Chapter 99

As I entered the Throne Room of the Red Keep for the first Court of King Stannis' Reign in King's Landing, I couldn't help but notice the mood was a lot brighter than I thought it would be. Part of that was largely the result of what was going on right now. Stannis Baratheon sat on the Iron Throne, gazing out over the assembled petitioners and Lords, ready to dole out rewards as needed. The Current recipient of said honors was my vassal and the Warden of Cracklaw Point, Lord Rupert Crabb, along with his Bastard Nephew, Ser Clarence Pincer.

Ser Clarence was being awarded not only Bramblegorge but three other villages and the Market Town of Browwater as his Domain, as the current Knight of Browwater had been slain in the fighting in the Point. While the Brunes of Dyre Den would balk at losing so much lucrative territory, they would effectively be making up the difference by absorbing the Town of Ryman's Ridge from House Longwaters, who had been almost to a Man slain in the fighting. Of course, the actual main holding of House Longwaters, Serpentport on the Bluffs overlooking the Strait of Crabs, would be withheld for now. In the meantime, House Pincer becomes a Vassal of House Crabb with significant holdings, the equal of someone like House Forester of Ironrath.

In the meantime, House Brune of Brownhollow would also lose the Town of Riversource in the Hills, and the Village of Brownmill to House Crabb. Of course, that made Lord Crabb more powerful as well, something that was enhanced by the fact that not only did he have a potent vassal in the form of House Pincer, but he also received other holdings from House Brune of Brownhollow. It was a fact that would combine with the recent issues around the succession of Claw Isle.

Fortunately, Stannis and I had already spoken on this and the issue was being carefully sidestepped. Lady Amelia Celtigar and Ser Rennifer Crabb would be regents for their Second Child, who would take the Celtigar Name on reaching his majority and take up Claw Isle as a holding sworn to Dragonstone. In the meantime, their heir would be the one to inherit the Whispers and House Crabb's Holdings in Cracklaw Point. Once House Crabb had finished Stannis turned to the guards and nodded.

"Bring Forth Lords Pyne and Cave alongside Ser Langward. We will finish the Matter of Cracklaw Point this day." Intoned Stannis.

Ser Lucos Langward, Lord Symond Cave, and Lord Edric Pyne were brought in. Ser Lucos looked unwell, and I could see that he was feverish, a wound he had suffered at some point had festered while he had been held captive aboard a ship. He looked like he was not long for this world, however, he had no heir. The Beacon Tower would be a prize likely handed out by the end of the day. By contrast, Lords Cave and Pyne looked well-treated, but their faces were pulled into pinched scowls, recalcitrant as they were brought forth.

"Lords Pyne and Cave stand accused of conspiring to break the terms of their surrender by communicating with persons I have declared outlawed. Ser Lucos Langward has corroborated the testimony and you attacked him when he was returned to your cells. The wounds he suffered in your attacks have turned foul and now a truly repentant man is doomed to die. For that, I declare you both tainted and your lands and titles forfeit. However, as I am a reasonable King, I will give you one chance to avoid execution. What were you communicating to Lord Baelish's Agents?" Demanded Stannis.

That brought a round of murmurs through the gallery. I hadn't heard about this, and it seemed that neither had anyone else. If Littlefinger still had a few agents in the Capital that he could use to pass messages and intelligence back and forth, that could be a problem. I would have to get Vizimir to send agents to the Red Keep to do a full sweep for any lingering rats in the walls. I had little doubt that there would be some, the Red Keep was simply too honeycombed with hidden passages and escape tunnels for there not to be, but I'd thought Baelish's Influence was being purged. However, in response to Stannis' Ultimatum, Lord Pyne said nothing. Lord Cave, on the other hand, spoke up.

"It doesn't matter. Tywin Lannister is already on his way here. He has Fifty-Thousand Men and will retake this city easily enough. Your reign has at best, a few days before it ends." Scoffed Lord Cave.

"If that is your answer, then I shall have you in front of the Headsman by this afternoon. Would you care to reconsider?" Questioned Stannis.

"No. No, I would not." Scoffed Lord Cave.

"What of you, Lord Pyne? Are you also eager to throw your life away?" Queried Stannis.

