The Wizard of Fury Chapter 50

The Throne Room was silent unlike anything Margaery had ever heard. In the short time that she’d been here, she’d yet to see the Throne Room with fewer than a dozen servants at the very least. By midday, she’d reasonably expect to witness hundreds of courtiers and servants enter into this room. Most were here to curry favour with King Robert, a small number were here for actual issues, and the rest simply believed that being near the king and his court would somehow elevate their status. Yet, it was almost empty today except for three people.

Sat atop the Iron Throne, Stannis Baratheon looked down upon her and his son, Harry. His grimaced face rarely seemed to change these days now that he’d been declared king. Even the arrival of his wife and daughter to the capital had done little to alleviate the seemingly-permanent malaise that permeated him.

Being the King of the Seven Kingdoms was Stannis’ duty, and yet he didn’t seem content with it. Harry had spoken to her about Stannis’ concerns over the dangers that King’s Landing posed to his family and the fact that he was now bound to deal with countless highborn lords and ladies who’d try to manipulate him for their own ends. Stannis certainly wasn’t the type to play along with any of their games, which made him poorly suited for the throne.

Ever since she was little, Margaery had understood that any lord needed more than just the status of their position over their bannermen to rule them effectively. They had to be strong, courageous, and charismatic if they wished to inspire proper leadership. While Stannis may have the former two, he certainly lacked the latter. And that would ultimately be his undoing here.

It was not her place to try to educate Stannis on matters which he was attended to. If he chose to continue as he was and attempt to lord over others through his simple concept of duty above all else, then he was welcomed to do so. But she would not allow her husband-to-be to fall under the same naive notions.

But talks like that would take time. They’d barely been reunited for a few moons now, and though she felt closer to him than anyone else in her life, she wasn’t about to try to upend his entire belief system. Harry loved his father and looked up to him as well he should. He had developed enviable qualities from the king, but Margaery had to help him shed his foolish ones and subtly guide him towards better ones that’d make him a greater king than any who’d come before him.

And if she failed, it could result in her entire house entering into a state of declination amongst the houses of the Reach and the rest of the kingdoms.

Worst of all, it would result in Harry being less than he could be.

Margaery loved him with all of her heart, and there was nothing that would make her happier than seeing her husband-to-be adored by the masses. Any help she could offer would certainly be welcomed, but it was ultimately up to Harry to take centre stage and direct the path forward.

As she and Harry came upon the base of the Iron Throne, they both bowed deeply before straightening their backs and taking a couple steps backwards to more easily look upon their king.

“You have been effective in reorganising the defences of the Red Keep,” Stannis said to Harry plainly. However, Margaery had been around the man long enough to notice the subtle approval within his tone.

“Thank you,” Harry bowed his head. “You will wish to replace Janos Slynt as the head of the gold cloaks at your earliest convenience. Lord Stark had intended to do so but recent matters have directed his thoughts elsewhere.”

“Indeed,” Stannis replied. “And who would you recommend?”

“I have heard that Ser Jacelyn Bywater is an effective commander—”

“Then he shall be appointed in Ser Janos’ stead,” Stannis declared. “Ser Janos will be promptly dismissed for failing to protect the city and the Red Keep. Based upon the man’s corruptions, I fear it won’t be long before a gold cloak with a grudge finds him and arrests him for any crime they’ve witnessed during their tenure. He’ll be at the Wall before long.”

“And the Realm shall be better for it,” Harry agreed.

Margaery held her sounds of approval for later. Her beloved was operating as a Crown Prince should. He was speaking to the king almost like an equal, and he showed a shrewd mind for politics. For all of her own political acumen, she was keenly aware of the fact that Stannis still harboured suspicions over her due to her magical abilities and her family name. Her advice, sound or not, would generally be unwanted. It needed to be delivered only in carefully-chosen moments.

“With that matter settled,” Stannis began, “I wish to discuss the future of our house. It is only natural that the king and queen remain in the capital to oversee the affairs of the Seven Kingdoms, and Lady Selyse insists on remaining by her daughter’s side.”

