Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Lionheart Meeting and Night Ride

…

Maria POV

I took my seat at the head of the Lionheart round table, filling in for Richard. The meeting room felt both imposing and dignified. 

Lionheart crests adorned the walls—statues, paintings, delicate engravings on every ornament—displaying the family's power in Lannisport.

The room, bathed in warm light from a chandelier and oil lamps, cast the perfect glow over the table. Shadows lingered just beyond the windows as the hour grew late.

My gaze swept over the four men seated around me, each of them young but capable and hardened by their roles.

Laenor, the master of coin and underboss of the western district, managed our business dealings and tracked our earnings.

Conrad, the master of assassins and underboss of the eastern district, trained recruits and carried out missions in the shadows.

Jon, our master of soldiers and underboss of the southern district, led the daylight operations—his men enforcing the family's presence openly in the city.

And then there was Addam who is the underboss of the northern district, our master of spies, who gathered intelligence from every hidden corner of Lannisport and beyond.

Together, these men ensured every facet of our operations ran smoothly, all under Richard's orders.

I leaned forward, setting the tone as I opened the meeting. "I trust business is well?"

A chorus of nods and murmurs of assent followed. Satisfied, I moved to our first order of business. "Let's begin with the matter of the septon. Has the new one accepted our assistance?"

Laenor was quick to respond. "Yes, my lady. Septon Triston has accepted our… bribes. He's expressed his gratitude for the funds we provided to build more septs, as well as an orphanage and new soup kitchens."

I smiled. Richard would be pleased. "Good. The new sept will raise his standing—and ours as well. And the orphanage and kitchens will help those in need. This benefits the Septon, and it keeps the people mindful of who truly provides for them."

Laenor nodded. "He's also sent over books and parchments as a sign of gratitude. Might be useful in… broadening our knowledge."

"Excellent," I said, my voice firm. "Continue to monitor him. We want him aware of his position—and just who gave it to him."

I turned to Conrad. "How's the recruitment of the Ironborn, Ragnar, coming along?"

"He woke up this morning, grateful for our rescue," Conrad replied with a faint smile, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Our assassins arrived just in time to save him from the knight," he continued, his pride barely concealed. "He's been resting and healing under our care since then. The wounds will take about a week to mend, but he's already thanking us for saving his life."

"Good," I replied, curiosity stirring at the implications. "And his crew?"

"Already dealt with," Conrad assured me smoothly. 

"I paid them off to leave Lannisport, so when he's back on his feet, he'll find himself alone—and relying solely on us. I'll be working to ensure he sees our family as his only path forward. He's even mentioned repaying us."

I nodded, Richard had ordered Ragnar's recruitment, and Conrad was proving himself a worthy executor, ensuring every detail aligned to draw the Ironborn into our fold.

I turned to Jon, the sturdy master of soldiers. "How is the city's protection, Jon? I trust there have been no… disturbances?"

Jon gave a curt nod, confidence evident in his voice. "No crimes worth mentioning, Lady Maria. We had some trouble from visitors—smallfolk and nobles from other cities—but it was handled swiftly."

I gave a small, satisfied smile. Lannisport was ours, and anything that occurred within it did so only with Richard's, my, or the underbosses' blessing. 

"Good. Let's keep it that way. And make sure the children—the young ones in our family—are looked after. I don't want them harmed in any of this." The children, those used as our eyes and ears, were important and are the pillars of our family.

Jon nodded with understanding. "Don't worry. They've been well protected."

With business in hand, I turned to Addam, our master of spies, eager for news of Richard. "How is he faring in the tourney?" I asked, concealing a touch of personal pride. 

Recently, I'd come to understand Richard's intentions to make my daughter his wife, a future that filled me with a quiet joy.

My savior, my boss, our steadfast leader—now he looked to my Alicent with those intentions. The thought warmed me. My daughter deserves a partner who is strong, dependable, and capable, everything that Richard embodies.

Addam's eyes lit with enthusiasm. "He's become quite the favorite, Lady Maria. Winning the archery, axe-throwing, and the preliminaries of the melee and joust has won him admiration from both smallfolk and nobles alike."

I nodded, listening intently, each victory swelling a sense of pride. "And today?"

Addam leaned forward, his excitement evident. "Today, he won a duel in the melee against two knights, including Bronze Yohn Royce of the Vale. And he's unseated three knights in the joust, among them Brynden Tully. He's quickly gaining fame as a knight."

A ripple of pride spread across the room, we were smiling at the accomplishments of our leader. It was a rare moment of shared warmth.

Moments later we resumed our discussions, moving smoothly from one topic to the next.

