iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 397 Dragonstone (End)
Cersei's hand grasped Jaime's arm tightly: "You will inherit your father's position as Hand of the King. You understand the necessity of this without me telling you. Trust..."

After a slight pause, she continued, "It's me who needs you, James."

Candlelight danced in Cersei's jewel-green pond. Jaime stared at her for a moment, then smiled mockingly and said, "Sister, stop joking. I am not fit to rule."

Cersei's patience seemed to be running out. "Rule? You must be kidding. I want you to inherit your father's position, not to rule the kingdom."

She raised her chin slightly. “Until my son comes of age, I will rule the kingdom.”

Hearing this, Ser Jaime had to admit... he had underestimated Cersei's desire for power.

His eyes moved to his father's sleeping form. "I do not know who to feel sorry for, for Tommen, or for the Seven Kingdoms, or for the Lannisters."

Snapped!
Cersei slapped Jaime, leaving a red palm print on his face. He could have avoided it, but...not only were his legs numb, his whole body was also sluggish.

Cersei's voice rang out with anger: "Jaime, you are a coward who only knows how to escape. Where is your courage? Where did you leave it? In the dungeons of Riverrun?"

Looking at the furious lioness, James had to admit...she was still very charming, but he was sure he could no longer love her.

At the same time, he had to admit that she knew what words would hurt him.

Ser Jaime took a deep breath and said in a tone as cold as possible: "If you are smart enough, you should know that only Uncle Kevan can replace your father's position."

After saying that, Jaime looked like he didn't want to bother with her anymore. Cersei was so angry that she wanted to slap him again, but... she held back because his suggestion was not bad.

So far, no prime minister has ever brought her joy.

Jon Arryn made Robert Baratheon sleep with her, and before he died he tried to find out the secrets between her and Jaime.

Eddard Stark took Arryn's sword, and his actions forced Cersei to kill him in order to get rid of Robert.

The dwarf Tyrion had the audacity to humiliate her, and the old lion had imprisoned the lioness in his cage.

She wanted revenge, she wanted to rule the kingdom, and she really needed a qualified prime minister, but how could the palm argue with the brain? The palm should obey her orders.

Therefore, the next prime minister must be an obedient prime minister.

Kevan might be able to do the job. He was tireless, shrewd, and obedient. She could rely on him, just as her father had relied on him.

In addition, she also had a Grimm, and that was her last choice. Grimm had many similarities with Kevan, both were good swords, but Grimm was too sharp, and if she gave him the position of Prime Minister, she was even sure that he would grow into the next Old Lion one day.

The lioness would never allow her sword to hurt herself and would only maintain the status quo... just right.

But...the most suitable candidate for Prime Minister is still James.

Suddenly, heavy rain beat down on the high windows of the Great Sept of Baelor.

Cersei leaned over gently and said, "I'm sorry, I was so scared after my father and... left me, Jaime, I just want peace of mind..."

She stretched out her trembling hand, stroked his cheek, and said sadly: "I need you, I need my other half. You are me, I am you, I want you to hold me tight, want me, please, please."

Jaime quickly grabbed Cersei's moving hands, then he turned his head to look, fearing that the old lion would jump out of the coffin because of anger.

Regret or relief? My father is still a silent, cold corpse, slowly rotting away.

"Cersei, I will leave soon. I will lead the funeral procession and take my father back to Casterly Rock."

Hearing this, Cersei's green eyes filled with tears trembled: "Jaime, you swore you would love me forever. Making me beg like this is not love."

Jaime turned his face away, paused, and said slowly: "I have promised my father to take off the white robe and send my father back to Casterly Rock. I will go to the Golden Tooth City as promised to my father."

No, you absolutely cannot go to Casterly Rock... Cersei suddenly pushed Jaime away, her voice slightly sharp: "Why didn't I know this? I am the Queen Regent. Without my permission, you can't take off your white robe... and leave me!"

Jaime frowned: "Cersei, I promised my father..."

