The Red Keep, Kings Landing...
The day after Jon Arryn met his end in a bed in the Red Keep all hell broke loose inside the castle once again.
"It must be poison!" Robert yelled out with anger at the sudden death of his mentor while Steffon frowned, secretly agreeing with his son but not wanting to make any accusations that might land them with more enemies.
"Probably since he had no wounds, with Aerys loyalists still hiding in shadows." Haeron said as he sat on the Iron Throne, with the lords assembled before him.
"A pyromancer was seen around the Red Keep at the time." Harmony said calmly as she sat at Haeron's side on a throne like chair of her own but that had the desired effect.
"They are very loyal to Aerys, since he gave them so much voice and used Wildfire so much. Other lords and our own family were more heavily guarded and who knows what other vile concoctions they had created." Evelyn said, her own throne identical to Harmony's.
"But the wounded party should have a voice in this." Haeron said as he turned to the new Lord of the Vale, Elbert Arryn who stood there looking tired. He had known his uncle would come to a sticky end but now it seemed the weight of the Vale fell on him. He noticed all of the gathered lords and ladies were looking him, expecting an answer as were the new king and his queens. Looking at them he was fairly certain they likely had a hand in killing his uncle, directly or indirectly but he had no desire to drag the Vale into a bloody war especially against those with dragons.
"End them." Elbert said with resignation. "Wildfire is too dangerous to be allowed to exist. Anyone could get their hands on it as long as they are alive."
"As you say." Haeron said in agreement before telling Elbert. "You have our sympathies and our support Lord Arryn, if there is anything else you need...do not hesitate to tell us."
Elbert did not say anything to that, not sure what he could even ask for anyway but as long as peace was enforced and the threat of the pyromancers eliminated then he would settle for that.
"Then rally your men Lord Tyrell." Lord Stark said, still holding the office of Hand of the King until his daughter arrived so they could leave together. The ugly Lord of the Reach puffed up indignantly at being ordered around by some Northern barbarian but cowered when he saw the King and his queens stared intently at him. Rushing out to see it done before he made more of a fool of himself, the queens secretly smirked to themselves, seeing that he was learning at least to be more humble and they might even remove the warts if he was a good boy.
- x -
Guild of the Alchemists, Kings Landing...A Short Time Later...
The building of the Alchemists or Pyromancers as they were otherwise known was a strangely normal, bland even in its appearance. Simple unmarked stone walls, a few small windows and some chimneys but nothing else to make it stand apart from every other building around it. That being said the reputation of the pyromancers gave it a strange foreboding aura as you looked at it, like it was evil somehow.
That was only a trick of the mind but it was real enough in the minds of men, the Reach troops and knights moved through the building killing the men inside who were crying out in fear.
Haeron watched, feeling sick that he was doing this but he could not allow the secret of Wildfire to fall into the wrong hands, given their loyalty to the previous king he could not trust them he thought coldly.
"The formula is secure." Harmony told him coldly as she sat on her horse next to him. "I can make it if we ever should need too, I think with some potion knowledge we can even make it more stable." She told him quietly. Haeron nodded and told her.
"You are amazing, but there is nothing new there. You always have been." He told her with a smile which she returned after punching his arm.
"Flatterer." She said under her breath but the warm look in her eyes said it all.
Ser Fergus came up to them, his face grim as he reported to them just what they had found.
"Your grace, there are thousands of pots in there." He said with fear at the amount of deadly green Wildfire that they had found. "All freshly made. Along with this." He said handing a map to Haeron who looked at it and saw to his alarm that it was marking several areas of the city including the Red Keep with a number written in each area. Worse, Haeron recognised the writing.
"Aerys set this up. He must have commanded them to do this before he died." Haeron said with a great sense of mounting dread. "If they were to put all of this wildfire throughout the city, the resulting explosion would destroy the entire area and everyone in it."
"He planned to destroy his own city?!" Harmony asked, taking the map to look at it herself and visibly swallowed as the implications hit her. That would easily be single largest loss of life in Westeros in history, especially if added to all those that had died in the Burning of Flea's Bottom.
"Rather than surrender it to you your grace." Ser Fergus looking considerably older than when he had gone in. "It was only a blessing that he died when he did, before the plan could be put into action."
"Indeed, although I will have all of these sites on this map searched, just in case." Haeron said with worry that any actual Wildfire might have been planted.
"A wise precaution your grace." Ser Fergus said before bringing up a rather 'thorny' issue. "But how are we going to get rid of the wildfire that has already been created?" He asked looking to his king for answers. So did Harmony while Haeron did his best to think of just how to get rid of that much wildfire before settling on a course of action.
"We will use the wildfire to clear the ruins of Flea's Bottom, we might as well put it to some use and in a contained area." Haeron said with deliberation, Harmony nodded in approval while Ser Fergus looked uncertain at any use of the substance even if it was to get rid of it but was somewhat reassured by the place they would be using it would not risk anyone's lives to get rid of it.
But first, they used some of the wildfire to destroy the Guildhall and make sure that nothing survived, watching the building be consumed by the green flames sent a shiver through all of them. It was not a sight that they would relish seeing, one done out of necessity rather than wanting too but they had to get rid of it.
But all the same, they had the city searched when they were done, just in case.
The Throne Room, the Red Keep...The Next Day...
The new High Septon had been chosen and he had come to the Red Keep for a day that the realm had waited eagerly for. Haeron knelt before the High Septon as he recited the words that he had both hoped for and dreaded at the same time for his entire life.
"May the Warrior grant him courage and protect him in these difficult times. May the Smith give him strength, that he might bare this heavy burden. And may the Crone, she who knows the fates of all men and women, show them the path that he must walk and guide them through the dark places that lie ahead. In the light of the Seven, we now proclaim Haeron of House Targaryen, first of his name. King of the Andals, the First Men and the Rhoynar. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Faith. Long may he reign." The Head Septon proclaimed as he placed the crown on his head.
