It was a grand pavilion filled to bursting with the highest lords of the kingdom and the lowliest as well. In all his years, Malcom never thought that he would be brushing shoulders with the likes of Lords Buckwells, Stokeworth, Blackwood, Mallisters and those were only of the few notable ones that he recognise.
Now House Terrick was no lowly House, but even he wouldn't dare to say they were the equals of such houses that he had named. At best, Malcom would say House Terrick was off middling influence with a long history that could be traced all the way back to the times of the First Men.
Hells, they had even married into more prominent Houses. Other lords of his liking would have boasted about that, but not him. He could make a guess to the fact that those Houses most likely wed off lesser sons and daughters or distant kin away.
When one thought about it, there was nothing to be proud off when it came to accepting the unwanted of one's betters. It was merely the way of things. Therefore, it was quite a surprise to find him in this gathering of the lords of the realm.
"What do you think this is all about, Malcom?" Perwyn Grell asked as he sat beside him. Like the Terricks, the Grells were a middling House of no great import and standing, but they did well enough.
Malcom shrugged his shoulders as he looked down below to where the king talked to some of the greater lords of the realm that had arrived. "Gods knows, Wyn. Matters that don't concern lordlings the likes of us, most like."
His old friend made a sound. "Well, considering that we have been fattening ourselves on the king's largesse, I think we are about to receive some bad news you know? Make us content before dropping some heavy and foul upon us."
"You don't know that." Malcom replied softly. He then pointed to the front. "Look, the lords are taking their seats. I think this...this..."He searched for a word that could best describe what was happening before he eventually came to one. "Congress is about to begin."
"Congress..." Perwyn Grell repeated. "Hm, that's not half a bad word to use to describe this gathering. A congression of all the lords of the realm. I wouldn't mind this happening at a more recurring rate."
Malcom blinked. "You would?"
Perwyn Grell grinned at him slyly. "Why yes, I don't care much for this part, but if every congression like this happens to involve all the festivities and feasting that we had been subjected to, I wouldn't mind at all! Hells, I might even find a lord who would be able to take some of my sons and daughters of my hands! Now that would make this all worth it!"
They had been seated in stands that was in the shape of a 'U'. Where Malcom and his companion sat was somewhere not too near the front, the places of honor were better lords than he sat, but not too far at the back were the lesser lords were sat. The lesser lords might find themselves looking down on many of their betters, but it was the furthest distance away from where the king sat with his council and thus, not a place of honour that such a raised seat would imply.
In one way, King Edmyn had honoured the lesser lords and in another, he had firmly reminded them of their place. Perhaps there was a certain low cunning to the great lords of the realm had declared king. Well...he did need to have a certain amount of cunning, after all, if he had been able to convince his liege lord to somehow pay for his royal host, then surely there was more to the man.
There was still much he couldn't say about Edmyn, having seen him from a distance and the bards and mummers with all their songs and mummery made him something akin to a god. He saw no god in front of him, nothing that forced him to his knees in divine awe. No, he just saw a man.
A brave young man that had taken on Harren the Black and won.
Those little facts alone told him that perhaps, there was more to this young man than meets the eye.
The king moved forth, towards a raised table that held a tome of some kind. He had seen the tome in passing when he had made his way towards his seat and it had been strangely familiar to him, yet he couldn't quite place where he had seen it before.
"My lords and ladies!" The king spoke out, the iron timbres of his voice carrying throughout the grand pavilion easily. Malcom Terrick would grudgingly admit that there was a certain aspect to his voice that he liked. "I want to thank you all for coming here, but before we carry on, I have to ask for the sake of propriety, but have you all been enjoying yourselves!?"
"AYE!" The crowd of lords and ladies roared out, the volume so loud it made his ears tremble and he worried that he would be made deaf.
The young king laughed loudly. "That's good to hear! I feared there wouldn't be enough entertainment for all of you! Thank the gods, now my lovely queen can finally leave me be in peace!" The crowd chuckled at the king's jest and Malcom couldn't hurt cracking a smile himself.
Even he knew the weight of an overbearing wife.
"Yet, if you found yourself not yet field on the festivities, no worry shall have to come upon you, for we still have a weeks' worth of drinking, feasting, tourneys, songs, races and mummery to content ourselves with."
"Don't forget the fucking!" A lordling shouted from the front of the seats.
The king chuckled with the rest of them. "Well, yes, there's that too, but I'm a married man now, with vows. I think I shall leave the fucking to younger men than me." Amidst the laughter, the king placed a hand on the tome that Malcom Terrick had still to name. "Now, on to the crux of the matter, my lords and ladies. Over the past couple of years, ever since I was declared your king, I have been working to turn our fledgling kingdom into a force to be reckoned with.
"The Hoares called themselves Kings of the Isles and Rivers. I spit on that! They were no kings! They weren't even good rivermen like me and all of you! No, they were just tyrants who used us for their own means, never caring about the suffering they brought onto our people and lands! Seven hells, they didn't even rule, they turned us against each other, plying one House against the other because they knew they would hold stand no chance against united rivermen. Rivermen from the likes of House Whent, House Grell,"
Grell immediately shot up, his back straightening and his ears perked taking everything in. It seemed he had finally become invested in this mummery.
