The Raven
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Post by The Raven on May 28, 2016 22:25:02 GMT
The great hall of the Red Keep was nearly empty. Daemon Blackfyre stood on the steps, still dressed in broken and bloodied plate. Beside him was Ser Quentyn Ball, stripped to the scarred waist and holding his scabbard over his shoulders. Only Fireball and a few men were armed in this place, including, absurdly, a man wearing some sort of blindfold. The older, bearded man reminded Saesha of Ser Gwayne Corbray, one of Daeron's own Kingsguard, but noone had heard from him in years.
On the main floor with Saesha stood were perhaps two dozen strangers. Most had the bewitching features befitting one of Valyrian descent, but a few were as plain as a stable boy. Shiera herself sat on the steps near Bittersteel, who murmured heatedly with his king about something. Eventually, when strangers had stopped being herded in, Daemon spoke up.
"Good evening. If you're in this room tonight, it can only mean one thing. All of us, here, now, are family. Some of us were born under more favorable circumstances than others. Some of us already have house names. Some of us have never been inside a castle before tonight. But thanks to our father's last words, everyone of us is royal blood. Everyone of us may one day have as much a claim to the Iron Throne as any other. But make no mistake. There was only one rebellion, and only ever will be one. In the coming days, many of you will receive secret missives from people with great names like Lannister and Arryn and Tyrell. You may wonder, if Daemon Blackfyre can sit the Iron Throne, why not me? And the reason is very simple. Tonight, everyone in this room, everyone will sign, in their own blood, a charter stating that you hereby discard any claims to the Iron Throne and swear fealty to myself, Daemon, First of His Name. In exchange, I will give you titles and arranged marriages. Your sister, Shiera Seastar, has already been promised a seat on the Small Council as my Mistress of Whispers. Aegor Rivers is now Aegor Bittersteel, head of House Bitterseel and Lord of Dragonstone. I cannot promise you all such lofty positions... but none of you will ever want for anything again."
One handsome lad with silver hair suggested, "And if we refuse, we die tonight."
Daemon slowly nodded. "That is the stick of it. I don't know most of you, so I will give you the consideration of a moment's thought." While the rest of the 'family' chatted, argued, and celebrated, Daemon signaled for Saesha to approach the steps.
"I'm sorry for the theatrics, but time is of the essence. There can be no doubts when that crown touches my brow. Still... how are you? Did you think we'd ever see this room again?" There was that boyish charm. Earnest. Thoughtful. Kind. Even caked in mud and blood, he did not lack an easy grace.
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Barley
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Post by Barley on May 28, 2016 22:40:51 GMT
"Yes, I did think we would," saesha replied practically, she'd not been helping a cause she thought doomed to fail. She was comfortable in the knowledge none of their new family could hear them, "I am surprised that you're doing this, your grace, loyalty paid for or demanded by sword point is no loyalty at all." She would also say that the signing would not prevent anything, but as it was in blood she imagined magic was in play. "You know you do not need buy mine," she added to the end, these years together in the field should prove that. "Congratulations though," she smiled at her now eldest brother, "now we can have peace."
Saesha herself was exhausted. During the final battle she'd actively taken place in the fighting, since it was the last one, there was no reason to hold back, no more fortifications would be needed if they lost, so she may as well add what should could to their success. They had one, and now an inverted flag flew above the hall.
She found this forced abdication rather insulting. She'd bled and worked to make Daemon King, and it seemed that was not enough, now this farce.
She'd sign though, of course she would.
"You know there's nothing I want from you Daemon, just to return to my books and my studies. I thought I could work to improve the city walls, after the siege there are some faults that could be exploited again. Then maybe try to restore the dragon pit, so you can turn it into something useful.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on May 28, 2016 23:01:33 GMT
Daemon gave her a sad look. "I'm sorry, dear sister..." He took her hand, softly kneading it. "We've only won the war, but the peace still must be won. That means arranged marriages. And our enemies are still powerful enough to turbn anyone in this room into the next Daemon Blackfyre. And then the wars would never stop. We need legitimacy, though it be bought with honey and blood." He took a seat on the steps, and beckoned her to join him. "There is something I need to ask you to do. And I hope, for the love I bear you as my friend and sister, you will find it in your heart to agree to it. Almost no one else here is capable enough, and your twin's skills and connections mean she must remain here in King's Landing." He paused, not out of hesitation or doubt,but so she might consider her answer more carefully. "Saesha... I need you to become Lady of Harrenhal."
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Barley
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Post by Barley on May 28, 2016 23:12:42 GMT
Saesha looked at him for a long moment. Before long the look turned dark.
This was unfair. She'd been helping Daemon since the start, her sister had not, she'd worked for him, fought for him abd bled for him, and now she was being punished while everyone else in their family, these strangers they had never met, were being rewarded. Not only being married off, to someone who was already loyal to Daemon, but also to be lady of that awful smoking ruin of a castle.
Worse! To Belric whatever his name was, that barbarian, who she doubted could string enough words together to even say the vows.
