A tourney of Whitecloak

Lyonel POV

Hot, it damn hot, the summer should come to the end, but the heat is still unbearable, good thing I managed to introduce a paper fan to Westeros. So here I am sitting at the balcony, overlooking the tourney grounds, fanning myself nonstop. It would be a fine day to relax, if not that damn heat, even in shade it felt like I am being fried, taking sips of wine every minute to keep myself cool. Well, it could be worse, I thought, after looking at Lord Wyman Manderly, he looks like he was about to boil at any moment. This heatwave will probably be the last one for a while, the winter is coming and the summer is at its end.

Tomorrow will be the start of the tourney, many will come, some to pledge their loyalty to me in person, some to celebrate my coronation and wedding, some will want to just see the young king, who has defeated, now the infamous Stannis Baratheon. Well most are already here, and what for most low birth knights or bastards will be important, is a chance to become a Kingsguard, ser Mandor had died of his injuries, so there are four positions available.

Getting tired of this heat, I start getting up and go back to the Red keep, the stone walls keep it cool enough to live. As I and my entourage were going to leave the tourney grounds, an envoy comes to me and gives a message. After reading the letter, I got anxious, Tywin-fucking-Lannister has come to the city, this doesn't mean any good for me. He has come to demand the position of the Hand or he found out what happened to his dog, the Mountain, and come for answers.

…

Getting back to the Red keep before my grandfather, was important, letting him come here first and then invite me to my own castle, would've been a power play. Is good that one of my informants brought me a message, just before he arrived, so I had time to prepare. Sitting in my solar, I called a servant to invite Lord Tywin, when he comes, this way I will be showing that he did not catch me surprised. After few minutes, the servant returned with my grandfather.

"Lord Tywin, it has been a long time, please come and sit," I tell him as he enters my solar.

"Your grace, thank you for inviting me." He says and sits in front of me.

"Well, you should have said you are coming, I would have prepared a feast to welcome you," I tell him and he knows what I mean, that he has arrived unannounced and unwelcomed. "But enough of formalities, grandfather, why have you come here? Do just visit me?"

"I have come to help you rule." He tells me.

"Help me rule? I am sorry, but there is nothing you could help with." I reply to him.

"You still young, five and ten, you need a regent." He tells me.

"Yes, I am young, but I have defeated one of most renowned commanders in the Westeros, even outnumbered more than three to one," I say to him with a smile, I know he wants some kind of leverage against me, so he could insert himself in my court. "I think, I have proven myself capable."

"Yes, you have, but still it only shows, that your rule was opposed by two members of your family, and you did not stop them before it was too late." He grasping for straws, thinking he can play me for a fool.

"Yes, I have failed to stop it before it was too late, but why do you think you would have been capable to do so?" I ask luring him into the trap.

"Because I had already done so, do you think the Targaryen loyalist just disappeared, It was my actions that let your father rule peacefully, not counting the Greyjoys." He started speaking of his accomplishes.

"Yes, speaking of the Greyjoys, you should be in Lannisport checking on them, not here checking on me," I reply to him with a smile.

"There nothing to check on them, there were only a few ships that left the Iron islands, even if they have conspired to do something, they will wait until the peace in Westeros is over and wait for their chance." He reports to me as he knows better.

"Until the peace is over? How long do you think that peace will last?" I ask him taking a sip of the wine.

"It will last as long as needs to if you let me take care of those who would disturb it." He answers me with an even voice.

"Let you take care of it? How would you take care of the whole Dorne, that is still shouting for vengeance and your head?" I ask, wondering how he will answer.

"Better than giving one of my men to them." Ah, so he did find about it.

"Are you angry that you lost a dog, I believe Lord Willas likes to breed them, should I ask him to gift you a new puppy?" I know that this will anger him.

"That dog was the most loyal to me, you had no right to just hand him to the Martells." He tells me with a neutral voice like my last remark has not fazed him at all.

"Have no right? He almost killed ser Loras Tyrell, what do you think would have happened then? Two southern and powerful houses blaming the Lannisters for the murders of their kin." I know he understands, what it would mean.

"But he didn't and they did not ask for his head" He answered me.

"No, they didn't, but he was in my city thinking he could do anything he wanted here, so I have taken care of the mad dog, who thought that you would protect him," I reply him.

"Your city? At that time it belonged to your father." He says, still looking for me to make a mistake.

"At that time, it already was my city, and it is still my city, so I would watch what you do here," I warn him.