…

Elia Martell POV 

I stood in the shadows, the moonlight glinting off my dark cloak as I slipped quietly from my tent. The sounds of laughter and chatter drifted through the night air, mingling with the scent of roasting meats and sweet wines.

Even at night, the tourney grounds were alive with the energy of smallfolk, nobles, and knights celebrating the day's events, but I craved a moment of peace away from the revelry.

Navigating the bustling camp, I kept my head low, my heart racing with the thrill of sneaking out. I could hardly believe I was about to meet Galahad in the night. 

As I neared a large tree, its branches reached out like welcoming arms. Beneath its sheltering leaves sat Galahad. 

His golden hair glimmered in the moonlight, and he leaned against the trunk, a faint smile lighting his features as he looked up at the stars.

My breath caught at the sight of him, a mixture of admiration and something deeper swelling within me. 

Today, he had claimed victory over five knights in both melee and joust, and his fame had soared; I could hardly keep up with the buzz surrounding him.

"Galahad," I whispered, stepping closer, my voice barely above the rustle of leaves in the gentle night breeze.

His head turned, and his smile widened as he noticed me. "Elia," he said, the warmth in his tone making me feel at ease. "I'm glad you came."

"Of course," I replied, my nerves beginning to settle as I moved closer. "I couldn't resist the chance to see you."

He chuckled softly, the sound rich and inviting, and I could feel the tension of the day slip away. "I wasn't sure if you would make it. It's quite a risk sneaking out like this."

"I need a break from the festivities," I admitted, my gaze lingering on his face, savoring the moment. 

There was something almost intoxicating about being so close to him.

He stood up from his sitting position and stepped closer to me. My eyes fell on my handkerchief, tied around his right wrist like a bracelet, and a wave of warmth flooded my heart.

"Then would you mind a night ride with me?" he asked, his smile disarming and genuine.

I nodded immediately, excitement bubbling within me. "Yes, I would love that."

"Then let's go," he said, taking my hands in his, leading me toward the stables. The thrill of the night, combined with his touch, sent shivers down my spine.

As we arrived at the stable, he released my hands and moved to a beautiful black stallion. The horse stood tall and proud, its coat shimmering under the moonlight. 

Galahad reached out, gently petting the horse's mane, his fingers moving through the soft hair with a tenderness that made my heart swell. 

He leaned closer, whispering something to the animal, and I watched, intrigued. "Are you talking to it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Yes," Galahad replied, glancing back at me with a hint of amusement.

"What's his name?" I asked, seeing as he cared for the stallion he must have a name for it.

"Lancelot, that's his name. He's a good boy," he said, continuing to pet the stallion, his voice filled with warmth. He gestured for me to do the same.

I stepped forward, my hand reaching out hesitantly. Lancelot neighed softly, almost as if acknowledging my presence. A smile broke across my face as I petted him, the horse's coat warm beneath my fingers.

"Now that he knows you, it should be fine for you to ride him with me," Galahad said, his smile broadening.

"Really?" I replied, a mix of excitement and nerves racing through me.

"Of course," he assured me, helping me mount Lancelot behind him. 

The stallion shifted beneath us, and I wrapped my arms around Galahad's waist for balance, my heart racing with a thrill that had little to do with riding and everything to do with the closeness between us.

"Hold on tight," he murmured, his voice warm and steady. I could feel the strength in his body, the warmth radiating from him, grounding me.

With a gentle nudge, he urged Lancelot forward, and we began to move out of the stables and into the moonlit night. 

The sounds of revelry faded, replaced by the soft rhythm of Lancelot's hooves striking the earth. The cool night air surrounded us, carrying the scent of fresh grass and the faint song of distant night birds.

"Look at the stars," Galahad said, tilting his head back as his gaze drifted skyward. "They're beautiful tonight, aren't they?"

I followed his gaze to the heavens, where a scatter of stars glittered like jewels. "They are," I agreed, a feeling of freedom washing over me. "It's almost as if they're winking at us."

He chuckled softly, and the sound sent a warmth through me. "Maybe they are."

We rode further from the camp, the landscape around us dark and open, vast and silent. 

The gentle sway of Lancelot's stride, combined with Galahad's presence, made everything feel perfect. I leaned into him, resting my head against his back, feeling the slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath his tunic.

"Galahad," I whispered, my voice barely breaking the stillness, "this is perfect."

"It is," he replied, glancing back at me, his smile soft, sending a flutter through me. "Just us and the night."

We fell into a comfortable silence, the world around us melting away as we rode. The moment felt magical, like something out of a dream, and I found myself hoping it would last forever.