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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 12, 2015 13:31:05 GMT -5
"Just so we're clear.. you want to go to war with every single kingdom on this continent with the help of the Volantene, to whom we would forever be indebted to, so we can unite the Seven Kingdoms for a Dothraki invasion?" Jaymes asked skeptically.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 12, 2015 14:12:41 GMT -5
"You shouldn't be so insolent," Stafford says, with an edge, "We have the Vale, the Faith, and the Kingsland and Dorne are both completely overwhelmed with their own problems. If we had one king chaos like this could never go unanswered. We cannot win alone so we reached out for aid. You cannot always pick your allies." After a moment he asks offhandedly. "Do you have a better idea? It seems absurd, but this Vhagus destroyed Mantarys in under three weeks. A city bigger than Oldtown and Lannisport put together."
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 12, 2015 14:27:02 GMT -5
Jaymes studied him for a moment. "Is this why you really started this war?" he asked quietly.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 12, 2015 14:35:40 GMT -5
"Self aggrandizement is all well and good, son, but yes, there is a threat, and we need to face that threat. Who better to lead Westeros into a union than us? The Baratheons worship fire and burn every idol they find to the Seven, Princess Nalya has Bryce Dayne to deal with, and the Starks worship trees and, need I remind you, let your sister die. So, I admit, son, vengeance is on my mind, but if I can get revenge and do the realm a service at the same time, why not?" He points to the east. "In that direction is our future. The blood spilled over the next few months will fertilize the land for the peace to follow." Then he shrugs. "And if you'd rather have a Westerosi bride, we can find one of those for you. Marriage makes peace far easier than war, if the match can be found."
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 12, 2015 15:04:20 GMT -5
He had no more love for the Baratheons, Dayne or Starks than his father, yet his eyes burned with anger at his words. Rarely one for sarcastic comments and backhandedness like his twin, Jaymes was, however, known for his occasional fits of temper. "You are completely right," he spat. "The way I see it, the east will become our future. Just not the way you think it will. Right after we bleed this realm dry and let the Volantene have their easy pickings only to become the wasteland of another Valyrian conquest?! I shall have a grand time sitting atop Casterly Rock with my exotic wife knowing I have to lick the boot of some tattooed slave-herder for the rest of my life!" The colour had risen to his cheeks now, and he had to take a deep breath. If he was regretting talking back to his father for most likely the first time in his life, it did not show.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 12, 2015 15:14:07 GMT -5
"Then what do you propose?" Stafford's eyes are bright with fury. "All I hear are problems I have had to wrestle with since King Kyle died. He was strong enough and had the name and reputation to MAKE people bend to his will. His son does not, and I do not. And, unless I am sorely underestimating you, YOU do not. We use the tools available. If Volantis tries to double-cross us then we will send all their pretty little asses straight to hell! Until then, we have enemies who are closer and far more interested in seeing us dead."
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 12, 2015 15:25:24 GMT -5
Jaymes sighed as it had finally come to the inevitable he and his sister had discussed many months ago back in Lannisport, before he had joined the host. He had not exactly liked the idea then and he did not like it now. "We do not have to be at war with the North, father. Stark lost a daughter just as you did. If you looked past your vengeance, you'd see that there is an easier way out of this. With a marriage," he said evenly.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 12, 2015 15:30:57 GMT -5
Stafford raises an eyebrow at the almost preposterously audacious plan. "A marriage between who and who, then? His voice is at the low, calm, reasonable tone he seems to get before an explosion.
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 12, 2015 15:39:49 GMT -5
"Joanna sa-" he began, and quickly cleared his throat to cover the fact, but it was probably blatantly obvious anyway that the idea had not been his own. He half-shrugged. "The king and one of Prince Benjen's sisters."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 12, 2015 15:46:00 GMT -5
Stafford narrowed an eyebrow. "Of course she suggested that. She will rule the damn North if she would just be obedient for once in her gods-damned life. You'd think I never rescued her, never sent five thousand men searching for two months until we came upon her." He looked at Jaymes. "What do WE gain from this? What does our king? He can have the wolf girl as a bride if he wants, provided her brother bends the knee and proclaims him King of the Goldlands and the North. I doubt Prince Benjen is the type to bend."
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 12, 2015 16:19:37 GMT -5
"I have a feeling we would not be having this conversation right now, had you not betrothed her to Grafton," he said, taking a seat and studying the map with a stubborn frown on his face. The ridiculous idea of a Stark alliance would have stayed between the twins and the king would still have been safely at Casterly Rock. His father was of course right; the marriage between the King and a Stark girl would have been of little consequence. He loved his sister dearly, but her endless circles and half-truths exhausted him. After a long silence, during which Jaymes looked as if he was going to stare a hole into the map, he finally scoffed. "She would rule the damn North," he repeated, trailing off as if he found the notion amusing. "Throw her to the wolves then."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 12, 2015 16:27:04 GMT -5
"She gave me no choice; spurning every suitor, saying nothing. What else could I do? She can't be a maid forever. But, I will vow something," he finally says, "If Prince Benjen swears fealty to King Brynden and they join us in our efforts to unify the kingdoms, then I shall send Joanna to him and let Grafton burn in a traitor's hell for all I care. He can keep the Riverlands for all it matters to me, but he will give fealty."
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 12, 2015 16:39:23 GMT -5
Jaymes snorted. "That traitor's hell will freeze over before Stark bends the knee to us," he said, with no malice to his voice, just sounding a little tired. He had said it out of spite, but the idea was not entirely terrible. "Joanna's son would be king. That is still closer to royalty than our family will ever get."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 12, 2015 16:58:37 GMT -5
"You forget he has sons already, Jaymes. They would come before him. But very well, I shall treat with the prince. Before we wipe his army from the face of the earth. Rally the men and return. I must prepare for the king." Stafford let out a deep breath and returned to his bedroll.
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 13, 2015 8:31:56 GMT -5
Jaymes had indeed forgotten about that. He stood, lingering there awkwardly for a brief moment before stepping closer to his father and putting a hand on his shoulder. "I will marry whoever you want me to for the benefit of this house. And I do believe in your cause, but a few things, they.. just won't add up and we need to make some changes." He squeezed his shoulder and let go. "Best of luck, father."
With that, he quickly left to get prepared as Lord Stafford had already readied the army.
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