"My sons are dead, my lands and titles stripped. I have no real life." Bit out Lord Pyne sardonically.

"Very well, then I sentence you both to death by beheading. Had you cooperated, you might have been allowed to take the Black. Such a waste." Muttered Stannis before turning toward Ser Lucos.

Ser Lucos Langward had to be carried into the Throne Room of the Red Keep on a Stretcher. His leg, which had apparently been broken due to an assault in the Black Cells by Lords Cave and Pyne, smelled foul and the splint and bandage that the Maesters had put on it was damp with pus and gangrene. He was feverish, barely cognizant, and not long for this world. Stannis turned to Ser Lucos.

"Ser Lucos, as you have sought redemption by informing the Iron Throne of potential treachery, I would have had you pardoned, your lands reduced in size but the Beacon Tower and its associated Port Town on the tip of the Point would have remained with you. Unfortunately, the Maesters say that you will die within a fortnight and that the foulness of your leg can only be drained, not rectified. As you have no children or any living relatives, the Beacon Tower will revert to the Iron Throne on your death. Unless you have anyone you wish to deed your lands to?" Asked Stannis.

"N-No, Y-your G-grace. There is N-no one." Refuted Ser Lucos through teeth chattering from feverish chills.

"In that case, you shall be made comfortable in the Red Keep, tended to by Maesters, until such a time as the Stranger Takes you on your final journey. Truly, this is regrettable." Intoned Stannis.

Lord Lucos Langward was carried off by attendants on his stretcher. This was interesting. With Houses Langward, Longwaters, Cave, and Pyne effectively dead, that meant there was a lot of land in Cracklaw Point up for Grabs. It was here that Stannis began to show his master plan. The point was fractious at the best of times. Under King Robert, the Pointsmen had gone from brigandage to consolidation, and back as easily as breathing, and several houses had outright refused to pay their taxes. This included Houses Cave and Pyne. Stannis sought to gain more control over the point using the War as a pretext or at least give control to Loyal Lords who would pay their taxes on time.

House Hardy was awarded the Market Town of Blackbrook for their support in the War, along with the Town of Tinker's Corner and the Tin Mine there. Meanwhile, House Boggs was awarded the Logging Town of Woodswater and the Town of Brown Hills along with the Copper Mine there. Surprisingly, I was given both the Beacon Tower and Serpentport on the Tip of the Point and the Strait of Crabs. Meanwhile, the Castles of Evergreen Hall and Strongcliff, as well as the Market Town of the Cracks, the Mining Town of Gray Hills with its Iron Mine, the Logging Town of Treevale, and the Ranching Town of Auroch's Horn, comprising the better parts of the former Domains of Houses Pyne and Cave, were conglomerated together and awarded to the Iron Throne directly as the Cracklaw March.

"The Cracklaw March will henceforth be ruled by the Iron Throne via an appointed Castellan to serve as the March Lord, with the remainder of the Point effectively being split off into its own Lord Paramountcy. I am abolishing the title of Warden of Cracklaw Point accordingly. It's time is through. I will be appointing Ser Davos Seaworth as Lord of the Cracklaw March for his years of tireless Service." Intoned Stannis.

That caused another round of murmurs, as it was a significant increase in the power of the Iron Throne. However, Stannis seemed to have listened to my suggestions to make the Iron Throne more than just a nominal Suzerain. Given how the Crownlands were technically supposed to be under the control of the Iron Throne directly, however, this was just about within the letter of the law. Of course, the fact that the lands had been taken from tainted traitors helped in that regard as well. Punishment for Traitors was also within the Letter of the Law. How else do you think Summerhall became a Targaryen Territory?

"Lord Seawynd, step forward. I am of a mind to merge the remainder of the Point with your Lord Paramountcy. You have proven quite adept at consolidating territories in the past." Informed Stannis.

"What of the Narrow Sea Houses, Your Grace? Won't they object?" I questioned.

"It is possible. However, there are certain incentives I will be giving out to ensure they do not. The question is, do you accept?" Queried Stannis.

"I can hardly say no, Your Grace." I bowed.

"Excellent. The Brunes, Boggs, and Hardies will swear their fealty to you as soon as we deal with Tywin Lannister. You will also be serving me as my Hand, assuming you accept the appointment there as well." Nodded Stannis.