The crown was the one given to him by the Qarthi, the artistic gold band with black jade shaped like a dragon with platinum to make up its eyes, teeth and claws and red diamonds for decoration. He felt it on his head, it was heavy or certainly felt heavier than it had before today perhaps the knowledge that he now had the responsibility for all of Westeros on his shoulders made it seem so but regardless, he was the king now he thought with resignation.
At his side Vaena and Elia placed similar crowns on the heads of Harmony and Evelyn, who were dressed in incredible black and red dresses in Valyrian silk in line with House Targaryen. They rose with him and sat on the two thrones that had been put next to the larger Iron Throne alongside Haeron.
"Long may he reign." The crowd called out loudly as they watched, Rhaella standing there with her children and cheered the loudest as her face brought out with a large smile of pride.
Haeron and his queens sat proudly on the throne however of the three of them Harmony was the most nervous as she had never imagined just how it felt to sit on the throne. To be a queen, it terrified her to think about the power they had now over millions of people and would determine the course of future by their actions in the here and now.
Evelyn however took it more in her stride and kept her face in a calm and poised mask that she had perfected over her life in Magical French Society.
Haeron stood up from his throne and as the cheers died down as he spoke.
"My reign starts in the shadow of tragedy and scandal. Westeros has endured the terror and fear of a king that honestly was deserving of the name 'Mad King'." Haeron said bitterly. "But that ends, from today I begin the task of putting our realm to rights. New boons will be given to each of the kingdoms, the work begins now." Haeron said as a cheer ran through the room, each lord wondering just what these boons were.
Haeron had over the course of his journey across the world picked up new plants and other things that he intended to share out over Westeros in the hopes of boosting the economy and trade within not only each of the kingdoms but also with Essos as well.
The Red Keep, Kings Landing...
Elia Martell was still getting used to the Red Keep, it was a maze of passages and different rooms, far larger than any castle that she had been too before but she was finding her way around.
She was wondering if she would ever consider this place home, it would be for a long time she thought as Rhaenys would be growing up half here, half in Sunspear if she got her way. She wanted her only child to know just where they came from, she was not just of Valyria but Rhoynar as well and she was determined that she would know both sides of her heritage.
She walked into the Queen's Ballroom and saw Harmony and Evelyn sitting there with the children including Rhaenys who was clapping excitedly while she played with her cousins and Elaena. The four little children laughing and huddled together as they played with dragon toys while Grace, sister of Evelyn watched with a smile.
Harmony and Evelyn meanwhile were looking at a number of different papers that she managed to see were designs for different buildings.
"Something interesting?" Elia asked as she came in, the two of them looked up as Grace stared from the side before looking back to the children. Harmony and Evelyn shared a look before showing her what they were looking through.
"We're looking through building designs for when the reconstruction of Kings Landing begins. There are a lot of improvements to be made, not least of which is a college." Harmony told her simply and Elia was confused.
"College? What's that?" She asked and Evelyn sighed before explaining.
"Its a school, a place of learning on a higher level. This one is intended to teach economics and diplomacy which the maesters don't cover most of the time. There will also be courses to teach officers for the royal fleet how to handle ships and sea warfare. The intention is to create a skilled group of professionals to promote the interests of Westeros." Evelyn told her which honestly impressed Elia.
"Truly, that it impressive." Elia said with awe at the idea. She knew much that might mean for Westeros in the future not least of which was for the noble houses who would now be able to train their own members in the skills that they might use. "Will it be open to male and female students?" She asked with a hopeful look in her eyes, she would love to have attended some classes there. Harmony and Evelyn looked at her with interest, trying to see if she was just lying to ingratiate herself with them or not but surprisingly they saw when they read her mind with magic that it was genuine. She was actually interested in it and would want her daughter to study there if possible.
This definitely endeared her to both Harmony and Evelyn, she was a bright woman they realised and one that did care. She was desperate for her daughter to have more options than she had and they certainly admired her for that. Rather than be crushed by whatever Rhaegar had done and sink into misery at not being able to have any more children she was determined to love and care for the one daughter she did have and make sure she had everything she needed.
"We will open it to men and women, also it will allow us to keep an eye on people who might be gifted in those areas, a threat or both." Harmony said calmly, knowing that Haeron intended to be there for his goodsister and niece in the absence of Rhaegar so Elia would be a part of their lives for a good number of years to come. It might be good for them to be on good terms with her she thought.
"We were also looking into any other buildings that might be worth constructing, expanding and improving on the docks was one thing but did you have any thoughts?" Evelyn asked her with a look of curiosity. Elia thought for a moment before making a suggestion.
"We could build a large market, a place for merchants to come and sell their wares in the city along with a dedicated centre for commerce in the city. Not to mention a new sept to replace the Sept of Baelor." Elia said with some caution.
Harmony was impressed as having seen the great Bazaar in Qarth she thought it would be a good idea to have something similar in Kings Landing, not to mention the idea of a special place for business sounded a little like the Royal Exchange in London where goods had been traded and other business matters conducted in a controlled environment.
The new Sept was a must though she thought with gritted teeth at the idea of having to follow a religion that would burn her and her children alive if they found out about their magic.
"Then perhaps you could contribute." Harmony said with a somewhat forced smile.
Elia blinked and nodded eagerly, looking at the building designs as they figured out just what they wanted and needed to build in the city, feeling a little closer as they planned.
A Week Later...
Haeron sat on the Iron Throne, his face calm and controlled even if he was very tense inside. At his side Harmony and Evelyn sat on their own thrones while the Great Lords and other nobles stood around the hall, waiting eagerly for Rhaegar, Lyanna and Ser Dayne to arrive under the escort of Prince Doran Martell. Elia stood with Rhaella on the steps up to the throne along with Grace and Vaena. The younger children where secure in their beds under the watch of the Ser Lewyn.
Rickard Stark stood with his two sons looking very anxious as he waited for Lyanna to arrive, Brandon was standing there like a caged wolf eager to make Rhaegar learn the error of his ways for taking his sister. Robert Baratheon was standing there with Steffon, fuming the longer he had to wait, ready to cave in Rhaegar's chest whatever Haeron and his father said.
