slim
destroyer
THE WAR OF TWO QUEENS
INTRO.
Summer was finally drawing to a close, and Maesters, northmen, and old folk alike knew what was drawing near. It had been a bountiful summer indeed, but it had gone on for far too long... and now the children who had been born into these pleasant and sunny times would spend their adolescence in the dark, harsh winter. For the commonfolk, it would be a time of hardship & probable suffering, with not enough to go around even with a honest harvest from their fields. For the Great Houses and the Queen, however, their fates were less arduous. Instead of worrying about if there was enough food to go around, the Lords and Ladies sat on their bountiful yields and coin and bickered like children as they turned their eyes towards the throne.
Queen Rhaella's ascension to the Iron Throne and her methodology had not been forgotten. Never had Westeros had a Queen who's claim was uncontested, for the Great Council of 101 AC had solidified the choosing of male heirs over female...yet there weren't even any male Targaryens to be considered. The small council had overlooked the great crime of kinslaying, but the Great Houses grumbled at the misfortune it would bring the realm. That, and the girl refused to marry. Within the first week of her coronation, she had met with nearly every suitor from the Great and some lesser houses. They paraded like peacocks and showered her with gifts while her small council was in her ear reminding her of all that could be possibly gained in an alliance with each of them. She danced the tiring dance of pretend interest and kept her mannerisms vague as if truly considering their offers, but no Lords received a word from the Queen. She sat on the throne proud, and swore it would be hers alone. And so it was for three years. She ruled as fairly as any young ruler could, and besides the targaryen madness that lurked beneath the service, it was said she was a good ruler. But peace is a fragile thing, and alliances are not often made with simple words. Rhaella had to produce a heir eventually, surely? Soon her rule was getting critiqued, dissatisfaction and discontented rumblings reached the ears of the small council. "Even a King on the throne soon hears bad mouthing if he does not find a wife." And so, the Queen's Tournament was arranged, ravens were sent to all Great and lesser houses, and once more possible suitors from Lords to knights made their way to King's Landing for a week long affair and a chance to woo the dragon.
Queen Rhaella's ascension to the Iron Throne and her methodology had not been forgotten. Never had Westeros had a Queen who's claim was uncontested, for the Great Council of 101 AC had solidified the choosing of male heirs over female...yet there weren't even any male Targaryens to be considered. The small council had overlooked the great crime of kinslaying, but the Great Houses grumbled at the misfortune it would bring the realm. That, and the girl refused to marry. Within the first week of her coronation, she had met with nearly every suitor from the Great and some lesser houses. They paraded like peacocks and showered her with gifts while her small council was in her ear reminding her of all that could be possibly gained in an alliance with each of them. She danced the tiring dance of pretend interest and kept her mannerisms vague as if truly considering their offers, but no Lords received a word from the Queen. She sat on the throne proud, and swore it would be hers alone. And so it was for three years. She ruled as fairly as any young ruler could, and besides the targaryen madness that lurked beneath the service, it was said she was a good ruler. But peace is a fragile thing, and alliances are not often made with simple words. Rhaella had to produce a heir eventually, surely? Soon her rule was getting critiqued, dissatisfaction and discontented rumblings reached the ears of the small council. "Even a King on the throne soon hears bad mouthing if he does not find a wife." And so, the Queen's Tournament was arranged, ravens were sent to all Great and lesser houses, and once more possible suitors from Lords to knights made their way to King's Landing for a week long affair and a chance to woo the dragon.
WINTER IS COMING.
coded by weldherwings.