Rebellion (part4)
4 994 of Renewal (282 AC or 16 years before the events of Game of Thrones)
Surroundings of King's Landing, Crownlands,
Harry smiled inwardly as he saw the billows of smoke rising from the capital of Westeros in the distance as a red dawn rose. A lot of blood had been shed that night, and it wasn't the Lannisters'.
Beside him, Fenrir could be seen with a sinister smile on his face. He still loved the smell of blood so much, his werewolf past couldn't go away. He was one of the few elves who remained with the rebels, the army having returned to Albion with Jason. There was no more war, and only the Tyrell army remained, but they were not going to continue this battle as the Targaryens were defeated.
All in all, Harry had with him three hundred Royal Guards, more than enough to ensure his safety, not to mention the many Magisters who had decided to stay to watch the show, and some to take advantage of this reunion of the great Lords of Westeros. to negotiate various contracts and offer " loans " to restore their lands and estates. After all, it was an opportunity to profit, and many representatives of the Golden Bank were to be found among the magisters.
"The Capital is on fire!" Jon Arryn cried, his face horrified and his voice shrill. "Hurry up!"
"Not very surprising from the old lion," Robert smirked, savouring the spectacle of the Targaryens in distress. "The rains of Castamere were not written for nothing."
Jon shot his " surrogate son " a reproachful look before snapping the reins of his horse, commanding the intrepid steed to return to the plundered town. Without much surprise, Eddard Stark was the first to follow him, him, and his honour. Quickly, the Lord of the North passed Jon Arryn with a troop from the North, rushing towards the castle at full speed.
Harry decided to follow them, knowing full well that he would find Tywin in the Red Keep, savoring his victory and probably preparing a small show of his loyalty. He wondered inwardly if his… close friend… had granted his request. He would soon find out.
It took about twenty minutes to reach the capital, the bulk of the troops having remained in the rear. Only the horsemen could reach the burning city, and Harry suppressed a look of disgust as he saw a few Lannister soldiers take the opportunity to rape the poor women, and even some men and children. He could understand of course, the soldiers being at war and in need of sex, carnal pleasures etc. However, he did not approve, but little mattered as they were not his people. Never would an elf be caught practicing such a crime.
The Westerosian Lords and Harry quickly approached the Red Keep, whose dragon banners had been replaced by those of House Baratheon. Tywin had it all planned out.
It was on entering the Red Keep that Harry stopped, watching the scene open to him with some interest. Jaime Lannister sat quietly on the Iron Throne, King Aerys at his feet, lying on his stomach and obviously dead from a blade to his back. Blade that rested quietly on Jaime's knee.
And at the feet of the throne, Eddard Stark stared at Jaime with undisguised disgust, while Jon stared at the scene in awe. Only Robert smiled when he saw the Targaryen's cold body.
" Kingslayer!" cried Eddard, spitting on the ground. "You are unworthy to wear this cloak."
No one dared to speak, while Jaime just stared into space, confused. Harry could see in the young man's gaze that he was disturbed, not yet having understood the consequences of his action. Harry frowned slightly, something was wrong here.
" Bah!" Robert cried, spitting on Aerys' body. "He only got what he deserved, and I say well done! One less dragon in the world!"
"He betrayed the king he swore to protect, Robert," Eddard said indignantly, pointing at the king's body. "He has betrayed his vows, dishonoured himself and he dares to remain seated on the Iron Throne, as if it belonged to him."
"I can give it back to you," Jaime said, standing up to go down the steps. "Either way, it's way too uncomfortable for me."
Eddard was about to retort when Jon put his hand on his shoulder, motioning him to shut up.
" What's done is done," Jon Arryn said solemnly. "But the war is not over, and… "
Jon fell silent noticing, only now, three bodies covered in white sheets not far from Aerys' body. He blinked several times, the other Lords of Westeros following his gaze before, for Eddard and Hoster, turning white as if they had just met the Stranger in person.
" A present for his majesty. "
They all looked up. Tywin Lannister stood, proudly sporting his elven armour, a straight gaze and a straight face. How could they have missed it? Had he been in the room all this time? So many questions and so few answers.
Harry looked at the bodies with some trepidation. The moment of truth had struck, and he approached the bodies with Robert Baratheon. Lifting the sheets, Harry smiled inwardly as he saw the corpses of the Targaryens and the Martell girl. But the corpses of the two children sported small necklaces, barely visible.
And Harry knew these necklaces, because he had personally sent them to Tywin in the hope that he would use them. Those jewellery could copy a person's appearance by placing a drop of blood on the small rune on the back. Then you just had to put it on someone else, and voila, a perfect copy. Only Elia Martell had perished, and Harry gave Tywin a grateful look, who only smirked imperceptibly.
