(Ellion's POV)
"This could take hours to clean up." Ser Gerold Hightower said as he looked at the sight at the courtyard, "And you did this yourself?"
I was sitting down at the steps, cleaning my blade, "Yes."
"I find that hard to believe." He said
"Well, believe it or not." I said, "It doesn't matter, does it? It's done. There is no danger."
It was nearly an hour after I stopped the assault, and the Kingsguard and the guards came out to see the entirety of the traitors decimated. I had made sure that I left a couple of them alive to question, but I should've spared the main culprit in order to torture the information out of him.
Dozens of men were dragging the corpses towards carriages as servants were cleaning up the blood. Those who survived were already in chains, taken away by the few knights that remained in the Keep.
"You killed them all." He repeated, looking at the sight, "I don't know if this is good or not."
I scoffed, "How could it be bad?" I asked, "I minimized the risk for you lot."
He looked at me, "If you truly did kill them all without a scratch on you." He said, "It means you are not human."
I stopped cleaning my blade, glancing up at him, "Is that so?"
He gave me a serious expression, "It means that you are a walking omen." He said, "Death and carnage will follow you everywhere you go."
"I didn't think you were the superstitious one, Lord-Commander," I said, continuing the cleaning, "I killed men, filled the courtyard with blood and guts. Such is the way things are, right? Men die when doing foolish things. What was the plan regarding this treason? The King was going to let them live? Send them to the Wall? No. He was going to execute them."
"Hm....." Ser Gerold said
"King Aerys did execute them." I continued, "He just didn't know it."
"This much bloodshed would probably result in more conflict." He said, "This won't go by quietly."
"I expect that to be the case." I said, "But worry about doing your duty, Lord-Commander. Protect the King and his blood. Let me handle the rest."
"You have too much confidence." He said
I stood up, having finished cleaning Gloriosa, "Look in front of you." I said, looking at him, "Do you think that confidence is unwarranted?"
He gave me a serious look, "Hm...."
"By the gods...." I saw Prince Rhaegar walk out, "I heard the commotion, but I never thought it would be this bad."
I looked at him, "I take it that everyone is safe." I said, "I suggest you lock down the Keep until the return of Lords Baratheon, Hightower, and Lannister. I don't know if there are any traitorous scum going about."
"The Kingsguard have the Queen and the others safe." Rhaegar said, "But as for my Father-"
"What in the seven hells is going on?" Aerys came into view, walking up to us, "Ellion, explain this!"
I glanced back, "Around 100 men barged in, attacked the guards, and were attempting to take your life." I said, looking back at the King, "That did not come to be."
Aerys looked around, "100 men?" He said, "Who was leading them?"
I gestured at the body of Qarl Templeton, which had his head resting next to it, "That one." I said, "Templeton."
A flash of rage appeared on the King's face, "Qarl Templeton?" He said, "That fucking..."
"Your Grace." Ser Gerold said, "Should we lock down the Keep?"
"Yes." Aerys said, "Clean this mess up and make sure that nobody comes in and out! As for the Templeton, bring me Yohn Templeton now. I wish for him to answer for his brother's crimes!!"
"Father." Rhaegar said, "I do not think that Ser Yohn would have been aware of-"
"Does it look like I care, boy?" Aerys cut him off, "I want answers now! This is a crime against the Crown!!"
Rhaegar let out a sigh, "Very well." He said, "I will have a raven be sent."
"You do that." Aerys said as he stepped forward, taking in the sight, "Ellion, you killed all of them?"
"The ones that are dead? Yes." I nodded
After a few seconds of staring, he had a slight smirk as he looked at me, "This is why I brought you." He said, "Such bloodshed..."
I sheathed my blade and rubbed my neck, "Yes, I suppose you did." I said, "As long as His Grace and his blood are safe, I will drop as many bodies as needed."
"I bet you would." He said with a chuckle, "My only regret is not watching all of it."
He walked over to Qarl's body, bending over and grabbing his head by the hair. As he did this, Rhaegar and Gerold Hightower shifted uncomfortably.
"Father." Rhaegar said
"Your Grace." Ser Gerold said, "Mayhaps you should not hold that...."
Aerys stared at Qarl's lifeless face, "The fool." He said, "He was blinded by delusions. Fucking idiot."
He tossed the head to the side, a look of disgust on his face.
I looked at him, remembering what Qarl said. I knew exactly what the Knight meant when he told me that about Aerys. But I was not going to bring it up, not yet.
I knew that Aerys Targaryen was perverse and mad, but I never thought he would be....well, not like it matters. I really don't have an issue with any of that in general, but someone like him would only cause trouble.
Just like this.
He looked at me, "What?" He said, "Do you have something to say?"
I nodded, "I do." I said, "Your Grace, all of this is rather convenient."
"What is?" Ser Gerold asked
I looked at the Lord-Commander, "Three Lords took their forces away." He said, "For what reason? To leave the Red Keep's entrance unattended? I understand that 100 men stood no chance in threatening His Grace's life, considering that our men were here. And not just that, I was going to meet with them regardless. But the others left and all of the sudden, they attack? It's too convenient."
Gerold's face hardened, "Do you mean..." He said, "Someone planned this and allowed for Ser Qarl to attack?"
"It is a possibility." I said with a serious expression, "We need answers."
Aerys had a serious expression, "If what you say is true, Ellion...." He said,
"Then more heads will roll."