The doors to the throne room opened, everyone looking keenly at it as the guards appeared. Prince Doran walking in with his men which surrounded the three people they were so eager to see, Ser Dayne entered first looking deeply uncomfortable as everyone looked at him not least his brothers in the Kingsguard and the new King that he had never actually met before.
But the sight of Lyanna and Rhaegar coming in together arm in arm made a lot of people began whispering, clearly not at all uneasy or a hostage.
Rhaegar looked completely unconcerned with the fact that he was in so much trouble and Lyanna was hardly looking scared and in fact smiled broadly.
Robert Baratheon along with the Starks looked at her with shock and while she looked to her father and two brothers gave them a smile which made them wonder just what was going on. She did not even bother to look at Robert which made him look at her with disappointment.
Haeron looked at threesome with fury as the reality dawned on him, the closeness of Rhaegar and Lyanna was too telling. The fact that Rhaegar was married and Lyanna betrothed seemed to matter little to them and he spoke first to Prince Doran which was a major insult to his brother but Haeron wanted to speak to someone with actual common sense.
"Prince Martell, you have the gratitude of House Targaryen and myself personally for bringing my errant brother home. If there is a boon you would ask for, please let me know." Haeron told Prince Doran who politely bowed while containing his own fury at what had he discovered.
"Not at present your grace, your kindness to Elia is more than enough. But it seems the situation is complicated by the fact that Lyanna Stark is pregnant." Doran told him with firm control masking his anger at the betrayal.
The news hit the room like a cannon blast, a flurry of whispers broke out and the Starks looked at Lyanna shocked while Robert blinked in confusion and then roared out a series of curses that were so full of anger they could not be understood.
"Its not a problem." Lyanna said with a smile on her face, looking to her family and to Robert with some arrogance. "We're married."
The news was not as well received as she had hoped, Haeron got to his feet with blazing eyes filled with rage and Robert Baratheon exploded with rage, throwing himself at Rhaegar and Lyanna had Steffon and his Baratheon guards not restrained him. Lyanna looked nonchalant at this while Rickard demanded with anger.
"LYANNA! What have you done?" Rickard said, not able to wrap his head around this in the moment while Brandon looked at her with shock and then growing anger spoke.
"Father and I nearly died because of you!"
"Did you get permission from Aerys for this marriage?" Haeron demanded of them both.
That seemed to knock the wind out of Lyanna's sails, she suddenly looked confused as if that had never occurred to her while Rhaegar looked unconcerned, Ser Arthur meanwhile froze as the implications hit him hard especially as he saw his sister who was standing at Elia's side looking at him with judgemental eyes.
"You didn't." Haeron said with a angry growl to his words as he realised just what had happened. "You know that even if you two are unrelated which is the only way a second marriage would be allowed, the ruling king has to give permission for you both marry. If he didn't, the marriage is not legal, you're not married to anyone Lyanna Stark."
His words hit Lyanna like a hammer blow, realising just what had happened and more so that she had been tricked! Rhaegar had told her it was fine, that he could wed her and still be married to Elia just because Haeron had done the same but now she knew he had been lying to her the entire time. The full weight of everything started pressing down on her all at once, she had surrendered her virginity to Rhaegar outside of marriage, in the eyes of Westeros she was now soiled. Used and to be discarded. Also that her not telling her family had nearly gotten both her father and her eldest brother killed! On top of that...she was pregnant...pregnant with Rhaegar's bastard child she thought with fear at what this would mean for her future.
"You nearly started a civil war!" Harmony said from the side, glaring at them with anger in her eyes that made her look as terrifying as her husband and the dragon at her side which snarled at them both. Rhaegar looked completely unconcerned at this while staring at the dragons with interest, completely disjoined from what was happening in front of him.
Robert Baratheon however, finally managed to speak properly and his fury was certainly as true a statement of his house's words 'Ours if the fury' as it was possible to be.
"YOU WHORE!" He screamed at Lyanna who reeled at the words with all of her confidence now gone and replaced with dread. "YOU WOULD RATHER BE HIS BED WARMER THAN MY WIFE!? RULE THE STORMLANDS INSTEAD OF SUCKING HIS COCK!" He screamed at her and each word hit like the war hammer he used in battle. He then made a declaration of his own. "YOU STARKS ARE COMPLETE BITCHES! ALL OF YOU! I WILL HATE HOUSE STARK TILL THE DAY I DIE! FUCK YOU LYANNA! FUCK YOU NED!" Robert said before storming out of the throne room leaving everyone somewhat shaken and Ned looking very distressed at the idea that his best friend even with the problems that they had been having now hated him, he looked at Lyanna with anger himself now which made her wince as she saw the anger and disgust in her family's eyes when they looked at her.
Haeron nodded to Steffon who left, glaring at the Stark bitch as he did so. He didn't blame him, or even Robert for his reaction and knew that he would need to do some damage control with House Baratheon and to try and keep House Stark from suffering too much embarrassment over this. But like his wives he was aware there was an immediate issue here that they would need to deal with first.
"I will not have any bastards in our house! Not after what happened last time!" Haeron said with a cold glare, he would not allow a repeat of the Blackfyre Rebellions he thought with anger at Rhaegar for putting him in this position.
"You will marry again under the Old Gods." Evelyn aid with anger in her own voice. "To prevent House Stark from suffering any further embarrassment."
"It was needed." Rhaegar said, still not getting just why they were so angry. "The dragon must have three heads."
"Shut up!" Haeron said as his anger boiled over as got down from the throne, storming towards Rhaegar and everyone thought for a moment that Haeron was going to hit him but instead Haeron grabbed Rhaegar by the back of his head and squeezed tight enough to actually cause him pain as he made his brother look him straight in the eye. "I don't care about your stupid legends! Why do you think even if it does happen that it is going to happen now as opposed to any time in the last eight thousand years or in another eight thousand? You nearly brought all of Westeros into civil war! You have nearly destroyed our house! Caused Westeros to slip into chaos! I have no idea just how you could be so foolish but that matters little as now I must fix your messes! If not for mother I would kill you myself." Haeron told him with purple eyes blazing, Rhaegar for the first time in his life feeling fear as he looked into his older brother's eyes believing his threat completely.
