Walder Frey
Gods it was warm, so bloody warm, he'd never known the Twins to be so gods damned warm, and he'd be alive for fifteen years. As he looked out at the great hall though and saw the music and revelry going on he supposed such heat was only to be expected. It was after all his wedding, and the Twins needed some excuse to celebrate. Things had been quite dire in the past few years since the last Blackfyre war, with the north being an independent kingdom, there had been no people coming from the south or the north to do trade, and as such the tolls that House Frey once used to thrive on collecting had become scarce. This had consequently seen their gold reserves begin to dry up, meaning that he had had to increase the toll on the bridge, and also charge more for the crops that those in the southern parts of the Riverlands bought from him.
He had not liked doing such a thing, but he supposed doing so was better than letting his people starve, which was most definitely what would have happened had he continued charging the rates that his father, and his father before him had charged for their produce. There had been grumbling, of course there, was there always was going to be grumbling, the riverlords had always been a quarrelsome lot, and the centuries of rule under the Targaryens had not done much to change that, still it was proving to be quite tiresome for Walder, listening to men such as Lord Shawney arguing the same point over and over again, as if they thought Walder would forget what had been said.
Still he supposed that this wedding would give his people something to celebrate, and the dowry that Lord Royce had given him was sizeable. Such money Walder had never seen before, at least not in an actual physical form, it seemed that Lord Royce desperately wanted his daughter Perra wed to Walder, why though Walder still did not know. His uncle Tomard, said it was because Lord Royce's own uncle was wed to the Winter Dragon's cousin's sister, and the man wished to curry favour with Daeron Stark, and that this wedding itself could prove very useful in the future. How though, Walder was not entirely sure, not yet anyway. As far as he was concerned, Perra was a beautiful woman with full breasts and a healthy appetite, if the way she was fondling him under the table was any indication.
Soon enough calls for the bedding began to be heard over the hall, and so the night ended with Walder Frey bedding Perra Royce, with any luck he would have put a child in his lady wife. The succession of the Twins was of utmost importance, what with his uncle Tomard being a single widowed man with no children of his own. Still it appeared as if there would be no rest for him, not two weeks after his wedding was over and done with, a raven came from Riverrun, Lord Brynden Tully congratulated Walder on his marriage and then asked him when he would be able to pay his due of taxes. Not for a bloody long time was the answer, though the dowry Lord Royce had given him had been sizeable it was still not enough for him to be able to comfortably pay of the taxes and loans he owed, sorry that the Twins owed. His father truly had been a fool, not only had he taken a loan out from the Iron Bank he had asked for money from Riverrun and Casterly Rock, and now both great lords were breathing down Walder's neck asking him when he would be able to pay it off.
He was more worried about what Lord Tully would do, should he forfeit on the loans he still needed to repay Riverrun. The Lannisters themselves were engaged in a squabble over whom should be the regent for Tybolt Lannister's little brat, and therefore had only sent the notice out as a sort of customary thing, his uncle had told him. Lord Tully though was determined to get his money back, through one way or another, and as a result Walder knew he had to tread carefully with the man when he wrote his response. His response included an apology, stating that though he would have liked to have been able to pay off the loan now, he could not due to the need to collect all the harvest and taxes from his own bannermen before taking account of the costs of the wedding, he sent the note of and received a raven in reply saying that was fine, but soon enough he would have to pay.
With that headache out of the way, for the time being at least, Walder was able to spend more of his time focussing on his young wife and his people. He spent most of his nights with Perra, they fucked in every single position known to man, and they did it not once but as many times as they were both able, often finishing the night exhausted and sated, and yet there still did not seem to be any sign of an heir, even two moons into their wedding which was when such a thing would usually become apparent. When he raised the issue with the maester, the man simply said that sometimes such things took a lot of time, stating that it had taken Walder's own mother some ten years of marriage before he was conceived and born. Walder does not feel entirely reassured, especially when his own uncle weds some Blackwood girl and immediately gets her with child, or so it seems.
It feels as if his uncle is now beginning to breathe down his back, a constant presence reminding Walder what he stands to lose should he not manage to get his wife with child soon enough. That only spurs him onto keep trying, and so he and Perra fuck until they are both tired and sick of each other, it does not seem to be paying off, but then five moons into their marriage Perra comes to him, her skin glowing, her eyes bright and she informs him that she is with child, and for that day and the week that follows Walder feels like the happiest man alive. And then Lords Shawney, Smallwood, Ambrose and Goodbrook arrive at the Twins and his good mood disappears.
