Lands of the Rivers. Harrenhall-
Rhaegar Targaryen admires the work. Harrenhall Possibly one but the most impressive castle built in the south. And it was nothing more than ruins. All courtesy of the lord of the dragons who was his ancestor.
If there was something true for Rhaegar Targaryen, it is that he saw the past more often than his own father, which was possibly the reason why he was aware that the Targaryen dynasty was in serious trouble in recent times. A dynasty that had to be saved if it wanted the order that developed as well as the great threat that was on the horizon to be treated precisely. I couldn't fail. Such was the weight of being the prince in reality but a look down at his hip.
Dark fire. The sword of his family. A bastard sword of Valyrio steel. The sword that actually marked an entire dynasty. She had been lost since Aegon fourth proved to be an incompetent king. No one knew where he was.
However, that had changed. Courtesy of the Stark house. Lord Hariric Stark had presented himself on his wedding day with Elia Martell and brought him as a gift the most coveted along with the dragons.
His father's joy was complete that day when he claimed that the Stark house had done a great service to his house. He knew better about it. I knew that Lord Hariric was only doing that to be said that the Stark house remained loyal to the Targaryen house and that it was better not to stretch the rope as he was doing.
For four years, a lot of effect had been seen in what was the kingdoms. The Lands of the rivers saw an increase in the power of the mallister. The only reason why the Tully house was still actually the Ruling House of the Rivers was for them the dragons no more and no less.
Frankly, I was happy with it. But I knew that the mallister house was still and kept growing. Now they had their own port city that although the smallest of all cities that didn't mean shit when it came to the wealth it brought to the region.
Slowly strengthening and becoming more powerful. The mallister house did not stop its growth and according to its data it was only a matter of time before it completely eclipsed its lords.
However, of all the kingdoms, it was the Dominion in which things looked the worst. The kingdom of the Dominion was watching the tension grow. Before Dorne had to buy his food. Now the Dominion only sold its food to the house of the Lands of the Storms and the lands of the crown which was a substantial drop.
As if that wasn't enough. An imbalance of power was being seen in the way in which the hightower house grew more and more in power seeing that they were in short the ones who did all the trade with the North.
The domain was one of its most valuable allies for what was the maintenance of order in the seven kingdoms. Their large army gave them a great advantage. However, with the way things were, it got bad.
And as if that wasn't bad enough at least in his mind of course there was the fact that things were not improving since the humiliation of faith and the teachers in these four years had meant in a few words that the kingdom was being eclipsed.
The North had become a true power that eclipsed the kingdoms only thanks to the actions of the new Lord Stark who was obviously working to strengthen his kingdom as much as possible.
From the reports of merchants, the North had a total of four cities with all of them exceeding the number of three hundred thousand inhabitants. The city of Black Wolf port that was basically the western fortress oriented to protect the kingdom from attacks on that coast as well as from Western trade.
The city of White Port under the command of the manderly that did the same with the east coast.
The city of the Twin Wolves that was located in the old cailin pit that were two small cities that controlled the so-called Winter Canal.
And finally Winter City the headquarters of the power of the Stark house. Four cities that increased the wealth of the North. Not for the first time he cursed the actions of his ancestor since the tax laws of the north were only to pay in taxes according to trade they earned and that was bad.
His men had confirmed that the North was exploiting gold and silver mines. I didn't know how much was a problem but the mines were a source of wealth that I couldn't just touch. As for North trade, it not only traded with what was the Lands of Westeros but Essos and also with the farthest of the east. The wealth they earned eclipsed the houses.
And it had been confirmed that they had created their own Bank: The Winter Wolf Bank. Because the Stark house offered sixty percent of the construction capital of the bank had the name and the Stark house basically controlled it with an iron fist.
Of course the North paid the proper taxes. A million and a half golden dragons. But seeing all the trade of the North felt a great pain. In a single year according to his data and without counting the mines because he knew that it came out of there the North earned an average of six million golden dragons among all its houses.
With half of that money it will only be produced by the Stark house. That was bad. The Stark house had grown to become the richest house of the seven kingdoms if he had to say it.
Not for the first time he cursed the fact that his mother had not been able to have more daughters. If he had known before, he would have married his sister to Lord Hariric Stark just to keep the North more tied and in this way be able to control it through valyria blood.
But he also made a grimace. The north had been very offended. There was no kingdom to the south that had not offended the Stark house in some way. There was no kingdom that had not tried to make them submissive. And everyone had failed in a big way if he had to say it.
And that meant that contrary to his father's belief it was the North and not Dorne the kingdom that was separated from the crown.
The new wealth of the Stark house meant in a few words that they were stronger. Their little need to buy food meant in a few words that they no longer had southern needs.
He grimaced at that. A point that was bad. The Targaryen house had exploited that to its advantage many times to damage the Stark house. However, the fact was that the Stark house had remained strong and powerful despite this and now they were attacking the main ones who had been responsible for their suffering: the Tullys.
I couldn't blame them. The Stark house had one thing clear: they did not forgive offences. And now the Tully house was actually suffering from it in a big way.
Sighing, he thought of his wife Elia. He knew that the Starks had possibly seen him coming but he had used Ashara Dayne's friendship with the Martell house to basically force the North by coming south.
The Northerners didn't give a shit about the so-called power measurement contests in the different tournaments. That was something else. The Olympic Games. A more varied competition and in the minds of many much superior.
The only reason it wasn't done in the south was... they were more difficult. The Stark house brought the idea to light and each of its vassals had agreed and that had given birth to a competition once a year to see who is better in certain fields.
Anyway, here he was and a part of him had a certain feeling of meeting the Stark house. I wouldn't admit it but I was a little afraid to talk to the Stark house since I had no idea of Hariric.
Unlike other gentlemen, no idea had been made of him. He didn't come to the south to try to like the crown. Or nothing. In fact, I felt that the only way to threaten him is with taxes or trade demands that had been made but he felt that if he said such a thing to Mr. Sark he would only say that the North would not accept and seeing the current situation he could realise something with which he did not even want to deal with: the independence of the North.