It was quite difficult for Margaery to hide a grimace at that. Harry had spent many hours explaining his mother’s oddities to Margaery. In truth, she sounded utterly deranged, like the type of woman who should be locked up to ensure that she did no harm to herself or others, and Harry even agreed with her to an extent. Harry’s sister, Shireen, however, was a different story entirely.

Harry adored Shireen.

According to his own words, he’d protected her with magic, a power she still failed to truly understand. His connection to her was strong despite his own admittance that she seemed to lack his capability for magical power. He loved her truly, and though he was much more adept at dealing with the politics within King’s Landing, he hadn’t been pleased to see Shireen arrive at the capital.

“Then what do you have for me?” Harry asked. “Am I to replace you as the Master of Ships?”

“No,” Stannis shook his head.

Harry raised his eyebrows. “Then your Hand—”

“Do not get ahead of yourself,” Stannis interjected sharply. “You have proved yourself to be capable, yes, far beyond what I would’ve expected of you. But you are still inexperienced in the world, and running the Seven Kingdoms is not something to be taken lightly. There are others I would assign to such positions.”

“Then what is there left for me?” Harry asked.

“Dragonstone,” Stannis answered.

Harry cocked his head to the side curiously, but Margaery’s mind already unravelled what Stannis was about to explain.

“For centuries, the Targaryens have given Dragonstone to the Crown Prince or Princess,” Stannis told Harry. “Although my brother gave me that castle, he certainly didn’t intend it to mark me as his heir. However, I will not rule as my brother did. I will instill my own direction upon our people, beginning with this. From this day until my last, Dragonstone will once again be the seat of the Crown Prince of Princess.”

Clever, Margaery thought to herself.

The Targaryens had instilled so many traditions that’d become ingrained in tradition that it became to recognise many of them. However, a few, such as the heir to the throne being granted Dragonstone, was still well recognised among the smallfolk and the Maesters. It would easily identify Harry as the next in line to the throne among the older smallfolk of the Seven Kingdoms, and the highborn would be educated enough to recognise the statement that Stannis was making.

This explained why he’d asked Margaery here as well. Stannis was giving her the chance to begin planning her future. As Harry’s wife, she’d be expected to manage his household and finances. She would also have a close connection with Highgarden, and that could be used to bring in trade to the island.

She’d heard that little was grown on Dragonstone itself; the island relied heavily upon fishermen and trade to sustain its meagre population. That would be one of her first changes. Volcanic soil was always excellent for farming.

Harry bowed his head low. “You honour me.”

An ironic statement given the fact that King Robert gave Dragonstone to Stannis as an insult.

“And you will honour me by ruling it well,” Stannis told Harry. “These will be trying times in the months ahead. There will be pirates prying upon our shipping lanes in the flawed belief that my ascension will disrupt our cities’ supply lines. Dragonstone operates as an important fortress upon the sea, ready to send forth ships to deal with problems as they arise. I expect you to be ready to deal with such incursions promptly.”

“I will,” Harry promised.

“Good,” Stannis nodded. “Then you two shall depart for the island immediately after your wedding.”

“If I may, my king,” Margaery interjected quickly, knowing that she had to be the one to bring this up. It was meant to be a show of trust in her husband-to-be. “There is a matter related to that which we need to discuss with you.”

Stannis raised a single eyebrow at her, silently urging her to go on.

“Princess Arianne Martell has indicated that she wishes to learn to harness her powers from Harry,” Margaery explained to Stannis. “She seems quite set on travelling to Dragonstone with us, and we believe that it would be in our best interest to agree to her request.”

Stannis took some time to ponder over this. “Does Prince Doran approve of this? His unwed daughter, the heir to Sunspear, leaving his side?”

“I believe that he is unaware of her plans,” Margaery admitted.

“Harbouring her would be seen as a slight against him,” Stannis said. “And completely inappropriate in the eyes of many, myself included. She should return to Dorne with her father.”

“Both Princess Arianne and Prince Oberyn have given me their version of events of an argument that precipitated her desire to come to Dragonstone with us,” Harry grimaced as the memory replayed in his mind. Any familial complications that Margaery had experienced paled in comparison to what Arianne had gone through. “There may be no mending the damage done between father and daughter, and Prince Doran will likely name his younger son as heir instead.”

