Chapter 23: An Inauspicious Ascendancy
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I am King. Mother is dead. Ser Roger Thorne came running to find me, his face anguished. We ran to the site of her body, blood pooled around it and mixing with the waves from the Blackwater. I looked up. She must have fallen hundreds of feet from the towers of the Red Keep. Fallen - or was pushed.
But no. Ser Balman and Ser Ardrian were posted to guard her. She had sent them to wait in the corridor and they assured me nobody else was on the tower parapet with her. So either she fell or she jumped. I think I know which it was, though I do not wish to put words to the thought. It matters little. My mother is dead, and I am King. King Aelix I Targaryen.
I have inherited a damned mess. My own accounts barely made a dent in the debts the realm incurred fighting Jarl, who sits secure in The North and has all manner of wealth to sustain his realm now. The rest of the kingdoms are still having their own petty squabbles, and I seem as unable to stop this as my mother was. I must take new stock of everything from this new position, beginning with the family.
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I have seven children, six by my sister-wife Visenya. Visenya, beautiful and brilliant, who detests me utterly. My brother Aegor resides in the dungeons of Lord Paramount Elton, who has usurped Lady Margaery Footly from ruling The Vale. My children are Rhaenys, Aglantine Waters, my eldest son and heir Baelor, Aerys, Maegon, Orys, and Aemond. At least the line is safe.
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The High Septon agrees to my request for a coronation. I wish it to be a grand affair, but the realm’s vaults are entirely empty and we will have to make do. I intend to have my brother attend it, so I inform Lord Paramount Elton that I expect him to be released immediately. He writes back claiming Aegor has committed crimes and will remain imprisoned.
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So I declare war.
It’s a doomed cause, but I cannot allow my brother to languish in the Sky Cells. We may not have been able to beat The North but I’ll not be defied by my own Lord Paramount!
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But then glorious news comes, news that changes everything. News that could have changed everything had it happened a few years or months ago. Princess Janyce Martell sends word that Dorne will join my cause. I assume her reasons are to ensure I favor Dorne and House Martell, and these are things I will indeed do, despite the unpleasantness with House Allyrion. A number of more modest lords, including Lord Paxter of Goldengrove and Lord Lothor of Runestone, have also pledged their forces. My wife Visenya also pledges her forces of Dragonstone to the cause, putting aside our hatred of each other to rescue our brother and hopefully our family name.
Lord Elton is not popular for his usurpation and that The Vale’s soldiers are drained by many wars. If the case were to remain this way we would have a good chance of winning, but I saw enough of the burdens my mother endured - something will soon go horrendously wrong. The Kraken will emerge and swallow Westeros, no doubt, or the Dothraki will find warhorses who can fly and decide King’s Landing would make a good target.
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As our armies gather and we prepare to march, the High Septon crowns me in a modest and quiet coronation ceremony. I am well aware that House Targaryen is in a precarious position at the moment. We retook the Iron Throne only to lose The North, and now I am defied by a usurper Lord Paramount. I do not wish to take men to war, especially as we have so damn few healthy men left, but I have little choice. Modest as it is the coronation is a success, and I am cheered by the smallfolk.
We are almost ready, but it seems my efforts are not favored, as Grand Maester Qarlton dies just days before we are due to march for The Vale. He was a great age, 74, but still this timing is desperate. I inform The Citadel that we shall have need of a replacement.
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With that business done we set off for Crab’s Shore. There are about five thousand men here, mostly mine and Visenya’s, but The Vale is involved in a bloody war of its own and several lesser lords there have declared for my side. They are reluctant to allow the precedent that Elton Belmore could usurp the Lord Paramountcy simply by force of arms - a reluctance I altogether share. As things currently stand we have the advantage, but I recall my mother’s curses about all the ills that befall her campaigns.
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And here is more good news - the new Grand Maester, Tormund Peake, is a supremely learned man. He is also known for applying that learning to some rather unsavory ends, but frankly as long as he serves me and keeps his predilections private I will overlook that.
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Ah, here we are - the disaster that is to befall me. Jarl has declared an invasion of The Riverlands and is moving his men towards The Twins. Lord Ermen Frey has thrown his lot in with Jarl and this leaves The Riverlands totally open. I must put our internal issues to bed quickly if we are to stand a chance against him. If he takes the Riverlands he could become truly unstoppable.
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Lord Paramount Harmund of the Iron Islands has died of natural causes, and is succeeded by his son Gylbert ‘The Laughing Kraken’. Gylbert is hardworking but otherwise lacking in merit, but I still send the letters of condolences and congratulations.
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Well, the war is unceremoniously ended when Aegor is freed. Lady Margaery was executed by Elton but Aegor has been set free, so there is now little point in continuing. I can only presume he feared Targaryen wrath if my brother was killed. I am just pleased to have him back, and pleased that we can use this to convince people we are not to be trifled with. I assure Aegor that in time he will have his revenge for the killing of his wife and usurpation of Targaryen rule of The Vale.
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More good news comes; winter is coming to an end. It may still take some time to depart us but it is a tremendous relief to think of summer again. I allow myself a few blissful hours of appreciating the situation before I turn my mind back to the threat we face: Jarl the Handsome. I send a brief letter to Barion Tully informing him that, per the duties of a King, I shall take up arms in his defense. Perhaps combined we might drive back the Wildling menace.
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This hope is aided by knowledge that several Northern lords have declared their independence, and their refusal to serve Jarl reduces his numbers. Whether he will retaliate against them I do not yet know but for the time being I am contented by the knowledge that The Neck, Flint’s Finger, Torrhen’s Square, and The Rills are not fighting against me.
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There's a new GoTmod update out so I will be updating to it. Be forewarned that this may break things in spectacular or subtle fashion, but it has some critical bugfixes so the chance must be taken.
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Valar morghulis.
streme Wheelie
Originally Posted by Pike
