15

Chapter 15: Part XV

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: I own nothing, just borrowing for a while.

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"Let the welfare of the people be the ultimate law"

Joffrey Augustus ("borrowed" from Cicero)

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The Red Keep - King's Landing – 298 AL

Whether through a process of delegation, or simply ignoring them, Robert Baratheon had managed to avoid many of the responsibilities usually the remit of a king. Unlike, for example, attending Small Council meetings however there were some things he simply couldn't always ignore, such as sitting on the Iron Throne to receive delegations and petitions. A ruler had to be seen to rule by his subjects even if other people were really doing most of the work behind the scenes.

Such was the size of the throne-room that even with over a hundred petitioners and others gathered there, not including members of the Kingsguard and the City Watch who were present to keep order if necessary, the chamber seemed almost empty. Before Robert's reign the bones of long deceased dragons would have filled up some of the empty space but they had been banished to the cellar as soon as he put on the crown, dragons being a little too Targaryen for his tastes.

Since he had the excuse of his still healing ribs he could have actually delegated today's task to the Hand of the King without too much fuss being made, but it said something for how bored he had become lying in bed that even propping himself up on the Iron Throne for a few hours to listen to nobles and small-folk complain had come as a welcome relief.

Fortunately over the years Robert had developed the ability to look like he was listening intently and diligently to the petitioners while actually thinking about lunch, trusting in Jon Arryn to pay attention for him, and even with Arryn gone both Varys and Littlefinger were adept at surreptitiously signalling when he really should be listening.

In other parts of the realm the local Lord's Paramount would handle the issues with only local or regional impact themselves, in Robert's name, but within the Crownlands the king ruled directly so it was up to him to deal with them. This resulted in an awful lot of utter trivia being brought to the attention of the king for him to make judgement upon it but that was one of the prices you had to pay for sitting on the Iron Throne, that along with one of the swords it was made from occasionally taking a small chunk out of you.

Looking over to where Ned Stark was paying close attention to the latest litany of grievances being brought to the attention of the court, from what Robert could make out some merchant was complaining that the head of a minor house in the Crownlands had repeatedly failed to pay his bills or something, Robert was glad he had chosen his friend to replace Jon Arryn. Having a man he could trust who also took the job seriously was a true blessing, it would keep everyone else on their toes, gave him peace of mind and meant he wouldn't have to scale back the feasting, whoring and drinking too much… well perhaps less drinking would be a good idea, at least when out hunting anyway.

Cersei had been so angry when she found out about the new will she hadn't even visibly reacted, at least not beyond directing a death-glare in Ned Stark's direction every time they were in each other's presence. Robert had no doubt however that she had ranted and raved to her brother Jaime behind closed doors, and had also likely dispatched several letters to her father Tywin at Casterly Rock seething about the situation, but for his part Tywin was too smart an operator to react quickly before weighing the situation up and he would keep her in check for now.

Someone else paying close attention to proceedings, or at least feigning to exceedingly well, was Joffrey who actually seemed to be taking notes. Well unless he was doodling on that page instead Robert wondered, wishing for a moment he could have brought that book about the Dothraki with him to clandestinely read, perhaps hidden inside the cover of a law book? The chapter about the sack and plunder of Ibbish was a real page-turner, lots of action and gratuitously written violence vividly described.

There should be more books written by adventurers and less written by Maesters, Robert decided as a subtle signal from Varys indicated he should sit up straighter and look like he was weighing up the merits of the arguments of both sides.

Fortunately it was Renly's job to really make the decision here, that's what he was paid for, and Robert turned to his brother as if seeking guidance. "Well I know what I think but before I make my judgement what does my Master of Laws have to say?" he asked.

Renly Baratheon looked suitably thoughtful. "Although precedent would seem to go against the merchant I have to say that too many times in the past the rulings have only gone that way because they didn't have 'Lord' or 'Ser' in front of their name, not because they weren't the wronged party" he said. "It's clear from the testimony of the witnesses, and the evidence presented in terms of documentation, that the merchant is owed the money for goods provided by House Rollingford."

