King Matarys I Targaryen
King's Landing glimmered in the sunlight; summer truly had come back from beyond the grave. It was warm, not stiflingly so, but enough to warrant short sleeve shirts and short trousers, Matarys could not remember the last time King's Landing had been like this. The weather had been either freezingly cold or outstandingly hot in the years that Matarys could remember, not now, now was the perfect balance between warmth and chilled weather. So much so that he had decided that it would be nice to not hold a court session today and instead take his family down toward the water front for a bit of swimming and fun, the dragons had been freed from the Dragonpit as well much to the delight of the children, and the consternation of the small folk.
Matarys was sat on the bank watching his wife and children play in the shallows of the water whilst his and his wife's dragons Crimson Fury and Shrutugal flew in the air above them along with his daughters Velena and Rhaena's dragons. The Kingsguard stood guard close by watching and waiting as always for the mere sign of a threat, though Matarys did not expect for there to be one, the people of King's Landing and the kingdom as a whole were quite content and happy with the way things were going. Summer had seen a growth in trade and peace had made the land fat with crops and fertile lands.
Still there were some concerns that were plaguing Matarys mind, the issue of his wife's latest pregnancy and how it had ended for one thing continued to haunt him, not matter what he tried to do. He had heard stories of how in the days of old, some of the dragonlords in Valyria had had children who had been born with deformities such as scales and dragon's tails. He had never truly thought it possible until he had seen his own stillborn son with his own eyes, the scales and the tail had been there for all to see, as had his wife's grief. Daena who had given him four strong and beautiful daughters had looked so crushed when they had taken their son from her arms, she had looked horrified, so much so that Matarys had done all he could to take her mind from the whole thing whilst trying to suppress his own shock and horror.
If today was any indication, as he watched his wife laugh and frolic in the shallows with their daughters it seems he had largely succeeded in doing so. Of course those at court whispered about what their son had looked like, but thankfully none of the lords or ladies had been foolish enough to mention it within his hearing, or even within the open of court, for of course Matarys uncle had spies everywhere, and after what had happened with Ser Baelon Hightower, Matarys had grown to appreciate that fact more and more. Thinking about Hightower brought about even more worries and concerns for Matarys.
All these moons later he was still amazed by how the man had managed to break into the Red Keep and have men bring his uncle to the Maidenvault, after that night Matarys had doubled the guard around his family as well as that of his uncle, and yet the man had not reappeared, his uncle had said that he would not, not now he had made his message clear. Still Matarys had done as his uncle had suggested and had brought his sister and her children to King's Landing for their protection, Daenys was not happy about that, and being separated from her husband simply made her more irate, but he would not chance her safety not now. Lord Harwin's death still troubled him, the mark on the man's corpse had been that of Ser Baelon Hightower, and as such there was still no sighting of the man, even after all this time.
Lord Devon Hightower who had become Lord of Oldtown after his father's death, knew nothing about the survival of his uncle, Matarys had seen the truth in the man's eyes when he had questioned him. Hightower was a proud man but he was no fool, things with the Hightowers were still tense despite the fact that Matarys own sister was wed to Lord Devon's son and heir, his uncle had never forgiven them for siding with the usurper's family during the Dance, especially Ser Baelon. Matarys knew there was something that his uncle would not speak of when talking of Ser Baelon, what it was though he knew not, and he did not wish to push his uncle on the matter, he needed him here in the present not in the past where ghosts haunted them all.
A splash from the water brought Matarys attention back to the water and he smiled slightly when he saw that Daena was lifting both Velena and Rhaena onto Shrutugal, her male dragon was as proud and as fierce as she was, and yet when it came to their children largely protective. He chuckled slightly as he saw the dragon lift off into the air and then come diving down toward the water pulling up before it, causing both girls to scream in joy. Crimson Fury came spinning down and nipped playfully at Shrutugal's tail, causing the dragon the screech and for Daena to look towards him. He smiled at his wife, and she smiled shyly back. Sometimes he forgot just how young Daena truly was, she was so full of fire and life that it was easy to do so. She was only twenty one, whilst he was pushing on in years at thirty and six, he knew there were plenty of men at court who hungered for her, who desired her, even after four pregnancies she was still so lithe and desirable, he felt something within him stir then as he watched her come out the water her clothes wet making everything see through…
A touch on his shoulder brings him away from thoughts of his wife's body. He turns round and sees his uncle stood before him, his uncle seems tired and drained, as he has as of late. "Your Grace, there was a raven from Harrenhal."
