The Fall of the False King (Adelaide, Mace)

[stannisbaratheon]

The sea off Dragonstone was frothing and churning in the high winds, and Stannis knew that his sister would be braving those waters soon. Lord Mace of House Tyrell, who bore Stannis no love at all, was making for Dragonstone too, but for the fat man's safety he was less concerned. Mace Tyrell sieged Storm's End during the rebellion that took down House Targaryen, and sometimes Stannis still saw the rose of Highgarden in his nightmares.

Candles burned in every nook and corner of the tower room where the giant table stood. Carved to resemble the continent of Westeros, the table was the finest map in the realm, and Stannis pained over it daily and nightly. Even the Red Priestess failed to sate his obsession with the map table. "From here I can see King's Landing, Casterly Rock and Winterfell all at once", he would say as he pushed models around the table, dreaming of the imminent attacks. Plans were now in motion; the cogs of war were turning. Adding the power of Storm's End and Highgarden to his own was crucial, and with his sister and an old foe coming to join him, Stannis knew that his time was nigh.

[mace]

Stannis Baratheon had no love for Mace Tyrell and Mace Tyrell had no love for Stannis Baratheon, but there was bigger problems in the Seven Kingdoms. Lord Mace could say plenty of things against Stannis but he had a few good things to say too, he was honest, honourable and pragmatic. Joffrey Baratheon was not, Joffrey Bartheon was an insane little pup and Mace had little interest in bending the knee to him.

His ship crashed against the waves and water sprayed about in a most annoying manner. Lord Mace was wearing many layers, enough to keep him warm but for his exposed face made red by the cutting winds. Three outer layers were quite wet, cloaks of fur. Thick fur too. But they were coming up on the keep of Stannis Baratheon, so the journey was at a welcome end.

Getting off the boat with a token force of ten Knights to see the High Marshall of The Reach Lord Mace Tyrell took in the keep. It was a fine keep, a shame it had nothing to bring in money.

[adelaidebaratheon]

Once the small ship was moored in the harbor and Adelaide and her small party was safe on their way into the keep the Lady of Storms End noticed a second boat arriving.
Her face paled as she looked upon the rose sigil. "What are they doing here?" She asked to no one in particular. The youngest daughter of the Baratheon house couldn't imagine her brother inviting the Martell's to be part of his conversation.

After ascending the stairs into the main hall Adelaide was met by Selsye the two exchanged hugs and kisses on the cheeks.
Shortly after she climbed the stairs to the high tower where her brother was pushing small figure horses about a large table.
"I remember when you and I used to spend hours upon hours painting these." She stepped farther into the room and touched Stannis' shoulder. "I remember you would always win."

[stannisbaratheon]

"Sister" he said, as though snapped out of a trance, before embracing her in a hug. The rain beat heavily at the shutters, and an icy draft from the cold night outside made the audience of candles flicker nervously. Stannis took a small step back and looked Adelaide over - "You look well" he said with a weary smile, "How is Duncan?." He had not seen his sister since before the mysterious death of Jon Arryn in King's Landing, and he was relieved to see a friendly face in a time when many and more bid him harm. The light from the flickering candles made the statues on the table cast moving shadows, and all at once it looked as though the figures were alive and marching. "I still have the little collection of ships you painted" he said with a heavy heart, "I use them to represent my ships on the table". The ships that clustered about Dragonstone on the table were the best painted models on the board.

[mace]

The High Marshall of The Reach made his way into the keep and was guided to where he could meet the Baratheons. He had a plan for today. Some called him "The Oaf Lord" and other claimed he was not as savvy as he used to be, but he would prove them all wrong today. Mace had much to offer a King denied his throne, but he'd have a price. That would be sure.

Eventually Lord Tyrell was escorted to the war room of Stannis Baratheon. "Stannis." he greeted with a nod before offering his hand, after removing a glove of green leather. Beside Stannis was his sister, Adelaide. There was a time when Mace had planned to approach Robert to arrange Adelaide marrying his boy Loras, but some mere knight of lesser status beat him to it before raven could be sent. "Lady Adelaide." There was tension in the air, but the Others could take it. They had been at war, they fought, the war ended. It was time to forge a new future.

[adelaidebaratheon]

Adelaide moved closer beside her brother as Mace made his way into the room greeting them each in turn. Her heart seemed to leap into her chest, for a moment she had the same sinking feeling she'd had as a child when they'd brought the news there was no food left.
Even still Adelaide carefully measured out her food when she ate it.

"Lord Tyrell." She nodded politely, her hand moving to Stannis' arm and gripped tightly. "I had no idea you'd be joining us this evening."
She wondered if they'd been found out as traitors to the king.

[stannisbaratheon]

"The Rose of the Reach" said Stannis bluntly as the rotund Lord of Highgarden squeezed through the door and into view. Stannis looked to Adelaide as Mace entered, and he could feel her fingers digging into his forearm as he spoke her name. "I invited him too Adelaide" he said reassuringly before casting a stern look at arguably the most powerful Lord in Westeros, "I am pleased you've come Mace."

