1st Month of 283 A.C. God's Eye
Lord Rickard Stark
The battle, the battle that would decide the war had come to an end. Robert Baratheon the king they had all chosen had smashed Rhaegar Targaryen's chest in with his war hammer and as such his rubies were scattered in the river bank where Targaryens had fought in the past. Whilst Robert had been winning his crown Rickard and his own men had been fighting the lords of the Riverlands beating them down and breaking them into different parts. Jonothor Darry had died by Rickard's own hand, Ice slitting the bastard's throat, and from there the loyalist Riverlords had begun to scatter and Rickard sensing the chance to get vengeance on them. They were routed and destroyed and by that point Robert had already killed Rhaegar Targaryen and the battle was over, the loyalists were scattered and their prince was dead there was nothing more to do. And yet now it seemed Robert was not entirely sure of himself.
"You have just won the most important battle of this war Your Grace. There is no doubt in my mind that when we come to King's Landing, they will willingly throw open their gates to you and welcome you as their saviour." Rickard says.
The king looks somewhat relieved and then says something Rickard is not sure he was truly expecting. "My lord, whilst I thank you for your support and your aid in this war, there is something that has been bothering me for a long time. I was wondering what you could tell me about Lyanna's time in Harrenhal. Whilst everyone says she was abducted there are a few things that do not match up."
Rickard looks at the man and then asks. "And what would you wish to know about her time there Your Grace?"
Robert looks at him and then asks. "Well she was in Harrenhal for three moons and in that time not once did her ever said any letters to me, though I did send many countless ravens to her asking about her daily routines and what she felt. And yet, according to Lord Walter Whent, she sent countless ravens to various people though he never specified whom. I wonder if you could perchance tell me what you know about these ravens."
Rickard is silent for a moment and then says. "Well Your Grace, all I know is that she wrote to Brandon and myself about various things that were going on in Harrenhal, and as such there was not much more of note that was going on during her time there. There was no mention of anything out of the ordinary, merely the tasks that she had been assigned to do during her time in Harrenhal. Why ever do you ask?"
The king looks at him a moment, and then says. "I know this might not make sense to you but when Rhaegar Targaryen was dying he said one word, and one word only." The king pauses and Rickard feels something in his gut clench, he suspects what the man is about to say next. "He said Lyanna's name my lord. And I have begun wondering why that might have come to be. Why would such a man say the name of another man's betrothed, unless there was something going on there?"
Rickard looks at him stunned a sense of fear coming into his gut. "What are you suggesting Your Grace? That my daughter has willingly run away with Rhaegar Targaryen? I do not believe that to be the case, my daughter is not a woman who would break a betrothal with anyone simply to run away with a married man."
The king looks at him then and his voice dangerously low says. "Then how do you explain the fact there was no communication between her and Ned before her supposed disappearance? How do you explain the fact that there was no communication between yourself and her before disappearance and even afterwards. I do not believe Lyanna is the type of person to be forcibly kidnapped, she would have put up a fight and she would definitely would have left some signs behind to inform us. That she did not seemingly leave a trail as shown by the fact that no one could find her, and the fact that she did not seem to put up a fight, would it not be reasonable to suggest that she went with the man willingly, perhaps even begged him to take her?"
Rickard feels a sinking sensation in his gut and says his voice somewhat soft. "What reason would she have for asking him to take her though Your Grace? She never once voiced any complaints about the betrothal to me or that I know of. She seemed perfectly happy to be marrying you Your Grace."
The king is deathly silent for a long time and then he eventually says. "I know for a fact that she was not particularly happy with the fact that I have a bastard daughter in the Vale. Or that my reputation apparently precedes me wherever I go. Ned told me of these doubts that was why I wrote to her so often. That she never responded has made me wonder that perhaps there was something there."
"I assure you Your Grace, there is no substance to these thoughts. So what if she did not like the fact that you had a bastard. Lyanna knows somewhat more of the world than most girls her age, she knows that a man has needs, and that as such you would not have brought the child to your home in Storm's End. She had no grounds to run away and do something so dishonourable and against her duty." Rickard responds.
The king broods over this for a long time and then says. "It could be true, it could not be. Regardless she shall still be my queen when all said is done. I will not be swayed by anything else that my advisors say, we agreed on a betrothal and it shall stand no matter what anyone else has actually said and done." With that the king leaves and Rickard does not seem him again until the council called by the king meets in the main tent. The king looking a little worse for wear, clearly the milk of the poppy had been taking its effect, speaks. "Well my lords, we have won the battle, Rhaegar Targaryen is dead, and the royalists are broken and defeated. All that is left now is King's Landing, and that shall fall easily enough. But before we can march onto King's Landing there is the issue of what to do with those lords we captured who fought for the Targaryens."
