Leaving the underground warehouse, the servants were bustling about, packing and tidying. I grabbed one and asked what was happening. Apparently, the guards on duty at the Tower had spotted a large host approaching in the distance. The banner at the front displayed a golden crowned stag on a black field: Duke Robert Baratheon had returned.
I ran to the top of the gatehouse. Maester Cressen and Renly were already there. After exchanging greetings, Maester Cressen pointed towards the figures and banners in the distance, explaining the heraldry of each family to Renly. Learning the symbols of the various houses and recognizing their key members was a crucial part of a noble's education.
Robert rode at the head of the column. Behind him, the banner guard carried their own golden crowned stag on a black field, a sight already common throughout the castle.
"To Robert's left is a young man with silver hair, followed by two white-robed knights. The silver-haired youth is Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, whose banner is the three-headed red dragon on a black field, the symbol of the royal family. Your father, the current king, and Lord Tywin, the Hand, have been lifelong friends, having grown up and fought together."
"On Robert's right is Oberyn Martell, the Prince of Dorne, whose banner is a golden spear piercing a red sun. He was exiled by his brother because he poisoned someone from House Yronwood, forcing Doran's son, Quentyn, to serve as a page in their household. He is only allowed to return to Dorne on very important occasions."
"The two white cloaks behind the Prince are Ser Barristan Selmy and Arthur Dayne, who carries a greatsword. They are both members of the Kingsguard. Though both are of noble birth, they have sworn to the Kingsguard vows: they own no lands, take no wives, and father no children, pledging their service only to the monarch. That's why they don't display their family banners."
"Following them is a young man named Jon Connington, who is currently the Prince's squire. Squires are not supposed to have their own banners, but the banner guard behind him carries his family's red and white griffin banner, so he will certainly be participating in the upcoming tournament."
Robert followed behind, with Eddard Stark, the second son of the Duke of Winterfell in the North, whose sigil was a grey direwolf on a white background.
There was also Abert Arryn, the nephew and heir of the Duke of the Eyrie in the Vale, whose sigil was a golden eagle on a white moon against a blue background. Robert, Eddard, and Abert were the three iron brothers of the Eyrie."
The maester took the water cup from the maid and took a sip, then continued.
"The Selmy family of Harvest Hall and the Connington family of Griffin's Roost both belong to the Stormlands and are vassals of our Baratheon family. The Dayne family is a vassal of the Martell family of Dorne. The person with the best martial skills in the family is qualified to hold the family's heirloom Valyrian Steel greatsword 'Dawn' and is granted the title of 'Sword of the Morning'. 'Sword of the Morning' is not a nickname, but a unique knighthood bestowed upon their family by the Dornish royal family."
Witt watched the riding team quickly pass through the town and arrive at the castle gatehouse. Robert, Rhaegar, and Oberyn were in the front, followed by Eddard, Abert, Barristan, Arthur, and Jon. Robert's loud voice made everyone laugh and talk.
A voice shouted from the gatehouse, "Big brother Robert!"
Robert looked up and responded loudly. The guests in the team finished eating the broken bread and salt prepared by Stannis at the entrance of the hall and entered the castle with laughter.
This was Robert's first jousting tournament after becoming the Duke of the Stormlands. He and his iron brother, Eddard Stark, had come south from the Eyrie in advance. They had stopped by King's Landing and invited Prince Rhaegar and Prince Oberyn to come along. Prince Oberyn's sister was pregnant after marrying Prince Rhaegar, and both of them loved martial arts. After being invited, they decided to come early with Robert.
Where Robert was, there was a feast.
Robert loved fighting, drinking, eating meat, and women. If you shared those interests, you were a good brother. Dealing with Robert was simple and comfortable, but forget about him handling government affairs; he was a hands-off lord.
Robert was the host, and his rule was that everyone had to sit down and drink with him if he was present.
At the long table sat Robert, the elder brother; Stannis, the second brother; Prince Rhaegar; the Red Viper, Oberyn; Eddard of Winterfell; Abert Arryn, heir to the Duke of the Eyrie; the fearless Barristan; the future Hand of the King, Jon Connington; Arthur, the Sword of the Morning, and his sister, Ashara Dayne. At the end of the table were two young children, Renly.
Witt also had the opportunity to take a closer look at the famous Prince Rhaegar. Tall, with the Targaryen family's signature silver hair and purple eyes, a handsome face, and melancholy eyes, coupled with his princely status, he could easily captivate the young ladies. It was precisely because he was too popular with women that he failed to handle the women problem in the original work, triggering a rebellion and being killed by Robert at the Trident. But now, the two were still face to face, talking, laughing, eating meat, and drinking.
Once people started drinking, they began to talk more and more. They chatted about everything under the sun, and naturally, the conversation eventually turned to women. After Robert finished belting out a song called "The Bear and the Beauty" at the top of his lungs, he took a large gulp of wine and said to Prince Rhaegar:
"My fiancée, Lyanna Stark, we've known each other since we were children. She is very beautiful, just and brave."
