Ninth Month of 283 A.C. Vulture's Roost
Ser Lann Waters
The orders had been clear, his father had wanted him and his brothers to go to wherever it might be that Rhaegar Targaryen had kept Lyanna Stark and to kill her and any children that she might have had. Lann knew why his father had asked him to do that, remove the Stark girl and his father could finally have his daughter as queen. Lann had met his sister a few times, though she had never paid much attention to him before, she would make a terrible queen, she had no sense in her head. Of course his father was blind to his trueborn children's faults, he still wanted that airhead as his heir, and yet the boy was so ill suited to being a future Lord of the Westerlands that Lann really wanted to cry. And yet he would do his duty, for there were rewards promised for him and his siblings for succeeding in this mission. Though he knew it was one that his father did not expect them to survive, he supposed once this was all done, he would have to have words with his father. This would not, and he was not willing to be brought down low over this matter.
The man standing in front of him however was not the man he had thought to find. This was not even the place they were supposed to be at, but still he was intrigued as to what the man before him was doing, and with an army as well. "Prince Oberyn Nymeros Martell, a pleasure to meet you. I had not thought to see you here, after all last I had heard you were serving time in exile in Essos."
The Prince smiled somewhat and said. "Indeed I was. But my time in exile has come to an end. I returned home, to find out that my family has suffered a great many tragedies. I am here looking for answers, and I intend to find them."
"And you believe that you will find the information you want here? I had thought that they were camped at that damnable Tower of Joy as it were. After all, that would make the most sense, with it being in isolation and not as well-known as this area." Lann says.
The prince looks at him once and then says. "And I might ask you the same question, Ser. What would you, a bastard I presume want to do with three Kingsguard and a prince?"
Lann is impressed by the man, and says. "I am here looking, for the rightful king. Say what you wish about Robert Baratheon, and Rhaegar Targaryen, but I would rather see the rightful king on the throne, than some drunken lout with a whore as his queen."
Oberyn looks at him a long moment and then says. "And which queen would that be Ser? The Stark one who would have been a replacement for my sister, or the blond one that the child killer is trying to shove down the usurper's throat."
Lann finds that he quite likes this man. "I was meaning the child killer's daughter. The stark one is dead for all I can tell. After all it is the talk of the town when I came here. I was sent by men with Targaryen sympathies to look for the rightful king and their Kingsguard, to negotiate an alliance. After all the usurper is a man who has shown that he is unwilling to allow dragon sympathisers to breathe easy, what is the point of allowing such a man to remain living, when we are the ones who might be the ones to continue seeing his arse on the throne."
Prince Oberyn smiles then and says. "I like you Ser. You did not tell me what your name was Ser. If I am to be working alongside you, I would like to know whom it is I am speaking to."
Lann extends a hand and with an easy smile says. "Ser Lann Waters at your service my prince."
"Waters eh?" the prince asks. "So are you a noble one? After all you look like one. So who were your parents? Judging by your blond hair, I would say a Lannister was at least your mother, and judging by your confidence someone else who were close to the Targaryens was your father."
Lann smiles somewhat, knowing just how close the man is to the truth he says. "Aye well my father was a Lannister though he died long before I was actually born. But my mother was from the crownlands, and was somewhat known to the court. As such I suppose it would explain why I am so confident and as such why I am here."
Martell's eyes narrow and he says. "A Lannister as a father eh? And which Lannister was this?"
Lann smiles somewhat and says. "Oh he was a minor one my prince. Not any of the scumbags who killed Princess Elia and her children. I am here, to see that the rightful ruling family is restored to its rightful place. And that there is justice done for Princess Elia and her children."
The prince looks at him then and says. "You certainly put forward a convincing argument Waters. But how do I know you are speaking the truth and are not simply lying to me to try and ensure that I can tell you what information I know to pass onto Tywin Lannister?"
Lann laughs then. "Oh my prince, if you think I would work for Tywin Lannister you are sorely mistaken. The man does not hold sway over all of the Westerlands, or Westerlanders after all the man was a tyrant and someone who holds little respect or love for his own people. The man saw my own father, his kin, dead for some petty reason or slight. No I am doing all of this so that I might bring Tywin Lannister down and broken."
The prince is silent for a long time and then he bursts out laughing. "Oh you are good Ser. Very well then I shall tell you what I know and you will join my company." Lann nods and then the prince continues. "From what I know there is no point going to the tower as the Kingsguard and the King have left, gone from there north to Highgarden I believe, where the king's grandfather is planning something. What it is I know not, but I know there are old secrets here in the Roost that can aid us, I am waiting for more men to come, and when they do we shall ride for Highgarden. Now unless there is aught more you wish to speak of I must retire, I have a paramour who needs some company."