"House Erendford, House Butterwell, House Frey, House Mooton." The king paused for a moment as his Tully blue eyes roamed the stands and it seemed like he was looking at each and every lord and lady as if that was possible. "I think you all get what I am trying to say. The Hoares didn't rule us. They never did. They were no kings, no, I name them tyrants. I would also name the Durrandons that came before them tyrants! Invaders! Foreign lords that came to take our lands and its riches for themselves! None of them could be compared to the riverkings of old! The Mudds, the Justmans...I could say the Teagues but nobody likes those cunts, so fuck them!" He finished to laughter.
"Unlike those storied kings of old, House Tully did not become the Kings of the Trident through conquest, in fact, it was more through a wild fire that spread through the moment I turned my banners and ambushed Harren. And the fire spread, from the mouth of the Blackwater to the marshes of the Neck, the fire had spread and lords rose up against our oppressors. Of course, during that time, somebody had to be in charge, and you can thank some of your lot for putting me into that position." He said with a smile as he circled the raised table. "I did not become king through the right of conquest. I became king through the consensus of great men. Of great ladies. I do not want to betray that trust placed upon me by turning into a tyrant. Kingdoms, civilisation itself, are built on strong foundations, foundations that can last for eternity. My lords, my ladies, do you know what that foundation is?" He asked the pavilion, before giving anyone a chance to answer, he answered his own question. "Law. From Dorne to the wall, every kingdom is built upon laws. After all, if we didn't follow laws we wouldn't be any more different to the barbarians of the Mountains of the Vale, from the wildlings beyond the wall, from the Dothraki that rape, pillage and burn their way across Essos."
He tapped the tome, bringing Malcom's attention to it. "And this here, is the work of the finest legal minds I could get my hands on, to draft and codify the divest laws, customs and traditions into a single legal system that can easily be interpreted. Of course, I do not plan to force this on you, that is why several months back, I had copies of this great tome of law sent to every single house from landed knights to the greatest of lords in the Kingdom."
Malcom's eyes widened when he realised why that tome seemed so familiar. A rider in the night had come to deliver it to Hawksfair. He had taken a few looks and put it away for the maester to go over, after all, it was his maester who was in sat many of the judgements that he had to sit over.
"Oh fuck." He found himself muttering. He didn't know that damnable tome was that important!
The king looked around, his brows cocked up and his expression bewildered as he asked. "Surely my lords, you all read it?"
Perwyn Grell turned to him and leaned in close. "What in the Seven hells is he talking about?"
"Didn't you receive the tome?"
"No! Yes! Probably!" His old friend and neighbouring lord shook his head. "Look at the size of that thing! It's bigger than the Seven-pointed Star for the love of all that is good and holy! Hells, it's bigger than the books I have seen in my maester's chambers! Why the fuck would I read something like that?"
Where the great lords sat, Lady Ellyn Bracken stood and nodded her head firmly. "Of course, your grace, I read it." Then Lord Jason Goodbrook rose up and bellowed out a loud. "Aye!" And from each of the great lords rose and bellowed out their answers and everyone followed suit.
Malcom couldn't help but wonder how many of them had actually read the book of law so when it came to it, he yelled out 'Aye!' In consensus with everybody else. After all, he did somewhat read the book of law, even if it was just cursory glances before passing it off to the maester.
The king smiled. "Then, I shall write it into law for this new Code of Law for the Trident to be in effect before the moon's pass!"
At the end of it all, Malcom Terrick couldn't help but feel he had been truly and utterly fucked up the arse.
***
Not in all of her wild imaginations from back when she was young would Zhoe Mooton ever think of seeing herself a queen. Of course, she had played the games of maidens, listened to the songs and tales, her particular favourite being Jonquil and Florian the Fool. She had dreamt herself of being a princess and it was much easier to dream herself of being one when she found herself all but locked away from the outside world.
Now, Zhoe didn't have to play at being a princess and when she gave birth to a daughter, her daughter would be an actual princess and not have to play at being one. She decided then that at some point, she would have to thank her lord father against for making it so, even though she knew what he would say off by heart now.
"You don't have to thank me child." Her father would begin, perhaps even with a glass of mulled wine in hand. "The joining of our two Houses was the only way forward to provide a strong and stable kingdom. The king needed an heir and you were a suitable candidate enough to meet the requirements he needed to be met."
Although it would be nicer if her father would voice his opinion with less of a tone that seemed to compare her nothing more than a piece of livestock, but that was the way he was and she still loved him. After all, he was her father.
"Have you thought of a name?" Lady Ellyn asked as they walked the fields littered with tents, arms hooked together.
A fair few paces behind them followed men sworn to defend her from any and all threats.
"We haven't really spoke about it, but if we do, I think Benedict would be a good name. A strong name."
Her closest friend at court hummed as she nodded. "The Justmans?"
She grinned at the lady. "Aye. Benedict Justman is a beloved king in the riverlands, even if his time was so many years ago, his memory still lives on strong."
