15 The War Of The Five Kings(2)
Though Jonnel was initially a medium sized person, he had indeed grown a lot, he was now 20 years old and the same size as Jaime Lannister, Uyn was even larger being closer to Jorgen.
Jonnel was in charge of deployment of the 13 guards while Uyn began training them. They also got closer to Sansa as she began trusting them. A few days later everyone was summoned to a keep where a singer began presenting a song. Soon after he lost some body parts.
However that's when Joffrey went up to Sansa and asked to take a walk with him. I decided to follow behind.
Jonnel and Uyn was standing beside Sansa and moved to follow. However Ser Meryn and the two other King's Guards stopped them.
"You will not be allowed to come." Meryn said as the two others stood behind him.
"We have been ordered to protect Sansa, and as such we will not leave her to you scum." He said.
The two King's Guard put their hands on their sword. However that's when Jonnel did a move he probably learned from Jack.
8 other Bracken Guard then came and stood around them in a circle, each having a sword on their hand.
"Are you sure you wanna do that, Ser Knight?" He said specifically not using King's Guard.
Meryn then spit on the ground before stepping back and moving to follow the party.
Immediately after the 8 guards stepped away, but they split off moving towards different paths, but the same destination. Jonnel was truly taking after Jack. Jonnel and Uyn then came up to stand behind Sansa. Soon they arrived at their destination, 2 King's Guard stepped off. They made a half attempt to stop Uyn and Jonnel but they simply stepped through surprising the King's Guard who still thought their armor meant something. When they were about to make another attempt. An additional 4 Sansa Guards as we call them now stepped up and took their hands on their sword, effectively stopping the King's Guard.
If one were to look closely there were also 4 guards on the other side, hidden around the corner of a few entrances to the corridor.
Sansa immediately got shocked but managed to retain her composure before saying anything.
I was standing on the other side of the head spearing viewing the entire situation.
Soon enough, she couldn't take it anymore and came with her comeback. And Joffrey gave the command to Ser Meryn. He managed to touch Sansa once and slap her one time. As he went for the second Uyn stepped up, took his right hand as it went for the second slap, he held it before the punched Ser Meryns, not holding back, causing him to take a few steps back and falling on one knee.
Jonnel then made a sign and 4 men came out form the corner, the extra 4 on the King's Guard side took their hands on their sword again, and the new arrivals did the same.
"Ser Meryn, do not lay your hands on Lady Sansa again, have some honor. You are 30 years old and she is 14." He said before stepping back again.
"How dare you refuse a King's Order!" He said
Jonnel, Uyn and all the other men then bowed before Jonnel said.
"Sorry My Prince, but you and Queen Mother Cersei has ordered Lord Alexander Bracken, Master of War, to ensure Sansa's safety. This was also accepted by Lord Tywin Lannister whom alongside Cersei gave us a document signed off by you saying we are not to allow anyone to hurt Sansa without getting hit back." Jonnel said.
I had ensured we got a letter from the King allowing my 200 men to attack anyone to protect specific people. 15 had such orders for Sansa, 30 for me, while the rest did not have such ability as that was outside my ability. Luckily the queen trusted me enough after our recent talk that she made Joffrey accept this, however it wasn't that big of a deal as I already had 2000 men with the same permission and Cersei knew this.
Luckily, due to not being hit Sansa wasn't dumb enough to attempt to kill Joffrey. He still made his japp about obeying but after that he left.
After he left I went to Sansa.
"That went better than expected." I said.
"Better than expected!? He hit me." She said shocked
"Aye, but he was about to slap you twice with all his power, additionally you got to see the power of guards. Here in King's Landing, nothing is more powerful than a royal pardon from the king being allowed to use force. That's what you must strive to do. You must become a different person, you must seduce him, match his personality." I said
"How?" She said
"You must no longer be Sansa Stark, of house stark, you must be Sansa Stark of House Baratheon. And if you require, you can come to me whenever you like and I will help you manage the political warfare we fine ourselves in. Even though our families are upon different sides of the war, Stark against Bracken, remember that I will be your ally. And eventually when Robb is defeated, I will help you become Queen." I said
"Robb will not be defeated." She said.
"Do not have hope in that. Summer is officially ending, he cannot maintain his armies much more. For every day he keeps his army, is another week that the north won't be able to survive in the winter. If the Winter is long, you will need every week you can gather. And Catelyn knows this." I said
"And when Robb's momentum cease and he returns to the North. He is a sitting duck for whenever the new king of the south comes for him, whether it is Joffrey, Tommen, Renly, Stannis, the north won't be the final winner in this." I said, and with that I turned around and left, leaving a young woman deep in thought.