Lann nods and watches the prince depart wondering what he can do with this information, the fake king will be in Highgarden, a perfect chance for them to get to work. He stands there a moment and then leaves to find his siblings, his brother Tybolt and his sister Myrcella, twins, and one without the other is unthinkable. His brother is a good warrior if somewhat hot headed, whilst his sister is beautiful and deserving of being queen. Once they are seated he tells them of his conversation. "Oberyn Martell is going to swear his spear and those of Dorne to the Targaryen Stark child, in order to get revenge for his sister and her children. We shall be going to Highgarden."
His sister speaks then. "So then, what will we do brother? When Oberyn Martell figures out who we are exactly and it will not take all that long considering we shall be going with him, what will you plan on doing?"
Lann considers this for a moment and then says. "By the time anyone figures out who we are, we shall be long gone and the boy will be dead. By that point uncle Tywin will need to realise how valuable we are to his cause. We did not get Lyanna Stark, but we can get her child. Furthermore, there is a chance to sew more discord here as well."
His sister looks at him then and says. "Are you planning on trying to get close to Rickard Stark or his son brother? After all Rickard Stark will be more suspicious of us, and Eddard Stark at this point will still be clinging to his honour like a dog clings to a bone."
Lann smiles at his sister then and says. "Not necessarily. We already know that he has fallen out with Robert, what is there for him to stick onto? And he has been away from Winterfell for a long time, and his wife. You are an exceptionally beautiful woman Myrcella, no man with any urges in his brain would want. It is time for you to use the tools you have to good practice. Sleep with Eddard Stark and confuse his mind even more."
His sister looks at him a moment and then says. "Easier said than done brother. Stark will definitely be up tight and looking for more reaction than this. We must look for other alternatives. Furthermore, who will be the done to kill the boy?"
All of them are silent then considering this and then Lann says. "Tybolt, how quickly do you reckon you can do the deed and sneak out before anyone notices something is amiss?"
His brother, a quick eye with a sword says. "Quite quickly, after all I did not earn my spurs by being slow. Of course I shall need a distraction, some sort of story for if I am to do this without the Kingsguard being there and watching my every more they will need to be distracted."
Lann considers this a moment and then says. "We shall deal with this issue on a later date. But for sure, there will be time for concern and worry, something I shall deal with. But as long as you are sure that we can achieve this then I have nothing further to say."
Myrcella speaks then and asks. "What will happen if we fail brother?"
Lann looks at his sister and then takes a hold of her hand and says. "Then we shall die and no one shall mourn our deaths. But I will not allow that I promise you that." With that he and his siblings go their separate ways, Myrcella no doubt to find Prince Oberyn, and Tybolt to his drinking and gambling. Lann himself wanders around Vulture's Roost, it was once a defensive castle, a fort perhaps. But he knows one tale that is told of the time when the horned ones fought the giants and Vulture's Roost was the place where Jonothor the Giant made his stand. Breaking down three of the horned ones before eventually falling himself, but not before sending the Horned King running.
"It is not as impressive as it was in history, would you not agree?" a voice asks behind him, and Lann turns round his hand on his sword, the man he finds looking at him has a shock of orange hair and a shaggy beard, a black duck on a field of red on his armour.
"Yes, yes I would." Lann says. "Definitely not as impressive as the tales make it out to be. But then again it has been a ruin for some time. Not since the first Dornish War has it been used. And there is no purpose in seeing it rebuilt."
The man nods and then says. "Sorry I forgot my manners, I am Ser Rolly Flowers, otherwise known as Duck. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Ser Lann Waters," he says shaking the man's outstretched hand. "But why do they call you Duck? Is it because of the Duck emblazoned on your armour?"
The man laughs somewhat. "I can see why you might think that. But no, it is because I like cooking duck, it is a rarity but I make a fine duck soup when the time is right."
Lann nods and then asks. "You are a long way from home Flowers. And with a Dornishmen's sellsword company as well I am surprised."
The man laughs again and says. "I can see why that might be. But I met Prince Oberyn during his time in Essos. Why it was in Tyrosh we met, and we became good friends. There are certain things that we both agree on."
"Oh? And what might that be?" Lann asks intrigued.
The man grows serious and says. "That red or black, a dragon is a dragon, and we shall get our vengeance one way or another."