CHAPTER 219

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CHAPTER 220

295 AC

POV THIRD PERSON

A WEEK LATER

Upon receiving the report of the conflict between his people from the Three Sisters and Lord Drasil, Jon Arryn was infuriated by the reckless actions taken in the name of the Faith of the Seven. He knew all too well the opportunistic nature of the Sistermen, and he was certain that their primary motivation was not religious zeal but personal gain. The situation had escalated rapidly, with Lord Sunderland attempting to rally other lords to his defense under the banner of faith.

In his solar, a chamber adorned with the emblems of House Arryn, Jon Arryn wrestled with his thoughts. Lord Aermir Drasil and the Temple of Old Gods were unlikely to ignore such a brazen act of aggression. A blood feud was looming on the horizon, and it threatened to engulf the entire region in a destructive and costly war. As Hand of the King, it was his duty to prevent this disastrous outcome.

...

King Robert Baratheon sat on the Iron Throne, his features etched with frustration. His busy schedule of drinking, whoring, and hunting was interrupted by this vital issue Jon Arryn was talking about. The realm had enjoyed a period of relative peace following the rebellion, but Robert still didn't have any intention of ruling the kingdom.

Jon Arryn approached the king, the weight of the situation heavy in his gaze. "Your Grace, we find ourselves on the precipice of a grave conflict," he began. "The Sistermen have committed a reckless act of aggression against the North. Lord Aermir Drasil is now in a state of war."

"War?"

Robert's eyes shone with interest the second he heard that word. He leaned forward in his monstrous iron seat, his stormy blue eyes locking onto Jon Arryn. "What would you suggest, Jon?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

"I believe it is in the best interests of the realm to seek a peaceful resolution," Jon Arryn replied. "I would propose sending emissaries to Lord Aermir urging him to lay down their arms and negotiate. We should, at the same time, send word to Ned Stark not to raise his banners. We must prevent this conflict from escalating further."

The second Jon started talking about peace, Robert had lost all interest in the matter, but he had to state his opinion; he was the king. King Robert considered Jon's words, his fingers drumming thoughtfully on the armrest of the Iron Throne. "He is not just going to accept that. I know the young lord of Moat Cailin a bit; he is a ferocious warrior; he will not allow such an insult to remain unpunished."

"We would exhaust every diplomatic means before considering further action," Jon Arryn assured him. "We should also reach out to the leaders of the Three Sisters, urging them to cease their aggression."

As the king contemplated his Hand's words, a messenger arrived, bearing a sealed letter for the king. Robert read the letter, and a mischievous smile took its place on his fattened face. He offered the letter to Jon Arryn. Jon Arryn's heart sank as he read the message, his expression growing grave. The letter was from Lord Aermir Drasil, and its contents were clear and unyielding. 

"Your Grace," Jon began, his voice heavy with regret, "It appears that Lord Aermir has declared war upon the Three Sisters. He will not accept this insult to the Old Gods, the North, and himself."

As Robert Baratheon's knuckles turned white from his grip on the Iron Throne, he was torn between his kingly responsibilities and his innate excitement for the brewing conflict. He knew, however, that he couldn't personally join this war. As the ruler of the realm, he couldn't join in this conflict because, on one side, there was Ned, and on the other was Jon. 

Yet, beneath his kingly facade, there was still a part of the former warrior in Robert that relished the thought of conflict. His days of leading armies into battle were behind him, but the thrill of the fight remained a part of his essence. He couldn't deny the surge of energy and excitement that coursed through him as the realm teetered on the edge of a new war.

Jon Arryn maintained a steadfast gaze upon his friend and king, aware of the internal turmoil that Robert was wrestling with. As the voice of reason and diplomacy, Jon understood the gravity of the situation, and he knew that Robert had a penchant for enjoying the spectacle of conflict.

"My king, Lord Drasil, may have stated his intentions, but he is bound to follow your orders. If you command him to stand down, he must obey."

Robert Baratheon's eyes revealed a complex mixture of emotions. He shared a deep friendship with Jon, who was akin to a second father to him, and the king was well aware of Jon's commitment to upholding the peace. However, he also recognized the need to address the issue of the recurring Sistermen raids.

He responded with a sense of authority, "Jon, you are like a second father to me, but you understand that in this case, control may not rest with you. The conflict was instigated by your people, and it's not for you to decide how it ends. While I may not relish the responsibilities of ruling, I'm not a fool. If I were to order Lord Drasil to halt, it would seem as though I'm taking your side in another conflict, and the Sistermen continue to raid Northern ships year after year. We've done nothing to stop it. Even Ned might not be able to relive the rage of the Northern lord. Then you will have a bigger conflict between North and the Vale rather than Moat Cailin against Three Sisters."

Jon defensively argued, "My king, we couldn't definitively prove that the raiders were Sistermen. They were merely categorized as pirates."

Robert silenced him with a raised hand, emphasizing the gravity of the matter. "Jon, you know who you're speaking to. I don't care for political games. You and I both know it was them. I didn't intervene in your disputes with Ned because we could brush them aside, but this time, there's no room for evasion. They attacked him openly, and now they shall face the consequences of their actions."

Jon Arryn nodded gravely, understanding the weight of the situation, but he pushed one more time, "My king, many will die needlessly, and the tax revenues from those regions will indeed be significantly impacted. This will place a burden on the crown."

Robert Baratheon talked with a serious tone, "Yes, it might very well do so. I sit upon this throne due to the unwavering support of both the North and the Vale. In this conflict, I cannot openly side with either, but I also cannot stop you from supporting your own. The decision now rests in your hands, Jon. Will you allow this to escalate into a North against Vale war, or will you allow Lord Drasil to face the Three Sisters?"