Winter's Promise

1st Month of 299 A.C. Wendwater

Lord Renly Baratheon

There had been a battle at the Wendwater many years ago, during one of the Blackfyre rebellions if he remembered his history correctly. The Blackfyres had never learned their lessons, they had come with only the Golden Company and had not bothered to seek out other allies within Westeros, convinced that those lords who had risen three times before would do so once more, they had been wrong, and they had suffered for it. Renly had been determined to avoid that mistake, he had used his connections with the Tyrells and sixty thousand Reachmen were now part of their army, he had used his charm and good will to bring twenty thousand of the Stormlords with him as well. They did not lack for men; it was just the implementing of the men that was the issue now. That was why Renly had called for a meeting, and he was glad that the King had decided to attend, the lad still seemed slightly lost whenever he attended such meetings, but he was learning.

Renly looks around the command tent, and takes note of who is there and who is not. Tyrell, Rowan, Florent, Osgrey, Cafferen, Grandison, Fell, Tarth, Estermont and Buckler are amongst the lord present. Renly clears his throat and the muttering in the tent comes to an end. "My lords, we are very close to King's Landing now. Close enough that if we wanted to we could encircle it and make it ours within the moon's end. But of course, we are not within a song, the time has come for us to shed any pretensions we might have, and to openly discuss what is to happen next. Lord Tyrell, what word is there from Lord Tarly?"

Tyrell is a big man, but whether he is the buffoon everyone thinks he is, is something that Renly is still trying to figure out. His tone is measured when he responds. "Lord Tarly reports that the diversion worked my lord, Your Grace." The man looks at the King then, his eyes wide, as if he cannot quite believe that the King has come, that irks Renly slightly, but he pushes it to the side for now and listens as Tyrell continues. "He writes that the Rivermen are mustering their forces, preparing for an attack from the crownlands that will not materialise."

"I am surprised they fell for that. I did not think that Lord Hoster was so gullible." Lord Buckler says.

"Lord Hoster is ailing, most likely he is dead." Renly responds. "It is his grandson the Stark boy who rules in Riverrun now. And that boy has no experience of war, nor do the men advising him. It is no surprise they got their sigils confused." There is a burst of laughter at that, and Renly smiles, the King smiles as well, encouraging more people to laugh, eventually it settles down and Renly speaks once more. "How soon does Lord Tarly think he will be able to lure out the pretender in King's Landing?"

Tyrell seems to hesitate there, and Renly wonders at that, but then the man responds and his voice seems certain of what he says. "Within the week I think my lord, Your Grace." The man hesitates for a moment as if thinking over what he wants to say and then he continues. "He believes that the pretender in King's Landing is already advancing outwards from the city, to prove himself worthy of the throne he sits."

"No doubt that has been done on his mother's urging, Cersei never did know when to keep her mouth shut." Renly says, something that causes the King to laugh slightly. Others follow his example, and then stop when he does. Renly thinks for a moment and then he looks to Lord Rowan and asks. "What word is there from the Westerlands? Do we know how the dragon pretender does?"

"He is laying siege to Casterly Rock my lord." Rowan responds. "He has brought his entire strength to bear on the castle it seems."

"Certainly a very bold move doing that." Renly remarks. "Pray tell, where is Lord Tywin in all of this? Has the dragon managed to vanquish the lion?"

"I am not sure my lord." Lord Rowan replies. "I think that Lord Tywin might either be a prisoner, or within the Rock itself."

"I do not think the man would hide within the Rock." Lord Osgrey says, and it is only then that Renly remembers that the man is Tywin's cousin, he will need look through Osgrey once more. "I think that the man must be elsewhere waiting and biding his time."

"Where, and with what army?" Lord Buckler asks. "The dragon pretender has defeated every host the man has managed to assemble in the field. He has no more men, he cannot have anymore men to assemble and send to the slaughter."

Osgrey's jaw tightens then. "I do not think Lannister is the sort of man to give up quite so easily. And he would never allow himself to be taken prisoner. He has far too much pride for that."

How would you know Osgrey? I had thought you'd never met the man before? Renly thinks to himself, but it is the King who speaks then, his voice soft, but clear. "He might have allowed himself to be captured if it was his son who was commanding the enemy host." The King seems surprised as them that he has spoken, but he continues onward regardless. "That is right is it not Lord Renly? The man would give himself up if he thought he could get to his son that way."

Renly nods, impressed. "Aye that is right Your Grace. Lord Tywin would only ever surrender himself, if he thought that he might get a chance to meet his son the Kingslayer."

There is a moment's pause and then Lord Florent asks. "Does that mean then that we can consider him out of the war?"