The lioness interrupted coldly, "White Knight, how many times in your life will you be satisfied to break your oath? This is not only your own honor, but also the honor of the Lannisters. Are you going to trample on it again?"

She raised her head and said, "Since you don't want to be the Prime Minister, then you should be a good captain of the Kingsguard. When the wake is over, I will order Lord Tytos Brax and Lord Quinton Benfort (the main vassal of the Westerlands) to take my father's body to Casterly Rock for burial."

Jaime suppressed his anger and said, "Cersei, he is my father."

Looking at Jaime's cold eyes that showed no love, the lioness suddenly roared: "The Kingsguard has no family. You only have me, only me!"

Ser Jaime clenched his fists and said, "Cersei, you can stop me from taking off my white robes, but you can't stop me from leaving. I no longer belong to the Red Keep. I promised my father to go to the battlefield."

Cersei's breasts rose and fell violently several times. She paused for a while, wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, and said, "Okay, okay, if you want to go to the battlefield, I'll let you go."

Then she said angrily: "I am an idiot to come to see you, and I, an idiot, actually loved you!"

Her receding footsteps left a loud echo, and Ser Jaime sighed deeply. Perhaps this was for the best.

Kingsguard, huh... Looking at his sleeping father, Jaime somehow always thought of those memories that he was unwilling or deliberately avoiding.

That night, he and his brothers in the Kingsguard, Jon Darry, were guarding Queen Rhaella's chambers while King Aerys was having a loose affair in there.

Queen Rhaella's cries came through the closed oak door, a sound more unbearable than the screams of those burned alive by King Aerys.

He asked Darry: We swore to protect the queen from harm.

Darry answered him: Yes, but the king is an exception. In the morning when Queen Rhaella set off for Dragonstone, he didn't have a chance to talk to her, but he heard the whispers of the maids... They said that the queen looked like she had been tormented by a beast, with claw marks all over her thighs and her breasts bitten by teeth.

Standing beside his father, James couldn't help but laugh again, the beast, the beast with a crown.

…………

…………

In the early morning, the heavy dark clouds seemed like heavy lead blocks, pressing down the entire sky so hard that it could not breathe. A layer of hazy fog was floating over the sea, making the already gloomy world even more depressing.

The bow of the Mermaid stirred up layers of white waves and slowly approached the Dragonstone Pier.

At the dock, Davos Seaworth was waiting with his sons. He looked at the swamp marigold flag fluttering on the ship with a complicated expression, awe and worry.

Duke Green stepped off the boat, surrounded by a group of people in blue robes. Lord Davos breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over to meet him.

After approaching, Davos and his sons respectfully touched their chests and saluted: "Good day, Your Excellency the Duke."

After taking a quick look at them, Green walked over, patted the Onion Knight's arm, and said gently, "Long time no see, Lord Davos, good day."

After everyone finished greeting each other, Green started walking. He looked at the sky and said with emotion, "I don't think I've ever seen pleasant weather on Dragonstone."

Lord Davos also glanced at the thick dark clouds in the sky, and said respectfully as he walked slowly, "Smugglers often prefer times when the sky is covered with dark clouds, because fewer people go out at this time."

Hearing Davos' response, Green smiled and said, "You don't seem to be doing well."

Davos paused for a moment, then walked a few steps in silence. He then said, "My Lord, I am still confused. I have been thinking about why His Majesty Stannis kept me here. I think it is not just to punish me. There may be other reasons. Unfortunately, with my clumsy mind, I cannot figure out his intentions."

Green slowed down his pace and said, "Stannis Baratheon is the wisest and fairest man I have ever met. I believe that his eyes can see the most honest side of the world, including the Onion Knight who was a smuggler and was promoted by him. Perhaps he is still not used to it and does not like those hypocritical and artificial words."

