"Your Majesty… I didn't mishear, did I?"
Eddard asked again to confirm. The North had always been poor, and five or six million gold dragons was a number so astronomical that even the Lord of Winterfell could hardly imagine it.
A full set of high-quality chainmail, gorget, greaves, and a good helm cost only a few gold dragons. Even for a renowned knight, a ransom of three hundred gold dragons was considered generous. With that much gold, one could buy enormous quantities of grain, pumpkins, corn, and wheat.
"How could Jon allow the King to spend so carelessly?" Eddard wondered. It seemed even Lord Jon Arryn had been unable to restrain Robert's excesses. The former Hand was meticulous—Eddard knew that—but the King did not always heed good counsel.
Ned had always known Robert was indulgent, but he had not realized the King had fallen so far. Women, fine wine, hunting, tourneys—everyone in the realm knew Robert loved merriment.
"Don't look at me like that, Eddard," Robert said, shaking his head. "Anything involving coin, harvests, or laws gives me a headache. I hate counting coppers. I spend the money; why the number has become so terrifying now—well, you'll have to ask Littlefinger."
Eddard was stunned.
"Your Majesty, with respect… Aerys left behind mountains of gold and silver. How could the treasury fall into ruin so quickly?"
"Tourney prizes, hunts, feasts—and making the realm laugh—those things all cost gold, Eddard," Robert replied shamelessly. "And when you arrive in King's Landing, I still have to award tens of thousands of gold dragons to the tourney champion. A King cannot lose face."
"Let us set aside the tourney for now. Who paid for all of this?" Eddard asked carefully, though his head was already spinning.
"The biggest creditor is my wife's family. The rest are scattered—Littlefinger is quite good at finding coin. He brought in House Tyrell, the Iron Bank of Braavos, several Tyroshi trading guilds, and even the Faith."
"What a disaster…" Eddard felt more and more that accepting the position of Hand had been a mistake. With so many debts, the Lannisters could extend their influence freely. Gold could buy loyalty in ways honor could not. And although Eddard was the King's old friend, the North had no presence in King's Landing.
Lysa's secret letter and Stannis's letter weighed heavily on him. Seeing Robert's carelessness only worsened his unease. The King was trapped day and night in the lion's embrace.
Even the Kingsguard seemed unreliable. With the Kingslayer still wearing white, the order's honor was already tarnished. Ned could not even confirm how many of the White Knights were truly loyal to the crown, and how many bent the knee to Cersei.
"Your Majesty, for the stability of the realm, one cannot be too extravagant," Eddard said. He could not remain silent—his loyalty demanded he speak.
As for Stannis's accusations, Jon Arryn's death, and the truth about the Queen and her brother, Eddard knew he would eventually have to confront House Lannister. But he would need to proceed carefully.
"All right, all right," Robert interrupted, waving him off. "I didn't drag you out here for a lecture. Since you don't like the idea of assassins, let's talk about the fleet and the war."
"Truthfully, we should have acted years ago. But Jon was as stubborn as you, and he wouldn't let me. Like a fool, I listened. Then some Pentoshi snake hid the brother and sister behind a wall guarded by pointy-hatted eunuchs, and now they've been sold to traitors."
"Lord Arryn was a wise Hand," Eddard said quietly.
"They say the Triarchy has already raised an army of a hundred thousand, and three to four hundred warships," Robert said uneasily. "If Jon were alive to hear this…"
"We also have a fleet and an army," Eddard replied. "And the slavers of Lys and Volantis won't allow the Triarchy to expand unchecked."
"No matter what, we must prepare, Eddard. Gold, fleets, intelligence, armies—I am trusting you."
"The North is yours to command," Eddard said. But he was more concerned about the Lannisters. Perhaps it was wiser to deal with the corruption inside the Red Keep before marching to war. If he left to command a fleet, Robert would be left alone in a den of lions.
