章節 17: Changes In Westeros Pt. II
As time went by, even though the sun had departed, Winterfell was still lively. Riders were sent out in fours for security. They all bore summons from King Robert. It was the first gathering of houses since his coronation. Mya stone was also sent for. She needed to prove the accuracy of the Hereditary test. A test no one knew was coming except the three lords and the king that decided it in the great hall of Winterfell.
Meanwhile, Bran Stark laid in bed, cripple and comatose. While his attackers remained in chains, fearful and anxious of the days to come. The Young Prince Joffery began to show his madness. A madness that all were familiar with. During this time, a middle-aged dwarf began to draw conjectures. But he dared not clarify it for the sake of House Lannister.
Days passed and Lords gathered in the North. Every Vassal of House Stark, Baratheon, Arryn, and Tully arrived for protection. House Tyrell brought only themselves. Their statement was bold. They were all but saying, 'fight and die, we Tyrells will watch then rule what remains.'
Tywin Lannister did the same as he knew that any strong show of force would be counterproductive seeing as he drew his sword first.
A fortnight and a half had passed when the Measters of the Citadel arrived with the Castellan of Sunspear. The two had met on the road. Rows of houses were organized in formation as the Castellan of Sunspear bowed before the King.
"Where is Prince Doran or Oberyn?" King Robert asked.
As instructed by Essos, the Castellan replied honestly. "Lady Mellario was trapped in Norvos when it was taken over by the Great Khal Zhano. She then struck a deal with the Great Khal for the ancestral lands of House Nymeros Martell. The lands of old Rhoyne will fall under their rule by order of the Great Khal. Norvos will now be the new Ny Sar ruled by Princess Mellario Nymeros and her daughter, Arianne Nymeros Martell. The House Nymeros Martell has journeyed there for the consecration of Ny Sar and the return of the Rhonyar and the Rhoynish Principality under the Dothraki Empire."
Everyone murmured. It was that legacy that made the House Nymeros Martell hard for the Taragaryens to conquer in the beginning. That pride made them stubborn and eventually made the Targaryens cave. Now with such a legacy reclaimed, an air of uncertainty filled the area. Not only that, part of King Robert's title was King of the Rhoynar, now what did the return of the Rhoynar to their ancestral land mean for the King?
"My lord apologizes for his absence. He has said that he will accept any punishment that King deems fit." the Castellan of Sunspear added.
"Very well." King Robert waved the man off.
Everything was looking more like a Dornish Conspiracy than a trade-off from Khal Zhano. Robert even felt played at this moment. He then cursed his Master of Whispers for not informing of the Martell's departure and current activities.
"Lord Stark, as Hand of the King, take over with impartial judgment," said King Robert.
Ned nodded.
"Will the Lords of the Seven ruling houses step forward," said Ned Stark.
Tywin Lannister of Caterly Rock, Holster Tully of Riverrun, Stannis Baratheon of Dragonstone, Lady Regent Lysa Arryn of the Eyrie, Mace Tyrell of Highgarden, and Castellan Manfrey Martell of Sunspear stepped out and walked forward.
"We are here today to settle a matter of the throne. This was decided by the King to keep the peace! House Lannister has encroached upon the Vale, King's Landing, and the North with ill intent. Lord Tywin, what say you?" Ned asked.
"Lord Stark, Lady Arryn, Sire. I, Tywin Lannister, Lord of House Lannister, own my faults and offer recompense. However, I will not standby as defamatory rumors are spread of my more than loyal daughter."
"Loyalty is not the Issue, Tywin! It is Hereditary Fraud! And if you had stayed your hand, none of us would be here! Recompense is accepted! Ned, move on!" King Robert was furious and embarrassed.
"Lady Regent Lysa Arryn has claimed that her late husband, Jon Arryn was murdered by the Lannisters to cover up Hereditary Fraud, Lord Tywin, what say you?"
"House Lannister denies the murder of Jon Arryn, Lord of the Vale and Hand of the King. We subject ourselves to investigation and as Lord, I revoke all diplomatic immunity for my house and Vassals." Tywin declared shocking the masses. He then received an odd look from the lords.
"What? Jon was my friend as well. As much friends as our hate for each other allowed. Even grew closer as one Hand of the King to a former." Tywin explained.
"Hmm, Sire?" Ned asked.
"I'm satisfied! We all want justice for Jon and we'll have it if there is any to be had."
"There is, Sire!" Lysa Arryn added.
"Then it will be discovered, Lady Regent Arryn. You have my word." Ned replied.
"Ned, move on," said King Robert .
The crowd tensed as the core of the gathering was about to be presented.
"Bring out the prisoners!" Ned shouted.
A troop of Lannisters was brought out in chains, along with Tywin's children and Grandchildren.
