Darken Rahl in Game of Thrones

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***

Jon Snow.

Jon was meeting a delegation from the North.

Catelyn Tully, who he hated so much, was in it, even though she's a Stark by husband, as it were. But that doesn't mean anything. She's only hurting her family. What about that Tyrion Lannister incident and her personal motives behind that stupid "trial" of her half-husband.

She hated him as a child. Though she did him no wrong, her looks did more evil and trouble than even the beatings....

Besides his "stepmother" more than a dozen Stark warriors arrived with her, as well as an entourage in the form of Lady Mage Mormont and her eldest daughter Daisy Mormont, there was also Cregan Karstark, nephew of the current ruler of Carhold. Also Ser Wendell Manderly as a representative of the Manderly family.

Lady Caitlin's gaze was cold towards him, but it didn't offend Snow, only annoyed him. The woman irritated him.

- Lady Caitlin, Lady Mage, Lady Dacey, Lord Cregan and Ser Wendel, on behalf of His Majesty Darken Rahl the First of his name, I welcome you as dear guests to Panisheart. I trust the journey has been easy for you?

- It has been long, not without its difficulties, John. - She answered him in the same cold tone, but still managed to smile.

- Then please follow me. I have been appointed by the Emperor as your escort. It would be my pleasure...

- Can we not bow like women and kiss each other on the arse? - Ser Wendell spoke up in displeasure. - Lead us to Rahl. We...

- If I were you, Ser Wendell, I'd be more careful! - Tully stopped him. - Don't forget who's standing next to you.

- I apologise, Lady Caitlin. - The knight bowed reluctantly. - I'm just annoyed about the long journey.

- Please excuse my companion, Lord Snow. - Jon noted that she had also expressed her dislike for him in the last two words, but only smiled at that. He is above this and above them all put together.

- 'That you are, Lady Caitlin, I understand. The long journey for the glorious knight from White Harbour was too bad, and it reflected in his behaviour. I'm not offended. Please, let's go. Your quarters are ready.

- When can we see His Grace for an audience? - she asked impatiently.

- Tonight. He will give a dinner party for all the guests from Westeros who have also come to Panisheart.

- And who else will be from the Seven Kingdoms? - The already young warrior from Bear Island asked.

Jon turned round and examined Dacey closely, which did not escape the notice of all the Northerners.

She was about 180 centimetres tall or a little over a centimetre. A woman that felt free obviously in both dress and ringlets. Long dark hair and green eyes harmonised quite well in it. John liked that.

- Representatives from all the kingdoms of Westeros. From the Iron Islands, Lord Victarion Greyjoy and several lords. The Vale of Arryn sent Jon Royce and a couple of lords in his retinue. From the Riverlands came the Waynes and Freys. From the Stormlands and the Expanse together came Lady Oleanna Tyrell, her grandson Garlan, as well as Lord Baelon Swann and a host of knights and lords of lesser rank. From the Western Lands came Kiwan Lannister with some of his bannermen. - At these words the northerners grimaced. - Dorne has sent Oberyn Martell, Manfrey Martell, Elaria Sand, Obara Sand, Nymeria Sand, Tiena Sand, and nearly half the heads of their houses to the wedding. It even seems to me that more Dornish have arrived than all the other nobles of Westeros combined.

- So we're the last to arrive?

- No. Delegates from Dragonstone and King's Landing are expected. They'll arrive a little late, but they'll be here in time for the evening... Please make yourselves comfortable in the palanquins and be taken to the People's Palace.

***

The dinner party was going on quite... curious for John, though it was also quite amusing for his teacher to watch the reactions and glances between them. They were just trying to sizzle each other.

Probably the most eloquent glances were thrown at each other by the Martells and Lannisters, with the Starks joining the former. Ser Royce was demurely at Lady Catelyn's side and the Vale delegation sat to the left of the North. And on the right side were the representatives of the Riverlands. The Dornish were opposite the West, and next to the Lannisters sat the Greyjoys, next was the representative of King's Landing in the person of Petyr Baelish, and after him the Tyrells, and behind them the envoys of Stannis: Lady Mellisandra of Asshai, Lady Velarion and Ser Davos Seaworth. At that, the table was almost circular. At the head of the table sat the Emperor of DHara himself, and next to him his fiancée and closest associates, Jon himself among them.

Snow noticed that Darken was clearly enjoying this amusing situation. Everyone wants something from him and they think they're bound to get it, because it's THEY!

Rhys Firestorm, who was sitting next to him, was commenting on all this out loud, but in a low voice. Ocris sighed heavily and rolled his eyes at their conversation, while Miriam frowned at the whole thing, a look of genuine boredom in her eyes. Quentin Durstein, Drogo Khaling and Daario Naharis were only concerned with the charms of some of the guests and the roasted pheasant in an unusual sauce.

