11 Mad stag and parading lions

~One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.~ Niccolo Machiavelli

If I'm being a bit too graphic in my descriptions, you would have to know that I'm a fan of Quentin Tarantino's movies (Django Unchained is just the best)

Warning for canon respect militiamen: DARTH ROBERT incoming, Itachi Baratheon believes in peace by death (I made Robert darker than what I viewed him as. But I never took Robert for a good person even in canon anyway. His opinion with Targaryens, war and stuff is even more sharp and extreme)

The DARK genre is assumed in this chapter, so steel your heart before reading this.

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As soon as we enter through the gates, the plan is in motion.

Half of Kings Landing's remaining forces suddenly backstabs the others. A part of the Targaryen loyalist are killed by their treacherous brothers. The rest are dealt with by our soldiers. It's quick and bloody, to end all conflict rapidly.

Some of the commoners saw the process, which makes them fear what is to come. Uncertainty is filling the air, as the tension is at his highest.

I make my way at the right side of my father, with Tygett at his left side. Gerion is following us closely, leading a long row of red cloaks.

And like this, we parade ourselves on the middle of the main street, leading straight to the Red keep.

In the end of the row, a few dozen of our men divide themselves and take different directions in the streets of the city.

The corrupted members of the city watch join our ranks, ready to attack the keep with us.

On the way, our men shout flashy sentences to excite the masses. We show ourselves as the saviors of the people.

''Death to the mad king !''

''For the people of Kings Landing !''

''To save the kingdoms !''

''Justice for the people !''

This seems to have the expected result as the smallfolks shout in return. They still fear us, but a great deal of admiration is now tempering that.

''Slaughter the dragon !''

''Yeah ! Kill him !''

''Praise the lions !''

We attain the walls and the assault is short, for gold had bought servants and guards inside the keep.

The last bannermen are vastly outnumbered. This led to ridiculous situations such as one against six. The massacre is short and quietness comes back again.

Clegane and Lorch destroyed dozen of loyalists, loving to tear them down to pieces. This is why I wanted them here and not with Elia. They are too messy and can't be left alone.

I see ser Andrew making his way to the other side of the keep, accompanied by a two knights. I feel a little pinch in my heart, but necessary things aren't made to be enjoyable.

We all enter the throne room, along with ser Elys Westerling and lord Roland Crakehall. And we see Jaime slaying to king from the back.

Aerys slides down the stairs of the monstruous throne and end up on the ground, a few meters away from us.

Jaime stands there, his sword painted red with the king's blood.

Him, a Kingsguard, just broke his oath and killed the king himself.

Lord Roland speaks first, to voice his inquiries to his past squire.

''Where is the pyromancer, Rossart ?''

''I killed him.''

''Okay….What about the king ? Who should be the next one ?''

Jaime hesitates and voices his opinion. He isn't aware of the situation of the other Targaryens.

''Viserys Targaryen ?''

Tywin's forces come back from an other side of the keep and denie the idea.

''There are no Targaryens here. Rhaella and Viserys left the keep. Aegon and Rhaenys are dead. Elia Martell went mad with rage, she is kept in chains.''

''Then place whoever you like, we may have to wait the rebels for that…''

Jaime is now in a daze, after his blatant betrayal. He sit on the throne, with his bloody sword on the knees.

As I watch the throne, I realise that it is different than the one portrayed in the tv show. It is big, difform and with a gruesome disign. It is impressive but monstruous. I would never sit on that thing.

I sigh and I see the red cloaks going in each corner of the keep, seizing different treasures and belongings of the king.

I let Jaime in his thought as I prefer to go see him later. In this state, he needs time. I make my way to my uncles while waiting the incoming rebels.

After some time, I decide to exit the keep and watch the situation in the city.

Even if tension stays in the air due to the few bodies laying on the ground, some are just happy to be freed from the mad king.

A part of them are grieving for their losses, be it loyalists or merchants of my father's black list. Others are spitting on the corpses of neighbors that they didn't know at all. One may ask himself, but why doing that ?

This is the power of a simple idea. We presented ourselves as the saviors they hoped us to be.

They are now so convinced of this idea that they are now giving us excuses and reasons for our less ethical actions. But while some are truly loyalists, this isn't the case for everyone of them.

Those who think otherwise are now taken as liars. Smallfolks opinions of us are various, but in majority quite good.

Robert, Eddard and Jon finally arrive, only to see the city already taken. There were some bloody corpses here and there. It turns out that Tywin had more commercial opponents than expected… But no burning settlements or despair.

In the contrary, a part of commoners were praising us, surprising the rebels in the process. Others are more silents and fearful. So the rebels aren't sure what to think about it.

The sack of Kings Landing became The parade of lions. It was a bloody but controlled parade.

They passed through the king's gates and arrived in the throne's room. They were met with Jaime and his bloodied sword, along with the corpse of his king.

But it wasn't the only surprise, as Tywin presented to Robert the heads of Aegon and Rhaenys, along with an enraged and chained Elia Martell.

