|
|
Post by Sam on Oct 2, 2009 11:15:55 GMT -5
"Summons? I suppose her grace desires me to renew my oaths of fealty, now that I am lord in my father's place," he said, scratching his chin. He had regained his composure and recovered from the shock of Trant's news, and his head was surprisingly clear.
"I do not fancy being burned to death. I will meet the queen somewhere between here and the capital and swear my oaths to her. I know you to be an honorable man, Lord Trant, so I will take your word that Justice will be done to my lord father's murderer, but I will not come to King's Landing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Oct 2, 2009 11:36:06 GMT -5
"Aaron," Rowan says, "I fear that will not suffice, their are many that have the ear of the Queen that would like nothing more then to place your head on a spike and strip you of your lands, I have read the letters exchanged between you and Tully, and despite what you think of the man he was acting on the Queen's behalf in the absence of the Queen and Hand, when requesting you disband and was therefore within his rights."
Rowan shook his head, "fortunately the Queen agreed with my minority position and allowed me to come here first. I know you have not had much interaction with her, but Lord Baratheon trusts her and I know her to be fair and just. You must send your army home, and you must come to King's Landing to reaffirm your vows and stand with her to see Justice done for your Father's murder."
Rowan's body shakes a little remembering the words of the others in the Queen's Solar.
"The Queen is grieving also and I am sure that when your actions are explained in regards to the chaos that followed this terrible tragedy then she will be lenient and less likely to listen to the others," Rowan says his voice airing some concern that Aaron will not accept.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sam on Oct 2, 2009 12:05:41 GMT -5
"Aaron," Rowan says, "I fear that will not suffice, their are many that have the ear of the Queen that would like nothing more then to place your head on a spike and strip you of your lands, I have read the letters exchanged between you and Tully, and despite what you think of the man he was acting on the Queen's behalf in the absence of the Queen and Hand, when requesting you disband and was therefore within his rights." Rowan shook his head, "fortunately the Queen agreed with my minority position and allowed me to come here first. I know you have not had much interaction with her, but Lord Baratheon trusts her and I know her to be fair and just. You must send your army home, and you must come to King's Landing to reaffirm your vows and stand with her to see Justice done for your Father's murder." Rowan's body shakes a little remembering the words of the others in the Queen's Solar. "The Queen is grieving also and I am sure that when your actions are explained in regards to the chaos that followed this terrible tragedy then she will be lenient and less likely to listen to the others," Rowan says his voice airing some concern that Aaron will not accept. "Lord Tully is a fool, and I'll take no orders from him. I have done no treason and his threats did have little to back them up," Aaron said, a mirthless smile crossing his face. "I doubt not that my lord cousin Eustace does trust the Queen. My lord father did trust her grace also," he added. "That did not end well for him." "I will disband my armies, will send word to my lady wife and lord brother to do the same at Horn Hill and Duskendale. As much as I want to kill someone, nothing would disappoint my father more than if I did start a pointless war of revenge. I will come to the capital to swear fealty, but I require written Safe Conduct from the Queen to prove that her grace does not intend to have me arrested and executed the moment I set foot in King's Landing." |
|
|
|
Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Oct 2, 2009 12:19:02 GMT -5
Rowan shakes his head, "if the Queen really meant you harm would a piece of paper really help you," Rowan said. "I will escort you to her Grace personally and I swear an oath nothing will happen until after your audience with the Queen," Rowan says solemnly, "although you share your own fate after that as I cannot forsee how that meeting will go. . . but if you remain calm and remember that her Grace has also shared in this loss then I am confident that you need not worry about arrest or worse."
|
|
|
|
Post by Sam on Oct 2, 2009 12:36:56 GMT -5
"If I'm to be put on trial, I will not simply hand myself over to my executioners. I will come to the capital to swear fealty only if I recieve papers of Safe Conduct. Arresting me after issuing such a writ would show the Queen to be and oathbreaker and without honor which is certainly not the image her grace cares to project," Aaron said. "I will not bend on this issue."
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Oct 2, 2009 23:11:12 GMT -5
Rowan shook his head, "no no no this will not do," the young Storm Lord looked worried. "This is not something that is negotiable, I'd say that the odds are 5 to 1 in her Grace's council opposed of showing any leniency at all, you must come and submit without conditions, please trust me on this you stand a much better chance of appearing before the Queen without condition, asking for such a writ makes you appear guilty and lacking trust in the Queen's judgment it will almost certainly make matters worse. This matter would most certainly have been handled differently had the Queen been in place in the Capital."
