The One True Heir

Chapter 15

The realm needed stability. A strong King can bring that stability. Jon Arryn had always told Edric as much. His father, King Robert of House Baratheon, was a strong King. He held the realm together. But he did not work alone. He had a council that backed him, looked over the smaller matters and executed the King's orders. But that was not all there was to it, a part Jon Arryn had not mentioned. But his grandfather had.

The realm was not only held by the King. A stable marriage and a Queen in position went a long way in keeping everything stable. The realm would not be bickering over each other to seat their daughter on the throne. And a strong Queen, one with the backing of a strong family, went a long way in keeping the others in the line. For his father, it was House Lannister and their practically untouched army. The union between him and his mother had created stability. And now it was his turn.

House Redwyne of the Arbor was an old house, claiming descent from Gilbert of the Vines, son of Garth Greenhand. They were Kings of the Arbor once before their lands were assimilated into the Kingdom of The Reach. They possessed the largest naval force in the Seven Kingdom containing two hundred warships and five times as many merchant carracks, wine cogs, trading galleys, and whalers. The merchant ships had helped in boosting the businesses in the Capital, helping the Crown in ridding itself of what little debt they were left to owe.

But House Redwyne was as much a threat as House Tyrell. Olenna Tyrell was a Redwyne by birth and had a very amiable relationship with Lord Paxter, whose wife was Tyrell by birth. It was a dangerous ploy, but one if successful could turn the Reach completely in his favour. If Paxter Redwyne was as ambitious as his aunt was, he'd not turn his back on the opportunity of a possible Wardenship should the Tyrells falter in any way.

All of that had been the subject of the last council meeting between Edric, his Hand Lord Tywin, the Grand Maester Pycelle, his Master of Laws Lord Stannis, his Master of Coins Lord Tyrion and his Master of Whispers Lord Varys. For obvious reasons, Lord Paxter had not been included in this secretive meeting of the Council. Right now, the matter was completely different, with different lines of thinking.

"The businesses that the Arbor brought have helped in boosting the coffers. More gold than what the Crown has seen in many years. The city is clean and hasn't been lawless in a long time. You have your Uncle to thank for that. The people are happy, the roads don't smell like shit" Tyrion Lannister paused, "do we have to talk about this now? Right before your wedding?" the man questioned.

"The Realm does not wait for us, Lord Tyrion. It would certainly not wait for my wedding to be over" Edric countered.

"Your wedding is a service for the realm nephew. I think these matters could wait" Tyrion smiled.

The King rolled his eyes, turning around to face his uncle. "So, how do I look?"

Edric wore an ostentatious garb, designed more to show off than have a practical use. The long-sleeved undershirt was stitched gold with intricate patterns, the vest over it a combination of black and waves of stitched gold. The cloak he wore was in the colours of his house, of House Baratheon of Kings Landing.

"Stuffy" Tyrion smirked, "but that is to be expected since you are the groom."

The doors to his chambers opened and both sets of eyes moved there. Cersei Lannister stood there, frozen and wide-eyed. "Mother?" Edric asked, his voice laced with worry. That seemed to snap the woman out of it.

"You look so much like your father," she said softly, a gentle smile on her face. Edric held back his wince, not sure if him looking like his father was a good thing for his mother. The man walked forward and hugged his mother, who hugged him back. She pulled back first and cupped his face gently, "You look handsome" she said with a smile. "Now come, the ceremony will begin soon."