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Post by Percy Rivers on Jun 26, 2007 1:35:06 GMT -5
Callen was dragged down the length of the hall. The banners of his house had been torn down and the dragon skulls had been put back in place. He saw lords once loyal to his father line the sides of the room. Some looked on him with pity, others contempt, most with interest. He could only assume they only wanted to see what his fate was. He was finally dropped beneath the throne.
At length he looked up into the eyes of the man on the throne. The Targaryen king was the most striking person Callen had ever seen. Long platinum hair fell below his waist and a crown with three dragons, one white and gold, another green and bronze, and the third red and black adorned his head. On his right a sword in a scabbard leaned against the Iron Throne. Most impressive of all was the magnificent beast sleeping at the base of the throne. The dragon's tail curled around the base of the king's feet and the end came to rest on his lap. Aegon IX leaned forward in his seat and spoke, several melodious words floated down the room.
Callen remained where he was, not knowing what to do. He then heard another voice, "His grace was wondering if you know who he was and what he is capable of." He turned his head slightly and saw the young women kneeling by the throne. She was stunningly beautiful, long dark hair tumbling tumbling down her back. His mouth refused to work, and he sat there staring for several seconds.
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Post by Lilith Royce on Jun 26, 2007 3:05:53 GMT -5
Tatiana Gildersleeve had seen Prince Callen in his glimmering armor with the stags horns parade through the street and had thought him beautiful. He was had been the object of her girlhood crush. She was stunned to see him humbled before the King, before her, but of course she could not speak, she was just a mouthpiece of the king.
She waited for Callen's, King Callen's, Prince Callen's reply to the King's question.
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Post by serdonaltyrell on Jun 26, 2007 7:39:35 GMT -5
Ser Donal Tyrell looks on impassively from the thong surrounding the throne, careful to keep his expression neutral as he watched the man he once called King, kneel before Aegon IX.
The beast itself was impressive, if somewhat smaller than he had imagined. It was, however, not hard to imagine the devastation wrought by it's power outside the walls of Casterly Rock. Even at this distance, the heat given off by the creature was noticeable.
Donal idly wondered if the Iron Throne could melt and wondered who the girl who understood High Valryian was. It was a rare talent these days.
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Post by Lilith Royce on Jun 26, 2007 8:32:17 GMT -5
Tatiana, although she didn't look it, was half Braavosi, the daughter of a gently reared Braavosi woman and a stolid King's Landing merchant. Her maternal grandmother had been a lady of the chamber to Targaryen royalty. She was also the best direct interpreter of the women who had been assembled by Lilith Royce.
Lilith was bright enough and could read any High Valyrian text that Tatiana had ever seen, but her instinctive accent was bastard Braavosi. When Lilith was present, Tatiana acted as diction coach to the others, when Lilith was away running hospitals (according to rumor), Tatiana ran the interpreter corps, with the help of course from that old Royce crone, Elspeth Stone. Tatiana supposed even ugly women had their uses.
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Post by Lilith Royce on Jun 26, 2007 8:45:39 GMT -5
She stared at the tall man with his head above the throng, something in his eyes, though not his demeanor, said he was actually understanding the King's words rather than hers.
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Post by Lilith Royce on Jun 26, 2007 10:52:35 GMT -5
Tatiana listened to the words of the King roll out of his mouth, pitied the Westerosi who did not understand the subtlety of his exquisite Valyrian prose, and repeated them in her immaculate formal Common tongue. The king was addressing Callen.
"We recognize you are not the man your father was. The sins of the father shall not be visited upon his son."
She paused for his majesty's next sentence.
"Being magnanimous, we offer you life. Bend your knee and you shall live."
Tatiana thought Callen was going to respond but then the king continued.
"We further reveal our magnanimity by granting you choice, you may join the Brotherhood of the Nightwatch or you may live out a humble life, showing by example the grace of my mercy."
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Post by serdonaltyrell on Jun 26, 2007 11:21:41 GMT -5
The hall suddenly filled with the murmur of the crowd as quiet oaths were exclaimed. Some of those present had thought Callen certain to be executed. Donal marked the faces of those particularly disappointed with this generous offer.
Donal glanced at his new King. Was this a cruel jape to make Callen beg for his life or had he misjudged this new Targaryen dynasty? From what he had heard of Maerys he had thought Aegon to be as ruthless in victory as in war. "Well, you cannot judge the tree by the apple" Donal thought.