“But he has not as of yet,” Stannis rightfully pointed out. “And until he does, Arianne is a political complication that I cannot afford.”

“Prince Doran may cause some issues, but Oberyn has made it clear that he supports Arianne’s decision, privately at least,” Margaery told him. “He has witnessed magic first hand and understands just how powerful it can be. I believe that he will attempt to placate his brother in the hopes that Arianne hones her powers for the betterment of their house. If you wish, we could try to extract some more direct assurances from him.”

“If we made an offer to him, he may agree to travel to Dragonstone with her as her escort,” Harry added.

Stannis eyed the two of them carefully. “Why are you both so determined for Arianne to travel with you? You know how this will look to the realm. An attractive, unattached heir to one of the most powerful families in Westeros going to an island with the Crown Prince. There will be many who believe that something untoward is going on.”

“Not if she comes with an escort,” Margaery pointed out. “In that case, we could make the argument that this is an attempt to strengthen ties between the Crown and Dorne. Of course, we wouldn’t be able to say as much directly without angering Prince Doran, but we could spread the rumour regardless.”

Stannis looked none too pleased with what he presumably saw as an underhanded tactic. To him, it was one more piece of evidence that Margaery was a manipulative woman.

“Imagine the stability that would come from having Dorne enter the fold,” Harry argued. “We have a close connection with Oberyn already, and everyone knows that Prince Doran’s health fares worse with each passing year. Many believe he won’t live through the upcoming winter. Having Arianne on our side, even if Prince Doran names Trystane as his heir, will develop an important ally for our house. Think of it: the great houses from the Crownlands, Stormlands, the Reach, and Dorne united together. And we’ve come up with a plan for the North as well.”

“The knighting ceremony for those who fought in the defence of King’s Landing was delayed due to your coronation,” Margaery continued for Harry. “Jon Snow proved his worth thrice over in aiding Harry’s search for the traitor beneath King’s Landing, fighting the enemies within the castle’s walls, and protecting me when we were separated from Harry and Oberyn. He’s one of the most worthy of a knighthood, but he has no lands or titles to rely on. His father may offer him a small holdfast in the North, but a more attractive proposition would be for him to enter into the Crown Prince’s household guard.”

“Thus tying Ned Stark to us,” Harry finished with a warm smile sent Margaery’s way.

Most of this plan had been hers after all. The realm was still currently united in outrage over the deaths of King Robert and his family, but that unity would swiftly fade as petty squabbles from time immemorial became the centre of attention once more. It would be up to Stannis to manage these as the king, but he wouldn’t be the king forever.

Countless nights, Margaery had stared up at the glimmering stars above and imagined what it would be like to be a queen. She’d heard all of the histories of Good Queen Alysanne, the strife that Rhaenyra Targaryen brought upon the realm, and the wildness of Princess Saera Targaryen among countless others. More than anything else, she dreamt of being the perfect queen. Someone who was capable of handling any problems thrown her way, loved by the smallfolk and highborn alike, the very definition of beauty and grace and wits.

But those dreams had come to a sharp halt when she’d first met Harry. Even back then, their connection had been something special. Her dream of becoming the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms died that night when they’d stood on the terrace above Vinehall as the sun set.

Now, her dreams were returned to her. She was to be Harry’s wife and rule the Seven Kingdoms alongside him, and she wasn’t going to let anyone ruin their perfect lives together.

Although it would be many years yet before Harry became king, she needed to start preparing for his ascension well in advance. That meant developing positive relations with the important families of Westeros. While some, like the Greyjoys of Pyke, would likely never become friends, there were countless others still in play.

It was sound, wise, and everything that a king should want for his son.

“You’ve given this quite a bit of thought,” Stannis acknowledged, still managing to sound displeased despite how sound the idea was. Margaery truly couldn’t understand why he didn’t simply accept the proposal immediately. Then again, this was Stannis Baratheon they were talking about. His rigidity and refusal to play the great game of politics by established rules were well known across the lands.

“It is the best path forward,” Harry emphasised. “For all of us.”