The wind waled and screamed outside the tower as a storm rolled in from across the waves; a foretelling of the coming battles. The candles stood in brave defiance against the icy breeze creeping through the wooden shutters, with darkness and shadows skulking in the corners of the room. Stannis could feel the weight of the moment upon him, "You both know why we're here - Joffrey Baratheon is no true Baratheon. He must die." His words were colder than cold, but regicide was an act devoid of warmth. "I must sit the Iron Throne. It is my birth right."

[mace]

"I don't know if your claims are true, but I don't know you to be a liar. Either way, its too soon for another Mad King. Joffrey has to go. But you can't siege King's Landing just for those blonde shits the Lannisters to come down your back. You need an another army." Stannis was no fool, an army wouldn't be free. Mace had his terms.

"You won't kill Joffrey without killing Jaime, when Joffrey is dead my Loras will Command your Kingsguard. He's third in line, he'll go no further in the Reach, but there's not a finer Knight in all the Seven Kingdoms. My Willas will be your Hand until my death when he returns home to rule The Reach. He's smarter then anyone gives him credit for, and they give him a lot of credit. When we've dealt with the Lannister's, my Garland will marry Cersei and be made Warden of the West." Lord Mace knew precisely what he was asking, not only were each of those positions filled wit glory, prestige and honour but two had a place on the Small Council. Two Tyrells on the Small Council and another Warden seat would make the Tyrell's the most powerful family under the Baratheon's with the Crown. But the Tyrell's had a big army and a big army had a big price. "And my Daughter, if you or Adelaide sire an heir, he'll marry Magaery when he comes of age. We join our Houses."

"All that, and not only will we help you get the Iron Throne, we help you keep it. Tyrell soldiers and Tyrell gold, your Brother had the Lannisters, at least your bank has honour. So what do you say?" Stannis couldn't risk putting King's Landing to siege, it would take too long. Either Tywin or Robb Stark would arrive and before long the Barathen's would have too little left to hold the Iron Throne, even if they took it.

[adelaidebaratheon]

Adelaide listened carefully to Mace, he was entwining his family through out the entire kingdom, not that he didn't have a right to make his demands but that was quite a lot.
Especially when he got to the bit where any son of she or Stannis would marry Magaery, didn't he realize his daughter would be old by the time a son was of age to marry.
Did he not know Adelaide hadn't had a successful child birth in ten years of marriage? She was glad he hadn't just asked her to leave Duncan on those terms and marry Loras.

When the demands were laid on the table Adelaide looked to her brother, his face was hard as always and she wondered what he would say in return.
She kept silent, her hand slowly left Stannis arm and moved to clutch her wrist behind her back. She wished Duncan had come up with her so she'd have his strength to lean on during this meeting.

[stannisbaratheon]

Stannis listened as Mace waxed on about his demands, his claims and his plans - all of it was folly, and only some of it could come to pass. "This isn't an opportunity for you plant seeds Lord Tyrell" said Stannis coldly when the man from the Reach had finally finished, "You demand too much, too quickly." Stannis moved from beside Adelaide and walked slowly around the table, his eyes fixed on Mace Tyrell. He stopped at the Western foot of the table and pointed to Highgarden. "You have the numbers to put me on the thrown my Lord, and without you my cause is without hope." Stannis plucked a knight statue from the table and rolled it around his palm. "All the power of Highgarden is what I seek, but in return I cannot offer Highgarden all the power in the realm."

Stannis knew Mace Tyrell from the stories, and they had been separated by just the wall of Storm's End during the siege, but now that they were finally face to face Stannis would not back down, "I mean to name my sister's husband as Hand of the King, should be accept. You son Loras will be made a knight of the King's Guard, but he will not lead it - I still hope Ser Barristan will pledge his life to me and fill that role. Willas Tyrell will sit on my Small Council as Master of Coin. Cersei Lannister will lose her head when I take my throne, but I will offer Jaime Lannister and Torin Lannister royal pardons, and your Margaery will have her choice of husband from them. Garland can be my man in the North when I crush Robb Stark; perhaps he'd like to hold Winterfell for his King?". Stannis placed the statue back on the table and looked to Adelaide before turning to face Mace once more, "These are my terms, my Lord".

[mace]

Lord Mace looked down at the map table as he pondered the response from Stannis. In not a single area had the Baratheon offered Mace his demand. Other offers of lesser value at every turn. "I'll make a deal on Winterfell Stannis, as I will with Loras on the Kingsguard. I'd have more faith in the Knight of Flowers over Ser Barristan, where ever he is, winter is upon us and he'll be too old to carry his sword by the next. But you'll be King, not I. The Kingsguard is your right of choice." That was where Lord Mace would accept the counter offer from Stannis however, the other parts simply wouldn't do.