So did most of the audience, the glare Haeron was giving Rhaegar was terrifying. It looked honestly like he might just snap his neck right there and Ser Arthur looked like he was going to intervene before he released Rhaegar and threw him to the ground.
"You are a disgrace." Haeron said as he towered over his brother, looking down with fury in his eyes that made everyone. "Next to our father no one has done more to endanger House Targaryen than you have at this moment. I will have to think very carefully on what kind of punishment is merited in this situation." He said coldly to his brother, turning to the guards and told them. "Take him and Lady Stark to their rooms until a ceremony can be prepared. No one is to be allowed to see them until I say so." He commanded and the guards were so intimidated by the king that they jumped to attention and rushed forward, picking Rhaegar up and carrying him to his rooms while Lyanna was more gently escorted there by the guards in light of her pregnancy.
Tywin who had been watching with his own family or at least the ones that were present looked on in astonishment that Rhaegar everyone had thought intelligent would be so foolish. Haeron had been pushed into a corner by all of this and now how he would calm things down was something he was intrigued to see.
Haeron meanwhile went to confer with his wives and one of them whispered something in his ear, he blinked in surprise before kissing them both gratefully on the cheek and leaving the room with them, no-one sure just what the two queens had suggested but whatever it was it had significantly lifted Haeron's mood.
- x -
Elsewhere in the Red Keep even some hours later Robert was still raging.
He was cursing the Starks, the Targaryens, Jon Arryn for arranging the betrothal to Lyanna in the first place, not to mention the couple themselves and even their babe which had yet to be born.
Steffon was disgusted at the insult to his son but at the same time not surprised, Robert had hardly been the perfect future husband having fathered at least two bastards himself that they knew about. Lyanna Stark had disgraced her family and nearly gotten them killed by her own foolishness and he could not imagine just what might be going through the heads of Rickard, Brandon and Eddard at this moment.
He was in a way glad that the betrothal had fallen through as it did give them time to try and rehabilitate Robert's image when they got back to Storm's End but also to prepare Stannis in case Robert failed to father a son. He would need to choose whoever he married his sons too with great care he considered to make sure they were able to be Lady of the Stormlands if they had too. Ladies of the Stormlands were expected to be able to guard the home when the men went off to war and so finding strong women might be a challenge.
That was when they were interrupted by Haeron Targaryen himself, he came in with a bundle in his hands. It was long and bulky at one end but he carried it like it weighed nothing. He waited for Robert to notice him before coming up to them both boldly.
"What my brother did...is unforgivable. I was intending to give this to your family when your son wed but in the hopes that we might begin to make amends I will give this to you now." Haeron said as he handed the bundle to a surprised Robert who had been about to start screaming again but contented himself with unwrapping the bundle to see just what was inside.
It revealed a long wooden staff made of dragon bone, but at the top was a war-hammer like those Robert used but it was made with Valyrian steel. The ripples in the dark steel made Steffon and Robert blink in shock as they looked at it with amazement as Haeron spoke.
"My brother insulted not only your house but many others." Haeron said handing the war-hammer to Robert who took it and stared at it in admiration. "This I hope will ease the tension."
"That it will." Steffon said with a smile at the weapon as it gave his house a major sign of status before asking. "Where did you acquire it?"
"Over the course of my voyage, after we met." Haeron admitted, not telling them that it had been Harmony that found it in Valyria and she had suggested along with Evelyn that they give it to the Baratheons. It was important given they were only in the first few days of their reign and the last thing they needed was a great house let alone one as powerful as the Baratheons who had land so close to Kings Landing turning against them.
"It is magnificent." Robert said with awe as he held it in his hands, his own feelings towards Haeron forgotten in the moment before making his anger towards Rhaegar known. "But I want that shit punished!" He demanded and Haeron nodded, his expression growing cold.
"I know and believe me I am considering just what to do with him. I can't trust him that is clear enough, I was going to give a dragon to my brother but from this point he will never ride one as long as I control House Targaryen." Haeron said and Robert blinked in surprise but laughing suddenly.
"No dragon?! Its a start." Robert said with a barking laugh before becoming serious again. "But there had better be more." He insisted and Haeron nodded, understanding at least at first he would need to do that until they were more secure. It had placated the Baratheons at least for now so it was important to make sure they were ready in case of any future problems.
- x -
The Starks meanwhile without Lyanna had assembled together in the Tower of the Hand to discuss the situation with her and what they had to do now.
"Running off with a prince? Not even telling us? Nearly getting myself and Brandon killed? Her antics have gone too far this time." Rickard said with fury, Brandon who had always loved his sister nodded in agreement. He would not have cared so much about his own life but Lyanna had nearly gotten their father killed and who knows what might have happened to Ned and Benjen.
"Not to mention getting pregnant with a bastard." Rickard said with fury.
"It will still be our blood." Ned said trying to be a voice of reason in this situation but Brandon smacked him upside the head.
"That might be but what their mother did could have destroyed our house." Brandon told him sternly and then added. "I want her out of our lives! Father could have died because of her!"
Ned was shocked at how fast the two of them could cast Lyanna out, obviously shaken by their own near miss not to mention how badly this had humiliated their family in front of all of Westeros. It made them look weak and foolish.
If not for Haeron, both Rickard and Brandon would likely be dead and Ned would be fighting a war in their names.
He was giving them a chance to avoid any further embarrassment by wedding Lyanna to Rhaegar so they could wash their hands of her and they were going to take it.
Ned did not feel the same as they did though, he would not and could not hold a child responsible for the crimes and mistakes of its parents. He did not feel that he could turn his back on that child.
But he saw how fixed on this decision his father and brother were so he did not want to risk a conversation on that while things were so raw, instead he brought up something else to provide a change of topic.
"I want to wed Lady Ashara Dayne." Ned blurted out, not able to think of any better way to put it.