Robert's expression turned grim. "It's not as simple as you think. The Free Cities' fleet is no small threat. They've already taken the Stepstones. As for that cursed marriage between the traitor's child and the dragon's remnant—what a cruel joke. Those traitors still whisper 'usurper' behind my back. They once flew Targaryen banners, and though they wait quietly now, the moment they have a chance, they'll try to kill me—and my son."
"Even if they come, we can drive them back into the sea," Eddard said. "But Your Majesty must appoint a new Warden of the East."
"He is a baby, Eddard. Six years old and still at his mother's breast," Robert snapped. "I know he is your nephew. But I hear the horns of war. The Baratheon traitors, the Targaryen remnants, the Free Cities' mercenaries, the slavers—they are all waiting. I am not mad enough to place a quarter of the kingdom's armies in the hands of a sickly child."
Eddard sighed. The position of Warden of the East had always been honorary and hereditary. Granting it to someone outside House Arryn would be an insult. Jon Arryn had been beloved in the Vale; his vassals would not accept this easily.
"Then let one of your brothers take the role," Eddard said. "Stannis proved himself at Storm's End. He is capable."
At the mention of Stannis, Robert frowned.
"Stannis has work to do. When war begins, he will command the Royal Fleet."
"That does not conflict with being Warden of the East," Eddard said. He knew Robert and Stannis did not get along, but Stannis was the most reliable man for the job.
But Robert's expression was already sour.
"That position is taken."
"Jaime Lannister," Eddard said flatly. He already knew the answer.
"Yes," Robert admitted after a long pause.
"Kingslayer," Eddard muttered. Lysa Tully's warning felt more real than ever. "In terms of skill and bravery, he is capable. But his father is the hereditary Warden of the West. Placing both East and West under one family is unwise. Too much military power concentrated in Lannister hands."
Half the military strength of the realm, Eddard thought. And a direct insult to House Arryn.
"I think you worry too much," Robert said stubbornly. "Tywin is healthy. Jaime won't inherit Casterly Rock anytime soon. What's done is done."
He waved the matter aside.
"Let's talk about military deployment instead. You will be the Hand. Jaime the Warden of the East. Stannis remains Master of Ships. Littlefinger, Renly, and the Tyrells have good relations—our fleets, armies, and grain will be accounted for."
"But the pay," Eddard argued. "The treasury is empty."
"Others may lack gold, but this war concerns my wife and my child. So Tywin will have to contribute. And the enemy won't land easily. What matters now is that you organize everything for me, as Jon did. When the fighting begins, Tywin will give gold."
The King clapped him on the shoulder.
"Your Majesty… forgive my bluntness."
"You never stop anyway," Robert grumbled as they rode through long, tawny grass.
"Are you not placing too much trust in the Lannisters?"
"Tywin is my father-in-law. Jaime is my wife's twin, and he is a sworn Kingsguard. His life, his honor—all tied to me."
Eddard stared at him. The old memories wounded him like a reopened scar.
Jaime had sworn to protect his King, then slit his throat.
When King's Landing fell, it was the lion banner, not the stag's, that flew from the battlements. The city had been taken by Lannister treachery. And their men had slaughtered infants in the name of victory.
"He once sat upon the Iron Throne," Eddard said quietly. "The Mad King lay dead in a pool of blood. The dragon skulls watched from the walls. Lannister soldiers filled the hall, and Jaime—shining in golden armor, a white cloak around his shoulders, golden sword in hand—sat upon the throne. That image has never left me."
"That story is common knowledge," Robert scoffed.
"He was only seventeen," Robert added dismissively. "I cannot distrust him simply because he sat on the throne for a moment. Everything I have asked of him, he has done well. And without the Lannisters, I would never have taken the throne."
"Once your daughter and my son are married, we will be one family. Then, in harmony, even Tywin will not mind your sour face."
"As you command," Eddard said.
"Don't look so grim," Robert said with a laugh. "When this war ends, I'll ride for women and wine, and you will set the realm in order. Stannis will guard the fleet, Jaime the East. Once our children wed, everything will be fine."
The King grinned, but his smile only deepened the heaviness in Eddard's heart.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)