Chapter 47

- With Renly -

"Can you believe him? This Targaryen offering me terms. And behind some mask of all things?! Its an insult! An attack on my pride as a Baratheon. On my right to be King of the Seven Kingdoms!" exclaimed Renly angrily within his war tent after returning from the parlay.

"He did bring a sizeable force against you your Grace. His numbers are greater then ours by a considerable margin," said Brienne with Renly glancing at her.

"Not if Lord Tyrell falls in the battle. Once he does, Loras here becomes the new Lord of the Reach and can take control of House Tyrell's armies. Thereby adding their strength to our own," said Renly with Loras nodding.

"That is if the man were close enough to kill," remarked Brienne since someone like Lord Tyrell would not be an easy target.

"That should be easy enough. A message and offer to Lord Tarly should get the job done if we make him a very promising offer to raise his House to further greatness," said Renly while writing a message meant for the Lord of Horn Hill.

"You think Lord Tarly would do such a thing?" asked Brienne with concern in her voice.

If the man could betray his Lord Paramount, who was to say he wouldn't do it twice?!

"Yes. He has always been bitter about House Tyrell casting its shadow and influence over his own. Besides, I can easily make Lord Tarly the new Warden of the West when this is over and we remove the rest of House Lannister. Meanwhile Loras here becomes the new Lord of the Reach with his lovely sister as my bride and Queen. Everyone wins," replied Renly with Loras smirking.

"And what about House Stark?" asked Brienne curiously.

"I send Lord Stark and his eldest to the Wall. His second youngest is crippled and thus can be handled easily enough. His youngest son I will send to the Vale to be kept hostage by Lysa Arryn. Lord Stark's two girls will be fostered under loyal Houses of my choosing and kept a close eye on to ensure none of them get any ideas of rebellion. It will also set an example for any other House that didn't back my claim like Lord Stark did when my brother was on his death bed," replied Renly while Brienne looked surprised and found his words to be harsh in some aspects.

He was essentially breaking up a noble House for not supporting him early on when his brother was dying.

"Isn't that a bit harsh your Grace? To punish the entire House?" asked Brienne with Renly giving her a scowl.

"A powerful House like the Stark's cannot simply be brought to heel by punishing one of them and ignoring the others. You have to hurt all of them. It doesn't matter if most of the family are innocent of any crimes against me. The rest of the House could seek revenge and plot against my rule if they are kept together. Better to break the pack up over leaving it together to recover and retaliate," replied Renly in a cold tone.

A tone that Brienne found to be disturbing. The anger Renly had over this was clearly deeper then she first thought and Ser Loras was all for it. She of course knew of Renly's preferences to men over women and also knew Loras was his secret lover. Did she hold it against him? No. What Renly did with other people was his business. Unlike other people she knew, who laughed or sneered at her for being a different kind of woman, Renly did not. He had been kind to her. Nice. Even when everyone else was cruel, Renly had been none of those things.

So when the time came to serve him loyally and pay back the debt she owed him, Brienne took it with a chance to be part of his Rainbow Guard and protect the man from harm.

But this side of him was disturbing her. She could see there was an anger in those eyes. A dark hate lingering in them. One that had been clearly been gnawing at him for sometime despite being hidden from the sight of others and was now making itself known.

Was this the start of the madness? To feed the growing hunger and desire for power? To find a way to fill the void in men's hearts for wanting more and more without considering the consequences?

Was this how the Mad King became such a man? How King Robert had been so drunk with power that he used it to literally become drunk with wine and women in his bed? If so, why wasn't this Aegon Targaryen like that?

"When we meet this enemy and his allies, my House's bannermen will do what they did years ago during my brother's rebellion and all will love me for it," remarked Renly with his message completed, sealed, and now in Loras's hands knowing the man would see it sent to its proper recipient.

His plan would allow him to win the day and the Iron Throne.

- Targaryen Camp - Short Time Later -

The bound and bagged man was forced to his knees in the war tent of Aegon Targaryen before the bag had been removed to reveal the person to face the King and the various Lords. Each of them glaring at the man while one looked on in sympathy. The bound man struggled at first, but the firm hand of the guards on his shoulders, and the growls from two large dire wolves froze him in place.

"You really didn't think Renly's plan would actually work, did you Loras?" asked Aegon while Loras glared at him.

"Release me! I am the Heir to the Reach and House Tyrell!" exclaimed Loras with Aegon removing his mask from his face and glaring at him.

"What you are Ser Loras Tyrell, is a traitor to the Crown and your House," stated Aegon with Loras sneering at him.

"Renly is King. Is my King. How am I a traitor to the Crown if he is my King I swore to serve?" demanded Loras with Aegon's glare not letting up.

"Renly can't be King. The rules say he can't be one," replied Aegon with Loras's return glare not leaving him.

