2

Chapter 2 – Critical Decisions

283 AC…Sack of King's Landing

As the now nineteen name days old Hadrian Lannister sat on his horse at his father's side at the head of the Lannister army, he felt an increasingly sick sensation in the pit of his gut at what he worried his father was about to do. It did not take a genius to see that the Targaryen dynasty was on its last legs. With Prince Rhaegar's death at the Battle of the Trident something that filled Hadrian with rage at Robert Baratheon for killing not only his friend but also the best hope for turning the Seven Kingdoms around just so he could be king. Hadrian would never say it but he was secretly very angry at his father for not allowing him to help Rhaegar and kept him at the Rock while Tywin had waited to see who would win and then rush to join the winning side. He knew better than to challenge his father about it given the man's ruthless ambition to secure his own legacy and gain more power for House Lannister but for a moment he had actually considered killing Tywin but his family loyalty had held him back and now this was the result.

Whatever had happened the Mad King Aerys would soon die and that would leave the Queen Rhaella and her son Viserys who was too young to rule. As were Rhaegar's children Rhaenys and Aegon.

Robert and his allies would not tolerate any threats to the usurpers' crown and would immediately kill them all, of that Hadrian was sure as much as he detested the idea. The Dornish army was exhausted and the Reach was just waiting to see who would claim the capital and then side with them so there was no real support for either the Queen or her youngest son now. Hadrian hoped that the gates of King's Landing would remain closed so they would not be able to get inside but his hopes were dashed as they opened no doubt due to Pycelle. The old leach had long been his father's man. Hadrian turned to his father and former role model and told him desperately.

"Father if you do this, we will all go down in history as monsters." He warned, he was not blind to the fact that history would not look kindly on what his father and their army were about to do. Tywin looked to his eldest son with a complete lack of emotion on his deeply lined face and told him.

"Better to be remembered as a monster that won, than a fool who lost." And without wasting a single moment, he gave the command and his army charged in to begin what the history books would describe as one of the most horrific acts of the century, the sacking of King's Landing. Harry looked up to the Red Keep and he remembered that Elia and both her children were still up there as hostages to ensure the loyalty of the Dornish. Harry turned to Raphael now a full knight himself and said to his horrified friend as screams began to reach them.

"We need to get to Keep. Come on hurry." He said urging his horse forward riding at furious speed with his best friend at his side through the streets of the capital as around him the supposedly finest army in Westeros acted like the barbaric Ironborn or Dothraki pillaging, burning, raping and killing everything in their path. It did not take long to reach the Red Keep and the two men leapt from their horses swords drawn as gold cloaks standing at the gates attacked them. But the city guards were no match for the young knights who cut them down with ease blocking their clumsy strikes before striking them down with lightning fast slashes, much practice and sparring with each other had focused the two young men in vicious and deadly fighters who did not waste any time before charging into the Keep and he turned to Raphael and told him.

"You find Princess Rhaenys, check her father's rooms first. Elia told me she tends to hide there when she's frightened. I'll find Princess Elia." He told his friend knowing things like that from hidden letters shared between Elia and himself since the rebellion had begun and pointed to where Raphael needed to go. Raphael nodded and told him before running off in search of the young girl.

"Be careful my lord, you know the men your father would send to deal with them." They both thought of Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch two of the vilest men that either had ever come across and completely loyal to Tywin. Both of them were a disgrace to every man that had ever held a knighthood and if he had more time Hadrian would have taken the opportunity to eliminate them both but right now the priority would be reaching Elia and her children first.

"You too." And without waiting Hadrian started running down the corridors hoping to reach the princess in time. He arrived at the room that was her's and found the door bolted from the other side. Not in the mood to waste time, Hadrian stretched out his arm and blasted the door with a shot of magical energy. The wood gave way under its impact and Hadrian's foot quickly cleared away any door that had stayed in place. He charged in and was relieved to see a very much alive Elia Martell looking at the door way in fear until she saw who it was. She let out a sigh of relief and said in a breathless whisper.

