Part 7 - 272 AC (II)

272 AC

(Escanor POV)

My mother brought us children to the Red Keep to introduce us to her friends. Rhaella Targaryen, the sister-wife of Aerys and Ariella Martell, the princess of Dorne.

Those were her two friends with whom she shared stories, exchanged gossip and was able to laugh.

It was a dangerous time for my cheeks. How can these ... women ... touch the one who will stand above all races like that?

During the tourney that my father had to hold for a shitty King in an even shittier city, something happened that had quite an effect on me. I had forgotten this incident but remembered after it had happened.

And for once I was of the same opinion as Tywin.

I don't understand how people can watch a tourney. How can they do this to themselves? Jousting was probably the dumbest and most boring thing I had ever seen. Two people, in full armour, on a horse wield a long stick and try to push the other person off their horse. Shit like that was something you did on the playground ... when you were five...

They were literally playing with sticks and pushing others off of things. I was shocked it could be this boring.

Added to that it was also the sport which gave the most prize money. More than the melee or others. Who thought of that? Why does a sport that is useless in actual life, uses so much equipment and is this boring give the most prize money?

Before you argue that our sports also serve no purpose and you can't use the skills in real life ... at least it doesn't cost so much equipment and horses just to play it.

You can play soccer with a ball alone if you really want. Take a table and stretch a rope and you can play table tennis. Swimming only needs water. I could go on and on but this was a trigger point for me due to the fact that I was stuck here and had to watch everything.

The melee was one messy and chaotic mess where I had no idea who was really fighting who and true skill was not as important. The more people fight against each other, the less skilled you had to be to win. Luck was important.

.

The true nadir and also what got Tywin furious and me as well, was a comment that the looney King made.

At first, nothing happened and everyone seemingly enjoyed the bloody and confusing mess that was the melee. I didn't really watch much of it and that allowed me to observe the members of the court a bit. The Queen I had already seen as well as Princess Ariella.

Rhaella Targaryen was a deeply scarred woman. Filled with sadness, bitterness and a lot of fear. Her existence as the sister of Aerys II was the worst thing that ever happened to her. Her first child, the pussy that was Rhaegar Targaryen, she had when she was 4 and ten name days. Far too early and it showed when she had many miscarriages and early deaths after Rhaegar.

She was an emotional wreck and I couldn't help but feel pity for the woman. I used my magic to relax the room whenever Mother was alone with the Queen and the Princess of Dorne. I could see the stress and worry of Rhaella chipping away ever so slightly.

Princess Ariella Martell was a proud woman. She was quick-witted and had a sharp tongue and mind. Her humour at the expense of some highborn nobles sometimes got a giggle out of him.

As a true dornish woman she had a lot of passion that drew us to each other. I enjoyed her company and she did mine too. The three women abused me and my calming and warm presence after realising that.

... I felt so used ...

Other than those two women I hadn't had contact with many Lords or Ladies. My mother kept me very close and her two friends also wanted me to be in the same room.

So I used the time I had on hand during the tourney to observe them. I could see the pretence and lies that permeated the air in King's Landing. It was suffocating. Every single one of the high-born or low-born alike had greed in their eyes. They all wanted something and they all played the 'Game'.

It would have been a good opportunity for me to get a first impression of those I would have to deal with in the future, but it was cut short when the King's lust and sadistic tendencies showed.

I noticed as I was observing the lords that the King had stopped watching the archery competition and looked at my mother. Just like all the other people I had met The look in his eyes spoke of greed and lust. He was lusting after mother and that didn't sit well with me. Even if I wasn't a fan of Tywin, he was at least faithful.

After looking at my mother for a while he had to open his mouth.

The F*cker seriously asked my mother if nursing her children had ruined her breasts. The unmitigated gall on that guy.

When Aerys said that, my father's face became dark red. He was furious beyond anything I had ever seen. It looked like he would explode and cut down the King any second. His teeth were pressed together so hard they were going to turn to powder.

The silence that followed that question was unbearable and the tension was so thick you could have cut it with a knife.

My mother was red-faced as well. She was deeply ashamed and sad at his question. She wanted to let the ground swallow her whole. All the stares of those that had heard the King were like arrows that cut into her flesh.

I was beyond livid at that point. I used my anger in that moment and screamed. F*ck the King, f*ck decorum or all that shit. I screamed so that my mother had a reason to leave and get out of there. Thankfully it was allowed and not considered 'rude'.

Those words out of the King's mouth had sealed his fate. I would return here and I would feed him his own heart ... or penis.

.

The next day my father wanted to resign as Hand of the King. To add salt to the wound though, Aerys II Targaryen didn't allow him to resign. It was a terrible insult, something Tywin would surely never forget.

Two days later, after saying goodbye to Queen Rhaella and Princess Ariella, we left King's Landing back to Casterly Rock. Tywin had to stay to take care of some matters I didn't know of. But he promised Mother that he would come soon.

That was my first experience in King's Landing. My first visit wasn't something I enjoyed. But my second one was something I looked forward to.