Post by The Smith on Mar 24, 2008 19:16:53 GMT -5
The fleet was now beginning to round Driftmark’s long eastern point and moving towards the island of Dragonstone. A curl of smoke rose from the distant island, no doubt from Dragon Mont, the mountain of fire.
Prince Avery Baratheon stood on the fore deck of the flagship of the fleet. The young prince had been a frightened boy when he had last ventured on a ship in the flight from Gulltown to Driftmark. In the ensuring nine months he had grown significantly both in mind and body. Clad in gold armour with a rampant black stag emblazoned on the hauberk, he looked every inch a prince of the royal house. Beside him stood Ser Godry Farring, the commander of the fleet as well as his cousin Ameron Velaryon who himself was clad in the sea green armour with his house sigil of a white seahorse emblazoned on the front.
Avery examined the parchment that appointed him Prince of Dragonstone yet again. It has been brought to Driftmark by the fleet that had returned from the mainland. He was well aware of the circumstances of his appointment. Horas Blackwood had usurped the regency of his nephew from Benfry Smith who had been appointed by the previous regent Piers Battley upon his resignation. It had been Horas who had appointed him, despite the disappearance of his nephew Rickon. If Horas should fall, then his appointment might be declared null and void.
Avery grimaced. He was a Prince of House Baratheon and apart from Kit Kidwell, Dragonstone had been held by Baratheons since the time of Stannis Baratheon over two hundred years ago. Even if Horas fell, Dragonstone was his by rights as a Baratheon. Now that he had it he would fight tooth and nail to keep it, no matter who was Regent.
Avery beckoned his cousin over. He whispered…”Will they accept me?”
Ameron smiled. For all his bravado, the prince was still young and somewhat uncertain.
“They’ll accept you Avery. For one you’re a true Baratheon, no one will doubt that once they see you. Second you have the act of appointment signed by Horas Blackwood’s own hand and seal. There may be some doubt over whether Blackwood is truly the Regent, but he has been Hand for some time now and his word still carries authority. And thirdly you have me and your mother. I’m well known in these parts and have spent much time in Dragonstone. Queen Ellesandra is well known also, from the time when she was a maid in Driftmark and also from her time as Queen of Westeros.”
He smiled.
“And in any case who would dare to gainsay your mother?”
Avery grinned.
“How long? He asked Ser Godry
“A couple of hours my lord Prince. I’ve run up the Baratheon colours. ‘The Pride of Driftmark” and “Seahorse” have the Velaryon colours. There’ll be no doubt who we are and that we come in peace.
Avery nodded. He fingered the parchment that appointed him Prince of Dragonstone.
He would wait until they arrived at Dragonstone in his cabin. He sighed. No doubt his mother would want to speak to him again.
/////////////////////////////////////////////
The ships had docked at Dragonstone’s harbour. An old inn stood at the end of the stone pier of the port with a waist-high gargoyle so weathered as to be nearly obliterated standing outside. Avery together with his mother and his cousin and one hundred of the five hundred strong force they had brought with them disembarked from the ships and mounting the horses that had also been brought made their way to the castle. Dragonstone Castle loomed above them. The stones of the fortress were coal black. According to what he had been told Avery knew that over a thousand gargoyles sat on the walls of the ancient Valyrian fortress, each some twelve feet high. Among them were also hellhounds and wyverns. Behind the castle Avery could see the Dragonmont, belching fire and brimstone adding to the sinister look. It was a place not for the faint-hearted Avery mused.
The castle gates were made of iron-studded wood. Avery and his party paused in front of them. They had attracted many of the small folk, and many had recognised Queen Ellesandra. The word had quickly spread that the golden figure was the Queen’s son, a true Baratheon.
Ser Ameron called up to the guards.
“Open in the name of Prince Avery Baratheon, Prince of Dragonstone, his mother the Queen Ellesandra and the Lord Regent of Westeros Horas Blackwood, regent of His Grace King Rickon of House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.”
There was a short pause. The party looked up expectantly at the battlements where men seemed to be scurrying. With a groan the gates began to open and the party moved through.
From the citadel gates Prince Avery and his men passed under an arch. Queen Ellesandra explained to her son that it was named the Dragon's Tail. From there they entered a garden which had a pleasant pine scent and tall dark trees on every side. Avery could see wild roses flanked by towering thorny hedges. He could even see a boggy spot where cranberries grew.
“This is Aegon's Garden, reputedly built by Aegon the Conqueror” said his mother. “I spent many hours here when I was but a young maid.”