"Hadrian, it's you. I thought..."

"I know." He said before adding with the urgency of the situation. "Come on grab your son. We haven't got much time." His eyes moving over to the crib where the young prince Aegon slept.

"He's not my son, I couldn't have children after Rhaenys so we faked it till Rhaegar could marry Lyanna and have a son and heir." Elia told him quickly, stunning Hadrian but only for a moment when they were distracted by Raphael arriving with a young girl of three name days old in his arms.

"Rhaenys!" Elia said in relief and rushed over to take her little girl in her arms hugging her close in relief. Hadrian looked over to Raphael who had blood on his sword and asked.

"Any problems?" His best friend shook his head and told him.

"Got there just in time to stop Lorch. That swine faced creature was about to drag her out from under her father's bed and stab her to death. I took his head off and grabbed the girl that's when I ran into this man." He said turning to the door where Lord Varys the Master of Whispers and one of the most dangerous and mysterious men in the Seven Kingdoms stood studying them closely. Hadrian would have drawn his sword but Varys spoke before he had the chance.

"My thanks young lord. You may have just restored my confidence that not all members of your family are power hungry psychopaths." The smooth talking master of whispers said with honest relief they had gotten here in time. "I appreciate it is a touching moment but time is short. I have impersonators ready to be put in their places for the Old Lion to kill and an escape route to Dragonstone for the Princesses but we must move quickly." The man looked at them and Hadrian looked him in the eye for a moment and found to his great surprise that he did trust the man. He turned to Elia who was watching them over her daughters shoulder and said.

"Go. You know how to contact me when you get somewhere safe." He told her and she nodded sadly realising it might well be the last time she saw him and came over to give both him and Raphael a kiss on the cheek before disappearing with Varys. With that done the two men stepped out of the bed chambers as Raphael asked still taking in the enormity of what they had just done.

"So what now?" Hadrian turned to him and drew his own sword and said.

"Now we keep up appearances."

The two then joined in the fighting proper as they made their way to the throne room. The guards were no match for the knights as they proved their 'loyalty' to the rebels slaughtering the guards with ruthless efficiency. Arriving in the throne room they were surprised to see the haggard and bloody body of the mad king collapsed face first on the steps of his throne with a stab wound in the back and his younger brother Jaime with blood over his golden armour sitting on the Iron Throne with Lord Eddard Stark glaring daggers at Jaime and cursing him with the word 'kingslayer'. Realising what his brother had done Hadrian came forward and asked him as Stark looked ready to draw his sword on all of them.

"What was Aerys going to do Jaime?" The question brought a look of shock to all their faces. Hadrian knew his brother and he took vows he made seriously so whatever had made him kill the king that he was sworn to protect must have been something truly horrific. Jaime's cocky smile instantly faded and a look of revulsion came to his face as he answered his older brother's question.

"All over the city, he had the Alchemist guild place stacks of wildfire all across the city, no-one knew he had done it. When our father and you brother arrived at the city and started the sacking he sent me to bring him your heads but just out of curiosity I stopped and listened when I saw the alchemist go into the throne room. Then he said.

'Let the usurper rule over a city of ashes. And I will become a dragon and then defeat all my enemies.'

And told him to ignite all the wildfire and burn the entire city to the ground and everyone in it. I just couldn't let that happen, so I stabbed him but all he would say was 'burn them…burn them all.'"

Everyone was silent at the revelation, even with all the deaths due to the sacking there would have to be at least five hundred thousand people in King's Landing not counting their own army of sixty thousand men. If Jaime had not done what he had then they would all be dead by now on the whims of a complete psychotic lunatic.

