The autumn sky was clear, yet there was a slight chill in the air. The cold wind felt like a sharp sword against the skin.
The main gates of King's Landing had been repaired, and golden banners flew proudly above the Red Keep and the surrounding towers, stretching all the way toward the Dragonpit.
The golden banners were decorated with the crowned warhammer stag, a three-headed dragon breathing fire, a gathering of grey-white wolves, and liberated slaves.
Ravens flapped their wings as hundreds of black birds took to the sky, carrying the news of Gendry I Targaryen Baratheon, the Liberator, and his ascension to the Iron Throne to every corner of the Seven Kingdoms.
The lords were not surprised, nor did anyone dare challenge House Baratheon's royal authority. Anyone who had openly questioned the legitimacy of the Baratheon dynasty had already been beheaded or exiled to the Wall.
Within only two decades, King's Landing had endured several bloody purges. Now, thanks to the union of the Stag and the Dragon, royal authority commanded tremendous influence.
Guests began arriving from every direction, first heading toward the Red Keep and then proceeding to the Dragonpit.
The lords of the North and Riverlands arrived from the Winter Wolf Camp. Some relatives of House Baratheon and important royal ministers stayed within the Red Keep, while the lords of the Crownlands already maintained residences in King's Landing.
Most of the lords of the Reach arrived from the Rose Camp. The lords of the Vale, Stormlands, and Claw Peninsula, along with envoys from Myr and Tyrosh, came from the Storm Camp.
The Dornish envoys remained unaligned. Several hundred of them established a small camp of their own.
Envoys from other kingdoms were also present in King's Landing, but they were heavily guarded, as the aftermath of the war still lingered.
That morning, Gendry and Daenerys separately received gifts in the Red Keep.
Gendry looked over the dazzling collection of presents.
Today was a day when gold would pour into the royal treasury, both through gifts from the lords and through the various ceremonies surrounding the coronation.
It was said that the gifts presented at the birth of Viserys Targaryen had once filled half a mansion. The Mad King, fearing that they might be used against him, had eventually ordered them all burned.
Gendry, however, already possessed too many precious items.
He had dragons, the Fire-Wielder Ring that could control flames, Valyrian steel weapons, and his double-curved Dragonbone Bow. Ordinary treasures could hardly catch his attention anymore.
Apart from dragon eggs and Valyrian steel weapons, only magical artifacts truly interested him.
The immense wealth House Targaryen once possessed was supposedly consumed entirely by my father, Robert. But what happened to the dragon eggs? And what about those rare treasures?
The thought lingered in Gendry's mind as he examined the gifts.
The exiled Prince Jarebal Thorne presented him with a gilded greatbow accompanied by long arrows decorated with green and crimson feathers.
Countess Tanda presented a pair of soft riding boots, while Lord Rosby gifted him an exquisitely crafted red leather saddle.
House Rykker of Maidenpool presented an ancient warhammer resembling their house sigil. Strange runes and symbols were carved into its surface.
Ser Jak Crakehall of the Claw Peninsula offered a pair of silver spurs, while Ser Boros presented a red silk jousting tent.
"Does House Celtigar only know how to send red wine and rubies?"
Gendry remained extremely curious about House Celtigar. In particular, he wanted to see their Valyrian steel great axe and mysterious horn for himself.
The Red Crab had fallen on hard times, but legend claimed that Crab Island was filled with treasures.
There were Myrish carpets, Volantene glassware, gold and silver vessels, jeweled goblets, magnificent hunting falcons, a Valyrian steel axe, a horn said to be capable of awakening sea monsters, countless chests of rubies, and an endless supply of wine.
House Swann of the Stormlands presented a pair of precious jeweled swans.
Living swans were not easy to keep alive in King's Landing, making the gift particularly valuable.
House Tarth presented a luxurious marble statue carved entirely in Gendry's likeness.
It was truly a unique gift.
