Chapter 207: The Advancing Old Wolf
Rhaegar Targaryen scrutinized Brandon Stark, a tall, long-faced boy with brown hair and gray eyes, the heir to the North. Brandon wore white brocade bearing the gray direwolf sigil of House Stark upon his chest. The defiant air of an heir was naturally different from that of a second son. The temperament of the Northmen also differed from that of the southern lords; the Wild Wolf was rougher and more robust, like a sharp longsword. What Rhaegar cared most about today was the guest from House Stark, Brandon Stark. The Old Wolf, Rickard Stark, was planning his venture south, having schemed in Winterfell for a long time. Rhaegar actually wanted to advise him: can coming to King's Landing truly yield good results? He did not possess Cregan Stark's skill, yet he had twice Cregan's ambition.
Brandon was also scrutinizing Rhaegar, perhaps the most handsome, savage, and glory-winning Dragon of the past century, whom people across the Seven Kingdoms called the Silver Dragon King, the Silver Prince, the Victorious, and the Lucky One. Although he was a handsome prince with silver hair and purple eyes, appearing gentle and refined, like a noble young man of a flourishing age, the remains of those vanquished by Rhaegar's dragonfire and sharp sword were piled high behind him. His notoriety made the Three Daughters of the Narrow Sea and Pentos feel as if they were sitting atop a volcano, enduring a fiery hell. Brandon felt the person before him was a contradictory hybrid: the sum of a swordsman, a mage, an explorer, a dragonrider, a butcher, a triumphant general upon the battlefield, a harpist, and a handsome prince.
"Please convey my regards to your family far away in Winterfell, Lord Rickard Stark and Lady Lyarra Stark, as well as your younger brothers and sisters." The Silver Dragon, Rhaegar Targaryen, said to Brandon Stark, the Wild Wolf. The Stag Maiden, Roberta Baratheon, stood beside Rhaegar like a beautiful rose.
The Wild Wolf Brandon's parents were both Starks; Rickard Stark had married his own cousin, Lady Lyarra Stark. The marriages of the great lords were often this tangled. A certain lord of House Hightower once married his own stepmother, which caused a sensation in Westeros at the time, was heavily condemned by the High Septon, and was not recognized as a lawful marriage. Consanguineous marriages were common throughout Westeros. Tywin Lannister also married his cousin Joanna. Furthermore, within Brandon's family lineage there had even been cases of a younger brother marrying his elder brother's daughter; logically, these blood ties were exceedingly close. However, the most famous cases of incest were still within House Targaryen. Milder intra-family marriages like those of House Stark and House Lannister were generally acceptable and permitted by the Faith.
"The honor is all mine. I shall surely convey the warm regards of His Highness the Prince and Lady Roberta to Winterfell; this shall be a glory to my family. Even far away in the North, people are spreading tales of Prince Rhaegar's heroism and Lady Roberta's unparalleled elegance," Brandon said with a smile. Although the Wild Wolf was arrogant, he possessed a degree of political shrewdness. Rickard Stark had high expectations for him, and his education as the heir had been thorough. As for Brandon's younger brothers, the Old Wolf would not cultivate them in the same way; it was not good for a second son to become too ambitious or scheming—they merely needed to become useful pieces upon the board. Winterfell, in the history following Aegon's Conquest, had undergone multiple succession struggles that at one point plunged the castle into utter chaos and disorder. Brandon Stark could not possibly be unaware of such dangers. The most famous incident involved the She-Wolves of Winterfell, when many widows fought fiercely for power on behalf of their children.
"A clever fellow who knows when to yield and when to stand firm, a Wild Wolf with measured steps! But he is slightly lacking in quality; after all, there is only one Cregan Stark!" Rhaegar evaluated Brandon internally. Brandon Stark was not yet a formidable opponent in Rhaegar's eyes. He was more interested in Lord Rickard Stark, the ambitious Old Wolf intent on carrying out the Southern Ambitions. Although the Southern Ambitions were encouraged by a certain maester, if the Old Wolf himself had been a steady and peaceable man, why would he come south to stir up trouble? Although the North was desolate, its territory was vast. As a Lord Paramount, he could naturally command wind and rain, living comfortably and asserting his authority in Winterfell. It was simply that the Old Wolf's ambition was too great and his desires too many.
