Chapter 44

- Small Council Room -

"Your Grace, not to step out of line with the situation at hand, but should Lady Margery be here for this meeting?" asked Stannis politely while Aegon sat at the head of the table and the other Lords and one Lady sat in their assigned seats.

"Lady Margery is to be Queen one day. Meaning she will share in the duties required to run the Seven Kingdoms properly. What if I am indisposed or unable to attend a meeting of the Small Council? A Queen of the Seven Kingdoms should be more then just a figure head Lord Stannis. While I trust my Hand to carry out any duties required should I not be around, Lady Margery as Queen can certainly be informed, and assist with the tasks. It was sadly one of the reasons your brother was not a very good King. He didn't attend the Small Council meetings, he left everything to be run in his name by his Hand, who was only one person, and no one was truly around to help said Hand when required. Not to mention the previous Queen did even less than Robert when ruling over the people," said Aegon with Stannis nodding in acceptance since it was true.

"Personally, I think the people would feel better knowing their future Queen of the Seven Kingdoms was helping in matters related to the Crown," said Tyrion with Aegon nodding since that was what he was going for with Margery being here.

"Speaking in relation to House Tyrell, there is an issue which requires your attention your Grace," said Varys with Aegon looking at him.

"In what way Lord Varys?" asked Aegon while Mace soon became tense.

"It is about young Loras Tyrell. The Knight of Flowers. Apparently, from what my little birds told me, the man has gone to Storm's End to pledge his loyalty to Renly," replied Varys with Mace looking nervous and Margery silently cursing her brother for being so reckless.

"Your Grace, I assure you, my son went there against my explicit orders," replied Mace while concerned his son would undo all they had accomplished.

"I know Lord Tyrell. Varys informed me of this issue some time ago. I believe he wished to add to his report and for it to state your son was still at Storm's End. Meaning he has been there for some time and has yet to leave. The question now is, how do we proceed in dealing with this...reckless behavior on his part?" asked Aegon while not calling it what many thought such a thing would be if they spoke out loud.

It was treason. Treason against House Tyrell. The man's family. House Targaryen. The Crown itself.

"Yes your Grace. Had Lord Tyrell waited, I would have added such a thing to my report," replied Varys with a knowing smile and made Mace calm down a bit.

"Renly's actions to crown himself King is foolish. I told him as much when Robert was dying in his room and I was named Regent. He wouldn't listen," added Ned while sighing at how foolish Robert's youngest brother had become.

"My brother is a fool. Renly thinks this is a game. A joke. That he can simply march an army from our homeland anywhere and be loved by the people while doing it. That he can throw feasts and tourneys for the masses and all will be well," remarked Stannis with his bitterness gone, but the seriousness of the situation well in hand.

"I take it my message regarding the Crown has reached Storm's End and Renly?" asked Aegon with Varys nodding.

"Yes your Grace. My little birds were successful in giving him the message. However, they also report nothing has changed. Renly continues to call every House he can to his cause of 'removing the dragonspawn for all time and doing what his big brothers could not.'" said Lord Varys while Mace looked like someone had called his daughter a whore.

"This is outrageous and offensive your Grace. Lord Renly has no business trying to be King, but to denounce you and your House, it should not be tolerated!" exclaimed Mace while Aegon nodding while Stannis looked pensive.

"Let me speak to my brother your Grace. Make him see reason," offered Stannis with Aegon thinking it over.

"And my son too your Grace. I must speak with him to stop this notion of siding with Renly in this act of defiance against your authority as King," added Mace while Aegon thinking it over in his mind.

"I am more then willing to let you two meet with your family members to make them see reason. But what if, the Gods forbid, they won't see reason? What am I to do with them?" asked Aegon with Mace looking worried and Stannis scowling further.

"Loras will see reason. I will make sure of it your Grace," said Mace while trying to put on a brave confident face.

"If my brother does not see reason, we will have to crush him in battle. Along with those in his army who would follow him. Lord Tyrell's son being excluded of course," replied Stannis while seeing Aegon nodding in agreement.