House Caron's offering was a precious ancient silver harp accompanied by an oak-and-steel greatshield.
During the reign of Daeron II, Lord Pearce Caron had excelled in both scholarship and warfare. He was a skilled knight as well as a renowned harpist and singer, and he had painted a silver harp on his shield.
Lord Tytos of the Riverlands presented a weirwood longbow from House Blackwood, whose members worshipped the old gods.
The weapon made Gendry feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Their rivals, House Bracken, presented an ornate hunting horn decorated with jewels.
House Mallister offered a beautiful jeweled platter depicting a silver-winged eagle against an indigo background.
Lord Roose Bolton of the North presented a gigantic deer antler taken from a giant Irish elk that had once roamed the Seven Kingdoms during the Age of the First Men.
Ser Wyman Manderly of White Harbor presented a silver mermaid.
White Harbor had a thriving fishing industry and was famous for its skilled silversmiths.
Greatjon Umber presented a unicorn skull and a mammoth carving he had treasured for who knew how many years.
The strange and exotic gifts were extremely valuable.
The Karstark brothers presented an ornate warhorn decorated with a sunburst motif, along with Northern furs made from seals, bears, wolves, and even black goats.
The famous widow sent a messenger carrying several fine Northern horses.
"This is the armor of one of our ancestors. Although it has suffered some damage, the runes are still intact."
Bronze Yohn presented Gendry with ancient bronze armor whose runes faintly shimmered.
Bronze Yohn knew of Gendry's fondness for ancient artifacts and had deliberately chosen a gift that suited his interests.
House Royce possessed numerous ancestral bronze armors engraved with magical runes. They were said to protect the warriors who wore them from harm.
Lord Grafton of Gulltown sent several chests filled with magnificent clothing. Gulltown's tailors were considered the finest in the Seven Kingdoms.
House Waxley presented scented candles famous on both sides of the Narrow Sea.
House Moore offered an exceptional spear.
The Reach, the wealthiest region in Westeros, was also extremely generous.
Matus Rowan had somehow acquired an old and weighty tome titled The Four Kings.
"This is a book every king should read, Your Highness," Lord Matus said while wearing a white tunic embroidered with a golden tree.
"Thank you for the advice."
Gendry accepted the book.
The kings of House Targaryen… the kings who once ruled the world.
Lord Randyll Tarly presented a model of the King's Landing Veterans' Hall atop Dragonpit Hill.
"The hill above Highgarden has seven courtyards and two chapels of honor. Seven is a lucky number, so this project is sure to be perfect."
"I will honor both the old gods and the new gods with it," Gendry said, carefully examining the model. "It will also provide comfort to the old soldiers and those who sacrificed themselves for the Seven Kingdoms."
King's Landing was already highly developed, so the project could avoid the massive demolition and reconstruction that would consume enormous amounts of manpower.
Lord Paxter Redwyne presented a beautiful model of a large warship with three hundred oars.
The actual ship was already being urgently constructed on the Arbor.
"If Your Highness is pleased with it, I shall name it King Gendry's Courage."
Gendry smiled faintly.
"I shall ride the waves aboard that ship and cut off the heads of the Old Lion and the Old Squid."
"But the Old Squid might already be dead…" someone muttered.
"We can only roast the Little Squid, then."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Balon Greyjoy had always been physically robust, however, so whether he was truly dead remained uncertain.
Gendry glanced toward House Hightower.
They had sent gifts, but no important representative had come personally.
The King of the Tower was low-key, but he was also notoriously proud.
Afterward, the gifts from the great houses became increasingly valuable.
It was time for the most important contributors.
The first were Gendry's relatives.
His sister, Mya Baratheon, presented him with a piece of needlework—a golden cloth robe she had embroidered herself.
For Mya, this had been extremely difficult. She was more like a stubborn warrior than a woman skilled in delicate embroidery.
"Thank you."
Gendry accepted the robe with great care.
