Jacob V

Lying down on the floors of his chambers was what Jacob did that day, he was solemn and silent of the sounds and noise around him.

The days coming were going to be of bloodshed, scheming, and possible alliances to be made and flaunting about marriages to signify two families joining together.

"Lord Stark is dead, and the North and the Riverlands have revolted in rebellion, while the Eyrie and Dorne sit back and watch the impeding massacre of houses commence, Uncle Renly has his own ambition and is a problem that has to be dealt with soon."

Death and people dying was what Jacob anticipated, when he was to play the game, but he didn't think his Uncle Robert would die in order for those in his court to seize the power they want.

The young prince didn't want to talk to anyone, as he was still hurting from the loss of his favourite Uncle, and the one he hated still lived and made the fight for the throne a lot harder.

His eyes were staring at the celling of his bedchambers, as he was withdrawn and distant from most of the people on Dragonstone.

"How can I go to war now, when my little sister hardly understands the game and the sacrifices made to keep things together?"

Jacob felt an abundance of guilt, for essentially leaving his uncle to be torn apart by the lions, as he could have had a part in saving him from them.

If the impeding war wasn't bad enough, a foreign shadowbinder from the distant city of Asshai arrived on Dragonstone, proclaiming his father to be the chosen one and the hero to destroy the Great Other.

"Funny, the Eastern sort were raving mad, and I hope father and the rest our men are smart enough not to listen to her foreign babblings, which can lead us into a war against the Faith."

He knew he had to deal with the Red Priestess sooner or later.

Jacob thought of how only he and his father knew of what was coming to Eddard Stark, knowing the information he knew about his not biological cousins, whom were all bastards born of incest.

It was for the best, until his father was ready to tell those in his Council and those vassal lords, who were obligated to supporting his fight for the Iron Throne.

"The Lannisters may have Sansa captive with other highborn hostages, with a little persuasion to make those other lords bend the knee to get their relatives back, but little Arya escaped the claws of the Lion and is lost out there in the realm, ready to bleed for a king, who doesn't deserve his crown."

Under the tutelage of the Tyrells, Jacob learned a lot, when it came to playing the game and moving himself on the game board and having advantages to survive.

At the back of his mind, Jacob thought of Robb, who was the same age as him and was a young lord going to war, in vengeance of his father's wrongful death.

The young prince hoped his northern friend wasn't stupid enough to trust anything Theon Greyjoy tells him to do, as his family sees this war of kings to be an opportunity to get their revenge on the Starks.

Jacob sat up from the floors, as he stood up to tie his hair in a longish ponytail. His hair has significantly grown, since his last nameday and his next was coming in two days' time.

"Great, my sixteenth nameday to coincide with a war."

As a way to distinguish the differences between the two Baratheon contenders, his father had adopted his own sigil, which was a heart gules enflamed proper charged with a stag's head sable crowned of the field.

It reflected in Jacob's clothing, as well; his undershirt, breeches and cape were primarily in flame orange, with ruby red and bright yellow details in the patterns of his newly made outfit, as the colours were more vibrant and bright.

Jacob couldn't see his sister, as often as he could because his parents wanted expand on Shireen's education, as a well learned princess was important because Jacob could die on the battlefield, and only she will be the heir to the throne.

"Pylos is no older than Willas, but fresh from the Citadel to assist Cressen in his duties, as he is unwell and unable to do his regular duties, like before. He has been in charge of my sister's education going forward."

The new young maester on Dragonstone was the only person, Jacob did not view as a threat, but it made him face the reality of Cressen's age and how he might not be around to counsel him anymore.

Shireen was lucky to be educated by Cressen, whilst Jacob was under the tutelage of the Tyrells, and learning the game of courts from the walls of the flowery castle of Highgarden.

Jacob had seen his mother Selyse a lot calmer and less overprotective, maybe it was the influence of the Red Priestess's religion, as it converted many of the Florents and their men to worshiping this foreign deity from the East.

The young man knew some of his father's men still kept to the Faith, like he did and were at odds with the men converted to the Red God.

"We are preparing for war, we shouldn't have in fighting within our own army, when our enemies are getting stronger."

There were many enemies in the kingdom, with the Lannisters in the Crownlands, the Northmen and the Rivermen right next to the Westerlands and his Uncle Renly in the South.

The doors of his chambers opened for Ser Davos to enter, as Jacob was glad to see a friendly face, amongst the bootlickers and those who wanted to win his allegiance.

The Onion Knight was one of the men not overpowered, by the Priestess's religion, but was adamant of her being a threat to his father.

The new title of Prince and Heir to the Iron Throne felt strange for Jacob, as that skin didn't fit him well, but by honour and duty, the titles were his.

"It feels strange, doesn't it ser. Just days ago, I was a lord and now a prince, funny how titles change in a short space of time," Jacob said, in an exasperated tone.

"Loyal soldiers follow the leaders, they believe are worthy to their cause, Your Grace." Ser Davos replied.

"The Priestess's religion has overwhelmed the Island and there is potential for a civil war in our mists."

"You should talk to them, they would be more likely to listen to you, being the heir to the throne."

"Those licking Florents wouldn't do anything for me, unless it benefits them. Especially, when Great Uncle Lord Estermont has thrown his weight behind that thieving uncle of mine." Jacob said, raising his voice.

