Chapter 11: Problem of Faith

Red Keep, King's Landing

5th Moon, 259 AC

(Prince Aerys Targaryen POV)

I was standing in the Throne Room by my father's side as we were about to initiate the ceremony to induct five new Kingsguard.

I kept my position by the Iron Throne as I watched my father stand up and descend the steps to face the Knights that were about to be inducted, where he beckoned to the first one to come forth and kneel.

(King Jaehaerys II Targaryen POV)

I watched as young Barristan Selmy kneeled in front of me, head lowered, ready to forsake his rightful seat as heir of Harvest Hall and don the White Cloak.

I touched his shoulder with my sword and said:

"Do you swear to ward me, your King, with all of your strength and to give your blood for mine"

"I swear".

"Do you swear to obey My commands and keep My secrets"

"I swear"

"Do you swear to defend My honor and serve at My pleasure"

"I swear"

"Do you swear to never flee or falter in your duty"

"I swear"

"Do you swear to take no wife, hold no lands, and father no children"

"I swear, and I pledge to Your Grace my life and honor until the day I die"

"Then rise as Ser Barristan Selmy Knight of the Kingsguard"

(General POV)

There was applause from the attending Nobles as the newly inducted Kingsguard stood up after saying his vows and headed towards the Lord Commander Ser Gerold Hightower, who handed him his white cloak, which he held with reverence.

The next Knight to step forward was Ser Bernard Cassel who stood at the height of 7 feet, with black hair cut short and dark gray eyes—a typical look for a Northman. He took one knee and spoke his oaths, thus becoming the first Northern Knight to ever join the Order of Kingsguard.

After Ser Barnard, it was Prince Lewyn Nymeros Martell, who, like the two who preceded him, was young and of a strong build, he spoke his oaths and stood as Ser Lewyn Martell Knight of the Kingsguard.

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The fourth Knight to swear his oaths was Ser Tybolt Crakehall, who was as tall and huge as Ser Bernard, and he even earned the name of the Strongboar after his House sigil.

The fifth and final member to be inducted into the Kingsguard was Ser Alenn Crobray the wielder of his House Valyrian Steel sword, Lady Forlorn, and a fierce warrior and Knight.

And thus ended the ceremony of the induction of the new members of the Brotherhood of the Kingsguard and the Order was completed again after the tragedy of Summerhall.

(Prince Aerys Targaryen POV)

Following the end of the ceremony, there was a buzz of activity as the Nobles in attendance were excitedly discussing the event and mingling with each other until my father, who had returned to his Throne and was talking with his Hand, stood up and declared the end of the event and that the Royal Ball was this evening.

After his declaration, Father left the Throne Room and headed to the door that led to the Small Council room for a meeting. I was behind him along with Ser Cristian and a dozen Royal Guards, while Ser Gerlod headed toward the White Sword Tower with his five newly sworn brothers so that he may properly teach them their duties and assign each to his post.

Entering the Small Council meeting room, my father took his seat along with his Hand and I too took mine, and we waited for the rest of the members to arrive.

It didn't take long for all the members to arrive, minus Lord Gerold who was tending to his duties, and Mother, who was busy preparing this evening's Royal Ball alongside the Steward of the Red Keep.

Once all the members took their seats, my father started, "My lords, I would like to say that all of you have done your duties splendidly so far to get my House from the vulnerable position that we found ourselves in, so for this, I thank you all"

There was a chorus of "We only did our duties, your Grace" and "It was only right to do so, your Grace," and that kind of fake platitude, as if they did not expect to be rewarded, especially Lord Aethan Velaryon who was expecting me to name his daughter as my chosen bride, but what can I say, he was in for a big surprise.

I think the whole realm would be in for a big surprise, as no one will ever think that I will choose a Northern woman for a bride, not even the Northern Lord will expect that.

I made sure to show no indications as to whom I would choose from, except the Starks themselves, whom I had informed of my plans so that there wouldn't be any sudden betrothal of one of their daughters to someone else.

After the exchange of pleasantries between the King and his Small Council, there was talk about the various affairs of the Realm, such as the economic state of King's Landing, which showed a continuous improvement, and the state of the readiness of the Royal Fleet in preparation for the coming conflict, as well as the security of the Capital, which, according to both Ser Robert Darkwood the Lord Commander of the City Watch, and Lord Samwyle Tarly the Master of Law, is under control thanks to the improved quantity and quality of the Golden Cloaks.

The meeting ended without any fanfare, and the members of the Small Council exited the room one by one until I was alone with my father, who asked for me to stay. He looked at me with a smile and said, "Tell me, Aerys, who is going to be my good-daughter".

Without waiting for me to say anything, he raised his hand and added, "And before you tell me you haven't decided yet, I know you and I know you won't wait till the evening to decide"

Whatever excuse I was going to give him went away as I looked at him resignedly and said, "You know, Father, I was going to tell you before the evening anyway, but since you asked, I will tell you now. The one I chose is Lady Branda Stark, the daughter of Lord Rodrick Stark, the Wondering Wolf, and cousin to Lord Edwyle Stark"

There was a slightly surprised look on Father's face as he heard my choice, but it was replaced with a proud smile as he said, "With each day, you are proving to me more and more that I was blessed with the best Heir I could ask for." He paused for a little to let me digest his words and then continued, saying, "Not only did you make sure to secure the goodwill of our Northern Lords by providing them the best food trade deals they had ever had with the South through recent history, but now you are guaranteeing their undying loyalty by marrying a Stark and honoring them with the first Northern Queen in 259 years"

My face was all smiles, and that was not because I was being complimented; no, because I was never someone to get happy at people's compliments; I was always someone who took pride in my achievements without the need for approval; no, the reason for my smiley face is because I was the proud one, I was proud because my Father was able to easily understand my intentions, and was not blinded by the propaganda of the Faith, the propaganda that the vast majority of Nobles below the Neck believed in, that state about the North that it is a wasteland full of savages and heathens, and while from the perspective of the follower of the Seven, the Northmen are truly heathens, my House as the ruling dynasty shouldn't start to follow those beliefs, for numerous reasons, chief among them is the fact that we are considered foreigners and heathens still in the eyes of the Faith, something that they believe in but don't dare to state.

During my meetings with the High Septon and the Most Devote, I figured out many disturbing things, one of them is that they believe that the Crown is below their status as the speakers of the Gods and that it should listen to them and follow their policies, another is that they were debating the idea of sponsoring a new uprising of the Faith Militant in case we didn't manage to stabilize our hold on the Seven Kingdoms, the third and most disturbing is that the Faith still thinks of House Targaryen as heathen sorcerers who tries to meddle with the power of Gods, and despite several generations of devote believers that my ancestors portrayed themselves as to the Realm, the latest stunt of my Grandfather of trying to hatch Dragons has spooked the Faith among many others, which made them relieved by the tragedy that struck my family and pissed we weren't all dead to leave them with the gullible Baratheons to influence as they want.

Those revelations were not outside my expectations, as a matter of fact, and I was not intending to let them go unanswered as most of my ancestors did. Of course, I won't be going Maegor on them, but they will be weakened till they can't challenge or influence the Royal Family ever again, and marrying a Stark is the first step to ensuring my children won't undo my work in the future, but till then I have to make plans, starting with having the big shooters of the Faith stay near my center of influence (King's Landing), which I have made sure of with the many compulsions that I put on the High Septon, the Most Devote, and Lord Hightower to make sure he won't raise any problems.