"You did the right thing Jaime." Hadrian said quietly giving Eddard Stark a warning look so he would not contradict him with some idiotic Northern sense of honour that would make his brother feel guilty over ending the life of that monster that had been their King just hours past. The Lord and Warden of the North just nodded obvious understanding why Jaime had done what he had done and Hadrian then added. "And the kingdom will know it too. If you must be called kingslayer'." He said sending a look of annoyance at Lord Stark who just winced. "Then everyone should know that you did it to protect life and the people from their insane king."

"First though we need to get those wildfire stacks out of the city less some idiot set them off." Hadrian said the three men around him nodded. How exactly they were going to dispose of so much wildfire they did not know but one thing was clear they had to get it out of the city. All of them had seen what the terrible substance could do and this much of it was enough to set their hair standing on end. Before they could do any of this however Lannister soldiers entered carrying three bodies wrapped in red Lannister cloaks and the sight brought a deep sorrow to all of their throats as they realised just who was wrapped in those cloaks although to Hadrian and Raphael it was incredible anxiety as they knew that the princess and her royal children had escaped and wondered if anyone would buy the masquerade that they had started to protect them. As they were laid at the foot of the Iron Throne next to the dead body of the Mad King, Robert Baratheon then entered with Lord Jon Arryn and Lord Tywin Lannister behind him. Robert was very tall and a powerfully build man with his great Warhammer slung over his soldier but what had really shocked them was his reaction to the mutilated bodies of the three younger royals in front of them. He gazed down at them with the utmost hatred and spat on their corpses saying that they were 'Dragonspawn' with a smile that was disturbing enough to send a brief chill down their spines and being that was apparently the worst thing in the entire world to Robert at least. Stepping over their corpses to sit on the throne that Jaime quickly vacated the moment the others had entered the throne room.

"Good." He said in incredible euphoria as the power that was now his filled him up and ensnared him like the most potent drug in the world. "Lord Tywin I thank you most of all for your actions in delivering me this city and clearing it of dragonspawn. I am in your debt and if you have a request I will do all that it within my power to grant it." That was enough to move Eddard Stark or Ned as he was known out of his shock at his best friend's reaction to the vicious murders and was horrified that Robert was not only going to allow it to past unpunished but was actually going to reward Tywin for all that he had done.

"Robert, they were babes! Innocent children." He protested and Robert's creepy smile disappeared in a flash replaced by a black rage directed straight at the man he professed to call his 'brother in all but blood'.

"They were dragonspawn that were a blight on the world from the moment that they cursed us with their birth. You sound like a Targaryen loyalist Ned." He said spitting the word 'Targaryen' out with such venom that it made all of them wince. Ned looked like he was about to argue back when both were stopped by the firm voice of Jon Arryn.

"Enough, the kingdom is unbalanced already without you two messing it up any further. We in this room are now all that is holding it all together. You are the King now Robert, you have had your moment of conquest now it is time to heal the wounds. Need I remind you that Storm's End is under a siege right now and your two brothers have starved for nearly a year?" He scolded both of his former charges who both quieted down as if they were still the young boys he had raised. He turned to Ned and told him. "Ned I need you to go and treat with the Tyrells to end the siege."

"No I'll do it." Hadrian said speaking up surprising everyone as he stepped forward especially his own father. "Lord Stark needs to go and recover his sister who I believe is still being held prisoner in Dorne at The Tower of Joy. I will go and treat with Mace Tyrell. I take it I can offer him a pardon for supporting the Targaryens?" He asked Robert who nodded. The reason Hadrian was doing this was two-fold; one so he could establish himself as a firm and useful supporter of the new regime at least for the time being and hopefully net himself a good position in the government. And second was that he would be able to figure out where to go from here on the journey. True he had helped the Dornish princess and her daughter escape but beyond that he had no real idea of just what to do. If Robert or his even his own father found out what he had done then he would be for the noose or the axe of that he was sure but he just hadn't had a chance to think things through and come up with a plan, everything was being thrown together in such a rush that it made him very uneasy as one mistake could spell doom for them all.

But it was all he could do for now.

