Artys Arryn POV
"Kid, being smart's a good thing. But sometimes it's dangerous," Jaime said, eyes fixed on the Valyrian steel in my hand.
I'm not a kid. And you've no idea what my plans are. If even half succeed, you'll know what real danger looks like.
His gaze didn't leave the sword. A swordsman's hunger for Valyrian steel was as natural as breathing.
"You want it," I said, smiling. "Pity, you can't have it. Oathbreakers don't deserve such swords."
"You arrogant little shit." Jaime reached for his sword. Looks like he doesn't like being called a kingslayer, but now I've called him oathbreaker.
This must hit hard on a man obsessed with the glory of being a knight.
"Kingslayer," I corrected myself, "sorry, oathbreaker. Don't forget your place. You're a Kingsguard. Threatening the heir of a noble house without the king's order? And do I need to remind you it's House Baratheon that rules, not the Lannisters."
Jaime looked at the Goldcloaks, then at me. "Then hand it over to the Goldcloaks. They'll take it to the king, and His Majesty will decide what happens to the sword."
"I don't think so," Yohn Royce cut in, tightening his grip on his sword. "By right of conquest, the blade belongs to Lord Artys and by extension House Arryn, unless House Lannister is claiming this is Brightroar, which it's clearly not."
"There is no need to fight, Lord Royce. Let's head to the Small Council; arguing with this guard is of no use."
"Very well. Let's see if you could keep this arrogant attitude of yours when the king takes the sword. And boy, remember there are consequences of actions. Lannisters always pay their debts, and today's insult will be repaid." Jaime looked into my eyes.
"Let's see if you could afford to repay it." I looked right back into his green eyes.
~~~ Small council meeting ~~~
The Small Council meeting was being held. In the center of the table sat Robert Baratheon, King of the Seven Kingdoms. To his left sat Jon Arryn, his Hand, Lord of the Eyrie and Warden of the Vale. Next to him was Eldon Estermont, the Master of Laws. Beside him was Petyr Baelish, newly appointed Master of Coin.
On the right side was his brother, Stannis Baratheon, Master of Ships. Next to him sat Grand Maester Pycelle, and then there was Varys, the Master of Whisperers. Two Kingsguard stood silently behind Robert's chair, and two more Kingsguard were posted at the door of the room.
Jon Arryn POV
"Robert, you must control your spending. The treasury is empty, and the crown's expenses are run by the gold we borrowed from the Lannisters."
"Jon, for gods' sake, don't tell me all this. That's your job… You are my Hand." Robert was annoyed that he even had to attend the Small Council.
He does not understand what this debt to the Lannisters means. They have started gaining influence in King's Landing, which I could limit before, but now with debt in place, Tywin has leverage over us.
"Your Grace, I agree with Lord Arryn. The treasury is empty, and we have borrowed two hundred thousand gold dragons from House Lannister," Eldon Estermont, the current Master of Laws, commented.
At least someone sees the threat of borrowing money, especially from Tywin Lannister.
But with the Lannisters… though they do not ask for repayment, the number of men around the Lannister girl has increased, and a few dozen of these Westerlands men have joined the City Watch.
"For gods' sake, I am King of the Seven Kingdoms! Counting coppers is not my job. It's his." The King of the Seven Kingdoms pointed at the newly appointed Master of Coin, Petyr Baelish.
Petyr… he is a good boy. Lysa and he are childhood friends. Besides, she convinced me to make him the Master of Coin, considering he managed to increase the income from the customs at Gulltown. I have high hopes for him.
"Your Grace, my job is to find money and ensure the collection of taxes from all over the Seven Kingdoms. The King and the Hand spend it," Petyr said, respectful as always.
He is not wrong, but this fool who now has the crown of the Seven Kingdoms doesn't know how to control spending. All he does is spend gold on drinks, whores, and tourneys.
"I am done with this. You are my Small Council. The realm's matters are left to you; it's not my problem. Besides, Jon, I have told you many times you manage all this. I have no interest in running the Seven Kingdoms. But today you dragged me to this place."
For gods' sake, you are now the King of the Seven Kingdoms.
Though as Hand it is my job to run the realm, the king must be a part of it.
You should be ruling the Seven Kingdoms while I, as Hand, should be advising. But this fool spends most of his time drinking or with whores; if not them, then hunting.
"Robert, you are not just a lord. You are the king. There are responsibilities of a king. You can't just spend your time drinking and whoring."
I raised my voice. Perhaps when he was young, I should have stopped his whoring habits. But now it's too late. Besides, I can't do anything now since he has a bloody crown on his head.
"There is one more matter to discuss." Lord Eldon Estermont handed me a letter.
Now what is in this letter? But before I could open it, the doors of the Small Council opened and the Lord Commander of the City Watch walked in and bowed.
"I have something important to discuss," he said quickly, his tone urgent.
"Lord Commander, do I need to teach you how to address the king?" Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone, got up from his chair angrily, clearly annoyed by the lack of respect.
"Forgive me, my lord, but it is rather important. It's about the Hand's son," said Gerold Stone, the Lord Commander of the City Watch.
My son? What has happened to him now? I was delighted to know the boy could finally walk after his miraculous recovery, and now what could have happened to him?
"What happened to my son?" I shouted angrily.
Soon Gerold explained the incident. And as he explained the incident of the Blackwater Rush, the faces of the Small Council became serious, and all were astonished as Valyrian steel was no small thing.
When Gerold stopped, the door opened again. Soon the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Cersei Lannister, along with her brother Jaime Lannister, and two Goldcloaks with a man in chains entered the room.
This bastard must have told his sister about the incident. What does this girl think, that she could snatch the sword from my son? Not on my watch.
"Where is my son right now?" I asked Gerold. He needs to be safe. Though I had arranged a dozen knights to be with him, still, in this city filled with snakes, it is not enough. Perhaps I should send him to the Vale. I could trust Yohn to take care of my son.
"Lord Hand, I think you should have got the news," Cersei said with an arrogant and proud face.
This girl doesn't realize that she is not smart.
I don't know what that fool Tywin has done with his children.
One of his sons is honorless and arrogant, his twin sister an arrogant fool, and his dwarf son a whore-monger, just like his brother-in-law, the king.
Though no one could match Robert when it comes to whores and getting drunk.
Before I could reply, I noticed my son along with Yohn Royce, Ser Lyn, and Ser Andar walk into the room, and there were two boys with them likely the boys who were captured by the slavers.
There was the sword in my son's hand the reason why everyone in this room is excited.
But the thing that made me happy was that my heir was healthy again. I looked at Robert; there was anger in his eyes due to Artys's Valyrian features, those thanks to his mother's Essosi heritage.
"Artys, why did you go to Blackwater Rush? You should have taken rest for a few days, though you have recovered. But you should still have some rest." I walked towards my boy, but before I could reach him, a voice spoke.
POV ends
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