Tourney at Harrenhal II

- 281 AC -

(Varys POV)

I can't help but furrow my forehead in frustration. This is just impossible. Once again my plan on getting to the bottom of things has failed. I feel how I get more anxious daily as more and more of my 'little birds' disappear seemingly without a trace. Getting new ones is not hard, there are enough orphans and malleable children in the realm who will work for the greater good and its people. The problem stems from the fact that someone knows who my little birds are. 

I suspected Robert Baratheon initially. Of course, why wouldn't I? He was the rising star and for some reason seemed too perfect. And if my life experience has taught me anything, it is if something seems too perfect, it is. His economic acumen, charisma and medical skills are far too strange to not grow suspicious of Robert Baratheon. He was the perfect candidate to help the realm but I had to be sure. Now, I know that my decision to manipulate the King and have Rhaegar marry Elia Martell was the right one. 

Robert Baratheon fell into a hole and hasn't been the same since. He has barricaded himself in the Stormlands and has created contacts with the other Stormlords. But that was his mistake. There were far more of my little birds in their castles than in Storm's End and by connecting the two, I was back in business. It won't need much to convince Aerys to remove the Baratheon and take everything he owns. 

Well at least before. Now things have changed far too much. My little birds keep disappearing and my suspicion has travelled from Robert to others. Tywin Lannister is also a possible culprit. But why doesn't he do anything against me? All across Westeros, my little spies are disappearing and I don't know who's behind that. 

What's worse is that King Aerys' madness has reached an all-time high. When he returned from Duskendale, he was already changed but that was a saint compared to what we have now. And it all started after that blasted assassination attempt. The fanatic didn't even kill the King, despite having the chance, which was strange, but he kept shouting that his madness should end and that he should pay for all the suffering. He didn't seem to feel the swords which impaled him and kept stabbing the King's back. 

Now he is paralysed. And yet, the nightmare didn't stop there ... no, it only started to get worse. Apart from increased killings and the fascination for wildfire, the smallfolk grew more and more unhappy and resentful towards the King and the entire royal family. Rumours started to appear out of seemingly nowhere. The King's abuse of the Queen came to light and enraged the people. More and more executions were held to increase the fear of the smallfolk. 

Then there were the attacks and a few riots against the 'Faith of the 7' and the High Septon was lynched. I tried to appease the King before everything spiralled downwards, with the wealth of the Merchant Guild. But that was also ruined and the guild even left Kings Landing. I suspected this to be Robert Baratheon's doing, but their dispute erased that idea from my mind. It happened like everyone knew it would. The Merchant Guild gained too much power and split off from the Baratheons to become independent. It was clear from the beginning but the young Baratheon had to make his own mistakes. 

.

I can't imagine what has been going on with the insects in His Grace's food. Someone is trying to either provoke the king or make him more paranoid and cause discord. And to my dismay, I have to admit he or she is succeeding. I don't know who it is that is doing this and the King is getting more and more distrustful of me, for not knowing it. I tell him the suspects and he burns them, but the truth is I have no idea who is doing it. These changing currents in the criminal side of Kings Landing are out of my control and almost out of my sight. The little birds who manage to infiltrate, never return, at least that is my guess. Something big is brewing behind the scenes and I can't help but think of the upcoming Tourney at Harrenhal.

I know that Crown Prince Rhaegar initiated the idea to hold a tourney. I also heard the rumours and whispers going around Flea Bottom. They desperately wish for a spectacle to take their minds off of the king's madness. I also know his reason and the plans for doing this. Rhaegar plans to remove his father, King Aerys and gather a following to crown himself as king of Westeros. 

*Sigh*

I don't know what to do. Had this been before the assassination attack, I would have told Aerys about the Crown Prince's plans without question. To prevent a war and internal conflict, the attempts of Rhaegar would have to be stopped. A war would only weaken the realm and there might even be a chance of Rhaegar dying. We can't afford that. Only a dragon can rule the realm and if the young Targaryen dies, we would end up with Aerys still. Killing Aerys would then be a real threat, since any ambitious lord ... so everyone would look at the young Targaryen children as prey. 

So why do I still hesitate?

Rhaegar changed in the last few years. He used to be a good prince. One who might appear a bit flowery and gentle, but one who knew how things worked and how the game was played. His martial skills were good and he had the loyalty of most of the Kings Guard and smallfolk. But after the assassination attempts things changed. The rumours and the hate the smallfolk showed towards all the Targaryens seemed to change him for the worse. 

I could see and hear how the 'rejection' of the people confused and then angered him. His ego was hurt, and similarly to the King, he became more self-centred. Nothing I tried worked. He started to make more plans, which all failed as the problems only increased across the realm. His good nature changed to something more scheming and petty. He enjoyed dominating Elia Martell and there was some obsession with having three children. Some prophecy apparently, which I don't know about. But when Elia was said to be incapable of bearing more children, he was angry and suddenly ignored his wife. 