"My council is this, come before the Queen and tell your story, you will need reasons for why you felt an army was necessary, an explanation for your reaction to Lord Tully and a response for your Council of Lords. Of the three I think the council is the most damaging evidence as rumors have not been good, of course only those that were there can confirm what was actually said."
Rowan looked at Aaron, "I know you are angry with what transpired, but it was not the Queen who killed your Father it was her sister acting on her own accord, what happened in the Chaos afterward is equally disheartening as I think that had the truth been told at the start this wound would have begun to heal by now. Regardless there are many in the council that call you a traitor. . . but for now the Queen is NOT convinced, although I do not think that it would take much for her to think otherwise."
Rowan looks a bit winded after talking so much but as they near the gate he pauses for Aaron to respond.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sam on Oct 2, 2009 23:44:10 GMT -5
"If I am to be treated as a criminal, then what reason to I have to merely submit, I might as well make you storm the Bloody Gates. I honestly do not care whether or not I appear to have trust in her grace's judgment because I do not trust the Queen or her sycophants. It is not illegal for me to call a meeting of my bannermen, nor is it illegal for me to tell a Riverlander to go fuck himself, nor is it illegal for me to call my banners provided I have not declared war or unjustly attacked anyone. You can convey my terms to the Queen; as I said I will disband my armies, but I will not come to King's Landing without safe conduct. If that is too much, then I suppose she can attempt to storm the Gates," he said, gesturing to the massive fortress behind them.
"I have no intention of begging forgiveness, nor will I humble myself to appease the pride of the Queen's Council. Is there aught else?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Oct 3, 2009 10:25:01 GMT -5
Rowan frowned there was no doubt this man was a Royce.
"It is every Lord's duty to appear when summoned by their superior. While it is not illegal to tell a Riverlander to go fuck himself it is illegal to tell the man that her grace has placed in charge of things to go fuck himself, and finally while it is not illegal for you to call your Father's Bannermen it is illegal to call your bannermen and plan a war against the Queen as rumors have suggested. You have not been declared a traitor although some wish to and it appears that while you have no faith in the queen's judgment or authority you trust that a piece of paper will guarantee you safe passage."
Rowan sighed, "there is no question that some punishment will be assigned for your conduct towards Tully and your words on the council. The question is whether you want a slap on the wrist or your head on a spike. I am telling you the best course of action for the former and that does not include making demands on the Queen when she has provided you an opportunity to hear your side of this."
Rowan sighed again, "I do not see why you want to risk your family for a stupid piece of paper. Horn Hill is well defended but only from one side and with Tully and the Far Reach summoning men your Lady wife could not hold out. For Seven's sake Aaron fucking help me out here I risked much to even speak on your behalf the least you can do is trust me on this."
|
|
|
|
Post by Sam on Oct 3, 2009 12:59:16 GMT -5
"This is not about a piece of fucking paper, Lord Trant. I understand your position, but I will not hand myself over to my executioners without a fight. What you describe, is me coming to King's Landing for my trial, upon the completion of which I will either be executed or pardoned by the Queen. I am not a common criminal, and I am not a fool either. If the Queen's Council wants my head on a spike, they'd better be prepared to come and get it. The Vale will rally behind me when they find out my father was murdered by a royal princess, and I think you know that," Aaron said, studying the other man's expression.
"If I am being summoned to swear my vows of fealty as the new Lord of the Vale, I will disband all my troops peacefully and do so provided I have a guarantee of my safety whilst in the capital, but if I am being summoned to stand trial then you will have to take me by force. I trust you, my lord, but I do not trust the multitude of people whose authority supersedes your own and thus I will not come to the capital except under the conditions I stated. Have I made my position clear, Lord Trant?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Oct 3, 2009 21:25:08 GMT -5
"Perfectly," Rowan says without hesitation. "I will speak with the queen, and you'll have your response." The Storm lord turns to leave.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sam on Oct 12, 2009 12:13:12 GMT -5
The massive gates creak open, swinging outward to allow a long column of men to march out. Aaron Royce rides at the head of the army, mounted on a gigantic black stallion. Heartsbane hangs on his back and at his side rides Lord Jaymes Corbray. Both are armored in boiled leather and chainmail, their heavy plate packed in the baggage train for later use. Above the army flies the Runed Bronze of House Royce, the crows clutching hearts of House Corbray, as well as Aaron's personal banner with a rearing stallion interposed upon a bronze field. The the army marches south out of the gate, which slams shut behind them, as the Vale's Vanguard begins to snake its way down the High Road.
|
|
Hope you all are well and happy.