Rat's proposition
Loras POV
Looking at Blackwater Bay, everyone could see burning Stannis' Fleet burning in the distance. It was hard to tell how many ships had escaped if any managed. The attack started in the early morning, but the fires from the ships won't be gone for a while. The Hightower's Fleet has arrived. It couldn't even be called the Redwyne Fleet, as only half of the ships belonged to house Redwyne, and Lord Leyton Hightower commanded them.
I looked at the Harbor as Lord Leyton Hightower, my grandfather, walked out of his ship. My family, as well as the royal family, came to meet him. Even Lord Tywin Lannister was here to meet the hero. After so long, we have a victory under our belt. It will be celebrated. I could already tell the Lannister would send all their rats to spread the news.
"Lord Hightower," Tywin Lannister spoke first. "I am glad you came to our aid in this dark hour. We prepared a feast if you would follow me."
I furrowed my brows at the blatant attempt to coarse my grandfather. Did he expect my grandfather to join his side rather than his family's? Even if Leyton Hightower was reclusive, everyone knew he didn't interact much with the outside world as he hasn't descended from Hightower for a decade. The last time Tywin saw him was at Tourney at Lannisport after the Greyjoy rebellion, so how could he hope to gain his favor so easily?
"I will not attend any feast," Grandfather's voice was strained and old. "If anyone would lead me to my room, I would like to rest."
"Of course, my lord," Even Tywin was surprised at the dismissal. "But before you leave, I want to hear your battle report."
"You can hear it from any of my captains," Everyone was surprised at how Lord Hightower dismissed Lord Tywin, but I smiled.
I didn't know what to expect, but not even greeting his own family before taking his leave was surprising. My mother didn't know what to do as her father utterly ignored us. I barely remember my grandfather from before he closed himself in Hightower, but from what I remember, he didn't seem so cold and detached. Still, I like him a bit better for dismissing Tywin Lannister.
Either way, with the hero leaving everyone's sight, there was nothing to do but scatter like rats. I left when my grandfather decided he didn't care about his family. It seems it has become fashionable not to care for one's family. I could see through everyone's eyes that all everyone cared about was power and nothing more. No matter how they tried to justify it as being for family.
I didn't know what my grandfather wanted, as he didn't seem interested in furthering his power as he locked himself in Hightower. And even now, he didn't care for Lannisters, but at least I hoped he would glance at his family. Maybe I looked too deep into it; he was tired and wanted to rest. Lord Leyton Hightower was an old man, after all.
"Interesting how the Hightowers caught Stannis so unprepared, isn't it, ser Loras?" I wanted to ignore Tyrion as he walked next to me, but we went in the same direction, so I was stuck listening to him. "It even caught me by surprise. If Jaime's campaign to the Westerlands is successful, we will finally turn the war in our favor."
"That is if Dorne or the North doesn't decide to make their move and destroy us once and for all," I replied. "And there are still Greyjoys once they find out that Hightower left the Reach with his fleet, the coast of the Westerlands, and the Reach will be sacked and burned."
"I don't know. I heard that without Theon Greyjoy, they are satisfied with what they got and are more willing to trade with the North than reave," Tyrion said. "And haven't you heard? A letter from the Wall arrived claiming that the Wildling army was attacking them. I'm sure Robb Stark will point his army at them rather than at us. And Dorne still seems content to keep silent and watch the war."
"I didn't take you for a naïve boy, lord Tyrion," I responded with a smirk. "The Iron Islands are trading with the North to strengthen their fleet, which helps the North if they want to rebuild their fleet. Once they are done with preparation, do you think they will let us be?"
"By then, we will be done with our preparations," Tyrion said.
"It didn't seem to help the Westerlands, no matter how prepared they were previously," I replied. "Both Robb Stark and Theon Greyjoy sacked your lands, lord Tyrion."
"Yet we still chased them out."
"They left on their own," Thinking otherwise was foolish and naïve. They have done what they wanted and left uncontested. Tyrion should know that, so I didn't see the point in continuing. "Why did you want to talk with me, lord Tyrion? To share your naïve thoughts?"
"I wondered if you knew of the Hightower Fleet coming to our aid. From your reaction, you seemed surprised as everyone else."
"I wasn't needed to know," Tyrion caught me, but my family hadn't told me, most likely because I didn't talk with them much to begin with.
"Interesting, I was told the same," Tyrion replied before leaving me alone.
I wished I could dismiss his words, but they had the effect Tyrion wanted them to have on me. Everything was simpler when Renly was with me. He understood politics better than anyone else. I try to remember his kind smile, but all that comes to mind when I think of him is his last words to Ser Barristan to protect me. Renly was a fool, a fool that I loved with all my heart, and was taken away by the Lannisters.
Now I had to choose between my revenge and my family. I couldn't do that, so I decided to run. Now that Stannis' fleet is gone from Blackwater Bay, I can try to get a ship to White Harbor, where I will let the Pooles return to Winterfell and sail to Braavos. I will leave all these bad memories behind. I will leave my name behind and start a new life.
