Joran Seral was the Master of Whispers in King Aerys' Small Council. A tall willowy man with an unremarkable face, not himself a noble but he was the brother of a Knight of the Crownlands. He had made a name for himself by just knowing the exact thing needed at the right time. While he knew he was a moderately decent spymaster, the only real reason he was in the position he was in was because he played the Game well enough and knew exactly which secret he needed to know.
"And because I happen to pass along a few choice secrets to the Lion first to be vetted before they reach the king's ears." Joran muttered to himself as he ducked under another door arch. Really one might think the man a Weirwood with how he was built. Tall to the sky but sturdy in the way of a tree was and not as a mountain. He was not a killer, nor a fighter. Those were things he left to his brother, he kept his mind sharp as any blade though. He stopped as he reached the hall that led to the bed chambers of the Hand of the King. Joran knew better than to just walk on in, or even wait outside. Joran then put his head in the right spot down the hall so that voices traveled in just the right way.
"-any love for me you would believe what I say!" He heard Lady Lannister yell, and from what Joran could tell she had just been crying. This hadn't been the first time the Master of Whispers had caught the lord and lady of Casterly Rock. And it had all started back when the Grand Maester declared that she was with child once more. Apparently that had not been what Tywin Lannister wanted to hear. Arguments began shortly after though few knew about them. Joran knew because… he was invested in knowing these things. The Hand of the King was his shield from the King's growing madness.
"Love? Whatever love I had for you dried up when you spread your legs for that excuse of a king." Oh… that sounded like treason to Joran. But the man knew there was a difference between true treason and something said in passion. Perhaps he was too kind and understanding for King's Landing but he was who he was. "Now get out of my sight! If you are not out of the city and on your way to the Rock by sundown I will remove that dragon spawn from your belly myself!" At that Joran melded himself into the shadows of the stonework and let the Lady Lannister storm out of the chambers in tears.
She was so beautiful, and Joran had half a mind to try and comfort her. Maybe spark something… but those thoughts were crushed quickly by his survival instinct. The lady passed by him unnoticing of his presence and he stood in the shadows for what felt like hours. Giving a spearing amount of time to make it seem as if he hadn't heard a single word. One might think twice about approaching a man about something, or anything really, after a fight like that. But Joran knew the type of man Tywin was, the man would likely thank the Master of Whispers for the distraction.
"My Lord Hand… I bring news from the Riverlands." Joran said as he entered the Hand's chambers. He gave unnoticed glances around the room, there had been a dragon sized fight in this room he could tell. It was the type of fight that ended happy marriages, turning into contests of who could outlive the other in bitterness and hate.
"Seral, good." Tywin said and to Joran's shock… the man looked almost vulnerable. It was quickly steeled away by professionalism but it was there. For a brief moment the man many thought to be the true power in the city looked weak and ready to collapse. "What is it?"
"A rumor has been floating down from the Trident my lord. A Stark rides south." Joran said, deciding to play his cards on the side of the Lion. Tywin would remember this meeting for no other reason than Joran saw him in such a state. If Joran handled this right, Tywin Lannister would never back stab him. "Lady Stark was seen at the Twins with three men, one of which claims to be the head of an order of warrior monks seeking to reestablish themselves here in Westeros."
"And what would the Kingdoms have use for an Essosi order?" Tywin snorted but at the same time he was intrigued, if the Starks really involved themselves to this degree this man must have something to offer. As barbaric as the northerners are, they hold to their own superstitions and rarely take stock in others. So for a foreigner to convince them meant they could be more that a charlatan
"That's the thing my lord, he claims to be from across the Sunset Sea." That Joran could see got Tywin's blatant interest. No one had ever met a man or woman from across that sea, no venture that had attempted to cross it made it back. "If my contacts are correct, they will be in King's Landing within a month's time." Tywin looked at a hanging map of Westeros, Joran watched as he walked up to the map with his eyes locked on the Kingsroad.
From what Joran knew, Tywin didn't give the Northern folk much thought as while they had the largest of the seven kingdoms, they were often considered the least present in the Game of Thrones. Even the weakest of the lands, the Riverlands was more respected in the courts of nobility than the North. Yes they were strong and no one would doubt their ability to survive and fight, but there was still a reputation of savagery and simple mindedness that permeated the South concerning the North. Tywin however only gave a single grain of salt to those beliefs. They were based in truth but blown out of proportion.
"What exactly do you know of this order of Warrior Monks?" Tywin asked as he began thinking just how to use this both for the realm and his family. The kingdoms were relatively stable, even under the growing incompetence of its king. Some were even whispering that the Targaryen madness was coming for Aerys. Military order wasn't needed per say but it was always needed should revolts or invasion come in the future.
"News from my contacts is limited, at the moment I know that there is one man that claims to be of this order. He called it the Sith." Joran said with a small mental note to see to put more informants in the North as clearly his current measures there were lacking. "He offered to give a demonstration to Lord Frey but the weasel refused." Joran understood the snort of irritation that came from Tywin. Information was power and for the Frey to just ignore a chance to see a possibly new form of combat was stupid in the highest order.
"One man?" Tywin asked and Joran nodded.
"Yes, one man that claims to be of the order but he has with him two followers. I do not know if they too are these Sith or are in service to the order." The Master of Whispers explained as best he could, the information given to him by his contact was poor, as expected by a Frey. Much of this was just Joran trying to decipher facts from the stupid mind of a son of the house of the crossing.
"And his relation to Lady Stark?" Tywin said, and Joran was a little surprised at the question but it made sense now that it was brought up.
"Unknown, my contact didn't specify beyond that she traveled with them." Tywin looked back up to the North on the hanging map with a calculating look. Honor was held in high regard by the Starks, maybe too high to some. Joran watched as Tywin dismissed the possibility of whatever was on his mind and the Lord of Casterly Rock turned back to the Master of Whispers.