His brother-in-law, Michel Redfort, presented him with a pair of golden bracelets engraved with ancient First Men runes.
"These are also ancient treasures of our family, Your Highness."
"You don't have to be so formal with me."
Gendry examined the bracelets with great interest. He was especially curious about artifacts bearing ancient runes.
Big-Eared Edric Baratheon presented his elder brother with a sturdy wooden stool that he had crafted himself.
The boy's craftsmanship was surprisingly good.
"You're quite a talented carpenter."
Gendry lifted the stool and examined it.
"I want to become a knight, just like you," Edric replied shyly.
Everyone laughed.
"You'll become a fine knight."
Gendry looked at the burly Edric.
The boy trained hard as well, much like Robert had when he was young. He never missed a training session.
Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne presented a brooch shaped like a stag and a dragon, decorated with red gold and black gold.
"The brooch and horses I have sent will be enough to help you sweep away all your enemies."
In addition to the brooch, Oberyn had sent seven magnificent horses.
They were excellent mounts for Dornish light cavalry.
Dornish horses were usually chestnut, golden, or pure white like snow. They were slender and swift, with elegant necks and narrow heads.
Most famous horses bred in the Dornish deserts were smaller than Northern horses and could not carry riders wearing full plate armor.
However, legend claimed that they could run for two days and one night without tiring.
"Thank you for the Prince's generosity."
Gendry was not particularly extravagant, but he had always appreciated excellent horses.
Little Lord Robert Arryn had his servant present an incredibly ornate golden suit of armor.
Its yellow steel plates shone like the sun, decorated with intricate golden patterns.
A ruby dragon was set into the breastplate, while a black onyx stag was positioned beside it.
A dragon-and-stag clasp adorned each shoulder, holding a heavy golden cloak.
There was also a gilded greathelm decorated with a red-gold ruby stag and a black-gold onyx dragon.
The helmet was extraordinarily beautiful and expensive.
The horse's barding was also gilded, while its trappings were made from shimmering golden silk and bore the emblem of the Storm.
"Can you take me flying?" Robert Arryn asked hopefully.
"I will."
Gendry looked at the small child.
Robert's childhood had been tragic. Although his physical condition had improved, his foundation remained weak and still required careful nurturing.
Little Arryn cheered before retreating into the crowd and returning to his relatives.
Duke Edmure Tully of the Riverlands presented a precious jeweled model of Riverrun.
The triangular castle was incredibly lifelike.
"My condolences regarding Lord Hoster," Gendry said.
"Thank you. To be honest, he was already quite old."
Edmure nodded, sorrow visible in his eyes.
His father had indeed lived to an advanced age, though his talents had never been particularly exceptional.
Duke Mace Tyrell presented a three-foot-tall golden cup.
The body of the cup had seven facets, each covered with countless gems. Two intricately decorated handles completed the design.
Ruby lions, emerald roses, agate stags, silver trout, sapphire falcons, opal suns, and pearl direwolves adorned its surface.
A golden lid completed the magnificent cup.
"The seven facets represent the Seven Kingdoms that serve Your Majesty," Lord Mace explained. "The lid represents Myr and Tyrosh, in addition to the Seven Kingdoms."
"The only flaw is that the lion's head should be cut off, and the kraken's head should be cut off as well."
A Dornish lord made the sharp remark.
All the lords laughed.
Everyone knew that true peace had not yet arrived. The two great traitors in the west still had to be defeated.
Duke Eddard Stark, one of the most important figures present, offered Gendry a cloak made from the pure-white pelt of a Snow Bear.
The Snow Bear's fur was said to rival the white cloak Daenerys had made from a Khalakka lion.
Snow Bears were enormous creatures from beyond the Wall, reportedly capable of reaching thirteen feet in height when standing upright.
The last to appear was Duke Stannis Baratheon.
His gift was a precious wood carving from the Stormlands. The naturally formed timber depicted a leaping stag intertwined with a spreading dragon.
