Thanks for the comments everyone! I'm pleased to present to you Chapter 2!
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Chapter 2: Dwindling Flame
I greet the day with vigor, but my mood is soon soured by one of those damnable points on this chair. Why oh why did Aegon see fit to make it so uncomfortable to sit on? I’m holding the realm together and I cannot even find a comfortable seat.
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I suddenly remember the traitorous Osmund and call him for trial. I couldn’t decide whether to try him or execute him on the spot. A trial shows the Realm’s justice, but executing on the spot shows the King’s perfect wisdom. I had Commander Gerold flip a coin for me. Apparently people have taken to calling him The White Bull, no doubt for his feats in battle on the fields by King’s Landing.
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Osmund is completely unable to muster any defense, of course, because he is guilty. I sentence him to death by burning. The fire cleanses him and burns away his treason.
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Argh! The Riverlands and North have spent the time I was beating back Baratheon gathering their own forces in huge numbers! Even the armies of the Reach are undone. I send my new armies to help them. If Dorne does not send their soldiers soon… Dorne. Can we ever really trust the Dornish? Of course we cannot. I half-expect them to march on King’s Landing themselves.
No, the Dornish proclaim themselves ‘busy’ in the Stormlands, and report another huge Baratheon army there. I doubt that! If he could replenish his men so quickly so could I. No, it is clean that Prince Doran is working for the enemy. With the Reach and Crownlands depleted and Tywin Lannister still mustering his men, it is clear I must turn somewhere else for my armies.
I instruct my Master of Coin to take a loan from the Iron Bank. They should be honored to support the Iron Throne. I will deal with the moneylenders some other time, when the rebels have been defeated. I will not turn my gaze back from the Narrow Sea though. No, I have a plan. The Blackfyre Bastards have plagued House Targaryen for generations now. What could be less expected than to use them to defend the true bloodline? I send a delegation to hire the Golden Company. Perhaps I will have the chance to set some things straight with them too. Thoros of Myr volunteers to go.
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Before I hear back, my steward brings me a small bit of good news. The people of King’s Landing are so desperate to see their King triumph that they have volunteered considerable money to aid the cause. I ensure their names are taken - they should have volunteered this on the first day of the war. In time they will be punished for their intransigence.
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Now that I have the needed money, I establish a household guard to augment the King’s Guard and Goldcloaks. I won’t be undone here in my own city, I can tell you this much! The sergeants are to drill the men.
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No…
NO!
TREASON! THE HIGHEST OF TREASONS!
The man I was awaiting to bring armies to my side, Tywin Lannister, has turned against me! He has declared himself for the rebels! But… but wait. No, this must be a ruse on his part. A very clever ruse. Yes, he will infiltrate them and destroy them from within. Ha! A clever man, and cunning. He knows that for the ruse to succeed even I must seem enraged by it. Yes, I will play the part.
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I order Jaime Lannister brought before me to be executed. That will convince the world that Tywin and I are mortal enemies! It is a sad sacrifice, for the boy has some skill with a blade, but Tywin will understand.
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Of course, with him gone I must find another knight for the Kingsguard. I decide upon Ser Triston of Langward Hall. He seems an alright sort.
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As I mustered my new recruits, the Arryn army descends upon King’s Landing. We face another siege! This will end no better for them than the last one, and very probably worse.
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Some of my Small Council come to me, speaking of the danger King’s Landing is in. I will not flee. This is my city, and I will defend it with mine own hand if I must! I order my household guards to begin destroying everything of value in the city. If they are to take it, they will find nothing here but ashes.
It works even better than I had expected! The armies outside find nothing to feast on except the carrion of rats and crows, and they move away with empty bellies. Soon they are back though, and half the realm is being devoured by the traitor armies! I await Tywin Lannister’s revelation, because only that can save me now.
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BETRAYAL! I just got word that the Golden Company has turned its back on us! Upon the true Dragons! I should not be surprised and yet I believed they would rally to the side of the Dragon against a far greater enemy! I order the beginnings of a plot against the traitor captain of these brigands. Nobody shall defy ME and go unpunished!
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Wait… the armies outside the walls are Lannisters. But they are beginning a siege! No! HE WAS REALLY AGAINST ME THE WHOLE TIME! I swear that Tywin Lannister shall meet the same fate as his son! (That is a total of over 80,000 soldiers against me. Even with dragons I wouldn't fancy my chances.)
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Hahahaha! Some small piece of justice in this world. The captain who defied my has died by the poison of a viper. Perhaps this dark and subtle solution will serve where armies have failed me. Perhaps indeed… I order the same policy to be commenced with Tywin Lannister.
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Oh, but now something glorious has occurred. A Braavosi from across the Narrow Sea has come before me upon the Throne and seeks only an amount of gold in exchange for his skills. I know the reputation of these men. I order the very paint from the palace walls to be stripped and presented to him.
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Within hours I hear word that Tywin Lannister lies dead! Oh but a shame he could not be taken by fire.
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I begin preparations for the execution of Robert Baratheon. As I do so, I am brought word that a vassal of mine has begun a faction, one intended to DEPOSE me! DEPOSE ME! I AM AERYS TARGARYEN, I WILL NOT BE DEPOSED! NOT BY ANYONE! I order him burned before me.
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And just days later, another Lord is discovered with the same ambition. Lord Bayle of Rollingford will meet the same fate!
Ah, here is my son coming to me, my dear Rhaegar. He does have quite a serious look though, no doubt yet more bad news is at hand.
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