Small council:
In the dimly-lit chamber deep within the Red Keep, the small council had gathered. Only a handful of its members were in attendance, each with their own distinct presence. Peter Baelish, the Master of Coin, sat at the head of the table, his sharp features set in a cool expression. Across from him was Varys, the Master of Whisperers, dressed in his usual flowing robes. To Baelish's left, Grand Maester Pycelle dozed off intermittently, his eyes half-closed. On the other side of the table, Ser Barristan Selmy, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, sat tall and straight-backed, his white cloak draped over his armor. Beside him, Renly Baratheon, the King's younger brother and Master of Laws, exuded confidence with his long black hair styled to perfection.
As the lords waited at the table for the King's arrival, they all knew Robert would not come. However, it was customary to wait for one hour before the Small Council would begin discussing state matters. They knew Robert was off hunting in the King's Wood, seeking solace from the recent loss of his friend, foster-father, and most importantly, the Hand of the King, Jon Arryn. Eventually, the silence was broken by Peter Baelish.
"Well, well, well, it seems our dear King has decided to go hunting again. I suppose he's off chasing another wild boar instead of ruling the kingdom," Peter quipped with a sly smile.
Pycelle stuttered, "Perhaps we should just start without him?"
Peter rolled his eyes. "Oh, I don't see why not. It's not like we need a King to tell us how to do our jobs, now do we?" he chuckled.
The conversation turned to the North, and Lord Stark's potential appointment as Hand of the King. Renly Baratheon spoke up first, a hint of skepticism in his voice.
"I don't understand why we need a Stark as Hand. We have capable men right here in King's Landing," he said.
Master Pycelle nodded in agreement, "Indeed, the North has always been a bit...distant. Can we trust them to have the King's best interests at heart?"
Ser Barristan Selmy, ever loyal to the Crown, spoke up in defense of Lord Stark. "I have served with him on many occasions. He is a good man, and he has always had the King's back."
Petyr Baelish, always looking for an opportunity to gain an advantage, spoke up next. "Perhaps we should consider other options. I have heard whispers of other Houses who would be more than willing to align themselves with the Crown."
Lord Varys, ever the master of whispers, spoke up next. "We must tread carefully. The North is a powerful ally, and they have always been staunch supporters of the Crown. To deny them this position could lead to unnecessary tension."
The small council continued to debate the issue, with each member expressing their concerns and opinions. They all knew that the decision would have far-reaching consequences for the realm and ultimately rest with the King, but they also knew the importance of their own counsel.
As the small council meeting continued, a servant suddenly entered the room, bowing deeply before addressing them. "My lords, a letter has arrived for you from the Castellan of the Eyrie and the Vale. He requests your attention to an urgent matter concerning the conflict between Highcliff and Balemore."
Ser Barristan Selmy, always diligent in his duties, stood up to take the letter from the servant's hand. He quickly scanned its contents before addressing the council. "My lords, it seems that a border skirmish between Balemore and Highcliff has escalated into a full-scale invasion of Balemore's lands by House Highcliff. They have taken control of their lands and what little that remains of Balemore's forces."
The council members exchanged worried glances, realizing the severity of the situation. It was crucial for the stability of the realm that they handled this delicate situation with tact and caution.
After a brief moment of silence, Lord Renly Baratheon spoke up. "We must summon Lord Greg of Highcliff and his heir to King's Landing to explain their actions. We cannot allow this aggression to go unchecked."
Master Pycelle nodded in agreement. "A diplomatic approach is always the best course of action. It would give us the opportunity to hear their side of the story and assess the situation before taking any drastic measures."
Lord Varys, always the master of intrigue, spoke up next. "It would also give us the opportunity to gather more information and potentially uncover any underlying motives or alliances that may have contributed to this conflict."
Ser Barristan Selmy, ever loyal to the Crown, added his support to the proposal. "Summoning Lord Greg and his heir would also show that the Crown is serious about maintaining peace and justice in the realm."
The council members all agreed to the plan, and the servant was instructed to prepare a raven to be sent to the Vale, summoning Lord Greg and his heir to King's Landing. They knew that this was just the beginning of what would likely be a long and difficult process, but they were determined to handle it with wisdom and caution, for the sake of the realm
Tywin perspective:
As I sat in my solar, poring over reports from the westernlands, a servant brought me a scroll with news from the Vale. House Highcliff had been summoned by King Robert to answer for their recent actions against House Balemore. A border skirmish had escalated into a brutal ambush, followed by Highcliff's successful invasion of Balemore's lands. It was a decisive victory for House Highcliff, but their method was brutal, similar to how I dealt with House Reyne. However, in their case, their actions were unacceptable, and now it had put House Highcliff in hot water with the crown and the rest of the Vale. I knew of Lord Greg Highcliff's reputation as a ruthless military tactician, one of the greatest warriors in all of Westeros.
But for all his combat prowess, he lacked finesse in matters of politics. He was direct and often let his anger get the best of him. House Highcliff was isolationist, preferring the old gods of the north over the Faith of the Seven, which dominated the Vale since the Andal invasion. I saw this as an opportunity. House Highcliff had no real relation to House Lannister, but I could use this situation to my advantage.
I was certain I could read and predict Greg's actions. I weighed the merits and demerits of intervening and wondered if it was worth the risk. But as I contemplated my next move, my thoughts turned to King Robert and his relationship with Greg. They had bonded during the rebellion through their shared thirst for battle, alcohol, and loss of loved ones. I wondered if the king would be willing to overlook House Highcliff's transgressions and spare them his wrath or would he use this as an excuse to further consolidate his power in the Vale? I could not ignore the potential consequences of intervening. Yet, House Highcliff was a potential tool I could use to further my interests.
Greg's military prowess and ruthlessness could be harnessed to house Lannister's advantage, if approached correctly. But if not, it could mean unnecessary conflict and bloodshed. These were questions I needed answers to before I could make my move. But one thing was certain: House Highcliff was not to be underestimated, and I would need to tread carefully if I were to exploit this situation to my advantage.
I would keep a close eye on their fate and see where I could maneuver to get the best result. For as the saying goes, "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." And I was determined to make sure my family came out on top, no matter the cost.
As I pondered these thoughts, my youngest son, Tyrion, entered the room. He greeted me with a sarcastic comment, as was his way, but I could see the concern in his eyes.
"What troubles you, Father?" he asked.
"House Highcliff," I replied, handing him the scroll. "King Robert has summoned them to answer for their actions against House Balemore."
Tyrion scanned the scroll, a smirk on his face. "Ah, House Highcliff. I've heard they're quite the brutes. Perhaps we should offer them a lesson in diplomacy?"
I gave him a stern look. "This is not a matter to be taken lightly, Tyrion. We must be careful in our approach. House Highcliff may prove yet a useful ally, if handled correctly."
Tyrion rolled his eyes. "Of course, Father. I'll leave you to your scheming then."
As he left the room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in my son's intelligence. But his lack of discipline and his tendency to act impulsively were a constant source of frustration for me.
I returned to my reports, my mind still on House Highcliff. I could not afford to let my guard down, not with such a powerful potential piece, and not with such a reckless and unpredictable leader like Greg Highcliff. I would need to tread carefully and think several steps ahead if I were to use this situation to my advantage.
But one thing was certain: I would not let House Lannister be dragged down by the rash actions of another house. For we were the lions of the West, and we would always stand tall and proud, no matter the challenges we faced.
Author notes:
constructive criticism is always apricated.