"Fuck the rules! And fuck your House! You are not worthy of being King. Renly should be the one sitting on the Iron Throne. He is loved by everyone around him! The people want him to be their King because they know the Seven Kingdoms needs a noble King right now with the way things are in the realms," stated Loras with Aegon sighing in annoyance.

"And how do you expect Renly to run the Seven Kingdoms? How does he intend to make the people happy on a continuous bases? Throw some random tourney one day when the people are restless? Or a grand feast the next when their hunger forms an angry mob? Is he going to lead his army on the battlefield against me? Or is he going to sit back and do nothing while his men die for him? A man who sends messages with empty promises to the enemy Lords if they turn their cloak and fight for him? Is that how he intends to run the Seven Kingdoms? With smiles, waves to the people, and dealing with their issues with events to bring temporary joy to their usual disheartened lives?" challenged Aegon with Loras struggling again, but the two men holding him down were too strong.

"Things would improve in time. My House would provide the needed support to make his rule a great one," replied Loras with Aegon glancing at the nervous looking Mace Tyrell.

"You mean spend coin and resources recklessly while using the power of the Iron Throne and its King to provide protection from everyone when it no longer has the strength once your Houses is weakened from such a thing," countered Aegon with Loras glaring since the Reach's resources would be used in such a way while Renly used his position as King to shield them from powerful rivals.

His King/lover was all that mattered.

"If that is what it takes to make Renly King and sustain the Seven Kingdoms during his rule," replied Loras while Aegon sighing again.

"Lord Tyrell, your son is a blind idiot. He is letting his personal feelings for Renly blind him and its making my position very difficult," replied Aegon while he was handed the sealed message meant for Lord Tarly and read it before tearing it up.

"I know your Grace. But I beg of you to show my son mercy. Loras can be made to see reason once this issue with Renly is resolved," pleaded Mace while Aegon looked down at Mace's son in regards to what should be done.

"Keeping him alive is risky Lord Tyrell. If I spare his life, he may seek to rise against me out of spite should Renly die on the battlefield. And he is your heir. When he becomes the new Lord of House Tyrell, there is no guarantee Loras will be loyal. He may call the banners and try to rise up against me," said Aegon with Loras still glaring at him despite what was being talked about in his presence.

"I understand your Grace. What are you going to do?" asked Mace with Aegon looking at Loras deep in thought.

"On one hand, Loras should be put to the sword for his treason. The fact he refuses to see it as treason and would seek to overthrow me for Renly enforces it. However, I am soon to married to your daughter and she loves her brother despite his stupidity. It would not be a good start for our two Houses coming together if I killed your son despite the fact Loras deserves it. So I won't. I'll leave his...reeducation and punishment in your family's hands. Namely your Mother's," replied Aegon with Mace letting out a breath within his lungs as he waited for the decision from the King.

"Thank you for this kind mercy your Grace," replied Mace with Aegon nodding.

"See to it that Ser Loras is properly prepared for departure toward King's Landing and put him in the custody of his Grandmother. Make sure he is properly restrained and guarded at all times," commanded Aegon with the men holding Ser Loras moved to take him out of the tent.

Only for the young man to escape both men, grab a knife from one, and charge the King just as the men around Aegon drew their blades.

But Loras never made it past three steps as he found himself frozen in place, his position locked up, and struggling to move. In front of him, the King had his hand stretched out, and stopping the man from advancing further. His face filled with fury while everyone now watched the two with interest and some being unsure on how to approach the frozen prisoner.

"I have been extremely patient with you Loras. More so because the woman I intend to marry is your sister. The man beside me is your Father. Because of the woman who is your Grandmother, who I respect greatly for all that she has done for me. It is because of your family's unwavering loyalty to my House, I was able to help secure so much in such a short time! But you seek to undo it all. And for what? Some blind loyalty to your close friend Renly Baratheon? If it were not for your family's past actions and loyalty, I would not hesitate to end you now. So consider this my last act of mercy toward you Ser Loras. If you do anything following this moment of mercy, I will end your life. Take him away and keep him heavily restrained!" commanded Aegon with more men coming to take the now unfrozen Tyrell away in chains.

"With your permission your Grace, I will take my son back to King's Landing where he can be kept in check until your return," said Mace with Aegon nodding.

"You may go Lord Tyrell. Take a sizeable escort back to King's Landing and explain the situation to Lady Olenna. Let her know I will not show mercy to Loras after this and that her Grandson's punishment is being left in her very capable hands," replied Aegon with Mace nodding and bowing to him.

"Yes your Grace. Thank you your Grace," said Mace before he hurried out of the tent.

"As for the rest of you, prepare for battle. Tomorrow, we will deal with a false King who thinks this is nothing but a game," said Aegon coldly.

Upon hearing the order, everyone nodded and left the tent knowing tomorrow was going to be a bloody mess.

A very bloody mess.