That is all I wished to escape this rat-infested city. Where ever I looked, I could see the same rats I lived in slums. They might have different appearances, but they were the same. I could smell them as they gathered in Red Keep looking for bigger pieces of cheese. I hated this. I hated what my family was trying to do. There was no place for me here.
…
The Grand Wedding was in eight days. It will also be the day of the new century. Some even would say the day of a new era. I didn't think so. Even if we won the war, what would be left for us? Burned lands? Sacked cities? Destroyed families? Maybe it will be a new era of endless war and senseless bloodshed. Even if we won the war, how many houses would willingly kneel to us and not plot their revenge?
Only a few. I didn't see Joffrey able to keep the peace for long. The little shit didn't know what people wanted and needed. If it were Renly, I would have fought for him to no end because I could believe him. He would have ushered in an era of peace. But there wasn't a king I felt could do the same. The more I thought, the more I believed this war would never end, no matter who won.
Stannis Baratheon was a stubborn fool. He never will accept a compromise, even if it means peace. I have learned a lot about Stannis from Renly, and from what I saw, Renly didn't seem to be mistaken. Robb Stark didn't care about anything but his kingdom. It didn't seem like the King of the North was planning to march south soon. And who would accept him as a king of the Seven Kingdoms?
And then there was Theon Greyjoy. The more I know of him, the less I understand him. Calling him a madman wouldn't be a lie, but his brilliant strategies and charismatic leadership said more about him. I never talked with him. I only saw him from afar a long time ago. Yet Eri has nothing but good things to say about Theon Greyjoy. Still, I couldn't imagine him as a peaceful king. He was an Ironborn. There is no way other Kingdoms will accept him as a king.
And so we are stuck with Joffrey Baratheon. It was clear that Joffrey had little power and even fewer supporters. The true power over the Iron Throne was Lord Tywin Lannister. As long as he was alive and well, nobody will question the Lannisters. Nobody will listen to rumors of Joffrey being a bastard. But I had to wonder what would happen if Tywin died. I didn't think my family could keep control over the Iron Throne.
Everything would spiral out of control, and chaos would reign. At this point, I didn't see much hope for the Seven Kingdoms. I already could see houses breaking off the Iron Throne control and establishing their little kingdoms like it was three hundred years ago. And why wouldn't they when already four kings were ruling over the Seven Kingdoms? A few more wouldn't change anything much.
"Ser Loras," I hated that high-pitched voice and the various perfumes I could smell. "It is good to see you."
"You too, lord Varys," I replied; his various colorful clothes couldn't hide his true nature from me. "But I think I am finishing my walk and will take some rest."
"Not joining your family for dinner?" He asked, knowing very well my relationship with my family.
"For someone who knows many things, the information seemed to elude you of the late lord Varys," I responded with a smile. "One would wonder what is the use of you when you can't provide any information. Maybe you started to age and can't hear the whispers as well as you used to."
"You have to forgive my poor performance of the late," I hated how well he took my words. There wasn't even the slightest change in his expression. "But you have to understand that in this horrid war, not many travel. Raven are shot down before they leave Keeps. And it is sometimes hard to know what people say is true."
"Is it?" I asked.
"Well, of course," Varys replied. "I hear many things. Things hard to believe."
"Like what?" I asked, wanting him to get to the point and leave me alone.
"Like rumors about White Walkers coming from the North. Or dragons appearing in the East of Essos. And then there are rumors in the West about Theon Greyjoy being a god," Varys answered. "You can tell how hard it is to believe what people say of the late."
"In other words, you know nothing," I told him.
"But that's not true, isn't it, ser Loras?" Varys smiled at me like he found a delicious cheese. "I know of your visits to a certain brothel."
"Who doesn't?" I asked.
"Many do, I guess. But how many know of a certain father and daughter residing in that brothel?" Varys asked. "They are surely a tragic family, left behind by their lords. I wonder if Lannisters knew of them, what they would do?"
"Do the Lannisters know?" I asked as I grabbed the hilt of my sword.
"Not yet," He answered.
"Then they won't know it, ever," I told him and drew my sword before putting the edge of it to his neck. "If you happen to die, nobody will know of them."
"Would you kill me?" Varys asked. "It would put you in danger. You would risk your life for strangers you barely know. They aren't in any way connected to your family. And if captured, they would provide great leverage against the North."
"Would I risk my life for them?" I pushed the edge of my sword deeper toward his neck. "I would, for you see, my life doesn't have much meaning. But theirs do. I would rather die than let the Lannister touch them."
"How noble of you."
"Enough of your nonsense," I said. "Tell me a reason not to kill you right now or in the next moment, your head will roll on the floor."
"I wish to help you, ser Loras."
"Help me?"
"I know of your wishes to run from King's Landing," Varys said. "I can provide you with means to leave and even help you to smuggle the poor family to home."
"Why?" I asked, not believing a word he was saying.
"I can see, just like you, that the Seven Kingdoms are falling apart. The Lannisters will not be able to hold them for long," Varys answered. "I do not wish to see more bloodshed, that is all."
"Let's say I believe you. How will you help me?"
"I have some contacts that could give you another chance in life without your family's interference," Varys answered. "Tell me, Ser Loras, have you ever heard of Golden Company?"