6th Month of 283 A.C. Storm's End
Lord Rickard Stark
Since, King Robert had become more and more corrupted by the power of the crown on his head. It seemed not having anyone to tell him no was making the king indulge in all the things that he had denied himself during the war, mainly wine and women. And whilst Rickard understood the needs of men, it somewhat grated on him that the king could have doubts about his own betrothed and yet would indulge in such carnal pleasures in public. Things between the king and Rickard's own son had been frosty at best, and there was not a word spoken between them when they departed, Rickard wondered at that, was their bond broken? And if so where could this go, there were many things he would need to ponder. Winter and travelling with an army had slowed down their progress and ensured that they were only now arriving at Storm's End despite having left King's Landing some two moons ago.
As it were, he was amazed at the display of grandeur that the Tyrells and their bannermen had going on in a siege camp. Grand tents were all around the place, and it seemed there were constant feasts being held from what he could tell. Mace Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden was a tall man strong of shoulder and broad of chest, a strong man and seemingly a strong lord. "King Robert, is very willing to accept you back into the king's peace and into the realm at large. So long as you bend the knee, refute any claims of allegiance to the Targaryens and of course end this siege. It has gone on for long enough and now is not the time to begin new grudges or extend old ones." Rickard says.
Mace Tyrell nods his head and says. "Indeed my lord, and having spoken to many of my lords about it I am willing to bend the knee. So long as his grace can promise that there will be no harsh retribution for what I and my lords did during this war. After all we merely did as we were asked by King Aerys, and whilst the man was mad and indeed very dangerous, he was the king."
"Of course my lord, that is a valid concern to have. As such the King has decided to pardon you without enacting any harsh recriminations. Indeed, the king has decided to be most merciful and has allowed me to bring back your son and heir Willas." Rickard responds.
Tyrell's face lights up at that and when the boy runs into his arms, Rickard smiles somewhat at seeing the reunion, though there is a pang in his heart when he thinks of Brandon and the son he will never see again. Nonetheless when the two are done with their embraces, the boy returns to his father's side and Tyrell speaks once more. "My lord, I would you like to thank you and the king for bringing me, my boy back. As I am sure you can understand, I have been worried about him during the course of this war. Now that he is home I will be sure to spoil him rotten. I will willingly bend the knee now that my son is back." With that, the man gets down on one knee alongside his fellow lords and knights and they follow his lead when he says. "I, Mace of the House Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden Warden of the South do formally acknowledge Robert Baratheon as King of Westeros and do hereby foreswear any allegiance towards House Targaryen and will hereby be loyal to House Baratheon under Robert Baratheon and his heirs."
Once that is done Rickard asks to speak with the man in private and so they go to the man's tent, and once they are seated Rickard speaks. "So my lord, I know that soon enough you and your men shall be going back to the Reach. But before that happens I wish to know what you can tell me of the man inside that castle. What is Stannis Baratheon like?"
There is a sense of tension in the man's shoulders but he seems to truly speak from the heart when he says. "He is a stubborn man that one. We have heard of the king's ferociousness and his desire to go through hell and back to get what he thinks is his. Well his brother is just as stubborn but he did not crack or bend once. There were a few battles at the beginning of the siege and they lost men, we lost men, but once the man and his people were inside those gates it was almost as if something went up and no matter what we did they would not crack. We would take their food and burn their lands but he would remain in Storm's End along with his lords and people and held out. Defiance is in that one's nature, either that or he is too prideful to admit defeat. They I believe were running out of food, and had I not ordered Lord Redwyne to allow that smuggler through then they would never have gotten those onions and they would be dead by now."
"Smuggler?" Rickard asks. "What smuggler?"
"Davos Seaworth, a man from King's Landing whom Lord Redwyne found patrolling the waters here with his own ship and crew. We spoke with one another and I allowed him a small window to get some food through. After all I did not want the Baratheon brothers dying, especially after news of the God's Eye. I am many things my lord but I am not a complete idiot." Tyrell says.
Rickard smiles somewhat and then says. "So you are saying that the Baratheons and their people owe their survival to you?" the man nods and Rickard fights the urge to laugh.
Mace smiles as well and then asks. "So tell me my lord, we all know of the rumours of Robert Baratheon but what is he like in the flesh?"
Rickard hesitates for a moment, his desire to speak the truth and his own need to make sure the king's reputation is not ruined. "The king is a good man, a fierce warrior and a good commander. He is strong and he is compassionate, something that Aerys most definitely was not. He will make a good king I believe, someone capable of healing the wounds this war has created."
"It is interesting that you should say that my lord. For the talk of the camp is that Tywin Lannister is trying to move in on the king, and ingrate himself in with him." Tyrell says.
Rickard is somewhat taken aback by this and asks. "What do you mean my lord? It is true Tywin Lannister has been speaking with the King, but that is normal after all the man has been wanting his heir back since the day Aerys announced Ser Jaime was to join the Kingsguard."