"It was good that you brought this to me first. This must be handled correctly and the King has been known to jump to conclusions quickly." The last thing Tywin needed right now was for Aerys to slight the Starks. Already his former friend had made several people upset with his careless accusations. What was worse was the growing severity of these accusations and threats. "For right now see to it to learn all that you can of these foreigners from across the Sunset Sea. We need to know more before they arrive in King's Landing."
"It's not a castle but right now it will have to do." I hopped off my horse and then helped Lyarra off. She gave a small smile to the gesture but on the inside she was beaming. Every little thing I did for her just caused her emotions to explode and I found it highly amusing.
"Looks fine enough, better than sleeping out in the open." Pierce led the horses to the small stable that was outside the Crossroads Inn. It had been some time since we had left the Twins, couldn't be fast enough to tell the truth. Walder freaked me out and I hated the way every fucking Frey looked at Lyarra. Thankfully the peasants and travelers here seemed to recognize her nobility instantly and knew their place. Me however, their gazes lingered. My hood was up and my rebreather was covering my lower face, my eyes were the only thing of my face they could see while the rest of my body was covered in my Sith Robes. I was both very intimidating and unfamiliar to the people that saw me and they gave me a wide berth because of it.
"Just for the night then we are back on the road. We aren't far off from King's Landing and I wish to reach there as soon as possible." There had been plenty of time for the ravens to reach around the lands telling people of my arrival at the Twins. The King's spymaster, whoever he was, should have at least noticed. I can't wait to play with the Spider… hopefully I can get him to look past his hatred of magic.
We entered the inn and a few people stopped to take note. But most seemed ready to just ignore the strangers that just came in, the sight of an obvious noble lady like Lyarra told them everything they needed to know. This had nothing to do with them. We paid for a meal and three rooms for the night, buying out someone who already had one of the rooms. I threw the man a dragon and he seemed perfectly content sleeping out in the wilderness after that.
"You know, I'm really starting to get used to this place… food's good." Pierce said as he dug into the provided meals and I just had to chuckle. I really did admire Pierce, he's just a soldier and was content to go along with anything provided he felt he was doing his duty. Good chance that now that the Empire was gone he felt that his duty was to me and me alone. Seeing as we fought together and saved each other's lives more than once, it wasn't hard to see him thinking this way.
"Oh the food's great but the company is even better." Our small meal however was soon interrupted by a local bard putting a stool next to our table, a little too close to Lyarra too for my liking. "What brings such distinguished company like the Lady Stark to our little corner of the world, perhaps I could sing a song of the Kings of Winter of old?" Lyarra and I glared daggers at the man as he dropped just who was in the Inn. He looked to be of Northern descent so there was a chance he simply just recognized Stark features, but there was also the chance someone was setting this up.
"Lady Stark." However, that wasn't my first concern. Everyone in the room now had their attention squarely on us. Before we were nameless but clearly of nobility. Now we were much more than that. We were far from the North but the name Stark still was known by many.
"Are you with these men willing my lady, do you need assistance?" A man in the back in knight's armor asked as he moved his hand to his sword's hilt. The men at arms around him also began getting ready for a fight. Deciding to have a little fun I let out a little bit of my power, washing the room in ambient Force power. Everyone had differing reactions to subtle presence in their mind. Some were drawn in, others recoiled back, and some took it as a challenge. The knight was of the second surprisingly. Lyarra however was unfazed, she bathed daily in my power and this little taste of it was nothing to her. It did get her a little hungry for the main course but that could be saved for later.
"I thank you Ser, but I am on a mission from my lord husband. I am to escort these men to the King himself. I can give no more reason beyond that." She said elegantly but there was a touch of warning in that last statement. Telling a lord like Walder Frey was one thing, but these people didn't need to know all the facts.
"If you say so my lady." The knight said backing down, I could feel his relief at not having to fight me. Piss poor knightley stock they have around here, a real honorable man would not have buckled at my little trick. I look evil as fuck and have a noble lady by my side and he gives up at the single time she says to not save her? I could be making her say this! There was a little more fanfare about Lady Stark but she eventually shooed away all of them… but the bard that started all this.
"Now wasn't that rude, now how about that song my lady?" The bard asked clearly fishing for more, I could sense in him a desire for more than just our coin. Likely a spy for someone, bards make for excellent whisper workers and they blend into the background well enough to listen in on people without them noticing. But the little stunt we pulled in the Twins was the extent of what I wanted people to know.
"If I give you something to hand back to your masters would you leave us to eat in peace." I actually hadn't even gotten to eat anything. I loved how the sound of my rebreather filtered voice threw the man off. Plus there was the fact that I just blatantly stated he was a spy. Before he could deny it however I spoke again. "Tell them that I intend to arrive in King's Landing soon and that when I do, I will be making the king an offer he can't refuse. I will lift the Iron Throne off the floor of the Red Keep to prove my power." And with that I bounced a dragon off the table and into the man's stupid little hat. "Now leave." I actively flared a small bit of the Dark Side toward the man and he scurried away.
"And that's why you don't solicit Sith." Pierce joked and felt that this had brought back a few memories of time on non-Imperial worlds. Constantly salesmen thinking that rich and powerful Sith would buy their wares. If they had good stuff, then it actually ended very well for them. Sith rarely care for things like fiscal responsibility since they could just demand more money from the Empire. Though… many quickly learned that they had to be productive Sith to keep that trick working. Otherwise the Cipher Core might be asked by the actually responsible Darths to handle the bratty Sith Lord.
"Are you sure that was wise master?" Lyarra whispered so that no one would hear. "Making such a declaration like that to whoever that man worked for." There was also all those others that had overheard the vow to contend with.
