3rd Month of 284 A.C. King's Landing
Lord Rickard Stark
They had come close, very close to losing the council. Something that had set his heart to thumping, something he had not thought would happen a loss to the Baratheons would have been something that would have been unbearable. As it was when Arthur Dayne had killed Baratheon, he had breathed a sigh of relief and had come very close to laughing out loud, seeing his son's face though had stopped him from doing so. But by the gods it was something of a relief, not having to worry about whether or not they were going to end up as heads on spikes. Now he could breathe somewhat, and move onto the next concern he had.
That very concern was sat opposite him in his room, Tywin Lannister the sly devil, was now trying to ingratiate himself into the new regime. Rickard had to give it to the man, he was clever and was someone whom Rickard wanted on his side. "So Lord Tywin, it would seem that your plans have not gone according to how you wished them. Where do you intend to go from here?"
The man looks at him for a long moment and then says. "I would like to be a part of things here in King's Landing. House Lannister has a lot to offer the king and the new regime. The matter with Robert Baratheon was pure prudence as I am sure you can understand. We were late to the rebellion and needed to show our loyalty. But when it comes down to it, things must move on."
"I agree completely my lord. I would like to have the backing of House Lannister and the Westerlands moving forward. It is not something I need, but rather something that could go a long way to healing the scars of the rebellion. Of course, if we are to be allies, there are certain things that need to be done. For instance, Gregor Clegane and Armory Lorch must be handed over to the Martells in order to satisfy some of their demands. Are you willing to part with two of your dogs for this?" Rickard responds.
Lannister shows just how practical a man he is by saying. "I do agree my lord regent. After all their acts were beyond what I had asked them to do and they must be brought to justice. I will give the order for them to stand down and have them handed over to the Kingsguard at the earliest possible chance."
Rickard nods and then says. "Now the matter of your daughter. She was married to Robert Baratheon for quite some time. Is she with child, or is there any risk of her showing in the next few moons?"
The man is silent for a moment and then says. "I have spoken with her, and I believe her when she says she is not with child. I shall remove her from court to ensure that she does not continue to cause problems."
"I thank you for that reassurance my lord. Now the removal of Clegane and Lorch and the handing them over to the Dornish are my two terms of this alliance. I imagine that you, yourself have conditions you would like to have met. I would hear them now." Rickard says.
The lord considers this and then responds. "I have two conditions to giving my unconditional support to this alliance. One I wish for my son Ser Jaime to be released from the Kingsguard, and to be restored as heir to Casterly Rock, he is a man who was forced to join the Kingsguard by a mad king, and as such repaid that sort of trust with treason, though it has benefitted the realm do you truly wish for such a man to remain on the Kingsguard?" Rickard knew what the man was doing, and he allowed for it to seem as if he was being affected, he nodded for the man to continue. "Secondly, I wish to be named hand. I served as hand for twenty years and brought peace and prosperity to the realm, ensuring things did not grow too out of hand even when Aerys began growing more and more erratic. I do believe the two of us would make a powerful alliance."
Rickard considers this as if it is something that he needs deep thought over, but in reality he had already made up his mind. "If I do accept these two terms, I want full access to the spy network I know you have here in King's Landing, and I want the full obedience of the Westerlands. Furthermore, I want us to work as allies to ensure my grandson sits the throne till he is old and grey."
The lion of the Rock, considers this a long time and then finally says. "That seems reasonable to me. It looks as though we have an alliance." Both men stand up and shake hands, sealing the alliance, Rickard knows that Martyn will have been listening and would have noted down all that was said and agreed on. Tywin gets up and leaves and Rickard prepares for bed knowing full well that all is well and good for now, but the game goes on.
That night as he dreams, he sees the things of his nightmares, the things that tormented him as a youth. Visions of dead things in the water, their eyes blue as ice, their breath as cold as the wind at the wall. Crows fought these dead things and fell before them, and the darkness spread across the land. The wolves are howling, the dragons are roaring, but through it all there is only darkness and ice, until the flames come and the wyvern and the hydra come dancing through the darkness, and a light shows, until it turns in on itself and they are all dancing to death's tune. He knows not what this is, but when a sense of despair begins to envelope him he hears a pipe on the wind, a haunting tune, a sad tune, an angry tune, and playing the tune, is a being with the body of a man, and the head of a goat. It looks at him and makes to speak, but then a larger being comes and the vision blurs, but he hears howling and mewling, and the sound of a being long asleep waking.
