The Crownlands. The Red Keep. 283 AC.
Jon Arryn
The battle at the Trident against Prince Rhaegar's army was the hardest fight of my life. Even during the War of the Ninepenny Kings there had been no position as desperate as that one. Every reserve was committed, including myself with my personal guard, and still we were giving ground. Robert saved us when he went for Rhaegar himself. It was sothing I will never forget: the two of them fighting with a skill in arms that had never been seen, neither man able to overpower the other, and then Robert went down. But Rhaegar could not finish him in ti, and with a furious cry that carried across the entire field, Baratheon drove his war hamr into the Prince's chest with such force that the man was hurled back several feet. In that mont the last hope of the Targaryens died.
The loyalist army buckled and ran. For a week afterward the rebellion's forces recovered and hunted down the remnants of Rhaegar's army. Lords who had turned coat or sat neutral and were now burning with devotion to our cause were received and welcod. Everything changed when the Lannister army began its march toward King's Landing. We assud Tywin was coming to the aid of his old friend. Leaving all the wounded behind, we moved in a straight line for the capital, hoping to prevent the Lannisters from fortifying themselves within the city.
As our army approached King's Landing, we expected a hard siege. Ten thousand professional soldiers of the West could have made a storm of the walls enormously costly. Instead we found the gates open and a ssenger waiting, who promised to show us proof of the West's loyalty to the new king.
Riding toward the Red Keep, a terrible scene unfolded before us. The city was being plundered on all sides. Bodies of townspeople lay in the streets, the screams of won being violated could be heard everywhere, and Lannister soldiers were looting and robbing freely. Soldiers of the rebellion had joined them. I did not try to stop it. It would have been entirely useless. These n had fought for two years, taken wounds, and watched their comrades die. They needed to let the fury out and take what they had earned.
In the throne room the high lords of the North, the Vale, the West, the Stormlands, and the Riverlands had gathered. The throne sat empty. Before it lay the body of Aerys Targaryen. That was not what I had expected. And judging by the wound, he had been killed from behind. A knight of House Templeton who had been riding with Ned ca to and told everything that had happened. I will be plain: it was a shock. Jai Lannister, a knight of the Kingsguard, had put a blade into his king's back. For this, Eddard Stark had given him a na he would carry the rest of his life: Kingslayer.
There was no ti to waste. I stepped forward and declared:
"Long live King Robert of House Baratheon, First of His Na, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First n, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. Bend the knee before your king."
As Robert walked toward the Iron Throne, those present knelt. It was a good sign: it ant everyone accepted his claim. Robert then spoke:
"We won! Those Targaryen bastards have fallen, and I will do everything in my power to see them all dead! The city is ours! Eat, drink, and make rry: we have earned it!"
For most in the room it was a signal to leave, all but the representatives of each of the kingdoms.
"WHERE ARE THAT BASTARD'S WHELPS?!"
In the silence that followed, the only sound was the footsteps of Tywin Lannister.
"Every man and woman in this room has proven their loyalty to you, my king, on the field of battle, and their devotion is beyond question," Tywin began, rising and gesturing toward the bundles being carried in. "Allow to demonstrate mine."
The Crimson Cloaks unveiled two bodies wrapped in the cloaks of House Lannister. Soone gasped. Soone turned away. Only Ned Stark spoke:
"Lord Tywin, who killed the prince and the princess?"
"They were killed during the assault, my lord."
Ned turned to face and Robert.
"Robert. Jon. These n must answer for the murder of a small child and a defenseless woman."
Robert descended from the Throne, looked at the bodies, and spat on them.
"Good riddance. Where is the bastard's daughter?"
"Princess Rhaenys was taken in an unknown direction. We are searching for her."
"Find her and bring her head."
"ROBERT!" The Warden of the North's voice cracked like a whip. "They were innocent people. They did not deserve this fate!"
"Innocent people?! Have you forgotten what those Targaryen bastards did to your family? I see nothing innocent here, only dragon spawn and its whore of a mother. And soon enough the runaway princess will join them."
"You are drunk on their deaths! I had a higher opinion of you. Would there be any difference left between you and the Mad king?"
"How dare you compare to that bastard! Get out! Go, and do not co back, put yourselves out of my sight!"
That struck Ned hard, but Robert's hatred of the Targaryens ran deeper than reason. Judging by the look on his face, the two of them are going to have a serious falling out. Ned will believe himself right, and Robert will dig in and refuse to yield. This is dangerous. We must remain united if we are to hold the Seven Kingdoms together, I thought.
"As Your Grace commands," Eddard said, spitting the last word out, and walked toward the doors of the throne room.
"Where will you go?" I made myself ask.
"Since there is no justice here, I will go and make so of my own. I intend to lift the siege of Storm's End, and then ride to Dorne. By all accounts, Rhaegar kept my sister in the Tower of Joy."
"He is right. Mace the Pretender has been sitting outside my ho long enough. Ti to knock that idiot away from Storm's End. And finally bring Lyanna ho."
"No, Robert. You are not going anywhere. You are wounded and you need rest." Robert acted without thinking sotis, and he needed to be stopped. "You are the king now. Your place is in King's Landing." After that, Ned walked out quickly.
Why did I not support Ned's accusations, when I believed him entirely right? Because the war has just ended, and the North, the Vale, the Stormlands, and the Riverlands are spent. We have poured in every resource available to us, and we need the soldiers and gold of the West to bring the Reach and Dorne to heel. If I press Tywin now, the alliance is finished. The war drags on. And so:
"Lord Lannister, might we speak privately?"
"Of course, Lord Arryn."
When we reached my temporary chambers, I offered him wine. He declined, preferring to keep his head clear. I respected him entirely for it.
"Lord Varys has reported that the pregnant Queen Rhaella and Prince Viserys have fled to Dragonstone. Attacking the island while the continent is not yet secured would be foolish. Dorne is weakened, but it remains one of the kingdoms. We cannot have Seven Kingdoms without Dorne. It cannot be subdued by force, so it must be brought to terms by negotiation."
"And what exactly are you proposing? " Tywin asked coldly.
"No. I will go myself and treat with Doran Martell. He is a reasonable man and he understands the situation. This war serves no one. What concerns more urgently is the Reach army besieging Storm's End. Mace Tyrell has assembled an enormous host. Though it is not Lord Tyrell himself we should fear, but his bannerman, Lord Randyll Tarly. I therefore ask that you provide n to lift the siege."
After a brief pause ca the reply:
"Very well. I will provide seven thousand swords. Though I trust you know the price of my support."
Yes, I knew. The Lord of the West's desire was no secret to anyone. It turned my stomach, but it was for the good of the realm.
"Lord Tywin, I give you my assurance that Lady Cersei will take the place that befits her."
"What is to beco of Lady Lyanna? She was the cause of this whole rebellion, after all."
"She will be poisoned by Targaryen loyalists seeking to avenge the death of Prince Rhaegar on Robert." The words ca out with difficulty. Deception, intrigue, death. That is what this ga ans. Preventing all of it would cost one girl's life. Tywin appeared satisfied with my answer.
"To King Robert, and may he reign long."
What followed was a long discussion of the future of the Seven Kingdoms.
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