Apologies, I had meant to get this up a couple of days ago, but it got away from me.

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Chapter 18: Catching Our Breath


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With the victory over The Reach the time has come for me to choose a new member for my Queensguard. This is often a more political decision than it should be. Appointments have been made in order to both weaken a house or to strengthen one, depending on circumstances. In my case appointing a son from a significant house would be a benefit at the current time, as it would help cement relations with them. However, I can currently find none who are both worthy fighters and members of the most important houses. We agree to continue the search.

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Now that we are recovering from the war with The Reach I summon Lord Jacaerys Targaryen, my half-brother, to my throne. I do not believe he or many other people are expecting my next act, which is is to confer the Lordship of Massey’s Hook upon him. He has been a loyal and stalwart member of the house, has led armies, and slain enemies. It is high time his loyalty and talent was properly rewarded. I further name him a member of my Small Council, though with no distinct area he is master of. This is more than just a reward for him, though. His judgment is generally sound and valued.

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As I am directing the expansion of the town around King’s Landing, a place which has fallen into disrepair since Stannis’ death, I am brought word that my Grand Maester Quellon Kellington has passed away. He was born when a Targaryen was last on the throne and had, on occasion, mentioned his distant childhood memories of the Baratheon war. It is sad that he has departed this life, but I can do nothing except await a new Maester from The Citadel.

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Soon enough Qarlton Buckwell arrives from The Citadel, my new Grand Maester. He is a learned and seemingly kind man, and has incurred a vicious scar in some past conflict he will not speak of.

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I am busy overseeing the training of new men for the war against The North. The Realm as a whole would have enough to fight, but the war with The Reach depleted the fighting men of King’s Landing. It would not do to send the army out if I am either unwilling or unable to lead it, so I have commanded Kennett as well as my household guard to help train new recruits. We shall strike soon, but not quite yet.

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After much consideration I have decided to restore Plankytown to Dornish rule. The location was distant and its troops took far too long to reach us here in the Crownlands, whilst the income from taxes was insignificant compared to the taxes a Queen can levy. Furthermore the passing of the holding out of Dornish hands was a source of shame and dishonor upon Princess Janyce, so she was deeply grateful when I agreed to restore the territory to her control, and whilst I would not go so far as to say it has ensured Dorne’s loyalty, it is definitely a positive that strengthens our relations.

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The gods, it seems, are not pleased with Westeros at this moment. This summer is coming to an end. It was all too brief; we had barely enough time to begin replenishing our stocks of grain. If this winter is like the last, many people will not see it through, and they will not all be peasants.

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After weeks of searching I have given up on finding a prominent house with a competent third son or distant cousin. The Queensguard must be filled before much longer. Therefore I request that Ser Martyn Yarwick serve. He is young, only 17, but a large lad and highly skilled with a sword. He insults me and the Throne by declining my offer! I am enraged by this, but simply thank him for his reply and send him away.

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After further searching I find a man named Rawney Rivers, a bastard son of a common woman who never revealed his father. He is a hardworking, kind, brave soul who has won moderate fame in tournaments (I think I saw him once at a tourney when I was younger, in fact). Despite being of advanced years, has lost none of his skill with a sword.

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I decide that in preparation for the war to free The North, it is time to undo the damage Jonquil Baratheon did when she agreed to reduce the authority of the Crown. I send ravens out to every lord in the land, asking for their blessing to restore the true power of the throne now that a Targaryen has returned to it. The legal precedents dating back to Aegon himself mean even I, a Queen, cannot simply declare this law changed. How ironic.

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Another son is born to Aegor and Visenya! They name him Aerys. I wonder what people will make of it, but for my part I approve - the upstarts and usurpers will never again throw the Targaryens from the Iron Throne, and it does no harm to remind them that removing Aerys II was not enough, that nothing they could do would ever be enough.

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Thinking constantly about The North is wearing my nerves away. I think of little else these days, little except the lands beyond The Twins. For years beyond counting The Wall held back the Wildlings, and now - just as a Targaryen retook the throne - it has fallen and the entire North has been overrun. We get little enough news from there, but what we hear suggests Jarl is working hard to establish his rule and bring the Northmen to his side, so after an initial flourish of violence it has not been as brutal in The North as it might have been.

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Speaking of Wildlings, an unexpected message comes to me from Volantis. Triarch Aelix Paenymion has begged for my help in a war that has been started against him. Some investigation yields intriguing information: A wildling man named Halys, once a slave in Lys, led a successful slave revolt there and installed himself as Lord of Lys. He has developed a tremendous hatred of slavery and launched a war against Volantis to force them to emancipate theirs. This puts me in a delicate situation.

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I cannot imagine that Lys, fresh from a bloody revolt, could beat Volantis and her Essosi allies. On the other hand the great Essosi Slave Raid created a rather strong dislike of both the Free Cities and their slaving ways in myself and the kingdom at large. I do not, however, see that the Iron Throne could profit either materially or in a more ephemeral sense from getting involved in this war, so I ultimately decline to aid Volantis. We have concerns rather closer to home.

Back at home, with the preparations for the war almost complete, I attend the wedding of Jacaerys to young Elene Waynwood. I had learned on the way that Jacaerys has decided to restore the Lordship of Massey's Hook to Wallace Staunton, and he confirms this when I arrive. I am disappointed, but I can see the sense in the move - I had considered doing the same thing before I decided that Jacaerys deserved to be landed.

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As the wedding is coming to a close, we are brought important word from the west. Lord Paramount Franklyn Tully has passed away - and The Riverlands has passed to Lord Barion of The Westerlands. I do not like the idea of one man holding two Lord Paramountcies but I am not in a position to do much about it currently. There are bigger things to concern myself with.

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As I ride home from the wedding I send word ahead to begin mustering the soldiers. Jarl must be defeated, The North and The Wall must both be restored, and the Wildlings must be driven back into their frozen trouthole of a land. I send out the ravens and raise the banners. We march north.