"'My lord has confirmed that his father is about to arrive. I regret to inform you then that the possibilities of bringing together the other lors will be more than difficult.' Being Arthur Dayne bows to his lord who had been plotting to meet with Multiple Lords for what was plotting against his father a tactic to get him out of the iron throne.
"It seems that my father's paranoia has made him go out so he can see me and watch me. Frankly, it's a very unpleasant idea not being able to move with the freedom I'm supposed to have, but frankly that doesn't prevent another of my goals.'' Rhaegar sigh. His plans to be able and be able to move against his own father had been damaged and the responsible Varys knew why he would give him information?
''Do you mean meeting with Lord Stark? My lord... I wouldn't like to see you do it. My father has tried to exploit marriage in some ways and all of them have exploded in his face. Lord Hariric is not one of those to let himself be commanded by anything or anyone''. Arthur didn't want to see his lord end up badly standing just because he somehow wanted to put Lord Stark on his side.
"There are times when you must do what is necessary for the kingdom, my friend. I sincerely hope that Lord Stark will collaborate. As things are, the North is not only the most powerful kingdom. But also the most separate of the seven kingdoms. The myopia of those before me has caused this''. The problem with the Targaryen house was that they had ignored the North too much.
"But my lord. You can't just expect him to fulfil. You've gotten him to come, that's true. But that's one thing and another is to hope that Mr. Stark just bows to any request. Lord Stark will ask for something in return and he will not make the same mistake as in the dragon dance possibly''. Arthur knew very well what dance was. The dance ends with the intervention of the Starks. In exchange, a pact was promised that was not only thrown away later but ignored and insulted.
"I'm sure Lord Stark will be willing to accept any price that Arthur gives him. I'm his prince after all. However, I am also aware that as things are, the Stark house cannot be left aside.'' That was the good thing about the royal guards, Rhaegar thought. It didn't matter if they didn't agree. His oaths tied them to him and his family.
"My lord. You said it yourself. Lord Stark is distancing his kingdom from the seven remaining kingdoms. It's better to be very careful and not make demands that can end up causing the Starks to completely separate themselves from the kingdom''. Arthur was more worried about his sister. I was sure that many expected her to kill her husband. But from what her younger sister told her, Ashara was delighted with Hariric.
"I don't need to do anything Arthur. The North is enjoying many advantages. The discovery of completely new things. But none of them has been shared with the other kingdoms. They are taking advantage of others. As a future king I have to see for the other kingdoms... unless Mr. Stark willingly agrees to understand and understand me''. And even so, I would not accept that the Stark house has such absolute control of things. A house so powerful that the other kingdoms depended on it. That was a big no.
"My lord. I'm your loyal servant. That's why I must tell you right away what a bad idea that plan is. Hariric Stark will not accept demands of any kind. You will not accept that you tell him in the least what he has to do or stop doing my lord. You would need a way to convince him and you won't do so well, my lord.'' Arthur didn't think he could convince Hariric Stark. Not because of his sister's words. You could work with him. But we couldn't convince him. We couldn't move it. You couldn't submit it.
"I think Lord Stark will understand better than anyone what it is to work with the crown against it anyway Arthur. Please leave. I want to be alone right now. There are things I want to think about''. Rhaegar turned around and didn't even deserve a look at his protector who only approaches agreement before standing up and leaving.
"You have such a loyal gentleman, my lord. I must be the first to say that he must be frankly fair to you, my lord. However, there is no concern about it.'' A woman with red hair and a jewel in her chest appeared. This was Melissandre of Ashai, one of the most powerful priestesses of the faith of the red god.
"It's unable to see the full picture in reality melissandre. He is unable to realise that there are more things to talk about than just having a kingdom satisfied. The North may be the most powerful kingdom now. But that does not mean that it is not part of the kingdoms and that therefore it must obey the will of its future king. Rhaegar only spoke in a low voice. I knew that Melissandre was not loved in the seven kingdoms. Hell, he had to keep it secret and protected since many thought he was trying to corrupt him in some way.
As you say, my lord. He's a humble gentleman. A good one full of honour and skills. But he's not a king. A king must always think of the best for his people no matter what others may believe or no matter what others want. Such is the difficult task of government''. Melissandre told her that she knew the man wanted to listen. It was just easy for her.
"The North has grown so strong and powerful. I could have left them alone. I could actually have let them be free. But the North must understand that they are part of the seven kingdoms. And that they must above all fulfil their duty for the kingdom. That's why even if I don't like it, you have to do certain things that, although unpleasant, are necessary.'' Rhaegar was clear about that. The North was too powerful as a kingdom.
"As you say, my lord, the North is a powerful kingdom. Flyers. The other free cities. Everyone knows it. Everyone knows the power of the North. So if you do this you are strengthening your entire kingdom instead of a single part. The many outnumber the few. This has always been the way things work, my lord.'' Melissandre of course would not tell the prince that this was launched according to his own plans.
"That's something you're actually right about. Force is not based on a single realm. If all kingdoms are balanced and strong, that will mean that all kingdoms will be capable of the same. The kingdoms must grow strong''. Rhaegar was just thinking about his plans for what was basically to be able to expand the influence of the Targaryen house.
"My lord, I must recommend caution, however. Be very careful with the threat of the North. An existing threat. His Lord will not honour your wishes. Possibly he will even try to stop us. You must stop it before it becomes a threat of some kind to you.'' Melissandre only knew that if the ancient gods were very strong they would possibly raise a champion to be able to hit them all and in this way be able to fight against their threat that they follow the true faith.
"That would be betrayal. I doubt very much that the North wants to be accused of treason without further ado. All kingdoms would be in it. Everyone wants to put the North in their place. So I have no doubt that they will do the impossible to avoid such a scenario. If Hariric Stark was as intelligent as Arthur did, he didn't believe or at least he didn't think in any way that he would put himself for what it was to take out every gentleman against him.
''Sorry. Your wisdom is true. The North will never dare to rise up against the crown. Not with so many enemies that he is somehow waiting for his chance to hurt them. But it never hurts to be ready, my lord. To expect the unexpected''. Melissandre approached herself knowing that her words had most likely reached her master.
