Kingslanding; Crownlands, fourth moon of 96 AC
Ragnar POV
When Ragnar arrived at Kingslanding, he was surprised by how well-maintained the city was compared to what it would become in the future.
There were fewer beggars, the smell of shit was absent, and people looked healthier. Ragnar could see that people were happy and that the city was not yet a pit of corruption, thieves, and murderers. King Jaehaerys was a good king; Ragnar knew that, as Dacey pointed out plenty of times, but seeing his smallfolk and how they lived showed Ragnar that it was indeed a truth.
When Ragnar, Dacey, and Davos arrived at the Red Keep's great hall, the room was packed with nobles, most from the Crownlands and Reach. The Reach Lords seemed worried, and their semblance shouted something was wrong with them. Still, Ragnar didn't pay any attention to that as he was more interested in the person sitting in the Iron Thorne, King Jaehaerys Targaryen, the Conciliator.
Jaehaerys was THE greatest King Westeros had ever seen since the Age of Heroes; the man was fair, decisive, strong, showed mercy when mercy was required, and ruthlessness when ruthlessness was needed. Ragnar found it easy to bend the knee for such a person; Ragnar was a simple person; he disliked tyrants and liked true rulers; Ragnar would've never bowed to Maegor, just like he had never bowed to Aerys, but his mind and spirit was content in bowing to someone like Jaehaerys. Jaehaerys was the only thing Ragnar couldn't be, even if he tried; a good and fair King and Ragnar respected him for it.
A/N: I am a Jaehaerys fan… and that's all you need to know before commenting hahahahaha
Jaehaerys and Alyssane traded words in high Valyrian, words Ragnar didn't try to understand as they made their way toward Princess Maegelle's isolated chambers; the Not-so-good Queen had an expectant tone when she spoke, as did King Jaehaerys. As they got close to Maegelle's chambers, Jaehaerys broke the silence that had befallen the small group
" My lord, I usually would ask such a thing after the deed was done, but due to the circumstances we find ourselves in, I find myself obligated to ask what you would ask of me when, or if, you cure my daughter." Jaehaerys began, " But before you answer that, I would like to ask to have it in your mind that I will only grant a boon within my power, within the laws of gods and men." He completed
" The only thing I ask is that your grace returns the New Gift to The North. The New Gift could provide food for one-fourth of the North before it was wrongfully taken from The North and given to the Now decaying Night's Watch." Ragnar said
" There is a reason why I gave the New Gift to the Night's Watch, my lord." Queen Alyssane said
" Aye… probably to weaken House Stark's standing in the North, as any other reason could be circumvented by anything else other than giving a piece of land a third of the size of the Riverlands to an order whose members are majorly made of rapists, thieves, and murderers; an order that at the moment has 3.000 men and can barely get the castles at the wall manned. No smallfolk live in The New Gift; they all left when their overlordship passed from House Stark to the Night's Watch. Your Grace might have forgotten, but, The North remembers; the Starks ruled the North for 8.000 years, and in those 8.000 years, they faced only five rebellions… and only ONE rebellion was big enough to worry the Starks… a cadet branch of House Stark launched that rebellion, and that was the only reason why the rebellion got that serious because someone with Stark name and blood launched it. Had it been any other House… well, they would've been like the previous four… unimportant," Ragnar said calmly; his tone held no hostility; it was actually like a father teaching his child
" The decision to give the New Gift to the night's watch was to help them get more gold and men for their order; to help feed the Night's Watch, my Lord. You surely don't want an ill-prepared force guarding the realms of men; I thought the Northerners held respect for The Night's Watch." Queen Alyssane answered calmly as well
" Aye… and it worked rather well, didn't it? The Night's Watch today survives through the North's charity. The farmers at the New Gift used to give part of their harvest to the Night's Watch, just enough to help them feed their 10.000 men… Before your graces took the new gift from the North, it was interesting for people who were starving to swear to the Night's Watch in exchange for a roof atop their heads and food… the numbers used to be 1.000 criminals in the middle of 9.000 volunteers… now 1.000 criminals in the middle of 2.000 volunteers… nobody wants to sleep near a murderer or rapist." Ragnar stated calmly. Alyssane looked troubled at what was said to her. Jaehaerys, on the other hand, looked grim
"Let us not talk of such things, at least not as of yet. The new gift was what its name claims; a gift and not a punishment or attempt to curb House Stark, of that I am sure, for I was the one who sat on the Iron Throne and gave the command; I am sure I didn't do it to spite a loyal House." Jaehaerys said, " However should I refuse to grant you this boon, what would it mean for my daughter?" Jaehaerys asked with an unreadable expression on his face
" If Your Grace denies me, then it will only mean I shall get no reward for saving your daughter… not saving Princess Maegelle is not an option. I'm a father, your grace; I believe no parents should be made to bury their children. Your grace has already been thorough that six times; you will not go through a seventh time if I can help." Ragnar said, and Jaehaerys smiled a sad smile
"Perhaps I should fill the Red Keep with more northerners… I thank you for that, my lord." Jaehaerys said, " Balon, Daemon, Viserys, Lady Dovahkiin; Lord Seasworth and my Kingsguard will stay here. Alyssane, Lord Dovahkiin, and I will enter to see Maegelle." Jaehaerys began, and once he saw Ser Redwyne ready to say something, as well as Balon and Daemon, he raised his hands to stop them " If the next words any of you speak are not "Yes, Your Grace" then I recommend you not to speak them. Ser Redwyne; let no Maester or Septon enter this room." Jaehaerys said as he turned around and opened the door to Maegelle's chambers. Ragnar chuckled and entered the room.
