassin, will be tricky. That's why I need you to occupy me. I heard you are a skilled tactician and strategist which will be useful for this problem for this obstacles and the rest to come. I am aware you are not the best in physical battle. But I do not need a knight. I need a body reader, a genius in his own right, I need you. Are you willing to aid me in this endeavor? you are free to decline if this not suit you." She had fire in her eyes as she spoke, not looking away for a second. She knew she needed him to find the house responsible without shedding any unnecessary blood.


If this problem solved well enough, she would as him to be her hand but she had to see how they would cooperate with each other first.



​

​

 

[TheFordee20]

The Red Keep, King's Landing


"This is horse shit." Filicity cursed as she waited in some random quarter of The Red Keep with most of her family. One minute she was having a conversation with Ravenna Stark, the next she was being ushered into a dimly lit room.


"Filicity!" Eveleen snapped, trying to cover Hallie's ears. Eveleen hated anything un-ladylike. Filicity didn't pay her sister any attention, she instead banged on the door that lead outside. She was fuming.


The fact that the queen would just trap everyone at her own coronation party was madness!


"That queen really has Targaryen blood running through her veins. She is a crazy bi--"


"Shut up." Eveleen shot.


Filicity stopped and looked at her sister. "If the wrong people heard you say that, your head would be planted upon a spike." Eveleen said, a hint of anger in her voice. Hallie was being cradled in her arms.


She's right. She always is.


Filicity sat down on a wooden chair that looked like it would fall apart any minute. She hoped that her father, who was still in the courtyard, would talk some sense into Queen Kuvira. But, Filicity somewhat doubted it. She sighed and looked around the room she was confined to. It had the same red brick as the rest of The Red Keep. I am going to go mad inside this room...


Pyke, The Iron Islands





"Lets." Conn smirked.


Conn and Haelga sat down in the dining hall that Conn rarely used. It was covered with cobwebs and dust. An elderly man set up a fire in a large fireplace in-front of the rectangular table they sat at.


The fire lit up the entire room, revealing portraits of past Greyjoy leaders and their ships. The elderly man left the room to go check up on the cook. Conn looked at his sister, as he poured himself a cup of ale. Some of the ale spilled onto the table and he rubbed it away with the sleeve of his tunic. "Thank you," He spoke. "I never did say thank you." Conn put the cup to his lips and drank.


"You've brought me something great, sister." He raised his cup to her. Some more ale spilled out as he raised it up, due to his lack of a thumb.


I should really start using my other hand...


He took another gulp. The fire cackled away as they sat in silence. Haelga looked like she was about to say something before the doors to the dining hall swung open- revealing Eleri and Vaughan. Eleri sat upon Vaughan's shoulders as they walked into the hall. Vaughan plucked her off and sat her in her seat. "There ya' go, love." Vaughan said, smiling.


"Don't ever do that again, Uncle." Eleri said, laughing. She looked at her father, and then at Haelga.


"Who is this?" She asked. Conn looked at both his sister and his young daughter. "Eleri; this is my sister, your aunt. Haelga." Eleri looked confused, but she put on a smile after a few moments of silence.


"Hello!" She chirped, with a wave of her hand. The old servant came next with a large plate filled with cooked lamprey, smothered with different types of vegetables and shellfish. It smells good. Conn grabbed a clam and broke it open, before he begun sucking out its innards. "So..." He began, his words muffled by the food inside his mouth. He swallowed it and exhaled.


"Where shall we begin?" He asked, looking at his sister. He said he'd let her tell him her ideas, although he wasn't sure if he'd actually listen. Eleri and Vaughan begun having their own conversation about mermaids as they, too, stuffed their mouths.


@SirDerpingtonIV


The Red Keep, King's Landing


"No, you did nothing wrong. I am just a still shaken up by all of it." Aerea lied. He did do something wrong- he talked to her.


Aerea tried to calm her fears and relax a bit. She took a deep breath, held it in, and then let it out. "Forgive me, ser." Aerea apologized. The area they were in was almost still with silence. The only thing she could hear was her light breathing and the rushing of the fountain's water.