The party moved through the outer bailey and through black iron gates built into the middle and inner walls of the castle topped with gargoyles. The party dismounted in the yard. Above them was a stone bridge connecting a tower with a massive central tower.
“That’s the Stone Drum” said Ameron pointing at the Central Tower. “It’s named such because its walls boom and rumble during storms. It’s something you have to experience before it can be believed.”
The party was greeted by the castellan of Dragonstone, a fat portly man.
The man struggled to one knee in front of the Prince and bowed his head. Avery extended his right hand which the castellan pressed his lips to. He did the same with Queen Ellesandra.
“Greetings to you my lord Prince. I am Ser Liston Hogg, the castellan of Dragonstone Castle. I am at your service.”
Avery nodded.
“You may rise Ser Liston. I wish to formally announce that I have been titled Prince of Dragonstone by order of the Regent Horas Blackwood acting on behalf of my nephew King Rickon. I am here to take up my title. You have been instructed by the King to turn the garrison, stronghold and people over to my command.”
Out of the corner of his eye Avery could see his mother and cousin nodding approvingly.
Ser Liston Hogg was not a brave man, but he had been castellan of Dragonstone for a long time.
“Indeed my lord? The last we had heard is that Piers Bettley was the Regent for the young King and that Horas Blackwood was the Hand.”
Ameron interjected.
“Piers Bettley has resigned as Regent and Horas Blackwood is the new regent.”
Avery held up his hand to stop his cousin.
“The documentation for my title is here Ser. I think you will find it all in order. Be that as it may, I am a Baratheon and a Baratheon has ruled here for over 200 years.
Ser Liston gave in.
“Very well my lord Prince. I had received a raven from your cousin Lord Velaryon who I believe has been appointed as Lord Paramount of the Crownlands, confirming your appointment and warning me of your arrival.
“Welcome Prince of Dragonstone. May I show you and your party to the Great Hall and the Painted Chamber?”
Avery nodded and gave his hand to his mother who met his gaze with a gleam of triumph in her eyes. The small folk who had followed them into the castle began to cheer.
Ser Liston Hogg led the party into the Stone Drum
Results:
Prince Avery Baratheon takes control of Dragonstone
Prince Avery Baratheon is recognized by the citizens, the castellan and the existing garrison as the rightful Prince of Dragonstone
Prince Avery gains Beginner in Rulership
500 men are added to Dragonstone's garrison
Prince Avery Baratheon stood on the fore deck of the flagship of the fleet. The young prince had been a frightened boy when he had last ventured on a ship in the flight from Gulltown to Driftmark. In the ensuring nine months he had grown significantly both in mind and body. Clad in gold armour with a rampant black stag emblazoned on the hauberk, he looked every inch a prince of the royal house. Beside him stood Ser Godry Farring, the commander of the fleet as well as his cousin Ameron Velaryon who himself was clad in the sea green armour with his house sigil of a white seahorse emblazoned on the front.
Avery examined the parchment that appointed him Prince of Dragonstone yet again. It has been brought to Driftmark by the fleet that had returned from the mainland. He was well aware of the circumstances of his appointment. Horas Blackwood had usurped the regency of his nephew from Benfry Smith who had been appointed by the previous regent Piers Battley upon his resignation. It had been Horas who had appointed him, despite the disappearance of his nephew Rickon. If Horas should fall, then his appointment might be declared null and void.
Avery grimaced. He was a Prince of House Baratheon and apart from Kit Kidwell, Dragonstone had been held by Baratheons since the time of Stannis Baratheon over two hundred years ago. Even if Horas fell, Dragonstone was his by rights as a Baratheon. Now that he had it he would fight tooth and nail to keep it, no matter who was Regent.
Avery beckoned his cousin over. He whispered…”Will they accept me?”
Ameron smiled. For all his bravado, the prince was still young and somewhat uncertain.
“They’ll accept you Avery. For one you’re a true Baratheon, no one will doubt that once they see you. Second you have the act of appointment signed by Horas Blackwood’s own hand and seal. There may be some doubt over whether Blackwood is truly the Regent, but he has been Hand for some time now and his word still carries authority. And thirdly you have me and your mother. I’m well known in these parts and have spent much time in Dragonstone. Queen Ellesandra is well known also, from the time when she was a maid in Driftmark and also from her time as Queen of Westeros.”
He smiled.
“And in any case who would dare to gainsay your mother?”
Avery grinned.