"I'm confident in ability to do as I said." It was laying the groundwork for giving an expectation and belief of the extent of my powers. I had already begun to do this with the Maesters. I needed people to think that mind control was out of my reach, and the only thing I could do was move objects. With this seed I've planted in their minds, I will be able to move a little more freely.
"I have no doubt in you to complete this task my lord, but to what end?" Quinn asked and it did remind me to send my little message to Jaesa. She should be in position and if I timed this right we should arrive in King's Landing before anyone could ruin my plan.
Jaesa soaked herself in the deep waters of Harrenhal's ruined bathhouse. It felt wonderful after doing all the work to sneak in the water and then to heat it up without a machine to do it for her. She had to admit that the feeling of darkness and evil in the air added a nice touch to her long awaited bath time. Ever since she dropped off Vette she had been in Harrenhal, it hadn't taken more than a day on speeder to reach the massive fortress from the North. And since arriving she discovered two things, one… this place was big for a Feudal World. Whoever built this place did things Sith style. Second, she really liked the fact it was cursed by the Dark Side though she supposed that her master would want to get rid of it. It was a curse by a prideful man that would never submit to anyone, or at least that's what the Dark Side told her.
"Maybe he'll do something neat with the curse, turn it into a foci or weapon or something." She sighed contently as her naked body sunk deeper into the steaming waters of her bath. It was an isolated one that couldn't be reached by normal means, the doors had been collapsed in and she found it by sneaking her way through the rafters. "But if he's planning what I think he is…" Jaesa's train of thought was interrupted by the sound of her Holo-transmitter beeping to life. She instinctively groaned at the prospect of getting out but then remembered that there was only one person that would be calling her. Jaesa then scrambled out of her bath and over to her messy pile of robes to grab ahold of her communicator. "Yes master?" She asked as the blue holo projection of her master flickered in front of her.
"-My darling apprentice… always nice to see you greet me as you do.-" Her master chuckled and then Jaesa remembered that she was wet and naked. She wasn't embarrassed at all, in fact she hoped that seeing her like this only made her master want her to return back to his side faster. "-But your current dress state aside I am calling you to tell you to begin my plan. There is a House of Nobles that rule in Harrenhal. Kill them, make it look like the curse got to them in some extra gruesome manner. Something that would make anyone think twice about having hope of taking this place for themselves.-"
"But at the same time make it look like a tragic accident right?" Jaesa smirked as she already began thinking of ways to carry this out. "What's my time table?" She asked knowing that would decide just what type of torment she would inflect.
"-Within a month, I will be arriving at King's Landing soon and the news of this House's demise needs a little time to breathe. Just enough so that much of the king's court knows about it.-" She loved how her master could just manipulate things like this. He truly was a man among monsters.
As we made our way up to the Dragon Gate of King's landing I couldn't help but… feel sick to my stomach. It really smelled of piss here. The first thing I'm doing once I take over the seven kingdoms is install a proper sewer system and clean this shithole up. It ruined any majesty that this city would have upon any that saw it. Even the Free Cities were larger and they didn't stink to high heaven.
"It's just as they told me it would be, I rather hoped they were lying." Lyarra said as we all trotted our way down the road, getting a few glances from the people around us but little else. A few Gold Cloaks lingered on us longer and kept their eyes on my group while one went off. Likely to inform the Hand that Lady Stark and her company were here.
"They call this place a capital… Kaas city makes this look like a hovel." Quinn sniped and I looked back to give him a warning glance. We were in public and there were ears that would not take kindly to that. "Sorry my lord, but you know it to be true." I rolled my eyes and it was very true but he still needed to learn that he can't say things so blatantly like that.
We trotted through the street, I did have to admit that King's Landing did have its charm. For a medieval city it had an architecture that just demanded that you take the time to stare and marvel at it. Aegon probably intended for this to be one of the greatest cities in the world but died before he could see his work finished. Those who came after certainly didn't have as grand designs as him. In the end what majesty that was here was ruined by the horrid smell. The rulers of this city needed to be burned at the stake for this grave crime.
"My lord, exactly how are we playing this? Just walk up to the keep and say we are here to see the king?" Pierce asked and it was as simple as that. Or at least that was the basic plan but I doubted that we'd have to do that. Given that we sent word ahead both at the Twins and at that Inn, someone should be expecting us. Who that was could be a number of people but I had a feeling that it would either be Tywin or the current Master of Whispers.
"Just wait for it… any moment now…" I said and then just on cue a small group of Gold Cloaks approached our little merry band.
"Lady Stark, you and your companions have been asked to the Red Keep by Queen Rhaella Targaryen." That surprised me. I had expected Tywin or even the King himself to send for us upon our arrival but the queen? A nice little twist, goes to show that I still need to watch myself… especially around the characters that weren't flushed out in either the show or books. And most of all those that never showed.
"Thank you, please escort us to her majesty. It has been a long ride from the North and I am unfamiliar with our grand capital." Lyarra said with perfect grace and respect. The lead Gold Cloak nodded and to my surprise, he had nothing but duty and honor on his mind. He was not corrupt nor would be internally willing to be so… or at least as far as I could tell. I wasn't nearly as good at this sort of thing as Jaesa but I knew people's tells and all of these Gold Cloaks were devoted to keeping the peace in an honorable way. It was a far cry to the swamp that was Robert's city guard. Granted… that was after years under Littlefinger's employ and Robert's very lax leadership but I think it started earlier than that. Maybe when Tywin sacked King's Landing he killed all the honorable men left in the city. Certainly something to think on.