''Please, leave me alone Melissandre. I want to think about a couple of things in the meantime. I need to know more or less how to deal with Mr. Stark when I meet him. Right now he is with my wife who wanted to meet her friend's children. Honestly, this was because of my planes but my wife hasn't given me a chance.'' With his request given, he saw how the red woman was leaving and his thoughts were going towards a house that he never expected would be a nuisance.
For the song of ice and fire to exist, he would make sure. Only then would the world be safe. Besides... did he really want a kingdom like the North in the hands of something other than his blood? It's a last but Hariric Stark and all those who could be a threat... will die.
-Lannister Camp Side-
Tywin Lannister was sitting quietly. Normally, as the hand of the king, he would not move from what was the capital unless there is an absolute need. In fact, I had been about to say no to come to what this tournament was.
But then he heard that the Stark house was going to be present. That opened his eyes in many ways. In the time he had focussed on the Stark house, it turns out that said house has not gone south to a single tournament. They didn't consider them valuable. They didn't believe in it as something worth treating shit. However, they had decided to come here. Without spies in the North I couldn't know the reason.
While I was thinking about it, I also thought about several things. The North is growing for wealth. From the reports he had in taxes only of trade he earned a million and a half dragons a year which was a very strong amount with only his kingdom close to producing the same amount but he did it through mining which of course was a good that had a deadline.
And when I talked about raising taxes to the North, it turned out that everyone was against it. There was no need to raise taxes. The treasure was full. And the North offered excellent prices for its products. If taxes were raised, the North would raise prices just like that.
Then he had learned through Varys that the North had numerous gold and silver mines. That made him stop in his tracks. Mines. Like the plural. Possibly they had as many as the lands of the West seeing their size. That brought him great anger.
Because of course that didn't come out in the accounts. And then he discovered that in exchange for being part of the seven Aegon kingdoms the conqueror only placed that the North had to pay taxes according to trade. After seeing that law he was stunned. As the king's hand he could change certain laws. But this was a primary law which meant untouchable.
The North enjoyed at this time what was more wealth than its land. Each family allied with the Stark house was watching. His commercial spies had told him about projects. Winterfell and Wintercity were huge and majestic. The same with Twin Wolves and Black Wolf Port.
But many fortresses were also being rebuilt and small towns were being built in them. Not monstrous but of decent size. The North was growing and that meant many things.
On the one hand, a greater workforce and a greater military force. The mere idea of it filled his blood with anger for such superiority to be putting himself in the hands of another house.
Tywin was not happy either because of his reports little by little more and more gentlemen were creating small cities that were fortress cities. Nothing compared to the big cities but even stronger.
That wasn't supposed to happen and he found out that it was the Stark family who was helping with it. Of course, this only indebted the houses even more with respect to the Stark house.
A good plan actually but he couldn't avoid a shudder of what could be the cause and the reason why the Stark house was doing all the things this. It didn't look good for the Western Lands if he said so.
Since the damn northern wedding I had made many different moves. The first, of course, was to make sure that the Western lands had a good contract. However, he was surprised. The contract was as iron as steel itself and made things very clear.
They could only buy for the lands of the West and not for anyone else. Of course, he did not prevent him from buying on behalf of the Lannister house and then selling his standard bearers at a higher price. But even despite this, the North took monstrous amounts of gold so as it is natural he had begun to try to think of a way to get the money to the North in some way or at least to get his business out of it. Unfortunately that was not easy to do at all.
To begin with what his observers had been able to learn, the Northern method was divided into three parts: product, handling and shipping. The product was basically the production of the raw material. That is, the production of what is necessary for each necessary element of trade.
I didn't know what but I did know that the flag houses were the ones that produced the product which meant in a few words that the flagged houses earned money from the Stark house that used the product to obtain the merchandise and then sent it in three ways.
One was the west coast. Another the eastern one. And another in caravans. Simply put, the North had created a structured chain to ensure that the products were efficient and beneficial and in no way could steal the techniques for their production.
Of course, the North not only offered what was the production of liquors, glass, perfumes, makeup and silk. No. The North offered diverse and varied food. I didn't know how but hariric Stark had somehow managed to produce or at least increase the production of food from his kingdom, which meant in a few words that now they didn't need to buy food from the south.
That meant that it was an accurate farewell to what was the sale of food. It's not that the Lannister house had something in it but the Tullys had lost a massive food purchase because of this something that had weakened them.
While he was thinking about it, he had also found out about the constitution. Tywin was surprised when Lord Stark, taking advantage of himself, asked the royal house as a favour to make a list of laws in the North. None that was a threat to the crown.
This constitution was solid and basically built a structure in which the nobles were seen as people who served the North not their own interests. In fact, one of the most outstanding things in the constitution is that you were responsible for your actions before the northern justice and that if you did you should suffer the punishment expected for your actions. Hariric Stark also included certain laws that protected the little ones from the abuse of many. And what is more important: the punishment for betrayal.
Tywin had to admit that the constitution was solid and hard. He didn't like the mere idea of a series of laws like that because in addition to hurting him, it also damaged his plans for the North.
He had sincerely convinced his brothers to marry and in this way have children in strong positions to later marry them and take control of the North. Marriages worked in the south. Why not in the North?
Until he saw the constitution and realised that if he wanted his ambitions to be fulfilled, the Stark house had to be exterminated. Especially because as they told him, although his brothers were not so intelligent, they were not left behind either.
While Tywin was thinking about it, his brother Kevan entered the door of his store. His brother was stationed at Roca Casterly to ensure that the lands functioned perfectly.
Tygett was finally putting the Castamere mines into operation and his brother Gerion had total command of the Lannister navy, the power was absolute for him.
But the North was a more serious threat than one could imagine. He had to be reassured and subdued in some way so that it was not a threat to the Lannister house what was slowly happening to be unfortunately for the Lannister house actually although he did not believe it was for a while (very wrong).
While thinking about it, he also realised that if someone could make the king see the North as a threat, that someone would honestly gain a lot of power. Only the king could mess with the North.