For his part, Robert Baratheon smiled and let out a laugh when he saw the corpses lying in front of him.
" Robert!" Eddard Stark said indignantly. "They were innocent and ..."
"They were dragon spawn!" Robert interrupted with a cry that made the keep shake. "They deserved nothing but death, and I swear to kill all Targaryens!"
Eddard took a step back when he saw Robert Baratheon's crazy gaze. Harry noticed two things though.
First off, the satisfied looks from Jon Arryn and Hoster Tully. The two men were surely delighted to know the Targaryens dead, and therefore the possible threat of a return to power. The two Lords were no fools, and knew full well that if the Targaryens were to come back to power, then their homes would be destroyed and their families wiped out.
The second thing Harry noticed was the mad look in Robert's eyes. A glow he knew, having made it there so many centuries ago. He smiled inwardly, after all, Robert Baratheon was Rhaelle Targaryen's grandson.
" Enough!" Jon intervened. "The war is not over yet, and the Reach continues to besiege Storm's End while your brothers starve! And let's not forget Dorne, still at war and their children lying dead at our feet."
"You're right, excuse us Jon," smiles Robert, regaining his composure. "Jon, I don't have to tell you normally, but I'm making you my Hand of the King. Your first mission will be to negotiate peace with the Dornish, you just have to bring them the corpses with the one of Lewyn Martell that we recovered."
"I can tell you where Lady Lyanna is."
Everyone turned when they heard that voice both honey and sweet. Harry guessed that it was probably the famous " Volanteen ", Varys. The eunuch was bald, overweight, and wore a simple robe.
" Speak!" Robert cried, walking quickly over to Varys, his eyes feverish.
"My little birds recently learned that she was being held at the Tower of Joy, along the Prince's Pass in the Red Mountains of Dorne," Varys smirked undisturbed for a penny.
"I'm going right away!" Robert yelled, starting to leave the throne room.
"Robert!" Jon interrupted. "You cannot leave the capital when you have just arrived. You have to put the kingdom back in order."
"I'll go in your place!" exclaimed Eddard. "It is about my sister, it is my duty to save her. I will take this opportunity to stop quickly at Storm's End and end the siege, I promise you."
Robert looked at Eddard blankly, not knowing what to think. Jon was right, as was Eddard, but he wanted so badly to go and rescue the woman he loved.
" We could also discuss my reward," Harry said with a slight smile. "After all, you made me a promise."
Robert's eyes widened as he remembered the promise he had made to the Elven Emperor. Oh, he remembered perfectly the stupid thing he had done, Jon not having forgotten to remind him, chewing him out.
" We could also discuss my son's place in the Kingsguard," Tywin added, standing next to Harry.
Eddard gave the two men a look of disgust before leaving the room, he had a siege to stop and a sister to save. For his part, Harry quickly looked at one of the magisters that had followed him before nodding imperceptibly. This magister was none other than Blaise Zabini, one of Harry's personal assassins, and surely the best of his spies after Sanguini.
Blaise would follow Eddard Stark to the Tower of Joy to make sure Lyanna Stark didn't come back alive. As for her child… Harry had finally decided to let him live, but Blaise had to make sure Eddard didn't announce his origin. Yes, Harry wanted to see what a child of the Stark and Targaryen bloodlines could do.
He could have asked for the child to be brought back to Albion, but Harry had a hunch that this child would provide him with great entertainment if he were to stay in Westeros. And Harry loved long-term entertainment.
For his part, Jon looked at Jaime before frowning.
" No Kingsguard has ever been dismissed," Jon said, shaking his head. "This position is for life, despite his misgivings. "
"My son was so named by the Mad King just to make fun of me," Tywin said in a growling voice. "He was only a political prisoner, and I ask that he be released from his vows so that he can resume his place by my side."
"But I don't want it!" Jaime exclaimed. "I want to remain a Kingsguard!"
"Pfah!" cried Robert, waving his hand. "If he wants to stay then he stays. Anyway, I don't care whether he's a guard or not, what interests me is Lyanna."
Tywin gritted his teeth upon hearing Robert's refusal. But his anger was first and foremost directed at Jaime. If his foolish son had been silent, then he would be free from his vows by now. For his part, Harry smiled as he slowly read Jaime's thoughts. The ugly lion cub had been hiding the real reason he had killed Aerys, but Harry was not going to reveal the truth for him. After all, those wildfire caches might come in handy one of these days ...
" Jon, don't waste time and take care of the Dornish!" Robert said, looking at his mentor.