She felt like turning the new kings words back on him, that if he loved her he would not ask her, if he cared for their friendship, he would not ask her. It would do no good though. Daemon wasn't just her friend and brother, he was her King.
"Of course," she said flatly, "if that is what you need of me, of course I will do it."
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on May 29, 2016 2:50:14 GMT
"Thank you. With your wisdom and experience at court, and Blackfort's reputation and martial caliber, you are the only ones, the only ones I trust there. The other loyal Riverlords are driven by petty ambitions and a love of vengeance. I doubt Brynden and Aegor would not have hated each other so much if they had not been born of Blackwood and Bracken. And perhaps..." He squeezed her hand playfully. "You may even come to like Ser Belric."
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Barley
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Post by Barley on May 29, 2016 7:29:12 GMT
And their mutual love of my sister. Saesha thought but did not say it. She smiled at Daemon then, she had never been one to be annoyed for long, it was one of her best qualities, that she dud not mope abd dwell on things. There was no point to it, "besides, Harrenhal is a wreck, that will give me something to work on, but you'll need to find someone else to refortify King's Landing. When am I getting married?"
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on May 29, 2016 18:18:19 GMT
"This very week. Your wedding will be the very first, in Baelor's own sept. I hope you'll give me the honor of escorting you. I'm just a poor boy from a poor family." He patted his horrid armor which could have come from anyone, tipped his head, and gave a mummer's pleading look.
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Barley
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Post by Barley on May 29, 2016 19:28:34 GMT
"This week?" Saesha repeated, looking surprised. They'd be the most hastily cobbled together marriages in human history, not that it mattered to her. "I'd be honoured if you escorted me, your grace," she smiled, thinking Daemon was not acting awfully regal, but then he had just been made King. "What other marriages are being arranged?"
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on May 29, 2016 19:56:24 GMT
"Well..." He pointed out the handsome lad who had spoken up earlier. "Montarys Storm there is to be wed to the Lady Sansa Dondarrion. She is one of our most powerful supporters, but she is also twice widowed. She's always wanted a husband of royal blood and now she is getting one. Dany Stone is to be wed to a Reachlord, likely a Hightower or a Florent, we're still negotiating. Dany wants a place she can raise her children safely. Monty will settle for a castle. We'll find good arrangements for the rest. No one will be forgotten."
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Barley
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Post by Barley on May 29, 2016 20:26:55 GMT
"How nice for everyone else," Saesha could not quite keep the edge of bitterness from her tone. She knew she should be grateful, but Harrenhal, it was far more trouble than it was worth, it seemed like he needed to give someone something and he needed a woman to go with it, and he had a spare sister. "Where is this paper you're going to kill me over," she smiled, it was clearly s joke.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on May 30, 2016 3:24:26 GMT
"Grand Maester Alford has it in the next room. I would rather not have him witness what might happen should someone refuse my offer. This war has done much to distinguish between good men and great men." That last line seemed to be directed at himself, and carried but a hint of scorn before he flashed that brilliant smile that inspired armies.
"But that is the past. I believe you will adore Harrenhal. It is a wondrous place, like something out of a dream. Bittersteel and I once visited it before the war. I stared at it for hours before my brain would finally accept it was real. You must write and inform me what you make of it. Perhaps you will write a proper book of it."
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Barley
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Post by Barley on May 30, 2016 22:33:20 GMT
"You're going to kill everyone who resists in here?" She asked, she supposed where was less of an issue than the act itself. "I will let you know what I think of it, perhaps you can visit, after you've finished here," she suggested, kissing his cheek and standing up, "well, your grace, I had best go sign my life away," she smiled, "I am sure you have many people to talk to."
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on May 30, 2016 23:37:47 GMT
He lead her towards a door nearby. "I doubt it. All the earnest ones already left with Maekar or have already earned our trust. And if I must commit more acts of fratricide, I'd rather get it over with before the coronation. Kinslaying is still a sin, whatever color the King's banner may be."
As Daemon passed his Hand, he commented, "I suspect you'll see your new home long before Aegor sees his. Many golden chamberpots doth he have lined up already in my name. No wonder he grimaces so much."
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Barley
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Post by Barley on May 30, 2016 23:58:13 GMT
"Well, you don't need to murder me," saesha said, glancing at Aegor, "dragonstone, I don't know which is worse."
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The Gambler
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Alea Iacta Est
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Post by The Gambler on May 31, 2016 0:01:36 GMT
The Great Bastard Aegor "Bittersteel" Rivers, now Lord Bittersteel, had just stepped out of the signing room, a rag wrapped around his off-hand where he had draw blood. Apparently it had been decided that if Daemon's most ardent supporter signed first, the man who had already bled more than every individual on this room combined to see his half brother on the throne, no one else would dare take slight in being expected to take the oath.
Victory had done little to improve his infamously dour disposition, the new Hand always looking as if someone had carved his likeness in granite immediately after discovering someone had taken a piss in his porridge.
He merely grunted at the king's quip, the bare minimum to acknowledge he had heard it, noting Saesha with what seemed to be permanently narrowed eyes. "Sister," he said in terse greeting, the word a statement of fact, devoid of any familial warmth.
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