"Would reconciliation with your uncle be of consideration?"

"No, Ser Davos. Uncle Renly and I have an impaired relationship, he was jealous of how I was smarter than him in court politics and how I almost stole his seat on the Small Council."

"How can an uncle hate his nephew so much?"

"When that same uncle is jealous of said nephew's achievements, learned intelligence and the ability to put lords and ladies in their place."

"The Red Woman in etching closer to your father, and I might not be able to stop him."

"She could be useful, but her religion is a threat to us getting allies, whom all believe in the Faith of the Seven and the Old Gods."

"Don't tell me you have converted to the Red Woman's God?"

Jacob held his hand out and said. "Of course not, Ser. Learning under tutelage of the Tyrells taught me the Faith is the dominant religion in Westeros, and any opposition will ignite a war for religious supremacy in the realm, it's why the woman's religion and ramblings should not spread within our camp, or otherwise we will not get any allies to our cause and end up in a losing war against the Faith."

"What should we do?"

"Are you alone in your misgivings, ser?" Jacob asked.

"Maester Cressen has his reservations, along with the men loyal to your father and, also keep to the Seven."

"The woman believes my father is the chosen one against the Great Other, it's an age old legend told to children of the North." Jacob started to laugh, at the idea of his father being any kind of shining hero, when he was just a man, wedded to duty, honour and justice.

"I'm not sure he feels the same way, as you do, Your Grace."

"How was your mission in the Stormlands?"

"A failure, most of the Stormlords have no love for your father and have decided to join your Uncle instead, along with the Lords of the Reach."

Jacob brushed a hand across his head, and breathed a sigh of exhale. "Really, Uncle Renly was always the showman, begging for attention and praise."

"Are you not concerned?"

"I saw it coming. At Lord Garlan and Lady Leonette's wedding, when Uncle Renly was a special guest. The times I would go back to Highgarden, my uncle and Lord Mace would converse in private, but I knew it wasn't for a friendly chat, especially with Lord Tyrell being the ambitious man he is, and wanting his family close to the Iron Throne, by any means necessary."

"Do you still care for the Redwyne girl?"

"I suspect Uncle Renly to marry Lady Margaery to get her father's support and his bannerman, but he could have married Desmera to spite me." Jacob's sapphire blue eyes widened, and were still.

"Your uncle has instituted a new Kingsguard, called the Rainbow Guard." Ser Davos said grimly.

Normally, the son of Stannis Baratheon didn't laugh much, but he took light at the expense of his most hated Uncle and his stupidity and foolishness.

The young prince began to laugh, at the thought of his Uncle's best knights wearing all colours of the rainbow on their arms.

"It fits with my uncle's outlandish tastes, imagine all the knights wearing all those bright colours on the battlefield, they would blind their enemies with the sight of their colours." Jacob laughed.

"With the Knight of Flowers, as their Lord Commander."

"It's would be a shame, since Willas and I were great friends. Killing his brother would surely make us enemies."

"Does your father know?"

"I prefer he doesn't, ser. He is King and has his duties and work, as I have my own plans to put those belligerent Florents and vassal lords in their place."

"What of those relatives of yours, who have deserted you and sided with your Uncle?"

"They will be pardoned, but never forgiven or unpunished. My father makes the rules, as I implement them."

"Marriage is the next step, your father is adamant in finding you a suitable match to gain alliances, but your mother is determined not to have you married off."

"I love my mother, ser, but she must let this happen. It's because I am her only son, and doesn't want me to get hurt. A mother's love is a powerful thing that is not a weapon or poison."

"The options are quite thin, Your Grace."

"Are the rumours true of Robb Stark crowing himself King of the North and the Trident, Maester Cressen told me earlier?"

"Yes, it's true. Your Grace."

Jacob's sapphire blue eyes changed, as they were light before, but now have darkened and full of rage behind them.

"Traitor, he will answer for his usurpation of my father's throne." Jacob barked, in a tone seeped in bitterness and anger.

Within himself, Jacob was raging and surprised of how Robb wasn't mustering his forces to support him, as they had grown to be friends in Winterfell.

"It seems war and its aftermath changes people, for the worse. My Uncle got fat from the pressures of ruling the kingdoms, Robb and Uncle Renly became traitors and my enemies."

"If it came to battle, Your Grace. Would you kill the Stark boy?"

"It depends, if he hopes the Mother gives him mercy, not to die by my blade or the Stranger not to take him away from the world."

"The Stark boy has the forces of the North and the Riverlands on his side, and your Uncle has the strength of the Reach and the Stormlands behind him."

"Most of the Reacher lords are not as smart, as they think they are. The only ones with brains are Lords Rowan, Tarly and Hightower. Lord Mace is fortunate his mother and Willas are the smart ones in the family."

"Will peace be an option?"

"Uncle Renly maybe ambitious, but stupid. He is only crowned King, so Lord Mace can have his dream of his daughter being Queen and a grandson on the throne. It's swapping Casterly Rock corruption with Highgarden corruption." The prince spoke.

Jacob saw enemies everywhere, and didn't feel safe outside the island of Dragonstone and those who cared about him.

Growing into a man has a lot of weight behind it, as war, bloodshed, politics and the battlefield awaited him.