章節 35: Tourney at Harrenhal I
- 281 AC -
(Rhaegar Targaryen POV)
"It is finally time."
"Yes, my Prince. Finally, you will begin taking over and take your rightful place as King of the 7 Kingdoms.", Jon tells me.
Jon Connington, the dearest and most loyal of my friends. He loves me just like I had hoped he would. There is nothing he won't do for me. When his father, Armond died, Jon inherited the rule of Griffin's Roost, but when Jon left to serve at King's Landing, to serve me, he named his cousin, Ser Ronald Connington, as castellan. I can count on him to do anything I want and that is good. I used him to keep an eye on the important players in Kings Landing and report to me.
He is the reason I found out that Elia was unable to bear any more children. She was useless. I had to have a wife who bore me three children. I needed to have her birth the Prince who was promised. But she is useless and an utter disappointment. Rhaenys looks far too dornish and the sex was … terrible. Aegon … I don't know how he came to be. I tried to have her bear me a child that looked Targaryen but she didn't manage. I never touched her again after Aegon, she disgusts me and then she can't even have more anyway … I curse Father for giving her to me. It would have been better if she married Robert Baratheon and allowed me to have a stronger wife, who was worthy to bear me my three children. The three dragons, one for each head.
"How did the reconnaissance go? Did you get the information I asked for?", I ask Jon.
"Yes, my Prince. As much as it pains me to say it, Robert Baratheon and his younger brother Stannis Baratheon are attending the tourney. Although Robert hasn't set sail yet, Stannis has. Of that we are certain."
"What do you mean by that you are certain?", I ask him.
"Well ... as you know, it has been impossible to get any kind of spies into Storm's End in the last few years. The only one who might be able to do that is the Spider but we can't trust him. He is your father's loyal servant. What we do know is from the sailors of our ship that is docking in Storm's End. Not even the inns are useful for information anymore. It seems that they earn enough money to stay loyal to the Baratheons. We are basically blind. But the sailors told us that Stannis Baratheons boarded a ship a few days ago."
"I see. It is as I thought. Robert Baratheon is a worthy supporter of my cause. He will be useful.", I smile thinking about me sitting on the Iron Throne with Robert Baratheon supporting me with anything I may need. I thought he was interesting when I first saw him, but to think he was capable of making House Baratheon this powerful in just a few years ...
"I must have him."
"My Prince?"
"He is one of the Lords I have to get on my side. His support will be useful and his charisma can rival my own."
"But he is a stag. What could he offer us?"
"He was able to increase his house's status and make them one of the richest houses, rivalling the top three if rumours are to be believed."
"Money? Are you certain that is all?"
"All? No, of course not..."
Just thinking about me having taken his woman and impregnating her was already stimulating as I knew he usually got everything he wanted. But I was the true Prince and soon-to-be King. He was but a stag. The Targaryens took a portion of the Stormlands and made them the Crownlands, and the same thing I will do to him. I have already taken Elia, even though I am angry with that decision now, and will continue to take away his money, status and everything else. He will be my servant, like Tywin Lannister was my father's.
I can't help but feel bliss when thinking about him bowing his head to me. Just because I know he will hate that. I will use my superior charm and social skills to make him join my cause.
"It shouldn't be hard to convince Robert Baratheon to join our cause. It was my father who broke the 'planned' engagement between him and Elia. The madness of my father has to end and I am the best option for that. He will see reason, as the Guilds are affected as well. And if there's anything I was able to gather, it is that he values money and status. Why else would he just let Elia be taken by me? He was afraid of fighting for her. I have him figured out."
"I understand, my Prince. What about His Grace, your father?", Jon asks me.
My father was a growing problem. After the Defiance of Duskendale, his mental state started to deteriorate but it was controllable. We could deal with the outcomes of his actions somewhat and for a time, I was happy about it too. I was able to take advantage of his mistakes and show my graciousness and love for the smallfolk. I was the shining, silver prince that I was meant to be. The future King.
But the assassination attempts ruined everything. In 279 AC, someone dared to try and kill my father and stabbed him in his spine, paralysing him completely. That was the moment his health in general dropped and continued to drop. He grew even more paranoid and angry. He executed many 'criminals' almost every week and it was starting to get too much. No one would accept me anymore.
