Chapter 03: Making Preparations

King's Landing, Crownlands

2nd Moon, 259 AC

Prince Aerys Targaryen

As soon as we entered the Red Keep Father called for a Small Council meeting, Father sat at the head of the table, Lord Ormund Baratheon by his right, Lord Aethan Velaryon the Master of Ships, and Lord Samwyle Tarly the Master of Law on his side of the table. I sat on my father's left, and to my left sat Grandmaester Pycelle, Lord Alan Marbrand the Master of Coin, and Lord Jon Rosby the Master of Whispers next to him, while Lord Commander of Kingsguard Gerold Hightower stood behind my father.

After Father recounted the events of the Tragedy of Summerhall, Lord Ormund said in a somber tone: "My condolences your Grace, it is a true tragedy that befell the realm, and with the passing of the previous King and the situation of the Realm, we have to make hast with the coronation".

"Indeed, we must" replied my Father.

"If I may your Grace, I think it is paramount to secure the royal line, so the Prince needs to marry", said Lord Aethan Velaryon no doubt wishing for his daughter to become the princess consort.

There was a hush in the room as the other members of the Small Council started thinking about how to use this to secure their blood on the Throne, while my father looked on with cold as stone face toward his advisors.

Before anyone could speak any further I said with a calm voice "You are correct indeed Lord Velaryon, as regardless of my grief, I must do my duty to the Realm and my House and secure the Royal Bloodline", I paused a little to let my words sink in while making sure to look sad yet keeping my calm so to not invite any suspicion to any perceived change of behavior, I continued "And for that to happen, I intend to take advantage of the gathering of the Lords of the Realm to swear fealty to my father, to choose a bride" and turning my attention to Grandmaester Pycelle and said "Make sure to include in your letters to the Lords an invitation to any eligible Lady, Grandmaester, and make it clear that the Heir to Throne is to choose his future Consort from the gathered ladies" as I finished saying that everyone was thrown out of the loop, as this was not expected, and as they started to think over the consequences of such a decision.

Father had a calm look at my declaration, as we've already gone over this subject on our way to King's Landing, seeing as this way of choosing a bride may not be the norm but will open many possibilities and will make the Lords of the Realm busy plotting over how to put their blood on the Throne rather than plotting how to weaken the Royal House now that we are in a vulnerable position, as not many will pass such and opportunity.

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As a matter of course, we've gone over many important things concerning the Realm where I made sure to inquire with my father and mother about everything of importance from the martial state of the Royal House and our vessels, the politics of the Court to the economical state of the Kingdom and the Capitol, I even made sure to go over other related matters with Ser Gerold, such as his opinion of possible replacements to his deceased brothers of the Kingsguard, I have also gone on a deep discussion with my Father over what we may face upon our arrival at the Capitol, from the Small Council meeting to the politicking and scheming of the of Lords and Ladies of the Court.

The silence was broken again by the voice of Lord Velaryon who sported a troubled look "Your Grace that will prove highly inappropriate, as this is an unprecedented way of choosing the Royal Consort".

"I am confused whether you forget your history or have no knowledge of it, my Lord, as such a way was used by Aegon III when he called for all the unmarried Ladies of the Realm to attend a Royal Bell so that he choose a bride, and he ended choosing Lady Daenaera Velaryonm as his Queen Consort" was my reply in a calm voice.

There was a troubled look on Lord Velaryon's face as he was not expecting such a reply from me, for the previous me was known of his fanciful ideas and his hurry to lose interest in them, he was expecting me to stay silent or even agree with his opinion, he was ready to counter me only to be silenced by a raised hand and a strict look from Father who ignored him and turned to the Grandmaester and said in a strict tone leaving no room for debate, "as my son said Grandmaester, include the invitation to every Noble House that has an unmarried Lady of age, and Lord Rosby will help you fill any gap in this regard".

Then my Father turned to Lord Rosby and asked about the situation of the Band of Nine that was taking the Disputed Land and the Stepstones by storm lately.

"Your Grace, the situation is still yet to be clear, as there is still strong resistance from both Myr and Lys as well as the pirates of the Stepstones to this so-called unification that the Band of Nine state".

"Keep your eye on them, and keep me informed, I don't want them setting their eyes on Westeros after they establish themselves, and with the Blackfyres and their Golden Company chief amongst them, I don't believe in their claim in just carving a Kingdom out of the Stepstones" then he turned to Lord Velaryon and said in a commanding voice "Make sure the Royal Fleet is prepared for any escalation Lord Velaryon, and send out trusted men to Bravos and Pentos, as well as the Lys and Myr to see if we can find ourselves any allies in them, as I am sure no one will want a repetition of the Triarchy in the Stepstones".

"Lord Marbrand I want you to prepare for a Royal Bell two moons from now for the Lords to swear their fealty and find a bride to my son, and make preparation for our intervention in the Stepstones that might escalate to a prolonged war", was Father's orders to the Master of Coin who nodded and replied with "yes your Grace", then he turned his head to his Hand "Lord Ormund preparation for the coronation tomorrow to be brief, for the funeral to be performed this evening, and for the remains of the Kingsguard to be sent to their families", Lord Ormund nodded his head solemnly and replied with a brief "As you will, your Grace".

After that, my father dismissed the Small Council and we both made our way to the Royal Quarters to take a well-needed rest after an exhausting 10 days of a hard ride.