The city guards led us through the streets of King's landing and up to the great fortress of the Red Keep. Just like with Winterfell I felt in awe at the sight of the castle. It was as grand as the show made it, maybe even a little bigger and more gothic than in the show but only a little. The Gold Cloaks escorted us up into the main courtyard of the keep and I found waiting for us the Queen and two of the Kingsguard. Both were wearing their helmets, and I could feel a sense of ready for battle from them. The Queen however looked mildly haggard but even then her Valyrian beauty shown through. Long silver hair was a clear trait of her family, a face that could be beautiful if life would have been a little kinder to her, and the southern dress she wore did well to accent her womanly curves. She wasn't as shapely as Lyarra but she did have a very graceful figure with a respectable bust. I'm sure those flings she had behind her husband's back enjoyed her well.
"Lady Stark, I welcome you to the capital. I hope your ride was fair and without issue." Rhaella said and even her voice sounded like it could have been sweet and lovely but now had a tired and almost rough quality to it. And I recognized it, it came from someone that oftentimes screamed in pain but not often enough to totally destroy their voice. Ah master… you certainly did have your talents.
"Thank you, your grace." Lyarra said as she was helped off her horse and then bowed to the Queen. I however remained on the horse and kept my gaze solely on the Kingsguard. "Naraiz, you did not need to worry. You have my lord husband's protection." Lyarra said well enough like she was upset with my small slight at not dismounting and bowing to the monarch. I knew these feelings were faked given she thought me high above any king.
"Yes, but I wonder how well that protection will go. These men look ready to run me and my own through at a single slight." I said and again these people were entirely set on edge by my voice filtered through my rebreather. This was why Sith wore them even if they weren't needed for medical reasons.
"It is the duty of the Kingsguard to protect the king and the queen." Lyarra said, appearing to try and be the moderator between me and the royals. I could tell that she was confused as to why I was being this way but honestly I was just having a bit of fun. The two Kingsguard were clearly by this point seething and wanting nothing more than to put me in my place. The queen however… nothing. There was no particular sway toward any direction. Which certainly felt right, this was a woman who had never been treated right by those around her.
"And we will protect them from any threats." The one on the right of the queen said with steel and strength in his voice. This one was looking for a fight while the other was ready for it. I had half a mind to just float them in the air to prove a point but decided against it.
"And I am far from a threat, I have come seeking the king's help in a mission vital to me." I said not taking my eyes off from the two Kingsguard. Already wrote me off as some sort of evil man by my dress and foreign strangeness. While I'm sure there are some brains in the Kingsguard, it would appear these two are not among them.
"I did not call you here Lady Stark so your charges could clash swords with the Kingsguard." I arched an eyebrow at the slightly annoyed tone that Rhaella took. Even if there was a sea of passive calm inside her, I could hear a genuine sense of irritation in her voice. It seemed that she had developed the talent at forcing her inner self to be perfectly still while still maintaining her personality. It was something Jedi could do when faced with the Dark Side, they would keep their inner thoughts calm while still acting like they weren't really the robots they were. I guessed Rhaella was doing this less as something done on purpose and more as a coping mechanism. "Please ser, dismount and let us speak privately." There was definitely a let's get this over with attitude with her.
"Your majesty, you need not make requests of this foreigner. He should be just grateful that you wish to speak to him." Once again it was the Kingsguard on the right that spoke. If he was trying to get a rise out of me he had another thing coming.
"Lord Rhyhall was the Emperor's Wrath back in our homeland. A position held by the Empire's finest and most deadly warrior, He only answered to the Emperor himself, it is you that should be honored to speak with him." Quinn said apparently not being able to take anymore of this. I was thankful that he was able to keep to the cover story even in his anger, though. But it looked like this was exactly what the belligerent Kingsguard was looking for. As he quickly unsheathed his sword causing all of the surrounding guards to do so as well. The one on the left however did not and simply took a step-in front of the queen. Okay… it looked like this one was at least smart enough to get that much.
"Stand down Ser Gaunt, this is not what I asked for when I invited them here." The Queen demanded and for the first time I saw a crack form in the clam. Giving me a peek into what she wanted. I couldn't really tell much but she was greatly upset by this turn of events. She wanted something that was already clear but it went beyond anything that I thought. She's desperate… very desperate.
"I cannot allow this my Queen, I cannot allow this foreign scum to think themselves your equal." At that I laughed, deep and full of amusement. Now that I knew who this man was I had no qualms about how I wanted to go about him. Gaunt was useless, not needed to any degree. He would die at Duskendale helping no one in the future plot line in any way. I could kill him now and nothing would likely change.
"If not her equal, I'm sure I'm yours." I said finally getting off my horse and holding out my hand for Pierce to throw me his sword. The vibrosword I had been using would make this painfully quick and needed to teach this man and all else a lesson. Can't do that when my blade just cuts through his. "I won't even use my own sword, a blade on par with Valyrian Steel." I said and could hear the man protecting the Queen snort at that while Gaunt was too focused on the enemy in front of him.
"Without any armor, you are asking for a quick death aren't you." Gaunt said coming toward me, raising his sword and slashing me down at my shoulder. I blocked with one hand while my other was firmly on my lower back. Gaunt however was struggling to push down on my raised blade with both hands. Eventually I pushed back and a duel of steel began to play out in the courtyard of King's Landing. The sounds of clashing blades rang and sparks flew through the air with each strike. I continued to play with the knight, holding one hand to my back while moving around his swings and blocking where I felt like doing so. My ability with the Force made Gaunt look like he was moving in slow motion, and even if he was to hit my body my armor was in fact better than that heavy plate he wore could ever hope to be. My Sith armor was some of the best the Empire could produce, it could take the breath of a dragon and be perfectly fine. Though, given enough force the armor would be useless. It wasn't Sith Heavy Armor, it was designed for maximum movement and shielding from blaster fire. Ironically it was blunt force and kinetic energy that it was weakest against, but its threshold was far above what a normal human was capable of.
