Chapter 85 — The Vote Storm at Dragonstone
The Great Hall of Dragonstone was supposed to host a dignified Great Council. Instead, it had dissolved into chaos.
Duke Tymond Lannister of Casterly Rock and Duke Ellard Stark of Winterfell had erupted into a shouting match, dragging half the Westerlands and half the North into the fray.
Lord Umber thundered curses. Lord Bolton hissed threats like a snake behind fur. Lord Marbrand flipped crude gestures at the Northerners, while Lord Farman yelled that the North was nothing but a "pack of gods-forsaken snow barbarians."
Corlys Velaryon—Lord of the Tides, Master of Driftmark—was desperately trying to calm everyone, his deep voice honed from years of shouting commands against sea winds. But even his sea-trained roar was swallowed by the storm of insults.
King Jaehaerys finally frowned.
"Daemon. Silence them."
Daemon Targaryen had been enjoying the spectacle of Stark and Lannister tearing into one another, but an order from the King could not be ignored. He motioned to Ser Qarl Massey and to Raven Greyjoy—nicknamed Wind's Son—standing behind him.
A sharp command rang out.
The Kingsguard and Gold Cloaks slammed the butts of their spears into the stone floor—BOOM, BOOM, BOOM—while clubs hammered against shields in heavy rhythm.
Outside the hall, dragons answered.
Caraxes. Vermithor. Dreamfyre. Silverwing.
Four thunderous roars shook the walls and silenced every tongue.
The room froze. No one—not even the wildest Umber—dared challenge the sound of dragons.
Tymond Lannister and Ellard Stark eventually glowered at one another and took their seats. The rest followed.
King Jaehaerys's voice carried across the hall like winter steel.
"If anyone disturbs the Council again, I will have them removed and stripped of their vote."
Only then did he nod to Grand Maester Runciter.
The Grand Maester cleared his throat. "Before we were interrupted, the matter of the Night's Watch's voting rights was raised. How many votes should the Watch hold?"
Corlys spoke immediately.
"The Night's Watch stands as Westeros's shield. Nineteen castles along the Wall, nineteen votes."
The hall erupted again—this time in shocked murmurs rather than shouting.
Everyone knew Corlys supplied the Wall throughout the winter. And everyone knew who the Watch would vote for: Rhaenys.
Daemon's lips curved.
"Lord Corlys, why not simply ask for a thousand votes for the Night's Watch? Skip the Council entirely."
Corlys glared. "I speak only for fairness. The Watch defends all of us."
Daemon snorted.
"The Watch swears no lands, no wives, no part in the disputes of the realm. Their castles to the south aren't even fortified. And now you want to drag them into politics?"
Even Jaehaerys nodded at that.
Corlys bristled. "Would you deny them a voice entirely? Queen Alysanne honored the Watch with her presence, her aid, and her love. Will we now shame her memory?"
He invoked Alysanne's visit to the Wall, her Silverwing circling the castle, her donations, her jewels pawned to build Deep Lake. He reminded the North that the Watch had renamed Snowgate to Queensgate in her honor.
He was playing every emotional string he had.
The King finally spoke.
"They will have a vote. But how many?"
Tymond Lannister scoffed. "If the Watch gets nineteen votes, then Lannister—who holds Lannisport and Casterly Rock—should not receive fewer."
Gavin Greyjoy, King of the Iron Islands, laughed harshly.
"And should I get a vote for every rock and pebble in the Islands?"
Corlys couldn't antagonize either great lord. He backed down with a measured,
"Of course… we can discuss."
After long argument, they settled:
✔ Night's Watch: 10 votes
✔ Citadel: 10 votes
Then the High Septon stood, robes glittering with septagrams, voice soft but ambitious.
"The Faith deserves seventy-seven votes. The Seven guide this realm."
Stark and Greyjoy immediately rejected the idea.
"The North keeps the old gods."
"The Ironborn owe nothing to the Seven."
House Tyrell, House Tully, and the Vale argued back. The Reach, Riverlands, and Vale were the heartlands of the Faith.
Jaehaerys raised his hand, ending the debate.
"The Faith, like the Citadel and the Watch, shall hold ten votes. No more."
No one dared argue on Dragonstone beneath four dragons.
With the institutions settled, the Council turned to the lords—the true power behind the throne.
Corlys rose again.
"Westeros is a whole. Votes should be based on land."
The North and Stormlands instantly supported the idea.
Daemon sighed loudly.
"Lord Corlys, do you think us fools? If votes are by land, the North wins before the Council even begins."
Mathos Tyrell stepped in:
"Population should determine votes. The Reach is the heart of Westeros."
Lannister, Tully, and the Vale all agreed. Corlys's plan collapsed.
A compromise emerged:
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Final Voting Distribution
Great Lords (30 votes each):
Stark — Winterfell (North)
Baratheon — Storm's End (Stormlands)
Tully — Riverrun (Riverlands)
Arryn — The Eyrie (Vale)
Tyrell — Highgarden (The Reach)
Greyjoy — Pyke (Iron Islands)
Major Houses (10–20 votes):
Hightower (Oldtown)
Velaryon (Driftmark)
Manderly (White Harbor)
Grafton (Gulltown)
Royce (Runestone)
Florent (Brightwater Keep)
Bolton (Dreadfort)
Dayne (Starfall)
Strong (Harrenhal)
Frey (The Twins)
Vance, Peck, and others
Landed Knights (1–9 votes):
Example: Templeton of Ninestars (9 votes)
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Not everyone was satisfied.
Tyrell and Lannister both thought Greyjoy had been granted too much.
Blackwood and Bracken almost came to blows over their respective totals.
And thus the foundation of the Great Council was set—on uneven stone, beneath roaring dragons, with simmering tempers yet to cool.
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