The Stormlands were famous for their valuable timber and furs.
"This truly is a rare treasure," Gendry exclaimed.
Gendry also received gifts from overseas kingdoms.
Many high-ranking officials from the Two Cities and several of his trusted followers had arrived personally.
Various guilds from Myr sent tapestries and fashionable ornaments, led by Brown Ben.
Little Silver Tongue, representing Tyrosh, presented more fashionable goods, pear brandy, and strangely shaped gilded armor.
There were even more important gifts to come.
"Illyrio really didn't dare show his face."
Gendry looked toward the Pentoshi delegation.
They had deliberately sent Magister Illyrio's associate, Oldero, to lead the group.
Their gifts included spices and various exotic objects.
The people of Pentos loved art, so they had also brought several artworks that had been lost overseas, including a ring-shaped seal.
Lys, the last of the Ghiscari city-states, presented armor made from steel and spider silk, along with coal-black warhorses.
The Norvos envoy presented beautiful Norvosi battle axes and models of the city's three great bells.
The person leading the delegation seemed to have some connection with Doran's wife.
Several dark-skinned princes and princesses arrived from the Summer Isles.
They presented gorgeous feathered cloaks and longspears made from goldenheart wood.
"This is the gift from the Sea Lord," the Braavosi envoy announced.
He presented the crown of the former King Jaehaerys—a golden circlet set with seven different-colored gemstones.
"This truly is a great omen," Duke Mace Tyrell exclaimed in amazement.
"This is indeed King Jaehaerys's crown."
"Glory belongs to the Storm. This is the goodwill of the Sea Lord."
The Braavosi envoy bowed deeply.
Even more eye-catching was the Black Pearl who accompanied them, radiant and beautiful, with the blood of Old Valyria flowing through her veins.
As for the gifts for the knights participating in the Tourney, Gendry had already made his decision.
"The weapons are simply lying around."
In the armory, King Robert had collected more than a hundred high-quality weapons, most of which were now gathering dust.
Over the past decade, envoys from overseas kingdoms had learned Robert's temperament and frequently presented him with jeweled daggers and silver-inlaid swords.
The most precious was the dagger Gillian Lannister had given Robert as a wedding gift. It had a gilded blade, an ivory handle, and a sapphire pommel.
King Robert had been a nostalgic man. He only ever used the dagger given to him by Duke Jon.
…
On the high platform erected inside the Dragonpit, the grand coronation ceremony was in full swing.
This magnificent ceremony represented the end of the long struggle between the Stag and the Dragon.
"Long live the Storm!"
"Long live the True Dragon!"
"Long live Gendry I!"
People filled every corner of the Dragonpit and the surrounding streets.
The common people gathered in the outermost areas shouted and cheered, while the nobles in the inner circles watched the ceremony with complete focus.
Every woman wore beautiful clothing, while some children sat upon their fathers' shoulders.
Every face was filled with happiness.
They were not celebrating merely because of the coronation.
They were celebrating because peace had finally arrived.
Cheers echoed throughout King's Landing, filling the streets and the Dragonpit.
Gendry wore black scale armor beneath a golden cloak.
On his chest were the symbols of the Dragon and the Stag, represented by a ruby dragon and a black onyx stag.
The High Septon, despite his advanced age and frail body, stepped forward to anoint the new king with holy oil.
The Faith had already lost much of its prestige because of the Sparrows. It could no longer afford to lose the protection of the royal family.
The seven-colored crystal crown shone brilliantly beneath the sunlight.
The High Septon opened the golden container and personally applied the holy oil to Gendry's forehead, chest, and arms while reciting the sacred blessings.
Seven holy oils.
Seven applications.
Seven blessings.
The main ingredient of the holy oil was likely olive oil, and it carried the fragrances of rose, jasmine, cinnamon, amber, sesame, orange blossom, and ambergris.
Because Gendry was so tall, the High Septon had to stand on a chair to reach him.