“How long? He asked Ser Godry
“A couple of hours my lord Prince. I’ve run up the Baratheon colours. ‘The Pride of Driftmark” and “Seahorse” have the Velaryon colours. There’ll be no doubt who we are and that we come in peace.
Avery nodded. He fingered the parchment that appointed him Prince of Dragonstone.
He would wait until they arrived at Dragonstone in his cabin. He sighed. No doubt his mother would want to speak to him again.
/////////////////////////////////////////////
The ships had docked at Dragonstone’s harbour. An old inn stood at the end of the stone pier of the port with a waist-high gargoyle so weathered as to be nearly obliterated standing outside. Avery together with his mother and his cousin and one hundred of the five hundred strong force they had brought with them disembarked from the ships and mounting the horses that had also been brought made their way to the castle. Dragonstone Castle loomed above them. The stones of the fortress were coal black. According to what he had been told Avery knew that over a thousand gargoyles sat on the walls of the ancient Valyrian fortress, each some twelve feet high. Among them were also hellhounds and wyverns. Behind the castle Avery could see the Dragonmont, belching fire and brimstone adding to the sinister look. It was a place not for the faint-hearted Avery mused.
The castle gates were made of iron-studded wood. Avery and his party paused in front of them. They had attracted many of the small folk, and many had recognised Queen Ellesandra. The word had quickly spread that the golden figure was the Queen’s son, a true Baratheon.
Ser Ameron called up to the guards.
“Open in the name of Prince Avery Baratheon, Prince of Dragonstone, his mother the Queen Ellesandra and the Lord Regent of Westeros Horas Blackwood, regent of His Grace King Rickon of House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm.”
There was a short pause. The party looked up expectantly at the battlements where men seemed to be scurrying. With a groan the gates began to open and the party moved through.
From the citadel gates Prince Avery and his men passed under an arch. Queen Ellesandra explained to her son that it was named the Dragon's Tail. From there they entered a garden which had a pleasant pine scent and tall dark trees on every side. Avery could see wild roses flanked by towering thorny hedges. He could even see a boggy spot where cranberries grew.
“This is Aegon's Garden, reputedly built by Aegon the Conqueror” said his mother. “I spent many hours here when I was but a young maid.”
The party moved through the outer bailey and through black iron gates built into the middle and inner walls of the castle topped with gargoyles. The party dismounted in the yard. Above them was a stone bridge connecting a tower with a massive central tower.
“That’s the Stone Drum” said Ameron pointing at the Central Tower. “It’s named such because its walls boom and rumble during storms. It’s something you have to experience before it can be believed.”
The party was greeted by the castellan of Dragonstone, a fat portly man.
The man struggled to one knee in front of the Prince and bowed his head. Avery extended his right hand which the castellan pressed his lips to. He did the same with Queen Ellesandra.
“Greetings to you my lord Prince. I am Ser Liston Hogg, the castellan of Dragonstone Castle. I am at your service.”
Avery nodded.
“You may rise Ser Liston. I wish to formally announce that I have been titled Prince of Dragonstone by order of the Regent Horas Blackwood acting on behalf of my nephew King Rickon. I am here to take up my title. You have been instructed by the King to turn the garrison, stronghold and people over to my command.”
Out of the corner of his eye Avery could see his mother and cousin nodding approvingly.
Ser Liston Hogg was not a brave man, but he had been castellan of Dragonstone for a long time.
“Indeed my lord? The last we had heard is that Piers Bettley was the Regent for the young King and that Horas Blackwood was the Hand.”
Ameron interjected.
“Piers Bettley has resigned as Regent and Horas Blackwood is the new regent.”
Avery held up his hand to stop his cousin.
“The documentation for my title is here Ser. I think you will find it all in order. Be that as it may, I am a Baratheon and a Baratheon has ruled here for over 200 years.
Ser Liston gave in.
“Very well my lord Prince. I had received a raven from your cousin Lord Velaryon who I believe has been appointed as Lord Paramount of the Crownlands, confirming your appointment and warning me of your arrival.
“Welcome Prince of Dragonstone. May I show you and your party to the Great Hall and the Painted Chamber?”
Avery nodded and gave his hand to his mother who met his gaze with a gleam of triumph in her eyes. The small folk who had followed them into the castle began to cheer.
Ser Liston Hogg led the party into the Stone Drum
Results:
Prince Avery Baratheon takes control of Dragonstone
Prince Avery Baratheon is recognized by the citizens, the castellan and the existing garrison as the rightful Prince of Dragonstone
Prince Avery gains Beginner in Rulership
500 men are added to Dragonstone's garrison