"I'm going right now," Jon replied. "Hope I come back to a kingdom still standing."
Robert rolled his eyes at the blatant lack of confidence his mentor and adopted father had in him. Turning around, he swallowed when he saw Harry's hungry gaze.
" Shall we start the negotiations?"
Maybe Jon was right to worry, after all.
4 995 of Renewal (283 AC or 15 years before the events of Game of Thrones and 1 year after the rebellion)
Camelot Palace, Silvermoon City,
" How's it going? "
This simple question had been asked by Harry to Severus Prince.
After helping the Baratheons win the war, the latter did not wait to ask for his reward. Using his magic and taking advantage of Jon and Eddard's absence, Harry did not hesitate to ask for a strategic point in Westeros : Harrenhal.
He had arranged for the last of the Whents to be assassinated, leaving the estate without a direct heir. Of course, the Tullys could technically claim it since Hoster Tully's deceased wife was a Whent, but his daughters were married and his son his only heir. It was therefore impossible to manage this area which was surely the largest area in the Riverlands.
Robert Baratheon disagreed at first, as Harrenhal was arguably the second largest stronghold in all of Westeros, but it was also an unnamed ruin that cost a fortune to maintain. Harry didn't hesitate to remind him that this is where Rhaegar crowned Lyanna, and that it would be easier for Robert if the estate were to no longer belong to him. To add to the insult, Harry explained that he planned to raze the castle, and therefore erase what many considered to be a relic from the time of the Targaryens.
Robert was eventually won over, but in return demanded that taxes be paid to the Crown, and Harry agreed.
When the deal was concluded, Harry went to the room Tywin had taken for himself in the castle. He was happy to find Tywin there, and above all, the two completely frightened Targaryen children. He thanked the lion warmly, and the latter assured Harry that he would join him later in Camelot so that they could " chat ". But first, the lion wanted to make sure his daughter became the next queen, and for that he had to stay in King's Landing while Eddard Stark returned.
When Harry had returned to Albion, Blaise immediately informed him of the birth of Jon Snow (no Targaryen name, Lyanna and Rhaegar being convinced it would be a girl and not a boy) and the death of his mother. She hadn't died of complications, but of a spell cast by Blaise which had caused a major haemorrhage. Fortunately, the spy did not need to bewitch Eddard Stark, the latter deciding on his own to protect his nephew by passing him off as his bastard. Harry laughed at the news. Like what, he had been right about honour.
After that, the months passed quietly. The Targaryen children had been brought back to Albion and it was decided that they would be brought up in an isolated domain so that their bodies could sufficiently develop and their magic to awaken. Then would come the experiences ...
As expected, Cersei Lannister became Robert's new wife, the latter screaming in rage and pain upon learning of his fiancée's death. Never before had Tywin expressed such joy, even going so far as to smile in front of the Lords of Westeros.
For his part, Robert ordered the killing of the Targaryens refugees in Dragonstone. Unfortunately, they managed to escape Stannis' fleet, and the poor man was insulted and punished by his brother, who deprived him of his title of Lord of the Stormlands to give him Dragonstone.
Obsidian being a highly conductive material for magic, Albion negotiated a trade treaty with Stannis, thus winning the favour of the Baratheon.
Finally, and probably the most interesting in this matter, Tywin came to Camelot where he confessed the truth about Tyrion. Harry didn't know how to react, not expecting such a turnaround. He ends up proposing that Tywin participate in an adoption ritual, allowing Aerys' blood to be replaced by his own. Luckily for Tywin, this ritual ended with a potion, which could be consumed at the same time as the one to cure Tyrion's dwarfism.
He accepted. And now Harry was impatiently awaiting the result.
" Everything went as planned, Your Majesty," Severus sneered.
"Is my son finally normal?" Tywin asked, looking at the closed door with trepidation.
"See for yourselves."
At Severus' words, the door opened to reveal a man.
Tyrion Lannister couldn't be recognized. The dwarf with the two-tone hair and the odd eyes had given way to a handsome blond man with green eyes, an angular face and a square jaw. He looked a lot like a younger Tywin, but with finer, softer features, like his mother.
" What do you think, father?" Tyrion asked worriedly.
Yes, Tyrion was very worried, not knowing what reaction to expect from his father. Would he finally recognize him as his son? Or reject him once more. He got his answer when he saw his father's satisfied, even pleased smile.
" I say you are finally worthy to be my heir," Tywin replied. "But we will have to put a definitive end to your drinking and whoring!"
Tyrion nodded, still in shock at that unexpected smile.
His father had finally accepted him, and if he had to stop drinking and visiting brothels, so mote it be.
The two men didn't notice Harry's satisfied look.