I am sure he is looking for another one to bear him another child. I can only hope he at least gets rid of his current wife, before impregnating another woman. The realm would not stand another atrocity of that scale and even less if it was a noble lady. 

Elia Martell is a sad creature. Poor thing. Alone in the Red Keep, surrounded by ambitious men and women and not being able to know whether someone is genuine or not. The warmth of Dorne is something she misses and if my little birds are to be believed, the young Baratheon as well. From the messages I was able to see, Robert Baratheon has not responded to her intimate letters with any warmth. He has told her that he is sorry about her situation but has refused to go into any romantic or intimate topics. 

He has given up on her and dropped her. It must be hard for him and her respectively, after being forced to have the one you love or intend to marry be betrothed to another. That had to have been a great hit to Robert's pride. His retaliation was also the reason, I suggested Aerys target his business. It didn't get to that, but thankfully, his business was ruined either way. 

Now, Robert Baratheon has turned into a skilled Lord Paramount but his threat will most likely never extend beyond the Stormlands. The North doesn't particularly like Robert, while the Vale is neutral towards him. That is what my little birds told me. 

The Princess is lucky though. Ever since Cersei Lannister arrived in Kings Landing with her father, the Hand of the King, the two ladies have grown rather close. A rather strange and unlikely combination, but it appeared that they were both lonely. Tywin Lannister is not particularly bothered or amused by the friendship and would prefer his daughter spend more time with the Crown Prince. He has plans for them to marry and there is a good chance this might happen. 

So I am unclear about what to do now. Telling Aerys about Rhaegar's plans means that there might be great conflict inside the Targaryen family and that can't happen. But not telling the King would mean risking my own safety should Aerys find out about it. Either way, things would not turn out well and that is very bothersome. 

.

*Knock Knock Knock*

I am pulled out of my thoughts when someone knocks on my door. I open and see one of the King's servants standing there with a nervous expression.

"What is it?"

"Lord Varys, His Grace has ordered me to come and get you."

"I understand. Please tell him that I will be there shortly.", I tell him but he doesn't leave.

"Anything else?"

"My lord, His Grace has asked that I lead you to him as soon as possible."

That is strange. 

"Very well then. Let us go.", I say not wanting to keep the king waiting any longer. 

We walk through the keep and I try to find out why the king has summoned me. The only reason I can think of is the tourney. But if that is the case, then he must have found out about Rhaegar's plans. But how? I hold all the information and the king should only trust me in this regard. Then who was it?

We reach the throne room and I walk towards the king who was sitting on the Iron Throne. He wants to continue sitting on it, despite being paralysed. Servants have to carry him up there every day. I can tell that he is unhappy. After years of being the Master of Whispers, I have learned to read the King's mood. 

"You called for me, Your Grace?", I bow before him. 

"Varys ... tell me ... what do you know about the Tourney at Harrenhal?"

"I am not sure what you mean your Grace?"

"Is there nothing you want to tell me, Varys? Something about my son, for example?"

"Well your Grace, I wanted to gather more information before addressing it, but there is indeed something concerning your son."

"And why didn't you tell me that before? What are you planning Varys?", he asks me. 

"Your Grace? I-"

"Are you a traitor, Varys? Huh?"

"Your Grace, I would never dare t-"

"ARE YOU A TRAITOR? ANSWER ME!!", he suddenly shouts.

I compose myself as best I can and shake my head. Keeping calm is the most important thing to do when he acts this way. Nothing I say will change his mind. So I have to be smart.

"No, your Grace. You would notice whether I am a traitor far too quickly. I am not smart enough to fool you. My only interest is to see all your enemies lie dead before you. Please don't misunderstand or believe the lies of someone else."

"Then are you lying to me as well? I find it strange that you didn't tell me about the plans my son has when you knew about them for a while now. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Your Grace ... who told you such lies? I would never betray you. What I said is the truth. I wanted to be certain and have proof before I came before you. I wouldn't ever dare to tell you mere rumours, so I had to be certain about your son's loyalties."

"... and what have you found out?"

He knows already. He knows and this is only a test on his part. To see whether I am still loyal to him. How sad, I have no choice in the matter. Someone is whispering in his ear and from what I can tell, this someone is very skilled at what he or she does. 

"Well, your Grace. It seems like the Crown Prince Rhaegar, your son is planning to use this tourney at Harrenhal to gather friends and like-minded lords to gather them for his cause. I believe that ... he might be planning to betray you."

"Hmmm ... I see. I will go to Harrenhal and see for myself whether these rumours are to be trusted. If you try to hide something from me again, I will burn you, is that clear?"

"Crystal, your Grace."