Chapter 28: King's Death

6th Month of 298 A.C. Kingswood

King Robert I Baratheon

There was something soothing about going off hunting, a peace that he could not find whilst at court. He knew Cersei thought he had gone off hunting because she was with child, but truth be told, Robert could not give a shit if she was pregnant. He had only gone off hunting that first time when she was pregnant with Joffrey, because he could not stand the thought that his firstborn son was going to come from that whore, and not from Lyanna. When he went out hunting he felt as if he was in control, he was fighting the elements that was what he liked the most, that feeling of power, of control, of knowing it was just him, his Warhammer and the prey he hunted. There were none of those insolent fools who tried to flatter their way into important positions, there were none of those ingrates constantly trying to ask for some favour or the other. He did not need to listen to his wife, did not need to listen to her constantly going on about something or the other, something he most likely did not care about. Hunting was the one thing he could truly care for, and not feel anger about. It was untouchable, something neither his whore of a wife, nor his mistress could touch and contaminate with their damn nagging, it was peaceful and plentiful, it was his, by the gods it was his. They had seen a boar somewhere within these damned woods, and so they were chasing it, he wanted a boar, by the gods did he want a boar. He wanted to taste boar, he wanted it, by the gods did he want it, and just once more before he died, and he wanted to taste the sweetness of the boar as he killed it. To kill something, to show he was a man, he had become fat he knew, but by the gods he was a man and he would show it. His horse was firm underneath him, Thunder, he was a stallion, bred for war and for hunting, not for stupid rides, Robert and Thunder both hated these damned ceremonies that they were forced to endure during peace, he wanted another war, but he knew it would not come whilst he was alive, and so he would hunt and fuck, and he would do those things he was good at. He sees the boar somewhere nearby and he spurs Thunder to where he thinks he has seen the boar, on he goes, riding through the thick trees, and the forest. It seems that this is the only thing that can give him peace, just now. Delora was good, she was a good woman, and their children were the only good things he had ever produced during his reign, he knew it, she knew it, the whole damn court knew it. And he was not ashamed of that, at least something good had come from his reign.

Robert was not even delusional enough to think that it would have been different had Lyanna survived. There had been a time when he had thought as much, but now, well now he knew that it would have just been the same. That was somewhat dispiriting, the thought that the woman he had been in love with for so long, would not have changed him. He knew exactly when he had realised that, when he had held the first child Delora-or should he say Margot? - had given him, he had looked at that child, and knew that Margot and not Lyanna was the woman he was supposed to be with. Lyanna, had been fierce, and a fighter, but she would have made a terrible companion, she was too much like him. They would have argued and quarrelled nonstop, and there was a small part of him that thought, that she had gone off with Rhaegar willingly, that had killed him at first, but now, well now he thinks that perhaps it was for the best, they would never have worked together. She was all that was bad about him, his gluttony, his desire for things, she was their embodiment, Margot, she was something else, he did not know how to explain it, and he was not sure he could explain it to Ned either. Ned was still caught up in some naïve belief, that Lyanna might well have improved him, and his impure ways. His friend was smart, that much Robert was willing to admit, but there were somethings where he could be painfully naïve, and it seemed that Lyanna was one of them. Robert was not the great fool that everyone thought he was, he just did not care enough to change their perceptions of him. There was only so much he could really do. He had kept himself in some shape as it were, but not enough to really warrant any praise or scorn. He was born for fighting, not for sitting on his arse. Jon had understood that, but Ned, Ned was naïve on that as well. It seemed his friend did not truly know him, and the more he thought about it, the more Robert thought he did not know his friend. Varys had told him all about the conversation he had had with Ned in the cells where the dragons were kept, and truth be told, Robert was not surprised. And that in itself was a surprise to him, he had thought he would be outraged, and perhaps in the past he might well have been surprised, but not now, now he was only resigned to it. Knowing as he did, that there were only traitors before him. His grandmother had been right, he had known all kinds of betrayal during his life, Rhaelle Targaryen, she had been a smart woman his grandmother, and her treatment at the hands of the dragons had angered him, it really had. But she had died, long before his father and mother had, but still, she had been a good woman, betrayed by her family, just as he had been.

Perhaps, his fate had been sealed from the moment his father and mother had died. He still remembers seeing their ship hit the rocks and plunge deep into the waters. He had screamed, gods how he had screamed, he knew that it would do no good, that his parents were dead the moment their ship hit those rocks, but by the gods had he wanted to do something, anything to stop them from dying. He had become Lord of Storm's End at the age of sixteen, he had been a man, but he had been terrified, he had not felt ready to deal with the responsibilities that were now his. He had fled like a coward back to the Eyrie, leaving his great uncle Harbert to deal with the affairs of things as well as Stannis. He regretted that now, he wished he could have done things differently, he wished that he could have actually stayed within the Stormlands, getting to know his lords and his brothers. If he had stood and learned how to rule, perhaps he would not have been such a failure as a king, and so reliant on Jon Arryn, but he suspects that that was what Jon wanted. Jon Arryn, the man who had brought so many things before him, and made so many things possible, it seemed as if that was the thing that the man was good at, creating opportunities that his charges were nowhere near capable in dealing with. It was a funny thought that, Jon Arryn, the ultimate man to break the kingdoms, or put it back into dragon hands, had been the man who was supposed to teach him the way of the world. If only his father could see him now, his father, the man Robert had idolised for as long as he could remember, there was so much about his father that he did not know, that Stannis knew more about. Stannis should have been born first, perhaps then, he might be able to learn from the mistakes of his past. But no, he had been sent off when he was but a boy, and had learned nothing, but fighting and fucking. He had tried to teach his children different, not the shits he had with Cersei, but the children he had had with Margot, he wanted them to make a difference in the world. He really did, and he hoped they would, that they would get the chance to make a change. Death truly had made him sentimental, it seems as though he has been dying ever since he killed Rhaegar on the trident. He still remembers the conversation they had had as they had fought, they could have changed things there and then, but he knows that it would never have worked. Perhaps, it was for the best, Rhaegar was mad, and his father was even madder, but now, well now, they are long dead in the ground.

