[Edric's POV]
The Plane of Euthymia.
"The bond between Ser Arthur and father is all too endearing," Alysanne remarked, smiling. "I've never seen Father so trusting of someone else... except mayhaps Lady Raiden."
"I can't have any privacy nowadays, can I?" I sighed. "Tell me, how does this campaign go? Is there any mistake I made?"
"That's the amusing thing about it, we can't." Garth shook his head. "Our Edric, after the North, returned to King's Landing and simply prepared the Realm for the Others until the year 302 AC when he defended against a joint alliance between Aegon and Daenerys Targaryen. It was... a devastating war."
Me, taking the defensive? No way.
"Ahah..." I laughed. "Of course."
"There was also..." Alysanne suddenly paused. "And then, not too long after... I can't... speak."
"What?" I raised an eyebrow.
"... When I try to speak of it, I can't."
"I see." I shook my head. "Don't worry about it, it's His doing. The individual who brought you here. I can't have too much of an advantage now, can I? I'll know as much as I need to know, it seems, and not a drop more."
"Who's... He, exactly?" Alysanne questioned.
"It's complicated. Honestly, it's better off you don't know... and even if I told you, he'd likely make you forget anyway."
"I see..."
...
The journey back to King's Landing by sea was swift, as I twisted the winds and waves in my favour. Immediately after landing, I went to the Red Keep.
"You're back rather soon, Your Grace," Renly remarked. "It seems to me that you went the wrong way... and sparked a conflict with a Free City."
"It's all sorted now, uncle. Nothing to worry about." I smiled, shrugging.
"Really, nothing? There's growing concern among the Free Cities that you are an unpredictable warmonger. If this continues, you might give them enough reason to unite against you. Your power alone gives them fear... but using it in such a manner adds all the more."
"Let them fear me. If they choose to make such a foolish decision, I'll be all the more glad to humble them."
"Not to mention your alliance with Daenerys. It has soured the relationship the Iron Throne holds with most of the Free Cities, as they all practice slavery. The fact that you are raising arms in a foreign conflict..."
"Well, be sure to let them know that I do not attack without reason, then."
"Speaking of..." Renly stroked his chin. "Volantis has sent an offer which you should well consider. I believe it's important enough for a Small Council meeting, even."
What great offer could they be proposing?
"... Very well." I nodded. I wanted to speak with Varys anyway and it was the perfect opportunity to do so. "Get everyone seated."
Rather surprisingly, Varys hadn't acted at all.
...
"Volantis is offering the equivalent of five hundred thousand gold dragons for you to break your alliance with Daenerys Targaryen and abstain from the conflict," Renly informed, which turned many heads. It was not a small sum... especially since I would be paid to essentially do nothing. "However, if you were to join the coalition and have the greatest contribution in the war effort, that number would increase four times over to two million, and Volantis would prioritise the Seven Kingdoms in foreign trade. To add to that, they would gift a thousand choice maidens, a thousand dragonglass weapons to aid in the battle against the Others alongside a Valyrian Steel greatsword upon victory against Daenerys to His Grace."
"That's a lot of maidens for one boy." Oberyn Martell chuckled. "Would you share some, Your Grace?"
I chuckled, shaking my head.
"Two million gold dragons? That is an enormous sum." Mace Tyrell noted in rather exaggerated fashion. "The Targaryen is the last pretender capable of challenging His Grace, no less."
"For once, we are agreed. It would be like striking two birds with one stone... after all, what does she even have to offer that comes close to such rewards?" Alester Florent added, turning to me.
I had a sip of Asshai wine, and it wasn't too bad. After, I spun my hand, gesturing for them to continue.
"Please, do not base your opinions on what I have to say. All of you, speak your mind, and I shall speak mine thereafter."
"It would be all too simple a victory for such a reward." Randyll Tarly remarked. "Mayhaps even too good to be true."