Jon Arryn speaks. "Well Your Grace, I believe that they should be offered a pardon and a second chance. After all they were merely doing their duty, and as such pardoning them would be a great sign of peace and would show you to be a king who is willing to allow past things lie. A great difference to Aerys."
"And what of those who refuse to be pardoned, as we know Velaryon, Celtigar and others are refusing to bend the knee. And that is something I will not accept. I will not allow for Targaryen loyalists lords such as them to get away unscathed. I have offered them olive branches and as such I will not allow them to grow more obtuse against me. Either they bend or they die." Robert bellows.
Jon Arryn looks at the king and then at them as a whole, and then says. "Well what sort of terms would you offer them then? This is where things must be sorted not with a hammer but with words and letters. Offer them something a bone if you will, and they will begin looking to you not as a usurper and more of a King and a conciliator like your ancestor Jaehaerys the wise."
Rickard smiles somewhat, Arryn has done well there, playing on Robert's ego and making him seem the hero king. Robert Baratheon seems pleased by this and then asks. "What do you suggest then Lord Arryn? What terms?"
Jon Arryn is silent a moment and then says. "Give them some concessions something regarding to trade and such. Make them want to side with you against Aerys, those who do not want to bend they may as well be left here for the green men to deal with."
The king seems happy by this and then says. "Very well then see to it that these terms are offered to them. Those that refuse may feed the carrion crows. There are more issues that need to be discussed are there not. Especially the issue of Ser Barristan Selmy. Bring the man in." Ser Barristan Selmy, a knight of the Kingsguard, a fame knight is brought forward bound in chains, battered and bruised. He is put before the king and the council standing and when he looks at them all, there is an air of defiance about him. The king seems to admire the man and his voice has some deference when he speaks. "Ser Barristan Selmy, you are a knight of Aerys Targaryen's Kingsguard. You were captured during the battle of the god's eye, your sworn brothers Jonothor Darry and Prince Lewyn Martell are dead slain in battle. You have been brought here to plead for your life, why should we not kill you?"
The man is silent for a long moment and then speaks his voice calm and level. "I will not try to plead my case for extending my life. I have fought and done my duty towards the true King and his family, I have fought alongside my brothers and done my best to ensure their victory. I will not plead for a life that stopped meaning when Prince Rhaegar died by your hand."
There is a lot of murmuring at this and sensing something might go awry Rickard speaks. "Ser Barristan, whilst none here can question your loyalty and sense of duty towards the Targaryens and Prince Rhaegar, there is the issue of whether or not you are not seeing the bigger picture. Bend the knee Ser Barristan and you shall continue the good of the realm. You must know what Aerys is, he is a mad man, and he has asked you to do things that I am sure would have made you wonder about yourself and the vows you swore to the Kingsguard and to the knights of the dawn when you became a knight. Think on that before you decide to throw your life away."
There is more murmuring at that and then King Robert says. "We shall give you some time to consider your decision you may leave just now." The man then leaves and once he is gone, Robert speaks once more. "Having Ser Barristan could definitely be of a benefit, he is a knight of well renown and will most definitely aid in beating down the Targaryen loyalists."
Roose Bolton speaks then his voice soft. "Barristan Selmy is the type of man who could be very problematic for your reign Your Grace. He is the type of man who can inspire loyalty and yet he is a Targaryen man through and through, keeping him alive will confuse those who fought for you, and will make those who fought against you rally all the harder for the Targaryens."
Rickard speaks then. "A valid concern were this someone else. But Ser Barristan Selmy is a man whose word is his honour, and whose vows mean more than your average knight. The knights of the dawn are men whose word is their bond, he will know that and will know he failed in living up to their standards he will want another chance. King Robert offers him this chance."
Bolton looks as if he wants to argue back but merely holds his tongue at a look from Rickard. Robert then calls Selmy back into the room and then asks. "So have you decided on a course of action then Ser Barristan?"
Ser Barristan is silent for a long moment and then eventually he gets down on one knee and says. "I do hereby renounce all loyalty to the Targaryen dynasty and King Aerys, and do hereby recognize you Robert Baratheon as King of Westeros and the only true king that there will be from now until your heirs are born."
"Arise then Ser Barristan the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard." Robert says.
There is some feasting done that day, and a few days later Rickard his men ride out for King's Landing preparing for the final taking of this long war, he will see his daughter soon and he will get his revenge on Aerys for Brandon. He is coming for Aerys Targaryen and now there is nothing to stop him.