Chapter 41

- King's Solar -

Randyll Tarly was a serious man. Always had been. Always would be until he died. But to be here in King's Landing, standing beside his Paramount to see the dragon once more sit on the Iron Throne was strange. Even more so when this new King was nothing like his predecessors. He was strong, fierce, determined, and wielded strange powers he had never heard before even in stories of old. While a little put off by the use of such sorcery, it was clear the King was not mad like his Grandfather nor weak like Robert had become with his vices, or the false King Joffrey when he was starting out.

This was a King who would rule well. Rule fairly, yet firmly. A man you could trust to shake your hand in friendship, but feared should you be his enemy and he squeezed until your hand broke from the pressure.

So he was quite surprised when the King requested his presence in the King's solar to discuss things between them. What they were going to discuss, he had no idea.

"You sent for me your Grace," said Randyll while standing tall and seeing the King was in his chair, but without the masked helmet, which was now sitting on the desk staring at him.

The design was clearly meant to intimidate anyone who looked at it.

"Have a seat Lord Tarly. Would you like some wine? Water?" asked Aegon with Randyll shaking his head no.

"No your Grace. I am fine for now," answered Randyll with Aegon nodding.

"As I'm sure you are no doubt wondering on why I asked to see you since we never met before today, it is to discus some things. Things regarding the future of your House," said Aegon with Randyll focusing on him intently now.

"What things your Grace?" asked Randyll curiously.

"For one, I wish to thank you and your House for its continued support of my House even if the recognition has not been given. I know you answer to House Tyrell, but I have it on good authority from various sources that your House pulled its weight when fighting the Usurper during his rebellion," said Aegon with Randyll looking surprised, but pleased at hearing his House was finally being given the recognition it deserved by the Crown.

"Thank you your Grace. Your recognition of my House is an honor," said Randyll with Aegon smiling.

"I also have it on good authority that it was your eldest son who helped in providing the documents I needed to prove my legitimacy to claim the Iron Throne," replied Aegon with Randyll's rare smile leaving him slightly.

"My eldest is studying to be a Maester at the Citadel. I am told he is making amazing progress in his studies," said Randyll though he was clearly not pleased with his son's preference for books over a sword in hand.

"You should be proud of him. By the time he is done his studies, your son will be a full fledged Maester ready to be appointed to a respectful and prominent House. As you no doubt heard, I have the former Maester Qyburn acting as my current Grand Maester, but his position is unofficial right now despite my decision. But as time goes by, I am hoping your son will come to King's Landing to fill the position in the near future when the time is right," replied Aegon with Randyll looking surprised, but pleased since it would put his son close to the King, and even be a member of the Small Council.

"I'm sure my son would be pleased to receive such an appointment your Grace, but the Citadel appoints such a member to King's Landing. As much as I hope he will be of service to the Crown, I have doubts he will be assigned the position," said Randyll with Aegon's smirk increasing.

"You also had doubts he would do well at the Citadel my Lord. You can't be right all the time," remarked Aegon with Randyll reluctantly nodding in admittance to that statement.

"Perhaps. But you have to understand my position with Samwell. All his life, my son has been fat, soft, and incompetent in most things I tried to teach him," said Randyll while he saw Aegon sip some something from his goblet and assumed it was water since the scent of wine was not present.

"He just needs proper motivation Lord Tarly. While reading books and being a Maester may seem like soft work, it is actually hard work to learn and remember. Knowledge is power and without knowledge a House can be powerless. What if you came down with an illness and it was going to kill you without treatment? Wouldn't you wish for someone with such knowledge to cure you of the illness to exist? What if such a person who could help you was actually your son? What if he studied hard and learned of your illness and discovered through his own research into the matter, the cure to saving your life?" asked Aegon with Randyll looking away in thought.

"I will admit, there is truth to your words your Grace. But my House is one that fights on the battlefield. Each Lord of my House who was first born has been one from generation to generation until Samwell," replied Randyll with Aegon nodding since it made sense that the Lord of Horn Hill had high hopes for his eldest, only for them to fall short.

"It happens Lord Tarly. Believe me, it does. But despising your son or sending him to the Wall to never see again is not the way. You need to find out what his interests are in life and see to it that such interests are nurtured. Just because your eldest won't be the warrior son you hoped for, it doesn't mean he can't make you proud in other ways," said Aegon with Randyll sighing and nodding since they were all good points.

"I will try your Grace. Still, I hope his time learning at the Citadel will prevent him from becoming fatter then when he left," said Randyll with Aegon shrugging.

"Fat or thin, a Maester's mind can be his greatest asset my Lord. Young Samwell's mind is healthy and strong. I say let him grow into his own as one," said Aegon while Randyll nodded in accepting this from the King.

At the very least, House Tarly would be getting the proper recognition for this.

"There is also one more thing I want to talk to you about my Lord. This time in regards to your second son," said Aegon with Randyll frowning.

"Dickon? What about him?" asked Randyll curiously.

"I have spoken to my Uncle about his eldest girl Sansa. My cousin. Out of all the Starks of my Mother's House, she is the only one that has been thriving in the South. Which in itself is impressive despite the horrors she went through here with Joffrey and his Mother being abusive cunts. That being said, my cousin has been starting to know Lady Margery from House Tyrell and knowing more about the Reach. I expect my cousin will want to stay in the South in the future and bask in the warm weather. Though I have asked Lady Olenna to help tutor my cousin in the ways of using her mind since I don't want Sansa to live in a naive story book world," said Aegon with Randyll nodding while getting an idea of where this is going.

"You are considering the possibility of a betrothal between my youngest son Dickon and Lord Stark's eldest daughter Sansa," concluded Randyll with Aegon nodding.

"Yes. A possible betrothal between both Houses would further tie the North and South together and create stronger bonds. The North is too isolated, many calling the Houses there barbarians despite it being the furthest from the truth. The North sees the Houses in the South as weak in nature with weak sons and daughters who don't know how to fight or earn what they have around them. Such misconceptions between the North and South has created a divide, an invisible wall if you will, and its preventing the Seven Kingdoms from reaching its full potential," replied Aegon with Randyll thinking it over.

"And if the two don't match up well?" asked Randyll with Aegon shrugging.

"If they don't feel that way about each other, its completely normal. I won't force them to marry and neither will my Uncle since he will want his daughter to live happy life and have a happy marriage. We can simply end the betrothal without any kind of fuss from both Houses, but still ensure they are on good terms with one another. Acceptable?" said Aegon with Randyll nodding.

"I will talk to Lord Stark about it further to see if his daughter would consider meeting my son, but I approve of the idea all the same," replied Randyll with Aegon nodding.

Things were coming along nicely.