"Agreed. We will try to reason first. If that fails, I will have no choice, but to thin the ranks of Baratheon bannermen. And as for your own son Lord Tyrell, if he does not see reason, I will have to implement a harsh punishment upon him for defying my authority. Not the Wall or an execution. But something harsh nonetheless to show I am not some weak King," replied Aegon with Mace reluctantly nodding in acceptance.

"As you say your Grace. Your decision is just and true," replied Mace while Aegon gave the man a small smile.

"What of Lysa in the Vale? My wife's sister will not give up her position without a fight," said Ned while Aegon's eyes became cold.

"The Lords of the Vale will not support her. Lord Varys, did your little birds fly East with the messages to the key Lords there?" asked Aegon with Varys nodding.

"Yes your Grace. Though it will take a little longer then usual. From what whispers I just heard prior to your ascension, Lysa has ordered the entire territory be placed in lockdown with no way to enter by normal means," said Varys with Aegon smirking.

"And what about other means?" asked Aegon with Varys seemed to be catching on.

"A more...daring approach seems the best course of action when dealing with the woman should you manage to meet her," replied Varys, as he had an idea of what the King had in mind.

"One I will handle myself. But first, we need to deal with Renly and Loras. Prepare the army and inform the Lords here so we can see who wish to join. The only way we can ensure Renly understands the gravity of his situation is to meet his army with our own combined might. Hopefully, seeing such a sizeable force brought against Renly will make him and the Stormland bannermen see reason," said Aegon with the other nodding.

"And if Renly still refuses?" asked Stannis with Aegon's eyes meeting his own.

"I will sadly have to do what must be done to ensure peace is secured there. I know you love your brother Lord Stannis, but if there is a battle, and I face Renly...there is a chance he will die," replied Aegon with Stannis nodding.

"I understand your Grace. Should it come to that, I will only weep for the boy Renly once was. Not the man he has become," said Stannis with Aegon nodding.

"Prepare our forces. I will join you shortly. I won't bring the dragons. Not everything can be solved with them. Not when I wish to preserve the lands which a King must rule," said Aegon while sensing everyone was pleased by his words since they feared him using one, if not all three of them for this.

"My King, may I stay and speak with you?" asked Margery with Aegon nodding.

"This is about your brother Loras. You are concerned about what would happen if there is a battle and someone tries to kill him," surmised Aegon with Margery nodding.

"It is your Grace. But it is also about Renly. As you know, my brother and he are...close in terms of their relationship. They have been that way in secret for quite some time. My Grandmother knows and my Father is living in ignorance or believing it to be temporary until a proper girl comes along. But I am not so ignorant. If you kill Renly, my brother will become your enemy. He will seek your life, even if I am married to you. My brother will seek to end what you have here out of spite, even if Renly is in the wrong," replied Margery with Aegon sighing.

"Meaning I have to make Renly see reason or ensure he doesn't die for his actions," said Aegon with Margery nodding.

"I know I am asking much from you, especially now given your ascension as King of the Seven Kingdoms, but Loras is my family. I only wish to ensure he doesn't do something even more reckless and keep his happiness at the same time," said Margery with Aegon sighing.

"I will try my Lady. But I can make no promises. If Renly dies, it will only be because he didn't listen to reason or wouldn't stop fighting should we cross swords. If Loras seeks to have me killed for the deed, I will not allow him to succeed. But, at the same time, I will not kill your brother, or send him to the Wall. Instead, he will most likely be imprisoned and punished harshly for any attempt," said Aegon while Margery nodded since there was only so much mercy the King could give her and House Tyrell without appearing too merciful or weak.

"Thank you for your mercy on my House your Grace. I pray you will succeed using the best possible outcome," replied Margery before bowing and she left the room.

Aegon sighed knowing things were never simple. They always had to be hard on people like himself. But if things were easy, the Usurper would have actually done a descent job running the Seven Kingdoms.

Only a dragon could wear the heavy crown that controlled the Seven Kingdoms.