Lord Stark looked relieved and nodded in thanks before fleeing the room go and prepare his horse and a group of men to accompany him on his rescue mission as well as escape Robert as his feelings towards the new King were not the most charitable at the moment. Harry meanwhile turned to his father who nodded to give his permission so he with his right hand man Ser Raphael Daniels at his side Harry went out to gather a group of men to accompany him to Storm's End. Once dawn had broken and the horses were saddled Raphael turned to say something to Hadrian but the lord said quietly to him.

"Not here, later when there are fewer ears around to hear us." Raphael nodded seeing the men around them some staring at them with barely concealed curiosity. It would be a disaster if the wrong people found out what the two men had done last night in aiding the princesses to escape. At worst it would result in their executions and at best potentially being blackmailed. So neither man said a word as they climbed onto their horses and with a group of armed men around them they set off through the gate of the Red Keep and through the city streets. The smoke that was raising in the early morning sun was a grim reminder of what had happened last night and Hadrian sighed as he considered what the future generations would say about this, he was not so naivety to expect that it would fully gloss over the horror although it would be downplayed as much as possible when the maesters wrote the history books so as not to upset the new king. He only hoped that it would not damn his family name throughout all of history. When they reached the city gates the formation started to ride faster as they began their journey to Storm's End.

A hard week's later they arrived after travelling to the capital of the Stormlands Hadrian and Raphael and their men were greeted by the sight of the enormous Tyrell army camped outside the ancient castle. In the distance Shipbreaker Bay was as violent as ever but the Redwyne fleet patrolled the bay's entrances to bar any supplies entering from the sea. The Lannister men slowed as they reached the edge of the encampment and seeing the jovial mood of the Reach men Hadrian's face grew nearly as stormy as the bay in the distance. While Stannis Baratheon had managed to hold on with the rest of the starving inhabitants of the castle for a year the Tyrells had been feasting and even holding tournaments outside the castle walls. The Oaf of Highgarden as he was known had been taunting the inhabitants of the castle like a child jabbing an insect with a stick even after they had pulled its wings off. All of the accomplishments in the war thus far that House Tyrell and Mace Tyrell in particular claimed credit for were often down to the skill of the vassal houses beneath him like House Tarly. The man was an idiot and hopefully this would not take long. Certainly it seemed they were expected as they faced no resistance to their entrance and people parted as they rode onwards to the makeshift sables where they dismounted from their horses and stable boys appeared to rest and feed their mounts after such a long journey which had left Hadrian and the rest of the Lannister men tired and irritated and Hadrian in little mood to pander to the whims of the idiot Tyrell lord but given he would be surrounded by nearly a hundred thousand of his men it was best that he humour him a little. Seeing the over-elaborate tent in the distance that was bigger than some small houses and emblazed with the symbol of the golden rose Hadrian guessed that was the tent of Mace Tyrell so he walked towards it. He cut a fierce some figure, tall at over six foot and muscular but not garishly and his red and black armour with images of lions carved into it and a bright red cape trailing behind him made a huge contrast to the silver and green armour worn by those around him. He walked through the gap in the tent with his hand on the hilt of his holstered sword ready to draw it at a moment's notice. He need not of bothered, only Lord Mace Tyrell was inside dressed in a green silk tunic and smiling as if Hadrian was his best friend. He rushed forward and extended his hand which Hadrian took and shook firmly.

"Lord Lannister, it is a pleasure to meet you at long last, I wish I had a chance introduce myself before this terrible war but I hope that we can become friends." Mace said and Hadrian had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes at this man's attempts to earn his favour. Surely they would have known that the Lannisters had firmly entrenched themselves in King Robert's favour by now and clearly the Tyrell wanted to cosy up to the new regime. Harry wished that he was dealing with the man's mother Lady Olenna, the matriarch of the Tyrell family was a mind just as formidable as his own father's with a dignity and intelligence he could respect not to mention if the reports where right very charismatic. A conversation with her would at least be intellectually stimulating.