"He brought an age of peace and prosperity, Zhoe." Lady Ellyn said, so close they were, that they addressed each other by names instead of their titles. "It would be a good true, a fortuitous one at that. May the reign of the Tullys last till the end of days."
The day was still young with the sky bright and blue. It was a perfect day, either for a tourney or for some races. Zhoe hoped that the weather will continue until the end of the festivities and that mindset was shared by her husband. "A little rain doesn't hurt, but too much of it with grey skies and even greyer clouds can just make things depressing." He had said the night before.
The two ladies talking amongst themselves, of future names for their children, of making playful wagers as to who would come out and crowned winner in the tourney and melee that was to begin tomorrow. Lady Ellyn had her coin placed on that of her husband and Zhoe herself placed her coin on her own husband, if he so chose to ride the rings.
"Your grace, my lady."
The two came to a stop to look at the lordling that had come to greet them. The face was unfamiliar to Zhoe, but she recognised the livery he wore, made easier by the badge that was sewn onto his fine velvet doublet of black, red and white. What stood out about the lordling was the cane that helped him walk.
Ellyn recognised the lordling quicker than she, and when she spoke, it was with icy courtesy. "Lord Brandon. A pleasure to see you."
If her companions chilling nature affected him, it didn't show as the lordling smiled warmly. "No, the pleasure is all mine, my lady. I know there is great enmity between our Houses, but please know, from the depths of my heart, I am truly sorry to the fate of your lord father and brothers."
Ellyn Mallister's grip onto her arm tightened some and Zhoe could feel her lady companion go stiff. "Thank you, my lord. Your condolences are much welcome, as late as they are."
He needed, the warmth to his smile dropping some at the barb, but he persevered. "Are you heading to the race courses? I hope you don't mind if I join you, I happen to be heading in that direction as well."
Zhoe glanced at her lady and made a decision. If it had been Zhoe, Lady of House Mooton of Maidenpool, she would have easily sent the lordling on his way with a curt rejection, but she was not that girl anymore. She was Zhoe Tully now, Queen of the Trident and she couldn't afford such acts as of now.
And also, this brought a great chance to begin friendship with a member that belonged to a faction that her royal husband wanted to keep attention to.
She squeezed Ellyn's arms a little and hoped that she could feel the apology she didn't convey by words. "Please," She began with a smile. "You are welcome to join us, my lord."
If Ellyn was taken aback, she didn't show it. Her smile was icy as she spoke. "Although we are in a bit of a hurry, do you think you will be able to keep up?"
Ooh, that was quite the blow done so by her lady companion.
Brandon Blackwood seemed to take it all in good humour though as he laughed some before he spoke. "I think I'll manage, but if I do so happen to slow you down, please, do leave. I do not mean to take your time."
So, there they were, a Bracken and a Blackwood and a Mooton-made-a-Tully heading towards the courses. They made light talk, but not so much that no-one would say the mood around them was anything but awkward and heavy.
But Brandon Blackwood made a good go of it, making jests here and there, all in all, trying his best to be as friendly and chivalrous as possible, yet Ellyn gave him no inch and no quarter, rebuffing him with courtesy every chance she got. Truly, courtesy was a lady's armour and sword.
"I have to ask, Lady Ellyn, which horse would you recommend for the races today? I mean to make a wager and I'd like your advice on the matter." Brandon Blackwood said as they neared the race course.
Zhoe stopped herself from raising an eyebrow in curiosity. Surely, he was not blind to Lady Ellyn's dislike of him? He was more likely to lose his coin than win any.
"I have yet seen the horses nor do I know of their history, so I can't possibly give you advice on the matter, my lord." Ellyn replied far more gently than she thought would have been possible for the former Bracken lady.
"Hm, it was worth a try. It is said no-one knows their horses more than a Bracken of Stonehedge and well...a little help here and there never hurt anybody." The Blackwood scion hummed. "Although, I must admit your grace, my lady, our meeting today wasn't at all by accident."
Zhoe couldn't help but perk a single lone brow up her head at that statement. "Oh, how so?"
"In truth, I have been meaning to talk to you, your grace. I mean to ride in the coming tourneys."
Her and Ellyn shared a look between the two of them and then to the Blackwood boy and then to his twisted leg. "...You mean to...ride?" Ellyn repeated, in shock.
"My leg is not so lame, my lady!" Brandon laughed aloud. "I can ride and joust like the rest of them, and dare I say, I think I just might be the best jouster in the kingdom."
Ellyn found that amusing. "What a bold statement to declare, my lord. Are you sure that you can keep it?"
He blew a lock of hair away from his face. "I am sure and that is why I must ask you, your grace. If I were to win the joust in the coming days, I hope to request a favour from you and your royal husband."
"And what is this favour you would seek of me and my husband?" She asked, her tone gentle yet guarded.
All he did was smile. "They say the crown possesses a machine that is able to do the work of hundreds of scribes in a matter of days, hours even! I just wish to use it to print a book of works."
She knew what the lordling was talking about, but she was more taken aback by his request more than anything else. "That's it, a book?"
And again, all he did was smile. "A book."