"Is really the height of Westerosi swordsmen? I'm quite disappointed." I parried a swing and knocked the sword out of the Kingsguard's hand. At the eye slit of his helmet the tip of my blade held firmly in place, and it was clear that if I wanted all I needed to do was push and he would be dead. "Yield." I said softly but the air around us grew so heavy that he nearly fell to his knees. In the moment he would write it off as his fear playing tricks on him but it was as real as it could be.
"Enough of this." A stern commanding voice came through the courtyard drawing everyone's attention. I looked to see Tywin and a rather tall man walking across the length of the courtyard with a deep look of irritation on his face. Just a cursory read on him told me that irritation was more toward Gaunt than me, likely Tywin knew exactly how things played out simply by knowing the Kingsguard member well enough. The Lord Lannister growled out a dismissal to the rowdy Kingsguard quietly as he leaned over him. I could hear a few grumbles before Tywin turned to me and Gaunt bowed to the Queen and left the courtyard. Not even picking up his sword he ran out so fast with his tail between his legs. "I apologize for the rude welcome you received at the hands of what is supposed to be our finest." Tywin said trying to smooth over any damages that had been done. I could tell that he was in no mood to be doing damage control. My question was mostly why? Why was he acting this way to me, it's not like I had done anything to prove my worth yet.
"My welcome was far from rude, being greeted by a Queen could hardly be called such." I said giving a small gesture over to Rhaella who just maintained her passive face while on the inside her inner forced peace was returning. But in the last moments before I could gleam two things, one was anger at Tywin. Curious. Second was interest in me, what kind I could not tell. Romantic… possibly. Interest in my skills, more likely but just as usable. "And it was the lack of tact on my vassal's part that caused things to escalate." I said shooting Quinn a small glare that he at least looked slightly guilty from. "Now who might I be addressing, I know I am the presence of a Queen… but just who else is standing here?" I wanted some little king jab, implying Tywin could be him but that would be a little too much.
"I am the King's Hand, Lord Tywin Lannister." He said with dignified pride before casting a small look at Rhaella. "I was meant to welcome you and Lady Stark, but it seemed our Queen took the matter upon herself." He said fearing no reprisal on his words or the meaning behind them. Rhaella meanwhile just gave a ghost of a frown and looked away like Tywin was the least important thing she had ever seen. Ouch… there's some frostiness going on between them. Doubtful they had an affair, Tywin actually gave a damn about his wife. There's a story there and I'm keen to find out what it is.
"I feel honored that so many sought to welcome me." I chuckled before deciding to move things along. "My name is Naraiz Rhyhall, I have come from across the Sunset Sea in hopes to find a new home for my Order. Lord Stark has offered his endorsement and sent his wife to grant me an audience with King Aerys so that I may make my case to him." I said and took an interest in the reactions people had concerning my words. Rhaella only flinched softly at the mention of her husband, sad and expected. Tywin was scanning me for every scrap of information that he could, not that he would find much that was worthwhile. And the tall man that came with Tywin was oddly nervous, he hid it well but I could sense it.
"That will have to be something to bring up at court, should I find this Order of yours worth the King's time." Tywin said sternly and that tone he used would make any lesser men cower and flee for their lives. But he was a little frustrated when all I did was smile and let his authority break upon me like a wave upon a cliff. "For now, Lady Stark…" He said before looking to Lyarra. "… I'm sure the Queen could occupy your time while I speak with your charge." Ooh… Rhaella did not like that at all. There was a brief second in which her inner peace broke into a raging inferno at Tywin's words but were quickly claimed by the prospect of getting what she came for. Ah… that's what she wanted. Girl time. It seems the Queen is desperate for people that her husband can't outright shoo away so he can do what he does to her.
"Come Lady Stark, I had come to invite you to refreshments with Lady Lannister, Lady Martell and I anyway." Rhaella said with a pointed glare at Tywin and I could feel a pang of anger and guilt in the man at the mention of his wife. I must learn what is going on! I have an idea based on when we are in the timeline but… I need to confirm. Lyarra left with only a small nod to me before following the Queen away. Do well my pet, sew discord and chaos in the ranks of the nobility of Westeros. Chaos… would it be fun to start a cult?
"Ser Rhyhall, we can speak in the Hand's Tower." Tywin said with a small nod of his own before leading myself and my followers. I can't have that anymore, I don't like being called ser. They will never refer me to lord, at least until I'm granted lordship. It pisses me off that I don't have a Darth name. The nobility of Westeros would have no issue referring to me by that as it doesn't have the same weight as lord for them.
Lyarra soon was all but dragged to the gardens by Rhaella. The Queen appeared to hurry through the halls to what seemed to her as the sole safe place in the keep. Even though they had the Kingsguard with them. However good protection that was, her master made the white caped knights look like a joke by the way he handled them. It had taken all of Lyarra's willpower to not swoon like a young maiden in love at the sight of her master playing with one of the supposed best knights in the kingdoms.
Lyarra had felt a great warmth in her chest when she had helped her master in all of this. Lyarra often touched where her collar was under her Mask and couldn't help but feel so fulfilled in ways she had never been just as the Lady of Winterfell when doing so. It was only comparable to the fulfillment she felt as a mother. But this was for her, it was more personal than what she might see her children happy. It felt selfish at times, to find a happiness that was all her own but it had been so long since she had felt this way. She had always lived in a cage and she had long since resigned herself to it. From birth she knew that she would amount to little more than Lady of Winterfell. So early on, she learned how to find relief and peace in that cage. But now it was different. Yes she was enslaved to this mysterious man she now called master but it was by her choice and oh did it feel good at times.