"Lord Tyrell please I am merely my father Lord Tywin's heir sent in his stead so perhaps we should discuss the lifting of the siege of Storm's End? His grace is keen to make sure that his brothers are no longer starved and would gladly offer a pardon to you and all your vassal houses for your actions supporting the Mad King to end current hostilities." He purposely added the part about Robert's brothers Stannis and Renly to remind the man he had been starving the new king's brothers and soon the man was tripping over himself to make 'amends'.

"Of course my lord, we have stocked provisions here for another three months so I will donate them to the poor inhabitants of the castle while my army returns to the Reach. I will of course come to King's Landing to swear fealty to the King immediately." He reassured Hadrian who was just glad this was not going to take very long and the man rushed out of his tent to get the packing up started. Seeing he was alone in the tent Hadrian leaned on the large table in front of him and let out a sigh as he felt fatigue creep up on him. This war had shaken the entire kingdom from top to bottom and he only moved when he heard someone enter the tent. Turning around he saw it was Raphael and Hadrian relaxed seeing his friend and the only person in the world he felt like he could talk to about now. He gestured to two seats at the edge of the table and the reaching for a pitcher he smelled the wine inside and found it to be Arbor Gold. In need of a drink Hadrian grabbed two goblets and the two men sat down while Hadrian poured them a cup each. It could have been poisoned but right now Hadrian was so weary that he could not find it in himself to care.

"Where do we go from here my lord?" Raphael asked, the events of the last week or so were clearly playing on his mind too and Hadrian told him having had some time to think about it.

"We carry on, that is all we can do for now. Robert will not make a good king nay he'll be a terrible monarch maybe enough to give Aegon the Unworthy a run for his money." Hadrian said taking a sip of the wine and despite the fact it tasted very good it did nothing to ease his mood which was at the moment rather sullen while Raphael looked unsurprised being used to his friend's boldness. "The man likes whoring, hunting and drinking in great quantities and in no particular order and nothing else besides. That man will run this kingdom right into the ground so it is up to us and those like us to try and keep this kingdom stable for the sake of everyone if not just for ourselves and try to improve things as the opportunities present themselves. And if they don't, we make them." Raphael nodded and went to go secure them a tent for the night so they could rest up before starting the return journey to King's Landing with the insufferable Mace Tyrell and whoever the man chose to bring with him. Hadrian was taking another sip of the wine when he felt someone approach from behind him. Fearing an attack for a Targaryen loyalist of which there were many in this camp he leapt to his feet and his sword was quickly in his hand only for Hadrian to see that it was Varys dressed in a maester outfit and while he held off attacking he kept his sword to hand.

"Well my lord, I must congratulate you on your reading of the situation. Few have yet realised the damage that Robert Baratheon will cause this kingdom in the long term." The eunuch then took another goblet and poured himself a drink of Arbor Good while Harry feeling more confident put his sword back in its scabbard and picked up his own goblet.

"Thank you Lord Varys for the compliment which I must return to you on your ability with disguise. I think for the next few years at least we are all going to be facing a rough time. But did our mutual friends reach safety?" Hadrian asked not wanting to say the Targaryens names out loud just in case someone was listening…better to be safe than dead he thought to himself. Varys nodded before telling him.

"They reached the rest of their family safely and the sight of her good daughter and granddaughter apparently caused the matriarch of their family to rally and with the help of a healer I dispatched to the island with them managed her own child birth successfully, a girl they have named Storm born. They have gone into exile for now and taken the fleet of ships that have stayed loyal to them across the Narrow Sea. I have not been told their long term plans yet but I expect to be contacted soon when things have settled down, I expect they will probably reach out to you also my lord. So what are you planning to do now?" Varys asked him and taking a sip of his wine Hadrian told him with a firm stare.

"Everything I can." Varys now sure that Hadrian was not going to betray the Royal Family that he was loyal to said with a smile.

"Welcome to the game my lord."