Chapter 32: Royal Wedding: The Spider

(1,200 words)

- Percival Bolton POV -

- Kingslanding - Crownlands - Westeros - 280 A.D -

"My name is Percival Bolton, a pleasure" I said with a smile as everyone paid attention to what was going on. My brother was ready to try to act and get me out of this mess. What a good big brother... While everyone at The North was tense. They didn't know me very well, but to them I was one of their own, and even though they got along badly, Rickard Stark was kind of fond of Marlon, and I was his son. So he was also prepared to intervene.

"What is your relationship with my sister?" asked Arthur Dayne.

"Brother! Don't make a spectacle of yourself now please!" shouted Ashara in desperation and fear for what was happening.

"We are friends" I said to Arthur, and Ashara looked at me in surprise, but I winked at her, which Arthur also saw, annoying him more. But the girl flashed a happy smile.

"Friends don't hug like that, or wink at each other" he told me annoyed. I was thinking what to answer, something logical or something more sarcastic, and I decided for the second one which was strange. This is something I would answer in my previous life. Before I went through that place.

"I don't know if a Kingsguard has the best experience when it comes to relationships" I said smiling, and he tightened his grip on his sword. But I was right. Kingsguards took vows not to marry or have relations with women.

"After the wedding we will talk" he said to me annoyed and withdrew once more with a scowl, to which I made a fondling of the purple-eyed girl's head, and as if giving orders to a dog, I directed her to return to the tables of Dorne, where House Dayne was. But she told me she wanted to stay with me. Perhaps she is not just a dog.

"If you stay we'll have more trouble" I said to her now in a cold tone which sent a shiver down her spine.

"I understand..." she whispered and went to the right place. To which everyone went back to their places.

A few minutes passed and the atmosphere had returned to normal, but there were six figures staring at me. Two with obsession, two with hatred, one with fear and one with.... Curiosity?

The people of obsession were Ashara Dayne as well as Cersei Lannister. The figures looking at me with hatred were, funny as it may seem, the brothers of the two women. Arthur Dayne and Jaime Lannister. The one who looked at me with fear was a man with very short black hair, wearing an elegant black tunic with gold trimmings. I don't remember his name but he was the representative of Iron Bank. He knows everything I have done first hand, and he was at House Lannister's table. Normally they would be at a separate table, but I guess with the Lannisters he feels safer. Oh! Augustus! That was his name. The one who was looking at me with curiosity and an almost calculating look was... Varys, and that worried me a little. Fortunately, I gave Qyburn a mission once I had the Unsullied. One he should have accomplished a week or so ago.

Take Pentos outright, and capture Illyrio Mopatis. Varys' friend. This would serve me well, either to force him to do something for me, or to use him as a bargaining chip.

The ceremony had begun, and the Lords of "The Big Seven", as I like to call them, went to deliver their tributes first. There was nothing too spectacular like Valyrian Steel swords or dragon eggs. Pretty normal gifts for a royal wedding.

And as I looked at all the important figures from the continent, I thought about many things. I want the Iron Throne, and befriending Robert Baratheon or the Starks wasn't going to help me with that at all.

Then I realized something... Robert had to win the rebellion, I had to save Elia Martell somehow but let her children die to win the favor of Dorne, and take Daenerys Targaryen under my care and then marry her.

I could also save her daughter Rhaenys and marry her, but Daenerys was hotter. Although that didn't mean I couldn't fuck both Targaryens.... Well, the thing is, I have to see to it that every Targaryen dies but them.

With that in mind, make like Baelish and cause chaos in Westeros to make the great houses more vulnerable, and have the Boltons take The North. That way, with The North, Dorne and Tyrell in my pocket, I could take the Iron Throne.

It would change everything quite a bit but it would be for the better. Although now I see it unlikely that Cersei will marry Robert. She's too obsessed with me, and that's going to be a problem....

There is only one complication with this plan to weaken Seven Kingdoms, and that was the White Walkers. If we were too weak we wouldn't be able to take them out.

But that could be solved by saving the Free Folk by making an alliance with Mance Rayder. That would considerably weaken the army of the dead. Many possibilities but nothing is clear to me yet, but that is also an option. I'd better make friends with everyone for the time being. I could also seduce Lysa Tully. I see that sometimes she looks at me, maybe because while she was under Hoster Tully she developed feelings for me, and she can be quite obsessive if she wants to, like Cersei. With that I'd have The Vale in my pocket too.

But well... Finally it was our turn to give our gift, and my brother was up. I don't even know what he was going to give him, and I wouldn't give him anything special. He's a dead man anyway, for whatever plan or possibility exists, in all paths of destiny Rhaegar dies. That is a fact. That fellow is already dead, he just hasn't been told.

But while we were still at dinner, before leaving for the sept where the bride was waiting, a bald man in yellow robes came to our Bolton table. He attracted the attention of the Starks as well as other houses who watched the scene slyly.

"Lord Percival," the eunuch Master of Whisperer said to me.

"Oh, Lord Varys, it's a pleasure to meet you" I said with a smile, as Roose had his wards up. Everyone knows about Varys, and how dangerous he can be. Well... They don't know his full capabilities, so many underestimate him. But the real heavyweights like Doran Martell, Olena Tyrell, Tywin Lannister and even Rickard Stark know his nature. Jon Arryn as the simpleton he is is not very knowledgeable, as is Robert Barathoen. Only the latter not out of naivety but out of stupidity.

"No... The pleasure is mine. Percival Bolton, known as "Demon of Braavos.It's a pity I have no family."

"Easy, Lord Varys. It's not a family thing..." I said, smiling. "It's a thing of things that matter to us. Everyone has things we care about. It can be friends..." I told him, and his eyes narrowed. "Or it can be a kingdom" I repeated, his face showing surprise. That was his weakness.