"Good, it seems you are not a foolish one, you're a Lannister after all." He compliments me.

"Is that what you see in me, a Lannister? That I have taken after you?" I ask him with anger boiling in me.

"Who else? You're not your father, he was a fool." He answers me without any concern.

"I am not my father, you're right, but I am not you too, I am Lyonel Baratheon first of his name, the King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm of Westeros, and the head of House Baratheon of King's Landing, not a Lannister and you better remember that," I say with anger in my voice, I will not be mistaken as just some Lannister, that he can control to his liking.

"No, I will not forget it, so how I will not forget that you own me three million gold dragons." He replies, unsatisfied with my answers.

"So now you will talk about it, as I know you have not specified the exact time for the repayment, so I will repay it when we have the gold, don't worry our revenue has increased more than tenfold, it will not be long," I tell him, knowing he won't be happy with it, but there is nothing he can do about it, it was his fault to isolate himself from other great houses.

"Fine, if you can't give me anything, then you're will release Jaime from his services." He orders me.

"First of all, the Kingsguards serve for the life, secondly I don't have that many of them, that I could just release one of the best of them and thirdly ser Jaime would not want to be released himself, so in conclusion, you won't get him to marry him off to further your power." I tell him with disdain in my voice, who does he think he is to order me around?

"Do you think it is wise, to antagonize me?" Oh, he is getting angry now.

"No, but I know, there not much you can do, it was your mistake to isolate the Lannisters from other kingdoms," I say and show him the map of Westeros. "I am your only ally, but you are not my only ally, so do you think it is wise to antagonize me?"

"I see, you have become quite a clever stag." He says and leaves my solar with an angry expression.

…

The next day, the tourney had started, this time I had to sit and watch it, even if it was so damn hot, how those participants can even move in these full plate armor. Looking around I can see that most of them are pouring water on themselves to cool their armor and themselves, I wonder if it would not be better to have some vet shirt competition with girls, the men all over the world would celebrate my name for such invention, well that a thought, the Dorne would love it the most. Looking at my wife, I decided against it, the ire of all the ladies of the world would be more terrifying than anything else.

Speaking of my wife, she too sits next to me at the balcony of the tourney grounds, with us are Willas, Tyrion, and Wyman, the three of them are still discussing among themselves about small counsel topics. Closest to us is Olenna and Mace Tyrell, and for the other side is my grandfather Tywin, who decided to stay for whatever reason.

The joust would start first, and already I see the knight lining up for their turn, the first contesters were ser Beric Dondarrion versus ser Addam Marbrant, it was a good first joust with them breaking seven lances, and with ser Beric advancing further. After it, the joust had started in full, as I was watching them and looking for possible new members for the Kingsguard was when I noticed that there were no Freys.

"Interesting," I say to myself.

"What interesting?" Margaery asks.

"Tell me what you see? No, what you don't see here?" I ask and wonder if she will notice it too.

"I don't get it, everything is just like in any normal tourney." She answers looking confused.

"What is there to see? Just bunch of boys playing with their sticks." Olenna says, after hearing our conversation.

"Well, it is good that they are playing with it here, and not at each other castle walls," I reply to the old woman. "But no, something is missing, as long as I remember in every tourney Freys were trying to show off, but today somehow I don't see any of them, even though Lucas Blackwood and other riverlanders are participating."

"Maybe they just late, or they are occupied with something else," Margaery tells me.

"I say it is better for them not participating, I don't want to look at their weasel-like faces," Olenna says next.

Maybe they are held up with something, but still, something is not right, there are just too many of them, for not even one to show up. Zoning out and starting to think of what it would possibly mean, I have missed most of the jousting for today.

…

In the next few days, I started asking around the riverlanders and others if they knew of something about the Freys. Everyone answered, that there was nothing notable that has happened, so I only grew more suspicious. Knowing that Aegon will come for the Iron throne, but not knowing how or where, drove me crazy, so if some Houses are acting suspiciously I have to investigate it.

There were three possible landings for Aegon and his army, he will go to the Dorne and ask for their support, which would be best for me, knowing that Dorne would help him, I only would need to defend one border, and that was easily done with Reach and Stormlands on my side. Dorne is hated in those two Kingdoms, so there was no fear for any of the houses to betray me.