She looked at Ser James and gave him a little nod. He did the same and he turned his back on her and The Tarly.


I must look like a madwoman. Aerea thought to herself as she pictured if she still had some red on her pale face.


@WanderingJester

 

[WanderingJester]

Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands.





Rowan gave Aerea a smile, before nodding his head. "It is of no matter Princess. The day has been trying and I would be remiss if I didn't take what had happened into consideration. You are well within your right to act and feel in such a manner." He was more at ease now that the Queensguard wasn't going to run him through with his weapon for just talking to the Targaryen girl. Someone had lit the torches around the garden now, and though that made the area bright, the stars could see be seen above. Rowan looked and gave the Princess another friendly smile in appreciation for her company.


"Please call me Rowan my Princess, I am not in armor and am here as the Tarly's heir, not a soldier. If I may be so bold, what are your plans this evening? Surely you did not wake up this morning expecting to talk with a lowly knight such as myself this evening by a nondescript fountain." He asked offhandedly, wanting to keep the conversation going so he wouldn't be stuck back in his room/cell so soon.


@TheFordee14

 

[TheFordee20]

The Red Keep, King's Landing


Aerea shook her head. "My only plan was to enjoy tonight's events, Rowan, and unfortunately I can no longer do that."


I didn't even enjoy any bit of that coronation.


Aerea brushed her red hair back with her hand. "And what of you?" She asked Rowan. This boy was a strange one. A lordling rarely came up to her to talk about trivial things with her. It was usually about something to do with her sister, or her sister's kingdom.


There was a cool breeze as she awaited his answer.


@WanderingJester

 

[WanderingJester]

Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands.





"The same I supposed. Father and mother were both intending to mingle with the guests at tonight's banquet, pay their respects to the friends of the house along with the Queen, and try to find a suitable wife for me. Alas, such things will not come to pass now. I'm not sure whether to be thankful or not; you see, I don't do a lot of social events, and so I get quite nervous during them, standing around not sure of what I should be doing most of the time." Rowan replied, letting the breeze wash over him. The summer night was warm, and so it was a comfort to feel the wind on his face.


@TheFordee14

 

[TheFordee20]

The Red Keep, King's Landing


Aerea looked at him. The breeze blew through her red hair. Me as well, she thought to herself as he talked about being nervous at social gatherings. "Doesn't your overlord have a young daughter?" Aerea knew that Lord Hollis had a daughter who had yet to be wed. It made sense that he would marry her off to one of his bannermen.


"Isn't Lord Tarly, your father, a renowned commander as well?" Aerea asked him, the breeze begun to die down.

 

[WanderingJester]

Red Landing, King's Landing, Crownlands.





Rowan nodded at Aerea's question, looking back at her. "Yes, Arianna just had her 16th name day passed. She's about that time when suitors will lined up. Not quite yourself or Celena Lannister, or even a younger Eveleen Tyrell before she was married, but pretty enough to make any lord happy. Then again, I am bias in the matter, I mean after all, I am her brother." He chuckled, before standing up straight once more and holding his arm out. "May I indulge in your company princess? I find that all this standing still had made my legs stiff, and would continue my original walk, with you and your entourage's company preferably."


Regardless of the answer Rowan looked back away at the second question, his expression a thoughtful one, tinged with slight worry. "Yes, he was the one that ended the Osgrey's line after their... atrocities. Our house and House Tyrell had a bit of a falling out after that, though I was but a babe when that happened. Our soldiers began calling him Helyon the Harrowing after, since he made sure not one stone of House Osgrey's seat was left standing when he was done. I've got some big boots to fill myself, as they say." The last line had no humor in it, but rather the young man spoke of it more to himself than Aerea nearby.


@TheFordee14

 

[TheFordee20]

The Red Keep, King's Landing


She nodded. They begun walking away from the fountain, down a path that lead to the Godswood- which was, as usual, empty. "I'm aware of how you feel." Aerea said, quietly. My father left some fairly big boots to fill. Mad ones as well.


"I mean- I am not Queen, but, my father has left my sisters and I boots too. He was the most powerful man in Westeros." Her eyes teared a little bit. They weren't real tears, though.


