Reactons I
Lord Jon Arryn, the Red Keep
Jon felt a headache starting to form. Not only had his old friend kept a massive secret, but the ramifications of that secret now tore the land apart if reports were to be believed. Robert's words still rang in his ears.
“I don't care what it costs or how it is done but I want the rape spawn dead. Do you hear me? I want it dead!”
Robert had not left his chambers in nearly four days and if he hadn't heard things being destroyed, Jon would have guessed that maybe Robert had drunk himself to death. A traitorous part of his mind hoped that it would happen.
His foster son was indeed a great warrior, but he had no mind for ruling and while he hadn't done anything terrible, his indifference had not gone unnoticed. The whispers that started in the first few days of his rule were now openly discussed in court, and Robert cared not one wit about them.
His wife, on the other hand, cared a little too much. So much in fact that she had not only insulted several noble heirs, but she had managed to harm a few of them as well. Blaming it on the hormones induced by her pregnancy hadn't helped all that much, but he wasn't getting help from anyone else. Robert refused to look at her and had only touched her to get her with child, he mostly whored around and avoided her as much as he could.
Tywin Lannister would have been able to cow his daughter into submission, but shamefully, pride got in the way of Jon asking him for help. Plus, the man had enough influence as master of coin and with his loaning a good chunk of his forces to help 'guard' the city. Jon was not interested in giving the man more power.
Lord Tywin was likely amused or even planned to deal with these dissenting voices in his own special way. And now my headache has gotten bigger, Jon scowled slightly as Lady Olenna Tyrell smirked at him in a way that suggested that she knew what he was thinking. Considering how intelligent she was, that might be a possibility but Jon didn't like it.
He wished that Robert hadn't demanded that the Tyrell's hand over a hostage or at least demand Mace Tyrell's wife and young son. Instead they received a harpy that was of an age with himself but with none of the restraint or humility that came with it along with some young girls that were not highly valued as hostages. On top of that Robert had named her the Mistress of Ships due to her Redwyne relations.
“Lord Varys,” Jon began quietly. “Is there anyway to confirm any of this information?” The Citadel prided themselves on having accurate information but he hoped that this time they had gotten it wrong.
Each member of the council had taken time to confirm things for themselves but Varys had the largest spy network here. It was why he was still breathing after all. That and because he was serving as Master of Laws since Stannis had left and they had yet to find a more permanent replacement.
The eunuch turned to him and murmured, “Every last bit of it, my Lord Hand. Prince Rhaegar was quite taken with Lady Lyanna and she was taken with him.”
“But how could they have been married? He was already married to the little sand witch Elia Martell,” Jon almost winced at what the Queen said and wished once more that he had found someone else to marry Robert, or that she would remain in her chambers.Thank the Gods that there was no Dornishmen here otherwise there might have been some blood spilled in this very room.
“While dual marriages fell out of favor and indeed out of practice, there is no law against them. And they married in front of a heart tree in the style of the First Men. The marriage was witnessed by several people one of which is still alive and in the North. The marriage is legal and binding.”
He sounded a little too pleased with the prospect or maybe Jon was just hearing things in his old age. The Grand Maester opened his mouth but thankfully he was interrupted.
“It matters not,” Lord Tywin scoffed with an eye roll. “The Targaryens no longer control these lands and there is no guarantee that the child wasn't raped into Lyanna Stark anyway. She is nothing more than a pretender. It would be a fool's errand to follow her as such.”
You mean you wished that she was nothing more than a pretender, Jon could see the concern in the other mans eyes. For once they were in agreement. This girl, this Visenya, was a problem and one that they would need to deal with. Her very presence threatened the legitimacy of Robert's reign as King.
“Prince Rhaegar didn't share many qualities with his father especially when it came to raping ones spouse. I suppose we'll never truly know as both parties are dead. But in the off chance that you are correct Lord Tywin, it is a good thing that the Mad King denied your request to have his son marry your daughter.”