But with the north recovering the valuable sword of the targaryen house as well as the North being responsible for what were many aids to the targaryen house in the form of gifts that arrived in the capital from time to time he knew that that would be impossible.
However, he knew that with time the north would get tired. His agents had made it clear to him that the lords would not tolerate now that they were stronger than the North being subjugated to what was the Targaryen dynasty.
"Bringing Cersei and Jaime on your behalf to this tournament is not the most sensible idea, brother. Cersei has already started insulting the majority. He hides it behind a facade but the roses have seen through it. And if the roses can see if Stark sees her, he will be able to understand that they are a bitch behind them.'' Kevan didn't have a very strong opinion of his nephews.
''She is here to be able to offer it to the prince. While it is true that our friend Pycelle has so far been able to prevent Elia Martell from having an only child with Rhaegar only having that girl named Rhaenys as long as she does not have a child will be excellent for all of us''. Pycelle was a powerful agent and ally of the Lannister house in the court. It had been Tywin who had promoted the career of that man in the citadel and subsequently recruited into his service. I was one hundred percent sure that I was not loyal to it other than because of fear and gold.
What has convinced you, brother, that the king will accept? That is, the last time you offered him your daughter's hand in marriage, he flatly refused saying that as his vassal he would never marry his son to your daughter. What makes you believe that that will convince him in some way?''. Kevan had to admit that his brother's doubts about this insignificant plan convinced him but at the same time they made him question that he could have his brother in the king.
''I don't have to convince Aerys. His madness makes him unacceptable. No. I have to convince Rhaegar. And he is interested in getting allies for what is to eliminate his father from the throne which means that I just have to sell him the idea of an alliance with my daughter's offer to marry him''. Convincing a madman of something was possibly an impossible task. No. If he really wanted to move, he had to convince Rhaegar. And he needed powerful allies for that.
"The prince is seriously desperate. He knows that the damage he is doing to his house, his good father is something that cannot be repaired just like that unless he does something incredibly capable. I guess I should say brother is that it's good that you thought about it in advance.'' Kevan couldn't help but mock what was the prince's mistake.
''With Rhaegar targaryen desperate as he is, he has no choice but to do this in reality. No matter what he believes. Whatever he thinks. Not even what he wants. It has to ally with the maximum number of large houses. He certainly has Dorne. But he will need a lot more strength if he really wants a quiet change of government without serious damage to the land''. Tywin had calculated everything perfectly. I had been able to see it for what it was.
"Brother, what prevents you from going to the other houses? Tully will not hesitate to jump at the opportunity to see his position even stronger. With the mallisters safely becoming a threat against their government due to their new wealth, that means that the Tullys were looking for allies. The Arryns are out for their so-called devotion to honour. But the baratheons are related to them. And the Tyrells are just as profiteers''. Kevan felt that he should be the one to tell his brother things as they were.
"It's not that bad. The Tully house will not doubt it. But she's alone in these times. They will not want to oppose us in any way for fear of the consequences of it. I also can't see the Baratheon house supporting them because Robert Baratheon... is a fool. And as for the Tyrells, they are losing their power very quickly. There are only two houses that are valuable''. Tywin had already made a complete assessment of things.
''That only leaves two houses: Stark and Lannister. The Lannister house would seek to take advantage of us by placing Cersei as queen immediately annulling the marriage with Elia Martell after taking office. But would the Starks align themselves with the targaryen house brother? Harirc Stark is not a fool of any kind''. The concern was justified in Kevan's mind.
''They won't do it. The Starkk house doesn't want to have anything to do with southern politics, make an alliance with the Targaryen house? With the number of times that said house has spit on the Stark house, I would not be surprised in the least if the Stark house sent him to hell. Stupid on the part of the wolves. An advantage that we can take advantage of for ourselves''. For once the politics of the targaryen house had worked well for him.
''I guess we can count on the luck that the targaryen house has had that love for insulting the Stark house in so many different ways. But brother, I have a question. I know you plan once to make Cersei queen move against the North. How do you know that that will work anyway?''. It was a healthy fear in Kevan's mind.
''With Cersei as the new queen and waiting for her son to come from her and with me as the hand of King Rhaegar will be forced to give in to certain demands. It doesn't help that I've heard that the prince himself can't stand all the power that the North holds. He wants that power to be divided among the other kingdoms so that in this way there is a more solid and stronger balance in the kingdom''. Tywin mocked the myopia of the future king.
"That boy is then an idiot if I have to say it brother. But although we can certainly have power over the brother king, we will not be able to do half of the things that are done in the north. Demanding them won't end well either. The North has been looking for independence for some time and without dragons it is very possible that they will achieve it brother''. Kevan decided to point out the weak point to his brother of all this.
"That would imply that Hariric Stark should know better than anyone the consequences of his actions. If I have to say it, I have serious doubts about it. That man, although intelligent, seems to me more like a puppy than a real wolf. I have no doubt that if we all press together it will break before the power of all kingdoms''. In his mind he would never understand why hariric Stark returned the ancestral sword of the Targaryen house.
"But brother, what happens if by pressing too much for this, the Stark house decides that it has had enough? As far as we know, hariric Stark has only done what he has done to try to soften things and stay loyal to his word. But at the end of the day he may just be trying to ease the tensions''. The demands of southern lords. Of the teachers. Of faith. The North had silenced them with small gifts. Jewellery. Glass. The sword. However, possibly the Stark house was only trying to stay loyal to his promise of loyalty, no more, no less.
"It's a possibility. However, that is an angle that we can exploit against the Stark house. An angle that the Starks with how idiots they were without realising it have left at the opening. The wrath of his standard bearers. The Stark house will obviously be compromised by its standard bearers and that will hurt the Stark house''. Tywin just laughed coldly at the idea.
''I agree. The Stark house trying to satisfy the Targaryen in some way will not have done them any favours with their allies. I guess we'll see a changing of the guard soon. Will you support Bolton, won't you, brother?'' It was no secret that the Bolton House had always wanted to expel the Stark House from power.