She didn't mean to trick Rowan with her crocodile crying. Its just that she had been been pretending to cry at every mention of her father since he died, so tears came to her quickly whenever her father was but a mention. Aerea wiped the tears away. "Sorry." She apologized as she stopped walking. She looked behind her to see Ser James shadowing the both of them.


Just in-case.


@WanderingJester

 

[JustWhipIt]

Storm's End, The Stormlands


Braedon inhaled a mouthful of the crisp Stormland air, the castle of Storm's End now in sight. It'd been about an entire day and a half since the disastrous events of Queen Kuvira's coronation - the Lord of Storm's End having only taken a few breaks throughout the previous day, more so for the sake of the horse than himself. By now, a good number of his bannermen had caught up to him. It was fortunate that only a handful of them had attended the coronation in the first place - he could manage to cut his losses for now. His siblings, on the other hand, were all presumably being held in King's Landing by Kuvira's orders. The sun had yet to reveal itself, leaving the weary travelers in a dark and bitter atmosphere, accompanied only by each other and the few dimly glowing stars that could be made out in the sky. The castle, though still in the distance, provided a great sense of relief and confort among the Stormlords.


The party arrived in Storm's End some half an hour later, the sun just appearing from over the horizon. By this time, a few commoners had already woken up and were in the streets. Though they acknowledged the early arrival of their lord, it was safe to assume that none of them were too surprised. They greeted Braedon, who tried his best not to let his fatigue show in his face. His people still held care for him, even after all the doubt that surrounded him after the death of his father. Perhaps they were already mentally prepared for war - ready to act the instant the Stag of the People gave the order. They were too kind to him for their own good.


Leaving his bannermen behind, Braedon made quickly for the castle, having to stop for only a few instances where people came up to him. As he approached the structure, he dismounted from the horse, allowing a nearby stable boy to see to the animal's needs. The castle itself towered over him, absorbing the few rays of sunlight that hit it. Upon entering, Braedon was not greeted by the usual feeling of warmth and pleasure he would normally experience when returning home from a long trip. The stillness of the castle's interior sent chills down his spine, despite the servants that remained maintaining the place, all rushing to the Lord of Storm's End's aid. Dismissing them, he ascended the staircase that would lead to his room, shuddering at the thought of being the only Baratheon remaining within the halls - potentially for a long time to come.


Closing the door behind him, Braedon stood behind a table in the corner of his chamber, leaning against its frame. Slamming a fist down on the wooden desk, he swung his neck to look out the window and into the sea. It was still an early hour and though the waves didn't normally pick up until later in the day, Shipbreaker Bay was living up to its name. The strong waters crashed against the rocks that penetrated up from the bay with great force, but its sound didn't make its way into Braedon's ears. The man's eyes wandered onto the island of Tarth, but his mind was elsewhere, far from the Sapphire Isle. His siblings were no doubt being held hostage in King's Landing, in the hands of a young and crazed Targaryen.


He would've been angry - if he had the energy.


Now taking a seat on his bed, Braedon focused his eyes on the other side of the room. He recalled the events of the other day in King's Landing, unwavering in his stare. The Targaryen girl, speechless at the sight of the dead body that was at her feet - the body of her assassin. The pitiful look of shock on her face brought a microscopic smile to Braedon's lips. The smile persisted only a for a second, as a knock from the other side of the door snapped him back into reality.


Braedon's suspicions proved to be correct, as the same man who had came to his door only a few days ago had come to pay another visit. Maester Barret, sighing upon seeing the lord's face, spoke quick with worry.


"Are you alright, my lord? One of you bannermen told me what happened -"


"I'm fine, thank you," Braedon answered. "Is there anything else, Maester?"


Maester Barret revealed a piece of parchment in his grasp, handing it to the lord. Curious, Braedon received the paper, his eyes slightly widening at the seal that kept the message rolled. The Targaryen Dragon.


"What is the meaning of this?" Braedon asked, fearing the worst. There was a feeling of discomfort developing deep within his stomach - separate from his hunger and weariness.