The second option would be Stormlands, attacking Storms End first, would show Aegon's hatred for the Baratheons, and if he succeeded he would show his strength to all Westeros and undermining my own. Some of the stormlanders might join him, especially with Jon Connington at his side. Still, it would not be too hard to drive him away from Stormlands, unless Dorne joins him, but knowing Doran, he will hesitate to pledge his loyalty to Aegon, suspecting him to be a fake.

The third option would be the Vale, with the infighting going on there, it would not be that hard for him to make his moves there. Knowing of these possibilities still doesn't help me, I need to know which houses would fight with him, if it is only the Golden company it would not be that hard of the battle to win. Still, once the war starts, the Greyjoys will go attacking the western shores.

So there are always will be two sides from which I have to fight, that why I need to monitor all the houses in between them. Bringing the war to him is not an option, I don't know where he possibly could be. Still, if I can find the Golden company and their movements I could predict where to wait for them.

After few more remarks and lighthearted questions about the Freys, I have managed to learn that, they become somewhat close to Brackens and Darry's and there was some kind of talk with Mootons. It would seem that Freys are grasping more power in Riverlands, but there are no movements that would suggest them betraying the Crown, so I can't move on them, but I will be watching them.

…

The joust ended today with ser Jaime winning in the last joust and runner-up being ser Beric, with a few other good showings of the knights. Today will end with a feast to celebrate the end of joust and tomorrow will be the last day for melee, and archery competitions. Once all of this is over, I will then choose the new Kingsguard. Of course, one position is already decided to ser Loras, a good thing that this time there are quite some good knights to choose from, such as ser Robar Royce, ser Balon Swann, ser Emmon Cuy, ser Parmen Crane, and ser Donnel Locke.

Thinking about it, I have instructed ser Preston to ask if any of them wanted to join him in the kingsguard order. The feast was as enjoyable as ever, I would not have even intended, if not for good food and costly wine. Talking with most men, who wanted nothing but take advantage of me, was tiresome. Even Tywin-fucking-Lannister could not take anything from me, how could these petty lords stand a chance?

After the feast, I went to maesters chambers, to check on my shoulder, even if it didn't hurt as much as before, it still annoyed me. It was still stiff, so I needed to rub some ointment and massage it to relax. Entering the chambers I only saw Alleras, alone working on something.

"Where is maester?" I ask her.

"With some lord who was poisoned with food." She answers.

"Oh, there was a poisoned food, I should have been informed," I say, knowing that she is not telling me something.

"Fine, it was Lord Mace, he ate too much and now complains about a stomach ache." She answers, and we both laugh a little. "Do you want me, to check on your shoulder?"

"Yes, it had become too stiff to move it around," I answer her and sit on the chair.

"It has healed nicely, in a week, you should be able to use it as before the injury." She tells me after checking it.

"Good, I am already behind my training," I reply as she puts oil on my shoulder and starts messaging it. "Tell me, where are you from?"

"I am from Summer islands, why such interest in me all of sudden?" She answers.

"I am just curious, it is not every day that you meet a girl dressed as a boy, trying to study in Citadel," I answer her.

"Well, I would not need to do so, if the Citadel didn't have those ridiculous rules." She says with anger in her voice.

"Yes, those old goats think they are the smartest ones in the world, so they trying everything to control their knowledge spreading," I say with sympathy.

"Yes, but they couldn't find out that I am a girl, they are just shortsighted old goats." She replies with a light laugh.

"It seems, that maester Marvyn won't come back tonight," I remark and look at her.

"It seems so, do you wanted something from him?" She asks finishing the massage on my shoulder.

"Yes, I wanted you from him," I say and grab her into my arms.

"Your grace, it is improper." She exclaims.

"Is it? Will you defy your King then?" I say and put my lips on her, she doesn't object to me anymore.

"Well if it is the King's command, how could I deny him." She replies with her own kiss.

…

After some fun last night, I have come to watch today's melee, it seems that Thoros of Myr will win once again, even though some participants were close in defeating him and his flaming sword, a neat trick indeed. The archery winner was ser Balon Swann, with last time unexpected defeat by some marcher commoner, he took this competition more seriously.

At the end of the tourney, I bid for my chosen new Kingsguards to come close to me. After they have come and kneeled to me, and after asking them to join the order, they told their oaths to me.

"Rise ser Robar Royce, Ser Loras Tyrell, ser Donnel Locke, ser Balon Swann, and take your white cloak," I commanded them and they took the cloaks and put them on as the crowd cheered.

Now with my new Kingsguard, I announced the end of the tourney.