"Of course, Your Grace." I agreed.

"In the meantime, there is also the matter of Tarth. It belongs to the Stormlands. I understand you and my Brother had come to an understanding about it, and I am pledged to agree, however the loss of such territory is galling. What do you suggest I do about it?" Asked Stannis.

"Well Your Grace, did not House Meadows and House Ashford recently become extinct during your Victory at Storm's End? It strikes me that Mace Tyrell could stand to lose those two territories to the Stormlands for his attempt at Treason, and with Lord Raymun Ashford and Lord Tom Meadows, plus their heirs, dead on the field at Storm's End, they have no legitimate way to contest such a move." I pointed out.

"And who would you suggest to take control of such territories?" Questioned Stannis.

"If I might offer my suggestion, Ser Maric Seaworth for Ashford." I advised.

"Your former squire?" Queried Stannis.

"Indeed. Maric is like me, he thinks things through, as I taught him. He will innovate and turn the land around Ashford into an even more productive territory." I nodded.

"And what of Grassy Vale?" Asked Stannis.

"I would choose a Narrow Sea Lord to give it to so they might found a cadet branch with it. It would certainly help soothe their ruffled feathers over the issue of Cracklaw Point." I counseled.

"Indeed. I shall invest it with House Bar Emmon. Lord Duram is loyal and perhaps he might have a cousin he wishes to gift a castle to. In the meantime, the Town of Woolton, formerly belonging to House Rykker of Duskendale is to be given to House Velaryon. Meanwhile, House Staunton will lose Egg Port to House Celtigar, though it will be held by the Regent of Claw Isle until such a time as House Celtigar may be reborn, while House Sunglass will Gain the Town and sawmill of Grand Saw from House Manning, who decided to flock to the Banner of Tywin Lannister and his False King, along with Houses Hollard, Darke, Darkwood, and Dargood." Intoned Stannis.

"Manning, Hollard, Darke, Darkwood, and Dargood are with Tywin Lannister?" Questioned Ser Davos.

"It has been confirmed that their banners were seen among Tywin's Camp by the men sent to scout out the enemy. For this, I declare those Houses Attainted. Their remaining lands will be stripped of them, their Lords allowed to take the Black. Those lands will be conglomerated, along with the outermost towns and villages of House Rykker of Duskendale into the March of Blackwater Bay to be ruled by the Iron Throne via an appointed Castellan to serve as the March Lord. I will be appointing Ser Justin Massey as March Lord of the March of Blackwater Bay. He has earned it." Intoned Stannis.

This set the tone for the rest of the session. Lords who still had not surrendered in the Crownlands, Reach, and Riverlands would be declared attainted, or, if they had surrendered, or were likely to in the next few days, would potentially see their lands reduced. A third new Marcher Lordship was set up. The Mootons would wind up losing two Towns, the Market Town of Fishmarket Square and the Port of Far Tine in the Mouth of the Trident, while House Cox of Saltpans would wind up losing the Salt Mines at the Town of Salty Pool, and the villages around them. They would form another March, this time the March of the Trident's Mouth, with the Marcher Lord being Lord Rickard Roote, one of the few Lords of the Riverlands that had yet to surrender or join with Tywin Lannister.

Together, at least on paper, these Marcher Lordships would drastically increase the power of the Iron Throne, providing a large increase in taxes, trade goods, and manpower for the Iron Throne to do with as it wished. In practice, it would take some time for these Marches to be set up and their Castellans to be installed as Marcher Lords. If properly managed, however, it was likely that the Marches would provide enough manpower and funds to the Iron Throne to truly make the King the King, instead of a de-facto first among equals in nominal charge of a loose confederation of states.

Normally, such a move would be met with a massive outcry, however, the Iron Throne was not the only one to benefit from this consolidation of Westeros. All of Stannis' supporters did. Narrow Sea Houses, Riverlords, Stormlords, and more. If you were Loyal, and you were here, you picked up at least some territory from attainted or punished Lords. I may have benefited the second most after the crown, but I wasn't the only one to benefit. By the end, it was decided that other Marcher Lordships would be created in the Westerlands. The Lannisters would at the very least be losing vast swathes of territory and the position of Lord Paramount, though whether the entire family was attainted or not largely depended on the next few days.