"Not what you think. It came from across Shipbreaker Bay, saw it with my very own eyes." The maester's words brought some relief to Braedon, though he still felt a hinge of discomfort.


"How... how is that possible? I thought they didn't use ravens in the East."


The maester merely shrugged and shook his head, not able to answer the question himself. After watching Braedon examine the seal for a short amount of time, he sighed and turned around, deciding that it would be the best to leave the lord alone for now.


"You should rest, my lord. There is a storm brewing."

 

[WanderingJester]

Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands.





Rowan had to admit it was nice, having a pretty girl on his arm while taking a late stroll, especially this one who was a princess in the royal family. He nodded in sympathy as she expressed the same feelings he had about having famous parentage, and when she stopped he too did so and turned towards her. The Tarly heir had no illusions that they were alone, in fact his experiences in combat told him that there were several very armed and very dangerous men nearby, ready to protect the princess. Still at her tears, he couldn't help himself and reached out this time, wiping a stray tear that Aerea missed when she wiped her eyes. He gave her a kind smile.


"Then we'll just have to do our best, won't we?"


After she answered Rowan nodded and looked to the Queensguard nearby. "It's getting late. Perhaps you should escort the princess back to her quarters now? I've taken up enough of all your time." Turning back to Aerea, he bowed respectfully, taking one of her hands and kissing it. "A pleasant night and sweet dreams to you, my princess. I, your humble servant, bid you good night."


@TheFordee14

 

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Red Keep, King's Landing

POV: Gelgin Arryn

The Queen replied promptly, her face set in a determined fashion.


"Yes, as you know the situation at hand is very important. Finding the house responsible for the attempted assassin will be tricky. That's why I need you to occupy me. I heard you are a skilled tactician and strategist which will be useful for this problem for this obstacles and the rest to come. I am aware you are not the best in physical battle. But I do not need a knight. I need a body reader, a genius in his own right, I need you. Are you willing to aid me in this endeavor? You are free to decline if this not suit you."


Gelgin's face shifted almost imperceptibly as he chewed over the Queen's words. He had some idea that this would be what the meeting was for, and he had an answer ready, but it was a habit to think over every decision he made, no matter how obvious the correct answer seemed. After another second or two of silence, Gelgin's jaw opened, and a single word made itself heard in the still air.


"Aye."

 

[Huor Spinks]

Arren Tyrell - Highgarden: Office


When Arren Tyrell received word that there had been an assassination attempt on the new Queen Kuvira Targaryen, he had been in his large office, staring out of the great windows with his hands clasped behind his back. He was still in Highgarden of course, like he always was, most days. He would have been present at the coronation; as the heir to House Tyrell, if he had not taken sick with a nasty illness that had left him coughing almost non-stop, which left him bedridden. He had only just recovered however, and had only been out of his bed for one day. He still had boughs of coughing, something which he had dealt with for almost all of his life. Once upon a time, he would have rallied against that but now... he was just too tired to.


He was the Heir of House Tyrell, though there were some who thought that he would not live long enough to claim the title. He himself had been one of those. He had even been surprised that he had lived this long. Every decade or so, people had been surprised that he had made it to that particular birthday, and now he was starting to believe that too. But until that time came, he would do his best to fulfill the expectations that his family had on him and if he did not live long enough, that post would have been passed on to someone younger.


His face had been expressionless as he had dismissed the messenger; a rarity for him, who had always had some sort of negative emotion on his face. The Tyrells had been loyal to House Targaryen even though Arren had personally detested King Maeryn. The Mad, many had called him. It had been easy then, to hide his distaste within the confines of his sickroom, his office, his library in Highgarden, but now that the man was dead and there was a new Queen, he allowed himself to feel a sense of relief. Perhaps, she would be a better ruler than her father had been. And if not... well... there were those who were not loyal to the Targaryens. Yet, even he himself was not sure if he had the fortitude to end years of loyalty to the Targaryens, especially with his health status. He did not want to start on something, die, and then leave his family the burden of continuing something that many of them might not even have agreed with.


Only time would only show if the new Queen would be a better alternative than the madman her father had been.