"But Master of Coin is no place for Willas. What use would he be but writing letters home for coin when you need it? Wasted talent! Master of Laws and nothing less." Mace had to put his foot down on that one. Of all the spots on the Small Council that one would offer Willas the least, but at least as the Master of Laws he could put that fine mind of his to work and prepare himself for making decisions of matter and law upon returning to Highgarden. But Margaery. Unless you mean to dismiss Jaime from the Kingsguard he's no option for a husband. It would be a poor start to your reign if you overthrew Joffrey just to start as he did and dismiss the Lord Commander of your Kingsguard. Its a service for life.....you can't dismiss him, that's why we kill the blonde cunt. That leaves Torin. My precious rose married to that shit after we kill his nephew and chop off his sister's head. That'll never do. She's a clever girl and by the Seven she has thorns of steel.....but I trust him about as far as my sword is long. My sword isn't so long as to reach Casterly Rock." He pondered it, by the Seven. Stannis wasn't a young man anymore and had no sons. Adelaide was a young woman however, she had plenty of time yet. "My position with Margaery does not change. If your or Adelaide have an heir, we join our Houses. The Tyrell's and the Baratheons. Your family sits atop the Iron Throne and mine helps you keep it, and our children rule together for as long as we both know honour." There was no other way about it. Robb Stark was to be put down for treason and the Tyrell's were taking Winterfell, no men there. The Lannister's were too dangerous, even if they'd be left neutered after all of this. Nobody else had interest for House Tyrell and Magaery was the most eligible woman in the Seven Kingdoms, she'd not marry below her station.

[adelaidebaratheon]

Adelaide looked between the two men again. Duncan wasn't here to make the decision for any potential sons for the both of them so it would be up to her to make the choice on their line, he may or may not agree but she was the Lady of Storms End and it fell to her.

"Lord Tyrell, if it your army Staninis has need of then you will always be well looked after, for Lord Stannis of Dragonstone never forgets good done to him and his.
Look at our beloved Davos Seaworth who saved us from starvation at Storms End." The smuggler had brought onions he had been carrying to the captives at Storms End keeping them from starving Mace Tyrell should know that story better than any- he was holding them all captive.
"If it is your daughter you wish to wed and other but a Baratheon will do, I will offer my son should he be born."

The woman looked back to the map, "But Margaery is old enough to wed now, and imagine it takes some time for me to bare a son, and then he must be fostered and knighted and prove his merit in battle, and by the time he rides out to his bride the rose will have wilted an old maid and her womb no longer able to hold a child." Adelaide gave a brief look that gave the impression this was a fate worse than death for a woman. "But, Rob Stark has two brothers neither of them has to die, they are all nobel born of Winterfell. When the come of age they will be under the rule of your son I see no reason why they should not be allowed the joy of a Rose of high garden to brighten winterfell and the sons of Stark will produce many strong heirs I'm sure of it."

The Baratheon woman put her terms on the table, either way she lost nothing. she doubted she would ever have children.

[stannisbaratheon]

Stannis had hoped Mace would be more reasonable, given that Stannis had the rightful claim to the Throne. Still, Stannis also knew the Lord of Highgarden was struggling to remain relevant in Westerosi politics, and this was his chance to shine once more. "Willias will serve as Master of Laws then" he said, mulling over the situation with Margaery.

When Adelaide spoke she took Stannis by surprise; the Lady of Storm's End was seldom so bold and decisive. When she spoke, Stannis could not help but smile a wry smile - her offer to Mace was perfect. "My Lady sister makes a good deal of sense Mace. Through House Stark your family will have a legitimate claim to the North, and House Tyrell will replace House Lannister as the most influential House in the Kingdom".

[mace]

"Why need have I of the Starks? You've already promised me Winterfell. Take the seat from the Stark's and what are they? Nothing. A House in exile. Not even Lords." Her offer would have been generous, but he really had little interest in Margaey Tyrell having Stark children when Garland was Lord of Winterfell. T'was an entirely different thing to Margaery Tyrell have children who would be Princes and Princesses. She was a young thing yet, she had more of her life when she's going to birthing heirs ahead of her then she did behind her.

They were getting somewhere at least. Loras had a place, Willias had a place, Garland appeared to have a place. T'was just his dear Margaery to agree upon. "No, my Margaery will stay with me and when the time comes for an heir to succeed you, she'll marry that heir." If nothing else his daughter would be a Queen, whatever else he always wanted that for her.

[stannisbaratheon]

"You're squandering your daughter's youth, Lord Mace" said Stannis angrily. He clenched his teeth as he looked over to his sister. Both he and Adelaide had made offers that any sane Lord would accept, but still the protestations continued. "I will be your King, Mace. I will rule from the Reach to the Westerlands and into the North as well. I will ensure that some powerful Lord or beloved Knight makes a wife of young Margaery while she is still young. She'll want for nothing".

The air grew colder, as did Stannis - his patience with the fat man of Highgarden was strained. "Highgarden asks much, as always. But what does it offer? I asked you here because I have need of your swords Mace . . . all of them".