From Westeros to Essos : The Crusader King

<287 AC, King's Landing, Barristan Selmy>

King Robert Baratheon was in his chambers at the Red Keep, sipping red wine from a cup while looking out of the window, as Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard stood by his side, he too watching the capital.

"You know Selmy, boredom is the real threat to a king's life. That's what they don't warn you about during times of peace…the boredom."

 "Well, you grace, if we were in times of war, I'm sure people would wish for the boredom," Barristan answered, knowing very well that his king was anything but willing to rule.

 "It's simple during times of war. You kill your enemy. Now, I deal with grovelers, sycophants, and spineless cowards. Oh, and backstabbers, hundreds of the bloody fuckers…"

 "Ned was right to leave this place to someone else. Gods, I wish I could have gone with him."

"If you had left, I'm sure he'd be here complaining like you are, your grace."

Barristan joked which made Robert laugh, after all, just imagining Ned Stark ruling the seven kingdoms would have been a sight to behold.

 "Ah…if he were here, I'd just hand him the throne now and be done with it. Then again knowing Ned, he would have just berated me like Tywin does." Robert muttered while thinking of better times. " If I had a bloody good heir, I'd give him the crown, get on a ship, crack skulls, and fuck whores until I die."

 "Are you sure about that, my love?" Out of nowhere, Cersei Lannister walked in.

"Your grace." Ser Barristan bowed his head as the Queen entered. "How is it not? Joffrey is a fucking waste. He's not a fighter, he doesn't have the balls to lead men into battle. The kingdoms will be in no better shape with him on the throne." Robert barked at her and for the first time in a good while Barristan had to agree with the king.

The gods know that Joffrey Baratheon was mad, while not as mad as Aerys, the boy was wrong in the head and other than the Queen, no one else would want the little monster on the Iron throne.

Cersei's face turned red when she heard Robert insult her son. She clenched her fists and opened her mouth to lash out at her husband, but before she could utter a word, a knock on the door interrupted her. "Who is it?"

The door opened and a young Lancel Lannister entered, looking white as a sheet of paper. He bowed nervously before turning towards the king. "Your grace, I'm sorry to disturb you, but Lord Varys has called for a meeting of the small council. He said it's urgent and that you and Ser Barristan are invited as well."

Robert groaned, but to the lord commander's surprise, the king looked not quite so angered by this. "What does that spider want now? Can't he leave me alone for one bloody day?" Robert got up from his seat and grabbed his wine before drinking the whole thing in one go. "Come on, Selmy, let's go see what this is about. Maybe we'll get some entertainment out of it."

Barristan nodded and followed Robert out of the room, leaving Cersei behind with her young cousin. As soon as the king left, the bitch glared at Lancel with such a gaze that made her cousin take a few steps back in fear.

 "What are you still doing here? Go fetch my brother. Tell him to meet me in the gardens. And don't you dare tell anyone what you heard here!"

Lancel nodded and ran out of the room, afraid of his cousin's wrath. Meanwhile, Cersei took a deep breath and composed herself. While she rather trust a beggar than the spider, she was curious why he would assemble the small council on such a. She hoped it was nothing that could threaten her plans or her children's future.

When he and the king walked inside the room, Barristan noticed that everyone was in there waiting and staying in silence, something that had never happened before.

Grandmaester Pycelle was for a lack of better words, becoming one with his chair. While he was not Varys, only a blind idiot or a drunk would not see that the feeble old fool Pycelle portrayed to the world was just an act that hid a cunning mind that only worked for his master. The old maester was Tywin Lannister's man through and through.

Lord Stannis Baratheon the Master of Ships was standing by the window his face set in stone and jaw clenched as he waited for the meeting to begin. The king's brother, was one of the few people in the red keep, Barristan respected and truth be told, the man would be a better king and heir than the current heir.

The Hand of King, Jon Arryn was sitting in his place at the council table looking over some notes and letters, but there was something else there, worry, mayhaps? Despite his age, Lord Arryn was better than the last two kings at running the realm during King Robert's reign and was pretty much the only person, the king would listen to, apart from Lord Eddard Stark, but unfortunately, he like everyone else was unable to stop King Robert from bankrupting the realm. Alas as of late, the king stopped going so frequently to brothels.

The king's other brother, Renly Baratheon and Master of Laws in name, was like always, daydreaming about anything but what mattered.

And finally, the only creature no one liked, Petyr Baelish, Master of Coin, as slippery and cunning as a Dornish Snake. Barristan had no love for the man and even less trust in him but he knew better than to speak his thoughts out loud. Baelish was, sadly, the reason the realm was still stable, or as stable as it could get with Robert on the throne.

As soon as the king sat on his seat and stood beside him, Varys smiled and greeted them, "Your grace, Ser Barristan, thank you for coming. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I have some news that you need to hear."

When he said that, Barristan noticed, Lord Arryn shifting uncomfortably in his chair. Something was amiss here and for once, the old commander wished he had a network like the spider.