Rickard wakes up with a start, sweat covering his pillow and his skin. He stands up and splashes his face with water from the basin, the sun is high in the sky, and King's Landing is active. He calls for one of the servants to make a bath, and once that is done he spends a long time washing himself trying to get rid of the thoughts of darkness and death that have plagued him since he was a child. And that beast that keeps plaguing his dreams as well, by the gods he had thought them gone, his father had said they were gone, but then what did his father know, for Edwyle Stark was a mad man. He shakes his head emerges from the bath and gets changed, he has a long day ahead of him and he knows that it must be sorted with a clear head.
The first duty he has to deal with is meeting with his allies to discuss the forming of the Regency Council. Something that was a matter of grave importance considering how drastic and bad the only other regency council had been for King Aegon the Dragonbane. His main allies meeting were Lord Simon Staunton returned and in good health, Lord Mace Tyrell, Prince Doran Martell, Ser Gerold Hightower and finally Lord Hoster Tully. Rickard greeted each man and then said. "Good morning my lords, I thank you all for coming. We have one thing that must be discussed and that is the forming of the regency council. As the last regency council that was formed ended in such disaster we must ensure that this one does not. For the next fifteen years, we shall be ruling in the name of my grandson King Jonothor Targaryen and as such we must rule wisely and justly. I would hear your thoughts."
Ser Gerold speaks then. "I agree with you my lord. We all know that the two places that are sorted on the council are of course the Lord Regent and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. These two places are going to remain intact and present that is going to be accepted. The other positions are up for grabs though, and I do believe that having a council that is more representative of each of the seven kingdoms would do the King a world of good."
Lord Hoster speaks then. "This is good, I think that having seven representatives from each of the regions would be good. Though of course there is the matter of the Ironborn, who were notably absent from the council and have no responded to any correspondence for some time. There is a man who has been dying to speak with you my lord regent, since the council began."
Rickard looks at Hoster and merely says. "Then once this meeting is done, I shall meet with him. Now let us move to the positions, there are the positions of hand of the king, master of laws, master of coin, master of ships, master of whispers and Grand Maester all up available, though of course the citadel will decide who the new Grand Maester shall be considering what unfortunately befell Pycelle. Now personally, I believe that for master of coin someone such as Lord Wyman Manderly would be a good master of coin, as he has experience dealing in matters of coin and trade, and is unfailingly loyal to the King and would ensure the best deals for the crown and the realm."
There is some murmuring there and then Tyrell speaks. "Whilst I can see the sense in having Lord Manderly as master of coin, some might wonder if he was not simply your lackey my lord regent. After all, the Manderlys have been unfailingly loyal to the Starks for thousands of years. Someone of a more impartial note would be good. I would suggest my own goodfather Lord Leyton Hightower, as head of Oldtown he knows customs and finance like the back of his hand."
Silence and then Prince Doran speaks. "Whilst Hightower is someone that could do a good job, considering that the Hightowers themselves have perhaps not had the best financial fortune in recent times with the rebellion and all, it might be wiser to go with Lord Wyman. A man who holds frugality to his heart. My vote is for Lord Wyman."
Lord Simon speaks then. "I agree with Prince Doran, Lord Wyman would make an excellent master of coin and he is here now and can take up duties straight away. I vote for Lord Wyman."
Rickard looks at Hoster who merely says. "I know Lord Wyman quite well, and believe he would also make a fine master of coin. I too vote for Lord Wyman Manderly." Three votes to one, all look to Ser Gerold now.
"My nephew is many things but I do believe he would be better suited to his books and scrolls in Oldtown than here in the capital. I vote for Lord Wyman Manderly as well." Ser Gerold says.
With the matter of master of coin sorted, Rickard then turns his attention to master of laws. "Now this is an interesting position, reforms and reviews of the laws of the kingdom is going to be an important position with all that is planned during this regime. I would go with a man who has much experience and was someone who wished for reform during Aerys reign, and whom I believe would do the job good. Lord Simon Staunton."
Simon looks somewhat happy and shocked by this decision, but really Rickard needs someone who he knows will kiss his boots on the council, for it will be hard enough with what is to come soon. Tyrell of course seems somewhat unhappy. "I see why Lord Simon could be a good choice, yet he was on the mad king's council and did little. I am willing to engage in reform and have the power and the savvy to back it up."