Donal's eyes now turned towards Callen to see how this strange drama would play out.
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Post by The Smith on Jun 26, 2007 11:25:20 GMT -5
Prince Maerys stood beside the Iron Throne, wearing his traditional black and red scarves over boiled black leather with a red three-headed dragon emblazoned on it.
He started to laugh.
Maerys spoke and understood the common tongue of Westeros.
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Post by Axell Lannister on Jun 26, 2007 13:36:43 GMT -5
The doors open, and Steffen of Lannister enters, swathed in a woolen cloak, with Nealon Spear standing at his side. He walks towards the king somewhat slowly, as if hindered by something. He keeps his eyes away from Callen as he kneels before the king, placing his sword at his feet.
"Your grace. I am honoured to be in the presence of one as mighty as you. You have the gratitude of all of Westeros for saving the kingdom from the ineptitude and mindless cruelty espoused by the stag."
Steffen turns his head, and stares deep into Callen's eyes.
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Post by Percy Rivers on Jun 26, 2007 14:31:30 GMT -5
Callen could have killed Steffen in that moment. A small smirk slowly formed on the Worm's face. But his eyes told a different story. He saw in them the same thing he had seen in Breyn Royces'. Callen knew he did not believe his own words, that he said only that which would advance his place in this world. This man cared nothing for the dynasty's of men. Callen was sure that if the positions had been reversed, that if it was himself on the throne and Targaryen kneeling before him, that Steffan would have been just as quick to condemn Aegon.
Callen turned his head back up to the throne. He could of said a number of things. He knew what Aegon IX was capable of, madness. Madness and destruction would be what the realm would reap from the rule of the dragon kings. He remembered the words of his house, Ours is Fury. He could have let his rage out and certify his own execution. He could yell and scream, and fight, and lash out against the man in front of him. He would of, but then he remembered the words of Breyn Royce. He realized that a man such as Royce, or Steffan would never be content with what they had. The war would continue, mabye not today, or tommorow, but it would happen eventually. Callen would have to be there to help the realm back onto it's feet. He Like it or not, if the realm wanted to survive it needed him, and he needed men like Steffen Lannister and Breyn Royce, regardless of how much he despised him. If he wanted to survive and continue to fight he must say that which was not true, and hate himself for it, but he would survive. And so he looked up towards the throne. Not into the eyes of the king, but into the girl's.
"Tell his grace that he is most merciful. House Baratheon has been the cause of much strife and has usurped the rightful place of the true rulers of Westeros. I swear my allegiance to the Iron Throne and to the realm. If it would please his grace allow me to head north, there I will take my exile."
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Post by The Smith on Jun 26, 2007 14:37:10 GMT -5
Prince Maerys spoke up, "Who do you think you've been fucking? You're no one to ask for exile in a sympathizer's land."
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Post by Lilith Royce on Jun 26, 2007 14:39:56 GMT -5
Tatiana translated both Callen's and Maerys's words for the King.
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Post by eytank49752 on Jun 26, 2007 15:02:26 GMT -5
Lord Breyn spoke up. "He can be a prisoner in my lands if you wish King Aegon. The Stags are no friends of mine."
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Post by Percy Rivers on Jun 26, 2007 15:08:10 GMT -5
He looked at Breyn for a moment, but then heard Maerys speak again. "He can go to the Seven Hells for all I care."
Callen felt the rage rise up inside him, an inheritance bestowed upon him from his distant Targaryen heritage. He got to his feet and turned to Maerys. "Where would you have me go my prince? I'm sure Baldwin Lannister would be happy to accomodate the man who almost killed him. No? Perhaps the Reach then. Dorne? The Stormlands? Where?! Where would you have me go?!" His voice echoed throughout the throne room. His chest heaved up and down. Maerys stood where he was, a murderous look on his face. After several minutes Callen's heart slowed down, his breathing became steady. He turned to young women beside Aegon. He glanced up at the King, then back to her. In a quiet voice he whispered. "Where?"
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Post by Axell Lannister on Jun 26, 2007 15:15:35 GMT -5
"Id have you go to hell." Steffen stared at Callen, his face expressionless, before he grimaced at a twinge of pain. "However, since the king has granted mercy, i would be happy to take the stag under my service. I could pay him back for that marvellous courtesy he espoused while i was his guest."
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Hope you all are well and happy.