Chapter 41: The Hand of the King in the Royal Presence

He had not expected that the Targaryen family would manage to stage a counterattack in such dire circumstances.

Ser Barristan the Bold initially thought that the Targaryens were finished.

He was loyal to the Iron Throne and once even sought to die in service of the Targaryen dynasty.

However, he never expected that his bravery would win over Robert Baratheon, who pardoned his crimes and requested that Ser Barristan Selmy serve as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard for the new king.

At this moment, the White Cloak knight stood with one hand on the hilt of his sword, surveying the room's overturned table, spilled wine, documents sticking to the wine-soaked floor, the trembling maesters and servants, and the enraged new king.

With a beard and hair tangled like steel wire, his tall, strong body draped in a cloak, he resembled a furious, rampaging bear, his anger reaching the sky.

He continuously smashed items in the room, making loud noises that could be clearly heard even outside the hall.

Upon surveying the surrounding area, all that met his eyes was chaos.

However, the White Cloak knight silently observed everything, his hand on the sword hilt, without speaking or trying to calm the king's anger.

The crow's feet in the knight's eyes were somewhat deep, and his pale blue eyes appeared profound as he lowered his gaze to the floor.

He sighed softly and couldn't help but become lost in his memories.

This scene...

It felt eerily familiar.

Once, the other king he served, the previous occupant of this room, known as the 'Mad King' Aerys Targaryen II, often raged within these walls.

He would smash the room into chaos and even order those who angered him to be burned alive with 'wildfire,' reveling in their tortured screams.

Barristan thought that the era of the Targaryens had passed and that the 'Mad King' Aerys II, who had died at the hands of the Kingslayer, would never witness such a scene again.

However, he never expected that in just over half a year, he would once again see such a familiar sight.

"Ser Barristan the Bold!"

At this moment,

King Robert, in the midst of his anger and pacing about, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He then looked up and stared intently at the Kingsguard commander standing at the doorway, holding Stannis's handwritten letter and lost in thought.

The king's voice was deep and powerful.

Although it seemed as if Robert had gained control of his temper, the anger hidden in his voice was still palpable.

However, unlike the 'Mad King,' Robert would not direct his anger at unrelated people.

He certainly would not burn people alive for amusement.

"Your Grace."

Hearing King Robert's voice, Ser Barristan returned to his senses and set down Stannis's letter.

He then raised his head, his gaze meeting the king's without wavering.

"Go to the Tower of the Hand and summon Lord Jon Arryn!"

"I have an urgent matter to discuss with him."

King Robert's voice boomed like the great bells of a cathedral.

It seemed he had made a crucial decision in his heart and couldn't wait to consult with his foster father, the current Hand of the King, Lord Jon Arryn of the Eyrie.

Robert relied heavily on the old lord, as he was brave, honest, and wise.

Had it not been for Lord Arryn's courageous protection of his two foster sons before the start of the War of the Usurper, and his defiance of the Mad King, Robert and Eddard might have been reduced to bones long ago.

There would be no King Robert or Lord Eddard Stark today.

So, Robert held the old lord in high regard and depended on him, seeking his advice on every decision.

As Eddard Stark put it,

"Perhaps only Jon Arryn could control Robert in this world, not even Robert's late parents could make this bastard change his ways."

However, the Kingsguard knight furrowed his brows upon hearing the king's words, but remained still.

"Hmm?"

"Get going!"

Robert, seeing that Ser Barristan had not immediately carried out his command, felt his anger flare up once more, and glared at the white-cloaked knight before questioning him.

Yet, Ser Barristan remained unmoved, calmly gazing at the still furious king, who resembled an enraged brown bear.

He sighed softly and spoke in a calm voice.

"Your Grace, have you forgotten... Lord Arryn, the Hand of the King, has been away from King's Landing for over a month."

The Baratheon dynasty had been established, but the Seven Kingdoms were not yet united. Dorne did not submit to the new king, and even House Greyjoy of the Iron Islands had not come to King's Landing to pledge their allegiance.

And now,

As Hand of the King, Lord Arryn had exhausted himself trying to heal the wounds left by a war that had lasted more than two years and swept across the entire continent of Westeros.

The kingdom had weathered the post-coronation period of chaos and had finally returned to order, but it had not yet recovered to its pre-war state under the Targaryen dynasty.

The issue of Dorne remained a thorn in the side, a problem the new dynasty had to resolve.

So, over a month ago,

Lord Arryn, having made all necessary preparations, set out for Dorne with the bones of Prince Lewyn Martell to begin peace negotiations.

He sought to quell the anger ignited in Dorne by the deaths of Prince Lewyn, Elia Martell, and her son Aegon.

What Ser Barristan Selmy had not expected was that the old lord, despite his age, had traveled so far to Dorne for the sake of uniting the kingdom.

Yet, the king in King's Landing spent his days indulging in pleasure, eating, drinking, and carousing, without paying any attention to the affairs of the realm.

All of this had piled up, waiting for Lord Arryn's return to be dealt with.

"Hmm?"

"Lord Jon Arryn has left King's Landing?"

Hearing Ser Barristan's frank words, King Robert's slightly chubby face clearly showed surprise. His anger had diminished quite a bit due to the interruption.

He truly couldn't remember this incident.

But upon hearing Ser Barristan's reminder, it seemed... he had a vague impression of it.

So that was it.

King Robert suddenly realized.

No wonder the old man hadn't come around lately to admonish him for his excessive eating and carousing.

It turned out that he had already left King's Landing for Dorne.