That shocked both Rickard and Brandon out of their anger as they looked at him with surprise, blinking as they had never expected him to say something like that. Brandon then laughed as it sunk in.
"You set your sights high! A woman that beautiful. She wouldn't have you!" He scoffed as she had turned him down before but Ned surprised him again by glaring at him.
"I have already connected with her. She is kind and gracious, intelligent and loving. I see her heart and not her teats." Ned said back with anger.
Brandon looked ready to hit his brother for a moment before Rickard put his hand up and stopped a potential fight in its tracks. He frowned having never seen Ned like this before and wondered just how Ned had even become close with the Lady Dayne.
"With Brandon marrying Catelyn Tully, a Northern match would be better for the family." Rickard said sternly but Ned just shook his head and said.
"Its Ashara or nothing. Benjen can wed in the North."
The fact that Ned was willing to go against him which he had never done in his life and for Lady Dayne showed that he was completely serious about this.
"Has Lord Dayne said anything about this?" He asked Ned who nodded much to his surprise.
"He does, Ashara asked permission and accepted it provided we live in Starfall for some years first." Ned told them, which Ashara had relayed to him from her own father.
"Are you prepared to live in Dorne? It is far from Winterfell." Rickard asked him intently, wondering just how serious Ned was about this but Ned just shrugged and told him.
"You sent me to the Vale and I lived there for years now, what else could phase me as much as that?"
Rickard blinked and pondered on this unexpected development, a house like the Daynes might a good ally in the South especially given how close they were to the Martells. Benjen was of age with Lady Jonelle Cerwyn so they might be matched, along with alliances with the Riverlands and Dorne they were in a good place...certainly better than what Lyanna had left them in he thought with anger.
"Very well, where you will live after Starfall though." Rickard said with a worry at where they were going to go before Brandon told him something that due to their recent experiences had slipped his mind.
"Actually father, the mine you sent me to find, the one with the platinum in it? I found it." Brandon said with a smirk of triumph at his achievement.
Rickard and Ned looked at him in shock.
"And you didn't mention it earlier?" Ned asked given the importance of this. Brandon just shrugged without a care.
"No-one asked."
Rickard smacked his eldest son upside the head for his cheek but the fact the mine not only existed but they had found it was a major step forward for them. But knowing a depleted mine was as much use as a hole in the ground he asked.
"Is there anything left in there?" Rickard asked as Brandon massaged the back of his head nodded slowly.
"Plenty. Enough for a few generations at least." He told his father who smiled as a plan formed in his mind.
"Then we will take the mine and use it. I will reconstruct Greenwood Castle and Moat Cailin for Ned and Benjen to hold when they have families of their own. It will allow us to fortify and secure areas of the North that might stay lawless otherwise and establish two new cadet branches; the Greenwood Starks and the CailStarks." He said proudly as his sons listened.
The announcement was a surprise but a welcome one, after the Greystarks had betrayed them generations ago the Starks had not created any new branches of the family. Other than them there was only the Karstarks with whom they were very close. But there was something Ned had to bring up.
"While the Greenwood Castle might make coin from the trade of lumber and coal, what would fund maintenance of Moat Cailin? It is surrounded by swamps and marshland." Ned mentioned and Rickard nodded before telling him.
"The king has solved that for us. He found a plant known as rice on his journeys, it can be grown in places around the Neck. You can store it for long periods and cook it with ease. It is perfect for the North in times of winter. That will make coin." Rickard told them with some excitement as with the glass houses that they had spent the last couple of years building they would be a far better position to handle the harsh Northern Winter. If they grew enough of it they might even be able to trade with the south.
Brandon and Ned were instantly excited for something that would help their homeland endure and become stronger, but there was still the matter of Lyanna...and her wedding.
Elia elsewhere had left Rhaenys with Rhaella and the rest of her cousins, not wanting her to see the confrontation she was about to have with Rhaegar.
The moment they were alone, Elia stormed over and slapped him straight in the face. Rhaegar reeled at the unexpected hit and held his sore cheek as she yelled at him.
"How could you do this? To me? To Rhaenys? Nearly causing a civil war? Lying to that girl? Getting her pregnant? What were you thinking?!" She demanded and Rhaegar looked stunned at the hit but told her with complete confidence.
"The Dragon must have three heads. You can't have any more children and I need an Aegon and a Visenya." Rhaegar said calmly.
Elia honestly was lost for words, she had never heard the amount of self-delusion that Rhaegar had in him before. He honestly believed this legendary shit she thought with fury building again.
"You nearly tore Westeros apart! If it hadn't been for your brother stepping in and Aerys dying when he did everything could have ended for all of us! OUR DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! What happens to your precious three heads then?" She demanded and Rhaegar just looked at her confused for a moment like the mere thought of that had never entered his mind.
"But it didn't." He said simply like that solved everything.
Elia honestly was so totally stunned by his mind and the way it worked that she had no words to speak with and she felt that absolutely nothing would reach or make an impact on Rhaegar. He was so convinced that he was right that he could not accept that anything would go wrong.
So she contented herself with slapping him in the face again and kicking him in the balls.
He immediately doubled over in the sudden pain before she walked out of the room in a huff, angry at the stupidity of the man that she was forced to marry and his self-delusion was as large and as immovable as the Wall itself she thought with reluctant amazement.
She was just glad that Rhaenys would have the steady and much more intelligent Haeron to be a male figure in her life and the rest of House Targaryen to be there for her. Elia had been offered the position as a companion to the new queens and her daughter would grow up as a princess along side the rest of the Targaryens.
That was something she could rely on at least she thought.
- x -
Godswood, The Red Keep...Later that Day...
Lyanna was standing in a blue dress and a Stark cloak that had been found for her and trembling as she waited for her wedding to begin, she felt terribly alone as she hoped that her family would come desperately wanting them there so she would not be alone.
Her realisation that Rhaegar had manipulated her and gotten her into so much trouble was such a heart shattering blow, she honestly had never had such a lesson in humility in her entire life and felt so stupid and foolish, Lyanna thought to herself. She had caused so much trouble and nearly gotten her family killed!