And soon enough I got a letter from Tywin.
"Lord Alexander Bracken, Master of Coin, we ask you to tell Lord Tytos Donnelwood that he will be given control over the Lannister Army Sieging Riverrun and that the army is completely under control, reinforcements will soon arrive from Westerlands which will help Tytos take over Riverrun."
After reading that I immediately sent a letter to Tytos informing him of his and telling him that we will be depending on him.
A few days later the duel between Houses began. I was standing beside Sansa, Cersei wasn't here but I decided to give her some help.
As the Hound was dominating the poor guy I whispered to her.
"He will likely ask your opinion. Do not say the exact same as him. The best replies would be. 'Very strong hits' or 'He deserved it for challenging someone better than him' that will please Joffrey, he enjoys seeing people suffer and humiliate people. You must play on this by putting on a mask and doing the same. Don't have that look on your face that says I don't care, but be engaged" I said
As I finished the Hound landed the final blow.
"Well struck, dog!" Joffrey said
"Did you like that?" He said as he looked at Sansa.
"Yes, Your Grace, it was quite powerful." Sansa said as I nodded, she was growing indeed.
The next scene happened, and instead of refusing it she said.
"Your Grace, he is not worth that good wine. Instead place him on the frontlines against the rebels. That will make good use of him. He won't survive long." She said
Joffrey, while a psychopath wasn't dumb, he knew they faced serious problems and therefore agreed with Sansa.
"You heard that, fool? My Lady saved your life and gave you a purpose to do in your boring and disgusting life." He said
"Thank you, Your Grace, My Lady." He said before he was escorted away.
That's when Tyrion arrives, he began with his usual welcomes and the sad thing with Sansa, that's when he turned to me.
"Ah, you must be Lord Bracken?" He asked but basically stated.
"Aye, that is indeed me." I responded.
"Ah, the man whom destroyed the entire Tully Navy, and his subordinates saved an entire Lannister Army." Tyrion said.
"Aye, and you are the man whom, while being half the size of any man. Escaped from the Vale, recruited Mountain Clans, and fought in the vanguard." I said
"Indeed that's me." He said
"However you did forget another thing I did for the Lannisters, I saved you." I said as I threw a gold pouch at Bronn.
He then looked at Bronn.
"Of course you don't do anything for free." He said
"Sorry my Lord, but Alexander is the one who led to our fateful encounter." He said
"Aye, well we better get going, work to do." He said as he left, Joffrey kept screaming after him, I decided to make some relationship with Joffrey.
"Your Grace, I don't know how you haven't got this information yet, but Lord Tyrion is the temporary Hand of The King in place of Tywin Lannister." I said.
"Is this true, Lord Alexander. If it isn't you will loose your tounge for lying to your King." He said.
"It is definitly true, Your Grace. I heard it from Lannisters myself.
And with that he sat down and we turned back to the duels.
A few hours later I sat at the Small Council, Jack had been given the position of Master of Law as the old City Watch Lord Commander got.
That's when we got the news of the Summer officially ending.
Jack also got the order of shutting the gates for the Peasants. That's when Tyrion came in, he then gave the proof of his appointment as hand of the King. Immediately after Cersei demanded everyone to leave. However as I was about to leave Cersei said.
"Alexander, stay."
And as such I went back to my seat and sat down.
They began talking to each other then about Arya.
"Father will be mad." He said.
"Luckily, we have another thing to trade." I said
They both looked at me shocked.
"Ice, the Stark ancestral Valyrian Sword. I know you plan on melting them to make Lannister swords. But Ice is perfect to trade for Jaime. The Starks will not let it be destroyed and we can use it to trade for Jaime." I said
"Hmm, that might work." Tyrion said.
"Or, I can spend all the favors that different houses owes to the Brackens and maybe get Jaime out. But if I do that I'm still gonna require Ice." I said.
"Hmmm, I will take with Tywin then give you a response, Lord Alexander." Tyrion said.
And with that I left for my office, I had gotten replies from the different Houses.
House Vance replied that, in the case that we take the Riverrun, if they are not punished for supporting the tullies and still given all the promises, they will acknowledge me as Lord Paramount.
House Smallwood accepted without a doubt.
Darry was also having serious problems and therefore accepted.
House Mooton denied, they had yet to be raided a second time, they would come around soon enough.
Lastly Harry Strickland said he would send an envoy to talk with us.
With this I had 4 houses under me and potentially a 10.000 man veteran force.