Walder greets them all, a smile on his face though it is not genuine. "My lords, I am so glad that you could make it. I know we have much to discuss, and I will be happy to do so, but first I must ask, where is Lord Darry I thought he would have deigned to join us?"
Lord Harbert Goodbrook grumbles. "Darry got cold feet that one has more honour than sense, and has decided to remain at home with his fat oaf of a wife."
Walder smiles internally, without Darry he now has a way to exclude himself from this talk of rebelling, but first he must play the game. "Ah that is a shame, but alas Darry always was an old woman at heart we are better without him."
They all sit down in his solar, his uncle present as well as the 'voice of reason' and Lord Shawney speaks first, speaking plainly as is his way. "Well now that Darry is out of the equation, we do not have as many men as we had first hoped to raise in rebellion against the throne. But we do hope that House Frey will still join us in rebelling against the kinslayer on the throne. After all the Winter Dragon does have a close relationship with you does he not my lord?"
Sometimes Walder wonders how everyone he meets always remarks on that conversation and how they came to know of it in the first place, he will need to see who was spying on him that day and have their tongues cut out. Aloud he merely says. "I spoke with Daeron Stark but the once my lord, whilst he gave me many valuable lessons, I would not say that we share a close relationship. Still what would be in it for me and mine were I to side with you in this rebellion?"
Lord Shawney speaks once more. "Well my lord, as you know if you combine your strength to that of myself, Lords Goodbrook, Ambrose and Smallwood then we shall have a sizeable force, enough to give Riverrun trouble, and enough to persuade Harrenhal and Stone Hedge to side with us. If you side with us, then you shall win much and more gold and plunder for you and your family. Your coffers will swell with the wealth of the Riverlands, and the taxes and loans you owe Riverrun will be forgotten in an instant."
Walder laughs slightly then and asks. "How can you be so sure of that? Harrenhal betrayed Daemon Blackfyre during the first Blackfyre war, and remained neutral during the previous war. How do you know that they will not do either of those things once more? And Riverrun will never forget the debts owed to it. To make them forget we would have to kill every single Tully that there is, I do not think that would be possible. And you say Bracken will join us, Lord Otho Bracken is a brute and many other things but stupid he is not. He will not join us unless the Golden Company invades."
Lord Smallwood speaks then his voice harsh and brittle. "I think we are wasting our time here my lords. Frey does not mean to join us, had he wanted to he would have done so already. We shall have to leave here empty handed just as we had to do during the reign of his fool of a father."
Uncle Tomard speaks then his voice sharp. "I would not be so quick to judge Lord Smallwood, there are many things that must be taken into consideration, things that I am sure you have not even bothered thinking about. So please be patient."
Lord Goodbrook speaks then for the first time since that morning. "We are being patient Ser Tomard; we have come and have stated why we think House Frey should join its strength to ours. We are waiting for your nephew to make his decision, and with the way news travels in Westeros, we would like for him to make his decision as quickly as possible."
Walder nearly laughs at that, has Lord Goodbrook ever done anything quickly in his life? Walder very much doubts so. Out loud though he says the words he and his uncle had agreed on before the lords had come to the Twins. "Well then my lords you should be happy to know that I have listened to your pleas and have reached a decision. Whilst I would love to commit my troops to your cause, I do not wish to commit to a cause that remains uncertain even now. I will give you food and money where it is required; these suppliers will be sold to you at a fair cost, the loans to Riverrun withstanding. That should be enough to allow you some time. I will also allow the northern forces to pass through unimpeded once the fighting starts so that you shall not lack in aid."
The lords spend a large amount of time talking amongst themselves debating the merits of the proposal before Lord Goodbrook eventually speaks. "That is a better offer than we could have hoped for my lord. We shall accept that and take it with us. Hopefully Lord Bracken will see sense and join his strength to ours."
They all stand then, and make for the door but before they do, Lord Smallwood turns to him and says. "You have gotten away freely here Frey, but do not think that next time will be so easy for you. Next time when the King calls you will answer with steel." He stalks out of the room then.
