Chapter 13: The City Awakens: Securing the Gates of Profit
Dawn painted the sky above King's Landing in hues of grey and reluctant gold, the light spilling over the city's seven hills, blissfully unaware of the silent coup that had transpired within the crimson walls of its ruling fortress. Inside the Red Keep, however, a new, ruthlessly efficient order was already taking root. Robar Baratheon, having neutralized the Mad King and secured the castle's heart, wasted no time in extending his tendrils of control.
His first public act within the Red Keep was an assembly in the Great Hall, the same cavernous space where Aerys had often held his mad court. Courtiers, servants, knights, and squires – those who hadn't already fled or been neutralized by the Phoenix Team – were summoned, their faces a mixture of terror, confusion, and dawning opportunism. They found not the ranting, disheveled Aerys, but a towering Robert Baratheon, clad in practical black leather, his presence exuding an icy calm that was more unnerving than any Targaryen fury. Flanking him were his black-clad, disciplined operatives, their weapons visible, their expressions unreadable. Ser Jaime Lannister and Ser Jonothor Darry stood a little apart, their Kingsguard cloaks still worn but their swords absent, their presence a confusing symbol of both continuity and profound change.
"Inhabitants of the Red Keep," Robar's voice resonated through the hall, each word precise, devoid of unnecessary emotion. "By now, you are aware of a significant alteration in the castle's administration. King Aerys Targaryen, tragically, has succumbed entirely to the malady that has long afflicted him. He is incapacitated and has been placed in secure, comfortable seclusion for his own well-being and that of the realm." A carefully crafted lie, delivered with absolute conviction. "To prevent the chaos that would inevitably follow such a vacuum of leadership, and to ensure the continued stability and security of King's Landing and the Seven Kingdoms, I, Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, with the tacit support of other concerned Great Lords of the Realm, have assumed the role of Lord Protector and Steward of the Crown until such time as a more permanent solution can be established."
He let his gaze, sharp as Valyrian steel, sweep across the assembled faces, his Observation Haki tasting their fear, their calculations. "The previous administration was… inefficient, and detrimental to the prosperity of this city and its people. My administration will be different. It will be built on order, efficiency, and a commitment to fiscal responsibility. Those who serve loyally and competently will find their positions secure and their contributions rewarded. Baratheon Consolidated Resources offers competitive remuneration and unparalleled opportunities for advancement for skilled personnel." He paused, letting the implied offer – and the implied threat – sink in. "Those who choose obstruction, who cling to outdated loyalties that endanger the public good, or who engage in corrupt practices, will find their careers under my stewardship to be exceedingly brief and unpleasant. Your current contracts are under review. New performance metrics will be implemented."
The language was alien to them – "fiscal responsibility," "performance metrics," "BCR" – but the underlying message was crystal clear. This was a new master, one who spoke not of glory or divine right, but of efficiency and consequences. Fear, Robar knew, was an excellent motivator for compliance.
His next target was the City Watch. Commander Janos Slynt, a man whose ambition and greed were as prominent as his jowly face (as per Robert's vague memories, confirmed by Finn's Flea Bottom intelligence), was summoned from his comfortable quarters. Slynt arrived, blustering and attempting to assert his authority, until he found himself in Robar's solar, facing not just the imposing Lord Protector but also the chillingly silent Ser Jaime Lannister and a hefty sack of BCR gold dragons placed pointedly on the table.
"Commander Slynt," Robar began, his voice deceptively mild. "The City Watch of King's Landing is a significant municipal asset, currently underperforming. Its operational efficiency is subpar, its personnel costs inflated by… shall we say, 'unofficial' revenue streams. I am offering you an opportunity to lead a restructured, more professional, and far better compensated City Watch, under my direct oversight." He gestured to the gold. "BCR is prepared to make a significant investment in improving the Watch's equipment, salaries, and morale. In return, I expect absolute loyalty, unwavering enforcement of my laws, and a drastic reduction in freelance entrepreneurialism among your officers."
Slynt, initially defiant, found his bluster deflating rapidly under Robar's icy stare and Jaime Lannister's cynical smirk. The sight of the gold, and the clear implication that refusal would lead to his immediate replacement (or worse), made the decision remarkably simple. By the time Slynt left the solar, he was a newly minted BCR employee, his pockets heavier, his loyalty firmly bought. Robar immediately tasked him with purging the Watch of any die-hard Targaryen loyalists and preparing his men to integrate with the Baratheon forces soon to enter the city. Captains who proved pliable were promoted; those who hesitated were "retired."
Simultaneously, Robar's BCR agents, now operating more openly under Finn's direction, were fanning out through the city. They met with the heads of the powerful merchant guilds – the Vintners, the Spice Merchants, the Weavers. The message was consistent: Aerys's erratic and ruinous taxes were a thing of the past. The new administration valued commerce and would ensure stability. In return, BCR would be implementing a new, more transparent (though still substantial) system of tariffs and duties. Cooperation would lead to prosperity. Resistance would lead to… market correction. Most merchants, weary of Aerys's madness and recognizing the undeniable power shift, were quick to see the benefits of the new regime.