"Then I must trouble Young Lord Brandon. After my affairs in King's Landing are concluded, I intend to visit Winterfell. I hear your godswood and hot springs are the most famous sights there." Rhaegar spoke while looking at Brandon.
"It would be a tremendous honor. Winterfell shall be illuminated by the Prince's arrival," Brandon said happily. This would indeed be a reunion separated by many long years. The Pact of Ice and Fire, when Jacaerys Velaryon visited Cregan Stark, had taken place long ago. With a great dragon, however, distance no longer seemed so daunting.
While Rhaegar and Brandon conversed, Roberta was busy lecturing Robert Baratheon. "Behave yourself. Do not drink too much, flirt with serving girls, or get drunk and start causing trouble!" Roberta said close to Robert, who forced a smile and assured his elder sister of his good conduct.
Rhaegar and Roberta thanked them and departed; the banquet hall was filled with faces eager to offer greetings and forge connections. This was the ripple effect of power and wealth. Rhaegar possessed armies, construction projects, and control over the Golden Sea Route, all of which made the lords flock toward him.
"He reminds me of one of my ancestors!" Brandon said to Robert while watching Rhaegar walk away.
"Who?" Robert asked.
"Cregan Stark," Brandon replied with a complicated expression. A True Dragon was born naturally, and compared to such a multifaceted genius, the gap seemed immense. It was like competing against a man who possessed a cheat code; he was difficult to surpass. Brandon questioned himself, knowing he could never have been stronger than Cregan Stark at the same age. Cregan's nickname was the Old Man of the North, but in truth, he had displayed his talents at a very young age. Cregan Stark was one of the most dangerous and formidable great lords of his era, simultaneously a superb swordsman and a brilliant politician. After his father, Lord Rickon Stark, died in 121 AC, Cregan became Lord of Winterfell at the age of thirteen. During Cregan's youth, his uncle Bennard Stark governed the North as regent. When Cregan turned sixteen, his uncle still refused to relinquish power, and their relationship rapidly deteriorated, with Cregan becoming deeply dissatisfied by his uncle's restrictions. At eighteen, Cregan raised arms, imprisoned Bennard and his three sons, and reclaimed the authority of the North. Later, at twenty-one, he forged the Pact of Ice and Fire, and at twenty-three he dominated King's Landing during the Hour of the Wolf.
"The Old Wolf's son is quite well-mannered!" Rhaegar whispered to Roberta while looking toward Brandon in the distance.
"Naturally. If the heir is not properly trained, they may repeat the mistakes of the past!" Roberta replied. "He and Robert seem to get along rather well."
Rhaegar and Roberta were thinking the same thing: a few decades ago, House Stark had been famous not for its power, but for its chaotic succession struggles—a true drama worthy of its own tale, perhaps called The Wolves of Winterfell. The disaster began with the death of Cregan Stark's heir. Cregan had brought House Stark's glory to its peak, but sadly his heir died upon the Dornish battlefield. After the legitimate heir perished, Winterfell descended into a succession crisis. Several of Rickon Stark's younger brothers took turns claiming authority, and it is said that one lord even lost an eye in the struggle, until the chaos slowly subsided during the era of the She-Wolves of Winterfell. Cregan's heir, Rickon Stark, participated in King Daeron I Targaryen's Conquest of Dorne and fell outside Sunspear. His bravery was recorded within King Daeron's The Conquest of Dorne. For years after his death, the Northmen mourned him, knowing that if he had lived, the North would never have endured those years of turmoil and disaster under the rule of his younger half-brothers.
Rhaegar and Roberta next greeted Elbert Arryn, the fortunate heir of House Arryn, who offered his salutations. They had conversed long enough, and the grand banquet was about to begin; everyone needed to return to their seats. Exquisite dishes began to arrive, along with various fine drinks, including Dornish Red and Arbor Gold.
"What a spectacle!" Rhaegar exclaimed inwardly. The great lords and their heirs could sit upon the high dais close to the King. The remaining lords could only sit below. Because so many people had arrived, the hall felt somewhat crowded. Yet the lords, knights, distinguished soldiers, famous figures, and wealthy merchants were all delighted; this was an invitation into the center of power, and even simply witnessing the occasion was worthwhile.
