The Bloody Year of 111:
Lord Harwin Strong had arrived by Ship, his entire demeanor completely filled with a serious glare that only a man who was running out of time could have. Yet in the brief moments you saw him, you knew something was deeply wrong.
It was never your intention to show anything to him, to allow yourself to remain in control of the situation, yet it seems that you didn't know Harwin as well as you thought. Because he came in with a wild gaze on his face.
And a compelling problem.
"Lucien." He spoke plainly and without titles, as he sat down on the chair across from you. "I have a problem?"
You raised an eyebrow. "Problem you say?" You leaned forward to get closer, and you sighed. "Well, why would you come to me, and sail the Narrow Sea, when a Raven could have been well enough?"
"Because I needed to see you in person in case it was intercepted." He replied, again, sounding serious and composed, as if he was hiding something. "My father is in danger, and I couldn't think of anyone else to turn to?"
"Why Me?" You asked, questioning the strangeness. Why would a Riverlord want you, the new Prince of the Stepstones, to assist him? Distance and time alone could have made it unfeasible, unless?
"What do you expect me to influence the King's decision?" You asked.
"The King trusts you and views you as a loyal servant. And above all else, he knows you don't lie to him, always telling him the truth that he needs to hear." Harwin stated.
"What is it your father has been in trouble with the King?" You asked.
"Treason. He conspires to put Baelon on the Throne, to serve as regent." Harwin was quick to say those words as if he himself could not believe them.
Or wanted to.
"And you think I can save his life by pleading for it?" You asked.
Harwin nodded. "I'm not asking you to save his life and his position, only to prevent him from being killed." He stated. "I'd rather he suffer at the Wall than die a traitor's death."
You nodded. You were not happy about this. But Lord Strong was a Friend, and despite everything, you owed him. Perhaps not enough to save him, but enough to make sure he wouldn't be left alone.
-------------------------------------------------
Alicent was the only one who was skeptical. "Lord Strong committing treason, just after he becomes Hand of the King?" She paced, and you wondered if you would start picking at her fingers again.
And she was. "Alicent, don't pick at your fingers." You muttered, seeing her tick when she was nervous and thinking. "I don't want to wake Vaegon."
She stopped and saw the finger scratches that she had before she shook her head. "This entire thing must be a plot of some sort." She stated.
"It obviously is, but what choices do we have? Harwin asked me to help him."
"You don't have any obligation to help him," Alicent said. "Just say no, and be with us. We have enough to worry about already."
You frowned and contemplated it for a moment. But than you shook your head. "I can't just abandon my friends."
"What about your family?" She shot back. "You are going to be a father again, and it should be a happy time. Running off to do Gods know what, will only just make you more like-" She stopped, realizing what she was about to say.
You didn't but the idea was there. "Like who?" You quivered.
"Like Daemon." She said.
There was a long pause, and you realized that something felt wrong. You were angry at her. It was like holding onto a Dragon egg, but you rose in anger. "I am nothing like Daemon!"
Yet Alicent was quivering in fear at your outburst of anger. She was terrified, even if she knew, deep down, you were not going ot hurt her.
And slowly, as your anger dissipated, you realized what had happened. "Alicent, I'm…"
You wanted to say something, to apologize to her. Yet she stood. "Go then." She said, sounding in pain as she said those words.
There was trust. There was love. But there was also fear.
Terror even, in her tone.
And you realized what you had done.
--------------------------------------------------------------
You took Harwin with you, on Grey Ghost, and it was a long flight.
But seeing King's Landing on the Horizon, you saw the construction of the Great Lighthouse. It looked half-finished, despite the clear sign of workers working in the day, and you saw many ropes and scaffolding, masons and bricklayers…
It was truly a marvelous thing to see. How the tower looked, and how it would soon dominate the coastal skyline.
Breathtaking is the word you would describe it, a single man's will to see legacy be done.
When you landed at the Dragonpit, Grey Ghost looked ready to go back to his old nest. But you stopped him. "Stay here, we won't be long."