He turned his head to look at Davos who was listening attentively, and continued: "In fact, when I read from the letter that you were left behind on Dragonstone, I was also very surprised... I couldn't help but wonder why Lord Stannis wanted to abandon his most outstanding knight? Is this a good intention, or is there some hidden conspiracy..."

As he spoke, he sighed softly: "Later, I quickly figured it out. With his noble character, how could he use those conspiracies that he himself hated so much? I can only say that... I have seen too many dirty scenes in the Red Castle, and I was unconsciously influenced by them, such as..."

He shrugged: "When I encounter something that surprises me, I tend to guess whether there is some conspiracy behind it."

Davos was slightly startled as he looked at Lord Greene, who was talking to him about "private" topics like an old friend, and said respectfully: "His Majesty Stannis once regretted that Lannister met you first (Chapter 53), Lord Greene."

“It’s really regrettable.”

Green raised the corners of his lips and said jokingly, "If I have the honor to serve Lord Stannis at that time, I will definitely try every means to take away at least half of the honor he bestowed on you."

Hearing this, Lord Davos smiled unconsciously, but then his expression turned bitter again, and his voice was slightly painful: "He bestowed glory on me, but I failed his trust and betrayed him..."

"If he really thinks you betrayed him..."

Green paused, patted Davos, and said comfortingly: "I think what will greet me today will be your head on a spear."

He looked up at the towering Dragonstone Castle and said, "Lord Davos, we will go in later."

He turned around, glanced at the crowd following them, and said, "Dale Seaworth, please come forward."

Davos' eldest son, Dale has the same square face as his father, brown eyes, and flowing, sparse brown hair.

Seeing that the famous general of the Seven Kingdoms suddenly called him, Dale couldn't help but glance at his father nervously, then walked out carefully and touched Green's chest: "Sir."

“Please kneel down.”

Dale originally wanted to see if his father had any hints, but the pressure from the Duke was so strong that he couldn't think any more. He knelt down involuntarily.
At this time, Green's voice sounded calmly: "Dale Seaworth, I heard that in the Battle of Blackwater, facing the defeat, you not only still commanded the battleship "Sea Sprite" to fight bravely and tried your best to save many companions who fell into the water, but also took the initiative to attack the enemy who was several times your number in order to allow your companions to retreat smoothly."

His hand reached out to the hilt of the sword of Lady of Silence: "I heard that you have a chivalrous and just heart. You regard protecting the weak as an honor and robbing others as a shame. Your unparalleled courage and good character deserve to be admired. This is the justice that all mortals on earth should follow. I—"

With a clang, he drew his sword and said, "Green of the Crab House, ruler of the Valley and Crabclaw Peninsula, Duke of the Eagle's Nest, in the presence of the gods in heaven, confers Dale Seaworth as a knight."

An unexpected or surprising thing came suddenly. Dale looked up at the majestic Duke Green in a daze, then he came to his senses and quickly lowered his head respectfully.

Green placed the "Lady of Silence" on Dale's right shoulder and spoke slowly: "In the name of a warrior, I ask you to be brave. In the name of the Heavenly Father, I ask you to be fair..."

After the ceremony, Green put away his sword and said gently, "Stand up, Sir Dale Seaworth."

Why did Duke Green give him this "gift"? Lord Davos knew that the nobles would not do useless things, and he did have some guesses in his mind.

His eldest son was still immersed in excitement, and his other sons gathered around him to congratulate him. Davos couldn't help but reveal a look of relief.

After he was knighted by Lord Stannis, he never dreamed that his fifth son (Davan) would become his squire.

Now, he never dreamed that he would personally witness his eldest son being knighted by the prestigious Duke of the Seven Kingdoms.

Glancing at Duke Greene who was walking forward with his hands behind his back, Davos couldn't help but think... If this was some kind of trick used by the nobles, for the sake of the children's future, he really wouldn't mind...

Thinking of this, he shook his head secretly and quickly got rid of the greedy delusions in his heart.

Davos stroked his carefully trimmed beard last night and quickened his pace.

(End of this chapter)