Matarys nods and says. "What did it say nuncle?"
His uncle sighs then and says. "They found a lot of papers and maps of various locations within the Riverlands within one of the servant quarters. Bearing the seal of a maester under guise."
Matarys nods and then says. "Do you think it was him?"
His uncle sighs once more and says. "Yes Your Grace. The papers and maps bear such detail it could only be the work of a noble such as him. I do not think it would be anyone else, though Maester Godrick has his doubts about some of the locations."
Matarys can see that his wife is getting closer to them and so he whispers. "What were the locations on the maps nuncle?"
His uncle is silent for a moment and then says as softly. "Oldstones, Harrenhal itself, Riverrun and King's Landing."
Matarys feels something drop within him. "So he means to come back to King's Landing does he?"
"I know not Your Grace. But I have spoke to Ser Luthor, the city watch has now become doubly alert." His uncle replies.
Matarys nods and then once Daena is there in his lap, his uncle walks away. The next few hours are spent in some blissful peace, with the children and showing them all the tricks that the dragons can do. This is the time when he truly feels normal, not like the king of seven kingdoms, thrust with the responsibilities of so many people, weighing down on him like some sort of overbearing weight, that makes him feel as if sometimes he will break and then all the hard work his father and uncles put in will fall apart. Later on as he looks at his children's sleeping forms Matarys swears before the old gods and the new that he will do all in his power to make sure that they remain safe, and that they will never know the fear and uncertainty that coloured much of his own childhood.
He walks back to his and his wife's rooms, nods at Ser Madden Darry and Ser Tom Costayne, the Kingsguard on duty tonight. As he closes the doors he notices that his wife is already abed, she does not stir except to mumble slightly as he gets into bed, thankfully one of the candles beside their bed is still lit, and so he can spend some time reading over what Lord Stark has reported on for the crown's finances for the past few months and see if there is anything that needs to be changed. He reads and reads until his eyes hurt, and then he puts the paper down and is about to blow the candle out when he sees a book open on the table of their room. He gets up as quietly as he can and looks at the book and sighs when he sees what it is, clearly his efforts to soothe his wife's fears have not been completely successful if she is reading this book, he makes a note to speak with Maester Godrick about the library and other such issues, and then he goes to bed.
The moons continue to pass by, spent either with his family or discussing the day to day running of the kingdom. He deals with various disputes between some of the lords in the crownlands, managing to prevent a war between Lords Darklyn and Hollard by sending the offending men to the Night's Watch for some crime relating to land theft. Then there is the dispute between the two Lannister brothers, Helen's sons, Gerion and Loren, with one brother claiming the other has cheated him out of some sort of inheritance right. Matarys asks them why their father has not been able to settle the matter, and sheepishly they both reply that their father is failing in health and has been for some time. Eventually Matarys declares that neither shall get the inheritance issue that they are squabbling over, and when another note is found within his uncle's rooms bearing the mark of the Blackhand, he thinks he made the right decision, he will not risk his sister's safety for something as trivial as a piece of land.
The moons turn into a year, and still there is no sighting of Ser Baelon Hightower, either the man has disappeared or he is being hidden somewhere, the whole thing begins to grate on Matarys nerves, so much so that when a raven arrives from Casterly Rock stating that his sister is now a widow, he does not so much as bat an eyelid at the news. He never really liked his sister's husband, considered him a weakling and a fool, and he will never understand why his father had wed Helen off to the man. Still later on as he sits in the godswood praying to the gods for answers to some of his prayers, he is surprised when his wife comes and finds him and speaks with him. "Have I displeased you my love?" she asks so softly, Matarys thinks that she might not have spoken at all.
"No my love you have not," he replies. "What makes you think you have?"
"The fact that you have not taken your rights for some time. Have I done something to displease you?" she asks again the fire returning to her voice.
Matarys sighs and says. "You have not done anything to displease me Daena. I have been busy doing work and trying to find that blasted Hightower fool. And besides I thought it best if we did not do anything so soon after your pregnancy. It would not be good for you to suffer simply for my urges." As he says those words he sees the image of Jaehara as she was after her last miscarriage all broken up and torn, her eyes accusing.
"It has been a year and a half since then my love." His wife says. "I am perfectly fine now, it, it no longer hurts. And I miss you, and the comforts of your body. And besides the people are talking."
Matarys looks up then, and sees the hurt in his wife's eyes, he sighs slightly and gestures for her to come closer, pulling her into his lap when she does so. "Oh and what do they say my love?"