The table where Rhaegar sat was reserved for heirs: Ser Mace Tyrell and his wife, Rhaegar and Roberta, Robert Baratheon, Brandon Stark, Jaime Lannister and his twin sister, Elbert Arryn, and the children of House Whent, who represented Lord Hoster Tully. The families with the strongest bloodline prestige were those princely houses that had existed before Aegon's Conquest. For example, House Stark, House Lannister, House Arryn, and House Baratheon—although House Baratheon's paternal line were technically upstarts, their maternal bloodline still descended from the ancient Storm Kings—these four houses possessed the longest and most glorious lineages. The newcomers were House Tully and House Tyrell; both appeared somewhat upstart in nature, and many lords privately questioned their legitimacy. House Martell was unique; they too were essentially upstarts, having never ruled as kings before Nymeria's arrival. Without the support of Queen Nymeria and the Rhoynar, they might still have been clinging to a small desert keep and eating sand.
The crowd was packed tightly together, and the guests cheered while standing and shouting loudly, "Long live House Targaryen!" "Long live King's Landing!" "Long live the Iron Throne!" People celebrated the victory achieved by the Iron Throne, the health of the King, and the protection bestowed by the heroic spirits of past Targaryen Dragon Kings.
"May this good fortune continue forever!" King Jaehaerys II raised a beautiful golden goblet, and everyone followed suit. Excitement shone upon the faces of the youths, and Rhaegar looked around at the many different expressions while listening to their cheers.
Robert, Brandon, Mace. In truth, there was another heir hidden somewhere within King's Landing—that foul kraken Balon Greyjoy, though Rhaegar had no idea where the wretch had wandered off to. What interested Rhaegar most regarding the bloodlines of the great houses was magic. The great lords all took pride in their ancient bloodlines and foundations; their lineages could be traced back to ancient heroes or gods, such as Garth Greenhand of the Reach or the Storm God of the Stormlands. However, House Stark likely possessed the strongest magical fluctuations; the old gods had been especially generous in granting them the gifts of skinchanging.
"Troublemakers, troublemakers! Probably no one would have imagined that House Stark would eventually involve itself in the affairs of King's Landing—and as one of the greatest troublemakers at that." Rhaegar thought inwardly while looking at Brandon's excited face. In the Old Wolf's Southern Ambitions, the maester Walys Flowers had been the instigator, Lord Rickard Stark the implementer, and Brandon the vanguard; Eddard and Lyanna were, at best, merely pieces upon the board. Brandon's womanizing did not prevent him from courting Catelyn Tully while maintaining a refined appearance. His political acting skills far surpassed those of his younger brother.
Rhaegar stood and toasted with the heirs seated at his table, beginning with Ser Mace, then Robert, Jaime, and the others. The ladies likewise raised their goblets toward one another.
Ser Mace clinked cups with Rhaegar. "May our friendship endure forever, and may the Seven protect us both!"
Ser Mace's wife also clinked cups with Roberta; they were proud of the friendship between the men.
When Rhaegar noticed Lady Alerie Hightower, the wife of Ser Mace, he recalled the greater troublemaker still lurking in the shadows: House Hightower. Walys Flowers' mother came from House Hightower, and legend claimed his father had been an archmaester of the Citadel—those gray rats were sanctimonious creatures, especially the old pedants of Oldtown. Once Walys forged his chain, his secretive father and companions quickly dispatched him north to Winterfell to pour poisonous sweet words into the Old Wolf's ears. Could House Hightower have discovered the true reason behind the collapse during the Dance of the Dragons? This time, the original allies who supported the Blacks happened to be House Arryn, House Stark, and House Tully. As for House Baratheon, they were simply too close to King's Landing, so naturally everyone sought to win them over.
"However, if the Old Wolf can truly bring me an anti-Targaryen alliance, that might actually be a good thing. I can use the opportunity to thoroughly expose the rotten core of House Hightower!" Rhaegar made up his mind. The Old Wolf's advance was not entirely a bad thing. With a longsword in hand today, why should he fear conspiracies and specters? The key was the people behind them; even if House Hightower were excluded, the existence of opposition within the Citadel remained a fact.
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