The ghosts of his past were creeping within him, the boar was there, creeping closer and closer to his own end. He laughs then, knowing that perhaps this might be something for good, something he can strive towards. "Renly." he barks.

His brother moves toward him then, looking for all the world as if he were a younger version of Robert himself. "My king?"

"Tell me brother, when I die, what will you do?" Robert asks.

His brother is clearly surprised by this question. "I will stand firm behind your son my king."

Robert snorts. "Come now Renly, do not insult my intelligence. We both know the Tyrells will push for you to claim the throne. They want their daughter on the throne as Queen. Mace Tyrell always has. And you, you will go along with it, because your fuck squire will tell you to."

Robert sees a look of anger and shame cross his brother's face then. "Your Grace, you wound me with your accusations."

Robert snorts. "Do not play the fool, Renly, it does not suit you. Now tell me, if I gave you another option, would you take it?"

"Yes." his brother responds immediately.

Robert laughs, a booming thing that makes his chest hurt. "Good."

"What would you have me do my king?" Renly asks.

"You are aware of the blacksmith Tobho Mott?" Robert asks.

"Yes my king." his brother responds.

"When I die, I want you to go there, and take the man's apprentice, take him to Storm's End or to Highgarden, and declare him as king." Robert says.

"Why?" Renly asks. "He is an apprentice, he has no claim to anything."

Robert merely laughs then. "He is my firstborn son, he is older than Joffrey, and he is trueborn."

"What? How?" Renly asks sounding completely confused.

"Before I married Cersei, I entered a binding agreement with Margot, in front of the High Septon. Ask Varys if you do not believe me, or better yet, do not. I have told you myself, now make sure you get the boy and get him out of King's Landing." Robert says.

His brother seems completely shocked. "And what of Margot and the girls?"

"They will already have left by this point. She knows what is to come the smart woman. They will raise men for the boy, but I want you to do this for me. Will you do it for me Renly?" Robert asks, hating how his voice now sounds pleading.

"I….of course Your Grace, I will do it with my life." Renly responds.

"I do not want you dying fool. I want you there to advise my son, and make sure that the Tyrells do not get too far into his head. He has not been completely trained to deal with all that is coming before him. He will need guidance, and I would rather you do it than Ned." Robert says.

"What of Stark? Why are you giving me this role instead of to him?" Renly asks.

Robert keeps his voice calm, fighting off the anger that always grows. "Because Ned is a traitor, he wants a dragon on the throne, not a stag. And he is not the man I thought he was. He wants his nephew on the throne. And I will not allow it, never will the dragons sit the throne so long as I can have a say in it."

He can tell his brother is stunned by the way his breathing intensifies. "I will do everything within my power to make sure Stark does not succeed my king."

"Good, now you might want to leave and prepare for what is to come." Robert says, dismissing his brother.

When he hears his brother turn his horse around and gallop off, Robert looks at Ser Barristan and says. "And, I want you to go and find the dragon girl Ser Barristan."

There is a moment's silence and then the knight responds. "I will my king."

"Good." Robert responds. Silence falls over their party then, Robert keeps his thoughts on the task before him, he will hunt, and he will kill this boar, and if he dies whilst doing so then so be it. He is dying anyway, there are times when he can barely get out of bed for how much the lesion has grown. Pycelle knows of it, but thankfully, that old fool has kept his mouth shut this time. Thunder gallops along the Kingswood, and Robert finds himself enjoying the quiet and the peacefulness, he does not know whether or not Renly will stick to what he has said, he will do, but Robert knows that the Tyrells will follow Renly wherever he goes, because of that boy. He smiles then, perhaps it was not such a bad thing, ignoring Stannis and allowing Loras Tyrell to foster at Storm's End. Perhaps, the dynasty will survive through this after all, despite what that witch had to say.

Stannis, the thought of his brother brings a growl to his face, he despises Stannis, the man had the chance to become something, something good, and something powerful, and instead he squandered it on petty jealousy and trying to ensure that he had petty power. The fool never realised just what he was doing, and how could he with that fool Cressen whispering in his ear. Robert is half convinced that Cressen is what caused his father and mother's death, for he knows that Cressen convinced father to take the position on the mad king's small council. It was Cressen that cost Robert a father and a mother, and he would have liked to have killed Cressen, but he will not get the chance to do so now. A shame really, for the old man has much to answer for. Nonetheless, at least he will have the chance to put Stannis down once more that has always been fun.

The boar appears, and Robert roars, he charges the animal, bringing his hammer up, he swings, and misses, the boar rears back and then comes charging at him, he feels one of its tusks hit him, and his armour caves in a little. He laughs, and smacks the boar in the cheek, the boar goes flying, and then it comes back. Robert looks at the boar, his brain sluggish and clear at the same time. The boar charges, Robert smacks it back, it gets up and charges once more, Robert smacks it back, and it comes forward once more, this time Robert misses and feels his armour cave in once more. Blood is coming forward, he shrugs it off, and swings his hammer once more, the boar flies and then crashes. More boars come forward then, and he fights them, all of them they are coming for him, he kills three, four, he does not know, all he knows is that he is alive, so very alive, and it feels good, it feels so very good to be alive once more. Then he is falling, blood everywhere, the boars are dead, but so is he. He laughs then. "Killed by a boar. What a shit way to go." he chuckles to himself.