If Tywin was defeated, then there would be a trial for Joffrey, Myrcella, Cersei, and Tyrion. It was clear that Sow's Horn was playing host to Ser Jaime and Tommen, so that would be the Army's next goal in the event of Tywin's defeat. I would be the one sent to capture the Castle, the Kingslayer, and Tommen. Then there would be another series of trials before moving into the Riverlands and pushing west. By the end of this, it was likely that all of Tywin's Line would be attainted, right down to Kevan and Lancel, though Genna would likely escape due to her marriage, and it was possible some of the Cousins might as well. If the Lannisters escaped being attainted entirely, it was likely the new Lord of Casterly Rock would be one of those Cousins.

Regardless, once that was out of the way, more trials of various Lords and Knights occurred. Ser Gareth Gaunt chose to take the Black, allowing his younger brother, Ser Gaheris Gaunt to inherit his lands and titles, while Lord Gyles Rosby was allowed to remain in his seat, as he surrendered more or less immediately and was an elderly man to boot. Ser Jacelyn Bywater was also pardoned, as he was merely discharging his duty as Captain of the Mud Gate and surrendered once Honor was satisfied.

Meanwhile, Lord Balman Byrch, for refusing to yield twice before eventually being forced into it during the fighting at Sea, lost the Market Town of Brewers Hole for fighting to Ser Barristan, who was given the Town and Brewery there for his service in taking Duskendale, as the Kingsguard would be disbanded. Ser Barristan would be sword directly to King's Landing and the Town would revert to Lord Byrch on Ser Barristan's Death. Meanwhile, Lord Farman was offered the choice of the Wall or Exile. He chose the latter, stating his intentions to travel to Volantis and put his skills as a ship captain to work there. Lord Westerling was offered the same and chose the Wall. Their positions on the Small Council would be filled by Ser Davos and Lord Penrose respectively.

The final piece of business for the day was the establishment of the Royal Musketeers, a formation of one-hundred-fifty men to replace the Kingsguard. The beginnings of a proper bodyguard unit for the King instead of what amounted to a few knights. This was something that had been on the docket for a while, and Stannis was determined to see this through, having clearly stated his intentions beforehand. After all, the Kingsguard couldn't prevent the fall of King's Landing and the Capture of Joffrey, Cersei, Myrcella, and Tyrion. They were, it had to be said, an obsolete concept.

This, if you could believe it, caused something of a debate, one which lasted for several hours before a vote was cast in the style of a Great Council of the Realm. In the end, those who saw the points of the Kingsguard being obsolete won out, albeit barely. The Royal Musketeers would become a reality. As the newly appointed Hand of the King, it would be down to me to equip, train, and pay such a force, though I didn't mind. I'd done so before, after all, many times, and knew just how to accomplish that feat.

First, however, there was the issue of Tywin Lannister's approaching attack. The Scouts had reported he was encamped a half a day's ride from the capital with fifty-thousand men. We would have to defeat him before putting any plans into play. Tomorrow would be the eve of battle with Tywin Lannister. It would effectively decide the course of the War, or at least so I thought at the time.

In reality, it would take longer to finish the fight, as Tywin would still have more tricks to play after the Battle. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, here we have the next chapter. Stannis intends to strengthen the power of the crown using what are effectively Marcher Lordships that are run by Iron Throne-Appointed Castellans acting as Marcher Lords instead of being feudal holdings like most of Westeros is right now. At the same time, he has disbanded the Kingsguard as an obsolete unit and put in its place a Musketeer Unit of One-hundred-fifty Royal Guards. He also dramatically strengthened the position of various Loyal Lords at the expense of traitorous ones.

All told, if he can win the Civil War, Stannis will effectively put Westeros in a much stronger position than it had been going into it by effectively consolidating power in the Seven Kingdoms into the hands of the Iron Throne and Lords whose Loyalties are without question. As part of this Consolidation, Ricasso effectively picked up Cracklaw Point, except for the March that went directly to the Iron Throne.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the start of the Battle against Tywin Lannister, then we'll get some interludes at the Wall and with the Targs.

Stay tuned. . .