8th Month of 299 A.C. King's Landing
Ser Arthur Dayne
The war was over, the resistance to the King had ended the moment the King had removed Durran Baratheon's head from his shoulders. It was a strange feeling, Arthur had not fought during the rebellion, nor had he fought in the Greyjoy rebellion, but he had experience fighting, his whole life had been a fight, and he had been happy to contribute his knowledge and his expertise to the cause of the rightful King. To be back in King's Landing after seventeen years was something else entirely, when they had entered the Red Keep, he had gasped, he had not meant to, but the difference was startling. When last he had been within the Red Keep and the throne room, there had been Targaryen banners flying proudly from the walls, and there had been dragon skulls resting in plain sight, the day they had entered the throne room there had been no dragon skulls, no banners, but the crowned Stag of a house that was soon to die. Arthur had felt like a ghost, drifting back into a life he had never truly thought would succeed, it had taken a lot to prevent himself from crying- something he had only done once in the years since he became a child, not when Rhaegar died, not when Elia had died, only when Ashara had died, only then had he cried- he had swallowed down the lump in his throat and assumed his position at the foot of the throne with Ser Jaime and Ser Brandon, his fellow sworn brothers. The King had looked glorious in his armour as he sat on the throne, a place where his father would have sat had he not died. The ghosts of the past would never fade, Arthur does not know if he wants them to fade, but he knows that, he can put them to rest somewhat.
Right now, the King spends time with his cousins, awaiting his wife, Arthur had asked his permission to hold a meeting of the three sworn brothers who were within King's Landing, Ser Henry would be joining them when he had brought Queen Sansa to the capital. A Stark lady would be Queen, that was something, Arthur wondered how Rhaegar would react, he could not tell what facial expression would greet his friend's face if he could see what had happened now, it was a relief he supposed. Shaking his head slightly, to keep the memories at bay, he looks around the room he is in, the chamber of White Sword Tower, where the Kingsguard would traditionally meet to talk. The White Book rests in the middle of the table, and Arthur knows he will have to update it in the time to come, but for now, he looks at it, then shifts his attention to the two men standing either side of him, Ser Jaime, a man who has proven himself time and time again over the course of this war, and Ser Brandon, a fierce man and fiercely loyal to the King. They are good men, not the brothers he remembers, not Ser Jaime anyway, but they are fierce. Arthur clears his throat, determined to not fall in the memories once more and speaks. "Good Sers, the fighting is done for now, but we still have a duty to our King. A regime has been reinstalled to its rightful place, and as such there will be those who will try to ensure that the stability of the regime is not secure. It is our duty to ensure that the King and his wife remain protected at all times. And so now I ask, who guards the King?" it was largely a formality, Arthur already knew who guarded the King.
Ser Brandon still replies, his tone serious. "The King is guarded by northmen under the command of my brother Ser Morgan Liddle. They are fifty strong and are some of the fiercest fighters amongst the north. He will be safe till this meeting is concluded Lord Commander."
Lord Commander, the title still sounds strange, the King had given him the title before they had ventured off to war, but still, every time he hears it uttered, he expects to turn around and see Ser Gerold standing there, a big broad bull of a man, but Ser Gerold is dead, his body rotting somewhere in Dorne no doubt. Arthur shakes his head once more and replies. "Good. Now, we are only three at present, four we shall be when Ser Henry returns, but the King has tasked us with finding knights suitable to wear the white cloak. Men who shall not shame it as the men of the Baratheon Kingsguard did. Do you men have any candidates?"
There is a moment of silence and then Ser Jaime speaks. "There is Ser Loras Tyrell, Lord Commander. Whilst the man was Lord Commander of the false King's Kingsguard, he is a fine knight and by including him in the Kingsguard one would ensure the Tyrells would feel comfortable serving the King."
"They would be lucky to escape the King's fire considering the amount of support they threw behind the false King." Ser Brandon replies fiercely.
Ser Arthur considers both men's points and then says. "I saw this Ser Loras fight during the course of the battle for King's Landing, he does seem a good knight, but the issue I have is his relationship to Renly Baratheon. The King intends to have Lord Renly executed, will that not bring about the ire of Loras Tyrell?"
Arthur looks at Jaime and can tell the man is trying to think like Loras Tyrell, and Arthur smiles sadly then, wondering how a fifteen-year-old Jaime would have acted had his father or brother or even his sister been dealt that hand, then he catches himself, Ser Jaime stood and watched as his sister was executed for her treason, he has dealt with the hell that comes from the King's justice. Eventually Ser Jaime speaks, sounding sure of himself. "It might be an issue yes Lord Commander, but I can speak to the boy, and make him see reason. The Kingsguard is an honourable position and it is not one someone could turn down lightly."
A brief silence follows as they consider this, considering no doubt what individual circumstance led to them all taking up the white cloak, Ser Brandon is the one to break the silence. "But would it not look as if the King was rewarding a traitor for his treason by offering him a white cloak? After all, Loras Tyrell is known to be close with Renly Baratheon and as such Baratheon was the main man behind the false King's rise to the throne. Would it not be sending the wrong signal?"