As much as Jon liked the jab at the old Lion, now was not the time.
“And is there any way to speak with Lord Rickard or any way to get to the child?” He interrupted the impending argument. He knew that it was appreciated but right now he didn't care.
“Some of the last pieces of information I had from the North was that several houses were destroyed and several others were given lands and titles.” He retrieved some parchment from his pocket and handed it to Jon, “That is the complete list. The Citadel will make announcements soon.”
Jon read over the list and almost cursed. Any house that they could have used to distract Rickard and his family was killed or in a state of limbo with their properties given to others. How did this happen? He repeated the question out loud.
“Lord Stark was very well informed of a plot done by some of his Bannerman it seems. Something about placing his sons bastard in place of his heirs children.” Varys shrugged. “The traitors have been properly dealt with and many reaped the benefits, including Ser Jaime or rather Lord Jaime.”
The Lannister's perked up at this.
“You have news of my brother?” The Queen demanded.
“Yes though I am afraid that it probably won't be good news for you and your father. You see, when Lord Jaime received his lands and titles he forswore any connection with you and your house. A good thing perhaps, since the King had already done so and the Northerners don't particularly care for you Lord Tywin. I understand that you and your son had a disagreement before he disappeared?”
Tywin scowled but didn't comment. Jon knew that the fight was about what happened to Princess Elia and her children. Apparently Jaime was quite fond of the princess and her children and did not take kindly to what his father had done even if it was necessary.
“The Northern savage probably demanded that my brother do so,” The queen growled out. “We need to deal with House Stark and retrieve my brother from their clutches.”
Jon almost rolled his eyes and Olenna Tyrell did before speaking, “Your brother made his choice and with pride I imagine. Don't you Lannister's go on and on about how a Lion does not answer to their lessers, including other Lions? Seems to me that the boy just simply grew tired of being stuck with you as family,” She turned to Varys as the queen sputtered, “What else has the boy been given?”
“He is betrothed to the lady Emma of house Mazin, or clan Mazin if you like. She is Lord Alvyn's younger sister and soon will be the Lady of Parren's Den, Lord Jaime's stronghold. His name is no longer Lannister but instead it is Lann, something that has earned him some favor with the Northern lords.”
Of course it would, Jon almost smiled at the discomfort the Queen was showing especially in regards to the fact that her brother was betrothed. He knew that the two had...dabbled in a bit of intimate relations and she was probably upset at losing her lover for the second time. And the name of Lann was more appreciated than what was later added on.
The name Parren was not lost of Jon either. Parren was an old First Men hero whose family used to populate the Westerlands. Several houses were descended from him, including Payne, Reyne, and Mazin. The Panye's still lived there, the Reyne's were extinct like their mother house and the Mazin's traveled North to the Winter Lands and settled near the Mountains.
While they were not a great house or even a large house, they had helped with the mining efforts in the North and helped produce some of the finest gems and blades on this side of the world. Cold Steel was stronger than most swords ever produced and could hold against Valyrian Steel but not by much.
“And Lord Rickard was not only repaying Lord Jaime for his valor, but also for him saving the life of his son, Lord Brandon.”
Jon jerked a little at that and read the list again.
“Lord Snowfall?” He questioned and Varys nodded.
“Lord Brandon has also renounced any claims on Winterfell in the name of himself and any of his children.”
“None of this matters,” The queen snapped. “It is the crown who decides what goes where and the king did not decide on any of this. These actions are tantamount to treason.”
Lady Olenna snorted, Lord Tywin narrowed his eyes at his daughter, Jon almost groaned and Varys smiled indulgently.
“Lord Varys, is there any legal merit in what the queen just said?” Olenna Tyrell did not like anyone here but Jon knew that she especially hated the Lannisters. The Tyrells were nothing more than glorified stewards who owed everything they were to the Targaryens. She probably lamented the fact that her son did not press the advantage that he had when he fought against Robert but there was nothing to be done about that now.