Elaena Targaryen
Summer was warm and ripe in King's Landing, it always had been even during the summers of her childhood, which were now faded with time, sepia coloured. The city still stunk worse than a unwashed whore, or her second husband had done. There was much that needed to be done before the city would ever truly feel like home again for her but of course those were just the whims of an old woman in the final stages of her life, not the concerns of the King or council. Though if you thought about it properly, she was a member of the council, her husband being so incompetent as master of coin that she did most of the work.
Her husband, the mere thought of Lord Lyonel Lefford was enough to cause Elaena to shiver with disgust, the man was almost as old as her uncle would have been where he still alive, the only reason that she had wed him was more out of a sense of duty and at King Aerys behest, that they needed a way to placate Lefford after the skirmishes with the Tullys. The man was Maekar's master of coin, but was completely hopeless at his duties, no wonder the fish were able to steal so much of his coin, he never knew where it was when he needed it.
She had been wed thrice, her marriage to Lyonel Lefford her final marriage, a marriage that had lasted so far for seven years. Before that she had been wed to Lord Artys Connington Lord of Griffin's Roost, now there was a man who knew what was what. Artys Connington she had married for love, when Daeron the Good still sat the throne, back when she was young and of a sharper mind. She had borne Artys three children, one of whom was now Lord of Griffin's Roost and the other served in Maekar's Kingsguard. Artys had been a sharp man, a passionate man and a kind man, much different to Lyonel Lefford, and a much better husband than Ossifer Plumm.
Plumm she had wed at Aegon's insistence, the fat fool had thought it would be funny to see his cousin a dragon wed to that lowborn scum. She had made it work though, Plumm had died after the birth of Viserys, and so she had ruled as Viserys regent for some five years ensuring that everything was in order, and that their coffers were filled sufficiently. That was where she had learnt how to become good with coins and numbers, and how to manipulate them to her favour, and the favour of those she cared about. Her Viserys was now a powerful lord in his own right, wed to one of the Lannister sisters, and pushing for the regency of the young boy lord there. She hoped he would get it, the lions needed to be taught a sharp lesson.
Seven children she had borne, two with Alyn, dear sweet Alyn who still haunted her dreams at night. Jon and Jeyne, both of whom had done well in life, Jeyne had wed her half brother Lord Valarr Velaryon and had become a fine lady of the Driftmark though she was now dead, dead of a fever at birthing another child. Jon had become a skilled knight, but that kinslayer had used his skill and had killed him with it, his son was a bitter man because of that, but still Jon and Jeyne were the pride of her children. Viserys was powerful, but he was not her firstborn, still she loved him with all her heart, as she did his sister Daena who had been Lady of Castamere, and had raised several proud and strong sons. Her children with Artys were of course another source of pride for her; Nestor was Lord of Griffin's Roost and was to serve on Maekar's small council, as master of laws, an important position considering the recent troubles that had been seen throughout the land as of Aerys death. Nestor was the pride of the Kingsguard, a finer swordsman there had not been for many a year, not since Aemon himself had worn the white. Boremund, now Boremund was a proud man, a strong willed lad as well, her son, but he had often come into arguments with her about most things, he was too much like her, but then again he was a strong warrior and that would be needed in what was to come.
Thinking about what had happened in the council meeting that morning made Elaena sigh. Maekar's council was not united; necessity had meant that fools such as her own husband were on a council they had no business being on. Such was the case with the master of ships Derryck Velaryon, the man was suspected of crimes that were very worrying for Elaena, more because the boy was too stupid to realise he was a suspect in them. There was tension alright in the council chamber, and she knew her nephew hated it, that he did not want to be there, that he would rather be anywhere but in King's Landing. Alas Maekar had always been dealt a harsh hand in life, but he would plough through and continue, he needed to the kingdoms needed him to.
Bittersteel was mobilising his men once more, the fool, fighting for something that was a lost cause, the Blackfyres would not make it on to the throne, for whilst Bittersteel and Daeron Stark might be some of the best warriors to have ever graced Westeros and whilst they might inspire undying loyalty in their men, they were yet to realise that their cause had died that same day Daemon had died. Until they realised that, Westeros would continue to bleed, and many innocent people would lose their lives and families would be torn apart. Mayhaps things would have been different had her brother Daeron had survived Dorne, if he had then she knew that he would have broken the betrothal between Baelor and Daena and allowed her and Willam to marry. Then there would have been none of this chaos, Daemon would have been a Stark and the line of succession would have been secure. But no, her brother had to go and play the knight, the conqueror and Westeros was still paying the price for it in blood.