Robert rolled his eyes before returning to his bored self, "Spit it out, Varys. What is it this time? Did the dragon spawns die or what?"

Rather than answering outright, Varys walked beside the king and whispered loud enough only for the king and Ser Barristan to hear, "Your grace, I have some concerning news regarding a new mercenary company, the Brothers of the Cross. It pains me to tell Lord Hand that it concerns his firstborn son, Konrad Arryn, the very same one that had been kidnapped years ago and whom no one knew anything about until recently when we received a letter from him through one of Lord Stark's men."

Robert frowned, not liking what the spider was about to say about his foster father. "What are you talking about, Varys? What does this have to do with a mercenary company?"

Varys cleared his throat and addressed the whole council. "My lords, I apologize for the secrecy, but this matter is of great delicacy and importance. You see, my little birds have managed to learn that, as shocking as it might be, the leader of the mercenary company, Brothers of the Cross, the very same who had declared war on slavery, is a certain Kingsguard who had been thought dead years ago, Ser Tyrek Lannister, first son of Tygett Lannister."

A collective gasp filled the room. While many might not know about the young man, Barristan had trained the boy together with Arthur and even now, years after he was declared dead, it still pains him. But to run away from Westeros and become a mercenary… no, he did not leave, he was… tasked… but by who?

"Are you mad, Varys?" Robert roared. "Ser Tyrek Lannister is dead. We all saw his corpse. He died defending that Targaryen bastard."

Varys bowed his head. "I wish I was lying, your grace, but I have proof. A few weeks ago, the Brothers of the Cross fought against a force twice, if not close to thrice, their strength and won, with heavy losses. The battle took place on the demon's road, close to the Valyria, and while not many people walk on that road anymore, the battle was witnessed by some, and among them, a merchant from Braavos, who recognized Ser Tyrek and sent me this sketch."

Varys produced a piece of parchment and handed it to Robert. Barristan leaned over to look at it. It was a crude drawing, but there was no mistaking the features of Ser Tyrek Lannister, his long blonde hair, his green eyes, and his usual stern-looking face. He had known Ser Tyrek since he was a boy, and, like everyone else though the lad died in the battle of the Trident. How could he be alive, and leading a band of mercenaries in Essos? He looked at Robert, who was frowning at the parchment, and then at Varys, who was watching them with his usual enigmatic smile.

"Is there more to this story, Varys?" Stannis asked, breaking the silence. "It seems rather incomplete. How did Ser Tyrek survive? Why did he join the Brothers of the Cross or create them? What is their purpose?"

"There is more, my lord, but it is not yet confirmed. My little birds have heard that another commanding officer of the Brothers of the Cross is a certain Ser Andar Royce, the son of Lord Yohn Royce of Runestone, who was reported to have been kidnapped alongside his nephew a few years ago. And that both Ser Tyrek and Ser Andar are protecting a young boy, who is the true leader of the company. A boy who has his body covered from head to toe, and who is always flanked by two men in white robes with a cross on the back had been seen leading a part of those mercenaries in battle."

As Varys finished his words, Lord Arryn looked as pale as his son. He was not taking well the news that his son, the one he had thought he had lost until a while ago, was now fighting in a war across the sea. The grand maester rushed to his side and examined the old Lord Hand, who was breathing heavily.

Robert, on the other hand, burst out laughing praising the lad before he swore that if not for his dumb fuck of an heir, he would have joined Jon's boy in his war. "Anything else Varys?"

"There is more, your grace, but it is not pleasant. As I said earlier, The Brothers of the Cross have declared war on slavery, and they have been raiding and liberating slave ships along the coast of Slaver's Bay and Volantis. And while I am more than sure that Braavos would soon start supporting them, it will still be not an easy life for Lord Arryn, son."

"If worse comes true I'll bloody march there myself. And what of the Targaryens?

Varys shook his head. "Nothing that I know of, your grace. The last I heard of them, they were still in one of the free cities, under the protection of a magister. They have not shown any interest in the Brothers of the Cross, nor have the Brothers of the Cross shown any interest in them."

Robert snorted. "Good. Let them rot in whatever city they hide. I have no love for the dragon spawn. But Jon's son… he intrigues me. The lad's doing what none of us had done in our lives at his age. Does he intend to return to Westeros and claim his birthright? Or does he have a bigger ambition?"

Varys smiled when he heard the king. "That, your grace, is the million-dragon question. And one that I intend to find out. For now, all I can say is that the Brothers of the Cross are a force to be reckoned with and that they have changed the balance of power in Essos. Whether that is for good or ill, only time will tell."

To his surprise, the master of Coin, Lord Baelish was the only one who didn't take the news well for some reason. The man looked angry at something and that made Barristan wonder if there was something amiss in the middle, even thought this was the first time he had been invited here, there was no person in the red Keep not knowing that Lord Arryn's son had fled Westeros because someone wealthy was sending assassins after his head.

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