"Was your travel from the North pleasant?" Rhaella asked not looking back to Lyarra as she led the Stark through the halls toward the Red Keep's gardens. The way she spoke made Lyarra think Rhaella thought there was some reason it wouldn't have been. Her master had been teaching her how to hear and see people's true feelings. He even told her thanks to the extra changes he made to her body she would be able to use her sense of smell to tell how people were really feeling. People apparently could control how they sounded and appeared but couldn't do the same to the scents they gave off.
"It is winter, it was as pleasant as it could be. We had some issues in the Neck but Lord Reed's men helped us through." Lyarra said mixing in pleasant tones while still being guarded. She did not like the implied meaning that Rhaella had suggested. "I never knew just how different winter was here in the south, it's similar to our summer snows." Worse than the North during summer sure, but not even close to how it was during Winter.
"I'm sorry to hear that, it must be difficult living in such a place." The queen said back and truly her voice was as frosty as the topic of discussion. With that no more words passed between the two ladies. They eventually found their way outside the walls of the Red Keep and into the expansive gardens.
Rhaella made a beeline straight for a particular spot in the garden, a small walled off square with a gazebo centered in the middle. To its back was a small cliff that gave a spectacular view of the Blackwater Bay. There waiting at a table under the gazebo was a waiting Lady Lannister and the Princess of Dorne, the former of which was already showing a small bump on her midsection indicating her pregnancy.
"Wait here." Rhaella said to the sole Kingsguard that was with them before they entered into the secluded place. There was a moment where the man seemed to want to protest but then decided against it. Like he had this argument many times before and just resigned himself to losing it. The two women then entered and Lyarra could see Rhaella letting out a small bit of her control. "Joanna Lannister, Nysah Martell, Lyarra Stark." Rhaella introduced as they came to the waiting women.
"A pleasure, we so rarely get Starks this far south. I hope Winter hadn't made the trip too difficult." Joanna said warmly as Lyarra and Rhaella sat down with the Lady of the Rock and the smirking Dornish woman. Lyarra could not feel the sense of guarded observation that the Queen had for her from Joanna. In fact, the Lannister was about the most genuinely welcoming person that Lyarra had met in the south. Meanwhile the Princess just eyed her in much the same way her master did at times, a mix of lust and intrigue.
"Not at all, our group was small, and we were able to take the King's Road with no issue." Lyarra said before giving a small look at the provided small sandwiches and other assorted small foods that had been made for the high ladies. The three women chuckled softly at this, Lyarra wasn't nearly as refined as most southern ladies but that was expected from someone from the North.
"You can have as many as you like darling, you must be hungry from your journey." Nysah offered and as soon as she said this Lyarra took one of the sandwiches and began munching on it. Much to the shock and small amusement of the other ladies. It wasn't condescending or based in malice, it was unexpected for a lady of Lyarra's status to be, wolfing down food in front of the Queen and fellow ladies of great houses.
"My, it would seem it was a difficult journey after all." At that Lyarra swallowed her food and lightly glared at Joanna.
"So the rumors are true, the women of the House Stark do have the Wolf's Blood in them." Rhaella joked and Joanna and Nysah laughed, it felt good for the three of them to feel so distracted from the husbands. But they both stopped at Lyarra standing up.
"If insults were the only thing I was called for-" Lyarra began as she turned to find her master and stay by his side throughout the entire time they were in King's Landing. But she stopped as Joanna grabbed her hand.
"No stay, I apologize if what we said offended you." Joanna said feeling a tad guilty at her words. "It's just so refreshing to have someone like you with us, everyone else tiptoes around us and tries to all seven hells to appear as perfect as they can to earn our favor. Having some of that famous Northern blunt honesty is a change of pace we need." Joanna said and Lyarra looked between the three women for a few moments and eventually sat back down.
"Thank you, it's been too long since I've laughed like that and I'd hate for it to end." Rhaella sighed as she took one of the little cookies for herself. "We could talk about what Lyarra thinks of King's Landing or discuss the differences between the North and south but can I assume such talks would be boring?" Rhaella said looking to Lyarra who nodded as she took another snack. It was all so tiny! Lyarra couldn't understand how southern ladies lived if this was the extent of their meals. Her wolfish changes too had increased her hunger, she wouldn't be surprised if there were a few rumors around the seven kingdoms now about her eating habits.
Her master says that her body is still changing, and she needed more nourishment to keep herself healthy while it happens. The urge to run out into the woods and hunt down a stag with her own hands certainly played into what Naraiz had said. She lightly shook her head and returned her focus back to the women with her. And she was grateful for Rhaella skipping over the small talk. Lyarra didn't want to talk about the stinking city that they called a capital or talk about how she missed the North and wished to leave the south as soon as she could.
"So what is it that you two normally talk about?" That was the question that nagged at her if they didn't want to talk about the matters of the city or court.
"Our husbands." They all said at the same time making Lyarra nearly choke on her food. This wasn't a topic that she wanted to speak about either. Rickard had been furthest from her mind except for the times she had to write a letter back to Winterfell. Her thoughts had been filled with fantasies about the days when she could take her place at the foot of her master's throne. Lavishing him with all the pleasure her body could grant.
"Really? You talk about them?" She found the whole idea a little hard to grasp as how could they fill up so much time with a subject as dull as that.
"Complain is more like it." Nysah snorted as she glanced over to the entrance to their little haven.
"It is Ser Grandison, his bad ear faces us and he won't hear a word." Rhaella informed and explained to Lyarra with a turn of her head. They only ever met like this when Ser Grandison was the one guarding the queen as with his bad ear they had the only chance to speak freely. All the Kingsguard took an oath to their king first, and some of the things the two ladies spoke of weren't exactly things they would like reaching the King's ears. "But Nyash is right, though for a long time it was mostly me tearing my woes to the only people that I could trust to listen." Rhaella said with a soft thankfully look her two friends who smiled back but then frowned as Joanna began to rub her growing belly.