A knock on the door stirs Elaena from her brooding, calling for whoever it is to come in, she stands when she sees Rhaena there standing in the doorway. Her sister had been beautiful when they were both young, and her dedication to the faith has not taken away her beauty but has refined it. They embrace and then sit down in the two chairs in her room, comfortable silence envelopes them for a while before Rhaena speaks, her voice soft as it always is. "What news from the council meeting then sister?"
Elaena sighs, takes a sip of wine and then says. "More bickering amongst the lords, they are like little children complaining of things that ultimately Maekar will decide upon, and he often has before the council meets. Bittersteel is moving from Tyrosh, for Westeros they all agree and yet they hesitate to move, for the Riverlords have formally declared rebellion. Smallwood, Goodbrook, Shawney, Ambrose and Lothston have risen up and are now plundering the Riverlands."
Rhaena is silent for a long moment and then she asks. "What does Maekar plan on doing about that then?"
"At present nothing. He believes that this is merely a feint by the Blackfyres, to distract him whilst Bittersteel invades with the Golden Company. Lord Brynden Tully has called all his remaining banners and is marching to do battle with the rebels, though all eyes are now on Winterfell to see what Daeron Stark will do." She replies.
"Have these rebels said why they are doing as they are? Are they unhappy with the rule of the Tullys or do they fight for the Black dragon?" Rhaena asked.
Elaena sighed. "They claim to be fighting for Aegon Blackfyre, though my fool of a husband thinks they merely mean to usurp the Tullys from Riverrun. He forgets that those houses rebelling rebelled when Daemon rose up the first time. Daeron will have to fight now, he will come marching and then there will be more blood and corpses than there was last time."
Elaena hears her sister sigh as well. "All that blood being spilt for a damnable chair. I have never understood what that chair does to smart people. Our uncle was one of the smartest men I knew, and yet he allowed Baelor to do as he wished for ten years, and he allowed the ending of Willam and Daena's love and then reunited them when it was too late. And now we are paying the price. This war will never end, the High Septon claims it will go on until the end of days."
Elaena had never had much time for the Faith, not after what her brother had done to her and her sisters, yet Rhaena had sought solace in it. "That is true, I think Baelor was to mad to realise what he had done by spurning Willam the way he did. That one thing along with Daeron dying is what will haunt us till we are both dead in the ground. But surely there must be a way for peace to come, a settlement. Will the High Septon not intervene?"
Rhaena shakes her head. "No, he believes that it is not his place to question the work of men or the gods. He believes that the answers will come in time. And he has forbidden me from trying to bring peace. He says the two dragons will need to work it out themselves, meaning Daeron and Maekar. They are good friends; surely they can reach an accord. That is what the High Septon believes, despite my words to the contrary."
"The High Septon seems a fool sister. Were the Most Devout lax in choosing a man who had his wits about him? Or is the man Baelor come again?" Elaena says frustrated.
Her sister merely smiles. "The High Septon is an interesting man. He says much and does little when it comes to politics. Yet there have been no disturbances amongst the small folk as there were during Aerys reign that is the High Septon's work. He preaches for the people to remain peaceful, and the seven will deliver them justice and plenty. It is up to Maekar and the small council to ensure that that happens."
Elaena does not argue there, instead she changes the topic of conversation. "I hear you will be visiting Oldtown soon. What has driven you to go there?"
Rhaena for the first time in a long while seems nervous, and then her next words surprise Elaena. "I spoke with someone from Oldtown not three days past in the Great Sept, and they informed me that something strange is happening in the Hightower, and the Citadel. Lord Albar has not stirred from his tower for some time, and the conclave it is said has met once more, though the maester remains the same. I am going to see what has happened to our contacts there."
"You believe they are plotting something?" Elaena asks.
"I know not sister. All I know is that I have a very bad feeling about this, whatever it is. I must go and see what is happening, I must speak with our contacts in Oldtown and I must stop whatever it is that the Citadel is plotting. We have had enough trouble from them in the past, now we can ill afford more." Rhaena replies.
On that solemn note her sister gets up and Elaena bids her farewell with a kiss and watches as she walks away down the corridor, no doubt to see King Maekar. Elaena herself returns to her and her husband's bedroom in Maegor's, feeling the ache in her bones, more so than she has ever done before. When she enters, her husband gives her a letter, and she feels her heart sink then. War once more has come, much more than before.