Treasonous Statement

(Third Person POV)

King Rhaegar narrowed his eyes, "What?" he said seriously, "And who are you?"

The Man straightened up as he patted his clothes. He was wearing noble garments as he had a serious look on his face. 

"I..." He started as he looked around

Tywin Lannister took a step forward, "The King asked you a question." His cold voice resounding through the hall, "Who are you?" 

The man scowled, "I...." He said, "You don't remember me, King Rhaegar? I came before you, four years ago...and begged you to show my family mercy and you ignored me! You allowed Viserys to execute them with dragonfire." 

Rhaegar narrowed his eyes, "You are Duncan Rykken." He said, "You were able to survive that, were you?" 

Duncan nodded as looked around the hall, "You fiends..." He said, "You stood by why that savage, that monster, Prince Viserys descended from the skies on that wretched beasts and burned my family! All of them!" 

"Not all, it seems." Tywin said, "House Rykken was conspiring with House Greyjoy. While we were not aware of how or why that scheme was taking place, your Father was still adamant about betraying the Crown." 

"The Iron Islands are on the other side of Westeros, what gain would House Rykken have in aiding Balon Greyjoy? And how will you even help them?" Rhaegar said, "Nevertheless, I gave your father a choice, he chose wrong." 

Duncan Rykken scowled, "That was wrong, what you did." He said

"While His Grace admits that Prince Viserys's actions were unwarranted, it quelled any signs of rebellions in the Crownlands." Tywin said, "Although, I doubt there were any in the first place. But that is the past, boy. Right now, you are brought before us for a different reason." 

Ser Jaime cleared his throat, "Tell him." He told Duncan, "Tell His Grace that you've been paid to spread vile rumors about Princess Myrcella." 

Rhaegar raised his eyebrow, "What?" He said, "Who? Give me a name. Now." 

Robert scoffed, "Give me a couple minutes with this brat." He said, "Your Grace, I'll beat it out of him." 

"Careful, Husband." Shaena grabbed ahold of Robert's arm, "Let His Grace handle this." 

Duncan spat on the ground, "Curse you, Rhaegar." He said, "You are no true king." 

There was an audible gasp, the lords and ladies of the court were shocked that someone would dare say those words before Rhaegar Targaryen. 

Ser Arthur and Ser Barristan placed their hands on their sword, preparing themselves for an order from their King. 

Princess Shaena scowled, "You insolent boy...." She muttered as Robert scowled

"How convenient." Rhaegar said as he leaned forward, "Word of a pretender across the sea and a traitor's son comes and spits before me, calling me a false king. What do you make of this, Tywin?" 

"Your Grace, this is in fact very convenient." Tywin said, "I smell a bigger scheme at play here. Ser Jaime, take him to the dungeon. We will interrogate him later and get the answers we need." 

"Don't you dare lay your hands on me!!" Duncan bellowed as he pointed at Rhaegar, "You are just a man! You are nothing to decide my fate! I'll let the gods decide it for me!" 

Rhaegar raised an eyebrow, "Pardon?" 

"I demand a Trial By Combat." Duncan said, "Surely the Silver Dragon King will honor such a request. I will fight for my freedom, I will be pardoned if I am victorious." 

Rhaegar leaned back, "Pardoned for calling my daughter a bastard?" He said with a serious look, "You fool, I should cut you down right there as you stand. But who am I to defy the sacred laws....I will accept." 

Tywin looked at Rhaegar, "Your Grace?" He said, "You'll be willing to give him an opportunity to be pardoned from such a crime? Calling Princess Myrcella, your firstborn daughter with Queen Cersei, is a treasonous statement!" 

Rhaegar waved him off, "On some conditions that you will not refuse." He told Duncan as he ignored Tywin, "The Trial will begin today, in this room. Nobody leaves the room until it is complete. You can only choose a willing champion from anyone in here and if they refuse, you will fight for yourself." 

Duncan frowned as he looked around, "W-What?" 

Jaime Lannister smirked, "Expected to stall for your life?" He said 

Robert scoffed, "Stupid boy." He said, "Nobody here will fight on behalf of a scoundrel like him. Calling the Princess a Bastard....I should kill him myself." 

"Restrain yourself," Shaena told her husband

Duncan understood that nobody was going to be willing to fight for him, which is why he looked at Rhaegar. 

"Very well..." He said, "I need a weapon." 

Rhaegar nodded at Jaime who looked at the guard next to him. 

"Give him your blade." Jaime said

The guard reluctantly drew his sword as Jaime placed his hand on the handle of his blade, just in case Duncan tried anything odd. 

Duncan took the blade from the guard who immediately stepped back in a hurry. 

The young man looked at the blade as he twirled it in his hands, "More than a century ago, in this very room...." He said, "A Lord of a dead House spoke out against the King....calling his grandsons bastards and his daughter, their mother, a whore. He demanded a Trial by Combat as well, to fight for what was rightfully his." 

Rhaegar tilted his head, "Oh." He said, "I know of what you speak of. Aerion Targaryen cut him down." 

"I fight not just in my defense, Rhaegar." Duncan said, "I'll fight for justice! Justice for my house, my family! Everything that was taken from me! I'll avenge here and now! Go on, choose your champion! I shall cut down one of your Kingsguard or one of these Lords or fucking die trying!!" 

Robert clenched his fists, "That little..." 

"Shhh..." Shaena cut him off, "Easy. He's got that look in his eye." 

Robert looked at his wife, "Huh?" 

Shaena gestured at Rhaegar, who had an unusual glint in his eyes. Something had clicked inside the King. 

Ser Barristan took a step forward, "I'll deal with this boy, Your Grace." He said before Rhaegar raised his hand

"No." He said as he stood up, "He wants to fight? I'll humor him." 

The lords and ladies gasped as Rhaegar drew Dark Sister, the famous ancestral sword of House Targaryen. 

Tywin took a step back, "Are you sure, Your Grace?" He asked, "Ser Jaime can-" 

"No." Rhaegar said as he walked down the steps, "Your Trial by Combat starts now, Duncan Rykken." 

Duncan widened his eyes in surprise, "W-What?" He said as he readied his sword

Rhaegar walked towards him, in a very imposing way, the young man feeling an immeasurable amount of pressure exuding from the King. It was probably in his head, but right now, Rhaegar seemed much more larger than life. The serious look in the Silver Dragon King's eye was enough to scare the beasts the Targaryens rode. 

Duncan frantically swung his sword at the King but ended up missing as Rhaegar stepped through the side and in a swift motion, he swung Dark Sister diagonally, cutting him from shoulder to waist. 

Everyone then watched as the young man collapsed to the ground as blood began to pool around him, and a bit of guts as well. The cut was so deep that he'd soon bleed out in a few seconds.

Dark Sister's infamous sharpness was displayed in front of dozens. 

Duncan looked up as he panted heavily, "H-Huh...." 

Rhaegar leaned the point of his sword on the ground as he looked at the young man, "Hm...." He said, "You were stupid enough to demand a Trial By Combat? In a room full of the greatest fighters the Realm has to offer? Was it that the most stupid decision and idiotic boy like you can make? Or calling my daughter, my Myrcella.....a Bastard?!?" 

Duncan's eyes slowly closed as he drew his last breath. 

Rhaegar looked around the room, "Let this be a demonstration." He said, "From this day forth, anyone who calls my daughter, brother, sister, niece, or nephew a Bastard shall meet the edge of my blade. Forget dragonfire, I shall personally cut you down!" 

"I don't need a dragon to invoke Justice."