"The Sark house made a big mistake by allowing them. But of course they wanted to distance themselves from their reputation as winter kings. Look more civilised. It doesn't matter. Your defect is our profit. Whether he likes it or not, the Stark house likes it, their time as lords of the north is over''. In Tywin's mind he believed that it was a simple plan to execute and even simple to do.
"Brother, I'll leave you alone then. You'd better go take care of your children. Jaime can easily get into trouble and cersei can accidentally insult a person with her biting tongue''. With a single gesture Kevan left. At no time do I consider that what I was saying or doing was wrong. For him, the Stark house was a threat to the Lanister house and had to be treated for it.
Tywin sighs. Their children could be great disappointments. Cersei with her attitude. Without subtlety. Without hiding their opinions and thoughts. Believing yourself above. His son Jaime, a fool without fear. Stupid.
Fear was a sure way to guarantee that they wouldn't eat you inside in any way. His thoughts were completely directed to other matters in reality. How to convince the crown prince. Just like I never considered that what he was about to do could hit him in the face Tywin lanister thought above the others and believed that it was the best.
-Camp Tyrell-
Where in the lannister camp you could see a lot of control and discipline with soldiers everywhere in the Tyrell camp you could see a considerable amount of people activity.
Gentlemen dressing up to look handsome. People who looked like flowers. Don't make a mistake. Some of these flowers hid thorns of all things. These flowers were essentially the people who really mattered in what was the power of the Tyrell house. And among these many people, two people could stand out.
One was Olenna Tyrell. The other person was Leyton. Both older. Both above the expected age. And yet the two of them were possibly the greatest political power of the lands of the dominion.
Olenna was not a happy woman. Far from it. Four years. Four years in which the position of the Tyrell house had fallen brutally, which was to say something. The Tyrell house's biggest source of business was its food production. That along with the sale of wines. And for four years that has changed.
A part of her seriously cursed herself for what was the situation she was in. She had tried to act like a tough bitch against Stark and had ended up biting him in the ass. Stark was not afraid of him. I didn't respect her. In her mind she was just one more southern lady who only governed because she was much smarter.
A large part of her hated the Stark house. Wine and other drinks from the North were bought by everyone in the seven kingdoms and only Dorniense wine still had a high demand. El Dorado del Albor had lost a lot. She had tasted the wines herself. E red, pink and winter white.
That's what the northern wines were called. And they were far superior to what she had tried. His worse quality wine was still much better than his. And as if that wasn't enough, Lord Stark also produced all these powerful liquors that earned a place among the people. She wasn't happy to be overcome.
Another loss was neither more nor less than what it was to sell food to Dorne. Due to its unique climate, growing food was not easy and the Dominion had obviously taken advantage of it. But thanks to Lord Stark this had also ended up giving the Martell house an even stronger power over their domain by offering them ways to grow food in large quantities.
Dorne and the North's alliance was strong and she hated to have let that grow from all things. He despised how the Stark house flourished by helping its greatest enemy. Right now between that and of course new improvements Dorne was seeing a demographic increase. Not even close to the size of the north but still quite decent in size.
Olenna also had a strong hatred for all the benefits that the Stark house had. The riches. His spies in the capital reported that they gave one and a half million golden dragons in taxes. How many houses were capable of such a thing? Yes. It was a fucking fucking joke in his mind.
And from what he knew that was a sales business. Not of what their lands produced for them. So he had put up with several plans at the time to be able to hurt the Stark house.
All of them were requests to the king that she reasoned were more than well thought out. Unfortunately for her it was as if the Stark house saw him coming without further ado and was able to act about it.
Olenna was furious and for solid reasons also because every plan undermined her respect. His idiot son doesn't stop doing stupid things. And to make matters worse, his best spies in the North had left. The teachers expelled. What a joke.
However, he learned of the foundation of Isengard. An entire city of one hundred thousand inhabitants destined only to what was the power of information. It was also the main centre of education for the different guilds of the North.
She would have laughed if it weren't for the fact that the North had hospitals, jewellers, ceramic workers and much more who had their education of the place. Place that made the order of the teachers see more or less idiots what enraged her.
Olenna calmed down by drinking a glass of wine that was from the North and sighed with anger. By his side was Leyton. I had come with her for the same reason. I had heard the rumour that the North, especially the Stark house, was coming to the tournament. That was something she hadn't expected.
During the last four years, nothing had been known of any northerner participating in a tournament. It was discovered that it was due to what was the northern competition: the Olympics. More diverse. More spacious. They called it more spectacular. She herself had to know how true that was if she had to be frank. However, she sincerely doubted that anything the North did was superior to them.
And although Leyton was receiving an increase in profits for being the door to the products of the north, he was enraged by the ridicule, how else could you call that the North of all things made so many things possible while they the house of the south with the broadest knowledge remained like worthless idiots?
She could understand if she had to be frank that Leyton was happy about it. I could understand that the man wanted nothing more than revenge. Just like she was planning. Much better than the vast majority of idiots with delusions of grandeur. That's why they were here. To be able to get an idea of the real threat to them.
For Leyton, things were just a shame. It was common knowledge that the hihgtower house supported the citadel. That is, he supported and supported his research or rather his intention to have the accumulated knowledge as if they were rats who try to have everything.
In short, Leyton was a man who was very clear about things and is that the Isengard foundation was making the members of the master's order look like idiots. But it wasn't simply because of its foundation. No. It was much more if he had to say it. It was the fact that it had been founded in the North and that it was in a few words on the part of the dogs.
The Hightower house would never forgive Cregan Stark's actions during the dragon dance. If there was something he knew, it was that he would never forget the actions of the damn wolf who thought of all the things that he could simply give orders to his house. It made him very angry.
A house that was nothing dared to be compared to one of the most powerful houses in the domain. The mere aure if he had to say it. So as it is natural anything that meant hurting them was fine only for the North to hurt all of them.
With the master order losing credibility they themselves were losing credibility. The gods knew how much he had shouted so that the masters would somehow discover the secrets behind each northern invention.
The printing press. A useful instrument that allowed you to make several books a day. Thanks to that, the number of members of the guilds was greater. The microscope. Able to make it possible to know the smallest of themselves. The new medicines designed by the North that were acquired in each kingdom and that had a massive purchase.