She desperately wanted to speak to them, to try and make amends and for them to forgive her but as the moments passed she became more and more worried that they weren't coming.
Then the a random Northern lord that had come with her father arrived and Rhaegar with him, she glared at him but Rhaegar took her harshly by the arm and the lord spoke the ceremony just as the other one they had used in the forest glen not so long ago. Only this time she was not in love, she was not happy...she was miserable as her heart shattered all over again.
It was over so quickly it had felt like no time at all but Rhaegar did not stay to speak to her or anything like that, instead he simply walked away and left her standing in the sept with a lord looking at her with judgemental eyes before walking away himself.
Now left standing alone in a godswood, her Stark cloak left abandoned on the floor as a Targaryen one hung on her shoulders in its place she cried out in a mix of anger and pain, screaming in agony at how messed up her life had become. She ripped the Targaryen cloak off and threw away from her as far as she could while sinking to her knees, tears running down her face as she felt the loss of everything that she truly held dear...given away for a false dream and love that was never real.
Now his spawn was growing inside her she thought with disgust and she put her hand to her belly, not sure just whether she wanted the babe to survive or not. It might however be her only chance at love she thought with sadness as she knew now that her family had turned their backs on her. House Targaryen hated her and yet they were half of her child. She just hoped that they would treat her child with love as she knew that Rhaegar would not, he would she knew want at least two from her and the thought of laying with him in bed again sickened her.
But given his madness, she thought with a shudder of revulsion and fear, he would make her.
Queen Rhaella eventually walked in with her gooddaughters and found her curled up on the Stark cloak with her eyes red from all of the tears that she had shed. Sighing in dismay as Rhaegar could not even bother to take her somewhere private or spend time with her given she was currently carrying his child. Rhaella herself pregnant walked over and looked at the young girl and extended her hand.
"Come on, it would be best to find somewhere quiet to pull yourself together." Rhaella told her calmly and Lyanna looked at her with fear before taking her hand and letting her be pulled to her feet and led to another room where she could try and calm herself down.
Rhaegar had a lot to answer for Rhaella thought as Lyanna basically just fell asleep the moment that her head dropped on the pillow. She was so overwhelmed and Rhaella knew that she was going be very upset for a long time, and it might be longer before her family forgave her for all this.
White Sword Tower, Red Keep...
Ser Arthur Dayne stood with his brothers in the tower that was their home, his absence had not gone unnoticed as the five of them looked at him with dismay.
"At no point did you say anything. I know we all are guilty of not interfering when we should have but this could have destroyed everything." Ser Barristan said to his younger colleague who frowned before nodding.
"I know, I should have said something maybe even brought them to Dragonstone but I trusted Rhaegar." Arthur said with a tired sigh. He had made an error of judgement, a large one by not stopping Rhaegar when he should have.
"The point of this meeting is to discuss our new king. Whatever we could or should have done can wait." Ser Oswell Whent said with urgency as he was concerned for their order's future given what Haeron had announced regarding the Royal Guard.
"He has very real concerns." Ser Lewyn, the current head of the Kingsguard said with confidence. Given he was the only one of them who had even a reasonable relationship with the king and that he had aided in bringing down the barriers that allowed Haeron to enter the city he had the most secure position here.
"I know, but it is tradition. Our order has protected the royal family since the Conqueror reigned." Ser Gerold said with bitterness, he had been stripped of his position as Lord Commander by Haeron so he was very angry at the new king.
"And yet we failed." Ser Willem Darry said with sorrow. "We stood by for years while the Mad King committed all of the worst crimes a man could inflict on others. More than that he is right, our role to protect the royal family means there must be more of us since they are so many now." He then added wanting to stay practical.
"But change? It feels wrong." Ser Gerold said with anger, his own feelings so tainted by his doubts at the new king.
Unknown to them they were being watched by a spy mirror placed by the king and his queens who watched them with interest.
The Godswood, The Red Keep...The Following Day...
The Daynes had arrived slightly behind Prince Doran but they were here regardless which meant that they were here to see Ashara get married.
Lord Dayne was not entirely thrilled with the arrangement, House Stark had been deeply humiliated by what had occurred with Lyanna but at the same time it was what his darling daughter wanted and who was he to deny her?
Lord Rickard as he stood with Brandon and Ned at the Oak Tree which was hardly appropriate but it was what it was, he was delighted as it helped his house gain an ally in the south which would be important in the days ahead. He was glad to be leaving this city the moment the wedding was done, he would gladly allow Kevan Lannister to take the accursed badge he was wearing and put all of this behind him.
And leave his soiled daughter too he thought with bitter disappointment.
Rickard officiated over the ceremony, wedding his own son to Ashara Dayne who he had to admit reluctantly was an exceptionally beautiful woman. Elia Martell stood with her as the wedding happened, Lord Dayne and Ser Arthur on the other side.
"Then may they be joined." Lord Rickard said with some pride in his son for achieving such a match on his own, Ned and Ashara smiling as they became husband and wife. Brandon pouted, jealous of his brother's achievement and intending to find some good looking whores to fuck on the way home.
Ned and Ashara smiled and kissed before the tree and their guests, Elia and most of the few guests present cheered for the couple as they turned to Lord Rickard who just gave them a nod and they left with Lord Dayne and his family, Ashara hugged Elia Martell.
"I will come back to visit, you come to Starfall too." Ashara said with emphasis to her lifelong friend who smiled back and told her with warm acceptance.
"I will as soon as I can." Elia told her and they hugged again before reluctantly they parted ways.
Elia watched as the Daynes left accompanied by Eddard, she barely noticed the Starks leave but Lyanna did as she looked for them around the Red Keep...for her own family. As she came to the walls of the castle she saw her father, Brandon and their people riding away from the castle. Her heart started beating harshly in her chest as she screamed out in fear.
"FATHER! DON'T LEAVE ME! PLEASE!" Lyanna cried out, desperate for them not to leave. She needed to speak to them...to talk and make peace...more so to get confirmation that they still loved her.