His wife sighs as he begins to kiss her neck. "That… that you no longer find me attractive and that you are thinking of putting me aside to take another woman to wife. A woman who will bring you a son and an heir."
Matarys chuckles slightly and says. "My lady, I never thought you took such gossip seriously. If any of that were true, you would be the first to know. As such it is clearly not true, and in any event I am perfectly happy with the children you have given me. Should any complain if Velena were to succeed me, why Crimson Fury would be more than happy to show them where they can go and put their doubts."
His wife gasps then and she sounds breathless when she replies. "Even so, it would not hurt to try again would it not? To show them with actions as well as words."
Matarys groans then and says. "Well then, if that is what you want." The next few hours they spend making love with only the gods as their witnesses and guardians. Later, much later when they are both back in the castle and Daena is with their children and Matarys is sat in his rooms mulling over the reports Lord Stark had brought him with regards to the financing of the realm, he hears a knock on the door calling for whomever it is to come in he is surprised to find his sister standing in the doorway with little on but a dressing gown. "Daenys what's the matter. Is aught a miss?"
His sister stumbles into the room, and he knows she is drunk, can smell it on her the moment she leans into his touch. "Is aught a miss you ask sweet brother? Of course aught is amiss. I have had to leave my home and my husband because some mad man is trying to get even with our family for something our grandfather did all those years ago, before we were even born. Where is Hightower now? Do you know where he is, do you know what he's doing?"
He is silent for a moment and then he sighs. "I do not know where he is, nor what he is doing sister. And whilst I am sorry for the inconvenience this is all causing you, I will not apologise, I have done what I have had to do to ensure your safety and that of your children. And you will do them no good by drinking the wine until you are in your present state."
Daenys laughs then, but not her usual melodic laughter, this laughter is that of a bitter and broken woman. "Was selling me to Ser Matthew the right thing to do brother? When Oldstones came up you and mother did not think as to what I would want. You sold me off to someone to keep them loyal to you. But not once did you think to ask what it was I wanted for my life. No, you forgot the promise you made me when we were all children. You said you would always love me and only me. And yet, you give your love to our harlot of a cousin who flirts with every man she sees and has only given you daughters. I could have given you sons, I can still give you sons."
Matarys sighs then and feels his heart break at his sister's obvious distress, he knows the promise he made to her, and he regrets that he put the matters of the realm, no matter how pressing before his family. "Daenys, I know what happened there was rushed and I am sorry if you ever felt as if you were being rushed into something, but it was necessary that the Strongs be rewarded for their unfailing loyalty to the crown. And I never knew you were so unhappy with your marriage to Ser Matthew. Has he mistreated you?" He knows asking that now sounds so shallow but he needs to know, needs to do something so that he does not feel like a complete failure of a brother.
His sister sobs then, truly sobs as she has not since they were little children. "Oh so now you seek to ask how my relationship is with my husband? Why should I tell you anything brother, you never once in the ten years I have been married to him thought to ask or come visit. No the only time you have sought to speak with me or send correspondence was when you wrote to him, and not to me that we needed to come to King's Landing. So tell me brother, why should I tell you anything?"
Matarys sighs. He knows his sister speaks truly, and he knows he has no right to ask her, but still he needs to know. "Because I am your older brother Daenys, I am your king. And if he has harmed you I shall hang him from the rafters."
Daenys sobs then, and she accepts his embrace, burying her head into his chest and crying as she speaks. "He, he, he does not love or care for me brother. He, he, hurts me almost daily, and our son, sweet Roran was born of rape. My baby was born of rape and yet he still demands more and more of my time. He knows Matarys, he knows where the man is, where that crook is. I know he knows!"
Matarys moves his sister's head from his chest then and looks at her. His voice is sharper than he intended it to be when he says. "What do you mean Daenys? Who does your husband know?"
His sister looks at him in worry then and says something so quickly he has to ask her to repeat it. "Ser Baelon Hightower, he's hiding somewhere within the marsh land of Oldstones. I heard Ser Matthew speaking of it the other day. Something about fulfilling blood oaths."
Matarys feels anger billowing inside of him. "You are not to mention a word of this to anyone okay Daenys." When his sister nods he gets up and goes to the door calling for Ser Tom Costayne. "Take my sister back to her rooms, and guard her until I tell you it is okay not to." The white knight nods and then he kisses his sister on the top of her head and then watches her leave. He will have to speak with Viserys and the council come the morn.