Chapter 19: Part XIXNotes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just borrowing for a while.
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"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."
Cersei Lannister 298AL
"Bloodshed is not a integral part of all political maneuvering mother."
Joffrey Baratheon 298AL
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Storm's End – The Stormlands – 298AL
Officially Ser Loras Tyrell had originally travelled to Storm's End from Highgarden to witness the laying to rest of King Robert, but to those better informed the intended laying involved was joked to be that of Robert's youngest brother. Regardless of the truth either way Loras had been at Storm's End when Stannis issued his declaration of Joffrey's incestuous illegitimacy and his own claim to the Iron Throne and had remained there for the next few days, keeping in touch with Highgarden via Raven.
Friends and semi-secret lovers for a number of years, Loras and Renly had originally planned to try and oust Cersei from the royal family and arrange for Margaery Tyrell, sister of Loras, to marry Robert Baratheon in her place. Changing events however, not the least of which was Robert's demise of course, had entirely stymied that scheme and now with the future of the Seven Kingdom's at stake they wondered what to do next.
If the accusations made by Stannis were true then Renly's remaining older brother was the rightful ruler of Westeros but Stannis lacked support even among many of his own vassals let alone the Seven Kingdoms at large, and moreover as for Renly he just couldn't stand the man.
If the situation had been different Renly might have even made his own claim on the throne, relying on the Stormlands and his Tyrell allies in the Reach to provide an army to force his will on the rest of Westeros. Given that the Westerlands would undoubtedly back Joffrey, and likely the North, the Riverlands and perhaps also the Vale would oppose any attempt to seize the throne by armed might, particularly by a younger brother that wouldn't have a legal claim to the crown anyway, that option was off the table.
Joffrey calling for a Great Council to decide the succession had been a political master-stroke, one that Stannis had badly misplayed in his response as was obvious from all the raven messages now flying around between the Great Houses. Not all that long ago both Renly and Loras would have considered Joffrey a dullard, and even a monster, but you had to admire the way the little son-of-a-bitch was playing the game.
Loras chuckled as he read the latest letter sent out from Joffrey in the Red Keep. "I don't know whether Stannis would have been better off keeping quiet because the way this tears apart his supposed evidence in that declaration he issues after the Great Council was announced makes him look like a complete imbecile" he opined, handing the letter back to Renly who had read it first.
"Perhaps, but imagine if he had presented it in front of the Great Council and then had it eviscerated to his face in front of everyone" Renly replied, reading through the letter again. "I don't think I've ever seen scorn and sarcasm transferred so well from pen to paper" he said with admiration. "Particularly as regards the notion that it was somehow suspicious that a person of Lannister blood might be blond, and children having a different hair colour than their father was an indication their mother was cuckolding him with her brother."
"Yes, I think it was the suggestion that perhaps the new Regent and Protector of the Realm should get a divorce because most of Lord Stark's children look more like their mother than they do him, proving adultery on Stannis's logic, which really sold that passage" Loras agreed.
"Personally I thought it was the really scathing tongue-in-cheek part about my niece Shireen having lighter hair than Stannis, and it also being odd that she isn't going bald like her supposed father that was truly hilarious" Renly told him, laughing. "It's the sheer level of derision that'll have my brother grinding his teeth, trust me" he said.
"Do you think it's true about Cersei and Jaime?" Loras asked.
"Who can know for certain except them and it's not like anyone would admit incest" Renly replied. "There might be a few people that can ignore the teachings of the Faith of the Seven as regards relationships like ours, but even for the open-minded fucking your own brother or sister is hardly something you're likely to mention to people, or even divulge if asked under oath."
Loras grinned. "Well like Cersei my own sister is very pretty" he said, "but even if I preferred the company of girls I can't see myself doing it Targaryan style, or especially telling anyone if I did, so you've got a point" he conceded. "Stannis did also write that Jon Arryn's investigation on his behalf showed that all of Robert's bastards have dark hair though, so even ignoring incest the possibility of adultery remains."
Renly shrugged. "Who can know if they're really Robert's bastards and even if they are none of them were with Lannister stock" he said. "Even if Arryn's last words were 'The Seed is Strong' that works equally well both ways, just like Joffrey said in his response to Stannis quoting the man" he continued. "Saying that the handful of Baratheon and Lannister unions which ever happened produced children that were dark of hair isn't all that persuasive when compared to all the marriages between Lannisters and dark haired men and women of other houses that produced blond children."
"You don't think Jon Arryn's death was murder?" Loras queried.
"Whether it was or not who knows who did it or why?" Renly asked rhetorically. "The man was Hand of the King, he likely had plenty of enemies" he said. "There just isn't any conclusive evidence and if anything Stannis's timing of waiting until Robert's death to issue his declaration makes him look suspicious."
Loras raised his eyebrows. "You don't think Stannis killed Robert do you?" he asked.
"No, but I'm sure people will start rumours to that effect, even if they don't believe it themselves" Renly responded. "The man just isn't popular, all those men he clashed with in the past, all the friction his personality caused with others, it's all going to come back and bite him on the arse now."
"My father certainly isn't a fan and I'm sure the feeling is mutual" Loras observed. "I think you can rely on him to support anyone that isn't Stannis at the Great Council once the date is set" he said, seeking to perhaps prompt Renly into putting himself forward as a possible candidate for the Iron Throne. "Also, Great Council or no he's starting to call on his bannermen once news reached us that Stannis had already called up his own troops."
Renly nodded. "Tywin Lannister is mobilising his forces as well, even though he has publically endorsed the calling of a Great Council" he told Loras. "Chances are all the Seven Kingdoms and the Riverlands are preparing for a war breaking out."
"If Stannis has an edge through already preparing for war and raising an army first he might not want to throw that away by letting everyone else catch up while we wait for the Great Council to form and make a decision" Loras suggested.
"Yes, particularly if he's got enough sense to realise that even if he believes his accusations are true, Gods, even if they are true, that doesn't mean a decision will go his way" Renly replied. "If he does realise that then he might choose to fight and I can't see that turning out much better for him anyway" he said then sighed. "The only thing I can say for certain is that Stannis won't back down, it's not in him."
"So whose side do we pick?" Loras asked.
"Ours as always" Renly replied, smiling.
Notes:
Note from the author:
Storm's End is the seat of House Baratheon in the Stormlands. Loras Tyrell is the son of Mace Tyrell of the Reach.