Hopefully.
The Other Dragons within the Dragon pit seemed surprised and roared at the arrival of the Grey Ghost. Only for Grey Ghost to ignore them and enter the place, the Dragon keepers following close behind.
--------------------------
Viserys was sitting on the throne, and Lord Strong was waiting by his side. Not in chains, but he was clearly in a place of importance.
"What the f-" You were hit in the back by Harwin, and swords were drawn.
You looked at Viserys, and found him not only angered… no.
He was furious. "Tell me Lucien… Where is my brother?"
You looked at lord Strong, who only shrugged. "I wasn't lying when I said that my father was committing treason. But he did lie about why."
You looked to Harwin and reached for your own blade, yet there were so many, that even you wouldn't carve your way through this place to get to the thrown. "The fuck is going on?"
"Letters from Baela and Rhaena." He held them out and you saw the broken seals. He intercepted your letters. "You are trying to find Daemon, for your plots, against my throne."
You pushed Harwin away and growled. "And you believed that I would come after your throne, with Daemon?"
At that Lord Strong snickered. "We can drop the Act, your Grace, I think this is far and away the best entertainment we've had all year."
Your face flattened from a scowl to confusion, as Viserys stood… and you realized he was missing a finger. Lost on the throne. "I apologize for these theatrics, but I couldn't make it official, for reasons you will soon realize." He stated as he walked over to you. "It is good to see you again Lucien."
Your hands were bleeding from how tightly you made them, even his gentle smile and touch was infuriating. "Give me one reason to not jsut leave and ignore you?" You growled.
"For one thing, Daemon, and your father."
You relaxed immediately. "What? What news?"
"Your father and a fleet of pirates have raided the Yi-Ti, going up the Great Canal and invading the palace. They found your mother and are now moving and making an anchor toward Leng for repairs and to get home. But what we know is that Daemon is now helping a Dothraki Horde invade YI-TI. Trying to get something, I do not know. But there is even greater trouble closer to home. Bravosi bankers are trying to buy property in the North, all but saying that their interests are entirely economic in nature. They are trying to buy wood for their ships. With the entire east now weakened, I have good intelligence, that they plan to invade Lorath and Pentos, and destroy the slavers there."
"Why should we care about Bravosi politics and the East going into another War?" You questioned.
"Because Three young men came out of Valyria, and took over Volantis. Saera's bastard children. They come with Valyrian Steel and the fortunes of Valyria. The eldest was crowned emperor, and with a golden helm, claims he was a god of some sort. And all of Essos belongs to him. They don't have Dragons, but knowing the possibility…"
That was worrying. "Have we sent envoys to treat with him?" You asked.
"We did." Lord Strong stated. "They are all dead." You then saw the baskets and didn't need to know what was in them to know what they were.
"So you want me to kill them?" You asked.
"Yes." Viserys replied. "We also have news of your Sister Gael."
You froze at the name. "What?" You questioned.
"She is in a Red Priest temple in Volantis… we received a message from her tutor and master, Melisandre. Saying that she required you for saving the East. From a Darkness that not even the Dragons can fight."
"What about you?" You asked.
"I have a feeling that things are going to be fine here… but I require a dragon rider and the most skilled one I have, as I lack Daemon. I need you, Lucien, to be my agent in the East until I can replace you with someone who is not so important."
You nodded. "What do you want me to do?"
[]To Daemon, and Father: You are going to Fly to Yi-Ti, and find your fathers. Both of them, and bring them home.
[]To Volantis, and Gael: You are going to see what your sister is up to, and see just what the hell is going on with the Red Priestess that saved her, and took her.
[]To Bravvos, and to Prevent a War: You look forward to using your lovely little thing called influence to see if you can stop Bravvos from Expanding its territory and upset the balance of power… again.
[]To The Great city, for an Assassination: You are going to be killing kin. But something tells you that this kin does not view you as such. They say Targaryens are closer to gods than men… But you know better. They are closer to madness than greatness.
AN: Enjoy.