But if they heard her cries they ignored them, or more likely they just didn't hear her at all. The desolation of being truly alone hit her like a punch to the gut, another one in a long line of them. She wanted to collapse right there and then but she forced herself to stay together until she could return to her room and try and think on just what she was going to do now.
The Small Council Chamber, the Red Keep...That Same Day...
The first meeting of the brand new Small Council was beginning, Haeron had arrived first and was accompanied by his current Kingsguard Ser Lewyn Martell. He stood as he waited and slowly the members of the Small Council came in one by one; Lord Davos Seaworth arrived first and he bowed his king who returned it a nod. Varys appeared next and then Gorman Tyrell a light brown haired man with a small moustache and a fairly pleasant nature.
Kevan Lannister and Tygett Lannister arrived next, the Hand of the King and Master of Laws respectively came in after him and then at last new Grandmaester Horus came in with a heavy rattle as his chain moved.
"Greetings, take your seats." Haeron said as he sat down at the head of the table and the other members of the Small Council followed suit.
"Now, work to rebuild the city must begin given all of the damage that had been done to it. There is also the matter of the dragons." Haeron said with a calm look on his face.
"Are you intending to rebuild the Dragonpit your grace?" Horus asked with interest before Haeron shook his head.
"Not in the conventional sense. It will be preserved but only so it can be a place for them to sleep, they will not be chained in there as they were in the past. Dragons can hunt on their own in the Narrow Sea or food can be prepared for them as the case might be. But there are a few changes and improvements we will be making for the city." Haeron said with some pride.
"Changes your grace?" Kevan said with a raised eyebrow, wondering just what he had in mind.
"The treasury is full your grace but I am unsure if it could manage such an expense." Gorman said with caution before Haeron decided to give the excuse he and Evelyn had come up with.
"It is about to be supplemented, what I am about to tell you must not go beyond this room." Haeron told them although he knew they would tell whoever they spoke to anyway. The Small Council all leaned forward in interest at whatever he was planning.
"While I was sailing the world with Lord Davos, we anchored briefly off the coast of Sothoryos. With the help of my dragon we penetrated into the jungle there and found a lost city. The city was full of gold, most of which we salvaged." Haeron told them with a smirk which made Davos blink in surprise wondering just when he had managed that.
"How much gold your grace?" Davos asked with confusion.
"Enough to do all that I am planning and not even touch the treasury." Haeron told him with a smile.
"What is it you are planning your grace?" Tygett asked, now intrigued himself and Haeron began to explain.
"Apart from housing for the people, there will be a new Sept with a memorial to those that died in the Burning of Flea's Bottom. But crucially there will be expansion of the port facilities and a large market space for merchants. On top of that there will be a building set up specifically for education in the arts of diplomacy, sailing ships and economics." Haeron said as he outlined the initial topics that would be taught at the new college they were planning. Horus looked horrified for a moment at the idea.
"You plan to usurp the Citadel?" He asked in shock before Haeron shook his head.
"Not at all Grandmaester. These subjects are things not traditionally taught at the Citadel and that is the reason I am doing it. I want to create a group of professionals that can represent Westeros on land and sea. A place where skills and knowledge can be passed down to the next generation, the maesters might even serve there if possible." Haeron said with a reassuring smile even if the intention was to start taking away power from the Citadel who to his mind had likely be holding Westeros back with their limited views and hoarding of knowledge. Horus looked relieved at that he noticed with satisfaction.
"But there will also be a building in the city for commerce exclusively. A place for deals to be made and contracts signed, to loan money if needed and ensure that deals are honoured. Along with an academy for the new Royal Guard, a place to teach and ensure the loyalty of our new guards. Lastly there will be new ships needed to upgrade the Royal Fleet, so a new shipyard will be built in Duskendale to build the new ships and maintain them." Haeron said with a smile in Davos's direction.
The news was shocking to them all, it was so incredibly ambitious and sounded too much.
"This will not be a quick thing to do your grace." Kevan warned him and Haeron nodded without worry.
"I am aware, I am not suggesting we try to do all of these projects all at once. That would be too much to fast but it will be done in stages. Starting with the expansion of the port and the new sept along with housing for the city, we are currently looking into designs for the other buildings." Haeron reassured them.
"There are also changes planned for the Royal Fleet, existing vessels will be phased out for new ones. The Brigs and new Frigates will be brought in but with the new weapon equipped to them." Haeron explained which instantly made the men with the exception of Davos pay more attention. He knowing what cannons were understood their importance but was not fishing for information as they were.
"The new weapons are called cannons. Long tubes of metal that can fire a projectile made of lead a great distance. They can be even used in castles as defence fortifications or to break down defences in turn. They are a weapon unlike anything the world has known but that will be in the future." Haeron said calmly despite the nature of this weapon making all of the Small Council extremely interested. "A special place will eventually be made so the cannons can be produced on the scale needed however that will remain merely an idea until the rest of my plans are completed."
"In the meantime though the Queen Visenya will be the new flagship of the Royal Fleet and moored here in Kings Landing. Davos Seaworth is now the Admiral of the Fleet and will command her if she is ever needed." Haeron said which made sense as Davos had commanded the ship for a year or more and so knew her very well. He was also experienced with the use of cannons which they would bring out of the expanded trunk if needed.
Davos nodded somewhat reluctantly, while he did not know much about running a fleet he knew sailing and it was what he did best so he did not object. Some of the members of the Small Council that came from the nobility looked down their noses at him but would not dare say anything while the King was present.
Davos and him were shipmates and had been around the world together, that sort of bond ran deep and would stand tall over any of them.
- x -
A Month Later...
The first month of Haeron's reign was surprisingly quiet, the dust taking some time to settle after the rather dramatic end of Aerys's reign. But what was not quiet was the building work that had begun in Kings Landing.
Carts of fresh materials poured into the city through all of the gates along with many workers, a lot of people heard of work in Kings Landing and moved there to take advantage of that.