Tyrell's eyes gleam mischievously and his voice is deceptively soft when he says. "The word going round is that Tywin is trying to see his daughter wed to Robert. That the king is in love with your daughter does not seem to matter to him. After all, with the Lady Lyanna having been abducted by Prince Rhaegar some two years ago now, many are wondering if the king will set aside his love for your daughter and choose Cersei Lannister in order to achieve political stability."
Rickard feels anger begin to boil but then says. "Whilst the king would be within his rights to marry Cersei Lannister, he has constantly reassured me that he will stick to the betrothal and marry Lyanna. I do not think he is a man to go against his word."
"Whilst this is true, it is one thing to claim to love someone when they are not there, and another to actually say it when they are there. And my lord, no matter what you might wish to say to yourself, the lady Lyanna has been away from everyone but Prince Rhaegar for a year before the prince died on the God's Eye. One would wonder how the king would feel face to face with his betrothed knowing she has been with another man, and then when he looks at Cersei Lannister and sees a beautiful maiden." Tyrell responds.
Rickard grits his teeth and says. "What are you suggesting Tyrell?"
Tyrell holds his hands up in a pacifying gesture and says. "I am merely saying what surely someone as smart as you has realised. Robert Baratheon could very well fall prey to Tywin Lannister, and leave you out to dry. Thus making all the hard work and effort you put in during the war and before it, amount to nothing. There are two dragons left in the world right now and one of them is pregnant. If I were you I would begin looking at them and thinking."
Rickard nods he has already been considering this but he has other ideas and other dragons in mind. Sensing that the conversation is most definitely entering dangerous territory he stands up and says. "Lord Tyrell, it has been a pleasure speaking with you. Right now I and my men need to rest so we shall. I expect to see you and your men gone from here within the week." With that he shakes the man's hand and then leaves, returning to his own tent and falling into a fitful sleep, dreaming of snakes, dragons, wolves and lions. Over the next couple of days he and his men observe as the reachmen begin removing their belongings and themselves from the grounds around Storm's End. First to go is the Redwyne Fleet sailing from Shipbreaker's Bay and making their long way back to the Arbor. By the end of the week the Tyrells and their bannermen have gone and left Storm's End and soon enough the Stormlands. When the last of them have gone, Rickard rides towards the gates of Storm's End with his son, Martyn Cassel, Willam Dustin and Mark Ryswell and asks to be let in, the gates open slowly and when they ride in Rickard is horrified by what he sees. The people, those who are left are skeletal, he can literally see their bones protruding, the signs that they were close to death are all there. When he meets with a tall man with black hair and skeletal appearance makes him think that death has a name and it is Stannis Baratheon.
Rickard dismounts, and shakes hand with the man and then asks. "Lord Stannis, I presume? How goes it?"
Rickard has heard much about the younger Baratheon brother, and that he was supposedly much like his grandfather Ormund Baratheon, that he held out for a year in a difficult siege suggests as much. His tone is curt and to the point when he speaks. "Well Lord Stark. I thank you for coming to end the siege. In all truth it ended the minute Rhaegar Targaryen died, but Mace Tyrell seemed to slow to realise that. Now, before I forget, we do not have much to eat or the drink but I would be failing as a lord without offering you something."
Rickard looks at the man and then at the people around him and says. "Thank you, but I must decline. I will not tarry for long. I do bring instructions from your brother King Robert. He has formally named you as Lord of Storm's End and confirms you as such, and has asked that you begin looking for a bride. Furthermore he has asked that when you are able to begin building a fleet to set sail for Dragonstone to claim the two remaining Targaryens. This will be your first mission as master of ships."
The man looks taken aback and it shows when he asks. "And where am I to get the supplies from as well as the money?"
"The crown shall pay for the building of the ships and the materials, as to where you get them from, that is for you to decide. Though the king wishes it to be done with some haste. Now, is Davos Seaworth here by any chance?" Rickard responds.
Stannis nods and says. "Davos come here." The smuggler is a slight man with brown hair and a beard that is already beginning to grow grey. "Ser Davos, this is Lord Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. Lord Rickard, this is Ser Davos Seaworth. I knighted him for his service in getting us food when no one else did."
Rickard nods and then asks. "Might I have a private word with the man my lord?" Stannis nods and then walks away and orders for everyone else to do the same. Leaving Rickard alone with the smuggler. "So tell me Ser Davos, what are your plans now? You are knighted has Lord Stannis given you a role to play?"
"No my lord he has not. But I will do what he asks." The man responds bluntly.
Rickard nods. "Perhaps you might be of service to him, aid him in building the ships for Dragonstone. And when that is done, perhaps you might have something waiting for you in the north."
He expects the man to protest but he merely says. "Wherever there is work I shall be happy to help."
It is plans of the north's future that fill Rickard's mind that night in bed, and the next morning when he and his men march out of Storm's End for Dorne, and for Lyanna.