"Volantis is matched in wealth by only Braavos amongst the Free Cities. For them, it is not so great a price as you would think." Paxter Redwyne added, shaking his head. "Not to mention, Daenerys is the greatest threat to their slavery traditions that has likely ever emerged. They are wise to take it with such caution."
"It would not be right for the King to join hands with slavers to put down Daenerys Targaryen, who has strived to free as many as she could. How would it look for the rest of the Realm?" Davos Seaworth questioned.
"Slavery has been strictly forbidden in the Seven Kingdoms for thousands of years for a reason." Stannis firmly nodded. "The King of the Seven Kingdoms fighting a slaver's cause... it would mean turning on our very own laws. Even so, Edric's desire to meddle in foreign affairs has led to this predicament..."
"Indeed, slavery is considered an abomination in the Faith of the Seven and for those who believe in the old gods as well." Gormon Tyrell noted.
"Joining the fray would mean aiding those who flourish from this sinful act. Equally, Daenerys Targaryen is a pretender who could prove an unpredictable ally. Even if you manage to reach her in time and overcome the slaver's coalition, which is a big if - the Targaryens are known for their madness... and she is the daughter of the Mad King, no less. I do not know what the terms of your alliance is, but remaining loyal to it is most definitely not favourable given the context."
"I believe the best course of action would be to break this alliance and let these foreign affairs settle themselves—that way, we are not implicated in any way and gain half a million gold dragons for doing so."
Gormon Tyrell sure likes to talk...
"Well." I sat up, clapping my hands. "It's most definitely a great offer, from the two million to the Valyrian Steel. Some of you are right to doubt Daenerys as well... but I have my reasons to put my trust into her. Think of it this way; she is just a girl who tried to do what she believed was right, and every faction in that corner of the world chose to trample on her before they could be threatened."
I stood up.
"For the longest time, the Seven Kingdoms have remained mostly to themselves. We have our laws, they have theirs. We exchange our goods, do not engage in their conflicts and have maintained solid enough relations. Once, the Targaryens had the power to expand their influence further but lacked the ambition... and, with the loss of dragons, the kings who followed did not have the power to do so regardless."
"And I, Edric Storm of the House Baratheon, First of my Name... am not those kings."
"You're suggesting something absurd..." Renly remarked.
"Winter is Coming, and the Seven Kingdoms stand as the first and final defence for the entire world. Do you think any of the Free Cities, Yunkai or the likes of New Ghis would provide us with support when we need it? At best, it would be a half-hearted effort while WE suffer the most losses."
"I've stated my stance, and Volantis has chosen to remain in the slaver's coalition, ultimately becoming an enemy of mine. All of you might shiver at the thought of such a war... BUT I DO NOT!"
I slammed the table with my fist, my battlefield voice coming right out.
"I'll sink their fleets, bring them all to their knees and drain their treasuries dry for having the audacity of challenging me. By the end of all of this, the Iron Throne will be the richest it's ever been and hold power even the dragon kings could have only dreamed of. We will finally have the means to defend ourselves from the Others and the wider world, ultimately saving it."
"That's my will, and I shall see it through no matter what stands in my way."
"... Why couldn't I have a more content nephew?" Renly sighed. "What if you get yourself killed? The fleet you have asked for might be formidable, but the slaver's coalition surpasses it... not to mention armies they possess."
"What's my battle record?" I questioned.
"I don't know..." Renly shrugged. "You've never lost a battle from what I hear."
"That's right." I nodded, smiling. "Some armies of slaves aren't going to change that. Is there anything else important the Small Council wishes to discuss?"
"No, that would be all."
"Great. Varys, come with me. I'd like to have a little talk."
He had been silent the whole meeting, remaining in his seat and hardly moving. Though, when I asked for him, he rose immediately.
...
I took it somewhere more private, my favourite chamber to sit someone down for a chat.
"I find it strange you didn't say anything in the meeting," I remarked, sitting down.
"I knew you'd force your way through the Small Council regardless of what anyone said," Varys replied, sitting down opposite to me.