"I haven't seen Lyanna Stark. Is she Eddard's sister?" Prince Rhaegar asked.
Everyone turned to look at Eddard Stark's rather plain face. Except for Abert, everyone present who hadn't met Anna wore a disbelieving smile.
Prince Rhaegar said, "Everyone thinks the person they love is the most beautiful, and they don't accept any arguments. I think the most beautiful person is my unborn child."
Robert, hearing the conversation turn to the uninteresting topic of children, immediately shook off his drunken stupor. "The worthy opponents to challenge now, besides those of us here, are Brandon Stark of the North and Jorah Mormont. I've had some very good fights with those two."
Prince Rhaegar added, "Jaime Lannister of the Westerlands is also one, only fourteen years old and already skilled in horsemanship and martial arts."
The Red Viper, Oberyn, thought for a moment and didn't object, then said, "There's also that knight of the Lannisters, Gregor Clegane. His extraordinary strength makes him a good opponent."
Then, several people mentioned others who had achieved glorious victories, and Arthur and the others joined the discussion. Everyone spoke eloquently and argued fiercely, about who was unhorsed by whom, and who was chased around the lists by whom. The more they drank, the more heated the debate became. As for the older generation of masters, those present were all young people, so who cared about those old men?
Stannis and the slightly older Barristan chatted about the current Hand of the King, Tywin Lannister. "Tywin, the King, and his own father were childhood friends. Tywin has been the Hand for twenty years, resolving the King's financial disputes with Braavos, repealing many laws that restricted the nobles, reducing taxes for the large cities, building roads, strengthening trade, severely punishing speculators, quelling the Duskendale Uprising, and actively promoting tournaments. This time, the tournament's revenue from traveling merchants should yield a small profit."
Stannis, slightly drunk, shook his head and continued, "Recently, someone is smuggling in my territory. I will cut off his fingers when I catch him!"
Robert didn't want to discuss official matters at a banquet and immediately changed the subject, asking where everyone was going after the tournament. Prince Rhaegar said he and Oberyn would head west, he to Summerhall, while Oberyn would return to Dorne.
Witt and Renly, the two little ones, couldn't get a word in and could only watch them bicker. Witt turned his attention to Eddard.
Eddard Stark had a long face, but wasn't considered handsome, though he was very kind. He had dark brown hair and gray eyes. During the conversations, he would occasionally steal glances at Ashara Dayne, the sister of the Sword of the Morning. Ashara was tall and fair-skinned, with dark hair and purple eyes; she was indeed beautiful. Whenever Ashara turned to look at him, he would immediately look away. The future, honest, and simple-minded Duke of Winterfell was now just a shy young man.
Witt ate his meal, watching these people who were boasting after drinking, and thought to himself: These are all famous figures from the original story, and now they are all eighteen or nineteen, in their twenties, in the prime of their youth. The brothers are now on good terms, eating meat and drinking heartily, laughing and talking unrestrainedly. Next year, the tournament at Harrenhal will be the starting point. The consequences of the Mad King's madness will turn everyone into enemies for life and death, with some dying and others escaping. He couldn't help but sigh at the tricks of fate. I'm not even 3 years old, too young and insignificant. I don't know if I can bring about any small changes in the future.
Storm's End was large. These were all people of status. After the meal, Stannis arranged for them and their subordinates to stay in the castle. Only Robert and Oberyn happily went to visit the brothel.
With so many masters present, Witt naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity. During the day, he watched them practice in the training ground. Robert's warhammer, Oberyn's spear skills, the Sword of the Morning's swordsmanship, and other people's various martial skills; he benefited greatly. Holding a toy sword, he followed them and practiced for a few days, also increasing his proficiency with single and double-handed weapons and blocking.
He even held the Sword of the Morning's family heirloom, the greatsword "Dawn," and mimicked a few moves, but it was still too heavy to do anything. Holding it up vertically also won him a round of applause. Through his forging and enchantment skills, he perceived that this sword was only good in terms of material and forging technique. It was made of meteoric iron, with a bright white blade, and its strength could be compared to a Valyrian Steel sword, but there was no magic reflection on the blade.
Everyone praised Robert, saying that his fourth brother was able to persevere and train with everyone at such a young age, that he would definitely become an outstanding knight with a limitless future. Robert laughed heartily and responded proudly. Then, the look in his eyes towards Witt revealed a hint of regret, regretting that he was the fourth-born.
The time for the tournament at Storm's End drew ever closer. The lists and stands outside the castle were already erected, and the tents of traveling merchants had nearly doubled the size of the small town surrounding Storm's End. Many of these were lavish pavilions belonging to nobles from across the land, complete with carpets, furniture, fine food, and wine. They came to compete, to trade, to buy and sell goods, and to forge alliances. In short, Storm's End was growing more lively by the day.
The political system of Westeros could be simply understood as a pyramid. At the very top was the King of the Seven Kingdoms, who could command the Dukes of the Seven Kingdoms, but not those below them. The Earls of the next level only answered to their own Dukes. The King of the Seven Kingdoms had his own directly controlled royal lands.