“Only if there were a lack of heirs to one house and if the Overlord is incapable of finding a suitable candidate to take over the land in question. No treason has been committed by Lord Rickard, at least not against his grace King Robert.” Varys continued to smile.
“They have seceded with half of the kingdom,” Cersei Lannister shrieked at him. “How is that not treason?!”
“The Starks bowed to King Aegon and his wives but with conditions,” Jon spoke slightly in defense of his friends house and with a bit of disdain for the woman. “With the Targaryens gone, the Starks and their region will not answer to us. Neither will Dorne.”
The Queen went red in the face, having caught on to his tone but Jon continued, “It has been a long day your grace, perhaps it is time for you to rest,” He motioned for some of the guards to take the queen away.
“I am not tired,” Cersei hissed at him.
“But the stress cannot be good for the child, so you should rest your grace.” Lord Tywin added his own advice though it sounded more like a command. “The Grand Maester will go with you to make sure that the heir to the Iron Throne is healthy and we will continue dealing with this situation.”
Cersei glared at her father before she dipped her head and excused herself with two guards at her side. Pycelle stuttered and shuffled his way out of the room.
“Now with those two useless fools gone, we can some up with solutions,” Lady Olenna said then shrugged. “The only one I can think of that wouldn't be too costly is marriage.”
“Marriage?” Jon frowned. “Whose marriage?”
“I know that you are older than I Lord Arryn but surely you are not so old as to see the benefit of having this girl marry King Robert's first born son by the Queen?” Lady Tyrell was impatient as she spoke. “You could win the North back with this match and maybe whatever lingering resentments that exists will die out with a legitimate dragon on the throne. You won't get Dorne back, though why you would need it I am not sure.”
“The idea has merit,” Jon began slowly. “But the King would never agree to it and I don't think the Queen will either.” He glanced at his rival who nodded once. Neither of them would have tried to persuade them either.
“Oh well,” The woman shrugged and got to her feet, “I am going to take my own advice and leave since I have nothing more to contribute.” She turned and muttered loud enough for all of them to hear, “Give them a golden idea and they piss themselves like children.”
“That woman is insufferable,” Lord Tywin muttered after she was gone.
“But correct, a marriage could keep the realm at peace and any dissent amongst the loyalists at bay,” Varys replied.
“One of the Lords mentioned in this list is Stannis, where is he exactly?” Jon asked him to change the subject.
“He's been given land in Sea Dragon Point and one of the old castles to boot. I believe he calls it the Greystag and he is deciding on his new name. It seems that he and Lord Jaime have done well for two men that were disinherited.”
Stannis should have never been allowed to leave the Stormlands. Jon thought, closing his eyes. If Robert hadn't pushed for a marriage with the Reach, and if Stannis wasn't stubborn, the fight that happened wouldn't have been so bad. Now Storms End had been given to the Castellan to hold until a second son of Robert's line was produced, and Stannis could no longer bear the Baratheon name and neither could Renly.
Robert had singlehandedly doomed his entire house to extinction with his stupidity and now the only ones who could have helped were no longer able too. And Jon doubted that they wanted too.
“I don't have much more information from the North. It seems lord Rickard had found my spy network there and given something of great value to my little birds.”
“And that would be?”
“Homes. Families to take them in. I suppose that would be the downside of employing orphans,” Varys sighed and stood himself. “I will see if I can get more there and should anything happen elsewhere, I will keep you all updated.”
The two lords paramount sat in silence.
“We can't afford another war,” Jon said after a moment.
“Not after this last one, no.”
“Some of the best assassins in the world operate out of Braavos and they will not touch the North,” Jon continued.
“No but that girl cannot be allowed to live,” Tywin glared at him. “And she will not marry my grandson. Enough dragons have sat on that ridiculous chair, we don't need another one.”
“So what are we to do?”
“That, my lord Hand, is the million dragon question.”