Bab 101: 101- Interest struggles.

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~~~Lady Janna, Eighth Moon, 277 AC~~~

~~~Casterly Rock, Westerland~~~

"While they were the last to arrive, I completely understand, the North is the farthest realm and, the invitations aren't like they came that fast either," I turned to Lord Rickard, with whom I was walking into the great hall along with Tywin and several men-at-arms from both sides.

So far the man had given a pleasant conversation, being sincere for the most part and with a direct and blunt turn of phrase. Something I appreciated for the most part and it made me hold him in high regard.

In Xandar we were the same, we were pleased to have direct and concrete talks, which made business quicker and easier. Since bureaucracy and long and sweet words belonged to the weak and cowardly. With many of them encountering them on my visits to promising destinations for trade.

"At first I was surprised to learn that Lord Tywin would remarry, but, now seeing you in person, I know why," for someone uncouth from the North, well he knew how to conduct a conversation, something I had only seen in the Northerners of White Harbor, though considering the Manderly's had Southern roots, then Rickard here would be the first.

"Surprises are just around the corner, Lord Rickard, all it takes is one false move and the outcome speaks for itself" Tywin, with his haughty tongue, couldn't help but spill over with venom.

"But now that our last important guests have arrived, the wedding celebration is just days away from beginning," I said, taking Tywin's hand and squeezing it a little. "Isn't that right, future husband?"

"You're right Janna, it only remains to wait for the arrival of King Azrael for everyone to be present."

"That is quite a notorious thing," Lord Rickard expounded, "never in the history of Westeros or the Seven Kingdoms had all the Lords gathered to welcome a foreign king, with even the crown arriving to await him."

"Hahaha, no, I'm afraid King Aerys has decided to attend due to the great friendship between the king and Lord Tywin, the fact that my king is also attending is mere coincidence, don't you think so Lord Rickard?"

Rickard stared at Tywin for a few seconds, eyes serious and rigid, then flashed a jovial smile on his face, "But of course! Our king need not be on the lookout for someone foreign, even if he is a king, I imagine Lord Tywin's wedding is at this time, something that unites the realm."

He's smart, I'll give him that, he knew how to read between the lines to understand that he was on a line between saying a harmless comment, committing treason, to be slandering King Aerys, and calling him weak.

For that was how he could be portrayed if it were said that he came exactly to meet with someone, and a foreign king at that, instead of this king going to his court and presenting himself to Aerys. Instead, the king decided to leave his capital and travel elsewhere to meet with someone who would not even be here for him, which to many, would see as a weak and humiliating act.

"Have you thought about my proposal, Lord Rickard?" Tywin then seized the moment to talk business, something we had talked about before. Tywin was just like me, proud, smart, and ambitious, and I liked that, as I felt my plans were protected by Tywin's desire for power as well, and that was the most important thing.

And now, he, like me when I was looking to get out of my family's wing, was looking for a promising and powerful future for his daughter, the North had become more self-sufficient now, than in all its history, if the reports I was getting were correct.

And that was what Tywin wanted to get, the power of the North, and for that, he would have to marry Cersei to the next Lord of the North, which in this case was Brandon Stark, already after getting Cersei to be the Lady of Winterfell, the way to own the North would be easier.

And perhaps Rickard knew the fact of that, or perhaps not, but what he did know was that having the Westerlands as allies in marriage would bring him much fortune, especially now that he knew the fact that the woman, on whom the trade between Xandar and the North depended, would marry Tywin.

"I have thought about it, and while I had thought of a marriage to the Riverlands, it seems to me that this one is much better," Lord Rickard said, which earned him an almost imperceptible grimace from Tywin, while I just smiled at him. "Cersei will be content, of that I am sure," Tywin said after a few seconds, and had I not been in front of Lord Rickard, I would have rolled my eyes, as I knew Cersei would be furious to learn of her engagement to a Northern man, however Lord Paramount he was to be.

"Trua! Trua! They're coming, they're here!" Elora, my parrot, a beautiful specimen with red and blue feathers, landed on the sill of one of the windows, as she spoke, startling Lord Rickard at the sight of the chattering bird's arrival.

Tywin looked at me, waiting for confirmation, to which I only nodded. The airships had arrived.

"I want the soldiers at the place where the Wyverns will arrive to be ready!" Tywin began barking orders, as he made clear the things that needed to be done, and even repeating them, "No one without permission to approach the place, I don't want to form a mess or a slaughter with those beasts."

"What's the matter?" Lord Rickard suddenly asked, reminding me that we were with him, "Ohh, Lord Rickard, the airships are due to arrive, they were expected to arrive tomorrow, but they are not."

"Airships?" Lord Rickard asked again, confused by the term. Fortunately, I didn't have to explain anything to him.

"ROOOAAGH!"

"RIAAAGH!"

"REEEEAGH!"

Right at that moment, several roars could be heard, noticing how Lord Rickard tensed up, and his hand went straight to the pommel of his sword, an act that my guards responded to by stepping forward.

A total of eight huge airships blocked out the sunlight for the moment, bringing with them many screams of fear, surprise, and terror in the servants of the Rock, impressed by the massive structures and the magnificent beasts that held them aloft.

"You'll have to excuse me Lord Rickard, but as you see, I will be busy," Lord Rickard nodded, his gaze still lost on the airships that flew some distance above the Rock. "The servants will guide you to your room."

Wasting no time, I set out to walk to the Great Courtyard where we had received the lords of the North, on the eve of going as quickly as possible to the airship camp, but the sight that greeted me in the courtyard was not what I had expected.

King Aerys was already in the courtyard, he was riding a fine horse and was being guarded by three members of the Kingsguard, at his side was also Prince Rhaegar. And I didn't know if it was a good idea to bring them to the place or not.

"Ahh, Lady Janna, I have been expecting you, I am eager to see the Wyverns and recognize what makes them so special," Aerys spoke with a yellow smile on his face, as he fought his urges to ride off as soon as possible.

"Yes, Your Grace," I said, controlling my eye twitch as I called him so, "Come with me".

Together, we began to ride through the Lion's Mouth and out of the Rock, and when the sunlight returned to my eyes, I could see the so-called dirigibles more clearly, and they were a complete work of art, they were over fifteen meters on each side, and were supported with the help of four huge and strong netherite steel legs, but what was most striking, were their six large perches at their tops.

They extended like the fingers of a hand towards the sky, and on them, wyverns of enormous size were perched. They were the largest in the kingdom but at the same time the least aggressive and slowest, due to their larger size and slow metabolism.

But that made them perfect for the job they performed, since the journey wouldn't have to be stopped every moment to feed them, and their slow flight could be fixed with strength and speed potions. And while he had not seen the airships at first sight before, due to having traveled long before the war to the other side of the Bone Mountains, the wait was worth it, for the work, artistry, and performance of the smiths was being displayed in this backward place.

"They are beautiful," Aerys' slightly haughty voice brought me out of my thoughts, and turning to look at him, I watched as he stood static watching the wyvern controllers remove the chains and brackets that held them to the airships.

"Yes, they are beautiful beasts," I said, the Wyverns would be put in a secluded part, and would be watched and protected constantly, for while these Wyverns would lay down to sleep all day and not fly until they were needed again, that did not mean they would not attack anyone if they dared disturb their rest.

"Your grace, would you care to pet one?" Aerys' eyes turned a bright shade of purple as a goofy grin appeared on his face the idea of being with dragon-like beasts again was a dream come true for him.