Ser Andrew is on the side, with a somber frown on his face. He did what he had to do, for loyalty and money. But it has left a bad taste in his mouth. He hated every part of this task and will most likely have troubles to sleep in the future.

Next to them, Elia seems to be out of her mind. She isn't harmed but is covered with her children's blood.

Dry tears are noticeable under her swollen red eyes. She is desperate and reaching the end of her very sanity.

Although Robert looks somewhat pleased to see the Targaryens dead, he is woken from his thoughts by the fiery shouts of Elia.

She is shouting about how she will rally Dorne with the Reach to destroy the rebels. Elia swears to end all of our houses. She shouts about the certainty of a second war, one that Robert isn't ready to live.

He is a warmonger, but he has enough of all this. His wounds received at the Trident have calmed this side of him. He wants to turn the page of the old rule, whatever the cost may be. This realization seems to light a fire of determination in his eyes.

And he knows that nobody would kill her, right now. So he had to act for what he sees as the greater good. He chooses to kill the princess over risking a new war.

Titles, honor, ethics, mercy… nothing is stopping him at this moment because all he wants is the end the war.

So he takes his hammer and charges with all the Baratheon's fury to the one planning to ruin the peace he worked so hard for. And he crushes her skull with the might of a wild stag, painting the throne's room walls in dark red.

Everyone is shocked while Tywin only slightly raises an eyebrow in surprise.

Lord Arryn seems speechless and taken aback while Ned looses all colors. He was frighten by this turn of events.

With a calm and controlled voice, Robert decides to break the tense silence of the room.

''I hope you know that it was necessary. I did it for peace.''

''WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ? The Lannisters butchered innocent children and now THIS ? This is not even about honor anymore, YOU HAVE LOST YOUR DAMN MIND !''

Robert nonchalantly shakes his hammer to take out the blood before responding.

''Dragonspawns are dragonspawns, no need to dwell on it. And why even caring about the princess ? Do you want her to wage a war to avenge her children ? No, I won't have another war. She was associated with dragons, she may as well be considered as one.''

''I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS ! Both you and Tywin should be judged for today's acts. These are murders.''

''Killing the fruits of madness is not a murder, this is WAR. The page of the cursed dragon's blood has to be turned.''

''You… YOU HAVE GONE WAY TOO FAR, ROBERT! Nothing of this is honorable nor acceptable. A war is only between warriors, it should never involve the harmless.''

''I'm deadly serious about what I said, Ned. Think whatever you like, but I will not excuse myself for delivering justice.''

''This is not MY justice, Robert. This… This is not what I stand for. I'M LEAVING THIS DAMN PLACE !''

A gap is now created between them. Their too different ethics had the better of their friendship. Never will Ned Stark ever see his old friend as the same person again.

Lord Eddard Stark went to his room to only come back the next day. Robert had enough of their arguments and sent lord Stark to depart right away to Storm's End to lift the siege. He also has the mission to find his sister, Lyanna.

Robert said to the kingdoms that Elia and her children's death were the mad king's doing. This will stay as such officially, but no lord would be fooled by this.

The stag's reputation is now tainted with the blood of the innocent.

The same day, my father requested for Jaime to be relieved of his fonctions and return to Casterly Rock.

Robert accepted that possibility, considering the flawless taking of the city and killed dragonspawns.

But Jaime humbly refused the offer, vehement to stay as a Kingsguard under the new king's rule.

This surprised Robert, but he accepts the outcome and laughed it out, finding funny to take the oathbreaker as a Kingsguard.

Tywin was partially enraged at his eldest son's decision but stayed quiet. He faces me and states our plans for the foreseeable future.

''We will stay in Kings Landing for the time being, until the last details of the rebellion are taken care of. And we will stay for Robert's wedding with Cersei if my negaciations are successful. As you are to remain as my heir, you will stay by my side and try to learn some things about the court and its whereabouts. You may come back to Kings Landing in the future, so I demand for you to take this experience seriously.''

''Yes father, I understand.''

With that, Tywin takes is leave and I immediately go to my room and rest. But I thank Vincent for his support and presence before that.

What a day… I will surely have to speak to a bunch of political snakes who are living here.

Well, at least I'm viewed as a savior now. They call me the 'young savior' just because I rode at the side of Tywin during our little show.

I now have both 'young savior' and 'western dothraki' as nicknames, that's quite the paradox.

I went straight from having a fake knighthood to being a fake savior, not fake in means but fake in intentions. For my true colors aren't those of a savior.

Robert's downright ruthlessness surprised me tho. Killing her with a hammer was not his best move either…

When the Martell will see the bodies, they will only see the work of a stag. They may even forget the lions, at this point.

In the light of the recent events, an heavy wind is blowing on Kings Landing.

I guess that the game of thrones will take other colors in the future… the colors of my house, hopefully.

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Do you like Machiavelli sayings ? I find them fitting for GOT and setting the tone for certain chapters. Do I stop that ?