There is silence and then Hightower speaks up. "I believe reform is something that needs an able hand and experience, and Simon Staunton has that in abundance. I vote for Simon Staunton for master of laws."
Rickard sees Tyrell begin to flounder, and when they look at Hoster and Doran, both men to be deep in thought. Hoster is the only other person who votes for Tyrell saying. "The Reach is crucial to this alliance I believe having Lord Tyrell as master of laws is important to ensuring we are on a sure footing."
Martell though goes against Tyrell and merely says. "Lord Staunton you have my vote."
So far two members Rickard has wanted on the council are on the council, master of coin Wyman Manderly, master of laws Simon Staunton. Now the next position is something that it seems all are agreed on Paxter Redwyne as master of ships, a good man experienced and someone whom Rickard knows he has leverage over. Velaryon's own time will come in due course. Especially if Redwyne continues to play to the tune Rickard has set him to.
Now the final two positions that will most definitely be open to contention, he decides to ask about Varys. "Now has anyone seen the master of whispers since the council began?"
Staunton speaks. "I know he was present during the council was in its initial stages, but I have not seen him since Baratheon died. Nor have any of my former contacts here. It seems he has just vanished."
Prince Doran speaks then. "I have not seen him since he came to me speaking of how there was something of interest to me and my brother beyond the narrow sea. And how we would get our chances for revenge the old way rather than following you my lord regent. I told him no and have since not seen or heard from him."
Rickard is intrigued by this but before he can say anything Hightower speaks. "Varys is gone, and that is for good. The rot in King Aerys reign, began with him. If he is gone, then I say good riddance."
Some murmurs of agreement, and then Rickard speaks. "So, shall we all say we are in agreement that Prince Oberyn would make the perfect master of whispers to counter act Varys. If we do assume the man has returned to Essos."
All present say "Yes."
On to the most contentious issue, "Whom to name hand though. A regent needs a hand, a good strong hand and so far there are only two people I can think of Tywin Lannister and yourself my lord Hoster."
Silence and then Hoster says. "I would be grateful for the honour, but seeing the lion cowed between your jaws is something that I am most fascinated to observe. I will gladly wait my turn."
Ser Gerold speaks then. "Lord Tywin would make a good hand, he did good work during Aerys reign. And as Lord Hoster has said, there will be a time for his power to go and this is it."
Prince Doran speaks then. "I wonder, if this is not part of some deal, give the Kingslayer back and name Tywin hand in return for his support to prevent any trouble. Is the man handing over Lorch and Clegane?"
Rickard nods and says. "Yes he is my prince. And I promise you that soon your chance will come for true justice. And when it does I will not stand in your way."
Silence as they all wait for the man to speak it seems as though he is weighing every thought in his mind and when the Prince does finally speak it seems a heavy weight as been lifted off his shoulders. "Very well, Tywin Lannister shall be hand, but I will want his head one day, and soon that day will come."
Rickard nods, and then says. "Very well then my lords, I believe that settles it then. Tywin Lannister is hand of the king, Wyman Manderly is master of coin, Simon Staunton you are master of laws, Paxter Redwyne is master of ships, master of whispers is Prince Oberyn, and grand maester shall be settled by the citadel. Martyn I want the respective lords to know of their appointment and that they shall be attending a council meeting on the morrow." His faithful steward bows and leaves.
Once that is done, he calls for Hoster to bring the man from the islands in. The man who comes in, is identified as Tristan Farwynd, the lord of Sealskin Point. The man speaks first once introductions have been made. "My lords, I urge you to be diligent, I came to Seagard in the hopes of trying to warn you all of the threat presented by Balon Greyjoy. His father was one for peace but he is a war monger and will want more land than they have right now. My own house was wiped out for protesting against this course of action. They are looking west for land, and I urge you all to unite."
There is silence and then Mace Tyrell speaks. "The Iron Islands would never dare to attack the mainland's, they have not the fleet to do so."
Farwynd speaks then and says. "They took no part in the rebellion because they were building up their fleet. Balon Greyjoy has some 100 war ships in his fleet known as the Iron Fleet. Devils they are and they are coming I warn you."
Tyrell is about to reply, when the door enters and Martyn Cassel comes in carrying a letter. "My lord, word from Lannisport, the Ironborn are on the move, they have sacked Fair Isle."