The room was empty of anything other than a bed and a semi-naked sleeping woman; her arms and neck were dark with greyscale.
" Oh, my child." Ragnar heard Queen Alyssane gasp lowly
" My Lord, I ask you not as King but as a father… please tell me you can save my daughter. Heavy is the Crown, but heavier is the weight of losing a child." Jaehaerys, the father of Maegelle, asked as he bowed his head. Queen Alyssane looked stupefied but bowed her head as soon as she understood that inside that room, there was no King and Queen, only two parents, an ill daughter, and a healer.
" Aye… your grace. I can save your daughter with no problems, and when I'm done, there will be no evidence she has ever had greyscale." Ragnar said as he approached Maegelle. Jaehaerys and Alyssane raised their heads and nodded at Ragnar; Alyssane had tears in her eyes.
Ragnar's right hand glowed goldenly, and his left hand had blue flames on it. Ragnar used the blue holy flames of the spell "burn undead" to burn the area infected with greyscale. Maegelle didn't feel any pain as the blue flames weren't meant to hurt the living; Ragnar used the healing hands spells to cure the area destroyed by the Greyscale. Ragnar used so much magika ( mana) on the healing hands spell that the whole room glowed gold.
The whole process took almost an hour, as Ragnar had to burn all and every particle of greyscale.
Once he was done, Ragnar had tiny sweat drops on his forehead.
" It's done, Your Graces. Your daughter shall live with no scars and evidence of the disease… As promised." Ragnar said, and both Jaehaerys and Alyssane let out a relieved breath.
" You have my thanks, my lord, both as a King and father. You shall be rewarded for your actions. I shall announce your deeds tomorrow before the Realm and grant you your boon," Jaehaerys said as he made a sign for Ragnar to follow him; Jaehareys then began walking towards the door, and when he opened it, Ragnar saw a group of people waiting outside, including the GreatMaester and Selpon Barth, The hand of the King. Nobody dared to say anything as Jaehaerys walked out of Maegelle's chambers with a stoic face.
" Maegelle's grayscale has been cured. She will bare no scar or evidence that she was ever infected." Jaehaerys began, he looked at the grandmaester, who seemed to want to say something, " Refrain yourself from interrupting me, Grandmaester; you are supposed to be a wise man; it's not wise to interrupt me at this moment… especially when what I'm saying is a fact and not something up to discussion." Jaehaerys warned, " Lord and Lady Dovahkiin, as well as Lord Seasworth, will be given quarters at Maegor's holdfast right wing. Tomorrow when I shall announce to the Realm the actions of Lord Dovahkiin and properly reward him for his efforts." Jaehaerys said
Ragnar looked around and saw that the Grandmaester had a sour look on his face but managed to remain quiet.
" You can all return to your daily routines; I, however, shall stay with my daughter for now." Jaehaerys said, " Barth shall take upon my duties for the day; Baelon will help you, old friend." Jaehaerys said as he went back inside Maegelle's chambers
Ragnar walked to Dacey and gave her his on her forehead; Ragnar then looked at the Grandmaester with a blank face; the man was lost in his thoughts and, by the expression in his face, didn't like whatever thoughts he was having.
" I have not forgotten your words earlier, Maester. I'm not like these southerners fools who have to play games and plot to get what they want. I am a Nord, and I don't appreciate having my character questioned. My people don't play games of thrones; I don't plot or scheme. So I will warn you right here and right now… if you call me a liar or question my honor again, I will transform you into a goat and feed you to my dragon." Ragnar said coldly.
"Y… you are a lia-" The Grandmaester tried to say but couldn't finish as Ragnar's spell hit him before anyone could even see Ragnar move. Just like Ragnar promised, he had transformed the Grandmaester into a goat.
The Kingsguard looked at Prince Baelon, who was shocked at seeing a man be transformed into a goat; the first to recuperate from the shock was Prince Daemon, who had begun laughing as if there was no tomorrow. Septon Barth was the second to recuperate from the shock.
" My Lord, the grandmaester was just shocked; no one thought magic to be real, at least not magic capable of curing people like that. I'm sure he didn't say that to spite you. So please, in the name of King, I ask you to undo your spell." Septon Barth said; Ragnar remained silent for one minute before he hit the goat with a spell, making it turn back into Grandmaester Allar.
" I do not like your order, Maester; in fact, I hate it with all my being…I shall not be offended by one of you grey rats. Please bear in mind that the next time you insult me, it will be a rat, and I know the Red Keep houses many cats." Ragnar said as he turned around to face Prince Daemon, who still had a smile on his face. Ragnar glared at him, but the Prince kept the amused smile on
" Aye… I like this one." Ragnar said as he smiled; Prince Daemon bowed mockingly
——————————————————————————
A/N: Ayoo guys! How are you? Here's today's chapter! I hope you guys liked it.
Thank you for your support my fellows!