I was seen as my father's son. The smallfolk dared to shut their doors in my face ... ME. They dared to shut their doors in MY FACE!! I was furious and I still am. And to make matters worse, a new group of vermins rose up and 'helped' those in need with protection, food and other goods they would need, taking away all the support I might have gotten. No matter the amount of knights we sent to find them, they would always elude us. My reputation fell despite my hard work to stop it.
It only got worse as 280 AC arrived and with it a new winter. Naturally, my father demanded food to be sent to King's Landing and raised the taxes as well. No one was happy about that. The food nevertheless arrived and so did most of the taxes. There were those who couldn't pay them which caused more discord and punishments.
It continued to spiral downwards like this as rumours began to spread that the King abused his Queen. It was true of course. My father physically abused and r*ped Mother whenever he felt like it. It got less after the assassination attempt since he was paralysed, but he still found a way. Naturally, no one believed those 'rumours' at first, but as they began to be more detailed and eyewitnesses started to testify people began to believe it. The result was growing unrest and some minor riots taking place. Some very important business ventures of the King were hit and plundered. But not just his ... MINE as well.
Who cares about the rumours? This was terrible. I had to do something and tried to send out spies, like Jon to find out who those responsible were. Without luck. So I went to the Spider and asked him but he didn't know anything either. I could tell that something was bothering him that he wasn't talking about. I thought he looked scared, or unsure of himself which was strange.
The attacks grew more organised and at one point even the High Septon and his Faith of the 7 were not spared from the anger and rumours spreading through King's Landing and the realm. They took a heavy hit.
...
But things started to hit rock bottom after that. Inside the food which was sent to King's Landing ... there were rodents and insects found inside it. But only in that from the Royal family ... no, that's not true. Only in my and my father's food. That was it, the moment my father lost it completely. He killed cooks, maids, servants and even knights. I would not be angry normally but those he killed... were all my men and my spies.
Everyone was suspicious for my father. The ones who prepared the food, the ones who sold the food. Even the different Kingdoms, especially the Reach got into the bad graces. The Tyrells lost their good image in the eyes of my father and even I started to think they were planning something. The look Mace Tyrell had when my father accused him of plotting against him, or how the Tullys reacted. They were truly like fish at that moment.
.
"My father doesn't know anything about what we're planning. I made sure to instruct Walter Whent on his part and to keep silent about everything. If he followed my orders he would live and get to enjoy the gold I promised."
"The pathetic man was all too eager to get into the future King's good graces, I presume.", Jon says.
"He was. Which is good. Many people across the realm are bound to come to the tourney and that's when I will use my charm to capture the hearts of the ladies first and once I have them, the men will follow."
"Indubitably. With the amount of prize money you told Lord Whent to give out, many Lords and Ladies will arrive. Your plan will succeed, my Prince. If you allow me to ask, my Prince, how did you come up with the idea?"
"I heard talks about the tourney as I was walking through Kings Landing. I got the idea after listening to the talks of the people and their anger with my father. I thought that holding a tourney would allow me to do two things at once. I could gather loyal Lords behind me to finally succeed my father and take the Iron Throne and so that the focus would shift from the problems happening in Kings Landing.
We have to do something about the unrest, otherwise, we will have a revolution at hand and there are 500'000 people living in King's Landing. Should they decide to rebel, there is nothing we could do."
"You are correct my Prince. I am in awe at how your mind works. But what if the Spider tells your His Grace about your plans? You said he doesn't know anything about them yet, but what if it changes?"
"No need to worry. Even if Varys tells my father anything, it wouldn't be of any use to him. He can't know what I am planning and if he does guess correctly, he can't prove it. Meeting with other lords of the realm is not a crime. On the contrary, my father should be proud of me for trying to improve our relations with the other Kingdoms. And if that's not enough, I will make something up about a conspiracy I heard. He'll surely believe that."
"A clever idea, my Prince. I am honoured to be at your service at all times.", Jon replies.
Of course, you are. Just like everyone else.
"I know that Jon and I am grateful that you don't see me like those poor souls in King's Landing see me. When I am king, I will remember all that stood by my side and you will become my Hand, this I swear. You will be covered with gold, titles, lands and women ... anything you can dream of will be given to you."
I can see the happiness in his eyes but also the devotion towards me. I did a good job with him.
"That is far too much honour, my Prince. I will be loyal and devoted to you until the day I die, that I swear."
"I'm sure you will, Jon ... I'm sure you will."
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