Suddenly, Stannis looked away, and Margaery saw true tiredness in his eyes. They seemed to drift, following the lines of the brick walls. It was a simpler thing to lay one brick atop another than to play politics. There were clearer rules when it came to constructing a wall.

“I’ll expect you to answer if Prince Doran raises questions over his daughter’s place at Dragonstone,” Stannis told them, his brow furrowed as he continued to stare off, only keeping them in the corner of his gaze. “And you will inform Lord Stark about your intent to take his son into our household before you do so.”

“Of course, father,” Harry bowed slightly.

Harry and Margaery watched as Stannis stood from the throne and made the slow, careful walk down the sharp steps. If his balance teetered for even a moment, he could easily find himself falling onto the jagged blades that stuck out on either side of the throne.

When Stannis walked out of the throne room without another word, Harry’s face became rife with worry. Margaery pressed herself to his side in an instant, placing a comforting hand on his chest.

“Worry not, my love,” she murmured to him. “He’s still adapting, as we all are.”

“I don’t like the idea of being away from him for long,” Harry admitted. “I worry for him in a place like this. My mother isn’t the type to host balls or welcome guests warmly. And Shireen is still so young. She shouldn’t grow up here, but my mother won’t let her out of her sight.”

“Your father’s men will be here with them to keep them safe,” Margaery assured him. “Ser Davos seems like a fine man, as do many of the other knights of your house. Dragonstone is not so far away that it would be difficult for them to visit you or us them.”

But even her sweet words seemed to have as little effect in improving Harry’s mood as they did with Stannis. Harry could brood quite well at moments when he was afforded the opportunity. It was simultaneously frustrating and oh-so attractive to Margaery.

She kissed his cheek gently. “Your father will have a new small council with men he can trust and a new Kingsguard to replace Ser Meryn Trant. Ser Barristan will see that your family is well protected, and should they need saving, I happen to know of quite the handsome hero who will run in head first to protect those he loves most.”

That at least brought a small smile to his lips.

“Come, let us summon Lord Stark and Jon Snow to us,” she continued. “We can meet with them right here.”

With the king’s departure, servants flitted back into the throne room and began preparing long banquet tables for tonight’s feast. While many lords and ladies had returned home after the coronation, many still lingered, especially those keen to witness the Crown Prince’s wedding. So, the feasts continued, which Lady Olenna was keen to point out that it was only possible thanks to the generosity of the Reach.

They called over a servant and had them send for Eddard and Jon, and nearly twenty minutes later, the two men arrived alongside Ghost, who walked in silently as always.

After a few moments of greetings, Margaery took a step back and allowed Harry to get to the heart of the matter. He explained their offer plainly: Jon and Ghost would be welcomed as a part of Harry’s household. They would travel to Dragonstone and live there as a household knight. He would be fed and taken care of, given a chance to continue his training in combat under other knights, and potentially be given his own land one day.

“A generous offer,” Eddard noted once Harry finished his explanation.

Jon’s eyes widened slightly. “You seriously want me to join you? Me?”

“Yes,” Harry answered with a touch of amusement. “You proved yourself well when you were needed most. If you came with us, you would be given a room large enough for you and your direwolf to share. You would be well fed and given a small stipend to purchase yourself some finer weapons and armour. Many of our family’s knights will be staying here in King’s Landing. There will be several new faces about on Dragonstone alongside you.”

It was an offer greater than Jon Snow had likely ever dreamt of receiving. And Margaery knew that it would make him loyal for life.

The father and son stepped aside to discuss it for just a brief few moments before Eddard gave his son a tight hug. Margaery’s lips curled into a smile.

“I would be honoured if you’d take me into your service, my prince,” Jon Snow said.

“Then kneel,” Harry ordered him as he drew his blade.

As he began knighting Jon Snow, a few lords and ladies who had entered the hall looked on curiously. Everyone knew that Lord Stark had a bastard son, but seldom few knew what he looked like. It wouldn’t be difficult for the onlookers to piece matters together though, and by the end of tonight’s feast, everyone would know who the prince had personally knighted.

And now they had a new ally locked in at their side.