The sight was somewhat comical.
"The Father blesses you with justice."
"The Mother blesses you to protect the weak and the innocent."
"The Crone blesses you with wisdom."
"The Warrior blesses you with courage."
"The Maiden blesses you to protect all women."
"The Smith blesses you with labor."
"The Stranger advises you to remain wary."
The ritual of anointing with holy oil was complete.
Then Duke Stannis stepped forward.
Gendry drew Rage, the newly forged Valyrian steel sword with a stag's head pommel.
The blade shimmered beneath the sunlight, its golden ripples appearing brilliant and magnificent.
Gendry knelt slightly.
Duke Stannis revealed the newly forged crown.
It remained a simple circlet, but four powerful symbols now adorned it.
A ruby dragon.
A black onyx stag.
A pearl wolf pack.
And a sapphire representation of the Free Folk.
Each image appeared incredibly lifelike.
Just then, the envoys from Myr and Tyrosh stepped forward.
"We request to become subjects of the King."
The Handsome Man, Fletcher, Brown Ben, Little Silver Tongue Alequo, representatives of the major guilds of Myr and Tyrosh, members of the Free Brotherhood of the Two Cities, commanders of the three major legions, and high-ranking naval officers from the Two Cities and the Stepstones fleet all knelt before the platform.
"The Liberator, the Storm, the Breaker of Chains, Lord of the Wolf Pack, Protector of Myr, Tyrosh, and the Stepstones—we formally request to become your subjects."
The lords of Westeros were stunned.
In terms of gifts, nothing could compare with the offering made by the Two Cities.
These were two enormous cities, comparable in importance to Oldtown at the mouth of the Honeywine and King's Landing at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush.
Moments later, applause and cheers erupted once again.
The lords of the Stormlands and Crownlands led the celebration, followed by the other nobles, who quickly voiced their support.
The envoy from Lys, sitting in a distant corner, suddenly looked terrified.
His fingernails dug into his palm.
"Greed. Desire. Failure…"
"Is this the fate of Lys?"
"Once the Two Cities submit, Lys cannot survive alone."
The people of Volantis and the other Slaver's Bay city-states looked equally uncomfortable.
If Myr and Tyrosh had truly chosen this path, should their war continue?
These freed slaves were like wild beasts escaping from their cages.
"This…"
The Braavosi envoy opened his mouth wide, wondering how he would deliver this news to the Sea Lord.
Beside him, the Black Pearl remained calm, quietly observing everything unfolding before her.
The people of Pentos and Braavos were also uneasy.
Although the lands of the Andals were currently divided among them, they feared that the Andals of the Seven Kingdoms might one day decide to return.
"Granted."
Gendry replied with a smile.
"Long live the Liberator!"
"Long live the Storm!"
The envoys from the Two Cities rose and departed while shouting toward the heavens, their voices filled with excitement.
Duke Stannis then stepped forward.
"I declare, by the grace of the old gods and the new gods, and witnessed by the subjects of all nations:
"Gendry I of House Liberator, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, King of Myr, Tyrosh, the Disputed Lands, and the Stepstones, Commander of the Wolf Pack Legion, 'The Storm,' Targaryen Baratheon, is hereby formally crowned."
Duke Stannis raised the crown and placed it upon Gendry's head.
For a brief moment, Stannis seemed to see his elder brother from many years ago.
His eyes filled with emotion.
Back then, Robert had won the throne.
He had been young, tall, and handsome.
Everything had seemed so beautiful.
Gendry slowly rose to his feet.
Then he raised Duke Stannis's hand.
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.
They celebrated the union of House Baratheon and House Targaryen.
They celebrated the rise of the Stag and the Dragon.
They celebrated the birth of a new king.
They celebrated the peace they had long anticipated.
And they celebrated the summer they had desperately longed for.
The coronation ceremony was complete.
The cheers that followed shook the entire city.
________________________________________
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