Chapter 30: Aerys… the Mad King

But while the Battle of the Bells is happening, Arthur has a whole other situation in his hands as he sits in his new office in Ashford, where the previous Lord's Room used to be. 

But more specifically the problem is in the form of a letter which he is currently holding. 

…

[ Arthur POV ]

I read through the letter and look at who it was written by… Olenna Tyrell, the so called Queen of Thorns. But really though, she is used too much dealing with stealthily politics that she doesn't understand the mind of a simple warrior. That was her downfall really, always thinking brute men as below her.

I mean I see everyone in this world as unwashed, filthy, degenerate, uneducated and barbaric people… but I will never and I mean NEVER underestimate them. Not even the honorable dumbasses like Eddard Stark.

After all, men of honour are almost as dangerous as men of ambition. You never know how far into the realm of suicidal stupidity their honour will push them… and who they will take with them. 

Anyway the letter written by Olena has a dozen threats, and around two ways that she tries to manipulate me with this letter. She also continues to hammer down that this is just a silly rebellion with no threat to the Targaryen Dynasty who has been running these lands for three centuries.

Well it would be right of her to assume so, I mean the Targaryen have had a mad king every other generation, they still kept their dynasty strong… but… Olena doesn't know what I know. Robert Baratheon WILL win this war.

So I just slowly recite a weak fire magic spell that slowly starts burning the letter. 

No need to let stuff like that lying around, it could have detrimental effects on me… perhaps a little spider could get his hands on it. 

I know that I have the spies of Varys under my thumb. But I am not arrogant enough to assume that everyone of his spies was found out by me. Spying is the guy's speciality, underestimating him could spell disaster for me. 

Hmmm… what should my next immediate action be. I have easily destroyed the Iron Born and kept them at bay, though they looted a little as soon as they started getting a little brave and attacked close to Arbor Island, I just obliterated them and killed their leader, of course Lord Greyjoy dying was a… 'coincidence'.

Magic truly is wonderful isn't it… and I had to sacrifice only ten normal people to use the blood magic. If it was a king though I would have to sacrifice 100-500 people every night, and double the sacrifices at a full moon, in around a year the king should die.

Yeah, killing a king isn't easy even with Magic, even magic isn't fair in this world, and very complex with different rules. Though this is the magic of Essos which comes mostly from Old Valyria, and with ni dragons on the world, that branch of magic is weakened by a major margin.

Sometimes I even burn my own life fire (lifespan) to do some of the most complicated and stronger spells. But even with all that, I know that 30 well armed knights could brutalize me with no difficulty really. So magic is more of a strategic weapon for me, and the less people know I have it the better.

…

During the next couple of days I get the news that the Battle of Bells happened and this is big news for me. I used my bird to spy and saw what really happened, I used skinchanging to go in there and see the battle from a bird's view point. 

Thankfully Robert won without me interfering so that is good news at least. 

…

[ General POV ]

The Battle of the Bells devastated both sides of the war, even though the Rebellion came out victorious even they lost something. Jon Arryn lost his successor for the next Lord of the Vale.

But this battle made the Rebellion be seen as something more serious in the eyes of the Royalist side. 

So Aerys sent for his Kings guard to go and find his wayward son, and bring him back to lead the armies. 

But that is not all, as he sent other kings guards to rally/organise the men and form an army to battle the rebels.

Also Elia Martell was summoned from Dragon Stone, to come back to King's Landing… just in case the Martells decide that fighting for Rhaegar, who humiliated their sister during the tourney of Harrenhal isn't something that they want to do.

Now in the King's Landing, the mad king is sitting on his throne, the Iron Throne, with swords protruding from every part of the throne except the seat. Varys the Master of whispers looks at the mad king and sees his filthy appearance, his uncut nails, long and untrimed beard and his unkept hair.

The King also smelled so bad that even he who is bowing a good distance away from the throne, has to keep himself from showing any signs of the disgust he feels. He wonders how the kings guard and maester Pycelle who was sitting on a normal chair next to the king, are smelling from so up close.

'It seems like this king is no longer the rightful one for the realm. Sooner or later there would have been war during his reign, sadly… his paranoia truly has saved him… or he would have had an 'accident' a long time ago.' Thinks Varys, contemplating who should he support as the next king.

But he knows that he has to be careful too, after all he doesn't want to die by being burned alive… that sounds like such a horrible way to go for him. 'So I must make myself useful here. I am not a lord so I can't even get out of this by a trial by combat… plus look how that went for lord Stark and his son.'

"My king." Says Varys, being careful to keep his tone neutral, and not showing anything in front of the mad man in front of him. "The call that we sent for Lord Lannister has been met by silence. There seems to be no word of Lord Tywin's decision."

As Varys says that he notices that the kings guard, next to Aerys has a strange look on his face. The gurd has wavy blond hair and a handsome face. He is Jaime Lannister.

'Or the King's Guard who might be killed by the king.' Thinks Varys.

"Jaime tell me something." Says a raspy old voice. It was mad king who has a stranely calm look on his eyes. "If I were to burn you alive would your father come to King's Landing?"

Jamie seems nervous at this. His whole body is sweating in nervousness… he doesn't know what to say. That is until the Grand Maester Pycelle speaks up, the old man is sitting down on a chair to the side of the king.

"My king, I believe that your old friend Tywin will definitely come and help you. He is just cautious if maybe any spy in the court might give this information to the enemy."

When the mad king hears this a sile appears on his face as he scratched his neck until the skin broke. 

"You are right Pycelle… but I already knew that you didn't need to say it." Says the mad king, as he his neck draws a little ammount of blood from all of the scratching.

Varys just looks at this with his emotionless face on, as the king looks towards him. "So tell me Varys… what are your thoughts on this situation."

Varys just bows while saying. "I never thought of that my king. I am just a simple spy, here at your service to help you. I can't match your wisdom so I don't usually make decisions as I don't want to make myself look like a fool."

The king laughs at this. "Hahhah, you are right Varys."

The court also laughs together with the king. Seemingly joyous, but everyone in here knows that they are all hanging from a VERY delicate rope, one wrong move and they will all be burning in wild fire... in front of their families most likely.

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