No matter how it looked in Leyton's mind, the man felt that the North was humiliating them in every possible way and felt like he wanted retribution for his actions.
He wanted revenge for the humiliation courtesy of the North. However, that didn't seem viable until now in reality. Hell the North had even found a way to make better ships than he could say.
And of course then there was the problem of faith. Since the North had begun a curious economic increase, faith had become obsessed with putting the fucking control on it. Olenna felt a big headache just because of it since she felt that faith was trying to bite too much in reality. It was such a big headache that he had to say it was something he would prefer to avoid by all means.
Olenna agreed. Faith was being more of a plague than a help, especially with their complaints about what they were supposed to do. Not for the first time the faith of the seven was cursed by their preconceived ideas anyway.
""It's okay, let's try to take advantage of Stark's presence here. Fortunately, they never discovered that Gormon's idiot acted in the name of what was the Dominion. It's lucky that the idiot died lest he get us into serious trouble.'' A master discovered for trying to kill Lord Stark. Yes. That wouldn't have ended well at all.
"A little can't be blamed for how desperate they have become in reality if you stop to think about it. Although resorting to trying to kill a gentleman. If it were known that the citadel has such an initiative, the citadel and my house would completely lose face in reality.'' Not only was he happy about Gormon's death but he was satisfied with the fact that he hadn't taken them with him.
''That fool would have destroyed the order and would have basically implied that the prayer is a shitty cesspool that no one can trust. Fortunately he's dead. I hope you have a more attentive eye on the damn madhouse. I don't want the Domain to get into more serious trouble than we have. As things are, the Dominion has lost a lot of wealth''. Olenna felt no mercy for the death of her brother-in-law.
"You don't see me blaming you for taking measures Olenna. I agree. I will not tolerate the order in any way sinking the entire Dominion in the process just because they are being so intimidated by this university in the city of Isengard. Although understandable. It's lucky that the North tells us to fuck off''. The North refused to share its secrets, which was unfair if you thought about it.
"The fact that a place as retarded as the North has been able to bring this to light. All these inventions and developments is something that should be very ashamed of. How is it possible that this has not been discovered by the citadel?''. The North was taking an advantage in the medical field and in the production of skilled workers that was in the mind of the older woman simply unfair if she had to be frank.
''The investigation takes time. I don't know how the North is capable of everything but as I understand everything is courtesy of that damn Stark. Hariric Stark It is the main source of power that has made the North go from being an ice paramo to the kingdom that is now advancing with great strides.'' Leyton did not hide his disgust with what the Stark was.
"Well, it's better for those damn rats to hurry up, the medicines of the North? It's something that all the damn gentlemen and ladies buy. The healers of the seven kingdoms. You must have seen how that point alone considerably increases the economy of the North. If we could get that, we would snatch the business from the whole south''. It wouldn't be difficult either. Nobody loved the North in the south anyway so it wouldn't be difficult at least in his mind to see how the North lost all its business in the south.
"It's not an easy task as I've already said Olenna. This takes time. And in addition to that we would need the elements that are what make the North the one that is producing all its medical elements and much more. That alone makes it very difficult to achieve because the Stark house has a hard control over everything they do as I think you should already know about your own attempts in reality. Leyton sent his own gaze to the woman who could not hide that she had tried to steal the secrets of the glass and make a better wine.
"Good. I hope I can meet with the Stark boy and negotiate a couple of marriage contracts. His younger brothers are still untied and frankly it would be an insult that you can't afford in the slightest to reject one of the big houses anyway''. Olenna knew that very well. The plan that was made between the Andalusians in the past. Why waste soldiers when a mother is capable of convincing and moving her children in the direction that suits them?
''Stark is not like others. He will not give in to what is a demand from anyone. We could think that we have everything in our hands but in reality the good could refuse about it. I could not only say no but also articulate that it is a very bad union in this regard''. Leyton knew that the Northerners were not like the others. If you could tell them that they had to do something, they would only respond by saying that they would do what they wanted.
"Lord Stark is not a stupid leyton. He is more than aware of the power game that is in the whole world. He knows that simply and plainly he can't afford to deny or even say that he can't make some kind of demand.'' Olenna flatly refused. Hariric Stark could be smart and capable. But not his brothers.
"It's just my personal opinion. However, you should also know that there is a very good reason why the Northerners refused and could even reject any marriage alliance. We in the south venerate the seven and in recent years faith has not become friends with the Northerners.'' Leyton kept a groan because of how idiotic the members of the faith were.
"That will be a big problem. Faith would expect us to slowly help convert the North in some way to what is the faith of the seven. And no gentleman from the north would accept a person who tries to do that. Many years. Very bad blood actually. It is not too difficult to see that this will be a problem to deal with in this regard. Olenna now had to admit that there was a problem in the process.
'And if you refuse to support and support faith in what the North is with your future daughter or whatever becomes the new lady of Winterfell and lady of the north, believe me, faith in the south will make your life as miserable as I can. They are really that unpleasant.'' Leyton did not hide his grimace about what the faith of the seven was.
"We can always target our children. The daughter would be an excellent hostage if I have to say it. The girl could be used to motivate the Stark house to more than agree with some of our decisions. They will know that something can always happen to their children if they don't keep an eye on each other.'' Some would say that Olenna was a cold bitch. The simple idea of threatening children. Although he could not reach the son, he could seek a commitment for the daughter.
''I would recommend against that. And in many ways. If Lord Stark has given me an impression, it is to take care of his family. If you threaten him or his family in any way, I'm afraid it could be bad for the Dominion. And I honestly think you know from history how bad it was to piss off the Stark house in the final instance''. Wolves had a reputation. They didn't start problems but fuck if they settled them.
''Tch as if he feared what a fucking dog can think. I will not deny that he is intelligent. He has been able to properly exploit the resources of his land, which makes him a good ruler. But I doubt a lot about being afraid of a boy like him.'' Olenna had no respect for the boy who did not understand or know what the power game of the seven kingdoms was like.