The minor nobility and landed knights residing within King's Landing received similar visits. Oaths of fealty were demanded, backed by the implicit threat of BCR "auditors" investigating their finances and property deeds. Most, seeing the writing on the wall, complied. Those few who dared to openly voice defiance found their homes surrounded by newly loyal Gold Cloaks and black-clad Baratheon operatives, their assets frozen, and their persons detained for "re-education" on the principles of sound governance.
With the Red Keep secure and the city's command structures rapidly falling under his sway, Robar gave the signal. A single, large black banner, bearing the crowned stag of Baratheon, was unfurled from the highest tower of the Red Keep. It was visible across much of the city, a stark declaration of the new reality. This was the signal for his main forces.
From the south, through the now-pacified Kingswood, Stannis Baratheon led the vanguard of the Stormblade Cohort. Their march was not a triumphant, chaotic entry, but a disciplined, orderly occupation. They moved to secure the city gates – the Dragon Gate, the King's Gate, the Gate of the Gods – replacing the Targaryen banners with Baratheon black. Their presence was imposing, their armor and weapons gleaming, their silence unnerving.
Simultaneously, Robar's small fleet, which had been waiting discreetly in the Blackwater Bay, sailed up to the city's docks. More Baratheon soldiers disembarked, quickly securing the River Gate (the Mud Gate, as it was commonly called) and the port district, a vital economic artery.
The citizens of King's Landing awoke to find their city under new management. The Gold Cloaks still patrolled the streets, but now they were often accompanied by grim-faced Stormlander soldiers. Fear was rampant, but so was a hesitant curiosity. The Mad King was gone – or so the rumors, carefully seeded by BCR agents, claimed. In his place was the conquering Stag Lord.
Once his forces were in position, Robar ordered a public proclamation to be read at every major square and marketplace by city criers, now flanked by his soldiers. The message was the same one delivered within the Red Keep: Aerys's incapacitation, Robar's assumption of stewardship for the public good, promises of stability, order, and a return to "sensible, fiscally sound governance." To sweeten the pill, he announced a three-day suspension of the hated "beard tax" Aerys had recently imposed, and a limited distribution of grain from the royal granaries (now BCR granaries) to the city's poorest districts – a calculated expenditure on public relations.
While this public takeover unfolded, Maester Vaellyn's teams, now numbering in the hundreds and comprising Robar's soldiers, coerced alchemists, and city workers promised hazard pay by BCR, worked frantically but discreetly. Guided by the maps extracted from Aerys's pyromancers, they began the perilous task of locating and neutralizing the thousands of wildfire caches hidden beneath the city. It was a terrifyingly slow process, each discovery a reminder of the abyss from which Robar had (for now) pulled King's Landing. Vaellyn reported directly to Robar, his updates filled with grim statistics on the sheer volume of the deadly substance.
Stannis arrived at the Red Keep by midday, his armor dusty from the march, his expression as severe as ever. He found Robar in the solar, already surrounded by clerks and newly appointed BCR administrators, issuing decrees and reviewing financial reports as if he had been ruling for years.
"Robert," Stannis said, his voice flat. "The city gates are secure. Our forces are deployed as per your instructions. The Gold Cloaks… appear to be cooperating." He glanced at the bound and gagged Aerys, now slumped in a corner under heavy guard. "You have been… busy."
"Efficiency, brother," Robar replied without looking up from a ledger detailing the Royal Treasury's surprisingly depleted state – another matter for a BCR audit. "A hostile takeover requires swift action to secure assets and neutralize liabilities. Aerys was a significant liability. The city, a prime asset. I trust your operations in the Kingswood were equally… productive?"
Stannis merely grunted, a sound that might have been affirmation. He had his own reservations about Robar's methods, the cold ruthlessness that had replaced his brother's boisterous nature, but he could not deny the results. Robar had achieved in days what might have taken months of bloody siege, and seemingly without widespread destruction – yet.
"I will oversee the city's garrison and the integration of our forces," Stannis stated. "There will be order."
"Excellent," Robar said. "BCR is establishing new procurement protocols for the City Watch and our garrison. Ensure they are implemented. And begin identifying any remaining pockets of Targaryen loyalists. We need to… restructure their allegiances or liquidate their positions."
As Stannis departed to implement these orders, Robar allowed himself a moment of cold satisfaction. King's Landing, the largest city in Westeros, its economic heart, was now effectively under his control. Its gates were secured, its Watch co-opted, its commerce primed for BCR's guiding hand. The initial investment of risk had yielded an extraordinary return.
A raven arrived, bearing the seal of House Lannister. Pycelle, trembling slightly, presented it to Robar.
Tywin Lannister's response was as terse and pragmatic as Robar had expected: "New management noted. Current market conditions warrant careful consideration. Will arrive King's Landing within a fortnight with a significant delegation to discuss potential synergies and ensure Lannister equity is appropriately valued. Expect a detailed prospectus."
Robar almost smiled. The old lion was coming to the table. The game was expanding. The acquisition of King's Landing was just the beginning. Now, to consolidate the entire realm under Baratheon Consolidated Resources. The ledger of Westeros was open, and he was ready to make some very large entries.
Word Count: Approx. 3150 words