Gendry felt as if it had always been summer for as long as he could remember. King's Landing seemed enveloped in a vibrant green, full of life.
The climate of Westeros was unstable; each season could last for years. A long summer brought prosperity, while a Long Winter brought hardship. This summer began in 289 AC and had not yet ended.
People said this was because King Robert was favored by the Seven Gods, but there were also voices of concern, as summer and winter were relative. If a long summer lasted for ten or eight years, then the ensuing Long Winter would also be the longest and most severe. However, these wise ones were always a minority; the people of king's landing still lived a boisterous, noisy, and decadent life. A long summer was just right; this season was for enjoyment.
"Come on, children, let's go visit the Great Sept of Baelor! Submitting to the glory of the Gods is better than going to Flea Bottom to watch dogfights, gamble, and be seduced by those cheap women." Gendry's life wasn't always boring; occasionally, Tobho, the smithy's owner, would take his apprentices to visit the Great Sept of Baelor atop Visenya's Hill. Master Tobho wasn't truly obsessed with faith; he just enjoyed the lively atmosphere, and besides, the Smith was one of the Seven Gods. The Great Sept of Baelor, very close to the smithy, was bustling with people every day.
Gendry saw the beautiful white marble plaza, with a giant statue of Baelor I towering in the center. It stood calmly on its pedestal, looking compassionate. Under the glass, gold, and crystal dome, Gendry also saw the seven aspects of the Seven Gods: the Father, the Warrior, the Maiden, the stranger, the Crone, the Smith, and the Mother. The Smith represented craftsmanship and labor. People often prayed to the Smith for strength when they had work to be done.
"The Maiden brought a lady as supple as a weeping willow, with eyes like deep blue ponds, and Hugo swore to marry her. So the Mother made her fertile, and the Crone prophesied she would bear the King forty-four strong sons. The Warrior made them strong and mighty, and the Smith forged a suit of steel armor for each of them." The septas sang from *The Seven-Pointed Star*, and the entire dome felt sacred and solemn, with everyone immersed in the virtues of the Gods.
But undoubtedly, most of the apprentices were bored by the sermon. Compared to a free visit to the Great Sept of Baelor, they preferred to spend some money and find fun in Flea Bottom. Still, at least they didn't have to sweat in the hot room, so they were happy to enjoy a moment of leisure.
When the septas finished their hymns, Tobho led the apprentices out, preparing to return to the smithy.
"Listen to me, children. Every Boy loves the Warrior, but few love the Smith. What can Warriors do? They wield swords and bring slaughter and the wailing of widows. But we Smiths have a profession that creates happiness. The hammers in our hands are tools that feed us. Can a Knight say the same?
The Smith makes plows for tilling fields and planting crops, nails for repairing ships, horseshoes to protect the hooves of loyal horses, and the shining swords of the Lord. The value of the Smith is undeniable, which is why he is revered as one of the Seven Gods. The Father rules, the Warrior fights, the Smith labors—together they represent the duties men should fulfill." Tobho spoke with great fervor, trying to make the apprentices recognize the greatness of their work, instead of always dreaming of Knights fighting and charging.
As they prepared to leave the Great Sept of Baelor, an unexpected event occurred. King Robert's procession arrived; the King was now entering the Great Sept. The King's procession was a river of gold, silver, and steel, including Gold Cloaks, White Knights, vassals, and sworn Knights.
Ten standard-bearers of House Baratheon rode at the forefront, their banners fluttering on poles, displaying the black crowned stag on a field of gold.
"Make way! Make way!" the Gold Cloaks shouted, pushing the common people aside to let the King's procession pass.
Deep within the crowd, Gendry saw King Robert, the fat man riding in front, protected on either side by two White Knights in snowy white cloaks. He was his father, but there was little kinship between them. Gendry saw an older but very elegant Old Knight, who must be one of the greatest Knights, Ser Barristan.
King Robert had once been a peerless Warrior, but now he had gained seven or eight stone, becoming a massive fat man with nothing to hide his protruding belly and sunken dark circles under his eyes. Robert had always been materialistic and fond of pleasure; ever since he sat on the iron throne, the King's physique had swelled like an inflated balloon.
As the King passed, the common people cheered, but it wasn't particularly enthusiastic. After all, many people of king's landing had not forgotten the pillaging of House Lannister in King's Landing, which made it hard to truly like the King.
"Are the King's two brothers also here? That's rare!" someone whispered, but Gendry had sharp ears and heard clearly. He looked at the procession behind the King and indeed saw two more men following closely, bearing the sigil of House Baratheon. They had the same deep blue eyes and charcoal black hair.
Stannis was born with broad shoulders, strong limbs, a taut face, and skin hardened like iron from long exposure to the sun. Stannis was not old, but he only had a fringe of fine black hair, like the shadow of a crown, encircling his ears. His beard was trimmed short and neat, like a blue shadow, covering his square jaw and the hollows of his cheeks. As he passed, the cheers of the common people grew even softer. People felt that Stannis was a man of iron, and few loved him.
When Renly appeared, it was different. Renly wore an embroidered green velvet suit, with a golden cloak fastened by a golden stag brooch; every part of his attire was luxurious. Lord Renly resembled King Robert in his youth, tall and handsome, with black hair reaching his shoulders. The difference was that Lord Renly was not an indomitable Warrior like his elder brother, and was not known for his valor. Lord Renly waved to the common people, who then cheered several times louder than before.
King Robert laughed heartily, unconcerned. Stannis, however, glanced at his brother, his brow furrowed. Gendry noticed the difference in their expressions, Stannis's anger, which the King ignored.
Stannis's attire and grooming were far less luxurious than his younger brother Renly's, partly because Stannis was more frugal, and also because Dragonstone, though important, was a barren land. Storm's End was clearly larger and richer than Dragonstone, which always left Stannis with a simmering resentment.
"The Knight of Flowers?" Gendry then saw a young, slender half-grown Boy, wearing beautiful armor, with three golden roses blooming on a green field on his green cloak. This Boy seemed inseparable from Renly; he had long, flowing brown hair and a pair of beautiful golden eyes. This Boy also waved to the common people, and people cheered for the noble son of House Tyrell. The people of king's landing liked such beautiful people.
"They're really close," Gendry thought. It was said that the youngest son of House Tyrell had been fostered at Storm's End as Renly Baratheon's Attendant.
The King's retinue swept like wind and clouds towards the Great Sept. Only when they had completely passed did the Gold Cloaks relax their control.
"What a mess!" Gendry thought to himself. King's Landing was currently in a state of chaos, with Robert's three brothers, the Lannisters, Lord Jon, and the hidden Spider and Littlefinger. He wasn't too concerned about the changing situation; his only thought was to quickly escape the fate of a pawn and be safe.
"Our fat King! Unbelievable!" an elderly woman complained. "He was so handsome when he was young, a strong man with a clean-shaven face and clear, charming eyes, like a Maiden's dream. But look at him now!"
"Say less," the old woman's husband interjected, seeing the Gold Cloaks walk away. "If a man is too addicted to wine and whores, even a warhammer will rust."
"It's rare to see all three stags out. It seems the High Septon's charm is indeed great. Is it because of faith?"
"It's four stags," Gendry thought, "and one wild deer."
"Faith my ass! I think it's probably to borrow some money from the High Septon."