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

Haelga Greyjoy, Pyke, Iron Islands



​

Haelga simply nodded, making her way to the old, dusty dining hall, taking her seat at the table, chair creaking beneath her in an almost unsettling manner.


She peered up at the walls surrounding her, examining the dusty old portraits of previous Greyjoy lords, wondering why none of them had ever thought to leave the Old Way, and why they had to stick to the same old suffering for so many years. She simply watched her brother pour his ale, clumsily spilling it as he did so. Idily, she wondered if he too would become another of those kings, remembered only in old paintings in an unused room. "You're welcome," she murmured in response to his words, unsure if he even meant what he was saying.


She simply watched her niece enter, accompanied by her uncle. She kept her blue-green gaze on the child as she took a seat at the table, wondering if this was some sort of weighted political gesture. She began to slowly eat, eyeing her food untrustingly throughout the meal. "We may begin wherever you wish to, Conn. Surely, you have questions about my... "Ideals?"

 

[Leusis]

Countryside town, Western Crownlands


Roland sat in front of a wooden table, a pint resting on the wooden table in front of him as the sound of merriment filled his ears. It had been some time since he and his knights had gotten any work and they had taken to spreading out into groups of 100 to spend their gathered coin on ale and whores. It had been nearly two weeks since he had made the decision to split his forces and in another five days they were to all begin traveling back to Roland's current location, meet up and set out two days later for Casterly Rock. It had been years since Roland had visited that city as the last time he was there he was fighting for Lord Tiber, as it seemed the Lannisters always had an abundance of gold to throw at men like him. So Roland gladly over priced his services during Tiber's war and time of need, after all, very few things are better in the field of battle than 800 highly trained, heavily armored mounted knights. Many of the battles they participated in being won by a flanking charge from Roland's and Tiber's knight combined, mowing down men at arms like wheat during harvest.


And now it seemed that Lord Tiber was willing to higher men like him again, as they king was now dead and the Lannister's needed to bolster their forces as war was looming. Though this time however Roland had a different price for his services, one that would change his and his knights lives. But for now Roland simply pulled some parchment from his pack that he had beside him, along with an inkwell and a quill so he could write. Jotting down another verse or two for the song he was creating he would place his supplies back into his pack before hoisting his pint of ale into the air. Yelling out to his fellow knights that crowded the large inn he would yell "Drink and fuck men, for within a weeks time our blades will be made of Lannister gold!" recieving a resounding cheer from his knights. One large bald man shortly afterwards began to sing with slurred speech.


"From there, to here. From here! To there!


All black and brown and covered in hair!


He smelled that girl on the summer air!


The bear! The bear!


The maiden fair!"


Many men joining the man in his song Roland would drink nearly half of his ale in one swift chug, slamming it onto the table causing some of the drink to splash up into his face, now dripping from his thin beard.


"Oh, I'm a maid, and I'm pure and fair!


I'll never dance with a hairy bear!


I called a knight, but you're a bear!


All black and brown and covered in hair!


He lifted her high in the air!


He sniffed and roared and he smelled her there!


She kicked and wailed, the maid so fair!


He licked the honey all up in her hair!


From there to here. From here! To there!


All black and brown and covered in hair!


He smelled that girl on the summer air!


The bear! The bear!


The maiden fair!"





Roland shouted along with the sixty or so men who fit in the inn as well as the remaining forty who drank and sang outside. The old wooden building seeming to shake as they all continued on with their ballad, Roland standing on his seat as he kicked his pint over, splashing a few of his knights as he stepped onto the table.


"She sighed and she squealed and she kicked the air!


Then she sang: My bear! My bear so fair!


And off they went into the summer air!


The bear, the bear,


And the maiden fair!"


He sang in a powerful but surprisingly skillful tone, the men who he splashed chugging what remained of their own ale, catching a few coins that Roland tossed them. "For new shirts and another pint" he spoke to them, with a large grin on his face. From what any of the town-people could tell, it seemed like Roland's knights were enjoying themselves greatly and seemed to be very generous as they often gave coins to those who showed up and drank with them, as well as those who worked in and owned the inn.