"But then it was announced I was with child." Joanna remembered the day like it was yesterday. She was so happy when the Grand Maester said that the sickness that she had been feeling was in fact the first signs that she was carrying another son or daughter of Tywin's. He had been the first one she told and he was overjoyed at first. But then when the news had been made, something changed in Tywin's mood, she perfectly remembered when he looked up to the King and the tiny smile of pride on her husband's face vanished and turned to a scowl. It wasn't hard to understand once she looked up at Aerys and found his gaze right on her, a cruel and victorious grin on his lips. From that moment Tywin had been convinced that Joanna had broken their vows and slept with Aerys and the child she carried was in fact his. She explained as much to Lyarra who had listened with a classic Stark dutiful quietness. "I married that man for love, he married me for love. But I question if that love will survive the Winter."
"Tywin's hatred for the King is only matched by my own. That is the only thing we have in common." Rhaella growled, feeling irritated at having to agree with Tywin on anything. Even before he blamed his wife and her best friend for something she never did, the man was not ever someone the queen was on good terms with. She felt he was a pure hypocrite, marrying for love like Joanna just said, but judging her for not sticking by her wedding vows to a man that beat her, raped her, and was no more faithful than herself.
"What about you?" Lyarra asked Nysah who shrugged a bit at the question.
"Nothing so dire as these two. I simply made a bad choice in who I wanted as consort. I believed all I needed was a man that would do whatever I said and worshiped the ground I walk on. How boring it turned out to be in practice. My husband is a fine man yes but there is no real fire in him." Nysah complained and in a way Lyarra understood and sympathized. While not the same as Rickard, her husband certainly lacked any fire when it came to their relationship.
"Enough about us, is Rickard Stark the model of what men should aspire to be or is he just another man?" Nysah leaned forward and the other two followed her example, eager to get a idea of the Warden of the North.
"And just how is the man in bed?" Joanna asked as she chewed on the end of small skewer that once had an assortment of meats and cheeses on it. Rhaella chuckled at her friend's question. Even before pregnancy increased Joanna moods and desires, she had always been a bit… crass and interested in the more lewd of topics. Even Nysah sometimes believed that Joanna was more bold than she was in this regard. Rhaella hoped to the Mother that none of Joanna's children would inherit this trait.
"Adequate." Lyarra said quickly and with great certainty. Now that she had something to compare to, she deemed Rickard… okay. He more than often than not did plainly satisfy her but there were a growing number of times where he didn't. And his seed was strong given the number of children he gave her. "Outside of bed… Rickard is an honorable man and a loving father." Lyarra had to give her husband his dues. He never was unfaithful and he did all he could for their children. He did not mistreat her and if it had been any other woman Lyarra knew he would make them happy.
"But? There's one coming I know there is." Joanna leaned a little forward, as much as she could with her current body.
"But… I cannot love him. My choice in the matter was taken from me before birth." Lyarra sighed before absentmindedly reaching for her neck and rubbing where her collar was. A gesture that confused the three other women but they just assumed it was a nervous tick or some sort of personal calming action. "All my life I was told to love my husband before I even understood what love was. And on the day of my wedding, I saw him under the Weirwood tree of Winterfell… I couldn't bring myself to feel something that had been told to me to be loved. I saw him as I saw a beggar or a common farmer. I'm sorry, I'm making it seem it's so bad to have what I do when…" Lyarra actually looked down sheepishly but the women with her waved off her worries.
"Better for you to have known that at the start." Joanna sighed as she felt the conflict in her heart rage on. She loved Tywin, she did… but with every threat he made of killing their child that love cracked. How long until those cracks broke her heart.
"You should never feel this way with us Lyarra. Here, we are safe from anyone listening in. You can say anything you wish, we will not judge so long as you do the same with us." Rhaella said trying to sooth the Stark and Lyarra nodded and smiled at the gesture. But internally she knew there were some things that she could never tell these women. But then under her Mask her collar pulsed with the Dark Side, whispering something into her mind.
"Not yet, but maybe there's a way for all of us to really share so much more than secrets." Lyarra thought to herself as she listened on to Joanna talk her troubles away. All the while, the assumed honest and honorable Stark was secretly scheming, the Dark Side feeding her thoughts.
"Those are quite a few stairs… it must be great exercises for the body to go up and down them every day as you do." I said cheekily as I closed the door behind myself. Pierce and Quinn remained outside the door as they knew that this was not their place. Tywin and the man I learned was the current Master of Whispers Joran Seral stood at the other end of the meeting room in the Hand's Tower to me. Neither of them looked amused by my joke. "Tough crowd."
"I assume you know why you are here, to confirm your story to me. Only once I believe you shall you have a chance at seeing the King." Tywin said as sternly as always. Meanwhile I could tell Joran was putting all his strength of will in Tywin being the hardass in this meeting. My appearance was having a direct effect on the man and he was close to shitting bricks.
"Very well." I then began to spin a story which mostly consisted of an edited fantasy version of the Sith, Jedi, Republic, and the Empire. I had already planned this out in my backstory for myself and my followers. It essentially told the basic idea of how things went down, however a few changes here and there to appeal the Sith more to Tywin. Which was an already hard thing to do given the draw the Jedi had. Damn Lucas, you to make the Jedi so fucking good and the Sith so fucking evil. At least on the surface, it was as black and white as you could get. It was only when you dug deeper that you came to the gray truth. But by the end I had Tywin believing the parts I needed him to, that I was a refuge from a far away land hoping to restart my order here in Westeros.