The port was being updated and expanded along with new housing being built and a few other buildings as well such as the new exchange, the indoor market and the new Royal Guard School, the new Sept was also under construction at the same time.
Haeron flew over the sept construction site to make sure the new sept would be built correctly, instead of one large temple seven smaller triangular shaped buildings were created which each one being devoted to one of the Seven and the temples making a Seven Pointed Star from above, with the idea being that only the gods or dragon riders could see the symbol they made.
Haeron did not really care about that but it made him and his family's image seem much more holy and righteous. It was part of rehabilitating their image and building good will with both the people and the nobles.
He saw that everything was going as planned before flying back to the Red Keep, he landed Kara and stroked his dragon behind the ears before Kara flew off to hunt in the Narrow Sea.
He walked over to the Red Keep and went to his personal solar, on a rack near the window was the new uniform he had created for the new Royal Guard. It was based on the Lost Legion armour, steel was used for the helmet, the cuirass, the gauntlets & vambraces, pauldrons and greaves. The dragon leather under it came from the beast that they had slain in the ruins of Valyria as it was tougher than any normal chain mail. They would each be armed with a pair of daggers, a pair of shortened Dao swords in scabbards on the back and a normal long sword.
They had painted it black and red in the colours of House Targaryen, they would number over a hundred men and be the elite given the training scheme he had devised and completely loyal due to the contracts they would need to sign which would be magically binding.
The current members of their guard were not bound like that yet but it was on their to do list, and why they made sure at least one of them was close if needed.
Then he turned his attention to the different crops and other things that he had been working on and how he intended to distribute them.
Medical Herbs and some spices in the Crownlands. In Kings Landing he was also setting up the Valyrian silk worm colony in the Red Keep itself to produce the silk.
Coffee, Coco beans and Frankincense for Dorne.
The hotter areas of the Stormlands had myrrth and other spices.
In Riverlands there would be Strawberries and Dittany.
In the North rice and potatoes.
Saffron in the Westerlands.
The Reach would have new grapes for making wine.
The Vale unfortunately due to the Hill Tribes was not the best place to do farming and their terrain but he would find something for them when he could.
With the increase of trading now his trading network could use Westerosi ports there would hopefully be a lot of coin and other things coming in to Westeros.
But for trade across the Sunset Sea, he was leaving that matter in Evelyn's capable hands.
- x -
Evelyn sat in her ballroom, or rather the Queen's ballroom with the children playing at her feet as she worked on the new treaty for Sephora, for it to become a route to the more distant ports.
She was writing down her ideas for creating a lasting treaty with the island and securing its protection from the outside world seemed like a good place to start although trading with them too would be a benefit.
She was debating the idea of creating an outpost on Ulos to help trade further but that was something for the future.
Westeros ships protecting Sephora and its fellow islands was a good thing, eventually someone with malicious intent would come to the islands and they would need help to protect themselves.
So she began to draw up the treaty she wanted to make with Sephora, pondering just how bad Rhaegar was feeling right now.
- x -
Rhaegar was dangling from the walls of his cell, in considerable pain as he had been left there for hours and hours, force fed food when he refused to eat and otherwise treated like a criminal.
He was dressed in rags and for a man that had never wanted for anything in his life it was an extremely uncomfortable thing to bare. The simple garments were scratchy against his skin and he was filthy from lack of bathing. The rough stone walls a far cry from the decorated rooms and comfortable beds he was used too.
But he did not see just what he had done wrong, it was all for the greater good he thought to himself with complete confidence.
The cell door opened and Haeron walked in with a cold and hard expression on his face, speaking coldly to him.
"If you were anyone else and if our mother would not be upset at your passing I would end you or banish you to the Wall which has also crossed my mind." Haeron said with complete seriousness.
Rhaegar blinked but only in vague surprise as he did not even seem to understand that he was still considering those options but for now he was being merciful.
"You are confined to the Red Keep indefinitely for the moment, I may have use for you later. Tasks for you to complete but you will be constantly watched every moment." Haeron told him sternly. "I will look into further punishments for your actions as they occur to me. I will support your daughter and if Lyanna Stark does give birth to your child I will care for that child too but one thing that is clear though, all other members of our family will get a dragon egg...except you." Haeron said bluntly.
That piece of information finally hit home as Rhaegar took it in.
"You...you can't do that." Rhaegar said with shock but Haeron just glared at him and said.
"I can and I will. All dragon eggs have been hidden and made secure so don't think of stealing one." Haeron said before turning to leave. He closed the cell door behind him and left his brother to stew in his own actions.
"Your grace." A voice said from nearby, Haeron turned to see Ser Arthur Dayne who was on thin ice given his role in helping Rhaegar create and carry out the plan for tricking and wedding himself to Lyanna Stark. Who had aided him in hiding the truth and even now clung to the man like a tick.
"Ser Dayne...what is it?" Haeron asked coldly, his own protector Ser Lewyn at his side who glared his younger and more skilled brother in arms. He was deeply unsettled that someone who had been granted the most prestigious title in all of Dorne, the Sword of the Morning could fall as low as he had. Helping in his mad scheme of Rhaegar's, insulting Elia the way he had, nearly causing a civil war and lying to Lyanna Stark, ruining her future in the process.
"You cannot treat your brother that way...nor can you disrespect the Kingsguard by dismantling it." Arthur said with a shaky voice as if he was uncertain of trying to protest this.
Haeron's eyes narrowed as he stared at the knight in his white armour and cloak, Ser Arthur did not back down however and Haeron frowned with bitter disgust.
"Everything my father did and yet all of you stayed quiet or if you did speak up it was half-hearted at best. Yet now I am doing things far less vile than he did but when it finally affects you...you speak out. Interesting." Haeron said before going to leave as Arthur broke and looked away. "My brother nearly brought my house to ruin and I will not tolerate such behaviour especially when it seems he had no interest in his own family. One daughter already and another child on the way but he doesn't even realise just what he has done wrong, you should have stopped him but you didn't. Good day Ser Dayne." Haeron said before walking away and vowing to keep a close eye on the members of the former Kingsguard...not trusting them at all.