Renly looks at the man and fights his hardest to stop from laughing, but it is a tall order, and so he bursts out laughing, causing Florent to pale considerably. "Forgive me my lord, but I do think you might have said the funniest thing of the year. Lord Tywin out of the war? Far from it, no doubt he is plotting and planning a second wind, even if he is a prisoner, he will be near his son, and as such will be doing what he can to bend the man's ear."

"So what then do we do? We cannot afford to fight on more than two fronts, not without completely stretching our resources." Florent points out.

Renly thinks over this for a moment, and then defers to Lord Rowan when the man speaks. "We see what happens in the west. Knowing Lannister, he will plot and scheme and aim to cause as much disruption within the dragon pretender's ranks as possible. From there, chaos will follow. It is merely a matter of waiting."

"I think Lord Rowan is right there." Lord Grandison says. "We cannot do anything in the west now, not without weakening our position here. The Wendwater provides us with good cover, I would suggest that scouting parties are sent out Your Grace, to give a sense of the capital being attacked from all sides."

"We must be cautious of course." Renly says then, looking at the King. "Lord Stannis will be there, aiding in defence of the city, and whatever else one wants to say about him, he knows how to prepare for a siege and attack. We shall need be very cautious on how we go about that."

"There are trebuchets and ballistae with us my lord, Your Grace." Lord Cafferen says eagerly. "We can use them to cause distractions near the gates closest to our current position. Furthermore, with the size of the army that we have, it should not be too much hassle to bring the army around the city to surround it."

Renly looks at the King, and inclines his head slightly, and so the King says. "Very well then my lord Cafferen, I shall place command over those devices to you. I trust you to make full and smart use of them. Do not disappoint."

The man lowers his head in acceptance. "Of course Your Grace, thank you Your Grace."

"There is just one issue I would like to address before the meeting is adjourned," Tyrell says suddenly then, and Renly closes his eyes in frustration, for he knows just what will be mentioned next. "Your Grace, whilst I know my daughter much enjoys her time with you, I must ask, is it necessary for her to accompany you everywhere?"

Fighting hard to control his anger, Renly begins to respond, only for the King to answer. "My lord, whilst I can see why you are concerned I must tell you that, it is only good for my wife to accompany me, it is good for me, and it is good for the men. Furthermore, she has asked to accompany me. I will not deny her this, not now."

Renly looks at the King surprised, but also filled with pride. Tyrell seems cowed then. "Very well Your Grace."

There is a moment of silence and then the King says softly. "You are all dismissed, uncle if you would remain please." Renly remains seated and watches as the other lords all file out of the command tent toward their own respective tents, once the last lord has gone, the King slumps forward slightly, looking very tired, Renly feels his heart go out to the lad.

Putting a hand on the lad's shoulder, Renly says. "You did well Your Grace. I think Tyrell will not trouble you again on the issue of Queen Margaery."

His nephew sighs at that. "I worry about having her here uncle. I do not know why she remains so insistent on being here. It's not like she's helping in anything. And half the men here ogle her, it's quite frustrating."

Renly laughs then. "Then I'd say she's doing a lot of good here. She's making you determined to fight for what's yours Your Grace, and she's doing it the way she knows how."

"By making me feel jealous and uncomfortable, that's not very good is it?" his nephew asks uncertainly.

Renly thinks over this for a moment and then says softly. "If it is troubling you a lot, speak to her about it. She is doing what she has been taught to do, but if it is hurting you more than angering you, then talk to her about it and resolve the issue before it gets out of control Your Grace."

The King looks at him thoughtfully then and asks. "Why did you decide to take me from King's Landing uncle? Why not claim the throne for yourself?"

Renly is surprised by the question and as such takes his time to consider an appropriate response, eventually he says. "I have no claim to the throne that is worth fighting for Your Grace. You are my brother's eldest trueborn son and therefore the rightful heir to the throne. And you would make a good King. Your life has shaped you in a manner that none else have. The people need a King like you. They deserve a King like you."

The King blushes furiously then, a scarlet red as it were. "You really think so?" his nephew asks. "Do you really think I could be a good King?"

Renly nods. "I do Your Grace; with everything I have. I believe that you would make a good King, and I believe you are the person Westeros needs now."

The King seems to consider this for a long time if his expression is anything to go by, as the silence drags on, Renly begins feeling the call to bed and to Loras, but he waits patiently as the King continues his silence, eventually the King speaks. "I need a new name, I cannot remain as Gendry, not if I want the throne, and to be taken seriously. What name should I choose uncle?"

Renly looks at his nephew and then asks. "Well that depends Your Grace, do you want to be known for who your father is, or for where you come from?"

Another silence follows this, and then when it is broken the King says. "Durran, I want to be known for where I come from. I will be known as Durran Baratheon from now on."

Renly smiles at the choice of name, he rises and gets down on knee looking at his nephew, he says. "Then Your Grace, you are known as King Durran Baratheon from this day forth."