A perfectly valid point, and one Arthur knows Jaime is thinking about, judging by the look on his face. However, he can see the reasoning behind offering the white cloak to the rose boy. "Whilst it might send the wrong signal, it might also the send the signal that the King is willing to let things lie. The Tyrells will face their judgement on the morrow, it might make things easier for all involved if there is something in it for them. After all, the Tyrell boy is a knight, and the Kingsguard needs knights like him." The, after the shambolic nature of the usurper's Kingsguard as well as his successors is not mentioned but implied.
Finally, they move on from that point and Ser Brandon speaks. "I think that there are a few Northman who would not be a bad pick for the Kingsguard, though if I had to go with an anointed knight, I would say Ser Theodan Wells, the man is very good with a sword, and fiercely loyal."
Arthur thinks on the name, and manages to place a face. "Aye, I quite agree." He responds, Ser Theodan would make a very good knight of the Kingsguard.
Ser Jaime voices his agreement. "I agree as well, Ser Theodan is a good man."
One down, only two more spaces to go. Arthur thinks to himself, writing down the name on a piece of paper to present to the King. A moment passes, and then Arthur speaks, thinking of someone who might well do the realm some good. "Lord Caron managed to achieve some things during his time here, and during the fighting in King's Landing his bastard brother was of valuable aid to the King. I would nominate Ser Rolland Storm."
"I agree; Ser Rolland seems to be a good man." Ser Jaime says.
"Aye." Is all Ser Brandon says Arthur nods at this and writes Ser Rolland's name down.
A silence falls over them then, a silence that Arthur knows is slightly uncomfortable due to the presence, or lack thereof of one man who would have been considered a guarantee for the Kingsguard before his actions during this war. Arthur sighs, deciding to address the issue. "What of Ser Barristan, do you believe he should be within the Kingsguard?"
"Having him the Kingsguard would give the King an additional boost, people have not forgotten the reputation of Barristan the Bold." Ser Jaime points out.
Arthur can see Ser Jaime's point, and it is one he knows the King has considered before, however, there is something about the way Ser Barristan so callously bent the knee to the usurper that irks him, Ser Brandon speaks then, his voice harsh. "Ser Barristan, great as he might be, is no true knight of the Kingsguard. He bent the knee to Robert Baratheon when his King was still alive, he kept fighting for Joffrey Baratheon when the true King was fighting a war. He professed regret in his actions to the King, but kept supporting the Baratheons. I do not think he should serve the King."
Whilst he still struggles to accept what his former mentor has done, he cannot help but agree with the sentiment. "Whom do you think should take the third and final place then Ser Brandon?"
It is a difficult question and not one that should have an easy answer, filling the shoes of Ser Barristan the Bold would never be an easy thing, and it should not be, the man, for all his faults is a veritable legend. Ser Brandon hesitates for a moment and then says. "I am not sure."
Arthur looks at Jaime, and the man sighs. "I do not know Arthur, there is much and more that I am sure of, but this is not one of them."
For a brief moment, he wants to ask what those things are, but instead, he decides to let it lie. He thinks for a moment and then says. "Very well, this meeting is at an end. I shall give the King this list, and let him decide." Arthur nods to the two men and then walks out of the room, he descends down the steps, and eventually makes his way over to where he knows the King shall be.
As he walks, Arthur finds himself thinking back to all the times he made this walk in the past, when Aerys was King. He was made a Knight of the Kingsguard when he turned seventeen, the same year that Prince Rhaegar was knighted, the same year King Aerys suffered through the Defiance of Duskendale. Arthur had grown up alongside the Prince, had seen the King as an uncle, but something had changed in the King after Duskendale, he became more withdrawn and more suspicious, and as time went on he became mad. Arthur had worked with Rhaegar to try and stymie the King's madness, but there had been those who had tried to thwart them, and as such they had succeed, and the prince himself had gone mad. It was a sad tale, and one Arthur often stayed up late worrying over. The King showed no signs of madness, but one could not be too careful. As he comes to the King's door, he stops, takes a breath and then knocks. The King calls for him to enter, and he finds, the King standing at a window, looking at the three dragons which are perched somewhere outside, instead of in the Dragonpit. Arthur watches the scene for a moment, remembering the King as a child, a lump of pride comes to him then, seeing the man the King has become. "Ser Arthur." The King states. "What might I do for you?"
"I have spoken with my sworn brothers Your Grace, and we have a list of whom we think might make good members of the Kingsguard." Arthur responds gesturing to the paper in his hand.
The King looks at it intently. "Very well, let me see."
Arthur walks into the room, marvelling at how calm the King appears, still that should not come as a surprise anymore, the King is a relatively calm man, a symbol of his upbringing. Arthur hands the paper over to the King who looks over it calmly, before handing it back to Arthur, saying. "I agree with those two suggestions. No Ser Barristan though I see."
"We were not sure there. Your Grace, what do you intend to do with Ser Barristan and Ser Loras?" Arthur finds himself asking before he can stop himself from asking.
The King's expression hardens and then it softens. "Ser Loras will be offered a white cloak, as a gesture to the Tyrells. Ser Barristan though, he shall get a choice, death or he shall bend the knee."
Arthur nods. "I think we can expect Ser Barristan to choose the first option." As he says the words he feels nothing but sadness.