''The North has been impossible to conquer for thousands of years. Only the dragons gave him a chance Olenna. Now the North has a powerful economy. It has a more or less structure. And if this boy is so smart, he may have done something about the army. He will not be able to against the seven kingdoms. But I don't think I have to say who prefers the king at this time''. Leyton didn't have to say it. With returning the fucking sword of the Targaryen house the fact was that the king had the Stark house in good eyes.
''Then we'll go carefully. Besides, we can always be cunning. If the girl is forced to get married, there is nothing they can do about it. I honestly believe that Stark himself refused to marry his daughter in his own kingdom. No. We will be waiting patiently and when the opportunity comes we will strike.'' Olenna could honestly say that the plan was the simplest she had ever thought of and at the same time she was sure that it was the one that had the best chance of success.
Olenna I don't consider that the opponent in front of her was more than she seemed. I never consider the possibility that this same man was aware of the possible plans she could have in mind for her family. No. Olenna Tyrell was convinced that the current lord of the Stark house was certainly intelligent without the knowledge capable of giving him an advantage over the other kingdoms.
This would be what I would bite him in the ass. But that was in the future. However, she had many reasons for this fear. His position in his kingdom weakened day by day. With each day that the North looked stronger and more powerful, the South was more eager to sink its teeth and they blamed their family for it. It wasn't good news.
-Camp Stark-
Elia Martell looked with a smile as her little girl was enjoying a true time of peace. In his mind his daughter had been unfortunate.
A father who barely paid attention to him. An abusive grandfather who would not hesitate to hurt him. A grandmother who is too weak.
There was only her in a snake pit that she would not hesitate to hurt her daughter in some way. Not for the first time he cursed his mother and brother for this. Marry her in such a bad situation. Not to say that a long time ago she felt insecure about being in the capital due to the more than bad amount of problems there.
Tywinannister was a true tyrant who did not hesitate to sacrifice people just for their ambitions. He had seen how Tywin used his position as the king's hand with the king's pitiful state to expand the operations and benefits of the Lannister house.
Tywin was a bastard in her mind who only looked at her with disdain. She knew why he was already furious at the fact that it was her and not her daughter who was married to the king. Hell she would kill in many ways for what it was to get away from this situation but she knew that if she lost the throne her daughter would be killed in some way by the different sides that there were and not even Dorne made her feel safe.
Some would think she was being paranoid but she wasn't. He knew that his brother Doran had his eyes on the iron throne. The multiple reason. He wanted to be the power behind the throne. And she knew from some friends in Dorne that her brother Doran was not happy with all the power of the Stark house since he felt jealous.
A shudder of fear filled for a moment just thinking that his brother, because of the greed he felt, could start some stupidity against a family that just wanted to be left alone. At least that was the opinion I had of the Starks. Leave them to their ball and there is no problem. Attract his attention and you're screwed.
Elia smiled at her daughter who was playing with Cregan and Belladonna. The three children were lying next to Fenrir who was obviously amused by his master's offspring from what she could say.
From the top of a pole was Hedwig with a gaze always focussed and she could see Ophis on Ashara's shoulders who, like her, was quietly watching the three small children.
Ashara had seen a lot since she left Dorne and if she had to be frank she looked better in life than her who was a princess. She could say that she felt a little envy because of that but it wasn't her friend's fault.
When her husband told Ashara that they were invited to the Harrenhall Tournament that was sponsored by the crown prince himself, the first thing he thought was that it was a trap.
Northerners did not go to social events in the south. They completely avoided the so-called southern tournaments watching them as little more than meaningless fights in their minds and frankly after watching the Winter games she had to say that she agreed.
Her husband knew how to do more things than the southerners at least in his mind. This had also gained much more reputation among the southerners by seeing that she herself did not push for the loss of time that were the tournaments. Frankly, I wasn't excited.
It was a trap because maybe some of the bastards who wanted to put a hand on their husband and children could try to kill him in that way. However, Harirc told her that it was an attempt by the prince to meet them, which only made her not feel more comfortable.
In his mind and Shelia's reports, the prince was not a person he wanted to meet. For four years he had been looking for ways to get knowledge out of the north and give it to the other kingdoms to do what he called a balance of what was the south or at least to try to reinforce the south. She felt that it was possibly the most stupid idea of a man for thinking about it.
As if that wasn't bad enough at least in her mind anyway was the fact that Olenna Tyrell and Tywin lannister were in the same place as her. If there were two people I would prefer not to see, not even jokingly, it was those two conspirators.
Tywin Lannister was in a few words a man who wanted neither more nor less in the same presence as his children. Your husband may not have problems finishing houses. But I would never kill children. There was a line that I would never draw with Tywin, that line did not exist.
For him it was either they were in his camp or they were against it and if you were against it he had to die somehow to make sure they never turned against him.
Olenna Tyrell was a master class manipulator who thought she could get away with it. Smart. Cunning. Cruel. Everything that was the representation of the poisoned flower that when it cuts you kills you.
At least that was the opinion she had anyway. So being in the same area as her in a land that she had no way to control was a big no in her mind. Unfortunately they were in the typical situation that they could not choose what it was like to stay in a safer place.
"I don't need to be a fortune teller to be able to say that you don't feel comfortable with this tournament. You're not the only one. I think it's stupid of Rhagegar to do this tournament above all when there are more things to worry about if I have to be honest''. Elia didn't hide the disdain he felt for the tournament in reality. He felt that Rhaegar should be more concerned about things like trying to control the different lords of the south who didn't stop bothering him about everything.
"Your husband is trying to get to my husband somehow. I know that he has invited us in an attempt to strengthen the ties between the different kingdoms even more but frankly and honestly I feel that it is a waste of time especially with the amount of complaints that arrive and no one does shit to put an end to them''. Ashara was not happy with what was the waste of time and resources or at least what it was like to have to read letter after letter about the good that would do to the Stark house to share secrets and other things.
"Rhaegar is more focussed on other points such as trying to captivate people and make people follow him and believe that the targaryen house despite having from time to time a lousy ruler after others that can be trusted to maintain order in the kingdoms." Elia could tell from her friend's gaze that she was not impressed in the least.