Robert nodded. "And your thoughts as Hand of the King, Lord Stark?" he turned to address Ned.

"I don't think that a man should be able to weasel out of his debts just because of who his father is" Ned Stark stated. "And an honourable man wouldn't have tried to" he added flatly.

"I concur" Robert said, now looking to Baelish. "How long should we give him to settle the bill" he asked.

"A month seems fair" Petyr Baelish suggested.

"A month it is" King Robert agreed. "Pay the man or the crown will pay him instead and I'll seize lands or property to the same value from House Rollingford to settle the debt" he commanded.

"But Your Grace…" the representative of the house concerned started to protest.

"One more word and I'll take lands and property worth more than the debt right now, pay the merchant what you owe right away and keep the difference myself" Robert interrupted him mid-sentence. "I sit here to meet out justice for all of my subjects, not just favour the ones with their family history written in a book somewhere" he declared, knowing full well that wasn't really true in most cases. In reality he needed the support of Lords and Knights more than he did the small-folk, or even middle-class merchants, but it was a good idea to throw the peasants a bone once in a while and backing the man without a stone keep on some lands somewhere occasionally was good for his reputation as a just ruler.

Besides which as direct vassals of the man who sat on the Iron Throne the noble houses of the Crownlands had strongly backed the Targaryen's during the rebellion, and Robert still enjoyed paying them back occasionally for their unwavering support of the Mad King even after it was plain to everyone that Aerys was a murderous lunatic.

Although it wouldn't be seemly to get drunk while seated on the throne Robert couldn't sit there indefinitely without a little something to drink and after what he decided was a suitably long time since he sat down he looked to his squire.

Unfortunately Lancel Lannister was staring off into space and by the time Robert finally got his attention the king was struggling to keep his temper under control. I should have accepted this idiot's resignation when he offered it, Robert thought to himself angrily when Lancel finally noticed the king looking at him and realised what he wanted.

One thing that you learned from being squire to Robert Baratheon was always keep a supply of wine close-to-hand, and although a wineskin would be unseemly in the throne room, the ornate golden cup Lancel filled for the king from a bottle of Dornish wine kept to one side was suitably regal to pass muster.

Robert took the cup and waved Lancel away with his free hand before raising it to his lips.

Sat making notes Octavian started to consider the legal reforms he would want to bring in as part of his reforms. Cicero might have been a political opponent of his family but it would have been highly entertaining watching the man play his lawyers tricks and wield his master oratory like a sword as he cut down the amateurs here.

Robert coughed, then coughed again more loudly. The wine must have gone down the wrong way, Octavian supposed at first, but the coughing grew louder and louder before the king stood up and dropped his cup.

"Your Grace?" Littlefinger said with alarm as the king started to make noises like he was choking.

"Move!" Ned Stark exclaimed, dashing to Robert's side just as the king collapsed, lying on his back and clutching at his throat.

Robert began to thrash about, unable to breath, his face starting to go red then purple as a trickle of blood ran from his nose.

Octavian himself arrived at the king's side shortly before Renly, Robert clutching at them both as Ned cleared out of the way of Robert's family.

Taking the king's right hand Octavian felt a grip like iron squeeze his own. "I'll rule well father" he promised as the light went out of Robert's eyes.

"Poison" Renly said darkly, looking around. "Arrest that man!" he thundered, pointing at Lancel Lannister who was stood frozen like a statue, eyes wide.

Amid the chaos and screaming from the bystanders Ser Barristan Selmy practically crashed into Lancel and took strong hold of him as another of the kingsguard drew his sword and waited for an order to run the squire through.

"It wasn't me!" Lancel cried out in panic. "I didn't poison the king!" he exclaimed as a sword was pressed at his chest. "It was Cersei, not me!" he cried out in panic, "It must have been the Queen!"

Notes:

Note from the author:

George RR Martin isn't the only writer that can suddenly kill off his characters in horrible ways. :-p