Wright sat in the library of Storm's End, immersing himself in the systematic study of his house collection. Centuries ago, the Baratheons ancestor had accompanied Aegon the Conqueror to Westeros maind land and taken Storm's End as their seat. Over the years, with several Baratheons serving as Hand of the King, the family's library had amassed an extensive collection, including books of lore and curiosities from Essos.
Before his arrival in this world, his understanding of it had been limited to its tales of war and intrigue.
Now, having crossed into this reality, he realized how tangible it all was. Farmers worked to grow food, millers ground grain into flour, and bakers transformed it into bread. Nothing sprang forth out of nowhere as mere names or numbers.
If everything here followed a traceable path, then even gods, ancient magics, Valyrian steel, and dragons must adhere to their own sets of rules. To truly grasp this world, he couldn't rely solely on books or shows he had once consumed. It required study and hands-on experience.
His days passed in a rhythm of reading, physical training, and exploring magic. Occasionally, he sought out Donal Noye, a blacksmith at Storm's End, to discuss forging techniques. Armed with modern knowledge, Wright's suggestions had turned Donal into the castle's finest smith, who now trained five apprentices of his own.
Time flew by, and soon it was 281 AC, and the second day of the Harrenhal Tournament.
Robert and Stannis had also left to participate, leaving the role of acting castellan to their cousin, Andrew Estermont. Nearly every noble family in Westeros attended this seven-day extravaganza, leaving their younger children and spare heirs to oversee their households. Andrew, the only son of his branch of the family, had no choice but to stay behind as well, given the scarcity of capable family members on both sides.
Wright, Renly and Andrew dined together that evening when Maester Cressen approached, holding a raven scroll bearing the Baratheon seal. The letter was from Stannis.
With the entire realm focused on Harrenhal, ravens were flying constantly, and it wasn't until late afternoon on the second day that news finally arrived.
"There's word that Aerys, spurred on by sycophants, attended the tournament despite his illness," Cressen read aloud. "At the opening ceremony, the king announced the appointment of fifteen-year-old Jaime Lannister to the Kingsguard, granting him the white cloak. As a member of the Kingsguard, Jaime forfeits lands, marriage, and children. That evening, a grand feast was held at Harrenhal. Tywin Lannister, having lost his carefully groomed heir, was reportedly pale with fury, his eyes bloodshot."
"Fifteen years old and already a Kingsguard? Jaime must be the youngest in history," Andrew marveled. Across the continent, many young knights likely envied and admired Jaime. There was, however, another who had been knighted at just twelve for exceptional bravery, though records of him had been deliberately erased, leaving few aware of his existence.
But for the heads of noble houses and those skilled in the games of power, the more pressing matter was Tywin Lannister's loss of his carefully groomed heir. Though he still had a second son, this son was a dwarf scorned by all of Westeros. Were it not for his birth into House Lannister, he might have been sold to a traveling circus in his infancy.
For several days, news from the tournament dominated conversations.
Archery and axe-throwing champions were knighted, others were eliminated, and Robert, after a year of intense training, cut down his competition with unparalleled ferocity. Betrothals between noble families were announced, and Eddard Stark was seen with a young lady, both having grown into adults.
A mysterious knight known as the Laughing Tree of Greywater Watch emerged to defend the honor of the North. Even the king was unaware of this knight's identity. After a few victories, the Laughing Tree vanished without a trace. Robert wagered ten golden dragons that, in his expert opinion, the knight was undoubtedly a woman.
However, news of the seventh day's events failed to arrive on the eighth day. It wasn't until three days later that accounts began to filter in from other lords:
In the final joust, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen defeated his opponent, Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard. Amid the roaring cheers of the crowd, Rhaegar rode past his wife, Elia Martell, the mother of his two children. He placed the crown of blue roses, symbolizing the Queen of Love and Beauty, onto Lyanna Stark's lap. The arena, once filled with laughter and applause, fell into stunned silence. It was as if even the wind had stopped.
This gesture carried immense weight. While there was no explicit law, it was an unspoken tradition across Westeros that a tourney winner's crown was an act of courtship if the knight was single. For married knights, the crown was typically presented to the host's lady as a gesture of respect. Rhaegar, a married man, presenting the crown to Lyanna Stark, was nothing short of an affront to his wife's family.
A week after the event, a raven arrived from Stannis with details privy only to those directly involved:
"Prince Oberyn Martell, as the brother of Rhaegar's wife, confronted the prince alongside Brandon Stark. Shortly after, Oberyn departed Harrenhal with his sister Elia, returning to King's Landing. Brandon, too, left Harrenhal that evening with his sister Lyanna. No one knows what was said during their private exchange."
Robert outwardly dismissed the gesture, claiming it was merely Prince Rhaegar acknowledging his betrothed's beauty—something he had mentioned to the prince before. However, Eddard, knowing Robert's temperament, suspected that his friend wanted nothing more than to carve Rhaegar into pieces and feed him to the dogs.
Adding to the tension, Tywin Lannister resigned as Hand of the King upon the court's return to the Red Keep. His replacement, Owen Merryweather, lacked the strength to rein in the king's increasingly erratic behavior. While Tywin could occasionally temper Aerys madness, Owen's inability to exert similar control left the court vulnerable to chaos.
After reading these missives, Wright, fully aware of the unfolding events, thought to himself:
The most significant turning point in Westeros almosy 300-year history has begun. At not yet four years old, I may not be able to alter the grand narrative, but I can try to prevent some smaller tragedies.
His thoughts turned to the weirwood tree in the courtyard, and a chill ran down his spine.
This was a world with figures like the Three-Eyed Raven, capable of perceiving centuries past and future. To such a being, what was a reincarnated soul like himself? Friend or foe? If an enemy, the Three-Eyed Raven, hidden somewhere beyond the Wall, could monitor him at any time. Dealing with someone who essentially had a "full-map cheat" was no simple matter.
"Fate is unchangeable", he mused, "yet my very presence proves that history can be altered. Even so, historical momentum is powerful. A butterfly's wings may not be enough to shift it. For now, as a four-year-old Baratheon child, my actions must align with my house's interests. This world is full of cunning minds. No one would follow a mere cry of "Rise, peasants!" without weighing its benefits."
He evaluated his family's strengths and weaknesses:
Robert was unmatched in combat, charismatic like a true leader, and adept at recognizing and utilizing others strengths—even turning enemies into allies. However, his lack of self-discipline was a glaring flaw. With Eddard and his foster father around to guide him, he could stay on course, but left unchecked, he would spiral out of control.
Stannis had a knack for governance but lacked exceptional talent and was socially inept, often fixating on minutiae.
Renly was still young and impressionable—perhaps he could be molded.
The coming years would be critical. Robert's Rebellion, set to unfold next year, and the ten prosperous years that followed his ascension to the throne were vital for House Baratheon. Wright resolved to ensure these events unfolded as they should, careful not to let his presence disrupt the course of history too greatly.