"Every month we receive letters. Del Dominio asking us for the secrets of the improvement of winemaking in order to demonstrate the quality of the Dominion wine. They are willing to marriage alliances better than we deserve. My husband is getting more upset every day about what he is starting to call a daily waste of time''. Every time he received a letter Harry felt annoyed because on many occasions they were wasted time.
"Well, it's normal that they're complaining if I have to say it. In other words, in short, you have taken all the money from them. Frankly, if I have to say it, I would also be upset if they took my money and made me look like less than garbage''. Elia couldn't help but feel a little of a certain sadistic joy for what it was like to fuck the so-called food kingdom in a big way.
"It's not my fault. If my husband has discovered everything necessary to be able to actually steal his business then they should stop having their fucking asses sitting and start working on shit somehow. Frankly, just the idea that they don't know how to think makes me believe that''. Ashara enjoyed her vodka with ice and lime. They always carried one of their Frost Boxes with them.
"Actually, I have to agree on that. Do you know that Oby is wondering if he can send his daughters to Isengard? Of course my brother refuses to lose sight of his daughter but Oby believes in seeing the world and says that if someone has learned as much as your husband has done then it could be a good help for his daughters''. She knew that her brother Oberyn was still not happy with being in charge of Bloody Rock actually.
"You'd have to ask Harry. Although he will not be against Oberyn per se and everything you should know that he is very protective of what is his and I don't think he takes it too well anyway that someone tells him to let anyone into what is his city''. Not to say that he was aware that girls could practically be spies. She loved Dorne. But I loved Harry more.
"The truth Ashara is that I myself find that I would like Rhaenys to go to Isengard to learn. Not only because she is my daughter and I want the best. Pycelle doesn't inspire me the best of securities being a Lannister man and all that. In addition to that there was also the factor that I want my daughter out of the capital''. Elia didn't beat around the bush.
"I don't have the most remote idea about that anymore. You know how my husband feels about your husband. The fact that he is trying to find all these wonderful ways to be able to find weak points in the North your husband has not become very friends with mine with his silly decisions''. By decisions he referred to the more than twenty times he had suggested intelligent tax increases.
If you expect him to actually agree with his actions, you're wrong. Rhaegar is very stupid if I have to say it myself. The way he seems to think that he has something to say in a kingdom that has been so insulted is a massive mistake if I have to say it myself. Rhaegar should know better actually if I have to say it''. The problem here is that Rhaegar thought that the North had nothing else to say.
"Believe me, he's holding back. It doesn't help that many of his standard bearers try to put some pressure on him to tell the dragons to hell. Honestly, the number of times I've seen him in the last four years deal with meaningless complaints, I think that if he were Lady Melania one would have already had an accident in reality.'' The standard bearers were idiots. Fortunately, the future generation, although not as intelligent as it should be, was very aware of what a bad idea it was to fuck with Hariric Stark.
It was also for that time that Harry arrived. He had been out because apparently there had been problems. A group of Frey had disturbed one of his standard bearers. In response he had ordered the Freys to follow and when they were unseen they broke their legs and arms and left them with something in their mouths so they wouldn't be able to scream and in the water, brutal? Yes. But the fucking weasels were very spacious. No one would miss seven of them.
While he was out he talked to his Wolfs Guards. Five. Three men and two women. One of the men who was a redhead named Emerick wanted his approval to participate in what was the hand-to-hand tournament.
Harry just had fun with the idea. Emerick had a physical constitution of pure muscle with a height of one metre eighty. It was incredibly fast. His weapons were two axes that he carried with him. The man was a northerner from beginning to end. He liked to fight. He liked to fuck. And he didn't like being told shit about things. The only reason I respected him is because I had defeated him in a hand-to-hand combat.
Emerick wasn't the only one who wanted to participate. Another was Artemis who was a Valyria woman who had saved from what was slavery. She was an archer with ample gifts and abilities that made her in the minds of many possibly one of the best archers in the North. When he saved her from slavery, she swore eternal loyalty in exchange for small concessions.
He made her part of his guard because in addition to her fucking precise aim she was also incredibly skilful with two short swords that he made her in the style of elven swords. However, he still believed that there were too many chances that if someone tried to fuck with her she would end up dead at best because of her accuracy. She wanted to show her talent as an archer.
Finally there were those who wanted to participate in the tumult. Two of them actually. On the one hand Lianshi who was a former slave of Yi ti. His weapon by choice was a sword of the Han dynasty. On the other hand, the next one was a Dornian man named Dameon Sand from the Dayne house who had his silver hair with a black stripe that fell on his right side and a claw tattoo on his right eye that marked him as a former slave.
The two wanted to participate in the group fight. So after being able to order them and more now I could tell them that they could be perfectly able to participate while the last member of the team who was a Valyrio was also perfectly free.
"I see that the little ones are not giving you problems. Tell me husband, is there anything that has happened that should be considered as a potential threat for the moment?''. She smiled when she saw her relative Bastet approaching her husband's side. She had sent her with him because if she was frank she knew that her husband would try to hide the veiled threats.
"The Freys were just being themselves. They're still upset with us. With the elimination of the need to buy food from the Tullys they have lost much of their wealth. Apparently they thought they could take it out on one of my abandoned. I made it clear to them that such a decision is very bad for their health''. Harry just shrugged his shoulders. I could see Elia amused.
"Someday I will have to find out what exactly they have in their heads in order to be able to know what they are thinking anyway. Frankly, I will never understand how a house like this continues to exist. I think I speak for many who should have already been treated at this point.'' I would never understand how the Tully house had left a house like the Freys to maintain power the way they were doing it.
"Tet me know if you find out something about stupidity. I honestly think it's the only thing that can lead people to death with a great deal of speed. I honestly still believe that it is like an epidemic that is spreading throughout all the kingdoms.'' And he was very serious. Human stupidity was like an epidemic. You had to cut it off at the root if you wanted to make sure by all means that it didn't infect anyone.
Yes. That was her friend's husband... this tournament promised to be entertaining.