This idyll was broken by a small altercation that began with a small toast by Kiwan Lannister:

- Your Majesty! I hope that your days together will be much more colourful and beautiful with the young Princess Daenerys Targaryen by your side. And I dare wish you that the children's laughter and the stomping of their little feet will rattle through this palace....

He was interrupted by Darken Rahl's father:

- That is a very fair and good wish. I even shed a tear, Lord Kiwan. But I am confused by the fact that it was said by someone who belonged to the family that killed the aunt of the person he was congratulating with particular cynicism, as well as his cousin and his cousin's cousin. Those in whom Targaryen and Martell blood flowed, and today you congratulate the representatives of two clans, the same clans. My son may call himself Rahl, but he has my family's blood in him.

There was silence in the hall, which Keevan wanted to break, but Lady Catelyn beat him to it:

- The Lannisters are quite fond of exaggeration, Your Highness. I attended the wedding of King Robert and Lord Kiwan's niece. She feigned joy and happiness at that marriage, but as it turned out, she loved only her twin brother, who gave her the seed for three bastards that bypassed all laws to take King's Landing, and his grandnephew humiliated my daughter by ordering his guardsman Trant to beat her.

- That's a filthy lie, Lady Catelyn. I'm sure Lord Stark believed her and that's why he's in this situation. And that's why war has broken out in the Seven Kingdoms. Your consort, despite all the merit to the crown and his pure motives for pursuing it, was misled. And despite our best efforts to get him to open his eyes to this deception, he has been subjected to a long-standing feud between our Houses. We have done our best to prevent bloodshed.

- Your grandnephews are the fruit of the love between the queen and her brother guardsman. - a Red Priestess on Stannis Baratheon's side has made a powerful statement.

The other red priestess, who was also the High Priestess of the Lord of Light cult in Volantis Kinvar, smilingly greeted even before sitting down at the table. It had still occurred to John then that even though they supported seemingly different challengers to Azor Ahai, they had not lost their common bond. Even now Kinvara, who sat at Master Rahl's side, was clearly pleased with Mellisandra. Meanwhile, the latter continued:

- The rightful king of Westeros is Stannis Baratheon first of his name. And you should be ashamed of your words and repent to your Lord for your transgressions.

- I serve the rightful King Joffrey Baratheon, and as for your God, he is yours alone. I believe in the Seven. - Lannister answered proudly.

- How amusing. - the Emperor's voice interrupted their argument. - I was expecting you to start accusing each other, but I thought it would be behind the scenes, not at my dinner party. I guess I expected too much of the Seven Kingdoms' etiquette and traditions. That's my fault, though. I should have seen it coming.

Jon could barely contain his real emotions, he kept his mask of indignation, but in his heart he was laughing with all this circus that the Westerosi had put on with a slight nudge from His Majesty. Whatever Darken Rahl had to say, and he needed this meeting for his plans. He wanted to meet with all sides of the Seven Kingdoms' conflict. And Snow was more than certain that any outcome of a conversation with either side would be positive for His Majesty. He knew how to make the best of defeat. And though Darken had not fully disclosed to any of his cronies his immediate plans for the coming negotiations, but tonight after this dinner they would be, and not just tonight, but tomorrow. And John as his apprentice and assistant would need to attend them.

So much trouble lately.....

- I apologise, Your Majesty. - Keevan bowed. - But I could not remain silent when my niece and the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms were slandered.

- I do not blame you, Lord Kiwan. My words applied only to Dorne and the North.

Lady Caitlin had something to say to that, but suddenly looking into Rahl's glowing eyes, she stopped talking and turned pale. And Oberyn simply remained silent, though he threw spiteful glances at the Lannisters.

In truth, Jon never noticed a single reaction from his aunt. Not an ounce of embarrassment, not anger, not anger, not anger, much less joy. It was as if she didn't give a damn about all this talk.

But then, looking at the loving eyes that Daenerys was looking at the Emperor with, he realised that he was unlikely to get anything more than the words, "My lover said it best..."

- Sometimes I don't understand women at all..." Jon muttered confusedly as the banquet continued in quieter surroundings.

- It's just your inexperience, John. - Rhys answered him.

- I know. - John replied doomedly, not even looking at his friend.

- You don't know anything, Jon Snow. - and laughed.

(p.s. from the Author: At that moment, somewhere beyond the Wall, Ingritt woke up in a sweat and worried that she had obviously been robbed somewhere. She checked all her belongings and ran around her tent in a hurry, but found nothing missing. But still she never went to sleep until morning with the thought that someone had robbed her).

Continued to follow....