I was also able to convince him of the Force by simply lifting up a small stone lion he had on his desk. Needless to say he believed in my powers after that. Further explanation of the basics of the Force answered the question of why no one in Westeros had my powers. The answer was simple: any child that showed these powers would be killed thinking that they were cursed by demons or some other such nonsense. Tywin believed me and I was grateful that he bought that line. I wasn't sure how true it was, this world had a special connection to the Force so it was bound to have a large number of Force Sensitives. As I asked from God, but the internal logic of why that would be a mystery for me to solve.
"And exactly how would you find members for your order?" Tywin asked as he tapped his fingers together, he was already sitting across from me at the large table in the room. Joran was still standing behind Tywin looking a little more like how he felt.
"You are a cunning man, most would focus on what my order would do for Westeros and I'm sure you are interested. But you went right to the question that everyone likely wouldn't think about until it was too late. Until I already have the approval of the king." I said like it was an absolute certainty that I would be getting that. And that's because I would be getting it, Aerys was a man that I knew how to twist around my finger. A simple show of mystic power to give him a taste of what his ancestors once had and he would be eating out of my hand. "Those born with the Force can be found, the Jedi have seers that predict where a Force Sensitive would be born. Most Sith come from families that pass it down through long lines. But we have other means of finding them."
"But the tools you would need, manpower? Some sort of force of men to carry out your needs?" Well when you put it like that… yeah.
"We are getting to the root of your question, I hope to be granted something like that and a right to take in anyone that has the potential to be Sith." Honestly the idea I had was a long shot, a theory that Darth Nox had… and I was hoping the Sith Inquisitor would be right on this. Though I was loathed to use a theory from that woman. The history between us was apparently both steamy and tragic… and many heaps of infuriating.
"Naturally." Tywin growled knowing exactly what I meant by that. It meant that if a noble was born with the Force, I could take them from their House. Props to the old Lion for seeing that. Because that's exactly what I want to do. "And what would happen to these new converts?"
"I did stress that this isn't a religious order, didn't I?" I joked but Tywin did not laugh and I returned back to serious discussion. "They would be trained in the Force, taught to the best of the Order's ability to achieve a Balance between the Dark and Light. And at some point they will be given a choice, either to serve with the Order in a more permanent fashion or return back to where they came with the skills and higher mind that the Order granted them." Tywin glared at me knowing full well that I had just described the method by which I will infiltrate many noble Houses with loyal followers. And I checkmated him because the only other option was to let me keep those sons and daughters of Westeros' nobility. That being said, all of this was contingent on if I was granted my Order's existence in Westeros.
"And what shall you give to the realm in return?" Tywin leaned back in his seat, a cold calculation was going on in his mind. He was already leaning heavily to having me killed in some fashion and maybe looking into finding a natural born Force Sensitive and having them learn from the ground up. An interesting idea but one that would take decades and several generations of careful work. It was here that I would have to give him a little something.
"The realm? The realm will be getting a powerful military asset, an Order of warrior-monks able to move objects with their minds." I said knowing full well that this wouldn't interest Tywin in the slightest, because it was a fact that Westeros had no interest in military conquest. And Essos for the most part weren't interested in the same thing toward Westeros. More than likely Tywin thought the idea of the Sith Order being in the borders of the Seven Kingdoms was more an extra player in the Game of Thrones than a military asset. But this was just part of my sale.
"We are powerful agents able to serve the realm in any number of ways. Both in military and in domestic means. Just think of all the people of the realm that we would take in, sure there will be a small number of nobility but a great number of them will be commoners. These will be nearly useless peasants turned into valuable learned men that could sell their services to any number of noble houses." That drew Tywin's attention, knights were oftentimes blunt tools best for easy jobs. Bandits, shows of force, and games. Sell swords were more often used less than legal matters. But there was a lacking place for more those that could do more delicate work.
And something I knew about Tywin that he didn't know I knew, he didn't outright dismiss the peasantry. He saw them as sheep but he didn't think them completely without place in society like many of the nobility. Fools they are. I knew that he would see the idea of raising up a few of the lower classes by my Sith Order not as contemptuously or abhorrently as others. There was value in giving a small hope to the commoners that their child would be born Force Sensitive and thus taken away to become a powerful Sith and come back and help out their village or town. A bastard once said; Hope, it is the only thing stronger than fear.
"We would need some means of ensuring your loyalty to the crown." Tywin said and I could feel an internal battle of pros and cons to letting me stay. Right now, it was still on the cons side as he was against the idea of a new and very unknown player in the Game of Thrones. He hadn't bought my humble monk routine and could tell I had ambition. Tywin even in his younger days still was one of the sharpest men to walk this world.
"Tie me to the realm, make me a lord of some ruin or forgotten castle." I said and I hid my smirk at the idea I just planted in him. The news that House Whent had fallen to Harrenhal's curse had reached his ears and a plan was already forming in his mind. Either I would die to the fortress' curse or I would create a new order right in the middle of the realm. Perfectly placed to be attacked from all sides. Sure Harrenhal's size and walls made it an impressive fortress, but it would fall as easily against any real siege given its partial ruined status. "I will take any oath you feel is needed of me." I said lying through my teeth, but thankfully it seemed that Tywin missed that one and believed me. Perhaps it was because he was still a little young, his wife was still alive and his heart had still not turned entirely frozen. He still had a small bit of faith in people. This was part of the reason why I wanted to come back during this time.
"In two days time the King will be presiding over court, that is when you will bring this matter to him and all of the nobility of King's Landing." Tywin said knowing that he could manipulate the situation from next to the King should Aerys decide to rule in favor of the Sith. Which was what was going to happen, Aerys wasn't completely mad by this point but his mind should be anything but strong. All it will take is some flowery words, a show of power, and a few mind tricks and I will have everything I want.
Author's Notes
So Naraiz is now going to be playing with Tywin and the nobility in King's Landing... that's going to work out for everyone.