"I'll make this known. This is not to step on the Lannisters, it is merely to uphold the law of the land. For the crime of High Treason, Intercepting a diplomatic envoy with the intention of murder and stealing property intended for the King, I, Eddard Stark of House Stark with the authority of King Robert Baratheon first of his name, herby sentence Ser Benedict Broom and his troop to execution." Ned gestured and his house guard drew their swords and cut down the Lannister troops.
"Tyrion Lannister is hereby released into the custody of Lord Tywin. Mya Stone, please step forth." Commanded Ned. "Seneschal Norren, Archmaester Kirigan, step forth."
"Sire, what is this? " Tywin asked.
"No one will speak to the king unless spoken to. I'm the judge here, Lord Tywin." Ned snapped, "Queen Cersei Lannister, Prince Joffery, Prince Tommen, and Princess Myrcella come forth."
"Sire, this does not have to be done!." Tywin roared.
"Tywin! If you speak again, you will be held in contempt." Ned roared. "Seneschal Norren, please explain the process!"
"Yes, Lord," Seneschal Norren, governor of the Maester Citadel, replied. "This process is simple, each participant will drink a concoction to thin the blood. One row of bowls will be for the father and each child. The second row of bowls will be for the mother and each child. Mya Stone will also test with Queen Cersei to establish accuracy. As we know, Mya Stone's mother is not the queen. But it will also prove without a doubt if the King is really her father. Is the seed really strong?"
The gathering murmured amongst themselves. Each participant was then given the concoction. Blood from King Robert and Cersei were was placed in each bowl of clear liquid assigned to them.
"Lords, step forth. Mya Stone, place your blood in the first two Bowls." Norren spoke.
The Lords watched with Angst as the black haired woman bleed in each bowl. Moments passed the liquid in Cersei's bowl began to turn purple.
"The Queen is not Mya Stones mother!" the Seneschal announced to no one's surprise.
A breath later, King Robert's liquid turn deep red.
"Mya Stone is without a doubt, King Robert 's Daughter!"
King Robert sighed in relief. In truth, he had adored the girl and originally planned to bring her into his court for a better life. But with the threat of Cersei, it was safer to have her remain in the Vale.
"Prince Joffery, it is your turn!"
Joffrey shakily walked up. His chains clanking and his expression like a scared child. His blood was aching and he cried from the pain of the athame cutting his palm. Mya scoffed at the wimpish boy.
Moments passed, the body of every lord went cold. The Seneschal didn't even want to announce the result. King Robert didn't want the results announced. But Ned and Holster glared at the Seneschal.
"Queen Cersei is the mother of...Joffery. King Robert is not his father!" The Seneschal spoke anxiously.
"On one count of Hereditary Fraud, Queen Cersei Lannister is...Guilty." Ned announced and Cersei's body trembled in fright. Joffrey was in a rage, begging for another test. He is a Baratheon, Heir to the Iron Throne he claimed.
"Princess Myrcella…"
"Prince Tommen…"
"Lord Twyn Lannister, the crime of three counts of Hereditary Fraud is punishable by death. King Robert wants to settle for recompense," said Ned.
"I'm sure he does. I'll settle," said Tywin as he choked up and his face tomato red with anger. But he could only blame his daughter. She had one job and she fucked it up royally. Out of the dozen of women the king fucked she could have been one. One legitimate child is all she needed.
"Sire, state your condition," said Ned.
"Divorce and all rights of Inheretiance stripped. Her children will have no claim to the throne or the name Baratheon. I will do this in exchange for the crown's debt to you." said Robert.
"A Lannister repays his debt," Tywin growled.
"I say we're pretty fucking even considering you were about to steal a goddamn Kingdom," King Robert replied.
From that point on, talks of Recompense were discussed and the Lannisters left the north just shy of their lives. Cersei was no longer queen and her children were no longer named Baratheon. Mya Baratheon became heir to the seven kingdoms and marriage was put forth with the condition of the groom marrying into House Baratheon. But Robert threw salt on wounds when he ordered Tywin to make the trip to YiTi with Houses Velaryon, Baratheon, and Tully.
Many expected King Robert to return to his whoring and drinking, but he didn't. Instead, he began to rule. He put down the sword of a King and picked up his hammer again. When he returned to King's Landing with Ned Stark at his side, he was present at the small council meetings and actively governed his kingdom. He issued reforms, burying his hate and regret to rise to his station.
But King Robert had no idea that the coming event would be much crueler and bloodier than they were ever destined to be. And it all started with the Martells' refusal of marriage, the Tyrells' proposal and maneuvering into the YiTi diplomacy, the Exile of Jamie Lannister, and banishment of House Lannister from Crownland.
Finally, the attempt of Bran Starks assassination, orchestrated by Cersei Lannister who wanted to keep her secret of incest to take over Casterly Rock as her father refused to give it to her dwarf brother. Evidence of this succession was presented when Tywin Lannister gave each of Cersei's children the House name of Lannister.
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