"And do you agree with my decision?"
"Only time could tell if it is wise or not," Varys replied, shaking his head. "It's quite the gamble, I would say, even for you. It will either end as an immense success or a devastating loss. I could not think of a loss worse than that of our prodigious King, after all."
"Really now?" I looked into his eyes. It was always all too hard to tell the truth behind them. "What are your thoughts on the incident at Pentos?"
"A shock, to be sure, but justice was served. You also expanded upon your wealth greatly... a most effective move. I only have praise for it."
"Even if the man I killed was your old friend?"
His face changed slightly.
"Sometimes I wonder if you truly are all-knowing." Varys mused. "So, what do you seek to gain from this audience, Your Grace?"
"Confirmation of your loyalty," I said in a straightforward fashion. "I want to know if I can still trust you."
"Do you remember when you spared my life?" Varys questioned. "You spoke of the return of House Targaryen and the complete unification of the Realm. You showed a willingness to pass down your throne to a more fitting ruler or even marry a Targaryen yourself. That all has changed somewhere down the road, has it not?"
"Then again... would you go so far for someone who you have not chosen as your Queen? It would all fit rather well."
"In those days, it was true. I lacked confidence in myself and experience. I wanted nothing more than to be able to run from duty, to free myself and do as I wish... but I am that boy no longer." I shook my head. "There is no King or Queen more fitting to rule the Realm than I. For that matter, there is no one else fitting in the first place."
"How you've grown, then." Varys nodded. "And what of marriage?"
"No need for it." I chuckled. "You've done well to deflect the question back to me. I need a straight answer."
"You granted me life when death was all but certain. My loyalty has not changed and will not change, for I believe that you are the right ruler for the Realm."
"How curious - and yet you failed to report on Illyrio's schemes." I raised an eyebrow. "If I had not known, how many more times would my life be at risk? By all rights, I should have you executed for treason."
"You'd have plenty enough reason to do so, Your Grace." Varys was unmoved. "But will you?"
"Are you worth sparing a second time?" I tilted my head.
"That all depends on what you believe. I could plead my case, but I believe your mind is already made."
"You're right about that." I sat back. "I'd be fortunate to find a replacement half as good as you, which puts me at quite the predicament. Is your ability worth the risk?"
"I will say that my friendship with Illyrio is not enough to forgo my beliefs."
"Prove it, then."
He proceeded to tell me everything. Every piece of information that I should not know... and those I didn't know at all. Aegon's origins, the Golden Company's most recent plans, Dorian's origins and every plan before that had failed. It seemed that in recent times, Varys had, indeed, been stepping away from the Blackfyre plot discreetly while gathering intelligence as if he were still on board.
(I specifically didn't spill hehehe...)
"I would have spoken of Illyrio as you returned to King's Landing, but since you were so hasteful, I thought against giving you another distraction and wasting valuable days that could have been spent sailing east."
"Well done, Varys." I nodded, smiling. "You live again. I hope it's the last time that I'll have to doubt your loyalty."
"I can assure you that it is."
"Well, you're right about one thing: time is sparse. I will likely not be seeing you again for many months."
"I wish you the best on your campaign. I would suggest you call for more banners... but the decision to fight with smaller numbers was calculated, no doubt."
"It would be too much of an expense if I called for more. Besides, I'd rather not take any more valuable men from the Realm where they have families to provide and take care of... especially in the midst of winter."
"A wise move, if you can triumph."
"There is no if. I will."
...
We sailed out of King's Landing the next morning, aiming to meet with the Iron Fleet in the Stepstones rather than waiting for them to sail to the capital. Every day counted, after all, and Pentos was quite the detour - although a worthwhile and relatively short one.
I wish I had an adult dragon or some form of transport that could get me across rapidly. Alas, ships with favourable winds and waves would have to do (which weren't exactly slow).
If Daenerys holds, I should have enough time...